Hey Raggs!

Happy New Year, mate.

Good to see you have returned to the board, and I am over the moon that you and Dawn have written a forthcoming episode. Hope it's a 'ripper'.

How were yours and your familys holidays? Mine was pretty laid-back, just catching up with family. I was unable to over indulge as I had to work on Boxing Day, but it was refreshing to have a Christmas that I could remember the next day.:rolleyes: New Years Eve was a SCORCHER here, the temperature hit 44 degress celcius (111 fahrenheit) so the night was spent at home with the air-conditioning on and sinking a few beers with close friends.

Channel 7 here has just started airing their season 2 'Lost' promos, and they are amazing, although very spoilerish. One has scenes from episode 1 with 'Desmonds' song as the backing track, the other has the opening scene from 'The Other 48 Days', with the tail section crashing and the words 'You Have Only Seen Half' superimposed on the screen. I wish you could somehow view them.

Anyway, take care mate.

Cheers
Rory.

Rory, always a pleasure to hear from you. My holdiays were terrific, but very busy. I was writing episode 215 over the break (along with Dawn Kelly) and was on the road the entire time. I took my wife to France for Christmas and New Year's to show her the village I lived in (Avignon) while going to university over there, and then up to Paris for New Year's Eve, which also happens to be our wedding anniversary. It was snowing in Paris, but I think I can safely say we had a "Scorcher" of a night ourselves... It was a great trip, but I had to work the entire time -- every day in fact, but some friends came along with us, so when I had to duck out to go and write, Michelle had people to hang with, so it all worked out for the best.

By the way, my local bar while going to school in Avignon was a place owned and run by a couple of Aussies I met playing rugby over there. It's called "The Koala Bar and I think I must have sank about a million beers there when I lived there in 1992. Went back this time around. Still there -- still cracking.

Come on Aussie, Come-On!

Enjoy Season Two, mate.

Cheers,

Raggs

Hey Raggs,

It was great to hear from you again, and couldn't help but smile on reading of your 'scorching' NYE. You love your 'Aussie' themed bars, don't you (never knew there was one in France)?

Knowing that you are the resident researcher of 'all things Australian', can I safely assume that episode 215 will feature the backstory of a certain Australian lostaway? Feel free to write your answer on a napkin and pass it to me under the table...

Cheers (again),

Rory

You may feel free to assume precisely that. Keep it between you and me...

Raggs

Hey Raggs,

I'm quite chuffed that you were given the responsibility to write the episode for Claire (you've already blurted her name out in answer to someone else's question, and here I was trying to be hush, hush in my last question). Good to know she is in safe, responsible hands.

Thought you would be interested to know that Ms. Minogue appears to have been given the all-clear by her doctors and will make a full recovery. Her people have rescheduled her Australian tour for December '06, so I will finally be able to make use of my front row tickets (What a trip that will be).

So is it full steam ahead for you guys from now until the end of the season?

Cheers

Rory.

Dude, I am officially jealous. I would sit in the front row - - hell I'd strap on the boots and throw on the wallaby jumper and PLAY in the front row to see Kylie do... just about anything. Glad to hear all is well and she will be back on the scene in no time. Should be quite a chrissy prezzy for you come December - - lucky bastard.

Sorry to have spilled the beans about Claire. But you may rest assured she is in very good hands indeed. We are thrilled with the script and can't wait to start shooting at the end of the month. Cross your fingers for us.

And yeah, it is definitely full steam ahead until the end of the season. I don't remember the last time I got home before 10pm.

Cheers to you, too. Which makes it your shout, I believe...

Raggs

Hey Raggs,

My shout yeah? Ok, a slab of VB is winging its way to you as we speak. I have sent it freight on an 'Oceanic' flight. Should get to you soon, I think.:undecide:

Not wishing to brag, but oh well....

I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Kylie three times now, and I can honestly say that fame has not affected her one iota. She truely is one of the kindest people you could meet. Her 'Showgirl' tour is now out on dvd (She managed to complete the European leg of her tour before the cancer was diagnosed). I'm not sure, though, if it is available in the U.S., but if you can find it, watch it. It really is up there with the 'mega' concerts. If you can't find let me know, I will see what I can do.

I was thinking of your episode overnight, and a thought came to me.

Where you given control over Claire's story in the script, or did the 'Powers' approach you with an overview of what they wanted to happen in the script which you then needed to integrate into your writing? In other words, were your arms tied to a certain degree?

Finally, my sympathies to you and your wife. I suppose at this time of year, she becomes a 'writers widow' of sorts. No wonder you whisked yourselves off to France for the holidays.

Cheers (I'll shout a few pots again),
Rory

Hey Rory,

Every single episode of the show is broken collectively, by the entire writing staff. So, really, nobody has carte blanche over the creative direction of an individual episode, or the seasonal and/or overall story arc of the show. Well, except for Damon, that is. So we all sat in the writers room for about 10 days in early December and, being careful to honor Claire's story (both on and off the island) in previous episodes, created a story that we felt would be the most compelling next step. Once that story was presented to Damon and tweaked to the point where he approved, Dawn and I went off to write the outline and then the script.

So while the script itself is mine and Dawn's - - the story being told in those scenes were created together, by the entire writing staff

That's how it works. Hope that helps.

And yeah, Michelle (my wife) is a champ. NONE of us could do this job without the support of our wives, husbands and children. She is literally the greatest thing to ever happen to me and I can't imagine doing this job (or any other) without her. Paris was the very least she deserved...

I'll look forward to the slab of VB. Possibly the World's Greatest Beer.

Raggs

Hey Raggs!

I have just finished watching The Golden Globes (we get them on delay), and want to pass on my most sincere and heartfelt congratulations to yourself and everybody involved with Lost on your Best Television Drama award.

I think this award is even more special than receiving a Best Actor/Actress/Director/etc., award as this award acknowledges each and every single person that is involved with the show from the creator down. I'm proud of you all.

Pat yourselves on the back, kick back, and enjoy the recognition.

And you, Raggs, have a V.B., you've earned it.

Cheers, Cheers, and Cheers again (*hic*)!

Rory

Michelle and I had a few too many "VB's" last night and now find ourselves feeling rather ordinary indeed. But who cares, right, it was an exciting night and we had a great time. Thanks for the kind words, Rory. We ALL appreciate it.

Raggs

Hey Raggs,

Sorry to have taken so long to reply to you, but I have been laid up with Tonsilitis (which just ever so conveniently coincided with my birthday on Jan 24).

I hope you and Michelle are well, and that everything went well with the shooting of yours and Dawns episode. Are you pleased with the results?

Good News!! Season 2 premiered here last Thursday and rated through the roof! It averaged 2.3 million viewers (which is a lot by Oz standards), and was the highest watched programme for the week, so pass that on to everyone else.

Even though I know what is about to happen, I couldn't help but drag myself out of my 'death-bed' and watch it. I cannot wait to see what you guys have in store for us this year.

Reading this board, though, there seems to be alot of excitement surrounding yours and Dawn's episode regarding Claire (it appears to be quite a pivitol episode), so you both should be proud of what you have written. Can't wait to see it!!

One other question, though, you promised more 'Aussies', and Cindy appeared, then 'disappeared' just as quickly. Please tell me she will return. From what I can fathom, we are up to episode 12 and there is STILL only one regular Australian cast member. There MUST be more 'Aussies'. Please.....

So from a 'husky' voiced me to you,

Take Care.

Cheers.

Rory.

Dude,

Nobody... NOBODY can hear the call for more Aussie louder than yours truly. I'm on your side. Hey, a mate just forwarded me the new advert for Toohey's New. Have you seen it? It's a cracker.

Sorry to hear about the pipes. You know what's good for that? About a thousand schooners. That's what I hear, anyway...

Cheers and feel better,

Raggs

Hey Raggs!

10 days to go! I cannot wait to jump on the boards to see the reaction from everyone, although from what I can tell, it appears the anticipation for yours and Dawns episode is massive (not to put pressure on you two). Hopefully you will have some sort of party the night the episode airs.

To answer your question, I have seen the Tooheys New ad, and it certainly is a cracker. A bit of trivia: it was filmed right here in Melbourne. I recommend you check out the ad for Carlton Draught. It's called 'Big Ad', and is pretty cool. I would post the link, but I don't think we are allowed to post links to non-specific 'Lost' sites, but if you Google 'Carlton Draught Big Ad', you wont have any trouble finding it.

For some reason the biggest, best ads in Oz are beer ads, now why do you think that is?.......

Oh, and thanks for your remedy for tonsilitis, I will have to try it next time. It might not work, but it sure will be fun testing it.

Take Care
Cheers
Rory