I was going to say, “Here’s a quick update.”  But this little addendum only brings you up to 2008.  And if you’ve been reading my posts, by now you’ve figured out that, for me, quick means a few thousand years — I mean, words.

“Eternity Calling” started in 2002.  Crashed and burned.  Everyone moved on to other things.  Six years later, Neil buzzed me about the old story.  About doing it again.

Apparently Jon Blum was going to be in Boston again, and Neil suggested re-recording the story.  More Seventh Doctor, only he wouldn’t get to say, “Aaaaaace!”  Apparently the fan who played the Seventh Doctor’s on-air companion Ace wasn’t available.

So they couldn’t ramrod a Time Rift reunion into the prison rape cluster[BLEEP] of my poor, battered ‘n’ beaten story idea that had to walk through the snow both ways before getting run over by a Good Humor truck.  Real frickin’ shame.

Not that I’m bitter or anything.  Phfft.  Hell.  Tap my leg like a maple tree and you’ll get a bucket of Angostura.

I tried not to make a big deal out of it, but it came through all the same.  Neil and Jon wanted to re-rewrite the script to use another Seventh Doctor companion, Benny Summerfield.  And I didn’t exactly dance a jig:

You guys do what you need to do.  All that’s really left is an idea that was once mine.  If I can help it along, I’d appreciate it if you could gimme a holler.

To be fair, Jon Blum was patient and thoughtful about it (something I’m not used to):

Go right ahead and give us your ideas on messing with it!  I’m not out to take over the project — I’m approaching it as basically being Neil’s (and your) baby…

BTW, I’m sorry about the rewrites at the time — the re-recording after the opening bit was wiped was an act of desperation based on which actors we could get back together!

See, he was trying to be nice about it.  But it was clear that, in their minds, I was only there for the ride.  This was a courtesy call.  They could’ve gone and done it without a word to me.  Again.

We exchanged ideas back and forth.  Some enthusiasm.  A few lame jokes, mostly mine.  Plot points and images were bandied about.

Then nothing.

At least for another two years.  Then we can honestly say we’re up to date.

After a series of blogging prohibitive encounters (i.e. life — more on that later, much later, perhaps one day), we return to the sordid tale of fanboy obsession and behind-the-scenes intrigue.  After the jump:  “Eternity Calling.”

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