Sources:Blood and Chrome - 30 November 2010 Pre-Production Draft

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Cover page for the Blood and Chrome Pre-Production Draft, dated 30 November 2010 CE.

Blood & Chrome Pre-Production Draft (Version 01, dated November 30, 2010) was an early screenplay version of the Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome television movie, written by Michael Taylor with story contributions from David Eick, Bradley Thompson, and David Weddle.

This draft represents a significantly different vision from the final aired version, featuring extended sequences, alternative character developments, and plot elements that were substantially revised or removed entirely during the production process.

Plot Summary

The story follows young Ensign William Adama during his first combat assignment aboard the Battlestar Galactica. Initially assigned to fly a Raptor rather than his desired Viper, Adama is paired with experienced ECO Coker Fasjovik and tasked with what appears to be a routine cargo mission to the Scorpion Fleet Shipyards.

The mission becomes complicated when their passenger, Dr. Beka Kelly, reveals new orders directing them to rendezvous with the heavy cruiser Archeron in Sector 12. Upon arrival, they discover Archeron destroyed and are subsequently attacked by Cylon Raiders, leading to their involvement with a secret "ghost fleet" of supposedly destroyed Colonial warships operating in Cylon-controlled space.

The Djerba Mission

The trio is assigned to accompany a mission to the ice moon Djerba, where they are to rendezvous with a Marine Recon unit. The mission encounters immediate complications when a Cylon Base Star appears, forcing the stealth ship Reliant to engage in a desperate battle that results in its destruction.

After crash-landing on Djerba's surface, the survivors encounter Sergeant Toth, the sole remaining member of the Marine unit, who reveals the true nature of Kelly's mission: to upload a virus to a Cylon communication array that would blind their defenses for a major Colonial offensive.

The Betrayal

In a dramatic twist, Coker discovers that Dr. Kelly is actually a Cylon sympathizer working to provide intelligence about the ghost fleet to the Cylons. Her "virus" is revealed to be a data recorder transmitting detailed information about Colonial fleet positions and battle plans to the enemy.

Major Differences from Final Version

Extended Character Development

This draft contains significantly more character development, particularly exploring Coker's background as a failed musician and playwright from Aerilon. The script includes a poignant piano bar sequence where Coker reveals his artistic aspirations while playing a mournful melody.

Many of these scenes were shot, and can be found on deleted scenes.

Alternative Opening Sequence

The draft opens with an elaborate Colonial Defense Forces propaganda newsreel showcasing the war's progress, featuring dramatic before-and-after shots of various Colonial worlds including Caprica, Gemenon, and Aquarion.

The Beka Kelly Storyline

Dr. Kelly's character arc is somewhat more linear, presenting her as the widow of "Private Barzel," a war hero whose exploits were later revealed to be fabricated propaganda. Her motivation for betraying the Colonies stems from disillusionment with war propaganda rather than ideological sympathy for Cylons.

Enhanced Cylon Technology

The script features several advanced Cylon technologies not seen in the final version:

• Centurions with adaptive camouflage armor that can shift from silver to black

The Ghost Fleet Concept

The "ghost fleet" plays a central role in this version, consisting of Colonial warships like the Valkyrie and Loki that were reported destroyed but actually salvaged for covert operations.

Production Notes

Writing Process

The script is credited to Michael Taylor for the teleplay, with story contributions from David Eick, Bradley Thompson, and David Weddle. This collaborative approach was typical of the Battlestar Galactica franchise's writing room methodology.

Structural Design

The script is structured as "A Movie in Ten Parts," as the intended format was meant for online-streaming to be released as individual parts; it was later re-edited as a feature-length film for home video release. Each act concludes with dramatic cliffhangers typical of serialized television format.

Visual Effects Considerations

The script contains numerous notes about CGI requirements, particularly for space battle sequences and the Djerba environment. References to "full CGI treatment" for hangar bay scenes suggest awareness of budget considerations even in early development.

Analysis

Thematic Elements

This draft explores several themes that would become central to the Battlestar Galactica universe:

War Propaganda and Truth: The opening newsreel and Beka Kelly's backstory emphasize how war propaganda distorts reality. The revelation that Private Barzel's heroic exploits were fabricated reflects real-world concerns about military propaganda.

Moral Ambiguity: Kelly's position that Cylons deserve rights and freedom presages themes that would become central to the reimagined series' exploration of artificial intelligence and consciousness.

Coming of Age in Wartime: Adama's journey from eager recruit to disillusioned soldier mirrors classic war literature's exploration of innocence lost.

Character Development Comparison

William Adama: This version presents a more naive and eager Adama than the cautious officer seen in the final version. His evolution from "Husker" nickname rejection to acceptance parallels his growing understanding of war's realities.

Coker Fasjovik: The draft provides extensive background absent from the final version (and relegated to deleted scenes), including his marriage to Katie and artistic aspirations, making his cynicism more poignant and understandable.

Connection to Series Continuity

The script establishes several elements that connect to the broader Battlestar Galactica mythology:

• Reference to the Tylium mining industry on Aerilon
• Early exploration of human-Cylon philosophical conflicts
• Introduction of advanced Cylon technology that predates innovations seen in the main series

Legacy and Impact

While many elements from this draft were significantly altered or removed entirely from the final Blood & Chrome production, several key concepts influenced the franchise's development. The exploration of war propaganda and moral ambiguity would become hallmarks of the reimagined series' approach to science fiction storytelling.

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