A decription of the Tour of Duty episode Paradise Lost with an Alternative Beginning-The unfilmed version

Paradise Lost
The Alternative Beginning

Lost Paradise ?
Here we look at an alternative beginning to an episode from a script,
that was not used in the final filmed episode.

This page is based on the earliest original draft script of this episode (Paradise Lost), that I have been able to find.
The beginning follows a story line that was not used in the final filmed episode.

Often this happens in film and TV shows, with re-writes. There are other changes from this early script to the final filmed version although the general storyline is pretty much the same, but for the purpose of this article we only focus on the opening sequences….

At the end of this beginning from this early script, I’ve taken a look and I give reasons as to why I thinks this version was not filmed ,, this isn’t a confirmed reason but an educated guess with reasons given as to why , you may agree , you may not.

1/. ….Johnson is on point, attempting to make his way through thick bush. He can only see a few feet in front of him. Baker is behind him .With every step, Baker grimaces, as if in severe pain. The rest of the guys follow…….

HUM 90: So far, nothing unusual about this script.
Worth noting, that it’s very much the same start of many other episodes. Apart from Baker is in pain.

….Johnson and Baker break through a tangle of vines into a small opening. Johnson strains to see into the wall of foliage. Our other guys stream into the clearing. Everyone is hot, and tired. Goldman and Anderson move to Johnson’s side…

Goldman; (to the others) – Let’s take five. And keep the noise down, might be Tigers out there.

….The men drop to the ground, exhausted. Baker looks like he might cry as he turns to Anderson…..

….Baker walks across the clearing to where Horn, Taylor and several others are sitting. His gait is weird, like he has a corn cob up his ass. He gingerly takes a seat next to Horn…..

Baker; Hey Horn. When I woke up this morning, my butt was covered in boils. Can you do anything?
Horn; I don’t know. Bend over.

….The other guys chuckle at poor Baker’s plight. He bends over and drops his pants. Horn takes a look, pretending to be Doctor like…..

….Baker raises up, on the edge of cold panic, and looks at Horn. Horn makes a “chopping” motion with his hand. Baker looks down at his crotch…..

Goldman; No these charts are useless. I didn’t know jungle could get this thick.

Goldman; Hard to imagine Charlie can run supplies through this.
Anderson; Oh, he can L-T. The VC can move enough materials over a little biddy path a couple of feet wide to keep a whole division in business.

Horn; This is antiseptic ointment. It’s about all I can do for you. If it still bothers you, blow on it.

Horn moves away. Baker’s so uncomfortable, he would blow on it if he could. He looks at Johnson.

…..The Platoon are making their way down a narrow trail. Johnson is on point.
He moves slowly, cautiously.

…Johnson pushes through even thicker bush, then signals the men to halt. Anderson and Goldman work their way to his side….

Why is there an 8/.
Well that’s basically the start of what we see on the actual filmed episode, I have put that in because in the script it’s where it is.
Meaning that before that point in the script there were points 1-7. let’s look at these.

We know from other reports and comments from various sources that the production costs are astronomical at this time, ratings are good but not great , critically it’s one of the best thing going at the time. It’s just not pulling in the viewers. What can they do ?

1a/. the scene described ,,,, thick bush , hard to find ,,,harder to film in …
1/. They need to cut costs
2/. They need to trim the timings
2a/. There is the threat of a writers strike, how will that affect them if at all, will it halt filming?? If other crew come out as well ? All unknowns .

3/.Pointless new character introductions , such as Horn’s medical training !

4/. No pay off, !! Even today ,most drama scripts have a build of at the beginning to a payoff drama scene , some may use this as an ad break others do not but still use the build up to , a crime being in committed , then the good guys come in after the opening credits , and start building the case to be solved.
TOD was no different then and I’m sure if you look back throughout the years it’s been used over and over even before TOD was thought of

5/. Bakers ass , seen that before , in a different episode ,why they need to waste air time on it again ??

6/. The maps being useless , that comes up later in the series when the waters are high and have flooded the area on the map.

The humour between the guys Johnson, Goldman and later Horn Baker was already in the show, these un-filmed scenes don’t bring anything new to the show,

Forget that , In the original version vs the filmed version , the script brings no action, just a bit of humour, yes we see that Baker in other episodes isn’t the sharpest tool ,,but at no point yet have we seen that Horn is also a medic in any way shape or form , trying to be realistic to what happened as to what the crew . actors set out to do , to all of a sudden drop that in would cause , maybe negative feedback from the vets who watch the show, or just normal viewers.

This version of events so far has brought no drama,,,,which is ABSOLUTELY ,critical for claiming and audience in the first few moments of any TV show or less so in a film

5/. Baker’s ill , its his butt, ,,,,,,, hang on have we not used this before, yes we have , Angel of mercy – constipation blues …………………….different setting but still Baker,, ,,,,,,would this idea work with another character ??? ,,LT G, or SGT , no the still have to run the show, Percell ,,maybe, but he’s not portrayed as simple, Ruiz, ,,,no he’s from the Bronx, scarred of rats but, not a lot else ,

Johnson,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,would never have been on point if he felt unwell, as he would have been distracted all the time risking everyone’s lives at risk,

The scenes bring nothing to the episode, so nothing is lost by not filming it.

There are other parts of this script which for what ever reasons didn’t make it to screen or to be even in the final scripted version. (Such as a night time Air Strike on the village ) which still could have been changed as it was being filmed, small tweaks happen all the time, this is not because the original idea is wrong , just it doesn’t film correctly , the director doesn’t feel it fits with what’s already been filmed, some times , mostly film its dropped in the editing room as they have more material to use if there’s something they don’t like.

So what do think?
Would it have made the episode better if it was filmed, drop me a message on the Message Board

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