I Surrender meme: Contracts
In response to the I Surrender meme from sophiap at http://sophiap.livejournal.com/205692.html:
A police procedural/mystery series where one of the main characters is in fact a fallen or rebel angel.
. . . given my tastes, the fallen/rebel angel shifted right to the forefront, and I was more inclined to mystery than to police procedural. I also had references to Kenneth Hite's Bookhounds of London (I need a copy of that, dammit) at the back of my mind. Which resulted in the following series:
CONTRACTS
The Contracts Group is officially a business that locates/purchases rare books for collectors, but also works for libraries and museums, and occasionally assists the police with relevant information. What few people know is that the head of the firm is a fallen angel with an interest in breaking other people's contracts with Hell, and that other 'underworld types' are also operating in the area . . .
This series is theoretically set in London, but should involve plenty of location filming in museums and libraries elsewhere. The cast are technically not all currently available, but I can dream.
Cast:
Joanna Lumley - head of firm
Benedict Cumberbatch - secretary/researcher
Patterson Joseph - Field agent
Sarah Sutton - Field agent
Roger Delgado - senior representative of Hell
Peter Davison and Kirsten Vangsness - junior representative of Hell
Christopher Eccleston - police inspector and usual contact with firm
Cast Notes:
Joanna Lumley - head of firm: actually rebel angel who cut loose from Lucifer on deciding that they’d all been lied to, but refuses to repent. Spends her time locating people who’ve signed contracts with Hell and trying to find flaws in the contracts to convince them or enable them to break the contracts. Doesn’t particularly care about people for their own sake, but holds strong opinions on the nature of free will and making choices without deception. Avoids actually telling a lie (this may become a plot point later). Possesses some supernatural abilities as the plot demands, though is reluctant to use them.
Benedict Cumberbatch - firm secretary and internet researcher. Has habit of online gaming while doing research at work. Takes work home. Online gaming buddy of the demonic Minion (Davison/Vangsness), though neither realizes this.
Paterson Joseph - field agent for the firm. Aware of Lumley’s real nature. Considers himself cynical and jaded, but is in fact very enthusiastic about the romance of saving souls from Hell. In for a nasty awakening one of these days. A drinking buddy of Eccleston, and the reason the firm has its links to the police. Particular expert in ecclesiastical manuscripts.
Sarah Sutton - field agent for the firm. Obsessive about her job and her books, possibly even mildly autistic. Habitually walks past dramatic weirdness but notes tiny details. Regularly annoys Eccleston’s character by failing to notice relevant details. Specialist in minutiae. Has occasional moments of “lost time” which she does not remember afterwards, during which she takes some particular action or says something relevant but unexpected: later hints that she is in fact being possessed during those moments. As yet unclear who or what is doing the possessing.
Christopher Eccleston - police inspector who usually ends up calling on firm for their expertise. Up-and-coming type, very down to earth, absolutely no belief in the supernatural but willing to believe that humanity can manage any perversion on its own without help. Views the firm as just another asset to use in unusual cases where they have specific knowledge. Delgado has been seen requesting his file.
Roger Delgado - senior local representative of Hell. Involved in a lot of Old Boys networks. Old-time friend of Lumley’s character and wants to coax her back to Hell, or at least be the one to force her to return/claim the credit for her return. Should be played as a nice guy but willing to back all sorts of evil with absolutely no hesitation. Views attempts to stop him as “all part of the game”. Is aware of the Minion’s attempt to depose him but considers this perfectly natural.
The Minion - played jointly by Peter Davison and Kirsten Vangsness. This junior representative of Hell is a subordinate of Delgado but is looking for an opportunity to disgrace him or steal credit from him. Clearly has no preferred gender but is happy in either body (i.e. as either actor). Lacks the authority to give the Follower orders unless Delgado gives it to him/her, and is very nervous on the occasion/s that this happens. There may be an implication that the Minion can take other shapes as well, besides the ones that we see. Plays online games with Cumberbatch’s character, though neither realizes the other’s true identity: both have tried to find out and failed.
The Follower - a diabolical agent of some sort that Delgado’s character can call on. He is always seen contacting it by phone. It shows up in order to kill people, usually messily. We never get a good view of it, just noises, and the reactions of people who turn around and see it.
Series Notes:
Series structure would involve increased involvement in the supernatural side of things, but absolutely no angelic involvement (unless Sutton's character is somehow linked to that - possibly for the next season of the show, if it gets continued?) Some episodes would be non-supernatural in their resolution, though the faked supernatural might be an issue. Delgado's character has some sort of behind-the-scenes plan, but it is unspecified.
Oh all right, so I'm somewhat prone to "throw all the characters together and see what happens". Come on. Give me some ideas. I dare you.
A police procedural/mystery series where one of the main characters is in fact a fallen or rebel angel.
. . . given my tastes, the fallen/rebel angel shifted right to the forefront, and I was more inclined to mystery than to police procedural. I also had references to Kenneth Hite's Bookhounds of London (I need a copy of that, dammit) at the back of my mind. Which resulted in the following series:
CONTRACTS
The Contracts Group is officially a business that locates/purchases rare books for collectors, but also works for libraries and museums, and occasionally assists the police with relevant information. What few people know is that the head of the firm is a fallen angel with an interest in breaking other people's contracts with Hell, and that other 'underworld types' are also operating in the area . . .
This series is theoretically set in London, but should involve plenty of location filming in museums and libraries elsewhere. The cast are technically not all currently available, but I can dream.
Cast:
Joanna Lumley - head of firm
Benedict Cumberbatch - secretary/researcher
Patterson Joseph - Field agent
Sarah Sutton - Field agent
Roger Delgado - senior representative of Hell
Peter Davison and Kirsten Vangsness - junior representative of Hell
Christopher Eccleston - police inspector and usual contact with firm
Cast Notes:
Joanna Lumley - head of firm: actually rebel angel who cut loose from Lucifer on deciding that they’d all been lied to, but refuses to repent. Spends her time locating people who’ve signed contracts with Hell and trying to find flaws in the contracts to convince them or enable them to break the contracts. Doesn’t particularly care about people for their own sake, but holds strong opinions on the nature of free will and making choices without deception. Avoids actually telling a lie (this may become a plot point later). Possesses some supernatural abilities as the plot demands, though is reluctant to use them.
Benedict Cumberbatch - firm secretary and internet researcher. Has habit of online gaming while doing research at work. Takes work home. Online gaming buddy of the demonic Minion (Davison/Vangsness), though neither realizes this.
Paterson Joseph - field agent for the firm. Aware of Lumley’s real nature. Considers himself cynical and jaded, but is in fact very enthusiastic about the romance of saving souls from Hell. In for a nasty awakening one of these days. A drinking buddy of Eccleston, and the reason the firm has its links to the police. Particular expert in ecclesiastical manuscripts.
Sarah Sutton - field agent for the firm. Obsessive about her job and her books, possibly even mildly autistic. Habitually walks past dramatic weirdness but notes tiny details. Regularly annoys Eccleston’s character by failing to notice relevant details. Specialist in minutiae. Has occasional moments of “lost time” which she does not remember afterwards, during which she takes some particular action or says something relevant but unexpected: later hints that she is in fact being possessed during those moments. As yet unclear who or what is doing the possessing.
Christopher Eccleston - police inspector who usually ends up calling on firm for their expertise. Up-and-coming type, very down to earth, absolutely no belief in the supernatural but willing to believe that humanity can manage any perversion on its own without help. Views the firm as just another asset to use in unusual cases where they have specific knowledge. Delgado has been seen requesting his file.
Roger Delgado - senior local representative of Hell. Involved in a lot of Old Boys networks. Old-time friend of Lumley’s character and wants to coax her back to Hell, or at least be the one to force her to return/claim the credit for her return. Should be played as a nice guy but willing to back all sorts of evil with absolutely no hesitation. Views attempts to stop him as “all part of the game”. Is aware of the Minion’s attempt to depose him but considers this perfectly natural.
The Minion - played jointly by Peter Davison and Kirsten Vangsness. This junior representative of Hell is a subordinate of Delgado but is looking for an opportunity to disgrace him or steal credit from him. Clearly has no preferred gender but is happy in either body (i.e. as either actor). Lacks the authority to give the Follower orders unless Delgado gives it to him/her, and is very nervous on the occasion/s that this happens. There may be an implication that the Minion can take other shapes as well, besides the ones that we see. Plays online games with Cumberbatch’s character, though neither realizes the other’s true identity: both have tried to find out and failed.
The Follower - a diabolical agent of some sort that Delgado’s character can call on. He is always seen contacting it by phone. It shows up in order to kill people, usually messily. We never get a good view of it, just noises, and the reactions of people who turn around and see it.
Series Notes:
Series structure would involve increased involvement in the supernatural side of things, but absolutely no angelic involvement (unless Sutton's character is somehow linked to that - possibly for the next season of the show, if it gets continued?) Some episodes would be non-supernatural in their resolution, though the faked supernatural might be an issue. Delgado's character has some sort of behind-the-scenes plan, but it is unspecified.
Oh all right, so I'm somewhat prone to "throw all the characters together and see what happens". Come on. Give me some ideas. I dare you.