Hey guys! Well, I told you all I was going to catch another location shoot and deliver all our letters, and I did it today with some *major* help from Anne Hedonia and Stacey. Last night I swung by SDSU to watch TINH with Stacey *wave* and then the two of us hopped in my car and drove all night (er, well, it felt like it anyway) up to LA. We parked ourselves at a friend and phellow phile's apartment for a couple of hours of sleeping or trying to sleep and then got up at FIVE to pick up Anne and be at this week's location shoot for XF at seven AM. Thoughts on TINH to follow when I'm more coherent--including a few comments about the scenes I saw them shoot last time I went up--but anyway...

We *almost* didn't end up going because it looked like the location shoot was going to be at a country club, but Anne said there was a park across the street from the country club, and she'd be willing to give it a try anyway if we were. So, I talked to Stacey, she said sure, and we were on the road. >g<

We got there around six-forty-five, sevenish. Now, the crew had been there since five, but was still setting up, and none of the actors had arrived. Since I'd been there twice before (once with Anne last week, but we'd *just* missed the actors that time) the location managers recognized me and gave us permission to sit and watch on a little brick wall out of the camera line. We hung around, hoping at least RP would show up before Anne had to leave--she had to be at work at 9:30--and at about 8 AM...shortly before she was going to go...a van pulled up and dropped off a tall, slender guy in a suit and black trench coat. Yep, RP!

Oh, back up a sec. You know those letters you sent? Well, between that and just the January/February entries for the Defenders of Doggett guestbook, I ended up with SIXTY-FIVE letters to be delivered to him! So, I cut and pasted them all into a big three-ring-binder photo album with pictures of Snoopy all over it. (It was the only dog-themed album my local Hallmark had. >g<)

Back to the set. Anyway, we we sitting on the wall when the van pulled up, and when we saw him get out we all stood and Stacey got out the album and handed it to me. Because of where he was dropped off, RP had to walk right by us to get to the shoot, and he noticed us standing there and asked cheerfully what we were doing standing there in the rain. I told him, "We have something for you," and he came over to us. I asked if he remembered me from the set of TINH and he said, "Yeah, I remember you! You were really nice to me." (HE REMEMBERED ME!) I laughed and said he was really nice to me too. Then I handed him the album and told him that it was a compilation of fan letters from people on the Internet. He got really excited, especially when I told him how many people had contributed. Plus he loved the album itself...I don't remember his exact words but they were something like: "It's Snoopy! Oh, hey, it's Doggett!" One of the crew offered to put it in his trailer for him and he said he couldn't wait to read it. Then he asked us all our names, shook hands all around, and Anne told him about her favorite part from "Via Negativa." He asked how his character was doing on-line, and I said at my last count there were over seventeen mailing lists devoted to Doggett (not counting the four or five remaining anti-Doggett ones--I don't consider those devoted so I didn't mention them :-P). He seemed really pleased and asked if we thought he should get on-line more. I said that was up to him. :-) Then he said [paraphrased]--(BRACE YOURSELF, COUCHPOTATOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)--"What about the Doggett Dames? What's that?" I told him the webmistress had included the URL in her letter to him so he could check it out for himself if he wanted to! :-) Hon, HE'S GONNA VISIT YOUR SITE!

He chatted with us for a few minutes, then asked if there was anything else we wanted. We asked about a picture, and he agreed readily. One of the crew took individual shots of Anne and I each with RP, and then just as it was Stacey's turn, Anne's camera ran out of film! So, RP shouted to his wardrobe guy--"Hey, Tom! Polaroid!" The guy brought over a Polaroid camera and he took pictures with all three of us again, just in case Anne's film didn't turn out. :-) Naturally (just my Chance Harperish luck ), the guy snapped my picture while RP was saying something so he's got this weird expression on his face, but, um...>g<...Stacey's turned out REALLY good!

On another side note--if you want to read the article I included in the album (as my "letter"), go to http://www.themestream.com and do a search for a contributer named "Julie Jekel"--that's me, same as my fic.

After the pictures, RP introduced Tom to us and told us this was his wardrobe guy. Somehow, I managed to keep from blurting out, "That sounds like a fun job." >g< (Thank heaven, since we were trying to look respectful/able and mature. ;-) ) He then thanked us again for the album and took off. They shot--or rehearsed, not sure if they were filming--a scene or two and then RP ran by us again going back to his trailer, I guess. He smiled and waved when he saw we were still there, and shouted something to the effect of he really couldn't wait to read the album. When he was coming back a few minutes later, he stopped and said he'd read the first entry--WHICH WAS YOURS, MEDIE!--and thought it was "really sweet" and thanked us again. Anne left, Stacey and I watched a couple more takes of the same shot and finally left about 11 AM. After having driven most of the night and only slept two hours on my friend's couch and floor respectively, we were pretty beat. >g<

So, we drove back to Malibu and my friend's roommates let us crash there again and get a couple more hours of sleep before she got home from class. When she got home, we chatted for about an hour and then took off, hoping to get past PCH before the rain got too bad 'cause that particular road had been moderately flooded when we were driving in last night.

Anyway, that was our little set excursion. I did tell RP that if I got any more letters for him I'd bring "extra pages" for the album with me if I ever came to a location shoot again. So, if any one forgot to contribute a letter that still wants to, I'm sure he'd be ecstatic! Or if any of you live close enough that you want to try to join us next time, if there is a next time! Let me tell you, it's so nice to talk an actor who's as excited to meet you as you are to meet him! >g<

Now for a few minor spoilers for the episode they were taping...

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Okay. A few basic things we learned about the episode.

1. RP had a nice little make-up scar on his right cheek. He said Doggett got shot. (In the face? Eek! Lucky it was just a graze!)

2. We saw the actor who played Doggett's CIA buddy Noel in "Per Manum" so he's apparently in this episode. (I know, I've heard it's "Knowle" too but until I know for sure I'm spelling it the way I like better. >g<)

3. The scene we saw was shot in a park, between the bleachers of a little baseball diamond. They had several extras, but none of the other regulars showed up before we left. Don't know if this means this is a Scully-lite episode or just a Scully-lite scene.

4. *snicker* I don't know if it was intended this way, but since it was raining when they shot the scene, it now takes place in the rain. >g<

Anyway, that's it from me! Stacey, Anne, did I forget anything? (And even if I didn't, I'm sure everyone'd love to hear your take on things. >g<)

Azar