Bathgate Abbey

POSTED BY: wytchcroft
UPDATED: Monday, January 29, 2018 09:37
VIEWED: 14843
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WYTCHCROFT

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:50 PM

so - ok, i'm working on something about Book at Bathgate - and i've got two timelines going on because:

Everyone thinks Bathgate is on Ariel except me!

figuring this would be the case i rewatched the episode and hunted down the script and this is what you find:

JAYNE
What's the point of coming to the
Core if I can't even get off the boat?

MAL
Could've gotten off with Shepherd
Book at the Bathgate Abbey. You
could be meditating over the wonders
of your rock garden right about now.

ok then - so since Book is not collected with the rest of the crew at the end, where in hell is he?

i always assumed Bathgate was on the way into the core - on route to Ariel, maybe a small moon or whatever... though i'm likely to use both possible locations now.

how do folks here see the place?
I realise the ambiguity in mal's words to jayne -
ie you could have got off ON ARIEL before we got HERE...

but exacty how much sense does that really make?

and again - where is Book to be collected from when they are running away - with no time to waste they're gonna cunningly flee from Ariel to uh, Ariel??

CHARLIEBZ

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:26 PM

I thought the Abbey was on Persephone. I guess there's more than one Abbey. Maybe Bathgate is a vacation abbey on Ariel?

WYTCHCROFT

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:41 PM

i have a terrible memory (truly, it's not my fault!)
but i think the Southdown Abbey is on Persephone.

i think Bathgate only gets a mention come Ariel. (???)

And there's no proof Book was ever at either of them.

I like the idea of a vacation Abbey -

i see a possible crossover of The eye of Orion (from Dr Who) and, er, the place where the monks get bumped off in that 'Bognor' detective show.
(or Cadfael!)...

or maybe it could be a priory (!!)
Book goes to rehab! (snicker)

CHARLIEBZ

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:49 PM

No! You're totally right and I'm totally wrong! Southdown, Bathgate yeah those sound remarkably similar don't they?

But I was thinking about your actual question after my hasty post. I never thought about the fact that Serenity had to get out of Ariel so fast - and they did break atmo which they wouldn't have to do if they were just going to another part of the planet to pick up Book. And, surely they didn't forget him and have to turn around!

I think a moon is a good theory. Another planet would be too far off and you've got that whole vector thing (which I don't exactly understand).

But the question is also why Book had to go to Bathgate at all? The reality may be that Ron Glass had a hair appointment that day so they wrote him out of the script but I like to have the Firefly story all neatlike.

And yeah, there is no proof he went there at all. Maybe just a cover up for...what?!?

WYTCHCROFT

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CharlieBZ:

But the question is also why Book had to go to Bathgate at all? The reality may be that Ron Glass had a hair appointment that day

LOL!!! and you're probably right!

Quote:
And yeah, there is no proof he went there at all. Maybe just a cover up for...what?!?

for the initial hair installation!:)

the hair will still be there... waiting

CHARLIEBZ

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 10:06 PM

It's all coming together now. River saw the truth of the hair in "Jaynestown" and Book had to go have it fixed.

It wasn't the Miranda secret that fried River's brain...

SPACEANJL

Friday, July 11, 2008 7:19 PM

We've drawn another soul into the weirdness!

The Abbey is probably on a small moon of its own, kinda like the Celtic habit of building on islands. Either it's a Spanish mission style place, ministering to a small local populace, or it's a big, scary Rievaulx type job. Something like that might even be a space-station of its own. The Brothers of the Void, in a glass cathedral floating against the stars.

Something mad and craggy like the Cathar castles would be fun. Or that place (Mostar?) where the monks had to get up to the entrance in baskets.

I still have this picture of somewhere on a mountain top, early morning, Book and the Abbot bent over a chess-board. (And the Abbot is definitely Morgan Freeman.)

WYTCHCROFT

Friday, July 11, 2008 7:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAnJL:
We've drawn another soul into the weirdness!

The Abbey is probably on a small moon of its own, kinda like the Celtic habit of building on islands. Either it's a Spanish mission style place,

that was my initial feeling too...

Quote:
or it's a big, scary Rievaulx type job. Something like that might even be a space-station of its own. The Brothers of the Void, in a glass cathedral floating against the stars.

i LIKE!:) but... hmm... i'll have to ponder on the economics of it... i figure the Priory to be wealthy(ish) (and getting more so all the time) post-bdm.
But - up to that point? ah... i'm not too certain.

Quote:
Something mad and craggy like the Cathar castles would be fun. Or that place (Mostar?) where the monks had to get up to the entrance in baskets.

bingo - i agree completely, both things (and the spanish element you mentioned) chime with the orson welles type images in my head.

Quote:
I still have this picture of somewhere on a mountain top, early morning, Book and the Abbot bent over a chess-board. (And the Abbot is definitely Morgan Freeman.)

the seventh seal? LOL! (tho actually ron glass woulda been GREAT in Bill and Ted!)
good call - i've been trying to locate the photo/painting (?) from the cover of a book of isak dinesen short stories that matches this.
(it's a mountain)

SPACEANJL

Friday, July 11, 2008 7:45 PM

Or the Abbey is a sub-orbital, like the fancy compounds on Bellerphon.

That would be mad - St Paul's Cathedral skimming across the landscape, chasing down a small Welsh chapel (*)...

(*) apologies to Philip Reeves.

YELLOWJACKET

Thursday, November 9, 2017 8:58 AM

When in doubt, go to the source. I spoke with Jose (writer on 'Trash' and 'Ariel') and Bathgate Abbey is NOT on Ariel. Shepherd was dropped off before they traveled to Ariel. And before you ask, no, he never picked a world for Bathgate. It's just NOT on Ariel.

So at least we know it isn't on Ariel.

If it were me, I'd put it close. I always assumed it was in the same system as Ariel, so they wouldn't have to back track too far to pick him up. I'd put it on Albion, because of the Great Britain & Scotland tie-in by name.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Thursday, November 9, 2017 12:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
When in doubt, go to the source. I spoke with Jose (writer on 'Trash' and 'Ariel') and Bathgate Abbey is NOT on Ariel. Shepherd was dropped off before they traveled to Ariel. And before you ask, no, he never picked a world for Bathgate. It's just NOT on Ariel.

So at least we know it isn't on Ariel.

If it were me, I'd put it close. I always assumed it was in the same system as Ariel, so they wouldn't have to back track too far to pick him up. I'd put it on Albion, because of the Great Britain & Scotland tie-in by name.

Thanks for sharing.
How did you bump into Jose?
You're talking Molina, right?

YELLOWJACKET

Sunday, November 12, 2017 11:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:

Thanks for sharing.
How did you bump into Jose?
You're talking Molina, right?

Yes, Molina. We're chasing him for a guest slot at upcoming conventions, so I used the opportunity to ask him about Bathgate. The question had come up elsewhere recently, so I shared the answer in a few places.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Sunday, November 12, 2017 11:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Thanks for sharing.
How did you bump into Jose?
You're talking Molina, right?
Yes, Molina. We're chasing him for a guest slot at upcoming conventions, so I used the opportunity to ask him about Bathgate. The question had come up elsewhere recently, so I shared the answer in a few places.

How many other places are wondering about Bathgate Abbey, and Ariel?

YELLOWJACKET

Sunday, November 12, 2017 12:03 PM

I've see it debated on RPG sites and occasionally during discussions on Facebook, so I decided it was a good time to chase a definitive answer. We (J. Chris Bourdier and I) are always updating the archives for the 'Verse in Numbers' and the 'ARC of the Verse', so it helps to know where things are.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Monday, November 13, 2017 7:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
I've see it debated on RPG sites and occasionally during discussions on Facebook, so I decided it was a good time to chase a definitive answer. We (J. Chris Bourdier and I) are always updating the archives for the 'Verse in Numbers' and the 'ARC of the Verse', so it helps to know where things are.

Have you asked where Kowlon Fed Base is, or Kaylee's home?

YELLOWJACKET

Monday, November 13, 2017 9:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
I've see it debated on RPG sites and occasionally during discussions on Facebook, so I decided it was a good time to chase a definitive answer. We (J. Chris Bourdier and I) are always updating the archives for the 'Verse in Numbers' and the 'ARC of the Verse', so it helps to know where things are.
Have you asked where Kowlon Fed Base is, or Kaylee's home?

I will chase that question and let you know what I learn.

YELLOWJACKET

Monday, November 13, 2017 9:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
I've see it debated on RPG sites and occasionally during discussions on Facebook, so I decided it was a good time to chase a definitive answer. We (J. Chris Bourdier and I) are always updating the archives for the 'Verse in Numbers' and the 'ARC of the Verse', so it helps to know where things are.
Have you asked where Kowlon Fed Base is, or Kaylee's home?

I will chase that question and let you know what I learn.

Wow. Tim responded really fast. I asked him where Kaylee was born and raised. Sorry his response doesn't answer the oft debated question...

"damn, I wish I could. I wanted it to feel like a remote "rock" as Mal says -- so I never even gave it name it was such a backwater."

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 1:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
I've see it debated on RPG sites and occasionally during discussions on Facebook, so I decided it was a good time to chase a definitive answer. We (J. Chris Bourdier and I) are always updating the archives for the 'Verse in Numbers' and the 'ARC of the Verse', so it helps to know where things are.
Have you asked where Kowlon Fed Base is, or Kaylee's home?

I will chase that question and let you know what I learn.

Wow. Tim responded really fast. I asked him where Kaylee was born and raised. Sorry his response doesn't answer the oft debated question...

"damn, I wish I could. I wanted it to feel like a remote "rock" as Mal says -- so I never even gave it name it was such a backwater."

Thanks again for sharing.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Monday, January 29, 2018 9:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:
Originally posted by YELLOWJACKET:
I've see it debated on RPG sites and occasionally during discussions on Facebook, so I decided it was a good time to chase a definitive answer. We (J. Chris Bourdier and I) are always updating the archives for the 'Verse in Numbers' and the 'ARC of the Verse', so it helps to know where things are.
Have you asked where Kowlon Fed Base is, or Kaylee's home?

I will chase that question and let you know what I learn.

Wow. Tim responded really fast. I asked him where Kaylee was born and raised. Sorry his response doesn't answer the oft debated question...

"damn, I wish I could. I wanted it to feel like a remote "rock" as Mal says -- so I never even gave it name it was such a backwater."

Better information in Blue Sun Room forum, Map of The Verse Discussion thread, posts in Nov 2017.