In the actual pub, the Garricks Head, there tends to be a gang of drinkers near the bar. Mostly middle aged.

More affluent people sat eating and drinking on the left side and then rougher workers, and rougher people in the vault on the right side. The layout is open, but there's an unofficial divide.

Probably not worth mentioning, but just laying the scene.

Everyone is going to have their own theory about the fog at one point or another. We don't need a Neil deGrass Tyson character per se, but one person who has the most plausible explanation and is soon proven completely wrong will unsettle everyone, including the audience. That's good stuff.

Melvin O'Donnell, 54, bus driver, divorced. A regular, someone who knows the city well and knows people along his route.

Barbara Pierce, 50, Melvin's ex-wife, comes looking for him when she can't get a hold of their 20 year old son Rupert soon after the fog hits.

George Prescott, 26, recently geology graduate, is on a date with Kim Libby, 25, American on a work visa. George is soon heading to Cornwall to work in the re-opening tin mine. His grandfather was a miner, but George will be working in a lab.

Quoted from ReneC Everyone is going to have their own theory about the fog at one point or another. We don't need a Neil deGrass Tyson character per se, but one person who has the most plausible explanation and is soon proven completely wrong will unsettle everyone, including the audience. That's good stuff.

That’s where I think we can utilize the Telly or radio — the tv is on in the pub and it still works for now. And an expert is brought on who gives some heavy stuff that shakes everyone to the core.  And maybe the communications systems slowly start to go out and people now start coming up with their own theories, which panics people even more.  People gravitate to the people they find plausible. Camps are formed. Alliances are made and enemies are created. Social norms start to break down. The natural leaders try to bring calm to the situation but it may be a losing battle.

The military is called out, but even they can’t control the chaos as they don’t even know what they’re trying to control. They can’t see anything, they can’t fight what they can’t see and so they eventually give up, especially when they start to have physical and psychological trauma.  There is talk that there is an area over Spain and Africa, and plans are made to try and get there.

One of the pub regulars is a pilot, and he volunteers, reluctantly, to go up in his small plane to see if there is a ceiling to this fog.  He takes off, but within a minute or so, he comes crashing down back to earth. They rush to the crash and the pilot’s last words are something mysterious, like “It’s so beautiful” or some made up word that keeps everyone guessing.

Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

Quoted from Gary in Houston That’s where I think we can utilize the Telly or radio — the tv is on in the pub and it still works for now. And an expert is brought on who gives some heavy stuff that shakes everyone to the core.  And maybe the communications systems slowly start to go out and people now start coming up with their own theories, which panics people even more.  People gravitate to the people they find plausible. Camps are formed. Alliances are made and enemies are created. Social norms start to break down. The natural leaders try to bring calm to the situation but it may be a losing battle. The military is called out, but even they can’t control the chaos as they don’t even know what they’re trying to control. They can’t see anything, they can’t fight what they can’t see and so they eventually give up, especially when they start to have physical and psychological trauma.  There is talk that there is an area over Spain and Africa, and plans are made to try and get there. One of the pub regulars is a pilot, and he volunteers, reluctantly, to go up in his small plane to see if there is a ceiling to this fog.  He takes off, but within a minute or so, he comes crashing down back to earth. They rush to the crash and the pilot’s last words are something mysterious, like “It’s so beautiful” or some made up word that keeps everyone guessing. Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

That's good.

I like the idea of news sources slowly disappearing.  It builds tension.

I also like the idea of the pilot saying his last words.  It shouldn't be "My God. It's full of stars.", but something that we can use later on.

Great ideas.

I think the Pilots final words should be less hopeful, more ominous. Maybe something like - "The fog... It doesn't end... It never ends..."

Quoted from Zack I think the Pilots final words should be less hopeful, more ominous. Maybe something like - "The fog... It doesn't end... It never ends..."

oooh, interesting.  that could work too.

Quoted from Zack I think the Pilots final words should be less hopeful, more ominous. Maybe something like - "The fog... It doesn't end... It never ends..."

The thing is that solid cloud cover reaching for hundreds of miles is a fairly routine sight in European skies. Kinda makes me wonder how astronomers of the Renaissance accomplished anything.

Anyone made any progress with fleshing out some of the characters in the pub?

I had a little stab at starting a couple:

Small business owner.

Perhaps the woman I developed before as a potential main character. Lifestyle guru/Business consultant. Control freak. Haughty. Aggressive. Slowly goes insane.

Psychologist.

Very adamant that the effects of the fog are all Psychological. But is having doubts about their own state of mind.

Hardcore drunk.

Lost his wife tragically some years before. He's one of the people that becomes affected by the fog. Starts to imagine that his wife is in the fog. Goes off the look for her.

Accountant.

Extremely Right Wing viewpoints, both socially and financially. Thinks lefties are all communists and layabouts.

I started to develop the COBRA gang, as well.

The Prime Minister.

Eton Educated. 53. Highly privileged. On the Socially Liberal end of conservative. Weak willed and not emotionally prepared for the role he needs to play, the stress is too much for him. He finds it increasingly difficult to focus on the reality of the situation.

Fire service minister.  

A State educated, competent woman from Birmingham. Strict in manner. Requests more and more money as fire service becomes more important. Disappears.

Police.

Female. From London. Socially Liberal Commissioner. Baulks at the requirements of the job as crime rises. Trapped in ways of thinking that are no longer relevant.

Minister of Defence.

Extremely competent. Hard-line. Is aware of the danger we're facing and the steps that will become inevitable. Has arguments with all the Politicians as he doesn't believe they are understanding the situation, or responding to it quickly enough. Comes to a quick realisation that he wants Martial Law declred and that he must take control.

The Department of Transport. Shambles of a man. Defers quickly to the Military. Disappears from the cabinet.

The Home Office Minister.

West Indian Female. Hardline. Believes in the Death Penalty. Longer sentences. Strict authoritarian and has  little empathy for people who choose a life of crime. Agrees with MOD. Suggests internment camps for prisoners, criminals and is the first Politician to push for Martial Law. She takes control of the Cabinet as the Prime Minister descends into depression.


Foreign Minister.

Anglo- Indian. She keeps the Cabinet up to date on Foreign Affairs. Stresses the likelihood of war, the effect on trade, medicines and such from foreign countries.

UK security services:

MI5 (internal affairs).  

Discusses the risks of domestic terrorism. Likelihood that the incident is terror related. Becomes increasingly paranoid and sees threats everywhere. In the fog, and in the Cabinet.

MI6 (external affairs).

Requests funding to explore whether it is an attack from a foreign power. Current information suggests that all Governments are blaming everyone else and no infirmation that there is any particular active agent behind the fog. Reports that borders are now essentially unprotectable. Warns that due to confusion and limited visibiltiy, Governments may act aggressively. Threat of Nuclear War.


DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
She keeps us uptodate on the food shortages and the effect of farmers. Has a long standign dislike of the Prime Minister.

Climatologist. Female. Afro-Caribbean.

Very Left Wing. Discusses what the fog is and how to get rid of it. Oxford educated. highly intelligent. Had a former relationship with the Meteorologist who she now vehemently dislikes. They disagree about nearly everything; from Climate change to the current situation. Believes the current situation must be related to climate change and man's actions.

Meteorologist. Oxford educated. Believes the cause is yet to be known, that people must not jump to conclusions based on their own agendas. Requests funding to head a research team to thoroughly investigate the composition of the fog.

Health Minister: Anglo-Pakistani. Representing the National Health Service to discuss physical effects of fog, increased likelihood of injury, and the psychological effects.

We'll take it pretty easy tonight, I think.

Give people a bit more time to work on the characters in the Pub.


Once we've got a decent gang together with some ideas for where the conflicts lie, and the direction they're going to take, we'll give our main character some depth.

After that we can start plotting the first episode.

I started padding out the main character's a bit seeming as it's gone quiet.


Please feel  free to suggest any additions, amendments.



Main Character: Jane, Female (44). Police Officer.

Religious views: Agnostic.
Political views: Centrist.
World View is modern/secular. Rooted in mass culture.
Has a secret passion for something unusual for a Police Officer.

As a Police Officer her role is very often to try to keep the Peace between two sides. She's good at diffusing situations. Calm under pressure.

Inner Monologue: A lot about crime, protecting society from chaos, the feeling that you're just a small person trying desperately to hold back a Tsunami of chaos. Trying to maintain some semblance of order in a crazy, violent world.

Questions the idea of what is right and wrong. How do we decide? What is it in humanity that so often seems to turn to violent solutions? How do you control it? How do you maintain order and civilization when there is such a beast inside everyone?

Husband: (56)Former Police Officer. Pub landlord. He's older than his wife and not the action man he once was...bought the pub after taking early retirement from the Police at 55.

Starting to worry he's getting too old for his wife. Particularly as she's got a younger, male partner...

Religious Views: No great believer, but like the structure religion provides.
Political Views: Authoritarian.

Daughter: (19)Royal Armoured Corps. Always been very sporty and athletic. Loud, outspoken, confident.


Son: Michael(15): Rebellious. Attracted to some of the more extreme ideas. Long term, Leans toward the teachings of antagonist.
Perhaps one of his best friends is the brother of local gang leader, Freddie. So he's attracted to that crowd.

Religious views: Strongly anti-theist.
Political Views: Chaotic.

Query: Should we make the family fixed race? Perhaps the woman Black/Afro Carribbean Descent, the Dad White Middle Class then the two kids mixed race?

Quoted from ReneC Melvin O'Donnell, 54, bus driver, divorced. A regular, someone who knows the city well and knows people along his route. Barbara Pierce, 50, Melvin's ex-wife, comes looking for him when she can't get a hold of their 20 year old son Rupert soon after the fog hits. George Prescott, 26, recently geology graduate, is on a date with Kim Libby, 25, American on a work visa. George is soon heading to Cornwall to work in the re-opening tin mine. His grandfather was a miner, but George will be working in a lab.

Sounds good. I like the lost son stand. Perhaps finding him is something our main character can be part of.

Quoted from Gary in Houston That’s where I think we can utilize the Telly or radio — the tv is on in the pub and it still works for now. And an expert is brought on who gives some heavy stuff that shakes everyone to the core.  And maybe the communications systems slowly start to go out and people now start coming up with their own theories, which panics people even more.  People gravitate to the people they find plausible. Camps are formed. Alliances are made and enemies are created. Social norms start to break down. The natural leaders try to bring calm to the situation but it may be a losing battle. The military is called out, but even they can’t control the chaos as they don’t even know what they’re trying to control. They can’t see anything, they can’t fight what they can’t see and so they eventually give up, especially when they start to have physical and psychological trauma.  There is talk that there is an area over Spain and Africa, and plans are made to try and get there. One of the pub regulars is a pilot, and he volunteers, reluctantly, to go up in his small plane to see if there is a ceiling to this fog.  He takes off, but within a minute or so, he comes crashing down back to earth. They rush to the crash and the pilot’s last words are something mysterious, like “It’s so beautiful” or some made up word that keeps everyone guessing. Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

All good stuff.