Writers Q&A EP 305 Freedom & Whisky

Toni Graphia will be answering your questions on Tuesday!
Ye can never have too much freedom, or whisky...here we go! - Toni G.

Q. What was the purpose of the surgery scene?
A. To show Claire as a rockstar surgeon 😷

Q. Was Claire actually transported back in time via the puddle or did she go thru via the Stones but you just didn't show that?
A. Aye. She went thru the stones. The puddle was just used as a metaphor to convey her journey.

Q. What's really in those glasses of whisky? Just curious 😉
A. Why whisky, of course! 🥃😉

Q. Was there a lot of debate about making the dress vs buying one with the zipper as per the book?
A. No debate. Terry came up with the bat dress and we loved the idea! 🦇

Q. Just wondering how long that lobster roll was sitting on the counter
A. Their new Christmas tradition ended up with Roger at Urgent Care. 😉

Q. Did Frank and Rev Wakefield die in the same year?
A. Frank died 2 years earlier. 😢

Q. I wanted to know if she lost the topaz in the necklace from Brianna... will we find that out?
A. Yep. It's gone. Her E-ticket to the past.

Q. Many assumed that the episode would end with the bell chiming. What made you decide to go even further?
A. That would be too much of a TV fake out.

Q. Love the transition between Boston & Scotland! Was that your vision all along, or were there many different scenarios in mind?
A. We thought about the stones, but since we'd shown it more than once, this was more poetic.

Q. Loved that you show Claire's concern over her looks before she goes! Very real!
A. Yes, a vulnerable moment anyone can relate to.

Q. It seemed that Roger preferred to remain in the States with Brianna. Is that how you intend to play it in Season 4?
A. No. He has a job to get back to at Oxford.

Q. Did claire keep Franks ring on when she returned to Jamie ?
A. Yes. She keeps both rings always.

Q. I wonder how many takes it took for Sam to fall like that lol but THANK YOU FOR 3X05 omg my fave episode yet!
A. If you ask him, probably too many!

Q. The puddle was a perfect segue. Much like Claire offering her hand to Frank and Jamie clasping it in S2E1
A. Yes, that's exactly how we meant it.

Q. Did Caitriona know how to sew, or learn some basics?
A. That woman can do anything!

Q. Have you written anymore scripts for Season 3.
A. Yes. Co-wrote another with the incredibly talented Matt Roberts.

Q. What made you bring the prologue "puddle" into the show for the transition? That was perfection, thank you! Thank you all! ❤️👏
A. I loved Diana's beautiful prologue and wanted to use it somewhere. This was a perfect fit.

Q. In your mind was the the time Bree saw Sandy a coinsidence or was Frank planning to meet her in that bookstore?
A. In my mind, they accidentally ran into each other.

Q. I loved the episode but why do you have Brianna at Harvard when women could only go to Radcliffe then?
A. We researched this - Radcliffe women often took classes on Harvard campus. And degrees had both Harvard & Radcliffe on them.

Q. Was the scene with Claire & Joe discussing Lenny's new name filmed? Any particular reason it wasn't included?
A. Unfortunately we had to trim that scene for length.

Q. When Bree saw Roger watching Dark Shadows, she called it daytime TV. Wouldn't she have said Soap Opera?
A. Ha ha. You're right. He wasn't watching Jerry Springer! BTW, I mistakenly called it Dr. Who in the podcast. Too much whisky!

Q. Was there an idea to have @RikRankin sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" for this past ep? Claire would've liked it
A. No. But I included it because I read it is a coded Jacobite anthem.

Q. Toni, I heard you say that you had to ship a Checker cab to S Africa, so have all the Boston scenes been filmed in S Africa?
A. No, just the stepping out of the cab.

Q. Why didn't you have Claire saying something snippy back at Sandy like she usually would anyone else?
A. Because there was truth in Sandy's words and Claire knew it.

Q. Why didn’t Bree&Roger make out under the Christmas tree?I was 20 in 1968, &I would have given Roger more than a lobster roll
A. He's the son of a minister! You must proceed slowly! 😘

Q. Why is Claire watching Apollo 11 landing in December 1968 when that happened in July 1969? A historical license perhaps?
A. This was Apollo 8. First moon orbit. Dec 24, 1968. We used the real broadcast.

Q. Whose idea was the Batman song? @bearmccreary I think music was my absolute favourite thing of 305 brilliant!
A. It was Ron's idea! 🦇

Q. Loved the Dark Shadows moment. Was that particular bit of episode chosen for what it said or just random snippet?
A. We chose it on purpose. It actually aired on that date: Dec 23, 1968. Episode 651. Thanks, Elicia, our Post Producer!

Q. What happened to Roger after the memorial? Did he f*rt and embarrass Bree & Claire? Stay to help clean up?
A. Ha ha! I think he was networking with the other professors. 🌬️

Q. I thought Claire coloring her gray hair was an interesting choice. Will she keep that up in the 18th cent?
A. There is no Lady Clarol in 1767!

Q. I think I know the answer, but what was the motivation for the confrontation between Sandy & Claire?
A. To have Claire face what their deal cost Frank.

Q. Looking forward to reading Ep305 script 😁👍 Favorite lines in this episode? (You can’t say “Jamie faints” 😉)
A. "Fuck fate" - Thanks Matt for that one!

Q. You wrote both episodes where Claire says goodbye 2 her daughters.Did Faith come 2your mind when u wrote 305?
A. Honestly, it didn't at the time. But I realized it later. A bit of serendipity.

Q. Was the patient on the operating table someone from the OL crew or an extra/day player? Looked familiar!
A. It was me after a long day in the writers' room. Kidding!

Q. 'the work is the reward' is inspired by..??😃 a brave thing to ad this speech. 🙌👌👏
A. Inspired by my feeling about writing for Outlander. 💚