MY VISUAL IS NOT YOUR VISUAL

It's a funny kind of synchronicity, working on an adaptation of a story written by your wife. Last night, for example, I was talking about who I visualised in the main roles, in an effort to explain to Lyn some of the changes I'd made to her story. Which led to her explaining who she had visualised. Which led to a whole lot of laughter.

So for your entertainment, the different people we visualised for the writing of our different versions of The Memory of Breathing:

COMMANDER JANSSEN: The nominal 'hero'and protagonist of the piece. Commander of the camp wherein the reanimated corpses are housed. Me: Bob Hoskins. Lyn: Jon Hamblin from Play School.

REBEKAH HOLYOAKE: The 9 year old re-animated Corpse whose peril drives the narrative. Me: Dakota Fanning. Lyn: Jenny from Hey Dad

LADY MCAULIFFE: The rich, elderly spinster who shelters Rebekah and provides a humanising mother figure. Me: Maggie Smith. Lyn: Esme from A Country Practice

(Note: In Lyn's original story, Lady McAuliffe is named Lady McMahon. Producer Matt thinks we should change it, just to avoid a possible role-confusion with the real-life Lady Sonia McMahon. (In actuality, Lyn named the character with my mother's maiden name) Naturally, Lyn and I are both of the opinion that Lady Sonia should be given a chance to read for the role...)

PARKER: The young, ambitious offsider to Janssen who doesn't remember the pre-apocalypse world. Me: Matt Day. Lyn: Matt Damon.

THE PROTESTOR: A black clad religious zealot whose denunciations and proclamations of hellfire provide a counter-current to the main characters' attempts to save Rebekah. Me: Ben Peek Lyn: Ben Peek

So there you go.