Do It Scared

There was only one bed trope.

Post during call so who knows how good it is lol.

The Pitt, Mel King/Frank Langdon, Part 1/6, The Hunger Games AU, for Day 6 of @kingdonweek. Rated T. Banner by @pansiesandposies

After all, everyone knew that Melissa King shouldn’t have been the winner. She was no prize.

The Pitt, Mel King/Frank Langdon, Part 2/6, The Hunger Games AU. Rated T. Banner by @pansiesandposies

Mel frowned, taking the paper. She unfolded it and read, in an unfamiliar scrawl: 

Frank Langdon of District 4 would like to discuss a potential alliance, on behalf of Tribute Nico Diomedes, with Tribute Bronwyn Forster of District 7, with their Mentor. 

The Pitt, Mel King/Frank Langdon, Part 3/6, The Hunger Games AU. Rated T. Banner by @pansiesandposies

He looked at her, resolute and scared all at once. “I never thought…” he shook his head. “I always told myself that I was better off alone. It would be easier that way.” 

“That sounds lonely,” she said softly. She understood and yet she didn’t. She knew that the Capitol could use your loved ones against you at any time, she wasn’t that naive. But they could hurt you regardless, couldn’t they? She couldn’t imagine giving up her family, giving up the hope of friends. 

“Yeah, but it’s for the best,” he said. His gaze seared into her. “At least, until you. I don’t know what it is about you, but you just smash through all my defenses.” 

The Pitt, Mel King/Frank Langdon, Part 4/6, The Hunger Games AU. Rated T. Banner by @pansiesandposies

“He’s normally so… controlled. Careful. Wary of others. But he couldn’t help himself with you.” Yolanda tilted her head. “I’m trying to understand why.” 

Mel shook her head. “Well I can’t help you,” she said, too shocked to be afraid or cautious. “I don’t understand it either.” 

To her surprise, Yolanda laughed. “Maybe that was why,” she said. “You weren’t afraid to be honest with him. Or didn’t know enough to try and fake it.”

Find Part 2 here

For context: the Writer's Guild Foundation Library in LA allows you to visit the library and view any of the scripts that they have. They are only available in person, and you aren't allowed to take pictures, but you're allowed to take as many notes as you want. If you have any questions on this process feel free to hit me up!

I also want to preface this with saying that anything that was cut from the original scripts is not canon, however it's interesting to see what the writers were thinking at one point. It's also interesting to see what was not originally in the script and got added in later on

Let's do the highlight reel in chronological order

When Frank and Mel are first reunited with the "Dr. Langdon!" scene, the direction notes are "Mel’s mood suddenly brightens and she almost hugs him, but comes up short and awkward"

There's a moment that was cut of Liam (the bike injury criminal) and Mel, where he asks if she has "anyone special" and she says "No. Work keeps me very busy"

When Liam asks what Mel herself likes to do the direction notes are "It’s been a while since anyone asked Mel this – if ever. Hell, she isn’t even sure what she does for fun and has to think about it"

When Mel is hurt: "Langdon spots Mel, getting checked over by Dana and Perlah at the North Hub. Sensing something’s wrong, he moves away"

The script had Frank originally saying "inside joke" rather than "inside thing"

This scene ends with the direction that Mel is "glad Langdon’s here"

After Frank tells Mel that he was gone due to his benzos addiction, the direction is "Mel nods – this may be the worst news she’s ever heard"

"You didn’t let me down" in the script when the episode had "you never let me down"

and Frank responds "Yeah, I did. I should be setting an example, not a cautionary tale"

When the cops are telling Mel she might need to testify with Liam "Langdon realizes she needs some space"

They start to leave, but Langdon pauses. He turns off the lights "The ER can be a little bright as noisy" Langdon winks at Mel, then closes the door behind them (HELLO?????)

When Frank is talking to Dana in the break room in ep6 "I almost lost everything. There are plenty of women who would’ve left me and taken the kids. But Abby stayed. I don’t know why, but she stayed"