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Patrick Bauchau: TNT/Yahoo Chat with Richard Marcus and Patrick Bauchau (Page Four)

From TNT/Yahoo Audio Chat -- March 30, 2001 (continued from Page 3)

Moderator: For both of you: Do you think you and the rest of the cast of The Pretender would be willing to do more movies if TNT wants more?

RM: I would say, of course. An unqualified yes...for this man here.

PB: It's a great responsibility because...you have to put yourself in our place at the Centre. For years, since the late '40s, we've been working in the dark - sublevel 26, 27, 34 - sometimes even above ground. But suddenly in '95 somebody shone a bright light upon us and dug us from underground. And suddenly we were operating in broad daylight; we were appalled. And thank God, Garth Ancier pulled us off the air...you know, at NBC after five years. Because otherwise...now work is much easier underground. But of course now TNT is a totally different question because TNT is much more discreet. So I guess if we're called upon, we will show up for work, and we'll film.

RM: That man is a genius.

Moderator: OK, ready for the next one?

RM: I'm still recovering from that one.

Moderator: What have been the most challenging roles of your career?

RM: Wow. You mean besides the Centre roles?

Moderator: Yeah.

RM: OK. For this man here, it was...I don't know if the audience is old enough, but I was a recurring character on St. Elsewhere and I played a guy who thought he was a bird. (chuckles) His name was Ralph Sessions, and that was the most challenging role that I have had...besides of course Raines.

PB: Did you integrate some of that bird talk into Raines's oxygen tank?

RM: Oh yes. The squeaks actually were mocking birds in their own right. But that role was a wonderful role for me, the bird man. Sad to say that in the end he flew away.

PB: Well, as for Sydney, of course Sydney is essentially a survivor. His childhood was very dramatic, a little bit like Jarod's, and he was quite happy working in the dark, so the key day was when they suddenly shone that light upon his labors underground. And he's still recovering from that, but he has adjusted.

RM: The thing about...

PB: Does that answer it? I'm not sure.

RM: Well, Patrick has played so many incredible roles in his career that...look I'm just stepping in here and saying that I think that he probably would have to think about this one for a long while. Don't forget he's been in more than a hundred feature films. So....

RM: You there?

PB: Hello? Hello?

Moderator: Are you ready for the next question?

PB: ...going through?

Moderator: I think Kelly's getting you, but my line keeps cutting out.

PB: Ouille! Deb, can you see something...on the screen?

Moderator: Yeah, but I think we might have a little problem with the audio.

PB: Ah ha.

Moderator: Hopefully nobody else is.

PB: OK. What do you see, Deb?

Moderator: Hopefully I didn't cut anybody off. Are you ready for another question?

PB: Oh I believe Sydney is not speaking loud enough maybe.

Deb:Yes.

PB: Ah ha. OK, is this better?

Kelly:Yes.

PB: Yeah sometimes I get carried away, you know...

Moderator: OK the next question...

PB: ...in my basement. Although it looks surprisingly like a treehouse, you know, when I look out the window.

Deb:Subterranean treehouse.

PB:Right.

Moderator: OK the next question is for both of you: What is it like working with Jon Gries?

PB: Ouille! Broots! Jonny Gries!

RM: (in Raines' raspy voice) Mr. Broots! Mr. Broots! (normal voice) You know, actually that's a great question. There was one scene that was cut out that it's too bad that you didn't see it. Maybe it's somewhere around, but Raines actually tortured Broots for a long while in this scene, and it got out of hand. And I forget, which episode it was in...(chuckles as the ep name is whispered to him) Indy Show, yeah that's right. Broots was a lot fun, Jon Gries was a lot of fun to work with. Very funny guy in real life.

PB: Both in the Centre and in life because Jon is a great companion and...although I have not tortured him, I've only had games with him like psychoanalytical games in an episode the name of which escapes me now, but...Stand up Guy I think it might be, yes. [Don't blame Patrick; I gave him the wrong ep name. Heat of the moment, blah blah. ;-)] So Jon was there revealing his interest in Miss Parker, and I kept encouraging him and it was great. He's a great comedian. Although sometimes he doesn't see it himself. But I think that's the mark of a great comedian - when you don't know that you're being funny.

RM: That's in real life also.

PB: (laughing) L-O-L

Moderator: OK, I think we have time for one more question here. This is for the both of you: What is your favorite part about being on The Pretender?

RM: Well, my favorite part is working with the ensemble, and really interacting both as the character and as Richard Marcus with my fellow actors. That's the most enjoyable part is the work. And it's really...really it's a wonderful, wonderful group to work with. It's, I'd say the best ensemble in the business.

PB: (chuckling) Very kind of you, Dr. Raines. That's an unusual mood for you. (both laugh) In the case of...in my case of course it's all of those things too. Plus I would say arriving on the stage a little before the scene is to be...before the day begins, as it were, and feeling the temperature and remembering that the scene on paper is impossible - that you cannot possibly play that scene because it's too much explanation, or too this or too that. And suddenly when you're on the stage, you forget about all the impossible things and you just do it. And it turns out great. So those are the great moments.

RM: Plus I must add, Kraft Services.

PB: (laughing) Let's not forget Kraft Service, yes.

RM: For those of you who don't know, Kraft Services are little food trays that is presented to the actors and the crew.

PB: Getting more organic with each season. The stage was next to Whole Foods on Canoga Park. This is a tip.

Moderator: Do you have any parting thoughts you'd like to leave fans with out there?

RM: Uh, just that we...well personally speaking it was wonderful relaying my thoughts today to you all, and it's been a wonderful experience working on the show. It's a great show. And that's about it. Great writing, great actors.

PB: Oh. Well Sydney...great...Well, um...I thought it was over. I hope you managed to transcribe some of this because I'm suddenly aware that we may have tripped one another here and there, and so on...and if you did, you're a genius. So, big hug to you all in Atlanta, and so the latest Canadian episode will come out whenever you decide. We're fully behind it. Great! And we all pray for more, if that is, as they say in Salvadore, "Dios primero," if God wishes.

Moderator: We want to thank the two of you for being with us. You've been fantastic. We apologize for some technical problems and hope we can get you back here again soon. And we want to thank all of you who participated and let you know that next Wednesday we'll have an all-new Pretender site. And be sure to check back, and thanks again for coming.

RM: OK great.

PB: Very exciting.

Moderator: It was good talking with both of you, take care.

RM: Bye bye.