The Colonel and Priscilla

[ffutures]

I need to think of roles for Colonel Parker and Priscilla in Elvis: The Legendary Tours

I rather like the idea of Parker as commander of the Royal Guard in the Mystic Land of Grace, Elvis' homeland, obeying the orders of the usurper because it is his duty, but angsting a lot about it, and possibly showing a marked lack of initiative when it comes to dealing with Elvis.

Priscilla is, of course, Queen of the (Mojave) Desert. What I'm not clear on is her relationship to Elvis in this context.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Comments

[elementalv.livejournal.com]

Wasn't she his ego fluffer?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Doesn't quite work in the context of an action-adventure TV series.

[maviscruet.livejournal.com]

For some reason having Priscilla as his mystic advisor ammuses me, a mysterious figure who appears delivers advice and then is gone.

Very much like Hern the Hunter in Robin of Sherwood but more glittery and less misty. Teaching Elvis the mystic power of sequins.

[speakr2customrs.livejournal.com]

If she was Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert she could be his cook.

[ludditerobot.livejournal.com]

I'd put Col. Parker somewhere between Grima Wormtongue and ... Cardinal Riechlilu(sp?). Arguably, the Land of Grace wouldn't be nearly as powerful without him, but E never toured outside the US and made bad movies on the Colonel's advice.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

How does this sound:

Parker appears to be a skilled professional soldier, loyal to his nation rather than Costello. He has sworn an oath to protect the occupant of the throne, whoever it may be and however worthy (or unworthy) to rule. In his encounters with Elvis he usually appears to obey the letter of his instructions, not the intention of Costello, and this has often worked in Elvis’ favour. However, it is possible that he is playing a much deeper game than at first appears, manoeuvring Elvis and Costello onto a collision course and planning to seize the throne for himself when both are too weak to stop him.

[ludditerobot.livejournal.com]

I like.

[agent13.livejournal.com]

Well, the name Priscilla traces back to a Latin root meaning "ancient". You could make her an Ayesha analog, an immortal queen who wants to make Elvis her immortal consort. (My wife, reading (somewhat rudely) over my shoulder, points out the film Bubba-Ho-Tep gives some precedent for Elvis fighting gunslinging mummies.) You could also go the Queen of Sheba route, with Priscilla being the fabulously wealthy queen that Elvis has an affair (and unknowingly fathers a child) with, inadvertantly giving the usurper ammunition for his later coup.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'm thinking more in terms of her being a desert bandit, something like a female version of the Omar Sharif character in Lawrence of Arabia.

[ci5rod.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Are you thinking a bit like Phoolan Devi, the Bandit Queen?

Could she be the love interest taking every opportunity to snipe at the Land of Grace (putting her at odds with Parker) because she's fallen for Elvis and wants to weaken Costello for him? Could they have become married by the custom of her people, and Elvis hasn't actually noticed as such?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That's an excellent idea - thanks, it works pretty well for me.