By the Book: Catching Fire Predictions for Chapter 14
It’s time for our Chapter 14 installment of By the Book, where the Mockingjay.net staff predicts what parts of “Catching Fire” will make it from the book and into the film, what scenes we’re afraid might get cut, and what quotes we hope to hear included in the script.
By the Book contains spoilers for Catching Fire, so if you haven’t read the book and don’t want to ruin any surprises, STOP READING RIGHT NOW!
After a subdued dinner on the train, Katniss and Peeta watch recordings of the other reapings with Effie and Haymitch. Katniss tries to sleep but has a nightmare, and ends up watching Haymitch’s Second Quarter Quell tape with Peeta. They see how Haymitch became allies with Maysilee and how he won by using the Gamemaker’s forcefield as a weapon. Haymitch comes in at the end, and Katniss realizes how clever he really is.
Carla
Since we’ve seen the bracelet Finnick’s wearing in the arena, I’m going to say the conversation about them all having tokens to seem like ʺa teamʺ is going to be in the film in some shape or form. Same with the reapings in the districts, which I’m very much looking forward to. (I still think it’ll be some sort of montage in order to save time, but I hope it’s an emotional one). I don’t know if the Peeta/Katniss scene will be the same as it is in the book, but I hope they take the chance to have some kind of relationship-developing moment for them at that point, because they need as much of that as they can fit in before the other victors come up to take the spotlight.
I’ve always thought Haymitch’s time in the arena won’t make it into the film. To me, it seems too big an undertaking to have to construct a whole different arena and cast so many extras just for a few short scenes, not to mention we haven’t heard anything about anyone being cast as Maysilee or young Haymitch. They need to at least let us know about it somehow, though, because it’s important foreshadowing, with the force field and all. I think they might have Peeta tell Katniss the story, or it would be nice if Effie or even Haymitch himself were to tell them about it, at least a little. I’d like for Maysilee to at least be mentioned, if not directly in relation to Katniss’s pin, but because it gives depth to Haymitch’s character.
Line I Hope Makes It
Katniss: ʺIt’s almost as bad as us and the berries!ʺ — Because, really, who needs rebels when you’ve got Team Twelve? 
Tash
Now that we know Bonnie and Twill won’t be making an appearance, this gives me a glimmer (ha, see what I did there?) of hope that there will be time for the moment shared between Katniss and Peea. I think this is important for the film as it shows the continually developing bond between them, as well as demonstrating that Katniss really is in love with Peeta. If this is cut, there better be some time between them on the roof before entering the quell! The information from the latest issue of EW regarding the fleshing out of Effie in Catching Fire gave me an interesting thought – what if Effie tells Katniss and Peeta about Haymitch’s games? She could do this easily after dinner and watching the reapings, I can imagine Haymitch solemnly trudging out of the room and leaving the three of them alone. Even if Effie doesn’t delve into the full story she could provide the motivation they need to watch his tape, therefore discovering the forcefield trick. This can then lead to Katniss and Peeta curling up on the couch to watch the tape, and I hope they come up with a humorous line for Haymitch to enter the room with at the end moment to break some of the tension. Given most of this chapter includes Katniss’ inner thoughts of keeping Peeta alive, I think showing her on the couch with Peeta will be a physical way to demonstrate how she is trying to protect him. Even if watching Haymitch’s tape/his story is cut I think as Carla said this is a prime moment to talk about the pin and elude to the rebellion, and hopefully get a mention/hint about the forcefield before hitting the arena.
Line I Hope Makes It
There aren’t really any standout lines here, so like I said I would like Haymitch to have a witty line to enter with as Katniss and Peeta finish watching the tapes, so Katniss could still lead off with ʺIt’s almost as bad as us and the berries!ʺ
Ciara
I hope they spare a few seconds to watch the train pulling them away from District 12 and the painfully subdued dinner afterwards before leading into the Reapings. If Caesar and Cladius appear, to talk us through some of the past victors, it would be a perfect way to set up the Quater Quell and how it’s like the Champions League of Hunger Games. It would make a nice contrast from the depression of Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta to the Capitol’s hype machine. I don’t think we’ll see Haymitch’s Games as much as I’d love to and if it does appear I’d think it would be brief (like showing the past Games in the first film, with the victor beating the boy with rubble). But I think you could do it in a very powerful way if Haymitch, quietly, tells the story. You could easily segue here from the Reapings to past Quarter Quells. Caesar and Claudius could tell us of their memories of the previous Quell and speculate about this one. The TV turns off leaving Haymitch to tell us breifly of his experience in the arena with the aid of alcohol. From his performance in The Messenger (heck, even in Zombieland), Woody Harrelson can do a lot with a close-up and past trauma to express. I think it could be quite an emotional way to have Katniss and Peeta find out about his past. Above all, what is most important to pull from this chapter, however it’s conveyed, is Haymitch rebelling or being cunning against the Capitol and possibly hinting that he suffered dearly for it.
Line I Hope Makes It
For me, there are no lines that I’d be sure would make it from straight from prose to screen.
Erin
I think that only the first part of this chapter will be included in the movie, starting with the subdued dinner on the train. Effie will be trying to be positive, talking about getting a mockingjay ankle band and bracelet made for Peeta and Haymitch so they can all look like a team, but she’ll not be her usually upbeat self. I think she’ll look kind of sad or troubled. We know reaping footage has been shot, so hopefully we’ll see a lot of that when they sit down to watch the recaps after dinner. Here I want Haymitch and Effie to make comments about some of them (like Brutus, Finnick, Johanna, Cecilia, Chaff, etc). I want there to be Second Quarter Quell footage, but I don’t think there will be. As for the forcefield, I suspect that we won’t hear anything about it until Beetee points it out in the training room. Then he’ll look at Katniss and say something like ʺUsing the forcefield was how your mentor won his Gameʺ, which will lead her to ask Haymitch about it later.
Line I Hope Makes It
I want to hear Effie sounding truely sad as she says ʺOh, not Cecelia.ʺ
Crystal
Since we know that Haymitch’s bracelet was on Finnick’s arm, I think they’ll show at least a small part of their awkward dinner on the train, especially since Nina Jacobson mentioned that they’re going to show Effie growing a conscious. This will be a great place to start setting that tone. I think their session of watching the other Reapings will be a great place for them to show Haymitch’s pain. And this chapter has that scene we’ve all been obsessing and wondering over. Is Annie Cresta going to be at the D4 reaping?! I just don’t know. If we haven’t heard of her casting, perhaps they’re going to just do a flashback in Mockingjay for her. I think a lot of people should re-read this chapter because it gives you age ranges for TONS of tributes. I remember during casting so many people were complaining about the ages they’d cast, not realizing that they’d gone pretty accurate for most of them. As much as I want to see it, I don’t think they’re going to show Haymitch’s Games. I don’t know how they’ll get around it, but I would think we’d have heard about a young Haymitch casting. They might just have Haymitch tell Katniss and Peeta about it.
Line I Hope Makes It
No lines stand out for me really, especially since I’m predicting they cut the Second Quarter Quell.
Hi everyone!
As always, I love how you all do this. I think that there will not be that much of this chapter in the movie. I think once the reapings happen, they will want to get them to the Capitol as soon as possible, so that they can spend the time they will want to on the entrance of Finnick, Johanna, and the others. I think this will be a pretty quick scene, hopefully with some of the nice Katniss/Peeta stuff on the couch. I think this will be the point to build up the relationship a little more. I do not think we will see much (if anything) of Haymitch’s games. The fact that it does not move the plot really at all, and the change with the pin means that there is no reason to learn about Maysilee. I do agree that the fact that Haymitch used the force field to win his games should be brought in because of the importance of the force field as a weapon later on. This can be done in discussion. (I love the idea of Effie being the one to tell that part). I also think the mention that Haymitch won because he outsmarted the rest would be neat to bring in. I just don’t think we will see anything visually. I agree that metnioning the matching jewelry will probably happen, but it can be done at another point before the arena. I just think the train part will be very short because they will want to spend more time right after this on introducing all the tributes. : )
I’m rooting for the Everlark hug to be in there.
I agree with Erin. I really hope they include Effie saying “Oh, not Cecilia”. It has been hinted at that Effie will fully realise the evil of the Games in Catching Fire and this would perfectly work with that. I definitely think that the reapings will show montages of the seperate districts feeling for their victors. It would have “the perfect touch of rebellion”.
I know they won’t actually show footage from the 50th Hunger Games, but I really hope they at least mention the fact that Haymitch broke the forcefield. It’s really important for them to hint that so that when Katniss shoots the arrow through the forcefield, the audience understands what is going on…otherwise it might be like “what just happened”.
I really hope there are some good Katniss – Peeta scenes in there! It can be a good lead up to the beach scene, and Mockingjay where Katniss is supposed to be devastated (SPOILER) by Peeta’s hijacking.
Yeah there just have to be some scenes that led to this. otherwise it just won’t make sence (especially for a reader of the books. Cause the books gives us plenty)
Since the imdb page lists someone as ‘Woody Harrelson stunt double’ I think it eould be safe to assume that Haymitch’ character will get some fighting sequences!!! As for Effie, I have actually seen.an excerpt from the actual script somewhere, on the net, and in it, Effie talks to Katniss about how Johanna wins the games, so they might indeed use other people like Haymitch and Effie to make some stuff clear that would be to much f a hassle to actually make whole scene out of.
Whatever they’re using the stunt double for, those aren’t going to be the Second Quarter Quell scenes, since Woody Harrelson wouldn’t be in them in the first place for obvious reasons!
Besides, IMDB cast lists aren’t the most reliable source out there.
Actually, I remember Imdb being pretty reliable since they listed jena Malone and Sam Claflin even before Lionsgate announced it on the official castlist. The only reason why Woody would need a stunt double would be for scenes out of the first Quarter Quell. Which were the games he won, thats what I was trying to say. We all might not expect something visual when they mention how Haymitch won the games, but we might get some, since Woody has a stunt double.
haymitch probably have a stund double because of the hard training Peeta will put him.
Because I can’t imagine that they will show us Woody Harrelson at the first QQ where he is supposed to be 14.
Wasn’t Haymitch 16? Anyway, yeah, Woody may be a great actor, but playing a teenager would be a little outside of his abilities
unless they used the motion capture technique. 
Perhaps they used a stunt double for the scene where Katniss violently attacks him on the hovercraft – in order to be sure he doesn’t get a scratch or a bruise on his face, which could delay the shooting. Actors getting injured during fight scenes has been known to happen. For instance, there was an incident on shooting an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, when lead actor Avery Brooks was shooting a fight scene with prominent recurring cast member Marc Alaimo, and accidentally broke Alaimo’s nose, so he had to be taken immediately to the hospital (still in full alien makeup, which freaked out the medics at first, LOL).
It also listed Tony Shalhoub as Beetee. And it was listing Sam Claflin as Harry Osborn in Amazing Spider-man 2 for a long time, even for some time after the casting of Dane De Haan was officially announced. Anyone with a Pro account can edit IMDB; in the above cases, people listed the rumored castings. Some of them turned out to be true, some did not.
And then there’s also a bunch of actors, extras and stuntspeople who list themselves on the cast list of a movie before it comes out, because it looks good on their own IMDB bio. But none of this is really reliable except for the official cast list released by Lionsgate. Some of the extras may be listing their characters wrong or giving them names and characteristics they invented. That was the case with the cast list for the first THG movie before it came out. There was one cast member listed as playing a character called “Drexler Hoverhound”, which drew so much attention it was discussed at length in HG Fireside Chat. In the end it turned out that an extra was imaginative and decided to give their character a name.
Ah, ok thanks. My point was that Sam and Jena were casted on the imdb page a time before Lionsgate came out. Which lead me to believe an insider was behind it.
Dont trust IMDB they are not reliable
anyone can change content on there…:)
Or that double could be for the fight with Katniss in the hovercraft after they rescue her. She does claw her fingers down his face.
Zaire, it makes more sense that the stunt double is being used in the training scenes for the upcoming Quarter Quell. As others have stated, Haymitch’s character was in his teens when he won. Make-up can do wonderful things for aging a character, but not in reverse to make someone in their 40s look like a teen.
Well ok, everyone. (Why burst my bubble!) Ill shut up. I was just saying he might get some fight scenes! His stunt double doesn’t look old tho.. Anyway, all of the reasons you guys listed for woody having a stunt double sound even less probable than mine.. tbh.. (I dont see
jlaw scratching Haymitch, since that is such a tiny detail. And I dont see why you would need a stunt double for training?)
Maybe they’ll use that stunt double as a young version of him as well?
I can’t believe nobody mentioned the line I consider most important in this chapter. After they watch Haymitch’s game (which, by the way, I don’t believe they will show, they may refer it in another way but I wouldn’t be surprised if they just cut that part completely even though it is important for Haymitch’s character development), the Capitol servant serves both Peeta and Katniss Milk with honey, and Peeta says: “I don’t think the people in the Capitol are going to be all that happy about our going back in. Or the Other Victors. They get attached to their champions.” I honestly think this is an important line, it provides insight on why the capitol people may not be so happy this year and why they may became more self aware, thus justifying their reactions when Caesar interviews the tributes.
I did think about that but I just wasn’t sure how they would weave it in, especially when there were really no Capitol attendants in the first film other than Avoxes, and their story wasn’t established. Plus given the prep team were hardly shown either and when they were they looked at Katniss with complete disdain I just couldn’t suddenly picture movie Capitol citizens feeling sorry for them.
I definitely agree about the importance though, but I think it is something that will no doubt come later in the film once they actually arrive at the Capitol and then what unfolds from there.
I have a feeling that even if they DO show scenes from the 2nd Quarter Quell, it will be limited to the part where Haymitch uses the force field to his advantage. I don’t expect Maysilee to make the cut, because much of her significance comes from her relation to Madge and the mockingjay pin, which was already cut out in THG. Also, viewers would likely be confused as to why Haymitch is so affected by her death, and wonder if there was a Haymitch-Maysilee-Haymitch’s Girl Back Home love triangle going on. (While many Haysilee shippers/fanfic writers would say “Of course there was”, I don’t think Suzanne Collins meant to take the parallels between Haymitch and Katniss THAT far.)
If they don’t show a Young Haymitch Flashback, I can also see Woody re-enacting the moment in some way, perhaps throwing something bouncy against a wall and having it come back.
I do hope that Cecelia’s Reaping is shown, and that the script includes Effie’s dismay, as well as Peeta’s shrewd realization that the Capitol people have become attached to their Victors. (I’m pretty sure that this is when the wheels started turning in his head, that if Effie could be affected by seeing ONE Victor whisked away from her kids, that claiming Katniss was pregnant with the child of TWO Victors would not only help them gets sponsors for the Games, but REALLY bring home to the Capitol citizens how inhumane the Games really are).
As for why Haymitch would need a stunt double, I wonder if the movie will include some kind of action sequence, in which Haymitch must make a dramatic escape from the Capitol? Perhaps with Effie in tow? For I can easily see Effie being brought to D13 along with Katniss’s Prep Team, and for her to then be mistreated. Since, although the prep team were cast for the movies, they really were little more than “named extras”, and I don’t know if a movie audience would understand why Katniss would get so upset over their treatment in D13. (Even in canon, Gale is puzzled about it.)
My guess is the will possibly Cut the scene when Mags kisses Finnick before running in the Blister Fog because it would make the audience feel awkward. Maybe a kiss on the cheek, but not the lips.
I don’t think they would cut it since it’s one of the most emotional scenes; I think that they will just have her kiss him on the cheek or hug him.
I really love this chapter. It tells us what Haymitch has been through. While i think most of it will get cut, I do hope the moment between Katniss and Peeta make it.
you go girl
Hi
Im team Peeta and I really don’t think there will be much from that chapter because I really want to have it more along the lines of like when Katniss and Peeta spend the day together like when they sleep and the picnic and when they sleep again
give me a thumbs up if your team Peeta or Finnick they are both sexy though if your team Gale than your a loser! JK
I’m ready for Chapter 15. Anybody else? Actually, I’m ready for 15, 16, 17,18…. you get the point.