When they finally come together at the beach, we know they have something to say to each other, but we don’t find out about it until later. Even then, we don’t see what they said, or know the full extent of it. Was there a version of the episode in which you wrote a scene where we see that conversation? Where they admit they want to try and be together?
Yes and yes. Yes, I wrote it for my own edification and education. I needed to really understand what exactly was said there so that I could write the rest. I also wrote it knowing that people were going to ask me for it in script development, and it was great because I could be like, “Here it is, and here’s why we should not show it because actually us imagining it is better.” Also, it blows the incredible reveal of it at the end.
I think the not knowing is sexier, actually, and certainly more active. It keeps us on the tip of our toes. It was, I think, better storytelling to hold it. But the actors and I as well as Lila and our DP, Greg, all read the scene.
Can you share any of what was said in that scene?
I think Simone represents a lot of it. Peter’s like, “This is weird. This is not convenient. I don’t know what’s come over me, but I don’t want you to go. I have these strong feelings. I have never felt this way, but I may never see you again. It’s killing me.” And then she’s then like, “Well, I could stay.”
Then it goes from there. I overwrote it because in real life, people don’t say everything quite so thoroughly, but it was really just for everyone to understand what we were playing.
Fascinating. What do you imagine is in store for Michaela? I really think she could be friends with Parker Posey’s character, Victoria Ratliff, from The White Lotus. The two of them could start a business together.
I’m a fan of hers, let’s do it. I think [the Labor Day weekend is a] big weekend for Michaela. I don’t think she’ll ever be the same after this weekend. In that ferry scene at the end—God, I love Julianne’s performance in the scene—when she says, “I don’t know what’s next,” I really believe her. I don’t think she knows, but what I know about Michaela is she did give up a very prosperous law career to marry Peter.
I imagine she’s going to land on her feet. I don’t know, maybe get back into law, or maybe move to the middle of nowhere and get into rare birds there. I’m not sure, but I do think that is a character, much like Simone, who is going to always land on her feet. I’m not worried about Michaela at the end.
The way that Julianne played it, it was like Michaela finally felt free in a way that she hadn’t in a long time. She was clearly devastated to be leaving her old life behind, but there was almost a calmness that came over her as well, like, “I can be me again.”
Read the full article here
