Page 151 of Absolute Certainty
I think viewers would appreciate that sentiment, even if it’s just a mention of them elsewhere. Like your own little multiverse. Also, there’s a directorial choice in the finale that really floored me. The last scene and how it all comes together: Jay, can you talk a bit about that? Itfeelslike a montage, even though it isn’t one, and we’re in a public place like the beach, but it still feels so achingly intimate, and I don’t necessarily think that’s because they’re in a secluded area. What was the thought process behind that?
CALLAHAN: Thank you again. The intimacy of that scene is something I wanted to come across in the screenplay, and once more, credit where it’s due, the writing in that final scene is all my fiancée, Sahar [Peck]. She’s the one who said it should be a hug, and I wholeheartedly agreed. But what I really wanted was for the scene to feel like something that was theirs and theirs alone. But, at the same time, we wanted the audience to be locked in on the frame, even while the characters move through that space before they come together. Shooting it was tricky, but the end result was also largely due to Ethan and Rae and the blocking they worked through themselves. Ethan’s background in theatre certainly helps with that. But I really wanted to emphasize that they’d never stopped moving these puzzle pieces to find each other.
Yeah. That’s what itfelt like, and with Mark Ingram’s cinematography and Rhonda Blake’s editing, it’s such a stunning moment. Plus, the song choice? Sam and Priya Butler’s “Home” was perfect.
CALLAHAN: Oh, yeah, they’re out of this world. And all credit to Sahar [Peck] for the song. She had the idea very early on in the pre-production that it should be an original number, so we got Sam [Butler] and Priya [Sharma] the entire script and they started writing it immediately. It’s hard to imagine anything else but that song.
And then for you, Ethan. What was it like tapping into that place of Henry finally getting a modicum of hope back? You’ve played a lot of angsty characters, but there’s something about Henry’s journey that’s so dark that his exhaustion weighed on us, too. Essentially, what was it like embodying all these facets of him from the beginning to that final scene?
EVERETT: That’s such a great question. I say this with a lot of love, but Henry is the hardest character I’ve played. And he wasn’t all that different from Tim inDetective Vice,but there was something bigger in his pain. It almost felt more personal to me, even though I have very little in common with him outside of the fact that I’d do the exact same things if anything happened to my wife. But there were days when I’d go to my hotel room after shooting, and I couldn’t talk to anyone because his heartache was so visceral that it really struck something in me, too.
So, when we got to shooting that final episode, there was a bit of ease in me, too. Like this guy can finally breathe, and I can breathe with him. In general, I’m somebody who loves the come-down from the third act. Whatever it is, I love the waythat a final shot makes me feel. My favorite part of anything is usually the end because you always give so much to get there that when you do, it feels extra rewarding. So, to have a scenethispoignant and profound come at the very end made it feel almost tailor-made for me. It also always helps to have a great scene partner, and while Rae [Mullins] and I naturally didn’t get to spend too much time in the same frame because of the characters’ separation, we both understood them and their relationship so well that it helped.
Two questions before we wrap up: One, of all your characters, who do you think you’d get along with most? And two, what are you currently watching?
CALLAHAN: Oh, that’s an interesting question. I mean, it feels like cheating a little if I don’t say Henry. Maybe that’s just because Ethan and I get along so well, but who knows? [Laughs] We’ve been rewatchingShrinkingfrom the beginning. It’s such a good one.
EVERETT: Too bad you’d never get in front of the camera; otherwise, I’d choose you. But I think for me, my characters are all so broody, I feel like we’d all just sit in silence and stare at each other. But maybe Henry, too. We’re also watchingShrinking.AndThe Pitt.
Yes! Both of those are such great shows. Thank you both again for talking to me. I really can’t wait to see how people react to this series. You should all be so proud of yourselves.
CALLAHAN: Thank you so much. Your support is greatly appreciated. And thank you for such incredible questions.
EVERETT: Thank you!And yeah, your questions were spot-on.
JAY
Kyle stopped the recording in front of them.
“She was delightful,” Ethan noted.
“Yeah,” Jay confirmed, a small smile curling at the edge of his lips. “She’s a solid writer, too.”
They stood up from the gray chairs they were sitting in as Teyona, the PR representative, said, “Ethan, you’ve got three more with Rae in room 34 and then you’re done for the day, too.” Nodding, Ethan clapped Jay on the shoulder and hurried out of the room.
Jay took off the microphone from his shirt and thanked Kyle and Teyona before turning away. Sahar had been sitting on a couch in the hotel room, too, wordlessly shining her irreplaceable light on him.
She stood up as she saw him walking toward her. “First round of press done! You feeling okay, baby?”
Inching closer, he dropped his head to her shoulder. “Yeah, my brain feels a bit like spaghetti, but I’m good.”
She reached for his hand, and then her bright, beaming smile played on her face likehisall-time favorite movie scene. “I can’t believe she mentionedthatline. You know she wrote my favorite review ofMidnights?”
“Yeah?” he asked.
Sahar nodded. “Yeah.”
He traced his thumb over the bracelet she had on her wrist, one made by Eloise with navy blue beads to match his. But instead ofEloise, Sahar’s said,crow,like her favorite animal—their tattoos, their perfect little world. “Thank you fortaking the day off to be here with me.”
“I mean, hello, I’ve got a producer’s credit. Where else would I be? Plus, I gave the notice in advance, so the people coming in to seeParchment Papertodayknow I’ll be out.” She paused, smiling. “But in all seriousness, anytime, anywhere—always, my love.”
Jay glided his fingers along the diamond ring on her finger. He remembered how he’d proposed to her: in England, at a Man City game, a quiet moment in the stands between the two of them, and a small gathering with her immediate family afterward. He remembered her gorgeous smile and the tears streaming down her face as she saidyes.
Always wasn’t just a word anymore.
It was a truth and a promise with them. Atruthfrom the moment she brought him back to life. Apromisefrom when she told him she loved him, and every time she repeated it afterward.A truthfrom the moment he vowed to love all of her.A promisefrom when he realized that he was only capable of falling harder and harder with each passing day.
She let out a low laugh then added, “Oh, I texted Maya and Alex a photo from the junket earlier, and Eloise took the phone to say, ‘Is he going to let me watch now that I’m 11, or am I still too young? Also, is he wearing the bracelet?’”
