Shonda clearly wasn't amused at her remark; so she looked at Kerry and sharply replied, "You know you have a hell of a lot of nerve in this scenario too! Why don't you do us all a favor, and let your married boyfriend handle his own conversations?"
Tony tried to intervene, in defense of Kerry as he angrily said, "You're completely out of line Shonda! Our relationship is none of your damn business." Appreciative of her loves attempted comeback; but clearly ready to keep it personal, since that was Shonda's intention. Kerry shot back, "That's prime advice from a woman who can't even get her dial a dick's to return her calls! Now that's some lonely and depressing shit!"
Tony thought to himself, damn! He worked hard to keep a straight face. But he wasn't sure if he could do it. He was insanely proud of his lady's comeback, and Kerry could see it in his eyes.
Shonda was in shock at the remark, and mute because of it; her thoughts were clearly disorganized. Therefore, he took advantage of the silence, and said, "Shonda I'm not going to play this game with you. Insults will get us nowhere here, and to be honest I'm still not sure why you're here, other than to tell me you're pissed. Which is evident. The line in the sand has been drawn, and the ball is in your court." Shonda angrily replied, "That's damn bold of you to challenge me. Both of you need to understand exactly what you're setting into motion here."
Kerry replied, "Nobody cares about your hollow threats Shonda." Tony nodded as he said, "I agree. You can do whatever it is you feel you need to do. It's your show. I truly don't care if you kill me off or not. Just know that if you kill my character, so goes the majority of your fan base. The choice is yours." Shonda was infuriated, as she quipped, "That's fucking blackmail."
Tony responded, "Yeah I guess to a degree it is. Kind of like what you're doing to us." Shonda asked, "What are you talking about?" He responded, "Shonda just admit you don't want Olitz to be together any more than you want Kerry and I to be together, and it kills you that the fans want us together. You're railing against us being a couple in every way; but this fandom is thriving because of it and our rise in popularity is making you sick." Shonda responded, "That's ridiculous. I don't give a fuck about you two screwing in your personal lives!" Kerry smirked as she responded, "So that's why you launched the insane scheme using Bellamy to out us publicly? If that was you not giving a fuck; I'd hate to see what you'd do if you actually cared."
Frustrated, and overwhelmed, Shonda replied, "Damn it that was different!" Tony asked, "Really, how?" Both Kerry and Tony looked at her in disbelief, and she can't answer them. Even she knows she's full of it. She quickly changed the subject by saying, "Look, on screen that's my domain. This show isn't all about two characters. This isn't your happily ever after party. This show is about power and strength, it has a kick ass female lead character, who doesn't need a man to define her. She stands alone, revered and respected. There's no room for romance in her life."
Tony responded, "Shonda nobody is trying to tell you how to write your show. We're just asking that you at least give the characters a chance to grow. It doesn't have to be a fairytale; the story just needs to be genuine and entrenched in real emotion. That's what the fans have attached themselves to, and killing off Fitz rips that dream of love a part for fans. Especially doing something so dramatic this early in season two. It's just not a wise move. You changed your mind about the presidential divorce you wrote for Mellie; so how is this any different?"
She replied, "Because it's my choice to make, and I know what's best for this show. It's not about the fans; it's about the show I put together for them to see. It's my work that excites them to watch." Tony shook his head as he replied, "Shonda, without fan support you don't have ratings. Which we both know is what all networks thrive on"
Kerry chimed in, "He's right Shonda. Ratings don't lie. Happy Birthday Mr. President was the highest rated episode this season, and the next episode will probably be higher because everybody wants to know who shot Fitz, and what happens next with his recovery. If you don't want to ride that wave of success; go ahead and fuck it up by killing Fitz. It's your funeral."
Despite not liking what she heard; she can't refute her words. But because she couldn't help but be hell bent on being angry; she said, "Both of you are being put on notice. I won't be bullied. This is my show. I run this and I will write the characters as I see fit!"
Tony is done trying to be nice, as he replied, "You haven't wrote half the episodes that did well Shonda, Peter has. Or are you going to just automatically take credit for his work?" Kerry replied, "He's got a point. The fans are in love with what's been brought to screen already, and you had little to nothing to do with the development of the story they love. That's why you want to kill it." Shonda was fit to be tied as she stormed out of the apartment as she said, "Both of you can go to hell!" The door slammed and both Kerry and Tony broke into laughter.
But after the laughter settled, he joined her on the couch, and he held her in his arms as he asked, "Are you okay?" She replied, "Yes. I'm okay. What about you?" He nodded as he said, "Yep. I'm good. It all needed to be said." She nodded as she said, "Yes. It did." She then looks up at him as she said, "I love you." He replied, "I love you too."
Kerry snaps out of her thoughts as she feels her phone vibrate. She takes it out of her pocket, now trying to manage this task with Josie sitting in her lap. She manages to get to her phone, and sees a text from Tony. She takes a breath and reads it.
It reads, "I hate having to say this to you." She knows how torn up he is about this upcoming scene. This isn't the first one he's been upset by lately, and given Shonda's cruel nature; it won't be the last. She replies, "Its fine baby. We got through the funeral scene, so we can get through this one. It will be okay. Remember this is Olivia and Fitz, not you and I."
He reads the text and responds, "I know, but it still hurts Ker. I love you." She smiles sadly, as she says, "I know. I love you too. You can make it up to me later." She sends the response with a winking icon, and he replies; "It's a deal. Love you Ker." She responds, "Love you more."
As she sits in thought; they got what they wanted, at least initially. Tony got a contract extension with a higher pay out for his exit clause. They're both slotted to be on the show thru 7 seasons. And, both of their predictions came true with the airing of the last two episodes proceeding Happy Birthday Mr. President. The ratings have skyrocketed and doing so well, that she and Tony are again slated to go on another promotional tour, as well as shoot an ad for TV guide.