Tony caught his breath in his throat, shifting in his seat, as he caught sight of Kerry heading over to the stage where they were doing the table read for that final episode 18. She was wearing a silver blouse and white satin pants, literally shining. It had been about a week since they had seen each other, which was pretty rare during filming. They had kept in touch by phone but it just wasn't the same. Tony felt a little embarrassed that he missed her already. Head over heels was an understatement.
Kerry approached Tony, kissing him lightly on the cheek as they hugged. She turned and automatically went to the chair next to his but Bellamy was already sitting there, and Darby on the other side of him. Kerry gave Darby a look and she got up and moved to another seat without a word, just a sly smile. Sitting down, Kerry glanced at him and saw that look in his eyes that he was about to act a fool. "Tony, you better behave yourself..this table read is being filmed and will eventually be made public"
"I always behave Ker!" Tony smiled at her mischievously as she rolled her eyes in return.
He leaned back in his chair. "Can you believe it's finally here? The end of our wild ride?"
Kerry glanced over, her eyes sparkling. "I know! It feels surreal. Remember our first read? I was kind of nervous!" She laughed, the sound bright and infectious.
"Ha! You were practically shaking," Tony teased, his voice light. "I thought you might drop the script."
Kerry rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her face. "Well, you were so intimidating! I mean, you're the President!"
"Yeah, but you were the beautiful, fiery and powerful Olivia Pope," he shot back, a mock seriousness in his tone. "I was just trying to keep up with you."
As the crew settled, the atmosphere thickened with unspoken farewells. Kerry's voice dropped, a touch more serious. "What's next for you, Tony?"
"Just some directing gigs, I guess. But honestly? I'll miss this. You guys. The chaos." He sighed, glancing around the room, then added, "And your killer lines."
Kerry smiled softly. "We'll always have our memories, right?"
"Yeah," he said, "like..ummm what do they call it..closet gate? his gaze steady, a smile playing at his lips. "And a million bloopers." They chuckled bittersweetly.
"This really is the end of an era." Kerry sighed.
Kerry took a deep breath and reached for Tony's hand, clasping it momentarily "You ready for this Tony?" He looked over at her with adoration yet sadness in his eyes, "Not really, but let's do this! We gotta go out with a bang!"
The table read started and Tony couldn't keep his eyes off of Kerry. He stared at her, mesmerized, with such a natural adoring look in his eyes that he didn't even realize he was doing it.
As they began to read through the final episode, Tony and Kerry couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over them. They had been through so much together as Olivia Pope and President Fitzgerald Grant, and their bond both on and off-screen was undeniable.
As they read their lines, the weight of the moment hung heavy in the air. The words seemed to hold more meaning now, knowing that this would be the last time they would bring these characters to life. Each line was delivered with a mixture of sadness and pride, a testament to the journey they had been on together.
As they reached the final scene of the episode, Tony and Kerry exchanged a look that conveyed a thousand emotions. They had come so far since the show first premiered, and now it was time to say goodbye to the characters that had become a part of them.
They reached that pivotal moment in the script where Fitz and Olivia finally come together after years of turmoil and obstacles, Tony and Kerry's performances were nothing short of electrifying. The raw emotion they both brought to their characters was truly exceptional, and there was not a dry eye in the room as they delivered their lines with such intensity and passion.
Kerry's eyes watered as she managed to deliver her last lines, needing support from Tony, she reached out for him and he was there for her, holding her hand tightly.
The room fell silent as they finished the last line, and for a moment, no one spoke. Then, the room erupted into applause as the cast and crew rose to their feet, clapping and cheering for the incredible journey they had been on together.
Tony and Kerry stood up, their eyes filled with tears as they embraced each other. They had shared so many moments over the years, both on-screen and off, the show had become iconic.
After the applause died down, Tony stood up and addressed the room. His voice was filled with emotion as he thanked everyone for their hard work and dedication to the show. He spoke about the impact "Scandal" had on television and how grateful he was to have been a part of it.
Kerry stood by his side, her hand on his shoulder as she listened to his heartfelt words. She knew that this show had changed her life in ways she could never have imagined, and she was grateful for every moment she had spent with this incredible cast and crew.
The cast and crew started leaving. Tony motioned to Kerry to come with him. As they walked out into the cool night air, Tony put his arm around Kerry, and they walked arm in arm towards their waiting cars. "Meet me at our favorite Italian spot in one hour." Tony wispered in her ear. The future was uncertain, but one thing was for sure - they would always have eachother now, and carry a piece of "Scandal" with them wherever they went.