Writer's Note:

Way way back when I began this project, I wrote about five episodes-- one of which was this one. A portrait of two couples at two different sides of the spectrum during this economic crisis, financially and romantically. We have Connor and Maura Callux, a financially successful couple with the newly added stress of keeping their businesses afloat while also trying to adjust to their separated lives and impending divorce. And we have Hank and Beth, a couple that couldn't be more solid in their relationship but who has financial strains that could easily break them. From the get-go, these were two scenes that I had quite a lot invested in getting just right, as did Michele, Chris Coffey, and Gerry, my very close friends whom turned in ravishing performances here. It was always one of our favorites on the page. Lovely Gerry who plays my boyfriend Hank went out the day of our shoot and bought two dozen roses to decorate Beth's bedroom with, so it would be one less thing for me to worry about (yes, he IS a bit of a prince!) and we ended up with a room that was vibrant in color. On the other hand, the bedroom we used for Maura and Connor was very spare, and our creative DP Chris Shimojima was inspired to shoot the scene half in shadow. Both Michele and Chris, who play the Calluxes, also arrived with wardrobe in shades of black and grey. Then add the bed in, which was white with touches of green and we ended up with this beautiful, retro visual that almost looked like a 60s movie to me. Put this all together, and we have two scenes about two struggling couples that both simply occur on a bed which couldn't look more different from one another. And which also shows the complicated and bittersweet nature of loving someone in good times and bad, which I think is a lovely treat for Valentine's Day.