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Spoilers ahead for theShamelessseason-nine finale.
(We dont actually learn where shes going just apparently to warmer weather.)
Writing Fiona out of the Showtime drama wasnt the initial plan, though.
I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do, he says.
I hoped Emmy would stay.
How many alternate endings did you write for Fionas final episode?Only one.
I hoped Emmy would stay.
I imagine you had to rewrite some of the season.
But by the time she decided, wed already talked about it a bit.
But I think it actually ended up working out because it was hard to watch Fiona struggling that much.
Its not like it was one and done.
What specifically was the other ending you wrote?It was more about her final shot.
Oh, she had to work.
How much say did Emmy have in the way her character wrapped up?None.
But if she hadnt liked it, she wouldve let me know.
I think she felt it was a great way for her to go.
You know, its difficult.
Weve been together almost ten years, so its very emotional.
These are your friends and youre moving away.
Its not just the work.
This was a big choice she made for herself.
Its interesting that you also chose to write and direct her final episode.
You get very close to the characters writing them, and you get close to the actors portraying them.
This sounds silly to say, but Ive personally always needed a bit of closure.
I did it when George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Anthony Edwards, and Noah Wyle leftER.
And I wrote the last episode ofThe West Wing.
You start to feel like youre the last person in your hometown.
After Clooney left, we thought the show was over.
But, whaddya know, we did ten more seasons.
Theres no family hug and she skips out on the party that Lip plans.
Shes not even in the episode all that much.
She needed to just go.
If people started hugging her, her rather slight resolve to go would just disappear.
In his own world, Monica left him and now Fionas leaving and its this narcissistic self-pity.
Its a more poignant ending.
Was it always written that hed be ungrateful to her?
Or did you consider a less-bitter ending?Always.
I just didnt think he could ever admit that anybody else [was the better parent].
I was very sad when she wanted to go.
And we have gone on.
Family members get married and move away, people get jobs, people go off to school.
We know its a big hole to fill, but were excited about it.
Thats interesting dramatic material.
Debbie now gets to take on more responsibility and step in for Fiona.
Lips moving on with his life cause hes an adult now.
She puts them in a military line like a drill sergeant and makes them admit that she was right.
She was fabulous in that scene.
It was a great performance.
That was the pleasure of writing her character.
For all of her faults and complexities, her heart was always in the right place.
She held everything together for a long time.
I hope Emmy will come back and play Fiona for us again when shes ready.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
