These days, "Scandal" is a valley full of "OMG" land mines just waiting to go off. Around each bend is another twist, another fallen gladiator.
In last week's episode, "YOLO," Huck turned all the tables when [SPOILER ALERT] he wrapped a naked Quinn in duct tape, licked her face and pulled out a tooth. And this wasn't even the most shocking scene of the episode.
Before the midseason winter finale, airing, Thursday, Dec. 12, we got Guillermo Diaz, who plays Huck, and Katie Lowes, who plays Quinn, on the phone to talk about what it was like to film that scene and put all their faith in show creator Shonda Rhimes. "Nothing is as it seems in Shondaland," Lowes said. Now, ain't that the truth?
Beware of major spoilers if you're not caught up on "Scandal" Season 3.
I have to ask about that lick. Guillermo, how did you film that?
Guillermo Diaz: Oh my god. It was actually really really fun to film. I mean, how many times as an actor do you get to lick someone in the face while they’re taped up and you’re going to torture them after you lick them? I remember Katie in the scene was crying and I kept licking her. I remember licking the saltiness of her tears every time we did that.
Katie Lowes: I mean how intense is that?
GD: It was crazy, crazy intense. I think we both really committed to that scene, and just really went for that.
KL: We didn’t talk about it that much. We didn’t talk about our acts. We didn’t really address it like, "I’m going to hit this beat and this beat." We just had a rehearsal a couple days before with the props and the tape so we could feel comfortable in the duct tape bikini and with the tools. When we met that day we just started going 150 percent from the first take and then from there we would just pause in between takes and make sure we were okay and we were safe. Other than that it was like we just went for it.
How long did it take to film that scene?
KL: That scene was like the whole morning. It was like five and a half hours.
GD: After that scene Katie had to go on and film the scenes with her and Charlie (George Newbern). Hers continued on into the night.
KL: But then you came back and threw me up against the drill and stuff, and the heater. That was another three hours. I did 12 and a half hours in duct tape and the last two and a half I come out in the towel with Charlie. I drop the towel and then I get to get laid, which let me tell you, how sexy did you feel?
To be honest,I was so confused because she knows Charlie is a manipulator. She knows he’s playing with her in their weird relationship. Why does she sleep with him?
KL: Well, that’s a really good question and who’s to say that she’s not using him too?
GD: Oh yeah!
KL: Nothing is as it seems in Shondaland, and I think that in this week’s episode you will see exactly where her loyalties lie and if that involves Charlie. What exactly is she doing? That’s all I can say about that but it was definitely the hardest day. At that point in the scene with Charlie, she’s supposed to be hysterically crying and I was so worried because I had nothing left. I had no voice left because I’d been screaming for like hours.
What do you think Quinn’s final goal is in all of this?
KL: You know, I think she really, really, really in her heart loves Huck and Olivia Pope and being a gladiator. I really think that’s where she identifies her home. I don’t know if Huckleberry Quinn can survive this. I don’t know if she’ll be able to work at Olivia Pope and Associates. I don’t know. We’re only one episode ahead of you, so we actually don’t know anything. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I think Quinn just loves him so much, but she is changed. You will see in this episode she is a changed person. You can’t just go through something like that and not suffer the consequences. So, I don’t know if she will ever be able to go. I don’t know.
Guillermo, what do you think was going through Huck’s mind when he was torturing someone he mentored?
GD: I think he was excited and I think he was really getting off on the fact that he’s never tortured anyone that he loves before. I think there was just an added layer of excitement and exhilaration for him. I think he was just high from the excitement of it. I don’t think he was thinking of anything else other than it was feeling really good to torture this girl that he loves and is in the family.
It’s scary how much their relationship has changed from the beginning of the show. Where could the two of you go from here?
GD: You know it’s like any family. Sh-t goes down. I’ve gotten into really bad fights with my siblings and cousins, and you don’t talk for a while. Sometimes it gets physical. I think they’re always going to be a little hurt from what happened. At least, Quinn is going to be hurt from that, but I think they’ll be able to get back to being friends, dysfunctional friends in a very different way, but I think they’ll be able to get back to each other, for sure.
I've always thought there was a little sexual tension between Huckleberry Quinn. Could you ever see a romantic relationship happen?
KL: We get that a lot on my Twitter feed. It’s definitely asked of us a lot. Like, “I think that was kind of hot between them! Are they going to get it on?” I mean, again, we don’t know and anything is possible. I don’t know. Guillermo feels that way too. I think it’s kind of more interesting that they’re not.
GD: Absolutely.
KL: But again, what do our opinions matter? Whatever Shonda Rhimes and the writers want to write for us, we're game.
Rumors have been going around that Mellie might get a new lover. Do you have any thoughts on that?
KL: We don’t know anything!
GD: I would love to see her hook up with someone. I think she needs it. We have no idea what’s coming.
It would be really interesting to meet someone who really wants to be around her.
GD: Oh my God. I would love to see that.
Tune in to "Scandal's" winter finale on Thurs., Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.
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