Chris Saunders/FX
How was Bill feeling about where his life was and where he’d ended up at the time of his death?
I think in many ways, he was kind of content at where he was. He had obviously bigger things he wanted to do, but weirdly, I felt like he knew he was going to pass on. And in many ways, that’s even more beautiful, if someone can sort of leave this world knowing that they’ve done a few things they’ve wanted to do.
How did he feel about Darby at the retreat? Their relationship was very complicated, and they did briefly reconnect before his death.
Yes, they did. And it’s interesting the conversation they had before he died, about the previous relationship in the past and why he couldn’t stay and her inability to connect, truly connect. And so yeah, it was tough. It was a short period of time, but also it was tainted with so much history, their relationship, that it was always going to be a bit tricky navigating that.
He said she left him many times before he left her, but from the moment they met, was it always inevitable that they go their separate ways or was there a world in which they could last?
I feel like maybe there was a world in which they could last after that conversation. Maybe there was potential for reconnection, potential for something more perhaps, who knows?
But they need it to separate where they were back in the flashbacks. They couldn’t have lasted then.
Oh, yeah, they couldn’t have lasted. No. It was going down a rocky path.
Bill said he was at the retreat for Lee (Brit Marling). What can you say about their relationship?
They were together for a short period of time. They met at one of Bill’s exhibitions, one of his installations. I think there was an element of Bill wanting to arrive in order to preserve her safety and dignity and see what was going to happen with that situation as well.
Because of his past relationship with Lee, what did he think of Andy?
I don’t think he understood him. I think he was cautious of him. I think he was impressed by him in many ways as well. But yeah, cautious.
How do you think Bill would’ve handled being stuck in the retreat with a killer on the loose if he hadn’t been the one to be killed first?
I think he would’ve just been just as tenacious as Darby trying to figure out who it was. I think he had a very busy, inquisitive mind, so it would’ve driven him mad trying to figure it out.
What can you say about what we’re going to see in the flashbacks from Darby and Bill’s relationship going forward?
I think we get to see a real truthful relationship blossom between them. They have a lot of fun on this strange old adventure they go on, and they go on this road trip that inevitably connects them forever. So it’s just a really sort of sweet story about love and friendship and companions and the strength in that.
What did you enjoy more, filming the scenes at the retreat or the flashbacks? Because you are one of the few actors who got to do both.
The flashbacks, for me, were really fun. We were in Utah in July. It was really hot and we got to be in these incredible locations. So being in Utah and being on the road and just having a sense of freedom and openness and it felt like a smaller crew, it was just fun.
Not being totally honest about everything.
With himself, with others?
Himself. Darby. Because he was also hiding something else.
A Murder at the End of the World, Tuesdays, Hulu