Perhaps the only saving grace with Ellis is that there is never any indication of malice. When he holds up both hands, it's in a mix of apology and placation.

"I don't know what you wanted me to say," is true.

There are ideas Ellis can't (won't) entertain. Richard had been treading along those lines, and there's every indication that he will likely continue on to make his point. This is the trouble with conversations begun late at night, spurred on with exhaustion and pain. Ellis had never intended for them to continue on in the daylight.

"I'm sorry," follows after, genuine. There is a splotch of ink between thumb and forefinger, blotchy along the delicate web of skin there.