Randall and William go on one final road trip.
We knew this was coming.
We were warned way back in the pilot.
Yet, all that preparation hardly dulled the pain.
But what a final ride he and his son Randall had.
Just drive, Randall.
As an only child raised by a single mother, William and his mom are each others worlds.
But he perseveres and continues to pursue his music career in his cousins cover band.
That is, until William receives a call he isnt expecting his own mom is now sick.
Its quite a shock to see you vulnerable, he tells him.
Its hard to fathom.
You seem to have it all together.
Randall balks its not on the itinerary.
Take me to meet your father, William tells his son.
At the park, William asks for a minute alone with Jack to pay his respects.
Thank you for doing what I couldnt, he says to the air.
For raising him to be the man that he is.
Im sorry I didnt get a chance to meet you, brother.
I would have liked to have heard that laugh.
I would have liked to have met my sons father.
Once in Memphis, William requests a drive-by of his childhood home.
The couple who own the house now oblige, and William heads straight to the fireplace.
Randall, baffled and bemused, hands the chunk of hearth back to the homeowners.
Okay, so heres your brick.
I didnt know that was going to happen.
The two continue to whirl through Memphis: a haircut here.
A BBQ sandwich there.
William even shows Randall the formerly segregated water fountains.
The two drink out of the white fountain.
Once again we see William meet his love (and Randalls mother) on the bus.
Her name is Laurel.
She joins William in taking care of his dying mother.
And as Moms health continues to deteriorate, the couple find solace in their neighbors drug-fueled parties.
And the rest, well, we know well.
Cousin is still bitter about what could have been.
Its a shame what I became.
I know I ruined everything, William admits.
He says hes sorry and hands Cousin the money hes owed him for the past forty-some years.
As he turns to leave, Cousin extends an olive branch:
Are you too sick to play?
Im never too sick to play.
You get a cousin!
And you get a cousin!
And you get a cousin!
he drunkenly shouts, before taking the stage himself to scat and do the robot.
(Drunk Randall may be my favorite Randall.)
He calls an ambulance.
Your father isnt leaving this hospital, the doctor says pointedly.
Its Poems for My Son, the notebook William tried to give Rebecca all those years ago.
That was a hell of a thing you did knocking on my door that day, William begins.
You deserve the beautiful life you made.
You deserve everything, Randall.
I havent had a happy life.
A life of almosts and could-haves.
Some would call it sad but I dont.
Thats a pretty good thing to be able to say, I think.
Breathe until its over.
