Series 1, episode 16
“Memphis”
Randall and William take a road trip to Memphis, where Randall learns about his biological father’s past.
SYNOPSIS:
Randall has recently been hospitalized for nervous exhaustion; barely out of the hospital, he insists, over Beth’s objections, on going on a road trip to Memphis with William to learn about his father’s past. Along the way, Randall tells William about how Jack used to help him overcome anxiety when he was a child, and William asks him to stop off at Jack’s graveside to thank him for raising Randall. They visit the home where William grew up, where William finds some things changed… and some things unchanged. They also visit his old barbershop and other personal landmarks of his youth… including Melvin’s Place, the bar where his old band used to play – and where he seems to no longer be welcome. We learn that William’s father died in WWII before he was born; when he grew up, his supportive mother, Dorothy, encouraged him in his musical dreams, and he left her to go to Memphis and join his cousin Ricky, who is also a musician in a cover band – which stops being a cover band when William begins writing songs for them. The band starts to become successful, but when William’s mother falls ill, he leaves to take care of her… and never comes back. It was during this period that he began dating Randall’s biological mother… and started taking drugs. Back in the present, it’s time for reconciliations and honest words with estranged family.