This weeks episode, Memphis, centered on the life of William, Randalls biological father. Jack Pearsons Son was an emotional 4. Jack and Rebecca. The previous episode of This Is Us also showed Toby and Kate putting the breaks on their fast moving relationship, deciding to push their wedding farther into the future. Kevin also sacrificed the opening of his play to help his brother. Facts Of Life Season 9 Episode 16' title='Facts Of Life Season 9 Episode 16' />In Memphis, Randall, who needed Kevins help to recover from an anxiety attack, heads to the Home of the Blues with William to learn about his past. You need tissues for this one. Heres a look at the action in Memphis. SPOILERS FOLLOWThe PastPhoto by Ron BatzdorffNBCMemphis starts in the past the very distant past. Its a few brief moments with Williams parents in Memphis. We learn that his father served in the military and died just after he was born. He has his art and music to work on and so many bright futures ahead for himself. She also warns him not to follow the lead of a charmer cousin. His mother finally gets on a train to Pittsburgh. William turns and looks away. William, now living on his own, is waiting for a letter from his mother. Often credited with starting the trend of single camera, nolaughtrack comedies on TV back in 2000, Malcolm in the Middle starred Frankie Muniz as a young genius to. We learn from the letter that his grandmother died and he crushed that he couldnt go to the funeral. His mother also warns her not to be so hard on himself, a trait Randall has inherited. Voice overs from other letters reveal that Williams mother is staying in Pittsburgh much longer than she thought, even getting a job there. In Memphis, William doesnt seem to mind, since his band is successful. Atlanta. Hes a womanizer who always teases William. He shows his cousin a song he wrote, and the group practices the song. Ricky sings the song, which is clearly about his mother. As the song develops, we see the group performing before bigger and bigger crowds as time passes. After the performance, Ricky asks him to join the band for some partying. He refuses and hes told his mother is on the phone. Its not good news. Ricky tells him that its OK if he has to go to Pittsburgh to take care of his mother. My mothers a tank, William says. He vows to have 1. You really got a gift, his cousin tells him. You see something you want, you dont look away. You go get it. William arrives at his mothers apartment. She explains that she is sicker than she told him on the phone. She insists that he doesnt get stuck in Pittsburgh and goes back to Memphis. Then, she wants to hear about his successes later that day. She tells him to go explore Pittsburgh on a bus. As Blues Run The Game plays, we see the moment William met Randalls mother, Laura. Their relationship was much stronger than William ever told Rebecca. William continues to care for his mother and we learn why William did not want Randall spending so much time caring for him. William didnt want his son taking time away from himself to care for his father, just like he did for his mother. After his mothers death, William started doing drugs. The PresentPhoto by Ron BatzdorffNBCAfter the brief moment in his past, we see William sitting in the hospital waiting room, while Beth and Randall meet with Dr. It turns out that Randall was in the hospital after his nervous breakdown. Beth is not happy with the idea of Randall taking William to Memphis, just five days after leaving the hospital. Lee says after their argument. Randall says that hes doing much better and wants his doctors approval before going to Memphis. As they leave the hospital, he gives William a fist bump, so clearly theyre heading out. While Randall gets packed for the trip, William says goodbye to his granddaughters. As Randall gets in the car, Beth tells him to drive safely. On the road, Randall tells William that they are going to drive to Memphis old school, without any GPS. William is going to be Randalls navigator. At least thats what Randall thinks, until William tosses the maps out the windowHey, just drive son. Well get there. Just drive, he tells Randall. After the title, we see William singing You Are My Sunshine to himself. Randall nods. Later, William remembers his uncle working at a segregated hotel and wishes Randall could have met him. But the subject turns to Randalls health. William is surprised to learn that Randall has his faults. Randall recalls how important Jack was to him. He would help him relax when he put too much pressure on himself to perform. Jack would put his hands on Randalls face and say, Breathe with me. They would sit there, breathing together, until it passed. What was he like, your father William asks. Larger than life, I guess, Randall says with a laugh. When he laughed, it almost surprised him. Like it surprised him that he could laugh so freely. Randall explains that Kate has Jacks ashes, but they spread some over his favorite tree, which they consider his official burial site. William requests that he be taken to the tree to pay his respects, even if it is far off the road to Memphis. Watch The Toy Online here. Randall reluctantly agrees. Im sorry I didnt get the chance to meet you, brother. I would have liked to have heard that laugh. I would have liked to have met my sons father. Randall is making his bed for some reason, and William needs help getting out of bed. He knows exactly where they have to go first. He directs Randall to his childhood home. They sit for a moment and William realizes that one of the doors has been filled in with bricks. He remains focused on it. Randall tries to break up the moment by admitting that he had a little Afro. He got rid of it when he made partner at his firm. When he came home, Beth broke out into laughter. It wasnt that she didnt recognize me. It just took her a second to look beyond the brick door, is all, Randall says. William insists that they go inside, even though people live there. Randall knocks on the door and the couple let them in. William removes a brick from the fireplace, only to find his old treasure still locked in the hole a toy truck and three quarters. Theyre still there. Isnt it strange how the world sticks and moves like that William says as he leaves. Next up, William takes Randall on a tour of Memphis. They even visit a high school where the segregated water fountains are kept. Randall takes a sip from the. Ricky now owns the club and doesnt want to see William, who he blames for his lack of success. William never returned to Memphis. He tells Ricky that he really did want to come back. Ricky is not happy to see him. Now that hes dying, he needed to apologize to Ricky. After doing so, he gets up to leave. As he does so, Ricky asks, Are you too sick to playIm never too sick to play. As the two jam on stage, a drunk Randall gets to meet 1. Beth then calls and tells her he wishes she was there with him. Then, Randall is making a bed in their hotel. Randall is excited for the day and rushes over to Williams room. His father is not doing well. He calls 9. 11 to get him to a hospital. The doctor at the hospital tells Randall that his father could not possibly go back to New York. Watch Easy Living 4Shared. Even though he was smiling and playing onstage just the night before, he now has just hours to live. Randall just cant process the news. Randall starts blocking out all the questions from the doctor. Randall sits at Williams bedside. William wakes up. You knew you werent coming home, Randall says. William nods. He takes off his mask and tells Randall he has something for him in his bag. Its a manuscript for Poems For My Son. Randall offers to have Beth take the girls to Memphis, but William refuses. He said goodbye to them before they left. Up. Roll all your windows down, Randall. Crank up the music. Grow out that. Let someone else make your bed, William says. I like making my damn bed, old man. Then you make it. You deserve it. You deserve the beautiful life youve made, William says. My beautiful boy. I havent had a happy life. Bad choices. A life of almosts and could haves. Some would call it sad, but I dont.