Episode 8 of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans opens in 1984, the fateful year that Truman bid farewell to the world. Despite the sorrowful occasion, Truman finds himself visiting the gravesite of Babe, who had passed away in 1978. With three months of sobriety behind him, Truman makes his way to Jack, who has embarked on a new romantic journey. Truman confides in Jack that his forthcoming novel, Answered Prayers, will serve as a heartfelt apology to all those he had hurt in the past. Their conversation ends on a harmonious note, as Truman resolves to finally complete his literary masterpiece.
With renewed vigor, Truman begins to craft the novel, determined to grant everyone the happy ending they desire, even if it exists only in the realm of imagination. His first chapter is a penitent ode to C.Z., acknowledging her dismay over his lies for personal gain. He recognizes that while he saw her entrapment, he only exposed her flaws. Seeking to grant her the freedom she yearns for, Truman embarks on a road trip to Mexico City. There, they sell a nude painting of C.Z. to a roadside bar, using the proceeds to buy drinks and dance the night away, celebrating her unfettered spirit.
Moving forward, Truman tackles the next chapter with a more candid approach, delving into the complexities of Slim. She desired love and power, but Truman stripped away her allure, leaving her vulnerable. He provokes her until she lashes out, smashing china and unleashing her anger. Truman urges her to let go of her rage, offering a solution that brings her success. She secures a position of power and finds true love, rounding out her arc with a satisfying conclusion.
The subsequent chapter focuses on Lee, whose deepest regret is being overshadowed by her sister, Jackie Kennedy, and the realization that her latest husband is gay. Truman spins a whimsical tale of helping Lee carve out her own niche in the literary world by ghostwriting her memoir, culminating in a dramatic turn when he poisons her husband.
Back in the waking world, Truman hallucinates his mother, Nina, who criticizes the C.Z. chapter as pretentious, lacking raw emotions. She insists that he needs to drink to rediscover his voice, and so he obliges, consuming alcohol while writing the chapter on Slim. Nina continues to ply him with drinks and pills for the Lee chapter, still feeling that something is missing. Despite her meddling, Truman perseveres, determined to complete his masterpiece and offer closure to all the characters – and perhaps, to himself as well.
She sternly advises him to abandon his groveling behavior and harness his anger to create something authentic, something as profound as her life and its tragic conclusion. A flashback transpires, revealing Nina engaging in transactional relationships with men while chastising a younger Truman for intruding on her private affairs. She mocks his extravagant demeanor, finding it laughable.
After being abandoned by her latest lover, Nina succumbs to anger and overdoses on drugs. Truman, watching helplessly as the present unfolds, is joined by Ann Woodward, who reminds him so much of his mother. He wonders if she can ever forgive him, but she responds that some things are simply unforgivable. She cautions him that the Swans will never understand his apologetic chapters and that it would only cause further harm, as the damage has already been done. Torn between choices, Truman ultimately opts to destroy the entire "Answered Prayers" manuscript by setting it ablaze.
In the aftermath, Truman relocates to Joanne's home in California, where he finds himself unable to write. Tragically, he succumbs to a drowning accident in her swimming pool. As he draws his last breath, he is haunted by visions of not only Babe but also Nina and Ann. Joanne, overcome with grief, weeps beside his lifeless body and contacts Jack, who inquiries about the manuscript. She reveals that, apart from incoherent scribbles in his notebooks, he has left no new writings.
The year is now 2016, and an auction of Joanne's belongings is taking place. Among the items for sale is Truman's ashes, which Joanne holds dear. Kate O'Shea attempts to purchase them but is ultimately unable to afford them as they are sold for a staggering $45,000. Lee, C.Z., Babe, and Slim observe the proceedings from afar, mocking the crassness of the modern era and the outlandish attire worn by the attendees. They lament that nothing compares to the New York they once knew and slowly walk away into the light.
The final episode of "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" concludes with a revelation: the dates of the remaining Swans' deaths are revealed, and it is revealed that the complete manuscript of "Answered Prayers" remains elusive, never to be found.
