Before Lily's solitary departure to New York, Hank unfolded a haunting dream to her, a bizarre tapestry of images that seemed to hold no deeper meaning beyond her impending solitude. As she leaned in for a kiss, Hank instinctively offered her his cheek instead. The days unfolded in a cyclical pattern, with Lily absent and Hank drowning in a sea of chaos at home. His domain was a shambles, and Julie's worried face hovered over a neglected plate of spaghetti at his doorstep, informing him that Russell was missing. Her husband had failed to return home the previous night, and her concern was palpable. Hank, however, was lost in a fog, unable to focus.
As Julie retreated to her home, disappointed in Hank's indifferent response, Toni appeared, pleased to have Hank "taken back" under his wing. They ventured out for a stroll, during which Hank confessed his disquietude over Lily's decision to relocate to New York, despite his conscious acceptance of it. Hank struggled to share Lily's joy, haunted by the unresolved anger towards his father's abandonment. This was where the allegory of The Count of Monte Cristo came to life, as Hank compared his situation to the protagonist, Dantès. His unbridled rage and failed attempt to confront Henry formed the core of his current numbness.
Toni urged Hank to take the first step out of his predicament, starting with a simple task: fixing the leaky kitchen basin. Meanwhile, Laurel refused to let Henry embark on his town journey alone, despite his diminished memory. However, Henry, a passionate reader and scholar at heart, defied her wishes and walked towards the town while Laurel took the car.
In a distant city, Lily was exploring potential apartments in New York, her voice echoing through the phone line to Hank. Suddenly, Hank spotted his father wandering by and abruptly ended the call, inviting Henry in for a visit to college. Paul Rourke, their Union Rep, was on the receiving end of a scathing rebuke from Hank, who had managed to sneak Henry away from the impending strike cancellation.
Hank returns to the department, delighting the professors with Henry's riveting discourse on Dickens. Astonished, Hank realizes he can recall such trivialities with ease, yet struggles to recollect matters that truly mattered in life. Billie Quigley confesses to Hank that she told Meg, her daughter, the truth about Hank's intentional neglect of offering her teaching positions. He attempts to explain, but Meg seems disheartened.
Meanwhile, Russell hides in the shadows of the bar, while Gracie braces herself for a possible firing as Dean Rose summons her to his office. Entering with her guard up, Gracie proudly claims her class boasts the highest enrollment. Surprisingly, Rose reveals his intention to leave his wife, hinting at rekindling their old "romantic tension." She rejects his advances yet is impressed when he recites her "published poem."
Lily struggles to find an apt apartment in New York, each one either too cramped or overly spacious. Engaged in a thoughtful exercise by the realtor to envision her "perfect day," Lily surprisingly omits mentioning Hank or Julie. She ultimately selects an apartment and shares the news with her best friend Ashley, who appears unfazed.
In a surreal turn, a stranger, seated with his lover, spies his husband entering the diner. He abruptly swaps seats, occupying Ashley's empty chair, managing the situation. Lily joins in, unknowingly embarking on an internal struggle about Hank.
Desiring to evolve beyond the person she was when she met Hank, Lily realizes he's making no effort to grow with her. His feeble attempts to placate her lead nowhere, stagnating their relationship. Seeking a divorce, she ponders the future. Hank seeks forgiveness from Meg, only to find Russell in bed with her. Confronted with Russell's infidelity, Hank compels him to confess to Julie and drives him home. Along the way, Henry spots a dealership and insists Hank stop, desiring his own car.
Russell opens up to Hank, confessing that Julie doesn't make him feel "wanted" or "capable," lacking support for his ambitions. Hank informs Julie of Russell's disappearance and betrayal.
As they shop for a plumbing hose, Hank and Henry engage in a candid discussion on marriage and selfhood. In an unexpected revelation, Henry unwittingly reveals why he abandoned Hank and Laurel. Claiming he never intended to be a father, Henry prioritized his academic career, refusing to be "in between in life." Disgusted, Hank leaves Henry behind, driving straight to Julie.
Without a word, Hank enters her home, boils a kettle of tea, and stands silently beside her in the kitchen. His presence offers solace in a trying time, a comfort his own father never provided. While the future remains uncertain, Hank vows to be there for his daughter, no matter what life brings.
