The flashbacks scattered throughout Episode 5 of Tiny Beautiful Things traverse a maze of timelines, their specificity blurred by the varied nature of the scenes. Primarily, they illustrate how Clare's failure to graduate college stemmed from her inability to submit a five-page essay on Nikolai Gogol's short story, 'The Nose'. We catch a fleeting glimpse of a youthful Clare boldly declaring to Frankie that she longed to eschew academia and pursue a career as a waitress, mirroring Frankie's path. However, Frankie's shrewd response dissuades Clare from her impulsive dream.
The narrative abruptly shifts to Clare's final year in college, mere days after her mother's passing. Lucas, still a minor, grapples with the loss, resorting to alcohol and recklessness. Jess, Clare's then-husband, shoulders the responsibility of caring for Lucas while gently urging Clare to do the same.
We rewind further to Clare's acceptance letter from Holy Trinity University. Frankie's jubilation knew no bounds as Clare became the first in the family to embark on higher education. Despite financial constraints, Clare secured enough scholarships to overcome the hurdle, and Frankie, too, joined the university, much to Clare's initial reluctance but eventual delight. Their only stipulation was to remain strangers on campus.
Following her mother's death, Clare spirals into turmoil. Eric, her high school tormentor, relentlessly pursues her, and in a moment of emotional fragility, Clare succumbs to temptation and cheats on Jess with Eric. Struggling with the elusive essay on 'The Nose', she resists Jess's attempt at intimacy in the bathroom.
In class, Clare lashes out at the professor for assigning such an enigmatic story. Confounded, she pleads for understanding, but the professor insists that the essay is a prerequisite for graduation. In another impulsive act, she drags Lucas to a rave, where she loses control and kisses another girl. After separating them, Clare embarrassingly urinates in someone's backyard, confessing to Lucas that she cheated on Jess. Without Frankie's guiding presence, Clare struggles to maintain her moral compass.
Later, we witness Clare's lingering gaze at Eric in the library, her eyes filled with temptation. She returns home, inebriated and disheveled. Jess requests her to look after Lucas, but she laments the need for their mother's presence, a subtle indication of her healing process. On graduation day, the truth is revealed: Clare failed to complete the essay and was unable to graduate.
Eric apologizes for his ignorance of Frankie's passing, and the college graciously awards Frankie a degree in history, which Clare tearfully accepts. As she breaks down, Jess and Lucas stand by her side, offering unwavering support.
Rae finally stepped out of her room, yet her heart was heavy with reluctance to return to school. The viral video of Clare had left her feeling exposed and ashamed. Despite Danny's intervention, Rae reluctantly agreed to go, but with a demand: a transfer to Douglass, a school she deemed more suitable. Danny, who had visited Douglass and deemed it inferior, tried to dissuade her, but Rae was adamant. She threatened to drop out of school altogether and forfeit her college dreams.
When Rae pointed out that Danny himself hadn't completed college, he quickly retorted that Clare hadn't either. This revelation, unknown to Rae, sparked a fire in her rebellious spirit. She grabbed her bag and spilled its contents onto the floor in a defiant display.
Clare carefully picked up a broken ceramic vase, its shape resembling a nose. Rae revealed that she had crafted it for Clare, a nostalgic reminder of their shared past. While Clare sat upstairs, diligently finishing her essay on "The Nose" for college submission, Rae worked tirelessly in the basement to repair the vase. She desired to complete her education and earn her degree, just as Clare did.
With Danny and Clare's support, Rae was escorted back to school. Once again, she pleaded with them to let her return, but this time with a newfound determination. Clare presented her with a choice: stay or go. Rae, after a moment of reflection, chose to go, her resolve strengthened by Clare's words and the broken vase that now sat repaired on the kitchen table.
