Episode 8 of Tiny Beautiful Things masterfully interweaves two timelines, yet due to Clare's unresolved past issues and their haunting echoes in the present, we'll relive the episode in a single, cohesive narrative.
The chapter commences with an adult Clare and Frankie strolling towards the very spot where Frankie lies buried in reality, Lady by their side. Frankie requests Clare to dig for her ashes, but upon refusal, Frankie sets to the task herself, their actions seemingly ripped from a disturbing nightmare. Yet, as the nightmare fades, Clare's reality comes into sharper focus, though distinguishing the two has become a perplexing task.
A voice-over from a Dear Sugar letter introduces its author as a man who has rediscovered love after two decades of marriage. When, indeed, is the perfect moment to utter those three words, "I love you?" And what do they truly encompass?
Rae descends into the basement, finding Clare asleep once again, her slumber a refuge from the turmoil caused by Danny's declaration of wanting a separation in the previous episode. Rae shares the truth about the envelope's giver, and that revelation sets Clare on a tumultuous spiral. The memories of her father, Gene, abusing Frankie and neglecting his children, surface. In a flashback, we witness Clare's terror as she accidentally drops a bottle of alcohol in the supermarket, her shopping cart already overflowing with them, a stark reminder of Gene's crippling alcoholism.
Desperate, Clare attempts to reach Lucas but when she dials "Home," Frankie's abode now inhabited by Lucas, it is Gene who answers. It seems as if Clare's thoughts are fixated solely on the fact that Gene is present in Frankie's sanctuary.
In a haunting flashback, Clare sat vigilantly by Frankie's bedside, her groans of pain echoing as the morphine's effects waned. An orderly informed the youthful Clare that Frankie's doctor was departing for the day. She hastily caught up with him, and he calmly and candidly answered her inquiries. The morphine was administered every twelve hours, the cancer incurable, and according to current prognosis, Frankie had merely two weeks left. Desperately, Clare dialed Lucas's number, but he failed to answer. Frankie, observing her distress, urged her to refrain from contacting Lucas, knowing his son loved her dearly but could not bear to see her in such a state. Despite Frankie's wishes, Clare gathered her coat and departed.
This traumatic incident was later recounted by adult Clare as she encountered an equally matured Lucas at Frankie's former abode, now owned by Gene. Defying her mother's pleas, a youthful Clare ventured out to fetch Lucas. The journey was long and arduous, and on the way, she recounted to Lucas the impending loss of Frankie. They pondered who would care for them after Frankie's passing, Clare certain that Gene, who had abandoned them long ago, would not.
The following day, upon their return, Frankie had already departed this world. Clare's grief was immeasurable, her indignation profound. She screamed, vowing never to forgive Lucas for this. He retorted, accusing her of making the "choice" to fetch him, reminding her that no one had compelled her and that she could not blame her heartache and anger on others.
During the car ride, Clare expressed little interest in Rae's conversation with Gene. She attempted to scrutinize the brief and uneventful encounter, but failed to garner much from Rae. Clare was consumed by an inner turmoil, and it was apparent why when they reached Frankie's home, now inhabited by Lucas. They made their way straight to Frankie's grave, and Clare, armed with shovels purchased along the way, began to dig, intent on retrieving Frankie's ashes. Her abhorrence of her father was so profound that she could not bear the thought of Frankie's remains residing in the same place as Gene. Lucas emerged with Gene, attempting to convince Clare of the transformation in their relationship with their father. Lucas spoke of Gene's sobriety and redemption, noting that he had purchased the house when it was on the verge of foreclosure. But Clare remained unyielding, refusing to believe that a man like Gene could ever truly change. She walked away, threatening Gene to never harm Lucas, leaving behind a powerful visual of unresolved emotions from the past, embodied by the youthful Lucas and Clare, while Rae and Gene remained frozen in their present state, a stark reminder of how they had failed to move beyond that fateful moment in the hospital.
Rae weeps uncontrollably, her sobs echoing through the silence as she confesses the truth to Clare. With a trembling voice, she reveals to Lucas the details of the college fund. Unknowingly, Clare had mentioned in a previous conversation that she and Danny were headed for divorce, yet she reassures Rae that her actions did not contribute to their fate.
Clare's heart still aches with the regret of not being by Frankie's side during her final moments. "Love is the cornerstone of Sugar's existence," she pens in a moment of reflection. The many forms of love that reside within us can sometimes be overshadowed by betrayal and sorrow, but they always find a way to endure.
Despite their recent disagreement, a younger Clare and Lucas united in grief to lay Frankie's ashes to rest. In the present, Clare and Rae carry mattresses and settle under the starry sky, reminiscing of the nights Clare spent with Frankie in episode 4. Clare advises the unnamed man in her letter to seize every opportunity to embrace love.
A shift in the narrative reveals Danny entering Mel's office, a clear indication that she is the woman who will be his new companion. As Clare and Rae embrace, their voices filled with sincerity as they utter, "I love you," to each other. Be bold, be true to yourself, and never hesitate to express your love to those who matter most.
Clare jolts awake in the dead of night, her heart skipping a beat as she finds her mother, Frankie, lying on her bed, her life slowly ebbing away. It's almost as if Frankie's spirit has come to offer forgiveness. As she gazes at Clare with tenderness, Frankie whispers, "Love." Clare echoes the word back, and with a heavy heart, she pulls the plug, symbolizing her final release from the guilt of not being there for Frankie during her final moments.
