Finn Gives Deacon a Shocking Update – and Poppy Reacts to News of Tom’s Demise
At Bill’s house, Poppy flashes to Tom demanding to see Luna and saying she deserves to know who her real dad is. She looks stressed out.
At Il Giardino, Deacon and Hollis discuss Tom’s collapse. He was fine before he went onstage last night. Finn comes in and says he heard at the hospital that Tom died there last night. Deacon thanks him for coming. “I need to know why he went down like that. What happened?” They go over how he seemed fine before going on stage. Finn says it wasn’t a stroke or an aneurysm. “Tom died of a drug overdose.”
At Bill’s house, he joins Poppy, who thought he was at work. He asks what’s going on. “Is something wrong?” Bill says she looks like she’s been crying. Poppy admits she’s feeling a little emotional.
Bill tells her if something is upsetting her, he wants to hear about it. “There’s nothing you can’t tell me.”
At Il Giardino, Finn tells Deacon and Hollis that a toxicology report is still in progress on Tom. They worry that if they’d known, they could have helped him.
Deacon and Hollis go on about how cheerful and awesome he was. Finn laments that drugs took it all away. He asks if he had a history of drug abuse. Deacon says Tom was in recovery. He can’t understand why Tom would go back to that.
At Bill’s place, he tells Poppy he can fix anything. She goes on about how caring and generous he is. She says it’s a lot… the paternity test, moving in, waking up next to him every morning knowing he’s Luna’s father.
It’s so far from anything she could have imagined. “It sounds crazy but it’s like the life I’ve known has died.” Bill says, “For the better.” She nods, “Much better.”
She can’t ever thank him enough. “Do you have to rush to the office right away?” Bill chuckles. He might be able to spare a few minutes. Poppy takes off her robe and wants to show him what life with him really means to her. They make out.
In the design office, Luna tells Zende she almost gave up on finding her dad. They go over how Poppy always kept it to herself. Luna says it doesn’t matter now that she knows who her father is and he knows her.
She’s pleased that Bill accepted her immediately. There was a connection between them since back when he was just her mom’s boyfriend. When they did the DNA test it all made sense.
Zende says family is very important. Luna tells him Bill wants to adopt her. Zende marvels, “That’s great. I’m glad that you’re getting everything you deserve.” Luna’s thrilled to finally know her father.
Deacon refuses to believe this until the whole report comes back. Finn insists the prelims say it all. He warns that he’s going to have a full day of fielding calls and dealing with news vans.
Deacon doesn’t care. Tom deserved better than this. People don’t just throw away second chances. “Look at your mom.” Finn won’t discuss her. He plans to honor his wife’s wishes.
Deacon is glad he came by, even if he doesn’t like the news. Finn goes on about addiction ruining careers and families. “Did he have one?” Deacon says, “Not that I’m aware of.”
At Bill’s place, he and Poppy bask in the afterglow on the sofa. His phone goes off and he wants to ignore it, but she worries it’s important. Bill checks the phone and it’s a news alert about Tom’s death.
He recalls that it’s the bus boy at Il Giardino. “He died at the restaurant last night.” Poppy gawps, “Died?!” Bill reads out loud about his collapse and says it was a drug overdose. “He died right on-stage last night.” Poppy gulps, “My God, that’s so horrible.” Bill complains that this is becoming more common every day. He’s glad it hasn’t touched his family.
Bill tells Poppy how happy he is that she and Luna have come into his life. Poppy agrees that it’s tragic and recaps how she raised Luna in a safe environment. Her dreams have come true now thanks to him. Bill will always take care of them. Poppy thanks him. “That just makes it all worthwhile.” She settles into his arms, but looks distraught and fights tears as she glances at the story on Bill’s phone about Tom’s death.
