Just in case you need a note after tonight's episode of #ThisIsUs. #PapaPearsonLovesYou. Tonight 9/8c on @nbc. MV pic.twitter.com/y8FwTGMlLS

— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) February 21, 2017

WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Tuesday’s episode of This is Us

Well, This is Us fans, we can’t say we weren’t warned. Jack Pearson himself, Milo Ventimiglia, posted us a sick/excuse note on Twitter prior to Tuesday’s gut-wrenching episode. Milo held up the note in a selfie, with the caption, “Just in case you need a note after tonight’s episode of #ThisIsUs. #PapaPearsonLovesYou.” The note reads:

Dear Sir/Madame,

Please excuse (insert name here) from work/school today, Wednesday. Last night was a very emotional episode of This is Us.

Thank You,
Papa Pearson

[From Milo Ventimiglia/Twitter]

I have a feeling we are going to need that note for future episodes as well. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. This week’s episode, entitled “Memphis,” focused solely on Randall and his biological father, William. Randall has survived his breakdown from last week and seems pretty clear-headed. Against Beth’s request that he get some rest, he instead takes William on a sweet father/son road trip to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Fortunately for Randall, his psychiatrist is on board for the trip, suggesting that meeting some of his extended family might be a good thing for Randall.

William says a sweet goodbye to Randall’s daughters and then the two, along with a virtual “produce department” of snacks packed by Beth, head off to Tennessee. William is excited to see the legendary ducks at the Peabody Hotel. (This is really a thing – and it’s freaking adorable.) Along the way, Randall talks about his breakdown and recalls how Jack would calm him down, holding the sides of his face and calmly breathing with him. William asked where Jack was buried and was told that he was cremated. While Kate has the bulk of Jack’s ashes, some were scattered at Jack’s favorite park. William asks Randall if he can visit the park to pay respects to him, and Randall reluctantly agrees. William takes a moment to thank Jack for raising such a good man and the two continue along.

While in Memphis, we see flashbacks of William’s childhood with a widowed mother (his father died in the military), his budding music career with his cousin Ricky and their band, and then his move to Pittsburgh to care for his ailing mother, meeting the woman who became Randall’s mother and picking up the drug habit that effectively ruined his dreams of musical success. William takes Randall to his favorite BBQ joint, to a barber (fun fact: Randall used to rock a ramp fade) and, later, to the club where he used to play. At the club, not only does William reconcile with his estranged cousin, he takes the stage once again. A very relaxed (and happy) Randall also belts out a tune or two.

Of course, there’s a ratio of happiness to tragedy that must be present in every episode of This is Us, so the next morning, after Randall makes the bed at the motel (me too, Randall), he discovers William pretty much at death’s door. He gets William to the hospital and is told he’s only got mere hours to live. The two share a heartbreaking final talk, with William giving his son some sage advice, “Roll all your windows down, Randall. Crank up the music. Grow out that ‘fro. Let someone else make your bed. You deserve the beautiful life you’ve made. You deserve everything, Randall. My beautiful boy. My son.” Randall then holds his father’s face in his hands and breathes with him until William takes his last breath. I don’t know about you, but that did it for me. But wait, there’s more. As Randall is driving home, a family of ducks crosses in front of his car, and the tears roll down his cheeks. But, he does turn up the music, roll down the windows, and hopefully he’s going to take his father’s advice to heart.

If it’s any consolation, this episode also packed an emotional wallop for the show’s stars. Ron Cephas Jones, who plays William, spoke with Entertainment Tonight after a screening of “Memphis.” He said of the “emotional” episode:

We did that first so there was no build-up to it. That was difficult, because like most people, you have someone in your family — several people in my family died from cancer and I have a good friend who’s struggling with it at the moment. That was the most difficult moment for both of us, Sterling (K. Brown, who plays Randall) and myself. But we had such comfortability with each other, we took care of each other and it made the scene even better. As actors, we can open ourselves up and feel safe, and that’s what we did and I noticed it resonated on the screen.

[From Entertainment Tonight]

And, don’t worry William fans, Ron will be back, according to show creator Dan Fogelman. He told People magazine, “You will see him in the next episode. You will not see him in the finale, but only because it’s a very Jack and Rebecca-centric episode. He’s going to remain a big part of the show.” He added, “he’s going to remain a substantial part of the series. How many [episodes]? And when? We’re still figuring that all out.”

I’m looking forward to the happy times, because you know there’s more sadness to come. And, as an aside, whatever happened to Jesse, William’s lover? I can only hope he was able to say his farewell to him off-screen. There’s another sad thought. I think I’m going to make a few copies of Milo’s note to get me through the end of this season.

Photos: WENN.com and FameFlynet