Brothers & Sisters Episode 4.24 On the Road Again

Wine of the week: 2008 La Fenetre Pinot Noir, Sierra Madre Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley- It's the end of another season for Brothers and Sisters, but for some reason, it feels like the end of an era. With Roberts secret dealings, a possible split between Rebecca and Justin, and the closing of Ojai Foods a heavy weight has been placed on the shoulders of the Walker family. This calls for some serious juice. If you decide not to have a Manhattan on the rocks (which seems almost more fitting for the season finale than a glass of wine) then this 2008 Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley is your ticket. With notes of strawberry, cloves, cherry cola, and mint this wine can be celebratory but also carries more serious and focused earthy and mineral elements. A perfect complement to a finale that offers both sorrow and joy, not unlike the Walkers who will never be the same after this powerful season ending.

All aboard! The Kitty Walker-McCallister tour bus is hitting the campaign trail. Robert has to bail on the trip, so he suggests Kitty invite her rabidly-Democratic mother along for the ride. Nora is jazzed for the road trip and brings with her an Ojai-depressed Sarah, who has been languishing of the sofa watching soap operas and eating cold pizza. The fresh, circulated air of a tour bus will do her good.

Robert has incriminating audio recordings of Bill Stanton, the shady contractor who offered to buy political favors. He won't do anything with the tapes until he figures out a way to protect Kitty. That may not be possible. Stanton is likely the source of some unflattering press smearing Kitty's campaign.

To assure the security of the tapes, Robert stores them in a safe deposit box. He gives Justin a key in case anything happens to him. Justin wants to know what's in the box, but Robert isn't talking. His brother-in-law is also being less than forthright about his new heart medication, which is for a rather serious condition. Justin discovers this disturbing info just before Rebecca tells him she accepted her job offer behind his back. Looks like his decision on whether or not to do medical work in Haiti for a year has been made for him.

Scotty and Saul have created a test menu for their new restaurant. The entire family is coming to the old Ojai cabin for dinner to serve as guinea pigs/taste testers. Saul takes a computer break and discovers an old flame has been living with AIDS for many years. When the subject of HIV testing comes up, Saul's casual attitude worries Kevin and Scotty. When they push the issue, Saul gets a bit testy about being tested.

A visibly nervous Saul does end up getting tested. He's a little on edge before the big family dinner at the cabin. The stress of waiting for the test results is getting to him. Sarah is stressed as well when she finds out Nora ordered more drilling at Narrow Lake. But all issues are pushed aside once Robert begins to stagger by the stairs. With his face drenched in sweat, Robert tells the family that they better call 911.

Robert is treated at the local hospital where Kitty finally learns that he's been walking around with an arrhythmia. He didn't want her to have to choose between him and her campaign. Kitty wants him to lose that mentality. She says, "I just didn't fall in love with the hero. I fell in love with the guy who was afraid that after his heart attack he wasn't gonna be able to keep up with his kids." This hits home with Robert, who tells Kitty that the reason she's being attacked in the campaign is because of his dealings with Stanton.

Back at the cabin, Nora tells Saul that Robert will be released from the hospital within hours. When Saul tells her about the HIV test, Nora makes him call for the results right then and there. She says, "We're family. That means you don't have to do things alone." Saul makes the call. He tells a relieved Nora that he's fine.

The good news just keeps on coming when Holly summons Sarah and Nora to the Narrow Lake drill site. They struck gold! Well, not gold. Water! And that's as good as gold in a drought-plagued state like California. The family is about to get into the water business, which should give new meaning to the term liquid assets!

The entire family packs up their things, ready to caravan home after a most eventful stay at the old Ojai place. Before they hit the road, Justin and Rebecca come to the conclusion that their love is strong enough to survive a year's separation if he goes to Haiti without her. As they drive along the dark highway, a commotion can be seen in the distance. There's been an accident. People are hurt. People they know. People they love.

Kevin and Scotty are bruised and bloody, but appear to be okay. Saul is also bleeding from severe cuts. When Kevin tries to help, Saul doesn't want anyone to touch him. They can't. We can see by the defeated look on Saul's face that he wasn't being truthful when he revealed the results of his HIV test.

Holly is in bad shape, but Justin manages to snap her back into consciousness. Robert's situation also looks severe. He tells Kitty that she was right. Robert says, "When we brought Evan home from the hospital, I was scared that I wouldn't be able to keep up. But then I saw you holding him. So strong, so loving. And I knew that you would."

Robert struggles to say more, but can't. A panicked Kitty cups his face and stares into her husband's suddenly lifeless eyes. She begs Robert to stay with her, tears streaming down her face. Sirens are heard in the distance. Help is on the way. But we get the feeling they may be too late.