Contains spoilers for this episode.
Three months after Henry and Sam’s deaths, Joel and Ellie travel through a snowy wilderness. They meet Marlon and Florence, who warn them away from the area, then reach Jackson and reunite Joel with Tommy. Tommy lives in the fortified community with Maria, who is pregnant. Joel is struck by how safe and orderly the town feels. He gives Tommy a misleading account of Ellie’s importance, but Tommy recognizes that his brother is hiding something. Maria warns Ellie that Joel and Tommy have done terrible things to survive, and tells her about Joel’s daughter Sarah after Ellie sees the memorial at their home.
Tommy tells Joel where to find the Fireflies but refuses to go with him. In a workshop, Joel confides his fear that he cannot keep Ellie safe and asks Tommy to take her instead. Ellie overhears and confronts Joel, saying everyone she loved has either died or left. Joel angrily insists she is not his daughter. Joel decides to continue with her. The next morning they leave Jackson together, and Joel teaches Ellie to shoot a rifle. They reach the university and find it abandoned; a packing list and map point toward Salt Lake City. Armed men attack as they leave. Joel is stabbed by the broken end of a baseball bat, escapes on horseback with Ellie, then collapses from the saddle.