| The Long and Winding Road (Part 3) | |
| Season 08, Episode 27 | |
| Air Date | May 25, 1999 |
| Writer | Bruce Ferber Lloyd Garver Marley Sims |
| Director | John Pasquin |
| Previous | The Long and Winding Road (Part 2) |
| Next | Backstage Pass |
The Long and Winding Road (Part 3) is the twenty-seventh episode of the eighth and final season. It originally aired on ABC in the United States on May 25, 1999. It is the third and final part of the 3 Part Series Finale.
Note: Even though this episode and The Long and Winding Road (Part 1) and The Long and Winding Road (Part 2) is the series finale, Backstage Pass is officially the last episode of the series. Also, this is the last episode of the series to air in syndication since the next episode, Backstage Pass is only included on the Season 8 DVD release.
Synopsis
Tim records his final episode of Tool Time, but rather than set the entire stage on fire (as per Morgan's plan), Tim decides to go out on his own terms; He, Al and Heidi introduce a bevy of past favorite guests, including the guys from K&B Construction and Mario Andretti. They all perform an huge impromptu jam session singing "Burning Down The House", using tools and appliances as musical instruments. Al and Tim both ignite acetylene torches, and at the end of the song Tim accidentally sets the "Farewell To Tool Time" banner over the entrance on fire, but two firemen with extinguishers quickly come on stage and put out the flames.
Later at home, Tim is talking with Wilson while setting up chairs for Al and Trudy's wedding when Tim mentions that they could take down the fence between his and Wilson's yard doubling up the space, an idea that Wilson likes. As they're taking down the fence, Tim tells Wilson that his Tool Time finale was a ratings smash, and that Morgan is now begging him to stay on, offering a big raise and an executive producer credit. Wilson begins to think that Tim will be staying in Michigan, but Tim reveals that he turned down Morgan's offer, but hasn't told Jill because he doesn't want it to affect her decision; Wilson admires Tim's action.
Before the wedding, some of Tim and Al's friends start a bet as to whether or not Al will go through with it; Tim appears disgusted by the idea, and then puts down $100 favoring Al (and another $40 that Al is wearing a flannel thong). Meanwhile, Jill is in the kitchen directing the catering when Morgan arrives with a cheese basket- for Tim and Jill. Morgan identifies himself to Jill and then reveals that he's been trying to get hold of Tim to get him to change his mind about staying on at Tool Time, even revealing to her that he will lose his job if he loses Tim. Jill is touched that Tim turned Morgan down because of her job offer, but when Morgan tries to guilt Jill into getting Tim to reconsider, Jill is offended and throws Morgan out of the house, and Al and Trudi's wedding goes off as planned, with Wilson officiating (covering up half his face with a bible).
Before the reception, Jill takes Tim to the garage and, after revealing her gratitude at Tim's selflessness, she reveals that she now doesn't want to leave. But after the reception and everyone leaves, Jill, in a quiet moment together, finally admits to Tim that she's ready for the next step in their lives. When she wistfully says that she can't imaging leaving the house, Tim begins thinking that they don't have to, envisioning carting the entire house on a truck, and then on a barge towed by a tugboat.
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