episode 3 of The Last of Us arrived on HBO last Sunday (29) telling an original and exciting story, but one detail may arouse the curiosity of many people: what was written at the end of Bill’s letter?
Titled “For a long, long time”, episode 3 of The Last of Us tells the story of Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), a gay couple who have lived alone for two decades in a post-pandemic town outside Boston. It’s a heartbreaking love story and a poignant love story, made all the more touching by the little details scattered throughout.
One of the final elements you may have missed near the end of the episode? The end of Bill’s last letter to Joel (Pedro Pascal) – or whoever else found it.
In 2023, the same year that Joel, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Tess leave their apartment in the Boston Quarantine Zone to begin their journey across the United States, Bill and Frank have reached a tragic point in their decades-long relationship: Frank is about to die. ill, presumably with cancer, and wakes Bill up one morning with his decision to make this his last day on Earth.
She wants to dress in her preserved boutique, marry Bill, and have one last meal of rabbit and Beaujolais red wine – the same meal they shared the day they met – before Bill offers him a fatal dose of medicine.
The couple’s last day is presented in a deeply moving montage, and all goes according to Frank’s plan until the end, when he realizes that even Bill has taken “enough to kill a horse”.
“This is not the tragic suicide at the end of the show,” says Bill. “I’m old. I’m satisfied. And you were my target. The last time we see Bill and Frank is their retreat to their rooms to die in each other’s arms. Later, when Joel and Ellie arrive at the empty house, Ellie discovers that Bill has left a letter on the table, intended “for whoever it is, but probably for Joel”.
After explaining his and Frank’s fates and warning them not to enter the room where their bodies are, Bill’s letter is addressed directly to Joel, while Ellie reads it to him aloud. “I hated the world and I loved it when everyone died,” Bill says in the letter. “But I was wrong. There was one person worth saving. I did. I saved him. Then I protected him. That’s why there are men like us. We have a duty. And God help children who they get in our way.
Ellie reads on: “I leave you my weapons and equipment. Use it to protect…”, at which point Ellie abruptly stops reading and seems unable to continue, anticipating the emotional impact of the end of the sentence. Joel takes the letter and reads it himself, and the camera focuses on the letter, the part that says, “Use to protect Tess.”
The letter is only a few lines long and Joel’s hands prevent us from reading it all. But we can see “and she decides you are” in one line, followed by “I recommend the match” in the penultimate line. In the last line we see a word that looks like a type of wine, perhaps “Bordello”.
It’s a bit of a guess, but it seems Bill ended his letter by recommending a food and wine pairing for Joel and Tess, should they decide to stay the night.
The first three episodes of The Last of Us are available on HBO Max. Upcoming episodes always arrive Sundays at 11 p.m. on HBO and HBO Max.
The Last of Us post: what was written at the end of Bill’s letter? first appeared on Look Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
