The Burgess Boys

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, mental illness, and death.

Bob walks through a park in Brooklyn, thinking about what Jim has revealed to him. He is still unsure of whether to believe Jim’s revelation that he, not Bob, killed their father since Jim was drinking and upset when he said it. Within a few days, he receives a call from Jim: The federal hate crime charge against Zach has suddenly been dropped. Zach has remained in Sweden with his father, Steve, and plans to stay there until he must return for the misdemeanor trial. When Bob brings up Jim’s confession, Jim asserts, again, that it is true. He dismisses it as unimportant, however, telling Bob that because the event is in the distant past, it does not matter. Bob disagrees.

Helen feels anxious about Zach having left Susan alone. She tries to talk with Jim about it, but he is moody. When she presses him, he admits that he is upset about work and no longer likes his job. He feels that he has disappointed everyone because he is no longer the “great Jim Burgess” he once was.