SIX FEET UNDER: UNTITLED {FOURTH SEASON FINALE} (TV)

Summary

The fourth season finale in this series about the Fisher clan, a loving -- if dysfunctional -- family struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy in the face of the stressful day-to-day operations of the eccentric family business, a funeral home in Los Angeles. In this episode, Kenneth Henderson is killed in a gruesome elevator accident, while elsewhere George has increasingly disturbing visions of bombings and a mysterious woman in turquoise. Claire invites many people, including an unresponsive Edie, to her art show, and Anita gifts her with cocaine after announcing that she has split with "drama queen" Russell. Nate continues worrying about Barb's plans to take Maya and is rudely dismissive of Brenda's advice, and David, having identified Jake as his attacker, tells Keith that he still feels unable to "move on" from his trauma. Keith suggests that he visit Jake in prison to fully vent his emotions, though David objects. Ruth is excited when George's daughter Maggie, a pharmaceutical representative, arrives in Los Angeles for a brief visit, and Kenneth's ex-wife is flustered by the prospect of making his funeral arrangements, as they were long estranged. Nate finally gives David the book from Michaela and finds a photograph of Lisa within.

Nicole Ritchie expresses an interest in Claire's photos, and the gallery owner assures her that Claire is already working on "a whole new series." Ruth is unnerved when George asks Maggie for various medication samples, saying that he wants to "be prepared," and Maggie privately asks Ruth if he has been experiencing "problems" recently. Nate complains that Brenda is not supporting his feelings about Lisa and the Kimmels, though Brenda reminds him that she cannot "compete" with his dead wife. Claire frets about her art show late into the night and continues smoking, again finding solace in an IM conversation with Billy. Nate realizes that the photo depicts Lisa on the day of her death and resolves to question her relatives about it in person, ignoring Brenda's warnings. The strange woman in turquoise encourages George's paranoia about a forthcoming disaster, and Ruth is upset when she catches him "talking" to her and calls Maggie for help. Rico comforts Kenneth's ex-wife at his funeral and is greatly affected when she explains that she intends to bury him with her family, still feeling connected to him despite their long separation. Claire and Anita share the cocaine before the art show, and Rico delivers a heartfelt apology to Vanessa, acknowledging that he committed adultery even before sleeping with Sophia. She assures him that she will always love him, but sadly states that they cannot "go back" and that she wants a divorce.

David heads to the prison alone and confronts Jake, who attempts to convince him that he is the one at fault and tells him that he "sits in prison" too, and David finally realizes the true depths of his madness. At the art show, Ruth talks to Brenda, admitting that she now understands her speedy relationship with Nate and asking her professional opinion about George's behavior. Claire rambles to her many "fans" about her art, though admits to Billy that she does not know what her photos truly mean, and Olivier notes that she is headed for "corruption" with her sudden success. Roger offers Keith a high price for his bodyguard services, though Keith demands an assurance that the lawsuit against David is permanently dropped. Claire argues with Jimmy, who points out that he arranged the show in the first place, and Russell demands credit for his part in Claire's work, still angry about the abortion and their failed relationship, and Billy is forced to intervene. Nate arrives at the Kimmels' and demands answers from Hoyt, and though he at first attempts to lie, he finally admits that he and Lisa "had a thing" some time ago and that he met her alone on the beach that day. He bitterly states that Nate treated her poorly, but Nate declares that Lisa would never have abandoned her daughter, and Hoyt tearfully implies that he killed her out of jealousy before suddenly shooting himself in front of a horrified Barb. Rico moves the rest of his things into the Fisher home as Claire and Billy finally give in to their feelings for one another, and George tells Ruth that he now "lives" in the bomb shelter. Nate returns home to Brenda and declares that they should finally marry and have a child, and David converses with Nathaniel, who praises his bravery in facing Jake and reminds him that there are "infinite possibilities" in life despite the moments of pain.

Details

• NETWORK: HBO
• DATE: September 12, 2004 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:58:56
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:86528
• GENRE: Drama
• SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Drama; Drama; Comedy; Families
• SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2001-2005
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Robert Greenblatt … Executive Producer
• David Janollari … Executive Producer
• Alan Poul … Executive Producer
• Bruce Eric Kaplan … Executive Producer
• Alan Ball … Executive Producer, Created by, Director
• Rick Cleveland … Co-Executive Producer
• Scott Buck … Co-Executive Producer
• Jill Solloway … Supervising Producer
• Lori Jo Nemhauser … Producer
• Robert Del Valle … Producer
• Kate Robin … Producer
• Michael Carroll … Associate Producer
• Nancy Oliver … Writer
• Richard Marvin … Music by
• Thomas Newman … Theme Music by
• Peter Krause … Cast, Nate Fisher
• Michael C. Hall … Cast, David Fisher
• Frances Conroy … Cast, Ruth Fisher
• Lauren Ambrose … Cast, Claire Fisher
• Freddy Rodriguez … Cast, Federico "Rico" Diaz
• Mathew St. Patrick … Cast, Keith Charles
• James Cromwell … Cast, George Sibley
• Rachel Griffiths … Cast, Brenda Chenowith
• Jeremy Sisto … Cast, Billy Chenowith
• Joanna Cassidy … Cast, Margaret Chenowith
• Ben Foster … Cast, Russell Corwin
• Justina Machado … Cast, Vanessa Diaz
• Richard Jenkins … Cast, Nathaniel Fisher
• Michael Weston … Cast, Jake
• Peter Facinelli … Cast, Jimmy
• Peter Macdissi … Cast, Olivier Castro-Staal
• Sprague Grayden … Cast, Anita Miller
• Julie Dretzin … Cast, Barb
• Jeff Yagher … Cast, Hoyt
• Tina Holmes … Cast, Maggie Sibley
• Matt Malloy … Cast, Roger Pasquese
• J.G. Hertzler … Cast, Gallery Owner
• Lucina Jenney … Cast, Kenneth's Ex-Wife
• Scott Burkholder … Cast, Kenneth Henderson
• Brent Roam … Cast, Man in Elevator
• Jenni Blong … Cast, Pregnant Woman in Elevator
• Alicia Brandt … Cast, Woman in Elevator
• Dwayne L. Barnes … Cast, Prison Officer
• Janice Lynde … Cast, Woman in Turquoise
• Nicole Ritchie … Cast, Herself
• Steffani Brass … Cast, Michaela
• Matt Hannigan … Cast, Detective
• Giancarlo Rodriguez … Cast, Julio Diaz
• Brenna Tosh … Cast, Maya Fisher
• Bronwyn Tosh … Cast, Maya Fisher