Not a death, but a goodbye: contrasts and parallels in the car scenes in Funeral and Goodbye
2X21 FUNERAL
Quinn: Sorry; long line in the restroom. Everyone was fixing their mascara.
Finn: Mmm.
Quinn: You did such a great job with the funeral. I’m so proud of you. Why are you crying?
Finn: Because I’m breaking up with you.
Quinn: Because of Rachel? Because you still love her?
Finn: I shouldn’t have done this with you. I thought that I could fix everything from last year, but I—I can’t. I just can’t, and … that feeling that Sue was talking about in there? Of being tethered to someone?
I—I just—I don’t feel that way about you.
Quinn: But you do with her.
Finn: Silent, tears streaming down his face.
Quinn No. We’re not breaking up. I can handle your confusion with Rachel, un-until you get over it. We’re going to stay together. And next year we’ll be prom king and queen, and—
Finn: Just stop it. OK? I don’t want that life.
Quinn: Loudly sighs.
Finn: Don’t you feel anything anymore? This is real. This is happening.
Quinn: One single tear track on her face. Are you happy now? Is this me feeling enough for you?
Finn: Quinn, I’m sorry; I still love you—
Quinn: Just—just don’t touch me!
Quinn gets out of the truck and hurries away. Finn looks down, still crying, and then his gaze is pulled upward by a seemingly invisible force.
We see Quinn moving out of the camera frame as Rachel moves into it, and Finn watches her move toward him.
3X22 GOODBYE
Rachel: Hi.
Finn: (Whispered) Hi.
Rachel: Hey, so, you have my dress and my shoes, and I have my make-up and my epic love for you.
Finn: Tries to smile.
Rachel: Let’s get married.
Finn: Okay… .
At the train station
Finn: You’re on the 4:25 to New York.
Finn: Your dads are gonna meet you there and they’re gonna help you look at dorms at the new school.
Finn: You’re gonna spend four years of your life there and you’ve never even set foot in the place.
Rachel: But I have all year to go and look at it.
Finn: You’re gonna go there in the fall. All right? You’re not deferring.
Finn: We’re not getting married.
Rachel: You don’t want to marry me?
Finn: I want to marry you so badly I can’t go through with it.
Finn: The thought of you being stuck here for another year because of me,
Finn: that makes me sick.
Rachel: Then come with me! Okay?
Rachel: We can get married in New York …
Rachel: and live in a little shoe box apartment together. It’ll be romantic!
Finn: Do you love me?
Rachel: Of course I do.
Finn: Then tell me the truth and not just something you think I want to hear. Are you 100% sure you want to marry me?
Rachel: No one is 100% sure of anything.
Finn: I am.
Finn: I am that sure you’re something special.
Finn: That this is just the beginning for you.
Rachel: Wait a minute.
Finn: That you’re going to do amazing things. But to get there, you gotta have these experiences on your own.
Rachel: Wait a minute
Finn: Listen to me, you gotta have these experiences on your own.
Rachel: Wait a minute.
Finn: I can’t have to be there with you.
Rachel: Wait a minute! Are you breaking up with me?
Finn: I’m setting you free.
Rachel: Oh my god!
Finn: Do you know how hard this is for me? How many times I’ve cried about this?
Rachel: No! I’m not going. I’m not going, not without you.
Finn: You don’t have a choice. I can’t come with you.
Rachel: Well then I’ll stay here …
Rachel: or I’ll go wherever it is that you’re going!
Finn: Fort Benning, Georgia?
Finn: I need a chance to try to redeem my father.
Rachel: Oh my god! Wait a minute. You’re joining the Army? Are you insane? I can’t believe that this is happening right now!
Finn: It’s one of the places I knew you couldn’t follow me.
Finn: Look, you’re gonna get on that train. Okay?
Finn: And you’re gonna go to New York.
Finn: And you’re gonna be a star.
Finn: Without me.
Finn: That’s how much I love you.
Finn: You know what we’re gonna do?
Finn: Surrender.
Finn: I know how hard that is for you because of how hard you hold on to stuff …
Finn: but we’re just gonna sit here and we’re just gonna let go.
Finn: And let the universe do its thing
Finn: and if we’re meant to be together, then we’re gonna be together.
Finn: Whether it’s in a little shoe box apartment in New York or on the other side of the world.
Finn: Okay? Will you do that for me? Will you surrender?
Rachel: I love you so much
Finn: I love you.
They leave the car and walk to the train, which will take Rachel away from him.
Once upon another time
before I knew this life was mine
before I left the child behind me
I saw myself in summer nights
and stars lit up like candle lights
I make my wish but mostly I believed
