1975 (#12) - Bill’s returns to the family, the cancer and the conflict with Snapper

As always, the Foster family's affairs were linked to economic problems. The relationship between Jill and Phillip put Liz's job at risk at Chancellor Industries, now worried about not being able to afford her expenses. It was in this situation that Snapper's anger grew against his father Bill, who had abandoned them nine years earlier in a very difficult situation. And if in the meantime Liz seemed to have regained emotional serenity with Sam, economic stability was still in the way. And so, when it came time to pay the insurance Bill left outstanding, a furious Snapper, in agreement with Greg and Jill, suggested that Liz should declare their father dead, closing forever that chapter of their lives. The woman, who after all has always hoped for a return of the man, finally agrees to declare Bill dead, also under pressure from Sam, who wants to make his union with Liz official with a marriage. It is at this very moment, however, that a letter with the postmark indicating the Chicago code arrives unexpectedly: it was Bill. In the letter, the man confesses that he is seriously terminally ill with cancer and wants to spend the last days of his life with his family. Greg and Snapper, that are close to their mother as they are angry to their father, tried to convince Liz not to answer Bill's request. She can't say no to the one true love of her life and decides to welcome him into their home, in a final gesture of loving pity and charity. Once home, Bill asks his family for forgiveness for the weakness he has shown all these years, a weakness interpreted by Greg and Snapper as neglect and betrayal of his only family. In the end, however, Bill manages to convince both his wife Liz and their children Greg and Jill to give him a few moments of joy before the emphysema in his lung would lead to his death. The only one who did not welcome his father into the family, is Snapper, furious because Bill abandoned them all these years.