The Feud Continues: Capote and The Swans Episode 7 Recap - Top 10 Surprising Revelations

Attention! This article contains spoilers for episode 7 of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.

The penultimate episode of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans took a dramatic turn by addressing the deaths of two main characters. The show, based on a true story, had been building up to Babe Paley's inevitable demise in previous episodes. Titled "Beautiful Babe" and set in 1978, episode 7 focused on Babe's final days. However, viewers were taken by surprise when another character met their end in the closing moments.

Babe Was Given 6 Months To Live

In the ensemble cast of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Truman Capote and Babe Paley always stood out. Episode 7 continued to focus on their relationship, following the teaser from the previous episode about their aging. Truman, especially, struggled with the passage of time and the desire to turn back the clock. As the series approached its conclusion, episode 7 made a significant shift in the storyline, maintaining its dynamic timeline.

Babe’s hair started falling out

Babe Paley Getting Treatment In Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.jpg - Babe’s hair started falling out - Babe Was Given 6 Months To Live

In the beginning of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans episode 7, Babe noticed her hair falling out. Despite being told that her type of chemotherapy wouldn't cause hair loss, her disease was progressing too quickly for the treatment to keep up. When she asked her doctor if she would make it to Thanksgiving, he sadly shook his head. Babe Paley passed away on July 6, 1978, just one day after her 63rd birthday and over five months before Thanksgiving.

Babe had hoped for more time in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and wanted to make sure all her affairs were in order before she passed. During a lunch with the swans, she mentioned a big summer party she was planning to host, only to reveal that it would actually be her own memorial. While this news saddened the swans, who had also hoped for more time with their dear friend, Babe wanted to celebrate the life she had lived rather than spend her final days dreading the inevitable.

Babe Couldn’t Forgive Bill

Babe blamed Bill for her smoking & drinking

Bill Looking At Slim In Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.jpg - Babe blamed Bill for her smoking & drinking - Babe Couldn’t Forgive Bill

Babe had come to terms with the fact that she didn't have much time left, but Bill hadn't. He wanted to use his resources to find her better treatment, but Babe declined. Although it seemed like they had patched things up in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Babe's bitterness towards Bill resurfaced in episode 7.

Babe blamed appearances for ruining her friendship with Truman. She was a heavy smoker and had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Bill had told her to stop smoking, but she blamed him for her vices. In her final days, after years of feeling wronged by Bill, she could no longer pretend to forgive him.

Babe might have forgiven Truman if not for other people’s judgment

the-swans-walk-down-the-stairs-in-feud-season-2 - Babe might have forgiven Truman if not for other people’s judgment - Babe Blamed Appearances For Ruining Her Friendship With Truman

Chloë Sevigny, Diane Lane, and Naomi Watts star in Feud: Capote vs the Swans.

At lunch with the swans in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Babe brought up Truman, much to Slim’s annoyance. She asked C.Z. how he was doing, which was not well. As she was dying, Babe reflected on whether she had been too harsh on Truman instead of laughing it off and continuing their friendship like C.Z. She mentioned that she would have forgiven Truman publicly if it weren't for what others would have thought. Ultimately, Babe prioritized appearances over maintaining their friendship.

Babe Imagined Truman As She Was Dying

Babe forgave Truman

Naomi Watts As Babe Paley In Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.jpg - Babe forgave Truman - Babe Imagined Truman As She Was Dying

The feud between Capote and The Swans was portrayed through alternating scenes of Babe lying in her bed, nearing death, and a dream world where she reunited with Truman. In these dream scenes, Babe was filled with happiness at seeing Truman again, showing that their friendship was deep and enduring. Truman's presence at the end of her life highlighted the special bond they shared, as he was the one person who truly understood and cared for her. By being by her side, Truman provided comfort and familiarity, making Babe's final moments easier to bear.

Babe Wanted More Time To Fix Things

Babe had a lot of regrets

Babe Paley Looking Sad In Capote Vs. The Swans.jpg - Babe had a lot of regrets - Babe Wanted More Time To Fix Things

In the final moments of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans episode 7, Babe expressed her deep regrets. Earlier in the episode, she had asked Bill to reach out to their daughter, Kate, who had distanced herself from Babe. Kate had coldly referred to her mother as the "Sphinx" and had shown no interest in reconciling. Despite this, Kate did show up at Babe's deathbed. However, Babe still felt remorse for her past actions as a mother and for not being able to make amends before it was too late.

Truman Wanted To Write Babe’s Eulogy

Bill didn’t allow Truman to come to Babe’s funeral

Tom Hollander as Truman Capote at His Typewriter in Feud Capote vs the Swans - Bill didn’t allow Truman to come to Babe’s funeral - Truman Wanted To Write Babe’s Eulogy

When C. Z. broke the news to Truman that Babe had passed away in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Truman was already aware of the sad news. Instead of falling into despair as C. Z. had expected, Truman was determined to start working on Babe's eulogy, a task he had already begun. However, Truman faced a setback when Bill prohibited him from attending Babe's funeral. This meant that the only person who heard Truman's heartfelt eulogy for Babe was C. Z. In his tribute, Truman expressed how Babe represented the best parts of him and how her spirit would always be with him, as he could see her presence in everything around him.

Truman Planned On Finishing Answered Prayers

Babe’s death was going to be the final chapter

Tom Hollander as Truman Capote in Feud season 2 - Babe’s death was going to be the final chapter - Truman Planned On Finishing Answered Prayers

After Babe passed away, Truman was determined to complete his book, Answered Prayers. It had been three years since he had last published a part of it in Esquire, and he had not made much progress since then. Truman decided that Babe's death would be the final chapter of the book, turning it into a tribute to her. He believed that with this last chapter, people would finally understand his vision for Answered Prayers. However, despite living for six more years, Truman never managed to finish the novel.

Truman Said He’d Accidentally Kill Himself

Truman’s substance abuse issues got worse after Babe’s death

Tom Hollander As Truman Capote Sweating In Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.jpg - Truman’s substance abuse issues got worse after Babe’s death - Truman Said He’d Accidentally Kill Himself

Once again in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Truman made a regrettable appearance on a television show while heavily intoxicated, leading to his hospitalization. This incident occurred just a fortnight after Babe's passing and his exclusion from her funeral, exacerbating his struggles with substance abuse. During the show, the host questioned Truman about the consequences of his excessive drinking, to which Truman candidly admitted that he might accidentally end his own life - a chilling prediction that sadly came true by the end of the episode.

Jack Finally Left Truman

Jack fell in love with someone else

Jack Dunphy With Truman At The Bar In The Background In Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans - Jack fell in love with someone else - Jack Finally Left Truman

In episode 7 of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Jack discovered Truman in a distressing state, surrounded by his own vomit. Despite his initial hesitation, Jack decided to take Truman to the hospital, encouraged by his new boyfriend. After enduring years of Truman's infidelities and ill-treatment, Jack finally mustered the courage to end the toxic relationship. Unable to witness Truman self-destruct any longer, Jack chose to prioritize his own well-being and left Truman behind. Despite Truman's pleas for him to stay, Jack found the strength to walk away and begin a new chapter in his life.

Truman Imagined Babe As He Was Dying

Truman saw Babe as a mother figure

Joanne Carson Holding Truman In Bed In Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans.jpg - Truman saw Babe as a mother figure - Truman Imagined Babe As He Was Dying

Truman moved in with Joanne after Jack left him in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. Joanne tried to take care of him, but she also enabled his behaviors. One day, while Truman was writing and drinking by the pool, he started having visions. He first imagined Rick urging him to jump into the pool, and Truman did. Then, he saw Babe sitting on a swan pool float. Joanne managed to rescue Truman when he almost drowned, but sadly, he did not survive much longer. Overwhelmed with emotion, Joanne dialed 911 but couldn't bring herself to complete the call, knowing that Truman's fate was sealed.

Truman had helped Babe during her final moments, and she repaid the kindness when Truman was passing away. He confided in her that he saw her as a motherly figure because his own mother had passed away when he was young, and he had been searching for a replacement ever since. Even though Babe was not a good mother to her own children, she was able to provide comfort to Truman in a maternal way. The title of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans episode 7 was inspired by Truman's last words, "Beautiful Babe."

Editor's P/S:

The penultimate episode of "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans" delivered a poignant and unexpected twist, with the tragic deaths of two central characters. The episode explored the complexities of human relationships, the regrets of the past, and the inevitability of death.

The most striking aspect was the portrayal of Babe Paley's final days. Despite her impending demise, she remained resilient and determined to make the most of her remaining time. Her poignant reflections on her friendship with Truman Capote and her regrets as a mother added depth to her character. The episode also highlighted the strained relationship between Babe and her husband, Bill, as she blamed him for her smoking habit and subsequent lung cancer diagnosis.

The episode's conclusion was equally impactful, with the untimely deaths of Truman Capote and Jack Dunphy. Capote's substance abuse issues spiraled out of control after Babe's death, leading to his accidental drowning. Jack, after years of enduring Truman's infidelity and erratic behavior, finally found the strength to leave him. The episode left a profound impression, exploring the fragility of life and the enduring impact of loss on those left behind.