She then exits, but not without warning Lou that if he walks out now, he will not be welcome at the Banks mansion again. Phillip asks Vivian to allow him to talk to Lou in private, and Vivian agrees, on the condition that he doesn't hit Lou. When they express how this is going to crush Will, Lou asks Phillip and Vivian to break the news to Will. However, Lou announces to Vivian and Phillip that he has to leave immediately to make a business shipment, and he's gotta be open for more shipments, so the trip he promised Will isn't going to happen. Will assures Phillip he's grateful for everything Phillip has done for him, but he still needs to give his father a chance, if he's truly changed.
Vivian helps Phillip realize that he is being selfish to Will, due to his hatred for Lou, and Phillip and both Will apologize for their behavior. Will and Philip subsequently get into a heated argument over this, with Will claiming in anger that he doesn't care what Phillip thinks because Phillip not his father, leaving Phillip visibly upset and at a loss for words. The two are prepared to take a cross-country trip around the country for the remainder of the summer, but Philip sees that this reunion and trip is in Lou's favor rather than Will's. Will forgives him and wants to give him another chance. Phillip however, is downright hostile towards him, questioning him what possessed him to suddenly return, and why he isn't sending them any money to his wife and child, when he's clearly making some, driving a truck.Īt a carnival Lou tells Will that the real reason that he abandoned him was because he was scared of having a kid. Vivian and Carlton are excited to see their Uncle Lou, and Ashley (who was a baby when Lou walked out) and baby Nicky get to meet him for the first time. The two later return to the Banks mansion, where Vivian is less than happy to see Lou, but maintains a civil presence around him for Will's sake. The two awkwardly find themselves talking with Lou claiming he's a self-employed truck triver now, and that he recently spoke to Will's mother, who informed him that Will was now in Bel-Air, so he drove down to see his son. The man turns out to be Will's father, Lou Smith, whom Will hasn't seen in 14 years, since he abandoned the family. Will is at the Peacock when he sees a man staring at him. And it turns out, the reconciliation between father and son was all too good to be true. While Will is forgiving and understanding, Phillip and Vivian not so much.
His father, who had left him years before, claims he is finally ready to become a part of Will's life, again. While working at the Los Angeles University student restaurant, Will recognizes a customer - his father - whom he has not seen for 14 years.