Gerry Turner ended his journey down on one knee.
Time for some good news and some bad news, rose lovers.
The bad news: I may never stop crying for the poor woman he sent home.
The women of ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
We begin, as always on finale nights, in the Tealight Candle Thunderdome.
HostJesse Palmerwelcomes us and promises a historic, dramatic, and emotional night.
More importantly, the Golden Bachelorettes are here!
Gerry Turner with his daughters and granddaughters on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
ABC
With that, its off to Costa Rica for the final few days of Gerrys journey.
My heart has really changed several times, admits Gerry.
Tell us something we dont know, buddy!
Angie gets straight to the point on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
Both Leslie and Theresa think theyre the one and who can blame them?
God, I missed you guys so bad!
gushes the Golden Bachelor, before getting down to business.
Theresa and Gerry on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
Theres two women left, and I need to know which is the right person.
Todays family visit is with Theresa.
She arrives wearing cute shorts and bearing the requisite gift bag and bouquet of flowers.
Charlie and Peyton (and Ryan and Trista) react to Gerry’s risqué joke on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
After everyone exchanges hellos and hugs, Theresa announces, Hes been doing so amazingly well.
I mean, they couldnt have picked a better Golden Bachelor!
I suppose now is as good a time as any to address therecent hit piece/articleabout Gerrys not-so-golden past.
Leslie and Gerry on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
Its crazy that they have a really similar story, notes Angie.
I think that really bonds them together, and also bonds her with our family.
(Heres hoping Theresas feelings arent hurt when she hears that Gerry called her the safe choice.)
Gerry and Theresa share a smooch on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
I am hopeful that its going to be me and Gerry in the end, says Theresa.
No wonder I was loopy talking to your daughters!
says Theresa with a giggle.
Gerry sobs on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
As the night winds down, Theresa brings up the (sexy) elephant in the room: Leslie.
I dont know whats exactly going on between you, but thats not my business, she says.
But that still is a concern.
Gerry comforts Leslie on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
Still, she wants Gerry to be happy and if that means being with Leslie, so be it.
I wouldnt want it unless thats how you felt.
Shes a lot of fun, and Leslie makes me laugh all the time, he says.
Gerry hugs Jesse on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
Lets bring her in, shall we?
I can swear in front of him!
Peyton and Charlie are all,OMG, grandpa!
Leslie on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ finale.ABC
Seeing Leslie and dad laughing and being playful was a breath of fresh air, says Jenny.
The way he communicates with people is through joking around.
Its huge for us that you are seeing this in him, says Peyton, wiping away tears.
Leslie and Gerry talk it out on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ finale.ABC
He is the man of my dreams, she says, tearing up.
At last, its time for Gerry to debrief with her daughters.
This is why I was worried when Leslie didnt explicitly say she would accept a proposal.)
‘The Golden Bachelor’ has Jennifer Love Hewitt in her feelings.ABC
By the end of the visit, Gerry is more stressed out than ever.
Its gotten confusing, he says.
I dont know how Im going to handle this.
Gerry greets Theresa at the proposal platform on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
So, whaddya think?
Are you ready to go?
Its probably time for me to take off.
Gerry hands Theresa the golden rose on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
Leslie can tell that something is off with the man she hopes to marry.
I could tell he wasnt quite himself today, she says.
Im just trying to calm myself down about it… Thats all I can do.
Jesse Palmer, Theresa, and Gerry on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ finale.ABC
Understandably, Leslie is feeling anxious when the time comes for her Last Chance DateTM with Gerry.
Still, shes trying to stay positive and empathetic.
she asks, rubbing his shoulder.
Peyton, Charlie, Angie and Jenny react to Theresa’s joke on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC
I could tell you werent your usual Gerry self today.
The Golden Bachelor apologizes for being distracted, blaming the stress and pressure of making a life-changing decision.
All Leslie can do is reassure Gerry that shes ready to commit to him and spend forever with him.
Joey, April, Susan, Kathy, and Nancy on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
Its very sweet, and Gerry is touched.
Everything is going great.
Indeed, it seems to hit Gerry in that moment that hes going to have to break Leslies heart.
Save the date for ‘The Golden Wedding’.ABC
They embrace and sit in silence for a minute.
Be happy, Gerry says at last, quietly.
But he looks sad, and as they hug goodbye, Gerry breaks down and sobs.
Not a great sign!
Leslie knows things are about to fall apart.
Is there something you want to tell me?
Yes, there is!
But Gerry cant bring himself to do it.
He shakes his head.
Just that I have a tough decision to make, he says.
Something thats harder than I ever thought possible.
The Golden Bachelor is so devastated when he leaves, he sits down on the stairs and cries.
He hasnt even officially dumped her yet!
I hope they have a medic on hand for when he does.
Back in her room, Leslie looks shattered.
Im definitely not confident now, she says, wiping away tears.
I know why he was off today.
Ugh, this is going to be tough to watch.
Gerry knocks on Leslies door, and they take a seat on the couch.
Both look so somber, its kind of heartbreaking.
I thought its better to have this conversation now than to have this conversation tomorrow, Gerry says.
Leslie, realizing shes about to be rejected yet again, steels herself for more pain.
Go ahead, she says with a deep sigh.
So, everything you told me the other night was a lie!
Gerry protests, but Leslie plows ahead.
Everything you told me the other night was a complete and utter lie, Gerry.
Theres not much Gerry can say to make Leslie feel better, but he keeps trying.
Youre both wonderful, but only one of you is right, he says.
Leslie, I am so sorry.
Its all more than Leslie can bear, and she breaks down and sobs.
This is my life, she wails.
When Gerry protests again (no, dont think that!
HELL YEAH, you’re able to!
The other night, you made it sound like you chose me, she fumes through her tears.
You led me down a path and then you took a turn and left me there!
And shes not done, rose lovers.
Dang, a $60,000 dress?
Now Im bummed we wont get to see it in its full glory.
LOLOLOLOL)
When Leslie is done venting her (very justified) feelings, Gerry heaves a heavy sigh.
Im sorry, he says.
I wish there was something I could say, but I know there isnt.
Leslies all, You got that right!
Gerry, sensing an opening to escape, seizes it: Ill see myself out.
Once hes gone, Leslie curls up in a ball on the couch and sobs her heart out.
Time is running out, she laments.
Time is running out.
Ooof, that is dark.
Girl, you are only 64!
Thecurrent U.S. life expectancy is 77.5!
Youve got more than a decade, at the very least!
Outside, Gerry does afull-on Jason Mesnick balcony cry.
Eventually, he pulls himself together, and Palmer comes out for a quick therapy sesh.
I took a really good person and f—ing broke their heart!
I hate myself and I hate everything right now.
Jesse listens quietly, letting the Golden Bachelor process his feelings out loud.
This just isnt worth all of it, Gerry continues.
I dont even know how I got here.
(Um, you signed a contract?
Sorry, I know that isnt helpful right now.)
She looks miserable, but still utterly, naturally gorgeous.
It was really hard.
In my head I had this whole life planned for us, she says.
But then came the record-scratch moment on the bench after her visit with his family.
He just had some wall up.
Of course, that optimism was short lived.
yo welcome, our Golden Bachelor.
They greet each other with a hug, and poor thing, she immediately starts crying again.
But Leslie pulls it together and lets Gerry know how she feels.
Watching that back was very emotional, obviously, she begins.
Ive had a lot of time to process all this now.
I havent really been with a man thats had integrity like you.
And because of your integrity, your words meant so much to me.
I didnt take them for granted.
Oh boy, I can see where this is going.
This sweet preamble is building to a pointed, and justified, accusation.
Your words just meant so much to me, and thats why I was blindsided.
I wasnt sure how it changed, or what happened.
What do you have to say for yourself, Gerry?
Jennifer Love Hewitt wants to know!
Im so sorry, Leslie, says Gerry.
In hindsight, Gerry realizes that doing that resulted in some poor decisions.
I got caught up in moments, said I love you, he admits.
And in those moments, I meant it.
Its not like those were light words.
You were the person I believed was my person until I suddenly knew you werent.
But you know what?
Emotions are illogical and often impossible to explain points for trying, Gerry.
Obviously, this doesnt make Leslie feel great, but she remains gracious.
I dont know if I accept your apology, but I understand it, she says.
HELL YEAH, you are, Leslie!
Perhaps as the Golden Bachelorette?
Welp, lets attempt to end things on a happier note.
Im pretty comfortable with how she would feel about it, he tells us.
Its so hard to be standing here, not knowing whats going to happen.
Dont worry, maam that golden rose on the Proposal Platform is about to be yours!
And quite honestly, at the age of 70, I was beginning to feel that myself.
But then she met our Golden Bachelor, and her whole outlook changed.
Now that I found you, I dont ever want to let you go.
Come on, Gerry!
Let her know shes the one!
Then comes the fake-out: When I woke up this morning, it was difficult, he says.
Here he delivers a (producer-prompted) pause for dramatic effect, and Theresa lets out a distressed gasp.
Okay, she whispers.
Psych Gerry wasnt done, Theresa!
Youre the person that I cant live without, he declares, as Theresa almost faints from relief.
Even for these producers, that was just cruel.
But alls well that ends well, I guess, because Gerry just got down on one knee.
Theresa, I love you one thousand percent, Gerry says.
Every day, I choose you.
(Oof, my heart breaks for poor Leslie having to hear that!)
He pops the question, and Theresa responds with a resounding, YES!
Once the rock is on her finger, Gerry picks up the golden rose.
Its like every dream I had come true, says Theresa.
And we know that Toni and Billy would absolutely be so happy for us right now.
And were back in the Tealight Candle Thunderdome!
c’mon welcome the senior lovebirds, Gerry and Theresa.
Palmer then turns the conversation to the couples night in the Fantasy Suite.
There have been a lot of people online saying something happened during the overnight dates, says the host.
What was it, Gerry?
but he does give a shot to answer the question without too many private details.
Theresa, bless her, gets the last word.
If hes not going to tell you exactly what happened in the Fantasy Suite, Ill tell you.
I knocked his boots off.
The joke gets a big reaction from her future children and grandchildren-in-law.
Theresa adds, giggling.
Im a good kisser.
Whatever you say, glamma.
At this point, Palmer interrupts theGolden Bachelorlovefest for a preview ofJoeys journey as the Bachelor.
The evening ends with the earth-shattering announcement Palmer promised at the beginning of the show.
ABC is sending Gerry and Theresa on an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy!
Oh, and theres one other thing:Gerry and Theresa want to get married as soon as possible.
“We are going to get married.
“So as quickly as we can put together a wedding plan, we’re getting married.”
You know where this is headed, rose lovers.
Yep, these two will tie the knot on TV as the good Lord intended.
With that, the very first ever season of The Golden Bachelor has come to a close.
Are you happy with Gerrys pick?
And can you believeBachelor in Paradiseis somehow STILL GOING?
(One more week, friends!)
Let me know your thoughts on Twitter@KristenGBaldwin.
