"Swill Merchants"
- Back home, William receives a phone call from Ben Fong-Torres of Rolling Stone magazine. He is offered $1,000 for a 3,000-word story on Stillwater. William puts on his grown man voice and ecstatically accepts.
- William calls up Lester Bangs for advice. The veteran journalist warns the young writer about the dangers of the big business mentality of a publication like Rolling Stone. "Don't let those swill merchants rewrite you," he tells William.
- Elaine begrudgingly allows William to go on the road, as long as he doesn't miss more than one test and is back before graduation.
- We cut to the Stillwater bus, where William rides with the band. William approaches Russell for an interview, and Russell tells him that they'll do it later. "Just enjoy the ride," he says.
- Jeff and Russell discuss William's presence on tour with them. "He's the enemy," Jeff reminds Russell. "He writes what he sees. Although it would be cool to be on the cover."
- In the hotel, William finds Russell shut in his room. Again, he is unable to do the interview.
- Elaine calls the hotel in Tempe, and Sapphire picks up. "Is this Maryanne with the pot?" Sapphire asks. Elaine informs her that it's William's mother. "I know what's going on," she says.