>> I MEAN, I HAVE NOT EXPECTED
TO FEEL THIS WAY, THAT I FEEL
FOR YOU. I TOTALLY, 100%. AND
THAT'S TRUE. LIKEWISE. SO HOW IS
THIS THING GOING WITH US? GOOD,
GOOD. YOU FEELING GOOD? YEAH.
>> HOW'S THE THE DUNE BUGGY .
>> THAT WAS FUN.
>> YEAH.
>> HE DEFLECTS, YOU KNOW, AND I
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE OF
ALL OF THE OUTSIDE STUFF. AND I
HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCERN.
IS IT SOMETHING THAT HE'S NOT
EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE OR HE'S
JUST BEING GUARDED ?
>> IT'S ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE
TRUE. I LIKE YOUR ENERGY AND
YOUR SPIRIT. I REALLY DO .
>> I FEEL IT, AND I KNOW YOU
FEEL IT. YEAH, I KNOW, I TOTALLY
FEEL IT.
>> YOU CAN TELL.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE.
>> LOVE THAT.
>> IS THAT A
SHE'S STRONG MINDED, STRONG
WILLED, BUT SHE'S ALSO, YOU
KNOW, LOVING, COMPASSIONATE.
SHE MAKES ME SMILE. SHE'S FUNNY
BECAUSE I CAN TELL IN THE WAY
SHE TALKS TO ME AND THE WAY SHE
LOOKS AT ME. THAT'S
LOOKS AT ME. THAT'S LOVE. SO
WHERE DO YOU GO TO BED SO EARLY
LAST NIGHT? EXCUSE ME. I'M JUST.
>> KIDDING. YEAH.
>> BUT IT WAS GOOD, THOUGH.
>> YEAH, IT WAS REALLY NICE.
>> YEAH, I THINK WE DEFINITELY
NEEDED THOSE CONVERSATIONS FOR
SURE.
>> YEAH.
>> LAST NIGHT WAS AMAZING. BEING
IN THE FANTASY SUITE, I JUST SAW
A DIFFERENT SIDE OF MEL. WE HAVE
LIVED SIMILAR PATHS IN OUR LIFE.
HE'S BEEN THROUGH DIVORCE AS
WELL AS I'VE BEEN THROUGH
DIVORCE. I SAW YOUR STORY AND I
HAD TO UP MY.
>> STORY. YEAH, RIGHT. WHAT'S
MINE IS BETTER. WAY BETTER, WAY
BETTER.
>> MEL SHOWED ME THAT HE CAN BE
OPEN, THAT HE HAS THAT CAPACITY
TO BE VULNERABLE AND TO BE
EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A DEEP
CONNECTION. AND THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY TO BE ENGAGED. BUT
I'M DEFINITELY TAKING IT ONE
STEP AT A TIME BECAUSE HE STILL
HAS ANOTHER PERSON HERE.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO BE HERE.
I'VE REALLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT
YOU THE LAST COUPLE DAYS . YEAH,
LAST TIME I. SAID I MISS YOU,
HOMETOWNS. YOU DID?
>> YEAH.
>> I'VE IMAGINED MEL GETTING
DOWN ON ONE KNEE A MILLION
TIMES. I'M SO READY. MEL IS
INCREDIBLE. IT'S HARD TO
IMAGINE WHEN I STARTED THIS
WHOLE JOURNEY THAT I WOULD BE
FALLING DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH
SOMEONE. AND YET HERE WE ARE.
>> I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH
YOU. I LOVE BEING WITH YOU.
YOU'RE SHARING, CARING, SMART,
BEAUTIFUL.
>> WOW. WHAT ELSE?
>> WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?
>> ENERGETIC. SPIRITUAL.
>> BUT I ALSO NEED TO KNOW THAT
HE'S FEELING THE SAME WAY THAT
I AM. AND THAT HE'S THINKING
THAT THIS MAY BE HIS FOREVER,
TOO. BUT PUTTING ASIDE THE OTHER
PERSON, WHERE WOULD YOU SEE A
POTENTIAL FOR YOU? AND I. WELL.
>> I JUST THINK THAT NO MATTER
WHAT, THE RELATIONSHIP WOULD
HAVE TO DEVELOP OVER TIME, IT
WOULD. THERE'S STILL MOVING
PARTS. MM-HMM. RIGHT. SO WHO
KNOWS. YOU LOOK YOUR LOOK IS
LIKE. YEAH. LIKE I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR ME. AND I DON'T
KNOW I FEEL LIKE YOU . HAVEN'T
FELT FREE TO MAYBE SHARE WITH ME
WHERE YOU ARE. SO WHAT'S HOLDING
YOU BACK? MEL IS A RESERVED MAN.
HE KEEPS THINGS CLOSE TO HIS
CHEST. BUT I WANT TO FEEL THAT
MY PARTNER IS EXCITED TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH ME AND TO SHARE
THEIR LIFE WITH ME. I JUST
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HOLDING HIM
BACK. SO WHAT DO WE DO FROM
HERE?
>> IF THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A
WAY .
>> SO THAT BEGS THE QUESTION. IS
THERE A WILL?
>> HIGH. GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUDDY.
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S UP?
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD
TO SEE EVERYBODY TALKING FAST.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND
WELCOME TO THE HIGHLY
ANTICIPATED GOLDEN BACHELOR
SEASON FINALE. WELL, THIS IS IT.
TONIGHT. EVERY QUESTION WILL
FINALLY BE ANSWERED, AND YOU'LL
SOON SEE THE DRAMATIC ENDING OF
MEL AND CINDYS DINER. BUT FROM
THE MOMENT HE ARRIVED, MEL
SHOWED US THAT SECOND CHANCES
CAN LEAD TO SOMETHING TRULY
SPECIAL. OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS, WE'VE WATCHED THIS
FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER OPEN HIS
HEART, TAKE CHANCES AND SHARE
LAUGHTER, TEARS, AND A FEW
UNFORGETTABLE KISSES ALONG THE
WAY. BUT NOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
IS GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING.
TWO AMAZING WOMEN REMAIN, BUT
ONLY ONE WILL WALK AWAY WITH
THAT FINAL GOLDEN ROSE. WILL MEL
FIND THE LASTING LOVE HE'S BEEN
SEARCHING FOR? WELL, WE'RE ABOUT
TO FIND OUT. AND TRUST ME, YOU
DO NOT WANT TO MISS A SINGLE
SECOND. BUT FIRST, WE GOT TO SAY
HELLO TO SOME FAMILIAR FACES. WE
HAVE SOME BACHELOR NATION
FAVORITES IN THE HOUSE. JOAN AND
SHAQ ARE HERE. IT'S GREAT SEEING
YOU BOTH. YOU LOOK HAPPY. YOU
LOOK IN LOVE. SO WE NEED SOME
UPDATES. WHAT'S THE NEWEST AND
LATEST WITH BOTH OF YOU?
>> OH MY GOSH. WELL I MEAN WE
IT'S ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR THAT
WE WERE SITTING UP THERE KIND OF
COMING OUT TO THE WHOLE WORLD.
AND THE YEAR HAS BEEN A
WHIRLWIND. IT'S BEEN NOTHING
BUT WONDERFUL. WE ARE SO LUCKY
THAT WE GOT TO BE A PART OF
BACHELOR AND THIS WHOLE JOURNEY,
AND WE FOUND LOVE AT THIS AGE.
SO IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.
>> WELL, YOU'RE BOTH LOVING AND
LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BOTH
HERE WITH US. LOOK WHO ELSE IS
HERE. GARY. OUR FIRST GOLDEN
BACHELOR IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT
WITH HIS NEW FIANCEE, LANA. WE
TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOU
BOTH FINDING LOVE. EXCITED FOR
YOU TWO. AND LOOK WHO DECIDED TO
SHOW UP. JESS AND SPENCER, OF
COURSE. THEY GOT ENGAGED IN
PARADISE THIS LAST SUMMER. SO,
GUYS, WHAT'S THE LATEST AND
GREATEST?
>> OH MY GOSH, WE'VE BEEN
TRAVELING SO MUCH. AND IN TWO
WEEKS I'M MOVING TO DALLAS.
>> I LOVE IT. JUST MAKE SURE YOU
PUT SPENCER TO WORK BECAUSE I
KNOW HE'S HANDY AROUND THE HOUSE
FOR SURE. THAT'S A GREAT MOMENT.
>> I'M GOING TO BE WORKING A
LOT. YEAH.
>> I KNOW YOU WILL. IT REALLY,
REALLY IS SO SPECIAL SEEING SO
MUCH LOVE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE SO MANY OF OUR
GOLDEN LADIES AND GOLDEN MEN.
THEY'RE ALL HERE. THEY'RE BACK.
YOU ALL LOOK WONDERFUL. IT'S
GREAT SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN. AND
BACHELOR NATION, SIT TIGHT,
BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LITTLE
SPECIAL SURPRISE FOR YOU.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, I HAD THE
CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH OUR
NEWEST BACHELORETTE , TAYLOR.
FRANKIE PAUL, WHO'S RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF HER JOURNEY. AND
TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO
HEAR STRAIGHT FROM TAYLOR ABOUT
HOW IT'S ALL GOING. AND LET'S
JUST SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE AN
UNFORGETTABLE ONE. WE'VE GOT A
LOT COMING UP. BUT FIRST, IT'S
THE CONCLUSION OF MEL AND CINDY
DINNER. NOW, LAST WEEK
EVERYTHING CAME DOWN TO THAT BIG
MOMENT ON THE DOCK. WE'LL CINDY
GET THE ANSWERS. SHE'S BEEN
WAITING FOR. AND AS MEL READY TO
OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE
TOGETHER REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
>> SO WHAT DO WE DO FROM HERE?
>> IF THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A
YEAH, YEAH, OF COURSE.
>> BUT IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME IN
SITUATION. I AM TORN BETWEEN YOU
AND PEG.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY HARD FOR ME
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE
WRESTLED WITH TRYING NOT TO SHUT
DOWN, YOU KNOW, JUST TO STILL
REMAIN PRESENT, TO STILL REMAIN
OPEN AND VULNERABLE.
>> AND YOU HAVE. AND I
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. YOU
KNOW, IT'S EASY TO SAY, YOU
KNOW, IT'S NOT WORKING. I
THOUGHT IT'D BE DIFFERENT. I'M
OUT. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A BRAVE
SOUL FOR, YOU KNOW, STICKING
THROUGH IT. RIGHT. BUT WE'RE
HERE.
>> WE'RE HERE. YOU KNOW. AND
YOU KNOW, I DON'T. TODAY WAS
FANTASTIC. I ON A BEAUTIFUL
ISLAND WITH CANDLELIGHTS.
>> IT'S HARD TO FIND A PARTNER,
BUT IT COULD HAPPEN HERE, RIGHT?
>> WOULDN'T IT BE CRAZY IF IT
HAPPENED HERE? IT WOULD BE
AMAZING.
>> IF YOU. ONE OF THE GREAT,
GREAT. STORIES EVER WRITTEN,
EVER HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
OBVIOUSLY. RIGHT.
>> I REMEMBER HAVING AN
OVERWHELMING FEELING ABOUT YOU.
AND IT WAS, NO MATTER WHAT, I DO
WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.
>> YEAH. I'M HAPPY. I'M HERE
WITH YOU. MM-HMM. THAT MAKES ME
HAPPY. MM-HMM. MY HEART TELLS ME
THAT I LIKE YOU A LOT. MM-HMM.
AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITH YOU
IF IT, IF IT WASN'T.
>> I MEAN WHEN MEL TELLS ME HE
LIKES ME A LOT, HE THINKS I'M
GREAT. I BELIEVE HIM. I ACTUALLY
THINK MEL AND I ARE VERY WELL
SUITED FOR EACH OTHER. MEL AND I
HAVE A GREAT CHEMISTRY AND WE
HAVE GOOD, INTERESTING
CONVERSATION. BUT TIME IS A
TICKING. I NEED TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU ON HERE TO EXPLORE
OPTIONS.
>> I'M LOOKING FOR A LIFE
PARTNER.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST
THINK THAT NO MATTER WHAT, THE
RELATIONSHIP WOULD HAVE TO
DEVELOP OVER TIME. PAST THE
YEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN.
>> DO YOU FEEL AT THIS MOMENT
THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
READY FOR A PROPOSAL AT THE END
OF THIS LITTLE EXPERIMENT?
>> NO . IT HAS TO DEVELOP OVER
TIME. I DON'T HAVE TO PROPOSE
WHEN IN MY OWN HEAD I GO, YOU
KNOW WHAT? IN TWO YEARS I
PROBABLY WOULD MARRY HER .
>> YEAH, IT'S A DIFFERENT
OUTCOME THAN. WHAT'S THAT?
IT'S A DIFFERENT OUTCOME THAN I
CONSIDERED. I CANNOT BELIEVE
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO. I GAVE
HIM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY,
JUST BE PATIENT WITH ME. I'M
FALLING FOR YOU. AND HE STILL
COULDN'T EVEN GO THERE. HE'S
LIKE, JUST WAIT FOR TWO YEARS.
LET ME SEE WHERE I AM IN TWO
YEARS. I'M SORRY, BUT IF YOU
FIND A PERSON THAT MAKES A GOOD
PARTNER, THAT'S YOUR TIME TO
COMMIT.
>> YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO.
>> MM . TRUE.
>> YOU KNOW, JUST LET ME. JUST
ME MAKING A DECISION.
>> I HAVE A.
>> PHILOSOPHY, AND IT'S TO
BEHAVE AS IF MY FUTURE HUSBAND
WILL BE PROUD OF HOW I'M LIVING.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S YOU, IF
IT'S SOMEONE ELSE. I MEAN,
IT'S A SHORT PROCESS, FOR SURE.
AND MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL
THE ANSWERS ABOUT ME, ABOUT PEG,
ABOUT YOURSELF. I KIND OF WANT
MY GUY TO FEEL LIKE HE GOT
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND CAN'T
LIVE WITHOUT ME.
I THINK YOU'RE GREAT. BUT I'M
NOT SURE. I JUST WANT TO FREE
FALL FOR THAT LONG. HE'S NOT
INTERESTED IN MAKING ANY TYPE OF
COMMITMENTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I'M IN MY GOLDEN YEARS. I'M 60
YEARS OLD, AND I'M NOT
INTERESTED IN BEING PUT ON HOLD.
HE IS JUST NOT MY PERSON. I'M
SORRY.
>> SORRY ABOUT WHAT ?
>> IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT.
THAT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO
SAY. YOU'RE AS GOOD AS THEY
GET. ARE YOU OKAY IF I LEAVE
NOW?
>> SHE WANTS HIM.
>> WILL YOU WALK.
>> ME OUT? SURE.
MEL OWENS. OKAY .
>> I'M JUST SICK TO MY STOMACH.
IT'S HARD. I WAS SO HOPEFUL. IT
HURTS REALLY BAD. FROM DAY ONE.
I TOLD EVERYONE THAT'S MY GUY.
I STILL THINK WE WOULD BE A
GREAT MATCH. BUT TONIGHT.
>> IT'S JUST REALLY SAD.
>> I HAD HOPED THIS WAS IT. I
HOPED HE WAS THE ONE.
>> I'M SO DISAPPOINTED.
>> SHE LEFT. I'M SHOCKED. THE
DATE WAS CINDY. IT WAS PERFECT .
I CAME IN TONIGHT THINKING THERE
WAS A FUTURE. BUT SHE QUIT. I
DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. I DON'T
HAVE THAT CHOICE NOW. I DON'T.
SHE'S GONE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO .
>> AMEN. DOING ALL
RIGHT? YEAH. LET ME SIT DOWN. .
I'M SORRY, MAN. THAT WASN'T WHAT
YOU WERE EXPECTING. YEAH. SO HOW
DID IT COME ABOUT? IT JUST SORT
OF WENT TOWARDS, LIKE, I'M
LOOKING FOR A HUSBAND, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, I GO, I'M NOT TAKING A
LEAP OF FAITH. I DON'T I DON'T
MAKE MY DECISIONS THAT WAY. I
DON'T MAKE THEM ON LEAPS OF
FAITH. I JUST DON'T. SO WAS IT
MORE OF A THING? LIKE SHE WANTS
TO GET ENGAGED IN A COUPLE DAYS,
AND YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THAT?
YEAH. IT'S LIKE ANYTHING CAN
HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, IF I DON'T
FIND SOMEONE WHO I CAN LIVE MY
LIFE WITH AND FIND SOMEONE I CAN
BE HAPPY WITH, AND THAT'S JUST
NOT NECESSARILY MARRIAGE. YOU
CAN. I JUST KNOW HOW I OPERATE.
IT JUST HAPPENS OVER TIME. WELL,
I MEAN, ALL 23 WOMEN SHOW UP TO
THIS HOPING THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ENGAGED TO YOU AT THE END OF IT.
YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. NOT
ALL OF THEM. DOES ANY PART OF
YOU REGRET JUST DEFINITIVELY
TELLING HER I'M NOT GOING TO
PROPOSE TO YOU? YOU MEAN IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN DISINGENUOUS FOR
ME TO TELL HER SOMETHING
DIFFERENT JUST TO STRING HER
ALONG, RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, YOU
NEVER KNOW WHAT'S ON THE OTHER.
WHAT'S ON THE OTHER END. LIKE,
HEY, BY THE WAY, I KNOW YOU'RE
GOING TO GET PROPOSED TO, BUT
WE'LL MAKE THIS THING WORK.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
I DON'T KNOW, LET'S SEE. YOU
KNOW, AND SHE'S SOMEONE I
REALLY, REALLY LIKED. WERE YOU
FALLING IN LOVE? YOU THINK WITH
CINDY, MAYBE THE AFTERNOON DATE
WAS GOOD. THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS WERE GOING THROUGH MY
MIND, LIKE, OH, THIS IS JUST THE
FEELING WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I GO, I JUST JUST A LOT HARDER.
A LOT HARDER. I THINK IN
FAIRNESS TO CINDY, I KNOW THIS
IS A PART WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE,
THIS IS WHERE THEY GET THEY GET
REALLY SCARED BECAUSE IT'S
GETTING CLOSE TO THE END. THEY
KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER WOMAN.
THEY DON'T SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT
YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS WITH PEG.
SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE
TALKED ABOUT. SHE DOESN'T KNOW
THOSE THINGS. SHE'S AN AMAZING
WOMAN. OH, SHE'S GREAT AND
SHE'S GREAT. AND SHE DESERVES
TO. EXACTLY. SHE DESERVES
HONESTY. AND I THINK CINDY'S
PROBABLY JUST FOR THE MOST PART,
JUST PROTECTING HER HEART.
CURIOUS THAT SHE DIDN'T GO
THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FOOTBALL
ANALOGY. I ALWAYS TELL MY BOYS,
YOU KNOW, KEEP PLAYING, KEEP
PLAYING. THE GAME AIN'T OVER.
MM-HMM. UNTIL THE GAME IS OVER
AND IT'S OVER, IT'S OVER.
YEAH. BECAUSE SHE COULD HAVE
BEEN THE ONE. SO YOU GOT TO HAVE
A MILLION THINGS GOING THROUGH
YOUR MIND BECAUSE YOU DON'T
KNOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T
KNOW RIGHT NOW COMING INTO
TONIGHT IF IT WAS PEG OR IF IT
WAS CINDY. NO, I DIDN'T KNOW.
GOD'S HONEST TRUTH. I DIDN'T
KNOW. I DIDN'T KNOW. I CAME HERE
TO FIND SOMEONE I'M COMPATIBLE
WITH. FIND SOMEONE I CAN BE
WITH. BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO. YOU GOT TO
FINISH THE PROCESS, MAN. YOU
GOTTA FINISH THE JOURNEY. SHE
WASN'T IN FOR THE WHOLE. FOR
THE FOR THE LONG RUN. BUT I
THINK ALSO ALONG THE WAY, YOU
NEED TO BE VALIDATED. I THINK
ALONG THE WAY, YOU NEED TO BE.
YOU NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE TO
CONTINUE PRESSING FORWARD. IT IS
TOUGH. LIKE IT IS. IT REALLY IS.
IT'S TOUGH. SHE LEFT. SHE'S
STILL HERE. IF YOU HAD A CHANCE
TO TALK TO HER AGAIN, TO
CONVINCE HER TO GET THAT
OPPORTUNITY, WOULD YOU DO IT?
ALL RIGHT. IT'S A HUGE TWIST IN
CINDY AND MEL'S JOURNEY. BUT IS
THIS REALLY THE END, OR DID MEL
FIND CINDY, AND DID HE ASK HER
TO
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE.
>> GOLDEN BACHELOR SEASON
FINALE.
WHAT STARTED AS A DREAM DATE IN
ANTIGUA TOOK A DARK TURN AT
DINNER, AND NOW JUST ONE
QUESTION REMAINS DID MEL GO
AFTER CINDY, OR DID HE REALLY
LET HER WALK AWAY? WELL, IT'S
TIME TO GET THE ANSWER STRAIGHT
FROM THE WOMAN HERSELF. PLEASE
WELCOME CINDY.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> IT'S SO GREAT SEEING YOU.
>> OH, GREAT TO.
>> SEE YOU. YOU LOOK FANTASTIC,
AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT WAS THE
FIRST TIME YOU HAD WATCHED THAT
BACK SINCE THAT NIGHT IN
ANTIGUA. WHAT SORT OF EMOTIONS
DID THAT BRING BACK UP FOR YOU?
>> I WAS SO GLAD TO SEE THAT
REPLAY. I'LL BE HONEST, BECAUSE
MY MIND HAS SHIFTED IT IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE I
LEFT THE DOCK. AND I WONDERED,
DID I JUST NOT HEAR HIM? WAS HE
GIVING ME MORE? DID I NOT
UNDERSTAND? IT WAS SUCH A STRONG
FEELING WHEN I WAS AT THE DOCK
THAT I NEEDED TO GET UP, AND
MEMORY WAS TRYING TO ERASE IT.
SO I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT THAT WAS
CAPTURED.
>> WELL, WE OBVIOUSLY SAW THE
DINNER, AND WE SAW THAT DRAMATIC
MOMENT THAT YOU DECIDED TO WALK
AWAY. BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T SEE WAS
WHETHER OR NOT MEL CAME TO FIND
YOU AFTER THE DINNER. SO DID HE
.
>> HE DID NOT COME FIND ME. I
DIDN'T WANT HIM TO. MY DECISION
WAS MADE AND I HAD THE
INFORMATION THAT I NEEDED. MEL
WAS NOT IN IT FOR A RELATIONSHIP
IN THE WAY THAT I WAS. AND
THAT'S FINE. HE. EVERYBODY
DESERVES TO HAVE THE LOVE THAT
THEY WANT. I WANTED SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
>> WHAT DID YOU NEED TO HEAR
FROM MEL THAT NIGHT IN ORDER FOR
YOU TO STAY?
>> I LOVED IT WHEN MEL WOULD SAY
YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL OR GIVE ME
COMPLIMENTS. YOU'RE SO SMART.
BUT HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO YOUR
LIFE? WHY DOES THAT MATTER TO
YOU? I NEEDED TO HEAR THE ANDS
AND THE BECAUSE. I CAN SEE OUR
LIFE TOGETHER BECAUSE I LOVE
THAT YOU ARE KIND TO PEOPLE,
NOT. YOU'RE JUST A NICE PERSON.
AND THIS IS FINE AND THIS IS
GREAT. I NEEDED TO KNOW
SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW I RELATED TO
HIS LIFE. HE JUST WAS OBSERVING
ME.
>> AND THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED
VALIDATE YOU, RIGHT? WHAT WAS
YOUR HEART TELLING.
>> YOU.
>> GOING INTO THAT NIGHT? DID
YOU REALLY SEE? DID YOU BELIEVE
THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE YOU AND
MEL?
>> I WAS IN IT UNTIL THE END.
YOU WERE 100% 100% FROM THE
MINUTE I KNEW IT WAS HIM. AND
THEN I MET HIM AND THEN
DEVELOPED FEELINGS FOR HIM. I
STARTED THINKING ABOUT A FUTURE.
AND AT THIS MOMENT, I WAS
THINKING ABOUT MEETING HIS KIDS.
AND ABOUT KNITTING SOMETHING
TOGETHER WITH THE MAN. I 100%
WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IT UNTIL THE
END OF TIME.
>> WHEN MEL TOLD YOU THAT HE HE
WASN'T READY TO PROPOSE TO YOU.
OR MAYBE NOBODY, THAT SEEMED TO
REALLY SURPRISE YOU.
>> OH, IT SURPRISED ME. HE STOOD
AT ROSE CEREMONIES AND WOULD
SAY, I THINK MY WIFE MIGHT BE IN
THIS ROOM. HE WOULD SAY, I LOVE
BEING MARRIED. THERE'S A, YOU
KNOW, A GOLD RING IN OUR LOGO.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL
EXPECTED. I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU
ASK THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN BEHIND
ME WHO WERE ALSO ON THE SHOW,
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU
BETTER BE WILLING AT THE END OF
IT. IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT,
IT'S OKAY. BUT WE WERE IN IT FOR
THE FINISH LINE BEING AN
ENGAGEMENT AND A COMMITMENT, AND
THE HOPE OF FINDING LOVE THIS
WAY. AS CRAZY AS IT MAY BE.
>> I KNOW THAT WAS A
HEARTBREAKING DECISION FOR YOU
TO HAVE TO WALK AWAY LIKE THAT,
BUT WHY DID YOU WALK AWAY?
KNOWING THAT MAYBE IF YOU HAD
STAYED, HE MIGHT HAVE CHANGED
HIS FEELINGS?
>> I DON'T THINK I'D NEED TO
CONVINCE A MAN TO LOVE ME.
I THINK I WAS, YOU KNOW, HIS
ANALOGY OF FINISH THE GAME. I
WAS IN THE WRONG STADIUM.
>> SO OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE. HAD A
TON OF TIME NOW.
>> AND TO TO THINK ABOUT IT AND
TO PROCESS EVERYTHING. IS THERE
ANY PART OF YOU. THAT THAT
WISHES YOU WOULD HAVE STAYED?
>> NO .
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S SO TRUE.
>> YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
CONVINCE A MAN TO LOVE YOU LIKE
THAT. AND I KNOW THAT YOU WERE
FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM, AND
YOU WERE WILLING AND READY TO
TAKE THAT LEAP. SO WHY DO YOU
THINK YOU AND MEL COULDN'T GET
ON THE SAME PAGE? WHAT WAS IT
ULTIMATELY?
>> OH, GOD, WE HAD WRITTEN A
BOOK. IF WE HAD GOTTEN ON THE
SAME PAGE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
LIKE THE BEST FAIRY TALE. YEAH,
IT WAS THE START OF SOMETHING
REMARKABLE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AMAZING. HE
WANTED A COMIC BOOK. HE WANTED
SOMETHING SHORTER AND LIGHTER
AND NO COMMITMENT. AND I'M READY
FOR. I'M READY FOR EVERYTHING.
YEAH. AND IT'S OKAY. I
WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN MY TIME AND
ALL THIS EFFORT AND GETTING ALL
THE GOWNS. LET ME TELL YOU THAT
ALONE. I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE
DONE IT TO DATE SOMEONE. I CAN
DATE SOMEONE BACK IN AUSTIN AND
HAVE A SHORT TERM LOW
COMMITMENT. YEAH . RELATIONSHIP.
>> YEAH.
>> AND I, YOU KNOW, IT JUST WAS
GOOD TO WATCH BACK. HE'S NOT MY
GUY. HE DESERVES TO BE HAPPY
WITH WHATEVER HE WANTS OUT OF A
RELATIONSHIP. BUT I HAVE A
CHOICE, TOO.
>> WOULD YOU HAVE MOVED TO
ORANGE COUNTY? ONE HUNDRED
PERCENT. HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH MEL? YOU WOULD.
>> HAVE, I WOULD HAVE, AND IT'S
A LITTLE COMPLICATED BECAUSE I
HAVE ANOTHER DAUGHTER WHO LIVES
IN ORANGE COUNTY OR IN LOS
ANGELES. SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR
MEL, BUT IN MY GOLDEN YEARS, I
WAS READY TO MAKE ANOTHER BIG
BOLD MOVE. ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD
TO FIND LOVE AND HAPPINESS.
IT'S ANOTHER NEW CHAPTER.
>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AGAIN. I KNOW THAT
YOU KNOW MEL IS HERE. AND UP
NEXT, MEL IS GOING TO JOIN US SO
THAT HE AND CINDY CAN REUNITE
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
ANTIGUA. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY,
HOPEFULLY FOR SOME CLOSURE AND A
REUNION THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
WANT TO MISS. THE GOLDEN
BACHELOR SEASON FINALE. WE'LL BE
RIGHT BACK.
>> YEAH.
SEASON FINALE.
>> NOW CINDY. I KNOW THIS
JOURNEY CERTAINLY WAS DIFFICULT.
I KNOW TONIGHT ALSO HAS BEEN AN
EMOTIONAL ONE, BUT WE REALLY DID
WANT TO GIVE YOU AND MEL BOTH AN
OPPORTUNITY JUST TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION THAT HOPEFULLY
BRINGS SOME PEACE AND BRINGS
SOME CLOSURE TO YOU BOTH. YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WILLING AND
ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> I'M READY.
>> OKAY, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
PLEASE WELCOME YOUR GOLDEN
BACHELOR MEL.
>> AMEN. THANK YOU.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU. COME ON IN.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD. THANK
YOU. GOOD.
>> MEL. IT'S GREAT SEEING YOU. I
WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE AND HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION. I KNOW THE TWO OF
YOU. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN EACH
OTHER SINCE THAT NIGHT. AND SO I
JUST WANTED TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR
FOR YOU TO TALK AND CINDY. I'LL
OPEN IT TO YOU FIRST. WHAT WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SAY TO MO?
>> WOW. WHAT'S HAPPENED?
>> NICE SEEING YOU.
>> IT'S GREAT TO.
>> SEE YOU. BEAUTIFUL.
>> THANK YOU. I LIKE YOUR SHOES.
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST SHOES.
>> YOU TOO. I ASKED IF I COULD
WEAR THEM. THESE ARE. THESE ARE
SEXY, BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE
UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> YOU GET HOKAS OR OFFERS. THEY
FIT WONDERFULLY.
>> YEAH, SO GOING BACK TO THE
DOCK, IT WAS INTERESTING TO
WATCH. I HAD REPLAYED IT IN MY
MIND A MILLION TIMES BECAUSE I
REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS YOU. I
REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS YOU. AND
I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU
GOT THAT FAR WITHOUT HELPING ME
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WEREN'T
READY FOR A COMMITMENT. NOT JUST
ME, BUT ALL THOSE WOMEN THAT YOU
BROUGHT ALONG THIS JOURNEY. WHEN
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WEREN'T
READY FOR SOMETHING ?
>> I WAS READY, I CAN HELP YOU
OUT. I WAS READY, BUT WE HAD A
TIME THERE. WHERE? WE WERE
SITTING THERE TALKING, AND IT
JUST WASN'T FINISHED. MY HEART
AND MY HEAD JUST WASN'T THERE TO
GIVE YOU THOSE ANSWERS YET. BUT
WE STILL HAD THE FANTASY SUITE,
WHICH I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YOU
WEREN'T PREPARED TO GO INTO, NOT
JUST FOR ANY INTIMACY, BUT JUST
FOR THE TALK. AND THAT WOULD
HAVE GIVEN US A LOT MORE TIME.
BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. SO WE
DIDN'T GET THE EXTRA TIME TO
TALK BEHIND THE SCENES. NO
CAMERAS, NO MICS, JUST A TALK.
SO WE NEVER WE NEVER GOT THERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE DIDN'T GET
THERE BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE I
WANTED YOU TO LEAD ME TO THE
FANTASY SUITE WHEN YOU COULDN'T
LEAD IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME.
YOU SAID. YOU SAID MORE TO JESSE
THAN YOU WOULD TO ME.
>> WE NEVER GOT THERE. WE
DIDN'T HAVE THAT TIME BECAUSE WE
NEVER. WE NEVER KNEW. BECAUSE WE
NEVER GOT THERE TO ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS. SOME THINGS YOU CAN
SAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT YOU
DON'T SAY IN FRONT OF THE
CAMERAS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT
TO FINISH THE JOURNEY WHERE YOU
WANTED WAS A A PROPOSAL. BUT
THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON THERE AND
YOU JUST CAN'T LEAPFROG OVER
THAT PERSON. IF I SAY YES TO
YOU, THEN THE IT'S OVER. BUT IT
WASN'T OVER. THERE'S SOMEONE
THERE. SO YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE
THE JOURNEY. LIKE I TOLD YOU
BEFORE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.
I JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE
SAYING FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN
COMES MARRIAGE, RIGHT? AND THEN
BABY CARRIAGES WON'T HAPPEN. BUT
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING,
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. WE TALKED
ABOUT THE LEAP OF FAITH. I
DON'T OPERATE THAT WAY IN MY
LIFE. I DON'T GO FROM HERE TO
THE, YOU KNOW, GETTING MARRIED.
THAT'S FAIR.
>> THAT'S FAIR, THAT'S FAIR.
AND I OPERATE DIFFERENTLY THAN
YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST
WE JUST WEREN'T ALIGNED. AND
JUST TOOK ME BY SURPRISE THAT WE
THAT WE HAD GOTTEN SO FAR BEFORE
I SAW IT.
>> SO FAR. BUT THERE'S STILL
TIME LEFT. BUT YOU DIDN'T
EXERCISE THAT OPTION, AND WE
DIDN'T HAVE. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT
TIME. IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>> WAS THAT A GREATER PRICE TO
PAY TO GET ME TO THE FANTASY
SUITE?
>> I WASN'T TRYING TO GET YOU
THERE. I WASN'T TRYING TO GET
YOU. THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK. I WASN'T TRYING TO GET YOU
THERE. IT WAS YOUR OPTION.
>> WELL, I HAD I LEARNED ENOUGH,
I WAS IN IT FOR A COMMITMENT AT
THE END, AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
I WOULD GET IT FROM YOU.
>> IF YOU GET THE COMMITMENT,
THEN. THEN YOU'RE SATISFIED. BUT
THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON THAT WAS
THERE.
>> I DIDN'T NEED A COMMITMENT.
THEN YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT
THERE WASN'T GOING TO BE A
COMMITMENT, THAT YOU WEREN'T
GOING TO TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH. I
WASN'T I WASN'T ASKING YOU TO
COMMIT TO ME. I WAS VERY WELL
AWARE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMIND
ME THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER WOMAN
THERE. I WAS VERY WELL AWARE OF
IT, AND I FELT LIKE I HANDLED
THAT INCREDIBLY GRACIOUSLY. AND
I DIDN'T PRESS YOU IN
COMPARISON TO ANYONE ELSE. I
TRIED REALLY HARD NEVER TO DO
THAT TO YOU, BECAUSE THAT'S
UNFAIR.
>> YOU WANTED THE COMMITMENT
BEFORE THE PROCESS, BEFORE THE
JOURNEY . YOU WANTED TO A
COMMITMENT LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO
GET MARRIED. I WASN'T THERE, MY
HEART, MY HEAD WASN'T THERE.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN WE. I WAS
ASKING, WOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF
IN A MOMENT WHERE.
>> YOU THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THAT
EXTRA TIME IN THE FANTASY SUITE
TO TALK THINGS OUT. YOU NEVER
GOT THERE. YOU DECIDED TO LEAVE.
AND THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.
WELL, MEL, WE SAW YOU AT DINNER,
AND WE SAW THAT YOU WERE BEING
REALLY CAREFUL NOT TO SAY THINGS
THAT YOU DIDN'T MEAN. YOU
DIDN'T WANT TO BE DISINGENUOUS
ABOUT A PROPOSAL. AND CERTAINLY
THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. WHY DO
YOU THINK YOU STRUGGLED? WHAT
WAS SO HARD FOR YOU? OPENING UP
TO CINDY ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS FOR
HER? MY FEELINGS WERE
STRAIGHTFORWARD. I LIKED HER,
OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T BE ON THE
ANTIGUA TOGETHER. SO THE ME
LIKING YOU WASN'T THE ISSUE.
IT'S LIKE YOU ASKED ME ABOUT THE
LEAP OF FAITH. I'M NOT GOING TO
TAKE MY LIFE. I DON'T TAKE
LEAPS OF FAITH LIKE THAT. I
DON'T GO FROM KNOWING A PERSON
TO GETTING MARRIED . THIS
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MY LIFE. YOU
WANTED TO GET MARRIED WITHOUT
THE TIME IN BETWEEN. THIS. THIS
WASN'T ME.
>> I'M A VERY WISE WOMAN. I'M
NOT GETTING MARRIED. THERE WAS
NO WEDDING AT THE END OF THIS
WEEK. THERE WAS A HOPE FOR A
COMMITMENT. AND TO TAKE THIS
FAIRY TALE INTO A HAPPILY EVER
AFTER. THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING
FOR.
>> OKAY, YOU'RE SPEAKING TWO
DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT ONE, THE
WHOLE TIME YOU SAID DEATH DO US
PART. YEAH. COMMITMENT. WALKING
UP WITH THE RING, ALL OF THAT.
IT SEEMED LIKE YOU WANTED TO
SKIP THE PART OVER AND JUST GET
THE COMMITMENT AND THE MARRIAGE.
>> I EVEN TOLD YOU I WOULD MOVE.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO LEAVE MY
LIFE IN AUSTIN, MOVE TO
CALIFORNIA NEAR YOU. NOT WITH
YOU TO START TO PURSUE A LIFE
WITH YOU. THERE'S NO RUSH. WE
HAVE LOTS OF THINGS.
>> THAT DON'T INTEREST ME,
THOUGH. AND CINDY WAS YOUR HEART
OPEN TO FINDING LOVE? DO YOU
BELIEVE YOUR PERSON IS OUT
THERE?
>> TWO THINGS. FIRST, BEFORE WE
GO TO MY HEART, I WANT YOU TO
KNOW I LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT I
WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY WITH OR
WITHOUT ME. I MEAN THAT I REALLY
WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.
>> AND LIKEWISE.
>> I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY.
YOU'RE A GREAT GUY.
>> THANK YOU. AND LIKEWISE.
>> THANK YOU. MY HEART IS WIDE
OPEN. I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT
MYSELF ON THIS JOURNEY. I DON'T
THINK I WAS REALLY READY UNTIL I
TOOK THIS TRIP. SO YEAH, HE'S
OUT THERE.
>> WELL, I BELIEVE HE'S OUT
THERE, TOO. I ALSO BELIEVE YOU
ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF CLASS, AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> FOR BEING.
>> HERE TONIGHT.
>> I WANT TO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BOTH FOR.
>> BEING.
>> HERE, HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION. I KNOW IT'S HARD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO HONEST
AND SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH US.
I HOPE.
>> YOU WERE ABLE.
>> TO FIND SOME CLOSURE.
>> AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEST.
>> TO HAVE RESPECT FOR EACH
OTHER, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING
THAT.
>> CINDY. WE CERTAINLY WISH YOU
THE BEST. LET'S HEAR IT FOR
CINDY. EVERYBODY.
>> YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS STAY
.
>> BUT MEL'S STORY, IT DIDN'T
END.
>> ON THAT DOCK.
>> AND WE COME BACK AND SEE WHAT
HAPPENED NEXT. ARE YOU GUYS ARE
LEAVING IN A MINUTE? GOOD SEEING
SEASON FINALE OF THE GOLDEN
BACHELOR. NOW CINDY HAS LEFT
ANTIGUA. BUT HOW WILL MEL
EXPLAIN THIS TURN OF EVENTS TO
PEG? LET'S FIND OUT.
>> IT'S THE FINAL WEEK.
>> AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'M
HERE TODAY. I'M GOING TO BE
MEETING MEL'S BOYS. I'M
EXCITED. I HAVE ALL THESE
EMOTIONS. WE'RE ON THE HOME
STRETCH, MEL. YOU KNOW, I KNOW
HE HAS A CONNECTION WITH CINDY.
THEY WERE TOGETHER IN THE
FANTASY SUITE, AND THAT MAKES ME
NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
WHERE I STAND. MY HEART IS
INVESTED, MY EMOTIONS ARE
INVESTED, AND I DEFINITELY FEEL
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS
JOURNEY. BUT I JUST HAVE HAD MY
HEART BROKEN SEVERAL TIMES
BEFORE, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET
IT BROKEN AGAIN. HEY, HOW ARE
YOU?
>> LOOK AT YOU.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> GOOD.
>> OH, GOOD. IT'S NICE TO SEE
YOU HERE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S SIT
ON THE BENCH. YOU WANT TO SIT ON
THE BENCH? I'M LIKE, OKAY,
WHAT'S UP? THIS IS REALLY WEIRD.
SOMETHING'S GOING ON.
>> YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT
YOU, RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU KNOW, THAT,
YOU KNOW, HASN'T CHANGED. AND,
IT WON'T CHANGE NO MATTER WHAT
HAPPENS.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT SOMETHING DID CHANGE.
>> OKAY .
>> YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT, I HAD
MY.
>> OH.
>> DATE AND OVERNIGHT WITH
CINDY. RIGHT. AND I JUST WANT TO
BE TRANSPARENT WITH YOU, TELL
YOU WHAT HAPPENED, AND, YOU
KNOW, THERE RESULT AND ALL THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT
YOU. YES. NO MATTER WHAT. OKAY.
RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
>> SHE WAS ASKING ME SOME
QUESTIONS THAT SHE WANTED ME TO
ANSWER. RIGHT. AND I JUST
WASN'T PREPARED TO ANSWER. SHE
TOLD ME, SHE GOES, I WANT YOU TO
COMMIT TO BE, YOU KNOW, TO FOR A
PROPOSAL, WHICH I'M LOOKING FOR,
TO GET MARRIED AND. YOU KNOW, I
WAS HONEST WITH HER, RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
>> SO BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THE
OVERNIGHT. HUM. SHE DECIDED TO
LEAVE.
>> STOP IT.
>> REALLY?
>> BEFORE THE OVERNIGHT?
>> REALLY?
>> SHE LEFT.
>> WOW.
>> AND SO.
>> WOW.
>> I, I STILL WANT ME AND YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> OH, MY GOSH, I HAVE NO WORDS.
I CAN'T EVEN PROCESS THIS RIGHT
NOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. THE
EMOTIONS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> I JUST WASN'T PREPARED TO
COMMIT, YOU KNOW, TO A PROPOSAL,
RIGHT?
>> ALL I KNOW IS CINDY ASKED HIM
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT
POSSIBLY AN ENGAGEMENT, POSSIBLY
MARRIAGE, AND HE COULD NOT
ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. AND THAT
MAKES ME NERVOUS. PEOPLE WANT
THINGS AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT
TO WANT THINGS. YES, SHE HAS A
RIGHT TO TO WANT TO BE ENGAGED.
SHE HAS A RIGHT TO BE WANTED, TO
BE COMMITTED.
>> YEAH.
>> WITH CINDY LEAVING, THERE IS
A LITTLE BIT OF A CONCERN. WE'VE
MADE IT THIS FAR IN THIS
PROCESS. I'M HERE TO REALLY FIND
SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO
COMMIT. AND NOW I'M NERVOUS
ABOUT WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR.
>> I STILL WANT ME AND YOU.
OKAY? THERE'S STILL A JOURNEY. I
WANT YOU TO MEET MY BOYS. AND I
WANT YOU AND I TO GET TO THE END
TOGETHER, OKAY? OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ARE YOU THERE WITH ME?
>> I'M. I'M. I'M OKAY.
>> MY RELATIONSHIP WITH PEG IS
ONE OF A KIND. I'VE NEVER FELT
THIS WAY ABOUT ANYONE BEFORE.
AND CAN SEE A LIFE TOGETHER
GOING FORWARD. I HOPE SHE
DOESN'T FEEL LIKE, OH, BY
DEFAULT, I'M THE LAST ONE HERE.
THE
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE HIGHLY.
ANTICIPATED GOLDEN BACHELOR
SEASON FINALE. NOW, BEFORE THE
BREAK, PEG WAS SHOCKED TO FIND.
OUT THAT CINDY WALKED AWAY. NOW
IT'S TIME FOR HER TO MEET MEL
SONS, LUCAS AND ANDRE. THIS IS A
MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT, SO LET'S
SEE HOW IT GOES . YOU KNOW, THIS
PROCESS AND JOURNEY TOOK A
LITTLE CRAZY TURN. SADLY, CINDY
LEFT AND I WISH HER WELL. IT WAS
VERY PAINFUL, BUT SURPRISINGLY,
I FEEL REALLY HOPEFUL. AND I'M
ALSO LUCKY BECAUSE MY
RELATIONSHIP WITH PEG IS
SPECIAL. SHE'S JUST SO DOWN TO
EARTH AND GENUINE. I'VE MET
PEG'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND
TODAY SHE'S GOING TO MEET SOME
OF MINE.
>> CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM.
>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU GUYS
BRING YOUR GIRLFRIEND HOME TO
MEET YOUR DAD. THE FIRST TIME IN
REVERSE.
>> YEAH. SAY HI. BUT WE'VE NEVER
SEEN OUR DAD WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE MY
BOYS. THEY MEAN EVERYTHING.
>> TO ME.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM
THEM THIS LONG. I MISS HIM.
>> I MISS YOU, MISS YOU TOO.
>> MISSED YOU GUYS.
>> OH MY GOSH. NICE SHIRT.
>> PEG IS GOING TO BEAT LUCAS.
ANDRE.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> AND MY FRIEND FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. DIANE.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
>> HOW ARE THE GIRLS?
>> THERE WERE 23. NOW THERE'S
ONE. 2, 1, TWO OR ONE. ONE.
>> WOW. IT'S YOU AND ANOTHER
ONE.
>> YEAH.
>> SO THE.
>> SECOND ONE, CINDY. SHE ENDED
UP SAYING, ARE WE GOING TO GET
MARRIED AT THE END? I NEED THE
ANSWER. I COULDN'T GIVE HER THAT
ANSWER BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER
PERSON HERE. IT'S NOT FAIR.
>> YEAH.
>> SHE GOES, I DON'T THINK THIS
IS FOR ME.
>> SHE LEFT JUST LIKE THAT?
>> YEAH.
>> HOW'D YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
>> DISAPPOINTED?
>> WERE YOU SAD? LIKE. OH, MY
GOSH, SHE JUST LEFT ME.
>> YEAH, IT WAS GOING GREAT.
>> I DON'T LOVE WHAT SHE DID,
BUT I SORT OF RESPECT THAT SHE
WAS KNOWING HERSELF WELL ENOUGH
TO SAY, I CAN'T HANDLE.
>> THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. NOT
BEING TURNED DOWN.
>> SO HERE WE ARE.
>> WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT CINDY.
>> LEAVING, I COULD TELL.
>> HE WAS STRUGGLING WITH IT.
>> IT'S STILL REALLY FRESH.
>> FOR HIM. HE HAS A HUGE HEART,
BUT YOU DON'T SEE.
>> IT NECESSARILY.
>> BECAUSE HE THINKS MORE
PRACTICALLY. INSTEAD OF
EMOTIONALLY. BUT I COULD TELL
THAT IT WAS BOTHERING HIM.
>> SO THERE'S ONE.
>> THERE'S ONE.
>> PEG PEG.
>> YES. YOU KNOW, BUT I GOT TO
CHOOSE HER, AND SHE'S GOT TO
CHOOSE ME. YEAH. HELP ME MAKE MY
DECISION.
>> YEAH.
>> WHERE'S SHE FROM?
>> VEGAS. REALLY SMART. REALLY
GOOD LOOKING. AND SHE WAS A
FIREFIGHTER.
>> REALLY, DUDE?
>> OH MY GOSH.
>> ON THE BOMB SQUAD.
>> SO SHE'S PRETTY BADASS, THEN?
>> BADASS. IT MESHED WITH MY
PERSONALITY.
>> YES.
>> ARE YOU GUYS READY.
>> TO MEET HER?
>> 100%.
>> BUCKLE UP.
>> SO EXCITED TO MEET.
>> HER. .
>> TODAY WILL BE THE FIRST TIME
MY BOYS MEET SOMEONE THAT I'M
ACTUALLY DATING AFTER MY
MARRIAGE, SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.
AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT PEG
MEANS A LOT. FLOWERS FOR ME.
>> YOU DON'T GET THE FLOWERS?
NOPE. NOT AT ALL.
>> YOU LOOK GORGEOUS.
>> OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOK
NICE AND HANDSOME. I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT
FATHER'S SIDE OF MEL. HOW HE
INTERACTS WITH THE BOYS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> I WANT YOU TO BE YOU. OF
COURSE.
>> OF COURSE. I'VE NEVER BEEN
MEL HAS NEVER BROUGHT ANYBODY
HOME FOR THE BOYS TO MEET. AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT. FINALLY, YOU
GUYS MADE IT. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT I MAKE A GOOD
IMPRESSION. BUT ALSO, IT'S GOING
TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT
THE BOYS BRING OUT IN MEL.
>> IT'S SO NICE.
>> TO MEET. GREAT TO MEET YOU.
>> FOR YOU.
>> OH MY GOODNESS.
>> KIDS DEFINITELY ARE JUST A
REFLECTION OF, YOU KNOW, US
PARENTS.
>> SO YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING.
POLICE OFFICER. FIREFIGHTER.
YEAH.
>> BOMB SQUAD.
>> YEAH, I HEARD THAT.
>> SO TELL ME ABOUT, LIKE, WHEN
YOU GUYS FIRST MET, LIKE, WAS
THERE AN INSTANT CONNECTION?
>> WELL.
>> I WAS DOING CANNONBALLS IN
THE POOL.
>> I DID TOO.
>> I WAS.
>> THE FIRST DUDE IN.
>> THE POOL. BUT YOU.
>> DIDN'T DO. NO CANNONBALLS.
>> I DID. I DOUBT HE DID.
CANNONBALL! I JUMPED.
>> IN, CANNONBALL ISH.
>> I DID.
>> I HAD SHOES.
>> ON.
>> MY BOYS KNOW ME VERY WELL,
AND THEY'RE VERY INFLUENTIAL
WITH ME.
>> SO YOU GUYS CAME ALL THE WAY
OUT HERE?
>> I KNOW I WON'T HAVE A LITTLE
CHAT.
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> SO I HOPE THEY GET ALONG WITH
PEG. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO JUST
GET AN OVERALL FEELING OF HOW
THEY'RE FEELING.
>> I'M SO GLAD I FINALLY GET TO
MEET YOU GUYS.
>> I KNOW YOU TOO. THIS IS
GREAT. HAVING SO MUCH FUN. GOOD
FOR HIM. BAD FOR YOU GUYS.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
PROCESS? HOW ARE YOU?
>> IT'S BEEN. IT'S JUST A LOT
OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS THROUGH
THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND REALLY
TRYING TO GET TO KNOW YOUR DAD.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW, AND WHO HE REALLY
IS.
>> YEAH. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
HIM? LIKE, IN GENERAL.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY WEIRD.
YOU GUYS, WE'RE A LOT ALIKE,
BECAUSE WHEN I DIVORCED, I DID
THE SAME THING HE'S DOING WITH
YOU GUYS. I PUT MY DAUGHTER
FIRST, AND THAT'S WHAT GAVE ME
HAPPINESS AND JOY AT THAT TIME
IN MY LIFE. SO I REALLY, YOU
KNOW, I REALLY RESPECT HIM FOR
DOING THAT WITH YOU GUYS. SO
WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT KIND OF
PARTNER WOULD BE, YOU KNOW,
WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOUR DAD?
>> WELL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
IT LIKE JUST AN EASYGOING NOT
TOO, LIKE, NOT TOO MUCH DRAMA,
JUST MELLOW PERSON THAT JUST
REALLY ENJOYS LIFE.
>> THAT'S COOL.
>> THE BOYS ARE ABSOLUTELY
WONDERFUL. AND GETTING THEIR
STAMP OF APPROVAL MEANS A LOT TO
ME. MY DAUGHTER AND I, WE DO
THIS WORD ASSOCIATION. I WANT TO
DO IT WITH YOU GUYS IF THAT'S
OKAY. AND JUST SPENDING TIME
WITH THEM WILL DEFINITELY GIVE
ME A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT OF,
YOU KNOW, IS MEL RIGHT FOR ME?
AM I RIGHT FOR MEL? OKAY. IT'S
FINE.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO ASK US TWO
WORDS.
>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
TWO WORDS.
>> AND WE CHOOSE WHICH ONE
DESCRIBES OUR.
>> DAD. EXACTLY. OKAY.
ACCOUNTABILITY OR AVOIDANCE?
>> ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCOUNTABILITY. YEAH. ALWAYS
GOTTA HAVE A KIND OF.
>> FUNNY OR SERIOUS. OH, SNAP.
>> I WANNA SAY BOTH. BOTH. BUT
HE'S DEFINITELY FUNNY, THOUGH.
FUNNY GUY.
>> OKAY, NEXT ONE IS EMOTIONAL
OR ANALYTICAL.
>> ANALYTICAL. NOT EMOTIONAL.
YEAH. CAN'T BE EMOTIONAL,
THOUGH. HE CAN BE. REALLY? YEAH.
GOTTA FIND IT. YEAH.
>> GOTTA DIG.
>> FOR IT. DIG DIG DIG DIG.
>> LIKE DEEP. YEAH. OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. THAT'S
REALLY GOOD TO KNOW.
>> YEAH. THIS MORNING I WAS
FEELING KIND OF ANXIOUS, YOU
KNOW, JUST NOT KNOWING WHO I WAS
GOING TO TALK TO, WHO I WAS
GOING TO MEET. BUT, YOU KNOW,
TODAY I FEEL RELIEF, YOU KNOW,
JUST WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS. I
THINK YOU'RE, LIKE, THE PERFECT
GAL FOR MY DAD BECAUSE, LIKE,
THE ENERGY, THE, YOU KNOW, BRING
HIM UP, LIKE THE UPLIFTING.
GREAT.
>> THERE'S A LOT COMING FROM YOU
GUYS.
>> YEAH, IT'S GREAT.
>> DEFINITELY. I HOPE HE CAN
KEEP UP WITH ME.
>> YEAH.
>> I LOVE PEG. SUPER FUN. VERY
PERSONABLE. I CAN TALK TO HER
LIKE. LIKE MY FRIEND. SHE'S
GREAT. I REALLY LIKE HER. I LIKE
HER, TOO. OH, GOOD. MATCHES YOUR
VIBE.
>> YEAH.
>> SHE'S REALLY, LIKE,
COMPATIBLE. YEAH, I CAN SEE
SHE'S NOT FAKE WITH YOU. LIKE,
SHE'S TRULY, I THINK, TRULY
LIKES YOU.
>> YEAH. GOOD. GOOD ENERGY.
>> GREAT PERSONALITY. YEAH. WHAT
WAS, LIKE, THE ONE THING YOU'RE
LIKE. YEAH. THIS IS. THIS IS THE
GIRL.
>> SHE ASKED ME. I WANT TO MEET
YOUR BOYS. THAT'S GOOD. AND YOU
KNOW. OH, SHE WAS INTERESTED IN
YOU GUYS, AND I WANTED YOU TO
MEET HER.
>> YEAH, I THINK SHE'S, LIKE,
PERFECT FOR YOU. DAD, YOU LOOK
VERY HAPPY. DO YOU MISS HOME?
>> YES. MISS YOU GUYS?
>> YEAH.
>> A LOT.
>> YOU.
>> PEG. MY BOYS GOT ALONG
SWIMMINGLY. AND GETTING THAT
RESOUNDING THUMBS UP IS
WONDERFUL.
>> SO HAPPY TO MEET YOU.
>> AND JUST LIKE MY BOYS, DIANE
IS A VERY INFLUENTIAL WOMAN IN
MY LIFE. AND SHE HAS MY BEST
INTERESTS AT HEART.
>> THIS IS SO NICE.
>> ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?
>> SO IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE
HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT SHE SAYS AND
WHAT HER IMPRESSION IS.
>> IN GENERAL, WHEN YOU'RE IN
YOUR SIXTIES. I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE
ARE REALLY SETTLED, RIGHT? AND
THEY HAVE FAMILY. OF COURSE,
THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH
SOMEBODY, BUT I ALWAYS THINK,
LIKE, YOU'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO BRING THAT TOGETHER, NOT
START OVER OR CREATE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT. IT'S KIND OF BLENDING
WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, RIGHT?
>> AND THAT TAKES COMMUNICATION.
THAT TAKES SPENDING TIME WITH
EACH OTHER. MY, YOU KNOW, MY
FEELINGS FOR MEL HAS GROWN.
>> ARE YOU FALLING IN LOVE?
>> YOU KNOW I'M NOT. I'M NOT
THERE YET. AND FOR ME, THAT
TAKES TIME. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES
TIME. AND IT'S ONE DAY AT A
TIME. HOWEVER, THERE DEFINITELY
IS A POTENTIAL IN THE
POSSIBILITY OF BEING IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER.
>> I KNOW HE HAS A GIGANTIC
HEART. I ALSO KNOW HE HAS A
LAWYER BRAIN, AND HE JUST GOES
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM.
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IT.
MM-HMM. SO I WAS HOPEFUL THAT
HIS BIG HEART WAS WINNING THAT
BATTLE.
>> WITH THAT ANALYTICAL BRAIN.
YOU CAN TALK YOURSELF OUT OF
THINGS.
>> OH MY GOD, IT'S SO TRUE. MEL
AND I ARE BOTH TRAINED LAWYERS,
SO WE TEND TO BE IN OUR HEAD AN
AWFUL LOT. AND I HOPE THAT HE'S
ABLE TO BE OPEN, TO TAKE A
CHANCE TO THINK MORE WITH HIS
HEART THAN HIS HEAD, BECAUSE MEL
AND PEG, I THINK THEY'RE A GREAT
MATCH.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OVERALL?
GENERALLY.
>> I KNOW, JUST GENERALLY. OKAY.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION IS THE
ENERGY WISE, SHE'S YOU. YEAH. I
THOUGHT, HOW GREAT IS THAT?
YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MEG
WANTS TO BE. OR WHAT? MEG? MEG,
I'VE ALREADY MERGED. YOUR NAMES.
MEL AND PEG. YOU GUYS ARE MEG TO
ME? YEAH. ALREADY? YEAH, BUT THE
ENERGY, SHE'S NOT. YOU KNOW,
SHE'S GOING TO BRING IT EVERY
DAY.
>> AND SHE'S ALWAYS UPBEAT.
>> THAT'S YOU.
>> PERSONALITY.
>> IT COULD REALLY I MEAN IT
COULD BE REALLY BE GREAT FOR YOU
GUYS. I LIKE HER A LOT.
>> AND I'M HAPPY.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW AND THAT'S WHAT I
CAME HERE FOR.
>> YOU CAME HERE FOR.
>> RIGHT?
>> HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO, LIKE,
ARTICULATE YOUR EMOTIONS ALONG
THE WAY WITH PEG? YEAH, I FEEL
LIKE YOU.
>> BECAUSE. BECAUSE WE HAD THAT
TIME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. OKAY.
RIGHT. AND THEN YOU CAN YOU CAN
SAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN? HOW ARE WE
GOING TO DO IT? ARE YOU WITH
THAT?
>> SEE, EVEN NOW I HEAR YOUR
ANALYTICAL BRAIN TELLING ME HOW
THIS WORKS. BUT MY QUESTION IS
LIKE, ARE YOU FALLING IN LOVE?
IS SHE FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU?
>> ALL I GOT TO DO IS CONTINUE
ON THE JOURNEY. YEAH, RIGHT. I
REALLY LIKE HER. I WANT TO SPEND
SOME TIME WITH HER.
>> THE ONLY. MY ONLY CONCERN
WITH IT. BECAUSE THAT'S. THAT'S
EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE. I JUST ALSO
KNOW THAT THERE'S A PART OF YOU
THAT WILL LET THE BRAIN GET IN
THE WAY OF THE HEART. AND SO I
JUST HOPE THAT YOU DON'T LET
THAT INTERFERE. LIKE EVERYTHING.
>> DIANE'S BRILLIANT. SHE KNOWS
ME, AND I DO TAKE HER COUNSEL.
THANKS FOR COMING.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> HAVING AN ANALYTICAL BRAIN
SOMETIMES GETS IN THE WAY OF
YOUR HEART. SO YOU HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL. I REALLY LIKE PEG. MY
HEART'S IN THE RIGHT SPOT, AND
I DON'T WANT TO MESS IT UP. HOW
WERE THESE GUYS?
>> THEY MADE YOU LOOK GOOD.
>> OKAY, TALK ABOUT LIFE. YEAH.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE
FUTURE? YOU. YEAH.
>> IF WE WANT TO INVITE YOU
ALONG IN OUR JOURNEY.
>> YEAH. MAYBE.
>> YEAH.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THEY HIT IT OFF.
>> GREAT MEETING YOU. LOVED IT.
>> YEAH. GREAT MEETING YOU GUYS,
TOO. IT WAS GREAT. OVERALL
MEETING DIANE AND THE BOYS. IT
WENT ABSOLUTELY BETTER THAN I
EXPECTED.
>> SEE YOU SOON.
>> IT JUST FELT VERY
COMFORTABLE. IT DEFINITELY HAS
STRENGTHENED OUR BOND. I GOT TO
SEE MORE OF WHO MEL REALLY IS.
>> HOPE YOU HAD FUN.
>> I HAD A GREAT TIME. THIS
CONNECTION BETWEEN MEL AND I IS
REAL, AND I HOPE THAT HE CAN BE
OPEN, THAT HE HAS THAT CAPACITY
TO COMMIT. NOW THAT I'VE MET
EVERYBODY. OH MY GOD, I
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE BOYS. YEAH,
I WANT TO TAKE THEM HOME WITH
ME.
>> HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME?
>> YEAH, RIGHT.
>> CAN I HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS?
>> WE DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT YOU YET. YEAH.
>> I KNEW I'D GET LEFT OUT.
>> I KNOW, HUH? HERE WE ARE AT
THE END OF THIS JOURNEY. SO MANY
EMOTIONS.
>> PEG. IT'S BEEN SO GREAT.
>> YEAH.
>> WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE
TOMORROW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> I CAN'T WAIT. I'LL SEE YOU
TOMORROW. SLEEP WELL.
>> SLEEP WELL.
>> AT THE END OF THIS JOURNEY,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. AND
I THINK IT'S REALLY MADE WITH
YOUR HEART AND YOUR GUT. I JUST
NEED TO GET OUT OF MY HEAD.
>> WHILE MEL.
>> FINALLY INTRODUCE SOMEONE.
>> SPECIAL TO HIS SONS. AND HE
PROVED TO PEG THAT HE'S
EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE, AND HE'S
READY FOR LOVE. BUT HIS PEG THE
ONE. AND ALSO COMING UP, MY
EXCLUSIVE SIT DOWN WITH OUR NEW
BACHELORETTE.
>> TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL.
>> WE'LL BE RIGHT.
>> BACK.
>> WELCOME BACK.
>> TO THE SEASON.
>> FINALE OF THE.
>> GOLDEN BACHELOR. MOMENTS AGO.
>> WE WATCHED MEL INTRODUCE PEG
TO THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER MOST.
HIS SONS, ANDRE AND LUCAS, AND
ALSO HIS DEAR FRIEND DIANE. IT
WAS HEARTFELT AND IT WAS REALLY
REVEALING. BUT NOW THEIR TIME IN
ANTIGUA HAS COME TO AN END AND
EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO THIS
ONE FINAL CHOICE , ONE FINAL
CHANCE AT LOVE. AFTER A SEASON
FILLED WITH EMOTION AND HOPE AND
SECOND CHANCES. THIS IS IT. HOW
WILL MEL STORY END? LET'S FIND
OUT.
>> IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT DAY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE
THIS WEEK. I REALLY DID QUESTION
MEL . I KNOW HE IS ALL ABOUT
ANALYTICAL THINKING. YOU KNOW,
MORE THAN THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF
IT. I WAS NERVOUS, I WAS SCARED
BECAUSE I WANT COMMITMENT. I
REALLY, HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF
HE'S READY FOR THAT. YOU KNOW,
I CAME INTO THIS THING SO
GUARDED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, MEL
AND I, WE'VE HAD DIVORCES AND
WE'VE HAD HEARTBREAK. BUT MEL
HELPED ME TO OPEN MY HEART
AGAIN. YOU KNOW, AFTER BEING
HURT SO MANY TIMES AND, YOU
KNOW, BEING DIVORCED, I WAS ABLE
TO SEE THAT THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FALL IN LOVE
AGAIN. WE JUST HAVE SUCH A BOND
TOGETHER. AND IT'S JUST
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. YOU KNOW, I
FINALLY JUST HAD TO LET MY WALLS
DOWN AND BE VULNERABLE . I'M
READY FOR MY FOREVER GUY. I'M
HOPING. MEL IS THAT GUY.
>> WAKING UP THIS MORNING
FEELING A BIT NERVOUS.
>> TODAY'S THE DAY.
>> AS DIANE TOLD ME, MY
ANALYTICAL BRAIN CAN STOP ME
FROM LISTENING TO MY HEART. BUT
I'VE COME HERE LOOKING FOR A
PARTNER WHO CAN ENJOY MY LIFE
WITH. I GOT DIVORCED, IT HURT.
IT WAS PAINFUL. I PUT UP WALLS
BECAUSE OF IT. BUT THIS JOURNEY
HELPED ME FINALLY LOWER MY
WALLS. AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT
ABOUT MYSELF. AND I REALIZED
THAT I'M. READY TO. LISTEN TO
MY HEART. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF
PEG.
>> HELLO.
>> JESSE.
>> I LOVE THAT DRESS.
>> LOOKS SO GOOD. THANK YOU.
IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> YOU TOO. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.
I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED. I
CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HERE AT THE
END OF THE JOURNEY WITH MEL.
>> WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
>> YOU KNOW, I LEARNED THAT I AM
DEFINITELY READY TO LOVE AGAIN.
AND IT'S EXCITING.
>> AND YOU'RE DESERVING OF IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AFTER BRINGING MEL BACK TO
VEGAS TO MEET YOUR DAUGHTER AND
THEN SPENDING TIME WITH HIS
BOYS, DOES IT REALLY HELP YOU
SEE A LIFE AND ENVISION A LIFE
WITH MEL IN THE FUTURE?
>> IT'S SEAMLESS. IT COMPLETELY,
100% SEAMLESS. THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I NEEDED IS TO REALLY JUST
SEE HIM WITH HIS BOYS, AND THAT
JUST IT TOLD THE WHOLE STORY OF
WHO HE REALLY IS.
>> WELL, THE BIG MOMENT IS
FINALLY HERE, AND I KNOW MEL'S
WAITING FOR YOU, SO I'LL LET YOU
GET ON YOUR WAY OVER.
>> GREAT.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S GREAT SEEING
YOU.
>> GREAT SEEING YOU TOO. GOOD
LUCK. THANK YOU .
>> WOO HOO!
>> I'M HERE.
>> AT THE END WITH PEG. AND
THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO
BE. SHE'S BEAUTIFUL, FUNNY,
SURPRISING, SMART AND
THOUGHTFUL. WE ARE PERFECT FOR
EACH.
>> OTHER.
>> I LOVE HER, I LOVE BEING
AROUND HER. TODAY IS ABOUT FULLY
COMMITTING TO PEG AND OUR FUTURE
TOGETHER. BECAUSE I'M READY.
>> HI.
>> HELLO.
>> I MISSED YOU.
>> LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE.
>> LOOK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> I'M DOING REALLY.
>> GOOD.
>> TODAY I'M SAYING YES TO PEG.
I HOPE SHE SAYS YES TO ME.
>> I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.
>> THIS IS OUR TIME.
>> YES.
>> THIS IS US. OKAY.
>> MEL?
>> YES.
>> WHEN DAKOTA AND I WERE
WORKING ON OUR ANNUAL VISION
BOARDS TOGETHER, THERE WAS ONE
PORTION OF MY VISION BOARD THAT
HAS NOT COME TRUE YET. AND THAT
HAS BEEN MY LOVE STORY. BUT THAT
ALL CHANGED WHEN, OF COURSE, I
HAD THE COURAGE TO GET OUT OF
THAT LIMO, BOMB SUIT AND ALL,
AND IT'S BEEN FUN. IT'S BEEN
EXCITING. THE OC FAIR DANCING
ALL NIGHT LONG TO KC AND THE
SUNSHINE BAND . TEACHING YOU
SOME DANCE MOVES AND YOU COMING
TO VEGAS. AND OF COURSE, MEETING
MY FAMILY. MEETING DAKOTA, WHO
IS MY HEART AND MY WORLD. YES.
YOU KNOW, MEETING YOUR BOYS. I
ABSOLUTELY LOVE AND ADORE THAT
YOU PRIORITIZE THOSE BOYS.
BECAUSE I DID THE SAME THING
WITH DAKOTA. AND I HAVE NO
REGRET.
>> AND HE'S A GREAT JOB.
>> THANK YOU. WHEN I STARTED
THIS JOURNEY, I WASN'T LOOKING
FOR ANYBODY TO SWEEP ME OFF MY
FEET NOR TAKE CARE OF ME. I'VE
DONE THAT FOR MYSELF FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS. I KNOW MEETING YOU.
YOU KNOW, I MET MY MATCH AND I
KNOW THAT YOU DEFINITELY ARE THE
MAN THAT I CAN TRUST. TRUST TO
TAKE THE WHEEL. BUT I STILL GET
TO DRIVE THE BUGGY. ALWAYS.
>> I GOT IT, I GOT IT. WE'LL BE
GOOD. WE'LL BE GOOD.
>> OKAY, GOOD. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING ME WHO
YOU REALLY ARE. AND I HONOR
THAT. AND ALSO FOR SHOWING ME
THAT I DEFINITELY CAN LOVE
AGAIN. AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY
GRATEFUL.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S SWEET. YOU
KNOW, ON THIS JOURNEY, I REFLECT
ON OUR JOURNEY AND I'VE LEARNED
A LOT OF THINGS LISTENING AND
LOVING. DO I LISTEN TO YOU TALK
ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND WHAT IT
MEANS TO YOU AND ALL THE
SACRIFICES THAT YOU MADE. I KNOW
YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM AT ANY
COST. I WOULDN'T BE INVITE YOUR
FAMILY INTO MY FAMILY. YOU KNOW,
I, I TRUSTED YOU AND YOU TRUSTED
ME.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD
CONFIDENCE IN ME, THAT I'D MAKE
THE RIGHT CHOICE. I DID RIGHT.
>> I DID.
>> AND HERE YOU ARE. I HAVE
SOMETHING . I HAVE A RING. AND
THIS REPRESENTS OUR COMMITMENT
TO LOVE, TO GIVE US TIME TO
FIGURE OUT TOGETHER WHAT OUR
FUTURE HOLDS.
>> WITH.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I AGREE. I THINK.
>> IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY
WONDERFUL.
>> WE'RE JUST COMPLETELY ON THE
SAME PAGE WITH THAT.
>> SO GO.
>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> OH.
>> WOW.
>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
>> I GOT THE PERFECT GAL RIGHT
HERE.
>> I GOT.
>> THE PERFECT GUY.
>> OH, ONE MORE THING.
>> CAN HELP. PEG.
>> WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS FINAL
ROSE?
>> OF COURSE I WILL.
>> OH. I .
>> TOAST TO THE FINAL GOLDEN.
>> ROSE.
>> DEFINITELY A MATCH, THAT'S
FOR SURE. I'M NOT FOR
EVERYBODY. HE'S NOT FOR
EVERYBODY. BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY
FOR EACH OTHER.
>> SO TRUE.
>> YEAH.
>> HELL
, FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU .
>> SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.
>> PEG IS ACCEPTED.
>> THE FINAL ROSE. AND YOU
DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE.
BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER THIS BREAK.
PEG AND MEL ARE GOING TO JOIN US
FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A COUPLE.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE.
>> GOLDEN BACHELOR AFTER.
>> THE FINAL ROSE.
>> NOW, WHEN WE MET MEL A FEW
MONTHS AGO, HE WAS FINALLY READY
TO TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT LOVE.
AND THEN ALONG CAME PEG, AN EX
FIREFIGHTER AND A BOMB TECH FROM
LAS VEGAS. AND AFTER A LIFETIME
PROTECTING OTHERS, SHE WAS
FINALLY READY TO TAKE A CHANCE
ON HERSELF. NOW HER ENTRANCE.
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BIT OF A
MISFIRE, BUT IN THE END SHE
IGNITED A REAL SPARK IN MEL AND
SHE BLEW HIS HEART WIDE OPEN.
NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME
TOGETHER. LET'S HEAR IT.
>> FOR MEL AND PEG.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> YOU LOOK AMAZING.
>> THANKS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. COME
ON OVER. CARLA.
>> COME HAVE A.
>> SEAT.
>> ARE YOU READY? SET. YEAH. I
GAVE YOU THE.
>> BEST.
>> OH, THERE'S NEVER A.
>> DULL MOMENT WHEN PEG SHOWS
UP.
>> IT'S SO GREAT SEEING YOU
BOTH. WHAT AN ENTRANCE. YOU BOTH
LOOK SO HAPPY. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE. AND YOU GET TO
BE OUT IN PUBLIC TOGETHER. YOU
DON'T HAVE TO KEEP IT A SECRET
ANYMORE. HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
>> IT'S EXCITING. IT'S VERY,
VERY EXCITING. FINALLY. YEAH.
FINALLY, WE GET TO BE OUT AND WE
GET TO SHARE THIS.
>> I KEPT EVERYTHING UNDER WRAPS
ALL THE TIME. YOU MADE IT. YOU
DID IT. YOU GOT TO THIS POINT.
HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU, SIR,
TO BE SITTING HERE BESIDE THIS
INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE. YOU
KNOW, I CAME I WAS A LITTLE
SKEPTICAL OF THE WHOLE THING. SO
I HAD TO LET IT PLAY OUT. AND,
YOU KNOW, LIKE I TOLD EVERYBODY,
I DON'T NEED 23. I JUST NEED
ONE. I FOUND THE ONE. YEAH.
>> WELL, YOU'RE A MICHIGAN MAN,
SO.
>> YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOOD AT
MATH. WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT. GO
BLUE. GO BLUE. YOU KNOW, IT'S
FUNNY WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE TWO
OF YOU, IT WAS INTERESTING
BECAUSE I THINK AT TIMES IT WAS
KIND OF HARD TO GET A READ ON
YOU BOTH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T
REALLY SURE HOW YOU WERE FEELING
ABOUT ONE ANOTHER, BUT YOU HAD
SOME INCREDIBLE MOMENTS IN
ANTIGUA, AND IT JUST, I DON'T
KNOW, IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING
CHANGED AFTER THE OVERNIGHTS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?
>> YOU KNOW, JESSE, IT WASN'T
LIKE IT CHANGED. IT JUST GREW.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING
FOR. I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT I COULD SINK MY TEETH INTO.
I NEEDED A MAN. ONE THING I CAN
SAY ABOUT MEL, AND I KNOW BOTH
OF US ARE VERY STOIC. WE DON'T
DO EMOTIONS VERY WELL. AND, YOU
KNOW, HE DOESN'T HAVE INTEGRITY.
HE IS INTEGRITY. YEAH. LET THAT
SINK IN. AND, YOU KNOW, AND
THAT'S ONE THING THAT I FELL IN
LOVE WITH HIM BECAUSE I FEEL
SAFE WITH HIM. AND I FEEL LIKE I
CAN FINALLY LET DOWN MY GUARD
AND BE WHO I AM. AND THAT'S WHAT
THE FANTASY SUITE DID FOR US. IT
WAS I WAS ABLE TO GET IN THERE
AND JUST NO LIGHTS, NO CAMERAS,
NO MICS, NO NOTHING, AND JUST
GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. AND
THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED TO JUST
KIND OF TO GROW THAT CONNECTION
AND TO GROW THAT LOVE.
>> YEAH. I THINK.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED YOU
SAID THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY IS
YOU SAID, I DON'T NEED
FIREWORKS, I NEED A FIREPLACE.
AND YOU FOUND THAT WITH MEL,
THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY
BEAUTIFUL. I KNOW, I ALSO KNOW
THAT YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER SINCE
WE GOT DONE FILMING. SO HOW HAS
THE RELATIONSHIP PROGRESSED
SINCE THAT TIME? WELL, YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE FANTASY SUITE. ONE OF
THE THINGS YOU GET TO TALK A
LOT, AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF
THINGS YOU CAN SAY THAT WE
DIDN'T TALK ABOUT BEFORE. SO
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR US TO
TALK, YOU KNOW, BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS, NO MICS, NO CAMERAS. SO
THAT WAS THAT WAS A THAT WAS A
BIG DEAL FOR US. HOW WAS THE THE
RELATIONSHIP PROGRESSED FOR YOU
TWO SINCE WE LAST SAW YOU? VERY,
VERY WELL. I MEAN, WE SPENT SOME
TIME TOGETHER AND WE'VE HAD SOME
MOMENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE.
>> HOW ABOUT.
>> PEG WITH A MILITARY PRESS AND
THE DUMBBELLS? PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
>> IT'S TWO.
>> TICKETS TO THE GUN SHOW. I
MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME TIME, AND,
YOU KNOW, AND ONE THING THAT I
LOVE ABOUT HER IS THAT THEIR
ENERGY AND, YOU KNOW, AND HER
GET UP AND GO NO MATTER WHAT.
AND I REALLY LOVE THAT ABOUT
HER. THAT'S WHY I FELL IN LOVE
WITH HER. YEAH. SO FILL US IN ON
EXACTLY WHERE YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT
NOW, BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE SAW A
COMMITMENT THERE IN ANTIGUA. AND
BY THE WAY, THE RING IS
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. CAN WE
TAKE A.
>> LOOK.
>> AT IT? YES.
>> WOW. DEFINITELY.
>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS
THAT NEIL LANE KNOWS WHAT HE'S
DOING.
>> YES HE DOES. YES.
>> PRETTY GOOD. AND SO HAS THERE
BEEN ANY TALK OF A PROPOSAL? HAS
THERE BEEN ANY TALK OF
ENGAGEMENT TOGETHER?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NICE
BEING IN YOUR SIXTIES AND GOING
THROUGH LIFE. YOU GET TO WRITE
YOUR OWN LOVE STORY AND WE'RE ON
THE SAME PAGE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S
A LOVE STORY THAT WE GET TO
WRITE THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO DO
IT, AND TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR
LOVE, CONTINUE TO SPEND TIME
WITH OUR FAMILIES. AND THAT'S
THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING IN
YOUR SIXTIES AND YOUR GOLDEN
YEARS IS BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT
YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO DO WITH
THAT CONNECTION THAT YOU HAVE
WITH SOMEBODY.
>> I KEEP HEARING YOU BOTH TALK
ABOUT LOVE. ARE YOU IN LOVE?
I'M IN LOVE WITH HER.
>> IT'S IT'S.
>> WHY I KNOW.
>> WHAT'S NOT.
>> TO BE IN LOVE WITH. RIGHT?
>> I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT HER
PAST AND I TOLD EVERYBODY I KNOW
YOUR PERSONNEL AND YOU KNOW FROM
THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, I TOLD
HER, I GO THAT THIS IS THE
PERSON YOU SHOULD WATCH FOR. AND
I SAW OUR LOVE GROW ALL THE WAY
THROUGH. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S
SPECIAL WHEN YOU MEET THE RIGHT
PERSON. IS THE FEELING MUTUAL?
>> AND I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM.
100%. IT WORKED. IT WORKED. IT
ALL WORKED.
>> IT REALLY WORKED.
>> LISTEN, I MEAN, THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU GOT
TO THIS POINT AND YOU MADE IT.
AND IT WORKED OUT FOR THE TWO OF
YOU AND PEG. WHAT A JOURNEY IT
HAS BEEN.
>> IT'S BEEN.
>> A JOURNEY. WHAT'S IT BEEN
LIKE FOR YOU?
>> IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
COME ON. YOU KNOW HOW.
>> HE'S.
>> DONE IT. YOU'VE DONE IT
RIGHT. AND IT'S NOT EASY. I'VE
DONE A LOT OF HARD THINGS IN MY
LIFE, AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF BIG
THINGS IN MY LIFE. AND I'VE GOT
TO SAY, THIS ONE WAS ONE OF THE
HARDEST THINGS I'VE DONE,
BECAUSE NOT ONLY YOU KNOW, IT
ALSO INVOLVES THE HEART AS WELL
AS EVERYTHING ELSE. AND, YOU
KNOW, WE DON'T DO FILMS VERY
WELL, BUT WE'RE LEARNING TO
WE'RE LEARNING TO OPEN UP AND
TRUST EACH OTHER.
>> AND PLUS YOU FIND OUT A LOT
ABOUT YOURSELF WHEN YOU'RE
GOING THROUGH IT. AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S UPS AND DOWNS. THERE'S
A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE
INVOLVED. SO YOU FIND OUT A LOT
ABOUT YOURSELF AND ABOUT THE
PERSON THAT YOU FINALLY CHOOSE.
WELL, I GIVE YOU BOTH CREDIT
BECAUSE I KNOW THIS. YOU WERE
BOTH YOUR TRUE, AUTHENTIC SELVES
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE JOURNEY,
AND THAT IS ALL YOU CAN EVER BE.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
THAT YOU FOUND EACH OTHER. AND
THE CRAZY THING TO THINK ABOUT,
TOO. THERE REALLY ARE ONLY.
>> A HANDFUL.
>> OF PEOPLE WALKING THIS EARTH
I COULD EVER RELATE TO. WHAT YOU
TWO WENT THROUGH, AND WE'RE VERY
LUCKY BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE
OF THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR AUDIENCE
WITH US TONIGHT. I WANT TO GO
BACK TO JOAN AND CHOCK, AND I
KNOW YOU'VE WATCHED THEIR
JOURNEY UNFOLD. ANYTHING YOU'D
LIKE TO SAY TO OUR NEWEST HAPPY
COUPLE?
>> I WOULD REALLY I'VE TAKEN A
LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS TO WELCOME
THE TWO OF YOU. MEL AND PEG, TO
THE BACHELOR FAMILY. IT IS
INCREDIBLE. YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE
THE JOURNEY. AND MY PREDICTION
IS YOU'RE GOING TO GET MARRIED.
>> WOO!
>> THEN I CAN I CAN SEE IT.
>> YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.
>> CHOCK GETTING IN FRONT OF IT.
GARY, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
WATCHING ALONG AS WELL. ANY
WORDS OF ADVICE YOU'D LIKE TO
GIVE HERE TO MEL AND PEG?
>> WELL.
>> I THINK YOU DID.
>> A GREAT JOB ON.
>> HIS OWN. I DON'T THINK HE.
>> NEEDS ADVICE FROM ME.
>> BUT IT IS NICE TO FINALLY
HAVE ONE OTHER GUY THAT'S WALKED
IN THAT POSITION .
>> THANK YOU. IT'S SO MUCH GREAT
WISDOM.
>> I ALWAYS.
>> LOVE HEARING FROM GARY AND
CHOCK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE.
>> YOU BOTH BEING HERE. WE GOT
SOME GREAT ADVICE, BUT WE ALSO
HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO GET TO. BUT
FIRST WE GOT TO TAKE A QUICK
BREAK. DON'T GO ANYWHERE MORE
WITH MEL AND PEG AND MY
CONVERSATION WITH OUR NEW
BACHELORETTE.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE GOLDEN
BACHELOR.
>> AFTER THE FINAL ROSE. OF
COURSE, WE'RE HERE WITH THE
NEWLY COMMITTED AND ABSOLUTELY
GLOWING PEG AND MEL.
>> BUT BEFORE WE DIVE EVEN
DEEPER.
>> INTO THEIR LOVE STORY. I HAD
THE CHANCE RECENTLY TO SIT DOWN
WITH OUR BRAND NEW BACHELORETTE
TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL. AND JUST
TRUST ME, BACHELOR NATION. WE
ARE IN FOR ONE WILD RIDE.
>> I'M LIKE , OH, MY.
>> GOSH.
>> LIKE. HOW ARE WE DOING?
>> GOOD.
>> HOW ARE YOU? I BROUGHT.
>> YOU A DIRTY SODA.
>> THAT WAS.
>> QUITE THE ROSE CEREMONY. WE
JUST HAD. THANK YOU. I THOUGHT
THAT MIGHT HELP.
>> THANK YOU, I.
>> NEEDED IT. HEY, YOU KNOW MEL.
AFTER THE FINAL ROSE IS COMING
UP, I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A
GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE GIVE
BACHELOR NATION A LITTLE SNEAK
PEEK OF HOW YOUR JOURNEY.
>> IS GOING. YES.
>> LET'S GO INSIDE.
>> HAVE A CHAT.
>> YES. LET'S DO IT.
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE DRINK.
>> YOU GOT IT.
>> WELL, QUITE A CRAZY DAY.
>> YES.
>> YOUR JOURNEY IS OFF AND
RUNNING, OBVIOUSLY. AND ALL THE
DATES AND ALL THE TRAUMA. IT'S
ALREADY ALL HAPPENING.
>> I KNOW IT GOT GOING FAST.
>> YEAH.
>> I HAVE SOME CRUSHES ALREADY.
>> YOU DO?
>> FOR SURE. I KNOW. I KNOW,
I'M LIKE, I DON'T I WANT TO
SAY LIKE SHOCKED, BUT I'M
SHOCKED.
>> YOU HAVE A REALLY, REALLY
GOOD GROUP OF GUYS.
>> YES, THEY'RE ALL AMAZING.
WHICH HAS MADE IT, YOU KNOW,
THIS FAR SO MUCH HARDER. I FEEL
LIKE IF THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, NOT
THE BEST, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASY
TO WEED THEM OUT. BUT THEY'RE
SUCH GENTLEMEN. YEAH. AND
THERE'S CHEMISTRY WITH THEM AND
IT'S JUST BEEN WILD. AND A LOT
OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW NECESSARILY
MY EXACT STORY COMING INTO THIS,
BUT I THINK ME KIND OF OPENING
UP THE BOOKS OF LIKE, I'LL BE
HONEST WITH YOU AND I DON'T HAVE
A PRETTY PAST, AND I THINK IT
MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE, OKAY,
MAYBE I CAN TELL YOU ALL OF MY
PAST AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
JUDGE ME. AND TRUE, I WON'T.
>> SO THIS IS A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT WORLD THAN SECRET
LIVES OF MEN AND WIVES.
>> FOR YOU, THIS WORLD IS
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. LIKE THIS
WHOLE EXPERIENCE, I WON. DON'T
KISS AND START RELATIONSHIPS ON
TV. NEVER HAVE DONE THAT. SO
THAT HAS BEEN NEW TO ME. THE PDA
IS WHAT REALLY IS GETTING ME.
I'M JUST LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I
GET NERVOUS BECAUSE LIKE, PDA IS
LIKE A FEAR OF MINE. SURE. SO I
THINK PEOPLE ARE LIKE, OH,
SHE'S FROM REALITY TV WORLD.
SHE'S FROM, SHE'S ON CAMERA.
SHE LIKE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING
AND THAT'S WHY SHE. NO.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY
ENCOURAGED ABOUT WHAT I'VE SEEN
FROM YOU SO FAR ON ALL THIS.
BECAUSE THE RULE BOOK REALLY, I
FEEL LIKE HAS JUST BEEN THROWN
OUT THE WINDOW. YOU ARE DOING
THIS YOUR OWN WAY.
>> I'M NOT A VERY BY THE BOOK
GIRL. I JUST WANT TO BE MORE
COMFORTABLE. THE MORE
COMFORTABLE WE ARE. MYSELF, THE
MEN, EVERYONE IN IN THIS. AND
HOW DO WE DO THAT? I THINK WE
TRY TO BE OUR TRUEST SELF. SO IF
I WANT TO WEAR CROCS TONIGHT OR
ANY OTHER NIGHT, CAN I WEAR MY
CROCS? CAN WE EAT THE FOOD
THAT'S ON THE TABLE? HOW ABOUT
THAT? CAN WE WARM IT UP? CAN WE
GET SOMETHING ELSE LIKE. BUT
ALSO, IF I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I
THINK SEND PEOPLE HOME BEFORE
THE ROSE CEREMONY. IF I CATCH
SOMETHING, I'M SENDING THEM
HOME.
>> WHICH LITERALLY HAPPENED A
COUPLE HOURS AGO.
>> MM-HMM.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. AND HE MADE IT EASY
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HE WAS TRYING
TO FIRE BACK AT ME AND I'M JUST
LIKE ABSOLUTELY NOT. LIKE I'M
NOT HERE TO WASTE YOUR TIME.
PLEASE DON'T WASTE MINE. AND IF
YOU'RE HERE FOR THE WRONG
REASONS YOU'RE LEAVING.
>> WELL I THINK IT'S SHOCKING
THE GUYS TOO. I THINK THEY'RE
YOU'RE KEEPING THEM ON THEIR
TOES ALSO.
>> YEAH. AND ONE OF THEM WAS
LIKE, YOU TERRIFY ME TONIGHT. I
WAS LIKE, GOOD.
>> GOOD.
>> BUT I THINK THAT'S SO COOL,
THOUGH. I THINK FOR PEOPLE AT
HOME WATCHING THIS, THAT'S WHY I
THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE UNLIKE
ANY OTHER BACHELORETTE SEASON
PEOPLE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
>> BUT IT'S BEEN SO FUN. SO
FUN. THE GROUP DATES HAVE BEEN
INSANE. YEAH. BY THE WAY.
>> YOU HAVE A DANCING WITH THE
STARS GROUP DATE THAT I THOUGHT
WAS INSANE.
>> INSANE.
>> SO MUCH FUN.
>> SO ENTERTAINING.
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO WANT TO KNOW IF YOUR
FRIENDS AND MOM TALK ARE
SUPPORTING YOU AT ALL. YES,
THROUGH THIS.
>> A FEW OF THEM VISITED ME AND
THEY HELP ME OUT A LITTLE BIT.
YES THEY DID. THEY GAVE ME SOME
INFO THAT WAS VERY GOOD FOR ME
TO KNOW.
>> I THINK SOME OF THESE GUYS
ARE STILL LICKING THEIR WOUNDS,
ACTUALLY, FROM FROM THAT GROUP
DATE, BECAUSE THEY GOT LASHED.
>> THEY DID.
>> THEY DID. IT WAS SO
INTERESTING. AND HONESTLY, IT
WAS FUN TO WATCH THEM SHAKE A
LITTLE.
>> I THINK YOU'RE DOING THINGS
THAT NO OTHER BACHELORETTE HAS
EVER DONE BEFORE. THINGS HAVE
ALREADY HAPPENED THAT WE'VE
NEVER SEEN BEFORE. YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE FALLING IN LOVE. COULD
YOU FALL IN LOVE? DO YOU THINK
YOUR HUSBAND'S HERE?
>> YES.
>> I DO THINK THAT I. IT'S SCARY
TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE
THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO BE
HEARTBROKEN AT THE END OF THIS,
AND YOU WANT THAT TO BE A MUTUAL
FEELING. BUT ON MY END. YES,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHAT'S BEEN THE.
>> HARDEST PART FOR YOU ?
>> MM-HMM.
>> ALL THE REAL FEELINGS
INVOLVED SENDING PEOPLE HOME IS
HARD. YOU HAVE TO SEND PEOPLE
HOME. THAT'S PART OF THIS. AND
SO SAYING GOODBYE IS HARD. BEING
AWAY FROM MY FAMILY IS ALSO VERY
DIFFICULT. I'VE NEVER BEEN AWAY
AT ALL. SO THIS IS NEW TO ME,
BUT MY MOST FAVORITE PART I
THINK, HAS BEEN THE UNKNOWN. AND
I'M SO EXCITED FOR LIKE THE
REST OF THIS JOURNEY AS WELL.
>> YEAH, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH
TO COME.
>> MM-HMM.
>> ALL RIGHT. I TOLD YOU TAYLOR
CERTAINLY HAS HER HANDS FULL AND
HER HEART HANGING IN THE
BALANCE. I REALLY CANNOT WAIT
FOR THE PREMIERE OF HER JOURNEY
COMING UP RIGHT AROUND THE
CORNER. BUT BACK TO THE REASON
WE'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT. WE'VE
GOT MORE WITH MEL AND PEG. OR AS
DIANE WOULD SAY, MEG COMING
RIGHT UP THE GOLDEN BACHELOR
AFTER THE FINAL ROSE. WE'LL BE
RIGHT
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE GOLDEN
BACHELOR. AFTER THE FINAL ROSE.
MEL AND PEG, OF COURSE, ARE
HERE. THEY'RE HAPPY, THEY'RE
COMMITTED, THEY'RE IN LOVE, AND
THEY'RE READY FOR THEIR NEXT
CHAPTER. AND YOU KNOW, THIS
ISN'T JUST ABOUT TWO PEOPLE
FINDING LOVE. IT TRULY IS ABOUT
BRINGING TWO FAMILIES TOGETHER
AS WELL. AND WE'RE ALSO VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE SOME OF YOUR
CHILDREN IN THE AUDIENCE WITH
US. TONIGHT WE HAVE DAKOTA,
PEG'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE MEL'S HANDSOME SON,
LUCAS IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL.
NOW, I DO HAVE TO POINT OUT MEL,
SON ANDRE COULDN'T BE WITH US
HERE TONIGHT, BUT THERE'S FOR A
VERY GOOD REASON, BECAUSE HE'S
ACCEPTING AND SIGNING HIS
BASEBALL SCHOLARSHIP TONIGHT.
SO WE WANT TO SAY A BIG
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDRE ANDRE.
NOW I KNOW THAT'S GOT TO BE A
REALLY PROUD MOMENT FOR YOU.
>> THAT'S GREAT. AND THEN NEXT
YEAR HE'LL BE ATTENDING
UNIVERSITY.
>> YEAH NO QUESTION. IT'S GOING
TO BE AMAZING OKAY DAKOTA, LAST
TIME WE SAW YOU, YOU WERE
GRILLING THIS GUY ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT HE WAS IN LOVE WITH YOUR
MOM. HOW DOES IT FEEL NOW TO
SEE YOUR MOM SO HAPPY? AND HAS
MEL FINALLY PASSED YOUR TEST?
>> OH, YES. ABSOLUTELY. YOU
CLEARLY MAKE HER SO HAPPY AND
THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. SO I'M
SO EXCITED FOR BOTH OF YOU GUYS.
>> LUCAS, HOW ABOUT YOU? HOW
DOES IT FEEL SEEING YOUR DAD SO
IN LOVE WITH THIS INCREDIBLE
WOMAN?
>> IT FEELS GREAT. I'M JUST
SUPER EXCITED FOR BOTH OF THEM
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE
FUTURE.
>> WELL IT'S AMAZING. THERE
WERE TWISTS AND TURNS AND THERE
WERE UPS AND DOWNS. BUT THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING AGAIN, IS
THAT IT ALL WORKED OUT FOR YOU
TWO. BUT MUCH LIKE PEG'S FAULTY
LOVE BOMB ON DAY ONE, WE DO
KNOW THAT EVERYTHING DOESN'T
ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED ON THE
GOLDEN BACHELOR, SO THIS IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY MAYBE TO TAKE
A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR BELOVED
BLOOPERS FROM THE SEASON.
>> I AM SUCH A ROMANTIC AND I
MISS HAVING THAT COMPANION.
THAT COMPANION. WHAT AM I
SAYING?
>> SO I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A
RULES, ROLLS, ROLLS ROYCE ROYCE.
OKAY, SO I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A
ROLLS, ROLLS ROYCE, ROLLS ROLLS
ROYCE OKAY, ROLLS ROYCE ROYCE
ROYCE WHEN THE ROLL THE ROLLS.
>> AND I'M LOOKING AT MY
PERFECT, PERFECT I'M LOOKING AT
THE SIDE OF MY EYE I CAN'T SAY
THAT WORD.
>> SO THE RULE THE RULE THE
ROLLS ROYCE.
>> OH CHERYL.
>> IT'S THE SURROUNDINGS TOO.
IT'S IN THIS HOME. IT'S
BEAUTIFUL. YES. I HAD A SHELL.
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
LA I GOT A LITTLE A LITTLE LA
LA LA LA I COULDN'T HELP IT, IT
JUST I BUT IT WASN'T LA LA LA
LA LA LA LA IT IS. OH. SO IT'S
KIND OF LIKE.
>> I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING.
>> READY. OKAY. WHAT WAS I
GOING TO SAY? HAHA.
>> OKAY, I'LL COUNT YOU IN FIVE.
SIX. THERE WAS THE WRONG COUNT
OFF. SO WHEN THE MUSIC STARTS,
LET ME DO THAT ONE MORE TIME.
NOW I GOT IT. NO, HONESTLY, I
DO KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, BUT IT
MAY NOT SHOW RIGHT NOW. I DON'T
KNOW IF I KNOW THIS SONG.
>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES, I'LL READ
THIS IN MY VERY BEST THIRD
GRADE TEACHER VOICE. ALL EYES
ON ME. HERE'S THE FIRST ONE.
>> OH MY GOD. ALL RIGHT, GUYS,
WE'RE GONNA DO THAT ONE MORE
TIME. YOU NEED TO READ IT OUT
LOUD. OH, OKAY.
>> CHERYL.
>> OH, MY.
>> OH, AWESOME.
>> READ THE FIRST ONE. BOOM.
>> OKAY.
>> READ THE SECOND. OKAY. BOOM.
>> OKAY, HEAD TO THE OTHER ROOM
FOR A SURPRISE.
>> WHOA!
>> DID WE JUST.
>> CHERYL.
>> CHERYL. OH.
>> YOU HAD TO HAVE EVERYBODY
HAVE THEIR OWN TIME SLOT.
>> NO.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> THIS IS CHARMAINE. DANNY.
>> CHARMAINE.
>> WOW.
>> SHE SHOULD BE MAGICALLY
APPEARING.
>> WHAT'S UP WITH THE SHOES?
WHAT'S UP WITH THE SHOES?
>> I'M A TRENDSETTER, AND I'M
CUTTING EDGE. YOU KNOW, NEXT
WEEK YOU'LL BE WEARING THEM.
THERE'S 23 WOMEN PLUS A PUPPET.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MEL?
HE'S SO HOT.
>> WHEN DID YOU GET DIVORCED?
>> I'VE BEEN DIVORCED FOR 20
YEARS.
>> WHAT.
>> 20 YEARS?
>> YES.
>> WOW.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S PUT HIM
DOWN. AND YOU AND I. HOW WAS IT?
I THOUGHT YOU DID GREAT.
>> FOREVER.
>> OH.
>> ALL RIGHT. OH, GOODNESS.
>> BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING
ON THE BEACH, SO. YEAH, I HAD
THE FIRST DATE. THE FIRST.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY IT. DO IT.
WHATEVER THAT IS. OOH.
>> OH, GOD.
>> OH, GOD. OH, MY.
>> OH, BABE. SORRY.
>> DOING A HAPPY DANCE. THAT'S
THE HAPPY BABY DANCE.
>> NO, STOP DOING THAT.
>> SMILE.
>> WHOA!
>> OH, ALEX.
>> RIGHT HERE. ME. HELLO?
>> OKAY, WE LOST SOME LIGHT.
>> THAT'S A WRAP.
>> THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU ALL.
>> ARE THOSE UNEXPECTED MOMENTS.
THAT KEPT US LAUGHING. THE
SEASON REALLY HAS JUST BEEN SO
MUCH FUN. AND NOW I DO HAVE TO
POINT OUT ONE TINY THING. NOW,
ANYONE WHO HAS EVER WATCHED THE
BACHELOR KNOWS THAT THE DINNERS,
THEY ALWAYS LOOK AMAZING, BUT
NOBODY EVER ACTUALLY GETS TO
DIG IN. WELL, MY GUY OVER HERE,
HE DIDN'T GET THAT MEMO. CHECK
IT OUT.
>> ARE YOU GONNA EAT THE FOOD
ON THE DATE?
>> I'LL TASTE IT. I'M SO HUNGRY.
SO YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE THIS HERE?
>> YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL A LOT
ABOUT A PERSON WITH WHAT THEY
PUT ON THEIR HOT DOG.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF EVERYTHING. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE FOOD.
SCRUMPTIOUS. I HEARD THERE'S
FRIED OREOS, HAMBURGERS AND
FRENCH FRIES AND CORN DOGS.
>> I HAVE A NAPKIN IF YOU NEED
IT.
>> OH, I MIGHT GET A BEER, TOO.
HOW'S THE FOOD IN LOUISIANA? I
LOVE FRIES. THEY EVEN CUT THE
BERRIES. THE FOOD'S BEEN VERY
GOOD. MY FOOD TODAY WAS GREAT.
ALL WE'RE MISSING WAS LIKE, YOU
KNOW, FOOD.
>> I MADE YOU A SANDWICH.
>> CHEERS.
>> THIS IS BRISKET, RIBS.
>> AND SAUSAGE.
>> IT'S GOOD. I WANT THE ONE
WITH THE MOST SUGAR ON IT. WHAT
ARE WE WAITING FOR? SO WHO'S
COOKING TONIGHT? CAN WE TAKE
THE FOOD BACK? YES. OKAY. YOU
CAN TAKE YOURS BACK.
>> NO, YOU'RE TAKING IT.
>> WE'RE FINE. PUT MY WINE IN A
TO GO CUP.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> YOU PUT MORE IN THERE THOUGH.
PLEASE PUT MORE IN.
>> YEAH. HE REALLY LIKES THE
WINE.
>> YOU'RE A SIMPLE MAN. YOU
JUST NEED FOOD, WINE AND LOVE.
>> YEAH. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> NOW, I REALLY GOT TO BE
HONEST. I CAN ACTUALLY I CAN
RELATE TO YOU TOO, MEL, BECAUSE
WHEN I WAS THE BACHELOR YEARS
AND YEARS AGO, I ATE ALL OF THE
FOOD AND I WAS CONSTANTLY
TALKING WITH MY MOUTH OPEN. I
THINK I'M ACTUALLY THE SINGLE
REASON WHY BACHELORS AND
BACHELORETTES ARE NO LONGER
ABLE TO EAT THE FOOD ANYMORE.
SO I DO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY
FOR THAT. BUT I GET IT. WE'RE
ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE FOOD.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'VE NOW HAD A
LOT OF TIME TO SPEND TOGETHER
OFF CAMERA, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU
HAVE THE BLESSING OF YOUR
INCREDIBLE CHILDREN. WHAT IS
THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE HOLD FOR
THE TWO OF YOU?
>> WELL, WE HAVE A LOT PLANNED.
WE REALLY DO. WE HAVE A LOT
PLANNED WHEN WE WE'RE GOING TO
GO TO VEGAS ON FRIDAY. SO WE'RE
GOING TO JUST HANG OUT IN VEGAS
FOR THE WEEKEND AND JUST CHILL
OUT AND RELAX. AND THEN AFTER
THAT, I'LL LET MEL.
>> WELL, AFTER THAT WE'RE GOING
TO GO TO MICHIGAN. AND THEN
ALSO THERE'S A SUPER BOWL.
>> OKAY, SO I GET IT. YOUR
CALENDAR. IT'S IT'S FILLING UP
PRETTY QUICK. CAN YOU DO.
>> ME I CAN'T WAIT I CAN'T KEEP
UP WITH HIM.
>> CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR THOUGH?
>> YOU'RE INVITED.
>> YOU JUST HAVE TO. YOU HAVE
TO JUST SAVE ONE WINDOW IN YOUR
TRAVEL SCHEDULE. BECAUSE WE
ACTUALLY WANT TO GIFT YOU
SOMETHING AS A PARTING GIFT. AS
YOU START YOUR LIVES TOGETHER.
WE ALSO WANT TO SEND YOU TO
WINE COUNTRY AND NAPA VALLEY.
HOW DOES THAT SOUND? I KNOW MEL
LOVES. GOOD FOOD. HE LOVES GOOD
WINE. MY GUY ALSO HAS AN
INCREDIBLE WINE CELLAR AS WELL,
SO MAYBE YOU CAN GRAB A FEW
BOTTLES AND MAYBE GRAB SOME FOR
US TOO. WE CAN.
>> GET TOGETHER.
>> WHEN I SEE YOU. YEAH, IN
BETWEEN ALL OF YOUR CRAZY
TRAVEL SCHEDULE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. YOU GOT IT.
ABSOLUTELY. YOU BOTH DESERVE IT.
WE'RE SO HAPPY FOR YOU. I'M SO
HAPPY YOU FOUND EACH OTHER.
LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR
PEG AND MEL. AND DAKOTA. WHY
DON'T YOU COME UP? LUCAS, WHY
DON'T YOU COME UP HERE?
>> GUYS.
>> WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOUR
FAMILIES WITH.
>> US AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR COMING.
>> IT REALLY IS ABOUT.
>> FINDING LOVE.
>> AND IT'S ABOUT.
>> BRINGING YOUR FAMILIES
TOGETHER. COME ON UP HERE, GUYS.
COME ON UP HERE. YEAH. YOU'RE
GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD. WELL, WHAT A
NIGHT. UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS,
REAL EMOTION AND A LOVE STORY
THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT FOR
A REALLY LONG TIME. I KNEW THAT
WAS HAPPENING.
>> A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR
AMAZING STUDIO AUDIENCE, THE
CINDY, PEG AND MEL, FOR SHARING
THEIR JOURNEY WITH US. AND OF
COURSE TO YOU, BACHELOR NATION,
HAVE AN AMAZING HOLIDAY SEASON
AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN MARCH 2026.
FOR SEASON 22 OF THE
BACHELORETTE, I'M JESSE PALMER