Plot summary
Frank (William H. Macy) and Bianca (Bojana Novakovic) are enjoying a vacation in Costa Rica. Despite Bianca's enthusiasm, her health continues worsening. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Monica (Chloe Webb) have been hitchhiking, although Ian is confused over how Monica gets to earn money for their expenses.
While Lip (Jeremy Allen White) is content with his relationship with Helene (Sasha Alexander), Amanda (Nichole Sakura) makes it clear she dislikes it and grows upset when Lip abandons her for other activities, believing him to dump her for Helene. Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton) go to the doctor, where Kevin has himself checked for any potential STD. While he is not diagnosed with anything, Veronica is taken aback when Kevin reveals he slept with more than 20 college students during their break-up. Carol (Vanessa Bell Calloway) suggests Veronica should role play as a schoolgirl to get Kevin's attention, but Kevin is uninterested. As they argue, the babies start crying, but Kevin surprises Veronica by staying with her, reconciling.
Fiona (Emmy Rossum) is shocked when she walks in on Debbie (Emma Kenney) and Derek (Luca Oriel) having sex. When Debbie suggests she might be pregnant, Fiona scolds her as she might ruin her life. She advises Debbie to get an abortion, but Debbie insists on keeping the baby. With Gus (Steve Kazee) back from his tour, Fiona still decides to seduce Sean (Dermot Mulroney), but he dismisses her advances. When Fiona shares her problems with Gus, it is clear neither Gus nor Fiona are interested in their marriage. The following day, Fiona finds that Gus left her apartment, and his bandmate asks her to end her relationship for the sake of Gus. Fiona later goes with Sean, admitting her feelings for him, but Sean only tells her to grow up.
Monica takes Ian to the trailer home of her boyfriend Walter (Ryan Dorsey), who takes a dislike to Ian. Ian discovers that Monica has been selling methamphetamine, with Walter acting as the cook. Monica defends her actions, claiming this can give them the happy life they deserve. Fed up with Lip's actions, Amanda slaps him and breaks up with him. Back in Costa Rica, Frank buys a gun when Bianca asks him, but is alarmed when she plays Russian roulette. While staring at the ocean, Bianca thanks Frank for making her happy in her final days. The following morning, she leaves a note for Frank, takes off her clothes and swims in the ocean to presumably drown herself. A desperate Frank tries to find her, but eventually realizes what she did.
Ian returns to Chicago and calls Mickey (Noel Fisher) to meet him at his house. Ian makes it clear he will not use his meds, and then breaks up with Mickey, feeling he will not truly love him for what he is now. Suddenly, Sammi (Emily Bergl) arrives and starts shooting at Mickey for trying to kill her. Their chase goes through the neighborhood until police cruisers arrive. As Ian and Lip discuss the recent events, a depressed Frank is shown arriving home. At a juvenile prison, Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) and Chuckie (Kellen Michael) get into a fight with their respective gangs.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Love Songs (In the Key of Gallagher). Paragraphs and formatting adjusted; illustrations, reference markers, block quotations and non-story material omitted.