What Does “Rutledge” Mean On ‘A Million Little Things’?

By Nicole Gallucci @nicolemichele5
Published May 4, 2023, 1:05 a.m. ET

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If you just watched the heartbreaking/heartwarming series finale of A Million Little Things you’re probably doing three things: wiping tears from your face, obsessing over every single part of this show, and thinking about Rutledge.

That’s right, Season 5, Episode 13 co-writers D.J. Nash and James Roday Rodriguez hit fans with a real throwback during the series finale. It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard the “R” word thrown around on the ABC drama, so some viewers may understandably need a refresher.

Wondering what “Rutledge” means in A Million Little Things? We’ve got you covered. But be warned, A Million Little Things spoilers lie ahead.

What Does “Rutledge” Mean On A Million Little Things?

As we note in our “One Big Thing” episode recap, the word Rutledge appears early on in the episode and plays a major role in the finale. We open with Eddie (David Giuntoli) sitting next to Gary (James Roday Rodriguez), who’s unable to talk, in a hospital bed. Gary is using a whiteboard to communicate with everyone, and when Maggie steps out of the room he writes a message on the board that makes Eddie’s face drop. “Are you sure?” Eddie asks before calling Rome (Romany Malco) and asking him to meet him at his place ASAP. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? I’ll be right there,” Rome says.

The episode flashes back to Gary asking Eddie and Rome for a massive favor. “Obviously I’m gonna beat this thing, but if I don’t, I need you two to help me end it,” he says, instructing his friends to go see Kevin at the hospital if that time comes, so he can give them the drugs they’ll need. “I can’t let Maggie watch me suffer and die from the same disease she’s battled twice. It’s called death with dignity and it’s all I want.” Referencing the famous elevator scene when they met Jon (Ron Livingston), he adds, “This is it. This is Rutledge.” When Eddie asks “How will we know it’s time?” the show cuts back to the present day and reveals the message Gary wrote on the board: Rutledge.

So what does Rutledge mean? Remember the days when Jon’s assistant Ashley was hiding the envelope Jon left behind from his loved ones? That folder was labeled “Rutledge,” and though the word remained a mystery for a bit, we learned the envelope contained Jon’s life insurance form with Eddie, Gary, Rome (and Barbara Morgan) listed as primary beneficiaries.

David Giuntoli, Ron Livingston, James Roday Rodriguez, and Romany Malco on 'A Million Little Things'
Photo: ABC

The word related to a Rutledge trust intended to help Jon’s beneficiaries care for his family. But the meaning goes even deeper than that. Remember when Gary, Jon, Rome, and Eddie had their near-death meet cute in that stalled elevator? (Of course, you do! We saw the flashback approximately 500 times.) Anyway, T. Rutledge was the name of the elevator inspector, aka the man who played a key role in bringing the four strangers together and helping them form life-changing friendships.

Over time, Rutledge became a sort of code word for taking care of each other’s family, which is why Gary using it in the finale hit so hard. Gary wasn’t just asking Rome and Eddie to help him find peace, he was asking them to take care of Maggie and Javi once he found it. The brilliant inclusion of the word struck longtime viewers, who gushed about the surprise scene on social media.

To read more about Gary’s farewell and the series finale of A Million Little Things, be sure to read our full episode recap.

A Million Little Things Season 5, Episode 13 will be available to stream on demand and on Hulu Thursday, May 4.