The now, road-savvy group is on an emotional roller coaster as the riders make their way through the Great Plains, the Midwest and to Washington DC. A terrifying thunderstorm threatens the group and a respite in a Wichita hotel reveals a magical new creation—MTV. The film takes a byway to tell the post-trip story of one rider who died of AIDS in the early 1990’s. Back on the ride, broken ribs, and a fight with locals lead to a trip to the hospital, but a day at the Gateway Arch of St. Louis and a Cardinals baseball game provide welcome relief. The group blazes on through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio despite leadership breakdowns, highway stress and tense emotions. Personal reflections on how they experienced the true soul of America, and how riders were fundamentally changed, sets the tone for deeper emotions in Episode 4.