Looking through his old yearbooks and reminiscing about his former students, he becomes convinced that all of his lessons have been in vain and that he has accomplished nothing with his life. Deeply depressed, he returns to his school one last time, intending to kill himself on Christmas Eve. Before he can commit suicide, however, he is visited by the ghosts of former students, who tell him that he inspired them to become better people. Deeply moved, Fowler accepts his retirement, content that his life is fuller for having enriched the lives of others.