Carter goes into surgery but the procedure is unsuccessful. Carter crosses off 'laugh till I cry' from his bucket list and insists Edward finish the list without him. Edward, who is now in remission, visits him and they share a few moments, where Carter reveals to great amusement the disgusting origin of the 'world's most rare coffee' (Kopi Luwak), over which Edward obsesses and Carter has refused to drink. In the preparation for a romantic interlude, Carter suffers a seizure and is rushed to the hospital. Carter returns home to his wife, children, and grandchildren. Carter declines and asks to return home, and reciprocates by trying to reunite Edward with his daughter. In Hong Kong, Edward hires a prostitute (Rowena King) for Carter, who has never had sex with any woman but his wife. They also confide about faith and family, revealing that Carter has long been feeling less in love with his wife and that Edward is deeply hurt by his estrangement with his only daughter, who disowned him after he sent some people to 'take care of' her abusive husband (hinting at physical assault, but ruling out murder). They discuss a rare coffee and its unusual taste. The pair begins an around-the-world vacation, embarking on race car driving, skydiving, climbing the Pyramids, and going on a lion safari in Africa.

Carter agrees, despite the protests of his wife, Virginia (Todd). He urges Carter to do everything on the list (suggesting he add things like skydiving) and offers to finance the trip. Carter begins writing a 'bucket list,' or things to do before he 'kicks the bucket.' After hearing he has less than a year, Carter wads it up and tosses it on the floor. He makes Matthew serve Carter as well as him and orders his employee and doctor (Morrow) to familiarize himself with Carter's health. Edward is a four-times-divorced healthcare tycoon and cultured loner who enjoys nothing more than tormenting his personal valet/servant, Matthew (Hayes), whom he calls Thomas. Carter is a gifted amateur historian and family man who had wanted to become a history professor, but in his youth had been 'broke, black, and with a baby on the way' and thus never rose above his job at the McCreath body shop. They become friends as they undergo their respective treatments. Blue-collar mechanic Carter Chambers (Freeman) and billionaire hospital magnate Edward Cole (Nicholson) meet for the first time in the hospital after both have been diagnosed with cancer.The synopsis below may give away important plot points.

The bucket list soundtrack