Episode 8 of "The Residence" kicks off with an intimate scene of Wynter engaging in a game of backgammon with Angie, his solitary confidant within the confines of the house. We are gently introduced to the poignant fact that Wynter lost his parents at the tender age of 11, having since adopted the household staff as his surrogate family. Yet, this heartfelt revelation is swiftly juxtaposed against the stark reality of Wynter's unhappy persona—a figure deeply resented by nearly all who cross his path.
Cordelia delves deeper into her scrutiny of the Yellow Oval Room, replaying in her mind the observations she had previously made. Her sharp eyes catch the absence of a vase, and further inquiries with the curator unveil that a clock is also missing from its rightful place. Upon locating a picture of the elusive timepiece, her memory resurfaces, recalling the wilting roses she had noticed on the fateful day.
Seeking clarity, Cordelia consults the florist, who assurances her that no industrial pesticide—potent enough to decimate his blooms—is in use. But as she ventures into the garden room, a startling discovery awaits: the pesticide, contrary to the florist's claims, is indeed stored there.
In her relentless pursuit of the missing clock, Cordelia's efforts yield no fruit. However, her investigation unearths another layer of intrigue—a contentious altercation between Jasmine and Wynter, sparked by Wynter's refusal to step down after the state dinner fiasco. This decision had rankled Jasmine, who harbored aspirations for the chief usher's position.
Meanwhile, Cordelia embarks on a quest to uncover Wynter's journal, eventually discovering it nestled in the library—his beloved sanctuary within the mansion. The diary's pages are filled with an assortment of numbers and hastily scrawled notes, each seemingly bearing significance. A sudden realization dawns upon her: the arrangement of the paintings has shifted, prompting her to piece together the circumstances of Wynter's tragic demise, albeit still uncertain about the perpetrator's identity, as she later confesses in a closed Senate hearing.
Returning to her investigation with renewed vigor, Cordelia assembles all personnel linked to Wynter's fate and proceeds to unravel her findings since her previous attempt. She definitively asserts that Wynter did not meet his end in the game room but was rather transported there posthumously. Intriguingly, a third individual present in the room bore witness to this grim transportation.
Leading everyone to Room 301, Cordelia unveils fresh bloodstains lurking in the corners, their presence revealed by the ominous red glow of Tripp's watch—a detail that did not escape the keen eyes of a young observer across the street. Earlier, under the guise of tardiness, Cordelia had requested a meeting with Tripp, covertly observing him as he nervously recounted the harrowing incident to another. It transpires that Tripp, under the influence of alcohol, awoke to find Wynter deceased in Room 301.
Stricken with panic, he transported Wynter's lifeless body to the game room, crossing paths with Sheila, who, in her own intoxicated state, failed to recognize him. Subsequently, he attempted to conceal his tracks by covering the bloodstains and stumbling upon a set of keys, which he pocketed. Furthermore, he chanced upon a suicide note and, utilizing Didier's knife, artificially slit Wynter's wrists to stage the scene before fleeing.
Cordelia postulates that the body was temporarily relocated to the Lincoln Bedroom by the individual who ascended from the Yellow Oval Room with Wynter, thereby accounting for the bloodstain discovered there. She also scrutinizes the involvement of Elsyie and Bruce, pointing out inconsistencies in their accounts. During their encounter with Wynter's body, Cordelia raises questions about the presence of a fourth individual and uncovers a concealed door, sealed shut post-renovations, through which Bruce had covertly entered while attending to a plumbing issue.
