Episode 9 of "American Rust" commences its climactic finale with Billy hovering on the precipice of re-entering the fray of the general prison population, a mere week having elapsed since his confinement, intensifying the direness of his predicament. The inmates' thirst for vengeance simmers, and Billy finds himself a vulnerable target, akin to a lamb led to slaughter.
Elsewhere, Henry and Lee engage in a soul-baring conversation. Lee, having struggled to find her place amidst various worlds, has now returned home, resolute in her commitment to care for Henry. "What's so wrong with that?" she inquires, her voice tinged with perplexity. Intriguingly, Henry preemptively addresses this, weaving a tale of Lee's mother and her gradual dissolution within the confines of Buell.
Del Harris patiently awaits Jackson's exit from work, subsequently inviting him for a drink, where he employs a line from Hamlet's soliloquy, alluding to corruption. His words shake Jackson to the core as he speaks of "excising the cancer, tearing down the entire edifice." This cryptic reference once again underscores Jackson's complicity in the unfolding drama, his allegiance to Bobby Jesus evident in every move.
The music in this series, ever the beacon, shines brightly in the subsequent scene, its mysterious, tense, and eerie melody painting a canvas of Del Harris's clandestine journey across state lines and his stealthy infiltration into Bobby's abode. However, Bobby was not caught unawares, choking Del into submission only to meet his own demise at Del's trigger-happy hand. When Jackson arrives, Del spares him no mercy, shooting him too, and meticulously stages the scene to suggest a mutual murder, unaware of the presence of an elderly woman who retaliates with a shotgun blast. Del retaliates, ending her life, but this unexpected turn creates a formidable dilemma for him—now burdened with three corpses, he must meticulously orchestrate the scene to erase his own trace.
Upon completing his grim task, Del returns to Grace, who tends to the fragments of bullets embedded in his shoulder. Despite his questionable tactics, Grace offers solace, assuring him that he is among those who strive to bring good into this troubled world.
As for Billy, he emerges from solitary confinement, back into the belly of the beast. Before departing, he implores the guard to relay a message to Lee: "I kept my promise." These words serve as a poignant reminder of his loyalty to Isaac, his oath to take the secret to his grave, unbreakable even in the face of adversity.
Predictably, the instant Billy ventured into the grand hall, he was met with a brutal downfall. His battered form was swiftly ushered to the hospital, where he lay in a dire state, his ribs shattered, skin lacerated with multiple bruises, and his brain swelling under the mercy of a medically induced coma. Grace, fraught with worry, rushed to her son's side, her heart heavy with despair as Billy's life hung precariously in the balance.
Concurrently, the news of the triple homicide shattered the tranquility, sending shockwaves through the precinct. Amidst the chaos, Del emerged to find Virgil Poe ensconced in his office. In a circuitous manner, he offered a muted apology before broaching the subject of Grace's impulsive act of arson. A gym bag, inadvertently left behind in the tool shed, contained photographs of Billy, once proudly displayed on the walls of her trailer. Virgil, astute as ever, discerned the setup yet chose to retain the evidence for the "turbulent times looming ahead."
Henry, cognizant of Lee's potential predicament, trapped within the confines of the town and obligated to his care, resorted to desperate measures. He swallowed a handful of pills, his resolve steeled, and ventured into the garden. Upon discovering the empty pill packets, Lee's heart raced as she hastened to his side, only to find him collapsed, slumped awkwardly in his chair. This haunting image, etched in our minds as the last glimpse of him this season, leaves us uncertain about his fate – whether he survived the reckless act or not.
As Henry's fate hung in the balance, detectives from Pittsburgh arrived, their inquiries honing in on Del Harris and his erstwhile friend, Chuck Castellanos. Del, however, wove a web of lies, feigning ignorance, claiming his last encounter with Chuck was mere moments before the latter's departure from Pittsburgh. The interrogation was abruptly halted by Isaac's unexpected arrival in town, brandishing the wrench used in the heinous crime. Del's gaze narrowed, his voice stern as he ordered Isaac to depart, warning him never to reveal the wrench to anyone.
