Embarking on the third chapter of Barry's fourth season, we're greeted with the joyous tidings that the sand smuggling operation orchestrated by Cristobal, in cahoots with the Chinese and Guatemalans, has borne fruit. With relative ease, they've transported their inaugural consignment of sand into the United States, parading the cargo truck brazenly. Hank, wise to the ways of the underworld, has enlisted the formidable assistance of El Toro, a newly minted character this season, portrayed by the legendary Guillermo del Toro himself. Toro, this imposing figure, has dispatched his two most trusted lieutenants, Chuy Flores and Nestor, to eliminate Barry. Hank recognizes them from the podcast "Los Amigos Gadgets," but Toro remains unperturbed, believing their anonymity, cloaked behind their voices, will render them untraceable.
Meanwhile, Gene sits in tense discussion with his agent, Tom Passarro, in DA James Buckner's office. Buckner drops a bombshell, informing them that Barry is being freed as part of a deal with the FBI. Gene's immediate concern is palpable, vowing to go into hiding once Buckner paints a grim picture of ex-military personnel like Barry, relentless hunters who never relent in their pursuit. Buckner's sole request to Gene is to adhere to the narrative and keep his lips sealed. Tom learns this lesson the hard way in his car, as the FBI informs Barry that his intelligence is vital and that Sally must abandon her old life entirely to join Barry under protective custody. Barry is confident Sally will heed his call.
Lon O'Neill, the Vanity Fair scribe, pays Barry a visit, sharing with him the revelations Gene imparted about "Barry's life." Barry's anger ignites when he realizes this could jeopardize his deal, sternly instructing Lon to relay a message to Gene: keep his mouth shut. Sally, who has embarked on attending Gene's classes, hesitantly inquiries if her viral video has brought the students. Instead, she's heartened by their sympathetic remarks, bolstering her confidence to continue with the course. Lon approaches Jim Moss for his reaction to Barry's statement. Initially stoic, Jim's demeanor changes when Lon outs Gene, prompting Jim to seek a private chat with Lon. Fuches finds himself insulted by the two individuals he had eyed for the Raven role, beaten to the punch by Barry's sudden reversal in the previous episode.
He dials Hank's number, who swiftly fills him in on the hit. With a stern tone, he orders Fuches to keep his lips sealed tight. Unexpectedly, Batir, Hank's seasoned Chechen acquaintance, bursts into the sand operation, bearing a chilling message: The Elders have assembled a fresh contingent to oversee their LA operations. Hank's survival hinges on his choice – either abandon the sand business and join their ranks or face a grim fate.
Gene and Tom, in a clumsy attempt, force their way into Lon's house. Lon's wife, sharp-witted, catches their scent almost instantly and recognizes Gene. As Tom carries out his mission, Gene engages her in conversation to distract her. She casually mentions Lon's intent to visit the "victim's father," causing Gene's face to drain of color.
In the acting class, Sally demonstrates her prowess by eliciting a genuine emotion from Kristen, a student, using the same technique that Gene mastered in season 1. Yet, the students remain unconvinced, making Sally nervous. Barry, in his most barriers-pushing manner, calls Hank and tasks him with eliminating Gene. Pretending to have Hank's best interests at heart, Barry's deceit is transparent to Hank. Hank brings up the Federal agents, causing Barry's demeanor to sharpen.
Hank's refusal to comply swiftly turns the situation sour. Gene arrives at Jim's house, confessing that he was overcome with "stage fever" during his conversation with Lon. Jim reassures Gene that Lon will remain silent for quite some time – not due to death, but because he's been severely beaten. Lon hasn't uttered a word since his release, even to his editor Faye. As Sally returns from a break, she finds Kristen, the sole student left in the class, seeking her guidance for a significant role she's just booked. Kristen labels Sally as "unhinged" yet acknowledges her as the only one who's ever brought something out of her.
While watching "Rain Man," Fuches experiences a sudden change of heart. He alerts others that Barry is marked for death in special housing today. Ignored by all, he's consigned to solitary confinement. Barry convenes with Agent Curtis, who's been assigned to oversee his rehabilitation. In the midst of their discussion, Barry notices a jittery agent behind him, repeatedly glancing upwards. Recognizing the man as his intended assassin, Barry's instincts kick in, and the agents realize he's an impostor. The man lunges but accidentally amputates his own fingers.
From the rooftop, a gun appears, firing with impeccable precision, reducing everyone to silence, leaving only Barry alive. Shielding himself, Barry retrieves a nearby gun and takes down the assassin. When backup arrives, Barry has vanished into thin air.
