Episode 4 of "Black Out: Snow White Must Die" unfolds with a haunting prelude, as Jeong-woo awakens to a phantasmagoric vision of Bo-young and Da-eun, their ghostly forms inquiring about the solitude of being the sole survivor to reach adulthood. The narrative abruptly shifts, picking up where it left off, with Sang-cheol desperately attempting to restore Jeong-woo's sanity. Jeong-woo, his voice raw with sincerity, professes his innocence in the murders of Bo-young and Da-eun, pleading with the detective to unmask the true culprit.
Just as the tension mounts, the sound of approaching sirens shatters the air, and Sang-cheol hastily requests the forensic team's intervention. Meanwhile, Byeong-moo's heart sinks upon learning of his friend's tragic discovery, the news striking him like a bolt from the blue. Gu-tak, concerned for Jeong-woo's well-being, enquires about his state while urging Ha-seol to provide testimony at the station.
Jae-hee arrives on the scene, her heart brimming with hope to see Bo-young, only to be shattered by Gu-tak's solemn announcement of Bo-young's remains being recovered from the depths of a manhole. Upon catching sight of Ha-seol and the grim procession carrying Bo-young's relics to the police station, Jae-hee's emotional dam bursts, her sorrow mirroring the fate that would have united her with Bo-young in age, had fate been kinder. She crumples to the ground, overwhelmed by grief.
Concurrently, Sang-cheol escorts Jeong-woo to the desolate warehouse, his tone heavy with accusation as he demands a confession for Bo-young's murder. Physical blows rain down upon Jeong-woo, each one a testament to Sang-cheol's desperation for the truth, yet Jeong-woo stands firm, his resolve unshaken. His repeated denials echo through the cavernous space, his voice a testament to his innocence. Byeong-moo, his patience fraying, implores Jeong-woo to honor their fallen comrade's memory with honesty, but the air remains thick with doubt and unspoken truths.
Min-soo confides in Na-kyeom about Bo-young's fate, stirring a maelstrom of emotions. Dong-min, learning that his daughter's remains have been discovered, becomes agitated and restless, his world turned upside down. Assemblywoman Ye Young-sil, privy to this news, pays a somber visit to Bo-young's house, her steps heavy with the weight of tragedy. Jae-hee, desperate for a way out, implores Young-sil to intervene and aid Dong-min's escape from prison's grasp. However, Young-sil's refusal shatters Jae-hee's fragile hope, leaving her in shambles.
Elsewhere, Ha-seol's voice echoes through the recording, detailing her harrowing discovery of the remains and her unwitting role in guiding Jeong-woo to the grim scene. Chief Kim Hee-do, encountering Jeong-woo amidst this turmoil, is incensed, his anger a palpable force. He threatens Jeong-woo, seeking answers about Da-eun's missing remains, before the latter departs, his mind reeling with the case's latest twists. Jeong-woo's heart yearns for a shred of evidence, anything that might absolve him of Bo-young's murder.
Ha-seol, finding solace in Su-oh's painting studio, shares her tale of uncovering Bo-young's remains with Jeong-woo's assistance. Su-oh's reaction is visceral, his anger and grief erupting into a frenzy that culminates in a devastating epileptic seizure. As he's rushed to the hospital, Ha-seol's gaze falls upon a painting within the room, sending shockwaves through her.
In the ambulance's confines, Su-oh, his voice strained, declares Jeong-woo's innocence to Ha-seol, his words a beacon of truth amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Sang-cheol confronts Gu-tak in his office, querying if the latter had rushed Jeong-woo's trial, devoid of crucial evidence. Gu-tak's confession reveals a father's love, his efforts to spare his best friend's son the burden of a lengthy prison sentence, even if it meant trying him as a minor.
Jeong-woo, determined to unravel the mystery, delves into his room and storage, searching for clues that might unlock the truth of that fateful night. At the hospital, Su-oh's anxiety is palpable as he whispers to Ha-seol about the secrets hidden within his greenhouse's paintings. Assemblywoman Young-sil's husband, Park Hyeong-sik, also Su-oh's attending physician, arrives, startled by Ha-seol's medical acumen. He ushers her away, citing visiting hours, while awaiting Gu-tak's arrival, the air thick with unspoken tensions.
Meanwhile, Jeong-woo grapples with his memory, desperately trying to piece together his actions from the fateful night before the blackout shrouded his consciousness. Among the clutter, he stumbles upon receipts from the gas station, triggering a vivid recollection of how he would settle for mere $10 worth of fuel to keep his car running. Fueled by a desperate need for answers, he hastens to the gas station, only to be met with hostility and swiftly dismissed by the attendant.
As fate would have it, Na-kyeom appears at the scene, urging Jeong-woo to accompany her to Seoul. However, Jeong-woo stands firm, his resolve unbroken. He draws a clear boundary, emphasizing their platonic nature and gently but firmly asking Na-kyeom to respect those limits. A fleeting memory from their high school days surfaces, revealing Na-kyeom's once-harbored crush on Jeong-woo.
Elsewhere, the housekeeper's words echo with unease as she informs Gu-tak of Su-oh's eerie drawings discovered in the greenhouse. She describes them as too dark and macabre for her liking, prompting Gu-tak to act swiftly. In Su-oh's absence, he consigns the paintings to flames, erasing any trace of them, along with Su-oh's artistic tools from his room.
Ha-seol's arrival at Gu-tak's doorstep interrupts the solemn moment, her intention to collect art supplies for Su-oh's use at the hospital. Gu-tak's stern warning resonates, reminding Ha-seol that Su-oh's mental state is that of a child, despite his physical age.
The town grapples with the loss of Bo-young, but Jae-hee's fierce protectiveness shuts them out, demanding solitude in her grief. Meanwhile, Na-kyeom's world collides as she meets with the director of her upcoming film and her management's CEO. Unfazed by potential consequences, she bares her soul, confessing her love for a man branded a murderer. Her determination is unwavering; her career's fate pales in comparison to her heart's calling.
At the hospital, Dr. Hyeong-sik's world turns upside down with a menacing text, a threat hanging over Bo-young's death. Panic sets in as he grapples with the implications.
As the night deepens, the cops gather for a drink, their conversation inevitably turning to the double homicide cases. Sang-cheol's keen eye exposes the flaws in the rushed investigation, pointing out Jeong-woo's hasty conviction without due process, such as blood analysis. Dr. Hyeong-sik and Gu-tak's discussion about Su-oh's paintings, depictions of his nightmarish visions, remains inconclusive, with the doctor at a loss to explain them. Gu-tak can't help but notice Hyeong-sik's palpable nervousness.
And amidst the turmoil, whispers of Jeong-woo's departure from the town begin to spread, fueled by the townsfolk's fear and uncertainty, including Heung-soo and Choo-ho, who see it as the only way to restore a semblance of peace.
Ha-seol valiantly attempts to shield him, yet she faces stern reprimands from the elders. Jung-sook confides in Ha-seol that Geum-hee has steadfastly opposed the demolition of the warehouse, the site of those gruesome murders, for an entire decade. Ha-seol also discovers that the children once indulged in play with a tractor that once resided within those hallowed walls. Suddenly, a chilling realization dawns on her—one of Su-oh's haunting paintings vividly depicts a tractor, drenched in blood.
Min-soo eagerly extends an invitation to Jeong-woo to spend time together after his shift concludes. Meanwhile, Jin-hyeok's mind is consumed by a haunting text message, sending him into a state of agitation as he hurries to meet his wife, Assemblywoman Young-sil. Ironically, the forensic team informs Sang-cheol and Byeong-moo that Bo-young's skeletal remains were found fully clothed, save for her underwear, sparking speculation within Sang-cheol's mind about the possibility of sexual assault prior to her murder.
Elsewhere, Hyeong-sik's demeanor during the photoshoot is noticeably off, and Young-sik takes note of his unease. As night falls, a menacing crowd gathers at Jeong-woo's doorstep, demanding that he vacate the town. Threats of violence linger in the air, yet Jeong-woo stands firm, refusing to abandon his search for Da-eun.
Min-soo, burdened by emotion, begs his father to lead his friends away. Jeong-woo then leads Min-soo to the warehouse, probing him about any memories of Bo-young crying prior to her fateful day. Min-soo insists that Bo-young was a stoic figure, unfazed by life's hardships, yet her tears on the day she vanished suggest a profound trauma.
Frustrated by the relentless questioning, Min-soo unleashes his anger, accusing Jeong-woo of being trapped in the past. He abandons Jeong-woo within the shadowy confines of the warehouse, leaving the detective to ponder the depths of Bo-young's despair that prompted those tears in the car.
As the episode draws to a close, Jae-hee appears at Gu-tak's doorstep, a somber reminder that the guilt of Bo-young's murder rests heavily on their shoulders, a truth they must never forget.
