Episode 3 of *Black Rabbit* opens with a flashback to two years prior. Vince stands accused—and is subsequently arrested—for paralyzing a staff member. In an attempt to mitigate the fallout, Jake privately reaches a settlement with the victim. To fund this payout, Jake buys out Vince’s shares in the restaurant, effectively ousting him. Vince burns with fury but finds himself cornered, with no recourse but to accept his fate.
Fast-forward to the present. As the brothers huddle together, brainstorming solutions, Roxie pulls Jake aside to disclose her knowledge about Jules. Jake, feigning surprise, vows to prioritize their own interests and promptly blacklists Jules.
Meanwhile, Jules is busy sealing deals with Wes and Estelle. Estelle, however, remains uninterested and aloof, but Wes persistently champions Jules’ cause.
Returning to Vince’s predicament, Jake attempts to secure a private loan but is met with rejection. Desperate, he pawns off personal belongings in a frantic bid to scrape together enough cash for the first week’s obligations. Observing their precarious financial state, Babbitt proposes an insurance scheme as a safeguard.
Naveen, the company’s lawyer, grows increasingly frustrated with Jake’s evasiveness regarding the Pool Room acquisition. Taking matters into his own hands, Naveen launches an investigation—only to uncover a staggering $100,000 discrepancy. Jake deflects, claiming the missing funds were consumed by restaurant expenses.
Elsewhere, Vince is haunted by a fragmented memory: someone plummeting from the rooftop. Just then, a young boy approaches, seeking donations for his little league team. Inspiration strikes Vince. He pitches the idea of hosting a benefit event to raise funds for his loan, and though Jake initially hesitates, he warms to the plan when he realizes it could also cover the missing $100,000. To maintain appearances, Jake spins the event as a charitable cause for children. However, Tony, one of the chefs, catches wind of rumors about loansharks and confides in an eager Roxie his suspicion that the benefit is nothing more than a scam.
Meanwhile, Estelle is buzzing with excitement about the Pool Room project, primarily because of the independence it promises her. However, her joy is overshadowed by Wes's overbearing nature, which permeates every aspect of her life—a fact Jake swiftly picks up on. Over at the benefit preparations, Mattie is busy diluting the drinks, and he nonchalantly suggests torching the family home to cash in on the insurance money. Vince, however, flatly refuses, leaving Mattie stunned at being "bossed" around by Jake.
In a shocking twist, Babbitt's scheme unfolds as he befriends Gen under the guise of getting a tattoo, with ulterior motives clearly at play.
Meanwhile, Roxie squares off with Jake about the phony benefit. She's furious about how Vince has been managing the place, endangering the staff, and she demands his ouster in exchange for her silence. Jake, caught between a rock and a hard place, grudgingly gives in, granting him until the party to break the news to Vince.
The night of the benefit arrives, and Wes takes charge of rounding up guests, including the unexpected addition of Jules. Jake is visibly perturbed and goes to great lengths to ensure Jules stays far away from any female attention. Val arrives with Gen in tow and surprisingly tries to boost Vince's spirits. Vince, touched by Val's gesture, seems to realize that Val genuinely cares for him.
Roxie, not one to miss an opportunity, has invited Trevor, the paralyzed former employee. It turns out that a drug-fueled Trevor and Vince had once made a reckless bet to leap off the roof together and land safely. Only Trevor took the plunge, failing miserably and ending up paralyzed. A bitter Trevor jokes that Vince owes him a jump in return.
Vince, wracked with guilt, attempts to mend fences with Roxie. However, she coldly informs him that Jake has a message for him. Vince heads over to Jake, only to find him celebrating the success of the benefit. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Vince thanks Jake profusely for his help and even offers to rejoin the restaurant business. Jake, feeling a pang of guilt, is about to confess when Estelle suddenly appears. Vince makes a hasty exit, but not before Jake warns him about Jules.
Roxie finally makes her entrance at the party and is taken aback to see Jules there. Her shock turns to fury when Vince abruptly announces his return. As an upset Roxie prepares to leave, she catches a glimpse of Estelle and Jake sharing a passionate kiss outside.
Inside the dimly lit venue, Jules hands Mel a tainted dose of coke, its purity as dubious as her intentions. Vince, recognizing the peril, desperately tries to intervene, but his efforts are thwarted by a drunken Trevor who clumsily detains him, his inebriation turning what could have been a rescue into a farce of flailing limbs and mumbled apologies. By the time Vince breaks free, it's already too late—Mel is convulsing on the floor, a victim of the poisonous concoction.
Meanwhile, Jules, ever the opportunist, flees the scene with Wes and Estelle in tow, their paths colliding chaotically outside in a tangle of limbs and frantic whispers. When Jake finally arrives, the air thick with tension and the stench of regret, Vince, burdened by guilt, lies through gritted teeth, claiming ignorance of the events that transpired. Jake's mind races; an overdose could mean the end of their haven, a shutdown that would plunge them all into darkness.
In a desperate bid for answers, Jake combs through the CCTV footage, his heart sinking as he uncovers the incriminating evidence: Jules, cold-eyed and calculating, administering the fatal dose to both Mel and Anna. Just as he's about to erase the damning proof, a noise outside distracts him, sending his pulse skyrocketing.
As the episode of *Black Rabbit* draws to a close, a sinister undercurrent pulses through the scene. Babbitt, his voice a seductive purr on the phone, flirts with Gen, his words laced with a promise of danger. Unbeknownst to her, he watches from the shadows of his car, a predator savoring the hunt, his gaze never leaving her as the screen fades to black.
