The third episode of "Boy Swallow Universe" kicks off with Eli awakening within the hospital's sterile confines, only to be plunged into a chaotic reality where his family's world has crumbled. Slim, the venerable companion of Eli's, delivers the devastating news: Frankie has been apprehended and faces a potential five-year prison sentence for drug possession. Furthermore, there's no trace of Lyle or his captors, adding another layer of mystery and despair.
Guilt-ridden, Eli resolves to confess to the authorities, taking the blame for hiding the drugs and clearing Frankie's name. He's also poised to expose Bich Dang's role as the town's heroin supplier, with numerous corrupt officers on her payroll. However, Slim, with a wealth of street wisdom, cautions Eli against meddling in affairs that don't concern him, warning of dire consequences for those who do. Moreover, Eli's revelations would fall on deaf ears, as the town's police are equally corrupt, likely aligned with Ivan and Bich Dang. Convinced, Eli concurs with Slim's advice.
Slim suggests Eli seek refuge at his father's house until the storm passes, but Eli harbors different intentions. Crafting a clever scheme to bolt from the hospital, Eli faces one critical hurdle: creating a diversion. Here, Christopher, a kid with nothing left to lose, steps into the narrative. With Chris orchestrating a distraction, Eli slips out of the hospital's grasp.
Returning to his abode, Eli engages in a poignant conversation with Gene, his observant neighbor who witnessed the unfolding drama at Eli's house. Gene reveals he saw Lyle being forcibly taken away by two men. However, when he shared this with the police, he was similarly silenced.
Once inside his house, Eli once again descends into the shadowy basement through the clandestine emergency tunnel, driven by the urgent quest to uncover Lyle's hidden stash of illicit substances. The jarring ring of the red telephone pierces the silence, and a mysterious voice on the other end inquires about Eli's intentions within the confines of his abode. Eli's mission is clear: to secure the drugs and barter them for Lyle's life. The sole obstacle is his ignorance of who to contact to locate Lyle. However, the caller subtly suggests reaching out to Bich Dang for insights into Lyle's whereabouts.
Bich Dang, upon Eli's unexpected arrival, greets him with a torrent of curses. She lambasts both Eli and Lyle for flooding the town with cheap heroin that rightfully belonged to her. Furthermore, she steadfastly refuses to facilitate a meeting with Ivan, leaving Eli in a precarious position, devoid of a sanctuary and support.
Desperate and disheartened, Eli retreats to Robert's house, where Gus, his faithful companion, resides. A wave of relief washes over Eli as he discovers that Gus, miraculously, remains vocal and hasn't relapsed into his vow of silence. Conversely, Eli's father, Robert, was an alcoholic whose life revolved around liquor and greasy chicken, leaving a void in the family.
As dawn breaks, Eli slips out unnoticed and converges with Slim at his modest trailer. They unveil their strategy to engage Ivan and broker a deal. Once again, Slim cautions the young duo to act rationally, lest they inadvertently exacerbate Lyle and Frankie's plight.
Eli acknowledges that he requires substantial assistance to liberate his mother and track down Lyle. Who better to turn to than Caitlyn Spies, a courageous journalist with a heart of gold? Enticed by the promise of an interview with Slim Haliday, alias the taxi driver killer, Caitlyn agrees to delve into the narrative. However, the tables turn abruptly when a tattooed leg, tragically identified as Lyle's, washes ashore.
Confronted with this grim reality, Eli realizes the wisdom in Slim's advice. He understands that if he persists on this erratic path, he may suffer a fate similar to Lyle's.
