Episode 5 of "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans," entitled "The Secret Inner Lives of Swans," opens with the fallout from Truman's explosive excerpt release. Babe lashes out angrily at Bill, who retaliates by furiously cursing Truman and wishing him death. Truman, overwhelmed, takes an excessive amount of pills in a moment of despair. In a confession to his friend, the renowned Black gay writer James Baldwin, who happens to be visiting from Paris, Truman reveals his suicide attempt. James, moved by Truman's vulnerability, decides to postpone his travel plans and spend time with him, offering encouragement and highlighting the significance of his work.
The pair heads to La Côte Basque, a favorite haunt of the Swans, to further discuss the excerpt. Truman confesses his intention to target the men of the Swan clique, explaining that while the women engage in affairs, they remain untouchable, escaping scrutiny and consequences. He then impulsively calls Babe, missing her despite their feud, and leaves a tender message expressing his regret for any harm he may have caused her.
The conversation shifts back to Truman's book, and he delves into the subtle racism, classism, and homophobia he observes among the Swans. His ultimate goal is to expose their privilege and the hollowness of their privileged white womanhood. He lambasts their obsessive collecting and possessiveness, contrasting it with their lack of empathy, as exemplified by Lee, their horrid mothering skills like C.Z., and Babe's own admission that she's not cut out for motherhood.
James urges Truman to stop apologizing and embrace his intent to challenge the Swans, doing so without reservation. Truman, however, remains conflicted, still yearning for acceptance within their circle. He confesses that despite their past critiques of each other, he values James's unwavering support, contrasting it with the Swans' disloyal nature. Truman recalls instances where the Swans were openly rude to Ann, even before his expose, refusing to associate with her in public. He mocks their shallow focus on maintaining a youthful appearance and their hypocritical criticism of his weight while pretending to care.
Back at home, James takes a firm stance, discouraging Truman from drinking and urging him to fulfill his obligation to change the world. He assures Truman that it's never too late to make a difference and encourages him to persevere, leaving Truman emotionally moved. As James prepares to depart, he shares a whimsical tidbit - the Queen of England owns all swans and is the only person legally allowed to eat them, a fact that Truman finds oddly amusing in the midst of their heavier conversation.
The scene shifts to Truman revealing to Jack that he has been laboring over his writing for three consecutive days without interruption. He believes that his current piece is his finest work yet, as it delves deeply into the enigmatic nature of the Swans.
In the climactic moment of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, Episode 5, Truman cunningly orchestrates a scenario where a wannabe chef sneaks in to slaughter a swan and prepare it for cooking. With a satisfied grin, he devours the flesh of the swan, his expression betraying a sense of triumph and delight.
