Episode 9 of "Grotesquerie" unfolds with Maisie steering Lois through the winding roads, the atmosphere thick with the aftermath of Lois's tumultuous encounter with Merritt. With her heart heavy and her resolve strained, Lois sets her sights on Marshall, her next destination, where Redd's presence looms as well. She initiates a conversation, acknowledging her comprehension of Marshall's affair and granting him forgiveness, absent of malice.
Marshall, engulfed in despair yet untainted by disgust towards her—a stark contrast to Lois's reaction—finds little solace in her tolerant. Her tryst with Ed only further complicates her tangled emotions for Merritt. She revisits Marshall's harrowing declaration of wishing her demise, which she tolerantly receives. Desiring a peaceful resolution to their divorce, devoid of acrimony, Lois pleads for a truce.
Marshall, however, is anything but pleased, branding her a chimera—a creature of deceit. He vents his dark fantasies of a world sans Lois, and as his venom spills, Lois, emotionally exhausted, retreats, her footsteps leading her back to Merritt.
In Merritt's presence, Lois unspools a litany of her selfless deeds, painting a picture of years marked by Merritt's erratic behavior and emotional turbulence. She probes Merritt's love for Ed, punctuating her inquisitiveness with a harsh slap across the cheek. Their confrontation concludes with Lois her departure, yet leaving the door ajar for a potential reconciliation.
Prior to her final exit, Lois seeks solace in Dr. Witticomb's counsel once more. She briefly alludes to her father and acquiesces to the introduction of another physician—Dr. Milton Smythe. As Smythe steps inside, Lois unveils the enigmatic circumstances of her coma: not a vehicular mishap, but COVID-19 contracted during a women's rally. She contends that the world has turned a blind eye to women's plight, possibly explaining the prevalence of female fatalities in her visions.
Witticomb, captivated by Lois's prophetic dreams, contemplates the possibility of her being a harbinger of sorts. He suggests that humanity might be witnessing a period of de-evolution, characterized by an alarming erosion of empathy, orchestrated by the programming of modern society. Smythe, in a tender moment, reveals that Lois's soul resonates deeply with him, leaving a profound impression before she journeys back home.
Before Lois embarks on her journey to Florida, she encounters Redd, who is already there, awaiting her arrival. She confesses her disdain for the bitter, angry persona that Marshall has become, reminiscing about the better days when their relationship was more casual. Intriguingly, during their conversation, it is Lois who indulges in grapes this time, rather than Redd. Redd reveals that she is aware of Lois's destination—Tarpon Springs, which she finds enchanting.
Lois, in a moment of wisdom, advises Redd to sever ties with Marshall and embark on a fresh start. With a hint of longing in her voice, she remarks, "Why does 'away' always hold such allure?" before bidding farewell.
That very night, Megan calls Lois, her voice trembling with anxiety and distress, pleading for assistance. She arrives at a grim murder scene, describing it as one of the most harrowing sights she has ever witnessed. Surrounded by forensic experts, she steps into the same house where Lois's visions once unfolded, a scene almost eerily identical, down to the simmering pot on the stove.
After conducting tests on the crime scene, Lois suspects that sulphur might be involved. Megan, hesitant to share details over the phone, invites Lois to the motel. There, Lois conjectures that her dream journals are being used to recreate her visions. To ascertain that she is indeed awake, she instructs Megan to slice her skin with a pocket knife—a grim ritual to confirm reality.
As Lois tends to her wound, Justin suddenly appears, attacking Megan with relentless fury. Lois emerges, gun in hand, confronting Justin. He dares her to shoot, and in a moment of desperation, Lois fires, splattering blood across the motel room, including on Megan's horrified face.
