Episode 4 of "Happy Face" kicks off with an intense scene featuring Shane, Melissa's brave firefighter brother, hard at work. Melissa, Ivy, and the camera crew arrive at Shane's cozy abode, eagerly awaiting his return. As Melissa dials Ben, a revelation unfolds: Hazel has inexplicably gone mute towards her.
At school, Hazel finds herself increasingly entangled with Josh, who hands her the earnings from her online sale of Keith's artwork. Time ticks by as Melissa and her companions wait patiently outside Shane's house, until they are finally ushered in by Gillian, a self-proclaimed Reiki healer and Keith's current love interest. She reveals that she stays at Shane's whenever she visits Keith, who has regained possession of his phone. Melissa harbors doubts about showcasing Gillian on television, but her objections are quickly overshadowed by Shane's arrival. He firmly declines the interview at his residence, prompting Gillian to invite them to stay for dinner. It's during this meal that Ivy broaches the subject of Elijah's case, seeking Shane's assistance. Melissa inquiries about Shane accompanying Keith to Texas, but he feigns ignorance, his deceit unraveling under Melissa's probing.
Ivy embarks on another encounter with Keith, while Melissa stays behind at Shane's, vowing not to broach the subject of their father. They delve into the garage, a treasure trove of nostalgic family relics and handed-down treasures. Melissa generously offers to help Shane deliver a dresser to a friend, but the friend and his wife, realizing its potential connection to Keith, politely decline, blaming Melissa's television venture for the awkward reminder.
Back at school, Hazel's new shoes catch everyone's eye, a testament to the money she received. Eva whispers about Hazel's rumored flirtations with Josh, warning that Summer will be livid. Hazel is then tasked with retrieving a package from the school office, which unexpectedly turns out to be a cheerful smiley face balloon, adding an eerie twist to the already intriguing narrative.
She presumes it to be Summer's handiwork and confronts her head-on, but Summer vehemently denies any involvement. Though she does admit that Hazel's companionship among them is solely owed to the influence of her esteemed grandfather. In the end, Hazel seizes the cheerful smiley balloon and discovers a note bearing a phone number, bearing the heartwarming signature, "Grandpa."
Ivy seeks further clarification from Keith regarding Heather's untimely demise, but his responses are far from enlightening. Upon mentioning Melissa's impending meeting with Shane, Keith urges them to steer clear of entangling Shane in this mess.
As Melissa attempts to offload the dresser to potential buyers, she realizes she's inching closer to Brendan's residence. She tracks him down at his workplace and confronts him about betraying her trust by spilling the beans about her abortion, but he steadfastly maintains his innocence.
At the workplace, Ben catches a glimpse of his son Max on the surveillance footage, prompting him to abruptly excuse himself from a crucial work meeting. Max reveals that his buddy Ryder has been barred from playing with him and that his mother skipped his usual karate class, leaving him behind.
During Ivy's interview with Gillian, she opens up about her troubled upbringing shadowed by an incarcerated uncle. She passionately advocates for her pen-pal friends behind bars, highlighting the myriad challenges they face in life.
Melissa and Shane indulge in a drinking session where he inquires about Brendan. Melissa confesses that the day Keith was apprehended, she had just learned of Brendan's role in her unplanned pregnancy. The conversation veers towards Texas, sparking a heated argument. Melissa laments her TV appearance, driven by guilt for her silence when she witnessed the grim bloodstains at her father's abode.
Shane confesses that during their time in Texas, Keith attempted suicide by ingesting a lethal dose of sleeping pills. In a race against time, Shane rushed him to the hospital, narrowly saving his life, before they sought solace at a nearby church. However, this harrowing incident was followed by a tragic turn of events; Keith subsequently took the lives of two innocent women, leaving Shane plagued with guilt. They returned home, consumed by their sorrow, and in an act of desperate symbolism, burned the dresser. Meanwhile, back at their residence, Max awoke from a nightmare haunted by visions of his grandfather, sharing his distress with Ben.
Elsewhere, Melissa unveils a deeply personal revelation: her father was the only other person privy to her abortion. A poignant flashback transports us to a young Melissa's first visit to her incarcerated father. Keith, asserting his parental bond despite everything, listens as she confesses her abortion, driven by dire circumstances. His response is fury, branding her a killer.
Present day, Melissa confronts Keith behind bars. She accuses him of revealing her abortion secret and declares an end to their relationship. When he taunts her with the label of killer once more, she unburdens her soul, revealing she was raped and, in truth, bears a closer resemblance to his victims than to him. As she prepares to depart, he tantalizes her with the details of the wrench used in Heather's murder.
Cut to Melissa and the camera crew entering Shane's garage, the tension palpable. There, nestled within a red toolbox at the episode's climactic scene in Happy Face Episode 4, lies the very wrench that served as a grim instrument of Keith's crime, adding a chilling realism to the narrative.
