Episode 8 of "Interior Chinatown" kicks off with Detective Turner indulging in an indefinite vacation, thereby thrusting Willis into the spotlight to bolster Green, who has ascended to the role of lead detective. Meanwhile, Lana finds herself temporarily suspended as the precinct delves into her background.
On an HBWC-owned news channel, Willis has emerged as a burgeoning star, making frequent appearances in commercials—so many, in fact, that it seems every other scene is staged as a commercial. In one particular commercial, Willis transforms from a stellar detective to a waiter, and then to a tech expert. His assistant, a perpetually upbeat soul, is relentless in building Willis's "personal brand," while never missing a beat to deliver him a coffee every five minutes.
Elsewhere, Lana ventures to Willis's parents' apartment, where she catches the same construction worker murder case being broadcast on the news, and it strikes her as odd. On the flip side, Lily's skyrocketing career hits a rough patch when she stages a listing in a manner that perpetuates Asian stereotypes. Her eyes fleetingly catch Johnny in a photograph, and later, she learns from Betty about an ambitious project aimed at reinventing Chinatown.
Willis finds himself contemplating Turner's words about the surreal nature of everything. Soon after, a fiery altercation breaks out between Willis and Fatty, culminating in Willis being drenched in hot sauce—an incident that coincidentally mirrors a hot sauce commercial flashing across the screen.
In the meantime, Lana drowns her sorrows by incessantly ordering shrimp, prompting Wong to send a waiter to halt her spree. She later sneaks into Wong's room, discovers his diary filled with listings, and spots Johnny's name listed among them. Simultaneously, Willis finally resolves to reconnect with his family and meets with his mother. Together, they confess their profound longing for Johnny.
