As George scrutinizes the enigmatic ring beneath the microscope's prying gaze, a subtle hallmark at the dawn of Lockwood and Co.'s third episode comes into sharp focus. The intricate combination of letters and numbers weaves a cryptic path, leading them to the words of Hamlet, echoing through the chambers of their minds: "Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love." This fragment, a tantalizing clue, points an accusing finger towards Blake, yet it falls short of the ironclad evidence needed to ensnare him in the jaws of justice.
Just when the clouds of uncertainty seemed to thicken, a letter from DEPRAC arrives, casting a shadow of regulation over their operations—they must now operate under the watchful eye of adulthood. Yet, Lockwood's unwavering spirit shines through, assuring his companions with a wry smile, "Fear not, we're about to embark on a ghostly rendezvous with a man of influence."
Elevating their spirits (and quite literally, their bodies) within the Fairfax Iron elevator, Lockwood unveils their latest mission: a clandestine response to a newspaper ad seeking brave souls to tackle a perilous spectral infestation. The address leads them to the pinnacle of the edifice, where they encounter none other than John Fairfax, the towering patriarch of the company. With a quiet urgency, he solicits their services to discreetly eradicate a haunting that plagues one of his estates—Combe Carey Hall.
The trio, armed with their independence and a knack for keeping secrets, charm Fairfax into entrusting Lockwood & Co. with the task. In exchange, he agrees to settle their mountainous 60,000-dollar debt, a deal that ignites a spark of exhilaration within them. As they divide responsibilities with a renewed sense of purpose, preparations for the case commence with a palpable sense of anticipation.
Later, when the veil of secrecy surrounding Combe Carey Hall begins to lift, George whispers a tale of hidden horrors to Lockwood and Lucy. He reveals that the hall rests upon the cursed foundation of a medieval satanic priory, a sanctuary for devilish rituals. Whispers of a staircase that screams in the night and the failed endeavors of Marissa Fittes' team, including the mysterious disappearance of Agent Sam Pandey, add a layer of foreboding to their mission. Yet, Lockwood's conviction burns bright, declaring this haunted hall a challenge worthy of their exceptional talents.
Barnes dials Lucy's number, his voice laced with curiosity as he inquires whether she's imparted the news of her impending departure to Lockwood. She confirms with a nod, her tone revealing a faint trace of anticipation, sharing that her departure is mere days away. Then, he drops a bombshell, revealing Blake's release and a hint that Lockwood will be apprised of his new supervisor's identity the following day. Lucy's response is tinged with regret, explaining that their absence from home, necessitated by a fumigation session, will thwart that meeting.
Despite Lockwood's meticulous efforts to secure Annabel Ward's ring, hidden away as if to sever all ties, Lucy, ever the resourceful one, stealthily infiltrates his sanctum and, with a deft hand, retrieves the ring from its hiding place.
As the trio—Lucy, George, and Lockwood—disembark from the train, their feet touching the rural soil, they're greeted warmly by Ellie, Lockwood's trusty assistant. As they begin to load their belongings into the car, Ellie winces momentarily, a silent testament to an old war wound that still whispers of its existence.
Lucy hesitates at the threshold of Combe Carey Hall, her senses on high alert as if she's caught the faintest echo of an unspoken whisper. Stepping within, the chill of the past lingers in the air as Fairfax regales them with a tale of tragedy: the monks' collective plunge into darkness, a mass suicide that left the priory in ruins, only to be rebuilt into the modern abode that now stands before them.
Suddenly, Ellie's voice pierces the solemnity, her discovery of a forbidden flare in Lockwood's bag causing a ripple of discontent. The flare, confiscated with stern finality, becomes a fleeting reminder of rules transgressed. With the issue resolved, Fairfax and Ellie bid the trio farewell, leaving them to explore the mysteries that lay within the confines of the hall.
As DEPRAC arrived at Lockwood's deserted abode, their resolve led them to forcibly breach the threshold. Within the labyrinthine confines of Combe Carey Hall, Lucy's ears were assailed by a cacophony of voices—whispers mingling with cries and screams, echoing through the ancient halls. George's grim assessment confirmed their predicament; the blueprints bore no resemblance to the reality they faced, leaving them navigating the labyrinth blindfolded.
Amidst their doubts, Lockwood's ingenuity shone through as he produced a flare from his secret stash, anticipating Fairfax's thorough search. Ascending the ominously named Screaming Staircase, they found nothing but silence, until the Red Room beckoned. Here, George sensed an unsettling aura emanating from the walls, while Lucy's ears were assailed by phantom screams. Iron chains were laid as barriers, and George fortified the door with a stopper, convinced of the house's secret recesses.
Just as they delved deeper, a tap-tap-tapping disrupted the stillness, revealing a gruesome sight—a ceiling awash with a crimson tide that dripped, pooling across the floor. George's warning was urgent; this was no mortal blood but the perilous plasma of a specter, as deadly as the grave. As the iron circle too succumbed to the ghostly deluge, they raced to uncover the hidden chamber, Lucy's discovery of a concealed door their only salvation.
Lockwood's deduction rang true; it was not a spectral hand that sealed the Red Room's door, but a living soul. Their pursuit led them through a labyrinthine passage, where the spectral form of Sam Pandey loomed, haunting their path. A staircase beckoned, and George's jest about Fairfax's theatrical inclinations sparked a revelation in Lockwood's mind, only to be cut short by Lucy's urgent warning. The Screaming Staircase echoed with a chorus of incantations, intensifying as they descended into a cavernous chamber, its centerpiece a well where the monks' fateful end had been sealed.
The shadows of the departed monks on the walls swelled, advancing menacingly towards the trio. Lockwood and George parried with their rapiers, their defenses steeled against the spectral onslaught. But Lucy found herself entranced, drawn to the brink of the well's abyss. In a desperate bid, Lockwood and George yanked her back from the ghostly grasp, mere moments from disaster.
Lucy's revelation pierced the darkness: the well, its depths holding the monks' remains, was the source of their torment. Lockwood's flare ignited a fiery inferno within the well, consuming all in its wake. Amidst the rubble, Lucy emerged, shaking off the slumber, and roused George and Lockwood from their dazed state.
Lockwood's apology was heavy with realization; Fairfax's hand had orchestrated every twist, intending for the house to claim them as its victims. He unveiled a photograph, Annabel's image intertwined with others, his finger pointing to a youthful John Fairfax lurking in the shadows. This was the man who had loved and ultimately taken Annabel's life, luring them here with the cursed ring, its every groove a testament to his crime.
The trio's eyes caught a glimmer of light seeping through a crevice in the wall, and they seized upon it as a beacon of hope. They cunningly exploited this weakness, weakening the fragile brickwork until they shattered their way into an adjacent chamber of the house. However, their relief was short-lived as they found themselves confronted by Fairfax and Ellie, guns trained on them at the threshold. Fairfax, donning a pair of enigmatic iron glasses, confessed his deeds, claiming that he couldn't let a single murderous act tarnish the rest of his life. Lockwood, steadfast in his innocence, declared he possessed no such ring.
Just as Fairfax prepared to execute his threat, Lucy stepped forward, boldly announcing that the ring was in her possession. With a swift motion, she tossed the ring skyward, unleashing Annabel's vengeful spirit. She swooped down upon Fairfax with ferocity, claiming his life. Lockwood retrieved the ring, and Lucy reverently returned it to its locket.
Ellie attempted a hasty retreat, only to find police vans blocking her escape. Barnes, appearing resolute, announced his intention to apprehend the trio, but they vehemently protested, accusing Fairfax of attempting to have them assassinated. Just then, Quill Kipps arrived, bringing news that the deputy commissioner had arrived on the scene. As they watched the deputy commissioner confer with Barnes, while others carried away boxes from Combe Carey Hall, an ominous sense of something much larger at play hung heavily in the air.
To their surprise, Barnes returned with a proposition: they would avoid arrest if they signed a non-disclosure agreement. Though reluctant, they ultimately acquiesced, signing their names away.
At Sam Pandey's solemn funeral, Penelope Fittes, Marissa Fittes' daughter, approached the trio with heartfelt gratitude for their efforts in finding Sam and unraveling the mysteries of Combe Carey Hall.
Back at their base, Lockwood simmered with frustration over DEPRAC's decision to shroud Fairfax's death in secrecy. He mourned the inability to share the truth about their experiences at Combe Carey Hall with the world. Meanwhile, George tinkered with Fairfax's iron glasses, a prize pilfered from the crime scene. As they discussed Lucy's remarkable Listening abilities, George cautioned her to tread carefully, only to be interrupted by Lockwood's insistent dismissal. Lockwood presented Lucy with her fourth grade certificate, his signature a testament to her achievements.
Carrying her degree and the enigmatic glasses, Lucy descended to the secure storage area. In the process of tidying up, she inadvertently released the latch of a ghost jar, unleashing a haunting voice that echoed Lucy's name. Lockwood warned George against divulging the secrets surrounding Listeners, convinced that Lucy possessed a strength far exceeding her delicate appearance. Suddenly, the sound of clattering objects filled the air, and they realized that Lucy had fainted in the depths of the basement, leaving them to ponder the mysteries that still lingered within the shadows.
