As the ambulance pulls up to the ominous 35 Portland Row, marking the dawn of Lockwood & Co.'s sixth episode, a strange ritual unfolds—someone scatters salt across the hallway's carpet, casting an eerie veil over the proceedings. Inspector Barnes arrives on the scene, sternly informing the trio that the case has escalated to dangerous heights, no longer within their realm. Yet, through their persuasive charm, they manage to convince him to let them see this mission through to its conclusion.
As night falls, Lucy and George retire to their rest, while Lockwood casts a lingering glance at the locked door on the landing before retreating. The following morning, George regales Lucy and Lockwood with the tale of Edmund Bickerstaff—a visionary clinician, psychiatrist, and innovator who held clandestine gatherings in his mansion, inviting the likes of Mary Dulac, who vanished one fateful night only to resurface a decade later, her mind shattered.
Suddenly, a ghostly whisper pierces the silence from within the ghost jar, revealing itself as Bickerstaff's once-devoted disciple. It offers to guide them to crucial clues hidden within Bickerstaff's abode, but at a price. Amidst the frantic packing, George's excitement over his stolen skull is palpable, dreaming of fame, though Lucy cautions against drawing attention. The question of the ghost's freedom in exchange for aid hangs heavy, and Lockwood gracefully defers the decision to Lucy.
With the ghost jar securely packed, they embark on their journey to Bickerstaff's haunted mansion. Upon arrival, the skull's cunning becomes evident as it counsels Lucy to wait outside, exploiting her indispensability while deeming Lockwood and George expendable. Ignoring its machinations, Lucy assumes the lead, setting a 15-minute limit before they should follow.
Descending into the depths of the mansion, Lucy's path is illuminated by the skull's whispers, leading her to a chamber filled with ominous whispers and the eerie sounds of sawing and dripping blood. A hidden switch reveals a trapdoor, and down a ladder she descends, into the heart of darkness.
Outside, George's anxiety over the skull's influence on Lucy grows, and he and Lockwood hastily pursue her. Inside, Lucy's discoveries are chilling—a room marred by bloodstains and surgical tools, a desk piled high with papers chronicling Bickerstaff's twisted experiments. But as ghostly fog engulfs the room, sealing the trapdoor, she realizes the true horror: these are the vengeful spirits of Bickerstaff's patients.
The skull's cries for freedom echo through the chamber, but Lucy stands firm, recognizing its duplicity. Lockwood and George arrive just in time, rescuing her from the clutches of the vengeful dead. The day's events serve as a stark reminder that not all deals with the supernatural come without a price.
Safely ensconced outside, Lockwood solemnly declares her resolve to never embark on solo investigations again. Her companions, not the ominous skull, are her true team. George inquires if she's uncovered anything significant, and her affirmative response elicits a collective smile from the group.
Back at their abode, George dives into his research with vigor, while Lucy decides to temporarily sequester the skull from view. Lockwood stumbles upon Flo Bones lounging in the living room, still possessing the key he had entrusted her with long ago. She observes that the house, particularly the room perched on the landing, remains largely unchanged, suggesting that some memories cannot be forever evaded. Lucy, eavesdropping on their conversation, discreetly withdraws.
Flo divulges that Winkman is auctioning off a valuable artifact, most likely the mirror, and offers to aid them in infiltrating the event. She also hints at a subtle shift in Lockwood's demeanor towards Lucy, which he dismisses, insisting she's merely a dear friend. George's entrance into the room prompts introductions, and the trio forms a stronger bond.
After Flo's departure, George unveils his findings: documents depicting spirits bound to their earthly origins. He posits that Bickerstaff must have experimented with this concept, inflicting harm on specific body parts to anchor the spirits to those bones, thereby creating their source. However, he requires assistance in deciphering the ancient texts and suggests seeking the expertise of Joplin. His trust in her is unwavering.
He also mentions a tome penned by Mary Dulac, rumored to hold vital information, but it's sequestered within the inaccessible Fittes' Black Library. Lucy contradicts this notion, producing an invitation to the Fittes' anniversary ball that had miraculously materialized in their mailbox.
With the ball looming, Lucy reluctantly embarks on a shopping spree for formal attire. On her return journey, Kipps intercepts her, initiating a conversation laced with enticements to join Fittes' ranks and, failing that, inviting her to coffee. Lockwood, observing the encounter from the confines of his window, can't help but feel a twinge of concern.
Joplin arrives, armed with her tomes, to lend George a hand in his research endeavors. Lucy, dressed in a stunning blue gown, prepares for the ball, her gaze lingering on a photograph of her and Norrie. Lockwood's entrance prompts a conversation about the skull and Norrie's ghostly plight. Lucy reveals that Norrie is ghost-locked, surprised that Lockwood was unaware, accusing him of never asking. He gifts her a necklace, once belonging to someone dear to him, to complement her attire. Before departing, he gently inquires about her well-being, and she assures him that she's truly fine.
George discreetly instructs Lockwood to proceed to the party without him, assuring a later rendezvous. In a hushed tone, he confides to Joplin their impending quest for the elusive bone glass. As Lockwood and Lucy prepare to depart, eyes fixed on a map outlining the path to Fittes' library chamber, a sense of anticipation fills the air.
Lucy descends the stairs, her curiosity piqued about George's absence, only to be reassured by Lockwood's calm demeanor that it's just the two of them tonight. With smiles etched on their faces, they step into the cab, embarking on their journey.
At the party's threshold, Lucy and Lockwood are greeted by eerie relic columns, pulsating with ghostly energies. Their conversation drifts to the enigmatic Penelope Fittes and her enduring legacy, as Lucy wanders, her gaze fleetingly meeting Kipps' before deftly avoiding him.
Suddenly, Penelope Fittes herself approaches Lucy, extending a job offer within the Fittes fold. She empathizes, acknowledging that Lucy's past misfortunes were not of her own making and had even ensured Jacobs' permanent exile from their world. Drawing parallels from her own experiences as the family's black sheep, Penelope's words warm Lucy's heart, yet her loyalty to Lockwood and Portland Row remains unwavering.
As Lucy parts ways with Penelope, Lockwood arrives, probing for the details of their encounter. Amidst lighthearted chatter, Lucy reveals the job offer, eliciting a fleeting pang of inadequacy in Lockwood who realizes the weight of Fittes' influence. He then broaches the subject of Kipps' overtures, and Lucy assures him of her unwavering allegiance to their team.
Meanwhile, George, his bag packed and everything in readiness for departure, finds the ghostly skull in its jar watching him intently, a silent witness to his preparations.
Armed with George's intricate code, Lockwood and Lucy infiltrate the library's sanctuary. Lucy's eye catches a box adorned with the harp symbol, while Lockwood meticulously locates the index number leading to Mary Dulac's confessional tome. Just as they grasp the book, an unexpected intrusion forces them into hiding.
Enter Penelope, accompanied by a stern-faced man, who presses her to contribute more to their endeavors. Penelope, unfazed, counters that it is their duty, not hers, yet concedes a small harp-emblazoned box as a gesture of camaraderie. Left alone, the man stumbles upon George's map, inadvertently revealing their presence.
Lockwood attempts a hasty retreat but finds himself at the mercy of a cold steel sword pressed against his throat. Lucy, quick-witted, distracts the man, and in a blur of motion, the duo flees the room, leaving chaos in their wake. The man's call for security echoes through the corridors, but Lockwood's ingenuity triggers the fire alarm, unleashing a deluge of salt sprinklers and confusion, allowing Lucy and Lockwood to slip away unnoticed into the night.
