The episode kicks off with an intense scene where Mickey Fitzpatrick (Amanda Seyfried) finds herself confronted by Dock McLathcie (OT The Real), a gun pointed menacingly at her. He informs her that Kacey Fitzpatrick (Ashleigh Cummings) isn't present but reveals that she possesses something belonging to him. Meanwhile, Gee (John Doman) is immersed in teaching Thomas Fitzpatrick (Callum Vinson) the intricacies of poker, an unwelcome interruption when Mickey storms in, clearly upset. She grabs Thomas and storms out, leaving the game abruptly.
Upon returning home, Mickey's mood darkens further as she receives a text from Truman Dawes (Nicholas Pinnock), hinting at a potential breakthrough in their search for Dock. She relays to Thomas that, despite her earlier outburst, their bond with Gee remains unshaken. Thomas, however, laments that family gatherings during holidays are a rare occurrence. Their conversation shifts to Thomas's family tree project, prompting a heartfelt discussion about capturing and preserving family memories. Mickey, touched by his enthusiasm, shares an old photo album with him, offering him priceless family snapshots.
Flashing back to 1999, a poignant scene unfolds at their mother's funeral, where young Mickey (Cate Elefante) and Kacey (Annabelle Toomey) grapple with their grief. The appearance of their father at this delicate moment adds fuel to the fire, especially as Gee reacts with a sudden, passionate punch.
Later, Mickey and Truman embark on a mission to meet Mr. Winton (Russell G. Jones). En route, Mickey confides in Truman about Thomas's longing to reconnect with his cousins over Thanksgiving, prompting Truman to offer his companionship for the journey. Their conversation weaves through the complexities of their personal relationships until Mickey's phone buzzes with an incoming call, momentarily halting their introspection.
Winton informs Mickey and Truman that Dock frequently visits to utilize the rear chamber, disclosing his true identity as a dealer. Although unaware of Dock's current whereabouts, Winton reveals that according to his last knowledge, Dock was squatting somewhere in the vicinity of Braddock. Additionally, Winton recognizes Kacey, recalling the last time he saw her in a distressed state, though he doubts that alone could have led to her demise.
After parting ways with Winton, Mickey and Truman devise a plan to interview Jimmy Scanlon's family. At the police station, Mickey discovers that Detective Davis Danjarat (portrayed by Joe Daru) possesses surveillance footage depicting a potential suspect. However, the video only reveals a man approximately six feet tall, clad in a Wildwood Sweatshirt, offering minimal leads.
Mickey ventures to Alonzo’s store (owned by Eden Marryshow), seeking his recognition of Dock. Alonzo proves unhelpful, but just as Mickey is wrapping up his inquiry, Nicole (played by Rivera Reese) strolls past outside, catching Mickey's attention. He chases after her momentarily but she ignores him.
As they head towards Jimmy's wife's residence, Mickey confides in Truman about her encounter with Nicole, speculating that her behavior might be due to the stress of the ongoing killer investigation. He further probes Truman to ensure she isn't withholding any critical information. Kerry Scanlon (played by Christine Vrem-Ydstie) reveals to Truman that Jimmy's disappearance, especially given their son's illness, is out of character. They also uncover the possibility that Jimmy owned a second phone, though Kerry offers little else of substance.
Later that evening, Mickey retreats to the comfort of her home, flipping through a nostalgia-laden album of old snapshots featuring her and Kacey. Each photo triggers a cascade of memories, leading her back to 2001 when she revealed to Kacey a clandestine hiding spot within Gee’s house, whispering that if ever she needed a confidential conduit, the spot was hers to utilize. Stirred by these recollections, Mickey dials Danjarat’s number, informing him that she’s circulated the video far and wide, with one woman possibly recognizing the shirt-clad individual but too fearful to come forward. Though hesitant, she did impart the moniker Dock.
Flashback to 2002, where Mickey and Kacey find themselves strolling home, only to be intercepted by a pack of boys. Louis Driscoll (Gabriel Oscher), one of the pack, inquisitively inquires about the contents of her case. Upon her revelation of an oboe, his curiosity peaks further, insisting on an impromptu performance. As she assembles the instrument, Louis seizes the moment, snatches it, and dashes away.
Mickey, contrite, seeks solace and forgiveness from Teacher Dana (Amber Gray). Dana, compassionate yet firm, confides that she advocated for Thomas before the school board but to no avail; his resignation at term’s end remains inevitable. As a gesture of understanding, Dana returns the $2,000 to Mickey.
That night, Mickey breaks the news to Thomas about his impending school transfer, detailing his new destination. Thomas, unable to cope with the abrupt change, erupts in frustration, demanding answers about his absent father and the cessation of financial support. She, helpless, assures him that there are no easy explanations but offers the solace of a Thanksgiving break.
The trio of Truman, Mickey, and Thomas ventures to Hailey O’Brien’s (Madeline Mahoney) house for Thanksgiving. Amidst the festive ambiance, Mickey engages Bobby O’Brien (Vincent Lawson Jr.) in conversation about Kacey’s mysterious disappearance. He reveals that he hasn’t laid eyes on her in nearly two months and admits ignorance of Dock, cautioning that Dock’s reputation precedes him—a friend of his met an untimely demise due to skimming. Elsewhere, Truman strikes up a chat with Hailey about Mickey’s childhood, discovering that she once held a crush on him. Hailey confides that she and Mickey are estranged, leaving Truman puzzled. When he inquires further, Hailey gently nudges him to seek clarification from Mickey herself.
Before Mickey could depart, her Aunt Lynn, played by Jennifer Childs, insisted that the entire family engage in a prayer session together. Hailey offered up a fervent prayer for Mickey's well-being, while Truman expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards her. As Truman dropped Thomas and Mickey off at their home, an unexpected confrontation awaited Mickey – Dock had ambushed her. Fortunately, she managed to send out an emergency call to Truman before he ventured too far. Upon hearing her plea, Truman swiftly turned around and raced back to Mickey's place. In the meantime, Dock confessed to Mickey that the police had paid him a visit, to which she admitted having tipped them off. He then instructed her to close her eyes, spin around, and count to three. By the time she reached three, Dock had vanished into thin air. When Truman finally arrived, Dock was nowhere to be found. Mickey recounted her encounter with Dock to Truman, who was visibly upset and demanded to know why she had kept this from him. His frustration led him to reveal what Hailey had said about her, prompting a rift between them as Mickey refused to disclose why she had gone to Dock's without him, causing Truman to storm off.
Upon returning inside to Thomas, Mickey received a call from Danjarat, who informed her that Dock had been incarcerated during the time of the three homicides. After their conversation, Mickey recollected finding her oboe in a secret hiding spot she once shared with Kacey. Later, Kacey confessed to stealing the oboe back and assured Mickey that Louis would never bother her again.
The next morning, Mickey and Thomas enjoyed breakfast at a cozy diner. Thomas expressed his desire to have a proper birthday party this year and invite his father. Mickey gently reminded him that nothing stopped his father from seeing him, but emphasized that he simply wasn't acting like a good person. Thomas, however, remained steadfast in his wish to invite him. Mickey agreed but warned him not to get his hopes up if his father didn't show up. Changing the subject, she shared with Thomas what Truman had told her about opening up to others and setting boundaries.
Later that day, Mickey set out to find Kacey but to no avail. She was about to leave when a radio dispatch announced a fire at the location where she had first met Dock. Upon arriving, she encountered Paula (Pretty Mattfeld) and hastily inquired about Kacey's whereabouts. Paula somberly informed her that Kacey was missing. Mickey then showed Paula the video Danjarat had played at the station. Paula recognized the individual, acknowledging that Mickey knew him too – simply put, he was a dangerous man. With a stern warning to stay away from the area as it could get her killed, Paula dismissed Mickey.
As the episode drew to a close, Mickey dialed Truman's number and announced that she was finally ready to talk.
