Episode 3 of "Midnight at the Pera Palace" kicks off with a jolt, as the news broadcasts unfold, shedding new light on the sinister kidnappings that have gripped the city in a vice of fear. Ahmet's patience wears thin, and he resolves to flee this era of turmoil, his nerves frayed beyond repair. Yet, Esra stands firm, her resolve unwavering; her quest for her mother and the truth driving her onward, unfazed by the prospect of leaving. Ahmet, acknowledging Esra's mettle, abandons her to navigate this treacherous timescape, knowing that his fate hangs precariously in the balance, unlike hers.
But fate seems to have other plans, as the portals refuse to cooperate, stranding them both in this bygone era. In the dead of night, Halit retraces his steps, stooping to retrieve the button he inadvertently left behind, inadvertently revealing himself as a shadowy figure behind the recent abductions. Leyla becomes the latest victim, snatched away in the cloak of darkness, leaving only a haunting implication of the perpetrator's presence.
Back at the hotel, chaos ensues as Naim collapses, stricken by a heart attack upon Halit's arrival. The skeptical officers dismiss him as a drunken rambler, yet reluctantly entertain his tale, recording his statement amidst scoffs and disbelief. Meanwhile, Esra's eyes narrow with suspicion towards Halit, who dismisses her concerns with a wave of his hand.
Into this fray strides Dupont, a man with a reservation for Room 411, but his true identity is no match for Halit's sharp instincts. With a swift tug, Halit yanks off Dupont's hat, revealing him as Mumtaz, the very same individual encountered in the alleyways. In his possession, a key that whispers of untold possibilities. Halit confiscates the key, spurning Mumtaz's entreaties to reshape the world through these enigmatic artifacts. As Mumtaz departs, his parting words echo menacingly: "You cannot stop me from altering the course of time."
Ahmet and Esra confide in Halit, who delves into the aftermath of his passage through the Gateway. He recounts awakening disoriented on the cellar's dusty floor, only to realize the stark reality of 1941. In a grim alleyway, he witnessed a man, Mumtaz, being gunned down, and impulsively intervened, saving the life of this enigmatic figure. Mumtaz, grateful beyond measure, vowed to stand by Halit through thick and thin. Ambitious and cunning, he uncovered the hotel's hidden secrets, seeking partnership. However, betrayal lurked beneath the surface; Mumtaz clandestinely stole the keys from Halit, fueled by a megalomaniacal dream to reshape the world. In a desperate bid to thwart him, Halit acquired the hotel, trapping Mumtaz's aspirations within its walls. Frustrated and deranged, Mumtaz now obsesses over reclaiming those keys, convinced they hold the key to his twisted utopia.
Meanwhile, Esra embarks on a mission to meet the so-called rival journalist, her conviction unwavering that they share a common goal. The case of the abducted women piques her interest as a potential linchpin. Recognizing the need for credentials, she devises a plan: infiltrating the newspaper industry by securing a job there. Her ties to Halit smooth the path, and she swiftly finds herself assigned to pen an article on the devastating Pera Palace bombing. Though her heart yearns for answers about the missing women, Esra understands that she must first prove her worth.
Ahmet, too, delves into the past, his mind fixated on the 1892 earthquake as the catalyst that set everything in motion. Yet, his introspection is interrupted by Halit's revelation of a daring scheme. With Mumtaz's butler out of the picture, Halit orchestrates a ruse, tasking Ahmet with impersonating the butler and detonating an explosion in the Garden Bar under the alias Alfred Jones.
Esra's quest for Leyla remains steadfast, but Halit's insistent pull threatens to sway her resolve, urging her to remain in this era by his side. As for Esra's debut article, her surprise turns to disappointment when she discovers her work heavily censored by the editors' hands. Fuming, she confronts Mr. Yunus, only to be met with swift retribution—her dismissal for exceeding her bounds and displaying a fiery temperament unbecoming of a journalist.
Nevertheless, Sabiha's admiration for her resilience prompted her to dispatch a telegram, extending a career opportunity at the esteemed Tan newspaper. Upon arriving, a surprising encounter awaited her: her rival, Meliha, stood there, and together, they stumbled upon an anonymous letter, a sinister missive that not only affirmed the girls' abduction but also spewed vile, sexist taunts. The perpetrator's twisted agenda went beyond mere abduction; they threatened to end the women's lives unless they capitulated to a regressive, patriarchal lifestyle.
Amidst this harrowing revelation, Inspector Kadri's arrival cast a pall of gloom, delivering dire news. Naim's recent sighting of Halit's car at the mansion on the fateful night of Leyla's disappearance now compelled him to embark on a trip to the police station, each step heavy with the weight of impending danger and uncertainty.
