The seventh episode of Season 1 of "Nine Perfect Strangers" kicks off with Masha being engrossed in bitter reminisces from her tumultuous past. As she watches her daughter joyfully pedaling on a bicycle, a sudden collision with a speeding vehicle shatters the serene moment, plunging Masha into a profound abyss of sorrow. Carmel, with a harsh punch across Masha's face, jerks her back to the harsh realities of the present. Yao, his face smeared with blood, hastily intervenes and manages to restrain Carmel, while they hustle her away from the scene. Frances, overwhelmed by the chaos, begins to panic. Tony, sensing her distress, proposes they all vacate the premises together. As he starts reciting a passage from her book, Tony's appearance morphs abruptly, sprouting long hair and adorned in white robes – a vivid hallucination triggered by the escalating treatment.
Earlier in the season, following their encounter with Zack, both Heather and Napoleon toy with the notion of being with him, despite acknowledging that the whole scenario might be a deceptive mirage. Napoleon remains conflicted about Heather's revelation, which revealed her deceit about the pill bottle and its detrimental side effects.
Lars strays from the group, drawing Masha aside for a private conversation. He unveils that the deceased guest was Aaron Connolly, who expired on the resort's premises, explaining the visions of Masha and Delilah administering CPR to a child. Masha, however, dismisses the situation as a mere heart attack, brushing off Lars's concerns with indifference.
Nonetheless, Lars's presence on the island harbors a deeper purpose – to unravel the mysteries surrounding Connolly's demise. His mother, the one who entrusted him with this mission, urged him to delve into the project.
As the situation begins to unravel further, Masha urges the Marconi family to "up the ante" in their encounter with Zack. She promises them visions beyond their wildest imaginations, pushing them to escalate their dosage. This grand scheme of hers was previously successful with only one guest – Aaron Connolly.
Of course, Lars leaps into action, confronting Masha with an air of accusation, demanding to know the rationale behind her actions. Aware of Masha's background, he suspects she is crossing boundaries with the Marconi family, using them as pawns to somehow reconnect with her estranged daughter. In truth, the participants in this project have become mere guinea pigs in Masha's experiment.
Delilah has reached her breaking point, refusing to witness another catastrophe unfold at the resort. Her efforts to reason with Yao fall on deaf ears, leading her to pack her belongings and make a solitary exit. Or, at least, she tries to. The gates are securely locked, and the premises are in a state of lockdown. Undeterred, Delilah drives through a fence, leaving in defiance, to Masha's utter astonishment.
With the workforce dwindling, Frances wanders off on her own, perched precariously on the cliff's edge, gazing out at the undulating waters. When Masha catches wind of this, she postpones her plans with the Marconi family to ensure Frances's well-being.
Interestingly, this conversation serves as a window into Masha's soul, revealing the forces that drive her. Since the tragic loss of her daughter, Tatianna, Masha has been battling an unrelenting sorrow, leading a hollow life devoid of fulfillment.
With everything spiraling out of control, Masha administers a dose to the Marconi family, assigning Yao the task of escorting them to the forest, where they have reportedly encountered Zack most frequently. Meanwhile, Masha visits Carmel, who is grappling with doubts and a desire to flee the facility. Masha attempts to persuade her otherwise, but as Carmel turns to face her, her eyes - two distinct colors - betray a vision of Masha's troubled past. These visions hint that the gunman who attacked her in the parking lot possessed the same peculiar eye condition.
