Episode 4 of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" unfolds with a dramatic confrontation, as the townsfolk confront Apolinar Mascote and chase him away from Macondo with vigilant resolve. Jose's stance is unmistakable: the people of Macondo require no interference from the government. Nevertheless, a mere few days pass before Mascote reappears, accompanied by his soldiers and family, casting a shadow over the town once again.
Aureliano's heart is instantly captured by Remedios, one of Mascote's daughters, upon his return. The founding members of Macondo, including Jose, reluctantly convene with Mascote. They grant him permission to stay, albeit with the stipulation that he refrain from meddling in their affairs and allow the townsfolk to paint their houses as they please. Mascote, harboring a secret agenda, cunningly offers free blue paint to the townspeople, aiming to subtly reshape the town's essence. This act incites Jose's anger, but Ursula adopts a different tack, endeavoring to forge a friendship with Mascote's wife. She warmly invites them to her home and gives them a guided tour, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie.
During this time, Rebeca discovers a clandestine means to communicate with Pietro through letters. The Buendia household is suddenly brimming with the fervor of youthful love, as Aureliano, Rebeca, and Amaranta all find themselves ensnared by romantic feelings. Unfortunately, this burgeoning affection takes a sorrowful turn, as both Rebeca and Amaranta pine for the same man. Aureliano's longing for Remedios drives him to drown his sorrows in alcohol, ultimately leading him into the arms of Pilar. Echoing his brother's past indiscretions, Aureliano sleeps with Pilar to prove his masculinity. After affirming his virility, Aureliano, following Pilar's counsel,confesses his intent to marry one of Mascote's daughters to his parents.
Meanwhile, Rebeca's fortunes take a plunge when Pietro ceases his letter-writing. She resumes her perilous habit of consuming soil, and Ursula uncovers the source of Rebeca's anguish. She is astounded to learn that Amaranta, too, harbors love for Pietro but never dares to send her own letters. This revelation deepens Amaranta's animosity towards Rebeca, particularly when she learns of Pietro's intention to wed his sister. Consumed by jealousy and heartache, Amaranta begins to self-harm, further entangling the web of emotions in the Buendia household.
As the fortunes of the Buendia household plummet into a somber abyss, Ursula persuades Jose to sanction Aureliano's union with Mascote's daughter, driven by her terror of losing another son to fate. In return, Jose insists that Ursula endorse the marriage between Rebeca and Pietro. Days hence, Ursula and Jose accompany Aureliano to Mascote's doorstep to seek Remedios's hand in holy matrimony. To everyone's astonishment, it transpires that Remedios is but a child, far from ready for the wedding vows. Yet, both parents relent and agree to unite the couple once Remedios attains the ripe age for marriage.
Meanwhile, Rebeca pens a joyous letter to Pietro, relaying the heartening news, while Amaranta struggles to mask her envy and resentment. Amidst this tangled web of love, Arcadio dutifully cares for Melquíades, who sinks into a sea of despair upon completing his tome. Melquíades senses his end is nigh and entrusts Jose with a solemn task: to burn mercury for three consecutive days upon his demise. Jose, in turn, tasks Arcadio with bathing Melquíades in the river. Alas, in a fleeting moment of distraction, Arcadio turns away, and Melquíades is swept away by the relentless currents, perishing in the depths.
Jose and his comrades spend an entire night and the subsequent day in a fruitless search for Melquíades. They eventually discover his lifeless body, and Jose stubbornly insists on bringing him back to their home, defiance personified. Mascote cautions him against this, urging that the body should be interred, but Jose is convinced that Melquíades will rise again. After the prescribed three days of mercury burning, Ursula prevails upon Jose to confront reality and acknowledge Melquíades's mortality. They lay Melquíades to rest, and Jose casts blame upon Arcadio for his friend's untimely demise. Consumed by guilt, Arcadio weeps inconsolably at Melquíades's grave, finding solace in Pilar's comforting embrace. Elsewhere, the ghostly visage of Prudencio makes a haunting reappearance.
Upon Pietro's return to Macondo, Amaranta issues a grim ultimatum, threatening to end his life, a conversation inadvertently eavesdropped upon by Ursula. Alarmed by this revelation, Ursula and Jose confer and devise a plan to escort Amaranta beyond the town's borders, hoping the change of scenery might mend her shattered heart. Jose, opting to remain as the steward of their domain, decides against the journey, leaving it to Ursula and Amaranta to embark on their voyage.
In the absence of her sister, Rebeca seeks solace and guidance in the form of a fortune-telling session with Pilar. The diviner's prognosis is bleak, warning her that her path to joy will be anything but smooth. Meanwhile, Aureliano shifts his focus to Remedios, investing time and patience in teaching her the basics of literacy.
However, with Ursula's departure, Jose's mental stability begins to unravel. He finds himself consumed by an odd fascination with the toys Pietro had brought back from his numerous excursions, spending countless hours attempting to dismantle them, curiosity piqued by their inner workings. His declining health opens the floodgates for Mascote to wield even greater influence over the town's fabric. His friend's heart aches upon witnessing Jose's sorry state. Gradually, Jose's demeanor darkens, transforming into aggression, prompting Aureliano to resort to tying him to the chestnut tree that stands sentinel in their home.
When Ursula finally returns, she arrives to a heartbreaking scene—Jose's condition has deteriorated beyond repair, rendering him incapable of self-care.
