Navigating the intricate web of lies, secrets, and sudden disappearances in Palm Royale Season 2's Episode 4, Maxine finds herself at a crossroads where her future hinges on proving her innocence in Norma's mysterious disappearance. The scenario is as absurd as it is compelling, fitting seamlessly into the show's quirky vibe. Tom's assumption that Maxine is guilty for Norma's absence, fueled by her "last words" of "Don't kill me, Maxine," is a mere presumption devoid of concrete evidence. Yet, the stakes are high for all involved, especially as Douglas tries to usurp the Dellacorte estate for Pinky, despite Norma's bequest to Robert.

Enter Sidonius, Norma's right-hand man, whose involvement in her disappearance is a game of cat-and-mouse between Evelyn's threats and his reluctance to grant her a controlling share in Palm Royale. The process of securing the necessary signatures from Palm Beach's founding families becomes a tangled web of manipulation and misdirection.
As Maxine, rescued from police detention by her unlikely yet benevolent lawyer-turned-gynaecologist Dr. Dusty Magic (a name that reads like a joke but is, surprisingly, real), pursues her lead in London—where she discovers Norma using her assumed identity at the Ritz—she faces an unexpected hurdle: her status as a murder suspect in the public eye. Her attempt to clear her name through a public display of affection with Tom, before the press, backfires when she learns of Tom's secret romance with Robert. And with Robert inheriting all of Norma's assets, Maxine finds herself in a bind—a pickle, if you may.
Meanwhile, Evelyn's quest for the necessary signatures involves blackmailing Perry with Dinah's saucy correspondence and manipulating Mary through the occult. A Ouija board session reveals that "Norma" died in the Alps, a truth that only serves to deepen the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Norma they know. It's a twist that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, as the ladies take this supposed revelation as confirmation that the Norma they know has met her end.
In the exquisite moment of Palm Royale Season 2, Episode 4, Maxine makes an appearance at Tom's doorstep, following her confrontation with his wife about their illicit affair. Initially, it seems she's about to confess it was all a ruse, but in a bid to shield Tom's real infidelity with Robert, she doubles down, her actions akin to a jittery dance between truth and deception. Though it's not a grandiose scene, it's a microcosm of Maxine's character – messy, fumbling, yet with a heart in the right place.
In contrast, Mitzi serves as the polar opposite in this episode, undergoing a radical transformation in "Maxine Unwrecks a Home." She pushes Douglas to finalize their marriage, shuts him out of the bedroom until he complies, snoops around Robert's house, and exudes an unsettling, calculating aura. Throughout Season 1, Mitzi was largely an empty vessel, but in Season 2, that vessel is being filled with something ominous. She might end up posing a greater threat to the old guard ladies of Palm Beach than any of them anticipated.
As is customary, the episode concludes with a double cliffhanger – Douglas is kidnapped, and Robert prepares to reveal the Agnes story to Maxine. Both developments promise to yield exciting developments in the remaining episodes.