The fourth episode of Playing Gracie Darling commences with a poignant flashback, as Frankie flees from an unseen pursuer and finds refuge in the church, where she encounters Zac. His gentle touch as he bandages her knee sets the stage for their heart-to-heart conversation. Frankie unburdens her soul, revealing her mother Ruth's alcoholism and her ongoing grievances about her great-grandfather, James. Her voice trembles with fear as she recounts Gracie's mysterious disappearance, wondering if the same fate awaits her.
In the present day, a garbage collector stumbles upon Frankie's bag amidst the trash, while Joni, at the pharmacy, picks up a contraceptive pill and crosses paths with Anita, who informs her of the discovery. Joni dials Jay, inquiring about Peter's whereabouts and the recent developments regarding his arrest.
Jay's surprise turns to shock as he learns of Joni and Peter's late-night encounter, urging her to tread carefully. Joni confronts Peter about his heated exchange with Frankie and whether he played a part in her disappearance. Peter's cryptic admission that he grew close to Ruth following Gracie's disappearance and his suggestion that Frankie might be his daughter sends chills down Joni's spine. She implores him to come clean with the authorities.
Meanwhile, Pattie engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Mina about the rituals of various cultures. As Joni arrives home that morning, Pattie inquires about her date. Joni shares that Lulu has been plagued by repetitive nightmares and bedwetting, prompting Pattie to suggest returning to the city for a fresh start. Joni strives to comfort Lulu by encouraging her to sketch her nightmares, seeking to unlock the source of her distress.
Lulu, with a brush in hand, sketched a girl with her eyes obscured, mirroring the photograph of Gracie that lingered in Peter's cabin. Joni's eyes widened in shock as Lulu whispered of a ghostly presence that haunted them all. In an attempt to soothe her friend, Joni attempted to read a story, but her voice soon drowned in slumber. Joni was then plagued by another nightmare, this time of Gracie seizing Lulu and leaving her in a state of terror.
Determined to help, Joni sought out Caitlyn, still reeling from her own struggles. As they spoke, Caitlyn suffered another attack, claiming Levi's presence and an impending threat to her life. Zac's sudden appearance sent Caitlyn into a seizure, and soon after, Lewis and the other children followed suit.
The parents, alarmed, gathered at the church. Joni explained the teens' collective psychosis and urged them to avoid contact. Zac, preaching divine intervention, stood by Joni's side, and the parents agreed with him. In private, however, Joni argued with Zac, questioning his beliefs.
That night, Joni found Mina performing the same ritual Caitlyn used to summon Gracie's spirit. Later, Joni and Jay delved into the contents of Frankie's phone, watching a video of Frankie and Raffy summoning Gracie. Frankie's seizure when Raffy mentioned Levi forced Raffy to flee, leaving Frankie alone in the cottage.
In the present day, Joni struggled to stay awake in bed, avoiding the grip of nightmares. Jay's own hallucination of Gracie sent him into a panic, and Joni apologized to Mina for her behavior the night before. Mina accused Caitlyn of manipulating everyone and claimed she and Frankie were enemies.
Joni confronted Caitlyn privately about the seizures and threatened to reveal her involvement in selling drugs at the party. Caitlyn admitted she was faking illness due to her jealousy of Zac and Frankie's bond. She revealed that Zac and Frankie often prayed alone together. Joni grew concerned and asked Jay to check Raffy's laptop for any conversations with Frankie about Zac.
Meanwhile, Mina went to the church to meet Raffy but stayed after the meeting. She ended up talking to Zac and they ventured to his bunker in the basement. Jay informed Joni that Frankie had shared images with Raffy containing notes suggesting Zac was sleeping with Frankie. Joni panicked and tried to reach Mina. She arrived at the church to find Mina in the basement with Zac, furious at the revelation.
Joni asked Mina to wait outside and confronted Zac about his relationship with Frankie. Zac denied any involvement with her, explaining that he was falsely arrested after turning 18 due to his girlfriend's parents' actions. Joni was confused by this revelation but left, leaving behind a tangled web of secrets and suspicion.
