The eighth episode of Pluribus opens with Manousos awaking in the hospital, his mood sour from being whisked away from the jungle by the Joined. Seizing a doctor at knife-point, he storms out into the reception, disdaining free services and demanding a receipt for the hospital fees. To his satisfaction, he adds an ambulance to the bill as well. Rejuvenated by the news that he's in Panama, albeit not fully recovered, Manousos hails an ambulance and continues his journey.
Meanwhile, Carol prepares a drink for Zosia, but the atmosphere between them is thick with awkwardness. Eventually, they decide to play some card games, but Carol, starved for social interaction, is unsure how to navigate this new dynamic.
The rest of the Joined have returned to town, and Zosia explains that they don't believe in ownership. Everything is shared, and they all sleep under one roof – a nearby stadium. They don't just abstain from killing animals; when pets become attached to their owners, they stay by their side, and the Joined look after them with care. Carol even sleeps alongside them that night.
It becomes clear that Carol's method of gathering information is through a softer touch – and it pays dividends. Not only does she learn that trains are used to transport food around the country, but she also discovers that whatever individuals feel, the hive mind also resonates with it. The Joined are constructing a massive antenna and intend to harness all the power in the world to send a signal to Kepler-22b. This explains the blackouts and why all the power at Carol's has been disconnected from the central grid. This planet, 640 lightyears from Earth, is but one stop on the Joined's relentless quest for expansion – a viral drive to spread their influence as far and wide as possible. Once they've finished with our planet, they'll move on to the next.
It's a clever deception, and Carol continues the charade the next day, playing croquet with Zosia before being whisked away to an old diner that has been meticulously renovated and patched up once again. The diner was once reduced to ashes in a devastating fire, but the Joined have rebuilt it from scratch just for her. The sight is overwhelming for Carol, a place where she honed her writing skills in the past. She gushes about her old days here, shocked by the fact that the Joined have built it back up again. However, amidst the excitement, Carol leaves the diner silently and heads back home.
When Zosia returns, Carol confronts her, knowing that this is all a ruse to distract her. Zosia eventually admits that yes, they are aware that she hasn't given up on finding a way to stop them. Carol's vulnerability is evident as she admits that she'll do everything she can, even if it means being on her own again.
In a sudden move, Zosia leans forward and kisses her. The two end up sleeping together, and in the morning, Carol is hard at work, typing away on her typewriter. She's decided to switch her protagonist, Raban, to a woman now. The duo gushes over the book's plots and even cook food together, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere.
However, Zosia realizes that Carol's world is about to be changed forever, given that Manousos is almost here.
