Episode 3 of Ripley kicks off with Tom harboring hopes of exploring the charming landscapes of Europe alongside Dickie. However, Dickie and Marge's unexpected plan to purchase a fridge casts a shadow over his excitement. To Tom, this fridge seems like a millstone, a burden that will tether them down and restrict their freedoms.
At this pivotal moment, a letter from Herbert Greenleaf arrives, delivering a shocking blow to Tom. He is dismissed from his position, as he has been in Italy for two months without succeeding in convincing Dickie to return. Additionally, Greenleaf sends a letter to his son, which remains inaccessible to Tom's probing eyes.
However, Tom inadvertently eavesdrops on Marge whispering to Dickie about his nefarious intentions. He jests to himself that Marge might be plotting to drown him, knowing his weakness for swimming. As a gesture of farewell, Marge suggests that Dickie accompanies Tom to the charming seaside town of San Remo.
The journey turns out to be a tense and awkward affair. Tom's eyes are constantly drawn to the heirloom ring belonging to the Greenleaf family, while Dickie mocks a group of gay gymnasts frolicking on the beach. Dickie rents a boat, and Tom can't help but recall his earlier jest about Marge's murderous intentions.
As they stop in the middle of the serene but isolated sea, Dickie delivers an ultimatum. He reveals that Herbert has written to him about Tom's assurances to bring him home by Christmas, and something about it doesn't quite ring true. Dickie doesn't want any hard feelings, but Tom's response is swift and brutal. He agrees, only to lunge at Dickie with the oar, intent on beating him to a pulp.
After Tom's demise, he greedily claimed all of Dickie's belongings, seizing his prized heirloom ring and the perfume intended for Marge. Chaos erupted as he frantically attempted to discard Dickie's body overboard, narrowly escaping a watery fate. Despite his efforts, he ultimately succeeded and steered towards a secluded cove, only to be thwarted when the boat stubbornly refused to sink beneath the waves.
Desperate to eliminate any trace of the bloodstained crime, Tom set the boat ablaze and hurried back to his hotel room. Although the hotelier cast suspicious glances over the mysterious disappearance of Dickie, Tom managed to check out without incident.
As he fled, Tom felt a persistent sense of being pursued, his nerves on edge as he dashed past the boat owner, who was frantically reporting his missing vessel to the police. Once safely ensconced on the train, Tom nervously slipped Dickie's heirloom ring onto his finger, drawing the curtains tightly around him as the final episode of Ripley drew to a close.
