Episode 4 of Ripley begins with Tom returning to Atrani, a newfound swagger in his step. He proceeds to pack up the villa, casually informing Marge that Dickie is currently in Rome and intends to stay there for an extended period. Dickie, he adds, won't be joining them for Christmas at Freddie's and prefers to be alone. He hands her the perfume, leaving her to assume that Dickie has found a new love interest.
Marge's inquisitive nature prompts her to probe further, and Tom is forced to weave an intricate web of lies to maintain his facade. However, he manages to keep her at bay, maintaining a straight face even when caught in his own contradictions.
Next, Tom negotiates a deal with Carlo, the smuggler, to sell Dickie's yacht. The negotiation is tough, with Carlo demanding a hefty 20% commission. Tom grits his teeth and agrees, deciding it's worth the price to avoid further scrutiny. Carlo's suspicions are piqued, but Tom manages to brush them off with a smooth explanation.
After that, Tom instructs a nearby hotel to purchase whatever they desire from the villa, effectively liquidating Dickie's assets. He fires Ermelinda and informs everyone that he will be handling Dickie's affairs while he remains in Rome. Amidst this chaos, Tom sneaks away with the Picasso painting, a prized possession he intends to keep.
Boarding a train to Rome, Tom practices mimicking Dickie's mannerisms and forgery of his signature. Arriving in the city, he heads straight to one of the finest hotels and checks in under Dickie's name. The clerk fails to notice the discrepancy in the passport photo, and Tom can't believe his luck. He unpacks his belongings, only to be interrupted by a call from Marge, who seems relieved to have found Dickie.
Tom hurriedly checks out, annoyed that he has to pay for the night despite barely setting foot in the room. He then relocates to a shabbier hotel, again checking in as Dickie. The clerk, once again, fails to recognize the discrepancy in the passport photo. Tom finally replaces the passport photo with his own, feeling a mixture of relief and trepidation.
Worried about the possibility of encountering the police at the bank, Tom takes a cautious approach. However, he manages to withdraw funds from Dickie's trust fund account without incident, his confidence growing with each successful step he takes in his elaborate ruse.
Then, he pens a letter to Marge, posing as Dickie, pleading for some personal space and emphasizing how Tom is such a stand-up guy and the one who actually discovered the perfume. She succumbs to the charm of his words and acquiesces to granting him the space he desires. However, she expresses her puzzlement over Dickie's sudden fondness for Tom and his discovery of the perfume, wondering if she should just make a trip to Rome.
Tom, feeling apprehensive, confides in the hotel clerk, revealing that Marge is his disagreeable ex-fiancee and instructing him to pretend Tom's not around if she happens to show up. With the funds from the yacht, Tom establishes a bank account under his own name. He delves deeper into Caravaggio's paintings, and the Goliath masterpiece particularly speaks to his soul. Additionally, he develops the photos from Dickie's camera and stumbles upon a picture of Dickie that causes him to hesitate.
As Christmas Eve approaches, Thomas pens another letter to the Greenleafs, still posing as Dickie. He lavishly praises Tom, extolling him as the perfect man they sent and acknowledging how much he has learned from him. At the conclusion of Ripley Episode 4, he confides that he will be missing Christmas with them, leaving them with a sense of longing and anticipation.
