Episode 6 of Ripley opens with a shocking discovery: the cops have finally unearthed Freddie's lifeless body, prompting the arrival of Inspector Pietro Ravini. The investigation proceeds at a leisurely pace, lacking the thoroughness it deserves. A telling detail is overlooked - the hat Tom hurriedly placed on Freddie's head is discarded without much scrutiny.
However, Ravini's detective instincts are sharper than his colleagues. By simply inquiring with the car's owner, he manages to unearth Freddie's identity and vital information. His next move is to descend upon Freddie's hotel room, where he stumbles upon a male companion and Tom's address, a crucial clue in the case. The cause of death is also revealed - a blunt object was used to inflict the fatal blow.
Meanwhile, Tom's mind is playing tricks on him. He hallucinates seeing Dickie, yet for the first time, he fails to scour the newspapers for clues. Oblivious to the drama unfolding, the landlady busies herself cleaning up fresh bloodstains on the stairs, mistakenly assuming a cat has dispatched a hapless mouse.
As Tom prepares to depart for Palermo, Ravini unexpectedly appears on the scene. Suspecting Tom of being Dickie, he interrogates him about Freddie's demise. Tom's demeanor is shifty, and the bloody scarf belonging to Freddie lies conspicuously in the bathtub. But as always, luck seems to smile upon him. Tom concocts a story about Freddie being robbed during his amorous escapades, a tale that is enough to send Ravini away, albeit with instructions to await a phone call.
Elsewhere, Marge's heart sinks as she discovers that Dickie's boat has been sold. A local boatman hints that he may never return to Atrani, adding to Marge's anxiety. Finally, she catches up with the news about Freddie's grisly demise and Dickie's interrogation, a revelation that leaves her shaken.
Meanwhile, a phone call from Max Yoder, a close friend of Dickie, interrupts Tom's troubled thoughts. Thinking it's Ravini on the line, Tom answers the phone. Max, unaware of the mix-up, assumes he's speaking to Dickie and expresses his desire to see him before he leaves Rome. Tom, playing along, pretends to be under police questioning and never makes an appearance, further complicating the already tangled web of lies and deceit.
Meanwhile, the local boatmen stumbled upon Tom and Dickie's bloodstained San Remo boat, a grisly discovery that sent shockwaves through the serene waters. The police promptly interrogated the hotel clerk, who provided valuable information about Tom and Dickey's activities. He revealed that only one of them had checked out, but he remained uncertain as to which. Ravini, upon receiving this news, found himself increasingly perplexed by the unfolding mystery.
As Marge attempted to inquire about Freddie's case, she was dismayed to learn that Ravini was unavailable. Tom, eager to escape yet again, made a hasty attempt to flee for Palermo, but Ravini's timely appearance thwarted his plans. Ravini hinted darkly that Tom Ripley had vanished, the boat was stained with blood, and Dickie was the last person to see him in Rome, making him a potential suspect.
Tom, as always, spun a web of lies, this time riddled with inconsistencies. He claimed that they had returned the boat and that he had dashed to Rome due to Marge's insistence. He dismissed Freddie and his wealth with a wave of his hand, suggesting that he held no grudge against them. Ravini, however, was not so easily fooled this time. He suspected that Tom was on the run, possibly involved in Freddie's untimely demise.
Nonetheless, Ravini reluctantly allowed Tom to depart for Palermo, provided he remained in contact. As Ravini departed, Marge unexpectedly arrived, having obtained the address from the police. She was startled to find Tom at Dickie's residence, and Tom quickly spun a tale about Dickie fleeing due to the police's relentless pursuit in connection with Freddie's death.
When Marge inquired about the yacht, Tom dismissed it with a shrug, claiming that Dickie had done as he pleased. Tom hurriedly sent her back to Atrani and made a dash for Palermo, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and suspicion in his wake. The episode ended with Tom's hasty departure, leaving the viewer eager for more revelations in the mysterious tale of Tom Ripley.
