The episode kicks off by illustrating the fateful encounter between Mark Scout (portrayed by Adam Scott) and Gemma/Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) at a blood donation drive, setting the stage for their intertwined destiny. Devon Scout-Hale (Jen Tollock) and Asal Reghabi (Karen Aldridge) attempt to awaken Mark from his slumber, with Devon's anxiety mounting as he remains unresponsive. Asal, eventually disclosing to Devon about Mark's process of reintegration, finds herself met with skepticism; Devon insists that what truly matters to Mark is knowing whether Gemma still breathes. Asal assures her that Gemma indeed lives.
Gemma undergoes a thorough physical assessment at Lumon, subsequently dressing in a striking red dress and being escorted to meet with a dentist, her path mysterious and intriguing. Devon's attempts to revive Mark instead plunge him into a nostalgic reverie, revisiting cherished moments with Gemma. One memory flashes back to the revelation that Gemma was pregnant, another to a harrowing scene where he discovers her in the shower, blood streaming down her legs, painting a vivid picture of their tumultuous past.
Gemma arrives at MDR to observe Helly Riggs/Helena Eagan (Britt Lower), amidst the enigmatic ambiance of the facility. Meanwhile, Mr. Drummond (Olafur Darri Olafsson) engages in a conversation about the severance barriers, hinting at deeper layers of the narrative. Gemma and Mark visit a physician, and soon after, Gemma is seen alone in a Lumon waiting room, a sense of solitude enveloping her. During their conversation about starting a family, Mark administers a shot to Gemma, the scene charged with unspoken emotions.
Gemma undergoes another examination at Lumon, sharing her experience of visiting six rooms yet retaining no recollection of them. She confides in Doctor Mauer (Robby Benson) that only one room remains unexplored, and today, it bore a name: Cold Harbor. Curiosity piqued, she inquiries about the significance of visiting all the rooms. Mauer responds cryptically, revealing that upon completion, she will once again see the world, and the world will see her. Her heartfelt question about reuniting with Mark prompts a response from Mauer that hints at a greater purpose for Mark, tied to the world she is bringing into existence.
The following morning dawned, yet Mark remained in a slumber. Devon, concerned, shared with Asal the idea of visiting the Birthing Retreat, suggesting they converse with Mark's innie there. Asal, unmoved, clarified that these were disparate matters and assured her of her own method to extricate Gemma. Her frustration peaked when Devon floated the notion of contacting Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette). In defiance, Devon attempted the call nonetheless, prompting Asal to hastily gather her belongings and depart. With Asal's absence, Mark's murmurs turned to Chikhai, a language that tugged at forgotten recollections.
In a vivid flashback, Mark and Gemma's conversation about Chikhai Bardo unfolded, along with her mysterious enrollment at the clinic. This dialogue spiraled into a heated dispute when Mark inquired about the futility of her pursuits. Gemma's image flickered on a plane, either plummeting or enduring severe turbulence, amplifying the tension. Drummond confided to an unseen figure that Mark was stranded at 96% due to a setback caused by a nosebleed, hinting at a poignant farewell awaiting them.
Gemma, penning a heartfelt thank you note to Mr. Tisdale, struggled amidst the festive backdrop of a man in a Christmas sweater observing her. Her voice trembled as she inquired about the duration of her task, to which he responded cryptically, hinting at the cyclic nature of Christmas. She countered, insisting that for her, it was perpetual Christmas.
Meanwhile, Gemma tuned into a Lumon Record while Mark wrestled with assembling a crib, his frustration evident in each misplaced screw and misaligned plank. Inside Lumon, Mauer paid Gemma a visit, inquiring about her well-being. She confessed her hand pain, prompting him to inquire about the room's origin. Allentown was her stark reply. With a yearning to return home, she revealed her desire, only to be met with the bombshell that her husband had remarried and fathered a child. Skeptical, she seized the moment of his distraction to strike him with a chair, snatching his keycard.
Navigating the dimly lit corridors, Gemma's feet pounded against the floor, a symphony of escape. Her dash led her to an elevator, a beacon of hope in the sea of darkness.
In a cherished memory, Gemma eagerly attempts to persuade Mark to accompany her somewhere, their destination filled with the promise of lively charades. However, Mark is seemingly preoccupied with a paper he is obligated to submit. Later, within the somber confines of Lumon, Gemma steps out of the elevator into yet another dimly lit hallway. Shortly thereafter, Seth Milchick (played by Tramell Tillman) joins her. He informs her that her outie had inadvertently wandered into the wrong elevator while attending a public art exhibition. With a stern demeanor, he instructs her to turn around and return to the elevator.
Meanwhile, Mark is engrossed in his paper when a vehicle pulls up outside his residence. Concurrently, Gemma finds herself once again awakening within the elevator's confines. As Mark approaches the front door, he is startled to see the police presence outside. Gemma, defeated, sinks into the elevator seat as if surrendering to her fate.
Upon waking, Mark discovers Devon keeping watch over him. She inquires about his whereabouts, prompting a fleeting recollection of Gemma. And with this haunting reminder, the episode draws to a close.
