Episode 5 of "Small Town, Big Story" kicks off with an urgent phone call from Brad to Wendy, alerting her to a monumental issue. Despite Jack E.'s involvement in the production, they startlingly discover that they do not possess the rights to the book, and the Publishing House stands firm on this matter. Each passing day without an official signature brings about an avalanche of complications, jeopardizing their chances of bringing this tale to the small screen.
It transpires that Jack has been perpetuating a fraud; he did not pen the book and is not even a historian. The authentic author resides in Birmingham, far removed from this deceitful charade.
Elsewhere, Seamus receives devastating news: Barry's mother has passed away. This heart-wrenching revelation resonates deeply, given her earlier cryptic warning to Seamus about "them" not being finished with the Proctor family. Her words now seem ominously prophetic, especially with the inclusion of another woman in their abduction visions.
Seamus faces another blow as he attends the Medical Board, where he is placed on indefinite leave pending an investigation. His harrowing abduction narratives cast a dark shadow over his professional standing. Amidst this turmoil, he grapples with what the future holds.
Meanwhile, Wendy and Jack embark on a mission to secure the writer's signature, with Wendy orchestrating a deal along the way. Back in Drumban, Wendy seeks solace in the woods, bidding farewell to Shelly while indulging in a cigarette of weed. The weight of failure presses heavily on her shoulders, prompting her to contemplate leaving and never returning, unable to bear the shame of defeat.
In a tender, empowering moment, Shelly offers Wendy a heartfelt pep talk, bolstering her spirits amidst the despair.
All that remains is a mere handful of establishing aerial shots for the production, yet deploying the drone stirs up an inexplicable commotion amidst the sky. Inside the cozy pub, trailing after Barry's mother, Catherine and Matt exchange adoring glances, their eyes saying what their lips dare not. Just outside, Seamus confronts them, revealing he's been privy to their affair for some time. He had noticed her scent of bargain-basement men's deodorant but stayed silent, believing her contentment outweighed his hurt. Her silence, he reasoned, was a kindness, sparing him unnecessary anguish.
Of late, Wendy has been almost deliberately seeking discovery, and Seamus accuses her of cruelty, his patience worn thin. Divorce is a certainty for Seamus; he's unmoved by her attempted justifications. Catherine's bitterness towards him runs deep, rooted in a tragic car accident from years past. Once a heavy drinker, though sober on that fateful night, the accident consigned her to a wheelchair for life.
Elsewhere, in the woods, the earlier encountered hippies resurface, orchestrating an enticing spectacle for the aliens—and it proves successful! A spaceship materializes abruptly overhead before vanishing just as swiftly. This ritual unfolds annually, with Shelly's father at its helm. Meanwhile, Seamus sets off to confront Wendy, determined to resolve their fractured union.
