Episode 6 of "Smoke" kicks off with Dave Gudsen confined to a hospital bed, still recovering from the aftermath of his harrowing car accident. His knee is burdened with a sprained ligament, and a mild concussion clouds his thoughts, yet miraculously, no other significant injuries mar his person. Ashley, standing by his side, exudes an air of detachment, her stance hardening when Dave unleashes a storm of sarcasm, aiming to evoke sympathy through guilt. Labeling him a failure in their婚姻, her words slice through him like a knife, provoking a torrent of curses from Dave as the mask of nicety slips, revealing the pain etched across his tear-streaked face. "And there it is," she remarks coolly before turning away.
Dave finds himself unrecognizable in his own reflection, the grasp on reality weakening by the minute. His mind drifts, casting him as the lead in a tacky detective thriller, a far cry from his current predicament. Though soon discharged, news of his plight wings its way to Michelle, who also catches wind of the milk jug and the brazen arson attack, pondering whether these acts stem from a copycat or a crime fueled by passion.
Enter Ezra, stumbling into the station, his words a jumbled mess as he rails against Englehart about the arson spree. Slurred speech and a cocktail of drugs cloud his judgment, yet his proof, though bizarre and eclectic, holds a semblance of plausibility, especially when Michelle fortifies his theory with reference to Dave's novel. Intrigued, Englehart agrees to listen, albeit reluctantly.
However, they require more tangible evidence than the cliché-ridden prose and underdeveloped characters of Dave's book. Michelle possesses a cigarette found in the field, potentially bearing his DNA, but it alone falls short of securing a conviction. Ezra then brings up the five fires along Route 7, footage that indeed places Dave's vehicle in proximity to each blaze. Englehart remains undecided until he hears a snippet on Dave's audiotape that rocks his foundation. It's a personal anecdote, one that only the arsonist could possibly know – and it sends shivers down Englehart's spine.
Despite the inconclusive results from the cigarette DNA analysis, Englehart has reached his saturation point and acknowledges that Dave might just be their man. Meanwhile, Dave persists in his solo pursuit of the milk jug killer, uncovering that the slain husband was the HR head at Coops. After a brief call to Englehart, Dave declares his intentions to take a much-needed "recovery day."
However, Dave does not abide by this plan. Instead, he dives into the CCTV footage, unearthing Freddy's true identity. With this newfound information, Dave promptly heads to Coops' headquarters to inquire about Freddy. The receptionist mocks the notion of Freddy ascending to the position of a manager, her laughter cutting through the absurdity.
Freddy, now thoroughly unstable, has never missed a day of work in eleven years. His unexpected absence in the morning sets off alarm bells among the staff, including the new manager, Dev. When Lee reaches out to Freddy, the latter confesses that he won't be returning to work anytime soon, instead choosing to hole up at a nearby, abandoned fairground. In his backpack, Freddy carries his most treasured possessions: a wad of cash, cherished photos, and important certificates. In a moment of despair, he decides to torch them all.
Speaking of destruction, Freddy has pinpointed Dev's residence. With nothing left to lose, it seems that the new manager has become his next target. When Lee catches wind of this plan, he realizes that Freddy has completely lost his grip on reality.
Lee manages a narrow escape from the fairground after Freddy's invitation, partly owing to the chilling aura that enveloped the latter. It was an intensely tense sequence, when one considers all the circumstances. Meanwhile, Dave delves deeper into the mystery, heading to Coop's to converse with Dev and also delving into Freddy's background. It transpires that Freddy had shuffled through 27 foster homes from birth until he "entered society." His last foster home, where he stayed for three years until his 19th birthday, ended abruptly when the state ceased funding his care and his foster mother evicted him. Six months later, the house was reduced to ashes in a fiery blaze, claiming the lives of two adults, two teenagers, and two young children under the age of six. This tragic event occurred back in August 2000.
Dave persists in his hunt, eventually breaking into Freddy's current apartment. As someone with a background in arson, Dave knows exactly what to look for and swiftly discovers jugs hidden in the closet. He also peruses Freddy's search history, finding an abundance of pornographic content but no emails in the sent folder.
Dave understands the wealth of information that can be gleaned from someone's trash, and in Freddy's bin, he uncovers a business card for a salon and Freddy's locks.
Amidst these developments, we cut back to Michelle, who returns home to find Benji awaiting her. Her joy turns to shock upon learning that her mother will be released from prison on Monday. Benji's news wipes the smile from her face, and she struggles to maintain composure.
Elsewhere, Freddy has set his sights on a new target, and it is not Dev. He arrives at Brenda's place, dousing it in gasoline and clutching a lighter in his hand. Brenda is horrified, tears of fear streaming down her face, as Freddy recounts his life and his perpetual sense of outsiderhood.
Freddy appears poised to ignite the inferno, but just as he's about to strike the flame, Dave bursts through the door, grabs a fire extinguisher, and halts Freddy in his tracks. A broad, maniacal grin spreads across Dave's face, accompanied by an unexpected and prominent erection. Dave quickly dials to report the incident but turns to a stunned Brenda with a reassuring smile. "Hey, you're safe now," he says.
