As the curtains rise on the fourth chapter of Sullivan’s Crossing, Sully (Scott Patterson) finds himself astride his steed, tirelessly attempting to establish contact with Frank. Meanwhile, Frank Cranebear (Tom Jackson) stretches towards the phone by his side, equally desperate for a connection. Connie Boyle (Lauren Hammersley) reaches out to Maggie, relaying urgent news: Chelsea’s phone has been located roughly a kilometer off the highway, nestled amidst the foliage near marker 98. Maggie (Morgan Kohan) and Cal Jones (Chad Michael Murray), driven by urgency, rush into the woods, their hearts pounding with hope.
Upon arrival, they stumble upon Frank’s vehicle parked haphazardly, hinting at his prior presence. Inside, they discover Frank sprawled on the ground, a gunshot wound marring his form. Maggie springs into action, her hands deftly attempting to stem the flow of life from his body. Cal, meantime, uses the radio to relay the dire situation to Connie. Maggie’s assessment is grim; the bullet, she believes, has pierced Frank’s lung, necessitating swift action to prevent suffocation. As they work feverishly, Frank stirs, his voice a whisper of confirmation that he still draws breath. "Lambda and Kappa," he mutters, words that stir a memory in Maggie—the fraternity caps worn by those men from karaoke night.
Sully’s arrival brings more hands, though his mind is fraught with the daunting task of informing Edna of Frank’s plight. Connie and Rafe (Dakota Taylor) soon follow with the ambulance, their siren’s wail a mournful symphony in the tense atmosphere. Rafe underscores the necessity of someone staying to break the news to Edna, prompting Cal to depart with Maggie, whose urgency brooks no explanation.
Returning to Edna (Andrea Menard), Sully’s words are laden with gravity as he reveals Frank’s fate, though he clings to the hope of his recovery. Meanwhile, Maggie and Cal uncover a grey SUV matching the description given, Cal swiftly radioing Tom Canaday (Hugh Thompson) with the update. Tom’s orders are clear: do not engage. Maggie’s sharp eyes catch sight of one of the café patrons from the previous night, Chelsea’s backpack slung over his shoulder. Suspecting their impending departure, she resolves to thwart their escape.
Inside the cabin, discord reigns as the two boys debate Chelsea’s fate. Clifford (Peter Sarty) is dispatched to answer the door just as knocks sound. Darryl (Ryan Nielsen) struggles to silence Chelsea (Perdida Brown), his every move tense. Maggie coaxes Clifford outside, weaving conversation around the karaoke night memories. As Clifford strides to his car, Cal strikes from behind, only for Darryl to emerge, gun in hand, forcing Cal’s release. Clifford’s hurried confession of an accident rings hollow, while Maggie pleads with Darryl to lay down his weapon. His protestations of unintended consequences fall on deaf ears until Maggie wrests the gun from his grasp.
Tom and his fellow officers arrive, swiftly securing the boys in custody. Maggie steps inside, her concern for Chelsea paramount. Tom informs Cal that both will be required to provide statements at the station. The woods, once a sanctuary of nature’s whispers, now echo with the aftershocks of human conflict and the fragile threads of hope for recovery and justice.
He readily consents to allowing them to escort Chelsea back to her family initially. Upon her return to the campground, her parents beam with joy at her safe return. At the hospital, Sully is astonished to discover that Frank has decided against pressing charges, albeit the others are still confronted with an array of accusations. Tom chastises Maggie for jeopardizing her life, to which Sully counters by suggesting that Tom ought to be grateful to Maggie, for without her, they would never have located Chelsea. Sully and Maggie proceed to check on Frank, with Maggie scrutinizing his records and assuring that all indicators are positive. Sully reassures Edna that Frank will revert to his former self in no time at all. Edna, feeling relieved, agrees to accompany Maggie to the cafeteria for some sustenance. Meanwhile, Sully lingers behind to converse with Frank.
Elsewhere in the hospital, Sully engages with Roy, who is sharing a room with Lola (Amalia Williamson). Roy expresses his gratitude to Maggie for her assistance. Maggie offers to revisit him later, but Lola assures her that everything is well in hand. Sully is eager to return to the workshop, fearing what mischief Jackson might be getting up to. Maggie heads to the diner to grab a bite from Rob (Reid Price), sharing with him that Tom was incensed by her interference. Rob attributes Tom's demeanor to his strict moral compass, further disclosing that this rigidity is the crux of Tom and Connie's separation. As Rob steps away to prepare her sandwich, Maggie dials Andrew (Allan Hawco) to recount the events, but he's preoccupied and abruptly terminates the call.
Maggie then ventures to the store to speak with Jackson (T Thomason) and lend a hand. She also inquires after him, given the turmoil in his family. Maggie confides that she once attempted to visit Sully but the visit didn't pan out, prompting her departure. Jackson entrusts her with overseeing the store as he attends to signing up guests for climbing lessons. Just as Jackson exits, Cal strolls in, explaining that he needed a brief respite after everything that transpired. Maggie empathizes, stating that it was overwhelming for her too, and she's grateful Cal was there for support. They decide to tackle the repair of the refrigerator together. Meanwhile, Jackson discusses enrolling Nathan (Josh MacDonald) for lessons, with Nathan revealing his attempt to help Kaleb (Calem MacDonald) overcome his acrophobia.
Jackson persuades Kaleb to ink his signature on the waiver, acknowledging Kaleb's recent height-induced anxiety. Despite Kaleb's reservations, Jackson reassuringly asserts that no one has ever toppled from his expertly managed climbs. Jackson, fully certified and seasoned in working with anxious climbers, stresses his reliability. Meanwhile, Cal and Maggie triumphantly restore the refrigerator to working order. Nathan enters the scene, seeking Maggie's advice for purchasing fishing gear. After he departs, Maggie confides in Cal that her early years included fishing excursions with Sully. Cal enthusiastically proposes a fishing trip together, but Maggie's obligation to manage the store, with Edna hospitalized, stands in the way.
Sully arrives, pleased to hear about the refrigerator's revival. Maggie informs him of Mr. Blake's urgent call to reschedule their meeting. Sully remains tight-lipped about Mr. Blake's identity. During their meeting, Mr. Blake reminds Sully of his substantial loan with overdue payments. Sully pleads his case, highlighting their upcoming best season ever and requesting another extension. However, he's warned that failure to meet the payment obligations could lead to foreclosure. Sully passionately argues that Sullivan's Crossing, a family heirloom spanning generations, cannot be jeopardized by such threats. Before exiting, he's given an ultimatum—until the end of next month to rectify the situation.
Maggie tries reaching out to Andrew again, only to have him abruptly terminate the call due to an impending operation. He suggests a virtual dinner date for that evening as a compromise. Maggie subsequently joins Cal by the waterside for fishing, swiftly realizing his ineptitude with the rod. Lola visits Sully at the store, expressing her belief that Roy might require in-home care. Sully, empathetic as ever, hands her money to cover all necessary expenses.
Maggie confides in Cal, remarking how the tranquility outside almost erases her longing for the city's hustle and bustle. Just as Cal inadvertently slices his hand, Maggie springs into action, eager to attend to his wound. In gratitude, Cal offers to prepare fish on the grill for their meal. Maggie agrees, albeit with a hint of longing to return home and refresh herself. Sully, sensing an opportunity, volunteers to make her a sandwich, only to discover she has dinner plans later. Intrigued by the store's lull, Maggie inquires, and Sully speculates it's a seasonal lull, destined to pick up soon. Noticing Sully's preoccupation, Maggie suggests he might still be worried about Frank and encourages him to seek someone to talk to. Sully brushes it off as mere exhaustion. Maggie thanks him for standing by her side during the hospital ordeal.
No sooner has she hung up the phone than it rings again; it's Scott Mehan, informing her that the deposition is slated for a couple of weeks hence. He warns her to be well-prepared for their formidable lawyer. After the call, Maggie joins Cal by the grill, her worry evident. Cal, sensing her anxiety, mentions Sully's hint about a lawsuit. Maggie unveils the details, acknowledging it as one of the pitfalls of being a neurosurgeon and confessing it's her first. To her astonishment, Cal reveals he's a lawyer and offers to help her prepare for the interrogation. Maggie gratefully accepts his offer. Meanwhile, Andrew's call goes unanswered, reaching only Maggie's voicemail. Cal, feeling fatigued, suggests they call it a night. Maggie thanks him for the dinner and bids farewell.
Back at his place, Sully pores over bills, the gravity of their financial situation dawning on him. Realizing the dire straits, he dials Mr. Phillips to inquire about securing a line of credit at the bank.
