The narrative of Episode 5 of Season 2 of "Surface" resumes at the enigmatic Huntley House, where Eliza awakens to find Tess's absence cutting through the morning stillness like an unwelcome chill. Tess has vanished into the early dawn, leaving Anna with a palpable sense of unease. When Eliza attempts to brush it off with a nonchalant shrug, Anna's probing gaze reveals her skepticism, clear as crystal.
Similarly, William's disbelief lingers heavy, Tess's sudden reappearance after years of absence weighing heavily on his mind. He decides to tackle this conundrum head-on, making a strategic decision to forego placing a security detail on Eliza—at least, for the time being.
Elsewhere, Claire is privy to a bombshell revelation from Callum: he admitted to leaking the footage featuring Phoebe and Quinn to a supposed "friend," rationalizing that their publication wouldn't dare run it. This footage unearths a startling truth—the whispers about unsolved cases being entangled with foul play are, in fact, far from mere rumors.
Later that afternoon, James reaches out to Tess, insisting that a face-to-face conversation is imperative. They converge at St Pancras station, settling into a bar that happens to be the very same locale featured in Season 4 of "Slow Horses," adding an eerie layer of coincidence to their encounter. Over drinks, James divulges that the firm is drowning in debts, and despite Tess's belief that insurance would cover their losses, he had actually pulled some strings to spare her from incarceration—until, of course, she orchestrated her dramatic plunge from the bridge.
However, this noble gesture has landed James in a perilous predicament. He's taken out a loan, and the clock is ticking. His possessions have been claimed by loan sharks, leaving him penniless and with mere days to rectify the situation. Should he fall short, his life could be on the line. The sum owed stands at a staggering 100,000 pounds, and he implores Tess for assistance, yearning for the same fresh start Sophie was granted. Yet, Tess deflects, reminding him that her mission here is not rejuvenation but revelation.
Tess confides in James, revealing her conviction that Henry Huntley is her father and that Emma's murder was a calculated move to bury secrets. She's here, as we know, to build an ironclad case. James's mind races back to their last conversation, where Tess had wandered off for hours after visiting Emma's grave. Clearly, Tess harbors fragments of her mother's story, though the complete picture remains elusive.
James escorts her to an address steeped in nostalgia, where the current resident recognizes her instantaneously, their acquaintance tracing back to Emma's university days. Having relocated to the United States years after her time in London, Emma's history intertwines surprisingly with Sophie's father, whom she met during his semester at Oxford. Unfortunately for him, his academic endeavors did not pan out, a failure kept hush-hush from the media. His father, disapproving of their relationship, resorted to bribing Emma to terminate her pregnancy, a decision she ultimately made, plunging her into obscurity.
James begins to sense that something is amiss, prompting Sophie to confess her true identity; Tess is merely an alias. Quinn, too, becomes privy to Tess's familial connections, ultimately revealing to Grace the grim truth about Phoebe's demise and the murky underbelly of their family.
Back at the residence, Grace urges William to confide in Eliza before the situation spins out of control. The intricate web of secrets leaves much to be unraveled. Disturbed by the turn of events, William seeks legal advice upon Tess's arrival and rekindles his friendship with Eliza, viewing her renewed presence with suspicion, determined to cover his tracks. Recognizing her legitimate claims against him, regardless of the circumstances, he prepares to safeguard his liquid assets. Richard advises him to compensate her to avoid further complications.
Quinn visits Grace next, who is far from pleased with the unfolding drama. Similarly, Quinn's mood darkens upon discovering William's intent to silence Sophie with a monetary settlement.
After their earlier visit, Sophie escorts James back to her apartment, where she unlocks the safe and retrieves the digital USB drive. With a moment of contemplation, she decides to transfer the funds. However, the instant the transaction is complete, James' demeanor undergoes a striking transformation. It transpires that he had no flight booked; he had been meticulously observing her all along and has now acquired her safe's passcode.
Elsewhere, Eliza discovers photographs of Emma in William's possession and confronts him about this discovery. Simultaneously, Quinn engages in a conversation with Claire, who reveals her true colors as a mole, collaborating with William to gather intelligence. He subtly threatens her, extracting information about Tess, whom he learns is "not who she claims to be." Yet, the insights he gains extend no further than this cryptic revelation.
Later that evening, Callum arrives at Sophie's place armed with a file brimming with information. His countenance betrays his dissatisfaction, as he is acutely aware of her deceit. The near-loss of his job has left him bitter, prompting him to depart, urging her to desist from any further involvement in his life. However, amidst the turmoil, a pivotal clue emerges—Tess's demise, particularly as the file on her contains detailed references to a location known as St David's Church, hinting at a deeper, untold story.
