Episode 5 of Sweetpea kicks off with a dramatic turn as Rhiannon's hit list undergoes a sinister transformation, now encompassing all those who've frantically rallied around Julia's disappearance, staging search parties. Alarmingly, she's even added herself to the list, haunted by her ambition to be a reporter and the calamitous consequences of her Julia-centered article.
At the precinct, Farrow confronts her DI with unwavering conviction, insisting that Rhiannon is the elusive killer. Yet, the DI remains skeptical, his suspicions leaning towards Marcus, who curiously made a cameo at the karaoke bar during Mike Roberts' gruesome murder.
AJ, meanwhile, hesitantly steps up to check on Rhiannon, who's taken a day off to grapple with Julia's ordeal. His demeanor is a mishmash of politeness and discomfort as he stands awkwardly at the doorstep. Upon catching a glimpse of Julia's voice, he mistakenly assumes Rhiannon is with Craig, his suspicions momentarily alleviated. But as he departs, chaos ensues within as Julia shatters a plate and lunges at Rhiannon, only to be swiftly incapacitated.
Rhiannon's troubles deepen as she confronts the aftermath—Julia, bloodied and battered, is submerged in the bathtub. Amidst the chaos, Rhiannon notices Julia's neck, marred by scars, a testament to Marcus' brutality when Julia dared to leave him. An unlikely bond forms between them as they share their tales of woe, Julia finally confessing her senseless bullying. She lacks a tangible reason, blaming her own unloving upbringing and projecting her pain onto Rhiannon. However, Julia stands firm in her belief that she's shed her past sins, accusing Rhiannon of perpetuating her own victimhood narrative.
Elsewhere, Farrow's investigation takes a surprising turn when she stumbles upon Julia's abandoned car at a construction site, unaware that it's registered under Rhiannon's name. Desperate for clues, she searches for CCTV footage, only to be met with a dead end—the crucial recordings have vanished without a trace.
Craig, poised for interrogation, eagerly seeks the solace of Rhiannon's company. She meticulously adorns herself, and Julia, ever the considerate friend, offers to enhance her beauty with a touch of makeup. As Julia applies, memories of Marcus's cruel retribution for her forgotten cosmetics surface, leaving her yearning for an escape route, one that might encompass both their liberations. Temptation flickers as she holds the sharpened eyeliner pencil, its tip mere millimeters from Rhiannon's vulnerable eye, yet mercy prevails, and the strike is not made. She ponders the hypothetical salvation they might have found in camaraderie, had fate aligned them as allies.
The evening's culinary endeavor with Craig proves lackluster, yet Rhiannon indulges his efforts, her motivation rooted in silence—to shield her presence from the authorities' prying eyes during his encounter with Julia. Returning to the fray of her job, Rhiannon and AJ are tasked with leading the search party, their assignment met with Jeff's mischievous taunts, hinting at Marcus's damning secrets he holds over her.
Meanwhile, Farrow's conjectures spiral into the realm of absurdity, accusing Rhiannon of a double crime: matricide and utilizing her father's storefront as a veil for her nefarious deeds. The DI's patience wears thin, admonishing her to curb her speculations and redirect her focus to Julia's enigmatic disappearance.
The search party gathers, its atmosphere charged as Rhiannon finds herself ensnared in a web of distractions—Farrow's relentless probing, Marcus's unexpected confrontation over stolen goods, and Jeff's sinister threat to expose her, jeopardizing her employment. AJ, witnessing the confrontation, inquires about her connection to Julia, only to be met with a fierce backlash, Rhiannon lashing out in frustration, labeling him obsessed. In the heat of the moment, she flees, unaware that AJ was on the verge of confessing his growing affection.
As she trails Marcus out, her hand hovers menacingly over the knife, poised to strike, Jeff's piercing gaze interrupts her deadly intent, his realization dawning that she is the elusive killer. The chase ensues, but fate intervenes as she's clipped by the relentless flow of traffic, her life hanging in the balance. Frightened and desperate, she's on the verge of discarding her weapon when Marcus' menacing text message chills her to the bone. Inspiration strikes, and she whispers a devious plan to Julia: they will frame Marcus for the heinous crimes, ensuring their escape together.
Elsewhere, Farrow's interrogation of Craig takes an unexpected turn as he uncovers the shocking possibility of Rhiannon selling her home to none other than her tormentor. His hesitation in shielding Rhiannon's movements on the fateful night only deepens Farrow's suspicions. Determined to uncover the truth, she sets out for Rhiannon's, only to be halted by Rory's cautionary grasp. Yet, luck favors them as Rhiannon and Julia have sought refuge in Julia's unfinished apartment, a fortress awaiting their trap.
Julia's strategy is meticulous: they'll lure Marcus with the alarm's false cry, tie her to the radiator, and wait for him to take the bait—the knife, poised to free her, will seal his fate. Rhiannon's call to the authorities stands ready as the clock ticks towards their trap's springing.
Punctual as ever, Marcus rushes to Julia's aid, his concern shifting to jealousy as he imagines her kidnapped ordeal turning into pleasure. As he chokes the life out of Rhiannon's friend, Rhiannon's plea for mercy falls on deaf ears. Julia, emboldened, declares her intent to leave him, prompting Marcus to resort to emotional blackmail, threatening suicide from the balcony. Rhiannon's patience snaps, and with a shove, she sends him plummeting towards his doom.
As the episode of Sweetpea, the fifth, draws to a close, the police sirens wail, and Farrow's gaze locks onto Julia and Rhiannon, standing triumphant yet haunted above Marcus' lifeless body, a testament to the twisted web of deceit and desire that had woven their lives together.
