Episode 5 of The Bear's third season opens with Natalie secluded in a church, her prayers echoing through the sacred space. As the clock ticks past midnight, we find her at home, her mind still grappled with the fear of passing her family's inherited mental burden to her unborn child.
Sydney gently guides Marcus through the maze of his mother's belongings, helping him find closure. He offers a heartfelt apology for making their encounter awkward with his unexpected invitation. Sydney dismisses it with a shrug and warmly welcomes him to the "Dead Mom Club."
At The Bear, Carmy struggles to perfect a dish, his frustration mounting. Richie, meanwhile, is stunned to learn that Andrea Terry is shutting down the Ever, the restaurant that had been Carmy's launching pad for Richie. Carmy, too, learns of the news and is invited to a "farewell dinner." An article on his phone flashes, speculating on the demise of fine dining. Richie prepares the restaurant's farewell photograph, assisted by the Fak brothers, Neil and Ted. They ponder whether to involve their other brother in this endeavor.
Sydney arrives at work, discussing one of Carmy's innovative dishes. She expresses sympathy for Terry and inquisitively asks Carmy if he sensed its uniqueness while working there. He responds, admitting he was too immersed in the hustle to notice.
Marcus stumbles upon Natalie, deep in pain as her due date nears, while searching for a recipe in Carmy's notebook. He shows her Carmy's sketches and reveals his concept for a violet-inspired dish, inspired by a white violet he encountered after his mother's passing. Natalie applauds the ingenuity.
Tina returns from the farmer's market, her baskets nearly empty. They urgently need to find a reliable produce vendor. Sydney slyly suggests to Carmy that their daily menu changes are hindering other critical aspects of the restaurant. Carmy assists Ebra when a tray slips from his grasp, questioning if he's jeopardizing everything. Ebra reassures him that he's not.
Richie engages with Jess from the Ever, who reveals that Terry broke the news gracefully, as if she had simply woken up and decided to move on. They still have a week of service left, but their interaction is surprisingly cordial.
As Tina crafts a delectable dish featuring Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, Sydney lends a helping hand, their combined efforts creating a culinary symphony. Meanwhile, Marcus works diligently on his signature violet-inspired meal. Carmy engages Natalie in conversation about the Ever, and then broaches the subject of Ebra's need for assistance at the beef counter. He suggests enlisting the aid of two acquaintances, Chucky and Christopher, and Natalie readily agrees. As Carmy attempts to delve into their shared past with their mother, Natalie deflects the conversation by bringing up Claire, and they decide to steer clear of those troubled waters.
Neil and Ted Fak summon their brother Sammy, played by the illustrious John Cena, to assist in preparing the restaurant for the imminent photoshoot. However, Sammy is irate over Ted's theft of his SD cards, vowing to "haunt" him in a Fak family tradition of pranking and surprising each other.
Inside the restaurant, Uncle Jimmy introduces Nicholas Marshall, better known as "Computer," who guides the staff through a thorough review of the restaurant's expenditures, making cuts wherever possible. This involves reducing wine costs, eliminating unused charger plates, and the restaurant phone that is no longer utilized for reservations.
Once the Fak brothers have tidied up the premises, the photographer arrives, capturing his shots under Richie's keen eye. The proceedings take an unexpected turn when the photographer requests the duck dish that had garnered praise from a recent reviewer. Alas, due to the ever-changing menu, the chefs are clueless about which dish it might be, and there is no duck in the kitchen at the moment. The only available option is to send Sammy Fak on a mission to retrieve it.
Deep within the recesses of the storage area, Carmy stumbles upon a box labeled "DD." Inside, he discovers a trove of vintage photographs, each capturing a moment in the life of DD, triggering a wave of memories and emotions.
