Episode 4 of "The Better Sister" kicks off with Chloe immersed in a vivid dream, where Hank's funeral unfolds with an eerie twist. Hank, cracks jokes with a laughter-tinged defiance, casting disdainful glances towards Nicky. Meanwhile, Sheila, with a steely resolve, secures the casket, her actions as resolute as they are final. To everyone's astonishment, young Ethan arrives, a gun slung ominously at his side.
Chloe awakens from her haunting reverie to find Nicky engrossed in baking, her offering of warmth met with Chloe's dismissive wave. Sharing the details of her nightmare, Chloe chuckles at the memory of her mother's perpetual tension with Hank, whose easygoing demeanor was a stark contrast. This revelation stirs Nicky's curiosity but is abruptly cut short by the release of a new article that exposed Nicky, Chloe, Adam, and Ethan's intricate sibling-wife connections. Chloe's panic is palpable, while Nicky's heart is wounded by the discovery that Chloe kept her existence shrouded in secrecy. Catherine, too, is distressed by the revelation, her demeanor distant as she insists that the board requires an immediate statement from Chloe.
Wearied by the swirling chaos, Chloe contemplates canceling Adam's wake, but Janie, Catherine's daughter, persuades her otherwise. As Chloe exits, she decides to proceed with Adam's cremation, now that the autopsy has concluded.
Elsewhere, Nicky attends an AA meeting, her mind drifting back to a tumultuous past where a drunk Hank alternates between rudeness and joviality. In a tender moment before bedtime, he offers her whiskey, and, despite her aversion, she obliges. Sharing her story with the AA group, Nicky confesses that alcohol was the solitary bond she shared with her father. His disdain for her ran deep, prompting her to drink even when she despised it. Further compounding her distress is Chloe's shame, which has led her to shut out that part of their family and bury all traces of Nicky's past. Ken, a compassionate attendee, urges her to confront Chloe, emphasizing that secrets can fester like poison.
His advice resonates deeply as Chloe subsequently opens up to Jake, portraying Nicky as a selfish addict. She had pinned her hopes on Ethan to rehabilitate Nicky, but his untimely drowning left her solely responsible for his welfare. In the process of raising him, Chloe and Adam fell deeply in love, choosing to "bury" Nicky for the sake of a fresh start, albeit metaphorically.
With the entire world as her audience, she subtly suggests that nothing romantic could ever blossom between her and Jake. He appears to grasp her meaning but politely excuses himself. Catching a glimpse of his phone left unattended, she discovers text messages addressed to Bill, informing him that nothing incriminating was found at Adam's beach house.
Next, Nicky pays a visit to Ethan, who is visibly bruised and battered. He pleads with her not to mention his condition to Chloe. As they reminisce, he confides in her that he has started seeing a therapist. Surprised, she wonders at his sudden apprehension, given his past reluctance towards therapy. Terrified, he implores her to visit him weekly.
Back at home, Chloe meticulously packs Adam's belongings. She hallucinates his presence, and he ponders whether he ever accomplished anything worthwhile in his life. She reassures him, believing they did share some good times. A paparazzo snapshots her from a rooftop, eliciting an annoyed glance. Adam, in her hallucination, teases that she will miss the limelight when it fades.
Michelle's call finally breaks through, cautioning Chloe to lay low as the court frowns upon additional scandals.
Heading to the beach house, Chloe finds Nicky busy preparing gazpacho for them. She persuades Nicky to attend Adam's wake, and a tender moment of bonding ensues. However, their heartwarming connection is shattered when Nicky brings up the topic of therapy, recalling Adam's disdainful view that it was only for the weak. She stands firm, asserting its benefits for families like theirs, which prompts Chloe to snap. She insists that their family was perfect and blames all misfortunes on Nicky's poor decisions.
Wounded emotionally, Nicky finally unveils Hank's dark side, revealing that one fateful night, fueled by alcohol, he mistakenly identified her as Sheila and attempted to initiate intimate relations with her. Sheila's ultimatum was the catalyst for Hank's subsequent sobriety. Chloe, taken aback, stubbornly clings to the notion that the incident was merely an unforeseen mishap and Hank, despite this, was not inherently a wicked person. Their conversation is abruptly halted by Matt, whose skepticism over Chloe's decision to cremate Adam's remains grows. Nicky, frustrated, escorts him out, and the sisters proceed to the wake, an event hosted by Catherine with an air of opulence, even inviting a reporter to cover the occasion.
Catherine casts a judgmental eye on Nicky, who brings a gazpacho as a token of remembrance. To add insult to injury, the board announces Chloe's temporary leave of absence, an arrangement she reluctantly considers but Catherine insists is beneficial.
Meanwhile, Nicky finds herself in a bathroom meltdown, emerging to find all eyes on her while guests shower Chloe with condolences. Seeking distraction, she flirts with a waiter and indulges in alcohol. Janie, attempting to strike up a friendship, becomes the target of Nicky's exaggerated tales. Elsewhere, Bill and Jake discuss work matters, revealing that Gentry has extended their contract.
Catherine pressures Chloe to deliver a speech, amidst her worries about Nicky. Chloe, desperate for Nicky to depart, meets with resistance. Overwhelmed by the events, Chloe too succumbs to panic, until she learns that Ethan's trial is just five weeks away. Seeking a voice, she confides in reporter Sid Evans, revealing that she suppressed Nicky's truth for Ethan's sake.
Post-wake, Nate, the waiter, approaches Nicky, and their chemistry leads to an intimate encounter, all while Catherine watches from a distance with a keen eye.
Chloe returns home, succumbing to alcohol as well, annoyed that Sid hasn't bitten the bait and published her story. She sits in Adam's car, where memories of Hank's reckless driving flood back. Young Chloe's terror and Nicky's reassuring handshake resurface vividly.
Snapping out of her reverie, Chloe discovers the business card of FBI Agent Edward Olivero. She dials his number, and the scene shifts to him lurking outside Jake's beach house.
As The Better Sister Episode 4 concludes, Nicky returns home and plunges into the pool. Her mind plays tricks on her, hallucinating Hank and Adam, whom she dives underwater in a desperate bid to make them disappear.
