In the year 2023, the third episode of The Crystal Cuckoo opens with Maria and Carlos in a state of blissful love, their romance palpable on screen. However, their harmony is shattered when Carlos mistakenly believes Maria is only with him out of pity, causing him to storm off in Marta's car, which subsequently plunges off a cliff. The day of the festival arrives, and Clara shares with Juan the news of Carlos' dance performance. Despite his best efforts, Juan finds it difficult to connect with Rafa on this topic. As the episode progresses, Juan warms up to Clara and invites her to attend the festival together.
Flashing back to 2004, Miguel embarks on a nocturnal mission to break into Gabriel's house, filled with animal skulls, bird masks, taxidermied birds, and drawings of birds. He soon discovers that Gabriel has gone missing, but no one finds this strange, considering Gabriel's quirky nature. Meanwhile, Miguel is dealing with the impending release of Carlos' test results, which have him nervous. Miguel and Juan promise to keep a close eye on Carlos.
Through a gathering with Rafa and his wife, Patricia, Miguel learns that there are rumors circulating about Magda running off with an older man. Miguel confronts Patricia for perpetuating these lies and Marta begs him to restrain himself. However, Miguel reveals his new theory to her: What if Gabriel was in a relationship with Magda and killed her?
Miguel goes as far as to question Gabriel's sister, Raquel, who has not spoken to him for decades. Raquel had always made a point to keep Rafa away from Gabriel, and we soon learn why: Gabriel abused every woman he was with. His first love, an Italian painter, disappeared shortly after teaching him how to sketch. Coincidentally, Gabriel also left a day after Magda "left."
Returning to 2023, Clara's attention turns to Ramon, the town's historian. There have been 11 disappearances in the last 30 years, and Miguel was obsessed with this case. After Carlos grew up, he followed in his father's footsteps. Ramon tells Clara that Carlos took some of his case files and never returned them.
Nearby, a local named Chelo keeps insisting to the cops that Miguel is alive and kidnapping people. Maria brings a drunk Paco with her to the festival, but he doesn't want to be there. He causes a scene and catches Braulio's attention. As the grandfather of little Manuela, Braulio believes Paco is the culprit and attacks him. Paco's alibi happens to be Maria, which allows him to escape unscathed.
As Maria imparts, Clara discovers that Carlos' dance was a poignant mimicry of wing beats, a metaphorical fluttering of a soul in flight. Paco, on the other hand, has been grappling with sobriety for the past four years, his journey a testament to perseverance and redemption. A dance ensues, with dancers clad in bird masks, their movements a symbolic representation of the wandering souls lost in the vast expanse of the woods.
Flashback to 2004, when Carlos was diagnosed with brittle bone disease, a diagnosis that casts a somber shadow over the family. In this tense atmosphere, Miguel strives to be the beacon of light, striving to lift the spirits of his loved ones.
Returning to the present year of 2023, Clara inquires about Carlos' demise from Marta. Marta shares that he endured pain but refused to accept the grim reality of suicide. Her desire for closure prompts Clara to accompany her to the bonfire that night. In an effort to make amends with Maria, Paco achieves sobriety and reunites with her. Maria reassures him that better days are ahead, and as she hurls Carlos' Thoreau poetry book into the flames, a sudden shot rings out from Braulio.
