Episode 4 of The Curse kicks off with a triumphant dawn for Asher and Whit, as HGTV greenlights a full-fledged season of their show, "Flipanthropy"! It was Dougie, the intrepid pioneer, who first grasped the news. The call rang out twice, and on the second attempt, he grasped the phone, yet barely managed a word before his phone's dwindling battery left him stranded. Charger out of reach, he was also at a loss for his whereabouts, surrounded by three cars — his own and two others, all parked beside a rippling river on a vast expanse of land.
Dougie cast his gaze at the words inscribed on the back of his hand: "Under the Big Tree." Naturally, he ventured beneath the towering giant, yet found no sign of the next clue. Irony at its finest, it was under the shortest of the trees that he stumbled upon the keys to all three cars, along with a note bearing the addresses of Kalvin and Wyatt, the owners of the other vehicles.
Dougie traced the note's directions to a sprawling mansion, where he encountered a perplexed Kalvin's mother. The truth emerged: Dougie had offered to buy beer for Kalvin and Wyatt outside their school, a bizarre attempt at imparting a lesson on the dangers of drunk driving, or so he claimed. Kalvin, desperate to evade blame, shifted the entire responsibility onto Dougie, but Dougie cleverly defused the situation, pointing out the difficulties a criminal record would pose for Kalvin's college applications.
Martha Donovan, who had earlier informed Dougie of the good news, now called the elated couple. She also mentioned that the network had chosen to refrain from portraying the new homeowners as "displaced people," a decision that initially piqued Whitney's displeasure. However, she soon convinced herself, and Asher, that it was ultimately for the greater good.
Asher's business instincts ignited, as he envisioned the potential for flipping houses at a higher profit once the show aired. Whitney floated the idea of Asher enrolling in a "comedy class" to hone his humor skills before the cameras rolled. Though initially offended, Asher conceded to the need for such a class.
The doorbell chimed, heralding a visit from Maria Whit, a neighboring resident. She presented them with a note from Victor, another community member, adding yet another layer of intrigue to their already eventful day.
The harsh and accusatory tone hung in the air, leaving a palpable discomfort among the community members. Vic's accusations against an unnamed "someone" for stealing his packages echoed through the neighborhood. Maria, sensing the undercurrent of racism in the note, implied that the other native residents were not at ease with the situation. Whitney, determined to diffuse the tension, reassured Maria that she would talk to Vic and promptly made her way to confront him.
However, Vic was in no state to apologize or retract his accusations. He had lost valuable packages and was convinced that "one of them" had taken them. Whitney left, disappointed, her dismay deepening when she saw the stove appliance, which they had preinstalled in the house, dismantled by Vic. This blatant disregard for their "passive home" principles left her bewildered, while Asher was more concerned about the perfectly functional $7000 appliance lying exposed outdoors.
Asher arrived at Questa Lane, bearing food and other necessities for the family. He conducted a mold test while engaging in light conversation with Hani about the curse trend on TikTok. However, his true intention was to gauge Nala's knowledge about different types of pasta, which she lacked. Abshir, sensing the underlying intent, quickly intervened, escorting Asher to another room and asking him to desist from discussing the "curse talk." Their culture held the topic in high seriousness, and Abshir had worked hard to dissuade Hani from indulging in such conversations.
Meanwhile, Whit, seated at the plaza, instructed her assistant to request Fernando to refrain from bringing his gun belt to the store. With the coffee shop soon to open, he would revert to his role as a barista. Asher, determined to retrieve the stove from Vic's house, enlisted the help of one of his employees, who reluctantly agreed to load it. However, as expected, the stove broke into two pieces, with the other half left near the house as the pair fled in a state of panic.
While strategizing with Dougie, Asher requested him to remove Vic from the show. Dougie, attempting to reconcile past differences, apologized for "bullying Asher at camp." Confused, Asher realized he had no recollection of such an incident, much to Dougie's relief. Asher sought solace by discussing the curse with Dougie, who then showed him footage from that fateful day. He asserted that curses were real and had led to the loss of his wife, Melanie. Although this was mere speculation, Asher took it seriously.
The episode culminated in a whimsical fashion. Dougie, having found a shard of Native pottery near a tree, pondered over its deeper meaning, only to realize there was none. Whitney, on the other hand, had a profound experience listening to hymns and chants emanating from a religious gathering, her soul finding solace in their melodies.
