In the gripping fourth episode of "The Horror of Dolores Roach," the narrative picks up right where it left us, revealing a startling twist: the officers hot on Luis's heels are merely patrons queuing outside the storefront, posing as law enforcers. Jonah Pearlman, the scion of the landowner, harbors no eerie suspicions; his mind is solely focused on the property deal and Luis's overdue rent. When probed about his negotiations with Gideon, Luis weaves a web of half-truths, claiming a recent conversation, leaving Jonah hesitant yet inclined to accept his narrative.
Luis then diverts the conversation to Mr. Pearlman's vacation, sweetening the deal with an empanada, ironically prepared using his own father's meat. This bizarre exchange catches Dolores off guard, prompting her to confront Luis about his covert intentions. Unfazed, she retaliates by igniting the remaining empanadas, sending a fiery message.
Desperate for a fresh start and fearing Luis's unpredictable nature, Dolores resolves to return to academia, seeking solace in the pursuit of her degree. Stepping into her former institution, she chances upon a familiar face—Georgina Bellyard, a prestigious professor and cherished friend from her past. As Dolores inquires about the enrollment process, fate intervenes, and she finds herself unable to connect with Georgina just yet.
Her path later crosses with Marcie, her nemesis at the eatery, where the drug dealer's suspicions are roused by the long queues outside, suspecting Dolores of poaching her clientele. Dolores, determined to shed her old skin, endeavors to convince Marcie of her transformation into a legitimate masseuse. Offering a healing massage as a gesture of goodwill, she vows to have forsaken her illicit past.
As the therapeutic session unfolds in the basement, Marcie's curiosity about Dolores's background and journey lingers. Dolores recounts the tale of Tabitha, her cellmate and mentor, a one-armed masseuse who ignited her passion for the trade. Amidst these confessions, Dolores expresses her yearning for solitude, hinting at a desire to flee the town.
Marcie, impressed by Dolores's ambition, offers assistance, but Dolores's composure falters at the unexpected show of empathy. Seeking a moment's respite, she steps away only to find Marcie rummaging through her belongings, convinced that Dolores is still involved in an illicit drug ring. Her search for evidence of deception and customer poaching intensifies, turning the peaceful massage session into a tense confrontation.
Marcie embarks on a frenzied rampage, hacking away at Dolores' massage therapy table, her eyes ablaze with determination to uncover the hidden substances she's convinced lie beneath the plush foam layers. Dolores watches in horror as her beloved table is reduced to ruins, her heart shattering along with it.
As Marcie unleashes a venomous narrative, detailing how Dominic cunningly orchestrated a trap for Dolores, painting her as the scapegoat, she further stirs the pot by revealing intimate encounters she and countless other women shared with him. Dolores' rage boils over, ignited by Marcie's vicious accusations and the desecration of her sanctuary.
In a fit of uncontrollable fury, Dolores lunges forward, her hands closing around Marcie's throat. She squeezes, the life force ebbing from Marcie's body as Dolores' grip tightens, a final snap of the neck sealing Marcie's fate. The air thick with betrayal and vengeance, Dolores abandons the gruesome scene, her mind racing.
Encountering Caleb mid-interview with Luis in the basement, Dolores casually drops a chilling hint, mentioning a "fresh delivery" within, her words laced with an ominous undertone. Her nerves frayed, she flees the scene, realizing her path once again leads to the confines of a prison cell. But her intentions are far from surrender; she yearns to confront an old acquaintance from behind bars.
Tabitha, on the other side of the wall, receives snippets of Dolores' life on the outside, the tales of Luis' abode and her therapeutic practice painting a picture of resilience amidst turmoil. Then, Dolores' tone darkens, her words dripping with malice as she seeks Tabitha's aid in hunting down Dominic. Her heart heavy with betrayal, Dolores vows to make him pay for exploiting her trust, her quest for revenge a beacon in the darkness that engulfs her.
