Episode 4 of "The Institute" kicks off with a heated dispute between Luke and Avery over Kalisha's fate. Amidst the tension, new recruits are introduced: the Wilcox twins, a duo brimming with potential, and Harry, a bully whose presence looms large. The staff devises a plan to observe the children's reactions to Harry's antics, using him as a litmus test of sorts. Sigbsy remarks insightfully on how twins can amplify each other's abilities, making them ideal candidates for the PC track. Meanwhile, Stackhouse remains silent as Hendricks dismisses the PC program's practicality, gaslighting her under the guise of rational discourse.
In the rec room, Harry's rude behavior escalates, as he berates the other kids and demands to be sent home. Luke and Nicky are forced to adopt an aggressive stance to gain his attention. Avery notices that Luke has delved into Harry's mind, revealing his newly acquired status as a TP. Yet, Luke keeps this secret, fearing expulsion to the dreaded Back Half.
Elsewhere in town, Tim persists in his conviction that Annie's death was not a drug overdose. The Chief remains unconvinced and refuses to authorize an autopsy. However, Wendy sides with Tim and whispers a crucial piece of information: Annie's tent remains untouched.
Hendricks, Stackhouse, and Tony corner Luke for an unauthorized test—the Dream Box, the final hurdle of the First Half. Luke is subjected to excruciating pain until he establishes a connection with the Hum. Should he succeed, graduation awaits. As he ventures into the depths of his mind, Luke encounters disturbing visions, including haunting images of his parents.
Simultaneously, Tim snoops around Annie's tent, uncovering a hand-drawn map of the Red Steps, located in proximity to the Institute. He also stumbles upon a news clipping detailing the tragic death of Kelly Sloane and her companions. Intriguingly, her can contains lipstick marks, while the alcohol bottle remains untouched.
Luke "fails" the Dream Box and is relegated to his room. To his surprise, Avery appears, beaming with excitement. He has located Kalisha, and using his TP powers, transports Luke into her mindscape.
The Back Half is a densely populated area where the majority of the children appear to be in a trance-like state. Kalisha, looking pale and weary, expresses relief at hearing from Avery and Luke, yet harbors a hope that she will soon be sent home. The omnipresent Hum resounds loudly, audible even to Avery amidst the sea of Back Half kids.
Kalisha reveals that the Back Half offers them a semblance of greater freedom, marred only by a seemingly harmless test known as Movie Night. During this peculiar ritual, they watch a person through a covert camera, and upon closing their eyes, they find themselves immersed in that person's mind, akin to a first-person shooter game. The boys also catch sight of Iris, looking utterly drained and detached from reality. Kalisha clarifies that initially, Movie Night brings clarity to their clouded minds, which is how Avery had managed to locate her. However, the respite is fleeting, soon giving way to headaches and a lifelessness that engulfs the children. When Iris can no longer endure Movie Night, she will be relegated to the Recovery room. As they draw nearer to this ominous place, the Hum intensifies, causing Avery to lose his connection.
Meanwhile, Luke imparts the latest developments to the others, but George remains steadfast in his trust of Sigbsy and refuses to contemplate a rescue mission. Nicky, exasperated by Luke's cautious approach, resolves to first uncover concrete evidence of the children's fate in the Recovery room. Harry, on the other hand, has quickly forged a friendship with the twins, much to the amusement and teasing of the other kids. Avery also picks up on Luke's feelings for Kalisha, who in turn has a crush on Nicky, much to Nicky's entertainment.
Elsewhere, Sigsby accidentally burns her hand while viewing unauthorized footage of the Dream Box test. She confronts Luke about his test results, insisting that he is now a Telepath (TP). He remains tight-lipped, and in her frustration, she inadvertently reveals her ignorance about the Dream Box. Luke quickly seizes upon this revelation, heaping suspicion onto Hendricks and Stackhouse, amidst the murky waters of staff politics. It remains uncertain whether Sigsby has been duped by his maneuverings.
Harry's performance following his initial test leaves much to be desired. Tony, immersed in a somber mood, snaps at a concerned Luke, instructing him to steer clear when the latter inquires about summoning a doctor. Maureen attempts to soothe Luke, yet he callously calls her out. She subsequently escorts him to a secluded area and sternly advises him to behave appropriately. Luke, ever the manipulator, plays on her emotions by invoking the memory of her deceased son to garner sympathy.
Tim ventures to Wendy's, unloading his burden and disclosing everything, including Annie's grim prophecy about the Senator's demise. Together, they delve into the mysterious deaths of the Red Steps teens, their conversation interspersed with playful banter. A tender moment arises, leaving both flustered, with Tim abruptly dashing away.
That fateful night, Luke's premonition strikes: Harry, enveloped in agony, is foreseen slaying one of the Wilcox twins. His urgent plea for assistance arrives just a heartbeat too late. Consumed by pain, Harry inflicts harm upon Greta Wilcox, precisely as Luke had foreseen.
Elsewhere, armed with Annie's map, Tim embarks on a solo journey towards the enigmatic Red Steps.
Within the Institute's confines, Sigsby asserts that Harry and Greta are on the mend, having reconciled. She attempts to "brighten" the children's spirits, issuing a stern directive: any dissent concerning Harry or Greta's wellbeing must be promptly reported.
Luke, consumed by anxiety over his powers demonstration, decides to expedite their escape plan, grappling with the perplexity of foretelling events. Precisely at this juncture, Tony, who had previously aided Luke in rescuing Greta, and Hendricks summon Luke for yet another unauthorized telepathic (TP) test, unauthorized by official standards. Plunged into a tank, Luke is subjected to asphyxiation each time he declines to decipher Hendricks' thoughts. Protesting his status solely as a telekinetic (TK), Luke finds himself unconvincing to Tony.
During an intimate encounter, Sigsby confronts the doctor, dangling the threat of exposing the shadowy boss's aversion to precognitive (PC) advancement, deeming the progress too sluggish and the rewards unworthy. Hendricks buckles under pressure, revealing that it was Stackhouse's scheme all along. Their sinister plot is to auction Luke off to the highest bidder once he masters his precognitive abilities. Sigsby silences Hendricks with a stern warning and nudges him towards banishing Luke to the ominous Back Half. Though Hendricks seems momentarily swayed by Luke's pretense he lacks TP abilities, Sigsby remains unconvinced. Determined to uncover the truth, she resolves to test Luke herself.
After Luke's "failed" tank ordeal, Maureen and Avery assist him back to his room. Avery, fearing for Luke's life, unwittingly triggers a revelation in Maureen's mind. Sensing her thoughts, Avery discovers her role in transporting unconscious children from the Back Half to the Recovery room. As The Institute's Episode 4 draws to a close, Avery confides in Luke, unveiling the dark secrets that unfold within the Recovery room's confines.
