Episode 3 of "The Residence" kicks off with an eerie scene: pastry chef Didier meticulously cleans a blood-stained knife before discarding it, along with a cloth, into the incinerator. Instantly, Edwin's suspicions fall upon Didier, yet Cordelia, ever the enigmatic sleuth, employs another bird metaphor to caution him (and us) that appearances can be deceiving.
As the investigative thread unwinds, we delve deeper into the chaotic fiasco that was the state dinner. It transpires that Lilly Schumacher, the social secretary, had been consulting an "energy medium" and, together, they devised a plan to replace Didier's beloved Christmas gingerbread house with a wellness exhibition—a move that left Didier devastated.
Wynter, supposed guardian of the staff, remained silent, failing to intervene on Didier's behalf. Later, during the dinner, Didier's creative spirit struck again, suggesting a playful kangaroo atop his desserts, only to be once more quashed by Wynter.
Through Jasmine Haney, we gain insight into the pivotal role of the chief usher—a position tasked with managing the White House and shielding staff from external pressures. Wynter's repeated failure to safeguard Didier's artistic contributions raises the possibility of a vengeful motive. To compound matters, a gingerbread figure bearing Wynter's likeness, pierced by a knife, further implicates Didier.
Cordelia interviews Didier about his presence in the game room where Wynter's body was discovered, noting the incriminating blue stain on his shirt. Meanwhile, Sheila, a staff member, mentions seeing Didier heading towards the basement. The detectives soon uncover Didier's attempt to incinerate incriminating evidence—his knife and cloth—unaware that the incinerator was non-functional.
Didier finally breaks his silence, revealing that his office on the third floor houses his precious knives, safeguarded from theft. Upon ascending to retrieve one, he stumbled upon Wynter's body beside one of his knives in the game room. Knowing they had publicly clashed, Didier was gripped by panic and fear of suspicion. In a fit of distress, he seized the knife, cleaned it, and sought to dispose of it discreetly.
The narrative shifts to the gardening staff as the call to Wynter is traced to a room occupied by the garden employees. The chief gardener guides Cordelia and Edwin through the premises, but Cordelia swiftly deciphers her demeanor, deducing her innocence. However, she gleans that an unauthorized individual had previously accessed the room.
Throughout, Edwin remains steadfast in his conviction that Didier is the murderer, while Cordelia trusts her instincts. Earlier, she had inquired about a leaf found in Wynter's room, leading the gardener to a nearby tree. While searching, Cordelia spots a discarded, smoked cigarette on the ground.
Confronting Sheila, one of the butlers, she admits ownership of the cigarette. The episode concludes ominously with a chilling image: a knife being plunged into a gingerbread figure resembling Wynter.
