Episode 4 of "The Residence" unfolds with Cordelia embarking on a bird-watching expedition with her nephew, a venture that soon falters as he finds his enthusiasm waning amid the challenge of spotting a single bird. With a hint of disinterest, he remarks on how his mother—Cordelia's sister—would fare in such a scenario. In response, Cordelia weaves a tale from the past, recounting how her sister once lost her beloved sock and how Cordelia's relentless pursuit, fueled by an obsessive nature, led to its recovery; it had inadvertently been carried off by a neighbor's dog during a visit. This anecdote ignites a spark in her nephew, who the next morning is depicted as a patient observer of avian life.
The narrative then pivots to Sheila, the butler, whose heavy drinking is whispered about among the staff, while she endeavors to paint a different picture of herself. Confiding in Cordelia, she reveals indulging in a solitary shot of vodka in the game room prior to delivering the bottle to Mrs. Cox, the president's mother-in-law.
Through a series of revealing interviews, we revisit the chaotic state dinner, a disaster largely attributed to Lilly Schumacher's inept planning, which resulted in empty seats tarnishing the event. As fate would have it, Sheila was seated beside the former first lady, an old acquaintance from the past. However, Wynter's anger over this seating arrangement boiled over, and she publicly reprimanded Sheila. Amidst the fear of impending dismissal, Sheila's disdain for Wynter surfaces, openly and unapologetically.
Later, we uncover the intriguing tale of Sheila, who ascended the stairs with the intention of presenting Mrs. Cox with a bottle of vodka, yet found herself unable to resist its temptation, consuming the entire contents within the confines of the game room. This revelation clarifies the mystery behind the glass discovered there. Subsequently, she ventured back for another bottle, but fate had other plans; Jasmine, concerned for her safety after Wynter's grim discovery, forbidden her from venturing further into the third floor.
Cordelia, meticulously piecing together Sheila's scattered and elusive narratives, finally confronts her with an unassailable truth, rendering further deceit impossible. Sheila, in a state of confession, admits that after stumbling out of the game room, intoxicated beyond measure, she glimpsed a shadowy figure wandering the third floor, yet remained unable to discern their identity.
Furthermore, she confides that, while indulging in a cigarette beneath a tree—an action that clarifies the presence of the leaf Cordelia discovered within the game room—she caught sight of an intruder, distinct from both the Australian delegate and the chef, entering the garden supply room.
In parallel, Cordelia and Edwin receive preliminary autopsy findings that shed light on Wynter's tragic demise: he succumbed to a blow to the head, delivered by a blunt, substantial object, and had been deceased for at least a half-hour before his body was discovered. Intriguingly, post-mortem wounds adorned his wrists, and remnants of poison lingered within his system.
Convinced that Wynter's body had been relocated, Cordelia persists in her investigation. As she delves deeper into the third floor, she encounters a room ostensibly undergoing renovation. Upon querying other staff members, she learns that the renovation is merely a charade, designed to discourage guests from spending the night.
Returning to the room accompanied by Jasmine, Cordelia methodically scrapes away a section of wall paint, revealing a grim reality hidden beneath—dried blood, a chilling testament to the darkness that once shrouded that very spot. The episode concludes on this haunting revelation, leaving us on the edge of our seats.
