Episode 3 of The Serpent commences on a crisp November 20th, 1973, in the bustling city of Paris. Dominique bids a fond farewell to his parents, setting his sights on Bangkok, far across the horizon. However, this introductory scene is fleeting, as we leap forward two years to the serene Thai city of Chaing-Mai.
Dominique, penning letters home, finds himself unexpectedly approached by Charles, who sees him as an easy mark. After a hike together, Charles drugs Dominique and carries him back to his secluded compound in the backseat of his car. This scenario eerily echoes the entrapment of Marie in episode 2, and Dominique is now bound to Charles in a similar manner.
Yet, Charles assigns Dominique a new task: to care for Marie and guide her during her stay. While "purging" Dominique of his sickness, Charles coerces him to continue drinking. Tragically, Coco, the monkey, innocently consumes the same powdered substance and perishes. Witnessing Coco's fate, Dominique demands his passport, but Charles reveals that his tourist visa has expired, and he is now stranded. Worse still, Charles has "borrowed" Dominique's passport, complete with a new photograph and identity. If the police intercept Dominique, he will be arrested, leaving him with no choice but to relinquish his passport and remain trapped.
Matters deteriorate further as the Colonel and Charles cozy up to Suda, revealing the truth about Dominique as a contingency plan. He is now thoroughly ensnared, unable to flee or escape Charles' grasp. Ajay attempts to persuade Dominique to travel to Santa Cruz, but he stubbornly refuses. However, he takes notice of a rowdy Turkish tourist vomiting and being dragged away.
Delving deeper into the mystery, Dominique realizes that the Turkish man fell victim to the same ruse he did. Frantically searching through his bag, Dominique examines photographs and even peers into the safe. Ultimately, he ventures out and calls home, expressing his longing for his parents and informing them he's still in Bangkok. Charles, aware of the call, informs Dominique matter-of-factly that he will never return home. Instead, Kanit House has become his new abode.
After Charles and Marie embark on a journey, Dominique sees his opportunity and decides to escape. He confides in Lena and Nadine, sharing news reports of the guests who have perished at Kanit House. Together, the trio deliberates whether to approach the police or not. However, Dominique remains trapped, devoid of a visa and funds, unable to break free from this nightmare.
With immense relief, Lena and Nadine collaborated with him, successfully reverting the passport to its original state. Ingeniously, they stumbled upon an alternative—the deceased Turkish girl's visa and passport, which they cunningly utilized for their escape. As Dominique embarked on his journey, his fate remained shrouded in mystery.
In our present-day timeline, on March 8th, 1976, Herman returned home to Angela, ushering Nadine and Remi within. Evidently, they had not encountered Willem and Helena, causing Knippenberg's patience to wane as he inquired about the missing pair. However, they vouchsafed his narrative, citing that such instances were commonplace among Charles' victims.
Settling back, Herman was startled to learn that the number of victims far exceeded their initial estimates. Scanning through photographs, Nadine's eyes caught a glimpse of a radio, a gift bestowed by Charles himself. It dawned on her that she, too, had assisted in luring clients to him, playing a similar role as Marie. Charles possessed a unique charm that enticed his victims, particularly those who eventually became his accomplices.
Paul dismissed Knippenberg as a mere functionary and departed. Angela and Herman, at a loss for what to do next, decided to confide in the pair about their ordeal. As Remi and Nadine engaged in conversation, they mentioned Dominique's mysterious disappearance, leaving Marie fearful and involved.
Herman, having learned of Dominique's journey, hastened to the airport to search for the elusive exit stamps. Thankfully, they were discovered, though not a definitive confirmation of his escape, given Charles' cunning ability to manipulate passports. Alarmingly, Willem and Lena possessed exit stamps that could belong to Marie and Charles, indicating their cunning attempt to confound the authorities. Nonetheless, they seemed to be executing their plan with remarkable proficiency.
Flashing back to the airport, Dominique endured a nerve-wracking delay, struggling to maintain composure. He miraculously caught his flight, bound for Paris, and as the plane soared into the sky, he finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
Months later, as he touched down in Europe, Dominique was reunited with his loving parents. He penned a letter to Nadine, who, in the present timeline, eagerly checked her mailbox. Her heart leaped with joy upon reading that he had returned safely. However, her elation was abruptly cut short by the unexpected arrival of Charles, who dragged her back to the complex. They were deeply concerned about Dominique and suspected Nadine's involvement, unaware that Remi had yet to speak with her, leaving them with a conundrum of unanswered questions.
