Episode 3 of Them begins on the fourth day of this nightmarish relocation. Lucky awakes to find the house deserted, a stark contrast to the chaos that has become her new normal. Venturing outdoors, she stumbles upon a young boy relieving himself on her freshly washed laundry, an indignity that spurs her into a furious chase across the neighborhood, brandishing a stick.
As the other Mothers watch on with amused detachment, Lucky eventually discards the stick and trudges back to her house, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Betty, however, gives her a murderous glare as she passes, hinting at the simmering tensions within their community.
Back home, Lucky dials her sister Hazel, confessing that she needs to escape East Compton before she commits an act she'll regret. This confession prompts a visit to Hazel's house, where they gather around, drinking and toasting Lucky's new life. The close-knit family assures her that she'll need all the luck in the world, a sentiment that rings hollow in the face of their surreal surroundings.
Meanwhile, Betty occupies her own space, a blue-tinged world captured by the Dutch-tilt camera work. She brings in Tommy's Mother as a spokesperson, hoping to rally the other women in the neighborhood to her side. But their reservations are evident, with only Betty herself fully committed to her agenda.
In an attempt to distract from the Emory household's woes, Henry sets his sights on a new TV set. He heads to the store and signs off on the purchase, eager to bring a bit of normality into their lives. With installation looming just two hours away, Henry indulges in an ice-cream float at the diner, enjoying a brief moment of peace with the girls.
But as he heads home, the illusion of normality is shattered. One of the engineers warns him to be careful in Compton, a ominous foreshadowing that is quickly realized when Clark and the other men begin to antagonize Henry while he's setting up his satellite. The tension mounts, and it's clear that the peace they've been striving for is far from being achieved.
Henry held his ground firmly, his gaze daring the men to challenge him further. His threats finally swayed them, causing them to have doubts and ultimately retreat. That evening, Betty gathered the others, Clarke excluded, in the town hall, where they debated the present situation. Betty rallied them, urging them to maintain the pressure, framing this racism as a noble cause of "protecting their families."
On the bus, Lucky's erratic behavior returned, her mind playing tricks on her again. As she made her way back from Hazel's, she was dragged roughly along the floor to the rear of the bus. But upon waking, she found the bus driver had summoned the police.
The officer sternly cautioned her that her recent mental outbursts in the neighborhood were not helping her case. He expressed his willingness to support her but also warned her to ensure she didn't cross any lines.
Lucky made her way inside and immediately turned off the TV, sitting down with Henry to recount the visions she had experienced on the bus. She was convinced that something supernatural was at play, but Henry remained skeptical.
Meanwhile, outside in the garden, Clarke and the others, under Betty's watchful eye, were busy writing the inflammatory words "Nigger Heaven" on the lawn with gasoline. With a match, they set it ablaze, watching as the flames greedily licked across the grass, consuming everything in their path.
