Episode 3 of THEM: The Scare begins with a harrowing scene, as a racist policeman spits venomous insults at Dawn. Little does he know, she's grappling with bigger troubles. LA Weekly latches onto her tip and twists it, painting a picture of cops ignoring a serial killer who preys solely on Black folk. Lt. Schiffer's fury knows no bounds as he strips McKinney of the case and orders Dawn to clear up the mess she's made.
Meanwhile, Athena toils away at Kyong-ah's toy store, her hands worsening with each passing moment. After a fleeting glance at a Raggedy Ann doll, she nearly slices her hands to shreds in a fit of panic. Terrified, she hurriedly discards the dolls.
Elsewhere, Joaquin Diaz is assigned to Dawn's case. Together, they deduce that the killer is meticulous to a fault, leaving no trace of evidence. His brutality suggests a personal connection to the victims. Dawn theorizes that the killer once resided in the home and suffered abuse under Bernice's hand. He might also know Curtis. As for the odd arrangement of supplies, they surmise that the killer seeks attention.
The scene shifts to Edmund inviting Rhonda over. His mood dims when she reveals that she usually spends time with Donovan, the cameraman. In a fit of theatrics, he dresses up as a killer and threatens her with a knife. Rhonda is terrified, but Edmund snaps out of his role and commends her improv skills. She flees, leaving him thrilled by his ability to embody the killer so convincingly.
And then there's Dawn, who receives a call from Kwon Viktor, the son of Korean immigrants. He reveals a harrowing tale: his two sisters were murdered in the same grisly manner. The police harassed his father and dropped the case like a hot potato. Dawn discovers mirrors in their room, covered in the same manner as Curtis'. Viktor shares that they were scared to sleep, much like Bernice. As she digs deeper, she unearths video tapes showing the girls acting strangely, claiming that a man with red hair is stalking them.
Elsewhere, Edmund, deeply engrossed in a documentary about Charles Manson, accidentally slashes his thigh with a sharp object. Meanwhile, Kel confesses to Natalie that he sometimes feels an irresistible urge to act, fearing that others might get hurt if he doesn't.
At the police station, Diaz and Dawn piece together clues, concluding that the killer must be a red-haired policeman. There were no signs of forced entry, victims of various ethnicities were targeted, and there were no mistakes in the crimes. That evening, a drunken McKinney approaches Dawn, attempting to apologize, but his demeanor turns menacing when she rejects his apology. A frightened Dawn reaches for her gun, but he departs before any harm is done. Simultaneously, the girls' videotape mysteriously turns on, causing Dawn's heart to race. However, the doctor chalks it up to hypertension, pointing out that her father had a similar condition.
Edmund appears at the audition for a slasher film, portraying the killer role with chilling realism. His performance is so convincing that it terrifies everyone, prompting them to urge him to leave. He lashes out at Rhonda and gets into a physical altercation with Donovan before storming off. Later, as he watches from afar, he sees Rhonda and Donovan leave the audition.
At school, Kelvin's father visits him, and they catch up on family matters. However, on his way home, McKinney intercepts Kelvin. He confiscates the boy's weed and forces him into his car. Terrified, Kel tries to remain calm as McKinney eventually drops him off at home. Upon arriving, he frantically tidies up his room before indulging in his stash.
Dawn stumbles upon Kelvin in a drug-induced stupor but decides to accompany him for dinner, offering her support. She assures him that she is there for him, but her panic mounts when he reveals his encounter with McKinney. Although he doesn't know the cop's name, he describes him as a man with red hair. As THEM: The Scare Episode 3 draws to a close, Dawn pauses outside McKinney's home, memories of how he bullied and threatened Malcolm, Curtis, and even her own self resurfacing in her mind.
