The narrative of Episode 4 of "We Were Liars" unfurls in the vibrant days of Summer 16, following the solemn conclusion of a funeral. The Sinclair family, seeking solace in routine, resumes their cherished summer rituals, with Cady insisting it's a means to drown out the haunting whispers of mortality.
As the calendar flips to Summer 17, a tender scene unfolds as Cady and Mirren observe Bonnie and Liberty, the twins, intricately braiding each other's hair. Bonnie's playful dig at Cady's former emo inclinations leaves Mirren and Liberty in amusing disbelief. Meanwhile, Harris and Will procure fireworks for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration, sparking nostalgic flashbacks for Cady.
It's July 4th of the previous summer, where Gat and Cady attempt to rekindle their friendship. Amidst Cady's immersion in a book on casteism, they mutually vow to evolve into better versions of themselves. However, Gat's subtle struggle to move past his feelings for her prompts Cady to maintain a cautious distance.
Harris' Fourth of July festivities were famously crowned by Tipper's pies, inspiring the sisters to bake their own in hopes of securing a slice of their inheritance. Penny's optimism borders on desperation, earning her sisterly scorn from Bess and Carrie, who accuse her of gold-digging. Bess, ever the brazen one, proudly declares her financial independence, boasting about her trust fund and dismissing Harris' largesse.
Elsewhere on the island, the Liars gear up for their exclusive bash. Johnny's infectious cheerfulness conceals a deeper turmoil, noted by his peers but overlooked. He stumbles upon Ed pocketing Grandma Sinclair's engagement ring, a discovery that unexpectedly delights Johnny. Yet, in a moment of vulnerability, Johnny confesses his struggles, to which Ed reassuringly pledges his unwavering support.
Ebon, the spirited booze delivery boy, crosses paths with Mirren, who breathes a sigh of relief that it's not Dan. Their encounter takes a curious turn when Ebon casually mentions his awareness of Bess' affair, earning him an annoyed glance from Mirren.
The Sinclair sisters, in an unexpected twist, find themselves resonating with one another amidst the warmth of the bakery. Carrie's emotions bubble to the surface, prompting Penny to urge her to pull herself together. Hurt and frustrated, Carrie confronts Penny for her distant demeanor at Rosemary’s funeral as well. Just as tensions flair, their conversation is abruptly halted by the arrival of Gat and Cady. In a bid to appear nonchalant, Cady extends an invitation to Raquel, who has unexpectedly arrived in town. Instant regret sets in, and Johnny, sensing her turmoil, suggests that Cady distract herself by exploring other romantic interests to move past Gat.
Elsewhere, Mirren attempts to confide in her father about Bess' affair, only to be silenced by him. Harris, preparing for the evening, slips the pearls into his pocket, unbeknownst to others. The kitchen descends into a whirlwind of chaos as Penny's pie emerges flawless, while Bess' and Carrie's creations are charred beyond recognition. Suspicions arise that Penny may have sabotaged their efforts, leading to an escalating confrontation where Bess deliberately ruins her own pie in retaliation. Penny succumbs to a panic attack, but Bess remains unconvinced by her distress. Carrie steps in, accusing her sister of crossing a line.
The Liars' bash reaches its zenith, with Cady steering clear of Gat. Instead, she invites Ebon, a move that irks Mirren. Johnny's mood darkens upon discovering that Mirren has invited his tennis team.
Flashing back to Summer 17, Cady inquisitively asks Gat about Johnny's displeasure regarding the tennis team's presence. Gat tries to steer her away from probing further, claiming that her subconscious is shielding her from painful memories. Intrigued and annoyed, Cady sneaks into Johnny's room and rummages through his phone. She discovers texts from Jackson, insisting that Blake hacked his phone, accompanied by a blackmail video from Blake—but the video fails to load due to lack of network.
Returning to the events of Summer 16, Cady, under the influence of alcohol, dances provocatively with Jackson in a bid to stir jealousy in Gat. However, Jackson reveals his true intentions: to speak with Johnny, who has been avoiding him.
At the adults' gathering, Harris's disappointment with the sisters lingered over the mysterious disappearance of the pies. Carrie pondered whether his irritation stemmed from Penny's lavish expenditures, only to find out that Bess' trust fund had also been depleted. Realizing Carrie harbored her own desires, she confessed that Johnny had landed in a significant pickle, prompting her to spend her entire savings to hush it up. Keeping Ed in the dark was imperative, for he would undeniably strive to do what was morally right.
Elsewhere, Mirren rescued Cady from a group of jerks. Ebon, curious about her insight into the boys' affairs, discovered that she too overheard secrets due to her invisibility—a burden that made her feel misunderstood and marginalized by all who deemed her odd. Subtly revealing his attraction, Ebon and Mirren shared a connection, leading to an intimate encounter.
In an unfortunate twist, an intoxicated Johnny stumbled upon Ed's elaborate proposal setup. Before he could confide his troubles to Ed, a tearful Carrie arrived, dismissing Johnny and declaring her inability to marry Ed. Ed, taken aback, reassured her of his unwavering support, but Carrie sought comfort from Harris, who harbored reservations about Ed all along.
Gat repeatedly attempted to engage Cady, but she perceived his advances as torment and dismissed him. Fortunately, replacement pies arrived, yet the sisters were hurt by Harris's lack of trust. Carrie opened up about the failed proposal, with Bess offering solace while Penny fretted over the engagement ring.
When Bess scolded Penny, she went to great lengths to assert her sincerity, claiming genuine concern for everyone's well-being. This riled Carrie, who exposed Bess's financial ruin. Bess retaliated against Brody, accusing him of embezzling from his clients and raiding her trust fund to cover his tracks, ultimately evicting him.
Gat sat alone, nursing his solitude, when Cady apologized for her eccentricity. He confessed that he had ended things with Raquel because he couldn't move past his feelings for Cady. They symbolized their bond by writing each other's names on their hands. Their tender moment was abruptly interrupted by a drunken and enraged Johnny, who hurled bottles into the ocean. Despite their efforts to deter him, he dangerously tossed a bottle near them.
Fast forward to Summer 17, Cady gained access to the WiFi and watched a distressing video. Blake had captured Johnny mercilessly bullying Delgado, culminating in a brutal beating. Carrie, who caught Cady watching, was devastated. Johnny, furious and defensive, lashed out at Cady. Gat and Mirren stepped in to restrain him, but Cady realized Johnny had harmed her in some way. As "We Were Liars" Episode 4 concludes, Cady suffers a seizure, prompting everyone to rush to her aid while a distressed Johnny looks on helplessly.
