Alma's refusal to believe Bertram harbors a secret is unwavering. He, after all, is the epitome of kindness, a fact that was etched in her heart the night Tom Madison shattered it. As she fled the sight of Tom embracing another woman, she stumbled upon Bertram, tenderly returning a fallen baby bird to its nest. His tuxedo torn, he suggested retreating home, yet Alma insisted on dancing with him regardless of his appearance.
Little did Alma suspect the darkness looming on the horizon. Upon revisiting the box, she was startled to find the fan and the date from yesterday. Meanwhile, Rita's encounter with Vern was fraught with doubts, suspecting Scooter of an affair with a rotund cleaning lady. Her mind wandered to Carlo's fate, indifferent to his life or death. Catherine, Carlo's daughter, added to Rita's agitation, revealing that she alone was in charge of Carlo's medical decisions and was taking him back to Texas.
Scooter's visit to Dee at the diner was interrupted by Vern's arrival. Dee recognized him instantly and recounted their chance encounter the previous night. As Vern insulted Scooter, Dee defended him, labeling him a good person. It was then that Scooter caught his reflection in a napkin holder, his gaze lost in contemplation.
Desperate to learn about her husband's collection, Alma ventured into the town. Her visit to Maisie's only revealed the latter's lifeless body on the couch. Maisie's peaceful facade contrasted sharply with the turmoil she must have endured before her demise.
On the wall, Alma discovered the outline of a fan. Grace, visiting the vet, rewarded Bertram with chocolates for returning the brooch. Bertram, in a flustered state, hastened home, where Alma awaited him on the stairs. They had to talk.
Alma confronted Bertram, pleading for him to reveal the truth. With a heavy heart, he confessed. Yet, even as the words escaped his lips, Alma refused to believe. Their opinions differed starkly on whether his actions were beneficial. Distraught, she fled when he offered her a sedative.
Bertram tried to explain that he eased the suffering of lonely, sick souls, guiding them out of life's turmoil. The first person had begged him, and their peaceful countenance afterward had become a calling for him. But Alma was too distraught to hear, leaping out of the window in front of Mrs. Yost.
Rita extends an invitation to Scooter, urging him to make their relationship more intimate by moving in with her. She wants him to play the role of her chauffeur, hinting at his unkempt apartment with a mention of the cleaning lady. However, he retorts, preferring to maintain their current status, desiring her as a lover, not a superior. The allure of millions in funding for a film starring his former chauffeur soon tempts him to reconsider.
Rita spots Alma on the street, reminded of Grace's constant praise for her. Alma's ambition to join the club piques Rita's interest, yet she hesitates, fearing the scandal of admitting someone whose husband might be arrested. Alma's resolve to expose Bertram fades when Rita mentions the potential consequences.
Rita's maid warns her against welcoming Scooter into her home, sensing the potential for trouble. As Rita prepares to greet her guest, Catherine and Carlo unexpectedly appear. Catherine, questioning Rita's fidelity, is swiftly interrupted by Scooter, who hastily escorts Carlo out of the house.
Catherine is determined to find a reason for her father to divorce Rita. She doesn't need Carlo's money, but she aims to deprive Rita of it. Carlo, watching through the window, sees Rita kissing Scooter, their intimacy sending a jolt through him.
Alma seeks refuge at Dee's diner, confessing her dilemma with her father. She reveals that there was another woman involved, and Dee offers words of comfort, leaving Alma proud of the woman her friend has become.
Meanwhile, Catherine heads to the drug store, leaving Rita to bathe Carlo, intentionally making the water colder than he prefers. She's fulfilled her part of their marital bargain, now expecting Carlo to uphold his side of the deal.
She yearns for someone to receive the pills, while her youth still glows. She begs, "Please, die for Rita," yet fate had other plans. Catherine had forgotten the pills in the car and returned unexpectedly. The water, though not icy cold, was still scalding, but Dee had drained enough before Catherine's return.
Dee, disappointed and heartbroken, called Bertram, revealing that she had been asked to spend the night elsewhere. Her trust in him shattered by his betrayal with another woman.
Bertram, his heart heavy, retrieved his "kill kit" and penned a suicide note. Dee sought refuge with Scooter, but he refused her, fearing a tail. Her hopes of finding solace with a good man were dashed.
Vern, seeing her in the rain, offered her a lift. She realized he had been trailing her, a cunning detective indeed. She reluctantly stepped into his car, and he guided her to a motel.
Amidst the downpour, Alma arrived home, standing in her garden, drenched to the bone, while Mrs. Yost watched from afar. She stumbled into the house, only to witness Bertram's suicide attempt. The vial he had prepared would make it appear he died of a heart attack, and he instructed Alma to ensure everyone believed the same.
From across the yard, Mrs. Yost sneaked up, ears pressed to the window. Alma, enraged, demanded that Bertram swear never to take another life. He mumbled his assent, and Alma tossed the incriminating items into the trash, unaware that Mrs. Yost had heard and was now rummaging through the refuse.
Mrs. Yost, determined to uncover more, scaled the trellis to eavesdrop. But Alma, sensing an unwanted presence, slammed the window shut, trapping Mrs. Yost's fingers. She stumbled backward, impaled by the sharp shears she had left standing in the yard. Her life extinguished, Alma realized she could not have such scrutiny hovering over her home. She resolved to bury the body in the front yard, while Bertram argued futilely about the choice.
