Harriet, Bertram's first victim, desired candles and melodies as she faced her demise. Unwavering in her courage, she urged Bertram to mark her passing with celebration. She was, after all, his mother, and Bertram was barely a decade old.
Bertram's dreams were haunted by Aunt Martha's figure, aware of the expectations that weighed upon him. He confided in Alma about his nocturnal visions, revealing that she seemed to beg for his mercy. Bertram confessed a renewed urge, fearing a total mental collapse. He contemplated seeking the aid of a psychiatrist, but Alma discouraged him, insisting he must find another way to purge this compulsion.
Desperate for companionship, Bertram summoned Timothy Keegan, a former priest now retired from his holy duties. Meanwhile, Rita was busy orchestrating a plot against Alma, manipulating votes on the phone with a woman named Amy. Isabel observed Rita's vengeance with disdain, but Rita sought only a sliver of sympathy.
In the park, Scooter stumbled upon Catherine and Carlo. He played the clown, dousing himself in mustard and stripping off his shirt to catch her attention. His antics succeeded, and Catherine agreed to join him at the movies.
A telegram arrived for Alma, informing her of her new position and a reception scheduled for 2 o'clock. Dee informed Alma that her father had traveled to Oxnard and would return the following day. It had been two decades since Bertram had seen Mr. Keegan, and he desperately sought a confidant. Keegan, once a priest, assured Bertram that the sanctity of confession remained intact, even in his retirement.
Rita's scheming led to Dee's dismissal. The mysterious caller refused to identify herself, but Max believed the accusation, and Dee was left with no desire to work for such an employer. Other waitresses whispered of a vindictive woman lurking in the shadows, intent on Dee's downfall.
At the reception, Alma arrived in a resplendent dress, shocking the guests. Grace tried to silence her, but it was too late. Grace confessed her guilt, horrified by the turn of events. Alma's heart was broken, and Ada's expression mirrored her distress. Alma was bewildered, uncertain what she had done to deserve such harsh treatment.
Scooter arrives, eagerly anticipating Catherine's presence. Rita cunningly intercepts him, whispering that it would be a simpler task to entice Catherine if he regained his apartment. She sternly insists that no more waitresses will be tolerated. Alma flips through her cherished scrapbook, lost in thought. Dee senses her gloominess and reveals that the telegram was merely a mischievous prank. Dee then confides in Alma, leaving her astonished by Rita's betrayal of her husband with a struggling actor. Rita fears Alma's possible revelation to the other ladies, but Alma has other intentions. She knows that true satisfaction comes from forgiveness, a concept she eloquently expresses through biblical proverbs, leaving Dee bewildered.
Scooter, in an attempt to charm Catherine, speaks of marriage and engagements, only to have an amusing mishap with ice cream on his nose, which Catherine obligingly wipes off. Keegan, dumbfounded by Bertram's uncharacteristic act of kindness towards his mother, seeks solace in alcohol, eager to hear the rest of the story.
Meanwhile, Dee enjoys a serene dinner with Vern, spilling her heart out. She recalls how he once lost hope in the future, but now, sitting beside her, the horizon seems filled with promise. Upon reflection, Dee realizes that she has no real worries. Alma visits Rita, informing her of Carlo's gradual recovery. With a subtle yet powerful threat, Alma blackmails Rita for an additional seat at the garden club table for a friend. Rita laughs, thinking she has cleverly trapped Alma, but Alma clarifies that it was not a threat; it was a genuine offer of friendship. Alma knows that Rita's humiliation of her earlier ensures that anything she says will not be taken seriously.
Alma had no inkling of Rita's true malevolence. Rita hungered for Alma's fear, and once she had fed on it, she cruelly banished Alma from her presence. Carlo spelled out the ominous message, "Rita loves a boy," across the Scrabble board.
Scooter eagerly anticipated a reunion with Catherine, despite her initial skepticism. He emerged triumphant, leaving behind a trail of doubt in Catherine's mind.
Dee's heart ached when Vern refused to engage in an activity, but Vern was self-conscious about his leg. Dee dismissed his concern, gently leading him to the bedroom. As she undressed him, Vern spoke incessantly about his scars, but Dee silenced him with a tender finger to his lips. As she leaned against him, tears trickled down his cheeks, revealing the purple heart tattoo hidden beneath his skin.
Bertram's relentless narrative of his victims had reached a staggering total of 26. He was bewildered by his own distress, failing to understand why he felt so tormented. Keegan wished Bertram would have found his way by the tender age of ten, let alone forty. He yearned for Bertram to lead a normal life, working diligently, abstaining from violence, and returning home peacefully. Keegan pondered whose suffering he was truly alleviating by taking lives.
Keegan vowed to heed Alma's advice for the rest of his days, convinced that it would guide him through life's treacherous paths. Rita's venomous words stung Catherine, and in a fit of rage, she scattered the Scrabble tiles across the floor, revealing the incriminating message.
Alma wept over her encounter with Rita, fearing that her humiliation would spread like wildfire throughout Los Angeles' botanical circles, leaving her without a refuge. Dee received a call from her doctor, the news of her pregnancy bringing both joy and responsibility.
As Alma grasped the newspaper, a rose slipped out from beneath, a stark contrast to the garden she had nurtured. Someone had destroyed it, leaving behind a card with Rita's menacing threats. Alma pondered her next move, remembering that she was married to a man whose hands were stained with blood.
