Bertram has stepped through the threshold of his home, greeted by Alma's welcoming embrace at the bustling bus terminal. Yet, her physical transformations—the painted nails, the elevated attire, and the subtle shift in lipstick shade—seemed to have escaped his notice. Had he but noticed, perhaps he would have been better equipped to handle the situation.
Eager to engage in a discussion of his cherished hobby, Alma found Bertram equally invested in the topic. She regretted the harsh words she had uttered towards him recently, realizing now that he was not a man of illness, but a true hero.
Bertram's confusion was palpable. Then, Alma revealed the reason behind her changed demeanor—Rita Castillo, a woman in dire need of Bertram's unique assistance. She wasn't ill, but her husband Carlo was in considerable pain.
Rita, her tongue protruding in defiance towards Carlo, was interrupted by Scooter's call. She demanded a date, urging him to fulfill her devious scheme. Tonight, she insisted, and the compromising photograph must be forthcoming. Scooter, however, was hesitant, yet he relented and agreed to her demands.
Rita refused to go tonight, but settled on tomorrow. Her triumphant taunt at Carlo was echoed in Alma's own scheme as she maneuvered Carlo into Bertram's path.
With a heavy heart, Bertram informed Alma that he was no longer involved in his previous business. But Alma was determined, unwilling to let go of her plan.
Dee's anxiety was evident as she confessed to Vern her complicated situation. She spoke of her fondness for him, yet their relationship was untenable. She refused to elaborate, leaving Vern to worry that he had somehow pushed her away. He begged for a conversation, but Dee remained resolute.
With a kiss on his cheek, she departed, leaving Vern with a mixture of sorrow and confusion.
Grace's visit to Alma's garden left her shocked by its neglect. Alma dismissed it as a mere need for rejuvenation. But Grace's revelations about Carlo's abusive nature before his stroke, and his mistreatment of Rita, set Alma's mind in motion. She needed to know more.
To facilitate her conversation, Alma had baked Bertram a cherry pie, using it as a pretext to discuss Rita's plight under Carlo's oppressive shadow. Bertram agreed, much to Alma's delight.
Scooter's return to the apartment filled him with excitement. He and Alma chatted about Catherine, and Scooter pondered if she was perhaps jealous of their relationship.
Dee, searching for Scooter, stumbled upon the apartment and headed upstairs, unaware that Rita was already there. Rita, unable to believe the news Dee was about to share, tried desperately to deter her from spilling the beans. She warned that Scooter was not ready for the responsibilities of a father or husband, but Dee had little choice in the matter.
Rita firmly believes that her intellect is so vast that one solitary mistake cannot possibly overshadow the rest of her life. Dee, admiringly, extends his congratulations, making it clear that he is completely devoted to her. However, Rita appears deeply troubled by the conversation, almost on the verge of tears.
Alma ponders if Bertram possesses the ability to break into a home, and she presents him with a hand-drawn map, hoping it will assist him in finding and eliminating Carlo.
Rita confides in Vern, revealing the details of her plot against Catherine and Scooter. She even lets slip the news that Dee is expecting a child with Scooter, a piece of information that had been carefully kept under wraps.
Rita continues to provoke Carlo, relishing in her ability to blackmail Catherine due to Carlo's foolish stipulation on her inheritance. Carlo, enraged, attempts to mark a warning on his napkin using ketchup, but his efforts are futile.
Catherine presents Scooter with diamond cufflinks, a gift she had originally intended for another man years ago. It seems destined to be his most memorable birthday ever.
Isobel fears that Rita is not giving the situation enough gravity. She suggests that if they cannot eliminate Catherine and keep Carlo perpetually drugged, they could resort to killing him. They have the experience to do so.
Alma, dressed entirely in black, is eager to initiate the murder plot. She seizes the opportunity when Bertram leaves to fetch his coat, sneaking a syringe and a bottle from his bag.
Dee visits his friend at the diner, who had faced a difficult situation last summer and is now considering adoption. She shared her journey through St. Anne's during childbirth.
Rita and Isobel sit in a bar, sipping drinks. Rita voices her doubts about murdering Carlo, and Isobel tries to convince her with talk of poison. But Rita insists that they will not resolve the issue tonight. Instead, she begs Isobel to promise never to abandon her, emphasizing their bond as cousins.
Alma and Bertram patiently await outside, Alma armed with snacks in hand. As Scooter and Catherine exit the restaurant, Scooter realizes he's forgotten something at their table. With a change of plans in mind, he hastily contacts Vern. Scooter intends to initiate something with Catherine at Rita's abode.
The lights dim as Isobel turns them off, signaling Bertram's cue to act. She wants him to flash a light as a signal that he's inside. Alma, poised outside with her potion ready, wonders if she'll strike Rita while Bertram takes Carlo down.
As Scooter and Catherine arrive, Alma hides beneath a table, unseen. Scooter, shirtless by the fire, attempts to lighten the mood, claiming that if money means mistrust, it's not worth having.
Bertram struggles to calm Carlo, who suddenly grasps Bertram's groin. With quick precision, Bertram thrusts the needle into Carlo's neck.
Meanwhile, Alma listens intently to the conversations between Catherine and Scooter in the living room. She bolts out the front door as another car arrives, then rushes back in and up the stairs. As Catherine and Scooter begin to undress, Vern sneaks in with his camera. Fortunately, a raging storm masks the camera's flash with lightning.
Catherine rides Scooter playfully, while Vern captures every moment. Alma and Bertram rush out of the house, their mission complete. Carlo lies dead, and Vern might have captured a fleeting glimpse of Alma's head in the living room.
Dee flips through a crime magazine, her face etched with distress. Alma and Bertram embrace in a wild, passionate embrace at home.
The next morning, Scooter departs, and Catherine goes to wake Papa. Her screams rouse Rita and Isobel from their slumber. Dee visits Vern, trying to explain her situation, but Vern cuts her off. He proposes to her, confessing his love and willingness to raise another man's child with her. He presents her with a ring.
At home, Alma is overjoyed. She drives over to Rita's house, eager to see the aftermath. As Carlo's body is carried out, the phone rings. Catherine answers, and Alma, under the alias of Mary Booth, plants the suspicion that Rita was Carlo's killer.
