The fourth episode of "Your Friends & Neighbors" kicks off with an intimate glimpse into the life of Elena, the diligent maid employed at Nick's residence. She rises at the break of dawn, tirelessly working to restore the house to its pristine condition, and later indulges in a soothing, steaming bath upstairs, a moment of tranquility amidst her chores. Little does she know that this very night, Cooper harbors plans to sneakily appropriate Nick's ring – until Elena interrupts him, gun in hand, demanding an explanation.
Seated together, Elena solemnly warns Cooper that his theft of the ring could ultimately lead to his undoing. She recounts the tale of a stolen sterling watch that had previously incurred the dismissal of Brad's previous maid, who had ostensibly become "too comfortable" in her role. Brad, now with "fresh blood," remains vigilant. It transpires that Elena has been harboring her own secrets for some time, including the affair between Cooper and Mel. In a quid pro quo arrangement, she keeps his secrets in exchange for him safeguarding hers, revealing her dual identity as a thief.
Elsewhere, Marley and Ron chance upon Mel at the supermarket, where their initial cordial exchange swiftly deteriorates into a palpable atmosphere of animosity. The aftershock of Coop's breakup with Mel and her infidelity lingers heavily in the air.
Meanwhile, Barney reaches out to Coop during his golf outing, expressing genuine concern. His worries extend beyond the mysterious appearance of a brown bag filled with cash and encompassing Coop's bleak job prospects. Coop brushes it off with casual disregard, but Barney remains steadfast in his worries. suggesting Coop might escape unscathed. Barney, however, suggests to his partner that they scale back their spending. She, in turn, subtly yet unequivocally, uses sex as leverage to steer him away from this line of reasoning, and he succumbs to her charms without hesitation.
At the workplace, Liv catches Jack cozying up to Massey, the lawyer who ought to be championing Coop's cause. Alarmed by this unusual display of camaraderie, Liv swiftly approaches Coop to sound the alarm. Realizing he hadn't signed any contract nor paid a retainer fee, Coop comes to the stark realization that he's been duped. As they prepare to leave, Coop and Liv share a tender moment, culminating in a soft kiss on his cheek from Liv. Unbeknownst to Coop, her silence on the matter has been rewarded with a luxurious upgrade to a higher floor in their workplace.
Elsewhere, Mel is taken aback when she discovers Nick's grand plans for an elaborate party, organized against her wishes. Nick is enthusiastically diving into the arrangements, with the party planner, Jane, inquiring about their marital status. The awkward tension mounts as Mel and Nick aren't married, leaving Mel feeling quite uneasy.
That evening, Elena dials Coop's number, believing it's high time they fulfilled their pact of partnership. Coop also learns about an underground network of housekeepers, equipped with a Whatsapp group that shares intriguing gossip and valuable intel. The network also indulges in discreet theft of trinkets unlikely to be missed, executing their operations with precision and finesse.
Elena and Coop set out to meet Hector, an employee of Charter Security, who handles all security in their vicinity. Given his expertise and Elena's familial connection—he's her cousin—she believes he's the perfect ally to expand their operations and ensure smoother heists. Specifically, Elena seeks neighborhood alarm codes, offering a substantial $5,000 per code. Though initially hesitant, Hector eventually caves in to her persuasive offer.
Afterward, Elena elaborates on her motives to Coop, explaining that immigration isn't inexpensive and she's resorting to these means to expedite her parents' move to the US. Additionally, she faces complications with her brother, Chivo, who's often entangled with the law. Coop, who knows a thing or two about tangled predicaments, finds solace in sharing a beer with Elena, their bond growing stronger through shared understanding.
Armed with Elena's freshly acquired alarm codes, they were poised to strike at more lucrative targets. However, fate had other plans as a secondary alarm system, guarding some exorbitantly priced handbags, sprang into action. Coop was compelled to abandon his mission when the security alert sounded, compounded by the presence of a vigilant dog patrolling the backyard. Law enforcement officers abounded, prompting Coop to dash for cover. In his hasty retreat, he misplaced his earpiece, too far away to retrieve it, which posed a dilemma. Though Coop managed to elude the police, it was evident that this saga was far from over.
Furthermore, we delve deeper into Ali's background. She had suffered a painful breakup with a man named Bruce and, despite being offered a full-time position as an artist, she was in no mood to rejoice. Celebrations had historically brought her sorrow.
At Mel's lavish party, Tori ascended the stairs to discover her mother weeping in bed. With compassion, she assisted in patching her up and applying makeup to conceal her swollen eyes, revealing Mel's profound regrets over her past decisions. Though it's hard to sympathize with an unfaithful spouse, one reaps what one sows.
Downstairs, the atmosphere between Sam and Paul was thick with awkwardness. Sam steadfastly refused to engage with her ex-husband, resorting to their lawyers to discuss their Misty-sized marital issues, and exiting the conversation abruptly. In a moment of intimacy, she sent nude photos to Coop, which Elena inadvertently caught a glimpse of upon their return home together.
Coop soon departed, making his way to Mel's birthday bash. Ali was also present, but all eyes were on Sam. It transpired that she had witnessed Liv stopping by Coop's place and the rather ambiguous kiss shared between them. Coop dismissed it nonchalantly, claiming that some women have a habit of kissing innocuously, but Sam was far from pleased.
He winds up directly colliding with Tori next, who lambasts Coop for abandoning their fight and not striving for what could have blossomed between them. Her dislike for Nick is palpable, but her anger and resentment towards Coop are even more pronounced. She insists that he's been let off easy throughout his life, though this perception is far from the truth.
During the grand celebration, Nick corners Mel and pours out his heartfelt love for her, his sentiments flowing like a river in spate. He earnestly seeks a response from her, but she's unable to utter a word, fleeing the scene in a daze. Ali, sensing the awkward silence, decides to intervene by picking up her guitar and performing a captivating melody in front of everyone.
As the crowd is mesmerized by the music, Coop spots Mel near the trampoline, bouncing with the same abandon they once shared with the kids during their youthful days. He gently inquiries about her well-being and expresses his regret for not reaching out to her sooner to inquire about her life.
As they finally open up to each other, Mel confesses that she feels numb most of the time, longing for the moments they shared with their children and their togetherness. She also reveals her dissatisfaction with her therapy job, believing she's slipping out of control. Her anger has lingered for a long time, even before Coop came into her life, and she admits to being in a mess.
This candid conversation marks the most honest they've been with each other since the early days of their marriage. It serves as a spark to reignite the love they once had, reviving those dormant feelings, albeit in a small but significant way. Coop eventually exits the party before the atmosphere turns truly uncomfortable, while Mel ponders on what might have been.
