By: Jennifer Vintzileos
Before purchasing the motel, an eager Ruby (Brynn Godenir) and a hesitant Portia (Michelle Nolden) tour the property of the Cold River Motel with realtor Magenta (Icesis Couture). While one is unsure of how they can make the motel work, the other is eager to capitalize on murder and bring in business. Eventually, Portia agrees to Ruby’s plan. In present-day, Ruby and Portia are now under fire from their guests for the destruction of the RV and them being stuck at the Cold River Motel.
As the guests begin to contemplate leaving for help, Floyd (Gray Powell) immediately shuts the idea down with the thought of dangerous animals lurking outside. Everyone eventually agrees to head to their rooms and hunker down for the night. Back in their room, Floyd and Shirley (Yanna McIntosh) talk about how they destroyed their RV to enact their grand plan: kill the guests for sacrifices and complete the ritual to summon Baphomet. But one issue lurks: they were not responsible for Hemmingway’s (Eric McCormack) death. They start to brainstorm how to find out the culprit and how they can utilize them in their plan.
In the kitchen, Blake (Atticus Mitchell) decides to pull together some food and Adrianna (Genevieve DeGraves) walks in. Given their circumstances, Adrianna believes that they should stay together for the night….and Blake agrees. At the sauna, Ruby and Portia attempt to move Hemmingway’s body to the freezer. However, they fail at the task when the effects of the sauna have effectively cooked Hemmingway and an appendage falls off the bone. Portia retreats to their shared room and the couple has a rather loud fight for all the guests to hear, Ruby eventually leaving after Portia tells her that she is repulsed by her.
Also taking advantage of the kitchen, Andy (Jim Watson) attempts to eat a meal in peace when Crow (Shaun Benson) approaches him. They talk and Andy wonders how Crow can remain as calm as he is with the chaos going on. When Andy begins to feel at ease with his fellow guest, Crow admits that he is going to head out into the wilderness and begin the trek to the nearest place for help. Although Andy believes that they should still listen to Floyd, he provides Crow with his jacket to stay warm.
In Adrianna’s room, her and Blake begin to talk about their own experiences. While Blake is reluctant to share about how he got the scars on his chest, Adrianna begins to share one of her stories about seducing a serial killer. She explains how she was hand-cuffed during the experience….and how it turned her on. Producing two sets of handcuffs, she uses them to secure Blake to the bed and have her way with him. Although very reluctant to the whole experience, Blake has no choice when Adrianna takes charge and begins to utilize Blake’s fears in her own sexual thrill.
While Crow heads through the parking lot to leave, Floyd and Shirley hear him outside. Knowing that they cannot lose any guests or their ritual will not work, Floyd is prepared to bring Crow back to the motel…dead or alive. Shirley decides to stay and try to figure out the other murderer, seeing if she can lure one of the guests into their plan.
Crow walks down the path with a murderous Floyd behind him, saved only by a coyote in the road. With the coyote ready to tear Crow apart, Floyd approaches and yields his machete and dominance to the animal. The coyote walks away, Floyd turning to Crow and firmly reminding him that it is dangerous to be outside. But Crow is still determined to go get help and Floyd is ready to strike. Fortunately, Andy comes running up to both and Crow is eventually convinced to return to the motel.
Inside, Shirley walks past Kawayan’s (Emmanuel Kabongo) room and sees him tearing apart his own art. Feeling that he is a fraud in his art after seeing the death of Hemmingway, Shirley sees her chance. She slowly begins to plant the seeds of influence to Kawayan that he should try his hand at a real murder to make his work more authentic.
After departing for the night from Floyd, Crow and Andy talk again….Crow’s calm demeanor starting to crack. He admits that he does not feel easy around Floyd and that something is amiss. He tells Andy to stay on guard before heading to his room. Inside the room, Crow’s cracks begin to show as the panic sets in.
In the aftermath of their tryst, Blake begins to show signs of unease around Adrianna. She starts to speculate who will die next, even alluding to Paige (Paula Brancati) being offed and Adrianna taking her place in the “Doomed Service” reboot. While Blake tries to remain calm and ask to be uncuffed, his nervousness shows just a little as he gets dressed and starts to find his way back to his room.
After their fight, Portia and Ruby both settle into bed at separate times of the night. Ruby is the last to drift off, but unbeknownst to her….the dark figure has made its way into their bedroom and kills Portia. In one last flash-back, Portia and Ruby are making the last minute preparations for the arrival of their guests. The women smile and share a tender moment before making their way outside to greet everyone. In a sleepy haze, Ruby wakes up and hears a dripping sound. Wondering where it is coming from, she tries to rouse Portia only to find that she is the next victim.