The Arrangement

Ainsley arrives at her bank branch to find police officers securing the building; her employees Brendan and Tara called in a suspicious red Hyundai Santa Fe sitting in the parking lot. Officers explain the situation while Ainsley waits in her car, realizing that she missed employee calls. 

After work, she returns home to find Peter obsessively cleaning blood off an exterior wall. He confronts her about Glennon’s visit and her lie about the family pictures, and Ainsley explains that she fabricated the story to buy time. She also confirms that she disposed of the murder weapon.

Peter suggests moving the body from under the porch and burying it in the woods nearby, but Ainsley refuses, citing risks like hunting cameras. Their daughter Maisy interrupts their conversation, and Ainsley reassures her with a lie about being sick the previous day. The parents exchange worried glances, concerned that Maisy might have overheard their conversation about the murder. Ainsley tells Peter to compose himself and retreats inside.

Ainsley makes comfort food for the family, and they eat together, attempting to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Peter helps with chores and plays with Maisy and Riley, though he struggles to act natural, in contrast to Ainsley’s unsettling calmness. 

Peter receives a text from Gina asking about his abrupt departure from their dinner. He tells Ainsley that Gina was concerned when he left work, preserving his secret, and replies to Gina with a family emergency excuse. Ainsley instructs him to tell Gina that she was sick in order to maintain their alibi and a consistent story.

Ainsley realizes that Glennon was testing Peter when she asked him about the family pictures. She calls Glennon and says that marital problems are the reason for her lie. She agrees to dinner at Glennon and Seth’s house the next day, insisting to Peter they must act normal. 

That evening, a TV news report announces that Officer Stefan De Luca is missing. Peter and Ainsley react to the inevitable report with horror, especially when they learn that Stefan had a wife, Illiana.

Ainsley and Peter arrive anxiously for dinner at Glennon and Seth’s house. Seth greets them, and he and Peter discuss work, including Peter’s professional opportunities. Ainsley joins Glennon in the kitchen, where Glennon discusses her new veganism and the cauliflower tacos she has prepared for dinner.

Glennon privately questions Ainsley about her marriage, asking if Peter is cheating. Ainsley firmly denies this and states that she would leave him if he did. Glennon appears troubled by Ainsley’s stance, and Ainsley is confused by Glennon’s pointed questions, wondering what her friend might know. When they return to join the men for dinner, Glennon avoids Ainsley’s gaze.

At dinner, Ainsley becomes withdrawn. When she excuses herself to the bathroom, Peter follows but is intercepted by Glennon, who leads him to a guest bedroom for a private conversation. There, she confronts him about not telling Ainsley about their secret. Peter makes excuses and suggests that they pretend it never happened, but Glennon refuses, expressing guilt about the situation.

Glennon gives Peter a one-week ultimatum: Confess to Ainsley about their secret, or she will tell Ainsley herself. She reminds Peter that Ainsley said she would leave him if he cheated. Peter admits that he loves Ainsley and doesn’t want to lose her. Glennon urges him to tell Ainsley the truth and leaves Peter feeling anxious about the impending confession.

Ainsley is at work when her employee Tara alerts her to a visitor, Illiana De Luca, whom Ainsley recognizes from the news. In Ainsley’s office, Illiana accuses Ainsley of being involved with Stefan. Ainsley denies an ongoing affair, claiming that they had only one date and feigning ignorance of Stefan’s marriage. Illiana reveals that she knows he visited Ainsley the night he disappeared and that he was seeing multiple women.

Illiana threatens to inform detectives about Ainsley’s connection to Stefan and gives her Detective Chad’s card. While maintaining her innocence, Ainsley persuades Illiana to meet at her house that evening to talk privately. Illiana agrees and reveals that she already knows Ainsley’s address. Ainsley watches Illiana drive away in a red Hyundai Santa Fe and realizes that it’s the suspicious car from the earlier incident at the bank.

Peter takes the children outside as Ainsley prepares to meet Illiana. After Illiana arrives, Peter sneaks back into the house to eavesdrop on their conversation. Ainsley tells Illiana that she ended things with Stefan, who then became obsessive. She admits that he came to their house the night he disappeared, seemingly drunk, but claims that she didn’t let him in and that Peter knows nothing about it.

When Illiana insists that Ainsley report the incident to the police, Ainsley refuses. She suggests that Illiana might have had a motive for Stefan’s disappearance. Illiana receives a phone call informing her that the police found Stefan’s truck, and she hastily leaves. Peter feels gratitude toward Ainsley for her protective lies that shield them both from suspicion.

Peter emerges after Illiana leaves, panicked about the police finding Stefan’s truck. Ainsley reassures him about their cover story: Stefan came over, she didn’t answer, and he left before Peter got home. Peter worries that this gives him a motive, but Ainsley counters that their mutually agreed-upon affairs negate typical jealousy motives. Peter expresses anxiety about their arrangement becoming known during the investigation.

The couple argues intensely about what to do with Stefan’s body, with Peter insisting that they move it from under the porch and Ainsley refusing, believing it’s too risky. When Peter threatens to move the body himself, Ainsley warns that Illiana might return with the police. Overwhelmed by the situation, Peter storms out of the house.