The Boyfriend

Sydney and Tom develop a comfortable routine, although Sydney remains disturbed by Tom’s job and annoyed by some of his quirks. Tom’s mother comes to town, and Tom is horrified when Sydney suggests she join them for dinner, insisting it’s too soon. A mix up with text messages reveals that Tom carries a burner phone, raising Sydney’s suspicions about his honesty.

Tom’s mother calls to ask about Allison’s disappearance. Tom again uses the past tense, but his mother doesn’t notice. When she asks about his father, Tom lies and says he left for his favorite bar. He hopes that his mother will be too embarrassed to call the police about his father when she returns. As he hangs up, he wonders what to do about Allison’s disappearance.

Later that night, Daisy calls Tom in hysterics to report that Allison’s body was found mutilated and dumped in a river. Tom remembers Slug suggesting they dump his father’s body in the river, and fears that Slug killed Allison. Daisy warns Tom that her father is suspicious of him and doesn’t want them to be together. She hangs up as Tom tells her he loves her.

School is canceled, so Tom spends the day watching news reports about Allison’s murder. When his mother arrives home, she questions him about his father’s disappearance, and Tom claims he’s been gone all day. He also claims to have spilled cranberry juice on the carpet and thrown it out. Tom’s mother seems to accept his explanations.

Gretchen agrees that Tom’s behavior with the phones is weird, and encourages Sydney to invite him on a double date so she can meet him in person. Sydney explains that Tom doesn’t want to meet them. Gretchen invites Sydney to the closing of her art exhibit, reminding her how hard she’s worked on it, including an all-nighter the night before it opened. Sydney leaves, unnerved by something Gretchen has said but unable to identify exactly what.

Sydney realizes that Gretchen’s claim that she was at the museum the night before the exhibit openly contradicts her statement to police that she was with Randy that night. When Sydney confronts her, Gretchen admits that she lied to protect Randy, who has no alibi and has a history of stalking and assaulting women. Gretchen convinces Sydney not to report the lie to police, insisting on Randy’s innocence.

A bartender from Tom’s father’s favorite bar appears at the house with his cell phone, claiming Tom’s father hasn’t been by in two days. Tom’s mother realizes that the rug couldn’t have been hauled away like Tom claims because the weekly garbage pick-up hasn’t happened yet. As Tom searches for an explanation to calm her suspicions, Chief Driscoll appears at the door.

Chief Driscoll reveals that several of Allison’s friends have reported her hatred for Tom and that the police know that Brandi had a crush on him. Tom’s mother defends him, insisting he’s a good kid and lying about Tom’s father’s absence. As Chief Driscoll is leaving, he notices a dark stain on the couch. Tom’s mother refuses to let him take a sample without a warrant. After he leaves, she sends Tom upstairs and begins to scrub at the spot.

Sydney prepares for a virtual meeting with a potential tax client, but is horrified when they client is revealed to be Kevin, using a fake name. He apologizes for harassing her and begs for another chance, claiming he needs to see her in person, and not just through a window. Sydney wonders if he has been watching her home. Randy appears at the door, frightening Sydney.

Randy shows Sydney the small diamond ring he plans to use to propose to Gretchen. Sydney is shocked and tries to discourage him, but relents when she realizes he truly loves her. Sydney wants her friend to be happy, and assures Randy that Gretchen will accept his proposal. She realizes that she can never report Gretchen’s lie to the police now, or she’d risk ruining their happiness.

Tom invites Sydney over for dinner but upsets her when he violently kills a mouse without hesitation. When she tells him about Kevin appearing in her meeting, he insists that she contact the police. Sydney dismisses his concerns and invites him to be her date to Gretchen’s wedding. He initially dismisses it, claiming he can’t plan that far in advance, but finally agrees.

Desperate to speak to Daisy, Tom sneaks out of the house and throws pebbles at her window. Daisy reveals that her father believes Tom and Slug killed Allison and Brandi. She says Slug has been caught peeping in Brandi and other girls’ windows. She also claims Allison told her about Tom and Slug stuffing something in the trunk. Tom convinces Daisy to meet him later that night to talk more. As he leaves, Slug appears.

While Tom is showering, Sydney finds a black scrunchie on the floor of his bedroom and begins to suspect that Tom was Bonnie’s mystery doctor crush. She realizes that the phone he uses to text her is a burner phone used for no one else and begins to grow suspicious and scared. She hides his water bottle in her purse, hoping Jake can lift fingerprints off it. Suddenly, Tom appears and demands to know what she’s doing.

Sydney tells Tom that she isn’t feeling well and wants to go home. Tom seems suspicious, and Sydney wishes that she had run out while he was in the shower. Tom tries to convince her to stay, but finally agrees to let her go. Before leaving, Sydney kicks the black scrunchie she found back under the bed. She runs down the stairs and out of the building.