Melanie and Sugar get caught in a dicey situation - and make a new enemy. Sugar reunites with old friends, but he senses some are keeping secrets.
Everyone carries secrets. Sugar's job is to discern how much of the truth they are telling him. Something presenting as logical may not be the full extent of what happened. He relies on people to get answers. However, he remains isolated in this world. He's guarded in a way where the only companion he has is the voice inside his own head. Even then, that conversation goes around in circles. He asserts that everyone has secrets. That includes him. That presents as the show being a mystery about who John Sugar is just as much as it is about the investigation into Olivia's disappearance. Davy and Kenny are looking into this mysterious outsider. They want to gain leverage over him to ensure he doesn't disrupt their lives any further. They have too much to lose. Of course, it's nothing more than the trappings of fame in Hollywood. The family believes Davy has the chance at another Oscar nomination. It could be a full-circle moment for his career. They can't risk anything disrupting that. Sugar presents as a problem. He's also the only one invested in figuring out where Olivia is.
Sugar receives more information from Melanie. He has a friend follow her. He jumps into action after realizing Melanie and Teresa are in trouble. He doesn't know who Stallings is or what he wants with them. He simply offers his assistance and protection. Charlie drives Teresa and her kids to safety. Sugar remains protective of Melanie. This action establishes more trust between them. Melanie already saw Sugar as a savior. He affirmed that she deserves more than drinking her sorrows away. He saw her at her most vulnerable. He saved her. Now, she has to reckon with what truly happened that led to that latest spiral into addiction. She details her work helping women escape abusive relationships. Olivia also found purpose through that work. Everything took a lethal turn when Clifford killed Carmen and Olivia killed him in self-defense. That's why his body ended up in the trunk of her vehicle. She and Melanie panicked out of fear this story would cause bad press for the family. That's the logical narrative offered. Sugar doesn't know if he can believe it all.
Sugar being wary of the truth should inherently make the audience skeptical about every detail happening as well. The viewer should be just as observant. The narrative pinpoints various details to get a specific point across. The intercutting of old movie scenes is more than just a quirk Sugar embodies. He's more than just a fan of cinema. They happen in parallel to his life of adventure. He's the one stepping into the role of the "hero." It's his responsibility to save the people in danger. That's his purpose. That's all that he can allow himself to be. That offers a concise view of the world. Obviously, his backstory is more complex than that. He carries secrets too. He doesn't particularly want to engage with those aspects of his life. He would rather devote himself entirely to the search for Olivia. He doesn't view anything concerning about his health. Meanwhile, Ruby is constantly worried about him and how obsessed he is getting with this case. She asserts that several times. That too should be viewed as more than just a stereotypical female character preventing the protagonist from doing the job only they can do. And yet, those tropes still prop up and cause problems.
Sugar doesn't want to attend a party reuniting with his many friends in Los Angeles. Ruby delivers a speech detailing how she is grateful for everyone who has gathered. They all make their way upstairs to be grilled by her. That's the true purpose of this get together. The innocent conversations occur downstairs that highlight just how non-specific everyone is choosing to be. The only real reflection of life comes when Henry also details problems sleeping. Sugar relates to that. His trouble didn't start because a dog is suddenly in the bed with him. He has always had difficulty taking a moment to recharge. That has resulted in a hand that trembles as well as spasms that nearly cripple him entirely. He forces himself through that pain. Ruby still points out how personally invested he has become with Olivia. He hallucinates someone who isn't there. He's haunted by the past. This is all being done with unique style and purpose. However, it remains unclear what it's all in service towards. It's atmospheric energy suggesting more is happening within the narrative. But that also prevents the story from being a genuine investigation into a missing girl from a prominent Hollywood family.
All of that creates a rather empty feeling. It's the suggestion of a story without delving into the true reality of it. That's frustrating. A twist is coming. It may eventually be discovered by Davy and Kenny. Sugar views them as amateurs. They aren't immediately a threat like he clocks with Stallings and his crew. That scene required immediate action. Ruby monitors the progress being made into Sugar's past. She withholds information from Sugar too. Apparently, their secret operation also works with Stallings in some way. That requires his own history to be removed. People are vanishing. Part of it is being scrubbed from the internet and digital sleuths. Another is presenting as different people just meant to observe society. Sugar sees the glory and wonder in people watching. However, it's still seen as a distraction. It's not him committing to the work. It's not doing any good for the reason these people gather and Ruby reports their interactions. Amateurs may still stumble upon the truth. It seems like a premise of a bad movie. Bernie tosses that aside. People are meant to keep busy. Otherwise, they surrender to their worst impulses. That's possibly true for all sides of this story. Busy work doesn't inherently offer compelling tension or storytelling though.
