Late at night, Arthur arrives at Linus’s guest house with a gift Lucy found: a vintage Zenith portable record player and a mystery record that plays love songs. The tender moment draws them closer as they sit together, shoes touching. Arthur praises Linus for prompting Sal to move his desk and write openly, arguing that real evaluation requires connection, not distance from RULES AND REGULATIONS.

They weigh safety versus freedom. Linus proposes an off-island outing to ease the children’s isolation; Arthur, protective but receptive, suggests the Saturday after next. He also reveals he knew about the raft. Their near-intimate moment ends when Arthur withdraws and leaves. Alone, Linus notices a sudden orange flash outside but dismisses it, forgetting to ask about the locked cellar.

Two days later, Zoe drives Linus to the village to mail his report. The churlish postmaster hands him a memo from Extremely Upper Management, signed by Charles Werner. The memo cautions Linus against editorializing, flags unregistered Zoe for scrutiny (asking about her role and proximity to the children), and demands more information on Arthur’s background, warning that even the charming have secrets.

Back in the car, Linus withholds the memo. He admits Arthur seems different; Zoe agrees but remains evasive, unfazed that Arthur knew about the raft. Returning to the island, she reminds Linus the third Saturday means a garden picnic with Chauncey’s raw-fish experiments, leaving the memo’s threat hanging over their plans.