On a noisy train, Bear notices a three- or four-year-old girl crying and distracts her by wiggling his eyebrows, then entertains her and her mother with origami animals, introducing himself and making a paper bear and a bird for Robyn. When the train arrives in Brighton, Maia watches Bear say goodbye to the pair and greets him warmly; they hug at the barriers and head for fish and chips before walking the seafront, catching up on family, school, and Maia’s homeopathy training.

Bear tells Maia he has asked out a girl from school, Lily Atkins, whom he admires for her quiet confidence and insight in class. Maia teases him about noticing Lily’s hair and eyes, and they share easy sibling banter. Back at Maia’s flat over hot chocolate, Bear describes a class exercise sparked by The Canterbury Tales about being defined by relation to others, leading both to articulate a shared fear: being known as the murderer’s son or daughter.

They examine their connection to their imprisoned father. Bear admits he rarely feels he has a dad; Maia says she had one in another life. They wonder whether he thinks of them and confirm he may be eligible for release next year if his behavior is “good.” Maia states he was charming and might have been freed earlier if not for Vihaan’s murder exposing his abuse of Cora. They honor Vihaan by name, noting their yearly visits to his grave on October 16 and that Cora often goes more frequently, leaving flowers.

Bear voices fears about potential danger after release and recounts intrusive scenarios: seeing their father at the window, hiding under the stairs, or cutting the phone line. He sometimes checks the phone and wishes their mother had a protective partner like Aaron, a helpful plumber. He reflects on how bullies back down around him and wonders if they sense his father’s violent legacy, yet doubts that would matter against a murderer. He worries how his sense of self might be shaken if their father reappeared.

They debate how prison may have changed their father, with Maia suggesting his identity was built on status as a doctor and respectable man, now stripped away. Bear reveals he biked to look at their old house and could not picture them living there; Maia cautions him not to go again and affirms their flat suits them better. They end by quietly acknowledging his curiosity without judgment.

In a separate thread, Cora prepares for a date and applies lipstick, feeling alienated from her own sensuality. She meets Felix, a 48-year-old vet with an open manner, who talks warmly about clients and their pets. Cora finds him kind and engaging but experiences a disorienting mistrust: niceness feels like potential manipulation, and every positive trait triggers her defenses shaped by Gordon’s abuse. She later explains to Mehri that she cannot easily trust a “nice” man; Mehri reassures her that most men are not like Gordon and mentions that Felix remains friends with his ex, shared via Roland, as a point in his favor.

Mehri gently encourages Cora to imagine future intimacy and love, joking that while she loves Cora, she will not “ravish” her; Cora is unsure she wants that aspect at all. The next morning, Cora texts Felix to end things politely, and he replies graciously. His courtesy reads both kind and untrustworthy to Cora. Restless, she looks forward to Bear’s return, craving the stability of her role as Mum, and anticipating simple routines like lunch and laundry.