Polly, rattled by Tegan’s brother’s search, Sadie’s near-discovery, and Tegan’s attempted arson, decides she cannot keep Tegan indefinitely and must hasten the birth. She brews a castor-oil Midwives Brew, planning to induce labor, and tells Hank it’s for nausea. Hank, unconvinced and withdrawn, goes upstairs, leaving Polly to proceed.

Polly brings the drink to the basement, where Tegan uses Polly’s late mother’s wheelchair. Polly lies that the concoction is lemon tea with apricot juice and almond butter for pain relief, omitting the castor oil. Suspicious, Tegan makes Polly drink first, then cautiously sips and continues when it seems safe, remarking on the almond butter.

As Tegan drinks, she declares she would refuse pain medication at the hospital to protect the baby, even delaying fracture care. Polly, encouraged, presses on while Tegan steers the conversation toward going to the hospital. Tegan then offers to help Polly leave Hank and reach a women’s shelter, appealing to Polly’s fear and desperation.

Polly resists and inadvertently reveals that Tegan’s brother was searching the cabin earlier. Enraged, Tegan throws the mug, shattering it, seizes Polly’s arm, and presses a syringe needle to Polly’s neck, threatening to inject her. The confrontation flips the power dynamic, with Tegan’s planned ambush now in motion.