In Denver, Corrie Anderson starts a tightly scheduled tour day for Kate McKay, coordinating booksellers, press, and added security after the Reno scare. When Corrie checks on Kate, she finds her in a rage: the Mingo in Buckeye City has canceled Kate's May 31 event because Sista Bessie is coming out of retirement and taking the date under the contract's "extraordinary circumstances" clause. Corrie wants to fight the decision because she has a contract and sees the cancellation as dishonest.

Kate, however, quickly moves from anger to strategy. Kate explains that forcing the issue against a beloved Black music legend in a city with a large Black population would make Kate look vindictive and racially tone-deaf, no matter what the contract says. Instead, Kate tells Corrie to rearrange the schedule and then embraces Corrie's better idea: publicly present the change as a voluntary act of solidarity and admiration for Sista Bessie. The loss of the venue becomes a potential public-relations win, and Kate gleefully predicts that the guilty program director, Donald Gibson, can now be pushed to provide prime seats and backstage access.

Back in Buckeye City, Holly Gibney and Detective Izzy Jaynes meet for lunch in Dingley Park and speak candidly about the case. Izzy confirms that the evidence now strongly supports Holly's theory that Bill Wilson, the man they are hunting, is targeting Alan Duffrey's jurors by proxy through murders of other people. Six juror names have been recovered so far, and Holly reasons that the truly intended survivors, the people meant to "rue the day," are probably Judge Witterson and prosecutor Doug Allen. Izzy confirms that Allen prosecuted Duffrey and reveals that Tolliver claims he mailed Allen a confession about framing Duffrey in February, though there is no proof yet. Izzy withholds one lead until she can re-interview someone, while Holly says she has recovered some of the missing jewelry and is actively pursuing the rest.

That afternoon, Barbara Robinson receives an unexpected call from Sista Bessie herself, who says she admired Barbara's poetry collection, Faces Change, and wants a signed copy. Barbara is stunned but learns that Bessie is already in Buckeye City preparing for her comeback tour. Bessie invites Barbara either to the hotel or to that evening's first rehearsal in an abandoned Sam's Club near the airport. Barbara, both thrilled and unsure whether the call is real, accepts the rehearsal invitation.

When Barbara arrives that evening, tour manager Anthony "Tones" Kelly confirms that she is expected and leads her into the cavernous rehearsal space. Barbara watches Betty Brady, the woman behind the Sista Bessie persona, warm up informally and then command the room as more musicians arrive. Bessie sings standards, blues, and gospel, reunites joyfully with members of the Dixie Crystals, and turns the half-assembled rehearsal into something electrifying. When Bessie finally spots Barbara, she greets her warmly, takes her hands, and makes clear that her admiration is genuine. Barbara, overwhelmed by Bessie's talent and generosity, chooses to stay and "hang out," and Bessie answers Barbara's praise by affirming Barbara's own artistic gift.