The Chain

In the morning, Kylie rehearses her new escape plan in her head. Every time one of the kidnappers comes to check on her, they’re always armed with a gun; the next time they visit, she plans to hit them with the wrench (from under the boiler) and knock them unconscious, and then take their gun and threaten them for the handcuff keys once they wake up (unless they happen to have the handcuff keys on them, in which case she’ll escape while they’re unconscious).

Rachel goes home to feed her cat, but receives a call from Pete, who needs help with Amelia. Pete gave her snacks that contain traces of nuts, but didn’t notice until it was too late. Now, the allergic Amelia is having difficulty breathing and her pulse is weakening.

A neighbor knocks on the Appenzeller house’s door, saying she thought she saw someone moving inside. Rachel waits for the person to leave, but a few minutes later, a police officer shows up. She goes outside and pretends to be the one who called the police. She recognizes the officer and flirts with him. He is fooled by this routine, writes Rachel’s number, and leaves.

The male kidnapper brings Kylie breakfast, and she hits him in the head with the wrench, knocking him unconscious; he doesn’t have the handcuff keys on him. When he wakes up, Kylie explains her plan, but the man says it won’t work because Heather doesn’t love him, Jared, enough to save him. Heather cares more about saving her son, which she can’t do if she releases Kylie early. Kylie tries to shoot the man in the leg to show she’s serious, but the gun isn’t loaded.

Pete’s EpiPen comes in the mail and helps stabilize Amelia. However, Amelia is no longer placated. She wants to go home and notes Rachel and Pete’s ski masks and that they didn’t take her to a doctor. Rachel calls Amelia’s mother, Helen, to work faster.

Heather’s husband, Jared, explains he unloaded the gun after Heather shot the police officer. Kylie gives the wrench to him, and he slaps her to deter her from trying to escape again. This knocks her unconscious and when she comes to, she cries, feeling helpless.

Rachel goes out to buy supplies for Amelia. She suspects Pete is using drugs or struggling with something that impacts his judgment. The Dunleavys pay their ransom, which is more demanding than Rachel’s. Rachel pressures them to kidnap someone soon.

The Dunleavys kidnap a child named Henry Hogg, and Rachel receives a call from Heather saying she’s going to release Kylie in a public location. She’ll give Kylie a burner phone, and Kylie will call Rachel to reveal her location. Soon, Kylie calls Rachel from a Dunkin’ Donuts, and Rachel brings her home. The family is relieved, but The Chain warns Rachel that she still has to do whatever they say in order to avoid incrimination and stay alive.

Kylie lies to everyone about her situation as instructed, but still seems to be in high spirits. However, she realizes her mother also kidnapped a child to pay for her freedom, which disturbs her. Rachel knows things will never be the same.

The female leader of The Chain is disappointed that a new link is causing problems: Seamus Hogg, the father of Henry (the Dunleavys’ kidnapping victim), is going to meet his Uncle Thomas, who used to be a US Marshal. The leader tasks Rachel with preventing this meeting, otherwise her family will be in danger.

Rachel calls the Dunleavys, but they don’t answer. She and Pete allow Kylie to watch Amelia while they find the Dunleavys in person.

Rachel and Pete break into the Dunleavy house wearing ski masks, to find Helen sleeping. They wake her, explain the situation, and take her with them to find Seamus Hogg and convince him not to meet his uncle.

Helen shows Rachel and Pete where to find Seamus’s house. They break in, intimidate Seamus with guns, and convince him not to meet his uncle.

At the Appenzeller house, Kylie and Amelia play games. Rachel feels guilty for involving Kylie in the kidnapping.

Soon, Seamus kidnaps someone, and Rachel releases Amelia at a park. She and Pete watch from afar until her parents retrieve her. Rachel and Pete fix the Appenzeller house, and then return home to celebrate, drink, and chat. Pete tells Rachel about the incident that caused him to quit the Marines early: While stationed in Afghanistan, he was high (on marijuana) and hanging out in his tent when he was supposed to be on duty, but asked someone to cover for him. The Taliban got inside the base during this gap in time, and people died. After this story, Rachel and Pete kiss and have sex. Rachel sees needle marks from heroin use in Pete’s arms, and he agrees to seek professional help.