Cal Hooper spends the morning weeding his vegetable patch in the unusual heat when Johnny Reddy strolls onto his land. Johnny attempts to charm Cal with stories and probing questions, clearly sizing him up while feigning gratitude for Cal's mentorship of Trey. Cal, recognizing the type from his cop days, remains polite but guarded, disliking Johnny on instinct and noting Johnny's roundabout warning that he's protective of his daughter.

Mart Lavin arrives, having dropped his work to investigate Johnny's return. Mart and Johnny exchange ribbing banter, and Johnny invites Mart to his house the next night to hear about a new "idea" that could benefit the townland. After Johnny leaves, Mart bluntly tells Cal that Johnny is a worthless schemer who only wants money or women, and warns Cal not to let Johnny get his hooks in. Mart plans to attend Johnny's gathering anyway, to monitor what he's up to.

That evening, Cal is unsettled and restless, unable to enjoy his usual quiet time with Lena. He frets about Trey, considers paying Johnny to leave, and worries Johnny threatens the fragile good life Trey has built. Lena, calmer, withholds a private suspicion she has about Johnny so as not to add to Cal's worry. Cal finally suggests a nighttime walk to distract himself.

Meanwhile, Trey waits on the mountainside until late, hoping to avoid her father, but Johnny intercepts her at the gate. He reveals he visited Cal, which fills Trey with cold rage. Johnny tries to justify his four-year absence, asks about Brendan, and Trey lies that Brendan went to Scotland—privately knowing Brendan is buried somewhere in the mountains, killed by locals, a secret she promised Cal she'd keep.

Johnny then unveils his scheme: in a London pub he met Cillian Rushborough, a wealthy Englishman whose Ardnakelty grandmother passed down knowledge of ancient gold buried in the local mountains. Rushborough needs a local guide and is arriving in days. Johnny boasts about his "shine" and promises Trey riches. Trey, recognizing his unreliable grandiosity, retreats inside. She asks her mother Sheila if Johnny will be allowed to stay; Sheila reveals she told Johnny that Brendan went searching for him, hoping guilt will eventually drive Johnny away again.