27. Bad Lady

After a late night of food runs and derm changes, Mona hides a shockrod by her bed and drifts to sleep. She wakes to a crash as Prior is hurled backward through the door by a woman whose cheerful menace unsettles Mona. The woman, identified as Molly, disarms Mona, kicks Prior senseless, and casually orders coffee from Gerald.

While waiting, Mona studies Molly’s inset glasses and armored clothes, then retreats to the bathroom for a hurried hit, glimpsing neglect and stains that hint at past violence. Returning, Mona watches Molly drag Prior into Gerald’s spotless workroom, strap him to a chair, douse him with water, and apply the shockrod. As Prior screams, Mona’s thoughts fix on Eddy’s death, which Molly coolly attributes to what Prior does “if you let him.”

Later, Mona finds herself hiding under the bed until Gerald gently pulls her out, saying she will go with Molly. Mona refuses sedation; Molly tells Gerald to leave. Gerald, skeptical, announces he was retiring anyway and walks out, effectively abandoning the clinic and Prior.

Molly orders Mona to dress. Struggling to button her dress over her new breasts, Mona zips Michael’s jacket to her chin and prepares to leave. Molly’s intervention ends Prior’s control over Mona and pivots Mona into Molly’s custody, setting a new course for the larger play surrounding Angie’s replacement.