Loan Sharks

As she walks away, Oliver tells her that there's a saying that goes like this: “Even if a frog sits on a gold throne, it will run back into the woods.” She stops and looks at him. Oliver says that here’s her chance at a throne. Does she really want to go back to the woods? Like a frog? Aria defiantly nods and says that a frog is happier when in the woods than on a golden throne. He asks how she’s going to pay the debt, since her family’s store has been destroyed. Oliver walks toward her and tells her that there’s a reason why frogs go back into the woods. Because they're dumb. Intense glare at her.

As Aria walks away, she tells herself that she did well. She did the right thing. But Oliver’s not giving up. He calls her and tells her that he’ll give her until midnight to think about it. She looks up and sees him and as he starts to talk some more, she pointedly hangs up on him. Heh. She saves his contact under ‘Crazy Bastard’ and leaves the hospital. Minion asks what Oliver wants him to do and dramatically, Oliver declares that Aria must die. Without a doubt.

Charlie wakes up, in pain, in the hospital. He sees a note by his bedside. It reads:

You were surprised getting my phone call, right? I didn't know the person you went to the hotel with was your fiancée. I'm very sorry. I'm reflecting on it a lot. I won't bother you any more. Please be healthy.

I don’t remember Aria writing that note. Charlie shakes his head.

He goes back to SJ and Oliver acts concerned about his minor accident. Oliver smiles and tells him not to worry; he won’t let the Chairman find out. Charlie nods. Oliver tells him not to worry. They’re all on his side. And his smile is so friendly while his heart is so sinister. Charlie notes that and apologizes, saying that he’s the only one who doesn't know. Oliver tells him that he can start now. Charlie doesn’t look at all convinced. Especially since he suspects that someone’s drugging him. From his household.

As Aria walks home, she starts to think about Oliver’s offer and how nice it might be to have everyone at the mall – including her obnoxious boss – bow to her. ‘The Blue Danube’ begins to play again. As she arrives home, she sees her family still cleaning up their trashed house. Her mom is crying and wants to report them to the police. Her dad knows it won’t do any good. Archie wants to go beat them. He won’t sit still for this! But dad stops him. That offer is getting more attractive.

At Charlie’s, Sia and Leo have finished stocking the fridge. She’s *pleased* at the sight, but Leo’s not encouraged, since it’ll all disappear tomorrow. Wow, he’s not a gloomy Gus at all. They pose for a Selca. Or five. Charlie arrives. He starts to rifle through the fridge, spilling some of it on the floor. He grabs a water bottle and yells at the pair, asking why the seal on the cap is broken. Stepmom enters, saying that she drank some and put it back. Yuck. In the *back* of the fridge. I wonder if she’s the one drugging him. She notes that Leo and Sia were organizing the fridge and asks for some water, since she’s constantly thirsty. That’s a sign that you could be diabetic. Or secretly drugging your stepson and are making up a story to throw off his suspicion.

As they quickly get some water for her, she grabs the bottle that Charlie is holding and drinks from it. She tells Charlie that he doesn’t have to worry. The person who erased the CCTV footage will be caught someday. He agrees. They’ll figure out what happened with Emma and why someone erased the CCTV footage. It's just a matter of time. Dad has entered and has his hands on his hips. He says that they should make that time come quicker. Barking another order. Before the Assemblyman comes!

Emma’s parents are in the air, flying in first class. She’s worried but he’s not. Pilot announces that they will be arriving at Inchon International Airport in thirty minutes, around midnight. He checks his gold watch encrusted with diamonds. It’s 11:30. Just to make sure that we know that they’re rich.

Aria arrives at Loan Shark’s. He’s surprised that she’s there and tosses the bat he’s carrying aside. He asks what she’s doing there. He’s condescending as he unrolls the money. Loan Shark says that the wad of cash isn’t enough. She missed the date. She needs to pay the late fee and the penalty fee. And she needs to include the cost of damages *her brother* caused when he got angry and destroyed the store.

What proceeds is Loan Shark being a jerk. A man he’s been beating attacks Loan Shark when his back is turned. Loan Shark’s goons come in and stop Man. They beat Man and then Loan Shark punches him again and again. Aria is understandably frightened. Goons tell Loan Shark that the guy is dead. So Aria’s just watched him kill someone. Aria gasps, which reminds them that she’s there. They menacingly walk toward her. She says she didn’t see anything. She runs and tries to call 119, but they stop her.

Charlie – even though he’s just been in an accident where he smacked his head against a steering wheel – is preparing to let Doc hypnotize him, which includes injecting him with something to get him to relax. What school did Doc go to? Because head injury and relaxing drug treads into coma or death territory. Doc says that Charlie won’t get hypnotized unless he wants to. If he resists, he’ll never fall under it, which means that if Charlie wants to hide that incident, the truth won't come out even if Doc hypnotizes him. Charlie says that he wouldn't have come if he wanted to hide it. He’s there to make sure that it wasn't because of him.

Doc uses the sound of hanging metal balls swinging and hitting each other to get Charlie to relax. As Doc talks, the sound of water, splashing. Charlie remembers that Emma was wearing flesh-colored stockings – because he couldn’t see the cut on her knee. Doc asks what they talked about. Emma says that she heard his mother is also a kept woman. Ouch. Charlie doesn’t like that, either. Will she come to the wedding? Emma adds that her mom won't come. Her mom threw her away and left long time ago. Wasn’t her mom just on a plane, worried about her? But that sucks that Emma feels that way about her parents.

Emma says that she heard the phrase, “I left because of love.” But if you love, why leave? You should protect until the end. Charlie walks toward her, knocking a knife off the table. He tells her that they should go, if she’s done talking. She says that she still hasn't finished drinking her wine. In response, Charlie chugs it. Emma says that she’s looking forward to married life and will see him at the wedding.

For some reason, Charlie chases her and shoves her. She tries to hit him with her purse but he grabs it out of her hand and starts choking her with the straps. Crazy eyes in full effect. And if this version is true, which I highly doubt because of the drugs coursing through his system right now, how did he end up on the ground, unconscious?

Charlie is squirming. Doc asks what he sees and then pulls him out of the trance. Charlie shakes his head and says that this can't be happening. He’s really freaked out. And I would be if I just thought I murdered someone. For some reason which I have no idea what the motive is… Panting, he says that he’s going to personally ask Emma. That way, the truth will come to light.

Aria is in handcuffs in a speeding car with Loan Shark and his goons. Oliver is following them. Loan Shark is freaked. He mutters that it was self-defense! That punk hit me first! Aria immediately agrees and says that she’ll testify to that. Goon1 notes the car following them. Aria mentions that if they get caught now, it will look even more suspicious for her to be handcuffed.

Loan Shark starts to take off the handcuffs when Goon1 wonders if the police is following them because of they hit and killed that unkown aunty last year. Glares from Goon2 and Loan Shark. Aria says that she didn't hear anything. Seriously. She’s still partially handcuffed. They pull over and Aria is able to see that it’s Oliver in the car. And the dead guy starts moving and muttering for someone to save him. Loan Shark and Goons decide to get rid of the guy for good. They climb out of the car and Aria takes that opportunity to hop in the front seat and drive away with the car.

Once she can’t see them anymore, she stops to help the Unknown person. Which is stupid. She should have gone a lot farther. Unknown person jumps up and shoves her aside to get away. This causes her to momentarily stuck in a bush. She’s able to get unstuck and drive away, but not before Goon2 is able to dive into the car through the window. He’s the one who handcuffed her to the steering wheel. During the struggle, she snaps her seatbelt on.

And everything happens that we saw in the first episode. Aria hanging from the cliff. This time she falls and hits the water. The airbag saves her from injury. Quickly, Aria starts rifling through the bag with the money to find the handcuffs key. She’s able find it and get out of the car and starts to swim toward the surface. But she starts to lose consciousness.

Her voiceover wonders if this is how it’s going to end. Flashback of her with her family. It’s a happy time. This is enough the get her to open her eyes as she sees someone swimming towards her.

Charlie enters Emma’s hospital room. With a really nice big flat screen. He looks at Emma – who is now not wearing the air tube in her nose – and Emma opens her eyes.