At Allsafe, Price explains the origin of Deus: a secret investment group founded by Whiterose following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Known to her partners as Zhi Zhang, Whiterose quickly assembled a network of the richest and most powerful dignitaries in the world. Together, they profited off of the Gulf War, becoming the dominant elite within the military-industrial complex. At the turn of the millennium, the Deus Group co-opted the Internet as their next step in achieving their vision of a so-called "new world order," making the United States a test site for their digital coup, and using E Corp as a front for their activities. Unbeknownst to the Deus Group, however, was that their singular purpose was to fund the development of Whiterose's secret project: a machine hidden beneath the Washington Township Nuclear Power Plant. Whiterose quickly asserted her dominance with her league of hackers and terrorists known as the Dark Army, and by the time the Deus Group realized their folly, it was too late.
Price asserts that Elliot's plan to stop them is futile, but Mr. Robot suggests a partnership with him, reasoning that Price would almost definitely have a contact to help them get into the Deus Group's accounts at Cyprus National Bank. Price reveals that Susan Jacobs was an associate for the bank, but she has been missing for several months. Elliot pledges to find her and requests that Price call for a meeting between the other Deus Group members. Price refuses, deeming it impossible on such short notice. Elliot chastises Price for his reluctance to fight back in the wake of his daughter's murder, divulging his knowledge about Angela's secret parentage. Despite this, Price leaves, with Mr. Robot questioning their next move. Elliot assures him that Price will come around, and receives a call from Darlene, informing him of Magda's passing.
Sometime later, Elliot and Darlene are forced to go through Magda's belongings. Elliot immediately begins throwing some away while Darlene tries to apologize for her eccentric behavior, but he shuts her down. In a drawer, Elliot discovers his old Walkman, which leaves him and Darlene puzzled. She stuffs it in her bag, and begins sifting through a jewel box. Inside, she finds a slip for a safe deposit box in Magda's name, much to their confusion.
Meanwhile, Dominique is questioned by an Agent Horton about the events surrounding Santiago's disappearance. She tries to disclose his involvement with the Dark Army, but reneges at the last moment, instead of saying that Santiago worked as a double agent for the Trujillo drug cartel. Later, Dominique calls Janice, stating that she is "ninety-nine percent sure" that the FBI is none the wiser. Janice tells Dominique to stay in contact and keep the Dark Army apprised of any further issues.
At a funeral home, Elliot installs a password cracker on Susan Jacobs' Ecoin account but has no luck. Mr. Robot tries to talk to Elliot about Magda's death, but Elliot blows him off, saying that taking down Whiterose is the only thing that matters. He joins Darlene, who has been talking to the mortician. Elliot tells him to cremate Magda, and have her ashes be put in the cheapest boxes that they have. Afterward, they go to wait in a subway. Darlene becomes irritated by Elliot's detached behavior, noticing that he is reading an article on Susan Jacobs' disappearance. Elliot expresses his apathy for his mother's death as well as her mysterious safety deposit box. Despite this, Darlene pleads with him to accompany her.
After her interview, Dominique and another agent question an Irish mobster named Deegan McGuire, who is suspected of "disappearing" people in order to give them new identities abroad. Dominique receives a text message from Janice apologizing for what happened to her co-worker, at which point an agent enters the room, saying that she needs to see something. Dominique joins the agent in his office as a news report covers the apparent suicide of a man, whom Dominique learns is Agent Horton. She then receives another text message from Janice warning her that "ninety-nine percent isn't good enough."
At the bank, Elliot and Darlene learn that Magda's safety deposit box was discarded after a payment lapsed two years prior. Darlene yells at the teller, and Elliot insists that they go back to the funeral home and collect Magda's ashes. Darlene sits down, and Elliot asks why she is so upset about the safety deposit box. She clarifies that it was never about the safety deposit box; rather, it was about Angela, and how Elliot seemingly moved on so quickly from it. Elliot acknowledges that he hasn't, at which point he shows that the Walkman has a tape inside. Darlene asks why Magda would have it, and that they should both listen to it, but Elliot declines. As Darlene listens to the tape, she starts to cry. Elliot changes his mind and leans against Darlene to hear the tape. It is a Mother's Day message to Angela's mother Emily from Elliot, Darlene, and Angela when they were children.
Price visits Whiterose, declaring that he is resigning as CEO of E Corp, as he wants to leave with what little he still has left. Whiterose reminds him that a new CEO must be approved by the Deus Group, but Price insists that Whiterose will find a way to arrange a meeting for the approaching new year. Furious, Whiterose proclaims that this is not how their game is played. Price observes that calling it a game is her flaw but tells her not to worry, as she has already won. Price departs, and Whiterose topples over a Christmas tree in rage.
Back at the funeral home, Elliot receives a call from Price telling him that he has made his move. Elliot thanks him, but Price elaborates that he isn't doing it for him. Darlene approaches, asking who Elliot was talking to, to which he says nobody. Darlene confesses that she saw Elliot hacking Susan Jacob's Ecoin wallet, and asks why he is doing it. Elliot in turn asks why she would be curious, and she concedes that she knew Susan while Elliot was in prison, having taken over her house with fsociety and later using her Ecoin wallet. Elliot understands that Darlene killed Susan, and demands any information that Darlene may have about her, revealing his mission to stop Whiterose. Darlene volunteers, rigging Signal's API so they can both receive GPS coordinates for each other regardless of distance. Darlene jokes that she was expecting that Elliot was after Fernando Vera, given that he showed up at Elliot's apartment and scared her two months prior only for Elliot to tell her not to worry. Bewildered, Elliot repeats the sentiment, and she leaves. Elliot confronts Mr. Robot, suspecting that he may have tried to take control again as he doesn't remember anything about what Darlene said, but Mr. Robot denies it. Incredulous, Elliot asks if he didn't talk to Darlene, and Mr. Robot didn't talk to Darlene, then who was it exactly?
In an office overlooking the city, a young Elliot spins in a chair when Magda comes upon him, saying that it isn't his seat and that they need to wait for "the other one."
Tropes
- Call-Back: Elliot references several confrontations between him and Mr. Robot when berating him for hiding Vera's return.
- Dramatic Shattering: After Price informs him that he is resigning as CEO of E Corp, Zhang knocks over a Christmas tree that he was decorating which crashes onto the hardwood floor, ornaments and all.
- Internal Reveal: Elliot finds out that not only is Susan Jacobs dead, but that Darlene is the one who killed her.
- He also learns from Darlene that Vera is back in New York.
- Not Me This Time: After Darlene states that she told an oblivious Elliot about Vera's reappearance and he angrily confronts Mr. Robot under the assumption that he was keeping secrets, the latter genuinely insists that he wasn't in control when Elliot was told the information and that there would be no reason for him to keep it hidden. This leads to the particularly shocking twist that Elliot has other alternate personalities.
- One World Order: Minister Zhang/Whiterose founded the Deus Group as a means to seize control of every economic industry in the world and usher this in. Price flat-out states that their goal is to create a new world order.
- Tearjerker: The tape in Elliot's old Walkman is a Mother's Day message to Angela's mother, recorded by Elliot, Darlene, and Angela when they were children. Darlene begins to sob three seconds into playing the tape, and the moment itself is made properly depressing once Elliot actually listens to it.
- The Reveal: Elliot has three more alternate personalities.
- Unreliable Narrator: Even though Darlene informed him of Fernando Vera's return two months prior, Elliot has no memory of the incident, nor does he remember telling Darlene to disregard Vera as a non-threat. Elliot initially suspects more treachery from Mr. Robot only to learn that Mr. Robot was also unaware of it.
- Vagueness Is Coming: "Magda" discusses Elliot's personalities while asking Young Elliot to withdraw.
- Wham Line: "If it wasn't you, and it wasn't me... who was it?"
- What the Hell, Hero?: Elliot rips into Mr. Robot for supposedly withdrawing Vera's return when he clarifies he had nothing to do with it.
