Other Birds

Lizbeth processes Oliver’s reappearance. She remembers her upbringing, the day her father died, and how Lucy devolved after his death. She began drinking and taking drugs heavily, often ending up in prison. Lizbeth then met Duncan, who began renting Lucy’s old bedroom, but when Lucy moved back, Duncan shifted his attention to her. He started taking drugs with her and became addicted, and eventually they both went to prison. By that point, Lucy was pregnant with Oliver. To protect the new baby, Lucy and her mother arranged for Lizbeth to be listed as Oliver’s mother on his birth certificate. Duncan died of an overdose after his release.

The ghost of Camille encourages Lizbeth to let go, but she is determined to share her story and make everyone love and understand her.

Oliver wakes up and meets Frasier’s housekeeper, Rita, who tells him to meet Frasier at the Dellawisp. Oliver drives over and meets Zoey, Charlotte, and Mac; Zoey is excited to meet him. Frasier remembers meeting Oliver when he first offered Lizbeth her job because he felt camaraderie with Oliver. When Oliver inquires about Lucy, Frasier mentions Lizbeth’s story. Oliver suggests that the story wasn’t for peace, but for chaos. He tells Frasier about the job opportunity that fell through. Frasier remembers his own youth with his drunken grandfather, who also had the ability to see ghosts—his story became Sweet Mallow. Frasier apologizes for not being more supportive of Oliver.

Elsewhere, Zoey and Charlotte discuss Oliver’s arrival and Zoey’s upcoming birthday while Charlotte draws henna on Zoey’s hand. Zoey collects Lizbeth’s things she set aside and brings them to Oliver. She invites him to her birthday party. After she leaves, Oliver considers the box before throwing it in the dumpster.

Frasier watches Oliver in his security camera and sees him throw away the box. He realizes that Lizbeth’s story is contained in her diaries. He goes to the dumpster and collects them, then spends several hours reading about her childhood. He considers what to do with his new knowledge that Lucy is actually Oliver’s mother, and decides that protecting Oliver is most important. Frasier feels that knowing the truth about his mother would cause too much damage.

Oliver arrives to Zoey’s birthday party with a gift: his copy of Dancing with the Dellawisps. Frasier gives her a sketch he drew of a dellawisp, and Zoey asks him to sign it. When he initials it “FA,” she makes the connection between him and Roscoe Avanger.

Charlotte tells Mac she dreamed of him covered in cornmeal, and thanks him for the past few weeks of friendship. Mac recounts the first day he saw her, just after she moved in, looking completely like herself. He leans in to kiss her, but Zoey arrives and accidentally breaks up their moment. They join Zoey and sing happy birthday over a pie, and when Zoey blows out her candles, they hear a crash: All of Charlotte’s witch balls have broken. When they go to investigate, Charlotte hears a familiar voice.

Charlotte discovers her mother, Sam, in the doorway of the room holding a knife. Sam had loved Minister McCauley deeply and became lost after the camp disbanded. Sam addresses Charlotte as Pepper, accusing her of wanting to be like the real Charlotte. She has been looking for Pepper and couldn’t find her, but after coming across Charlotte’s name on Mallow Island, Sam figured out the truth.

Sam is the one who has been breaking into Lizbeth’s apartment—she’s been sleeping there. Charlotte realizes that Sam is also the person who stole her money, for which Charlotte had blamed Benny. Charlotte becomes enraged and accuses her mother of not protecting her. At the same time, Charlotte steps between her knife-wielding mother and her friends, inadvertently revealing her care for them through this protective move.

Suddenly, Lucy arrives to protect Oliver. As Lucy tries to convince Sam to leave, Sam becomes increasingly manic and threatens to kill Charlotte. Charlotte resolves to die to protect her friends—an action that will make up for her failing to protect the real Charlotte. Before Charlotte can act, however, Lucy leaps on Sam and distracts her. Sam beats Lucy until Mac pulls her away, and Oliver calls the police. Zoey, who has been hiding, runs into the room. In the chaos, Lucy disappears. Oliver follows her.

Lizbeth observes the commotion, and begins feeling more compassionate toward Lucy. She remembers feeling terrified for Oliver’s safety and recognizes that her love for him is real, even if she isn’t loved in return. Her revelation gives her the strength to move on.