Spoilers are ahead for Lady in the Lake episode 4.
Summary
InLady in the Lakeepisode 4, Shell Gordon (Wood Harris) reveals his plan for Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) whenShell orders Reggie Robinson (Josiah Cross), his right-hand man, to kill Cleo. Set in 1966 Baltimore,Lady in the Lakechronicles homemaker-turned-journalist Maddie Schwartz’s (Natalie Portman) investigation into the deaths of two recent murder victims — 11-year-old Tessie Durst (Bianca Belle) and mother, activist, and job-juggler Cleo Johnson. Although the murders are seemingly unrelated, Maddie, a lover of telling others' stories, tries to shoehorn in some connective tissue between the deceased characters.
Although the Apple TV+ series is based on Laura Lippman’s novel of the same name, theLady in the Lakeshow makes big changesto its source material. While those alterations have been evident since the first episode — evenLady in the Lake’s cast of charactersdiffers from its book counterpart — episode 4 hammers home many of the new additions to the narrative. Eager to lie low after Tessie’s disappearance, Reggie tasks Cleo with making a drop on his behalf, which is howCleo becomes implicated in a Shell-ordered assassination attempt on politician Myrtle Summer(Angela Robinson).
Why Shell Gordon Wants To Kill Cleo In Lady In The Lake
Shell Wants To Tie Up Loose Ends After The Failed Assassination Of Myrtle Summer
InLady in the Lakeepisode 3,Shell Gordon tells Reggie just how much loyalty means. The ruthless businessman, who not only owns The Pharaoh nightclub and the Gordian Hotel but runs the fixed numbers game, has had it out for progressive politician Myrtle Summer since the first episode. Cleo, meanwhile, has been torn between needing to work for Shell — as both a bartender and, more surreptitiously, his bookkeeper — and wanting to support Myrtle’s platform. Ultimately, Myrtle uses Cleo as a political pawn and refuses to give her a job because of Cleo’s connection to Shell’s businesses.
Who Killed Tessie Durst & Cleo Johnson In Apple TV+’s Lady In The Lake?
Lady in the Lake presents two killings — the murders of Tessie Durst and Cleo Johnson — in its opening episode, making for a compelling premise.
Feeling used and frustrated, the struggling bookkeeper finds herself in an extra vulnerable position when it becomes clearwhat’s wrong with Cleo’s son— he has sickle cell anemia — isn’t improving. Determined to prove her loyalty to the powerful Shell, Cleo agrees to make Reggie’s drop because she thinks it’s an order from Mr. Gordon. WhenCleo becomes the unwilling getaway car driver in the attempt on Myrtle’s life, she’s haunted by what’s happened. Shell learns that the police are after several men as well as a woman in her 30s, which helps him realize what Reggie has done.
Shell reminds Reggie that the police will be able to ID Cleo and, potentially, discover Shell’s involvement.
Toward the midway point ofLady in the Lakeepisode 4, Shell summons Reggie to the roof of The Pharaoh. Shell calls Reggie out for tasking Cleo with the drop. When Reggie tries to explain that he wanted to keep the heat off of them both since a witness saw him near the site of Tessie’s disappearance, Shell reminds Reggie that the police will be able to ID Cleo and, potentially, discover Shell’s involvement. After Cleo and her boys attend the Gordian Hotel’s holiday event,Shell wants Cleo dead by morning — and he wants Reggie to handle it.
Does Reggie Actually Kill Cleo For Shell? What Happens In The Book
Reggie Isn’t A Character In The Lady In The Lake Novel
After Shell’s intimidation on the roof, Reggie finds himself in an incredibly difficult position, as Shell insinuated it was a kill or be killed situation. Knowing that Cleo wants to disappear, Reggie gives Cleo the winning number so that she can nab some cash before leaving town ahead of Christmas morning. When he sees Cleo leave her parents' house to retrieve her winnings, Reggie cries in his car. The episode ends where the show began:Reggie dumps Cleo’s body in the lake’s fountain. Ariveting crime drama,Lady in the Lakemight not have shown the whole truth yet.
New episodes of Apple TV+‘sLady in the Lakeair on Fridays through August 23, 2025.
Lady in the Lake
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY LAURA LIPPMAN, LADY OF THE LAKE IS A FICTIONAL DRAMA MINISERIES BASED AROUND THE REAL DISAPPEARANCES OF A YOUNG GIRL AND A WOMAN, COMING TO APPLE TV+. THE STORY CENTERS AROUND MADELINE SCHWARTZ, A DISSATISFIED 1960S HOUSEWIFE OF TWENTY YEARS WHO ENDS HER MARRIAGE IN SEARCH OF A LIFE WITH MEANING. MADELINE, BETTER KNOWN AS MADDIE, SEEKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD - TO DO SO, SHE HEADS DOWN THE PATH OF AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST AFTER SOMEHOW HELPING THE BALTIMORE POLICE FIND THE BODY OF A YOUNG GIRL IN THE LAKE, CLEO SHERWOOD. LADY IN THE LAKE HAS NOIR ELEMENTS AND EXPLORES STATUS AND RACE IN A MURDER MYSTERY IN A DIFFERENT PERIOD. THE SERIES HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO AN INCIDENT IN LATE 2022 BUT IS STILL SET TO COME TO APPLE TV+ IN THE FUTURE.
