"Nest Box," episode 7 of Ozark, picks up right where the last episode left off: a cross has been hung on the church.
Jacob and his wife are infuriated, and Marty has to shake off his initial horror to book it over to Pastor Mason's house, in the hopes of saving pregnant Grace. Once there, he is able to cook up a half-baked lie to fool Mason of the Snells' true intentions, but it costs him over $700,000 in payoff money to Jacob. Back at the hotel, Roy is also closing in on Marty. Russ comes to him, saying he wants to kill Byrde, take the money and be done with it. Roy stops him, counseling that he avoid the jail time and get more money later to put toward their bait shop. In an effort to at least make some cash, Wendy is diligently selling houses for Sam Dermody. When a potential buyer comes by, she takes him around the town personally. In a brief but punchy reminder that Jacob and Roy aren't Marty's only enemies, the buyer turns out to be one of the Cartel's cronies, sent to intimidate and find out where the $8 million has gone. As we well know, it hasn't gone far. In fact, Marty begins demolition of the church construction. When Mason tries to stop him, Marty finally levels with him. He outlines how the Snells use the church to traffic heroin. He urges them to stay on the water and although Grace agrees, Mason is unconvinced. Tensions have run high, and back home, the Byrdes are feeling it. Wendy and Marty argue, the former suggesting that they send their clearly disturbed children back to Chicago. Marty disputes this, but Wendy seizes this as the perfect opportunity to confront him about the tape. In their most honest, most connected moment of the whole series thus far, Marty vulnerably admits to his wife, "You broke my heart, Wendy." As they fight, Charlotte is swimming out on the water. She slips beneath the surface, and for a minute, we worry. After a heavy moment, she finally pushes back to the surface, smiling to herself at the thrill. Is everyone in the Ozarks cracking under the pressure?
