Hide In Plain Sight – As the episode opens Detective Forty Bell (Brendan Daniels) tells his family goodbye before leaving for work. At SAPS, Daniel McKenzie (Daniel Schultz) asks his attorney, Avi Kapelevich (Daniel Janks) if he can get them released. Kapelevich says Daniel and Jamie McKenzie (Morgan Santo) will appear before a magistrate within 48 hours of their arrest. Forty tells him that it does not apply if it is the weekend. Daniel informs them of his Oxford Africa Scholarship interview next week. Forty warns that his scholarship opportunities are over and evidence does not put Jamie in the house at the time of the murder. He promises to help Daniel if he explains why he killed Andrew McKenzie (Langley Kirkwood). Kapelevich suggests the print on the telescope has not been compared to the conclusion prints that take on average 94 days.

Edie Hansen (Natalie Dormer) informs Forty of the hideout behind the McKenzie house. She claims to have seen Werner Weber (Warrick Grier) and Nonzi Weber (Katlego Lebogang) getting intimate in the McKenzie house. Uninterested in what she has to say, he goes to the restroom to find the toilet dirty. She pleads with him to not take his hate for her out on Daniel and Jamie. He reminds her of Pearl Gappah’s (Chi Mhende) claim that Daniel and Jamie killed Andrew and Olivia McKenzie (Caely-Jo Levy). She threatens to launch her own investigation if he fails to do it thoroughly. He says, “Go for it.” Outside, Kapelevich warns Edie that Daniel has secrets and may be guilty. He gives her a business card for a cleaning company and says he was aware of her having a brother.

Bishopscourt – Edie asks Amy Cuddy (Jo Galloway) asks if the neighborhood is safe. Amy claims Olivia and Andrew did not like it when Pearl had her boyfriend in her room and starts to say something about Werner and Nonzi when Panoptix Security Guard Morgan Witbooi (Joe Galloway) approaches. He tells Amy that Edie is a The Daily Mercury reporter. Amy says unacceptable before jogging away.

During a phone call, Mazneen Allie (Khadija Heeger) asks Edie to help Edgar Ray (Kiroshan Naidoo) with the MacKenzie story. Edie refuses because of her promise to Daniel and Jamie. After opening the McKenzie house for the cleaning crew, Edie confronts Pearl about her police statement. At SAPS, Forty complains about the crime scene being contaminated. Constable Peri Zondo (Athenkosi Mfamela) claims to have tried to preserve the crime scene. Forty questions where Daniel would obtain a gun and order the woods thoroughly searched. Zondo’s computer screen reveals he has been searching the Du Toit case. Forty explains how Edie vilified him in the paper throughout the Du Toit murder investigation. He says eventually Lodewijk Du Toit admitted to killing his parents. He denies drinking during the investigation, only after.

Daniel bangs his head on the wall. Seeing his head bleeding, he screams to be let out. Elsewhere, Robert Weber (Brandon Jones) is home from school with a stomachache. He asks how is Olivia. Edie says there has been no change in her condition. Werner admits to having a key to the McKenzie house. Edie confronts him about having sex at a murder scene. He says they were adding spice to their love life. She asks him to return the key. He gives her the key and invites her to join him for a name. Nonzi takes offense to Edie’s questions and orders her to leave. Edie is leaving when she encounters Nancy (Melanie Tafila) on her way to the store. Nancy blames a “man” for Pearl’s troubles.

Daniel pleads with Forty to permit him and Jamie to visit Olivia in the hospital. Forty vows to authorize their visit if he tells them what happened. Daniel says nothing happened and he is okay.

Edie admits to going into Pearl’s room. Pearl says her two sons are with Gogo in Marondera. Edie questions if she would be a good mother and thinks it best to leave it alone. Pearl denies being treated poorly by Jamie and Daniel. Edie reminds her of her claim that they murdered their parents before reading from Proverbs 19 verse 5 – “A false witness will not go unpunished and she who breathes out lies will not escape.” She drills Pearl with accusations about her boyfriend. Later, Pearl tells Forty that she and her boyfriend were talking when they heard a “bang” but a flashback shows them having sex. Edie says Pearl’s version of what happened confirms Daniel and Jamie’s story. Rory asks why they ran instead of calling the police. Pearl tells him that she knew where the McKenzie money was and only wanted to return to Zimbabwe but Edie stopped her bus. Forty charges Pearl with theft, potential conspiracy to murder, and obstructing justice. Pearl admits to taking the money, nothing else.

A short time later, Edie takes Jamie and Daniel to see Olivia in the hospital. Doctor Motha (Lihele Tini) says it is unclear if Olivia will wake up. Jamie breaks down sobbing. Jamie asks to stay at the hospital but the hospital forbids it. At the McKenzie house, Macky Hofmeyer (Robert Hobbs) stops by with flowers. Olivia’s brother, Macky tells Edie that he and Andrew are co-partners of Mvelaphi Construction. He says they will cover the funeral expenses and refuses Edie’s offer to help. He claims Andrew received death threats but he was excited about the launch of his project. When Macky asks to pick up some documents for the company, Edie says they will need to review them first.

Forty has dinner with his family. He blames Edie for ruining his life. His wife questions his claim and suggests inviting Edie to supper. Back at the McKenzie house, Daniel claims Andrew said Edie looked down on him because she “despised his values.” Edie denies the allegation and claims Andrew liked money while she believes there are more important things like truth. Daniel receives an alert regarding The Daily Mercury story on the McKenzie murder called “The Heart of white privilege is rotten but is it a disease that can turn to murder.” He accuses her of writing the story. She says Edgar wrote it and denies using them. Daniel orders her to leave. A short time later, Edie confronts Mazneen about the story. Mazneen says Jamie and Daniel are the story. Edie argues that Pearl and her boyfriend are the main suspects. The back-and-forth continues.

Morgan denies seeing Pearl and her boyfriend. Looking through his logbook, Edie sees Banjo (Ivan Abrahams). He says Banjo is a homeless man who sleeps in the woods. While searching the woods, Edie sees the makeshift shelter has been moved. Morgan agrees to help her find Banjo. Edgar visits the McKenzie house to ask for Daniel and Jamie’s side of the story. Daniel tells him that they do not have anything to say when he receives a call from a man demanding money. Edie and Morgan search everywhere for Banjo. The man calls Daniel back to schedule a meeting. Jamie asks who he is talking to but he refuses to tell her.

Major General Lincoln and the SAPS Commander are concerned the McKenzie case will become another Du Toit case. Forty learns he is close to being taken off the case. Elsewhere, Kapilevich and Edie discuss their relationship. He says there is a human being inside her somewhere. She asks him to leave. Mario overhears their conversation. After Kapilevich leaves, Mario and Edie set out to find Banjo in the mountains. He offers Edie a drink but she refuses. Jamie cannot find Daniel anywhere. A man threatens Mario and Edie if they do not give him something. The man grabs Edie’s bag while Mario flees up the mountain. Banjo beats the man with a stick until he runs off.

Jamie continues calling Daniel’s phone to no avail. Edie gives Banjo her business card. Forty and Zondo go over their evidence in the McKenzie murder case. Forty questions if Edie paid Pearl to change her story. Banjo tells Edie that he saw a “white boy” and refuses to say anything else. Daniel is sitting alone. Robert is on a merry-go-round. Edie receives a call from a frantic Jamie saying Daniel is gone. A man asks Daniel for some cash while two men approach from behind and place a black sack over his head. The men force Daniel into a van and speed away. Robert is still on a merry-go-round as the episode ends.

 

White Lies Review

Edie proves Forty’s theory that Jamie killed Andrew by scaring Pearl into telling the truth. Pearl and her boyfriend were having sex when Andrew was shot. They steal money from the McKenzies before trying to flee the country. Edie pulls Pearl off a commuter bus. Pearl’s boyfriend returns to Zimbabwe with the stolen money.

Forty is getting closer to being removed from the case. He scrambles to identify the killer but still believes Daniel is guilty.

Edie tracks Banjo, a homeless man who sleeps in the woods behind the McKenzie house. He claims to have seen a “white boy” but refuses to speak further.

 

The series takes a turn for the worse by turning the story into a political campaign. The police are portrayed as nincompoops. The sex scenes are graphic and unnecessary. The soundtrack feels out of place.

It is a bit irritating when the story steers away from the main plot. The side stories are meaningless if only to add distraction and drag out the show for eight long episodes. At this rate, I don’t see myself finishing the series.

The episode deserves a 4 out of 10. Get more White Lies recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest and classic TV shows and movies, sports, celebrity happenings, and more.