Joe sees himself in Paco—a trapped boy desperate for a hero. He gives Paco a first edition of The Count of Monte Cristo , telling him, “Edmond Dantès was locked up for years. But he learned patience. He learned how to wait for the right moment to escape. And then he destroyed every single person who wronged him.” Paco’s eyes light up. Joe has just handed him a blueprint for vengeance.
While cleaning, he discovers Beck’s old laptop. A few keystrokes later (Joe has her password—he’s been watching her type it for weeks), he finds a draft email to her estranged, alcoholic father. It’s a raw, vulnerable plea for connection. Joe reads it with a mix of tenderness and possessiveness: She needs me to protect her from him, too. you s01e05 aiff
That night, while Beck sleeps, Joe slips out and returns to the bookstore basement. Benji is still alive—barely. Dehydrated, terrified, and reduced to begging. Joe ignores him. Instead, he opens his leather-bound journal and begins a new section: Dr. Nicky. Joe sees himself in Paco—a trapped boy desperate
He writes down everything he knows: the therapist’s full name (Nickolas Pasternak), his office address, his license number. He starts planning. If Beck won’t stop seeing Nicky voluntarily, Joe will have to remove the obstacle. He looks at Benji, whimpering in the cage, and smiles coldly. “You’re not my biggest problem anymore,” he whispers. He learned how to wait for the right moment to escape