State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)
performed by Jim James

Abby visits her family in Boston, flirting with old flame Gus, in Dave (her brother's) bar. Margaret, her sister, and Abby don't get along. Abby spends most of day drinking and bonding with Margaret's daughter, Lauren, and resists Ray's demands she return home. After a brief war of words the sisters patch things up. Bridget has a bad day at school and tries to get her teacher on-side. Connor skips school and borrows Abby's car - some girls ask to come round for the day but Connor ends up disappointed when they all bring their boyfriends. Connor and one of the guys come to blows with Connor eventually beating him with a bat - Bridget arrives before things get too ugly. Mickey tries to patch things up with Terry, though, as usual, his ways only serve to make things worse. Ray spends the day at Finney's Imperial Studios. He shepherds Casey around as required and helps Paige some overcome some personnel issues so that she can best portray the studio to a potential buyer. Andrew Finney first says the deal is off but after interjections from Paige says its back on again. Alone, Finney tells Ray that he works only for him - and suggests things will get ugly with the rest of the brood. Paige later calls Ray asking to meet, Ray declines stating that he works only for her father. Going home, Ray gets a frosty reception from Bridget but stays at the family home in Abby's absence.

A scientist comes to Jarden in search of answers concerning Nora, and her proximity to the recently departed girls. Nora doesn't react well. After refusing the man, she receives a call from one of his colleagues, claiming that they have answers concerning "Lenses". A "Lens" is someone the DSD (Department of Sudden Departures) has classified as being a risk for those around them departing. Nora is flabbergasted after learning that their theory is based in mystical and religious beliefs. Meanwhile, during a fundraiser for the departed, Erika treats everyone in attendance to a dose of her frank opinion. Later, Nora and Erika bond and quarrel over their losses. Kevin unburdens himself to Nora.

Wanted fugitive Raymond "Red" Reddington (Spader) turns himself in to the FBI and offers to help them find Ranko Zamani (Jamie Jackson), a terrorist, on the condition he talks only to new profiler Elizabeth Keen (Boone). After being informed that Zamani intends to kidnap the daughter of General Daniel Ryker (Chance Kelly), Elizabeth picks her up, only for her convoy to be ambushed and the girl taken. Furthermore, Zamani breaks into Elizabeth's house and stabs her husband Tom (Eggold). As Tom recovers, Zamani meets with Red and informs him of Tom's injury, which Red apparently ordered. The meeting turns out to be a setup, and Agent Donald Ressler (Klattenhoff) kills Zamani. Elizabeth realises that Zamani intends to detonate a chemical bomb strapped to Ryker's daughter. Elizabeth finds the girl in a zoo, and Red sends an associate to disarm the device. Red then reveals that he has intelligence to help the FBI find unknown threats he has compiled on a "blacklist" gathered over the years. Later, as Elizabeth cleans her husband's blood off the carpet, she finds stashed under the floorboards a box containing money, a gun, and several fake passports bearing Tom's photograph. Red phones her and inquires about this discovery, which leaves her puzzled.

A forensic accountant un-cooks the books for illicit clients