The episode opens with Victoria, Ruby, and Shirley, now in possession of the suppressed investigative report. Victoria, ever the diligent journalist, begins the careful process of disseminating the information. She opts for a measured approach, posting excerpts on the community Facebook page and North Coast BBQ bulletin board using generic language to describe the various disputes and accusations detailed in the report. Her posts reveal the city manager’s frequent clashes with the former mayor and other city employees, attributed to a problematic anger management issue.
As Victoria’s revelations ripple through Manzanita, the council is forced to confront the fallout. It is disclosed that the councilors, led by Councilor Jed, had hired a management consultant and psychologist to address the city manager’s temperament issues. These consulting expenditures, hidden from public view, had significantly contributed to the legal and investigative costs that the report included.
Victoria’s commentary strikes a chord with the community. She points out that much of the fervor surrounding the city manager’s actions could have been mitigated had the council been more transparent about the report’s findings. Unfortunately, Councilor Jed, who had spearheaded the decision to hire the city manager, found himself unable to admit to these failings publicly. The city manager did nothing to dissuade the councilor to protect his own image. The threat of further legal action by the manager was always an unspoken intimidating possibility.
The suppressed report becomes a pivotal issue in the next election cycle. Feeling the weight of public scrutiny and loss of influence, Councilor Jed opts for retirement, stepping away from the limelight and the controversies that marred his final days in office. Councilor Bart, too, decides not to run for re-election, recognizing that without Jed, his power and influence have waned.
These actions identified a weakness in the city charter during this interim period when there were no elected representatives on council, only appointed members.
The elections usher in a new era for Manzanita. The newly elected council pledges greater transparency and a commitment to prioritize the citizens’ interests over their own. This shift in governance leads to the eventual departure of the city manager, who resigns after realizing the loss of his main supporter, Jed. Armed with the council’s best departure wishes and severance package, the manager opted to open a less stressful retail florist shop. His successor is noted for a more even temperament, promising a smoother interaction with both the council and the community.
As Manzanita turns the page on this tumultuous chapter, life begins to settle into a new normal. Ruby returns to her duties at The Cove, her ear always tuned to the undercurrents of comments by the city’s power structure. Shirley, finding peace away from the stresses of city hall, secures a happier, less stressful job elsewhere. Victoria, recognized for her courageous journalism, is honored with a state independent journalism award, cementing her role as a pivotal figure in bringing truth to light.
Episode 10, “Afterword,” not only provides closure to the conflicts that have rocked Manzanita but also sets a hopeful tone for the future. As the daily cycle of the tides continues, the town looks forward to a period of stability and renewed trust in its leaders. One chapter closes, and another begins, with the citizens of Manzanita ready to face whatever challenges and changes come their way. Stay tuned for the next season of the North Coast’s favorite soap opera, The Tides of Manzanita.