Gleb has an idea for startup: he and Semyon would find some private room, and would allow patients to rent it to have sex with their wives/husbands. How they would do this? By lying to Kisegach that they started working on a science project, and needs a room for it (their special Secret Room). They manages to fool Kisegach, but Bykov almost busts them because of Lobanov's greed (wanting even more money, he attempted to expand the "working time" of their Secret Room behind Gleb's back, despite him explicitly warning him against it). Fortunately, Gleb decides to not rely on Semyon and pretends to really work on a scientific project, so Kisegach orders Bykov to leave interns alone.
Phil's new patient extremely resembles his ex, Jessica. In fact, he mistakes her for Jess at fist when he first sees her... and when he starts interrogating her, he starts imagining her being Jess, which leads to him slapping her. He apologises and tries to repeat the process, but then he imagines "Jess" asking for forgiveness, which leads to him kissing her. To avoid any further issues, he asks Varya to replace him, to patient's surprise. The patient, once she learns the reasons behind Phil's behaviour, decides to help him: he must "meet" Jess and break with her formally, in more adequate form, so he may at last forget her; and she agrees to play Jessica for him (she had a rough breakup herself, so she knows how it feels). She plays Jess so well, it accidentally results in them having sex. The patient is not against continuing relationship, but Phil no longer has interest in her after "freeing" his mind from Jess.
Bykov tells Varya that Gleb and Semyon at last started evolving, and now works on a science project, while Varya only regresses. Why they didn't bother to invite her? They must think that she's too dumb for them. Predictably, Varya starts bothering them in attempt to learn more — just what Bykov wanted. Unfortunately for Bykov, they instantly learns who told her about the "science project", and sends her to work in archive — this would stop her for some time. Bykov then tries to send an orderly Pyotr, and, when he gets bribed, just goes spying on them himself — and nearly succeeds, when he busts Gleb accepting money from a patient; unfortunately, the patient manages to come up with a cover story, leaving Bykov with nothing.
Phil thinks that he must quit, since what he just did is a terrible violation of medical ethic; Bykov convinces him otherwise (while this is mistake, it's not as grave as Phil thinks, and he may be forgiven... after two night shifts), and asks him to tell just what Gleb and Semyon are doing... only to learn that he knows nothing. Bykov accepts defeat and goes to Kisegach, to apologise. They then goes to interns, to give them some advices... but once Kisegach leaves, Bykov tells them that he knows about the Secret Room. Why? Because they talked about it in the restroom, not being aware that Bykov sits in the cabin right between them and can hear everything. He would not rat them out to Kisegach... on condition that they would do this "science project" for real. Fortunately, Varya actually did find something in the archive, which they can use to start.
This episode provides examples of:
- Batman Gambit: Bykov tells Varya about Gleb and Semyon working on some "science project", without inviting her (they must think that she's too dumb for them). Predictably, Varya starts asking to be a part of this "project" — just as Bykov wanted, since he's sure that there must be something wrong, and he wants to catch them off-guard.
- Butt-Monkey: Not only Gleb and Semyon forces Varya to waste time in archive on a useless task just to get rid of her, when results of her work suddenly becomes relevant (they must do this science project for real, or Bykov would rat them out to Kisegach), they forces Varya to finish all the work by herself, while they go smoking.
- Chekhov's Gunman: When everyone already forgets about her after she was sent to archive just to get rid of her, Varya appears with results of her search, so Gleb and Semyon now have something to finish this "science project" (so Bykov would not punish them further).
- Exact Eavesdropping: Gleb and Semyon have a "brilliant" idea to discuss the "Secret Room" in the restroom, not being aware that Bykov is present (in fact, he sits in the middle cabin, right between them) and can hear everything.
- Fake–Real Turn: How Bykov punishes Gleb and Semyon for their scheme with the "Secret Room", which they covered with a lie about their "science project"? By forcing them to work on a real science project, otherwise he would tell everything to Kisegach.
- False Reassurance: When Phil tells Bykov that he may not treat his patient because she looks just like Jessica (his ex), and this leads to psychological problem, Bykov seemingly agrees to help, but almost immediately (still in calm, gentle voice) asks him why he even bothered to become a doctor if his psychic is just that screwed up; then he starts loudly demanding him to answer: wether he is he a doctor with steel will, or a spineless weakling.
- Gone Horribly Right:
- Since Phil's patient looks so much like Jess, maybe she may "play" her, so Phil may "break" with Jessica trough her, finally freeing his mind and soul from her? They tries, but her playing Jess works so well, they ends up having sex, right in same room.
- The patient's plan finally works on the second attempt, when she tries to speak about this with Phil (he imagined that now it's Jess who asked him to start everything again, and he refused her), Unfortunately, now she wants to actually try and start relationship, but Phil decides to keep everything strictly professional.
- Imagine Spot: When Phil tries to speak with his patient (who looks extremely similar to his ex-girlfriend, Jessica... who was a total bitch), he starts imagining Jess mocking him. This leads to him unintentionally slapping the patient. Later, when he manages to explain why he snapped like this, she gives him another chance... and his sick psychic instead sees Jess asking for forgiveness, which leads to him kissing his patient. Later she suggests to exploit this, so Phil may break with "Jessica" "officially", and finally live on. When they attempts this, it results in them having sex. Though, ultimately plan does work.
- Inspector Javert: Bykov can't believe that Gleb and Semyon suddenly became smarter and started working on a science project for real, this must be a cover for something. When he fails to bust them himself (and gets chewed out by Kisegach), he sends Varya (by telling her that they works on a science project, without inviting her), hoping that she would bust them or at least learn something useful. This fails, because they manages to cut a dangerous conversation just in time before she may overhear what really they are doing, after which Gleb "neutralises" her by sending her to work at archive. Unfortunately, Bykov decides that this looks suspicious, and tries to send an orderly Pyotr to spy on Gleb's and Semyon's "working place", and when they bribes him, simply spies on Gleb and busts him receiving money from his patient. Patient barely manages to fool Bykov by telling him that he simply gave Gleb money so he may buy something on his request outside of the hospital.
- Secret-Keeper: Bykov agrees to not inform Kisegach about the "Secret Room"... on condition that Gleb and Semyon would actually work on their "science project" for real.
- Shout-Out: The rules of Secret Room are blatantly taken from Fight Club."The first rule of Secret Room is, you do not talk about Secret Room. The second rule of Secret Room is, you do not talk about Secret Room".
- Slap-Slap-Kiss: One-sided from Phil. At first he slaps his patient (he imagined Jessica in her place), then, when he attempted to continue working on her, he kisses her.
- Unseen No More: Through Phil's Imagine Spots, we finally learn how Jessica looks.
- Wham Line: When Gleb and Semyon seemingly finally gets out of troubles, Bykov tells one line which shows that he knows everything about their plan:Bykov: And don't worry, I wouldn't tell anyone your little secret. Because no one must know about the Secret Room.
