Ke Huy Quan Makes a Guest Appearance in Episode 2 of ‘The White Lotus’

Alert: This article contains spoilers for “The White Lotus” Season 3.

In the second episode of the latest season of “The White Lotus,” Timothy Ratliff’s life starts to fall apart.

The businessman and father of three, portrayed by Jason Isaacs, receives a call from a Wall Street Journal reporter while on vacation in Thailand during the first episode. It quickly becomes apparent that he fears involvement in his business partner’s activities in Brunei.

Tim tells the reporter that he hasn’t been in contact with Kenneth for years and ends the call. Immediately after, he reaches out to Kenny, urging him to return the call as soon as possible.

Kenny finally gets back to Tim in Episode 2, and the voice on the line is startling: it’s none other than Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan.

On the call, Kenny informs Tim that he’s not worried about the Wall Street Journal article because 20 agents just invaded his office, and he fears he might end up in prison.

“You promised me this wouldn’t happen — do you remember that?” Tim says to Kenny. “You f—— swore this couldn’t happen!”

Kenny expresses he didn’t expect a whistleblower from his office to report him to both the press and the FBI. When Tim presses for details, Kenny explains that they know “everything” and has already secured a lawyer.

“Just tell me: Am I implicated?” Tim prompts.

“Absolutely! Yes, Tim, definitely,” Kenny responds.

Tim seeks confirmation and learns that Kenny bought a burner phone solely for their conversation, urging Tim to get a good lawyer, “like, yesterday.”

Tim covers his mouth in disbelief, remarking: “You’ve got to be f—— kidding me.”

“This was a favor for you, remember? I didn’t want to be involved. This was all on you,” he continues. “And now I’m entangled in some f—— money laundering and bribery mess? For only $10 million out of your ridiculous f—— scheme? F—!”

Kenny starts to break down on the call, prompting Tim to deliver a thinly veiled threat.

“I swear to God, Kenny, if you f— me on this, I will kill you,” he declares. “I will f—— kill you. Do you hear me?”

Kenny retorts, “If it brings you any comfort, I’m going to f—— kill myself!”

Tim calls him a “piece of s—” and challenges him to go through with it.

The scene cuts to Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong), the hotel’s security guard, at the security station, who seems to have overheard the entire conversation from Tim’s end — though Tim is oblivious to his presence.

It’s uncertain whether Quan will make an in-person appearance in the third season. The outcomes of Kenny and Tim’s business interactions remain undisclosed in this season of the acclaimed HBO series.

Additionally, Tim isn’t the sole character facing legal troubles — Gaitok has his own complications as well. Earlier in the episode, while conversing with Valentin, one of the hotel’s wellness guides, as he departs the resort on his motorcycle, Gaitok mistakenly allows a car to bypass the security checkpoint.

Following the passage of the black SUV, Valentin promises Gaitok tickets to a significant fight his friend is participating in later that week.

The SUV speeds toward the hotel’s entrance, and a masked individual clad in sunglasses, a white hoodie, and carrying a backpack leaps from the vehicle and enters.

He strides straight to a shop within the hotel, brandishing a firearm at Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and the shopkeeper. He aggressively shatters glass jewelry cases with the gun and stuffs the items into his backpack, all while the rest of the hotel remains oblivious to the armed robbery unfolding.

Chelsea and the shopkeeper stand petrified with their hands raised, as the robber exits, taking a few pieces, including a snake necklace Chelsea had admired.

After he escapes, Greg’s (Jon Gries) girlfriend Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), who was in the fitting room throughout the ordeal, emerges and asks, “What the f— just happened?”

Outside the hotel, the car returns to Gaitok’s security checkpoint, and the masked assailant attempts to lift the gate himself. Gaitok intervenes, leading to a struggle, culminating in the masked man striking Gaitok with the gun, knocking him to the ground.

The car speeds off, authorities are alerted, and an investigation into the incident at The White Lotus begins. After the robbery, Chelsea reunites with her boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins), and they share dinner with Chloe and Greg, who now seems to be using the name Gary.

While the four enjoy their meal, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), the spa manager from Season 1, who is set to be at the hotel chain in Thailand for three months, notices Greg for the first time since their encounter at the Maui resort.

Belinda appears to struggle with recalling how she knows him but ultimately shakes her head and returns to her menu.

As all the characters’ narratives intensify, the episode concludes with Tim observing his family entering their villa while he reclines on a pool chair, before he stands up and follows them inside.

Catch new episodes of “The White Lotus” airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO, available for streaming on Max at the same time.