The episode opens with a flashback to the pre-apocalyptic era, where Cooper Howard is on a Western film set playing a sheriff preparing to kill a man. Cooper objects to the violent direction of the scene, but the director insists this is what the audience wants. Cooper then learns that the film's writer has been fired for being a communist, setting a tone of political tension and foreshadowing Cooper's later identity struggles.

In the present post-apocalyptic world, Cooper Howard, now known as The Ghoul, is suffering from severe coughing fits and relies on an inhaler. He is on a mission to retrieve the severed head of Dr. Wilzig, which has been taken by Lucy. The Ghoul finds Lucy carrying Wilzig's head in a bag, and they have a tense encounter. The Ghoul attempts to intimidate Lucy by repeatedly dunking her underwater, trying to coerce information, but Lucy remains defiant. The Ghoul explains that torture is ineffective and that he needs the head for his own purposes.

Meanwhile, Maximus is dealing with the aftermath of his recent fight with The Ghoul. He receives a call from the Brotherhood of Steel, who are pretending to be Titus, the man whose identity Maximus has assumed. They inform him that Titus was supposed to receive a suit of power armor, which Maximus now possesses. Concerned about being discovered as an imposter, Maximus decides to get his armor repaired in the town of Filly.

As Maximus returns from Filly, he encounters a group of criminals attempting to break into his power armor. A brutal fight ensues: Maximus defends himself with skill and ferocity, killing one of the attackers. After the fight, Thaddeus, a new squire, arrives. Maximus asserts his authority over Thaddeus, ordering him to clean his codpiece, establishing a dynamic of power and control.

Back at Vault 33, the survivors are struggling to recover from a recent raid by Moldaver's group. Norm, Lucy's brother, is disturbed by the leadership's decision to try to rehabilitate the captured surface marauders rather than kill them. He argues that it is not their place to rehabilitate such dangerous people and advocates for their execution, shocking the others. Norm apologizes for his outburst but remains firm in his stance.

During a meeting about the vault's dire situation, it is revealed that the water chip is destroyed, leaving the vault with only enough water to sustain the population for two months, not counting the prisoners. The co-overseer system is failing, and tensions rise as the group debates how to handle the prisoners and the water shortage. Norm gains an ally who reminds him that his father "would do the right thing," hinting at a legacy of tough decisions.

Lucy continues her mission to locate her kidnapped father, Dr. Wilzig. It is revealed through a twist that Dr. Wilzig had actually killed himself and instructed Lucy to sever his head to make it easier to transport. The head contains a mysterious element injected behind Wilzig's ear, which is highly sought after by various parties, including Moldaver.

The episode ends with a flashback revealing that before the war, Cooper Howard was affiliated with Vault-Tec, the organization responsible for building the underground vaults. This connection adds depth to Cooper's character and explains his complex motivations and survival tactics in the post-apocalyptic world.

Throughout the episode, the three main human characters--Lucy, Maximus, and The Ghoul (Cooper Howard)--are drawn closer together by their intersecting goals and conflicts, setting the stage for future confrontations and alliances. The episode balances intense action sequences, such as Maximus's fight and The Ghoul's underwater chase, with political and moral debates within the vault, deepening the narrative complexity.

At the end of Fallout Season 1, Episode 3, "The Head," Maximus and Thaddeus successfully retrieve Dr. Siggi Wilzig's severed head from the Gulper's stomach after a fierce encounter. Meanwhile, in Vault 33, the council debates the fate of the Raiders, with Norm and Steph advocating for their execution, while others push for rehabilitation. The episode closes with the vault facing a critical water shortage, adding tension to the already fraught situation.

Expanding on the ending scene by scene:

Maximus and Thaddeus arrive at Hollywood Boulevard, guided by Thaddeus's tracking device to locate Wilzig's head. The Ghoul had earlier explained that the Gulper's digestion is slow, so the head should still be inside the creature. Suddenly, the Gulper emerges from the water and attacks Thaddeus. Maximus intervenes and saves him. As the Gulper dies, it coughs up the contents of its stomach, including Lucy's boot and Dr. Wilzig's head. CX404, a dog-like companion, licks the head, and the men celebrate their victory.

Meanwhile, back in Vault 33, the council holds a meeting to decide what to do with the Raiders who have been brought into the vault. The majority favors rehabilitating the Raiders to integrate them into society, suggesting education in Shakespeare, morals, or calculus. However, Norm vocally opposes this, insisting the Raiders deserve death. Steph, who lost her husband to the Raiders, supports Norm's position. The meeting is interrupted when a worker reveals that the vault's water chip is broken, and the water supply will only last a few months, creating an urgent crisis.

Thaddeus shares a moment with Maximus, revealing his own difficult past and how he used to bully Maximus as part of a tradition within the Brotherhood. He expresses regret about how things turned out. This interaction adds depth to their relationship and highlights the harsh realities of their world.

The episode ends with the vault's inhabitants facing the dual challenges of deciding the Raiders' fate and managing the dwindling water supply, setting up further conflict and tension for the series.

Regarding the fate of main characters at the episode's end:

• Maximus survives the Gulper attack and successfully recovers Wilzig's head.
• Thaddeus is saved by Maximus but is physically vulnerable after the attack.
• Lucy's boot is found inside the Gulper, implying she is still missing or in danger.
• Norm and Steph remain in Vault 33, pushing for the Raiders' execution.
• The vault community faces a looming water crisis, threatening everyone's survival.

For the TV show Fallout, Season 1, Episode 3 titled "The Head" (2024), there is no post-credits scene. The entire first season, including episode 3, does not feature any bonus or post-credits material. This is consistent with the rest of the season's episodes, which are generally light on extra scenes after the credits.

While the final episode of the season (episode 8) includes an animated outro during the credits that provides context for the finale, episode 3 does not have any such scene or additional footage after the credits roll.

In episode 3, Lucy has an unpleasant encounter with the Ghoul after he finds Wilzig's headless corpse and follows her. She reaches the underwater remains of Hollywood Boulevard where a mutated Axolotl called a gulper swallows Wilzig's head. As Lucy escapes the gulper, she is held at gunpoint by the Ghoul.

In this episode, Maximus assumes Titus' identity, though specific scenes detail his actions and interactions while doing so, including moments with his new squire, which contribute to character development and plot progression.

Wilzig's head is swallowed by a mutated Axolotl known as a gulper in the underwater ruins of Hollywood Boulevard, which becomes a key plot point as Lucy tries to escape and the Ghoul pursues her after finding Wilzig's headless corpse.

Vault 33 faces internal conflict with raiders inside the vault. Norm advocates killing the raiders, while others suggest rehabilitating and integrating them into society. The water chip is destroyed, leaving only two months of water supply, increasing the stakes and tensions among the vault residents.

The episode flashes back to the 'before times,' showing Cooper Howard filming a movie scene and arguing with a director. This flashback contrasts the pre-apocalyptic world with the present, highlighting themes of identity and individualism, and revealing Cooper Howard's role as the face of Vault-Tec iconography.

The TV show Fallout, Season 1, Episode 3 ("The Head") is not family friendly and is generally rated for mature audiences (16+ or similar) due to its content.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers in this episode include:

• Graphic violence and gore, including bloody fights, injuries, and dismemberment, sometimes shown in detail or implied off-screen but still disturbing.
• Strong and frequent profanity, with about 22 obscenities in this episode, including many uses of the "f" word.
• Psychological intensity, focusing on mental fragility, paranoia, and fear, which may be unsettling.
• Sexual content, including limited sex scenes and sexual references, though not highly graphic.
• Disturbing imagery, such as mutilated bodies, mutated creatures, and scenes involving cannibalism or flesh-eating.
• Themes of suicide and drug use are present in the series overall.
• Some brief references to bestiality in a humorous context.

These elements combine to create a dark, intense, and mature atmosphere that is not suitable for children or viewers sensitive to violence, strong language, or disturbing themes.