Wayward (2025) s01e07 Episode Script

1
["THE NIGHT THEY DROVE
OLD DIXIE DOWN" PLAYING]
Virgil Caine is the name ♪
And I served on the Danville train ♪
Till so much cavalry came ♪
And tore up the tracks again ♪
In the winter of '65 ♪
We were hungry ♪
One day a logging truck is
cruising down Crescent Street.
It makes a tight turn,
and a ten-ton log comes rolling out
and flattens my father's
pickup like a pancake.
A month later, my father wakes
up with all his family around him,
crying and praising God.
But he's just looking
up at us, blinking.
Then he says, get this,
"Can I help you?"
- [GROUP CHUCKLES]
- The bastard had no clue who we were.
He was like a child again.
Innocent, curious.
A beautiful idiot.
[GROUP MURMURING]
Tell her about the door, Weldon.
Stephanie, chill!
I was going to.
So right before he
wakes up from his coma,
my father sees this green door.
Green door.
And he knew he had to leap through it.
He had to let go of everyone
who's holding him back.
And he did it.
He leaped!
- [WOMAN] He leaped!
- [GROUP LAUGHS AND CHEERS]
[INTENSE MUSIC PULSING]
So, what do you think
of that story, Evelyn?
I think it is just a story, and
we've got to make it a way of life.
[INTENSE MUSIC BUILDING]
[LAURA AND GUESTS]
Happy birthday to you ♪
Oh no! [LAUGHS]
Happy birthday to you ♪
Thank you, thanks.
Happy birthday, dear Alex! ♪
Happy birthday to you! ♪
[GUESTS CHEER]
[MAN] Happy birthday!
[WOMAN] Happy birthday, Alex.
[GUESTS CHEER AND APPLAUD]
[LOW, EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
[LINE RINGS]
[ON RECORDING] Hi, this is Laura.
I can't get to the phone.
Please leave me a message.
[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
Laura, it's it's me again.
Look, I know you're angry
and you have questions.
I want to communicate in good faith.
I only just got you back.
This stonewalling is
not reflective of your growth.
Anyway, have have a good
day. I won't trouble you again.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[EVELYN] Come in.
Don't forget to empty out the terrarium.
We cannot have Timothy living in filth.
[TIMOTHY CROAKING]
Um, I was wondering if you
found a home for Stacey.
I would really like the
opportunity to take her in.
- I understand her, and I would
- Rabbit.
Under your watch, a student overdosed
and had to be transferred
to one of our other schools.
Not to mention poor Daniel.
God forbid our student
body finds out about that.
They won't.
Ah
No, I'll place Stacey
with Michael and Brie.
It's a good fit.
Actually, there is one
thing you could do for me.
Laura and her policeman are
having a gathering today.
Find a reason to go and
tell me what you see.
Perhaps then we can revisit
this conversation about Stacey.
[QUIETLY] Thank you.
So, I've been sorting through
receipts, and noticed something funny.
Somebody's been refilling
the printer cartridges.
Yeah, printer ink is not cheap.
I'm, um, disturbed to hear that, Terry.
[LAURA] Alex, can you
give me a hand with this?
Yeah. Um, do you mind finishing these?
- Okay. Thank you.
- Yeah.
["MAGIC MAN" BY HEART PLAYING ON RADIO]
Oh! Harder than it looks.
Seemed like he knew me ♪
He looked right through me ♪
I can't keep this up much longer.
It's been weeks.
I feel like everyone
can smell my anxiety.
No, you're doing great. You smell great.
[SIGHS]
But you gotta get Dwayne
talking. About Evelyn, her plans.
Dwayne's not gonna give us
anything. He's here to monitor us.
No, trust me. People are simple.
They just want to feel included.
He'll let something slip.
You know, he would have been around
at the time your parents went missing.
I'm gonna get him
Okay, but we need to focus
on what Evelyn is doing
that can get her locked up.
I'm making good headway with the others.
It's just gonna take a little time.
We don't have time.
You're due in three weeks.
We agreed we're gonna leave
before the baby's born, right?
[UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING]
Yes, so you better get digging.
Dwayne's a drinker.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey.
I figured if you're gonna babysit us,
you might as well reap the rewards.
I want to say,
I understand why you came down
so hard on me. I really do.
[INHALES SHARPLY] I wish it didn't
take me so long to get on board.
But you know, I I look
at how happy Laura is.
[DWAYNE SIGHS]
You know, I was thinking
about proposing to her.
Wait. I thought you were
But we're not. I mean,
this is just a symbol.
- Right. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
- We can't legally. I don't know.
This place kinda makes
up its own rules, right?
- Now you're getting it.
- Yeah.
Hmm.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC SWELLS]
- [GIRL 1] God!
- [GUY 1] Pizza!
- [GUY 2] Pizza!
- [GIRL 2] Everyone's greedy!
- [GIRL 3] Move!
- [DUCK] All right, guys.
Gather round.
Today is a good day.
You have all made the ascend phase,
which means you all get a phone
call home and a music break.
Yes!
Let's party! Let's party!
What are we feelin'?
What are we feelin'?
Creed. Play Creed, man.
I'm not gonna play Creed, Tanner. Jesus.
Uh [CLEARS THROAT]
How about somethin' a little older?
[CLEARS THROAT] Okay.
- [PLAYING "TIME"]
- Ticking away the moments ♪
That make up a dull day ♪
[GUY 3] Ow!
That's Pink Floyd.
[DUCK] You fritter and waste
the hours in an offhand way ♪
You're kicking around on a
piece of ground in your hometown ♪
Waiting for someone or
something to show you the way ♪
[LAURA] We were at a
Halloween party, and
[LAUGHS] he was dressed as
in this oversized cowboy costume.
I asked him for a ride
home, and we sat in his car,
and we talked for hours.
- Wow.
- I was just waiting for him to kiss me.
And he was so nervous, I
thought he was gonna dissolve.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- What about you?
- Are you dating anyone?
- Uh [CHUCKLES]
No. Chapter four of Evelyn's book.
"The root of all
suffering is attachment."
- Unless you're attaching to her.
- Of course.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
You don't have to
censor yourself, Francis.
I think it's healthy
we ask these questions.
[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
What questions?
What has Evelyn taken from you?
Why has she gone
completely unchallenged?
- Could we do this another way?
- [TOAST BARKING]
Oh my God.
Is that
[FRANCIS] Oh.
Wow. Uh [CHUCKLES]
Okay.
Hi, Rebecca.
Hi.
Sorry. I didn't know
you were having a party.
No, that's okay.
You're always welcome.
Would you like some cake?
Not really.
I'm gonna let you two catch up.
[CHUCKLES]
I heard, uh, you were
doing some body work,
and I was wondering if
you could help me with
Know what? I'm gonna
come back another time.
- No, please.
- Yeah.
I should have reached out sooner.
Let's go somewhere quieter we can talk.
Come.
- [CAMERA WHIRRING]
- [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE]
Okay, this is the blind
spot. Can you cover me?
Yeah.
What do you think happened to Daniel?
I think he ran. Like they said.
[ABBIE] No, I don't buy it.
Screwdriver.
Think you can break into
the trunk of a car with one?
I won't know if I don't try, right?
[DUCK SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY IN DISTANCE]
[RORY] What's wrong?
[ABBIE] Leila barely
even looks at me, Rory.
But didn't you tell
her to go undercover?
Maybe she's just method acting.
You know, my dad once stuck a wasp
up his butt to stay in character.
What? No. Leila can't fake anything.
Well, maybe she's just growing up.
It doesn't have to be a bad thing.
Our teens are like the
worst years of our lives.
What if they're not?
What if they're the best years
and they're stealing them?
I think she's forgetting me.
That's impossible.
You're really nice, you know that?
Like Like, in a bad way?
[DUCK] Trusting you.
Yeah, thanks.
Here.
How does this work?
[LAURA] I work along the
energy meridians of your body
so I can see where you're blocked.
Let's start by taking a deep breath.
Breathe in.
[BOTH INHALING SLOWLY]
[LAURA] And out.
[BOTH EXHALE DEEPLY]
I hated you. For a long time.
I know.
Wanna play a game?
[INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING]
[LEILA] Hey, Abbie.
I told Duck that I'm constipated,
but we don't have long.
Did you get it?
What is this, dude?
Sorry, I know it's cold.
Ugh, there's a hair
on it. Is that a pube?
Okay. Okay, fine. Don't eat it, then.
Why are you being weird?
The mission was to fake it,
Leila. Not to crawl up Duck's ass.
This was all your idea, dude.
Go deep undercover. Make them trust you.
Well, you were supposed to
get batteries for the walkie,
and all you showed up
with was a pube pizza.
Wait, are you jealous?
What? Fuck no.
I'm sorry, man. I
I just miss you.
I'm worried Evelyn
has got into your head.
I'm doing my part.
Now you do yours.
Talk to your cop friend.
You better be right
about him helping us,
or else I'm risking my ass for nothing.
[BATHROOM DOOR CLOSES]
Were you angry when I left?
Yes.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC FADES]
You didn't call.
You didn't write. It was
like you didn't care at all.
Did she ask you to come here today?
- No.
- Make me believe it.
She didn't ask Mm.
Yes. She told me to come.
Good.
Thank you.
I wanna be honest too.
[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]
I'm ashamed by the way I treated
you. That's why I didn't call.
But it was her, Rebecca.
She was threatened by what
we had, and she drove a wedge.
That's what she does.
She isolates people.
I was so jealous of the
attention she gave you.
- I didn't want it.
- Oh, bullshit.
Make me believe it.
Okay.
I liked feeling special.
But it was suffocating.
She said she was gonna
help me, and she changed me.
Is she still Leaping
students using the drug?
- A few every year.
- That's abuse, Rebecca.
- That's wrong. It's dangerous.
- No. No, no, no.
It's not. It's medicine.
I'm grateful for my Leap.
I'm sorry if yours broke you.
[LAURA SIGHS]
Are you gonna leave again?
Alex wants to.
[BRIGHT, DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING]
But I love this place.
I see what it can be.
People supporting each other.
- Real connection.
- [CHEERING]
[LAURA] Helping young people.
[GROUP LAUGHS]
I don't want to leave.
Alex is building a case
against her. You can help us.
You can't spend your life
being her foot soldier.
Would you rather I be
your foot soldier, Laura?
[DREAMY MUSIC SUBSIDES]
- No, that's
- It was good to see you.
Can I ask you, what do you get
out of playing house with him?
That's not who you are.
He's the only love I
have she hasn't polluted.
It's mine.
Think about what I said.
[PHONE DIALING]
- [LINE RINGING]
- [LEILA] It's ringing.
[EXHALES EXCITEDLY]
[MAN] Hello?
Oh, uh
- Sorry, I think I have the wrong number.
- Okay.
- Sorry, who is this?
- This is Chad. Who's this?
It's Leila. I'm looking for
Maggie. I'm her daughter.
Maggie.
It's your daughter.
Leila? Hi.
Hi, Mom. [CHUCKLES
SLIGHTLY] Who was that?
Oh my God, I completely
forgot you were calling today.
I'm so sorry. Things have just been so
busy here, it's hard to
keep track of the time.
[HESITATES] Yeah, things have
been stupid busy around here too.
Um
They have these phases, and I
made it all the way to the top.
Right. Well, I should hope so.
I mean, I remortgaged the house,
so good to know that the
money's going to good use.
Yeah. Money well spent.
[CHAD CLEARS THROAT GRUFFLY]
Oh, Leila, I'm so sorry, honey.
Um, is there anything else?
It's just, well, I was headed
out the door, and, um
Yeah, um
Uh, I might be coming home soon.
Right?
[INHALES SHARPLY] Lei, let's
talk about that next time.
[CAR HORN BLARES]
Yeah. Yeah, okay. Bye, Mom.
Okay, bye.
[RECEIVER CLICKS]
[DIAL TONE BEEPS, ECHOING]
[BEEPING STOPS]
[EVELYN] Let's go for a walk.
[DARKLY INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING]
I love these woods.
Never know what you'll find.
I'm sorry about your
mother's limitations, Leila.
Parents often disappoint.
Would you mind?
Thank you.
[LOCK CLICKS]
[LEILA] Are we outside the grounds?
[EVELYN] Mm-hmm. I trust you.
Leila, you must understand that the
darkness in you is not your fault.
You're just a a ripple
of all that came before.
You never stood a chance.
None of us did.
Birth is nonconsensual.
Yeah, it is.
I like that.
Here. Have a cracker. I made them.
Thought about what you're gonna
do when you leave Tall Pines?
Well, me and Abbie
Not really.
You know, each year, a handful
of very special students
qualify to become graduates.
We set them up with homes, jobs.
Just a handful of
really bright students.
Like you.
You think I'm bright?
Very, very bright.
And very hurt.
You had a breakthrough in the
Mirror Room. You saw the wound.
Your mother, your sister.
Abbie.
They are a a goiter on your
neck that you have to remove.
But you can't do it yourself.
I learned that when I was your age.
Because my parents hurt me.
Badly.
[UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING]
How?
They took my baby from me.
You have no idea how good you
have it. For your own good
[OVERLAPPING] Evelyn! You're only 17!
[FATHER] You might come home
drug-addicted or pregnant again!
[MOTHER, OVERLAPPING] Wait!
I can't bear the sight of her!
[MUSIC DIES DOWN]
They hurt me, Leila.
And they called it love.
And still, I yearned for their approval.
Much in the same way you
still yearn for your mother's.
I met an older man.
Cliché, I know.
But his ideas lit me on fire.
This man spoke about the ills
done to children by their parents.
And he had a solution.
Andrews, you're next.
[EVELYN] He knew that the only
way to be free was to sever
our connection to our caregivers,
the ones who caused us pain.
His methods were
brutal, but the ideas
I want you to leap!
were revolutionary.
Weldon decided that
nobody in our community
would have children until we solved
the problem of intergenerational trauma.
Eventually, I realized we
could grow the community
with our graduates instead.
I'd like to Leap you, Leila.
The pain of what happened with Jess?
You shouldn't have to live with it.
Let me take it from you.
I'm sure you've heard whispers.
I know the students talk.
[TOADS CROAKING]
[LEILA EXHALES]
When would I do it?
Tomorrow.
All right. Think on it.
We should head back before the
others get jealous. [CHUCKLES]
[TENSE, RHYTHMIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[TENSE MUSIC SUBSIDES]
[EXHALES CONTENTLY]
Here.
Evelyn had us bug your house.
It was overkill, and I
got bored of listening
to you two talk about
whether Toast needs a bath.
That's all of 'em. Throw
'em in the fire if you want.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[ALEX SCOFFS]
Thank you, man.
Fresh start, right?
Fresh start.
So, uh
How come you left home so young?
Nah, I was 16, and all
my friends were enlisting,
and I wanted to be a
part of something bigger.
And I wanted to get the
hell outta my parents' house.
Every parent fucks up their kid.
That's why we stopped having 'em.
Mm. What about you?
'Cause people always ask the
thing they want to be asked.
I don't know. Um
My parents were addicts.
[DWAYNE] Hmm.
My dad was violent.
I just used to stand
there and watch it happen.
Watch him beat her up and
[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]
I should've killed him.
Okay. So, what, you said
"Next time, I won't freeze
like that again," right?
"I'll be ready. I'll act."
So you put on a uniform
and bust some skulls?
Yeah.
You and Laura were both
broken by your parents.
[SIGHS] Uh-huh.
Laura never talks
about them, her parents.
Did you ever meet them?
No.
No, but, uh, I remember
when it happened, though.
It was terrible.
But
we take care of our own.
Ponderosa's influence is far-reaching.
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
What happened to them? Her parents?
Ask your wife.
I should shut my mouth. [LAUGHS]
- No.
- Uh-uh.
- What
- [ALARM BEEPS]
Every day, same time. [CLEARS THROAT]
- Reminds me to take my shot.
- Uh-huh.
- [DWAYNE] Oh!
- Whoa.
- You all right?
- [DWAYNE] Yep.
- I'm fine.
- [ALEX] Are you okay to drive?
[DWAYNE] You gonna arrest me, officer?
[MUSIC FADES SLOWLY]
[CAR DOOR SLAMS]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[WALKIE BEEPS ON]
[ALEX SIGHS]
- [ABBIE] Dempsey. Are you there?
- Abbie.
Alex! Oh my God, you're here.
Yeah. I've been every night.
What happened? Are you okay?
I'm getting out tomorrow.
Whether you're helping or not,
I have to get me and Leila out.
Wait, tomorrow?
I don't want to end up
another missing kid, 'kay?
- Have you found Daniel yet?
- Who's Daniel?
Daniel! He ran away when
we were in the forest.
Aren't you looking for him?
No, I don't even think
he's been reported missing.
Get me his last name and where
he's from. I'll look into it.
Abbie, what do you need
from me? How can I help?
Okay, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., I
have free time in the rec yard.
Get to the fence, near the
southern end of Road 12.
I'll meet you there.
I'm gonna need a car,
some cash, and stamps.
Stamps?
Yes. Stamps.
Hey. I'm gonna go for a walk.
Mm, slow down.
Sorry.
I I got through to Rabbit, I think.
Are you okay?
Why haven't you asked
more about your parents?
If somebody told me my
parents were missing,
I'd be trying to find out why.
- What happened, I'd be
- Alex!
Evelyn flipped a switch inside me.
You don't have to understand it,
but when you told me it was like,
it was like reading a newspaper
headline about strangers.
That's terrifying.
I can't make myself feel
something to make you comfortable.
[HARPER] Hello?
Oh! Good morning, Alex.
Would you like some smoothie?
Sorry, what are you doing in my house?
Laura gave me a key.
Harper's helping me
prepare for the baby.
Is this a bad time?
- Yes!
- No.
We can talk about this later.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Mule, what the hell is this?
[WHISPERS] Sorry.
Abbie, welcome.
I thought we'd try a more
intimate hot seat today.
Come. Sit.
This is your time.
Do you think it's my fault you're here?
What? No.
[EVELYN] Choose honesty, Abbie.
If your relationship is strong,
this will only strengthen it.
I am being honest.
[LEILA] I don't know, it just
feels like you think all of
this is just happening to you.
The way you look at me sometimes.
You think it's my fault, don't you?
[SCOFFS]
Just say it to my face.
Fine! Of course it's your fault!
Of course it is! I never
smoked pot before I met you!
Leila, stand up and face her.
You're exactly like Jess.
You need me to be the
fuck-up so you can be good.
You're lazy and entitled.
Lazy? Who slept through
every group project?
But I put the groups together!
I introduced you to friends.
I bought the drugs. I made the plans.
I did everything for us!
So fine, maybe without me, nothing
bad would have happened to you.
But nothing would have happened, period!
After Jess died, I stepped
up to take care of you!
But you're like a wrecking ball, Leila.
I mean, look at what happened to Ello!
You have everything, Abbie.
A big house.
Money, a mom a dad.
A sister.
So, what's your excuse?
How come you're so fucked up?
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
I guess it's because of you.
I was always so proud that a
person as good as you could love me.
But you don't love me.
[COLDLY] Thank you for your feedback.
Oh! That was beautiful.
I guess we'll, uh we'll
skip convergence for today.
Why are you making her hate me?
Abbie
this is what I imagine.
You'll turn 18. You'll
move back to Canada.
Go to college.
You'll make new friends.
You'll be fine.
Leila will not.
A distance will grow between you,
and you will leave Leila behind.
I've seen it so many times.
If you love Leila, the kind thing to do
is end it now.
Let her go so that we can help her.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
You don't know the future.
Abbie, I'd like to speak with
you about Officer Dempsey.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PULSING]
[WHISTLING]
Hey. I got what you asked for.
I got stamps. Why do you need stamps?
Did you kill Riley?
Evelyn's lying, right?
You didn't kill anyone.
- [GASPS] Oh my God.
- Wait.
You did kill him.
- Who are you?
- I was trying to help.
He came at my wife with a knife.
It was an accident.
I swear to God, Abbie.
No, you lied to me. I
can't trust you anymore.
I'm risking my life to help you.
You have to believe me, Abbie.
I want to bring this place down.
Okay, listen.
I found evidence of 18 missing children.
Tell me about this kid
Daniel who went missing.
Where did he go missing?
It was in the woods.
About a half an hour drive from the
school, at the top of Mount Otis.
Near the end of the trail.
You have to find him.
I'm gonna look around.
- Yeah.
- Listen, I'm gonna leave you my car.
If you can get yourself
out of the school,
go up about a mile past the pond.
There's a dirt road. I'll
leave my car with cash.
If you're not one of them,
why aren't you coming with me?
They're blackmailing me.
They could have me locked up.
My wife is pregnant.
You're a coward.
High-minded ideals have always
been used to justify cruelty.
Evelyn relies on your silence.
Evelyn told us the Leap
would erase our trauma.
She never mentioned the price we'd pay.
What did she take from you?
Hmm?
[UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING]
I can't remember what
my brother looks like.
She used my secrets against me.
[CRYING] I wanted a baby,
and now it's too late.
No, you can have it all.
I can feel that.
- Can you?
- Yes.
Do you feel that?
[CONTINUES IN DISTANCE] Don't be afraid.
I feel nothing for my child.
That's what she took from me.
But she hasn't won.
Because I have all of you.
And we can trust that we can
grow this community in a new way.
She took away our bodily autonomy.
- I won't let you down.
- [HARPER] Yeah.
[LAURA] We'll be like one organism.
No more Leap ceremonies.
No more Mirror Room.
No more erasing our memories.
This place is ours!
The school is ours.
And we can continue to help young people
without ego and without torture.
Yes!
[LAURA] I believe there's a way
to raise children here safely,
without this chemical lobotomy.
Let me show you.
I will never leave this place. Ever.
I will never leave you!
We are a family.
We are a family.
- We are a family.
- [HARPER] Yes.
[UNSETTLING MUSIC BUILDING]
- [LAURA] Do you feel it?
- [HARPER] Yes!
[TOAST BARKING]
[TENSE MUSIC FADES]
I want to hear the end of the story.
[EVELYN] I told Weldon I had ideas
about how we could really
leap through the door
using psychedelics medicinally,
and he was furious.
He said nobody was ever
meant to open the door anyway.
It was just a symbol.
[ENERGETIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[TOAST WHINING]
[TOAST BARKS]
I knew all he wanted
was power and control.
Not to heal people.
So
I left.
That's it? You just left?
Yes. I moved forward on my own.
I built the community and refined
the method to make the Leap real.
On the other side of that
door is true peace, Leila.
[ALEX GASPS, GROANS]
Oh God.
[GRUNTS] Get off of me!
[EVELYN] Because I knew
until we opened that door,
by whatever means necessary, we
would be prisoners of the pattern.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[EVELYN] Without a safe way to have
children, this place couldn't grow.
[GRUNTING DIES DOWN]
[WHISPERING] You're
lying on your back
crying out for your mother.
[EVELYN] So, yes, I left.
- Now we could begin the real work.
- [MUSIC FADES]
[TOADS CROAKING]
[EVELYN] So have you made
your decision about the Leap?
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
Come here.
[GROUP LAUGHING]
[EERIE MUSIC BUILDING]
[ALL BREATHING HEAVILY]
[DELIRIOUS LAUGHTER ECHOES]
[EERIE MUSIC FADES]
[UNSETTLING MUSIC PULSING]