04x04 - The Return of the K*llers Hook

[bunniefuu]

- [MACHINE BEEPS]
- RYAN: Hey, Nancy.

Look, I-I heard what
happened with you and Ace.

Are you all right?

Hit me back when you get a chance,

'cause Dad number two's worried.

- [MACHINE BEEPS]
- Nancy, it's Bess again.

Did you get my tip about
inspirational Post-its?

They work.

Sending you more healing
from heartbreak vibes!

- [MACHINE BEEPS]
- NICK: Nancy.

Hey. Uh, just wanted to say

we miss having you around.

We're here for you.

- [MACHINE BEEPS]
- GEORGE: Hi, it's me letting you know

I do not miss you, and I'm
totally not worried about you.

I'm sorry Ace broke your heart.

[WHISPERS]: Call me back.

♪ The end ♪

♪ Of the world. ♪

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

[WOMAN CONTINUES SCREAMING]

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

Hello?

Where are you?

- [LEAVES RUSTLE]
- [WOMAN SCREAMS]

[GRUNTING]

[GASPING]

[WOMAN SCREAMS]

[PANTING]

[SNARLING]

[GRUNTS] Ow!

What the... ?!

- [BELL RINGS]
- MAN: Cut!

What the hell?

Bogey on set!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[MAN GROANING]

Hank, I'm calling a medic.

[GROANING]

MAN: Call a medic!

It's okay. We have a permit.

Oh, sh**t.

♪ ♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Sorry, we should've had a P.A.

locking up that end of the woods.

Can we reset the head drop, please?

My woods.

You're sh**ting a movie in my backyard.

- I live right over...
- LACI: Nancy Drew?

- Laci McAllister?
- Doug, we need you back on set.

What are you doing here?

Are... are you the director?

Surprise.

I guess you stopped
listening to my podcast

after we "worked
together" at DetectiveCon.

I haven't really been
listening to much of anything.

Or... going outside.

Yeah, I recognize that look.

That's a heartbreak suit right there.

MAN: Laci.

Wardrobe is asking which
one you like better.

Oh, uh...

That one. It's more arterial.

Thanks, you two. Tell
them it looks great.

You're the best, stunts department.

Let me guess, you're
directing a romantic comedy?

Musical? [CHUCKLES]

A remake of Longhook.
Slasher film from the 's?

- They sh*t it in Horseshoe Bay back then.
- Rings a bell.

Yeah, the original was one of
my favorite movies as a kid,

and so I wrote my own version years ago.

And, uh...

after DetectiveCon, everything changed.

Producers took my calls.

Someone liked my script
and liked the new take.

Of course, in the original Longhook,

the only Black character dies
within the first ten minutes.

But, in Longhook ,

our lead is a kickass Black woman.

[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

She's the best.

I love it. Your...

grandma must be incredibly proud of you.

[RADIO STATIC CRACKLING]

- [WOMAN GROANS]
- Whoever's on that walkie,

can you get off, please?

[HEAVY BREATHING]

[FEEDBACK SCREECHES]

MAN [OVER RADIO]: You're a nightmare!

Okay, what the hell is that?

It's starting to freak me out.

It's okay.

Just some weird frequency
interference on the walkie.

[DISTORTED MOANING]

[FEEDBACK DRONING]

That does not sound like
a frequency interference.

Every day, something else.

What does that mean?

We got here three days ago, and
we're already behind schedule

because of things like this.

Like, uh, faulty lights,

bizarre noises in the trailers.

Could've used a Nancy Drew.

I just, I feel like somebody's
trying to scare me off this movie.

The answer's yes.

I'm available.

"Available"?

To be a Nancy Drew.

To find out what's happening.

If someone's working against you...

Oh, yeah, no, no, no.
I-I didn't mean literally.

Uh, but it...

it was great bumping into you, Nancy.

- Laci?
- Uh... Mm-hmm?

- Uh, we're ready for you.
- Okay, uh...

- you take care.
- You take care.

Did you know that movie crew thinks

- that they're sh**ting here tomorrow?
- Yeah.

So did you. Remember?

I sent you the contract to sign.

No, I don't remember.

Maybe that was when
I was giving you space

and trying not to depend on you.

Not depending on me isn't the same

as not checking your email.

Whatever. It's fine.

We need to make sure that we order

extra bottled water so that
people don't accidentally

ingest any supernatural influences.

Do we still think that's necessary?

It's been over a week since the incident

with Judge Abbott,
and no one has reported

any problems with the
drinking water since then.

Um, of course it's still necessary.

What, so you're backing off?

See, this is why I've been trying

to talk to that councilwoman, Brie,

about shutting off the town's water.

- But she stood me up for our meeting.
- Wait.

You were supposed to meet with her?

What, now I can't talk to her?

I was the one who was worried
about it in the first place.

No, it's not that.

I was supposed to have a
meeting with her yesterday, too.

But she never showed up.

Oh.

Maybe she's ducking us?

What do her socials say?

Uh...

[BUTTONS CLICKING]

Huh.

She hasn't posted in almost a week,

and she is a daily poster.

BESS: You're not the pizza guy.

Uh...

What?

Oh, it's just my line in the movie.

I auditioned for the role
of Longhook Victim Number One,

and I nailed it. [LAUGHS]

Congrats.

- Ooh, do you think it was believable?
- GEORGE: No.

No, never mind. I'll just call Ace.

[BELL JINGLES]

- Hey.
- BESS: Hey.

Is Nancy's around? I-I
haven't been able to reach her

since, you know, what happened with Ace.

- Well, she did just text in a coffee order, so...
- Oh.

- Okay.
- BESS: Morning.

- Hey.
- Hi, you're alive.

- You here for breakfast?
- Just picking up.

- Okay.
- Okay.

Okay.

[CLEARS HIS THROAT]

I, well, I think I found
a way out of my funk.

I'm solving a new case.

Do you remember Laci McAllister, that...

that podcaster who helped us
catch the Frozen Hearts k*ller?

- Yeah.
- She's in town directing that movie, Longclaw?

You mean Longhook. Long... The movie?

Like, the original is one
of my favorite movies ever.

Hold on, how do you not know Longhook?

Not a fan of horror movies.

Anyway, strange things have
been happening on Laci's set.

So I'm looking into what's causing them.

So she hired you?
That's, that's perfect.

Oh, "hired," you know,

not in the traditional
sense of that word yet.

But she said she could use a Nancy Drew.

- Of course.
- Actually...

I'm thinking maybe a Longhook expert

could be extremely helpful.

Yes, absolutely.

At-at your service. I
can tell you everything

that you need to know about it, okay?

Like, where the jump scares are...

You're not the pizza guy.

How was that?

I believed I was the pizza guy.

Well, should I, like,
try an American accent?

Sure.

[AMERICAN ACCENT]: Oh, my
God, you are not the pizza guy.

Or I could do, like, Australian.

[AUSTRALIAN ACCENT]: Blimey,
mate, where's the pizza guy?

Tough room.

Okay.

Um, have you spoken to Nancy yet?

No.

If I did...

- [DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES]
- what would I say?

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Yeah, well...

LOVETT: Good morning.

BESS: Oh, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.

Okay.

I've been dodging Chief
Lovett ever since, uh,

Avery's father said
that he would report me

for giving teens access
to supernatural resources.

Sorry, Ace. Do you need me
to hold space for anything?

No. Thank you though.

I think I have all
the space I need here.

Knock 'em dead today.
You're gonna do great.

- Okay, bye.
- [PHONE BEEPS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Theory: sh**ting the movie invoked

the spirit of the real Longhorn.

- Longhook.
- Longhook.

Yeah, and, while I can
understand how you'd jump

to that conclusion given
that we're in Horseshoe Bay,

Longhook was given to us by
the genius mind of Tom Brooker.

Okay, he's one of the all-time
great screenwriters for horror films.

Not an actual ghost this time.

Nancy, what are you doing here?

- Just watching the magic happen.
- Hmm.

Okay, I'm investigating
your suspicious occurrences.

Gratis.

Officer Hilliard let us on set.

Is it all right if we observe?

Well, I don't think I can stop you. Oh.

- Thank you.
- MAN: Quiet on set.

MAN : Rolling.

Action!

Longhook will come back

and I'll be ready for him,
but in case I don't make it,

I have to say it. It's you.

It'll always be you.

Oh, please. "Always"?

- It's never always.
- [RYAN TALKS QUIETLY]

Cut!

[BELL RINGS]

Let's just reset and-and go again.

You're not supposed to talk
unless you're in the movie.

- All right?
- Oh, sorry.

- I didn't realize I was.
- [WOMAN SCREAMING]

That mirror was clean a minute ago.

That is not a strange occurrence.

That's a thr*at.

RYAN: You still think you
don't need a detective?

Okay.

You're hired.

Okay, suspects.

Who here would want
to sabotage your movie?

Who hates you? Who's jealous?

Who thinks you remind them of their ex?

No. None of the above.

We've all become like
family sh**ting this.

This opportunity means a lot to me,

and I need to finish what I started.

I promise, you will.

That is so legit.

Welcome to set.

Should I call you "Victim Number One,"

or is "Bess" okay?

You joke now, but many stars

began their career with one line.

But don't worry, I won't
forget you little people.

I'm sure that's true.

Listen, I need you two to
help me question the crew.

HBPD beefed up security,
but they're nowhere

on their investigation of
the thr*at. We can do better.

BOTH: We're on it.

Thanks.

Okay, well, everybody I talked to

seems to think that Laci's great.

Okay, but I may have something.

One of the production assistants

mentioned that one of the crew members

was actually cast to play Longhook,

but he got fired after one day.

Hello, resentment. Who?

Doug Vexler.

The first assistant director.

How did it feel to be
replaced as Longhook?

Were you upset? Angry?

No. [CHUCKLES]

I was relieved I wasn't
gonna have to quit.

I almost got heatstroke in that costume.

Hey, what happened to your hand there?

Oh. [CHUCKLES]

The police cleared the P.A.'s to clean

the fake blood off the
mirror. I was helping them.

Weird.

What was weird?

Well...

I actually worked a few days

on the original Longhook
back in the 's,

and I remember the
director, Jim Stanley.

He used to do things to
terrorize the cast and crew.

Just stupid,

immature pranks really.

Quite dangerous though.

Why would he do something like that?

Well, he said it was to set the mood.

You know, get performances.

So a bloody thr*at on a mirror

that's not even part of your set?

Classic Stanley. [CHUCKLES]

Once he swapped out a
fake prop for a real one...

actor lost two toes.

MAN [OVER RADIO]: Ready on set.

Bess, they're ready
for you in rehearsal.

[LAUGHS, CLEARS THROAT]

Then I'm ready to die.

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS]

What if Jim Stanley

has something to do
with what's happening?

- We should talk to him.
- Uh, we can't.

He d*ed right before the
movie finished filming.

It's part of the legend of Longhook.

Have you really never seen this movie?

NANCY: Hmm, his body was
found in the Breaker Hotel.

No surprise there.

Text Ace, would you?

See if he can find Jim
Stanley's autopsy from ?

Or you could text him yourself.

He does not want to hear from me.

Whoa. What's this?

There's an old leaked video
of him from set in .

Cut! Cut! Cut!

Where is my dry person?

[STAMMERS]

"Dry person"? Wow.

Who says that?

And, you, too many takes?

No. We'll do a hundred
takes if that's what I want!

You're a nightmare!

MAN [OVER RADIO]: You're a nightmare!

[CHAINS JINGLING]

So, don't worry, all the hooks are fake.

- Mm-hmm.
- And Hank will be chasing you.

This is where I die.

- Oh, I love it.
- [LACI LAUGHS]

NANCY: You're a nightmare.

I think the ghost of Jim
Stanley is haunting your set.

I just saw an old video
of him berating an actor.

"You're a nightmare."
Those were his words.

Exactly what we heard on
the walkies last night.

A ghost. Uh, great.

I don't even get a podcast out of it.

Well, um, supernatural's
your thing, go on.

Jim Stanley fed off of
terrorizing his cast and crew.

He wrote threats in
blood on the mirrors.

And he d*ed in Horseshoe Bay
before he finished sh**ting.

You see where this is going.

Yeah, nowhere good. So...

- what's the plan?
- We're gonna get his autopsy report.

See if he d*ed in a mysterious way.

And then find a ritual that'll
cleanse Jim's ghost from set.

And here I thought I was
just making a horror movie.

Ryan, can you pick up
my supplies, please?

Yeah, but I am gonna bill
production for this mileage.

- You ready to try one?
- Okay.

You ready?

Do you want to come watch?

[BESS GIGGLES]

- [CLEARS THROAT]
- All right, here we go.

- Settle, please.
- Camera set.

And... rolling.

LACI: Speed.

- Action!
- [KNOCKING]

Coming!

[DOOR OPENS]

[GROWLING]

You're not the pizza guy.

- [GROWLING]
- [GASPING]

- [GROWLING]
- [PANTING]

Oh.

Ow. Ow! Ow! Cut! Cut! Cut!

- [GROANS]
- [BELL RINGS]

Quick. What happened.

- [WHIMPERS]
- Why'd you call "cut"?

- Because I bloody am!
- Oh.

Oh, my God, Bess. Are you okay?

Yes. Yeah, I'll live.

[GASPS]

Bet it made for a real
realistic performance.

That can't be. All-all
the hooks were fake.

It has to be Jim Stanley.

This is what he used to do.

And now the hauntings...

- Are getting worse.
- Gosh.

Whatever you have to do,
just-just get rid of this ghost.

- It's okay.
- Yes.

MAN: We need medic. We need you on set.

Hi. I found Brie. I think
we should talk to her.

What do you mean you found Brie?

- Well, I had Ace track her cell, and she...
- Wait a second.

You did what?

[QUIETLY]: That... that's illegal,

and-and kind of aggressive.

Okay, wanting to check if
someone is okay is aggressive?

What is your problem?

The Nick I knew would be
asking more questions right now.

What is that supposed to mean?

You're less curious than you used to be

and less invested in the truth.

Excuse me?

Nick, she's not showing up for meetings,

and she's never posting.

No one has seen her.
Maybe something is wrong.

I don't know. I'm gonna go check it out.

Come with me or don't. Up to you.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]

[GRUNTS]

There you go. Just leave it on.

I walked the set-up of hooks
right before we started.

They were all fake. I touched them.

It is not your fault.

There's something out there
that's trying to stop you

from finishing this movie,
and we're not gonna let it.

I got Bess's bag here.

Whoa. What happened?

BESS AND NANCY:
The ghost of Jim Stanley.

All right, well,
Jim Stanley's autopsy said

that he passed out
in a bathtub, drowned.

It was, uh, Room
of the Breaker Hotel.

Ruled an accidental death.
There was no foul play found.

Well, that isn't stopping him
from haunting this movie set.

Ryan, can you keep an eye on things

while we do some supernatural cleansing?

Yeah, yeah. Scrub everywhere.

Yup.

Okay.

Hey, can I get one of these chairs?

You know, I mean, it doesn't have

to have my name on it or anything. Um...

Oh, and some headphones, too.

- Oh, headphones?
- Yeah.

Wayward spirit between two worlds,

leave this land of the living
and let your soul finally rest!

[WIND WHOOSHES]

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.

I think the set feels lighter
now. What do you think?

Yeah. Yeah, it's a
pretty effective ritual...

Let's hope it worked.

Shall we? [CLEARS THROAT]

- Ghost all gone?
- We believe it's left the set.

Oh, we lose a ghost,
and gain Chief Lovett.

What is she doing here?

Laci, they're ready for you
to check out the bathroom set.

Mm, okay. Uh, be right back.

Should I? Chief Lovett,

- surprised to see you here.
- Ah.

BESS [LAUGHS]: Come to
catch a glimpse of Hollywood?

No, seeing it ruins movies for me.

I've been getting some reports

about dangerous conditions on this set.

I was hoping to talk to
the director. Where is she?

Uh, Dougy Doug, I left
my binder downstairs.

- I'll get it for you.
- You're the best.

Let me know what you think
of that bathroom set-up.

[DOOR CREAKS SHUT]

- [LIGHTS CLICKING, SPARKING]
- [SCREAMS]

Help!

- Someone help! Aah!
- [ELECTRICAL BUZZING]

Open the door! Someone help!

- [ELECTRICAL BUZZING]
- Open the door!

- Oh, thank God.
- Look out.

- [expl*sive BUZZ]
- [SCREAMING]

[ELECTRICAL SPARKING AND HISSING]

You could've been k*lled.

- Chief Lovett...
- You're done.

Filming on this movie is
postponed until further notice.

- How's Bess?
- She'll be okay.

Ryan took her home.

Listen, I know that
the ritual failed, but

doesn't mean that our theory's wrong.

And Jim's ghost could still be...

- [SOFTLY SNIFFLES]
- Hey, I'm gonna figure it out.

It's what I do.

I'll-I'll get your movie running again.

It's not that.

I'm upset about the movie, of course,

but... I want my crew to be safe.

The other day, you mentioned
my grandma must be proud.

- Yeah.
- She would be.

But she... passed away a
week before the movie started.

And for as long as I can
remember, she's the one

that I would call when things got rough.

So I just hate that I
can't call her right now.

You know, it's like

one piece of your life goes
missing, and-and the rest...

I'm so sorry.

Hey, I know this is your home,
um, so this might sound rude,

- but...
- You want to be alone?

Mm. Maybe just for a little bit?

Uh... Nancy?

I was thinking about what you said.

How one missing piece
can throw everything off.

It's true with rituals, too.

I'm gonna go back to
the filming location

and see if I can find
that missing piece.

[DOOR CREAKING]

[GLASS BREAKING, METALLIC
CLINKING AND ROLLING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[METALLIC CLINKING]

- Oh, my God! Doug!
- Whoa!

- What are you doing here?
- You first.

I just wanted to make sure
that the set was secure

after we hit pause so... abruptly.

Also, I was hoping
to run into the owner.

That jug of water...

has the crew been drinking
water from the house?

Like, straight from the faucets?

Y-Yeah. Well,

when we got here four
days ago for rehearsals,

the stunt team filled that up.

They're very big on being green.

But after that first day, uh...

... I tried to discourage them.

Whatever it is,

you can tell me.

[SIGHS]

You're gonna laugh at me, but
I swear, when they drank it,

- their veins turned black.
- [SIGHS]

I'm not laughing.

Doug, has anyone else drunk this water?

No, only stunts.

I wanted to talk to Brie about
getting the plumbing checked,

let her know we didn't cause
it, but... I haven't seen her.

Sorry. Brie? Councilwoman Brie?

This is her house?

Yeah, Brie Fortfield.

She rented her house
as a sh**ting location.

You know, she and I were P.A.s
together on the original Longhook.

I was kind of hoping
to catch up with her,

but she hasn't been around at all.

Where is my dry person?

NANCY: Brie was the dry person.

Guess you have to start somewhere.

Whatever is going on here...

it has something to do with Brie.

It doesn't seem like anything's wrong?

Okay, Brie cares about the
town, and blows off both of us

and hides out at a
rented vacation house?

No, something is up, and you know it.

Nick... and George?

Hi. We, uh, don't mean to intrude.

We got worried when you didn't show up

- for our meetings this week.
- Oh.

I should have called to cancel.

Um, come in, let's talk.

- Mm.
- [PHONE BUZZING]

Thank you.

[LOCK CLICKS]

So, you wanted to talk
about the water, right?

I'm happy to address
whatever concerns you have,

- and then I have to run to an appointment.
- [PHONE BUZZES]

Uh, excuse me just one second.

- Hey.
- NANCY: George!

Read your texts, please. Listen.

The house where the movie's been filming

is Councilwoman Brie's house.

You need to find her
and talk to her ASAP.

You don't say.

We're actually way
ahead of you for once.

I'm at her house in town.

The first A.D., Doug,
said he saw black veins

when the stunt crew drank the water.

It's just like Judge Abbott.

Ted, I was trying to tell
Nick about this earlier.

I had a feeling that
it could happen again.

Who is she talking to?

Um... her little sister. Yeah, yeah.

She-she probably left her...
water bottle at school again.

This kid's lost so many bottles.

Just, uh...

I think Brie might have something to do

with a film director's death in .

[QUIETLY]: Oh, no.

[LOUDLY]: It happened again?

Yup, water bottle. [CHUCKLES]

If I'm right,

and the stunt crew's
affected the way I was,

then Laci's in trouble.

I'm gonna send you a video link

and all the information you need.

Ask Brie about it, but be careful.

Okay, we will. Got to go.

[LOUDLY]: Love you, Ted. [LAUGHS]

[HOLLOW KNOCKING ON WALLS,
LIGHT FIXTURE HISSING]

FEMALE VOICE: Laci?

[WOODEN RATTLING]

[LIGHT CONTINUES HISSING]

MALE VOICE: It's time for you to go.

[LIGHTS CLINKING AND HISSING]

[PHONE CHIMES]

- [expl*sive POP]
- [GASPS]

MALE VOICE : You're a nightmare, Laci.

[DOORS RATTLING]

- [expl*sive POP, HISSING]
- [GASPS]

[LOUD, expl*sive POP]

MALE VOICE : We're going
to show you what it's like.

[DOORS RATTLING]

[LOUD RATTLING]

All right, Brie, we're
going to level with you.

This isn't about our missed meetings.

We know that you worked on
the original Longhook movie,

and that the new film crew has
been sh**ting at your house.

Your old friend Doug told us.

We're also guessing, for
reasons that you can't explain,

about a week ago, you
remembered something pretty dark

- that you once did. Hmm?
- Cut! Cut!

That's why you went off the grid

and missed our meetings, isn't it?

I have no idea what
you're talking about.

Doug also told Nancy that
he saw some of the crew

acting strange after drinking
tap water from your house.

Whatever it is you're hiding,
you need to share it now.

Unless you want us
to post a photo of you

in your secret hiding spot,
along with this street address.

I don't know if you
know, but the director

of the new Longhook movie
almost got k*lled today.

You have to tell us what happened

before someone else
ends up hurt or dead.

Look.

For the last years, I thought

I loved my experience
working on Longhook '.

It was why I offered up my
house for filming the remake.

But a week ago, out
of... out of nowhere,

I suddenly remembered what a
nightmare it was to work on that movie.

So you just left?

I panicked.

What if I wasn't the only one
who remembered what happened?

Doug had emailed me to say

that he was coming back with the crew.

What if there were others?

I didn't wait around to find out.

Tell us what happened in .

[SIGHS] Jim Stanley was too powerful

to report without
jeopardizing our futures.

But he was dangerous, and
he needed to be stopped.

- [DOOR RATTLING]
- [WHIMPERING SOFTLY]

BRIE: So I talked to
some other crew members

who had been targeted by his
reckless pranks and cruelty.

[DOOR SQUEAKING OPEN]

MALE VOICE : Laci, you know
you're not in control anymore.

[GASPS SOFTLY]

[GRUNTS SOFTLY, CLINKING]

BRIE: I convinced them to
help me rig one big scare,

give Jim a taste of his own medicine.

They helped me sneak
into Jim's hotel room

at the Breaker Hotel
when he wasn't there.

[CLATTERING]

Oh. A-Aja. Wh-what are you...
what are you doing here?

You scared me.

- [GASPS, AJA THUDS]
- It was you all?

The-the stunt department?

[WHIMPERS]

[YELLS]

[PANTING]

BRIE: That night,

we were going to rig the lights

to flutter and flicker and spark,

and we were gonna knock on the walls,

and whisper creepy things,

make him think he was losing his mind.

Writing in blood on the mirrors...

pranks, just like he would do to us.

[WHIMPERING]

The prank went perfectly,

and then I did the last part on my own.

[PANTING]

[GROANING]

Ah, don't!

[PANTING]

[GROANS]

[GUTTURAL GROAN]

[GASPS]

BRIE: When he went into the bathroom,

I followed him with a prop Kn*fe.

I wanted to scare him, and I did.

But I didn't realize

that he'd been running a
bath when the prank started.

He was so startled that he passed
out and fell into the water.

As Jim was drowning, I just
stood there and watched.

- [LACI GROANS SOFTLY]
- BRIE: I could have saved him.

Please... help me.

BRIE: And I did nothing...

[SHALLOW, QUIVERING BREATHING]

- [GROANS]
- ... 'cause I hated him so much.

Uh, you guys, help me!

Laci? Laci?

Hey, it's Nancy. Help is coming, okay?

- [DOOR OPENS]
- BESS: Got the supernatural

stomach pump from Tristan,

and an ambulance is on its way, okay?

[LACI GROANS]

- LACI: The-the stunt crew...
- NANCY: I know. I know.

Bess is taking care of it,
okay? Just stay with me.

[LAUGHS] Where am I gonna go?

- [LAUGHS]
- [CHUCKLES] Sarcastic sense of humor still intact.

- That's a promising sign.
- [GROANS]

So the stunt crew was behind
everything that happened on set?

Including your awesome performance.

They were under the same influence I was

when I swallowed that
water at Abbott's office.

But whereas I recreated
an as*ault, they...

Recreated the pranks that
Brie and the crew played

on Jim back in the 's.

Pranks that led to his death.

That makes Brie our second guilty person

to remember their long-buried crime

after the sludgy water found them.

But what about the stunt crew?

The water made the
stunt crew resent Laci

as if she were Jim Stanley.

When I got here, they
were standing around,

watching her die just like
Brie watched Jim Stanley.

So, they were infected by the
emotions and memory of Brie's crime,

all because they filled
their water jugs at her house?

'Cause they wanted to go green.

Let's not take the
wrong lesson from this.

I almost feel sorry for Brie.

She remembered the movie
as such a good experience,

she let Laci rent her
house out for the remake.

Okay, so the pattern is that
there is something out there

that can erase the
terrible things you did,

and replace it with fake,
but pleasant memories.

- [CREW MEMBERS COUGHING]
- And then, when this sludgy water finds you,

- it undoes it all. Got it.
- [GASPING FOR AIR]

- As for the eight bodies...
- Yeah.

That's tomorrow's migraine.

You know, tonight, let's just feel lucky

that Tristan loaned us the
supernatural stomach pump again.

You know, I gave him my
vintage earrings as collateral?

Should we just get a,
you know, pump of our own?

[CREW MEMBERS GAGGING AND RETCHING]

There aren't enough
earrings in the world.

Tristan said it was the only
supernatural stomach pump in existence.

[ELECTRICAL HISSING AND SPARKING]

[HISSING]

Now there are no stomach
pumps in existence.

What are you gonna tell Tristan?

- That I'll find a way to fix it?
- [MAN COUGHING]

Please don't tell his parents.

We've seen what the
Glasses are capable of.

- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Oh.

Nick and George are here.

Oh, they brought Brie.

Let's move a little upwind.

That night in ,

after I knew Jim had... d*ed,

I called my father,
told him what happened.

He told me to stay right where I was,

that he knew how to make it all go away.

He just had to pay a
visit to the black door.

The black door? What does that mean?

I don't know.

Did he say where it was?

- No.
- Where is your dad now?

He passed away a few years ago.

He never told me anything more.

I-I can't tell you what I don't know.

What do you want from me?

Justice.

Resign from the town council.

No.

Why would I do that?

We may not have evidence
to get you convicted,

but the court of public opinion...

that's a different matter.

And there are people who
want to make Horseshoe Bay

better and safer... people who should be

on the town council instead.

I'll resign, but then, we're even.

NICK: Jim Stanley d*ed.

You resigned.

I think you came out ahead.

[GEORGE SIGHS]

[DOOR OPENS]

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Hey.

- I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Our breakup was, um,

more of an adjustment
than I thought it would be.

But after today, I realized

that we are still a really great team.

You know?

So maybe we could just have a
little less space between us?

Please?

Because I miss my best friend.

[NICK LAUGHS SOFTLY]

Same.

- [LAUGHS SOFTLY]
- And about the town council?

- I know. What I said was...
- It was nice to hear.

I'm going to lobby for the open seat.

I think you should.

[BIRD CAWING]

[DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES]

♪ ♪

[DOOR CLOSES, BELL JINGLES]

- Here's your coffee, Laci.
- Oh. [LAUGHS]

Thank you.

It's nice to see you on your feet.

Thanks to you.

Oh, and the producers
talked to Chief Lovett

and cleared everything up.

My stunt crew is being
overly nice to me.

So it looks like we're gonna
finish this movie after all.

Now, I was right.

I... needed a Nancy Drew.

Uh, if this is you happy
after solving a case,

I would hate to see you sad.

Oh. I just, um...

I've had a... a tough week,

and I thought working again
would make me feel better.

It didn't move the needle?

Yeah, I know.

When I lost my grandma,
I was numb at first.

And I love what I do,

but carrying the grief of
losing her... it just...

It-it made it hard to find the joy.

But then I remembered something.

I named the lead of my movie
"Mariann" after my grandma,

because she's a survivor who taught me

to leave things better
than I found them.

And that's what all this is.

And I miss her...

more than anything,

but sometimes you have to grieve

in order to be free
to feel something else.

[BESS SCOFFS SOFTLY]

Chief Lovett, how can I help?

I came to discuss
something I saw earlier.

- Hmm.
- When I heard about the movie coming to Horseshoe Bay,

I thought, "What a wonderful
opportunity for our community.

Just what it needs after a crisis."

But then... then I saw you

- and a circle of salt on the ground.
- Well, I can explain...

I have getting complaints
from concerned citizens.

And do you know where each
of those complaints leads?

To this building and to you, Bess.

Look, I don't care
what you do in private,

but I won't tolerate it in public.

One strike. This was yours.

Why is the supernatural
such a thr*at to you?

I mean, you saw the
reanimated bodies in the woods

just like the rest of us, right?

Anything that endangers a community

in need of rebuilding is a thr*at to me.

And teaching our townspeople,

our children, about the supernatural
can only lead to hurt and chaos.

But that supernatural knowledge
is who we are. It's our history.

Some things are best left
in the past, don't you think?

This town... is my home, too.

And as long as I'm Keeper,

I'm gonna do whatever
I can to defend it.

That is not your job, Ms. Marvin.

So why don't you just stay in your lane?

Let's keep the history natural, hmm?

RYAN: Cannot believe how many
people it took to make a movie.

Like, that was nuts.

[LAUGHING] Right?

[GASPS]

Okay.

Hey, um, look, I know that a
parent is, like, way down the list

of who you want to
share heartbreak with.

But I do remember what it feels like,

so, if-if you ever want to just talk...

What if I can't get over Ace?

You will.

Maybe not today, you know,
maybe not even tomorrow.

But I promise you that you will.

In the meantime,

you know what goes really
well with Lu Chow's fried rice?

- What?
- Longhook.

- Oh, no!
- Yes! This is the O.G. You got to see it.

When I was , and I was coming home,

I'd turn off all the lights,

order some Chinese,

and I would just escape

for minutes with Longhook.

[SUSPENSEFUL MOVIE MUSIC PLAYS]

So...

what do you say

you and I...

partake in some escapism, huh?

Fine.

But you have to tell me when
all the jump scares are coming.

Of course. I got you.

I know every single one.

- [YELLS]
- [SCREAMS]

- [LAUGHS]
- [GRUNTS]

I was just kidding.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Hey.

Your mother asked me to bring
you some knishes that she made.

Cards up, I tried one.
They are spectacular.

No judgement. They are.

Thank you.

So, Nick brought me up to speed

on what happened with
the water and with Brie.

Something about her
story got me thinking.

Look at what I found.

Nice thing about
working for the county is

you get access to all the
newsletters from their archives.

Here's a photo from an employee
retreat in the early s.

This is a photo of Brie's
Dad, Ron Fortfield, and...

Judge Abbott.

They were obviously friends.

They both knew about the black door.

Okay, so, Judge Abbott was part
of a mystical cover-up in .

Brie's father caused one in .

Whatever the town's biggest secret is,

they were both a part of it.

[WOMAN SCREAMS, BELL DINGS]

[PENCIL SCRIBBLING]