03x01 - It’s a Wonderful Afterlife

[bunniefuu]

[Mr. Martin] Janet? No. No!

[Maddie]
Previously onSchool Spirits...

Maddie, or at least her spirit,
it's trapped.

I can't believe that ghost
is in my house.

[door squeaks]

Maddie.

Don't you just wanna nuke that?

I wanna see my friends. I do.

I'm gonna need you
to peel off each other

and come down to the library.

Wally's class
is having a reunion.

Would you wanna go with me?

-It's not like it's a date.
-Why can't it be?

Wake up!

Go back to marching band
practice, okay?

She said it was time to wake up.

I'm happy you found someone,
I really am,

but I miss you.

It's a death map.

Maybe they're all connected.

-It's a path.
-The way into Dawn's scar.

-What if the objects are keys?
-Okay, but where does it go?

We gotta find the doors
they belong to.

[grunts]

-Hello, Rhonda.
-[screams]

Really? [chokes]

[Xavier] That picture,
the framed photo

of you, Maddie, and the guy
in the fisherman's vest?

Yeah, that's Maddie's dad.

[sighs] She's awake.

-Hey.
-Who are you talking to?

I had a panic attack
in the greenhouse

that triggered my asthma
and I got locked in.

I hope you do the right thing.

-I've always been on your side.
-[scoffs]

Haven't you ever wondered why
so many of us died here?

There's more to this school
than you understand.

I wish you would be stuck
with me in here forever.

What's he doing here?

Where's Maddie?

[suspenseful music plays]

["Goodbye, Old Friend"
by Alexandra Savior playing]

♪ Just a passing feeling

♪ I don't ever want to forget

♪ Just a planet spinning

♪ On the axis of the voice
in my head ♪

♪ Old things,
they stay nearby ♪

♪ And I find that I am rotting
in the apple of your eye ♪

♪ Old things,
they stick around ♪

♪ And I find myself enveloped

♪ In the sadness
of the sounds of... ♪

♪ Goodbye, goodbye ♪

♪ Goodbye, my old friend
Goodbye ♪

-[ambulance siren blaring]
-♪ Goodbye

♪ Goodbye

-♪ Goodbye, my old friend ♪
-Simon?

Simon!

Nothing.

Simon!

♪ I'm confronted
by the lady in red ♪

♪ All the while...

Where the f*ck is he?

♪ To the moment
of my innocent death ♪

♪ Old things,
they stay nearby ♪

♪ And I find that I am rotting
in the apple of your eye ♪

♪ Old things,
they stick around ♪

♪ And I find myself enveloped

♪ In the sadness
of the sounds of ♪

[song fades out]

["Long Gone"
by Anna Waronker playing]

[haunting vocalizing]

♪ Don't forget me
when I'm gone ♪

♪ Don't forget me
when I'm gone ♪

♪ Gone

♪ Will you forget me
when I'm gone? ♪

♪ Don't forget me
when I'm gone ♪

♪ Will you forget me
when I'm gone? ♪

♪ Will you forget

♪ Don't forget me
when I'm gone ♪

[song ends]

[fire roaring]

What am I doing here?

Are you dead?

I mean, I hope not. You tell me.

Janet, something has happened.
We need to proceed--

Do not tell me
what we need to do!

Don't move!

-Stay there.
-[coughs]

Where's Maddie?

I just came in here
looking for her,

and then I got stuck
in here with him.

Did you have something to do
with this?

No.

No, I'm not responsible
for this, Janet.

-I know you think--
-Don't move an inch!

You are exactly
where you deserve to be.

Come on. Quick!

[groans]

[tense music plays]

-Come on! Come on!
-[Mr. Martin] Janet, please!

-[fire roars]
-[grunts]

[school bell ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

Perhaps the energy generated

created a new kind of rift,
the red light.

It's never done that before.

This event seems to be unique.

-If the energy produced--
-[Wally] What's he doing here?

Why isn't he with Maddie?

Good question.

Did-did he die?

Is-is he a--

Ghosts don't bleed.

[dramatic music plays]

You talked to my dad?

Yeah. I, uh...
See, uh, after you, um...

After-after Janet hit me
with my truck, I, uh...

Where did he go?

Hey.

Maddie, I sure am glad
you're alright.

Uh, pardon us for a second,

I just wanna talk to my son
for a minute.

Come here.

[indistinct announcement
on PA system]

What the hell happened
last night?

[Xavier] Do you believe me now?

-Uh, Sandra. Hey there.
-Hey.

Okay, I finally found a nurse.

[sighs] This place
is so understaffed.

[tender music playing]

Are you okay?

Am I okay? I'm fine.

I'm great now that you're awake.

Are you okay?

How are you feeling?

I'm feeling a lot of things.

[Nurse Netty] Good morning.

[pills rattle]

What are these for?

That head wound was showing
some signs of infection,

so we want to get you started
on an antibiotic.

An injury like this can cause
some pretty severe side effects.

Um, confusion, memory loss,
even loss of consciousness.

Untreated it can be deadly.

But by some miracle,
yours seems to be

taking a turn for the better.

Great, well, then
I'd like to get going.

You can't leave just yet.

We need to keep you here
for a few more hours

of observation.

[Sandra] Lean back.

[elevator dings]

Just looking
for a real explanation here.

You don't seem to like
the explanation I'm giving you.

Okay, I told you
what was going on.

That school was lit up
like the damn Fourth of July.

So you did see it.

I saw something I can't explain.

But I'm not quite ready
to start chasing ghosts.

But you admit it. You saw it.

[sighs]

[tense music plays]

[ominous music plays]

[upbeat, quirky music plays]

-Everyone's here.
-Everyone?

Everyone is present
and accounted for.

There is not a single ghost
missing from this school.

So no body swap?

It doesn't seem like it.

Oh, and I ran into Elliot,
Fern, and Sara.

Told them we were kinda getting
the group back together.

But they said
we're too codependent

and that they are not interested
in our drama.

That's a skosh judgmental.

Wait, so that means that--

Nobody here walked off
with Simon's body.

Maybe he really is alive
in Dead-world.

[Simon] This is crazy.

I didn't do anything
but walk towards the light.

Yeah, that was
your first mistake.

Seriously? Jokes?

'Cause it seems to me
like I'm only here

'cause
she didn't wanna leave you.

[tense music plays]

Uh, Maddie stayed
to protect allof us.

We wouldn't have made it out
of our scars

or through last night
if it wasn't for her.

She helped us,
so we willhelp you.

But we need to focus.

Figure out what's going on here.

Especially if there's
any credence

to Mr. Martin's warnings about
a greater evil at this school.

Sorry. Wait. Greater evil?

[dramatic music plays]

Hey. Sorry, I got derailed
by my dad.

-Any word?
-No.

But it's Simon.

Maybe he just needed a minute.
Took some space.

This has all been
pretty frickin' stressful.

Yeah, I know
you don't believe that

and you know
you don't believe that.

Since when did looking
for a logical explanation

become the crazy take?

Since our friend's body got worn
around town like a skin suit?

-f*ck.
-Agreed.

So now what?

We go back to school?

I-I mean, is it safe?

[suspenseful music plays]

Dude, first edition
would be worth like $5,000.

Exactly!

So why are you trying
to sell it to me for 80?

Give me 2,000, then.

-I can do 50.
-Fine. Deal.

God, this place is a constant
lesson in futility.

No kidding.

Look, I'm not
the usual tour guide type,

but you've gone out of your way
to help us since the beginning,

and Maddie is one
of the good ones.

So if you need anything,
I'm your girl.

-Wow, that's really nice.
-But don't go overboard.

I have the right to rescind
this offer.

Dawn was the one
who first noticed

that the lights flicker
when someone is inside.

Yeah, but that was
just one loose bulb

she was talking about, right?
This was full-on Tron.

Well, maybe
my original hypothesis

wasn't entirely wrong.

Originally, we thought the
energy of our collective trauma

might generate enough power

to break the invisible boundary
that's keeping us tethered here.

That we might be able to leave
the grounds of the school.

But, perhaps,

with all of us inside,
we stoked so much energy

that we didn't just lift the
veil between living and dead,

we opened
a whole new passageway.

Wait. The boundary.

Maddie said that when you guys
leave school grounds,

you just get sucked back
to where you died, right?

-Right.
-Mm-hmm.

Well, I'm not dead.

Right?

[dramatic music playing]

Maybe he's onto something.

Yeah, maybe he's not.

[panting]

-[groaning]
-[footsteps approaching]

[groaning continues]

You alright?

[groans, breathes heavily]

[breathlessly] Yeah. Yeah.

Maddie didn't say
it hurt this much.

I feel like I just got hit
by a freight train.

Really?
That's quite fascinating.

Glad I could keep things
interesting.

-Who needs ribs anyway?
-No, it's just...

It's just we've all done it.
It's never hurt that badly.

-Perhaps the way that you're--
-Alive?

I prefer if we say "alive."
It's more reassuring.

Maybe it makes it all worse.

Why don't you just let me back
in there

so I can introduce
that smug nerd's face

to the greater evil
of my fists, Janet?

[Janet] No.

Leave Mr. Martin out of this.

If jumping the fence
was enough to hurt you,

I don't wanna find out what he
or that room could do to you.

If he knows something
and that something

could explain why I'm wandering

a parallel plane of existence
right now,

-I'd like to know why!
-No!

He's the most dangerous
when he's desperate.

And as the person
that knows him best,

he has never been
this desperate.

I can't let you in there!

Come on. I have an idea.

[tense music playing]

[elevator dings]

I'm surprised Simon
hasn't come by yet.

Has he reached out to you
at all?

Huh?

Uh, no, not yet.

[gentle, tense music playing]

Are you okay?

Was Dad alive when
he first got to the hospital?

Or did he...

die in the river?

Why are you asking that?

I just wondered.

It was here.

[elevator dings]

[elevator doors opening]

[Janet] If all of us gathering
in my scar

was enough to thin the veil
and let Simon in,

then maybe repeating that
will bring on the same result

and we can send him back.

That sounds
pretty straightforward.

Wait, hold up.

Shouldn't we wait
until all living people

have left for the day?

Quinn's got a point.
The last thing we need

is more of these yokels
cramping our campus.

We should be
focused on getting him out,

not letting them in.

No offense.

Don't even know what a yokel is.

They're right.
We have to do it tonight.

Late.
Once the whole place is cleared.

Do we really all need
to go through our scars again?

Yeah, and if so, would we
take the same path?

We should be able to enter
straight into Mr. Martin's

and mine through
the fallout shelter.

-That sounds good. Makes sense.
-Love that.

The watch can get us in.

I think that's part of why
he was keeping it from me

all those years.

It seems to unlock any door

you've been exposed to.

I think it's the skeleton key.

It was the first.

So it's settled.
We try again tonight.

Everyone in the chem lab scar,
all at the same time.

And hopefully
that will send you home.

[school bell ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

["Turn the TV On"
by Debbii Dawson playing]

♪ I've been here for a while

♪ Mark the days
on the drywall ♪

♪ Feel my body going numb
Oh ♪

♪ Set a plate on the table

♪ Matching chairs
made of maple ♪

♪ Heavy drapes block the sun
Oh ♪

♪ When strange things
start to creep in ♪

♪ I turn the TV on

♪ Till the feeling's gone

♪ And for a while
forget that I'm alone ♪

♪ Spending all my days

♪ Staring into space

♪ And slowly watch
the world just melt away ♪

♪ Fades away but I just stay

♪ And slowly watch the world
just melt away ♪

[Sandra] Did you get enough
to eat?

You're not still hungry,
are you?

No, I'm fine. Don't worry.

Are you cold?

I-I... Can we turn the air down?

No, I'm okay, Mom. I'm not cold.
I feel great.

[dramatic music playing]

-Stop.
-I know it's hard.

-We just want to help.
-No, no. Stop! Stop the car!

[tires screech]

What's happening? No!

Maddie! No! Oh sh*t.

Unlock the door and let me out!

Let me out!

-[scoffs] Maddie!
-[car door shuts]

-[Maddie] Wally?
-[dramatic music playing]

Rhonda?

Charley?

[gasps]

-[music stops]
-Maddie?

Oh my God, you made it!

[chuckles]

[breathing heavily]

She can't see us.

[door handle clicks]

Hello?!

Wally? Charley?

["Light Blue" by Snail Mail
playing]

♪ First time I met you
I knew then ♪

♪ That afterwards there'd be

[door closes]

♪ No in between

Maddie?

♪ We can sail the ocean blue

♪ Or just fly down, you know

♪ How I love you

♪ Nothing's gonna stop
you now ♪

♪ Nothing's gonna stop
you now ♪

♪ Nothing's gonna stop me...

Hi, guys.

-I was so worried.
-You were worried? [chuckles]

We weren't even sure if you
had survived the ambulance ride!

Welcome back, Maddie.

Have any of you guys seen Simon?

He's here, Maddie.

What?! Where?

I'm pretty sure Rhonda

heard someone
in Mrs. Fields' classroom.

-She headed that way.
-Oh thank God.

No, wait, wait! Maddie!

Maddie!

[Yuri]
Why can't she hear us out here?

[Quinn] No one died here.

Wasn't that how
it worked for Simon?

[panting]

Si.

You scared me.

Maddie?

Where the hell have you been?

Simon, I'm back.
I'm really back.

Well...

I'm not.

I'm here.

Like, herehere.

We believe he's somehow
on our side,

but still physically--

Alive!

We're using the term "alive."

What the f*ck?!

There you are!

-What are you doing?
-[song fades]

-Never do that to me again!
-[Maddie] Mom, no, wait.

-Go with her.
-[Sandra] Maddie.

Go with her. We have a plan.

-[Sandra] Why are we here?
-We're gonna figure this out.

Seriously. Go!
It's going to work.

This better work.

[inhales deeply, exhales]

[keys jingle]

Maddie... [sighs]

What was that?

I'm sorry.

I just needed
to go check on something

before I go back to
school tomorrow.

School?
You're not going back to school.

You just got released
from the hospital.

We talked about this. Remember?

-Finishing up online?
-What?

You stood here a couple days ago

and you convinced me

that you were never
going back there.

I'm trying really hard
to be reasonable

with you right now,
but the way you're behaving...

It's been a long day, Mom.

I'm not just talking
about today.

I know what I said last week,
but I feel differently now.

I'm allowed to change my mind.

No, it's okay, I'm me again.

What does that even mean?!

It means I should probably
go to sleep.

Tomorrow is a school day.

[solemn music playing]

[Yuri] This plan to get Simon
out seems simple enough.

[clatters]

At least we don't have to make
another trek through the scars.

That's a relief, right?

Mm-hmm.

[Yuri] Are you okay?

Yeah.

Charley?

I just wish you hadn't seen
my scar.

It's my... all my worst thoughts
and the ugliest parts of me,

and it felt like
you saw me... naked.

Charley, I have seen you naked.

I know. I just, I mean,
I felt exposed, Yuri, okay?

And it's humiliating.

And I'm okay with me knowing
what's going on

in the darkest corners
of my mind,

but I don't necessarily need
my boyfriend

to know that too.

Your what?

What?

-What'd you say?
-What'd you say?

-I didn't say anything.
-My...

-You said something.
-Okay.

You know what I meant.
My... you.

My-my you. Okay? [splutters]
My whatever this is.

Can you say "naked" again
or something

so we can change the subject?

-Naked.
-Thank you. [exhales]

I'm sorry if you didn't want me
to see that.

That is your stuff

and you should be able to decide
when you wanna share that.

But none of it changes
how I feel about you.

Besides, who knew your bullies
would turn out

to be such stone cold foxes?

[laughs]

So you don't, like,
secretly hate me now?

Definitely not as much
as you do.

[laughs]

["Brain Stew" by k.flay playing]

[sighs] It's time.

Grab your keys,
in case we get separated.

[sighs] Alright.
Everybody know the plan?

We go in together
and see if anything happens.

Gee, I'm so comforted
by the specificity of this plan.

It's gonna work.

♪ No rest for cross tops
in my mind ♪

[door clanks]

-♪ On my own
-♪ Here we go

It's gonna work.

♪ On my own

♪ Here we go

♪ My eyes feel like
they're gonna bleed ♪

♪ Dried up and bulging out
my skull ♪

♪ My mouth is dry
My face is numb ♪

♪ f*cked up and spun out
in my room ♪

♪ On my own

♪ Here we go

♪ On my own

♪ Here we go

[light buzzes]

♪ On my own

♪ Here we go

-[high-pitched humming]
-[buzzing]

♪ On my own

♪ Here we go

♪ Here we go

♪ My mind is set on overdrive

♪ The clock is laughing
in my face ♪

♪ Ha-ha-ha-ha

♪ A crooked spine

♪ My senses dull

Simon! It worked? You're back?

If you're looking at him now,
then that's a no.

Still invisible to everyone
but you.

But what's new, right?

f*ck!

Let's lay low. Simon, we'll
catch up with you later, okay?

How will I find you again?

I'll try and keep close.

If you can't see me,
just assume I'm nearby.

-Okay.
-♪ On my own

-♪ Here we go
-Okay...

♪ Here we go

♪ On my own

♪ Here we go

[song ends]

-[school bell ringing]
-[indistinct chatter]

[Hartman] The all-school
assembly will begin shortly

in the large gym.

Attendance is mandatory.

[gentle music plays]

Maddie?

[students chattering]

Hey. Welcome back.

Thanks.

[in singsong] She's back.

Can you believe she has the guts
to show her face here again?

Do you know how many people
have been looking for you?

I know, right?
It's f*cking twisted.

She should be begging
for forgiveness.

[Tira] Honestly, she probably
left to get a boob job.

Maybe then her boyfriend
wouldn't have cheated on her.

Oh my God! [laughs]

That is funny, Kirsten.

Remind me, did you beg
for forgiveness

when you sent Caleb Foreman
to the hospital

after you gave him that
dry handjob at his lake house?

[laughs] sh*t.

Speaking of surgeries,
girl, the lip lift is falling.

Too bad there isn't surgery
for terrible personalities.

Am I right, ladies?

-Real cute, Claire.
-Screw you, Claire!

[indistinct chatter]

So what's our next move
if Plan A didn't work?

I don't know yet.

But I do know
he can't stay here.

I'll think of something.

-Um... hello?
-[mic feedback]

Sorry. Hello. Hello. Hello.

-Uh, attention, students.
-[mic feedback]

[students chattering
and laughing]

Is this on? Hello?!

Students?
Can I have your atten--

Attention please, students.

-Your attention--
-[three echoing claps]

Shh!

-Shh!
-[chattering stops]

[clears throat]

Good morning, Split River High.

I am Dr. Hunter-Price,
the District Superintendent.

I am here today
to address recent events

that have caused
a great deal of concern.

Yikes.
Whose scar did she crawl out of?

What? I don't know.

There's something
deeply fabulous about her.

I mean, the last time I saw
a suit tailored that perfectly,

it was on Erica Kane.

What are you talking about?

-What?
-I don't--

All My Children.

What happened two nights ago
on this campus

was a serious incident.

The latest in a string
of security breaches

and high-risk events.

And while the offending students
will be dealt with,

-under my supervision...
-[students murmuring]

...there will be a strict
zero-tolerance policy.

Any behavior
that even resembles disruption,

will not be tolerated.

We at the district office
can no longer ignore

the deteriorating conditions
at this facility.

Which is why...

we will be closing
Split River High.

[students gasping and murmuring]

-[girl] No way!
-[Dr. Hunter-Price] Shh!

We will be building a new school
across town.

What does she mean they're going
to close the school?

Well, this place is about to get
a lot more lonesome.

Yeah, and I take back
my fabulous comment.

Susan Lucci would never!

Until then, this class
will most likely

be the final class
to walk these halls.

If-if I may. Uh...

Please, Dr. Hunter-Price.
Thank you.

-[mic feedback]
-Pardon me.

Um... Uh, I just have
to say I-I feel

that I understand
the district's concerns,

which is why,
effective immediately,

uh, no-no more
off-campus lunches.

And all non-essential
extracurriculars

will be canceled.

We're going to do
whatever it takes

to restore order here.

Because Split River High
matters.

And I for one do not think
that it is past saving.

I promise you, you are all
going to love your new school.

-I--
-[mic feedback]

[boy coughs]

Thank you. Everyone, please,
form orderly lines

and return to class.

[students chattering]

[upbeat dramatic music playing]

What the--

What is this?

[Nicole] Hm. Seems sweet.

Okay, do not react
but it's not sweet.

-It's a threat.
-There's hearts on it.

I'd recognize that post-ironic
glitter gel pen anywhere.

You've been marked, Maddie.

Oh, Chloe. Of course.

Mm-mm. This... [sighs]
This is worse.

♪ La, la, la-la

[bass-heavy electronic music
playing]

♪ I don't wanna deal
Just do what feels right ♪

♪ Fill me up a little
with a bit of last night ♪

♪ This sh*t can't be real
Woke up on the wrong side ♪

♪ I should be alone
so you can have a good cry ♪

That's Livia.
Not Liv. Not Olivia. Just Livia.

Brace yourself.

Uh, Maddie.

Uh, can I talk to you
for a sec, please?

Just over here. Thank you.

[scoffs] I'm surprised
to see you back so soon.

I mean, happy, of course,
but still surprised.

Yeah, well, I figured I'd get
back to normal

as soon as possible.

Right. Right. Um...

While all that's well and good,

I still have some questions
for you.

Particularly about that night.

Uh... I wish I could be
more help, but my memory...

It's a medical thing.

Ah. Yes, I see.

Actually, I have a question
for you.

I was wondering, um...

I have some work
I need to catch up on

and, um, I wanted to spend...

[loudly] ...my free period
in the greenhouse.

Uh, yeah, sure.
I suppose that'll be fine.

-Okay. Thanks, Mr. Hartman!
-[Mr. Hartman] Right.

I need you to tell me everything
that happened with my dad.

[intriguing music plays]

From what Xavier said,

the hospital
is just like this place.

Chock-full of ghosts.

One of whom is my dad.

Which is... [inhales deeply]

...insane.

You know, I thought
I had enough drama

with one parent at the moment.

How is she, Mads,
your mom, now that you're back?

I don't know. Fine?

Freaked out, I guess?
[inhales, huffs]

I mean, I saw her get blasted
at the reunion last week,

but maybe that was a one-off?

Hopefully we're both
having "new beginnings"?

Hopefully.

How are we going to explain

your sudden disappearance
to your parents?

[exhales forcefully] Right.

Oh, sh*t.

There's a suspension letter
in the office.

You gotta get it
before it gets to my house.

Wait, Simon, that's perfect.

If the school thinks
you're not here

because you're suspended,
that's cover!

Yeah, but it doesn't
actually solve

the problem of my parents.

Do you have that spare key
to my car?

Yeah?

My iPad. It's in there.

You get it,
we'll write them a message,

and you can cover for me.

Okay.

[sighs]

-Wally...
-Hey. There you are.

Been looking everywhere for you.

Oh, sh*t. Sorry.

I did not mean to interrupt.
I just, uh...

I was wondering if you had
a minute to talk.

Wally,
I really don't want to leave,

but there's a minor disaster

in the outgoing mail
with my name on it.

Actually, it has my name on it.

And if I'm late to class,
I think the superintendent

might have me publicly flogged.

I'm sorry.
Being back is a lot more

than I thought it would be.

I'm trying to keep up.
I really am.

No, it's all good.
You do your thing.

[sucks air]

Meet me at the football field?
Right after school?

Just you and me?

[tender music playing]

Hey.

You okay?

I've was just thinking about
the night you showed up.

What changed.
What made it possible.

Maybe me not taking my door,

maybe that's the imbalance.

Maybe that's what's
keeping you stuck.

It's...
It's not a perfect theory.

But it's something.

And perhaps it's enough.

If finally going does something,

if it gives you a shot
at getting out...

then it's worth it.

You really think
this could work?

I don't know.

But for once,
not knowing doesn't feel

like a reason to stay.

[somber music playing]

Okay.

But that means...

I've spent a lot of years
making decisions

that I thought would help...

[chokes up] ...but only ended up
hurting other people.

And I can't ask the others
to go through all of this

when there is a chance
I can do it myself.

I can't be the reason
another person is trapped here.

You're sure about this?

I'm sure.

I'm sure.

[music fades]

[ding reverberates]

[light, quirky music playing]

Oh. Can I help you two?

We're interested in this.

Oh. And what is the name
of the club you'd like to start?

-Uh, uh...
-Um...

-The Split River High...
-Mm-hmm.

...uh, Grave...

Robbing.

Split River High Grave Robbing?

Rubbing Society.

-Grave Rubbing?
-[Nicole] Mm-hmm.

Yeah, it's sort of
like a local history club.

You know, honoring those
who came before us.

And, obviously,
the unique craftsmanship--

Of graves.

Alright, wait here.

I need to get you
a submission form.

[suspenseful music playing]

[Nicole] Is it there?

I'm not great
at reading upside down.

Just hurry.

Is this a TikTok thing?

-Mm-hmm.
-Mm.

[music fades]

[indistinct chatter nearby]

[car horn blares in distance]

So what does it feel like
dating a celebrity?

[laughs]

-Wow. For me?
-Mm-hmm.

Fresh from the greenhouse.

Honestly?

I think the classes
are kind of slacking off

because this is just--
this is a bad crop.

-[chuckles] They're beautiful.
-Hm.

I wish I could hold them.

I wish I could hold you.

I'm sorry. That was corny.
Was that c-- That was corny.

-[Wally chuckles nervously]
-No. It was sweet.

[tender, dramatic music playing]

[inhales deeply, exhales]

What now?

I guess we could just call this
a great summer fling.

One of those almost love stories
you carry with you,

wondering "what if"
every now and then

until you're old and gray.

[music stops abruptly]

That's not what I want.

That's not what I want either.

-I want to try.
-Me too.

This is all a lot.

Leaving you, losing Simon.

I can't help but feel like
this is somehow all my fault.

You know what? [chuckles]

I was starting to think
this might be our fault too.

Like, we tore a hole
in the universe

that night in the AV room.

It was pretty world-shifting
for me. I don't know about you.

Maybe if we just recreate that?

[both laugh]

See? I still got it.
I still got it, baby.

If you want Simon back,
I will get Simon back.

Seriously. Whatever it takes.

I'm just surprised.

I remember a time
where just saying his name

-made you cringe.
-What?!

No. I-I love that guy. Me? No.

[both laugh]

I would say,
"Simon told me this"

-or "Simon told me that"--
-Okay, yes. I remember. Stop.

[both laugh]

[laughs]

You're funny.

[fire roaring]

[eerie, otherworldly whispering]

You came back.

[chuckles]

You and I have one
final experiment to perform.

[tense music playing]

[watch ticking]

Let me into my scar.

I... I-I don't understand.
What? Wha...

You're my key. Let me in.

[huffs] What is this all about?

Look at me.

For once, I need you
to do something for me.

[breathing heavily]

Take my hand.

Let me into my room.

[music intensifies]

[dramatic rumbling]

[high-pitched ringing]

["Shitty Heaven"
by Ally Evenson playing]

♪ Tell me when I'm 27

♪ Fun in hell
or shitty heaven ♪

♪ I swam against the tide
as long as I can breathe ♪

[electricity buzzing]

♪ Hey

♪ Maybe some things
never change ♪

No, no, no, no.

♪ Hey

♪ Call it pleasure

♪ Call it pain

What did you do?!
I saw the lights.

It wasn't me.

Where's Janet?

She tried to help me.

♪ Hey

♪ Call it pleasure

♪ Call it pain

[Janet]
Dear friends, I had to go.

Please try to understand.

This is an experiment,
like any leap worth taking.

If it fails, don't give up.

Don't worry about me now.

I'm exactly
where I always dreamed I'd be.

Out there. Amongst the stars.

♪ Some things never change

♪ Hey, would you still

♪ Call out my name?

♪ Hey, maybe
some things never ♪

♪ Change

[elevator dings]

[indistinct chatter]

[dramatic music playing]

[elevator dings]

[music fades]

How was it?

[clock ticking]

Your first day back.

School was... school.

[dog barking in distance]

I made mac and cheese.

Grandma's mac and cheese?

I thought you might want
some comfort food.

Thank you.

I thought you were still going
to be mad at me.

I just want what's best.
I'm not mad at you.

But...

I can't lie,
you're really confusing me.

What made you bring that out?

Uh, I don't know, really.

You mentioned him
back at the hospital

and I guess it occurred to me

that maybe there should be
more of him around.

It took him a whole month
to get it assembled.

He even made little versions
of all of us.

[chuckles]

I'm sorry.

I can't imagine what this all
must've been like for you.

I promise, things are going
to be normal from now on.

I don't need normal.
I need you to be safe.

I want us to be able
to trust each other.

I know I haven't been perfect,
believe me.

You haven't, but also, I mean,
I was sad when Dad died.

He was my dad.

But he was your--

My best friend.

I don't think I realized
how hard it must have been

for you back then, you know?

Raising a kid, losing him.

I think I get it
a little better now.

That means so much, Maddie.

Mom, I--

Let me get you a napkin.

[sniffs]

♪ Oh, I beg you

["I Follow Rivers"
by Marika Hackman playing]

♪ Can I follow?

-♪ Oh, I ask you
-[phone vibrates]

♪ Why not always?

♪ Be the ocean

[phone chimes]

♪ Where I unravel ♪

[Maddie laughing on video]

♪ Be my only

[Claire] What? What is it?

[Maddie laughing on video]

[scoffs]

Long meeting, Mom?

How did it go?

Not now, Livia.
I've got fires to put out.

♪ I follow you

♪ I follow, I follow you

♪ Dark room, honey

♪ I follow you

♪ He's a message

♪ I'm the runner

♪ He's a rebel

♪ I'm a daughter
waiting for you ♪

♪ You're my river
running high ♪

♪ Run deep, run wild

♪ I follow, I follow you

♪ Deep sea, baby
I follow you ♪

♪ I follow, I follow you

♪ Dark room, honey
I follow you ♪

Hello?

Anybody in here?

[door shuts]

Looking for someone?

Uh, no, no. I just, uh--

Well, I am.

Thought maybe you could
help me with that.

It's hard, you know,
finding someone who's alive...

when you're not.

♪ Deep sea, baby
I follow you ♪

♪ I follow, I follow you

♪ Dark room, honey,
I follow you ♪

[Mr. Martin grunts]

[eerie, otherworldly whispering]

Tell me why I'm here
and how to get out.

Simon...

Let me out of here, Simon.

I-I-I'm the only one left now
who's done the research,

who has the insight,
who can help.

No.

No. No. You tell me right here,
right now.

It's been waiting for me.

It's been waiting for all of us.

What has?

What has?

If you know something,
just say it.

We need to get out of here.

Now.

-[tense music plays]
-[Simon grunts]

Get off!

[panting]

What are you hiding?

[ominous music playing]

[wind howling]

[panting]

[music intensifies]

[music stops abruptly]

[menacing musical flourish]

[creaking, rumbling]

[suspenseful music playing]

[door creaking]

[door creaking]

[intense, discordant music
playing]

[music stops abruptly]

["Long Gone"
by Anna Waronker playing]