School Spirits (2023) s01e01 Episode Script
My So-Called Death
1
[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MICROPHONE FEEDBACK]
Everyone, please quiet down.
Please, people.
Thank you.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Now
[PROJECTOR BEEPS]
[EXHALES]
It has been a very trying
last few days, as we know.
The Split River Police
are considering this
a missing person investigation.
I know this is alarming
news, but we have
every hope she will be found
What was her name again?
Maggie somebody?
Hmm.
They found a bunch of blood smeared
all over the janitor's closet.
I thought it was the boiler room?
They think her phone's, like,
still in the school somewhere.
I guess they tried to
Oh my God.
She doesn't have her phone?
That's so sad.
Hey.
Can you two please focus?
I'm sorry, Claire.
Did you sleep?
No.
You?
we can band together to
show off just how great
No.
And I remind you, if you know anything,
anything at all,
please come forward.
And now a little levity.
[CHUCKLES]
Yes, a routine from our very
own Split River cheer squad.
Yes!
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
All right, let's have
the cheer squad come
to the center of the court, please.
Thank you.
I just want to take a moment
to acknowledge the debate team.
They placed third at the
regional championships.
Yes! [CHUCKLES]
Hey, at least they used
a nice photo of you.
I'm trying to focus.
Ready?
[TOGETHER] OK!
Hey, Split River, what do you say?
If you ask me, what's really
missing here is a little tact.
[TOGETHER] Come on, Split
River, get on your feet.
The Bandits gonna bring the
Heat, heat, heat!
[TOGETHER] B-A-N-D-I-T-S!
Go, Bandits, go!
For Maggie!
It's Maddie!
OK.
Say it with me now, just one more time.
They can't hear you.
congratulations to Mr. Anderson.
They've reached their fundraising goal.
The good news is, it's
only a matter of time
till they realize you're dead.
will make their debut at the state
tournament in Waukesha.
OK.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone ♪
♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone, gone ♪
♪
Don't you forget me ♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone ♪
♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone ♪
This is ridiculous.
I've been wandering the
halls for three days,
and I still don't know
where I'm supposed to be.
If you're looking for it
to make sense, you can stop.
It's not going to.
Are you sure I'm dead?
Mm-hmm.
Maybe maybe I'm in a
coma in a hospital somewhere
and some overworked nurse is
stepping on my breathing tube.
- And I just need to wake up.
- OK, wow.
Yeah, no.
Someone's been reading
way too much Stephen King.
A coma is a lovely thought, but no.
If you're here, you're here.
I hate it here.
Oh, listen.
I get it.
It's just moving from
one prison to another.
Only difference is that high school
used to feel like an eternity,
and now it actually is.
[BASKETBALL BOUNCING]
Hey, you.
What are you doing?
You can't bounce that in the hall.
Come on, give it here.
You can grab it after school.
Yeah, that's one thing
that hasn't changed for me
since I went here in the '90s.
I was basically invisible
when I was alive too.
You going to go back
to the senior assembly?
That assembly is a joke.
I'm going to look for my friend.
Nicole.
Nicole.
Nicole.
Nicole, look at me.
I'm right here.
Nicole.
Nicole.
Come on.
There's some people I
think you should meet.
I already have friends.
Just try one meeting, OK?
And and if you hate it, I'll never
bother you about it again.
I'm holding you to that.
OK.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Oh, are we playing basketball, now?
Oh my God, no.
Please leave the sports
to the living kids.
We're over here.
No need to flinch.
They can't see you,
and they can't hurt you.
It's one of the small perks
of the whole being dead thing.
Come on.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I'm sitting there.
Oh, that's Rhonda.
She's really into Kerouac
poems and confrontation.
Sorry.
Is this seat taken?
Uh, not anymore.
That was Janet's.
What happened to her?
All right, everyone. Let's get started.
Hello.
I'm glad you decided to join us.
I'm Mr. Martin.
Well, we have a new
student with us today.
Um, would you like
to introduce yourself?
I'm good.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Um, sure.
Hey.
I'm, uh, Madison Nears, but
everyone calls me Maddie.
[TOGETHER] Hi, Maddie.
Welcome to the Split River
High Afterlife Support Group.
It takes a lot of courage to be here,
especially when you're new.
Thanks.
Would you like to tell us
a little about yourself?
What do you need to know?
Well, you could start
with how your day is going.
Has Charley been a helpful guide?
How'd you die?
OK, Rhonda.
Why don't we try to
raise our hands if we're
going to ask a question?
Uh, one minute I was
ditching study hall,
and then the next I'm here.
But I don't know who did this to me.
- Oh, you were murdered.
- Welcome to the club.
Can we maybe exchange
names first so Maddie
feels a little more welcome?
I don't know, exactly.
Exactly?
Look, they haven't found my body yet.
But I know that there was blood
on the walls of the boiler room,
and I'm here now.
Huh.
Huh?
What's huh?
Uh.
What?
Is that is that weird or something?
Not knowing?
Well, um, it's a first.
So then what do you
remember, cherry pop?
OK, Rhonda.
Um, clearly Maddie doesn't
want to talk about it,
and she doesn't remember.
Do you think it hurts?
[CHEERLEADERS CHANTING]
What?
[TOGETHER] Get on your feet.
Smiling that much.
I wouldn't know.
I'm too scared to try it.
But you really should smile more.
Ow!
Asshat.
[TOGETHER] Go, Bandits, go!
The Bandits gonna bring
the heat, heat, heat.
B-A
Hey, Simon!
Wait up.
OK.
- I'll see you in study hall?
- Yeah.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
So what did you think?
Well, I think you may have overhyped it.
What?
Look. I just think,
why mess with a classic?
The original "Carrie" was great.
- Why remake it?
- Oh my God, here we go.
Tell me. Seriously.
What bold new statement
do you get from the reboot?
Feminism?
It's a story about an underdog loser
who gets covered in loads of pig blood
and then burns everyone who crossed
her to death at the prom.
It's inherently feminist.
So you hate women?
- [LAUGHS]
- I swear I don't.
OK. Are you still up for
"Night of the Living Dead"
- at the Apex tonight?
- Yeah, wouldn't miss it.
Did you print your ticket?
I forgot.
Si, I texted you a reminder,
which I know you read.
You know, your trust
issues run pretty deep
when you require the people in your life
to turn on the read receipts.
I'll print it later.
Is it cool with you if Xavier joins?
Why?
He doesn't even like horror movies.
Yeah, but he's never seen it.
And I thought it could be fun.
Yeah, no.
It'll be fun.
What is this?
I hope the poor son of a
bitch is getting extra credit.
While we're here, should
we ask him if he wants
to come to the movies too?
[LAUGHS] Stop.
How's, uh how's your mom?
She's fine.
She's sobering up.
She'll be back in, like, two weeks.
So until then, the castle is all mine.
Oh.
Man, should we throw a sick party
and invite all of our friends?
We're throwing a party?
Nicole.
- You want to come to a party?
- Sure.
[CHUCKLES]
- OK, I invited all of our friends.
- It's going to be a rager.
Hitting the hard stuff a
little early, huh, Nicole?
No, I had this portfolio
review last night,
and it was pretty intense.
I was, like, buzzing all night.
Nicole, what? For schools?
How'd it go?
Really well.
Two schools in Chicago
said they loved my stuff.
Dude, that's amazing.
Damn, look at us!
We're all making it out.
Sayonara, Shit River!
Northwestern won't know what hit them!
Sorry, man.
My bad. Sorry.
I got that.
Slow your roll.
We're not even in yet.
Here it comes, my favorite sound.
Yeah.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
You degenerates are late.
- Let's go. Let's go.
- I'm not even in your class.
You're late as well and degenerate.
Come on.
In, in.
Ms. Nears, what is this,
Kurt Cobain cosplay?
Wow, Mr. A. Really aging
yourself with that one.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Everybody in? OK.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
♪
Everything OK, Maddie?
I just, uh
I have to go to the ladies' room.
Oh, but that's why we have
time between the bells.
I'll be so quick.
You're not coming back,
though, are you? Are you?
I love my job.
- [DOOR SLAMS]
- Jesus!
- Did I spook you?
- A little bit.
What are you doing out of class?
I came out to ask you the same question.
I thought we were
hanging out in study hall.
We are.
I'm skipping gym.
Phone was totally dead.
Came out here to charge it in peace.
But now I can't find my charger.
I told you, those things will kill you.
Cell phones?
You know, you don't have to lie to me.
OK.
Fine.
I'm a total burnout
who is skipping class
to get high in his car.
Congratulations. You got me.
For the record, you're the
worst liar in the world.
Maybe you're just the best detective.
Well, I would hop in and join you
if you were finally
driving off into the sunset
and skipping town for good.
But I will leave you to
squander your future in peace.
Thank you for that.
Give up the drugs, Xavier.
You know, I need you
to stay out of juvie
at least until homecoming.
I don't want to skip it alone.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
I thought your phone was dead.
[PHONE CHIMES]
No, no, no, no, no.
Shit.
♪
Are you just going to stare at this guy
your entire afterlife, or
Hmm?
I mean, he's cute.
I'll give you that.
He's not doing very well.
Huh? Uh, OK.
I just wish he knew I'm right here.
Well, he never will.
Sadly, they have no clue we're here.
It blows, but them's the breaks.
Is there any way to go back?
There is no back.
That life you used to have?
It's not an option.
But there may be a way forward.
What?
Forward where?
Well, you know, the great beyond.
Onward, upward, wherever that may be.
We're all just trying to
cross over, which is why it is
important to stick together.
I mean, Janet did it, and
she'd been here since 1960.
She was a total group diehard.
Since 1960?
Yeah.
Well, the alternative is Dawn.
She never comes to group.
No.
Instead, she just sort of,
uh, bops around aimlessly.
[BUBBLE POPS]
- What happened to her?
- Oh, no clue.
No.
But it was the '70s, so,
uh you know, bad acid,
cult initiation gone wrong.
Probably drank the wrong Kool-Aid.
Sweet.
Yeah.
Uh, you can touch it.
But you're never going to
change anything in their world.
- That's depressing.
- Yeah.
If you really want to
depress yourself, follow.
The marching band hit a
really bad storm coming
back from a competition.
Bus spun out and flipped on campus.
Half a dozen kids ended
up here all at once.
Look at them.
Just keep marching around in
their metaphorical circles,
like a bunch of little idiots.
Hmm.
Working with Mr. Martin, being
a part of our little club,
it helps.
Keeps you from getting
stuck in the past.
Oh, great. And we're back to staring.
No. Don't take my advice.
Let me shut up. Uh, OK.
You just come find me when you're ready.
OK.
Before we get started,
are there any questions
on last night's reading?
- I have a question.
- Yes?
Do we seriously think that girl is going
to come back for her jacket?
Don't be a dick. Maddie
wouldn't wear that.
No, but I would.
That's mine.
That is Maddie's seat.
We're going to be saving it
for her until she gets back.
[SCOFFS]
Simon, did you have a question?
How's that going to help?
It's a reminder, to keep your
classmate in our thoughts.
I'm so sick of all this stupid
virtue signaling bullshit.
It's phony.
Two seconds after keeping
her in our thoughts,
we're doing cheer routines,
draping blazers over desks,
pretending that everything is normal?
People are laughing about it.
There's a sign-up sheet
for a search party.
No one put their name on it.
No one.
Simon.
Including you.
Shouldn't your name be
first on the list, Xavier?
Simon.
Let's all take a breath.
We don't know what happened yet.
We can't give up hope.
- He knows something.
- Simon.
- What do I know?
- I need you both
No, no, no. You think you're so smart.
Tell me what the fuck you think I know.
- You know where she is.
- Gentlemen.
I'm not taking this shit.
Hey, you're not going anywhere.
- Excuse me, I don't think so.
- Stop!
[OBJECTS CLATTERING]
Why do you have Maddie's phone?
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
You had this the whole time? Hmm?
Anything you want to say about it?
Been a couple, two, three days.
You've got the phone.
You don't say anything.
Don't fixate.
There are much better ways
to pass your time here.
He has that phone for a reason.
He's probably trying
to use it to figure out
what happened to me.
By not giving it to the cops?
I don't know, OK?
I mean, maybe he knows something,
and then there's something on the phone.
- Maybe he needs it to prove something.
- No, no, no, no. All right.
I'm calling a time-out. Mm-kay?
I think you need to take a chill pill.
Let's go to my office.
[WATER RUSHING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Isn't this nice?
How is this supposed to help me?
OK. Wow.
You are not very good at
first impressions, huh?
It's very me, me, me, me, me with you.
I know we're going to
be spending a lot of time
together, but it wouldn't kill you
to at least pretend to be
interested in getting to know me.
OK, fine.
Uh, how did you die?
Oh, OK. Wow.
Yeah, we're skipping small talk,
going straight for the heavy stuff?
I give up.
[SIGHS]
Wouldn't you know it, the
one day I forget my EpiPen
is the one day they cook the
French fries in peanut oil.
- God.
- No, don't sweat it.
The bigger disappointment
was me thinking
I would get to haunt
all the assholes who
tortured me while I was here.
But uh, instead I was
haunted by all the jokes
they made once I was gone.
What do you mean?
I was a gay kid in the
'90s who died because
he was allergic to nuts.
OK, that's where you're
supposed to laugh.
Still fixating, aren't you?
Xavier's got to have
that phone for a reason.
Maybe.
But maybe it doesn't matter in the end.
Why wouldn't it matter?
I'm just trying to
prepare you for the fact
that you might not like the answers
to all of your questions.
If people thought your
boyfriend killed you,
wouldn't you want to know?
No one ever called me their boyfriend.
And besides, even if they
did, we'd have to hide it.
That is why I love this place.
Can't hide anything in here.
And don't try to tell me that
this is predatory behavior.
I'm a ghost.
What the heck am I going to do?
[LOCKER CLATTERS]
You're going to get us in trouble.
You're the one who's trouble.
I really like you, Maddie Nears.
[DOOR OPENS]
[WHISPERS] Shit, shit, shit. Come on.
I got an idea.
- Come on.
- Where are you going?
Shit.
Hide, hide!
Hello? Anybody in here?
- [WATER RUSHING]
- Hello?
Hello?
Somebody in here?
You can't be in here.
Xavier, what what
the hell are you doing?
- Mr. G, what are you doing?
- I'm showering.
Xavier, the school
is closed at 6:00 p.m.
- You can't be in here.
- Mr. G, I'm sorry.
I just don't really
feel comfortable with you
watching me like this.
I I wasn't.
I was just closing up.
Uh, just finish up what you're doing.
You've got you've
got to get out of here.
I just feel very
exposed to you right now.
It's a very compromising position.
I feel compromised. Wonder what
Damn it, just finish up.
Have a good night.
[LAUGHS]
There's no way he did it.
Wait, what?
Where are you going?
Simon. Slow down.
Simon.
Hey!
Sorry.
Simon.
I knew it.
I fucking knew it.
We don't know everything yet.
He has her phone, Nicole.
- That's evidence.
- Evidence of what?
You're acting crazy. Look.
What if she just gave
him her phone for
I don't know, so she could
go out of town for a few days?
Out of town? Where?
Where would Maddie go?
And what about the blood?
Why are you doing this?
Going to the worst-case scenario?
How does that help anything?
What?
What's Claire Z doing?
Oh!
Hey.
Now's not really a great time.
Wally Clark.
Class of '84.
I was laid out by a tackle during
my senior year homecoming game.
Never made it off the field.
Nice to meet you.
Um, Maddie.
Current unsolved mystery.
Pleasure.
Wait, Wally Clark?
Yeah.
Why does that sound familiar?
- Oh, well, they named the stadium after me.
- Ah.
That must feel nice.
Look, I can't really chat right now,
because I've got some
holes in my memory to fill.
Hey. Well, that's why I'm here.
I can I can totally
help you fill your holes.
- Excuse me?
- Oh.
Um, OK.
I obviously did not mean it
for it to come off that way.
In my head, it was more
of, like, a metaphoric
I can help you figure
things out, if you need it.
- OK. I can handle myself.
- OK.
And I don't really think
I need to take advice
from someone who looks like
they're headed to aerobics class.
Yeah, right? I mean, I'm
glad I had this in my locker,
or else I would have been
rocking shoulder pads.
Which would have sucked, because I think
those are totally out now.
I do wish I brought my
Walkman to school that day.
Or clean socks. Or deodorant.
Wait. Were you missing
anything when you came here?
I mean, other than a
pulse and a heartbeat?
No. No, not really. Why?
My phone and my backpack,
they were with me.
Ugh.
The tickets are in here somewhere.
- I printed them out this morning.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
Aha.
Here they are.
Oh, shit.
Uh, I can't make it tonight.
Come on.
Sorry, I completely spaced.
I have band practice.
Wouldn't it be easier just to tell me
- that you don't want to see this movie?
- That is not it, OK? I do.
It's just it's the
only night we could do it.
And you know what they say.
What do they say?
Bros before strong, independent
women with bright futures.
It's a very popular phrase.
You're stupid.
You're lucky you're cute.
What the Lord deny in
brain, He deliver in beauty.
And boy, did He deny.
[CHUCKLES]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Mads?
[ENGINE TURNING OVER]
[SIGHS]
I have to go take care of some things.
Are you OK?
And I'm missing my necklace too.
Huh.
Can you please stop saying huh?
Hey.
Maybe it's a good thing you
don't remember everything, OK?
Sometimes I wish I could forget.
Xavier?
Xavier, listen to me.
They let you out?
Just leave me alone.
You had her phone for three days.
Why didn't you say anything?
I don't have to tell you anything.
Why don't you just come clean?
Spare us having to force it out of you.
Who's going to force
it out of me, Simon?
- You?
- Hey.
Chill out.
- [YELLS]
- Simon, enough!
Hey, you two!
Stop!
Knock it off!
- Stop, stop, stop!
- Knock it off!
Stop, stop! Xavier, please stop!
Stop it!
What do you kids think you're doing?
Are you OK?
Don't give me another
reason to expel you.
Are you OK?
Let me see.
You still wonder where
the blood came from?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Maddie? Hello.
We we just started the session.
You want to help me, big shot?
Fine. Help me.
I need you to force a
confession out of someone.
You know, rattle some chains.
Inhabit his body. Scare
the life out of him.
Whatever it takes.
What's the problem?
I need you to channel
all your ghostly energy
and dangle this sack of shit
out of a window until he cracks.
OK, you're not getting it.
That's not how this works, OK?
It's not like in the movies.
We couldn't do that,
even if we wanted to.
And I do want to.
Yeah. Maybe you're all fine
just accepting this, but I'm not.
I need to know what happened.
We're not in some haunted house, chick.
Maybe this doesn't
jive with your fantasy
of what this should be, but we're
quite literally a world away.
We're not there. We're here.
Stuck.
No. Not good enough.
You know, if my friends can't
get the truth out of him,
then I have to.
What you're feeling right now
is absolutely natural, Maddie.
You're longing for a sense of control.
We've all been there.
Talking through it can help.
I wasn't ready to die.
Talking about it won't change anything.
If I have to search this entire
town for answers, I'll do it.
I'm not willing to just give
up, like the rest of you.
We're not giving up.
- We're moving forward.
- Yeah?
Well, for a guy who's
supposed to be getting
people out of here, this still looks
like a pretty crowded room.
I'm getting the hell out of this place.
[WET LEG'S "ANGELICA"]
♪
Angelica was on her way to the party ♪
She doesn't need to wait for anybody ♪
Knows exactly what she's doing ♪
I watch as she commands the room ♪
Whoa, the ambience was
overrated at the party ♪
I want to run home
before it's even started ♪
I look at my feet,
then I look for the door ♪
Can't find my friends,
so I just take a bit more ♪
A bit more, a bit more, a bit more ♪
A bit more, a bit more, a bit more ♪
A bit more, a bit
more a bit more ♪
And then ♪
It all ♪
Fuck.
Comes to an end ♪
We all go again ♪
[GIGGLES]
Whatcha doing?
I don't know what's happening.
You jumped the fence.
Excuse me?
You can't leave this place.
Happens every time.
It's kind of weird at first,
but after the third or fourth
try, you get used to it.
Fifth try it starts to hurt.
♪
I think I'm going to lose my mind.
Sounds fun.
[GIGGLES]
♪
Good times all the time ♪
Good times all the time ♪
♪
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
♪
Stop!
Stop!
♪
[DISTANT CLATTERING]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
[SIGHS]
[GLOOMY MUSIC]
♪
I don't feel bad for Gatsby.
He's a phony, a fake.
No better than the powdered shit
they're telling us is orange juice.
Who am I supposed to trust?
My guidance counselor
was supposed to help me.
Said I had it, what it'd take
to make it out of here, you know?
He just sent me six feet under.
♪
You were murdered by
your guidance counselor?
Yeah.
Guided me straight to the light.
[CHUCKLES]
Maddie, welcome back.
Uh, we were having a
discussion about literature.
Got a bit derailed.
How can you laugh at it?
What, you want me to cry?
OK.
You gotta you gotta
try to think about it
as encouraging, right?
Like, at some point,
you'll be able to laugh
about what happened to you.
Or not.
Uh, but look.
Either way, holding on to the past
what happened or didn't
can only hold you back.
And that's what we're working
to learn here together.
Right, Rhonda?
Mm.
Now, I don't know why you got
diverted from the highway of life.
But I really do believe that the easiest
way to miss your exit is
if you're always staring
in the rearview mirror.
He's right, Maddie.
"Nothing behind me,
everything ahead of me,
as is ever so on the road."
Everything ahead of me.
[DOOR OPENS]
What is it?
I think it's your memorial.
Vigil.
No body, no burial.
I can't believe she's here.
Is that
My mom.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Thank you all for coming.
As you know, we are
here to spread awareness
about the disappearance
of Madison Nears,
while we work to bring her home.
What was it doing in your backpack?
I don't know anything, OK?
Then how did her phone
get into your backpack?
And now, we have a few words
from Madison's mother, Sandra.
[CLEARS THROAT] Please.
Hi.
I'm Maddie's mom.
Uh, it's funny.
Uh, Maddie would probably
be embarrassed that I'm here.
I, uh
[SIGHS] I just, um
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
I'm sorry.
Excuse me.
Um, I just I just don't
know if I can do this.
No, it's all right.
It's fine. It's fine.
I'm not sure that I can do this.
It's all right. It's all right.
- I just
- You're fine. Thank you.
Um, thank you, Ms. Nears.
Uh, we are all here for you.
Look at me.
What, are you high right now?
Look at me.
You know, I cannot help you unless
you tell me what's going
on. You understand that?
I didn't hurt Maddie.
- I don't know what happened to her.
- Then why the phone?
I was protecting her.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's
reconvene outside in about 10 minutes.
- We're here for you, Maddie.
- And remember
Really.
one candle per person,
please. Don't be greedy.
Now, there are a few safety rules I want
to go over before we head out.
You will see, uh,
several sheriff and police
vehicles in the parking lot.
They will be accompanying us today.
Protecting her?
Protecting her from what?
You got to tell me.
From finding out about me and Claire.
I've been hooking up
with this cheerleader.
Maddie didn't know.
And I'm about to meet
her, and then Maddie
just shows up at my truck.
And I'm I'm freaking out.
And so I text Claire, you know,
warning her to change course.
But instead, that text goes to Maddie.
And since I knew she hadn't seen it
How would you know that?
Read receipts.
I stole Maddie's phone in study hall
so I could delete that text.
I didn't know she
wasn't coming back, Dad.
All right. All right.
It's all right. Come here.
You just cool off.
I'll take care of this.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[PHOEBE BRIDGERS, "I KNOW THE END"]
♪
Somewhere in Germany,
but I can't place it ♪
Man, I hate this part of Texas ♪
Close my eyes, fantasize ♪
Three clicks, and I'm home ♪
When I get back, I'll lay around ♪
Then I'll get up and lay back down ♪
Romanticize a quiet life ♪
Hey, I'll meet you out there.
Just give me a sec.
- What?
- I just need a minute, OK?
But you had to go ♪
I know, I know, I know ♪
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Mr. Elroy.
Back for round two?
Yeah.
What can I do for you?
♪
And you had to go ♪
I know, I know, I know ♪
♪
I'm sorry.
I know you are, Simon.
And for the record, it
wasn't an empty gesture, OK?
I am just as worried
about her as you are.
Something happened.
I know it did.
Something bad.
I've known Maddie longer than
almost anyone else in my life.
She's a lot of things, but
she isn't a person who runs.
She has seen things.
She has faced things that
no one should ever have to.
She doesn't get scared.
She doesn't run.
And if she was ever going to,
I would be the first person to know.
I know Maddie.
She she's never gone
silent on me before.
That's how I know
something happened to her.
She wouldn't just disappear.
♪
I don't know how I'm going to survive
this place without her.
Oh, Simon.
[SOBBING]
Simon.
Windows down, scream along ♪
To some America First
rap country song ♪
A slaughterhouse, an outlet mall ♪
Slot machines ♪
You just cool out.
I'm going to take care of this.
Windows down, heater on ♪
Big bolt of lightning ♪
Hanging low over the coast ♪
Everyone's convinced
it's a government drone ♪
Or an alien spaceship ♪
Either way, we're not alone ♪
I'll find a new place to be from ♪
A haunted house with a picket fence ♪
To float around and ghost my friends ♪
No, I'm not afraid to disappear ♪
The billboard said the end is near ♪
Simon, you just take all
the time you need, OK?
I'm gonna head down there.
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is ♪
♪
Thank you, Simon.
♪
Maddie?
Simon?
[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MICROPHONE FEEDBACK]
Everyone, please quiet down.
Please, people.
Thank you.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Now
[PROJECTOR BEEPS]
[EXHALES]
It has been a very trying
last few days, as we know.
The Split River Police
are considering this
a missing person investigation.
I know this is alarming
news, but we have
every hope she will be found
What was her name again?
Maggie somebody?
Hmm.
They found a bunch of blood smeared
all over the janitor's closet.
I thought it was the boiler room?
They think her phone's, like,
still in the school somewhere.
I guess they tried to
Oh my God.
She doesn't have her phone?
That's so sad.
Hey.
Can you two please focus?
I'm sorry, Claire.
Did you sleep?
No.
You?
we can band together to
show off just how great
No.
And I remind you, if you know anything,
anything at all,
please come forward.
And now a little levity.
[CHUCKLES]
Yes, a routine from our very
own Split River cheer squad.
Yes!
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
All right, let's have
the cheer squad come
to the center of the court, please.
Thank you.
I just want to take a moment
to acknowledge the debate team.
They placed third at the
regional championships.
Yes! [CHUCKLES]
Hey, at least they used
a nice photo of you.
I'm trying to focus.
Ready?
[TOGETHER] OK!
Hey, Split River, what do you say?
If you ask me, what's really
missing here is a little tact.
[TOGETHER] Come on, Split
River, get on your feet.
The Bandits gonna bring the
Heat, heat, heat!
[TOGETHER] B-A-N-D-I-T-S!
Go, Bandits, go!
For Maggie!
It's Maddie!
OK.
Say it with me now, just one more time.
They can't hear you.
congratulations to Mr. Anderson.
They've reached their fundraising goal.
The good news is, it's
only a matter of time
till they realize you're dead.
will make their debut at the state
tournament in Waukesha.
OK.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone ♪
♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone, gone ♪
♪
Don't you forget me ♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone ♪
♪
Don't forget me when I'm gone ♪
This is ridiculous.
I've been wandering the
halls for three days,
and I still don't know
where I'm supposed to be.
If you're looking for it
to make sense, you can stop.
It's not going to.
Are you sure I'm dead?
Mm-hmm.
Maybe maybe I'm in a
coma in a hospital somewhere
and some overworked nurse is
stepping on my breathing tube.
- And I just need to wake up.
- OK, wow.
Yeah, no.
Someone's been reading
way too much Stephen King.
A coma is a lovely thought, but no.
If you're here, you're here.
I hate it here.
Oh, listen.
I get it.
It's just moving from
one prison to another.
Only difference is that high school
used to feel like an eternity,
and now it actually is.
[BASKETBALL BOUNCING]
Hey, you.
What are you doing?
You can't bounce that in the hall.
Come on, give it here.
You can grab it after school.
Yeah, that's one thing
that hasn't changed for me
since I went here in the '90s.
I was basically invisible
when I was alive too.
You going to go back
to the senior assembly?
That assembly is a joke.
I'm going to look for my friend.
Nicole.
Nicole.
Nicole.
Nicole, look at me.
I'm right here.
Nicole.
Nicole.
Come on.
There's some people I
think you should meet.
I already have friends.
Just try one meeting, OK?
And and if you hate it, I'll never
bother you about it again.
I'm holding you to that.
OK.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Oh, are we playing basketball, now?
Oh my God, no.
Please leave the sports
to the living kids.
We're over here.
No need to flinch.
They can't see you,
and they can't hurt you.
It's one of the small perks
of the whole being dead thing.
Come on.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I'm sitting there.
Oh, that's Rhonda.
She's really into Kerouac
poems and confrontation.
Sorry.
Is this seat taken?
Uh, not anymore.
That was Janet's.
What happened to her?
All right, everyone. Let's get started.
Hello.
I'm glad you decided to join us.
I'm Mr. Martin.
Well, we have a new
student with us today.
Um, would you like
to introduce yourself?
I'm good.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Um, sure.
Hey.
I'm, uh, Madison Nears, but
everyone calls me Maddie.
[TOGETHER] Hi, Maddie.
Welcome to the Split River
High Afterlife Support Group.
It takes a lot of courage to be here,
especially when you're new.
Thanks.
Would you like to tell us
a little about yourself?
What do you need to know?
Well, you could start
with how your day is going.
Has Charley been a helpful guide?
How'd you die?
OK, Rhonda.
Why don't we try to
raise our hands if we're
going to ask a question?
Uh, one minute I was
ditching study hall,
and then the next I'm here.
But I don't know who did this to me.
- Oh, you were murdered.
- Welcome to the club.
Can we maybe exchange
names first so Maddie
feels a little more welcome?
I don't know, exactly.
Exactly?
Look, they haven't found my body yet.
But I know that there was blood
on the walls of the boiler room,
and I'm here now.
Huh.
Huh?
What's huh?
Uh.
What?
Is that is that weird or something?
Not knowing?
Well, um, it's a first.
So then what do you
remember, cherry pop?
OK, Rhonda.
Um, clearly Maddie doesn't
want to talk about it,
and she doesn't remember.
Do you think it hurts?
[CHEERLEADERS CHANTING]
What?
[TOGETHER] Get on your feet.
Smiling that much.
I wouldn't know.
I'm too scared to try it.
But you really should smile more.
Ow!
Asshat.
[TOGETHER] Go, Bandits, go!
The Bandits gonna bring
the heat, heat, heat.
B-A
Hey, Simon!
Wait up.
OK.
- I'll see you in study hall?
- Yeah.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
So what did you think?
Well, I think you may have overhyped it.
What?
Look. I just think,
why mess with a classic?
The original "Carrie" was great.
- Why remake it?
- Oh my God, here we go.
Tell me. Seriously.
What bold new statement
do you get from the reboot?
Feminism?
It's a story about an underdog loser
who gets covered in loads of pig blood
and then burns everyone who crossed
her to death at the prom.
It's inherently feminist.
So you hate women?
- [LAUGHS]
- I swear I don't.
OK. Are you still up for
"Night of the Living Dead"
- at the Apex tonight?
- Yeah, wouldn't miss it.
Did you print your ticket?
I forgot.
Si, I texted you a reminder,
which I know you read.
You know, your trust
issues run pretty deep
when you require the people in your life
to turn on the read receipts.
I'll print it later.
Is it cool with you if Xavier joins?
Why?
He doesn't even like horror movies.
Yeah, but he's never seen it.
And I thought it could be fun.
Yeah, no.
It'll be fun.
What is this?
I hope the poor son of a
bitch is getting extra credit.
While we're here, should
we ask him if he wants
to come to the movies too?
[LAUGHS] Stop.
How's, uh how's your mom?
She's fine.
She's sobering up.
She'll be back in, like, two weeks.
So until then, the castle is all mine.
Oh.
Man, should we throw a sick party
and invite all of our friends?
We're throwing a party?
Nicole.
- You want to come to a party?
- Sure.
[CHUCKLES]
- OK, I invited all of our friends.
- It's going to be a rager.
Hitting the hard stuff a
little early, huh, Nicole?
No, I had this portfolio
review last night,
and it was pretty intense.
I was, like, buzzing all night.
Nicole, what? For schools?
How'd it go?
Really well.
Two schools in Chicago
said they loved my stuff.
Dude, that's amazing.
Damn, look at us!
We're all making it out.
Sayonara, Shit River!
Northwestern won't know what hit them!
Sorry, man.
My bad. Sorry.
I got that.
Slow your roll.
We're not even in yet.
Here it comes, my favorite sound.
Yeah.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
You degenerates are late.
- Let's go. Let's go.
- I'm not even in your class.
You're late as well and degenerate.
Come on.
In, in.
Ms. Nears, what is this,
Kurt Cobain cosplay?
Wow, Mr. A. Really aging
yourself with that one.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Everybody in? OK.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
♪
Everything OK, Maddie?
I just, uh
I have to go to the ladies' room.
Oh, but that's why we have
time between the bells.
I'll be so quick.
You're not coming back,
though, are you? Are you?
I love my job.
- [DOOR SLAMS]
- Jesus!
- Did I spook you?
- A little bit.
What are you doing out of class?
I came out to ask you the same question.
I thought we were
hanging out in study hall.
We are.
I'm skipping gym.
Phone was totally dead.
Came out here to charge it in peace.
But now I can't find my charger.
I told you, those things will kill you.
Cell phones?
You know, you don't have to lie to me.
OK.
Fine.
I'm a total burnout
who is skipping class
to get high in his car.
Congratulations. You got me.
For the record, you're the
worst liar in the world.
Maybe you're just the best detective.
Well, I would hop in and join you
if you were finally
driving off into the sunset
and skipping town for good.
But I will leave you to
squander your future in peace.
Thank you for that.
Give up the drugs, Xavier.
You know, I need you
to stay out of juvie
at least until homecoming.
I don't want to skip it alone.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
I thought your phone was dead.
[PHONE CHIMES]
No, no, no, no, no.
Shit.
♪
Are you just going to stare at this guy
your entire afterlife, or
Hmm?
I mean, he's cute.
I'll give you that.
He's not doing very well.
Huh? Uh, OK.
I just wish he knew I'm right here.
Well, he never will.
Sadly, they have no clue we're here.
It blows, but them's the breaks.
Is there any way to go back?
There is no back.
That life you used to have?
It's not an option.
But there may be a way forward.
What?
Forward where?
Well, you know, the great beyond.
Onward, upward, wherever that may be.
We're all just trying to
cross over, which is why it is
important to stick together.
I mean, Janet did it, and
she'd been here since 1960.
She was a total group diehard.
Since 1960?
Yeah.
Well, the alternative is Dawn.
She never comes to group.
No.
Instead, she just sort of,
uh, bops around aimlessly.
[BUBBLE POPS]
- What happened to her?
- Oh, no clue.
No.
But it was the '70s, so,
uh you know, bad acid,
cult initiation gone wrong.
Probably drank the wrong Kool-Aid.
Sweet.
Yeah.
Uh, you can touch it.
But you're never going to
change anything in their world.
- That's depressing.
- Yeah.
If you really want to
depress yourself, follow.
The marching band hit a
really bad storm coming
back from a competition.
Bus spun out and flipped on campus.
Half a dozen kids ended
up here all at once.
Look at them.
Just keep marching around in
their metaphorical circles,
like a bunch of little idiots.
Hmm.
Working with Mr. Martin, being
a part of our little club,
it helps.
Keeps you from getting
stuck in the past.
Oh, great. And we're back to staring.
No. Don't take my advice.
Let me shut up. Uh, OK.
You just come find me when you're ready.
OK.
Before we get started,
are there any questions
on last night's reading?
- I have a question.
- Yes?
Do we seriously think that girl is going
to come back for her jacket?
Don't be a dick. Maddie
wouldn't wear that.
No, but I would.
That's mine.
That is Maddie's seat.
We're going to be saving it
for her until she gets back.
[SCOFFS]
Simon, did you have a question?
How's that going to help?
It's a reminder, to keep your
classmate in our thoughts.
I'm so sick of all this stupid
virtue signaling bullshit.
It's phony.
Two seconds after keeping
her in our thoughts,
we're doing cheer routines,
draping blazers over desks,
pretending that everything is normal?
People are laughing about it.
There's a sign-up sheet
for a search party.
No one put their name on it.
No one.
Simon.
Including you.
Shouldn't your name be
first on the list, Xavier?
Simon.
Let's all take a breath.
We don't know what happened yet.
We can't give up hope.
- He knows something.
- Simon.
- What do I know?
- I need you both
No, no, no. You think you're so smart.
Tell me what the fuck you think I know.
- You know where she is.
- Gentlemen.
I'm not taking this shit.
Hey, you're not going anywhere.
- Excuse me, I don't think so.
- Stop!
[OBJECTS CLATTERING]
Why do you have Maddie's phone?
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
You had this the whole time? Hmm?
Anything you want to say about it?
Been a couple, two, three days.
You've got the phone.
You don't say anything.
Don't fixate.
There are much better ways
to pass your time here.
He has that phone for a reason.
He's probably trying
to use it to figure out
what happened to me.
By not giving it to the cops?
I don't know, OK?
I mean, maybe he knows something,
and then there's something on the phone.
- Maybe he needs it to prove something.
- No, no, no, no. All right.
I'm calling a time-out. Mm-kay?
I think you need to take a chill pill.
Let's go to my office.
[WATER RUSHING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Isn't this nice?
How is this supposed to help me?
OK. Wow.
You are not very good at
first impressions, huh?
It's very me, me, me, me, me with you.
I know we're going to
be spending a lot of time
together, but it wouldn't kill you
to at least pretend to be
interested in getting to know me.
OK, fine.
Uh, how did you die?
Oh, OK. Wow.
Yeah, we're skipping small talk,
going straight for the heavy stuff?
I give up.
[SIGHS]
Wouldn't you know it, the
one day I forget my EpiPen
is the one day they cook the
French fries in peanut oil.
- God.
- No, don't sweat it.
The bigger disappointment
was me thinking
I would get to haunt
all the assholes who
tortured me while I was here.
But uh, instead I was
haunted by all the jokes
they made once I was gone.
What do you mean?
I was a gay kid in the
'90s who died because
he was allergic to nuts.
OK, that's where you're
supposed to laugh.
Still fixating, aren't you?
Xavier's got to have
that phone for a reason.
Maybe.
But maybe it doesn't matter in the end.
Why wouldn't it matter?
I'm just trying to
prepare you for the fact
that you might not like the answers
to all of your questions.
If people thought your
boyfriend killed you,
wouldn't you want to know?
No one ever called me their boyfriend.
And besides, even if they
did, we'd have to hide it.
That is why I love this place.
Can't hide anything in here.
And don't try to tell me that
this is predatory behavior.
I'm a ghost.
What the heck am I going to do?
[LOCKER CLATTERS]
You're going to get us in trouble.
You're the one who's trouble.
I really like you, Maddie Nears.
[DOOR OPENS]
[WHISPERS] Shit, shit, shit. Come on.
I got an idea.
- Come on.
- Where are you going?
Shit.
Hide, hide!
Hello? Anybody in here?
- [WATER RUSHING]
- Hello?
Hello?
Somebody in here?
You can't be in here.
Xavier, what what
the hell are you doing?
- Mr. G, what are you doing?
- I'm showering.
Xavier, the school
is closed at 6:00 p.m.
- You can't be in here.
- Mr. G, I'm sorry.
I just don't really
feel comfortable with you
watching me like this.
I I wasn't.
I was just closing up.
Uh, just finish up what you're doing.
You've got you've
got to get out of here.
I just feel very
exposed to you right now.
It's a very compromising position.
I feel compromised. Wonder what
Damn it, just finish up.
Have a good night.
[LAUGHS]
There's no way he did it.
Wait, what?
Where are you going?
Simon. Slow down.
Simon.
Hey!
Sorry.
Simon.
I knew it.
I fucking knew it.
We don't know everything yet.
He has her phone, Nicole.
- That's evidence.
- Evidence of what?
You're acting crazy. Look.
What if she just gave
him her phone for
I don't know, so she could
go out of town for a few days?
Out of town? Where?
Where would Maddie go?
And what about the blood?
Why are you doing this?
Going to the worst-case scenario?
How does that help anything?
What?
What's Claire Z doing?
Oh!
Hey.
Now's not really a great time.
Wally Clark.
Class of '84.
I was laid out by a tackle during
my senior year homecoming game.
Never made it off the field.
Nice to meet you.
Um, Maddie.
Current unsolved mystery.
Pleasure.
Wait, Wally Clark?
Yeah.
Why does that sound familiar?
- Oh, well, they named the stadium after me.
- Ah.
That must feel nice.
Look, I can't really chat right now,
because I've got some
holes in my memory to fill.
Hey. Well, that's why I'm here.
I can I can totally
help you fill your holes.
- Excuse me?
- Oh.
Um, OK.
I obviously did not mean it
for it to come off that way.
In my head, it was more
of, like, a metaphoric
I can help you figure
things out, if you need it.
- OK. I can handle myself.
- OK.
And I don't really think
I need to take advice
from someone who looks like
they're headed to aerobics class.
Yeah, right? I mean, I'm
glad I had this in my locker,
or else I would have been
rocking shoulder pads.
Which would have sucked, because I think
those are totally out now.
I do wish I brought my
Walkman to school that day.
Or clean socks. Or deodorant.
Wait. Were you missing
anything when you came here?
I mean, other than a
pulse and a heartbeat?
No. No, not really. Why?
My phone and my backpack,
they were with me.
Ugh.
The tickets are in here somewhere.
- I printed them out this morning.
- [PHONE CHIMES]
Aha.
Here they are.
Oh, shit.
Uh, I can't make it tonight.
Come on.
Sorry, I completely spaced.
I have band practice.
Wouldn't it be easier just to tell me
- that you don't want to see this movie?
- That is not it, OK? I do.
It's just it's the
only night we could do it.
And you know what they say.
What do they say?
Bros before strong, independent
women with bright futures.
It's a very popular phrase.
You're stupid.
You're lucky you're cute.
What the Lord deny in
brain, He deliver in beauty.
And boy, did He deny.
[CHUCKLES]
[TIRES SCREECHING]
Mads?
[ENGINE TURNING OVER]
[SIGHS]
I have to go take care of some things.
Are you OK?
And I'm missing my necklace too.
Huh.
Can you please stop saying huh?
Hey.
Maybe it's a good thing you
don't remember everything, OK?
Sometimes I wish I could forget.
Xavier?
Xavier, listen to me.
They let you out?
Just leave me alone.
You had her phone for three days.
Why didn't you say anything?
I don't have to tell you anything.
Why don't you just come clean?
Spare us having to force it out of you.
Who's going to force
it out of me, Simon?
- You?
- Hey.
Chill out.
- [YELLS]
- Simon, enough!
Hey, you two!
Stop!
Knock it off!
- Stop, stop, stop!
- Knock it off!
Stop, stop! Xavier, please stop!
Stop it!
What do you kids think you're doing?
Are you OK?
Don't give me another
reason to expel you.
Are you OK?
Let me see.
You still wonder where
the blood came from?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Maddie? Hello.
We we just started the session.
You want to help me, big shot?
Fine. Help me.
I need you to force a
confession out of someone.
You know, rattle some chains.
Inhabit his body. Scare
the life out of him.
Whatever it takes.
What's the problem?
I need you to channel
all your ghostly energy
and dangle this sack of shit
out of a window until he cracks.
OK, you're not getting it.
That's not how this works, OK?
It's not like in the movies.
We couldn't do that,
even if we wanted to.
And I do want to.
Yeah. Maybe you're all fine
just accepting this, but I'm not.
I need to know what happened.
We're not in some haunted house, chick.
Maybe this doesn't
jive with your fantasy
of what this should be, but we're
quite literally a world away.
We're not there. We're here.
Stuck.
No. Not good enough.
You know, if my friends can't
get the truth out of him,
then I have to.
What you're feeling right now
is absolutely natural, Maddie.
You're longing for a sense of control.
We've all been there.
Talking through it can help.
I wasn't ready to die.
Talking about it won't change anything.
If I have to search this entire
town for answers, I'll do it.
I'm not willing to just give
up, like the rest of you.
We're not giving up.
- We're moving forward.
- Yeah?
Well, for a guy who's
supposed to be getting
people out of here, this still looks
like a pretty crowded room.
I'm getting the hell out of this place.
[WET LEG'S "ANGELICA"]
♪
Angelica was on her way to the party ♪
She doesn't need to wait for anybody ♪
Knows exactly what she's doing ♪
I watch as she commands the room ♪
Whoa, the ambience was
overrated at the party ♪
I want to run home
before it's even started ♪
I look at my feet,
then I look for the door ♪
Can't find my friends,
so I just take a bit more ♪
A bit more, a bit more, a bit more ♪
A bit more, a bit more, a bit more ♪
A bit more, a bit
more a bit more ♪
And then ♪
It all ♪
Fuck.
Comes to an end ♪
We all go again ♪
[GIGGLES]
Whatcha doing?
I don't know what's happening.
You jumped the fence.
Excuse me?
You can't leave this place.
Happens every time.
It's kind of weird at first,
but after the third or fourth
try, you get used to it.
Fifth try it starts to hurt.
♪
I think I'm going to lose my mind.
Sounds fun.
[GIGGLES]
♪
Good times all the time ♪
Good times all the time ♪
♪
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
♪
Stop!
Stop!
♪
[DISTANT CLATTERING]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
[SIGHS]
[GLOOMY MUSIC]
♪
I don't feel bad for Gatsby.
He's a phony, a fake.
No better than the powdered shit
they're telling us is orange juice.
Who am I supposed to trust?
My guidance counselor
was supposed to help me.
Said I had it, what it'd take
to make it out of here, you know?
He just sent me six feet under.
♪
You were murdered by
your guidance counselor?
Yeah.
Guided me straight to the light.
[CHUCKLES]
Maddie, welcome back.
Uh, we were having a
discussion about literature.
Got a bit derailed.
How can you laugh at it?
What, you want me to cry?
OK.
You gotta you gotta
try to think about it
as encouraging, right?
Like, at some point,
you'll be able to laugh
about what happened to you.
Or not.
Uh, but look.
Either way, holding on to the past
what happened or didn't
can only hold you back.
And that's what we're working
to learn here together.
Right, Rhonda?
Mm.
Now, I don't know why you got
diverted from the highway of life.
But I really do believe that the easiest
way to miss your exit is
if you're always staring
in the rearview mirror.
He's right, Maddie.
"Nothing behind me,
everything ahead of me,
as is ever so on the road."
Everything ahead of me.
[DOOR OPENS]
What is it?
I think it's your memorial.
Vigil.
No body, no burial.
I can't believe she's here.
Is that
My mom.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Thank you all for coming.
As you know, we are
here to spread awareness
about the disappearance
of Madison Nears,
while we work to bring her home.
What was it doing in your backpack?
I don't know anything, OK?
Then how did her phone
get into your backpack?
And now, we have a few words
from Madison's mother, Sandra.
[CLEARS THROAT] Please.
Hi.
I'm Maddie's mom.
Uh, it's funny.
Uh, Maddie would probably
be embarrassed that I'm here.
I, uh
[SIGHS] I just, um
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
I'm sorry.
Excuse me.
Um, I just I just don't
know if I can do this.
No, it's all right.
It's fine. It's fine.
I'm not sure that I can do this.
It's all right. It's all right.
- I just
- You're fine. Thank you.
Um, thank you, Ms. Nears.
Uh, we are all here for you.
Look at me.
What, are you high right now?
Look at me.
You know, I cannot help you unless
you tell me what's going
on. You understand that?
I didn't hurt Maddie.
- I don't know what happened to her.
- Then why the phone?
I was protecting her.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's
reconvene outside in about 10 minutes.
- We're here for you, Maddie.
- And remember
Really.
one candle per person,
please. Don't be greedy.
Now, there are a few safety rules I want
to go over before we head out.
You will see, uh,
several sheriff and police
vehicles in the parking lot.
They will be accompanying us today.
Protecting her?
Protecting her from what?
You got to tell me.
From finding out about me and Claire.
I've been hooking up
with this cheerleader.
Maddie didn't know.
And I'm about to meet
her, and then Maddie
just shows up at my truck.
And I'm I'm freaking out.
And so I text Claire, you know,
warning her to change course.
But instead, that text goes to Maddie.
And since I knew she hadn't seen it
How would you know that?
Read receipts.
I stole Maddie's phone in study hall
so I could delete that text.
I didn't know she
wasn't coming back, Dad.
All right. All right.
It's all right. Come here.
You just cool off.
I'll take care of this.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[PHOEBE BRIDGERS, "I KNOW THE END"]
♪
Somewhere in Germany,
but I can't place it ♪
Man, I hate this part of Texas ♪
Close my eyes, fantasize ♪
Three clicks, and I'm home ♪
When I get back, I'll lay around ♪
Then I'll get up and lay back down ♪
Romanticize a quiet life ♪
Hey, I'll meet you out there.
Just give me a sec.
- What?
- I just need a minute, OK?
But you had to go ♪
I know, I know, I know ♪
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Mr. Elroy.
Back for round two?
Yeah.
What can I do for you?
♪
And you had to go ♪
I know, I know, I know ♪
♪
I'm sorry.
I know you are, Simon.
And for the record, it
wasn't an empty gesture, OK?
I am just as worried
about her as you are.
Something happened.
I know it did.
Something bad.
I've known Maddie longer than
almost anyone else in my life.
She's a lot of things, but
she isn't a person who runs.
She has seen things.
She has faced things that
no one should ever have to.
She doesn't get scared.
She doesn't run.
And if she was ever going to,
I would be the first person to know.
I know Maddie.
She she's never gone
silent on me before.
That's how I know
something happened to her.
She wouldn't just disappear.
♪
I don't know how I'm going to survive
this place without her.
Oh, Simon.
[SOBBING]
Simon.
Windows down, scream along ♪
To some America First
rap country song ♪
A slaughterhouse, an outlet mall ♪
Slot machines ♪
You just cool out.
I'm going to take care of this.
Windows down, heater on ♪
Big bolt of lightning ♪
Hanging low over the coast ♪
Everyone's convinced
it's a government drone ♪
Or an alien spaceship ♪
Either way, we're not alone ♪
I'll find a new place to be from ♪
A haunted house with a picket fence ♪
To float around and ghost my friends ♪
No, I'm not afraid to disappear ♪
The billboard said the end is near ♪
Simon, you just take all
the time you need, OK?
I'm gonna head down there.
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is here ♪
♪
The end is ♪
♪
Thank you, Simon.
♪
Maddie?
Simon?