Cruel Summer (2021) s01e06 Episode Script

1
Previously on "Cruel Summer"
- What's that?
- Kate Wallis left it behind,
and I was gonna give it
back to her when school began.
I'll see her before then.
Jeanette Turner didn't tell anybody.
She had too much to lose
if I was rescued,
like my best friends, who
suddenly became her best friends.
Get out! You stole my life
because yours was pathetic!
- Come on.
- But you're seriously gonna come after
- my family's money with this lawsuit?
- Come on!
These are ridiculous,
baseless teenage rumors.
- Yeah.
- Jeanette would never do anything
- like what Kate is accusing her of.
- I know.
Okay, well then, you should
tell your friends that.
That's a good idea.
Are you ready?
With you? I'm ready.
Are you still on my side?
Being on your side cost me my job,
my reputation,
my family as I once knew it.
This is yours, correct?
Uh, I had one like it.
You and I both know that
necklace belongs to Jeanette.
And our daughter just lied about it.
To the police!
(modem beeping, buzzing)
(rock music playing)
JEANETTE: Look! (giggles)
Ten bucks says they come out
with messy hair
and big, nasty anniversary smiles.
Eww, that's gross!
- Well, let's wait it see.
- Derek.
(gasping)
CINDY: Wow, look at this!
Happy anniversary to us!
- GREG: It most certainly is.
- (Jeanette laughs)
- Happy anniversary!
- Happy anniversary!
A very happy anniversary it is.
Here's to a lifetime more.
Mm-hmm.
DEREK: To a lifetime more!
(laughter, indistinct chatter)
CINDY: The problem is that you
keep losing clients right now.
GREG: I lost one client, Cindy.
CINDY: No, this is the third one
that you lost this month
Shining silver on the Titanic?
What's that supposed to mean?
(argument continues in background)
Nothing, sorry.
(argument continues)
This is all my fault. I can't stand it.
Hey. Do not beat yourself up over this.
This is Joy Wallis's smear
campaign's fault. That's it.
Do you have to move
into the dorms today?
CINDY: you keep losing clients.
I can't miss pre-season.
I'm sorry, Jean.
Okay. Cool.
CINDY: What about these prank calls
we keep getting about Jeanette?
(footsteps approaching)
Hi. Uh, happy anniversary.
- Hi.
- GREG: Thanks, kids.
(doorbell rings)
CINDY: I'll get it.
I still don't get why coffee smells
so good yet it tastes so bad.
It grows on you.
(door closes)
CINDY: Honey, you splurged on me.
We shouldn't fight today. Thank you.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, Dad, that's so sweet.
- This brie looks really good.
- JEANETTE: Yummy.
But I didn't, uh
"Thank you for setting me up
with the perfect home.
Angela."
Who's Angela?
GREG: All right, kids.
- All right. Everybody wave.
- (family laughing)
- Hi.
- Hi, honey.
- GREG: Everybody say hi.
- DEREK: Get outta here!
JEANETTE: I'm gonna win, guys.
I swear, this is gonna be my turn.
- CINDY: I don't know. Ooh!
- JEANETTE: I am. No!
(Cindy and Jeanette screeching)
DEREK: No, no! No-no-no-no!
She's on a roll!
She's on a roll! Stop her!
CINDY: Stop, stop, stop.
Ooh, wait! Stop, stop!
JEANETTE: Nerts!
Nerts!
I'm not sitting here missing my
mommy, if that's what you think.
I'd understand if you were.
I miss my dad.
If he's spending too much
time with me, I can
No. It's not you.
It's him.
Even when he's right here,
he's always just a million miles away.
If I'd just stayed a nerdy
little nobody like he wanted,
none of this would have happened.
ANGELA: Nope. No.
We ladies do not make
ourselves less for others.
Do you understand?
Today used to be a holiday
in this house.
Now it just kind of feels
like somebody's funeral.
(doorbell rings)
We have a problem.
(discordant soundtrack playing)
(guitar playing "Walk on the Wild Side")
Y'all.
We have to see Jason Goes to Hell, okay?
It's the last
Friday the 13th movie ever!
- MALLORY: Uh-huh.
- VINCENT: Right?
I mean, I know they said
that about part four,
but they really mean it this time!
Well, here's hoping.
That's gonna be a pass for me.
Ditto.
VINCENT: Come on!
"Sneak into a scary movie"
It's on the list, number 14.
Also on the list is stealing,
lucky number 13,
which, if you hadn't noticed,
goes before 14.
Boom.
Well then, for the low,
low price of nothing,
then the new Liz Phair CD shall be mine.
I already stole
Martin Harris's yearbook,
so for once, I'm ahead.
Wait, you're still coming
with us though, right?
Yes, but I would just
like to point out the fact
that everything Mallory has
added to this list is illegal.
Be that as it may My cousin
Trish, who works at a mall,
says that big corporations
expect you to steal.
It's called "shrinkage" and it's
already worked into the budget.
So, it's a victimless crime.
Great.
When I'm gone ♪
Kate's lawyers are deposing
Tennille Peterson's mother,
Tanya, at her request,
which makes me incredibly nervous.
Who's next? My mail carrier?
I wouldn't rule it out.
But seriously, what's
so special about Tanya?
She claims to have
"damning information."
Any idea what that might be?
Jeanette, you drank all the coffee?
I saved you some.
Always a pleasure, Greg!
- (door closes)
- Whatever damning information
Tanya has on me,
I have a lot worse on her.
She's not the one in a legal battle.
If she assassinates your
character in the deposition
She won't.
It could be detrimental
to your case if she does.
I said she won't.
All right?
Hmm. Let's talk about that fit.
Mr. Harris is here.
So? Who cares?
He's the assistant principal
of the school, not the mall.
Besides, too late.
Where did you get that?
Uh, from when Janis worked at Contempo
for a week before she got fired.
Sailing in as the young, chic
assistant principal in this suit
will take you a long way
with those PTA moms.
(clicks tongue)
Jeez, she's laying it on thick.
That's Tanya, Tennille Peterson's mom!
Makes perfect sense.
Okay
Ready?
Yeah?
Wait, no, no, no, no, no.
I already stole something!
So? It's a free shirt! Come on.
Shall we get a jump on all
that PTA business over dinner?
You know, thanks, but I really shouldn't
socialize with students' parents
Martin. It's just a meal.
Okay. Uh, sure.
Mm. Pick you up at your place, 6 p.m.?
- MARTIN: Uh, sure, 6 p.m.
- Let's bounce.
TANYA: Hey, can I get you
anything else, girls?
Jeanette's on the phone for you.
Again?
Her calls keep booting me offline.
It is irritating as hell.
I warned you about her.
Girl cannot take a hint.
Well, neither can you, apparently.
I've been telling you
to clean up this pigsty.
We have guests coming over.
Is a social worker finally coming
to bring me to my new mommy?
Don't even joke about that.
A few gals are coming over
to watch my interview with Molly Green!
They came to my store.
What's your interview about,
Mrs. Peterson?
It's about Martin Harris.
What about him?
You'll just have to watch and see.
Tennille, what do want me
to tell Jeanette?
Tell her
that she's been permanently
relocated to Loser Island,
where we won't be joining her.
(giggles)
Loser Island.
Population: one.
(girls giggling)
Okay, let's find Vincent
and get outta here.
Okay.
- Hey, Vince.
- (alarm blaring)
GUARD: Hey! Get back here with that CD!
Let's beat it!
Go! Run, run!
Run, go, go!
(alarm blaring)
(footsteps approaching, keys jangling)
GUARD: Come on!
Wait here while I call your parents.
(Jamie chuckles)
What are you in here for?
Oh, um
Uh (giggling)
Um, shoplifting.
You're like a a hardened criminal.
(chuckles)
(giggles weakly)
What about you?
I got busted for jumping
in the fountain.
- (laughs)
- Oh.
Um
It was a dare.
Oh.
I'm Jeanette, by the way.
Yeah, I remember.
(phone ringing)
(clears throat)
Turner residence.
WOMAN: Is Jeanette there?
She's not home right now.
Dang, I was hoping for
some kidnapping tips.
Who is this?
You and your little friends
and your incessant prank calls,
you are, you are harassing
an innocent family.
- The twisted Turners? Yeah, right.
- (hangs up)
(dial tone buzzing)
Hello
(phone ringing)
(ringing stops)
(ominous soundtrack rising)
(jewelry clattering)
(sighs)
(chuckles)
(quietly): Oh, okay.
JAMIE: You don't really get
in trouble much, do you?
No, I do.
I mean
I, um
I make trouble.
I just don't usually get caught.
What kind of trouble?
Um
- Sometimes
- Mm?
Jeanette.
Please tell me this is
a misunderstanding.
(door opens and closes)
Jeanette
- Jeanette!
- (music on headphones)
Jeanette, take your headphones off.
Come here, I need to talk to you.
I'm going to get a snack.
Sit down, I need to talk to you.
(music stops)
What's wrong?
Honey
you know you can
tell me anything, right?
Uh You're kind of freaking me out.
Well, I'm a little freaked out myself.
Okay, honey, um, I'm
gonna ask you a question
and whatever you say,
we will face it together.
Okay.
Have you ever been inside
Martin Harris's house?
Why would you even
ask me something like that?
Because if you were carrying
a secret like that around,
I just think it would feel really
good to get it off of your chest.
I am not.
Come on, Mom, they're
just stupid rumors.
You gotta ignore them.
Ignoring them is not going to make
them go away, you do realize that?
Don't you?
If there is any truth to these rumors,
any truth at all,
I need you to tell me right now.
Is there anything
you need to tell your mama?
No.
If the calls are really getting to you.
You should just change our number, okay?
JEANETTE: It was Mallory's idea.
Don't blame someone else.
What's going on?
If I tell you, you have to promise
not to tell Vincent's grandparents
or they'll be really mad.
I'm your parent and I'm really mad.
Okay. Well
Vincent stole a CD and then
I heard the alarm go off
and I just grabbed it
and I told him to run.
Why would you do that?
Because Vincent and I always
have each other's back.
That doesn't apply
when it comes to stealing.
It was bad decision making, but
he would have done
the same thing for me.
And he's my friend.
If your mom finds out, she's
gonna call Vince's grandfather,
and that's not gonna
be good for anybody.
What do you say we keep this between us?
Yeah?
(sighs) Thanks, Dad.
(door opens and closes)
What's so urgent you
called me home from work?
- It's Jeanette.
- Is she okay?
She's lying.
Ever since she lied to the police
about that necklace, I have
had this pit in my stomach
Why are we talking
about the necklace again?
Because you didn't seem
to hear me last time, okay?
And now look
Look, I found this key hidden
in Jeanette's jewelry box.
I think this is the key
to Martin Harris's house.
That's a little bit of
a stretch, don't you think?
I know, just, you
Just call it a mother's intuition.
I just, I
I feel it in my bones.
Let's ask Jeanette
- Yeah, I already did.
- And?
And she denied it.
Okay then.
Well, maybe if you came
with me, she wouldn't lie,
but she had no problem
lying straight to my face.
Or maybe she was telling you the truth.
She's not telling the truth!
I-I don't know what her involvement is
in this whole Kate Wallis mess, but
she is involved.
I know it.
I think, I think we need to
go and see if this key fits.
To Martin Harris's house?
Yeah, we should go.
And then if it fits
Honey, I have to get to a showing.
What do you think people would say
if they saw us at Martin Harris's house
in broad daylight?
We'll go tonight. We'll go
tonight when it gets dark.
- Cindy. Cindy.
- And then nobody would see us.
What?
Baby, we raised a good kid.
And then she changed.
She changed right in front of us.
No, she was just
"blossoming," as you put it.
I just wanted her to fit in.
I just wanted her to be happy.
You can't blame me for that.
No one in this family is to blame.
If I thought there was a problem
I would be just as worked up as you are,
but I don't.
I have to get to that showing.
I'll see you later tonight, okay?
(departing footsteps)
(door opens and closes)
(door creaking open)
VINCENT: Hey.
Hey.
Angela let me in.
Are the lawyers harassing you now, too?
No.
- Sorry, am I overstepping?
- No, no, it's just
It's weird that you're here.
Which is weird because you
used to basically live here.
Yeah.
And, uh, what?
Mallory is an honorary Wallis now?
You two blew up.
You expect her
to stay friendless forever?
No.
Being friendless sucks.
You pushed me away, Jeanette.
I figured I ruined
enough people's lives.
Going out?
(sighs) There's something
I have to take care of.
You need my help?
No.
Um
Actually
Do you mind distracting the reporters
while I sneak out the back?
Yeah, I got you covered.
Thanks.
You mind if I, uh, raid
the cabinet for dorm snacks?
Uh, yeah, sure. Fine.
Okay.
(tap running, dishes clattering)
Hey, space cadet, what's up?
(shuts off tap)
Do you remember that time
you had a tea party outside
in the rain with Jeanette?
And you went bananas because
our stuffed animals
ended up filthy, covered in mud?
Your dad said it was
your idea, not Jeanette's.
Yeah?
Was it?
That was a million years ago.
It's not like you're gonna get
in trouble for it now.
- I just wanna know
- I honestly can't remember.
I think your sister is lying
and I think your dad
is afraid to admit it.
I know I shouldn't tell you that, but
Mom.
No.
No, you shouldn't.
Well, I have to because
there is this ocean inside of
me and it is spilling over
and I need somebody to talk to,
and I need to talk about it.
Mom, stop, please!
Just call Aunt Susan.
Okay? She's she's good at this stuff.
I'm not.
I'm gonna go finish packing.
Wait. Hey, wait.
Come here.
I am so proud of you
my college boy!
You just keep pursuing
your dreams. Okay?
'Cause complacency is a disease.
Wow.
You know, if you ask nicely,
maybe Grandma
will stitch that on a pillow for you.
TANYA: How many?
Uh, I have to count those, miss.
Jeanette Turner.
To what do I owe the displeasure?
I heard you're requesting to be deposed,
which is quite unusual, given these
depositions can be minefields.
You must have something
you're dying to share.
Only the truth.
VINCENT: Why would you cover
for me like that? Why?
Because I knew my dad
would go easy on me.
You didn't get in any trouble,
like at all?
I did get thrown in mall jail.
You seem excited about that?
I don't know.
It's kinda cool almost getting
in trouble, but then not.
Yeah, I don't feel that.
My stealing days are over, okay?
I'm still bummed about
that Liz Phair CD.
I was so close.
I can't believe Mallory booked it on us!
She said we were supposed
to book it, too.
I don't want to talk badly
about Mallory,
but do you ever feel like sometimes
Sometimes what?
She just pressures us
to do what she wants to do
and she'll never back down?
Yeah.
I agree.
You do?
That we shouldn't talk
badly about Mallory.
Cool, yeah, you're right.
Actually kind of like this one.
You should keep it.
No. It's not me anymore.
This is the best Friday the 13th.
- Trust.
- Okay.
Maybe you can come over
and watch it with me?
Narrate all the scary parts,
like I know you love to.
I do love that.
(doorbell jingles)
(clears throat)
Hey, Ben.
Hey.
(clears throat) You renting a movie?
Yeah, I was.
I I think I lost
track of time, though.
I should get to the gym.
Later.
(doorbell jingles)
Can we, uh, please just
pretend you didn't see that?
Sure.
Thanks.
Having a secret like that
must be really scary.
So
if that's what you really want,
we can pretend I didn't
see that just now,
or we can pretend like
it didn't happen, but
you seem happy.
(sighs)
Insanely.
Okay, good!
Then we're all happy. You can tell
Ben we're all happy, all right?
Okay.
(door closes)
TANYA: Oh, my God.
It's huge!
MARTIN: I'm sorry it's so messy.
I didn't realize you'd be coming over.
TANYA: Isn't that
the beauty of your idea
to meet earlier?
More time for drinks after.
MARTIN: That part was your idea, but
JEANETTE: I don't know.
I feel like even my mom's believing
the rumors a little bit now.
- No way.
- Yeah.
I don't know, she was acting
really weird earlier.
You should have seen her.
If it makes you feel any
better, you've always got me.
Promise?
Forever, baby.
- (Jeanette giggles)
- (doorbell jingles)
Hey, guys.
Um
Oh, this is awkward.
Um I've been calling.
Yeah. It's called screening.
Caller ID?
Hey, your mom's interview is on.
Turn it up.
In public, Martin Harris laid
on that whole Midwestern act,
but the moment that he got me alone
he was so forceful.
TANYA: Who is this little creature?
That's my nephew.
Oh. For a second there I thought that
you were a single parent, too.
Nope. No shared kids, pets or
property with my ex-girlfriend,
which I'll take as a blessing.
Yeah, exes are the worst.
He became aggressive.
He offered personal details,
unprovoked.
I got him good in the end, though.
MARTIN: How's that?
But I'm betting you're very trustworthy.
(giggles)
My ex pays child support,
thinking that he's my
daughter's biological daddy,
but he "idn't."
MARTIN: Yeah, I shouldn't know
something that personal
about one of my students.
Hmm! (giggles)
I think he'd have said or done anything
to get me to go to bed with him.
- (loud rock music playing)
- TANYA: Ooh!
- (music stops)
- TANYA: Oh, my
I must've sat on the remote
Oh, and look at the mess I've made!
Oh, my.
MARTIN: Let me get you a towel.
I'll be right back.
Oh, this is (sighs)
When I think about
what happened to Kate Wallis,
I just can't help but think
that could have been me.
She's lying.
How the hell would you know?
Are you seriously defending a pedophile?
- No. No, I
- We're closing anyway,
- so y'all should just go.
- My mom is not a liar.
I-I didn't mean that.
- But you said it.
- I didn't mean it.
Your mom is a freak-show has-been
- and everyone knows it.
- What?
And since you don't seem
to be getting the memo,
so are you.
Let's just go to Blockbuster, come on.
- I'm just gonna go.
- Jeanette.
Are you dating anyone?
Who would I be dating,
one of the Menendez brothers?
Well, when a boy just hangs around
waiting for you to come home,
I guess he likes you.
(laughing)
- What?
- That's funny.
- (Jeanette laughing)
- VINCENT: What's funny?
- JEANETTE: Oh, Vincent.
- VINCENT: What?
Angela thinks we should date.
I think you're cute together is all.
Ew, no, Jeanette's like my sister.
- Literally.
- (Vincent laughs)
I'm headed to work.
- ANGELA: Bye.
- VINCENT: (mouth full) Later.
Bye, Ange.
JEANETTE: Thanks for picking
me up at the last minute.
We can drive now.
Okay, what happened?
It's just Renée and Tennille.
Jeanie, I told you to quit
hanging out with them.
Good news: they made
that decision for me.
Oh.
Do you have to leave for college?
Why are you buggin' about this?
I just feel like everyone's
jumping ship on me.
I feel alone.
Does it need more salt?
No, no.
It's just kind of hard
to kick back when Tanya
could be destroying
your case any minute.
You need a distraction.
GREG: What about cards?
Nerts?
You love Nerts.
Did Angela say something?
GREG: I hope that's okay.
I'm sorry I haven't been
I thought you wanted your own space.
I do love Nerts.
LAWYER: Do you have reason to believe
that Jeanette Turner
isn't telling the truth?
Jeanette Turner
(gasps)
What are you doing in here?
I won't tell about what
you said about Tennille.
I didn't see you and you didn't
see me or hear anything.
- Deal.
- Go.
- Scoot. Scoot!
- (departing footsteps)
Oh, my God. Wait!
Nerts!
I won. I won! Look, look!
- Two out of three.
- Look, look!
Yeah, two out of three.
No.
- Fine, you bet your butt.
- (telephone ringing)
VINCENT: Shit, do you
think that's your lawyer?
(ringing continues)
Hello?
Jeanette Turner says
that she never saw Kate and
I have no reason to believe otherwise.
I hope your memory's clear
about what you think you know.
Well, I'm pretty sure what
you're doing right now
is highly illegal.
Illegal like child support
and paternity fraud?
Careful there.
I think it's you
who needs to be careful.
I mean, these lawyers,
they love a good story.
But I'd be careful about what
story you think you know.
Because there's provable
facts and there's hearsay.
And hearsay doesn't
really amount to much.
But the provable facts I know could
have devastating consequences
on your family as you know it.
Your word's as good as
toilet paper in this town.
You wanna bet on it?
Because I think I can be
pretty convincing.
(gasps)
But you had said
something about an incident?
Well, you know
now that I really remember
that whole thing was
just a misunderstanding.
DENISE: Tanya Peterson had exactly
zero interesting things to say.
Thank God.
And if you had
anything to do with that
I don't ever wanna know.
- (phone hangs up)
- (dial tone buzzing)
JEANETTE: You ready for the next round?
Could I get a Cosmo, please?
Sure.
(ice clattering)
It's my wedding anniversary today.
You burden me with your questions ♪
You'd have me tell no lies ♪
You're always asking
what it's all about ♪
ANGELA: Happy anniversary.
Well, it was.
(sighs)
We're not together anymore.
But I guess you knew that?
Right, Angela?
You're unbelievable ♪
If you're here to cat-fight,
- that is not a thing I engage in.
- Oh, God, no, no, no, no, no.
No. (chuckling)
I was I was driving
home to my old home.
I was feeling sentimental
today, I guess.
And when I should have turned right,
I just kept going straight.
I think I'm incapable
of going backwards.
So you came here?
Derek told me you worked here.
And I'm
I am dying to know
how is she?
Derek still talks to me, but
Jeanette doesn't, not really.
She blames me for the separation.
Just tell me anything.
She misses you.
Do you wanna have a drink with me?
(door closes)
Oh, hey.
(sighs)
Two more houses fell out of escrow.
So that's
(sighs)
Do you remember how I wanted
to be a flight attendant?
Oh, is that what the whole "dead
body on the airplane" was about?
No.
No, it's
I'm sorry, I'm, I'm confused.
Just listen.
I
I always dreamed of
flying the friendly skies
as a career.
Uh (chuckles) Okay.
It's not funny!
- No, I'm not laughing.
- You are laughing.
You're just chuckling.
You just made it seem like
there was something
really important.
You you're so serious.
I am serious.
This isn't a joke!
My mom sacrificed everything for us.
To the point where she just
disappeared, I think.
My mom did the same thing.
That is the blueprint
they gave us, right?
Sure was.
I wanted to break that cycle
by example.
Maybe I was naive to think
that wouldn't come at a cost.
But I wanted to leave a different
blueprint for my kids,
especially for my daughter.
I had to.
If you started an entirely new career
after raising two kids
you are one hell of an example.
So are you.
You started a whole new career.
Running this bar.
I I own it, actually.
I like you, Angela.
I can see why Greg likes you.
You're just you're
smart and you're open
and you're bold.
Bold freaks Greg out a little bit,
but deep down he likes it.
I like you too.
I'm glad.
And surprised
we can just sit here together like this.
Cheers.
Well, it's not like
I stole your husband.
You left him, so
Wait, I'm sorry. Hang on.
Is that what he told you?
CINDY: I had a dream.
I had like a real dream.
And then somewhere along the way,
it just sort of evaporated.
Maybe it was a little
unrealistic, don't you think?
No! I don't think it's unrealistic
for me to want to have a career.
I didn't say not have a career,
but traveling all the time
when we're trying to raise two kids.
I wanted to see the world.
Maybe I wasn't loud enough
about that desire,
but
I have been plenty loud about Jeanette.
What does Jeanette have to do with this?
CINDY: I think you're right.
I did push her to blossom,
but I never showed her how.
No wonder she's made
some really bad mistakes.
You know what? Since my suspicions
weren't enough for you,
I suggest that you go and you
try this key for yourself.
Wait a second.
Did you go to his house?
It shouldn't matter. I told you
that I knew something was going on.
- It does matter.
- Why do I have to have proof
for you to take me seriously?
- I didn't say you had to have proof.
- You don't take me seriously.
You don't!
I'm gonna go stay with my
sister for a little while.
What do you mean, now?
CINDY: I mean, it's not forever.
Okay? I just need
I need some time to think.
I'll come back and I'll
I'll talk to Jeanette about all of it.
It's our anniversary.
I am sorry about that.
You know what, Greg?
When you finally face
what is actually happening
with our daughter
you will be exactly
where I am right now,
and it's gonna break your heart.
It is excruciating.
And so lonely
without you here with me.
(sobbing)
(door rattles open)
(slams shut)
Who will save your soul ♪
When it comes to the flowers now? ♪
Who will save your soul ♪
After all those lies you told? ♪
And who will save your soul ♪
If you won't save your own? ♪
(lock clicks)
Save your own ♪
♪
Who will save your soul ♪
When it comes to the flowers now? ♪
Who will save your soul ♪
After all the lies you've told? ♪
(objects clattering)