Cruel Summer (2021) s01e09 Episode Script

1
Previously on "Cruel Summer"
- Cool necklace.
- Thanks. I got it for my birthday.
I need that snow globe.
Why would that piece of junk
be important?
MARTIN: I noticed you
at the garden club party.
Just the way that you were
mingling with the adults,
I mistook you for one of them.
Well, why didn't you say hi?
Hi.
KATE: Remember when I said
that I had a big family secret
that's been eating at me?
Sounds like it's time to shed
some light on the situation.
KATE: That's exactly
what I needed to hear.
You are being such a little brat!
- And you're being a bitch!
- (Joy gasps)
Run away, until you come crawling back
with your tail between your legs.
(modem beeping, buzzing)
(suspenseful music playing)
I just feel so lonely in my own house
and in my own life all of a sudden.
How did that happen?
You're not alone.
I'm here.
I'm listening.
Let's revisit the concept of grooming.
A groomer isolates their victim.
He saw your unfulfilled need
to confide in someone
then positioned himself
as the singular person
to fulfill that need.
Groomers pose as saviors
when in reality, they're predators.
That false sense of security he built
was a well-laid trap.
Martin?
SYLVIA: Are you able
to see that reality?
It's hard.
When there's something
I haven't told you.
I wasn't
- Kate.
- (gasps)
Hi.
I was looking for you.
How did you sleep?
Like a baby.
KATE: I wasn't always
locked in the basement.
(discordant soundtrack playing)
(telephone rings)
Hello?
No, Mom, it is not a good time.
(sighs)
Kate stay out all night?
She's probably feeling
pretty proud of herself
wherever she bunked up.
Should we call the police?
Do you really want our 16-year-old
on their radar as a troublemaker?
- You're not worried?
- I'm worried sick, Rod,
but I'm trying to think straight.
Kate wouldn't put herself in harm's way.
She's somewhere safe.
And she'll show up
for her first day of school.
I'll put eyes on her there.
You tell her we're sorry.
We'll sort everything out as a family,
which, Joy
we still need to do.
As soon as Kate is home safe.
Agreed.
I have to head into work
early for a staff meeting.
Do you think you can manage the
walk to school on your own?
Yeah.
Thank you, Martin, for listening.
For everything.
Kate, I really like
our friendship and
I've never connected on this level
with another student before,
but it's "Mr. Harris."
At least at school.
(snickers)
(laughs)
("Linger" by The Cranberries playing )
(car engine starts)
But I'm in so deep ♪
You know I'm such a fool for you ♪
You got me wrapped
around your finger ♪
Ah, ha, ha ♪
Do you have to let it linger? ♪
Do you have to, do you have to ♪
Do you have to let it linger? ♪
Oh, I thought the world of you ♪
KATE (quietly): Shit. Shit.
(smoke detector beeping)
- Kate?
- (beeping continues)
Hi.
I wanted to surprise you
with a frozen pizza,
but it it burned.
- Why weren't you in school today?
- I was thinking about
what to say
you know, about where I've been and
I I need your help.
I'm not really a good liar.
Your mother came to school
looking for you.
She came to me specifically.
Look, you need to go now.
If she calls the police,
if they found out I lied,
I could lose my job or worse.
I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to get you
in any sort of trouble.
You need to go.
Okay.
I'm going.
I'm going right now.
- (Kate stomping)
- (Martin sighs)
(telephone rings)
(rings)
(rings)
Hello?
Speaking.
Well, that's, uh
that's terrible news.
Thank you, Detective,
for letting me know.
Bye.
You're officially a missing person.
The police are looking for you.
I can fix this.
I'll go home. I'll tell them
Tell them what, that you've
been here almost 24 hours
and I lied to your mother about it?
I don't know. I told you,
I'm not a good liar.
I need your help.
I need to think.
Don't drink that. I
(sighs) I forgot you were underage.
Martin
what'll we do?
I should have called your parents
or the police last night,
- but I didn't, that's on me.
- No.
No. No, my mom hit me.
You were just helping.
You know, sometimes a
distraction helps me think.
A distraction?
Yeah. Like
when I'm stuck on a homework assignment
I like to go for a run.
I mean, I know that that doesn't
really help us here though,
so
what about a game?
Do you have Monopoly?
No.
Okay, well, what about a deck of cards?
Uh maybe somewhere, yeah, but
How about
"Never Have I Ever"?
A drinking game?
Yeah, we're already drinking.
You're very convincing, you know.
Well, I am Debate
captain, after all.
Never have I ever
been on the debate team.
(laughs) I handed you that one.
You know the rules. Drink up.
(scoffs)
Mmm.
(sets down glass)
(sighs)
(smooth jazz playing)
(both laugh)
Never have I ever had
pancakes for dinner,
but you're right, it's the bomb.
Well, breakfast for dinner is the best.
(both laughing)
KATE: I still feel bad for Martin,
I think, because of our friendship,
before it all went wrong.
Hmm.
Friendship happens
between two willing parties.
Given the power dynamic between you,
I wouldn't call it that.
I don't think he could help himself.
How old are you?
How old do you think I am?
Old enough to be very wise.
Age tends to do that.
You got to admit, I'm wise
beyond my years, too.
You were the one that mistook
me for an adult at first.
You're right, you're an old soul.
It's your turn.
Never have I ever
been on a road trip.
Ah, you got me there.
Where to?
I drove my car from Maine
all the way down the East Coast
through Florida,
until the road just
ended in Key West.
Felt like the end of the Earth.
What made you drive that far?
Was it for a girl?
- It was.
- Hmm, very romantic.
You should visit Key West sometime.
It's a wild place.
You might need a tour guide.
Someone wiser?
Maybe.
See? I told you a game would relax us.
You're right.
We'll figure this out.
Your turn.
If you say so.
Never have I ever
kissed someone older.
(sighs) You got me on that one.
Jamie is six months older.
Have you ever kissed someone
significantly older?
No.
Are you daring me to?
No.
I'm only kidding around.
You're ridiculously beautiful
and smart and everything,
but no.
Because that would be crazy.
Would it?
SYLVIA: Were you afraid
of disappointing him?
I was raised to be afraid
of disappointing anybody.
I'm sure he noticed that about you.
He noticed everything about me.
Martin liked me for me.
He made me feel sane.
I'm pretty sleepy.
Getting late.
Bed time.
(heartbeat pounding)
(ominous soundtrack playing)
Found you!
(Kate giggles)
But you have to tag me first.
(rock music playing)
This bed is on fire
with passionate love ♪
The neighbors complain
about the noises above ♪
My therapist says
not to see you no more ♪
She said you're like
a disease without any cure ♪
She said I'm so obsessed
that I'm becoming a bore ♪
Oh no ♪
God, you think you're so pretty ♪
(laughing) No!
No more, I'm all sweaty.
Why don't you go run us a shower?
(mouthing words)
REPORTER: Friends and
family of Kate Wallis
describe her as a popular, bright,
and fun-loving young girl
and are praying for her safe return
Field reporter
- (shower running)
- KATE: Beautiful dreamer ♪
Wake unto me ♪
Starlight and dewdrops ♪
Are waiting for thee ♪
Sounds of the rude world ♪
Heard in the day ♪
Don't you wanna skip work
and stay here all day with me?
- You say that every day.
- Yeah, 'cause I'm bored without you.
I'm stuck here watching
daytime TV for housewives
and I have all this energy
Hey, I have an idea.
I've got a bunch of travel guides
I've never had time to read.
Why don't you go through them?
Pick a place for us to go.
Go when?
When it's safe for us.
How about your 18th birthday?
It'll be your homework.
Okay, so, I did my homework,
and I was thinking,
maybe we don't go on vacation.
We move, somewhere far
away like Thailand.
Far away sounds very enticing.
We could play with
the elephants in the wild.
But not in captivity because they're
so mistreated and it's awful.
Okay, elephants in captivity, no.
Moving to Thailand, yes.
Or there's this French
island called Saint-Malo
with a wall around the entire city.
- Sounds very exclusive.
- (French accent) Oh, we could learn French.
Or we could always do Bora Bora.
White sand beaches
You in a bikini every day.
I'm in.
Bed time.
What about Morocco?
Do you know Renée's parents?
The Talbotts?
Did you know that
they're 15 years apart?
News to me.
I can't wait until I'm older
so no one will care
about our age difference.
I wouldn't be in such a rush to grow up.
Why not?
After that, we can be a real couple.
My parents already like you.
And
I miss them.
I'm sorry you have to
choose between them and me.
No, I know you are.
I want you to have both.
I want the world for you, but
we just can't right now.
Not here.
So Bora Bora then?
- Mm-hmm.
- (both laugh)
(doorbell rings)
- Who is that? It's a Sunday.
- No idea.
Just stay away from the door.
Here, get in the closet.
Just stay right there.
Martin?
Greg Turner.
Hang on.
Coming.
Hey, sorry to bother you on a Sunday.
My tire blew out.
I was hoping I could use
your phone to call my wife.
I'm sick, and, um
the house is just a bit of a mess, so
GREG: I won't even look.
Oh, uh, that one's broken.
(dial tone buzzing)
I hear a dial tone.
Comes in and out.
You must have a magic touch.
Planning your escape?
Excuse me?
Oh, those are probably for
the "Around the World" theme
for the school dance.
Yeah, Jeanette's been raving about it.
If you'd just make it quick,
I should get back to bed.
Honey. Hi. Uh, I got a flat tire.
Yeah, I know.
Martin Harris was nice enough
to let me use his phone.
Great. Uh, I'll see you then.
Oh, shoot.
Do you have someone else here?
No. Why?
Well, the two coffee cups.
Oh, I hope I'm not ruining a little
romantic morning after.
No. They're both mine.
Yeah, one's from yesterday.
I just get a little lazy with
the cleaning over the weekend.
Well, thank you for letting me
use your phone.
My pleasure.
See you soon.
Have a good one.
That was too close.
That wasn't great being shoved in there.
(tools rattling)
(drops hammer)
KATE: What if I wear a mask?
A mask?
Yeah. Like a Halloween costume
for when trick-or-treaters come tonight.
No one will even know it's me.
They'll know it's not me,
so who will we say is under the mask?
We'll watch scary movies
- and we'll eat candy.
- (giggles)
We'll make it fun, like we always do.
I have a PTA meeting to get to.
Are the cops still
buzzing around at school?
Not really.
The assumption is
you've run away, out of town.
Everybody thinks that?
It's a good thing, Kate.
If they snoop around and find you here,
- it looks pretty bad.
- For the both of us.
Yeah.
I know. You're right.
SYLVIA: What do you think kept
you from walking out that door?
He made it very clear
that I had to choose
between him and the outside world.
I couldn't have both.
And for a long time, I chose him.
We had this unspoken rule.
(suspenseful movie soundtrack playing)
We knew what we were doing was wrong,
but we never talked about it.
We suspended disbelief.
How does this end?
The movie?
No, our bubble.
It can't go on forever, Martin.
No?
I mean, we can.
Our bubble can't.
(softly): Let's just watch the movie.
(woman screams on video)
By Halloween, I was ready
to have real conversations.
You were done suspending your disbelief.
KATE: And he wasn't.
It's funny
before Martin's
I hated that my family
was one way in public
and another way at home.
And then I ended up living
a secret life at his house.
I guess "funny" is the wrong word.
Ben Hallowell's gloating
must be insufferable
since Skylin beat Medford last week.
I hadn't noticed.
Have you seen my parents around?
How are they holding up?
(clicks tongue) Honestly,
I have been buried in work,
so (chuckles)
Right.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
Kate, I know you. What's wrong?
I just didn't expect
apples in the stuffing.
My mama doesn't make it that way.
We can make our own stuffing.
A special recipe we both like.
New traditions.
KATE: He wanted me to pretend
that everything I needed to be
happy existed in that house,
inside with him, at all times.
Chamomile.
Soothes the soul.
KATE: By Christmas Eve,
the homesickness was crushing.
Kate.
You haven't left the bed all day.
It's 4 p.m.
What even is time?
You must be starving.
I'll make you anything you want.
I want a soft pretzel.
Like the ones they sell at the mall.
I miss the mall.
And the movies.
And the buttery popcorn and candy.
You know, we watch tons of movies, so
I miss the mints that they
give you at restaurants
at the end of the meal.
I miss sunlight on my skin.
And other people.
But mostly the mall.
Um
you know, stay in bed
as long as you want.
I'm gonna run some last-minute
Christmas errands.
(bell jingling)
(orchestral Christmas music playing)
WOMAN: Honey, I'm starving.
(bell ringing continues)
(tires squealing)
(sirens wailing)
OFFICER: Let's get him!
(bells jangling)
(woman on video, indistinct)
Please don't think
MAN ON VIDEO: No.
I wasn't worrying about that.
I knew you'd want me
to take the job, sure.
But, Julie let's get married.
(romantic soundtrack playing)
Let's get married right away, tonight.
I'll be able to send for you
in three months.
I'll have the money then.
Three months?
Why the rush to get married now?
- (bell clanging)
- CONDUCTOR: All aboard!
(phone beeps)
MAN: What, do you think I'm gonna let
a funny little redhead like
you run around loose here?
(phone beeps)
(phone dialing)
Ah, Julie, I've got to have you.
(phone ringing)
(winding snow globe)
(music box playing "Auld Lang Syne")
JAMIE: You've reached
Jamie's private line.
- You know what to do.
- (line beeps)
- (owl hooting)
- (dog barking)
MAN: till death do us part.
(Kate breathing loudly)
WOMAN: Till death do us part.
JEANETTE: Hello?
(ominous music playing)
JEANETTE: Hello?
(floorboards creak)
(card clicking in bicycle spokes)
(dog barks)
SYLVIA: Why didn't you tell
Martin about the necklace?
And about Jeanette?
KATE: I thought about it.
But I liked having a secret from him.
What's all this?
You scared me.
Uh, just some presents for you.
Including
one soft pretzel like you wanted.
KATE: A secret of my own,
without him, without anyone in on it.
It's a little cold.
I'll heat it up.
KATE: Felt like power.
SYLVIA: It's possible on some level
you were hoping Jeanette
would alert the authorities.
That way, you would be forced to part,
so you wouldn't
have to leave him yourself.
Should we sit at the table or?
Actually, do you mind if
I go to bed early tonight?
Anxious for Christmas morning,
so you can open
your presents from Santa?
Sorry, um, from me?
I don't feel well.
KATE: I did leave, once.
(muffled conversation)
(Rod and Joy laughing)
(laughter continues)
Gosh.
I don't think I've actually
laughed for four months.
My body aches.
I miss her so much.
I I keep, uh, picturing her
coming home to us on Christmas morning.
And then I hear her say, "Hi, Dad"
Her laughter.
It's like she's still right here.
- (whimpering)
- But she isn't.
Can we cancel Christmas dinner?
I don't think I have it in me.
Come here.
KATE: Seeing my parents
happy while I was missing
it made me realize
why I ended up on Martin's doorstep
in the first place.
SYLVIA: It ripped open old wounds.
(ominous soundtrack plays)
One more.
(band playing "Jingle Bells")
I love it.
- Will you help me put it on?
- Yeah.
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
(choir singing "Joy to the World")
MARTIN: You look stunning.
I could live off these potatoes.
Family recipe.
You'll have to teach me.
You seem different.
Better.
It's Christmas.
Is that the reason?
Yeah.
Or are you feeling guilty?
For sneaking out last night.
Christmas was the first time
I was truly afraid of him.
He was running out of tools
to manipulate you with.
Where'd you go?
Don't be mad.
I will decide when I'm mad
and when I'm not.
Where'd you go?
I went to my house.
You live here.
My old house.
But I didn't go in.
I just watched my parents, that's it.
And nobody saw me
and I came right back here.
Do you know how bad it would be for me
if anybody did see you?
Yes, Martin, I do.
And you did it anyway?
Did you even consider me at all?
I'm so sorry.
You get to go to work.
You get to go to the store.
You get to see people
and I'm stuck in here.
- I'm suffocating.
- Oh. Being with me is suffocating?
No. No, no, no. The circumstances.
The hiding. I can't stand it.
I do everything I can
to make it wonderful for you here.
I don't think one place can
be anybody's whole world.
You can't ever do that again.
I can't ever
go outside again?
No. Not until you're 18.
You know the stakes here.
That sounds a lot like
Like what?
Like I'm your dad?
No.
Sounds a lot like you're my kidnapper.
Please don't say that.
Then let me leave.
Is that what you want?
Yes.
I don't believe you.
Well, too bad. I'm going.
Maybe not home, but I'll figure it out.
Please think about this.
If people found out about us,
my career would be over,
my life will be over.
I'm not gonna tell anyone.
People will find out, Kate,
whether you want them to or not.
You know, it doesn't look
so good for you either.
People were looking
for you while you lived here.
- I'll deal with that.
- How?
I don't know, but I want to go!
Where is my suitcase?
I'll pack everything I came with.
It'll be like I was never here.
Kate, please don't do this
I was there for you
when no one else was.
I took you in. We
We love each other.
Martin
I'm begging you don't do this to us.
Where is my suitcase?
It's in the basement.
I'm sorry it had to end this way.
(departing footsteps)
No, I'm sorry.
(door shuts)
Martin?
(lock turns)
Martin.
Martin!
Martin, open the door!
(door rattling)
Martin!
Martin!
(Christmas music playing)
Martin!
WOMAN: Tell me
what you want this year ♪
What are you doing?! Open the door!
- A Christmas gift to bring you cheer ♪
- Open the door!
MAN: I only want to ♪
KATE: Open the door! Martin!
I only want to ♪
- Open the door!
- There's nothing you could give me ♪
- Martin, open the door!
- Brand-spankin' new ♪
KATE: Please open the door!
Martin, open the door!
'Cause at Christmas time ♪
(discordant soundtrack
rising over music)
(discordant music playing)