July 23, 1999
Episode 4 of Cruel Summer unfolds with Megan and Isabella forming a tight bond as they confide in each other about Megan's desire to embrace unpredictability and take risks. Isabella reassures her that she is already one and pledges to support her on this adventurous path. Later at the beach, Isabella learns about a secret club from Luke, sparking curiosity.
Jeff steps in, suggesting they procure fake IDs so the quartet can embark on a nocturnal adventure to the club. Isabella encourages Megan to embrace her wild side, much to Luke's astonishment who isn't used to seeing her in such a daring light. While Megan and Jeff create the IDs on her computer, their conversation flows effortlessly, revealing their individual passions.
Megan astounds Jeff by casually mentioning her ability to replicate government-issued watermarks, demonstrating her prowess by hacking into the governmental system. Before heading out, Megan primps in Isabella's trailer, sharing her resentment towards her mother for rekindling her relationship with her father after the trauma he inflicted on them. Isabella tries to lift her spirits, diverting her attention to the present and complementing her on how great she looks with Jeff. Megan confides that she feels authentically herself with Jeff, contrasting her forced demeanor with Luke. She borrows an elegant dress from Isabella and prepares to venture into the night.
Outside, Isabella coaches Jeff, Luke, and herself on how to seamlessly lie about their fake IDs before entering the club. Upon arrival, the girls successfully slip past the bouncers, but Luke and Jeff are intercepted. Megan and Isabella indulge in cocktails at the bar, weaving tales of Isabella's exhilarating escapades.
The girls dance the night away, embracing the thrill as Megan experiments with alcohol for the first time. In the car, Luke discovers Jeff and Megan's growing closeness, finding it cool that they're bonding. Inside the club, Megan and Isabella get increasingly tipsy. Megan spots Sheriff Myers in the crowd and urges Isabella to make a hasty exit, fearing their underage status will be exposed.
The girls flee the club and reunite with Luke and Jeff in the car. Luke is astounded by Megan's liberal intake of alcohol. Meanwhile, back at Luke's house for more refreshments, he's momentarily distracted as Isabella engages him in conversation, allowing him to overlook Jeff and Megan's intimate moment.
That night, Isabella and Megan retreat to her bedroom, where the two finally forge a deeper connection.
December 23, 1999
Megan excites Isabella by unveiling a new hacking system she's mastered, promising vast financial rewards for their college funds. As they discuss Luke, a pipe bursts in the Landry household, sending Megan out to summon a plumber while Debbie cleans up the chaotic mess.
Megan learns that the repairs will cost $6,000, a daunting figure since their savings have been depleted due to previous expenses for Lily and their home. She's furious at Debbie for keeping her in the dark and scolds her for lacking maturity. Debbie refuses to let Megan use $900 from her savings, intended for college. Megan stops Debbie from seeking Steve's help, citing his role as her boss and her newfound relationship with him. She argues that involving Luke, her current beau, would complicate matters further.
Isabella offers to assist the Landrys with $5,000, a generous gift from her parents meant as a Christmas present. She reveals that the Landrys feel like family to her and she's eager to lend a hand, but Megan proudly declines the offer. Debbie decides it's best for everyone to spend the night at Steve's place, the Chamber's house, given the uninhabitable conditions of their own.
Megan confides in Debbie, expressing her reluctance to visit Luke's place, still furious with Brent for creating and disseminating a sex tape involving him. Debbie, driven by her desire to shield her daughter from further distress, endeavors to soothe Megan's frayed nerves.
The mother-daughter bond deepens as Isabella and Megan converse about what a night under Luke's roof might entail, and Megan hesitates to borrow money from Isabella, mindful of how finances often stir up complications.
At the Chambers' residence, Brent snubs Debbie and the girls, while Luke ushers Isabella and Megan into a private room. Debbie perceives Steve's tension and learns that they've lost a client due to Luke's sex tape escapade. Steve warns that the repercussions are severe, with investors poised to withdraw their support from their project.
In the kitchen, Luke unfolds to Megan and Isabella that their father was disciplining Brent for taping girls. Megan requests a bath and catches Isabella and Luke reminiscing about their past together when Isabella and Luke were an item.
In the guest shower, Megan discovers Isabella's swimsuit hidden away. Emerging from her bath, Megan confronts Luke about Isabella's spontaneous $5,000 charity gesture to the Landrys. Luke sides with Isabella, asserting that her intentions were noble.
Megan is incensed by Luke's defense of Isabella and their secretive discussions. Luke insists that he and Isabella remain friends, which fuels Megan's frustration over their shared ease of life, contrasting sharply with her own struggles to provide for the family.
Meanwhile, Megan catches Isabella searching for more tapes left by Brent. Megan hands over the swimsuit, inquiring about its timing. Isabella isn't sure but guesses she might have left it there last summer. Megan probes Isabella about lingering feelings for Luke, shocking Isabella, who accuses Megan of slut-shaming her amidst town gossip, all while Megan retains her scholarship. Megan apologizes for her behavior, acknowledging her stress, but Isabella refuses to reconcile.
Brent and Luke clash during dinner preparations, with Brent scorning Isabella for her past relationship with Luke. Megan and Luke retaliate against Brent's accusations. Steve and Debbie intervene, urging civility over dinner. During the meal, Debbie urges Brent to sincerely apologize to Isabella and Luke, but he offers only a cursory, unsatisfying apology.
Steve appeals to Debbie and Megan for a truce, but his request is abruptly halted by Luke, who urges everyone to simmer down. Debbie, incensed, confronts Steve for failing to discipline Brent over his misdemeanor—the heinous act of filming a minor, from which he has conveniently escaped unscathed. With the girls, she storms off to their apartment, leaving behind a tense atmosphere.
Megan's fury escalates as prank calls continue to taunt the Landry household, shaming Isabella publicly. The next day, Debbie informs Megan that Steve has dispatched plumbers to the Landry residence as a gesture of atonement for their nocturnal altercation. Meanwhile, Megan's academic woes unfold as she glances at her grades, realizing with horror that she is failing her class.
On July 23, 2000, under the cover of darkness, Megan slips out stealthily to discard something in the dumpster. Unbeknownst to her, Isabella emerges from the trailer, catching a glimpse of Megan discarding blood-streaked clothing. The following morning, Megan's lawyer, Tom, grills her about her whereabouts on the fateful night of Luke's murder.
Megan admits she was with Luke in the cabin—the very location where his life was extinguished. Tom, sensing the gravity of her situation, queries whether she is withholding anything crucial from him, emphasizing the importance of total honesty in anticipation of whatever challenges lie ahead. Megan solemnly assures him that she has disclosed everything pertinent.
Accompanied by Tom, Megan treads cautiously into the Sheriff's station, where Jeff awaits. Isabella, escorted by her lawyer Rebecca, departs, while Megan braces herself for questioning. Sheriff Meyer scrutinizes Megan, probing her about the fingerprints found on Luke's note intended for Steve, forewarning him of his son's impending trip to Virginia. The interrogation intensifies the suspenseful ambiance, painting a vivid picture of Megan's precarious plight.
The policeman accuses Megan of repeatedly deceiving him by insisting she had no inkling about Luke's intentions to flee. He demands to know the motive behind Luke's escape, but Megan steadfastly maintains her ignorance. Meyer attempts to coerce Megan into answering, only for Tom to intervene and whisk her away.
Debbie discovers Megan's knowledge of Luke's desire to run away and feels betrayed by her silence. Megan justifies her secrecy by saying she was merely shielding Luke, as he longed to escape his troubles. She confesses to her mother that Luke had entrusted her to deliver a letter to Steve's mailbox after abandoning him at the station. She reveals that she spent months awaiting Luke's return, but he never materialized.
Sheriff Meyer storms into the Landry household with a warrant, citing reports of fraudulent activity emanating from Megan's computer. He confiscates the device for forensic analysis. Upon inspecting it, Meyer uncovers sophisticated encryption that erases files upon detecting suspicious activities.
During their subsequent grilling, Meyer informs Megan and her lawyer that she has emerged as the primary suspect in Luke's demise, having discovered her pregnancy prior to his untimely death. The sheriff alleges that Luke had denied any involvement in Megan's pregnancy, presenting a plausible motive for her to contemplate murder. The episode concludes with Megan stunned by the cop's startling revelation.
