Episode 5 of School Spirits kicks off with Claire nervously pacing outside Mr. Anderson's residence. Her heart pounds in her chest as she steels herself to confront him about his statements to the police.
Inside the school, the atmosphere is electric with excitement as Wally eagerly anticipates the upcoming homecoming game. Everyone is doing their best to be cheerful and supportive, eager to make the event a success. Mr. Martin, the organizer, is quick to delegate tasks, assigning roles for decorations and refreshments. He notices Maddie's absence and considers sending Charley and Rhonda to fetch her, but ultimately decides they should remain to assist with the preparations. He hints that Rhonda should focus on her tasks in order to earn a chance to crossover.
Meanwhile, the other students are gearing up to vote for their homecoming queen and king. Maddie and Simon have been tailing Claire for a week, searching for clues, but have come up empty-handed. Simon is intrigued by the rift between Maddie and Claire and asks for an explanation. Maddie reveals that one fateful night, when her mother was going through a tough time and Claire happened to stop by, Maddie was ashamed of her home's dysfunction and refused to let her in. Claire's parents soon divorced, and for a year, she lived away with her father. When she returned, her mother had remarried, and Claire coldly ignored Maddie. Simon surmises that Claire might still harbor resentment towards Maddie because of that night.
Elsewhere, the police call Maddie's mother, Sandra, with startling news. They have discovered Maddie's bag in an abandoned building, and according to their investigation, someone has been squatting in the property. Sandra is convinced that the squatter is Maddie and hurriedly prepares for her daughter's return, thanking Xavier for his assistance.
Back at school, Maddie and Charley eavesdrop on Claire's conversations, noting her attempts to pry information about Mr. Anderson from the principal. The principal, however, is clueless, and Claire threatens to withdraw her parents' support from the school if she doesn't get answers. Rhonda interrupts their snooping session and urges them to contribute to the homecoming preparations, adding a sense of urgency to the already tense atmosphere.
Still enrolled in school, Nicole breaks the news to Simon about the recovery of Maddie's missing backpack. It transpires that the police discovered the bag inside a building belonging to Claire's parents. Simon's irritation mounts as he learns that Nicole has been spending time with Xavier and introducing him to their circle. Xavier attempts to justify Claire's actions, but this only serves to infuriate Simon further. Nicole pleads with him to stop pushing her away, insisting that she's not ready to lose two friends. Simon quickly offers an apology, but Nicole departs before acknowledging it.
Meanwhile, Maddie assists with the preparations in the gym, where she unexpectedly spots her mother. Her mother's presence at school surprises Maddie, as she believes her daughter is returning and wants to stay updated on the school curriculum. Maddie is astounded to see her mother in a sober state.
Elsewhere, Simon persuades Mr. South to hand over the keys to Mr. Anderson's classroom. Inside, he uncovers a startling revelation: Mr. Anderson had been awarding Claire straight A's despite her never completing the assigned work. Maddie joins him and finds the situation equally suspicious, but her conflict deepens upon seeing her mother's sobriety. She confides in Simon that perhaps they shouldn't continue investigating what happened to her, allowing her mother to hold out hope that she will return. Simon is taken aback by her decision but empathizes with her position.
After hours of waiting, Claire confronts Mr. Anderson, demanding to know if he betrayed her to the police. Mr. Anderson replies vaguely, claiming he doesn't recall his statement, and asks her to leave. He reveals that he has an alibi for the night Maddie disappeared, eliminating him as a suspect in her disappearance.
Back at school, Charley finds himself struggling to compose a letter for Emilio, his thoughts scattered and words failing to coalesce into a coherent message. Meanwhile, Wally reaches out to Maddie, and their shared fate as ghosts forms an unexpected bond. He confides in her about his mother, revealing the depths of his ambition to earn her pride through his efforts. The sole regret gnawing at his heart is the fact that he perished before securing a final victory for her sake.
As the night deepens, Xavier ventures into the abandoned structure where the police discovered Maddie's abandoned bag. His keen eyes spy a fleeting figure, but he's unable to apprehend them before they vanish into the shadows. Later, he makes his way to Maddie's home, encountering Simon who has also come to inquire about the mysterious bag with Sandra. Xavier shares his sighting at the abandoned house, and Sandra pleads with them to assist in distributing missing person posters at the school game. She holds out hope that Maddie might glimpse the posters and find her way back home.
Amidst the buzz of the homecoming game, Claire arrives tardily, her behavior rife with suspicion. Wally watches the game, reliving his glory moments, yet his heart isn't fully in it. Maddie approaches him, and he confesses that he never truly enjoyed playing; he did it solely to please his mother. Maddie opens up about her own struggles with an alcoholic mother, reassuring him that he's free to pursue what brings him joy. After all, he's no longer bound by the obligations of the living world.
During the game, Wally made a decisive move, choosing to follow the advice proffered by her mother. Maddie, watching her mother hand out posters with gusto, couldn't help but wonder if she was any different from Wally in terms of her actions. She edged closer to her mother, yearning for a connection, but the cruel reality of her being a ghost loomed large.
Mr. Martin, perplexed by the apparent distraction among the crowd, tasked Rhonda with keeping a watchful eye on Maddie. Meanwhile, Sandra rallied Miss Fields and Nicole to assist in distributing the posters during the game. It was then revealed that Mr. Anderson had repaid the debt he owed to the school, a weight lifted from his shoulders.
As the trio of Simon, Nicole, and Xavier were busy handing out the posters, they received a chilling video message. It was Clair, threatening Mr. Anderson about stealing money from her parents. Simon pondered over who could have possibly recorded this video, while Nicole wondered why it was specifically sent to them.
Simon showed the video to Maddie, deducing that Claire might have mistakenly believed she herself had recorded it, which could be the reason for her untimely demise. Maddie realized the urgency of finding answers, hoping it would bring closure to her mother's spirit.
In the midst of this drama, Nicole grilled Xavier, probing if he had any involvement in the video. She ultimately believed his explanation and cautioned him against showing the video to his father. Sandra's anxious voice interrupted their conversation, pleading to be taken home. Nicole offered to escort her, and as they made their way, Sandra nervously inquired if Nicole thought Maddie would ever forgive her and return. Nicole quickly assured her with a nod, but her suspicious glances at the boxes of posters stacked in her car trunk betrayed her true feelings.
Xavier approaches Simon with uncertainty about their next strategy, and Maddie intervenes with a cunning suggestion. She urges Simon to persuade Xavier to send an apology message to Claire, inviting her to accompany him to the homecoming party. Xavier balks at the idea, doubting its effectiveness, yet acquiesces to the plan. Simon relays Maddie's words, and Xavier grudgingly sends the message to Claire.
Simon realizes that the message is a veiled message from Maddie herself to Xavier. Claire receives the message but brushes it aside with indifference.
As the evening unfolds, Wally approaches Maddie with gratitude for her assistance and extends an invitation to be his date for the homecoming party. Maddie accepts his offer, and his excitement is palpable.
Simon locates Maddie, and they make their way to Mr. South to inquire about the video he had been watching earlier. Mr. South reveals the footage, showing the bloodstained wall in the basement where Maddie's demise was believed to have occurred. Maddie decides to return to the basement to witness the grisly graffiti herself, and to her surprise, she stumbles upon a hidden door. Their suspicions are aroused that the killer might have used this door to drag Maddie's lifeless body away, leaving them with more questions than answers as the episode draws to a close.
