Episode 2 of "The Survivors" kicks off with a nostalgic glimpse into Kieran's school days, where Gabby and Mia find themselves perched sitting alone, observing a spirited game being played by Ash, Toby, Sean, and Kieran. Gabby, harboring a crush on Kieran, harbors the intention to capture a memorable snapshot with him post-game. However, her heart sinks as she catches sight of Kieran entangled in a romantic entanglement with Olivia, prompting her to retreat in defeat.
In the unfolding present, Kieran confides in Mia about Julian's ominous threat to expose Brian's nocturnal beach wanderings to the authorities. Torn by the prospect of Brian being ensnared in the investigative web, Kieran implores Mia to revise her account of witnessing Liam's car the previous evening.
Meanwhile, Olivia steps into her abode and discreetly conceals Bronte's car beneath a mattress. As she ventures into the garage to confront her mother, she stumbles upon a moment where Trish, overwhelmed by grief following Bronte's demise, collapses in a tearful heap. Overhearing Olivia's call, Trish hastily conceals something, her emotions raw and vulnerable.
At the police precinct, Pendlebury and Dan are hot on the trail of Marco, whose tumultuous relationship with Bronte and the audible disputes echoing from his trailer have left a trail of suspicion. Marco, however, remains a missing puzzle piece, his whereabouts shrouded in mystery. Enter Mia, who arrives at the station intent on altering her statement, only to find herself met with skepticism from the detectives, who sense her words may be cloaked in deceit.
Furthermore, Lyn had freshly departed from the police precinct, informing the authorities that she overheard Liam offering Bronte a lift back home on that fateful night. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Olivia and Ash are locked in a heated dispute concerning Olivia's seizure of Bronte's phone. Suddenly realizing her mother is missing, Olivia hastily dashes out in search of her.
Back at the police station, Mia seethes with anger over her obligation to fabricate tales, yet Liam remains under the shadow of suspicion. After escorting Mia back home, Kieran offers an apology and then engages in a conversation with Sean. Mia, leaving behind a note pledging to converse with Trish, steps out as Kieran discusses with Sean, urging him to inform Julian that they have adhered to his instructions, thereby preventing him from disclosing anything about Brian to the police.
The autopsy findings revealed by Mia expose a harrowing near-sexual assault upon her, potentially halted by an untimely interruption. Ultimately, she succumbed to a blow to the head, inflicted by an unspecified object. The detectives have requested CCTV footage from the club, hoping to uncover clues from the day of the tragic event.
As Mia ventures towards town, she unexpectedly bumps into George Barlin, her beloved author. Later, she reconvenes with Trish, who is overwhelmed with a maelstrom of emotions upon beholding her and Audrey. At her abode, Liv appears, hunting for her mother. She catches up with Kieran, but her visit comes to an abrupt end upon Verity's entrance.
Trish accompanies Mia to the beach, where she hurls a bag into the depths of the ocean, a location where, according to the police, Gabby’s Bag was later discovered ashore. She clarifies that she has tossed countless bags into that very spot over the past decade and a half, yet none had ever washed up near where Gabby’s was found. Trish is inconsolable, believing that nobody in town cares about Gabby’s mysterious disappearance. What angers her even more is that the sole individual who did care, Bronte, is now deceased.
As the episode draws to a close, Verity's ears catch the faint rustling sounds emanating from the beach. With a torch in hand, she ventures cautiously towards the cluster of sheds, the beam of light cutting through the encroaching darkness. Upon reaching them, her gaze falls upon one shed, its surface defaced with the word "PERV," standing out starkly against the grainy wood. Just as she processes this unexpected sight, a shadowy figure, cloaked in a hoodie, bolts away from the scene, disappearing into the night with a swiftness that suggests guilt.
