Episode 5 of *Wayward* opens with the students at Tall Pines rousing from their slumber to the sound of Evelyn's voice booming over the public microphone. Summoning Daniel to her office, Evelyn informs him that he'll be staying at the school, as his parents are embarking on a journey. Subsequently, she tasks Rabbit with overseeing the hot seat session, explaining that she'll be preoccupied with preparations for the summer solstice.
The students can't help but notice a shift in Stacey's demeanor since her baptism. She exudes a newfound calmness, yet there's an undeniable sense that she's not quite herself anymore. Curiosity piqued, Leila inquires whether Alex is lending a hand to their cause. Abbie fills her in on Riley's tragic demise, prompting Leila to speculate that he was murdered for attempting to flee.
Meanwhile, Alex persists in his clandestine investigation of the academy, uncovering a chilling list of missing individuals. Laura approaches him, her voice trembling with concern as she confides that she senses something amiss is happening to her.
Alex probes Laura about the Leap therapy she underwent in the past, a technique Evelyn employs with select students. Laura recounts that it was touted as a means to process trauma and that she was eager to participate. Yet, her memory of the specifics remains elusive, leaving her perplexed. Alex suspects that Evelyn has some sort of influence over Laura, an influence that seems to have taken root since Laura's return to Tall Pines.
Laura is adamant about not inviting Evelyn to her baby shower, a point of contention that sparks a heated disagreement between the two, with Laura steadfast in her decision to proceed with the celebration.
Back at the academy, the Hot Seat unfolds without Evelyn's oversight, with Rabbit acting as the supervisor. As is customary, the students hurl insults at one another with reckless abandon. When Leila finds herself in the hot seat, she initially brushes off the barbed feedback. That is, until Rabbit drops a bombshell, revealing to Abbie a secret about cocaine.
Abbie is left stunned, while Stacey finds the sudden shift in Leila's demeanor utterly intriguing. Alex, adopting the guise of a reporter, arranges a meeting with Maurice, a local blogger who pens articles about the missing individuals from Tall Pines. Maurice seethes with frustration, recounting how he's been tirelessly attempting to reach out to major newspapers for years, trying to shed light on the bizarre occurrences plaguing Tall Pines. He's skeptical that Alex will be the one to finally make them listen.
Back at the school, the "hot seat" interrogation persists, this time centering on Abbie. Overwhelmed by the intensity, Leila blurts out a chilling revelation: "Leila is dead." The students, taken aback, turn their accusatory gazes toward Rabbit, who coldly informs them that they were all technically "dead" the moment they stepped foot into Tall Pines Academy.
In a burst of fury, Rory lunges at Rabbit, sending her crashing to the ground. As Rabbit attempts to subdue Rory with a sedative, Daniel intervenes, seizing the syringe and using it on Rabbit instead. The sight of their peers restraining Rabbit sends Stacey into a hysterical frenzy, prompting them to sedate her as well for her own safety and the order of the scene.
Urging her classmates to break free, Leila rallies them to launch an assault on the staff members, turning the sedatives meant for them against their captors. The guards, caught off guard, are swiftly overpowered as the students barricade themselves inside the building. A full-blown rebellion ensues, with the students vowing to stand their ground and resist.
Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Maurice confides in Alex that his daughter, Hannah, was once a student at Tall Pines before vanishing without a trace. Convinced that discussing matters at the hotel is risky due to potential surveillance by the school, Maurice suggests they retreat to his place for a more candid conversation if Alex truly wants to uncover the truth about Tall Pines.
Back at the academy, Leila attempts to negotiate with Evelyn, proposing that she and Abbie be granted freedom in exchange for their cooperation. Evelyn, with a sly smile, simply walks away, marveling at the students' unwavering obedience to Leila. She then instructs Duck to cut off the power supply, confident that the students will eventually succumb to the darkness and open the doors themselves.
Meanwhile, Maurice escorts Alex to a secluded cabin nestled deep within the woods. Once inside, he swiftly locks them both in the room, seizing his bag and phone in the process. Maurice then proceeds to reveal a trove of files from the past, all intricately linked to the school. Inside, amidst the chaos of rebellion, the staff cuts off the power supply, plunging the area into darkness. Seizing the opportunity, Abbie stumbles upon a hidden room, where all the students' confidential files are meticulously stored.
Outside, the students revel in their newfound freedom, singing and dancing with unbridled joy. Amidst the revelry, Leila and Ello share a tender kiss, their hearts racing with excitement.
Back at the cabin, Maurice drops a bombshell on Alex, revealing that most of the missing children are wards of the state, leaving their parents with no one to turn to in their search. For those persistent parents who continue to inquire, the school concocts false sightings to mislead and divert them.
Maurice then delves deeper into the school's dark secrets, mentioning that the graduates of Tall Pines are far from sane. Children enter the school, but something twisted and corrupted emerges on the other side. Meanwhile, Laura stumbles upon a toad in the backyard and, in a fit of rage, grinds it into oblivion.
Continuing his expose, Maurice informs Alex that the land is owned by a shadowy shell company called Pendrosa, established back in 1970. As Alex's eyes scan the room, he notices a picture of Laura, prompting Maurice to reveal that her parents vanished without a trace 15 years ago.
Suddenly, Maurice's demeanor changes as he spots a gun tucked away on Alex's person. With lightning speed, he tases the unsuspecting man from behind, rendering him immobile. It's then that Maurice realizes Alex is not a reporter but an agent from the institution.
Back at the institution, Ello and Leila seek refuge in Evelyn's office, where they indulge in their desires and get high. Abie, sensing an opportunity, tells Rory that he can join them when they make their escape, a revelation that leaves Rory overwhelmed with emotion.
As the rebellion spirals out of control, the students' fury knows no bounds. They begin burning everything in sight, their actions fueled by a mix of anger and desperation. Daniel, seizing the moment, takes Rabbit and Stacey hostage, demanding answers about the sudden change in behavior among the students.
Daniel is furious that Rabbit lied to everyone, accusing her of hurting someone named Luke when she knew full well it wasn't true. With a steely gaze, Daniel confesses that since joining the school, he's discovered a newfound ability to inflict pain on others.
Maurice continues to torment Alex relentlessly, badgering him with questions about his daughter. Seething with fury, Alex fights back with all his might and manages to break free from Maurice's clutches. Meanwhile, Daniel, in a fit of madness, douses Rabbit with kerosene, while Ello, succumbing to the depths of despair, passes out from a lethal overdose. Sensing the chaos, Abbie makes a split-second decision, flinging open the door to let the staff rush in and offer their assistance.
Evelyn strides into the school with an air of mocking superiority, hurling sarcastic insults at Leila for her inability to escape the clutches of her captors. Later, at the baby shower, Evelyn makes an unwelcome appearance, only to be firmly rebuffed by Laura. Laura, her eyes blazing with accusation, demands to know what Evelyn did to her at the Leap. Evelyn, with a cold smile, claims she did Laura a favor, but Laura is unconvinced, accusing her of drugging her when she was just a minor and stealing everything she had.
Back at the school, Rabbit, her spirit broken, offers a heartfelt apology to Evelyn for the debacle. Evelyn, her voice laced with venom, scolds Rabbit harshly, blaming her for the catastrophe and declaring that she was foolish to believe Rabbit could handle their shared pain. She labels Rabbit as weak and unceremoniously orders her to leave.
At the baby shower, Laura, her heart full of gratitude, reveals how Alex had been her beacon of hope after she left Tall Pines, inspiring her to keep going and filling her with joy at the prospect of returning. After the party has wound down, Laura revels in the newfound power dynamic in her relationship, savoring the thrill of taking control of their intimacy.
