Episode 7 of *Wayward* kicks off with a poignant flashback to a young Evelyn in 1974. Weldon regales her with a tale about his father, who slipped into a coma and, upon awakening, no longer recognized his own family. Weldon recounts the story of a mysterious green door his father seemed to pass through; emerging on the other side, he was like a newborn—innocent, his memory wiped clean of all the burdens that once weighed him down. Evelyn, utterly captivated by the narrative, begins to envision this transformative experience as a potential new way of life.
Determined to reconnect, Evelyn attempts to call Laura, but her efforts are met with silence as Laura’s voicemail picks up time and again. Meanwhile, Laura and Alex are busy hosting a birthday bash, conspicuously leaving Evelyn off the guest list. Eager to uncover what Laura is up to, Evelyn dispatches Rabbit to spy on the party, using Stacey as her bargaining chip.
Inside the festive venue, Laura and Alex are on a mission, discreetly questioning neighbors in hopes of gathering incriminating evidence against Evelyn. Just then, Rabbit makes her entrance, much to Laura’s delight, who promptly invites her to join the “Hot Seat” game.
Seizing the moment, Rabbit confesses her long-standing resentment towards Laura for abandoning her without a word. She admits to feeling envious of the special treatment Laura received from Evelyn, a dynamic that both thrilled and smothered her. Rabbit reveals that her silence stemmed from shame over Laura’s departure, which had severed their once-close bond, thanks to Evelyn’s manipulative influence. Sensing an opportunity, Laura pleads with Rabbit to assist in building a case against Evelyn. However, Rabbit firmly declines, stating emphatically that she refuses to be Laura’s pawn in this game.At school, Evelyn leads Abbie deep into the woods for a picnic, where she begins to recount the tale of how their community first took root under Weldon's guidance. With a somber tone, Evelyn confesses that her parents had inflicted a profound wound upon her by taking her child away, all in the name of love. It was then that she crossed paths with Weldon, an older man who imparted the unsettling truth that birth is an act devoid of consent.
The children within their circle, echoing this sentiment, harbored resentment towards their very existence, feeling burdened by the inherited flaws of their forebears. Yet, Weldon offered a glimmer of hope, a means to erase the pain and start afresh. His methods, however, were nothing short of ruthless. He initiated believers into the fold by having them leap through a door sketched on a wall—a trial that transformed those who succeeded into members of the Tall Pines community. These members pledged an oath to abstain from procreation.
When Evelyn assumed leadership of the community, she introduced a new initiative: integrating teenagers from outside families into the community's fabric, assigning them to homes, and securing employment for them. Her sights are now set on Leila, intending to guide her through the leap, helping her shed the hurt, guilt, and dependency on Abbie that have plagued her.
That evening, at a gathering, Dwayne discreetly removes listening devices from the house and reveals to Alex that Evelyn had instructed him to plant them. Curiosity piqued, Alex inquires why Dwayne left home at such a young age. Dwayne responds that his eagerness to enlist stemmed from a desire to escape the confines of his parents' home. Alex, in turn, shares his own troubled past, revealing that his parents were drug addicts, with his father subjecting his mother to violent abuse. Overwhelmed by guilt for not intervening, Alex chose to channel his energies into helping others by joining the police force. When Alex asks about Laura’s parents, Dwayne suggests he direct the question to his wife.
Meanwhile, Abbie confides in Alex, expressing her intent to flee the institute the following day, determined not to meet the same fate as other vanished children. She insists on leaving, regardless of whether Alex aids her or not, and mentions that Daniel has gone missing.
The next morning, Alex questions Laura about her parents' whereabouts, concerned by her lack of emotion and apparent indifference to their disappearance. Laura explains that Evelyn has the power to "flip a switch" within her, rendering her incapable of feigning concern for those who feel like strangers. As Harper enters to assist Laura in preparing for childbirth, Alex exits the house.
Back at school, Evelyn places Abbie and Leila in the "hot seat," a confrontation that signals the potential end of their once-close relationship, which has been fraying for some time.
Abbie lashes out at Leila, accusing her of being the catalyst for her descent into drug use and her subsequent truancy from school. She insists that every misfortune that has befallen her is solely Leila's fault. As Leila storms off in a huff, Abbie turns to Evelyn, her voice tinged with desperation, and asks why Evelyn is driving a wedge between her and Leila. She points out that Abbie herself has a supportive family and financial security; once she returns home, she's destined for college, whereas Leila stands alone, with no one to rely on.
Evelyn, sensing the tension, decides to confide in Abbie about something concerning Alex. When Abbie finally locates Alex by the fence, she doesn't hold back, blaming him for Riley's tragic death. Alex, in a desperate bid to exonerate himself, reveals that the academy is blackmailing him and promises to leave Abbie a car and some money as a gesture of goodwill. But Abbie, unimpressed, brands Alex a coward for his refusal to accompany her on this uncertain journey.
With a heavy heart, Alex rushes back home to gather Abbie's money and essential supplies. On his way out, he inadvertently eavesdrops on Laura, who is holding a clandestine meeting with the townsfolk. Laura unveils her ambitious plan to seize control of the academy, vowing to continue aiding the children but without resorting to Evelyn's barbaric methods—the torture and drugging in the mirror room, or the perilous leap.
Meanwhile, Alex veers off into the woods, where he stumbles upon Daniel. However, his moment of reprieve is short-lived as Dwayne, stealthy as a shadow, creeps up behind him and renders him unconscious with a swift blow.
Back at the academy, Leila, her curiosity piqued, implores Evelyn to finish her tale. Evelyn obliges, recounting how she came to realize the potential for medical intervention in facilitating the leap. She reveals how Waldon, driven solely by a thirst for power, staunchly opposed the idea, as he had no genuine desire to aid the people. In a twist of fate, Evelyn claims she left on her own accord, but a haunting flashback unveils the truth: she had murdered Waldon and usurped control of the community.
