The episode kicks off with Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger) and Teen Mari (Alexa Barajas) sharing a dinner table, an amorous undercurrent pulsating between them. Mari attempts a playful seduction, aiming to charm her way out of any charges, but Ben remains unyielding, firmly telling her to curb her advances. Undeterred, she manages to snatch his mace and, with a mischievous grin, sprays him square in the face. Ensuing is a brief, chaotic scuffle that ends with Mari accidentally misting herself too.
In the contemporary timeline, Van (Lauren Ambrose) receives heartening news – her cancer has halted its relentless spread. Meanwhile, Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) is eager to uncover the contents of the previous night's conversation between Callie Sadecki (Sarah Desjardins) and Lottie (Simone Kessell). However, her inquisitiveness is cut short by Lottie's abrupt arrival. Shauna invites her to lunch, only to be politely but firmly declined as Lottie claims her schedule is impenetrably booked before hurrying off. As Callie exits the scene, Misty Quigley (Christina Ricci) calls to arrange an urgent meeting later that day at Izzy’s Café.
Flashing back to their maced mishap, Ben and Mari recover, the air thick with tension. Ben attempts empathy, sharing glimpses of his past before their fateful stranding, but his words are abruptly chopped off by a thunderous noise from outside, sending him into a panic. Mari, seeking to soothe his frayed nerves, recounts the poignant tale of losing her cousin to brain cancer. She then reveals a startling truth: Ben is presumed dead, and by letting her go, he can continue to evade detection.
Elsewhere, during a shopping spree, Lottie's curiosity peaks as she quizzes Callie about what makes her so fascinating. Callie responds with a bold revelation – she once chased her mother through the woods with a knife, yet their bond remains unbroken. Lottie presses further, challenging Callie to define herself with words tinged with embarrassment or shame. Callie remains silent, her expression a mixture of defiance and vulnerability. Undeterred, Lottie reaches out, sliding a dress into her purse, her actions speaking volumes where words fall short.
Shauna convenes with Misty to dissect the events that transpired during the slumber party. Misty unfolds the tale of Callie attempting to coerce Lottie into disclosing their confidential wilderness escapades, emphasizing how she promptly intervened to squelch the dare. Intrigued yet exasperated, Shauna inquiries why Misty deemed it necessary to summon her halfway across town when she's buried under a pile of chores. Hardly had the words left her lips when Misty's phone buzzed, informing her of a canceled meeting. Seizing the opportunity, she eagerly volunteers to accompany Shauna on her errands, an offer Shauna halfheartedly tries to decline, to no avail.
Elsewhere, Taissa (played by Tawny Cypress) is engrossed in reading about the waiter's untimely demise when Van walks in, bringing tidings of her cancer remission. In response, Taissa recounts the waiter's fatality and the mysterious discovery of her credit card left behind at the eatery, hinting at the possibility that he might have been a sacrifice. Van, however, remains unconvinced by her theories.
Flashing back to a pivotal moment, Ben reappears before Mari, wielding a knife and instructing her to rise. Upon slicing through her bonds, she overpowers him, knocking him to the ground before fleeing for safety.
Returning to the present, Shauna and Misty find themselves on a perilous journey down the road, with Shauna abruptly realizing that the brakes have failed. She narrowly averts a catastrophic collision by racing through a red light and finally bringing the van to an abrupt halt by driving up a hill near a playground and engaging the emergency brake. Frustrated and fearful, Shauna lays the blame squarely on Misty, citing the faulty brakes and her phone as the culprits. This accusation ignites a fiery argument, culminating in Shauna branding Misty as psychotic. Misty, equally incensed, retorts by labeling Shauna the worst friend imaginable before storming off in a huff.
In days gone by, Teen Melissa (played by Jenna Burgess) ventured into the woods to seek out Teen Shauna (portrayed by Sophie Nelisse), longing for a heart-to-heart conversation. However, their intimate moment was thwarted by the lively chatter of their fellow girlfriends nearby. Drawing closer, they learned that Mari had unexpectedly reappeared. Mari recounted a tale of a stroll gone awry, where she stumbled into a hidden hole and suffered a dislocated knee. When Shauna inquired about her rescue, Mari hesitated, eventually confessing that it was Ben who had come to her aid. She then unfurled the remainder of her ordeal to him. Shauna, concerned, inquired if Mari could navigate her way back. Mari, somewhat unsure but hopeful, affirmed her belief. Impelled by worry, Shauna decided to set out in search of Ben. Meanwhile, Teen Lottie (played by Courtney Eaton) attempted to coax Teen Akilah (Nia Sondaya) into engaging with an unseen presence, but Akilah steadfastly refused.
In the contemporary scene, Lottie and Callie were engrossed in preparing dinner at home when Shauna stormed in. The atmosphere quickly soured when Shauna's gaze fell upon a necklace adorning Callie's neck. Lottie confessed to giving it to her, asserting it felt natural, yet this confession only fanned the flames of Shauna's anger. In a fit of rage, Shauna tore the necklace from Callie's neck and ordered Lottie to vacate her premises. Elsewhere, Taissa and Van shared Van's good news on the couch, their joy momentarily interrupted by an ice cream commercial on TV. Taissa, recognizing the man from her visions, insisted that his appearance held significance. Meanwhile, Misty returned to her abode and consigned a photograph of herself with her friends to the flames.
Back in the past, the girls trekked back towards the mysterious cave. Switching to the present, Taissa and Van ventured to the ice cream parlor featured in the commercial, only to find it shuttered. Driven by an insistent curiosity, Taissa broke into the premises. Inside, they stumbled upon a chilling sight—what appeared to be a dog or wolf, its jaws clamped around a bat.
Upon reaching the cave, the girls deliberate on entering its depths and are met with the same disgusting squelching sound that previously echoed for Mari and Ben. One of them, impetuous, fires a shot into the sky. Inside the winding tunnel, the girls divide into two separate parties. Shauna's group finds themselves sans all but one lantern as they venture further in. Their solitary beacon begins to flicker wildly, its flame dancing erratically before finally succumbing to darkness, leaving Van alone, clutching the now-extinguished light. Shortly thereafter, she discovers a door and steps through, finding herself within the confines of a cozy home, the warmth of a crackling fire greeting her.
Akilah, on the other hand, finds herself in an enchanting orchard teeming with fruit. The sound of a sheep catches her attention, leading her to a charming scene of a white picket fence enclosing a flock of lambs. One of the sheep, oddly anthropomorphic, warns her of their bite and beckons her closer. As she gazes upward, she hears the persistent squelching noises echoing from outside once more.
Shauna's experience is quite different; she finds herself adrift in a serene lake, her eyes meeting those of a young girl waving enthusiastically from the shoreline. She strives to swim towards her, yet her efforts prove futile, as if bound by invisible chains. Meanwhile, Van's situation grows dire; she is inexplicably strapped to her chair as flames engulf the house around her. Though she manages to free herself, she remains imprisoned within the burning structure. Akilah, too, finds herself plunging into the earth, the ground seemingly swallowing her whole.
Suddenly, the trio finds themselves back in the sanctuary of their school, amidst the familiar faces, with Jackie (Ella Purnell) toying with a flexible bracelet that slaps rhythmically against her arm. She extends an invitation to Akilah to join in the fun. Enthused, Akilah takes the bracelet and mimics Jackie's actions. Van, eager not to be left out, demands a turn. However, upon slapping the bracelet onto her wrist, it slices into her skin. In a fit of frustration, she hurls it across the room. Jackie retrieves it and, in a playful yet mischievous gesture, wraps it around Shauna's throat. As the girls hastily remove the bracelet, they awaken, disoriented, back in the dark confines of the cave.
Inside the cave, Van is nowhere to be found, prompting Ben to shout for assistance. They rush to his aid, but their timely rescue is overshadowed by the arrival of the other group of girls, who swiftly take Ben hostage. With this dramatic twist, the episode concludes, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger.
