Previously on Cruel Summer...
You would be okay if I hooked up with Luke?
Yeah, go for it.
As soon as Principal Bowers finds out it's me on the tape,
they're gonna revoke my scholarship.
Everyone already believes they saw me on that tape,
so let's make sure that it stays that way.
- So you think Brent made the tape? - Who else?
Is it the only tape?
- Yes. - That's a lie.
- Are you okay? - I just feel like an animal in a zoo.
Let 'em talk. Everything's going to be okay.
Hey, just so you know, I'm still going to have a job while I'm at school,
so I'll be able to help out.
No, I want you to enjoy college.
Take your foot off the gas a little, let loose.
Let me be the adult for a change.
This is security footage.
No sign of either your car or Luke coming home.
No comment.
Can you explain to me
why your fingerprints were on the gun?
Did you want revenge on him for breaking your heart?
_
We do the same thing every summer.
Go to the marina, hang out at the cove.
- Lather, rinse, repeat. - That's a problem?
Well, there's no surprises in Chatham.
I want to change things up,
live on the edge.
Like...?
I don't know.
I'm just tired of being Megan Landry,
boring, responsible Honor student.
You want to be a bad girl?
Not like committing crimes bad, but...
more like taking risks and going on adventures.
Being... unpredictable.
You don't have to convince me. Unpredictable's my brand.
_
I just read the coolest article about White Hat hackers.
Is that like a fashion thing?
Funny.
Basically, they look for security holes
in big companies' systems and
fix them before hackers can get in.
That's... cool.
And the guy in the article went to my same program at U Dub.
It's something that I could do in college to make money.
It pays really well so I could help out even more with Mom and Lily.
Are you gonna see Luke later?
- Crap! - What was that?
- Do you want me to shut off the valve? - I already did.
Hopefully it'll stop soon.
- What happened? - Ah!
Old pipes. Guess they just gave out.
I'll call the plumber.
Thanks.
Another bill.
_
*CREDITS*
You said you took Luke home, but we all know now that you didn't.
So where did you go?
We drove around for a while.
Where did you end up?
The cabin.
The murder site.
Great.
Would've been nice to mention that.
Ooh!
I still got it, I still got it.
- Oh, man. - We're getting good.
Guys, come here.
I want to go somewhere different tonight.
Someplace fun.
Well, Woodstock would be cool
if it wasn't 3,000 miles away.
We could go to a club.
Um, well, the closest thing we have to a club
would be the Brownsville Pub, but that's a dive bar.
Do they card?
Yeah, I mean, it's a bar,
so you have to be 21 to get in.
That's dumb.
I mean, most countries don't even have a drinking age.
Brent has a fake ID, but he'd never let me use it.
I'm pretty good at Photoshop.
Maybe I could figure something out.
You want to make fake IDs?
Why not?
You're the computer genius, maybe you could help.
Uh...
I don't know, it's kind of risky.
Exactly.
Okay. Yeah. Let's do it.
You're in?
Yeah, let me know when you have the money,
then I'll schedule the crew, okay?
Thank you.
6,000.
And he wants payment in full up front.
Um, okay.
We can tap the emergency fund?
It's gone.
Between the roof last year and Lily's retainer,
the fund's empty.
I can't get another loan from the bank.
Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't want to stress you out.
Okay, you can't have it both ways.
You can't lean on me to help pay for things
and then keep me in the dark.
I mean, for once, it would be nice
if you were the grown-up around here.
I have like $900 in my savings account.
That is for college. I'll talk to Steve.
We can't ask him for help every time something goes wrong.
He's your boss.
It was bad enough before, it's ten times weirder
now that you're in a relationship with him, and I'm dating Luke.
I don't like it any more than you do, but I don't know what else to do.
I can help.
It's $5,000.
Where'd you get that?
My parents.
They gave me money so that I can buy myself a Christmas present,
but...
I want you to have it.
That's incredibly generous, honey...
But we can't take it.
Look, there's nothing else that I'd rather spend my money on.
You guys are family to me.
So are you.
In all the best ways.
But we will find a way.
We always do.
Yeah. In the meantime, we can't stay here tonight, so pack a bag.
I'm sure Steve will let us stay with him till we sort it all out.
Okay.
What town do you want to be from?
Hmm, Seattle. That's where U Dub is.
Where I hope I'll be next year.
- _ - Where do you want to go?
Film school,
so USC or NYU.
All the great directors went to one or the other.
George Lucas, Spike Lee.
It's cool how into filmmaking you are.
People mostly don't understand it,
but it makes me happy.
I get to create my own little world.
Check it out.
Wow. That looks amazing.
The watermark is missing, but it's impossible to copy.
We'll see about that.
_
Whoa.
How did you do that?
Being a computer nerd has its advantages.
I get to create my own little world.
There is nothing nerdy about you.
You're amazing.
_
Okay, work your magic.
We make a pretty awesome team.
Megan, this is real life, it is not fiction.
But, yeah, it doesn't look good.
When was the last time you saw Luke?
Early that Saturday morning.
And you haven't been back to the cabin since then?
No.
Is there anything else about that night you haven't told me?
Hmm-mm.
Are you sure?
Because we cannot afford any more surprises.
I need to be prepared for whatever is coming.
No, that's it.
I wish I could rewind to that night
and not see my mom kissing my dad.
Don't waste another second on it.
When something bad happens, put it in the rear view,
move forward.
So, like, denial?
I mean, it's worked for me so far.
Look, tonight is gonna be amazing.
You and Jeff are crazy cute.
He's excellent at Photoshop.
That may be one of the geekiest things I've ever heard.
I know, I know.
But I feel like I can really be myself around him.
Like I can with Luke.
Can I borrow this?
Of course.
It's just one night.
I really, really don't want to go.
I just don't want to be around Brent right now.
Not after everything with the tape...
I'm so sorry.
He had no right to do that to you.
Sex is supposed to be private.
Not blasted out in public.
Yeah. In front of the whole town.
You could've told me, y'know.
That you and Luke were having sex.
Your first time...
that's special.
It was.
Ohh... that tape...
I can't believe you saw that.
I wish there was something I could do
to make it all disappear.
Me too.
Thank you.
For not making me feel worse about it.
Name?
Raymond Chandler.
So proud of that.
When were you born, Ray?
Uh... February 5th, 1978.
Where?
Fresno, California.
But I live in L. A. now. It's where the work is.
Hmm-mm. Don't improvise.
If you say too much, it sounds like you're lying.
Watch this.
Hi, I'm Rob Ludlum, born in Ames, Iowa.
May 28th, 1977.
I like fast cars and beautiful women.
What did she just say?
I'm just, I'm trying to add some personality to it.
Just take it.
I am Liz George from Seattle, Washington.
Born June 25th, 1978.
That's how it's done, boys.
There you go.
What about you?
Yeah, Patty Highsmith does not need a dress rehearsal.
Okay?
They look so real.
You're the Photoshop master.
Thanks, Liz.
All right, go time.
- Everyone remember what you're supposed to say, okay? - Yep.
So, we're just gonna smile and pretend
that the Christmas party and the tape never happened.
Should give us, like, nothing to talk about.
There's always the weather.
Yeah, cloudy with a chance of "Brent's a total douchebag."
You should've taken the money.
Wait, Megan, I was joking. I just...
I don't know, I feel like it shouldn't be complicated.
I know, but... money is always complicated.
Right.
Hi. Hey.
Thanks so much, Steve, we really appreciate it.
Isabella.
- No Lily? - She's at Olivia's for a sleepover.
We're sneaking you into my room later for a sleepover.
Uh... Brent!
Come downstairs and welcome your guests, please.
I don't know, he's, uh, otherwise occupied or something. Please make yourselves at home.
Hey. Are you okay?
Um...
Yeah.
Uh... Wayne Bright pulled out of the Northland deal.
What? Why?
Because he said he can't do business
with people that don't share his values.
That tape.
- You had nothing to do with... - It doesn't matter, it's done.
And when someone like that spikes a deal,
it sends a message to other potential investors, so...
we're dead in the water.
FYI, Brent's on the warpath.
My dad's making him work for him next semester instead of going to school.
Really? 'Cause of the tape?
Yeah. I told you I was gonna get it handled.
God, talk about a Christmas miracle.
Can I use your shower? I was going to before the pipes burst.
Yeah, of course. The clean towels are in my bathroom,
and Alma made up guest beds for you guys.
She also made those crispy potatoes that you love.
Oh my God. Wait, really?
Yeah.
I missed those.
She said to tell you hi.
That's very sweet.
- Have a good night. - Thanks!
Hey.
That was so easy!
Be cool. And breathe.
Wait.
May 28th... what's your sign?
My sign?
Yeah, like the Zodiac. Your sign, dude.
Um...
Beat it, kid. Your sidekick too.
Okay, they're ready for us.
That's the letter Luke sent to his dad
saying he was running away,
going to see family in Virginia.
We found your fingerprints on it.
You always said you didn't know Luke was planning to leave.
So how do you explain this?
Um...
Luke told me that he was running away.
And yet you never mentioned it, in all the times I asked.
- I was protecting him. - By lying.
- Sheriff... - You've lied about dropping him off at home,
you lied about knowing he was leaving, and now the letter.
How about you start telling the truth?
Why did Luke run away?
I don't know. He was scared.
- Of what? - I don't know.
- Of who? - We're done here.
Feels more like we're just getting started.
If you want to question my client any further, you have to place her under arrest.
Let's go.
It smells like sweat and beer, but, like, in a good way.
I guess the guys got busted.
Their loss.
Well, should we...?
Hell no.
Come on. Let's go.
This is even better than I expected.
Louder. Cooler. More...
everything.
Cuba Libre, please.
Wanna make that two?
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, she'd love one.
I would?
You don't have to drink it. Just hold it.
It'll make you look old.
Okay?
Already taken care of.
Eww, he's, like, 30!
And sweaty.
In all the wrong ways.
Thank you.
Wait, what's in this?
Rum and Coke. With lime.
It was the first drink I had with Lisa.
We were in Barcelona.
My God, we thought that we were, like, so sophisticated.
- Hemingway used to drink them. - Really?
I love The Sun Also Rises.
It should be mine too. With you.
To firsts.
All right, come on, I love this song.
Five grand. In cash.
She just whipped it out like it was no big deal, like it was nothing to her.
She was trying to help. It came from a good place.
I mean, I know. I know, but...
I don't know, it just felt awkward,
like we're charity or something.
Come on, that's the last thing she intended.
How do you know?
We talked about it.
Behind my back?
No. No, it was nothing like that.
She felt bad, she wanted a friendly ear.
We talk sometimes... it's no big deal.
You talk about me?
Megan, we talk about everything.
We're friends, all right?
Yeah.
Can you try not to worry so much?
It's all gonna work out.
No, it's not, but okay.
You sound like Isabella.
- What did I do? - Nothing, nothing.
You didn't do anything.
I guess I just shouldn't expect either of you to understand.
I work my ass off for a year waiting tables.
And then a pipe bursts, and in seconds, that money's gone.
And it's not even enough for the repair.
I get it.
How?
A window gets smashed here and it's fixed overnight,
like nothing happened... it's the same for Isabella.
If something goes wrong, then somebody just writes a check.
What's going on?
Nothing. Nothing, just forget it.
They're really gonna leave us out here in the cold?
It's like 70 degrees.
This one's on you, dude.
You never could take direction.
Whatever.
What are we supposed to do now?
Nothing.
We wait.
So, you, um...
You and Megan been...
hanging out?
Yeah.
We used her computer for the IDs.
She has a great set-up.
I mean, I knew that she was good with all that,
but seeing her in action...
she's got mad skills.
To you, maybe.
You suck at numbers.
I'm dyslexic, you moron.
And you still copied off me in math.
I got pretty good grades too.
Hey, man, it's cool that you and Megan are...
you know, hanging out or...
whatever.
For real.
Hey, what are you doing in here?
I was just, um...
I was just seeing if you had any more tapes.
I wondered what happened to this.
Where'd you find it?
Uh, Luke's bathroom closet.
Hmm.
Must've gotten mixed up in the laundry.
Find anything else?
No.
When did you leave it there?
I don't know.
Some time last summer, probably.
Probably or definitely?
Wait, I'm sorry, what... What are you getting at?
No.
No, Megan, this is from before.
Look, um, if there's been some overlap,
or if you still have feelings for Luke or something,
you should tell me and I'll deal.
Are you really asking me that?
Yeah, I guess I am.
You know...
I've let this whole town call me a slut and a lousy friend.
Everywhere I go, people whisper behind my back,
all so that you could keep your scholarship.
And now you think I'm sneaking around with Luke?
- Really, Megan? - I'm sorry, I just...
The stuff with the pipes has me so stressed out, I'm...
I don't care.
How far do I need to go to prove my loyalty to you?
When what?
Do you need me to kill for you?
Isabella, I...
- Oh, thank you. - Thank you.
Uh! That burns.
Yeah. You get used to it.
My old boyfriend and I used to do body shots.
- What's that? - So basically,
you lick the person's neck, then you put salt on it,
and then they take a shot, hold it in their mouth,
and then you kiss, lick their salty neck,
so that way you both get the shot.
Ooh! That sounds sexy.
And kind of disgusting.
Exactly.
I'm gonna get some water.
Can I get a water? Thanks.
Hey! We have to go!
- No way, it's too early. - Now. Sheriff Myer's here.
Come on.
This is a big game, I'm really counting on 'em...
Heard you're grounded.
Yep. Thanks to my pitiful snitch of a brother.
Oh, right, 'cause it's my fault you did all that pervy shit?
Newsflash, dildo... it's all your fault.
"Dildo." That's new.
Oh, hey, movie star.
Can you try not to be an asshole?
That's literally impossible for him.
You're a frigging predator.
Oh, I love it when you call me names.
It is super hot.
- You wish. - Are you serious?
I used to think this whole thing was an act,
that you were just super damaged and overcompensating.
But I am done making excuses for you.
You've gone too far this time.
God, when are you guys gonna get over this? It's not that big of a deal.
Are you for real?
You should be lucky you're not going to jail right now, Brent.
Get off your high horse, you slut.
- Slut? - I mean, if you hadn't been looking for sloppy seconds
and banging Luke behind Megan's back, none of this...
- Hey! Hey! - none of this would have happened.
Enough. Sit down. Sit down.
Let's try to have a nice meal.
You knew Luke was running away and you never said a word?
How could you let Steve suffer like that?
I was...
I was trying to protect Luke.
Was he in some kind of trouble?
He was really freaked out.
He wouldn't tell me much,
just that he had to get away for a while.
I wish you would have told me.
This is too much for you to carry on your own.
Luke showed me the letter when we were at the cabin.
I was supposed to put it in Steve's mailbox
after I dropped him off at the train station.
When I got back to the cabin after work...
he wasn't there.
For months after he left,
every time the phone rang,
I thought it was going to be him.
I think Brent owes Isabella an apology.
And Luke too.
Okay.
Brent, come on.
I'm sorry.
It was wrong, what I did.
Feel free to keep going.
Megan, he apologized.
Some genuine remorse would be nice.
Uh, hey, let's just have a nice dinner.
Yes, I agree.
No. No, not until Brent admits
that he filmed girls without telling them.
Do we have to do this now, here?
Wait... there's more than one tape?
Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's quite the filmmaker.
You must be so proud.
Excuse me?
Did you know?
I found out a couple days ago, yeah.
Your mother...
your mother would be so ashamed of you.
Debbie.
I can't believe you're not more upset.
Okay, you know what?
Brent made a serious lapse in judgment,
and he has been punished.
End of story.
He filmed these kids without their knowledge, Steve,
without their consent.
That is more than a lapse in judgment, that is criminal.
I need you to not question my parenting in front of my children.
I'm handling it.
By letting him coast a few months?
Let's talk privately. Come on.
No, no. The kids can handle this.
Brent's just lucky he's not facing charges.
I had Jack back off,
which is why it's not going on his permanent record.
Well, maybe you shouldn't have.
Maybe some real, lasting consequences are just what he needs.
Since when are you the morality police,
since Keith got you pregnant and you didn't marry him twice?
Don't talk to her like that!
Guys, let's... let's just calm down.
Are you defending him?
- It's not Luke's fault. - Can you stay out of this?
It has nothing to do with you.
At least I take responsibility for my actions.
I don't just sweep things under the rug to protect my social status.
You're gonna regret that one, Debbo.
Well...
I know reputation is everything to you,
but this is what you get
when you prioritize "the Chambers name" over your family.
I hope it was worth it.
- Floor it! - What happened?
- Sheriff Myer was in there, I think he saw us! - Luke, go!
Were you drinking?
Maybe. Rum and coke.
And tequila.
What? All of them?
You drank? Seriously?
- Yep. - Like a boss.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
I would've liked to have seen that, your first time.
Wait, but maybe we still can. It's early.
The night doesn't have to end.
Go on, go, Luke! Go!
Maybe we should take Isabella's offer.
Absolutely not.
As a loan.
We'll pay it back.
I already owe her too much for helping me keep the scholarship.
Hello?
Go back to where you came from, you stanky dirty ho!
Just a stupid prank call.
It could be Luke.
Or Steve.
- Hello? - Cheating bitch!
What did they say?
Just... calling Isabella horrible names.
Oh, that stupid tape, it's ruining everything.
This cover story's putting a lot of pressure on both of you,
your friendship.
Are you sure it's worth it?
Better be.
It's my future.
Are you and Steve gonna be okay?
Hmm.
I don't know.
Love isn't always enough.
You also need to see the world in the same way.
- Here you go. - Thanks.
Okay, to the best cocktail sensei
a girl could ask for.
Tonight has been truly unforgettable.
It's only the beginning.
Hey, uh, who are you
and what have you done with my friend Megan?
I'm still here. I'm just living in the now.
It looks really good on you.
Wanna go for a walk?
I thought you'd never ask.
Have you ever heard of a body shot?
We'll get you in next time, Raymond.
You might be the only other person in our grade
who knows who Raymond Chandler is.
Oh, The Big Sleep is a classic. It's one of my favorite books.
It's so unfair that we didn't get to use your ID.
It was perfect.
Honestly...
the whole thing was worth it,
just to spend time with you.
The dance floor, it wasn't, like, that big,
but it didn't matter because the drinks were so strong
and Megan was on fire.
Sorry. Yeah?
Wish you would have gotten in.
Me too. Sounds like a blast.
Yeah, it was. Yeah, we had fun.
- Jack? - Debbie.
What's going on?
I have a warrant. For Megan's computer.
Why do you want my computer?
We have reason to believe it contains evidence of fraud.
Fraud?
I... No, wait, no.
You can't just go through my stuff! Wait!
Then he kissed me.
How was it? Did your whole body light up like a pinball machine?
Um, not exactly, but I can't wait to do it again.
That's my girl.
So, what happens next? Do I call him?
- Do I wait for him to call me? - Hmm-mm. No.
Just try to enjoy the moment.
Look, I mean, you snuck into a bar,
drank like a pro, and then kissed a cute guy.
Doesn't get much better than that.
True. It feels pretty amazing.
I don't want the night to end.
You should sleep over.
I'd love to.
As long as you don't snore when you drink.
Oh, Megan! Boom!
The Sheriff took my computer this morning.
Yeah, he had a warrant.
There's stuff on it.
It'll be really bad if they find it.
I did. Twice.
Took every precaution I could think of, I just...
I don't know if I got the code right.
Hey, try that one.
Maybe it'll give us some insight
into what she was up to the day before Luke's murder.
Crap! There's some kind of virus on here.
Damn.
Hey. I guess you convinced the plumber?
Never called him.
Steve sent them.
His way of trying to apologize.
Anything good?
_
Uh, no, no, just junk mail.
I've just received some information
that sheds a whole new light on things.
You've been playing it fast and loose with the truth
ever since Luke disappeared,
but let me paint a picture for you.
On January 1st, Luke disappeared without a trace,
and you were the last person to see him alive.
He ran away.
That's your version of events.
His letter backs it up.
The letter with your fingerprints on it?
Because I was helping him.
Were you?
Or was it just part of a cover-up?
Do you have a point? 'Cause so far this just sounds like a fairytale.
Luke was the love of your life.
But by all accounts,
your relationship was never the same after the sex tape.
Too many secrets, too many lies.
And it only got worse when you found out you were pregnant.
Sheriff, I need to...
I believe you and Luke went to the cabin.
You told him you were pregnant
and he rejected the idea of a baby with you,
a future with you.
So you killed him.
*CREDITS*