01x03 - Dead and Confused

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "School Spirits"

- Maddie?

- Simon?

- What the f*ck?

- How's your mom?

She's fine. She's sobering up.

Never thought she wouldn't come back.

Has anyone here ever been

seen by a living person?

That doesn't happen, hon.

That is Maddie's blood on the wall.

My DNA is on a boiler room wall,

and my piece-of-sh*t boyfriend

might have had something

to do with that.

I'm scared of them finding her body.

Were you not, like, the first person

to buy this frosted green

color when it came out?

So you think that she

helped your ex take you out?

What are you doing here so late, Simon?

Am I in trouble?

That's exactly what I'm

trying to avoid, Simon.

So where are you taking me?

Your car.

And listen, let's not mention

this to anyone tomorrow, okay?

Mr. Anderson?

Can I ask what you were

doing there so late?

Drive safe, Simon.

One deputy? That's all I get?

Morning to you too, Sandra.

Some toddler with a

badge down at the station

said that you're calling

off my search party.

- No, not calling it off.

- Just cutting back.

We've had a string of break-ins lately.

I'm just a little short-staffed.

- That's all.

- Uh-huh.

You sure it doesn't have anything to do

with that upcoming election of yours?

You can't save my daughter,

so you're gonna save your job instead.

I assure you, we're doing everything

in our power to try and find out

what happened to your daughter.

Soon as we know something, you'll

be the first to know, promise.

Find her.

Where the hell do you

think you're going?

Like you said, you

haven't found anything yet.

And you know that

means "anything on me."

So I'm going back to school.

What about Xavier?

You were convinced he was, like,

John Wayne Gacy Jr. yesterday.

And to be honest, you kind

of had me convinced too.

I know. I know.

So what happened to that theory?

Last night happened, Maddie.

I mean, what was Mr.

Anderson really doing there?

Maybe he was working late.

Seriously?

Look, I'm not saying

Xavier's not involved somehow.

Maybe they're even working

together, for all I know.

But you gotta admit, that was

sketchy, Anderson showing up.

Yeah, it was shitty timing, for sure.

But, Simon, it's Mr. Anderson.

I mean, this is the guy

who doesn't care if we swear

so long as it's in

the name of literature.

You know, the guy who painfully overacts

all the witches in "Macbeth"

when he has us read it aloud in class.

I do love his c*ck accent.

That's what I'm saying.

He's one of the good ones.

Look, he's not just

a teacher to me, okay?

You know, we're close.

He even gave me his number once.

Not like that.

No, I'm just telling you

this because he's my friend.

- I think you mean "was."

- Whatever.

You have to listen to

me on this one, okay?

It's not him. I'm telling you.

It can't be.

Can you at least just do

your ghost stalker thing

and watch him today?

Who? Xavier or Mr. Anderson?

Mr. Anderson.

You know what? Fine. Watch

them both if you want!

Sorry.

Solicitors, right?

What?

I have received more phone

calls since your death

than I have in my entire life.

- I'm doing my best.

- And I appreciate it.

Hey.

At least this is another

place we get service, right?

How'd you find this one, anyway?

Same as the others.

I just kind of have to linger and wait

until you either see me or don't.

What?

Bathrooms.

You're not gonna linger

and wait there, right?

- Maddie!

- Relax.

I left before I saw anything, obviously.

But you should really

wash your hands more.

And now I'm hanging up. Bye!

Hey, Mr. G.

Hate to wake you up, but I think

freshman English is in here next.

sh*t. Sorry.

It's okay.

Unless, of course, you want

to reread "Animal Farm."

I am all full up on

totalitarian allegories,

thank you.

Everything okay?

Yeah, just a rough night is all.

Oh, yeah?

Rough how?

Uh, I'm fine.

- It's fine.

- Okay.

Well, listen, if you

need another extension

on your essay, all you gotta do is ask.

Oh, no. I no, I have it.

Uh, right here.

"Is Orpheus bringing Eurydice

back from the underworld

the ultimate romance or

ultimately problematic?"

I'm intrigued.

Honestly, hats off to you.

I don't know how you

continue to pull it off.

Just with everything

you got going on is all.

Well, I try not to disappoint.

Speaking of, if you

ever can't pull it off,

you know you can always come talk to me.

About

Anything.

I just I know how hard it was for me

to continually keep my lives separate.

I know how exhausting that can be.

Mr. Anderson, I'm not really sure

what you're talking about,

but you don't know anything about me.

Yeah, no. I mean, maybe I do.

Okay.

So you're a recovering alcoholic.

Why should I care?

No, not me.

That's my father's chip.

So why do you have it?

As a reminder, I guess.

That even though I'm not

the one with the problem,

it's okay for me to take

things one day at a time too.

Here.

That's my number.

If you ever need somebody

to talk to, day or night,

you call that, okay?

I gotta get to class.

sh*t, look.

Oh, my God, look who's here.

Wasn't he locked up or something?

- Devil boy's back.

- Why is he here?

God, I bet he's wearing

his stupid hair like that

to hide his horns.

How can he show his face?

I can't believe he came back to school.

You don't think it's weird?

- What, Xavier being back?

- No, screw Xavier.

I'm talking about Mr. Anderson

giving Maddie his number.

Wait, Mr. Anderson?

I thought you were just

talking about it being weird

if a teacher gives their student

their number, like, hypothetically.

I was, and now I just took it

to unhypothetical territory.

Well, how do you know this?

There were some kids

talking about Maddie.

- Wait, what kids?

- Online.

- But when was this

- Nicole, doesn't matter.

I'm just asking you, is

it is that suspicious?

I don't know.

Maybe he gives his number

out to a lot of students.

Nicole.

Well, what else do you have?

Do you have, like, proof?

No. I don't. Not yet.

It's just a theory.

I'm looking at every angle, you know.

I don't know, something

just seems off about the guy.

Yeah, well, we've all

been running around

like a bunch of zombies lately, so

plus, have you seen his car?

It's like he sleeps in it or something.

His car?

Really?

You free right now?

What?

Maddie.

Hmm?

How is the obituary coming?

Is there anything you'd like

to share yet with the group?

Uh, it's still a work in progress.

Sorry.

I feel like I barely slept last night.

Gosh, it sounds like you spent

one too many days in a

row inside this school.

Is there another option?

There is, actually.

g*ng, I know it's not usually

for another month or so,

but time is relative here, is it not?

So what do you say? Who's

up for another field day?

Yes! Hell yes!

Yes. Yes. Field day. Let's go.

Please k*ll me.

I love you, Mr. M.

Everybody needs exercise.

And as you'll come to learn,

we ghosts occasionally need

to "exorcise" a few demons too.

Mm-mm.

Am I right, guys?

Yeah, no. I don't do sports.

Well, Maddie, I hear you,

and as the resident jock,

I am going to choose not

to be offended by that.

But I just have two

words for you, mm-kay?

"American Gladiators."

Blaze.

Turbo.

Nitro? Are you come on.

Nobody's heard of this show?

All I remember is

lots and lots of Spandex?

Yes, there were because

they were fricking heroes.

And they're my personal

inspiration for field day.

Leave her alone, you guys.

She doesn't want to play tug of w*r

unless it's to rip her

ex-boyfriend limb from limb.

Or wait has

somebody's plot thickened?

Do tell.

Who do we have in our crosshairs now?

So I was writing this essay

about my 81-year-old grandma

her name's Juana Alcantara

and her struggles with constipation

And I got to the part of punctuation

Motherf

Is it just, like, a fancier comma,

or is it, like, an Oxford comma, or

You know, these are all

great questions, Nicole.

All of them can be answered

in "The Elements of Style,"

and we got two of them in the library.

Oh.

"Frankenstein"! So good, right?

Yeah, it is.

You know, I actually read

that Mary Shelley wrote that

amongst friends as a dare.

Just a fun fact.

Okay.

Well, this has been a nice chat, Nicole.

I'm a writer.

Do you have advice for someone like me?

Okay.

Uh, yeah.

Not myself, but I'm

sure I can turn you on

to a few books that might help.

Awesome. Okay, great.

Thank thank you so much.

Sure.

Oh, God. Please don't be a finger.

Please don't be a finger.

Oh, gross, dude.

All right. Oh, yep.

Sure.

Madison?

Hey. Are you okay?

Yeah, considering.

Thanks for coming.

You did say day or night, right?

I did. And I meant it.

More importantly, tell me what happened.

My mom said she was

hungry, so I took a shortcut

to get her some food.

I must have gotten turned around.

And I went to use my phone,

and I guess I got distracted, and

Okay.

Hey, it's gonna be okay.

We'll figure this out.

I'm here.

I knew he was full of sh*t.

Remember that piece of your

phone we gave to Mr. Anderson?

Guess where I just found it.

His fricking glove box.

Yeah, you broke into his car. I saw you.

Not technically, and not the point.

Actually, kind of is, Simon.

- Why would you do that?

- Why not?

I told you I had a feeling

about him, and I was right.

And I told you I would watch him.

Who cares who's watching him?

Maddie, he's holding on

to a piece of evidence.

Now he might be tampering with it,

maybe even trying to get rid of it.

I mean, how do you not

see that that's proof?

- There has to be another reason.

- Sure. Yeah.

Maybe he's saving it as

a trophy for his k*ll.

Maybe he's gonna smelt

it into a frickin' ring.

Maddie, he's hiding something.

No. He can't be.

You keep saying that,

and I don't understand.

Why can't it be him?

Give me one good reason

why I shouldn't go report

what I found to Hartman

right now, 'cause I'll go.

Because he saved me, okay?

You remember that accident

I was in a few months ago?

The one with your mom's car?

Yeah.

Well, it was Mr. Anderson

that bailed me out of it, all right?

- Mr. Anderson?

- Yeah. He rescued me.

Why didn't you tell me this?

Because I don't know, Simon.

I didn't think I had to.

What?

Nothing.

I just I thought

I thought it wouldn't be

like this now that you're

What?

Dead, Maddie. Now that you're dead.

I mean, you're not making it very easy.

I'm sorry, is my being

dead hard for you?

Well, how am I supposed

to solve this thing

if, even now, you won't even let me in?

What about you?

I asked you to trust me,

and you just went and

- Because I'm trying to help.

- Well, stop, okay?

I'll solve my m*rder on my own.

Thanks.

Hey!

Need a lift?

I know, I know, you're not into sports,

but I just had to try.

Wally, I'm really not in the mood

for your whole Turbo thing right now.

Okay, Turbo's not my handle, actually.

It's Kaboom.

And also, that reminds me,

we need to come up with one for you.

Okay, look okay, okay, okay.

How about this?

Instead of pacing back and forth angrily

or whatever you're

doing, why don't you do it

with a little bit more speed?

Maddie.

I know how it feels

to be a passenger in your own afterlife,

so maybe try taking the wheel.

Come on. Let's go.

- Here we go.

- All right, fine.

You're gonna love it.

All right, let's do it.

Whoa.

Oh, okay.

All right, let's do it.

Maddie, Maddie, Maddie, Maddie!

Whoo!

Go, Maddie!

Yeah!

Oh, yeah!

It feels pretty damn good, right?

It kind of does, actually.

How have I not done

this, like, every day?

- Oh, sh*t!

- Oh, sh*t!

Whoa.

I probably should have mentioned

that I'm not the best driver.

Hey, it's okay. It's all good.

You know what, I knew

you'd be perfect for this.

Let's try something

bigger. Okay, go. Go.

- Okay.

- Let's go! Come on!

Whoo-hoo!

Yeah!

Okay, go big or go home, Maddie.

Come on.

You're not seriously expecting

me to hit those, are you?

Wally.

- Oh, okay.

- Wally. Wally.

- Wally. Wally, stop!

- Oh, yeah!

Yo!

And the crowd goes absolutely nuts!

Whoo!

Yes!

- You're insane, Wally.

- Let's go!

Whoo!

Yeah, Maddie!

- Oh!

- You're insane.

No, you you are a natural.

Hey! Yo!

She just got a strike her first try.

It's crazy. Dang.

So this is field day.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, it's more like

destroy-the-field day.

But once a year, we come out here,

we just kind of get our aggression

out on the school, you know?

Whoo!

You still mad at me?

- Yes.

- Good.

You're gonna need that anger.

I understand that you've been

having a hard time adjusting

to our metaphysical world.

And what better way to practice

than our little tradition?

Allow me to demonstrate.

Oh! Mr. M, nice swing.

Wow.

Want to try?

Or can't you think of any feelings

you'd like to work through?

Oh, I can think of a few.

What?

Holy sh*t.

Sorry.

Damn it.

Maddie!

Maddie?

Damn it, where are you?

sh*t. sh*t.

- What?

- Look.

You liar!

Is he gone?

Yes. No one ever comes up here.

- You are so paranoid.

- Oh, my God.

Ta-da!

You know you didn't have to do that.

- I would have paid you for that.

- What?

After that guy was such an a*s

over your mom's card getting declined?

No frickin' way.

It's about time that Kum & Go manager

got a little karmic comeuppance.

Such a frickin' weirdo.

Oh, totally. I'm like, "Eyes up, dude."

Right. So you know what? Cheers.

Mm-hmm.

Taking down one weirdo,

one shoplift at a time.

Mmm.

What is this place?

Old elevator control room.

This factory's been shut down for years.

I don't know.

I guess sh*t River didn't pan out

to be the booming metropolis

they thought it would be.

I don't know.

I just like to come up here and escape.

Escape what?

Oh, you know, life.

Also, I love looking for new additions.

First loves.

Break-ups.

Male obsession with their own genitals.

Wait, don't we need to be on it?

I mean, not our genitals, but

We're a part of the history

up here too, now, right?

Wow.

I just did my initials,

but that's really good.

It's just a doodle.

It's stupid.

No, it's not.

I know you always say

that about the drawings

in your notebook or whatever,

but you're an artist.

Yeah, right.

So what, you're just

gonna Van Gogh yourself?

You're gonna cut off your ear and die,

and then when everyone finally

accepts you, it's too late?

What?

No, it's just

no one's cared this much.

Well, maybe you should.

Please tell me you're

at least going to study

rooftop tagging in college.

No, I wish.

I don't think the community college has

much of an art program.

My parents can't afford for

me to go anywhere else, so

Nope.

I will not accept that, Nicole.

You're too good.

You deserve to be around

things that inspire you.

I got it.

When you come visit Simon

and I at Northwestern,

we'll go to all the

art museums in Chicago.

Promise?

Yeah, I promise.

Maddie?

Hey.

Man, I forgot how high up this was.

What are you doing here?

What do you mean?

Maddie used to come up

here all the time, right?

- Right.

- Right.

So I'm looking for her,

checking all the spots.

Isn't that what you're doing?

Uh-huh.

So you didn't, maybe, like a

certain photo to get me up here?

What photo?

Oh, come on, Xavier. Don't play dumb.

I really don't know what

you're talking about.

You stole Maddie's phone.

How do I know you didn't

hack into her account

and use it to lure me up here?

To do what, Nicole?

To be your next victim.

Oh, I know.

I'm totally the girl who goes

into the basement/attic/place

where the k*ller's totally

waiting to k*ll people.

Oh, my God. f*ck.

But I just want you to know,

if you "Vertigo" me over this railing,

everyone will hear me scream.

Well, that seems highly unlikely

as I am legitimately afraid of heights.

Seriously, if anyone has

vertigo here, it's me.

It's, like it's, like, hard

for me to even be

standing up here right now.

So you really didn't do this?

No.

So what are you really doing here?

I, um

I followed you.

Oh, okay. Because that's not creepy.

No, I saw you in the library.

It looked like you might

have found something.

Why should I trust you?

Because I've been cleared.

I have an alibi.

Mr. South saw me in the boys' bathroom.

He was fixing a window.

My dad took his statement last week.

Then why haven't you said anything?

Because everybody's already

made up their minds about me.

Haven't they?

Fine.

So then who liked this photo?

Maybe Sandra opened up Maddie's laptop,

did it by accident.

How would you know that?

Because I was over there.

I wanted her to know

I didn't do anything,

and then we hung out.

She's in pretty rough shape, actually.

But you're Maddie's friend,

so you'd know that, right?

Yep, no. We'll do that.

We'll go to Ms. Skoke's class

We'll do that later, though. Thanks.

Mr. Anderson. Hey. I

was just looking for you.

Uh, can we talk?

Uh, yeah. How can I help you, Simon?

I was just wondering what they

said when you turned it in.

The piece of Maddie's phone.

You did turn it in, right?

Yeah. I'm handling it, Simon.

So you didn't turn it in?

See, I only ask because

if you still think

we should leave things

to the people in charge,

that means you're

gonna turn it in, right?

Like, to the cops.

I lied, Simon.

I don't trust the people in charge.

Not yet.

So until I know who to trust,

I'm gonna play things safe,

because the last thing I want

is for anyone to question you.

You understand?

Okay.

Oh, yes!

That was, mwah, beautiful.

I'm gonna find more

sh*t for us to break.

Best field day ever.

Come on, Charley. Yes, sir!

Okay, you just went

full-on Tonya Harding there.

Everything okay?

Technically, Tonya was exonerated.

But yeah, I guess I did.

I had a fight with Simon.

Oh.

Uh, I'm sorry.

That that sucks.

So what was it about?

Simon thinks that this teacher

that I really, really looked up to

might be responsible somehow.

And I just can't believe that.

Why?

Because it's a teacher?

Maybe you should talk to Rhonda.

That took ba*ls.

No, I'm serious. That took ba*ls.

Well, it was either go back to school

or stay home and troll the trolls.

Hmm. Well, that's never a good idea.

Don't you know you're not

supposed to read the comments?

It's kind of hard not to

when they're turning your face

into a "Hellraiser"-y pincushion.

Mm. That's true.

I don't think that the sh*t

people are saying about me

is gonna stop for a long time.

We just have to prove

that Maddie's out there.

Then they'll have to shut up.

How do we do that?

The cops have already given up.

It's like the less they

find, the less they look.

Then we look.

You know, I feel like if

we met in the same time,

we would have been friends.

Yeah?

And why is that, cherry pop?

Well, for one, I never

would have had the guts

to do that, alive or dead.

Yeah, well, the longer you're here,

the less you'll care.

You'll see.

Right.

I I was wondering

what the story was between you

and your guidance counselor.

I'm just curious.

Why, so you can blog about it?

Blogs aren't really a

thing anymore, just

they they take too long to read.

Of course they do.

I was more just wanting

to get some answers.

My pain is not for sale.

No, I know that. I just

You think my death can

somehow help you solve yours?

Honestly, I hope not.

I just I had a friendship

with a teacher too.

I guess I'm just trying to

figure out what it all meant.

Mr. Manfredo was the

nicest man I'd ever met.

My father was a pencil pusher.

Long hours, never home.

And my mother cared more

about how that home looked

the lawn, the stupid roses.

But Mr. Manfredo,

he just cared about me.

That sounds nice.

And it was.

He saw that I was something special.

He wrote to fancy schools

to let them know it too.

If I had a grade that

slipped, he was firm.

He knew what it took to

succeed out in the real world,

and he wanted me to

see that world someday.

But then when my dream, or our dream,

became a reality

It all went sideways.

How so?

I was in his office showing him

my acceptance letter to Berkeley, and

he just shut down.

And that's when it became

clear that all that kindness,

all that guidance came with a cost.

What?

What happened?

We argued.

He thought we were one thing.

I disagreed,

and then when I went

to leave his office

let's just say I never left.

Turns out nobody's who you

think they are, cherry pop.

If I got any lasting advice

from my so-called guidance

counselor, it's that.

So he was never caught?

No, he was.

He died in prison.

That didn't change anything for me.

Nothing ever changes here.

It all just resets in the end.

So it's the same room?

That's right. This room

and Ms. Field's room.

They used to be the old

guidance counselor's office.

- How is that possible?

- Well, they put this wall up.

They split the room in two

after Rhonda was k*lled.

Hang on. Other kids were k*lled here?

We don't have time for that.

And Rhonda's death is why we

can talk in this classroom.

And the others.

It's why we can talk

in those places too.

Simon, we can talk anywhere

that someone has died.

The scars of the school.

Mr. South talked to me the other day.

He said that the school had scars.

I guess maybe that was what he meant.

Yeah, it's how we can connect.

Great, so

we can connect.

What are we gonna say to each other?

I'm gonna say that I'm sorry

and that I shouldn't have

pushed you away earlier.

Go on.

And

that I think you may be right.

Mm.

Say more about this me-being-right idea.

It hasn't been easy, okay,

to look at everyone in my

life and pick them apart.

But I'm willing to admit

that I might have had a

blind spot to Mr. Anderson.

Thank you.

And, Simon, if he really

is hiding something,

then this classroom might

be our last place to look.

And I can't do this without you, Simon.

I know that.

And for more than the obvious reasons

ditto.

So what are we looking for?

So we're a "we"?

Yes, of course we're a "we."

We're always a "we."

And I'm guessing we need to find

whatever we're looking for

before Anderson comes back.

We are so right about that.

Let's find something that

finally nails this b*stard.

Hey, Ms. Nears.

How you doing?

I'd be doing a lot better

if my daughter was back home.

No, of course.

I, um about that, I am so, so sorry

I haven't gone by to check in on you.

Nicole, you're here now.

It's really good to see you again.

Great.

So I come prepared.

I have my flashlight, bug spray,

bear mace, PB&Js, electrolytes

Wait. Did you say bear mace?

Yeah.

Do you want to go into the

dark, scary woods unarmed?

Whoa.

Especially when that's our backup?

Who needs him when I got you two?

Can I ask you something?

Is it about how the metaphysical world

resets itself, because I think

I'm actually starting

to figure that one out.

No.

It's about the accident.

- Why didn't you call me?

- Simon.

No, seriously, forget about

that stupid stuff I said earlier.

I just want to know.

Why not me?

Please, please don't

make me tell you that.

Just let this one go.

Okay.

I didn't crash that car.

Should we wake her?

No.

It's usually best not to.

You say you were driving?

Yeah, that's right.

So your mother

Wasn't even here.

Got it.

You sure about this, Maddie?

What other choice do I have?

They could take away your license.

Better than them taking away her.

Okay, then.

We'll move her.

I'll take her home, but

you're gonna stay here

so they don't think you fled.

When I come back, we'll talk

to the insurance company together.

Okay?

Maddie, you were right to call me.

If anyone else knew,

she could go away still.

That's why I called him and not you.

You couldn't.

Still, I've seen

some of the things

you dealt with at home.

No, that was just the

tip of the iceberg.

You know, I guess I was just worried

that if you really

knew how deep it goes,

you might be scared away.

Well, I'm talking to

your ghost right now,

and I'm still here, so

Would you call me now?

In a f*cking heartbeat.

I don't want to do this here.

sh*t.

Nothing over here.

Should we regroup?

Yeah. I'm coming to you.

- Nicole, what do you think?

Should we try another spot?

That's what I was asking you.

That's what I was ask

that's right.

- Can you hear anything?

- Yes.

No, that's fine. Fine.

Wait. Why are you in here?

- Can't you just go out there?

- No, that's

- Right.

- No, I don't

- Yeah.

- That's not

God, I don't I don't I'm

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

We already did things your way.

Now we're gonna do them mine, okay?

Nicole?

Did you hear that?

Nicole, was that you?

I found something.

Oh, really? Well, you

well, you know what

I shouldn't have done?

I shouldn't have given

Maddie that f*cking money!

That's gotta be Maddie's ticket, right?

Holy sh*t. I remember that.

She had it in study hall

the last time I saw her.

Maddie? What did he just say?

Did you ask Mr. Anderson for cash?

No.

I know that there are gaps

in my memory, but I'd remember that.

Well, I mean, he

obviously thinks you did.

I mean, sh*t, maybe this is

the reason that he did it.

Could that be her boot print too?

I mean, it looks like it, right?

Isn't that Maddie's?

Yeah, those are hers.

- What the hell?

- I know it's hard.

You just saw Mr. Hyde

over there on full display.

No.

What the hell? What is that?

Holy sh*t.

Why does a high school English teacher

have a shitload of cash

hidden in his classroom?

I don't know, Maddie, but I'm guessing

it has to do with why you're dead.