01x01 - Panic

[bunniefuu]

[Heather] Every small town

has a secret.

Ours has a game.

The losers stay here where

losing is what we do best.

The winners get out.

In Carp, Texas, out is the only

place worth going.

That's why players

risk their lives to win.

[boy] Victory is yours

if you last until dawn.

Judgment is coming.

[panting]

[lighter striking]

[Heather] But the game

isn't meant to k*ll you.

And it won't.

If you follow one rule.

Don't panic.

♪

♪

[horse neighing]

[Heather] The truth is,

Panic started like

a lot of things out here.

Because it was summer,

and there was

nothing else to do.

-[rapid thudding]

-The games

had always started

right after graduation

and lasted

throughout the summer.

All graduating seniors

are eligible to play.

Sometimes 40 players enter.

Sometimes half that.

But there is only one winner.

[dog barking]

Each year there are new players,

new challenges, new judges.

- [bees buzzing]

- [screams]

But the game has ghosts, too.

Your love feels so fake

We never have to

say their names.

They know where to find us.

They know we aren't

going anywhere.

[applause]

Not unless we play.

And now, what you've been

waiting for

the graduates.

- Natalie Williams.

- [boy] Yeah, go, Nat!

[whooping]

Bishop Moore.

Nowhere to go

Heather Nill.

They've closed the dance

and I've seen the show

- You're late.

- f*ck you.

[Adam] Hey, Ray, check it out.

I got you a graduation present.

Just something small.

- [Tyler] Yo, let's go.

- What the f*ck is this?

It's a "get out of jail free"

card.

[laughs]

What?

I thought it might come in handy

just in case you want

to visit your pops.

- [laughs]

- Yeah? Well

If only it was

a free pass on herpes.

Then I can bone

Tyler's mom again.

Don't be stupid.

Get out of here.

I can't believe you guys

are skipping the ceremony.

- Well, we are.

- Yahoo!

- [shouts excitedly]

- Let's go.

[whooping, cheering]

Let's go!

[whooping]

♪

- There's my lady. Hey.

- Hey, Dad.

[band continues playing]

- Speak to you?

- Yeah.

[photographer] All right.

Father/daughter portrait.

Let's go. Get together.

[camera shutter clicking]

[laughs] Heather!

We're here.

Hi. [chuckles]

- Hi, you.

- Look. Flowers.

Oh, thank you, Lilybug.

Wow, you made it.

Of course I made it.

I'm proud of you.

Here. I got you something.

- Can you hold these for me?

- Sure.

You used to lose your mind

over snow globes.

Couldn't get enough of 'em.

- [chuckles]

- Yeah, I was, like, seven.

One time at the Walmart,

you must have

shook up a hundred

of those things.

I thought I was never gonna

get you out of that store.

Thank you.

It really means a lot.

It's just something little.

You know, mark the occasion

or whatever.

- Why are you looking

at me weird?

- Nothing.

You got 20 bucks?

The car's in the shop again.

Something about the starter.

You know how Bo's truck

eats gas, so

That's all I got.

- Oh, yeah?

- Yeah.

What happened to

all that back pay

they owe you down at the store?

I can't make them pay me, Mom.

[kisses] Proud of you, kid.

Come on, Lily, let's go.

[Heather] Thank you.

- I'll see you later.

- Love you. Bye.

- Giddyup, b*tch, we're free.

- Oh. Hi.

[laughing]

Perfect.

All right, let's get out

of here.

I'm so done with this place.

One [laughs]

[all] Two, three.

Get ready

- [cork pops]

- [all cheering]

[laughing]

[overlapping chatter]

♪

- Thank you.

- Mm-hmm. Ah.

What are we toasting?

No more gym.

No more gym shorts.

[Ray] Final collection.

Here we go. Give me your money.

Final collection.

- Here it comes.

- Thank you very kindly.

Final collection.

Rules are rules.

School's out, okay?

I'm-I'm not even playing.

Think of it as insurance.

It's gonna be one hell

of a summer.

Yeah, I mean

Come on, man, I

I'm not gonna play.

- Oh, okay!

- We're all playing, f*ck.

- [Heather] Ray.

- One way or another.

A dollar buys you a prayer.

[Heather] Ray, stop.

You want your money,

I'm gonna need my arm back.

I'm just f*cking with you.

[laughs]

Oh, Bishop.

Hey. A new toast.

To global amnesia.

Nah. Selective.

There's a few things

I want to remember.

[Natalie] Ooh, what did I miss?

Oh, we're-we're toasting to

a future free of Ray Hall.

- Yeah.

- Ugh. That guy sucks.

- Yeah.

- You remember?

Remember when you puked

on the eighth grade field trip?

- Oh.

- Ugh.

- And he spread a rumor

Heather was pregnant.

- Yeah.

And then you told everyone

that he had chlamydia.

- No one messes with my girl.

- Oh

- To revenge.

- Oh, to chlamydia.

- Oh, no, I'm not toasting that.

- What?

- [Heather chuckles]

- Okay, okay, I got one.

Ready? [laughs]

You-you brought your diploma.

- [Natalie] Of course.

- [Heather] Weird move.

- Ta-da.

- Yeah.

- Oh

- [Natalie laughs]

- [Heather] What are you doing?

- [Natalie] See? It's toast.

Natalie

[Natalie] What?

It doesn't matter because

I'm gonna win Panic ♪♪

Oh, I love this song.

Come on, come on.

- Get up, Heather.

- No. Maybe later.

- [Natalie] No, now.

- [Bishop] No, no, no, no, no.

- Come on, come on.

- Hey, guys

- It's later now.

- I don't

I'm not going. Bishop!

We're going, we're going.

What? I can't hear you.

Is this trouble again? ♪

I never had this rush

in my body ♪

I never thought

I'd feel something new ♪

I never felt this close

with somebody ♪

Somebody ♪

Somebody but you ♪

I never felt like this

with somebody ♪

I never thought

I'd feel like I do ♪

I never felt this close

with somebody ♪

- [firecrackers explode]

- [screaming]

[Diggins] Jesus,

what the hell, dude?!

I'm sorry, man, my hand slipped.

- Yeah, onto a lighter.

- My hand slipped.

- But, like, you know

- The thing is, uh, d*ck-ins,

everybody gets a little jumpy

before judgment.

Diggin Diggins.

Diggins. Diggins.

That's what, that's what I said.

Any word from the judges?

No, I'm just the emcee, okay.

- I'm waiting for the signal

like everybody else.

- Oh.

Well, I better hope

it comes soon.

You know what they say

about idle hands.

[whispers]

It's the devil's workshop.

- [expl*si*n]

- [laughter]

[Ray] Yeah, baby,

get in there, baby

[door creaks]

[Lily giggles]

It's late, Lilybug.

You should be sleeping.

Why? You're up.

You're stalling.

[sighs] I finished

my library book yesterday.

Mm. Do you want me

to make up a story?

[grunts]

Once upon a time, there was

a town, kind of like ours,

except all of the people

were made of stone.

- Like statues.

- Exactly. Like statues.

And they spoke

with stone tongues

and they waved with stone arms.

Even their hearts

were made of stone.

But one girl was different.

She was made of dirt.

"You're nothing,"

everyone told her.

"Nothing."

Gosh.

And they locked her away

in a high tower,

with no doors,

and only a single window.

Was she lonely?

Was it dark in there?

Yeah.

Yeah, sometimes.

Sometimes she would talk

to the wind to keep her company.

So, how does she escape

out of the high tower?

I don't know.

I haven't gotten that far yet.

Well

Maybe she makes friends

with a firefly.

Hmm.

You know, maybe

it helps her at night

so she isn't too afraid

of the dark.

You know what?

I think that that's the ending.

I think that's exactly

what happens.

[laughs softly]

Good night. Love you.

- Mwah.

- [chuckles]

- Good night.

- Night.

[exhales]

[dog barking in distance]

♪

Heather, it's 8:00!

- You're gonna be late for work.

- Okay.

♪

[Danny] I know you've been

with us for a long time,

but I don't have enough spots

on the schedule.

But you know I'm, like,

I'm the only one

who does anything around here,

really, and

And I-I've technically been here

longer than you.

Look, a smart girl like you,

you're gonna have no trouble

- finding another gig.

- Please, Danny, I r

I really, really need this job.

I'm sorry, Heather.

Starting when?

I can get you all squared up

for last week.

♪

Thank you.

He said that they couldn't

afford to keep me.

But you're the only one

who ever actually does anything.

That's what I said.

I'm sorry, Heather.

You'll find something else.

I need $6,000 to enroll

in the accounting course

- at Longhorn State.

- Jesus. $6,000?

Why do you think

I've been working there

- since freshman year?

- I thought you liked,

you know, unplugging things

and plugging things back in

[stammers] This is serious.

I was on track to have

the money by orientation.

I only need, like, $500, but

$500? I-I can spot you that.

I'm not taking your money.

I still have till August

to make the final payment.

I'll figure

something out, right?

- Yeah. Yeah.

- Yeah.

[Bishop] Hey.

- Two minutes. Mm-hmm.

- Thank you.

- All right.

- Thank you.

Hey, so, are you sure about

this whole accounting thing?

Uh, yeah.

When I get my associate's,

I can start clerking at double

what my mom makes hourly.

Heather, you don't

even like math.

Accounting isn't only math.

True, it's also

boring paperwork.

O-Okay, fine.

[stammers]

You're a great writer, Heather.

I mean, you should at least

apply for a scholarship.

[sighs] Yeah, well, they don't

really give out scholarships

for knowing how to make sh*t up.

Hey, y'all. I got a break.

- [chuckles]

- She's got a break.

Let's do it.

He fired you?

But you're the only one who

[both] Whoever actually

does anything!

- All right.

- Yes, yes, yes, yes.

I'm sorry, Heather.

- Want me to poison him?

- You know, as much

as that idea excites me, I do

not know how we'd pull that off.

Well, I do refill

his prescriptions.

That's kind of dark.

[cashier] That'll be $4.50.

Well, when I win Panic,

- we don't have

to worry about jobs.

- [Heather sighs]

What did I tell you, right?

She's serious.

You guys should be

rooting for me.

People died last year, Natalie.

I mean, people die in bathtubs,

and in car accidents.

Yeah, especially when

they're walking blindfolded

across the freeway.

I can't lose you, Natalie.

Hey, you couldn't get

rid of me if you tried.

[laughs]

You know, besides,

who is going to keep me grounded

when I'm a rich

and famous actress?

Oh, I can think of two people.

All right, so let's recap.

You are moving to Hollywood

and you are going to college

and I am just gonna

live here forever.

Are you saying

that you're gonna miss us?

- Is that what this is?

- What I'm saying

is that you two losers

are abandoning me.

Mm.

♪

♪

Menu?

Um, a Coke, please.

Thanks.

You're, um, Heather, right?

Dodge.

Um, yeah, I know who you are.

You're the new guy.

Well, it's been a year.

[laughs softly]

Everyone here has known

each other from diapers,

so the new guy

is pretty big news.

- Right.

- When nothing

happens around here.

Right.

In fact, Carp is actually

the capital of nothing.

Nothing happening,

nothing changing,

nothing you want to see or do.

What about Panic?

There is no such thing.

Then how'd those two kids die

- last summer?

- Whoa. Keep your voice down,

- for f*ck's sake.

- Oh, so it is real.

You know, I thought Ray was

just shaking me down at first.

"A dollar a day, every day

that school is in session."

But then when I saw

that everyone else

had to pay in

So, how does it work?

When does it start?

You wait for the judges

to send out a signal.

- It's different every year.

- Hmm, and what,

we're just supposed

to wait until then?

[chuckles] Yeah.

I mean, we're really

supposed to kind of

forget about it.

- Why?

- We're not supposed

to talk about it.

The cops know about the game now

and they know that Jimmy

and Abby were competing.

You could get in trouble

for just watching.

I don't want to watch.

I want to play.

- So what happens next?

- [door bell jingles]

[sighs]

[door closes]

[Dodge] Hey.

Hey.

- Miss Nill.

- Sheriff.

Dodge.

May I, uh, sit

with the cool kids?

Go for it.

[stool scrapes]

[sighs]

[Cortez] Where's your mom,

Dodge?

She's working the night shift.

Can I get you something?

Let me get a root beer.

- What the hell?

- Yeah.

[soft laughter]

Huh.

You job hunting, huh?

Begging.

You know, I'll bet your luck's

gonna change

when they finish the warehouse.

I keep hearing they're gonna

break ground any day, so

[chuckles]

They've been

"breaking ground any day"

since I was in eighth grade.

[chuckles] Yeah.

Well, good luck.

Okay. Better get back to it.

♪

- [laughter]

- [Tyler] What the f*ck?

- We should build a houseboat.

- Dipshit.

That way we could live

wherever we want.

Wouldn't be a very long life,

if I was stuck on a boat

with you dumb shits.

[Adam] You know, Ray,

that hurts my feelings.

- Honestly.

- Oh, Jesus. Really?

You want a tissue?

[Tyler] Y-Y'all know

there's places

on the ocean

where m*rder's legal?

- What?

- [laughter]

[Tyler] Why is that funny?

It's international waters,

- bro.

- [Ray] Buddy,

for a drug dealer, uh,

you're pretty terrible

at handling drugs.

Yeah, Tyler, you trying to roll

that thing or make it

- your girlfriend?

- Mm, I don't know.

Aren't you the expert?

[Adam and Ray oohing]

[laughter]

Whoa. Look at this.

White Tr*sh.

[Tyler] Could be your mom.

[Tyler laughs]

[Sarah] What? What is it?

It's starting.

♪

[distant expl*si*n]

[fireworks popping]

[lock clicks]

♪

[fireworks continue popping]

[woman on TV] That's right.

They are absolutely gorgeous.

Look at those.

- What's wrong with the door?

- Summertime bloat.

You gotta muscle it.

How'd it go?

Absolutely amazing.

That bad, huh?

[woman on TV] This is unlike

anything I have ever

Yeah, I tried everywhere

on Main.

No one's even really hiring.

Yeah, well,

that's real life, baby.

Just kicks you in the a*s.

[phone ringing]

Phone's ringing.

[woman on TV] What do we

have left here?

Seventy five. Is that right?

[woman 2] That's right,

Sharon, only 75 minutes left,

so get yours

- Nat, what's up?

- It's on.

What is?

What do you think?

Opening ceremonies

at Pilot's Point.

Damn, and here I thought Fourth

of July came early this year.

- Are you really not coming?

- I can't, Nat.

I would have a heart attack

just watching.

Oh, God, you might be

the first person ever

too afraid to even watch Panic.

You want me to win, right?

Always.

I just don't want you to play.

[siren wailing]

[Cortez] All right,

Langley, Williams,

the fireworks show is back.

Only this time,

coming in from the north.

[Langley] I don't

see them at the west fields.

[Cortez] Let's meet

at the boatyard, all right?

All right, I'll meet you there.

[tires screeching]

[siren wailing]

I'm on my way.

Actually, scratch the boatyard.

All right, now they're

coming in from the south.

What the f*ck is going on?

[Williams] Hey,

Langley, I'm over at

the Calhoun Preservation.

Nothin' doin'.

Hey, y'all, I can't get a read

on 'em, they're everywhere.

[tires screech]

[siren wailing]

[fireworks continue popping]

Last time I saw any fireworks

was right by Siskiyou Falls,

so let's just meet

at the turnoff.

♪

[excited chatter]

You can holler, you can wail,

you can swing, you can flail ♪

You can f*ck

like a broken sail

[Summer] Phones.

Phones.

You got a phone?

Thank you.

All right.

Don't take this off.

Phone. Thanks.

All right.

Thank you.

♪

[indistinct chatter]

I'm not letting you

jump off that ledge

looking like a giant condom.

You're not on the swim team

anymore, Toto.

I could never get back up ♪

When the future starts

so slow ♪

You can swing, you can flail ♪

You can blow what's left

of my right mind ♪

I don't mind ♪

You can blow what's left

of my right mind ♪

Hey.

You can blow what's left

of my right mind

[Diggins over bullhorn] May I

have your attention?

Welcome to Panic.

[all cheering]

My name is Diggins,

and this summer I will be

your host with the most.

This year, the winner of Panic

is gonna take home

the grand prize of $50,000.

[all cheering]

Holy sh*t. Holy sh*t.

That's the biggest pot ever.

Last year was only 30.

You all know the rules.

What happens at a challenge

stays at a challenge,

so I don't want to see

any posting,

tweeting or gramming about it,

no exceptions.

Anyone found in violation

risks losing game privileges.

The first challenge is the Jump.

[cheering, whooping]

Remember, kids,

you want to go out and down

into the swimming hole.

You miss it, and it's gonna be

the rocks that break your fall.

Take the leap from the Lookout

and grab yourself 100 points,

courtesy of this year's

friendly judges,

whoever they may be.

Let the games begin!

[all cheering]

That's my cue.

♪

You know, I have the same suit.

- Wish me luck.

- I wish you wouldn't.

[Summer] Who needs a number,

everyone?

You playing tonight?

You need a number.

Jumping off a cliff?

You need a number.

- Hey, what's up?

- Mimi.

Mimi, that's right.

Mimi, number six.

Best of luck.

Take a flare. Hey, what's up?

Okay, you are number seven.

You are number eight, Matt.

Take a flare.

[The Black Angels:

"Black Grease"]

You're a storm,

so emotional

- Sorry, go ahead.

- Thanks.

Hit me.

Okay, Natalie, you're number 11.

Take a flare.

Good luck.

You're all right ♪

You come to me in times

- [Summer] Dodge, right?

- Yep.

You're number 12.

I'm not the kindest guy ♪

But I give, give,

give, give

[shouts, grunts]

[all cheering]

Contestant number one,

announce yourself.

You know my name, Diggins!

Your mom screams it every night!

[laughter, jeering]

f*ck yeah, that's my boy!

Okay, Ray Hall for the win!

Whoo-hoo!

[all cheering]

Whoo! Yeah!

[Ray] Yeah, baby!

[cheering continues]

Ray Hall for the f*cking win,

baby!

Yeah!

Yeah, that wasn't bad.

[laughter, cheering]

[Diggins] He said it,

so I don't have to,

but I will anyway; the one

and only Ray Hall is in!

[all cheering]

♪

[TV playing indistinctly]

Mom, have you seen all my stuff

for Longhorn State?

What stuff?

Everything.

Information packets,

the course offerings,

- the payment forms.

- Payment forms? [laughs]

Ain't accountants supposed to

teach you how to save money?

[Sherri laughs]

[Heather sighs]

-It was all right here

on the counter.

-I don't know,

your sister was making a mess

of drawings up there

the other day; maybe it got

put away with her stuff.

[woman on TV] wear these

pink diamond earrings.

Oh, my goodness.

[continues indistinctly]

[TV playing indistinctly]

♪

What the f*ck?

f*ck, f*ck, f*ck,

f*ck, f*ck, f*ck.

[women laughing on TV]

[indistinct chatter on TV]

You find it?

You stole my money.

Yeah, it turns out my car

needed a new transmission.

I swear to God,

if I ever find that piece

of sh*t who sold it to me

Mom, that money was for school.

- Yeah, well, I need my car

for work, so

- I don't, I don't give a f*ck.

I have been saving

for years, Mom.

Good for you.

Between paying bills and keeping

a damn roof over our heads,

I never seem to have

a dollar to spare.

100%. Except on, like, beer

and lottery tickets

and cigarettes and drugs

- and

- Watch yourself.

- You had no right

- You are living in my house.

- That money was mine.

- You are wearing the clothes

I bought you!

- You had no right.

- You are eating the food

I paid for!

What f*cking food?

I'm doing my best here, Heather.

It may not look like it, but

You think you can do better,

you can just walk

right out that door

and find out for yourself

just how easy it is.

♪

Back with my apology?

Where you going?

- Hey, that's my car.

- Yeah?

Well, it's got

my transmission in it.

[door closes]

♪

[cheering in distance]

[Diggins] Contestant number 11,

state your name!

Look, you're gonna have to jump

or get down

because we got people who've got

- to get up there.

- For f*ck's sake, Diggins,

just give me a minute, okay?!

That's Natalie Williams,

ray of sunshine.

- Go, Natalie! Just go for it!

- Natalie, go!

[boy] Come on, Nat!

[cheering]

[Diggins] Ladies and gentlemen,

we have another one.

Ooh. Hot damn.

Looks like we got a player

trying for the High Point.

- [boy] Yeah!

- [whooping]

- Ooh.

- Who the hell is that?

[Diggins] For all you virgins

out there,

a quick reminder:

a jump from the High Point

will get you a 25-point bonus.

How about a jump

from Devil's Drop?

And for anyone, uh,

dumb or drunk enough

for some questionable

life choices,

there's always Devil's Drop.

A jump from the Drop

will get you an extra 50 points,

and immunity in a challenge

of your choice.

Contestant number 12,

state your name!

- State your

- Dodge Mason.

[cheering]

[Diggins] That's player 12,

making it look easy

from the high jump.

Way to raise the stakes, Dodge.

♪

Oh, sh*t.

What the f*ck was that?

So we party

when the sun goes low ♪

Imminent annihilation

sounds so dope ♪

I'm not shy

but I refuse to speak ♪

Because I don't trust you

to understand me ♪

You know me as the girl

who plays with fire ♪

But this is the song

I wrote you in the dark ♪

I hear they're calling

my name ♪

I'm not gonna sleep anymore

[excited chatter]

[Diggins] Contestant 22,

you're up.

[Natalie] You went

for the high jump.

- Yeah.

- Were you scared?

To jump? No.

It's the landing

that gets you in trouble.

- [chuckles] Yeah.

- Yeah.

- You want a?

- No, I'm

Heather?

What are you doing here?

[Heather] I tried to call you.

Why are you in a bathing suit?

I guess I didn't want

to be left out of the fun.

You're gonna play?

After all the times you told me

the game was a trap,

that it was a con

- It is.

- Then why are you here?

'Cause maybe

it's my only option.

What the hell

does that even mean?

Look, you're the one

that said that best friends

are supposed

to support each other.

Supposed to support,

not compete with.

Okay, we can play together.

There is no together in Panic.

It's you or me, remember?

One winner only?

I mean, God,

you can't be serious.

Y-You're scared of everything.

I mean, you won't even

get high with me.

You can't even sneak into

a movie theater. I mean

Come on. You can't

really think you're gonna win.

No one is that dumb.

- No, of course not.

- [Diggins] Last call

for contestants!

But I've got nothing to lose.

[Heather] Once upon a time,

there was a girl made of dirt.

[Natalie] Heather!

Heather, come back!

[Heather] She lived in a town

full of stone people.

"You're nothing," they all said

to the girl made of dirt.

- "Nothing."

- [cheering]

- Hey.

- Jesus.

- Where the hell have you been?

- I-I had to pee, okay?

- Calm down.

- Calm down? Heather!

[Heather] Every night,

the girl made of dirt

would talk to the wind

and the wind would only sigh.

The girl was lonely.

[Diggins] Contestant 23.

State your name.

- Who is that?

- That's, uh, Heather Nill.

She lives in Two Pines,

across from Ruby Anne's sister.

Hey, look, all you have to do

is throw in some food stamps

- and that'll get her moving.

- Shut the f*ck up.

[laughter]

[Sofia] Seriously, how long

are we supposed to wait for?

- Heather, come down!

- Heather.

Come on, Heather.

- [cheering, clapping]

- [girl] f*cking go.

- Come on, Heather!

- She's not gonna do it.

She's not gonna do it.

♪

♪

♪

Oh, my God. Drew.

What is she doing?

She's playing.

[Heather] Then one day,

there was a storm.

It rained for days and days.

The water climbed and climbed,

higher and higher.

♪

[girl] Don't do it!

Oh, my God.

She's going to Devil's Drop.

[Heather] Soon,

the stone people were trapped,

begging the wind

to take them to safety.

[Diggins] Are you sure

you want to do this, Heather?

No harm in turning back.

Uh, you know, you've al

you've already made

a real statement.

[Heather] But the stone people

were too heavy to carry.

[wind gusting]

Then the wind spotted

the girl made of dirt.

She would be no problem

to carry.

[boy] Come down, Heather!

[overlapping shouting]

- [girl] Don't be stupid!

- Will somebody get her down?

[overlapping shouting continues]

[boy] Come on, Heather!

[boy 2] What do you got

to prove? Come on!

Contestant 23,

s-state your name.

Heather

Nill.

Heather Nill.

So the wind opened its arms.

And the girl made of dirt

turned to air

♪

and flew.