01x10 - Joust

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

[Heather] Everyone has a reason
for playing Panic.

But we all have the same fear.

That we're heading nowhere
but a dead end.

That's why Panic ends
on the road.

That's why the final challenge
is Joust.

♪ ♪

Two players face off at
the Phantom Hill straightaway.

One road, a single lane,

and half a mile each
to get nervous.

- One of them will
have to swerve.
- [engine revving]

Or both of them will lose
more than the game.

The challenge:

to make sure you're not the one
who turns the wheel.

♪ ♪

[monitor beeping steadily]

[footsteps approach]

[Heather] Why didn't you tell me

Cortez was involved
in the betting ring?

I thought you had your mind
made up about me.

[indistinct P.A. announcement]

Plus, I wasn't 100% sure.

Luke kept me
out of his business.

He said it was all he could do.

Cortez was blackmailing him?

Yeah.
Said he was working a sting.

So he could help him
get out of trouble

he got into three years ago.

But he didn't hit
Dodge's sister.

No, he couldn't have.

But around the same time,
Luke got busted

boosting a car.

Found a dead girl in the trunk.

Cortez said he could be
on the hook for m*rder.

I don't think this was ever
about a sting.

I think that he always just
wanted the money.

The other day,
when I was on Luke's boat,

I found some betting slips
when I came looking for you.

And I just found out today that
it was Cortez that was betting.

He was bettin' on Dodge?

Mm-hmm.

So Luke took another beating
for me, huh?

What do you mean?

There's no way Luke would
help Dodge win over me.

This was punishment.

He's the only one
that ever gave a sh*t about me.

Mm, that's not true.

You're not going
to let Cortez win, are you?

Guess I don't have
much of a choice, do I?

Ray's going to throw
the game tomorrow.

- What?
- He said that

what happened to Luke
is a warning

and that he doesn't want
anyone else to get hurt.

Okay.

That means Cortez
will do anything

to make sure his bets pay off.

And without proof...

But we have proof.

We have the betting slips

and we know
that he lied to Dodge.

He'll just say that we're lying.

That the betting slip was fake.

So let's talk to your dad.

That's my dad's word
against the sheriff's.

I don't like that.

- So we should just let him win?
- No, Heather,

we shouldn't just let him win,
we have to.

He outplayed us.

That's what happens when
you get to write the rules.

[line ringing]

[woman] Auto Trader,
how can I help you?

Hi. Yeah, uh, I'm interested
in selling my car.

I-I was wondering
if you could give me an estimate

on an Audi A4?

It only has 20,000 miles on it.

[woman] Sure,
let's see what we can do.

[entry bells jingle]

I'm so sorry, we're closed.

It's okay, I'm not hungry.

Jessica, right?

I'm Melanie Cortez.

I know who you are.

[sighs]

So I guess you're...

here for some sort of apology?

Yeah.

But not from you.

How far would you go
for your child?

Turns out you're not
the sheriff's only secret.

[Cortez] Jimmy k*lled himself,

playing a game
of Russian roulette.

[Melanie] He's the one
who switched out the g*n.

He k*lled himself, James.

[Langley] Mary Clark was right.

Someone was blackmailing Abby

to get her out of the game.

But I can't, I can't think of
anyone else besides Jimmy

that could write those notes,
because some of them were

extremely personal.

[Cortez] "Tomorrow
everyone will know

you're a wh*re.

If you don't quit

they'll know
you k*lled the baby."

[Williams] What is it, Langley?

What couldn't you tell me
over the phone?

- I did some digging.
- Okay.

And it turns out Cortez
is in severe debt.

Like, last year,

he even took out loans
in Jimmy's name.

[Williams] That explains why
he was in on the gambling ring.

[Langley] Yeah.

And Jimmy knew that.

And he figured out that
his dad was threatening Abby

to get her out of the game.

[Williams] Cortez wrote
those notes?

[Langley] Yeah.
To make sure Jimmy would win.

[Williams] Cortez has
been playing us.

[Langley] He's got to be
manipulating the game again

so he can pay off his debts.

He had us so focused
on last year's game, I...

I don't know what else
he's been hiding.

Well, we got to find out.

[lock clicking]

[keys jangle]

[Anne] So,
what happened last night?

- I, um...
- Come here.

Sheriff Cortez is going
to be here in the morning

to walk the fence
and ask me a lot of questions

about how the tiger escaped

that I'm going to have
to answer with lies.

So I expect the truth from you.

Lily thought that she was

playing a secret game
called Panic.

Right.

The game.

Did Lily hear about Panic
from you?

No.

I really don't know
where she got the idea

- to do some...
- Something

so outrageously stupid.

I'm so sorry, Anne.

Are you playing Panic?

And don't even think
about lying.

No.

Well...

I'm not anymore.

But you were.

I thought you were smarter
than that.

[Anne sighs]

Here's some advice.

Figure out what it is
that you're really scared of.

Something you can't run or jump

or climb your way out of,
no matter how hard you try.

And when you find that,

you look it straight in the eye.

You walk toward it.

Because if you run,

it will always catch up
with you.

What if this is it?

What if I played Panic
to get out of here?

You know, I'm afraid
that I'll never leave.

And then...
what if that's the ending?

Well, I'd start
by changing your story.

[Dodge] He's using us, Dayna.

[Dayna] You think Cortez lied
to us about Luke

because...

- he has money on your win?
- Yes.

It's the only thing
that makes sense.

My guess is,

is that he's gonna
let Luke get all the blame

after he walks away
with the winnings.

Wait, I, uh...

Joust is tomorrow.
What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna let Cortez drive.

♪ ♪

Wait, so you're gonna
let him win all that money?

No, I'm not going
to let him win,

but I can at least let him
think that he's going to.

[Dayna] But... how?

Don't worry.

I got this.

- Dodge...
- I'll see you.

- D-Dodge!
- [door opens and closes]

♪ ♪

Joust signal went up.

You and me.

Bet you been waiting all summer,
ain't ya?

Longer than that.

Look...

I'm sorry for what happened
to your sister.

But it wasn't my brother
that hit her.

I know, Ray.

You know?

Natalie showed me
the police reports.

- I know Cortez was lying.
- Well,

don't take it personal.

Seems like there's a whole lot
of that going on.

Well, tonight's our chance
we can end it all.

What do you mean?

Cortez is going to be driving

my car at Joust.

He really needs the win
and I have a plan

that'll make sure
that he doesn't get it.

- Well, I'm listening.
- No.

Not here.

[sighs]

Fine.

Boatyard, 9:00 p.m.

[footsteps receding]

[horse whinnies]

[Cortez] Your boss is
all broken up

about that tiger, huh?

Mm-hmm.

Ms. Nill, how long have you

and your sister Lily been
living in this house?

I told you, remember?

We're just house-sitting.

And she can't sleep
in a bed without me.

You guys have gotten
pretty cozy for, uh...

only house-sitting
for a couple days.

Anne didn't know how long
she'd be gone.

You know, I hear you all
have gotten a couple visits

from Child Protective Services.

If you're having trouble
at home,

you can tell me.

Thank you, but... no trouble.

That's good to hear.

- Mm-hmm.
- I think you and I

can both agree that we've had
plenty of trouble around here

- this summer, right?
- Oh, for sure.

You know, Ms. Nill...
you're almost grown.

But your sister Lily,

she's just a kid,
and kids are vulnerable.

They need to be protected.

They need a safe place
to grow up.

They need a safe home,
and I want

to make sure that she's got one.

You would never gamble with
your sister's life, would you?

No.

Good.

Y'all be careful.

There's a tiger on the loose.

[exhales]

Thanks for coming over so quick.

His phone kept going off
in his bedroom,

and I thought it was weird
he left it behind.

And then I... I saw the rope.

It was our dad's
favorite bull rope.

I wanted to burn it.

Dodge told me about him.

Dodge was the one
that found him, you know.

After he k*lled himself.

This is a message.

What's he trying to say?

Dodge said he was going
to meet up with Ray tonight

to figure things out.
He won't let Cortez win,

but... I'm worried
he's planning something awful.

[Ray] So tell me again
how this is supposed to work.

Cortez is picking up my car
in a half hour.

And then he's going to Joust.

And I want your truck
so I can drive up against him.

You want to borrow my car
'cause you think

I'm gonna blow the game
and let him win?

Won't you?

My brother's in the hospital.

My sister will never walk again.

Cortez didn't do that to her.

No, you're right,
but he made sure

that we wouldn't
find out whoever did.

Then it looks like
we're at a draw.

Ray, we're not at a draw.

You're giving me
your car keys, okay?

- Why?
- Ray.

Are you gonna drive into
him at Joust?

- Is that your big plan?
- Ray, give me

your f*cking keys, okay?

- [branch snaps]
- [wings fluttering]

Did you tell Cortez

- where we were going?
- You think I'm f*cking stupid?

Listen.

Let's split up.

Can't catch both of us
at the same time.

♪ ♪

[Bishop] Are you sure you
don't want to come tonight?

Yeah, we know Ray's gonna
forfeit. What's the point?

The point is,
I leave in two days.

Come on, Heather. I...

I'm coming home
for Thanksgiving.

Things will be different.

- We will be different.
- Yeah.

We'll be different.
But we'll still be us.

[Heather] And I'll
still be stuck here.

Hmm.

- [sighs]
- [phone vibrates]

Oh, sh*t. I got to change.

Hunt and Leela are coming to
get me in, like, 20 minutes.

Where's your car?

Uh, I, uh, I left it
in the shop.

You okay?

If people like Cortez

can get away
with doing terrible things,

and there's nothing
we can do to stop them...

what's the point
of doing anything at all?

What's the point of caring?

I... I guess you've got
to pick your battles.

Know when the odds
are stacked against you.

But what if they're always
stacked the same way?

Then, for the things you really,
really care about,

or care about changing,
I guess you take the risk.

[insects trilling]

♪ ♪

[soft clattering nearby]

- [metallic clang]
- sh*t.

[grunts]

[unzips bag]

[paper rustling]

What the f*ck?

Lily? Lily!

I need to talk to you.

Come here. Look at me.

I know you were supposed to
keep that invitation a secret.

But I found another one, and
this one is from the sheriff.

So, is that who gave it to you?

He told me I could help you
win Panic if I played, too.

He made me swear not to tell.

What do you mean, help me win?

When did he give you that note?

[Lily] Before the sleepover.

[Heather] So this was
about my individual challenge.

Nat, are you at Joust?

[Natalie] No,
I'm actually at Ray's.

What? Why?

I'm looking for Dodge.
I was worried about him.

[Heather] Where's Dodge?

I... I don't know.

Dayna told me that Ray and Dodge
had some plan to stop Cortez.

But, Heather...

she said that Cortez will be
driving Dodge's car at Joust.

What the f*ck?

Cortez is at Joust?

- Does Ray know?
- His truck is still here.

Jesus. All right, what if...

what if Cortez has decided

to get Ray and Dodge
out of the way?

[panting] Call your dad.

Say it's an emergency.
Say whatever you want, okay?

All right.

This has to end tonight.

[♪ Ashnikko: "Tantrum"]

[indistinct chatter, laughter]

♪ Throw a tantrum ♪

♪ Ooh, sorry, Mom and Dad ♪

[laughs] Yeah!

♪ I did something bad ♪

[indistinct chatter, laughter]

♪ Please don't get attached ♪

♪ There's no coming back...

[laughter]

[Summer] Phones, please.

One for you.
No pictures, no videos.

♪ Baby, doll me up
'cause I'm a brat...

- Hey, there she is.
- Hey.

♪ Demi-devil...

Phones, please.

[in distance] ♪ b*tch,
I am one ♪

♪ Throw a tantrum ♪♪

♪ ♪

- [static crackles]
- Dodge is here!

He just pulled up
to the start gate.

[lighter flicks]

Troy, what about Ray?

Not yet.

♪ ♪

[engine turns off]

Come on, where are they?

Yes.

[engine starts]

[indistinct radio chatter]

Well, any luck?

You know, I appreciate
the information.

Thank you very much.

Maybe. Neighbor quarter mile
down from the Halls

said that there's a boat,

matching the description
of Ray's,

idling in the middle
of the river.

[engine revving]

♪ ♪

[Ray exhales]

[Dodge inhales sharply, groans]

[Ray] There he is.

There's my guy.

g*dd*mn it, Ray,
I'm gonna k*ll you!

Oh, come on.
Get a hobby.

Did Cortez put you up to this?

No. Right about now,

he should be
on the road to Joust.

- Isn't that what you wanted?
- No! I wanted to

go up against him, you moron.

[Ray] I know, I'm sorry.

Couldn't let you do that.

I couldn't let you do that
to my truck.

Technically,

you should be thanking me.

I saved your f*cking life.

I didn't ask for your help.

Who says I was helping you?

I do have a question
for you, though.

Were you really planning on
blowing yourself up with Cortez?

Or is that b*mb under my car

just a little
Christmas decoration?

I wish Ray would
f*cking hurry up.

[Sarah] Yeah.

[line ringing]

[Ray] This is Ray,
leave a message.

♪ You wanna take us? ♪

♪ We don't wanna ride
for free...

All right, guys. I know
y'all were hoping for a show,

but it's looking like Ray Hall
is no-showing.

- [booing]
- No, he still has two minutes.

Two minutes, everyone.

- Where the f*ck is Ray?
- He's still not picking up.

Where the f*ck is he?

You think he's okay?

Maybe he's with Luke.

If something happened,
he would have called.

I never thought Ray Hall
would just not show up.

Maybe he didn't have a choice.

Come on, man. Where are you?

Let's call it,
he's obviously not coming.

[others protesting]

All right, um...

By virtue of forfeit
of the right to compete,

the winner of Panic is...

[horn honking]

He's here.

Wait!

- [over walkie] He just
pulled up to the gate.
- Wait, Ray's here.

- Ray Hall is here.
- No f*cking way!

[all cheering]

[panting]

[Diggins] Ladies and gentlemen,

boys and girls,

welcome to the final challenge!

- Yeah!
- [all cheering]

[panting]

Tonight's challenge will be
winner takes all.

No points, no privileges,
and no wiggle room,

both figuratively and literally.

[Ray] You ain't the only
family tragedy in this town.

sh*t, you ain't even the only
family tragedy on this boat.

That's why...

you don't get to hog
all the family revenge.

What are you talking about?

Do you really think
I'd let somebody

bash my brother's skull in

and let 'em walk away
with a payday?

Well, since we're on a boat

in the middle
of the g*dd*mn lake,

letting him win, yeah,
it kind of looks like that.

It sure does, doesn't it?

That's what makes it so genius.

[chuckles]

Too bad he'll only have
about 20 minutes to enjoy

his sweet taste of victory
before the b*mb goes off.

Give it up
for our final contestants,

Ray Hall and Dodge Mason!

[cheering and applause]

- [Diggins] Game's on!
- Little son of a b*tch.

Ray, the b*mb's in your truck.

It was.
[snickers]

Now it's in yours.

What are you talking about?

After you told me
Cortez was gonna be

driving your car at Joust,

I went ahead and took
the liberty

of taking the b*mb out of my car

and placing it
under your bumper.

I'm so sorry about your car.

The good news is, you're
officially the winner of Panic.

The bad news is,
at around 12:20,

you're gonna have to find
somebody else to hate.

[revving engine]

A quick reminder to everyone
watching tonight.

From now until we call it,

no one leaves the hill.
Okay?

Nadie.

Dodge!
Dodge?

I'm so happy you're okay.

Hey. Hey, I thought
something terrible happened.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Stop, stop, stop, stop.

Wait, Ray.
If you're here, then...

what's your truck doing
at Joust?

- Bishop said you're there.
- What?

What the f*ck?

Whose f*cking truck is this?

It's Anne's.
Oh, f*ck.

What?

Heather's at Joust.
Let's f*cking go.

Signals on.

[cheering and applause]

[engine revving]

Three...

- two...
- Wait.

One...

Wait. No! Stop, stop.
Stop the game!

Stop the game!

- No.
- Bishop.

There's a b*mb.
We got to stop her.

♪ ♪

[breathing deeply]

♪ ♪

[whimpers]

[growls]

[tires screeching]

Oh, my God, Dodge.

[woman] Dodge was in there.

[panting]

What's Heather doing
in Ray's truck?

And where the f*ck is Ray?

[grunting]

[groaning]

[beeping]

[Heather] Once upon a time
there was a girl who believed

learning to fly meant she could
escape her own shadow.

Diggins, that's a f*cking tiger.

[woman] Holy crap, it's a tiger.

[Heather] So she jumped,
hoping to grow wings.

She ran, hoping
to outrace the ground.

But there was no escaping
her shadow.

[growling softly]

So the girl finally stopped
and turned to meet it.

And the girl's shadow, afraid,

laid down at her feet,

amazed at her power to stand up.

[breathing heavily]

[beeps]

- [roars]
- [panicked shouting]

Oh, my God. Dodge.

- [panicked cries continue]
- Heather!

Heather, Heather, Heather.

- Hey, hey, are you okay?
- [siren wailing]

- Mm-hmm.
- Are you okay?

- I need Fire and EMS
at Phantom Hill Road.
- Heather! Heather!

What the hell is wrong with you?

I'm sorry, guys.

[man] Hey, look. Dodge.

[woman] Is that Dodge?

[indistinct chatter]

[woman] Dodge!

♪ ♪

[breathing heavily]

[tiger growling]

[r*fle c*ck]

Melanie?

[tiger growls]

[engine starts]

- Is he...?
- Dead. We need
to get out of here.

[tiger growls softly]

[Heather] Anyone can play Panic,
but only one person can win.

Everyone else walks away
a loser.

That's why Panic is a game
about fear,

but not in the way we think.

To beat the game, you have
to set the challenges yourself.

To win the game,
you have to believe in something

worth the risk.

The opposite of fear
isn't courage, it's believing.

And finding something
worth believing in.

Yourself is a good place
to start.

Luckily, you can find that
anywhere,

even in the middle
of Nowhere, Texas.

[woman speaks indistinctly
over P.A.]

[Ray] Look.

There.

[monitor beeping]

You see that?
Right there.

Two days ago
he couldn't even blink.

It's like the doctor said,
he's a real fighter.

[Ray] Stubborn as hell.

Wouldn't make much
of a difference

if you were brain-dead,
though, would it, f*ck?

[laughs softly]

He gave me the finger.

[both laughing]

He gave me the finger.

My f*cking brother, man.

[Natalie] Hey, remember to wear
your flip-flops in the shower.

[laughter]

Um, remember to take
pictures of the library.

[Bishop] Wow. You are truly
a staggering nerd.

Mm, I wouldn't if I were you.

She might k*ll you off
in the novel.

- I told you, it's fiction.
- Oh, yeah.

A totally fictional novel
about a nowhere town

where a group of teens play
a scary game every summer?

[Heather] They're not teens,
they're ghosts.

[Natalie] Oh, that's right,
they're ghost teens. Yeah.

You have to FaceTime us
every day.

Minimum.

I will, I-I promise.

[phone vibrates]

Oh, sh*t, uh, I-I got to go.

- Oh.
- My dad's...

- Yeah, yeah.
- Yeah. So...

Look, uh, don't cry.
If you cry, I'm gonna cry.

If you cry, I'll laugh.

[Natalie] [laughs] Well,
now you're gonna

get me started.

[Bishop] I'm really gonna
miss you guys.

[Natalie] I swear,
if I ever find out

what happened to the bagman
and the winning pot...

[Heather] Forget the money.
I'm just happy it's over.

[Natalie] You're a hero,
Heather. You know that, right?

[Heather] I was just doing it
for Lily.

Promise me you won't tell anyone
that I was a judge.

[laughs] No.

I had to say those things
on the bridge, Heather.

Otherwise the other judge would
think I was helping you win.

You tipped off Diggins
about cheating at Spurlock's

so I could get to final four.

That's why
you can't tell anyone.

You're not gonna pick
anyone for next year, right?

No, my job here is done.

[laughs] Oh.

Check your e-mail.
I got you a surprise.

[Heather] Very mysterious,
but okay.

Trust me, you'll like it.

Ten steps per answer, huh?

Seems like a fair deal.

So, what do you want
to know about Heather?

You want to know
if she's a good kisser?

Where she likes it
when you touch her?

[Diggins] Come on, Ray. Everyone
knows you hooked up this summer.

[Ray] Then why ask?

And why the f*ck
do you think I'd tell you?

[Diggins] 'Cause
the clock's ticking

and the judges want
to know the truth?

Are you in love with her?

See, some beautiful's
nice to look at.

But there's some beautiful,

some beautiful makes you feel
like you're flying.

And it hurts.

'Cause for a second, you forget
that it's leaving you behind.

[Diggins] Still haven't
answered the question.

[Ray] Yes, I have.

I'm a Hall.

I'm deadweight.

And that's bad news
to a girl with wings.

[computer chimes]

[exhales]

"After careful review, this
year's judgment has awarded you

the winning pot."

Holy sh*t, I won?

[laughs]

♪ I hear them whisper secrets ♪

♪ Till my name is dirt ♪

♪ But I will not falter ♪

♪ I will hide the hurt ♪

[Natalie] Hey.

♪ And I can feel the earth...

Hi.

I'm glad you reached out.

[Dodge] Well,
I'm glad you made it.

[laughs softly] Yep.

♪ Oh, the wind blows...

I wanted to thank you.

The evidence you gave us, it's
giving my family some peace.

- Dodge, that's...
that's amazing.
- Yeah.

You still thinking about L.A.?

[Natalie] Yeah, if my dad ever
lets me leave the county again.

What about you?

What are you gonna do?

Well, after this summer,

- um...
- Yeah.

The truth is...

I was holding on to so much.

I was so consumed
about what had happened

that I was never thinking
about what was next.

I don't even think I cared
if there was anything at all.

[Natalie] I'm with you on that.

I always thought I could
make sense of everything.

My mom, I mean,
like why she left.

Why I wasn't worth
sticking around for.

But something's different.

I mean, I'm...

I'm still going to L.A.,
I'm just going for myself.

I just think I need to take off.

You know?
Um, drive around awhile.

See what's out there
before I figure out what's next.

- Cool.
- Yeah.

It might be nice to,
to not have a plan.

[both chuckle]

- Uh-huh.
- Yeah, I get that.

[Natalie] So,
what are you gonna do?

[Dodge] Well, I did need
to get a new ride.

[laughs] Oh, I see. Okay.

- What do you think?
- Uh...

- Not bad.
- Yeah?

Yeah.

Well, Dodge Mason,

if you're ever out west,
you got my number.

♪ In the darkest hour ♪

Yeah.

♪ I'll spark a flame...

Take care of yourself.

[laughs softly]

You, too.

♪ In the darkest hour ♪

♪ You'll know my name ♪

♪ I will hold the power ♪

[engine starts]

♪ And I'll run that game ♪

[Ray] Hey.

Winning looks good on you.

You know, I think
there should be a word

for something that's beautiful
but it makes you happy

and sad at the same time.

Yeah. Yeah, there should.

I saw your video.
From the train bridge.

Someone leaked it to me.

I'm scared.

Of what?

Everything.

[laughs softly]

I thought...

for some reason I wouldn't be.

You know, 'cause I played Panic.

♪ They built a tower,
I climbed so high ♪

♪ I could almost reach it...

You know what scares me most?

♪ So damn your love...

You.

♪ All those fears
that made you cold ♪

♪ I forgive them all ♪

I'm scared I'm falling
in love with you.

♪ Oh, the wind blows...

I'm scared, too.

♪ Far away
from this lonely town...

We don't have
to fall in love, Ray.

♪ In the darkest hour ♪

♪ I'll spark a flame ♪

♪ A heart that can't surrender ♪

♪ Burns into a hostile blaze ♪

♪ In the darkest hour ♪

♪ You'll know my name ♪

♪ I will hold the power...

[Natalie] [over phone] What do
you mean the money

just showed up? The bagman
told us it got stolen.

I know, I'm kind
of freaking out.

[Natalie chuckles]

So, how does it feel to be rich?

- Oh, you know...
- [glass shatters]

[dog barking]

[tires screeching in distance]

I have to go.

People tell all sorts of stories
about the game.

But there are some things
they won't tell you.

The f*ck is that?

[Ruby Anne] What do you think
it means?

[Heather] No one knows
who invented Panic.

And it turns out...

- [shouts]
- [tires screeching]

No one knows
how to stop it, either.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪