See you tomorrow, Dr. Morris.
Dr. Claire.
-Who brewed this batch? -I did.
Little weak.
Didn't know your shift ended before lunch.
I have some things I need to take care of. Bye!
And reevaluate the custodial options for Mae Louise Dodd.
I can see that the defense counsel has neglected to show up,
so, Counselor, please state your case.
Your Honor. Mae Dodd's parent's…
No.
Miss Dodd. Miss Dodd.
Are you going?
Remember we talked about answering any questions?
He's asking if you're going to school.
No, Your Honor.
You need to be enrolled.
Due to the uncontested abuse allegations and the parental abandonment demonstrated
by Miss Dodd's parents,
Malachi and Abigail Dodd's failure to appear,
the court remands Mae Louise Dodd to the custody of Suzanne Mathis
for an additional 90 days.
This court dispositional hearing is adjourned.
You don't have to go back. That's good news.
I'm sorry your parents didn't show up. I know how hard that can be.
Do you miss them?
I miss her.
Well, the blood on the knife matches her blood on the white dress.
With the fingerprints, one set is Mae's and there's an unidentified set.
It’s still not enough to get a warrant.
Has she said anything else?
Mm-mmm.
Well, the abuse is likely coming from within the home.
Explains why the parents didn't show,
and the judge wouldn't return Mae without an inspection.
Who knows what the hell they're hiding in that house.
Yeah.
I just wish I knew more about her mother.
Amon County sheriff never came back to me with answers to my questions.
Surprise, surprise.
And when I interviewed Mae, she barely said anything.
Okay. Well, I'll try again.
I just wanna do everything I can to keep her safe.
Me too.
-There she is! -Yeah, right.
Hey.
Hey, Tatiana.
Helen, over here.
It's bullshit. I can't believe Victoria Benenati
got 53 nominations for class president, and I only got 12.
Isaac, I am all for using this column as a Trojan horse
to launch your campaign platform, but I just need to see your five objects.
I have 16. What? We both know editing isn't my strong suit.
What is with that hair?
Uh, an away game.
-All right, team! -I gotta go.
Who's ready for the first away game of the season?
-O-H! -I-O!
How do you feel about what the judge said? About going to school?
It's understandable to feel nervous in new situations.
If you want to take some more time, I can try to file a waiver.
No, he said I have to go.
Okay.
Well, then you'll be in Jules's grade probably, and Helen will be there--
I'll be the same as Jules?
Mm-hmm.
How will I know what to do?
Just watch Jules.
Do you want to talk about what happened at the hearing?
About your parents not showing up?
You said that your family knew about what happened to you?
-Was your father involved?
Yes.
What about your mother?
No.
-It's her!
She's the chosen one!
It's her. It's her! She's the chosen one!
-It's her! -It's her.
-It's her. She's been chosen. -What a wonderful day.
-It's her. It's her. She's the chosen one. -It's her.
Let me see her.
-Mama! -What a blessed day, girls!
-But… -Come and sit.
Come and sit with me.
-There you are.
-Please, Mama, I can't do it.
I will help you, dearest.
Mmm.
Thank you.
May he grant our wishes.
Eat up. So you have strength for the ceremony.
Good girl.
I don't wanna talk about her.
Okay.
Stag's Head Realty, how can I help you?
Yeah, this is Peter Mathis for Cheryl Thurmond.
I've got a lead for her.
It seems like her father might have done it,
and the mother knew about it.
I mean, that tracks.
If you can find a way to bring them both in,
but get the mother alone, maybe she'll talk.
That's gonna be tough.
The mother is often as much of a victim as the child.
You know what? There is something I can try to do to bring 'em in.
Okay. Thanks, Alex.
Whoo! Yeah!
-That was a good game. -That spike was so dope.
-There's my winner! -I'll see you later.
-Hi. -Hey.
Clumpies after practice, baby doll?
-I'll buy you a sundae.
Some people from STEM are going to study for Robotics.
Okay. See you later.
Bye.
Helen. Jules.
Hey. Can I get a ride with you? Please?
I'm going to study.
-Helen. -Bye.
-Hi. -What did you guys do at the office?
We registered Mae for school.
I'm a sophomore, like you.
-Isn't that great? -Mmm.
You ready to go? Come on.
I'm so excited.
Jules, can you help me with the bags? I got some extra snacks for movie night.
I can't believe you're giving me a shadow.
It's the last thing my nonexistent social life needs.
Oh, no. I thought you and Mae were getting along.
I mean, we are but what am I supposed to do with her?
Jules, when things change, the only control we have is how we react.
Give yourself the chance to see this as an opportunity.
-I can wash the car. -Oh, you don't have to do that.
I like to help.
Thanks, Mae.
Now, you are the one who said
we need to make time for us and protect date night.
Mae's still getting acclimated. Can't we go next week?
Suz, we can't change our whole lives for this girl.
Now, come on a date with me. I even made a reservation.
-Oh, you made a reservation, huh? -Yeah.
Well, okay.
-Give me five minutes. -All right.
Oh, hey, did you get the car cleaned? I told you I'd do it this weekend.
Oh, Mae did it.
Hmm, not bad.
If I don't kill it on this Robotic's exam, I'm screwed.
My GPA's barely where I need it to be right now.
-Where are you applying? -Ohio State. Early action.
Let me guess. With Teddy?
Helen, you don't take AP Calc and Robotics
just to go to a state school with your boyfriend.
Oh, wow, I didn't realize you're my guidance counselor now.
-Okay.
This song was really good live. You missed out.
You went to that concert with Phoebe.
Yeah. I mean, we broke up. She was a lot.
I didn't realize you cared.
-Whatever. -What?
It's not like I left you stranded.
No, you did that when you ghosted our entire group of friends
and started dating Teddy.
-What's your deal now? -My deal--
I'm dating Teddy.
And sophomore year, you were hanging out with Olivia.
And summer before junior year at volleyball training…
I don't know.
I thought you were into me.
I was.
Um, anyway-- Thanks for the ride.
Ah… Hey, um, think about what I said.
Which part?
All of it.
-Dani, Vertigo is a classic film. -Hamilton is a classic musical.
-But we've watched it a million times. -Mae hasn't seen it. It's educational.
No one's gonna learn any history while you're belting "Satisfied."
Mom, it's my turn to pick the movie.
Plus, we can't watch Vertigo while you're here.
Mom's scared of heights.
Well, uh, Dani, you picked Dear Evan Hansen last time.
We're watching Vertigo.
Hey, kiddo. You all right?
I'm fine.
If anything comes up, you can call me.
I'll have my phone. Mae, are you all right?
-We gotta go. -I'll be okay.
-We're gonna lose our table. -Okay.
Girls, you know the rules. We'll be back by00.
-Dani, you'd better not still be awake. -I know.
-Okay. I love you all. -Love you.
Thank you.
Jerry, thank you so much for getting back to me.
-No problem. -I just have a question.
Has Mae said anything in your sessions about her mother?
Dr. Mathis, my conversations with Mae are confidential.
You're not on her case anymore.
Oh. No, I-- I-- I--
No, I don't want you to break any rules or anything like that.
I just was wondering, you know, as her guardian,
if there's anything I should know?
I'm gonna go with "no" on that one. Have a good evening, Dr. Mathis.
Oh, okay, Jerry. Um, thank you. Bye.
Sorry about that. Work stuff.
Sounds official.
Mmm.
-This is really good. -So good.
-Why don't we make this at home? -Too many ingredients.
So, Mae is staying another 90 days now?
And what about school fees, and books, and clothes?
The stipend will cover that. Plus, we have Windemere coming in.
And Detective Lopez is building a case,
so she won't have to return to an abusive environment
even if her parents do try to make contact with her.
It's so awful. I mean, her parents just stood her up.
And the father, I-- I-- I can kind of understand.
But the mother-- I just--
-I wish I could talk to her, mom to mom. -Suz.
You learned to survive a complicated relationship with your mother.
That's your superpower. Don't let it be your kryptonite.
Well, should we get a cocktail?
Yes. Uh, you know, I-- I'm just gonna have a beer.
I got a meeting in the morning.
-Oh, yeah? With who? -Yeah.
Uh, Cheryl Thurmond.
We got a-- She wants to do a project together.
That's awesome. Cheryl knows everyone.
Hey, can we get a Manhattan and an IPA?
-Yeah. -Yes?
-Good. Yes. The one on tap. Yeah. -Okay. Of course.
-Thank you. -I know this man. I know what he wants.
-It's like we're married.
Don't start the movie without me.
And once a month we have movie night while Mom and Dad go on date night,
where they, I don't know, eat dinner or something.
Does your family have movie night?
No.
Game night?
-No. -Do they do anything fun?
At harvest, we have a feast.
And sometimes, my older brother and I, we'd sneak out at night,
and he'd let me drive the tractor.
Wow, you know how to drive? Do you have other brothers and sisters?
Yes.
How many?
A lot.
Help me stretch.
Pull my hands gently.
Do you remember your home before this one?
Before I was adopted? Not really. I was a baby.
What happened to your family?
They died in a tornado.
Mom was friends with my birth mom, so she adopted me.
How did you get to stay?
Um… I don't know.
I guess I just fit into the family.
You fit into the family?
Yeah.
Ow. You're pulling too hard.
Thank you, Dani.
Took you long enough. Can we unpause it now?
Yeah. This is the best part.
The other girls on the bus had their hair in braids.
Apparently, it's a game day thing. They all braid each other's hair.
-And Helen won't braid it? -She used to.
We'd have a movie night and stay up late, do each other's hair,
and then a year ago she started dating Teddy.
And now, she barely speaks to me.
I'll plait your hair.
Really? Okay.
Where's Mama?
Shh…
Where is she? Mama.
Burning the midnight oil? You're either pre-divorced or post.
Post. I broke up with my fiancée.
Well, she broke up with me.
-Anyway, here. Spring roll. -Hmm.
The Amon County case, you requested an interview?
Uh, with the Dodd girl's parents, yeah.
I may have mentioned that I found a knife.
Coming in tomorrow. Thank you.
Mmm.
Okay.
-You can't tell them. -Tell who what?
About where I'm from. Promise me.
Your mom told me what to say, but if they know who I really am,
they'll shun me and send me back.
Everyone worries too much about what other people think of them.
Well, maybe not Helen or Teddy.
The general population is pretty much faking that they know what they're doing.
So, just gotta fake it until you make it.
-"Fake it until you make it." -Mm-hmm.
Thank you, Jules.
You can go back to sleep now.
-I doubt that's going to happen.
Sorry.
I've watched a million tutorials, and I am still so terrible at it.
I think you're super good.
You don't even need makeup. You're so pretty.
You're the one who looks like a model.
Okay, close your eyes.
Okay, there. You're gonna look great for your first day of school.
How did that happen to your back?
Let's braid our hair.
Nice and strong with cream and Sweet N' Low.
Thought you could use a little pick-me-up. Here you go.
-Thank you. Mmm.
Hey, you said that your grandma used to tell you stories about Amon County.
Do you remember any of them?
Well, first of all, the church there has an upside-down cross.
Now, some say it just fell,
but others think it was built that way for Satan.
One time my grandpa's car broke down out there.
Walked through the woods to find help, saw people wearing dark robes.
-Uh-huh. -Then there's the babies.
What babies?
They say when babies are born in Amontown,
they hang 'em upside down on crosses to see if they'll survive.
-That seems a bit far-fetched. -You been out there?
We used to drive through to get to my aunt's.
The way that county's all deserted always gave me the creeps.
Lucy to ICU, please. Lucy to ICU.
For study hall, Isaac and I go to the library,
but stay away from the cafeteria.
-Cool backpack.
Just ignore it. The older kids are like royalty.
You have to just stay out of their way.
-Well, like chickens. -I guess.
Oh, if Victoria Benenati tries to talk to you, do not speak to her.
She's super popular but Isaac's nemesis.
And if you see Helen, don't be surprised if she ignores us.
Apparently I ruin everything for her when I'm around.
-Helen is top hen. -Exactly.
-What's so funny? -Oh, it was just something Mae said.
Um, Mae, this is my friend, Isaac.
Hmm. "Friend" doesn't really do us justice.
I mean, I've known you since you went by Julia.
-Uh, what class do you have next, Mae?
Oh, Mae's in all of our classes.
Oh. Exciting.
Detective Lopez. And you are?
Bill Untermeyer. Represent the Dodd family.
You mean, Malachi and Abigail Dodd.
Clearly, you don't represent their daughter
who could sure use a lawyer.
The Dodd family prefers to handle their affairs in a private manner.
Which is why they're not coming in.
You tried to get my clients to come by revealing you found a knife,
but you and I both know that if my clients' prints
had been on that knife,
you would have made an arrest, not a request for an interview.
I could clear them as suspects if they'd submit to be fingerprinted.
You can't print 'em without a warrant, which you clearly don't have.
I looked into you.
Yeah, Chicago's a good beat, it's-- it's odd that you ended up here.
What's that supposed to mean?
Seems like you like to color outside the lines.
Just trying to get justice for people who deserve it.
Try something like this again,
and I'll sue you for violating the Dodd's constitutional rights.
Hmm.
You're encroaching on their religious freedom.
A little early for deer season.
My land, my rules.
You know, I've had a hell of a time finding a contractor
as good as you, Peter.
If you wanna get back into contracting, I have plenty of work.
I appreciate that.
And it's that exact kind of work ethic
I put into Mathis Development and Windemere Farms.
Spare me the sales pitch. You did an incredible job with the reno.
Too bad you're leveraged up to your eyeballs and you lost your buyer.
Look, I could use your help. I don't have the network you do.
If you can help me find a buyer, I'll give you five points on the deal.
It's too far out. Hmm.
Maybe for you.
Dr. Mathis. Dr. Mathis.
Staff meeting in five.
You know what? I have something I need to do.
I get this, you'll help me sell Windemere?
You're on.
Oh, shit.
Quick before you spook it. You're gonna lose it.
All right, big shot.
I can make some calls, for ten.
J. Math, headline photo option A or option B?
Oh, they're both good. Uh, this one has a stronger visual impact.
I like that one too.
Sebastian this is Mae. She's staying with us.
You made that corn husk doll. Iconic image.
Where'd you transfer from?
I was homeschooled.
My family was, um…
-religious. -Hmm.
So I sent you the proposal for Isaac's column. I figured we could--
My mother taught me how to make the dolls.
All the girls make them. It's best when the corn is fresh.
Cool. Uh, so about the columns--
You know what, would you wanna be the first subject of the column?
Wait, what about Isaac? He was gonna launch his campaign.
He can be the next issue. What do you think, Mae?
I'd love to.
Awesome. Great.
Cool.
Hi there.
Afternoon, ma'am. How are you today?
-Not bad. How about yourself? -All good.
-Sun's always shining somewhere, isn't it?
I think I may be lost. Uh, maybe you can help me.
Ah, do you know where I can find the Dodd family?
I found their mailbox on route 917, but didn't see any houses.
I think they-- they might live around here.
You should be on your way.
Excuse me?
Go home.
Hey.
So for my candidate statement, I wanna make civic engagement sound fun,
but not like spring carnival and corn dogs.
Victoria Benenati is promising a school-wide spirit day, no classes.
Appeal to the masses it is then.
Oh, for my objects, I knocked it down from 16 to 12.
Um, actually, Sebastian wanted to switch it up a little.
He thinks that your column would actually be better in the next issue.
Jules, I was counting on this to launch my campaign.
I know, he just really wants to make a big splash in his first issue.
What is a bigger splash than… her?
I'm really sorry.
-My mom's picking us up. -No. Go, go.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's buggy awaits. I forgot my objects anyway.
-I added basil this time. -Thank you, Suzanne.
Isaac's giving me the cold shoulder.
He still hasn't texted me back about Spanish.
-You didn't do anything wrong. -Right?
-What's with the braids, Jules? -You don't like our hair, Helen?
Uh, I meant it as a compliment. Looks cute.
That's good. I don't wanna lag on my run tomorrow.
Oh, you mean Teddy's run?
-Hey, hope everyone likes venison. Whoo! -Jules.
Thanks to one very unlucky buck, we now have deer meat to last all winter.
Dani, Helen. You wanna help me cut out the sirloin, the brisket?
-Ew, get that out of here. -I'm gonna go vegan.
Somebody's gonna have to help me cut this.
Or else I'm gonna have to do it tomorrow. Jules, Mae?
-Pass. We have to study for geography. -Um…
-Yes, Julia. -Yes.
-Hey, sorry to bother you. -No, it's fine. I'm up.
You're never off the clock, right?
-Tell me about it. -Hey, so get this.
The Dodds sent some fancy lawyer in a suit that would cost a month's salary.
So, I got curious. How did some farmers afford such a snazzy lawyer?
So I did some digging and I found out this guy's a constitutional expert,
specializing in religious freedom.
Turns out he's represented religious groups in the past.
-Groups? -What if the pentagram is a branding?
Trafficking victims are often publicly branded as a warning
to other victims to stay in line.
This is about controlling people. It isn't just one family.
It's a cult.
Okay. Thanks-- Thanks for calling, Alex.
Um, have a good night.
Yeah, good night.
Oh. Sorry. I didn't hear you come in.
I came for water.
Oh. Here. Let me get you some.
-Here you go. -Thank you.
Sure.
You're such a nice mother.
Oh.
I appreciate that.
Hey.
I'm sorry again that your mother didn't show up for you.
Even when we know we might be disappointed, it still hurts.
Mama.
Remove these at once.
You're willing. Aren't you, Mae?
Did you talk to father?
This is everything you'll need.
I told him to be gentle.
You said you'd help me.
We must rely upon him, Mae.
If you break the chain, our suffering will continue.
We must please him so he can survive until the morning star returns.
Drink this. It will help with the pain.
She betrayed me like everyone else.
You would never betray me.
Would you, Suzanne?
No, Mae.
I would never betray you.
Good.
Okay, I'm gonna be upstairs.
You let me know if you need anything, okay?
Can you turn off the light when you're done?
-Mm-hmm. -Okay. Good night.