Wayward – S01E07 – Ascend | Transcript

Wayward
Season 1 – Episode 7
Episode Title: Ascend
Original release date: September 25, 2025

Plot: In 1974, a young Evelyn is a member of a cult after being abandoned by her parents, later getting pregnant. To accomplish her Leap, she kills her leader and takes her place. In the present, it’s revealed Ello was transferred to another school after her overdose and Rabbit is interested in adopting Stacey. Leila begins to appreciate the academy as she takes parts in enjoyable activities. Later, she discovers her mother has remortgaged the house and began a relationship, uncaring about the prospect of Leila returning home. Evelyn offers her the Leap ritual the next day. In a one-to-one “Hot Chair”, Leila and Abbie exchange criticism, further straining their relationship. Dwayne watches over Alex and Laura on his birthday, the partners seemingly mend their relationship. After meeting Abbie to escape, Alex is attacked by Dwayne once he discovers Daniel’s body. Laura begins a therapy group to overcome their common trauma caused by Evelyn, promising them to never leave.

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Wayward – S01E07 – Ascend | Full transcript

[“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” playing]

♪ Virgil Caine is the name ♪

♪ And I served on the Danville train ♪

♪ Till so much cavalry came ♪

♪ And tore up the tracks again ♪

♪ In the winter of ’65 ♪

♪ We were hungry… ♪

One day a logging truck is cruising down Crescent Street.

It makes a tight turn, and a tenton log comes rolling out and flattens my father’s pickup like a pancake.

A month later, my father wakes up with all his family around him, crying and praising God.

But he’s just looking up at us, blinking.

Then he says, get this, “Can I help you?”

[group chuckles] The bastard had no clue who we were.

He was like a child again.

Innocent, curious.

A beautiful idiot.

[group murmuring]

Tell her about the door, Weldon.

Stephanie, chill!

I was going to.

So… right before he wakes up from his coma, my father sees this green door.

Green door.

And he knew he had to leap through it.

He had to let go of everyone who’s holding him back.

And he did it.

He leaped!

[woman] He leaped!

[group laughs and cheers]

[intense music pulsing]

So, what do you think of that story, Evelyn?

I think it is just a story, and we’ve got to make it a way of life.

[intense music building]

[Laura and guests]

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Oh no! [laughs]

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

Thank you, thanks.

♪ Happy birthday, dear Alex! ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

[guests cheer]

[man] Happy birthday!

[woman] Happy birthday, Alex.

[guests cheer and applaud]

[low, eerie music playing]

[line rings]

[on recording] Hi, this is Laura.

I can’t get to the phone.

Please leave me a message.

[answering machine beeps]

Laura, it’s… it’s me again.

Look, I know you’re angry and you have questions.

I want to communicate in good faith.

I only just got you back.

This… stonewalling is…

not reflective of your growth.

Anyway, have… have a good day.

I won’t trouble you again.

[knocking on door]

[Evelyn] Come in.

Don’t forget to empty out the terrarium.

We cannot have Timothy living in filth.

[Timothy croaking]

Um, I was wondering if you found a home for Stacey.

I would really like the opportunity to take her in.

I understand her, and I would-Rabbit.

Under your watch, a student overdosed and had to be transferred to one of our other schools.

Not to mention poor Daniel.

God forbid our student body finds out about that.

They won’t.

Ah…

No, I’ll place Stacey with Michael and Brie.

It’s a good fit.

Actually, there is one thing you could do for me.

Laura and her policeman are having a gathering today.

Find a reason to go and tell me what you see.

Perhaps then we can revisit this conversation about Stacey.

[quietly] Thank you.

So, I’ve been sorting through receipts, and noticed something funny.

Somebody’s been refilling the printer cartridges.

Yeah, printer ink is not cheap.

I’m, um, disturbed to hear that, Terry.

[Laura] Alex, can you give me a hand with this?

Yeah. Um, do you mind finishing these?

Okay. Thank you.

Yeah.

[“Magic Man” by Heart playing on radio]

Oh! Harder than it looks.

♪ Seemed like he knew me ♪

♪ He looked right through me ♪

I can’t keep this up much longer.

It’s been weeks.

I feel like everyone can smell my anxiety.

No, you’re doing great. You smell great.

[sighs]

But you gotta get Dwayne talking.

About Evelyn, her plans.

Dwayne’s not gonna give us anything.

He’s here to monitor us.

No, trust me. People are simple.

They just want to feel included.

He’ll let something slip.

You know, he would have been around at the time your parents went missing.

I’m gonna get him–

Okay, but we need to focus on what Evelyn is doing that can get her locked up.

I’m making good headway with the others.

It’s just gonna take a little time.

We don’t have time.

You’re due in three weeks.

We agreed we’re gonna leave before the baby’s born, right?

[unsettling music playing]

Yes, so you better get digging.

Dwayne’s a drinker.

[intriguing music playing]

Hey.

I figured if you’re gonna babysit us, you might as well reap the rewards.

I want to say, I understand why you came down so hard on me. I really do.

[inhales sharply] I wish it didn’t take me so long to get on board.

But you know, I… I look at how happy Laura is.

[Dwayne sighs]

You know, I was thinking about proposing to her.

Wait. I thought you were–

But we’re not.

I mean, this is just a symbol.

Right. [chuckles softly] We can’t legally. I don’t know.

This place kinda makes up its own rules, right?

Now you’re getting it.

Yeah.

Hmm.

[intriguing music swells]

[girl 1] God!

[guy 1] Pizza!

[guy 2] Pizza!

[girl 2] Everyone’s greedy!

[girl 3] Move!

[Duck] All right, guys.

Gather round.

Today… is a good day.

You have all made the ascend phase, which means you all get a phone call home and a music break.

Yes!

Let’s party! Let’s party!

What are we feelin’? What are we feelin’?

Creed. Play Creed, man.

I’m not gonna play Creed, Tanner. Jesus.

Uh… [clears throat] How about somethin’ a little older?

[clears throat] Okay.

[playing “Time”]

♪ Ticking away the moments ♪

♪ That make up a dull day ♪

[guy 3] Ow!

That’s Pink Floyd.

[Duck] ♪ You fritter and waste the hours

In an offhand way ♪

♪ You’re kicking around

On a piece of ground in your hometown ♪

♪ Waiting for someone

Or something to show you the way ♪

[Laura] We were at a Halloween party, and [laughs] …he was dressed as…

in this oversized cowboy costume.

I asked him for a ride home, and we sat in his car, and we talked for hours.

Wow.

I was just waiting for him to kiss me.

And he was so nervous, I thought he was gonna dissolve.

[both chuckle] What about you?

Are you dating anyone?

Uh… [chuckles] No. Chapter four of Evelyn’s book.

“The root of all suffering is attachment.”

Unless you’re attaching to her.

Of course.

[both chuckle]

You don’t have to censor yourself, Francis.

I think it’s healthy we ask these questions.

[grim music playing]

What questions?

What has Evelyn taken from you?

Why has she gone completely unchallenged?

Could we do this another way?

[Toast barking] Oh my God.

Is that…

[Francis] Oh.

Wow. Uh… [chuckles] Okay.

Hi, Rebecca.

Hi.

Sorry. I didn’t know you were having a party.

No, that’s… okay.

You’re always welcome.

Would you like some… cake?

Not really.

I’m gonna let you two catch up.

[chuckles]

I heard, uh, you were doing some body work, and I was wondering if you could help me with…

Know what?

I’m gonna come back another time.

No, please.

Yeah.

I should have reached out sooner.

Let’s go somewhere quieter we can talk.

Come.

[camera whirring]

[suspenseful music playing]

[indistinct chatter in distance]

Okay, this is the blind spot.

Can you cover me?

Yeah.

What do you think happened to Daniel?

I think he ran. Like they said.

[Abbie] No, I don’t buy it.

Screwdriver.

Think you can break into the trunk of a car with one?

I won’t know if I don’t try, right?

[Duck speaking indistinctly in distance]

[Rory] What’s wrong?

[Abbie] Leila barely even looks at me, Rory.

But didn’t you tell her to go undercover?

Maybe she’s just method acting.

You know, my dad once stuck a wasp up his butt to stay in character.

What? No. Leila can’t fake anything.

Well, maybe she’s just growing up.

It doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Our teens are like the worst years of our lives.

What if they’re not?

What if they’re the best years and they’re stealing them?

I think she’s forgetting me.

That’s impossible.

You’re really nice, you know that?

Like… Like, in a bad way?

[Duck] Trusting you.

Yeah, thanks.

Here.

How does this work?

[Laura] I work along the energy meridians of your body…

so I can see where you’re blocked.

Let’s start by taking a deep breath.

Breathe in.

[both inhaling slowly]

[Laura] And out.

[both exhale deeply]

I hated you. For a long time.

I know.

Wanna play a game?

[intriguing music playing]

[Leila] Hey, Abbie.

I told Duck that I’m constipated, but we don’t have long.

Did you get it?

What is this, dude?

Sorry, I know it’s cold.

Ugh, there’s a hair on it. Is that a pube?

Okay. Okay, fine. Don’t eat it, then.

Why are you being weird?

The mission was to fake it, Leila.

Not to crawl up Duck’s ass.

This was all your idea, dude.

Go deep undercover. Make them trust you.

Well, you were supposed to get batteries for the walkie, and all you showed up with was a pube pizza.

Wait, are you… jealous?

What? Fuck no.

I’m sorry, man. I…

I just miss you.

I’m worried Evelyn has got into your head.

I’m doing my part.

Now you do yours.

Talk to your… cop friend.

You better be right about him helping us, or else I’m risking my ass for nothing.

[bathroom door closes]

Were you angry when I left?

Yes.

[intriguing music fades]

You didn’t call.

You didn’t write.

It was like you didn’t care at all.

Did she ask you to come here today?

No.

Make me believe it.

She didn’t ask… Mm.

Yes. She told me to come.

Good.

Thank you.

I wanna be honest too.

[takes a deep breath]

I’m ashamed by the way I treated you.

That’s why I didn’t call.

But it was her, Rebecca.

She was threatened by what we had, and she drove a wedge.

That’s what she does. She isolates people.

I was so jealous of the attention she gave you.

I didn’t want it.

Oh, bullshit.

Make me believe it.

Okay.

I liked feeling special.

But it was suffocating.

She said she was gonna help me, and she changed me.

Is she still Leaping students using the drug?

A few every year.

That’s abuse, Rebecca.

That’s wrong. It’s dangerous.

No. No, no, no.

It’s not. It’s medicine.

I’m grateful for my Leap.

I’m sorry if yours broke you.

[Laura sighs]

Are you gonna leave again?

Alex wants to.

[bright, dreamy music playing]

But I love this place.

I see what it can be.

People supporting each other.

Real connection.

[cheering]

[Laura] Helping young people.

[group laughs]

I don’t want to leave.

Alex is building a case against her.

You can help us.

You can’t spend your life being her foot soldier.

Would you rather I be your foot soldier, Laura?

[dreamy music subsides]

No, that’s–

It was good to see you.

Can I ask you, what do you get out of playing house with him?

That’s not who you are.

He’s the only love I have she hasn’t polluted.

It’s mine.

Think about what I said.

[phone dialing]

[line ringing]

[Leila] It’s ringing.

[exhales excitedly]

[man] Hello?

Oh, uh…

Sorry, I think I have the wrong number.

Okay.

Sorry, who is this?

This is Chad. Who’s this?

It’s Leila. I’m looking for Maggie.

I’m her daughter.

Maggie.

It’s your… daughter.

Leila? Hi.

Hi, Mom. [chuckles slightly] Who was that?

Oh my God, I completely forgot you were calling today.

I’m so sorry. Things have just been so busy here, it’s hard to keep track of the time.

[hesitates] Yeah, things have been stupid busy around here too.

Um…

They have these phases, and I made it all the way to the top.

Right. Well, I should hope so.

I mean, I remortgaged the house, so good to know that the money’s going to good use.

Yeah. Money well spent.

[Chad clears throat gruffly]

Oh, Leila, I’m so sorry, honey.

Um, is there anything else?

It’s just, well, I was headed out the door, and, um…

Yeah, um…

Uh, I might be coming home soon.

Right?

[inhales sharply]

Lei, let’s talk about that next time.

[car horn blares]

Yeah. Yeah, okay. Bye, Mom.

Okay, bye.

[receiver clicks]

[dial tone beeps, echoing]

[beeping stops]

[Evelyn] Let’s go for a walk.

[darkly intriguing music playing]

I love these woods.

Never know what you’ll find.

I’m sorry about your mother’s limitations, Leila.

Parents often disappoint.

Would you mind?

Thank you.

[lock clicks]

[Leila] Are we… outside the grounds?

[Evelyn] Mmhmm. I trust you.

Leila, you must understand that the darkness in you is not your fault.

You’re just a… a ripple of all that came before.

You never stood a chance.

None of us did.

Birth is… nonconsensual.

Yeah, it is.

I like that.

Here. Have a cracker. I made them.

Thought about what you’re gonna do when you leave Tall Pines?

Well, me and Abbie…

Not really.

You know, each year, a handful of very special students qualify to become graduates.

We set them up with homes, jobs.

Just a handful of really bright students.

Like you.

You think I’m bright?

Very, very bright.

And very hurt.

You had a breakthrough in the Mirror Room.

You saw the wound.

Your mother, your sister.

Abbie.

They are a… a goiter on your neck that you have to remove.

But you can’t do it yourself.

I learned that when I was your age.

Because… my parents hurt me.

Badly.

[unsettling music playing]

How?

They took my baby from me.

You have no idea how good you have it.

For your own good…

[overlapping] Evelyn! You’re only 17!

[father] You might come home drug-addicted or pregnant again!

[mother, overlapping] Wait!

I can’t bear the sight of her!

[music dies down]

They hurt me, Leila.

And they called it love.

And still, I yearned for their approval.

Much in the same way you still yearn for your mother’s.

I met an older man.

Cliché, I know.

But his ideas… lit me on fire.

This man spoke about the ills done to children by their parents.

And… he had a solution.

Andrews, you’re next.

[Evelyn] He knew that the only way to be free was to sever our connection to our caregivers, the ones who caused us pain.

His methods were brutal, but the ideas…

I want you to leap!

…were revolutionary.

Weldon decided that nobody in our community would have children until we solved the problem of intergenerational trauma.

Eventually, I realized we could grow the community with our graduates instead.

I’d like to Leap you, Leila.

The pain of what happened with Jess?

You shouldn’t have to live with it.

Let me take it from you.

I’m sure you’ve heard whispers.

I know the students talk.

[toads croaking]

[Leila exhales]

When would I do it?

Tomorrow.

All right. Think on it.

We should head back before the others get jealous. [chuckles]

[tense, rhythmic music playing]

[tense music subsides]

[exhales contently]

Here.

Evelyn had us bug your house.

It was overkill, and I got bored of listening to you two talk about whether Toast needs a bath.

That’s all of ’em.

Throw ’em in the fire if you want.

[clears throat]

[Alex scoffs]

Thank you, man.

Fresh start, right?

Fresh start.

So, uh…

How come you left home so young?

Nah, I was 16, and all my friends were enlisting, and I wanted to be a part of something bigger.

And I wanted to get the hell outta my parents’ house.

Every parent fucks up their kid.

That’s why we stopped having ’em.

Mm. What about you?

‘Cause people always ask the thing they want to be asked.

I don’t know. Um…

My parents were addicts.

[Dwayne] Hmm.

My dad was violent.

I just used to stand there and watch it happen.

Watch him beat her up and…

[takes a deep breath]

I should’ve killed him.

Okay. So, what, you said “Next time, I won’t freeze like that again,” right?

“I’ll be ready. I’ll act.”

So you… put on a uniform and bust some skulls?

Yeah.

You and Laura were both broken by your parents.

[sighs] Uh-huh.

Laura never talks about them, her parents.

Did you ever meet them?

No.

No, but, uh, I remember when it happened, though.

It was terrible.

But…

we take care of our own.

Ponderosa’s influence is far-reaching.

[eerie music playing]

What happened to them? Her parents?

Ask your wife.

I should shut my mouth. [laughs] No.

Uh-uh.

What[alarm beeps] Every day, same time. [clears throat] Reminds me to take my shot.

Uh-huh.

[Dwayne] Oh!

Whoa.

You all right?

[Dwayne] Yep.

I’m fine.

[Alex] Are you okay to drive?

[Dwayne] You gonna arrest me, officer?

[music fades slowly]

[car door slams]

[engine starts]

[walkie beeps on]

[Alex sighs]

[Abbie] Dempsey. Are you there?

Abbie.

Alex! Oh my God, you’re here.

Yeah. I’ve been every night.

What happened? Are you okay?

I’m getting out tomorrow.

Whether you’re helping or not, I have to get me and Leila out.

Wait, tomorrow?

I don’t want to end up another missing kid, ‘kay?

Have you found Daniel yet?

Who’s Daniel?

Daniel! He ran away when we were in the forest.

Aren’t you looking for him?

No, I don’t even think he’s been reported missing.

Get me his last name and where he’s from.

I’ll look into it.

Abbie, what do you need from me?

How can I help?

Okay, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., I have free time in the rec yard.

Get to the fence, near the southern end of Road 12.

I’ll meet you there.

I’m gonna need a car, some cash, and stamps.

Stamps?

Yes. Stamps.

Hey. I’m gonna go for a walk.

Mm, slow down.

Sorry.

I… I got through to Rabbit, I think.

Are you okay?

Why haven’t you asked more about your parents?

If somebody told me my parents were missing, I’d be trying to find out why.

What happened, I’d be–

Alex!

Evelyn flipped a switch inside me.

You don’t have to understand it, but when you told me it was like, it was like reading a newspaper headline about strangers.

That’s terrifying.

I can’t make myself feel something to make you comfortable.

[Harper] Hello?

Oh! Good morning, Alex.

Would you like some smoothie?

Sorry, what are you doing in my house?

Laura gave me a key.

Harper’s helping me prepare for the baby.

Is this a bad time?

Yes!

No.

We can talk about this later.

[ominous music playing]

Mule, what the hell is this?

[whispers] Sorry.

Abbie, welcome.

I thought we’d try a more intimate hot seat today.

Come. Sit.

This is your time.

Do you think it’s my fault you’re here?

What? No.

[Evelyn] Choose honesty, Abbie.

If your relationship is strong, this will only strengthen it.

I am being honest.

[Leila] I don’t know, it just feels like you think all of this is just happening to you.

The way you look at me sometimes.

You think it’s my fault, don’t you?

[scoffs]

Just say it to my face.

Fine! Of course it’s your fault!

Of course it is!

I never smoked pot before I met you!

Leila, stand up and face her.

You’re exactly like Jess.

You need me to be the fuckup so you can be good.

You’re lazy and entitled.

Lazy? Who slept through every group project?

But I put the groups together!

I introduced you to friends.

I bought the drugs. I made the plans.

I did everything for us!

So fine, maybe without me, nothing bad would have happened to you.

But nothing would have happened, period!

After Jess died, I stepped up to take care of you!

But you’re like a wrecking ball, Leila.

I mean, look at what happened to Ello!

You have everything, Abbie.

A big house.

Money, a mom… a dad.

A sister.

So, what’s your excuse?

How come you’re so fucked up?

[somber music playing]

I guess it’s because of you.

I was always so proud that a person as good as you could love me.

But you don’t love me.

[coldly] Thank you for your feedback.

Oh! That was beautiful.

I guess we’ll, uh…

we’ll skip convergence for today.

Why are you making her hate me?

Abbie…

this is what I imagine.

You’ll turn 18.

You’ll move back to Canada.

Go to college.

You’ll make new friends.

You’ll be fine.

Leila will not.

A distance will grow between you, and you will leave Leila behind.

I’ve seen it so many times.

If you love Leila, the kind thing to do is end it now.

Let her go so that we can help her.

[somber music playing]

You don’t know the future.

Abbie, I’d like to speak with you about Officer Dempsey.

[suspenseful music pulsing]

[whistling]

Hey. I got what you asked for.

I got stamps. Why do you need stamps?

Did you kill Riley?

Evelyn’s lying, right?

You didn’t kill anyone.

[gasps] Oh my God.

Wait.

You did kill him.

Who are you?

I was trying to help.

He came at my wife with a knife.

It was an accident. I swear to God, Abbie.

No, you lied to me.

I can’t trust you anymore.

I’m risking my life to help you.

You have to believe me, Abbie.

I want to bring this place down.

Okay, listen.

I found evidence of 18 missing children.

Tell me about this kid Daniel who went missing.

Where did he go missing?

It was in the woods.

About a half an hour drive from the school, at the top of Mount Otis.

Near the end of the trail.

You have to find him.

I’m gonna look around.

Yeah.

Listen, I’m gonna leave you my car.

If you can get yourself out of the school, go up about a mile past the pond.

There’s a dirt road.

I’ll leave my car with cash.

If you’re not one of them, why aren’t you coming with me?

They’re blackmailing me.

They could have me locked up.

My wife is pregnant.

You’re a coward.

High-minded ideals have always been used to justify cruelty.

Evelyn relies on your silence.

Evelyn told us the Leap would erase our trauma.

She never mentioned the price we’d pay.

What did she take from you?

Hmm?

[unsettling music playing]

I can’t remember what my brother looks like.

She used my secrets against me.

[crying] I wanted a baby, and now it’s too late.

No, you can have it all.

I can feel that.

Can you?

Yes.

Do you feel that?

[continues in distance] Don’t be afraid.

I feel nothing for my child.

That’s what she took from me.

But she hasn’t won.

Because I have all of you.

And we can trust that we can grow this community in a new way.

She took away our bodily autonomy.

I won’t let you down.

[Harper] Yeah.

[Laura] We’ll be like one organism.

No more Leap ceremonies.

No more Mirror Room.

No more erasing our memories.

This place is ours!

The school is ours.

And we can continue to help young people without ego and without torture.

Yes!

[Laura] I believe there’s a way to raise children here safely, without this chemical lobotomy.

Let me show you.

I will never leave this place. Ever.

I will never leave you!

We are a family.

We are a family.

We are a family.

[Harper] Yes.

[unsettling music building]

[Laura] Do you feel it?

[Harper] Yes!

[Toast barking]

[tense music fades]

I want to hear the end of the story.

[Evelyn] I told Weldon I had ideas about how we could really leap through the door using psychedelics medicinally, and he was furious.

He said nobody was ever meant to open the door anyway.

It was just a symbol.

[energetic music playing]

[Toast whining]

[Toast barks]

I knew all he wanted was power and control.

Not to heal people.

So…

I left.

That’s it? You just left?

Yes. I moved forward on my own.

I built the community and refined the method to make the Leap real.

On the other side of that door is true peace, Leila.

[Alex gasps, groans]

Oh God.

[grunts] Get off of me!

[Evelyn] Because I knew until we opened that door, by whatever means necessary, we would be prisoners of the pattern.

[both grunting]

[Evelyn] Without a safe way to have children, this place couldn’t grow.

[grunting dies down]

[whispering] You’re lying on your back…

crying out for your mother.

[Evelyn] So, yes, I left.

Now we could begin the real work.

[music fades]

[toads croaking]

[Evelyn] So…. have you made your decision about the Leap?

[eerie music playing]

Come here.

[group laughing]

[eerie music building]

[all breathing heavily]

[delirious laughter echoes]

[eerie music fades]

[unsettling music pulsing]