Wayward
Season 1 – Episode 8
Episode Title: Leap
Original release date: September 25, 2025
Plot: Evelyn confronts Laura for her new therapy group, in which she reveals Alex is having the Leap. Stacey is given to an adoptive family, which Rabbit witnesses. The Leap goes wrong when Rabbit, feeling betrayed, uses the drug on Evelyn, causing the chain of events leading her to hallucinate the psychological torture she employed, and subsequently overdose. Before dying, Evelyn reveals Laura murdered her parents. Alex flees to Laura, killing Dwayne along the way, and arrives as she gives birth. The baby is then passed around the townsfolk, leaving Alex visibly disturbed and upset while Laura is cold. Later that night, he contemplates leaving with the baby and Abbie as planned. Leila and Abbie rekindle their relationship after Leila confesses her feelings about Jess, to which Abbie reassures her on their friendship regardless. Later on, the students help Abbie, Leila, and Rory escape. Realizing her mother abandoned her, having no future, as well as having proper care, Leila decides to go back. Abbie promises to return to her one day and the two separate. Cornered by the townspeople, Rory kisses Abbie and surrenders as a distraction, allowing Abbie to find Alex’s car and flee Tall Pines. At the last moment, it seems as if Alex joins Abbie with the baby, but is soon revealed to be only his fantasy, as he stayed behind with their child.
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Wayward – S01E08 – Leap | Full transcript
[foreboding music playing]
[toads croaking]
[inhales deeply]
[exhales slowly]
[ominous music building]
[pots clatter]
[indistinct chatter inside]
Hello, Harper.
Oh. Well, it’s almost a little high school reunion.
[chuckles nervously]
[chuckles] Where is Laura?
I want to see her.
[door creaks closed downstairs]
[footsteps approaching]
[Harper] Laura! Evelyn’s here to see you!
[Laura exhales]
I was gonna bring flowers or baked goods, but I thought… I thought that might, uh… [clears throat] …annoy you.
Where’s Alex?
I thought he’d be glued to your side with the baby coming so soon.
[coldly] He’ll be here.
[tense music playing]
[insects buzzing]
[tense music ends abruptly]
[Duck] Today we mark the passing of our former selves.
[object thuds]
If anybody would like to say a few words, be my guest.
Leila.
I’m good.
Back to work.
A little bit faster, please.
I see what you’re building here.
What am I building?
A movement.
I was alarmed at first, but then I realized, in a way, this is exactly what I hoped for.
This is the path I laid out for you.
[sighs]
[clicks tongue]
Oh, Laura, you have so many wonderful qualities.
But you also have this…
this… immense darkness.
And you would have passed that onto this baby if I hadn’t… cauterized that… that vein.
But you can’t cauterize everyone who wants to have a child.
This place is evolving, and it’s leaving you behind.
Why did you come here today?
[sighs]
Alex.
What about him?
He is… tormented.
Fear, insecurity, anger, violence.
His tight little fists and twitchy little face.
I knew it the moment I met him.
Let me leap him.
To protect the baby.
[Laura sighs] Then we can… start fresh.
“We”?
[tense music playing]
If you lay a hand on Alex, I swear to God, I’ll kill you.
[sniffles]
Well…
it’s already in motion.
[tense music building]
[gasps]
Harper!
[tense music fades]
[indistinct chatter]
Hi. My name is Michael.
My name is Bree.
[Stacey] It’s so nice to meet you. [giggles] Pleased to meet you.
Pleasure.
Shall we?
I’m, like… Okay! Okay.
Yeah. Go on.
[panting]
[somber music playing]
[engine starts]
[somber music dies down]
I didn’t mean what I said in there.
I should never have, um–
It’s okay.
Yeah, I know I’m a fuckup.
Yeah, but… so am I.
Okay? We’re allowed to be fuckups.
We’re kids.
But my fuckups are so much bigger than yours, Abbie.
If you knew some of the thoughts I have…
Leila, I don’t know what they’re telling you there–
You don’t understand.
[softly] I killed Jess.
In therapy with Evelyn, we’ve been going over that night, and she said I’ve been protecting myself from the truth.
Abbie, I killed her.
Or… I pushed her.
Or I didn’t help her. I can’t remember.
No. I remember, Leila.
Okay? You called me the next morning and told me everything.
You were heartbroken.
But, Abbie, a part of me wanted her dead.
Sometimes I wish I could just run my dad’s head over with the lawnmower.
Like, I can clearly visualize it, all the brains going all over, but that doesn’t mean I’d ever do it.
You didn’t kill her.
You’re exhausted.
Evelyn’s fucking with your mind.
But what if I did?
What if I’m a murderer?
Then I’m best friends with a murderer.
[tender music playing]
[Duck] Okay, everybody, back inside!
Move it!
Evelyn’s leaping me tonight.
What? No, you can’t.
Okay? I saw what they did to Stacey down there.
It’s not therapy. It’s torture.
I’m gonna get us out of here today.
‘Kay? We can’t wait anymore.
I have a plan.
[Duck] Return your equipment to the shed.
Head inside.
Come on. Let’s go!
So… are you and Rory just fully dating now, or–
Oh, shut up. [chuckles]
[Duck] Move it!
[tender music fades]
[low, unsettling music playing]
You know, I never liked you.
Who knows? Maybe I will once you’re fixed.
Once I get to meet the real you.
[Alex] Dwayne… [panting]
I’m gonna give you some space to think before Evelyn gets back.
[Alex] Dwayne.
Dwayne!
[Evelyn on recording] You’re lying on your back, crying out for your mother.
[Alex] Dwayne!
[unsettling music builds to a climax]
[unsettling music ends]
We have to get out today.
Today? Jesus. Oh God.
They’re gonna leap Leila.
But they know we’re planning something.
They’ve been listening to you.
Pierce Brosnan had the same problem.
Like in Mrs. Doubtfire?
No. What?
[suspenseful music playing]
Holy shit!
Is this for Mule? It looks real.
Your cop buddy brought the stamps?
Yep.
[Rory] Hmm. Hmph.
Everyone’s on board, even Oatmeal Beth.
Are you ready for this?
[Duck speaking indistinctly]
See? Look at this.
Three ahead.
Hey.
Was just about to come looking for you.
Where you been?
[Leila] Can I be excused for a bit?
To lie down?
I’m shedding the lining of my uterus.
My body knows it doesn’t want a baby.
[awkwardly] Yeah. Yeah. You can go to your… uh, bathroom or the dorm room.
Cool. Thanks.
[Rory] Mule, can you check if I have mail?
[tense music playing]
Hey, what’s this? What are you doing?
Hey!
Practicing my signature. Give it back.
[Rory] Sorry.
Your name’s Melanie? Wow.
Yep. Mule to you.
[Rory] Oh, right. Sorry, Mule.
‘Kay, you got no mail.
[Rory] Thanks for checking.
[Abbie] Bye, Mule.
Just keep your eyes on Rory and Abbie.
Evelyn says they might try to make a break for it.
Permission to take my lunch off campus?
It’s from my fiancé.
He flew in from Paris to surprise me.
He wants to meet at 1:00 p.m.
[laughs]
Yeah, fine. Go.
[“Help, I’m Alive” playing]
♪ I tremble ♪
♪ I tremble ♪
♪ I tremble ♪
♪ I tremble ♪
♪ They’re gonna eat me alive ♪
What are they doin’?
♪ If I stumble… ♪
Oh, god damn it. They found a blind spot.
[Abbie] Hurry. Get the screwdriver.
Wait for the signal!
[Rory] Got it.
♪ They’re gonna eat me alive ♪
♪ Eat me alive, alive, alive… ♪
Keep your eyes on the screen.
They’re up to something.
[electricity crackles]
[gasps]
[students clamoring] Hey, hey, hey! No, no, no!
Get back in there!
♪ Like a hammer… ♪
Uh… [sighs] Power’s out.
Doors are open.
Keep a close eye.
[girl] Guys, okay. Let’s go.
Go. Let’s go. Move it. Move it.
Go. Hey. Move it. Move it. Come on.
♪ Come take my pulse ♪
♪ The pace is on a runaway train ♪
♪ Help, I’m alive, my heart keeps ♪
♪ Beating like a hammer ♪
♪ Beating like a hammer ♪
♪ Beating like a hammer ♪
♪ Beating like a hammer ♪
Oh shit.
Hey! Find Abbie and Rory!
Come here. [groans]
[students laughing]
[shouts]
[Beth chuckles]
[rock song ends suddenly]
Where are they, huh?
[girl] Shit.
Where are they?!
[guard on radio] Duck, we have a problem.
Leila’s not in her room.
[grunts]
[Duck breathes heavily]
[groans]
I am not done with you two, and I’m gonna make you bleed!
[groans, panting]
All right, all hands on deck!
Meet me at the northwest perimeter.
Northwest perimeter!
Find Abbie and Rory!
Think they’re gonna make it?
No, I think they’re gonna die.
Yeah.
[inhales sharply]
[attempting to sing along to “La Vie en rose”]
[unsettling music playing]
[Laura] It’s too soon. Where is he?
I want him here.
[exhales sharply]
Water.
We’ll find him. Francis is looking.
You need to focus on what’s happening now.
This baby is coming.
It’s too soon.
You’ll be fine.
We’re here with you.
Play.
[singing bowl note resonates]
[unsettling music building]
[exhales slowly]
[shaky breathing]
[water sloshing]
[sighs] Are you gonna kill me?
[scoffs] Of course not.
We are not malevolent child killers, Alex.
Aaron Wilds.
Breanna Jacobs.
Hannah Iverson.
Please, please, please stop.
They were tragic accidents in the pursuit of healing.
“Tragic accidents”?
Is that what happened to Daniel?
An accident?
You dumped his body in a pile of dirt.
Please start the process.
You should take some deep breaths, begin to clear your mind.
Please don’t do this.
It must be strange to search for yourself your whole life, only to realize you are a violent cliché.
What are you talking about?
How many people do you have to hurt before self-defense feels like a hollow refrain?
I know you think you love Laura, but you don’t.
You don’t even know her.
You love an idea of her because it makes you feel like a real man.
Your fantasy of a nuclear family?
She’s not capable of it.
It’s much safer that you’re here, especially now that she’s gone into labor.
She’s in labor?
Yes. Can you believe it?
Three weeks early. Hmm.
She must be frightened.
I need to be with her. I need to–
What is it, Duck?
Sorry. Uh…
We have three students missing.
Should… Should I mobilize everybody?
Call Walter Bartell. And Dwayne.
[Duck] Yep.
Rabbit? Stay.
[door lock beeps]
[bell rings]
[Evelyn] It’s different for everyone, but on the other side of that door, you will find total peace.
Put your faith in me, Alex.
[measured breathing]
[calming instrumental music playing]
[music grows suspenseful]
[group panting]
Oh shit! Hide!
Hey. We got three kids missing from the academy, okay?
Keep an eye out. Two girls, a boy.
You see them, call the station.
[woman] We’ll keep an eye out!
Thanks, Chief!
They’re hunting us.
What do we do?
[Leila] Look.
[engine starts]
[Rory sighs, sniffles]
Mm.
Come on. Come on!
[suspenseful music playing]
Hello?
There’s nobody here, and we have to move fast.
Okay. We need clothes, supplies.
Take whatever you can find.
Sweet Mother Mary.
Look!
The cheese.
Abbie.
They have so much Brie.
Here, pack it up.
Leila and I will go find us new clothes.
You hear anyone come near the driveway, you shout.
Leila! Upstairs! I found clothes.
[Evelyn] Unless I leap you, you will poison that child.
I would never hurt my child.
Children have two needs, attachment and authenticity.
I read your book, Evelyn.
I thought it was pretentious.
[exhales sharply]
You have so many things you want to scream at me in this moment, but you’re frightened.
And so you whisper them into your body, deep inside.
You carve them into yourself.
I know your parents hurt you, Alex, but you still love them.
The Leap will sever that cord, along with the cord to your offspring.
At least, it did for Laura.
Laura won’t love our baby?
Oh no. She’ll… She’ll feel for it.
Just in a different way.
She’ll love it much in the same way you love a flower.
Or a sunrise.
But I want to love my baby.
I want the whole thing.
[Evelyn] Are you ready, Alex?
Breathe in. [inhales] Stop!
And out. [exhales] Breathe.
[Alex] Stop!
[tense music fades]
Okay. Here’s your bag.
Come on. We gotta go.
I don’t have a home to go back to.
[sighs] Good thing we’re not going home, then.
Hey, we’re so close, but we gotta go right now, okay?
I’m really glad that you and Rory have each other.
I mean, at first, I was mad the only guy you’ve ever liked has such an Ace Ventura vibe, but… I can see you’re happy.
Hey, it’s still you and me, ‘kay?
It’s our dream. Remember? West Coast.
I can’t picture it.
I mean, I can’t picture my future.
It’s all black.
[ominous music playing]
They take care of me here, Abbie.
And all that stuff we believe in, like, that hippie stuff, like community and personal spiritual growth stuff.
This place is that, okay?
They’re really living it.
I don’t want to be sad anymore.
I don’t want to feel scared.
I just want it to stop, okay?
It’s so loud.
They can help me.
But we… we’d have Vancouver, and you’d have me and Rory and…
I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry. I’m not going. [sniffles]
[sighs]
I can’t stay.
But…
[sniffles]
But I don’t wanna do this without you.
[breathes deeply]
They’re gonna do what they did to Stacey, Leila.
You won’t be the same after that.
Exactly.
[car approaches]
[Rory] Guys!
Guys!
Okay. I love you.
I love you, okay?
I’ll come back for you.
[suspenseful music playing]
[excited chatter nearby]
[police siren approaching]
Come on. Come on.
[clamoring outside]
[Evelyn] Rabbit, plunger.
[Alex] Evelyn!
[Evelyn] You are lying on your back.
Stop!
[Evelyn] Crying out for your mother.
Stop.
Your mother has her back to you.
[Alex] Don’t do this.
[Evelyn] She turns to face you.
Her mouth is open wide.
[groans]
[grunting]
[unsettling music playing]
[Evelyn] Traitor!
[grunts]
[choking]
[sounds distort]
[muffled cries]
[retching]
[coughs]
She’s in so much pain.
Should we give her something?
No. I want to feel it.
[grunting loudly]
[group grunting in unison]
[groans]
[gasping]
[coughing]
[distorted droning]
[disoriented moaning]
[Alex panting]
No! No, no! That’s too much!
[unsettling music swells]
[exhales slowly]
[group grunting in unison]
[Evelyn] Alex!
[unsettling music subsides]
She’s ruthless.
You have no idea.
I love her.
You don’t love her.
I know what you did.
You murdered her parents!
Is that what she told you?
She did it.
She killed her parents.
You’re lying.
That is why I had to leap her.
She is a murderer.
Just like you.
You’re lying!
No, Alex.
She killed those people.
She went back.
She smashed his head in with a rock.
[toad croaking]
[Alex breathing shakily]
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
[siren wailing in distance]
[nearby chatter]
[Rory whispers] Shit.
[Abbie] They’re surrounding us.
Abbie, when I say the word, you gotta move fast, okay?
No, don’t do something stupid.
I’m not.
Can I kiss you now?
[tender music playing]
Stay with me.
This is the best day of my life.
[Abbie sniffles]
[door rattles]
Okay. Okay. You gotta go.
You gotta go now.
[man] Quiet.
[Rory] Ah!
[man grunts] Hey! Okay.
Come get some, assholes!
[Mule] Rory!
[Walter] Hey!
[Rory] No!
[Mule and man] Put it down!
[man] Don’t make me hurt you.
[Walter] Hey!
[Rory] Get back!
[Mule] Drop it!
Back!
Fuck.
[group grunting]
[tense music pulsing]
[tense music subsides]
[Alex sighs]
[exhales deeply]
[Dwayne and Alex grunting]
[choking]
[loud crack]
[Alex gasps, coughing]
[Dwayne groaning]
[tense music dies down]
[grunts]
[panting]
Alex.
I see you.
[Alex grunts]
[thud echoes]
[somber, bleak music playing]
[crowd chattering inaudibly]
[distorted cries]
[Laura] Time?
[woman] Uh, every four minutes.
[Alex panting]
Oh my God.
Oh my God.
Sweetheart, are you okay?
I love you.
[Laura] Mm.
I love you so much.
Did she hurt you?
No.
It’s… I’ve done so many… awful things.
So have I.
I know.
But now we’ll be a family.
[Laura groans]
It’s coming. It’s coming.
[Alex murmurs] [Laura] It’s coming.
It’s coming. It’s coming.
[groaning]
[Rabbit] But her mouth is open wide.
[shuddering]
[Rabbit] In her mouth is a door.
You’re lying on your back, crying out for your mother.
She is standing, facing the wall.
She has her back to you.
[distorted] A bell rings.
[eerie music playing]
[Rabbit] Your mother turns to face you.
She is silent, but her mouth is open wide.
In her mouth is a door.
You’re lying on your back, crying out for your mother.
She has her back to you.
A bell rings.
Your mother turns to face you.
She is silent, but her mouth is open wide.
In her mouth is a door.
[eerie music building]
[grunting inaudibly]
[cries out]
[distorted voice] You’re on your back, crying out for your mother.
She is standing, facing the wall.
She has her back to you.
A bell rings.
Your mother turns to face you.
She is silent, but her mouth is open wide.
[screaming]
[hushed voice] You’re on your back, crying out for your mother.
She is standing, facing the wall.
She has her back to you.
A bell rings.
Your mother turns to face you.
She is silent, but her mouth is open wide.
In her mouth is a door.
[panting, whimpers]
[crying out]
[pained wailing]
[crying inaudibly]
[eerie music subsides]
[baby crying]
[excited, overlapping chatter]
[exclaims happily]
[woman 1] So cute!
[Laura sighs]
[woman 2] What an angel!
[Rabbit] You’re lying on your back, crying out for your mother.
She is standing, facing the wall.
She has her back to you.
[baby crying]
[soft, unsettling music playing]
[Laura exhales slowly]
We have to do skin-to-skin.
[baby fusses, crying]
Play.
[playing “In the Pines”]
♪ In the pines, in the pines ♪
♪ Where the sun never shines ♪
♪ Shivered where the cold winds blow ♪
♪ In the pines, in the pines ♪
♪ In the cold, lonesome pines ♪
♪ Shivered where the cold winds blow ♪
♪ Little girl, little girl ♪
♪ Where’d you stay last night? ♪
♪ Not even your mother knows ♪
It’s what she wants.
♪ I stayed in the pines ♪
♪ Where the sun never shines… ♪
[softly] Laura.
[flatly] It’s everyone’s.
It’s the only way to break the pattern.
[rock rendition of “In the Pines” playing]
♪ The prettiest girl ♪
♪ That I ever did see ♪
♪ Lived out in the Georgia pines ♪
♪ And the only girl that I ever did love ♪
♪ I knew she’d never be mine ♪
[moody rock song fades]
[Alex sighs]
[toads croaking outside]
[Toast whining]
[Abbie] He did it!
Hey! Hey, buddy! What’s your name?
[chuckles happily]
Are you getting out of here too?
[engine starts]
[“Time” by Pink Floyd playing]
[Toast barks]
[Abbie] Oh, you came.
Alex, whose baby is that?
Mine.
[baby fusses]
I knew you’d do the right thing.
I knew you wouldn’t let them get to you.
You trusted your gut.
So, I have a family friend who has a cabin in Upstate New York.
So we’re gonna head straight there, and we’ll start planning our next step.
Just get me to the city, and I’ll figure it out.
I’m not your responsibility.
I’m not your family.
Says who?
Family can be a lot of things.
Abbie.
I want to say something.
You are not bad.
There’s no such thing as a bad kid.
You know exactly who you are.
Yeah. You’re gonna be okay.
Thanks.
You’re a good person too, Alex.
[Alex, quietly] Yeah.
You have a good heart.
You’re a good father.
[Alex sighs]
You’ll always protect us.
Because that’s what you are.
Our protector.
♪ Ticking away the moments
That make up a dull day ♪
[baby fusses]
♪ You fritter and waste the hours
In an offhand way ♪
♪ Kicking around on a piece of ground
In your hometown ♪
♪ Waiting for someone
Or something to show you the way ♪
♪ Tired of lying in the sunshine ♪
♪ Staying home to watch the rain ♪
♪ And you are young and life is long ♪
♪ And there is time to kill today ♪
♪ And then one day you find ♪
♪ Ten years have got behind you ♪
♪ No one told you when to run ♪
♪ You missed the starting gun ♪
[hypnotic rock music building]
[haunting rock song cuts out]
[toads croaking]
[eerie, ethereal music playing]
[eerie music subsides]
