Welcome to Chatham

Season

2

Episode

1

First Aired

June 5, 2023

Writer

Elle Triedman & Tia Napolitano

Director

Bill Purple

Episode Guide
Previous	Next
Hostile Witness (Season 1)	Ride or Die

Welcome to Chatham is the first episode of the second season of Cruel Summer. It is also the eleventh episode overall and aired on June 5, 2023 on Freeform.

Synopsis[]

In Summer 1999, small-town computer genius Megan resents the arrival of outgoing and mysterious foreign exchange student Isabella. Little does she know, her life will change by Summer 2000.

Plot[]

The events that are about to unfold take places on or around:
July 16th, 1999
December 15th, 1999
July 16th, 2000

1999, Summer: Megan is listening to music with her mom in their camper, which they are cleaning out to make room for Isabella. Megan doesn't want another close friend as she already has Luke. Debbie believes female friendships are different, which might be sexist but is also true. She's worked hard and should enjoy her senior year instead of counting down the days until college. For all she knows, Isabella coming could be the best thing to ever happen to her.

1999, Winter: With fifteen days until 2000, Megan lies on the couch watching a countdown. Isabella comes in excited for a surprise and shows her a college envelope. Megan worries she didn't get in, but Isabella encourages her to open it. She got into the University of Washington for the class of 2004 and was awarded the Gate Scholarship for excellence in academics. She cheers, and squeals, and the girls hug. She's so happy Isabella is there with her right now, as her being there is the best thing to ever happen to her. Isabella agrees with the sentiment. They're going to get into so much trouble this Winter break. It's going to be the best two weeks of their lives. They dance to the music on the TV.

2000, Summer: Megan sits in a chair on her computer coding with grunge music in her headphones. She hears a noise and gets up to check outside. She sees the sheriff arrive and quickly grabs her keys. She opens her bedroom window and sneaks out through the roof.

1999, Summer: Luke and Megan talk on the docks about her clearing out the air stream for the new arrival. Debbie is excited to import a new best friend for her, and Luke jokes it's his job to fill the mysterious best friend role. There's nothing mysterious about him, though. Maybe the import won't be too bad, but Megan thinks the only type of person who would spend time in a foreign country are boring people. She offers to hop in a boat and leave, but he doesn't think she'd last too long in the open seas. She would miss her computer too much, which she agrees with even though it's pathetic. Luke greets Freddy at the boat, excited to head out to the island with his friends. Megan decides not to go last minute, even though she's been dying too and it's the perfect day for snorkeling. Debbie would kill her if she wasn't there for the big arrival. It's their last high school summer and the last time to be officially stupid. He doesn't want her to let Isabella ruin it, and Megan insists that he go without her. He wishes her luck, waving from the boat before they speed off.

1999, Winter: Megan runs through the yard holding Luke's hand. They kiss happily and he expresses his pride in her for crushing that scholarship. He hopes she'll remember all the little people when she's a famous coder. He's stoked for her as she deserves it. She's pinching herself to make sure she's not dreaming, but pinching is his territory. She notes that he's getting possessive, and he asks if it's too much, but it's not. They kiss again.

1999, Summer: Back at the Landry house, Debbie sets out a vase of flowers that cost a lot. Megan doesn't understand why she's trying to impress the girl, but she's just giving her a warm welcome. Lily excitedly states that the girl is here and the two rush outside just as Isabella is stepping out of the car.

2000, Summer: Megan codes on her computer against an attack. She takes out a floppy disk, puts it in her jacket pocket, then leaves. She walks down an alley and into a building for rent. She confronts a man about who he's been talking to since the sheriff is asking questions. He swears he didn't tell anyone. She ups the price to double unless he doesn't want it. He pays her in cash and she leaves.

1999, Summer: Debbie, Isabella, Lily, and Megan sit on the porch. Isabella was born in New York but they left the States when she was six months old, so she's lived just about everywhere. India, Malaysia, England, Argentina, Japan, just everywhere since her parents are diplomats. Lily thinks she's incredible and Isabella encourages Debbie to open the gift she brought, which is a glass vase. She gives Lily a bracelet and Megan reluctantly opens hers, which is a book titled “Grave Questions”, since she likes mysteries.

Megan hoses off the car as she listens to Debbie talking with Isabella. She heads into the air stream to snoop around. She finds a floppy disk in her bag titled “Summer 1998” and Isabella's passport. Isabella catches her, leading Megan to quickly leave.

1999, Winter: Megan asks to borrow Isabella's red dress for Luke's dad's Christmas party, then starts doing her makeup. Isabella has never seen her this happy, with Megan attributing the happiness to finally getting the scholarship. There's one thing she's always wanted to do but never did, making them laugh over her always being a rule follower. She's lucky that Isabella came along and corrupted her. She wants to do it now, taking her hands.

2000, Summer: Lily asks Megan for money to go to the movies, and Debbie tells Megan to let her have some fun since they canceled the Ocean Bloom. Megan hands her money but wants her to change her shirt first, and gets called a “biatch” in response. Megan says she looks slutty, but Lily would rather look like a slut than have everyone think she's a freak. She takes the money in the end. Debbie doesn't want her to be so hard on Lily, but Megan insists she's just looking out for her and goes back to filling a pill container.

1999, Summer: Debbie encourages Megan to hang out with Isabella, though Megan doesn't think they'll have anything in common since Isabella was born cool. She isn't changing her schedule for Isabella and has errands to run before meeting Luke at the Bloom. She refuses her mom's suggestion that she take Isabella but eventually caves when the girl rounds the corner, ready to leave.

They drive through the mountains while making small talk about what made Isabella choose Chatham. She never spent time in the US and her mom's letter was so nice, it made her feel welcome. She wanted to move to a small town so she could be part of a family, and a community, and to have that normal American high school experience. Megan warns her that nothing ever happens there, and everyone knows everyone.

1999, Winter: Isabella and Megan trek up the cliffs, as Megan is no longer afraid of heights. Once at the top, she toasts to Isabella, the best friend she could ever ask for - her ultimate ride or die who helped her see things in herself she never believed were there. She never wants her to leave. They strip off their clothes, but it's really cold. That's the point because anyone can do it in the summer. They hold hands to repeat their “ride or die” sentiment, then leap off the cliff, smashing into the water below.

2000, Summer: Megan pulls into the pier, walking until wailing police sirens stop her. She looks at the bulletin board where a missing persons flier is pinned, though the picture has been torn off. Parker notices and pauses, admitting that none of this would have happened if she hadn't come into town. Megan thinks about that all the time. They exchange a look before Megan keeps walking.

1999, Summer: Megan and Isabella walk into the Shoreliner Café, greeting the bartender behind the counter. Isabella recognizes the Manhattan he's drinking, as her dad likes to drink those. She steals the cherries after they've soaked up some of the whiskey, earning flirtatious banter in response. Megan rolls her eyes and then asks for her check. Kim will be taking her weekend shift, with Megan working Monday and Tuesday to make up for it. While he assures her it evens out in the end, Megan knows it doesn't because of the weekend rush. He only gives Kim the good shifts because she flirts with him, but he jibes back that it's not his fault that she finds him irresistible. He asks if they have a problem so she hesitates, then takes the check from him. Once outside, Isabella asks where she wants to go to college. She wants to attend the University of Washington as a computer major, which impresses Isabella since numbers aren't her thing. They've always come easily to Megan. Isabella isn't really into school, as she's more of a student of life.

1999, Winter: Megan hurries into the kitchen for water, where Debbie greets her Gate scholar. She is proud of her daughter for being the first Landry to go to college. She wishes she had her drive and focus. Megan notices the past due bills, assuring her mom that she'll still have a job and can help out while in college. Debbie tells her to enjoy college and take her foot off the gas for once. She starts to leave without her lunch, so Megan hands it off.

1999, Summer: Isabella is excited to be in one place for a change, though Megan insists she can see it all in one day as the city doesn't have much to discover. Her friend Luke's dad owns most of the businesses around here, so the only real future someone has is if they work for him. Otherwise, they're stuck waiting tables like she is. She wants to go to college and then to Silicon Valley to work for a big company or a start-up. The thing about this town is to keep her expectations low, though Isabella is all about living in the now. It's pretty liberating, suggesting that Megan try it.

Luke and Sheriff Myer get out of his car as they discuss Luke's dad. Myer assures him that this time is all about figuring out what he wants out of life, but Luke isn't sure his dad sees it that way. Myers tells him to keep trying and he'll come around. Megan runs up to him and Myers greets him. Her summer is complicated, but he's sure it's not anything she can't handle. He drives off and Luke assumes it's going well since Isabella isn't in the lake yet. They had an encounter earlier, with him joking about Megan being caught going through her stuff. Megan admits she did and wishes she was kidding too. Isabella walks up and Luke introduces himself. She asks if he just got arrested, but he didn't, he was doing a high school ride-along program. His dad thinks it builds character, and he admits that drunk tourists do have interesting stories. Having been one, Isabella agrees. Luke doesn't think there's anything wrong with the occasional vice, and Megan tries to join the light banter but makes it over serious. Luke asks if Megs gave her the 401 on Bloom that night, but she hadn't. Every July there's a bioluminescence in the water for a couple days. So of course, the town turned a cool natural wonder into an opportunity to sell snow cones and glow sticks. Isabella thinks it sounds fun, and she and Luke exchange a flirtatious look while Megan watches.

2000, Summer: Megan picks up her mom's prescriptions from the pharmacy. She overhears two customers talking about how the fisherman found a body in the lake, but they don't know who it is yet. They're bringing in the coast guard. She gets the prescriptions and then quickly leaves, driving hurriedly through the woods to a cabin. As she gets out of the car, she drops a California driver's license with Isabella's picture on it, but a new name is attached - Pat Highsmith. She tosses the license in the car and then hurries inside. She begins scrubbing blood off the wooden floors using a rag and bleach. She startles when the wind opens the door, then goes back to furiously scrubbing.

1999, Summer: Debbie brings a file to Steve. She ran the numbers on the Northland project and thinks it's a big swing and is worried about the risk. He asks if she thinks it's too big of a risk, but she doesn't, just that it's a high-flier. He agrees and appreciates the caution, but he's moving on this. Northland could have a real impact on the town. It could bring in business all year round and put Chatham on the map. She notices the pictures of his family on his desk, smiling that Luke was over at the house earlier. Neither of them can believe their kids are going to be seniors. He's lining up investors and has a call with a congressman that he answers teasingly, scheduling a rematch as Debbie walks off.

1999, Winter: Debbie meets with Steve in a parking lot. He apologizes for being late as the Northland investors are starting to get cold feet. He could get new ones but they're already losing so much summer foot traffic to Pine Cove. The Northland deal was supposed to recoup all of it, maybe more. She suggests hitting them with the Chambers charm, but he thinks that's gone. She thinks it hardly is, as half the women in this town would ditch their husbands if he looked at them twice. He questions it and they flirt before he kisses her.

1999, Summer: Luke, Megan and Isabella walk down the street when they run into his friend group. He introduces her as a visitor from France, most recently. Brent gives a half-assed “bonjour” which isn't the worst accent Isabella's heard. Luke introduces the charmer as his brother Brent, the girl on his arm is Parker, then Kellie, and Amy. Isabella compliments Parker's shirt and she thanks her. One of the boys asks how to say “you're hot” in Isabella's language, which she remarks is English, unless he wants her to translate it into whatever it is he speaks. Jeff introduces himself while holding the camera and she compliments it. He's making cinéma vérité and remarks that she lucked out, as no one could ask for a better host than Megan. He turns the camera to her and she smiles.

1999, Winter: Megan and Luke make out in the Chambers cabin and then fall onto the bed. He can't believe they're going to different colleges. She giggles as they'll only be an hour apart and will see each other every weekend. He doesn't know if he can wait that long, kissing her again. A gunshot scares both of them. They head outside to find a man, Ned Faunce, shooting off his gun at a flock of birds. The freak was employee number 12 at Apple, basically coder royalty worth millions. Luke heard him going on at the hardware store about how the world is going to end on Y2K, wondering what he'll do when it comes and nothing happens. He wants to go back inside, but Megan lingers to stare at the shooter before heading inside.

2000, Summer: Megan beeps at a line of traffic heading to the pier. An ambulance speeds past and a police boat is on the water. She gets out of the car and runs after the ambulance.

1999, Winter: Steve entertains wealthy visitors at his house when Debbie arrives. He compliments her and they kiss. He likes her shoes and smiles that he has excellent taste. He's outdone himself with the party this time. Wayne Bright said some of the Northland investors were coming, so he's pulled out all the stops. She nods over to where Megan and Luke are laughing together. He thinks it's puppy love but she thinks it could run deeper than that. He gives her a look - they have their whole futures ahead of them and are a little young to be getting tied down. He notices Wayne arrives and leads Debbie over as she agrees to help him close the deal.

Jeff walks over to Luke, Isabella, and Megan with his video camera rolling. Isabella talks about the cool, hot bartender that goes to school in France so she scampers off. Megan knows she's irresistible when she wants something, and Luke remarks it sounds like someone he knows. As they kiss, Jeff walks away with his camera down.

1999, Summer: Isabella and Megan arrive at the lake and Isabella asks how long she and Luke have been dating. Megan insists they're just friends as he's like her brother. She thought there was a vibe, but there wasn't. They meet up with Luke and his friends and Isabella takes a drink, but Megan turns it down as she doesn't drink. Luke's tried to corrupt her many times, but she's too much of a control freak. Megan jabs back that his drunk ass loves having a designated driver, then laughs as Jeff records. The group laughs and passes around the drink.

1999, Winter: Luke shakes hands with Principal Bowers, who heard from his dad how excited he is to be following in his and Brent's footsteps at Branson. Luke eyes his father when he says it's the Chambers way. Steve is sure Luke will love their great business program. Debbie interrupts to take Steven and Bowers away, so Megan and Luke walk a few paces. Every time he hears “business program” he wants to eat a gun. She asks if he's tried telling his dad that, but he's sure his dad's head would explode into a million pieces. If he ever wants to try, she's there for him. He loves her and she stops walking, and it takes him a few seconds to realize what he said. She smiles widely at him and then returns the sentiment. Isabella runs up as the bartender is the dumbest person she just met, but Megan asks if he's hot enough that she doesn't care, and he is. Luke calls them ice cold, but Megan knows guys are the same way - they're just honest about it. She loops an arm through each of theirs and they walk off.

1999, Summer: Megan gets a drink when Luke runs up to her. He remarks that Isabella is doing fine by herself and is great, but Megan isn't so sure. He points out that she's not the best at letting people in. There's nothing objectively wrong with her, but she doesn't see them ever being friends. She walks away from Luke who opens his drink.

1999, Winter: Megan and Isabella sing and dance together in front of Luke and their friends.

1999, Summer: Isabella asks Megan again if she and Luke aren't a thing, and Megan insists they're not. Isabella asks if she would mind if she hooked up with him, then, so Megan tells her to go for it. Isabella's not sure if he's even interested or not, but walks off to find out. They end the night wrapped together and Megan watches as Freddy splashes some of the luminescent water on Luke. They laugh it off, though Isabella starts drying him off with her hands, starting at his chest to stomach. Megan watches solemnly.

1999, Winter: Megan watches Isabella and Luke laughing together, having fun. She keeps a loose smile.

2000, Summer: Megan stares out at the water where the paramedics are moving the body, now in a bag, into an ambulance. Sheriff Myer oversees the event, and Megan breathes heavily before leaving.

1999, Summer: The girls arrive at the house and Megan apologizes for snooping through her stuff. After a long pause, she says goodnight, and the girls head in opposite directions. Isabelle into the air stream and Megan into the house.

1999, Winter: Steve calls everyone's attention to thank them for coming. When he and his late wife Jane started throwing the parties, it was just a handful of friends with Brent and Luke as babies. Brent is now at Branson and Luke is following in his footsteps this fall, raising his glass as he expresses his pride. Megan rubs Luke's arm supportively. This year's Christmas movie is one of Jane's favorites and one that holds a special place in Steve's heart as well. The movie starts and Megan asks Luke if he wants to go inside, which relieves him. The sounds of gasps and moans distract them, pulling their attention to the screen where a sex tape is projected. It features a girl that everyone realizes is Isabella, because she's wearing the same pink sweater as in the video. The boy in the video isn't seen for a while, and Steve shouts to turn off the film while everyone murmurs. The boy in the video lifts his head, revealing himself as Luke. Megan looks at her boyfriend while Isabella raises her eyes. Steve shouts at Luke to turn it off and he runs over to the VCR, ejecting it. Megan rushes after him and then turns to stare at Isabella, while Kelly sneers to Isabella that she's some best friend.

Megan runs out of the house, crying, while Isabella and Luke chase after her. She grabs her hand, but Megan pulls away. Megan stares at both of them and then walks away, sobbing. Isabella glances back at Luke.

2000, Summer: Megan jogs to the crime scene tape to watch the officers escorting the body bag. She sees the male coder in the distance, then Steve arrives with Brent. Steve pushes past the crime scene tape despite Sheriff Myers trying to stop him. He unzips the bag, pausing before identifying Luke. Brent starts to get emotional as Debbie holds his arm. Megan looks over at them, out of breath, and the paramedics take the body away. Isabella stands next to Megan and they look at each other. Isabella tells her they have to get their stories straight, and Megan nods. Her ears ring loudly as tears form in her eyes.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Jenna Lamb as Lily Landry
Jason Fernandes as Freddy
Elijah Silva as Deputy Hal Hardwicke
Wonita Joy as Principal Bowers
Pavia Sidhu as Kellie
Ted Cole as Wayne
Tedra Rogers as Amy
Jeremy Monn-Djasngar as Eric
Brad Harder as Jerry
Connor Wong as Tim
Madonna Gonzalez as Secretary
JP Padda as Townsperson #1
Imelda Gaborno as Townsperson #1
Kenny Wood-Shatz as Man
Guy Fauchon as Pharmacist
Winson Won as Man
Sacha Joseph as Woman

Notes and Trivia[]

Sadie and Lexi didn't actually jump off the cliffs in the episode as it was a liability issue. However, both actresses wish they could have.^[1]

Viewership[]

"Welcome to Chatham" aired alongside the second episode of the season, "Ride or Die", in a double-episode premiere. In live + same day ratings, "Welcome to Chatham" dipped 18.61% in viewership and 27.27% in demographic from its previous seasons finale. It averaged 223,000 viewers with a 0.08 demographic. "Ride or Die" saw a -47.98% dip in viewership (116,000) and -50.00% dip in demographic (0.04).^[2]

After seven days of delayed viewing, "Welcome to Chatham" jumped to 2.6 million viewers across linear and digital platforms. This is up 1,000% from its live+SD (223,000) to multiplatform over seven days (2,574,000). This rating makes it Freeform's number one telecast in two years, since the Cruel Summer Season 1 finale. Its dual-episode premiere averaged 2.3 million total viewers, making it Freeform's most-watched season two series of all-time and Freeform's No. 1 current series.^[3]

Cruel Summer season two owes much of it success to its Hulu viewership. The first two episodes of the season were the most-watched scripted TV episodes on Hulu in its initial week available.^[4] "Cruel Summer" also remains Freeform's number one series on Hulu.^[3]