One of Us

---

My beautiful ceres.

I've given you

so many chances...

Time and time again.

Have I not been

patient with you?

You have, father.

When you came to me,

what did you have?

Nothing.

And who were you?

No one.

And now?

I am ceres,

goddess of crabs and fertility.

That's right.

It's in your nature to grow.

But you can't grow

unless you plant roots.

And when you rip

those roots from the earth,

you're denying

your own ascension.

It won't happen again, father.

I know, my love.

I know.

Reach for the light.

It's all there.

As per tradition...

Congratulations

on another one

in the bag.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

So, was it worth it?

Worth what?

That shiner

you're trying

to cover up.

Anything for the story, right?

You completely ghosted on me.

I can handle myself.

Bite off more than you can chew,

and your sister

is gonna handle me.

Between you and Sophie,

it's like my parents

are still around.

All right, all right.

What do you got? What's next?

Melanie, it's Haley. Um...

I know it's been forever,

but, uh, I really need

your help.

Um, I'm in idyllwild.

He won't let anyone leave.

I don't have my phone,

and I don't have any money,

and I don't know

where else to--

oh, my god! He found me!

Haley copper,

a friend from smc.

So, call the police.

Tell Sophie.

Sophie's not a cop anymore.

Okay, well,

she still has friends

in the department.

Yeah, here, not

in the San jacinto mountains.

It's probably just

some a**hole boyfriend.

You really wanna get

in the middle of that?

In the last year,

four Southern California girls

have gone missing.

They were all last spotted

in or around idyllwild.

People go missing every day.

You ever done a wider search?

It's like flipping

through the white pages.

You don't have any other leads

beside where she's calling from.

This is all pure conjecture.

You have nothing.

This is no story.

-A coffee shop?

-Mm-hmm.

And the people who work there

all belong to this ascension

family commune,

some hippy cult.

I know Haley. This is exactly

the kind of place she'd end up.

I've had journalists cover

this kind of story before,

and if this cult

actually exists...

You're exactly

the type of girl

they'd prey on.

This isn't just about Haley.

What if the other girls

are in the same situation?

You'll send me regular updates?

Check in with notes?

Of course.

So, that's a yes?

Check in with Sophie first.

And fix that makeup.

She sees that black eye,

she's gonna kill me.

Melanie, I haven't seen you

for six months.

You can't just keep

disappearing like this.

I knew you'd do this.

You always freak out.

Somebody has to.

There's this commune

in idyllwild.

I think some

of the girls there

might be in trouble.

I can't keep worrying

about you like this.

Waiting to hear

some awful report

on the news.

Four girls have gone missing.

All in their 20s.

Sophie, you were a detective.

You know what happens

when the world forgets

about these girls.

So call the police.

Let someone else be

in danger for once.

Police aren't gonna do anything.

I didn't come here

to ask permission.

I'm telling you.

And I'd appreciate it

if you stopped treating me

like a child.

Then stop acting like one.

I am not having

this fight again.

You know what?

I have two kids.

I can't be your mom too.

I don't want you to.

Just because you gave up

on what you believe in,

doesn't mean

the rest of us have to.

- Real nice, Mel.

Mel, it's me.

I didn't wanna leave

things the way we did.

I'm sorry, okay?

I know you're an adult,

and I know you don't need

me to look after you.

But you can't stop me

from worrying.

I saw too many things

over the years.

I know what people

are capable of.

Just promise me

you'll be careful.

And know that I'm gonna

hit Gavin up for information

if I don't hear from you, okay?

Okay.

I love you. Bye.

-Excuse me.

-Yeah, ma'am?

Sorry to bother

your coffee break.

I was just

wondering if, by chance,

you recognize this girl.

I can't say that I do.

There a problem?

No, she's just a friend.

I heard she was in town.

Well, we get

all kinds passing through.

It's a peaceful community,

but it does seem to attract

a certain element.

What does that mean?

People looking for something,

running from something.

Middle of the mountains,

not too hard to figure why.

I'm sorry I couldn't

be more help.

More tea?

Oh, no, thank you.

Luna.

That's pretty.

Is it a family name?

You need some help with that?

Please save me.

Thanks. Seriously, I was

about ready to lose my sh*t.

I mean stuff. Sorry.

I know we're not

supposed to curse

in front of the customers.

No, that's okay.

I won't tell anyone.

I'm Venus.

I know.

It's a dirty hippy name.

Try not to judge me.

I'm... Mary.

Are you new to the area?

I haven't seen you here before.

Oh, I'm just passing through.

Oh, well, I'm sure

you'll love the town.

You know, first week I was here,

I thought I was

gonna kill myself,

but it grows on you.

You're in a band?

Guilty as charged.

What kind of music do you play?

It's really hard

to define a genre,

so I would say...

Experimental folk.

Okay, no, that actually

makes it sound terrible.

No, not at all.

I think it's right for up here.

Really?

And who's that?

Isn't he dreamy?

That's Brent.

He actually owns the shop.

Are you guys close?

Um... I guess

you could say that.

We all live in the same place,

and we run the shop

to, you know, support us,

but we're mostly

self-sufficient,

off the grid.

That's amazing.

I'd love to check it out.

It's private.

Oh, come on.

Brent would love her.

He wouldn't love

strangers coming over.

I don't have a place to stay.

And whose fault is that?

- Whoa! Whoa!

-Easy. Take it--

-let go of me! Back off!

Calm down... please?

You okay?

Yes.

Is that a question

or a statement?

Yes, I'm okay.

We're as startled

as you are here.

You realize you're

on private property, right?

I'm just a little lost.

Bullshit.

She was at the shop today

asking about you.

Is that true?

I don't have anywhere to stay.

Venus told me

what a nice place

you have here.

I'm sorry. I just wanted

to see it for myself.

I never told her where it was.

Then how did you find it?

I sort of hitched a ride

in the back of your pickup.

I like this one.

What's your name?

Mary.

Brent.

Please don't blind me.

I just wanna shake your hand.

Why don't you come

inside from the cold?

We'll discuss this

over some dinner.

Come on.

Introductions.

Of course, you've already met

Venus and Luna,

and then we have

our silent sisters,

Helen and clytemnestra.

They haven't spoken a word

since they joined us,

except to each other.

And last,

but certainly not least,

rhea... my first.

To our guest of honor, Mary.

We are grateful

that she has found us

in the darkness.

Thanks for having me. Cheers.

Is this everyone?

How do you mean?

Just, uh... everyone

who lives here?

For now.

I hope you're not vegetarian.

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