The Twilight End Zone – As the episode opens, Claire Zahler (Rainbow Wedell) is waiting for Mr. Anderson (Patrick Gilmore) outside his home when a police cruiser passes. She squelches her frustration.

Wally Clark (Milo Manheim) does pushups with Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin) on his back. Mr. Martin (Josh Zuckerman) realizes Madeline “Maddie” Nears (Peyton List) is missing but wants the Spirits to focus on the upcoming homecoming game.

Claire and her supporters watch Crystal (Zarina Sterling) garner votes for homecoming queen. When she describes her as “pretty,” her supporters giggle. Maddie questions if Claire’s supporters would kill someone to gain her approval. Simon Elroy (Kristian Flores) appearing to talk to himself runs off a student. In a flashback, young Maddie (Hannah Bos) refuses to let young Claire (Monroe McWilliams) at her house because her mother, Sandra Nears (Maria Dizzia) is having a meltdown. Back to the present, Maddie tells Simon that Claire moved in with her father. After her mother married a wealthy man, she came back but never acknowledged Maddie. Simon suggests Claire hasn’t let it go.

Sandra informs Xavier Baxter (Spencer Macpherson) of the police finding Maddie’s backpack near an abandoned house at 10^th and Lasher. She says Sheriff Baxter (Ian Tracey) believes a squatter is living in the house. She suggests it’s Maddie.

Charley (Nick Pugliese) and Maddie search Claire’s bag. Claire tells Principal Hartman (Alex Zahara) that her parents wonder if Anderson had an accomplice. He says Anderson is on administrative leave. She warns her parents would stop future donations to the school if they’re dragged into a scandal. Rhonda orders Charley and Maddie to return to the gym. Maddie asks when did she start caring. Rhonda tells her that everyone needs to help set it up.

Nicole Herrera (Kiara Pichardo) informs Simon of Maddie’s backpack. Simon suggests she heard it from Xavier before asking if there was a weapon inside the backpack. Joining the conversation, Xavier says Claire’s stepfather owns the entire block and plans to demolish the house. She tells him that Simon believes Claire may be responsible for what happened to Maddie. Xavier reminds him of how he pointed the finger at him last week. Simon sarcastically says he still may. She asks if he ever thought that she wasn’t prepared to lose two friends. He tries to apologize while she walks away.

Wally tells Maddie that his parents come to every homecoming game since his death. She looks up to see Sandra.

Simon convinces Mr. South (Peter New) to give him Anderson’s classroom key.

Sandra informs Ms. Fields (Kalyn Miles) of Maddie’s backpack. She says Maddie must have everything she needs to secure her college admission. Fields tells her that she attended Northwestern and believes Maddie will do well there. Sandra admits to not being the best parent but wants it to be different. Maddie tells Simon that Sandra was clean. He questions why Anderson gave Claire an “A” on similar English papers based on the same book. She suggests letting it go so her mother will have a life even if it means Claire not getting into trouble.

Anderson tells Claire that he told the police that the stolen money was utilized to clear his father’s debt. He claims to have been with his father when Maddie was murdered. She asks if her name was ever mentioned. He tells her that he doesn’t remember.

Wally claims his mother, Bea Clark (Peggy Carlson) urged him to be the best at everything. He sustained a neck injury during a homecoming game.

Xavier visits the abandoned house where Maddie’s backpack was found. Someone flees when he gets too close.

Claire arrives late for the homecoming game. She joins the cheerleaders (Brittany Spiteri, Yudy Rodriguez, Briggs Gibbins, Hannah Cam, Brianne Mapson, and Halle Gall).

Xavier tells Simon that someone was at the abandoned house. Simon asks if he could have been Claire. Xavier denies seeing the individual’s face when Sandra greets Simon. They head out to the homecoming game to hand out flyers.

Martin asks Rhonda to watch out for Maddie. After pointing out his mother, Wally says the empty seat is probably for him. Maddie watches as he takes the seat beside Bea. Claire leaves the sideline when Sheriff Baxter passes. Fields tells Sandra that Anderson turned the stolen money over to the police. Sandra says he was kind to Maddie. Nicole questions if Anderson is responsible for what happened to Maddie. Fields says everyone will need to watch how it plays out. Wally brings Maddie a hot got and soda. She admits to making a lot of hot dogs when Sandra wasn’t herself. He claims to have only played football because his mother wanted him to. She says it isn’t necessary to continue playing for his mother. He asks if it’s difficult for her to see Xavier. She questions how it would look if she chose Sandra’s sobriety over the specifics of her murder. He reminds her that she is dead.

Nicole, Xavier, and Simon receive a video of Anderson telling Claire that they need to be smart to not get caught. She threatens to tell on him for taking her parent’s money if he doesn’t give her an “A.” Nicole questions why the video was sent to them. Simon says who recorded it.

In a flashback, young Bea (Tara Pratt) urges Wally to get off the bench during the homecoming game. He claims the coach suggested he give his knee a break. She says waiting to rejoin the game won’t earn him a scholarship. He supports his coach’s decision. She urges him to rej         oin the game. Back to the present, he removes his jersey. Simon shows the video to Maddie. She says Sandra needs to know the truth.

Xavier denies any knowledge of the video. Nicole asks if he is positive. He suggests Claire took Maddie’s phone and replaced it with a burner phone. He says his father should see the video. She warns that the police will think he is involved. Nicole takes Sandra home while he heads to the parking lot. Simon tells him to ask Claire to the homecoming dance to get on her good side. Xavier assures him that Claire hates him. Simon tells him what to write in the text. Claire ignores Xavier’s text. Wally thanks Maddie for helping him before inviting her to the homecoming dance. She accepts the invitation.

Simon believes Mr. South recorded Claire and Anderson’s conversation. Mr. South shows him a video of the boiler room where Maddie was murdered. Maddie. It is vandalized with graffiti.

Sandra asks Nicole if Maddie will ever forgive her and come home before asking for a hug. Nicole looks around before opening her trunk for the flyers.

Maddie and Simon find an old Cold War room. Simon questions if someone died there because he can still talk to her. They discover a secret passage that may have been utilized to remove Maddie’s body from the boiler room. The episode comes to an end.

 

School Spirits Review

Mr. Martin and the Spirits prepare for the Split River High homecoming. Wally seems excited even though he died during a homecoming football game. His mother, Bea has faithfully attended the last 40 homecoming games, leaving an empty seat just for him. He never particularly liked football but played to make his Bea happy. A short time before he died, she urged him to get back on the field while he was nursing an injured knee. During the game, he set himself free by removing his jersey.

Sandra finds hope in Maddie’s backpack being found in an abandoned house owned by Claire’s stepfather. Maddie is surprised to see she hasn’t been drinking. She considers abandoning the idea of finding her murderer to secure Sandra’s sobriety but decides against it.

Nicole, Xavier, and Simon receive a message with a video of Claire threatening to tell her parents that Anderson stole their money if he doesn’t give her an “A” in English. Anderson complies with her demand.

Simon urges Xavier to ask Claire to the homecoming dance to get on her good side. She ignores his text. Simon and Maddie discover a hidden passageway that may have been utilized to get her body out of the boiler room.

The episode deserves a 6.2. Get more School Spirits recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onsite advertisement is effective and cost-efficient.