Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

## Episode guide

**"Sic Transit Gloria Mundi"** is the tenth and final episode of the first season of the Showtime series *Yellowjackets*. It premiered on Showtime on Sunday, January 16, 2022.

## Summary

On the night of their 25th reunion, the girls navigate damning evidence, false alibis and a dubious attempt to "heal"; in the wilderness, the Doomcoming leaves everything off the rails as simmering resentments come to a head.

## Plot

### Tupperware and shrooms

In the woods of the past, the girls start waking up from the shroom-induced funk of the evening of the Doomcoming. Shauna picks up the knife she nearly used on Travis the night before. In the present day, Misty walks the aisles of the nursing home where she works. She arrives outside Gloria DeGenaro's room, only to find it empty and two nurses packing stuff up. "No! When?" she asks and is told that it was another stroke the night before. She asks if they know if there's a service, but when they don't answer, she says she'll ask Kenny at the morgue. She says she has to go and only came by to grab her tupperware, holding up a container that says "MISTY'S - DON'T TOUCH." She returns to a vehicle and gets in, Natalie in the passenger seat. Natalie asks if she was planning on taking home leftovers and Misty says she needed a cover story. She reveals what she was *really* there to get: gloves, waste disposal bags and oxygenated bleach. Natalie asks why they didn't just go to the store and Misty tells her that 12% of all killers are caught buying cleaning supplies and that regular bleach leaves behind hemoglobin for luminol tests. Misty says she wants to go over the terms of their deal. Natalie tells her "I said I would go, so I'm going."

In the woods, Travis is cleaning his neck. Natalie approaches, saying she's been looking everywhere for him and asking if he's alright. He asks why he wouldn't be. He tells her he's better than fine, that he finally got laid, so he's great. She says she doesn't care about that, that she just needs to know he's okay, that they had a knife to his throat. He insists that he's fine. He tells her that he's going to go look for Javi, that he's not there. She asks if he wants help, but he refuses. In the present day, Shauna stares at Adam's covered body. Natalie arrives with Misty. "Well, aren't we a bunch of Gloomy Gusses?" comments Misty. She asks just who the guy is. "Misty? Really? This is your big brainstorm?" asks Shauna of Natalie. Misty says that she means to say "Hi, Misty! It's so great to see you. Thanks for helping us cover up a murder." Shauna asks why everyone keeps using that word, that it's not like she woke up that morning intending to kill Adam. She says she's going to prison for the rest of her life, but Misty says they won't, so long as they all do what they say. She tells them all to turn off their phones, then when they get home, wipe them and destroy the SIM cards. She asks if any neighbors saw them come in and Shauna says no. She assigns Shauna to cut up the body and Natalie says she'll help. She puts herself and Taissa on clean-up duty. She tells them to all get suited up.

Natalie hands Shauna a saw, asking if she still remembers how to do it. She says it's like riding a really gross bike. They get to work on the cutting. Natalie asks if Shauna didn't notice her boyfriend was acting weird after he killed Travis. Shauna tells her to stop it, that she was with him when Travis died. Natalie says it's obvious he was working with somebody else, but Shauna tells her it's just a coincidence, that maybe Travis really did kill himself. She says that maybe they're all just messed up from what happened and Natalie is searching for answers that don't exist. She goes back to sawing, but then stops, saying that she knows what it's like, the numbness and the paranoia, that sometimes it's like all the light has gone out of the world. She says that maybe Travis just couldn't stand to live like that anymore and that maybe she needs to start trying to forgive him. Back in the main flat, Misty says that she's getting deja vu. Taissa grumbles that she thought the worst thing was going to happen to her that week was losing the election. Misty tells her that she voted for her, and she only registered so that she could get jury duty. She asks when they call the results and Taissa tells her it's tomorrow. Shauna comes in with a bag, saying the rest is draining in the tub. Misty tells her to bury it in a park. She says she packed up some clothes and books, so if anyone comes looking, it looks like he went on a trip. Taissa asks what if the bag gets dug up, but Misty says that it won't matter because torsos are useless. She says you only have to worry about the head and the hands and she has her own plan for that.

In the woods, Coach Ben Scott says he boiled some drinking water to help with everyone's hangovers. Shauna asks if anyone has seen Jackie and, almost on cue, Jackie appears at the doorway of the cabin. She crosses her arms and they recall the events of the night before. Jackie says that she has nothing to say to Shauna, to any of them. She asks what the deal is. Shauna mutters that she's "so innocent" and Jackie points out that she's not the one who went insane last night. Vanessa says that no, she was the one having sex with Travis. Ben stops them, saying that he's sure they all did things they regret on account of the shrooms. "Shrooms?" asks Shauna. Van says it all makes sense. "Oh, shit, the broth," realizes Taissa. "You drugged us?" asks Akilah. Misty says she didn't, then backpedals and says it was an accident, that the shrooms were for Ben. Mari asks if she has any idea how crazy she is. Misty shoots back that they were her mushrooms and she stole them to put them in the soup. She says that none of it would have even happened if Ben hadn't tricked her into falling in love with him. "Oh, Misty, would you...?!" shouts Ben, but there is a rustling and Lottie tells them all to stop.

"Do you hear that?" she asks. Suddenly, a bear emerges from the brush. Everyone panics, backing up, and Ben tells them to stay calm. Vanessa asks just how they're supposed to do that and Taissa asks who has the gun. Akilah says that Natalie has it, but, of course, she's not there. Lottie asks Shauna for the knife. Shauna hands it to her. She then steps forward, shushing their protests. She stares at the snarling and chuffing bear. They meet and it sits down in front of her, still growling lowly. She stabs it in the head. It groans and dies. Everyone stares in amazement.

### Reunion

In the present day, a party is in progress. It's the 25th reunion of Wiskayok High School class of 1996. Randy Walsh meets with Jeff, asking what happens if they know the blackmail was them. He tells him it's fine and to just act normal. Randy says he's choking that he can't think of anything to say to anyone. A woman approaches Jeff, calling him "your highness." She says he's been working out, that she's seen his commercials, but you can never tell with filters and facetunes. Randy greets her as Allie. This is the girl, who 25 years ago, missed the flight after Taissa broke her leg. Allie asks Jeff where Shauna is, saying she hasn't seen her yet. Jeff says she's running a little late. He compliments the look of the place and she says she feels a sense of responsibility, not just as the class chair, but as a member of the team, that she was supposed to be on the flight with the others. He agrees it must be weird. She says that it is, but reunions like this are an important way to honor the unique bond they share and this is the big one. She promises it will be special, asking again if Shauna will be there. Jeff assures her she will.

Misty as at the funeral of Mrs. DeGenaro. She tells a woman that she's sorry for her loss, devastated, that Mrs. DeGenaro was like a mother to her. The woman asks just who she is and she introduces herself as Misty Quigley, her mother's nurse from Sunnyview. The woman thanks her, saying Mrs. DeGenaro was surely lucky to have her. Misty says she's the lucky one, that Mrs. DeGenaro was always smiling and laughing, or would have been, if not for the stoke. The women asks if she's confused, that her mother was Mrs. DeGenaro. "May she rest in peace" says Misty as Mrs. DeGenaro's remains are cremated and, with them, the arms and head of Adam Martin. Elsewhere, Taissa enters her home. Shauna takes a shower, trying to clean herself of the day. Natalie gets ready. Taissa sobs, unable to bear even being in her own home. Shauna cries over what she has done. Natalie brushes her hair, incapable of tears. Shauna finds a box on her bed with a note from Jeff. "Thought this seemed a little more like you - Love, Jeff." She opens it to find a blue a dress with a pattern of bright flowers. At the high school, Shauna and Taissa get ready to enter. Taissa asks if she's okay and Shauna asks how it's possible that this is the most scared she's been all day. "Right?" asks Taissa, imitating people asking them what they've been up to. "Gardening, dismembering my lover's corpse," quips Shauna. Natalie arrives as they're headed in. They are stunned by how good she looks. She tells them that she made a deal. They head in and immediately catch everyone's eye. Misty is already there and joins them, so that are four are walking side-by-side.

Randy nudges Jeff, while Misty comments that Natalie showed up. She says she can't believe they're all there, that it's going to be so much fun, and suggests they get a picture. Allie gets in on the action as well. Back in the woods, the girls are preparing the bear meat. Misty tends the fire, but when she tries to help Mari with the meat, she is soundly rebuffed. She says there's no way she'll trust her with the food. Misty says she's just trying to help, but when she moves in again, Mari tells her in no uncertain terms to get away. Misty stares, then walks off. Inside, in the attic, Vanessa finds Taissa and talks to her. She's wearing the deer-bone charm again. Taissa asks her to talk to her, but Vanessa wonders why, if she's just going to tell her how dumb she is. Taissa tells her she's not dumb, that something really scary happened to her and she's trying to deal with it. She says she gets that. Van says that she saw something after the attack. She says she doesn't think she was dead, but she wasn't really alive either. She says it was in-between. Taissa tells her she was in shock, but Van says she knows what she saw, that she doesn't know what it meant, but she saw something. She continues that something was out there with them. Taissa asks if she had a near-death experience and now she believes in ghosts or tree demons or wood sprites. Van tells her not do it, that she's scared too, but she doesn't have any clue what's happening there. Taissa tells her that she may believe that Scully is way too good for Mulder, but she does not believe in whatever this is. Van tells her that maybe she does. She tells Taissa to just say it if it's going to be a problem. Taissa tells her it's not, that they're okay, and hugs her.

At the high school, Natalie stares at a display dedicated to the Yellowjackets. She is approached by Kevyn Tan. "I wish I could say I remember him better," comments Kevyn, referring to Travis. Natalie says they were a lot alike, and Kevyn wonders if this is because they both loved her. "He killed himself," says Natalie. "He really... killed himself." Kevyn agrees that he knows. A woman calls for Kevyn, asking if he's coming. He tells Natalie to take care of herself and that he hopes he finds whatever it is she really needs. He walks away. Back on the dance floor, Shauna places a drink order. Then, Randy comes up, greeting her as "foxy lady" and she changes her order to four tequila shots, doubles. She gives Randy the cold shoulder and he realizes that Jeff told her about the blackmail. She warns him that if he ever tells anyone about what they did, she will end him. "So, you're mad, then?" he asks. She agrees that she is and she can't be mad at Jeff right now, so it's him. He says he gets that. "You're a good friend," she tells him.

### In the cold

In the cabin of the woods, the girls sit down to feast. Shauna asks if they should wait for Natalie and Travis, but Ben says they have stuff to sort out and can eat when they get back. Van asks Lottie about her statement from the previous night, that they wouldn't be hungry much longer. She asks how she knew. Jackie says it's lucky, that the bear probably just smelled them and probably had something wrong with him. Mari says at this point, she doesn't care, asking if they just eat. Van suggests they should say thanks or grace first. Taissa agrees, saying to make it quick. Van suggests Lottie say it, so she has them join hands. Back at the reunion, Shauna brings the shooters to the others. Taissa says it's a good call, that "if one more person tells me I'm in their thoughts and prayers..." Natalie offers a toast - "to old friends." Allie comes on the mic, asking for everyone's attention. She recites a definition of "reunion," stating that as the Wiskayok High Class of '96, they are united by something greater. They went through a tragedy and tonight, she's hopeful they can finally heal. She displays a photo of the team, saying they must first look back to move forward. In the woods, Lottie recites the blessing. She gives thanks to the spirit of the bear and the ancient gods of sky and dirt. One, however, is conspicuously silent, Jackie. Misty points this out. At the reunion, Allie calls the team a true inspiration.

In the cabin, Jackie comments that she did not thank the dirt for bringing them a brain-dead bear, asking what is even happening right now and what's wrong with them. Taissa says it's fine, but Jackie tells her to shut up. She tells her to not pretend they weren't a part of it, asking if they're really going to pretend that they didn't howl at the moon and have orgies. She asks how she's the one who did something wrong. They tell her to calm down, but she asks just what Shauna was going to do with Travis. Shauna is silent and Jackie demands an answer. Shauna says she doesn't remember. Jackie tells her she had a knife to his throat and would have killed him. Shauna tells her to shut up, that none of it would have happened if it wasn't for her. Jackie asks if she means that she stole Travis, saying that it's ironic. She tells everyone that Shauna was having sex with Jeff behind her back. "Yeah, that's who's really responsible for her little bundle of joy." Shauna realizes that Jackie read her joural. Jackie says she was her best friend, that she didn't even like Jeff. Shauna asks how she would know, shooting back that Jackie is so obsessed with herself, it's amazing she's even aware other people exist. She says that Jackie never even asked her if she wanted to go to Rutgers, that she just assumed she'd go wherever she wanted. She says that Jackie tells her what to wear, who to hook up with and that she doesn't even like soccer. She continues that Jackie gets what she wants all the time and all the rest of them are extras in the movie of her life. Jackie calls her a cliche, a sidekick who's mad that she forced her to live in her shadow. She chuckles, saying it's hard to be so jealous that she can barely breathe. Shauna replies that she's not jealous of her, she feels sorry for her.

At the reunion, Allie puts up a picture of Jackie. Shauna continues that Jackie is weak, that deep down she knows it. She says that everyone is sad to be losing their perfect princess, but they'll never know how boring and insecure she really is, or how high school was the best her life was ever going to get. Jackie curses her and says that's it, pointing and her and telling her to get out. Shauna says no and Jackie says she can't even look at her right now. Shauna says it's her problem and maybe she should leave. Mari agrees that maybe she'd be better off, since they're all so crazy. Ben says for everybody to stop, that nobody is going outside. Lottie, however, tells him to stay out of it and Jackie says that it's fine. She heads for the door. Taissa tells her not to go outside, but she tells her to not pretend like it wasn't what she wanted the entire time. She says she doesn't even know who Shauna is anymore. "Or maybe you never did," replies Shauna. Jackie leaves. Back int he present, Allie says that traditionally they'd end with a dance from their king and queen. The queen isn't there with them, but she knows it's what Jackie would have wanted. She indicates Shauna and Jeff. Everyone cheers, but Shauna begs to Jeff "no." He asks if she wants to make a break for it, but Allie shouts for them to get their butts on the dance floor. So they dance, to "Kiss From a Rose by Seal. Jeff asks Shauna if she's alright. She says she is. "Did you...?" he asks and she says the took care of it and the less he knows, the better. He says he thinks they're gonna be alright.

In the woods, Jackie sets up outside. In the present, a lone individual sweeps up the party. Misty pays a visit to Jessica Roberts. Jessica tells her to not hold out, asking how the reunion was. Misty tells her it was amazing, apologizing for sleeping in so late. She says it was so fun to be with old friends and everyone wanted to talk with them. She continues that it showed her how people want and need to hear her story. Jessica says she knows there's a "but" coming. Misty asks how she knows Jessica won't go to the police the second she lets her go. Jessica asks if she knows what she does for a living. She tells her that she's a fixer, that she cleans up messes for the rich and powerful and it's soul-crushing, or would be if she remembered what it felt like to have one. She says she's done a lot of things she'd love to remember and forget, but she doesn't want to add one to the list. She says that if Misty thinks her time is enough to make her rethink their partnership, she hasn't gotten to know her at all. So Misty grabs the key. Taissa takes a call from Simone, who says she sorry she wasn't at the reunion, but she just didn't think Taissa would want her to be. She asks how Taissa is and Taissa says she's working on her concession speech. She says she's calling to tell her that she's swinging by to pickup clothes and toys for Sammy. Taissa says that she won't be there, that she has to be with her staff when they announce the results. "You don't want me to be there" she realizes, and Simone says it would be easier for Sammy. They talk a bit more, Simone promising she can talk to Sammy tomorrow.

### Let the darkness set us free

Misty tells Jessica she parked her car out front. She hands Jessica her bag, but Jessica notices something missing. She shouts out Misty, who admits "I threw them out, but it's a disgusting habit." Jessica tells her she'll just buy more, so Misty goes to the trash can and takes out a pack of cigarettes, giving them to Jessica. She asks Jessica if their next move is Dr. Phil or Oprah and if she could get a publicist. Jessica tells her eventually, but first she's going to contact some people and to let her earn her keep. Jessica gets into her car and lights a cigarette. Misty waves and she waves back, then pulls away. Misty walks back inside. In the woods, it is now dark and Jackie is unable to start a fire. Shauna stares from the window. Natalie wanders the woods, searching for Travis, who is still unable to find Javi and shouting. She catches up to Travis and he says he can't find Javi. She suggests he might be in the cabin, but he says no, that something happened last night. She offers to help him look. He says he doesn't want her help. She tells him she knows. In the present day, Natalie grabs various items and puts them in a trash bag. In the woods again, Travis tells her he doesn't want her help and she says he knows. He says he's sorry, that he didn't want to, but he loves her. She hugs him. In the present day, Natalie grabs the photos of Travis's dead body. Jessica Roberts drives along, but groans and slumps forward. She wonders what's going on, continuing to smoke, as her vision goes hazy. She plows into a trash can as a flash shows that Misty injected her cigarettes with something. "Fucking bitch," she realizes as she passes out.

Jeff and Shauna are at home watching TV. Shauna suggests that they get a cat, that cats are underrated. Callie comes in and is confused by seeing them together so sweetly. She asks what's happening right now. Jeff invites her to join them. Shauna agrees that she was about to make popcorn. So Callie does. The news comes on, saying that the results are going to come in regarding Taissa's election. At her headquarters, Taissa joins her team as they prepare to announce the results. A female reporter says that Taissa's chances are low, but the original says it's looking like it's much closer than anyone expected. Natalie gets a phone call, but she ignores it. In the woods, Jackie has a fire going finally. Taissa tells Shauna to just go talk to her, but she won't and settles in to sleep. In the present, the Sadeckis watch an ad. Callie comments that she didn't know commercials still existed. Jeff notes that he himself is in an ad, as a report comes on about a local missing man, a Hoboken artist named Adam Martin. Callie and Shauna look disturbed. Shauna comes back, saying she burnt the popcorn, but she has a whole bunch of butter. Simone arrives at her home, telling Sammy to go up and grab some stuff from his room. She goes down to the basement. At the campaign headquarters, Taissa's manager tells her they ran a good race. In the basement, Simone's eye catches something in the corner. She finds some blood on a wall. She opens a vent. "Oh my God," she says as she opens a vent and crawls through. At the headquarters, a reporter comes on calling it a stunning upset, that Taissa has defeated incumbent Phil Bathurst. Everyone cheers and Taissa looks stunned. At the house, Simone finishes crawling. Shining a flashlight, she discovers a bizarre shrine: Sammy's doll with one eye missing, the strange symbol from the woods on the wall in red paint, several unlit candles, and the severed head and heart of their dog, Biscuit. She screams. "Turner, Turner, Turner!" shouts the adoring crowd at campaign headquarters.

Natalie grabs a gun and loads it. In the woods, Shauna comes outside, telling Jackie that this is stupid and that she's really sorry. She tells her to come inside, then sits down, asking "Please?" Jackie allows her to lead her up and bring her back inside. Jackie says she was freezing out there. Inside, she sees the others all lined up. She thanks Shauna. She sits down saying she's so tired and Lottie hands her a mug, saying that it will help. Jackie drinks. "Hot chocolate?" she asks, wondering how it's possible. She asks where she found it. "Does it matter?" asks Shauna. Shauna tells her it'll all be fine, that she loves her. "We all love you, Jackie," the others chorus. Shauna tells her she's the best friend she ever had. "You know that, right?" Jackie agrees that she does. Then she turns and sees Laura Lee. "It's not as bad as you thought, is it?" asks Laura Lee. Laura Lee gets up and stands with the others. A shadowy adult male figure from a doorway tells her "So glad you're joining us. We've been waiting for you." The vision or dream ends. In the cabin, Shauna wakes up. The wind is whistling. She goes to the window and sees that it snowed outside. "No," she says. She rushes downstairs. The others, hearing her, wake up and realize what has happened as she opens the door. Shauna rushes outside, but it is far too late. She digs at the snow, but Jackie is frozen to death. "Jackie, wake up!" she shouts, shaking her. She breaks down sobbing, then screams in horror. Taissa hugs her.

In the present day, Natalie takes the gun and raises it to her neck. She fingers the trigger and there's a click, but she cannot seem to bring herself to shoot. There is a loud knock at the door. A group of four rushes in and rushes at Natalie. She shouts at them to get out as her phone starts buzzing with a call from Suzie, the woman she asked to look into Travis's bank account. One of the figures attacking Natalie is wearing a pendant with the strange symbol from the woods. Natalie pleads with them to stop, but they truss her up and take her away. Her phone goes to voicemail. Suzie leaves a message: "Natalie, fucking call me, goddammit. What the hell have you gotten into? Look, I did what you asked. I dug into Travis's bank account and found out who emptied it. I think someone's following me. Who the fuck is Lottie Matthews?" In the woods, Lottie approaches what looks like a throne in the middle of the snow. She offers up what appears to be a heart, placing it on the throne. Behind her are Vanessa and Misty. She chants a phrase in French, "*Versez le sang, mes beaux amis*." ("Shed blood, my beautiful friends.") "And let the darkness set us free." she finishes in English, as the snow pours down.

## Cast

### Starring

* Melanie Lynskey as Adult Shauna
* Tawny Cypress as Adult Taissa
* Ella Purnell as Jackie Taylor
* Sophie Nélisse as Teen Shauna
* Jasmin Savoy Brown as Teen Taissa
* Sophie Thatcher as Teen Natalie
* Sammi Hanratty as Teen Misty
* Steven Krueger as Ben Scott
* Warren Kole as Adult Jeff

with

* Christina Ricci as Adult Misty

and

* Juliette Lewis as Adult Natalie

### Guest starring

* Courtney Eaton as Teen Lottie
* Liv Hewson as Teen Van
* Jane Widdop as Teen Laura Lee (footage from "previously on" segment and hallucination only)
* Keeya King as Akilah
* Peter Gadiot as Adam Martin (corpse and image only)
* Alex Wyndham as Adult Kevyn Tan
* Kevin Alves as Teen Travis
* Alexa Barajas as Teen Mari
* Rekha Sharma as Jessica Roberts
* Sarah Desjardins as Callie Sadecki
* Rukiya Bernard as Simone Abara
* Tonya Cornelisse as Adult Allie

### Co-starring

* Aiden Stoxx as Sammy Abara-Turner
* Mya Lowe as Yellowjacket #1
* Princess Davis as Yellowjacket #2
* Jeff Holman as Adult Randy
* Colleen Wheeler as Suzie
* Michelle Choi-Lee as Campaign manager
* Beverly Breuer as Deb DeGenaro
* Leah Budry as Nurse
* Meghan K. Lees as Kevyn's Date
* Patrick Roccas as Lookout
* William Charles Vaughan as Hunter
* Michael Meneer as Reporter
* Julie Nolin as Other Reporter
* Nikita Inniss-Boston as Campaign Staffer #1
* Emily Schoen as Campaign Staffer #2
* Harv Sihra as Bartender

## Trivia

* Sic transit gloria mundi is a Latin phrase which translates as "Thus passes worldly glory." The phrase was used in papal coronation ceremonies from 1409 to 1963.
* Editing for this epiode wrapped on or around December 16, 2021.
* Songs featured in this episode include "Rump Shaker (Album Version)" by Wreckx-N-Effect, "Ladykillers" by "Lush," "All That She Wants" by Ace of Base, "Only Time" by Enya, "The Haunted" by Dot Allison, "Come Out and Play" by Offspring, "I Touch Myself" by Diviynls, "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal and "Vienna" by Ultravox.
* William Charles Vaughan appears in this episode as "Hunter." This is the man seen in Jackie's vision/dream before dying and implied to be the dead hunter whose skeleton was found in the cabin.
* The events of the 1996 storyline appear to end approximately six months after the plane crash with the flashback segments of the first season spanning from mid/late spring to mid/late fall of '96.
* This episode was directed by Eduardo Sánchez, who is known for the famous found-footage horror film *The Blair Witch Project* and has also directed episodes of programs such as *Lucifer*, *Supernatural* and *Queen of the South*.

## Gallery

### Video

Next On the Season Finale - Yellowjackets - SHOWTIME
## References

1. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (December 16, 2021). ‘Yellowjackets’ Gets Early Renewal: Showtime’s Gary Levine On Series’ Breakout Success & Season 2 Surprises. Deadline. Retrieved on December 16, 2021.