No Compass

## Episode guide

**"No Compass"** is the seventh episode of the first season of the Showtime series *Yellowjackets*. It premiered on Showtime on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

## Summary

As starvation looms, Taissa leads a last-ditch effort and/or suicide mission; amid felony schemes and all-night stakeouts, the Yellowjackets are forced to commit small talk.

## Plot

### The lady in the tree

Taissa is still underneath the tree, her hand badly bloodied. It's 11:50 P.M. and she is breathing hard, disturbed and confused. She heads inside her home, washes the blood and dirt off her hands and cleans up her teeth. She bandages her hand and gets another text from Natalie, telling her to hurry up. In the woods, of the past, Van tells her that everyone thinks her idea to go south to look for help is a bad one. Taissa counters that they're starving and there's nothing to hunt. She warns that it's going to get cold, so cold that dying feels like falling asleep. Laura Lee asks Lottie what she thinks and Lottie admits she doesn't know. Taissa tells them she's going no matter what and Akilah points out that she's going to want to take supplies and that's not up to her. Shauna says they can't just send her out with nothing and Van calls the whole thing insane, that they don't even know where they are. Taissa says they're not on an island and will surely run into something eventually. Natalie tells her the gun must stay. Taissa agrees it's fine and that she can bring some of the stuff they don't use every day, like an axe, a compass and a flare gun. Jackie agrees that what Taissa is saying makes sense. Laura Lee asks what if she's wrong and there's just nothing. Taissa at first says she doesn't know, but then admits that if she's wrong, they'll die. She says she's leaving in an hour and heads into the cabin.

Laura Lee asks Lottie why she didn't tell Taissa about her dream. Lottie replies that she wouldn't have listened. She finds a deer bone that didn't burn and pulls it off. Meanwhile, Taissa cuts her hair short. Van calls it pretty hot. Taissa tells her she's not going to talk her out of it. Van says she knows and therefore she's coming with her. Taissa tells her to stop, but Van tells her a tale. She explains that she went to New York City on her seventh birthday. She wanted a soft pretzel and a horse and cart ride through Central Park, but instead her parents took her to see *Cats*. She tells her she wants to go back to New York with her, buy her a pretzel and take on a horse and cart ride. She says she knows she doesn't have come with her, but she needs to, that she's not going to at least try and with her as their leader, they might actually make it. Mari and Akilah show up, saying they've talked and they're coming too. Taissa nods. Meanwhile, Natalie and Travis meet up. She asks if he's going with the others and he says he feels like they need a guy with them. He says he should probably go check if they're ready, but she begs him not to go. She says she knows it makes her sound selfish, but she doesn't want him to go. "I just want you to stay," she tells him. "Yeah, okay," he agrees and they kiss.

Lottie hands Van the deer bone, telling her to take it, that she thinks it will keep her safe. Van asks if it's like a lucky rabbit's foot and Lottie tells her about her dream. She says there was red smoke and a river of blood. She asks her to promise she won't lose it. "Yeah, sure," Van agrees and Lottie hugs her, then walks off. Misty stares at herself in a mirror and sees Taissa talking with Coach Scott outside. She heads out and shouts to wait for her, that she's coming. She walks up to Ben, asking him to not talk her out of it, that her team needs her. "Wow," he says, telling her it's really brave and he'll do his best without her. She tells him she'll come back for him and hugs him. As she walks off, he sighs with relief. The girls hug it out and then the group sets off.

In the present day, Natalie smokes a cigarette and greets Shauna and Taissa, who are only just arriving. They bicker about their lateness and Taissa asks where the money is. Natalie presents it and Shauna calls it disappointing by heist movie standards. She has a tracker and Natalie says that they should put it in the middle of the bills. Shauna points out they'll see it when they count them and Natalie points out that they'll see it in the small bag Shauna brought also. Shauna says they'll fill it with other stuff. She packs it with towels and trash. Natalie asks where she "got the Etsy reject of a bag" and Shauna says that Callie made it for Mother's Day. They get ready to take off and Natalie insists on taking the keys, saying that she got the money, so she's going to make the drop.

### Small-talk

In the past, Jackie tells Shauna she needs to tell her what's going on. Shauna says there's nothing, but Jackie calls her a liar. She shouts at her that she's obviously hiding something from her and it's making her feel crazy. She tells a story about a past time she lied and how unconvincing it was, that she's seen her sneaking around with Taissa and acting distant and weird. She demands she spill, asking if she's really going to keep something from her out here. "When did you stop wanting to be my best friend?" she asks. Shauna tells her point-blank that she's pregnant and that Taissa figured it out. Jackie asks how it happened. "Well, when a man and a woman..." begins Shauna, but Jackie is not amused, saying she lost her virginity without telling her. "With who?" she asks. Shauna lies that it was Randy. Jackie says that she has so many questions, but then hugs her, telling her they'll get through it together.

In the present day, Natalie drops the money in the clothing donation bin. Taissa complains about it taking forever and Shauna suggests that she stopped to score drugs. Taissa replies that she hopes not, that the pay cut she took to run for Senate won't pay for another stint in rehab. "Did you really?" asks Shauna, saying she's enabling her, that she has to learn how to handle stuff. "And if she never does?" asks Taissa, saying that they have their families, but they didn't do anything to deserve that. It's just fate that gave them that. "What does Natalie have?" she asks. "No one," admits Shuana and Taissa says they wouldn't be there without her, so she does what she can. Natalie gets in and Taissa asks what took her so long. She says she stopped at a gas station. she pulls out a liquor bottle and Shauna asks where she found a gas station in Jersey that sells liquor at 2 A.M. She says she bought it off the clerk. They monitor the tracking device, but there is nothing yet.

Taissa's group heads through the woods. Taissa asks Van about the deer-bone charm. Van says Lottie gave it to her. "Seriously?" asks Taissa, saying that if they were in a horror movie, Lottie would be the villain. Van says if it *were* a horror movie, Taissa would be the first to die. Taissa asks if that's because she's black and Van says it's actually because the skeptical one goes first, leaving the others to do dumb stuff. She says that Lottie predicted both prom queen and the Mr. Jenkins scandal. Taissa just stares and Lottie tells her she's too serious. At Misty's place, Misty listens to "The Music of the Night" from *The Phantom of the Opera* and monitors one of her cameras watching Kevyn Tan while Jessica Roberts shouts at her from the basement. Jessica shouts that she knows Misty can hear her, so Misty goes downstairs. Meanwhile, Shauna calls the wait unacceptable, that it's fine to blackmail them, but don't make them wait. "Why have us show up at 2 and then just keep us waiting?" Taissa suggests they could be scouting the area. They all share the alcohol and Shauna starts making small-talk, asking how Taissa's wife and kid are, and the campaign. "Fine," agrees Taissa and Shauna asks what happened to her hand. "Nothing," says Taissa. "Great talk," says Shauna. Natalie admits to sleeping with Kevyn Tan, surprising them with the news that he's a cop now with two kids. Shauna says it sound complicated and Natalie says it isn't to her, that he's actually kind of nice. The phone dings, indicating the tracker is on the move.

Natalie meets Travis in the cabin. She asks if he hears that and he says he hears nothing. "Exactly!" she shouts, racing over to him, so that they can make out and have sex. She says she's so glad he stayed. He asks what if somebody shows up, but she says they all went down to the lake except for Coach, who is enjoying his new life without Misty. Things get moving, but he stops her, then puts on one of the condoms that Coach Scott gave him. They resume and she tells him she wants him so bad. He says she doesn't have to talk like that and she apologizes, asking if he's ready. Unfortunately, however, it does not go well for Travis. He cannot get it up. He stands up and she asks where he's going. He says he doesn't know and that he's sorry. He says he has to go and leaves. Outside, Jackie and Shauna sit and chat. Jackie asks Shauna to tell her everything, if it was good. Shauna says it was just one time and that it hurt a little, only lasting around three minutes. Jackie moans, saying she can picture Randy's little butt now. She asks when it happened and how she possibly could have missed it. Jackie tells her she has a life outside of her, saying it was the night of Mari's birthday party. "You and Jeff bailed early, remember?" She says she had too much Malibu. Jackie then looks confused, asking if she's sure it was the night of Mari's birthday party, that she swears it was the night she had to go back and give Randy a ride because he puked in the pool. "Yeah," says Shauna, saying they were both pretty drunk. "So much for making it special." They just sit for a moment and Jackie asks Shauna just what she's going to do. Shauna admits she has no clue.

### Knocking on doors with a flamethrower

That evening, Taissa and the others sit around a campfire. They are discussing movies when suddenly they hear a wolf howl in the distance. They look troubled, but Taissa tells them not to worry, that wolves are scared of humans and that it doesn't sound like they're very close. She says they can take turns keeping watch just in case. Van then breaks the tension with more movie talk. Back at home in the present, Misty is watching the same movie that Van was discussing. Jessica asks her what she wants from her. Misty tells her she wants the truth. "Okay. Your haircut is unflattering" replies Jessica. Misty asks her if there's something else she should try if the easy way isn't going to work. She continues that she's there because she's protecting her friends. She says she put the pieces together and all roads lead to her, that she's been blackmailing and stalking them. She says she knows she killed Travis. Jessica calls it insane, asking what she's even thinking. Misty tells her that they both know what she did, but Jessica says if she really knew, she wouldn't be there. Misty calls her surprisingly calm and she says it's not the first time she's been held hostage. Misty asks how she knew about the symbol and Jessica tells her that all she knows is that Taissa hired her to look into anyone that would mess up her campaign. She tells her that Travis was murdered. "You might not be sure about that, but I am." Misty asks how she would know that and Jessica says that it's leverage and she'll tell her everything if she lets her go. She says they're on the same side and should be partners, to find out who killed Travis together. Misty casks what happened to last person who held her hostage. Jessica replies that they lived happily ever after. Misty chuckles, saying that it's fun, and slaps her, then puts the duct tape back over her mouth. She says she only has leverage if she's not willing to make her talk, which means she has no leverage at all. She heads upstairs.

In the cabin of the woods, Shauna heads up to the attic. There, she is disturbed to find Javi, going through a bag. He apologizes, saying that he just wanted to borrow the hunting knife. She tells him he's not supposed to go through people's private stuff, asking what he wants it for. He says it's an art project and she gives him the knife, telling him to be careful. She then pulls her diary out of the bag and hides it some rafters up above. In the present, Natalie, Shauna and Taissa encounter a truck for the donation bin company. They wonder what's going on, figuring the driver must be in on it. Shauna asks what they do now and Natalie gets out. She grabs the driver, asking what's going on. He says he just works there but she pulls a gun on him. Just then, however, the real blackmailer, wearing a black mask covering his face, takes off. They take off in pursuit. They chase him, Taissa saying he'll mark him like at States. She catches him and manages to tackle him to the ground, but he gets away, though is covered with glitter in the process. Natalie continues the chase, bursting out a staff only door. Meanwhile, Shauna tries to box him in with the van. Natalie pulls a gun and Taissa stops her, causing her shot to miss the mark. Shauna asks what her deal is.

"What now?" wonders Taissa and Natalie points out that he dumped the junk they placed in the bag, so the tracker is a dead-end. "Got anymore good ideas?" she asks. Back in the van, Natalie says she wasn't going to kill him. Shauna asks if her plan was to shoot him in the leg. She says it felt like they were all going away for murder. "Like we all haven't done a lot worse," comments Natalie, but Shauna tells her to speak for herself, saying not to drag them into her endless pit of guilt. Taissa says they at least know that the blackmailer is a man, but Shauna says he could be working with someone, like Jessica Roberts. Taissa says that they now have the money and 50 grand and could spill their secrets just to spite them. Natalie says she won't let it happen, but Shauna asks how she can prevent it, if she's going to grab a flamethrower and go knocking on doors. Natalie tells Shauna to pull over or she'll jump it. Natalie then says she doesn't get it, that this isn't for them, but for Travis. Taissa says they're not even sure this is related, but Natalie says they don't know Travis like she did and he wouldn't kill himself. She tells them they're just as messed up as her, they're just better at hiding it. She says if they won't help her with the plan, she'll do it herself and hops out of the van, crying.

In the woods, the girls find a river with water of a strange weird tint. They all agree they shouldn't drink it Akilah asks about the dream and the river of blood. Taissa says that last night she dreamed she went water-skiing with Princess Diana. Misty says that mineral deposits can change water color and Taissa agrees this is what it is, taking off and saying to keep moving. Mari, however, holds up the compass, which is going nuts, spinning all over the place. Taissa says that the iron must be messing with the compass. "Maybe?" says Misty and Taissa says it'll work again when they get away from the water. Nobody moves and Taissa asks what the deal is. Mari asks if they should think about going back and Taissa says they just need to get away from there. Van says they should think about it, that it's a pretty big coincidence that they found a stream like the one in Lottie's dream. Mari asks what Lottie said when they found the plane. "It didn't want him to leave." Van repeats. Taissa says they have to be kidding her, that it all sounds insane. She says it's all nonsense, that they can survive without a compass and use the sun to travel south. She says there is a solution and explanation for everything, but that anyone that wants to go back can. She says she's losing daylight and takes off. They all follow.

### The wolves

Shauna arrives home, shocked to see Adam outside her house. She gets out of her car, and he says she's out late. She asks what he's doing and he says he's waiting for her. She points out it's 4 in the morning, asking how long he's been in her driveway. She asks what would have happened if her husband or daughter were there. He says he didn't see any cars and made a calculation. She tells him to go home and he asks what they're doing. She asks if he's serious, asking what happened to "go with the flow" or "see where life takes me." He says that maybe they could be something. She says he's full of it, that everything about him is an act. She says he's not in control and not used to that. She turns to walk off, but he grabs her, saying she feels exactly what he does between them. He says every cell in her body wants to blow things up and see what happens. So they go inside and do the deed on her and Jeff's bed. Meanwhile, Natalie arrives back and gets in bed with Kevyn. She just looks sad.

In the woods, Taissa promises the others that they're one step closer to home and it will all be over soon. Van tells her they need to sleep, not another speech. She offers to take first watch, but Taissa tells her that she'll take it, that they should all rest. So Taissa stays awake while the others settle down to sleep. Back at Misty's, Misty gives a speech to Jessica Roberts. She tells her that what she loves about fentanyl is that it's legal but deadly, that when someone dies from it, people assume it's an overdose. She sits there with some chocolates, saying that everyone loves it, especially Jessica's dad, Eddie. She gives the address where he's living and says she spoke with her father's nurse. She says they got to talking and she promised to see to it that her dad gets his favorite dessert from his favorite daughter. She injects one of the chocolates with fentanyl. Roberts tells her that she was at Travis's house before he was killed, but he wouldn't talk to her, despite the bottle of whiskey she bought him. She says she went home after that, but like Misty, she was suspicious about his death. She says she wanted to know more. Misty says to tell her don't, that the post office opens at 8:30. Roberts continues that Travis's bank account was closed right after he died. This means that someone other than him emptied his account. She says whoever has that money probably killed Travis.

At Shauna's, Shauna is woken up by the sound of a car pulling up outside. She curses and makes Adam wake up. As Jeff heads inside, Shauna tells Adam to go out the window, but then realizes the screen is rusted shut. She makes him hide in the closet. She gets back into bed and Jeff enters the room. He apologizes for waking her and she tells him it's okay. She asks if he's just getting back from the store. He tells her that there was a delivery coming early and it was smarter to just stay. He goes for the closet to put his dirty shirt in the hamper, but she tells him to leave it on the bed, that the hamper is the laundry. He asks about her night and she calls it boring. He goes to take a shower. She asks if he wants some breakfast, saying she could make eggs. He agrees it sounds good and leaves the room. Shauna goes to the closet and opens it, telling Adam to leave after hearing the sound of running water.

Kevyn wakes up and checks his gun. He discovers the missing bullet from the shot that Natalie fired. He asks Natalie if she messed with his gun. She gives no answer, and he asks what she did. She tells him that she went to get some smokes and took for protection and it accidentally went off when she was messing with it at a park. He tells her he has to account for every round, demanding he take her to the park to show him. She says she doesn't remember. He asks why she can't remember, then says he's not sure he even believes her. He asks if she committed a crime and she says she didn't. He says he thought she had something. She tells him they were only having sex. She says his high school crush was really cute, but now it's pathetic. He nods and says "Fuck you," then leaves.

In the woods of the past, Shauna discovers a figurine of a wolf and smiles. However, as she gets into bed, the diary is gone from the rafters above her. Jackie sits reading it and sobs. At the camp of the expedition party, the wolves howl. Taissa awakes with a start. She is sitting in a tree branch and for some reason, she is wearing Van's deer-bone pendant and holding the flare gun. Down below, the girls shout for help. Taissa hops down and down below, the girls are holding torches and desperately trying to fend off the wolves. "Where's Van?!" wonders Taissa. Misty tells her she's "over there," not with them and Taissa turns to see Van being savagely mauled in the face by wolves. She fires the flare gun, but no good effect, other than red smoke like in Lottie's vision. Horrified, she grabs the axe and begins repeatedly beating one of the wolves to death. She turns over Van to find her face horribly bloodied. The other girls head over, having fended off the other wolves. Taissa sobs, then turns her head and up screams in horror.

## 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
* Keeya King as Akilah
* Peter Gadiot as Adam Martin
* Alex Wyndham as Adult Kevyn Tan
* Kevin Alves as Teen Travis
* Alexa Barajas as Teen Mari
* Rekha Sharma as Jessica Roberts

### Co-starring

* Luciano Leroux as Javi Martinez
* Hugo Raymund as Driver

## Trivia

* Songs featured in this episode include by "S P A C E" by Amber Mark, "Firestarter" by the Prodigy and "The Music of the Night" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original London cast of *The Phantom of the Opera*.

## Gallery

### Video

Next on Episode 7 - Yellowjackets - SHOWTIME