Parker Tanaka

**Parker Tanaka** is a popular musician who becomes more cynical as the world takes a dark turn around her.

## Biography

### Summer 1999

On July 16th, 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.

Two days later, Luke has a spur of the moment pool party at the Chambers house with Isabella. Brent grills while making innuendos to Parker, who sarcastically remarks how great it is when Isabella and Luke drop off more food. The amount of people at the party surprises Isabella, and Luke attributes that to the small-town nature of telling one person and suddenly everyone knows.

Jeff records Brent making a drink and Isabella flirting with him at the bar. She compliments two girls' suntan lotion smelling great, learning its baby lotion. She's had enough of Jeff's camera and pushes it down as she walks past. She compliments the song Parker played the other night, then starts to go through her music book. Parker quickly closes it as no one goes through the book, especially not strangers. Isabella insists she comes in peace, just wanting to see what Brent had for options. They aren't Brent's though, but Parker's, which makes sense to Isabella. Parker tells her to help Luke put on sunscreen as he's looking red. She forces a smile and walks off, finding Luke by the pool.

By nightfall, Megan plays Marco-Polo in the water while Parker and Brent make out. The sound of fireworks exploding startles everyone at first but they go back to their activities.

### Winter 1999

On December 15th, the Chambers host their yearly Christmas party, though someone sabotages the family by playing a sex tape of Luke and who everyone assumes is Isabella.

On December 18th, Isabella peeks into the Chambers' house but it's dark. She finds Parker outside even though they broke up. Parker admits that Brent tried to film her once even though she said no, but now she's worrying that he did and she doesn't know about it. Isabella wants to get in the house, offering to help her find the hide-a-key that Parker knows is hidden somewhere. As they search, she asks if Megan kicked her out. It surprises her that Megan didn't, because Parker would be pissed if her best friend slept with her boyfriend. Things are tense for sure, but Isabella is only worried about getting in the house to find those tapes. She picks up a planter in search of the key, to no avail. She turns and throws the planter through the plate glass door, shattering it instantly. She merely asks if Parker is coming.

Parker and Isabella open the VHS closet, and Isabella starts pulling the film out of them. Parker stops her before she can ruin the ‘88 tapes since their mother was alive then. She shows her a row of Brent's “sports” tapes, so Isabella sweeps them off the shelf. They stomp on them, jumping up and down, and chuckling after a while. They hear the garage open before they can get to the stash in Brent's room. One of the tapes that were destroyed reads, “Football Playoffs”.

### Summer 2000

On July 16th, 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.

Two days later, Parker walks onto the airstream where Isabella is frantically packing while trying to book a flight to Paris. Parker takes a seat and Isabella forces a smile, as she needs to get out of Chatham. She opens her drawer and sees a Polaroid of her, Luke, and Megan together from last summer. Parker sighs that Paris will have to wait because Sheriff Myer is making everyone go back down to the station. He's going to interview everyone all over again.

Isabella and Parker arrive at the station. Freddy snidely asks if she killed Luke to have Megan all to herself, with Jeff commenting on the bizarre love triangle. Parker tells her to ignore them as their assholes, but Isabella knows they're just saying what everyone thinks. She sees Megan in the car and walks away to join her.

Sheriff Myer asks Parker about the last time she saw Luke. It was at the New Year's Eve party when he wore the 2000s glasses. He seemed fine and happy.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 **Sweety High:** Lisa Yamada Spills the Details on *Cruel Summer* Season 2 and Her Character, Parker Tanaka
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.01 - "Welcome to Chatham"
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 2.02 - "Ride or Die"