Keep Your Friends Close

"*Sometimes the people you think you know the best are the ones you don't really know at all. Secrets never stay hidden forever.*"
—Naomi
**Keep Your Friends Close** is the ninth episode of the first season of The CW's superhero drama *Naomi*. It aired on March 29, 2022.

## Synopsis

**EVERYONE'S A SUSPECT** - New information leads Naomi to believe there is another alien in her midst... and it may be someone she knows. A visit from Commander Steel prompts Dee and Zumbado to make an unexpected visit to the McDuffy home in the middle of the anniversary party... but at least they arrive in style.

## Plot

Flash forward: Naomi watches as someone is rolled out of the school on a stretcher. She is then interrogated by the military, who asks if she believes that aliens are in Port Oswego. Naomi claims that she doesn't think they are, but that she can't say for sure, as everyone has secrets.

Back at her parents' anniversary party, Naomi is finding it difficult to believe that there's actually another alien in her house, because this would mean someone has been lying to her. She begins to suspect it could be Annabelle or Jacob, but she quickly realizes they aren't, as neither would lie to her about being alien. Whoever it is, they need to find out before the party is over. However, before they can discuss an actual game plan, Jen interrupts and informs Naomi that they have just poured the champagne and that it's time for the toast. Naomi exits behind her mom and runs into Nathan, embracing him to distract him from Annabelle and Jacob in her room.

Naomi heads downstairs and gives a toast to her parents, explaining how they're the best parents in the world and that they've been together 20 years because they trust each other and are honest with one another. Naomi thanks everyone for coming and raises a glass to Jen and Greg, all the while surveying the room for the potential alien.

Interrogation room: Annabelle remarks that she loves the McDuffies; their anniversary felt like her own. Jacob claims that the party was fairly normal and that he didn't see Naomi much after her speech but that she seemed fine, a sentiment that Annabelle echoes.

Naomi, Annabelle, and Jacob want to start checking alibis for the people on her street the night that her disk was stolen. So, Naomi and Annabelle go through the party and gather the social media names of those in attendance, which Jacob uses to triangulate their location three nights ago to determine who was on her block when the disk was stolen.

Dee receives an unexpected visit from Commander Steel at the shop. Steel claims he simply came by for a tattoo, but then he asks how long Dee has been in Port Oswego. He answers 20 years, but that he keeps to himself, so he can't speak much for the people in town.

Through Jacob's tech savviness, they discover there were three people on Naomi's block that night, the three people in question being Nathan, Anthony, and Lourdes.

Interrogation room: Naomi claims nothing strange happened at the party and that it was pretty standard.

Naomi refuses to believe that Nathan, Anthony, and Lourdes are aliens, especially since she and Nathan became official last night. Annabelle is upset with Naomi for not informing her of this development sooner. Naomi is also certain that it's not Anthony, as he reacted to the dilustel. However, to at least rule out their friends, they need an inconspicuous method of investigating them. Given Naomi's super hearing, she can act as a human lie detector to determine which of their friends are lying.

Dee calls Zumbado over to inform him that he received a visit from Commander Steel, who seems to be suspicious of Dee. Zumbado then reveals that Naomi's disk was stolen and that there may be another being in Port Oswego, more specifically at her parents' anniversary party. Dee hasn't sensed anyone new, but as Zumbado points out, there are beings without abilities. They need to address this military issue immediately and decide to pay the McDuffies a visit, but not before Zumbado has Dee fitted for something suitable to wear to the occasion.

Dee and Zumbado arrive at the McDuffie's, where Naomi compliments Dee's suit and suspect that they've come after learning about the stolen disk, but they have more pressing concerns, informing Naomi about the latest military threat. Zumbado also warns Naomi that if there is another alien at the party, she should consider why they may want to stay hidden. Some secrets are better off buried.

Interrogation room: Jen claims the party was mild-mannered and uneventful.

Dee and Zumbado inform Jen and Greg about Dee's latest run-in with Commander Steel, who Greg reluctantly reveals found Naomi's birth rock. They fabricated the results of the analysis, but maybe they weren't careful enough, Jen fears. Zumbado blames them for not saying something sooner, but Greg reminds him that he and Jen are her parents. Nonetheless, Greg worries that Steel may suspect that he's sympathetic to aliens, and to find out what he knows, they need access to the files in his office. Greg and Jen have a contingency plan. But Dee and Greg can't go, because Steel is watching them, so Zumbado agrees to accompany Jen.

Interrogation room: Greg always respected Steel, that's why this is so difficult for him. As for Naomi and her friends, Greg is certain they were bored at the party, but they made the most of the situation.

Naomi, Annabelle, and Jacob play "Never Have I Ever" with Lourdes, Nathan, Anthony, and Esme to determine which of them is the alien. When the questions become more specific, such as if any of them were on Naomi's block three nights ago, Anthony reveals that he's been pet sitting for the Millers, who live on Naomi's block. Naomi then asks Lourdes why she was on her block three days ago, but she neglects to answer, reasoning that it doesn't concern them. Lastly, she listens to Nathan's heart as he answers why he was on her block three days ago, claiming that he was just retrieving some cleats from a teammate, but his heart is beating suspiciously fast.

Interrogation room: Anthony and Lourdes admit they were with Naomi and Nathan at the party, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Naomi apologizes to Nathan for the game and explains that if felt like an interrogation because weird things have been happening lately. She recalls that he didn't text her back last night, but Nathan claims he had a late practice. She places her hand over his heart, which is beating fast, and tells him that he can be honest with her and tell her any secrets he may have. Nathan retorts that they all have secrets, even Naomi, recalling how she, Annabelle, and Jacob have spent half the night in her room, meaning there's something she's not telling him either. And when she refuses to tell him the truth, he heads back inside.

Interrogation room: Nathan introduces himself as Naomi's boyfriend, though he doesn't seem sure, as he hasn't had a chance to talk to her since everything happened. He is asked how were things between the two of them at the party, and Nathan claims they were fine.

Naomi spots Dee alone at the party, surveying the room and keeping an eye out for her. She thanks him for staying, and he asks if she's okay. She's not sure and doesn't want to think that someone she cares about has been lying to her. No matter what happens, Dee tells Naomi not to let this change her as a person, as she's someone who believes the best in people. Annabelle joins them and reveals that Jacob has made a breakthrough.

Jacob has a way to identify the mystery alien, who Naomi and Annabelle suspect may be Nathan, though Annabelle hasn't ruled out a last minute twist. In Dr. Bell's research, she hypothesized that aliens might emit a unique energy that would distort photographs. If viewed with the right exposure, their eyes would emit a blue glow, but only on film and if it's processed with a specific chemical solution, which they can get from the dark room at school. Naomi simply needs Annabelle and Jacob to keep everyone put until she returns.

Interrogation room: photography is a hobby of Anthony's, so he took photos of the party, but he claims that he never saw Commander Steel.

Anthony is taking photos of the party when Commander Steel arrives and invites himself in.

Interrogation room: Greg remarks that it was strange seeing the commander at his home, who arrived uninvited, despite never coming to Greg's home before.

Greg and Commander Steel have a discussion regarding his wife and daughter. He questions where Greg adopted Naomi. Greg claims it was an East coast closed adoption. He then moves onto aliens, and how there are many people who don't view aliens as an imminent threat. While the true aim of the task force is to defend, the commander's is to eliminate, as he suspects that the aliens have come to their planet to steal resources. Furthermore, Commander Steel knows what Greg is hiding. After going to S.T.A.R. Labs, he made the discovery that cracked the case and now he has proof, though he's giving Greg the chance to turn himself in, but Greg feigns ignorance and threatens Commander Steel's job.

Interrogation room: Jacob explains that he didn't see Commander Steel at the party, as he and Annabelle were preoccupied with party planning.

Annabelle and Jacob notice people planning their exit and try to prevent them from leaving until Naomi returns, claiming that there's a surprise main event coming up.

Annabelle and Jacob ask for Dee's help, revealing that they're doing a murder mystery party game to keep people at the party until Naomi returns. Dee is the butler, but Annabelle informs him that all throughout the Agatha Christie novels, the butler is never the killer.

Lourdes drives Naomi to the school and helps her search the dark room for a specific solution. Lourdes questions what got stolen, given Naomi's less than subtle questions. Naomi reveals someone snuck into her house and stole the disk. She didn't know what to think and starts to get the feeling that she doesn't know people the way she thinks she does. Lourdes feels the same way, because people will never live up to their expectations, and the sooner they can accept that, the sooner people can be accepted for whom they really are. That said, Lourdes still isn't telling Naomi why she was on her street because it's personal. She has her secrets the same way Naomi does, which is why she's been acting differently, Lourdes points out. But if Naomi does ever want to talk about why she's been acting so strange, Lourdes is there for her.

Interrogation room: Jen claims that they ran out of ice during the party and that she left to get more.

Jen and Zumbado sneak on to the military base, where she intends to plant evidence from a hard drive on Commander Steel's computer. There, she expresses her frustration with Zumbado, telling him that he should've stayed away from Naomi. If he had, maybe none of this would've happened. Zumbado claims that it was time and that she deserved to know the truth about her destiny. Jen doesn't think she's ready, but Zumbado argues otherwise. Also, he hasn't told her everything, as he has honor. Suddenly, a soldier enters and Zumbado knocks him out with his telekinesis. As Jen goes through Steel's computer, she learns that he's not only been tracking them, but that he suspects Naomi of being an alien as well.

Interrogation room: Naomi says that she forgot her book in the locker, which is why she was at school.

Naomi and Lourdes exit the dark room and discover that someone else is at the school. It's Nathan, who Naomi decides to follow, while Lourdes heads back to the van.

Interrogation room: Lourdes reveals during her interrogation that she went back to the van and that she wasn't in the school when the incident happened.

Naomi approaches Nathan in the hall, catching him red-handed as he breaks into her locker. She asks if the disk is in there, as someone stole it, which Nathan insists he didn't, though he does admit that he has been lying to her. Nathan opens her locker to show Naomi the surprise he had set up, which was her invitation to prom. He missed her call because he was getting the photos. And he was at her house because he couldn't remember her favorite flowers, but he knew her mom had planted some, so he figured he could show a picture to the florist. Naomi tries to apologize, but Nathan walks away.

Interrogation room: Nathan blames himself for walking away from Naomi, as he could've been there for her when everything happened, but he wasn't, and left her at the school alone.

Naomi is confronted by Commander Steel. He knows that she's an alien and tells her that aliens such as herself are threats to their very existence and way of life. He then pulls out a device called S-RUD. They've been developing it for some time, and it's based on a concept called resonance. It only reacts to beings not of this earth and is quite painful, so he gives her one last chance to confess that she's an alien.

Interrogation room: Naomi claims that Steel was after her for some unknown reason and that she was going to run until he simply collapsed from what seemed to be a heart attack, so then she called her dad.

Jen and Greg stand alongside Naomi as Commander Steel is rolled out on a stretcher.

Interrogation room: Greg learns that the military found some alarming information on Steel's computer, which Jen planted to destroy his credibility. Apparently, Steel has had an obsessive vendetta against aliens for some time now. The military aren't sure why he targeted the McDuffies, though it was all a fantasy. Greg is sad this happened and always respected the commander. When the commander wakes up, the military police will take over and he will be handled appropriately. Greg then asks what happened to him, but when they found him, he was incoherent and disoriented.

On the drive back, Jen and Greg ask Naomi if she's okay. She admittedly isn't, but she doesn't want to talk about it either. She returns home to find Annabelle and Jacob waiting, and they inform her that Nathan left. Naomi then embraces Annabelle and thanks both her and Jacob, who hands over the last roll of undeveloped film. Unfortunately, they've had no luck in uncovering the secret alien thus far. They offer to stay, but Naomi insists that she'll be fine. She then takes the last roll of film and develops it herself while recalling the altercation with Steel, who threatened to use the device against her until his nose suddenly started bleeding from the dilustel that Jen and Greg were using against him, revealing that they are aliens, which Naomi further confirms when she develops the final photo and their eyes glow blue.

## Cast

* Cranston Johnson as Zumbado
* Alexander Wraith as Dee
* Mary-Charles Jones as Annabelle Peters
* Mouzam Makkar as Jennifer McDuffie
* Daniel Puig as Nathan
* Camila Moreno as Lourdes
* Will Meyers as Anthony
* Aidan Gemme as Jacob
* Barry Watson as Greg McDuffie

Co-Starring* Alie Urquhart as Esme Brooks
* Brian Brightman as Commander Steel
* Joanna Walchuk as Mrs. Varady
* Karen Beyer as Mrs. Lipschitz

## Gallery

### Videos

Naomi - Season 1 Episode 9 - Keep Your Friends Close Promo - The CWNaomi - Season 1 Episode 9 - Naomi Confronts Nathan Scene - The CWNaomi - Season 1 Episode 9 - Zumbado & Jennifer Work Together Scene - The CW

## References

1. ↑ Naomi: Season One Ratings - TV Series Finale
2. ↑ "Recently Added Episode Titles - Various Shows - 24th February 2022" - Spoiler TV
3. ↑ Listing - The Futon Critic