No Exit

"**No Exit**" is the seventh episode of the second season of HBO Max's *The Flight Attendant*. It released on May 19, 2022 on HBO Max.

## Synopsis

Cassie, Shane, Annie, and Max attempt to run down clues in the string of murders, which continue to point to Cassie as the main suspect.

## Plot

### You're so vain

Cassie and Shane have arrived at the marina. As Cassie starts to speak, Shane comments that she's been silent all the way there and now she's speaking. She tells him that she didn't know what to say. He points out that he outed her as a CIA agent to Justin and there's also the whole Megan thing, so he's on the fence about their friendship. He tells her doesn't think she deserves to be framed for murder. She says she's not talking because her whole family imploded and now she's back in the nightmare, but hurting him is the worst part. He tells her he appreciates her apology. They start to get out, but he says he did some digging and found out that everyone who has died has had contact with Will Kotov, the mark from Berlin. Cassie points out that Benjamin Berry is the one who tells her where to go, recalling Dot saying that he fought to be her handler. Cassie asks if maybe Benjamin wanted her to be an asset so he could pin all this on her.

She asks Shane why she would even kill anyone, what her motive would be. He admits that he has no clue. They get out and Cassie tells him that Max tracked down the registration number, asking what a "slip" is. He explains that a slip is a parking spot for a boat. They arrive at a boat called the *Cream & Sugar* which has the registration number. Shane spots a bloodstain on the ground and tells Cassie to shush. They enter the boat and Shane tells Cassie to not touch anything as he pulls back a tarp to reveal three dead bodies, including the milky-eyed agent, Jim Jones. Cassie covers her mouth and gags. She tells him that she knows Jim Jones, that she saw him in Berlin. He tells her that he needs to call the police, that it's a crime scene. She suggests there may be security footage they can look at, but he tells her this isn't a CIA case, that this is for the police. He says he knows she's scared, but this can't be about her right now. He starts dialing and she goes into her mind palace. The song "You're So Vain" is playing and she finds the alternate version of herself sitting on a couch listening to it on headphones.

The alternate Cassie tells her that Shane is right, asking why they don't care about other people. Cassie replies that she does care, that she's trying to stop all this. The other Cassie, however, tells her that all she cares about herself, that she won't shut up about the fact that someone's trying to frame her. She says that she can stop all this, make sure nobody else dies, but the other Cassie says that folks are already dead because she's too stupid to figure out a few clues on a Viewmaster. In the palace, the corpses sit up creepily. Back in the real world, Cassie asks Shane if these people are all dead because her. "No, Cassie!" he tells her. She curses and then sees a glove on the floor. She tells Shane it's her other red glove from Berlin. Ignoring Shane's shouted warning, she goes over and picks it up. He tells her to drop it. She does. She pulls out her phone and calls Dot Karlson. Her secretary answers. Cassie tells her it's an emergency, but the secretary says that Dot is in a meeting and can't be disturbed. She offers to put Cassie on with Benjamin Berry, but Cassie tells her to just have Dot call back and hangs up. Then, watching Shane talk on the phone, she stealthily picks up the red glove and pockets it.

Megan stands inside a parking garage, overlooking her son Eli waiting a bus stop to go home from work. She mutters that he should have a heavier coat and a North Korean man, Ro Sung Ho, comes up behind her. He greets her, saying he's impressed that she's evaded them for so long. He comments on her watching Eli, saying that he always takes the same bus and it's a shame he quit the swim team. Megan asks how he knows about any of this, and he says that her interests are his. He tells her she'll come with him and hand over any information she has, that he can't risk her exposing their entire network in the U.S. He tells her that she's part of an exclusive club that's easy to join but has no exit policy. She asks if it'll be done if she gives him everything. She leads him to the trunk of a car, asking that he just keep her son out of it. He tells her that the best he can do is "we'll see." She opens the trunk, revealing a bag and saying that the evidence is inside. As he reaches down for it, she grabs the trunk and slams it over his back. She then grabs a crowbar and hits him with repeatedly, then stuffs him in the trunk. She pulls out the bag and closes the trunk, gasping.

### The incriminating knife

At the pier, Cassie is greeted by Jenny, who waves to her. Cassie asks what she's doing there and she says she's trying to get the scoop for her podcast, that she heard there was a murder on her police scanner. She says she's always up for an adventure, but Cassie tells her that real people died today and it's wrong for her to be smiley and happy, talking about adventure and clickbait. She says she wishes her a healthy recovery, but she needs to get perspective. Jenny tells her she's there and taking it seriously and Cassie asks her to just stay away. Jenny tells her that she's not the boss of her, or things don't involve her. Cassie admits she's right. Jenny says she's lecturing her again and she wanted to be like her, but all she ever does is show up and talk down to her. She asks what she's even doing there, but Cassie just stares at her as her phone rings. Cassie asks if she wants to answer it and she walks away.

Back at Cassie's place, Cassie tells Annie and Max about what happened and how Jenny weirdly showed up. Annie asks if it was really wise for Cassie to have brought a co-worker along and Cassie, ignoring Shane's protests, tells Annie and Max that he's CIA. He asks if they can just get to work, asking for the Viewmaster. Cassie hands it over. He tells her to sit down, saying that everyone who has died has been associated with Will Kotov and that every photo on the Viewmaster marked the location where they would be killed. He says there's only one slide left and the only way someone can successfully frame her is if she's dead. He tells her that he thinks *she* is the next target. She stares at him and then her phone rings. She heads for the bathroom and Annie tells Shane as much, saying it's where everything important and secret happens. Inside, Cassie takes a call from Megan, who tells her that she's on the move with a North Korean in her trunk. She tells Cassie that she was going through his phone and he had info from her about Hak Oh-Seong, as well as a heads-up about Shane tracking her. She asks Cassie to tell her the truth if Shane followed her to Iceland. Cassie says it wasn't her fault, that he already knew. Megan asks her to broker a meeting with Shane, that she has evidence to trade. She pleads that her life is in crisis. A police car pulls up next to her and she cuts the call.

The police officer, a woman, comes up and knocks on her window. She asks if she's in need of assistance and Megan tells her she's okay. She asks if she's aware that it's illegal to drive or park in the breakdown lane in New Jersey. Megan tells her she had no idea, saying she'll just go. The officer, however, asks her for her license and registration. Megan goes for her purse, saying she'd never have pulled over if she thought it was illegal. She tells the officer she can't find her license. The officer tells her she needs to step out of the vehicle. Megan does so and the officer directs her to stand by her trunk. She grabs a pad out of her car. Megan spots some candy the officer and asks her if she has kids. She chats the officer up, saying it gives her PTSD because she sold them for her son's school. The officer says they're for her son's trip to D.C., always a trip to D.C. Megan quips that her son got kickbacks from the candy lobbies. They continue to chat, Megan saying that they'll do anything for their kids, as Moms. The officer nods, Megan saying that she'd give anything to just go back home again. She says that she was on her way back to make things right, but she can't if she misses her plane. Megan asks she can find it her heart to just let her drive away, and that she'll buy all her candy. "Not a bribe," she says. The officer tells her that she's going to need her to promise to refrain from promising in the breakdown lane in the future. Megan nods and thanks her.

Cassie sits in the bathtub, eating hot candies. Annie comes in and checks on her. Cassie tells her that she's obviously supposed to die soon, that it's where the arrows are pointing, and she can't get the dead bodies out of her mind. She tells Annie that she had a horrible conversation with her mother and the worst part was her mother looking her the eye and saying "I don't like you." She says that after all this time, she's starting to think she's right, that she doesn't really like herself either. There is a knock at the door. It's Max, saying that he thinks he has something. They head out of the bathroom and he holds up a photo, saying that it matches an amusement park ride, specifically one at a pier. Cassie says that the only obvious one is Santa Monica Pier, that it has rides. Shane points out that they don't know when. "It has to be today, right?" asks Max, explaining that Santa Monica Pier is going to shut down the next day for an entire month for refurbishing. He says that given that and the way the killings have been accelerating, today would be the most likely day. "I can make you an algorithm," he suggests, but Annie stops him, saying they understand. "What is that?" he asks, his eyes drawn to something on a counter. Cassie goes over and picks it up. She is shocked to discover that it is a bloody knife, dropping it on the floor. She begs them to not tell her it's a bloody knife in her house and Annie points out that her finger prints are now all over it. She pleads with Cassie to calm down as Shane exits the room and then re-enters, saying that somebody jimmied the back-door. Annie says that a bloody knife in her room is pretty incriminating.

### Merry-go-rounds and Ferris wheels

Cassie enters the mind palace. She sees the alternate, mean Cassie, and asks if there's nobody else she can talk to. The other Cassie says that she's there to support her plan, to go to the pier. Cassie asks if she doesn't have some wry, suicidal comment. "I can be nice sometimes," she says, smiling, but Cassie points out that she's holding a knife and seems different. She asks what's happening and the other Cassie tells her that she should grab a weapon too, to feel safe. Cassie says it's a good idea, but she doesn't trust her. The other Cassie tells her that they're finally on the same page, that she should stop asking questions. She says she should go to the pier, that it's like a suicide run and maybe she'll get herself killed. Cassie curses her, but she comes at her, saying that's all she can do because she's right, that she's broken, self-absorbed and deserves to die. Back in the real world, Cassie tells Shane they need to go to the pier right now. Annie tells her to listen, that if Shane is correct, she's doing exactly what the crazy person wants. She says that the bloody knife indicates that this person is ten steps ahead. Cassie, however, goes to a drawer and grabs a boxcutter. Shane tells her that she doesn't need it, that she's not going anymore. Cassie tells him he can say that, but the second he leaves, she's going. Max says there are a lot of blondes in California, but Cassie tells him not this one, that she looks exactly like her. Shane tells her that he will protect her and that she will follow all of her instructions. Annie and Max say they're going too, but Shane tells them to stay put, that it's not a field trip. He and Cassie exit and Annie comments that she understands now why Cassie never listened to her when she told her not to do anything. They agree they're both going and take off.

Cassie and Shane arrive at Pacific Park at Santa Monica Pier. Shane tells Cassie that he needs her to be focused and on high alert as she pulls out her phone, reading a message "ON MY WAY!" from Megan. He tells her that it isn't high alert. She says that she needs to ask him something not related but important, then asks if hypothetically Megan were back in the states if he would agree to... and he cuts her off, saying that he would put her in a federal prison for life. She asks him to hear her out, but he points to a bench, telling her to stay there and not move. He tells her to text him if she sees the double, saying that she just low-key admitted to helping a known traitor get back into the country and they'll unpack it later. He walks off and Cassie's phone pings again. She thinks it's Megan, but looks down to see several texts from her brother Davey, asking her to call and saying that he's confused. She sighs and puts the phone away. Just then, she sees a blonde women in sunglasses. She texts Shane and follows.

Annie and Max arrive, Annie saying that Cassie is going to be pissed at them. Max says that she'll get over it, and that he's getting a churro if they stop this crazy person. Meanwhile, Esteban and Gabrielle Diaz also enter the park. Cassie makes her way to a merry-go-round and spots the double. She boards it and spins her around wildly, going extremely fast. She goes into the mind palace where she is surrounded by duplicates of herself. "We're having fun now" comments the mean Cassie and Cassie replies that there is no "we." The duplicate replies that people die all the time and she's only letting it get to her because now she's the one to die. They all clap their hands and she finds herself back on the merry-go-round, one of the carousel horses appearing to come to life. She sees the double get off the merry-go-round, so she gets off herself and chases after her.

She takes a call from Dot Karlson. She thanks Cassie for recording all the evidence and trusting her. She tells Cassie that they're putting together a task force to investigate the murders. She asks what the noise in the background is and Cassie tells her that she's at Santa Monica Pier and the double is there. Dot asks just what she's doing there, that it's not safe for her and she needs to leave. She tells Cassie that if she sees Benjamin to not engage, then hangs up, saying she's on her way. Cassie continues to search the park for a bit and then suddenly Benjamin appears. He calls out her name, but she runs away. Benjamin pursues, but Cassie pushes her way through a line and onto a teacup Ferris wheel ride.

### Only a little bit out of order

Annie and Max wander the park, then suddenly spot Esteban and Gabrielle. Annie asks what they're even doing there and Max points out that they're probably looking for them, that they did take their stuff and call the cops on them. They hide in a photo booth, Max commenting that they made their "kill list." Annie asks what they're supposed to do, that they can't just start a life there in a corner photo booth and never come out. Max says they have to fight back. Annie pulls out the taser they stole from them. She says she's about to come off the indecision fence with a huge swing and she needs him to trust her. He nods and she says that what she's about to say is stupid, idiotic and dangerous. Max then exits the photo booth and creates a scene by upending some stuffed toys a guy is carrying. As Esteban and Gabrielle pursue him, Annie emerges from behind.

Cassie reaches the top of the Ferris wheel. She looks down at Benjamin, who is approached by Shane from behind. "Mr. Berry?" he asks and Benjamin tells him he shouldn't be there. Shane replies that he was hoping *he* wouldn't be there, but that after everything that Cassie found out, he knew he would. Benjamin asks him just what he's doing there, saying again that he shouldn't be there. Cassie uses her phone to zoom in on the scene and sees Shane fall to the ground, but then Benjamin double over as well. "Come with me" whispers a voice as the ride starts up again. Cassie goes into the mind palace, the voice having been that of the young Cassie. Cassie asks her just what's going on as they depart the ride and board an elevator, the young Cassie pushing away the barrier that was blocking it. "It's only a little bit out of order," she comments. The doors start to lose, but the mean Cassie pushes them open, chastising Cassie for being on a carnival ride while her friend is dying. She tells her that she is helpless, saying that people have been dying since she was a little girl. She asks who would even forgive her, noting that her mother wouldn't. She tells her that she should have died in the truck with her dad, but the young Cassie pushes her away and closes the doors.

They arrive in a darkened room, where Cassie sees a woman, her mother, standing at a window. She comments that it isn't her mother, but the young Cassie tells her that it's the closest she'll get to her. Cassie walks over to her, saying that she's not sure what she's supposed to do. Lisa replies that she's not sure of much of anything, except that there's been so much time wasted and she needs to stop breaking her own heart. She tells Cassie that's all she wants. "You want me to apologize to you?" asks Cassie and she replies that she's not sure she's ready to forgive her yet. she tells Cassie she can't control how she feels, that Cassie is powerless to make her feel that way. She tells her she's powerless when someone puts a drink in her hand, to put her life together, or even to get off this Ferris wheel. She puts her hand on Cassie's shoulder, saying that she can't do anything but accept it. Water starts cascading through the crack of the window. She tells Cassie that she loves her, that she wouldn't be saying it in there if it didn't exist outside. She tells her to be patient with others, with her if she can, and with herself. She exits the mind palace, but back on the Ferris wheel, a massive version of Davey's "Easy does it" bear emerges from the ocean. It takes off its sunglasses and Cassie cries. When she opens her eyes again, it is gone.

### The double revealed

As Annie continues to race through the park, Max is being held against a wall by Gabrielle. She comments that his girl ran away, leaving him to take the heat. "Smart," she comments. He tells her she has no idea how smart and she says she's convinced that they want to die, that they couldn't leave it alone. "Fair is fair," comments Esteban, but just then, Annie tases him from behind. He falls to the ground and Max shoves Gabrielle forward. She pulls a knife and Max shouts for Annie to zap her. Annie loads a cartridge as Gabrielle pushes Max to the ground and rises, moving towards Annie. Annie succeeds in reloading and tases Gabrielle. She gasps and falls to the ground. Annie then removes the ring from Gabrielle's finger and places it back on her own. Max gets up and goes over to her, telling her that what she did was badass. She apologizes, saying that she will never make him be the damsel in distress again. He tells her that he trusted her, she trusted herself, and it worked. She says that there are safer ways to learn life lessons, but he points out again that it worked, kissing her hand. He notes the ring, asking if they are officially engaged. She stares.

Cassie exits the Ferris wheel, only for her double to come straight up to her. "Cassie," she says. "Grace," realizes Cassie, staring at her. She flashes back to various meetings with Grace, realizing it was her the whole time. She curses. "Let's go!" says Grace, revealing a gun. "I wanna go again!" Cassie tells the attendant and the woman agrees for her to take a seat, ushering grace on as well. They sit together and Grace curses. As they arrive at the top, Cassie says that she knew it was her, that she didn't want it to be, but she knew it. She asks if she really just creepily befriends someone, then dresses up like them and murders a bunch of people. Grace takes off her sunglasses. She tells Cassie she doesn't want to be doing any of this and Cassie says she doesn't have to. She says that she doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to, that nobody can make her do it, not even Benjamin Berry. "Benjamin Berry?" asks Grace, saying that he definitely can't make her do anything. "I just stabbed him," she tells Cassie. "Wait, what?" asks Cassie, and then flashes back to when Benjamin doubled over. She pulls out her boxcutter. "Jesus, Cassie, I'm trained killer. You're a flight attendant with a boxcutter," comments Grace, grabbing said boxcutter and tossing it away. She says that everyone saw them getting on the ride and that them being together fucks the whole plan. She takes off her wig and Cassie asks why she's the one freaking out.

Grace tells her that it's not her favorite thing to do, any of it. She tells Cassie that she genuinely liked her and it's bigger than either of them. Cassie tells her to listen, that she had told her to come to her when her life was falling apart. She says that her world was falling apart, begging her to put her gun down. Grace continues that she wanted out of the army, that she hated what they made her do. Now, she's doing the exact thing she didn't want to be doing, killing people for someone else. She says it's a trap and Cassie asks why her and why she planted the Viewmaster. "What Viewmaster? What are you talking about?" asks Grace. Cassie stares at her and she says that if it was up to her, neither of them would be there right now. She asks who she is and where she can go now that she spends her time dressed up like Cassie. "Nowhere," she tells Cassie and Cassie replies that there is always a way out. Grace says that she killed people and when the ride is over, she's going to prison. As sirens sound below, she tells Cassie that the worst part is that she never had a choice. Cassie tells her to listen, to just tell her who is making her do this. She tells her that she does have a choice, right now. "You're right, I do have a choice," agrees Grace, nodding her head. She puts the gun to her head and shoots it. The ride arrives on the ground, blood spattered all over the face of Cassie, who pants in shock.

## Cast

### Starring

* Kaley Cuoco as Cassandra "Cassie" Bowden

* Zosia Mamet as Annie Mouradian
* Deniz Akdeniz as Max
* Mo McRae as Benjamin Berry
* Callie Hernandez as Gabrielle Diaz
* Griffin Matthews as Shane Evans
* J.J. Soria as Esteban Diaz

with

* Cheryl Hines as Dot Karlson

and

* Rosie Perez as Megan Briscoe

### Guest starring

* Special Guest Star Sharon Stone as Lisa Bowden
* Mae Martin as Grace St. James
* Jessie Ennis as Jenny
* Audrey Grace Marshall as Young Cassie Bowden
* James Seol as Ro Sung Ho
* David Iocano as Eli Briscoe
* Erik Passoja as Jim Jones

### Co-starring

Special thanks to Monette Moio, Kaley Cuoco's stunt double, body double and acting double.

* Erica Ibsen as Cassie Double #2
* Michelle Prather as Cassie Double #4
* Mary Ann Welshans as Vicky
* Tiffany C. Adams as Female Cop
* Kylie Pavlich as Ride Operator

## Trivia

* This episode originally appeared in schedule listings under the title "Thrill Rides." However, the official title, as presented on HBO Max, is "No Exit."
* This episode runs only approximately 37 and a half minutes long including all credits, making it by far the shortest episode of the season.
* Due to the scene of suicide depicted in the episode and Cassie's own suicidal thoughts, this episode includes a warning at the beginning that "This film/episode contains elements related to mental health and self-harm that may be upsetting for some viewers. If you or a loved one is in crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, or the crisis text line (text talk to 741741) to talk to someone who can help" and a warning at the end that "Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S., but it is preventable. Help is always available, and you are not alone. You can learn more, and receive support for survivors of suicide loss, from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at afsp.org."
* In "Inside S2 E7," Cassandra Bowden actress Kaley Cuoco states that she believes that Cassie always knew deep down that Grace St. James was the double, but that it was hard for her because the two became friends.
* Additionally, according to "Inside S2 E7," many of the scenes in the episode were actually filmed at the Santa Monica Pier, with the setting carefully controlled to allow for COVID restrictions. However, for the closeup Ferris wheel scenes, a replica Ferris wheel was built on-stage using materials found from an amusement park graveyard.