Old Wounds

## Episode guide

**"Old Wounds"** is the fourth episode of the second season of *Yellowjackets*. It premiered on April 14, 2023 on streaming and on demand and premiered on April 16, 2023 on Showtime.

## Synopsis

Relive your youth by hitting the road! Take a roadtrip with your child!

Go on a vacation with a new friend! Hitchhike, if you must! Just make sure you pack a good playlist for the ride.

Some recommendations from us:

"Anything You Can Do," "You Get What You Give," "Instinct," a famous composition by Frank Comstock, and absolutely \*not\* anything from *Starlight Express*.

## Plot

### Hitting the road

Van calls to Taissa, who seems to be spacing out. She tells her to come back, that she's right there. She points out the symbol on a tree, telling her that she found another, that something in her knows they are there. Taissa tries to protest, but Van tells her that they should at least talk to Lottie. Taissa tells her that she won't, that it's none of Lottie's business. She walks away, saying she's going back to bed. Van unfolds a piece of paper, stares at it and stares at the symbol.

In the present day, Taissa, under the influence of her sleepwalking self, visits the home of Jessica Roberts. She collects a folder with information that Jessica gathered on the surviving Yellowjackets. When she wakes up, she finds herself in her campaign manager's car on the side of the road, the fuel gauge empty. She pulls out her phone to confirm her location and looks at the photo and a picture of a shop. She gets out and starts walking.

At the Sadecki home, Jeff expresses surprise at Shauna's claim that the tow company simply found their van on the side of the road. He greets Callie, who tells them that she's going to be hanging with her friend Alana that night before leaving. Shauna tells Jeff that she's going to Kohl's to shop and he tells her that the cops know about her affair with Adam Martin, that he overheard them talking about it at the gym. She asks how they could know and he says that it's a small town and people saw her. She jibes back that she should have run around in a ski mask, blackmailing people.

At the compound, Lottie is paid a visit by Natalie. Natalie asks for her car keys, telling her that she's going to help Lisa run the farmer's market booth. She tells her that she thought it would be a good time for them to bond, since she forgave her for stabbing her in the face. Lottie agrees, telling her to let Lisa drive, that she never gets to and she needs to practice.

### Better than a hunter

Meanwhile, Misty puts in a call to Taissa, only to get her voicemail. She expresses her worry at not hearing from either her or Shauna and Walter tells her that she's a good friend, that it's rare to have someone who's relentlessly got your back. He tells her he has a good distraction for her, pulling out some cassette tapes of songs from musicals and asking what she wants to listen to. Misty's whole demeanor changes and she accuses him of being a Yellowjackets obsessive who just wants to get info out of her about what happened in the wilderness. He tells her that this isn't the reason, that this all happened a long time ago and that her being a Yellowjacket is the least interesting things about her. He tells her that he wanted to work with as a citizen detective, the incomparable AfricanGrey. She relaxes, but claims that she doesn't care about musicals. He says that he'll put on *Starlight Express*. "Oh, sure, let's tell the story of *Cinderella*, except everyone's a train?" groans Misty, putting on an *Evita* cassette instead.

Back in the wilderness, she and her friend Crystal sing the same song that was playing from the cassette - "Rainbow Tour," while cleaning. Shauna enters and Akilah expresses her relief, saying that she's tired of starling soup. Shauna, however, is livid. She shouts, demanding to know who stole bear meat from the shed. She says that if anyone should be eating extra it's her, given her pregnancy, but she didn't because she's not the worst. She demands that whoever did it fess up, but nobody does. "It was probably him. He thinks he's so much better than us," comments Mari to Akilah, referring to Coach Scott. Scott points out his one-legged state, saying that he didn't and he's not in a position to sneak around even if he wanted to. He turns back to her, asking what she would do about it if he did, if she would eat him.

Mari gets up, looking menacing and Natalie suggests that they all chill. Mari turns her anger on her, saying that this is because of her for not getting them any meat. She says that Lottie tries to bless her for the hunt, but she's holding her nose. Natalie asks if she really believes this, pointing out that she's the only one, along with Travis, to get any food. Mari asks how Lottie got the birds and Natalie says that they flew into the cabin. They all argue and Coach Scott calls it a coincidence, but Van says there's no way that the bear could have been in a coincidence. Mari says that the only food that they've had is because of Lottie and Natalie proposes a one-on-one contest between herself and Lottie, the winner being the one who comes back at the end of the day with more food. Travis says it isn't fair, that Lottie isn't a hunter. "According to them, she's better than a hunter," points out Natalie.

Natalie is in the car with Lisa. Lisa tells her that she's surprised she wanted to do this with her and she says that she needed a break and that she owed her. She asks if Natalie only allows them to leave the compound once a week for the market and Lisa tells her they're allowed to leave whenever they want, for as many days, but that she's needed at the compound. Natalie asks if she thinks it's weird that they even have such a rule, that it's like an illusion of freedom. Lisa giggles, calling it a reach. She tells her that there are no rules at the compound. "Only what to wear, what to say, what meetings to attend," Natalie points out, but Lisa says it's only because they want to, and that Lottie wanted everyone to be equal, that everyone at the compound comes from different backgrounds. She says she knows that Natalie doesn't take compound seriously, that she didn't at first either. Natalie asks her what changed. "Me," she replies.

### Reframing visions

Lottie is paying a visit to her psychologist's office and is surprised to find a substitute, Dr. Graham having gone on sabbatical. The substitute points out that she normally comes every six months and isn't due for another five weeks, asking what the deal is. Lottie tells her that she wants to up her medication. She tells her that she's been having visions again and that they need to stop. She tells her that they became something different and that it can't happen again. She continues that she's worked really hard, building something that's helped people, including herself and she can't go back. The psychologist suggests that she might want to reframe her visions, that the stress of pushing them away could cause more to surface. She asks what her what she thinks the visions are trying to tell her. "Nothing. Because they're not real," replies Lottie.

In the wilderness, as Lottie and Natalie are fitted to go out, Misty outlines the rules. She tells them that there is to be no assistance of any kind. If they get a kill, they leave it and the others go out to verify it. If they don't make it back by sundown, they are automatically disqualified. She asks about weapons, but Mari tells her that Lottie doesn't need a gun. So it is that Natalie gets the gun, while Lottie is sent out to do what she can. She wanders about in the wilderness, taking in a breath and hears a rustling. She finds a tree with the symbol and places a hand upon it. She curses herself, wondering what she's doing. Natalie, meanwhile, searches around, holding the rifle.

While in the parking garage, getting done with her Kohl's shopping, Shauna encounters the mother of Callie's friend Alana, Michelle. She thanks Michelle for letting Callie sleep over so much. Michelle, however, tells her that Callie hasn't been over in weeks. Shauna, nods, taking this in. Back at home, she goes to Callie's room and discovers a condom packet, as well as the charred ID showing Adam Martin's face. She next finds Callie, who is making plans to meet "Jay" at a golf course at 7. She pulls up the minivan, telling Callie to get in, saying that they'll go somewhere to have some fun. Callie gets in.

At a cafe, Misty sits with Walter. She tells him that everyone knows where the weirdos are in small towns. He tells her that she can't just ask the waitress is, that she might be one of them. She asks what is deal is, asking how he can just be there, if he doesn't have a job. He tells her he hasn't had one in years, that he's a multimillionaire. He explains that he sued a scaffolding company after bricks fell on his head, resulting in having a metal plate installed, and the doctors don't know how he survived. Misty pulls the waitress aside and asks her if she knows where to find the cult. She tells her that they run a stand at the Farmer's Market on Tuesdays selling honey. "Today is Tuesday," points out Walter.

### Fish tale

Taissa wanders a country road. A truck pulls up beside her and the man inside asks her where she's headed. She tells him she's heading west and he offers a ride. She sputters, but he tells her that he voted for her. She tells him he doesn't normally hitchhike, but he says he likes it to know that even state senators can have bad days. He ushers her in and she discovers a pen sitting in the well of the door with an image of a woman who becomes naked as the ink drains. The driver starts to make excuses, but she smiles, asking how much he wants for it and laughs, getting in.

In the wilderness, Akilah sits, reviewing an SAT booklet. Mari says she hears a dripping again, asking if they don't all hear it. She says she's going to find out where it's coming from and asks Akilah to help her look. She tells her she doesn't have to take the SAT, but she says when they're rescued, she'll still be a junior. Mari pleads with her to help her look and she agrees. She checks the pantry and discovers to her surprise, not the source of the dripping sound, but a mouse. She tells it she won't hurt it and scoops it up, speaking to it gently. When Mari asks if she found anything, she tells her that she didn't and secretly pockets the mouse. Outside, Lottie finds the altar she previously created. She cuts her hand and spills blood before it. Natalie, meanwhile, following tracks, finds herself at frozen lake. She pushes away the snow and sees something that causes her to curse in delight.

Natalie of the present day and Lisa pull up in front of a house. "This is a shitty farmer's market," comments Natalie and Lisa tells her that it's her mom's house, that she wants to see her fish, the 14th Gilly, that the guy she normally goes with doesn't let her make any stops other than the bank and the market. She asks that Natalie not tell her they came and Natalie points out the "no rules" idea. Lisa tells her it's not that they're not allowed, just that Lottie feels their anchors should be at the compound. They enter, but things do not go well. Lisa's mom, Sybill, is annoyed when she tells her that she's not there to stay and furthermore, that she's off her medication. She tells Lisa that she knows she's depressed, that she can't see it. Lisa tells it's a forever thing, but that's she's doing real work. Natalie tries to intervene, but Lisa's mom asks her to step out so she can talk to her alone.

### Control

Shauna, meanwhile, has taken Callie seemingly to the middle of nowhere. Callie asks why they're there and Shauna gets out of the minivan and reclines on the hood, knocking for Callie to come. Callie does so and she tells her she knows she's been lying at Alana's. She asks if there's anything else she's lied about that she needs to know. Callie calls it so much, asking her if there's anything she's lied about that *she* needs to know, like why she burned Adam Martin's driver's license.

Callie tells Shauna that she's over secrets, that she can't, asking if she or Jeff killed Adam. Shauna tells her that she's right, that she did kill Adam. She tells her that he was blackmailing the Yellowjackets, then admits that this isn't true either, that she thought he was the blackmailer, but he wasn't. Callie takes this in and says that she knew Jeff didn't have anything to do with it. Shauna tells her that this isn't true, that Jeff was the blackmailer. She tells her that Jeff isn't a bad person, not a bad criminal. Callie asks why Jeff thought he could blackmail the Yellowjackets in the first place, and Shauna tells her that they did things they're ashamed of and that maybe some day she can talk to her about it. She asks if for now this can just be enough and Callie agrees. Shauna asks her to promise not to tell anyone else about it. She does, not revealing what she has already said to "Jay."

In the wilderness, Van tells Taissa that she's been making a map of the trees that she's found with the symbol. She shows her that they all form one giant symbol. Taissa, however, refuses to see it. Van asks why she won't see what's in front of her. She tells her that if she's right, there should be one more tree in a particular point that they haven't found yet. She asks if she'll come with her to look. Elsewhere, Coach Scott opens a copy of the book *The Magus* and tries to read, but quickly closes it, then tosses it aside. He goes into a flashback in which he finds a box belonging to his boyfriend, Paul, containing pictures of past boyfriends. He starts to walk away, clearly annoyed, and Paul asks him if he doesn't have a box like it himself. Coach Scott tells him that he doesn't, that he has boxes of old soccer stuff, but not that kind of history. Paul tells him that it is only history, that it's his past, but *he* is his future. They kiss.

Lisa's mom, Sybill, and Lisa continue to talk angrily, Sybill saying that she knows how to handle her when she makes another suicide attempt. Lisa tells her that she hasn't for three months, that it's huge for her and if she can't see it, they don't need to have a relationship. She says that she'll take her fish and go, but Sybill tells her this part of her isn't gone, that she'll end up killing the fish by one day leaving it to starve. Natalie comes in, berating Sybill, asking her why she can't just let her be happy, that she only cares about herself. Lisa shouts at her that she's not helping. She tells her mother that she loves her even when she tries to control her. She leaves.

### No Return

Natalie rejoins Lisa in the car. Lisa apologizes for snapping at her, saying she knows she was only trying to help. Natalie spits her fish into a jar of water. At the farmer's market, Misty asks a lady if she knows where the people who sell the honey are. She tells her that she's not sure of the exact location, but in a rural area next town over, off Route 19. Misty tells Walter that they need to get there right away, but Walter says it's getting dark and they'd be at disadvantage. Misty protests that they'd have the element of surprise, but Walter says they should surprise them the next morning and stay at a local B&B that night. Misty gives in.

In the wilderness, Natalie returns to the cabin, telling the others that she found a moose under the ice of the lake. She tells them she needs help to pull it out. Mari points out that this is against the rules, but Coach Scott shuts her down, telling her "This is *food*." Mari appeals to Misty, who is already headed out, saying she set the rules, saying that she'll tell Lottie. Misty tells her to go for it, that she didn't want them to starve. Everyone but Mari, Akilah and Coach Scott leave, Akilah saying that she hopes Lottie is okay. "Of course she is," Mari tells her.

Lottie, however, is wandering around, her hand dripping blood. Suddenly, somehow, she comes upon the Cessna plane, the one that Laura Lee flew and which exploded, completely intact and covered in snow. She goes to it, brushing some snow off the window and opening the door, finding Laura Lee's teddy bear Leonard inside, as well as Laura Lee's Christian cross necklace. She opens the hatch it was sitting on and finds a tunnel, which she climbs down. She steps forward and a pair of elevator doors close behind her, then open to reveal that she is in a mall.

Lottie makes her way to a clothing store and examines a garment. A salesperson tells her that it would look beautiful on her, asking if she'd like to try it on. Lottie tells her she's only looking. Laura Lee continues on and finds a table at the food court, her fellow Yellowjackets sitting around it, including Laura Lee. Laura Lee turns to her, telling her the food at the open seat is for her, that she looks hungry. Lottie sits down and tries to eat, but Laura Lee asks if she shouldn't say something first. She tells her that she didn't think she'd have to and she says she's shivering. Van tells her that she saw a coat for sale at Abercrombie. Lottie tells her that she doesn't have a credit card and Natalie asks when this ever stopped her. She continues to shiver and Laura Lee says they have to get her out of there. "But I just got here," protests Lottie, and Laura Lee tells her that she has to go, if she doesn't get warm, she's going to die. "Go!" she shouts and in the wilderness, Lottie falls backwards into the snow, breathing heavily. She tries to rise, but fails.

### Good game

At the frozen lake, everyone works to chip away the ice. They finally break through and rig ropes to the antlers and start pulling. Unfortunately, the weigh of the moose is too much. They slip away, while Natalie is pulled in. She watches in horror as the moose sinks away. They pull her out and she wails in horror, Travis telling her that it's gone.

Lisa and Natalie are at a bar. Natalie asks her if she's going to kill the fish. Lisa tells her she's afraid she will, asking if she thinks she can keep him alive. Natalie tells her she has no idea, but it doesn't matter what her mother says. She says to kill herself if she want to, but it doesn't look like she wants to today. She tells her to worry about the rest tomorrow and Lisa asks her if she still wants to kill herself. "Not today," Natalie tells her, pushing away a shot of booze. Misty and Walter check into their B&B. When the clerk asks if it's just one room, Walter says "probably," but Misty insists on it being two rooms. A montage shows them going through similar routines as they get ready for bed in their separate rooms.

At the Sadecki household, both Shauna and Jeff start to speak in unison, offering a mea culpa. Shauna tells Jeff to go and he apologizes for being judgmental, saying he's trying to get over the affair and take the high road, but he may not be fully over it. She tells him that it's okay and that she's sorry too. She continues that while there may be stuff they don't know, she thinks that their family will be okay. He tells her he agrees, but then asks what she means. She tells him that she told Callie everything and she's okay. He is aghast, saying that she's just made their daughter an accomplice. She replies that they're lying to everyone and that she doesn't want that for their daughter. Callie comes in asking if she can help cook, and Jeff asks if she isn't going to Alana's. She admits to this having been a lie, but telling him she's not going to do this anymore. She asks again if she can help and they settle in to make dinner.

In the wilderness, Shauna pours hot water in a tub for Natalie to get warmed up. She tells her she'll be right back and as she heads off to get more, Mari and Akilah arrive with Lottie, explaining that they found a trail of blood and found her passed out, right where the hunter's plane used to be. Natalie appears, telling them to get her to the tub. Natalie helps her in. "Just let them have a minute," Akilah tells Mari. Bandaging Lottie's hand, Natalie tells her that it's all her fault, and she's sorry. "Good game," comments Lottie, calling her a loser. Natalie giggles, pointing out she didn't get anything either. "But fine, good game," she tells her, holding out her hand and they shake.

### Another survivor

In the present day, Lottie studies some documents at her desk. She turns her attention to a set of notes with the day's "gratitude entries" on them, which say things like "I am grateful for my drive & passion." She finds one, however, that is not an entry at all, but a playing card - a tattered Queen of Hearts with the eyes blacked out. She closes her eyes and when she opens it again, she sees not the card, but a note reading "I am grateful for my healing journey." She reads another, "I am grateful for my friends," but then sees the card again. She goes outside with a knife to an altar like the one she made in the wilderness. She stares at her hand, then cuts it, pouring the blood to the altar. "Can't this just be enough?" she asks. "Please?"

In the wilderness, Van tells Taissa that they've looked at every tree within a mile radius but haven't found the symbol. She suggests that they go back, that it's getting dark, but Taissa says they should just make sure they didn't miss anything. Van agrees, then points out something odd - moss growing on the ground. It seems that they've found the same strange clearing that Natalie saw in her vision and that Natalie and Travis discovered. Van picks up some snow, wondering why it's melting. Just then, they hear a rustling. "Van!" shouts Taissa and they follow the sounds of movement. They tackle someone. "Stop fighting, it's us!" they tell him.

In the present day, Natalie reclines watching the group and smoking, fingering the key to Lottie's cabin. In the wilderness, Taissa and Van return to the cabin with, to everyone's shock, Travis's lost little brother, Javi. Everyone asks if he's okay and Travis comes up to him, asking him how the hell he is alive, but he is completely silent. In the background, Natalie does her best to make herself scarce. Mari says that it means that Lottie was right all along, that she knew Javi was alive. Misty tries to lead a round of three cheers, but it silenced with a look from Mari. Van tells them that while Lottie may have known Javi was alive, Taissa knew where he was. Taissa tries to protest, but Van tells her that she can't deny it anymore, that there is something in her that is connected to all of this.

In the present, the trucker pulls up in front of a set of storefronts and lets Taissa out. She stares at a store named "While You Were Streaming" with a large logo of a VHS cassette tape. She goes to the store, braces herself, and opens the door. The woman at the counter is an adult Van. Van finishes up with a customer. She takes a sip of coffee, then turns to stare at the person who has just entered her store. "Tai...?" she asks wonderingly. "Hey, Van," Taissa greets her.

## Cast

### Starring

* Melanie Lynskey as Adult Shauna
* Tawny Cypress as Adult Taissa
* 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
* Courtney Eaton as Teen Lottie
* Liv Hewson as Teen Van
* Kevin Alves as Teen Travis
* Simone Kessell as Adult Lottie
* Lauren Ambrose as Adult Van

with

* Christina Ricci as Adult Misty

and

* Juliette Lewis as Adult Natalie

### Guest starring

* Jane Widdop as Laura Lee
* Nicole Maines as Lisa
* Nia Sondaya as Akilah
* François Arnaud as Paul
* Sarah Desjardins as Callie Sadecki
* Alexa Barajas as Mari
* Rekha Sharma as Jessica Roberts
* Nuha Jes Izman as Crystal
* Jenn Griffin as Sybill

and

* Elijah Wood as Walter Tattersall

### Co-starring

* Mya Lowe as Teen Gen
* Jenna Burgess as Teen Melissa
* Luciano Leroux as Javi Martinez
* Jennifer Lines as Psychiatrist
* Kirt Douglas Purdy as Truck Driver
* Julio Rod Marín as Concierge
* Gayle Yamamoto as Michelle
* Shana Sohn as Seller
* Flossie McKnight as Waitress
* Rachelle Hay as Saleslady
* Michelle Creber as Maddy
* Caroline Shaw as Featured vocalist

## Music

For this episode, the normal version of the show's theme song, "No Return," normally performed by Craig Wedren and Anna Waronker, was instead performed by Grammy award-winning singer Alanis Morsiette, who first rose to fame in the 1990s with songs such as "You Oughta Know" and "Ironic." Shortly following the streaming release of the episode, Showtime released the opening with her performance on its official channel on YouTube, along with a lyrics version and a behind-the-scenes video. Morisette stated that she loved the original version of the song, finding it great for the show, and found it a little daunting to be asked to reinterpret it.

Yellowjackets Intro 'No Return' Cover by Alanis Morissette - Season 2 - SHOWTIMELyric Video "No Return' Cover By Alanis Morissette - Yellowjackets Season 2 - SHOWTIMEBTS- Yellowjackets Intro "No Return" Cover by Alanis Morissette Explained - Season 2 - SHOWTIME
Other songs featured in this episode include "Rainbow Tour" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original cast of *Evita*, "Just Get Over It" by James Donald Davies and Martin Jackson, "Won't Waste a Day" by James Donald Davies and Martin Jackson and "Angst in My Pants" by Sparks.

## Gallery

### Videos

Yellowjackets Season 2 Episode 4 Promo - SHOWTIMEYellowjackets Season 2 Episode 4 - Behind the Buzz - SHOWTIMEYellowjackets Season 2 Episode 4 - Lottie's Hypothermic Hallucination - SHOWTIME