Episode 2.06: The Sleepover

[TVFan]

Airs Sun, November 7. From the CBS web site:

Lilly re-opens a murder from a teenage slumber party in 1989 when a copycat crime occurs years later.



Didn't the ad say 1990? I wonder what's up with the year discrepency.

Guest Cast List:

Ariel (2004): Emma Bates
Ariel (1990): Daveigh Chase
Rita (1990): Abigail Mavity
Brandi (1990): Carly Schroeder
Brandi (2004): Virginia Williams
Tiffany (l990): Ashley Rose Orr
Tiffany (2004): Dawn Stahlak
Gil Sherman: Kevin McCorkle
Jason Beaudry: Nicholas Guest
Holly Beaudry: Mary Chris Wall
Neil Beaudry (2004): Fred Koehler
Neil Beaudry (1990): Chaffee Graham
Kelly Baxter: Judy Prescott

[Naj]

I have to say I really enjoyed this story. The guest cast was excellent in both time frames. I didn't guess who killed the girl (wasn't she a dear like someone you have known growing up?) This was so sad. I'd love to know what happened to the parents...like were there any charges brought against them for their behavior.


~Naj

[Ryebeach]

I was really drawn into this episode. That poor girl seemed like some girls I knew back in school. I always thought Junior High was the toughest with all those cliques they have.
I never guessed who the killer was. Rita's death seemed such a waste. I though the killer's last line, "I was twelve. I din't know you get thru it," was sad.
How about that family. They were all messed up. Those parents were about as cruel as anything I've seen. How could they do that to their children.
I have to say I really liked Scotty in this ep. They way he connected to Neil, because of his schizophrenia was touching. I loved how Scotty shut the door on Neil and Brandy's parents at the end. The look on the mother's face. Loved it. Served her right.
Lily was great with Brandy when she told her in the interrogation room, she was looking at nothing.
I also laughed every time Vera called Brandy, Ariel and Tiffany, "Muffy, Buffy and Trixie." He just tells it like it is.
Overall I think I would say I liked this ep the best so far this season or at least it ties with "Daniela."
I think all the main cast was used appropriately throughout and I was warmed to Scotty again, especially when he decided to go see Elissa at the end.

PS. InsideR had indicated this eps director, Emilio Estevez would have a cameo in this ep and it was cool how they put in a scene of him in "The Breakfast Club," when the girls are watching TV. Clever.

[Naj]

Hi Ryebeach,

I thought Danny did very well in this episode too. It's his best appearance {imo}! The interrogations had me on my seat. Probably the first time that has ever happened. This ep kinda reminds me of "Death of a Cheerleader" which KM was actually in. That type of pressure among young girls.


~Naj

[r2k]

Spoilers Ahead
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Great episode!!! Clearly the best. Then again, I say that every time. I was 16 in 1990 so I remember the time period. Rita wins the award of being the victim who deserved it least. I know no victim deserves to be killed, but you can't help but feel for this girl. I also felt for the girl who killed her. Junior high can be a tough time. She should have just owned up to it then. I always wonder what the law can do in cases like this. Clearly, this wasn't premeditated, and the killer was only 12. Does anyone know? I did feel Lily was a little cold to the girl when she finally spilled her guts. When she asked, "Does that make me a terrible person?" I would have given a better answer. Lily told her it didn't matter what she thinks. I remember from Sherry Darlin' when James thought her was scum. Lily was a little more comforting. Good people can do terrible things in moments of stress. Terrible people don't feel remorse. Seems like many of these killers feel some kind of pain. There are exceptions, like last week's episode and Lover's Lane. I still believe these types of killers should be held accountable. It's just that there is a fine line between screwing up and being a cold-blooded murderer. I did like that Scotty decided to see Elisa. Hope things work out. I really likes how Rita rode by on her bike right past Lily and she didn't notice it right away. By the way, Cold Case history was made tonight. Rita is the first victim to be in junior high school. Until now, young people have been in elementary school or high school. Also, it is the first time a killer was under 13. Later people.

[roo]

What was the Edie Brickel song called in this episode?? Anyone know??

[Naj]

Roo said:

What was the Edie Brickel song called in this episode?? Anyone know??

Hello Roo! :welcome:

I don't know the answer to this. This should be posted in the "soundtrack" forum. You may get an answer quicker there.


~Naj

[Ryebeach]

R2K said:

I really likes how Rita rode by on her bike right past Lily and she didn't notice it right away.

Yeah, it was like Lilly had to take another look to be sure. I liked how the leaves were blowing as she sped past Lilly. Nice final scene.

[r2k]

That was Edie Brickell singing the final song. I have no idea what song, though.

[robinsox21]

Awesome episode tonight, Maybe the best so far this season. I was 12 years old in 1990 and could relate to the social issues of junior high very well. Very sad story though. Great character development and performance tonight. What do you think the significance of the final scene was when Lilly watched the girl ride by. My opinion is Lily saw herself in that girl based on the little we have learned about her childhood in the first season and a half. I don't know. The hairstyles and dress were identical to 7th grade during that era. It was a little strange looking back. Im hoping for a great sweeps month in Cold Case, I think last year it was sweeps month when the show became outstanding in my eyes.

[Ryebeach]

robinsox21 said:

What do you think the significance of the final scene was when Lilly watched the girl ride by. My opinion is Lily saw herself in that girl based on the little we have learned about her childhood in the first season and a half.

Quite possible.

robinsox21 said:

Im hoping for a great sweeps month in Cold Case, I think last year it was sweeps month when the show became outstanding in my eyes.

Fingers crossed that the November sweeps eps will be as good, if not better, than this one. Last Season during November sweeps, "Love Conquers All," "A Time to Hate," and "Fly Away," aired. They were all excellent eps.

[Naj]

What do you think the significance of the final scene was when Lilly watched the girl ride by. My opinion is Lily saw herself in that girl based on the little we have learned about her childhood in the first season

Hi robinsox and welcome! ;D

I'm not sure what it meant but Lilly seems to have a soft spot for many in her cases. I hope we find out more about Lilly's life growing up real soon!


~Naj

[Ryebeach]

The writer of this ep was Liz Garcia. This was the first CC ep she has written. According to IMDB, she was previously a writer on the short-lived "Wonderfalls," and before that, "Dawson's Creek."

I hope she writes more Cold Case eps in the future as this one ranks right up there in my book.

[Naj]

I hope she writes more Cold Case eps in the future as this one ranks right up there in my book

I agree about this ep. Best effort so far this season and would you believe the only ep I haven't taped! I can't believe it. :rant:

Hopefully they will rerun it over the holiday break!


~Naj

[Tracylynn]

I will have to say that this was the best episode so far. It really got to me because I could really relate to Rita. I was not popular in school but I had the same feelings that she had. I know I'm not the only one on this board that works as a teacher but this episode really hit home because as a teacher that is something I see everyday. The episode reminds us how kids can really be cruel if another kid doesn't "fit in".

To be honest, this episode along with "Fly Away" really made me cried. It was so sad and moving.

Rita was a beautiful child who had a loving mother who really loved her and gave her confidence. Her mother told her how life was in junior high but how things change as you grow up and that she would be popular. Just because she was smart, love to learn, and the fact that she wasn't all into the looks made her endearing.

What was realy sad was the fact that even after what happened at the party, Rita didn't turn her back on her friend. She was trying to lift her spirits and give her some hope but Ariel wasn't listening.

I was really hoping that the killer was Brandy because she really needed a reality check. I do feel bad for what her and her brother went through but she was just a nasty person. To learn that she killed a cat. Oh no! Didn't like her for sure then.

Vera was funny but he showed he wasn't thinking either. When he kept saying "whack job" was not going over well with Scotty. It showed a lack of class on Vera's part.

As for Scotty, well he showed class in this episode because of the way he handled Neil. He treated the guy with respect and as an adult. He didn't belittled the guy which you can tell the parents probably did. It was nice to see him get the courage up and go see Alyssa (spelling).

Lily had tears in her eyes when Ariel was confessing. That was touching. What I noticed was that this time the ghost doesn't look at Lily. Rita was carefree in life and I guess in death she was carefree too. I guess when she rode her bike by Lily and the leaves were flying away it was her "blowing in the wind".

Overall, episode was great. The acting was great and so was the story. Very emotional which is how I like a show.

Tracylynn

P.S. One more thing...I saw an episode on "Cold Case" on A&E where this girlwas killed because her parents punished her the same way Brandy and Neil were punished by being dunk into water.

[CC Fan]

ahh! my dad taped over it with his stupid football game! If someone out there want's to be super nice, can you please do a recap?

[misguided freak]

Another wonderful episode. Seems like we've been having a good streak ever since Daniela.

It was heartbreaking to watch what Rita went through. It was also horrifying to see what Brandy was subjected to. Tonight's episode was more of a Scotty episode, and I enjoyed his patience with dealing with Neil.

I thought all four young actresses did a great job. The little girl who played Ariel was Samara Morgan in The Ring and Lilo's voice in Lilo & Stitch. She's gotten so big, it makes me feel old.

I don't think they could have charged Ariel with murder, since she was only 12 and a minor when the murder happened. Or maybe they could try her as an adult? Does anybody know?

[eurache]

Wow! what an episode, switching back and forth.. OMG I still don't understand why Brandy's bro did the recent killing with the same markings? Supposedly an anniversary of Rita's murder? Was it subconcious doing, b/c his sister was hooked on dope that Ariel was supplying and being blackmailed on?

Anyway, I was horrified with the parents as to how they punished their kids... Made me mad..and to force Neil do that... It's no wonder he became schizoid. and telling Scotty the house was evil. Which at first, I thought the house was haunted, but it was the parents that were evil

I don't think they could have charged Ariel with murder, since she was only 12 and a minor when the murder happened. Or maybe they could try her as an adult? Does anybody know?

Good question.. I don't know how or what the laws are when solving an old case. Will she be charged as an adult or will they considered this when she was a minor? ONe way or the other she will be charged with something..

It was a great story and very emotional touching story..

[TVFan]

Count me in with those who LOVED this episode. I thought it was very emotional and moving. Some points about the ep:

- I thought for sure the ep was going to go into cliche land (the typical horrible middle school girls gang up and kill the one that doesn't fit it), but it pleasantly surprised me. I would have been really disappointed if it had gone that way b/c the story was so strong. Rita's death was so tragic, and I got the impression that it was somewhat accidental. I thought that Ariel shoved her in her fit of unhappiness, not realizing that she was pushing her to her death.

- It was really interesting to see what became of these three girls. Brandi seemed to be the most together on the outside (she had a good job, nice appearance, apartment, nice clothes), but when you looked deeper, she was the most destroyed on the inside. Her childhood had been so traumatic that she was popping prescription pills and keeping a murder secret just to get them. Tiffany seemed to be the most together mentally of the three (I realize this isn't saying much), and yet her life was a mess. Ariel had a good career (doctor), and she was living with the secret and guilt of what she'd done 14 years ago.

- I thought that Ariel had surpressed her action to the point where she didn't believe she had done it anymore. When Lilly forced her to confess, it was like she was admitting to herself that she really had killed Rita. Her reaction to the realization ("Do you hate me?") and her earlier discussion with Vera and Jeffries were on opposite ends of the emotionl spectrum. I really felt that she had forced herself to believe she hadn't done what she'd done to Rita.

- Scotty was very compassionate in this ep. He was pacing in the observation room while Lilly and Vera interrogated Neil without meds. You could tell that he was genuinely concerned about Neil's state b/c he knows firsthand what the disease can do when it's not properly medicated. I thought the writers did a nice job of incorporating Scotty into this story without beating us over the head with it.

- I know it's been said on here a lot, but I just want to echo the shock of the horrendous parents. When they were in the bathroom with Brandi and Neil, I just couldn't imagine what they were going to make Neil do. Forcing Brandi's head to be submerged until she's on her last unit of oxygen was sick! And now I learn from Tracylynn that someone actually did this to their child! I thought it was very disturbing, but wonderfully acted by the older and younger Brandi.

-Besides Toya (from "Fly Away"), Rita was the most tragic victim for me. She was such a good hearted person who was so forgiving. Even after Brandi tormented her before and during the sleepover, she still had compassion in her heart for her. She wanted to help her. The walk back home in the woods between Ariel and Rita was so sad. It sounded like two normal 12 year olds talking. Rita was trying to make Ariel feel better. The entire ep, I kept thinking, "is there anyway we can make it so this little girl doesn't die?"


Overall, a very good episode. Everything seemed to gel in this one. Loved the ending scene with Lilly on the street watching as Rita rides by as carefree as she was when she was alive (as Tracylynn pointed out).

[Tracylynn]

A little off topic here (move it if you need to) but as I said in an earlier post that I saw an episode of A & E's "Cold Case" where these parents punished their daughter the same way, well let me tell you a few more things about that.

1) The case happened in the early 1970's and the parents (mother & stepfather) punished there two daughters like that.

2) The youngest daughter ended up dying but not from drowning. It's hard to explain here but it was from a heart attack. This time the parents held the girl's whole body under water and that led to her body temperature to decrease which led to shock then to a heart attack.

3) The case was finally solved in 1995 (I believe) with the help of the surviving girl. But, the mother got off because the detectives used the word "could" instead of "would". Long story but it's really important for the detectives to use the right word or things can get thrown out. The stepfather was convicted because of the mistake they had learned.

4) The sad part of it...the girl that was killed looked like Rita. It dawned on me last night that this young girl and the actress who played Rita looked alike. Both had long red hair and wore glasses.

I know InsideR told us that they take things from real cases so i wonder if this is one of them. It sure sounds like it.

Tracylynn