The congressman is skeptical of the request, seeing as Conrad has a history of depression and anxiety. Still, he agrees to get a warrant.
Michelle meets Natalie, who tells her about a text she received from Michelle the other night about Conrad’s death. Michelle says she doesn’t know why she said that. She changes the subject and Natalie drops it.
Michelle tells her friend Susie about how she fooled around with Conrad in 2012. She says they texted a few times, and then he disappeared. Michelle says she was really into him at the time, and that she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
Conrad is a high school student who is preparing to go back to school. He is around the same time as the school trip. ..
In the present day, Gordon shows up at Michelle’s school to say he has a warrant for her phone, her computer, and any of her other devices. Michelle later yells at her parents when they demand answers as to why the police are interested in her.
We flashback to Michelle hanging out with Susie and watching Glee, while Conrad goes to a party. He practices what he’s going to say beforehand, trying to make himself sound cool. When he gets to the party, however, everyone pays attention to Robby and ignores him.
He goes back home, where he sits outside alone. Scrolling through his old text messages, he taps on Michelle’s name. Their text conversation plays out as if they are speaking face to face. He talks about going back to school, about how his brain feels different, about how he doesn’t know how to be a kid anymore. ..
She asks him why he never said goodbye in Florida. “Why now?” He replies that he missed talking to her. Susie shows up, interrupting their conversation. She goes to Michelle’s house with her, and they lie in bed together. Susie says she’s concerned about Michelle’s recent trouble sleeping. She says she loves her, and that Michelle can tell her anything. ..
Michelle looks through old possessions, remembering the times she and Susie made friendship bracelets, or when Conrad wore bunny ears in Florida. She tries to tear the ears apart, screaming in frustration as she does so. ..
Lynn is struggling with the fact that she asked Conrad if he was okay and he never said he was. She feels guilty about asking him and now she regrets it.
Katie Rayburn, meanwhile, goes through phone records from Roy’s and Carter’s phone. She eventually comes across Michelle’s indicting message to Natalie.
In the episode, Conrad stands alone in a bathroom, holding a bottle of pills. He takes one of the pills and falls to the ground, unconscious.
The Episode Review
This episode suffers from pacing issues, with its heavy concentration on flashbacks slowing the plot and jumbling the timeline. ..
Conrad’s interactions with the world around him are fascinating and his cry for help is effectively played out in his text correspondence with Michelle. This allowed for Elle Fanning and Colton Ryan to explore the dynamic between their characters very well.
The Girl from Plainville has been criticized for departing from its original portrayals of its main characters. Conrad, who was originally shown as a scared and depressed kid, is now depicted as someone who just wants to be seen. Michelle, who was originally shown as someone who had always had people on her side and yet continued to act in a self-absorbed manner, is now shown to be someone who has always been alone. ..
