'The Lying Game' Recap: 'Reservation for Two'

Ethan, on the run from the police in Phoenix, takes Sutton to the only place he can think to run to: his father’s home on the reservation where he spent most of his childhood. As they pull up to the ranch, they see Ethan’s father outside with a horse.

Back in Phoenix, Emma, who is still acting as Sutton, awaits questioning at the police station. Dan, Ethan’s brother, takes her into the interrogation room and urges her to tell the whole truth, except for the location of his younger brother. Dan leaves as the interrogator enters the room. He introduces himself as Detective Larkin and tells Emma what her rights are.

“Walk me through everything that happened last night,” he tells her.

She takes a deep breath and contemplates the details of the event, racking her brain to think of the description her sister and Ethan quickly told to her. She improvises, telling the detective anything that made sense. She messed up a few minor details in her account, but overall she was able to relay an accurate description.

Outside of the interrogation room, Derek’s mother is noticeably distraught as she paces around the station. She sees Thayer sitting in the waiting room and recognizes him as one of the people that showed up at her house yesterday with concern for Derek. She approaches him and demands answers, but Alec steps in and calms her down. He tells her that he will help her in any way he can and sends her off with another officer.

“You better hope to God you have nothing to do with this,” Alec muttered to his son as soon as Ms. Rogers was out of earshot.

Ethan and Sutton walk up to the house and Ethan’s father meets them at the entrance.

“Either you’re here to introduce me to your new girl, or you’re running from trouble,” he says, seemingly disappointed to see his son.

Ethan doesn’t have to respond to his father’s question, his facial expression tells all. Ethan’s father says no more and leaves the two to tend to the horses.

Back in Phoenix, Sutton’s parents and Laurel arrive at the police station. They talk to Alec and try to figure out exactly where Sutton was last night. Alec also tells them that Ethan is nowhere to be found.

At school, Mads and Ryan talk about Derek’s death. Mads wants to believe that her friend had nothing to do with it, but Ryan is inclined to think differently. He thinks that Sutton probably played a big role in the murder, or at least knows more information than she would ever let on to knowing.

Back at the reservation, Sutton tries to adjust to her new “fugitive lifestyle” by offering to help Ethan with the horses. Ethan teaches her the correct way to feed a horse and Sutton is simply ecstatic to be bonding with both him and the horses.

Sutton reads too much into the good mood however, and suggests that she and Ethan go do something fun. He instantly rebuffs her suggestion, saying that they aren’t on a nice vacation. He reminds her that he’s wanted for murder and that he had to leave Emma home alone against his wishes.

Alec watches the recording of Sutton’s questioning. He thinks that she is lying because she looks up and to the right each time she answers a question. He notes that she is acting almost as if she was told to lie, and immediately accuses Dan of prepping her before her questioning. Dan denies Alec’s claims, but Alec doesn’t buy it. He also believes that Dan knows where Ethan is and he demands to know his whereabouts. Dan remains reticent.

When Ethan is alone with his father, he explains that he was set up and had to flee Phoenix to protect himself.
Sutton comes into the room after she washes up. Ethan’s father demands to know where she got the new clothes she was wearing. When Sutton told him she found them in the guest bedroom, he snaps at her, telling her to put them back where she got them, and leaves the room.

Sutton, clearly confused by what just happened, shoots Ethan a puzzled look. He explains that the clothes were his mother’s.

“Oh God, she didn’t die in these did she?” Sutton exclaims.

Ethan goes on to explain that his mother left his family when he was thirteen and never came back. Sutton wonders why she never knew that about Ethan before.

Back at the Mercer residence, Emma sits and listen to Sutton’s parents scold her about covering for Ethan. They know that she’s done it in the past and they tell her that it can’t continue because the circumstances are completely different in this instance. If Ethan were ever to return to Phoenix, Ted vowed that Ethan would not be stepping foot in their house and that he would absolutely not be allowed to see Sutton. Mads and Thayer come over to check on Sutton, but Ted and Kristen tell them Sutton is not having visitors. Ted and Kristen pry to see if Mads and Thayer know anything, but they don’t share any information.

Sutton eavesdrops on her parents’ conversation with her friends. She finally heads to her room where Laurel anxiously awaits her. Laurel is very concerned for her sister.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be on lockdown for a while.”
Laurel tries to console her sister despite the distance that has recently come between them. Emma realizes that the distance was Sutton’s fault and tries to reconcile her own relationship with Laurel.

Back at Ethan’s home, Sutton unprecedentedly apologizes to Ethan for being such a horrible girlfriend in the past. Ethan accepts her apology, telling her that their relationship was not all bad. Ethan then apologizes to her for her new conditions. Sutton tells him that she can totally be down to earth and live well under these new circumstances. Amid the good conversation, Sutton tries to make a move and seduce Ethan. He holds his ground and stays faithful to Emma. He tells Sutton that she could take the guest bedroom and he would take the couch for the night.

Then next morning, Sutton goes out on the ranch with Ethan. They discuss what could have possibly happened to Derek after they left him in the mechanic’s shop. They come to the conclusion that the car that pulled up initially followed them there and finished the job as soon as they left. The murder discussion ends when Ethan tells her he needs to exercise the horses. Sutton, excited by her new love of horses, assures Ethan that she can help him. Ethan is doubtful, but allows Sutton to get on a horse. As soon as she sits in the saddle, the horse takes off and it is obvious that Sutton has no prior training in horse riding. Ethan jumps on the other horse and takes off after her and saves her from her own folly.

Baz, one of Laurel’s new band members, comes over before school and offers her a ride. She accepts the ride, but regretfully informs him that she can’t play in the show with his band this weekend in light of the most recent Sutton drama. Her parents, overhearing her declination, tell her that it would be nonsensical to miss her first concert because of Sutton. Laurel is persuaded into performing and Baz is very excited for his most recent band addition.

As Laurel and Emma take off for school, Ted and Kristen observe their daughter’s midterm grades.

“Wow this is a first,” Ted said when he noticed Sutton received all A’s.

Kristen points out that achieving A’s the morning after watching someone get murdered is just unattainable. She is convinced Sutton is telling the truth about the murder.

When Emma arrives at school, Mads runs and embraces her, thankful that her friend is fine. Despite her initial glee, Mads quickly becomes skeptical of Sutton’s actions. Mads explains that she thinks Sutton called her father from the library so she could have an alibi while she was actually with Ethan while he killed Derek.

Back on the reservation, Sutton asks Ethan what the deal is with his dad.

“He’s so awful to you,” she remarks.

Ethan tells her that his father resents him because he thinks Ethan is the reason his wife left the family. When Ethan was thirteen, he fell in with a bad crowd and ultimately was sent to juvie. When he returned, his mother was gone and his father was convinced it was Ethan’s fault.

Ethan and Sutton hide in the back when they see police officers approaching the front porch of the house. Ethan’s father greets them without expression.

“We’re looking for your son, Ben,” one of the officers explains. “He’s wanted for murder.”

Ben Whitehorse remains seemingly unfazed after hearing of the severity of his son’s situation. He covers for his son and convinces the police that he hasn’t been there in years.

As soon as the officers leave the house, Ethan runs out front to ask his father what they said.
“It doesn’t matter,” he responds. “I want you gone by the end of the week.”
“You, too,” he says nodding at Sutton.

Laurel and Baz are eagerly going over the set list for their concert Saturday as they walk down the hall at school. They run into Justin and Laurel tells him all about her plan. He seems very jealous that she is spending so much time with Baz. Laurel does not note Justin’s envious stare and continues to go down the hallway to hand out flyers for her concert.

Meanwhile, Emma bumps into Ryan in the hall. She asks him what he’s been telling Mads and why he has such a problem with her.
Ryan, unaware that he is talking to an unknowing Emma instead of Sutton, calls her unbelievable for pretending that she didn’t remember what happened at the Black and White Ball freshman year.

Emma, Mads and Alec are at Derek’s funeral. Mads steps away for a moment and Alec uses the time to get some answers out of Sutton.

“Tragedy, huh?” he tells her as they look at his grave. “Didn’t even make it to eighteen.”

Emma tries to get the upper hand and asks Alec what sort of work Derek was doing for him. Alec knows the question indicates that Sutton knows more than she’s telling, but he tries to dismiss her nosiness.

He continues to pry and asks Sutton what Derek was wearing the night of the fight. Sutton does not take the bait and answers his inquiry with an ambiguous answer.
She goes on to tell him that Ethan did not kill Derek. She tells Alec that he and the police force need to be looking for the person who pulled up after them.

Once he realizes that she knows of the car that pulled up afterwards, he tries a different approach. He agrees with her, saying that he knows Ethan didn’t do it. He just wants him to know it’s safe to come back.

“It wouldn’t be fair for Ethan to be on the run while the real killer gets off scotch free.”

It’s dinner time at the reservation. Ethan tries to make small talk with his father while they eat their meals. His father urges him to stop the polite conversation because it is superficial. Instead, Ethan makes a bold move and asks about his mother.

“If she were here right now, she’d be as disappointed as I am,” Ethan’s father angrily snapped.

Unable to accept the tension, Sutton interjects and says that Ben should start caring more about his son.

He brings up that he wants to care but it is difficult because his son is wanted for murder. Ethan insists again that he did not do it, but his father is reluctant to believe it based on his son’s past record.

Later that night, Laurel and Baz perform with their band at Hangar 19. Ted and Kristen are very impressed with their daughter’s performance, but a nerve is struck when the spot Justin in the audience.

Ted approaches Justin and tells him that he’s surprised to see him because he and Laurel are no longer an item. Justin is clearly uncomfortable with the confrontation. He tells Ted that he is here to see Laurel as a friend, but Ted doesn’t buy it and strongly urges Justin to leave.

Emma and Thayer are also enjoying the show. Emma told Thayer how his father tried to trick her into giving him information. Thayer is disgusted by his father’s antics and tells Emma not to fall for any of his ploys.

Emma also asks Thayer why Mads is upset with her. Emma notes that she thinks it has something to do with Ryan and the Black and White ball. Thayer is unsure, so he tells Emma that he will ask his sister if anything is going on.

Thayer heads over to Mads’ table.

“What’s happening with you and Sutton? Something about Ryan and the Black and White Ball?” he asks.

Mads just gets angrier and storms off to find Ryan. When she finds him, she demands to know what happened between him and Sutton. Ryan hesitantly admits that Sutton came onto him at the Black and White Ball.

“She’s not your friend, Mads” he advises.

Mads is furious with Sutton and marches right over to Emma to inform her that they are no longer friends.

After the show, Baz tells Laurel that it is time for her initiation. He tells her that it is nothing bad, she just needs to try every foreign pancake at IHOP. Laurel really wants to go, but asks if she could take a rain check because she wants to hang out with Justin. Baz is disappointed, but understands Laurel’s predicament.

Alec and Rebecca discuss their relationship status while sitting out by the pool at Char’s old house. They decide that they both like each other and Alec ends up staying the night at Rebecca’s place.

The next morning, he tries to sneak out and get home before Mads and Thayer notice he was gone all night. Rebecca catches him trying to leave and asks why he must go. She reveals that she only came back to Phoenix because of him.

“You have me,” Alec says as he pulls her in for a kiss.

Laurel and Justin also discuss their relationship status. Justin discloses that he is very uncomfortable lying to Laurel’s parents. He really is against it and the only thing pushing him to lie is Laurel’s adamancy for the deception. Laurel assures him that the lying will work, especially because she’s been under her parent’s radar ever since the new Sutton drama evolved.

Emma tries again to patch things up with Mads. She asks Mads to tell her exactly what she did. Mads tells Emma all of the things Sutton had actually done to her.

Emma is disgusted by the way Sutton treated Mads in her absence. She snaps and tells Mads the actual truth.

“Sutton did those things to you!” Emma explains. “I’m not Sutton Mercer, I’m Emma Becker!”

Mads is very perplexed by Emma’s confession. Will she believe her? Sutton does have the track record of being the queen of lies, after all.