The Party's Over - The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 1
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Recap

Aniq pulls into the parking lot for his high school reunion. He checks his phone and looks at the e-mail from Zoe. He takes his glasses off. 

Xavier falls over the cliff behind his house, crashing to his death on the rocks below.

Detective Danner arrives at Xavier's place, along with Detective Culp. Her superior, Greg, on the phone, tells her to hold off -- there's a ringer coming in from LA -- but Danner insists she can do it. Greg tells her to collect statements from the guests at the house, but nothing more. 

Danner and Culp examine Xavier's body on the beach. Culp suspects and accident or suicide. Danner smells whiskey and ginger ale on him. Culp finds cooked shrimp scattered around the body. There is also a blonde wig nearby. Culp finds a hat underneath Xavier's body.

Danner says it cannot be suicide if the hat is underneath him. She also notices the contusion on Xavier's nose, suggesting someone punched him in the face. She believes it to be murder.

In Xavier's house, Aniq (whose face has been drawn and written-on with Sharpie) is beside himself, insisting he didn't do it. His friend Yasper reassures him that nobody thinks he did it. Walt, another guest, excitedly announces that he has discovered the Wi-Fi password. 

Detective Danner enters, slipping on a puddle as she enters. She introduces herself and surveys the scene. Detective Culp introduces himself as well. Danner tells the guests to stay off social media.

A story about Xavier's death appears on the television screen. The news tells the story of Xavier's rise -- son of a coffee magnate, Grammy-winning pop singer, and actor. Danner tells them to turn off the television, which Yasper does. Danner and Culp notice that Aniq is very wet. They tell everyone to stay put as they explore the home. 

On the lower balcony, Chelsea confronts Brett, saying she knows what he has in his car. He tells her he knows what she said in the hallway at the reunion. They both agree not to say anything about anything. Detective Danner eavesdrops on Chelsea and Brett.

Culp notes signs of a scuffle and blood on the balcony, as well as a lack of security cameras -- but Danner isn't listening to him. Danner and Culp head back downstairs. Danner notices the way Aniq is looking at Zoe. Danner addresses everyone, saying she will be interviewing everyone at the house, and it will take a few hours.

Jennifer #1 says Aniq killed him, which Aniq denies. Danner asks Jennifer #1 if she actually saw Aniq kill Xavier, to which Jennifer #1 replies that she did not. Danner tells her to sit. Danner tells everyone that she wants to hear everyone's perspective of what happened that night -- their mind movies -- so she can piece it all together.

Jennifer #1 says that Indigo saw Aniq at the scene of the crime. Indigo recounts her version of the events in the style of a black-and-white, avant-garde art film. She says she was on the lower balcony with the Jennifers while Ned created an art project on the passed-out Aniq. Ned interrupts, stating that it was a prank, not an art project.

Indigo continues, saying that Xavier urinated from the lower balcony onto Jennifer #1. Jennifer #1 went in to get help washing it off, and Ned mentions that they couldn't because the bathroom was occupied by someone dropping a deuce. Indigo goes on, saying the television was turned on, Aniq woke up, believing Xavier was responsible for his current state.

Yasper tells him to calm down, but Aniq goes upstairs to confront Xavier. Moments later, they hear cries from Aniq upstairs. Jennifer #1 and Ned head out to the lower balcony and see Xavier's body on the rocks below. While everyone else heads out to the lower balcony, Indigo heads upstairs, seeing Aniq in Xavier's room. 

Danner takes Aniq aside for private questioning first. Aniq gives her the names of everyone still present. Danner takes out some little figurines to make it 'fun.' Aniq tells her he isn't having fun -- someone died, and he could be arrested. Danner assures him that he will only be arrested if he did it. 

Aniq begins telling the story of the night. He went to his reunion for the love of his former high school chemistry partner, Zoe. She was recently divorced and had sent him an e-mail, looking forward to seeing him at the reunion.

In the high school parking lot, Yasper greets Aniq. They hug, compliment each other, and head to the school. They run into Chelsea, the former class president who had a breakdown. Among the blown-up row of grad portraits, they find Aniq's next to Zoe's.

Yasper insists that Zoe and Aniq are meant to be. When Zoe shows up, Aniq says hello and accidentally sets off a flurry of balloons. They remark on how nice it is to see each other, then Zoe heads inside. 

Aniq apologizes for going into detail about his feelings for Zoe, but Danner assures him that she enjoys the rom-com vibes and urges him to continue, getting out a bag of popcorn.

Yasper and Aniq run into a classmate they don't recognize, even though they assure him that they do. He tells them his name is Walt, and no one ever paid attention to him in high school, but tonight will be different. Yasper recalls how he used to be in a band with the now-famous Xavier and hopes Xavier will bless his new track. 

Xavier arrives by helicopter, and a crowd rushes to greet him. 

Yasper and Aniq collect their name tags from the Jennifers. Jennifer #1 writes down their professions -- Yasper owns an audio-visual installation company, while Aniq designs escape rooms (which he explains with some difficulty to Jennifer #2). 

Danner interrupts, stating that she had trouble getting out of Aniq's escape room. Aniq finds this troubling, as she is a detective. 

As Yasper and Aniq enter the gym, Zoe is singing "Turn Back Time" by Cher. Yasper brings Aniq a drink and encourages him to sing.

Aniq gets up to sing, but the karaoke DJ puts on "My Neck, My Back" by Khia instead of Aniq's choice -- "Angel" by Shaggy. Aniq makes the best of it by replacing the obscene lyrics with ad-libs about feminism and empowerment. Eventually, the DJ turns the music off.  

Afterward, Zoe and Aniq chat, but Xavier interrupts them, bringing Zoe a drink. Xavier invites Zoe to sit at his table. Zoe asks if there is room for Aniq as well, but Xavier tells her there is not. Aniq tells her they'll catch up later.

Watching Zoe and Xavier together, Aniq and Yasper discuss Xavier's good qualities. Yasper points out that Aniq is a better man than Brett, Zoe's ex-husband. Brett shows up and sits down with them. Brett immediately starts talking about how he hates Xavier. He violently exclaims that if anyone touches Zoe, he will kill them and storms off. 

Danner repeats that Brett said he would kill Xavier, but Aniq clarifies that Brett said he would kill anyone who touched Zoe. 

Yasper offers to distract Xavier while Aniq sneaks off with Zoe. He starts to talk to Xavier about the audio-visual system he just had installed in Xavier's place. Yasper offers to explain how the remotes work, and they go off together. In Xavier's absence, Aniq sits down with Zoe, offering bread.

They get to chatting again, and Zoe informs Aniq that she is now the vice-principal. A slideshow begins, featuring photos of Zoe and Brett. Zoe and Aniq sneak off with some wine. They pass a mural in the hallway, and Zoe informs him that she painted it. A very drunk Chelsea shows up and spills her drink on Aniq.

Aniq and Zoe escape to the cafeteria and eat some chocolate cookies. In the teachers' lounge, they find Mr. Shapiro making out with Quiet Heather in the confiscated drug cupboard. Zoe gives Aniq half a weed gummy. They draw pictures of each other in the art room.

On the bleachers outside, drinking wine, Zoe asks Aniq if he is happy. He says that there are things he wishes were different. Zoe mentions that she found out Brett was cheating on her a few months ago. She says at least he is a great father.

Aniq admits that he had a crush on Zoe back in the day. It begins to rain. They laugh together and are about to kiss when Zoe's daughter Maggie shows up with Veronica, her babysitter.

Veronica says that she has an emergency but could not get hold of Brett. Zoe leaves Maggie with Aniq while she goes to find Brett. Aniq amuses Maggie by doing a funny voice for her koala stuffy, Kevin.

Maggie asks Aniq if he has "put the bones" in her mom, as her father had said he needed to make sure no one boned her mommy. Aniq is momentarily stumped, then does more of his Kevin bit, at which point Maggie runs off. Aniq goes after her. 

Maggie picks up a random glass, drinks from it, and then finds her mother and father. She notes that her juice tastes funny. Aniq catches up and drinks the remaining "juice" in the glass. Brett leaves with Maggie.

Aniq and Zoe head out. Zoe asks if Aniq is going to Xavier's party. Xavier shows up, offering Zoe a ride to his place in his helicopter. Xavier pulls Aniq aside, telling him he's killing the vibe.

Aniq tells Xavier he's serious about Zoe. Xavier tells him he has to let people make their own decisions -- but to still come to the party. Xavier and Zoe leave in the helicopter. It starts to rain.

Danner interrupts, incredulous that it was raining again. Aniq admits that it was not.

The rain disappears as Aniq watches the helicopter fly away. He heads back to his car, looking at the picture Zoe drew of him. Suddenly, Yasper drives right into him. Yasper gets out and helps Aniq up. Aniq insists that Yasper takes him to the afterparty.

Chelsea calls out of Yasper's car to Brett, telling him Aniq made out with Zoe. Yasper helps Aniq into the car, and they drive off. As they drive, Chelsea notes that the car is a rental. Aniq drinks out of Chelsea's flask, which she pulls out of his hand. Brett pulls up beside them, yelling, "I'll kill all of ya!" 

Yasper drives as fast as he can. Brett pursues. Aniq takes the wheel, and a chase ensues.

At the afterparty, Aniq has more to drink and starts to feel woozy and hazy. He leaves Yasper and Chelsea, but his memory blanks. He remembers Brett on the balcony, shoving him into the shrimp 'X.' Yasper comes to Aniq's aid, and they both notice Brett fighting with Xavier on the upper balcony.

Aniq spies Zoe on the staircase. He does a flaming Jell-o shot and passes out.

Detective Danner asks what happened when Aniq woke up. 

Aniq wakes up  covered in beer, with his pants down and scribbles all over his face. He decides that he needs to talk to Xavier and tell him why this behavior is not okay. Zoe checks in with him. He says he needs to tell her something, but it will have to wait. 

He heads upstairs, but Xavier isn't there. Aniq notices his face and yells, "Oh, no!" He hears women screaming. Indigo appears and sees Aniq. 

Aniq then tells Danner that he went downstairs and heard that Xavier was dead. 

Danner still considers Aniq a suspect because of the way he spoke about Xavier and the fact that Aniq went upstairs right before Xavier fell from the balcony. Aniq suggests that Brett is a more likely suspect. Danner implies that Aniq may have faked passing out. He denies it. Danner concludes the interview.

Aniq reconvenes with Yasper. Aniq is now concerned that Danner thinks he did it, so he must find the real killer. They go to the bathroom together. Aniq washes his face. Aniq finds a piece of a ripped-up note in the garbage that reads, "This is payback for what you did to me."

Danner checks on Aniq and Yasper in the bathroom. Culp catches Brett trying to escape, and Danner decides to interview Brett next. 

 

Show:
The Afterparty
Season:
Episode Number:
1
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The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 1 Quotes

This is more than a prank. This is a metaphor for society’s illusion of stability.

Ned

Get the cornstarch. The plot thickens.

Detective Danner