1986
Season 1 Episode 1
Present:
A man is giving a eulogy at a funeral for one of six friends that has been killed by an unknown assailant. As the man talks about the six friends it flashbacks to them graduating and the man taking a group photo of them, which is the recurring photo shown.
1986:
Jenna (Amanda Righetti) dances to Madonna’s Papa don’t preach as Aaron (Dave Annable) watches her. Carla (Chyler Leigh) comes up behind him and tells him to stop drooling. Then Jenna changes the song to Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love and proceeds to pull Aaron into the middle of the room t dance. Craig (Sean Faris) hops in shouting “I love this song” followed by Will (Will Estes). Then Craig is about to give a toast when he realizes that Samantha (Alexa Davalos) is not there. Carla goes to get Sam, who is taking a pregnancy test. Carla and Sam discuss her situation and that Craig; her boyfriend is not the father. Sam and Carla join the other and Craig gives a toast. “May everything stay as perfect as it is right now!” Craig and Will go on a beer run and get into an accident.
Craig is walking through the hospital looking for Will when a police officer stops him. Craig discuss with will how if he were driving and not Craig that it would be no problem. The officer comes in and is arresting Craig for DWI when Will lies that he was driving. Then next day at the Doghouse Diner Aaron and Carla discuss the perfect gift for Aaron to give Jenna. Jenna arrives and comments on how they would be an adorable couple. Craig goes to pick up Will from the hospital. Craig has to make a phone call. When Will gets to the car Sam is there. They discuss sleeping together when she and Craig were broken up. She about to tell Will she maybe pregnant but changes her mind. Back at the diner, Aaron tells Carla and Jenna that Wham will be the next Beatles. The police arrest Will for vehicular manslaughter as they pull up to the diner.
Present:
Detective Majorino (Mathew St. Patrick) stops Miss Holland to ask her a few questions about her friend’s death.
1986:
Craig is waiting outside the police station for Will, who spent six hours in lock up. Craig tells Will that they we straighten out the situation. Craig’s dad Russell Brewster wants to talk to Will. Sitting outside the diner waiting for Will and Craig to arrive the rest of the friends discuss the situation. Jenna goes and hits on a former teacher, which makes Aaron jealous, and he leaves. Alone Sam tells Carla to tell Aaron that she likes him. Russell Brewster convinces Will to go along with the lie. A frustrated will see Sam on his way out and she lies to him about the baby.
Present:
Miss Holland is revealed to be Carla. Det. Majorino informs her that she is a suspect in the person’s death and then he asks her about a necklace.
1986:
Jenna is using the make from Carla’s dad’s shop. They are discussing men when Carla’s dad comes in. Mr. Noels hint to Carla that he knows she been taking the pregnancy test and that she will find new friend in the future. At a graduation party, Craig is nervous because he has heard back from Will. Aaron tries to make plans with Jenna who blows him off. Craig tells Sam about the situation. Carla tries to console Aaron as he tries to drink his jealously away. Aaron verbally attacks Mr. McManus and then Jenna verbally attacks him. Will arrives at the party and slam Craig into a wall when he brings up the accident. The next morning Will gets a call from his attorney who tells him the DA has agreed with the plea bargain. But at the hearing the judge rejects the bargain and sentences Will to 12 months in county correction, he has two weeks to surrender.
Sam goes to see Will and figures he’s doing this because he’s guilty about sleeping with Sam even though she and Craig were broken up at the time. He tells that he also did it so that he won’t feel guilty about loving her. Sam decides not to tell Will about the baby. Jenna goes and sees Aaron to apologize for the other night, they start to make out and Carla sees them through the window. Carla goes to her dad’s shop to cry. She and her dad talk about how she feels that by starting here she will not change. Will turns himself in and the gang is there to wish him well. Craig goes off to Brown. Sam and Carla go off to London. Jenna leaves from New York. Aaron goes off to MIT. Will is in lockup with a picture of Sam.
Present:
Carla explains how the following year 1987 gets more complicated.
