Contents
Thursday, 11 July
Overview
Josie brings Alix photographs of Erin and Roxy, revealing a troubled family history and hinting at something far darker behind the girls’ disappearance and Erin’s current state. The Netflix framing introduces a strapped chair, intensifying the sense that Josie’s domestic story conceals abuse, captivity, or violence.
At home, Josie pushes Walter closer to exposure by declaring that she will tell Alix what happened to their daughters. Walter reacts with fear of the police, and Josie’s accusation that he is a paedophile turns their already toxic marriage toward open rupture.
Summary
Josie meets Alix with three photographs of her daughters, Erin and Roxy. The early pictures show the girls as small children and then on Roxy’s first day at primary school, prompting Josie to describe feeling devastated by the silence after both children began school.
When Alix asks how the girls managed at school, Josie says Erin was labeled as having global developmental delay, though Josie rejected that explanation, while Roxy was described as oppositional and often violent. The final photograph shocks Alix: both girls look drastically changed as teenagers, with Roxy pierced and hardened and Erin gaunt and withdrawn. Josie asks Alix not to judge her, then quickly shuts down and begins recording.
The Netflix framing cuts to a modified pink chair with straps and belts, while podcast audio from 11 July plays. In the recording, Josie says Walter’s work kept him away for long stretches after his redundancy, and she enjoyed the weekday freedom with the girls. According to Josie, Walter’s weekend returns changed the atmosphere for the worse.
Later that morning, Walter returns from the barber looking much the same, disappointing Josie despite her outward thanks. Josie reflects that their marriage has gone badly off course and thinks of Alix as a possible rescue. Before work, Josie heats baby food for Erin, leaves it outside Erin’s room, kisses the door with her fingertips, and goes to get ready.
After work, Walter has bought new clothes for the upcoming dinner, and Josie approves. Josie cooks shepherd’s pie, walks the dog, repeatedly thinks she sees Roxy, and searches online for her without success. Over dinner, Josie asks Walter whether Walter ever imagines seeing Roxy or wonders whether she is dead, and Walter admits that he does.
Josie then tells Walter she plans to tell Alix about the girls and “what happened,” believing Alix can help them. Walter panics, saying Alix will call the police, but Josie says that would be good. Their argument escalates until Josie calls Walter a paedophile; afterward, Josie prepares pureed food for Erin but stops herself from her usual affectionate gesture at the door, beginning to feel that Erin is part of the problem and no longer on Josie’s side.
Who Appears
- Josie FairShows Alix her daughters’ photos, records family history, and decides to expose what happened.
- Alix SummerListens to Josie’s account and reacts to unsettling photographs of Erin and Roxy.
- Walter FairPrepares for dinner with Alix, fears police involvement, and is accused by Josie.
- Erin FairJosie’s unseen daughter, fed outside her room and described as troubled and withdrawn.
- Roxy FairJosie’s missing daughter, remembered through photos and feared possibly dead.