One of the Girls

Fen regrets coming back to the island, because all it does is remind her of what happened seven years ago, when she was assaulted by a man named Nico. Bella tries to touch Fen, but it only irritates her, and Fen can’t help wondering how their relationship became so unsatisfying. She knows she feels attracted to Bella, but it occurs to her that she doesn’t actually love Bella.

While everyone else gets ready to go snorkeling and possibly even climb to some wading pools, Eleanor sits on the yacht, refusing to join in. She insists that she would rather stay dry and read, and she resists the pressure the other women put on her. While the others snorkel through the clear waters, chasing fish and laughing together, Eleanor thinks about how frizzy her hair is. It reminds her of her weekly salon visits, where she always sees the same stylist, a man named Reece. Eleanor always lies to Reece that she has fabulous plans for afterward, but instead she just goes home and talk to Sam’s ashes. Sometimes she asks Sam for advice, but she didn’t ask his opinion on the hen weekend, because she knew he would have told her not to go.

Ana snorkels for a while but then realizes she doesn’t really enjoy it or know what she’s doing and heads back to the yacht. She joins Eleanor, and they begin talking. Ana explains how she met Lexi at Lexi’s first ever yoga class. They ended up getting pizza together afterward, and it became a weekly routine. What Ana refrains from telling Eleanor is that she cried during that first yoga session, experiencing a sort of emotional release. She also knew of Lexi long before meeting her.

Robyn is surprised to find herself enjoying the snorkeling, and she decides to be the first to venture over to the wading pool. She swims alone, climbing up the wet rockface until she reaches the top, where she finds a large, blue pool several feet below her. She stands there for a moment, taking in the sights and the feeling of independence and freedom, and then she dives. Each moment brings further euphoria and ease until Fen appears, diving in after Robyn.

After swimming, the two women sit on the rocks in the sun, and Robyn admits that she doesn’t enjoy her job as a solicitor (a lawyer). Growing up, she wanted to be a photographer, but she felt that law was a more practical choice. Robyn asks Fen why she didn’t come back to the island until now, and Fen vaguely answers that some of her memories here have not been positive.

As Lexi and Bella sit on the yacht and talk about Lexi’s future, Bella admits she still isn’t used to the idea of Lexi getting married or having a baby. Lexi confesses that she thinks Ed might not know her as well as he should. She wonders if perhaps she puts on a fake image for him. She can also sense that Bella doesn’t like Ed, and she presses her about why. Bella admits that she heard from a sex-worker friend that Ed used to a frequent a strip club, but she doesn’t reveal that Ed threatened her or that her friend seemed to dislike him. Lexi wishes she could have Bella’s full approval, but Bella brushes it off, explaining that no man would ever be good enough for her best friend.

Fen swims back to the yacht, feeling refreshed but knowing Bella won’t want to hear about it because she wasn’t there. The group decides to go out for dinner that night, and when Fen is asked for recommendations, she says they should head to the harbor instead of the town. Fen doesn’t reveal the real reason she doesn’t want to go into town: She knows there’s a chance that Nico will still be working at the town’s best taverna, and she doesn’t want to risk seeing him again. Robyn looks at Fen and can tell that something is off, but she says nothing.

Lexi’s dream life was bound to come to an end. The weekend was a matter of coming together to celebrate her, but it also became her downfall.

The women climb out of the cab and head for the harbor, and Ana feels a thrill at the idea of a night out with a group of women. Finding the harbor under construction, they inevitably head toward the taverna that Fen is dreading. Ana begins to feel like “one of the girls” (188), even though deep down she knows she isn’t.

Fen’s heart pounds as the group heads toward the taverna. She sees Nico’s motorcycle outside and begins to panic internally as the group sits down.

As the women enjoy the delicious food, Ana and Robyn discuss motherhood, and Lexi wonders what kind of mother she will be. She starts to feel trapped, worried that having a child with Ed is more commitment than she can handle. Lexi even has a list of things that irritate her about Ed stored away in her mind, in case she ever needs a reason to leave. Lexi knows where her fear of commitment stems from: When she was 13, she found out that her father had had multiple affairs and had a secret daughter with one of his affair partners. Thinking about all of this, Lexi realizes she has to call Ed.

Fen sits at the table after her third drink, wanting another and freezing with tension when she sees Nico approach. The way he looks around the table, it seems like he doesn’t remember her, and Fen suddenly feels overwhelmed by insecurity. She kisses Bella deeply, surprising and confusing Bella.

Lexi slips away to video call Ed, who answers the phone warmly and happily. He expresses how much he misses Lexi, and he makes an offhand comment about how Eleanor must not be fitting in. When Bella realizes Lexi is talking to Ed, she grabs the phone and starts panning around the table, introducing all the women. She refuses to give the phone back to Lexi, but when Lexi sees Ed on the screen, she can tell that he suddenly looks deeply perturbed.

As Eleanor is enjoying her meal, Ed calls her. Irritated, Eleanor picks up and can tell Ed is in a panic. He tells Eleanor that as he recognized Ana as a woman named Juliana, with whom he had a child in university. When Eleanor looks back at Ana, she realizes Ed is right.

Thinking of Robyn’s bravery when she jumped into the wading pool, Fen works up the courage to confront Nico. She goes into the kitchen, picks up a knife, and asks him if he remembers her. Nico sees the knife and shakes his head, but Fen refuses to let him pass.

Eleanor feels stressed as she recalls everything that happened with Ed and Juliana. Ed didn’t want a child, but Ana refused to have an abortion, so they signed a contract that would require Ed to pay child support but prevent Ana from revealing his identity to anyone or contacting him. Ed believes that Ana is now using the group to spy on him. Ed shamefully admits to Eleanor that Lexi is unaware of his other child, and realizes he has no choice but to tell her. Eleanor stares at Ana, feeling used and betrayed.

Robyn starts to feel ill after too much sun, and she goes into the taverna to find some water. Seeing Fen and Nico, she steps out of sight to listen.

Fen holds the knife in her hand, feeling empowered as she reminds Nico of the night that they met. Fen came to the island and was shown around by Nico and his sister. Afterwards, Nico approached Fen and tried to kiss her. When Fen told him to stop, he did, but he also pinned her against the wall and told her she was “fat,” “disgusting,” and that no one would ever want her. Nico insists he doesn’t remember, but finally apologizes and dashes out of sight as Fen steps aside. Robyn approaches, admitting to having heard everything, and she and Fen leave together without going back to the group. On their way out, they see Nico’s motorcycle, and Robyn decides to knock it over.

Rather than being concerned for Fen and Robyn, Bella is irritated that they left with only a text message. She calls to the other women that it’s time to head to the bars. Lexi starts to wonder if she will fit into her wedding dress given the pregnancy, but Ana assures her she can just have it adjusted. Bella suddenly becomes aware that Ana already saw the dress, and when she finds out that Ana saw it before she did, she becomes upset and offended. Lexi apologizes, but Eleanor overhears and asks Ana if she will be attending the wedding. Ana answers that of course she will, but Eleanor looks at her with serious doubt in her eyes.

Robyn and Fen sit and have a late night drink together, and Fen vents about how unsettling it was for Nico to pretend he didn’t remember her. She explains that hiding those memories only gave them power in the end, and confronting them was the right thing to do. Robyn affirms this, and Fen admits that Robyn’s bravery at the wading pool is what inspired her to act. Robyn and Fen look at one another, coming to an understanding about the importance of facing one’s fears.

The ride back from the taverna is tense, but Eleanor notices that Bella and Lexi seem to have made up and are back to their friendly selves. Bella goes inside to bed, while Eleanor stays up. Ana finds her and suggests they have a drink together again, and while Eleanor no longer wants to be Ana’s friend, she also doesn’t want to go to bed. She agrees, and after a few minutes of talking, cannot help but reveal that she knows who Ana is. Ana stares at Eleanor in horror as Eleanor asks if Ed is Luca’s father, and Ana urges her to come outside.

Lies are destructive, and people who are lied to often seek revenge.

Bella lies awake in the sweltering heat of the night and decides to go out to the pool to cool off. While outside, she overhears voices: Eleanor and Ana talking in whispers. Bella hides along the wall to listen.

Eleanor questions Ana, and Ana questions Eleanor in return. Ana wants to know how Eleanor found out, and Eleanor wants to know why Ana is here. Ana refuses to explain, but Eleanor insists, and Ana admits that Luca has been asking to meet Ed. Ana is worried about letting them meet, because she doesn’t want Ed to hurt Luca. She decides she wants to talk to Lexi herself before anyone else can. Then, the women hear footsteps and discover Bella’s wet footprints.

Bella races back to her room as quietly as she can, debating whether to tell Lexi now, wait until tomorrow, or let Ed tell her when she gets home. She decides on the last option, declaring herself a great friend, and feels proud that her instincts about Ed were correct.