The Mend

Margot and Tyler arrive at the dock to board a boat that will take them to the exclusive island restaurant, Hawthorn. Tyler insists on her not smoking, claiming it will ruin her palate for the high-end dining experience awaiting them.

On the boat, Margot and Tyler encounter the other guests including Lillian Bloom, a food critic, and several tech bros who are loud and braggadocious. The star-studded guest list hints at the elite nature of the dining experience they are about to partake in.

The boat arrives at Hawthorn, and the guests are warmly greeted by the staff, including a suspicious Elsa. The unique nature of the evening’s dining experience is teased, with hints that the meal will be both exceptional and deeply personal.

Guests are given a tour of the island, learning about its resources and the meticulous preparation that goes into the meal. The dinner is framed as a unique story being told through the menu, hinting at dark undertones.

The first course arrives, titled 'The Island,' featuring foraged plants and fresh clams. The Chef emphasizes the ephemeral beauty of the dish, contrasting the rich inner lives of the guests with nature’s pure simplicity.

Chef Slowik reveals the underlying philosophy behind the evening’s menu, positioning the guests as mere bystanders in the grand scheme of nature. This signals a shift as tensions begin to surface among the group.

The second course, 'Memory,' evokes the Chef's traumatic childhood. Each guest receives a dish that symbolically holds secrets about their past, revealing the Chef’s deep-seated frustrations with his clientele.

The fourth course ends in chaos as Jeremy, the sous-chef, takes his own life during the service, shocking and horrifying the guests. This act serves as a catalyst for the shifting power dynamics within the restaurant.

Chef Slowik confronts Margot, questioning her place among the guests. He senses her disconnection from the high-end dining experience, fueling the looming tension as the night escalates.

In a shocking twist, the male guests are hunted down in a game orchestrated by the Chef and his staff. This reveals the Chef’s disdain for the privilege and entitlement exhibited by his guests throughout the evening.

As the dinner progresses, the Chef reveals his disdain for his customers' demands and the facade of their luxury. He holds them accountable for their actions and attitudes, foreshadowing the ultimate fate awaiting them.

Margot devises a plan to escape after discovering the depths of Chef Slowik's wrath and the fate of the other guests. A moment of confrontation leads her to find a radio in the Chef's quarters, offering a glimmer of hope.

The evening culminates in a grim portrayal of wealth and privilege as the final course, a brutal play on the s'more, results in tragedy. The guests are literally consumed by their own indulgence.

As chaos erupts, Margot makes her escape via a Coast Guard boat, leaving the horror of the restaurant behind. She reflects on the evening as she consumes her to-go cheeseburger, a symbol of the simplicity and joy she craves.

The island restaurant goes up in flames as the Chef’s plans to eliminate his guests culminate in destruction. Margot hears the explosion from the boat, signaling the end of an evening riddled with metaphor and criticism of elitism.