'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lady in the Lake season one episode 7 paid heed to all the major cliffhangers. The episode was titled 'My Story' and it aired on August 23, 2024, on Apple TV+.
The official logline of episode 7 of Lady in the Lake reads as:
"Maddie is met with resistance when she tries spinning Cleo's story."
The episode starts by clearing all our doubts about Cleo, Reggie, and Dora Carter. Yes, Cleo is alive, as we had predicted in the previous pieces, and she faked her death so that she can take Gordon down. Reggie did not kill anyone.
One must die to be born again, and such is the case with Cleo Johnson. The focus of this episode is Cleo and her resurrection to start over and defeat Gordon before moving to Paris. She needs Maddie's assistance to bring Gordon down, but to do so, Maddie must give up her story on The Lady in the Lake.
Trending
The episode ends with Maddie and Cleo attaining their dreams; however, there were major sacrifices involved for both to come so far. Was it worth it, or was it not, remains the question of the hour.
Lady in the Lake episode 7 ending explained
Old memories
The episode starts with a flashback, and we see young Cleo, Slappy, Dora Carter, and Gordon. After Cleo and Dora get inside Gordon’s bar, he calls for them. Later, Dora gets a chance to perform on stage and Cleo gets the job of a bookkeeper for Shell, which her father used to do previously.
The focus then shifts to the present, and we see Cleo and Reggie in the room with Dora. Dora is dead, and her face has turned pale already. While the two reminisce and sympathize with each other, Reggie wants to waste no time. Cleo switches all her rings, ornaments, and clothes with the dead Dora to fake her death and make it look like it is Cleo who has died.
This clears all major doubts about who the lady in the lake was. Reggie never killed Cleo. Rather, he helps her fake her death so that Gordon doesn’t know she is alive and goes after her. It is also confirmed that Dora Carter died of a drug overdose.
Cleo talks with Maddie
Soon in the episode, Cleo tries to convince Maddie to give up on the story about Cleo’s death so that she can write about Shell Gordon and his involvement in the failed assassination attempt on Myrtle. She wants Maddie to help her take Gordon down instead of focusing on her story of the lady in the lake. Cleo tells Maddie to meet her by the lake once she is discharged so that she can provide her with everything that is needed to take down Gordon.
Cleo messes with Gordon
Later in the episode, Cleo dresses up as a man. She wears a suit, sunglasses, and a wig and enters Gordon’s hood. At the same time, Teddy also shows up there and tells Gordon about the numbers game, about Reggie being involved in the whole scheme, and about his mom's death.
Meanwhile, Cleo manages to sneak in and steal all the tax records, paychecks to politicians, and Shell’s books, which will help Maddie expose Gordon. Then she starts a fire in the building, and while she is about to exit, she meets Reggie, who tells her to leave with his car so that he can stay here and make everyone believe that Cleo is dead.
Next, Reggie confronts Gordon and tells him that the lady in the lake is Cleo, and Dora has moved to Paris to pursue her lifelong dreams. Reggie points the gun towards Gordon and tells Gordon to call the police and confess about their involvement in the failed assassination attempt and also in the murder of Cleo. As Gordon goes down, Cleo meets her son Teddy and makes him sit in the car.
Meanwhile, Maddie goes to the news office, where she insists on writing her own story on Cleo; however, no one seconds to that, therefore she leaves in despair. Next up, she goes to the prison, meets Slappy, and tells him that Cleo is alive. Slappy finds it hard to believe that; however, when Maddie reveals more details to him, he trusts her. However, Slappy still does not like talking to her for long or contributing to her story, so he bursts into anger.
Later in the episode, Maddie meets Platt, who tells her of his plan of moving out and also that he is sacked from his job. However, Maddie doesn’t seem interested, and perhaps Platt’s feelings for Maddie are just one-sided. Later in the episode, Maddie comes to Platt and tells him about her moving out and how he can visit her at times.
Read more: Is Lady in the Lake based on a true story? Explained
One last time
Maddie and Cleo meet at the end of the episode, next to the lake. Cleo gives her everything she needs to bust Gordon and soon leaves, telling Maddie to write her story well. Maddie's story about Cleo's death is taken away from her as someone else covers it; however, Maddie writes a story and exposes Gordon and all his corrupt practices.
Meanwhile, Maddie’s son Seth tears apart Maddie’s old story, and when Maddie tries to stop him, he says that he doesn’t want Milton to find out that he is not his son. To Maddie, every story is her story, and Seth doesn’t seem to like that, as he believes that his mother can even use his story if that can profit her in any way.
The episode ends with Cleo leaving Baltimore with her sons, and soon the chaos in the city starts with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Slappy gets out of jail, Gordon gets locked in, and Cleo becomes a famous singer with the name Dora Carter.
Read more: Lady in the Lake Season 1: Full list of cast
Later in the episode, Slappy goes to Paris and sees Cleo performing on stage. Meanwhile, Maddie gets her fame by writing her book titled 'The Lady in the Lake,' which she always wanted to do. The episode ends with Maddie, who has a vision of Tessie and Cleo. Maddie reimagines Thanksgiving and embraces her new self.
Both Cleo and Maddy, the main characters, emerge from the show with triumphant outcomes. To ultimately discover who she truly was, Maddie had to give up her son, her family, and everyone she cared about. In a similar vein, Cleo had to take advantage of her friend's passing and her reputation to move out and make a fresh start in a new place free from restrictions so that she could give her sons a better life.
Lady in the Lake is now streaming on Apple TV+.
