"Cassie" (Episode 2.09)

"Cassie" is the ninth episode of Series 2 and the 18th episode overall.

This episode primarily focuses on Cassie Ainsworth and her dealing with her relationship with Sid Jenkins and her friendships with Michelle Richardson and Chris Miles.

Plot
The episode starts with a montage of the main characters carrying on their lives around Chris, who suffered from a Subarachnoid haemorrhage but has made a narrow recovery and come home against doctors' orders. Cassie and Sid have been his primary caregivers; Sid has started part-time work, and spends most of his time at their apartment so that he can see Cassie. After changing Chris's dressings and having cryptic conversations with both him and Sid, Cassie goes to take her final exam, A Level Philosophy, and ends up seeing the real person behind the strict principal after they dance together.

Afterwards, she comes home to find Sid cooking an experimental spaghetti dish. Much to her amusement, he sports a black eye due to deliberate misinformation she gave him about changing Chris' dressing. Sid has cooked the meal to celebrate the end of exams, his newfound romance and Chris' recovery; Cassie's initial happiness turns to anger when she finds that Michelle is attending, until she realizes that Tony came with her. Her hostility towards Michelle does not decrease over the meal or over their discussion of how she and Tony will resume their relationship. They seem to be 'just friends' despite their obvious affection, both leaving for different universities, Michelle to University of York, and Tony to Cardiff University. Cassie is adamant that she and Sid will have to split when she leaves for university, because he didn't apply, even though they are in love. Sid responds that he loves her and that he is there right now, and that is the best he has for the time being; the argument resolved at least for now, they spend the night together. Jal, arriving late for the party, is asked what is wrong by Chris, Michelle having blurted out that she is 'fucked up worse than any of us'.

She finally tells Chris about her pregnancy, but Chris is worried he won't be a good father, seeing as his own father left when he was a toddler. In any case, he is too afraid of losing Jal to disagree with her plans to have the abortion. The next morning, Chris' mum comes to see him, but ends up giving Cassie a message for him. Cassie begs her to come in and see him, but she is too traumatized (possibly due to her implied mental instability) and leaves immediately. Cassie goes to tell Chris, but stops when she hears him sobbing in his bedroom. She decides, despite her many denounciations of secrets, that some should be kept. After having a spliff and tea with Chris to entertain him, Cassie gives him a 'Monkey Man' shirt she thought he would like. Chris is delighted, and cannot wait to show it to someone; then he panics, as he is unable to remember Jal's name. He staggers into his room and falls on the bed, going into a siezure. Cassie frantically calls an ambulance, then rushes to help him, but he is already bleeding heavily from the nose and mouth. He whispers "Got it- Jal- I got it." and dies.

Traumatized by the death of her best friend, Cassie leaves the flat, and mysteriously ends up in New York City. While there, Cassie meets Adam, a selfless waiter from Iowa, and ends up staying with him, although their relationship remains entirely platonic; Cassie observes photographs of his old girlfriend, whom he simply states is 'gone'. They go out clubbing and dance to the song "Hummingbird" played live by band Born Ruffians. Adam then leaves Cassie a green apple and a note in the night saying that he has to leave for a while, saying that Cassie could stay at his apartment as long as she liked. After finished reading the note, Cassie is deeply upset and bursts into a fit of tears. The episode ends with a cliffhanger as Cassie runs through the streets of New York for unapparent reason.

Music Featured in "Cassie"
Note: The music tracks listed below only refer to the music featured in the episode's initial airing. Many of the music tracks featured in this episode have been substituted for alternative tracks either for the BBC America airing or for both the US and UK home media release of Series 2.

James Yorkston - Don't let me down

Paper Heroes - Jenny Jones

Various Production - The World is Gone

Les Dennis - Back on the booze

Chemical Brothers -The Pills Won't Help You Now

King Creosote - You Are Could I

Lipps Inc - Funky Town

LCD Soundsystem - Great Release

True Ingredients - The Expert

Ella Fitzgerald - Take Love Easy

Les Dennis - Solid

Fionn Regan - Be Good Or Be Gone

Clinic - Monkey on my back

Thomas Fehlmann – I want to be a little fishy

Jape - Floating

Amon Tobin – Rhino Jockey

Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog

Yann Tiersen – L’Absent

Wu Tang Clan – Space and Time

LCD Soundsystem – New York I Love You

Telemen – In all nothing

Born Ruffians – Hummingbird

Fat Segal – Anann

Adele – Hometown Glory