Arzen Rose Dulzura

Episode 2 of “What Lies Beneath” uncovers more of the characters’ disturbing secrets

Article (news)

Rianna Mae Santiago

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761098691451New Project (31).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>Set to entice viewers with the mystery, the second episode of “<a href="http://whatliesbeneath.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>What Lies Beneath</u></strong></a>” does not hold back in adding more multilayered narrative elements, making the truth appear further away from the characters and the audience with each episode. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>More revelations through Erica’s flashbacks </strong></div><p>More flashbacks resurface from Erica (Kaila Estrada) and Edong’s (Jake Cuenca) phone call in the previous episode, this time to the confrontation among the young Erica (Krystal Mejes), Beth (Allyson McBride), Mel (Reich Alim), and Alice (Eliza Borromeo) in high school. Erica’s conscience is still haunted by the false evidence that resulted in Edong’s wrongful imprisonment, while the others accuse her of being a bad friend to Louisa (Mutya Orquia) and remaining silent, which contributed to Edong’s arrest.</p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PMymOuzQTo" title="Erica confronts her friends about Edong’s imprisonment | What Lies Beneath (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Just a hint of Mel Montenegro’s true colors </strong></div><p>Mel’s controversy persists, and her PR team works to save her reputation by strategizing that she and her husband, Anton Montenegro (Jameson Blake), put out a statement. During the phone call, Mel admitted to intentionally injuring her husband, adding credibility to the widespread allegations of her scandalous personality on social media.</p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rFrN2_yoGMM" title="Mel tells Alice and Beth about her viral scandal with Anton | What Lies Beneath (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Beth and Alice, who seem to have overheard parts of Mel’s phone call with her PR team, turn to her to learn the truth. Mel denies the accusation, claiming that she and her husband get too close at times and that the video of her punching Anton was staged to make it appear as if it happened.</p><p>The problematic secrets remain hidden once more, with Mel diverting the conversation to her new endorsement and appearance in Grace &amp; Glam&#x27;s fashion show, regardless of negative publicity. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Remembering Louisa  </strong></div><p>Alice looks back on how the scenarios of physical altercations are normalized within the group’s lives and relationships, with them reminiscing about Louisa experiencing the worst of bullying after being paired with a classmate named Kyle (Miguel Vergara). </p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SH7wbeGUYGE" title="Alice, Beth, and Mel recall Louisa’s kindness | What Lies Beneath (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>From one memory to the next, they recall Louisa’s bravery in saving Alice from a burning car despite not knowing each other back then. With that, they recall Louisa as the glue that held them all together, even with the town of Amurao appearing to spite her. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A part of Edong and Erica’s Truth </strong></div><p>The scene shifts to Edong and Erica’s hair-raising phone call. He discloses that the watch was not Louisa’s but was stolen from a lady’s bag in the public market. Erica freezes, unsure what to say. Edong notices, feeding Erica’s guilt further, emphasizing that she may have still allowed innocent people to be accused and arrested. </p><p>Erica tries to reason out that even if they tried to make Edong appear innocent, the people and authorities around them say otherwise, with the majority having issues with Edong over another murder and drug abuse. With their vulnerable ages ranging from 15 to 17, the girls were easily coerced and threatened into agreeing to the false allegations against Edong during the corrupted interrogation led by Celestino, the town’s top police officer. </p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q89k1Fjlf3g" title="Erica confesses to Edong the truth about what their friends go through | What Lies Beneath" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The girls were victims of justice, just like Edong. To name a few, Celestino would cite “obstruction of justice” if they refused to cooperate, accuse the group of drug use, and has threatened to take away Beth’s college scholarship. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Alice, Beth, Mel, and Erica live lives that are far from happy </strong></div><p>Alice, Beth, and Mel huddle together to discuss their careers and personal lives. Mel was actually cast off by her family but was accepted again a few years later. After marrying Anton, who belongs to the politically powerful Montenegro family, she faces accusations of gaining success through their influence. She denies this, insisting that her achievements are the result of her own hard work. </p><p>Mel shifts the focus to Alice, now a successful accountant. She highlights Scott, Alice’s husband, and the grand wedding she had in the United States filled with Hollywood celebrities and politicians. Alice is hesitant to react, and the scene transitions to Alice with her son escaping from their house in the States. </p><p>One of the two who remained in the Philippines is Beth, now a teacher. The group&#x27;s journalist-turned-teacher had a daughter with Ryan Mora (Yves Flores) when she was only in her third year.  </p><p>The other one who stayed in the Philippines and separated herself from the group is Erica. Alice, Beth, and Mel spoke frankly about how Erica had not returned to Amurao since the day she left during their high school graduation. She had left a text bearing heavy guilt over Edong’s unjust imprisonment and Louisa’s unresolved death. As the bus she was on sped past Amurao, Alice and Mel tried to run after her, pleading with her to stop and come back. </p><div><iframe width="966" height="543" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nWUDXLBnqwI" title="Erica becomes afraid of Edong’s warning for her friends | What Lies Beneath (with English Subs)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Edong concludes the episode with a hint of boiling anger, noticing the girls’ eyes are concealing something and lacking ‘true’ happiness, and wishing to assist them in seeking it, no matter the cost.</p><p>Don’t miss an episode of “<a href="http://whatliesbeneath.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>What Lies Beneath</u></strong></a>,” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, TV5, and <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb"><strong><u>iWant</u></strong></a>.</p>

<p>The second episode of “What Lies Beneath” digs deeper into each character’s secrets; Mel denies being an abusive wife, Alice conceals her fleeing, and Erica and Edong's confrontation deepens the injustice.</p>

The second episode of “What Lies Beneath” digs deeper into each character’s secrets; Mel denies being an abusive wife, Alice conceals her fleeing, and Erica and Edong's confrontation deepens the injustice.