In the second episode of Apple TV+'s "Lucky," titled "Make 'em Dance," the central grifter, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, finds her initial good fortune waning as she navigates the harsh realities of the Mojave Desert and a web of criminal connections. After evading the FBI in the series premiere, her luck takes a sharp downturn with her apprehension by crime executive Priscilla Madddddsterson, portrayed by Annette Bening.
Priscilla, who is also the mother of the protagonist's estranged husband Cary, opts to lock the grifter in a car trunk rather than turn her over to authorities, allowing her to escape and "steal another day." However, the episode emphasizes that the trail of destruction left by the protagonist—marked by deceased adversaries and wrecked vehicles—is difficult to conceal.
Shifting Alliances and Unexpected Shelter
While on the run and suffering from heatstroke, the protagonist seeks refuge with Lita, a grandmother living in the desert, and her two granddaughters. Lita, played by Alanna Ubach, offers a more grounded presence compared to the high-stakes criminal world.
Meanwhile, Priscilla visits her son Cary's father, John Armstrong (Timothy Olyphant), in federal prison. Their complex history, marked by past romantic involvement and criminal activities, centers on a shared desire to protect their children. However, communication proves difficult, as Cary is not speaking to his mother, and the protagonist's calls to her father in jail are primarily for settling personal scores rather than seeking broader assistance.
Law Enforcement Closes In
Special Agent Billie Rand, played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, begins to piece together the events at the Mojave crash site, correctly deducing that the protagonist survived an attack. Her superior, Kershaw (Eric Lange), makes a brief appearance before departing, leaving Rand to pursue the case independently. Rand, aware of the protagonist's history as a lifelong criminal and her connections to Priscilla, whom Rand has pursued for years, starts to see the potential for humanity amidst the chaos.
At Lita's home, the protagonist adopts various personas, claiming to have been in a car accident caused by an angry boyfriend whom she still professes to love, despite the circumstances. She expresses disbelief that he would betray her, without explicitly mentioning the stolen money or Cary's setup. Lita, who experienced domestic violence, advises against such justifications, stating that men often do not change.
The protagonist's father attempts to contact her via a burner phone, but she does not answer, instead gathering usable tools, including Lita's shotgun and truck keys.
Unraveling the Conspiracy
Further complicating matters, the cash haul that the protagonist and Cary stole was originally taken from a man named Wayne Whitaker (William Fichtner). This sum represents a portion of a larger, multi-million dollar heist, details of which remain vague but are suggested to be similar to a biodiesel scam. Whitaker, seeking the return of his money, has leveraged his influence to secure Priscilla's release from prison, where she was serving time for money laundering. He now threatens Priscilla, implying dire consequences, including harm to her missing son, if she fails to locate the protagonist and the money.
Agent Rand tracks the protagonist's likely path to Lita's desert compound. The protagonist, however, commandeers Lita's pickup truck and flees. The episode ends with the protagonist encountering Priscilla's enforcer, Harris Dutch. Dutch, a seemingly calm killer, tracks the protagonist to a gas station. In a moment of strategic thinking, the protagonist hides in the back of Dutch's truck, demonstrating an ability to use an adversary's confidence to her advantage, echoing John Armstrong's earlier observation that by understanding someone's rhythm, one can make them "dance."