Content warning: This post contains discussion about drug addiction and sex trafficking relating to “Euphoria.”
If you thought Rue hit rock bottom in previous episodes of “Euphoria,” nothing compares to episode five. Episode five takes a dark turn as Rue’s (Zendaya) mother, Leslie (Nika King), learns from Jules (Hunter Schafer) and Elliot (Dominic Fike) that she’s still using drugs. Suddenly, the suitcase holding $10,000 worth of drugs Laurie (Martha Kelly) gave Rue to sell is gone. Rue spends most of the episode on the run trying to evade another stint in rehab. Ultimately, she ends up stealing jewellery and $2,000 from someone in the neighbourhood to pay Laurie back.
“Ruby Bennett, I’m so happy to see you,” Laurie says as Rue arrives at her door. This was the first mention of Rue’s real first name on the series. The drug lord actually appears thrilled to see the teenager. Laurie then opens up about her own history of OxyContin abuse and ends up lecturing Rue about the dangers of prolonged drug use. Her compassion is unsettling.
Laurie understands Rue won’t have the remaining $8,000 she owes her anytime soon and “helps” the teen through her withdrawal by giving her morphine. All of it hints at something much more sinister. What is Laurie’s plan for Rue? Keep reading for theories on how their relationship will continue
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Is Laurie Trying to Advance Rue's Addiction?
Laurie offers to give Rue a bath as she goes through withdrawal. While Rue’s lying in the bathtub, Laurie lies to her about not having any opiate pills and instead offers to give her an injection of morphine, a drug she’s never tried before. When Rue questions the safety of morphine, Laurie says, “All pharmaceuticals are safe, Rue.” The line is conceptually correct when pharmaceuticals are used as prescribed, but Laurie herself knows the dangers of when they are not.
Some fans have theorised Laurie is trying to increase Rue’s debt by getting her addicted to a wide variety of drugs. That theory also brings into question how Laurie plans to get her money back from the unstable teenager.
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Is Laurie Going to Sex-Traffic Rue?
In episode three of this season, when Laurie gives the suitcase to Rue, she warns, “Rue, if you screw me, I’ll have you kidnapped and sold to some real sick people. I always find a way to make my money back. I’m serious.” The potential allusion to sex trafficking seems to be enforced during episode five as Laurie tells Rue, “If I was going through withdrawal, I would do anything. It’s one of the good parts about being a woman: even if you don’t have money, you’ve still got something people want.”
After giving Rue the bath, Laurie adds, “You know what’s funny, Rue? When I first saw you, I thought, ‘This girl’s gonna be in my life for a long time.'” Why? When Rue wakes up from her high the next day, she discovers all the doors are bolted shut. In trying to open up a multitude of doors with padded locks, you can vaguely hear the sound of people scratching on the other side. Rue manages to jump out a window. Is she truly safe? Human trafficking would be quite the traumatic turn for “Euphoria,” but it isn’t far-fetched.
