Nightswimming (Awake) facts for kids

"Nightswimming" is the eighth episode of the American fantasy drama TV show Awake. It first aired on NBC on April 19, 2012. Leonard Chang and Davey Holmes wrote the episode. It was watched by about 2.8 million people when it first came out in the United States. Jeffrey Reiner directed this episode.

The show Awake is about Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs). He is a detective who lives in two different worlds after a car crash. In one world, he wears a red wristband. In this world, his wife Hannah (Laura Allen) survived the crash. In the other world, he wears a green wristband. In this world, his son Rex (Dylan Minnette) survived. In "Nightswimming", Michael helps Marcus Ananyev (Elijah Alexander), an accountant, and his wife Alina (Ayelet Zurer). They need to start a new life in a special program called the Witness Protection Program. This is because a dangerous person tried to hurt Marcus in the "green reality". In the "red reality", Michael and Hannah get ready to move to Oregon. They go swimming at a college pool to celebrate their love.

This episode was the first time Rex was not seen in the show. Also, the show's two therapists, Dr. Jonathan Lee (BD Wong) and Dr. Judith Evans (Cherry Jones), were not in this episode. Even though it was the eighth episode shown on TV, it was planned to be the fifth one. The song "Pain in My Heart" by Otis Redding was played in this episode. The episode was filmed in Los Angeles, California. Eight guest actors also appeared in this story.

The Story of "Nightswimming"

What Happened Before

The Brittens were in a bad car crash. After the crash, Michael, who is a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), started living in two separate worlds. In one world, he wears a red wristband. In this world, his wife Hannah (Laura Allen) survived. In the other world, he wears a green wristband. In this world, his son Rex (Dylan Minnette) survived. Michael does not know which world is real. He uses the wristbands to tell the two worlds apart.

Michael talks to two different therapists. Dr. Jonathan Lee (BD Wong) is in the "red reality". Dr. Judith Evans (Cherry Jones) is in the "green reality". Meanwhile, in the "red reality", Michael and Hannah are still planning to move to Oregon. Michael works with Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman (Steve Harris) in the "green reality". He works with Detective Efrem Vega (Wilmer Valderrama) in the "red reality" after the crash.

Main Events

In the "red reality", two police officers are in their car. They hear about a break-in at a college swimming pool. They see Michael running from the pool and chase him. Michael tells them he is a detective. In the "green reality", Marcus Ananyev (Elijah Alexander) leaves his house and makes a phone call. Marcus goes to his car and tries to start it. He sees something dangerous in the car's engine and runs away just before it explodes.

Soon after, at the police station, Michael and Bird tell Marcus they will keep him safe. Marcus' wife, Alina (Ayelet Zurer), comes to the station. Marcus tells her what happened. Michael and Bird then take the couple to a hotel to stay for a while. In the "red reality", Michael sees Hannah packing things for their move to Oregon. Michael then takes Vega to meet his helper, Jake (Steve Lawrence). Jake is someone Michael works with to get information. Jake does not want to work with Vega. But he gives them a tip about a warehouse.

That night, Michael, Vega, and the SWAT team watch the warehouse. But no one shows up. Vega wonders if Jake gave them wrong information. Back in the "green reality", Michael goes to the hotel. Alina had left in the middle of the night. Marcus tells Michael and Bird that if they do not find her, he will give himself up to Maxim Basayev, a dangerous leader. At the station, Michael decides to talk to the hotel staff with Bird. They do this instead of talking to Alina's friends.

Later, Michael and Bird go to the home of Greg Hollander (Ron Melendez), one of Alina's friends. They do not find Greg, who they want to question. Hollander, who is tied up, kicks down a table as the detectives leave. This lets the police know he is there. As the bad guys run away, Bird and Michael break into the house. Bird shoots the two dangerous people. After that, they talk to Greg. He tells them that Alina often talks about how she and her husband have grown apart. Michael goes to a beach to look for Alina and finds her there. They talk about Marcus and everything that happened. Michael explains that she can start fresh. He takes her back to the hotel. In the "red reality", at Jake's home, Jake says he and Vega can have dinner alone to get to know each other.

Making the Episode

"Nightswimming" was filmed in Los Angeles, California. All other Awake episodes were filmed there too.

"Nightswimming" was the first episode written by Leonard Chang and Davey Holmes. Chang later wrote other episodes like "Say Hello to My Little Friend". Holmes also wrote "Two Birds". Jeffrey Reiner directed this episode. It was his third time directing for the show. He also directed "The Little Guy" and "Guilty". Stuart Blatt was the production designer. Todd Desrosiers edited the music.

This episode was the eighth one shown on TV. But it was planned to be the fifth episode. NBC decided to change the order. The episode's special code was "1ATR06". "Nightswimming" was the first episode without Rex. It was also the first without Dr. Lee and Dr. Evans, the two therapists. Eight guest actors appeared in this episode. Actress Laura Innes returned as Captain Tricia Harper. Lawrence appeared for the first and only time as Jake. Alexander, Zurer, Melendez, Blackman, Holden, and Todorov also appeared for the first and only time. They played Marcus, Alina, Hollander, Vasily, Shapiro, and Alexander. The song "Pain in My Heart" by Otis Redding was in this episode.

The episode was filmed in Los Angeles, California. All other Awake episodes were filmed there too. One scene was filmed at a real college swimming pool.

Jason Isaacs plays Michael Britten in the show.

Images for kids

• 

  An aerial view of Los Angeles, where the episode was filmed.

• 

  Jason Isaacs plays the main character, Michael Britten.

See also

In Spanish: Nightswimming (Awake) para niños