The episode "Clark the Mark" opens with Clark Ross preparing for a public appearance. He is shown rehearsing a speech about his dislike for prepared speeches while simultaneously getting a full-body spray tan. This introduction establishes Clark as a confident, polished, and somewhat vain character who is used to the spotlight.

Next, the scene shifts to the main group led by Pryce Cahill, who is plotting a scheme to hustle Clark Ross. Pryce's motivation is personal: Clark had previously made a cruel comment about Pryce's late son, Jett, which had sparked a viral incident and contributed to Pryce's downfall in professional golf. Pryce sees this hustle as a chance to get back at Clark and prove he was always the better golfer.

The plan involves securing a sponsor exemption for Santi, an amateur golfer who wants to compete in the Ready Safe Invitational PGA Tour event. Since Santi cannot enter the tournament on his own, the group needs Clark's influence to get him a sponsor exemption. Pryce, Zero, and the rest of the team coordinate their roles carefully to execute the hustle.

Zero first approaches Clark posing as a sports journalist. She manages to secure an interview with him by leveraging her appearance and charm, which Clark readily responds to, showing his flirtatious and somewhat arrogant nature. This interaction is the first step in the con, designed to lower Clark's guard.

Meanwhile, Pryce prepares to confront Clark on the golf course. The episode builds tension as Pryce and Clark face off in a game that is both a literal and symbolic battle. Clark initially appears confident and superior, but Pryce remains focused on the goal of winning the game to secure the sponsor exemption for Santi.

During the match, Clark makes a mythically lucky shot with a club that is not suited for the situation, which surprises everyone, including himself. This moment is both ridiculous and crowd-pleasing, highlighting Clark's charm and luck. Pryce, however, does not let this rattle him and continues to play strategically.

As the game progresses, Pryce's skill and determination become evident. He manages to outplay Clark, proving that he was indeed the better golfer all along. This victory is crucial for the hustle's success and for Pryce's personal redemption.

After the game, the group's plan comes together as Clark agrees to provide the sponsor exemption for Santi. This outcome is the culmination of the hustle, with each team member's role contributing to the final success.

The episode closes on a warm and emotional note, focusing on the relationship between Santi and Zero. Their interaction reminds viewers that beneath the schemes and rivalries, the show centers on genuine human connections and emotions.

Throughout the episode, Clark's character is fleshed out as more than just an antagonist; his charm, arrogance, and history with Pryce add depth to the story. The hustle itself is intricate, with multiple layers and roles, giving the episode a dynamic and energetic feel reminiscent of an Ocean's-style caper.

"Clark the Mark" thus advances the season's plot by reintroducing Clark Ross as a key figure, resolving the immediate goal of getting Santi into the tournament, and setting the stage for the final episodes with heightened stakes and character dynamics.

At the end of Stick Season 1, Episode 8, titled "Clark the Mark," Pryce successfully hustles his old rival Clark Ross in a mini-golf showdown inside Clark's steakhouse, winning a sponsor exemption for Santi to play in a PGA pro tournament. The episode closes warmly with Santi and Zero sharing a moment of genuine connection, emphasizing the show's focus on human relationships beyond golf.

The episode begins with Clark Ross, a once-great pro golfer now running a golf academy and steakhouse, struggling with the pressures of his public persona and obligations. Clark is charming but carries a sense of emptiness beneath his confident exterior. Pryce and his crew plan to hustle Clark into granting Santi a sponsor exemption to enter a PGA tournament, a key step for Santi's career.

Zero first approaches Clark posing as a sports journalist, securing an interview by leveraging her charm. Clark is patient and affable during this interaction, showing a side of himself that is not immediately hostile. The hustle unfolds with Pryce challenging Clark to a mini-golf competition inside the steakhouse, where the stakes are Santi's sponsor exemption.

During the game, Clark appears boastful and self-assured, but his true colors emerge when he delivers a harsh personal insult to Pryce. Clark claims Pryce's emotional breakdown at Sawgrass was inevitable because Pryce is a "loser who was never meant to amount to anything," revealing lingering bitterness and insecurity despite his own success. This moment intensifies the rivalry and adds emotional weight to the contest.

Despite Clark's provocation, Pryce remains focused and ultimately wins the mini-golf challenge. Clark, incredulous at his loss, honors the agreement, granting Santi the sponsor exemption. The episode ends on a heartfelt note with Santi and Zero sharing a warm moment, underscoring the show's core theme of genuine human connection beyond the competitive and often harsh world of professional golf.

Regarding the fates of the main characters involved at the end:

• Pryce reclaims a sense of personal and professional victory by besting Clark and securing the exemption for Santi, reinforcing his resilience and skill.
• Clark Ross is left humbled by the loss, his confident facade cracked by Pryce's win and the exposure of his bitterness.
• Santi gains the opportunity to compete in the PGA tournament, a crucial step forward in his golf career.
• Zero remains a supportive figure, her role in the hustle and her connection with Santi highlighted in the closing warmth.

This ending ties together the episode's themes of rivalry, redemption, and the importance of relationships amid the hustle and pressures of the golf world.

There is no indication of a post-credit scene in Stick, Season 1, Episode 8 ("Clark the Mark"). The available detailed recaps and reviews of the episode do not mention any post-credit content or scenes after the main episode concludes. The episode ends on a warm note between characters Santi and Zero, emphasizing the show's focus on human emotion rather than golf or rivalry, but no extra scene after the credits is reported.

The main scheme in episode 8 involves Pryce and his group hustling Clark Ross to secure a sponsor exemption for Santi to play in a PGA pro tournament. The episode shows the heist from Clark's perspective, with the characters playing different roles in the con, culminating in Ross winning a game with a lucky shot to grant the exemption.

Clark Ross is Pryce's old golf nemesis who once said something cruel about Pryce's late son, Jett, which led to a viral incident and ended Pryce's career. This backstory adds tension to their interaction in the episode.

Clark Ross is portrayed as handsome, charming, annoyingly fit, and generally likable, though he is disliked by the main Stick cast. He is a former PGA Tour player and a spokesperson, with a smarmy but charismatic demeanor.

Pryce orchestrates the hustle against Clark Ross, aiming to prove he was always the better golfer. He also participates in the final game where Ross makes the lucky shot, and Pryce's plan ultimately succeeds in securing the sponsor exemption for Santi.

The episode ends on a warm moment between Santi and Zero, emphasizing that despite the golf and hustling plot, the core of the show is about earnest human emotion and their relationship.

The episode "Clark the Mark" from Stick Season 1 is not fully family friendly and carries a TV-MA rating in the United States, indicating it is intended for mature audiences. It contains mild sexual content and nudity, mild profanity, and mild alcohol use. There is no violence or gore, and no frightening or intense scenes are reported.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:

• Mild sexual references or nudity
• Mild use of profanity
• Mild depiction of alcohol consumption

There are no scenes of violence, intense drama, or frightening content, but the mature themes and language suggest it is better suited for adult viewers rather than children or those sensitive to mild adult content.