03x04 - Chapter Four: The Sauna Test

[bunniefuu]

I'm sorry,
I did not quite catch your name.

What happened?

Help me.

No!

Which one?

I don't know.

Hey, there's nothing to worry about
anymore, okay?

It doesn't make sense.

What doesn't make sense?

Heather.

The blood.

The ice.

Heather had a fever, so she took
a cold bath, but she's better now.

That has to be it.

I don't know where that blood
came from, but...

we saw her.

We both saw her. She's totally fine.

What about Billy?

What about him?

He seemed wrong.

Wrong is kind of like
his default.

But it's nice to know he's not a m*rder*r,
because that would've totally sucked.

Who... is that?

See, this is why you can't just
hang out with Mike all the time.

This is Wonder Woman.

AKA Princess Diana.

She's from Paradise Island,
which is, like, this hidden island

where there are only
women Amazon warriors.

Let me go! Let me go!

Doris, we need you to stay calm for us,
okay?

- Stay calm.
- I have to go back!

I have to go back!

I have to go back!

I have to go back!

Okay, so,

you two want to explain to me
what in the name of Jesus

just happened here?

Tom!

Hi, Daddy.

Heather...

sweetie...

whatever this is,
whatever he's got you into,

you don't have to do this.

You can stop this.

There is no stopping it, Daddy.

You'll see.

No.

Heather, please! Heather!

Try not to move.

No.

No.

Heather!

Heather!

Jesus Christ.

No.

No...

Hey, careful.

Careful.

Here.

Hey.

Joyce.

Oh.

Here, here, here.

It's okay.

That's it. Got it?

- Here.
- How long have I been out?

A while.

You've been drifting in and out.

Yeah, but how did I get here?

Slowly.

- What's the last thing you remember?
- Some thug att*cked me.

- Hey, you need to rest.
- No, I'm fine.

- No, you're not fine, Hop...
- I'm fine. I'm fine.

Um...

- Where are my clothes?
- Uh...

Uh...

They were soaked.

I mean, did you recognize him?

- Who?
- The thug.

Well, I didn't get a good look.

Well, I mean,
he's gotta be government, right?

Yeah, but if he's government,
what's he doing slinking around?

W-Why is he running?

You know,
why didn't we find anything down there?

Let's ask him.

What is that?

His license plate.

- What are the dashes?
- Well, they're blanks.

There was...
I think it was either an H or a P

with the part rubbed off.

And there was definitely a Y.

For sure.

And that, I think, was a B,
but it could've been an eight.

And that... Wait...

I think you should stick to sales.

Can't you run a search or something?

I just think you have to lower
your expectations.

I mean, this is a state government agency.

Gonna take weeks
before they find a match.

- Weeks?
- If we're lucky.

And, I mean,

what are the odds that this guy

registers a car in his own name?

It wasn't a car.

Uh, what are you wearing?

What do you mean it wasn't a car?

Do you copy?

This is a code red.

I repeat, this is a code red.

Max. Do you copy?

This is a code red.

Shut...

up.

She turned it off.

You've got to be kidding me.

I'm sleeping. Go away.

This is Mike. Do not hang up.

Something happened, something bad.

Our very lives can be at stake.

- What are you talking about?
- Just come over to my house.

We'll explain everything.

- What?
- Hurry.

What did he say?

Try Dustin again.

He's not answering.

So, try him again.

Dustin, do you copy?

I repeat, this is a code red.

That keycard opens the door,
but unfortunately,

the Russian with this keycard
also has a massive g*n.

Whatever's in this room,
whatever's in those boxes,

they really don't want anybody finding it.

But there's gotta be a way in.

Well, you know...

I could just take him out.

- Take who out?
- The Russian guard.

What? I sneak up behind him,

I knock him out, and I take his keycard.
It's easy.

Did you not hear the part
about the massive g*n?

Yes, Dustin, I did.

And that's why I would be sneaking.

Ah.

Well, please, tell me this,
and be honest,

have you ever actually... won a fight?

Okay, that was one time...

Twice. Jonathan. Year prior?

Listen, that doesn't count.

Why wouldn't it? Because it looks
like he b*at the sh*t out of you.

- It was...
- You got a fat lip, crooked nose,

- swollen eye, a lot of blood...
- things that all added up...

That just might work.

Robin.

Hey, Robin!
Hey, what... what are you doing?

- I need cash.
- Well, half of that's mine.

- Where're you going?
- To find a way into that room,

a safe way.

And, in the meantime,
sling ice cream,

behave, and don't get b*at up.

I'll be back in a jiff.

Oh, dude.

Come on, man, not my scooper.

If he gets us
the layout by noon, we can.

Okay, I'll let him know.

Dunno if they'll go through with it,
but I just thought you should know.

Nancy.

Jonathan.

I've worked at this paper
for twenty-five years.

Twenty-five...

years.

Now, we're a small-town paper,

but we have something
the big papers don't have:

trust.

- The trust of our community.
- Tom, if you just...

Do you know how I built that trust?
By placing my faith in something

the two of you don't seem to value
a whole lot:

facts.

Facts.

So, while we're here,
let's go over the facts.

Fact one: you disobeyed a direct order
to stop pursuing this story.

Two: you falsely identified yourselves
as reporters,

repeatedly lying to an elderly woman.

Three: you broke into her home,
committing trespass.

Four: she almost d*ed en route
to the hospital.

She would've d*ed if we hadn't shown up!

Whatever disease that rat had
clearly passed to her...

Five!
Mrs. Driscoll is a paranoid schizophrenic.

You didn't know that, did you?

Now...

disease-carrying rats?

The second coming of the plague?
Does this sound credible to you,

or perhaps does this sound more like
the delusions of a very sick old lady?

- I didn't know that.
- Her family's furious.

So furious, in fact,
they've threatened litigation.

- Litigation?
- That's crazy.

For once, we agree.

This is crazy.

In fact, in my entire professional career,

I've never dealt with anything
quite like it.

But hopefully,

hopefully, you've learned
something valuable here.

You've learned...

how in the workplace,

in the real world,

there are consequences to your actions.

Which brings me to my sixth and final...

fact.

You're fired.

Both of you.

I didn't think it was anything
at first.

I mean, I think I just didn't want
to believe it.

The first time I felt it
was at Day of the Dead.

- Power went out that night, too.
- And then I felt it again

at the field near the Nelson farm
the next day.

Then again yesterday outside Castle Byers.

Will!

What does it feel like?

It's almost like...

You know when you drop
on a roller coaster?

- Sure.
- Yeah.

- No.
- It's like...

everything inside your body

is just sinking all at once, but...

this is worse.

Your body...

it goes cold and... and you can't breathe.

I've felt it before,

whenever he was close.

Whenever who was close?

The Mind Flayer.

Go away!

Go away!

I closed the gate.

I know, but...

what if he never left?

What if we locked him out here with us?

This is him.

All of him.

But, that day on the field,

a part of him attached itself to me.

My mom got it out of me...

Get the hell out of my son!

And Eleven closed the gate.

But the part that was still in me,
what if it's still in our world?

In Hawkins.

I don't understand.
The Demodogs d*ed when El closed the gate.

If the brain dies, the body dies.

We can't take any chances.

We need to assume the worst.

The Mind Flayer's back.

Yeah. And if he is,

he'd want to attach himself
to someone again.

A new me.

A new host.

How can you tell if someone is a host?

Hey, is he in?

- Yes, he's busy at the moment, but...
- Great.

Excuse me.

You should sit down.

Wouldn't listen...

Uh...

Tony, hold on.

Let me, uh...

I might have to...
Let me call you back. Okay.

Thanks.

- Jim.
- I know, I know.

You're busy.
I'm gonna make this fast, I promise.

Is there...

some kind of problem?

Yeah. You might say that.

Um, I'm looking for the name of a guy.

The name of a guy.

Yeah, I think you might know this guy.

- Okay.
- He was here the other day.

Rides a motorcycle.

Big build, square jaw, dark hair.

He's probably m*llitary, maybe ex-m*llitary?

Is this ringing... any bells?

Uh...

I don't think so.

Really?

'Cause it was just two days ago.

This was right before I saw you.

Oh!

- You know what?
- What?

Could be the maintenance guy.

- Maintenance.
- Yeah. I can't remember his name.

Oh, God... Uh...

Gary or John or something.

Candice will have his name on file.

We've had trouble with the plumbing.
Clogged toilets and...

sinks with minds of their own.

You meeting with a lot of plumbers, Larry?

Excuse me?

This guy, when I saw him,
he was coming out of your office.

Okay, well, I don't remember that.

I shake a lot of hands, you know?

Do you remember when I caught you
passed out in the hideaway

with all that powder all over your nose?

- You remember?
- Jim, come on, now.

Do you remember when my boys
found you and Candice going at it

like a couple of bunnies
in the back of your Cadillac?

Do you remember that?

Does your wife remember that?

You, uh...

You really wanna play this game?

Huh?

Not a game, Lar.

Okay.

Those pills you used to swallow
like candy.

I can't recall,
did you have a prescription for those?

Or how about drinking on duty?

Yeah.

We have some real fun stories about that.

One call to Tom at the Post...

and you're done, buddy.

You're gone.

Oh, and, please,

don't give me that dead daughter
sob story,

'cause I just don't care.

Now, if you don't mind,

I really am rather busy.

Operating directors...

Damn it!

My nose! You broke my g*dd*mn nose!

And your friend almost k*lled me
last night,

so I'd say we're still not even.

Larry?

- Let's cut the crap, Larry!
- Larry!

- Who is this guy? Government? m*llitary?
- You're making a big mistake.

Who is he?

It's Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Larry!

Who you calling? The police?

That is a nice ring you got there, Larry.

Are you insane?

I don't know.

Let's find out.

Okay, okay, okay.
Be cool, be cool.

I don't know his name, I swear.

Ah, ah, ah!

But you know him.

He... He gives me things sometimes.

What kind of things?

Money. Presents. Aah! Gifts.

Who is this guy, Santa Claus?

Starcourt. Starcourt.
He works for Starcourt.

- The mall?
- Yes, yes.

Yeah, right.

Aah! I swear! I swear! I swear! Starcourt.

They... They own the mall.

They want to expand to East Hawkins.
They needed property, some land.

Some people didn't want to sell,
so I leaned on them a little. That's all.

I swear, that's all.

- Why do they want this land?
- I don't know!

You have records of these purchases,
these, uh...

these land purchases?

You don't want to mess with these people,
Jim.

I think you should worry about yourself
right now, Larry, not about me.

The records.

Where are they?

Larry?

He just bumped his head.

Just a little boo-boo, right, Lar?

Have a nice day.

Larry!

It's bullshit.

So, according to Tom,
Driscoll's just a schizophrenic?

And that rat is just a rat?

And it's all, what, some big coincidence?

You know what I think?

I think Tom was on dr*gs.

- What?
- Did you see him?

He was sweating like crazy.

And his palms were clammy.

He looked awful.

- Oh, is this funny to you?
- No.

No, it's just kind of incredible.

Incredible?

Yeah, incredible how you just continue
to convince yourself.

What's that supposed to mean?

I told you over and over
to drop this story.

That it was a bad idea.

But you refused, and now, I'm screwed.

It's a summer job.
Your life is hardly over.

I don't live in a two-story house
on Maple Street.

My dad doesn't earn six figures.

Hell, he isn't even around.

God, here comes the Oliver Twist routine.

Mortgage, college tuition.

You know, they're real things, Nancy.

Things that you don't care about,
only because you don't have to.

- I didn't realize I lived in a bubble!
- Well, you do!

You want everything handed to you
on a silver platter.

I mean, we were interns, Nancy!

Interns!

What did you expect, that you would make
star reporter in a month?

cr*ck the big case?

You sound just like them.
You realize that, right?

Just like Bruce and those assholes...

Yeah, yeah, those assholes gave us jobs.

Is that what that was?
That was humiliating.

Humiliating.

Yeah, the real world sucks.

Deal with it like the rest of us.

You don't know what it's like.

Neither do you.

Well, then, I guess we just don't
understand each other anymore.

Yeah, I guess not.

Hey, you're home early.

Yeah. Light day.

It is fascinating
what 20 bucks will get you

at the County Recorder's Office.

Starcourt Mall.

The complete blueprints.

Not bad.

So, this is us, Scoops,

and this is where we want to get.

I mean, I don't really see a way in.

There's not,

if you're talking exclusively about doors.

Air ducts.

Exactly.

Turns out, this secret room needs air
just like any old room.

And these air ducts

lead all the way...

here.

Flashlight.

Thank you.

Yeah, I don't know, man. I don't know
if you can fit in here. It's, like...

super tight.

I'll fit.

Trust me. No collar bones, remember?

Uh, excuse me?

Oh, he's, uh...
Yeah, he's got some disease.

Chry, uh... It's chrydo, um...

Something. Yeah, I dunno.

He's missing bones and stuff.
He can bend like Gumbo.

You mean Gumby.

I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo.

- Steve, just shut up and push me!
- Okay.

I'll push ya.

- Not my feet, dumbass. Push my ass.
- What?

Touch my butt! I don't care!

- Come on! Harder! Push harder!
- I'm pushing!

- You're playing with my legs.
- I'm not playing, I have terrible footing.

- Come on!
- I'm gonna just shove you, ready?

- Just shove me?
- One, two...

- sh*t.
- That work?

- One more time.
- Ahoy, sailors! All hands on deck!

Ahoy!

Come on.

Get over here
and serve me some samples.

I don't know.
He looks pretty normal to me.

Normal? How many times
have you seen him with a shirt on?

I mean, it's a little weird.

More than a little.

He was in a tub with ice.
The Mind Flayer likes it cold.

- Plus everything else...
- But he's lounging at the pool,

which is, like,
the least Mind Flayer thing ever.

Not necessarily.

The Mind Flayer likes to hide.

He only used me when he needed me.

It's like... like you're dormant.

And then, when he needs you,

you're activated.

Okay, so we just...

wait until he gets activated.

No. What if he hurts someone?

Or kills someone.

We can't take that chance.

We need to find out if he's the host.

- Where are you going?
- I have an idea. Boys only.

- Seriously?
- Just trust me on this one.

Okay, so we wait until the pool closes,
until everyone leaves,

and we somehow get him
to come from here and...

get him into here.

- Hey, shut the door!
- Hey, come on, kid, shut it!

I think I just threw up in my mouth.

And look, the controls are right here.
It's perfect.

- Will it get hot enough?
- 220 degrees.

We just have to figure out
how to get him in here.

- Then we lock him in...
- Heat him up...

No matter what happens, we'll know.

We'll know for sure.

Hmm...

- Yeah, I don't know.
- You don't know if you can fit?

Oh, I can fit.
I just don't know if I want to.

Are you claustrophobic?

I don't have phobias.

- Okay, well, what's the problem?
- The problem is,

I still haven't heard what's in this

for Erica.

More fudge, please.

Go on.

All right.

You see this?
This is the route you're gonna take.

Then we just wait till the last delivery
goes out tonight.

Then you knock out the grate,
jump down, open the door.

- Then you find out what's in those boxes?
- Exactly.

Mm-hmm.

And you say this guard is armed.

Yes, but he won't be there.

- And booby traps?
- Booby traps?

- Lasers, spikes in the wall?
- What?

You know what this half-baked plan
of yours sounds like to me?

Child endangerment.

We'll be in radio contact with you
the whole time...

Ah, ah, ah!

Child endangerment.

Erica? Hi. Uh...

We think these Russians
want to do harm to our country.

Great harm. Don't you love your country?

You can't spell "America" without "Erica."

Uh, yeah, yeah.

Oddly, that's, uh, totally true.

So, so, don't do this for us.

Do it for your country.

Do it for your fellow man.

Do this for America... Erica.

Ooh!

I just got the chills.

Oh, yeah, from this float,

not your speech.

Know what I love most about this country?

Capitalism.

- Do you know what capitalism is?
- Yeah.

- Yeah.
- It means this is a free market system.

Which means people get paid
for their services,

depending on how valuable
their contributions are.

And it seems to me,

my ability to fit into that little vent

is very, very valuable to you all.

So, you want my help?

This USS Butterscotch

better be the first of many.

And I'm talking free ice cream

for life.

Wow, I love the place, Lar.

Hey, you sh**t that fella yourself?

That's... That's not real.

No sh*t!

All right, so...

what exactly are we looking at?

Land deeds, transfers of property.

So your buddies at Starcourt,

they suddenly start buying up
all this property.

- They tell you why?
- I already told you,

they don't tell me anything.

They're just using you, I get it.

What I don't get

is why you have a bunch of land deeds

in a safe in your bedroom.

These people, Jim,

they're bad news.

So, what, this is blackmail?

- Protection.
- Protection.

Hold on a second.

Hey, what is it?

Hess Farm, Henry's place,

Bullocks...

Look, they're all here.

They're all in Southeast Hawkins,
right near Jordan Lake.

And what else is near Jordan Lake?

The power plant.

Four nights ago,
there was a huge power outage,

- and the next day...
- Your magnets fell.

Yeah, I mean, Scott says that this machine

would take a massive amount of power
to run.

- Yeah.
- So, what if this machine

that we've been talking about
really does exist,

and the reason that we didn't find it
at the lab

is because it isn't at the lab,
it's at one of these properties.

Um...

I want you to... forget about sales.

I want you to come work for me
at the Hawkins PD.

And have to look at your face every day?
I don't think so.

Larry!

Hey!

Hey, where do you think you're going, pal?

Nancy?

Nance?

Maybe Jonathan's right.

To be honest, I wasn't thinking about him.

I wasn't thinking about anyone, really.

I just...

I wanted to be right.

- I wanted to be right so badly.
- And were you?

I thought so.

But maybe I just...

don't want to admit that I'm wrong,

- because if I'm wrong, then...
- You're what everyone thinks you are.

Just a kid who has no idea
what she's doing.

It's not easy out there, Nance.

I know.

People are always saying you can't.

That you shouldn't.

That you're not...

smart enough, not good enough.

This world, it...

it beats you up again and again
until eventually, I...

Most people, they just...

they just stop trying.

But you're not like that.

You're a fighter.

You always have been.

I honestly don't know
where you get it from.

Dad.

I think you were swapped in the hospital,
to tell you the truth.

No.

I get it from you, Mom.

I get it from you.

Well, wherever you get it from,

I'm proud of you.

Proud of me for getting fired?

That you stood up for yourself.

That you stood up to those...

shitheads.

Mom!

Yes, those shitheads.

And if you believe in this story...

Look at me, Nancy.

Finish it.

Then go sell it to The Indianapolis Star
or whatever and...

I mean, can you imagine their faces

when they read a story
about their own town

in a big paper like that?

That would be...

pretty amazing.

So, why not?

Why not?

Finish it.

Uh, Will?

Um, you know, about yesterday...

It's fine, Lucas.

You don't have to say anything.

I know, but it's just...

It was a really cool campaign.

- And Mike and I, we should've never...
- I don't care anymore, Lucas.

I really don't.

We have bigger things to worry about now.

This should hold him.

Hey, I found the breakers.

Whoa, that thing is super creepy.

Let me see it.

I think this'll work. Right, buddy?

Right, Mike.

Hey, El...

I just wanted to say...

You know when I said Nana was sick?

She wasn't. I lied.

- I know.
- Right, right, right. No, I just...

think it was important for you
to know the context.

Hopper, he went all crazy on me,

telling me I'm spending
way too much time with you.

He made me lie. I mean,

you're the most important thing to me
in the world.

What if he's right?

- What?
- Hop.

No, no, no, no.

He's just some angry old man
who hates joy.

But if I only see you,

and I'm a different species than you,

then I should be with my species more.

What are you talking about?

Did you spy on me?

- That's totally against the rules.
- I make my own rules.

- Mike, are you there?
- Yeah!

- Where are you guys?
- I'm coming. Just...

hold on a second.

sh*t!

God, I hope it's not you.

I really hope it's not you.

Erica, do you copy?

Mm-hmm. I copy.

- You nerds in position or what?
- Yeah, we're in position.

It's all quiet here,
so you've got the green light.

Green light, roger that.

Commence Operation Child Endangerment.

Can we maybe not call it that?

See you on the other side.

Nerds.

Winnie!

Winnie, is that you?

- Larry?
- Winnie, upstairs in the bedroom!

Baby.

Oh, my God, baby, what happened?

Get me a phone.

- Baby...
- Get me a g*dd*mn phone!

Anything?

No.

This place is dead.

All right, where to next?

Hess Farm.

All right, nerds.

I'm there.

Do you... Do you see anything?

Yeah, I see those boring boxes
you're so excited about.

- Any guards?
- Negative.

- Booby traps?
- If I could see them,

they'd be pretty sh*t traps,

- wouldn't they?
- Thank you for that.

I'm in.

Oh, God.

Free ice cream

for life.

Pool's closed.

Hey.

Do you hear me?

Pool is closed!

Billy!

Who's there?

Billy!

Who's there?

Billy!

Billy!

You think this is funny, huh?

Billy.

Come and find me.

I find you, it is your funeral.

Come and get me. Come on!

Billy!

Got you.

Come and get me,
you piece of sh*t.

Hey.

Behind you.

Hi.

Now!

- Come on.
- Got it.

Max.

Do it.

Hi.

Uh, I'm here to see Doris Driscoll.

I think she was admitted last night.

Name and relation?

Uh... Nancy...

Driscoll.

I'm...

Nancy Driscoll.

Her... granddaughter.

That's definitely not Chinese food.

Uh, maybe you guys should, you know,
stand back.

- No.
- Just...

- Just step back, okay?
- No.

- Step back. Seriously.
- No! No!

If you die, I die.

Okay.

What the hell?

What is that?

Was that just me, or did the room move?

Booby traps.

You know what?
Let's just grab that and go.

Which one do I press, Erica?

Just press the damn button, nerd.

Which one? I'm pressing the button, okay?

- Press "open door."
- I'm pressing "open door."

Just open the... Press the other button.

Out of the way
so she can push the button...

- Would you stop?
- I'm trying.

Would you let me just do it?
Would you stop?

Just open the door!

Oh, sh*t.

Max! Let me out of here!

Let me out.

You kids...

You think this is funny?

You kids think this is some kind of
sick prank, huh?

You little shits think this is funny?

What is this?

Open the door.

Open the door!

Open the door!

Open the g*dd*mn door!

We're at 220.

It's not my fault.

It's not my fault.

It's not my fault, Max.

I promise you, it's not my fault.

What's not your fault, Billy?

I've done things, Max. Really...

bad things.

I didn't mean to.

He made me do it.

Who made you do it?

I don't know, it's like a shadow.

Like a giant shadow.

Please, Max.

What did he make you do?

It's not my fault, okay? Max, please.

Please, believe me, Max,
it's not my fault.

I tried to stop him, okay? I did.

Please believe me, Max.

Please believe me.

Billy, it's gonna be okay.

Max, please.

It's gonna be okay.

We want to help you.

We want to help you.

You just have to talk to us, okay?

You have to talk to us.

I believe you, Billy.

We'll figure it out together, okay?

I feel him.

- He's activated.
- I need you to trust me. Please.

- Max, get away from the door.
- What?

Get away from the door!

Let me out, you bitch! Let me out!

I'll f*cking gut you!

Let me out!

Max, come on!

Oh, my God.

- He can't get out, can he?
- No way.

No way.

No!

No! No!

No!

No...

Go to hell, you piece of sh*t!

♪ We'll meet again... ♪

- The girl, was it her?
- Yeah.

It was her.

She knows now. She knows about me.

She could've k*lled me.

Yes.

But not us.

- Not us.
- ♪ We'll meet again ♪

♪ Don't know where ♪

♪ Don't know when ♪

♪ But I know we'll meet again ♪

♪ Some sunny day ♪

♪ Keep smiling through... ♪

♪ ...drive the dark clouds far away ♪

♪ So will you please say hello ♪

♪ To the folks that I know ♪

♪ Tell them I won't be long ♪

♪ They'll be happy to know ♪

♪ That as you saw me go ♪

♪ I was singing this song ♪

♪ Keep smiling through ♪

♪ Just like you ♪

♪ Always do ♪

♪ Till the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds ♪

♪ Far away ♪

♪ So will you please say hello ♪

♪ To the folks that I know ♪

♪ Tell them I won't be long ♪

♪ They'll be happy to know ♪

♪ That as you saw me go ♪

♪ I was singing this song ♪

♪ We'll meet again ♪

♪ Don't know where ♪

♪ Don't know when ♪

♪ But I know we'll meet again ♪

♪ Some sunny day ♪