Chapter Six: The Spy

Get him out. Go! Go!

- - God! Hold on, sweetie!

I'm right here. Just hold on.

- -

-Vitals? -Heart rate 220. Temperature's 106.

Will, where does it hurt?

All over.

She says he feels like he's burning. Check for burns.

I don't see anything.

-Where does it hurt the most, Will? -Everywhere! Everywhere!

Wait a sec. How big?

First it was like that. Now he's like this.

I swear to God, man, it's just some little lizard, okay?

-It's not a lizard. -How do you know?

-How do I know if it's not? -How do you know it's not just a lizard?

Because his face opened up and he ate my cat.

I don't hear shit.

He's in there.

All right, listen, kid. I swear, if this is some sort of Halloween prank,

-you're dead. -It's not.

-All right? -It's not a prank.

Get it out of my face.

You got a key for this thing?

Let me see that.

He must be further down there.

I'll stay up here in case he tries to escape.

Steve?

Steve, what's going on down there?

Get down here.

Oh, shit.

Oh, shit!

No way.

No way.

That thing, it... it did something to him.

Okay. And these now-memories, as you call them,

how long has he been experiencing them?

I told you, since Thursday. Since I found him in the field.

And why wasn't he brought in?

I have been bringing him in, and what have you done?

Nothing. Nothing!

These are new symptoms, Joyce.

No. No, he has been telling you over and over that something's wrong,

and you said it was all in his head.

You said, "Be patient." Those were your words.

I understand that you're upset, okay? I get it.

I would be, too, if I were in your shoes.

But we are all in the same boat here, and I just need you to try--

What? Stay calm? Trust you?

No, I want him transferred to a real hospital.

Well, you know that's not possible.

He really will get the best treatment here, Mrs. Byers.

The very best.

And what are you treating him for, exactly?

Can anyone tell me what's wrong with him?

Can a single person in this room tell me what is wrong with my boy?

What is wrong with my boy?

You see why I have to stop the truth from spreading, too.

Just the same as those weeds there.

By whatever means necessary.

Whoo-hoo!

-To taking down the man. - To taking down the man.

Commie bastards sure know how to make a spirit. Am I right?

-Oh, no, no, no. We... we can't. -Yeah, no. No, I've got to drive.

Drive? What, tonight?

Our parents...

Would be proud if they knew what you were up to.

Just tell 'em you're at Tammy's or Dawn's or whoever's,

and take my guest room.

-I mean, do... do you want to stay? -Well, it is pretty late.

Okay. Uh... Could I use the sofa?

Okay, I'm confused. What's going on here? A lovers' quarrel?

-No, no. I mean, we're just friends. -Friends.

You've told me a lot of shockers today, but that, that is the first lie.

-It's not a lie. -No?

You're young, attractive.

You've got chemistry, history, plus the real shit, shared trauma.

Trust issues, am I right?

Something to do with your dad.

-What? No, I mean, my dad's-- -An asshole.

Hmm. It is a curse to see so clearly.

You, you're harder to read.

Probably, like everyone,

afraid of what would happen if you accepted yourself for who you really are

and retreated back to the safety of...

-Name? Name? -Steve.

Oh. Steve. We like Steve.

Yes.

-But we don't love Steve. -What?

No, we... I mean, I do.

There it is, ladies and germs, the second lie of the evening.

So, how'd I do?

My goodness. You two are adorable, aren't you?

Listen...

...there's a pull-out sofa in my study if you want it.

But if I were you,

I'd cut the bullshit and share the damn bed.

Afraid.

Trust issues?

Trust issues.

Retreat?

I don't retreat.

Trust issues? I do not...

Oh. Hey.

Hey.

I just, uh...

I... I just wanted to say that...

Oh, no, don't-- I mean-- He's so drunk.

-Wasted. -Yeah.

I mean, what? He knows us for a couple of hours, and he's got us all figured out?

Exactly.

God. Okay, yeah. I feel... I'm glad we feel the same way.

Yeah. Yeah, it's fine.

Uh...

So, uh, good night, I guess.

Yeah, um, good night.

Oh, He-Man, thank you for saving my life. What strong muscles you have.

- I knew it. -Hey! They're in love!

No, actually, they're not. They don't even exist on the same planet.

Aren't you too old to be playing with toys?

That... that's not the point. The point is to stay out of my room.

Then tell your little nerdy friend to shut his mouth.

What are you talking about?

"Code red, Lucas. Code red. Code red."

Bunch of nerds.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Dustin!

This is Lucas. Do you copy? Dustin?

-Well, well, well, look who it is. -Sorry, man.

My stupid sister turned it off.

Well, when you were having sister problems, Dart grew again,

he escaped, and I'm pretty sure he's a baby Demogorgon.

-Wait. What? -I'll explain later.

-Meet me and Steve at the old junkyard. -Steve?

And bring your binoculars and wrist rocket.

Steve Harrington?

All right, let's go.

Just be there, stat. Over and out.

All right, cowboy, good news.

We're giving you the green light.

How you feeling?

Never better.

All right, well, got a present for ya.

-The hell is that? -Uh, something you should see.

Watch your step.

All living organisms develop defense mechanisms against attack.

They adapt. They find some way to survive.

Oh, my God.

It's pretty impressive, isn't it?

It's been spreading,

growing beneath us like some cancer.

- Why aren't you burning it? - There's a complication.

They made me sign, like, a thousand documents.

I mean... we all had to. We had to.

I mean, I lost track at a certain point.

They're gonna make you do the same. I'm sure.

Yeah. Well, hey, whatever.

What kind of documents?

Uh, confidentiality,

and there were these official forms saying, like, nothing ever happened,

which is why...

Will got lost in the woods.

Yeah.

Man, I always thought stuff like this happened in movies and comic books.

Certainly not in Hawkins, and certainly not to someone like you.

-Or you. -Yeah.

Bob Newby, superhero.

You cold?

Uh, just a little jitters, I guess.

Hey, don't you start worrying about me.

-Okay. -Okay? I'm fine.

I'm fine.

It's not like you didn't warn me. "This is not a normal family."

-Isn't that what you said? -Yeah.

- You weren't kidding. -

It kinda makes my idea of moving to Maine sound a little less crazy, right?

Oh, it... it's not crazy at all.

Mom?

Hey.

Is there a doctor? We need a doctor!

-Sweetie, how you feeling? You okay? -Okay, they're on their way.