From (2022) s01e05 Episode Script
Silhouettes
1
Previously on From
I hear their voices.
They said it was the only way to go home.
Sara, just tell me what you did.
I left the door open.
Are you living in town or Colony House? - Town.
- Julie.
Colony House.
Why are you doing this? What's wrong? I think maybe I-I made a mistake.
Julie, there are no mistakes, just choices, and you chose what was right for you, and that matters.
Come on, try it out! Every single one of these pins is a different resident who drove in from a different location.
That is fucking impossible.
I don't just sit around, accepting the world as it is! Someone is doing this, and I'm not gonna rest until I figure out how! I wish you had the luxury of grief, but you don't, Boyd.
These people need you.
You need to be the one to lead these people home.
'Cause if you don't? She died for nothing.
What are you doing here? You promised you'd stay home.
If I didn't show up, they would have wondered why.
- It'll be okay.
- Sara I promise.
Do you wanna help me bring over the rest of the food? Yeah! I just feel so broken.
We're gonna figure it out together.
Don't worry.
- Whatcha got there? - Sweet potatoes.
Nice family.
Sara! Hey.
Oh! Oh, no, no, no.
Okay, grab her, grab her arm, grab her arm! Hold on, hold on! Hey, Alma.
Come on.
There you go, Alma, a fresh batch just for you.
Hey! Make sure you share this time.
Nathan! Nathan! It's your sister! Something happened at the diner.
They're taking her to the clinic.
I really am feeling much better.
I still think you should spend the night for observation, okay? Do I have to? It's just, with things like this, it's best not to take any chances, you know? I can have someone go get Nathan.
He can stay with you.
No.
He worries.
If he comes by, could you just tell him I'm sleeping.
Yeah, no problem.
I'll, uh I'll be right back, okay? Hey.
How's she doing? I mean, fine, given the circumstances.
Has this happened before? Well, I mean, not according to Sara.
And unless there's an MRI machine tucked around somewhere, there's no way to really know what's going on.
- Yeah.
- I'm, uh I'm gonna keep her overnight and see if anything changes.
Okay.
You sure you're ready for that? Look, I don't know how that door got open, but I'm not gonna let those things take this place away from me.
They've already taken too much already.
Yeah.
They sure have.
Hey, can I ask you a question? These seizures first, the Matthews kid, now Sara.
You think it's possible to have a physical reaction to this place? Maybe something you might normally diagnose as one thing on the outside, but here it's Look, Boyd, if you asked me this six months ago, I would have said anything that we've seen here was impossible.
But the truth is, I Okay, how long has this been going on for? Long enough that it's got me asking stupid questions.
- Boyd - I'm fine.
Come by tomorrow.
I want to take a look at it.
No need.
I already know what it is.
Nathan's here.
She doesn't want to see him.
Yeah, I don't I don't know.
Um, okay.
Go take care of your patient.
I got this, okay? And I'm good.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa! Is she okay? She's fine.
She's sleeping.
I wanna see her.
And you will, tomorrow.
Kristi's gonna sit with her tonight and make sure everything is okay.
No, no.
I-I need to see her now, please.
You will.
Hey, hey.
Is there anything else going on that we should know about? Anything that might help Kristi figure out what's wrong? No.
I'm just worried, that's all.
She's my little sister.
Right.
Look, this is Kristi's first night back since right? We don't want to be going in there and making tonight more stressful than it already is.
Sara's in good hands.
Okay? Go home.
Get some sleep.
You'll see her in the morning.
Yeah.
Okay? Is Sara gonna be okay? Well, yeah, she's down at the clinic.
They're gonna take good care of her.
Don't worry.
You remember Kristi? The nice lady who took care of your leg? She's gonna patch up Sara the same way she patched you up.
In the meantime, we are gonna play a little game.
For you.
Well, we said we're gonna figure it out, right? Let's figure it out.
Follow me.
We're gonna do some problem-solving, and the way you problem solve is by asking questions.
You ask every question that might apply, no matter how crazy, no matter how unlikely.
You put it up on a board, you get it out in front of you so that you can identify everything you know and everything you don't.
It'll be like telling a story.
Right, buddy? Question number one.
Dad! What? You never wanted to write on a wall? There.
That's where we begin.
Hey.
I can't sleep.
Uh, yeah, me neither.
I thought you'd like some tea? Do you want some? Sure.
You and Kenny make a really cute couple.
Oh, uh, no, we're just We're just friends.
Why? He's really sweet, and he loves you.
It's complicated.
How? Well, 'cause I have somebody at home.
At least I think she's still waiting.
What's her name? Mariel.
- Were you married? - Engaged.
I wonder sometimes, actually all the time, uh, what it must be like for her, thinking I, uh, abandoned her.
Um, how about you? Do you have anybody back at home? No.
I I was with someone, but he wasn't It's better that he's not around anymore.
It's just me and Nathan now.
He's all I've got in the world.
Before we got stuck here, I, um Things weren't really very good for me.
Nathan was the one who saved me.
Can I ask you something? Yeah.
Sure.
If there was something you could do, something that would let you see Mariel again something that would let everyone here go home, even if it was something bad, would you do it? Wait, what are you talking about? I wonder sometimes about this place, what it means why we're here.
If someone came up to you right now and said, "Do this one bad thing and everyone gets to go home," would you do it? Well, we're we're speaking hypothetically, right? - Yeah.
Of course.
- Okay.
Okay.
Uh I mean Yeah, I'd, um I'd do anything to see her again and And hey, I mean, if that meant everybody else got to go home too, then, I think that's a lot of good for one bad thing.
Yeah.
Hmm.
Tell me you figured it out.
Oh, I-I did.
And the answer is 12.
Okay.
All right, let's go over this again.
Everyone enters from different parts of the country, on different roads, in different places, and they all, presumably, see the same tree, same crows.
Jim, Jim everyone here has asked the same question over and over again.
How does writing them on the wall going to make any difference? Because There are plenty of things in the world that don't make sense.
Yeah.
Something here is missing.
We just can't see it yet.
But we will.
Well, there's a question we haven't asked.
No.
Why not? Because it's crazy.
I don't want to know the answer.
You sure you're not hungry? I was gonna make some oatmeal.
I'm not really hungry.
Thank you for last night, though.
It's been a long time since I've had a girls' night.
Yeah, uh, me too.
I mean, hey, no need to wait for a medical emergency if you ever wanna do it again.
Oh, your brother's back.
Uh, he's very persistent.
Yeah, he is.
Are you are you sure you're okay? Yeah, yeah, it's fine.
He just he cares a lot.
- Yeah.
- I'll see you later.
You're up bright and early.
Sara, we need to talk.
About what? I'm so sorry I worried you.
I didn't mean to.
It's fine.
I just need to know what happened.
I was just I was standing in the diner one minute and the next, I was on the floor.
I don't really remember much other than that.
Why are you suddenly acting like everything's okay? I need to get to the diner.
Mrs.
Liu is gonna be worried.
Sara! I'm okay, I promise.
I love you so much.
Knock, knock.
You awake in there? Yeah, come on in.
Whatcha doing? I'm making a list.
Of? All the people that are probably wondering where we are right now.
Oh.
I mean, it's gotta be worse for them, right? Not knowing.
Just I made one too.
Pretty sure everybody here did at one time or another.
Who's on yours? My grandparents and my friends.
Boyfriend? No.
Girlfriend? No, there's nobody like that.
I guess that's a good thing though, right? Just one less person sitting around losing their minds, wondering where you are.
Okay.
That's enough of that.
We need some fun, stat.
Get dressed and meet me downstairs in five? Why? You'll see.
Hey.
Hey.
No more work this morning.
She's, uh, making the list.
I think it's time we show her the Brundles.
Just a fucking idiot.
That's special relativity.
Uh Klein.
Hardy's.
Klein.
Hardy's.
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen.
Where are you going with that? Sorry? Is that a radio? Uh yeah.
Sort of.
Why are you carrying it around? Because it helps me think.
I'm sorry, I You're even cuter when you're awake.
Excuse me? I watched you when you were sleeping.
I'm Trudy.
Okay.
Too bad you chose the town.
I would've rode you like an alabaster dragon.
Bye! Morning, Sheriff.
I stopped by the diner, let my mom know that Sara was okay, and she made those bread things that you like, so I picked up a couple of those.
Uh, Sheriff? I'm gonna need you to hold down the fort for a bit.
Is everything okay? Everything's fine.
I'm gonna visit my wife.
It's been a while.
Okay? Yeah, sure.
What the hell? You guys built a bar in this fucking place? Yeah.
You end up in a place like this, you ask yourself, what do the people need? Turns out it's not a fucking gas station, so I figured Hey, you okay? What? Are you okay? No, no, I'm not okay.
Are you okay? Great.
Here, drink this.
It'll help you feel better.
What the fuck? How are you Why are you all just sitting here? Holy fuck! What is this shit? Just consider it your poor man's potato vodka.
You're one of the guys from the two cars, huh? Your, uh, friend, uh friend got, uh Yeah.
Yeah.
Look, if it's any consolation, it It gets easier, man, it really does.
Gets easier, that's rich.
That is fucking rich.
You know, you guys are You're like rats in a maze, sitting there, contentedly nibbling on your cheese.
This is a paradox.
That's the problem.
The immediate question is, how do we get home, right? How do we get out? How do we get out of here? 'Cause unless we know where "here" is, we can't get outta here.
It's like it's like this, it's like, uh, hitting a bull's-eye with your eyes closed, right? You're just throwing 'em blind! You don't even fucking know where the fucking target is! Maybe it's over here! I don't know! Maybe it just, like, went that way! - Whoa, whoa, whoa! Come on! - Throwing it! Settle down.
Eventually, you just get tired, you give up.
You accept that you can't just get out, 'cause you have no fucking idea where you're trying to get out of.
So, you sit around drinking your acidic potato piss water that you call vodka.
Yeah.
So, let me guess, you're gonna be the guy who figures it all out.
You're goddamn right I am.
People like me, we design the maze, we place the cheese.
I don't know what you did before you got here, but I just sold a company for an obscene amount of money based on a quantum computing algorithm with the potential to I'm not supposed to be here.
I'm supposed to be celebrating right now at Look, the point is we can't get out of here unless we know where "here" is.
Right? To solve the paradox, you gotta understand the paradox.
You gotta identify it.
You gotta frame it.
- Schrodinger's cat.
- What? Schrodinger's cat, that that's the paradox.
You put the cat in the box and you close the box.
As long as you never open it again The cat is theoretically alive and dead at the same time.
I know what Schrodinger's cat is.
Okay, so, we're the cat.
This place here is the box, right? So, all those people we left behind back home? Well, they're all sitting around wondering if we're alive or dead.
So, to them, we're both things at the same time.
I taught Intro to Philosophy at USC.
Hmm.
Look, uh, I don't know a fuckin' thing about computers, I'll be the first to admit that.
But that, uh that radio you brought in, well, if you're so goddamn smart, why don't you figure out how to get it broadcasting, huh? And I'll tell you what, if the cat turns on the radio, you can be goddamn sure that the people outside the box are at least gonna know it's still alive.
Huh.
Are you sure this doesn't hurt? It's just a little sore.
Hm.
What's wrong? Nothing.
It's It's just It's just healing so fast.
Is that bad? No.
No.
Um, actually, it's very good.
I think this place is special.
I know it tries to hurt people, but maybe it tries to help people too.
Maybe that can be one of the questions on the wall.
What would that be? Is there anyone trying to help? That's a great question.
Ethan! You have a visitor! Oh.
Let's see who that is.
Sara! How's my favorite customer? We drew on the walls.
I see that.
We never draw on the walls at home.
How are you feeling? Much better, thank you.
Good.
Uh, did Kristi figure out what happened? Not yet.
It's It's just one of those things, I guess.
- Yeah.
- There's a playground outside.
Wanna see? Hey, honey, Sara just came out of the hospital.
- Sure.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
It's okay, really.
- Yeah.
- Come on! - Be careful.
This one's my favorite.
Hello? Father Khatri? Welcome to the Brundles! Whoo! Oh, God! Oh! See? If you close your eyes and just listen, it's almost like being anywhere else in the world.
How do you do that? Do what? How do you act like this place doesn't You're always so positive.
I guess it all just depends on how you choose to look at it.
What do you mean? Well, I didn't come to the U.
S.
until I was 11.
I grew up in a small village in Iran with my parents and two older brothers.
My father, he was a very outspoken cleric, which wasn't always the most popular thing to be at the time.
One day, it was my birthday.
Actually, we were getting ready to go see my uncle.
These men showed up.
They were angry, shouting.
I remember my mother told me to hide.
But I was so confused because we were just laughing.
My father had told this story about He was a really good storyteller.
I think that's what made him such an effective preacher.
Anyway, I could tell my mother was afraid.
My brothers had run to the door and now they were shouting too, and my mother just kept saying "Hide, hide.
" But I just stood there, I couldn't move, because it was all so strange.
I mean, we were just laughing so hard, you know? It was gonna be the best birthday ever.
The sun was so bright coming in through the door that my father became a silhouette when they dragged him outside.
And then, there was this pop, like a firecracker, and the silhouette fell down.
Oh, my God.
The point is, there are always going to be monsters in the world.
It doesn't matter where you are.
But I promised myself I would never let them scare the life out of me.
- Oh, hey, hi.
- Hi! Ah, yeah, you just look too dry.
Come here! Oh, no, no, no! No, no, no, no! Come on.
Yup, we're goin'! We're goin'! Hey! Julie, come on! Come on! That's the most like himself I've seen Ethan since the accident.
How long have you lived here? Just a few months.
Mom and Dad are trying to figure out where we are so we can all go home.
That's what the Cromenockle would do.
What's a Cromenockle? She's a sweet girl.
Hey, honey.
Don't make her sit there.
Those things are filthy.
It's okay.
It's it's actually kinda fun.
Sara said we can go see the goats and chickens at the barn.
Really? My brother, he tends to all the animals for the town.
I thought it might be fun to show Ethan.
It's just down the street.
Do you want to go? I'm gonna tell Dad we're going.
I can take him.
I don't want to take you guys away from anything that you're doing.
We're not doing anything.
Hey, Jim, I'll be right back.
Okay.
Hey, babe.
It's been a while.
Things have been they've been a little crazy past few days.
Those, uh, things they, uh they got into the house where the little girl lived, got into the clinic.
You know, we were doing pretty good for a while there, keeping everything together.
It was almost starting to feel like Uh I started getting tremors in my hand a few weeks back, same way it started with my Dad, which means the clock is officially ticking.
But, see, uh I have this crazy idea that might actually work, and-and if it does, then I might be able to find a way to get these people home, to get Ellis home.
Of course if it doesn't, if I'm wrong or if I fail, then, uh then I'm leaving these people in a worse-off position than they already are.
You were always the one You made all the hard calls.
"Sometimes you got to swing big, baby.
" 'Member that? God, you had I do this and that's about as big a swing as I can take.
And, um And look, I know, I know, I always said that I don't believe in signs or any of that stuff, but I could really use one right now, okay? 'Cause, babe, I'm standing at the plate, and I'll swing if you tell me to swing.
I just Babe, I just need a little help here.
Come on.
I need a sign.
Father Khatri? Nathan.
Have you come up here much? No, not really.
It's strange, don't you think? A place like this could exist in a place like this? Um I was wondering, what are the rules? When it comes to confession, if I tell you something, does it stay between the two of us? Anything you tell me stays between us and God.
What if it's bad? What if it's really bad? - That one's name is Alma.
- Hi, Alma.
Oh, this is so much fun.
Thank you.
It's my pleasure.
Really, he's a little sweetheart.
Yeah.
You have a really nice family.
Hmm.
It's okay to be sad, you know? And it's okay to be afraid.
Yeah, it seems the one thing that everyone in this town agrees on.
Really, though, you'd be surprised how quickly all this becomes normal.
I don't want this to become normal.
I just want to go back home.
Me too.
At least we have the talismans, though.
Father Khatri always talks about how much worse it was for people.
They'd just hide in places after dark, hoping the monsters wouldn't find them.
Those hiding places are all over town.
It's really good to know about them, just in case you ever get stuck outside after dark.
Yeah, I guess.
There's one in the barn.
I can show you where it is.
Really? Yeah, it's just It's right inside.
Uh, yeah.
Honey, uh, I'll be right back, okay? Don't move.
This way.
Nathan, you should've come to me much sooner.
I didn't Wait, wait.
What's gonna happen to her? I don't want her to go in the box.
You gave your word.
And I intend to keep it.
But right now, we have to worry about the people of the town.
She'll be at the diner.
Okay.
Come on.
Let's go.
People used to spend the night in here? What are you doing? Sara! - Sorry, Tabitha.
- Open up! I'm sorry.
I'm doing this for you.
I'm doing this for all of us.
Why are you sorry? Just open the door, please! - I'm sorry.
- Sara! Sara! Sara! Go get your sister.
Father Khatri! Hey, I've got kind of a weird question for you.
If, uh If someone asked for a sign, how would they know what they were looking for? Sara? Looking for your sister? Yeah.
She's not here.
I saw her heading towards the barn with that Matthews lady and her boy.
Where's my mom? She'll be right out.
Come here.
I need to tell you something.
Sara! Ethan! Sara! I really like you.
And what's about to happen, it's gonna save everyone, just like in one of your stories.
You're gonna be the hero.
Where's my Mom? I want my Mom! - We're doing this for her! - Sara! - Sara, what are you doing? - This is how we go home.
Let him go.
They told me, this was the last one, then everyone gets to go home! Ethan! Sara! Ethan, run! No! Let me go! You don't understand! Oh, my God, Ethan! Ethan! Nathan? Nathan? Nathan! No! No, Nathan! - Nathan.
- Nathan, please! Nathan! Nathan! Nathan! Nathan! No! My God, please! Please, Nath You guys are right.
It's not all bad here.
You know, I was thinking, when we get back to the house - Julie! - What? Hey.
Ethan? - Hey.
- Julie! Hey, hey, hey.
What's wrong? Where's Mom and Dad? Hey, what's wrong? It's okay.
Don't cry.
Come here.
Come here.
Come here.
It's okay.
Shh.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Ethan! Tabitha! Ethan! Help me! Please help me! Help me out here, please! Tabitha! Tabitha! - Jim! Jim, over here! - You okay? Where where's Ethan? - What? - Where's Ethan?! Go and find him! Ethan! Ethan! Jim! - Mom! - Jim, where's Ethan!? - Dad! - I don't know.
- Where's Ethan? - Mom! Oh, my God! Ethan.
- Oh, my God! - Here you go.
Oh, my God! Come here, come here.
- I was too late.
- Hold on.
- I'm sorry.
- Hey.
Jim.
Tabitha.
- How is he? - He's fine.
He's fine.
- We're gonna go home.
- You go on ahead, okay? - Come on, Jules.
- I'll catch up.
Where is she? Uh, she, uh She ran off into the woods.
And? And if she comes back before dark, then we'll handle it.
And if she doesn't? If she doesn't, then it's handled.
She came into my house.
She played with my kid.
I know.
Look, if there's anything that we can do The fuck is wrong with you people? You talk like this place is fucking Mayberry! One big family, is that what you said? Are you fucking kidding me? Where did you find him? Um, we were just coming back Well, it doesn't really matter.
But he was running up the hill towards the Colony House.
You did good, Julie.
Can you take him upstairs for a minute? You wanna go upstairs? Hmm? Come on, bug! Let's go read the "Cromawhatsit.
" It's The Cromenockle.
Oh, yeah, sure.
That's what I said the "Cromawhatsit.
" Come on.
All right.
Just take it slow.
You're good.
Yeah.
You got this.
I need something to write with.
Ask every question, right? That's right.
Mind if I sit? Yeah.
No.
I mean, yeah, you can sit.
I understood.
She just kept asking these questions, like what I would do to go home.
Mm.
I just had It didn't cross my mind that, um Listen.
Listen to me.
This is not your fault.
I spent the entire night with her, and it was just nice to sit and talk and have a good time, and that scalpel she used, she took it from my clinic.
So, if it's not my fault, then who Whose is it? You did not bring us here.
You did not put whatever thought she had in her head.
You're just trying to do the best you can.
And a few nights ago, hey, look, you saved a little boy's life, and you're gonna save more lives before this is all done.
Hey, hey.
Look.
I need you to do me a favor.
Cut yourself some slack.
Okay? I'll be damned.
What? What is it? I'd go out on the ocean I just got my sign.
I'd ride him on my boat And we could all together Go out on the ocean I said, me upon my pony on my boat
They said it was the only way to go home.
Sara, just tell me what you did.
I left the door open.
Are you living in town or Colony House? - Town.
- Julie.
Colony House.
Why are you doing this? What's wrong? I think maybe I-I made a mistake.
Julie, there are no mistakes, just choices, and you chose what was right for you, and that matters.
Come on, try it out! Every single one of these pins is a different resident who drove in from a different location.
That is fucking impossible.
I don't just sit around, accepting the world as it is! Someone is doing this, and I'm not gonna rest until I figure out how! I wish you had the luxury of grief, but you don't, Boyd.
These people need you.
You need to be the one to lead these people home.
'Cause if you don't? She died for nothing.
What are you doing here? You promised you'd stay home.
If I didn't show up, they would have wondered why.
- It'll be okay.
- Sara I promise.
Do you wanna help me bring over the rest of the food? Yeah! I just feel so broken.
We're gonna figure it out together.
Don't worry.
- Whatcha got there? - Sweet potatoes.
Nice family.
Sara! Hey.
Oh! Oh, no, no, no.
Okay, grab her, grab her arm, grab her arm! Hold on, hold on! Hey, Alma.
Come on.
There you go, Alma, a fresh batch just for you.
Hey! Make sure you share this time.
Nathan! Nathan! It's your sister! Something happened at the diner.
They're taking her to the clinic.
I really am feeling much better.
I still think you should spend the night for observation, okay? Do I have to? It's just, with things like this, it's best not to take any chances, you know? I can have someone go get Nathan.
He can stay with you.
No.
He worries.
If he comes by, could you just tell him I'm sleeping.
Yeah, no problem.
I'll, uh I'll be right back, okay? Hey.
How's she doing? I mean, fine, given the circumstances.
Has this happened before? Well, I mean, not according to Sara.
And unless there's an MRI machine tucked around somewhere, there's no way to really know what's going on.
- Yeah.
- I'm, uh I'm gonna keep her overnight and see if anything changes.
Okay.
You sure you're ready for that? Look, I don't know how that door got open, but I'm not gonna let those things take this place away from me.
They've already taken too much already.
Yeah.
They sure have.
Hey, can I ask you a question? These seizures first, the Matthews kid, now Sara.
You think it's possible to have a physical reaction to this place? Maybe something you might normally diagnose as one thing on the outside, but here it's Look, Boyd, if you asked me this six months ago, I would have said anything that we've seen here was impossible.
But the truth is, I Okay, how long has this been going on for? Long enough that it's got me asking stupid questions.
- Boyd - I'm fine.
Come by tomorrow.
I want to take a look at it.
No need.
I already know what it is.
Nathan's here.
She doesn't want to see him.
Yeah, I don't I don't know.
Um, okay.
Go take care of your patient.
I got this, okay? And I'm good.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa! Is she okay? She's fine.
She's sleeping.
I wanna see her.
And you will, tomorrow.
Kristi's gonna sit with her tonight and make sure everything is okay.
No, no.
I-I need to see her now, please.
You will.
Hey, hey.
Is there anything else going on that we should know about? Anything that might help Kristi figure out what's wrong? No.
I'm just worried, that's all.
She's my little sister.
Right.
Look, this is Kristi's first night back since right? We don't want to be going in there and making tonight more stressful than it already is.
Sara's in good hands.
Okay? Go home.
Get some sleep.
You'll see her in the morning.
Yeah.
Okay? Is Sara gonna be okay? Well, yeah, she's down at the clinic.
They're gonna take good care of her.
Don't worry.
You remember Kristi? The nice lady who took care of your leg? She's gonna patch up Sara the same way she patched you up.
In the meantime, we are gonna play a little game.
For you.
Well, we said we're gonna figure it out, right? Let's figure it out.
Follow me.
We're gonna do some problem-solving, and the way you problem solve is by asking questions.
You ask every question that might apply, no matter how crazy, no matter how unlikely.
You put it up on a board, you get it out in front of you so that you can identify everything you know and everything you don't.
It'll be like telling a story.
Right, buddy? Question number one.
Dad! What? You never wanted to write on a wall? There.
That's where we begin.
Hey.
I can't sleep.
Uh, yeah, me neither.
I thought you'd like some tea? Do you want some? Sure.
You and Kenny make a really cute couple.
Oh, uh, no, we're just We're just friends.
Why? He's really sweet, and he loves you.
It's complicated.
How? Well, 'cause I have somebody at home.
At least I think she's still waiting.
What's her name? Mariel.
- Were you married? - Engaged.
I wonder sometimes, actually all the time, uh, what it must be like for her, thinking I, uh, abandoned her.
Um, how about you? Do you have anybody back at home? No.
I I was with someone, but he wasn't It's better that he's not around anymore.
It's just me and Nathan now.
He's all I've got in the world.
Before we got stuck here, I, um Things weren't really very good for me.
Nathan was the one who saved me.
Can I ask you something? Yeah.
Sure.
If there was something you could do, something that would let you see Mariel again something that would let everyone here go home, even if it was something bad, would you do it? Wait, what are you talking about? I wonder sometimes about this place, what it means why we're here.
If someone came up to you right now and said, "Do this one bad thing and everyone gets to go home," would you do it? Well, we're we're speaking hypothetically, right? - Yeah.
Of course.
- Okay.
Okay.
Uh I mean Yeah, I'd, um I'd do anything to see her again and And hey, I mean, if that meant everybody else got to go home too, then, I think that's a lot of good for one bad thing.
Yeah.
Hmm.
Tell me you figured it out.
Oh, I-I did.
And the answer is 12.
Okay.
All right, let's go over this again.
Everyone enters from different parts of the country, on different roads, in different places, and they all, presumably, see the same tree, same crows.
Jim, Jim everyone here has asked the same question over and over again.
How does writing them on the wall going to make any difference? Because There are plenty of things in the world that don't make sense.
Yeah.
Something here is missing.
We just can't see it yet.
But we will.
Well, there's a question we haven't asked.
No.
Why not? Because it's crazy.
I don't want to know the answer.
You sure you're not hungry? I was gonna make some oatmeal.
I'm not really hungry.
Thank you for last night, though.
It's been a long time since I've had a girls' night.
Yeah, uh, me too.
I mean, hey, no need to wait for a medical emergency if you ever wanna do it again.
Oh, your brother's back.
Uh, he's very persistent.
Yeah, he is.
Are you are you sure you're okay? Yeah, yeah, it's fine.
He just he cares a lot.
- Yeah.
- I'll see you later.
You're up bright and early.
Sara, we need to talk.
About what? I'm so sorry I worried you.
I didn't mean to.
It's fine.
I just need to know what happened.
I was just I was standing in the diner one minute and the next, I was on the floor.
I don't really remember much other than that.
Why are you suddenly acting like everything's okay? I need to get to the diner.
Mrs.
Liu is gonna be worried.
Sara! I'm okay, I promise.
I love you so much.
Knock, knock.
You awake in there? Yeah, come on in.
Whatcha doing? I'm making a list.
Of? All the people that are probably wondering where we are right now.
Oh.
I mean, it's gotta be worse for them, right? Not knowing.
Just I made one too.
Pretty sure everybody here did at one time or another.
Who's on yours? My grandparents and my friends.
Boyfriend? No.
Girlfriend? No, there's nobody like that.
I guess that's a good thing though, right? Just one less person sitting around losing their minds, wondering where you are.
Okay.
That's enough of that.
We need some fun, stat.
Get dressed and meet me downstairs in five? Why? You'll see.
Hey.
Hey.
No more work this morning.
She's, uh, making the list.
I think it's time we show her the Brundles.
Just a fucking idiot.
That's special relativity.
Uh Klein.
Hardy's.
Klein.
Hardy's.
Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen.
Where are you going with that? Sorry? Is that a radio? Uh yeah.
Sort of.
Why are you carrying it around? Because it helps me think.
I'm sorry, I You're even cuter when you're awake.
Excuse me? I watched you when you were sleeping.
I'm Trudy.
Okay.
Too bad you chose the town.
I would've rode you like an alabaster dragon.
Bye! Morning, Sheriff.
I stopped by the diner, let my mom know that Sara was okay, and she made those bread things that you like, so I picked up a couple of those.
Uh, Sheriff? I'm gonna need you to hold down the fort for a bit.
Is everything okay? Everything's fine.
I'm gonna visit my wife.
It's been a while.
Okay? Yeah, sure.
What the hell? You guys built a bar in this fucking place? Yeah.
You end up in a place like this, you ask yourself, what do the people need? Turns out it's not a fucking gas station, so I figured Hey, you okay? What? Are you okay? No, no, I'm not okay.
Are you okay? Great.
Here, drink this.
It'll help you feel better.
What the fuck? How are you Why are you all just sitting here? Holy fuck! What is this shit? Just consider it your poor man's potato vodka.
You're one of the guys from the two cars, huh? Your, uh, friend, uh friend got, uh Yeah.
Yeah.
Look, if it's any consolation, it It gets easier, man, it really does.
Gets easier, that's rich.
That is fucking rich.
You know, you guys are You're like rats in a maze, sitting there, contentedly nibbling on your cheese.
This is a paradox.
That's the problem.
The immediate question is, how do we get home, right? How do we get out? How do we get out of here? 'Cause unless we know where "here" is, we can't get outta here.
It's like it's like this, it's like, uh, hitting a bull's-eye with your eyes closed, right? You're just throwing 'em blind! You don't even fucking know where the fucking target is! Maybe it's over here! I don't know! Maybe it just, like, went that way! - Whoa, whoa, whoa! Come on! - Throwing it! Settle down.
Eventually, you just get tired, you give up.
You accept that you can't just get out, 'cause you have no fucking idea where you're trying to get out of.
So, you sit around drinking your acidic potato piss water that you call vodka.
Yeah.
So, let me guess, you're gonna be the guy who figures it all out.
You're goddamn right I am.
People like me, we design the maze, we place the cheese.
I don't know what you did before you got here, but I just sold a company for an obscene amount of money based on a quantum computing algorithm with the potential to I'm not supposed to be here.
I'm supposed to be celebrating right now at Look, the point is we can't get out of here unless we know where "here" is.
Right? To solve the paradox, you gotta understand the paradox.
You gotta identify it.
You gotta frame it.
- Schrodinger's cat.
- What? Schrodinger's cat, that that's the paradox.
You put the cat in the box and you close the box.
As long as you never open it again The cat is theoretically alive and dead at the same time.
I know what Schrodinger's cat is.
Okay, so, we're the cat.
This place here is the box, right? So, all those people we left behind back home? Well, they're all sitting around wondering if we're alive or dead.
So, to them, we're both things at the same time.
I taught Intro to Philosophy at USC.
Hmm.
Look, uh, I don't know a fuckin' thing about computers, I'll be the first to admit that.
But that, uh that radio you brought in, well, if you're so goddamn smart, why don't you figure out how to get it broadcasting, huh? And I'll tell you what, if the cat turns on the radio, you can be goddamn sure that the people outside the box are at least gonna know it's still alive.
Huh.
Are you sure this doesn't hurt? It's just a little sore.
Hm.
What's wrong? Nothing.
It's It's just It's just healing so fast.
Is that bad? No.
No.
Um, actually, it's very good.
I think this place is special.
I know it tries to hurt people, but maybe it tries to help people too.
Maybe that can be one of the questions on the wall.
What would that be? Is there anyone trying to help? That's a great question.
Ethan! You have a visitor! Oh.
Let's see who that is.
Sara! How's my favorite customer? We drew on the walls.
I see that.
We never draw on the walls at home.
How are you feeling? Much better, thank you.
Good.
Uh, did Kristi figure out what happened? Not yet.
It's It's just one of those things, I guess.
- Yeah.
- There's a playground outside.
Wanna see? Hey, honey, Sara just came out of the hospital.
- Sure.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
It's okay, really.
- Yeah.
- Come on! - Be careful.
This one's my favorite.
Hello? Father Khatri? Welcome to the Brundles! Whoo! Oh, God! Oh! See? If you close your eyes and just listen, it's almost like being anywhere else in the world.
How do you do that? Do what? How do you act like this place doesn't You're always so positive.
I guess it all just depends on how you choose to look at it.
What do you mean? Well, I didn't come to the U.
S.
until I was 11.
I grew up in a small village in Iran with my parents and two older brothers.
My father, he was a very outspoken cleric, which wasn't always the most popular thing to be at the time.
One day, it was my birthday.
Actually, we were getting ready to go see my uncle.
These men showed up.
They were angry, shouting.
I remember my mother told me to hide.
But I was so confused because we were just laughing.
My father had told this story about He was a really good storyteller.
I think that's what made him such an effective preacher.
Anyway, I could tell my mother was afraid.
My brothers had run to the door and now they were shouting too, and my mother just kept saying "Hide, hide.
" But I just stood there, I couldn't move, because it was all so strange.
I mean, we were just laughing so hard, you know? It was gonna be the best birthday ever.
The sun was so bright coming in through the door that my father became a silhouette when they dragged him outside.
And then, there was this pop, like a firecracker, and the silhouette fell down.
Oh, my God.
The point is, there are always going to be monsters in the world.
It doesn't matter where you are.
But I promised myself I would never let them scare the life out of me.
- Oh, hey, hi.
- Hi! Ah, yeah, you just look too dry.
Come here! Oh, no, no, no! No, no, no, no! Come on.
Yup, we're goin'! We're goin'! Hey! Julie, come on! Come on! That's the most like himself I've seen Ethan since the accident.
How long have you lived here? Just a few months.
Mom and Dad are trying to figure out where we are so we can all go home.
That's what the Cromenockle would do.
What's a Cromenockle? She's a sweet girl.
Hey, honey.
Don't make her sit there.
Those things are filthy.
It's okay.
It's it's actually kinda fun.
Sara said we can go see the goats and chickens at the barn.
Really? My brother, he tends to all the animals for the town.
I thought it might be fun to show Ethan.
It's just down the street.
Do you want to go? I'm gonna tell Dad we're going.
I can take him.
I don't want to take you guys away from anything that you're doing.
We're not doing anything.
Hey, Jim, I'll be right back.
Okay.
Hey, babe.
It's been a while.
Things have been they've been a little crazy past few days.
Those, uh, things they, uh they got into the house where the little girl lived, got into the clinic.
You know, we were doing pretty good for a while there, keeping everything together.
It was almost starting to feel like Uh I started getting tremors in my hand a few weeks back, same way it started with my Dad, which means the clock is officially ticking.
But, see, uh I have this crazy idea that might actually work, and-and if it does, then I might be able to find a way to get these people home, to get Ellis home.
Of course if it doesn't, if I'm wrong or if I fail, then, uh then I'm leaving these people in a worse-off position than they already are.
You were always the one You made all the hard calls.
"Sometimes you got to swing big, baby.
" 'Member that? God, you had I do this and that's about as big a swing as I can take.
And, um And look, I know, I know, I always said that I don't believe in signs or any of that stuff, but I could really use one right now, okay? 'Cause, babe, I'm standing at the plate, and I'll swing if you tell me to swing.
I just Babe, I just need a little help here.
Come on.
I need a sign.
Father Khatri? Nathan.
Have you come up here much? No, not really.
It's strange, don't you think? A place like this could exist in a place like this? Um I was wondering, what are the rules? When it comes to confession, if I tell you something, does it stay between the two of us? Anything you tell me stays between us and God.
What if it's bad? What if it's really bad? - That one's name is Alma.
- Hi, Alma.
Oh, this is so much fun.
Thank you.
It's my pleasure.
Really, he's a little sweetheart.
Yeah.
You have a really nice family.
Hmm.
It's okay to be sad, you know? And it's okay to be afraid.
Yeah, it seems the one thing that everyone in this town agrees on.
Really, though, you'd be surprised how quickly all this becomes normal.
I don't want this to become normal.
I just want to go back home.
Me too.
At least we have the talismans, though.
Father Khatri always talks about how much worse it was for people.
They'd just hide in places after dark, hoping the monsters wouldn't find them.
Those hiding places are all over town.
It's really good to know about them, just in case you ever get stuck outside after dark.
Yeah, I guess.
There's one in the barn.
I can show you where it is.
Really? Yeah, it's just It's right inside.
Uh, yeah.
Honey, uh, I'll be right back, okay? Don't move.
This way.
Nathan, you should've come to me much sooner.
I didn't Wait, wait.
What's gonna happen to her? I don't want her to go in the box.
You gave your word.
And I intend to keep it.
But right now, we have to worry about the people of the town.
She'll be at the diner.
Okay.
Come on.
Let's go.
People used to spend the night in here? What are you doing? Sara! - Sorry, Tabitha.
- Open up! I'm sorry.
I'm doing this for you.
I'm doing this for all of us.
Why are you sorry? Just open the door, please! - I'm sorry.
- Sara! Sara! Sara! Go get your sister.
Father Khatri! Hey, I've got kind of a weird question for you.
If, uh If someone asked for a sign, how would they know what they were looking for? Sara? Looking for your sister? Yeah.
She's not here.
I saw her heading towards the barn with that Matthews lady and her boy.
Where's my mom? She'll be right out.
Come here.
I need to tell you something.
Sara! Ethan! Sara! I really like you.
And what's about to happen, it's gonna save everyone, just like in one of your stories.
You're gonna be the hero.
Where's my Mom? I want my Mom! - We're doing this for her! - Sara! - Sara, what are you doing? - This is how we go home.
Let him go.
They told me, this was the last one, then everyone gets to go home! Ethan! Sara! Ethan, run! No! Let me go! You don't understand! Oh, my God, Ethan! Ethan! Nathan? Nathan? Nathan! No! No, Nathan! - Nathan.
- Nathan, please! Nathan! Nathan! Nathan! Nathan! No! My God, please! Please, Nath You guys are right.
It's not all bad here.
You know, I was thinking, when we get back to the house - Julie! - What? Hey.
Ethan? - Hey.
- Julie! Hey, hey, hey.
What's wrong? Where's Mom and Dad? Hey, what's wrong? It's okay.
Don't cry.
Come here.
Come here.
Come here.
It's okay.
Shh.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Ethan! Tabitha! Ethan! Help me! Please help me! Help me out here, please! Tabitha! Tabitha! - Jim! Jim, over here! - You okay? Where where's Ethan? - What? - Where's Ethan?! Go and find him! Ethan! Ethan! Jim! - Mom! - Jim, where's Ethan!? - Dad! - I don't know.
- Where's Ethan? - Mom! Oh, my God! Ethan.
- Oh, my God! - Here you go.
Oh, my God! Come here, come here.
- I was too late.
- Hold on.
- I'm sorry.
- Hey.
Jim.
Tabitha.
- How is he? - He's fine.
He's fine.
- We're gonna go home.
- You go on ahead, okay? - Come on, Jules.
- I'll catch up.
Where is she? Uh, she, uh She ran off into the woods.
And? And if she comes back before dark, then we'll handle it.
And if she doesn't? If she doesn't, then it's handled.
She came into my house.
She played with my kid.
I know.
Look, if there's anything that we can do The fuck is wrong with you people? You talk like this place is fucking Mayberry! One big family, is that what you said? Are you fucking kidding me? Where did you find him? Um, we were just coming back Well, it doesn't really matter.
But he was running up the hill towards the Colony House.
You did good, Julie.
Can you take him upstairs for a minute? You wanna go upstairs? Hmm? Come on, bug! Let's go read the "Cromawhatsit.
" It's The Cromenockle.
Oh, yeah, sure.
That's what I said the "Cromawhatsit.
" Come on.
All right.
Just take it slow.
You're good.
Yeah.
You got this.
I need something to write with.
Ask every question, right? That's right.
Mind if I sit? Yeah.
No.
I mean, yeah, you can sit.
I understood.
She just kept asking these questions, like what I would do to go home.
Mm.
I just had It didn't cross my mind that, um Listen.
Listen to me.
This is not your fault.
I spent the entire night with her, and it was just nice to sit and talk and have a good time, and that scalpel she used, she took it from my clinic.
So, if it's not my fault, then who Whose is it? You did not bring us here.
You did not put whatever thought she had in her head.
You're just trying to do the best you can.
And a few nights ago, hey, look, you saved a little boy's life, and you're gonna save more lives before this is all done.
Hey, hey.
Look.
I need you to do me a favor.
Cut yourself some slack.
Okay? I'll be damned.
What? What is it? I'd go out on the ocean I just got my sign.
I'd ride him on my boat And we could all together Go out on the ocean I said, me upon my pony on my boat