We're going to begin the story here: Timestamp 31:11
Hopper leans over the water tank, his hand on the hatch ready to open it if he needs to.
HOPPER
Dustin! Lucas! What's going on? Come on, talk to me!
Hopper receives no answer on his walkie. He lets his arm drop and he looks over to the corner of the room where he sees:
HERBICIDE/AGENT ORANGE
Hopper goes down the stairs and examines the barrels more closely, a haunt look overtaking his face when he begins to hear beeping.
HOSPITAL MONITOR BEEPING.
He turns and sees his daughter, Sara.
SARA
You knew this would happen. Just like you know what will happen to her.
After Sara vanishes, Hopper turns to see:
KALI (TO ELEVEN)
Don't you see, Jane? It's a cycle. It's a terrible, vicious cycle. But we can stop it. Tonight.
ELEVEN
How?
KALI
After we kill our brother, after the children are rescued, we don't leave with the others. We stay on the bridge. When the Upside Down vanishes… so will we.
Hopper's eyes brim with tears. He has a look that screams confusion.
KALI
It is the only way, Jane. The only way.
Suddenly:
VECNA (O.S.)
She's going to do it, Jim. She's going to end her life.
Hopper pulls out his gun and aims around the room, searching for the offending voice.
HOPPER
Show yourself! Show yourself, you lying bastard!
VECNA (O.S.)
I am many things, but I am not a liar. I have seen into her mind, and now I have seen into yours. What rage it holds!
One daughter dead because of you, and soon another.
HOPPER
(shouting)
Show yourself!
VECNA (O.S.)
You are as you fear. You are the curse.
A vision of Vecna appears in front of Hopper amidst the fog that's rained down.
HOPPER
(shouting)
No!
Hopper turns and shoots at Vecna multiple times. Shot after shot.
When he runs out of bullets, Vecna disappears, and the fog begins to disperse.
We see water pooling on the ground. Hopper looks up with a dawning realization when he sees: bullet holes littering the water tank.
He opens the front door to the tank and sees Eleven, eyes open and dead, blood pooling in the water.
Hopper panics and begins to smash open the glass tank, repeatedly hitting it over and over until he can reach her body and pull her out.
It takes a moment for him to realize that she is not harmed at all.
Eleven, Kali, and Max are taken out of Camazotz, and Eleven awakens with Hopper.
ELEVEN
What did you do?
CUT TO:
SCENE: DR. KAY FINDS MAX AND VICKIE IN THE WSQK, AND THE CHILDREN IN CAMAZOTZ ARE LEFT ON THEIR OWN.
CUT TO:
INT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB INTERIOR
KALI
The kids are all alone in there. You have to get us back to them.
ELEVEN
I can't, not without the bath. He locked us out. We have to get to the Abyss, join the others. We can kill him there.
KALI
There is no time. The worlds will collide long before we reach him.
ELEVEN
Not if Holly and the kids make it to the cave. If Dustin is right, without the kids, Henry can't do anything.
KALI
That's a lot of ifs.
ELEVEN
What do you wanna do? We can't give up, not now.
Hopper watches the girls banter.
HOPPER
Isn't that exactly what you're doing? Giving up. I know the truth. Henry showed me your plan.
He's crushed and betrayed by what Eleven and her sister have been planning behind his back. Was she ever going to tell him?
ELEVEN
Henry lied to you. He tricked you. He used you, and you fell for it.
Hopper walks towards her.
HOPPER
Then look me in the eye and tell me. Tell me. Tell me you don't plan on killing yourself tonight.
Eleven refuses to give an answer. She turns to leave.
ELEVEN
We don't have time for this. We have to go.
HOPPER
I won't detonate it. I won't.
ELEVEN
What?
HOPPER
I will not detonate the C4, not until I know that you are safe with the others back in Hawkins.
ELEVEN
If we kill Henry and don't destroy the Upside Down, nothing matters.
HOPPER
Which is why I will destroy it once I know that you're safe.
ELEVEN
Why are you doing this?
Kali steps up, pointing her gun at Hopper.
Kali
Because Henry's gotten to him, and he's lost his mind.
ELEVEN
Kali, wait.
Kali refuses to back down.
KALI
No. This is bigger than him, Jane. Bigger than any of us.
Hopper refuses to back down too. They're a lot alike.
HOPPER
Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead. Shoot me.
ELEVEN
If I'm alive, then so is Henry! I have to end the cycle.
HOPPER
You will. You will.
Hopper thinks over how to get through to her. He can't let her do this. In fact,
He looks to Kali,
He can't let either of them do this.
HOPPER
But not like this. Not with more violence. Not with more pain. There's already been so much pain.
His eyes dart to Kali as he talks to Eleven.
HOPPER
From the moment you were born. Your mother was taken from you. Your childhood was taken from you.
You've been attacked, manipulated, abused by terrible people. Life has been so unfair to you, so cruel.
But you never let it break you. And I need you to fight, kid. I just need you to fight one last time.
Kali begins to waver as she watches him talk to Eleven.
HOPPER
Fight for the happy days on the other side of this. Fight for… for a world beyond Hawkins.
We see snapshots of Eleven living in California and of Kali with her old friends in Chicago.
HOPPER
Fight for that day that you might even have a kid of your own, and you can give her everything she's ever wanted.
For the day, you get so angry because she invites some boy over, and she won't keep the door open three inches. I know. I know you don't believe you can have any of this. But I promise you we will find a way to make it real. You will find a way to make it real, again. Because you have to. Because you deserve it.
Hopper turns to Kali.
HOPPER
And you deserve it too, even if you don't think that you do. Both of you have a way out, and this? This isn't the way to go.
MURRAY (WALKIE TALKIE)
Jim! Jim! Are you there, Jim? I don't want to add to the stress, but we've got company.
Military soldiers, including Lt. Akers, arrive at the UD Hawkins Lab.
CUT TO:
SCENE: HOLLY AND HER FRIENDS BEGIN TO RUN TO THE CAVE FOR SAFETY. HOLLY REALIZES DEREK IS MISSING AND GOES BACK TO GET HIM. ALL CHILDREN END UP SAFE WITHIN THE CAVE.
HOLLY
We're safe now! We're safe!
Holly embraces her friends.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE
Mike and Nancy walk side by side in the group. Mike stares at Nancy. Nancy, annoyed, stares back. Mike looks away, acting as if he was not staring.
Nancy looks back ahead of her and Mike stares back at Nancy, eyeing her guns.
NANCY
(Exceedingly annoyed)
Why are you staring at me?
MIKE
I'm not!
(He takes a second to think)
We're just getting really close, okay? And we don't know what's in there, so I think you should be sharing some of that firepower.
NANCY
You have firepower.
MIKE
Three Molotovs? Come on! Unless you're okay living with the guilt of my death, I'm gonna need one of those goddamn guns!
Nancy relents, silently removing one of her gun straps from her shoulder and hands it to Mike, nodding her head.
MIKE
Holy shit! Thanks!
Nancy picks up speed and walks ahead. Mike removes the weapon from his holster and turns it over in his hand.
LUCAS
(catching up to Mike)
Those are flares.
Lucas sets his hand on Mike's back.
MIKE
What?
LUCAS
Flares. She gave you a flare gun, dude.
Mike and Lucas move off screen and Will, panting, comes into frame from behind them, looking suddenly exhausted.
MIKE (O.S.)
What?
(echoing)
Flare gun?
We zoom into Will's face, his eyes are dropping and he is out of breath. He slows down and comes to a stop.
MIKE (O.S.)
Nancy! Nancy, what the hell is this? Are you serious?
We see through Will's eyes:
WILL'S DEMOVISION
Will's vision cuts back and forth between seeing in front of him and seeing through Henry's eyes in the cave. A rapid flickering between two perspectives.
MIKE (O.S.) (MUFFLED)
What the hell am I gonna do with a flare gun?
(Unsettling muffled noises)
MIKE (O.C.)
Hey! Will!
We see Will's face as he gasps, breaking out of it.
MIKE
Will!
JOYCE
Will!
Mike and the others turn around and rush to Will, who is now many feet behind them. Mike reaches him first.
MIKE
(worried)
Hey! What is it? What's wrong?
Everyone gathers around Will.
WILL
It's Henry.
Will pauses, panting.
WILL
He's alive.
We abruptly cut to Mike, who looks to the others, and then to Jonathan who keeps looking at Will. Both scared and worried.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE CAVE
SCENE: HENRY OVERCOMES HIS RELUCTANCE TO ENTER THE CAVE TO REACH THE CHILDREN.
HE REMEMBERS THE CAVE MEMORY, FEELING THE SHOT IN HIS HAND. WILL FEELS THIS TOO. HENRY CHASES AFTER THE CHILDREN AS THEY RUN OUT OF THE CAVE.
CUT TO:
INT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB INTERIOR
Hopper set Eleven down within the previously melted room, hiding her from the soldiers.
Eleven turns her head to Hopper as best as she can, fighting the Kryptonite to talk to Hopper.
ELEVEN
Kali.
Hopper
I know, kid.
Hopper looks to Eleven, his expression determined. He was already halfway out of the room to go back. He's not leaving any of his kids behind.
CUT TO:
KALI
Kali is crawling across the hallway, trying to find safety before she is yanked up by:
SOLDIER
(taunting)
Well, well. Look what we got here. Your friends just left you here, huh? That's not very nice, now is it?
Kali, unable to retaliate, does what she can and spits in his face. Her expression showing no fear. Only in her eyes.
The soldier wipes off his face. Pissed.
SOLIDER
Get her out of here.
Kali is shoved into the hands of another soldier when:
Gunfire rings out within the hallway; the soldiers are being shot at.
Hopper is peering around the corner for protection and shooting at the soldiers. He advances within the hallway and pulls out a smaller gun, one to shoot at a closer range. He cuts his way through the soldiers like trees until he reaches Kali, who is lying on the floor with her hands over her ears. He delicately reaches down to pick her up.
HOPPER
Hey, hey. I got you. I got you.
Hopper is abruptly kicked in the face by a boot, sending him into the ground.
LIEUTENANT ROBERT AKERS
And I got you.
Lt. Akers hits Hopper with the back of his gun.
HARD CUT TO:
INT. CAMAZOTZ - TUNNEL SYSTEM
SCENE: HOLLY AND HER FRIENDS CLIMB INTO THE TUNNEL SYSTEM BELOW THE GROUND. HOLLY EMULATES HER BIG BROTHER, BEING HEROIC AND BRAVE AS SHE LEADS THEM THROUGH THE OLD MEMORY. THE CHILDREN BEGIN TO CLIMB THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE ROCKS AS HOLLY RETRIEVES: THE FIRE POKER
HARD CUT TO:
Lt. Akers throws down Kali to the ground repeatedly. He is ruthless.
Hopper, being dragged by the soldiers, is forced to sit down, being held at gunpoint.
Lt. Akers aims his gun at Kali, who is defenseless on the ground and still experiencing the effects of the Kryptonite.
LIEUTENANT ROBERT AKERS
Tell me where the other freak is, or this one dies right here, right now.
HOPPER
I don't know what you're talking about. It's just us.
Lt. Akers moves his arm and shoots his gun. The bullet hits a foot away from Kali's head. She flinches before her eyes open in fear.
LIEUTENANT ROBERT AKERS
You think I'm playing a game here? Where is she?
CUT TO:
INT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB INTERIOR HALLWAY
Eleven is seen forcing herself up. She's struggling to stay on her feet, but she continues pushing forward in the direction of where Hopper went. Her eyes are full of determination.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB ROOFTOP
Murray is seen pulling out a grenade and setting it down frantically. He unties his belt and wraps it around the grenade with a bomb.
MURRAY
Okay. Oh, what are you doing, Murray? This is not a good plan. This is crazy. Okay. Here goes absolutely nothing.
Murray pulls on the belt, securing the bomb to the grenade.
CUT TO:
INT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB
LIEUTENANT ROBERT AKERS
One last chance. Where. Is she?
Hopper remains silent, looking off to the side. He refuses to answer.
His eyes dart down to Kali, who is looking back. Hopper's brows knit together.
He's scared.
Kali is scared, too. Her eyes are doe-like.
She shakes her head slowly. "No." is what the action says. She would never sell out her sister. This is the one thing they're sure that they can agree upon. El.
Hopper's face twists and he looks at Lt. Akers slowly.
HOPPER
Go to hell.
LIEUTENANT ROBERT AKERS
Okay, then.
Lt. Akers aims his gun down.
Kali looks at him fiercely. She does not close her eyes.
We see Murray on the rooftop, running and pulling the pin of the grenade. He jumps on the edge of the roof and-
The slippery material of the roof causes Murray to lose his footing, and he's sent over the side of the rooftop with the grenade. Headed toward the helicopter.
At the same time as Lt. Akers begins to pull the trigger, an explosion blows up the side of the building. The windows shatter, and a gunshot rings out amongst the sound, and all the soldiers fall to the ground.
As the soldiers begin to rise, their necks begin to snap one by one.
Through the open door, we see:
Eleven, standing strong with her hand out, aimed at Lt. Akers. He struggles against her power as she forces him to aim his weapon at his lower jaw. He promptly blows off his head.
When Eleven is done, her attention turns to Hopper, who is pressing down on Kali's chest, which is covered in blood.
Eleven rushes to Kali.
ELEVEN
Kali. No, no, no! Kali. Kali. Get bandages, please!
HOPPER
Keep pressure on the wound!
Hopper rushes out of the room as Eleven presses her hands firmly against Kali's injury.
ELEVEN
Kali, look at me. Look at me. Hang in there, okay? I'm here. It's gonna be okay.
Kali takes a deep breath and grabs hold of Eleven's arm.
KALI
It will be okay, Jane...
MOMENTS LATER:
Hopper arrives back in the room, a bag in hand that hopefully has a first aid kit inside.
He is met with:
Eleven over Kali's unmoving body. Her hands are pressed gently against the no longer bleeding wound. Kali's shirt is stained a dark red.
Eleven turns to look at Hopper, her expression is stony with pinched eyebrows. A determination shines in her eyes. Kali's eyes are closed, and she is no longer breathing.
Hopper's eyes shine dangerously as he stares at the two girls.
He's failed.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB ROOFTOP
Hopper and Eleven arrive to the rooftop, noticing that something is off.
Murray is missing.
HOPPER
Oh, shit.
The two scour the roof for any traces of Murray, but only the scorched side of a building are left behind, along with a destroyed helicopter below.
Hopper drags his hand down his face and looks to Eleven. She seems to be watching the sky, her eyes following the floating rocks. She turns to him and gestures at the rocks.
ELEVEN
I can jump. I can jump those boulders to the Abyss. I'll be right there, right at the tree. Shortcut. Henry's still up there.
Hopper's face twists up, a fear emanating.
HOPPER
If you fall…
ELEVEN
I won't.
HOPPER
If you make it…
ELEVEN
I kill him.
Hopper thinks it over, his brows scrunch up.
HOPPER
Oh, yeah? And then what?
He's trying to start some sort of fight. Get her to realize what she's doing.
ELEVEN
When I was a kid, and you found me in the woods… I was scared. Really scared. I didn't understand the world. I didn't understand… people. You took me in. Raised me. Protected me.
HOPPER
Mm.
ELEVEN
You became my dad. But I'm not… a kid anymore. And I'm not Sara.
Eleven begins to take off her bracelet, Sara's old hair tie.
ELEVEN
She didn't have a choice to make. But I do. And I need you to trust me to make the right choice. I need you to believe in me.
Hopper's face crumbles as she tries to hand it to him. He puts his hand over hers and pushes it back to her.
HOPPER
You are a kid. Just because you think you aren't doesn't mean anything. You're a kid.
Hopper gently puts her bracelet back onto her wrist.
HOPPER
(sniffling)
But just because you're a kid doesn't mean I'll stop you this time.
CUT TO:
SCENE: WILL AND HENRY MERGE MINDS ,AND WILL CAN FEEL HENRY'S FEELINGS AND THE MEMORY. WILL ATTEMPTS TO SYMPATHIZE WITH HIS ABUSER, DESPITE HIS NEGATIVE EMOTIONS. HE HOPES HE CAN END THIS ALL WITH JUST SOME SYMPATHY. IT DOES NOT WORK. THE STRUCTURE IN THE ABYSS GROUND ARISES, REVEALING THE FLAYER.
MIKE
Run! Run! Run!
The Party runs for their lives from the gigantic spider-like beast. It rumbles the ground with its stabbing footsteps.
Dustin is sent rolling to the side, seconds away from being crushed.
STEVE
Dustin!
Steve jumps into action and pulls Dustin to safety before they resume booking it after the others.
LUCAS
Come on! Come on!
STEVE
Let's go!
The Flayer begins to gain some speed. It roars into the sky.
Suddenly, the Flayer is caught up. It slams down its many legs around the Party to create a barrier from which they cannot escape. Death is imminent for all. It slides its head closer and opens its deathly maw and ROARSSSS.
Jonathan readies his flamethrower, looking terrified when... suddenly...!
A giant rock smashes into the side of the Flayer's head, sending it sprawling out of the way and freeing an opening for the Party. Jonathan jumps into action immediately, engaging everyone back into running when they can.
JONATHAN
Come on, go! Go, go, go!
MIKE
Run! Run! Run!
The Flayer, now distracted, turns its head to see:
Eleven
She's made it up into the Abyss. She didn't fall!
Once the Party is far enough away, they look back to see what- or who's distracted the Flayer. Mike's head whips back and forth from the Flayer and Eleven. It's almost a thousand times her size.
And it comes straight for her.
Everyone watches with bated breath as Eleven runs at the hulking beast and launches herself directly at it, ripping a hole into its chest and flying in.
She lands inside and rips Vecna down from the fleshy vines that hold him up. This motion sends the Flayer reeling.
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE - THE PARTY
LUCAS
She's hurting it.
ROBIN
How?
MIKE
She's fighting Vecna!
ROBIN
(realization)
Hive mind.
Int. The FLAYER
VECNA
So, you truly do want to die.
Eleven stares him down, giving him no response. Cheap words that try to mask themselves as deep cuts hold no bearing on her.
They begin to fight.
CUT TO:
MIKE
We have to help her!
NANCY
How?
MIKE
The hive mind works in both ways. If we hurt the Mind Flayer, we hurt Vecna.
ROBIN
What, hurt Godzilla over there?
DUSTIN
The only way to damage anything of that scale, we spread out. Flank it on all sides. Just chip away at its hit points.
STEVE
(confused)
"Hit points"? What are you talking about?
LUCAS
There.
Lucas gets an idea. He points and gestures at a cliff in the distance.
LUCAS
One of us draws it to that canyon. The rest take positions on those cliffs.
Lucas turns to the others.
LUCAS
Ambush it from above.
Mike and Jonathan look at each other. Mike's brows crease up and he nods before they look back at Lucas.
ROBIN (O.S.)
There's just one question.
ROBIN
(eye twitching)
Which one of us is bait?
The group looks around at each other in silence before...
NANCY
(immediately)
I am.
Nancy steps forward in front of the group, towards the Flayer. Everyone watches go. Mike and Robin's faces twist in unnerve.
CUT TO:
INT. THE FLAYER
Vecna's arm shoots out towards Eleven as she dodges and lands on her feet. She sprints towards him as he extends his arm at her once more.
Eleven leaps above his arm using her powers to float above it. This backfires. Vecna uses his powers to hold her midair and slam her into the ground at his feet.
The interior of the Flayer begins to shake as if an earthquake is happening, sending both Vecna and Eleven teetering. Vecna begins to lose his balance.
EXT. THE FLAYER
The Flayer is wailing as Nancy shoots at it with her military grade weapon, gaining its attention.
NANCY
(turning to the others)
Go!
The group stalls.
NANCY
(adamant)
Go!
Robin cocks her head to the side with an anguished face. The group runs towards the cliffs. Jonathan lingers and Steve grabs his arm.
STEVE
Come on.
The group splits up as Nancy begins to rapidly fire at the Flayer, which has now spotted her.
The Flayer's mouth opens in a scream, and it begins to advance after Nancy, all of its legs coming down and shaking the ground. It is unscathed by the bullet damage.
INT. THE FLAYER
Eleven and Vecna are being thrashed around by the moving monster.
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE
Nancy is running towards the opening between the cliffs as the Flayer chases after her, mouth open in a roar. It begins to catch up.
Jonathan sees this and turns around, watching as the Flayer gains speed.
JONATHAN
No!
Robin sees Jonathan hanging behind her and turns to grab him.
ROBIN
(desperate)
No, No! There's nothing we can do! Come on, please!
Robin pulls him away to continue running to the cliffs.
Mike, following Lucas, glances back at the display. His lips purse, and his eyes follow Nancy.
INT. THE FLAYER
Eleven watches as the dust on the ground bounces from the vibrations of the movement. She uses her powers to push a swarm of dust at Vecna, making the air opaque.
Vecna swipes his hand across the air to rid the dirt from his vision, revealing that Eleven is no longer in front of him. He turns rapidly, scanning the area, and is caught off guard by Eleven, who tosses him through the air.
Vecna lands roughly on the other side of the interior of the Flayer.
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE
Nancy is running to the opening between the cliffs as the Flayer follows, intent on killing. It screeches and raises a leg, attempting to pierce her, but misses by a few feet. The dust around her puffs into the air, and the ground shakes.
INT. THE FLAYER
Vecna rises from the ground, and Eleven advances, reaching out her hand. But Vecna is faster. He throws her across the room with his mind, and she lands against a spire before quickly rising and barely dodging a speared arm as it shoots at her.
EXT. THE FLAYER
The Flayer roars menacingly, upset by all the stimuli both inside and out. It lowers its head to Nancy's height and continues chasing after her, gaining speed and catching up.
Nancy enters the opening between the cliffs as the Flayer brings its head towards her, intending to eat her. Its face comes within a foot of her as she runs between the rocks. The Flayer is too large; it doesn't fit. So it breaks its way through, using its momentum to crash through the cliffs on either side.
Its face becomes trapped, and it roars.
Nancy pulls out a new magazine from her gun strap and reloads her weapon.
She shoots into the Flayer's open mouth as it continues to push its way through, beginning to slow down. And then speed up again, closing the gap.
Nancy continues shooting as she slowly backs up. The Flayer repeatedly bashes its head against the rocks to reach her.
Nancy's back hits a wall, trapped between the two cliffs.
The Flayer advances, destroying everything in its path.
Nancy stops firing. She checks her gun and realizes she ran out of ammo. She checks her bag and finds nothing. She looks up at the Flayer and her lip quivers as she presses herself up against the rocks.
The Flayer inches closer and closer, breaking through to her. Its mouth opens, and Nancy looks away, closing her eyes when-
A bright light hits the Flayer's behind, and it roars in anger. It begins to back away from Nancy, its body now burning.
The Flayer, now distracted, begins to backtrack, easily pulling itself out from between the cliffs.
MIKE (O.S.)
Hey!
The Flayer backs up and out, roaring.
MIKE
Hey! Over here, you piece of shit!
THE FLAYER TURNS ITS ATTENTION TO:
MIKE WHEELER
Mike is backing up slowly, staring down the Flayer from yards away.
MIKE
Hey!!! Get the hell away from my sister!!
He shoots another flare at the Flayer. It burns into the Flayer's face, and it screeches, angered.
CUT TO:
WILL AND JOYCE BYERS
Will grunts, jerking his head to the side and sucking air through his teeth.
JOYCE
(worried, reaching for Will)
What's wrong? Are you okay?
WILL
(sucking in air)
I'm okay.
CUT TO:
JONATHAN'S GROUP
Jonathan, Robin, and Lucas, having finally made it to the top of the cliff, look down at Mike, who is still below. Mike has not followed the plan.
Dustin and Steve are below as well, but on the complete other side of the Flayer. They were going to be attackers from below, but Mike had other ideas.
He just couldn't wait.
STEVE
Shit!
DUSTIN
What the hell are you doing! What about the plan!
NANCY
(terrified)
Mike!
The Flayer advances towards Mike. He turns and runs, dropping his flare gun.
LUCAS
Mike!
DUSTIN
Oh, shit! Mike! Mike, Mike!
JONATHAN
(grimacing)
That idiot!
ROBIN
Well, what are we waiting for? We need to attack it now! Right now!!!
Mike runs, sprinting as hard as he can, pumping his arms. The Flayer, having been physically hurt, is now on the prowl for real this time.
It chases after Mike across the dusty terrain, gaining speed quickly. Mike looks back briefly.
MIKE
Shit! Shit! Shit!
INT. THE FLAYER
Eleven takes advantage of the rapid movement from the Flayer and catches Vecna off guard once more, this time being able to secure a hold on him with her arm outstretched, forcing his body to hover over a bony spike within the Flayer's body.
Vecna is not deterred. He attempts to force Eleven away, pushing her back across the ground, but all it does is make her feet scoot backwards slightly.
She does not let him go.
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE
Mike runs like hell. He trips over a rock and stumbles before regaining balance.
The others are still up on the cliff, with Jonathan attempting to blowtorch the Flayer, but it's too far away now. Dustin and Steve chase after it, hoping to help Mike.
Mike pulls out a lighter and lifts one of the Molotovs that he had tucked away and lights it, chucking it at the Flayer.
It explodes against the Flayer's face, making it screech and roar in agony.
CUT TO:
WILL AND JOYCE BYERS
Will cries out and grabs his face, groaning.
JOYCE
Will!
CUT TO:
INT. THE FLAYER
Eleven forces Vecna's back into the spike, pushing him. Blood begins to bead and pool from his back.
Vecna retaliates and thrusts his arm out towards Eleven's face. It nearly reaches her when-
It stops.
Vecna strains.
CUT TO:
WILL'S DEMOVISION
We see through the eyes of Vecna, watching his frozen arm.
We zoom out to reveal stark white, rolled-back eyes.
Will's nose is bleeding, and his arm is extended, straining. He trembles but stands his ground.
INT. THE FLAYER
Vecna growls.
WILL'S DEMOVISION
We see Vecna's arm once more, still frozen. Will is using his powers to hold him still.
WILL
I'm not afraid anymore.
JONATHAN'S GROUP
Jonathan and the others are scrambling towards Mike as he runs. Lucas stays behind and aims and fires a flammable water balloon at the Flayer from where he is on the cliff. The Flayer is catching up to Mike.
Mike turns fully around, having reached a dead end and he looks up at the Flayer.
He does not cower.
WILL'S DEMOVISON
We see through the eyes of the Flayer, watching a fierce Mike stand his ground. His hands are trembling.
WILL
We're not...
We cut to Eleven, who is leaning her head back. Vecna's claw begins to retract from her face.
WILL
afraid...
We cut to Jonathan and the others, who have now caught up to Mike and the Flayer. They are throwing all their firepower at the Flayer as best they can, redirecting its attention.
WILL
of you...
Vecna's arm retreats fully, being forced back.
Will pulls and thrusts his arm out.
He snaps his arm down, and we see Vecna's arm rip clean off.
He is weakened.
Will makes a pained sound.
We cut to Eleven, who thrusts both her arms out, taking advantage of Vecna's injury. She pushes as hard as she can and... and..!
Vecna's torso is impaled by the spike. He screams out.
Mike and the others watch as the Flayer roars in agony and burns up from their attacks. It begins crumpling to the ground.
DUSTIN
We gotta go! Run!
Everyone scatters, dodging the flying rocks and the body of the falling Flayer. It roars its last roar and collapses into a heap on the ground.
Silence.
Everyone is watching, out of breath and stunned.
In awe.
Nancy turns to Mike among the rubble.
NANCY
What were you thinking?!
Mike only stares at her, seemingly unsure of what to say.
NANCY
Mike!
Everyone stands off the side, having their own inputs but deciding to stay quiet.
MIKE
It was going to kill you.
NANCY
Mike, we had a plan!
MIKE
(shouting)
It was going to kill you!
Mike points at her and lets his arm fall.
MIKE
You were going to die, and you know it! You know it!
Mike's voice cracks. He sucks in a breath and quiets himself just as soon as he allowed himself to yell.
NANCY
Mike...
Mike rushes to his older sister and hugs her.
CUT TO:
INT. THE FLAYER
The heart of the Flayer begins to beat more slowly, shriveling up and becoming smaller. It curls into itself and stops.
Eleven watches, breathing heavy.
NANCY
El!
We see Nancy running into the opening in the Flayer's chest. Nancy runs up to Eleven, and Eleven meets her in the middle, embracing.
Eleven pulls back and holds Nancy by the shoulders.
ELEVEN
Is everyone okay?
Nancy nods her head rapidly.
Eleven turns her head to look at the spires behind her, Nancy follows her eyes and spots...
NANCY
Holly!
Nancy rushes forward, trampling over the webbing inside of the Flayer and climbs half of the spire, reaching Holly. She tugs and rips the tendril off of Holly's mouth and begins to tear at the slimy webs that encase her.
Nancy moves with an expert purpose, pulling all the webbing until Holly is freed, her body falling forward into Nancy's open arms.
Nancy grunts and carefully lays Holly down, resting Holly's head on her lap.
NANCY
Holly? Can you hear me?
Nancy shakes her younger sister gently.
NANCY
Holly?
Nancy's face scrunches, her eyes wet.
NANCY
Holly? Holly, come on. Come on.
Holy begins to wake up, gagging and coughing. Her head jerks up and a slew of black particles erupt from her mouth and go up into the air, exiting her body.
She shakes and coughs, looking over to her sister.
A beat.
HOLLY
(relieved)
Nancy?
NANCY
Yeah. Yeah, it's me. I'm here.
Nancy hugs Holly, squeezing her tight.
NANCY
Yeah, it's me. I'm here. I'm here.
MIKE (O.S.)
Holly?
Mike and the others rush into the Flayer's carcass, and Mike stares in awe. He rushes forward towards his sisters.
MIKE
Hey!
Mike traps both his sisters in a hug. Nancy watches him carefully, her expression unable to be determined.
MIKE
Hey.
The siblings hug each other tightly.
MOMENTS LATER:
We see the group detangling the children from the spires, helping them down, and watching as the black particles escape from their mouths. Robin is consoling one of the children.
ROBIN
Okay, get it all out. You got this. You're gonna be okay.
Steve is sitting next to a freshly awakened Derek Turnbow.
DEREK
Where... Where am I?
Steve pats his back assuringly.
STEVE
You're safe. You're safe, bud, okay? We're here to get you home.
Steven cleans off Derek and hands them to him. Derek puts his glasses on before latching onto Steve with a hug.
STEVE
Yeah. Whoa!
Steve pats Derek's back, looking almost stunned but self-assured.
STEVE
I got you, bud. I got you. I got you, bud. It's okay.
Coughing and retching is heard off-screen. Everyone stops what they're doing and redirects their attention to the sound.
Vecna lies on the spike, impaled but still alive. He is coughing and gurgling.
CUT TO:
THE FLAYER: ENTRANCE
Joyce is at the opening to the Mind Flayer's chest cavity, half-carrying a half-conscious Will. Will's arm is slung over his mother's shoulders. He looks beat.
Mike and the others' attentions turn to Will and Joyce.
MIKE
Will!
ROBIN
Holy, shit! What happened!?
Jonathan rushes to Will and Joyce, briefly distracted by their arrival. Mike and the others follow behind, save for a few who stay with the children.
JOYCE
(panics)
I- I don't know! One minute he was up and doing all his...
She struggles to gesture with her hands since her hands are full.
JOYCE
-his powers! And then he just collapsed!
Jonathan helps to grab hold of Will, helping Joyce set him down. Mike hovers to the side. He looks as if he's realized something.
Horror.
MIKE
The hive mind.
JONATHAN
What?
MIKE
The hive mind!
We see Eleven as she watches the display, before her attention turns back to Vecna, as he shakes on the spike.
VECNA
Will...iam...
Everyone stops and listens.
VECNA
(struggling)
He will... die.
Joyce looks pensive, her hand resting on Will's shoulder. Will is half awake, groaning.
VECNA
We are... the... same.
MIKE
No...
VECNA
We are... one.
MIKE
No! Fuck that!
Mike turns to Eleven.
MIKE
He's lying!
Mike then turns to Joyce and Jonathan.
MIKE
He'll be okay!
Mike crouches down with the Byers, looking at Will.
MIKE
Will! You'll be okay, alright?
VECNA
You... lie to yourself...
Mike looks up and sees Vecna. Vecna's remaining arm is raised at Mike.
VECNA
I have... seen... your lies.
Mike's face trembles, but he doesn't back down.
Vecna is only messing with them.
MIKE
Will isn't you! You're a liar!
VECNA
I have seen... your secrets...
NANCY
Mike-
MIKE
You're lying!
VECNA
William... will fall with... me. All of you... will fall. Starting with...the weakest...
ELEVEN
Mike!
Everyone is startled by Eleven's sudden interjection. They all turn their attention to her hands, which are aimed at Vecna, but it is far too late. Vecna's outstretched hand curls in the direction of Mike.
Mike's eyes roll back, and he collapses.
FADE TO BLACK
We fade to...
(children laughing)
MIKE
What...
Mike watches as small children run around a playground. He turns and sees a younger version of himself, about six years old.
YOUNG MIKE
Will! Come on!
Mike looks behind Young Mike and sees a Young Will, running after Young Mike with the biggest smile on his face. The two boys run past Mike, who watches them with a confused look.
VECNA (O.S.)
You lie to yourself.
MIKE
What?
Mike whips around, looking for the offending voice, but finds no one except for laughing children.
Mike spots the elementary school door that Young Mike and Young Will are running past. It's open.
Mike goes in, hoping to find a way out. He traverses the empty and dimly lit hall, his footsteps echoing.
The terrain abruptly changes, dissolving and shifting into a new memory. Mike wobbles from the disorientation.
He's at the Quarry. Mike watches as they lift Will's Body out of it and onto a gurney. A young Mike whips past on his bike, tears forming in his eyes.
Our Mike turns back to the Body in the quarry and is met with a new memory.
It's raining down on his head as he watches a Young Mike and Will argue.
YOUNG MIKE
It's not my fault you don't like girls!
Mike's brows furrow at what he's being shown.
VECNA (O.S.)
You used your own insecurities against him.
Mike whips around once more, looking around wildly.
MIKE
It wasn't like that! This isn't real!
VECNA (O.S.)
Oh, but it is.
The memory fades and is replaced by...
A fourteen-year-old Mike Wheeler is shown reading a letter from Eleven.
ELEVEN (V.O.)
Will is painting a lot, but he… he won't show me what he's working on. Maybe it is for a girl. I think there is someone he likes, because he has been acting weird.
Fourteen-year-old Mike's face twitches.
VECNA (O.S.)
You pushed it down.
The memory changes, showing fourteen-year-old Mike arriving at the airport, sporting flowers for Eleven.
Mike watches the scene play out, his brows scrunching up.
VECNA (O.S.)
And you kept pushing.
Fourteen-year-old Mike hugs Eleven and barely hugs Will, not daring to get closer to him.
Our Mike turns around from the display and runs, looking for a way out.
He abruptly falls through the floor, as we see it dissolve and change. Another memory.
MIKE
Come on!
Mike stands up and yells into the sky.
MIKE
El! El, can you hear me?
VECNA (O.S.)
You call for help from someone who can't.
MIKE
What the hell does that even mean?!
Mike startles and looks behind him. There, we see fourteen-year-old Mike in California talking with a distressed Eleven. She is reading letters from him.
PAST ELEVEN
"From Mike." "From Mike." "From Mike." "From Mike." "From."
PAST MIKE
Okay, okay. Eleven, you're being ridiculous.
VECNA (O.S.)
You couldn't even write it.
Our Mike pulls a shocked face, looking panicked by what Vecna has said.
VECNA (O.S.)
But you could think it.
The world abruptly shifts once more, showing a Young Mike and Will on Halloween. They are dressed as Ghostbusters and are sitting on the Byers' couch side by side.
YOUNG WILL
I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy.
YOUNG MIKE
Me, too. Hey, well, if we're both going crazy, then we'll go crazy together, right?
VECNA (O.S.)
You thought it.
MIKE
No...
VECNA (O.S.)
You can't hide from the truth, Michael.
MIKE
What's your point, you bastard?!
Mike yells at the air, pulling his eyes away from Young Mike and Will.
MIKE
Why are you showing me this?!
VECNA (O.S.)
If you kill me, he will die.
Mike's face twists up into a grimace.
MIKE
That doesn't explain why you're showing me this!
Mike spins around.
MIKE
Why this?
VECNA (O.S.)
You need to face the truth. Your reality. Your shame.
We're shown a Young Mike talking to a Young Possessed Will, who is tied to a chair in the shed.
YOUNG MIKE
I just walked up to you and asked. I asked if you wanted to be my friend. You said yes. You said yes.
VECNA (O.S.)
Face the fact...
We see a new snapshot of a Young Mike leading Young Will away and into the arcade.
VECNA (O.S.)
That you're wrong.
We're shown something new. A fourteen-year-old Mike in his bedroom, scratching out "Love, Mike" from a letter that reads "Dear, Will" at the top of the page. He then crumbles it up and throws it away.
("Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat begins to play)
♪ To your soul ♪
♪ To your soul ♪
♪ Cry ♪
♪ Cry ♪
♪ Cry♪
Our Mike backs up and turns around. He begins running through these memories and many more.
VECNA (O.S.)
You can't run, Michael.
♪ You leave in the morning you own in a little black case ♪
♪ Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face ♪
We follow Mike as he sprints. The music follows.
VECNA (O.S.)
He will die with me!
♪ Mother will never understand why you had to leave ♪
♪ For the answers you seek will never be found at home ♪
♪ The love that you need will never be found at home ♪
MIKE
No!
Mike, distressed, covers his ears and continues running, only to be stopped by a door that appears in front of him. He realizes that the door is his closet door, adorned with street signs and posters.
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
Mike attempts to open the closet door, beating on it and pulling the knob, but it does not budge.
MIKE
Fuck you!
He throws himself up against the door. Again. And again.
♪ Pushed around and kicked around, always a lonely boy ♪
♪ You were the one that they'd talk about around town ♪
♪ As they put you down ♪
He groans in frustration, though he looks scared too, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
He's in an empty field now, with only his closet door in the way.
The way out.
("Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat begins to fade)
We begin to hear a voice.
ELEVEN (O.S.)
(muffled)
Mike!
VECNA (O.S.)
She can't help you.
Mike pushes himself against the closet door again.
ELEVEN (O.S.)
(loud but muffled)
Mike!
MIKE
El! El, El?!
Mike calls out to her, hoping she can hear him.
Now out of breath, Mike pants, leaning against the door, his forehead against it.
MIKE
Damnit!
He pounds his fist against the door and shouts. He sucks in a breath and exhales, his whole body shaking with exertion.
After a beat, Mike inhales again and straightens up. He backs away from the door.
("Smalltown boy" by Bronski Beat begins to fade back in)
♪ And as hard as they would try, they'd hurt to make you cry ♪
Mike rushes towards the closet door and slams his entire body into it. He steps back again, farther this time.
♪ But you'd never cry to them, just to your soul ♪
♪ No, you'd never cry to them, just to your soul ♪
Mike rushes forward and slams against the door again.
The door flies open, its hinges and lock busting. Mike stumbles through the doorway with a choked gasp.
It's not the way out. Mike stands in a pitch-black void. When he turns around, the closet door is gone.
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
Mike turns back around, and there, on the ground of the void, lies Will, just as we saw him before. He's half-conscious, except this time he's all alone.
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
MIKE
Will!
Mike rushes to Will and kneels down to him. Only half of Will was here; the other half was out with Joyce and the others.
MIKE
Will! Will, come on!
Mike puts his hands on Will's shoulders, but he does not move.
♪ Cry boy, cry, cry boy, cry, cry boy ♪
♪ Cry boy, cry, cry boy, cry boy, cry, cry boy ♪
♪ Cry boy, cry, cry boy, cry boy, cry, cry boy ♪
♪ Cry boy, cry, cry boy, cry boy, cry ♪
MIKE
We have to go! Now!
VECNA (O.S.)
You can't help him.
We see Mike and Will from a wide shot. Mike is leaning over Will, shaking his shoulders.
VECNA (O.S.)
You can't help anyone.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY - FLASHBACK
Mike follows after Nancy in the hospital, both tailing after their mother, Karen Wheeler, who is lying half-dead on a moving gurney.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE - FLASHBACK
Mike shoots a flare at the Flayer and catches its attention, drawing it away from Nancy.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE ABYSS LANDSCAPE - FLASHBACK
Nancy is yelling at Mike
NANCY
What were you thinking?!
CUT TO:
INT. VOID - PRESENT
Mike is leaning over Will.
VECNA (O.S.)
You can't even help yourself.
♪ You leave in the morning with everything you own ♪
♪ In a little black case ♪
♪ Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain ♪
♪ On a sad and lonely face ♪
CUT TO:
EXT. THE QUARRY
We see a young Mike jump off the edge.
CUT TO:
INT. VOID - PRESENT
Nothing is working to wake Will up. He can't fully wake until the connection is severed.
Vecna is dying.
Will is dying.
MIKE
Fuck- music! Music, I need music!
Mike looks around frantically for anything, but is met with only black void and emptiness.
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
♪ Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away ♪
( "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat begins to fade for the last time )
Mike looks back at Will's face. Mike's expression is that of the face he made when leaning over Eleven at the pizza freezer, except this face has a haunted look.
MIKE
I need- Please- I need-
Mike suddenly remembers something.
MIKE
Lucas- Lucas told me-
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL BASEMENT - FLASHBACK
MAX (TO LUCAS)
It turns out that this whole time... I didn't need it. I just needed you. Just you.
CUT TO:
INT. THE VOID - PRESENT
MIKE
She just needed Lucas- she just needed him-
CUT TO:
INT. THE WSQK - FLASHBACK
WILL
I had this- this crush on someone, even though I know- I know they're not like me.
We see Will watching Mike, who watches back. Expression schooled.
CUT TO:
INT. THE VOID - PRESENT
Mike sniffles, breathing in.
MIKE
Will- I...
Mike's hands grip onto Will's shoulders. He is still not moving.
MIKE
I was pushing you away and- and running. This whole time... I was never running from you.
Mike briefly looks up, as if to clear his eyes from tears, before looking back at Will.
MIKE
I... I was running from myself. I was running from myself, not you. Not you- Never you.
Mike slides his hand into Will's.
MIKE
Please, Will, please. Come on. Come back to us. Come back to me. We have to go now.
Will's hand twitches.
MIKE
Will?
Will begins to open his eyes fully, glancing at Mike with teary eyes.
MIKE
Will!
WILL
Is- is that true? Mike?
Mike smiles a watery grin, nodding his head. His hand tightens around Will's.
MIKE
(shaking his head)
Will, I was lying before. And friends don't lie.
Will's eyes dance across his and Mike's intertwined hands in wonder.
MIKE
What- what I said on the radio tower. I'm so sorry.
CUT TO:
EXT. RADIO TOWER - FLASHBACK
WILL
I needed to find my own way. But what matters if you're still here. And you still think we can be friends.
Mike's brow quirks up, and his face splits into a smile.
MIKE
Friends? No, thanks.
He gets ahead of himself.
Will's expression goes from a smile to a neutral concern.
MIKE
Best friends.
Will huffs out a breath, and he smiles in relief.
Mike huffs back before quickly turning his attention to the ladder.
MIKE
Alright, come on.
FADE TO:
INT. THE VOID - PRESENT
MIKE
I meant what I said- Best friends. But I panicked. I- I panicked.
Will sits up slightly, using his elbow to prop himself up and listen, he's still not well enough yet.
MIKE
I want to be more than friends. Will.
Mike looks down in shame, face burning.
Will's expression falls, his brows creasing.
WILL
What do you mean, Mike?
MIKE
When you were talking- at the Squawk... and telling us all about... yourself...
Mike begins to trail off, awkwardly.
MIKE
I know I already apologized for being a jerk.. but there's more.
Will looks up at Mike.
MIKE
I was scared. I was so, so scared.
Will sits up more.
MIKE
It wasn't right- I wasn't right. That's what I thought. Something was wrong with me, and I couldn't figure out what it was. I didn't know why I felt so wrong. But then you and El moved away.
Mike looks down at his and Will's hands.
MIKE
I started feeling normal again, until... I-... I was trying to send you letters.
Will's eyes widen, but he stays quiet.
MIKE
It never worked out, I kept writing them wrong. They came out wrong. So, I kept throwing them away.
Mike looks up at Will.
MIKE
And then when I got to California, it got so much scarier.
Mike's voice keens off at the end.
MIKE
I-... El looks so much like you, you know?
Mike laughs. Will does not.
MIKE
She just- she looks so much like you.
Mike looks into Will's eyes as he says this.
MIKE
I started to realize what was wrong with me... But then- at the Squawk when you were telling everyone-And, I mean everyone.
Will huffs a small laugh at this.
MIKE
It- it made me realize something... If... If you were like... that...
Will appears worried.
MIKE
Then... maybe it wasn't so bad. To be like that, I mean. Because how could anything about you be bad?
Will looks stunned, mouth opening slightly.
MIKE
I thought I was so... wrong. For feeling like this. Even though I didn't even really know what it was that I was feeling.
Mike's stare never wavers. He is Mike the Brave now.
MIKE
Will.
WILL
Yeah?
MIKE
I'm not scared anymore.
Shared looks.
Mike's eyes flick down to Will's lips and back up to his eyes.
Will's eyes widen.
WILL
What about El?
Mike shakes his head.
MIKE
It didn't work out like we thought it would.
Will looks torn.
MIKE
But it's-... It's okay. It took a while to understand and to realize that what we had wasn't right... But, we're okay now. Me and El.
Will nods, his worry and tension obviously melting away. He's known that Mike and El have been distant lately, but he wasn't sure what it was.
A kind-of, sort-of break up.
WILL
Mike, I have to tell you.. About the painting-
Will begins to explain something that he's been worried about. Something is never forgotten in the backs of the boys' minds.
MIKE
I know. I figured it out. Eventually. Well, not about your- your feelings. But the fact that El would never commission a DND painting, I mean, come on!
Mike laughs. Will laughs with him.
( "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution begins playing )
♪ I never meant to cause you any sorrow ♪
♪ I never meant to cause you any pain ♪
♪ I only wanted one time to see you laughing ♪
Mike clears his throat. Focusing now. No more running.
MIKE
Will, when we were younger, I made a sacred vow. To keep you safe. I thought I could be with you forever.
Will shifts, listening intently. A Paladin's Oath is nothing to ignore.
MIKE
We were going to be friends. Best friends, always. And I broke that vow when you went away to California. I broke that vow the summer before you moved away, too.
Mike leans closer. Confident. Brave.
MIKE
I never want to break my vows again.
Mike's fingers entangle with Will's.
MIKE
Will Byers. I vow to you, to never ever leave you alone, ever again. If you'll let me.
Mike leans in more, staring at Will's face.
♪ I only wanted to see you laughing In the purple rain ♪
MIKE
Can I-?
Will, now free, chuckles and nods.
WILL
Of course you can.
Mike leans forward to meet Will halfway.
A kiss.
♪ Purple rain, purple rain ♪
We're shown a brief montage of Mike and Will, ranging from Mike putting his hand on Will's in Season 2, to Will pushing Mike in the field near the tunnels, to Mike hugging Will at the end of Season 5 Episode 4 Sorcerer.
Mike breaks the kiss gently, pulling back.
MIKE
I love you. I love you exactly for who you are. I was just too stupid to see past myself.
MIKE
Please come back with me, Will.
♪ Purple rain ♪
Mike holds Will's hand with both of his hands now. The world around them begins to brighten.
MIKE
I need you, Will. I need you.
WILL
I've always needed you, too.
Will, now untethered, laughs with Mike, as they lean into each other. Mike holds onto him like there's a better tomorrow waiting for them.
♪ Purple rain, purple rain ♪
♪ Purple rain, purple rain ♪
CUT TO:
INT. THE FLAYER - PRESENT
Mike gasps awake, sitting up. Next to him, there lie a fully conscious Will, surrounded by Joyce and Jonathan. El and the others give a relieved sigh that their friends are now awake. It was only a short moment.
Mike hurriedly grabs onto Will's forearms and pulls him up into a hug.
Will hugs back.
They pull apart and look into each other's eyes, laughing once more. Mike's hand on Will's shoulder and vice versa.
WILL
(hand touching the back of his neck)
It's gone! He's gone!
Will seems giddy, along with Mike. It really worked. All he needed to be un-severed from the hive mind was Mike. Not some music.
That would've been helpful to know years ago.
(gurgling and coughing is heard o.s.)
Everyone's heads turn to see:
Vecna, still lying on the spire. Though this time he can't do anything more than gurgle.
Joyce rises from where she is and stares down Vecna. She looks down at her boys and Mike, then to El and the others.
She advances towards the aching Vecna. He turns his head to her, unable to speak now. The blood fills his throat.
CUT TO:
INT. THE UPSIDE DOWN (S1) - FLASHBACK
An unconscious Young Will (S1) lies on the ground, covered in slime, freshly torn from the vines on the wall
JOYCE
Please come back to me!
CUT TO:
INT. HAWKIN'S LAB (S2) - FLASHBACK
A relieved Bob Newby stands, his hands on his knees as he looks back to Joyce. We hard cut to Joyce watching Bob being murdered by the Demodogs.
CUT TO:
INT. THE FLAYER - PRESENT
Joyce removes her big axe from her back and holds it tightly. Her face dons a seriousness.
JOYCE
You fucked with the wrong family.
Vecna growls in rage. Though he almost looks as if he's going to say "Please, don't."
Joyce swings her axe, embedding it into Vecna's neck.
We see Holly remembering when the Demogorgon hurt her mother.
Joyce swings her axe again.
We see Jonathan, remembering when the Mind Flayer was burned out of Will.
PAST JONATHAN (S2)
Mom, you're killing him!
Joyce swings her axe again.
We see Lucas, remembering when Max died in his arms as he cried for help in the Creel house.
Joyce swings her axe again (o.s.)
We see Nancy, remembering Barb.
PAST NANCY (S1) (TO BARB)
Why don't you go ahead and go home?
Joyce swings her axe again.
We see Dustin, remembering Eddie as he died in Dustin's arms.
PAST EDDIE (S4)
I didn't run away this time.
Joyce swings her axe again (o.s.)
We see Mike, remembering when Will was taken on November 6, 1983.
Joyce swings her axe again.
We see Eleven, remembering what Henry told her, remembering the Hawkin's Lab Massacre.
PAST VECNA
He did not make me into this. You did.
Joyce swings her axe again (o.s.)
We see Will, remembering the night he went missing.
Joyce swings her axe.
Will remembering the day the Mind Flayer possessed him.
Joyce swings her axe.
Will remembering telling Joyce that he wants this to be over.
Joyce swings her axe.
Vecna's head comes off and lands on the ground, oozing blood. Unmoving.
Joyce heaves a sigh.
Everyone watches on in silence. Triumph.
It's finally over.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB ROOFTOP
We see Hopper waiting on the roof. His walkie-talkie comes to life, and he immediately focuses.
DUSTIN (WALKIE TALKIE)
Chief, you copy? Chief?
HOPPER
Yeah, yeah, I copy. What's going on?
Our view changes back to Dustin and the others.
DUSTIN (WALKIE TALKIE)
Well, the noseless bastard's toast. We're back in the Upside Down, and we have the kids.
We see everyone corralling the children into the Bradley's Big Buy truck.
HOPPER
How is everybody? Is everybody okay?
DUSTIN
Yeah, the Party took a hell of a beating, but we're okay.
HOPPER
What about El?
DUSTIN
(reassuringly)
The whole Party.
We see Hopper closing his eyes in relief. Or as relieved as he can be, considering his side of the Party is two people short.
DUSTIN
So what do we say you hit the music, old man? Destroy the Upside Down once and for all.
Hopper's expression turns to purpose.
DUSTIN
Let's ditch this hellscape.
HOPPER
(smiling)
Yeah, copy that.
Hopper walks over to the keypad next to the record player and inputs a number. It begins to beep and across the roof we see the bombs, timers set.
HOPPER
Alright. Here we go.
Hopper moves the arm of the record player onto the record.
( "When Doves Cry" by Prince and the Revolution begins playing )
We see the record spinning as we zoom out. Mike's miniature of Mike the Brave stands strong in the center of the record.
Mike built the bomb after all, it should be He who lights it.
FADE TO:
EXT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - INT. BRADLEY'S BIG BUY TRUCK
We see the Party and the children inside the BBB Truck, smiling, talking, and celebrating.
♪ How can you just leave me standing ♪
♪ Alone in a world that's so cold? ♪
LUCAS
(joking)
Hey, stop! You're gonna get it all over me!
We see Jonathan, Nancy, and Holly looking at each other happily.
LUCAS (O.S.)
Hey, hey, I'm nasty too.
Holly leans into Nancy's arms, and they close their eyes.
LUCAS (O.S.)
It does stink. It does stink.
♪ The world is so cold ♪
♪ Maybe I'm just too demanding ♪
We see Will and Joyce sitting side by side. Will leans his head into her shoulder, not before glancing happily to the side at Mike and Eleven.
Mike and Eleven smile to each other, and Mike nods his head to her. She nods back before she looks ahead of her and returns to an almost neutral expression, taking a deep breath.
♪ Maybe I'm just like my father Too bold ♪
♪ Maybe you're just like my mother ♪
Mike spots Derek looking at him. Derek waves, and Mike raises his eyebrows and waves back.
♪ She's never satisfied ♪
♪ Why do we scream at each other? ♪
INT. BRADLEY'S BIG BUY TRUCK - FRONT SEAT
Robin and Steve sit in the front seats of the truck. Robin, riding passenger, opens up the window and sticks her head out into the wind.
STEVE
What are you doing? You're gonna let more of that crap in here.
Robin pulls her head back into the truck and faces Steve.
ROBIN
It's either that or pass out. Because you smell like... I actually don't know what you smell like, but it's bad.
Robin sticks her head back out of the window.
We hear a car honking in the distance. Both Robin and Steven turn their sights to the left of the truck, in which they spy Hopper pulling up next to them. He stays about even with the truck, but pulls farther up ahead to not be too close.
Hopper needs a nap and a smoke.
Hopper pulls the military truck up through the gate into the MAC-Z, exiting to the other side, only to be met with:
Spike traps.
The wheels of the truck pop and flatten, making the automobile screech to a stop.
Robin sees this.
ROBIN
Watch out!
Steve swerves the BBB truck, and the front tires pop on the spike traps, bringing it to a stop. All of the residents inside of the truck startle from the sudden jump.
The truck screeches to a halt.
MIKE
Everyone okay?
The military, waiting outside the gate, ambush the truck and open the back door. They aim their weapons at the Party and the children.
MILITARY MAN
Everyone, put your hands up!
Mike and the others raise their hands
MIKE
Hey- hey!
The military begins pulling everyone out of the truck if they are't already moving their asses.
MIKE
Hey! There's kids in here!
MILITARY MAN
Move!
The military man grabs hold of Mike.
MIKE
Hey! Get off me!
We see: Dr. Kay.
MILITARY MAN (O.S.)
Get down! Get down! Get your hands up!
The drivers of the two trucks are pulled out of their trucks and pinned against them.
Holly and the other children are ripped away from the older teens and adults.
HOLLY
No, no!
NANCY
No! No! That's my sister! Let go of me!
We see Max and Vickey standing off to the side, surrounded by the military as well. Caught.
We see Lucas being pinned against the BBB truck just like the others, except he doesn't struggle as Mike does. The military men put their hands on Lucas' back.
LUCAS
Okay! Okay!
Hopper glances wildly around, catching sight of everyone being taken away or pinned to the trucks.
His eyes also spy the Kryptonite guns that surround them. Something is wrong.
The military men search, and Dr. Kay walks up to the Party, looking.
Mike begins to panic, his head whips around.
MIKE (TO DUSTIN)
(quiet)
El! Do you see El?
Dustin looks worried; his eyes widen.
DR. KAY
Sergeant! Where's the girl?
MILITARY MAN
She was right here one second ago.
Dustin and Mike overhear this.
DUSTIN (TO MIKE)
She must've escaped.
Mike releases a sigh of relief, his entire body losing tension.
Dustin smiles at Mike.
Mike looks up, and his expression falls.
CUT TO:
THE MAC-Z - THE GATE
Eleven stands in front of the open gate in the MAC-Z by herself.
Dustin's head whips over to where Mike is looking.
DUSTIN
Oh, God.
Will, being detained next to Joyce, looks up from where he's being held. His eyes land on his sister, who stands firmly in the middle of the Upside Down gate.
WILL
(realization)
El.
Will begins to pull away from the military man who's holding onto him.
At the same time, Mike tries to run too. The military man comes after him to keep him still.
DUSTIN
Mike!
MIKE
Get off me! Get off me!
Will breaks free from the man who was holding him down and rushes forward.
JOYCE
Will!
Mike's head snaps over to where Joyce is yelling, spying Will. Will runs as fast as he cane before he's tackled back down, halfway closer to El then he was before.
WE WATCH AS WILL FALLS TO THE GROUND, HIS SURROUNDINGS CHANGE TO BE THAT OF THE VOID.
INT. THE VOID
SLOW MO
Will lifts himself up to look ahead, now stunned. His eyes see El, now walking towards him in the void.
NORMAL PACING
WILL
El! El, you have to get out of there!-
Will gets up and rushes to meet El in the middle.
WILL
It's going to explode, you have to-
Eleven cuts him off.
ELEVEN
I need you to talk to the others.
WILL
What? What do you mean?
ELEVEN
I need you to thank them for me.
Will's expression crumples.
WILL
(straining)
No, no. You know I can't do that for you, El. Please.
Will closes his eyes before reopening, looking anguished.
WILL
I just got out of this- this mess. I finally broke free thanks to-
Will shakes his head.
WILL
We can get you out too.
Eleven shakes her head.
ELEVEN
Will, I need you to let them know that we'll be there.
WILL
What? What do you mean? El?
( "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King begins to play )
♪ When the night ♪
♪ Has come ♪
♪ And the land is dark ♪
Will reaches his hands out and grabs his sister's arms so that he can get a good look at her.
WILL
El, please you don't know what you're doing. What about Hopper? About Mom? Jonathan?- What about the Party?
Will sees Eleven's stoney expression and begins to come up with something else to get her attention.
Eleven stares.
WILL
What about- what about you? You were so happy with us in California. You have a whole family who needs you! I need you! You- You can't just-!
Eleven cuts him off.
ELEVEN
You'll understand.
Will looks into his sister's eyes and takes a breath. He knows this is final.
He can't change her mind.
♪ And the moon ♪
♪ Is the only ♪
♪ Light we'll see ♪
Eleven lifts her hand to place on Will's arm, which still holds onto her shoulder.
ELEVEN
You have to trust me, Will.
Eleven nods her head at Will.
Will's face is anguished, his eyes brimming with tears.
♪ No I won't ♪
♪ Be afraid ♪
♪ No I won't ♪
ELEVEN
We'll be there. Tell the others.
Will nods his head, biting his lower lip. He doesn't understand but he takes in a shuddering breath and brings Eleven in for a hug.
Eleven's eyes widen, and she carefully hugs him back.
♪ Just as long ♪
♪ As you stand ♪
♪ Stand by me ♪
They pull apart from the hug, and Will watches Eleven with tears in his eyes. Eleven tilts her head.
ELEVEN
We'll be there, Will.
We see as Will is ripped up and away, out of the Void.
He is returned to the MAC-Z, being held up by the soldiers. He looks across from him and sees Eleven, still standing in the space between the MAC-Z and the Upside Down.
Mike can be heard behind Will, still being held back.
MIKE
El! Eleven! El, no!
He struggles against the military men, and his foot slips on the ground, sending him to his knees.
MIKE
(anguish)
El! El! El!!!!
Nancy, seeing Mike panicking, gets up and goes towards her brother. The soldier nearest to her grabs at her.
NANCY
Mike!
Jonathan sees the soldiers grabbing for Nancy and becomes defensive.
JONATHAN
Don't touch her!
He is shoved up against the BBB truck by a soldier.
Will stares ahead as he's held back by the soldiers.
WILL
El!
Joyce watches on, pulling against the military men.
MIKE (O.S.)
(struggling)
Get off me! Get off me!
Hopper stares, open-mouthed, in shock at what Eleven- his daughter- is doing.
Max watches from her wheelchair, stunned. Eyes glossy. A confused Vickie sets her hand on Max's shoulder.
Everyone looks at the display before them. An enraged Dr. Kay begins to advance.
Will pulls against the soldiers, pushing himself forward. His face holds a mountain of fear.
Everyone begins to fight to get forward, except Lucas, who continues to keep his hands above his head, watching in terror.
LUCAS
(hands trembling))
El, no!
Dustin is grabbed around his torso as he attempts to charge forward.
DUSTIN
(anguish)
Eleven!
A symphony of "El!"'s rings out among the group. Their voices crying out, as they watch her stand there while she closes her eyes.
We see the record in the Upside Down Hawkins Lab begin to slow down. The Mike the Brave miniature figure turns slowly and scrapes against the bomb wire.
It ignites.
A cataclysmic explosion erupts on the rooftop, causing the Exotic Matter to be disrupted.
It begins to grow, and grow.
And grow.
The energy around it begins to whip and scream before the Exotic Matter crushes in on itself.
Silence.
And then:
A boom.
A bright light swallows everyone's vision, causing them to look away.
The explosion rips open the walls of the Upside Down. The contents begin to be sucked out. We see buildings smashing, being crushed, and pulled out into the Nothing.
Eleven is swept away among the chaos, as the gate to the Upside Down begins to heal itself. The dimension is ripped to shreds and disappears.
When everyone looks back up, Eleven is gone.
MOMENTS LATER
After everything has settled down, the military resumes detaining the Party and the children, separating them. Many of them are crying.
KAREN (O.S.)
Stop right there! Those are my kids!
The camera suddenly pans over to see:
Karen Wheeler, followed by Erica Sinclair, Mr. Clarke, The Turnbows, and many fuming parents.
MIKE
(exasperated)
Mom?
NANCY
Mom?
Lucas
Erica?
ERICA
Yeah, let go of my brother, you shitheads!
mr. CLARKE
You'll all do well to let all of them go.
The hoard of angry families rush forward to their children as the soldiers release them, and they run to their parents.
KAREN
You people have done enough. We know all about... All of this.
Karen says this matter-of-factly, despite the fact that she does not actually know what the hell is going on.
Many parents pipe up as they corral and hug their children.
PARENT 1
You stole our kids!
PARENT 2
You invaded our town and took our children!
Holly notices breaks free and rushes to Karen.
HOLLY
Mom! Mom! You're okay!
KAREN
Holly! Oh, my God, Holly!
Karen limps forward and leans down to hug her daughter with all her strength. Mike and Nancy look at each other before rushing to Karen as well.
NANCY
Mom! What are you doing here??
KAREN
Well, I couldn't just sit around anymore. I came to look for you guys but found them instead.
Karen gestures to Mr. Clarke and Erica.
ERICA
And we got together the Turnbows- Sorry, Tina- and the rest of the parents.
Erica says with no remorse.
KAREN
You know I love a good rally.
Mike snorts a laugh and moves so that he's helping hold Karen up, her arm slung around his shoulder. Mike is still shaken, but he focuses on the rest of his family.
mr. CLARKE
The military caused a lot of pain to us all.
ERICA
You guys better get some lawyers.
mr. CLARKE
I may know a guy.
All the parents hold on to their children tightly. Some stare down the military. Hopper pulls away from the men and goes to his family, huddling Joyce and Will together. Jonathan glances at the Wheelers before going to Hopper to join them.
PARENT 1 (TO mr. CLARKE) (O.S.)
Do you really know a guy?
mr. CLARKE (O.S.)
Well, sure. Fighting legal battles with the military is his strong suit.
We pan to see Lucas grabbing hold of Dustin and bringing him over to Erica, as the military begins to pack up.
Erica immediately rushes to her older brother, and as soon as she's tucked away in his arms, she lets her mask break. Her face crumples up.
Erica
Don't you ever do that again!
Lucas holds onto her tightly, using one of his hands to hold her head firmly against his torso.
Lucas
Are you okay?
Erica nods into his chest, not letting go. Dustin lingers before deciding to join in on the siblings' hug, encasing them both.
Hopper and the Byers continue to hug. Hopper kisses the top of Joyce's head, and Will glances at all of them before he looks back at where the Upside Down gate used to be. Where she was.
Mike watches Will from afar. His eyes follow Will's, leading to the empty space where the gate once was.
FADE TO:
INT. WSQK RADIO SHACK - 2 DAYS LATER
The entire Party is huddled in the main room of the WSQK: Will, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Max, Steve, Nancy, Robin, Jonathan, Joyce, and Hopper.
Will sits on the couch, facing them all. It is eerily similar to just 2 days ago when he told them all the truth, except this time it's only the Party.
Will, hands on his knees, takes a deep sigh and looks around the room.
WILL
I-... I know that you guys were probably all busy and...
Will's eyes land on Mike, who nods his head.
WILL
I just had to tell you. On... the day that El...
Everyone's expressions darken. Mike's eyebrows knit together, and Hopper's face hardens.
WILL
She told me something. Something strange.
Will looks down at his hands, holding them together and bouncing his leg.
WILL
I don't know what she meant, but she told me- in her mind- that "we'll be there."
Will looks around the room again, and everyone looks confused.
MIKE
What do you mean?
WILL
I- I don't know. She just told me "we'll be there", and she told me tell all of you.
Will uses air quotes to explain what Eleven was saying.
DUSTIN
"We'll be there."? What the hell does that even mean?
HOPPER
And that's all she said? Just "we'll be there"?
Will nods, feeling guilty that he can't give more.
A beat.
JONATHAN
So she talked to you?
WILL
Yeah. In like-
MIKE
The void.
MAX
The void?
WILL
Yeah. The void.
Hopper steps forward, his tone turning sour.
HOPPER
(adamant)
You're sure she didn't say anything else? Anything at all?
Joyce holds onto Hopper's arm.
JOYCE
Hop...
Hopper cools down.
STEVE
So what? She just... tells you something ominous and...
Lucas appears to be deep in thought. He drags his hands over his face and keeps his hands there, only pulling them down enough to show his eyes, staring ahead.
MAX
(whispering)
"We'll be there"...
Max speaks to herself.
WILL
I'm sorry, I wish that I- I could say more, but that's all she said.
Will's voice is filled with regret and guilt.
MIKE
No, no way. Don't apologize. She could've-
Mike sounds pained.
MIKE
I mean, what if she-
He can't get through his words.
Lucas puts his hand on Mike's shoulder and shakes his head quietly. Everyone is silent.
WILL
That's all I had to say, really. Uhm. She just told me to tell you guys. So I feel like I... had to. Even if I don't know what it means.
Jonathan scoots closer and sets his hand on Will's shoulder.
FADE TO:
EXT. HAWKINS, INDIANA MEMORIAL - 18 MONTHS LATER
We hear the sound of a beating heart fading into: hammering.
We read a memorial stand that reads: "DEDICATED TO THE CITIZENS OF HAWKINS INDIANA WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE"
( "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac begins playing )
INT. WSQK RADIO SHACK - PRESENT
We see Rockin' Robin in the WSQK!
ROBIN
Hi there, strangers. It's been a while. I wonder… I mean… Do you guys… even remember me? Okay, maybe I'm being too modest. I mean, let's be honest, who could forget this soothing voice with a trace of a Debra Winger rasp? That's right. It's me, Robin Buckley, aka Rockin' Robin. Jimmy "Fast Hands" was kind enough to let me back into the booth for a guest stint, but you're gonna have to cut me some slack because I am feeling rusty. I mean, what do I even talk about? You know? My go-to subjects are as out of date as, well, as my friend's bowl cut. I mean, there's no soldiers, no fences, no Big Brother cameras, and the only Big Mac I can find is a Smush Double Patty at Mickey D's. People are happy and smiling and going to the movies.
But hey, who doesn't wanna see Indy's new adventure?
Robin rolls her chair to the soundboard, pressing the wrong button.
ROBIN
Shit, uh...
Robin tries again, successfully landing on a whip crack sound.
ROBIN
There we go. Sorry about that. My partner in crime ditched me. But, well, as far as excuses go, he had a pretty good one.
EXT. HAWKINS JUNIOR BASEBALL FIELD
Steven Harrington is seen coaching a Little League.
STEVE
Let's go, boys! Baseball ready! Baseball ready!
He seems fulfilled.
ROBIN (V.O.)
Now...
Steve
No mental mistakes!
ROBIN (V.O.)
…I am almost too superstitious to say this, and I'm knocking on some wood here, but I think the Hawkins curse has finally lifted.
STEVE
All right, Thomas. Let's go. Here we go, man!
ROBIN (V.O.)
But at the same time…
STEVE
Let's go.
We cut back to Robin in the WSQK, zooming into her face as she speaks.
ROBIN
…this isn't even the Hawkins that I remember. It feels so different. But maybe it's not the town. Maybe it's me that's changed. We probably all have. At least, that's certainly true of my friends. [chuckles] Who, by the way, are graduating today. That's right, Hawkins High class of '89 is walking the podium today. I hope you all come out and support them. I know I will. Because if anyone deserves a standing O, they do. So to get their party started, a new favorite.
CUT TO:
EXT. SINCLAIR HOUSE
( "Here Comes Your Man" by Pixies playing )
We see legs on a skateboard, roaring down the street. It's:
Max Mayfield!
She kicks off of her skateboard and sees: Lucas waiting for her on the driveway in an orange graduation gown and cap.
LUCAS
You break any more bones, you're on your own. Because I am done with hospitals.
MAX
Maybe I should be on my own. I mean… what is going on here?
She gestures at his outfit.
LUCAS
What? We're graduating today.
MAX
In two hours. I think you're getting ahead of yourself.
Lucas eyes Max before sauntering up to her and pulling hr close at the waist.
LUCAS
Hmm.
MAX
Okay, now you're definitely getting ahead of yourself.
LUCAS
I'm sorry, you're just looking, uh, super sexy right now.
MAX
And you're looking super dorky.
♪ Here comes your man ♪
♪ Here comes your man ♪
Lucas and Max kiss before separating.
We see Erica in the garage, building a contraption.
ERICA
Ugh. Gag me with a spoon.
Back to Lucas and Max:
LUCAS
Remind me again how you're graduating with us this year? Aren't you behind a whole year?
MAX
Well, you remember Suzie, right?
LUCAS
(raises eyebrow)
No way.
CUT TO:
EXT. HAWKINS, INDIANA - DUSTIN'S CEREBRO - FLASHBACK
Dustin speaks into his walkie-talkie, talking to... Suzie Bingham.
DUSTIN
Come on, Suzie!
SUZIE (WALKIE TALKIE)
Dustin, I can't just change her grades into A's! Wasn't she in a coma for, like, a whole year?
Suzie, currently at her home in Utah, dramatically types on her keyboard.
DUSTIN
18 months actually! And, for your information, my dearest Suzanne, you owe me! You were MIA for months! Months, Suzie!
SUZIE
Gosh, Dustin! I was at boarding school, okay? My parents thought it would do me some good, and it has. Plus, we aren't even dating anymore!
DUSTIN
Yeah, but you know you love me.
Dustin sweet-talks his friend.
DUSTIN
And, also, you know we've been through literal hell over here, so it would really help if we could all graduate and get the hell out of here! Some A's for my friend would be really nice!
We see Suzie push up her glasses and rub her temples in exasperation.
DUSTIN
Also, it's not entirely cheating since we did technically help her study over the whole year and all, so come on!
Suzie sighs and looks up at her ceiling.
SUZIE
Alright! Fine, but this is the last time, Dusty!
CUT TO:
INT. HENDERSON HOME - PRESENT
We see Dustin smiling for a picture that his mother, Claudia Henderson, is attempting to take. She's too emotional.
DUSTIN
You gonna take the picture? Already? Please?
Claudia cries, and Dustin goes over to her for a hug. He hugs her so tightly. He's almost as tall as her now.
DUSTIN
Ma, it's okay. I'm only a day's drive away.
CLAUDA HENDERSON
I know.
DUSTIN
I'm gonna come home every chance that I get.
CLAUDIA HENDERSON
Okay.
DUSTIN
I'm gonna call you so much that you're gonna wanna change numbers.
CLAUDIA HENDERSON
Okay.
DUSTIN
Okay?
They both laugh, and she nods, separating from him.
DUSTIN
Do you want more pictures?
CLAUDIA HENDERSON
Yeah.
DUSTIN
Okay.
CLAUDIA HENDERSON (O.S.)
Ooh, so handsome. My valedictorian.
Dustin poses for multiple pictures, holding up his valedictorian sash.
Cut to:
INT. HOPPER'S CABIN
Hopper, Joyce, and Will all stand, ready to take a picture. Will is in his graduation gown. Jonathan is behind his camera, filming.
JONATHAN
All right, rolling.
WILL
Happy graduation!
HOPPER
Happy graduation.
JOYCE
That's nice.
WILL
Class of '89!
Suddenly, the bedsheet that was being used as a curtain behind Jonathan falls over, ruining the shot by flooding the room with too much light. In his very humble opinion.
JONATHAN
Shit. Hold on. No, no.
HOPPER
Oh God. No.
JOYCE
Let him hang it back up.
HOPPER
(exasperated)
Leave the bedsheet.
JONATHAN
No, no, no. There's too much light. It needs diffusion.
HOPPER
It's not The Godfather.
JONATHAN
I know it's not.
The boys banter back and forth like a family. They are.
Will
Let him hang it up.
HOPPER
You get one more take.
Off-screen, the phone rings. Joyce leaves the boys to answer it from across the room.
HOPPER (O.S.)
It's been all day 'cause of the artist…
JOYCE (ON PHONE)
Hello?
The boys all quiet down.
KAREN (OVER PHONE)
Joyce. This is Karen. Have you seen Mike?
JOYCE
No, I haven't seen him. We haven't seen him since last night.
Joyce hangs up the phone and turns to the boys.
JOYCE
It's Karen. She can't find Mike.
Will looks to Jonathan and Hopper with a sort of... look. Like he knows something.
CUT TO:
SCENE: MIKE SITS AT HAWKINS MEMORIAL REMEMBERING THE MOMENT THAT EL WAS TAKEN AWAY. DESPITE THE FACT THAT IN THIS TIMELINE, HE WASN'T IN THE VOID WITH "HER" IT STILL BREAKS HIS HEART. SHE WAS ONE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS. HOPPER ARRIVES TO CONSOLE HIM, TO SHOW HIM THE PATHS HE CAN TAKE. BE MISERABLE OR LIVE.
LIVE.
CUT TO:
EXT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY - PRESENT
( "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1" begins playing )
We see the graduation ceremony for Hawkins High School commencing outside. The graduates follow each other in a line to their folded chairs.
Jonathan is manning the main camera, recording all of the students as they walk by. Lucas nods at the camera as he walks by.
We see all of the parents and families in the stands: The Wheelers, the Sinclairs, Joyce, Robin and Steve, etc.
The Wheelers seem to be upset, as they look around at the incoming graduates, looking for someone.
Principal Higgins stands at the podium on the stage, and Dustin and the faculty of the school reside behind him.
PRINCIPAL HIGGINS
Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the graduation ceremony for the class of '89.
Everyone applauds.
From the audience, Holly notices something off to the side. She looks at her mother and points at the opening between the stands, where we see:
Mike Wheeler arriving in his graduation gown, with Hopper following behind.
HOLLY
Mom! Mom!
We see Karen running to Mike, hugging him.
KAREN
(relieved)
Mike.
MIKE
I'm sorry, Mom. I panicked.
Karen pulls away and looks him in the eyes.
KAREN
You don't have to explain.
She looks him up and down.
KAREN
(choking up)
God, look at you. You're all grown up.
She cups his face gently
KAREN
I'm so proud of you. I'm so, so proud.
Mike reinitiates a hug, rubbing her back.
MIKE
I love you, Mom.
KAREN
I love you, baby.
We cut to Principal Higgins on stage.
PRINCIPAL HIGGINS
And now it's my great pleasure to introduce someone who has truly excelled during their time here. Ladies and gentlemen, give a warm welcome for your valedictorian, Dustin Henderson.
Most people applaud, although it is quiet.
Steve rises from his seat to applaud.
STEVE
Yeah, buddy!
We see Dustin's mother and Mr. Clarke in the stands as well. Dustin's mother is crying proudly.
MR. CLARKE
Dustin!
Lucas rises from his seat and points up at the stage.
LUCAS
(exclaiming excitedly)
That's my friend!
MIKE
Whoo!
Will gives Dustin two thumbs up, smiling with joy.
DUSTIN
(clearing his throat)
I just wanted a normal childhood. But that childhood was stolen from me. It was stolen from us.
We see Max and Will.
DUSTIN
And this past year, if you wanna know the truth, I've been pretty pissed off about it.
TED WHEELER (WHISPERING TO KAREN)
Language.
Karen rolls her eyes.
DUSTIN
But then I thought back to the past six years, and I realized that, even though there was a lot of bad... there was so much good too. There's this game I like to play. It's called Dungeons & Dragons.
The audience is dead silent except for Will and Lucas.
WILL
Whoo!
LUCAS
Yup!
Hopper sighs and Joyce chuckles.
HOPPER
Jesus Christ.
DUSTIN
And in this game, there are two types of chaos classes, chaotic good and chaotic bad.
We see Erica setting up her contraption behind the stage. It appears to be a canon of sorts, made out of a Hawkins High megaphone.
DUSTIN
Now, bad chaos brings anarchy, destruction, war. But good chaos can bring innovation, change. And this school, frankly, it needed to change.
Principal Higgins' face pinches u,p and he looks at his faculty.
DUSTIN
Because we were so divided into the jocks, the nerds, freaks. And in the chaos, all those walls broke down, and I made new friends. I made friends who were never even supposed to be my friends.
We see Steve and Robin.
DUSTIN
This wasn't just me. I saw this happen with so many others.
We see Derek and Holly.
DUSTIN
When you get to know people who are different from you, you begin to learn more about yourself.
We see Hopper rubbing Joyce's back.
DUSTIN
You change.
We see Will.
DUSTIN
You grow.
We see Robin.
DUSTIN
I'm a better person now.
We see Max and then Mike.
DUSTIN
I'm a better person because of them, because of my friends.
We see Lucas and then Dustin.
DUSTIN
So, I'm not pissed off anymore. But I am worried. Worried, because now that the chaos is over, Principal Higgins and every square like him-
The audience gasps, and many look surprised. The Party and many students in the crowd laugh.
DUSTIN
-is gonna do their damnedest to put everything back in order. And I don't want order, which is why it's hypocritical that I'm wearing this thing. I mean, we look ridiculous. What is this? We look like Roman senators. I mean, it's not who I am. I don't think it's who any of us are. So, honestly, just screw it.
( "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden begins playing )
Dustin rips open his graduation gown, revealing his shirt beneath, which reads:
HELLFIRE LIVES
Both the students and the families in the audience, mainly the parents, gasp in shock and terror. There are few who holler excitedly, ones who get up and pump their fists. The nerds. The freaks. The outcasts.
PRINCIPAL HIGGINS
Henderson.
DUSTIN
Screw the school.
Robin and Steven yell from the stands with a few others, rallying.
PRINCIPAL HIGGINS
Henderson! Henderson!
DUSTIN
Screw the system.
PRINCIPAL HIGGINS
That's enough!
Dustin rips the microphone from Higgins and continues his speech.
DUSTIN
Screw conformity. Screw everyone and everything…
Dustin's mother pumps her fists.
CLAUDIA HENDERSON
Yes!
DUSTIN
…trying to hold you back and tear us apart, because this, this is our year!
Those who weren't really in it before now begin to join those who were celebrating. More students begin to stand, though a few seem disgruntled, upset by this satanic chaos.
Dustin throws the microphone onto the stage as the Party claps and applauds with most of the other students.
He snatches his diploma from Principal Higgins, flips him the bird, and...
He gets the hell out of there!
He takes off from the stage after spreading his arms like a patriotic eagle, as Erica activates her confetti cannons, sending large pieces of confetti raining down upon everyone.
In all of the excitement, the graduating Party rise from their seats and rush to Dustin in the chaos. Everyone begins to throw their caps into the air and exclaims loudly.
The Party takes flight after tossing their caps, rushing out through the stands, laughing and whooping.
♪ The bugle sounds, the charge begins ♪
♪ But on this battlefield, no one wins ♪
♪ The smell of acrid smoke
♪ And horses' breath ♪
♪ As I plunge on into certain death ♪
Joyce, Hopper, Steve, Robin, Jonathan, Nancy, and everyone else who's part of the Party's family, watch as the graduating Party flees from the area, leaving their gowns on the grass and laughing all the way.
CUT TO:
SCENE: THE OLDER TEENS: STEVE, ROBIN, JONATHAN, AND ROBIN ALL ON TOP OF WSQK, TELLING THEIR STORIES ON WHERE THEY'RE AT IN LIFE.. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME BUT...
STEVE
To nothing ever keeping us apart!
Steve raises his drink into the air, awaiting the others.
ROBIN
Excluding beautiful and wonderful partners?
Robin jokes, batting her eyelashes.
Everyone laughs and Steve rolls his eyes in a friendly manner. Robin was never going to stop talking about Vickie, was she? They really hit it off...
Cut to:
EXT. HAWKINS, INDIANA - SIDEWALK - MOMENTS LATER
The Party: Max, Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Will are all walking along the sidewalk. Free.
They're talking about Dustin's exit.
MIKE
You really killed it!
Will nods his head, agreeing wholeheartedly.
MAX
Principal Higgins never stood a chance.
Max and Lucas walk hand in hand. Mike and Will are walking together, hands bumping occasionally.
As the Party continue talking, Will is looking down at the ground in calm thought, looking peaceful though as if he's missing something. He looks up slightly and... freezes.
THE CAMERA PANS TO:
ELEVEN AND KALI
Will is frozen, eyes wide. The others follow where he's looking.
"We'll be there," echoes across their minds.
Will takes off, running across the road and to the alleyway in which the two girls are standing. He opens his arms and flies into Eleven, who laughs and catches him. They spin.
Right behind Will, Mike and the others are blasting their way towards them as well.
MIKE
El!
DUSTIN
(elated)
Holy shit!
Everyone piles on top of one another, holding on. Once they pull back- though still holding on- they have so many questions.
Will sees Kali standing off to the side and beckons her over into the group, pulling her in with the others. She's his sister, too, after all. Even if he doesn't know her all that well.
MIKE (TO ELEVEN)
I- How?
He's stunned. Everyone is.
ELEVEN
(smiling)
Kali helped.
CUT TO:
INT. THE UPSIDE DOWN - HAWKIN'S LAB INTERIOR - FLASHBACK
HOPPER
Keep pressure on the wound!
Hopper rushes out of the room as Eleven presses her hands firmly against Kali's injury.
ELEVEN
Kali, look at me. Look at me. Hang in there, okay? I'm here. It's gonna be okay.
Kali takes a deep breath in and grabs a hold of Eleven's arm.
KALI
It will be okay, Jane...
Kali takes a deep breath, closing her eyes. When Eleven looks down at her hands, the blood is gone.
ELEVEN
I- You lied.
KALI
I did not lie. I tricked.
Eleven is confused. Why would Kali pretend that the bullet hit her?
KALI
I have done some thinking. Some hard thinking, Jane.
Eleven looks down at her sister, who hasn't yet gotten up.
KALI
Your policeman... was right.
Kali places her hand over Eleven's and sits up.
KALI
Jane. We do not have to end it all here.
She appears to have a hard time admitting this.
KALI
I have a plan. A better plan than death.
Eleven's face brightens but still holds tension.
MONTAGE
KALI (V.O.)
I will make a body double for when your policeman returns. It will appear as if I am dead.
Hopper arrives back to the room, a bag in hand that hopefully has a first aid kit inside. He sees Eleven over Kali's "body."
At the same time, we see the real Kali- her nose bleeding- as she runs out of Hawkins Lab. She wipes her nose and turns invisible.
KALI (V.O.)
I will escape through the gate and station myself far out of range from the...
ELEVEN (V.O.)
The Big Mac.
We see Kali (transparent) running through the gate to the Upside Down and hiding inside of a building. She watches as the military aim the Kryptonite canons at the gate.
KALI (V.O.)
I will be waiting for all of you there, if everything goes correctly.
ELEVEN (V.O.)
And it will.
KALI (V.O.)
I will make you invisible. And then I will make a new you.
We see the moment that "Eleven" stands in front of the Upside Down gate before it explodes.
KALI (V.O.)
It will be believable. It looks like we have died, so then we can escape.
Eleven seems willing to go through with the idea that Kali is telling her.
ELEVEN
There's just one thing. What about everyone else? Can't we tell them?
KALI
It would ruin the whole idea of making sure everyone thinks we are dead.
ELEVEN
...Give them a message.
KALI (V.O.)
A message?
ELEVEN (V.O.)
That we will be there. Alive. Maybe not right away, but we'll be there. I can't just leave them.
We see the moment "Eleven" (a figment created by Kali) is talking to Will within the "void".
Eleven takes a deep breath in and nods her head.
ELEVEN
Go.
We see Kali nod back and prepare her body double before taking off.
CUT TO:
EXT. HAWKINS, INDIANA - SIDEWALK - PRESENT
Everyone is tearing up, even Mike.
MIKE
I can't believe it. I just-
He laughs, hugging Eleven again.
WILL
(laughing)
I can. I believe it.
Will hugs Eleven. Both of them pull Kali in.
MAX
I believe it.
Max joins, with Lucas following behind her.
LUCAS
I believe it.
Dustin sniffles, grinning. He hugs onto them.
DUSTIN
I believe it.
Mike pulls his face out of Eleven's shoulder so he can see everyone else, his eyes glittering.
MIKE
I believe it.
They all believe it. Only Eleven and Kali could pull something like this.
Will suddenly pulls back, leveling Eleven with a stare.
WILL
We have to tell Mom, Hopper, and Jonathan!
Eleven laughs and nods.
ELEVEN
And Kali will come too.
Kali appears surprised.
MIKE
Wait, you're coming with us? You're not, like, running off to a faraway land with three waterfalls? You're actually coming with us?
He sounds to be in disbelief, though he's smiling so brightly.
Eleven laughs suddenly, falling into her friends embraces more.
DUSTIN (O.S.)
This is the best day of my life.
CUT TO:
EXT. VICKIE DUNNE'S HOUSE - HOURS LATER
We see a car pull up to the driveway of a small home. It has a beautiful tree out front.
Vickie Dunne is waiting outside next to the front door, wearing a nice dress. She seems surprised when the car pulls up.
The car door swings open, revealing: Robin Buckley wearing a button-up shirt with a nice vest and dress pants.
VICKIE
Oh my god...
Robin smiles brightly at her girlfriend.
ROBIN
Guess who finally got her license!
Vickie strolls up to the side of the car, and Robin pulls her in for a kiss. They're going to Enzo's soon. <3
CUT TO:
INT. ENZO'S - CURRENTLY
SCENE: JOYCE AND HOPPER ENGAGEMENT. EXCEPT THIS TIME HOPPER ISN'T REFERRED TO AS THE CHIEF.
CUT TO:
INT. THE WHEELER'S BASEMENT
We see the Party: Dustin, Lucas, Mike, Will, El, Max, and even Kali, at the table playing DND. It's crowded but it's not claustrophobic.
Mike is seen acting as the Dungeon Master at the table. Everyone is listening to him intently, it's the last battle of the campaign.
MIKE
A hushed quiet falls over the town. Frightened villagers watch from rooftops and alleyways, wondering, how will this all end? The sound of boots echo across the square as Strahd von Zarovich strides up to Dustin the Bard!
Mike makes the miniature figure for Strahd waltz up evilly to Dustin the Bard.
DUSTIN
Don't do this...
MIKE
The vampire lord lunges!
Everyone is scene sighing and aching over their impending doom. Even Kali and Eleven are pained by how this is going.
Mike moves the miniature Strahd around as if to mimic it biting into Dustin the Bard's neck.
MIKE
Plunging its fangs into his throat. Onlookers gasp as his body collapses. His lute clatters across the cobblestone, letting out a final mournful note.
Everyone sighs and falls against the backs of their chairs and Will shakes his head quietly. Goddamnit.
Kali leans into Eleven's side and whispers something to her and Eleven has a thoughtful expression. The two girls weren't truly playing, as they declined, but they've been helping with choices just to have fun.
DUSTIN
Son of a bitch!
Mike gestures to Will as dramatically as he can.
MIKE
A lone hero remains, Will the Wise! Barovia's last and only hope.
Will looks up at Mike hopefully, thoughts spinning in his mind.
Lucas jumps in, wanting to attack.
LUCAS
Cast Meteor Swarm. Take out the bastard.
WILL
I can't.
MAX
(determined)
Why not?
DUSTIN
He's in the range of the suppression stone. No magic.
Max turns to Will, moving her arm in a chopping motion.
MAX
Then just whack him with your staff!
LUCAS
And inflict six points of damage? He has 30 HP left!
Eleven turns to Kali and whispers something to her as well. Conspiring. The others pay them no mind, they're busy arguing on how to defeat the enemy.
Dustin seems defeated, gesturing at the table.
Will sinks down into his chair and rubs his temple from an oncoming headache. His eyes dart to Mike, who's proudly watching the team fall to shambles. Mike shrugs to Will.
MAX
Okay, so now what?
WILL
(defeated)
That's it...
DUSTIN
Nothing.
MAX
What do you mean nothing?
LUCAS
Checkmate.
WILL
We lost.
MAX
...So after all of that, Strahd von Douchebag just wins?
Mike snickers, his face starting to break into a massive grin.
Max is about to get up and throw a fit when Eleven gently grabs her arm and shakes her head. The boys are too busy burying their heads in annoyance after that entire campaign to notice the girls conspiring quietly.
Mike begins to flaunt his victory, putting in a set of plastic Halloween vampire teeth.
MIKE
(mimicing dracula)
Strahd takes great pleasure in your anger.
The funny plastic teeth warp his words. Mike laughs evilly and turns to Will, the supposed last remaining player in the campaign.
MIKE
Time to join your friends, Sorcerer!
Will rolls his eyes, completely done with Mike's joyous win.
LUCAS
Just get it over with and roll. I don't wanna hear his shit anymore.
Will shakes his head and picks up the dice.
WILL
Alright.
Will begins to shake the dice when suddenly Max grabs his arm.
MAX
Wait!
Will startles, halting his dice roll. Everyone watches in intrigue. Max turns her head to Eleven and nods, who then turns her head to Kali.
Spotlight.
KALI
The mage from the Abbey.
She starts off simply, and Eleven continues for her.
ELEVEN
Remember, she said that she can be summoned if we needed her.
LUCAS
When at our lowest depth!
KALI
You all left her behind and forgot that she could help, but she's been waiting.
Kali seems almost proud of herself, having been focused on the Mage from earlier. She had never forgotten.
Mike slowly takes out his vampire teeth. He's been caught.
He doesn't look annoyed. He looks ecstatic.
MAX
Well, what's the incantation to summon her?
Everyone begins to scramble for the campaign book that's underneath the table. The Party is bumping into one another trying to find it, when suddenly Kali sets the book down on the table with a triumphant thump. She's been reading up.
Will retrieves the book and flips the pages quickly, and begins to read the incantation. Everyone gathers around the book.
WILL
"Oh, mage! Arise and end our fall from darkened paths and secrets deep. Come forth and help your promise keep."
They all look at Mike in waiting.
Mike shakes his head.
MIKE
Nothing happens.
WILL
Oh, come on, Mike.
DUSTIN
Why? Why even have the incantation?
Everyone groans, defeated once more.
ELEVEN
I don't understand, it should've worked..
After a few more moments of annoyance, Mike speaks up.
MIKE
Wait. Wait, wait. A purple light begins to shine through the mist. Growing brighter and brighter. It's a portal. And out of this portal steps… the Mage of St. Markovia!
The Party begins shouting in excitement.
MIKE
The mage holds out her hands, and shoom, a beam of powerful light shoots forward.
Strahd lets out a piercing…
(screeches)
…as his body shrivels, burns, and turns to ash!
DUSTIN
Bada-boom! How do you like that?
WILL
Whoo!
MIKE
The misty gloom that shrouds the village of Barovia evaporates, and you are met with cheers from the townsfolk. In honor of your courage and bravery, they give you medals, and you are all awarded 1,000 pieces of gold each.
Mike begins setting small treasure figurines on the table for everyone to grab and hold.
MIKE
Flush with wealth and honor, you live out the rest of your lives in comfort and in happiness.
Everyone jumps around. They've won. It's over.
MIKE
The end.
LUCAS
Great campaign.
WILL
(clapping)
Good campaign, Mike. Great campaign.
Max stalls, much like Kali, who seems to be thinking.
MAX
Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. That's it? Comfort and happiness? Could you be more trite? I thought you were some kind of master storyteller or something.
KALI
She's right, this can't be the end. It's far too easy. And happy.
LUCAS
Oh.
Dustin snickers at the sight of Max berating Mike. Will chuckles to himself.
MIKE
Well, it is true, the comfort and happiness part. But happiness can be found in many places...
Every one begins to sit back down. Mike sounds like he's coming up with something again.
Mike looks to Lucas.
MIKE
The Knight, for example. He goes on to live in happiness with the Zoomer. Every once in a while, he goes on a new quest of spreading valore for all, but he always returns to the Zoomer.
Mike looks at Max.
MIKE
The Zoomer spends her days striving to go as fast as she can, outrunning all the others. She might be a little too fast for the Knight to catch up to sometimes, but she always runs back to him.
We see a future, in which Lucas and Max share a movie date. They go their separate ways for Max to pursue her skateboarding hobby and for Lucas to be a sports coach, much like Steve. At the end of the day, Lucas and Max are back at home, enjoying sitting on the backyard patio.
Mike turns to Dustin.
MIKE
The Bard, craving knowledge, makes his way to the Mage's Guild of Enclave, where he spends his days in their vast library. Though deeply devoted to his studies...
A future appears in which Dustin heads to University to study up on science and physics beyond the levels that he already knew.
Occasionally, Dustin and Steve go on road trips.
MIKE
...he still makes time for the occasional adventure.
Mike turns to Eleven and Kali. He smiles.
MIKE
The Mage and the Blood Hunter? They go on adventures beyond the realm they were born in. The Mage conceals her magic amongst their enemies, but at the end of the day she casts as any spells as she wants. And the Blood Hunter doesn't need to hunt for blood so much anymore.
Kali and Eleven's future consist of them excitedly traveling around the world together and catching up on things they missed, peacefully.
MIKE
As for Will the Wise?
Will looks to Mike with a hopeful expression.
MIKE
He travels far and long to the bustling city of Vallaki...
We see a future in which Will arrives in the city for college...
Mike seems to ponder this for a while. The Party assume he's finished.
ELEVEN
What about the story teller?
Mike looks to her and smiles before turning back to the group.
MIKE
(repeating)
Will the Wise travels far an long to the city of Vallaki... with his Paladin, Mike the Brave following close behind. It's overwhelming at first. So very different from the village where they spent their youth. But it isn't long before they finds their place there. Together.
We see that future, in which Mike is with Will as they stroll around the city together. As they go to art exhibits. As they adjust to this life.
Will laughs, his eyes glossy. Most of everyone is teary eyes by now.
The Party take a moment of silence to think over these stories that Mike tells them...
KALI
Wait... But, how did the Mage cast the spell?
Dustin gasps and points at her.
DUSTIN
The suppression stone!
WILL
She couldn't have used her magic!
Confusion arises within the group and they turn to Mike, awaiting an answer.
He smiles and shrugs. He's been caught again!
MIKE
In the excitement, no one even noticed. But you see, the Mage is very clever.
He looks to Eleven.
MIKE
A cleverness only matched by her sister, who, upon hearing the pleas of the Party from afar, had a change of heart.
Everyone looks to Kali.
MIKE
The Blood Hunter... she wasn't a part of the story. Not in a way that any of us could see at first, but she was always there.
Mike pulls over a mini figure of the supposed Blood Hunter.
MIKE
The entire time, she's been watching.
KALI
And how did this Blood Hunter save the day?
MIKE
Well, that's obvious. See, she was never really an actual Blood Hunter. That class always becomes the monsters that they strive to defeat... No... She was a Fighter!
The Party, aside from Eleven and Kali, gasp.
MIKE
The Fighter knew death well. She had seen it far more than anything else. She was knowledgeable... She knew how to work behind the scenes and help the Mage avoid the suppression stone's magic!
Kali hums.
MIKE
The Fighter and the Mage worked together to help our Heroes defeat their enemies once and for all...
WILL
How did they do it?
MIKE
The Fighter was a Psi Warrior! From afar, she used her abilities to take out the suppression stone, so that way the Mage could use her magic on time!
WILL
(in thought)
...And Will the Wise never knew that the suppression stone was done for... so...
LUCAS
The only way we were going to win was because of
LUCAS
The Mage!
MAX
The Mage!
Everyone goes wild once more.
Abruptly, their win is interrupted by Karen from the top of the stairs.
KAREN
Guys! What's going on? The lasagna's getting cold!
MIKE
Yeah, we… we just finished. We'll be right up.
Slowly, everyone begins to rise and place their DND journals onto the shelf, tearfully.
First Max, then Lucas, then Dustin, and Will.
One by one they head upstairs, with Eleven and Kali first and everyone following behind.
Mike puts his book away next to Will's, tracing the spines of the two books with his thumb. He sniffles with a smile on his face.
As Will reaches the top of the basement stairs, Mike turns and heads up too.
MIKE
Hey, wait for me!
Will laughs and waits for him at the top, when suddenly Holly and her friends burst past them and trampled down stairs to play a game of DND on their own.
The two boys laugh and walk off, listening to the kids' banter as they go.
HOLLY
Guys! Sit down and focus!
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - TIME SKIP
We see:
A slightly older Mike Wheeler, sitting at a desk in a bedroom that looks much like his previous one from the Wheeler home. He is hunched over a typewriter, looking down at it with his reading glasses and typing away.
In the background, on the wall, we see Will's Painting hung up proudly along with many other drawings and DND posters.
A hand appears in shot and rests on Mike's shoulder gently. Mike looks up at the person who owns this hand: Will Byers.
Will smiles down at Mike.
WILL
I was just about to head out. How's the story coming along?
Mike stalls his hands and smiles, pushing up his glasses slightly.
MIKE
It's going pretty good. But... I think I'm missing something. This is only the first draft, you know.
Will laughs.
WILL
What's it missing?
Mike looks down in thought. Will leans in closer to get more at his level and look at the page that Mike was previously typing.
MIKE
I don't know, honestly...
WILL
Well, it's a fantasy story, right?
MIKE
Yeah, so?
WILL
Tell me about it.
Mike beams.
MIKE
It's about this kingdom that's in danger. Monsters took it over once the Monster King- that's a placeholder- moved in.
Will nods, crouching down on the floor so that he's lower now.
MIKE
And the princess is being held hostage. So, obviously, the brave knight of the kingdom has to try to get her out of the castle, even though its her home. Even though she's always lived there.
WILL
Does he love her?
Mike nods his head.
MIKE
More than anything, she's all he's ever known. But this is the issue-
Will tilts his head.
MIKE
There's no conflict of love! I mean, millions of authors have written this story before! The knight who saves the princess and they're in love. You'd think I'd be more creative...
Will hums.
MIKE
And not to mention that the knights whole group of saviors of the kingdom, have been separated for a while, so they aren't all in the same place. So they can't kill the Monster King yet. They're not a full power.
Will nods.
MIKE
And the crew eventually all come together but they're still missing their warlock friend. He's the key to finally banishing the-
WILL
(laughing)
Warlock friend?
Mike's face turns embarrassed. It's obvious what he's writing about.
MIKE
Well, sure. The warlock is the knight's best friend. But, I just- I don't know how to tie it all together...
Will tilts his head and sets his hand on his knee to push himself up into a standing position once more. He leans down and kisses the side of Mike's face and pats his shoulder.
WILL
I'm sure you'll figure it out. Just think a little harder.
Mike watches as Will leaves, he's going out with his little art class friends.
Mike looks down at his typewriter again.
An idea hits him.
On his typewriter, we see:
THE KNIGHT AND THE WARLOCK WERE BEST FRIENDS.
NO.
MORE THAN BEST FRIENDS.
IT JUST TOOK A RESCUE MISSION TO REALIZE IT.
( "Heroes" by David Bowie begins to play for the last time )