Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (2026) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[ominous music playing]
[panting]
[screeching]
[snarling]
[screaming]
[creature squealing]
[screeching]
[mysterious music playing]
[synth theme music playing]
["Kids in America" by Kim Wilde playing]
Backpack, yeah. Keys, walkie-talkie.
Do I have everything?
[Lucas] Mike! We're outside! Over!
-Mike!
-Yes! Coming! Over and out!
-We're the kids in America ♪
-Whoa-oh ♪
Hey, what about breakfast?
No, thanks! No time! Bye!
Hey! Watch it!
-Nancy, straight home from school today.
-Okay.
Mike, aren't you forgetting something?
Um, love you?
Oh, right! Thanks, Mom!
-Here he comes.
-Finally!
Let's go! We're gonna be late!
Mike, relax. We're not gonna be late.
Yeah, we haven't been late once
in the last five weeks.
I know, but if we are…
Just come on!
[Dustin] Come on!
Almost there. Almost there.
Ugh! Move it, you bug blaster!
[Mike] Dustin! Dustin, come in! Over!
Come on, Dustin! We know you're there!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Not now! Not now!
[Mike] Dustin!
[groaning]
You know you have terrible timing.
We're heading directly to Will's.
Meet us on Cornwallis. Over!
-Wait for me! I'm at the mart!
-Dustin!
Fine. Meet you there. Over and out.
Thanks, Dan. Gotta run!
Wait, wait, wait.
You're a dollar short again.
Sorry! I'll get you next time!
You know I'm good for it!
That's what you said
about the cheese balls, and Pudding Pops,
and whatever other abominations
you children put in your gullets.
There's a new wave coming, I warn you ♪
-We're the kids in America ♪
-Whoa-oh! ♪
Found it!
-Everybody live for the music-go-round ♪
-[song ends]
-Hey! Slow down, bud.
-Sorry.
Here's that mix you asked for.
Finished last night.
Maybe now you'll listen
to more than just The Clash.
Thanks. I gotta go. The guys are waiting.
Mom said call if you're gonna be--
-Late!
-[alarm blaring]
Jeez! Kid, are you okay?
Yes, yes, yes! I let it get late!
You know
you don't actually go to school, right?
So, I know you know, but I…
I need you to remember
the ground rules, okay?
No attracting attention.
Be careful who you talk to.
And we keep the cabin secret.
The last thing we need are strangers
sticking their noses in around here.
I know the rules.
Yeah, I know, but we can't have
anyone finding out about your powers!
You see, that's what I'm talking about.
I did it inside. No one can see.
[sighs] Look, kid,
I'm just worried is all.
-We're a family now.
-I know!
Bottom line is
I'd like to keep it that way.
Me too.
[knock on door]
Mike.
[growling]
-Hey.
-Hey.
-Hey!
-Coat! I need a coat!
Anything happens to her,
anything…
These woods hide a lot of mistakes.
[gulping]
I… I got you something.
Why?
'Cause cops like doughnuts?
Joke's on you, pal.
Everyone likes doughnuts.
-Ready!
-Be careful out there!
-Yeah!
-[all laughing]
Aw, sh… irt.
Couldn't have waited five seconds.
[tense music playing]
Crud!
Whoa! Slow down there, Henderson.
Where you going in such a hurry?
School. I'm gonna be late.
Hey!
We just want to see what you have for us
in that book bag of yours.
Books, brainiac.
Wanna guess what's in my pencil case?
Hey! Get back here!
We're gonna get you, Henderson!
-Come here, dork!
-Let's get that scumbag!
-We're gonna get ya!
-Yeah! Let's get that nerd!
[laughing]
Give it up, geek!
What the…?
-[creature screeching]
-Ah!
[muffled scream]
[laughing]
[shivering] I got snow in my crack!
So long, suckers!
Charlie! Where'd you go, man?
I lost the nerd!
Charlie!
Charlie?
[rustling]
What the…?
[screaming]
No, no, no, no!
[crunching]
[screaming continues]
[creature roaring]
Let's go!
[Lucas] Yeah! Let's go!
[Mike] Yeah!
You guys, spring break
is gonna be awesome this year!
We'll finally get to show El
some of our other hangout spots!
-Like the arcade.
-Yeah, and the pizza place.
They've got deep dish now!
Deep dish? Will I like deep dish?
El, you're gonna love it!
It's like pizza on pizza!
And the grease gets all over your fingers,
and you lick it off, and it's so good!
[mockingly] "El, you're gonna love it!"
I think it's cute.
Cute? I've been having to wake up
30 minutes ahead of my alarm
just to do this!
All he talks about is El this,
El that! Ugh!
Okay, we get it.
You should be taking notes, Romeo.
What? What did I say?
[Mike] If we play our cards right,
maybe Hopper will let you come with us
to the Starcourt mall
when it opens Memorial Day weekend!
-That would be the ultimate hangout spot!
-I heard it's gonna have a gaming store!
Big whoop.
What this town really needs
is a Sam Goody.
You can keep your music.
I'll take a Hot Dog on a Stick,
Ground Round--
You forgot Orange Julius, you jerks!
What the hell happened to you?
Dirtbag Charlie and Noogie Jeff happened.
That's what.
Thanks for waiting for me, guys.
Well, your mouth still works.
Any internal bleeding?
No. But I escaped Mirkwood
by the skin of my teeth.
[groaning]
Looks like you brought
some yellow snow with you too.
-Har, har.
-[kids laughing]
Real funny.
[Will] Snow in your pants!
[horn honking]
Get out of the road!
Stupid kids.
["We Got the Beat" by The Go-Go's playing]
[girl] What? What do you mean
you don't have your homework?
-Later, El!
-See ya!
-Bye, El!
-Bye!
-I wish I could go with you.
-One day, you will.
You'll pick me up after school? 3-1-5?
3:15. Yes.
Right. See ya!
Whoa. Whoa! Whoa!
[song ends]
I can't wait to start D&D next week!
Me, too! And I figured out
what module I want to use.
[Will] Actually, I had an idea.
What-- [straining]
I'm so sorry. It was an accident.
You little jerk!
Ho ho!
You gonna let him get away with that?
What's it gonna be, Zombie Boy?
Fat lip or black eye?
Hey, get off him! He said he was sorry.
Back off! I'm busy here.
Hi. You're in front of my locker. Oops.
Now you're in front of my locker.
Hey, what's your problem?
You some kind of freak?
Freak? Wow, that is so sweet of you
to notice.
You may also have noticed
that you've worn out your welcome, sport.
Whatever.
Don't let the locker hit you
on your way out.
I'll catch you geeks later! Come on.
-Why didn't you do anything about it?
-It's just a shirt.
Will, you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Huh. Misfits. Nice.
Um, thanks.
Yeah, thanks for the help.
There's a lot of meatheads in this school.
Don't sweat it.
Same jerk, different letterman jacket.
My theory is
they clone them in every school.
I'm Mike. This is Will.
Sup? And, wait, what did he call you?
Zombie Boy.
Wow. That is a new one.
I'd stick with that if I were you.
Later.
You guys okay?
Yeah, thanks to that new kid.
Who's her hairdresser? Mr. T?
She's punk. I like it.
-Maybe you should try it, Lucas.
-Oh, shut up.
[school bell ringing]
Okay, people. Settle.
Welcome back. New semester,
new news to share with you all.
I will be going on a sabbatical
for the semester.
He's gonna become a priest?
What? No. It means
he's going on, like, a work vacation.
Oh, why didn't he just say so?
Ah!
But I'm happy to report Hawkins Middle's
newest teacher, Mrs. Baxter,
will be your scientific sage
while I'm away.
-[boys groaning]
-Aw, man. What's gonna happen to AV Club?
AV Club doesn't take a vacation,
Mr. Clarke.
Sorry, boys. AV Club must endure
without me for a few months.
I've already briefed Mrs. Baxter,
and I have complete confidence
in her ability
to mold your malleable minds.
I leave them in your hands.
Thank you, Mr. Clarke.
[Mrs. Baxter] All righty, then.
Now, are you guys ready
to learn about evolution?
Evolution is the process
by which an organism adapts
into an enhanced version of itself.
Now, this process occurs
over a vast stretch of time.
But sometimes, it can leap forward.
Well, how about you talk amongst
yourselves while I find the roster?
You could say
I'm a little out of my element.
-[all groaning]
-Oh my…
No? Okay.
Okay. The big snowstorm
is coming next week.
We'll be on lockdown for a couple of days.
That's when we'll start the campaign.
But first, we're gonna need extra cash
since Eleven and Max are gonna play.
Huh?
Slow your roll, Lucas.
I'm only gracing you with my presence
just this once.
Mike's right. We need money for more maps,
extra dice, and a new graph pad, and…
Not to mention snacks and drinks, guys.
Come on.
All right. So what are we looking at here?
[Dustin] This is just sad.
We're still gonna be short.
-Where are we supposed to get more cash?
-[horn honking]
I still have some of my arcade stash
at home.
[Mike] I got ten bucks
from Nana for Christmas.
[Dustin] My piggy bank is low,
but I haven't checked
my couch cushions yet.
Hey, guys. I got an idea.
But we're gonna need El.
[Will] Are you sure this is gonna work?
[Lucas] Are you kidding me?
This is one of my best ideas yet.
Rich People Avenue,
where driveways are paved with white gold.
With your help, El,
we could probably clear
about a house a minute.
I still don't know
if it's such a good idea.
-You sure you're okay with this, El?
-Friends help friends.
Time to work my magic.
Hello, young lady. Is your mother home?
Well, aren't you just adorable?
I see that your driveway needs
some snow removal.
Well, I could use someone to clear it
while I watch my stories.
For the low price of only five dollars,
this adorable face will plow
your entire driveway.
And throw in the porch for free.
Well, I usually wait for Mr. Plow,
but I just can't resist those dimples.
Wonderful. You go in
and watch your stories,
and my dimples and I will take care
of everything. Okay?
Bye-bye.
All clear!
[rumbling]
[Hopper] Anything happens to her,
anything…
These woods hide a lot of mistakes.
Wait! Wait, wait, wait.
I don't think we should do this.
It'll be fine. We're keeping a lookout.
No one will see.
No, no, no. You don't understand.
Hopper will kill me,
literally kill me,
if something happens to El.
Mike, it will be okay.
You just got some freedom.
If something goes wrong,
no spring break hangouts,
no more having fun, no more anything.
[boys laughing]
Party pooper!
["Eighties" by Killing Joke playing]
You're dead, Henderson.
[Mike] Snowball fight!
[all laughing]
-Whoa!
-[Dustin] Take this!
Coming at you!
Get him, El!
[ominous music playing]
["Eighties" continues]
There you go!
[horn honking]
Oh man, it's old man Plow.
He's gonna ruin everything.
Oh, sorry.
What do you think you're doing?
Now, I got work I gotta do around here,
so you kids better get.
Man, we were here first.
First?
This ain't no game.
But we have a right to be here, too.
Rights? You snot-nosed rats
ain't got no rights.
Now, you listen, and you listen good.
This here is your last warning.
Before I take this shovel and I shove--
-[screaming]
-[creature snarling]
Mister!
Help me!
-[creature growling]
-[Mr. Plow] Ah!
Help me!
-Help!
-Whoa!
[Dustin] Run!
Look out, Lucas!
Help me!
What was that?
[Mike] Is it gone?
[Lucas] Not gone!
-[creature growling]
-[Max & Lucas] Ah!
-I'm slipping!
-[Max] Hold on!
Be right back!
Wait, what? Where are you--
Whoa!
It's back!
Oh, crud. [screaming]
-Dustin!
-Dustin!
Guys!
Dustin, catch this!
Ouch! Not helping!
Guys!
Gross!
Help me!
Dustin!
Dustin, are you okay?
No! What the heck was that thing?
It moved like some kind of shark.
Snow sharks don't exist!
Guys, you know exactly what that was.
No, it can't be! El closed the gate
to the Upside Down, right?
We need to call Hopper.
We don't have time to go to Hopper.
We have to get that thing
before it eats someone else.
Mike's right. If we don't stop it,
the government could come back.
Maybe blame El and take her away.
It's settled. We catch it ourselves.
Not settled. No one is asking El
what she thinks we should do.
El?
Catch it.
Stop it.
Just us.
No going back.
I hope this works, Mike.
Don't worry. This plan's gonna work.
Then we'll get back to doing
all the fun things we talked about. Okay?
Promise?
Promise.
Okay, guys. Confirm location.
El and Mike. Arcade rooftop.
Lookout duty. Over.
Lucas and Max. West side bushes.
Capture duty. Over.
Will. East side arcade corner.
Attack duty. Over.
Dustin. Parking lot. Bait.
Pretty cheesed about it. Over.
[Lucas] Dustin, will you please stay
in the kill zone? You keep moving around.
I'm nervous, okay?
And can we please come up
with a better name than kill zone?
Dustin, just stay where you are.
Lucas, stop calling it kill zone.
Mike, I feel so stupid.
I look like a meat-covered wind chime.
How do we even know
this thing likes Slim Jims?
We can't take a chance.
We need to sweeten the pot
to get it out in the open.
Besides, the Slim Jims were Lucas's idea.
Over.
[Lucas] Hey,
you want to catch this thing or not?
And who doesn't like Slim Jims?
Plus, it's better than Will's idea
of covering you in fish.
[Will] But sharks like fish.
I don't think we're hidden enough.
These bushes are kind of measly.
You sure that net
isn't gonna be too heavy for you?
Dude, my arms are literally stronger
than yours.
["Go Skate (Possessed to Skate ’97)" by
Suicidal Tendencies playing on headphones]
[music stops]
Oh no, the new kid.
Guys, code red! It's the creature.
It's not taking our bait.
It's out to get the new kid. Go!
["Go Skate" continues on headphones]
[Lucas] Get out of the snow! Run!
-Run, new kid!
-Run!
-Run!
-Get out of the snow!
["Go Skate" continues on headphones]
-[Lucas] Run!
-What?
Get out of the snow!
-Get out of the snow!
-Get out of the snow!
[screaming] What the heck?
-Run!
-Get out of the snow!
What is going on?
[creature snarling]
[New kid screaming]
[synth theme music playing]