Archive 81 (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
She's not here.
They took her.
Jess, can you hear me?
Please.
Please find me. Please help.
No! Get off me!
- You're gonna be fine.
- Get the fuck off me!
I got tapes!
Come get your tapes! Cassette tapes!
I got tapes!
Come get your tapes!
Any one... Any of those...
That's the one-dollar box.
Anything in there is one dollar.
The box too.
Want the box? That's a dollar too.
Tape... Tape?
I don't know what you need.
- Hey, what's going on, Dan?
- Hey, man.
Picked these up
at a storage-space auction last week.
You got first crack at these, man.
Unseen. Ten bucks a pop.
You know last month you sold me
16 hours' worth of a T-ball tournament?
Yeah? Yeah.
But also, I sold you an uncut version
of Phantasmagoria off channel 7.
That's unreleased and very rare.
I just think you need to get yourself
a VCR so you know what you're selling.
Yeah, where's the fun in that?
Look, five bucks a pop.
If they're shitty,
I'll give you store credit.
Look, I know you love the hunt.
All right.
All right.
My man.
Hey, Jill stopped by earlier,
said to tell you hello.
- What, this morning?
- Yeah.
She picked up some books
from a haul last weekend.
Might be able to catch her
if you, uh, head that way.
She's just going back to the shop.
You guys are still friendly, right?
All right. See you, man.
Hey, let me know what's on those.
I got tapes!
VHS tapes!
Cassette tapes!
I got a couple of 16mm projectors
coming in next week
if you're still looking.
And we just got in two reels
of Flash Gordon, 1940.
Good condition.
I'll have the museum call you.
Dan, it's Evie Crest.
The package should've arrived today.
The footage is in terrible shape.
Let me know
if you can do anything with it.
What is it?
The Circle.
A horror anthology, 1958.
Sort of like a pre-Twilight Zone
kind of thing.
- I've never heard of it.
- That's because it never aired.
William Crest died
and all the tapes disappeared.
"Crest." Oh, um, that's that
Robinson Crusoe guy, right?
He made all those movies
in the '30s with Brenda Joyce.
- I used to love those movies as a kid.
- Yeah, so did my dad.
Anyway, uh, two months ago,
his daughter Evie found a box of tapes
buried somewhere on his estate
and now here we are.
- Ooh. Some creepy shit.
- Mm.
Well, maybe
the museum will issue a set
and you can write the companion guide.
Get a little glory for all that talent.
I kind of just wanted to give Evie
a little piece of her father back.
Oh, um...
- From Karen.
- What's this?
No idea.
Are you ready?
That's what
the little red light means, Mel.
Okay.
I'm Melody Pendras,
doctoral candidate
in sociocultural anthropology at NYU.
My upcoming research project will examine
a small New York City community,
residents of the Visser apartment building
in the East Village,
as individuals adapt to cultural shifts
at the end of the 20th century.
They'll talk to me, right?
Oh God, no.
No, no, no, they'll spit gum in your hair
and shove spiders under your door.
Yes, they'll talk to you.
Everybody talks to you. It's...
Maybe I should come with you.
You know, for protection.
From what?
I don't know.
Handsy old creeps, sewer rats, vampires.
What if you find a new best friend?
I won't.
Actually sounds pretty fucking boring.
No offense.
It's for my dissertation.
Fine. Leave me.
I'm not going very far.
I'll be back before you can even miss me.
That's what Amelia Earhart said. And...
- No, she didn't.
- No.
Wish me luck.
You don't need luck.
But in the middle of the park,
there was nothing.
No radio. No phonograph.
Only the music coming
from seemingly nowhere.
The song they had once shared.
Edmond, are you out there?
Is that you?
Could Edmond, a city park worker,
have unintentionally
crossed into another dimension?
I'm Mark Higgins.
This is Mystery Signals: True Tales of the Secret City.
So, the guy's totally broke, okay?
So he buys his girlfriend, uh,
this vintage engagement ring
from one of these
junk shops on the Lower East Side.
Turns out, two days after he slides
that fucking thing on her finger,
this girl loses her shit, okay?
She says that she's seeing a woman
staring at her in the mirror.
What? Fucking what?
The fucking ring is haunted, man.
Yeah, I don't believe
that supernatural shit.
That's right. I forgot. You don't believe.
Mr. Fucking Paranoid.
Mr. Someone Might Be Watching Me.
Uh, yeah, I got an early day. Sorry.
The museum doesn't open till noon.
There's no such thing as an early day.
- Next week, I promise.
- Hey.
Look, you... you let me know
if you're feeling low again, all right?
Seriously. No fucking bullshit this time.
You'll ask me for help?
Yeah, I'll ask you for help.
Okay.
All right.
Don't fuck with me.
Amazing work
on the Hi8 footage, Dan.
Thanks for the quick turnaround.
Oh, sure thing.
You know, it didn't
really seem like something
the museum would be interested in.
It was a favor for a big donor.
He'd like you to come by his office today
to thank you in person.
Dan!
Great to meet you.
Thanks for coming.
No problem.
Hey, Callie, can I, uh, get
an Arnold Palmer? Bring one for Dan too.
Have a seat.
Okay.
Thanks for taking on
our little project last night.
Karen said you were the best man around
to bring back lost things,
and she was right.
Well, she's my boss.
Yeah.
Right. Yeah.
That's actually why
I asked you to stop by, Dan.
I was wondering
if you might like to change that,
might like to come work for LMG.
Temporarily, of course.
Well, I don't... Uh...
Thank you.
Um...
What do you guys do exactly?
Because I did a little research and...
You couldn't find anything.
Right.
Makes us even.
I couldn't find anything on you.
Well, uh, I like my privacy.
I respect that.
We like our privacy too.
Here's the thing, Dan.
We're looking for an artist.
Someone who can restore
a recently acquired collection
of damaged video tapes.
Well, what kind of damage?
Fire damage.
Smoke, soot, water.
The fragment you digitized
is part of the collection.
The fire at the Visser building, right?
That's right.
In any case, the contents of the tapes
would need to be kept confidential
for legal purposes.
The fee would be
a hundred thousand dollars.
- Wow.
- There's just one hitch.
Because the materials are so fragile
they can't be moved.
So you'd be doing the work
at our remote research facility
in the Catskills.
It's beautiful up there.
Not a bad place to be all alone.
Right. Uh...
Before you say no, Dan,
here's why I think you're our guy.
Creating this archive,
putting this puzzle together,
finding out what happened at the Visser,
it would mean the world
to everyone who lost someone in that fire.
And I know you have a...
special understanding
of a situation like that.
Sorry?
You lost your family in a fire,
isn't that right?
And it seems you've spent your life trying
to bring lost things back to people.
Sorry, I have to get back to work.
I'm sorry, Dan. Truly, I didn't mean to...
I'm sorry for wasting your time.
Not at all, Dan. Not... not at all.
Let us know if you change your mind.
How the fuck
would he find out about my family?
Have you heard of the internet?
Nope, it's not out there.
It's not public information. I've looked.
I'm kidding, okay?
Look, come over. I'll take you out
for shitty Peking duck and vodka shots.
Yeah, okay, I'll call you later.
- That's what the little red light...
- ...ody Pendras.
No, no, no, they'll
spit gum in your hair and...
- You think this is your dog?
- Yes.
Maybe.
Okay, why would a random, hot grad student
be in a picture with your dog?
I don't know.
"Melody Pendras."
- One of the tenants who died in the fire?
- Officially, no one died.
Thirteen bodies never recovered.
To me, that means they died.
I don't know. I don't know, man.
I looked her up
and I couldn't find anything about her.
I even paid for
one of those people-finder sites.
And the only thing I found
was a 98-year-old woman living in Orlando
and some librarian
who died of typhoid fever in, what, 1923?
Is this about Jill?
What?
Because, if you
want me to set you up, I can.
You know that. Just say the word.
I mean, remember that cute barista
who curates the anime festival?
It's not about Jill.
I saved up three weeks of allowance
to buy Cleo a red dog collar
that looks just like this one.
I just... I think you're
seeing something you want to see.
Aren't you the guy that goes on stage
and tells stories about demon sex cults
and time-traveling and pirate
radio stations from another dimension?
Yes, but that's my podcast
and this is real life.
Look, I did a little digging on LMG,
I couldn't find
any public information about them.
Okay? No logo, no media presence.
For all we know,
they're building a Death Star.
You want to help this Davenport guy
build a Death Star?
Wouldn't you rather stay here,
help with the Mystery Signals spin-off?
And what about that show
you've been fixing up, The Circle?
You've been chasing
that thing for fucking forever.
I have to take the job.
This picture's a sign.
- Of what?
- I don't know.
You said I was seeing things
I wanted to see?
Maybe it's time I take a better look.
Beautiful country.
Yeah.
You and your family
used to live in the Hudson River Valley
down in Westchester County, am I right?
Background check.
Your key to the kingdom.
Rec room and living quarters
are downstairs.
Little dated, but everything works.
Fridge and freezer are fully stocked.
Deliveries come once a week.
Anything you like, sky's the limit.
We bought this property in the late '80s
to use as a research campus.
Mostly used for storage now.
And special projects like this one.
So, unlike the rec room,
all the equipment and tools
in here are state-of-the-art.
Unfortunately,
we don't have internet out here yet
and cell service is rather spotty,
I'm afraid.
We got a landline.
Real dependable.
You're welcome to make
as many calls as you like.
Let me show you the archive.
These are the tapes
you'll be working with.
All the material recovered from
the Visser Apartments after the 1994 fire.
This is the camera that was used
to record the footage.
No reason you'll need it,
but we thought it best
to keep everything together.
Blank tapes and additional hard drives
are in the equipment room.
Let us know if you need anything.
We'll get you everything you need.
Any questions?
Good.
We really appreciate you
taking on this job, Dan,
sharing your talents with us.
Oh!
One more thing.
What...?
You want to make sure I get my steps in?
If you're ever in trouble,
press the button.
We got medical professionals
less than 20 minutes away.
That includes mental health too.
Like I said, Dan,
we did a thorough background check.
We'd be negligent if we didn't.
Yeah, I don't know,
maybe you might need a stool sample?
Yeah?
Or blood? Urine?
I don't know, maybe you got a fucking
Rorschach test in the back there for me.
- You got a clean bill of health, Dan.
- Right. Yeah.
Your breakdown is in the rearview mirror
as far as we're concerned.
I just want you to know that
we're here for you should you need us.
Mm-hmm. Cool.
- I'll leave you to it.
- Okay.
Good luck.
I'll be in touch.
Curiosity killed the cat.
I'm Melody Pendras.
It's March 11th, 1994, 10:32 a.m.
This is day one
of the oral history project
on the Visser apartment building.
According to the New York
Public Library archives,
it was built in either 1932 or 1934,
architect unknown.
Basically, it looks exactly like
a million other buildings in the city.
Oh, that's okay. Thanks.
It was built on the ruins of a mansion
that burned down in the '20s.
This is strange detail
for a building like this.
Same thing here.
Are you Melody?
That's me.
You coming in or not?
Mailboxes, community room.
Sorry, elevator's out today.
- Do you mind if I keep filming?
- Nah.
Mom used to make me do
community theater when I was a kid.
So, is "John Smith" a stage name?
What?
Oh, nothing. It's just one of those names
that almost sound made-up, you know?
I'll tell my mom you said so.
Bedroom through there,
bathroom through there, kitchen.
Last tenant left some books and things.
If you don't want it,
I can get someone from the church
to come take it for a rummage sale.
It's fine. I don't have
much stuff of my own.
This is the key to the building.
This is a key to the front door.
Any questions?
Do you know there's a woman named
Julia Bennett who lives in the building?
Or lived?
Can't tell you that.
It's a violation of privacy laws.
Of course. I was just wondering.
It's just someone I lost touch with.
That's the conclusion of the tour.
Any comments or questions,
put 'em in writing.
Do you have any advice?
For getting to know people
in the building?
Stay away from the sixth floor.
So, this is my apartment.
Standard one-bedroom.
I've actually never lived alone, so...
Good luck to me, I guess.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
God. Get a grip, Melody.
Jesus.
It's March 12th, 1994, 9:04 a.m.
This is day two at
the Visser apartment complex.
I'm now gonna go knock on some doors.
Wish me luck.
Hello?
Hello?
I'm Melody Pendras, your new neighbor.
I'm doing a project on
the Visser Apartments for my dissertation.
I was hoping you'd talk about the building
and the community who lives here.
Hey, how are you? Here.
- Here you go. Bye.
- Thank you. Have a good day.
I'm Jess. I work for
a bunch of tenants in the building.
Like, uh, get coffee,
walk dogs, buy newspapers,
pick up Cool Ranch Doritos
or Preparation H,
or Greek salads from Athens Tavern.
I do laundry, I take out trash,
get strollers and sleds out of storage...
Anything you need, I can handle.
So you know all the tenants
in the building.
Mostly.
I've lived here since I was born,
so they all know me.
- Could you introduce me to some of them?
- Why? Can't make friends or something?
I'm working on a project.
It's an oral history of the building,
but I can't get anyone to open their door.
- So I thought maybe...
- What's an oral history?
A collection of historical information
about a group of people or a place
that uses first-person interviews as data.
People tell me their stories
and I record them with this.
You wanna know about the Visser?
And the people who live here.
Well, I'm pretty booked.
I could pay you. I don't have a lot, but...
How much?
Twenty-five a week?
Who do you wanna meet first?
I'm Tamara Stefano.
I was born
30-something years ago in Rome.
I moved to New York when I was ten.
How long have you lived at the Visser?
I can't remember exactly.
Six years, maybe.
And what brought you to this building?
I needed a place that
would fit this giant fucking piano.
And the rent is really cheap.
So you're a musician.
Composer.
Opera, mostly.
Experimental stuff, not Puccini.
I think I heard you
working on something last night.
I was doing a show
at the Sanctuary last night.
Must've been someone else.
Here.
This is what I'm working on right now.
It's called "Purgatory."
It's about a descent into a shadow world.
This is the chorus of human suffering.
When I stage it,
the performers wear those.
This...
Didn't I hear this last night?
Hey.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Hey, are you okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, I just...
Doesn't the music make you feel...?
Hey, you need some soda
or a sandwich or something?
Yeah.
This is Mark Higgins with Mystery Signals.
Please leave a detailed message
and I'll return your call
as soon as possible.
Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Uh, it's me.
Um, I'm here.
It's nice. Um...
I guess.
It's quiet, lots of trees. Um...
But no internet.
So I was hoping you could do me a favor.
Uh...
Could you look up a composer
named Tamara Stefano?
I think I heard one of her songs before.
I just can't remember where. Uh...
Hello?
Is someone there?
Hello?
Dan, it's Virgil.
Just calling to see
how you're settling in.
Uh, fine, great, yeah.
I've already started working.
Fantastic.
Remember to eat and sleep.
No burning out. Clear?
Sure.
You let us know
if the mattress is too firm.
I want you getting all the rest you need.
Fuck yeah, dude.
What is it?
What are you playing?
I'm not a rat person,
but you can stay until your tail heals.
Sometimes I get low blood sugar too.
But I don't get dizzy, I get mean.
My Home Ec teacher actually keeps little
packs of raisins in her desk for me.
Keep me sweet.
Is this the interview?
Did we start already?
Uh, no. Sorry. Um...
Okay, set.
So, tell me your name
and when you were born
and how you came to live at the Visser.
I'm Jessica Lewis and I'm a ninth grader
at East Village Community High.
I was born March 8th, 1980,
at 4:21 in the afternoon.
Right out there, in the east stairwell.
Wait, seriously?
Yeah.
My mom went into labor six weeks early.
The elevator was out, so she called a cab
and started walking down the stairs,
but she didn't make it
all the way to the lobby.
Holy shit. That is crazy.
Do you think it's bad luck?
What?
To be born in this place?
No, of course not.
It'll make a good story
when you're older at parties.
So, why do you wanna know
about the Visser?
Are you interviewing me now?
There used to be another building here.
It burned down a long time ago.
And then someone
built the Visser right on top.
So, people died here?
Oh, I don't...
No, I don't think so.
I mean...
I just want to know
about the people who live here.
Their friends, their families,
what brings them here,
why they choose this building.
Because something pulled them here.
What?
Did Samuel tell you about this place?
Who's Samuel?
Nothing. Never mind.
Jess?
Jess, are you okay?
Jess, what's happening?
Jess...
Jess?
Jess!
Are you okay?
Oh, my God, Jess!
Oh, my God!
Jess? Help!
Somebody!
Come on, Jess.
Somebody, help!
Jess.
Are you...
There's gotta be
a fucking signal somewhere.
- Dan.
- Hey.
That message flipped me out, jackhole.
What happened? Why didn't you call back?
I thought you got eaten by a fucking bear.
- Are there bears up there?
- They were listening.
Listening? Who?
LMG.
On the landline.
That is some fucked-up 1984 bullshit, man.
You never trust a fucking landline.
Are you okay though?
Uh...
Yeah, yeah. Um...
I just...
I thought I saw a...
A what?
Nothing, nothing. Um...
Hey, man, this place
is screwing with my head.
You're not gonna go...
Jack Torrance on me, are you?
Tell me you're not standing
in a hedge maze.
No. No. No ax, no maze. I'm fine.
You sure?
Uh...
Have you found anything
about Tamara Stefano?
Uh, maybe she wrote
an opera or maybe a song?
No. No composers, no musicians,
no artists of any kind by that name.
Guess she never made it to the Met.
Yeah, okay, then just look up whatever
you can find about LMG and Melody Pendras.
Anything you can find.
I'm on it. I'm your fucking Google.
Okay, I'll call you later.
What are you playing?
I don't know.
Where'd you hear it?
On the tape.
Okay, stop playing it.
Right now.
I said stop!
Cleo's been locked up all day.
Take her out for a walk.
All right.
No!
No!
No!
We're friends now, right?
You'd tell me if you saw something?
On the tape?
Right. No, me neither.
I don't... I...
God.
Jess? Jess!
Now can I have some Mountain Dew?
Should I call your mom?
No. I'm fine.
For real.
This is just something that happens.
Sometimes.
What is it? Epilepsy?
The doctor at the clinic
says there's nothing wrong.
He says it's all in my imagination.
Jess, you definitely had a seizure.
That wasn't your imagination.
What does your mom say?
She takes me to see Father Russo
at St. Albert's down the block.
For spiritual guidance, you know?
She says I should
tell him what I see, but...
What do you see?
I don't remember.
I never remember.
Who's Samuel?
Does he live in the building?
Do you go to church?
I used to.
So, you don't anymore?
No.
Do you believe there's another world
besides this one?
You mean, like heaven and hell?
No. I mean, like this one but...
different.
More than this world.
You know what? I'm sorry, Jess.
I should probably ask your mom
for permission to interview you.
Maybe I can meet her after work one day?
You think I'm a freak.
I don't think you're a freak.
People at school think I am.
Kids used to call me a freak too.
Fuck them.
Yeah, fuck 'em.
Do you think I could be more than I am?
Like, do I seem strong enough...
to hold a new world inside of me?
Well, I think you
can be anything you want to be.
I'm glad you're here.
Can I tell you something?
They took her.
They took Jess.
I told you. Sixth floor's off-limits.
Where is she?
What the fuck did you do with her?
- I don't know what you're talking about.
- You fucking took her!
Jess! Jess!
Jess, can you hear me?
Ah.
Melody, Jess is gone.
Fuck you.
Melody Pendras?
- Who are you?
- We need you to come with us.
- Get the fuck away from me.
- What are you doing?
Sir, step back, please.
Please.
Please find me. Please help.
- Fuck you!
- Get your hands off!
- No!
- Melody. Melody.
- What are you doing here?
- It's okay. Everything's okay.
What the fuck are you doing here?
Everything's gonna be fine.
- No!
- Dad?
No! No! No!
Get the fuck off me!
Get the...
What the fuck?
- What are you doing here?
- It's okay. Everything's okay.
- What the fuck are you doing here?
- Everything's gonna be fine.
- What the fuck are you doing here?
- Everything's gonna be fine.
- No!
- What's happening?
No! No! Get the fuck off me!
Get the fuck off me!
What the fuck are you doing here?
No! No! Get the fuck off me!
- Get the fuck off me!
- Dad?
No! What the fuck? No!
Dad, what is happening?
What's happening?
What's happening?
Dad.
They took her.
Jess, can you hear me?
Please.
Please find me. Please help.
No! Get off me!
- You're gonna be fine.
- Get the fuck off me!
I got tapes!
Come get your tapes! Cassette tapes!
I got tapes!
Come get your tapes!
Any one... Any of those...
That's the one-dollar box.
Anything in there is one dollar.
The box too.
Want the box? That's a dollar too.
Tape... Tape?
I don't know what you need.
- Hey, what's going on, Dan?
- Hey, man.
Picked these up
at a storage-space auction last week.
You got first crack at these, man.
Unseen. Ten bucks a pop.
You know last month you sold me
16 hours' worth of a T-ball tournament?
Yeah? Yeah.
But also, I sold you an uncut version
of Phantasmagoria off channel 7.
That's unreleased and very rare.
I just think you need to get yourself
a VCR so you know what you're selling.
Yeah, where's the fun in that?
Look, five bucks a pop.
If they're shitty,
I'll give you store credit.
Look, I know you love the hunt.
All right.
All right.
My man.
Hey, Jill stopped by earlier,
said to tell you hello.
- What, this morning?
- Yeah.
She picked up some books
from a haul last weekend.
Might be able to catch her
if you, uh, head that way.
She's just going back to the shop.
You guys are still friendly, right?
All right. See you, man.
Hey, let me know what's on those.
I got tapes!
VHS tapes!
Cassette tapes!
I got a couple of 16mm projectors
coming in next week
if you're still looking.
And we just got in two reels
of Flash Gordon, 1940.
Good condition.
I'll have the museum call you.
Dan, it's Evie Crest.
The package should've arrived today.
The footage is in terrible shape.
Let me know
if you can do anything with it.
What is it?
The Circle.
A horror anthology, 1958.
Sort of like a pre-Twilight Zone
kind of thing.
- I've never heard of it.
- That's because it never aired.
William Crest died
and all the tapes disappeared.
"Crest." Oh, um, that's that
Robinson Crusoe guy, right?
He made all those movies
in the '30s with Brenda Joyce.
- I used to love those movies as a kid.
- Yeah, so did my dad.
Anyway, uh, two months ago,
his daughter Evie found a box of tapes
buried somewhere on his estate
and now here we are.
- Ooh. Some creepy shit.
- Mm.
Well, maybe
the museum will issue a set
and you can write the companion guide.
Get a little glory for all that talent.
I kind of just wanted to give Evie
a little piece of her father back.
Oh, um...
- From Karen.
- What's this?
No idea.
Are you ready?
That's what
the little red light means, Mel.
Okay.
I'm Melody Pendras,
doctoral candidate
in sociocultural anthropology at NYU.
My upcoming research project will examine
a small New York City community,
residents of the Visser apartment building
in the East Village,
as individuals adapt to cultural shifts
at the end of the 20th century.
They'll talk to me, right?
Oh God, no.
No, no, no, they'll spit gum in your hair
and shove spiders under your door.
Yes, they'll talk to you.
Everybody talks to you. It's...
Maybe I should come with you.
You know, for protection.
From what?
I don't know.
Handsy old creeps, sewer rats, vampires.
What if you find a new best friend?
I won't.
Actually sounds pretty fucking boring.
No offense.
It's for my dissertation.
Fine. Leave me.
I'm not going very far.
I'll be back before you can even miss me.
That's what Amelia Earhart said. And...
- No, she didn't.
- No.
Wish me luck.
You don't need luck.
But in the middle of the park,
there was nothing.
No radio. No phonograph.
Only the music coming
from seemingly nowhere.
The song they had once shared.
Edmond, are you out there?
Is that you?
Could Edmond, a city park worker,
have unintentionally
crossed into another dimension?
I'm Mark Higgins.
This is Mystery Signals: True Tales of the Secret City.
So, the guy's totally broke, okay?
So he buys his girlfriend, uh,
this vintage engagement ring
from one of these
junk shops on the Lower East Side.
Turns out, two days after he slides
that fucking thing on her finger,
this girl loses her shit, okay?
She says that she's seeing a woman
staring at her in the mirror.
What? Fucking what?
The fucking ring is haunted, man.
Yeah, I don't believe
that supernatural shit.
That's right. I forgot. You don't believe.
Mr. Fucking Paranoid.
Mr. Someone Might Be Watching Me.
Uh, yeah, I got an early day. Sorry.
The museum doesn't open till noon.
There's no such thing as an early day.
- Next week, I promise.
- Hey.
Look, you... you let me know
if you're feeling low again, all right?
Seriously. No fucking bullshit this time.
You'll ask me for help?
Yeah, I'll ask you for help.
Okay.
All right.
Don't fuck with me.
Amazing work
on the Hi8 footage, Dan.
Thanks for the quick turnaround.
Oh, sure thing.
You know, it didn't
really seem like something
the museum would be interested in.
It was a favor for a big donor.
He'd like you to come by his office today
to thank you in person.
Dan!
Great to meet you.
Thanks for coming.
No problem.
Hey, Callie, can I, uh, get
an Arnold Palmer? Bring one for Dan too.
Have a seat.
Okay.
Thanks for taking on
our little project last night.
Karen said you were the best man around
to bring back lost things,
and she was right.
Well, she's my boss.
Yeah.
Right. Yeah.
That's actually why
I asked you to stop by, Dan.
I was wondering
if you might like to change that,
might like to come work for LMG.
Temporarily, of course.
Well, I don't... Uh...
Thank you.
Um...
What do you guys do exactly?
Because I did a little research and...
You couldn't find anything.
Right.
Makes us even.
I couldn't find anything on you.
Well, uh, I like my privacy.
I respect that.
We like our privacy too.
Here's the thing, Dan.
We're looking for an artist.
Someone who can restore
a recently acquired collection
of damaged video tapes.
Well, what kind of damage?
Fire damage.
Smoke, soot, water.
The fragment you digitized
is part of the collection.
The fire at the Visser building, right?
That's right.
In any case, the contents of the tapes
would need to be kept confidential
for legal purposes.
The fee would be
a hundred thousand dollars.
- Wow.
- There's just one hitch.
Because the materials are so fragile
they can't be moved.
So you'd be doing the work
at our remote research facility
in the Catskills.
It's beautiful up there.
Not a bad place to be all alone.
Right. Uh...
Before you say no, Dan,
here's why I think you're our guy.
Creating this archive,
putting this puzzle together,
finding out what happened at the Visser,
it would mean the world
to everyone who lost someone in that fire.
And I know you have a...
special understanding
of a situation like that.
Sorry?
You lost your family in a fire,
isn't that right?
And it seems you've spent your life trying
to bring lost things back to people.
Sorry, I have to get back to work.
I'm sorry, Dan. Truly, I didn't mean to...
I'm sorry for wasting your time.
Not at all, Dan. Not... not at all.
Let us know if you change your mind.
How the fuck
would he find out about my family?
Have you heard of the internet?
Nope, it's not out there.
It's not public information. I've looked.
I'm kidding, okay?
Look, come over. I'll take you out
for shitty Peking duck and vodka shots.
Yeah, okay, I'll call you later.
- That's what the little red light...
- ...ody Pendras.
No, no, no, they'll
spit gum in your hair and...
- You think this is your dog?
- Yes.
Maybe.
Okay, why would a random, hot grad student
be in a picture with your dog?
I don't know.
"Melody Pendras."
- One of the tenants who died in the fire?
- Officially, no one died.
Thirteen bodies never recovered.
To me, that means they died.
I don't know. I don't know, man.
I looked her up
and I couldn't find anything about her.
I even paid for
one of those people-finder sites.
And the only thing I found
was a 98-year-old woman living in Orlando
and some librarian
who died of typhoid fever in, what, 1923?
Is this about Jill?
What?
Because, if you
want me to set you up, I can.
You know that. Just say the word.
I mean, remember that cute barista
who curates the anime festival?
It's not about Jill.
I saved up three weeks of allowance
to buy Cleo a red dog collar
that looks just like this one.
I just... I think you're
seeing something you want to see.
Aren't you the guy that goes on stage
and tells stories about demon sex cults
and time-traveling and pirate
radio stations from another dimension?
Yes, but that's my podcast
and this is real life.
Look, I did a little digging on LMG,
I couldn't find
any public information about them.
Okay? No logo, no media presence.
For all we know,
they're building a Death Star.
You want to help this Davenport guy
build a Death Star?
Wouldn't you rather stay here,
help with the Mystery Signals spin-off?
And what about that show
you've been fixing up, The Circle?
You've been chasing
that thing for fucking forever.
I have to take the job.
This picture's a sign.
- Of what?
- I don't know.
You said I was seeing things
I wanted to see?
Maybe it's time I take a better look.
Beautiful country.
Yeah.
You and your family
used to live in the Hudson River Valley
down in Westchester County, am I right?
Background check.
Your key to the kingdom.
Rec room and living quarters
are downstairs.
Little dated, but everything works.
Fridge and freezer are fully stocked.
Deliveries come once a week.
Anything you like, sky's the limit.
We bought this property in the late '80s
to use as a research campus.
Mostly used for storage now.
And special projects like this one.
So, unlike the rec room,
all the equipment and tools
in here are state-of-the-art.
Unfortunately,
we don't have internet out here yet
and cell service is rather spotty,
I'm afraid.
We got a landline.
Real dependable.
You're welcome to make
as many calls as you like.
Let me show you the archive.
These are the tapes
you'll be working with.
All the material recovered from
the Visser Apartments after the 1994 fire.
This is the camera that was used
to record the footage.
No reason you'll need it,
but we thought it best
to keep everything together.
Blank tapes and additional hard drives
are in the equipment room.
Let us know if you need anything.
We'll get you everything you need.
Any questions?
Good.
We really appreciate you
taking on this job, Dan,
sharing your talents with us.
Oh!
One more thing.
What...?
You want to make sure I get my steps in?
If you're ever in trouble,
press the button.
We got medical professionals
less than 20 minutes away.
That includes mental health too.
Like I said, Dan,
we did a thorough background check.
We'd be negligent if we didn't.
Yeah, I don't know,
maybe you might need a stool sample?
Yeah?
Or blood? Urine?
I don't know, maybe you got a fucking
Rorschach test in the back there for me.
- You got a clean bill of health, Dan.
- Right. Yeah.
Your breakdown is in the rearview mirror
as far as we're concerned.
I just want you to know that
we're here for you should you need us.
Mm-hmm. Cool.
- I'll leave you to it.
- Okay.
Good luck.
I'll be in touch.
Curiosity killed the cat.
I'm Melody Pendras.
It's March 11th, 1994, 10:32 a.m.
This is day one
of the oral history project
on the Visser apartment building.
According to the New York
Public Library archives,
it was built in either 1932 or 1934,
architect unknown.
Basically, it looks exactly like
a million other buildings in the city.
Oh, that's okay. Thanks.
It was built on the ruins of a mansion
that burned down in the '20s.
This is strange detail
for a building like this.
Same thing here.
Are you Melody?
That's me.
You coming in or not?
Mailboxes, community room.
Sorry, elevator's out today.
- Do you mind if I keep filming?
- Nah.
Mom used to make me do
community theater when I was a kid.
So, is "John Smith" a stage name?
What?
Oh, nothing. It's just one of those names
that almost sound made-up, you know?
I'll tell my mom you said so.
Bedroom through there,
bathroom through there, kitchen.
Last tenant left some books and things.
If you don't want it,
I can get someone from the church
to come take it for a rummage sale.
It's fine. I don't have
much stuff of my own.
This is the key to the building.
This is a key to the front door.
Any questions?
Do you know there's a woman named
Julia Bennett who lives in the building?
Or lived?
Can't tell you that.
It's a violation of privacy laws.
Of course. I was just wondering.
It's just someone I lost touch with.
That's the conclusion of the tour.
Any comments or questions,
put 'em in writing.
Do you have any advice?
For getting to know people
in the building?
Stay away from the sixth floor.
So, this is my apartment.
Standard one-bedroom.
I've actually never lived alone, so...
Good luck to me, I guess.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
God. Get a grip, Melody.
Jesus.
It's March 12th, 1994, 9:04 a.m.
This is day two at
the Visser apartment complex.
I'm now gonna go knock on some doors.
Wish me luck.
Hello?
Hello?
I'm Melody Pendras, your new neighbor.
I'm doing a project on
the Visser Apartments for my dissertation.
I was hoping you'd talk about the building
and the community who lives here.
Hey, how are you? Here.
- Here you go. Bye.
- Thank you. Have a good day.
I'm Jess. I work for
a bunch of tenants in the building.
Like, uh, get coffee,
walk dogs, buy newspapers,
pick up Cool Ranch Doritos
or Preparation H,
or Greek salads from Athens Tavern.
I do laundry, I take out trash,
get strollers and sleds out of storage...
Anything you need, I can handle.
So you know all the tenants
in the building.
Mostly.
I've lived here since I was born,
so they all know me.
- Could you introduce me to some of them?
- Why? Can't make friends or something?
I'm working on a project.
It's an oral history of the building,
but I can't get anyone to open their door.
- So I thought maybe...
- What's an oral history?
A collection of historical information
about a group of people or a place
that uses first-person interviews as data.
People tell me their stories
and I record them with this.
You wanna know about the Visser?
And the people who live here.
Well, I'm pretty booked.
I could pay you. I don't have a lot, but...
How much?
Twenty-five a week?
Who do you wanna meet first?
I'm Tamara Stefano.
I was born
30-something years ago in Rome.
I moved to New York when I was ten.
How long have you lived at the Visser?
I can't remember exactly.
Six years, maybe.
And what brought you to this building?
I needed a place that
would fit this giant fucking piano.
And the rent is really cheap.
So you're a musician.
Composer.
Opera, mostly.
Experimental stuff, not Puccini.
I think I heard you
working on something last night.
I was doing a show
at the Sanctuary last night.
Must've been someone else.
Here.
This is what I'm working on right now.
It's called "Purgatory."
It's about a descent into a shadow world.
This is the chorus of human suffering.
When I stage it,
the performers wear those.
This...
Didn't I hear this last night?
Hey.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Hey, are you okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, I just...
Doesn't the music make you feel...?
Hey, you need some soda
or a sandwich or something?
Yeah.
This is Mark Higgins with Mystery Signals.
Please leave a detailed message
and I'll return your call
as soon as possible.
Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Uh, it's me.
Um, I'm here.
It's nice. Um...
I guess.
It's quiet, lots of trees. Um...
But no internet.
So I was hoping you could do me a favor.
Uh...
Could you look up a composer
named Tamara Stefano?
I think I heard one of her songs before.
I just can't remember where. Uh...
Hello?
Is someone there?
Hello?
Dan, it's Virgil.
Just calling to see
how you're settling in.
Uh, fine, great, yeah.
I've already started working.
Fantastic.
Remember to eat and sleep.
No burning out. Clear?
Sure.
You let us know
if the mattress is too firm.
I want you getting all the rest you need.
Fuck yeah, dude.
What is it?
What are you playing?
I'm not a rat person,
but you can stay until your tail heals.
Sometimes I get low blood sugar too.
But I don't get dizzy, I get mean.
My Home Ec teacher actually keeps little
packs of raisins in her desk for me.
Keep me sweet.
Is this the interview?
Did we start already?
Uh, no. Sorry. Um...
Okay, set.
So, tell me your name
and when you were born
and how you came to live at the Visser.
I'm Jessica Lewis and I'm a ninth grader
at East Village Community High.
I was born March 8th, 1980,
at 4:21 in the afternoon.
Right out there, in the east stairwell.
Wait, seriously?
Yeah.
My mom went into labor six weeks early.
The elevator was out, so she called a cab
and started walking down the stairs,
but she didn't make it
all the way to the lobby.
Holy shit. That is crazy.
Do you think it's bad luck?
What?
To be born in this place?
No, of course not.
It'll make a good story
when you're older at parties.
So, why do you wanna know
about the Visser?
Are you interviewing me now?
There used to be another building here.
It burned down a long time ago.
And then someone
built the Visser right on top.
So, people died here?
Oh, I don't...
No, I don't think so.
I mean...
I just want to know
about the people who live here.
Their friends, their families,
what brings them here,
why they choose this building.
Because something pulled them here.
What?
Did Samuel tell you about this place?
Who's Samuel?
Nothing. Never mind.
Jess?
Jess, are you okay?
Jess, what's happening?
Jess...
Jess?
Jess!
Are you okay?
Oh, my God, Jess!
Oh, my God!
Jess? Help!
Somebody!
Come on, Jess.
Somebody, help!
Jess.
Are you...
There's gotta be
a fucking signal somewhere.
- Dan.
- Hey.
That message flipped me out, jackhole.
What happened? Why didn't you call back?
I thought you got eaten by a fucking bear.
- Are there bears up there?
- They were listening.
Listening? Who?
LMG.
On the landline.
That is some fucked-up 1984 bullshit, man.
You never trust a fucking landline.
Are you okay though?
Uh...
Yeah, yeah. Um...
I just...
I thought I saw a...
A what?
Nothing, nothing. Um...
Hey, man, this place
is screwing with my head.
You're not gonna go...
Jack Torrance on me, are you?
Tell me you're not standing
in a hedge maze.
No. No. No ax, no maze. I'm fine.
You sure?
Uh...
Have you found anything
about Tamara Stefano?
Uh, maybe she wrote
an opera or maybe a song?
No. No composers, no musicians,
no artists of any kind by that name.
Guess she never made it to the Met.
Yeah, okay, then just look up whatever
you can find about LMG and Melody Pendras.
Anything you can find.
I'm on it. I'm your fucking Google.
Okay, I'll call you later.
What are you playing?
I don't know.
Where'd you hear it?
On the tape.
Okay, stop playing it.
Right now.
I said stop!
Cleo's been locked up all day.
Take her out for a walk.
All right.
No!
No!
No!
We're friends now, right?
You'd tell me if you saw something?
On the tape?
Right. No, me neither.
I don't... I...
God.
Jess? Jess!
Now can I have some Mountain Dew?
Should I call your mom?
No. I'm fine.
For real.
This is just something that happens.
Sometimes.
What is it? Epilepsy?
The doctor at the clinic
says there's nothing wrong.
He says it's all in my imagination.
Jess, you definitely had a seizure.
That wasn't your imagination.
What does your mom say?
She takes me to see Father Russo
at St. Albert's down the block.
For spiritual guidance, you know?
She says I should
tell him what I see, but...
What do you see?
I don't remember.
I never remember.
Who's Samuel?
Does he live in the building?
Do you go to church?
I used to.
So, you don't anymore?
No.
Do you believe there's another world
besides this one?
You mean, like heaven and hell?
No. I mean, like this one but...
different.
More than this world.
You know what? I'm sorry, Jess.
I should probably ask your mom
for permission to interview you.
Maybe I can meet her after work one day?
You think I'm a freak.
I don't think you're a freak.
People at school think I am.
Kids used to call me a freak too.
Fuck them.
Yeah, fuck 'em.
Do you think I could be more than I am?
Like, do I seem strong enough...
to hold a new world inside of me?
Well, I think you
can be anything you want to be.
I'm glad you're here.
Can I tell you something?
They took her.
They took Jess.
I told you. Sixth floor's off-limits.
Where is she?
What the fuck did you do with her?
- I don't know what you're talking about.
- You fucking took her!
Jess! Jess!
Jess, can you hear me?
Ah.
Melody, Jess is gone.
Fuck you.
Melody Pendras?
- Who are you?
- We need you to come with us.
- Get the fuck away from me.
- What are you doing?
Sir, step back, please.
Please.
Please find me. Please help.
- Fuck you!
- Get your hands off!
- No!
- Melody. Melody.
- What are you doing here?
- It's okay. Everything's okay.
What the fuck are you doing here?
Everything's gonna be fine.
- No!
- Dad?
No! No! No!
Get the fuck off me!
Get the...
What the fuck?
- What are you doing here?
- It's okay. Everything's okay.
- What the fuck are you doing here?
- Everything's gonna be fine.
- What the fuck are you doing here?
- Everything's gonna be fine.
- No!
- What's happening?
No! No! Get the fuck off me!
Get the fuck off me!
What the fuck are you doing here?
No! No! Get the fuck off me!
- Get the fuck off me!
- Dad?
No! What the fuck? No!
Dad, what is happening?
What's happening?
What's happening?
Dad.