Channel Zero (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - You Have to Go Inside - full transcript

Mike Painter is here with me.

He's called "America's
child psychologist,"

and his new book is "Shaping the Past."

I'm happy to have Mike
Painter back on the show.

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

So did becoming a father

change how you look at childhood?

Yeah, I think so.

You know, at the same time,

adulthood is just a mask,

a sophisticated mask, for sure.



But behind it, we're
all still the kids we were.

Now, in the book, you
talk about your childhood.

Uh, you lost a twin
brother when you were 12?

In 1988, in Iron Hill, Ohio,

where I was born, um,

five kids went missing.

The Iron Hill murders.

Never solved.

Yeah.

The last victim, the
one they never found

was my brother, Eddie.

You were identical twins.

Losing a twin is like having a...

A phantom limb.



How does a family deal
with something like that?

My father was out of the picture.

My mother couldn't cope.

Um, I was sent to live with relatives.

I've never been back to Iron Hill.

I want to do something unusual.

I have someone on the phone.

12 years old.

His family's gone
through a tragedy as well.

I'd like you to talk to him.

Show us what you do.

I don't know if that's appro...

Are you there?

Hello?

My name's Dr. Painter.

I'm a...

I'm a doctor who kids like you talk to

about stuff that's on their mind.

Is there anything you
want to talk to me about?

Can you tell me your name?

What is this?

Is that your TV?

Turn it off.

Turn it off.

Mike.

Why are you scared to come home?

Mike?

Why are you scared to come home?

American goldfinch.

Now he's just part of the yard.

Hey.

I wanted to surprise you.

You sure know how.

Miss Marla, who is that?

Hi, I'm Mike. What's your name?

This is Katie.

Miss Marla?

It's my son.

He is a lurker, this cat.

I swear, he kills for sport.

So you're a vegetarian, then?

Well, I don't eat songbirds.

What?

No pictures of me or Eddie...

or Dad.

Well, don't take it personally.

It's just a matter of managing

intrusive thoughts.

Yeah.

Thanks a lot, Mom. It really is, um...

Why have you come? Just tell me.

No, I... I'm so happy to see you.

You are welcome here.

It's just...

I hope you haven't
come to rip open a wound.

Once every two years, someone
turns up in Iron Hill

to solve those murders.

I've always been afraid that...

one day it would be you.

Yeah, but nothing was stolen?

Okay, uh, Bob will take your
statement, Mr. Crumm.

Okay.

Hey, Bob! Line one.

Yes? Can I help you?

Hi, there, uh, my name is Mike Painter.

Oh! Hi.

Uh... my mom saw you on Dr. Phil

and got very excited.

I mean, I saw you, too.

So, uh, what brings you here?

I was actually wondering if I could...

Holy shit.

Yeah.

Wow. Mike Painter.

- Gary.
- It's good to see you.

Actually, uh, I was hoping
we could have a quick word.

- Absolutely.
- Yeah.

We'll go to my office.

Nice to meet you.

It was a pleasure to meet you, too.

- Right?
- Yeah, it's...

Okay, so Billy Reese was on first.

And then, uh, there was someone...
some kid on second,

and you were on third.

Yeah, and you don't remember.

No, no, no, no, I remember.

So they went and elected you sheriff.

- This is...
- Yeah.

Congratulations.

Look, it's not exactly the wild west.

I mean, we got drunk
people doing drunk things, and...

Right now there's some mystery man...

He's, uh... he's going
around breaking into houses

without stealing anything.
I don't know. it's just...

Didn't the Manson Family do that?

Uh, past troubles aside,

we're a little bit more
"Partridge Family"

than Manson Family around here,

but enough on all that.

What about you?

We've... w-w-we've kept on
you. I even read your book.

Oh, man, that's, um...

That's kind of you.

Well, speaking of past
troubles, you know,

Gary, I was hoping I could
take a look at those files.

Do you mind if I ask why?

I mean, it's been, uh...

28 years since they dragged
those kids out of the woods.

Yeah, minus their teeth.

Look, Mike, all... All
I'm saying is that, uh,

a lot of folks,

just like you and your
mom, lost people back then.

So...

I'm not saying no.

I guess I'm just saying, why now?

I'm writing a book.

Really?

Is it gonna be a good book?

I hope so.

What I mean is, is it gonna
be a respectful book?

Above all else.

Absolutely.

Mike, you know that I
didn't get stuck here, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, that's...

But did you know that
I married Jessica Hale?

I did hear that.

She would be right annoyed

if I didn't invite
you for dinner tonight.

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

There's a lot of people
coming, and, uh...

and I think I can help
you with those files.

But...

I need your expert opinion on my kid.

Yeah, I think he's growing up

a little bit strange.

Do we have a casino?

Weren't we supposed to get
one, a casino, in this town?

We don't build anything here.

- Well, whose fault is that?
- I'll tell you.

- Oh, here we go.
- Steam to diesel.

When the railroad
switched from steam to diesel,

- that is what killed us.
- No. Community.

How kids are raised.

Now everything's all disconnected.

What? Now everything's all connected.

Now any perv can reach through the Wi-Fi

and grope my daughter.

We don't even keep a TV in the house.

I'll tell you something else.

This is not even a town. It's a museum.

But you got to modernize.
Take the station.

If the county gave us funds,

what we could do with that.

Well... yeah, and when you're sheriff,

- I think you should do that.
- Oh.

When I'm sheriff, the
first thing I do is

take down that stupid
painting in your office.

- She's got you there.
- I know.

- Dad?
- I love this town.

I absolutely love it. I
love it just the way it is.

And you know that... Hey, buddy.

Katie's been watching TV forever.

I want to watch "Labyrinth."

- It's a tough life, bud.
- Dane, honey,

you tell your sister it's time for bed.

And you too... No more TV.

Good night.

Don't.

Mike.

I mentioned this earlier.

That kid is obsessed with David Bowie.

That's strange, right?

You're lucky it's not ABBA.

I wouldn't worry about it.

See?

I mean, we were pretty strange,

remember?

We had our own imaginary kingdom.

You and Eddie made it up.

And you were the kings, both of you.

And the card game that never ended.

What's that?

Well, me and Eddie started
playing cards one day...

Uh, War, and this one game just...

went on and on.

There was no winner.

So, um,

we picked it up the
next day and the next.

And after a while, I
think we just wanted to see

how long it would go on.

How long did it?

Well, I guess technically it still is.

And every Saturday...

Every Saturday,

me, you, and Eddie

would watch hours

- of TV.
- Of TV.

- Oh.
- Hours...

Oh, see? You turned out fine.

- There you go.
- She turned out fine.

- Yeah.
- Well, Mike's the expert.

Why don't we ask him?

What do you think?

Too much TV bad for kids?

Of course it is. Where's the bathroom?

Down the stairs, just to the left.

Katie?

Hey, guess what.

You're friends with my mom, and
I'm friends with your mom.

Why are we being quiet?

It went away.

Katie, what were you watching?

Right out in the middle, there's
this piece of luggage...

I don't know, it's one of
these fancy labels, right?

Something... Whatever, it's nice.

And she goes, "It's stuck," right?

And I just said, "Hey.

How'd it get there?"

- You did not say that.
- I did, I did...

You guys remember "Candle Cove"?

That show? Right?

It was on for,
like a couple of months...

Two months. September, October, '88.

I remember.

Did you ever tell your kids about it?

Oh, hell, no.

Well, Katie told me she just saw it.

- What, just now?
- What?

No.

I mean, why would they re-air that?

What are you guys talking about?

That show used to give
me the worst nightmares...

Those puppets.

I used to have this really
weird recurring dream.

They would just be screaming.

No, that was an episode.

No, not possible. It
was a nightmare I had.

Remember Jawbone?

What is Jawbone?

Jawbone... He was this,

this old skeleton thing in
a robe and a black hat.

And he'd always be chasing
around Pirate Percy, right?

And he'd say,

"When I catch you,

I'm gonna skin your hide..."

Oh, easy there. Easy there.

Had a... had a little bit...
Little bit much to drink, Mike?

I'm fine.

Um, thanks for dinner.

You guys keep walking down
memory lane with this shit.

I'm gonna go home.

- You brought it up.
- It's just a TV show, Mike.

What was that?

Eddie, let's go around.

Eddie!

He's just gonna do it again!

Eddie!

Pay the toll?

Shove it up your ass.

Little bitch.

Just like your dad.

Shut up.

How come he left?

Fu... you.

'Cause he doesn't love you?

Rather have no dad than one like yours.

Whoa!

- Hit him, Gene!
- Yeah, get him!

Let him go!

Stop, Gene! Get off me!

Gary!

Get over here and get his arm!

Do it!

Help! Stop! No!

Yeah, Gene!

Can he feel it if I hurt you?

Aah!

- Let him go!
- Stop!

You feel that? Does that hurt, Mike?

Mike, does this hurt?

Oh, my God.

Get out of here!

Good job.

- Good job, man.
- Yeah.

Eddie?

Sorry.

Don't tell Mom?

I won't.

Sorry.

Ahoy, mates.

What adventure awaits?

Do you sense it?

Something is coming.

A stray vessel headed for the cove.

Welcome to Candle Cove.

Mike?

You sleepwalked.

Yeah. Old habits die hard.

Your brother used to do it more.

I've been having nightmares.

So that's why you came back.

Well, I hope it helps you sleep.

Yeah.

I'm gonna be back in an hour or two.

What?

There's someone in the woods.

People walk in the woods.

But he was standing still.

Maybe he had a stray thought.

My boys are up early.

Well, I rise with the sun, baby.

S-U-N or S-O-N?

Buddy, where's your sister?

I don't know. Still in bed, I guess.

Good morning, honey.

Katie?

Katie?

Katie?

Honey? Katie?

And now back to more great music

on this beautiful morning on WKRP...

- Thanks, Daphne.
- You got it.

- Another refill on your coffee?
- Yeah.

I'll have some. Thanks.

The women have walked in the woods.

The women have walked in the woods.

Past participle.

In?

Present perfect tense.

Indicating something...

both: That started in the
past but continues until now.

You always were a studious kid, Mike.

Well, you always were a
grammar Nazi, Mrs. Booth.

Mike?

Katie!

Honey, where are you?

- Katie!
- Katie!

Katie!

Katie!

Sweetheart!

Katie!

Katie!

- Sweetheart!
- Katie!

Katie!

Sweetie?

Come on, let's go another way.

Eddie.

Don't!

What happened to your hand?

Your daddy kiss it for you?

Oh, right.

What, Eddie?

You want something?

What the hell's wrong with you?

Come on, Tim.

Something's up with that kid.

Go.

Shit. Run!

Katie!

So...

that show?

Did you bring it up, or
did Katie bring it up?

She did. Why?

Katie!

Oh, it's just, uh...

weird they'd just air it again.

Right?

?eah, yeah, I... yeah.

Katie!

Did she say what channel it was on?

Um... no.

I need to talk to you.

Katie!

Marla told us that she heard you

come in at 3:00 a.m. last night...

Five hours after you left our house.

I...

I mean, I walked around. I...

I'm asking you, parent to parent,

what are you not telling me?

This will sound irrational.

Say it.

That show may have something
to do with this.

What show?

"Candle Cove"?

Yeah, listen,

in '88, the only
time the show ever aired

was during the murders.

When the show
stopped, the murders stopped.

And... and... and... and...
and now it just shows back up again.

I just need you to
tell me where you went

last night after you left.

I know how it sounds, but I'm not crazy.

You're not crazy.

Believe me, it's not
just a television show, okay?

It did something to my brother,

and it can make people do odd things.

And... and I seem to be the
only one that's putting this...

I know about Stovington.

I'm... I'm not...

crazy.

I had a, um...

You were released from a psych ward

three days ago.

I mean, you must have come

straight here after the hospital.

No, I went home the first night.

My wife let me stop by to get clothes.

That doesn't matter.

Listen, um, I had what's called

an acute stress reaction.

They say you had a
psychotic episode, Mike.

You're a doctor. Tell
me what that means.

No, I committed myself voluntarily.

I'm asking you one last time.

What did you do, and where
did you go last night?

Listen, it is not me, Jessica.
It's connected to that show.

Now, whoever made that show...

Oh, my God. Gary!

Mike?

Shit.

Gary!

Amy!

Jess? Jess!

- Gary.
- Jess, do you have her?

- No, no.
- Hey, babe, what's wrong?

It's Mike.

I think...

I think he knows something.

- I think he knows where she is.
- Okay, we'll find him.

Spread out! Hit the tree line!

She said you'd come talk to me.

Do you know where she is?

Dane, do you love your sister?

Do you want to see her again?

Did she tell you where she was going?

What's the Crow's Nest?

Where's Dad's gun?

What do you want a 30-year-old gun for?

Just in case.

I got rid of that gun years ago.

Tell me what's going on.

There's no time. It
could already be too late.

Gary called. He said you're sick, Mike.

They didn't understand in 1988,

and they don't understand now.

And you do?

Just... just get me a
chance to try to get her back

before it's too late.

Where are you going?

Out there.

Out past the woods, where
the signal tower is.

Out where they found the bodies?

I have to go. Let me go.

Katie!

Katie!

Who's back there?

- Mike?
- Hey.

Are you okay?

Are you okay?

Come here.

She says the TV told her where to go.

How'd you know to find
her out by the signal tower

of all places?

I just needed a place to think.

Me and Eddie used to call
that spot the Crow's Nest.

And you just
happened to find Katie there.

I brought your daughter
back, man, you know.

Yeah, minus a couple teeth.

Let's just say that I
still have questions.

You learn to live with those.

See you, buddy. I'm out of here.

- All right.
- See you later.

Thanks.

Mike.

"America's child
psychologist saves little girl,"

is that it?

Katie's gonna be okay. Just...

don't let her watch TV.

Spare me, okay? Just
put it in your book.

There is no book.

There never was.

Then what are you doing here?

It's been calling me.

Packing up?

You don't have to leave.

Yeah, yeah, I do.

Out of sight...

out of mind.

Do you remember "Candle Cove"?

Yeah, of course.

After I left, did you ever see it again?

What?

Um, never mind.

Forget I mentioned it.

Who made it up?

Made what up?

I'm talking about the
show we watched, the TV show.

Oh, no, it...

The show I'm talking about wasn't real.

You used to sit, watching the TV...

just watching the static.

It was just in your heads.

Oh, no, Laughingstock.

That's a whale of a storm.

We better find someplace to hide.

Oh, look, it's Bravery Cave.

You have to go inside.

Come inside, Percy.

There's a new friend in there.

And he wants to play a game.

But... I don't know how to play.

He'll show you exactly what to do.

Come on.

I'll hold your hand.

Mike, where are you going?

We're just getting started again.