Tales from the Loop (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Transpose - full transcript

[melancholy music playing]

[birds chirping]

[pencil scratching]

[pencil continues scratching]

[water drains]

[sighs]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

[music continues]

[mouthing]

[strained]
Help.



Oh, come on.
You got this.

- Come on!
- I'm serious.

Please help.

I'm barely touching it.

[exhales]

You had enough?

All right. My turn.

[grunts]

[melancholy music continues]

[soft chatter]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

- [guitar playing]
- [boy singing indistinctly]

[Danny]
♪ It's got eyes of brown
and watery



♪ Nails, pointed yellow

♪ Hands of black carpet

♪ It's a quick trip
to ice house

♪ It's a quick trip
to ice house

♪ It's a quick trip to... ♪

[groans]

Not bad.

Yeah, it's the furthest
we've gotten.

So...

you gonna ask May out?

Maybe.

Why not?

I said maybe.

Yeah.
"Maybe" means "no."

It's not as easy for me
as it is for you.

And Lauren?

She's all right.

She's not smart like May.

- What?
- I don't get it. I don't get it.

Everyone likes you.
You don't like anybody.

None of this matters.

Come the fall, we'll work
at the Loop and... [inhales]

Yeah. I'm already getting
recruitment calls about it.

Really?

A whole new life.

Leave all this crap behind.

[playing "A Figure Walks"]

All right, I think I got it.
You want to try again?

Yeah.

All right, let's go.

Things will change soon.

Graduation.

- Oh.
- LORETTA: Hey.

Carrots.

GEORGE:
Then, in the fall, you'll start

at the Loop. Yes?

Have you thought
about what area to pursue?

I, um...

- Not that you have
to specialize right away.
- LORETTA: No.

- But something to think about.
- Yeah.

I don't know.

GEORGE:
That's fine.

What I want to do.

At the Loop?

In general.

Maybe draw.

Everyone needs a hobby.

What's a hobby?

It's a point of interest.

What's yours?

LORETTA:
Well, there's still time.

Not a lot, but...

GEORGE:
Time.

[inhales]

I like hockey.

Jakob.

You're getting better.

That's nice crosshatching.

Thanks.

Did you brush your teeth?

♪ ♪

[water runs]

- [insects trilling]
- [scraping]

[groans softly]

[exhales]

[grunts softly]

- [grunts]
- Missed a spot.

[chuckles]

You want to trade?

Break?

Absolutely.

[exhales]

- [lighter clicking]
- [chuckles]

You got this.

Mm, mm, mm.

[muffled]:
Fuck.

[Danny]
Would you rather

be invisible

or hear people's thoughts?

Invisible.

'Cause then I wouldn't have
to hear

what people are really thinking.

[chuckles]
But if you're invisible,

people could say
what they're thinking,

because they wouldn't know
you're there.

Then maybe I'd stay away
from people.

Then why be invisible at all?

[mimicking bird calls]

[laughing]

[calling]

♪ ♪

[Danny mimics bird call]

♪ ♪

[birds chirping]

JAKOB:
What is it?

[Danny]
Looks like a sea mine.

Why would it be out here?

Why would anything be out here?

Check it out.

What if it's a mine?

It's...

just looks like one.

It's not a mine.

Go on.

[creaking]

Anything?

No.

Climb in.

You climb in.

No, go on. Do it.

[birds chirping]

[quietly]:
All right.

[soft whooshing]

[whooshing]

[whooshing stops]

[trees creaking]

[crow cawing in distance]

[birds chirping]

♪ ♪

Danny?

What happened?

How did...
[panting]

What did you...

[panting]

Jakob?

Jakob?

I was... in there.

And then, uh...

We...

[chuckles]

This isn't funny.

This-this can't happen.
This...

Just look at me.
Look at me.

It's gonna be okay.

No. No, it's not.

Just breathe.

- All right? Let me think.
- No. Uh...

[panting]
I need...

Help.

What are you doing?

Help!

What are you doing? Shut up.

- Just wait, all right?
- Why?

All right, um...

Uh...

[panting]

I don't know. If we, um...

If you climb back in there,
then we just...

- No, I'm not going back
in there.
- It's gonna be okay.

- I'm not going back in there.
- It's gonna be okay.

I'll go back in.

- I'll go back in.
- Danny, no.

What?

- [panting]
- Okay.

- Okay?
- Okay, do it.

Okay.

♪ ♪

[soft whooshing]

[low whooshing, rumbling]

[whooshing,
rumbling grows louder]

[whooshing stops]

[birds chirping]

[laughs softly]

JAKOB:
Oh.

I'm me.

Same.

[exhales]

[chuckles]

You were freaking out.

No, I wasn't.

Eh...

[laughs]

This is wild.

- JAKOB: What?
- This thing.

It's not going anywhere,

and it's reversible.

You want to switch again?

You scared?

No.

Yeah, you are.

- No, I'm not scared.
- [chuckles]

Come on. Hey.

It'd be cool.

Be somebody else
for a day? Right?

I'd be you and...

you'd be me?

Yeah.

For a day.

For a day?

Yeah.

Come on, it'll be funny.

Oof! [chuckles]

Be careful.

What? Oh.

[soft whooshing]

[whooshing,
rumbling grows louder]

[whooshing stops]

Hey.

I'll race you back to town.

Yeah?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

♪ ♪

[panting]:
Jakob...

[whoops]

Do you think anybody can tell?

How could they?

[chuckles softly]
It's crazy.

Jakob?

Hi. This is Jakob...
I mean, uh, Danny.

Hi.

Hi.
[laughs softly]

You boys got choice paralysis?

Um...

no.

Uh, we were, uh...

We were just hanging out.

- What, here?
- Yeah, yeah, here.

I see.

Well, I'll, um...

I'll let you get on with it.

Hmm? What do you think?

Huh.

I think the yellow. Hmm?

- Come on.
- [dog barking]

- [sighs]
- What?

That's my grandfather.

Oh, he runs the Loop, right?

Yeah.

Probably have a good job
waiting for you there, huh?

I guess.
I don't... I don't know.

[sighs]
Come on.

Let's go.

JAKOB: So, you know where my room is.

And... you know
my little brother.

- [Danny] Mm-hmm.
- My mom and dad

should be home a little later.

[Danny]
What do I say to them?

Just... I don't know.

Don't get me in trouble.

We don't talk much anyway.

What else?

Um...

Oh, don't go through my stuff.

What do you mean?

Like, don't open drawers
or anything.

-Uh-huh.
-You wouldn't want me
going through anything

- in your room, right?
- No, no,

- not really.
- So... don't.

- Deal.
- [whispers]: Okay.

Wait, what do I do?

Honestly, you should just keep
painting the barn.

I don't need to get
in trouble, either.

Just do that.

Fine.

Then...

go to my house.

And sleep there?

Yeah, I guess.

Oh, wait,
what about your sister?

- I don't...
- Just ignore her.

I'll... see you tomorrow.

Okay.

Yeah, see you tomorrow.

♪ ♪

Hey.

Are you staying up there?

Oh.
[chuckles softly]

Uh...

It looks good.

My dad,
he sometimes plays music here.

Been inside?

I'll show you.

♪ ♪

So, they're not here right now.

Obviously.

[Lauren clears throat softly]

- [teeth clack]
- Ooh. Sorry.

Try again?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[Ed chuckling quietly]

[Ed sighs]

How was your day?

Fine.

[door opens]

What?

Go away. I'm in here.

Finish the barn?

Have you considered
your Uncle Henry's offer?

Um... not really.

[tapping]

Look, I know you want to work
at the Loop...

in the fall,
but, uh, your grades...

You got to be realistic.

We all do.

You don't have the same options
as your friend Jakob.

Just work at the quarry.

Right?
It's not the end of the world.

[gasps]

[parents speaking indistinctly]

KATE:
God, let me... Can I finish...

Can I finish my sentence, huh?

ED:
Well, if Danny
doesn't want to do it,

then why are you
gonna force him?

KATE:
I wouldn't have to force him

if I knew
that you were also with me,

if we had more
of a united front,

- if we could also just...
- ED: Kate.

- I am. No, I am with you.
- KATE: What?

ED:
I'm just telling you
that I'm also with Danny.

I'm not interested
in pushing him

into something
that he's not interested in.

- KATE: You're not even...
- ED: You have no concept

whatsoever what it's like

to walk out the door every day
to something you hate.

KATE:
I'm done, I'm done, I'm done.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- ED: Hey.
- What?

[chuckles]:
Hey. Hey.

Sorry.

You slept in. We're late.

Come on. Let's go.

Come on.

NEWSMAN [over radio]:
Now time for the local weather,

seven-day forecast.

Spring is coming out today

on this bright Monday morning.

It's gonna stay sunny all day

with partial cloud coverage
in the afternoon.

A high of 57.

And the overnight low tonight
down to 39 degrees.

Tuesday, partially cloudy.

High of 58, low in the 40s.

Wednesday, we're going up to 64,

give us
some spring temperatures.

Clouds forming,

but they will clear out
by the midafternoon hours.

Thursday, sunny.

High of 62, low of 43.

Friday is going to be staying
in the 60s.

Another storm warning and
then cloud cover late afternoon.

There's a 50% chance
of light showers...

Danny.

A high of 61 and a low of 39.

Knock 'em dead, kid.

Okay.

[Danny]
How's it feel?

[both laugh]

Anything happen?

Not really. You?

Mm.

Oh, did you...?

What? Oh, I popped it.

- Yeah.
- Good.

Is that what you wanted to ask?

Something else?

I had weird dreams.

I was you.

Yeah?

So there was two of you.

Us.

You have any dreams?

I... think so.

I don't remember.

Um, so, do you still want
to switch back today?

How about tomorrow?

Really?

Yeah. One more day.
What's the difference?

Um... your mom wants to know

if you'll work for your uncle
at the quarry.

She talked about that?

- What did you say?
- Nothing.

Why did you lie about getting
calls from the Loop?

They don't think it,
but I'm better than that.

There's no way I'm gonna spend
the rest of my life

crushing rocks.

So what are you gonna do?

If she asks again, just say no.

And if I do say no,

what will you do for me?

I'll think of something.

♪ ♪

[footfalls]

[geese honking]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[grunts]

I'm not me.

[breathing shakily]

I'm not me.

Dad.

Uh, I mean, Mr. Willard.

Uh, is Jakob home?

Yeah, I think he's in his room.

♪ The corpses all hanging
headless and limp ♪

♪ Bodies with no surprises ♪

♪ The blood drains down
like the devil's rain ♪

♪ We'll bathe tonight ♪

♪ I want your skull ♪

♪ I need your skull ♪

♪ I want your skull ♪

♪ I need your skull ♪

♪ Demon I am and face I peel. ♪

- Hey.
- Hey.

What is it?

May.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, I want to switch back.

Relax.

You know I like her.

You wanted me to do something
for you, so I did.

Well, if it's for me,

then let's switch back. Now.

- Just listen...
- No.

I want to be me again.

[exhales]

I don't.

What do you mean?

I've been thinking...

about the future

and how your grandfather
runs the Loop.

Yeah?

I told you,

I'm not gonna crush rocks
the rest of my life.

- [both grunting]
- Jakob.

- Jakob.
- Get the fuck off!

Jakob!

[grunting continues]

GEORGE:
Boys!

Jakob.

Hey! Hey!

Get the fuck off me.

Danny, go home.

- But...
- Let's go.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

♪ ♪

[sniffling]

[soft whooshing]

[whooshing,
rumbling grows louder]

[frogs croaking,
insects trilling]

COLE:
Jakob?

Jakob.

Yeah?

COLE:
How do you draw a car?

JAKOB:
Mm.

[sighs]

Cars are tough.

Danny's father is on the phone.

Do you know where he is?

You two were fighting.

I don't really want
to talk about it.

Well, who the hell said I did?

[chuckles softly]

[chuckles]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Hey, Jakob?

You seen Danny?

Why?

My dad... he saw him yesterday
at the barn.

Said he looked upset.

I'm sure he's fine.

But have you seen him?

No. He should be here somewhere.

He's fine.

I made you something.

I love it.

My neck really this long?

Are you okay?

[Danny]
Jakob?

Jakob?

[birds singing]

Jakob?!

Jakob?

[gasps softly]

Help!

Help!

[distant]:
Help!

♪ ♪

[indistinct P.A. announcement]

[ventilator hissing
rhythmically]

[door closes loudly]

You need a haircut.

I will.

Know what he was doing
out there?

Jakob?

Um...

there was nothing I could...

KATE:
You know, he never thought
about his choices.

- Thinks.
- And how important they are.

Kate.

He thought the world
of you, though.

ED:
Thinks.

I feel bad.

For how things happened.

I really do.

So do we.

[sniffles]

What was he thinking?

I don't know.

[insects trilling]

[owl hooting]

[mechanical buzzing]

[thudding]

[frogs croaking,
distant barking]

[doorknob rattling]

[groans]

[distant train whistle blowing]

[picking gentle melody
on guitar]

[stops playing]

[eerie music plays on TV]

I'm still here.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[music ends]

[frogs croaking outside]

[commentator speaks softly
on TV]

went over to the Islander bench,

holding his face area.

He may have gotten stuck
with a... an errant stick.

Thought any more
about what you're gonna do

after your graduation?

Oh.

I know my grades aren't great.

They're good.

Yeah. Um...

Yeah, I just think I'm gonna...

I think I'm gonna start working
at the Loop, you know?

- That's great.
- [laughs] Yeah.

And you can always draw.

A hobby, like we talked about.

LORETTA:
Mm.

I don't think
I like to draw anymore.

[Loretta laughs]

[Jakob laughs softly]

- Yeah.
- [Loretta laughs softly]

You are making the right choice.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

Hey, your grandfather
will be very pleased.

- Yeah?
- Mm.

[indistinct commentator
continues]

What? What is it?

I miss my friend.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[laughing]

[mimicking bird call]

[soft, metallic creaking]

[metallic creaking continues]

[metallic creaking]

[metallic creaking]

Jakob?

[creaking stops]

[soft, mechanical whirr]

♪ ♪