NO ONE'S POV:

(Robin & Nancy join them at the school.)

Max: It was right here. Right here.

Nancy: A grandfather clock?

Max: It was so real. And then, when I got closer, suddenly I just...I woke up.

(Dustin, Steve, & Y/N are shown shaking her to wake her up.)

Dustin: It was like she was in a trance or something. Exactly what Eddie said happened to Chrissy.

(She turns to face them.)

Max: That's not even the bad part.

(Cut to the back in Mrs. Kelley's office.)

Max: Fred and Chrissy, they both came to Miss Kelley for help. Uh, they both were having headaches, bad headaches that wouldn't go away. And then...then the nightmares. Trouble sleeping. They'd wake up in a cold sweat. Then they started seeing things. Bad things. From their pasts. These visions, they just...they kept on getting worse and worse, until eventually...everything ended.

Robin: Vecna's curse.

Max: Chrissy's headache started a week ago. Fred's, six days ago. I've been having them for five days.

(Everyone looks concerned.)

Max: I don't know how long I have. All I know is that, for Fred and Chrissy, they both died less than 24 hours after their first vision. And I just saw that goddamn clock, so...looks like I'm gonna die tomorrow.

*DISTANT CLANG*

Steve: Stay here. (Y/N), with me.

(He picks up a lamp.)

(Y/N): A lamp?

Steve: I'm sorry I don't have claws like you do.

(Y/N): All right, all right. I wasn't judging.

(They lead the way down the hallway as everyone else follow them, eventually they run into Lucas.)

All: [yelling]

Lucas: It's me!

Max: Lucas?

Lucas: It's me.

Steve: Jesus, what's wrong with you, Sinclair?

Lucas: I'm sorry.

(Y/N): I could've ripped your face off!

Steve: I could've taken you out with this lamp!

Lucas: [panting] Sorry, guys. Sorry. I was...I was biking for eight miles. [grunts, pants]

(Y/N): *runs his fingers through his hair*

Lucas: [panting] Give me a second. Shit. We've got a code red.

Steve: What?

(He walks up to Dustin.)

Lucas: Dustin. I've been with Jason, Patrick, and Andy, and they've gone totally off the rails. They're trying to capture Eddie, and they think you know where he is. You're in terrible danger.

Dustin: All right. Yeah, that definitely sucks, but we've got bigger problems than Jason right now.

(Lucas looks at Max. Cut to Mike's basement where we see Steve, Y/N, & Lucas reading the newspaper clipping of Victor Creel.)

Steve: [grumbles] Okay, be honest, uh...You guys understand any of this?

(Y/N): Nope.

Lucas: No.

Dustin: Pretty straightforward.

Steve: Oh, straightforward, really?

Dustin: What's confusing to you? So far everyone Vecna has cursed has died, except for this old Victor Creel dude Nancy found. He's the only known survivor. If anyone knows how to beat this curse, it's him.

Steve: That's assuming he was cursed, which we don't even know. How can Vecna have existed in the '50s? It doesn't make sense.

(Y/N): He'd be like...27? My math's probably wrong.

Dustin: Far as we know, Eleven didn't create the Upside Down. She opened a gate to it. The Upside Down has probably been around for thousands of years. Millions. I wouldn't be surprised if it predated the dinosaurs. Or your kind, (Y/N).

(Y/N): Hey.

Steve: Dinosaurs? What are we--

Lucas: Okay. But if a gate didn't exist in the '50s, how did Vecna get through?

Steve: And how's he getting through now?

(Y/N): And why now?

Steve: And why then? Just pops out in the '50s, kills one family, and he's like, "I'm good." And poof, he just disappears. Just...gone? Only to return 30 years later and start killing random teens? No, I don't buy it. [exhales, sighs] Straightforward, my ass. Honestly, Henderson, a little humility every now and then, it wouldn't hurt you.

(Y/N): It really builds character.

Dustin: Sorry.

(He looks over to see Max writing.)

Dustin: Any idea what she's writing?

(They look at her.)

Dustin: Did she sleep?

Lucas: I mean, would you?

(The girls return & walk down into the basement.)

Nancy: Okay, so...

Robin: [sighs]

Nancy: We have a plan.

(Cut to them telling everyone their plan which includes files from Notre Dame.)

Robin: Thanks to Nancy's newspaper minions, we are now rock-star psychology students at the University of Notre Dame.

Nancy: I'm now Ruth.

Robin: And I'm Rose.

Steve: Ruth?

(Y/N): Rose?

(Dustin looks at her GPA which is a 3.9.)

Dustin: Nice GPA.

Nancy: Thanks. So we called Pennhurst Asylum, told them we'd like to speak with Creel for a thesis we're co-writing on paranoid schizophrenics--

Robin: To which they said no.

Nancy: But we landed a three o'clock with the director.

Robin: Now all we have to do is charm him and convince him to let us talk to Victor.

Nancy: Then maybe we can rid Max of this curse.

Steve: Yeah, about that. We've been doing our Victor Creel homework, and, uh...

(Y/N): We got some questions.

Lucas: Lots of questions.

Nancy: So we do. Hopefully, Victor has the answers.

Steve: Wait...Wait...Wait a second. Uh...Where's mine?

(Y/N): And mine?

(Steve follows Nancy into her room as Y/N & Robin follow them.)

Steve: Nancy, you're out of your mind if you think I'm babysitting again.

Nancy: First of all, they're not babies anymore. And Max is in real danger. She needs people around her.

Steve: I know. But why does it always have to be me?

Nancy: (Y/N) will be with you.

Steve: He's not happy about this either.

(Cut to Y/N & Robin having a similar conversation in the hallway.)

(Y/N): I'm coming with this time.

Robin: No, you're not.

(Y/N): You're not leaving me with the pups again.

Robin: I thought you were proud to be a guard dog?

(Y/N): I am. But since we started dating, I'm primarily your guard dog.

Robin: Aw...you're still staying here.

(She walks into Nancy's room & Y/N follows her.)

(Y/N): Robin!

Robin: Oh my God, you have a Tom Cruise poster. You have a Tom Cruise poster.

Nancy: That's old. It's just...

Robin: [laughs]

Nancy: Can you please not touch anything?

(Y/N): We're not done talking about this.

Robin: Feels like we are.

Steve: I can't do anything here, Nance. Maybe I can be helpful with this asylum director dude. I don't know. I could turn on my...my charm.

Nancy: Not the kind of charm we need.

Steve: Ouch.

(Y/N): You need me. You two are going to an asylum, right? Those places are full of crazy people. So, what if the patients, like, overthrow the staff and take over? Who are the first two people that they're going after, you ask? The two beautiful students that just happen to be there on a visit unfortunately. But they wouldn't get close enough to you if Steve and I were there.

Steve: Yeah, what (Y/N) said.

(Robin & Nancy look at Y/N.)

(Y/N): The two beautiful students are you and Nan--

Robin: We got that. What would these...patients be doing to us exactly?

(Y/N): You know, bad stuff.

Nancy: (Y/N), relax.

Robin: You just can't "werewolf" everything.

(Y/N): Why not?

Nancy: No, I just...[sighs] I did a little digging last night, and it turns out this Dr. Hatch is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Harvard visiting scholar, okay? This is a lifelong student of the world. If we're gonna win him over, we're gonna have to convince him we are too. That, like him...

[MUSIC BOX PLAYING]

Nancy: We are true academic scholars.

Robin: Holy shit. There's a little ballerina in here.

(Y/N): You're having too much fun right now, aren't you?

Robin: I really am.

Steve: Academic scholar? She's giving you an academic scholar vibe? Yeah.

(Y/N): Dude.

Steve: What?

(Y/N): That's my girl.

Steve: Sorry.

Nancy: No, but...

Robin: [sighs]

(Imagine Y/N sitting on the bed.)

Robin: Oh, please, tell me you're joking.

(Y/N): Nancy, do you have a camera?

Nancy: Yes?

(Y/N): Great. I'm cool with not going just as long as I get a picture of Robin wearing that.

Nancy: Deal.

Robin: No deal. I'd rather die than have you see me wearing that.

(Y/N): [in Irish accent] Please, pretty bird?

Robin: No. That's not going to work.

(Y/N): Please.

Robin: No.

(Y/N): Please.

Robin: No!

(Y/N): Please...

Robin: [sighs] Fine. One picture.

(Y/N): One's all I need.

(Cut to Y/N, Lucas, Steve, & Dustin watching Max.)

Max: I know you guys are staring at me.

Steve: What, sorry.

Lucas: You said something.

(Y/N): [muddled] Just getting something out that's stuck between my teeth.

Dustin: Just hanging out.

Max: How you think your eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know.

(She walks up to them.)

Max: You can look at me now.

Dustin: Thank you.

Steve: Sorry.

(Y/N): Sorry.

Max: [sighs]

(She hands each of them envelopes with letters inside.)

Max: Oh, and, um, give these to Mike, El, and Will.

(She hands their letters to Lucas.)

Max: If you can ever get a hold of them again.

(Y/N, Steve, & Dustin start opening their letters.)

Max: What are you doing? No, don't. That's not for now. Don't open it now.

Dustin: Don't...Okay. I'm sorry. What is this?

Max: It's, um...it's a fail-safe. For after. If things don't work out.

Lucas: Wait, whoa. Max, things are gonna work out.

Max: No! No, I don't need you to reassure me and tell me it's all gonna work out. Because people have been telling me that my entire life and it's almost never true. It's never true. I mean, of course this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming. [inhales deeply]

(She picks up the walkie.)

Max: If we go to East Hawkins, will this reach Pennhurst?

Dustin: Of course. Yeah.

Steve: Why are we talking about East Hawkins? No. No. No!

(Y/N): Son of a bitch.

(Cut to Steve & Y/N trying to convince Max not to leave.)

Steve: Max, Max. Seriously. Seriously, I'm not joking. I'm not driving you anywhere.

(Y/N): Same goes for me.

Max: Steve, (Y/N), if you think I'm going to spend what is likely the last day of my life in the armpit that is Mike Wheeler's basement, then you're out of your minds. Either take me where I need to go or tie me down, which is technically kidnapping of a minor. And if I live to see another day, Steve, I swear to God, I will prosecute. And (Y/N), I will tell Robin how you're constantly asking me to "ride you."

Lucas & Dustin: What?

(Y/N): Holy shit, it's not like that.

Max: Will Robin see it that way?

(She pulls the handle on the car door.)

Max: Open the door.

Steve: Uh, no.

Max: I know a good lawyer.

Steve: [scoffs] Henderson, that super walkie of yours better reach Pennhurst.

(They enter Steve's car. Cut to Nancy & Robin arriving at Pennhurst Mental Hospital.)

Robin: [grunting] I can't breathe in this thing, and I'm itchy. I'm itching all over.

Nancy: (Y/N) seemed to like it.

Robin: He's not here right now to see me suffering.

Nancy: It's not all about comfort. Okay? We're academics.

Robin: Who are evidently coming straight from Easter brunch. Also, this bra that you gave me is really pinching my boobs.

Nancy: Okay. Could you just let me do the talking? If that's even possible?

Robin: It's not only possible, it's inevitable. Because shortly, I'll be dead from strangulation.

(Cut to Y/N's group at Roane Hill Cemetery, waiting for Max to come back.)

(Y/N): *stretching*

Dustin: You have an older brother and sister, right?

(Y/N): I do.

Lucas: You don't talk about them.

(Y/N): There's...a reason for that.

Dustin: Well?

(Y/N): They hate me. They hate me for, in their eyes, running away from my responsibility. I kind of hate myself for it. [sighs] I think about them everyday.

Dustin: Do you miss them?

(Y/N): Of course I do. I'd love to see them again, and introduce Robin to them. But the thing is, if I were to see them again, would they give me a hug or kill me? Sorry to bore you with werewolf problems. [chuckles lightly]

(Steve checks his watch.)

Steve: All right, it's been long enough.

(Y/N): Thank God.

(They make their way to Max.)

Lucas: Steve, just give her some time.

Steve: I have, all right, Sinclair? I'm calling it. She wants to get a lawyer, she can.

Lucas: (Y/N)?

(Y/N): Who's Robin going to believe, her or me, her boyfriend?

(They walk up to her.)

Steve: Max. Time to giddy up, yeah?

(Y/N): Gave you enough time I think.

Steve: Max?

Steve: Max. Max.

(Y/N): Oh, shit. Max?

Steve: Max! Wake up!

(Y/N): Snap out of it!

Steve: [claps]

(Y/N): *taps on her shoulder*

Steve: Max, wake up!

(Their pleas get Lucas & Dustin's attention.)

Lucas: Oh, something's wrong.

(Y/N): Max?!

Steve: Guys!

(Lucas & Dustin run to them.)

Steve: Come on, wake up!

Lucas: Max, you gotta get out of there!

Dustin: Can you hear me?

(Y/N): Mayfield?!

(Steve grabs Dustin.)

Steve: Call Nancy and Robin! Go get 'em! Call Nancy and Robin! Go!

Lucas: Please, Max!

Dustin: Shit!

(He runs to the walkie.)

(Y/N): [barks] I was really hoping that would work. Okay, I'm biting her.

Lucas: Max!

Steve: You are not biting her!

(Y/N): It could wake her up!

Lucas: Max!

(Cut to Nancy & Robin in her car after escaping from the guards.)

Robin: Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!

Nancy: You really are a weird runner.

Dustin: [from the walkie] Robin, where the hell are you? This is a code red. I repeat, code red!

(She picks up the walkie.)

Robin: Dustin, it's Robin. We copy.

Dustin: Holy shit. Finally! Please, please tell me you guys have this figured out.

(He runs back to them with a walkman & its tapes.)

Lucas: Max, get outta there! Can you hear--

Dustin: Guys!

(He drops the walkman & its tapes in front of them.)

Lucas: What is this?

Dustin: What's her favorite song?

Lucas: Why?

Dustin: Robin said if she listens...It's too much to explain right now. What's her favorite song?

(They begin frantically looking through the tapes.)

Steve: Which one is it?

(Y/N): Gah, there are too many!

Lucas: Okay, okay!

Dustin: Lucas, which one is it?

Steve: What's her favorite song?

(They finally fit it & put the headphones on Max. "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush starts playing.)

Dustin: Max! Max, wake up!

Steve: Max! Wake up!

(Y/N): Come on, Mayfield!

Lucas: Max, we're right here!

Dustin: Come on, Max.

Steve: Max!

(Max starts to float into the air. Before she can go any higher, Y/N grabs her ankles.)

(Y/N): [strained] No, no, no! I got ya, I got ya--

(Max goes higher in the air, taking Y/N with her.)

(Imagine Y/N holding onto her ankles.)

(Y/N): Max!

Lucas: Max!

(Y/N): Please, pup--

(He loses his grab on her ankles & falls to the ground.)

*THUD*

(Y/N): [groans]

Dustin: Max!

(Thanks to the song & her memories, she frees herself from Vecna. Running towards the light of her friends.)

Friends: [desperately] Max!

Friends: Max! Max!

All: [overlapping shouting] Max! Max!

Lucas: Max! Oh my God. It's okay.

(He holds her in his arms.)

Max: [hyperventilating]

Lucas: It's okay. I thought we lost you.

Max: I'm still...I'm still here.

Lucas: Oh shit.

Max: I'm still here.