♪ ♪
Good evening.
Or good morning, depending on where you reside.
My name is Russ Willard, and I'm the founder
of the Mercer Center for Experimental Physics,
which was constructed here
beneath the town of Mercer, Ohio,
and which is referred to locally as the Loop.
Its purpose: to unlock and explore
the mysteries of the universe.
As a result of our unique research,
you will see here sights that, well, you'd say were impossible.
And yet, there they are.
Everyone in town is connected to the Loop in one way or another.
And you will come to know many of their tales
in time.
So, where now to begin?
(electric hum)
(wind whooshing)
♪ ♪
(electric hum)
SARAH: Loretta.
(stone skittering)
(wood creaks)
(birds honking)
(rocks rattling)
(slow, steady thumping)
-♪ ♪ -(dog barking)
MAN: Alma, this is bigger than your theories.
-It's about limits. -ALMA: Limits you ignored
with your Vagabond project.
MAN: Alma, there's a right and a wrong way to pursue answers.
You can't just steal a piece of the Eclipse
and think no one will notice.
ALMA: I've done nothing.
-MAN: And Loretta? -What about her?
MAN: She needs a mother.
And instead, you're putting her in danger.
ALMA: She can take care of herself.
-The same can't be said for you. -I don't want to listen to any more of this.
MAN: Alma, I'm telling you, put it back.
ALMA: Get out of my house.
Get out of my house!
(door opens)
-(door closes) -(glass shatters)
(floor creaks)
Loretta?
(door closes)
(electric hum)
(Alma singing in foreign language)
(singing continues)
(singing continues in distance)
(sizzling)
Check.
(high-pitched ringing)
That man... why was he mad at you?
He's mad because I took something.
-You told him you didn't. -But I did.
You told me that I should never steal.
-That it's wrong. -I didn't steal it.
I, um, obtained it.
Will you give it back?
Eventually.
First, I need it for an experiment.
Can I help?
No, it's too dangerous.
The thing you obtained,
is it from underground?
What do you do down there?
You wouldn't understand.
Yes, I would.
Maybe one day you will.
Wouldn't that be something?
-What? -Us.
Working together at the Loop.
I'd like that.
You don't even know what we'd be doing.
It doesn't matter. We'd be together.
We would, wouldn't we?
(upbeat song playing in foreign language)
♪ ♪
(music distorts, stops)
(clicks)
(wind whooshing)
(slow, steady thumping)
Alma?
(high-pitched buzzing)
Will you give it back?
ALMA: Eventually.
First I need it for an experiment.
(panting)
(door closes)
(wind whooshing)
(electric hum)
(wind whooshing)
(electric hum continues)
(chimes clinking)
(soft ticking)
♪ ♪
SARAH: Very good, Jerry.
JERRY: Thank you.
SARAH: Much improved, Betty.
There you go, to check your work.
See me after class.
Your mother will be proud.
(electric hum)
(indistinct chatter)
♪ ♪
(vehicle approaching)
(trash can clatters)
(slow, steady thumping)
♪ ♪
Alma?!
(metallic thud)
Alma?
-(thudding continues) -Alma!
Alma!
(thudding continues)
Hey.
What are you doing?
Hit it in the eye and it's good luck.
Stop.
Why?
How would you like to be picked on?
But it's a robot.
LORETTA (distant): Alma!
COLE: Ever wonder where robots come from?
Leave me alone.
My brother says it's part of what they do underground.
Like, they made them, or found them.
What are you doing out here anyway?
-These are my woods. -No, they're not.
COLE: Well, not officially,
but what are you doing?
-LORETTA: Looking for someone. -You lost?
No. She is.
Who?
I don't need your help.
You don't want to go in there.
Haunted.
LORETTA: Alma?
(objects clatter on floor)
♪ ♪
Told you. Haunted.
Oh, nice.
I collect the good ones.
Who you looking for?
Your friend?
My mom.
Oh.
(Alma singing in foreign language)
(chimes clinking)
COLE: I can help you find her.
If you want.
♪ ♪
Your house was here?
-I've just never seen it. -'Cause it's gone now.
Your mom work underground?
So do my parents.
Maybe they know where she is.
My mom should be in her study, but we have to be quiet.
She doesn't like being bothered.
(TV playing indistinctly)
MOTHER (muffled): You read my proposal.
RUSS: There are a few remaining concerns.
-(knocking on door) -MOTHER: Concerns?
-RUSS: Unanswered questions. -MOTHER: I've considered every variable.
-It's all there in my proposal. -COLE: Mom.
RUSS: There's no doubt you've put the work in. I'm not saying that.
-MOTHER: Well, then, what are you saying? Okay. -COLE: Mom?
-Can't you see the adults are talking? -I just...
MOTHER: Cole, I'm with your grandfather.
-I just wanted to ask... -Cole.
(sighs) I'm sorry.
-He's just a boy. -Oh, he knows better.
So do you.
COLE: My mom...
Come on. I'll show you my room.
(TV playing indistinctly)
(clicks)
COLE: Hey.
This is my brother.
Hi.
She's looking for her mom.
Uh, did you tell Mom?
COLE: Sort of.
She get mad?
Here. You might find this neat.
When a star dies, it doesn't always supernova.
What's that?
Oh, it's, like, a bright explosion.
So instead, it can just vanish.
Quiet, like switching off a light.
And all that's left is its phantom.
Gravitational pull.
A black hole.
COLE: Hey. Where you going?
I've got to keep looking.
♪ ♪
What's that?
Alma took it.
From where?
Down there. Underground.
What material is this?
Careful.
I'm coming with you.
Your dad.
I saw his arm.
I know, it's weird.
He takes it off at night and plugs it in the wall.
And... your mom?
She's not really around.
Sounds like Alma.
Why don't you call your mom "Mom"?
-She doesn't like it. -Yeah.
I don't think my mom likes being a mom, either.
That's not what I said.
-I didn't mean to make you mad. -I'm not mad.
-You seem mad. -Well, I'm not.
-We're going to find her. -How do you know?
I just do. Think.
-If you were her... -I'm not.
But if you were, where would you be right now?
Home.
(opera music playing)
FATHER: Honey?
(exhales): Yeah.
What did my father say?
Mm, same thing he always says.
FATHER: Try not to work too late.
Here. Come here.
Put your ear down like this.
But it's cold.
Don't be a sissy.
(slow, steady thumping)
What is that?
(grunts)
I think it has something to do with this.
Alma.
And whatever they're doing down there.
-GADDIS: Hi, Cole. -Hi.
LORETTA: I'm looking for Alma.
COLE: Her mom.
LORETTA: She works here.
She disappeared.
GADDIS: I see. Well...
Okay. Give me a second.
(rotary dial spins)
Hey. I've got a girl here looking for her mom Alma.
Okay, are you sure?
Okay.
Thanks.
I'm not sure how to tell you this,
but it doesn't seem like your mother works here.
COLE: What?
That's wrong.
-I'm just trying to be helpful. -You're lying.
Sorry.
(rotary dial spinning)
(phone ringing)
Hello?
-GADDIS: Hey. -Hey.
Cole was just here with a little girl.
He was?
I'm calling because--
it's the oddest thing--
she says h-her mother's name was Alma.
-You there? -(kettle whistling)
Hello? Hello?
♪ ♪
See her?
You're going in there?
(music playing in foreign language)
LOGAN: Sweetie.
-You looking for someone? -(door creaks open)
Alma!
(door creaks open)
LOGAN: Do you know whose she is?
What happened back there?
I knew I...
If I had just gone in to check on her...
Gone in where?
If I had stayed home today,
then we'd still be together.
(screams)
If I had a kid,
I would never do this to them.
I'd be there for them, always.
NARRATOR (on TV): The little boy
didn't know how to read yet.
For him, Paddle was just a wonderful toy
he had found by chance.
(chips crunching)
NARRATOR: Take him home and keep him forever.
And then he made his big mistake.
JAKOB: What do you think happened to her mom?
♪ ♪
(wind whooshing)
♪ ♪
That's my mom's.
Your mom, what's her name?
Loretta?
It really happened.
What did?
Thought it was a dream.
The girl.
She's me.
♪ ♪
(gasps)
(clattering overhead)
♪ ♪
(front door opens)
The girl, where is she?
-You know about her? -Hey, answer your mother.
(sighs) She was in your study.
And I told her not to go in there,
and s-she ran off.
♪ ♪
(Loretta singing in foreign language)
(singing continues)
-(door opens) -(singing stops)
You know who I am?
I know...
it's confusing.
Where's Alma?
S-She's...
She doesn't come back,
does she?
(screams)
Did I do something
to make her want to go?
No.
No, you didn't do anything.
Then why did she leave me?
Alma was conducting an experiment.
I-- you...
spend years
figuring out how.
Th-The science.
But we never learn why.
Turns out...
...not everything in life makes sense.
You're me, right?
♪ ♪
ADULT LORETTA: I know you feel alone right now.
But it's not always gonna be this way.
No?
ADULT LORETTA: My house?
It's yours.
Cole and Jakob? They're your...
My sons?
ADULT LORETTA: You have a home.
A family.
A whole new life.
It's all waiting for you, I promise.
Just give it time.
LORETTA: And...
Alma?
As hard as this is to say...
I don't think she wanted to be a mother.
Cole...
said the same thing about you.
♪ ♪
Can you show me where this comes from?
(air hisses)
(slow, steady thumping)
(thumping continues)
LORETTA: What is it?
The Eclipse.
The beating heart of the Loop.
Everything aboveground.
The reason that you're here now.
The Eclipse is responsible.
Alma took it for her experiment.
She wanted to see where the Eclipse came from.
Is that where she is now?
No one knows.
You'll wonder if this really happened.
Or if it was a dream.
One day, many years from now,
you'll hear that a little girl is looking for her mother,
and you'll say these same half-forgotten words.
♪ ♪
What now?
Where do I go?
Home.
(vehicle approaching)
ADULT LORETTA: As time passes,
you'll see so much.
Things that you'd say were impossible.
And yet, there they are.
RUSS: Loretta.
(slow, steady thumping)
Can we discuss this tomorrow?
Sure.
Whenever you're ready.
♪ ♪
(wind whistling)
♪ ♪
Mom?
Can't sleep?
Did you find her?
I did.
Everything's okay now.
Come here.
I do something wrong?
No.
(chuckles): No, not at all.
Hey-hey.
I found this on the way home.
You collect these, right?
Is it a good one?
My mother.
She-she left me when I was your age.
And I want you to know I'm here, okay?
I'll always be here for you.
♪ ♪
ays be here for you.