| “ | Science is neat... but I'm afraid it's not very forgiving.
— Scott Clarke to Mike Wheeler, The Flea and the Acrobat
|
” |
Scott Clarke is a recurring character in the first season. He is the science teacher of the boys at Hawkins Middle School. Throughout the series he helps the boys with different "science projects" that help them in their search for Will Byers. Mr. Clarke also runs the school A.V. club. His partner is Jen.
History
Season One
After Mr. Clarke's class had ended, all the other students quickly left while Mike, Dustin, and Lucas stayed behind. Mr. Clarke then led them to the AV club room, where he showed the boys the new Heathkit that had recently arrived. He enthusiastically explained that it was powerful enough to reach Australia.
After Will Byers went missing, Scott took part in the search party where he introduced himself to the chief of police, Jim Hopper. He remarked that Will was a good student, and told Hopper of his occupation as a science teacher at Hawkins Middle School. Hopper told Scott about his daughter, and how she had always been interested in galaxies and the universe. When Scott questioned if he would possibly have her in his class, Hopper responded that she lives with her mom in the city. After he had walked ahead, another search party volunteer informed Scott that Hopper's daughter had died a few years prior.
The next evening, Scott found a piece of ripped cloth at the edge of a drain pipe leading to Hawkins Laboratory, making Hopper suspicious of the lab.
Mr. Clarke came across the boys, along with Eleven, as they were trying to get into the AV room in order to use the radio. When they told him they needed some “alone time”, he sympathized with the boys, and agreed to let them use the radio if they attended the assembly for Will. Noticing Eleven, he asked who she was and where she was from. The boys quickly came up with a lie, saying she was Mike's cousin Eleanor from Sweden visiting for Will's funeral. Mr. Clarke then led them to the gym.
After Will's funeral, the boys asked Mr. Clarke about other dimensions and how to possibly travel to them. Using an acrobat and flea on a tightrope as a metaphor, he explained that inter-dimensional travel is currently impossible due to requiring a massive amount of energy that humans are not yet capable of. He then explained that, theoretically, if the energy requirements were met, it would create a tear in space-time, creating a doorway—or gate— to another dimension. When Mike asked if it was possible that such a gate already existed, Mr. Clarke responded that they would know as it would disrupt gravity, the magnetic field, the environment, and possibly “swallow them up whole.”
In order to find out Eleven's location, agent Connie Frazier visited Scott at his residence. While there, she spoke to him about a fictitious Indiana AV Club program, complete with a falsified flier. When she asked if he knew anyone who'd want to participate, he told her about Mike, Lucas, and Dustin.
Scott and Jen were watching a movie when Dustin called to ask about sensory deprivation. He then told Dustin the requirements for a makeshift deprivation tank.
Personality
Mr. Clarke is a likable, supportive, intelligent, friendly, resourceful, and caring teacher who is well respected by the boys and he is the first one they go to when they need help with their "science experiments."
Appearances
| Season One appearances | |||
| The Vanishing of Will Byers | The Weirdo on Maple Street | The Body | |
| The Flea and the Acrobat | The Monster | The Bathtub | |
Memorable Quotes
- "Science is neat, but I'm afraid it's not very forgiving."
Trivia
- The movie that he and Jen were watching when Dustin called was the 1982 film, The Thing.
- The Monster was killed in his classroom.