| “ | Science is neat... but I'm afraid it's not very forgiving.
— Scott Clarke to Mike Wheeler, November 11, 1983
|
” |
Scott Clarke is a recurring character in the first and second seasons of Stranger Things. 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
Background
At some point, Scott started working at Hawkins Middle School. He began teaching Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Will, becoming fond of them and their interest in science. He was keen to support them in various ways, such as acquiring specialist equipment or helping to run school science fairs which they could participate in - and often win first prize.
At some point, Scott began dating a woman named Jen.
1983
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.
1984
On the morning of October 30, Mr. Clarke was teaching the class about the human brain. When Max Mayfield, a new student, arrived, he introduced her to the class.
The day after Halloween, Mr. Clarke was teaching his class about the case of Phineas Gage when Dustin arrived late to class. As Dustin informed Mike, Lucas, Will, and Max to meet him in the AV room after lunch, Mr. Clarke reprimanded him, urging him to focus. Later, Dustin decided to show Mr. Clarke a strange creature he had found in his trashcan the night before. However, before he could do so, Mike barged in and took the creature away.
The following day, Mr. Clarke taught the class about defense mechanisms and the concept of fear, which insinuated Mike that something was wrong with Will, due to his absence that day.
On December 15, Mr. Clarke attended the Snow Ball where he was responsible for checking students in.
Personality
Mr. Clarke is a likable, supportive, intelligent, friendly, resourceful, and caring teacher who is well respected by the boys, especially by Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will. They had a very close relationship with him as he would never hesitate to provide scientific explanations to them, regardless of when or where they ask. Although he remains unaware of exactly what they are dealing with, typically he is the first one they go to when they need help with their "science experiments," as he always does his best to give good advice. It was his profound respect for them that urged Mr. Clarke in assisting Hopper's search party to find Will during his disappearance.
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 | |
| Season Two appearances | |||
| MADMAX | The Pollywog | ||
| Will the Wise | |||
| The Gate | |||
Memorable Quotes
Mr. Clarke to Mike, Dustin & Lucas:
- "Science is neat, but I'm afraid it's not very forgiving."
Mr. Clarke in the class:
- "Meet the human brain. I know. I know, it doesn't look like much. A little gross even, right? But consider this. There are a hundred billion cells inside this miracle of evolution."
- "All living things, from complex mammals to single-celled organisms, instinctively respond to danger. Expose a bacterium to a toxic chemical, and it will flee. Or deploy some other defense mechanism. We're very much the same. When we encounter danger, our hearts start pounding. Our palms start to sweat. These are the signs of the physical and emotional state we call...fear."
Mr. Clarke & Hopper:
- Jim Hopper: "I always had a distaste for science."
- Scott Clarke: "Well, maybe you had a bad teacher!"
Mr. Clarke & Dustin:
- Scott Clarke: "Looking very snazzy tonight, Sir!"
- Dustin: "Thank you, My Lord!"
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.
- Scott has met all the characters, except for Billy, Bob, Brenner and Owens. It's likely he has met Steve who was likely a former student. Although they haven't spoken directly; he has also seen Nancy and Jonathan at the Snow Ball, however they have not spoken together on screen.
Gallery
|
For this subject's gallery, see Scott Clarke/Gallery. |