Parallel

"**Parallel**" is the sixth episode of the Prime Video series *Tales from the Loop*. It and all other episodes of the series were written by series creator Nathaniel Halpern. It was directed by Charlie McDowell.

## Plot

A man travels to an unknown world in search of love.

## Summary

### An awkward meeting

A man, Gaddis, sits in a guard station outside the Mercer Center for Experimental Physics, a.k.a. the Loop, watching the employees there as they come to work. It begins to pour outside and he turns a page in journal, observing a photo of a handsome-looking man playing the piano. He props up the photo on the glass wall of the guard station and writes something inside the journal.

He visits a tractor in a field and tinkers with it, removing a component. He then walks away from the tractor and in the hay field where it is sitting observes a strange hole in the ground, which then swirls and disappears.

That evening, he is playing pool at the local tavern when he is approached by a man named Kent, who strikes up a conversation with him. At first, the conversation seems to go well enough. Gaddis recognizes Kent as being new in town, often riding his bicycle. Kent explains that he's trying to do his part for the environment and Gaddis compliments him on this. Things quickly go south, however, as Kent criticizes the song that is playing the tavern's jukebox, "You Missed a Good Man." Gaddis says that he is the one that picked it and Kent explains that he doesn't know much about music, that he doesn't normally listen to it. This surprises Gaddis, who can't imagine a life without music. Kent then thoughtlessly moves one of Gaddis's pool balls. He apologizes and puts it back. He tells Gaddis that it was nice meeting him. Gaddis agrees and Kent walks away awkwardly.

### A most unusual tractor

The next day, Gaddis is out in a forest with binoculars. He observes a woodpecker in one of the trees, then stops for lunch. He then heads home and writes some more in his journal, listening to another song, "Poor John Blues" by Sleepy John Estes. In bed, he studies a field guide about birds, then spends some more time staring at the photo of the handsome man while listening to Terry Callier's "900 Miles" before falling asleep. The day after, he is back in the tractor, and a teenage girl named May, a local tinkerer, is outside, holding the component he removed. He asks what she thinks and she tells him she can fix it. He asks her how much and she tells him not to worry about it, asking whose tractor it is. He shows her the picture of the handsome man, asking if she recognizes him. She shakes her head, asking who he is, and he admits that he never met him, but he found the photo in the tractor. She asks what would happen if he came back for it. "The photo?" asks Gaddis and she replies that she's talking about the tractor. He says that would be something and she tells him she should have the component repaired by tomorrow. As she starts to leave, he asks her if she's seen in any holes in the area, but she just stares at him.

That evening, he has dinner with George and Loretta Willard. George asks him if he's still living where he was before. He says that he is and George asks if he doesn't have any interest in moving closer to town. He explains that he likes being near the woods. Loretta explains that he's a bird-watcher. He tells George that he watches birds. George asks what he likes about them, and he says that they're a window into a world right next to theirs, that they're perfect. Today, he heard a golden plover on its way to the Arctic to mate. Loretta quips that it wouldn't be her first choice, but Gaddis thinks it's romantic to go so far for love. George says that he agrees. He asks Gaddis if he's seeing anyone at the moment and Loretta replies that he's always been very picky. Gaddis counters that he has discerning tastes and Loretta calls it the same thing. George says that there probably aren't too many options in Mercer. Gaddis agrees. After dinner, Loretta accompanies Gaddis as he leaves and Gaddis comments that it must be nice to come home and have the lights on because someone is there. She tells him that nothing's perfect. "So you say," he replies and drives away.

He continues his duties at the guard station, seeing Kent pass by with his bike. He returns to the tractor and replaces the repaired component. He gets in and turns the tractor on. The air appears to ripple around it and then the tractor cuts out. He pleads "no, no, no" and tries backing up the tractor, but gets no response from it other than the alarm sound. He gets out and heads home, but upon paying a visit to his shed finds that something very odd is going on. He hears music coming from his house and looking inside, he sees a man playing a piano. It's the handsome-looking man from the photo. Shocked, Gaddis goes around the front door and knocks. The music stops and a man answers the door. It's... Gaddis. The two stare at each in shock and then the handsome man comes and stands by Gaddis #2. Gaddis #1 then continues to stare for a bit, before walking away. Gaddis #2 chases after him, asking just who he is. Gaddis #1 pleads with him to leave him alone. Gaddis #2 finally catches him up in front of the tractor and tackles him to the ground. They sit up and stare at each other, realizing that they really do look exactly alike.

### An unusual friendship

The two return to the house and talk. Having apparently been talking for some time, Gaddis #2 lays it out that Gaddis #1 was on the tractor, fixed it and now he's here. The handsome man introduces himself, with a Spanish accent, as Alex. Gaddis #1 comments that it's "nice to finally meet" him, confusing him, as he is unaware that Gaddis #1 knows him from the photo. Gaddis #2 explains that the tractor in the field disappeared a few months ago. They continue talking and Gaddis #1 reveals that he works as a security guard for the Loop. Gaddis #2 says that there, the Loop was shut down years ago, Alex adding that it was decommissioned. He says that the thinks they did something at the Loop in Gaddis #1's world, causing parallel places and pulled through the tractor. Gaddis #1's fixing it caused it to come back with him. Alex suggests that if he started the tractor back up, he could get back.

Gaddis #1 prepares for his journey back and Gaddis #2 comes and asks him if he had everything he need. Gaddis #1 calls his record collection impressive and Gaddis #2 asks if he collects. Gaddis #1 agrees that he does and Gaddis #2 asks him what it's like where he's from. Gaddis #1 says that it's not like this and Gaddis #2 calls it odd, hearing his own voice. He says that it doesn't seem like they're that different and bids him good night. The next day, Gaddis #1 goes back to the tractor with Alex and Gaddis #2. Alex does some tinkering and Gaddis #2 suggests that Gaddis #1 try turning it on. Gaddis #1 does so, but nothing happens. Gaddis #1 says that he's stuck there and Gaddis #2 agrees that it appears that way. He asks if there's anyone back home who will miss him and Gaddis #1 shakes his head. They hear a bird chirping. "Piping plover?" asks Gaddis #2 and they both agree in unison "Killdeer." Gaddis #2 says that it isn't so bad, Gaddis #1 being there. They could be friends, enjoying music and books and birds together. Gaddis #1 agrees that he'd like that. Gaddis #2 comments that he kept a photo of Alex in the tractor and asks Gaddis #1 if he found it. Gaddis #1 lies that he didn't.

Alex comes to visit Gaddis #1 in the room where he is now living. He tells him that he's sorry he has no home and Gaddis #1 replies that "these things happen." Alex asks "Do they?" and Gaddis #1 admits that they normally don't. He asks Gaddis #1 about his comment that it was nice to finally meet him, but he plays it off. Alex says that it must be quite a shock, that it certainly is for him. Gaddis #1 replies that he hopes it a good one. He asks how he and Gaddis #2 met and he says that it was just chance and they didn't get along at first because of their differences and that they've been through a lot. But there they are. Alex asks Gaddis #2 if there's someone like him where he comes from. He replies that there's no one like him. Alex leaves, saying it could be nice once Gaddis #2 is settled in. That evening, Gaddis #1 spies on Gaddis #2 and Alex making love with each other. He ends up causing their truck to backfire, creating a disturbance, but manages to hide.

### A forbidden romance

The next day, he and Gaddis #2 go out birding together. They enjoy the day and when they get home, they enjoy music from Gaddis #1's blues collection. Gaddis #2 asks if he has any Sleepy John Estes. Gaddis #2 says that he doesn't know him, wondering if he exists in his world. Gaddis #1 replies that it wouldn't be much of a world if he didn't. He asks about Alex, if it's hard being with someone that's so attractive. He admits that it is, sometimes. He asks if Gaddis #1 has ever been with anyone long-term, but he hasn't. He asks if he's happy there. Gaddis #1 wonder why and he says that it's because he really enjoys being able to share things with him. Gaddis #1 says that he agrees, though he can't believe he doesn't have any Sleepy John Estes. Later in the day, he finds Alex working in the shed, sanding a table. He asks him what he thinks, saying that it's for him. Gaddis #1 asks if he's always done this. Alex agrees - chairs, tables, various woodwork. Gaddis asks what he likes about it and he replies that nobody ever asked him that. Not even Gaddis #2. He likes working with his hands, getting an idea of something perfect, everything as it should be. Then, little by little it takes shape until it exists and there's nothing like it, perfect. Gaddis #1 replies that he likes birds because their perfect, but Alex says that it isn't quite the same thing. He chuckles, saying how much he reminds him of Gaddis #2. With him, though, he's heard it all before, but with Gaddis #1, it's all new.

That evening, they have dinner, made by Alex. Gaddis says that it's really good and Alex agrees that he'll have to make it again. Gaddis #1 suggests that they watch a movie, but Gaddis #2 is tired and Alex has to get up early. Gaddis #1 says that he could help with the dishes, but Alex says that he'll take care of them tomorrow. Gaddis #2 says that he's curious what Gaddis #1 will think of the books he gave him. They all bid each other good night and Gaddis #2 exits. Alex asks Gaddis #1 if he's feeling alright and he says that he guesses he's feeling tired too. Alex exits, leaving Gaddis #1 to sit alone listening to the blues song "Careless Love Blues." The next day, Gaddis #1 is again writing in his journal. When Gaddis #2 pays a visit, he closes it in a hurry. Gaddis #2 tells him that they're having friends over. He asks him if he would mind not coming, see as there wouldn't be any way to explain him. He agrees and Gaddis #2 says that he knows it isn't ideal. Gaddis #1 says that he'll stay there in his room, but Gaddis #1 says that with the windows, they still could see. So Gaddis #1 is relegated to the shed. He apologizes profusely, but Gaddis #1 says that it's alright.

That evening, Gaddis #1 putters into the shed and is nearly frightened out of his wits when the door clatters open. It's just Alex, who brought him some food. He thanks him and asks if he's having fun. Alex admits that he's really not. Gaddis #1 asks if he doesn't like the friends they're having over and he says that he did, at first. They chuckle and Gaddis #1 asks what it is he likes about Gaddis #2. "You?" asks Alex and Gaddis #1 says that they've been together for so long, so there must be a reason. Alex says that there is, that "there's no one like you." He kisses Gaddis #1 passionately, but then breaks away, saying that he's going to go. "Alex," Gaddis #1 pleads, but he leaves. Gaddis #1 spends a lonely night in the shed and wakes wiping leaves off himself, then struggles with a faulty shower.

Later that morning, Gaddis #2 goes out for a drive on his own. That evening, Gaddis #1 is laying down, staring at his photo of Alex, when he hears Alex shouting at Gaddis #2, cursing him. Gaddis #2 shouts that every time he does this. Alex tells him to give him a break and Gaddis #2 asks what break it is that he needs. Alex curses him again and drives off in the truck. Gaddis #1 observes all of this through binoculars and then knocks over a lamp, trying to conceal his activities. The next morning, while out birding, he asks Gaddis #2 how things are between him and Alex. He admis that he overheard them arguing and that it made him think that maybe things aren't going well between them. Gaddis #2 says that it was just an argument and that they have them from time to time. It was nothing more than that. He starts to say that when someone's been in a relationship as long as they have, but Gaddis #1 tells him not to talk down to him. Gaddis #2 replies that he doesn't mean to, but he'll see that nothing's perfect. They hear a strange bird call. Gaddis #2 asks if Gaddis #1 can identify it, but he cannot.

Gaddis #1 sits and listens to Alex playing the piano. He narrates that he was lonely and not just for anyone. He was lonely for Alex. As he continues narrating, he is shown writing in his journal, his words that he's narrating being the contents of the journal. He continues that he's been writing in these pages for so long, hoping that they'd meet and wondering what it would be like if they were together and now they are and he's more perfect than he had imagined. He says that he knows that he loves Gaddis #2, but it also means that he could love him. They could be happy. He begs him to run away with him. That evening, Gaddis #1 heads out in the pouring rain and presents Alex with the journal. He tells him that everything he wants, everything he's felt is inside it. He hands it to him, telling him that he'll wait for him and heads back out in the rain. Nothing left to do, he sits and waits, staring at the photo of Alex before falling asleep.

### Starting something new

In the morning, he is woken up by being tapped on the shoulder. It is not, however, Alex who has come to see him, but rather Gaddis #2, who presents him with the journal. Gaddis #1 asks where Alex is, then asks him if he read the journal. Gaddis #2 tells him that he desn't know what to say, but asks him why. Gaddis #1 tells him that he takes Alex for granted. Gaddis #2 asks if he really feels that way, saying that he wouldn't have done this to him, try to take him away. Gaddis #1 asks if he really wouldn't. He admits that maybe he would, shaking his head and saying that it's hard, knowing what to do in a situation like this. He doesn't want to be mad at him. He tells him that he has to understand that Alex isn't everything he thinks he is. There have been other men before. Gaddis #1 asks what he means and he says that Alex can't help it with the excitement of something new, even if it's another version of himself. It always runs its course. Gaddis #1 asks if Alex doesn't want him anymore and Gaddis #2 tells him that Alex feels bad if he thought it was more than it was. Gaddis #1 replies that it was, but Gaddis #2 says that it wasn't for Alex. Gaddis #1 asks why Gaddis #2 would let him do this and Gaddis #2 says that he isn't perfect and neither are they. He tells him that he's hurting right now, but he'd like to eventually put this behind them. Gaddis #1 asks him if he wants to stay and Gaddis #2 asks if it would be so bad. They're both upset, but they can get through it. Gaddis #1 asks why he would even want him to keep living there and he replies that it's because he's his friend. Gaddis #1 tells him that he can't be alone anymore. He tells him that it's too hard, that he can't keep living out there with no one. Gaddis #2 begs him to stay another day and thinks about him, but Gaddis #1 tells him that he can't and leaves. Gaddis #2 shakes his head, saying that he's going to miss him. As he walks away, Gaddis #1 takes one last look at Alex through the window before leaving for good. He buries the journal in the woods.

He walks and walks, eventually reaching the Amwell Diner. Inside, "Born to Lose" by Ray Charles is playing. He asks for a water and goes to sit down. Across the table, he sees Kent, the bicycle-riding man he met in the bar back in his own universe. Kent asks him if he's from around there and he replies "not really." Kent says "never mind" and goes back to his beverage, but then Gaddis #1 asks him what his binoculars are for. Kent tells him that it may sound a bit weird, but he's looking for a bird. Gaddis #1 is stunned, asking him if he's a birder. Kent tells him that he is and he says that he wouldn't have thought. Kent asks him if he's one too and Gaddis admits that he is. "What are the odds?" asks Kent. Kent comes over to sit with him, telling him that he's looking for an ivory-billed woodpecker. Gaddis #1 replies that it's extinct. Kent agrees that everyone says so, but he heard there was an unconfirmed sighting nearby. Gaddis #1 says that they're too far north and Kent agrees that he thought the same thing, but he figured he would see for himself. Gaddis #1 considers, then gasps, saying that he heard a bird earlier that he couldn't identify. Kent asks if he could show him where, if it's not too much trouble. Gaddis #1 agrees, introducing himself as Gaddis. They shake hands, Kent giving him his name They agree it's nice to meet each other and Gaddis chuckles at the situation. They continue talking happily.

## Cast

### Starring

* Rebecca Hall as Loretta Willard
* Paul Schneider as George Willard

### Guest starring

* Ato Essandoh as Gaddis
* Jon Kortajarena as Alex
* Brian Maillard as Kent
* Nicole Law as May

### Co-starring

* Kevin Harris as Gaddis #2
* Robert Nahum as Logan the Bartender

## Scene breakdown

*The following are the scenes of this episode, as indicated via Amazon's X-ray feature*:

1. Amazon Original (00:00:00)
2. Title Sequence (00:00:05)
3. Awkward interactions (00:00:27)
4. Gaddis leads a simple life (00:06:25)
5. Fixing the tractor (00:08:52)
6. Explaining birders (00:10:02)
7. The mundane every day (00:12:33)
8. Gaddis fixes the tractor (00:12:58)
9. Figuring out what happened (00:17:14)
10. Trying to get home (00:21:02)
11. Settling in (00:23:06)
12. Gaddis' draw closer (00:26:44)
13. New feelings (00:28:45)
14. A delicious dinner (00:31:06)
15. A house party (00:32:29)
16. Intimate moments (00:35:49)
17. A fight (00:38:15)
18. Nothing is perfect (00:39:11)
19. Gaddis takes a chance (00:41:42)
20. Gaddis confronts Gaddis (00:45:27)
21. Letting go (00:49:51)
22. End Credits (00:54:43)

## Music

* "I'm Alone Without You" by Louis Prima & Wingy Manone
* "You Missed A Good Man" by Tampa Red
* "Poor John Blues" by Sleepy John Estes
* "900 Miles" by Terry Callier
* "Happiness" by Molly Drake
* "Dead Man Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton
* "Ezekiel Saw De Wheel" by Fisk Jubilee Singers
* "Careless Love Blues" by Bessie Smith
* "Potato Head Blues" by Louis Armstrong
* "Born To Lose" by Ray Charles

## Behind the scenes

* Although Kevin Harris is credited for this episode as playing "Gaddis #2," in the scene commentary "Between a Man and Himself," showrunner Nathaniel Halpern states that Ato Essandoh played both versions of Gaddis. It is possible that Harris's role was more of a photo-double, or limited only to brief scenes where it was not practical to play both versions of Gaddis. Halpern describes the dynamic between the two Gaddises as being a "sibling dynamic," with the parallel universe Gaddis having had more life experience.
* The call is first heard at 39:57, and matches the recorded call for the ivory-billed woodpecker at Ivory-billed Woodpecker Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed\_Woodpecker/sounds).
* At the end of this episode, Gaddis and the parallel universe Kent head off in search of an Ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird said to be extinct. In real-life, the last universally-accepted sighting of this bird occurred in 1944, however, there is evidence to support that the bird persists in areas of Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida and its official status is listed as Critically Endangered.
* Showrunner and writer Nathaniel Halpern stated that the idea of this episode came from the idea of a lonely guy, who was cutting off opportunities for connection because people didn't check all of his boxes, romantic or not.

## References

1. ↑ Writer's Guild of America West - *Tales from the Loop*
2. ↑ *Tales from the Loop* on Amazon
3. ↑ Anderson, Jenna (April 28, 2020). Nathaniel Halpern on Creating Tales From the Loop, a Potential Second Season, and More. Comic Book.com. Retrieved on April 29, 2020.