Merrill Wright

**Merrill Wright**, portrayed by Fenton Lawless, is a minor character in Stranger Things: The Fall of Hawkins. He is a local farmer who owns a pumpkin patch in Hawkins, Indiana and is the adoptive father of Theodore. His pumpkin patch hosted the entrance of the series of tunnels that grew out from the Upside Down.

## History

### Earlier

While following the sounds of wailing in the forest by his property, Merrill comes across an abandoned baby crying beside a split tree. With he and his wife unable to have children and the baby's origins unable to be discovered, Merrill officially adopts the baby several months later. His parents name the baby boy "Theodore Reuel".

Eleven years later, Merrill's wife passes. Merrill continued to raise Theodore on his own, teaching his son how to take care of the farm, run the yearly pumpkin patch during Halloween, and drive their old pick-up. Merrill often has his son drive deliveries to town for him.

### 1983

With the disappearance of Will Byers, Merrill sends a gift basket full of fresh produce to Joyce Byers, which Theodore delivers for him.

### 1984

The day before Halloween, Merrill made a report to the Hawkins Police Department that his entire pumpkin patch became contaminated and accused his neighbor Eugene for poisoning his farm. When Hopper came to investigate the farm, Merrill explained that Eugene originally started the argument regarding the "Pick Your Pumpkin" farming system and suspected Eugene for sending one of his co-workers to contaminate his farm. However, Hopper doubted its possibility. Hopper asked Theodore if he had seen anything strange, and Theodore said no, not besides the abruptly rotting pumpkins.

Merrill permitted scientists from Hawkins National Laboratory to take samples and run tests on his rotted pumpkins at the request of Hopper.

Unaware of the hole being dug by Hopper in his pumpkin patch, Merrill and Theodore hear in the night the sounds of voices and other commotion. Rushing to the scene, they find that scientists from H.N.L. have already arrived and are setting the hole in the ground ablaze. Panic erupts as one of the persons there, a boy Merrill recognizes to be Will Byers, collapses. All are rushed from the scene. Merrill is advised to take his son and find another place to stay for a few days. Merrill complies out of fear for his family's safety and goes to stay with his former competitor (and friend), Eugene McCorkle.

A month passes before Merrill is permitted back on his property. The community raises money to aid Merrill in his losses in light of the truth of H.N.L. being broadcast. He attends the funeral for Barbara Holland with many others in Hawkins.

### 1985

During the summer, Merrill receives a stranger call from a woman (Nancy Wheeler) claiming to be a reporter asking if he's had any incidents with rats or other diseased animals. Merrill admits it's been a few days since he had seen a rat, which was strange.

Merrill also received an offer to buy his property, which he refused.

### 1986

After the "earthquake" splits Hawkins, Merrill makes numerous donations to the relief effort, including blankets and food, all delivered by his son Theodore.

### The Apocalypse

Merrill and his fellow farmers notice their land and their animals are being affected by the ash falling from the sky. They herd their animals into barns and attempt to cover their crops as resources dwindle and the government closes in. Many bring out their guns. Merrill, who has more experience with strange things than the other farmers, begins to discuss with them the possibility of taking their families and escaping Hawkins.

### Current

Becoming more and more uneasy as Theodore does not return to the farm right away after dropping off the relief supplies, Merrill and a group of farmers decide to meet at Eugene's farm to host their first secret meeting to discuss how they might get their families out of Hawkins under the government's nose. Merrill mentions the tunnels under his pumpkin patch, insisting that the government only filled the entrance with dirt, and not all the tunnels themselves. Eugene is skeptical that the tunnels would be large enough to fit people in them, but Merrill promises them all that government men themselves went down there and fit plenty easily.

As the day passes, the group of resisting farmers are filled with more dread, often getting into shouting matches with each other over what must be done. Meanwhile, Merrill still wonders ... just where is Theodore?

## Gallery

Merrill and Hopper discussing the rotting pumpkins at Merrill's farm.Merrill Wright wins the contest for largest pumpkin.Merrill keeps a cut-out of his son's yearbook page in his wallet.