The strange girl is taken in by the diner's owner, Benny, who tries to help her. He learns she has telekinetic abilities — things move when she's scared. Unfortunately, agents from Hawkins Lab arrive, pretending to be social workers. Benny is killed, and the girl flees.
Mike, Lucas, and Dustin find her in the woods and secretly hide her in Mike's basement. Mike calls her "Eleven," after the number tattoo. She hints that she knows something about Will.
Joyce becomes convinced that Will is trying to communicate with her through electricity. Lights flicker. Radios crackle. She feels his presence though no one believes her — not even Hopper.