Baffling lookup field behavior

I have two tables, OrdersSQL and OrderMirror. A primary ID and a text field in each table. My script copies the primary key from OrdersSQL, creates a new record in OrderMirror and pastes the ID into the ID field. The data field in the mirror table gets populated via a lookup to the sql table. Problem is, I get some of the text, but then it gives me a huge string of periods. When looking at the text in a text editor, each period is preceded by an inverted question mark.

 

I've also tried doing a copy and paste as well as setting a variable and doing a set field. Same thing.

 

What's even more disturbing is that when I walk through each of the script steps with Script Debugger, it works fine. I was beginning to think it was an issue with the original data I was trying to bring in, but that negates that possibility.

 

Any insight as to what might be going on would be greatly appreciated!

 

***UPDATE: I don't know why, but adding the field from the OrdersMirror table to the OrdersSQL table layout seemed to solved the problem, at least for now. I'm still scratching my head.