A Friend of the Family (2022) s01e09 Episode Script

Revelation

1
Heavenly Father, bring Jan back.
Give me another chance
to be her mom again.
The reason Zada and Zethra
have been contacting me
is 'cause they're angry with you.
They said that?
Now, they may not wait till you're 16.
They may take Susan and make
her take your place right now.
- Is Susan there?
- Hi, Jan.
We miss you.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be
used against you in a court of law.
I'm not Jan Broberg.
Try not to go too hard on your
folks when we get you back.
I know what we said about
weapons in the house.
But Jan did see.
- Was she scared?
- No.
Is there anything you
want to talk about?
I'm not your daughter.
I never was, and I never will be.
The sooner you learn to
accept that, the better.

Must I travel far and wide ♪
Till I am beside the someone ♪
Who I can mean ♪
Something to ♪
Where ♪
Where is love? ♪
[SOFT MUSIC]
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

That was terrific.
Well, thank you.
[CHUCKLES]
You are such a doll.
I'm gonna call you Dolly.
They want us to fail, Dolly.
We have to finish our mission
before your 16th birthday.
Otherwise, it's Susan instead of you.

[PENCIL SCRATCHING]
Is that you on the beach?
It's Susan.
What's she doing there?
It's okay.
I don't mind some quiet.
My new puppy kept me up half the night.
[CHUCKLES]
I hate Bob and Mary Ann
for what they're doing
Treating me and B like criminals.
How did they treat you like a criminal?
B's an adult.
You and he don't have
the same responsibilities.
Yes, we do.
What responsibilities do you have, Jan?
[PENCIL SCRATCHING]
[MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY]
[BELL JINGLES]
- Thanks, Bob.
- Thank you.
You'll wanna neaten those up.
So your mom tells me that you
saw the Hansens at Tasty Treat.
Bet Caroline and you are very excited
to be starting driving lessons soon.
Now, I don't know what's
going on in your mind,
but I hope that you know that I love you
with every fiber of my being.
I know that it's been hard,
but Jani
you're home,
where you belong.
You need to realize that B,
he's going to prison
for a long, long time.
Well, he'll be out
before I turn 16, right?
He'll be lucky if he gets
out by the time you're 30.
[UNEASY MUSIC]

[DISTANT YELLING]
So?
What's it say?
[CHUCKLES]
Uh
"Dearest B"
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
"If you knew how lonely I am.
I try and take pleasant thoughts of you
into my dreams every night,
where all of this is behind us."
I know it's all my fault
that we're in this mess.
But I remember what you
said about Christ suffering.
You are right.
We just have to be brave.
Only, I don't know if I am.
"All I know is I c "
"I couldn't bear to
be with another man."
I know you'll doeverything you can
to get back to me in time,
but if you don't make it,
I have a plan.
'Cause without you, I can't live.
[DARK MUSIC]

Love, your Dolly.
That's beautiful, man.
Yeah. Sure.

[BREATHS DEEPLY]
Mrs. Broberg,
were you aware that
my client was treated
at a clinic in California in 1974?
Yes, I
I knew he had issues with depression.
That's the word he used.
Wasn't he also being treated
for issues regarding your daughter, Jan?
You were aware that the
psychological illness
he suffered caused a
fixation on her, weren't you?
He had a fixation on our whole family.
Ms. Broberg, are you familiar
with the book, "Lolita"?
You should read it.
You're a dead ringer for the mother.
What does that mean?
Marty, you're embarrassing yourself.
Your Honor, he is
showing off for his client
so he doesn't get fired like all of
Mr. Berchtold's previous attorneys.
Let's just stick to
the questions, please.
Yes, Your Honor.
Mrs. Broberg, can you
honestly tell this court
that you didn't realize
there was something sexual
about the relationship between my client
and your daughter in 1974?
I guess because he was
constantly feeding me
how he felt about me
that I believed that there
wasn't anything sexual
about his feelings for Jan.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I was an absolute fool,
but it doesn't make what he did right.

I was a fool.
He is a predator.

Mr. Broberg, isn't it a fact
that Mr. Pincock and the FBI
have told you to paint
a picture for this court
of my client as a
powerful, influential person
who can control people?
I don't need them to
paint a picture for me.
That's who he is.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Please rise.
It is hereby ordered that the defendant,
Robert Ersol Berchtold,
be acquitted of the charges set forth
by reason of mental disease or defect,
excluding responsibility.
The defendant is hereby committed
to the Department of Health and Welfare.
[WHISPERED] It means no jail time.
[GAVEL CLACKS]
Congratulations.
So he's not going free?
No.
He might be in a medical facility
for a very long time, maybe even longer
than he would have been in prison.
Well, let's hope so.
Yeah.

Let's go.
[WHISPERING] Heavenly
Father, please let B
get out of the hospital soon.
We're running out of time.
I'm just really
Jan?
I'm sorry, Caroline.
Are you okay?
I just had a weird dream.
We're so glad you're back.
We all love you so much here.
Mary Ann is with her right now.
At least she'll look at her mother,
because he's got her dead set
and brainwashed against me.
I mean, she she hardly speaks.
She she refuses to
sleep in her own room.
She'll only sleep in
Susan's, but she won't
she won't tell us why.
It's like she's living
in a different world.
She's my child, but she's
a complete mystery to me.
And I I just
[CLEARS THROAT]
I wish that she could tell
us what she needs from us.
She needs freedom to grow up.
You can't watch her every minute.
But it's also important
to keep engaging her,
so when she's ready to talk,
she knows you'll be there for her.
But what if it's too late?
When we first sat down, I
asked her to draw her family.
There you are.
[SOFT MUSIC]

All under one roof with her sisters.
[SNIFFLING]
It tells me she still
sees her home and family
as a place of belonging.
She even drew the dogs.
She loves the dogs.
She didn't draw herself, though.
No.
She's back here in Pocatello with us,
but in other ways, she's
not ready to come home.
I hope that with time,
Jan will feel more comfortable
opening up about her experiences.
She'll, uh
she'll carry them with
her throughout her life.
But Bob
there is a path to healing.
Don't give up.

[ENGINE RUMBLING]
Hm.
[LIGHTER CLICKS]
Look at him.
- Hell, we're doing a good deed.
- [LIGHTER CLICKS]
Sending that pervert a message.
[LAUGHS]
[TENSE MUSIC]

[PHONE RINGS]
[PHONE CLICKS]
Hi. Brobergs.
Mom!
Can you come right now?
What happened?
Let's go! Let's go!
[INDISTINCT SHOUTS]
Oh, my gosh, Mom.
Where's my husband?
Bob?
Where's Dad?
Dad?
Is he in there?

It's my fault.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Dad?
- Dad!
- Dad!
Girls!
Come here. It's okay. It's okay.
I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm right here.
I'm right here. It's okay.
- The store
- Let it burn.
Let it burn.
I got everything I need right here.
[TENSE MUSIC]

It's okay.
[EERIE MUSIC]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]

They're watching, and
they're angry with you.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Great American novel?
[DOOR CLOSES]
It'll actually be my second book.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
Um, you had visitors today.
Oh.
Two men who said it was very important.
But, um, you don't have
visitation privileges.
[SIGHS] Well, that's just my luck.
[LAUGHS]
Well, it's probably about my kids.
My oldest is, uh
he's got some problems with his legs.
And, uh, his mother's running around
with some clown now, so
Anyway. [LAUGHS]
- Yeah.
- They left this.
Really, I'm supposed to
give it to your doctor.
I'm raising one on my own too.
Oh.
[UNEASY MUSIC]

- [LAUGHING]
-

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[BARELY AUDIBLE] Shh. It's okay.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
I I wasn't doubting.
I still believe.
I breathe out me.
And I breathe in who I wanna be.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello? Brobergs.
Dolly?
This is she.
Hi.
I've been speaking with your father.
He asked me to call you
and tell you he's okay
and he'll be getting out soon.
Well, that's that's good to hear.
Apparently, it was
all just a big mix-up.
Between you and me,
we're a bit surprised
he's in here at all.
[UNEASY MUSIC]
Do you have a pen?
Uh
I have a pencil.
Yep, that's just fine.
Uh, write this down.
He'll meet you the evening
of the 17th at Fort Hall.
That's 8427 Faulkner Loop Road.

[ENGINE TURNS OFF]
Ah, Dolly.
It's been so long since I've seen you.
Anybody follow you?
Uh, I don't think so.
I had to get Caroline to fib for me.
Supposed to be at church right now.
What's on your mouth?
It
Oh.
What?
Dolly.
Do you want to wipe it off,
or shall I?
[SIGHS]
You shouldn't wear lipstick.
It it ruins your natural beauty.
That's that's better.
[CHUCKLES]
Do you think that we can get more time?
For what?
For the mission.
Have have they talked to you?
You know, why don't we
talk about that later?
Come on.
But
[UNEASY MUSIC]
[SIGHS]

Oh, show me the way ♪
I'm sure Jani's having
fun at the Beehive event.
Give me a sign ♪
And she's with Caroline.

[CLEARS THROAT]
Stay with your arms around me ♪
Say with your lips you care ♪
Oh, give me a sign so I'll know ♪
I miss you, Bob.
For hope is the essence of love ♪
I miss
I miss being with you.

It's been a long time.
Stars that are shining up above ♪
Take me in your arms ♪
Do you want to talk about
whatever happened back then
with you and him?
Tell me that you are my lover ♪
Won't you take me, dear,
and hold me in your arms? ♪
[INHALES DEEPLY]
There's nothing to talk about.

You know I love you.

Show me the way to your heart ♪
Say you'll be mi ♪
[GRUNTS]
Do you think it worked?
Will I bear a child to save them?
Oh, um
Time will tell, Dolly.
Time will tell.
What do you think it
feels like to be vaporized?
[SIGHS] Well
My best guess is it's, uh
it's like your soul
being torn in half,
and then both those halves being
torn in half again and
and the tearing just keeps going
till there's nothing left to tear.
And then all those dead atoms
are scattered into the universe,
lost forever.
It probably won't
start with you, though.
It'll start with someone close to you.
Anyway
Let's get you home, kid.
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[SNIFFLES]
I I knew it was a sign
whenever the shop burned,
you know, like like a warning.
Yeah.
Yeah, exactly.
Yep, and then you'll be vaporized
on the night of your 16th birthday
and probably blind Karen next,
if they don't do it before, and
then they'll just remove Bob.
What does remove mean?
[SIGHS] Your guess is as good as mine.
[CHUCKLES]
But, uh
there is one thing I do know,
is that they will take Susan,
and they will make her
the new female companion.
So
[SNIFFLES]
I'm not letting them
take Susan instead of me.
She'd be better off dead.
Would she?
You know, I wouldn't be surprised
if she starts getting
messages from them soon.
Then when can I see you again?
This week?
[SIGHS]
I'm being watched by the government.
And, uh, when they figure
out that I lost them tonight,
boy, they're gonna be
watching me even closer, so
What you need to do is get your
parents to let us get married.
Otherwise, it's gonna be too dangerous
to meet in person.
All right?
I d
Hey.
You turn that frown upside down.
The good news is,
it's all up to you.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[SNIFFLES]
[DOOR SLAMS]
B, I'm scared.
I am too.
You know, uh
Whatever happens to
us, you just remember
you'll always be my Dolly.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
[SOFT MUSIC]
[BREATHING SHAKILY]

[SNIFFLING]
[EERIE MUSIC]

[ENGINE RUMBLES]

Go to sleep.
Susan?
If I ever anything bad to you
and you don't understand why,
it's because I love you.
Okay?
[UNEASY MUSIC]

Heavenly Father, please help me.
It's better for Susan and me
to be dead than vaporized.
I know that killing is wrong.
But I have to do it today.
Please bless Mom and Dad
and Karen and Caroline
not to be too sad.
Tiffy and Bandit too.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I just saw Jan head downstairs.
All right. Well, go get the cake.
I'll take care of the rest.
[CAR DOOR SHUTS, ENGINE STARTS]
[DOORBELL CHIMES]
[FOOTSTEPS FALLING]
[DOOR OPENS]
Caroline, Melanie, it's
good to see you girls.
Mr. Broberg, this is
my beau, Sean Barker,
and this is his cousin, Eric.
Okay. Well, come on in.
[KIDS SHOUTING DISTANTLY]
Thank you, Mr. Broberg.
Hey, what are you getting into?
Come. [WHISTLES]
[CLAPPING] Inside.
This way.
Come on.
[UNEASY MUSIC]

[THE GRASS ROOTS'
"SOONER OR LATER" PLAYING]
Yeah, I had so much fun.
Ah, there she is.
Ta-da.
Hey, Jan.
Where's Susan?
She is wrapping a very
special present, I believe.
That's all I know.
H-hey. Um, happy birthday.
I'm Sean's cousin.
Yeah. Yeah, I know who
you are from school.
I hope it's okay that I came.
Caroline said I should tag along.
Mm-hmm.
I don't know if you've
already promised somebody,
but Caroline said probably not,
so I just wanted to ask you
if you would like to go to
the dance with me next Friday.
I can't.
Oh.
Sure, yeah, okay. Sorry.
I have to find my sister.
No worries. Sorry.
Jan, what did he say?
- [DOGS WHINING]
- Did he ask you?
- Dad?
- Yeah?
Tiffy and Bandit are sick or something.
- Can you hurry up?
- W wait.
Calm down. Calm down, all right?
We'll call the vet, all right?
And and me or your mom
will will take them.
What's wrong with them?
What's happening?
I don't know, honey.
But don't worry.
They probably just ate
something they shouldn't.
Your mom'll be home soon.
[DARK MUSIC]

[DOOR CREAKS]
[DOOR SHUTS]
Jan, you're not supposed to see this.
Uh, stay there.
Uh, what's going on out there?
I heard loud voices.
Hey.
- Give me that.
- Wait, Jan, no.
Jan, you ruined it.
You weren't supposed to see.

Jan?
When did it get here?
Today.
I had to do a mail order.
I saved up all my
pocket money to get it.
[CLICK] [STATIC HISSING]
White noise.
See?
I got it 'cause I know
you can't sleep sometimes.
I wanted to help.

[SNIFFLES]
What's going on, Jan?
You're scaring me.
I just hope it won't be as
bad for you as it was for me.
What are you talking about?

You're stronger.
You'll bear the burden
better than I ever did.
Are you going to run away again?
There's nowhere left to run to.
I was given strict instructions
that cake doesn't wait.
Yeah, but are Tiffy and
Bandit going to be okay?
Uh, yeah, girls.
Uh, they're gonna be okay.
They're just probably
gonna have to spend
the night at the vet,
but just to make sure.
Okay?
Can we sing to Jan?
You better.
But only if you know the words.
ALL: Happy birthday to you ♪
[SINGING FADING]
Happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday, dear Jan ♪
Happy birthday ♪
[DARK MUSIC]

It's like your soul
being torn in half,
and then both those halves being
torn in half again and
and the tearing just keeps going
till there's nothing left to tear.

[CRYING]

And all those dead atoms
are scattered into the universe,
lost forever.

[ENGINE REVVING DISTANTLY]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[DOG BARKS DISTANTLY]
[CAR HORN HONKS]
[GASPS SOFTLY]
Well, good morning, 16-year-old.
You must have tired
yourself out at your party.
You slept in your dress.
Did you have fun?
Uh-huh.
Good.
Thank you for throwing it.
Of course.
[CLEARS THROAT, SNIFFS]
Oh, Jan, Tiffy and
Bandit are coming home.
Mom went to go pick them up.
They're okay?
Course they're okay.
They're Brobergs.
Strong. Hm?
[CHUCKLES]
Let's get you some breakfast, huh?
Come here.
[SIGHS]
There you go.
I, uh
I love you to the moon and back, Jani.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[NEWSPAPER RUSTLING]
So I heard Eric invited
you to the dance last night.
Oh, he did, did he?
Back to school dance is next week.
Next week? Hm.
Ah.
Are you going, Jan?
[SIGHS]
[DIAL TONE WHINES]
[BUILDING TENSE MUSIC]

[WAVES CRASHING]
Remember, don't let any boys touch you.
Otherwise, you'll be
vaporized instantly.

[TENSE, PULSATING MUSIC]

[PINK FLOYD'S "CHILDHOOD'S END"]

You shout in your sleep ♪
Perhaps the price is just too steep ♪
Is your conscious at rest ♪
If once put to the test? ♪
You awake with a start ♪
To just the beating of your heart ♪
Just one man beneath the sky ♪
Just two ears, just two eyes ♪

You set sail across the sea ♪
Of long past thoughts and memories ♪
Would you like to dance, maybe?
Merge with harsh realities ♪
- I'm
- It's fine.
I'm no John Travolta anyway.
Your eyes are growing moist ♪
And all the fears never voiced ♪
Say you have to make
your final choice ♪

No, um
it's fine.
Come on.

[COMMODORES' "EASY" PLAYING]

I'm not happy when I try to fake it ♪
No ♪
Ooh, that's why I'm easy ♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[UNEASY MUSIC]

[MUSIC FADES IN]
I'm easy like Sunday morning ♪
Whoa ♪

'Cause I'm easy ♪
Whoo, easy like Sunday morning ♪
Yeah ♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[CAR HORN HONKS]
Ah, hey.
You girls have fun?
Jan? Caroline?
Sounds like someone
is excited you're home.
Come on. I want to hear
if Eric asked you to be his girlfriend.
There's some mint chocolate
chip in the freezer
if you girls want some.
Goodnight.
[UNEASY MUSIC]

[WHIRRING]
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]

[BREATHING SHAKILY]
Hey, Jan?
We're in here.
[SOBBING]
Jan?
[CRYING]

[SOBBING]
What are you doing?
No.
No, no, no, please.
[SOBBING] No.
Who's Zada and Zethra?
They said they told him.
They told him that
This is B's writing.
[SOBBING]
The baby
They told him that we had to.
We're here.
Okay?
It's safe.
[SOBBING]
Jan.
What did B do?
Just the
The first time it happened,
she was in Mexico with him.
Jan, it'll be okay.
[MUFFLED CONVERSATION]
Yes.
I mean, they're not
gonna want to help you.
Good morning.
Jan, what's what's wrong?
What happened?
[CHOKING BACK TEARS]
I've I've been lying to you guys
for a really long time.
I didn't want anything
bad to happen to you.
Well, what whatever it is, honey,
we're here.
Come here, sweetheart.
It's okay.
[CRYING]
In B's motor home, before
he went to Mexico
something happened.
And and there were
these people from
from another planet
who were talking to me.
From another planet?
Do you do you mean aliens?
It's just they told me that
I was one of them and that
and that they needed my
help to save their people.
How?
It's just they said that I
had to have a baby with B,
and I've been trying to since I was 12.
I'm just I'm sorry.
- I couldn't tell anyone.
- Oh, my God.
[SOBBING]
I'm sorry, Dad.
Oh.
- Come here.
- Sorry.
Oh.
Come here.
None of this is your fault.
[SOBBING]
Jani.
[SOBBING]
Can you please forgive me?
We made every mistake in the world.
You have done nothing wrong.
You could tell us anything.
We will never stop loving you.
Okay?
It's okay.
It's all right.
Oh, my baby.
[JAMES TAYLOR'S "SHOWER
THE PEOPLE" PLAYING]
Shower the people you love with love ♪
All right.
I really need to find these blue edges.
Let's see if that one works.
Um
Oh.
[LIGHT LAUGHTER]
What can I say?
That's a Bingo Bango.
Mm. Ah, I got it.
Wow.
[PHONE RINGING]
Ooh, I guess I'll go and get that
since I already got
my part of the puzzle.
Oh, ha-ha.
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello? Brobergs.
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
Oh, Dolly. [CHUCKLES]
Always good to hear your voice.
[LOVE'S "ALWAYS SEE YOUR FACE"]
Got a blue.

Won't somebody please ♪
Help me with my miseries? ♪

Can't somebody see, yeah ♪
What this world has done to me ♪

And I know, I know ♪
And I say, oh, I say ♪
That no matter where I go ♪
No, I will always see your face ♪

It was the wrong number.
Somebody please ♪
Help me with my memories ♪

Can somebody see, yeah ♪
What this world has done to me? ♪
Yeah ♪
And I know, I know ♪
And I say, oh, I say ♪
That no matter where you go ♪
No, you will always see my face ♪

And I know, I know ♪
And I say, oh, I say ♪
That no matter where you go ♪
No, you will always see my face ♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, DOGS BARKING]
[SOFT MUSIC]

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