Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) s01e09 Episode Script

1
[indistinct PA announcement]
[cell door slams]
[guard]
One-one-seven-two-five-two. Dahmer.
One-one-nine-nine-four-two. Bryant.
One-one-six-six-five-four.
[cell door slams]
Hey, I put in a request
for two cyanide capsules
and a razor blade.
Will you check on those for me?
[door slams]
[sighs]
[woman] Dear Jeff, My friends
think I'm crazy for writing to you,
but I wanted to say hi.
Do you know
that you're a Halloween costume now?
Three different guys at my school
went as you for Halloween,
and everybody freaked out,
and now they say next year
nobody's allowed to come dressed up.
They made a comic book
about you, did you know?
I think it's cool.
I've always been into scary stuff.
Will you send me back,
like, a drawing or something?
And I sent you five dollars.
I'll send you more if you write back.
Your biggest fan, Alice.
[melancholy music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
You ever notice
how this looks just like a human thumb?
At least that's how they look
when I was done with 'em.
No, actually, more like this.
[men groaning]
- Mmm.
- You're a fucking freak, dude.
[man] Sit your white ass down!
[men complaining indistinctly]
I don't like that, son.
My fans do.
You know, you don't have to go back there.
You could stay with us
for as long as you need to.
Uh-uh. I won't be anyone's burden,
and that's the end of it.
- But, Mama, it's not
- It's the end of it. But thank you.
Go get the rest of that stuff.
[siren chirps]
[cameras clicking]
[siren chirps]
[sighs] They ever gonna let up?
Give it time.
Something else will come along.
[eerie music playing]
I'll get it.
Come on, Mama.
[exhales]
Oh
- Ugh. No, I'm sorry No, this is crazy.
- What?
Mama, you can't stay here,
and I won't let you.
I mean Oh God, I can still smell it.
What he did to those people
The death, murder?
I know you smell it too.
If you If you want
to be stubborn and not admit it, okay.
But don't lie. You taught me better.
And where else am I supposed to go, huh?
Couldn't afford it even if I wanted to.
- Well, then let me help you.
- Sandra, no.
He has taken enough from this world.
He's not taking my home. I won't let him.
Well then, promise me this.
If you get scared at all,
go where the others go.
You know where everyone else
is going at night, right?
I'm fine.
Promise me.
Okay! I promise. Goodness.
Will you stop?
You acting like Jeff Dahmer
gonna jump out the shadows
and try to get me.
He's locked up.
Gone. Forever.
Okay. Okay, well, just call me at least.
And please get some rest.
- I will.
- Okay?
I will.
[door slams]
Ha!
[footsteps]
Hey!
[knocking]
If I gave you 20 bucks,
you think you could get me something?
[high-pitched vocalizations
playing on speaker]
[inmate 1] What the fuck is that?
[vocalization continues]
[inmate 2] Turn that
fucking shit off, Dahmer!
[inmate 1] I'm trying to fucking sleep!
[inmates complaining indistinctly]
[vocalizations continue]
[whale sounds continue]
[inmates yelling indistinctly]
[whale sounds continue]
- [loud banging]
- Ah!
Dahmer, turn that off!
Why? I was just trying to get some sleep.
[guard 2] Turn it off and give it to me!
[whale sounds continue]
It's mine.
You can't just take it.
[guard 2] Give it to me,
or you're going in the hole.
[whales clicking]
[whale sounds]
[sighs] Fuck.
[player clicks off]
Who says I can't have that?
You like that, huh?
The sounds of people getting killed?
It's whale noises.
They're soothing to me. It helps me sleep.
I can't turn off the lights in here.
Yeah? Well, take it up with the warden.
I paid for that! You can't just take it!
[guard 2] Fuck you, Dahmer.
- Should have given you the electric chair.
- I asked them to.
They gave me 900 years instead.
Come on, man.
I'll just get more whale noises, dude!
[inmate 1] Shut the fuck up, Dahmer!
[inmate 2] Shut the fuck up!
[wind chimes jingling]
[man 2] Dear Ms. Hughes.
Would you be so kind
as to autograph this for me?
I've included a return envelope
with postage for your convenience.
[faint whale sounds]
[man 2] Thank you.
Josh Mahoney, Champaign, Illinois.
I understand your anger, Ms. Hughes,
but civil suits can take years,
and even if we win, it's unclear
how much money we'll actually get
from the city
or the small publishing companies,
like the one that released the comic book.
Mr. Goldstein,
I'm not doing this for money.
No amount of money
can bring my son Tony back.
This is an evil book.
Evil, with evil intent.
Somebody has got to pay for this
and be held accountable.
Agreed.
Here, I want you to look at this.
Jeffrey Dahmer's father
has written a book,
and my guess is it's gonna sell
way more copies than some comic book.
I got to know Lionel and his wife Shari
a little during the trial.
They seemed like decent people.
Look, on top of suing the city,
I say we go after Dahmer and his family.
Intercept any money
they might make from book deals, uh
movie, TV rights, paid interviews.
Hell, even small donations
that Dahmer's fans
might be sending him in prison.
And they are. I read that in the paper.
Don't let him make one goddamn dime.
I don't know. I mean, suing the city,
going after Dahmer, that feels right.
Going after his family?
After what they've been through too?
[lawyer sighs]
They could make millions.
Sure, uh, they might be decent people,
but, um, I don't think he's gonna be
sharing any of that money with you
or any of the other victims' families.
Not voluntarily anyway.
So are you up for this fight?
"Lionel Dahmer's analysis
of his hopelessly flawed relationship
with his son Jeffrey is particularly
unpleasant for a parent to read."
"It might be possible
to dismiss A Father's Story
were it not for the palpable pain
and despair that gusts from the text."
"What makes
Lionel Dahmer's narrative so compelling"
Ooh, "compelling."
"is that he is trying in this ascription
to peer not just into the soul of his son
but into his own."
[Lionel sighs]
Oh, honey. This is fantastic.
I don't It's pretty good, I think.
- [chuckles]
- What does your agent think?
Leonard? Oh, he's excited.
Yeah, it's the New York Times, so
Oh, honey, this is a
This is fantastic.
This deserves a toast, huh?
To my hubby, the best-selling author.
Hey, uh, let's not
get ahead of ourselves, sweetheart.
[both chuckle]
Mm.
[host on TV] And we're back
with Lionel and Shari Dahmer.
His book, A Father's Story,
about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer
is about to hit the shelves.
Now, Lionel, over the break,
you mentioned there was some interest
in turning the book into a movie?
[Shari] It's a possibility.
[Lionel] There is, uh
It's called an option.
And there's a couple of guys
named Ambler and Dickinson
in Kansas City that would
like to make a feature film of
- [guard 3] Hey, Dahmer. Let's go.
- of the whole story.
[Shari] A Father's Story.
- Sorry. What am I supposed to do?
- [Lionel] A Father's Story.
- [host] And you'd cooperate.
- [Lionel] Yes.
My dad's on TV.
[host] Any casting ideas
of who would play the two of you?
[Lionel] Oh, I don't know.
Jon Voight, maybe. Faye Dunaway.
What do you mean,
I have to pay 'em the profits?
How can we do that? There are no profits.
[lawyer 2] Well, in a way,
that's the silver lining.
The book hasn't sold the 50,000 copies
that would have turned a profit,
so there's nothing to hand over.
But what So if it does?
[lawyer] Then yes,
the judge said that the families
would be entitled to those profits.
- They're going after Jeff's money too.
- Well, Jeff doesn't have any money.
Well, he earns 25 cents an hour
working in the prison,
and people send him money.
All he does is buy coffee
and cigarettes with that.
Well, he won't be able to anymore.
Judge said the families
would be entitled to that.
Oh, jeez. This is just This is
Look, I understand
that people are in pain. I do.
But, really? Twenty-five cents?
Now who exactly, um
Which one of them is this?
It's all of the families.
[sighs]
[indistinct happy chatter]
[Laotian folk music playing]
[music continues]
[telephone ringing]
- [beeps]
- Hello?
[man on phone] Why don't you
go back to where you came from?
Hello?
Nobody wants you here!
Get on a fucking boat and go back!
[dial tone]
[folk music continues]
[folk music continues]
[faint tropical bird sounds]
[suspenseful music building]
Relax.
I just wanna take some pictures.
Come on.
I wanna show you something.
[rhythmic sanding sound]
[thunder rumbling]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thunder rumbling]
[in Laotian]
[saw grinding]
[thunder cracks]
[son] You knew about him!
[steady clanging]
[clanging continues]
[tools clatter]
[electric drill whirring]
Watch what happens.
[thunder rumbles loudly]
[bone scraping]
[otherworldly screech]
[gasps]
[thunder rumbling outside]
[rain pattering]
[in Laotian]
[woman sobs]
[boy in Laotian]
[sobs]
[in Laotian]
[sobs]
[man 3] Today, we are gathered
to celebrate bravery,
valor, resolve, and exemplary courage.
Courage in the face of danger,
in the face of great doubt.
Heroes.
That's who I see
when I look out across this room.
Each one of you represents the best of us.
Everyday citizens,
driven in your life, not by reward,
but by principle.
To do what is right. And just.
When the mobs came,
these two men stood their ground.
And we stood beside them,
and we fought for them
and for all of us who put on a badge
and serve as a hallowed reminder
that we take care of our own.
Facing great obstacles,
this brave woman went above and beyond
to try and protect her community.
Displaying unyielding resolve,
typifying the great spirit of Milwaukee.
I'm pleased to call to the stage,
this year's recipient
of the Citizens Merit Award
[man 3] It is with great pride and honor
that I call to the stage the recipients
of the Milwaukee Police Association's
Officers of the Year Award.
[Arreola] Glenda Cleveland.
[clapping]
John Balcerzak and Joseph Gabrish.
[loud applause]
[cheers]
[applause continues]
[crowd whooping]
Thank you, Chief.
This is a step in the right direction.
Honestly, I'm at a loss for words.
I just
[sighs]
I will accept this award on one condition.
That in the future, you do better.
This is for the Konerak boy
and for all the other victims.
Don't let this happen again.
[scattered clapping]
We intend to sue the city in federal court
for violating your son's right
to equal protection.
The police had a constitutional duty
to protect your son,
and they failed.
We seek ten million dollars
in damages for your family.
I know that even that amount of money
will do nothing to ease the suffering
that you're feeling right now.
But it sends the right message.
A sum like that goes a long way
in making your lives
just a little bit easier.
[in Laotian]
[in English] I understand that they're
auctioning off Dahmer's belongings,
and I'm gonna make sure
100% of those proceeds go to the victims.
Which, of course, includes your family.
[older woman in Laotian]
[woman sobbing]
[indistinct announcing on TV]
[glass breaking in distance]
[muffled bang]
[TV clicks off]
- [Jeffery faintly] Shut up!
- [man 4] Help!
[tense music playing]
- [muffled thuds]
- [indistinct yelling]
[man 4] Help!
- [banging, clattering]
- [indistinct yelling]
[Jeffrey] Put it down!
[man 4] Help!
[clattering]
[steady sawing sounds]
[bones cracking]
[sawing continues]
- [man screaming]
- [electric saw whirring]
[woman on TV] you're gonna
absolutely love this product.
Basically, you just drape it
directly over your shoulders,
and you can use it like a backpack.
It's like nothing else on the market.
It's easy to use, and it's easy for you.
It comes in at a low price
[baby crying faintly]
[man snoring]
- [Glenda] Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I've seen you in the building before.
Dana. 201, end of the hall.
Well, it's nice
to finally meet you. Glenda.
I read about you in the paper,
trying to help that boy.
That was a good thing you tried to do.
Yeah, well,
good as it was, what it get us?
Still can't sleep in our own bed.
[Dana] You having nightmares?
Me too,
but this is where
we're all coming for comfort, right?
Look, I told my daughter.
I said, "I'll come down if I get scared."
You know, I say, "I'm fine, Sandra.
Don't worry about me, Sandra."
"He ain't gonna get the best of me."
But he's in my nerves, in my brain.
- I can't get it to stop.
- [sighs]
I got arthritis, real bad. Both knees.
Hate going up and down stairs.
But when I got trash to take out,
I take it up to the third floor,
down the hall,
all the way down to the alley,
just so I don't have to walk past
that son of a bitch's apartment.
Next time your trash need to go out,
you set it right outside your door.
[chuckles]
That's sweet of you, Glenda,
but no need to.
Oh, uh-uh.
Girl, we got to look out for each other.
[chuckles]
Okay. Mm.
[telephone ringing]
[telephone ringing]
[telephone ringing]
[man on phone]
Get up, baby, fucking get up.
Hello?
Ten million dollars, huh?
You fucking gook.
How about you leave well enough alone
and fuck off back to your rice paddy?
[dial tone]
[steady beeping of truck backing up]
[door opens]
[door closes]
Excuse me.
Excuse me, everyone.
Can I have your attention please?
I am sorry, but due to safety reasons,
I have been told I can no longer
allow residents to sleep in the lobby.
But But after speaking
with the owners of the building,
for those wishing to remain,
I am pleased to inform
that your rent will be lowered by 25%.
And for those wishing to break your lease,
there will be no penalty in doing so.
Thank you.
[solemn organ music playing]
[music continues]
[traditional Laotian music playing]
[sobbing]
Excuse me.
My name is Glenda Cleveland, and I
Yes, I know who you are.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I'm George Hecker.
I helped bring the family over from Laos.
[woman sobs]
They never found a whole body.
You know, just parts.
Took a while,
but we finally raised the funds for this.
The archdiocese chipped in for the casket
so we could have a proper memorial.
I was I was wondering if I could
This is the boy's mother?
Yes.
[Glenda] I don't wanna, um
[mumbling]
Maybe I could speak with his father?
Certainly, yes.
[sobbing continues]
[whispers] I beg your pardon.
Mr. Sinthasomphone,
I'm Glenda Cleveland.
I was the one
who called the police about your son.
I live in the building.
I am
I am so sorry.
I knew something was wrong.
And I never should have trusted the police
when they said everything was okay.
'Cause it wasn't.
It's okay.
No. It isn't.
You do everything you can.
[music continues]
[mother sobs softly]
[sighs]
Hi. I'm here to see Catherine Dahmer.
So now, the movie isn't happening.
[scoffs]
Producers got cold feet, I guess.
I don't know
if it was even a good idea, you know.
But all I ever really wanted to do
was to help other parents to, you know,
look out for the warning signs.
Well
I'd have had Raquel Welch play you, Ma.
I know you always liked her.
Yeah.
She'd have been good too.
He really loved you, Ma. In his own way.
[emotional music playing softly]
And you did your best with him.
As well as anybody could.
[sighs]
You're a good mom to me, that's for sure.
Okay.
I'll come back, see you tomorrow, hmm?
[kisses]
Yes, that's so sick.
No, one more, one more, one more.
[groaning]
What exactly
do you boys think you're doing?
- Nothing. We're just having some fun.
- [Sandra] Fun?
- Sandra, calm down.
- This isn't an amusement park.
- It's my mama's home.
- Hey. Hey, hey.
We are on the sidewalk, public property.
We're allowed to take pictures.
Hey, what are you
What the fuck!?
You had no right to do that!
People were murdered in here!
Do y'all get that?
Go home. Go!
Sorry, Ma.
I shouldn't have lost my temper like that.
Come on. Let's get the baby in the house.
- You all right.
- [baby fussing]
[host 2 on TV] So, Jeff, one of
the questions your dad has in the book
is when did you begin to slip?
Is it me, or does he look like
he gained some weight?
Yeah, it looks like it.
Must be eating pretty good in prison.
just couldn't return?
Think it was around [clears throat]
age 14 or 15.
Started to have
having obsessive
thoughts of, uh
violence intermingled with sex.
[host 2] Was it
the killing that excited you?
Or was it what happened after the killing?
[chair legs squeak]
[Jeffrey] No, the killing
was just a means to an end.
That that was the least satisfactory
[in Laotian]
[in English] Just turn it off.
[Jeffrey] That's why I tried to, uh
create living zombies with, uh
muriatic acid and the drill.
[host 2] One of those failed experiments
at creating a living zombie
was conducted on this 14-year-old boy.
Jeffrey had drilled a hole in his head
and poured in acid.
A crude attempt at lobotomy
that none of his victims survived.
[TV clicks off]
You all right, Mama?
It ain't right.
I don't know
why he gets to go on national TV
to tell his side of the story.
[sighs] I hear you, girl,
but maybe if we can understand
what motivated him, we can
I have had it!
Living underneath his shadow, I
- This is not some Halloween story.
- I know.
- This is my life. And I
- [knocking on door]
Who is it?
It's the police.
Yes?
Glenda Cleveland?
Yes?
May we come in?
No, you may not.
Your landlord told us
we might find a Sandra Smith here.
She's your daughter? Yes?
[Sandra] I'm Sandra Smith.
- You have the right to remain silent.
- [grunts]
- I didn't do anything.
- What?
- Wait. Why are you arresting my daughter?
- Settle down.
Got a complaint from a young man,
said your daughter assaulted him
and destroyed his camera.
- He's pressing charges.
- That young man was trespassing.
Did your daughter assault him?
[baby crying]
What precinct are y'all taking her to?
- District One over on State Street
- I know where it is.
[sighs]
[whale sound playing]
[vehicle starts]
[baby gurgling]
[man 5] You see this?
They're auctioning off
all of Jeffrey Dahmer's stuff.
Morning, Rita.
[man 6] Like what? Skulls and whatnot?
[man 5] Yeah, I want that drill
that he made the zombies with.
[man 6] Morning, boss.
[man 5 imitates drill]
[man 6 laughs, mock groans]
[men laugh]
Rita, get me Dean Reynolds
at Public Works.
Well, whatever that number is,
I'm telling you I'll do 100K over it.
Okay?
But I get every single fuckin' item. Okay?
Yeah, right there!
That all of it?
Whoa, look at this.
You put that down, right now!
That's my property, asshole!
Oh, don't you fuckin'
look at me like that.
Your union rep's a dear friend of mine.
I'll get your ass fired, you sack of shit!
- All right.
- Easy.
Fucking bury it!
The judge dismissed our claim
the police had a constitutional duty
to protect your son.
But the city has agreed to settle,
conceding that they violated his rights
to equal protection under the law.
The number is not what we'd like.
They're offering 850,000.
But it's my advice that you take it.
That way, you can finally move on
and start with the healing process.
[knocking on door]
I'm Joe Zilber. You don't know me.
I know the proceeds for the auction
were gonna go to the victims,
but I just couldn't handle the idea
that that stuff
would be a collector's item, right?
So I paid a little more
and made sure it was all destroyed.
This is your cut of it.
Split between 11 families.
Thirty-two thousand.
[telephone ringing]
Hello?
[man on phone]
Why don't you take that 850,000
and get on a nice big fucking plane
and go back to the fucking jungle,
you slanty-eyed piece of shit?
You never call again, or I make you sorry!
[laughing]
What are you two doing?
- Uh, hey, Sarge.
- [clears throat]
I thought you clocked out.
- We're just finishing up.
- Making a phone call.
Night, Sarge.
So, Kareem,
how've you been since our last talk?
Okay, I guess.
Well, you look healthy.
Yeah.
Since I tested positive
I've kinda cut myself off from people.
I don't go out anymore.
Not to the club.
[muffled dance music playing]
[Kareem] Not to visit friends.
Even family.
I don't know.
I just feel
ashamed.
[Ron] Mm.
It's hard to be around people.
It hurts too much.
[man 7] Ron!
["Skin Tight"
by Tony! Toni! Toné! playing]
Ron!
Everything you wear is
Skin tight ♪
Skin tight ♪
I understand how you feel.
- Yo, don't bullshit me.
- I'm not.
Believe me.
I understand.
["Don't Let It Show On Your Face
(Perfecto Mix)" by Adeva playing]
Never take reflection
Cover my direction ♪
Don't let those things inside
Steal your pride ♪
Never take reflection
Cover my direction ♪
Don't let those things inside
Steal your pride ♪
[song fades]
[intense music playing]
[Ron] You can't hide
in your apartment forever.
Sooner or later,
you're gonna have to face your fears
and start living again.
[song resumes]
No, no, no ♪
[song fades]
Glenda.
[relieved sigh] Mr. Princewill.
Hey.
So, you will be getting
an official notice,
but I want to let you know
that the city is buying the building
and it's being demolished.
Demolished? So they just gon' kick us out?
They're going to provide
relocation expenses for all the tenants.
But yes, you need to move.
How long we got?
Sixty days.
And what are they gonna replace it with?
Don't know. I heard maybe a park.
They should do some sort of a memorial,
you know,
so people don't forget the victims.
Something that will honor their memory.
That's the least they could do.
I'll be sure to tell them.
I'm sorry, Glenda.
For everything.
Thank you.
You're a good man, Mr. Princewill.
[machine rumbling]
[loud crash, debris crumbling]
[steady beep of machine backing up]
[loud crash]
[debris crumbling]
[whale sound playing]
[men singing]
I am weak, but Thou art strong ♪
Jesus, keep me from all wrong ♪
I'll be satisfied as long ♪
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee ♪
Just a closer walk with Thee ♪
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea ♪
[screams]
You fucking deserve it!
You fucking deserve it, man!
You fucking deserve it!
- [alarm blaring]
- You don't deserve to be in here!
- You fucking deserved it!
- [on PA] Lockdown at back of the chapel.
Inmate assault with a weapon.
Neck trauma.
[breathing heavily]
[cell door slams]
[guard 4] Mail for you.
[man on TV] But not many of us get it.
There was never enough time,
never the right equipment.
In the end, we tried to forget about it.
Concentrate on other things,
and above all else,
make sure we kept our shirt on.
Actually it's not such
a hard promise to keep.
Not anymore.
[eerie music playing]
[man on TV] All you need are three things.
Knowledge,
desire, and the right equipment.
In the next 20 minutes or so,
we will take you through
what amounts
to a college weight-lifting class.
It is designed to give you a balance
of properly proportioned muscularity
and a stronger heart.
It will require about 30 minutes
of your time, three days a week.
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- [sighs]
[man 8] Dear Jeff, I'm your biggest fan.
I found this card
at the local notion store.
Pretty cool, right?
I read in the paper
they tried to kill you in prison.
Made me laugh.
They'll never kill you, man.
You're like Michael Myers
or Freddy Krueger now.
Jeffrey Dahmer will never die.
Can you send me an autograph?
Enclosed is a return envelope.
Merry Christmas. Love, Dave.
[whale sound playing]
[eerie music playing]