"Tricks and Treats" is the second episode of Asylum. It premiered October 24, 2012.
Synopsis
An exorcist is summoned to Briarcliff to help save a troubled farm boy. Sister Jude's darkest secret is revealed.
Plot
2012
The episode picks up where the last left off, with Teresa encountering Bloody Face. He chases her to the main hall, where she tries to save Leo, but ends up going into the room where her husband's arm was ripped off, and screams continuesly while she watches through the door as Bloody Face repeatedly stabs Leo. Bloody Face beats on the door, as we flash back to 1964.
1964
Wendy is crying to her friends over the blackmail on the night before Halloween. She takes a shower and makes the mistake of leaving the window open. She is later confronted by Bloody Face, who presumably kills her. Back at the asylum, Sister Jude is doing room checks. A list of grievances is confiscated from Lana's cell. Sister Jude wants to erase Lana's memory, and has Dr. Arden perform electric shock therapy on her. Later, Dr. Thredson arrives and speaks with Kit. Kit insists that he is not crazy, and Alma truly was abducted, but Dr. Thredson diagnoses him as a manipulative, with acute clinical insanity. In the woods, Dr. Arden and Sister Mary Eunice go to feed the creatures of the woods, and Sr. Mary asks what they are. Dr. Arden tells her he will let her know in good time, and kindly offers her a candy apple, which she is reluctant to take, but ends up taking a bite. Lana has brief memories of the electric shock therapy, but alas she remembers everything. Lana overhears Kit and Grace planning to escape. Dr Thredson has a talk with Sr. Jude, and expresses his belief that the asylum is barbaric in its treatment methods. Sr. Jude has a chat with a concerned family, and Dr. Thredson interrupts. The family informs them their son, Jed, has begun hearing voices and seeing things that aren't there, and ate the heart of one of their farm animals. They express belief that he may be possessed by a demon. They go to see Jed in his room, his body completely twisted. He cries that he is scared and does not know where he is before speaking his horrific language.
Shelley approaches Dr. Arden and offers sexual favors in exchange for time outside. He refuses her advances calling her a whore. Later at home he solicits the services of a prostitute who while fulfilling his request to don a nun's habit finds some damning BDSM photos which include severely bruised, tortured and possibly dead women. Fearing for her life she bites his arm and knees his groin to make her escape.
Back at the asylum Lana tells Grace of the tunnel she used to enter the manor by and plans an escape but insists she must not tell Kit. The Monsignor and visiting priest Father Malachi perform an exorcism on Jed with the church mandated presence of Dr. Thredson. Lights flicker, pseudo-Latin is spoken and objects and bodies are flung across the room. Jed, with seemingly omniscient knowledge, confronts Sister Jude on a past that includes drunken promiscuity and manslaughter. He mocks Jude, saying "You're a murderer Judy!", causing her to snap and attack him. The Monsignor comes in and drags her out of the room.
In the mayhem that apparently results from the demons rage all the locked cells open and Lana takes advantage of the opportunity to escape with Grace. Kit catches up to them and after Lana refuses to include him Grace and he go off on their own. Lana screams for the guards that Kit is escaping, and He and Grace are captured. Lana looks on in tears, feeling guilty for having Grace caught.
Jed's rage continues and Dr. Thredson administers a sedative. It has no effect and Jed enters cardiac arrest and grows still. Dr. Thredson makes an attempt at CPR before pronouncing him dead. There is a final flickering of light behind Sister Mary at the door and she faints, appearing to be knocked backwards by an unseen force.
Dr. Arden, having heard of Mary's fainting, goes to check on her. She is asleep on a cot with blankets thrown off and wearing only a nightshirt. Though clearly tempted by her exposed body he attempts to protect her modesty by adjusting her gown causing her to wake. He expresses concern for her well being but still glimpsing a hint of her breasts through her shirt he turns away explaining that it is dismaying to see her out of costume. She pulls the blankets to her chin and apologizes telling him she feels comfortable with him. As he leaves the room she lies back down and forcefully throws the blankets off. A crucifix on the wall shakes.
Sister Jude praises Lana for sacrificing her own freedom to stop Kit. She tells her she gets a reward, inviting Kit and Grace into the office and allowing Lana to pick the cane with which they are to be punished. Before the Sister can proceed Kit tells Grace to stand up and takes the entire blame on himself. Jude accepts this but doubles Kit's punishment to 40 lashes.
Featured Characters
Jed Potter
Jed is a guest character on Asylum. He is a 17 year-old boy admitted to Briarcliff Manor by his parents after he is found in the family barn having disemboweled their best cow and muttering an unknown language while under the possession of a demonic entity. After his death, Sister Mary Eunice was then under its control. During his brief time in the sanatorium, he mocks Sister Jude and Dr. Thredson.
Father Malachi
Father Malachi is a paraplegic priest who comes to Briarcliff Manor to aid in the exorcism of Jed Potter. His name is perhaps inspired by real-world Catholic priest, author and exorcist Malachi Martin.
Guest Stars
- Chloe Sevigny as Shelley
- Frederic Lehne as Frank
- Adam Levine as Leo
- Jenna Dewan Tatum as Teresa
- Clea Duvall as Wendy
- Naomi Grossman as Pepper
- Gloria Laino as The Mexican
- Devon Graye as Jed Potter
- Robin Weigert as Cynthia Potter
- Andrew Rothenberg as Mr. Potter
- John Aylward as Father Malachi
- Chelsey Valentine as Little Girl in Blue
- Jenny Wade as Prostitute
- Jennifer Holloway as Barb
- Vanessa Mizzone as Lois
- Jake Olson as Soldier
- Stanley Miller as Lurch
- Jake Ryan Scott as Dr. Kildare
- Henry Watkins as Walter
- Casey Wyman as Daniel
Quotes
- Timothy Howard to Oliver Thredson: "Times may have changed doctor, but the nature of evil has not."
- Shelley to Sister Jude: "Hey, Sister. I have a cucumber in my room but not because I was hungry."
- Sister Jude to Lana Winters: "Who would you like to call, Ms. Winters? The American Civil Lesbians Union?"
- Sister Jude to Arthur Arden: "I prayed about it...when I wasn't praying for you to find a halfway decent haberdasher."
- Sister Jude to Cynthia Potter: "Mrs. Potter, you needn't worry. Good boys gone bad is my area of expertise. I've had great success in curbing the chronic masturbator."
- Shelly to Arthur Arden: "I saw you flirting with Our Lady of Perpetual Virginity. You want to see my candy apple?"
- Arthur Arden to Prostitute: "Slowly, show me your mossy bank."
- Sister Jude to Lana Winters: "Don't make me change my mind, Miss Lana Banana."
- Sister Mary Eunice to Arthur Arden: "No, I really shouldn't. Sister Jude said sweets lead to sin."
Notes
- The foggy night when Father Malachi arrives to Briarcliff Manor may be a reference to the scene where Father Lancaster Merrin arrives to the MacNeil house in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist. The demon leaving Jed's body and entering Sister Mary Eunice is also similiar to the demon leaving Regan's body and entering Father Karras in the film as well.
Raised Questions
- Is Dr. Arden a serial murderer of prostitutes?
- How much darker is Sister Jude's past?
- Is Sister Mary Eunice now possessed?
- Will Teresa escape Bloody Face?
- Does Dr. Arden love Sister Mary Eunice?
- Are there two Bloody Faces?
Music
- Dominique by Soeur Marie (ad nauseum in the common room)
- Wishin' and Hopin' by Dusty Springfield (Wendy showers)
- Buttons and Bows by Dinah Shore version (Sr. Jude's car radio)
- Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 69, No. 1 L'Adieu by Frederic Chopin (Arden entertains)
- A Little Bit Later On by Ella Fitzgerald (Sr. Jude sings)
Gallery
