[door creaks open]
-[footsteps shuffling] -[woman sighs]
[tense music playing]
[music intensifies]
[brakes screech]
[gear shifts]
Joyce?
[doctor] So you're how many weeks now?
Twenty-six.
Okay, so you're well into your last trimester. Good.
The moodiness. The nervousness. Hmm?
Look, you want to think of this as the time where you can relax,
just think about the joy that's about to enter your lives when this baby comes. Hm?
Now, I see you've been put on lots of medications. I see some hormones here.
-Which drugs are you currently taking? -I'm--
That's why we're here today, Doctor. It's the medications.
She's taking Equanil for anxiety.
That's supposed to be as needed,
but she's gone through refill after refill.
[Joyce gasps]
-Another doctor gave her sleeping pills. -[Joyce] It's important I sleep.
Laxatives, Valium. He's given her morphine.
[Joyce] Three times he's given me morphine.
She's had injections of barbiturates.
[Joyce] If they relax me, I should be taking them.
My concern is the fetus.
I… I fear for the child.
You know, you hear about all those thalidomide babies in England.
-[Joyce] I'm not taking thalidomide. -Don't interrupt me.
You are taking 26 pills a day.
I am taking the pills that the doctors have given me, Lionel.
I'm doing what they're telling me.
All I want is to feel better, and I have you angry with me.
Every doctor makes me feel I'm doing wrong,
and I don't know what it is that I'm doing wrong.
Okay. Okay.
I understand.
Your hormones are all over the place. You're confused.
Your world's about to be turned upside down--
-I don't feel confused. -[Lionel] Joyce.
I just want to know what is actually happening.
I mean, chemically, that would make me feel this way.
I don't want you to worry about any of that, okay?
All you need to know is that it's normal and it'll pass.
It would be best if you could try to deal with it without relying on medication.
I just want this to be over so I can get on with my life.
Some women actually enjoy pregnancy.
I know that.
I feel so guilty that I don't.
It'll be over soon enough.
[swallowing pills]
[duck quacking faintly]
-[reel clicking] -Oh. Oh!
There we go. Got one. Nice, nice, nice.
[laughs]
Here, you take it.
Okay. Okay.
-Dang, it's really small. -Oh, no, no. A nice size.
We'll eat him.
[grunts softly]
Okay. All right.
Now I'm gonna show you how to put a worm on a hook.
Let me get a nice big one here.
Now this…
This is the head, and you want to keep it wiggling.
So, I have to kinda imagine where the ass'd be.
And, uh, that's where you get the hook to penetrate.
Go ahead.
It'll wiggle a little.
Right there?
Yeah.
-"Ow." -[chuckles]
Sorry, pal. That's gotta hurt. [laughs]
I don't know.
Maybe it's, like, a girl worm.
And maybe you're just stickin' it in her.
I'm sure you and your buddies, that's all you talk about in school, right?
Girls?
[chuckles]
-Like that? -Yeah. Attaboy.
Now just take the head there, and just wrap it around a couple of times,
and then stick it in the side.
Wow.
Yeah, there you go.
Now, that way, it's alive, but,
you know, it can't fall off, and the fish can't take it off.
-Well, see what else is out there. -Okay.
So, you dating any girls at school?
[Jeffrey] I don't really like any of 'em.
[Lionel] Right. Yeah.
But you know how it works.
Right?
When a man and a woman, you know, have sex?
I'm sure your friends, you know… Somebody's got a Playboy in his locker.
We don't have to talk about this, Dad.
And then…
you just lop off the head.
-Like that. -Mmm.
[splashes]
Oh, can I try mine?
Yeah. Sure. Just be careful.
Knife is really sharp. Yeah, let me dry it for you.
Don't want it to slip.
[squelching]
[panting]
Come on.
[sighs]
C'mon.
[faint arguing]
-[Lionel] I don't understand why-- -[Joyce] What?
-What's wrong with what I did? -[Lionel] You knew I needed it.
-[Joyce] So? -You knew that. Jesus Christ!
[Joyce] Why can't I go anywhere? You never let me go anywhere.
You have an issue with everywhere I go!
[Lionel] What is the matter with you?
[Joyce] What do you mean? Why is there something the matter with me?
[Lionel] We had a conversation. I told you I needed the car.
[Joyce] Yeah? Okay, well, I found something that was really interesting!
-But you never believe me. -[Lionel] You could've told me before!
-[Joyce] You don't believe anything I do. -I needed the car.
-You knew that I needed it. -[Joyce] And you think I'm nuts, yeah.
[Lionel] No, please, stop.
[Joyce] But something happened, and it was really interesting,
and you think I'm crazy. You always think I'm crazy.
-[Lionel] Put the fuckin'-- -Don't you call me crazy!
Put down the fucking knife, Joyce! Put it--!
-[Joyce screams] -[knife clatters]
[Lionel] What's the matter with you?
You can't take the car and drive wherever you choose.
And there's no fucking UFOs.
The Akron Beacon Journal wrote an article about it!
-[Lionel] Did they? -There were lights in the sky!
And I followed it all the way down Route 14,
so don't tell me that I'm fucking crazy!
Hey! Hey, this is none of your business!
Go do your homework, Jeff!
-Happy? Are you hap--? -[Joyce moans] I hate you!
[door slams]
[exhales]
[lotion pouring]
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[squelching]
[gasps]
-[grunts, moans] -[school bell ringing]
[indistinct chatter]
[boy laughs]
Hey, Dahmer. Do that thing you did in Spanish class.
It was hilarious.
What?
That guy your mom knows, who's all… fucked up.
[mocking impression] Ah! You should put blue curtains in there!
[all laugh]
That's so funny, man.
That's what they call "doin' a Dahmer."
[all] Oh!
[continues impression] No!
-Silence! -[boy] What?
Joyce! Put down the knife, Joyce!
Put it down!
All right.
Peace.
-[chuckling] Later, man. -[girl] "Peace"?
Okay, guys. Just remember, these scalpels are razor sharp.
Okay?
So when you give it to your partner, you put it down and let them pick it up.
Denise.
Do we have to do this?
[teacher] Yes.
Okay, but I'm a vegetarian.
-[coughs] Fuck you. -[laughter]
[teacher] Okay, Chazz. That is enough, thank you.
Yes, this is mandatory.
Anatomy is part of science.
It's how we learn about the human body, Denise.
And besides, these pigs are already dead, okay?
Yeah, but they didn't just die.
They got killed so we could dissect them.
Shut up, Denise. We want to do this.
[teacher] Okay, Jeff, thank you.
That's enough.
All right, guys. Please be very careful.
No trips to the emergency room today.
Good. Now, you may need to cut through the sternum
in order to expose the chest cavity.
Now, be real careful with that.
Good.
Okay, now let's go ahead and remove the pericardium.
That is the membrane surrounding the heart.
No, Jeff, don't take the heart out yet.
Sorry.
[school bell ringing]
Hey, good work today, Jeff. I could tell you really got into that.
Yeah, I really enjoyed that.
Good.
You think I could take one home?
Just to practice.
[chuckles]
Well, to be honest with you, Jeff, I've been, uh, teaching for 22 years
and no one's ever asked me that. Um…
Sure.
Thanks.
Dude! Wasn't that fun? Shutting down that fucking bitch, Denise?
Yeah, she's, like, the fucking worst partner.
Hey, man.
I got another one.
-You want to come over? -Another what?
Another pig.
Bertoglio gave me one. Wanna come over and dissect it?
What, are you fucking kidding me?
No.
[door opens]
So, I've reviewed the testimony, and I've made a decision.
Mr. Dahmer, I understand your concerns about Mrs. Dahmer's emotional stability.
But you've got to understand
that if you're getting physically violent with her, even if it's once or twice--
That's not true. It's not true.
[judge] And there is a question of your work as well.
You work very long hours,
and who can actually be there for these two boys is really what's paramount.
You will retain all visitation rights, but I hereby award custody to Mrs. Dahmer.
Thank you.
Okay. This is just a first step. We can appeal, so don't worry.
-[Lionel] David. -[Joyce] Honey, come on.
David, I'll always be here for you. If you need me, call, and I'll get you.
Don't talk to him.
So, what do we do about Jeff?
Well, he's 17. He's a man. He can figure it out for himself.
[Lionel sighs]
[man on TV] So you get a sheen!
[woman on TV] Lemon refreshed Mr. Clean.
-I'll buy that. -[man] That's nice.
-Nice nose. -[woman] Thanks.
[TV announcer] Carol Knight doesn't like to see dandruff.
[Carol] Uh, I work at the airport,
and there's no reason why people should walk around,
very noticeably, people there, they have dandruff.
It's not… In this day and age, there are so many things to use,
and Head & Shoulders just makes me feel like, um…
What are you watching?
Oh, hi, Jeff.
Uh, would you turn the TV off and sit?
[announcer] …it works. Use it regularly.
[Carol] Head & Shoulders is number one on the list as far as I'm--
[Lionel] It's been real hard around here for me.
And, uh…
some things have got to change.
Uh, they have to change because I can't function like this.
Am I…
I'm gonna stay with you, right?
I get to live with you?
Oh, we'll figure that out.
Mmm.
What's that smell?
Uh…
It's my fetal pig.
Oh!
We're dissecting them in class.
Oh, that's good. [chuckles]
You keep at that.
You're a good boy, Jeff.
["Please Don't Go" by KC and the Sunshine Band playing]
♪ I love you ♪
♪ Babe, I love you so ♪
♪ I want you to know ♪
♪ That I'm gonna miss your love ♪
♪ The minute you walk out that door ♪
♪ So please don't go ♪
♪ Don't go ♪
♪ Don't go-- ♪
[Joyce grunting]
Come on, David, let's go!
Hurry up.
[panting]
What's goin' on?
Ah! [panting]
Your father's fucking that new girlfriend of his at the motel.
Get in the car, David! We're leaving.
-Well-- -I just need to get away.
Get my head together. Okay? I'm sorry. That's what's happening.
Well, Mom, uh, wait a second.
I… I can't just leave. I got graduation and… prom.
Ha! What are you talking about? You're staying here.
I just cooked a big pot of stew, and there's food in the freezer.
[door slams]
You can't just leave me here.
Cut the shit, Jeff.
You haven't had a nice word for me in years.
You're always in your room.
You don't want a mother. You don't want me.
You're just like your father, bonding over what a lunatic I am.
You never wanted anything to do with Joyce.
Neither one of you!
So, fine. You got what you wished for.
And did it ever occur to you
that you never once asked me to help you with one of your projects
out in the garage with the animals like you did with your father?
Not once.
I didn't think you'd want to.
You're right! It's fucking disgusting!
Cutting up roadkill in the garage!
It's sick!
And it would've been nice if you'd asked me!
-[car door slams] -Mom.
-So that's it, huh? -[car engine starts]
Well, that's great, Ma.
Just… just go take my brother and chase UFOs.
They're real!
[tires squeal]
[tense music playing]
[grunts]
[grunting]
[tense music continues]
I don't want you to do that. [chuckles]
Why did you do that?
[laughing] No. No.
Stop. Stop. [chuckling]
No. No.
[clattering]
[laughing] No. No.
Okay. Okay. Okay!
I'll get you a beer, jeez. God.
Yeah.
Okay, here you go.
-[bottles clink] -Cheers.
[giggling] I can't. I can't.
[grunting]
Mm…
Sorry it's such a mess.
You want a drink or something? You want a beer?
Yeah, that'd be great.
It's just nice having some companionship, I mean…
I've been here by myself this whole time.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I haven't heard from my dad and
my mom said she'd be gone like two weeks, and that was…
three months ago.
I don't know where she is.
That's tough, man.
Yeah.
Well, you're here now.
So it's better.
[chuckles]
Cheers.
[Joyce] I've always found that if I can occupy my hands,
my anxieties just melt away.
I'm not obsessing over my failures,
my disappointments.
I'm just taking my life one little knot at a time.
[knocking]
Joyce? Just a minute.
Sure. Uh, excuse me.
[woman] I know we helped you through a really tough time, Joyce,
and I'm so appreciative you're willing to come back here now
and help other women.
I wish everyone did that.
Well, mostly, these ladies want to be heard.
I think that's what it was about for me too.
And then I walked in here, and someone listened to me
for the very first time in my life, and I thought,
"My God, I'm not crazy."
[woman chuckling] Of course you're not crazy.
You had a medical condition, Joyce.
I'm sure of it.
It's called postpartum depression.
-Really. -I'm positive.
We just didn't know what it was back then.
It can last for years.
Postpartum. Never even occurred to me.
Joyce, your classes, the arts and crafts,
they are a godsend to these women.
No, Joyce, they are.
Which is what I wanted to talk to you about.
I'm leaving here.
Simon got transferred to Grand Rapids,
and I got a job counseling women at a clinic there.
I want you to take over for me here.
It could be part-time. Even two, three days a week.
Oh, Dottie.
I don't know what to say.
I'm very flattered.
But it's…
Since it's over between Lionel and I…
[sighs]
Oh, sweetheart.
No, no, it's not that.
[sobs softly]
It's just, I've been thinking so much lately
about how I'd do my life over again if I could.
[sniffles]
I don't think I would have married so young.
I would have waited to have kids.
I'd have a career.
What kind of career, do you think?
Well, that's just the thing.
I'd want the job you just offered me.
[both laugh]
Of course I'll do it.
Two, three days.
Yes, I'll make it work!
[sobs happily]
[teacher 2] You should be writing this down. This will be on the exam.
So, next is the different types of ranges, which…
You're late.
Okay. So, one standard deviation is what?
34.1 in either direction.
[can pops, hisses]
Jeff, are you drinking a beer?
Jeff, this is your senior year,
so now is the time to be thinking about colleges.
If you thought that was where you were headed.
[scoffs]
Jeff, I know your family's been going through a tough divorce,
and that'd be hard on anybody,
but I know your father is out of the house now
and that you were very close to him.
I've tried several times to call him. Guess he's at a hotel.
I've also tried to phone your mother.
Right. She's out a lot.
Well, what do you love to do?
What's your dream? I wanna know what your dream is.
Um…
Dad always said I was good at science stuff.
And I got, like, a taxidermy station in the garage,
where I can dissect roadkill and whatnot.
Okay. Well, um, maybe that's a career path you could take.
Yeah, I thought about that.
But, uh, I'm not any good at math.
So…
But I… my new hobby is kind of exploring physical fitness.
Great. Maybe that's a direction for you to go in.
[Jeffrey] Yeah.
But it's not my dream, you know.
I think that's just something people say.
Like, I don't think everybody gets to have a dream.
At least not people like me.
[counselor] Well, what do you mean?
People like you?
[jingle playing on radio] ♪ American Top 40! ♪
[Casey Kasem] Here's the fourth-biggest hit
in the USA this week.
Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman with "Stumblin' In."
♪ Our love is alive And so we begin ♪
♪ Foolishly laying Our hearts on the table ♪
♪ Stumblin' in ♪
♪ Our love is a flame Burning within ♪
♪ Now and then firelight will catch us Stumblin' in… ♪
-Hey, man. Hey.
Uh, can I get a lift?
I'm trying to get to a concert in Chippewa Lake Park.
Are you headed that way?
I could be.
What's the concert?
You know Pegasus?
-Yeah. -Me and some buddies are meeting up there.
I'm like a big Bruce Fulper fan.
I heard they were playin', and I was like, "Fuck it, I'll hitchhike."
Cool.
What time you gotta be there?
Show's at 7:30.
♪ Whatever it takes Baby, I'll do it for you ♪
♪ Our love is alive… ♪
How about this?
I was just headed home to crack open a few brewskis.
How about you come with me?
I got some weed. And drink a few beers.
Lift some weights.
And then, uh, I'll drive you out there.
Yeah, man, that sounds great.
[sighs]
What's your name?
Jeff.
Nice to meet you, Jeff.
I'm Steven.
♪ I may've been young But baby that's not what I wanted to be ♪
♪ Well, you were the one ♪
["Fool (If You Think It's Over)" by Chris Ray playing]
-♪ Dying flame… ♪ -Yeah, man. [chuckles]
It's like everybody's into working out all of a sudden.
You know, suddenly, uh, everybody's jogging.
That ain't gonna cut it for skinny guys like us, you know?
We gotta lift weights. [exhales]
Or, like, chicks ain't even gonna notice us.
-Yeah, exactly. -That's right.
Jeez.
One more. One more. Yeah. Come on.
[grunts, sighs]
Yeah. Nice.
You are fuckin' strong, man.
Yeah, well, I've been workin' out a lot.
I could tell.
-You try it, dude. I'll spot you. -No. No, no.
-Come on. -I'm all right. I'm all right.
I… What time is it?
I feel like we should get movin'.
♪ Fool if you think it's over… ♪
No. We got time.
You want another beer? We'll have one more beer.
I just… [sighs]
I'm meeting my buddies there at, like, seven.
It's like
at least an hour away, right?
Okay, just… we'll have another beer. We'll get goin' soon.
Okay.
[fridge open, shuts]
Or, you know, maybe we could have it on the way.
I just don't want to miss the concert, you know.
Like, it's Pegasus, man!
You worry too much, jeez.
[can pops, hisses]
What the f--?
-What? -What the--? I mean…
-What? -Why'd you do that?
I was just joking.
'Cause I'm not that way, man.
Neither am I. I was just jokin' around. Just sit down.
Are you gonna take me to the concert or not?
Because you said you would.
Yeah, I will. Just sit down and have a drink first.
No, man. Let's go.
No. Hey, I don't want to go yet.
Let's… Let's do ten more reps.
I'll put two 25s on. What do you think?
Listen, man, you told me you would drive me to the concert, okay?
I don't know what you wanted, but that's what I want.
I want you to drive me there right now.
But I don't want you to go.
Are you fucking crying?
-No. -What the fuck? Jesus.
I'm… I'm outta here, man.
I'm gonna miss the fucking show now!
-Fucking asshole faggot! -[grunts]
Goddammit.
[song continues]
[yelling angrily]
[clatters]
[Steven coughs, moans]
[grunts]
[coughs]
[gasps]
[coughs]
[groans]
[splutters]
Hey, man.
[groans]
Hey, man.
-Stop playing around. -[grunts]
What are you doin'? Ow. Fuck.
Hey, stop!
[Steven grunting] Fuck you.
Hey. Hey!
Stop.
[grunts]
[Steven groans, gasps]
[grunting stops]
[arm thuds]
[kissing]
[inhales deeply]
Oh, fuck.
[moans]
[continues kissing]
Oh…
Hey.
[chuckles] What are you doing?
Stop.
[slaps]
Come on, man. Let's go.
[thuds]
Hey. Hey, wake up. Wake up!
No, no, no, no, no. No. No.
No.
Oh my God.
No, no, no, no. Oh my God.
No. No, no, no, no.
Oh, no.
[sobs] No!
They're never gonna talk to me again.
My family.
[yelling] You idiot! You fucking idiot!
-No. -[can bangs]
Hey, come on.
Come on, wake up.
Wake up.
Fuck!
[screams]
No!
[static crackling]
[grunts]
[tense music playing]
Fuck.
Oh, shit.
Oh, fuck.
[sobbing] Oh, shit.
[breathing shakily]
[dog barking in distance]
[grunting]
[music intensifies]
[electric knife whirring]
[squelching]
[officer] Look at this guy. Swerving all over the place.
[siren blares]
[indistinct police radio chatter]
[police car door slams]
Can I see your driver's license?
Sure.
Know why I pulled you over?
No.
[officer] Because you were swerving across the road.
And I can smell from here that you've been drinking, okay?
You been drinking tonight?
Oh, I just had a couple beers.
[chuckles] You had more than a couple of beers, okay?
[officer 2] What's in the garbage bags?
[Jeffrey] Uh…
They're, uh… clippings. From the yard.
My parents just got divorced, and I… I can't really sleep.
So, I, um…
just do yard work, and I, um…
I was gonna… drop 'em at the dump.
You're 18. Is that right?
Yeah.
So you got your whole life ahead of you.
And I'm not gonna fuck that up by arresting you tonight, okay?
Okay.
[officer 1] But I want you to turn this car around,
drive your ass home.
And I don't want to ever fucking see your face again, okay?
Yes, Officer.
Thank you.
Get the fuck outta here.
Okay.
[breathing heavily]
[water splashing]
[toilet flushing]
[gas hissing]
[intense music continues]
[panting]
[birds chirping]
[music stops]
[eerie music playing]