The writers of this episode really dug deep by referencing two things I am not sure today's audiences--at least most-- would be aware of. This includes the J.T. LeRoy scandal, from the 1990s, wherein a wannabe writer named Laura Albert, who wrote several books posing as a teenage boy whose mother was a prostitute, and who himself turned tricks with truckers. When thought to be real, the literary world went crazy with excitement that someone could write so candidly about his experiences. But when the hoax was exposed, it became a very slight footnote in literary history, where it remains.
The other reference concerned the Collyer Brothers, Homer (November 6, 1881-March 9, 1947) and Langley (October 3, 1885-March 9, 1947.) a pair of reclusive hoarders, who lived at 2078 Fifth Avenue, on the corner of 128th Street, in Harlem.
To play the siblings in this episode, the show managed to land two powerhouse actors, the kind one used to see on this show all the time, but seldom do, so, now, it becomes an event. Judd Hirsch played the older sibling, Joseph Edelman, and Wallace Shawn, played his younger sibling, Ben.
The J.T. Leroy part of the story led to the brothers. An ambitious publisher, Walter Evans, finds a non-solicited manuscript in the mail, reads it, and it blows him away. He presses his small time company, Pitch Dark Press, to publish the book, a memoir of prostitution and youthful sexual abuse, by a young woman named Bobbi O'Rourke. The title of the book has the word "Barracuda" in it. The show opens at a book reading, Bobbi is giving. In the midst of things, the young writer goes for a refill, and takes a break outside, where he is bludgeoned to death.
Only, as Olivia finds out, she is a he. When pressed to the wall, Walter Evans, played by Jayce Bartok, confesses that, when Hollywood demanded movie rights, they wanted a look at Bobbie. So, he drove up West 12tth Street, and arbitrarily picked a no good, drug addict whore from the gutter, a tranny named Tammi, who posed as Bobbi for the readings and future endeavors--should there have been any. Tami was paid $500 for the reading gig, but, knowing only one life, went back on the street, crossing paths with Long Islander Will Glover, well played by David McElwee for the closet case he is. He is fine with Bobbi giving him a blow job, until he finds out the true gender. Then he hunts him down, killing Bobbi, because he does not want to be perceived as gay! I love when they arrested him in front of his family in the suburbs; I bet they knew his secret already. It looks like he is going up for the murder, which he deserves. Really, Will was the most hateful character in the show, and I wanted to see him slapped around, or something!!!!!!!!!!!
But now the search turns to who Bobbi really is, or was, and this leads to an address in Harlem, the remnants of wealthy manse, where the reclusive Edelman brothers, Joseph and Ben, reside. Despite the Jewish schtick both actors at their professional best portray, to make this almost a male Yiddish version of, if not 'Baby Jane,' at least "Grey Gardens," the essence of the story is heartbreaking.
Their father died in 1959, their mother in 1963. Both cannot stand leaving the house, relying on housekeepers, and delivery personnel for their needs. While they inherited quite a bit, it is dwindling, and Ben, who says he is the "one to think about the future," came up with the idea of writing the book. The name Bobbi O'Rourke was taken from a bartender they knew, who died, decades before.
But that is not all. While being almost crushed by a pile of books, Carisi comes upon a locked freezer. Inside is the frozen corpse of the brothers' mother. An autopsy reveals while she had rampant cancer, she died of asphyxiation. The brothers admitted she was in great pain, so they smothered her, like Othello does Desdemona, with a pillow. Which leads to a secret the brothers have been keeping from each other.
When they were boys, they used to play at a community center in their neighborhood. Working there, was a young counselor, named Vincent, who was in his twenties. He sexually abused Joseph, who took it to protect Ben, but it is discovered Ben had been targeted too. They told no one, not even themselves, believing no one would support them. Joe feels even more guilty; he was the oldest, and should have protected his brother, better.
Both brothers are brought to trial for the mother's murder. In a last effort to protect his brother, Joseph stages an outburst, confessing he alone killed her, then collapses in his brother's lap, due to a massive heart attack. Judd Hirch's work here is brilliant.
The hospital scene is painful. Late in the evening, Joe passes, and a heartbroken Ben stands over him, one last time, now telling the story of the abuse.
I was heartbroken, because theirs was such a codependent relationship, how would one survive without the other? This would be a challenge for social services, but the story stops here.
But it made me wonder how it might continue.
Which a good story should make one consider. I did not know, till recently, but this was their "Fall finale," and they went out as a winner. The show will not be seen again, until January 10, 2019.
Once upon a time, all episodes were of this high caliber. If only this episode marked a return to that era.
Time will tell, but I have my doubts.
But, thanks to all involved, for a noteworthy exception!!!!!!!!!
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