Freakshow (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - Lobster Family Secrets - full transcript
Todd, Danielle, and Phoenix are still visiting Gibsonton, the legendary sideshow town. They talk with Grady "Lobster Boy" Stiles about his father's unique fame and their troubled relationship. His father's life was plagued by violence and alcoholism and ended with a mysterious murder. In Los Angeles, Asia begins apartment hunting with the help of Morgue and her two friends. They ask Morgue about the state of his and Asia's relationship but he doesn't go into details. Later on, Asia reluctantly agrees to accompany her friends to a country bar where she feels out of place and uncomfortable. Her friends note Morgue's "moody" demeanor and continue to inquire about their relationship. Asia ultimately puts in an application for the apartment and expresses to Morgue how nervous she is to tell her parents that she's moving out. After thirteen years of service, George decides to leave his job at the Virginia Deprartment of Corrections and move to California to work at the Freakshow full-time. His coworkers express concern over his decision and his girlfriend doesn't feel like she will be able to maintain a long distance relationship. They decide to take a "break" so George can pursue his lifelong dream. Back in Gibsonton, Danielle, Todd, and Phoenix accompany Grady to his father's grave site and help him gain some closure on his past.
Right now
on "Freakshow"...
And what was your relationship
with your dad like?
It was very bad... my father was racist.
My father was abusive.
I mean, when I cried,
"I'll give ya a reason to cry."
You met Asia through
"The Freakshow," right?
Yeah.
So, what's the nature
of your relationship?
Are you guys together... just friends?
What is it?
I'm just nervous about telling my parents.
Like... no.
I just don't want you to go...
you're making a big mistake.
Maybe we need to take a break.
If we take a break, you
know it's gonna end.
Folks, today,
you will witness the strangest
creatures on earth,
the living wonders of the world,
and the most amazing people on the planet.
They're all inside.
What you thought was a myth,
you will see with your own eyes.
Welcome to "The Freakshow."
?
Let's say, if we went with the spidora,
and the voltara, and the sign,
and I plan to buy more.
Oh, it's all right...
You're gonna buy the banners,
and I'm gonna give ya the sign.
?
- Seventeen hundred.
- You're stretching me too hard.
Eighteen.
Still can't move.
I'll tell you what I'll do.
Nineteen hundred and
I'll throw in the sign.
Oh, I was already throwing in the sign.
I think 1,800 is a good price.
I think 1,800 sucks.
Being in Gibtown, USA has
been a dream come true.
So, we've decided that we are
gonna stay a few more days,
mainly 'cause I wanna see
if I can buy some stuff,
and Chris is one of the
hardest negotiators.
He's a real old time show guy.
Trying to do a deal with him
is like wrestling with a bear.
Chris?
Eighteen just does not work for me.
I gotta go back over here to look, again.
- I gotta look more.
- That's good.
Anything else in the garage?
Yeah, let's go around this way.
- Oh!
- Oh, that's nice.
That's a full wax figure of
Grady's great grandfather.
I'm interested in this one.
Wow!
Now, that would be your
great grandfather, right?
Uh, my great-great grandfather,
but, yeah, my dad...
It was my dad's great grandfather.
Your great-great
grandfather, okay... yeah.
Oh, my God... that is amazing.
Grady Stiles, Jr.,
one of the most iconic human
oddities in sideshow history.
This man had a condition
called "Ectrodactyly,"
where he was born with hands and feet
like the claws of a lobster.
This condition has been in their family
for generation after generation.
All right... well, let's get back
to the buying I'm trying to do here.
Let's back to the [Indistinct].
Yeah, what'd you buy... What'd did
you, uh... Did you find anything?
I did... he's just
playing hardball with me.
You know, he's doin'-
he's doing a whole routine.
I'll give you a grand, and
let's be done with this.
In your next lifetime.
[Laughter]
?
What do you think about this?
I hate it, but...
- [Laughter]
- Our tastes are so different.
I had so much fun in Gibsonton,
and my parents decided
to stay a few more days,
but I was just way too anxious
to go find my own apartment,
so I've flown back to L.A.
to start looking.
So, how do your parents
feel about you moving out?
They don't want me to
move out, and they're like,
"you have it so good... why
move out and everything?"
- Yeah.
- But, I'm actually gonna look
at an apartment tomorrow with Morgue.
Wait... Morgue from "The Freakshow?"
No, the other Morgue.
Good for you.
Yeah, that's the whole
thing... independence.
My parents are really protective,
and it's just time for me to
really have full independence
and freedom.
And you're turning 21 really
soon, so that's exciting.
I know... it's so exciting.
- Dun-dun.
- Yeah!
What do you wanna do for your birthday?
Something dangerous.
- Ooh.
- Of course...
- Challenge accepted.
- [Laughter]
Oh.
I've been working for the
Norfolk Department of Corrections
in Virginia for 13 years
and, uh, my job consists of many duties,
but the main ones is, secure the jail,
feed the inmates, and their safety.
The past several months have
been pretty hard on myself.
You know, just the
traveling back and forth,
back and forth, from
Virginia to California.
You know, I'm pretty tired
of traveling across country.
And "Freakshow" is my passion, you know,
and I really wanna be
a part of the family.
Hey, Sarge and I.T.
- What's up, George?
- How's it going, George?
I need to put in a request
for some time off of work.
Possibly permanent,
to do the Freakshow.
Wow!
"The Freakshow," George?
George, huh!
Do you know what you're doing...
I mean, your career?
I just feel like
I have to take the opportunity.
?
I need to put in a request
for some time off of work.
Possibly permanent
to do the Freakshow.
Wow.
"The Freakshow," George?
I mean, my job here has been great.
It's been 13 wonderful years, you know,
working with a lot of wonderful people.
But, this is a dream that
I believe is coming true.
But, a "Freakshow," George?
This is a "Freakshow," right
here, this whole building.
Yes, sir. Exactly... it's a... it's a
different level of a "Freakshow."
Thinking about moving to California
to be on "The Freakshow" full time.
I'm looking forward to
spending a lot of time
with everybody else
and, you know, just be happy for a change.
- Good luck to ya.
- All right.
- Good luck to you guys, too.
- All right... all right.
Good luck with everything, man.
All right, I.T... See ya... thanks.
- All right.
- All right, guys.
Mmm... "A Freakshow?"
Ain't nothin' wrong with it.
They better take care of him.
If you get the opportunity,
you're gonna do it, too.
So, I don't wanna hear that.
I ain't got no freak in me.
[Laughter]
?
- Hey.
- Hi.
- You guys know Morgue.
- Hi.
- Yeah, we do... how are you?
- Lauren... Karina.
Good... we met at "The Freakshow?"
- Yes.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- Okay, should we go in?
- So, let's do this thing.
- Okay.
I'm really anxious to find my own place
just because it'll be nice to
have a bigger sense of freedom.
My parents are very protective,
so I want that independence.
This is a standard one bedroom.
Oh, okay.
Full kitchen... electric oven.
You could put your dining
room table, like, right here.
Yeah, but I'm just trying to think about
where I'm gonna put my bed of nails,
- and swords, and everything.
- [Laughter]
You would.
A bed of nails that's facing up, right?
It's not... I don't want
any damage to the floors.
- Oh, no.
- No?
- Okay.
- No... yeah.
Uh, in here, is the
bedroom with a vanity area.
I really like the hardwood floors.
You have a separate bathroom.
Will we be seeing more
of you, if Asia ends up,
- you know, down here?
- Probably not... no.
- Probably not?
- I stay at my place.
I don't go out.
Oh, hermitry is, you know, is cool.
- [Laughter]
- Mm.
I don't really like the external world.
You met Asia through
"The Freakshow," right?
- Yeah.
- Are you guys together?
Just friends... what is it?
- Is it parasitic, symbiotic?
- [Laughter]
No, I don't think that's
anybody's business.
- It's between us.
- Okay.
Oh, well, we're just
asking 'cause we love Asia,
and we wanna know who
she's hanging out with.
Mm.
Me.
Air conditioner and there's another one
- in the living room.
- Cool.
Hi.
- Hey.
- Hello.
Um, so, there's a $35
charge to run your credit
- and do a background check.
- Okay.
Uh, it should show everything on there.
Like, uh, employment... What
do you do for a living?
I work at "The Freakshow."
- At "a Freakshow"... like a...
- [Laughter]
Like "The Freakshow"... like...
Yeah, like sword swallowing, fire eating,
contortion, electric acts.
Yeah.
- [Laughter]
- Okay.
Well, you know, as long as
your credit is good, you know.
- [Laughter]
- Then, I... then, you're okay?
- Yeah.
- [Laughter]
?
We need you to come out to
California and stay for a while.
I know... we've been talking
about it for a while.
We've talked about him...
So, we keep talking.
So, it's nice to hang after that show.
Right?
Where's Asia, anyway... I figured
the whole family would be here.
She didn't wanna hang out, but, uh...
Wants a break from the parental units.
- Yeah.
- [Laughter]
- I don't know why.
- Grady Stiles the third,
the son of the original lobster boy...
I wanna talk to him a little bit more
about his family.
I love hearing stories about
his dad and when he was a kid,
traveling with the sideshow.
Your family's history is
so powerful, so strong.
Your dad, he still, to this day,
is so iconic in sideshows.
Uh, because he's unique.
I mean, you don't find too many people
with claw closing hands.
And what was your relationship
with your dad like?
It was very bad.
I'm not a fan of my dad as a person.
Right.
Um, my father was racist...
My father was abusive.
I mean, when I cried, "I'll
give ya a reason to cry."
[Laughter]
That's hard, man.
Yeah... I really think
it was just the alcohol
brought the worst out in him.
Grady's father was known
for extreme violence,
even with his own family,
including his kids.
His life ended with his tragic murder.
And I've read about what happened,
but I really wanna talk to
Grady about what it was like
from his point of view.
Is the story of your father's death
the way it's been told?
Um, not exactly.
What I heard, is that
your mother hired somebody
- to kill him.
- Mmm-hmm.
Yeah, that's what everybody have heard.
- Like you see on-on TV.
- Yeah... no.
What actually happened,
was my mother and my dad
had gotten into a fight, as usual,
and my mother had made the comment
that something needed to be done.
Well, my brother had overheard that
and went to the neighbor kid and told him
that something had to be done.
Well, my brother thought
that-that meant scaring him,
or beating him up, or something like that,
just something to make
him realize that this...
That he's gonna lose his family.
And a little while later,
my dad was shot, so...
- Wow.
- Wow.
Yep.
So, you know, I was talking to ward
about the shown's graveyard.
Is your, uh, dad buried out there?
Yeah, that's where he's buried.
Wow... have you been out there?
No, I've never gone out there.
You've never been to his grave?
Uh, no.
Would you ever wanna see it?
At this point, I don't know.
It might be healthy for me
because I haven't been out there.
But, I'll be honest... It
kinda puts butterflies
in my stomach.
You went through so much.
It seems like, now that he's passed,
I think that would help you
because it sounds like there's
a lot of bad history.
Uh, again, I don't really have
much to say to him... um...
Right, but with all you've been through,
it would be really nice if it
could somehow resolve that.
George and I really had
some good times together.
We were sitting in a
movie theater one night,
and a lady behind George
tapped on his shoulder,
and she said, "sir, can you sit down?"
"I can't see."
So, George stood up,
turned around, and smiled,
and she ran out of the
theater just screaming.
[Laughter]
So, Mike took that sexy
picture over there, huh?
George is a character.
[Laughter]
How do you think of this stuff?
Hey, listen.
I know you guys have been
supporting me for a while.
I've decided to do "The
Freakshow" more full time.
You're really actually doing this?
Yeah, I always loved that area,
you know, Southern California.
What about your girlfriend...
She's settled here, man.
Had you even thought about that?
I can't really give you the answer
on how she really will feel about it.
Come on... you guys have
been together for a year.
What are you gonna do out there?
I mean, you're gonna be
so far away from her.
Uh, how are you gonna keep busy?
How are you gonna keep
your mind off other girls?
It's not gonna be easy.
It's gonna be rough.
?
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.
You're welcome.
I cannot believe you are
getting me to come back
to this place.
Oh, come on... you used
to have so much fun.
Somehow, I got convinced into going
to this local country bar with my friends,
and it's definitely not my scene.
The only reason why I'm gonna attempt
to make it through the night
is because they were helpful
with helping me find an apartment.
?
Okay.
Ha-ha-ha.
A lot of times, the way that guys
approach girls in places
is disgusting to me.
It's a complete meat market.
?
I think this might be it, right here.
Oh, yeah... definitely...
That's definitely my name.
- Wait... there's two of 'em.
- Oh, wow!
Oh, wow... come over here.
That's my granddad and my grandmother.
And then, there's my dad.
This is where he lies.
You can't do anything to
anybody while you're here.
[Laughter]
Is there anything you
would wanna say to him?
Um, thank you for
showing me who not to be,
and maybe you can appreciate
who I became because of that.
So... and it might seem
mean, but it's still true.
You were a drunken, abusive bastard and...
But, you were my dad.
?
Thank you, man.
Whew.
Now, I'm getting teary-eyed.
Me, too.
For all the negative things he did do,
- he did one good thing, right?
- Yeah.
- He brought you into the world.
- Yeah.
It was good to finally see
where my father was buried at,
and I finally got to tell him thank you
for showing me what not to be as a man,
and I never really would've been able
to say that to him when he was alive.
So, that felt good to be
able to say that to him.
Wow... that is a picture.
- That is.
- Yeah, it is.
Look, right there.
A cemetery as colorful
as the people in it.
[Laughter]
?
I just don't want you to go.
I just... I feel that, you know,
you're making a big mistake.
I have to do this.
You know, "The Freakshow"
has a lot to offer,
and, uh, it's an opportunity.
What about our relationship, though?
What about that?
Well, our relationship is solid.
You know, I wish... I want you to really...
It can't be that solid,
if you're gonna be gone for a while.
Well, I need you to support me
and stand by me.
My relationship with Diane...
We've been together now
for a little over a year,
and it was a hard decision,
truthfully, to, uh,
to decide to do "The Freakshow" full time
and to be away from her.
But, at the moment, I feel like,
if I didn't answer my opportunity,
it would never come back to me.
Everybody has dreams.
So, that is your dream.
Well, it's... my dream is to
get a better level of life,
and I think this will get me there.
I'm 56-years-old.
The career job I have with
the sheriff's department
is very stressful.
It's taking a toll on my body.
You didn't think this through.
I can't leave, right now.
You know, I have my job, and my
family, and my career, also.
I don't like long distance relationships.
I don't like them, either,
but I can deal with 'em.
Well, suppose I'm not
here when you come back.
Well, I hope that you will be.
?
I don't like long distance relationships.
I don't like them, either,
but I can deal with 'em,
because, one day, we will be together.
I can't live on "one day," George...
I'm serious.
Honestly, you know, I'm
being honest with you.
So, you're not willing to try?
[Sighs]
You know, you're asking a
lot for me to wait for you,
so, suppose I'm not here
when you come back?
Well, I hope that you will be.
If that's how you feel, you know,
maybe we need to take a break.
If we take a break, you
know it's gonna end.
Okay.
?
- Hey.
- Hey.
Guess what I just did.
I just put an application in
for that apartment that I liked.
Yeah, I'm really excited.
I mean, hopefully, everything works out.
Ha-ha... of course.
Yeah.
I'm just nervous about
telling my parents, like...
No.
I'm not sure exactly when
I'm gonna tell my parents
I'm moving out.
Uh, I know I have to find the right time,
but I don't know how they're
gonna take it, honestly.
I could see my mom, like,
breaking down and crying.
Hopefully not, but I have to, you know,
start living my own life.
I just have to have that
moment where I'm like,
"hey, I have to tell you something."
Yeah... no, definitely.
?
- Hi.
- Hey.
Hey... how are you?
- Good.
- I missed you.
I missed you more.
[Indistinct]
God, it seemed like two months.
- I missed...
- I missed you more.
- I missed you.
- I missed you the most... how did it go?
Grady had never been to his father's grave.
Really?
So, we took him to the graveyard.
Oh, wow.
And he saw his father's
grave for the first time.
- Oh.
- Asia, it was magical.
It felt like a cloud had been lifted off
of their relationship.
- That's good.
- Hey, how ya doing, man?
- Hey, George.
- Hey.
- Hey, Danielle.
- Hey.
- What you up to?
- Hey, not much.
Just coming... I got
some good news for ya.
- What is it?
- I did it, man.
You did what?
Permanently took time off work...
full-time "Freakshow."
- No, you didn't.
- I moved, I moved to California.
- No, you didn't!
- Yes, I did.
George, thank you, man... wow!
- I really moved.
- Oh, my gosh!
Thank you, George.
- I am so excited, man.
- Hey, I am, as well, man.
But, uh...
Yes.
- Wow!
- But, I had-but, I had...
Wow... thank you, man.
Hey.
That is... I love you
for making that commitment.
Thank you.
Hey, I'm-hey, I'm glad to be aboard, man.
- Right on!
- Yeah.
This is a big deal that George can become
a permanent family member.
Family is everything.
And here at "The Freakshow," it
doesn't matter if it's my wife,
my son, Phoenix, my daughter, Asia,
or Creature, or Morgue, or Jessa.
We've got each other's
back 'til the day we die,
and that's it.
Well, George, now that you're full time...
Yeah... right.
How about giving me a hand
with the banner outside?
Sweet... let's do it... let's do it.
- All right.
- [Laughter]
?
[Cheers and applause]
[Cheers and applause]
Give it up for Asia, folks.
on "Freakshow"...
And what was your relationship
with your dad like?
It was very bad... my father was racist.
My father was abusive.
I mean, when I cried,
"I'll give ya a reason to cry."
You met Asia through
"The Freakshow," right?
Yeah.
So, what's the nature
of your relationship?
Are you guys together... just friends?
What is it?
I'm just nervous about telling my parents.
Like... no.
I just don't want you to go...
you're making a big mistake.
Maybe we need to take a break.
If we take a break, you
know it's gonna end.
Folks, today,
you will witness the strangest
creatures on earth,
the living wonders of the world,
and the most amazing people on the planet.
They're all inside.
What you thought was a myth,
you will see with your own eyes.
Welcome to "The Freakshow."
?
Let's say, if we went with the spidora,
and the voltara, and the sign,
and I plan to buy more.
Oh, it's all right...
You're gonna buy the banners,
and I'm gonna give ya the sign.
?
- Seventeen hundred.
- You're stretching me too hard.
Eighteen.
Still can't move.
I'll tell you what I'll do.
Nineteen hundred and
I'll throw in the sign.
Oh, I was already throwing in the sign.
I think 1,800 is a good price.
I think 1,800 sucks.
Being in Gibtown, USA has
been a dream come true.
So, we've decided that we are
gonna stay a few more days,
mainly 'cause I wanna see
if I can buy some stuff,
and Chris is one of the
hardest negotiators.
He's a real old time show guy.
Trying to do a deal with him
is like wrestling with a bear.
Chris?
Eighteen just does not work for me.
I gotta go back over here to look, again.
- I gotta look more.
- That's good.
Anything else in the garage?
Yeah, let's go around this way.
- Oh!
- Oh, that's nice.
That's a full wax figure of
Grady's great grandfather.
I'm interested in this one.
Wow!
Now, that would be your
great grandfather, right?
Uh, my great-great grandfather,
but, yeah, my dad...
It was my dad's great grandfather.
Your great-great
grandfather, okay... yeah.
Oh, my God... that is amazing.
Grady Stiles, Jr.,
one of the most iconic human
oddities in sideshow history.
This man had a condition
called "Ectrodactyly,"
where he was born with hands and feet
like the claws of a lobster.
This condition has been in their family
for generation after generation.
All right... well, let's get back
to the buying I'm trying to do here.
Let's back to the [Indistinct].
Yeah, what'd you buy... What'd did
you, uh... Did you find anything?
I did... he's just
playing hardball with me.
You know, he's doin'-
he's doing a whole routine.
I'll give you a grand, and
let's be done with this.
In your next lifetime.
[Laughter]
?
What do you think about this?
I hate it, but...
- [Laughter]
- Our tastes are so different.
I had so much fun in Gibsonton,
and my parents decided
to stay a few more days,
but I was just way too anxious
to go find my own apartment,
so I've flown back to L.A.
to start looking.
So, how do your parents
feel about you moving out?
They don't want me to
move out, and they're like,
"you have it so good... why
move out and everything?"
- Yeah.
- But, I'm actually gonna look
at an apartment tomorrow with Morgue.
Wait... Morgue from "The Freakshow?"
No, the other Morgue.
Good for you.
Yeah, that's the whole
thing... independence.
My parents are really protective,
and it's just time for me to
really have full independence
and freedom.
And you're turning 21 really
soon, so that's exciting.
I know... it's so exciting.
- Dun-dun.
- Yeah!
What do you wanna do for your birthday?
Something dangerous.
- Ooh.
- Of course...
- Challenge accepted.
- [Laughter]
Oh.
I've been working for the
Norfolk Department of Corrections
in Virginia for 13 years
and, uh, my job consists of many duties,
but the main ones is, secure the jail,
feed the inmates, and their safety.
The past several months have
been pretty hard on myself.
You know, just the
traveling back and forth,
back and forth, from
Virginia to California.
You know, I'm pretty tired
of traveling across country.
And "Freakshow" is my passion, you know,
and I really wanna be
a part of the family.
Hey, Sarge and I.T.
- What's up, George?
- How's it going, George?
I need to put in a request
for some time off of work.
Possibly permanent,
to do the Freakshow.
Wow!
"The Freakshow," George?
George, huh!
Do you know what you're doing...
I mean, your career?
I just feel like
I have to take the opportunity.
?
I need to put in a request
for some time off of work.
Possibly permanent
to do the Freakshow.
Wow.
"The Freakshow," George?
I mean, my job here has been great.
It's been 13 wonderful years, you know,
working with a lot of wonderful people.
But, this is a dream that
I believe is coming true.
But, a "Freakshow," George?
This is a "Freakshow," right
here, this whole building.
Yes, sir. Exactly... it's a... it's a
different level of a "Freakshow."
Thinking about moving to California
to be on "The Freakshow" full time.
I'm looking forward to
spending a lot of time
with everybody else
and, you know, just be happy for a change.
- Good luck to ya.
- All right.
- Good luck to you guys, too.
- All right... all right.
Good luck with everything, man.
All right, I.T... See ya... thanks.
- All right.
- All right, guys.
Mmm... "A Freakshow?"
Ain't nothin' wrong with it.
They better take care of him.
If you get the opportunity,
you're gonna do it, too.
So, I don't wanna hear that.
I ain't got no freak in me.
[Laughter]
?
- Hey.
- Hi.
- You guys know Morgue.
- Hi.
- Yeah, we do... how are you?
- Lauren... Karina.
Good... we met at "The Freakshow?"
- Yes.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- Okay, should we go in?
- So, let's do this thing.
- Okay.
I'm really anxious to find my own place
just because it'll be nice to
have a bigger sense of freedom.
My parents are very protective,
so I want that independence.
This is a standard one bedroom.
Oh, okay.
Full kitchen... electric oven.
You could put your dining
room table, like, right here.
Yeah, but I'm just trying to think about
where I'm gonna put my bed of nails,
- and swords, and everything.
- [Laughter]
You would.
A bed of nails that's facing up, right?
It's not... I don't want
any damage to the floors.
- Oh, no.
- No?
- Okay.
- No... yeah.
Uh, in here, is the
bedroom with a vanity area.
I really like the hardwood floors.
You have a separate bathroom.
Will we be seeing more
of you, if Asia ends up,
- you know, down here?
- Probably not... no.
- Probably not?
- I stay at my place.
I don't go out.
Oh, hermitry is, you know, is cool.
- [Laughter]
- Mm.
I don't really like the external world.
You met Asia through
"The Freakshow," right?
- Yeah.
- Are you guys together?
Just friends... what is it?
- Is it parasitic, symbiotic?
- [Laughter]
No, I don't think that's
anybody's business.
- It's between us.
- Okay.
Oh, well, we're just
asking 'cause we love Asia,
and we wanna know who
she's hanging out with.
Mm.
Me.
Air conditioner and there's another one
- in the living room.
- Cool.
Hi.
- Hey.
- Hello.
Um, so, there's a $35
charge to run your credit
- and do a background check.
- Okay.
Uh, it should show everything on there.
Like, uh, employment... What
do you do for a living?
I work at "The Freakshow."
- At "a Freakshow"... like a...
- [Laughter]
Like "The Freakshow"... like...
Yeah, like sword swallowing, fire eating,
contortion, electric acts.
Yeah.
- [Laughter]
- Okay.
Well, you know, as long as
your credit is good, you know.
- [Laughter]
- Then, I... then, you're okay?
- Yeah.
- [Laughter]
?
We need you to come out to
California and stay for a while.
I know... we've been talking
about it for a while.
We've talked about him...
So, we keep talking.
So, it's nice to hang after that show.
Right?
Where's Asia, anyway... I figured
the whole family would be here.
She didn't wanna hang out, but, uh...
Wants a break from the parental units.
- Yeah.
- [Laughter]
- I don't know why.
- Grady Stiles the third,
the son of the original lobster boy...
I wanna talk to him a little bit more
about his family.
I love hearing stories about
his dad and when he was a kid,
traveling with the sideshow.
Your family's history is
so powerful, so strong.
Your dad, he still, to this day,
is so iconic in sideshows.
Uh, because he's unique.
I mean, you don't find too many people
with claw closing hands.
And what was your relationship
with your dad like?
It was very bad.
I'm not a fan of my dad as a person.
Right.
Um, my father was racist...
My father was abusive.
I mean, when I cried, "I'll
give ya a reason to cry."
[Laughter]
That's hard, man.
Yeah... I really think
it was just the alcohol
brought the worst out in him.
Grady's father was known
for extreme violence,
even with his own family,
including his kids.
His life ended with his tragic murder.
And I've read about what happened,
but I really wanna talk to
Grady about what it was like
from his point of view.
Is the story of your father's death
the way it's been told?
Um, not exactly.
What I heard, is that
your mother hired somebody
- to kill him.
- Mmm-hmm.
Yeah, that's what everybody have heard.
- Like you see on-on TV.
- Yeah... no.
What actually happened,
was my mother and my dad
had gotten into a fight, as usual,
and my mother had made the comment
that something needed to be done.
Well, my brother had overheard that
and went to the neighbor kid and told him
that something had to be done.
Well, my brother thought
that-that meant scaring him,
or beating him up, or something like that,
just something to make
him realize that this...
That he's gonna lose his family.
And a little while later,
my dad was shot, so...
- Wow.
- Wow.
Yep.
So, you know, I was talking to ward
about the shown's graveyard.
Is your, uh, dad buried out there?
Yeah, that's where he's buried.
Wow... have you been out there?
No, I've never gone out there.
You've never been to his grave?
Uh, no.
Would you ever wanna see it?
At this point, I don't know.
It might be healthy for me
because I haven't been out there.
But, I'll be honest... It
kinda puts butterflies
in my stomach.
You went through so much.
It seems like, now that he's passed,
I think that would help you
because it sounds like there's
a lot of bad history.
Uh, again, I don't really have
much to say to him... um...
Right, but with all you've been through,
it would be really nice if it
could somehow resolve that.
George and I really had
some good times together.
We were sitting in a
movie theater one night,
and a lady behind George
tapped on his shoulder,
and she said, "sir, can you sit down?"
"I can't see."
So, George stood up,
turned around, and smiled,
and she ran out of the
theater just screaming.
[Laughter]
So, Mike took that sexy
picture over there, huh?
George is a character.
[Laughter]
How do you think of this stuff?
Hey, listen.
I know you guys have been
supporting me for a while.
I've decided to do "The
Freakshow" more full time.
You're really actually doing this?
Yeah, I always loved that area,
you know, Southern California.
What about your girlfriend...
She's settled here, man.
Had you even thought about that?
I can't really give you the answer
on how she really will feel about it.
Come on... you guys have
been together for a year.
What are you gonna do out there?
I mean, you're gonna be
so far away from her.
Uh, how are you gonna keep busy?
How are you gonna keep
your mind off other girls?
It's not gonna be easy.
It's gonna be rough.
?
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you.
You're welcome.
I cannot believe you are
getting me to come back
to this place.
Oh, come on... you used
to have so much fun.
Somehow, I got convinced into going
to this local country bar with my friends,
and it's definitely not my scene.
The only reason why I'm gonna attempt
to make it through the night
is because they were helpful
with helping me find an apartment.
?
Okay.
Ha-ha-ha.
A lot of times, the way that guys
approach girls in places
is disgusting to me.
It's a complete meat market.
?
I think this might be it, right here.
Oh, yeah... definitely...
That's definitely my name.
- Wait... there's two of 'em.
- Oh, wow!
Oh, wow... come over here.
That's my granddad and my grandmother.
And then, there's my dad.
This is where he lies.
You can't do anything to
anybody while you're here.
[Laughter]
Is there anything you
would wanna say to him?
Um, thank you for
showing me who not to be,
and maybe you can appreciate
who I became because of that.
So... and it might seem
mean, but it's still true.
You were a drunken, abusive bastard and...
But, you were my dad.
?
Thank you, man.
Whew.
Now, I'm getting teary-eyed.
Me, too.
For all the negative things he did do,
- he did one good thing, right?
- Yeah.
- He brought you into the world.
- Yeah.
It was good to finally see
where my father was buried at,
and I finally got to tell him thank you
for showing me what not to be as a man,
and I never really would've been able
to say that to him when he was alive.
So, that felt good to be
able to say that to him.
Wow... that is a picture.
- That is.
- Yeah, it is.
Look, right there.
A cemetery as colorful
as the people in it.
[Laughter]
?
I just don't want you to go.
I just... I feel that, you know,
you're making a big mistake.
I have to do this.
You know, "The Freakshow"
has a lot to offer,
and, uh, it's an opportunity.
What about our relationship, though?
What about that?
Well, our relationship is solid.
You know, I wish... I want you to really...
It can't be that solid,
if you're gonna be gone for a while.
Well, I need you to support me
and stand by me.
My relationship with Diane...
We've been together now
for a little over a year,
and it was a hard decision,
truthfully, to, uh,
to decide to do "The Freakshow" full time
and to be away from her.
But, at the moment, I feel like,
if I didn't answer my opportunity,
it would never come back to me.
Everybody has dreams.
So, that is your dream.
Well, it's... my dream is to
get a better level of life,
and I think this will get me there.
I'm 56-years-old.
The career job I have with
the sheriff's department
is very stressful.
It's taking a toll on my body.
You didn't think this through.
I can't leave, right now.
You know, I have my job, and my
family, and my career, also.
I don't like long distance relationships.
I don't like them, either,
but I can deal with 'em.
Well, suppose I'm not
here when you come back.
Well, I hope that you will be.
?
I don't like long distance relationships.
I don't like them, either,
but I can deal with 'em,
because, one day, we will be together.
I can't live on "one day," George...
I'm serious.
Honestly, you know, I'm
being honest with you.
So, you're not willing to try?
[Sighs]
You know, you're asking a
lot for me to wait for you,
so, suppose I'm not here
when you come back?
Well, I hope that you will be.
If that's how you feel, you know,
maybe we need to take a break.
If we take a break, you
know it's gonna end.
Okay.
?
- Hey.
- Hey.
Guess what I just did.
I just put an application in
for that apartment that I liked.
Yeah, I'm really excited.
I mean, hopefully, everything works out.
Ha-ha... of course.
Yeah.
I'm just nervous about
telling my parents, like...
No.
I'm not sure exactly when
I'm gonna tell my parents
I'm moving out.
Uh, I know I have to find the right time,
but I don't know how they're
gonna take it, honestly.
I could see my mom, like,
breaking down and crying.
Hopefully not, but I have to, you know,
start living my own life.
I just have to have that
moment where I'm like,
"hey, I have to tell you something."
Yeah... no, definitely.
?
- Hi.
- Hey.
Hey... how are you?
- Good.
- I missed you.
I missed you more.
[Indistinct]
God, it seemed like two months.
- I missed...
- I missed you more.
- I missed you.
- I missed you the most... how did it go?
Grady had never been to his father's grave.
Really?
So, we took him to the graveyard.
Oh, wow.
And he saw his father's
grave for the first time.
- Oh.
- Asia, it was magical.
It felt like a cloud had been lifted off
of their relationship.
- That's good.
- Hey, how ya doing, man?
- Hey, George.
- Hey.
- Hey, Danielle.
- Hey.
- What you up to?
- Hey, not much.
Just coming... I got
some good news for ya.
- What is it?
- I did it, man.
You did what?
Permanently took time off work...
full-time "Freakshow."
- No, you didn't.
- I moved, I moved to California.
- No, you didn't!
- Yes, I did.
George, thank you, man... wow!
- I really moved.
- Oh, my gosh!
Thank you, George.
- I am so excited, man.
- Hey, I am, as well, man.
But, uh...
Yes.
- Wow!
- But, I had-but, I had...
Wow... thank you, man.
Hey.
That is... I love you
for making that commitment.
Thank you.
Hey, I'm-hey, I'm glad to be aboard, man.
- Right on!
- Yeah.
This is a big deal that George can become
a permanent family member.
Family is everything.
And here at "The Freakshow," it
doesn't matter if it's my wife,
my son, Phoenix, my daughter, Asia,
or Creature, or Morgue, or Jessa.
We've got each other's
back 'til the day we die,
and that's it.
Well, George, now that you're full time...
Yeah... right.
How about giving me a hand
with the banner outside?
Sweet... let's do it... let's do it.
- All right.
- [Laughter]
?
[Cheers and applause]
[Cheers and applause]
Give it up for Asia, folks.