Episode 5 of "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" unfolds with Erik, confined within the prison walls, engaging in a poignant conversation with Leslie. Tony's sudden absence has left a void, casting a shadow of loneliness over Erik's days. Leslie, a familiar presence, puffs on a cigarette, a habit reminiscent of Jose's, as she firmly reiterates that amidst their love for him, Jose was undeniably a monster. She then echoes Lyle's previous assertion, triggering Erik's confession of a darker truth—his abuse was even more severe than Lyle's.
Erik's voice trembles as he unburdens himself, detailing the horrors he's long kept hidden. He once saw Lyle as his shield against the fear that Jose instilled in him, even when Lyle himself was not exempt from the abuse. Erik attempts to brush it off, claiming invincibility, but the vulnerability in his eyes betrays him.
Escape seemed futile, with the family's grasp tightening like the inescapable tentacles of an octopus. The massages, once a source of comfort shared with Lyle, now evoke a twisted nostalgia for Erik. He reminisces fondly about those moments, unaware of the sinister undercurrents.
Jose's disdain for Erik was palpable, his words—'stupid' and 'faggot'—like daggers piercing his young heart. Kitty and Jose, a united front, would force Erik to confront his deepest fears, exploiting his vulnerabilities. Jose abhorred weakness, fostering a Spartan-like mentality to mold his sons into perfection, unaware of the emotional scars he left behind.
The only time Erik felt a semblance of affection was during the abusive encounters, when Jose would whisper words of love amidst the pain. Those fleeting moments of intimacy during the massages became cherished memories, twisted reminders of a love that was never pure.
Erik's revelation delves into the depths of depravity, outlining four distinct forms of abuse that chill the bones and shock the conscience. He laments the heart-wrenching reality that, to Jose, he was always second best, forever in Lyle's shadow. This relentless torment persisted, haunting Erik until mere months before their father's demise.
Erik has had ample moments of introspection, contemplating the unwavering love he harbors for his father amidst the tumultuous turmoil churning within his mind. Leslie, ever empathetic, offers her unwavering admiration for Erik's bravery, lauding him as an extraordinary being. She shares her own dark tale, revealing the depths of her own pain—her father's abandonment echoing through the silence of 34 long years. Yet, she stresses, her trauma pales in comparison to the atrocities committed by Jose Menendez, vowing never to grant her father forgiveness...a choice Erik now holds in his own hands.
The sinister web of abuse unfortunately ensnares Kitty as well, who, in a twisted ritual, would strip down with Lyle and "inspect" Erik, fearful of the specter of AIDS. This haunting memory casts a chilling light on her visceral reaction to Lyle's invitation of a girl into their midst. Erik, striving to rationalize his mother's actions, uncovers the root—a lingering fear stemming from Erik's own teenage experimentation with love and intimacy, a fleeting moment of beauty and tenderness shared with another youth, a love he cherished deeply.
Yet, Erik recoils from this memory, recognizing the abnormality of his past amidst the grotesque backdrop of his father's deeds. He distances himself from these fragmented pieces of his life, adopting the mantle of "The Hurt Man," his voice trembling with suppressed tears as the episode draws to a poignant, heart-wrenching close.
