They Made Me a Killer

**"They Made Me a Killer"** is the fifth episode of the second season of Paramount+'s *Why Women Kill*, and the fifteenth episode overall. It was released on June 24, 2021.

## Synopsis

Alma learns how cruel a wounded Rita can be, but quickly realizes she can use the situation to her advantage. Bertram feels tempted to resume his "hobby," leading him to seek counsel with a trusted figure from his past.

## Plot

The narrator begins to introduce a woman named Harriet, a homeschool teacher. However, her illness had her bedridden and believes she will soon die, which she accepts. On her last night, she is accompanied by a younger version of Bertram, revealing to be her son. She instructs him on how to inject the syringe. Slowly dying, she thanks him and tells him that "only the best sons send their mother to heaven."

Present time, Bertram wakes up after dreaming about his mother. Suddenly, he sees her standing in front of him but gets surprised upon seeing Martha who appears to be willing to be injected with a syringe by him. Bertram wakes up again, realizing that it was a nightmare. He leaves and sits at the dining room. Alma later accompanies him, noticing his pale face. He confesses that he dreamt of Martha and that she has cancer. She immediately knows what he means and forbids him to kill her. He tries to reason out to her why he should do it and that he tried to keep his promise not to kill anymore but he is unable to keep it because it will make him go on a mental breakdown. But she invalidates his reason. He then threatens to visit a psychiatrist but she doesn't allow him to. Refusing to follow her, he calls a man named Timothy Keegan.

Rita calls on other members of the garden club and persuade them to vote someone else instead of Alma. Meanwhile, Catherine accompanies her father outside for a stroll but Scooter suddenly appears and tries to seduce her by going on a movie date with her. His plan succeeds as she invites him to watch a movie with her.

Later, Alma receives a telegram where it states that she is the newest member of the garden club and is invited to go to their luncheon. Overjoyed, she shares the news to Bertram and Dee but Dee reveals to her that Bertram went to Oxnard.

At the diner, Vern invites Dee for a dinner date at his apartment while Dee's manager receives a phone call from Rita, complaining about a rude waitress and describes to him about Dee's weight.

Alma arrives at the luncheon, believing that she is invited and that she is the newest member. However, Grace reveals to her that she isn't and that they had voted for someone else. Alma claims to receive a telegram that she was. Grace confronts Rita, who insincerely apologizes and that it could have been a mix-up. Embarrassed, she leaves the luncheon.

Dee gets fired from her job, saying that a customer was insulted by her and demanded to have her get fired. However, she realizes that the customer was Rita. Elsewhere, Bertram visits Timothy Keegan, a former priest, who knows that Bertram killed his own mother. At the Castillos, Scooter arrives to take Catherine out on a movie date but Rita is surprised to see him. He tries to convince Rita to take him back and that he agrees on their plan. She forgives him and settle their plan.

Back at Oxnard, while tidying the broken teacup, Timothy remembers when Bertram asked him if his mother is going to hell to which Timothy replies that suicide is considered as a sin. Bertram later reveals to him that it was him who killed her. At the Fillcots, Alma becomes depressed after the humiliation she felt. Dee sees her and notices her expression. She asks if she was okay to which Alma opens up that she was not invited and that the telegram she received was a prank. Though saddened, she is confused why Rita would do that to her. When Dee saw Rita in the photo of her mother's scrapbook, she reveals that Rita did that out of spite against Dee.

As Scooter and Catherine leave the cinema, they talk about Rita, whom Catherine is unaware that she is Scooter's lover. She reveals that she believes Rita is cheating on his father. Back at the Fillcots, Dee reveals to Alma that Rita has a lover named Scooter and that she did not knew that Rita was the same woman who is part of the garden club. Upon finding out of this revelation, Alma decides to use this information to her advantage.

While having dinner, Bertram reveals to Timothy that he had "helped" others aside from her mother and that Alma knew about it. Timothy becomes disturbed with this revelation. Elsewhere, Vern and Dee enjoys their dinner date. Alma comes unannounced at Rita's mansion and confronts her by blackmailing her to be part of the club. Rita, however, refuses. Alma threatens to tell this to Grace but Rita reveals that she knows Grace's affair and that her knowing will not make Grace help Alma. She then threatens Alma that she might also ruin her husband's veterinarian license. Alma voices out her disgust on her, to which Rita responds with anger, kicking her out of the house. Later, Scooter and Catherine arrives at her home. Scooter invites her out for a dinner again the next day. Catherine becomes doubtful why he would want to go to out with her. He responds that he thinks she is nice and that she is also beautiful.

After finishing their dinner date, Dee hopes to make love with Vern but he is hesitant due to his leg. She convinces him otherwise by showing to him how much she loves him. At Oxnard, Bertram reveals that he had killed 26 people. He opens up that it is hard for him not to kill them when they see how much pain the people he sees are having. Timothy advices him that he is only easing himself and not theirs, temporarily. He makes him promise not to kill anyone anymore and follow Alma's promise.

The next day, Rita notices Catherine's good mood but Catherine shuts her mouth. As Isabel brings out Carlos, he points to the scrabble board. Rita checks it and sees that he spelled out that Scooter is Rita's lover. She "accidentally" drops them, not wanting to reveal her secret.

Alma becomes emotional on how Rita insulted her. Dee consoles her and reassures her that she might get part at other garden societies in Los Angeles. The phone suddenly rings and Dee answers it. It is revealed to be her doctor, Dr. Rice, on the phone as he informs her that they have noticed on their scans that she is pregnant. Alma retrieves the morning paper but only to find out that her garden had been destroyed. She then sees a letter from Rita, threatening her that if she tries to threaten her again, she will also destroy her family. Alma becomes enraged after reading. She thinks of how she can get back against Rita but then remembered that she is married to a serial killer.

## Cast

* Lana Parrilla as Rita Castillo
* B.K. Cannon as Dee Fillcot
* Jordane Christie as Vern Loomis
* Matthew Daddario as Scooter Polarsky
* Veronica Falcón as Catherine Castillo
* Nick Frost as Bertram Fillcot
* Virginia Williams as Grace Berk
* Jessica Phillips as Joan
* Kerry O'Malley as Mavis
* Warren Kole as Detective Mike Rohbin
* Carol Mansell as Aunt Martha
* Cynthia Quiles as Brenda
* Carson Fagerbakke as Judy
* Jack Davenport as The Narrator

### Co-Starring

* Dakin Matthews as Father Tim
* Rebecca Wisocky as Harriet
* Scott Michael Morgan as Young Father Tim
* Ludwig Manukian as Max
* Jayden Robert Foss as Child Bertram
* Ying Sayun as Ada Coy
* Chris Silcox as Eddie