American Horror Story: Roanoke – Chapter 10

By: Kelly Kearney

Over the course of an hour, “American Horror Story” added a true crime docuseries, a Barbra Walters style special from Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) and a ghost chasing show all while wrapping up the story of Lee Harris (Adina Porter) and her daughter Flora (Simone Baker). It was chocked full of media frenzy, viral videos and every opportunistic journalist who wanted to cash in on the “My Roanoke Nightmare” ratings boom.

The finale began before the second installment of the reality show, with the cast and the real-life victims at PaleyFest talking to the fans about the show. The actors seem to be in their glory with the fan fervor over the popular horror show. They answer audience questions and bask in their fame and Sydney (Cheyenne Jackson) even hints to a possible second season with a new twist. Little did the panel of actors know that twist would be a bloody nightmare. At most of these show panels the audience asks their favorite actors questions and the “Roanoke” fans seem to be a little bit more obsessed than your average fangirl. One woman from London (Danielle Macdonald) felt a strong enough connection to Lee that she drew her a picture of her and Flora and then later ranted on YouTube about Lee’s upcoming murder trial. The British fan isn’t the only one ranting on YouTube, Lott Polk (Frederick Koehler) is angry at Lee for robbing him of his beloved family and vows vengeance for their murders.

Crack’d

The PaleyFest was at the height of the “Roanoke” fame and with that fame comes endless people trying to cash in on every angle of the story. One particular true crime series called “Crack’d” depicts Lee’s trial and her subsequent acquittal. The docuseries talks about Lee, her role as a wife and mother and the battles she faced with drugs and domestic violence which came to a head during her stay in the Roanoke house and later when she returned for the sequel. In an interesting look inside her trial, the series depicts her struggles as well as what caused her murder spree. A toxicology expert (Hubert Hodgin) believes the Polk’s marijuana contained traces of hallucinogens. That along with the torturous tape of Lee’s kidnapping at the hands of the Polk’s led to the jury’s acquittal. Throughout the docuseries the one thing about Lee never wavered – her desire to be reunited with Flora. It’s why she killed her husband and it’s why she continues to fight Flora’s grandparents for custody.

During the trial, Flora made it clear she wanted nothing to do with her mother, especially after the girl witness Lee kill her father. Without the ability to communicate with Flora, Lee Harris reaches out to journalist to the killers Lana Winters. Lana has come out of retirement for a very special tell-all interview with Lee. At first the interview seems like another shot at a TV ratings grab, but soon it turns dark when Lana asks Lee why she chose her to sit down with. Lee says she chose Lana because she’s been through something similar with her son, Bloody Face, whom she killed to save herself. Lee goes on to send a kind of eerie message to her daughter Flora that she will never give up until they are together again. That’s when Lana drops a huge bomb in Lee’s lap. On air, she demands to know what Lee did with Flora. Lana tells Lee that Flora’s grandparents and guardians reported their granddaughter missing one hour before Lee sat down to be interviewed. Lana pushes her to admit she took Flora and to reveal her whereabouts. Lee is outraged and gets up to leave the studio when gun fire goes off nearby. In an instant an armed Lott Polk appears, shoots the studio technicians and aims his weapon on Lee and Lana. Lana tries her best to talk him down by offering him a chance to tell the world his side of the story. Unfortunately, Lott could care less about the fame and knocks Lana out by hitting her with the butt of his gun. He points the weapon at Lee and right before he pulls the trigger, security shows up and blows him away and the show goes off the air.

Ghost Chasers

The next group of people trying to make a profit off Lee’s story and the Roanoke nightmare are a team of reality show “Ghost Chasers” who are a group of young paranormal researchers armed with video cameras and full spectrum heat monitors to catch any ghostly beings on film. The crew make it a point to mention that they were denied the rights to enter the property, but they cut the fence and went in anyway…oh and it just so happens to be the height of the blood moon so what could go wrong? Along with the Ghost Chasers is an actor from the first season, Ashley Gilbert (Leslie Jordan). Ashley and the crew set up their cameras inside the house and start to get crazy readings on their equipment. A sheet blows off a window when there is no breeze, a door slams and then the Chens are on the monitors doing their wall crawl moves as Lee Harris shows up out of the blue looking for Flora. Lee is shocked to see the camera crew and tells them they’re crazy to be in this house and if they don’t leave this place will rip the smiles right off their frat boy faces! They question why she’s searching for Flora at the house and she admits she’s looked everywhere and this is the last place on her list. Pricilla (Savannah Liles) took Flora here before so maybe she’s done it again? At the mention of her name, the camera crew hears the ghost girl moaning and Lee screams for them to get out while they can. The chasers say they’re not leaving and in an instant Piggy Man (Marti Matulis) shows up and kills Ashley Gilbert! The Ghost Chasers and Lee take off and the Chens nab another crew member. There’s ghosts everywhere and the show’s last remaining host (James Morosini) makes it outside where he finds two police officers on the scene. Help doesn’t last long when the cops and the chaser are struck down by flying arrows that appear to have come from the Blood Moon itself! While the crew is being cut down one by one, Lee finds Flora and the two hold up inside the Roanoke house.

Breaking News: Hostage Stand-Off

The episode ends with a breaking news report about a hostage situation at the Roanoke house. Lee Harris has her daughter Flora and possibly another child inside the hell house and the police have the home surrounded. Inside, Lee’s trying to convince Flora that she can’t stay at the house with her friend Pricilla no matter how much she might need her. She explains that if Flora stays with Pricilla it would mean her death and Lee, being a desperate mother, tries to get her daughter to see that. Flora doesn’t listen and the two fight over her decision to stay. Finally, Lee agrees to stay with Pricilla and watch over her if Flora leaves the house. She promises her daughter can visit her, just not during the Blood Moon. Flora agrees and as she is leaving the house and into the arms of the police, gas can be smelled in the air. Upstairs, Lee hands Pricilla a gun and directs her to shoot her, which ignites the gas resulting in the house exploding. In the police car, Flora waives goodbye to the ghost of her mother and Pricilla, leaving the young girl the only survivor from “My Roanoke Nightmare.” In the distance, the Butcher (Susan Berger) and her hordes of torch carrying ghosts watch on as their beloved house burns to the ground.