Magical Thinking (American Horror Story)

"Magical Thinking"
American Horror Story episode
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 11
Directed by Michael Goi
Written by Jennifer Salt
Original air date January 7, 2015
Guest actors
  • Neil Patrick Harris as Chester Creb
  • Jamie Brewer as Marjorie
  • Mat Fraser as Paul the Illustrated Seal
  • Erika Ervin as Amazon Eve
  • Angela Sarafyan as Alice
  • P.J. Marshall as Det. Jack Colquitt
  • Chrissy Metz as Barbara/Ima Wiggles
  • Shauna Rappold as Lucy Creb
  • Rose Siggins as Legless Suzi
  • Jyoti Amge as Ma Petite
  • Kristin Witterschein as Nurse
  • Michael Murray as Viking Hustler

"Magical Thinking" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on January 7, 2015 on the cable network FX. It was written by Jennifer Salt and directed by Michael Goi.

Plot

Stanley (Denis O'Hare) convinces an imprisoned Jimmy (Evan Peters) that the only way to pay for a lawyer is to sever one of his hands and sell it. He concocts a plan to smuggle Jimmy out of the prison using his Viking prostitute, who poses as an EMT. After Stanley puts him under, Jimmy awakens to find that both of his hands have been removed.

Dell visits him at the hospital and realizes Stanley double crossed Jimmy. The two make plans to buy the Freak Show from Elsa (Jessica Lange) once she leaves for Hollywood. Bette and Dot (Sarah Paulson) set out to find someone to deflower them, when they come across traveling Salesman, Chester (Neil Patrick Harris).

Chester dreams of performing his magic act in front of an audience, along with his Dummy named Marjorie (Jamie Brewer). Chester also reveals that after fighting in Normandy, he had a metal plate implanted in his skull; which causes him to hallucinate that Marjorie is alive. Elsa agrees to let him perform, but only if he balances the books in return. After Chester asks for them to assist him in his magic act, Bette and Dot seduce Chester and sleep with him.

Dell reveals to Elsa what happened to Jimmy and Elsa pleads with him to get Jimmy out. Eve (Erika Ervin) suggests teaming up to save Jimmy. As the cops are transporting Jimmy back to Prison, Eve throws a brick through the windshield and her and Dell kill both officers, and rescue Jimmy in the process.

Dandy hires a private investigator to follow the Twins and soon learns of their transgression with Chester. He confronts Chester after Marjorie goes missing, revealing that he knows about Chester's past. A flashback reveals that Chester’s wife Lucy had an affair with a woman named Alice (Angela Sarafyan), and he murdered them both in a jealous rage, but believes that Marjorie committed the murders. Dandy tells Chester where Marjorie is and once he finds her, she tells Chester that he needs to kill the twins.

Maggie (Emma Roberts) tells Elsa she needs to show her something, revealing Ma Petite's true fate. Desiree (Angela Bassett) pulls a gun on Dell in his caravan, demanding to know who he has killed. Once Dell confesses his crime of smothering Ma Petite, Elsa shoots him in the head from behind.

External links