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'Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story' Season 2 Episode 5: Why does Betty make abusive calls to Dan and Linda?

When Betty doesn't comply with his demands, he punishes her by keeping the kids away
PUBLISHED JUN 24, 2020
(USA Network)
(USA Network)

Spoilers for 'Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story' Season 2 Episode 5 'Scream Therapy' 

When acclaimed attorney Dan Broderick (Christian Slater) fell in love with a woman much younger than his wife and decided to go for a divorce, he had little idea of how excruciatingly messy things would get for all parties involved. 

His soon to be ex-wife Betty Broderick (Amanda Peet) is adamant that she won't give up without a fight and so in Episode 5 titled 'Scream Therapy', she embarks on a struggle that drains her dry. But a relentless Betty is not one to back out, so no matter how much Dan beats her down, she is back up to fight. There is one problem though: Betty Broderick has no idea who it is that she is against.

Up until now, it has been made evidently clear that Betty doesn't want the divorce. She doesn't want to separate from her husband, children and the home and life they built together. So far, she thinks she is fighting with her husband and there still is scope for things to return to normal. The moment this illusion breaks, she is scared and restless that everything will be stolen away from her. Which propels her to act out. 

There are so many instances in the episode that show how much Betty was wronged over the course of the divorce settlement. An inside man, the entire divorce — from its proceedings and custody to the alimony and the final step of their bifurcated divorce — was a smooth ride for Dan. But he made it hell for Betty. Pretty much everything went his way and why? Because he knew Betty and used all this intel against her. From the very beginning it wasn't going to be an easy divorce since Dan wanted to keep everything for himself — the house they built together, the kids they raised, the money that he couldn't have made without her. He never wanted to split any assets of their relationship and this was made clear early on.

When Betty doesn't comply with his demands, he punishes her by keeping the kids away, not giving her her rightful monthly settlement and even delaying it sometimes. Anger, frustration, betrayal and insult — they all push Betty to make those abusive phone calls to Dan's house. But it isn't as simple as that. She keeps calling again and again because she hopes to "talk" to Dan, but if only he were to give her the chance to explain herself. Even when her own son tells her to back off and quit making incessant calls, making the divorce difficult for herself (and the kids), she defends herself and her actions. In each of these phone calls, she refers to Linda Kolkena (Rachel Keller) as a whore, and Dan an 'a**hole', among other things.

Dan, however, is preparing for war. He tapes her calls and is ready to present them as evidence. And while Betty might be suspicious, there is nothing she can possibly do to make things different. So continues calling their home, calling it "therapy". But unfortunately, all she's doing is digging her own grave. 

'Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story' airs on Tuesdays at 10 pm on USA Network.

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