Dr. Calico is a highly-intelligent researcher at Area 51 & a veteran of the extraterrestrials' schemes. She is a character in Double Feature portrayed by Leslie Grossman.
Quick Answers
How does Dr. Calico's past as a dancer influence her character?
What role does Dr. Calico play in the moon-landing conspiracy?
How does Dr. Calico's style reflect her 1960s background?
What makes Dr. Calico a veteran of extraterrestrial schemes?
What is Dr. Calico's connection to Area 51?
Background[]
Calico was a back-up dancer and floor-girl in 1969, before being exposed to the faking of the moon-landing.
Personality and Appearance[]
Calico is a caucasion, middle-aged woman with a 60's hairdo & makeup. She always wears a staff uniform, which consists of a white lab coat and knee-high white, high-heel boots. While being a caring, understanding and humane individual, Calico thinks that what the aliens are doing is right and is very manipulative towards new-comers on the ship. As shown by her treatment towards Mamie, she is desperate for socialising with someone and is a very optimistic person in-general.
Story[]
Since 1969, she has given birth to two or three offspring annually, and throughout this period, no individual has managed to escape from Area 51. She guides them through a tour of the moon landing set, recounting how this monumental event was fabricated: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, who were allegedly in orbit, were actually at a bar where she worked as a sex worker. She served them drinks to encourage them to share how they improvised the iconic quotes. During the night she spent with the astronauts, she was abducted by men in suits. Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered that she had been implanted with a nearly fully developed fetus and began to roam the facility, ultimately locating the moon set, which was under the supervision of Director Stanley Kubrick. The moon landing hoax was orchestrated as a form of propaganda to persuade the public that rapid technological progress was achievable.
In the mental landscape crafted by Theta, Kendall finds herself in a pristine, all-white dining hall, under the watchful eyes of men in suits. The diners, all of whom are pregnant regardless of gender, consume gelatinous cubes while being attended to by individuals in robes. Nearby, a Dr. Calico engages in conversation with Steve Jobs, who expresses his discomfort at the fact that, despite five decades of advancement, humanity continues to rely on pencils. At that moment, Troy, Cal, and Jamie enter the hall and, upon seeing Kendall, hurriedly approach her, having been worried by her sudden departure from the mindscape when she returned to the physical realm. After the group receives their meals, Calico joins them at the table, sharing that she was once a dancer and entertainer in Las Vegas, and has been summoned to the mindscape annually for many years. Troy begins to panic and poses several questions, to which Calico's answers suggest that the fetus will find its own exit rather than being removed through surgery. Kendall, Cal, and Jamie are urged to remain composed as the hosts sedate and escort him away.
Troy is on the verge of giving birth when Theta enters his consciousness to provide reassurance and tranquility. Utilizing a laser scalpel, she makes an incision in his abdomen. An assistant extracts a sac from Troy's body and subsequently opens it, revealing a hybrid infant. The child exhibits remarkable strength and displays distinct alien features. However, it appears to possess an unspecified defect that renders it unacceptable, despite being the most successful hybridization attempt to date. Theta orders that the infant be preserved. The newborn's throat is severed, and it is placed in a tank filled with preservation fluid. Troy gasps and struggles to reach the baby, but Theta quickly restrains him. A week later, he returns to the dining room to join his friends. He recounts the experience of delivering the baby, to which he felt a psychic connection, before it was killed. Cal offers comfort to his boyfriend as they mourn the traumatic event. Dr. Calico, overhearing their discussion about a potential escape, attempts to dissuade them from pursuing that idea, by telling them the story of she ended up as one of the higher-ups.
By the year 1979, Mamie Eisenhower had staged her own death attributed to natural causes and subsequently traveled to Area 51. Thor informs her that his home planet bears a resemblance to the desolate landscape of Death Valley, extending a warm welcome to her new residence. During a tour of the dining area, Mamie encounters Calico, and the two form an immediate bond.
In 2021, Mamie commemorates her eternal birthday with Calico, her sole genuine companion, over a cupcake. However, Mamie's enthusiasm has waned since attaining immortality. They observe that the cafeteria is buzzing with excitement regarding the first successful full extraterrestrial hybrid. Thor informs Mamie that the host womb will be cloned, enabling the facility to rapidly produce hybrids intended to conquer and replace humanity. Mamie was previously unaware of this aspect of the plan, realizing that she will be among the few humans spared from genocide. Thor further reveals that a treaty was established long ago between the extraterrestrials and the Reptilian race, allowing them to share the Earth in the absence of humans.
Theta reminds Mamie that humanity has largely relinquished its control to machines across the globe. Mamie comes to the realization that Theta is unaware of her superiors' intention to eradicate humanity. Dr. Calico also expresses disbelief regarding this plan. Mamie proposes to her companion that they should resist. They devise a strategy to approach the newborn and the Kendall-machine in order to eliminate them and thwart the extraterrestrial agenda. Theta reveals to the two women the latest developments: the gestation cycle has been hastened, resulting in a newborn being produced daily, with plans to optimize this to mere hours between births. Mamie takes it upon herself to eliminate the newborn but is swiftly immobilized by Theta.
Theta, not genuinely aligned with Mamie's scheme, feels a sense of shame regarding her human lineage. She seizes the scalpel from Mamie and informs them that humanity has had its opportunity. Dr. Calico's reward is to become the spiritual mother of the forthcoming generation, and Theta subsequently explodes Mamie's head. Together, they present yet another flawless specimen.
Quotes[]
- To Kendall, Troy, Jamie & Cal: "Hello there! I'm Calico."
- To Kendall & Jamie with entertainment: "Steve's a good man but he can't dress for shit."
- To Mamie Eisenhower sadly: "She's right. About people. I have seen them at their worst, and I've seen them at their best, and I think maybe it's time we step aside and give someone else a chance. I am sorry."
- To Steve Jobs: "People are going to use what they have however they see fit, it's not our business to tell them what to do."
- Calico explaining her positioning in Area 51: "Oh, most people who are here are one and done, but there are a few like me who are on the annual plan."
Notes[]
- Dr. Calico is the sixth character portrayed by Leslie Grossman in American Horror Story. For a complete list of Leslie's performances, go to Cast.
- Calico's name is based on the domesticated cat breed of the same name. As Calico's are often regarded as prestigious but out-of-date breeds, this could very well be a nod to Calico being from the 60's, a out-of-date-era.
- Calico's line, "life must find its own way", is a reference to the science-fiction thriller Jurassic Park, payong homage to Dr. Ian Malcolm's famous line, "life finds a way".
- Dr. Calico is one of three characters portrayed by Leslie Grossman to survive their respective seasons, with the other two being Ursula Khan and Ashleigh.
- As revealed in Inside, it is apparent that Calico was a fan of chewing gum, as she is seen chewing it many times over while being a floor girl.
- Also stated in this episode, is that Calico has been divorced three times.
- Dr. Calico is one of the few realists on the show.
Gallery[]
References[]
| Murder House | |||||||||||
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| Asylum |
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| Coven | |||||||||||
| Freak Show | |||||||||||
| Hotel | |||||||||||
| Roanoke |
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| Cult | |||||||||||
| Apocalypse | |||||||||||
| 1984 | |||||||||||
| Double Feature |
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| NYC | |||||||||||
| Delicate | |||||||||||