This article contains information regarding sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised. |
“ | You know what I like about you, Olivar? You know how to keep your mouth shut. | ” |
— Tom to Noa
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Tom Beasley[1] was a main antagonist in the first season of the television series, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin on Max. He is portrayed by Eric Johnson.
He was the domineering patriarch of the Beasley family. He was shrouded in darkness and is considered just as big a villain to our Little Liars as A.[2] It was discovered that he sexually assaulted his classmate Angela Waters and indirectly caused the original sin, that made Tom A's fifth victim.
Biography
Tom Beasley was born in 1981 in Millwood, Pennsylvania. He attended Millwood High School, where he stood out for being a handsome and popular jock and became boyfriend of spirit queen, Davie Adams. At some point in his senior year, he sexually assaulted one of Davie's "friends", Angela Waters. But he never received a punishment for it. According to Corey Bryant, Davie broke up with Tom as soon as she heard the rumors, although this may be a lie for not tell the truth about "Erase Her".
After that, he began dating Martha Beasley whom he later married and they had beautiful and identical twin sisters, Karen and Kelly. The family portrayed a perfect front to the town of Millwood, with their patriarch being the domineering sheriff of the small town. However, the family struggles behind perfect walls with a verbally intimidating Tom, sheltered Martha, and the conniving twins that do everything possible to please their father.
Personality
“ | If my mother is in hell, then so is your psychotic, child molesting, rapist father. | ” |
— Imogen to Kelly[src]
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Tom was a domineering, intimidating, powerful, and narcissistic man. Having the image of cocky jock in his teenage years that ruled Millwood High's halls with the most popular girl in school at his arms did in no way hinder a hidden sexual depravity.
He used his positions of power, either as Sheriff, husband, or father, to intimidate those in a lesser position than himself. He was cold and calculated in his mannerisms, ensuring he got what he wanted no matter the cost. Tom was angry and bitter from years of being closeted and hated himself for his tendencies and his wants. He believed he could take what he wanted without repercussions. His bitter and self-loathing nature caused him to abuse the most vulnerable around him, ranging from the emotional terrorizing of his young daughters, the mental and verbal oppressing of his wife, and the sexual, illicit services from teenage boys in his community service teams. He was also a rapist.
Physical Appearance
Tom was a tall, muscular man with short blond hair with a plucked beard and mustache. He has blue eyes and usually wears his sheriff's uniform or dresses casually.
Series
Season 1
Sheriff Tom Beasley conducts his daily community service duties. He addresses the delinquents before him that the mayor wants the site around them cleaned for redevelopment, so first step is clearing all the shit. A disgruntled Noa Olivar commences picking up trash. As the day goes on, Noa senses a presence and sees a strange man watching her from the building. She throws her pick to the ground as she talks off to report him to the sheriff. She accidentally finds him receiving an explicit type of oral service from a teenage boy in the car. Disturbed, she runs off.
That evening at the Beasley household, Martha asks her daughters how was school. Kelly states it was fine but Karen complains that everyone is insane, particularly Imogen Adams and a girl who’s- “…better than you,” finishes the Sheriff. The mood shifts. Kelly says Karen is really good but the Sheriff wants Karen’s word on it. She claims she’s better. He tells her to look around her, at all the nice things. He has it because he’s the best at everything, and demands she be the best at everything. Martha brightly asks if anyone wants desert.[3]
The next day, Sheriff Beasley gives everyone their assignments for the day but asks Olivar to stay back. She doesn't have much time left on her sentence. He likes that she made a mistake, did the time, and is turning her life around. She also knows how to keep her mouth shut. She confirms his suspicion, as she learned that in juvie. She steps away from his glowering stance. He's feeling benevolent and offers her a choice - picking up trash or priming. She chooses to prime but as he's walking away, she asks him for a favor. It's not for her, but for her boyfriend Shawn. He agrees to take the ankle monitor is coming off for the Spirit Week Dance.[4]
On the night of the dance, Tom's daughter Karen tragically "falls" to her death from the bleachers. Tom gruffly questions Kelly what her sister was doing up there. Kelly pretends to not know though her father doesn’t believe her. She offers up the possibility Karen willingly committed suicide to his shock. Mrs. Beasley utters an ear-shattering wail. Because of the suicide allegation, Tom blames The Little Liars as they recently leaked a very unflattering video of her to the entire school.
On Monday, Principal Clanton's calls the five girls to his office, where Sheriff Beasley joins them. Tom interrogates them about the events that occurred at the theater. Imogen speaks up that they didn’t film that video shown, it was Tyler Marchand who they should be speaking to. Sheriff Beasley states he knows Imogen stole the phone to use to humiliate Karen. The girls confess they did it because Karen bullied them first and wanted to stop her. He nonetheless deprecates his anger at the video and asks who now possesses it, pointing the finger at Tabby. Faran speaks up about the bucket Karen planned to dump on Imogen, but the Sheriff states no bucket was found and only Imogen claimed to see it as opposed to all the students who saw the clip that distressed Karan so much, she killed herself. Faran stops him, saying they won’t say another word without their parents present, though the Sheriff warns them hell do everything in his power to start a criminal investigation.
After Karen's funeral on Thursday, Mrs. Beasley mistakenly drops a glass cup. Karen comforts her mother and says she has it covered. Mr. Beasley drunkenly enters the room, asking what broke this time. Kelly explains it was an accident and tries to clean it up. He places a hand on his wife’s shoulder, who cries that their baby was is gone. Tom, however, corrects her that Karen as ripped from them. Kelly scolds him for his language as he is about to curse the girls, believing they must feel sorry. Tom tells his remaining daughter they aren’t yet, but they will for the rest of their lives as they will suffer. Kelly is confused. Her father reveals that tomorrow they will be expelled, and jail so help him. “As they took away your sister’s life, we will take theirs,” he vows, “And by the time I am through with them, they will wish they were dead. The whole five of those little… lying… bitches.” Kelly, a glass hard in hand, rises with a hard glare crushing the glass in her hand. Blood seeps to the floor.
Kelly ultimately retracts her statement by telling Clanton the truth - she and Karen planned to Carrie Imogen in the bleachers, so her sister's death must have been an accident.[5] As the weeks creep by, Tom talks to Noa in his office regarding her being keen to get her monitor off. He presses her to answer, and she is. He's not done with her yet, though. She has to meet the requirements of her probation for one year exactly for her record to be expunged. Otherwise, there will be consequences.
That night, he knocks on the Olivar apartment for an unscheduled drop-in per her probation. Noa quips that he hasn't done any so far. He decides to start in her bedroom and begins ransacking the room, emptying drawers and flipping her bed. He moves to the bathroom as the Olivar women sit on the couch. Beasley emerges with a Dixie cup of pills. Marjorie quickly says they aren't hers. Noa admits they're magnesium to help her sleep. He can ask Nurse Simmons if he doesn't believe her. Beasley ultimately leaves with one last glare.[6]
Tabby heads to the woods as she remembers flashes from the night of the bonfire party. She finds the clearing where the party took place and the remnants of the bonfire. When she turns around, A is standing behind her. She screams and falls to the ground, where he stabs downwards with a knife. Tabby snaps out of her hallucination and leaves the woods.
She heads to the Sheriff station to talk with Deputy Maroon, but Sheriff Beasley finds her first. He tells her to come into his office, which isn't a request. He asks her about Tyler Marchand, who hasn't been seen since Imogen's Halloween Party, which was full of underage drinking. A witness reported seeing Tyler getting into a heated argument with Tabby, one that ended in violence. She asserts that he was harassing one of her friends, so he asks if that was grounds for assaulting him. She was protecting her friend from Tyler, who was being belligerent and inappropriate with her. She hasn't seen him since but is sure he's fine. Guys like Tyler are always fine in towns like Millwood, with guys like Beasley looking out for him. She goes to leave but he stops her. He asks what she's even doing in his station. She lies that she's there to pay her moms parking tickets, but realizes she forgot them at home. She'll check in with Deputy Maroon later.
Kelly comes home to her father sitting in the dark at the table, waiting for her. She was dancing with the girls and texted mama. She was asleep when he got home. She asks where he's been and he flashes back to making out with a guy. He lies that he was working, asking where else he would have been. She doesn't know but he's just not wearing her uniform.
In the Beasley house, Martha reprimands Kelly for abandoning Father Karras, who is counting on her. She protests that she's not abandoning him, as she can do both. Tom enters the dining room, asking why the two of them are yelling. Martha briskly says that Kelly volunteered to help Father Karras with a youth group at St. Maud's, but now she's working on a dance piece with one of those girls who hurt Karen. Kelly snaps back that Faran didn't hurt Karen. Besides, Martha would like the piece as it's biblical. Martha snaps back that she can't count her girl for anything, likening father to daughter. Tom thought they decided she was done with dancing. It's just Swan Lake, which is a shame, since Tom was relieved when she quit. The fact is, Kelly was never was the dancer her sister was. Kelly pauses for a moment as she stares at her food. They all miss Karen, and he isn't the only one in pain. But he's the only one who's lashing out like a drunk bully. He cruelly responds that that if there were any justice in this world, it would have been her who slipped and not Karen. Kelly angrily yells "fuck you!" to her father and storms off to her room. Martha wearily murmurs that he's so troubled and tortured. He gets up and leaves the room.
In the library, Imogen answers a call from Sheriff Beasley who asks what kind of game she's playing. He told her it would take time for the judge to review her case, but she just couldn't wait. This confuses her as she stands in the hall. He tells her that her mom's body is missing. Imogen passes out in the hall.
Imogen brings a bundle of flowers to her mom's grave, only to find the coffin open and headstone defaced with a red A. Davie's body falls from behind the stone. When Imogen turns around, A swings a scythe at her throat. She gasps awake in her bed. She answers a call from Sawyer who remembered something from Davie's youth. Her high school sweetheart was named Tom, or Tommy something. Imogen realizes it was Tom Beasley.
Kelly asks if her mom knew and she did. He's always had his demons, even back in high school when he forced himself on that poor girl just to prove something. Faran realizes what's happening. Imogen goes through the Millwood High Steppenwolf's 2000 year book, finding a page for Tom Beasley; complete with a photo of himself with Davie. Faran asks which poor girl Tom hurt. Martha reveals that her name was Angela.
They gather at Pinball Pizza, where Tabby reveals that Sheriff Beasley raped Angela in 1999. Imogen also learned something about Beasley - he dated her mom in high school. Also, someone dug up her mom's body last night. She's guessing Beasley did it. Tabby incredulously restates that Beasley dated Imogen's mom. Imogen thinks Beasley could be A, and killed her mom to keep her quiet because she knew what he did to Angela. Faran thinks he should remain a suspect, but Noa still thinks it was the train car guy. Tabby thinks Beasley is their connection to both A and the moms. They wonder why their moms didn't tell them about Beasley. Noa suggests splitting them up so they don't see it coming. It's truth time, take two.
Tabby and Imogen interrogate Sidney about her not telling them that Davie dated Sheriff Beasley. Sidney brushes it off as Davie had a lot of boyfriends, they all did because they were popular. Mouse asks Elodie about it, and learns that Davie only dated Beasley for a few weeks in Senior year. Noa asks Marjorie if she knew that Beasley was the one who raped Angela. Marjorie remarks that it was just a rumor that was never confirmed. Faran presses Corey for answers on Beasley raping Angela. Corey admits Angela did tell them that. Faran wonders if it was before, during, or after Imogen's mom dated him. They broke up right after Davie heard the rumors. Corey brushes off going to the police as it's a crime from 20 years ago with no proof. They need to quiet while they're ahead - and while they're all in one piece. Faran gets an urgent text from Kelly asking to meet.
The next day at school, they tell Mouse, Faran, and Noa about what happened to them. Noa questions where Chip is now; she has a bat that is calling his name. Tabby and Imogen exchange a look before admitting that A is back, officially. He showed up at The Orpheum while Chip was confessing and took after him. The girls hope that A hurt him and wishes he would knock on Sheriff Beasley's door next. They did tell A that Sheriff Beasley hurt Angela. Speaking of Sheriff Psycho, Faran had a meeting with Kelly who is on lockdown until after Christmas break. Noa wants to go to the DA or call the National Guard in. Their phones alarm with a text from A that reads:
Your final round is about to begin. You broke our rule.
Mouse wonders how A always knows what they're talking about. Faran curses as A must know what she told Kelly. It might be bad, but at least they know Beasley is the one who hurt Angela, though it doesn't explain how their moms are involved in all of this. If A is punishing the guilty for what they did to Angela Waters, Noa thinks Sheriff Beasley would be the guiltiest of them all. Imogen thinks someone must be guiltier. She doesn't know who else is left or who could give them some insight. Principal Clanton calls over the intercom to announce that significant amounts of lead paint was found in the walls of Millwood High. Noa scoffs that this comes just as she thought the school couldn't get anymore toxic. Faran adds that this place is a death trap. Tabby remarks that if only these walls could talk. Imogen realizes they have to go back to the Waters house to search the home for real, to see if there's anything that can tell them how the pieces fit together.
Tabby thinks the double standard is kind of fucked up, which confuses Clanton. Sheriff Beasley is the one who raped Angela, his daughter, yet he's here taking it out on them. He plans to pin all of this mess on Tom. Beyond that, Tom Beasley will get his. Kelly bursts in, saying that Tom already did. She gasps in surprise at the sight of everyone. Clanton pulls his gun and shoots Greg in the shoulder. The boy collapses and Kelly drops to help him. Tabby leaps to her feet and smashes Mr. Smithee's name plaque across the back of his head. He collapses to the ground unconscious. The girls rush to their moms to free them while Kelly applies pressure to Greg's wound and screams for help. Tabby works to restrain Clanton.
Kelly comes out of her room but Tom stops her from going anywhere else. He sits at the table as it's dinner time. She needs to help her friends but he asks if he wasn't clear earlier. No one is leaving this house, as he's trying to contain the mess that she and her mother made. She can't just stay there forever. He laments that it's not forever.
The Beasley family awkwardly eats dinner together as Tom laments that Kelly and Martha never understood him. Only Karen understood her father, but Kelly and her mother never did. Kelly admits they didn't do anything wrong. He's the one who assaulted a girl and Karen's dead because of his actions. Her parents question the statement. Tom was right to think Karen would never kill herself - she was pushed for being a bully. She wonders where Karen got that from. Someone is punishing people for what they did to Angela Waters, and what she's realized is that there would be no killer if it weren't for what Tom had done. Karen would be alive if not for what he did to Angela Waters. He started this whole fucking nightmare. Martha asks if it's true, but Kelly knows that she knows it's true. He killed Karen, as sure as if he pushed her himself. Martha dabs the corner of her lip and slowly leaves the table. Tom snips that he's, of course, the villain. He hurt Angela Waters and now he's the one who killed Karen. Kelly plans to sing like a bird when she gets out of the house, because he is not above the law. She hopes, no prays, that when all of this is over, he gets what he deserves. He slowly stands and picks up his gun, running the tip along the table until it's in front of her. He tells her the gun has three bullets in it, asking if she really thinks she'll set foot outside this house again. From behind him, Martha wails out “no more”. He turns to look at her and she stabs in the stomach with a butcher knife. She pulls it back out, then thrusts it back in. She already lost one baby, he will not take another. She pulls out the knife and he slowly falls to the ground.
At Millwood General Hospital, Imogen wakes up in her room with her stomach flat. She holds her stomach and winces at her neck pain. She hears a baby crying from a bassinet next to her. She looks at it hopeful, and with wide eyes. Slowly, Imogen gets out of the bed to walk to the bassinet. She peers inside, but hope turns to horror when she sees A's mask where her baby should be. She lets out a terrified gasp.
Imogen lurches awake in her bed at Millwood General, her rapid as she calls out for her baby. She urgently tells Sidney and Tabby that A took her baby. Sidney and Tabby grip her hands as she's having a nightmare. Her baby is just fine, in fact, Tabby smiles that she's perfect. Everything's going to be okay. Sidney and Tabby exchange a look before telling her that the creeper is here in the hospital. He survived the stabbing but shouldn't worry, as he's being monitored by deputies 24/7. Also, Sheriff Beasley was stabbed by Mrs. Beasley but also survived. Clanton and Chip were both arrested. It's a lot to digest but what's most important is that she and her baby are safe and healthy. Imogen looks at the bassinet next to the bed, asking if she can hold her. Tabby smiles and picks up the baby, handing her to the new mom. Imogen holds her gently and greets her daughter with a smile.
In the hospital, a nurse wheels a cart into Tom's room to find him bleeding profusely from his stomach. She screams out in terror. Archie's room is empty and the guard has been stabbed to death. At the Langsberry home, someone rings the doorbell and Chip answers. A leaps forward, raising a butcher knife above his head.
Season 2
Kelly learns of her father's murder and calls Imogen to warn her that A is on the loose. The masked killer is ultimately apprehended and tried for his crimes, which have been dubbed the Millwood Massacre.[7]
Appearances
Season 1 (8/10)
- Chapter One: Spirit Week
- Chapter Two: The Spirit Queen
- Chapter Three: Aftermath
- Chapter Four: The (Fe)Male Gaze
- Chapter Five: The Night He Came Home (Credit only)
- Chapter Six: Scars (Credit only)
- Chapter Seven: Carnival of Souls
- Chapter Eight: Bad Blood
- Chapter Nine: Dead and Buried
- Chapter Ten: Final Girls
Trivia
- Tom is similar to Darren Wilden, as both were corrupt police officers, antagonists to their Liars, had inappropriate relationships, and were murdered by A.
- Tom had three yearbook quotes on his senior page, all of which have become cruelly ironic after knowing the arc of his character.
- "You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."
- "Man is at least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."
- "There is nothing in this world more shameful than establishing one's self on lies and fables."
Quotes
Tom's yearbook quote: You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. |
Tom's yearbook quote: Man is at least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. |
Tom's yearbook quote: There is nothing in this world more shameful than establishing one's self on lies and fables. |