The psychotic Melody Chessman
Melody Chessman, aka Carol Probasco (Lesa Wilson), was the secondary villainess from the 2023 Lifetime film, The Hand That Robs the Cradle (airdate April 2, 2023).
Backstory and Introduction[]
Carol Probasco's backstory revealed that she was the wife of George Probasco, and the couple were the parents of their infant son, Danny, who tragically passed away in an accident in the house. Following the death of her son, Carol was left despondent and suicidal, which was followed by her mother actually abducting a baby to replace Danny, with both Carol and George raising the baby boy, who was originally named Aspen Wichael, as their own son and covering up the truth,
In order to cover their tracks, the couple moved around and changed their names, with the Probascos becoming Melody and Joel Chessman in the film's events. The film saw main protagonist DeLondra Caprez hired as Danny's sitter, though her first meeting with Melody was a chilly one, as she assumed that DeLondra was a stranger who was after Danny, while later revealing that Danny had been abducted seven years prior. As the film progressed, Melody's fondness for DeLondra increased, but after DeLondra had encounters with a woman who was after Danny, she ended up going with the Chessmans to a secluded cabin.
Reveal and Death[]
The woman was revealed as Karla Wichael, who was Aspen/Danny's actual mother, with DeLondra learning the full truth after encountering Caleb Janez, who was revealed as Karla's brother. Afterwards, Melody and Joel began watching DeLondra closely, and once the former learned about DeLondra's meeting with Caleb, the villainess tracked Caleb and doused him with bleach, causing Caleb to fall and fatally impale himself on a stake. All the while, DeLondra's boyfriend, Rob, informed her about the couple's past, which fully convinced her that they had abducted Danny.
DeLondra's attempt to take Danny to a nearby cabin ended with the inhabitants calling the Chessmans, and once they returned to their own cabin, Melody lashed out at DeLondra for making "false accusations" against her and Joel. However, once DeLondra found Caleb's wallet and his body in a freezer, she ended up attacked by Melody, who ordered Joel to hold her while the villainess attempted force bleach down DeLondra's throat. At that moment, Joel stood up to his psychotic wife and spoke against killing DeLondra, adding that they had to live with the fact that "Danny" wasn't their son.
DeLondra escaped, and after Melody bludgeoned Joel to death, she pursued Delondra and Danny as they were attempting to get away in her car, only to be run off. After Danny was reunited with Karla and Todd Wichael, Melody waited in ambush while DeLondra and Rob were at the house with Mrs. Tubbs, who was originally introduced as the family's caretaker. The maniacal villainess strangled Officer Leiker (who was guarding the house) to death inside his car, and after Mrs. Tubbs turned heel and drugged Rob, the evil Melody appeared and joined Mrs. Tubbs (who was revealed as Carol's mother and Aspen's actual abductor) in threatening DeLondra, who ran off before Melody received a pair of scissors from her mother and pursued her. Melody attempted to kill DeLondra inside the downstairs attic, only for DeLondra to bludgeon the villainess to death with a shovel before escaping.
Trivia[]
- This was Lesa Wilson’s first villainous Lifetime movie role.
Gallery[]
