Clayton in 1958 | |
Clayton Waters | |
Portrayed by | Ryan Tasz |
Episode | The Boy in the Box |
Status | Deceased |
Dr. Clayton Waters was Arnold Culliver's biological father. He became intimate with Sister Grace Ashley, which resulted in a son. Clayton didn't appear to know of Grace's pregnancy or that Arnold was his son. Sister Vivian Dole helped her "go away" during the pregnancy instead of reporting it to their superior sisters. However, Vivian likely made Grace promise to not see Clayton anymore, a promise Grace could never keep.
When the boys of Fernwood orphanage were volunteered for subject testing involving radiation, Grace would take time to sneak over to the institute and speak to Clayton. As Arnold got older and less adoptable, she sought Clayton's help out of desperation in 1958. Perhaps still pining for Grace, Clayton initially declined and calmly explained to her that Arnold was just going through a phase. Grace, however, saw differently and asked Clayton about the electroshock therapy he was learning. Clayton protested it wasn't for children, but Grace reminded him that the therapy worked as it kept their subjects calm, which is want she wanted for Arnold. Whether due to their time or Grace's pleading, Clayton eventually gave in and put Arnold through electroshock therapy. That would be a mistake, as it slowly killed Arnold, along with the side effects of irradiated food.
Ironically enough, Clayton never seemed to piece together that Arnold was his son nor did he seem to question the boy's whereabouts after he was "adopted". Sister Vivian referred to Clayton as Grace's ruin and that she was still in love with him til the day she died.
Clayton passed away by the time Arnold's case was reopened.