Catfish: The TV Show (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 10 - Rico & Ja'mari - full transcript
Rico wants to move to England to care for his ailing mother, but his intense online relationship with Ja'mari, an international male model, is giving him second thoughts about leaving.
>> WHAT'S YOUR HEART LIKE RIGHT
NOW, RICO?
>> IT'S POUNDING.
>> GUESS WE JUST WAIT.
[suspenseful music]
*
>> I GOT A CREEPER AT 11:00.
WINDOWS ARE TINTED.
I CAN'T SEE.
*
>> THIS IS IT, MAN.
[click]
>> HI, I'M NEV.
A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I FELL IN
LOVE ONLINE.
TURNS OUT, MY CRUSH WASN'T WHO
I THOUGHT SHE WAS.
I THOUGHT I FELL IN LOVE WITH
MEGAN, BUT MEGAN WAS REALLY
ANGELA.
I WAS HEARTBROKEN.
BUT THE WEIRDEST PART OF IT ALL,
ANGELA AND I ACTUALLY BECAME
FRIENDS.
NOT ONLY THAT, MY BROTHER AND
HIS FILMMAKING PARTNER SHOT
THE WHOLE THING AND TURNED IT
INTO A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS
A PRETTY BIG HIT.
SUDDENLY, MY INBOX WAS
EXPLODING WITH EMAILS.
"WHEN I SAW YOUR MOVIE CATFISH,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THE SIMILARITIES."
IT FELT LIKE EVERYONE ON
THE INTERNET WANTED TO TELL ME
ABOUT THEIR BIZARRE ONLINE
ROMANCE.
I SHOULD JUST PURSUE EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THESE LEADS, AND
WE SHOULD MAKE A SHOW OF IT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO.
I'M HITTING THE ROAD WITH MY
FILMMAKER BUDDY MAX AND A CREW
FROM MTV TO HELP PEOPLE MEET
THEIR ONLINE LOVES FOR THE FIRST
TIME.
OKAY, I THINK THIS IS IT.
IT'S GO TIME RIGHT NOW.
>> GO TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IS THE PERSON THEY'VE FALLEN FOR
TELLING THE TRUTH...
>> MAYBE SHE'S, LIKE, SOME SUPER
SEXY FARMER'S DAUGHTER.
>> OR HIDING BEHIND LIES?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD
SMILE OR CRY.
>> WILL THEY FIND LOVE...
>> GUYS, GUYS, GUYS, GUYS.
>> OR HEARTACHE?
DEFINITELY DID NOT SEE THIS
COMING.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
RIGHT NOW.
>> NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WE'RE
HERE TO HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY.
>> I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S YOU.
>> HOPEFULLY FIND THE LIGHT AT
THE END OF THE TUNNEL IF IT'S,
YOU KNOW, HAPPY OR NOT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU BLATHERING
ABOUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
CATFISH THE MOVIE WAS MY STORY.
CATFISH: THE TV SHOW IS YOURS.
>> THIS IS MY PIN.
I FOUND IT AT MY HOUSE.
'CAUSE IT WAS SO FUNNY TO ME
THAT SOMEONE MADE A PIN OF NEV
AT HIS MOST ANNOYING.
>> WHAT?
>> OH, COME ON, THIS WAS LIKE...
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY MY BEST
MOMENT.
>> YOUR MOST ANNOYING STAGE
GROWING UP.
>> OH, OH--
>> LOOK AT YOUR FACE.
I JUST WANT TO PUNCH YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU GOTTA DO THIS
EXACT POSE.
YEAH.
PERFECT.
[laughs]
WELL, LET'S GET DOWN TO
BUSINESS.
>> ALL RIGHT, HERE'S MY MOST
RECENT EMAIL.
SUBJECT: "AT A CROSSROAD IN MY
LIFE AND NEED HELP.
HEY, NEV, MY NAME IS RICO,
AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A GUY FOR
ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW ONLINE.
WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, I WAS IN
THE ARMY.
HIS NAME IS JA'MARI.
HE'S A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL
MODEL.
RIGHT NOW, I'M AT A CROSSROAD
IN MY LIFE.
MY MOTHER HAS RECENTLY MOVED
BACK HOME TO THE U.K. BECAUSE OF
HER ILLNESS TO GET SUPPORT FROM
HER FAMILY.
I WANT TO BE CLOSE TO MY MOTHER,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IF I LEAVE, I'M
NOT MISSING OUT ON A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY
FIND TRUE LOVE WITH THIS
AMAZING GUY.
I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME
FIGURE OUT IF HE IS ALL HE SAYS
HE IS.
ALL MY BEST, RICO."
IF RICO WASN'T IN LOVE WITH
THIS GUY, HE WOULD JUST
IMMEDIATELY PACK UP AND GO WITH
HIS MOM BACK TO ENGLAND.
>> WELL, ISN'T THAT HOW HE
STARTED IT, IS, "I'M AT A
CROSSROADS"?
HE--HE IS AT A CROSSROADS.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL HIM.
[line trilling]
HELLO?
>> HELLO?
>> YEAH, HEY, MAN.
THIS IS MAX.
>> HEY.
>> SO YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY
WHEN YOU MET JA'MARI.
OKAY.
HOW STRONG ARE YOUR FEELINGS
FOR JA'MARI?
>> * I HEARD YOU SAY
* AND WE SHOULD STAY
>> I THINK HE GENUINELY CARES
ABOUT ME.
>> WHAT'S KEPT YOU GUYS FROM,
LIKE, VIDEO CHATTING IN THE
PAST?
SURE.
HAVE YOU GUYS TRIED TO MEET UP
BEFORE?
IF YOU MEET JA'MARI AND THERE'S
SOMETHING THERE, THAT'S GOING TO
KEEP YOU IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> YEAH.
>> SO I GUESS THE PLAN HERE IS
THAT WE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO GET YOU AND JA'MARI FACE TO
FACE.
>> AWESOME.
>> GREAT. SO WE'LL SEE YOU IN
A LITTLE BIT.
>> [laughs]
ALL RIGHT.
>> BYE.
>> BYE.
>> SEE YOU SOON.
>> HE OBVIOUSLY REALLY, REALLY
CARES ABOUT THIS GUY.
HIS LIFE IS LITERALLY WEIGHING
IN THE BALANCE.
>> LET'S GO TO BRIDGEPORT.
>> ARE YOU UP FOR IT?
>> I'M UP FOR IT. ARE YOU?
>> 'CAUSE I AM, LIKE, I'M THREE
STEPS DOWN THE HALL ALREADY.
>> WELL, LET'S GO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> I THINK WE GOTTA GO TO
NEW YORK FIRST.
>> THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO
BRIDGEPORT IS TO TAKE A FERRY.
>> * OF ALL THE ILLEGAL WAYS
* TO TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE *
* THERE'S ONE JUST AS SHARP *
* AND IT'S SHARP AS A KNIFE *
* AND IT'S CALLED HONEST *
* FEED--
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO
RICO'S HOUSE.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE
DRAMATIC SCENARIOS THAT WE'VE
BEEN IN.
>> I MEAN, HE'S KIND OF
ESSENTIALLY CHOOSING BETWEEN
HIS MOM AND JA'MARI.
PRETTY EXTREME CHOICE.
>> HEY, MAN.
>> HEY.
>> HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
>> GOOD.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU TOO.
>> MAX, RICO.
>> NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> LET'S CHECK OUT THE PLACE.
WOW.
WHOSE--WHOSE SNAKE IS THIS?
>> IT'S MY ROOMMATE'S SNAKE.
HIS NAME IS MASTER SNAKE.
>> IS HE HANDLE-ABLE?
>> I DON'T TOUCH HIM.
>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE.
YOU'RE STAYING HERE--
>> I GAVE--I ACTUALLY GAVE UP
MY PLACE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
WANTED TO SAVE UP MONEY TO GET
TO MY MOTHER.
SHE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT IN
2000.
SHE GOT A REALLY BAD, UH, BRAIN
INJURY FROM THE CAR ACCIDENT.
AND NOW SHE'S JUST HAVING, LIKE,
A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS FROM IT.
>> WHAT DOES JA'MARI SAY ABOUT
ALL THIS?
>> HE GENUINELY ACTS CONCERNED,
LIKE, WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH
SOMETHING.
LIKE, HE KNOWS MY MOTHER'S
SITUATION, AND I FEEL LIKE I
COULD TELL HIM ANYTHING.
>> WHAT ABOUT IF YOU MEET
JA'MARI AND HE WANTS TO MOVE TO
ENGLAND WITH YOU?
>> THAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL
SITUATION.
>> THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE--
>> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY,
REALLY COOL.
>> THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
>> YEAH.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'RE IN LOVE
WITH HIM?
>> I DO LOVE HIM.
I DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
NOW.
HE GREW UP IN MIAMI, AND HE
STARTED MODELING EARLY.
AND HE'S DOING, LIKE, REALLY
WELL FOR HIMSELF.
I KNOW HE DRIVES, LIKE, A
MERCEDES.
HE'S WHERE I WANT TO BE.
>> WHAT HAVE BEEN THE SORT OF
HANG-UPS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH
YOU GUYS GETTING TOGETHER?
>> ME BEING IN THE MILITARY WAS
A BIG DEAL.
AND THEN HIS, LIKE, WORK
SCHEDULE.
HE GOES AWAY FOR LONG PERIODS
OF TIME.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT
WE SAW EACH OTHER AND OPENED UP
A NEW CHAPTER.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF YOUR
LIFE IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH, IT IS.
BOTH OF OUR LIVES.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO IT.
THERE HE IS.
OKAY.
WOW.
>> I LOVE THAT PICTURE.
>> OH, YEAH? THIS IS YOUR FAVE?
"GETTING READY TO HEAD TO
LAS VEGAS.
I FEEL LIKE I LIVE ON A PLANE."
>> WHAT KIND OF MODELING DOES
HE DO?
>> PRINT MODELING.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF HIS ADS?
LIKE--
>> NO, I HAVEN'T, ACTUALLY.
>> IT'S WEIRD THAT HE DOESN'T
POST THOSE.
I MEAN, FOR A GUY THAT HAS--
>> FOR A MODEL...
>> YEAH.
>> YOU'D THINK HE'D HAVE MORE.
>> SO WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
THAT YOU SPOKE TO JA'MARI?
>> I SPOKE TO JA'MARI LAST
NIGHT.
HE CALLED ME TO SAY GOOD NIGHT.
>> YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM A RING?
I'D LOVE TO JUST SORT OF HEAR
YOU ON THE PHONE WITH JA'MARI
FOR A MINUTE.
>> OKAY.
[line trilling]
>> I'M SORRY.
MY PHONE, IT WAS DEAD.
I'M SORRY, PAPI.
OF COURSE I MISS YOU.
OKAY, WELL, I MISS YOU THE
MOSTEST, THEN.
LISTEN, I'M 'BOUT TO GET IN
THE SHOWER REAL QUICK.
SO I'LL CALL YOU--
I'M GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE.
ARE YOU WANTED?
I DO LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUR EYES, YOUR SMILE.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL TALK TO YOU
LATER.
LOVE YOU.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
>> WOW.
>> HE SEEMS, LIKE, REALLY
INTENSE.
DO YOU LIKE--YOU LIKE THAT?
>> YEAH, I DEFINITELY LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH?
>> IT BRINGS OUT MY--'CAUSE I
HAVE A, LIKE, A QUIET SIDE.
>> BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE THERE'S
STILL A LOT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW
ABOUT THIS GUY.
THERE'S SOME STUFF WE COULD FIND
OUT--WHERE HE MODELS, WHO IS HIS
MANAGER.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
JUST SORT OF FINDING OUT A
LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE WE JUMP
INTO TRYING TO MAKE A PLAN,
AND THEN SORT OF TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH, MAN.
GOOD MEETING YOU.
>> GOOD MEETING YOU TOO.
>> THAT'S A HELL OF A STORY.
>> IT'S JUST, LIKE, TEETERING
ON THIS VERY DELICATE PLACE.
WHO IS THIS GUY?
WHO KNOWS?
MY CURIOSITY IS DEFINITELY
PIQUED.
>> OKAY.
RICO REALLY CARES ABOUT JA'MARI.
HE SAYS HE REALLY CARES ABOUT
RICO.
WHERE TO START?
>> JUST SEARCH HIS NAME
WITH THE WORD "MODEL".
NO IMAGES COME UP.
HIS NAME DOESN'T EVEN COME UP
ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET.
WEIRD.
>> CAN WE PULL SOME PICTURES AND
DO OUR--
>> YEAH, LET'S DO A--
>> THE OLD IMAGE SEARCH?
>> YEAH. COME ON.
>> OKAY, NOTHING.
>> NOT COMING UP.
>> DAMN IT.
>> WE SEARCH FOR HIS NAME.
HIS NAME DOESN'T COME UP.
WE'RE SEARCHING FOR HIS IMAGES.
HIS IMAGES DON'T COME UP.
HOW CAN THIS GUY BE SO UNKNOWN
AND SUCH A SUCCESSFUL MODEL?
>> HERE'S HIS PROFILE.
>> LET'S LOOK FOR ONE PERSON
THAT WE KNOW HAS MET HIM.
>> OH, HERE WE GO.
LOOK, HERE'S A POST.
L'TOIYA.
>> "HEY, BESTIE BOO!
I HAD FUN WITH YOU TODAY!"
SO THAT PERSON KNOWS HIM.
>> SHE LIVES IN MIAMI.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE FRIENDS.
>> LET'S REACH OUT TO HER.
>> "I AM MAKING...
A SHOW FOR MTV."
>> SEND IT.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO
LOOK FOR.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVEN'T DONE
YET IS YOUTUBE.
SORT OF A LAST-DITCH EFFORT,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU FIND
SOMETHING.
>> WHAT'S THIS?
L'TOIYA.
>> OH, THAT'S L'TOIYA.
THAT'S HIS FRIEND.
>> YEAH.
AND...
JA'MARI.
>> JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP.
>> THERE HE IS.
>> OKAY.
>> HERE IS OUR TOP ANCHORMAN,
JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP.
JA'MARI?
>> THANK YOU, L'TOIYA DIANNE.
>> IT'S HIM.
>> LISTEN.
DO Y'ALL REALLY THINK THIS MAN'S
GONNA SELL HIS COMPANY?
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT COMPANY
PROBABLY WORTH $50 BILLION,
HONEY.
>> JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP IS
IN THIS VIDEO.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND HE LOOKS LIKE THE GUY
THAT HE SAYS HE LOOKS LIKE.
>> WITH L'TOIYA...
>> YEAH.
>> WHO'S ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.
>> THIS IS HER PAGE.
>> SCROLL DOWN.
NEW YORK ADVENTURES.
JA'MARI AND L'TOIYA.
>> OH, [bleep].
"BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE.
THIS WAS ME AND MY BESTIE,
FIRST TIME IN NYC.
WE WENT AND RECEIVED THE STAR
TREATMENT ON A TV SHOW."
COOL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A MAJOR BREAK.
>> YEAH.
"NEW YORK: THE ARRIVAL."
>> GOT A CALL FOR SOME EXTRA
MONEY.
>> THAT'S THE VOICE.
>> WOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE HIM.
THIS IS OUR GUY.
OKAY, HOLD ON.
CAN I SAY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> IF HE'S A SUCCESSFUL MODEL
WHO TRAVELS ALL THE TIME,
IT WOULDN'T BE...
>> HIS FIRST TIME IN NEW YORK?
>> SO SURPRISING THAT HE'S IN
NEW YORK.
>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A
DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE CAREER
HE SAYS HE HAS AND EVERYTHING
THAT WE'RE NOT FINDING ON HIS
CAREER.
>> OKAY.
WE'VE GOT JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP.
HIS FACEBOOK PROFILE, NAME,
AND PICTURE ARE THE SAME AS THE
GUY IN THE YOUTUBE VIDEO.
>> RIGHT.
AND THE VOICE FROM THE YOUTUBE
VIDEO IS THE SAME AS THE VOICE
THAT WE HEARD TALKING TO RICO
EARLIER.
>> I CAN SAY WITH ALMOST
COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT JA'MARI
VAN DE KAMP IS THIS GUY.
>> YEAH.
>> AWESOME.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> WHAT'S A LITTLE WEIRD TO ME
IS THAT TRAVELING TO NEW YORK
CITY A MONTH AGO WAS A HUGE
DEAL FOR HIM.
>> AND WE HAVEN'T FOUND ONE
MODELING PICTURE.
NOTHING THAT WOULD POINT TO THIS
GUY BEING A SUCCESSFUL MODEL.
>> IF HE'S NOT SUCCESSFUL, AND
HE'S BROKE, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE
A JOB, THAT'S A--THOSE ARE BIG
[bleep] LIES THAT HE'S BEEN
TELLING HIM, AND--
>> IF THAT'S A LIE, WHAT OTHER
SECRETS COULD THERE BE?
>> * OOH, THAT SWINGING TOP
>> FUNNY MIRROR.
>> HEY.
WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY WAS WE
LOOKED UP JA'MARI.
WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT
LOOKING INTO JA'MARI WAS THAT
WE ALMOST FOUND NOTHING.
WE DIDN'T REALLY FIND ANYTHING
ON ANY OTHER WEBSITE.
AND WE JUST SORT OF KEPT COMING
UP EMPTY.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT THERE WAS ONE GIRL ON
HIS PROFILE WHO SEEMED TO BE
MUCH CLOSER WITH HIM.
>> HER NAME IS L'TOIYA.
>> L'TOIYA.
>> NEVER HEARD OF HER?
>> NO.
>> L'TOIYA IS AN ASPIRING SORT
OF ACTRESS-MODEL WHO SEEMS TO BE
A VERY, VERY GOOD FRIEND.
>> YEAH.
>> ON HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL,
THERE'S A NUMBER OF VIDEOS
OF THEM TOGETHER.
HERE'S THE FIRST VIDEO THAT WE
FOUND.
THAT'S HIM, RIGHT?
>> AW.
>> [laughs]
SO THEY MADE, LIKE, A FUNNY FAKE
NEWS SHOW.
THAT'S YOUR MAN.
>> MISS L'TOIYA, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING.
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN.
HOW MANY PEOPLE Y'ALL KNOW THAT
GOT $50 BILLION, THEIR DAMN LIFE
RUINED?
>> [laughs]
>> I WANT SOME OF THAT MONEY.
I AIN'T GOT NONE.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE
SEEN HIS FACE AND HEARD HIS
VOICE AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT'S YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION?
>> I-I LOVE IT.
[laughs]
I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY
COOL.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
NOW, LIKE, I CAN'T WAIT TO
MEET HIM, LIKE, EVEN MORE.
>> WE VERY RARELY FIND SUCH
DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE
PERSON THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
TO AND THE PICTURES THEY'VE
BEEN SHOWING YOU ARE THE SAME
PERSON.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> NOW...
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF OTHER
QUESTIONS, THOUGH.
>> OKAY.
>> I GUESS THE BIGGEST RED FLAG
IS THAT HE SAYS HE'S A MODEL
AND THAT HE'S A SUCCESSFUL
MODEL, THAT HE TRAVELS AND--
AND WORKS A LOT.
AND WE DIDN'T FIND A SINGLE
PHOTO OF HIM ONLINE MODELING.
>> NOT A SINGLE PHOTO, NOT ANY
INFORMATION FOR AN AGENT OR A
MANAGER OR A CONTACT.
>> YOU'D THINK, IF HE WAS A
MODEL, THAT HE WOULD HAVE SOME
PICTURES, AND HE WOULD PUT THEM
ON HIS FACEBOOK, OR IT WOULD
SHOW UP SOMEWHERE ONLINE OR
SOMETHING.
>> YOU WANT TO SHOW HIM THE
OTHER ONE?
>> RIGHT, AND THEN--SO THEN, WE
FOUND ONE OTHER VIDEO.
>> WE'RE IN THE BIG APPLE RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE [bleep] LOVING IT.
THIS IS THE BIG APPLE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN TO NEW YORK.
>> IT'S JA'MARI AND L'TOIYA
TRAVELING TO NEW YORK CITY.
>> I'M IN NEW YORK.
>> HE SEEMS SUPER EXCITED,
SAYING HE'D NEVER BEEN THERE
BEFORE.
AGAIN, IF YOU'RE TRAVELING A
LOT, AND YOU'RE MODELING A LOT--
>> NEW YORK SEEMS TO BE A HUB
OF...
>> RIGHT.
>> MODELING WORK.
>> MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS SORT
OF LIKE, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT
HE WORKS AT BURGER KING...
>> YEAH.
>> W--DOES THAT MATTER?
>> UM, YEAH, THAT'S--
THAT WOULD BE CRAZY.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> SO IT'S LESS IMPORTANT TO YOU
THAT HE'S SUCCESSFUL AND MORE
IMPORTANT THAT HE'S HONEST.
>> MM-HMM, DEFINITELY.
>> I THINK THE ONLY SORT OF
THING LEFT TO DO IS FOR ME TO
CALL HIM, FIGURE OUT IF MEETING
UP MAKES SENSE, AND WHEN AND
WHERE.
>> I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
WANT TO MEET HIM, SO--
BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO FIND
OUT MORE INFORMATION.
I WOULD QUESTION WHAT ELSE HE
COULD BE LYING TO ME ABOUT.
>> RICO IS AT AN INCREDIBLY
SENSITIVE MOMENT IN HIS LIFE,
TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT
HE WANTS TO SEE HIS MOTHER IN
ENGLAND AND START A LIFE THERE
OR FALL IN LOVE WITH JA'MARI,
MOVE TO MIAMI, AND BE WITH HIM.
>> IT'S KIND OF OUR JOB TO
PROTECT RICO AND PLANT THE IDEA
IN JA'MARI'S HEAD HOW MUCH RICO
HAS RIDING ON THIS, AND THAT
THE DIRECTION OF HIS LIFE HANGS
IN THE BALANCE.
[line trilling]
>> HELLO?
>> YEAH, HI, IS THIS JA'MARI?
>> YES.
>> HEY, THIS IS NEV.
I'M A FRIEND OF RICO'S.
I'M MAKING A TV SERIES ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO MEET ON THE
INTERNET WHO HAVE NEVER MET
IN REAL LIFE.
HE HEARD THAT I WAS MAKING
THIS TV SERIES, AND OBVIOUSLY,
HE VERY MUCH WANTS TO MEET YOU.
AND HE WAS JUST HOPING THAT I
WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP.
NO, I--
I--IT DOES.
IT DOES. YOU'RE RIGHT.
IN FACT, YOU'RE--YOU'RE TOTALLY
RIGHT.
YEAH, I HEAR YOU, MAN.
YOU'RE--YOU KNOW, WE'RE CALLING
YOU FIRST TO SEE IF AND--IF
YOU'RE AVAILABLE, IF YOU'D LIKE
IT TO HAPPEN, AND TO TRY AND
SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW JUST
HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO HIM,
THE QUESTION IS REALLY WHETHER
OR NOT HE WANTS TO START A NEW
LIFE IN ENGLAND OR START A NEW
LIFE WITH YOU.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN
ANSWER THAT UNTIL YOU GUYS MEET
IN PERSON.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE
TAKEN LIGHTLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL LIFE,
UH, THE FUTURE OF--OF CERTAINLY
RICO, AND POSSIBLY YOUR FUTURE
ALSO.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING
FOR BOTH OF YOU.
IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING
YOU.
ALL RIGHT, JA'MARI.
BYE.
WHEW.
>> NICE WORK, MAN.
>> WOW.
>> THAT WAS GOOD.
>> WE'RE STILL NOT SURE ABOUT
THE MODELING THING.
>> STILL NOT SURE.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING IT UP.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT
CALL.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GO OVER
THERE, TELL RICO THE GOOD NEWS,
AND SEE HOW HE FEELS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YO.
>> HEY.
>> HEY, MAN.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> THE REASON WE CAME OVER--
I SPOKE TO JA'MARI.
AND BASICALLY, THE BOTTOM LINE
IS, HE AGREED THAT...
HE WANTS TO MEET YOU.
>> WOW.
AWESOME.
>> HE'S IN MIAMI, AND IF WE
LEAVE TOMORROW MORNING, THEN
FRIDAY, HE'LL MAKE SOME TIME
AND BE AVAILABLE TO MEET.
>> AWESOME.
>> I JUST WANTED TO COME OVER
HERE AND TELL YOU IN PERSON
BECAUSE I WAS REALLY EXCITED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH.
>> * AND YOU SEE TROUBLE
* IN HER EYES
* AND YOU'VE NOTICED *
* BUT ONLY REALIZED
>> I JUST GOT REALLY NERVOUS,
BUT YEAH.
>> WHAT ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, NOW IT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING, SO I'M REALLY, REALLY
EXCITED.
BIG TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE...
>> YEAH. OH, MY GOD.
>> THIS WEEK.
[chuckles] YEAH.
>> * I'M NOT ALONE *
* SHE SAID
* I'M NOT ALONE *
>> ALL RIGHT, DUDE, LATER.
>> * NO, I'M *
* NOT ALONE
[knock at door]
[door creaks]
>> HEY, MAN.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD MORNING.
HOW YOU FEELING, MAN?
>> GOOD. I'M REALLY EXCITED.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MIAMI.
>> * OVER THE LINE
* THAT I WANT SOMETHING
* THAT JUST ISN'T MINE *
* BUT I DO
*
>> SO WE'RE MEETING JA'MARI
AT A PARK?
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID ON THE
PHONE?
>> YEP.
>> WHAT'S YOUR HEART LIKE RIGHT
NOW, RICO?
>> IT'S POUNDING.
>> CAN YOU REMEMBER A TIME IN
YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU EVER FELT
THIS WAY BEFORE?
>> I GUESS THE CLOSEST WOULD BE,
LIKE, GOING OFF TO BASIC
TRAINING.
LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A FEW
MINUTES BEFORE HE GETS HERE, I
GUESS.
[tense music]
*
LET'S JUST CHILL HERE.
>> GUESS WE JUST WAIT.
EMPTY PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW.
>> [sighs]
BETTER SHOW UP.
>> WHAT'S THIS?
>> NO, THERE'S A COUPLE IN THAT
ONE.
HERE'S A CAR COMING DOWN.
>> YEP. I GOT A--
I GOT A CREEPER AT 11:00.
>> HE SAID HE WAS CLOSE, RIGHT?
>> MM-HMM.
>> WINDOWS ARE TINTED.
I CAN'T SEE.
>> PARKING.
OH.
>> OH, MY GOD.
I WANT TO--
LET'S GO TO THE BEACH.
YOU WANNA GO TO THE BEACH?
>> ARE YOU NERVOUS NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS IT, MAN.
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
BETTER GET GOING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
[laughs] WOW.
OH, MY GOD.
>> WOW.
WOW.
WOW.
>> HI.
>> OH, MY GOD.
THESE ARE FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OH, MY GOD.
WOW.
OH, MY GOD.
>> [laughs]
>> [laughs] WOW.
WHOA.
WOW.
HOLY [bleep].
YOU'RE ACTUALLY HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> THESE ARE FOR YOU, BABES.
I--OOH.
I'M SO NERVOUS.
I'M SO EXCITED.
OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> I'M EXCITED.
I'M--WOW!
YOU'RE HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> WOW, WOW, WOW.
HOPE YOU LIKE THE FLOWERS.
>> I DO. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE ROSES.
FEEL MY HANDS SHAKING?
>> YEAH, MINE ARE TOO.
BOTH OF US ARE VERY NERVOUS.
I'M SO SURPRISED.
[tender music]
*
YOU LOOK GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
SO DO YOU.
>> WELL, I CHOSE THIS BEACH FOR
MANY REASONS.
'CAUSE GROWING UP, THIS WAS THE
BEACH THAT MY FAMILY CAME TO.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF
PROBLEMS, AND FOR SOME STRANGE
REASON, WE FELT UNITED WHEN WE
WAS HERE.
YOU KNOW, SO I THOUGHT CRANDON
BEACH WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO
BRING YOU.
>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
FINALLY.
>> BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE
SAID, SO--
>> OKAY.
>> AND IT'S NOTHING CRAZY.
I'M HOLDING YOUR HAND BECAUSE
I SINCERELY MEAN IT.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
I REALLY DO CARE ABOUT YOU,
AND I WANT A GOOD CHANCE TO BE
WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS A LOT TO
ME.
>> MM.
>> MY NAME NOT JA'MARI.
MY NAME IS JAMES.
AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, I AIN'T
DRIVING A MERCEDES "S" SERIES.
AND I'M 22.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE MY OWN
PLACE.
I ACTUALLY LIVE WITH MY MOM, BY
THE WAY, TOO, SO THAT'S WHY I
ALWAYS TELL YOU I UNDERSTAND
THAT--HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR
MOM, BECAUSE MY MOM'S MY ROCK.
AND I'M NOT A MODEL.
I'M ACTUALLY--
>> [laughs]
>> I AIN'T GONNA LET YOU GO,
'CAUSE I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME
OUT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY.
I JUST WANT YOU TO GIVE ME A
CHANCE, YOU KNOW.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M NOT A MODEL.
I'M A BUS DRIVER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY I'M
ALWAYS ON THE ROAD, IT'S BECAUSE
I'M ON THE ROAD, BUT NOT
LITERALLY THE WAY YOU THINK I
AM.
I WAS THAT CLOSE FROM TELLING
YOU, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO
LOSE YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE
CONFIDED IN ME ABOUT SO MUCH.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT I'VE EVER
DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY
LIFE, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WASN'T
SUPPOSED TO GET TO THIS FAR.
[dramatic music]
*
SO PLEASE, PLEASE JUST--JUST
GIVE ME THE WEEKEND.
LIKE, JUST GIVE ME, LIKE, A DAY
OR TWO TO JUST SHOW YOU WHO I
AM, BECAUSE I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT THOSE
THINGS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MATERIAL
THINGS.
IT'S ABOUT ME BEING WITH YOU.
AND IF, AFTER THIS WEEKEND, YOU
NEVER WANT TO SEE ME, THAT'S
FINE.
BUT JUST DON'T COUNT ME OUT.
NOT JUST YET, PLEASE.
>> LET'S REWIND A LITTLE BIT.
SO YOU SAID YOU'RE--YOU'RE NOT--
YOU'RE NOT A MODEL AT ALL?
>> NO.
I TOOK MY OWN PICTURES, BUT
THEY'RE NICE PICTURES, THOUGH.
>> AND YOUR NAME IS JAMES?
>> YEAH. NOT TOO FAR, YOU KNOW.
I JUST LIKE MY NAME.
AND I GOT MY OWN REASONS, BABE.
LIKE, I--IT WASN'T TO DECEIVE
YOU AT ALL.
LIKE, I WAS REALLY GOING THROUGH
A LOT AT THAT TIME, AND I JUST
NEEDED TO FEEL LIKE I CAN BE
FREE AGAIN.
SO THAT'S HOW JA'MARI CAME
ABOUT.
>> THAT MAKES ME QUESTION A LOT
OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE
TOLD ME, SO--
>> EVERYTHING I'VE TOLD YOU HAS
BEEN SINCERE AND GENUINE.
I MEAN, THE ONLY THING THAT I
HAVEN'T TOLD YOU IS THAT I DON'T
HAVE A BIG HOUSE.
I DON'T HAVE A MERCEDES, YOU
KNOW, AND--
>> YEAH, BUT I'M NOT A--I'M NOT
A MATERIALISTIC PERSON ANYWAYS.
LIKE, YOU KNOW THAT.
LIKE, I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING.
I'M SLEEPING ON A COUCH RIGHT
NOW, SO, I MEAN--
>> I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, I WANTED TO BE THAT PERSON
THAT COULD BE THERE.
I WANTED TO BE THAT PERSON THAT
YOU LOOKED UP TO.
THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS USED TO TELL
YOU WE SO ALIKE IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND YOU NEVER KNEW WHY.
>> ARE YOU ABOUT TO CRY?
>> I AM, BECAUSE I'M JUST
SITTING HERE, AND I'M JUST,
LIKE, AMAZED.
[sighs]
SO WHERE DO WE GO?
CAN I HAVE THIS WEEKEND?
CAN I SHOW YOU?
CAN I TAKE YOU OUT TO DINNER?
CAN I DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT
UP?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, I-I DON'T KNOW.
MY THOUGHTS ARE, LIKE,
EVERYWHERE, SO IT'S GONNA TAKE
ME SOME TIME TO, LIKE...
LET EVERYTHING SETTLE IN.
>> I'M SORRY.
I KNOW YOU'RE JUST, LIKE,
SHOCKED.
LIKE, ALL THIS IS SO SHOCKING TO
YOU.
I KNOW.
>> I NEED A CIGARETTE REALLY,
REALLY BAD.
OKAY.
UGH.
[lighter sparks]
REALLY THROWN OFF.
IF YOU LIED TO ME ABOUT THAT,
I MEAN, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU
LIE TO ME ABOUT?
>> DOES IT FEEL LIKE A BETRAYAL?
>> YEAH.
[chuckles] DEFINITELY.
>> IT NEVER FELT LIKE THE RIGHT
TIME TO TELL HIM.
IT'S TRUE.
AND I HATE THAT THIS IS THE WAY
IT HAPPENED.
AND I JUST FEEL, YOU'RE TRUSTING
ME, AND...
I'M DECEIVING YOU.
I DO KNOW THAT IT'S MY FAULT.
AND IF HE DECIDES THAT HE DON'T
WANT TO GIVE ME A CHANCE, THEN
ALL I CAN DO IS RESPECT THAT.
>> WELL...
>> SEE WHAT ELSE WE DON'T KNOW.
>> POLICE?
WHAT?
>> I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, WHY?
>> I THINK THIS IS HIM CALLING
ME.
>> [clears throat]
>> [sighs heavily]
>> I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, WHY?
YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT ME MADE YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU COULDN'T TELL ME
THE TRUTH?
>> DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT HE'S
A BUS DRIVER OR THAT HE LIVES
WITH HIS MOM?
>> NO.
IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT HE LIED
ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO LOOK HIM UP?
>> SURE.
>> HIS PERSONAL PAGE HAS ALMOST
GOT NOTHING ON IT.
>> WELL, HE SPENDS MOST OF THE
TIME ON JA'MARI'S PAGE.
WELL--
>> SEE WHAT ELSE WE DON'T KNOW.
>> RIGHT THERE.
>> OH, YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
>> POLICE? WHAT?
>> WAIT, WHAT?
SAYS HERE THAT HE WAS ARRESTED
FOR STEALING AT LEAST THREE
BUSES AND DRIVING THEM ON THEIR
ROUTES.
>> SO HE IMPERSONATED A BUS
DRIVER AND--
>> AND DROVE A BUS.
>> AND DROVE A BUS.
>> THE REASON HE PROBABLY USES
THE NAME JA'MARI IS BECAUSE HE
DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT
HE'S A CRIMINAL.
>> IT'S NOT MALICIOUS.
>> WELL, THAT MAY BE--
>> PSYCHOTIC, THOUGH.
I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T JUST PUT ON
A BUS DRIVER'S UNIFORM AND DRIVE
THE BUS AROUND AND THEN BRING IT
BACK.
>> NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO
THINK.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST UPSET.
[cell phone vibrating]
>> OH, I THINK THIS IS HIM
CALLING ME.
DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER IT?
>> YEAH.
>> HELLO?
>> NEV, IT'S JAMES.
>> HEY, JAMES.
I AM SITTING WITH RICO.
I'M NOT SURE HE HAS ANYTHING TO
SAY RIGHT NOW, SO IF I--I HAVE
A FEW THINGS I COULD ASK YOU,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
I DID A SEARCH.
I'M SEEING A BUNCH OF STUFF
ABOUT YOUR BUS DRIVING...
>> THAT'S BULL.
>> ESCAPADES.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT WASN'T
YOU?
I-I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT
I SHOULD BELIEVE EVERYTHING
YOU'RE SAYING.
I WANT TO, BUT, YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO RICO
FOR A WHILE.
THIS IS THE TIME TO GO FULL OUT
AND JUST COME CLEAN.
DO YOU WANT TO MEET UP TONIGHT?
OKAY, LATER.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST
WE CAN DO, IS JUST HEAR HIM OUT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[dramatic music]
*
LAST WORDS?
>> IT WAS A LOT ALL AT ONCE
TODAY.
I CAME ALL THE WAY HERE.
I WANT TO HEAR HIM OUT.
AND I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LEAVE
HERE, I CAN KNOW WHERE WE STAND.
[indistinct chatter]
>> HELLO.
ARE YOU OKAY?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD
DEFINITELY TALK.
>> IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION
TO DECEIVE YOU.
IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO
MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS A LIE
OR ANYTHING.
AND AS I GO ON, I'LL EXPLAIN TO
YOU WHAT THESE PAPERS ARE AND
WHY I BROUGHT THEM AND WHY
THEY'RE VALID TO ME.
BECAUSE THEY SHOW WHAT I
OVERCAME.
I WAS RAISED IN THE GHETTO.
AND WE WEREN'T AWARDED LUXURIES
SUCH AS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND I CAME UP WITH THIS.
IT'S A PETITION LETTER THAT I
PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY.
AND NOVEMBER 21, 2004, AT THE
AGE OF 14, I GOT A CITY BUS
ROUTE STARTED IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOUR YEARS LATER, THIS CRAZY
STUFF WENT ON IN THE COUNTY,
WHERE SOMEBODY WAS STEALING A
BUS AND DRIVING A BUS.
PEOPLE REMEMBERED ME FROM THIS,
FOUR YEARS EARLIER.
AT THAT TIME, I FIT--I FIT THE
PROFILE OF THAT PERSON.
AND FOR TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE,
I KID YOU NOT, I FOUGHT WITH
THAT CASE.
>> SO YOU--YOU WERE ACTUALLY IN
JAIL?
>> YEAH, IN COUNTY JAIL.
IT TOOK ME TWO YEARS TO PROVE
MY NAME.
TWO YEARS TO PROVE MY NAME.
I SAT IN THE COUNTY JAIL FOR
TWO YEARS, FIGHTING FOR FOOD.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN I PURSUED
ALL MY TRAINING AS A BUS
OPERATOR.
I PASSED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS,
AND THEY EVEN TELL YOU I PASSED
THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
AND I REALLY MOVED FORWARD IN
MY LIFE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAUNTED
ME.
HAUNTED ME.
SO OF COURSE, AFTER ALL THIS
STUFF, I WON'T WANT TO BE JAMES
NO MORE.
I WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL, AND I
WENT TO GAINESVILLE.
I JUST NEEDED TO GET AWAY.
AND JA'MARI WAS BORN IN
GAINESVILLE, SITTING AT MY
COUSIN'S HOUSE ON THE COMPUTER.
PAPI, YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND ME.
LIKE, EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE
KNOW THIS.
AND IF I GIVE A PERSON MY NAME,
THEY GONNA DO THE SAME THING HE
JUST DID.
THEY'RE GONNA PULL THAT UP.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY'RE
GONNA DO IS THEY'RE GONNA JUDGE
ME.
>> YEAH, BUT I'M NOT--I'M NOT
EVERYONE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AND I--JUST LIKE YOU'RE TELLING
ME NOW, LIKE, I UNDERSTAND.
I GET IT.
>> IN MY POSITION, WHEN YOU
FINALLY GET SOMEBODY THAT YOU
REALLY LIKE, AND YOU KNOW IT'S
ONE THING THAT'S HOLDING YOU
BACK, HOW DO YOU TELL--SAY
SOMETHING WITHOUT BEING AFRAID
OF LOSING THEM?
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO WAIT
TILL THE TIME IS RIGHT.
>> IT JUST HURTS 'CAUSE I FELT--
I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T
REAL.
>> I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW.
THAT'S THE HONEST TRUTH.
I TRUST MY HEART.
AND I TRUST IN MY HEART THAT YOU
WON'T WALK AWAY.
AND THAT'S NOT BEING COCKY.
THAT'S NOT BEING RUDE.
THAT'S--
>> YOU NEED TO START TRUSTING
ME.
YOU KNOW?
'CAUSE YOUR HEART AND YOUR HEAD
IS WHAT LIED TO ME.
SO YOU NEED TO START TRUSTING
ME.
>> MY HEART DIDN'T LIE TO YOU.
MY HEART DIDN'T LIE TO YOU.
BELIEVE YOU ME, MY HEART DID NOT
LIE TO YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE?
>> I WON'T FORGET IT.
>> COULD YOU OR WOULD YOU
FORGIVE ME?
PLEASE?
>> AND NOW, MORE CATFISH:
THE TV SHOW.
STICK AROUND.
>> * GIVE IT UP, DEATH
* GO ON AND RESIGN
>> SO WE'RE MEETING HIM AT A
PARK?
>> SOUTH POINTE PARK.
IT'S THE VERY SOUTHERN TIP
OF SOUTH BEACH.
>> * YOU
* BE MINE
>> READY, MAN?
>> READY.
>> THERE HE IS.
>> HEY.
HEY!
>> * BE MINE
>> WHAT'S GOING ON, BABES?
HOW YOU FEELING TODAY?
>> I'M GOOD.
>> HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT LAST
NIGHT?
>> IT WAS GOOD.
I GOT SOME SLEEP.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF THINKING.
>> LIKE, ALL NIGHT, I WAS
THINKING ABOUT YOU.
I WAS LIKE, "UGH.
HE'S MAD."
AND I WAS ANXIOUS.
I WANTED TO TEXT YOU.
I WANTED TO CALL YOU, BUT I WAS
LIKE, NAH.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY LAST DAY
HERE.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY SPEND SOME
TIME WITH YOU AND WANT TO HAVE
A GOOD DAY.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I GOT
TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU
GAVE ME STRENGTH IN MORE WAYS
THAN ONE YESTERDAY.
AND YOU GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO
FINALLY BE FREE FROM SOMETHING
THAT WAS HOLDING ME BACK.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I FEEL FREE AGAIN, YOU KNOW,
AND I'M ABLE TO SMILE.
I CAN WALK ON THE BEACH AND BE
LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT DON'T MATTER WHERE I CAME
FROM.
IT JUST MATTERS WHERE I'M GOING
AND WHO I'M WITH, YOU KNOW.
>> AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND
LIKE YOU'RE...
>> I DON'T.
>> FLYING AROUND ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY--
>> I CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THE
PHONE NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> COULD YOU OR HAVE YOU OR
WOULD YOU FORGIVE ME?
PLEASE?
>> I-I FORGIVE YOU.
THE THING IS, IS THAT I WON'T
FORGET IT.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE THING
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO MOVE
PAST, IS THAT IT HAPPENED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I FORGIVE YOU.
LIKE, I GET IT.
I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID IT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU WENT
THROUGH, BUT I-I DEFINITELY
DO FORGIVE YOU FOR IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE?
>> I FEEL LIKE COMMUNICATION'S
GONNA BE KEY AT THIS POINT.
MY LOVE FOR YOU HASN'T CHANGED.
BUT I DO NEED TO GET TO MY
MOTHER AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S
ALL RIGHT.
BUT IF I DO END UP, YOU KNOW,
STAYING THERE, AND I LIKE IT,
I MIGHT END UP STAYING, AND
MAYBE YOU COULD COME OUT THERE
WITH ME.
YOU KNOW?
>> THE SKY'S THE LIMIT, BABE.
IT'S A NEW START FOR THE BOTH
OF US.
>> KIND OF PUT ME IN A DAZE A
LITTLE BIT.
I MIGHT FALL DOWN.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
SO THIS IS UNTIL NEXT TIME.
>> I WANT, LIKE, THIS BIG,
HUGE HUG.
OH.
>> OH.
>> I LOVE YOU, BABES.
>> LOVE YOU TOO.
>> SEE YOU LATER.
>> OKAY.
>> OOF. WHOO!
WAIT.
WAIT. WHOO!
THAT JUST CAUGHT ME.
I THINK YOU JUST DAZZLED ME WITH
THE WIND JUST THEN.
CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN?
WHOA.
>> BYE, PAPI.
>> SEE YOU LATER, BABES.
>> [laughs]
LITTLE P.D.A. IN M.I.A., HUH?
>> HEY, HEY, WHOA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> [laughs]
>> DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.
OKAY.
RICO.
>> YO, RICO.
>> RICO.
>> YEAH.
SHE'S ON THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS
NOW, SO SHE'S FEELING BETTER.
I THINK THAT IF THINGS ARE
MOVING THE WAY THEY'RE MOVING
NOW, I COULD DEFINITELY SEE
MYSELF WITH JAMES IN THE FUTURE.
>> WOW, THAT'S AMAZING.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH, THERE HE IS.
>> WHAT'S UP?
>> HE WAS TELLING US THAT THINGS
ARE GOING REALLY WELL, WHICH--
WHICH MAKES US VERY HAPPY.
>> THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS
BROUGHT US CLOSER.
IT MADE IT JUST THAT MUCH
BETTER.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, NOT EVERYBODY
IS GONNA LOOK DOWN ON YOU
BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU WENT
THROUGH.
YOUR PAST IS JUST THAT.
IT'S YOUR PAST.
AND YOU LEARN TO MOVE ON FROM
THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> WELL--WELL SAID.
>> COOL, WELL, WE'RE GONNA HEAD
OFF.
GREAT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
>> BYE, GUYS.
>> ALL RIGHT, TALK TO YOU GUYS
LATER.
>> BYE.
>> IF FELICIA HAS BEEN TRUTHFUL,
THEN THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE IN LOVE WITH
THAT PERSON.
>> ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT
SHE SAID TO US WAS, "BE
CAREFUL."
>> OH, WOW.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
>> [exhales]
1416
00:40:57.
NOW, RICO?
>> IT'S POUNDING.
>> GUESS WE JUST WAIT.
[suspenseful music]
*
>> I GOT A CREEPER AT 11:00.
WINDOWS ARE TINTED.
I CAN'T SEE.
*
>> THIS IS IT, MAN.
[click]
>> HI, I'M NEV.
A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I FELL IN
LOVE ONLINE.
TURNS OUT, MY CRUSH WASN'T WHO
I THOUGHT SHE WAS.
I THOUGHT I FELL IN LOVE WITH
MEGAN, BUT MEGAN WAS REALLY
ANGELA.
I WAS HEARTBROKEN.
BUT THE WEIRDEST PART OF IT ALL,
ANGELA AND I ACTUALLY BECAME
FRIENDS.
NOT ONLY THAT, MY BROTHER AND
HIS FILMMAKING PARTNER SHOT
THE WHOLE THING AND TURNED IT
INTO A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS
A PRETTY BIG HIT.
SUDDENLY, MY INBOX WAS
EXPLODING WITH EMAILS.
"WHEN I SAW YOUR MOVIE CATFISH,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THE SIMILARITIES."
IT FELT LIKE EVERYONE ON
THE INTERNET WANTED TO TELL ME
ABOUT THEIR BIZARRE ONLINE
ROMANCE.
I SHOULD JUST PURSUE EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THESE LEADS, AND
WE SHOULD MAKE A SHOW OF IT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO.
I'M HITTING THE ROAD WITH MY
FILMMAKER BUDDY MAX AND A CREW
FROM MTV TO HELP PEOPLE MEET
THEIR ONLINE LOVES FOR THE FIRST
TIME.
OKAY, I THINK THIS IS IT.
IT'S GO TIME RIGHT NOW.
>> GO TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IS THE PERSON THEY'VE FALLEN FOR
TELLING THE TRUTH...
>> MAYBE SHE'S, LIKE, SOME SUPER
SEXY FARMER'S DAUGHTER.
>> OR HIDING BEHIND LIES?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD
SMILE OR CRY.
>> WILL THEY FIND LOVE...
>> GUYS, GUYS, GUYS, GUYS.
>> OR HEARTACHE?
DEFINITELY DID NOT SEE THIS
COMING.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
RIGHT NOW.
>> NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WE'RE
HERE TO HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY.
>> I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S YOU.
>> HOPEFULLY FIND THE LIGHT AT
THE END OF THE TUNNEL IF IT'S,
YOU KNOW, HAPPY OR NOT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU BLATHERING
ABOUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
CATFISH THE MOVIE WAS MY STORY.
CATFISH: THE TV SHOW IS YOURS.
>> THIS IS MY PIN.
I FOUND IT AT MY HOUSE.
'CAUSE IT WAS SO FUNNY TO ME
THAT SOMEONE MADE A PIN OF NEV
AT HIS MOST ANNOYING.
>> WHAT?
>> OH, COME ON, THIS WAS LIKE...
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY MY BEST
MOMENT.
>> YOUR MOST ANNOYING STAGE
GROWING UP.
>> OH, OH--
>> LOOK AT YOUR FACE.
I JUST WANT TO PUNCH YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU GOTTA DO THIS
EXACT POSE.
YEAH.
PERFECT.
[laughs]
WELL, LET'S GET DOWN TO
BUSINESS.
>> ALL RIGHT, HERE'S MY MOST
RECENT EMAIL.
SUBJECT: "AT A CROSSROAD IN MY
LIFE AND NEED HELP.
HEY, NEV, MY NAME IS RICO,
AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN
BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A GUY FOR
ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW ONLINE.
WHEN I FIRST MET HIM, I WAS IN
THE ARMY.
HIS NAME IS JA'MARI.
HE'S A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL
MODEL.
RIGHT NOW, I'M AT A CROSSROAD
IN MY LIFE.
MY MOTHER HAS RECENTLY MOVED
BACK HOME TO THE U.K. BECAUSE OF
HER ILLNESS TO GET SUPPORT FROM
HER FAMILY.
I WANT TO BE CLOSE TO MY MOTHER,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IF I LEAVE, I'M
NOT MISSING OUT ON A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY
FIND TRUE LOVE WITH THIS
AMAZING GUY.
I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME
FIGURE OUT IF HE IS ALL HE SAYS
HE IS.
ALL MY BEST, RICO."
IF RICO WASN'T IN LOVE WITH
THIS GUY, HE WOULD JUST
IMMEDIATELY PACK UP AND GO WITH
HIS MOM BACK TO ENGLAND.
>> WELL, ISN'T THAT HOW HE
STARTED IT, IS, "I'M AT A
CROSSROADS"?
HE--HE IS AT A CROSSROADS.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL HIM.
[line trilling]
HELLO?
>> HELLO?
>> YEAH, HEY, MAN.
THIS IS MAX.
>> HEY.
>> SO YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY
WHEN YOU MET JA'MARI.
OKAY.
HOW STRONG ARE YOUR FEELINGS
FOR JA'MARI?
>> * I HEARD YOU SAY
* AND WE SHOULD STAY
>> I THINK HE GENUINELY CARES
ABOUT ME.
>> WHAT'S KEPT YOU GUYS FROM,
LIKE, VIDEO CHATTING IN THE
PAST?
SURE.
HAVE YOU GUYS TRIED TO MEET UP
BEFORE?
IF YOU MEET JA'MARI AND THERE'S
SOMETHING THERE, THAT'S GOING TO
KEEP YOU IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> YEAH.
>> SO I GUESS THE PLAN HERE IS
THAT WE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO GET YOU AND JA'MARI FACE TO
FACE.
>> AWESOME.
>> GREAT. SO WE'LL SEE YOU IN
A LITTLE BIT.
>> [laughs]
ALL RIGHT.
>> BYE.
>> BYE.
>> SEE YOU SOON.
>> HE OBVIOUSLY REALLY, REALLY
CARES ABOUT THIS GUY.
HIS LIFE IS LITERALLY WEIGHING
IN THE BALANCE.
>> LET'S GO TO BRIDGEPORT.
>> ARE YOU UP FOR IT?
>> I'M UP FOR IT. ARE YOU?
>> 'CAUSE I AM, LIKE, I'M THREE
STEPS DOWN THE HALL ALREADY.
>> WELL, LET'S GO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> I THINK WE GOTTA GO TO
NEW YORK FIRST.
>> THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO
BRIDGEPORT IS TO TAKE A FERRY.
>> * OF ALL THE ILLEGAL WAYS
* TO TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE *
* THERE'S ONE JUST AS SHARP *
* AND IT'S SHARP AS A KNIFE *
* AND IT'S CALLED HONEST *
* FEED--
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO
RICO'S HOUSE.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE
DRAMATIC SCENARIOS THAT WE'VE
BEEN IN.
>> I MEAN, HE'S KIND OF
ESSENTIALLY CHOOSING BETWEEN
HIS MOM AND JA'MARI.
PRETTY EXTREME CHOICE.
>> HEY, MAN.
>> HEY.
>> HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
>> GOOD.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU TOO.
>> MAX, RICO.
>> NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> LET'S CHECK OUT THE PLACE.
WOW.
WHOSE--WHOSE SNAKE IS THIS?
>> IT'S MY ROOMMATE'S SNAKE.
HIS NAME IS MASTER SNAKE.
>> IS HE HANDLE-ABLE?
>> I DON'T TOUCH HIM.
>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE.
YOU'RE STAYING HERE--
>> I GAVE--I ACTUALLY GAVE UP
MY PLACE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
WANTED TO SAVE UP MONEY TO GET
TO MY MOTHER.
SHE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT IN
2000.
SHE GOT A REALLY BAD, UH, BRAIN
INJURY FROM THE CAR ACCIDENT.
AND NOW SHE'S JUST HAVING, LIKE,
A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS FROM IT.
>> WHAT DOES JA'MARI SAY ABOUT
ALL THIS?
>> HE GENUINELY ACTS CONCERNED,
LIKE, WHEN I'M GOING THROUGH
SOMETHING.
LIKE, HE KNOWS MY MOTHER'S
SITUATION, AND I FEEL LIKE I
COULD TELL HIM ANYTHING.
>> WHAT ABOUT IF YOU MEET
JA'MARI AND HE WANTS TO MOVE TO
ENGLAND WITH YOU?
>> THAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL
SITUATION.
>> THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE--
>> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY,
REALLY COOL.
>> THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
>> YEAH.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'RE IN LOVE
WITH HIM?
>> I DO LOVE HIM.
I DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
NOW.
HE GREW UP IN MIAMI, AND HE
STARTED MODELING EARLY.
AND HE'S DOING, LIKE, REALLY
WELL FOR HIMSELF.
I KNOW HE DRIVES, LIKE, A
MERCEDES.
HE'S WHERE I WANT TO BE.
>> WHAT HAVE BEEN THE SORT OF
HANG-UPS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH
YOU GUYS GETTING TOGETHER?
>> ME BEING IN THE MILITARY WAS
A BIG DEAL.
AND THEN HIS, LIKE, WORK
SCHEDULE.
HE GOES AWAY FOR LONG PERIODS
OF TIME.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT
WE SAW EACH OTHER AND OPENED UP
A NEW CHAPTER.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF YOUR
LIFE IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH, IT IS.
BOTH OF OUR LIVES.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO IT.
THERE HE IS.
OKAY.
WOW.
>> I LOVE THAT PICTURE.
>> OH, YEAH? THIS IS YOUR FAVE?
"GETTING READY TO HEAD TO
LAS VEGAS.
I FEEL LIKE I LIVE ON A PLANE."
>> WHAT KIND OF MODELING DOES
HE DO?
>> PRINT MODELING.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF HIS ADS?
LIKE--
>> NO, I HAVEN'T, ACTUALLY.
>> IT'S WEIRD THAT HE DOESN'T
POST THOSE.
I MEAN, FOR A GUY THAT HAS--
>> FOR A MODEL...
>> YEAH.
>> YOU'D THINK HE'D HAVE MORE.
>> SO WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
THAT YOU SPOKE TO JA'MARI?
>> I SPOKE TO JA'MARI LAST
NIGHT.
HE CALLED ME TO SAY GOOD NIGHT.
>> YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM A RING?
I'D LOVE TO JUST SORT OF HEAR
YOU ON THE PHONE WITH JA'MARI
FOR A MINUTE.
>> OKAY.
[line trilling]
>> I'M SORRY.
MY PHONE, IT WAS DEAD.
I'M SORRY, PAPI.
OF COURSE I MISS YOU.
OKAY, WELL, I MISS YOU THE
MOSTEST, THEN.
LISTEN, I'M 'BOUT TO GET IN
THE SHOWER REAL QUICK.
SO I'LL CALL YOU--
I'M GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE.
ARE YOU WANTED?
I DO LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUR EYES, YOUR SMILE.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL TALK TO YOU
LATER.
LOVE YOU.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.
>> WOW.
>> HE SEEMS, LIKE, REALLY
INTENSE.
DO YOU LIKE--YOU LIKE THAT?
>> YEAH, I DEFINITELY LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH?
>> IT BRINGS OUT MY--'CAUSE I
HAVE A, LIKE, A QUIET SIDE.
>> BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE THERE'S
STILL A LOT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW
ABOUT THIS GUY.
THERE'S SOME STUFF WE COULD FIND
OUT--WHERE HE MODELS, WHO IS HIS
MANAGER.
I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
JUST SORT OF FINDING OUT A
LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE WE JUMP
INTO TRYING TO MAKE A PLAN,
AND THEN SORT OF TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH, MAN.
GOOD MEETING YOU.
>> GOOD MEETING YOU TOO.
>> THAT'S A HELL OF A STORY.
>> IT'S JUST, LIKE, TEETERING
ON THIS VERY DELICATE PLACE.
WHO IS THIS GUY?
WHO KNOWS?
MY CURIOSITY IS DEFINITELY
PIQUED.
>> OKAY.
RICO REALLY CARES ABOUT JA'MARI.
HE SAYS HE REALLY CARES ABOUT
RICO.
WHERE TO START?
>> JUST SEARCH HIS NAME
WITH THE WORD "MODEL".
NO IMAGES COME UP.
HIS NAME DOESN'T EVEN COME UP
ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET.
WEIRD.
>> CAN WE PULL SOME PICTURES AND
DO OUR--
>> YEAH, LET'S DO A--
>> THE OLD IMAGE SEARCH?
>> YEAH. COME ON.
>> OKAY, NOTHING.
>> NOT COMING UP.
>> DAMN IT.
>> WE SEARCH FOR HIS NAME.
HIS NAME DOESN'T COME UP.
WE'RE SEARCHING FOR HIS IMAGES.
HIS IMAGES DON'T COME UP.
HOW CAN THIS GUY BE SO UNKNOWN
AND SUCH A SUCCESSFUL MODEL?
>> HERE'S HIS PROFILE.
>> LET'S LOOK FOR ONE PERSON
THAT WE KNOW HAS MET HIM.
>> OH, HERE WE GO.
LOOK, HERE'S A POST.
L'TOIYA.
>> "HEY, BESTIE BOO!
I HAD FUN WITH YOU TODAY!"
SO THAT PERSON KNOWS HIM.
>> SHE LIVES IN MIAMI.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE FRIENDS.
>> LET'S REACH OUT TO HER.
>> "I AM MAKING...
A SHOW FOR MTV."
>> SEND IT.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO
LOOK FOR.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVEN'T DONE
YET IS YOUTUBE.
SORT OF A LAST-DITCH EFFORT,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU FIND
SOMETHING.
>> WHAT'S THIS?
L'TOIYA.
>> OH, THAT'S L'TOIYA.
THAT'S HIS FRIEND.
>> YEAH.
AND...
JA'MARI.
>> JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP.
>> THERE HE IS.
>> OKAY.
>> HERE IS OUR TOP ANCHORMAN,
JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP.
JA'MARI?
>> THANK YOU, L'TOIYA DIANNE.
>> IT'S HIM.
>> LISTEN.
DO Y'ALL REALLY THINK THIS MAN'S
GONNA SELL HIS COMPANY?
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT COMPANY
PROBABLY WORTH $50 BILLION,
HONEY.
>> JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP IS
IN THIS VIDEO.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND HE LOOKS LIKE THE GUY
THAT HE SAYS HE LOOKS LIKE.
>> WITH L'TOIYA...
>> YEAH.
>> WHO'S ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE.
>> THIS IS HER PAGE.
>> SCROLL DOWN.
NEW YORK ADVENTURES.
JA'MARI AND L'TOIYA.
>> OH, [bleep].
"BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE.
THIS WAS ME AND MY BESTIE,
FIRST TIME IN NYC.
WE WENT AND RECEIVED THE STAR
TREATMENT ON A TV SHOW."
COOL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A MAJOR BREAK.
>> YEAH.
"NEW YORK: THE ARRIVAL."
>> GOT A CALL FOR SOME EXTRA
MONEY.
>> THAT'S THE VOICE.
>> WOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE HIM.
THIS IS OUR GUY.
OKAY, HOLD ON.
CAN I SAY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> IF HE'S A SUCCESSFUL MODEL
WHO TRAVELS ALL THE TIME,
IT WOULDN'T BE...
>> HIS FIRST TIME IN NEW YORK?
>> SO SURPRISING THAT HE'S IN
NEW YORK.
>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A
DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE CAREER
HE SAYS HE HAS AND EVERYTHING
THAT WE'RE NOT FINDING ON HIS
CAREER.
>> OKAY.
WE'VE GOT JA'MARI VAN DE KAMP.
HIS FACEBOOK PROFILE, NAME,
AND PICTURE ARE THE SAME AS THE
GUY IN THE YOUTUBE VIDEO.
>> RIGHT.
AND THE VOICE FROM THE YOUTUBE
VIDEO IS THE SAME AS THE VOICE
THAT WE HEARD TALKING TO RICO
EARLIER.
>> I CAN SAY WITH ALMOST
COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT JA'MARI
VAN DE KAMP IS THIS GUY.
>> YEAH.
>> AWESOME.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> WHAT'S A LITTLE WEIRD TO ME
IS THAT TRAVELING TO NEW YORK
CITY A MONTH AGO WAS A HUGE
DEAL FOR HIM.
>> AND WE HAVEN'T FOUND ONE
MODELING PICTURE.
NOTHING THAT WOULD POINT TO THIS
GUY BEING A SUCCESSFUL MODEL.
>> IF HE'S NOT SUCCESSFUL, AND
HE'S BROKE, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE
A JOB, THAT'S A--THOSE ARE BIG
[bleep] LIES THAT HE'S BEEN
TELLING HIM, AND--
>> IF THAT'S A LIE, WHAT OTHER
SECRETS COULD THERE BE?
>> * OOH, THAT SWINGING TOP
>> FUNNY MIRROR.
>> HEY.
WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY WAS WE
LOOKED UP JA'MARI.
WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT
LOOKING INTO JA'MARI WAS THAT
WE ALMOST FOUND NOTHING.
WE DIDN'T REALLY FIND ANYTHING
ON ANY OTHER WEBSITE.
AND WE JUST SORT OF KEPT COMING
UP EMPTY.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT THERE WAS ONE GIRL ON
HIS PROFILE WHO SEEMED TO BE
MUCH CLOSER WITH HIM.
>> HER NAME IS L'TOIYA.
>> L'TOIYA.
>> NEVER HEARD OF HER?
>> NO.
>> L'TOIYA IS AN ASPIRING SORT
OF ACTRESS-MODEL WHO SEEMS TO BE
A VERY, VERY GOOD FRIEND.
>> YEAH.
>> ON HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL,
THERE'S A NUMBER OF VIDEOS
OF THEM TOGETHER.
HERE'S THE FIRST VIDEO THAT WE
FOUND.
THAT'S HIM, RIGHT?
>> AW.
>> [laughs]
SO THEY MADE, LIKE, A FUNNY FAKE
NEWS SHOW.
THAT'S YOUR MAN.
>> MISS L'TOIYA, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING.
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN.
HOW MANY PEOPLE Y'ALL KNOW THAT
GOT $50 BILLION, THEIR DAMN LIFE
RUINED?
>> [laughs]
>> I WANT SOME OF THAT MONEY.
I AIN'T GOT NONE.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE
SEEN HIS FACE AND HEARD HIS
VOICE AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT'S YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION?
>> I-I LOVE IT.
[laughs]
I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY
COOL.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
NOW, LIKE, I CAN'T WAIT TO
MEET HIM, LIKE, EVEN MORE.
>> WE VERY RARELY FIND SUCH
DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE
PERSON THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
TO AND THE PICTURES THEY'VE
BEEN SHOWING YOU ARE THE SAME
PERSON.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> NOW...
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF OTHER
QUESTIONS, THOUGH.
>> OKAY.
>> I GUESS THE BIGGEST RED FLAG
IS THAT HE SAYS HE'S A MODEL
AND THAT HE'S A SUCCESSFUL
MODEL, THAT HE TRAVELS AND--
AND WORKS A LOT.
AND WE DIDN'T FIND A SINGLE
PHOTO OF HIM ONLINE MODELING.
>> NOT A SINGLE PHOTO, NOT ANY
INFORMATION FOR AN AGENT OR A
MANAGER OR A CONTACT.
>> YOU'D THINK, IF HE WAS A
MODEL, THAT HE WOULD HAVE SOME
PICTURES, AND HE WOULD PUT THEM
ON HIS FACEBOOK, OR IT WOULD
SHOW UP SOMEWHERE ONLINE OR
SOMETHING.
>> YOU WANT TO SHOW HIM THE
OTHER ONE?
>> RIGHT, AND THEN--SO THEN, WE
FOUND ONE OTHER VIDEO.
>> WE'RE IN THE BIG APPLE RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE [bleep] LOVING IT.
THIS IS THE BIG APPLE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN TO NEW YORK.
>> IT'S JA'MARI AND L'TOIYA
TRAVELING TO NEW YORK CITY.
>> I'M IN NEW YORK.
>> HE SEEMS SUPER EXCITED,
SAYING HE'D NEVER BEEN THERE
BEFORE.
AGAIN, IF YOU'RE TRAVELING A
LOT, AND YOU'RE MODELING A LOT--
>> NEW YORK SEEMS TO BE A HUB
OF...
>> RIGHT.
>> MODELING WORK.
>> MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS SORT
OF LIKE, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT
HE WORKS AT BURGER KING...
>> YEAH.
>> W--DOES THAT MATTER?
>> UM, YEAH, THAT'S--
THAT WOULD BE CRAZY.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> SO IT'S LESS IMPORTANT TO YOU
THAT HE'S SUCCESSFUL AND MORE
IMPORTANT THAT HE'S HONEST.
>> MM-HMM, DEFINITELY.
>> I THINK THE ONLY SORT OF
THING LEFT TO DO IS FOR ME TO
CALL HIM, FIGURE OUT IF MEETING
UP MAKES SENSE, AND WHEN AND
WHERE.
>> I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
WANT TO MEET HIM, SO--
BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO FIND
OUT MORE INFORMATION.
I WOULD QUESTION WHAT ELSE HE
COULD BE LYING TO ME ABOUT.
>> RICO IS AT AN INCREDIBLY
SENSITIVE MOMENT IN HIS LIFE,
TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT
HE WANTS TO SEE HIS MOTHER IN
ENGLAND AND START A LIFE THERE
OR FALL IN LOVE WITH JA'MARI,
MOVE TO MIAMI, AND BE WITH HIM.
>> IT'S KIND OF OUR JOB TO
PROTECT RICO AND PLANT THE IDEA
IN JA'MARI'S HEAD HOW MUCH RICO
HAS RIDING ON THIS, AND THAT
THE DIRECTION OF HIS LIFE HANGS
IN THE BALANCE.
[line trilling]
>> HELLO?
>> YEAH, HI, IS THIS JA'MARI?
>> YES.
>> HEY, THIS IS NEV.
I'M A FRIEND OF RICO'S.
I'M MAKING A TV SERIES ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO MEET ON THE
INTERNET WHO HAVE NEVER MET
IN REAL LIFE.
HE HEARD THAT I WAS MAKING
THIS TV SERIES, AND OBVIOUSLY,
HE VERY MUCH WANTS TO MEET YOU.
AND HE WAS JUST HOPING THAT I
WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP.
NO, I--
I--IT DOES.
IT DOES. YOU'RE RIGHT.
IN FACT, YOU'RE--YOU'RE TOTALLY
RIGHT.
YEAH, I HEAR YOU, MAN.
YOU'RE--YOU KNOW, WE'RE CALLING
YOU FIRST TO SEE IF AND--IF
YOU'RE AVAILABLE, IF YOU'D LIKE
IT TO HAPPEN, AND TO TRY AND
SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE
THAT HAPPEN.
IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW JUST
HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO HIM,
THE QUESTION IS REALLY WHETHER
OR NOT HE WANTS TO START A NEW
LIFE IN ENGLAND OR START A NEW
LIFE WITH YOU.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN
ANSWER THAT UNTIL YOU GUYS MEET
IN PERSON.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE
TAKEN LIGHTLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL LIFE,
UH, THE FUTURE OF--OF CERTAINLY
RICO, AND POSSIBLY YOUR FUTURE
ALSO.
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING
FOR BOTH OF YOU.
IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING
YOU.
ALL RIGHT, JA'MARI.
BYE.
WHEW.
>> NICE WORK, MAN.
>> WOW.
>> THAT WAS GOOD.
>> WE'RE STILL NOT SURE ABOUT
THE MODELING THING.
>> STILL NOT SURE.
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING IT UP.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT
CALL.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GO OVER
THERE, TELL RICO THE GOOD NEWS,
AND SEE HOW HE FEELS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
YO.
>> HEY.
>> HEY, MAN.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> THE REASON WE CAME OVER--
I SPOKE TO JA'MARI.
AND BASICALLY, THE BOTTOM LINE
IS, HE AGREED THAT...
HE WANTS TO MEET YOU.
>> WOW.
AWESOME.
>> HE'S IN MIAMI, AND IF WE
LEAVE TOMORROW MORNING, THEN
FRIDAY, HE'LL MAKE SOME TIME
AND BE AVAILABLE TO MEET.
>> AWESOME.
>> I JUST WANTED TO COME OVER
HERE AND TELL YOU IN PERSON
BECAUSE I WAS REALLY EXCITED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH.
>> * AND YOU SEE TROUBLE
* IN HER EYES
* AND YOU'VE NOTICED *
* BUT ONLY REALIZED
>> I JUST GOT REALLY NERVOUS,
BUT YEAH.
>> WHAT ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, NOW IT'S ACTUALLY
HAPPENING, SO I'M REALLY, REALLY
EXCITED.
BIG TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE...
>> YEAH. OH, MY GOD.
>> THIS WEEK.
[chuckles] YEAH.
>> * I'M NOT ALONE *
* SHE SAID
* I'M NOT ALONE *
>> ALL RIGHT, DUDE, LATER.
>> * NO, I'M *
* NOT ALONE
[knock at door]
[door creaks]
>> HEY, MAN.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD MORNING.
HOW YOU FEELING, MAN?
>> GOOD. I'M REALLY EXCITED.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MIAMI.
>> * OVER THE LINE
* THAT I WANT SOMETHING
* THAT JUST ISN'T MINE *
* BUT I DO
*
>> SO WE'RE MEETING JA'MARI
AT A PARK?
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID ON THE
PHONE?
>> YEP.
>> WHAT'S YOUR HEART LIKE RIGHT
NOW, RICO?
>> IT'S POUNDING.
>> CAN YOU REMEMBER A TIME IN
YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU EVER FELT
THIS WAY BEFORE?
>> I GUESS THE CLOSEST WOULD BE,
LIKE, GOING OFF TO BASIC
TRAINING.
LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A FEW
MINUTES BEFORE HE GETS HERE, I
GUESS.
[tense music]
*
LET'S JUST CHILL HERE.
>> GUESS WE JUST WAIT.
EMPTY PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW.
>> [sighs]
BETTER SHOW UP.
>> WHAT'S THIS?
>> NO, THERE'S A COUPLE IN THAT
ONE.
HERE'S A CAR COMING DOWN.
>> YEP. I GOT A--
I GOT A CREEPER AT 11:00.
>> HE SAID HE WAS CLOSE, RIGHT?
>> MM-HMM.
>> WINDOWS ARE TINTED.
I CAN'T SEE.
>> PARKING.
OH.
>> OH, MY GOD.
I WANT TO--
LET'S GO TO THE BEACH.
YOU WANNA GO TO THE BEACH?
>> ARE YOU NERVOUS NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS IT, MAN.
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
BETTER GET GOING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
[laughs] WOW.
OH, MY GOD.
>> WOW.
WOW.
WOW.
>> HI.
>> OH, MY GOD.
THESE ARE FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OH, MY GOD.
WOW.
OH, MY GOD.
>> [laughs]
>> [laughs] WOW.
WHOA.
WOW.
HOLY [bleep].
YOU'RE ACTUALLY HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> THESE ARE FOR YOU, BABES.
I--OOH.
I'M SO NERVOUS.
I'M SO EXCITED.
OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> I'M EXCITED.
I'M--WOW!
YOU'RE HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> WOW, WOW, WOW.
HOPE YOU LIKE THE FLOWERS.
>> I DO. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE ROSES.
FEEL MY HANDS SHAKING?
>> YEAH, MINE ARE TOO.
BOTH OF US ARE VERY NERVOUS.
I'M SO SURPRISED.
[tender music]
*
YOU LOOK GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
SO DO YOU.
>> WELL, I CHOSE THIS BEACH FOR
MANY REASONS.
'CAUSE GROWING UP, THIS WAS THE
BEACH THAT MY FAMILY CAME TO.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF
PROBLEMS, AND FOR SOME STRANGE
REASON, WE FELT UNITED WHEN WE
WAS HERE.
YOU KNOW, SO I THOUGHT CRANDON
BEACH WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO
BRING YOU.
>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
FINALLY.
>> BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE
SAID, SO--
>> OKAY.
>> AND IT'S NOTHING CRAZY.
I'M HOLDING YOUR HAND BECAUSE
I SINCERELY MEAN IT.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
I REALLY DO CARE ABOUT YOU,
AND I WANT A GOOD CHANCE TO BE
WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS A LOT TO
ME.
>> MM.
>> MY NAME NOT JA'MARI.
MY NAME IS JAMES.
AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, I AIN'T
DRIVING A MERCEDES "S" SERIES.
AND I'M 22.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE MY OWN
PLACE.
I ACTUALLY LIVE WITH MY MOM, BY
THE WAY, TOO, SO THAT'S WHY I
ALWAYS TELL YOU I UNDERSTAND
THAT--HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR
MOM, BECAUSE MY MOM'S MY ROCK.
AND I'M NOT A MODEL.
I'M ACTUALLY--
>> [laughs]
>> I AIN'T GONNA LET YOU GO,
'CAUSE I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME
OUT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY.
I JUST WANT YOU TO GIVE ME A
CHANCE, YOU KNOW.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M NOT A MODEL.
I'M A BUS DRIVER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY I'M
ALWAYS ON THE ROAD, IT'S BECAUSE
I'M ON THE ROAD, BUT NOT
LITERALLY THE WAY YOU THINK I
AM.
I WAS THAT CLOSE FROM TELLING
YOU, BUT I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO
LOSE YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE
CONFIDED IN ME ABOUT SO MUCH.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT I'VE EVER
DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY
LIFE, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WASN'T
SUPPOSED TO GET TO THIS FAR.
[dramatic music]
*
SO PLEASE, PLEASE JUST--JUST
GIVE ME THE WEEKEND.
LIKE, JUST GIVE ME, LIKE, A DAY
OR TWO TO JUST SHOW YOU WHO I
AM, BECAUSE I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT THOSE
THINGS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MATERIAL
THINGS.
IT'S ABOUT ME BEING WITH YOU.
AND IF, AFTER THIS WEEKEND, YOU
NEVER WANT TO SEE ME, THAT'S
FINE.
BUT JUST DON'T COUNT ME OUT.
NOT JUST YET, PLEASE.
>> LET'S REWIND A LITTLE BIT.
SO YOU SAID YOU'RE--YOU'RE NOT--
YOU'RE NOT A MODEL AT ALL?
>> NO.
I TOOK MY OWN PICTURES, BUT
THEY'RE NICE PICTURES, THOUGH.
>> AND YOUR NAME IS JAMES?
>> YEAH. NOT TOO FAR, YOU KNOW.
I JUST LIKE MY NAME.
AND I GOT MY OWN REASONS, BABE.
LIKE, I--IT WASN'T TO DECEIVE
YOU AT ALL.
LIKE, I WAS REALLY GOING THROUGH
A LOT AT THAT TIME, AND I JUST
NEEDED TO FEEL LIKE I CAN BE
FREE AGAIN.
SO THAT'S HOW JA'MARI CAME
ABOUT.
>> THAT MAKES ME QUESTION A LOT
OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE
TOLD ME, SO--
>> EVERYTHING I'VE TOLD YOU HAS
BEEN SINCERE AND GENUINE.
I MEAN, THE ONLY THING THAT I
HAVEN'T TOLD YOU IS THAT I DON'T
HAVE A BIG HOUSE.
I DON'T HAVE A MERCEDES, YOU
KNOW, AND--
>> YEAH, BUT I'M NOT A--I'M NOT
A MATERIALISTIC PERSON ANYWAYS.
LIKE, YOU KNOW THAT.
LIKE, I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING.
I'M SLEEPING ON A COUCH RIGHT
NOW, SO, I MEAN--
>> I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, I WANTED TO BE THAT PERSON
THAT COULD BE THERE.
I WANTED TO BE THAT PERSON THAT
YOU LOOKED UP TO.
THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS USED TO TELL
YOU WE SO ALIKE IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND YOU NEVER KNEW WHY.
>> ARE YOU ABOUT TO CRY?
>> I AM, BECAUSE I'M JUST
SITTING HERE, AND I'M JUST,
LIKE, AMAZED.
[sighs]
SO WHERE DO WE GO?
CAN I HAVE THIS WEEKEND?
CAN I SHOW YOU?
CAN I TAKE YOU OUT TO DINNER?
CAN I DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT
UP?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, I-I DON'T KNOW.
MY THOUGHTS ARE, LIKE,
EVERYWHERE, SO IT'S GONNA TAKE
ME SOME TIME TO, LIKE...
LET EVERYTHING SETTLE IN.
>> I'M SORRY.
I KNOW YOU'RE JUST, LIKE,
SHOCKED.
LIKE, ALL THIS IS SO SHOCKING TO
YOU.
I KNOW.
>> I NEED A CIGARETTE REALLY,
REALLY BAD.
OKAY.
UGH.
[lighter sparks]
REALLY THROWN OFF.
IF YOU LIED TO ME ABOUT THAT,
I MEAN, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU
LIE TO ME ABOUT?
>> DOES IT FEEL LIKE A BETRAYAL?
>> YEAH.
[chuckles] DEFINITELY.
>> IT NEVER FELT LIKE THE RIGHT
TIME TO TELL HIM.
IT'S TRUE.
AND I HATE THAT THIS IS THE WAY
IT HAPPENED.
AND I JUST FEEL, YOU'RE TRUSTING
ME, AND...
I'M DECEIVING YOU.
I DO KNOW THAT IT'S MY FAULT.
AND IF HE DECIDES THAT HE DON'T
WANT TO GIVE ME A CHANCE, THEN
ALL I CAN DO IS RESPECT THAT.
>> WELL...
>> SEE WHAT ELSE WE DON'T KNOW.
>> POLICE?
WHAT?
>> I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, WHY?
>> I THINK THIS IS HIM CALLING
ME.
>> [clears throat]
>> [sighs heavily]
>> I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, WHY?
YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT ME MADE YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU COULDN'T TELL ME
THE TRUTH?
>> DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT HE'S
A BUS DRIVER OR THAT HE LIVES
WITH HIS MOM?
>> NO.
IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT HE LIED
ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO LOOK HIM UP?
>> SURE.
>> HIS PERSONAL PAGE HAS ALMOST
GOT NOTHING ON IT.
>> WELL, HE SPENDS MOST OF THE
TIME ON JA'MARI'S PAGE.
WELL--
>> SEE WHAT ELSE WE DON'T KNOW.
>> RIGHT THERE.
>> OH, YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
>> POLICE? WHAT?
>> WAIT, WHAT?
SAYS HERE THAT HE WAS ARRESTED
FOR STEALING AT LEAST THREE
BUSES AND DRIVING THEM ON THEIR
ROUTES.
>> SO HE IMPERSONATED A BUS
DRIVER AND--
>> AND DROVE A BUS.
>> AND DROVE A BUS.
>> THE REASON HE PROBABLY USES
THE NAME JA'MARI IS BECAUSE HE
DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT
HE'S A CRIMINAL.
>> IT'S NOT MALICIOUS.
>> WELL, THAT MAY BE--
>> PSYCHOTIC, THOUGH.
I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T JUST PUT ON
A BUS DRIVER'S UNIFORM AND DRIVE
THE BUS AROUND AND THEN BRING IT
BACK.
>> NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO
THINK.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST UPSET.
[cell phone vibrating]
>> OH, I THINK THIS IS HIM
CALLING ME.
DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER IT?
>> YEAH.
>> HELLO?
>> NEV, IT'S JAMES.
>> HEY, JAMES.
I AM SITTING WITH RICO.
I'M NOT SURE HE HAS ANYTHING TO
SAY RIGHT NOW, SO IF I--I HAVE
A FEW THINGS I COULD ASK YOU,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
I DID A SEARCH.
I'M SEEING A BUNCH OF STUFF
ABOUT YOUR BUS DRIVING...
>> THAT'S BULL.
>> ESCAPADES.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT WASN'T
YOU?
I-I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT
I SHOULD BELIEVE EVERYTHING
YOU'RE SAYING.
I WANT TO, BUT, YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO RICO
FOR A WHILE.
THIS IS THE TIME TO GO FULL OUT
AND JUST COME CLEAN.
DO YOU WANT TO MEET UP TONIGHT?
OKAY, LATER.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST
WE CAN DO, IS JUST HEAR HIM OUT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[dramatic music]
*
LAST WORDS?
>> IT WAS A LOT ALL AT ONCE
TODAY.
I CAME ALL THE WAY HERE.
I WANT TO HEAR HIM OUT.
AND I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LEAVE
HERE, I CAN KNOW WHERE WE STAND.
[indistinct chatter]
>> HELLO.
ARE YOU OKAY?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD
DEFINITELY TALK.
>> IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION
TO DECEIVE YOU.
IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO
MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS A LIE
OR ANYTHING.
AND AS I GO ON, I'LL EXPLAIN TO
YOU WHAT THESE PAPERS ARE AND
WHY I BROUGHT THEM AND WHY
THEY'RE VALID TO ME.
BECAUSE THEY SHOW WHAT I
OVERCAME.
I WAS RAISED IN THE GHETTO.
AND WE WEREN'T AWARDED LUXURIES
SUCH AS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND I CAME UP WITH THIS.
IT'S A PETITION LETTER THAT I
PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY.
AND NOVEMBER 21, 2004, AT THE
AGE OF 14, I GOT A CITY BUS
ROUTE STARTED IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOUR YEARS LATER, THIS CRAZY
STUFF WENT ON IN THE COUNTY,
WHERE SOMEBODY WAS STEALING A
BUS AND DRIVING A BUS.
PEOPLE REMEMBERED ME FROM THIS,
FOUR YEARS EARLIER.
AT THAT TIME, I FIT--I FIT THE
PROFILE OF THAT PERSON.
AND FOR TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE,
I KID YOU NOT, I FOUGHT WITH
THAT CASE.
>> SO YOU--YOU WERE ACTUALLY IN
JAIL?
>> YEAH, IN COUNTY JAIL.
IT TOOK ME TWO YEARS TO PROVE
MY NAME.
TWO YEARS TO PROVE MY NAME.
I SAT IN THE COUNTY JAIL FOR
TWO YEARS, FIGHTING FOR FOOD.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN I PURSUED
ALL MY TRAINING AS A BUS
OPERATOR.
I PASSED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS,
AND THEY EVEN TELL YOU I PASSED
THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
AND I REALLY MOVED FORWARD IN
MY LIFE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAUNTED
ME.
HAUNTED ME.
SO OF COURSE, AFTER ALL THIS
STUFF, I WON'T WANT TO BE JAMES
NO MORE.
I WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL, AND I
WENT TO GAINESVILLE.
I JUST NEEDED TO GET AWAY.
AND JA'MARI WAS BORN IN
GAINESVILLE, SITTING AT MY
COUSIN'S HOUSE ON THE COMPUTER.
PAPI, YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND ME.
LIKE, EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE
KNOW THIS.
AND IF I GIVE A PERSON MY NAME,
THEY GONNA DO THE SAME THING HE
JUST DID.
THEY'RE GONNA PULL THAT UP.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY'RE
GONNA DO IS THEY'RE GONNA JUDGE
ME.
>> YEAH, BUT I'M NOT--I'M NOT
EVERYONE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AND I--JUST LIKE YOU'RE TELLING
ME NOW, LIKE, I UNDERSTAND.
I GET IT.
>> IN MY POSITION, WHEN YOU
FINALLY GET SOMEBODY THAT YOU
REALLY LIKE, AND YOU KNOW IT'S
ONE THING THAT'S HOLDING YOU
BACK, HOW DO YOU TELL--SAY
SOMETHING WITHOUT BEING AFRAID
OF LOSING THEM?
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO WAIT
TILL THE TIME IS RIGHT.
>> IT JUST HURTS 'CAUSE I FELT--
I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T
REAL.
>> I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW.
THAT'S THE HONEST TRUTH.
I TRUST MY HEART.
AND I TRUST IN MY HEART THAT YOU
WON'T WALK AWAY.
AND THAT'S NOT BEING COCKY.
THAT'S NOT BEING RUDE.
THAT'S--
>> YOU NEED TO START TRUSTING
ME.
YOU KNOW?
'CAUSE YOUR HEART AND YOUR HEAD
IS WHAT LIED TO ME.
SO YOU NEED TO START TRUSTING
ME.
>> MY HEART DIDN'T LIE TO YOU.
MY HEART DIDN'T LIE TO YOU.
BELIEVE YOU ME, MY HEART DID NOT
LIE TO YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE?
>> I WON'T FORGET IT.
>> COULD YOU OR WOULD YOU
FORGIVE ME?
PLEASE?
>> AND NOW, MORE CATFISH:
THE TV SHOW.
STICK AROUND.
>> * GIVE IT UP, DEATH
* GO ON AND RESIGN
>> SO WE'RE MEETING HIM AT A
PARK?
>> SOUTH POINTE PARK.
IT'S THE VERY SOUTHERN TIP
OF SOUTH BEACH.
>> * YOU
* BE MINE
>> READY, MAN?
>> READY.
>> THERE HE IS.
>> HEY.
HEY!
>> * BE MINE
>> WHAT'S GOING ON, BABES?
HOW YOU FEELING TODAY?
>> I'M GOOD.
>> HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT LAST
NIGHT?
>> IT WAS GOOD.
I GOT SOME SLEEP.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF THINKING.
>> LIKE, ALL NIGHT, I WAS
THINKING ABOUT YOU.
I WAS LIKE, "UGH.
HE'S MAD."
AND I WAS ANXIOUS.
I WANTED TO TEXT YOU.
I WANTED TO CALL YOU, BUT I WAS
LIKE, NAH.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY LAST DAY
HERE.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY SPEND SOME
TIME WITH YOU AND WANT TO HAVE
A GOOD DAY.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I GOT
TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU
GAVE ME STRENGTH IN MORE WAYS
THAN ONE YESTERDAY.
AND YOU GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO
FINALLY BE FREE FROM SOMETHING
THAT WAS HOLDING ME BACK.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I FEEL FREE AGAIN, YOU KNOW,
AND I'M ABLE TO SMILE.
I CAN WALK ON THE BEACH AND BE
LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT DON'T MATTER WHERE I CAME
FROM.
IT JUST MATTERS WHERE I'M GOING
AND WHO I'M WITH, YOU KNOW.
>> AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND
LIKE YOU'RE...
>> I DON'T.
>> FLYING AROUND ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY--
>> I CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THE
PHONE NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> COULD YOU OR HAVE YOU OR
WOULD YOU FORGIVE ME?
PLEASE?
>> I-I FORGIVE YOU.
THE THING IS, IS THAT I WON'T
FORGET IT.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE THING
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO MOVE
PAST, IS THAT IT HAPPENED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I FORGIVE YOU.
LIKE, I GET IT.
I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID IT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU WENT
THROUGH, BUT I-I DEFINITELY
DO FORGIVE YOU FOR IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, WHERE DO WE GO
FROM HERE?
>> I FEEL LIKE COMMUNICATION'S
GONNA BE KEY AT THIS POINT.
MY LOVE FOR YOU HASN'T CHANGED.
BUT I DO NEED TO GET TO MY
MOTHER AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S
ALL RIGHT.
BUT IF I DO END UP, YOU KNOW,
STAYING THERE, AND I LIKE IT,
I MIGHT END UP STAYING, AND
MAYBE YOU COULD COME OUT THERE
WITH ME.
YOU KNOW?
>> THE SKY'S THE LIMIT, BABE.
IT'S A NEW START FOR THE BOTH
OF US.
>> KIND OF PUT ME IN A DAZE A
LITTLE BIT.
I MIGHT FALL DOWN.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
SO THIS IS UNTIL NEXT TIME.
>> I WANT, LIKE, THIS BIG,
HUGE HUG.
OH.
>> OH.
>> I LOVE YOU, BABES.
>> LOVE YOU TOO.
>> SEE YOU LATER.
>> OKAY.
>> OOF. WHOO!
WAIT.
WAIT. WHOO!
THAT JUST CAUGHT ME.
I THINK YOU JUST DAZZLED ME WITH
THE WIND JUST THEN.
CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN?
WHOA.
>> BYE, PAPI.
>> SEE YOU LATER, BABES.
>> [laughs]
LITTLE P.D.A. IN M.I.A., HUH?
>> HEY, HEY, WHOA.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> [laughs]
>> DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.
OKAY.
RICO.
>> YO, RICO.
>> RICO.
>> YEAH.
SHE'S ON THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS
NOW, SO SHE'S FEELING BETTER.
I THINK THAT IF THINGS ARE
MOVING THE WAY THEY'RE MOVING
NOW, I COULD DEFINITELY SEE
MYSELF WITH JAMES IN THE FUTURE.
>> WOW, THAT'S AMAZING.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH, THERE HE IS.
>> WHAT'S UP?
>> HE WAS TELLING US THAT THINGS
ARE GOING REALLY WELL, WHICH--
WHICH MAKES US VERY HAPPY.
>> THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS
BROUGHT US CLOSER.
IT MADE IT JUST THAT MUCH
BETTER.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, NOT EVERYBODY
IS GONNA LOOK DOWN ON YOU
BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU WENT
THROUGH.
YOUR PAST IS JUST THAT.
IT'S YOUR PAST.
AND YOU LEARN TO MOVE ON FROM
THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> WELL--WELL SAID.
>> COOL, WELL, WE'RE GONNA HEAD
OFF.
GREAT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
>> BYE, GUYS.
>> ALL RIGHT, TALK TO YOU GUYS
LATER.
>> BYE.
>> IF FELICIA HAS BEEN TRUTHFUL,
THEN THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE IN LOVE WITH
THAT PERSON.
>> ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THAT
SHE SAID TO US WAS, "BE
CAREFUL."
>> OH, WOW.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
>> [exhales]
1416
00:40:57.