Catfish: The TV Show (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 9 - Rod & Ebony - full transcript
When Rod met Ebony on a dating web site four years ago, he thought he was talking to a heterosexual woman. But after the two fell in love, Ebony revealed that she is transgender.
>> WE'RE HERE. THAT'S IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS IT.
FEELING OKAY? YOU WANNA DO IT?
>> [chuckling] I'M SCARED.
>> OH, MY GOD.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
>> [groans]
>> ALL RIGHT, I THINK HE'S
READY.
FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD, MAN.
>> [breathing shakily]
[suspenseful music]
♪
>> 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.
>> ♪ ALL DAY, EVERY DAY
>> 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.
>> ♪ OH OH OH
>> 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 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.
CATFISHTHE MOVIE WAS MY
STORY.
STORY. CATFISH: THE TV SHOWIS YOURS.
CATFISH: THE TV SHOWIS YOURS.
YOU EXCITED?
>> I'M VERY EXCITED.
I'M AS EXCITED AS I CAN BE AT
9:20 IN THE MORNING.
I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW EARLY YOU
GOT UP.
>> I DON'T KNOW--
>> I KNOW.
YOU'RE A MORNING PERSON.
I LIKE THESE BEDS.
I'M SO HAPPY WE'RE STAYING AT
THIS HOTEL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HERE'S ONE. READY?
"WHAT'S UP, NEV?
MY NAME IS ROD.
I HAVE BEEN IN A FOUR-YEAR
ONLINE RELATIONSHIP.
I MET EBONY ON A DATING
WEBSITE FOR GAYS AND
BISEXUALS.
AT THE TIME WE FIRST STARTED
CHATTING, SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS
A TRANSGENDER, AND I WAS A
LITTLE SCARED BECAUSE I HAD
NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMEONE LIKE
THAT.
BUT AS I CONTINUED TALKING TO
HER ON THE PHONE, I FOUND SHE
WAS A REALLY COOL PERSON."
>> THAT IS INTERESTING.
>> ♪ FELL FOR YOU
♪ IN A TELEPHONE BOOTH
♪ WHERE I NEVER EVER TOLD
>> "BUT THE THING IS, THE
PHOTO I PUT ON WAS NOT MINE.
IT WAS MY COUSIN.
IN ADDITION TO PUTTING THE
FAKE PICTURE, I TOLD HER MY
NAME WAS K.J., AND EBONY HAS
NEVER SEEN A REAL PICTURE OF
ME IN FOUR YEARS.
IN THE BEGINNING, WE COULDN'T
MEET BECAUSE SHE HAD CANCER."
>> WHOA.
>> "BUT I REALLY WANT TO MEET
HER NOW THAT SHE IS BETTER,
BUT SHE JUST PUSHES OFF THE
TOPIC.
MAYBE YOU COULD HELP FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO MEET HER AND MAKE THIS
FOUR-YEAR RELATIONSHIP BECOME
REAL.
ROD."
>> SO ROD HAS KIND OF BEEN
LYING TO EBONY.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT HE'S AFRAID THAT EBONY
HAS BEEN...
>> both: LYING TO HIM.
>> FOR FOUR YEARS.
>> I MEAN--RIGHT, I--
[sighs]
ALL RIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, MAX?
SHOULD WE GIVE THIS GUY A CALL?
>> HE GAVE US A NUMBER.
>> HE DID.
ALL RIGHT. READY?
>> YEAH.
>> HERE WE GO.
HERE GOES NOTHING.
[phone line trilling]
>> HELLO?
>> HELLO, ROD.
IT'S NEV AND MAX HERE.
HOW ARE YOU?
I JUST READ YOUR EMAIL, AND
IT'S A PRETTY WILD STORY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING TO THIS GUY-GIRL FOR
FOUR YEARS NOW.
FOUR YEARS NOW. >> [laughing]
>> [laughing]
>> I GUESS FROM NOW ON--I WAS
CURIOUS.
I JUST REFER TO EBONY
I JUST REFER TO EBONY AS A GIRL, RIGHT?
AS A GIRL, RIGHT?
OKAY, SO YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING TO EBONY FOR FOUR
YEARS NOW.
YOU STARTED TALKING TO HER AS
K.J., WHICH IS--
AND THE PICTURE YOU'RE USING IS
YOUR COUSIN.
>> YEAH.
>> AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU TALK?
[whispers] WOW.
I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
YOUR STORY IS FASCINATING.
IF YOU'RE--YOU KNOW, IF
YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, I'D
LOVE TO BRING MAX AND THE CREW
TO MISSISSIPPI TO MEET YOU AND
HOPEFULLY SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND
EBONY AND INTRODUCE YOU GUYS.
OKAY.
COOL.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
BYE.
THIS IS--
>> [laughs]
THIS IS--I MEAN--
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> THIS--THIS IS--
>> LET'S GO.
[laughing] COME ON.
ARE YOU CRAZY?
>> ♪ YOU COME OUT
♪ AND SAY THE WORD
>> GOING TO MISSISSIPPI.
♪
>> IT IS BUSY IN DOWNTOWN
JACKSON THIS MORNING.
♪
AHH.
LOOKING FOR ROD.
>> YEAH, HE'S IN THE KITCHEN.
>> CAN I GO DOWN THERE?
>> SURE CAN.
>> [laughs] ALL RIGHT.
ROD?
HEY.
>> HEY, WHAT'S UP?
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> MAX.
>> HERE, WE CAN DO AN AIR
SHAKE.
YEAH, NICE TO MEET YOU.
[laughs]
>> I CAN HELP.
>> SNAP IT. YEP.
WHAT ARE YOU MAKING THERE?
>> CHEESE BALLS.
>> CHEESE BALLS.
THESE BALLS ARE FRYING.
THEY'RE HOT.
>> THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT.
MMM.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GET DOWN
TO THE TOPIC AT HAND.
>> OKAY.
>> YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EBONY.
>> ME AND EBONY STARTED
TALKING, LIKE, IN 2008.
I MET HER ONLINE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY
GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER OVER
THE PHONE AND THROUGH A BUNCH
OF TEXTS.
>> HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THIS
CLOSE TO SOMEONE?
>> NEVER.
LIKE, ANYTHING I'M GOING
THROUGH, ANYTHING WRONG, SHE
ALWAYS HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME.
>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE ABOUT
HER?
>> SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> [laughs]
>> OH, WOW.
OKAY.
>> WOW.
>> VERY CURVY, VOLUPTUOUS.
>> IF YOU SAW THE PICTURE, YOU
WOULDN'T EVEN THINK, PERIOD,
THAT SHE WAS A DUDE.
>> RIGHT.
SO WHEN YOU WENT ON--I GUESS
YOU WERE EXPECTING TO MEET A
GUY.
>> NO, IT'S LIKE, YOU CAN GO
ON THERE BASICALLY TO MEET...
>> OH.
>> ANY---YOU KNOW, ANYBODY.
>> SO IT'S NOT JUST GUYS.
>> YEAH.
>> I'M JUST NOW SORT OF BEING
CLEAR ON THIS.
YOU'RE NOT CURIOUS OR
ATTRACTED TO MEN?
ALL RIGHT.
SO--AND AT FIRST, YOU THOUGHT
EBONY WAS A GIRL.
>> YEAH, I DID.
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
AT WITH HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
THIS WHOLE BEING WITH A GUY
THING?
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
HAVE TO GET USED TO.
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO TALKING
TO HER AND CONVERSATING WITH HER
OVER THE PHONE.
BUT SEXUAL-WISE, THAT'S
SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE TO GET
COMFORTABLE WITH.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO TRYING.
>> BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO TRYING.
>> YEAH.
>> SO WHEN YOU FOUND OUT SHE
WAS A DUDE, THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR
YOU TO BE LIKE, "ACTUALLY, YOU
KNOW WHAT?
I'M ALSO--MY NAME IS ROD,
AND I DON'T LOOK LIKE THIS.
I LOOK LIKE THIS."
>> I BELIEVED IF I SENT HER MY
REAL PICTURE, SHE MIGHT STOP
TALKING TO ME.
>> WHY?
>> YOU KNOW, SHE PROBABLY
THINK I DONE TOLD HER SOME
MORE LIES.
>> RIGHT.
>> BECAUSE I DID LIE ABOUT MY
NAME.
I DID LIE ABOUT THE PICTURE.
I FIGURE THAT THAT'D PROBABLY
BE IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SUSPICIONS
ABOUT HER THAT THERE ARE
THINGS THAT SHE HASN'T--
SHE'S NOT TELLING YOU?
>> SORT OF.
SHE VERY SECRETIVE.
>> WHAT--
>> LIKE, SHE'LL--FOR INSTANCE,
SHE'LL SAY SHE'S GOING OUT,
BUT SHE WON'T WANT ME TO KNOW
WHERE SHE'S GOING OUT TO OR
WHO SHE'S GOING OUT WITH.
WHAT IF SHE MARRIED?
WHAT IF, YOU KNOW, SHE GOT
FOUR OR FIVE KIDS?
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING
THE WHOLE TIME THAT THIS IS
EBONY, AND IF I GET THERE, AND
I SEE HER, AND IT'S NOT HER,
THEN--
>> YOU REALIZE HOW HYPOCRITICAL
THAT IS, RIGHT?
NO, I'M SERIOUS.
>> RIGHT.
>> SHE COULD SAY THAT ABOUT
YOU, AND THEN YOU'D BE [bleep]
OUT OF LUCK.
>> YEAH, SHE CAN. SHE CAN.
>> I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS TO
DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH.
WE CAN GET ONLINE, LOOK UP
EBONY, SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND,
AND WE'LL SORT OF TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
IT'S EXCITING.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED.
>> YEAH.
>> VERY.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
REALLY GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU TO DO YOUR
WORK.
>> YEAH.
>> SEE Y'ALL LATER.
>> SO THIS IS...[exhales]
SOME STORY.
WHAT'S CRAZY IS THAT THERE'S A
GUY WHO LIKES GIRLS.
HE'S NOT ATTRACTED TO MEN.
>> SO HE SAYS.
>> SO HE SAYS.
GUESS, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS
SAY LOVE CONQUERS ALL.
>> CONQUERS ALL, YEAH.
>> HE'S WILLING TO PUT EV--
LIKE, EVERYTHING OUT THERE.
>> HE WILLING TO CHANGE HIS
SEXUALITY.
SEXUALITY. >> BASICALLY.
>> BASICALLY.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing] >> HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
>> HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
YOU'RE IN THE HOTEL NOW?
HEY, ROD.
>> HEY.
>> WE'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE
SNIFFING AROUND, BUT NOTHING
YET, MAN.
>> Y'ALL HAVEN'T FOUND HER YET?
>> NO, WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU
SO WE COULD START RESEARCHING
AND SEEING IF THERE'S ANYTHING
TO FIND, YOU KNOW?
ARE YOU FEELING LIKE THIS IS...
>> I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE.
>> WHAT YOU WANT?
OKAY.
SO I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
EBONY.
LET'S JUST START WITH HER FULL
NAME.
>> SASHA EBONY.
>> LET'S DO SASHA EBONY ATLANTA.
[phone vibrating]
>> IT'S HER CALLING.
>> WHAT?
>> IT'S HER CALLING.
HELLO?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OH, I MISS YOU.
[laughs]
[laughs] >> [giggles]
>> [giggles]
>> YES.
>> YES. [laughs]
[laughs]
>> LATER.
[laughing]
SHE DON'T GIVE ME TIME TO
SAY NOTHING.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.
BUT SHE'S FUN TO TALK--TO
LISTEN TO.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE COMPUTER
HERE FOR A SECOND.
HEARD OF.
LET'S CLICK ON ONE OF THESE
AND JUST SEE WHAT IT IS.
CHOCOLATE BUTTERFLY.
>> THERE SHE GO.
>> OH, THERE SHE GOES.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> OKAY, SO EBONY IS A MEMBER
OF 39 MEETUP GROUPS.
>> THIS WOMAN IN THE COMMENT
SECTION SEEMS TO BE A FRIEND
OF HERS.
>> "HEY, EBONY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR POSTING PICS FROM
FLICKS ON THE BRICKS.
IT WAS LOVELY MEETING YOU AND
YOUR DAUGHTER THERE."
WHOA.
WOW.
THAT'S INTERESTING.
HER DAUGHTER?
>> IT'S NEW FOR ME.
LIKE, I HEARD A CHILD UP IN
THE BACKGROUND BEFORE, BUT SHE
TOLD ME IT WAS A NIECE.
>> IF SHE'S BEEN KEEPING HER
KID FROM YOU--
>> THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT
ELSE SHE'S BEEN KEEPING--
>> WELL, RIGHT, BUT YOU'VE
ALSO BEEN KEEPING--
>> YEAH.
>> FROM HER.
PUT YOURSELF IN HER SHOES.
>> OBVIOUSLY SHE'S BEEN AVOIDING
TELLING YOU CERTAIN THINGS AND
HAS BEEN SECRETIVE AND HAS
BEEN AVOIDING MEETING YOU
BECAUSE SHE HAS SOMETHING THAT
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TELL YOU.
>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> WE NEED TO START REALLY
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH
EBONY.
I JUST WANT TO HELP TO MAKE
THIS GO AS SMOOTHLY AND AS
BEST AS POSSIBLE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
I GUESS WE'LL JUST TALK IN THE
MORNING.
WE'LL MEET--WE'LL MEET UP.
I'LL CALL EBONY, AND WE'LL
SORT OF JUST TAKE IT FROM
THERE AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
>> THAT'LL BE COOL.
>> BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.
>> THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
GOOD NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
STRATEGY?
QUICK STRATEGY FOR EBONY?
>> YEAH, WE'RE GONNA DEFINITELY
NEED A STRATEGY FOR EBONY.
>> RIGHT. FIRST AND MOST
IMPORTANT THING THAT I'M GONNA
WRITE DOWN HERE IS K.J.
>> RIGHT.
DO NOT FORGET K.J.
NOT ROD.
SHE IS GONNA DOMINATE THE
CONVERSATION.
SO YOU'RE GONNA GENTLY POINT
HER IN A DIRECTION...
>> RIGHT.
>> AND HOPE SHE GOES THERE.
THE MAIN REASON YOU'RE CALLING
IS TO SET UP A MEETING.
[phone line trilling]
>> HELLO?
>> GOOD MORNING, EBONY?
HI, THIS IS NEV, AND I'M A
FRIEND OF K.J.'S.
WE'RE MAKING A TV SHOW, AND HE
ASKED US TO HELP HIM 'CAUSE HE
REALLY WANTS TO MEET YOU.
DID HE TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT?
HE DID? OKAY, COOL.
>> MM-HMM.
>> SO I'M CURIOUS, THOUGH.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WOULD
LOVE TO GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT YOU.
SO HOW DID YOU GUYS MEET?
SO, UM, HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED AS
TRANSGENDERED FOR YOUR WHOLE
LIFE?
WHEN--WHEN DID YOU START TO FEEL
THAT WAY?
OKAY.
SO HAVE YOU--
YEAH.
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS THINK
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS THINK YOU'VE MET UP YET?
YOU'VE MET UP YET?
>> BUT HE DOES SORT OF HAVE
SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY THAT HE
WANTS TO TELL YOU.
UM, AND HE WANTS--
HE WANTS TO TELL YOU THAT
HE WANTS TO TELL YOU THAT IN PERSON.
IN PERSON.
IN PERSON. HE DOES, YEAH.
HE DOES, YEAH.
I WOULD JUST IMAGINE THERE
ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T SAY
TO SOMEONE UNTIL YOU SORT OF
MEET THEM AND LOOK THEM IN THE
EYES.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, K.J. WANTS
TO MEET YOU.
TO MEET YOU. YOU KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT.
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, CONSIDERING
THAT FOR FOUR YEARS, YOU SEEM
THAT FOR FOUR YEARS, YOU SEEM TO HAVE NOT WANTED TO MEET HIM.
TO HAVE NOT WANTED TO MEET HIM.
WELL, K.J.'S BEEN--
K.J.'S BEEN INCREDIBLY SWEET,
I MEAN, UH, INCREDIBLY
UNDERSTANDING, AND INCREDIBLY
PATIENT.
PATIENT. RIGHT--I'M--I'M--
RIGHT--I'M--I'M--
WELL, HE WANTS TO MEET YOU
WELL, HE WANTS TO MEET YOU IMMEDIATELY.
IMMEDIATELY.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
SO IF IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE,
WE'LL ABSOLUTELY COME TO
WE'LL ABSOLUTELY COME TO ATLANTA.
ATLANTA.
>> NOTED. [laughs]
>> [giggles]
>> OKAY.
BYE.
>> [laughs] THAT WAS TOUGH.
SHE'S TOUGH.
I MEAN, YOU COULD SEE HOW IT'S
BEEN FOUR YEARS AND ROD HASN'T
GOTTEN ANYWHERE.
>> YEAH.
BUT IF EBONY REALLY WANTED TO
BE WITH ROD, IT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED ALREADY.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S
SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW.
>> RIGHT.
>> WELL, WE SHOULD TELL HIM
WHAT HAPPENED...
>> YEAH.
>> AND BASICALLY GIVE HIM THE
GOOD NEWS THAT...
>> IT IS GOOD NEWS.
>> SHE SAID YES.
>> SHE SAID YES. LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S DO THIS.
>> OOF.
LOOK AT YOU.
READY TO GO.
HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
>> WHAT UP?
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> I'M GOOD.
>> NEV.
>> MIKE.
>> MIKE, GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.
WATCH OUT.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GET
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GET RIGHT INTO THIS.
RIGHT INTO THIS.
ALL RIGHT!
WHOO!
THERE IT IS!
>> both: OHHH!
>> HOW LONG YOU GUYS BEEN
FRIENDS?
>> ABOUT TEN YEARS.
>> NICE.
SO WHERE'D YOU GUYS MEET?
>> IN OUR HOMETOWN.
>> MY HOMETOWN.
>> IN YOUR HOMETOWN?
>> both: YEAH.
>> DID YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN WHY
YOU CONTACTED ME AND WHY WE'RE
HERE?
>> NO, I DIDN'T EXPLAIN IT.
I DIDN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING.
WELL, HE KNOW ABOUT ME AND
EBONY AND KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG
WE'VE BEEN TALKING.
BUT...
[sighs heavily]
SHE'S A TRANSGENDER, AND YOU
DIDN'T KNOW THAT, SO I FELT
THAT I SHOULD TELL YOU, SO--
[sighs]
>> MM.
SO...
>> YOU KNOW WHAT A TRANSGENDER
IS?
>> NO.
>> SHE GOT THE SAME THING WE
GOT.
>> WOW.
>> WOW. [laughter]
[laughter]
SO...
SO YOU STILL...
WANT TO BE WITH HER?
>> YEAH.
I S--YOU KNOW, I SAY I WANTED
TO BE WITH HER, BUT I DON'T
KNOW HOW COMFORTABLE I'M GONNA
BE BEING WITH HER.
>> WELL...
YOUR LIFE.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE COOL WITH
IT, THEN I'M COOL.
WELL...
A GOOD FRIEND YOU DON'T LET
DOWN FOR NO STUFF LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, WE STILL GONNA BE BOYS
AND BROTHERS.
SO WHATEVER HE CHOOSE IN LIFE,
I MEAN--
>> AT FIRST, I DIDN'T WANT TO
SAY NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I
THOUGHT I HAD KEPT IT FROM YOU
FOR SO LONG, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW
YOU WAS GONNA TAKE IT WHEN I
TELL YOU, SO...
>> YOU BEEN FAITHFUL TO SOMEBODY
YOU NEVER MET.
I MEAN--I MEAN, THIS, TO ME,
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD DO IT.
[laughter]
BUT--
>> I MEAN, THAT'S A SERIOUS
COMMITMENT.
>> YEAH.
SO YOU REALLY GOT TO, I MEAN,
YOU REALLY GOT TO CARE A LOT
ABOUT HER.
>> WELL, I TALKED TO HER.
I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH
HER.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
TOMORROW MORNING, WE'RE GONNA
GO TO ATLANTA.
WE'RE DRIVING TO THE A.T.L.
>> BRING YOUR SLEEPING BAG.
>> [laughing]
>> UM, SO WHAT ARE YOU FEELING
NOW?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I'M HAPPY.
I'M GONNA BE NERVOUS.
>> YOU FEELING SORT OF NERVOUS
ALREADY?
>> [laughing]
>> I MEAN, THIS IS A BIG DEAL,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,
MEETING SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN FOUR YEARS.
>> WOW.
>> IT IS REALLY COMING DOWN.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. GREAT.
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS IT.
ATLANTA OR BUST.
>> ♪ WHEN MY SHIP
♪ GONNA COME?
♪ AND WILL I HOLD
♪ TILL IT DOES?
>> TODAY'S, LIKE, THE LAST DAY
OF K.J.
BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, ONCE YOU
MEET HER TOMORROW, YOU'RE
GONNA TELL HER YOUR NAME IS ROD.
>> YEAH.
>> SO SHE PROBABLY WON'T EVER
CALL YOU K.J. AGAIN.
I THINK AS SOON AS YOU MEET
HER, YOU'RE GONNA TELL HER,
RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
I'M READY TO TELL HER WHO I AM
AND, YOU KNOW, WHY I DID WHAT
I DID.
>> YOU WORRIED?
>> YEAH.
>> ♪ WHAT WILL MORNING BRING?
♪ WILL I HEAR THAT OLD
>> THERE IT IS.
>> THERE'S ATLANTA.
>> MADE IT.
A.T.L.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA CUT THESE GOPROS.
I'M GONNA CUT THESE GOPROS.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHEN WE GET THERE, DO YOU WANT
TO DO A DRIVE-BY?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY, THIS IS THE STREET, SO
IT'LL BE COMING UP SOON,
ACCORDING TO THIS THING.
[mellow rock music]
♪
>> RIGHT HERE.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> FEELING OKAY?
YOU WANT TO DO IT?
>> [laughing] I'M SCARED.
>> OH, MY GOD.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
>> HOW'S YOUR STOMACH DOING?
>> I CAN'T TALK.
>> ALL RIGHT, TAKE YOUR TIME.
IT'S RIGHT HERE.
>> IT'S THIS ONE.
>> YEAH.
>> [exhales]
>> HOW YOU FEEL?
AS GOOD AS YOU'RE GONNA FEEL.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK HE'S READY.
HERE, DON'T FORGET THOSE.
>> Y'ALL MAKING ME NERVOUS.
>> DON'T FORGET THOSE.
>> DON'T FORGET THOSE. >> [laughs]
>> [laughs]
[exhales]
[tense music]
♪
[exhales]
♪
[exhales]
>> HELLO.
>> HEY.
>> [laughing]
OH!
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S YOU.
ARE THESE FOR ME?
>> YEAH.
>> AAH!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
[laughs]
YOU LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT.
OH, MY GOD.
YOU'RE TALL.
I FEEL SO SHORT.
HEY.
>> YOU LOOK NICE.
>> AAH!
[laughing]
IT'S YOU!
WELL?
LET'S COME IN.
I'M SO EXCITED.
>> [laughing]
>> SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT.
YOU LOOK NICE.
>> YOU LOOK NICE TOO.
>> YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE WHAT
I, UM--
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU JUST DON'T LOOK LIKE YOUR
PICTURES AT ALL.
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU.
BUT YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU.
[laughs]
>> WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU TO
BE MAD AT ME WHEN I TELL YOU.
THE PICTURES I SENT YOU, THEY
WASN'T MY PICTURES.
THEY WAS MY COUSIN PICTURES,
SO THIS IS ME.
>> SO IT WASN'T YOUR PICTURES?
>> NO, I WAS SCARED TO SEND
YOU MY REAL PICTURES BECAUSE--
>> WHY?
>> I THOUGHT YOU WAS GONNA BE
SOME PSYCHO.
>> THAT'S CRAZY, BECAUSE IT'S
LIKE, RIGHT NOW, I'M EXCITED,
BECAUSE I FEEL--I KNOW THIS
IS YOU, YOUR VOICE.
I'VE LISTENED TO THAT VOICE FOR
FOUR YEARS.
BUT IT'S KIND OF [bleep] ME UP
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU--YOU KNOW,
FOR FOUR YEARS, I'VE LAID AND
I'VE PICTURED SOMETHING TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
>> COME SIT DOWN.
>> NO.
I WANT TO STAND.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO
TELL YOU.
>> NO.
>> MY NAME ROD.
>> EXCUSE ME?
>> IT'S ROD.
>> YOUR NAME?
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT K.J.
>> YOUR NAME IS ROD?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> I FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW MY
NAME AND SEE ME, SO THAT'S
REALLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
I WANTED TO WAIT TO SEE--
>> THIS IS [bleep].
I'M DISAPPOINTED.
I'M HURT.
AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE I DON'T
KNOW YOU.
WHO THE [bleep] LIES ABOUT A
NAME FOR FOUR YEARS?
WHO LIES ABOUT A PICTURE?
WHO ARE YOU?
LIKE, WHO ARE YOU?
[sentimental music]
♪
>> [sighs]
>> THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
♪
♪ >> [sighs]
>> [sighs]
[tense music]
♪
>> OKAY.
WELL, I WAS ACTUALLY NERVOUS...
ABOUT TALKING TO YOU, AND I'VE
BEEN, LIKE, WRACKING MY BRAIN
AND SO GUILTY AND CRYING AND
JUST REALLY, REALLY FEELING
BAD BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT
I WANTED TO TELL YOU.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU. I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
>> IS THAT IT?
>> IS THAT IT? >> WELL, I'M NOT QUITE THROUGH.
>> WELL, I'M NOT QUITE THROUGH.
I'M NOT IN ANY WAY...
SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION...
A TRANSGENDER MALE.
I'M JUST A REGULAR FEMALE.
THIS IS THE THING.
WHEN WE MET, I NEVER DATED MEN.
NEVER.
I WAS A LESBIAN FOR 15 YEARS.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN MY
FIRST BOYFRIEND.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN
NERVOUS ABOUT TELLING YOU.
DID I WANT TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH A MAN?
NO, I DID NOT.
THAT'S NOT HOW I SAW MY FUTURE.
BUT I JUST SO HAPPENED TO FALL
IN LOVE WITH YOU.
AND I WANT--AND I'VE DREAMED
ON MAKING THIS REAL, BUT I'M
SCARED.
>> SO HOW YOU THINK I FEEL ABOUT
YOU JUST TELLING ME THAT AND--
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD
HAVE BEEN TOLD ME JUST LIKE I
COULD HAVE BEEN--
>> BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT.
MINE IS DIFFERENT.
>> A LIE IS A LIE.
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
YOURS IS RIDICULOUS AND STUPID
AND SMALL AND COULD HAVE BEEN
OVERLOOKED VERY EASILY.
MINE IS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
>> YES, I WAS WRONG BY GIVING
YOU THE WRONG NAME AND SENDING
YOU A WRONG--YOU KNOW, NOT
MY RIGHT PICTURE, SO--
>> AND YOU KEPT IT UP FOR FOUR
YEARS.
>> YEAH, SO I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE
TO YOU SO IT'S--
I'M GONNA BASICALLY LEAVE IT
UP TO YOU TO APOLOGIZE TO ME.
>> I WILL SEE IF I CAN FORGIVE
YOU.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
I FORGIVE YOU.
[giggling]
WELL, I GUESS I SHOULD MOVE
OVER HERE.
[laughter]
MM.
[growling]
[laughter]
THIS IS SO WEIRD.
>> I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT...
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH
ALL THIS.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BREAK,
GO BACK TO THE HOTEL, AND JUST
RELAX FOR A MINUTE, BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN A LONG THREE DAYS
FOR HIM.
I'M EXHAUSTED, SO HE MUST BE
EXHAUSTED.
>> SO Y'ALL LEAVING?
>> WELL--
>> COMING BACK?
>> YEAH, THEN WE'LL--WE'LL
CONNECT WITH YOU LATER ON,
IN A LITTLE BIT.
>> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU
SOON.
>> BYE.
>> [clears throat]
>> WHEW!
WHAT A DAY.
>> DIDN'T EXPECT ALL THAT TO
HAPPEN.
>> NO.
>> [exhales]
I'M JUST HAPPY IT'S OVER WITH.
[laughing]
>> WELL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
HER BEING A WOMAN?
>> IT FEEL WEIRD 'CAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WOULDN'T
EVEN--YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T
TELL ME FROM THE GET-GO THAT
SHE WAS A--YOU KNOW--
>> I COULD ARGUE, IF I HAD NO
IDEA WHO YOU WERE, AND SOMEONE
SAID THAT YOU WENT ON A
WEBSITE FOR GUYS, AND THAT FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS, YOU'VE
BEEN TALKING TO A TRANSGENDER
GUY, YOU MIGHT BE CURIOUS
ABOUT GUYS.
>> I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> BUT IS THAT HOW--DO YOU
FEEL THAT WAY AT ALL?
>> [sighs]
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, SHE WAS
SENDING ME $200 AND $300,
PAYING MY CELL PHONE BILL, AND
I WASN'T WORKING, SO I FELT,
YOU KNOW, WHY NOT, YOU KNOW,
KEEP CONVERSATING WITH HER AND
TALKING TO HER?
>> DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE
BEEN TALKING TO HER AND KEPT
TALKING TO HER ALL THIS TIME
IF SHE HAD NEVER BEEN GIVING
YOU MONEY?
>> NO.
>> HMM.
>> BUT YOU THINK THAT'S
PROBABLY WHY YOU'VE BEEN ABLE
TO OVERLOOK THE TRANSGENDER
THING FOR SO LONG, BECAUSE OF
THE MONEY?
>> I REALLY DON'T--
>> I REALLY DON'T-- I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
I REALLY NEED SOME TIME TO
MYSELF TO JUST THINK ABOUT
EVERYTHING.
>> 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT EVEN
REALLY SURE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
EBONY.
>> I DON'T--I DON'T--
I DON'T.
I DON'T. [sighs heavily]
[sighs heavily]
>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE
STORY WAS OVER--
>> I KEPT THINKING, LIKE, WOW,
THIS IS AMAZING.
THIS IS GONNA WORK OUT.
THEY SHOULD BE SO HAPPY.
BUT, LIKE--
>> RIGHT, HE WAS--THERE WAS
SOMETHING OFF.
>> PFFT.
>> BUT, DUDE, ISN'T IT KIND OF
WEIRD THAT, LIKE, SHE TURNS
OUT NOT TO BE A GUY, AND THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S NOT INTO
IT?
>> THE ONLY REASON HE'S BEEN
IN THIS FOUR-YEAR RELATIONSHIP
IS BECAUSE FOR FOUR YEARS
HE'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF
MONEY.
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS JUST
ABOUT THE MONEY.
HE HAD REAL, REAL FEELINGS FOR
HER.
>> I AGREE. BUT, LIKE--
>> I THINK HE IS BI-CURIOUS.
I THINK HE IS SOMEWHAT
DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE IS NOT A
GUY.
>> HE'S GOT TO START, LIKE,
REALLY DOWN THIS PATH OF
FIGURING OUT WHO HE IS AND WHAT
HE WANTS, AND IF WE CAN HELP HIM
IN ANY WAY, WE'LL HAVE SORT OF
DONE OUR JOB.
[sentimental music]
♪
YOU GUYS JUST NEED TO PUT IT
ALL OUT THERE AND START FRESH.
>> YEAH.
WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT IS--
ABOUT IS-- >> SPIT IT OUT.
>> SPIT IT OUT.
>> HEY, MAN.
CAN WE COME IN FOR A MINUTE?
>> YEAH, Y'ALL CAN COME IN.
>> ALL RIGHT, COOL.
JUST SINCE IT'S THE NEXT DAY,
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
YESTERDAY AND NOW,
AND HOW EVERYTHING KIND OF
PLAYED OUT?
>> I JUST WANTED TO WAIT AND
JUST TALK--EVERYTHING I
TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, JUST
BASICALLY TALK TO HER ABOUT IT
AND JUST SEE WHERE IT GO FROM
THERE.
>> OKAY, WELL, I DON'T KNOW
HOW SHE'LL RESPOND TO THAT NOW
THAT YOU'VE MET AND ALL THE
SORT OF SKELETONS ARE OUT OF
THE CLOSET AND EVERYONE TOLD
THE TRUTH.
>> I JUST BASICALLY--YOU KNOW,
I'LL TALK TO HER AND SEE WHAT
SHE WANTS, YOU KNOW.
>> YOU GUYS JUST NEED TO PUT
IT ALL OUT THERE AND START
FRESH.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S THIS ONE, RIGHT?
>> IT'S THIS ONE, RIGHT? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> HEY, YOU!
WELCOME BACK.
[tense music]
♪
>> YOU MAKING ME NERVOUS.
STOP SMILING.
>> I'M NOT MAKING--
YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS.
>> WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT WAS--WAS--
LET ME SEE HOW TO PUT IT.
WHEN ME AND YOU--
>> SPIT IT OUT.
>> WHEN ME AND YOU WAS
TALKING, I WAS BASICALLY
LOOKING AT YOU AS BEING A
FRIEND.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY I USED
YOU OR I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF
YOU, BUT A LOT--IT WAS A LOT
HAD TO DO WITH ME--YOU KNOW,
TO KEEP ME ON TALKING TO YOU
BY YOU HELPING ME, BY YOU
SENDING ME MONEY, YOU PAYING
MY CELL PHONE BILL.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS
WHY I JUST CONTINUED TO TALK
TO YOU.
>> OKAY.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
>> I JUST--YOU KNOW, I WANTED
TO JUST--JUST LAY IT ALL OUT
ON THE TABLE AND SEE HOW YOU
WAS GOING TO TAKE IT AND SEE
WHAT YOU WAS GONNA HAVE TO SAY.
>> MM.
WHAT I DID FOR YOU, I DID FOR
YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE FOR
ME.
FOR YOU TO SAY THAT ALL OF
THAT WAS BECAUSE OF YOU
WANTING ME TO CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT I DID FOR YOU FINANCIALLY
AS A FRIEND...
THAT'S A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE,
BECAUSE I WAS GENUINE.
YES, I DID LIE ABOUT ONE SMALL
THING...
>> IS--
>> THAT WAS A BIG THING.
>> WHAT YOU LIED ABOUT WASN'T
SMALL TO ME.
>> OKAY, IT WASN'T SMALL.
WHATEVER. SHUT UP.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS REAL, THE
FEELINGS, THE--EVERYTHING
THAT I--IT WAS ALL REAL.
BUT YOU USED ME.
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO GET
FROM THIS CONFESSION?
LIKE, I NEVER--
>> THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO
TALK TO YOU, 'CAUSE I ONLY
THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
RIGHT FOR ME TO JUST TELL YOU
THE TRUTH.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, YOU
USED ME.
THAT ONE SENTENCE THAT YOU
JUST SAID, YOU PISSED ON
EVERYTHING.
IF UGLY IS WHAT THE [bleep]
YOU WANT, UGLY IS WHAT I'LL
GIVE YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> IF UGLY--YOU KNOW, I TRIED
TO BE DECENT ABOUT IT.
I TRIED TO BE A LADY ABOUT THE
SITUATION.
BUT YOU--I CANNOT BELIEVE
YOU WALKED YOUR ASS IN HERE
WITH THAT.
LIKE, I'M--I CAN'T--NO.
YOU DIDN'T GET [bleep].
WHAT YOU GOT IS NOTHING.
THIS IS SOMETHING.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WISH YOU
WOULD HAVE HAD.
BUT YOU [bleep] IT UP.
>> OKAY.
I'M GOING.
I'M GOING. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> I'LL CLOSE THE DOOR.
>> I GOT IT.
THANK YOU.
[sentimental music]
[sentimental music] ♪
♪
♪ >> EVERYTHING COOL?
>> EVERYTHING COOL?
WHAT DO, UH--
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? >> GO BACK TO MY ROOM.
>> GO BACK TO MY ROOM.
>> WE CAN DO THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. UM...
UM...
I SEE A GUY OUTSIDE WHO'S
VERY CONFUSED AND AT A REAL
LOW POINT.
AND I SEE YOU, THE ONLY PERSON
AND I SEE YOU, THE ONLY PERSON WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.
WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.
[keyboard clicking]
>> AND NOW, MORE CATFISH: THE
TV SHOW.
TV SHOW. STICK AROUND.
STICK AROUND.
I MEAN, I WAS GONNA JUMP IN
THERE AND...
JUST, UH, TALK TO HER.
>> GO AHEAD AND TALK TO HER.
>> GO AHEAD AND TALK TO HER. >> IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR
ME TO HEAR YOUR SIDE OF THE
STORY.
>> OKAY.
I MOVED TO ATLANTA IN 2008.
WENT IN FOR MY ANNUAL.
BOOM, EVERYTHING WENT DOWNHILL.
SO I WAS THEN LEFT WITH CANCER
AND NOT A LOT OF FRIENDS.
SO CHECKED INTO THE HOSPITAL,
GOT BORED, WENT ON A GAY
WEBSITE.
I WANTED NOT JUST A MAN, BUT A
GAY MAN, AND THE REASON WHY A
GAY ONE IS BECAUSE I JUST
WANTED A FRIEND.
>> SO YOU REALLY THOUGHT HE
WAS GAY?
>> YEAH.
>> AND FOR THE FIRST YEAR, HE
NEVER GAVE YOU REASON TO THINK
OTHERWISE?
>> BY YEAR NUMBER TWO, I WAS
THEN WELL, RECOVERED, UP, AND
MOVING, AND BACK TO BEING
FABULOUS, WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
>> SO FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF THE RELATIONSHIP, YOU
REALLY HAD NO INTENTION OF
EVER BEING ROMANTICALLY
INVOLVED?
>> HE MADE ME SO HAPPY.
AND I THINK COMING FROM THAT
TYPE OF MISERY...
AND PAIN, AND JUST WHERE--
I MEAN, CANCER IS A V--
IT DRUG ME DOWN.
AND I START GETTING ONLINE,
TRYING TO TALK TO PEOPLE,
TRYING TO FIND A FRIEND, REACH
OUT, SOMEBODY TO TALK TO,
SOMEBODY TO CALL MY PHONE AND
ASK ME, "HOW ARE YOU DOING?"
[tender piano music]
♪
AND EVER SINCE DAY ONE, HE
HASN'T STOPPED CALLING.
SO IT WASN'T A--
THE SEXUAL PREFERENCE--IT DIDN'T
MATTER WHO HE WAS.
IT DIDN'T MATTER--
ALL I WANTED WAS JUST SOMEBODY
TO TALK TO.
THAT'S IT.
I JUST WANTED SOMEBODY TO TALK
TO.
[sniffles]
HE KNOWS WHAT I WENT THROUGH.
HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT--HE
KNOWS HE WAS--HOW BADLY I
NEEDED HIM AND HOW GRATEFUL I
WAS.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SO GENEROUS.
>> SO THERE'S NO--THERE'S
REALLY NO WAY THAT YOU GUYS
COULD BE IN A RELATIONSHIP
RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WAS OPEN TO IT, BUT LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT REALLY [bleep]
IT UP FOR HIM.
HE LITERALLY WALKED IN HERE
AND SAT ON THE COUCH AND TOLD
ME THAT IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE
FINANCES, HE WOULD NOT BE
SITTING THERE RIGHT NOW.
>> I CAN'T LOOK AT A GUY WHO
HAS BEEN IN AN EXCLUSIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH WHO HE
THINKS A GUY, NO MATTER WHAT
THEY--HOW BEAUTIFUL AND FABULOUS
THEY LOOK AS A WOMAN...
>> RIGHT.
>> WHO IS WILLING TO GO AND,
AS HE SAYS, AND AS HE EXPLAINED
TO HIS BEST FRIEND MIKE, TRY
AND SEE HOW HE FEELS ABOUT IT,
AND MAYBE IT COULD WORK.
>> RIGHT.
>> LIKE, I SEE THOSE AS VERY
CLEAR SIGNS THAT HERE'S A MAN
WHO'S QUESTIONING HIS SEXUALITY.
AND FROM MY POINT OF VIEW,
I SEE A GUY OUTSIDE WHO'S VERY
CONFUSED...
>> MM-HMM.
>> UPSET, REALLY STRUGGLING,
DOWN IN THE DUMPS, AND AT A
REAL LOW POINT.
AND I SEE YOU, WHO'S PROBABLY
THE ONLY PERSON WHO MIGHT
REALLY BE ABLE TO HELP HIM GET
THROUGH THIS.
>> I AGREE.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE THAT
PERSON.
IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL LIKE--
MAKE ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW THAT
NOW THE TABLES ARE TURNED, AND
I CAN HELP YOU THE WAY THAT
YOU HELPED ME.
>> SO I THINK HE'S JUST
SITTING IN THE CAR RIGHT THERE
SITTING IN THE CAR RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS.
>> WELL, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I
WOULD STILL LOVE TO BE YOUR
FRIEND.
I DON'T WANT TO END ON A BAD
NOTE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M
HERE.
OKAY?
>> THAT'S COOL.
>> YOU MAD AT ME?
>> [laughs]
>> OH, YOU MAD AT ME?
>> NO.
>> NO, I'M NOT MAD AT YOU
EITHER.
I'M N--I WAS MAD AT YOU.
A BIT CONFUSED, BUT I'M NOT MAD.
>> IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN
COME BY AND CHILL WITH ME.
>> OKAY.
AAH!
MMM!
[laughing]
GOOD-BYE.
THANK YOU.
>> I'LL SEE YOU ONLINE?
>> NO.
>> NO.
>> NO.
YOU WILL NOT SEE ME ONLINE.
[laughing]
>> GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING,
SASHA.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU!
>> ♪ I HOPE YOU FIND
♪ WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
>> STAY FABULOUS!
>> ALWAYS.
>> ALWAYS. >> ALWAYS!
>> ALWAYS!
>> ROD.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU LOOK GREAT, MAN.
HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING?
>> OH, EVERYTHING BEEN GOING
>> OH, EVERYTHING BEEN GOING PRETTY GOOD.
PRETTY GOOD.
ME AND EBONY, WE STILL COOL.
WE STILL FRIENDS, BUT WE
HAVEN'T--WE DON'T TALK LIKE WE
NORMALLY TALK.
>> ANY LOVE INTERESTS OR
DATING?
>> NO, I JUST--I BASICALLY
SAID I WAS JUST GONNA WAIT
BEFORE I JUST PUT MYSELF BACK
IN THAT POSITION AND START
TALKING TO SOMEONE ALL OVER
TALKING TO SOMEONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
AGAIN.
>> HELLO.
>> EBONY.
WOW, HEY!
LOOK AT YOU, TURNED UP.
>> AND FABULOUS.
>> AND FABULOUS. >> [laughs] AND FABULOUS.
>> [laughs] AND FABULOUS.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO WORRIES.
UM, I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
THAT'S WRAPPED AROUND ME ALL
THE TIME.
IT'S LIKE, WHAT MORE COULD YOU
ASK FOR?
>> THAT'S ABOUT MY PERSONAL
FANTASY RIGHT THERE, SO I HEAR
YOU.
>> EXACTLY.
OKAY.
>> IT WAS GOOD TALKING TO YOU.
>> IT WAS GOOD TALKING TO YOU. >> all: BYE.
>> all: BYE.
>> I FEEL LIKE I COULD TELL HIM
ANYTHING.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'RE IN LOVE
WITH HIM?
>> I DO LOVE HIM.
>> SEE THIS?
THOSE ARE BIG [bleep] LIES THAT
HE'S BEEN TELLING HIM.
>> WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR
NOT HE WANTS TO START A NEW LIFE
WITH YOU.
>> OKAY...
>> THERE'S A CAR COMING DOWN.
>> THERE'S A CAR COMING DOWN. THIS IS IT, MAN.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS IT.
FEELING OKAY? YOU WANNA DO IT?
>> [chuckling] I'M SCARED.
>> OH, MY GOD.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
>> [groans]
>> ALL RIGHT, I THINK HE'S
READY.
FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD, MAN.
>> [breathing shakily]
[suspenseful music]
♪
>> 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.
>> ♪ ALL DAY, EVERY DAY
>> 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.
>> ♪ OH OH OH
>> 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 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.
CATFISHTHE MOVIE WAS MY
STORY.
STORY. CATFISH: THE TV SHOWIS YOURS.
CATFISH: THE TV SHOWIS YOURS.
YOU EXCITED?
>> I'M VERY EXCITED.
I'M AS EXCITED AS I CAN BE AT
9:20 IN THE MORNING.
I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW EARLY YOU
GOT UP.
>> I DON'T KNOW--
>> I KNOW.
YOU'RE A MORNING PERSON.
I LIKE THESE BEDS.
I'M SO HAPPY WE'RE STAYING AT
THIS HOTEL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HERE'S ONE. READY?
"WHAT'S UP, NEV?
MY NAME IS ROD.
I HAVE BEEN IN A FOUR-YEAR
ONLINE RELATIONSHIP.
I MET EBONY ON A DATING
WEBSITE FOR GAYS AND
BISEXUALS.
AT THE TIME WE FIRST STARTED
CHATTING, SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS
A TRANSGENDER, AND I WAS A
LITTLE SCARED BECAUSE I HAD
NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMEONE LIKE
THAT.
BUT AS I CONTINUED TALKING TO
HER ON THE PHONE, I FOUND SHE
WAS A REALLY COOL PERSON."
>> THAT IS INTERESTING.
>> ♪ FELL FOR YOU
♪ IN A TELEPHONE BOOTH
♪ WHERE I NEVER EVER TOLD
>> "BUT THE THING IS, THE
PHOTO I PUT ON WAS NOT MINE.
IT WAS MY COUSIN.
IN ADDITION TO PUTTING THE
FAKE PICTURE, I TOLD HER MY
NAME WAS K.J., AND EBONY HAS
NEVER SEEN A REAL PICTURE OF
ME IN FOUR YEARS.
IN THE BEGINNING, WE COULDN'T
MEET BECAUSE SHE HAD CANCER."
>> WHOA.
>> "BUT I REALLY WANT TO MEET
HER NOW THAT SHE IS BETTER,
BUT SHE JUST PUSHES OFF THE
TOPIC.
MAYBE YOU COULD HELP FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO MEET HER AND MAKE THIS
FOUR-YEAR RELATIONSHIP BECOME
REAL.
ROD."
>> SO ROD HAS KIND OF BEEN
LYING TO EBONY.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT HE'S AFRAID THAT EBONY
HAS BEEN...
>> both: LYING TO HIM.
>> FOR FOUR YEARS.
>> I MEAN--RIGHT, I--
[sighs]
ALL RIGHT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, MAX?
SHOULD WE GIVE THIS GUY A CALL?
>> HE GAVE US A NUMBER.
>> HE DID.
ALL RIGHT. READY?
>> YEAH.
>> HERE WE GO.
HERE GOES NOTHING.
[phone line trilling]
>> HELLO?
>> HELLO, ROD.
IT'S NEV AND MAX HERE.
HOW ARE YOU?
I JUST READ YOUR EMAIL, AND
IT'S A PRETTY WILD STORY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING TO THIS GUY-GIRL FOR
FOUR YEARS NOW.
FOUR YEARS NOW. >> [laughing]
>> [laughing]
>> I GUESS FROM NOW ON--I WAS
CURIOUS.
I JUST REFER TO EBONY
I JUST REFER TO EBONY AS A GIRL, RIGHT?
AS A GIRL, RIGHT?
OKAY, SO YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING TO EBONY FOR FOUR
YEARS NOW.
YOU STARTED TALKING TO HER AS
K.J., WHICH IS--
AND THE PICTURE YOU'RE USING IS
YOUR COUSIN.
>> YEAH.
>> AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU TALK?
[whispers] WOW.
I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
YOUR STORY IS FASCINATING.
IF YOU'RE--YOU KNOW, IF
YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, I'D
LOVE TO BRING MAX AND THE CREW
TO MISSISSIPPI TO MEET YOU AND
HOPEFULLY SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND
EBONY AND INTRODUCE YOU GUYS.
OKAY.
COOL.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
BYE.
THIS IS--
>> [laughs]
THIS IS--I MEAN--
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> THIS--THIS IS--
>> LET'S GO.
[laughing] COME ON.
ARE YOU CRAZY?
>> ♪ YOU COME OUT
♪ AND SAY THE WORD
>> GOING TO MISSISSIPPI.
♪
>> IT IS BUSY IN DOWNTOWN
JACKSON THIS MORNING.
♪
AHH.
LOOKING FOR ROD.
>> YEAH, HE'S IN THE KITCHEN.
>> CAN I GO DOWN THERE?
>> SURE CAN.
>> [laughs] ALL RIGHT.
ROD?
HEY.
>> HEY, WHAT'S UP?
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> MAX.
>> HERE, WE CAN DO AN AIR
SHAKE.
YEAH, NICE TO MEET YOU.
[laughs]
>> I CAN HELP.
>> SNAP IT. YEP.
WHAT ARE YOU MAKING THERE?
>> CHEESE BALLS.
>> CHEESE BALLS.
THESE BALLS ARE FRYING.
THEY'RE HOT.
>> THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT.
MMM.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GET DOWN
TO THE TOPIC AT HAND.
>> OKAY.
>> YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EBONY.
>> ME AND EBONY STARTED
TALKING, LIKE, IN 2008.
I MET HER ONLINE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY
GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER OVER
THE PHONE AND THROUGH A BUNCH
OF TEXTS.
>> HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THIS
CLOSE TO SOMEONE?
>> NEVER.
LIKE, ANYTHING I'M GOING
THROUGH, ANYTHING WRONG, SHE
ALWAYS HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME.
>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE ABOUT
HER?
>> SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> [laughs]
>> OH, WOW.
OKAY.
>> WOW.
>> VERY CURVY, VOLUPTUOUS.
>> IF YOU SAW THE PICTURE, YOU
WOULDN'T EVEN THINK, PERIOD,
THAT SHE WAS A DUDE.
>> RIGHT.
SO WHEN YOU WENT ON--I GUESS
YOU WERE EXPECTING TO MEET A
GUY.
>> NO, IT'S LIKE, YOU CAN GO
ON THERE BASICALLY TO MEET...
>> OH.
>> ANY---YOU KNOW, ANYBODY.
>> SO IT'S NOT JUST GUYS.
>> YEAH.
>> I'M JUST NOW SORT OF BEING
CLEAR ON THIS.
YOU'RE NOT CURIOUS OR
ATTRACTED TO MEN?
ALL RIGHT.
SO--AND AT FIRST, YOU THOUGHT
EBONY WAS A GIRL.
>> YEAH, I DID.
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
AT WITH HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
THIS WHOLE BEING WITH A GUY
THING?
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
HAVE TO GET USED TO.
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO TALKING
TO HER AND CONVERSATING WITH HER
OVER THE PHONE.
BUT SEXUAL-WISE, THAT'S
SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE TO GET
COMFORTABLE WITH.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO TRYING.
>> BUT YOU'RE OPEN TO TRYING.
>> YEAH.
>> SO WHEN YOU FOUND OUT SHE
WAS A DUDE, THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR
YOU TO BE LIKE, "ACTUALLY, YOU
KNOW WHAT?
I'M ALSO--MY NAME IS ROD,
AND I DON'T LOOK LIKE THIS.
I LOOK LIKE THIS."
>> I BELIEVED IF I SENT HER MY
REAL PICTURE, SHE MIGHT STOP
TALKING TO ME.
>> WHY?
>> YOU KNOW, SHE PROBABLY
THINK I DONE TOLD HER SOME
MORE LIES.
>> RIGHT.
>> BECAUSE I DID LIE ABOUT MY
NAME.
I DID LIE ABOUT THE PICTURE.
I FIGURE THAT THAT'D PROBABLY
BE IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SUSPICIONS
ABOUT HER THAT THERE ARE
THINGS THAT SHE HASN'T--
SHE'S NOT TELLING YOU?
>> SORT OF.
SHE VERY SECRETIVE.
>> WHAT--
>> LIKE, SHE'LL--FOR INSTANCE,
SHE'LL SAY SHE'S GOING OUT,
BUT SHE WON'T WANT ME TO KNOW
WHERE SHE'S GOING OUT TO OR
WHO SHE'S GOING OUT WITH.
WHAT IF SHE MARRIED?
WHAT IF, YOU KNOW, SHE GOT
FOUR OR FIVE KIDS?
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING
THE WHOLE TIME THAT THIS IS
EBONY, AND IF I GET THERE, AND
I SEE HER, AND IT'S NOT HER,
THEN--
>> YOU REALIZE HOW HYPOCRITICAL
THAT IS, RIGHT?
NO, I'M SERIOUS.
>> RIGHT.
>> SHE COULD SAY THAT ABOUT
YOU, AND THEN YOU'D BE [bleep]
OUT OF LUCK.
>> YEAH, SHE CAN. SHE CAN.
>> I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS TO
DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH.
WE CAN GET ONLINE, LOOK UP
EBONY, SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND,
AND WE'LL SORT OF TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
IT'S EXCITING.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED.
>> YEAH.
>> VERY.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
REALLY GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU TO DO YOUR
WORK.
>> YEAH.
>> SEE Y'ALL LATER.
>> SO THIS IS...[exhales]
SOME STORY.
WHAT'S CRAZY IS THAT THERE'S A
GUY WHO LIKES GIRLS.
HE'S NOT ATTRACTED TO MEN.
>> SO HE SAYS.
>> SO HE SAYS.
GUESS, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS
SAY LOVE CONQUERS ALL.
>> CONQUERS ALL, YEAH.
>> HE'S WILLING TO PUT EV--
LIKE, EVERYTHING OUT THERE.
>> HE WILLING TO CHANGE HIS
SEXUALITY.
SEXUALITY. >> BASICALLY.
>> BASICALLY.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing] >> HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
>> HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
YOU'RE IN THE HOTEL NOW?
HEY, ROD.
>> HEY.
>> WE'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE
SNIFFING AROUND, BUT NOTHING
YET, MAN.
>> Y'ALL HAVEN'T FOUND HER YET?
>> NO, WE WERE WAITING FOR YOU
SO WE COULD START RESEARCHING
AND SEEING IF THERE'S ANYTHING
TO FIND, YOU KNOW?
ARE YOU FEELING LIKE THIS IS...
>> I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE.
>> WHAT YOU WANT?
OKAY.
SO I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
EBONY.
LET'S JUST START WITH HER FULL
NAME.
>> SASHA EBONY.
>> LET'S DO SASHA EBONY ATLANTA.
[phone vibrating]
>> IT'S HER CALLING.
>> WHAT?
>> IT'S HER CALLING.
HELLO?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OH, I MISS YOU.
[laughs]
[laughs] >> [giggles]
>> [giggles]
>> YES.
>> YES. [laughs]
[laughs]
>> LATER.
[laughing]
SHE DON'T GIVE ME TIME TO
SAY NOTHING.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.
BUT SHE'S FUN TO TALK--TO
LISTEN TO.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE COMPUTER
HERE FOR A SECOND.
HEARD OF.
LET'S CLICK ON ONE OF THESE
AND JUST SEE WHAT IT IS.
CHOCOLATE BUTTERFLY.
>> THERE SHE GO.
>> OH, THERE SHE GOES.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> OKAY, SO EBONY IS A MEMBER
OF 39 MEETUP GROUPS.
>> THIS WOMAN IN THE COMMENT
SECTION SEEMS TO BE A FRIEND
OF HERS.
>> "HEY, EBONY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR POSTING PICS FROM
FLICKS ON THE BRICKS.
IT WAS LOVELY MEETING YOU AND
YOUR DAUGHTER THERE."
WHOA.
WOW.
THAT'S INTERESTING.
HER DAUGHTER?
>> IT'S NEW FOR ME.
LIKE, I HEARD A CHILD UP IN
THE BACKGROUND BEFORE, BUT SHE
TOLD ME IT WAS A NIECE.
>> IF SHE'S BEEN KEEPING HER
KID FROM YOU--
>> THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT
ELSE SHE'S BEEN KEEPING--
>> WELL, RIGHT, BUT YOU'VE
ALSO BEEN KEEPING--
>> YEAH.
>> FROM HER.
PUT YOURSELF IN HER SHOES.
>> OBVIOUSLY SHE'S BEEN AVOIDING
TELLING YOU CERTAIN THINGS AND
HAS BEEN SECRETIVE AND HAS
BEEN AVOIDING MEETING YOU
BECAUSE SHE HAS SOMETHING THAT
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TELL YOU.
>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> WE NEED TO START REALLY
THINKING ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH
EBONY.
I JUST WANT TO HELP TO MAKE
THIS GO AS SMOOTHLY AND AS
BEST AS POSSIBLE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
I GUESS WE'LL JUST TALK IN THE
MORNING.
WE'LL MEET--WE'LL MEET UP.
I'LL CALL EBONY, AND WE'LL
SORT OF JUST TAKE IT FROM
THERE AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
>> THAT'LL BE COOL.
>> BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.
>> THANKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.
GOOD NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
STRATEGY?
QUICK STRATEGY FOR EBONY?
>> YEAH, WE'RE GONNA DEFINITELY
NEED A STRATEGY FOR EBONY.
>> RIGHT. FIRST AND MOST
IMPORTANT THING THAT I'M GONNA
WRITE DOWN HERE IS K.J.
>> RIGHT.
DO NOT FORGET K.J.
NOT ROD.
SHE IS GONNA DOMINATE THE
CONVERSATION.
SO YOU'RE GONNA GENTLY POINT
HER IN A DIRECTION...
>> RIGHT.
>> AND HOPE SHE GOES THERE.
THE MAIN REASON YOU'RE CALLING
IS TO SET UP A MEETING.
[phone line trilling]
>> HELLO?
>> GOOD MORNING, EBONY?
HI, THIS IS NEV, AND I'M A
FRIEND OF K.J.'S.
WE'RE MAKING A TV SHOW, AND HE
ASKED US TO HELP HIM 'CAUSE HE
REALLY WANTS TO MEET YOU.
DID HE TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT?
HE DID? OKAY, COOL.
>> MM-HMM.
>> SO I'M CURIOUS, THOUGH.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WOULD
LOVE TO GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT YOU.
SO HOW DID YOU GUYS MEET?
SO, UM, HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED AS
TRANSGENDERED FOR YOUR WHOLE
LIFE?
WHEN--WHEN DID YOU START TO FEEL
THAT WAY?
OKAY.
SO HAVE YOU--
YEAH.
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS THINK
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS THINK YOU'VE MET UP YET?
YOU'VE MET UP YET?
>> BUT HE DOES SORT OF HAVE
SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY THAT HE
WANTS TO TELL YOU.
UM, AND HE WANTS--
HE WANTS TO TELL YOU THAT
HE WANTS TO TELL YOU THAT IN PERSON.
IN PERSON.
IN PERSON. HE DOES, YEAH.
HE DOES, YEAH.
I WOULD JUST IMAGINE THERE
ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T SAY
TO SOMEONE UNTIL YOU SORT OF
MEET THEM AND LOOK THEM IN THE
EYES.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, K.J. WANTS
TO MEET YOU.
TO MEET YOU. YOU KNOW THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT.
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, CONSIDERING
THAT FOR FOUR YEARS, YOU SEEM
THAT FOR FOUR YEARS, YOU SEEM TO HAVE NOT WANTED TO MEET HIM.
TO HAVE NOT WANTED TO MEET HIM.
WELL, K.J.'S BEEN--
K.J.'S BEEN INCREDIBLY SWEET,
I MEAN, UH, INCREDIBLY
UNDERSTANDING, AND INCREDIBLY
PATIENT.
PATIENT. RIGHT--I'M--I'M--
RIGHT--I'M--I'M--
WELL, HE WANTS TO MEET YOU
WELL, HE WANTS TO MEET YOU IMMEDIATELY.
IMMEDIATELY.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
SO IF IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE,
WE'LL ABSOLUTELY COME TO
WE'LL ABSOLUTELY COME TO ATLANTA.
ATLANTA.
>> NOTED. [laughs]
>> [giggles]
>> OKAY.
BYE.
>> [laughs] THAT WAS TOUGH.
SHE'S TOUGH.
I MEAN, YOU COULD SEE HOW IT'S
BEEN FOUR YEARS AND ROD HASN'T
GOTTEN ANYWHERE.
>> YEAH.
BUT IF EBONY REALLY WANTED TO
BE WITH ROD, IT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED ALREADY.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S
SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW.
>> RIGHT.
>> WELL, WE SHOULD TELL HIM
WHAT HAPPENED...
>> YEAH.
>> AND BASICALLY GIVE HIM THE
GOOD NEWS THAT...
>> IT IS GOOD NEWS.
>> SHE SAID YES.
>> SHE SAID YES. LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S DO THIS.
>> OOF.
LOOK AT YOU.
READY TO GO.
HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
HEY, MAN, WHAT'S UP?
>> WHAT UP?
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> I'M GOOD.
>> NEV.
>> MIKE.
>> MIKE, GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.
WATCH OUT.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GET
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GET RIGHT INTO THIS.
RIGHT INTO THIS.
ALL RIGHT!
WHOO!
THERE IT IS!
>> both: OHHH!
>> HOW LONG YOU GUYS BEEN
FRIENDS?
>> ABOUT TEN YEARS.
>> NICE.
SO WHERE'D YOU GUYS MEET?
>> IN OUR HOMETOWN.
>> MY HOMETOWN.
>> IN YOUR HOMETOWN?
>> both: YEAH.
>> DID YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN WHY
YOU CONTACTED ME AND WHY WE'RE
HERE?
>> NO, I DIDN'T EXPLAIN IT.
I DIDN'T EXPLAIN ANYTHING.
WELL, HE KNOW ABOUT ME AND
EBONY AND KNOW ABOUT HOW LONG
WE'VE BEEN TALKING.
BUT...
[sighs heavily]
SHE'S A TRANSGENDER, AND YOU
DIDN'T KNOW THAT, SO I FELT
THAT I SHOULD TELL YOU, SO--
[sighs]
>> MM.
SO...
>> YOU KNOW WHAT A TRANSGENDER
IS?
>> NO.
>> SHE GOT THE SAME THING WE
GOT.
>> WOW.
>> WOW. [laughter]
[laughter]
SO...
SO YOU STILL...
WANT TO BE WITH HER?
>> YEAH.
I S--YOU KNOW, I SAY I WANTED
TO BE WITH HER, BUT I DON'T
KNOW HOW COMFORTABLE I'M GONNA
BE BEING WITH HER.
>> WELL...
YOUR LIFE.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE COOL WITH
IT, THEN I'M COOL.
WELL...
A GOOD FRIEND YOU DON'T LET
DOWN FOR NO STUFF LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, WE STILL GONNA BE BOYS
AND BROTHERS.
SO WHATEVER HE CHOOSE IN LIFE,
I MEAN--
>> AT FIRST, I DIDN'T WANT TO
SAY NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I
THOUGHT I HAD KEPT IT FROM YOU
FOR SO LONG, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW
YOU WAS GONNA TAKE IT WHEN I
TELL YOU, SO...
>> YOU BEEN FAITHFUL TO SOMEBODY
YOU NEVER MET.
I MEAN--I MEAN, THIS, TO ME,
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD DO IT.
[laughter]
BUT--
>> I MEAN, THAT'S A SERIOUS
COMMITMENT.
>> YEAH.
SO YOU REALLY GOT TO, I MEAN,
YOU REALLY GOT TO CARE A LOT
ABOUT HER.
>> WELL, I TALKED TO HER.
I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH
HER.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
TOMORROW MORNING, WE'RE GONNA
GO TO ATLANTA.
WE'RE DRIVING TO THE A.T.L.
>> BRING YOUR SLEEPING BAG.
>> [laughing]
>> UM, SO WHAT ARE YOU FEELING
NOW?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> I'M HAPPY.
I'M GONNA BE NERVOUS.
>> YOU FEELING SORT OF NERVOUS
ALREADY?
>> [laughing]
>> I MEAN, THIS IS A BIG DEAL,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,
MEETING SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN FOUR YEARS.
>> WOW.
>> IT IS REALLY COMING DOWN.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. GREAT.
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS IT.
ATLANTA OR BUST.
>> ♪ WHEN MY SHIP
♪ GONNA COME?
♪ AND WILL I HOLD
♪ TILL IT DOES?
>> TODAY'S, LIKE, THE LAST DAY
OF K.J.
BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, ONCE YOU
MEET HER TOMORROW, YOU'RE
GONNA TELL HER YOUR NAME IS ROD.
>> YEAH.
>> SO SHE PROBABLY WON'T EVER
CALL YOU K.J. AGAIN.
I THINK AS SOON AS YOU MEET
HER, YOU'RE GONNA TELL HER,
RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
I'M READY TO TELL HER WHO I AM
AND, YOU KNOW, WHY I DID WHAT
I DID.
>> YOU WORRIED?
>> YEAH.
>> ♪ WHAT WILL MORNING BRING?
♪ WILL I HEAR THAT OLD
>> THERE IT IS.
>> THERE'S ATLANTA.
>> MADE IT.
A.T.L.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA CUT THESE GOPROS.
I'M GONNA CUT THESE GOPROS.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHEN WE GET THERE, DO YOU WANT
TO DO A DRIVE-BY?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY, THIS IS THE STREET, SO
IT'LL BE COMING UP SOON,
ACCORDING TO THIS THING.
[mellow rock music]
♪
>> RIGHT HERE.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> FEELING OKAY?
YOU WANT TO DO IT?
>> [laughing] I'M SCARED.
>> OH, MY GOD.
TELL ME ABOUT IT.
>> HOW'S YOUR STOMACH DOING?
>> I CAN'T TALK.
>> ALL RIGHT, TAKE YOUR TIME.
IT'S RIGHT HERE.
>> IT'S THIS ONE.
>> YEAH.
>> [exhales]
>> HOW YOU FEEL?
AS GOOD AS YOU'RE GONNA FEEL.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK HE'S READY.
HERE, DON'T FORGET THOSE.
>> Y'ALL MAKING ME NERVOUS.
>> DON'T FORGET THOSE.
>> DON'T FORGET THOSE. >> [laughs]
>> [laughs]
[exhales]
[tense music]
♪
[exhales]
♪
[exhales]
>> HELLO.
>> HEY.
>> [laughing]
OH!
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S YOU.
ARE THESE FOR ME?
>> YEAH.
>> AAH!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
[laughs]
YOU LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT.
OH, MY GOD.
YOU'RE TALL.
I FEEL SO SHORT.
HEY.
>> YOU LOOK NICE.
>> AAH!
[laughing]
IT'S YOU!
WELL?
LET'S COME IN.
I'M SO EXCITED.
>> [laughing]
>> SIT, SIT, SIT, SIT.
YOU LOOK NICE.
>> YOU LOOK NICE TOO.
>> YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE WHAT
I, UM--
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU JUST DON'T LOOK LIKE YOUR
PICTURES AT ALL.
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU.
BUT YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU.
[laughs]
>> WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU TO
BE MAD AT ME WHEN I TELL YOU.
THE PICTURES I SENT YOU, THEY
WASN'T MY PICTURES.
THEY WAS MY COUSIN PICTURES,
SO THIS IS ME.
>> SO IT WASN'T YOUR PICTURES?
>> NO, I WAS SCARED TO SEND
YOU MY REAL PICTURES BECAUSE--
>> WHY?
>> I THOUGHT YOU WAS GONNA BE
SOME PSYCHO.
>> THAT'S CRAZY, BECAUSE IT'S
LIKE, RIGHT NOW, I'M EXCITED,
BECAUSE I FEEL--I KNOW THIS
IS YOU, YOUR VOICE.
I'VE LISTENED TO THAT VOICE FOR
FOUR YEARS.
BUT IT'S KIND OF [bleep] ME UP
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU--YOU KNOW,
FOR FOUR YEARS, I'VE LAID AND
I'VE PICTURED SOMETHING TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
>> COME SIT DOWN.
>> NO.
I WANT TO STAND.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO
TELL YOU.
>> NO.
>> MY NAME ROD.
>> EXCUSE ME?
>> IT'S ROD.
>> YOUR NAME?
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT K.J.
>> YOUR NAME IS ROD?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> I FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW MY
NAME AND SEE ME, SO THAT'S
REALLY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
I WANTED TO WAIT TO SEE--
>> THIS IS [bleep].
I'M DISAPPOINTED.
I'M HURT.
AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE I DON'T
KNOW YOU.
WHO THE [bleep] LIES ABOUT A
NAME FOR FOUR YEARS?
WHO LIES ABOUT A PICTURE?
WHO ARE YOU?
LIKE, WHO ARE YOU?
[sentimental music]
♪
>> [sighs]
>> THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
♪
♪ >> [sighs]
>> [sighs]
[tense music]
♪
>> OKAY.
WELL, I WAS ACTUALLY NERVOUS...
ABOUT TALKING TO YOU, AND I'VE
BEEN, LIKE, WRACKING MY BRAIN
AND SO GUILTY AND CRYING AND
JUST REALLY, REALLY FEELING
BAD BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT
I WANTED TO TELL YOU.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU. I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
>> IS THAT IT?
>> IS THAT IT? >> WELL, I'M NOT QUITE THROUGH.
>> WELL, I'M NOT QUITE THROUGH.
I'M NOT IN ANY WAY...
SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION...
A TRANSGENDER MALE.
I'M JUST A REGULAR FEMALE.
THIS IS THE THING.
WHEN WE MET, I NEVER DATED MEN.
NEVER.
I WAS A LESBIAN FOR 15 YEARS.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN MY
FIRST BOYFRIEND.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN
NERVOUS ABOUT TELLING YOU.
DID I WANT TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH A MAN?
NO, I DID NOT.
THAT'S NOT HOW I SAW MY FUTURE.
BUT I JUST SO HAPPENED TO FALL
IN LOVE WITH YOU.
AND I WANT--AND I'VE DREAMED
ON MAKING THIS REAL, BUT I'M
SCARED.
>> SO HOW YOU THINK I FEEL ABOUT
YOU JUST TELLING ME THAT AND--
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD
HAVE BEEN TOLD ME JUST LIKE I
COULD HAVE BEEN--
>> BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT.
MINE IS DIFFERENT.
>> A LIE IS A LIE.
>> NO, IT'S NOT.
YOURS IS RIDICULOUS AND STUPID
AND SMALL AND COULD HAVE BEEN
OVERLOOKED VERY EASILY.
MINE IS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
>> YES, I WAS WRONG BY GIVING
YOU THE WRONG NAME AND SENDING
YOU A WRONG--YOU KNOW, NOT
MY RIGHT PICTURE, SO--
>> AND YOU KEPT IT UP FOR FOUR
YEARS.
>> YEAH, SO I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE
TO YOU SO IT'S--
I'M GONNA BASICALLY LEAVE IT
UP TO YOU TO APOLOGIZE TO ME.
>> I WILL SEE IF I CAN FORGIVE
YOU.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
I FORGIVE YOU.
[giggling]
WELL, I GUESS I SHOULD MOVE
OVER HERE.
[laughter]
MM.
[growling]
[laughter]
THIS IS SO WEIRD.
>> I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT...
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH
ALL THIS.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BREAK,
GO BACK TO THE HOTEL, AND JUST
RELAX FOR A MINUTE, BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN A LONG THREE DAYS
FOR HIM.
I'M EXHAUSTED, SO HE MUST BE
EXHAUSTED.
>> SO Y'ALL LEAVING?
>> WELL--
>> COMING BACK?
>> YEAH, THEN WE'LL--WE'LL
CONNECT WITH YOU LATER ON,
IN A LITTLE BIT.
>> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU
SOON.
>> BYE.
>> [clears throat]
>> WHEW!
WHAT A DAY.
>> DIDN'T EXPECT ALL THAT TO
HAPPEN.
>> NO.
>> [exhales]
I'M JUST HAPPY IT'S OVER WITH.
[laughing]
>> WELL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
HER BEING A WOMAN?
>> IT FEEL WEIRD 'CAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHY SHE WOULDN'T
EVEN--YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T
TELL ME FROM THE GET-GO THAT
SHE WAS A--YOU KNOW--
>> I COULD ARGUE, IF I HAD NO
IDEA WHO YOU WERE, AND SOMEONE
SAID THAT YOU WENT ON A
WEBSITE FOR GUYS, AND THAT FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS, YOU'VE
BEEN TALKING TO A TRANSGENDER
GUY, YOU MIGHT BE CURIOUS
ABOUT GUYS.
>> I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> BUT IS THAT HOW--DO YOU
FEEL THAT WAY AT ALL?
>> [sighs]
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, SHE WAS
SENDING ME $200 AND $300,
PAYING MY CELL PHONE BILL, AND
I WASN'T WORKING, SO I FELT,
YOU KNOW, WHY NOT, YOU KNOW,
KEEP CONVERSATING WITH HER AND
TALKING TO HER?
>> DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE
BEEN TALKING TO HER AND KEPT
TALKING TO HER ALL THIS TIME
IF SHE HAD NEVER BEEN GIVING
YOU MONEY?
>> NO.
>> HMM.
>> BUT YOU THINK THAT'S
PROBABLY WHY YOU'VE BEEN ABLE
TO OVERLOOK THE TRANSGENDER
THING FOR SO LONG, BECAUSE OF
THE MONEY?
>> I REALLY DON'T--
>> I REALLY DON'T-- I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
I REALLY NEED SOME TIME TO
MYSELF TO JUST THINK ABOUT
EVERYTHING.
>> 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT EVEN
REALLY SURE HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
EBONY.
>> I DON'T--I DON'T--
I DON'T.
I DON'T. [sighs heavily]
[sighs heavily]
>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE
STORY WAS OVER--
>> I KEPT THINKING, LIKE, WOW,
THIS IS AMAZING.
THIS IS GONNA WORK OUT.
THEY SHOULD BE SO HAPPY.
BUT, LIKE--
>> RIGHT, HE WAS--THERE WAS
SOMETHING OFF.
>> PFFT.
>> BUT, DUDE, ISN'T IT KIND OF
WEIRD THAT, LIKE, SHE TURNS
OUT NOT TO BE A GUY, AND THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S NOT INTO
IT?
>> THE ONLY REASON HE'S BEEN
IN THIS FOUR-YEAR RELATIONSHIP
IS BECAUSE FOR FOUR YEARS
HE'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF
MONEY.
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS JUST
ABOUT THE MONEY.
HE HAD REAL, REAL FEELINGS FOR
HER.
>> I AGREE. BUT, LIKE--
>> I THINK HE IS BI-CURIOUS.
I THINK HE IS SOMEWHAT
DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE IS NOT A
GUY.
>> HE'S GOT TO START, LIKE,
REALLY DOWN THIS PATH OF
FIGURING OUT WHO HE IS AND WHAT
HE WANTS, AND IF WE CAN HELP HIM
IN ANY WAY, WE'LL HAVE SORT OF
DONE OUR JOB.
[sentimental music]
♪
YOU GUYS JUST NEED TO PUT IT
ALL OUT THERE AND START FRESH.
>> YEAH.
WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT IS--
ABOUT IS-- >> SPIT IT OUT.
>> SPIT IT OUT.
>> HEY, MAN.
CAN WE COME IN FOR A MINUTE?
>> YEAH, Y'ALL CAN COME IN.
>> ALL RIGHT, COOL.
JUST SINCE IT'S THE NEXT DAY,
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
YESTERDAY AND NOW,
AND HOW EVERYTHING KIND OF
PLAYED OUT?
>> I JUST WANTED TO WAIT AND
JUST TALK--EVERYTHING I
TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, JUST
BASICALLY TALK TO HER ABOUT IT
AND JUST SEE WHERE IT GO FROM
THERE.
>> OKAY, WELL, I DON'T KNOW
HOW SHE'LL RESPOND TO THAT NOW
THAT YOU'VE MET AND ALL THE
SORT OF SKELETONS ARE OUT OF
THE CLOSET AND EVERYONE TOLD
THE TRUTH.
>> I JUST BASICALLY--YOU KNOW,
I'LL TALK TO HER AND SEE WHAT
SHE WANTS, YOU KNOW.
>> YOU GUYS JUST NEED TO PUT
IT ALL OUT THERE AND START
FRESH.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S THIS ONE, RIGHT?
>> IT'S THIS ONE, RIGHT? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> HEY, YOU!
WELCOME BACK.
[tense music]
♪
>> YOU MAKING ME NERVOUS.
STOP SMILING.
>> I'M NOT MAKING--
YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS.
>> WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT WAS--WAS--
LET ME SEE HOW TO PUT IT.
WHEN ME AND YOU--
>> SPIT IT OUT.
>> WHEN ME AND YOU WAS
TALKING, I WAS BASICALLY
LOOKING AT YOU AS BEING A
FRIEND.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY I USED
YOU OR I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF
YOU, BUT A LOT--IT WAS A LOT
HAD TO DO WITH ME--YOU KNOW,
TO KEEP ME ON TALKING TO YOU
BY YOU HELPING ME, BY YOU
SENDING ME MONEY, YOU PAYING
MY CELL PHONE BILL.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS
WHY I JUST CONTINUED TO TALK
TO YOU.
>> OKAY.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
>> I JUST--YOU KNOW, I WANTED
TO JUST--JUST LAY IT ALL OUT
ON THE TABLE AND SEE HOW YOU
WAS GOING TO TAKE IT AND SEE
WHAT YOU WAS GONNA HAVE TO SAY.
>> MM.
WHAT I DID FOR YOU, I DID FOR
YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE FOR
ME.
FOR YOU TO SAY THAT ALL OF
THAT WAS BECAUSE OF YOU
WANTING ME TO CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT I DID FOR YOU FINANCIALLY
AS A FRIEND...
THAT'S A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE,
BECAUSE I WAS GENUINE.
YES, I DID LIE ABOUT ONE SMALL
THING...
>> IS--
>> THAT WAS A BIG THING.
>> WHAT YOU LIED ABOUT WASN'T
SMALL TO ME.
>> OKAY, IT WASN'T SMALL.
WHATEVER. SHUT UP.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS REAL, THE
FEELINGS, THE--EVERYTHING
THAT I--IT WAS ALL REAL.
BUT YOU USED ME.
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO GET
FROM THIS CONFESSION?
LIKE, I NEVER--
>> THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO
TALK TO YOU, 'CAUSE I ONLY
THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
RIGHT FOR ME TO JUST TELL YOU
THE TRUTH.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, YOU
USED ME.
THAT ONE SENTENCE THAT YOU
JUST SAID, YOU PISSED ON
EVERYTHING.
IF UGLY IS WHAT THE [bleep]
YOU WANT, UGLY IS WHAT I'LL
GIVE YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> IF UGLY--YOU KNOW, I TRIED
TO BE DECENT ABOUT IT.
I TRIED TO BE A LADY ABOUT THE
SITUATION.
BUT YOU--I CANNOT BELIEVE
YOU WALKED YOUR ASS IN HERE
WITH THAT.
LIKE, I'M--I CAN'T--NO.
YOU DIDN'T GET [bleep].
WHAT YOU GOT IS NOTHING.
THIS IS SOMETHING.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WISH YOU
WOULD HAVE HAD.
BUT YOU [bleep] IT UP.
>> OKAY.
I'M GOING.
I'M GOING. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> I'LL CLOSE THE DOOR.
>> I GOT IT.
THANK YOU.
[sentimental music]
[sentimental music] ♪
♪
♪ >> EVERYTHING COOL?
>> EVERYTHING COOL?
WHAT DO, UH--
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? >> GO BACK TO MY ROOM.
>> GO BACK TO MY ROOM.
>> WE CAN DO THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. UM...
UM...
I SEE A GUY OUTSIDE WHO'S
VERY CONFUSED AND AT A REAL
LOW POINT.
AND I SEE YOU, THE ONLY PERSON
AND I SEE YOU, THE ONLY PERSON WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.
WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.
[keyboard clicking]
>> AND NOW, MORE CATFISH: THE
TV SHOW.
TV SHOW. STICK AROUND.
STICK AROUND.
I MEAN, I WAS GONNA JUMP IN
THERE AND...
JUST, UH, TALK TO HER.
>> GO AHEAD AND TALK TO HER.
>> GO AHEAD AND TALK TO HER. >> IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR
ME TO HEAR YOUR SIDE OF THE
STORY.
>> OKAY.
I MOVED TO ATLANTA IN 2008.
WENT IN FOR MY ANNUAL.
BOOM, EVERYTHING WENT DOWNHILL.
SO I WAS THEN LEFT WITH CANCER
AND NOT A LOT OF FRIENDS.
SO CHECKED INTO THE HOSPITAL,
GOT BORED, WENT ON A GAY
WEBSITE.
I WANTED NOT JUST A MAN, BUT A
GAY MAN, AND THE REASON WHY A
GAY ONE IS BECAUSE I JUST
WANTED A FRIEND.
>> SO YOU REALLY THOUGHT HE
WAS GAY?
>> YEAH.
>> AND FOR THE FIRST YEAR, HE
NEVER GAVE YOU REASON TO THINK
OTHERWISE?
>> BY YEAR NUMBER TWO, I WAS
THEN WELL, RECOVERED, UP, AND
MOVING, AND BACK TO BEING
FABULOUS, WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
>> SO FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF THE RELATIONSHIP, YOU
REALLY HAD NO INTENTION OF
EVER BEING ROMANTICALLY
INVOLVED?
>> HE MADE ME SO HAPPY.
AND I THINK COMING FROM THAT
TYPE OF MISERY...
AND PAIN, AND JUST WHERE--
I MEAN, CANCER IS A V--
IT DRUG ME DOWN.
AND I START GETTING ONLINE,
TRYING TO TALK TO PEOPLE,
TRYING TO FIND A FRIEND, REACH
OUT, SOMEBODY TO TALK TO,
SOMEBODY TO CALL MY PHONE AND
ASK ME, "HOW ARE YOU DOING?"
[tender piano music]
♪
AND EVER SINCE DAY ONE, HE
HASN'T STOPPED CALLING.
SO IT WASN'T A--
THE SEXUAL PREFERENCE--IT DIDN'T
MATTER WHO HE WAS.
IT DIDN'T MATTER--
ALL I WANTED WAS JUST SOMEBODY
TO TALK TO.
THAT'S IT.
I JUST WANTED SOMEBODY TO TALK
TO.
[sniffles]
HE KNOWS WHAT I WENT THROUGH.
HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT--HE
KNOWS HE WAS--HOW BADLY I
NEEDED HIM AND HOW GRATEFUL I
WAS.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SO GENEROUS.
>> SO THERE'S NO--THERE'S
REALLY NO WAY THAT YOU GUYS
COULD BE IN A RELATIONSHIP
RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WAS OPEN TO IT, BUT LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT REALLY [bleep]
IT UP FOR HIM.
HE LITERALLY WALKED IN HERE
AND SAT ON THE COUCH AND TOLD
ME THAT IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE
FINANCES, HE WOULD NOT BE
SITTING THERE RIGHT NOW.
>> I CAN'T LOOK AT A GUY WHO
HAS BEEN IN AN EXCLUSIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH WHO HE
THINKS A GUY, NO MATTER WHAT
THEY--HOW BEAUTIFUL AND FABULOUS
THEY LOOK AS A WOMAN...
>> RIGHT.
>> WHO IS WILLING TO GO AND,
AS HE SAYS, AND AS HE EXPLAINED
TO HIS BEST FRIEND MIKE, TRY
AND SEE HOW HE FEELS ABOUT IT,
AND MAYBE IT COULD WORK.
>> RIGHT.
>> LIKE, I SEE THOSE AS VERY
CLEAR SIGNS THAT HERE'S A MAN
WHO'S QUESTIONING HIS SEXUALITY.
AND FROM MY POINT OF VIEW,
I SEE A GUY OUTSIDE WHO'S VERY
CONFUSED...
>> MM-HMM.
>> UPSET, REALLY STRUGGLING,
DOWN IN THE DUMPS, AND AT A
REAL LOW POINT.
AND I SEE YOU, WHO'S PROBABLY
THE ONLY PERSON WHO MIGHT
REALLY BE ABLE TO HELP HIM GET
THROUGH THIS.
>> I AGREE.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE THAT
PERSON.
IT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL LIKE--
MAKE ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW THAT
NOW THE TABLES ARE TURNED, AND
I CAN HELP YOU THE WAY THAT
YOU HELPED ME.
>> SO I THINK HE'S JUST
SITTING IN THE CAR RIGHT THERE
SITTING IN THE CAR RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS.
>> WELL, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I
WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I
WOULD STILL LOVE TO BE YOUR
FRIEND.
I DON'T WANT TO END ON A BAD
NOTE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M
HERE.
OKAY?
>> THAT'S COOL.
>> YOU MAD AT ME?
>> [laughs]
>> OH, YOU MAD AT ME?
>> NO.
>> NO, I'M NOT MAD AT YOU
EITHER.
I'M N--I WAS MAD AT YOU.
A BIT CONFUSED, BUT I'M NOT MAD.
>> IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN
COME BY AND CHILL WITH ME.
>> OKAY.
AAH!
MMM!
[laughing]
GOOD-BYE.
THANK YOU.
>> I'LL SEE YOU ONLINE?
>> NO.
>> NO.
>> NO.
YOU WILL NOT SEE ME ONLINE.
[laughing]
>> GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING,
SASHA.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU!
>> ♪ I HOPE YOU FIND
♪ WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
>> STAY FABULOUS!
>> ALWAYS.
>> ALWAYS. >> ALWAYS!
>> ALWAYS!
>> ROD.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU LOOK GREAT, MAN.
HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING?
>> OH, EVERYTHING BEEN GOING
>> OH, EVERYTHING BEEN GOING PRETTY GOOD.
PRETTY GOOD.
ME AND EBONY, WE STILL COOL.
WE STILL FRIENDS, BUT WE
HAVEN'T--WE DON'T TALK LIKE WE
NORMALLY TALK.
>> ANY LOVE INTERESTS OR
DATING?
>> NO, I JUST--I BASICALLY
SAID I WAS JUST GONNA WAIT
BEFORE I JUST PUT MYSELF BACK
IN THAT POSITION AND START
TALKING TO SOMEONE ALL OVER
TALKING TO SOMEONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
AGAIN.
>> HELLO.
>> EBONY.
WOW, HEY!
LOOK AT YOU, TURNED UP.
>> AND FABULOUS.
>> AND FABULOUS. >> [laughs] AND FABULOUS.
>> [laughs] AND FABULOUS.
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO WORRIES.
UM, I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
THAT'S WRAPPED AROUND ME ALL
THE TIME.
IT'S LIKE, WHAT MORE COULD YOU
ASK FOR?
>> THAT'S ABOUT MY PERSONAL
FANTASY RIGHT THERE, SO I HEAR
YOU.
>> EXACTLY.
OKAY.
>> IT WAS GOOD TALKING TO YOU.
>> IT WAS GOOD TALKING TO YOU. >> all: BYE.
>> all: BYE.
>> I FEEL LIKE I COULD TELL HIM
ANYTHING.
>> DO YOU THINK YOU'RE IN LOVE
WITH HIM?
>> I DO LOVE HIM.
>> SEE THIS?
THOSE ARE BIG [bleep] LIES THAT
HE'S BEEN TELLING HIM.
>> WHY WOULDN'T YOU TELL ME
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR
NOT HE WANTS TO START A NEW LIFE
WITH YOU.
>> OKAY...
>> THERE'S A CAR COMING DOWN.
>> THERE'S A CAR COMING DOWN. THIS IS IT, MAN.