Catfish: The TV Show (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 9 - Artis & Jess - full transcript

>> LET'S GET OUR HEADS IN THE

GAME RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS ABOUT TO GET REAL.

>> I'M NERVOUS FOR THIS.

[groans]

OH, MAN.

>> HERE'S A CAR.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING THIS

WAY.

WAIT A SECOND.

HI, I'M NEV, AND THIS IS MY



FILMMAKER BUDDY MAX.

LAST YEAR, WE TRAVELED ACROSS

THE COUNTRY FIGURING OUT

THE TRUTH BEHIND ONLINE

ROMANCES.

I'M READY TO COME MEET YOU IF

YOU THINK YOU'RE REALLY READY.

>> I'M DEFINITELY READY.

>> ALONG THE WAY, WE OPENED

DOORS TO SOME BIG SURPRISES.

>> WAIT, GUYS, GUYS, GUYS, GUYS.

>> WE MADE A FEW LOVE

CONNECTIONS...

>> FEELS AMAZING.



>> AND EVEN DID OUR FAIR SHARE

OF MENDING BROKEN HEARTS.

>> I'M SO HAPPY EVERY DAY WHEN I

WAKE UP NOW.

[sniffles]

>> SUDDENLY, THE IDEA OF

CATFISHING--HIDING WHO YOU

REALLY ARE TO HOOK SOMEONE INTO

AN ONLINE RELATIONSHIP...

>> PROBABLY A PAGEANT WINNER,

A MODEL.

>> WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT BY

A LOT OF YOU.

GOT AN EMAIL HERE.

"WHO DID I REALLY FALL IN LOVE

WITH?"

SO MAX AND I ARE HEADED BACK OUT

ON THE ROAD...

MAX, WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.

TO INVESTIGATE STORIES THAT SEEM

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE...

>> I AM IN DEREK'S DRIVEWAY.

>> OR TOO WILD TO MAKE UP.

>> HE WAS CARJACKED, AND HE WAS

RAN OVER BY THE CAR.

>> JESUS, MAN.

WILL HOPE BECOME LOVE...

>> [laughing] OH, MY GOD.

>> OR IS LOVE IN FOR A GIANT

SHOCK?

>> [cries] I DON'T KNOW.

>> YOU CAN BE SURE THAT MAX AND

I WILL FIND OUT ALL

THE ANSWERS, BECAUSE SOMETIMES,

A LITTLE BIT OF FICTION...

>> WOW, CATFISH CURVE BALL.

>> LEADS TO A WHOLE LOT OF

REALITY.

THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

>> [laughs]

>> ARE WE READY?

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> CATFISH THE MOVIE WAS MY

STORY.

CATFISH: THE TV SHOW IS YOURS.

HERE WE GO, WE ARE, LIKE, IN THE

THICK OF IT.

WE GOT AN E-MAIL HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SUBJECT: A CRY FOR HELP.

>> [mimics baby crying]

>> THAT'S NOT A CRY FOR HELP.

THAT'S JUST CRYING.

HELP!

>> HELP!

>> THAT'S--THAT'S A CRY.

>> YEAH.

SO JUST SAYING "HELP."

>> RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

HERE'S THE E-MAIL.

>> OKAY.

>> "HI, MY NAME IS ARTIS, AND I

LIVE IN WOODSTOCK, A SMALL

TOWN IN ILLINOIS.

I WORK AT A LOCAL WAREHOUSE IN

SHIPPING AND RECEIVING, AND

ENJOY WHAT I DO.

ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO,

I STARTED TALKING TO A NICE,

YOUNG LADY BY THE NAME OF JESS.

JESS IS 23 YEARS OLD.

AND SHE'S FROM MARENGO,

ILLINOIS..."

>> MARENGO.

>> "WHICH IS ONLY 30 MINUTES

FROM ME."

OH, BOY.

"WE MET ON FACEBOOK.

SHE IS LIKE NO OTHER WOMAN I'VE

EVER MET.

SHE'S EASY TO TALK TO, SHE'S

FUNNY, AND I'VE FALLEN FOR HER.

>> *OOH, GIRL *

* WE'VE GOT TO GET TOGETHER *

* RIGHT NOW

>> "SHE IS A BABY-SITTER AND

ENJOYS BEING AROUND KIDS.

ONE OF THE REASONS I CARE FOR

JESS IS BECAUSE WE BOTH SHARE A

LOVE FOR CHILDREN.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN OF MY

OWN."

>> WHOA.

>> WOW.

"AND SHE IS ACCEPTING OF THAT."

>> * YOU REALLY DIG ME

* OH, YOU MAKE ME LOSE MY MIND

>> "I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MEET

JESS BECAUSE WE ARE BOTH IN A

RELATIONSHIP."

>> WAIT, THEY'RE BOTH IN A REL--

>> THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN

RELATIONSHIPS.

"BOTH OF US ARE CURRENTLY LIVING

WITH OUR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS..."

>> THEY'RE LIVING WITH--

>> "AND ARE UNHAPPY IN OUR

RELATIONSHIPS."

>> THIS IS CRAZY.

>> "NEITHER ONE OF THEM KNOW

THAT WE ARE TALKING."

>> OH, BOY.

>> "IT'S EASIER FOR US TO TEXT

OR MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE

WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING OUR

RELATIONSHIP A SECRET.

I KNOW IT'S WRONG.

AND I FEEL GUILTY.

BUT I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE

RELATIONSHIP THAT'S NOT WORKING

FOR ME AND INTO ONE THAT WILL.

I THINK JESS IS THAT

RELATIONSHIP.

I WANNA BREAK UP WITH MY CURRENT

GIRLFRIEND BUT WANT TO KNOW

WHERE I STAND WITH JESS FIRST.

PLEASE HELP."

THAT'S NOT--THIS IS--FORGET IT.

>> THIS GUY'S GOTTA BREAK UP--

>> NO, I'M NOT HELPING HIM.

>> NO, THIS GUY HAS TO BREAK UP

WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND FIRST.

AND THEN, WE'LL HELP HIM.

THE PREREQUISITE IS YOU GOTTA

LIKE BE SINGLE.

>> YEAH.

>> ARTIS HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO

DO.

>> WELL, LET'S GIVE HIM A CALL

AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

>> HEY, HOW YOU GUYS DOIN'?

>> JUST READ YOUR CRAZY E-MAIL.

>> YEAH.

CRAZY, HUH?

>> MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST KINDA

FILL US IN ON ALL THE DETAILS.

>> CURRENTLY IN A RELATIONSHIP.

AND I'M CURRENTLY DATIN'

SOMEBODY ONLINE, YOU KNOW?

>> AND--AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU

BEEN WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND?

>> LIKE, THREE YEARS.

>> BUT YOU--YOU SAID THINGS

AREN'T GOING SO WELL.

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY BUMPY RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW SHE KNOW THAT IT'S OVER

WITH, REALLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT KIDS AND

STUFF.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET OUT

OF--OF A SITUATION LIKE THAT AND

THEN JUST TO HOP IN ANOTHER ONE

LIKE THIS.

THAT'S WHY I NEED--I NEED YOU

GUYS, MAN.

I REALLY DO.

>> TELL US ABOUT JESS.

TELL US ABOUT WHA--WHAT YOU LIKE

ABOUT HER.

>> SHE JUST SPARKS UP MY DAY.

LIKE, EVERYTHING FALLS IN LINE

WHEN I TALK TO HER.

SHE REALLY LOVE KIDS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING

I LOVE.

I LOVE MY KIDS TOO.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT

HER BEING WHO SHE SAID SHE IS?

>> UH, A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE

NEVER TALKED ON THE PHONE.

WE NEVER SKYPED BEFORE.

I ASKED HER, BUT SHE'S ALWAYS

AROUND HER BOYFRIEND.

HE'S REAL CONTROLLIN'.

LIKE, REALLY STRICT.

>> WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT

JESS WOULD EVEN BREAK UP WITH

HER BOYFRIEND?

>> 'CAUSE SHE TALKS ABOUT IT A

LOT.

SHE SAYS SHE'S READY TO CUT THAT

OFF TOO, SO...

>> IF WE DO COME AND WE SHOW UP

AT THE HOUSE, WHAT ARE YOU

GOING TO SAY TO YOUR GIRLFRIEND?

>> I WOULDN'T EVEN WANNA MEET

YOU GUYS AT THE HOUSE.

I WANNA MEET YOU GUYS AT A

DIFFERENT LOCATION.

>> IT DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT FOR US

TO COME AND MEET YOU IF YOU'RE

GONNA BE SNEAKING AROUND BEHIND

YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S BACK.

WE DON'T REALLY WANNA BE PART OF

THAT.

>> I'M REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT

THIS.

I'D LIKE TO MEET JESS AND MAKE

SURE THAT THIS IS JESS.

>> BUT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY

TO COMMUNICATE TO THE WOMAN THAT

YOU SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH AND

SHARE A CHILD WITH.

AND GOING BEHIND HER BACK AND

SNEAKING AROUND, IT'S NOT COOL.

AND I DON'T WANNA BE PART OF

THAT.

IF YOU'RE READY TO GET SERIOUS,

BE PREPARED.

THIS IS NOT GONNA BE EASY.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE FUN.

WE GOT SOME REAL STUFF TO DEAL

WITH HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, I'M READY.

>> both: ALL RIGHT, MAN.

>> THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE

IT, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU

GUYS.

>> LATER.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> BYE, BYE.

>> HO, MAN.

>> FORGETTING THE FACT OF HOW

THE HECK WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN

THERE AND LIKE BRING THEM

TOGETHER UNDER THE NOSE OF THEIR

SIGNIFICANT OTHER, BUT THEY'VE

NEVER EVEN TALKED TO ONE

ANOTHER.

>> HE'S GOING OUT OF HIS WAY

TO PURSUE WHAT COULD BE A VERY

MEANINGFUL OR A POTENTIALLY

DISASTROUS RELATIONSHIP.

>> I'M NOT GOING THERE UNTIL HE

BREAKS UP--

>> I'M NOT--RIGHT.

I'LL GO THERE BUT I'M NOT GONNA

HELP HIM MEET JESS UNTIL HE

BREAKS UP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.

>> IF THAT'S ALL THAT WE HELP

HIM DO, THAT'S--THAT'S

SOMETHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> LET'S GO.

>> * DON'T WANT IT TOO HARD *

* GOTTA KEEP IT GOIN' ON *

>> LET'S SEE IF THERE'S PEACE

AND LOVE IN WOODSTOCK THIS TIME.

>> NEV IS PASSED OUT.

>> * TO KEEP IT SPINNING

>> AND I'VE GOT A BIG EGG ON MY

FOOT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SHOW MUST GO

ON.

I DEFINITELY MADE THE MISTAKE OF

PURSUING GIRLS DIGITALLY WHILE

IN A RELATIONSHIP.

>> I'VE DONE IT.

AND I FELT LIKE A BAD GUY.

IT WASN'T EVER WORTH DOING

AGAIN.

>> BUT THE TRUTH IS WE'RE

DEALING WITH A GUY THAT WANTS TO

LOVE.

>> WE'RE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH A

GUY WHO WANTS TO BE LOVED.

>> I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING

THAT WE ARE SHADILY MEETING

ARTIS AT A DINER.

LET'S GET REAL WITH THIS GUY.

[indistinct chatter]

>> WHAT'S UP?

>> HOW YA DOIN', MAN?

>> I'M GOOD. AND YOU?

>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> GOOD TO MEET YOU TOO.

ALL RIGHT, SO CURRENT

RELATIONSHIP IS TOTALLY OVER.

>> YEAH, IT'S TOTALLY OVER.

>> WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM

HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HER

WHERE YOU SAY, "LOOK, THIS ISN'T

WORKING, LET'S--LET'S GO OUR

SEPARATE WAYS?"

>> 'CAUSE, LIKE, COMMUNICATION

BETWEEN ME AND HER RIGHT NOW IS

JUST LIKE--THERE'S NOT NO

COMMUNICATION.

>> YOU DON'T THINK SHE'S IN LOVE

WITH YOU OR FEELS THAT THIS IS

SOME BETRAYAL?

>> NAH, IT'S MORE OF LIKE A

FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT KIDS

TOGETHER.

WE STAY TOGETHER.

WE DON'T EVEN SLEEP IN THE SAME

ROOM, YOU KNOW?

WE AIN'T BEEN INTIMATE AT

LEAST LIKE--I'D SAY LIKE A

YEAR.

>> WOW.

>> SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW,

JESS...

LIKE THAT RAY OF SUNLIGHT

THAT JUST BEAMIN' AND JUST--

DANG.

IT JUST UPLIFT ME, YOU KNOW?

>> WHERE ARE YOUR FEELINGS FOR

HER?

>> MY FEELINGS FOR HER IS, YOU

KNOW--THEY'RE LIKE THROUGH THE

ROOF RIGHT NOW.

>> * MY HEART IS BEATING SLOW

>> * MY HEART IS

* BEATING SLOW

>> EVEN THOUGH, LIKE, I HAVEN'T

PHYSICALLY SEEN HER OR

PHYSICALLY TOUCHED HER, SHE'S

RIGHT HERE WITH ME.

I FEEL LIKE SHE CARES ABOUT ME.

I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY I CAN

TRUST.

>> *I'M SEARCHING FOR *

* A PARADISE

* THAT I JUST CAN'T SEEM *

* TO FIND

>> HOW MANY PICTURES OF HER ARE

ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE?

>> WELL, I JUST HAD--SEEN ONE

PICTURE OF HER ON FACEBOOK.

>> JUST ONE PICTURE?

>> JUST ONE.

>> HOW WAS THERE ONLY ONE

PHOTOGRAPH OF HER ON HER

FACEBOOK PAGE?

>> THAT'S WHAT I ASKED HER TOO.

AND SHE SAID THE REASON WHY

SHE DON'T GOT A LOT OF PICTURES

ON HER FACEBOOK IS BECAUSE OF

HER BOYFRIEND.

SHE GOT A REAL STRICT BOYFRIEND,

YOU KNOW?

>> CAN YOU SHOW US THE PICTURE

THAT--OF--OF JESS?

>> LET ME...

>> WOW.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, IF THERE'S GONNA BE ONE

PICTURE, THAT'S THE PICTURE IT

SHOULD BE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> YOU GUYS GET FRISKY?

>> WE GET--WE HAVE.

TALK ABOUT SEXUAL THINGS.

>> "HEY, MISS SEXY.

WISHING THAT YOU WAS RIGHT HERE

RUBBIN'--RUBBIN' YOU DOWN,

KISSING YO BODY DOWN SLOW."

HAVE YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT

A FUTURE TOGETHER, OR...

>> WE TALKED ABOUT HER WANTING

TO GET AWAY FROM WHERE SHE AT,

ME WANTING TO GET AWAY FROM

WHERE I'M AT.

AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE THE NEXT

STEP.

>> SO, LOOK, I'LL MAKE A DEAL

WITH YOU.

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> WE'LL GO AND RESEARCH JESS.

THE DEAL IS YOU'VE GOTTA DO YOUR

SIDE, WHICH IS SIT DOWN WITH

YOUR GIRLFRIEND, TELL HER HOW

YOU'RE FEELING, SO THAT WE CAN

ALL MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER

KNOWING THAT WE'RE IN THE SAME

PLACE.

WE'RE ALL ON GOOD TERMS.

>> I'M READY TO SHAKE ON IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> I KNOW MY HAND'S COLD, BUT,

YEAH, I'M READY TO SHAKE ON IT.

>> WELL, CALL US AND TELL US HOW

IT GOES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I'LL CALL AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, ARTIS.

GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'M LESS NERVOUS THAN I WAS

GOING TO THE DINER TO MEET HIM

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE HE'S

ACTUALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> NOW THAT I KNOW WHY THIS

RELATIONSHIP WITH JESS IS SO

IMPORTANT TO ARTIS, WHEN THEY'RE

BOTH AVAILABLE AND REALLY READY

TO PURSUE A RELATIONSHIP, IT

COULD WORK.

>> SHE'S HIS RAY OF SUNSHINE.

BUT WHO IS SHE?

>> * DON'T COME OUT HERE *

>> LIGHTS.

CAMERA.

INVESTIGATION.

* HA HA

* HA HA

>> ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE GOT A

PRETTY INTERESTING SITUATION

HERE.

ARTIS, HE'S IN A WEIRD PLACE.

HE'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND THAT HE

LIVES WITH.

BUT, ROMANTICALLY, THE

RELATIONSHIP'S BEEN OVER.

SO FIVE MONTHS AGO, HE FINALLY

GETS THAT LITTLE BIT OF

AFFECTION AND ATTENTION THAT HE

SO DESPERATELY WANTS.

BUT ON THE SURFACE, THIS GIRL

JESS DOES NOT SEEM VERY LEGIT.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S CHECK OUT

HER FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, JESS VENNY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, HERE SHE IS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SHE WORKS AT

HOOTERS.

I MEAN, THAT IS JUST SUCH AN

OBVIOUS FAKE JOB CHOICE.

>> SHE ALSO WENT TO THE "OLD

SKOOL OF HARD KNOCKS."

>> OH.

>> THAT'S--I'VE HEARD THAT.

IT'S A--IT'S A VERY PRESTIGIOU--

>> IT'S NOT IVY LEAGUE, BUT SHE

DOES HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS FROM

MARENGO.

>> WAIT, GO UP.

SO THIS GIRL, WHO'S SO WORRIED

ABOUT HER POSSESSIVE, JEALOUS

BOYFRIEND, IS NOW SAYING IN HER

ABOUT THING, "I'M SINGLE NOW."

>> THIS FEELS REALLY SUSPICIOUS.

OH, HERE, LOOK, MAY 10TH.

"BORED AND SINGLE.

SOMEBODY WANNA HANG OR BANG?"

>> OH, AND LOOK WHAT HE SAID.

"I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE

REAL," SAYS KEVIN.

KEVIN DID GO TO MARENGO HIGH

SCHOOL.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S MESSAGE THIS

GUY.

HEY, KEVIN.

WE WOULD LOVE TO ASK YOU A

COUPLE QUESTIONS.

>> I MEAN, SHE'S PROBABLY

SOMEONE FROM MARENGO,

JUST NOT THIS GIRL.

BUT WHAT ELSE DO WE KNOW ABOUT

HER?

ARE WE MISSING ANYTHING?

[cell phone rings]

>> both: WHOA.

>> THAT WAS FAST.

>> REALLY FAST.

>> OKAY, SO THIS IS KEVIN.

HELLO?

HI, IS THIS KEVIN?

IT IS.

WE--WE FOUND YOUR NAME ON THE

PROFILE FOR A GIRL NAMED

JESS VENNY.

WHAT--WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT

HER?

RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, MAN, WELL, LOOK:

THAT--THAT'S ALL WE REALLY

NEEDED TO HEAR.

>> LATER.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE GOTTA DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GRAB THIS

PICTURE.

>> GRAB THAT PICTURE.

>> HERE'S THE PICTURE.

WE GO TO IMAGE SEARCH.

AND...

OH, HERE.

>> OH, OH, BOOM.

>> [bleep].

>> OH, GOD.

AH, JESUS.

>> I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL JUST

GARBAGE PORN SITES.

>> THEY'RE ALL PORN SITES.

>> WAIT, WAIT, OH, GOD.

>> OH, THERE SHE IS.

>> HE'LL LIKE TO SEE THESE.

>> YEAH, HE SURE WILL.

HERE'S OUR PICTURE, THE ONE THAT

HE'S SEEN.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, ONLY LIKE THE TOP

HALF OF IT.

>> SO THIS IS LIKE THE MOST

OBVIOUS SCAM EVER.

"I KNOW WHAT I'LL DO.

I'LL TAKE A PICTURE FROM A PORN

WEBSITE, AND I'LL USE THAT AS MY

PROFILE PIC.

AND MAYBE SOME GUYS WILL--WILL

LIKE REACH OUT TO ME."

>> RIGHT, WHAT'S NOW SORT OF AN

INTERESTING CURVEBALL IS JESS

MAY NOT BE REAL.

BUT ARTIS, AND HIS LIFE, AND HIS

SITUATION IS.

HE'S GOT KIDS.

HE'S GOT--THERE'S A LOT ON THE

LINE HERE.

ONCE HE SORTS OUT HIS CURRENT

RELATIONSHIP, HE'S GONNA HAVE TO

DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT FOR THE

LAST FIVE MONTHS, HE'S BEEN

TALKING WITH THIS PERSON THAT HE

KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT.

THIS JESS VENNY, WHOEVER THEY

ARE, CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

[knocks at door]

>> COME IN.

>> HAVE A SEAT.

[laughs]

>> OKAY, SO LOOK.

>> SO WE'RE--WE'RE AT A DE--

WE'RE AT A DEAD END HERE.

>> NO, WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE--WE'RE SOMEWHERE, WHICH IS

THAT WE'VE JUST GREATLY ENHANCED

ARTIS'S POSITION IN THIS

SITUATION.

WE WERE TEXTING LAST NIGHT.

HE'S HAD A SERIOUS TALK WITH HIS

GIRLFRIEND.

HE WROTE, "HEY, WHAT'S GOING

ON?

THIS WAS THE LONGEST TALK I

THINK I'VE EVER HAD.

BUT IT WAS GOOD TO TALK AND LET

THINGS OUT."

>> WOW.

>> IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE THEY

FINALLY...

>> GOT IT OUT.

>> FIGURED--YOU KNOW, GOT THE

BALL ROLLING.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

>> LET'S--LET'S CHECK IN WITH

HIM.

[dial tone rings]

ARTIS, HOW'D IT GO LAST NIGHT?

OKAY, WELL, I'D LIKE TO HEAR ALL

ABOUT IT, HOW IT WENT, WHAT YOU

GUYS TALKED ABOUT.

MAX AND I HAVE SOME THINGS TO

TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT, MAN.

SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

>> HE'S ALREADY TAKEN A MAJOR

STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF

GETTING REAL WITH HIMSELF.

I MEAN, HE'S NOT GONNA BE

PSYCHED, THOUGH, WHEN WE TELL

HIM THAT JESS VENNY DOESN'T

EXIST.

>> HEY, MAN.

HOW'S IT GOIN'?

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> HAVE A SEAT, HAVE A SEAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO WHEN YOU DID SIT

DOWN LAST NIGHT WITH YOUR

GIRLFRIEND, TELL ME EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

AT FIRST, SHE--YOU KNOW, SHE--

SHE LIKE BRUSHIN' IT OFF A

LITTLE BIT.

SO I'M LIKE, "DAMN.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY--IT'S REALLY

IMPORTANT THAT I REALLY NEED TO

TALK TO YOU.

WHAT WE GOT GOIN' ON RIGHT NOW

IS NOT WHAT'S UP, YOU KNOW?

LIKE AS FAR AS NOT TALKING.

WE'RE NOT EVEN SLEEPING IN THE

SAME ROOM WITH EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW, WE CAME TO LIKE SOME

TYPE OF AGREEMENT.

WE GONNA WORK TOGETHER AS FAR AS

LIKE HELPING EACH OTHER

FINANCIALLY FOR THE TIME BEIN'

TILL WE SAVE UP ENOUGH MONEY TO

MOVE ON, SO...

>> WHAT WAS HER REACTION WHEN

YOU TOLD HER THAT YOU WERE

TALKING TO--TO JESS ONLINE?

>> SHE LIKE, "I KNEW YOU HAD TO

BE DOIN' SOMETHIN'."

I SAID, "IT AIN'T LIKE I'VE BEEN

DOIN' ANYTHING.

THE ONLY THING I WAS DOING WAS

TALKIN' ONLINE.

THAT'S ALL I'VE BEEN DOIN'.

>> AND DID YOU BRING UP THE FACT

THAT WE WERE HERE TO HELP YOU

MEET THIS GIRL AT ALL, OR...

>> I WAS, LIKE, "WELL, YOU KNOW,

GUYS UP HERE FROM CATFISH ARE

UP HERE.

YOU KNOW, THEY TRYING TO HELP

ME OUT AND FIND OUT WHO SHE

REALLY IS."

AND SHE--"GOOD LUCK ON THAT."

>> BUT SHE WASN'T LIKE REALLY

ANGRY ABOUT IT?

>> NAH.

IT WAS, LIKE, SHE WAS

COMFORTABLE WITH IT, SERIOUSLY.

I'M GLAD YOU GUYS DID COME OUT

HERE.

YOU ENCOURAGE ME TO--FOR REAL,

SIT DOWN AND, YOU KNOW, TALK TO

HER AND STUFF.

SO IT'S LIKE A BIG, HUGE RELIEF,

FOR REAL.

>> WELL, WE DID SOME

INVESTIGATING.

AND WE SHOULD GO OVER WHAT WE

FOUND.

>> IN THIS CASE, WE DIDN'T

REALLY HAVE A LOT TO GO OFF OF.

WE WENT TO HER FACEBOOK PROFILE

PAGE.

MOST OF HER FRIENDS GREW UP AND

LIVE IN THE MARENGO AREA, OR

SPECIFICALLY WENT TO MARENGO

HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WE JUST REACHED OUT TO THIS

GUY KEVIN.

AND I ASKED HIM.

I WAS LIKE, "HEY, WHAT DO YOU

KNOW ABOUT JESS VENNY?"

AND HE IMMEDIATELY--HE WAS LIKE,

"OH, BOY.

THAT GIRL.

SHE STARTED FRIENDING A BUNCH OF

PEOPLE FROM OUR TOWN."

>> SAID THAT HE'S NEVER SEEN

THAT GIRL BEFORE OR HEARD THE

NAME "JESS VENNY."

>> NOT A GOOD SIGN.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN, WE TOOK THE ONE

PHOTO.

AND WE DID AN IMAGE SEARCH.

AND IT CAME BACK ON LIKE A TON

OF WEBSITES.

AND THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY PORN

SITES.

>> MAN.

OH, HELL, NO.

>> I MEAN, SHE AIN'T SEND ME NO

PICTURES OF HER LIKE THAT.

>> SO BASICALLY, THE GIRL IN

THIS PICTURE IS NOT THE GIRL

YOU'RE TALKING TO.

>> DAMN.

>> ARE YOU IMMEDIATELY FEELING

DIFFERENTLY TOWARDS JESS?

>> OH, [bleep].

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

NOW, I'M ABOUT FIVE, SIX MONTHS,

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO I DON'T

KNOW WHO.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL IT BE.

LIKE, I-I EXPRESS MYSELF TO THIS

WOMAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

OPENED UP MY LIFE TO THIS WOMAN.

>> * ONCE WE'VE BEEN *

* AS THICK AS THIEVES

*

* ONCE WE KEPT

* GOOD COMPANY

>> THERE'S A REAL PERSON THERE.

THEY DO CARE ABOUT YOU.

AND THE CONVERSATIONS YOU'RE

HAVING ARE REAL.

WHOEVER IT IS, YOU GUYS HAVE A

CONNECTION.

I MEAN, YOU'VE OPENED UP TO THIS

PERSON.

AND THEY'VE RESPONDED.

>> I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO, YOU

KNOW, ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND, YOU

KNOW, ASK THIS PERSON, "WELL,

WHY ME, YOU KNOW?"

I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO.

>> ALL WE KNOW RIGHT NOW IS THAT

THE JESS VENNY PROFILE IS FAKE.

THE PICTURE'S SOME GIRL OFF A

PORN SITE.

NO ONE IN THE TOWN'S EVER HEARD

A GIRL BY THAT NAME.

THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW.

>> WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.

>> I-I THINK WE SHOULD JUST CALL

HER RIGHT NOW.

[dial tone rings]

>> I'M SORRY, BUT THE PERSON

YOU'VE CALLED HAS A VOICE MAIL

BOX THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONNECTED.

>> SKETCHY.

>> GOOD-BYE.

>> SHE CAN'T EVEN SET UP HER

VOICE MAIL?

>> ARTIS HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET

HER ON THE PHONE FOR THE LAST

FIVE MONTHS.

SO OUR OPTIONS RIGHT NOW ARE:

WE CAN TEXT HER.

THE ONLY OTHER THING IS TO JUST

MESSAGE OR FRIEND REQUEST.

>> WELL, WE KNOW SHE'S ON THE

FACEBOOK PAGE A LOT.

>> RIGHT.

>> I FEEL LIKE, NO MATTER WHAT

WE DO, WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO

HER ON FACEBOOK.

>> OKAY.

VERY IMPORTANT HOW WE WORD THIS.

"HEY, JESS, MY NAME IS NEV, AND

I AM THE HOST OF A TELEVISION

SHOW CATFISH.

RIGHT NOW, I'M IN WOODSTOCK,

ILLINOIS BECAUSE A YOUNG MAN

NAMED ARTIS REACHED OUT TO ME.

PLEASE CALL ME SO WE CAN DISCUSS

NEXT STEPS."

GOOD?

>> GREAT.

SEND IT.

>> SENDING.

>> IF SHE CHOOSES TO MESSAGE

BACK INSTEAD OF CALL, THAT'S SO

SKETCHY.

>> I MEAN, SHE'S SKETCHY.

IT WOULDN'T BE THAT SURPRISING.

[laptop chimes]

OH, WAIT A SECOND.

SHE WROTE BACK.

"I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THIS IS

REALLY YOU OR JUST SOME JOKE."

IT'S OBVIOUSLY ME BECAUSE I KNOW

ABOUT ARTIS.

>> WELL, ARTIS COULD'VE MADE A

FAKE PROFILE AND SENT THAT TO

HER.

DO YOU WANNA SEND HER A PICTURE

WITH HER NAME ON IT?

>> SHOULD WE?

>> YEAH.

>> DO YOU WANNA BE IN THIS?

>> YEAH.

>> YOU HOLD IT.

AND I'LL POINT TO IT.

[laptop beeps]

"OKAY, WE GOT A SHOT.

HOPE THIS HELPS.

WE'D LOVE TO TALK."

>> I SENT MY SERIOUS FACE TO

KIND OF LET THEM KNOW THAT WE

MEAN BUSINESS.

[laptop chimes]

>> OH, HEADS UP.

SHE SAID--OH, BOY--

"YOU MIGHT BE THEM.

I'M JUST WONDERING HOW WELL YOU

KNOW ARTIS."

>> WHAT IS THIS B.S. THAT WE'VE

GOTTA PROVE TO HER THAT WE KNOW

ARTIS AND WE GOTTA PROVE WHO

WE ARE?

I MEAN, SHE'S NOT WHO SHE IS.

>> YEAH, WELL, LOOK: THIS IS THE

GAME SHE'S BEEN PLAYING WITH

ARTIS FOR MONTHS.

WE--WE WANNA POP HER BUBBLE.

BUT...IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE

FINESSE.

>> [sighs]

>> "WOULD LOVE TO TALK.

CAN YOU CALL ME, PLEASE?"

[laptop chimes]

>> "I WOULD LOVE TO.

THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN, THOUGH.

I AM IN A VERY CONTROLLING

RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S A FEAR YOU COULD NOT GET."

>> SO LET'S JUST STAY TRUE TO

OUR MISSION HERE, WHICH IS JUST

TO SAY, "I UNDERSTAND."

>> NO WORRIES.

>> "YOU DON'T NEED TO BE

AFRAID."

OH, HERE WE GO.

"I NEED TO KNOW THAT WHAT HE

FEELS IS REAL."

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

HE IS VERY SERIOUS,

SERIOUS ENOUGH TO TELL HIS

GIRLFRIEND THAT HE'S BEEN

TALKING TO YOU.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION YOU TWO

SHOULD HAVE IN PERSON."

[laptop chimes]

>> "HE IS REALLY WILLING TO RISK

EVERYTHING FOR ME?

ASK HIM: IS IT HER OR ME?

I NEED TO KNOW."

"HIS CURRENT RELATIONSHIP IS

OVER."

[laptop chimes]

>> WHOA.

>> "O-M-G, HE REALLY DID THAT?

MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING.

DID I DO THE RIGHT THING?

HE REALLY WANTS ME NOW.

HOW DO I DO THIS?"

>> START BY AGREEING TO MEET

HIM.

>> SHE'S REALLY TRYING TO BUILD

HERSELF UP TO BE THIS WORRIED--

>> DAMSEL-IN-DISTRESS.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT--A LOVE THAT CAN NEVER

BE.

>> BUT WE KNOW SHE'S LYING.

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.

WE JUST KNOW SHE'S LYING ABOUT

THE PICTURE.

[laptop chimes]

>> OH. OKAY.

"I WANT THIS MORE THAN ANYTHING,

BUT I NEED TIME TO THINK.

AND PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT AS A

NO.

I WILL LET YOU KNOW TOMORROW."

WHOEVER THIS IS, SHE KNOWS THIS

IS HER MOMENT.

SHE'S NEVER GONNA GET A BETTER

OPPORTUNITY TO COME CLEAN AND

MEET ARTIS.

I'M GONNA SAY GOOD-BYE.

"TALK TO YOU SOON."

SO HOPEFULLY, SHE'LL FOLLOW

THROUGH.

WILL SHE COME FORWARD AND TELL

THE TRUTH?

>> WE JUST GOTTA WAIT TILL

TOMORROW.

>> IT'S 10:30.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM JESS YET.

>> THAT IS NOT GOOD.

YOU CHECKED YOUR FACEBOOK?

OH, WHAT, YOU GOT SOMETHING?

>> I DO.

>> "MEET ME AT EMRICSON PARK

IN WOODSTOCK.

BRING ARTIS TOO.

I'M DYING TO SEE HIM."

>> I MEAN, THIS IS VERY

DRAMATIC.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE

ABOUT HER, BUT SOMEBODY IS GONNA

MEET US AT EMRICSON PARK AT

2 P.M.

>> I'M REALLY CURIOUS.

WHY DON'T WE CALL ARTIS AND

TELL HIM THAT--TELL HIM THE GOOD

NEWS.

>> GOOD MORNING, ARTIS.

NEV AND MAX.

>> MORNING, ARTIS.

>> WE JUST FINISHED TALKING TO

JESS ON FACEBOOK.

SHE SAID SHE WANTS TO MEET AT

EMRICSON PARK AT 2 P.M.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD COME MEET

YOU AND THEN HEAD OVER THERE.

>> THERE HE IS.

>> JUMP IN.

>> YOU GET SHOTGUN.

PREPARE YOURSELF BECAUSE WE KNOW

NOTHING ABOUT THIS PERSON.

THEY'VE BEEN HIDING THEIR

IDENTITY FROM YOU FOR A REASON.

>> WELL, I'M FEELING LIKE

NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

LIKE [bleep], REALLY LIKE

NERVOUS.

>> SO LET'S GET OUR HEADS IN THE

GAME RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE THIS IS

ABOUT TO GET REAL.

THINGS COULD GO ANY DIRECTION.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS IT.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE

SAID TO US ABOUT HOW YOU'VE

OPENED UP TO THEM AND LET DOWN

YOUR GUARD AND SHARED THINGS

WITH THEM, LIKE THAT'S NOT EASY

STUFF TO ADMIT.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

FOR REAL.

[sighs]

>> COME ON, LET'S GET OUT THERE.

>> [groans]

>> OH, MAN.

>> MY PALMS SWEATY.

>> WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU

SAID TO JESS?

>> "YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T WAIT

TO SEE YOU AND STUFF."

>> SHE--SHE RESPOND?

>> SHE SAID, "YEAH, SURE."

>> OH, ALL RIGHT.

>> HERE'S A CAR.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING THIS

WAY.

NOPE.

>> NO.

>> WAIT.

>> MAN--OOH, DANG.

THERE'S SOMETHING--YOU KNOW WHAT

I'M SAYIN'?

>> I MEAN, SHE MIGHT NOT SHOW UP

FOR ALL WE KNOW.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> WHEW.

>> [exhales]

>> OH, HERE COMES A CAR, GUYS.

ALL RIGHT, WHO'S INSIDE?

[tense music]

**

UH-OH.

>> WAIT A SECOND.

>> WHAT THE [bleep] KIND OF

[bleep]?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

OH, MY LORD, THIS AIN'T THE

[bleep].

[bleep] IS THIS?

>> HEY, MAN, WHY DON'T YOU CHILL

OUT A SECOND?

>> SHH.

>> EXCUSE ME.

>> WHAT THE [bleep] IS THIS,

MAN?

>> DON'T TOUCH ME.

>> YOU BETTER BACK UP.

>> DON'T TOUCH ME.

>> BETTER BACK UP.

>> WHAT THE [bleep] KIND OF

[bleep] IS THIS, MAN?

>> BETTER CHILL OUT, MAN.

>> WHAT THE [bleep] KINDA

[bleep] IS THIS, MAN?

>> WE'RE TALKING.

HIM AND I ARE TALKIN'.

[overlapping chatter]

HE AND I ARE TALKIN'.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING RIGHT

NOW, BUDDY, ONE THING YOU'RE

GONNA LIKE.

YOU'RE GONNA LEARN TO LOVE IT

TOO.

>> WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING

ABOUT, DUDE?

>> I'M GONNA BE THE ONE WEARING

THE PANTS IN THIS [bleep].

YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

>> YEAH, DUDE, YOU'RE...

>> THE [bleep] KINDA [bleep]--

>> YOU'RE BEING UNREASONABLE.

>> STRAIGHT UP.

THE [bleep] KINDA [bleep] IS

THIS?

>> HE'S ASKING YOU TO TAKE IT

DOWN A COUPLE NOTCHES.

>> HEY.

>> YOU BROUGHT A LOTTA ATTITUDE.

>> BY THE WAY, LOTTA ATTITUDE

LAST NIGHT.

THANKS A LOT.

REALLY FELT IT TOO, YOU AND I.

GOT TO KNOW YOU BETTER.

I LOVED IT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT?

YOU AND I, WE COULD DO THAT

LATER.

COME HERE, WE'RE GONNA TALK, YOU

AND I.

>> WE AIN'T REALLY--WE AIN'T GOT

[bleep].

WE DONE TALK [bleep].

[overlapping chatter]

>> ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

YOU'LL STILL BE MY CHOCOLATE

KISS TOO.

YOU DON'T FORGET ABOUT THAT,

BABY.

>> COME ON.

>> [bleep] ASS MOTHER--WHAT THE

[bleep] KINDA [bleep] IS THAT?

>> CAN SET--DO YOU KNOW THIS

KID--DO--DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY?

>> NO, I DON'T KNOW THIS--NO, I

DON'T KNOW THIS [bleep].

>> ARE YOU JESS?

>> YEAH, I'M JESS.

>> YOU'RE JESS?

>> YEAH.

>> MAN, [bleep].

WHAT, MAN?

I MEAN, THIS--THIS--THAT--THERE.

[bleep].

THAT'S WHAT I HAD.

WHAT THE [bleep] KINDA [bleep]

IS THAT, MAN?

AW, HELL.

[bleep] GOD.

>> NOT EVERYTHING IS AS IT

SEEMS.

NOT EVERYTHING YOU SEE OR WANT

IT TO BE CAN BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU

WANT IT TO BE.

AND I AM LIVING PROOF OF THAT.

AND I FELT THAT.

AND I FELT THE NECESSITY TO PUT

MYSELF OUT THERE.

>> THIS [bleep] IS [bleep]

CRAZY.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SO ANGRY ABOUT?

>> COME ON, THE GUY'S GOT A

FAMILY, AND HE'S TALKING TO ME?

HE THINKS HE'S TALKIN' TO SOME

BROAD?

>> BUT HE DID THINK HE WAS

TALKING TO A GIRL--

>> EXACTLY.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE--YOU'RE A GOOD

ACTRESS.

>> SURE, I LIKE THAT.

YEAH, WHY NOT?

>> THAT IS [bleep] UP.

HELL [bleep] NO.

>> WHAT--WHAT'S YOUR NAME, BY

THE WAY?

YOU--YOU SKIPPED THAT.

>> MY NAME'S JUSTIN.

>> I'M GONNA TAKE A--TAKE A STAB

AT THIS.

>> SURE.

>> YOU'RE GAY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT GAY.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT SO OBVIOUS.

I MEAN, YOU--YOU--YOU ARE

PRETENDING TO BE A GIRL ONLINE

AND--AND HAVING A ROMANTIC

RELATIONSHIP WITH A GUY.

SO...

>> I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.

YOU GOT ME THERE.

SO--HEY, MAYBE.

WHAT IT WAS TO BEGIN WITH WAS

JUST A--IT WAS A JOKE.

IT'S A FAKE PROFILE, JUST

PLAYIN' AROUND WITH PEOPLE,

WHATNOT.

I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING TOO MUCH

OF IT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY,

I STARTED SEEING GUYS LIKE HIM,

WHO ARE ALREADY IN A

RELATIONSHIP.

SO I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

I KINDA HAVE THIS POWER TO USE

IT FOR SOMETHING, USE IT FOR

GOOD."

WHAT I HAD WITH HIM WAS A LITTLE

BIT PERSONAL.

AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS GOT A

TASTE OF THAT.

WHAT MY MESSAGE IS TO TELL

PEOPLE "LOOK, YOU CAN'T JUST

[bleep] AROUND ON RELATIONSHIPS

THAT YOU'RE IN."

>> YOU FELT LIKE IT WAS YOUR JOB

TO SORT OF TEACH HIM A LESSON?

IS THAT--AM I--I JUST WANT

TO MAKE SURE I-I UNDERSTAND.

>> YES.

>> YOU GUYS WERE HAVING SOME

SEXUAL--

>> OH, YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> AND YOU WERE JUST KEEPING

THAT UP FOR THIS MOMENT?

SO THAT YOU COULD COME CATCH HIM

AND CONFRONT HIM?

>> HONESTLY, YEAH.

>> IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME FOR A

SECOND, I'M GONNA GO SPEAK TO

ARTIS AND JUST SORTA SEE HOW

HE'S DOING.

>> OKAY.

>> I'LL LEAVE YOU IN--IN GOOD--

>> I DON'T WANNA TALK TO HIM.

[laughs] GOD.

>> YEAH.

OH, BOY.

>> [bleep] DUDE, HOMEY.

THING [bleep] UP.

I WANT TO HIT HIS ASS, MAN,

'CAUSE I-I DON'T--I DIDN'T--

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW...

>> YEAH, HE--HE CAUGHT US ALL--

>> WHAT THE [bleep]?

>> HE'S GOT THIS IMPRESSION OF

HIMSELF AS THIS LIKE

SELF-RIGHTEOUS DO-GOODER WHO'S

OUT TO RID THE WORLD OF

INFIDELITY AND CHEATERS.

>> I'M NOT NORMALLY LIKE THIS.

BUT I AM A LITTLE NUTS RIGHT

NOW.

MEETING THIS GUY, I-I GOT A

LOTTA ANGER.

I'M NOT LIKE THAT 100% OF THE

TIME.

I'M NEVER LIKE THAT.

>> WHY ARE YOU ANGRY AT HIM?

>> I'VE SEEN MY GIRLFRIEND.

I'VE SEEN HER IN PAST

RELATIONSHIPS.

I'VE SEEN THE WAY OTHER GUYS

HAVE TREATED HER.

I FELT LIKE HE WAS KINDA DOING

THE SAME THING.

SO, YEAH, I KIND OF TOOK IT

PERSONAL.

>> BUT YOU'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP?

>> YEAH.

>> AND DOES SHE KNOW THAT YOU'RE

HERE RIGHT NOW?

>> 100%.

>> SHE'S KNOWS THAT YOU'VE HAD

THIS FAKE PROFILE?

>> EVER SINCE I STARTED IT, YES.

>> AND THEN WHAT DOES SHE THINK

ABOUT IT?

>> "THAT'S MY BOYFRIEND."

>> I'M JUST GLAD WE'RE HERE.

IF THIS GUY HAD AGREED TO MEET

UP WITH YOU UNDER OTHER

CIRCUMSTANCES, WHO KNOWS WHAT

WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?

>> LIKE, AT HIS HOUSE OR

SOMETHIN', OR [bleep].

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S

ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY TO THIS

GUY.

>> I MEAN, I AIN'T GOT NOTHIN'

TO SAY TO THAT DUDE, MAN.

>> SO LET ME JUST GO HELP MAX

OUT, AND I'LL COME BACK IN A

MINUTE, ALL RIGHT?

>> ALL RIGHT.

I COULD PROBABLY TAKE ME A WALK.

THIS IS SOME BULL[bleep].

>> YOU FRIENDING ARTIS,

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

>> I THINK IT WAS UNDER "PEOPLE

YOU MAY KNOW."

>> HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER GUYS

THAT YOU'VE ENGAGED WITH ON A

MORE SERIOUS LEVEL?

>> NO, DUDE, NO.

>> YOU HAVE HAD CORRESPONDENCE

WITH OTHER GUYS, AND I-I--

>> NOT TO THE SAME LEVEL, MAN,

LIKE...

IF THERE WERE GUYS WHO WEREN'T

SINGLE AND WERE ACTUALLY

INTERESTED IN MEETING JESS, I,

UNDER THE JESS PROFILE, WOULD

TELL HIM, "HEY, YOU WANNA MEET

AT A MOVIE THEATER?

OR YOU WANNA MEET AT A BAR?"

AND THEY'D SAY, "YEAH, SURE, NO

PROBLEM."

THEY'D GO TO THE BAR AND THERE'D

BE NOBODY THERE.

>> ARE YOU THE--THE GIRLFRIEND

POLICE?

>> LET--LET ME GET INTO IT.

I HONESTLY DO HATE CHEATERS.

THAT'S WHY I DID IT.

I-I HONESTLY [bleep] HATE

CHEATERS.

THAT'S WHY I KEPT TALKING TO THE

GUY.

BUT I KEPT THROWING IT IN,

YOU KNOW, "YOU HAVE A

RELATIONSHIP.

YOU HAVE A GIRL.

YOU HAVE WHATEVER."

HE JUST KINDA PAWNED IT OFF.

THAT'S WHY I WAS LIKE, "ALL

RIGHT, WELL, I'M GONNA KEEP

[bleep]ING WITH YOU THEN IF

YOU'RE GONNA JUST PAWN IT OFF.

I'M GONNA KEEP DOING THIS TO YOU

AND DOING THIS TO YOU UNTIL

FINALLY, THIS [bleep] HAPPENS, I

GUESS."

>> WE SAID TO HIM WHEN WE FIRST

SPOKE TO HIM, "WE'LL COME MEET

YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA HELP

YOU MEET THIS GIRL UNTIL YOU

TELL YOUR CURRENT GIRLFRIEND

THE TRUTH."

YOU SORT OF DID THE OPPOSITE.

YOU ENCOURAGED HIS RELATIONSHIP

WHILE ALSO PROMOTING AN

UNFAITHFUL DYNAMIC.

YOU MANIPULATED HIM INTO THIS

RELATIONSHIP TO SOMEHOW PROVE

THAT YOU COULD CATCH A CHEATER.

>> OKAY, OKAY, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

HONESTLY, WHAT--WHAT DO YOU GUYS

WANNA DO NOW?

'CAUSE I-I DON'T EVEN WANNA TALK

ABOUT THIS ANYMORE.

I REALLY DON'T.

>> I THINK IF--IF YOU DO HAVE

SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE STRUGGLING

WITH, YOU SHOULD DEAL WITH THAT

IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T HURT OR

POTENTIALLY INVOLVE OTHER

PEOPLE.

I THINK YOU NEED SOME TIME TO

REALLY PROCESS THAT.

>> * I'M NOT AFRAID OF *

*YOU *

>> LIKE, THAT'S [bleep]

EMBARRASSING, MAN, FOR REAL.

THAT'S EMBARRASSING LIKE A

[bleep], MAN.

>> * I'M NOT AFRAID *

>> I JUST WANNA GO HOME, MAN.

FOR REAL.

I REALLY DO.

>> AND NOW, MORE

CATFISH: THETV SHOW.

STICK AROUND.

>> I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO

MAKE OF THIS GUY JUSTIN.

HE BUILT THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN TO

AVENGE EVERY PERSON WHO'S EVER

BEEN CHEATED ON.

>> THERE'S MORE TO THIS GUY THAN

JUST HIS OUTBURST YESTERDAY.

WHAT WOULD BE GREAT TO

ACCOMPLISH IS TO TRY AND GET

THROUGH TO THIS GUY.

[dial tone rings]

YEAH, IT'S NEV AND MAX HERE.

GOOD MORNING.

WE WERE JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF

YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN MEETING

UP WITH US.

OKAY.

HERE WE GO.

OH, LOOK.

HE HAS A SWEET DOG.

HI. HI, PUP.

>> WHAT'S UP, MAN?

>> HOW YA DOIN'?

>> GOOD, MAN.

>> I JUST MET YOUR DOG.

IS THAT YOUR DOG?

>> NAH.

>> OH.

>> DOESN'T MATTER, COME IN.

>> OKAY, WELL, WHOSE DOG IS IT?

>> DOES IT MATTER? COME IN.

>> OKAY.

[bleep], ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO THIS.

ALL RIGHT, SO LOOK, JUSTIN.

YESTERDAY, OUR FIRST IMPRESSION

OF YOU WAS NOT GREAT.

SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD

IDEA TO COME BACK HERE, GIVE YOU

A SORTA CHANCE TO TELL YOUR SIDE

OF THE STORY.

>> I SEE NO REASON TO BEAT A

DEAD HORSE.

I MEAN, WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU

GET.

WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS A COMPLETE

[bleep].

I'M DEAD SERIOUS.

LOOK AT ME. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

YOU SEE A PIECE OF [...],

DON'T YOU?

I CAN HATE MYSELF MORE BUT IT

DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO BEAT

MYSELF UP FOR IT.

>> YOU LIKE GETTING RISES OUT OF

PEOPLE, KINDA WANT PEOPLE TO

HATE YOU.

>> IF PEOPLE SEE ME, IF PEOPLE

EVEN WERE TO HEAR AN APOLOGY,

NOBODY IS GONNA GIVE A [bleep].

DOES HE GIVE A [bleep] WHO I AM?

NO.

DOES HE GIVE A [bleep] IF I

APOLOGIZE?

NO.

DOES HE CARE?

DOES HE REMOTELY THINK ABOUT

WHAT KIND OF A PERSON I AM?

NO.

SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I DON'T CARE.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE FIVE?

I NEED A DRINK.

>> SURE.

>> YOU?

>> I'M FINE--I-I'M FINE, THANKS.

[clears throat]

>> [sighs]

>> WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CHOSE

ARTIS?

WHAT--WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THAT

COMMUNICATION THAT WAS SO

COMPELLING FOR YOU?

>> WHAT WAS COMPELLING TO ME

ABOUT IT IS THE FACT THAT THERE

WAS SO MUCH CHEMISTRY BETWEEN

HIM AND THIS WOMAN.

COULD THIS PERSON HE'S NEVER MET

REALLY GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTED?

AND IF NOT, WHAT AM I DOING?

DO I CONTINUE?

>> SO IT WAS LIKE A SOCIOLOGY

EXPERIMENT.

>> AT MY OWN EXPENSE, YEAH.

ALMOST, YES.

>> WELL, AT HIS EXPENSE.

>> WELL, HIS TOO.

BUT IT--AT MY TIME, YES.

>> I AM JUST INTERESTED IN

HEARING MORE ABOUT HOW YOU ENDED

UP HERE, YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> I AM WHO I AM NOW BECAUSE I

WAS HOMELESS.

I HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

MY FATHER DIED...ABRUPTLY.

AND I DISCOVERED THAT BECAUSE I

FOUND HIS BODY.

SO WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, I HAD

NOWHERE TO GO.

I NEED SOMEBODY ELSE TOO.

I FOUND SOMEBODY ELSE.

I LIVE FOR HER.

SHE SEES SOMETHING IN ME.

>> IF SHE SEES SOMETHING IN YOU

AND CHOOSES TO LOVE YOU, THEN

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THERE TO

LOVE.

AND FOR A GUY WHO'S BEEN

HOMELESS TO NOW BE LIVING IN

WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A VERY

NICE HOUSE, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY

NOT HOPELESS.

>> YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO

LIKE YOURSELF.

>> HOW DO YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD

FROM THIS?

>> YOU GUYS CAN'T DO ANYTHING

FOR ME.

NO, I-I'M SERIOUS.

I MEAN, W-W-WHAT DO I CARE?

>> both: ALL RIGHT.

>> WELL, WE'RE GONNA GO.

>> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> HOW DO WE TELL ARTIS WHAT

THIS GUY SAID?

>> THERE'S NOTHING TO TELL.

HE'LL HAVE TO LEARN HIS LESSONS

ON HIS OWN.

THERE'S NO QUICK FIX FOR THIS

GUY.

>> YO.

>> HOW YA DOIN', MAN?

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> [sighs]

HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW, STILL LIKE IN

SHOCK, YOU KNOW?

>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN

HE TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS A GUY?

>> AT FIRST, I WAS JUST LIKE,

"YOU AIN'T KNOW IT WAS A GUY?"

BUT HE SAID, NO, HE THOUGHT HE

WAS A GIRL.

>> I LEARNED MY LESSON, MAN.

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY TEACH ME TO

LEAVE THE INTERNET ALONE, FOR

ME, FOR RIGHT NOW.

I AIN'T TELLIN' NOBODY ELSE TO

LEAVE IT ALONE.

>> WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE TO YOU,

YOU WERE IN A TOUGH SPOT...

>> MM-HMM.

>> WITH THE MOTHER OF YOUR KIDS.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

>> I DO WANNA BE A BETTER MAN

AND A BETTER, YOU KNOW--A FATHER

TO MY KIDS AND STUFF.

LIKE, NOW THAT I REALLY CAN

LIKE SIT DOWN AND, YOU KNOW,

TALK TO MY MOTHER OF MY KID, I

CAN REALLY SIT DOWN AND TALK TO

HER LIKE, YOU KNOW, BETTER VIBE,

YOU KNOW?

AND THAT'S--THAT'S SOMETHING

THAT--I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> AT LEAST NOW, YOU CAN WORK...

>> YEAH, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER

NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

>> WELL, I THINK OUR WORK

HERE IS DONE.

[both laugh]

[electronic chime]

WHAT'S LIFE BEEN LIKE SINCE WE

SAW YOU?

>> NO CHANGE, MAN, HONESTLY.

NO CHANGE.

>> ARE YOU STILL USING THE FAKE

PROFILE OF JESS VENNY?

>> IT SERVED ITS PURPOSE.

WHY WOULD I KEEP IT UP?

WHY NOT JUST RETIRE ON TOP?

>> DO YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT ARTIS?

>> I-I DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT

HIM THAT MUCH.

HE'S A FART IN THE WIND AS FAR

AS I'M CONCERNED.

I JUST THINK ABOUT ME.

>> NOT CARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE

SETS YOU UP TO NOT BE CARED

ABOUT.

>> I DON'T CARE.

GENTLEMEN, TAKE CARE.

>> both: ARTIS.

>> HEY, HOW'S IT GOIN'?

>> WHAT'S BEEN GOIN' ON SINCE WE

LEFT?

>> WELL, LIKE, AS FAR AS, LIKE,

ME AND THE MOTHER OF MY KIDS,

SHE TRYIN' TO REGAIN THE

TRUST IN ME.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU GUYS

ARE BACK TOGETHER?

>> YEAH, IT'S GETTIN' THERE, YOU

KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

>> HAS YOUR DRY SPELL BEEN

BROKEN?

>> YEAH.

>> WOW.

>> [laughs]

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> SOMETHING REALLY GOOD DID

COME OUT OF THIS.

>> EVERYTHING'S GOOD NOW, YOU

KNOW?

>> SEE YOU LATER, MAN.

>> BYE, BYE.

>> SEVEN YEARS OF LIES NEED TO

END.

I SENT HIM PHOTOSHOPPED PICTURES

OF MYSELF.

>> SHE'S THE CATFISH.

>> "MIKE DESERVES TO KNOW THE

TRUTH."

ASHLEY NEVER DARED QUESTION THE

PHOTOS HE SENT.

>> I JUST WANNA KNOW THE TRUTH.

I'M, LIKE, SHAKING.

[doorbell rings]

1555
00:41:00.