Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 5, Episode 1 - With Friends Like These - full transcript

A POPULAR CALIFORNIA TEENAGER...

HER PASSION FOR HER FRIENDS
WAS REALLY DEEP.

...IS A GRADE-A
STUDENT WHO'S GROWING UP FAST.

AND I KNEW SOME OF
THE KIDS WERE MAKING OUT,

MAYBE SOME OF THEM
DOING MORE THAN THAT.

READY?
YEAH.

BUT ONE NIGHT WILL DEFINE HER.

HEY.

"JUST PLEASE PROMISE ME
YOU WON'T DO IT."

EVERYBODY DOWN.

A STIGMA SHE CANNOT RUB OFF.



YOU'VE CHANGED.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.

YOU TRUST YOUR FRIENDS MORE

THAN YOU TRUST
YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR PARENTS.

DID YOU DO ANYTHING
WEIRD WITH HER BODY?

SHE WASN'T UNCONSCIOUS.
SHE WASN'T MOVING AROUND.

I WAS DISGUSTED.
IT MADE ME FEEL DIRTY.

AAH!

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

OKAY, READY? ON THREE.
ONE, TWO, THREE.

15-YEAR-OLD
AUDRIE POTT IS A SOPHOMORE

AT SARATOGA HIGH SCHOOL
WITH A PASSION FOR SPORTS

AND A GROUP
OF CLOSE-KNIT FRIENDS.

AUDRIE HAD A REALLY KEEN
SENSE OF HUMOR AND A KIND HEART.

HER PASSION FOR HER FRIENDS
WAS REALLY DEEP,



AND SHE WANTED
EVERYONE TO GET ALONG.

HOW'S IT GOING?

COME ON,
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

AT SARATOGA HIGH,
THEY HAVE BAND,

CHOIR, AND COLOR GUARD PROGRAM,

WHERE THEY MARCH WITH
THE BAND WITH THE FLAGS.

AGAIN, ONE, TWO, THREE.

THEY WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH
AND GOOD ENOUGH

TO MARCH
IN OBAMA'S INAUGURATION PARADE.

OKAY, MAYBE IT'S
A LITTLE WINDY FOR THIS.

WHEN I FIRST MET AUDRIE,
WE WERE IN SIXTH GRADE.

IF YOU KEEP TWIRLING...

BONDED A LOT
WITH GIGGLING AND LAUGHTER,

LIKE SILLY PRANKS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

...WE CAN DO, LIKE,
A QUICK THING HERE.

SHE WAS ABLE TO BE FUNNY
WITHOUT MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE.

YOU GO AROUND THIS WAY.
IF YOU KEEP --

SHE WAS KIND OF
SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT HER APPEARANCE.

EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS
VERY ATTRACTIVE,

SHE ALWAYS FELT LIKE SHE WAS,
YOU KNOW, OVERWEIGHT

OR SHE NEEDED TO BE THINNER

OR HER HAIR DIDN'T
LOOK QUITE RIGHT.

AND THEN IF YOU
DO, LIKE, A PIVOT...

GUYS, THERE'S MY MOM.
DO YOU WANT A LIFT?

SURE.

NICE MOVES, GIRLS.

I THINK IT BOTHERED HER
THAT SHE KNOWS

SHE'S GOT THIS
GREAT PERSONALITY,

BUT ALL SHE HEARS ABOUT HERSELF
FROM OTHER PEOPLE

ARE COMMENTS ABOUT HER BODY.

WHAT'S UP, HON?

THERE'S SOME BOYS
OVER THERE.

IT WAS HARD
TO GET HER TO OPEN UP

ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE
PERSONAL LIKE THAT.

SHE ALWAYS FELT LIKE SHE COULD
HANDLE EVERYTHING HERSELF.

BYE, MOM.

HER PARENTS HAVE BEEN
DIVORCED FOR 12 YEARS,

AND AUDRIE
DIVIDES HER TIME...

HI, DAD.

...BETWEEN
THE TWO HOUSEHOLDS.

HAVING GONE THROUGH A DIVORCE

AND COMING OUT OF THAT,
THAT WAS DIFFICULT,

SO I JUST WANTED TO CHANNEL ALL
MY ENERGIES INTO MY DAUGHTER.

WHOO!
THAT'S MY GIRL.

HEY, STRIKER.

SHE PLAYED SOCCER.

SHE ALWAYS HAD A NOSE
FOR THE GOAL.

HI, LISA.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

YOU LOOK WONDERFUL.

THANKS.
COME ON IN.

SARATOGA HIGH
IS ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S

MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS,

WITH A LARGE INTAKE
FROM THE AFFLUENT OFFSPRING

OF SILICON VALLEY
HEAVY-HITTERS.

IT'S HARD TO CONFORM
TO THAT KIND OF SOCIETY,

WHERE EVERYBODY'S JUST
ON TOP OF EVERYTHING.

THEY HAVE THE BEST GRADES.

THEIR FAMILIES
HAVE SO MUCH MONEY.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS
MAINLY, LIKE, GOOD-LOOKING, TOO.

THANKS FOR DROPPING ME OFF.
NO PROBLEM.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
SEE YOU LATER.

AUDRIE STRUGGLED
THROUGH FRESHMAN YEAR.

SHE FLUNKED ENGLISH

BUT WORKED HARD AND ACED
THE CLASS IN SUMMER SCHOOL.

I KNOW, I'M EXCITED.

WAIT, WHEN'S YOUR LUNCH?

NOW, HER SOPHOMORE
YEAR IS OFF TO A GOOD START.

ALL RIGHT, I SAW A LOT
OF GOOD EFFORT HERE.

SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO
TALK TO ME AFTER CLASS.

AND SHE'S AMONGST OLD FRIENDS.

GOOD WORK.

AUDRIE, EXCELLENT WORK.

SHE WAS EXTREMELY
PROUD OF HERSELF,

AND I WAS PROUD OF HER
FOR GETTING THOSE A's.

SHE WAS LIKE, "DAD, THIS IS
GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET BEHIND
THIS YEAR."

AND DESPITE HER NEW-FOUND DRIVE,

SHE'S LOST NONE
OF HER PLAYFUL HUMOR.

HI, HON.
HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

YEAH, IT WAS GOOD.
THANKS, MOM.

A PACKAGE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL.

NEVER MIND.

LIKE MOST 15-YEAR-OLD
GIRLS, AUDRIE LOVES CLOTHES.

BUT SHE HASN'T COME TO TERMS
WITH HER DEVELOPING BODY.

TO COVER HERSELF, SHE WOULD DO
SOME RIDICULOUS THINGS AT TIMES.

SHE WOULD WEAR, LIKE,
A LAYER ON TOP OF A LAYER,

SO A SPORTS BRA ON TOP OF A CAMI
ON TOP OF ANOTHER TANK TOP

AND THEN HER SHIRT.

WHEN THE BOYS STARTED ASKING
GIRLS FOR NUDE PHOTOS,

THAT WAS AROUND SEVENTH GRADE.

I REMEMBER SO MANY GIRLS
WERE ASKED FOR NUDES.

IF BOYS HAD HEARD THAT ONE GIRL
HAD SENT A NUDE ALREADY,

EVEN IF SHE WASN'T DEVELOPED,

THERE WOULD BE MORE BOYS
THAT WOULD FLOCK TO HER

AND, LIKE, HASSLE HER
FOR NUDES, AS WELL.

OKAY, WERE YOU GUYS
AT THE GAME ON SATURDAY?

YES.
DID YOU SEE MICHAEL?

YOU GUYS, HE LOOKED SO GOOD.
HE DID, YEAH.

A WEEKEND AND A GREAT
START TO THE NEW SEMESTER,

AUDRIE INVITES HER GIRLFRIENDS
OVER TO HANG OUT AND CATCH UP.

I USED TO LIKE HAVING
AUDRIE'S GIRLFRIENDS AROUND

SO I COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS
GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES.

AND I KNEW SOME OF THE KIDS
WERE MAKING OUT

AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM
DOING MORE THAN THAT.

WHAT ABOUT CHUCK, THOUGH?
HE HAS SUCH A CUTE BUTT.

REMEMBER, GIRLS,
BOYS CAN BE VERY PUSHY,

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YES
TO ANYTHING YOU DON'T WANT TO.

I USED TO TELL THEM
THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME,

YOU KNOW,
TO HAVE A BOYFRIEND LATER.

CARLOS COULDN'T TAKE HIS EYES
OFF AUDRIE'S BOOBS

THE OTHER DAY AT PRACTICE.

THEN HE WANTED A NUDE,
DIDN'T HE, AUD?

COME ON, GUYS,
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M ASKING FOR IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LUCKY
YOU ARE.

IT'S TRUE, AUD.

ALL THE BOYS THINK YOU'RE HOT,
AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN INTERESTED.

LIFE'S SO UNFAIR.

HEY, GIRLS.

YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T SEND
NUDE SELFIES TO BOYS.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE
GOING TO DO WITH THEM.

"JUST PLEASE PROMISE ME
YOU WON'T DO IT."

THEN SHE SAID, "OKAY. LIKE,
I WON'T. I PROMISE."

AND SHE NEVER DID.

HER FRIENDSHIP WITH EMILY
WAS A LOT OF FUN,

BECAUSE EMILY WAS MORE
TALKATIVE AND EXTROVERTED.

HEY.

READY?
YEAH.

AND SHE KNEW A LOT
OF OLDER KIDS,

SO THAT KIND OF BROUGHT AUDRIE
INTO THAT SOCIAL CIRCLE.

AND IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW,

IT'S COOL TO BE FRIENDS
WITH THE OLDER KIDS.

MY PARENTS ARE OUT OF TOWN
FOR THE WEEKEND.

NO WAY.

THROWING A KICKBACK.
YOU COMING?

I WISH.

I HAVE TO BE AT MY
DAD'S THIS WEEKEND.

COME ON, AUDRIE,
I KNOW YOU'LL FIND A WAY.

OKAY, I'LL TRY.

AUDRIE IS EXCITED
ABOUT HER FIRST KICKBACK

BUT WORRIES ABOUT WHAT TO WEAR.

SHE WANTED TO WEAR CLOTHES THAT,
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER GIRLS WORE,

BUT HER BREASTS
WERE SO MUCH BIGGER.

HOW TO DRESS HERSELF, SO THAT,
YOU KNOW, SHE LIKED HER OUTFIT

BUT SHE WOULDN'T GET ALL
THIS UNWANTED ATTENTION.

I WONDER WHO'S HERE ALREADY.
I KNOW.

IT'S SUCH A NICE HOUSE.

HEY!
HEY!

HEY, COME ON IN. I'M EMILY.

WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, EM.

YEAH.

COME. COME IN. COME IN.

WHEN WE WALKED INTO THE PARTY,
IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.

YEAH. THAT WAS GOOD.
THAT WAS GOOD, RIGHT?

EVERYBODY WAS
JUST SUPER DRUNK.

NEVER HAVE I EVER...

I GOT A DRINK FROM THAT,
YEAH.

AUDRIE'S ALREADY REALLY
INTOXICATED, AS WELL.

I DIDN'T SEE AUDRIE DRINK
MUCH BEFORE THAT NIGHT,

SO TO SEE HER LIKE THAT,
IT WAS KIND OF UNUSUAL.

THERE'S, LIKE, ALCOHOL
SPILLED ON THE FLOOR,

PIZZA ON THE FLOOR,

KIDS ARE MAKING OUT WITH
EACH OTHER, LIKE, IN THE CORNER.

GUYS, GUYS, GUYS, GUYS,
SPIN THE BOTTLE.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY DOWN.
YOU GO FIRST.

I WAS LOST FOR WORDS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF.

IT WAS LIKE A MAD HOUSE.

GOSH.

THERE WAS A BOY THERE
THAT KATHY REALLY LIKED

AND SHE HAD LIKED
FOR A LONG TIME,

AND THEN AUDRIE WAS
MAKING OUT WITH THAT BOY.

AND THEN KATHY GOT
REALLY, REALLY SAD.

AUDRIE WOULD NEVER TRY TO
MAKE SOMEONE FEEL THAT BAD,

AND SHE DEFINITELY WOULD NEVER
WANT TO HURT KATHY LIKE THAT.

SINCE SHE WAS SO INTOXICATED,

I DON'T EVEN REALLY THINK
SHE COULD RECOGNIZE ME.

THIS IS SO BORING.
I KNOW.

SHE DOES NOT LOOK GOOD.

OKAY, I'LL BE BACK.

HEY, AUD, YOU OKAY?

SHE WAS SO SPACED OUT.

COME ON, GIRL, I THINK
YOU HAVE TO GO LIE DOWN NOW.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

I GOT HER PROBABLY
HALFWAY UP THE STAIRS,

UNTIL SHE'S LIKE, "I'M NOT GOING
UPSTAIRS. I'M GOING BACK DOWN."

SO, THEN I WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, FINE."

I THINK SHE'LL BE FINE.
EMILY'S HERE.

WE FELT A LITTLE
BUILT UNCOMFORTABLE

JUST BECAUSE IT WAS
SUCH AN UNUSUAL SCENE

AND WE WERE COMPLETELY SOBER,
AND SO WE JUST LEFT.

SPIN THE BOTTLE!

COME ON.

SARATOGA TEENAGER AUDRIE POTT

WAKES UP IN HER FRIEND'S
PARENTS' BEDROOM

AFTER AN ALCOHOL-FUELED
HOUSE PARTY.

HELLO? IS ANYONE AWAKE?

MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED?

WHERE'S MY PHONE?

MOM, CAN YOU COME
PICK ME UP, PLEASE?

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS
WRONG WHEN SHE CALLED ME,

BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS
A NUMBER I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE.

AND SHE NEVER CALLED ME
TO PICK HER UP.

IT WAS ALWAYS ME
CALLING HER, GOING,

"OKAY, YOU HAVE
TO COME HOME NOW."

SO, I PICKED HER UP,
AND SHE WAS KIND OF QUIET.

HI, HONEY.

I NOTICED
SHE HAD SHORTS ON,

THAT THERE WAS A GREEN LINE
DOWN HER LEG,

AND I ASKED HER ABOUT IT.

IT WAS JUST EMILY
GOOFING AROUND.

DID YOU HAVE FUN?

CAN WE JUST GO?

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK IT WAS AUDRIE'S WAY,

THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO DEAL
WITH THINGS ON HER OWN.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER

TO COME TO ME
OR HER MOTHER WITH.

SHE'S LIKE, "I DON'T
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED."

SHE SAID, "THERE WAS MARKER
ALL OVER MY ARMS, MY LEGS,

AND THERE WAS EVEN MARKER
UNDER MY UNDERWEAR."

"EVERYONE'S GOING TO THINK
I'M THE SCHOOL SLUT."

DESPERATE TO KNOW HOW
SHE ENDED UP COVERED IN MARKER,

AUDRIE MESSAGES
HER FRIEND MICHAEL,

WHO WAS ALSO AT THE PARTY.

SO, HERE YOU HAVE
SUCH A MODEST PERSON

TRYING TO INVESTIGATE
HER OWN CRIME.

THAT NIGHT,
AUDRIE HARDLY SLEEPS,

AS SHE'S BOMBARDED
WITH MESSAGES ON FACEBOOK.

THE NEXT DAY,
AUDRIE IS DETERMINED

TO TOUGH IT OUT AT SCHOOL.

HEY.
HEY.

YOU OKAY?
YOU LOOK TERRIBLE.

AMANDA, I DON'T REMEMBER
WHAT HAPPENED.

IT'S OKAY.
WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS.

OKAY.

THERE'S A RUMOR
THEY TOOK PHOTOS.

NO!

I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU.

I DON'T THINK THAT AUDRIE
WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE PHOTOS

UNTIL WE BOTH SAW A GROUP OF
BOYS CROWDED AROUND THE PHONE.

TO BE WALKING ON THE CAMPUS

AND SEE 15 OR 20 PEOPLE
HUDDLED AROUND A PHONE

AND WHEN YOU WALK BY,
EVERYBODY SCATTERS.

BEING HARASSED AND SLUT SHAMED.

HOW COULD YOU, AUDRIE?

HUDDLED UP ALONE IN A BATHROOM,

COMPLETELY HORRIFIED
AND TORMENTED.

I THINK AUDRIE WAS
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT,

BUT SHE WASN'T LOOKING FOR
SUPPORT IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIENDS.

15-YEAR-OLD AUDRIE POTT
IS STRUGGLING TO COME TO TERMS

WITH THE SHAME SHE'S SUFFERING

AFTER PHOTOS OF HER
AT A DRUNKEN HOUSE PARTY

HAVE SPREAD AROUND SCHOOL.

WEDNESDAY MORNING,
THREE DAYS AFTER THE PARTY.

AUDRIE, HONEY, YOU HAVE
TO HURRY UP. DAD'S COMING.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO GO.

AUDRIE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVEN
TO SCHOOL BY HER DAD, LARRY.

SHE'LL THEN SPEND THE NIGHT
AT HIS HOUSE.

SHE DIDN'T WANT
TO GO TO SCHOOL,

AND SO I SAID,
"I DON'T THINK YOU'RE SICK.

YOU NEED TO GO.
YOU CAN'T MISS ANY MORE SCHOOL.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO START
THIS YEAR OUT BEHIND."

I DON'T KNOW.
SHE'S JUST SO INSISTENT.

CONCERNED THAT AUDRIE
WILL FLUNK HER CLASSES AGAIN,

SHEILA ARRANGES
TO MEET LARRY FOR COFFEE

TO SEE IF HE CAN TALK TO HER.

I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED
JUST BECAUSE IT WAS MY DAY,

SO I WENT TO THE COFFEE SHOP.

AUDRIE, YOU KNOW
YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR DAD AND I

ABOUT ANYTHING, RIGHT?

HERE COMES DADDY.

LARRY.

HEY.

ANY REASON WHY YOU DON'T
WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL?

AUDRIE, HONEY.

I JUST
WANT TO SWITCH SCHOOLS.

I WAS, LIKE, FLOORED.

"WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT?"

I SAW A SINGLE TEAR
COMING DOWN AUDRIE'S FACE

AND JUST THOUGHT,
"SOMETHING'S REALLY GOING ON."

AND AUDRIE'S WAY WAS
SHE WOULD SHUT DOWN,

AND ONCE SHE SHUT DOWN,
THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO

WAS TRY TO PRY OR DIG
INFORMATION OUT OF HER.

I FIGURED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING

THAT WAS JUST
GOING TO BLOW OVER

AND I WOULD FIND OUT MORE
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

BUT WITH A COUPLE OF
CLOSE FRIENDS RALLYING AROUND,

AUDRIE REALIZES
THAT SHE CAN'T LET

THE MALICIOUS GOSSIP
PULL HER UNDER.

HEY, MOM, I'M GOING TO GO
HANG OUT WITH EMILY FOR A BIT.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

JUST DON'T BE LATE
FOR DINNER, OKAY?

OKAY.

HEY, MICHAEL'S PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH, I GUESS.

NOT AS GOOD AS CARLOS,
THOUGH.

GUESS THAT'S WHY
HE DIDN'T MAKE THE TEAM.

AUDRIE IS CONVINCED
THAT IT WAS CARLOS

WHO TOOK THE PHOTOS
OF HER PASSED OUT NAKED.

LISTEN, CARLOS MIGHT BE
A GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER,

BUT HE CAN BE A REAL ASS.

I HEARD HE GAVE YOU THE FINGER,
AND NOT JUST THE MIDDLE ONE.

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

AUDRIE!

EM, I JUST -- I DON'T EVEN
REMEMBER WHAT THEY'RE --

WHAT HAPPENED.

LIKE...

OKAY,
I CAN'T DO THIS. I HAVE TO GO.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE
WAS FORTHRIGHT

IN TELLING HER
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
WHAT THAT WAS LIKE FOR HER.

COME ON.
COME ON, IT'S A PARTY. COME ON.

AUDRIE FELT LIKE EVERYONE KNEW
AT THE SCHOOL.

EVEN EVERYONE
AT OTHER SCHOOLS KNEW

BECAUSE IT'S SUCH
A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY,

AND WORD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE.

OKAY, YOUR TURN NOW.

AND THAT TERRIFIED HER,

BECAUSE EVEN IF SHE
WANTED TO TRANSFER,

PEOPLE THERE WOULD KNOW.

YEAH!

YOU OKAY?

YEAH, I'M FINE.

WHAT'S THAT?...

SHE HAD ALL THESE CUTS
ON HER ARM.

IT'S NOTHING.

BUT THEY WEREN'T CUTS

THAT WERE JUST STRAIGHT ACROSS,

PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER.

THEY WERE IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS, JUST LIKE...

IT'S NOTHING. I CUT MY HAND
ON A VASE, THAT'S IT.

IT JUST --
IT BROKE ON MY HANDS.

I'M FINE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IF YOU
CONSCIOUSLY WOULD CUT YOURSELF,

IT WOULD BE STRAIGHT ACROSS.

I'LL SEE YOU IN CLASS.

BECAUSE OF THAT,
I THOUGHT, "OKAY,

SHE MUST BE TELLING THE TRUTH."

IN CLASS, ONE OF
THE MEANER GIRLS,

SHE MADE A COMMENT
IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

HEY, AUDRIE.

I HEAR YOU'VE
BEEN CUTTING YOURSELF.

DELANEY, YOU CAN'T
SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.

HER FRIENDS
WERE TURNING AGAINST HER,

AND THEY WEREN'T THERE
TO HELP HER THROUGH IT.

NONE OF US KNEW EXACTLY
TO WHAT EXTENT,

LIKE, WHAT WAS
GOING ON WITH HER.

SPIN THE BOTTLE.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE.

WHAT IS IT, AUDRIE?

YOU'VE CHANGED.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.

IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP
AND COME BACK TO REALITY.

SHE WAS VERY MUCH ALONE.

AND THEN TO HAVE TO RELIVE THIS

AND HEAR RUMORS FROM KIDS
THAT SHE HADN'T SEEN FOR YEARS

THAT WERE AT ANOTHER
SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT HAD JUST SPREAD
LIKE WILDFIRE.

SHE FELT BETRAYED.

AND THAT'S A HORRIBLE FEELING,

TO FEEL BETRAYED
BY YOUR FRIENDS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR FRIENDS
ARE YOUR LIFE.

SO, WE GO INSIDE THE HOUSE,
AND SHE'S MAD AT ME.

BASED ON EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST,

IT'S BEST TO GIVE HER TIME
TO CALM DOWN

RATHER THAN ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY.

I WENT TO CHECK ON HER
10 OR 15 MINUTES LATER.

AUDRIE?

AUDRIE?

AUDRIE?

AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER
WHEN I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.

AND I'D SAY, "DON'T MAKE ME
BREAK THIS DOOR DOWN."

AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND HER
HANGING FROM THE SHOWER.

AAH!

SHEILA POTT HAS JUST FOUND
HER 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, AUDRIE,

HANGING FROM A BELT
IN THE SHOWER.

NO!
GUYS, SAVE MY BABY! NO!

GOD, AUDRIE.

I'M BEGGING THEM...

"YOU HAVE TO SAVE HER.
YOU HAVE TO SAVE HER."

WHICH WAY TO THE ICU?

LARRY.

- WHERE IS SHE?
- IN THERE.

THE MINUTE I SAW HER EYES,
I KNEW SHE WAS GONE.

NO.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

THEY WERE OPEN,
BUT THE LIFE WAS GONE.

AUDRIE IS ON
A LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM,

UNABLE TO BREATHE ON HER OWN.

AT THIS TIME,

I WAS LITERALLY

JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE MYSELF,

ONE...

ONE BREATH AT A TIME.

I JUST REMEMBER THAT
THAT WAS MY MANTRA,

"JUST KEEP BREATHING."

I'LL TAKE YOU TO SEE HER,
OKAY?

OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS,

YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILY CAME
AND PRAYED FOR HER,

AND...

...WE HAD TESTS DONE
TO SEE IF,

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS
SOME BRAIN ACTIVITY,

BUT THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY.

WITH THIS TRAGIC NEWS,

SHEILA AND LARRY FACE
AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.

I KNEW IT WAS A DECISION THAT
SHEILA WAS REALLY STRUGGLING WITH

AS FAR AS WHAT TO DO NEXT.

BUT SHE ALSO WAS TOLD
BY THE DOCTORS

THAT THERE WOULD BE
TOO MUCH BRAIN DAMAGE.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

THEY DECIDE TO TURN
OFF AUDRIE'S LIFE SUPPORT

AND ALLOW HER ORGANS TO BE
USED TO SAVE OTHER LIVES.

WE LET HER JUST SLIP AWAY

SO WE'D HAVE A CHANCE
TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE LIVE.

THAT AFTERNOON,
THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCES

THAT AUDRIE POTT
HAS PASSED AWAY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT
I'LL PROBABLY NEVER...

EVER FORGET.

AT THAT TIME, ALL I COULD
THINK OF WAS, "AUDRIE'S GONE."

I DIDN'T CONNECT THE DOTS.

THE NEXT FEW DAYS
WERE PRETTY TOUGH.

I DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL.

I JUST CRIED.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS
I WISH I HAD SAID TO HER THAT WEEK.

I WAS CONFUSED,
AND I WAS IN SHOCK.

IMMEDIATELY BLAMED MYSELF.

AND SO, I BASICALLY

WENT UP TO OUR OLD COUNSELOR
FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL,

AND I TOLD HER,
"I'M NOT TOO SURE

IF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT,
LIKE, A PARTY."

SHE SAYS, "NO.
WHAT HAPPENED?"

AND I BASICALLY TOLD HER THAT
THEY NEEDED TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

I THINK THAT'S WHY
AUDRIE KILLED HERSELF.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN THE COPS,
LIKE, GOT INVOLVED.

KATHY, CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THIS PARTY

THAT WOULD CAUSE AUDRIE
TO COMMIT SUICIDE?

UM...

WELL, SHE WAS DRUNK
AT A PARTY LAST WEEK,

AND THERE WERE BOYS THERE,

AND I GUESS THE BOYS
TOOK PICTURES OF HER

THAT WENT AROUND
THE SCHOOL, AND --

DO YOU KNOW
WHO THESE BOYS ARE?

I- I-I DON'T REALLY KNOW
EXACTLY WHO TOOK THE PHOTOS.

I WAS TALKING TO THE GUYS DOWN
AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE SAYING
SHE WAS BULLIED

BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED AT THE PARTY.

AUDRIE BULLIED?

NO.

LARRY, COME HERE.

LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK WHAT THIS SAYS.

WE WERE ABLE
TO PIECE TOGETHER E-MAILS

AND FACEBOOK
AND TEXT MESSAGES

AND GET A FEELING FOR
EXACTLY WHAT SHE WENT THROUGH.

LOOKIT.

AND THEN WE FOUND OUT
THAT SHE PLEADED,

YOU KNOW, WITH HER ATTACKERS
TO HAVE THE PICTURES DELETED.

I WAS SHOCKED.

YOU TRUST YOUR FRIENDS MORE THAN YOU
TRUST YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR PARENTS.

LATER THAT DAY,
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

OPENS AN INVESTIGATION
TO ESTABLISH

WHO WAS AT THE PARTY THAT NIGHT.

SO, WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT?

WE ACTUALLY HAD TEAMS
OF DEPUTIES

TO GO IN ALL AT THE SAME TIME
TO TALK WITH THE KIDS.

WE REALLY, REALLY WANTED
TO KNOW WHO KNEW WHAT WHEN.

I HAVE NO PHOTOS, OKAY?

I- I-I WAS AT THE PARTY.

DRANK A LITTLE.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

AND ALTHOUGH
SOME OF THE STUDENTS

ADMIT TO BEING AT THE PARTY,

NO ONE ADMITS TO HAVING
SEEN THE PHOTOS OF AUDRIE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE
THAT TO BE TRUE.

I THINK THEY WERE FEARFUL
THAT THEY WOULD BE COMPLICIT

IN THESE CRIMES
IF THEY TOLD THE TRUTH.

I MEAN, I HAD A LITTLE TO DRINK,
BUT WE ALL DO, SO...

AND I WOULD TELL YOU
IF THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE.

I MEAN, I'M AN HONEST GUY,
SO THERE'S NO CASE HERE.

BUT IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE INVESTIGATORS GET A BREAK

AND A PICTURE STARTS TO EMERGE
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO AUDRIE

AND WHO WAS INVOLVED.

WE IDENTIFIED THE THREE
SUSPECTS RELATIVELY EARLY ON,

AND CERTAINLY
THEY WERE NOT FORTHCOMING.

BUT I THINK THAT
THE OTHER STUDENTS

PROBABLY KNEW THAT IT WAS WRONG.

THE THREE SUSPECTS ARE
BROUGHT IN TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

FOR QUESTIONING.

MICHAEL, LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE PARTY THE OTHER NIGHT.

SO AUDRIE WAS DRUNK
AT THE PARTY.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
YEAH.

I MEAN, WE WERE
ALL KIND OF DRINKING.

CARLOS, TELL ME ABOUT
THE PARTY THE OTHER NIGHT.

WE JUST WERE
HAVING A GOOD TIME.

IT'S A PARTY.

DID YOU WRITE
ON AUDRIE'S BODY

OR DO ANYTHING WEIRD
WITH HER BODY?

YOU KNOW
SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS?

SHE WASN'T UNCONSCIOUS.
SHE WAS MOVING AROUND.

MICHAEL, DID YOU
AND YOUR FRIENDS TAKE PHOTOS?

I DIDN'T TAKE THE PHOTOS.

PEOPLE TAKE PHOTOS
AT PARTIES, RIGHT?

TAKE PHOTOS
OF MEMORABLE SIGHTS.

INITIALLY,
INVESTIGATORS CAN GET NOTHING

OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS...

WHERE ARE THOSE PHOTOS NOW?

...OTHER THAN THAT THEY CARRIED
AUDRIE INTO THE BEDROOM.

BUT WHAT REALLY BROKE THIS OPEN

IS THAT A POLICE OFFICER
TOLD ONE OF THEM...

MALIK, IF I HAPPEN
TO FIND DNA ON HER BODY,

WHOSE DNA
IS IT GOING TO MATCH?

IT WAS...

AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
FOR THE FIRST TIME,

THERE WAS A CONFESSION.

...ALL THREE OF US.

THERE WAS A CONFESSION.

INVESTIGATORS
NOW HAVE A CONFESSION

FROM ONE OF THE THREE BOYS

SUSPECTED OF ASSAULTING
15-YEAR-OLD AUDRIE POTT.

IF I HAPPEN TO FIND DNA
ON HER BODY,

WHOSE DNA
IS IT GOING TO MATCH?

IT WAS ALL THREE OF US.

A STUNNING ADMISSION.

AUTHORITIES WILL NEED
CORROBORATING EVIDENCE

TO PROVE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO
NEED THE PHONE.

OKAY.

WE'RE SILICON VALLEY,

SO OUR DETECTIVES
ARE VERY, VERY GOOD

AT THE FORENSIC ANALYSIS
OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

WE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER
TEXT MESSAGES.

WE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER IMAGES.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE HORRIBLE.

THEY SHOWED WHAT THESE
THREE PEOPLE HAD DONE

TO THIS YOUNG GIRL.

THEY WERE DRAWING
ON BOTH SIDES OF HER BODY

AND IN HER PRIVATE PARTS --

JUST CRUEL LANGUAGE.

IT BREAKS MY HEART WHAT SHE WAS
GOING THROUGH, THAT POOR BABY.

WITH THE FORENSIC
EVIDENCE FROM THE PHONES

CONFIRMING
THE BOYS' INVOLVEMENT,

SHERIFFS MAKE THEIR MOVE.

WE ARRESTED THE THREE SUSPECTS
AT SCHOOL.

AND I THINK THAT
REALLY SENT A MESSAGE

THAT EVERYONE KNOWS
THIS IS A CRIME,

EVERYONE KNOWS
THE TRAGEDY IN THIS.

I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT
FOR THE SCHOOL TO SEE

THAT THERE COULD BE
NOTHING WORSE THAN THIS.

WE CHARGED
THE THREE PERPETRATORS

WITH SEXUAL BATTERY,

PENETRATION WITH
A FOREIGN OBJECT,

AND POSSESSION AND DISTRIBUTION
OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

WHEN THE CASE COMES
BEFORE THE JUVENILE COURT,

THE THREE DEFENDANTS
ADMIT TO PHOTOGRAPHING

AND DRAWING ON AUDRIE
WHILE SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS.

YES, WE DREW
ON HER BREASTS.

IT WAS ME, CARLOS,
AND MIKE.

THE PHOTOS
WERE OF HER, UM...

H- HER -- HER FRONT
AND, UM, HER BACK.

WELL, CARLOS HERE
SENT ME THE PHOTOS,

BUT AFTER WE RECONSIDERED
THE WHOLE SITUATION,

WE DELETED THEM, ALL OF THEM.

AND, FINALLY,
THEY ADMIT THEY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AUDRIE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THE
JUVENILE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA

ACTUALLY HOLDS PEOPLE
AS ACCOUNTABLE

AS THEY SHOULD
WHEN THEY'RE JUVENILES,

ESPECIALLY SOMETHING
THAT'S SO INTENTIONAL,

COLD, AND DESTRUCTIVE.

THE THREE BOYS
ARE SENTENCED TO BETWEEN

30 AND 45 DAYS
OF JUVENILE DETENTION.

I WAS DISGUSTED, FRANKLY,
WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS.

BUT BEING MINORS
TRIED IN JUVENILE COURT

MEANS THE BOYS' IDENTITIES
CAN NEVER BE REVEALED,

AND THEY ARE ALLOWED
TO REMAIN AT SCHOOL.

BECAUSE THE ASSAULT
TOOK PLACE OFF CAMPUS,

THE LAW DID NOT
GIVE THE PRINCIPAL

THE RIGHT TO TAKE ACTION.

IT WAS A HORRIBLE MESSAGE.

THEY WENT ON AS IF
LIFE WAS TOTALLY NORMAL.

AFTER LOBBYING
CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATORS

ABOUT THE FAILINGS IN THE CASE,

THE FAMILY HELPS PASS
AUDRIE'S LAW IN SEPTEMBER 2014,

TWO YEARS AFTER
HER TRAGIC SUICIDE.

AUDRIE'S LAW MAKES THESE TYPE
OF CASES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AND, OF COURSE,
IT'S UP TO THE VICTIM.

SO IF THE VICTIM DOESN'T WANT
TO HAVE THE COURT CASE PUBLIC,

THEY WON'T BE, BECAUSE,
OF COURSE, WE'RE SENSITIVE

TO THE FACT THAT
THERE'S A VICTIM HERE.

AND NOW THERE IS A MANDATORY

SEXUAL OFFENDER
TREATMENT PROGRAM

THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH

WHEN THEY'RE CONVICTED
IN THESE TYPE OF CASES.

HI. I'M SHEILA POTT,
AUDRIE POTT'S MOM.

AUDRIE'S FAMILY
NOW WORKS TIRELESSLY

TO PUBLICIZE HER STORY

AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE
ABOUT CONSENT.

WE ESTABLISHED
THE AUDRIE POTT FOUNDATION

TO DO SOME GOOD IN THE WAKE
OF THE EVIL THAT WE EXPERIENCED.

AND IT'S AMAZING
WHEN WE DO THOSE PRESENTATIONS

TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
MAKING DIFFERENT CHOICES

THAT WEEKEND WHEN THEY GO OUT
AND THERE'S PARTIES.

AUDRIE NEEDED A HERO THAT NIGHT,

SOMEBODY NEEDED TO STAND UP
AND TAKE CARE TO SAY,

YOU KNOW, "NOT ON MY WATCH.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

AUDRIE WAS MY LITTLE GIRL,

AND SHE'LL ALWAYS BE TREASURED.

THERE'S NOT A DAY
WE DON'T MISS HER.