Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Fourth Time's a Charm - full transcript
Narrator: A SINGLE MOTHER THINKS
SHE'S FOUND HER PRINCE CHARMING
AND THE PERFECT DAD
FOR HER CHILDREN.
I FELT THAT
HE WOULD PROTECT THEM.
Narrator:
BUT AS IS OFTEN THE CASE,
IT'S A LITTLE TOO GOOD
TO BE TRUE.
I NEVER KNEW
WHEN HE WAS GONNA SNAP.
Narrator: THIS PRINCE
HAS A CLOSET FULL OF DEMONS.
Dr. Jordan:
IT'S A PERFECT STORM
THAT'S REALLY
JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Narrator:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE
BEFORE A DESPERATE WIFE TAKES
MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.
HE LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER.
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
MEET DONNA BROWN.
IN THE EARLY '90s, LIFE IS GOOD
FOR THIS SUCCESSFUL SINGLE MOM.
SHE HAS A GOOD JOB AS A NURSE
TECHNICIAN AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE.
I LOVE TO SEE THEM HEAL
AND GET BETTER AND WALK AWAY.
Woman:
HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M GOOD. YOU GONE?
YES, I'M GONE.
ALL RIGHT. TAKE IT EASY.
DONNA IS A HARDWORKING WOMAN.
SHE'S VERY DEVOTED TO HER KIDS.
Narrator:
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
DONNA SEEMS LIKE A WOMAN
WHO'S GOT HER ACT TOGETHER.
CHECK ON MR. HAWKINS IN ROOM 4.
HE HAD A ROUGH NIGHT.
I HAVE KNOWN DONNA
SINCE WE WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD.
DONNA'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL PERSON.
SHE IS ONE IN A MILLION.
SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW.
Narrator: BUT DEEP DOWN,
DONNA IS VULNERABLE.
HER DAD
BAILED ON THE FAMILY EARLY ON,
AND HER MOM GOT SUCKED INTO
A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ADDICTION.
AT AN EARLY AGE FOR DONNA,
I TOOK A WRONG TURN IN LIFE.
I BECAME A DRUG ABUSER.
Narrator:
AND WHEN IT COMES TO MEN,
IT'S BEEN
ONE LONG STRING OF HEARTACHES.
YASMIN -
THAT'S MY FIRST CHILD.
HER FATHER WAS KIND OF,
LIKE, MY FIRST LOVE.
WE WERE TOGETHER
FOR MOST OF MY TEENAGE YEARS,
AND I HAD YASMIN
AT THE AGE OF 18.
WE GREW UP AND GREW APART.
Narrator: BOYFRIEND NUMBER TWO,
EDDIE, ISN'T MUCH OF AN IMPROVEMENT.
WE HAD A BABY -
A SON, JOSHUA, MY SECOND CHILD.
JOSHUA'S FATHER HIT ME ONCE,
AND I CALLED THE POLICE
AND I HAD HIM ARRESTED.
HE FLED THE COUNTRY,
WENT BACK TO SANTO DOMINGO.
Narrator:
ENTER MAN NUMBER THREE, ROGER.
HE SEEMS LIKE A STRAIGHT-UP GUY
WITH A SOLID MILITARY CAREER.
Donna:
I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS MARRIED,
AND SO THAT KIND OF
DESTROYED THE RELATIONSHIP.
AND ALSO I FOUND OUT
THAT I WAS PREGNANT.
Narrator: DONNA GIVES ROGER A
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE BUT KEEPS THE BABY.
AT THIS POINT, SHE'S RAISING
TWO GIRLS AND A BOY.
THEN, A FEW MONTHS
AFTER BREAKING UP WITH ROGER,
DONNA UNEXPECTEDLY
RECONNECTS WITH EDDIE.
HOPING FOR
SOME SEMBLANCE OF A FAMILY,
SHE GIVES HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, EDDIE CAN'T
LIVE UP TO DONNA'S STANDARDS,
AND THE RELATIONSHIP
EXPIRES QUICKLY...
THOUGH NOT BEFORE
SHE'S PREGNANT YET AGAIN
WITH HER FOURTH CHILD, JONATHAN.
DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
DONNA JUST GOT IT IN HER HEAD
THAT SHE NEEDED A MAN
TO COMPLETE HER.
SHE NEVER REALLY
HAD A MOMENT IN HER ADULT LIFE
WHERE SHE WAS JUST SINGLE,
HOLDING STILL, LOVING LIFE.
IT WAS ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BOYFRIEND.
Narrator: AT 26,
DONNA'S BATTING ZERO WITH MEN,
AND SHE'LL HAVE TO RAISE
HER FOUR YOUNG KIDS ON HER OWN.
Donna:
I JUST DECIDED AT THAT TIME
THAT I WAS
JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON MY KIDS.
Narrator:
STILL, SHE DREAMS THAT ONE DAY,
SHE'LL FIND
A FATHER FOR HER FAMILY.
TWO YEARS LATER, DONNA'S
ON HER WAY TO SEE A GIRLFRIEND
WHEN A YOUNG MAN
CATCHES HER EYE.
AND THEN AN ANGEL
WALKS UP ON ME.
YOU THINK I'M GONNA
JUST LET YOU WALK PAST ME?
Donna: HE WALKED OVER TO ME,
AND HE SAID, "HI, CUTIE."
[ LAUGHS ]
AND HE WAS SO FUNNY.
I JUST KEPT WALKING.
HE FOLLOWED ME.
HE FOLLOWED ME
FOR, LIKE, FOUR BLOCKS.
HE HAD A PERSONALITY THAT
JUST MADE ME SO BUBBLY INSIDE.
I JUST COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING.
Narrator: KEVIN IS CHARMING,
DIFFERENT FROM ANY MAN SHE'S EVER KNOWN.
SO YOU AND HIM
HAVING DINNER OR SOMETHING?
Donna: HE WAS DETERMINED
TO GET TO KNOW WHO I WAS.
AND HE WAS CUTE.
HE WAS REALLY HANDSOME
AND WELL-DRESSED AND FUNNY.
OKAY.
WELL, HOW ABOUT...
Narrator: KEVIN JACKSON
TRAILS DONNA FOR BLOCKS.
WHEN SHE TURNS HIM DOWN
FOR A DATE,
HE WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. BYE.
FINALLY, SHE GIVES IN.
BYE.BYE.
YOU CRAZY, KEVIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
Donna: I HAVE NEVER
MET A GUY LIKE THAT.
HE HAD A WAY WITH WORDS
TO GET YOU TO SMILE
[Chuckling]
AND SAY YES TO ANYTHING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Narrator: DONNA'S INSTANTLY
HOOKED AND THINKS THIS TIME,
SHE JUST MIGHT HAVE
FOUND MR. RIGHT.
SO, HOW WOULD AN OUTSIDER
DESCRIBE THE TWO OF YOU,
DONNA AND KEVIN,
AS A COUPLE?
PROBABLY INSEPARABLE...
BECAUSE
WE WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER.
WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER
THAT BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
WE WERE TOGETHER EVERY DAY.
KEVIN SEEMS LIKE
THE MODEL BOYFRIEND
DONNA'S BEEN SEARCHING FOR.
EVERY DAY, HE BRINGS HER LUNCH
AT THE HOSPITAL
AND PICKS HER UP AFTER WORK.
ALL RIGHT.
WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS,
DONNA IS FALLING DEEPLY IN LOVE.
WE CONFIDED IN EACH OTHER A LOT.
WE REALLY GOT CLOSE.
WE BECAME FRIENDS.
BEST OF FRIENDS.
YOU HAD A DEEP EMOTIONAL BOND
WITH KEVIN, DIDN'T YOU?
YES, I DID.
THIS WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME
ON A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL.
THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP
I HAD WITH KEVIN
IS WHAT I WANTED ALL ALONG.
WHEN KEVIN STARTS SHOWING
INTEREST IN DONNA'S KIDS,
IT SEALS THE DEAL.
HE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM,
AND I LOVED HIM ALONE
FOR JUST THAT MATTER,
BECAUSE IF I WAS GONNA
BE WITH ANYBODY,
THEY HAD TO
LOVE MY CHILDREN.
Donna: HOW'S MY BABIES?
A YEAR LATER, KEVIN MOVES IN.
WHILE DONNA'S AT WORK
DURING THE DAY,
KEVIN STAYS HOME
AND TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS.
AND YOU TRUSTED HIM?
YES, I DID.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT MY HOUSE, MY CHILDREN.
I FELT THAT
HE WOULD PROTECT THEM.
NOW, YOU WERE WORKING
ALL THE TIME,
MAKING THE MONEY,
PAYING THE RENT.
BUT KEVIN'S NOT WORKING MUCH.
EXPLAIN THAT.
I NEVER CONCERNED MYSELF WITH IT
IN THE BEGINNING,
BECAUSE HE WAS JUST
ALWAYS DOING EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME
THAT HE WASN'T WORKING.
DONNA DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE MEN
JUST BASICALLY USES HER
FOR HER STABILITY, HER SECURITY,
AND SHE ENABLES THEM
TO BE LAZY SLACKERS.
SO, YOU HAVE TO ASK,
IS EVERY ONE
OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS
GOING TO END BADLY?
Narrator: STILL, FOR NOW,
DONNA'S TRUST IN KEVIN SEEMS VALID.
I DIDN'T WANT
TO BE A SINGLE PARENT.
I WANTED MY CHILDREN
TO HAVE A MOTHER AND A FATHER,
'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE
MY MOTHER AND FATHER
CONSISTENTLY IN MY LIFE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: BUT THE TRUTH IS,
KEVIN ISN'T EXACTLY MR. MOM.
WHEN MY MOM WAS AT WORK,
HE WOULD BE HOME
TAKING CARE OF US.
HOWEVER, HE WOULD BE ASLEEP
MOST OF THE TIME.
SO IT WOULD BE
MY OLDER SISTER YASMIN
WHO WOULD HAVE TO COOK, CLEAN.
SO SHE WAS LIKE OUR SECOND MOM
WHEN MY MOM WOULD BE AT WORK.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
Narrator: WHEN DONNA FINALLY
SPOTS THE FIRST RED FLAGS,
SHE'S COMPLETELY
CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
YOU CRAZY.
WHO YOU ON THE PHONE WITH?
Donna: AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP,
THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE.
DON'T -
GET OFF THE DAMN PHONE.
FOR INSTANCE,
THE KIDS WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO ANSWER THE DOORS
IF SOMEONE CAME.
EVERY TIME THAT PHONE RANG,
HE WANTED TO KNOW
WHO WAS ON THE OTHER LINE.
SHUT UP.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF
THAT MAYBE IT'S SOME THINGS
THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE
TO PLEASE HIM.
SO I WENT ALONG WITH IT,
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T LIKE IT.
KEVIN. BABY, I'M SORRY.
[ Ringing ]
Narrator: DONNA'S MOTHER ALSO
STARTS TO SEE REASON FOR CONCERN.
KEVIN?
WHO'S THIS?
YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS.
HE WOULD NEVER,
EVER LOOK YOU EYE TO EYE
WHEN HE SPOKE TO YOU
OR WHEN HE TALKED TO YOU.
AND I KNEW HE WAS JEALOUS
AND MISTRUSTING.
HE WASN'T MY CUP OF TEA.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY WANT HIM
FOR MY DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW?
I WANTED THE BEST FOR HER.
OH, HI, MAMA.
OH, OH, WAIT.
I'M SO SORRY.
Narrator: SOON, KEVIN STARTS
OBSESSIVELY CHECKING UP ON DONNA
WHEN SHE'S AT WORK.
[ Sweetly ] HEY, KEVIN.
WHERE YOU BEEN AT?!
BABY, I'VE BEEN BUSY
WITH MY PATIENTS.
Donna: IT BECAME OVERBEARING
THAT I HAD TO EXPLAIN
WHERE I'M GOING ALL THE TIME.
WELL, I DON'T CARE
IF YOU'RE AT WORK.
I CALLED YOU
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO!
THERE ARE ALWAYS WARNING SIGNS
FOR THESE WOMEN WHO TEND TO
ENABLE THE MEN IN THEIR LIVES.
AND YET
THEY RATIONALIZE THEM AWAY.
"BUT I ALREADY
HAVE SO MUCH INVESTED.
IT'S ME WHO NEEDS TO CHANGE,
NOT HIM."
Narrator: DONNA'S FANTASY FAMILY
IS ABOUT TO SHATTER.
WELL, I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS REALLY WRONG WITH HIM
WHEN I WENT TO THE STORE ONE DAY
WHILE HE WAS ASLEEP.
Narrator: COMING UP, KEVIN
COMPLETES HIS TRANSFORMATION
FROM DREAM MAN TO DEVIL.
WHAT?
YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW.
[ CLATTER ]
Narrator:
DONNA BROWN HAS SPENT
MUCH OF HER LIFE
CHASING AFTER MEN,
HOPING TO FIND ONE
WHO'S MARRIAGE MATERIAL.
UNFORTUNATELY, HER LATEST LOVE
IS BEGINNING
TO SHOW HIS DARK SIDE.
LENNY?
AS DONNA
WALKS HOME FROM THE MARKET,
SHE RUNS INTO LENNY WASHINGTON,
ONE OF
HER BOYFRIEND KEVIN'S BUDDIES.
TELL KEVIN
TO GIVE ME A CALL.
I WILL. I WILL.
GOOD SEEING YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
BABY, YOU HUNGRY?
YEAH.
LATER THAT EVENING,
DONNA CASUALLY TELLS KEVIN
ABOUT BUMPING INTO HIS FRIEND.
HE TOLD ME
TO TELL YOU HI.
ALL RIGHT, I MADE US
SOME CHEESEBURGERS, BABY.
WHAT?
YOU ACT
LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW.
[ CLATTER ]
AAH!
Donna: KEVIN WALKED OVER TO ME
AND SLAPPED ME.
I WAS JUST SO SURPRISED AND HURT
THAT HE HIT ME,
AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY.
AND HE IMMEDIATELY
RAN OVER TO WHERE I WAS
AND GRABBED ME AND HUGGED ME.
AND THEN HE TOLD ME
OVER AND OVER, "I'M SO SORRY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I HIT YOU."
AND HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT
THIS PARTICULAR FRIEND OF HIS
HAD CARRIED ON
WITH HIS GIRLFRIENDS
BEHIND HIS BACK IN THE PAST.
AND SO I FELT SORRY FOR HIM,
BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS FRIEND.
Narrator:
DONNA ACCEPTS KEVIN'S APOLOGY
AND CONVINCES HERSELF
IT WAS A ONETIME EVENT.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
AFTER ALL,
KICKING KEVIN TO THE CURB
WOULD MEAN
THE END OF HER FAIRY TALE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THE SPELL KEVIN HAS ON DONNA
IS SO STRONG,
IT EVEN DRIVES HER MOTHER AWAY.
WHY YOU COME IN HERE
ARGUING ALL OF A SUDDEN?
I'M NOT ARGUING.
HE AND I GOT INTO IT,
AND...
ARE YOU TAKING CARE
OF MY DAUGHTER?
I'M TAKING CARE
OF YOUR DAUGHTER.
...DONNA TOOK HIS SIDE.
SHE SAID, "THIS IS MY MAN,
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO LEAVE."
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
YOU NEED TO LEAVE.
YOU'RE ASKING
YOUR MAMA TO LEAVE?
YES, MAMA.
IT HURT AN AWFUL LOT.
HE IS TRYING, MAMA.
BUT SHE BACKED HIM UP
KNOWING THE TYPE PERSON HE WAS,
BUT SHE WAS COMMITTED TO HIM.
I NEVER WENT BACK AROUND
AFTER THAT.
Narrator: PRETTY SOON,
DONNA STARTS TO NOTICE
THAT KEVIN'S ACTING PARANOID.
YOU LOCKED THE DOOR?
DON'T MOVE.
KEVIN, BABY. COME TO BED.
Donna: AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY
NOTICED THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.
I WAS BLAMING MYSELF.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,
"WHAT DID I DO WRONG?"
NO. I KNOW I HEARD SOMETHING.
I KNOW I...
AND IT WASN'T ME. IT WAS HIM.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT, YOU CAN'T ALWAYS SEE IT.
WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE,
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
Narrator: JUST A FEW WEEKS
LATER, DONNA DISCOVERS SOMETHING
THAT SHAKES
HER FAITH IN KEVIN TO THE CORE.
Donna: I'M IN THE HABIT
OF WHEN I'M DOING MY LAUNDRY,
I CHECK THE POCKETS
OF EVERYTHING
IN CASE THERE'S SOME MONEY.
BUT THIS DAY, I FOUND MONEY,
BUT IT WASN'T JUST MONEY,
YOU KNOW?
IT WAS MONEY
WITH WHITE POWDER IN IT...
...WHICH I KNOW IS COCAINE.
MY HEART JUST SUNK.
NOW MY MIND IS RACING.
HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN DOING THIS?
AND THE FACT THAT HE HAD IT IN
MY HOUSE AROUND MY CHILDREN...
Narrator:
DONNA IS DEVASTATED.
MEMORIES OF HER MOTHER'S DRUG
PROBLEMS COME FLOODING BACK.
Donna: I DESPISE DRUGS.
I DECIDED A LONG TIME AGO
THAT I WAS NEVER GOING TO BE
A DRUG ADDICT.
I WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE THERE
FOR MY CHILDREN.
Narrator: YET A PART OF DONNA
IS ALSO RELIEVED.
THIS EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WHEN
SHE FINDS DRUGS IN HIS POCKET,
INSTEAD OF SAYING, "OH, MY GOD!
KEVIN IS DOING DRUGS OR EVEN
DEALING DRUGS," SHE'S RELIEVED.
"NOW I HAVE AN EXPLANATION
FOR HIS VIOLENT
"AND ERRATIC
AND CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR.
IT'S THE DRUGS!
THIS MUST BE FIXABLE."
Narrator: DONNA ISN'T ABOUT TO LET
KEVIN'S DRUG USE HURT HER FAMILY.
Donna: HE HAS TO STOP THIS.
I HAVE BABIES IN HERE.
I DIDN'T EVER WANT MY CHILDREN
TO BE AROUND DRUGS EVER.
Narrator: SO THAT EVENING,
DONNA BRACES HERSELF
AND CONFRONTS HIM.
WE NEED TO TALK.
ABOUT WHAT?
KEVIN, I FOUND...
SHE URGES KEVIN
TO GO TO REHAB,
CONFIDENT HE CAN CHANGE,
JUST LIKE HER MOTHER DID.
YOU'RE DOING DRUGS,
KEVIN.
SHE STOOD BY ME
THROUGH MY DRUG ADDICTION.
SHE DIDN'T APPROVE, BUT SHE DID
EVERYTHING THAT SHE COULD
TO HELP ME THROUGH IT.
Donna: AND I SAID, "WELL, KEVIN,
YOU HAVE TO STOP USING.
"I'VE SEEN IT DESTROY SO MANY
PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT I LOVE,
EVEN MY MOTHER."
I GAVE HIM AN ULTIMATUM.
THIS HAS TO STOP,
AND IF YOU DON'T STOP...
I SAID,
"YOU EITHER STOP DOING DRUGS"...
GET OUT OF MY FACE.
"...OR YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE."
NO, I'M NOT.
[ GROANS ]
AND HE KICKED ME IN MY MOUTH.
Narrator: DONNA RUNS TO HER NEIGHBOR'S
APARTMENT TO CALL THE POLICE.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
SHE REPORTS WHAT KEVIN DID.
ARE YOU SERIOUS,
DONNA?
BUT SHE LEAVES OUT
A CRITICAL PIECE OF INFORMATION
FOR THE SAKE
OF PROTECTING HER MAN.
LOOK WHAT YOU DID
TO MY MOUTH!
Donna: I DIDN'T TELL THEM
ABOUT THE DRUGS.
I DIDN'T WANT HIM
TO GET IN TROUBLE.
THEY COULD SEE MY MOUTH WAS
SWOLLEN NOW AND IT WAS BLEEDING.
THEY ASKED ME DID I WANT TO
PRESS CHARGES, AND I SAID, "NO.
I JUST WANT HIM TO GET OUT."
HERE'S HIS STUFF.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YES, I'M SERIOUS.
REALLY, DONNA?
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
KEVIN BEGS DONNA
TO TAKE HIM BACK.
BUT SHE REFUSES, DECIDING SHE'S
DONE WITH HER VIOLENT BOYFRIEND.
BYE.
THAT IS, UNTIL
SHE GETS SOME SHOCKING NEWS
THAT COULD HANDCUFF HER TO KEVIN
FOR GOOD.
Narrator: IN 1997, DONNA BROWN'S
A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR
LIVING IN HARLEM, NEW YORK.
AFTER HER BOYFRIEND
KICKS HER IN THE FACE,
SHE KICKS HIM OUT OF HER LIFE...
UNTIL TWO WEEKS LATER,
WHEN SHE GETS NEWS
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
I LEARNED THAT I'M PREGNANT.
KEVIN,
I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
Narrator: DONNA'S STILL NOT SURE
SHE WANTS TO TAKE KEVIN BACK.
BUT SHE FEELS SHE'S AT LEAST
GOT TO TELL HIM THE NEWS.
WHAT'S WRONG?
KEVIN, I'M PREGNANT.
HOW DID KEVIN REACT
TO THE NEWS OF YOUR PREGNANCY?
KEVIN WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY.
HE WAS SO PROUD.
I'M GONNA BE A FATHER?!
THAT'S GREAT!
Donna:
HE JUST TALKED ON AND ON
ABOUT HOW GREAT OF A FATHER
HE WAS GONNA BE,
AND MY HEART JUST MELTED.
I SAID, "AWW, HE'S SO HAPPY
HE'S FINALLY GONNA HAVE A KID."
I NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE,
AND THIS BABY WILL HELP ME.
Dr. Jordan:
SHE THINKS SHE'S DONE WITH HIM.
SHE WANTS HIM OUT.
AND YET HOW CAN SHE KICK HIM
OUT OF HER LIFE NOW?
MAYBE SHE SHOULD
GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
MAYBE HE WOULD
MAKE A GREAT FATHER.
ALL OF THESE THOUGHTS
SWIRL AROUND IN HER HEAD.
IT'S A PERFECT STORM
THAT'S REALLY
JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Narrator: FOR THE SAKE
OF HER EXPANDING FAMILY,
DONNA LETS GO OF THE PAST.
SOME DAYS REMIND HER
OF THE GOOD TIMES
THEY SHARED WHEN THEY FIRST MET.
Donna:
HE WOULD DO THE NORMAL THINGS
LIKE EAT DINNER WITH US
AND WATCH A MOVIE.
WE'D SIT AND TALK
LIKE THE OLD TIMES.
Narrator: BUT PRETTY SOON,
THE GOOD TIMES FADE.
KEVIN'S INCREASINGLY DISTURBING
BEHAVIOR OVERSHADOWS EVERYTHING.
HE'S NOT EATING.
HE'S STILL PACING THE HOUSE.
AND HE'S DOING WEIRD THINGS NOW.
I WOULD GO TO SLEEP,
AND I WAKE UP.
HE'S STILL STANDING THERE.
KEVIN,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
JUST STARING.
AND SO HIS BEHAVIOR
GOT REALLY WEIRD.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
HE WAS LIKE
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.
HE HAD THIS SPLIT PERSONALITY.
Narrator: DONNA WONDERS IF
SHE'S MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
KEVIN?
[ SNIFFS ]
ONCE YOU GET SO DEEP INTO DRUGS,
YOU LOSE REALITY, YOU KNOW?
HE WAS DEMANDING,
HE WAS POSSESSIVE.
HE WAS A VERY JEALOUS MAN.
THAT WAS ONE SIDE OF HIM.
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER SIDE.
THERE WAS A GENTLE SIDE TO HIM.
YOU CAN'T EVEN PLAY
ON THE DOGGONE VIDEO GAME.
Narrator: BUT THAT GENTLE SIDE
SHOWS ITSELF LESS AND LESS.
WHEN HE'S HIGH,
KEVIN LASHES OUT AT EVERYONE.
GO TO YOUR ROOM!
GET OUT OF HERE!
WHEN HE'S ON THEM DRUGS,
HE'S LIKE THIS,
LIKE AN EVIL PERSON.
AND HE TALKS AT YOU
WITH ATTITUDE.
AND WHEN HE'S ON DRUGS,
YOU ONLY HAVE
A MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH HIM,
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO
GET AWAY FROM HIM, TOO.
[ SIGHS ]
COME ON, DONNA.
WHY ARE YOU WITH THIS GUY,
FOR REAL?
Narrator: THOUGH DONNA
TRIES TO HIDE THE CRACKS,
IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE
THAT HER SO-CALLED HAPPY FAMILY
IS A FAKE.
I ONLY TOLERATED HIS NONSENSE
BECAUSE DONNA IS MY BEST FRIEND
AND SHE WANTED ME
TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK WITH HIM.
SHE REALLY LOVED HIM.
I'M GONNA PLAY
SOME VIDEO GAMES.
Narrator: DONNA'S KIDS NEVER KNOW
WHICH KEVIN THEY'RE GOING TO GET.
Jonathan:
THERE WOULD BE A TIME
WHERE HE WAS THIS HORRIBLE MAN,
CURSING US ALL OUT.
GO TO YOUR ROOM!
GET OUT OF HERE!
BUT THEN WHEN WE WAKE UP,
HE'S LIKE, "OH, GOOD MORNING."
AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
BE LIKE,
"WELL, WASN'T YOU
JUST MAD AT US LAST NIGHT,
"CURSING US OUT,
AND YELLING AT US,
CALLING US ALL TYPE OF NAMES?"
IT WOULD BE CONFUSING
TO ALL OF US IN THE HOUSE.
WHY YOU STILL UP?
Narrator: WHEN DONNA'S 8 MONTHS'
PREGNANT WITH THEIR TWIN GIRLS,
KEVIN'S OUTBURSTS
ONLY GET WORSE.
YOU KNOW,
YOU GET ON MY NERVES SOMETIMES.
ONE NIGHT,
HER 6-YEAR-OLD SON, JONATHAN,
IS READING IN THE LIVING ROOM.
Jonathan: I NEVER KNEW
WHEN HE WAS GONNA SNAP.
IT JUST CAME SUDDENLY.
SO, LIKE,
I WOULD JUST TRY TO AVOID IT
AND NOT GO
ANYWHERE NEAR HIS DIRECTION.
WHAT YOU CRYING FOR?
YOU'RE ACTING LIKE
A LITTLE SISSY.
YOU'RE WORSE
THAN YOUR LITTLE SISTER.
Narrator: THIS TIME, DONNA
OVERHEARS FROM THE NEXT ROOM.
LOOK, YOU DON'T BE TALKING
TO MY SON LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY!
AND I TOLD HIM
TO LEAVE JONATHAN ALONE,
DO NOT TALK TO MY BABY
LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK
THE FACT THAT I SAID "MY BABY"
PUSHED HIM OVER THE EDGE.
AT THAT MOMENT,
I JUST LEFT ON MY OWN.
I WENT IN MY ROOM
AND SLAMMED MY DOOR.
I MEAN, ALL I COULD DO IS CRY.
WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?
I'M ONLY A CHILD.
Narrator:
JONATHAN IS TERRIFIED
AS HE LISTENS TO THE HEATED
ARGUMENT OUTSIDE HIS DOOR.
I DON'T CARE HOW OLD HE IS!
KEVIN - AAH!
Jonathan:
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
ALL I COULD IMAGINE IS,
"OH, MY GOD.
I HOPE HE WOULD GET OFF MY MOM."
Narrator: KEVIN SHOVES DONNA,
AND SHE LANDS ON HER STOMACH.
[ GROANS ]
GETTING IN MY FACE AGAIN!
WHAT I TOLD YOU?!
I MANAGED
TO GET MYSELF ON THE COUCH,
AND I STAYED ON THE COUCH
FOR I THINK ABOUT FIVE OR SIX
HOURS BEFORE I EVEN GOT UP.
I JUST LAID THERE,
'CAUSE I WAS IN THAT MUCH PAIN.
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
DONNA FEELS GUILTY ABOUT
WHAT HER KIDS HAD TO WITNESS.
[ SIGHS ]
MOMMY WANT TO TALK
TO Y'ALL.
Donna: I CAN SEE THAT MY CHILDREN
WERE BECOMING AFRAID OF HIM,
SO I'M TRYING
TO LET THE CHILDREN KNOW
THAT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING
IS NOT HEALTHY,
AND THAT I'M SORRY, TELLING THEM
HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM.
JONATHAN,
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, OKAY?
I'M SO SORRY.
WHEN YOU GROW UP,
DON'T HIT YOUR GIRLFRIENDS.
Narrator: DONNA FEELS TRAPPED
BY FEAR AND SELF-DOUBT.
SHE TELLS NO ONE
ABOUT THE ABUSE.
IF SHE HAD CONFIDED IN ME,
MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A DIFFERENT SITUATION.
MAYBE I'D HAVE RATHER
FOUGHT WITH HIM
THAN HAVE HIM FIGHT WITH HER.
YOU OKAY?
Narrator: THE PATH
DONNA'S WALKING IS TREACHEROUS,
RECRUITING HER OWN KIDS
TO KEEP HER SECRETS.
YOU, TOO, BABY. MWAH.
IT MAY GIVE HER STRENGTH
TO GET THROUGH THE SITUATION,
BUT IT GIVES KEVIN MORE STRENGTH
TO KEEP PERPETUATING THE ABUSE.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
Narrator:
SEVERAL DAYS LATER,
DONNA STILL FEELS LINGERING PAIN
FROM THE ATTACK.
EVEN WORSE,
SHE ONLY FEELS MOVEMENT
ON ONE SIDE OF HER BELLY.
KEVIN.
I'M NOT FEELING
ONE OF THE BABIES MOVE.
AND SO I TOLD HIM THAT, "LISTEN,
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
I ONLY FEEL ONE CHILD MOVING."
DAMN, YOU WANT ME TO FIX THIS
OR WHAT?
WE'LL GO
AFTER I'M FINISHED.
I'M GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.
Narrator:
KEVIN RELUCTANTLY AGREES.
COME ON.
HE WENT WITH ME
TO SEE WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
I THINK HE WAS SCARED
MORE THAN ANYTHING -
SCARED OF WHAT I WOULD SAY
TO THE DOCTORS
AND IF HE PROBABLY
WOULD GET ARRESTED.
Narrator: AT THE HOSPITAL,
DONNA TELLS THEM
SHE THINKS SOMETHING MAY BE
WRONG WITH ONE OF HER BABIES.
KEVIN STAYS RIGHT BY HER SIDE.
WHEN THE DOCTOR
ASKS WHAT HAPPENED,
DONNA NEEDS TO THINK FAST.
HER ANSWER
WILL DECIDE KEVIN'S FATE.
Doctor:
DID ANYTHING HAPPEN?
COMING UP,
KEVIN'S ESCALATING DRUG HABIT
PUTS DONNA'S KIDS
DIRECTLY IN HARM'S WAY.
I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED OF HIM.
Narrator: DONNA BROWN
IS 8 MONTHS' PREGNANT
AND TERRIFIED.
A FEW DAYS AGO,
HER COCAINE-ADDICTED BOYFRIEND
ATTACKED HER.
[ GROANS ]
SHE GOES TO THE E. R.,
FEARING FOR THE HEALTH
OF HER UNBORN TWINS.
DID ANYTHING HAPPEN?
BUT INSTEAD OF TURNING KEVIN IN,
SHE COVERS FOR HIM.
I TOLD THE DOCTORS
THAT I SLID DOWN SOME STAIRS.
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT,
DONNA?
IT'S NEW YORK CITY.
IF YOU FIGHT
TOO MANY TIMES,
THEY'RE GONNA
TAKE YOUR CHILDREN AWAY.
THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN -
NOT LOSING MY KIDS.
ON TOP OF
BEING IN LOVE WITH KEVIN,
WANTING EVERYTHING TO WORK,
I THINK I WAS JUST TRYING
TO KEEP MY FAMILY TOGETHER
AND MAKE IT SANE AS POSSIBLE.
MA'AM...
THE DOCTOR
DECIDES TO INDUCE LABOR.
DONNA GIVES BIRTH
TO TWO HEALTHY TWIN GIRLS.
SHE IS NOW A MOTHER OF SIX.
I'M YOUR DADDY.
I'M YOUR DADDY.
WHEN SHE BRINGS THE BABIES HOME,
DONNA IS SURPRISED
BY HOW KEVIN HANDLES
HIS NEW ROLE AS A FATHER.
HE IS HAPPY AND HELPFUL.
THOSE TWINS, THOSE NEWBORNS,
WERE THE PERFECT EXCUSE
FOR HER TO NOT DEAL WITH KEVIN,
AND YET THEY WERE ALSO THE VERY
THING THAT BOUND KEVIN TO HER.
Narrator: BUT THE HAPPY PHASE
IS SHORT-LIVED.
KEVIN'S HAVING A HARD TIME
BREAKING HIS ADDICTION.
AND HE'S GETTING
MORE AND MORE CARELESS.
ONE AFTERNOON,
DONNA'S SON JONATHAN
COMES FACE-TO-FACE
WITH KEVIN'S HABIT.
I WOULD FIND LITTLE, LIKE, BAGS
UNDER THE CABINET,
YOU KNOW,
AND LITTLE WHITE STUFF IN IT.
AND SO I KNEW THAT
THEY WERE PROBABLY DRUG USING.
NOW I KNOW
THIS IS WHY HE'S ACTING BERSERK.
Narrator:
JONATHAN KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN KEVIN LOSES HIS TEMPER,
SO HE KEEPS WHAT HE FOUND
TO HIMSELF.
Jonathan:
I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED OF HIM.
THE EASIEST WAY TO DEAL WITH IT
WAS TO JUST GO ALONG WITH IT
AND TO NOT MAKE MATTERS WORSE.
Narrator: AS KEVIN
GROWS EVEN MORE VIOLENT,
DONNA SLIPS DEEPER INTO DENIAL.
SHE SUFFERS IN SILENCE,
TELLING NO ONE THAT KEVIN'S MADE
HER HIS PERSONAL PUNCHING BAG.
Donna: I MEAN,
I'M GETTING HIT IN THE FACE.
I'M GETTING BUSTED LIPS.
I'M HAVING BRUISES THAT
I DON'T EVEN KNOW I HAVE MYSELF.
IT NEVER ENTERED MY MIND
THAT HE WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE
TO MY DAUGHTER...
BECAUSE HAD I KNOWN,
NO WAY WOULD I HAVE EVER ALLOWED
HIM TO PUT HIS HAND ON MY CHILD.
SO, NO MATTER HOW FAR IT GOES -
PHYSICAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE,
ANY OTHER WOMAN WOULD PROBABLY
SAY, "DONNA, WALK AWAY.
BE DONE WITH THIS."
BUT SHE CAN'T GIVE UP ON KEVIN.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE DREAM,
BUT BECAUSE OF WHO SHE IS -
THE ULTIMATE ENABLER.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
Narrator: AMAZINGLY,
IT'S NOT UNTIL THE TWINS ARE 3 YEARS OLD
THAT KEVIN'S LIFESTYLE
FINALLY TAKES HIM DOWN.
HOW MUCH?
$100.
HE'S ARRESTED FOR DEALING
AND GETS SENTENCED
TO TWO TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
COULD DONNA'S NIGHTMARE
FINALLY BE OVER?
Donna: I CRIED,
BUT INSIDE, I WAS HAPPY.
I WAS HAPPY.
I KNEW
THAT HE NEEDED THE ARREST
SO THAT
HE COULD HAVE THE TIME...
WHAT YOU MEAN YOU IN JAIL,
KEVIN?
...TO SIT AND RE-EVALUATE
HIS LIFE, OUR LIFE.
Narrator: WHILE KEVIN
IS LOCKED UP ON RIKERS ISLAND,
JUST 8 MILES FROM HARLEM,
LIFE AT THE BROWN HOME
IS PEACEFUL.
Donna: EVERYTHING
JUST WENT BACK TO NORMAL.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO
WALK AROUND ON EGGSHELLS.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO REPORT
EVERY SINGLE MOVEMENT I MAKE.
Narrator: A YEAR LATER, KEVIN
IS RELEASED EARLY ON PAROLE.
I'M DOING GOOD.
INCREDIBLY, DESPITE
ALL THE LIES, DRUGS, AND ABUSE,
DONNA TAKES HIM BACK
WHEN HE VOWS TO STAY CLEAN.
I'M GONNA GO UP THERE
TO THE JANITORIAL.
THEY GOT A LITTLE OPENING,
AND I'M GONNA GO APPLY.
AND KEVIN DOES... FOR A WHILE.
HE WAS GOING TO CHURCH WITH US.
HE WAS GOING TO BED AT NIGHT.
HIS OLD FRIENDS
WASN'T ALWAYS COMING AROUND,
AND HE HAD A PAROLE OFFICER.
Jonathan: I HONESTLY WAS HAPPY,
LIKE, "WOW.
OKAY, WELL, THIS IS THE KEVIN WE
ALL KNOW ABOUT AND WE ALL LOVE."
AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
LIKE, "WOW,
HE REALLY, REALLY CHANGED."
Narrator:
DONNA FOOLS HERSELF
INTO THINKING THAT KEVIN
IS BACK TO BEING HER DREAM MAN.
AND SHE'S NOT
THE ONLY ONE WHO'S FOOLED.
WHEN KEVIN CAME HOME FROM
PRISON, I SOFTENED UP A LITTLE.
I GAVE HIM
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
I KNOW A PERSON CAN CHANGE.
Narrator: NOW THAT
HE'S WON EVERYONE'S TRUST,
HE PLAYS THE TRUMP CARD
AND PROPOSES.
YOU REALLY BELIEVED, DONNA,
THAT KEVIN WAS THE ONE.
I TELL YOU WHAT.
IF SOMEONE
WOULD HAVE BET ME
IF I WAS GONNA BE WITH KEVIN,
I'D BET YES.
I WANTED THAT FAMILY.
I STILL DESIRED THAT FAMILY.
[ CHURCH BELLS RINGING ]
AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF A TOXIC
AND TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP,
DONNA AND KEVIN GET MARRIED.
IN DONNA'S MIND, THE RITUAL
WASHES ALL THE PAIN AWAY.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING.
SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE.
I WAS HOPEFUL
IT WOULD BE A HAPPY ENDING.
SHE HAD A PERFECT FAMILY.
SHE WAS MARRIED,
AND SHE HAD A HUSBAND.
SHE HAD HER CHILDREN.
Narrator: EVERYTHING SEEMS
TO BE FALLING INTO PLACE.
KEVIN IS PLAYING THE PART
OF THE GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER,
OR SO IT SEEMS
TO DONNA AND HIS PAROLE OFFICER.
HELLO, GOOD MORNING.
HE GOES TO WHATEVER PROGRAM
SHE SENDS HIM, HE'S WORKING.
THE TIMES THAT SHE COMES,
HE'S THERE.
SHE COMES ON SUNDAY MORNING.
WE'RE GETTING READY FOR CHURCH.
SHE LIKES WHAT SHE SEES.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
Narrator: A YEAR AFTER
GETTING OUT OF PRISON,
KEVIN IS
RELEASED FROM PAROLE EARLY.
ARE YOU HAPPY?
YES.
YOU GET US SOME WINE.
I'LL COOK DINNER.
ALL RIGHT?
AND ON THE VERY FIRST NIGHT
OF HIS FREEDOM
FROM NO MORE PAROLE,
DONNA, WHAT HAPPENED?
THAT'S THE BEGINNING
OF OUR NIGHTMARE.
BABY, IT'S OKAY.
I'M GONNA BE RIGHT BACK.
DONNA WANTS TO CELEBRATE
WITH A NICE DINNER,
BUT KEVIN HAS OTHER PLANS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE JUST LEAVING LIKE THIS.
HE STAYED OUT ALL NIGHT
PARTYING WITH THE OLD CREW.
AND I JUST - I KNEW THAT
THAT WAS THE MARK,
THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
Narrator: COMING UP, IS KEVIN'S
LATEST BENDER THE LAST STRAW?
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
I SEEN HIM.
Narrator: FOR EIGHT YEARS,
DONNA BROWN HAS BEEN VICTIM
TO HER HUSBAND KEVIN'S
UNCONTROLLABLE RAGE.
SHE THINKS HE'S FINALLY CHANGED
UNTIL, ONCE AGAIN,
HIS DARK SIDE
SHOWS ITSELF STRONGER THAN EVER.
SO WHEN HE GOT OFF PAROLE,
HE DID A COMPLETE 180?
HE STARTED
SCREAMING AND YELLING -
THE OLD KEVIN
CAME BACK OUT FULL FORCE.
CALM DOWN!
YOU'RE GETTING ON MY NERVES!
WAY MORE VIOLENT
THAN BEFORE.
[ SNIFFS ]
EVEN NOW, DONNA REMAINS
IN ABSOLUTE DENIAL.
I WAS ASHAMED
TO GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BECAUSE OF WHAT I FELT
OTHER PEOPLE WOULD SAY,
LIKE, "OH, THIS IS
YOUR FOURTH RELATIONSHIP."
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT
WITH AT LEAST
ONE OF THE CHILDREN'S FATHER,
BECAUSE I WASN'T
PROUD OF MY PAST CHOICES.
GET OUT MY FACE.
Narrator: SHE TAKES THE ABUSE
FOR TWO MORE YEARS,
PUTTING UP WITH BEHAVIOR THAT
THREATENS NOT ONLY HER LIFE,
BUT THE LIVES
OF HER SIX CHILDREN.
Dr. Jordan: SHE'S PLAYING
MIND GAMES WITH HERSELF,
ADAPTING AND COMPLETELY
AMELIORATING WHAT HE'S DOING
INTO SOMETHING THAT'S HARMLESS.
IT JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING.
SOMETHING BAD
IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.
IT JUST CAN'T
GO ON THIS WAY FOREVER.
Narrator: IN NOVEMBER 2006,
DONNA PLANS A WEEKEND TO TRY
AND REPAIR THEIR MARRIAGE.
OKAY.
SEE YOU IN A LITTLE WHILE.
SHE AND KEVIN ARRANGE FOR
THE KIDS TO STAY WITH FAMILY.
ON THE FIRST NIGHT,
THEY HOST A BIRTHDAY PARTY
FOR SOME FRIENDS.
CHEERS! WHOO!
AND I WAS REALLY ANTICIPATING
HAVING A NICE TIME.
Narrator:
EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT...
UNTIL KEVIN'S BROTHER
STARTS ARGUING
WITH THE BIRTHDAY GIRL
ABOUT THE MUSIC.
YOU BETTER
GET OUT MY FACE!
SHUT UP!
THAT'S WHY
I HATE YOU AND YOUR MAMA!
SO IT WASN'T TURNING OUT
THE WAY WE PLANNED IT.
Narrator:
THE PARTY IS CLEARLY OVER.
WHERE YOU GOING, KEVIN?
YOU ACT LIKE YOU'RE MY P.O.
I CAN GO AND COME AS I PLEASE.
BUT KEVIN'S NIGHT
IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
DONNA KNOWS IT COULD BE HOURS
BEFORE HER HUSBAND COMES HOME,
IF HE MAKES IT HOME AT ALL.
SHE DECIDES TO GO TO BED.
MEANWHILE,
DONNA'S FRIEND WILLIAM
RUNS INTO KEVIN
AT A NEARBY CLUB.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
YOU CAN ALWAYS
COME WITH ME.
Riley:
HE WAS DRINKING ALCOHOL,
AND HE WAS BEING
VERY LOUD IN THE CLUB.
AND THEN
THE OWNERS AND EVERYBODY
WAS LOOKING AT HIM LIKE,
"BILL, YOUR FRIEND
IS GETTING A LITTLE OUTRAGEOUS."
HE WAS REAL DIFFERENT
THAT NIGHT.
HE EVEN TRIED
TO DO SOME DRUGS AT THE BAR.
Narrator:
KEVIN STARTS MAKING THREATS.
Riley: I SENSED THAT HE WAS ON
SOME DRUGS REAL HEAVY THAT NIGHT
BESIDES THE ALCOHOL,
BECAUSE HE WAS RANTING
AND RAVING IN THERE.
AND THEN ME AND HIM
ALMOST GOT INTO IT.
Narrator: THE BOUNCERS THROW AN
ENRAGED KEVIN OUT OF THE CLUB.
Riley:
HE LEFT THERE WITH AN ATTITUDE,
AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
I SEEN HIM.
THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: DONNA HEARS KEVIN
STUMBLING BACK INTO THEIR APARTMENT.
WHEN HE STARTS RANTING,
SHE INSTANTLY KNOWS HE'S HIGH.
BUT IT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
IT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
Donna: MY SPIRIT SAID,
"DON'T GO TO SLEEP.
"YOU NEED TO GET UP
AND YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE
AS SOON AS YOU CAN."
AND THEN THAT OTHER PART OF ME
LIKE, "NAH.
"YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS
A MILLION TIMES.
HE'LL GO ON AND ON AND ON,
AND HE'LL EVENTUALLY STOP."
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
Narrator:
BUT DONNA CAN'T SLEEP.
KEVIN SEEMS EVEN MORE
OUT OF CONTROL THAN USUAL.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
Donna:
THIS NIGHT WAS JUST DIFFERENT.
I FELT IT IN MY STOMACH.
I FELT THAT
IT WASN'T RIGHT WITH HIM.
AND HE WAS PUNCHING DOORS.
AND I HEAR HIM SAY,
"I'M GONNA KILL THIS BITCH.
I'M GONNA HURT HER.
I'M GONNA **** HER UP."
Narrator: SOMEHOW,
DONNA PUSHES HER FEARS ASIDE
AND MANAGES
TO FALL BACK TO SLEEP.
IT'S SOMETHING SHE'LL REGRET
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
SHE WAKES UP TO A FIST
HITTING HER IN THE FACE.
[ SCREAMING ]
AND THIS WAS
THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT,
"KEVIN DONE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN,
AND SOMEBODY'S IN HERE
ATTACKING ME,"
BECAUSE
HE HAD NO REASON TO HIT ME.
[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]
Narrator:
BUT IT'S NO INTRUDER.
KEVIN IS SAVAGELY BEATING HER.
DONNA SQUEEZES KEVIN'S
CROTCH HARD, HOPING HE'LL STOP.
[ BOTH GRUNTING ]
STARTLED,
KEVIN STOPS TEMPORARILY,
GIVING DONNA THE CHANCE
TO ESCAPE TO THE LIVING ROOM.
Donna: AND I SAID TO MYSELF,
"THIS IS IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL."
I MEAN,
I WAS GETTING THE POLICE.
HE WAS GONNA GO TO JAIL.
I COULDN'T TAKE NO MORE OF THAT.
BEFORE I COULD EVEN
GET TO THE PHONE,
HE COMES BEHIND ME
AND HE PUNCHES ME.
HE HIT ME SO HARD
THAT IT TOOK THE WIND FROM ME.
[ GASPING ]
Narrator: DONNA'S
NOW FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.
[ SCREAMING ]
AND HE GRABS ME FROM BEHIND,
AND NOW HE'S TRYING TO PUNCH ME.
[ GASPING ]
AND HE STARTS TO CHOKE ME.
[ COUGHING, GAGGING ]
THE LOOK IN HIS FACE,
HIS EYES WERE SO BIG.
I COULD SEE VEINS.
WHEN I LOOKED AT HIM,
HE LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER.
AND I REMEMBER JUST SINKING.
AND IF HE GETS ME THERE
AND I CAN'T BREATHE,
IT'S OVER FOR ME.
I MEAN, MY KIDS
WERE FLASHING IN MY EYES.
MY FAMILY, ME DYING.
HE'S GONNA KILL ME.
[ CHOKING ]
Narrator: AS DONNA DESPERATELY
FIGHTS TO GET KEVIN OFF HER,
SHE REACHES
FOR THE NEAREST OBJECT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A KNIFE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF KNIFE
IT IS AT THE TIME.
I KNOW I GRAB IT AND I JUST -
I POKE HIM WITH IT.
Narrator:
KEVIN COLLAPSES TO THE FLOOR.
AND I JUST GOT UP, AND I RAN.
Narrator:
DONNA LOOKS BACK AT HER HUSBAND.
HE'S BLEEDING BADLY,
AND HE'S NOT MOVING.
I SAW THE BLOOD, AND THEN
I REALIZED THAT HE NEEDS HELP.
Narrator: DONNA CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT SHE'S DONE.
SOMEBODY!
SHE'S FACED WITH
AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE DECISION -
GET OUT OR GO BACK
AND TRY TO HELP KEVIN.
IN THE END, SHE FOLLOWS
HER INSTINCTS AS A NURSE.
Donna: I CHOOSE
TO COME BACK AND HELP HIM,
AND I'M RUNNING AROUND.
I'M LOOKING FOR STUFF,
AND I'M TRAINED FOR THIS.
AND I CAN'T EVEN THINK
TO GO AND GET A CLEAN TOWEL.
BUT I'M LOOKING AND I GRAB
A SHIRT AND APPLY PRESSURE.
I'M TALKING TO HIM,
AND HE SAYS, "IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OVER NOW."
HE SAYS, "IT'S OVER NOW."
Narrator: DESPITE EVERYTHING,
DONNA STILL CAN'T LEAVE HIS SIDE.
IN THIS MOMENT,
SHE WANTS NOTHING MORE
THAN TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
Donna: I'M TRYING DESPERATELY
TO GET HIM TO BREATHE,
AND I WAS DIZZY, STILL IN PAIN.
I'M SCARED.
I'M LOOKING AT HIM LAYING HERE,
AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator:
AFTER DONNA CALLS 911,
AN AMBULANCE
ARRIVES WITHIN MINUTES.
THE KNIFE PIERCED KEVIN
RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART.
AN HOUR LATER, HE'S PRONOUNCED
DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.
DONNA IS ARRESTED AT THE SCENE
AND LATER CHARGED
WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
HER BAIL IS SET AT $15,000.
Riley: IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME
NONE AT ALL
THAT HE WOULD DO THAT TO HER.
THAT SECOND PERSONALITY OF HIS
WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
HE WAS REAL EVIL.
EVIL.
WORDS CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE
ALL THOSE EMOTIONS
I'M GOING THROUGH.
YOU NEVER MEANT TO KILL HIM?
NO. I NEVER MEANT
TO KILL HIM. NEVER.
MY WHOLE WORLD JUST FLASHED
BEFORE ME, MY WHOLE LIFE,
LIKE I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.
Narrator:
AFTER POSTING BAIL,
DONNA HAS TO WAIT FOUR YEARS
FOR HER CASE TO GO TO TRIAL.
IF CONVICTED, SHE COULD FACE
UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON.
STILL TRYING TO WORK, STILL
TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS,
STILL TRYING TO HOLD MYSELF
TOGETHER, 'CAUSE I'M SINKING.
I'M SINKING SO FAST.
Narrator: IN THE END,
DONNA IS FOUND NOT GUILTY.
THE JURY CONCLUDES THAT DONNA
ACTED OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE.
Donna: NO MATTER
WHAT HIS FAMILY THINKS,
NO MATTER
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME,
GOD KNOWS
THAT I AM NOT A MURDERER,
AND I HAD STUCK BY A MAN
THAT DIDN'T DESERVE
FIVE MINUTES OF MY TIME.
WITH DONNA, YOU HAVE A WOMAN
WHO HAS ALL OF HER DREAMS
WRAPPED UP
IN THIS PERFECT FAMILY,
THIS NUCLEAR FAMILY,
THIS HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD.
AND YOU HAVE KEVIN,
THE MANIPULATIVE DRUG DEALER
WHO SEES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PLAY THE ROLE THAT
DONNA NEEDS TO FULFILL HER LIFE.
IT WAS THE PERFECT STORM.
THAT PERFECT STORM
ALMOST COST HER HER LIFE.
[ COUGHING, GAGGING ]
SHE'S FOUND HER PRINCE CHARMING
AND THE PERFECT DAD
FOR HER CHILDREN.
I FELT THAT
HE WOULD PROTECT THEM.
Narrator:
BUT AS IS OFTEN THE CASE,
IT'S A LITTLE TOO GOOD
TO BE TRUE.
I NEVER KNEW
WHEN HE WAS GONNA SNAP.
Narrator: THIS PRINCE
HAS A CLOSET FULL OF DEMONS.
Dr. Jordan:
IT'S A PERFECT STORM
THAT'S REALLY
JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Narrator:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE
BEFORE A DESPERATE WIFE TAKES
MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.
HE LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER.
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
MEET DONNA BROWN.
IN THE EARLY '90s, LIFE IS GOOD
FOR THIS SUCCESSFUL SINGLE MOM.
SHE HAS A GOOD JOB AS A NURSE
TECHNICIAN AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE.
I LOVE TO SEE THEM HEAL
AND GET BETTER AND WALK AWAY.
Woman:
HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M GOOD. YOU GONE?
YES, I'M GONE.
ALL RIGHT. TAKE IT EASY.
DONNA IS A HARDWORKING WOMAN.
SHE'S VERY DEVOTED TO HER KIDS.
Narrator:
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
DONNA SEEMS LIKE A WOMAN
WHO'S GOT HER ACT TOGETHER.
CHECK ON MR. HAWKINS IN ROOM 4.
HE HAD A ROUGH NIGHT.
I HAVE KNOWN DONNA
SINCE WE WAS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD.
DONNA'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL PERSON.
SHE IS ONE IN A MILLION.
SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW.
Narrator: BUT DEEP DOWN,
DONNA IS VULNERABLE.
HER DAD
BAILED ON THE FAMILY EARLY ON,
AND HER MOM GOT SUCKED INTO
A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ADDICTION.
AT AN EARLY AGE FOR DONNA,
I TOOK A WRONG TURN IN LIFE.
I BECAME A DRUG ABUSER.
Narrator:
AND WHEN IT COMES TO MEN,
IT'S BEEN
ONE LONG STRING OF HEARTACHES.
YASMIN -
THAT'S MY FIRST CHILD.
HER FATHER WAS KIND OF,
LIKE, MY FIRST LOVE.
WE WERE TOGETHER
FOR MOST OF MY TEENAGE YEARS,
AND I HAD YASMIN
AT THE AGE OF 18.
WE GREW UP AND GREW APART.
Narrator: BOYFRIEND NUMBER TWO,
EDDIE, ISN'T MUCH OF AN IMPROVEMENT.
WE HAD A BABY -
A SON, JOSHUA, MY SECOND CHILD.
JOSHUA'S FATHER HIT ME ONCE,
AND I CALLED THE POLICE
AND I HAD HIM ARRESTED.
HE FLED THE COUNTRY,
WENT BACK TO SANTO DOMINGO.
Narrator:
ENTER MAN NUMBER THREE, ROGER.
HE SEEMS LIKE A STRAIGHT-UP GUY
WITH A SOLID MILITARY CAREER.
Donna:
I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS MARRIED,
AND SO THAT KIND OF
DESTROYED THE RELATIONSHIP.
AND ALSO I FOUND OUT
THAT I WAS PREGNANT.
Narrator: DONNA GIVES ROGER A
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE BUT KEEPS THE BABY.
AT THIS POINT, SHE'S RAISING
TWO GIRLS AND A BOY.
THEN, A FEW MONTHS
AFTER BREAKING UP WITH ROGER,
DONNA UNEXPECTEDLY
RECONNECTS WITH EDDIE.
HOPING FOR
SOME SEMBLANCE OF A FAMILY,
SHE GIVES HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, EDDIE CAN'T
LIVE UP TO DONNA'S STANDARDS,
AND THE RELATIONSHIP
EXPIRES QUICKLY...
THOUGH NOT BEFORE
SHE'S PREGNANT YET AGAIN
WITH HER FOURTH CHILD, JONATHAN.
DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
DONNA JUST GOT IT IN HER HEAD
THAT SHE NEEDED A MAN
TO COMPLETE HER.
SHE NEVER REALLY
HAD A MOMENT IN HER ADULT LIFE
WHERE SHE WAS JUST SINGLE,
HOLDING STILL, LOVING LIFE.
IT WAS ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BOYFRIEND.
Narrator: AT 26,
DONNA'S BATTING ZERO WITH MEN,
AND SHE'LL HAVE TO RAISE
HER FOUR YOUNG KIDS ON HER OWN.
Donna:
I JUST DECIDED AT THAT TIME
THAT I WAS
JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON MY KIDS.
Narrator:
STILL, SHE DREAMS THAT ONE DAY,
SHE'LL FIND
A FATHER FOR HER FAMILY.
TWO YEARS LATER, DONNA'S
ON HER WAY TO SEE A GIRLFRIEND
WHEN A YOUNG MAN
CATCHES HER EYE.
AND THEN AN ANGEL
WALKS UP ON ME.
YOU THINK I'M GONNA
JUST LET YOU WALK PAST ME?
Donna: HE WALKED OVER TO ME,
AND HE SAID, "HI, CUTIE."
[ LAUGHS ]
AND HE WAS SO FUNNY.
I JUST KEPT WALKING.
HE FOLLOWED ME.
HE FOLLOWED ME
FOR, LIKE, FOUR BLOCKS.
HE HAD A PERSONALITY THAT
JUST MADE ME SO BUBBLY INSIDE.
I JUST COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING.
Narrator: KEVIN IS CHARMING,
DIFFERENT FROM ANY MAN SHE'S EVER KNOWN.
SO YOU AND HIM
HAVING DINNER OR SOMETHING?
Donna: HE WAS DETERMINED
TO GET TO KNOW WHO I WAS.
AND HE WAS CUTE.
HE WAS REALLY HANDSOME
AND WELL-DRESSED AND FUNNY.
OKAY.
WELL, HOW ABOUT...
Narrator: KEVIN JACKSON
TRAILS DONNA FOR BLOCKS.
WHEN SHE TURNS HIM DOWN
FOR A DATE,
HE WON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. BYE.
FINALLY, SHE GIVES IN.
BYE.BYE.
YOU CRAZY, KEVIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
Donna: I HAVE NEVER
MET A GUY LIKE THAT.
HE HAD A WAY WITH WORDS
TO GET YOU TO SMILE
[Chuckling]
AND SAY YES TO ANYTHING.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
Narrator: DONNA'S INSTANTLY
HOOKED AND THINKS THIS TIME,
SHE JUST MIGHT HAVE
FOUND MR. RIGHT.
SO, HOW WOULD AN OUTSIDER
DESCRIBE THE TWO OF YOU,
DONNA AND KEVIN,
AS A COUPLE?
PROBABLY INSEPARABLE...
BECAUSE
WE WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER.
WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER
THAT BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
WE WERE TOGETHER EVERY DAY.
KEVIN SEEMS LIKE
THE MODEL BOYFRIEND
DONNA'S BEEN SEARCHING FOR.
EVERY DAY, HE BRINGS HER LUNCH
AT THE HOSPITAL
AND PICKS HER UP AFTER WORK.
ALL RIGHT.
WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS,
DONNA IS FALLING DEEPLY IN LOVE.
WE CONFIDED IN EACH OTHER A LOT.
WE REALLY GOT CLOSE.
WE BECAME FRIENDS.
BEST OF FRIENDS.
YOU HAD A DEEP EMOTIONAL BOND
WITH KEVIN, DIDN'T YOU?
YES, I DID.
THIS WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME
ON A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL.
THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP
I HAD WITH KEVIN
IS WHAT I WANTED ALL ALONG.
WHEN KEVIN STARTS SHOWING
INTEREST IN DONNA'S KIDS,
IT SEALS THE DEAL.
HE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM,
AND I LOVED HIM ALONE
FOR JUST THAT MATTER,
BECAUSE IF I WAS GONNA
BE WITH ANYBODY,
THEY HAD TO
LOVE MY CHILDREN.
Donna: HOW'S MY BABIES?
A YEAR LATER, KEVIN MOVES IN.
WHILE DONNA'S AT WORK
DURING THE DAY,
KEVIN STAYS HOME
AND TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS.
AND YOU TRUSTED HIM?
YES, I DID.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT MY HOUSE, MY CHILDREN.
I FELT THAT
HE WOULD PROTECT THEM.
NOW, YOU WERE WORKING
ALL THE TIME,
MAKING THE MONEY,
PAYING THE RENT.
BUT KEVIN'S NOT WORKING MUCH.
EXPLAIN THAT.
I NEVER CONCERNED MYSELF WITH IT
IN THE BEGINNING,
BECAUSE HE WAS JUST
ALWAYS DOING EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME
THAT HE WASN'T WORKING.
DONNA DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE MEN
JUST BASICALLY USES HER
FOR HER STABILITY, HER SECURITY,
AND SHE ENABLES THEM
TO BE LAZY SLACKERS.
SO, YOU HAVE TO ASK,
IS EVERY ONE
OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS
GOING TO END BADLY?
Narrator: STILL, FOR NOW,
DONNA'S TRUST IN KEVIN SEEMS VALID.
I DIDN'T WANT
TO BE A SINGLE PARENT.
I WANTED MY CHILDREN
TO HAVE A MOTHER AND A FATHER,
'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE
MY MOTHER AND FATHER
CONSISTENTLY IN MY LIFE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: BUT THE TRUTH IS,
KEVIN ISN'T EXACTLY MR. MOM.
WHEN MY MOM WAS AT WORK,
HE WOULD BE HOME
TAKING CARE OF US.
HOWEVER, HE WOULD BE ASLEEP
MOST OF THE TIME.
SO IT WOULD BE
MY OLDER SISTER YASMIN
WHO WOULD HAVE TO COOK, CLEAN.
SO SHE WAS LIKE OUR SECOND MOM
WHEN MY MOM WOULD BE AT WORK.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
Narrator: WHEN DONNA FINALLY
SPOTS THE FIRST RED FLAGS,
SHE'S COMPLETELY
CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
YOU CRAZY.
WHO YOU ON THE PHONE WITH?
Donna: AFTER THE FIRST YEAR
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP,
THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE.
DON'T -
GET OFF THE DAMN PHONE.
FOR INSTANCE,
THE KIDS WEREN'T ALLOWED
TO ANSWER THE DOORS
IF SOMEONE CAME.
EVERY TIME THAT PHONE RANG,
HE WANTED TO KNOW
WHO WAS ON THE OTHER LINE.
SHUT UP.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF
THAT MAYBE IT'S SOME THINGS
THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE
TO PLEASE HIM.
SO I WENT ALONG WITH IT,
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T LIKE IT.
KEVIN. BABY, I'M SORRY.
[ Ringing ]
Narrator: DONNA'S MOTHER ALSO
STARTS TO SEE REASON FOR CONCERN.
KEVIN?
WHO'S THIS?
YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS.
HE WOULD NEVER,
EVER LOOK YOU EYE TO EYE
WHEN HE SPOKE TO YOU
OR WHEN HE TALKED TO YOU.
AND I KNEW HE WAS JEALOUS
AND MISTRUSTING.
HE WASN'T MY CUP OF TEA.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY WANT HIM
FOR MY DAUGHTER, YOU KNOW?
I WANTED THE BEST FOR HER.
OH, HI, MAMA.
OH, OH, WAIT.
I'M SO SORRY.
Narrator: SOON, KEVIN STARTS
OBSESSIVELY CHECKING UP ON DONNA
WHEN SHE'S AT WORK.
[ Sweetly ] HEY, KEVIN.
WHERE YOU BEEN AT?!
BABY, I'VE BEEN BUSY
WITH MY PATIENTS.
Donna: IT BECAME OVERBEARING
THAT I HAD TO EXPLAIN
WHERE I'M GOING ALL THE TIME.
WELL, I DON'T CARE
IF YOU'RE AT WORK.
I CALLED YOU
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO!
THERE ARE ALWAYS WARNING SIGNS
FOR THESE WOMEN WHO TEND TO
ENABLE THE MEN IN THEIR LIVES.
AND YET
THEY RATIONALIZE THEM AWAY.
"BUT I ALREADY
HAVE SO MUCH INVESTED.
IT'S ME WHO NEEDS TO CHANGE,
NOT HIM."
Narrator: DONNA'S FANTASY FAMILY
IS ABOUT TO SHATTER.
WELL, I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS REALLY WRONG WITH HIM
WHEN I WENT TO THE STORE ONE DAY
WHILE HE WAS ASLEEP.
Narrator: COMING UP, KEVIN
COMPLETES HIS TRANSFORMATION
FROM DREAM MAN TO DEVIL.
WHAT?
YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW.
[ CLATTER ]
Narrator:
DONNA BROWN HAS SPENT
MUCH OF HER LIFE
CHASING AFTER MEN,
HOPING TO FIND ONE
WHO'S MARRIAGE MATERIAL.
UNFORTUNATELY, HER LATEST LOVE
IS BEGINNING
TO SHOW HIS DARK SIDE.
LENNY?
AS DONNA
WALKS HOME FROM THE MARKET,
SHE RUNS INTO LENNY WASHINGTON,
ONE OF
HER BOYFRIEND KEVIN'S BUDDIES.
TELL KEVIN
TO GIVE ME A CALL.
I WILL. I WILL.
GOOD SEEING YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
BABY, YOU HUNGRY?
YEAH.
LATER THAT EVENING,
DONNA CASUALLY TELLS KEVIN
ABOUT BUMPING INTO HIS FRIEND.
HE TOLD ME
TO TELL YOU HI.
ALL RIGHT, I MADE US
SOME CHEESEBURGERS, BABY.
WHAT?
YOU ACT
LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW.
[ CLATTER ]
AAH!
Donna: KEVIN WALKED OVER TO ME
AND SLAPPED ME.
I WAS JUST SO SURPRISED AND HURT
THAT HE HIT ME,
AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY.
AND HE IMMEDIATELY
RAN OVER TO WHERE I WAS
AND GRABBED ME AND HUGGED ME.
AND THEN HE TOLD ME
OVER AND OVER, "I'M SO SORRY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I HIT YOU."
AND HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT
THIS PARTICULAR FRIEND OF HIS
HAD CARRIED ON
WITH HIS GIRLFRIENDS
BEHIND HIS BACK IN THE PAST.
AND SO I FELT SORRY FOR HIM,
BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS FRIEND.
Narrator:
DONNA ACCEPTS KEVIN'S APOLOGY
AND CONVINCES HERSELF
IT WAS A ONETIME EVENT.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
AFTER ALL,
KICKING KEVIN TO THE CURB
WOULD MEAN
THE END OF HER FAIRY TALE.
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THE SPELL KEVIN HAS ON DONNA
IS SO STRONG,
IT EVEN DRIVES HER MOTHER AWAY.
WHY YOU COME IN HERE
ARGUING ALL OF A SUDDEN?
I'M NOT ARGUING.
HE AND I GOT INTO IT,
AND...
ARE YOU TAKING CARE
OF MY DAUGHTER?
I'M TAKING CARE
OF YOUR DAUGHTER.
...DONNA TOOK HIS SIDE.
SHE SAID, "THIS IS MY MAN,
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO LEAVE."
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
YOU NEED TO LEAVE.
YOU'RE ASKING
YOUR MAMA TO LEAVE?
YES, MAMA.
IT HURT AN AWFUL LOT.
HE IS TRYING, MAMA.
BUT SHE BACKED HIM UP
KNOWING THE TYPE PERSON HE WAS,
BUT SHE WAS COMMITTED TO HIM.
I NEVER WENT BACK AROUND
AFTER THAT.
Narrator: PRETTY SOON,
DONNA STARTS TO NOTICE
THAT KEVIN'S ACTING PARANOID.
YOU LOCKED THE DOOR?
DON'T MOVE.
KEVIN, BABY. COME TO BED.
Donna: AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY
NOTICED THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.
I WAS BLAMING MYSELF.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,
"WHAT DID I DO WRONG?"
NO. I KNOW I HEARD SOMETHING.
I KNOW I...
AND IT WASN'T ME. IT WAS HIM.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT, YOU CAN'T ALWAYS SEE IT.
WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE,
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
Narrator: JUST A FEW WEEKS
LATER, DONNA DISCOVERS SOMETHING
THAT SHAKES
HER FAITH IN KEVIN TO THE CORE.
Donna: I'M IN THE HABIT
OF WHEN I'M DOING MY LAUNDRY,
I CHECK THE POCKETS
OF EVERYTHING
IN CASE THERE'S SOME MONEY.
BUT THIS DAY, I FOUND MONEY,
BUT IT WASN'T JUST MONEY,
YOU KNOW?
IT WAS MONEY
WITH WHITE POWDER IN IT...
...WHICH I KNOW IS COCAINE.
MY HEART JUST SUNK.
NOW MY MIND IS RACING.
HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN DOING THIS?
AND THE FACT THAT HE HAD IT IN
MY HOUSE AROUND MY CHILDREN...
Narrator:
DONNA IS DEVASTATED.
MEMORIES OF HER MOTHER'S DRUG
PROBLEMS COME FLOODING BACK.
Donna: I DESPISE DRUGS.
I DECIDED A LONG TIME AGO
THAT I WAS NEVER GOING TO BE
A DRUG ADDICT.
I WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE THERE
FOR MY CHILDREN.
Narrator: YET A PART OF DONNA
IS ALSO RELIEVED.
THIS EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WHEN
SHE FINDS DRUGS IN HIS POCKET,
INSTEAD OF SAYING, "OH, MY GOD!
KEVIN IS DOING DRUGS OR EVEN
DEALING DRUGS," SHE'S RELIEVED.
"NOW I HAVE AN EXPLANATION
FOR HIS VIOLENT
"AND ERRATIC
AND CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR.
IT'S THE DRUGS!
THIS MUST BE FIXABLE."
Narrator: DONNA ISN'T ABOUT TO LET
KEVIN'S DRUG USE HURT HER FAMILY.
Donna: HE HAS TO STOP THIS.
I HAVE BABIES IN HERE.
I DIDN'T EVER WANT MY CHILDREN
TO BE AROUND DRUGS EVER.
Narrator: SO THAT EVENING,
DONNA BRACES HERSELF
AND CONFRONTS HIM.
WE NEED TO TALK.
ABOUT WHAT?
KEVIN, I FOUND...
SHE URGES KEVIN
TO GO TO REHAB,
CONFIDENT HE CAN CHANGE,
JUST LIKE HER MOTHER DID.
YOU'RE DOING DRUGS,
KEVIN.
SHE STOOD BY ME
THROUGH MY DRUG ADDICTION.
SHE DIDN'T APPROVE, BUT SHE DID
EVERYTHING THAT SHE COULD
TO HELP ME THROUGH IT.
Donna: AND I SAID, "WELL, KEVIN,
YOU HAVE TO STOP USING.
"I'VE SEEN IT DESTROY SO MANY
PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT I LOVE,
EVEN MY MOTHER."
I GAVE HIM AN ULTIMATUM.
THIS HAS TO STOP,
AND IF YOU DON'T STOP...
I SAID,
"YOU EITHER STOP DOING DRUGS"...
GET OUT OF MY FACE.
"...OR YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE."
NO, I'M NOT.
[ GROANS ]
AND HE KICKED ME IN MY MOUTH.
Narrator: DONNA RUNS TO HER NEIGHBOR'S
APARTMENT TO CALL THE POLICE.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
SHE REPORTS WHAT KEVIN DID.
ARE YOU SERIOUS,
DONNA?
BUT SHE LEAVES OUT
A CRITICAL PIECE OF INFORMATION
FOR THE SAKE
OF PROTECTING HER MAN.
LOOK WHAT YOU DID
TO MY MOUTH!
Donna: I DIDN'T TELL THEM
ABOUT THE DRUGS.
I DIDN'T WANT HIM
TO GET IN TROUBLE.
THEY COULD SEE MY MOUTH WAS
SWOLLEN NOW AND IT WAS BLEEDING.
THEY ASKED ME DID I WANT TO
PRESS CHARGES, AND I SAID, "NO.
I JUST WANT HIM TO GET OUT."
HERE'S HIS STUFF.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YES, I'M SERIOUS.
REALLY, DONNA?
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
KEVIN BEGS DONNA
TO TAKE HIM BACK.
BUT SHE REFUSES, DECIDING SHE'S
DONE WITH HER VIOLENT BOYFRIEND.
BYE.
THAT IS, UNTIL
SHE GETS SOME SHOCKING NEWS
THAT COULD HANDCUFF HER TO KEVIN
FOR GOOD.
Narrator: IN 1997, DONNA BROWN'S
A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR
LIVING IN HARLEM, NEW YORK.
AFTER HER BOYFRIEND
KICKS HER IN THE FACE,
SHE KICKS HIM OUT OF HER LIFE...
UNTIL TWO WEEKS LATER,
WHEN SHE GETS NEWS
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
I LEARNED THAT I'M PREGNANT.
KEVIN,
I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
Narrator: DONNA'S STILL NOT SURE
SHE WANTS TO TAKE KEVIN BACK.
BUT SHE FEELS SHE'S AT LEAST
GOT TO TELL HIM THE NEWS.
WHAT'S WRONG?
KEVIN, I'M PREGNANT.
HOW DID KEVIN REACT
TO THE NEWS OF YOUR PREGNANCY?
KEVIN WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY.
HE WAS SO PROUD.
I'M GONNA BE A FATHER?!
THAT'S GREAT!
Donna:
HE JUST TALKED ON AND ON
ABOUT HOW GREAT OF A FATHER
HE WAS GONNA BE,
AND MY HEART JUST MELTED.
I SAID, "AWW, HE'S SO HAPPY
HE'S FINALLY GONNA HAVE A KID."
I NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE,
AND THIS BABY WILL HELP ME.
Dr. Jordan:
SHE THINKS SHE'S DONE WITH HIM.
SHE WANTS HIM OUT.
AND YET HOW CAN SHE KICK HIM
OUT OF HER LIFE NOW?
MAYBE SHE SHOULD
GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
MAYBE HE WOULD
MAKE A GREAT FATHER.
ALL OF THESE THOUGHTS
SWIRL AROUND IN HER HEAD.
IT'S A PERFECT STORM
THAT'S REALLY
JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Narrator: FOR THE SAKE
OF HER EXPANDING FAMILY,
DONNA LETS GO OF THE PAST.
SOME DAYS REMIND HER
OF THE GOOD TIMES
THEY SHARED WHEN THEY FIRST MET.
Donna:
HE WOULD DO THE NORMAL THINGS
LIKE EAT DINNER WITH US
AND WATCH A MOVIE.
WE'D SIT AND TALK
LIKE THE OLD TIMES.
Narrator: BUT PRETTY SOON,
THE GOOD TIMES FADE.
KEVIN'S INCREASINGLY DISTURBING
BEHAVIOR OVERSHADOWS EVERYTHING.
HE'S NOT EATING.
HE'S STILL PACING THE HOUSE.
AND HE'S DOING WEIRD THINGS NOW.
I WOULD GO TO SLEEP,
AND I WAKE UP.
HE'S STILL STANDING THERE.
KEVIN,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
JUST STARING.
AND SO HIS BEHAVIOR
GOT REALLY WEIRD.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
HE WAS LIKE
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.
HE HAD THIS SPLIT PERSONALITY.
Narrator: DONNA WONDERS IF
SHE'S MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
KEVIN?
[ SNIFFS ]
ONCE YOU GET SO DEEP INTO DRUGS,
YOU LOSE REALITY, YOU KNOW?
HE WAS DEMANDING,
HE WAS POSSESSIVE.
HE WAS A VERY JEALOUS MAN.
THAT WAS ONE SIDE OF HIM.
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER SIDE.
THERE WAS A GENTLE SIDE TO HIM.
YOU CAN'T EVEN PLAY
ON THE DOGGONE VIDEO GAME.
Narrator: BUT THAT GENTLE SIDE
SHOWS ITSELF LESS AND LESS.
WHEN HE'S HIGH,
KEVIN LASHES OUT AT EVERYONE.
GO TO YOUR ROOM!
GET OUT OF HERE!
WHEN HE'S ON THEM DRUGS,
HE'S LIKE THIS,
LIKE AN EVIL PERSON.
AND HE TALKS AT YOU
WITH ATTITUDE.
AND WHEN HE'S ON DRUGS,
YOU ONLY HAVE
A MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH HIM,
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO
GET AWAY FROM HIM, TOO.
[ SIGHS ]
COME ON, DONNA.
WHY ARE YOU WITH THIS GUY,
FOR REAL?
Narrator: THOUGH DONNA
TRIES TO HIDE THE CRACKS,
IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE
THAT HER SO-CALLED HAPPY FAMILY
IS A FAKE.
I ONLY TOLERATED HIS NONSENSE
BECAUSE DONNA IS MY BEST FRIEND
AND SHE WANTED ME
TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK WITH HIM.
SHE REALLY LOVED HIM.
I'M GONNA PLAY
SOME VIDEO GAMES.
Narrator: DONNA'S KIDS NEVER KNOW
WHICH KEVIN THEY'RE GOING TO GET.
Jonathan:
THERE WOULD BE A TIME
WHERE HE WAS THIS HORRIBLE MAN,
CURSING US ALL OUT.
GO TO YOUR ROOM!
GET OUT OF HERE!
BUT THEN WHEN WE WAKE UP,
HE'S LIKE, "OH, GOOD MORNING."
AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
BE LIKE,
"WELL, WASN'T YOU
JUST MAD AT US LAST NIGHT,
"CURSING US OUT,
AND YELLING AT US,
CALLING US ALL TYPE OF NAMES?"
IT WOULD BE CONFUSING
TO ALL OF US IN THE HOUSE.
WHY YOU STILL UP?
Narrator: WHEN DONNA'S 8 MONTHS'
PREGNANT WITH THEIR TWIN GIRLS,
KEVIN'S OUTBURSTS
ONLY GET WORSE.
YOU KNOW,
YOU GET ON MY NERVES SOMETIMES.
ONE NIGHT,
HER 6-YEAR-OLD SON, JONATHAN,
IS READING IN THE LIVING ROOM.
Jonathan: I NEVER KNEW
WHEN HE WAS GONNA SNAP.
IT JUST CAME SUDDENLY.
SO, LIKE,
I WOULD JUST TRY TO AVOID IT
AND NOT GO
ANYWHERE NEAR HIS DIRECTION.
WHAT YOU CRYING FOR?
YOU'RE ACTING LIKE
A LITTLE SISSY.
YOU'RE WORSE
THAN YOUR LITTLE SISTER.
Narrator: THIS TIME, DONNA
OVERHEARS FROM THE NEXT ROOM.
LOOK, YOU DON'T BE TALKING
TO MY SON LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY!
AND I TOLD HIM
TO LEAVE JONATHAN ALONE,
DO NOT TALK TO MY BABY
LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK
THE FACT THAT I SAID "MY BABY"
PUSHED HIM OVER THE EDGE.
AT THAT MOMENT,
I JUST LEFT ON MY OWN.
I WENT IN MY ROOM
AND SLAMMED MY DOOR.
I MEAN, ALL I COULD DO IS CRY.
WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?
I'M ONLY A CHILD.
Narrator:
JONATHAN IS TERRIFIED
AS HE LISTENS TO THE HEATED
ARGUMENT OUTSIDE HIS DOOR.
I DON'T CARE HOW OLD HE IS!
KEVIN - AAH!
Jonathan:
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
ALL I COULD IMAGINE IS,
"OH, MY GOD.
I HOPE HE WOULD GET OFF MY MOM."
Narrator: KEVIN SHOVES DONNA,
AND SHE LANDS ON HER STOMACH.
[ GROANS ]
GETTING IN MY FACE AGAIN!
WHAT I TOLD YOU?!
I MANAGED
TO GET MYSELF ON THE COUCH,
AND I STAYED ON THE COUCH
FOR I THINK ABOUT FIVE OR SIX
HOURS BEFORE I EVEN GOT UP.
I JUST LAID THERE,
'CAUSE I WAS IN THAT MUCH PAIN.
Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
DONNA FEELS GUILTY ABOUT
WHAT HER KIDS HAD TO WITNESS.
[ SIGHS ]
MOMMY WANT TO TALK
TO Y'ALL.
Donna: I CAN SEE THAT MY CHILDREN
WERE BECOMING AFRAID OF HIM,
SO I'M TRYING
TO LET THE CHILDREN KNOW
THAT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING
IS NOT HEALTHY,
AND THAT I'M SORRY, TELLING THEM
HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM.
JONATHAN,
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, OKAY?
I'M SO SORRY.
WHEN YOU GROW UP,
DON'T HIT YOUR GIRLFRIENDS.
Narrator: DONNA FEELS TRAPPED
BY FEAR AND SELF-DOUBT.
SHE TELLS NO ONE
ABOUT THE ABUSE.
IF SHE HAD CONFIDED IN ME,
MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A DIFFERENT SITUATION.
MAYBE I'D HAVE RATHER
FOUGHT WITH HIM
THAN HAVE HIM FIGHT WITH HER.
YOU OKAY?
Narrator: THE PATH
DONNA'S WALKING IS TREACHEROUS,
RECRUITING HER OWN KIDS
TO KEEP HER SECRETS.
YOU, TOO, BABY. MWAH.
IT MAY GIVE HER STRENGTH
TO GET THROUGH THE SITUATION,
BUT IT GIVES KEVIN MORE STRENGTH
TO KEEP PERPETUATING THE ABUSE.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
Narrator:
SEVERAL DAYS LATER,
DONNA STILL FEELS LINGERING PAIN
FROM THE ATTACK.
EVEN WORSE,
SHE ONLY FEELS MOVEMENT
ON ONE SIDE OF HER BELLY.
KEVIN.
I'M NOT FEELING
ONE OF THE BABIES MOVE.
AND SO I TOLD HIM THAT, "LISTEN,
WE HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
I ONLY FEEL ONE CHILD MOVING."
DAMN, YOU WANT ME TO FIX THIS
OR WHAT?
WE'LL GO
AFTER I'M FINISHED.
I'M GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.
Narrator:
KEVIN RELUCTANTLY AGREES.
COME ON.
HE WENT WITH ME
TO SEE WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
I THINK HE WAS SCARED
MORE THAN ANYTHING -
SCARED OF WHAT I WOULD SAY
TO THE DOCTORS
AND IF HE PROBABLY
WOULD GET ARRESTED.
Narrator: AT THE HOSPITAL,
DONNA TELLS THEM
SHE THINKS SOMETHING MAY BE
WRONG WITH ONE OF HER BABIES.
KEVIN STAYS RIGHT BY HER SIDE.
WHEN THE DOCTOR
ASKS WHAT HAPPENED,
DONNA NEEDS TO THINK FAST.
HER ANSWER
WILL DECIDE KEVIN'S FATE.
Doctor:
DID ANYTHING HAPPEN?
COMING UP,
KEVIN'S ESCALATING DRUG HABIT
PUTS DONNA'S KIDS
DIRECTLY IN HARM'S WAY.
I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED OF HIM.
Narrator: DONNA BROWN
IS 8 MONTHS' PREGNANT
AND TERRIFIED.
A FEW DAYS AGO,
HER COCAINE-ADDICTED BOYFRIEND
ATTACKED HER.
[ GROANS ]
SHE GOES TO THE E. R.,
FEARING FOR THE HEALTH
OF HER UNBORN TWINS.
DID ANYTHING HAPPEN?
BUT INSTEAD OF TURNING KEVIN IN,
SHE COVERS FOR HIM.
I TOLD THE DOCTORS
THAT I SLID DOWN SOME STAIRS.
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT,
DONNA?
IT'S NEW YORK CITY.
IF YOU FIGHT
TOO MANY TIMES,
THEY'RE GONNA
TAKE YOUR CHILDREN AWAY.
THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN -
NOT LOSING MY KIDS.
ON TOP OF
BEING IN LOVE WITH KEVIN,
WANTING EVERYTHING TO WORK,
I THINK I WAS JUST TRYING
TO KEEP MY FAMILY TOGETHER
AND MAKE IT SANE AS POSSIBLE.
MA'AM...
THE DOCTOR
DECIDES TO INDUCE LABOR.
DONNA GIVES BIRTH
TO TWO HEALTHY TWIN GIRLS.
SHE IS NOW A MOTHER OF SIX.
I'M YOUR DADDY.
I'M YOUR DADDY.
WHEN SHE BRINGS THE BABIES HOME,
DONNA IS SURPRISED
BY HOW KEVIN HANDLES
HIS NEW ROLE AS A FATHER.
HE IS HAPPY AND HELPFUL.
THOSE TWINS, THOSE NEWBORNS,
WERE THE PERFECT EXCUSE
FOR HER TO NOT DEAL WITH KEVIN,
AND YET THEY WERE ALSO THE VERY
THING THAT BOUND KEVIN TO HER.
Narrator: BUT THE HAPPY PHASE
IS SHORT-LIVED.
KEVIN'S HAVING A HARD TIME
BREAKING HIS ADDICTION.
AND HE'S GETTING
MORE AND MORE CARELESS.
ONE AFTERNOON,
DONNA'S SON JONATHAN
COMES FACE-TO-FACE
WITH KEVIN'S HABIT.
I WOULD FIND LITTLE, LIKE, BAGS
UNDER THE CABINET,
YOU KNOW,
AND LITTLE WHITE STUFF IN IT.
AND SO I KNEW THAT
THEY WERE PROBABLY DRUG USING.
NOW I KNOW
THIS IS WHY HE'S ACTING BERSERK.
Narrator:
JONATHAN KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN KEVIN LOSES HIS TEMPER,
SO HE KEEPS WHAT HE FOUND
TO HIMSELF.
Jonathan:
I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED OF HIM.
THE EASIEST WAY TO DEAL WITH IT
WAS TO JUST GO ALONG WITH IT
AND TO NOT MAKE MATTERS WORSE.
Narrator: AS KEVIN
GROWS EVEN MORE VIOLENT,
DONNA SLIPS DEEPER INTO DENIAL.
SHE SUFFERS IN SILENCE,
TELLING NO ONE THAT KEVIN'S MADE
HER HIS PERSONAL PUNCHING BAG.
Donna: I MEAN,
I'M GETTING HIT IN THE FACE.
I'M GETTING BUSTED LIPS.
I'M HAVING BRUISES THAT
I DON'T EVEN KNOW I HAVE MYSELF.
IT NEVER ENTERED MY MIND
THAT HE WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE
TO MY DAUGHTER...
BECAUSE HAD I KNOWN,
NO WAY WOULD I HAVE EVER ALLOWED
HIM TO PUT HIS HAND ON MY CHILD.
SO, NO MATTER HOW FAR IT GOES -
PHYSICAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE,
ANY OTHER WOMAN WOULD PROBABLY
SAY, "DONNA, WALK AWAY.
BE DONE WITH THIS."
BUT SHE CAN'T GIVE UP ON KEVIN.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE DREAM,
BUT BECAUSE OF WHO SHE IS -
THE ULTIMATE ENABLER.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
Narrator: AMAZINGLY,
IT'S NOT UNTIL THE TWINS ARE 3 YEARS OLD
THAT KEVIN'S LIFESTYLE
FINALLY TAKES HIM DOWN.
HOW MUCH?
$100.
HE'S ARRESTED FOR DEALING
AND GETS SENTENCED
TO TWO TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
COULD DONNA'S NIGHTMARE
FINALLY BE OVER?
Donna: I CRIED,
BUT INSIDE, I WAS HAPPY.
I WAS HAPPY.
I KNEW
THAT HE NEEDED THE ARREST
SO THAT
HE COULD HAVE THE TIME...
WHAT YOU MEAN YOU IN JAIL,
KEVIN?
...TO SIT AND RE-EVALUATE
HIS LIFE, OUR LIFE.
Narrator: WHILE KEVIN
IS LOCKED UP ON RIKERS ISLAND,
JUST 8 MILES FROM HARLEM,
LIFE AT THE BROWN HOME
IS PEACEFUL.
Donna: EVERYTHING
JUST WENT BACK TO NORMAL.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO
WALK AROUND ON EGGSHELLS.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO REPORT
EVERY SINGLE MOVEMENT I MAKE.
Narrator: A YEAR LATER, KEVIN
IS RELEASED EARLY ON PAROLE.
I'M DOING GOOD.
INCREDIBLY, DESPITE
ALL THE LIES, DRUGS, AND ABUSE,
DONNA TAKES HIM BACK
WHEN HE VOWS TO STAY CLEAN.
I'M GONNA GO UP THERE
TO THE JANITORIAL.
THEY GOT A LITTLE OPENING,
AND I'M GONNA GO APPLY.
AND KEVIN DOES... FOR A WHILE.
HE WAS GOING TO CHURCH WITH US.
HE WAS GOING TO BED AT NIGHT.
HIS OLD FRIENDS
WASN'T ALWAYS COMING AROUND,
AND HE HAD A PAROLE OFFICER.
Jonathan: I HONESTLY WAS HAPPY,
LIKE, "WOW.
OKAY, WELL, THIS IS THE KEVIN WE
ALL KNOW ABOUT AND WE ALL LOVE."
AND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
LIKE, "WOW,
HE REALLY, REALLY CHANGED."
Narrator:
DONNA FOOLS HERSELF
INTO THINKING THAT KEVIN
IS BACK TO BEING HER DREAM MAN.
AND SHE'S NOT
THE ONLY ONE WHO'S FOOLED.
WHEN KEVIN CAME HOME FROM
PRISON, I SOFTENED UP A LITTLE.
I GAVE HIM
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
I KNOW A PERSON CAN CHANGE.
Narrator: NOW THAT
HE'S WON EVERYONE'S TRUST,
HE PLAYS THE TRUMP CARD
AND PROPOSES.
YOU REALLY BELIEVED, DONNA,
THAT KEVIN WAS THE ONE.
I TELL YOU WHAT.
IF SOMEONE
WOULD HAVE BET ME
IF I WAS GONNA BE WITH KEVIN,
I'D BET YES.
I WANTED THAT FAMILY.
I STILL DESIRED THAT FAMILY.
[ CHURCH BELLS RINGING ]
AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF A TOXIC
AND TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP,
DONNA AND KEVIN GET MARRIED.
IN DONNA'S MIND, THE RITUAL
WASHES ALL THE PAIN AWAY.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING.
SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE.
I WAS HOPEFUL
IT WOULD BE A HAPPY ENDING.
SHE HAD A PERFECT FAMILY.
SHE WAS MARRIED,
AND SHE HAD A HUSBAND.
SHE HAD HER CHILDREN.
Narrator: EVERYTHING SEEMS
TO BE FALLING INTO PLACE.
KEVIN IS PLAYING THE PART
OF THE GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER,
OR SO IT SEEMS
TO DONNA AND HIS PAROLE OFFICER.
HELLO, GOOD MORNING.
HE GOES TO WHATEVER PROGRAM
SHE SENDS HIM, HE'S WORKING.
THE TIMES THAT SHE COMES,
HE'S THERE.
SHE COMES ON SUNDAY MORNING.
WE'RE GETTING READY FOR CHURCH.
SHE LIKES WHAT SHE SEES.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
Narrator: A YEAR AFTER
GETTING OUT OF PRISON,
KEVIN IS
RELEASED FROM PAROLE EARLY.
ARE YOU HAPPY?
YES.
YOU GET US SOME WINE.
I'LL COOK DINNER.
ALL RIGHT?
AND ON THE VERY FIRST NIGHT
OF HIS FREEDOM
FROM NO MORE PAROLE,
DONNA, WHAT HAPPENED?
THAT'S THE BEGINNING
OF OUR NIGHTMARE.
BABY, IT'S OKAY.
I'M GONNA BE RIGHT BACK.
DONNA WANTS TO CELEBRATE
WITH A NICE DINNER,
BUT KEVIN HAS OTHER PLANS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE JUST LEAVING LIKE THIS.
HE STAYED OUT ALL NIGHT
PARTYING WITH THE OLD CREW.
AND I JUST - I KNEW THAT
THAT WAS THE MARK,
THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
Narrator: COMING UP, IS KEVIN'S
LATEST BENDER THE LAST STRAW?
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
I SEEN HIM.
Narrator: FOR EIGHT YEARS,
DONNA BROWN HAS BEEN VICTIM
TO HER HUSBAND KEVIN'S
UNCONTROLLABLE RAGE.
SHE THINKS HE'S FINALLY CHANGED
UNTIL, ONCE AGAIN,
HIS DARK SIDE
SHOWS ITSELF STRONGER THAN EVER.
SO WHEN HE GOT OFF PAROLE,
HE DID A COMPLETE 180?
HE STARTED
SCREAMING AND YELLING -
THE OLD KEVIN
CAME BACK OUT FULL FORCE.
CALM DOWN!
YOU'RE GETTING ON MY NERVES!
WAY MORE VIOLENT
THAN BEFORE.
[ SNIFFS ]
EVEN NOW, DONNA REMAINS
IN ABSOLUTE DENIAL.
I WAS ASHAMED
TO GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BECAUSE OF WHAT I FELT
OTHER PEOPLE WOULD SAY,
LIKE, "OH, THIS IS
YOUR FOURTH RELATIONSHIP."
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT
WITH AT LEAST
ONE OF THE CHILDREN'S FATHER,
BECAUSE I WASN'T
PROUD OF MY PAST CHOICES.
GET OUT MY FACE.
Narrator: SHE TAKES THE ABUSE
FOR TWO MORE YEARS,
PUTTING UP WITH BEHAVIOR THAT
THREATENS NOT ONLY HER LIFE,
BUT THE LIVES
OF HER SIX CHILDREN.
Dr. Jordan: SHE'S PLAYING
MIND GAMES WITH HERSELF,
ADAPTING AND COMPLETELY
AMELIORATING WHAT HE'S DOING
INTO SOMETHING THAT'S HARMLESS.
IT JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING.
SOMETHING BAD
IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.
IT JUST CAN'T
GO ON THIS WAY FOREVER.
Narrator: IN NOVEMBER 2006,
DONNA PLANS A WEEKEND TO TRY
AND REPAIR THEIR MARRIAGE.
OKAY.
SEE YOU IN A LITTLE WHILE.
SHE AND KEVIN ARRANGE FOR
THE KIDS TO STAY WITH FAMILY.
ON THE FIRST NIGHT,
THEY HOST A BIRTHDAY PARTY
FOR SOME FRIENDS.
CHEERS! WHOO!
AND I WAS REALLY ANTICIPATING
HAVING A NICE TIME.
Narrator:
EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT...
UNTIL KEVIN'S BROTHER
STARTS ARGUING
WITH THE BIRTHDAY GIRL
ABOUT THE MUSIC.
YOU BETTER
GET OUT MY FACE!
SHUT UP!
THAT'S WHY
I HATE YOU AND YOUR MAMA!
SO IT WASN'T TURNING OUT
THE WAY WE PLANNED IT.
Narrator:
THE PARTY IS CLEARLY OVER.
WHERE YOU GOING, KEVIN?
YOU ACT LIKE YOU'RE MY P.O.
I CAN GO AND COME AS I PLEASE.
BUT KEVIN'S NIGHT
IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
DONNA KNOWS IT COULD BE HOURS
BEFORE HER HUSBAND COMES HOME,
IF HE MAKES IT HOME AT ALL.
SHE DECIDES TO GO TO BED.
MEANWHILE,
DONNA'S FRIEND WILLIAM
RUNS INTO KEVIN
AT A NEARBY CLUB.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
YOU CAN ALWAYS
COME WITH ME.
Riley:
HE WAS DRINKING ALCOHOL,
AND HE WAS BEING
VERY LOUD IN THE CLUB.
AND THEN
THE OWNERS AND EVERYBODY
WAS LOOKING AT HIM LIKE,
"BILL, YOUR FRIEND
IS GETTING A LITTLE OUTRAGEOUS."
HE WAS REAL DIFFERENT
THAT NIGHT.
HE EVEN TRIED
TO DO SOME DRUGS AT THE BAR.
Narrator:
KEVIN STARTS MAKING THREATS.
Riley: I SENSED THAT HE WAS ON
SOME DRUGS REAL HEAVY THAT NIGHT
BESIDES THE ALCOHOL,
BECAUSE HE WAS RANTING
AND RAVING IN THERE.
AND THEN ME AND HIM
ALMOST GOT INTO IT.
Narrator: THE BOUNCERS THROW AN
ENRAGED KEVIN OUT OF THE CLUB.
Riley:
HE LEFT THERE WITH AN ATTITUDE,
AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
I SEEN HIM.
THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: DONNA HEARS KEVIN
STUMBLING BACK INTO THEIR APARTMENT.
WHEN HE STARTS RANTING,
SHE INSTANTLY KNOWS HE'S HIGH.
BUT IT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
IT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
Donna: MY SPIRIT SAID,
"DON'T GO TO SLEEP.
"YOU NEED TO GET UP
AND YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE
AS SOON AS YOU CAN."
AND THEN THAT OTHER PART OF ME
LIKE, "NAH.
"YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS
A MILLION TIMES.
HE'LL GO ON AND ON AND ON,
AND HE'LL EVENTUALLY STOP."
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
Narrator:
BUT DONNA CAN'T SLEEP.
KEVIN SEEMS EVEN MORE
OUT OF CONTROL THAN USUAL.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
Donna:
THIS NIGHT WAS JUST DIFFERENT.
I FELT IT IN MY STOMACH.
I FELT THAT
IT WASN'T RIGHT WITH HIM.
AND HE WAS PUNCHING DOORS.
AND I HEAR HIM SAY,
"I'M GONNA KILL THIS BITCH.
I'M GONNA HURT HER.
I'M GONNA **** HER UP."
Narrator: SOMEHOW,
DONNA PUSHES HER FEARS ASIDE
AND MANAGES
TO FALL BACK TO SLEEP.
IT'S SOMETHING SHE'LL REGRET
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
SHE WAKES UP TO A FIST
HITTING HER IN THE FACE.
[ SCREAMING ]
AND THIS WAS
THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT,
"KEVIN DONE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN,
AND SOMEBODY'S IN HERE
ATTACKING ME,"
BECAUSE
HE HAD NO REASON TO HIT ME.
[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]
Narrator:
BUT IT'S NO INTRUDER.
KEVIN IS SAVAGELY BEATING HER.
DONNA SQUEEZES KEVIN'S
CROTCH HARD, HOPING HE'LL STOP.
[ BOTH GRUNTING ]
STARTLED,
KEVIN STOPS TEMPORARILY,
GIVING DONNA THE CHANCE
TO ESCAPE TO THE LIVING ROOM.
Donna: AND I SAID TO MYSELF,
"THIS IS IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL."
I MEAN,
I WAS GETTING THE POLICE.
HE WAS GONNA GO TO JAIL.
I COULDN'T TAKE NO MORE OF THAT.
BEFORE I COULD EVEN
GET TO THE PHONE,
HE COMES BEHIND ME
AND HE PUNCHES ME.
HE HIT ME SO HARD
THAT IT TOOK THE WIND FROM ME.
[ GASPING ]
Narrator: DONNA'S
NOW FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.
[ SCREAMING ]
AND HE GRABS ME FROM BEHIND,
AND NOW HE'S TRYING TO PUNCH ME.
[ GASPING ]
AND HE STARTS TO CHOKE ME.
[ COUGHING, GAGGING ]
THE LOOK IN HIS FACE,
HIS EYES WERE SO BIG.
I COULD SEE VEINS.
WHEN I LOOKED AT HIM,
HE LOOKED LIKE A MONSTER.
AND I REMEMBER JUST SINKING.
AND IF HE GETS ME THERE
AND I CAN'T BREATHE,
IT'S OVER FOR ME.
I MEAN, MY KIDS
WERE FLASHING IN MY EYES.
MY FAMILY, ME DYING.
HE'S GONNA KILL ME.
[ CHOKING ]
Narrator: AS DONNA DESPERATELY
FIGHTS TO GET KEVIN OFF HER,
SHE REACHES
FOR THE NEAREST OBJECT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S A KNIFE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF KNIFE
IT IS AT THE TIME.
I KNOW I GRAB IT AND I JUST -
I POKE HIM WITH IT.
Narrator:
KEVIN COLLAPSES TO THE FLOOR.
AND I JUST GOT UP, AND I RAN.
Narrator:
DONNA LOOKS BACK AT HER HUSBAND.
HE'S BLEEDING BADLY,
AND HE'S NOT MOVING.
I SAW THE BLOOD, AND THEN
I REALIZED THAT HE NEEDS HELP.
Narrator: DONNA CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT SHE'S DONE.
SOMEBODY!
SHE'S FACED WITH
AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE DECISION -
GET OUT OR GO BACK
AND TRY TO HELP KEVIN.
IN THE END, SHE FOLLOWS
HER INSTINCTS AS A NURSE.
Donna: I CHOOSE
TO COME BACK AND HELP HIM,
AND I'M RUNNING AROUND.
I'M LOOKING FOR STUFF,
AND I'M TRAINED FOR THIS.
AND I CAN'T EVEN THINK
TO GO AND GET A CLEAN TOWEL.
BUT I'M LOOKING AND I GRAB
A SHIRT AND APPLY PRESSURE.
I'M TALKING TO HIM,
AND HE SAYS, "IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OVER NOW."
HE SAYS, "IT'S OVER NOW."
Narrator: DESPITE EVERYTHING,
DONNA STILL CAN'T LEAVE HIS SIDE.
IN THIS MOMENT,
SHE WANTS NOTHING MORE
THAN TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
Donna: I'M TRYING DESPERATELY
TO GET HIM TO BREATHE,
AND I WAS DIZZY, STILL IN PAIN.
I'M SCARED.
I'M LOOKING AT HIM LAYING HERE,
AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator:
AFTER DONNA CALLS 911,
AN AMBULANCE
ARRIVES WITHIN MINUTES.
THE KNIFE PIERCED KEVIN
RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART.
AN HOUR LATER, HE'S PRONOUNCED
DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.
DONNA IS ARRESTED AT THE SCENE
AND LATER CHARGED
WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
HER BAIL IS SET AT $15,000.
Riley: IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME
NONE AT ALL
THAT HE WOULD DO THAT TO HER.
THAT SECOND PERSONALITY OF HIS
WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
HE WAS REAL EVIL.
EVIL.
WORDS CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE
ALL THOSE EMOTIONS
I'M GOING THROUGH.
YOU NEVER MEANT TO KILL HIM?
NO. I NEVER MEANT
TO KILL HIM. NEVER.
MY WHOLE WORLD JUST FLASHED
BEFORE ME, MY WHOLE LIFE,
LIKE I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.
Narrator:
AFTER POSTING BAIL,
DONNA HAS TO WAIT FOUR YEARS
FOR HER CASE TO GO TO TRIAL.
IF CONVICTED, SHE COULD FACE
UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON.
STILL TRYING TO WORK, STILL
TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS,
STILL TRYING TO HOLD MYSELF
TOGETHER, 'CAUSE I'M SINKING.
I'M SINKING SO FAST.
Narrator: IN THE END,
DONNA IS FOUND NOT GUILTY.
THE JURY CONCLUDES THAT DONNA
ACTED OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE.
Donna: NO MATTER
WHAT HIS FAMILY THINKS,
NO MATTER
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME,
GOD KNOWS
THAT I AM NOT A MURDERER,
AND I HAD STUCK BY A MAN
THAT DIDN'T DESERVE
FIVE MINUTES OF MY TIME.
WITH DONNA, YOU HAVE A WOMAN
WHO HAS ALL OF HER DREAMS
WRAPPED UP
IN THIS PERFECT FAMILY,
THIS NUCLEAR FAMILY,
THIS HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD.
AND YOU HAVE KEVIN,
THE MANIPULATIVE DRUG DEALER
WHO SEES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PLAY THE ROLE THAT
DONNA NEEDS TO FULFILL HER LIFE.
IT WAS THE PERFECT STORM.
THAT PERFECT STORM
ALMOST COST HER HER LIFE.
[ COUGHING, GAGGING ]