Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - The Scorned Socialite - full transcript
Narrator: WILL THE FOURTH TIME BE
THE CHARM FOR A WOUNDED SOCIALITE?
I COULD BE WHO I WAS
AND STILL BE LOVED.
Narrator: UNTIL HER PERFECT HUSBAND'S
PAST COMES BACK TO BITE HIM...
YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.
...AND SHATTERS HER FANTASY.
YOU STAY WITH ME,
AND YOU STOP THAT!
THIS WOMAN SCORNED,
REAL OR IMAGINED...
IT SEEMS
THAT SHE'S PLAYING THE VICTIM.
Narrator:
...DEMANDS PAYBACK.
[ Crying ]
IT WAS JUST A REACTION.
IT WAS HER WAY OF SAYING,
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH.
DON'T YOU DARE
TURN YOUR BACK ON ME."
Man: AAH!
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
AUGUST 1997,
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
43-YEAR-OLD NANCY OTT
SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL -
A SUCCESSFUL NURSING CAREER,
THREE GROWN CHILDREN,
AND A HANDSOME HUSBAND
NAMED AARON DAVIS.
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, NANCY
AND AARON'S THREE-YEAR MARRIAGE
IS SLOWLY FALLING APART.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA BE
GOING TO SOME INTERVIEWS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HOME?
YOU KNOW, HONEY,
I WOKE UP A LITTLE BIT LATE.
NANCY CLAIMS
AARON CAN'T HOLD DOWN A JOB
AND THE STRESS OF HER SUPPORTING
THE FAMILY ON HER NURSING INCOME
IS DRIVING
A GIANT WEDGE BETWEEN THEM.
THIS IS GONNA
MAKE YOU HAPPY.
I HAVE A GOOD FEELING
ABOUT THESE TWO JOBS.
THE MARRIAGE, NANCY'S THIRD,
APPEARS TO BE
HEADED FOR DISASTER.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE,
TOMORROW -
I THINK
THEY'RE GONNA HIRE ME.
[ BOTH SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
IT'S YET ANOTHER FAILURE
THAT NANCY SAYS STEMS
FROM A TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD.
YOU'RE WORTHLESS.
WORTHLESS?
YOU MEAN NOTHING HERE.
OH, COME ON.
I TAKE CARE OF...
ACCORDING TO NANCY,
SHE CAUSED THE BREAKUP
OF HER MOTHER'S MARRIAGE.
DON'T YOU EVEN...
I AM THE DAUGHTER
OF THE MILKMAN - LITERALLY.
MY MOM HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH THE MILKMAN, AND THAT'S ME.
SHE HATED ME.
SHE SAID IF THERE WERE ABORTION
IN HER DAYS,
I WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.
Narrator:
WHEN THE MILKMAN TAKES OFF,
NANCY'S MOTHER TRAINS
ALL HER ANGER AND FRUSTRATION
ON HER DAUGHTER.
I AM SO MAD AT YOU, NANCY!
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!
YOU'RE THE REASON
YOU'RE IN HERE.
Nancy: I WAS TIED TO A CHAIR EVERY
SINGLE DAY FROM THE AGE OF 3.
I WAS ALLOWED OUT FOR LUNCH.
WELL, I DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO HIT YOU.
HER MOM
WAS NOT A VERY NICE PERSON.
SHE USED TO
LOCK HER IN CLOSETS -
THINGS THAT CHILDREN
SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO.
YOU ARE A BAD GIRL.
LOOKING RIGHT IN MY EYES
AND TELLING ME, "I HATE YOU."
BAG GIRL!
Narrator: BUT HER MOTHER'S RAGE
PALES IN COMPARISON
TO THE ABUSE
NANCY CLAIMS SHE SUFFERED
AT THE HANDS
OF A TRUSTED FAMILY FRIEND.
Nancy: HE WOULD TAKE ME
OUT TO THE APPLE ORCHARDS
AND, UM, MAKE ME
HAVE ORAL SEX WITH HIM.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
NANCY'S TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD
MAKES HER FEEL
CHRONICALLY SUBMISSIVE
AND VULNERABLE,
ALWAYS UNDESERVING OF LOVE,
AND THIS IS A PATTERN
THAT WILL HAUNT HER
THROUGHOUT THE REST
OF HER RELATIONSHIPS.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: THE DAY SHE TURNS 18,
NANCY'S MOTHER KICKS HER OUT.
WITH NOWHERE TO TURN,
SHE MARRIES HER TEENAGE
BOYFRIEND, JAMES MILLER,
BUT THEIR MARRIAGE
IS DOOMED FROM THE START.
YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL.
NANCY FINDS INTIMACY
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
Nancy: WELL, I HAD
A REALLY, REALLY HARD TIME
ACCEPTING ANY TYPE OF TOUCH.
IT WOULD MAKE ME STIFFEN UP,
AND IT WAS HARD.
I DON'T SAY IT WAS
A LOVING RELATIONSHIP AT ALL.
NANCY.
I JUST -
I JUST CAN'T.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN REALLY TRUST ME.
IT'S, UH...
Narrator: DESPITE
NANCY'S TROUBLE GETTING CLOSE,
SHE AND JAMES
HAVE A CHILD, RACHEL,
BUT THEY DIVORCE
WHEN SHE'S A TODDLER.
NANCY'S PROBLEMS FOLLOW HER
WHEN SHE MARRIES
HER SECOND HUSBAND, LES OTT.
THEY HAVE A SON NAMED SAM,
BUT SOON AFTER HE'S BORN,
THE COUPLE SPLITS UP.
Samuel: I THINK
SHE WENT THROUGH LIFE SO LONG
WITH HER EMOTIONS LOCKED UP
FROM HER CHILDHOOD
THAT I DON'T THINK
SHE KNEW HOW TO BE HAPPY.
Narrator: NOW MARRIAGE NUMBER
THREE, TO AARON,
IS ON A SIMILAR
COLLISION COURSE.
HE REALLY CONNED MY MOM
OUT OF A LOT OF WHAT SHE EARNED,
AND HE WOULD JUST PUT HER DOWN.
HE DIDN'T
MAKE HER FEEL WORTHWHILE.
Nancy: MY LOT IN LIFE WAS TO BE
ABUSED AND TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
BECAUSE I DESERVED IT,
BECAUSE I WAS BORN.
Dr. Jordan: NANCY NOT ONLY SAYS
THAT HER MOTHER ABUSED HER,
BUT SHE CLAIMS THAT VIRTUALLY
EVERY ONE OF HER HUSBANDS
WERE ABUSIVE IN SOME RESPECT,
AND ONE HAS TO ASK, "IS ABUSE
SIMPLY A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE?
"DOES SHE SEE EVERYTHING
THROUGH THE FILTER
OF HER MOTHER'S LEGACY?"
[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]
ALL RIGHT,
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THIS PASS,
AND YOU CAN
GET BACK TO CLASS.
Narrator: WITH HER THIRD
MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS,
NANCY FEARS SHE'LL NEVER
MEET THE MAN OF HER DREAMS,
BUT WHEN SHE LANDS
A NURSING AND TEACHING GIG
AT A SEATTLE ARTS SCHOOL,
HER LUCK STARTS TO CHANGE.
OH [CHUCKLES] I'M NANCY.
NANCY,
REALLY NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
I'M THE PRINCIPAL.
OH, OH, GOODNESS...
SHE CATCHES
THE EYE OF HER NEW BOSS,
THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL,
MICHAEL ANDERSON.
MICHAEL IS CHARMING,
CULTURED, AND SUCCESSFUL,
A SHARP CONTRAST TO
NANCY'S CURRENT HUSBAND, AARON.
ALTHOUGH NANCY AND MICHAEL
ARE INSTANTLY ATTRACTED TO EACH
OTHER, THEY'RE BOTH MARRIED,
SO THEY KEEP THEIR RELATIONSHIP
PLATONIC.
Nancy: I LIKED HIM.
HE WAS A GOOD-LOOKING MAN,
HE WAS FUN TO BE WITH,
AND I ENJOYED HIS COMPANY.
Dr. Jordan:
YOU WERE VERY CLEAR
ABOUT "THIS IS RIGHT,
AND THIS IS WRONG,
AND YOU DON'T GET INVOLVED
WITH SOMEBODY YOU WORK WITH."
I HAD STRONG VALUES.
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE
TO GET CLOSE TO SOMEBODY
YOU'RE WORKING WITH.
YOU'RE VERY GOOD
WITH BOUNDARIES.
YEAH.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT NANCY
THAT MAKES YOU WONDER
IF HER PRESENTATION
IS SLIGHTLY A FACADE.
SHE'S EXTREMELY PRIM AND PROPER,
ALMOST NUN-LIKE,
BUT THERE'S THIS UNDERPINNING
OF DISHONESTY ABOUT IT.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS, BEEPS ]
Narrator: TWO YEARS LATER,
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
NANCY'S SEPARATED
FROM HER HUSBAND, AARON,
AND MICHAEL'S MOVED ON TO
A NEW JOB AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL,
BUT HE HASN'T FORGOTTEN NANCY.
OH, YEAH, YOU CAN COOK?
HE TOLD ME
HOW MUCH HE REALLY DID LIKE ME
AND WANTED
TO TAKE THE RELATIONSHIP
A LITTLE FURTHER
THAN FRIENDSHIP.
I ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS WIFE,
AND HE SAID THAT HE AND HIS WIFE
WERE SEPARATED,
THAT THEY WERE
WORKING ON A DIVORCE.
Narrator: TO NANCY,
MICHAEL SEEMS LIKE A CATCH,
AND SHE ENJOYS
HIS WINING AND DINING.
WHEN SHE MET HIM,
SHE KIND OF THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA BE
HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR
AND KIND OF SAVE HER
AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
[ MICHAEL LAUGHS ]
Narrator: MICHAEL'S SOCIAL STATUS
ALSO SCORES POINTS WITH NANCY.
HE'S BIG
IN THE LOCAL ARTS SCENE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE,
NANCY GETS TO MINGLE
WITH THE IN-CROWD.
Nancy:
I WANTED TO BREAK OUT OF MYSELF
AND EXPERIENCE LIFE
AND SOCIALIZE.
AND HOW DID HE
MAKE YOU FEEL?
BEAUTIFUL -
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS SO OPPOSITE OF ANYTHING
THAT I EVER EXPERIENCED.
I SAW A BIG CHANGE IN MY MOM
WHEN THEY STARTED DATING.
BEFORE, SHE WOULD
JUST KIND OF STAY AT HOME.
SHE WAS
A LITTLE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
AFTER THEY STARTED DATING,
AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE.
Narrator: NANCY HOPES MICHAEL CAN END
HER STREAK OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS.
Dr. Jordan:
NANCY MOVES FORWARD,
BELIEVING THAT THE NEXT ONE
WILL BE DIFFERENT
AND SHE WILL FIND TRUE LOVE.
WITH MICHAEL,
HE WAS A DEFINITE STEP UP
COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER MEN
SHE HAD BEEN WITH.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
SO, WHAT'D YOU THINK?
THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME
COOKING SALMON.
Narrator: BUT ON NANCY'S FIRST
VISIT TO MICHAEL'S HOUSE,
HER HOPES OF HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
ARE QUICKLY DASHED.
THAT PURSE
THAT'S HANGING THERE...
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH, THAT'S
MY WIFE'S, UH, PURSE.
SHE'S LIVING HERE?
I WANTED TO KNOW WHY HIS WIFE'S
THINGS WERE STILL THERE
AND COME TO FIND OUT
THAT SHE REALLY IS
ONLY VISITING HER MOTHER.
WELL, HE STARTED TO BACKPEDAL
AND STUMBLE OVER HIS WORDS.
"OH, WELL, I - SHE -
SHE WAS GETTING AN APARTMENT,
"AND SHE'S NOT QUITE
MOVED OUT YET,
BUT SHE'S ON HER WAY AND..."
OH, YEAH, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
BUT WHAT DID YOU DO
ABOUT IT?
I TOLD HIM
I COULDN'T SEE HIM ANYMORE.
I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU.
ALL RIGHT, I'M DONE.
I'M DONE.
Narrator:
NANCY IS BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED.
PLEASE, COME BACK.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
A FEW WEEKS LATER,
MICHAEL CALLS TO TELL HER
THAT HIS WIFE
HAS FINALLY MOVED OUT.
HELLO.
NANCY.
LET ME EXPLAIN.
YOU'RE THE WOMAN
I WANT TO BE WITH.
HE CONVINCES HER
TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
OKAY, SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
THE COUPLE PICKS UP
WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.
SOON, NANCY FEELS SECURE ENOUGH
TO INTRODUCE MICHAEL
TO HER KIDS, RACHEL AND SAM.
THEY WELCOME HIM TO THE FAMILY.
Sausser: I THOUGHT
HE WAS A VERY NICE GUY.
HE WAS VERY ATTENTIVE
TO MY MOM -
SOMEONE YOU COULD ASPIRE TO,
SOMEONE,
IF HE WERE YOUR TEACHER,
YOU WOULD LOOK UP TO HIM.
NICE MEETING YOU!
TO THE FUTURE.
Narrator: BUT AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP
HITS THE FOUR-MONTH MARK,
NANCY'S THROWN
ANOTHER CURVEBALL.
ARE YOU NANCY?
YES.
ARE YOU WITH MICHAEL?
ONE AFTERNOON, SHE'S ABOUT
TO HEAD HOME AFTER WORK
WHEN SHE CLAIMS
SHE'S APPROACHED BY A COWORKER
WHO DELIVERS AN OMINOUS WARNING.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT YOU
TO KNOW HE'S NOT WHAT HE SEEMS.
TRUST ME.
Nancy: A FRIEND OF HIS EX-WIFE
CAME TO ME
AND SAID,
"YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HIM.
HE'S NOT WHO YOU THINK HE IS."
Narrator: THE CRYPTIC MESSAGE
SHAKES NANCY TO THE CORE.
WHAT DARK SECRETS COULD MICHAEL
POSSIBLY BE HIDING?
MICHAEL PUTS NANCY
ON A SHORT LEASH.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE
OF WHERE SHE WAS ALL THE TIME.
Narrator: 43-YEAR-OLD NANCY OTT
HAS BEEN DATING MICHAEL ANDERSON
FOR FOUR MONTHS.
SHE THINKS
HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS...
[ Chuckling ] YES, YES.
...UNTIL A FRIEND
OF MICHAEL'S EX-WIFE
APPEARS WITH A BIZARRE MESSAGE.
TRUST ME.
YOU DON'T KNOW HIM
AT ALL.
SHE SAYS MICHAEL IS NOT
WHO HE SEEMS TO BE,
BUT NANCY CHOOSES
NOT TO HEED THE WARNING.
Nancy: FOR ME, I JUST THOUGHT
SHE WAS PROTECTING HER FRIEND,
SO I DIDN'T REALLY TAKE IT
AS MUCH AS A WARNING
AS HER JUST TRYING TO...
MEDDLE IN YOUR ROMANCE.
YES.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOGETHER
THAT LONG...
Narrator: AND WHEN MICHAEL OPENS
UP ABOUT HIS FEELINGS FOR HER,
ANY LAST DOUBTS
COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR.
I JUST FEEL GOOD
WHEN I'M AROUND YOU.
Nancy: AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS
GETTING SERIOUS, AND HE TOLD ME -
HE GOES, "I THINK
I'M FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU."
Dr. Jordan:
HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
WONDERFUL -
I REALLY DID.
SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD
THAT LOVES SOMEONE
THAT'S JUST A LITTLE SPECK
OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT,
YOU KNOW,
"YOU REALLY NEED
TO KNOW WHO I REALLY AM."
GOT SOME STUFF
GOING ON IN MY PAST
THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.
Narrator:
NANCY TELLS MICHAEL
ABOUT ALL THE ABUSE
SHE SUFFERED AS A CHILD.
I JUST REALLY NEED YOU TO KNOW
THAT I CAN'T BE HURT AGAIN.
Nancy: I WANTED TO TELL HIM
BECAUSE IT IMPACTS
MY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
WITH A MAN.
SHE WAS VERY VULNERABLE,
AND SHE SAID TO HIM, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING HIM IN THE EYES,
"PLEASE DON'T HURT ME."
SHE KNEW
SHE REALLY COULDN'T TAKE IT,
AND HE SAID,
"I WILL NOT HURT YOU."
Narrator: NINE MONTHS
INTO THEIR RELATIONSHIP,
MICHAEL PROPOSES.
THE COUPLE WASTES NO TIME
TYING THE KNOT.
IT'S NANCY'S FOURTH MARRIAGE
AND MICHAEL'S THIRD.
SHE REALLY BELIEVED
HE WAS DIFFERENT.
SHE THOUGHT
THIS GUY WAS THE ONE,
AND SHE WAS ALWAYS HOPING
TO FIND THAT PRINCE CHARMING.
Nancy:
WE GOT MARRIED IN LAS VEGAS
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
I WANTED TO GET MARRIED.
IT JUST SEEMED
LIKE A ROMANTIC PLACE.
IT WAS MAGICAL.
IT WAS
EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE.
HE WAS
A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
I WAS SWEPT OFF MY FEET.
Narrator: NANCY THINKS
SHE'S HIT THE JACKPOT.
THE NEWLYWEDS TAKE
AN EXPENSIVE CRUISE TO ALASKA
AND THEN MOVE IN TO AN UPSCALE
HOME IN THE SUBURBS OF SEATTLE.
NANCY IS FINALLY LIVING THE GOOD
LIFE SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED.
WHOO. [ LAUGHS ]
FROM AN OUTSIDER'S VIEW,
THEY PROBABLY SEEMED TO BE
A PERFECT COUPLE
WITH A PERFECT LIFE.
Narrator:
BEING MARRIED TO MICHAEL
MAKES NANCY FEEL
LIKE A WHOLE NEW WOMAN.
Nancy:
I CARED MORE ABOUT MYSELF.
I CARED WHAT I LOOKED LIKE.
I CARED HOW I CARRIED MYSELF.
IS THAT THE NEW NANCY
OR WAS THAT NANCY ALWAYS THERE,
BUT SHE WAS SUPPRESSED
BY THE LEGACY OF ABUSE?
I THINK
I WAS ALWAYS THERE.
I WAS
JUST NOT ALLOWED OUT.
SO MICHAEL REVEALED
THE REAL NANCY.
YEAH.
I COULD BE WHO I WAS
AND STILL BE LOVED.
IT WAS LIBERATING.
Narrator: STILL,
IT'S LIKE NANCY IS CURSED.
BEFORE LONG, JUST LIKE
ALL HER PREVIOUS MARRIAGES,
THE HONEYMOON ENDS TOO SOON.
THAT'S MY PAYCHECK.
YOU OPENED IT.
YEAH.
SHE SAYS A FEW MONTHS
AFTER THE WEDDING,
MICHAEL STARTS
SHOWING A DARK SIDE.
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME CASH?
UM...
Nancy:
HE WAS VERY CONTROLLING.
MY MONEY WENT INTO HIS ACCOUNT.
HE CONTROLLED ALL THE MONEY
AND GAVE ME AN ALLOWANCE.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
WITH ALL OF YOUR -
ALL YOUR MONEY?
JUST GONNA SEE SOME FRIENDS.
FRIENDS?
Narrator: BUT NANCY'S
DAUGHTER, RACHEL, DISAGREES.
AND IF HE WAS CONTROLLING
OVER HER MONEY,
IT WAS SERIOUSLY NOT APPARENT.
I NEVER ONCE GOT THE IMPRESSION
THAT SHE WAS PUT ON A BUDGET
IN ANY WAY OR HAD NO MONEY.
Narrator: IN FACT,
RACHEL REMEMBERS MICHAEL SPOILING NANCY
AND SHOWERING HER
WITH EVERY POSSIBLE LUXURY.
Sausser:
HE HAD A REALLY GOOD JOB,
AND SHE HAD THE BIGGER HOUSE
THAT SHE WANTED, A NICE CAR.
MY MOM NEVER
LACKED FOR ANYTHING.
MY MOM HAD
MANY, MANY, MANY CREDIT CARDS.
MY MOM HAD
NO PROBLEMS GOING OUT SHOPPING.
SHE WAS
VERY MUCH INTO A LIFESTYLE
THAT AFFORDED HER TO LOOK NICE,
AND I THINK THAT MICHAEL
PROVIDED THAT FOR HER.
Narrator:
BUT NANCY INSISTS
THAT MICHAEL'S CONTROLLING
NATURE GETS OVERBEARING FAST,
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
AND HE'S ALSO GOT
A NASTY JEALOUS STREAK.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
TELL ME.
IT'S JUST - IT'S FINE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
HE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE
OF WHERE SHE WAS ALL THE TIME.
HER AND I WENT OUT FOR DRINKS
AFTER WORK ONE NIGHT...
CAN YOU EVER RELAX
WHEN YOU GO OUT?
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
OKAY,
YOUR WHOLE FACE HAS CHANGED.
WAS THAT MICHAEL?
WE WERE THERE MAYBE AN HOUR.
HE CALLED FIVE OR SIX TIMES,
ASKING WHERE SHE WAS,
WHO SHE WAS WITH,
WHAT SHE WAS DOING.
HE'S UPSET THAT I'M OUT.
I JUST...
YOU SEEMED TO KEEP MAKING
THE SAME MISTAKES,
GETTING INVOLVED
WITH CONTROLLING MEN,
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
CONTROL IS
A FORM OF LOVE.
IT HAD TO BE.
IT CAME FROM MY MOTHER.
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE
YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU
NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS
AND CONTROL IS
HOW IT'S SHOWN.
THE PATTERN THAT NANCY EXHIBITS
IS ALWAYS ONE
OF SEARCHING FOR LOVE,
SEARCHING
FOR A MAN TO COMPLETE HER.
REALLY, IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF HER
TURNING TO A PATTERN OF ABUSE
AS TRYING TO FILL THAT HOLE
IN HER HEART FROM HER CHILDHOOD,
WHICH, CLEARLY, NO MAN IS
EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL.
AND SO HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH MICHAEL
IS DOOMED FROM THE START.
Narrator:
THOUGH SHE BRISTLES
AT WHAT SHE CONSIDERS
MICHAEL'S POSSESSIVENESS,
NANCY IS DETERMINED
TO MAKE THIS MARRIAGE WORK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THAT IS, UNTIL
AN UNEXPECTED KNOCK AT THE DOOR
IS LIKE GAS
ON A SMOLDERING FLAME.
I WANTED TO SEE
THE WOMAN WHO REPLACED ME.
Narrator: AT FIRST, NEWLYWEDS
NANCY AND MICHAEL ANDERSON
SEEM TO BE LIVING HAPPILY
EVER AFTER IN SUBURBAN SEATTLE,
BUT IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE THIS MARRIAGE,
NANCY'S FOURTH,
STARTS TO FALTER.
THE LATEST
TROUBLING DEVELOPMENT -
A SURPRISE VISITOR AT THE DOOR.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
Jennifer: I'M HERE
TO PICK UP SOME THINGS.
ACCORDING TO NANCY,
MICHAEL'S EX-WIFE JENNIFER
SHOWS UP ON THEIR DOORSTEP TO
RETRIEVE SOME OF HER BELONGINGS
THAT MICHAEL
STILL HAS STASHED AWAY.
MICHAEL DIDN'T TELL YOU.
WHAT AN ASS.
NO.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS
I SHOULD TELL YOU.
NANCY RELUCTANTLY LETS
JENNIFER IN.
WHEN WE STARTED DATING,
I HAD NO IDEA
HE WAS EVEN MARRIED.
SHE DID WARN MY MOM
TO STAY AWAY FROM MICHAEL
AND THAT MICHAEL
WASN'T A GOOD GUY.
Narrator:
AND THAT'S NOT ALL.
JENNIFER TELLS NANCY A SHOCKING
SECRET ABOUT MICHAEL'S PAST.
I FOUND HIM
CHEATING ON ME.
I WENT TO HIS SCHOOL...
Nancy: WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT
WITH ONE OF HER CHILDREN,
HE WORKED AT A UNIVERSITY
AND HAD A TWO-YEAR AFFAIR.
TWO YEARS, AND SHE HAD NO IDEA
THAT HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR
WITH A STUDENT.
THAT'S HOW MICHAEL IS,
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW
BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
Narrator: THE REVELATION MAKES
NANCY EVEN MORE SUSPICIOUS
ABOUT THE MAN SHE MARRIED.
WHEN HE GETS HOME FROM WORK
THAT NIGHT, SHE CONFRONTS HIM.
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
JENNIFER SHOWED UP
AT THE DOOR.
MY EX-WIFE?
YEAH, YOUR EX-WIFE,
WITH A STORY
ABOUT SOME AFFAIR
FROM THE PAST
WITH A STUDENT.
OH, COME ON, NANCY -
WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME ABOUT THAT?
Nancy: HE TOLD ME
THAT HE HAD THIS AFFAIR
BECAUSE SHE NAGGED AT HIM
ALL THE TIME.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
"WHO ARE YOU GONNA BE WITH?
"WHO YOU MEETING WITH?
"WHAT DOES SHE LOOK LIKE?
IS IT A FEMALE?
IS SHE BEAUTIFUL?
IS SHE YOUNG?"
AND HE SAID
THAT DROVE HIM TO DO THAT.
"WELL, IF SHE'S GONNA
BLAME ME FOR THAT,
I MIGHT AS WELL JUST DO IT."
Dr. Jordan: BUT IN THE END,
HE LEAVES YOU WITH A WARNING -
"IF SHE HAD BEEN
A BETTER WIFE,
IT NEVER
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED."
Nancy: THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO FIND
OUT, "WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
WHAT CAN I DO BETTER?"
Narrator: AFTER MICHAEL
ADMITS TO THE AFFAIR,
NANCY'S LEFT ON EDGE,
BUT SHE'S DETERMINED
TO DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY
TO KEEP HER MARRIAGE INTACT.
BILL. HEY.
YEAH.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT
THE MAN
WHO HAD
A LONG HISTORY OF CHEATING?
BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD
THIS SAYING -
"ONCE A CHEATER,
ALWAYS A CHEATER."
BECAUSE YOU THINK
YOU'RE GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE THE ONE THAT HE
IS GOING TO BE FAITHFUL TO
AND LOVE AND STICK BY
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LIKE
THOSE OTHER ONES.
"I'M NOT LAZY
LIKE HE SAID SHE WAS.
"I'M A VERY HARD WORKER.
"SHE NEVER COOKED.
"WELL,
I'M A WONDERFUL COOK.
I LOVE TO COOK."
NAH, NO, MY WIFE DOESN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I DON'T WANT HER TO KNOW,
YOU KNOW.
"I'M NOT LIKE THEM,
SO HE'LL BE OKAY WITH ME."
Dr. Jordan: IF SHE COULD BE A
BETTER PERSON, A BETTER LITTLE GIRL,
NOT DISPLEASING
TO THOSE AROUND HER,
THEN MAYBE
HE WOULD STICK WITH HER
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
Narrator: NANCY BECOMES OBSESSED
WITH PLEASING MICHAEL.
BUT DESPITE ALL HER EFFORTS,
THINGS ONLY GET WORSE.
JUST SEEMED THAT THEY WERE
STARTING TO LIVE
TWO DIFFERENT LIVES -
NOT DOING THE THINGS TOGETHER
AS MUCH ANYMORE.
IT WAS A QUIET PULLING AWAY.
Narrator: MICHAEL STARTS
SPENDING MORE TIME AT WORK
AND COMING HOME LATE AT NIGHT.
SIT DOWN.
WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THE BILLS?
Narrator: NANCY CLAIMS
THAT MICHAEL HAS A SHORT FUSE
AND BECOMES SEXUALLY AND
VERBALLY AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS HER.
Brown:
HE BELITTLED HER ALL THE TIME.
HER RESPONSE TO IT WAS
SHE WAS VERY QUIET,
SHE WAS NON-CONFRONTATIONAL,
AND THEN SHE WOULD JUST TRY
TO PLEASE HIM.
SO, SHE WOULD SHE JUST TRY
TO FIND A SOLUTION
SO THAT HE WOULDN'T BE SO MAD.
SPENDING
THAT KIND OF MONEY!
I'M SORRY.
HE DID GET ANGRY AND YELL AT ME,
AND I DON'T LIKE
BEING YELLED AT.
I WAS AFRAID OF HIM, AND THEN
THE SEX GOT MORE AGGRESSIVE.
Narrator:
BUT WHATEVER NANCY SAYS,
HER DAUGHTER, RACHEL,
REMEMBERS THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
I WOULD NEVER BELIEVE
THAT MICHAEL WOULD FORCE HIMSELF
UPON MY MOTHER.
I NEVER SAW
ANY BRUISES ON MY MOTHER.
IT SEEMED THAT HE WAS ALWAYS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO MAKE HER HAPPY.
HE HAD OFTEN STATED THAT SHE WAS
VERY PHYSICAL WITH HIM
BEFORE THEY GOT MARRIED,
AND THEN, WHEN THEY GOT MARRIED,
SHE TURNED COLD.
AS LONG AS HE KEPT
SHELLING OUT THE MONEY
AND GIVING HER WHAT SHE WANTED,
THEN SHE WAS MORE APT
TO BEING ROMANTIC.
LET'S SAY WE, UH,
GO INSIDE THE BEDROOM
AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
UP THERE.
Dr. Jordan:
WOMEN WHO SUFFERED ABUSE,
ESPECIALLY SEXUAL ABUSE,
AS CHILDREN
OFTEN PERCEIVE
ANY SEXUAL ADVANCE AGAINST THEM
TO BE AGGRESSIVE
AND UNWARRANTED.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER
IF THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
SHE WOULD HAVE WITH MICHAEL
WAS REALLY
JUST SET UP FOR FAILURE.
Narrator: DESPITE GROWING
FURTHER AND FURTHER APART,
MICHAEL AND NANCY MANAGE TO
STAY TOGETHER FOR SEVEN YEARS,
BUT IT'S A SHELL OF A MARRIAGE.
FINALLY, IN THE FALL OF 2006,
NANCY CLAIMS
THAT MICHAEL DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
I HAVE NEEDS,
AND IF THEY AREN'T FILLED HERE,
I'M GONNA HAVE TO
GO OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.
AFTER A SEXUAL EXPERIENCE
WITH HIM,
HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE HAVING
AN AFFAIR WITH OTHER WOMEN.
"IF THERE WAS NO LAW AGAINST
HAVING MORE THAN ONE WIFE,
"I WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE WIVES
BECAUSE I NEED
MULTIPLE SEXUAL EXPERIENCES."
Dr. Jordan: AND DID YOU LOOK
AT HIM WITH A WHOLE NEW -
WHOLE NEW EYES.
WHOLE NEW EYES.
IT'S AN "AHA" MOMENT.
Narrator: NOW NANCY IS CONVINCED
MICHAEL IS CHEATING ON HER,
AND SHE SEES EVIDENCE
EVERYWHERE SHE TURNS.
TO HER, EVEN INNOCENT ENCOUNTERS
LOOK LIKE DANGEROUS FLIRTATIONS.
Nancy:
IT'S THE REAL MICHAEL.
IT'S THE SEXUAL PREDATOR,
AND I COULD SEE IT.
Dr. Jordan: THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH
IN RELATIONSHIPS
IS A VERY REAL THING,
AND WHEN NANCY STARTED
LOOKING AT MICHAEL
AND WONDERING
IF HE WAS STEPPING OUT ON HER,
SHE STARTED LOOKING
FOR HIM TO FAIL HER
JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER MEN
IN HER LIFE HAD.
I CAN THINK OF
SOME EXTRA-CREDIT WORK MAYBE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator:
BUT, AGAIN, ACCORDING TO RACHEL,
MICHAEL'S INFIDELITY
IS ALL IN NANCY'S HEAD.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE CAPABLE
OF MUCH BETTER WORK.
I COULD NEVER PICTURE MICHAEL
AS ONE TO HAVE AN AFFAIR.
Narrator: NANCY'S OBSESSION
THAT MICHAEL IS CHEATING
KEEPS HER UP AT NIGHT.
AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE NEW, CONFIDENT NANCY?
SHE BECAME THAT LITTLE MOUSE
AGAIN, FOR A MOMENT,
AND SHE DECIDED THAT SHE'S GONNA
CHECK ON THIS ALL HERSELF.
"I'M NOT GONNA JUST LAY DOWN
AND LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME."
SO, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
I HAD HIS PASSWORD
TO HIS E-MAIL.
Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON,
WHILE MICHAEL'S AT WORK,
NANCY GOES
ON THE HUNT FOR PROOF.
MICHAEL'S SECRETS
SPARK A SHOWDOWN.
...WEBSITES
YOU'VE GONE TO.
HE HAD A BUNCH OF E-MAILS
THAT WERE TO OTHER WOMEN.
YOU STAY WITH ME,
AND YOU STOP THAT!
Narrator: NANCY AND MICHAEL
ANDERSON'S SEVEN-YEAR MARRIAGE
IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
NANCY SUSPECTS
MICHAEL IS LYING TO HER
ABOUT HIS SEXUAL EXPLOITS
WITH OTHER WOMEN.
DESPERATE FOR HARD EVIDENCE,
SHE HACKS INTO HIS E-MAIL.
Nancy: SO, I CHECKED HIS E-MAILS
AND FOUND OUT
THAT HE WAS ON PORNOGRAPHY SITES
AND SOLICITING WOMEN
THAT HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY
HAVING BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH.
I THINK MICHAEL USED WHATEVER
HE COULD TO MEET WOMEN -
THAT MY MOM
WASN'T ENOUGH FOR HIM.
Narrator: NOW THAT SHE'S
SCRATCHED THE SURFACE,
NANCY NEEDS TO KNOW MORE.
SHE CONTACTS ONE OF THE WOMEN
SHE BELIEVES MICHAEL'S
BEEN TALKING TO ONLINE.
THEY MEET AT A DOWNTOWN CAFE.
ACCORDING TO NANCY,
THE WOMAN REVEALS THAT
THE MEETING SHE AND MICHAEL HAD
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
BUSINESS-RELATED
BUT QUICKLY TURNED PERSONAL.
HE STARTED
ASKING ME PERSONAL THINGS,
LIKE, "ARE YOU MARRIED?"
WHEN YOU FIRST MET MICHAEL,
ISN'T THAT WHAT HE DID WITH YOU?
YEP.
BECAUSE WOMEN
ARE VERY VULNERABLE
WHEN THEY'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP
THAT'S ON THE ROCKS,
AND THAT'S
WHEN HE ATTACKS.
Narrator: BUT NANCY HAS
HER OWN PLAN OF ATTACK.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
WHAT?
SHE CONFRONTS MICHAEL, GRILLING
HIM ABOUT HIS WEB-WOMANIZING.
HOW DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT MY BUSINESS MEETINGS?
CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
ARE YOU **** HER,
LIKE, OUTSIDE?
WHAT?
NANCY HAD TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD
GOTTEN INTO HIS E-MAIL
AND THAT HE HAD
A BUNCH OF E-MAILS IN THERE
THAT WERE TO OTHER WOMEN.
Narrator: MICHAEL INSISTS
HE'S BEING FAITHFUL
AND STILL WANTS
TO WORK ON THE MARRIAGE,
BUT NANCY DOESN'T BELIEVE HIM.
NO, YOU CAN'T
GO OUTSIDE THE HOUSE!
YOU STAY WITH ME,
AND YOU STOP THAT!
YOU STOP IT!
NANCY'S DEVASTATED.
SHE MOVES INTO A GUEST BEDROOM
WHILE DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT.
Dr. Jordan: AT SOME POINT,
NANCY GOES BACK TO FEELING
LIKE A VICTIM -
GIVING UP,
"THERE IS NO HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER.
"I KEEP TRYING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE I CAN DO
TO MAKE THIS WORK" -
AND IT REALLY SEEMS TO BE
LEADING TO A BOILING POINT.
Dr. Jordan:
YOU'VE READ THE E-MAILS,
YOU MET WITH
A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND OF HIS.
WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING
IS ALMOST LIKE
A "DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE"
TURN-AROUND IN HIS PERSONALITY.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS.
SO WHY NOT
GO RUNNING FROM THE HOUSE,
GET A DIVORCE,
AND GET A NICE SETTLEMENT?
BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS
A COMMITMENT, AND I LOVED HIM.
I REALLY WANTED IT TO WORK.
I TOLD MY MOM THAT SHE SHOULD
GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP,
FIND ANOTHER GUY, JUST KEEP
MOVING, KEEP GOING FORWARD.
Brown: I THINK NANCY KNEW
THAT SHE NEEDED TO LEAVE HIM,
BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP.
YOU KNOW, "IS THIS MY FAULT?
"MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE DONE
MORE OF THE SEXUAL ACTS
THAT HE WAS ASKING FOR."
AND SHE HAD A LOT OF GUILT
THAT IT WAS HER FAULT
THAT THIS WASN'T WORKING.
Narrator:
BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
NANCY JUST CAN'T SHAKE
THE FEELING THAT HE'S CHEATING.
ONE AFTERNOON, SHE'S SNOOPING
THROUGH HIS CREDIT-CARD RECORDS
WHEN SHE FINDS WHAT SHE THINKS
IS PROOF OF AN AFFAIR.
'CAUSE I FOUND THE RECEIPT FOR
WHAT HE SENT HIS BOSS' SECRETARY
FOR VALENTINE'S DAY.
THEN I E-MAILED HIS BOSS
AND TOLD HER WHAT HE WAS UP TO.
SHE BLEW ME OFF.
SHE GOES, "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU."
SOME PEOPLE WOULD DESCRIBE
THESE MEASURES ON YOUR BEHALF
AS BEING VINDICTIVE.
WERE YOU HOPING
HE WOULD BE FIRED?
YES.
I WAS HOPING
HE WOULD LOSE HIS JOB.
HE WASN'T TRUSTWORTHY.
THAT MAY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER
EMOTIONALLY,
BUT IF YOU ARE
ON THE ROAD TO SPLITTING UP,
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT
IN THE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS
IF HE DOESN'T HAVE
EMPLOYMENT.
I DIDN'T CARE.
YOU JUST DIDN'T CARE.
NO.
I HAVE MY OWN JOB.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT HIS.
SHE HAS MOVED
FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
TO MORAL SUPERIORITY.
EVEN IF HE GETS FIRED
AND THEY GET DIVORCED,
THIS WOULD HAVE
HUGE RAMIFICATIONS
ON HER ALIMONY
OR HER SETTLEMENT,
BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER TO NANCY,
BECAUSE SHE IS RIGHT,
HE IS WRONG, HE IS IMMORAL,
AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW.
Narrator: AND YET,
IN THE FACE OF TOTAL DISTRUST
AND CONTEMPT FOR HER HUSBAND,
NANCY STILL DESPERATELY TRIES
TO HOLD ON.
IN A LAST-DITCH EFFORT
TO SAVE THEIR MARRIAGE,
THEY DECIDE
TO SEE A COUPLES' COUNSELOR.
AS SOON AS MICHAEL REAPPLIES
HIMSELF TO THE MARRIAGE
AND TRIES TO MAKE IT WORK,
SHE RESUMES
HER ROLE OF VICTIM AGAIN,
AND SO THE MARRIAGE
IS CONTINUALLY DOOMED.
Narrator: APRIL 15, 2007.
IT'S A SUNNY SUNDAY AFTERNOON,
THE DAY BEFORE THE ANDERSONS'
FIRST COUNSELING APPOINTMENT,
AND THE COUPLE IS ON EDGE.
Nancy: I THOUGHT,
"OH, I NEED A GLASS OF WINE
[Laughing] 'CAUSE I NEED
TO STAY CALM HERE."
SO, TELL ME, MICHAEL,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THIS COUNSELING BUSINESS -
IS IT GONNA WORK FOR US?
WHAT DO YOU THINK, NANCY?
WHAT KIND OF ANSWER
IS THAT?
YES OR NO!
NO.
IT'S NOT GONNA WORK OUT,
NANCY, OKAY?
HOW'S THAT FOR AN ANSWER?
THAT'S JUST FINE.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
Narrator: NANCY SAYS
THAT MICHAEL'S RESPONSE
SENDS HER INTO A TAILSPIN.
ACCORDING TO MICHAEL, NANCY
STARTS FRANTICALLY COLLECTING
ARMFULS OF GIFTS HE'D GIVEN HER
AND THROWING THEM IN THE TRASH.
SHE CLAIMS MICHAEL REACTS
BY CONFRONTING HER
ABOUT JEOPARDIZING HIS JOB.
NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF YOU HADN'T STARTED
MEDDLING IN MY BUSINESS,
CALLING MY BOSS.
OH, YEAH?
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO
CALL YOUR BOSS
IF YOU COULD
KEEP YOUR PANTS ON.
HE'S ASKING ME ABOUT HIS BOSS -
WHY DID I CALL HER?
SO, HE WAS ARGUING WITH ME.
HE WAS VERY, VERY ANGRY
AND VERY CLOSE TO MY FACE.
[ Chuckling ] IN HIS ANGER,
HE KNOWS HOW TO INTIMIDATE.
HE STARTED COMING AT ME,
AND I THREW A GLASS OF WINE
IN HIS FACE.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO NANCY,
MICHAEL'S RAGE
QUICKLY TURNS PHYSICAL.
BITCH!
I AM SO TIRED OF YOU!
THIS MARRIAGE IS OVER!
AND THERE WAS SOME TUSSLE,
AND HE'S STRONG.
I WAS SCARED.
WE'RE GETTING A DIVORCE.
YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME.
Narrator: MICHAEL DENIES
EVER PUSHING OR SHOVING NANCY.
IN FACT, EVIDENCE
LATER PRESENTED IN COURT
SHOWS THAT NANCY
WAS THE AGGRESSOR
AND MICHAEL ENDS UP
BATTERED AND BRUISED.
I CAN'T BELIEVE A THING
THAT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME!
Dr. Jordan:
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF
IS THIS THE DESPERATE PUSHBACK
OF A WOMAN
WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT HER HUSBAND
IS OFFICIALLY DONE?
HE'S DONE FIGHTING.
HE'S DONE WITH THE MARRIAGE.
AND HER PUSHING HIM IS
REALLY ALMOST A PROVOCATION -
"PLEASE CARE, PLEASE COME BACK,
PLEASE DO SOMETHING
TO TRY TO SAVE THIS."
ARE THINGS CALMER NOW?
SOMEWHAT,
BUT I'M STILL VERY SCARED
'CAUSE IT'S NOT OVER.
I COULD JUST TELL
IT'S NOT OVER.
IT'S AN INSTINCT.
Narrator: WHILE MICHAEL GOES
UPSTAIRS TO CHANGE,
NANCY CALLS
HER DAUGHTER, RACHEL.
HI. HOW'S IT GOING?
YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?
ARE YOU OKAY?
[ Chuckling ]
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
DO YOU HAPPEN
TO REMEMBER MY PASSWORD...
Nancy:
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
SHE REMEMBERED
MY CHECKING-ACCOUNT PASSWORD
AND THE PASSWORD TO MY COMPUTER.
Dr. Jordan:
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS
MY LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
Narrator: BUT ACCORDING TO
RACHEL, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.
HER MOTHER NEVER GIVES HER
ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OR TELLS HER
THAT SHE FEELS THREATENED.
Sausser: JUST KIND OF STARTED
TALKING - "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
SHE SAID, "ARE YOU GONNA BE UP
FOR A LITTLE BIT?"
AND I SAID,
"YES, A LITTLE WHILE.
WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT?"
AND SHE SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW -
ABOUT A HALF HOUR."
AND I SAID, "WELL, SURE."
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW,
I'LL CALL YOU BACK
IN HALF AN HOUR."
AND I SAID, "OKAY,"
AND, "THIS IS STRANGE."
THERE WAS NO INDICATION
IN HER VOICE TO ME
THAT SHE WAS IN ANY DANGER,
THEY WERE FIGHTING,
OR ANY OF THAT.
NANCY, THIS IS OVER, OKAY?
I'M DONE WITH IT.
Narrator:
MEANWHILE, MICHAEL REAPPEARS,
TELLING NANCY HE'S SETTING
THE STAGE FOR DIVORCE.
NANCY, I'M SPLITTING
EVERYTHING UP, OKAY?
I'M GONNA
DIVIDE EVERYTHING.
AND WAS THERE ANYTHING OVERT
IN HIS BEHAVIOR TO INDICATE...
HE WAS STILL ANGRY.
YOU COULD SEE IT IN HIS FACE.
Narrator: THOUGH NANCY CLAIMS
SHE'S TERRIFIED,
SHE DOESN'T FLEE THE HOUSE.
I'M REALLY SORRY
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!
Dr. Jordan:
BUT IF YOU'RE THAT CERTAIN
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE
THAT NIGHT
AT THE HANDS
OF YOUR HUSBAND -
YOU HAVE A CAR, YOU HAVE KEYS,
YOU HAVE GOOD CREDIT,
YOU COULD GO TO A MOTEL -
WHY STAY?
I CAN TAKE
WHATEVER HE'S GONNA DISH OUT
'CAUSE IT'LL BE OKAY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY?
BECAUSE, NANCY, IF YOU THINK
THAT HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU,
CLEARLY,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE OKAY.
ARE YOU TELLING ME
THAT YOU WERE ALMOST SUICIDAL?
YEAH.
[ Voice breaking ] I'VE BEEN
THROUGH TOO MUCH IN LIFE
THAT STARTING OVER
IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
I STARTED OVER
SO MANY TIMES.
I WAS TIRED.
IT'S OKAY IF I DIDN'T HAVE -
DIDN'T START OVER AGAIN.
HEY, NANCY, YOU KNOW, I REALIZED
THAT ALL THE CARS ARE MINE,
SO YOU'RE NOT GETTING
ANY OF THOSE.
WHEN MICHAEL SAID HE DIDN'T WANT
TO BE MARRIED TO NANCY ANYMORE,
IT WAS SIMPLY
MORE THAN NANCY COULD TAKE.
Narrator: NANCY REALIZES THAT,
THIS TIME, HER MARRIAGE REALLY IS OVER
AND CONSIDERS
ONE LAST DESPERATE ACT
TO KEEP MICHAEL
FROM LEAVING HER.
IT WAS OKAY FOR IT TO END, THEN.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
WHAT?
Narrator: AFTER SEVEN YEARS
OF ACCUSATIONS AND DENIALS...
YOU **** HER,
LIKE, OUTSIDE?
...NANCY AND MICHAEL ANDERSON
HAVE JUST HAD THE FIGHT
THAT WILL PUSH THEIR MARRIAGE
OVER THE FINISH LINE.
WE'RE GETTING A DIVORCE.
MICHAEL IS IN HIS OFFICE,
PUTTING TOGETHER PAPERS
TO FILE FOR DIVORCE.
AFTER CLEANING UP THE KITCHEN,
NANCY, WHILE HOLDING
A CHEF'S KNIFE,
APPROACHES HER HUSBAND
WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION.
[ Voice breaking ] I JUST WAS
GONNA ASK HIM ABOUT SUPPER
'CAUSE WE HADN'T EATEN YET.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO NANCY,
ALTHOUGH MICHAEL IS FACING AWAY FROM HER,
HIS BODY LANGUAGE
IS THREATENING.
SO, I JUST WALKED UP
BEHIND HIM...
WHAT DO YOU WANT
FOR DINNER?
...AND HE HAD HIS HANDS
DOWN AT THE KEYBOARD
AND HE STARTED TO GET UP, AND
HE WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT IT!"
Narrator: SUDDENLY,
BEFORE SHE KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING,
SHE PLUNGES THE KNIFE
IN HIS BACK.
[ Crying ]
IT WAS JUST A REACTION.
IT WAS JUST A REACTION.
I JUST - I JUST TOOK THE KNIFE,
AND I STABBED HIM
IN THE BACK OF THE SHOULDER.
AND HE TURNED AROUND
AND LOOKED AT ME
AND SAID, "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
...CRAZY.
I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW."
Narrator: NANCY INSISTS SHE ATTACKED
MICHAEL ON IMPULSE OUT OF FEAR.
BUT ACCORDING
TO COURT TESTIMONY,
NANCY INTENTIONALLY GRABBED
A KNIFE
IN A COLD-BLOODED ACT
OF RAGE AND REVENGE.
NANCY?
MICHAEL'S VERSION WAS
THAT HE WAS CALLING HER
AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER
AND HE TURNED AROUND
AND SHE WASN'T THERE
AND HE TURNED BACK AROUND
TO THE COMPUTER
AND THEN HE FELT
THE KNIFE IN HIS BACK
AND HE STOOD UP
AND WAS LIKE, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
WHAT DID YOU DO?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
AND MY MOM SAID,
"DON'T WORRY.
IT'LL ALL BE OVER SOON,
MICHAEL."
COME ON.
HE SAID HE WAS SOMEWHAT KNEELING
KIND OF ON ALL FOURS
ON THE GROUND,
AND SHE LAY DOWN NEXT TO HIM,
PATTED THE GROUND,
AND SAID,
"COME LAY NEXT TO ME, MICHAEL.
"COME LAY NEXT TO ME.
I WANT YOU TO FEEL THE PAIN
THAT I FEEL RIGHT NOW."
[ GROANS ]
IT WAS EVERYONE
THROUGH HER ENTIRE LIFE
WHO HAD HURT HER, ABANDONED HER,
REJECTED HER,
OR REFUSED TO LOVE HER.
IT WAS JUST
THE RELEASE OF EMOTION
AS THAT KNIFE
PLUNGED IN HIS BACK
THAT WAS WHAT SHE NEEDED
AT THAT EXACT MOMENT,
AND MICHAEL WAS SIMPLY AT THE
WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
[ GROANING ]
COME ON. LIE DOWN.
Narrator:
COURT DOCUMENTS CONTEND
THAT NANCY MAKES
NO EFFORT TO HELP HIM,
EVEN THOUGH
HE'S BLEEDING BADLY.
[ Weakly ] NANCY.
IN FACT, POLICE BELIEVE
SHE TOOK HIS CELLPHONE
AND CUT
ALL THE HOUSE-PHONE LINES
TO PREVENT HIM
FROM CALLING FOR HELP.
MICHAEL STARTS TO PANIC.
HE'S IN AGONIZING PAIN
AND HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.
INSTEAD OF CALLING 911, NANCY
CALLS HER DAUGHTER, RACHEL.
YOU'RE SCARING ME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
Sausser: AND I SAID,
"MOM, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
AND SHE SAID, "MAYBE YOU SHOULD
COME OUT HERE, RACHEL,"
AND I JUST KEPT HEARING
MICHAEL IN THE BACKGROUND,
SHOUTING,
"RACHEL, PLEASE CALL 911,"
AND SO I HUNG UP.
WE, OF COURSE, TOOK OFF.
SAM, WE GOT TO GO.
Narrator: RACHEL RACES
OVER TO HER MOTHER'S
WITH HER HALF-BROTHER, SAM.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN
WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL 911?
I MEAN, AS A NURSE, YOU DO KNOW
THAT YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE,
THAT THIS IS SERIOUS.
I KNOW, BUT I WANTED
MY DAUGHTER THERE WITH ME.
RACHEL'S NOT MEDICAL HELP.
THE DISCONNECT IS
WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL 911.
I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.
AND HE WASN'T BEGGING YOU
TO GET HIM MEDICAL ATTENTION?
NO.
Sausser: MOM?!
Samuel: MOM?!
WHEN THEY ARRIVE, RACHEL AND SAM
ARE STUNNED BY WHAT THEY SEE.
Sausser:
WE WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN,
AND MICHAEL WAS
STANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD OF ME,
LEANING OVER THE COUNTER WITH A
KNIFE STICKING OUT OF HIS BACK.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Samuel: I WAS SHOCKED.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS
WOULD I EVER IMAGINE
MY MOM COMMITTING
ANY KIND OF VIOLENT ACT.
Sausser:
I LOOKED AT MY MOM,
AND I SAID,
"OH, MY GOD. WHAT HAPPENED?"
SHE JUST KIND OF LOOKED AT ME,
AND I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE
FROM ANYONE,
SO I TOLD SAM TO CALL 911.
MOM WAS LIKE, "DON'T CALL 911.
DON'T CALL 911."
NO, DON'T DO IT.
Narrator: SAM IGNORES HIS MOTHER
AND MAKES THE CALL.
Sausser: I THINK THAT HER
INTENTIONS WERE FOR HIM TO NOT LIVE.
I WAS SHOCKED.
SHE WAS STANDING THERE
LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED,
LIKE, NOT EVEN TRYING
TO HELP HIM, NO CONCERN AT ALL.
SHE WAS ACTING OBLIVIOUS
TO THE FACT
THAT HE HAD A KNIFE HANGING OUT
OF HIS SHOULDER BLADE.
MOM, WHAT HAPPENED?
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: A FEW MINUTES LATER,
POLICE AND PARAMEDICS ARRIVE.
INCREDIBLY, NANCY CLAIMS
EVEN NOW, MICHAEL DEFENDED HER.
Nancy: HE TOLD THEM THAT -
WHAT DID HE SAY?
"SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT."
Narrator: THE MEDICS RUSH
MICHAEL TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE'S IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
Sausser: YOU'RE GONNA
BE OKAY, DAD, OKAY?
YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
THE KNIFE PIERCED HIS LUNG
AND NARROWLY MISSED HIS HEART.
HE'S LOST 20% OF HIS BLOOD.
NANCY IS ARRESTED
AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
SHE HAD A LOOK ON HER FACE THAT
WAS LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.
HER EYES WERE GLASSED OVER.
THERE WAS NO RAGE, NO ANGER.
SHE JUST LOOKED VERY CONFUSED.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
ALL I CAN SAY IS
THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED, NANCY
REPEATEDLY CHANGES HER STORY.
AND I TRIPPED ON...
AT FIRST, SHE SAID
SHE WAS CUTTING AN APPLE
AND SHE TRIPPED
ON A PLASTIC RUNNER,
THEN SHE SAID
THAT SHE WAS DRINKING A LOT,
AND THEN SHE SAID
SHE DID IT OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE
BECAUSE HE WAS YELLING AT HER.
SO, I HEARD
THREE DIFFERENT STORIES.
Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
MICHAEL SURVIVES THE ATTACK.
MONTHS LATER AT TRIAL,
NANCY CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE,
BATTERED-WOMAN SYNDROME, AND
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
AS A RESULT
OF HER ABUSE AS A CHILD.
AND YET, WHEN YOU ASK HER
ABOUT SPECIFICS,
SHE REALLY CAN'T LIST MUCH MORE
THAN SHOUTING, YELLING,
PUSHING, SHOVING,
AND THE FACT THAT HER MOTHER
REALLY DISLIKED HER.
BUT DISLIKING HER,
EVEN HITTING HER WITH A BELT,
IS USUALLY NOT TANTAMOUNT
TO THE LEVEL OF ABUSE
THAT'S NEEDED
FOR THESE SORTS OF DEFENSES.
Narrator: ON MAY 28, 2009,
NANCY ANDERSON IS CONVICTED
OF ATTEMPTED MURDER
AND SENTENCED
TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON.
Dr. Jordan: DO YOU THINK
IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE?
NO.
IT WAS FEAR,
BUT IT WAS MY OWN REALITY FEAR.
IT WAS IN MY OWN MIND.
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT?
THERE WAS NO ANGER AT ALL.
I WASN'T ANGRY AT HIM
ABOUT ANYTHING.
IT WAS
JUST SELF-PRESERVATION.
NOT SELF-DEFENSE,
BUT SELF-PRESERVATION.
YEAH.
FOR ME, IT WAS.
Narrator: TODAY IN PRISON,
NANCY'S WORKING ON
A DOCTORATE DEGREE IN THEOLOGY.
SHE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE
IN 2014.
THE QUESTION IS, IF SHE GOT OUT,
WOULD SHE DO THIS AGAIN?
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY NO
AS LONG AS YOU DON'T
LOVE HER AND LEAVE HER.
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF
A VIOLENT OR CRIMINAL PERSON?
NO.
I HAD ONE ACT OF...
OF WHAT?
...RETALIATION -
I GUESS YOU CAN CALL IT -
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
IT DOESN'T DEFINE WHO I AM.
I REALLY AM A GOOD PERSON
WHO DID SOMETHING WRONG,
AND IT'S NOT WHO I AM.
THE CHARM FOR A WOUNDED SOCIALITE?
I COULD BE WHO I WAS
AND STILL BE LOVED.
Narrator: UNTIL HER PERFECT HUSBAND'S
PAST COMES BACK TO BITE HIM...
YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.
...AND SHATTERS HER FANTASY.
YOU STAY WITH ME,
AND YOU STOP THAT!
THIS WOMAN SCORNED,
REAL OR IMAGINED...
IT SEEMS
THAT SHE'S PLAYING THE VICTIM.
Narrator:
...DEMANDS PAYBACK.
[ Crying ]
IT WAS JUST A REACTION.
IT WAS HER WAY OF SAYING,
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH.
DON'T YOU DARE
TURN YOUR BACK ON ME."
Man: AAH!
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
AUGUST 1997,
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
43-YEAR-OLD NANCY OTT
SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL -
A SUCCESSFUL NURSING CAREER,
THREE GROWN CHILDREN,
AND A HANDSOME HUSBAND
NAMED AARON DAVIS.
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, NANCY
AND AARON'S THREE-YEAR MARRIAGE
IS SLOWLY FALLING APART.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA BE
GOING TO SOME INTERVIEWS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HOME?
YOU KNOW, HONEY,
I WOKE UP A LITTLE BIT LATE.
NANCY CLAIMS
AARON CAN'T HOLD DOWN A JOB
AND THE STRESS OF HER SUPPORTING
THE FAMILY ON HER NURSING INCOME
IS DRIVING
A GIANT WEDGE BETWEEN THEM.
THIS IS GONNA
MAKE YOU HAPPY.
I HAVE A GOOD FEELING
ABOUT THESE TWO JOBS.
THE MARRIAGE, NANCY'S THIRD,
APPEARS TO BE
HEADED FOR DISASTER.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE,
TOMORROW -
I THINK
THEY'RE GONNA HIRE ME.
[ BOTH SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
IT'S YET ANOTHER FAILURE
THAT NANCY SAYS STEMS
FROM A TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD.
YOU'RE WORTHLESS.
WORTHLESS?
YOU MEAN NOTHING HERE.
OH, COME ON.
I TAKE CARE OF...
ACCORDING TO NANCY,
SHE CAUSED THE BREAKUP
OF HER MOTHER'S MARRIAGE.
DON'T YOU EVEN...
I AM THE DAUGHTER
OF THE MILKMAN - LITERALLY.
MY MOM HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH THE MILKMAN, AND THAT'S ME.
SHE HATED ME.
SHE SAID IF THERE WERE ABORTION
IN HER DAYS,
I WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.
Narrator:
WHEN THE MILKMAN TAKES OFF,
NANCY'S MOTHER TRAINS
ALL HER ANGER AND FRUSTRATION
ON HER DAUGHTER.
I AM SO MAD AT YOU, NANCY!
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!
YOU'RE THE REASON
YOU'RE IN HERE.
Nancy: I WAS TIED TO A CHAIR EVERY
SINGLE DAY FROM THE AGE OF 3.
I WAS ALLOWED OUT FOR LUNCH.
WELL, I DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO HIT YOU.
HER MOM
WAS NOT A VERY NICE PERSON.
SHE USED TO
LOCK HER IN CLOSETS -
THINGS THAT CHILDREN
SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO.
YOU ARE A BAD GIRL.
LOOKING RIGHT IN MY EYES
AND TELLING ME, "I HATE YOU."
BAG GIRL!
Narrator: BUT HER MOTHER'S RAGE
PALES IN COMPARISON
TO THE ABUSE
NANCY CLAIMS SHE SUFFERED
AT THE HANDS
OF A TRUSTED FAMILY FRIEND.
Nancy: HE WOULD TAKE ME
OUT TO THE APPLE ORCHARDS
AND, UM, MAKE ME
HAVE ORAL SEX WITH HIM.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
NANCY'S TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD
MAKES HER FEEL
CHRONICALLY SUBMISSIVE
AND VULNERABLE,
ALWAYS UNDESERVING OF LOVE,
AND THIS IS A PATTERN
THAT WILL HAUNT HER
THROUGHOUT THE REST
OF HER RELATIONSHIPS.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: THE DAY SHE TURNS 18,
NANCY'S MOTHER KICKS HER OUT.
WITH NOWHERE TO TURN,
SHE MARRIES HER TEENAGE
BOYFRIEND, JAMES MILLER,
BUT THEIR MARRIAGE
IS DOOMED FROM THE START.
YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL.
NANCY FINDS INTIMACY
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
Nancy: WELL, I HAD
A REALLY, REALLY HARD TIME
ACCEPTING ANY TYPE OF TOUCH.
IT WOULD MAKE ME STIFFEN UP,
AND IT WAS HARD.
I DON'T SAY IT WAS
A LOVING RELATIONSHIP AT ALL.
NANCY.
I JUST -
I JUST CAN'T.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN REALLY TRUST ME.
IT'S, UH...
Narrator: DESPITE
NANCY'S TROUBLE GETTING CLOSE,
SHE AND JAMES
HAVE A CHILD, RACHEL,
BUT THEY DIVORCE
WHEN SHE'S A TODDLER.
NANCY'S PROBLEMS FOLLOW HER
WHEN SHE MARRIES
HER SECOND HUSBAND, LES OTT.
THEY HAVE A SON NAMED SAM,
BUT SOON AFTER HE'S BORN,
THE COUPLE SPLITS UP.
Samuel: I THINK
SHE WENT THROUGH LIFE SO LONG
WITH HER EMOTIONS LOCKED UP
FROM HER CHILDHOOD
THAT I DON'T THINK
SHE KNEW HOW TO BE HAPPY.
Narrator: NOW MARRIAGE NUMBER
THREE, TO AARON,
IS ON A SIMILAR
COLLISION COURSE.
HE REALLY CONNED MY MOM
OUT OF A LOT OF WHAT SHE EARNED,
AND HE WOULD JUST PUT HER DOWN.
HE DIDN'T
MAKE HER FEEL WORTHWHILE.
Nancy: MY LOT IN LIFE WAS TO BE
ABUSED AND TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
BECAUSE I DESERVED IT,
BECAUSE I WAS BORN.
Dr. Jordan: NANCY NOT ONLY SAYS
THAT HER MOTHER ABUSED HER,
BUT SHE CLAIMS THAT VIRTUALLY
EVERY ONE OF HER HUSBANDS
WERE ABUSIVE IN SOME RESPECT,
AND ONE HAS TO ASK, "IS ABUSE
SIMPLY A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE?
"DOES SHE SEE EVERYTHING
THROUGH THE FILTER
OF HER MOTHER'S LEGACY?"
[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]
ALL RIGHT,
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU THIS PASS,
AND YOU CAN
GET BACK TO CLASS.
Narrator: WITH HER THIRD
MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS,
NANCY FEARS SHE'LL NEVER
MEET THE MAN OF HER DREAMS,
BUT WHEN SHE LANDS
A NURSING AND TEACHING GIG
AT A SEATTLE ARTS SCHOOL,
HER LUCK STARTS TO CHANGE.
OH [CHUCKLES] I'M NANCY.
NANCY,
REALLY NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
I'M THE PRINCIPAL.
OH, OH, GOODNESS...
SHE CATCHES
THE EYE OF HER NEW BOSS,
THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL,
MICHAEL ANDERSON.
MICHAEL IS CHARMING,
CULTURED, AND SUCCESSFUL,
A SHARP CONTRAST TO
NANCY'S CURRENT HUSBAND, AARON.
ALTHOUGH NANCY AND MICHAEL
ARE INSTANTLY ATTRACTED TO EACH
OTHER, THEY'RE BOTH MARRIED,
SO THEY KEEP THEIR RELATIONSHIP
PLATONIC.
Nancy: I LIKED HIM.
HE WAS A GOOD-LOOKING MAN,
HE WAS FUN TO BE WITH,
AND I ENJOYED HIS COMPANY.
Dr. Jordan:
YOU WERE VERY CLEAR
ABOUT "THIS IS RIGHT,
AND THIS IS WRONG,
AND YOU DON'T GET INVOLVED
WITH SOMEBODY YOU WORK WITH."
I HAD STRONG VALUES.
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE
TO GET CLOSE TO SOMEBODY
YOU'RE WORKING WITH.
YOU'RE VERY GOOD
WITH BOUNDARIES.
YEAH.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT NANCY
THAT MAKES YOU WONDER
IF HER PRESENTATION
IS SLIGHTLY A FACADE.
SHE'S EXTREMELY PRIM AND PROPER,
ALMOST NUN-LIKE,
BUT THERE'S THIS UNDERPINNING
OF DISHONESTY ABOUT IT.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS, BEEPS ]
Narrator: TWO YEARS LATER,
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
NANCY'S SEPARATED
FROM HER HUSBAND, AARON,
AND MICHAEL'S MOVED ON TO
A NEW JOB AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL,
BUT HE HASN'T FORGOTTEN NANCY.
OH, YEAH, YOU CAN COOK?
HE TOLD ME
HOW MUCH HE REALLY DID LIKE ME
AND WANTED
TO TAKE THE RELATIONSHIP
A LITTLE FURTHER
THAN FRIENDSHIP.
I ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS WIFE,
AND HE SAID THAT HE AND HIS WIFE
WERE SEPARATED,
THAT THEY WERE
WORKING ON A DIVORCE.
Narrator: TO NANCY,
MICHAEL SEEMS LIKE A CATCH,
AND SHE ENJOYS
HIS WINING AND DINING.
WHEN SHE MET HIM,
SHE KIND OF THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA BE
HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR
AND KIND OF SAVE HER
AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
[ MICHAEL LAUGHS ]
Narrator: MICHAEL'S SOCIAL STATUS
ALSO SCORES POINTS WITH NANCY.
HE'S BIG
IN THE LOCAL ARTS SCENE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE,
NANCY GETS TO MINGLE
WITH THE IN-CROWD.
Nancy:
I WANTED TO BREAK OUT OF MYSELF
AND EXPERIENCE LIFE
AND SOCIALIZE.
AND HOW DID HE
MAKE YOU FEEL?
BEAUTIFUL -
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS SO OPPOSITE OF ANYTHING
THAT I EVER EXPERIENCED.
I SAW A BIG CHANGE IN MY MOM
WHEN THEY STARTED DATING.
BEFORE, SHE WOULD
JUST KIND OF STAY AT HOME.
SHE WAS
A LITTLE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
AFTER THEY STARTED DATING,
AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE.
Narrator: NANCY HOPES MICHAEL CAN END
HER STREAK OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS.
Dr. Jordan:
NANCY MOVES FORWARD,
BELIEVING THAT THE NEXT ONE
WILL BE DIFFERENT
AND SHE WILL FIND TRUE LOVE.
WITH MICHAEL,
HE WAS A DEFINITE STEP UP
COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER MEN
SHE HAD BEEN WITH.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
SO, WHAT'D YOU THINK?
THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME
COOKING SALMON.
Narrator: BUT ON NANCY'S FIRST
VISIT TO MICHAEL'S HOUSE,
HER HOPES OF HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
ARE QUICKLY DASHED.
THAT PURSE
THAT'S HANGING THERE...
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH, THAT'S
MY WIFE'S, UH, PURSE.
SHE'S LIVING HERE?
I WANTED TO KNOW WHY HIS WIFE'S
THINGS WERE STILL THERE
AND COME TO FIND OUT
THAT SHE REALLY IS
ONLY VISITING HER MOTHER.
WELL, HE STARTED TO BACKPEDAL
AND STUMBLE OVER HIS WORDS.
"OH, WELL, I - SHE -
SHE WAS GETTING AN APARTMENT,
"AND SHE'S NOT QUITE
MOVED OUT YET,
BUT SHE'S ON HER WAY AND..."
OH, YEAH, I DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
BUT WHAT DID YOU DO
ABOUT IT?
I TOLD HIM
I COULDN'T SEE HIM ANYMORE.
I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU.
ALL RIGHT, I'M DONE.
I'M DONE.
Narrator:
NANCY IS BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED.
PLEASE, COME BACK.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
A FEW WEEKS LATER,
MICHAEL CALLS TO TELL HER
THAT HIS WIFE
HAS FINALLY MOVED OUT.
HELLO.
NANCY.
LET ME EXPLAIN.
YOU'RE THE WOMAN
I WANT TO BE WITH.
HE CONVINCES HER
TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
OKAY, SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
THE COUPLE PICKS UP
WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.
SOON, NANCY FEELS SECURE ENOUGH
TO INTRODUCE MICHAEL
TO HER KIDS, RACHEL AND SAM.
THEY WELCOME HIM TO THE FAMILY.
Sausser: I THOUGHT
HE WAS A VERY NICE GUY.
HE WAS VERY ATTENTIVE
TO MY MOM -
SOMEONE YOU COULD ASPIRE TO,
SOMEONE,
IF HE WERE YOUR TEACHER,
YOU WOULD LOOK UP TO HIM.
NICE MEETING YOU!
TO THE FUTURE.
Narrator: BUT AS THEIR RELATIONSHIP
HITS THE FOUR-MONTH MARK,
NANCY'S THROWN
ANOTHER CURVEBALL.
ARE YOU NANCY?
YES.
ARE YOU WITH MICHAEL?
ONE AFTERNOON, SHE'S ABOUT
TO HEAD HOME AFTER WORK
WHEN SHE CLAIMS
SHE'S APPROACHED BY A COWORKER
WHO DELIVERS AN OMINOUS WARNING.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT YOU
TO KNOW HE'S NOT WHAT HE SEEMS.
TRUST ME.
Nancy: A FRIEND OF HIS EX-WIFE
CAME TO ME
AND SAID,
"YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HIM.
HE'S NOT WHO YOU THINK HE IS."
Narrator: THE CRYPTIC MESSAGE
SHAKES NANCY TO THE CORE.
WHAT DARK SECRETS COULD MICHAEL
POSSIBLY BE HIDING?
MICHAEL PUTS NANCY
ON A SHORT LEASH.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE
OF WHERE SHE WAS ALL THE TIME.
Narrator: 43-YEAR-OLD NANCY OTT
HAS BEEN DATING MICHAEL ANDERSON
FOR FOUR MONTHS.
SHE THINKS
HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS...
[ Chuckling ] YES, YES.
...UNTIL A FRIEND
OF MICHAEL'S EX-WIFE
APPEARS WITH A BIZARRE MESSAGE.
TRUST ME.
YOU DON'T KNOW HIM
AT ALL.
SHE SAYS MICHAEL IS NOT
WHO HE SEEMS TO BE,
BUT NANCY CHOOSES
NOT TO HEED THE WARNING.
Nancy: FOR ME, I JUST THOUGHT
SHE WAS PROTECTING HER FRIEND,
SO I DIDN'T REALLY TAKE IT
AS MUCH AS A WARNING
AS HER JUST TRYING TO...
MEDDLE IN YOUR ROMANCE.
YES.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOGETHER
THAT LONG...
Narrator: AND WHEN MICHAEL OPENS
UP ABOUT HIS FEELINGS FOR HER,
ANY LAST DOUBTS
COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR.
I JUST FEEL GOOD
WHEN I'M AROUND YOU.
Nancy: AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS
GETTING SERIOUS, AND HE TOLD ME -
HE GOES, "I THINK
I'M FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU."
Dr. Jordan:
HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
WONDERFUL -
I REALLY DID.
SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD
THAT LOVES SOMEONE
THAT'S JUST A LITTLE SPECK
OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT,
YOU KNOW,
"YOU REALLY NEED
TO KNOW WHO I REALLY AM."
GOT SOME STUFF
GOING ON IN MY PAST
THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.
Narrator:
NANCY TELLS MICHAEL
ABOUT ALL THE ABUSE
SHE SUFFERED AS A CHILD.
I JUST REALLY NEED YOU TO KNOW
THAT I CAN'T BE HURT AGAIN.
Nancy: I WANTED TO TELL HIM
BECAUSE IT IMPACTS
MY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
WITH A MAN.
SHE WAS VERY VULNERABLE,
AND SHE SAID TO HIM, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING HIM IN THE EYES,
"PLEASE DON'T HURT ME."
SHE KNEW
SHE REALLY COULDN'T TAKE IT,
AND HE SAID,
"I WILL NOT HURT YOU."
Narrator: NINE MONTHS
INTO THEIR RELATIONSHIP,
MICHAEL PROPOSES.
THE COUPLE WASTES NO TIME
TYING THE KNOT.
IT'S NANCY'S FOURTH MARRIAGE
AND MICHAEL'S THIRD.
SHE REALLY BELIEVED
HE WAS DIFFERENT.
SHE THOUGHT
THIS GUY WAS THE ONE,
AND SHE WAS ALWAYS HOPING
TO FIND THAT PRINCE CHARMING.
Nancy:
WE GOT MARRIED IN LAS VEGAS
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
I WANTED TO GET MARRIED.
IT JUST SEEMED
LIKE A ROMANTIC PLACE.
IT WAS MAGICAL.
IT WAS
EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE.
HE WAS
A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
I WAS SWEPT OFF MY FEET.
Narrator: NANCY THINKS
SHE'S HIT THE JACKPOT.
THE NEWLYWEDS TAKE
AN EXPENSIVE CRUISE TO ALASKA
AND THEN MOVE IN TO AN UPSCALE
HOME IN THE SUBURBS OF SEATTLE.
NANCY IS FINALLY LIVING THE GOOD
LIFE SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED.
WHOO. [ LAUGHS ]
FROM AN OUTSIDER'S VIEW,
THEY PROBABLY SEEMED TO BE
A PERFECT COUPLE
WITH A PERFECT LIFE.
Narrator:
BEING MARRIED TO MICHAEL
MAKES NANCY FEEL
LIKE A WHOLE NEW WOMAN.
Nancy:
I CARED MORE ABOUT MYSELF.
I CARED WHAT I LOOKED LIKE.
I CARED HOW I CARRIED MYSELF.
IS THAT THE NEW NANCY
OR WAS THAT NANCY ALWAYS THERE,
BUT SHE WAS SUPPRESSED
BY THE LEGACY OF ABUSE?
I THINK
I WAS ALWAYS THERE.
I WAS
JUST NOT ALLOWED OUT.
SO MICHAEL REVEALED
THE REAL NANCY.
YEAH.
I COULD BE WHO I WAS
AND STILL BE LOVED.
IT WAS LIBERATING.
Narrator: STILL,
IT'S LIKE NANCY IS CURSED.
BEFORE LONG, JUST LIKE
ALL HER PREVIOUS MARRIAGES,
THE HONEYMOON ENDS TOO SOON.
THAT'S MY PAYCHECK.
YOU OPENED IT.
YEAH.
SHE SAYS A FEW MONTHS
AFTER THE WEDDING,
MICHAEL STARTS
SHOWING A DARK SIDE.
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME CASH?
UM...
Nancy:
HE WAS VERY CONTROLLING.
MY MONEY WENT INTO HIS ACCOUNT.
HE CONTROLLED ALL THE MONEY
AND GAVE ME AN ALLOWANCE.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
WITH ALL OF YOUR -
ALL YOUR MONEY?
JUST GONNA SEE SOME FRIENDS.
FRIENDS?
Narrator: BUT NANCY'S
DAUGHTER, RACHEL, DISAGREES.
AND IF HE WAS CONTROLLING
OVER HER MONEY,
IT WAS SERIOUSLY NOT APPARENT.
I NEVER ONCE GOT THE IMPRESSION
THAT SHE WAS PUT ON A BUDGET
IN ANY WAY OR HAD NO MONEY.
Narrator: IN FACT,
RACHEL REMEMBERS MICHAEL SPOILING NANCY
AND SHOWERING HER
WITH EVERY POSSIBLE LUXURY.
Sausser:
HE HAD A REALLY GOOD JOB,
AND SHE HAD THE BIGGER HOUSE
THAT SHE WANTED, A NICE CAR.
MY MOM NEVER
LACKED FOR ANYTHING.
MY MOM HAD
MANY, MANY, MANY CREDIT CARDS.
MY MOM HAD
NO PROBLEMS GOING OUT SHOPPING.
SHE WAS
VERY MUCH INTO A LIFESTYLE
THAT AFFORDED HER TO LOOK NICE,
AND I THINK THAT MICHAEL
PROVIDED THAT FOR HER.
Narrator:
BUT NANCY INSISTS
THAT MICHAEL'S CONTROLLING
NATURE GETS OVERBEARING FAST,
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
AND HE'S ALSO GOT
A NASTY JEALOUS STREAK.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
TELL ME.
IT'S JUST - IT'S FINE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
HE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE
OF WHERE SHE WAS ALL THE TIME.
HER AND I WENT OUT FOR DRINKS
AFTER WORK ONE NIGHT...
CAN YOU EVER RELAX
WHEN YOU GO OUT?
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
OKAY,
YOUR WHOLE FACE HAS CHANGED.
WAS THAT MICHAEL?
WE WERE THERE MAYBE AN HOUR.
HE CALLED FIVE OR SIX TIMES,
ASKING WHERE SHE WAS,
WHO SHE WAS WITH,
WHAT SHE WAS DOING.
HE'S UPSET THAT I'M OUT.
I JUST...
YOU SEEMED TO KEEP MAKING
THE SAME MISTAKES,
GETTING INVOLVED
WITH CONTROLLING MEN,
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
CONTROL IS
A FORM OF LOVE.
IT HAD TO BE.
IT CAME FROM MY MOTHER.
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE
YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU
NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS
AND CONTROL IS
HOW IT'S SHOWN.
THE PATTERN THAT NANCY EXHIBITS
IS ALWAYS ONE
OF SEARCHING FOR LOVE,
SEARCHING
FOR A MAN TO COMPLETE HER.
REALLY, IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF HER
TURNING TO A PATTERN OF ABUSE
AS TRYING TO FILL THAT HOLE
IN HER HEART FROM HER CHILDHOOD,
WHICH, CLEARLY, NO MAN IS
EVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL.
AND SO HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH MICHAEL
IS DOOMED FROM THE START.
Narrator:
THOUGH SHE BRISTLES
AT WHAT SHE CONSIDERS
MICHAEL'S POSSESSIVENESS,
NANCY IS DETERMINED
TO MAKE THIS MARRIAGE WORK.
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
THAT IS, UNTIL
AN UNEXPECTED KNOCK AT THE DOOR
IS LIKE GAS
ON A SMOLDERING FLAME.
I WANTED TO SEE
THE WOMAN WHO REPLACED ME.
Narrator: AT FIRST, NEWLYWEDS
NANCY AND MICHAEL ANDERSON
SEEM TO BE LIVING HAPPILY
EVER AFTER IN SUBURBAN SEATTLE,
BUT IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE THIS MARRIAGE,
NANCY'S FOURTH,
STARTS TO FALTER.
THE LATEST
TROUBLING DEVELOPMENT -
A SURPRISE VISITOR AT THE DOOR.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
Jennifer: I'M HERE
TO PICK UP SOME THINGS.
ACCORDING TO NANCY,
MICHAEL'S EX-WIFE JENNIFER
SHOWS UP ON THEIR DOORSTEP TO
RETRIEVE SOME OF HER BELONGINGS
THAT MICHAEL
STILL HAS STASHED AWAY.
MICHAEL DIDN'T TELL YOU.
WHAT AN ASS.
NO.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS
I SHOULD TELL YOU.
NANCY RELUCTANTLY LETS
JENNIFER IN.
WHEN WE STARTED DATING,
I HAD NO IDEA
HE WAS EVEN MARRIED.
SHE DID WARN MY MOM
TO STAY AWAY FROM MICHAEL
AND THAT MICHAEL
WASN'T A GOOD GUY.
Narrator:
AND THAT'S NOT ALL.
JENNIFER TELLS NANCY A SHOCKING
SECRET ABOUT MICHAEL'S PAST.
I FOUND HIM
CHEATING ON ME.
I WENT TO HIS SCHOOL...
Nancy: WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT
WITH ONE OF HER CHILDREN,
HE WORKED AT A UNIVERSITY
AND HAD A TWO-YEAR AFFAIR.
TWO YEARS, AND SHE HAD NO IDEA
THAT HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR
WITH A STUDENT.
THAT'S HOW MICHAEL IS,
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW
BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
Narrator: THE REVELATION MAKES
NANCY EVEN MORE SUSPICIOUS
ABOUT THE MAN SHE MARRIED.
WHEN HE GETS HOME FROM WORK
THAT NIGHT, SHE CONFRONTS HIM.
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
JENNIFER SHOWED UP
AT THE DOOR.
MY EX-WIFE?
YEAH, YOUR EX-WIFE,
WITH A STORY
ABOUT SOME AFFAIR
FROM THE PAST
WITH A STUDENT.
OH, COME ON, NANCY -
WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME ABOUT THAT?
Nancy: HE TOLD ME
THAT HE HAD THIS AFFAIR
BECAUSE SHE NAGGED AT HIM
ALL THE TIME.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
"WHO ARE YOU GONNA BE WITH?
"WHO YOU MEETING WITH?
"WHAT DOES SHE LOOK LIKE?
IS IT A FEMALE?
IS SHE BEAUTIFUL?
IS SHE YOUNG?"
AND HE SAID
THAT DROVE HIM TO DO THAT.
"WELL, IF SHE'S GONNA
BLAME ME FOR THAT,
I MIGHT AS WELL JUST DO IT."
Dr. Jordan: BUT IN THE END,
HE LEAVES YOU WITH A WARNING -
"IF SHE HAD BEEN
A BETTER WIFE,
IT NEVER
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED."
Nancy: THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO FIND
OUT, "WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
WHAT CAN I DO BETTER?"
Narrator: AFTER MICHAEL
ADMITS TO THE AFFAIR,
NANCY'S LEFT ON EDGE,
BUT SHE'S DETERMINED
TO DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY
TO KEEP HER MARRIAGE INTACT.
BILL. HEY.
YEAH.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT
THE MAN
WHO HAD
A LONG HISTORY OF CHEATING?
BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD
THIS SAYING -
"ONCE A CHEATER,
ALWAYS A CHEATER."
BECAUSE YOU THINK
YOU'RE GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE THE ONE THAT HE
IS GOING TO BE FAITHFUL TO
AND LOVE AND STICK BY
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LIKE
THOSE OTHER ONES.
"I'M NOT LAZY
LIKE HE SAID SHE WAS.
"I'M A VERY HARD WORKER.
"SHE NEVER COOKED.
"WELL,
I'M A WONDERFUL COOK.
I LOVE TO COOK."
NAH, NO, MY WIFE DOESN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I DON'T WANT HER TO KNOW,
YOU KNOW.
"I'M NOT LIKE THEM,
SO HE'LL BE OKAY WITH ME."
Dr. Jordan: IF SHE COULD BE A
BETTER PERSON, A BETTER LITTLE GIRL,
NOT DISPLEASING
TO THOSE AROUND HER,
THEN MAYBE
HE WOULD STICK WITH HER
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
Narrator: NANCY BECOMES OBSESSED
WITH PLEASING MICHAEL.
BUT DESPITE ALL HER EFFORTS,
THINGS ONLY GET WORSE.
JUST SEEMED THAT THEY WERE
STARTING TO LIVE
TWO DIFFERENT LIVES -
NOT DOING THE THINGS TOGETHER
AS MUCH ANYMORE.
IT WAS A QUIET PULLING AWAY.
Narrator: MICHAEL STARTS
SPENDING MORE TIME AT WORK
AND COMING HOME LATE AT NIGHT.
SIT DOWN.
WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THE BILLS?
Narrator: NANCY CLAIMS
THAT MICHAEL HAS A SHORT FUSE
AND BECOMES SEXUALLY AND
VERBALLY AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS HER.
Brown:
HE BELITTLED HER ALL THE TIME.
HER RESPONSE TO IT WAS
SHE WAS VERY QUIET,
SHE WAS NON-CONFRONTATIONAL,
AND THEN SHE WOULD JUST TRY
TO PLEASE HIM.
SO, SHE WOULD SHE JUST TRY
TO FIND A SOLUTION
SO THAT HE WOULDN'T BE SO MAD.
SPENDING
THAT KIND OF MONEY!
I'M SORRY.
HE DID GET ANGRY AND YELL AT ME,
AND I DON'T LIKE
BEING YELLED AT.
I WAS AFRAID OF HIM, AND THEN
THE SEX GOT MORE AGGRESSIVE.
Narrator:
BUT WHATEVER NANCY SAYS,
HER DAUGHTER, RACHEL,
REMEMBERS THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
I WOULD NEVER BELIEVE
THAT MICHAEL WOULD FORCE HIMSELF
UPON MY MOTHER.
I NEVER SAW
ANY BRUISES ON MY MOTHER.
IT SEEMED THAT HE WAS ALWAYS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO MAKE HER HAPPY.
HE HAD OFTEN STATED THAT SHE WAS
VERY PHYSICAL WITH HIM
BEFORE THEY GOT MARRIED,
AND THEN, WHEN THEY GOT MARRIED,
SHE TURNED COLD.
AS LONG AS HE KEPT
SHELLING OUT THE MONEY
AND GIVING HER WHAT SHE WANTED,
THEN SHE WAS MORE APT
TO BEING ROMANTIC.
LET'S SAY WE, UH,
GO INSIDE THE BEDROOM
AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
UP THERE.
Dr. Jordan:
WOMEN WHO SUFFERED ABUSE,
ESPECIALLY SEXUAL ABUSE,
AS CHILDREN
OFTEN PERCEIVE
ANY SEXUAL ADVANCE AGAINST THEM
TO BE AGGRESSIVE
AND UNWARRANTED.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER
IF THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
SHE WOULD HAVE WITH MICHAEL
WAS REALLY
JUST SET UP FOR FAILURE.
Narrator: DESPITE GROWING
FURTHER AND FURTHER APART,
MICHAEL AND NANCY MANAGE TO
STAY TOGETHER FOR SEVEN YEARS,
BUT IT'S A SHELL OF A MARRIAGE.
FINALLY, IN THE FALL OF 2006,
NANCY CLAIMS
THAT MICHAEL DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
I HAVE NEEDS,
AND IF THEY AREN'T FILLED HERE,
I'M GONNA HAVE TO
GO OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.
AFTER A SEXUAL EXPERIENCE
WITH HIM,
HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE HAVING
AN AFFAIR WITH OTHER WOMEN.
"IF THERE WAS NO LAW AGAINST
HAVING MORE THAN ONE WIFE,
"I WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE WIVES
BECAUSE I NEED
MULTIPLE SEXUAL EXPERIENCES."
Dr. Jordan: AND DID YOU LOOK
AT HIM WITH A WHOLE NEW -
WHOLE NEW EYES.
WHOLE NEW EYES.
IT'S AN "AHA" MOMENT.
Narrator: NOW NANCY IS CONVINCED
MICHAEL IS CHEATING ON HER,
AND SHE SEES EVIDENCE
EVERYWHERE SHE TURNS.
TO HER, EVEN INNOCENT ENCOUNTERS
LOOK LIKE DANGEROUS FLIRTATIONS.
Nancy:
IT'S THE REAL MICHAEL.
IT'S THE SEXUAL PREDATOR,
AND I COULD SEE IT.
Dr. Jordan: THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH
IN RELATIONSHIPS
IS A VERY REAL THING,
AND WHEN NANCY STARTED
LOOKING AT MICHAEL
AND WONDERING
IF HE WAS STEPPING OUT ON HER,
SHE STARTED LOOKING
FOR HIM TO FAIL HER
JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER MEN
IN HER LIFE HAD.
I CAN THINK OF
SOME EXTRA-CREDIT WORK MAYBE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator:
BUT, AGAIN, ACCORDING TO RACHEL,
MICHAEL'S INFIDELITY
IS ALL IN NANCY'S HEAD.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE CAPABLE
OF MUCH BETTER WORK.
I COULD NEVER PICTURE MICHAEL
AS ONE TO HAVE AN AFFAIR.
Narrator: NANCY'S OBSESSION
THAT MICHAEL IS CHEATING
KEEPS HER UP AT NIGHT.
AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE NEW, CONFIDENT NANCY?
SHE BECAME THAT LITTLE MOUSE
AGAIN, FOR A MOMENT,
AND SHE DECIDED THAT SHE'S GONNA
CHECK ON THIS ALL HERSELF.
"I'M NOT GONNA JUST LAY DOWN
AND LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME."
SO, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
I HAD HIS PASSWORD
TO HIS E-MAIL.
Narrator: ONE AFTERNOON,
WHILE MICHAEL'S AT WORK,
NANCY GOES
ON THE HUNT FOR PROOF.
MICHAEL'S SECRETS
SPARK A SHOWDOWN.
...WEBSITES
YOU'VE GONE TO.
HE HAD A BUNCH OF E-MAILS
THAT WERE TO OTHER WOMEN.
YOU STAY WITH ME,
AND YOU STOP THAT!
Narrator: NANCY AND MICHAEL
ANDERSON'S SEVEN-YEAR MARRIAGE
IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
NANCY SUSPECTS
MICHAEL IS LYING TO HER
ABOUT HIS SEXUAL EXPLOITS
WITH OTHER WOMEN.
DESPERATE FOR HARD EVIDENCE,
SHE HACKS INTO HIS E-MAIL.
Nancy: SO, I CHECKED HIS E-MAILS
AND FOUND OUT
THAT HE WAS ON PORNOGRAPHY SITES
AND SOLICITING WOMEN
THAT HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY
HAVING BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH.
I THINK MICHAEL USED WHATEVER
HE COULD TO MEET WOMEN -
THAT MY MOM
WASN'T ENOUGH FOR HIM.
Narrator: NOW THAT SHE'S
SCRATCHED THE SURFACE,
NANCY NEEDS TO KNOW MORE.
SHE CONTACTS ONE OF THE WOMEN
SHE BELIEVES MICHAEL'S
BEEN TALKING TO ONLINE.
THEY MEET AT A DOWNTOWN CAFE.
ACCORDING TO NANCY,
THE WOMAN REVEALS THAT
THE MEETING SHE AND MICHAEL HAD
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
BUSINESS-RELATED
BUT QUICKLY TURNED PERSONAL.
HE STARTED
ASKING ME PERSONAL THINGS,
LIKE, "ARE YOU MARRIED?"
WHEN YOU FIRST MET MICHAEL,
ISN'T THAT WHAT HE DID WITH YOU?
YEP.
BECAUSE WOMEN
ARE VERY VULNERABLE
WHEN THEY'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP
THAT'S ON THE ROCKS,
AND THAT'S
WHEN HE ATTACKS.
Narrator: BUT NANCY HAS
HER OWN PLAN OF ATTACK.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
WHAT?
SHE CONFRONTS MICHAEL, GRILLING
HIM ABOUT HIS WEB-WOMANIZING.
HOW DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT MY BUSINESS MEETINGS?
CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
ARE YOU **** HER,
LIKE, OUTSIDE?
WHAT?
NANCY HAD TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD
GOTTEN INTO HIS E-MAIL
AND THAT HE HAD
A BUNCH OF E-MAILS IN THERE
THAT WERE TO OTHER WOMEN.
Narrator: MICHAEL INSISTS
HE'S BEING FAITHFUL
AND STILL WANTS
TO WORK ON THE MARRIAGE,
BUT NANCY DOESN'T BELIEVE HIM.
NO, YOU CAN'T
GO OUTSIDE THE HOUSE!
YOU STAY WITH ME,
AND YOU STOP THAT!
YOU STOP IT!
NANCY'S DEVASTATED.
SHE MOVES INTO A GUEST BEDROOM
WHILE DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT.
Dr. Jordan: AT SOME POINT,
NANCY GOES BACK TO FEELING
LIKE A VICTIM -
GIVING UP,
"THERE IS NO HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER.
"I KEEP TRYING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE I CAN DO
TO MAKE THIS WORK" -
AND IT REALLY SEEMS TO BE
LEADING TO A BOILING POINT.
Dr. Jordan:
YOU'VE READ THE E-MAILS,
YOU MET WITH
A POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND OF HIS.
WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING
IS ALMOST LIKE
A "DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE"
TURN-AROUND IN HIS PERSONALITY.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS.
SO WHY NOT
GO RUNNING FROM THE HOUSE,
GET A DIVORCE,
AND GET A NICE SETTLEMENT?
BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS
A COMMITMENT, AND I LOVED HIM.
I REALLY WANTED IT TO WORK.
I TOLD MY MOM THAT SHE SHOULD
GET OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP,
FIND ANOTHER GUY, JUST KEEP
MOVING, KEEP GOING FORWARD.
Brown: I THINK NANCY KNEW
THAT SHE NEEDED TO LEAVE HIM,
BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP.
YOU KNOW, "IS THIS MY FAULT?
"MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE DONE
MORE OF THE SEXUAL ACTS
THAT HE WAS ASKING FOR."
AND SHE HAD A LOT OF GUILT
THAT IT WAS HER FAULT
THAT THIS WASN'T WORKING.
Narrator:
BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
NANCY JUST CAN'T SHAKE
THE FEELING THAT HE'S CHEATING.
ONE AFTERNOON, SHE'S SNOOPING
THROUGH HIS CREDIT-CARD RECORDS
WHEN SHE FINDS WHAT SHE THINKS
IS PROOF OF AN AFFAIR.
'CAUSE I FOUND THE RECEIPT FOR
WHAT HE SENT HIS BOSS' SECRETARY
FOR VALENTINE'S DAY.
THEN I E-MAILED HIS BOSS
AND TOLD HER WHAT HE WAS UP TO.
SHE BLEW ME OFF.
SHE GOES, "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU."
SOME PEOPLE WOULD DESCRIBE
THESE MEASURES ON YOUR BEHALF
AS BEING VINDICTIVE.
WERE YOU HOPING
HE WOULD BE FIRED?
YES.
I WAS HOPING
HE WOULD LOSE HIS JOB.
HE WASN'T TRUSTWORTHY.
THAT MAY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER
EMOTIONALLY,
BUT IF YOU ARE
ON THE ROAD TO SPLITTING UP,
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT
IN THE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS
IF HE DOESN'T HAVE
EMPLOYMENT.
I DIDN'T CARE.
YOU JUST DIDN'T CARE.
NO.
I HAVE MY OWN JOB.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT HIS.
SHE HAS MOVED
FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
TO MORAL SUPERIORITY.
EVEN IF HE GETS FIRED
AND THEY GET DIVORCED,
THIS WOULD HAVE
HUGE RAMIFICATIONS
ON HER ALIMONY
OR HER SETTLEMENT,
BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER TO NANCY,
BECAUSE SHE IS RIGHT,
HE IS WRONG, HE IS IMMORAL,
AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW.
Narrator: AND YET,
IN THE FACE OF TOTAL DISTRUST
AND CONTEMPT FOR HER HUSBAND,
NANCY STILL DESPERATELY TRIES
TO HOLD ON.
IN A LAST-DITCH EFFORT
TO SAVE THEIR MARRIAGE,
THEY DECIDE
TO SEE A COUPLES' COUNSELOR.
AS SOON AS MICHAEL REAPPLIES
HIMSELF TO THE MARRIAGE
AND TRIES TO MAKE IT WORK,
SHE RESUMES
HER ROLE OF VICTIM AGAIN,
AND SO THE MARRIAGE
IS CONTINUALLY DOOMED.
Narrator: APRIL 15, 2007.
IT'S A SUNNY SUNDAY AFTERNOON,
THE DAY BEFORE THE ANDERSONS'
FIRST COUNSELING APPOINTMENT,
AND THE COUPLE IS ON EDGE.
Nancy: I THOUGHT,
"OH, I NEED A GLASS OF WINE
[Laughing] 'CAUSE I NEED
TO STAY CALM HERE."
SO, TELL ME, MICHAEL,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THIS COUNSELING BUSINESS -
IS IT GONNA WORK FOR US?
WHAT DO YOU THINK, NANCY?
WHAT KIND OF ANSWER
IS THAT?
YES OR NO!
NO.
IT'S NOT GONNA WORK OUT,
NANCY, OKAY?
HOW'S THAT FOR AN ANSWER?
THAT'S JUST FINE.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
Narrator: NANCY SAYS
THAT MICHAEL'S RESPONSE
SENDS HER INTO A TAILSPIN.
ACCORDING TO MICHAEL, NANCY
STARTS FRANTICALLY COLLECTING
ARMFULS OF GIFTS HE'D GIVEN HER
AND THROWING THEM IN THE TRASH.
SHE CLAIMS MICHAEL REACTS
BY CONFRONTING HER
ABOUT JEOPARDIZING HIS JOB.
NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF YOU HADN'T STARTED
MEDDLING IN MY BUSINESS,
CALLING MY BOSS.
OH, YEAH?
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO
CALL YOUR BOSS
IF YOU COULD
KEEP YOUR PANTS ON.
HE'S ASKING ME ABOUT HIS BOSS -
WHY DID I CALL HER?
SO, HE WAS ARGUING WITH ME.
HE WAS VERY, VERY ANGRY
AND VERY CLOSE TO MY FACE.
[ Chuckling ] IN HIS ANGER,
HE KNOWS HOW TO INTIMIDATE.
HE STARTED COMING AT ME,
AND I THREW A GLASS OF WINE
IN HIS FACE.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO NANCY,
MICHAEL'S RAGE
QUICKLY TURNS PHYSICAL.
BITCH!
I AM SO TIRED OF YOU!
THIS MARRIAGE IS OVER!
AND THERE WAS SOME TUSSLE,
AND HE'S STRONG.
I WAS SCARED.
WE'RE GETTING A DIVORCE.
YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME.
Narrator: MICHAEL DENIES
EVER PUSHING OR SHOVING NANCY.
IN FACT, EVIDENCE
LATER PRESENTED IN COURT
SHOWS THAT NANCY
WAS THE AGGRESSOR
AND MICHAEL ENDS UP
BATTERED AND BRUISED.
I CAN'T BELIEVE A THING
THAT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME!
Dr. Jordan:
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF
IS THIS THE DESPERATE PUSHBACK
OF A WOMAN
WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT HER HUSBAND
IS OFFICIALLY DONE?
HE'S DONE FIGHTING.
HE'S DONE WITH THE MARRIAGE.
AND HER PUSHING HIM IS
REALLY ALMOST A PROVOCATION -
"PLEASE CARE, PLEASE COME BACK,
PLEASE DO SOMETHING
TO TRY TO SAVE THIS."
ARE THINGS CALMER NOW?
SOMEWHAT,
BUT I'M STILL VERY SCARED
'CAUSE IT'S NOT OVER.
I COULD JUST TELL
IT'S NOT OVER.
IT'S AN INSTINCT.
Narrator: WHILE MICHAEL GOES
UPSTAIRS TO CHANGE,
NANCY CALLS
HER DAUGHTER, RACHEL.
HI. HOW'S IT GOING?
YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?
ARE YOU OKAY?
[ Chuckling ]
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
DO YOU HAPPEN
TO REMEMBER MY PASSWORD...
Nancy:
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
SHE REMEMBERED
MY CHECKING-ACCOUNT PASSWORD
AND THE PASSWORD TO MY COMPUTER.
Dr. Jordan:
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS
MY LAST NIGHT ON EARTH.
Narrator: BUT ACCORDING TO
RACHEL, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.
HER MOTHER NEVER GIVES HER
ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OR TELLS HER
THAT SHE FEELS THREATENED.
Sausser: JUST KIND OF STARTED
TALKING - "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
SHE SAID, "ARE YOU GONNA BE UP
FOR A LITTLE BIT?"
AND I SAID,
"YES, A LITTLE WHILE.
WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT?"
AND SHE SAYS, "I DON'T KNOW -
ABOUT A HALF HOUR."
AND I SAID, "WELL, SURE."
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW,
I'LL CALL YOU BACK
IN HALF AN HOUR."
AND I SAID, "OKAY,"
AND, "THIS IS STRANGE."
THERE WAS NO INDICATION
IN HER VOICE TO ME
THAT SHE WAS IN ANY DANGER,
THEY WERE FIGHTING,
OR ANY OF THAT.
NANCY, THIS IS OVER, OKAY?
I'M DONE WITH IT.
Narrator:
MEANWHILE, MICHAEL REAPPEARS,
TELLING NANCY HE'S SETTING
THE STAGE FOR DIVORCE.
NANCY, I'M SPLITTING
EVERYTHING UP, OKAY?
I'M GONNA
DIVIDE EVERYTHING.
AND WAS THERE ANYTHING OVERT
IN HIS BEHAVIOR TO INDICATE...
HE WAS STILL ANGRY.
YOU COULD SEE IT IN HIS FACE.
Narrator: THOUGH NANCY CLAIMS
SHE'S TERRIFIED,
SHE DOESN'T FLEE THE HOUSE.
I'M REALLY SORRY
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!
Dr. Jordan:
BUT IF YOU'RE THAT CERTAIN
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE
THAT NIGHT
AT THE HANDS
OF YOUR HUSBAND -
YOU HAVE A CAR, YOU HAVE KEYS,
YOU HAVE GOOD CREDIT,
YOU COULD GO TO A MOTEL -
WHY STAY?
I CAN TAKE
WHATEVER HE'S GONNA DISH OUT
'CAUSE IT'LL BE OKAY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY?
BECAUSE, NANCY, IF YOU THINK
THAT HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU,
CLEARLY,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE OKAY.
ARE YOU TELLING ME
THAT YOU WERE ALMOST SUICIDAL?
YEAH.
[ Voice breaking ] I'VE BEEN
THROUGH TOO MUCH IN LIFE
THAT STARTING OVER
IS REALLY DIFFICULT.
I STARTED OVER
SO MANY TIMES.
I WAS TIRED.
IT'S OKAY IF I DIDN'T HAVE -
DIDN'T START OVER AGAIN.
HEY, NANCY, YOU KNOW, I REALIZED
THAT ALL THE CARS ARE MINE,
SO YOU'RE NOT GETTING
ANY OF THOSE.
WHEN MICHAEL SAID HE DIDN'T WANT
TO BE MARRIED TO NANCY ANYMORE,
IT WAS SIMPLY
MORE THAN NANCY COULD TAKE.
Narrator: NANCY REALIZES THAT,
THIS TIME, HER MARRIAGE REALLY IS OVER
AND CONSIDERS
ONE LAST DESPERATE ACT
TO KEEP MICHAEL
FROM LEAVING HER.
IT WAS OKAY FOR IT TO END, THEN.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
WHAT?
Narrator: AFTER SEVEN YEARS
OF ACCUSATIONS AND DENIALS...
YOU **** HER,
LIKE, OUTSIDE?
...NANCY AND MICHAEL ANDERSON
HAVE JUST HAD THE FIGHT
THAT WILL PUSH THEIR MARRIAGE
OVER THE FINISH LINE.
WE'RE GETTING A DIVORCE.
MICHAEL IS IN HIS OFFICE,
PUTTING TOGETHER PAPERS
TO FILE FOR DIVORCE.
AFTER CLEANING UP THE KITCHEN,
NANCY, WHILE HOLDING
A CHEF'S KNIFE,
APPROACHES HER HUSBAND
WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION.
[ Voice breaking ] I JUST WAS
GONNA ASK HIM ABOUT SUPPER
'CAUSE WE HADN'T EATEN YET.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO NANCY,
ALTHOUGH MICHAEL IS FACING AWAY FROM HER,
HIS BODY LANGUAGE
IS THREATENING.
SO, I JUST WALKED UP
BEHIND HIM...
WHAT DO YOU WANT
FOR DINNER?
...AND HE HAD HIS HANDS
DOWN AT THE KEYBOARD
AND HE STARTED TO GET UP, AND
HE WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT IT!"
Narrator: SUDDENLY,
BEFORE SHE KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING,
SHE PLUNGES THE KNIFE
IN HIS BACK.
[ Crying ]
IT WAS JUST A REACTION.
IT WAS JUST A REACTION.
I JUST - I JUST TOOK THE KNIFE,
AND I STABBED HIM
IN THE BACK OF THE SHOULDER.
AND HE TURNED AROUND
AND LOOKED AT ME
AND SAID, "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
...CRAZY.
I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW."
Narrator: NANCY INSISTS SHE ATTACKED
MICHAEL ON IMPULSE OUT OF FEAR.
BUT ACCORDING
TO COURT TESTIMONY,
NANCY INTENTIONALLY GRABBED
A KNIFE
IN A COLD-BLOODED ACT
OF RAGE AND REVENGE.
NANCY?
MICHAEL'S VERSION WAS
THAT HE WAS CALLING HER
AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER
AND HE TURNED AROUND
AND SHE WASN'T THERE
AND HE TURNED BACK AROUND
TO THE COMPUTER
AND THEN HE FELT
THE KNIFE IN HIS BACK
AND HE STOOD UP
AND WAS LIKE, "WHAT HAPPENED?"
WHAT DID YOU DO?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
AND MY MOM SAID,
"DON'T WORRY.
IT'LL ALL BE OVER SOON,
MICHAEL."
COME ON.
HE SAID HE WAS SOMEWHAT KNEELING
KIND OF ON ALL FOURS
ON THE GROUND,
AND SHE LAY DOWN NEXT TO HIM,
PATTED THE GROUND,
AND SAID,
"COME LAY NEXT TO ME, MICHAEL.
"COME LAY NEXT TO ME.
I WANT YOU TO FEEL THE PAIN
THAT I FEEL RIGHT NOW."
[ GROANS ]
IT WAS EVERYONE
THROUGH HER ENTIRE LIFE
WHO HAD HURT HER, ABANDONED HER,
REJECTED HER,
OR REFUSED TO LOVE HER.
IT WAS JUST
THE RELEASE OF EMOTION
AS THAT KNIFE
PLUNGED IN HIS BACK
THAT WAS WHAT SHE NEEDED
AT THAT EXACT MOMENT,
AND MICHAEL WAS SIMPLY AT THE
WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.
[ GROANING ]
COME ON. LIE DOWN.
Narrator:
COURT DOCUMENTS CONTEND
THAT NANCY MAKES
NO EFFORT TO HELP HIM,
EVEN THOUGH
HE'S BLEEDING BADLY.
[ Weakly ] NANCY.
IN FACT, POLICE BELIEVE
SHE TOOK HIS CELLPHONE
AND CUT
ALL THE HOUSE-PHONE LINES
TO PREVENT HIM
FROM CALLING FOR HELP.
MICHAEL STARTS TO PANIC.
HE'S IN AGONIZING PAIN
AND HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.
INSTEAD OF CALLING 911, NANCY
CALLS HER DAUGHTER, RACHEL.
YOU'RE SCARING ME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
Sausser: AND I SAID,
"MOM, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
AND SHE SAID, "MAYBE YOU SHOULD
COME OUT HERE, RACHEL,"
AND I JUST KEPT HEARING
MICHAEL IN THE BACKGROUND,
SHOUTING,
"RACHEL, PLEASE CALL 911,"
AND SO I HUNG UP.
WE, OF COURSE, TOOK OFF.
SAM, WE GOT TO GO.
Narrator: RACHEL RACES
OVER TO HER MOTHER'S
WITH HER HALF-BROTHER, SAM.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN
WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL 911?
I MEAN, AS A NURSE, YOU DO KNOW
THAT YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE,
THAT THIS IS SERIOUS.
I KNOW, BUT I WANTED
MY DAUGHTER THERE WITH ME.
RACHEL'S NOT MEDICAL HELP.
THE DISCONNECT IS
WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL 911.
I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.
AND HE WASN'T BEGGING YOU
TO GET HIM MEDICAL ATTENTION?
NO.
Sausser: MOM?!
Samuel: MOM?!
WHEN THEY ARRIVE, RACHEL AND SAM
ARE STUNNED BY WHAT THEY SEE.
Sausser:
WE WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN,
AND MICHAEL WAS
STANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD OF ME,
LEANING OVER THE COUNTER WITH A
KNIFE STICKING OUT OF HIS BACK.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Samuel: I WAS SHOCKED.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS
WOULD I EVER IMAGINE
MY MOM COMMITTING
ANY KIND OF VIOLENT ACT.
Sausser:
I LOOKED AT MY MOM,
AND I SAID,
"OH, MY GOD. WHAT HAPPENED?"
SHE JUST KIND OF LOOKED AT ME,
AND I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE
FROM ANYONE,
SO I TOLD SAM TO CALL 911.
MOM WAS LIKE, "DON'T CALL 911.
DON'T CALL 911."
NO, DON'T DO IT.
Narrator: SAM IGNORES HIS MOTHER
AND MAKES THE CALL.
Sausser: I THINK THAT HER
INTENTIONS WERE FOR HIM TO NOT LIVE.
I WAS SHOCKED.
SHE WAS STANDING THERE
LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED,
LIKE, NOT EVEN TRYING
TO HELP HIM, NO CONCERN AT ALL.
SHE WAS ACTING OBLIVIOUS
TO THE FACT
THAT HE HAD A KNIFE HANGING OUT
OF HIS SHOULDER BLADE.
MOM, WHAT HAPPENED?
[ SIREN WAILS ]
Narrator: A FEW MINUTES LATER,
POLICE AND PARAMEDICS ARRIVE.
INCREDIBLY, NANCY CLAIMS
EVEN NOW, MICHAEL DEFENDED HER.
Nancy: HE TOLD THEM THAT -
WHAT DID HE SAY?
"SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT."
Narrator: THE MEDICS RUSH
MICHAEL TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE'S IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
Sausser: YOU'RE GONNA
BE OKAY, DAD, OKAY?
YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
THE KNIFE PIERCED HIS LUNG
AND NARROWLY MISSED HIS HEART.
HE'S LOST 20% OF HIS BLOOD.
NANCY IS ARRESTED
AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
SHE HAD A LOOK ON HER FACE THAT
WAS LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.
HER EYES WERE GLASSED OVER.
THERE WAS NO RAGE, NO ANGER.
SHE JUST LOOKED VERY CONFUSED.
[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
ALL I CAN SAY IS
THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
Narrator: WHEN QUESTIONED, NANCY
REPEATEDLY CHANGES HER STORY.
AND I TRIPPED ON...
AT FIRST, SHE SAID
SHE WAS CUTTING AN APPLE
AND SHE TRIPPED
ON A PLASTIC RUNNER,
THEN SHE SAID
THAT SHE WAS DRINKING A LOT,
AND THEN SHE SAID
SHE DID IT OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE
BECAUSE HE WAS YELLING AT HER.
SO, I HEARD
THREE DIFFERENT STORIES.
Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
MICHAEL SURVIVES THE ATTACK.
MONTHS LATER AT TRIAL,
NANCY CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE,
BATTERED-WOMAN SYNDROME, AND
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
AS A RESULT
OF HER ABUSE AS A CHILD.
AND YET, WHEN YOU ASK HER
ABOUT SPECIFICS,
SHE REALLY CAN'T LIST MUCH MORE
THAN SHOUTING, YELLING,
PUSHING, SHOVING,
AND THE FACT THAT HER MOTHER
REALLY DISLIKED HER.
BUT DISLIKING HER,
EVEN HITTING HER WITH A BELT,
IS USUALLY NOT TANTAMOUNT
TO THE LEVEL OF ABUSE
THAT'S NEEDED
FOR THESE SORTS OF DEFENSES.
Narrator: ON MAY 28, 2009,
NANCY ANDERSON IS CONVICTED
OF ATTEMPTED MURDER
AND SENTENCED
TO 19 YEARS IN PRISON.
Dr. Jordan: DO YOU THINK
IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE?
NO.
IT WAS FEAR,
BUT IT WAS MY OWN REALITY FEAR.
IT WAS IN MY OWN MIND.
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT?
THERE WAS NO ANGER AT ALL.
I WASN'T ANGRY AT HIM
ABOUT ANYTHING.
IT WAS
JUST SELF-PRESERVATION.
NOT SELF-DEFENSE,
BUT SELF-PRESERVATION.
YEAH.
FOR ME, IT WAS.
Narrator: TODAY IN PRISON,
NANCY'S WORKING ON
A DOCTORATE DEGREE IN THEOLOGY.
SHE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE
IN 2014.
THE QUESTION IS, IF SHE GOT OUT,
WOULD SHE DO THIS AGAIN?
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY NO
AS LONG AS YOU DON'T
LOVE HER AND LEAVE HER.
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF
A VIOLENT OR CRIMINAL PERSON?
NO.
I HAD ONE ACT OF...
OF WHAT?
...RETALIATION -
I GUESS YOU CAN CALL IT -
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
IT DOESN'T DEFINE WHO I AM.
I REALLY AM A GOOD PERSON
WHO DID SOMETHING WRONG,
AND IT'S NOT WHO I AM.