Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Pills, Poison and Payback - full transcript

A TEENAGE MOM FINDS LOVE

IN THE ARMS OF A MUCH OLDER MAN.

I FELT LIKE
HE WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

I LIKE THAT.

BUT WHEN PLAYING HOUSE
GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR HER,

THIS YOUNG BRIDE
GOES OFF THE DEEP END.

I TOLD HER,
"I'M TIRED OF YOU MESSING UP."

I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR
HIS MOUTH ANYMORE.

YOU THINK YOU ARE EVER
GONNA LEAVE ME?!

"TILL DEATH DO US PART"

TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING.



SHE SEES NO ALTERNATIVES,
NO OPTIONS.

IT WAS EITHER ME WIND UP
TAKING MY LIFE OR TAKING HIS.

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S A CHILLY DECEMBER NIGHT

IN 2003
IN FARMVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

19-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOM
SARAH SAUNDERS

IS OUT PARTYING WITH HER PALS.

SARAH AND HER
4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, KAYLA,

LIVE WITH SARAH'S MOTHER
IN A TINY APARTMENT.

ONE MORE
'CAUSE WE'RE LOVING IT SO MUCH!

A NIGHT OF CLUBBING
HELPS SARAH

SHAKE OFF THE DEMANDS
OF TEENAGE MOTHERHOOD.



I WAS ONE OF THE THOSE
STUBBORN TEENAGERS AT ONE POINT

WHERE I DIDN'T WANT TO
LISTEN TO MY MOM.

I WANTED TO MAKE MY OWN MISTAKES
AND LIVE HOW I WANT.

SARAH!

SARAH!

KAYLA NEEDS
HER BREAKFAST.

I GOT TO GO TO WORK.

SARAH!

NOW!

THE NEXT MORNING,
HUNGOVER AND TIRED,

SARAH TAKES A HARD LOOK
AT HER LIFE.

SHE KNOWS SHE CAN'T KEEP
PARTYING WHILE RAISING A CHILD.

SHE MAKES A PLEDGE TO HERSELF
TO BECOME A RESPONSIBLE PARENT.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO ACHIEVE
THAT THAN TO SNAG A HUSBAND?

I THOUGHT ABOUT
ALL THE PAST RELATIONSHIPS,

AND I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW, WELL,
I'VE BEEN GOING AFTER LOOKS,

"PEOPLE AROUND MY AGE.

WELL, MAYBE I NEED TO LOOK
FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT."

SARAH WASTES NO TIME
HUNTING DOWN MR. RIGHT.

THERE ARE, LIKE,
NO BABES HERE TONIGHT.

NO ONE?

WHAT ABOUT
THE BOUNCER?

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

ONE NIGHT AT A LOCAL POOL HALL,

SHE LAYS EYES ON
33-YEAR-OLD TOMMY SHACKELFORD

AND TURNS ON THE FLIRT.

HI.

HEY.
I-I'M SARAH.

TOMMY.

TOMMY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

YEAH, SHE WAS
THE ONE THAT APPROACHED ME.

SHE SAID, "I LIKE YOU.
CAN WE GO OUT? CAN WE DATE?"

AND I AGREED,
AND THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.

HERE,
YOU JUST GO...

HE WASN'T THE
BEST-LOOKING MAN IN THE WORLD,

BUT HE WAS EYE-CATCHING.

OH, I LIKE THAT.

I'M KEEPING MY EYE ON YOU.

EVERY TIME HE WALKED AROUND
AND SAW ME, HE WOULD SMILE.

I WOULD SMILE BACK.

SHE SEEMED SO SWEET, INNOCENT.

SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL TO ME.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU AROUND.

FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS,
TOMMY'S HAD A STEADY JOB

AS A CORRECTIONS OFFICER
AT A NEARBY PRISON.

HE ALSO WORKS AS A BOUNCER
ON THE WEEKENDS FOR EXTRA CASH.

TO SARAH, HE LOOKS LIKE
PRIME HUSBAND MATERIAL.

THE WAY HE TALKED, IT WAS LIKE
HE HAD IT ALL THERE, YOU KNOW -

HIS DUCKS IN A ROW.

BORN AND RAISED?
YOU KNOW IT.

ME, TOO!

BUT TO SARAH'S MOM,
TOMMY'S AGE IS AN ISSUE.

HE'S 13 YEARS OLDER THAN SARAH.

I DIDN'T LIKE IT
THAT HE WAS SO MUCH OLDER.

THOUGHT, "MAYBE IT'LL BE GOOD
FOR HER, YOU KNOW,

"TO HAVE SOMEBODY
THAT'S AT LEAST DECENT.

SHOULD WE
GET OUT OF HERE?

YEAH.
LET'S GO.

"HE GOT A GOOD JOB,

AND MAYBE SHE CAN BE HAPPY
WITH SOMEBODY OLDER."

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

BY THE TIME SHE'S 19,
SARAH IS AT A CROSSROADS.

SHE'S A HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUT
WITHOUT A REAL JOB

AND BASICALLY NO IMPENDING
FUTURE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

SO, WHEN SHE MEETS TOMMY,
HE'S A REAL ADULT.

THIS GIVES HER A NEWFOUND HOPE.

OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, THEIR ROMANCE BLOOMS.

HI!
HEY.

TOMMY FAWNS OVER SARAH.

HE FILLS A VOID THAT'S BEEN
MISSING ALL HER LIFE.

DID YOU HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOUR FATHER

IN YOUR EARLY
CHILDHOOD YEARS?

I DID.

IT WAS KIND OF WHEN
HE PICKED AND CHOOSED THEM.

I ACTUALLY EVEN CALLED MYSELF
A DADDY'S GIRL,

BECAUSE - I DON'T KNOW -
I LOVED HIS ATTENTION.

AND THEN
IT JUST STARTED BACKING OFF.

AS A YOUNG TEEN,
SARAH REPLACES HER FATHER

WITH ANY GUY SHE CAN ATTRACT.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO
TRY TOO HARD.

WHEN ALL EYES WERE ON HER,

SHE FELT A SENSE OF SATISFACTION

THAT SHE DIDN'T FEEL
IN ANY OTHER AREA OF HER LIFE,

AND IT WOULD LEAD
TO A CHRONIC BEHAVIOR

THAT WAS
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ATTENTION.

I EVEN LIKED
IF THEY TOLD ME WHAT TO DO

'CAUSE IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE
I HAD SOME SORT OF MAN FIGURE

IN MY LIFE.

I, UH,
I HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING TOO GOOD.

AND?

AT 15,
SARAH WINDS UP PREGNANT

BY A GUY WHO HAS NO INTEREST
IN BEING A DAD.

I'M NOT
GETTING AN ABORTION.

THEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

I REALLY WASN'T READY
TO HAVE A CHILD,

AND I DON'T BELIEVE
IN ABORTIONS.

SARAH STRUGGLES WITH
THE BURDEN OF BEING A TEEN MOM.

WHERE THE HELL
HAVE YOU BEEN?!

SARAH HAD A CHILD VERY YOUNG

AND DECIDED SHE WANTED TO BE
A TEENAGER AND NOT A MOM,

SO I TOLD HER IT'S NOT
A PART-TIME POSITION.

DAMN IT, SARAH.

SARAH'S MOM
TAKES CUSTODY OF BABY KAYLA.

TWO YEARS LATER,

SARAH GETS PREGNANT AGAIN
BY A DIFFERENT GUY.

THIS TIME, SHE ASKS HER SISTER
TO ADOPT THE BABY.

OH, MY GOD!

AFTER HAVING THE SECOND CHILD

AND MAKING
THE VERY WISE DECISION

TO GIVE THAT BOY UP FOR ADOPTION
TO HER SISTER,

SHE SEEMED TO BE
ON THE RIGHT PATH.

NOW AT 19, SARAH'S
FOUND A REAL MAN IN TOMMY,

WHO SHOWERS HER WITH GIFTS
AND AFFECTION.

WE WERE GONNA GO OUT TO A LAKE,
AND WE WERE JUST GONNA RELAX

AND DRINK SOME CHAMPAGNE
AND LISTEN TO THE RADIO.

AND A RAINSTORM COME UP,

AND MY FAVORITE SONG
IS "THE DANCE" BY GARTH BROOKS.

WELL, I HAD THAT CD IN MY TRUCK.

SO, IT WAS RAINING,
AND I PUT IN THE SONG,

STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN,
AND I WALKED AROUND,

GOT HER OUT OF THE TRUCK.

NO!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

AND WE DANCED
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

AND SHE JUST THOUGHT
THAT WAS THE BEST THING.

HE'S A MAN
AND HE HAS A JOB AND AN INCOME,

AND SHE IS A GIRL
WITH NO FUTURE.

HE LIKES THE IDEA
THAT HE CAN RESCUE HER,

AND IT ACTUALLY
MAKES HIM EXTREMELY PROUD

TO DO THINGS FOR HER

WHICH ELEVATE HER
TO HIS STANDARDS.

EIGHT MONTHS
INTO THE RELATIONSHIP,

SARAH DISCOVERS
SHE'S PREGNANT YET AGAIN.

BUT THIS TIME, IT'S DIFFERENT.

TOMMY IS FIRED UP
BY THE NEWS OF THE BABY.

THE COUPLE MOVE IN TOGETHER
AND CREATE THEIR DREAM HOME.

THEY COMPLETE
THEIR FAMILY PORTRAIT

BY HAVING SARAH'S DAUGHTER,
KAYLA,

AND TOMMY'S 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
AMY, STAY WITH THEM ON WEEKENDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I LOVE IT.

FEELING LIKE HER LIFE
IS FINALLY COMING TOGETHER,

SARAH'S IN HEAVEN.

I WANT TO PUT PLANTS
ALL ALONG HERE.

I ATE IT UP.

I LOVED IT.
I DID.

AND, IN A WAY,
I WAS ACTUALLY SCARED, YOU KNOW,

'CAUSE I WASN'T USED TO IT AND
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE IT,

BUT I DIDN'T WANT IT
TO GO NOWHERE.

ALMOST TOO GOOD
TO BE TRUE?

VERY MUCH SO.

I EVEN SAID THAT
QUITE A FEW TIMES.

I SAID THAT.
THAT WOULD BE SO NICE.

SURE ENOUGH,
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG

FOR SARAH'S BUBBLE TO BURST.

COMING UP...

SARAH DISCOVERS
SOMETHING SINISTER

ABOUT TOMMY'S PAST THAT COULD
DESTROY HER PERFECT, NEW FAMILY.

WHAT IS HE DOING
IN THAT PHOTO WITH HER?

20-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MOM
SARAH SAUNDERS

THINKS 33-YEAR-OLD
TOMMY SHACKELFORD

IS THE MAN OF HER DREAMS.

EIGHT MONTHS AFTER MEETING,
SHE'S PREGNANT AND MOVING IN.

IT'S THE START
OF WHAT SHE THINKS

IS HER "HAPPILY EVER AFTER".

BUT JUST TWO WEEKS LATER, WHILE
VISITING FAMILY IN VIRGINIA,

SARAH MAKES
A SHOCKING DISCOVERY.

TOMMY HAS BEEN HIDING
SOME DISTURBING DETAILS

ABOUT HIS PAST.

MAMA,
THAT'S TOMMY.

I WAS
AT A FAMILY MEMBER'S HOUSE

GOING THROUGH PICTURES,

AND I CAME ACROSS A PICTURE
OF TOMMY AND ONE OF MY AUNTS.

SARAH'S MOM, AMELIA,
HASN'T MET TOMMY YET,

BUT SHE RECOGNIZES THE MAN
IN THE PHOTO.

THE POINT IS - WHAT IS HE DOING
IN THAT PHOTO WITH HER?

THE PICTURE
WE WERE LOOKING AT

WAS HER DADDY'S SISTER.

AND I'M LIKE,
"OH, MY GOSH, SARAH.

THAT IS YOUR AUNT'S EX-HUSBAND."

WELL,
THAT'S YOUR AUNT KATHLEEN.

HE'S HER EX.

SARAH'S STUNNED TO FIND OUT

THAT TOMMY WAS MARRIED
TO HER AUNT.

EVEN WORSE, AMELIA TELLS HER

THAT TOMMY
HAS BEEN MARRIED THREE TIMES

AND IS KNOWN
FOR BEING A WOMANIZER.

THEY WARNED ME,

TRYING TO TELL ME THAT HE WAS
A VERY CONTROLLING MAN.

HER?

SO GROSS.

WHEN SHE GETS BACK
TO NORTH CAROLINA,

SARAH CALLS TOMMY OUT
ON HIS SECRETS.

WHEN I WAS BACK THERE,
I FOUND THIS.

THAT'S MY EX-WIFE.

THAT'S MY AUNT KATHLEEN.

WELL, AFTER I CONFRONTED HIM,

HE SAID,
"I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED YOU."

LIKE, I DON'T KNOW
IF HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW,

OR IF HE JUST TRIED TO PLAY IT
OFF, BUT IT WAS KIND OF CRAZY.

NOW WITH TOMMY'S PAST
OUT IN THE OPEN,

SARAH WANTS HIM OUT OF HER LIFE.

I'M GONNA BE AT MY MOTHER'S.

HONEY.

TOMMY IS HEARTBROKEN,

BUT HE'S DETERMINED
TO WIN HER BACK.

SARAH!

COME ON, SARAH.

OPEN THE DOOR.

SARAH, I'M SORRY.

THAT BABY IS GONNA NEED
A MOMMY AND A DADDY.

COME HOME WITH ME.

THE MORE WE TALKED
AND THE MORE HE CONVINCED ME

THAT IT SHOULDN'T MATTER...

I ACTUALLY THOUGHT,
FOR SOME REASON,

I WOULD BE THE ONE
TO KIND OF STRAIGHTEN UP TOMMY.

I MISSED YOU.

I MISSED YOU.

TO SARAH,
IT WAS HER NAIVETé BLINDING HER

FROM THE SIGNS THAT THIS MAN
IS BEING COVERT AND SECRETIVE

AND KEEPING
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION

THAT OTHER GIRLS
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

BEFORE THEY GO WHOLE-HOG
INTO A RELATIONSHIP.

SARAH MOVES BACK IN,

AND THE COUPLE RETURN
TO SETTING UP HOUSE,

EAGERLY AWAITING THE ARRIVAL
OF THEIR BABY.

DO YOU WANT SOME HELP?

I WOULD LOVE SOME HELP.

SARAH FANTASIZES THAT IT'LL BE
THE HAPPIEST TIME OF HER LIFE.

WERE YOU THINKING
HE COULD BE A GOOD DAD?

IT SEEMS
A LITTLE WOBBLY.

I DID.

I REALLY DID.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, BABY.
THANK -

OH, YOU CAN
FEEL THIS.

IS IT KICKING?
YES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE,
SARAH FEELS READY TO BE A MOM.

AND IN APRIL 2005,

SHE GIVES BIRTH TO A HEALTHY
BABY BOY THEY NAME MASON.

BUT INSTEAD OF THE JOY
SHE EXPECTED...

...SHE FEELS DRAINED
AND DEPRESSED.

SHE CAN BARELY GET OUT OF BED,
LET ALONE CARE FOR THE BABY.

AFTER I HAD MY SON,
I HAD THE -

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

YEAH.

A PSYCHIATRIST
PRESCRIBES MEDICATION

TO HELP HER COPE
WITH HER SYMPTOMS.

I WAS ON ANXIETY MEDICINE.

WHEN I WAS SAD,

IT WOULD PUT ME IN A LITTLE BIT
OF A BETTER MOOD.

BUT WHEN SARAH
STARTS POPPING PILLS

SEVERAL TIMES A DAY,
SHE QUICKLY GETS ADDICTED.

I FOUND OUT THAT IT
HELPED NUMB EMOTIONAL PAIN ALSO.

I GOT ADDICTED REALLY BAD.

SARAH TRIES TO HIDE
HER ADDICTION FROM TOMMY,

BUT PRETTY SOON, HE CATCHES ON.

SHE COULDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY.

THERE WAS JUST THINGS
THAT SHE DID, LIKE SHE STUMBLED,

ALMOST FELL, WITH OUR SON.

AND THAT'S WHEN I DREW THE LINE.

TOMMY CONFIDES IN SARAH'S MOM,

AND TOGETHER,
THEY STAGE AN INTERVENTION.

HEY, MAMA.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

THERE SHOULD BE
ABOUT 40 PILLS IN HERE.

AND THERE AIN'T.

UM...

I HAD DROPPED...
A LOT OF THEM.

SARAH, NO.

AND I HAD TO THROW THEM OUT,
SO I COULDN'T -

HONEY, WE KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

HE GAVE THEM TO ME
TO HELP ME HELP THE BABY.

SARAH. HEY.

YOU NEED TO GET SOME HELP, OR
MASON'S COMING TO STAY WITH ME.

WHAT?
YEAH.

IT'S A TOUGH ULTIMATUM.

WHAT DO YOU
WANT ME TO DO?

WE WANT YOU
TO GET SOME HELP.

WHEN SARAH FINDS HERSELF
DEPENDENT ON DRUGS

FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF HER SON,

IT'S TOMMY WHO ORCHESTRATES
AN INTERVENTION

AND TELLS HER
SHE NEEDS TO CLEAN UP HER ACT.

AND SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT HE HAS
HER BEST INTERESTS IN MIND,

BUT THIS LEAVES HER
FEELING DISEMPOWERED

AND PERHAPS IN HIS DEBT.

LET GO OF THIS CRAP!
YOU DON'T NEED IT.

I WANTED ME AND HER TO MAKE IT,

AND FOR US TO MAKE IT, SHE
COULDN'T BE ADDICTED TO PILLS.

SHE HAD TO BE ABLE
TO BE A GOOD MOTHER AND A WIFE.

OKAY?

OKAY.

YOU'RE GONNA
GET SOME HELP.

FINALLY, SARAH RELENTS
AND AGREES TO GET HELP.

FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS,
SHE MANAGES TO STAY CLEAN

AND FOCUSED ON BEING A GOOD MOM.

IT SEEMS LIKE SARAH AND TOMMY
ARE BACK ON TRACK.

AND IN NOVEMBER 2008,
AFTER FIVE YEARS TOGETHER,

TOMMY DECIDES HE WANTS TO
MAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP LEGIT.

YES!

WILL YOU MARRY ME,
SARAH?

YES! YES! YES!

OH, MY.

WA-WA-WAIT! I HAVE TO
THROW MY BOUQUET!

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS READY?

GET READY NOW.

JUST THREE MONTHS
AFTER TOMMY PROPOSES,

THE COUPLE TIES THE KNOT.

THEY SEEMED VERY HAPPY
AND CONTENT

AND READY
TO MAKE A LIFE TOGETHER.

I WAS OKAY WITH WELCOMING HIM
AS A SON-IN-LAW, YOU KNOW,

AND BEING MARRIED TO HER.

AT FIRST, THE NEWLYWEDS

SEEM HAPPY AND IN LOVE.

BUT WHAT TOMMY DOESN'T KNOW
IS THAT HIS NEW WIFE

IS HARBORING A SECRET
THAT COULD CRUSH THEIR MARRIAGE.

SARAH'S DRUG HABIT IS BACK.

SHE'S SECRETLY
SEEING PSYCHIATRISTS

AND GETTING MULTIPLE
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR DEPRESSION,

ANXIETY,
AND ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER.

BEFORE LONG, SHE LAPSES BACK
INTO HARDCORE ADDICTION.

SHE WAS ADDICTED TO PILLS,

AND I DIDN'T SEE IT
THE SECOND GO-AROUND

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T TOLERATE IT,
AND SHE KNEW THAT.

SARAH'S ADDICTION CONSUMES HER,

AND SHE BEGINS TO UNRAVEL.

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

MONEY IS TIGHT, EVEN WITH
TOMMY WORKING FULL-TIME.

IT WENT DOWNHILL.

OUR BILLS
STARTED GETTING BEHIND.

TOMMY TELLS SARAH
SHE NEEDS TO GET A JOB

TO MAKE ENDS MEET,

BUT THE DRUGS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO HOLD ON TO STEADY WORK.

TOMMY REACHES
HIS BREAKING POINT.

SERIOUSLY?

WHAT THE HELL, SARAH?

YOU'RE JUST SITTING AROUND
WATCHING TV ALL DAY, HUH?

KICK YOUR FEET UP.

SHE WOULDN'T KEEP A JOB LONG,

AND IT GOT FRUSTRATING.

WE STILL MADE IT,
BUT IT GOT FRUSTRATING.

YOU NEED TO GET OUT
AND GET A JOB.

A REAL JOB!

OH, YOU'RE JUST GONNA
WALK AWAY FROM ME, HUH?

SARAH,
COME BACK HERE.

NO!
SARAH.

NO!
COME BACK HERE.

THE FINANCIAL STRAIN
TAKES YET ANOTHER TOLL

ON THE COUPLE'S
FRAGILE RELATIONSHIP.

SARAH!
OPEN THE DOOR!

ACCORDING TO SARAH,
EACH FIGHT WITH TOMMY

LEAVES ANOTHER EMOTIONAL SCAR.

COME ON!

HE WOULD SAY THINGS
TO TEAR YOU DOWN.

YEAH.

AND ACTUALLY, HE ACTED LIKE,
YOU KNOW, HE GOT OFF ON IT.

OPEN THE DOOR!

AT THIS STAGE IN THEIR MARRIAGE,

TOMMY AND SARAH HAD RACKED UP
QUITE A BIT OF DEBT,

AND SO, HE STARTED TO ACTUALLY
DISPLACE THE BLAME ONTO SARAH -

AFTER ALL,
IF SHE HAD A FULL-TIME JOB,

THEY WOULDN'T BE
IN THIS TERRIBLE CONUNDRUM.

SARAH ACCEPTS ALL OF THIS BLAME
AND TRIES TO FIGURE OUT A WAY

THAT SHE CAN AGAIN
ELEVATE HERSELF

TO A POSITION
WHERE TOMMY WILL LOVE HER

AND STOP BERATING HER
FOR BEING A FAILURE.

WITH HER MOTHER'S HELP,

SARAH GETS ODD JOBS
CLEANING HOUSES.

I JUST WANTED A LITTLE PEACE.

NO WORRYING ABOUT BILLS.

NO WORRYING ABOUT
HAVING TO ASK MY MAMA FOR MONEY.

BUT HER MEAGER PAY
CAN'T MAKE A DENT IN THEIR DEBT.

SHE'S NOW SO DESPERATE,

SHE'S ABOUT TO CROSS A LINE
SHE'S NEVER CROSSED BEFORE.

COMING UP...

TO WHAT LENGTHS IS THIS
YOUNG WIFE WILLING TO GO

TO END HER NIGHTMARE?

I WAS LIKE,
"IF HE WOULD JUST SLEEP,

I WOULDN'T HAVE TO
HEAR HIS MOUTH."

WHOO!

TOMMY AND SARAH
SHACKELFORD'S TWO-YEAR MARRIAGE

IS SUFFERING
THANKS TO A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT

AND SARAH'S
SECRET DRUG ADDICTION.

SARAH'S HABIT
MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE

TO HOLD DOWN A GOOD PAYING JOB.

THE BEST SHE CAN MANAGE

IS BRINGING IN A FEW DOLLARS
CLEANING HOUSES.

ONE DAY, SARAH DECIDES
TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT

AND POCKETS A $50,000 RING
FROM ONE OF HER WEALTHY CLIENTS.

DID YOU TRULY THINK, SARAH,
THAT YOU COULD GET AWAY WITH IT?

DEEP DOWN, UM, I KNEW
I WASN'T GONNA GET AWAY WITH IT.

BUT I WAS DESPERATE -
ASHAMED BUT DESPERATE.

SHE LOOKS AT THE RING -

IMPULSIVELY TAKES IT,
MORE AS AN IMPLOSION.

MORE AS JUST KIND OF,
"I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE HERE.

"THINGS ARE SO BAD AT HOME
THAT I'M GONNA TAKE THIS RING

"AND IT'S GONNA EITHER
SOLVE THINGS

"OR PUSH US OVER THE EDGE
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION,

BUT SOMETHING'S GOT TO BREAK."

LATER THAT DAY,

SARAH TAKES THE RING
TO A LOCAL PAWNSHOP.

SHE'S GOT NO IDEA
HOW VALUABLE IT IS...

WHAT YOU GOT THERE?

...AND ACCEPTS JUST $300.

SARAH HOPES THE EXTRA CASH
WILL GET TOMMY OFF HER BACK.

I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR HIS MOUTH
ANYMORE, JUST FOR ONE DAY.

THERE YOU GO.

GREAT. THANKS.

BUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER,

THE WEALTHY CLIENT CALLS SARAH

TO ASK IF SHE'S SEEN
THE MISSING RING.

OH, NO, MA'AM.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A RING.

SARAH DENIES
KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT IT,

BUT GUILT EATS AWAY AT HER.

I HAD ACTUALLY
GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH HER,

AND I CALLED HER BACK

AND I JUST KNEW I COULDN'T DO IT
NO MORE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT ME.

SO, I CONFESSED TO HER.

HI. IT'S ME, AGAIN.

I- I DO KNOW
WHERE THAT RING IS.

SHE WANTED TO PRESS CHARGES.

AND THERE WAS REALLY
NOTHING I COULD DO

BUT TELL HER, "I UNDERSTAND."

THE CLIENT REPORTS HER
TO THE POLICE,

AND SARAH HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO CALL TOMMY.

HELLO?

HI.

I- I'M GONNA NEED YOU
TO PICK ME UP.

FROM THE POLICE STATION.

SHE WAS
MY HOUSE CLEANER.

WE HAPPEN TO BE MISSING
SOME JEWELRY.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?!

THE NEWS DOES NOT GO OVER WELL.

$50,000?!

ARE YOU
OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?!

AND I TOLD HER,
"I'M TIRED OF YOU MESSING UP.

"EVERY TIME WE GET OUR LIFE
GOING GOOD,

YOU DO SOMETHING SO STUPID
TO SCREW IT UP."

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING. NO.

HE JUST KEPT YELLING AT ME,

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU.

"YOU'RE SO SORRY.

YOU WOULD SCREW UP."

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US?

AFTER SHE SPENDS
A NIGHT IN JAIL,

TOMMY BAILS SARAH OUT.

SHE'S ORDERED TO APPEAR IN COURT
IN TWO MONTHS.

IF CONVICTED, SHE COULD FACE
FOUR TO SIX MONTHS BEHIND BARS.

YOU STOLE A DAMN RING!

A $50,000 RING!

YOU HAVE TO
GET US A LAWYER.

FIND YOURSELF
A WAY OUT OF THIS.

I THOUGHT
THAT IF SHE WENT TO JAIL,

MAYBE THAT WOULD MAKE HER SEE
THAT SHE CAN'T KEEP DOING THINGS

AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

SARAH WAS
STEALING A RING TO PAWN IT

TO BRING ENOUGH MONEY HOME
TO BUY PEACE IN THE HOUSEHOLD?

THE INFERENCE OF THIS WAS
MORE THAN HE COULD HANDLE.

HE WASN'T A GOOD PROVIDER
OR A GOOD HUSBAND?

THAT WAS HIS ACHILLES' HEEL.

YOU ARE GONNA
LEARN YOUR DAMN LESSON!

TAKE ME HOME.

SARAH IS DEVASTATED
BY TOMMY'S LACK OF SUPPORT.

ALL RIGHT, LITTLE MAN.
LAY IT ON ME.

SCHOOL STARTS AT...

HE RUBS IT IN HER FACE

BY OPENLY TALKING ABOUT
HOW HE AND MASON WILL GET BY

WITHOUT HER
WHEN SHE'S IN PRISON.

WHY CAN'T MOM
JUST PICK ME UP?

YOUR MOM'S GONNA GO AWAY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

WE'LL MAKE IT WORK OUT.

YOU GOT FOOTBALL. WHEN IS THAT?

HE ATTACKED SARAH
AT HER POINT OF WEAKNESS,

WHICH WAS, OF COURSE, THEIR SON.

SARAH'S LIFE WAS SO VOID
THAT HER LOVE FOR HER SON,

HER STATUS AS A MOTHER,
WAS ALL SHE HAD.

SHE LOVED HER SON
MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF.

HEARING TOMMY
PLANNING FOR LIFE WITHOUT HER

IS MORE THAN SARAH CAN TAKE.

WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS
IS TO RUN AWAY WITH HER SON.

I TRIED TO LEAVE.

I WOULD TRY TO GET ME AND MY SON
OUT OF THERE,

AND HE WOULD
FIND WHERE I WAS.

AND FIRST THING
HE WOULD THREATEN IS,

"I'M TAKING YOU TO COURT
FOR OUR SON."

SO NO MATTER WHAT,
HE WAS GONNA GET YOU BACK.

HE ALWAYS
MADE ME THINK SO.

BETWEEN THE THOUGHT
OF PRISON, HER DRUG HABIT,

AND TOMMY'S THREATS, SHE FEARS
LOSING HER SON FOREVER.

NO, YOU DON'T.

NO, YOU DON'T!

YOU SEE THIS?

NO MORE DRUGS, SARAH!

NOW, YOU BETTER HEAR ME,
AND YOU BETTER HEAR ME GOOD.

DO YOU THINK
YOU ARE EVER GONNA LEAVE ME?!

YOU JUNKIE!

YOU DON'T GET MY SON!

YOU ARE NEVER TAKING HIM
AWAY FROM ME. NEVER!

IT WAS WORTH
PUTTING UP WITH TOMMY

JUST TO MAKE SURE
YOU DIDN'T LOSE YOUR SON.

YEAH.

MY KID, MY SON, AND YOU ARE NOT
TAKING HIM FROM ME.

"MY SON.

"HE'S MY SON.

HE'S NOT GONNA LIVE
WITH A DOPE-ADDICT."

IT BECAME A DAILY THING.

YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND TRY
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

SARAH FEELS
MORE TRAPPED THAN EVER.

NEVER FORGET THAT SARAH
REALLY HAD NO LIFE, NO IDENTITY,

OUTSIDE OF HER MOTHERHOOD.

AND WHEN TOMMY THREATENS HER

AND SAYS, "YOU WILL NEVER
SEE YOUR CHILD AGAIN,"

THIS DESTROYS HER -
HITS HER AT HER VERY CORE

BECAUSE IT'S ALL SHE HAS
TO LIVE FOR.

TO HER, THERE'S ONLY
ONE PATH TO FREEDOM...

SHE WILL DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE SURE

SHE DOESN'T LOSE THAT CHILD.

...AND SHE'S
DESPERATE ENOUGH TO TAKE IT.

I MADE UP MY MIND
WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.

ON THE EVENING
OF FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2011,

SARAH FIXES DINNER FOR TOMMY,
AS USUAL,

BUT THIS TIME WITH A DASH
OF SOMETHING DEADLY.

SHE CRUSHES UP SEDATIVES
AND SLIPS THEM IN HIS FOOD.

I WAS LIKE,
"IF HE WOULD JUST SLEEP,

"YOU KNOW,
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT

"IF I SAID SOMETHING WRONG

"OR IF HE HAD A BAD PHONE CALL,
ANYTHING.

"I WOULDN'T HAVE TO
HEAR HIS MOUTH.

"HE WOULD BE ASLEEP.

AND MAYBE I WOULD GET
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT PEACE."

THEN SHE ADDS
AN EVEN MORE LETHAL INGREDIENT.

I ALSO ADDED THE
LITTLE TABLETS OF RAT POISON.

THAT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S ONE THING
TO MAKE YOUR HUSBAND SLEEP

SO YOU COULD
HAVE SOME PEACE.

I THINK I WANTED MORE,
BUT I WAS SITTING THERE,

I THINK, TELLING MYSELF
THAT I JUST WANTED HIM TO SLEEP.

BUT DEEP DOWN,
I FELT LIKE I WANTED MORE, TOO.

WHEN YOU SAY YOU WANTED MORE,
YOU WANTED...?

HIM DEAD.

WHEN TOMMY COMES HOME FROM WORK,

SARAH'S READY TO SERVE UP
HER DELICIOUS REVENGE.

YOU ARE
NEVER LEAVING ME!

AFTER EIGHT TURBULENT
YEARS WITH TOMMY SHACKELFORD,

SARAH WANTS OUT OF HER MARRIAGE,

AND SHE'LL DO ANYTHING IT TAKES
TO BREAK FREE.

HER HUSBAND, TOMMY, COMES HOME

TO A SPECIAL DINNER
WAITING FOR HIM.

IT'S A MEAL LETHAL ENOUGH
TO SEND HIM TO HIS GRAVE.

GOOD DAY?
YOU ALL RIGHT?

THAT LITTLE JERK
STILL PICKING ON YOU?

SHE HAD MADE ME
A COUPLE OF SANDWICHES -

SAUSAGE, EGG, AND CHEESE - AND
BROUGHT ME SOME ORANGE JUICE.

I AM BEAT.

HERE YOU GO.

MMM,
BREAKFAST FOR DINNER?

MM-HMM.
ALL RIGHT.

I STARTED
DRINKING THE ORANGE JUICE,

AND IT TASTED REALLY BITTER.

THIS ORANGE JUICE
TASTES FUNNY.

WHAT?
I DON'T KNOW.

IT JUST...
TASTES WEIRD.

YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE
BACK THERE?

UH, YEAH,
I GOT SOME COLA.

WANT THAT?
YEAH. GIVE ME SODA.

ALL RIGHT.

WHEN I GOT
TO THE FIRST SANDWICH,

I NOTICED SOMETHING GREEN ON IT.

THERE'S SOMETHING GREEN
IN HERE.

OH, IT LOOKS LIKE MOLD!

THOSE ARE PEPPER FLAKES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A PEPPER FLAKE
THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT.

WELL, THEN, EAT THE OTHER ONE.
OURS WAS JUST FINE.

SHE BROUGHT ME A GLASS OF DRINK,
AND IT TASTED THE SAME WAY.

THAT TASTES BAD, TOO!
GIVE ME THE BOTTLE.

ALL RIGHT.

IT'S THE SAME ONE
I ALWAYS GET, SEE?

YEAH, YOU BUYING
THIS CHEAP CRAP.

IT'S NOT...

I TOOK THE BOTTLE
AND TURNED IT UPSIDE-DOWN,

AND YOU COULD SEE A THICK,
DARK GREEN SUBSTANCE

RUNNING DOWN THE SIDES
OF THE BOTTLE.

TAKE IT BACK.

SARAH AGREES
TO TAKE THE SODA BACK

AND TELLS TOMMY SHE'S TAKING
MASON TO SEE HIS GRANDMOTHER.

SHE CAN ONLY HOPE HE ATE ENOUGH
OF THE POISON TO KILL HIM.

ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT?

AND NONE
OF THAT DIET STUFF, EITHER.

I THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE IT.

OH, WE TALKING
ABOUT THAT NOW?

DAMN IT.

A FEW HOURS LATER, IT LOOKS LIKE
SHE MAY GET HER WISH.

TOMMY BECOMES VIOLENTLY ILL.

IN DESPERATION, HE CALLS SARAH.

SARAH,
CAN YOU COME HOME?

YEAH,
I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD.

I DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT TIME

THAT IT WAS RAT POISON.

I WAS ASSUMING
THAT IT WAS JUST BAD FOOD.

AS WAVES OF GUILT WASH OVER HER,

SARAH RUSHES HOME TO FIND TOMMY
DOUBLED OVER ON THE FLOOR.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

OH, MY GOD.

OH, GOD.

SHE IMMEDIATELY
TAKES HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.

I COULDN'T DO IT.

IT WAS, LIKE,
I DON'T - NERVES.

MY BRAIN
WAS SO WISHY-WASHY,

AND HE WAS SCARING ME
JUST SEEING HIM LIKE THAT.

TELL ME
WHAT ALL YOU HAD TO EAT.

SAUSAGE, AND...

AT THE HOSPITAL, TOMMY'S TREATED
FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE

A BAD CASE OF FOOD POISONING.

DOCTOR, COULD I SPEAK TO YOU
FOR JUST A MOMENT?

SURE.
THANK YOU.

SARAH'S NOT READY
FOR TOMMY TO COME HOME,

SO SHE COMES UP WITH A LIE
TO BUY SOME TIME.

He was screaming and crying

about how he wanted
to kill himself.

SHE HOPES IT WILL BE ENOUGH

TO GET TOMMY
SENT TO THE PSYCH WARD.

UH, WE MAY NEED TO KEEP HIM
OVER THE WEEKEND.

WELL, TOMMY.

WE'VE DECIDED
WE LIKE YOU SO MUCH,

WE'RE GONNA LET YOU STAY
A FEW EXTRA DAYS WITH US.

WHEN THEY TELL TOMMY THEY'RE
ADMITTING HIM FOR OBSERVATION,

HE'S OUTRAGED.

YOU'RE GONNA
TRANSFER ME WHERE?

THE HELL'S WRONG
WITH YOU PEOPLE?

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG
WITH MY HEAD!

I LOOKED AT THE DOCTOR, I WAS
LIKE, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

REALLY?"

I SAID, "'CAUSE I'M NOT CRAZY.
I'M NOT TRYING TO KILL MYSELF."

BUT THE DOCTORS
IGNORE TOMMY'S PROTESTS...

NURSE!

...AND INSIST ON COMMITTING HIM

TO THE PSYCH WARD
FOR THE WEEKEND.

MEANWHILE,
SARAH FINALLY RESOLVES

TO LEAVE TOMMY FOR GOOD.

SHE CALLS HIM TO BREAK THE NEWS.

I- I NEED TO TELL YOU
THAT WH-WHEN YOU GET HOME,

UH, MASON AND I
WILL NOT BE HERE.

NO, NOT LIKE THIS.

HIS REACTION
ISN'T AT ALL WHAT SHE EXPECTED.

I'LL GET BETTER.

I WILL.

HE TOLD ME THAT WE COULD
GO TO MARRIAGE COUNSELING

AND THAT HE COULDN'T DO IT
BY HIMSELF.

I NEED YOU.

AND I EVEN ASKED HIM,
"HOW CAN I BELIEVE YOU?

HOW DO I KNOW THAT
YOU'RE REALLY GONNA DO THIS?"

AND HE WAS JUST LIKE, "I WILL.

I WILL. I PROMISE."

ALL RIGHT.

BUT AS SOON AS TOMMY GETS HOME,

SARAH REALIZES
HE'S TURNED THE TABLES ON HER.

LOOK WHO'S HOME!

WE GOT HOME, AND HIS
DAUGHTER WAS THERE WAITING.

AND OF COURSE, HE HAD TO MAKE
A BIG SCENE EXPLAINING TO HER,

"YOU KNOW, CAN YOU BELIEVE
SHE HAD ME ADMITTED?

"TRYING TO GET RID OF ME.

"SHE'S TRYING TO LEAVE ME.

"SHE'S TRYING TO LEAVE US.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?" -

SITTING THERE TELLING
HIS 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER THIS.

HEY, LET ME
TAKE THAT.

I'M GLAD
YOU'RE BACK.

YEAH, ME TOO.

TOMMY'S COMMENTS
JUST REINFORCE SARAH'S DESIRE

TO GET RID OF HIM
ONCE AND FOR ALL.

THAT VERY EVENING,

SHE SERVES HIM A HEAPING PLATE
OF HIS FAVORITE FOOD -

CREAMED POTATOES.

ONLY THIS RECIPE
HAS ENOUGH SEDATIVES

TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP FOREVER.

HOW WERE YOUR DAYS?

FINE.

FINE, FINE.

IT'S ALWAYS FINE
WITH YOU TWO.

COME ON.

SHE NEVER THINKS THROUGH
HER LIFE CHOICES VERY CAREFULLY

BEFORE SHE MAKES THEM, AND THIS
IS JUST ANOTHER SNAP DECISION.

SHE JUST DOESN'T CARE ANYMORE
WHETHER SHE SEDATES HIM,

WHETHER HE SLEEPS,
WHETHER SHE KILLS HIM.

SHE JUST WANTS THE
MERRY-GO-ROUND OF EMOTIONS

AND DRAMA TO STOP.

TOMMY IMMEDIATELY
NOTICES AN UNUSUAL AFTERTASTE.

THESE TATERS,
THEY TASTE FUNNY.

"WHY DO MY CREAMED POTATOES
TASTE LIKE WHAT I ATE FRIDAY?"

THEY SHOULDN'T.
THERE'S NO CONNECTION.

I SAID,
"ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?"

AND THEN, WE JUST PLAYED IT OFF.

THEY TASTE LIKE
POTATOES.

YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY
ALL IN MY HEAD.

ALL RIGHT,
SO BACK TO THIS BOY.

KEITH?

WHAT KIND OF NAME
IS KEITH, ANYWAY?

AFTER DINNER,
THE SEDATIVES KICK IN.

OH, HEY, MAS,
WHY DON'T YOU PUT THAT DOWN.

GET YOUR STUFF.

I LAID ON THE
COUCH, AND I GOT REALLY TIRED.

AND I COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT.

I JUST GOT REALLY DROWSY,
REALLY SLEEPY.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
GET IN THE CAR.

LET'S GO. HEY, BABY.

I'M GONNA GO
DROP HER OFF, OKAY?

BYE.

SARAH'S DEVIOUS PLOT
IS IN MOTION.

BUT AS SHE DRIVES
HER STEPDAUGHTER HOME,

SARAH STARTS TO WORRY THAT
THE DRUGS AREN'T POTENT ENOUGH

TO KILL TOMMY.

DID THE THOUGHT
START TO FLOOD HER BRAIN?

"WELL, A SEDATIVE,
IT'S ONLY GOING TO WEAR OFF

"AFTER A FEW HOURS.

"I MAY HAVE PEACE NOW,
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT

"IS TO HAVE PEACE
IN MY HOUSEHOLD ALWAYS

"SO THAT I CAN JUST
BE A PROPER MOTHER TO MY CHILD

"AND NOT HAVE TOMMY ALWAYS
TELLING ME WHAT A FAILURE I AM.

IF HE NEVER WOKE UP, WOULDN'T
THAT BE THE BEST SOLUTION?"

SO SARAH COMES UP
WITH A PLAN TO FINISH THE JOB.

AFTER DROPPING
TOMMY'S DAUGHTER OFF,

SHE RACES BACK TO THE HOUSE.

YOU GET THIS IDEA IN YOUR HEAD
THAT YOU COULD GET RID OF TOMMY.

I FELT LIKE
THERE WASN'T NO OTHER WAY.

I COULDN'T GET AWAY.

AND IT WAS EITHER ME WIND UP
TAKING MY LIFE, OR -

TAKING HIS.

TAKING HIS.

STAY RIGHT HERE.
I'LL BE BACK, OKAY?

THE THOUGHT OF BEING FREE
OF TOMMY FOR GOOD

SUPER-CHARGES SARAH'S FOCUS.

NOTHING CAN STOP HER.

I WENT INTO THE BACK DOOR.

IT'S THE DOOR WE ALWAYS USE.

AND TOMMY'S ASLEEP ON OUR COUCH.

AND I COULD SEE HIM
FROM THE BACK DOOR AS I WALK IN.

WE HAVE A LITTLE JUNK DRAWER
THAT'S IN OUR KITCHEN.

SO I GO TO THE JUNK DRAWER,
AND HE HAS GLOVES.

I PUT ON THE GLOVES, AND HE ALSO
HAS A VERY SHARP POCKET KNIFE

THAT HE USES A LOT FOR FISHING.

I GRABBED THE KNIFE.

I OPENED THE KNIFE.

AND I WALK,
AND I STAND RIGHT BY HIS HEAD.

BUT AS SHE HOVERS
OVER HER SLEEPING HUSBAND,

SARAH HAS SECOND THOUGHTS.

I START FEELING MYSELF BREAKING
DOWN, AND I KEEP TELLING MYSELF,

"I GOT TO STAY STRONG
'CAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY."

SHE'S TOO CLOSE
TO FREEDOM TO BACK DOWN NOW.

FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS,

SARAH SAUNDERS HAS BEEN TRYING
DESPERATELY TO KILL HER HUSBAND.

BYE.

AFTER TWO FAILED ATTEMPTS
TO POISON HIM,

SHE DECIDES ONLY BRUTE FORCE
CAN FINISH HIM OFF.

SO, I GRABBED THE KNIFE.

AND I STABBED HIM IN HIS TEMPLE.

AND AS SOON AS I FELT IT HIT,
I PANICKED.

SARAH BOLTS OUT OF THE HOUSE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I FORGOT SOMETHING.

SHE SPEEDS
TO HER NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.

HELP!

- HELP!
- WHAT'S GOING ON?

DO YOU MIND IF I USE YOUR PHONE
FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE?

HERE IT IS.
OH, THANK YOU.

WHEN SHE CALLS 911,

SHE'S ARMED
WITH AN ELABORATE LIE.

I'D LIKE TO REPORT
A POSSIBLE HOMICIDE.

HE WAS A TALL,
BLACK MAN.

HE WAS STANDING OVER MY HUSBAND
WITH A KNIFE.

YOU COULDN'T HAVE
SEEN THIS COMING.

SHE'S NOT A COLD-BLOODED KILLER.

SHE DIDN'T EVEN SNAP
SO MUCH AS SHE COLLAPSED.

SHE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

OKAY.

LITTLE DOES SARAH KNOW...

...TOMMY SHACKELFORD
IS NOT DEAD.

IN FACT, HE WOKE UP SECONDS
AFTER SHE DROVE THE KNIFE

INTO HIS TEMPLE.

I COULD HEAR IT.

IT WAS LIKE A LOUD POP,

AND IT FELT LIKE SOMEBODY
HAD THROWN A BRICK

AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG
WITH MY HEAD.

I COULD FEEL IT.

IT WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE,
SO I TOUCHED IT.

AND THERE WAS A KNIFE THERE.

IT WAS THE WEIRDEST FEELING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT,
BUT AT THAT POINT,

I REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW,
SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO KILL ME.

SARAH?

I REMEMBER STANDING UP
AND THINKING, "WHAT'S GOING ON?"

SARAH!

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY
IN THE HOUSE.

TOMMY'S PHONE IS MISSING,

AND THE HOUSE
DOESN'T HAVE A LANDLINE.

SARAH!

SO, I WALKED OUT THE BACK DOOR,
AND I SEE SARAH.

SARAH. SARAH!

AND I HOLLERED FOR HER.

TOMMY STUMBLES OVER
TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

TO GET HELP.

IT'S ONLY 200 YARDS,
BUT IT FEELS LIKE MILES.

I DON'T KNOW
IF I'M GONNA MAKE IT THERE.

I TAKE OFF ACROSS THE FIELD,

AND I TOLD GOD, I SAID,
"GOD, WHAT ABOUT MY CHILDREN?

MY DAUGHTER HAS A MOTHER,
WHO SHE STAYS WITH."

I SAID, "BUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
TO MY SON?"

AND THAT'S ALL I COULD
THINK ABOUT WAS MY SON.

SARAH IS STILL ON THE 911 CALL

DESCRIBING
THE IMAGINARY INTRUDER.

KIND OF AVERAGE HEIGHT.

MY HUSBAND
WALKS AROUND THE CORNER...

WITH THE KNIFE STILL IN HIS
HEAD, AND BLOOD IS STREAMING.

AND I FREEZE.

DAD!
WHAT HAPPENED?

IN SPITE OF THE BLADE
STICKING OUT OF HIS HEAD...

DAD!

...TOMMY TAKES CONTROL.
YOU GET HIM IN THE HOUSE!

GET HIM
IN THAT HOUSE NOW!

DON'T LET HIM
SEE ME LIKE THIS!

HELLO? YEAH,
THIS IS THE HUSBAND.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'VE GOT A KNIFE
IN MY HEAD.

YEAH,
IT'S STILL THERE.

YEAH,
I KNOW EXACTLY WHO DID IT.

SHE IS RIGHT HERE
IN FRONT OF ME.

NO. PLEASE LET GO!

IT WAS MY WIFE.
TOMMY, I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.
PLEASE HELP!

DON'T YOU SAY A WORD
TO ME.

I'M SORRY.

I JUST LOOKED AT HER LIKE,

"I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU DID THIS TO ME."

I'M SORRY. PLEASE.

SARAH IS HYSTERICAL...

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

...TRAPPED IN HER OWN LIE.

WHEN PARAMEDICS
ARRIVE AT THE SCENE,

THEY'RE AMAZED TO FIND TOMMY
STILL ALIVE.

THEY CAREFULLY LOAD HIM
INTO THE AMBULANCE

AND RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE GOT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM,

AND WE WENT THROUGH
THE COUPLE LITTLE DOORS.

THEY PUT ME IN THIS ROOM
RIGHT INSIDE THE DOOR,

AND EVERYBODY
WAS TAKING PICTURES.

WHAT YOU DOING
WITH THEM CAMERAS?

AND I'M JUST LAYING THERE.

COMING DOWN.

HOLD STILL, TOMMY.

THEN THEY
SNATCHED THE KNIFE OUT.

BRING HIM UP.

THEY SHOWED ME THE KNIFE,

AND I TOLD THEM,
"YES, THAT'S MINE."

THAT'S MY KNIFE.

TOMMY IS SENT
FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY.

MEANWHILE, OFFICERS
QUESTION SARAH ABOUT THE ATTACK.

AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE STILL
SAYING IT WAS AN INTRUDER.

YEAH.

I DID LIE, AND I DID SAY THAT
THERE WAS A MAN IN OUR HOUSE.

SARAH STICKS TO HER STORY
THAT AN INTRUDER STABBED TOMMY.

BUT DETECTIVES AT
THE PITT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

AREN'T BUYING IT.

I MAY HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS
FOR YOU IN THE MORNING.

THEY LET HER GO HOME
FOR THE NIGHT

BUT ASK HER TO COME BACK
THE NEXT DAY

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONING.

WE DID NOT HAVE PRIOR HISTORY

WITH HER EVER DOING
ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE,

AND SO, OF COURSE WE WANTED
TO DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

THIS WAS A MALE VICTIM
WHO DID NOT SEE WHO DID IT

BUT WHO DID KNOW WHO HE SAW
IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS.

THAT NIGHT, DETECTIVES
ALSO QUESTION 6-YEAR-OLD MASON,

THE ONLY WITNESS.

THIS CHILD SAYS
THAT WHEN THEY GOT HOME...

SHE SAID
TO WAIT IN THE CAR.

...HE STAYED IN THE VEHICLE.

WHEN MOM WENT IN THE HOUSE,
SHE HAD NOTHING IN HER HAND.

A LITTLE WHILE LATER,

SHE CAME OUT
WITH A BROWN GLOVE ON.

OKAY.

A BROWN GLOVE?

A BROWN GLOVE IN HER HAND,
AND SHE RAN TO THE VEHICLE,

JUMPED IN,
AND THEN MOM TOOK OFF.

YOU MIND IF I TALK
TO THE PATIENT FOR A SECOND?

HOW ABOUT THIS ITEM?

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BEFORE?

TOMMY CONFIRMS THAT
BOTH THE GLOVES AND THE KNIFE

CAME FROM THE SAME DRAWER
IN THE HOUSE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THE NEXT DAY AT THE POLICE
STATION, SARAH FINALLY CRACKS.

SHE ADMITS
TO STABBING HER HUSBAND

AND IS IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED.

WHEN SHE WAS CONFRONTED

WITH THE FACT THAT HER SON TOLD
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY,

SHE PRETTY MUCH KNEW
AT THAT POINT THAT IT WAS OVER.

THE GAME WAS OVER.

IN A WAY, I ACTUALLY
HAD SOME KIND OF RELIEF.

I ACTUALLY MADE THE COMMENT
AFTER I CONFESSED

THAT I WAS FINALLY FREE.

TOMMY'S NOT SURPRISED

TO HEAR THAT HIS WIFE CONFESSED,
BUT IT'S STILL A HUGE BLOW.

SHE WANTED ME DEAD.

SHE TRIED WITH EVERYTHING
SHE HAD, AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

SARAH TAKES A PLEA,
AND IN NOVEMBER 2011,

SHE'S SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS
IN PRISON

FOR ATTEMPTED
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

AND FOR THE THEFT
OF HER CLIENT'S RING.

TOMMY IS AWARDED
FULL CUSTODY OF MASON.

BY GOING TO PRISON
FOR STABBING TOMMY,

SHE DID LOSE THE SON

THAT SHE WAS SO DESPERATELY
TRYING TO SAVE,

THE SON THAT SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS ABOUT TO LOSE FOREVER

AND IRONICALLY DID.

YOU'RE FREE FROM TOMMY,
BUT YOU LOST YOUR SON.

WAS IT WORTH IT?

NO.

I WISH I COULD
TAKE IT BACK EVERY DAY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING
I HAVE TO LIVE WITH EVERY DAY.

IT WAS NOT WORTH IT.

NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT.