Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Dangerous Devotion - full transcript

DID YOU MISS ME?

DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS
ON ME.

Narrator:
AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG WOMAN...

SCHOOL WAS THE ONLY THING

THAT WAS GONNA GET ME
UP OUT THE 'HOOD.

HEY, SHORTY.

...FALLS FOR A MAN FROM THE VERY
STREETS SHE'S TRYING TO ESCAPE.

AT THAT TIME,
I WAS SELLING DRUGS.

I GUESS SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS IN LOVE.

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

Narrator:
WHEN HE ENDS UP IN PRISON,



SHE WAITS 10 YEARS
FOR HIM TO COME HOME.

I LOVED THAT MAN

FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD
TO THE SOLES OF HIS FEET.

Narrator: BUT WHEN THEY'RE
FINALLY REUNITED,

THEIR RELATIONSHIP SHATTERS.

WHEN THAT MAN CAME BACK TO ME,

THAT MAN WAS TORN
AND THAT MAN WAS BROKEN.

JAMEELAH IS VERY
VERBALLY ABUSIVE.

YOU AIN'T NOTHING
BUT A BROKE-ASS FOOL!

WELL, I'M HIS WIFE.

Narrator:
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE,

THIS WIFE
REFUSES TO PLAY THE VICTIM.

I GOT TOTAL CONTROL
OF THIS WHOLE SITUATION.

NO MORE!
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

MAY 1993, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FOR 14-YEAR-OLD JAMEELAH JONES,

DANGER LURKS AROUND EVERY CORNER
OF HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

DID YOU MISS ME?
HUH? WHAT'S HAPPENING?

DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS
ON ME.

Narrator: SHE LIVES
IN A ROUGH PART OF TOWN

RIDDLED WITH CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

JAMEELAH IS ONLY A TEENAGER,

BUT SHE'S ALREADY LEARNING
A TOUGH GROWN-UP LESSON.

LIFE FOR ME AIN'T BEEN
NO CRYSTAL STAIR, HONEY.

BELIEVE THAT.

I GREW UP IN A CRACK ERA.

I GREW UP IN A VIOLENT ERA.

IT WAS A DEVASTATING TIME.

HEY!

Narrator:
INSIDE JAMEELAH'S HOME,

THINGS AREN'T ANY BETTER.

WHERE YOUR MAMA?

I DON'T KNOW.

[ SCOFFS ]
HEY, WOMAN!

HER FATHER ISN'T IN THE PICTURE,

AND HER MOTHER
IS A BAD JUDGE OF CHARACTER.

DO EVERYTHING
I GOT TO DO.

I TOLD YOU!
I TOLD YOU, GIRL!

YOU DON'T EVEN -
I'M SORRY!

I WITNESSED A LOT OF ABUSE,
A LOT OF PHYSICAL ABUSE.

MY MAMA USED TO GET
HER ASS WHIPPED, BABY.

DON'T MAKE ME SMACK YOU,
GIRL!

AAH!

SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO?!

SEE,
MY MAMA WAS THE KIND OF WOMAN

THAT COULDN'T SPEND TWO MONTHS
WITHOUT A MAN IN HER BED.

SO, GROWING UP IN ALL THAT CHAOS
AND THEN BEING REARED BY A MAMA

WHO, HER MAN IS GONNA COME
BEFORE HER KIDS...

HE AIN'T NO GOOD.

BUT HE LOVES ME.

...IT HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON ME.

Narrator: BUT FOR THIS SMART
AND AMBITIOUS YOUNG GIRL,

HER TROUBLES ONLY SERVE
TO IGNITE A SPARK WITHIN.

MY OLDEST SISTER ENDED UP DOING

THE SAME DAMN THING
MY MAMA DID -

MARRIED YOUNG,
HAVING THESE BABIES.

Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

JAMEELAH GROWS UP IN A HOUSEHOLD

WHERE SHE SEES HER MOTHER
BEING ABUSED,

AND SO SHE REALIZES
FROM AN EARLY AGE

THAT SHE IS DESTINED
TO REPEAT HER MOTHER'S MISTAKES

LIKE HER SISTER HAS,

OR SHE CAN CHOOSE
TO BREAK THE PATTERN.

AND THIS WILL DETERMINE
HOW SHE TURNS OUT.

Jones: I KNEW I WAS SMART.

I DIDN'T WANT TO FALL VICTIM
TO THAT.

Dr. Jordan:
WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU

THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE
THAT DESTINY?

I THINK IT IS SCHOOL, BECAUSE
SCHOOL WAS MY ONLY ESCAPE.

SCHOOL WAS THE ONLY THING
THAT I HAD

THAT I KNEW IF I DID WELL HERE
IN THIS ARENA,

THIS WAS WHAT WAS GONNA
GET ME UP OUT THE 'HOOD.

THIS IS WHAT WAS GONNA
MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

MAMA,
DID YOU GET THE MAIL?

YES.

Narrator:
JAMEELAH'S HARD WORK PAYS OFF

WHEN SHE'S ACCEPTED INTO A
MAGNET PROGRAM FOR GIFTED TEENS.

CONGRATULATIONS!
AAH!

OH!

AND AT THE AGE OF 15,

JAMEELAH TRANSFERS
TO A NEW SCHOOL ACROSS TOWN.

Jones:
IN WAS AN ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITY.

IT WAS A MAGNET PROGRAM FOR LAW.

AND SO I ROCKED THAT,
DID IT HARD, DID IT WELL.

[ BELL RINGS ]

Narrator: JAMEELAH CONTINUES
TO EXCEL AT SCHOOL.

SHE DREAMS OF GOING TO COLLEGE
AND BECOMING A LAWYER.

BUT SUCCESS ISN'T THE ONLY THING
ON JAMEELAH'S MIND.

HEY, TYLER.
THIS IS JAMEELAH.

JAMEELAH, TYLER.

HI. NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO, YOU GUYS GOING
TO THE DANCE?

MAYBE.

Narrator:
SHE BADLY WANTS A BOYFRIEND,

SOMEONE WHO'S SWEET AND CARING,

UNLIKE THE MEN
HER MOTHER KEEPS BRINGING HOME.

HE TOTALLY LIKES YOU.
TRUST ME.

HIS MAMA IS NOT GONNA LET HIM
DATE SOMEBODY

FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
OH, COME ON.

JAMEELAH KNOWS
THAT SHE WANTS TO GET AWAY

FROM THE GUYS ON THE STREET,

AND YET SHE DOESN'T FEEL
GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE BOYS

IN HER PRIVILEGED HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE STILL WANTS A BOYFRIEND,

BUT THIS DILEMMA LEAVES HER
VERY VULNERABLE TO POOR CHOICES.

Narrator: ONE DAY,
A HANDSOME YOUNG STRANGER

MAKES HER CONSIDER
BENDING THE RULES.

TALK TO ME
ABOUT MEETING JAMES.

GIRL, I WAS - HE WAS ABOUT
FOUR YEARS OLDER THAN ME.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER
THE FIRST TIME I SEEN THAT BOY.

AT THAT TIME,
I WAS SELLING DRUGS.

SO, I HAD EVERYTHING.

I HAD THE DRUG DEALER'S
STARTER KIT.

I HAD THE NICE CLOTHES.

HEY, SHORTY.

WHAT'S UP, BABY?

SHE USED TO COME RIGHT ON
THE AVENUE WHERE I FREQUENTED.

Narrator:
JAMES LIKES WHAT HE SEES.

I'M GOING HOME.

SHE HAD THE NICE LONG HAIR,
PRETTY SKIN.

SHE'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.

YOU GOT A LOT GOING ON WITH
ALL THESE EXPENSIVE CLOTHES.

OH, YEAH.
YOU LIKE THAT, HUH?

Jones: HE WAS TALL.
HE HAD THIS T-SHIRT ON.

HE ALWAYS WORE
THESE COOL-ASS T-SHIRTS.

I WAS SO CAUGHT UP
AND INFATUATED,

AND I WANTED THAT MAN.

I NEED A QUEEN FOR THIS BLING,
YOU KNOW?

Nixon:
SHE WAS SMITTEN BY ME.

YOU KNOW,
I WAS LIKE HER PRINCE CHARMING.

WE LOCKED ON EACH OTHER.

I WANT TO GET YOUR NUMBER.
I WANT TO CALL YOU LATER.

Narrator: JAMEELAH KNOWS
THAT JAMES IS BAD NEWS.

MAYBE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU,
I'LL SAY HELLO.

OHH, IT'S LIKE THAT?

AT THE MOMENT.

ALL RIGHT, SHORTY.

BUT THE ATTRACTION
IS UNDENIABLE.

BEFORE LONG, JAMEELAH AND JAMES
ARE INSEPARABLE.

WE BEGAN TO KNOW EACH OTHER
ON A DEEPER LEVEL.

SHE THOUGHT I WAS AN IDIOT
AT THE TIME

'CAUSE I PLAYED THAT ROLE
IN THE STREET 'CAUSE I HAD TO.

YOU GOT TO BE MORE BRUTISH,

SO PEOPLE REALLY DON'T KNOW
YOU'RE INTELLIGENT.

AND THEN SHE USED TO TELL ME,

"COME TO FIND OUT,
YOU'RE REALLY NOT LIKE THAT.

I KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE."

THAT WAS OUR FOUNDATION,
AND WE BUILT OFF THAT.

SHE FOUND OUT
SHE HAD CANCER.

JAMES HAD A HARD-KNOCK LIFE.
HE REALLY DID.

JAMES' MAMA PASSED AWAY
WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.

HIS FATHER WAS DEFINITELY
A STREET DUDE.

JAMES WAS FOLLOWING
THE SAME PATH AS HIS FATHER,

BUT JAMES WAS SMART.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.

Nixon: SHE WAS VERY SMART.
SHE WAS OUT OF PLACE.

BUT AS I SAID, SHE WAS
INFLUENCED BY THE SAME THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THE STREETS,
BASICALLY, IT GOT US.

Narrator:
JAMEELAH IS SO IN LOVE,

SHE DECIDES TO GIVE
ALL OF HERSELF TO JAMES.

BUT HIS REACTION SURPRISES HER.

I THINK I'M READY,
JAMES.

YOU EMOTIONALLY BOND
WITH HIM.

GIRL, I WANTED TO GIVE JAMES
MY VIRGINITY.

I CAN'T.

HAD THAT BOY COME UP
TO THE HOUSE AND EVERYTHING.

WELL, HE SAID TO ME,
"YOU'RE TOO YOUNG."

ONE DAY, WE'RE DEFINITELY
GONNA DO THAT.

BUT JUST NOT RIGHT NOW.

DID THAT SIGN OF RESPECT MAKE
YOU FALL FOR HIM EVEN HARDER?

IT DID. IT DID.

BECAUSE COMING FROM
MY BACKGROUND

WITH A HOUSEHOLD OF WOMEN
CONSTANTLY BEING DISRESPECTED,

THOSE FEW WORDS,
YEAH, THAT STUCK WITH ME.

I LOVE YOU.

1996.

AFTER TWO YEARS TOGETHER,

JAMEELAH AND JAMES ARE TOTALLY
DEVOTED TO EACH OTHER -

THE ASPIRING YOUNG WOMAN
AND THE COMMITTED CRIMINAL.

BUT NOT EVERYONE
IN JAMEELAH'S LIFE APPROVES.

YES, I KNOW WHO HE IS.

Jones:
NOW, SEE, AUNT CORA,

SHE'S THE MOTHER
THAT I NEVER REALLY HAD.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HER FOOLED,
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ME FOOLED.

I'M SORRY, BABY.

HEY, THAT'S OKAY.

Gordon:
SHE SORT OF KEPT IT A SECRET.

I TOLD HER, "YOU DON'T NEED HIM.

YOU DON'T REALLY NEED HIM."

BUT, OF COURSE,
SHE DIDN'T LISTEN.

THE GOOD GIRLS LIKE BAD BOYS.

I DON'T KNOW.
THEY THRIVE OFF OF IT.

WHY, I DON'T KNOW.

HE IS BRINGING YOU DOWN.
DO YOU KNOW HE SELLS DRUGS?

Narrator: BUT JAMEELAH TURNS A
DEAF EAR TO HER AUNT'S CONCERNS.

SHE DID NOT APPROVE
OF JAMES.

SHE DID NOT APPROVE
OF THE SITUATION.

SHE WAS NOT HAPPY
ABOUT IT.

SOUNDS LIKE NO ONE COULD
TELL YOU ANYTHING?

THERE WASN'T NOBODY
GONNA TELL ME A DAMN THING,

'CAUSE I WAS DOING
WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

JAMEELAH!

Dr. Jordan:
JAMEELAH IS A TEENAGER.

SHE'S GROWN UP ON THE STREETS.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING SHE WOULD
FALL FOR A GUY FROM THE STREETS

BECAUSE THAT'S HER COMFORT ZONE.

Narrator: WHILE JAMEELAH HAS
HER SIGHTS SET ON COLLEGE,

JAMES' FUTURE IS BECOMING
MORE AND MORE SHADY.

Nixon: I'M ESTABLISHED.

I'M BIGGER THAN I WAS BEFORE.

I'M GETTING INTO MORE TROUBLE.

BY THAT TIME, I'D ALREADY BEEN
TO TRIAL ABOUT TWICE

FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER.

I'M RUNNING AROUND WITH GUNS,
A LOT OF VIOLENCE.

NOW I'M GETTING MORE MONEY,

SO NOW NATURALLY
I HAVE TO PROTECT MYSELF.

I HAVE A REPUTATION TO UPHOLD.

Narrator:
JAMEELAH GETS ACCEPTED

TO A TOP-RANKED COLLEGE
IN THE AREA.

HER DREAMS OF A BRIGHT FUTURE
ARE JUST WITHIN REACH.

HOLD ON A SECOND.
I THINK THAT'S MY GIRL.

AND SHE CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE
THE NEWS WITH THE MAN SHE LOVES.

Dr. Jordan: YOU NEVER FEARED
THAT HIS CHOICES

WOULD DRAG YOU DOWN AND KEEP YOU
FROM ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS?

I REALLY DIDN'T.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE POLAR
OPPOSITE OF WHAT I BELIEVED IN,

BUT IT WAS WHERE I WAS FROM.

SO I CAN'T JUDGE IT.

I CAN'T POINT THE FINGER.

"I'M A COLLEGE GIRL NOW.
AND I'M GETTING CULTURED.

"AND I'M BECOMING WORLDLY.

AND I FORGET ABOUT
WHERE I'M REALLY FROM"?

I WASN'T THINKING LIKE THAT.

BUT, SEE, THAT'S THE THING.
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

YES, I GOT ACCEPTED!
YOU GOT IN!

YOU GOT IN!
YES, I DID!

'SUP, MAN?
YOU ALL RIGHT?

WHAT'S UP, O. G.?

Narrator:
AS JAMEELAH THRIVES IN COLLEGE,

JAMES' CRIMINAL CAREER
CONTINUES IN LOCKSTEP.

LOOK OUT, MAN!
LOOK OUT, MAN!

WHAT YOU MEAN
YOU AIN'T GOT IT, MAN?

COMING UP,
JAMES' LUCK RUNS OUT

AND ALTERS THE COURSE OF
THE YOUNG LOVERS' LIVES FOREVER.

Narrator: DECEMBER, 1998.

20-YEAR-OLD JAMEELAH JONES IS ON
THE PATH TO A PROMISING FUTURE.

DESPITE GROWING UP
SURROUNDED BY POVERTY AND CRIME,

JAMEELAH IS ATTENDING
A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY.

BUT HER BOYFRIEND, JAMES,
IS A DRUG DEALER

WHO'S COMMITTED TO A LIFE
ON THE STREETS.

WHAT YOU MEAN
YOU AIN'T GOT IT, MAN?

LOOK OUT!

JAMES IS SUPPOSED TO
PICK UP JAMEELAH

AFTER MEETING
WITH HIS PAROLE OFFICER.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?

HE SAID, "YO, BABE. I'M GONNA
COME GET YOU. YOUR READY?"

I'M LIKE, "ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE READY."

FIRST HOUR GOES BY.
SECOND HOUR GOES BY.

I'M NOT REALLY PAYING
NO ATTENTION TO IT

'CAUSE JAMES MOVES
THE WAY HE MOVE.

IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME HE
WOULD HAVE BEEN LATE FOR A DATE.

Narrator:
BUT WHAT JAMEELAH DOESN'T KNOW

IS JAMES IS RUNNING LATE
BECAUSE HE'S MAKING A DRUG RUN.

INSTEAD,
HE MET UP WITH SOME FRIENDS.

Nixon:
THERE WAS THREE OF US.

SO, NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET
THE MARIJUANA.

THIS WAS LIKE, IT'S EXCLUSIVE.

EVERYBODY CAN'T GO IN THERE.

Narrator: ONE OF THE MEN
ASKS THEM TO STOP.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

Nixon: WE'RE THINKING HE'S GOING
TO ACTUALLY USE A PAY PHONE.

HE JUMPS OUT, AND THERE WAS
A CAB DIRECTLY BEHIND US.

GIVE ME THE MONEY RIGHT NOW.
GIVE ME THE MONEY.

GIVE ME THE MONEY!

Jones:
WHAT THAT BOY ACTUALLY DID

WAS GO TO THAT CAB DRIVER
THAT WAS SITTING BEHIND HIM

AND ROB THAT CAB DRIVER
FOR $140.

Nixon: AND THEN JUMPS IN THE CAR
WITH US.

HE DIDN'T EVEN TELL US
WHAT HE DID, NOTHING.

NO ONE KNEW,
HAD KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HE DID.

Narrator: COURT RECORDS
CONTRADICT JAMES' CLAIMS

THAT HE'S AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER.

SO, THAT CAB DRIVER
CALLED THE POLICE,

AND IT WAS LITERALLY
TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: POLICE PULL OVER
THE CAR JAMES IS RIDING IN.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

HANDS UP!

YOU GONNA SHOOT ME, MAN?!

YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I'M THINKING THEY'RE JUST
PULLING US OVER, A ROUTINE STOP.

Narrator:
BUT JAMES SOON REALIZES

THIS IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS.

DAMN, MAN!

AND THEN THEY SAID, "BRING IN
THE COMPLAINANT WITNESS."

I'M LIKE, COMPLAINANT WITNESS?

CAME RIGHT UP TO MY CAB.

SO NOW,
THINGS ARE GETTING CRAZY.

NOW IT'S SERIOUS FOR ME.
I HAVE TWO FELONIES ALREADY.

TAKE HIM AWAY. TAKE HIM AWAY.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

Narrator:
POLICE ARREST ALL THREE MEN.

COME ON, MAN!
COME ON, MAN!

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

HOURS LATER,

JAMEELAH GETS A PHONE CALL
SHE WILL NEVER FORGET.

HELLO?

SO, I GOT THAT CALL,
I MEAN, THAT DREADFUL CALL,

THAT YOU PICK UP THE LINE,
AND THE RECEIVER SAYS,

"PLEASE HOLD."

SO, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU GOT A CALL
TO PLEASE HOLD,

YOU KNOW SOMEBODY IS LOCKED UP.

IT WAS JAMES.

BYE.

[ GAVEL BANGS ]

HAS THE JURY
REACHED A VERDICT?

THE JURY FINDS THE DEFENDANT
GUILTY.

Nixon: I ALWAYS MAINTAINED
MY INNOCENCE.

EVERYONE ELSE COPPED OUT.

AND I WENT TO TRIAL BY MYSELF,
AND I GOT RAILROADED.

I LOVE YOU, JAMEELAH.
I'M SO SORRY.

Jones: HE REALLY GOT SENTENCED
TO A 12-FLAT

FOR A ROBBERY
FOR 140 PUNK-ASS DOLLARS.

I FELT SO BAD FOR HIM,
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

IT WAS SAD.

[ CRYING ]

HEY, BABY.
HEY.

Narrator: JAMEELAH REFUSES
TO GIVE UP ON HER MAN.

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND,
SHE TAKES THE BUS

TO VISIT HIM
AT A MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY.

THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

SHE ALWAYS CAME,
SHE ALWAYS WAS THERE FOR ME.

THAT BASICALLY WIPES OUT
HER WHOLE WEEKEND,

SO SHE'S DEDICATED.

I SEE THAT.

IN MY HEART,
I JUST YEARNED FOR HIM.

I REALLY DID.

IS THAT WHY
YOU STUCK WITH HIM?

IT WAS A SENSE OF, "DAMN,
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM NOW.

HE NEEDS SOMEBODY."

IF JAMES HADN'T BEEN SENTENCED
TO 12 YEARS FOR THE ROBBERY,

IT'S PRETTY UNLIKELY
THAT HE AND JAMEELAH

WOULD HAVE STAYED TOGETHER.

JAMES GOING TO PRISON
WAS ALMOST A PERFECT SOLUTION.

SHE COULD CONTROL THE SITUATION.

SHE GETS HIS LOVE
AND HIS LOYALTY,

BUT SHE ALSO GETS
TO PURSUE HER CAREER

WHILE DECIDING WHAT SHE WILL DO
WITH JAMES IN THE FUTURE.

Narrator:
OTHER THAN VISITING JAMES,

JAMEELAH PUTS ALL OF HER FOCUS
ON HER SCHOOLWORK.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2000,
JAMEELAH GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE

AND ACCEPTS AN INTERNSHIP
AT A RESPECTED LAW FIRM.

BUT AS THE MONTHS PASS,
JAMEELAH'S WORK DEMANDS

KEEP HER IN THE OFFICE
FOR LONGER HOURS,

MAKING IT HARDER
TO VISIT JAMES IN PRISON.

LOOK, WHERE YOU BEEN?

AS THE VISITS DWINDLE,
JAMES DECIDES IT'S TIME

TO HAVE A TALK
WITH HIS CHILDHOOD LOVE.

JAMES.

I GOT TO GO.
YEAH.

[ PHONE SLAMS ]

HELLO?

[ Click ]
HELLO?

[ Dial tone ]

I TOLD YOU
I'D COME AND SEE YOU.

YEAH.

UH, YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED?

THAT'S EXACTLY HOW HE SAID IT.
"YO, YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED?"

I SAID, "ARE YOU FOR REAL?"

HE SAID, "YEAH."

I SAID,
"OKAY, LET'S GET MARRIED."

AND THAT'S HOW IT WENT DOWN.

YEAH?
YEAH.

Narrator: BUT DEEP DOWN,

JAMEELAH QUESTIONS
JAMES' MOTIVATIONS.

HEY.

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!

IT SOUNDS LIKE
ONCE HE WENT TO PRISON,

HE WANTED TO LAY CLAIM
ON YOU.

JUST LIKE A DOG
PISSING AT THE HYDRANT.

YOU'RE MARKING
YOUR TERRITORY.

ANY MAN THAT ASKS YOU
TO WAIT FOR THEM

WHILE THEY GO
TO SOME DAMN PRISON,

THAT MAN DON'T LOVE YOU.

Narrator: BUT JAMES CLAIMS
THAT'S NOT HOW THINGS WENT DOWN.

SINCE I CARE ABOUT YOU,
I'M TELLING YOU, JUST GO.

WHEN I TELL HER, I'M LIKE,
"LISTEN.

"GO LIVE YOUR LIFE,
'CAUSE I GOT TIME TO DO.

I'M NOT COMING HOME
FOR 10 YEARS."

Narrator: HE ALSO SAYS THE
MARRIAGE WAS JAMEELAH'S IDEA,

AND HER MOTIVATIONS
WEREN'T BASED ON LOVE,

BUT SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.

LISTEN, I'M GONNA MARRY
THIS GIRL, ALL RIGHT?

IT'S FOR
THE CONJUGAL VISITS.

Nixon: I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HONEST
WITH JAMEELAH.

I ALREADY HAD SOMETHING
ON THE BACK BURNER.

I HAD ANOTHER GIRL.

I'M LIKE, "LISTEN,
I'M GONNA GET SUCH AND SUCH.

SHE'S GONNA MARRY ME
FOR THE CONJUGAL VISITS."

"OH, NO. NOT HER.
I'M GONNA DO IT."

SO, THIS IS HOW WE GOT HITCHED.

YOU ARE MY MAN,

AND IF YOU'RE GONNA MARRY
ANYBODY, IT'S GONNA BE ME.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT?

THAT'S HOW IT'S GONNA BE.

THAT WAS THE GIST
OF THE CONVERSATION.

SHE DIDN'T WANT NO OTHER WOMAN
DOING IT FOR ME.

ON HER OWN, SHE PUTS IN
THE PAPERS FOR THE MARRIAGE.

MEEMEE WANTS WHAT SHE WANTS
WHEN SHE WANTS IT.

SHE'S CONTROLLING LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GET MARRIED.

IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE
JAMES DID TELL JAMEELAH

TO MOVE ON WITH HER LIFE
WHEN HE GOT SENTENCED TO PRISON,

BUT FOR JAMEELAH,
THIS REALLY ISN'T AN OPTION.

SHE'S INVESTED FIVE YEARS
OF HER LIFE IN LOVING HIM,

AND SHE SEES HER LOYALTY TO HIM
AS A FURTHER INVESTMENT

SO THAT HE WILL BE
EVEN MORE GRATEFUL FOR HER

WHEN HE GETS OUT.

DO YOU, JAMEELAH, TAKE JAMES

TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED
HUSBAND?

Narrator:
REGARDLESS OF WHOSE IDEA IT WAS,

THE YOUNG COUPLE GETS MARRIED
AT THE PRISON CHAPEL

ON JULY 7, 2001.

Officiant:
IN GOODNESS AND SORROW...

I KEPT IT A SECRET. I DID.

I MARRIED JAMES IN PRISON.

MY FAMILY DIDN'T KNOW.

I DIDN'T TELL THEM

BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR
ANYBODY'S OPINION.

I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR,
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

Narrator:
EIGHT MORE YEARS PASS.

JAMEELAH IS NOW
A SUCCESSFUL PARALEGAL

WITH A HUSBAND
WHO'S STILL BEHIND BARS.

Jones:
I'M AT THE TOP OF MY "A" GAME.

WHILE I'M DOING ALL OF THIS,
I GOT THIS LITTLE SECRET.

'CAUSE, SEE,
THE FOLKS I WORK WITH,

THEY DIDN'T KNOW MY HUSBAND
WAS IN JAIL

AND EVERY WEEKEND,
I'M GETTING ON THAT BUS.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE YA.

Narrator: SHE'S DEDICATED
PRACTICALLY EVERY WAKING MOMENT

TO HER CAREER,
ALL WHILE COUNTING THE DAYS

UNTIL THE LOVE OF HER LIFE
IS BACK IN HER ARMS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHEN JAMEELAH AND JAMES MARRY,

JAMEELAH DECIDES TO KEEP THIS
A SECRET

NOT ONLY FROM HER FAMILY
WHO DISAPPROVE OF JAMES,

BUT FROM HER CO-WORKERS.

BECAUSE BEING MARRIED
TO A MAN IN PRISON

IS COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT
WITH HER PROFESSIONAL IMAGE.

Narrator: AUGUST 2009,
THE BIG DAY HAS FINALLY COME.

JAMES IS RELEASED,

AND JAMEELAH CAN FINALLY
TURN THE PAGE

ON THE DARK SHADOWS
CLOUDING HER FAIRYTALE LIFE.

Nixon: OH, I GET OUT.

I MEAN, SHE'S SO EXCITED,
YOU KNOW?

SHE'S BEEN THROUGH ALL THIS,
WAITING FOR ME TO COME HOME.

OH, SHE WAS HAPPY.

I SAID, "GIRL, GET IN THE CAR

BEFORE THESE PEOPLE SAY
THEY MADE A MISTAKE."

Narrator: IT'S THE EMOTIONAL END
OF A LONG AND PAINFUL ORDEAL.

JAMES MOVES
INTO JAMEELAH'S APARTMENT

NEAR THE LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE THEY GREW UP.

THEY ARE FINALLY LIVING TOGETHER
AS HUSBAND AND WIFE.

Jones: MY MAN WAS HOME.

I WAS BEING LOVED.

I WAS BEING CARED FOR.

I WAS BEING SUPPORTED.

WE WERE FINALLY
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

I WAS HAPPY.

Narrator: BUT JAMES IS FINDING
IT A LOT HARDER TO ADJUST

TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF PRISON
AND THE ROLE OF BEING A HUSBAND.

I'M IN SHOCK.

THIS IS A TOTAL SHOCK FOR ME.

EVERYTHING IS MOVING FAST.

BASICALLY, I GOT TO CATCH UP
TO THE SPEED OF LIGHT.

IT'S A FRESH START
FOR THE BOTH OF US.

YEAH.
MM-HMM.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator:
WITHIN JUST A FEW MONTHS,

ACCORDING TO JAMEELAH,
SHE DISCOVERS THAT JAMES

IS NOT THE SENSITIVE
AND CARING MAN HE ONCE WAS,

AND HIS HARSH WORDS
ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING.

LOOK, I KNOW I NEED A JOB!

DON'T EVEN TELL ME
I NEED NO JOB!

PRISON TOOK AWAY HIS JOY.

OHH, IT'S LIKE THAT?

PRISON TOOK AWAY HIS IDENTITY.

PRISON TOOK AWAY HIS SOUL.

PRISON TOOK AWAY
HALF OF HIS **** MIND.

I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOU'RE TIRED OF!

OH!

COURT IS ADJOURNED.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 2009.

AFTER SPENDING
THEIR ENTIRE MARRIAGE APART,

JAMEELAH JONES
AND HER HUSBAND, JAMES,

ARE FINALLY REUNITED

NOW THAT HE'S BEEN RELEASED
FROM PRISON.

IT SHOULD BE THE HAPPIEST TIME
OF THEIR LIVES,

BUT THIS WIFE SOON REALIZES
SHE'S PLAYING HOUSE

WITH A MAN WHO'S GOT
SOME SERIOUS DEMONS.

SHUT UP,
AND GET OUT OF MY FACE!

WHEN THAT MAN
CAME BACK HOME TO ME,

THAT MAN WAS TORN
AND THAT MAN WAS BROKEN.

AND HE WENT FROM BEING
A LOVING, COOL, LAID-BACK -

HE WAS A GREAT GUY.

BUT ONCE HE CAME HOME
FROM PRISON, HE GOT MEAN.

JAMES?

HEY, WHAT THE HELL?!

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG
WITH YOU?! THE HELL YOU DOING?!

I WAS JUST TRYING
TO WAKE YOU UP.

Narrator: JAMES' OUTBURSTS CATCH
JAMEELAH COMPLETELY OFF GUARD.

I WASN'T
SNEAKING UP ON YOU.

Nixon:
PRISON DID SOMETHING TO ME.

IT'S JUST CONCENTRATED
TENSION AND HATE.

THAT'S A GOOD WAY
TO GET YOURSELF HURT!

EVERY DAY HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO BE YOUR LAST DAY IN THERE.

IT'S VERY NERVE-RACKING.

I CAME HOME, I WAS CONDITIONED.

JAMES,
YOU IS TRIPPING.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
I'M TRIPPING?!

I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE HARD.

I WAS WILLING
TO PUT IN THE WORK.

BUT WHEN HE GOT HOME,
THERE WAS NO COMPASSION.

THERE WAS REALLY NO LEVELS
OF UNDERSTANDING.

EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT
ME, ME, ME, ME.

DAMN!

CONGRATULATIONS.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.

OH, REALLY?
THANKS, MAN.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY,
MAN.

Narrator: JAMES CLAIMS
THAT HE DOES HIS BEST

TO OVERCOME HIS DEMONS
AND GET BACK ON HIS FEET.

Nixon: I WANTED TO SHOW HER THAT,
"YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION."

I WENT OUT ON MY OWN. I GOT
A JOB AS A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR.

SHE WAS HAPPY FOR A MINUTE.

THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.

LOOK, WHY DON'T YOU JUST
GET OFF MY BACK?

I HAVE A JOB.
NO. NO.

YOU NEED TO GET YOU
A REAL JOB, JAMES.

AND THEN IT BECAME,
"OH, THAT AIN'T ****

YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING
'CAUSE YOU GOT A JOB?"

SO, THEN THAT BECAME AN ISSUE.

I WENT AND GOT ANOTHER JOB.

NOW I GOT TWO JOBS.

I'M WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

YOU THINK I'M IMPRESSED
'CAUSE YOU GOT TWO JOBS NOW?

"OH, THAT AIN'T NOTHING.
THAT AIN'T ****

YOU AIN'T REALLY MAKING
NO MONEY."

I'M NOT GONNA OWN A FORTUNE 500
COMPANY COMING OUT OF PRISON.

I DON'T THINK YOU THOUGHT
THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

SO, THEN I GOT INTO COLLEGE.

IT WAS JUST NEVER
GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER.

JAMEELAH IS VERY
VERBALLY ABUSIVE,

AND SHE KNOWS
I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO WORDS.

I NEED SOMETHING BETTER,

'CAUSE THIS IS NOT THE LIFE
YOU PROMISED ME.

BUT YOU KNOW HOW
TO PUSH HIS BUTTONS?

MM-HMM.

WHAT SORT OF THINGS
WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM?

YOU BUM-ASS ****

YOU AIN'T ****

I CAN DO MUCH BETTER
THAN WHAT I GOT RIGHT HERE!

YOU AIN'T GOT NO MONEY.
YOU AIN'T GOT NO CAREER.

YOU CAN'T DO A **** THING
FOR ME.

BROKE-ASS FOOL!

AND SHE JUST KEPT REPEATEDLY
HURTING ME,

HURTING ME, HURTING ME,
HURTING ME.

SO TIRED
OF ARGUING WITH YOU!

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME,
WOMAN!

NO. NO.
NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

Narrator: THE TENSION
BETWEEN JAMEELAH AND JAMES

IS GETTING WORSE
WITH EVERY PASSING DAY,

AND THINGS ARE STARTING
TO GET PHYSICAL.

ALL YOU DO IS TALK!

OH!

THE FIRST TIME THAT MAN
HAS STILL KNOCKED ME IN MY FACE,

AND I HAD TO RUN OUT
MY OWN HOUSE BLOODY.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME
I TURNED INTO MY MOTHER.

[ CRYING ]

I ACCEPTED IT.
I MADE EXCUSES FOR IT.

SO, YOU START JUSTIFYING
THE ACTIONS.

KEEPS YOU STICKING AROUND.

Narrator: BUT JAMES' VERSION
OF EVENTS ISN'T QUITE THE SAME.

SO TIRED OF THIS ****

DON'T **** TURN YOUR BACK
ON ME!

I DON'T THINK SO, OKAY?!
WHAT?! WHAT?!

FIRST TIME I EVER PHYSICALLY
PUT MY HANDS ON MEEMEE,

WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH,
AND SHE'S JUST DIGGING INTO ME.

THAT'S WHY YOUR MAMA
KILLED HERSELF,

'CAUSE SHE COULDN'T STAND
YOUR PUNK ASS!

SHE FOUGHT WITH HER WORDS.

ALL I KNOW IS PHYSICAL.

I GRABBED HER BY THE MOUTH.

I GRABBED HER SO HARD
THAT I BUSTED HER LIP.

OH, SHE GOES OFF, SHE LEAVES.

GET OUT OF MY FACE!

[ CRYING ]

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

Jones: SPENT THE NIGHT
WITH MY GIRLFRIEND,

CAME HOME THE NEXT DAY,

AND LIKE MOST WOMEN AT
THE BEGINNING STAGES OF ABUSE,

YOU LET THEM APOLOGIZE,
BUY YOU SOME ROSES,

LAY THAT MAGIC STICK
DOWN ON YOU,

AND EVERYTHING IS BETTER AGAIN.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
STAGES OF IT.

HE'S, LIKE, SEVEN FEET TALL.

AND SHE'S A MUNCHKIN.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR HIM
TO PUT HIS HANDS ON HER.

JAMEELAH'S EXPECTATIONS
FOR JAMES

ARE SIMPLY NOT REALITY-BASED
WITH HIS STATUS AS A FELON.

WHEN SHE ATTACKS HIM VERBALLY,

SHE THINKS SHE MIGHT BE
MOTIVATING HIM.

BUT WHAT SHE'S REALLY DOING
IS PROVOKING HIM.

AND THIS CIRCLE, THIS DANCE,

IS A CYCLE
THAT HAS GOT TO BE BROKEN.

[ BOTH GRUNTING ]

Narrator: REGARDLESS
OF WHO IS THE AGGRESSOR,

JAMES AND JAMEELAH'S FIGHTS
KEEP GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

Jones:
NOW I'M KNUCKLING UP WITH YOU.

YOU WANT TO FIGHT, ****?

LET'S FIGHT.

Nixon: WE GET MORE PHYSICAL
NOW - VASES.

I'M GETTING BEAT WITH A BROOM.

SCRATCHED ME UP
WITH A FINGERNAIL FILE.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT ONE.

WHAT IS YOU DOING?!

BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU MAKE
THE CHOICE TO LEAVE.

CAN'T NOBODY TELL YOU TO DO IT.
YOU GOT TO DO IT.

Narrator: AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR
OF CONSTANT BATTLES,

JAMES BEGINS TO DRIFT AWAY.

AND PRETTY SOON, HE'S STEPPING
OUT ON THE MARRIAGE.

HEY. HOW YOU DOING?

MY NAME'S JAMES.

THIS IS WHERE I START
PHILANDERING AROUND

AND BEING WITH OTHER WOMEN.

IT WAS A BIG SHOT
TO MY EGO, TOO,

BECAUSE AS FAR
AS YOU'RE CONCERNED,

I'M REALLY NOT WORTH
MUCH OF NOTHING.

BUT TO ANOTHER GIRL, "YOU GOT
TWO JOBS? YOU'RE IN SCHOOL?

OH, WOW!
YOU'RE A GOOD CATCH."

WOULD YOU MIND WORKING OUT
WITH ME? I'LL SPOT YOU.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT JAMES
LOOKS FOR LOVE ON THE SIDE.

MANY PEOPLE USE AFFAIRS
AS A STEPPING STONE

FOR GETTING OUT
OF A RELATIONSHIP.

BUT HE HAS TO BE CONCERNED

WITH WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
IF JAMEELAH FINDS OUT.

HEY, BABY.

HEY.

Narrator:
BUT JAMEELAH SENSES JAMES

IS KEEPING SOMETHING FROM HER.

SHE BEGINS SNOOPING IN
HER HUSBAND'S PHONE AND E-MAIL.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

Dr. Jordan:
I KNOW YOU STARTED SNOOPING.

OH, UNAPOLOGETICALLY.

JAMES,
CAN YOU COME IN HERE?

WHEN YOU FOUND OUT
ABOUT THE AFFAIRS?

GIRL, THAT HURT LIKE HELL.

WHO YOU BEEN TEXTING?

WHY YOU GOING THROUGH
MY PHONE?

WHY ARE YOU PUTTING UP
WITH IT?

EGO COMES INTO PLAY.

"I DONE DID 10 YEARS
WITH YOU.

"I DONE BEEN THROUGH
ALL OF THIS STRUGGLE.

"YOU DONE HAD
ALL THESE UPS AND DOWNS,

AND NOW YOU'RE HOME, AND I'M NOT
GONNA LET THE NEXT BITCH WIN."

YOU'RE LETTING JAMES
OFF THE HOOK.

HE HAD THAT KIND OF CONTROL
OVER MY HEART.

I LOVED THAT MAN, GIRL,

FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD
TO THE SOLES OF HIS FEET.

I LOVED WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP
REPRESENTED.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?

EXCUSE ME.

JAMEELAH FORGIVES JAMES,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE'S OKAY
WITH HIM CHEATING ON HER.

HE'S MY - MY BOYFRIEND.

HE'S YOUR BOYFRIEND?
YEAH.

WELL, I'M HIS WIFE.
WIFE?!

HEY.
OH!

Narrator: NOVEMBER, 2010,
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

THE MARRIAGE OF 32-YEAR-OLD
PARALEGAL JAMEELAH JONES

AND HER HUSBAND, JAMES,
IS CAREENING TOWARDS DISASTER.

BROKE-ASS FOOL!

DESPITE THE BITTER BATTLING
AND CHEATING,

JAMEELAH'S PREPARED TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES

TO SAVE THE RELATIONSHIP.
HUSBAND?!

WE DON'T DATE
OTHER PEOPLE'S HUSBANDS.

JAMEELAH LAYS DOWN THE LAW.

STAY THE **** AWAY
FROM MY HUSBAND,

OR THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE.

I WOULD CONFRONT THE WOMEN,

MAKE SURE THE AFFAIR WAS OVER,
AND MOVE ON.

YOU'LL WANT TO FIND
YOUR OWN MAN.

Dr. Jordan:
JAMEELAH KNOWS THAT JAMES

IS NOT GOING TO BE
SEXUALLY FAITHFUL TO HER.

SHE SEES HIM AS KIND OF A DOG

THAT'S GONNA WANDER
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SHE CAN TOLERATE THAT

AS LONG AS HE COMES HOME
TO HIS MASTER,

AND THAT'S JAMEELAH,
EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

Narrator: THEN, ONE DAY,

SHE UNCOVERS A CRUSHING SECRET
JAMES HAS BEEN HIDING.

Jones:
JAMES WAS A SLOPPY CHEATER,

ESPECIALLY WHEN HE STARTED
THAT INTERNET.

HE WOULD CARRY ON THESE INTERNET
LIAISONS ON MY DAMN PHONE.

I'M AT WORK,
I CLICK ON MY BROWSER,

AND THIS WHOLE DAMN CONVERSATION
POPS UP.

THIS DATING WEBSITE.

YOU SEE THE PICTURES
BACK AND FORTH -

YOU KNOW, PROVOCATIVE PICTURES.

Narrator: JAMES SEEMS INFATUATED
WITH A WOMAN

WHO'S JUST MOVED TO BALTIMORE
FROM SPAIN.

GIRL, MY HUSBAND WAS GIVING
HIS UNDYING LOVE FOR THIS WOMAN.

HE TELLING HER,
"BABY, JUST GIVE ME SOME TIME.

"I PROMISE YOU I CAN BE THE MAN
THAT YOU WANT ME TO BE.

I JUST GOT TO TAKE CARE
OF THIS SITUATION WITH HER."

WITH HER?
HER IS THE **** WIFE!

JAMEELAH IS ENRAGED.

THIS AFFAIR
ISN'T JUST ABOUT SEX.

AFTER MORE THAN 15 YEARS
TOGETHER,

JAMES SEEMS READY
TO THROW IT ALL AWAY

FOR A WOMAN HE'S JUST MET.

IT'S A BETRAYAL
SHE CAN'T ACCEPT.

SHE IMMEDIATELY CONFRONTS JAMES.

JAMES, WHO THE HELL
IS SEÑORITA ROSE?!

Nixon: SHE'S GOING OFF.
SHE'S FOAMING AT THE MOUTH.

SO, I'M LIKE, "LISTEN,
I GOT TO GO TO WORK."

SO, SHE'S IN FRONT OF THE DOOR,
TRYING TO KEEP ME FROM THE DOOR.

I HAVE TO GOT TO WORK.

[ CLOTH RIPS ]

NOW SHE DONE RIPPED
MY SHIRT OFF, CHEST NAKED.

I SAID, "I AIN'T HEARD YOU SAY
NOTHING LIKE THAT TO ME

"IN DAMN NEAR TWO YEARS.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THIS
TO THIS WOMAN ON THIS INTERNET."

I ASKED, "DO YOU LOVE HER?"

HE SAID, "I DON'T LOVE HER."

HE SAID, "BUT I LIKE HER."

YOU LIKE HER?
YES.

AND YOU SAID...

"GET YOUR **** AND GET
THE **** OUT MY HOUSE."

Narrator: THE MAN SHE DEVOTED

NEARLY HER ENTIRE ADULT LIFE TO
IS GONE.

HE WAS READY TO REPLACE ME.

HE HAD EMOTIONS FOR HER.
I HAD TO ACCEPT THAT.

YOU BROKE UP WITH JAMES!

IT FELT GOOD?
IT DID.

Dr. Jordan:
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.

HE EITHER LOVES HER 100%
OR NOT AT ALL.

AND THIS SENSE OF BETRAYAL

GIVES HER THE STRENGTH
TO KICK HIM OUT.

Narrator:
THREE FULL WEEKS PASS.

JAMEELAH AND JAMES HAVE HAD
ZERO CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER,

AND JAMEELAH
IS COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN.

BUT SOMETHING CAME ALONG
TO CHANGE THE SITUATION?

GIRL, I THOUGHT I HAD
A BLADDER INFECTION.

[ LAUGHS ]

I KEPT GOING
TO THE BATHROOM.

I WAS GETTING
SOME SLIGHT PAIN.

JAMEELAH GETS
SOME STARTLING NEWS.

I SAID, "WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
HE SAID, "YOU'RE PREGNANT."

AND THIS WAS ACCIDENTAL?

YEAH, IT WAS.
IT REALLY WASN'T PLANNED.

I MEAN, I'D ALWAYS WANTED
A BABY, BUT IT WAS A SHOCK.

JAMEELAH RELUCTANTLY CALLS JAMES
TO GAUGE HIS REACTION.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

LOOK,
I JUST GOT SOME NEWS.

Nixon: I'M GOING TO WORK.
SHE CALLED ME.

SHE'S LIKE, "I'M PREGNANT."
I'M LIKE, "GET OUT OF HERE."

'CAUSE WE WERE BROKEN UP.
WE WEREN'T TOGETHER.

WE WEREN'T LIVING TOGETHER,
ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T CARE.
I'M A SUCKER FOR HER.

THAT'S GREAT!

YEAH, MAYBE WE'LL BE
A FAMILY NOW.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST CHILD -

HIS FIRST CHILD,
MY FIRST CHILD.

SO, HE WAS HAPPY.

WE DIDN'T PLAN ON THE BABY
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE,

BUT WE DID PLAN
ON HAVING CHILDREN.

WHY DON'T YOU COME
AND MEET ME?

Narrator: JAMEELAH DECIDES
TO GIVE THINGS WITH JAMES

ONE LAST TRY.

I THOUGHT EVERYTHING
WAS GONNA BE OKAY.

I REALLY DID.

I THOUGHT THAT, "WE'RE GONNA
WORK THESE ISSUES OUT,

AND WE'RE GONNA BE A FAMILY."

AND I REALLY THOUGHT THAT.

AUNTIE, I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS
TO TELL YOU.

GOOD NEWS? I'M READY.

ME AND JAMES
ARE HAVING A BABY.

THE NEXT THING WE KNOW,
SHE WAS PREGNANT FROM HIM.

[ SIGHS ]

I'M LIKE, "OKAY,
WHEN ARE YOU GONNA LEAVE HIM,

"'CAUSE HE'S NOT GETTING
ANY BETTER.

"YOU ALREADY KNOW
HE NEEDS ANGER MANAGEMENT.

HIS PAROLE OFFICER
TOLD YOU THAT."

AND SHE WANTED IT TO WORK.

SHE WANTED HER CHILD
TO HAVE A MOTHER AND FATHER.

WHY WOULD YOU BRING A BABY
INTO THIS WORLD

WITH A MAN
THAT BEATS YOU?

I TRIED TO BEAT IT IN HER HEAD.

I TOLD HER THERE WAS ONLY SO
MUCH I COULD DO OR SAY TO HER,

AND THEN SHE KIND OF SHUT DOWN,

NOT ANSWERING THE PHONES
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS TIMES IN MY LIFE
WHERE I DIDN'T SPEAK TO MY AUNT

'CAUSE I WAS ASHAMED

BY SOME OF THE DECISIONS
THAT I WAS MAKING.

Narrator: THE COUPLE TRIES HARD
TO MAKE THEIR MARRIAGE WORK,

AND FOR A WHILE, IT FEELS LIKE
THE SPARK THAT BLEW OUT IS BACK.

HOW WAS HE TREATING YOU?

IT WAS OKAY...

UNTIL I WAS ABOUT
SIX MONTHS' PREGNANT,

AND I FOUND OUT
HE WAS HAVING ANOTHER AFFAIR.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

WHO IS THIS?

YOU'RE LOOKING FO-
THIS IS HIS WIFE.

[ Phone clicks, dial tone ]

HELLO?!

I CONFRONTED HIM THAT TIME,
AND HE CRIED.

AND, YOU KNOW,
AFTER A WHILE,

IT IS THE SAME SONG BEING PLAYED
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

NO, SERIOUSLY, SOME WOMAN JUST
CALLED MY PHONE LOOKING FOR YOU.

I DON'T KNOW
WHO SHAQUITA IS.

Jones:
LET'S NOT BE CONFUSED HERE.

I NEVER PLAYED STUPID.

I'M NEVER NAIVE.

I KNEW THAT THAT MAN
WAS GONNA CHEAT ON ME.

LOOK AT WHERE HE HAD
JUST COME FROM.

BUT HE JUST COMPLETELY
DISRESPECTED ME.

HE HAD NO CONCERN FOR THE FACT
THAT I'M EVEN A WIFE.

GET BACK HERE!

JAMES AND JAMEELAH'S
BRITTLE RELATIONSHIP

BEGINS TO CRACK ONCE AGAIN.

SHE WON'T LET ME LEAVE,
THEN I FIGHT BACK.

SO, THEN, HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

[ BOTH GRUNTING ]

Jones: WHILE I WAS PREGNANT,
HE WASN'T AS ABUSIVE,

BUT WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE
I WAS PUSHED UP AGAINST A WALL,

AND THERE WAS NO COMING BACK
FROM THAT DARK PLACE AFTER THAT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT WAS ALWAYS A SITUATION
WHERE I WANTED THE PAIN TO STOP.

Dr. Jordan:
SHE WANTS HIM IN HER LIFE

TO BE THE FATHER OF THEIR CHILD,
AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME,

SHE KNOWS HOW TO PROVOKE HIM
AND PUSH HIS BUTTONS.

HE KNOWS HE NEEDS TO WALK AWAY
WHEN SHE DOES THIS,

BUT HOW CAN HE
WHEN SHE'S ALSO PULLING HIM BACK

TO CREATE A FAMILY?

THIS CYCLONE OF EMOTION REALLY
IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 2011,
JAMEELAH AND JAMES' SON IS BORN.

SUDDENLY, JAMEELAH'S WHOLE
PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE SHIFTS.

AFTER THAT BABY WAS BORN,
GIRL...

MNH, MNH, MNH.

IT CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE.
IT REALLY DID.

MOMMY'S GONNA TAKE CARE
OF YOU.

WITH A NEW BABY IN HER LIFE,

JAMEELAH'S TOLERANCE
IS NOW AT ZERO.

THERE WILL BE NO MORE ABUSE.

THERE WILL BE NO MORE JAMEELAH
SACRIFICING HERSELF FOR JAMES.

THERE WILL BE NO MORE
OVERLOOKING

OR JUSTIFYING OF ANYTHING.

NOW WE'RE DEALING
WITH REALITY.

DID YOU THINK THE BABY
MIGHT CHANGE HIM?

NO.

DON'T NO BABY
CHANGE NO MAN.

THAT'S ONE THING
I ALWAYS KNEW.

COMING UP...

THIS VOLATILE COUPLE EXPLODES
IN ONE FINAL CONFRONTATION.

WHAT YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT KNIFE?
YOU BETTER PUT THAT KNIFE DOWN.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!
I HAVE TO GO TO WORK!

Narrator: JAMEELAH JONES'
MARRIAGE TO HER HUSBAND, JAMES,

IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE

AFTER TWO YEARS
OF PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE.

THEIR ATTEMPTS
TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE

FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR NEW BABY

HAVE ONLY MADE THINGS
MORE TOXIC.

ONE AUTUMN DAY WHILE THE BABY
IS AT A RELATIVE'S HOUSE,

JAMES RETURNS FROM WORK
AND AN ARGUMENT QUICKLY ERUPTS.

WOMAN,
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

JAMES,
IT'S BEEN TWO HOURS!

ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!
I'VE BEEN AT WORK!

I WALK IN THE HOUSE, AND WE JUST
START GOING BACK AND FORTH.

THEN SHE SAYS SOMETHING SLICK,

AND I HATED
WHEN SHE CURSED AT ME.

HER MOUTH IS JUST CRAZY.

SHE'S GOT A SAILOR'S MOUTH.

I'M SICK OF YOU, WOMAN.
I'M SICK OF YOUR MOUTH.

EVERY TIME I COME HOME,
I GOT TO PUT UP WITH THIS.

I'M SICK OF YOU!

I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOU'RE SICK OF!

JAMES, ON THAT DAY,
HE JUST WAS BEING ANTAGONISTIC.

JAMES ON THAT DAY
WAS JUST PICKING

AND JUST KEPT PICKING
AND BEING DISRESPECTFUL.

HOW ABOUT YOU FIX
SOME OF THIS FOOD RIGHT HERE?

IT'S JUST SITTING HERE.

HOW ABOUT YOU TAKE IT
AND FIX SOME OF THIS FOOD, HUH?!

HOW ABOUT I JUST COME OVER THERE
AND SMACK YOU MYSELF?!

AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF PLAYING
THIS SAME SCENARIO OUT,

YOU KNOW WHEN THAT BLOW
ABOUT TO COME.

CHOP! CHOP! TURN AROUND
WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!

THEN ALL THESE IMAGES START
PLAYING IN MY HEAD

OF ALL THE **** THAT I HAD
WENT THROUGH

AND EVERYTHING FROM THE WOMEN
TO THE CHEATING TO THE ABUSE,

IT JUST ALL STARTED PLAYING
IN MY HEAD.

Narrator: JAMEELAH HAS FINALLY
REACHED HER BREAKING POINT.

LOOK AT ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU,
AND I'M TALKING TO YOU!

TURN AROUND
WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!

EVERYTHING SHE SACRIFICED
TO HOLD THIS MARRIAGE TOGETHER

HAS ALL BEEN IN VAIN.

WHAT YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT KNIFE?
YOU BETTER PUT THAT KNIFE DOWN.

I DIDN'T REALLY THINK
SHE WOULD STAB ME.

I'M LIKE, WHATEVER.

Narrator:
THEN JAMEELAH LOSES ALL CONTROL.

I **** SNAPPED.

THOSE FEW MINUTES, CASEY,
I LOST MY **** MIND.

HEY, LOOK!
NO MORE!

AAH!

AND THE FIRST TIME
I CAUGHT JAMES,

I CAUGHT HIM, LIKE,
IN THE LOWER ABDOMEN AREA.

AND HE WAS KIND OF SHOCKED,
SO HE BACKED UP.

YOU CRAZY BITCH.

I'M, YOU KNOW, "I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU STABBED ME!"

WOMAN, YOU STABBED ME!

Jones: I SAID,
"I'M ABOUT TO DO IT AGAIN!"

GIRL, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

YOU LOST YOUR MIND.

YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND.

HE WAS SHOCKED,
BUT I DIDN'T LET UP.

I CUT HIS ASS AGAIN.

NO!

THIS BITCH CRAZY!

THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING
THROUGH MY HEAD.

Jones: AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THE TABLES HAD TURNED,

AND I WAS NO LONGER THE VICTIM.

'CAUSE NOW I REALIZED
I GOT TOTAL CONTROL

OF THIS WHOLE **** SITUATION.

Narrator: JAMES TRIES TO ESCAPE
JAMEELAH'S WRATH.

I KNEW IF I WOULD HAVE GRABBED
THAT, I WOULD HAVE HURT HER.

SO, I JUST OPENED THE DOOR,
AND I GO OUT THE DOOR.

I'M GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

GET AWAY FROM ME, WOMAN!

GET AWAY FROM ME, WOMAN!
YOU'RE CRAZY!

GET AWAY FROM ME!

Narrator: A WOUNDED AND BLOODY
JAMES FLAGS DOWN A TAXI.

YOU HURT ME?
YOU BEEN HURTING ME!

Nixon:
WE'RE STILL ARGUING.

I GET IN THE CAB, AND SHE'S
LIKE, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!

I HOPE YOU DIE!"

I HOPE YOU DIE!

MY MIND CAME BACK TO ME.

AND I SNAPPED BACK.

AND MYSELF SAID,
"GIRL, GO BACK UPSTAIRS."

AND I WENT BACK UPSTAIRS.

I CLEANED OFF MY KNIFE.
THERE'S BLOOD ALL OVER?

HONEY, THERE WAS BLOOD
ALL OVER THAT KNIFE.

I CLEANED IT UP, HONEY.
SURE DID.

I CLEANED IT UP
AND PUT IT BACK IN MY DRAWER,

HAD ME SOME CIGARETTES
AND A BOTTLE OF PINOT GRIGIO

AND BASKED
IN MY MOMENT OF GLORY.

WERE YOU FREAKED OUT THAT HE WAS
GONNA TELL THE POLICE?

GIRL, AT THAT POINT,
I DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN.

I DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

I WOULD HAVE WENT
WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE.

TO PRISON?
TO PRISON.

YOU FELT EMANCIPATED?

GIRL, I FELT FREE.

FREER THAN THE HARRIET TUBMAN
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

I CAN FEEL THE GOOSE BUMPS
AS THEY GO UP MY ARMS RIGHT NOW,

THAT'S HOW FREE I FELT.

GIRL, YOU MAY HAVE LOST
A WHOLE LOT OF BATTLES,

BUT YOU WON THAT DAMN WAR.

AT THE HOSPITAL,

JAMES IS TREATED
FOR MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS.

HE REFUSES TO SAY
WHO ATTACKED HIM

OR TAKE ANY KIND
OF LEGAL ACTION.

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING.

I'M NOT SENDING HER TO JAIL.
MY SON IS 3 MONTHS. NO.

IF YOU COULD GIVE US
ANY TYPE OF -

LOOK, MAN. I TOLD YOU.
I DIDN'T SEE NOBODY, ALL RIGHT?

Narrator: HOURS LATER,
JAMES GETS A SURPRISE VISITOR.

I WENT TO GO VISIT HIM
IN THE HOSPITAL.

HE WAS HURT. HE WAS HURT.

I WALKED IN AND SAID,
"HEY, HOW YOU FEELING?

HOW YOU DOING?"

HE SAID, "WHAT THE ****
ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

[ LAUGHS ]

I SAID, I CAME TO SEE ABOUT YOU,
MAKE SURE YOUR ASS IS ALIVE.

Narrator: LUCKILY,
JAMES' INJURIES AREN'T SERIOUS.

THINGS GOT
REALLY OUT OF HAND.

I KNOW THAT.

AND I DID APOLOGIZE.

I APOLOGIZED
FOR ATTACKING HIM LIKE THAT.

I DID.

IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE CAN'T DO THIS NO MORE,
THOUGH.

Narrator: LATER THAT EVENING,

JAMEELAH DRIVES JAMES HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL.

WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS,
YOU KNOW?

THE VOLATILE COUPLE
HAS BEEN TOGETHER

THEIR ENTIRE ADULT LIVES,

AND BOTH OF THEM FINALLY ADMIT
IT'S TIME TO PART WAYS.

LET'S JUST DO WHAT'S RIGHT
FOR THE CHILD, OKAY?

WE'RE IN THE CAR, AND I'M LIKE,
"I HAVE TO LET YOU GO."

AND I CRIED.
WE BOTH CRIED.

I'M LIKE,
"I CAN'T DO IT NO MORE.

I GOT TO LET YOU GO
FOR MY OWN EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.

I'M GONNA GO BACK TO JAIL,
OR I'M GONNA HURT YOU,

AND THAT'S GONNA KILL ME,
OR YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME,

AND THAT'S GONNA KILL YOU.

WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.
WE GOT A BABY NOW.

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE JAMEELAH,
AND I ALWAYS TOLD HER,

"ALTHOUGH I CANNOT BE THERE FOR
YOU AS YOUR HUSBAND RIGHT NOW,

I'LL ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND."

I'M SORRY.

I SHOULD HAVE NEVER
TOUCHED YOU.

HE APOLOGIZED, TOO, AND FINALLY,
HE OWNED UP TO WHAT HE DID.

MAYBE THAT'S
WHAT FELT SO GOOD.

I THINK IT DID, BABY.
I THINK IT DID.

END UP KILLING ME.

Jones: I'M NOT CRAZY.
I WASN'T AN ALCOHOLIC.

I WASN'T
ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

I WAS A WOMAN
WITH A BROKEN HEART

TRYING TO MEND
HER OWN WOUNDS.

WHEN JAMEELAH PICKS UP
THAT KNIFE AND ATTACKS JAMES,

IT'S NOT
OUT OF A SENSE OF HATRED.

SHE SIMPLY WANTS
TO STOP THE ABUSE

AND SAY, "I AM NOT GONNA
TAKE THIS ANYMORE."

NO MORE!

AND WHEN SHE DOES THAT,
AMAZINGLY, IT CLEARS THE AIR.

ONCE JAMES UNDERSTANDS
JAMEELAH'S BOUNDARIES,

THERE'S A SENSE OF RESPECT,
EVEN LOVE,

THAT'S GOING TO SURVIVE.

Narrator:
TODAY, JAMEELAH AND JAMES

REMAIN SEPARATED
FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR SON.

THEIR LONG BATTLE OF WILLS
HAS FINALLY ENDED IN A TRUCE.

I HAVE TO SAY, CASEY,
SINCE THAT DAY,

THAT MAN AIN'T NEVER
PUT HIS HANDS ON ME LIKE THAT.

THAT MAN HAS NEVER INSULTED ME,
DISRESPECTED ME, WAS MEAN TO ME.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CIVIL
CO-PARENTING RELATIONSHIP.