Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - The Serial Playboy - full transcript

Narrator: A HEARTBROKEN YOUNG
WOMAN AVOIDS LOVE AT ALL COSTS...

I CRIED MY EYES OUT.
MY HEART WAS HURTING.

MY NAME IS STEVE.

UNTIL A SMOOTH-TALKING PLAYBOY
BREAKS THROUGH HER DEFENSES.

A LOT OF GIRLS LIKED STEVE.
A LOT OF 'EM.

Narrator: BUT HER PRINCE
CHARMING ISN'T WHAT HE SEEMS.

HE HAD A REPUTATION
FOR BEING A CHEATER, A LIAR,

ABUSIVE.

Narrator: WHEN A WELL
OF BITTER SECRETS IS UNSEALED,

THE RELATIONSHIP
BECOMES A TICKING TIME BOMB.

WHY AM I UNDER ARREST?



I'M NOT PLAYING THIS TIME.

DON'T YOU TOUCH ME!

I CAN'T GET HIM OFF.

I PANIC.

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

SPRING 1998,
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

16-YEAR-OLD SHERRSE GAINES
IS A SHY, STRAIGHT-A STUDENT

WHO SPENDS HER DAYS AND NIGHTS
AT HOME WITH HER GRANDPARENTS.

Gaines: YOU KNOW, I REALLY
WASN'T ALLOWED TO DO TOO MUCH.

BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I WAS
COOKING, STAYING IN THE KITCHEN,



READING A BOOK,
CROCHETING, GOING TO SCHOOL.

I ALWAYS
WANTED TO BE A NURSE.

HEY, GRANDMA.

HER PARENTS WERE JUST TEENAGERS
WHEN SHE WAS BORN,

AND COULDN'T RAISE HER
THEMSELVES.

MY FATHER WAS 15.
MY MOTHER WAS 16.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

SO, MY GRANDMOTHER
STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.

YOU HAVE BETTER THINGS
TO THINK ABOUT.

INSIDE HER GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE,
IT'S SAFE AND WARM.

A FAR CRY FROM
THE COLD AND DANGEROUS STREETS

RIGHT OUTSIDE THEIR FRONT DOOR.

THIS IS THE HOOD.
IT CAN BE TREACHEROUS.

AND IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS
IF THEY DON'T KNOW YOU.

YOU COULD GET SHOT
JUST FOR COMING OUT HERE.

Narrator: SHERRSE'S GRANDMOTHER
IS VERY STRICT

AND KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON HER.

I LISTENED TO
MY GRANDMOTHER.

MY GRANDMOTHER
WAS MY ROCK, MY HEART.

IN MY EYES,
SHE DID NO WRONG

AND EVERYTHING SHE SAID
WAS RIGHT.

AND THAT'S HOW
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE,

SO THAT'S HOW I LEFT IT.

AND SO, WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
AT LUNCH?

Narrator:
EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO BOYS,

SHERRSE FOLLOWS
HER GRANDMOTHER'S ADVICE.

SHERRSE,
FORGET ABOUT YOUR HOMEWORK.

LET'S GO DOWN
TO THE PARK.

MY BOYS GOT SOME DRINKS.

SOUNDS FUN,
BUT MY GRANDMA'S HERE.

I'LL SEE YOU, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

Dr. Jordan: SHERRSE'S
GRANDMOTHER IS WELL-INTENTIONED

IN KEEPING HER UNDER
TIGHT CONTROL,

BUT THAT LEVEL OF ISOLATION
AND BEING CUT OFF

FROM NORMAL TEENAGE EXPERIENCE
CAN HAVE A BACKLASH EFFECT,

AND SHERRSE CAN BE IN DANGER

OF FALLING FOR THE VERY FIRST
GUY WHO SHOWS HER ATTENTION.

HEY, GRANDMA.

YOUR GRANDMOTHER
DID NOT WANT YOU DATING.

SHE DID NOT.

YOU THINK I COULD GO TO THE PARK
REAL QUICK?

WITH BOYS LIKE THAT?
SHERRSE, NO.

NOW, GET ON UPSTAIRS
AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

MM.

Narrator: THE INEXPERIENCED GIRL
IS ABOUT TO PUT

HER GRANDMOTHER'S BOUNDARIES
TO THE TEST.

ONE DAY, A HANDSOME,
23-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR

STROLLS BY SHERRSE'S HOUSE
ON HIS WAY TO WORK.

MY NAME'S GREG.

SHERRSE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

GREG HAS
A GOOD CONSTRUCTION JOB

AND LIVES DOWN THE STREET
WITH HIS MOM.

SEE, RIGHT ON THE CORNER.

WHEN HE STOPS
AND SAYS HI TO SHERRSE,

HER HEART SKIPS A BEAT.

MAYBE I'LL SEE YOU SOMETIME.

YEAH, MAYBE.
Gaines: HE WAS A GOOD GUY.

HIS INTENTIONS WASN'T NEGATIVE
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

Narrator: GREG LEAVES SHERRSE
FEELING GIDDY,

AND SHE'S THRILLED

WHEN HE STOPS BY
THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON.

HE'S SWEET AND FUNNY,

NOTHING LIKE THE GUYS
AT HER SCHOOL

THAT HER GRANDMOTHER'S
BEEN WARNING HER ABOUT.

HE'LL BRING A GIFT.
HE WOULD SAY HI.

SOON HE'S VISITING
ALMOST EVERY DAY.

I THINK MY GRANNY'S
WATCHING US.

HE WOULD COME
TO TALK WITH ME,

AND AS SOON AS MY GRANDMOTHER
CAME, HE WOULD DISAPPEAR,

LIKE, HE WOULD
RUN THE BACK WAY.

BUT SHERRSE'S GRANDMOTHER
CATCHES ON,

AND THE NEXT TIME
GREG SWINGS BY ON HIS WAY HOME,

SHE CORNERS HIM.

YOUNG MAN...

Gaines: MY GRANDMOTHER
DIDN'T APPROVE OF IT AT FIRST.

OF COURSE, SHE ASKED,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH SHERRSE?"

BUT FORTUNATELY FOR SHERRSE,

GREG KNOWS HOW TO
TURN ON THE CHARM...

I CAN SEE WHERE SHE GETS
HER LOOKS FROM.

OH, STOP IT.

AND EASILY
WINS HER GRANDMOTHER OVER.

SHERRSE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

MY GRANDMOTHER LOVED HIM.

SHE LOVED HIM.

MY FAMILY LOVED HIM.

IF YOUR YOUNG MAN'S
STAYING FOR DINNER,

TELL HIM TO WASH HIS HANDS.

THANK YOU, GRANNY!

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator:
WITH THAT STAMP OF APPROVAL,

SHERRSE'S ROMANCE WITH GREG
QUICKLY BLOSSOMS.

TWO YEARS LATER, SHERRSE
GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING
HER GRANDMOTHER'S ADVICE

TO GO TO COLLEGE,

THE STRAIGHT-A STUDENT
TAKES A JOB

AS A CHECKOUT CLERK
AT A GAS STATION...

Gaines: [ LAUGHS ]
Greg: YOU GOT IT?

I GOT IT.
I GOT IT.

...SO SHE AND GREG
CAN GET THEIR OWN PLACE.

FOR THIS LOVESICK YOUNG WOMAN,

HER FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT
BEING WITH THE MAN

WHO SWEPT HER OFF HER FEET.

Gaines: HE SAID HE LOVED ME.
I SAID I LOVED HIM.

AND WE WANTED TO GO
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

NOW, WHAT WAS
YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S ADVICE

ABOUT LIVING WITH A MAN?

SHE TOLD ME TO WAIT,

GET A FEELING
FOR BEING INDEPENDENT FIRST.

DON'T DEPEND
ON NO MAN, EVER.

BUT THIS TIME, SHERRSE IGNORES
HER GRANDMOTHER'S ADVICE.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

I KNOW!

DEEP DOWN, SHERRSE IS SURE
GREG IS THE ONE.

WERE YOU THINKING, "MAYBE
THIS IS THE GUY I MARRY

AND HAVE KIDS WITH?"

YEP.

[ CHUCKLES ]
YES.

MAYBE A LITTLE GIRL
THAT LOOKS LIKE ME.

MM.

YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I LOVED GREG THAT MUCH.

SHERRSE IS HAPPIER THAN
SHE EVER DREAMED SHE COULD BE.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

THEN, ONE SPRING DAY IN 2003,

HER WHOLE WORLD IS SHATTERED

WHEN HER GRANDMOTHER
SUDDENLY DIES.

[ SOBS ]

SHERRSE, ONLY 21 YEARS OLD,
IS DEVASTATED.

MY HEART CRUMBLED.

SHE WAS MY WORLD.

MY GRANDMA DIED.

OH.

Gaines: I TURNED INTO
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON

ONCE MY GRANDMOTHER DIED.

Narrator: SHERRSE'S GRIEF OVER
LOSING HER GRANDMOTHER IS CRIPPLING.

I WAS GOING DOWNHILL.
DOWNHILL.

I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO HANDLE THE STRESS.

I FELT ALONE.

I DIDN'T WANT NOBODY AROUND ME,
NOT EVEN GREG.

JUST LEAVE ME, PLEASE.

THAT WAS MY MOTHER.
SHE WAS ALL I HAD.

JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

NOT EVEN HER PRINCE CHARMING
CAN HEAL THE PAIN SHE'S FEELING.

I WAS ANGRY ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD TAKE OUT
A LOT OF THINGS ON HIM

THAT WASN'T HIS FAULT.

COME HERE!
ALL RIGHT.

YOU STAY HERE.
I'LL GET IT.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

SHERRSE SLOWLY EMERGES
FROM HER CLOUD OF DEPRESSION,

BUT BY NOW, GREG'S
BECOME MORE DISTANT

AND SHE'S ABOUT TO DISCOVER WHY.

I'M GONNA GO WATCH THE GAME
IN OTHER ROOM, ALL RIGHT?

BUT WAIT. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
EAT TOGETHER.

Greg:
EH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

Gaines: GREG HAD SECRETS.
HE HAD SECRETS.

BUT YOU KNEW THEM.

MM-HMM
I ENDED UP FINDING OUT.

WHO'S CINDY?

[ SIGHS ]
I MET SOMEBODY NEW.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO FIND OUT LIKE THIS.

LOOK, JUST -
FORGET IT.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO FIND OUT LIKE THIS.

JUST FORGET IT.
JUST FORGET IT.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

HE MOVED OUT.

THIS IS YOUR DECISION
OR HIS DECISION?

I KICKED HIM OUT.

THAT'S IT?
YEAH.

LOOK, SHERRSE,
WE DON'T HAVE TO -

GREG, JUST GET OUT!

THAT WAS, PRETTY MUCH,
THE END OF IT.

SHE, YOU KNOW,
SHE COULDN'T ACCEPT

THAT HE HAD CHEATED ON HER.

Dr. Jordan: WHEN SHERRSE FINDS
OUT THAT GREG IS CHEATING ON HER,

IT BURSTS HER BUBBLE.

HER ENTIRE WORLD WILL IMPLODE

BECAUSE SHE WAS LOOKING TO HIM
FOR ALL OF HER EMOTIONAL NEEDS,

AND IF HE HAS BETRAYED HER,
WHAT ELSE DOES SHE HAVE?

Narrator: THE PAINFUL BREAKUP

COMING ON THE HEELS
OF HER GRANDMOTHER'S DEATH

IS TOO MUCH
FOR SHERRSE TO HANDLE.

SHE SPENDS THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
INCONSOLABLE.

OTHER THAN WORK,
SHE HARDLY LEAVES THE HOUSE.

WAS HE THE GREAT LOVE
OF YOUR LIFE?

HE WAS.
MM. HE WAS.

AFTER SIX MISERABLE MONTHS,

A FRIEND OFFERS HER
A NEW AND BETTER-PAYING JOB

AS A SCHOOL-BUS DRIVER.

DON'T WANT TO
GET BEHIND SCHEDULE.

SHE SOON FINDS THAT WORKING WITH
KIDS IS A HELPFUL DISTRACTION.

I LIKED MY JOB.

IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT I WAS DOING

WORKING AT THE GAS STATION.

HOW'S IT GOING?

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS,

SHERRSE STARTS TO FEEL
LIKE SHE'S MOVED ON

FROM HER PAINFUL PAST.

YOU GET BACK ON YOUR FEET?

YEP.
I WAS DOING REALLY GOOD.

I WAS BACK TO MY OLD SELF.

BUT HER WORLD IS ABOUT
TO COME CRASHING DOWN AGAIN.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
[ SCREAMING ]

Narrator: AFTER MONTHS
OF DEBILITATING HEARTACHE,

A NEW JOB
AS A SCHOOL-BUS DRIVER

IS HELPING SHERRSE GAINES

FINALLY GET OVER
HER EX-BOYFRIEND, GREG.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO FIND OUT LIKE THIS.

BUT A TERRIFYING INCIDENT
THREATENS TO SEND

HER ALREADY FRAGILE WORLD
CRUMBLING TO THE GROUND.

ONE MORNING, SHERRSE
IS DRIVING THE SCHOOL BUS

ON HER NORMAL ROUTE...

[ CHILDREN LAUGHING ]

[ HORN BLARES, TIRES SCREECH ]

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
[ SCREAMING ]

...WHEN ANOTHER CAR
COMES OUT OF NOWHERE,

PLOWING HEADFIRST INTO THE BUS.

CALL 911!

Boy: WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER?
SHERRSE?

Gaines:
WHEN THE IMPACT HAPPENED,

I WENT OVER THE BARRIER
AND IT WAS, LIKE,

AN ONGOING CRASH.

IT WAS HORRIBLE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

KIDS WERE ON THE BUS.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED,
I WAS JUST LIKE, NO MORE.

FORTUNATELY,
NONE OF THE KIDS ARE HURT,

BUT SHERRSE IS NOT SO LUCKY.

SHE WAKES UP RATTLED
WITH INJURIES TO HER NECK.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE JUST GONNA
PUT A MASK ON YOU, OKAY?

NO!
ARE THE KIDS OKAY?

YEAH.
THEY'RE ALL RIGHT.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

I WAS OUT OF WORK FOR ABOUT
A GOOD, MAYBE, TWO YEARS.

MAYBE.
ALMOST TWO YEARS.

DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS,
THIS, THERAPY, THAT.

JUST, YOU KNOW,
TRYING TO GET BACK.

Dr. Jordan:
WHAT KIND OF FEELINGS

ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT STAGE
OF YOUR LIFE?

OH, I WAS OUT OF MY MIND THEN,
BUT I DEALT WITH IT.

WHERE DO YOU FIND
THE STRENGTH?

I DON'T KNOW.
MY GRANDMOTHER.

I GUESS SHE'S BEHIND ME,
WITH HER HAND ON MY SHOULDER,

SAYING, "YOU CAN DO IT, BABY.
YOU CAN DO IT."

Dr. Jordan: SHERRSE'S GRANDMOTHER
WAS AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON HER LIFE.

THOSE WORDS OF WISDOM ABOUT
HER FUTURE AND HER CHOICES.

EVEN AFTER HER GRANDMOTHER DIED,
SHERRSE WOULD OFTEN ASK HERSELF,

"WHAT WOULD GRANDMOTHER TELL ME
TO DO RIGHT THIS MOMENT?"

AND THIS WOULD
GIVE HER STRENGTH.

Narrator: SHERRSE SURVIVES
ON THE MONEY SHE GETS

FROM THE SETTLEMENT
FOR THE BUS ACCIDENT.

WHEN HER LONG ROAD
TO RECOVERY IS OVER,

SHE DECIDES TO FOLLOW THE PATH
HER GRANDMOTHER WANTED FOR HER.

SHE ENROLLS IN NURSING SCHOOL

AND GETS A JOB
AT A TEEN-CRISIS CENTER.

DOESN'T EVEN
LISTEN TO ME ANYMORE.

Gaines:
IT WAS HELPING TEENAGERS.

TEACHING THEM THINGS THAT
THEIR PARENTS DIDN'T TEACH THEM.

SO, WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER
TAUGHT ME,

I WAS TEACHING THESE KIDS.

THANKS.
ANYTIME.

DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

ON WEEKENDS, SHERRSE
AND HER BEST FRIEND, BRANDI,

START HANGING OUT
AT A NEIGHBORHOOD BAR...

I WAS JUST ABOUT
TO SAY THAT.

...WHERE SHE INDULGES
IN THE ALL THE THINGS

HER GRANDMOTHER
NEVER LET HER DO -

DRINKING AND FLIRTING WITH
ANY MAN WHO CATCHES HER EYE.

HER AND BRANDI USED TO
HANG TOGETHER, JUST THEM TWO.

THEY'D COME IN THE BAR
TO SEE ME.

WE'D ALL SIT UP
AND LAUGH AND TALK AND DRINK.

THAT'S WHY
YOU OUR GIRL, BARB.

SHE NEVER CAME IN
WITH NO GUYS.

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS

SINCE SHE AND GREG BROKE UP,

THE HOLE IN HER HEART
HASN'T FULLY HEALED.

Dr. Jordan: WERE YOU STILL
BROKENHEARTED?

I WAS.

I WAS HOPING THAT ME AND GREG
WOULD GET BACK TOGETHER,

BUT WE DIDN'T.

HE ENDED UP
GETTING WITH SOMEBODY ELSE

AND HAVING A BABY, TWO.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

ONE SATURDAY, THERE'S
A HANDSOME, NEW FACE AT THE BAR,

STEVE MITCHELL.

RUMOR HAS IT, STEVE HAS
JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL.

I MEAN,
A LOT OF GIRLS LIKED STEVE.

A LOT OF 'EM.

HE WAS A REAL NICE-LOOKING GUY,
REAL NICE-LOOKING GUY.

Narrator: WHEN STEVE SPOTS
SHERRSE SITTING AT THE BAR,

HE SETS HIS SIGHTS ON HER.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

BUT AN EX-CON IS EXACTLY
THE TYPE OF GUY

HER GRANDMOTHER
WARNED HER ABOUT.

YOU KNOW,
I WEAVED MY WAY THROUGH...

HE TRIED TO TALK TO ME.

I TURNED HIM DOWN,
LIKE, "BEAT IT!"

YOU KNOW?

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
YOUR NAME.

MY NAME IS STEVE.

SHERRSE.
SHERRSE.

MM.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

WHAT A LOVELY NAME.

THANK YOU.
YES. YES.

Gaines:
AFTER GREG, IT WAS LIKE,

I DIDN'T GIVE NO MEN
NO TIME OF DAY

BUT STEVE'S NOT USED TO
HAVING WOMEN SAY NO TO HIM.

I'M GONNA LEAVE.
MM.

YOU'RE GONNA STAY HERE
AND ENJOY YOUR DRINK.

I WILL.
I'LL BE OVER THERE

IF YOU NEED ME.
YOU DO THAT.

OKAY?
OKAY.

OKAY.
JUST RIGHT OVER THERE.

ALL RIGHT.
BYE, SHERRSE.

STEVE'S DETERMINED,
AND THE NEXT WEEK,

HE FINDS HER AT THE SAME BAR
AND STEPS UP HIS GAME.

BRANDI, HOW'S IT GOING?

WHEN HE STARTED
BUYING HER DRINKS, I KNEW...

Mitchell:
YOU WANT ANOTHER DRINK, RIGHT?

Brown: HE HAD TO WORK
A LITTLE HARDER TO GET HER,

SO IT MADE IT MORE FUN.

YOU JUST PICK UP YOUR HAND,
YOU DO THAT,

AND THEN YOU JUST WRITE.

Brown: AND HE REALLY LIKED HER.

Narrator: HIS EFFORT TO LURE
SHERRSE IN FINALLY PAYS OFF.

I WAS JUST LIKE, "OKAY.
LET ME GIVE YOU MY NUMBER."

WAS HE GROWING ON YOU
AT THIS POINT?

HE WAS,
'CAUSE HE WAS FUNNY.

HE KIND OF REELED ME IN
A LITTLE BIT

WHEN HE REMINDED ME
OF GREG.

LUNCH.
Mitchell: LUNCH.

ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.

USE IT, DON'T ABUSE IT.

I WILL
[ LAUGHTER ]

Narrator:
THE CONFIDENT LADIES' MAN

SEES HIS WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
AND SEIZES IT.

ONCE THEY START DATING,

STEVE MAKES IT HIS MISSION
TO WIN HER OVER COMPLETELY.

OR HE WOULD HAVE A GIFT.

OOH!
I LOVE GIFTS.

I GET THAT.

A NICE,
LITTLE SPARKLY BRACELET.

I'M LIKE, "OH, OKAY.
KEEP THE GIFTS COMING."

SHERRSE LIKES THE ATTENTION.

SHE IGNORES HER GRANDMOTHER'S
VOICE IN HER HEAD

AND SLOWLY LETS HER GUARD DOWN.

THANK YOU
FOR TAKING ME OUT TONIGHT.

OF COURSE.

HE WAS SLOWLY, BUT SURELY,
FILLING THAT VOID.

YOU KNOW, HE - LIKE I SAID,
HE MADE ME LAUGH.

HE ALWAYS TOLD ME
HOW BEAUTIFUL I WAS.

I GAVE HIM A CHANCE.

Williams: ALL RIGHT, GIRL.
YOU READY?

Gaines:
YES, I'M READY.

BUT SHERRSE'S BEST FRIEND,
BRANDI, ISN'T A FAN.

I HEARD SOME STUFF
ABOUT STEVE.

IN FACT, SHE CLAIMS
SHE'S LEARNED SOMETHING

THAT PAINTS STEVE
IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT LIGHT.

Williams: HE HAD A REPUTATION
FOR BEING A CHEATER, A LIAR,

A LITTLE BIT ABUSIVE.

I KNEW A PERSON
WHO HE WAS SUPPOSED TO MARRY,

AND THE REASON WHY
SHE CALLED IT OFF

WAS BECAUSE HE HAD
PUNCHED HER IN HER FACE.

SHE JUST SAID, "LEAVE HIM ALONE.
HE'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU."

DON'T WORRY, BRANDI.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
I'M JUST SAYING.

Narrator: WITHIN A COUPLE OF
MONTHS, STEVE MOVES IN WITH SHERRSE.

YOU'LL SEE.
JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND.

WAS IT JUST NICE
TO HAVE SOMEONE TO GO HOME TO

AT THE END OF A LONG SHIFT?

IT WAS.

IT WAS JUST...

I LOVED HIM. I DID.

CLOSE YOUR EYES.

Gaines: I FELL FOR HIM.

HE FELL FOR ME, TOO.

I LOVE IT.

I OPENED UP
AND I LET HIM IN.

STEVE'S NOT SHY
ABOUT SPENDING MONEY,

AND HE SPOILS HIS GIRLFRIEND
AT EVERY TURN.

HERE YOU GO.

WHAT'S THIS FOR?

IT'S SOMETHING
TO HELP OUT WITH THE RENT,

A COUPLE MONTHS' WORTH.

YEAH, I WAS HAPPY THAT I HAD
THE MONEY IN MY HAND, AND...

HE WAS SPOILING YOU
WITH MONEY.

HE WAS.

I LOVE IT.
OH.

Narrator: SHERRSE DOESN'T ASK
WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.

Gaines: HE ALWAYS SAID,
"I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB.

"I WAS WORKING,
BUT IT'S HARD FINDING A JOB

WITH MY BACKGROUND."

SHERRSE IS CLEARLY IN DENIAL

ABOUT THE SOURCE
OF STEVE'S INCOME.

SHE ENJOYS HAVING THE RENT PAID
AND RECEIVING SHOWERS OF GIFTS,

SO SHE SIMPLY DOESN'T ASK
THOSE QUESTIONS.

Narrator: SHERRSE SEEMS TO HAVE
TAMED THE HANDSOME PLAYBOY...

LADIES.
HEY, HONEY.

HE WAS SUCH A GOOD GUY
TO SHERRSE IN THE BEGINNING,

THAT I KIND OF
HAD TO SECOND-GUESS MYSELF

AND THINK THAT MAYBE I WAS
A LITTLE BIT OF A HATER.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE STEVE SHOWS

HIS TRUE COLORS
IN DRAMATIC FASHION.

A FEW MONTHS AFTER HE MOVES IN,

SHERRSE AND STEVE
ARE GETTING COZY AT THE BAR

WHEN, ACCORDING TO
SHERRSE AND BRANDI,

A WOMAN COMES UP, JOLTING
SHERRSE BACK INTO REALITY.

Gaines: STEVE, WHO IS THIS?
REALLY? WHO AM I?

I'M PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD,
THAT'S WHO I AM.

YOU'RE NOT PREGNANT
WITH NOTHING.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW?

STEVE, WHAT THE HELL
IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?

Narrator:
STEVE IS DENYING EVERYTHING,

BUT SHERRSE
DOESN'T BELIEVE A WORD.

TWO MONTHS AGO!
I WAS WITH YOU.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

LIKE, HOW WOULD YOU
DO THIS TO ME?

YOU'RE LIVING
IN MY HOUSE,

YOU'RE SMOOCHING UP TO ME
EVERYDAY

LIKE NOTHING'S GOING ON,
BUT HERE YOU ARE.

SHERRSE AND BRANDI
CLAIM THE OTHER WOMAN

WON'T LEAVE
UNTIL SHE GETS SOME ANSWERS.

DON'T TOUCH ME!

IT WAS LIKE,
"I'M DONE WITH YOU."

ARE YOU SAYING TO ME
THAT RIGHT THERE IN THE BAR

YOU TOLD HIM THAT'S IT?
I'M DONE.

HELL YEAH!

I WAS UPSET.
AND I WAS SMOKIN'!

SHERRSE, LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.

WHAT THE HELL
IS WRONG WITH YOU?

I TRIED TO
TAKE THIS PRIVATELY,

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO
GET UP AND BE A MAN...

Narrator: STEVE REALIZES
HE'S JUST BEEN DUMPED.

THAT'S NOT MY CHILD.

THE SITUATION
WAS ESCALATING.

YOU WANT TO SIT THERE
AND CALL ME A LIAR?

SHE WAS RUNNING OFF
AT HER MOUTH.

HE WAS RUNNING OFF
WITH HIS MOUTH,

AND HE HAD BEEN DRINKING.

SHE WAS
PISSING HIM OFF EVEN MORE,

AND AS THAT LIQUOR SET IN,
HONEY, HE TURNED INTO DIABLO.

AT THE TIME, I REALLY SEEN CRAZY
COME INTO HIS EYES.

Woman:
I HAVE YOUR FREAKING CHILD...

GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

Narrator: SHERRSE GAINES
CLAIMS SHE'S JUST DISCOVERED

THE MAN SHE LOVES
MAY HAVE CHEATED ON HER.

I'M PREGNANT
AND YOU'RE THE FATHER.

ACCORDING TO SHERRSE,
WHEN SHE BREAKS UP WITH HIM,

THE SMOOTH-TALKING PLAYBOY
SUDDENLY LOSES HIS COOL.

Brown: STOP IT!

GET OUT OF HERE!

HE HAD HIT HER SO HARD

THAT HE HAD LIFTED HER
UP OFF OF HER FEET,

AND SHE WENT FLYING.

SHE FELL
IN BETWEEN THE BARSTOOLS,

AND THE BARSTOOLS
FELL ON TOP OF HER.

YOU ALWAYS
STARTING DAMN TROUBLE.

Narrator: STEVE IS IMMEDIATELY
TOSSED OUT OF THE BAR...

IT'S NOT COOL.

...LEAVING SHERRSE
IN A STATE OF SHOCK.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME

THAT SHE HAD EVER SEEN
ANY TYPE OF VIOLENCE,

PHYSICAL ALTERCATION FROM HIM.

IT CAUGHT HER OFF GUARD.

Narrator: STEVE CALLS
THE NEXT DAY TO APOLOGIZE.

HE WAS JUST - HE'S SORRY,
YOU KNOW, IT JUST HAPPENED.

Mitchell: Listen, listen.
It's not what you think.

All right?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?
DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID?

Narrator:
BUT SHERRSE DOESN'T TRUST HIM.

SHE'S AFRAID
IF SHE STAYS WITH STEVE

SHE COULD BECOME
HIS NEXT TARGET.

NO, YOU CAN
GET ALL OF YOUR STUFF.

IT'S ALL SITTING OUT HERE
IN THE DRIVEWAY.

No, babe.
NO, I'M DONE.

I DON'T EVEN
WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

SHERRSE TRIES TO GET OVER STEVE
BY FOCUSING ON SCHOOL AND WORK,

BUT IN SPITE OF THE RED FLAGS,
DEEP DOWN SHE WANTS HIM BACK.

Williams: DID YOU WORK OUT?

Narrator: THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND,
SHE AND BRANDI ARE BACK AT THE BAR

WHERE SHERRSE KNOWS
SHE'LL PROBABLY RUN INTO STEVE.

SO, YOU'RE BACK TO
YOUR STRONG SELF, PRE-STEVE,

BUT THEN YOU GO TO THE BAR
WITH BRANDI, AND WHO'S THERE?

STEVE'S THERE.

HE WAS
AT THE END OF THE BAR.

HE WAS PEEKING,
WATCHING, LOOKING.

YOU KNOW, I MADE IT MY BUSINESS
TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ELSE,

SHOW HIM THAT YOU ARE
A NON-FACTOR AT THIS POINT.

HE ENDING UP SENDING NOTES
FROM DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOUR JUDGEMENT, SHERRSE?

I DON'T KNOW.
I WAS BLINDED.

BLINDED BY LOVE?
I WAS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS LOVE.

Williams: I EXPECTED THEM
TO GET BACK TOGETHER

BECAUSE SHE WAS SO IN LOVE
AT THE TIME, THAT -

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HARD, ONCE
YOU LOVE SOMEONE, TO LET IT GO.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK,
OKAY?

Narrator:
LIKE AN ADDICT NEEDING A FIX,

SHERRSE CAN'T RESIST
STEVE'S POWER OVER HER.

STEVE MAY HAVE SWEET-TALKED
SHERRSE INTO TAKING HIM BACK,

BUT SHERRSE'S EYES ARE NOW OPEN.

SHE STILL
WANTS THAT RELATIONSHIP,

BUT NOW, SHE'S GOING TO LOOK
AT STEVE IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, HE MOVES
BACK INTO HER APARTMENT,

AND THE RELATIONSHIP BECOMES
STEAMIER THAN EVER.

EVEN THOUGH THINGS SEEM FINE
IN THE MOMENT,

DEEP DOWN, SHERRSE HAS DOUBTS
ABOUT STEVE'S LOYALTY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
THOSE FEARS ARE REALIZED.

[ PHONE CHIRPS ]

EXCUSE ME.

SIX MONTHS AFTER
STEVE'S EXPLOSION AT THE BAR,

SHERRSE IS AT HER NEW JOB
AS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT,

WHEN SHE GETS
SOME DISTURBING NEWS.

NO, HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO
BE THERE RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Jordan: YOU WERE AT WORK,

AND YOUR NEIGHBORS
ARE WARNING YOU,

"STEVE'S IN YOUR HOME.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC
GOING ON."

THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

WHICH MEANS?

HE COULD EITHER BE SELLING DRUGS
OR HE'S CHEATING.

SHERRSE DECIDES TO TRY
TO CATCH HIM IN THE ACT.

I WAS USUALLY WORKING
4:00 TILL 8:00 IN THE MORNING.

I'M GOING, OKAY?
OKAY.

CAME HOME EARLY - 12:00.

AND I CAUGHT HIM IN MY BED
WITH A FEMALE.

I REALLY WANT TO KNOW
HOW THAT WENT DOWN.

EVERYTHING WENT RED.

SHERRSE LOSES IT.
THIS TIME, SHE STRIKES BACK.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

I WENT UP BEHIND HIM
AND I PUNCHED HIM SO HARD,

WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

HE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.

DON'T YOU KNOW
I WILL BEAT YOUR ASS?!

AS THE OTHER WOMAN
RUSHES OUT OF THE HOUSE,

SHERRSE TAKES AIM
AT HER TWO-TIMING BOYFRIEND.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

Gaines: MY ATTENTION
REALLY WASN'T ON HER.

GET OUT! GO!

IT WAS HIM
THAT I WAS UPSET WITH.

LIKE, YOU WENT THIS FAR.

HURRY! GO!

LIKE, IF YOU'RE GONNA CHEAT,
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

FOR THE SECOND TIME
IN THEIR YEAR-LONG RELATIONSHIP,

SHERRSE BOOTS STEVE
OUT OF THE HOUSE.

[ KNOCKING ]

BUT STEVE CAN'T LET GO,

AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS CONFIDENT
AND COCKY WOMANIZER

REFUSES TO GIVE UP.

LET ME JUST COME INSIDE.
LET'S TALK.

JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT.

BUT SHERRSE IS SICK OF PUTTING
UP WITH HIS CONSTANT BETRAYAL,

SO SHE DECIDES TO LET STEVE
BACK IN, BUT ON HER TERMS.

HE CAN SPEND THE NIGHT,
BUT ONLY WHEN INVITED.

AT THAT POINT AND MOMENT,
HE WAS A BOY-TOY.

NOT SO IN LOVE ANYMORE?
NOPE.

BUT YOU'RE ENJOYING
THE BENEFITS?

I AM.

HE WAS THE ONLY GUY
THAT I'D BEEN WITH

FOR A WHILE, A LONG TIME,
IT WAS GOOD.

Dr. Jordan: SHERRSE IS WILLING
TO STAY WITH STEVE,

BUT THE TERMS HAVE CHANGED.

NOW SHE CALLS THE SHOTS.

THE RELATIONSHIP WILL BE SEXUAL
AND PHYSICAL, BUT NOT EMOTIONAL.

STEVE WAS WILLING TO DO THIS,

BUT WILL HE BE ABLE TO HANDLE
THESE NEW CONDITIONS?

Narrator: SHERRSE WILL START BY GIVING
HIM A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE.

OUT IN PUBLIC, SHE OPENLY FLIRTS
WITH OTHER GUYS

RIGHT IN FRONT OF STEVE.

IT SEEMS THE TABLES HAVE TURNED

AND SHERRSE IS MILKING IT
FOR ALL IT'S WORTH.

BY THEN, SHE WAS
SHOWING HER TRUE SIDE.

SHE WAS BEING WITH
OTHER DIFFERENT GUYS UP THERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

SO THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE DOING NOW?

JUST GOING AROUND
SLEEPING WITH OTHER GUYS?

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

SO, I'M, LIKE,
REALLY PUSHING HIM AWAY.

BLOWING HIM OFF.

I'M, AT THIS POINT,
I'M SO DONE.

YOU DO NOT EVEN
EXIST TO ME ANYMORE,

WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH.

Narrator: HER BEHAVIOR
STOKES STEVE'S JEALOUSY.

STEVE HAS STARTED
BECOMING VERY CONTROLLING.

I'M SICK OF IT!
JUST STOP TALKING.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE HER
WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

YOU COULD TELL
HE WAS LOSING HIS MIND.

STEP OFF. LET'S GO.

BYE, STEVE.
LET'S GO.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
WHAT DO I MEAN?

I DON'T WANT YOU AT THE BAR
WITH NO OTHER DUDES,

YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,

SHERRSE AND STEVE'S NEW,
CASUAL RELATIONSHIP

BECOMES A POWDER KEG
OF RESENTMENT.

THE MORE SHERRSE FLIRTS,
THE ANGRIER STEVE BECOMES,

ESPECIALLY
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!

IT WAS, MORE OR LESS,

LIKE, MAYBE HIM PUSHING ME
AGAINST THE WALL.

GET OFF ME!
GET OFF ME!

OR, "BITCH, DON'T SAY
ANOTHER WORD."

OR HIM GRABBING ME,
OR, YOU KNOW,

BUT I WOULD ALWAYS
FIDGET MY WAY OUT OF IT

OR GET IN MY CAR
AND LEAVE OR CALL BRANDI.

"HE'S CRAZY."

IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS
A DIFFERENT SIDE OF STEVE.

I THINK HE LOST IT
WHEN HE KNEW

THAT THERE WAS NO MORE
ME FALLING FOR HIS CRAP.

BUT SHERRSE CONSIDERS THE ABUSE
A SMALL PRICE TO PAY...

HEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

...FOR HAVING ABSOLUTE POWER
OVER HER MAN.

Brown: THEN, FINALLY,
HE STARTED FOLLOWING HER AROUND

LIKE A LITTLE PUPPY, AND I KNEW
IT WAS GOING TO BE TROUBLE THEN.

Dr. Jordan: SHERRSE MIGHT BE
USING HER NEWFOUND POWER

TO MAKE STEVE JEALOUS,
BUT IN TRUTH,

STEVE IS NOT GOING TO BE
SO MUCH JEALOUS AS RESENTFUL.

IT'S MOST LIKELY THAT STEVE
WILL BECOME EVEN MORE ABUSIVE.

[ CELLPHONE CHIRPS ]
HELLO, STEVE.

Hey, baby.
Where you at?

Narrator: ON THE NIGHT
OF MARCH 24th, 2009,

SHERRSE GETS A PHONE CALL
FROM STEVE ASKING FOR A RIDE.

WE WERE OUT PARTYING, HAVING
A GREAT TIME, LAUGHING, JOKING.

HE PRETTY MUCH JUST GAVE HER
AN ADDRESS AND SAID

"COME GET ME. I'M AT THIS BAR."

Narrator: SHERRSE AGREES
TO COME GET HIM...

HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

BUT WHEN SHE GETS TO
THE ADDRESS,

SHE'S SHOCKED TO DISCOVER
IT'S A STRIP CLUB.

INSTEAD OF STOPPING,
SHERRSE SPEEDS OFF,

LEAVING STEVE
OUTSIDE IN THE COLD.

HEY, WHAT -
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

HEY, HEY, HEY!

I WAS UPSET.

I WAS PISSED OFF,
TO BE EXACT.

HE'S NOT
TREATING YOU WELL.

HE'S NOT GOING TO
EVER TREAT ME WELL.

AND FROM THAT POINT ON,
IT WAS LIKE I NEED TO MOVE ON.

WAS THAT AN EYE-OPENER
FOR YOU?

IT WAS.

Narrator: SHERRSE HEARS
HER GRANDMOTHER'S VOICE AGAIN,

AND REMEMBERS
HOW SHE WAS RAISED.

IT WAS LIKE
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I DESERVE BETTER.
I CAN DO BETTER.

I AM BETTER.

HE HAD YOU COME
PICK HIM UP FROM THE STRIP CLUB?

BACK AT HOME, SHERRSE
CALLS BRANDI AND THE TWO LAUGH

PICTURING STEVE
WAITING OUTSIDE IN THE COLD.

BUT MINUTES LATER, SHE HEARS
BANGING AT THE FRONT DOOR.

Mitchell: SHERRSE!
[ KNOCKING ]

SHERRSE!

AND IT'S HIM SCREAMING,
HOLLERING, DRUNK, STUMBLING.

Mitchell:
I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE.

Gaines: AND, OF COURSE,
YOU KNOW, I'M AT THE POINT

WHERE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I'M NOT TAKING ANYMORE.

Mitchell: OPEN THE DOOR.

AFTER MONTHS
OF BOTTLING UP HER EMOTIONS,

SHERRSE FINALLY
LET'S STEVE HAVE IT.

AND ONCE THE FLOOD GATES
ARE OPEN, SHE CAN'T STOP.

Gaines:
I STAND UP FOR MYSELF,

AND I LAY IT ALL OUT
ON THE LINE, EVERYTHING.

HIM CHEATING, EVERYTHING.

AND HE REALIZES
THAT I'M NOT PLAYING THIS TIME.

I SAID,
"YOU GOT TO GET OUT.

YOU HAVE TO GO.
DON'T COME BACK."

I'M NOT GOING!

AND THIS TIME,
SHE VOWS NEVER TO TAKE HIM BACK.

NO, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
NO, YOU ARE NOT HERE.

YOU CAN GO...

Gaines: WE ARGUED, YOU KNOW,
VERBALLY FIGHTING.

THE NEXT YOU KNOW,
HE JUST GRABS ME.

IT'S OVER!

NO, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO TOUCH ME!

BUT WAS THERE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT THIS TIME?

GET OFF ME!

IT WAS MORE FORCE BEHIND IT.

STOP! GET OFF!

Stop!

BRANDI,
WHO IS STILL ON THE PHONE,

CAN TELL THE FIGHT
IS ESCALATING.

SHERRSE!

HE WAS IRATE.

I COULD HEAR THROUGH THE PHONE
HIM CURSING AND SCREAMING.

GET OFF OF ME! NO!

MY FIRST INSTINCT -
SAVE MYSELF, GET HIM OFF ME.

STOP!

I HEARD HER SCREAMING

FOR HIM TO KEEP HIS
M-EFFING HANDS OFF OF HER.

AND, YOU KNOW,
AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

I DECIDED
I'M CALLING THE POLICE.

[ COUGHING ]

Gaines: HE'S JUST GOT HIS HANDS
AROUND MY NECK,

AND HE'S SQUEEZING,
AND I CAN'T GET HIM OFF.

Woman: Emergency,
what is the problem?

MY FRIEND SHERRSE GAINES

IS BEING BEAT UP BY
HER BOYFRIEND, STEVEN MITCHELL.

I CAN'T BREATHE.

MY VISION
IS GETTING BLURRED.

EVERYTHING'S GOING DARK.

I PANIC.

THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF
WAS GRAB SOMETHING,

ANYTHING, JUST TO HELP ME.

AND I FOUND SOME SCISSORS.

Mitchell: AAH!

Narrator: SHERRSE AND STEVE'S
ON-AGAIN-OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP

HAS BEEN ON A COLLISION COURSE
FOR MONTHS...

GET OUT!

WHEN SHERRSE FINALLY DECIDES
TO END IT FOR GOOD, STEVE SNAPS.

SHERRSE GRABS THE CLOSEST THING
SHE CAN TO GET HIM OFF OF HER,

A PAIR OF SCISSORS...

[ GROANS ]

AAH!

DAMN, YOU CRAZY BITCH!

SHERRSE
KICKS INTO SURVIVAL MODE.

HOW MANY TIMES
DID YOU SWING AT HIM?

MAYBE ABOUT FIVE OR SIX.

BUT HE LET GO
OF YOUR NECK?

HE LET GO.

[ SOBBING ]

WHEN HE GOT OFF OF ME
IT WAS LIKE [GASPS].

YOU KNOW,
I WAS TRYING TO CATCH MYSELF.

MY BODY WAS SO HEAVY.

I COULDN'T REALLY
STAND FOR REAL.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE HE TOOK
ALL THE LIFE OUT OF ME.

IT WAS SCARY.
I THOUGHT I WAS DYING.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Officer: HELLO?
POLICE!

IT WAS LIKE A RELIEF.

MY BOYFRIEND,
HE TRIED TO CHOKE ME...

AND I THOUGHT
THEY WERE THERE TO HELP ME.

AAH!

OFFICERS TAKE ONE LOOK AT STEVE
AND CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE.

I WAS COVERED IN BLOOD.

I WAS JUST LAYING IN BED...
THIS CRAZY BITCH -

SHE JUST CAME IN...
HE'S LYING!

HE JUST CAME OVER...
MA'AM! MA'AM!

I NEED YOU TO SIT DOWN!
SIT DOWN!

Gaines:
YOU KNOW, I TOLD 'EM, I SAID,

"HE ALMOST
CHOKED THE LIFE OUT OF ME."

BASED ON WHAT THEY SEE,
POLICE BELIEVE STEVE'S STORY...

MA'AM, I NEED YOU
TO STAND UP, PLEASE.

...AND ARREST SHERRSE.

TURN AROUND.
HE STARTED BANGING ON THE...

I NEED YOU TO TURN AROUND.
WHAT?

Gaines: I SAID,
"WELL, CAN I TALK?"

THEY SAID, "NO.
YOU SHUT UP."

THIS IS NOT EVEN HIS HOUSE.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WHILE STEVE TAKES A RIDE
TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM,

SHERRSE IS BOOKED
AT THE PITTSBURGH COUNTY JAIL.

McCune: SHERRSE WAS CHARGED
WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

CAUSING BODILY INJURY
WITH A DEADLY WEAPON,

AND THAT CARRIES
A POTENTIAL MAXIMUM PENALTY

OF 10 YEARS INCARCERATION.

HEY, SHERRSE,
THIS IS BRANDI.

I'M CALLING YOU AGAIN...

Narrator: BRANDI HASN'T BEEN ABLE
TO REACH SHERRSE SINCE CALLING 911.

[ SIGHS ]

WHEN SHE TURNS ON THE TV...

WHAT?

LO AND BEHOLD, MY FRIEND'S FACE
IS PLASTERED ACROSS THE NEWS.

AND I'M LIKE,
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

WHAT ARE THEY
ARRESTING HER FOR?

I WAS VERY SHOCKED BECAUSE

I WAS THE PERSON
WHO CALLED THE POLICE.

I LET THEM KNOW
THAT HE WAS ATTACKING HER.

Narrator: STEVE'S FRIENDS AT
THE BAR ARE ALSO IN SHOCK.

EVERYBODY FELT BAD FOR STEVE.
LET ME SAY IT THAT WAY.

EVERYBODY LIKED STEVE.

HE WAS NICE TO EVERYBODY.
HE HAD A BIG HEART.

FOR THE NEXT SIX AGONIZING DAYS,
SHERRSE SITS IN HER CELL

WONDERING IF STEVE WILL SURVIVE.

THE WHOLE TIME I WAS IN JAIL
HE WAS STILL IN CRITICAL CARE,

AND I JUST WAY PRAYING
THAT HE WOULD BE OKAY,

THAT HE'D PULL THROUGH.

ONE WEEK AFTER THE FIGHT,

SHERRSE HEARS THAT STEVE HAS
BEEN RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL.

THE NEXT DAY,
THEY'RE BOTH CALLED INTO COURT

FOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING.

SHERRSE'S STOMACH IS IN KNOTS.

SHE'S SCARED OF FACING STEVE,

AND TERRIFIED THAT HE'LL ACCUSE
HER OF TRYING TO KILL HIM.

BUT STEVE HAS HAD
A CHANGE OF HEART.

HE DIDN'T
LOOK AT ME LIKE,

"YOU BITCH," LIKE, YOU KNOW?

IT WAS LIKE, "I'M SORRY."

HE TOLD THEM THAT HE DIDN'T
WANT TO PRESS CHARGES.

HE DIDN'T WANT
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

McCune: NOW, IN MY OPINION,

THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY
AN INNOCENT AND INJURED PARTY,

AND HE HAS HIS OWN
LEGAL PROBLEMS

THAT WERE STEMMING OUT OF
THIS INCIDENT.

YOUR HONOR,
IT'S THE STATE'S POSITION

TO PROCEED WITH THE PROSECUTION
IN THIS MATTER.

Narrator: BUT THE STATE DECIDES
TO TAKE UP THE CASE ANYWAY,

AND A TRIAL DATE IS SET
FOR THE FOLLOWING APRIL.

IN THE MEANTIME, SHERRSE IS
RELEASED FROM JAIL WITHOUT BAIL.

SHE TRIES TO MAKE SENSE
OF WHAT HAPPENED,

AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO
PUT HER LIFE BACK TOGETHER.

WHILE I WAS IN JAIL,
I LOST MY JOB,

I GOT KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL
'CAUSE I MISSED SO MANY DAYS

THAT I COULDN'T
STOP CRYING.

YOU GOT THE TIME ON YOU?

TO NUMB THE PAIN, SHE TURNS TO
HER FAVORITE PASTIME,

HITTING THE BARS WITH BRANDI.

ME AND BRANDI WERE BACK
TO BEING BRANDI AND SHERRSE.

AND WE'D GO
TO HAVE COCKTAILS.

HI.

MY NAME'S TIM,
NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M SHERRSE.

Narrator: THIS TIME, SHERRSE
DECIDES NOT TO TEMPT FATE

AND PICKS A BAR ACROSS TOWN.

SHERRSE IS FLIRTING UP A STORM
WHEN BRANDI GETS HER ATTENTION.

Gaines:
WHAT'S WRONG?

GUESS WHO'S HERE?

SHE SEES STEVE.

DON'T PLAY WITH ME,
BRANDI.

LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW,
HE'S BEEN HUNTING HER DOWN

SINCE SHE WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL
A MONTH AGO.

HAD YOU SEEN HIM
SINCE COURT?

I DIDN'T.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

HE DOESN'T EVEN NORMALLY
HANG OUT IN THAT BAR,

SO HIM COMING TO THAT BAR WAS
LIKE HE'S COMING LOOKING FOR ME.

HE WAS STALKING ME.

HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
WITH HIS BROKEN HEART.

HE CHASED HER,
TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER,

BUT IT JUST MADE IT WORSE.

HE WENT ON A WARPATH.

I THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA LOSE HIS MIND.

Narrator: IT'S OBVIOUS THAT STEVE
STILL CARRIES A TORCH FOR SHERRSE,

BUT SHE'S NOT HAVING IT.

SHERRSE,
WHAT'S GOING ON?

HE STARTED CALLING ME A SLUT,
AND HE'S WORRIED ABOUT ME...

YOU'RE STALKING ME NOW?

...HE LOVES ME.

I'M LIKE,
"STEVE, YOU DON'T LOVE ME.

"LEAVE ME ALONE.

IF YOU LOVE ME,
YOU'LL LEAVE ME ALONE."

STEVE GOES BEFORE THE COURT

AND INSISTS
THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT,

THAT HE DOESN'T
WANT TO PRESS CHARGES.

WHEN HE SEE SHERRSE IN THE BAR,

HE PERCEIVES SHE'S UNGRATEFUL
FOR WHAT HE DID FOR HER,

AND IT MAKES HIM
COMPLETELY CRAZY.

HEY! HEY!

SO, HE KIND OF DIDN'T
GRASP THE CONCEPT

THAT SHE NO LONGER
WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.

DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD
DO THIS ANOTHER TIME?

I'LL DO IT WHERE I WANT TO
DO IT, ALL RIGHT?

HE STILL WANTED
TO BE WITH SHERRSE.

HE WAS VERY MUCH IN SOME TYPE OF
TWISTED LOVE AFFAIR

IN HIS OWN MIND.

LOOK, YOU NEED TO CHILL.
I THINK YOU NEED TO CHILL.

YOU NEED
TO GET UP OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: BRANDI CAN'T KEEP
STEVE'S TEMPER UNDER CONTROL.

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?
THIS IS MY PROBLEM...

BRANDI, SHE'S LIKE,
"HOLD UP," YOU KNOW?

SHE WENT AND GOT SECURITY.

ALL RIGHT. LISTEN TO ME.
YOU NEED TO GO.

Gaines: THEY CAME
AND TOLD HIM HE HAD TO GO.

Narrator: AN HOUR LATER,
SHERRSE LEAVES THE BAR

TO GRAB A JACKET FROM HER CAR...

AND GETS AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]
HEY!

STEVE IS BACK...
DRIVE!

...AND HE'S IN A BLIND RAGE.

HE HOPS IN MY CAR,
SO I'M STARTLED.

I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."

HE'S LIKE, "DRIVE, BITCH."

I THOUGHT HE WAS
GONNA MAKE ME DRIVE

INTO AN ALLEYWAY SOMEWHERE.

I THOUGHT HE ALREADY
HAD IT ALL PLANNED OUT,

AND HE WAS
GOING TO KILL ME.

I WAS SCARED.

HE JUST STARTED GOING OFF,

CALLING ME ALL TYPES OF NAMES
AND TELLS ME HE HATES ME.

THEN I REACHED DOWN,
GRABBED IT...

Narrator: AFTER STABBING HER
BOYFRIEND, STEVE, DURING A FIGHT,

SHERRSE GAINES IS NOW TRYING
TO MOVE ON WITH HER LIFE.

BUT STEVE WANTS HER BACK
AT ANY COST.

DRIVE!
HEY!

FORTUNATELY, SHERRSE
IS WELL-ARMED WITH MACE.

[ MACE CAN HISSING ]
AAH!

[ IMITATES SPRAY CAN ]

I EMPTIED A WHOLE CAN,
AND I DIDN'T STOP.

AAH! AAH!

SPRAYING THE MACE,
HITTING HIM.

SHERRSE TELLS BRANDI
WHAT HAPPENED

WHILE STEVE,
BLINDED BY THE MACE,

STUMBLES OUT OF THE CAR.

GIRL,
I JUST HAD TO MACE STEVE.

WHAT?
YES.

SHE KNOWS
WHAT STEVE'S CAPABLE OF...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I DON'T WANT TO
GO BACK OUT THERE.

AND ASKS BAR SECURITY FOR HELP.

Man: YOU STAY HERE.

THEY CASE THE BLOCK,

BUT THERE'S
NO SIGN OF STEVE ANYWHERE.

LATER THAT NIGHT,
WHEN IT'S TIME TO HEAD HOME,

BRANDI LEAVES THE BAR FIRST
TO MAKE SURE THE COAST IS CLEAR.

AS SHE GETS READY TO DRIVE AWAY,
HER STOMACH DROPS.

ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW.

ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW!

CALL SHERRSE...

Williams:
I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW

AND PRETENDED LIKE
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE SAID, "CALL SHERRSE OUT HERE,
OR I'M GONNA KILL YOU."

CALL SHERRSE.
STEVE, WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHY YOU GOT A GUN?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT...

YOU KICK INTO
SELF-PRESERVATION MODE,

AND YOU START THINKING OF THINGS

THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT
YOU WOULD THINK OF,

AND YOU BECOME VERY CRAFTY.

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
WHAT HAPPENED.

I'M GONNA CALL HER.
IT'S COOL.

HURRY UP.
HURRY UP!

Narrator: BRANDI MAKES THE CALL,
BUT NOT TO SHERRSE.

HELLO?

I DIALED 911.

Woman: EMERGENCY,
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

HEY, SHERRSE...
I SAID, "SHERRSE GAINES,

IF YOU DO NOT GET OUT HERE,
STEVEN IS GOING TO KILL ME."

AND I'M LIKE, "OKAY.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME,

THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW
EXACTLY WHO DID IT."

AT FIRST, THE 911 OPERATOR
DID NOT CATCH ON.

Woman:
What is your location?

THEN, FINALLY, SHE REALIZED THAT
I WAS GIVING HER A DESCRIPTION

OF WHO WAS ATTACKING ME...

OKAY!

AND I NEEDED HELP IMMEDIATELY.

HE'S GONNA KILL ME.

THAT - SAY IT AGAIN.
I'M GONNA KILL YOU.

Narrator: STEVE HAS NO IDEA
WHO BRANDI IS TALKING TO,

BUT HIS PATIENCE HAS WORN THIN.

HURRY UP!
YES. SHE'S COMING.

HE TURNS TOWARDS SHERRSE'S CAR
AND TAKES AIM.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

YOU HEAR
ALL TYPES OF GUNSHOTS,

MAYBE ABOUT 12 GUNSHOTS,
MAYBE.

GOOD THING I DIDN'T LEAVE,

'CAUSE HE - I BELIEVE
HE WOULD HAVE KILLED ME.

Williams: THE 911 OPERATOR ASKED
ME, SHE SAID, "ARE YOU OKAY?"

I SAID, "I'M FINE."

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE TAKES OFF.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

HE WAS RIGHT HERE...

RIGHT HERE?
...SHOOTING UP THE CAR.

Narrator:
POLICE ARRIVE MINUTES LATER,

BUT BY THEN STEVE IS LONG GONE.

HE TOLD ME TO CALL HER,
OTHERWISE HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.

A WARRANT IS ISSUED
FOR HIS ARREST.

WHILE POLICE SEARCH FOR STEVE,

SHERRSE DECIDES TO MOVE OUT
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE'S CONVINCED
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE STEVE
COMES LOOKING FOR HER.

ONE MONTH LATER,
POLICE CATCH STEVE.

Williams: IT WAS DEFINITELY
A RELIEF, YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE, AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

I DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE HE WAS GOING TO BE,

WHERE HE WAS GONNA POP UP.

Narrator: IN APRIL 2010,
SHERRSE RETURNS TO COURT

TO FACE CHARGES
FOR STABBING STEVE.

BUT WHEN THE COURT LEARNS
OF HIS PENDING ASSAULT CASE,

THEY DROP ALL CHARGES.

Judge: DROPPING ALL CHARGES.
CASE DISMISSED.

I COULDN'T SEE A JURY,
OR EVEN A JUDGE,

SEEING THIS AS SOMETHING
OTHER THAN SELF-DEFENSE.

IT'S THE BEST RESOLUTION.

STEVE ISN'T SO LUCKY.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER,
IN DECEMBER 2010,

HE PLEADS GUILTY
TO SHOOTING UP SHERRSE'S CAR.

THE STATE
SENTENCES STEVE MITCHELL

TO EIGHT YEARS
IN THE PENITENTIARY.

[ GAVEL BANGS ]

HE IS SENT TO STATE PRISON FOR
THE NEXT FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT A FEW YEARS
FROM NOW, WHEN HE GETS OUT?

I DID. I MOVED.

I MOVED
TO THE SUBURBS FAR AWAY,

AND NOBODY KNOWS
WHERE I LIVE AT.

BUT STEVE'S FRIENDS SAY

THE ONLY THING STEVE'S REALLY
GUILTY OF IS BEING IN LOVE.

Brown: IF HE WAS
A MEAN-SPIRITED PERSON,

HE'D HAVE PUT HER IN JAIL
WHEN SHE GUTTED HIM

LIKE HE WAS A FISH,

BUT HE DIDN'T, AND HE STILL
TRIED TO GET WITH HER.

THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW
HOW MUCH HE CARED.

SO THEY CAN'T MAKE STEVE
INTO A VILLAIN.

HE'S JUST A MAN
WITH A BROKEN HEART.

Dr. Jordan:
THE END OF THE STORY WITH STEVE

REALLY BROUGHT SHERRSE
FULL CIRCLE AND BROUGHT HOME

ALL OF THE LESSONS
HER GRANDMOTHER

HAD ALWAYS TRIED TO IMPART.

THAT SHE IS HER OWN WOMAN,

SHE DOES NOT NEED ANY MAN OR
ANY RELATIONSHIP TO DEFINE HER.

Narrator: SHERRSE HAS GOTTEN
HER LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

SHE HAS A GOOD JOB
AS A PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT,

AND IS FOCUSED ON HER FUTURE.

IT'S A LIFE HER GRANDMOTHER
WOULD HAVE WANTED FOR HER.

DO YOU HAVE A MAN
IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

NO.

DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE, EITHER.

I'M NOT.

IS SHERRSE
IN CHARGE OF SHERRSE?

YES, SHE IS.
AND I'M JUST LIVING MY LIFE.