Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Can't Buy Me Love - full transcript

Narrator: A SOUTHERN BELLE
LIVES THE AMERICAN DREAM.

BIG BOATS, BIG HOUSES, BIG CARS.

IT WAS THE IDEAL SUBURBAN LIFE.

Narrator: BUT AFTER A BITTER BREAKUP,
HER EX REFUSES TO LET HER GO.

WHAT IS THIS?

HE CONTINUED TO PURSUE HER
FROM THE MINUTE THE INK WAS DRY

ON THE DIVORCE PAPERS.

Narrator:
THAT DOESN'T STOP THIS WIFE

FROM CASHING IN
ON HER EX'S OBSESSION...

MONICA WAS SOMEONE
WHO WEAPONIZED SEX,

AND SHE PLAYED HIM
FOR ALL HE WAS WORTH.



I BROUGHT
MY CHECKBOOK.

Narrator: ...UNTIL THIS DANGEROUS
GAME OF BETRAYAL AND REVENGE

REACHES A BOILING POINT.

I WAS SCARED
THAT I WAS REALLY GONNA PAY NOW.

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

1986.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

[ INDISTINCT YELLING ]

14-YEAR-OLD MONICA FAIRVIEW

IS GETTING
A ROUGH START IN LIFE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

NOTHING'S WRONG
WITH ME...



[ INDISTINCT YELLING ]

WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?

SHE'S
CHEATING ON ME!

Narrator: ACCORDING TO MONICA,
HER FATHER DESTROYS THE HOUSE

WHEN HE SUSPECTS HER MOTHER
IS HAVING AN AFFAIR.

THE ENTIRE HOUSE
WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

OH, MY GOD!
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

Narrator: MONICA WORSHIPS HER
FATHER, DESPITE HIS DRINKING,

AND BLAMES HIS ISSUES
ON HER MOTHER.

Monica: WE'VE JUST HAD CONFLICT
SINCE I COULD REMEMBER.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT SHE LIVED UP
TO THE STANDARD

THAT I THOUGHT MY FATHER
NEEDED TO HELP HIM.

AND, SO, I THOUGHT SHE
WAS THE PROBLEM AND NOT HIM.

HIS DRINKING WAS BECAUSE OF HER.

Narrator:
REGARDLESS OF WHO'S AT FAULT,

MONICA JUST WANTS
THE FIGHTING TO STOP.

SHE THINKS THE ONLY WAY IS TO
GET HER FATHER TO QUIT DRINKING.

I THOUGHT I COULD SAVE HIM.

Narrator:
MONICA FINALLY GETS HER WISH.

HER FATHER SEEKS HELP
AND GETS SOBER.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLIC PARENTS

ARE VERY OFTEN
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

THEY'RE GOING TO CONFUSE
LOVE WITH PITY.

IN THE CASE OF MONICA,

SHE WOULD PITY HER FATHER
AND DESPISE HER MOTHER

BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE HER MOTHER
WASN'T DOING ENOUGH.

I'LL BE BACK
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

Narrator: BUT THINGS DON'T
TURN OUT AS MONICA HAD HOPED.

I WISH
YOU WOULD STAY.

ONCE HER FATHER HAS
HIS LIFE BACK ON TRACK,

HE BUYS A TRUCKING BUSINESS

AND IS AWAY FROM HOME
FOR DAYS AT A TIME.

THIS LEAVES HER HOME ALONE
WITH HER MOTHER.

I'M GLAD HE'S GONE.

HE'S JUST TRYING
TO GET AWAY FROM YOU.

EXCUSE ME?

Narrator: IT'S LIKE POURING
GASOLINE ON AN OPEN FLAME.

...TO ME THAT WAY.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Chip: OH, MY GOD.

THEY WOULD FIGHT
OVER THE COLOR OF THE SKY -

JUST THE DUMBEST CRAP EVER.

I THINK THERE WAS ALSO,
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM,

A LITTLE JEALOUSY OF ATTENTION
FROM MY FATHER.

Narrator: WHEN MONICA TURNS 15,
SHE DECIDES SHE'S HAD ENOUGH.

YOU THINK
YOU'RE GONNA RUN OFF?

SHE PACKS HER THINGS

AND GOES TO LIVE
WITH A FRIEND AND HER FAMILY.

A YEAR LATER, SHE QUITS SCHOOL,
GETS HER G. E. D.,

AND BECOMES A CATALOG MODEL.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
THAT'S AMAZING. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Narrator: MONICA IS A NATURAL
IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

Monica: I'D NEVER SEEK
TO BE CENTER OF ATTENTION.

I JUST ALWAYS DID
WHAT I EITHER WANTED TO DO

OR I KNEW TO DO OR HOW TO DO.

LOOKING GOOD, MONICA.

I OFTEN WAS
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

IN JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING THAT I DID.

THAT'S GREAT. RIGHT THERE.
HOLD THAT.

Narrator: WITH HER COVER GIRL
LOOKS, MONICA SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL.

BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS,

SHE WANTS A JOB
WITH MORE MEANING

AND DECIDES
TO JOIN THE MILITARY.

THAT WAS A VERY FIRM BELIEF
THAT I HAD - THAT SERVICE.

I JOINED THE ARMY
AS A MILITARY POLICE.

Narrator: AT AGE 19, MONICA
GETS DEPLOYED TO SAUDI ARABIA

WITH OPERATION DESERT STORM.

IS THAT A CHALLENGE?
THANKS.

SHE CLAIMS HER JOB IS TO PARTY
WITH THE MALE SOLDIERS

AND FIND OUT WHERE
THEY'RE GETTING ILLEGAL DRUGS.

I'M READY
FOR SOMETHING NEW.

THANKS, BOYS.

I WORKED UNDERCOVER IN
A DRUG-ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE.

LET ME GET YOU
ANOTHER BEER.

I WAS KIND OF HOPING

FOR SOMETHING
A LITTLE BIT, UM, STRONGER.

Narrator: SHE QUICKLY LEARNS
HOW TO USE HER LOOKS

TO GET WHAT SHE NEEDS.

MONICA WAS SOMEONE
WHO WEAPONIZED SEX

AND WEAPONIZED HER APPEARANCE.

GOT A GOOD HOOKUP?

AND SHE DID IT VERY WELL.

SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.
SHE KNEW HOW TO USE IT.

Dr. Jordan:
AS THE CHILD OF AN ALCOHOLIC,

MONICA WOULD HAVE
STUFFED DOWN HER EMOTIONS

AND ALWAYS
DENY HER OWN NEEDS.

BUT ONCE
SHE WAS IN THE MILITARY,

SHE FOUND STRENGTH IN HER
ABILITY TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE,

AND THIS WILL BE SOMETHING

THAT AFFECTS ALL
OF HER FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS.

HELL, YEAH, I DO.

Narrator: AFTER A YEAR IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, MONICA RETURNS TO INDIANA.

SHE TRANSFERS
TO THE NATIONAL GUARD

TO COMPLETE HER SERVICE
WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL

TO GET HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE
IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

AT NIGHT, SHE AND HER FRIENDS
HIT THE LOCAL BAR SCENE,

WHERE SHE CATCHES THE EYE
OF PRACTICALLY EVERY MAN

IN THE ROOM.

ONE OF THEM IS RICHIE CAMDEN,

WHOSE WEALTHY FAMILY OWNS
SEVERAL BUSINESSES IN TOWN.

AND THERE WAS
SOME CHEMISTRY?

DEFINITELY. DEFINITELY.
IMMEDIATELY.

HE WAS VERY GOOD-LOOKING -
VERY GOOD-LOOKING MAN.

THE TWO BECOME AN ITEM
ALMOST INSTANTLY.

MONICA,
NICE TO MEET YOU.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

[ LAUGHS ]

WHEN MONICA
FINDS OUT SHE'S PREGNANT

JUST THREE MONTHS LATER,

RICHIE'S PARENTS
INSIST THEY GET MARRIED.

Monica:
I LOVED HIS PARENTS.

HIS FAMILY WAS PROBABLY
HIS STRONGEST QUALITY.

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH MONICA DOESN'T
LOVE RICHIE, SHE AGREES TO MARRY HIM.

RIGHT HERE?
[ CHUCKLES ] RIGHT HERE.

Richards: I DON'T THINK
SHE THOUGHT OF PEOPLE

HAVING ANY
EMOTIONAL VALUE AT ALL.

I THINK EACH PERSON
SHE RAN ACROSS,

SHE THOUGHT OF, IN A WAY,
TO MANIPULATE OR USE THEM.

[ LAUGHS ]

BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS ONE
OF THE MOST SACRED COVENANTS...

Narrator: MONICA KNOWS A SHOTGUN
WEDDING ISN'T A GREAT IDEA...

AND MONICA FAIRVIEW...

Narrator: ...BUT, DEEP DOWN, SHE
HOPES THE MARRIAGE AND THE BABY

WILL SOMEHOW FILL A VOID LEFT
BY HER OWN DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY.

MONICA NEVER SAW ANY TRAITS

OF A MARRIAGE
BASED ON LOVE AND TRUST,

AND WITHOUT HAVING
ANY DEPTH OF EMOTION HERSELF,

IT'S VERY UNLIKELY
THAT THIS MARRIAGE WILL SURVIVE.

SHE'S SCARED TO LOVE.

WHEN SHE GETS
TOO CLOSE TO SOMEBODY,

I FEEL LIKE IT SCARES HER

BECAUSE MAYBE PEOPLE
HAVE LEFT HER IN HER PAST.

IT'S LIKE SHE'S DESTRUCTIVE.

Priest: HE JOINS YOU TOGETHER
IN ONE OF THE HOLIEST BONDS.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Narrator: SEVEN MONTHS LATER,

THE NEWLYWEDS WELCOME
A GIRL THEY NAME DAKOTA.

[ BABY COOS ]

THE BABY'S ARRIVAL

QUICKLY REVEALS THE CRACKS IN
THE YOUNG COUPLE'S RELATIONSHIP.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA BE
AN EXCELLENT STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I'M GOING BACK TO WORK.

BABE, WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE TO BE BRINGING
IN THE MONEY.

SOMEONE'S GOT TO STAY
WITH THE BABY.

WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE HER
TO MY PARENTS EVERY DAY.

WHO'S GONNA
TAKE CARE OF HER?

WE CAN HIRE
A BABYSITTER.

Narrator: RICHIE WANTS
A TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE,

WHERE HE'S
THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

MONICA DOESN'T
WANT TO BE CONTROLLED.

I'M DONE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK.

ONE NIGHT, RICHIE AND MONICA
PLAN A NIGHT OUT TOGETHER.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THEY LEAVE DAKOTA
WITH RICHIE'S PARENTS

AND HEAD TO A LOCAL NIGHTCLUB.

WE WENT WITH SOME OF MY MILITARY
FRIENDS THAT WERE IN TOWN,

THE GIRLS AND I
WERE DANCING IN A CIRCLE,

AND A GENTLEMAN HAD JUMPED
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CIRCLE.

A LOT OF GIRLS IN THE CLUB, BUT
I THINK I PICKED THE RIGHT ONE.

RICHIE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF
THAT IT WAS A THREAT.

Chip: SHE'S ALWAYS
DRAWN IN THE TYPE OF MEN

THAT GET VERY JEALOUS
VERY EASILY.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO MONICA,
RICHIE STORMS ONTO THE DANCE FLOOR.

WHOA! HEY! RICHIE!

WHO THE HELL
ARE YOU, MAN?!

MY WIFE -
WIFE?! YOUR WIFE?!

Monica: PUSHES THE GUY
AND STARTS A FISTFIGHT,

WHICH IS IMMEDIATELY BROKE UP,
AND HE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE.

LET'S GO, MONICA!

Narrator: RICHIE DEMANDS
THAT MONICA LEAVE WITH HIM.

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE BECAUSE
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!

Monica: HE WAS MAKING A VERY
BIG STANCE THAT I WAS HIS WOMAN

AND THAT I WAS TO LEAVE
WITH HIM BECAUSE HE DEMANDED,

AND I CHOSE NOT TO.

Narrator: MONICA TRIES
TO BRUSH OFF THE FIGHT

AND CONTINUES PARTYING
WITH HER FRIENDS.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

BUT AT CLOSING TIME,

SHE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO GO HOME
TO FACE THE MUSIC.

WHAT... THE HELL?

I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE
THE ENTIRE PLACE TURNED OVER -

FURNITURE, THINGS BROKE.

UGH!

RICHIE!

Narrator: SHE FINDS RICHIE
IN THEIR BEDROOM.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

Narrator: MONICA FAIRVIEW THINKS
SHE FINALLY HAS THE FAMILY

THAT SHE'S ALWAYS DREAMED OF -

A DEVOTED HUSBAND
AND A NEW BABY.

WHOA! HEY!

BUT HER WORLD COMES CRASHING
DOWN AFTER HER HUSBAND, RICHIE,

FLIES INTO A JEALOUS RAGE
AND TAKES IT OUT ON THEIR HOME.

RICHIE!

WHAT THE HELL
AM I DOING?

WHAT THE HELL
WERE YOU DOING?

THIS MARRIAGE
IS A JOKE!

OKAY.
YOU NEED TO COOL DOWN.

I'D NEVER SEEN THAT BEHAVIOR
FROM HIM BEFORE.

HE HAD NEVER
LOST HIS TEMPER, EVER.

OH, YOU GONNA CALL YOUR
BOYFRIEND FOR PROTECTION?

NO. I'M CALLING
YOUR PARENTS.

LISTEN, WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM
HERE, AND I'M...

AND JUST WATCHING HIS ANGER,
I KNEW IF HE HIT ME ONCE,

THAT WOULD ALL THAT IT WOULD
TAKE TO SERIOUSLY HURT ME,

AND I WASN'T
GONNA WAIT FOR THAT.

SO, I'M GONNA COME PICK UP
DAKOTA RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: MONICA PICKS UP
HER DAUGHTER FROM HER IN-LAWS

AND GOES TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE.

THE NEXT DAY,

SHE CALLS RICHIE TO TELL HIM
WHERE SHE AND DAKOTA ARE

AND TO ASK FOR A DIVORCE.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?
HEY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR MONICA, HER
HUSBAND'S WILLING TO LET HER GO,

BUT HE ISN'T ABOUT
TO LET HER WIN.

I THINK WE SHOULD
GET A DIVORCE.

OKAY, MONICA.
WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.

YOU'LL BE HEARING
FROM MY LAWYER, THEN.

RICHIE GETS HIS FAMILY'S LAWYER

TO FIGHT FOR CUSTODY
OF THEIR DAUGHTER.

Monica: HE HAD ACTUALLY
FILED IN THE COURTS

THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE
I WAS AT OR WHERE THE CHILD WAS,

AND HE WAS IN FEAR
OF DANGER FOR THE CHILD.

[ CRICKETS CHIRPING, DOG BARKS ]

Narrator: MONICA CLAIMS

THAT SHE NEVER GETS
THE NOTICE FOR HER COURT HEARING

AND THAT
WHEN SHE DOESN'T SHOW UP,

THE COURT
GRANTS CUSTODY TO RICHIE.

[ BABY COOS ]

MONICA VOWS TO WIN
HER DAUGHTER BACK,

BUT TO DO SO,
SHE NEEDS MONEY FOR A LAWYER.

A FRIEND FINDS HER A JOB

AS A FINANCE MANAGER
AT A CAR DEALERSHIP.

BUT SHE HAS TO MOVE
OVER 500 MILES AWAY

FROM INDIANAPOLIS
TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

THEN YOU GET SMOKED.

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S FAR FROM DAKOTA,

MONICA TRIES TO MAKE
THE BEST OF IT AND SETTLES IN.

ONE NIGHT, SHE DECIDES TO STOP
FOR A DRINK ON HER WAY HOME...

YOU SHOULDN'T EAT THOSE.
THEY'RE NASTY.

...AND SHE CATCHES THE EYE
OF A MAN NAMED ROB KRAMER.

THEY'RE NOT NASTY.

WHEN HE MEETS MONICA,
HE THINKS HE'S HIT THE JACKPOT.

Richards: WELL,
THEY DON'T FIT TOGETHER AT ALL.

SHE WAS GOING TO BE
THE HOTTEST-LOOKING THING

HE WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO GET,
SO SHE WAS A PRIZE EGG, MAN.

DID YOU JUST GET OFF WORK,
OR DO YOU NORMALLY LOOK THIS...?

Narrator: ROB IS A SUCCESSFUL
CONSTRUCTION SALES MANAGER.

ROB WAS VERY FUNNY
AND ENTERTAINING AND CHARMING,

ROMANTIC, SMART.

GUYS DO THAT.
I DON'T - I DON'T DO THAT.

ROB'S NOT A [CHUCKLES] -
HE'S NOT A VERY HANDSOME MAN,

SO IT COULDN'T
HAVE BEEN THE LOOKS.

WHY DON'T WE TALK IT OVER
OVER DINNER?

SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE GIRLS

THAT WAS ATTRACTED TO MEN
WHO TOOK CONTROL OF THINGS,

AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY ROB.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

Narrator: AT FIRST,
MONICA DOESN'T FEEL A SPARK,

BUT AFTER A FEW FANCY DINNERS,

SHE'S DECIDED ROB'S GOT
RELATIONSHIP POTENTIAL.

THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
THANK YOU.

HERE ARE THE BEERS
YOU ASKED FOR.

Narrator: SHE'S FLATTERED
BY THE ATTENTION HE GIVES HER,

AND IT DOESN'T HURT
THAT HE MAKES A GOOD LIVING.

DRINK UP.

[ GLASSES CLINK ]

WITHIN MONTHS,
ROB ASKS HER TO MARRY HIM.

YEAH.

IS THAT
WHAT I THINK IT IS?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT MONICA'S SEEN SOME RED FLAGS

AND NEEDS SOME TIME
TO THINK THINGS OVER.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS, Ringing ]

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

ROB IS MORE THAN
JUST A SOCIAL DRINKER.

HEY, BABY.

DON'T TELL ME
YOU'RE AT THE BAR AGAIN.

LOOK, I KNOW
IT'S A PROBLEM, OKAY?

BUT HE TREATS HER WELL
AND EVEN PAYS FOR A LAWYER

SO MONICA CAN FIGHT
FOR CUSTODY OF DAKOTA.

YOU NEED A LAWYER?

I'LL PAY FOR IT,
ALL RIGHT?

Dr. Jones: TIME AND AGAIN, WE
SEE ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS

SUBCONSCIOUSLY DRAWN
TO OTHER ALCOHOLICS.

THIS IS A RECIPE
FOR DYSFUNCTION IN A MARRIAGE

AND A REPETITION OF THE PATTERN

THAT MADE THEM SO MISERABLE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Narrator: TO CONVINCE MONICA
TO ACCEPT HIS PROPOSAL,

ROB PROMISES
TO CURB HIS DRINKING.

THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

EVEN THOUGH MONICA
DOESN'T LOVE ROB,

SHE FEELS INDEBTED TO HIM
AND FEELS OBLIGATED TO SAY YES.

LET'S GET MARRIED.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

BABY,
THAT IS FANTASTIC!

Monica: IT WASN'T A ROMANTIC
"IT WAS MEANT TO BE."

IT WAS A LIMIT OF OPTIONS.

THERE WAS NO FAMILY,
NO WHERE ELSE, REALLY, TO GO,

AND HERE WAS THIS MAN THAT I FELT
WAS DOING AN HONORABLE THING.

I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY DUTY.

WE'RE HERE TODAY, BEFORE GOD,
BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS ONE OF...

Narrator: IN DECEMBER 1998,
MONICA AND ROB MARRY

IN AN ELABORATE CEREMONY
HOSTED BY HIS WEALTHY PARENTS.

Priest:
...LOVE AND COMMITMENT.

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
SHE'S COMMITTING TO A MAN SHE DOESN'T LOVE.

Dr. Jones: SO, IT SOUNDS
LIKE YOU'RE WITH ROB MORE

BECAUSE IT IS BENEFICIAL
TO YOUR IDEA OF A FAMILY

THAN BECAUSE
YOU REALLY LOVE HIM.

I'D - I'D NEVER FELT
THAT LOVE WAS NECESSARY.

I DON'T THINK I EVER
HAD IT - UNCONDITIONAL.

IT WAS MORE OF A DUTY AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FAMILY.

I THOUGHT THAT'S
WHAT MADE IT WORK.

MEANWHILE,
ROB IS COMPLETELY INFATUATED

WITH THE WOMAN
HE MANAGED TO LAND,

AND HE'LL DO ANYTHING
TO HOLD ON TO HER.

Richards: MONICA WAS,
YOU KNOW, A HOT-LOOKING WOMAN,

YOU KNOW, AND GREAT ARM CANDY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE
HE SAW HER AS A TROPHY WIFE.

SHE'S GORGEOUS, AND SHE HAS
AN OUTGOING PERSONALITY.

I MEAN, SHE'S FUN.

ROB ISN'T THAT ATTRACTIVE,

SO I FELT LIKE
HE FELT VERY BLESSED.

[ BABY COOS ]

Narrator: JANUARY 2000.

A YEAR AFTER THEIR WEDDING,

MONICA GIVES BIRTH
TO HER SECOND CHILD,

A GIRL SHE AND ROB NAME ALEX.

SHE QUITS HER JOB
TO BECOME A FULL-TIME MOM

AND CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR
CUSTODY OF DAKOTA, WHO'S NOW 5.

Monica:
I WAS VERY BUSY WITH THE BABY.

I WAS INVOLVED
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

[ BABY FUSSING ]

IT WAS THE IDEAL SUBURBAN LIFE
THAT THEY HAD GOING ON.

[ BABY CRYING ]

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO MONICA, IN 2003,

RICHIE DECIDES TO LET HER HAVE
FULL CUSTODY OF DAKOTA,

COMPLETING HER FAMILY.

WITH ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED,

MONICA WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE
AND GETS A JOB AS A REALTOR.

AT FIRST, ROB IS OPEN
TO HIS WIFE'S NEW CAREER,

BUT HER JOB QUICKLY REVEALS

HIS INSECURITIES
ABOUT THEIR MARRIAGE.

I BELIEVE THAT ROB FELT

THAT HE LOST
A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROL OF HER

WHEN SHE WAS WORKING.

AND THERE SHE IS.

IF IT ISN'T
THE MOTHER OF THE YEAR.

Fox: THE MINUTE
SHE TRIED TO FIND HERSELF,

BE AN INDEPENDENT PERSON
ON HER OWN,

HE WOULD STOP IT AT EVERY TURN.

HE WOULD TELL HER,
"YOU'RE AN AWFUL WIFE."

HE WOULD TELL HER
SHE WAS AN AWFUL MOTHER.

Narrator: MONICA STANDS HER GROUND
AND REFUSES TO GIVE UP HER CAREER.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
YOU SOLD A HOUSE?

GO TO HELL.

Narrator:
THEN, A YEAR LATER,

ROB GETS A HUGE JOB PROMOTION
AND A MAJOR SALARY BUMP.

Monica: HE WAS MORE ADAMANT
ABOUT ME NOT WORKING.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS DISRESPECTFUL
TO HIM IF I CHOSE TO WORK.

Narrator: MONICA EVENTUALLY
GIVES IN TO ROB'S WISHES.

SHE QUITS HER JOB

AND TRIES TO EMBRACE HER ROLE
AS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

WITH LOTS OF MONEY COMING IN,

AND ALL OF IT FROM HIM,
ROB FEELS SECURE AGAIN.

THE COUPLE STARTS
LIVING THE HIGH LIFE.

SHE'S GORGEOUS.

ISN'T SHE?
I LOVE IT.

Chip:
THEY BOUGHT A YACHT.

THEY HAD JET SKIS.
THEY HAD EVERYTHING.

WE CAN PUT
THE GIRLS ON THERE.

Narrator: BUT MONICA SOON LEARNS
THAT HER LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE

COMES WITH
SOME MAJOR STRINGS ATTACHED.

I ALREADY
GAVE YOU MONEY.

DRINKING, BIG BOATS,
BIG HOUSES, BIG CARS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY
FOR YOU.

Monica: HE WAS VERY ELABORATE
IN HIS SPENDING ON HIMSELF.

THERE WAS NO BIG SHOPPING SPREES
FOR ME OR THE CHILDREN.

THAT'S WHAT
IT ALWAYS IS.

HE MADE IT CLEAR TO ME, THOUGH,
THAT I SHOULD BE THANKFUL

THAT I EVEN LIVE
THE LIFESTYLE THAT I LIVE,

AND IT ALL COULD BE
TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

MIGHTY ROB, HUH?
YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT IS!

THE CHECKS WERE NOT IN MY NAME.

I DID NOT EVEN
CARRY ANY CREDIT CARDS.

WHEN MONICA GIVES UP HER CAREER
TO BE A STAY-AT-HOME MOM,

SHE MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED

HOW MUCH CONTROL
ROB WOULD HAVE OVER HER,

BECAUSE HE CONTROLS
THE PURSE STRINGS.

SHE MAY USE HER SEX AS A WEAPON,

BUT ROB USED HIS PAYCHECK
AS A WEAPON.

Narrator: IN EARLY 2005,

MONICA'S BROTHER, CHIP,
MOVES TO ATLANTA.

HE'S DOWN ON HIS LUCK
AND NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY.

OOH, MONICA!
CHIP.

Narrator: MONICA INVITES HIM
TO LIVE WITH THEM.

ROB NOT ONLY AGREES BUT
HELPS HIM GET BACK ON HIS FEET.

YOU EVER NEED A HAND WITH MONEY
OR ANYTHING, YOU JUST LET ME KNOW.

Chip: THIS IS ALMOST A "DR.
JEKYLL, MR. HYDE" KIND OF THING,

BECAUSE THE WAY HE WAS
WITH EVERYBODY ELSE

AND THE WAY HE WAS WITH HER WAS
TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

YOU GUYS HAVE
A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

YES, WE DO.

Monica: I'M JUST ASKING
FOR A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY!

YOU WOULD THINK
I WAS ASKING FOR BLOOD!

Narrator:
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG

FOR CHIP TO REALIZE HIS
SISTER'S MARRIAGE IS UNRAVELING.

IT'S OUR MONEY!
WE'RE MARRIED! REMEMBER?

ROB WAS VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE...

YOU'RE
A MONEY-GRUBBING BITCH!

...JUST A TIME BOMB
WAITING TO HAPPEN.

WILL YOU GUYS
JUST CALM DOWN?

WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS?!

IT WAS A MARRIAGE
THAT WAS GOING TO HORRIBLY END.

SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

KISS MY ASS,
YOU UGLY FREAK.

HEY!
DON'T EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!

IF IT ISN'T
THE MOTHER OF THE YEAR.

Narrator: DAILY BATTLES OVER
MONEY, DRINKING, AND CONTROL

HAVE PUSHED MONICA
AND ROB KRAMER'S

SEVEN-YEAR MARRIAGE
TO THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.

YOU'RE
A MONEY-GRUBBING BITCH!

THIS VOLATILE COUPLE
IS A TICKING TIME BOMB,

EVEN THOUGH THEIR FIGHTS
HAVEN'T GOTTEN PHYSICAL... YET.

YOU'RE
DAMN RIGHT IT IS!

ONE SUNNY SATURDAY AFTERNOON
IN THE FALL OF 2005,

MONICA AND ROB HAVE SOME
NEIGHBORS OVER FOR A POOL PARTY.

YEAH, SURE. GO AHEAD.
HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

BUT BY NOW, THE TWO
CAN BARELY STAND EACH OTHER...

HOW MANY IS THAT FOR YOU,
ANYWAY, NOW? LIKE, 50?

...AND THINGS ARE ABOUT
TO COME TO A HEAD.

THEY HAD BEEN ARGUING ALL DAY -

ALL DAY LONG DURING THE DAY -
OVER DRINKING.

WHO MADE YOU
THE MARGARITA NAZI?

ROB WAS
MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT HER,

USING THE "C" WORD,
AND CALLING HER A BITCH.

JUST SHUT UP!

Narrator: MONICA IS FED UP
WITH ROB'S VENOM.

WHY DON'T YOU SHUT UP...

BITCH?
HEY!

WHEN MONICA'S BROTHER, CHIP,
COMES TO HIS SISTER'S DEFENSE,

HE GETS CAUGHT
IN THE CROSS FIRE.

WHAT ARE
YOU GONNA DO?

Chip: HE POINTED HIS FINGER
IN MY FACE

AND CALLED ME A NAME OR TWO
AND SHOVED ME.

Narrator: MONICA SNAPS.

I AM SICK
OF YOU, ROB!

YOU KEEP YOUR HANDS
OFF MY BROTHER!

[ GRUNTS ]

Chip:
IT WAS JUST LIKE LIGHTNING.

THAT WAS PROBABLY

ONE OF THE FASTEST PUNCHES
I'VE EVER SEEN THROWN.

YOU DIRTY, LITTLE BITCH!
BASTARD.

Chip: EVERYTHING CAME TO A HALT.
EVERYBODY JUST STOPPED.

Narrator: THE GUESTS
STEP IN TO HOLD ROB BACK.

YOU NEED TO BE ARRESTED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO BE.

Chip: MONICA IS NOT
A VIOLENT PERSON AT ALL.

LIKE ANYBODY ELSE,
SHE CAN BE PUSHED INTO A CORNER.

HERE, THE VERBAL ABUSE
HAD JUST GONE TO A NEW LEVEL.

Narrator: THAT SAME NIGHT,
MONICA MOVES OUT OF THEIR MASTER BEDROOM.

WHEN MONICA
PHYSICALLY ATTACKS ROB,

YOU WOULD THINK
THAT WAS THE CLUE

THAT THEIR MARRIAGE
IS TOO DYSFUNCTIONAL

AND THEY SHOULD
TALK ABOUT DIVORCE,

BUT SHE'S NOT READY
TO GIVE UP ON THE LIFESTYLE

TO WHICH SHE'S
BECOME ACCUSTOMED.

AND AT SOME LEVEL,

THAT DYSFUNCTION
IS SOMETHING SHE LIKES.

Narrator: SEVERAL WEEKS LATER,
ON VALENTINE'S DAY,

ROB COMES HOME TO A SPECIAL GIFT
WAITING FOR HIM -

DIVORCE PAPERS.

HEY, WHAT IS THIS?

YOU KNOW
AS WELL AS I DO

THAT THINGS HAVEN'T EXACTLY
BEEN SMOOTH SAILING LATELY.

Monica:
IT WAS A HUGE GAMBLE.

I HAD NO SUPPORT -
MONETARILY OR FAMILY -

BUT I FELT LIKE
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WHO PUT YOU UP TO THIS?
WAS IT YOUR BROTHER?

HOW DID ROB REACT TO YOUR TRYING
TO LEAVE AND DIVORCE HIM?

FURIOUS - I MEAN,
WOULD SCREAM AND YELL

AND THROW THINGS,
STEAL MY CELLPHONES,

GO THROUGH
ALL OF MY BELONGINGS.

I AM NOT SEEING
ANYBODY ELSE.

I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH -

WHAT'S HE LOOKING FOR?

HE ALWAYS ASSUMED
THAT THERE MUST BE SOMEONE ELSE

OR SOMETHING ELSE.

AS MUCH AS I TRIED
TO MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND,

IT'S -
NEITHER EXISTED.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT
TO BE WITH HIM.

I'M JUST NOT
IN LOVE WITH YOU!

WHAT'S HIS NAME?!

Narrator: ROB MOVES OUT.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER,
THEIR DIVORCE IS FINALIZED,

AND MONICA GETS CUSTODY OF ALEX.

Chips: AT FIRST, I WAS SURPRISED
THAT SHE LEFT HIM,

BECAUSE OF
HOW MUCH MONEY HE MADE,

UNTIL I FOUND OUT
HOW MUCH SHE WAS GOING TO GET -

$4,000 A MONTH IN CHILD SUPPORT.
ON TOP OF THAT - ALIMONY.

Narrator: MONICA'S FINALLY FREE,
BUT ROB CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT HER.

HE CONTINUED TO PURSUE HER

FROM THE MINUTE THE INK WAS DRY
ON THE DIVORCE PAPERS.

THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.
REALLY?

Narrator: A YEAR AFTER THE DIVORCE,
ROB'S JEALOUSY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

WHEN MONICA STARTS DATING
A WEALTHY NEUROSURGEON

NAMED ALLAN GORDON.

Monica: WE DATED
AND FELL IN LOVE,

AND IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE
IT MADE A WHOLE LOT MORE SENSE

THAN EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT I HAD BEEN THROUGH.

SO, MAYBE
THREE'S THE CHARM?

I WAS HOPING.

WE HAD SO MUCH MORE
IN COMMON.

HE RARELY DRANK.

Fox:
THE WAY HE TREATED HER -

THAT'S WHAT SHE LIKED
ABOUT DR. GORDON.

AND IT DIDN'T HURT
THAT HE HAD MONEY.

Narrator:
AFTER DATING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS,

MONICA MOVES IN TO ALLAN'S
MANSION WITH ALEX AND DAKOTA.

THIS HOUSE HAD
ITS OWN TENNIS COURT

[CHUCKLES] AND A POOL
AND JUST WAS A MONSTROUS HOUSE.

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

WHAT NOW, ROB?

Narrator:
ROB STILL CALLS ALMOST DAILY.

Fox: SHE COULD NOT END
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ROB

AS LONG AS HER DAUGHTER
WAS IN THE PICTURE.

THINGS ARE GOING GREAT.

AS LONG AS HE HAD
ACCESS TO ALEX,

HE HAD ACCESS TO MONICA.

Kramer: PUT HER ON THE PHONE
BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK TO HER.

NO, YOU CAN'T
TALK TO HER.

IT SOUNDS LIKE ROB IS TRYING
TO DESTROY YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

UNDERMINE ABSOLUTELY
EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

SHE'S MY DAUGHTER, OKAY?

Fox: HE COULDN'T STAND
ANYONE ELSE HAVING HER.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH LOVE.

ROB THOUGHT OF MONICA
AS HIS POSSESSION.

YOU CAN'T JUST
KEEP CALLING HERE.

Narrator: ROB'S OBSESSION
STARTS TO GRATE ON ALLAN.

HE FEARS MONICA MAY
SECRETLY LIKE THE ATTENTION.

BYE, ROB.

Monica:
ROB WAS VERY JEALOUS.

HE SEEMED RATHER
COMPETITIVE WITH HIM...

YOU WANT
TO COME SHOPPING?

...WHICH EVENTUALLY LED

DR. GORDON INTO
COMPETING BACK WITH ROB.

Dr. Jones: SO, THE TWO OF THEM
WERE ALMOST VYING

FOR YOUR LOVE AND ATTENTION
AND AFFECTION?

ON A DAILY BASIS.

Dr. Jones: MONICA MAY ACT LIKE
SHE HATES THE COMPETITION

BETWEEN HER NEW BOYFRIEND
AND HER EX, BUT, REALLY,

PERHAPS IT'S HER FANTASY TO HAVE
TWO MEN FIGHTING OVER HER

BECAUSE SHE CRAVES ATTENTION,
DRAMA, AND EXCITEMENT.

Narrator:
AFTER TWO YEARS TOGETHER,

MONICA AND ALLAN PLAN
A FAMILY TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO.

SO EXCITED!

THEY'RE GOING
FOR A FRIEND'S WEDDING

AND TO BUY
AN ENGAGEMENT RING FOR MONICA.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO PICKING OUT THAT RING.

ALLAN PLANS TO JOIN MONICA AND
THE GIRLS THERE IN A FEW DAYS.

THE TRIP WILL BE
A WELCOME REPRIEVE

FROM ROB'S CONSTANT BADGERING...

OR SO MONICA THINKS.

COMING UP, WHEN ROB'S STALKING
REACHES NEW HEIGHTS...

THIS IS WHAT I GET?!

...IT SENDS MONICA
SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

Narrator: WHEN MONICA FAIRVIEW
AND HER BOYFRIEND ALLAN GORDON

PLAN A ROMANTIC GETAWAY
TO SAN FRANCISCO IN JULY 2009,

SHE THINKS IT'LL
BE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME.

BUT HER JEALOUS EX-HUSBAND ROB
HAS A SURPRISE IN STORE FOR HER.

WHO PUT YOU UP TO THIS?
WAS IT YOUR BROTHER?

DADDY?

Monica:
WE'RE EXITING THE PLANE.

THERE WAS DAD
WITH A LIMO FOR THE GIRLS

TO GIVE US A RIDE
BACK TO THE HOTEL.

HEY, GIRLS!
THERE'S MY GIRLS.

AND IT JUST PUT ME
IN A VERY AWKWARD SITUATION.

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL?

WHAT AM I TRYING TO PULL?

I'M TRYING TO SPEND SOME TIME
WITH ALEX AND DAKOTA.

IF ALAN FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS,
HE'S GONNA HIT THE ROOF!

THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

SO, I ALLOWED THEM
TO RIDE WITH HIM IN THE LIMO

BACK TO THE HOTEL.

FINE. FINE.

BUT AFTER YOU DROP US OFF
AT THE HOTEL,

I WANT YOU ON THE FIRST FLIGHT
BACK TO ATLANTA.

Narrator:
MONICA IS LIVID.

SHE'S SICK AND TIRED
OF ROB TRYING TO WORM HIS WAY

BACK INTO HER LIFE.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

WHEN ALLAN ARRIVES
TWO DAYS LATER,

MONICA KEEPS
ROB'S VISIT A SECRET,

AS THE COUPLE CELEBRATE
THEIR ENGAGEMENT.

OKAY.
[ CORK POPS ]

WHOO!
[ CHUCKLES ]

BUT ONCE
THEY GET BACK TO ATLANTA,

MONICA FEELS LIKE
SHE NEEDS TO COME CLEAN

TO THE MAN SHE'S GOING TO MARRY.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

IT'S ROB.

WHEN THE GIRLS AND I ARRIVED
IN SAN FRANCISCO,

HE PICKED US UP
FROM THE AIRPORT IN A LIMO.

ALLAN REACTS BADLY
TO MONICA'S CONFESSION.

I AM SICK AND...
TIRED OF THIS!

I WAS JUST EXHAUSTED FROM
FIGHTING WITH THE BOTH OF THEM.

Narrator: IT'S A HURDLE
THE COUPLE CAN'T GET PAST.

AND I DECIDED THAT MAYBE THINGS
WOULD BE BETTER ON MY OWN.

YOU WANT TO
GO BACK TO HIM.

AND I TOOK MY TWO GIRLS
AND MYSELF, AND WE MOVED,

THINKING THAT MAYBE THAT WOULD
EASE ROB'S JEALOUS TENDENCIES.

I CAN'T GO ON LIKE
THIS ANYMORE, EITHER.

Narrator: NEWLY SINGLE,
MONICA DIVES HEADFIRST

INTO ATLANTA'S SOCIALITE SCENE.

IT'S KIND OF A SHOW-OFF SCENE.

YOU KNOW...

PEOPLE BEING SNOTTY,
YOU KNOW, THE "WHO'S WHO."

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: MONICA'S FORMER FRIENDS
CLAIM THAT SHE BEGINS TO PARTY HARD...

YEAH!

...HIGH ON A COMBINATION
OF ALCOHOL AND ADDERALL.

SHE LOVED THE PARTY SCENE.

SHE LOVED THE ATTENTION.

Man: TO FRIENDS.

AND SHE LOVED THE MONEY.

THERE'S A LOT OF DRAMA.

THIS ISN'T JUST A REBOUND
FROM A FAILED RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S REALLY
A CLASSIC MIDLIFE CRISIS.

SHE'S DRINKING AND PARTYING,
CAROUSING AROUND,

TRYING TO RECLAIM THE LOST YOUTH
THAT SHE NEVER ENJOYED.

I'M OKAY.

THIS MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME

IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY
GET MONICA INTO TROUBLE.

Narrator: BUT JUST AS
MONICA'S ON A ROLL...

ROB LOSES EVERYTHING.

THE COMPANY HE WAS WORKING FOR

BECAME INVOLVED
IN A MAJOR LAWSUIT.

HE THEN LOST HIS JOB.

Narrator:
ROB HITS ROCK BOTTOM.

WHEN THE MONEY RAN OUT, I THINK
THINGS KIND OF WENT TO ****

YOU OKAY, BUDDY?

YEAH, I'M FINE.
JUST GET BACK TO WORK.

Narrator: WITHOUT ROB'S
SIZEABLE INCOME TO BANKROLL HER,

MONICA QUICKLY
RUNS INTO FINANCIAL TROUBLE.

MONICA HAS SOME
LAVISH SPENDING HABITS.

IT ALWAYS SEEMED THAT MONICA
NEEDED MONEY FOR SOMETHING.

Narrator:
AS THE BILLS PILE UP...

I'M GONNA MAKE A BET.
YEAH?

IF YOU DON'T MAKE
A HOLE IN ONE, I GET $1,000.

...MONICA SETS HER SIGHTS
ON RICH, ELIGIBLE MEN.

MONICA WOULD,
A LOT OF TIMES, ATTACH HERSELF

TO OLDER MEN, WEALTHY MEN.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

Robbins:
MONICA DATED HIGH PROFILE.

IF THEY COULDN'T GIVE
ANYTHING TO MONICA,

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THEM.

AND I HAVEN'T HAD MONEY...

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO MONICA'S FRIENDS,

SHE HAS DIFFERENT MEN
FOOTING ALL HER BILLS.

SHE WAS DATING FIVE GUYS
AT THE SAME TIME,

BUT SHE WASN'T
REALLY DATING THEM.

SHE WAS JUST
STRINGING THEM ALONG.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE.
OH, MY PLEASURE.

SHE WAS JUST PLAYING THEM.

Narrator: BY MARCH 2011,

MONICA'S LONG LINE
OF SUGAR DADDIES HAS RUN OUT.

LUCKILY, ROB'S MANAGED
TO LAND A NEW SALES JOB.

MONICA SAW ROB
AS A WALKING ATM MACHINE.

Narrator: ROB WON'T GIVE MONICA CASH
BUT LETS HER AND ALEX STAY WITH HIM.

DAKOTA GOES TO LIVE
WITH HER GRANDMOTHER IN INDIANA.

ONE DAY, MONICA'S FRIEND NADIA
GETS A FRONT-ROW SEAT

TO THE NASTY DYNAMICS
BETWEEN THE EX-LOVERS.

GIVE ME THE PHONE
SO I CAN KNOW WHO IT IS.

GET YOUR HANDS
OFF OF ME.

IT GOT TO THE POINT TO WHERE
HE WAS HOLDING HER ARMS.

MONICA AND ROB ARE IN A CLASSIC
CODEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP.

SHE'S ATTRACTED TO
THE DRAMA OF TRYING TO FIX HIM.

HE KNOWS
HOW TO PUSH HER BUTTONS.

THE PATTERN WILL CONTINUE
OVER AND OVER AGAIN

UNTIL ONE OF THEM
IS BOUND TO EXPLODE.

Narrator: MONICA CLAIMS
ROB TRIES TO WIN HER AFFECTION

BY SURPRISING HER WITH
TWO TICKETS TO A ROCK CONCERT.

WELL, I GOT THESE.
[ GASPS ]

ROB EXPECTS MONICA
TO TAKE HIM TO THE SHOW.

THIS AWESOME.
ALEX IS GONNA LOVE THIS!

ALEX, YOUR DADDY GOT US
TICKETS TO A CONCERT.

COOL!

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS,

ONCE AGAIN, A TEST IF
I WOULD ASK HIM TO GO WITH ME.

THANKS!

Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2011,
THE DAY OF THE CONCERT...

YOU TWO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
THANKS.

...AFTER ROB LEAVES,

MONICA TELLS ALEX
THAT SHE'S CHANGED HER MIND.

MONICA DECIDED NOT TO TAKE HER

BECAUSE IT WAS
GOING TO BE A BIG SCENE.

YOU HAVE THE WHOLE PLACE
TO YOURSELF.

MONICA DIDN'T WANT ALEX
TO BE AROUND THE PARTY GROUP.

Narrator: ROB'S OUT
AT A BAR WATCHING FOOTBALL.

MONICA LEAVES ALEX HOME ALONE

AND TAKES A FRIEND
TO THE CONCERT.

SWEETIE.
WHERE'S MOM?

Narrator: ROB COMES HOME LATE.

HE'S BEEN DRINKING
AND DOESN'T LIKE WHAT HE FINDS.

SHE WANTED ME
TO STAY HOME ALONE.

SHE WENT TO THE CONCERT
WITH HER FRIEND?

YEAH.
SHE LEFT YOU HERE.

HE WAS VERY JEALOUS AND ENRAGED.

MY DAUGHTER STARTED TEXTING ME.

...THAT LEAVES
HER DAUGHTER AT HOME?

"OH, MY GOSH, DAD'S HOME.

"HE'S MAD.
HE'S CALLING YOU NAMES.

HE'S BREAKING THINGS.
I'M SCARED."

THIS IS WHAT I GET?!

"PLEASE HURRY. COME HOME."

IT WAS JUST ONE TEXT
RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER,

AFTER ANOTHER, AFTER ANOTHER...

[ CELLPHONE CHIMES ]

...SO I WENT STRAIGHT HOME.

Narrator: MONICA ALSO
GETS A TEXT FROM ROB,

SAYING THAT HE'S
KICKING HER OUT OF THE HOUSE.

AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE
OF DRAMA AND AGONY,

MONICA CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

[ CELLPHONE CHIMES ]

WITH ALCOHOL AND ADDERALL
IN HER SYSTEM,

MONICA HEADS BACK
TO ROB'S CONDO.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

HOW DO YOU PLAN
ON HANDLING THIS?

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
BEFORE YOU WALK INTO IT.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA DIAL HIM DOWN?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAD
PLANNED TO DIAL HIM DOWN.

[ Voice breaking ] I PLANNED
TO LET HIM END IT THAT NIGHT

BECAUSE THE DAY-TO-DAY
LIFE STRUGGLE WAS SO HARD

THAT I JUST IMAGINED
MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE EASIER...

AND BETTER WITHOUT ME.

MONICA CLAIMS HER INTENTION IS
TO MAKE ROB SO MAD HE KILLS HER.

I HAD IMAGINED, BY CONFRONTING
HIM AND SPEAKING UP TO HIM,

THAT HE WOULD
JUST BEAT ME TO DEATH.

JUST SHUT UP!

YOU'RE SAYING THAT
YOU WERE GOING TO PROVOKE HIM

UNTIL HE SNAPPED?
YES.

WHO THE HELL...

WHEN MONICA ARRIVES HOME,
SHE SEES ROB

IN THE SHARED COURTYARD
OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.

YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT LEFT ALEX HOME ALONE.

THIS IS HER VERSION
OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

OH, LIKE YOU'RE ANY BETTER
TO BE AROUND HER,

YOU DRUNKEN
SON OF A BITCH?!

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE?

Monica: [ Voice breaking ]
I CALLED HIM NAMES.

HE IMMEDIATELY OVERPOWERED ME

AND THEN SPUN ME AROUND
AND HAD ME IN A HEADLOCK.

BUT I WAS DETERMINED JUST TO

CONTINUE SAYING ALL THE THINGS
THAT I WASN'T ALLOWED TO SAY.

AND YOU MAKE ME
WANT TO PUKE.

LET ME GO!
LET ME GO! LET ME GO!

[ GRUNTING ]

Narrator: ACCORDING TO MONICA,

THIS LEVEL OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
IS NEW.

[ GRUNTS ]

I WAS SCARED THAT...

I WAS REALLY GONNA PAY NOW,
SO I RAN BACK INSIDE.

ALEX?

OH, MY GOD. I THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA KILL YOU.

Narrator: SHE CLAIMS
THAT INSIDE THE APARTMENT,

ALEX IS FREAKED OUT.

AND IT JUST REMINDED ME
THAT I DIDN'T GET AWAY.

I DID EXACTLY
WHAT HE WANTED ME TO -

I RAN RIGHT BACK INTO THE CAVE
WHERE HE WAS GONNA KEEP US.

YOU HAVE THIS EPIPHANY
THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY?

YES, AND IT DAWNED ON ME
THAT HE DID HAVE A KNIFE.

MONICA REALIZES
THERE'S ANOTHER WAY OUT -

ROB'S KNIFE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

SO, I WENT BACK OUT...

STAY HERE.

FOR MORE
ON HOW MONICA IS DOING NOW,

YOU'RE
A MONEY-GRUBBING BITCH!

Narrator: SEPTEMBER 25, 2011.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

IT'S OUR MONEY!
WE'RE MARRIED!

AFTER BEING ON THE LOSING END
OF A POWER STRUGGLE

WITH HER EX-HUSBAND
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE,

MONICA FAIRVIEW HAS REACHED
HER BREAKING POINT.

SHE CLAIMS
SHE'S READY TO KILL HERSELF.

ARE YOU SERIOUS WHEN YOU SAY
YOU WERE GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE

IN FRONT OF HIM?

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

STAY HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

SO I WENT BACK OUTSIDE
TO DO JUST THAT.

[ PANTING ]

[ Voice breaking ]
I WANTED HIM TO SEE IT.

I AM SO SICK OF YOU, ROB!

STOP IT!

THAT WAS THE EXTENT
THAT I WOULD GO TO...

TO MAKE
THE FIGHTING STOP.

[ GRUNTS ]

BUT WE STRUGGLED
FOR THE KNIFE,

AND I FELT FLESH CONTACT.

AAH!

[ GROANS ]

YOU STABBED HIM?

YES.

MONICA'S STORY THAT SHE WAS
GOING OUTSIDE TO CONFRONT ROB

TO PUSH HIS BUTTONS AND
PROVOKE HIM INTO KILLING HER

IN FRONT OF HER DAUGHTER
IS COMPLETELY FARFETCHED.

IT WOULD TRAUMATIZE
ANY CHILD FOR LIFE.

Narrator: WITNESSES AT THE SCENE
TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

KATHERINE YOUNG
IS AT A FRIEND'S APARTMENT,

SITTING ON THE BALCONY
ACROSS FROM ROB'S PLACE

WHEN MONICA COMES STORMING OUT.

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA LEARN
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU?!

IT'S ABOUT HER!

SHE WALKED STRAIGHT UP TO HIM
AND STARTED HITTING HIM.

SHE THREW HER PURSE AT HIM

AND THEN STARTED SCREAMING
AT HIM.

STUPID SON OF A BITCH!

[ GRUNTS ]

I HAVE NEVER HATED ANYONE
AS MUCH AS I HATE YOU!

Kramer:
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Narrator: ACCORDING TO KATHERINE,
MONICA'S THE AGGRESSOR,

AND ROB DOESN'T FIGHT BACK.

ACTUALLY, HE WENT DOWN ON
HIS KNEES, COVERING HIS FACE,

'CAUSE SHE KEPT HITTING HIM
IN THE FACE.

SHE WAS HITTING HIM,
KICKING HIM.

HE NEVER LAID HIS HANDS ON HER.

Narrator:
KATHERINE CALLS 911.

SHE AND HER FRIEND
ARE COMPLETELY STUNNED

BY WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

LEAVE US ALONE!

SHE WENT INSIDE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU STAY RIGHT THERE.

AND SHE CAME BACK OUT.

STOP, MOM! STOP!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

AND ALL SHE DID WAS WALK UP,
STAB HIM IN THE BACK.

I WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!

[ GRUNTS ]

AAH!

I WOULD SAY
SHE'S A CRAZY PERSON.

STOP IT!

THE DAUGHTER SAW
THE WHOLE THING.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator:
MONICA IS ARRESTED ON THE SPOT.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

ROB IS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

HE COULD BARELY TALK.
HE HAD BLOOD POURING OUT OF HIM.

Narrator:
DOCTORS DISCOVER THAT THE KNIFE

NEARLY SLICED ROB'S SPINAL CORD

AND MISSED HIS AORTA
BY 1/8 OF AN INCH.

ROB'S RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL
FOUR DAYS LATER.

BY THE TIME HE GETS OUT,
MONICA IS FREE ON BAIL.

INCREDIBLY,
INSTEAD OF BEING ANGRY WITH HER,

ROB TRIES, YET AGAIN,
TO RECONCILE WITH HER.

I FEEL LIKE IF YOU WERE STABBED,
YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT, YOU KNOW?

YOU WOULDN'T HANG OUT
WITH SOMEONE WHO STABBED YOU.

IF THAT WAS THE CASE, HE HAS
TO BE GUILTY OF SOMETHING.

HE KNEW, DEEP DOWN IN HIS MIND

THAT HE HAD HURT HER
IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO CAUSE THIS,

AND HE WANTED TO HELP HER.

REMEMBER THAT PLACE?

Narrator:
CHIP IS SHOCKED

TO SEE ROB AND MONICA TOGETHER
AFTER THE STABBING.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

BUT MONICA HOPES
THAT IF SHE HANGS OUT WITH HIM,

ROB WON'T TESTIFY AGAINST HER.

EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I LOVE HER.

Chip: I SAID, "WHY ARE YOU TWO
EVEN AROUND EACH OTHER?"

AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,

"BECAUSE I WANT HER
BACK IN MY LIFE,

AND I'M GONNA DO
EVERYTHING I CAN

TO KEEP HER FROM GOING TO JAIL."

YOU GUYS ARE CRAZY.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT IS THIS?

Narrator: BUT THIS STORY
DOESN'T HAVE A HAPPY ENDING.

THE COUPLE SOON SPLITS UP AGAIN.

18 MONTHS AFTER THE STABBING,
ON MARCH 22, 2013,

ROB TESTIFIES AGAINST MONICA.

SHE'S FOUND GUILTY
OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

MONICA IS SENTENCED
TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON.

Dr. Jones: THE REALLY
SAD THING ABOUT MONICA

IS THAT SHE REALLY
HAS BECOME AN EMOTIONAL VOID.

SHE HAS COVERED UP
HER FEELINGS FOR SO LONG,

SHE ONLY KNOWS HOW TO SAY
THE WORDS, "I'M SORRY."

BUT SHE'S COMPLETELY
INCAPABLE OF FEELING IT.

Narrator: MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE ROB
WILL STILL BE WAITING FOR MONICA

WHEN SHE GETS OUT.

IF SHE GOT OUT OF JAIL RIGHT NOW
AND ASKED HIM TO BE WITH HER,

HE WOULD -
THE MOMENT SHE'S OUT OF JAIL.

Narrator: MONICA IS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON HER APPEAL.

SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE
NO HARD FEELINGS

BUT INSISTS
SHE AND ROB ARE THROUGH.

NEVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!

Monica: I DON'T WISH
ANY HARM ON HIM NOW.

[ Voice breaking ] THAT'S STILL
THE FATHER OF MY DAUGHTER.