Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - When a Biker Comes to Bible Study - full transcript

Narrator: A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN
ON THE HUNT FOR A HUSBAND...

SHE WAS LOOKING TO FILL
THAT VOID OF NOT BEING ALONE.

Narrator: ...FALLS PREY TO A
STRING OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS.

I THINK I'D BE BETTER OFF
ON MY OWN.

AND WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT...

ARE YOU ASKING ME
ON A DATE?

HE DID SERVE A SUBSTANTIAL
PERIOD OF TIME IN PRISON.

Narrator: ...IT'S A FORMULA
FOR DISASTER...

MY FAITH IN GOD TOLD ME
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

AND THAT PEOPLE CHANGE.

Narrator:
...UNLEASHING DEMONS...



DIVORCE PAPERS!

...THAT NO ONE
COULD SEE COMING.

TAKE THAT BACK?

Salce: I SHOULD HAVE QUIT
OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP

AND RAN IN
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

[ YELLS ]

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

ALBANY, NEW YORK - IT'S 1979.

19-YEAR-OLD LYDIA SALCE HAS JUST
GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

THE STRAIGHT- "A" STUDENT IS
TRYING TO SAVE MONEY FOR COLLEGE

BY WORKING AS A WAITRESS
AT A LOCAL DINER.



MY OLDEST SISTER
WAS STILL IN COLLEGE,

SO, FOR MY DAD,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
VERY DIFFICULT FINANCIALLY

TO HELP ME OUT.

AND I COULDN'T AFFORD IT YET,
SO I WENT AND WORKED.

YEAH, CAN I HELP YOU?

DO YOU MIND IF I GET
SOME BLACK COFFEE, PLEASE?

OKAY. A BLACK COFFEE?

YEAH.
OKAY.

Narrator: ONE DAY,
SHE NOTICES A HANDSOME MAN

SITTING IN HER SECTION,

AND IS INSTANTLY SMITTEN.

Salce: AND I SEE THIS GUY,
AND I WAS LIKE "WHOA."

IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
FOR ME, DEFINITELY.

I TOOK HIM A CUP OF COFFEE
THAT ALMOST LANDED ON HIM.

I WAS SO NERVOUS.

THE SAUCER WAS SHAKING,
LITERALLY,

AND THE WHOLE CUP
WAS CHATTERING.

WHAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME WAS
HE CAUGHT THE CUP...

I'M SO SORRY.

...NOT A DROP ON HIM.

SO I WAS SORT OF SMITTEN.

Narrator:
THE SHY, INSECURE TEENAGER

COMES FROM A STRICT, RELIGIOUS
GERMAN FAMILY,

AND SHE HAS NO EXPERIENCE
WITH MEN.

Salce: MY PARENTS WERE SOMEWHAT
MORE AUTHORITARIAN.

SO I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DATE
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Narrator: LYDIA WAS AN EXCELLENT
STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL

WITH DREAMS OF BECOMING
A TEACHER.

YOU'D PROBABLY CALL LYDIA
A NERD,

'CAUSE SHE WAS VERY SMART.

SHE GOT PICKED ON A LOT,

JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS SO TIMID.

SHE NEVER REALLY STOOD UP
FOR HERSELF.

SO SHE WAS JUST A TARGET.

Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

LYDIA NEVER HAD A DATE WITH
ANY GUY BEFORE SHE GRADUATED.

THIS WOULD LEAVE HER VULNERABLE

AND SIMPLY HAVING NO BLUEPRINT

FOR WHAT IS
A NORMAL, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator: AT THE DINER,

JOHN IS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN
TO THE QUIRKY WAITRESS,

AND MAKES A MOVE.

DO YOU WORK HERE OFTEN?

MOSTLY ON THE WEEKENDS.

DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE FREE
SATURDAY NIGHT?

HE WAS VERY GOOD-LOOKING,
VERY CHARMING OUTSIDE.

I'M JOHN BY THE WAY.
SO, YOU KEEP THE TIP.

THANKS.

Narrator:
AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS,

A SERIOUS ROMANCE BLOOMS.

JOHN IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF MAN
LYDIA HAS ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT.

HE'S ALSO GERMAN,
AND BETTER YET,

OWNS A SUCCESSFUL
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

FOR THE TIMID YOUNG WOMAN,

IT ALL SEEMS
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

AND AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR
OF DATING...

SO, WHY NOT
JUST GET MARRIED?

LOVE-STRUCK LYDIA
TOSSES HER COLLEGE PLANS ASIDE

TO SETTLE DOWN
WITH HER DREAM MAN.

Salce:
I GOT MARRIED AT 19,

AND I WENT FROM LIVING
WITH MY PARENTS -

LIVING AT HOME -

TO LIVING WITH MY HUSBAND.

THERE WAS NO TRANSITION TIME.

YES, YES, YES!
ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF THOSE DREAMS
JUST WENT RIGHT OFF THE CLIFF.

MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE DIRECTION
OF MY LIFE SEVERELY.

WE HAVE TO GO CALL MY MOM.
OKAY.

Narrator:
AT FIRST, LIFE WITH JOHN

IS EVERYTHING THE YOUNG WIFE
COULD WISH FOR.

SHE SPENDS HER DAYS
KEEPING HOUSE,

GOING TO BIBLE STUDY,

AND DOING PAPERWORK
FOR JOHN'S BUSINESS.

AND SHE'S DRIVEN BY
AN ALL-CONSUMING DESIRE

TO MAKE HER HUSBAND HAPPY.

HOW'S IT GOING?
OH, HEY, HON. GOOD.

I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.
WHAT'S THAT?

YOU LOSE EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU LOSE SIGHT OF OTHER THINGS.

YOU DON'T LOOK FOR THE FLAWS.
YOU DON'T LOOK FOR THE REALITY.

YOU JUST LOOK FOR MR. PERFECT.

"OH, THERE HE IS."

FRESH APPLE PIE.

SMELLS NICE.

Narrator: BUT SHE SOON LEARNS THAT
NOTHING SHE DOES IS GOOD ENOUGH.

SOMETHING WRONG, HONEY?

LYDIA, WHAT IS THIS?

WHERE'S THE CHEESE?
WHERE'S THE CROUTONS?

YOU DO REALIZE THAT
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TEAR LETTUCE.

YOU'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO CUT IT.

I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING.

GO MAKE ME SOMETHING ELSE.

I START QUESTIONING MYSELF
WITH HIM,

BECAUSE HE ALWAYS HAD THE
DEFINITIVE WORD -

THE "MR. RIGHT SYNDROME"
KIND OF THING -

WHERE THE WAY HE DID IT
WAS PROPER.

THE WAY I DID IT -
THAT WASN'T RIGHT.

LYDIA?

JUST A MINUTE, HONEY.
COMING.

Narrator: THE MORE ENERGY
LYDIA PUTS INTO THE MARRIAGE,

THE LESS JOHN GIVES BACK.

DID HE EVER JUST HUG YOU
AND SAY, "I LOVE YOU"?

MY HUSBAND NEVER SAID
"I LOVE YOU" EVER.

HE JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

HE WASN'T CAPABLE OF IT,
I DON'T THINK.

HE BECAME
MORE AND MORE DISTANT,

AND THERE SHOULD BE
MORE INTIMACY,

THERE SHOULD BE
MORE PASSION,

AND THAT JUST DID NOT EXIST.

DID YOU WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN?
YES.

AND WERE YOU TRYING?
YES.

BUT ACCORDING TO LYDIA,
JOHN'S NOT TRYING VERY HARD,

AND HER HOPES OF A PERFECT
MARRIAGE AND BEING A MOTHER

FADE AWAY.

SHE FALLS INTO
A DEEP DEPRESSION.

Dr. Jordan: LYDIA WAS RAISED
IN A VERY TRADITIONAL FAMILY,

AND VERY RELIGIOUS,
WHERE MARRIAGE IS FOREVER

AND DIVORCE IS
OUT OF THE QUESTION.

SO EVEN WITHOUT CHILDREN,
REALLY FEELING UNLOVED,

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO LYDIA THAT
SHE COULD LEAVE THE MARRIAGE.

Narrator: AFTER 11 YEARS
WITH JOHN, LYDIA, NOW 30,

REALIZES SHE'S COMPLETELY LOST
HER SENSE OF IDENTITY.

Salce: IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME
TO REALIZE I HAD DISAPPEARED.

YOU BECOME SO ENTWINED
WITH SOMEONE

AND SO WRAPPED UP WITH SOMEONE
YOU LOSE YOURSELF.

Narrator: FIGHTING BACK
AGAINST HER HOPELESSNESS,

LYDIA VOWS TO FOCUS ON HERSELF.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
ME TAKING SOME CLASSES.

WHATEVER SUITS YOU, DEAR.

YOU STILL WANTED TO BE A TEACHER
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

NEVER GREW UP -

STILL WANTED TO BE A TEACHER
AND PLAY WITH CRAYONS.

YOU'RE NOT TO MISS ME TOO MUCH
WHEN I'M AT CLASS.

OF COURSE
I'LL MISS YOU, LYDIA.

Narrator: IN 1990, SHE ENROLLS
IN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM.

NOW I HAD SOMETHING
TO FOCUS ON.

I HAD A TITLE.
I HAD A LABEL.

I COULD HAVE
A PERSONALITY AGAIN.

I COULD BE A SOMEBODY.

Dr. Jordan: LYDIA TRANSFORMS
HERSELF INTO THE COLLEGE STUDENT.

NOW, BEING SUCCESSFUL
IN HER STUDIES

IS HER ENTIRE REASON FOR BEING.

SHE APPLIES HERSELF COMPLETELY

AND FAILURE IS NOT
GOING TO BE AN OPTION.

Narrator: LYDIA POURS ALL
HER ENERGY INTO HER SCHOOL WORK,

AND TWO YEARS LATER, TRANSFERS
TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE NEARBY.

SHE CONTINUES TO EXCEL.

THE TEACHING DEGREE SHE'S WANTED
SINCE HIGH SCHOOL

IS ALMOST IN HER HANDS.

THEN, JUST THREE WEEKS
BEFORE GRADUATION,

HER WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN.

I'M LYDIA SALCE. I'M HERE
TO PICK UP MY CAP AND GOWN.

OH, CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU.

GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.

LYDIA IS TOLD SHE'S NOT ON
THE LIST OF GRADUATING STUDENTS.

ACTUALLY, IT SAYS HERE

THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO SEE
THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR.

THE STRAIGHT- "A" STUDENT
IS STUNNED.

OKAY.
SORRY.

THE CHAIR
OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

IS ALSO A PROFESSOR LYDIA'S
TAKEN CLASSES FROM IN THE PAST.

HI. IT'S LYDIA.

HI, LYDIA.
PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.

I WAS TOLD I SHOULD COME
AND TALK WITH YOU.

APPARENTLY, MY NAME'S NOT
ON THE LIST TO GRADUATE.

THE PROFESSOR GIVES HER
SOME DEVASTATING NEWS.

Salce: HE WAS DEMANDING
THAT I TAKE ADDITIONAL CLASSES

THAT I HAD ALREADY TAKEN,
GOTTEN AN "A" IN,

AT A PREVIOUS COLLEGE.

MY TRANSCRIPTS WERE RECEIVED.

I WORKED REALLY HARD.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Narrator: THE SHY STUDENT
COMES OUT HER SHELL

AND PUTS HER FOOT DOWN.

THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
I UNDERSTAND.

Salce: HE WAS SAYING,
"YOU CAN'T GRADUATE.

YOU'RE GONNA NEED
TO TAKE THIS CLASS."

AND AT THAT POINT,
I WAS JUST IN TEARS.

I SAID, YOU KNOW -
I STARTED SWEARING.

I SAID, "WHAT THE 'F'
DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"

AND HE SAID, "WELL, NOW WE'RE
GETTING CLOSER TO THE POINT."

LYDIA, COME ON.

LOOK, I'M A MARRIED WOMAN.

I DON'T CARE.

Narrator:
THEN, ACCORDING TO LYDIA,

HE SUDDENLY
FORCES HIMSELF ON HER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

Salce: HE'S GOT ME
BACKED UP AGAINST THE DOOR,

AND I'M THRASHING AGAINST
THE METAL AND THE WOOD.

LET ME GO!
MY CLOTHES WERE TORN.

IT WAS A MESS.
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE MESS.

Narrator: AFTER BEING TRAPPED
IN A LOVELESS MARRIAGE

FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS,

LYDIA SALCE FINDS A LIFELINE

IN THE FORM
OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION

UNTIL, JUST DAYS
BEFORE HER GRADUATION,

SHE SAYS HER PROFESSOR
SEXUALLY ASSAULTS HER.

LYDIA CLAIMS SHE'S IN SHOCK

AND STRUGGLES TO BREAK FREE
FROM HER PROFESSOR'S IRON GRIP.

Salce: AFTER I GOT OUT OF
HIS OFFICE AND RAN DOWNSTAIRS,

HE PICKED UP THE PHONE
AND SAID I HAD ATTACKED HIM.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES,

THE SEXUAL ASSAULT
NEVER HAPPENED.

WE CAN'T HAVE YOU GRADUATE.

WHAT?
NO, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

INSTEAD, THEY SAY
WHEN LYDIA'S THREATENED

WITH LOSING THE ONE THING
THAT GIVES HER LIFE MEANING,

SHE SUDDENLY SNAPS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE THAT GRADE.

I DESERVE TO GRADUATE.

LYDIA PULLED OUT A KNIFE,

AND SHE HELD IT
AT THE PROFESSOR,

AND SHE INDICATED
SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF

"YOU'RE GOING TO DO
WHAT I SAY OR ELSE."

LYDIA, I'LL FIX IT.
BECAUSE I DESERVE IT.

AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

THE PROFESSOR WAS ABLE
TO SOUND A SILENT ALARM

REQUESTING SECURITY COME
TO HIS OFFICE.

Narrator: THE SECURITY GUARD
WRESTLES THE KNIFE FROM LYDIA

AND ARRESTS HER.

Salce:
HE SAID I HAD A KNIFE.

Dr. Jordan: DID YOU?

I HAD A PAPER OPENER.

LIKE A LETTER OPENER?
YEAH.

DID YOU TRY TO ATTACK HIM
WITH IT?

NO.
NO. BUT YOU HAD IT ON YOU?

YEAH, I HAD IT
IN MY BOOK BAG.

Narrator: LYDIA IS ULTIMATELY
CONVICTED OF TWO COUNTS OF MENACING

AND SENTENCED
TO TWO MONTHS BEHIND BARS.

LYDIA HAS BEEN A GOOD
LITTLE GIRL HER ENTIRE LIFE -

A FAITHFUL WIFE,
A RULES FOLLOWER.

THE INCIDENT
IN THE DEAN'S OFFICE

INTRODUCES A SIDE OF LYDIA
THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN.

IT REALLY IS A SIGN THAT
SHE'S NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE,

BUT IT ALSO RAISES THE QUESTION,

"JUST HOW MUCH
IS LYDIA CAPABLE OF?"

Narrator: ONCE SHE'S RELEASED,
SHE GOES HOME

TO FIND HER MARRIAGE
ON VERY SHAKY GROUND.

YOU KNOW, THE THING IS
I'M JUST -

I'M CONFUSED, LYDIA.
NO, JOHN I -

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I TOLD YOU
NOT TO WEAR THE SKIRT TO SCHOOL.

JOHN BELIEVES LYDIA'S
VERSION OF THE STORY,

BUT THINKS SHE BROUGHT
THE INCIDENT ON HERSELF.

JOHN!
JOHN, HE ATTACKED ME.

PLEASE,
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME.

THE WHOLE MARRIAGE
JUST COMPLETELY MELTED DOWN.

I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA...

Narrator:
JOHN NO LONGER TRUSTS LYDIA,

AND GIVES HER A CELLPHONE
SO HE CAN KEEP TABS ON HER.

TAKE THE PHONE, LYDIA.
TAKE THE PHONE.

Narrator: TO ESCAPE
THE STRESS AT HOME,

LYDIA STARTS JOB HUNTING,

AND QUICKLY FINDS WORK
DOING SOFTWARE TRAINING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AT THE AGE OF 37,

IT'S THE FIRST TIME
SHE'S BEEN EMPLOYED

SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER.

GET YOU OUT, AND AGAIN.
YOU HAVE ALL MY CONTACT NUMBER,

AND YOU COULD ALWAYS
USE THE BOOK...

HER FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB,

LYDIA CATCHES THE EYE
OF A SALESMAN NAMED MATT.

Taylor:
SHE LOOKED LIKE A TEACHER -

HAD HER HAIR DONE NICE
AND WORE GLASSES.

AND SHE LOOKED PROFESSIONAL.

AND I DON'T KNOW -
IT STRUCK ME AS SEXY.

HOW'S IT GOING OVER HERE
IN TRAINING LAND?

PRETTY GOOD. THANKS.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING
A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S
TOLD YOU THAT YET.

NO. THANK YOU.
WELL...

Narrator: LYDIA'S NEVER BEEN
UNFAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND,

BUT MATT QUICKLY BECOMES
A TEMPTATION

THAT'S HARD TO RESIST.

HE WAS ATHLETIC.
HE WAS VERY GREGARIOUS.

HE'S VERY HAPPY-GO-LUCKY,
WHAT YOU'D SAY.

YOU KNOW, I BET YOU COULD
USE A JOKE.

Taylor:
EVERY TIME I'D SEE HER,

I'D SAY SOMETHING FUNNY
TO MAKE HER LAUGH.

SHE HADN'T HAD
A LOT OF LAUGHTER IN HER LIFE.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

THAT'S REALLY BAD.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

HEY!

MATT.

YOU LOOK
REALLY GOOD TODAY.

Narrator: BEFORE LONG, LYDIA AND
MATT START TO FLIRT OPENLY AT WORK.

AT ONE POINT, I GRABBED HER
AND SAT HER DOWN ON MY LAP,

AND SO I GRABBED A KISS
FROM HER THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW,
SHE KIND OF LIKED IT,

AND WE WERE VERY FOND
OF EACH OTHER,

AND WE WERE STARTING, I THINK,

TO START TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER.

YEAH, JOHN. WHAT?

NO, I KNOW.

Narrator: MATT WANTS TO
TAKE THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL,

BUT HE CAN SEE JOHN
KEEPS CLOSE TABS ON LYDIA.

Taylor: HE CALLED HER
A LOT OF TIMES DURING THE DAY

TO FIND OUT WHAT SHE WAS UP DO,

AND ANYBODY COULD SEE

THAT THAT'S NOT
A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator:
IN FACT, LYDIA'S MARRIAGE

IS TEETERING ON THE BRINK
OF COLLAPSE.

YOU DOING OKAY?

YEAH. YEAH, I'M FINE.

WANT TO GET SOME COFFEE?

I THINK, WHEN SHE MET ME -

I THINK THE BALL
STARTED ROLLING FOR HER.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE,
"HERE'S A NICE GUY.

"I'M IN A CRUMMY SITUATION.

"YOU KNOW, MAYBE I CAN TURN
MY FORTUNES AROUND

A LITTLE BIT HERE."

Dr. Jordan: LYDIA STILL DOESN'T
BELIEVE IN DIVORCE,

BUT SHE GETS TO THE POINT
WHERE SHE REALIZES

MAYBE SHE CAN START OVER AGAIN
WITH SOMEONE NEW,

AND HAVE HER FAIRY TALE DREAM

OF THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
AND HOUSEHOLD.

IT JUST WOULD BE
WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

Narrator: ONE MORNING, LYDIA
LAYS IT ON THE LINE WITH JOHN.

I THINK WE SHOULD GET
A DIVORCE.

Salce: HE JUST LOOKED AT ME
AND HE SAID, "WHY?"

WHY?
TOTALLY EMOTIONLESS.

I SAID, "BECAUSE I'M OBVIOUSLY
NOT MAKING YOU HAPPY,

"AND IT'S MAKING ME MISERABLE.

"I'M FAILING MISERABLY
IN THIS MARRIAGE,

"I'M FAILING AS A WIFE,
AND I'M FAILING AS A PERSON,

"AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHO I AM ANYMORE.

"AND I THINK WE SHOULD JUST
LET EACH OTHER GO,

AND GO OUR OWN WAYS,
TRY TO FIND SOMEONE."

AND HE AGREED.

THEN I'LL TALK TO BOB
AND HE'LL PUT US IN CONTACT

WITH A LAWYER WHO CAN
DRAW UP THE PAPERS.

Narrator: ONE WEEK LATER,

MATT HELPS LYDIA MOVE INTO
HER NEW APARTMENT,

AND HE NEVER LEAVES.

MATTHEW, YOUR FIRST RELATIONSHIP
AFTER YOUR MARRIAGE -

HOW WAS HE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
THAN YOUR HUSBAND?

VERY GREGARIOUS,
VERY FUN-LOVING.

WHAT I FIRST SAW
IS VERY CHILD-LIKE,

AND I WAS VERY ATTRACTED
TO THAT

HAVING COME FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS
VERY COLD AND VERY SOLEMN.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND PRETTY
AND YOU KNOW...

SO, LIKE FIVE MINUTES AGO?

OH, YOU'RE CUTE.

SHE WOULD ALMOST LIKE WORSHIP
THE GROUND I WALKED ON,

THAT'S HOW MUCH
SHE REALLY, TRULY LOVED ME,

AND CARED ABOUT ME.

Narrator: THE TWO QUICKLY FALL
HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE.

Taylor:
SHE'D DO ALMOST ANYTHING FOR ME.

LET ME DO THE THINGS THAT
I WOULD NORMALLY DO IN MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS BIG
INTO SPORTS.

WE SHOULD SPEND SOME MORE TIME
ON THE BEDROOM.

[ LAUGHS ]

PASS IT.

ONE MONTH AFTER THE COUPLE
MOVES IN TOGETHER,

THEY GET SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU
A LITTLE SURPRISE.

FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT.
THAT WAS A BIG SHOCK.

'CAUSE, OF COURSE, I DIDN'T
THINK I COULD HAVE KIDS

BECAUSE OF MY 17-YEAR MARRIAGE.

BUT, LO AND BEHOLD,
GOD HAD BETTER PLANS FOR ME.

Narrator: LYDIA SALCE HAS
A NEW CAREER, A NEW BOYFRIEND,

AND AFTER THINKING
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE,

HAS JUST FOUND OUT
SHE'S PREGNANT.

I THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T.

I KNOW, BUT GOD WORKS
IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

IT WAS LIKE, "OH BOY," YOU KNOW,
"WHAT DID I DO?"

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW,

AFTER TALKING TO HER ABOUT IT
AND EVERYTHING, I FELT BETTER.

AND THEN I GOT EXCITED FOR IT.

I'M GONNA BE A DAD!
I KNOW.

ALL RIGHT! WOW.

THAT'S GREAT.
I KNOW.

Narrator: LYDIA'S FANTASY
OF THE PERFECT FAMILY

IS FINALLY WITHIN REACH.

HEY, BABE,
NEXT TIME YOU GO OUT,

COULD YOU PICK UP
SOME MORE BEER?

BUT DURING THE PREGNANCY,
EVERYTHING CHANGES.

YOU NEED TO CLEAN THAT UP.

I WILL,
AFTER THE GAME'S OVER.

HE WAS VERY, VERY IMMATURE,

VERY IRRESPONSIBLE,
VERY SELFISH.

YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO HELP OUT
AROUND HERE.

Narrator: MATT STARTS TO RESENT
LYDIA'S CONSTANT NAGGING.

THINGS I SAID OR THINGS
I WOULD DO OR WOULDN'T DO

WERE STARTING TO BOTHER HER.

I WAS RESISTANT THE WHOLE TIME.

YOU KNOW,
"YOU'RE NOT GONNA CONTROL ME."

"OKAY, YOU WERE IN
THAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP.

"YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW IT IS
TO BE CONTROLLED.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT TO ME."

Dr. Jordan: LYDIA SPENT 17 YEARS
IN A MARRIAGE

WHERE JOHN WORE THE PANTS.

SHE WAS ALWAYS
SUPPRESSING HER POTENTIAL.

IN HER NEW RELATIONSHIPS,

SHE IS GOING TO HAVE THE CONTROL
THAT SHE NEVER HAD,

AND SHE WILL NOT SACRIFICE
WHAT SHE WANTS

FOR ANY MAN AGAIN.

Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER 1999,
AT THE AGE OF 39,

LYDIA GIVES BIRTH TO HER FIRST
AND ONLY CHILD, AMANDA.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY DIDN'T THINK
I COULD HAVE CHILDREN

AFTER BEING MARRIED
FOR 17 YEARS AND CHILDLESS.

SO, IT WAS
A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.

Taylor: DAMN IT, LYDIA,
WILL YOU JUST GET OFF MY CASE?

I WOULD GET OFF YOUR CASE
IF YOU DID MORE

THAN JUST SIT AROUND
AND WATCH SPORTS.

OH, PLEASE,
YOU'RE LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
THE RELATIONSHIP SEEMS DOOMED,

LYDIA FEELS SHE SHOULD STAY
WITH MATT

FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR CHILD.

Salce: I FELT THAT THE CHILD
SHOULD HAVE BOTH PARENTS,

BECAUSE I WAS RAISED
BY BOTH OF MY PARENTS

IN A VERY TRADITIONAL HOME.

SECOND,
BECAUSE IT WAS HIS CHILD,

AND HE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT
TO HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT

IN HER LIFE, AND SO ON.

BUT THE NEGATIVES OUTWEIGHED
THE POSITIVES SO STRONGLY

THAT I REALIZED THAT JUST
WAS NOT GONNA WORK OUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, MATT?

I THINK I'D BE BETTER OFF
ON MY OWN.

Narrator:
LYDIA ASKS MATT TO LEAVE.

I'LL GO PACK MY STUFF.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HER LIFE,

SHE'S ON HER OWN.

[ BABY CRIES ]

LATE 30s, SINGLE MOTHER -
DESCRIBE YOURSELF.

ARE YOU STILL INTROVERTED?

ARE YOU STILL SHY,
DEEPLY INSECURE?

INSECURE, MAYBE.

STILL FEELING LIKE
BRIDE-OF-FRANKENSTEIN UGLY.

BUT NO,
NOT A LOT OF SELF-ESTEEM.

BUT KNOWING I WAS CAPABLE
OF KEEPING MYSELF FED

AND KEEPING A ROOF
OVER MY HEAD

AND TAKING CARE
OF MY DAUGHTER.

THE CONFIDENCE OF "I CAN
SURVIVE, I CAN DO THIS"

IS STILL THERE.

WITH THE MONEY SHE MAKES
AS A SOFTWARE TRAINER,

LYDIA IS ABLE
TO MOVE OUT OF HER APARTMENT

AND RENTS A HOUSE
IN CLIFTON PARK,

A LEAFY SUBURB
OUTSIDE OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

SECRETLY, SHE DREAMS
OF FINDING A HUSBAND.

BUT FOR THE MOMENT, SHE PUTS
HER DATING LIFE ON HOLD.

YOU WERE PRETTY MUCH DONE
WITH MEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

I REALLY NEEDED TO FOCUS
ON MY DAUGHTER.

I NEEDED TO FOCUS ON ME.

THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON

WITH TRYING TO GET THINGS
RESTRUCTURED.

SO I WAS NOT DATING
AT ALL.

BUT AFTER THREE YEARS
OF BEING SINGLE,

LYDIA CAN'T KEEP BURIED
HER DESIRE

TO HAVE A MAN IN HER LIFE.

SHE DECIDES TO START DATING.

DO YOU MIND IF I SIT DOWN?

Salce:
NOT ONLY DID I HAVE A DAUGHTER

AND I WAS LOOKING FOR
A FATHER FIGURE FOR MY DAUGHTER

AND A PARTNER,

I STILL DON'T FEEL WHOLE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE BEFORE.

OH, YEAH?
YEAH.

MUST BE MY LUCKY NIGHT, HUH?

Narrator:
THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM -

AT THE AGE OF 42,
LYDIA IS NEW TO THE DATING POOL,

AND SHE SEEMS DESTINED TO SWIM
AMONG A SEA OF LOSERS.

Salce:
I HAD NO DATING EXPERIENCE,

SO NOW, I KIND OF
GET THRUST OUT THERE

INTO THE WORLD AS A SINGLE WOMAN

WITHOUT REALLY
A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE

OR BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE.

AND SO, SORT OF LIKE HAVING
THIS BIG SIGN ON YOUR HEAD

THAT SAYS,
"INEXPERIENCED. TAKE ADVANTAGE."

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: LYDIA'S NAIVETE RESULTS
IN SOME PRETTY POOR CHOICES.

HEY, WILL YOU GET ME A BEER
WHILE YOU'RE UP?

HEY.
HEY.

HOPE SOMEONE'S READY TO HAVE
SOME TIME WITH DAD.

YEAH, SHE'S IN HER ROOM.

Taylor: ONLY A COUPLE OF
THE GUYS THAT SHE WAS WITH

THAT I KNEW OF HAD JOBS.

MAYBE SHE FELT SORRY FOR THEM,

OR, YOU KNOW,
THERE WAS A CONNECTION THERE

THAT SHE FELT A NEED
TO HELP THEM.

WHAT'S UP, MATT?

WHAT'S UP?

WOW. LOOKS LIKE YOU PICKED
A REAL WINNER.

EACH GUY SHE ENDED UP
LIVING WITH OR MOVING IN WITH

AND BREAKING UP WITHIN
A WEEK OR MONTH OR -

IT WAS VERY SHORT-LIVED.

Dr. Jordan: LYDIA'S ABILITY
TO TRANSFORM HER LIFE

MAKES HER THINK THAT OTHERS
SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING.

AND IN HER RELATIONSHIPS,
SHE BECOMES A FIXER.

SHE FINDS OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT REALIZING THEIR POTENTIAL

AND TRIES TO CONTROL THEM
AND TELL THEM WHAT TO DO

SO THAT THEY CAN BE
AS GOOD AS SHE IS.

Narrator:
IN 2007, THE ECONOMY COLLAPSES,

AND LYDIA'S WORLD
COMES GRINDING TO A HALT.

SHE LOSES HER HIGH-PAYING JOB
AS A SOFTWARE TRAINER

AND STRUGGLES TO FIND WORK.

THE NEED TO FIND A JOB

PUTS THE SEARCH FOR A MAN
ON THE BACK BURNER.

HI. HOW ARE YOU?
HI. GOOD HOW ARE YOU?

AFTER MONTHS OF LOOKING,

SHE'S FORCED TO TAKE
THE FIRST OFFER SHE GETS

JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

IT'S GONNA BE $4.68.
OKAY.

Salce: I HAD A DAUGHTER TO TAKE
CARE OF, HAD TO KEEP MYSELF FED.

AND BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND,
I MEAN, AGAIN,

GOING BACK TO MY DAD,
WELFARE WASN'T HIGH ON OUR LIST.

SO, I WAS TAUGHT

TO PULL YOURSELF UP BY
YOUR BOOTSTRAPS AND KEEP GOING.

AS A BOOTSTRAPPER,
YOU ENDED UP WITH A JOB?

AT WALMART.

Narrator:
LYDIA STARTS AS A CASHIER.

THREE YEARS
AND FIVE PROMOTIONS LATER,

SHE LANDS A POSITION
IN THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT.

THOUGH SHE'S THRIVING AT WORK,

HER PERSONAL LIFE
IS A VIRTUAL WASTELAND.

SHE'S JUST MONTHS AWAY
FROM TURNING 50

AND MORE DESPERATE THAN EVER
TO FIND HER SOUL MATE.

I DON'T REALIZE YET THAT I'M
A WHOLE PERSON ALL BY MYSELF.

I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT
OTHER HALF - THE COMPLETENESS.

Narrator: IN SEARCH
OF SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT,

LYDIA JOINS HER CHURCH'S
BIBLE STUDY.

WELL,
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

All: GOOD MORNING.

SHALL WE BEGIN?

IT BECOMES A PLACE
WHERE SHE CAN BARE HER SOUL

AND GET GUIDANCE.

I WAS ALWAYS INVOLVED
IN BIBLE STUDIES.

I WAS ALWAYS DOING GROUPS
WITH THE CHURCH.

Narrator: ONE EVENING,

AN UNLIKELY STRANGER
WALKS INTO THE CHURCH.

MICHAEL!
COME IN, COME IN.

LYDIA IS SHOCKED
BY MICHAEL'S APPEARANCE.

EVERYONE,
THIS IS MICHAEL.

HE'LL BE JOINING US
FOR BIBLE STUDY.

TELL ME ABOUT MICHAEL.
DESCRIBE HIM TO ME.

HIS APPROACH IS THAT YOU CAN'T
JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.

WHAT DOES HIS COVER
LOOK LIKE?

HIS COVER IS EXTRAORDINARY.

HE IS TATTOOED
FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD

DOWN TO HIS FEET.

MICHAEL.

THAT'S GOOD.
WE'RE READING JOHN 3.

Paul: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERMON.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

I WILL. BE WELL.

LYDIA.
HI, PASTOR. HOW ARE YOU?

Narrator: LYDIA DOESN'T THINK
MICHAEL BELONGS IN THE BIBLE STUDY.

HE JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
A GOOD FIT.

THE PASTOR SAYS
HE'S BEEN COUNSELING MICHAEL.

Salce: HE TOLD PASTOR PAUL
THAT, YOU KNOW,

HE WAS LOOKING FOR
A GOOD CHRISTIAN WIFE,

THAT HE WANTED TO SETTLE DOWN
AND HE WANTED A FAMILY.

MAYBE I JUDGED TOO SOON.

HE'S A GOOD MAN.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: ON MONDAY,
LYDIA GOES TO WORK AS USUAL,

BUT SHE'S IN FOR A SURPRISE.

HEY, LYDIA, RIGHT?

ON THE WAY
TO THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT,

SHE RUNS INTO MICHAEL.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I JUST GOT A JOB HERE.

I ASSEMBLE BIKES
AND GRILLS AND STUFF.

IT'S REALLY COOL.
OH, THAT'S GREAT.

I'LL LET YOU
GET BACK TO IT.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, WHEN DID YOU START
GETTING TATTOOS?

I GOT MY FIRST ONE
WHEN I WAS 18.

AT LUNCHTIME,
LYDIA REACHES OUT TO MICHAEL,

TAKING HER PASTOR'S WORDS
TO HEART.

SHE GETS THE FULL DOWNLOAD
ON HIS BACK STORY.

SO, WHAT DOES
THE HEART MEAN?

MICHAEL SPILLS EVERYTHING
ABOUT HIS HARD LIFE,

INCLUDING HIS 20 YEARS
IN A FLORIDA PRISON

ON ARSON AND ASSAULT CHARGES.

IT'S ALL A REMINDER
OF MY PAST

AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO
GET BACK TO.

Salce:
HE HAD A LOT OF ENDURANCE.

LIKE, HE DIDN'T HAVE
A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

HE DIDN'T HAVE
THE FAMILY LIFE THAT I HAD

THAT WERE SUPPORTIVE,
THAT WERE LOVING.

HE WOULD STILL TRY TO MAKE
THE BEST OF HIMSELF.

Narrator:
LYDIA FEELS SORRY FOR MICHAEL

AND BELIEVES HIM HE SAYS

HE'S TRYING TO PUT HIS PAST
BEHIND HIM.

Salce: HE SAID, "THAT'S WHEN
I WAS MUCH YOUNGER THEN.

I'VE MATURED SINCE THEN."

AND I WAS LIKE, "OH,
SO THAT'S LIKE PAST TENSE.

YOU DON'T - YOU'RE NOT INTO
THAT STUFF ANYMORE."

HE'S LIKE, "OH, NO, NO.
I DON'T EVEN OWN A MOTORCYCLE."

AND HE DIDN'T.
SO HE WAS REFORMED?

I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.

AT THE TIME, I WANTED
TO BELIEVE HIM THAT HE WAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LYDIA.

HI.

I BELIEVE THIS IS YOURS.

I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU
WANTED TO GO GET SOME COFFEE.

ARE YOU ASKING ME
ON A DATE?

Narrator:
WHEN MICHAEL ASKS HER OUT,

SHE DECIDES TO GIVE HIM
A CHANCE.

Salce: MY FAITH IN GOD TOLD ME
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

AND THAT PEOPLE HEAL
AND PEOPLE CHANGE.

MY FAITH IN GOD TOLD ME THAT
EVEN SOMEONE LOOKED LIKE THIS,

IF HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED
TO GO DOWN A DIFFERENT ROAD,

GOD WOULD HELP HIM IF HE REALLY
WANTED THAT IN HIS HEART.

OKAY.

Dr. Jordan:
WHEN LYDIA MEETS MICHAEL,

SHE GRADUATES
FROM FIXER TO RESCUER.

FOR LYDIA, THIS IS A MAN

THAT SHE CAN TRY TO SUPPORT
IN HIS NEW LIFE,

AND SHE CAN GET THE RESPECT
AND THE GRATITUDE

THAT SHE NEVER GOT
FROM HER OTHER RELATIONSHIPS.

LEAD THE WAY.

Narrator:
AFTER JUST A FEW DATES,

LYDIA FINDS HERSELF UNEXPECTEDLY
FALLING FOR THAT TATTOOED BIKER.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER,

MICHAEL SAYS THE WORDS SHE'S
BEEN WAITING YEARS TO HEAR.

OH!

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

HE SAID, "I WANT TO GET MARRIED
ON MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY."

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

SAY "YES"?
YES!

Narrator:
IT'S A ROMANTIC GESTURE,

AND IT'S WHAT LYDIA WANTS
MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD,

BUT IT'S ALL HAPPENING
SO SUDDENLY.

Dr. Jordan: SO WHAT YOU'RE
TELLING ME IS THAT, BASICALLY,

YOU STARTED DATING A GUY

WHO WANTED TO GET MARRIED
TWO MONTHS LATER.

YES.

COMING UP...

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR THIS RELATIONSHIP

TO GO CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU'RE HURTING ME.

I SHOULD HAVE QUIT
OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP

AND RAN IN
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

Narrator:
FOR YEARS, LYDIA SALCE

HAS BEEN OBSESSED
WITH FINDING A HUSBAND.

NOW, SHE'S FOUND ONE
IN A MAN NAMED MICHAEL,

A TATTOO-COVERED BIKER

WHO CLAIMS TO BE
A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

SAY "YES"?
YES!

ON FEBRUARY 8, 2011,
THEY GET MARRIED.

FRIENDS, THIS IS THE DAY
THE LORD HAS MADE.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WE HAD GOTTEN MARRIED
IN THE CHURCH.

IT WAS VERY GEARED TOWARD
BEING A FUN WEDDING.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
MODELED AFTER, YOU KNOW,

THE BIKER IMAGE
THAT MIKE LIKED TO PORTRAY

THAT HE HAD FROM HIS PAST.

SO, LYDIA, DID YOU WEAR JEANS
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?

I DID WHAT HE WANTED.

I DID WHAT HE ASKED FOR,

AND HE WAS SORT OF LIKE
SUPERIMPOSING THE BIKER IMAGE

OVER THE FACT THAT, NOW,

HE'S GOING TO BE
A HAPPILY MARRIED MAN.

THINK OF IT
AS A COMEDY THING.

THIS IS HOW HE PUT IT TO ME.

YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE.

Narrator: THE MARRIAGE RAISES THE
EYEBROWS OF LYDIA'S BIBLE STUDY FRIENDS,

BUT SHE'S DETERMINED
THAT THIS MARRIAGE

WILL END IN HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

WHEN I GET INVOLVED
IN A RELATIONSHIP,

I HAVE TO GIVE IT MY ALL

AND WORK TOWARDS IT
WHOLE HOG, 100 PERCENT.

IT HAS TO SURVIVE.
I HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK.

BEING RAISED IN THAT NUCLEAR,
STRONG TRADITIONAL FAMILY

WHERE PARENTS WERE ALWAYS
MARRIED FOR LIFE

IS THE HOLY GRAIL
OF HER IDENTITY.

LYDIA BECOMES SO ENTHRALLED

IN HER SUCCESS
IN THIS NEW RELATIONSHIP.

SHE MISSES ALL OF THE RED FLAGS.

EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS WHERE
THIS RELATIONSHIP IS GOING -

EVERYONE EXCEPT LYDIA.

Narrator: AFTER THE WEDDING,
MICHAEL MOVES IN WITH LYDIA

AND HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
AMANDA.

SHE DEVOTES
ALL HER TIME AND MONEY

TO MAKING SURE
THAT MICHAEL WILL STAY.

I WAS PAYING
FOR EVERYTHING.

I WAS PAYING FOR THE HOUSE,

THE HEAT, THE GAS,
THE PHONES.

HE MADE ABOUT $400
EVERY TWO WEEKS.

HE WOULD BUY TWO PACKS
OF CIGARETTES A DAY,

AND HE WOULD BUY AN 18-PACK
OF BUDWEISER EVERY DAY.

SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH GONE.

LYDIA EXPECTS MICHAEL

TO PLAY THE ROLE
OF THE DOTING HUSBAND,

BUT IT SOON BECOMES CLEAR
THAT MICHAEL

HASN'T PUT HIS WILD PAST
BEHIND HIM.

YOU KNOW, MARRIAGE IS
SUPPOSED TO BE A PARTNERSHIP.

YOU'RE COOKING. YOU'RE CLEANING.
YOU'RE WORKING.

YOU'RE SUPPORTING HIM.

WE WOULD GET OUT OF WORK
AT 4:00,

BE HOME BY 4:10, 4:15.

HE'D START DRINKING.

HE WOULDN'T STOP. IT WOULD BE
ONE CAN AFTER ANOTHER.

POP, GONE. POP, DOWN.

I TOLD RODNEY AND THE GUYS
THAT I'D GO OUT WITH THEM TODAY.

WHAT?
WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK?

AND MICHAEL ISN'T
JUST DRINKING AT HOME -

HE'S OFTEN OUT DRINKING
WITH HIS FRIENDS, TOO.

Schettino:
LYDIA HAD WANTED MICHAEL

TO BE SOMEBODY
WHO WAS ALWAYS HOME

AND ALWAYS WILLING TO STAY

AROUND HER
AND HER YOUNG DAUGHTER.

I THINK THAT WAS
ONE OF THE BIG STRESSORS

ON THE RELATIONSHIP.

SEE YOU LATER, BABE.

Narrator: LYDIA IS HEARTBROKEN
AND FEELS BETRAYED

BY MICHAEL
AND HIS PARTYING WAYS.

Dr. Jordan: YOU FIND OUT,
NOT LONG AFTER YOU MARRY HIM,

THAT HIS RECOVERY
IS NOT NEARLY AS PROGRESSED

AS HE WOULD PRETEND.
IT WAS A SHAM.

IT WAS NOT A RECOVERY
AT ALL.

SO, THE BIKER PAST WASN'T
IN HIS PAST, WAS IT?

IT WAS VERY, VERY MUCH
IN HIS PRESENT.

OUT IN PUBLIC,
LYDIA PUTS ON A BRAVE FACE.

BUT INSIDE,

THE ANGER AND DISAPPOINTMENT
ARE BUILDING.

SHE WAS GOOD AT, LIKE,
MASKING THINGS.

VERY GOOD AT HIDING
HER EMOTIONS AND HER FEELINGS.

SHE ALWAYS PUT ON
A GOOD FRONT FOR PEOPLE.

HI.

I WAS VERY ASHAMED
BY THE FACT THAT,

"WOW. I BLEW IT AGAIN."

YOU KNOW,
I WAS TOTALLY CONNED.

I GET MARRIED AND I'M PAYING
FOR THIS MAN'S ENTIRE LIFE

WHILE HE JUST GOES OUT
AT NIGHT.

I HAVE NO HUSBAND
BECAUSE HE'S NOT HOME WITH ME

ALL NIGHT LONG
UNTIL 5:30 IN THE MORNING.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: IN EARLY JULY,

THE COUPLE'S BEEN MARRIED
FOR JUST SIX MONTHS.

LYDIA COMES HOME FROM WORK
SICK ONE NIGHT

WHILE MICHAEL IS ONCE AGAIN
OUT PARTYING WITH HIS FRIENDS.

[ Ringing ]

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HEY, BABE.

YEAH, I'M NOT FEELING
SO WELL.

SO I SAID TO HIM,
"I'M IN TERRIBLE PAIN.

I NEED YOU TO COME HOME."

NAH, I AIN'T COMING HOME
RIGHT NOW.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY MICHAEL
IS LEAVING ANY TIME SOON.

HE SAYS, "I'M OUT
WITH MY BROTHERS" -

HIS BROTHERS
IN THE BIKER GANG.

I SAID, "WELL,
ARE YOU COMING HOME?"

HE SAID, "WELL, YEAH."

I SAID, "WELL, LIKE,
ARE YOU COMING HOME NOW

"OR DO YOU MEAN
AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING

WHEN YOU GET HOME?"

AND HE GOT VERY ABRASIVE.

HE GOT VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE
AND HUNG UP.

I SAY WHEN I COME HOME.

MICHAEL! MICHAEL!

[ Dial tone ]

SHE TRIED TO DO ALL THIS...
AW, MAN!

....TRYING TO GET ME
TO GO HOME.

[ COUGHS ]

Narrator: LYDIA IS FURIOUS,

AND THE SICKER SHE FEELS,
THE MORE FRUSTRATED SHE BECOMES.

IS THIS THE SNAPPING MOMENT?
IS THIS IS THE BREAK?

THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH,
I WAS LIKE, "OKAY.

"THIS ISN'T A MARRIAGE.
THIS IS NOT WORKING AT ALL.

THIS IS DIVORCE TIME."

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

YOU KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN.
I WAS OUT WITH MY BOYS.

WHEN MICHAEL COMES HOME LATE,
A LIVID LYDIA CORNERS HIM.

WELL, I'M HERE NOW.

Salce: I TOLD HIM
I'M FILING FOR DIVORCE.

AND HE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF.

YOU'RE NOT DIVORCING ME.

WE MADE AN OATH
IN FRONT OF GOD.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO...

ACCORDING TO LYDIA,
MICHAEL FLIES INTO A RANGE.

HE FOLLOWED ME INTO
THE BATHROOM, I CLOSED THE DOOR.

HE STARTED POUNDING ON IT,
OPENED THE DOOR,

CAME INTO THE BATHROOM
AND GRABBED MY HANDS.

HE SAID, "GIVE ME THE F'ing
WEDDING RING BACK."

YOU'RE HURTING ME.

HE TOOK AND RIPPED IT
LITERALLY OFF MY HAND.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

I WAS CRYING -
I WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN,

I MEAN, BECAUSE MY WHOLE HAND
WAS THROBBING.

I WAS LIKE, "JUST GET OUT.
JUST GET OUT."

LYDIA KICKS MICHAEL
OUT OF THE HOUSE.

BUT MICHAEL HAS
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO

AND SHOWS UP THE NEXT MORNING.

I'M SORRY I MESSED UP.

TAKE THAT BACK?

UNABLE TO SHED HER ROLE
AS A RESCUER,

SHE LETS HIM BACK IN.

Dr. Jordan: LYDIA DOES THIS
BECAUSE SHE CAN'T BELIEVE

THAT SHE IS FAILING
AT A MARRIAGE AGAIN,

AND SHE ALSO WANTS TO BELIEVE

THAT SHE IS THE ONLY ONE
WHO CAN FIX MICHAEL -

THAT SHE, LYDIA,
IS THE ANSWER.

Narrator: BUT THE MARRIAGE
HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT,

AND ACCORDING TO LYDIA,

THEIR HOME
IS NOW A BATTLEGROUND.

AND THERE WOULD BE
A LOT OF PUSHING

AND KNOCKING YOU OVER
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING
ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ABUSE.

DID YOU TELL ANYBODY?

NO. I WAS VERY EMBARRASSED.

IN FACT, WHEN ASKED,
LYDIA DENIES BEING ABUSED.

CO-WORKERS ENQUIRED AND SAID,

"LYDIA, ARE YOU AFRAID?

DOES HE HURT YOU?
DOES HE HIT YOU?"

ALL OF WHICH SHE RESPONDED
TO THE NEGATIVE,

THAT NO HE WASN'T VIOLENT
OR AGGRESSIVE WITH HER.

NO, I MEAN IT.

I MEAN, HE STAYS OUT,
YOU KNOW, ALL NIGHT.

Narrator: BY EARLY AUGUST,
LYDIA IS AT THE END OF A ROPE.

AT WORK, ALL SHE CAN TALK ABOUT
IS HER HATRED FOR HER HUSBAND.

HE GOES OUT EVERY NIGHT,
YOU KNOW, WITH HIS BROTHERS,

YOU KNOW, AND IF HE KEEPS
PICKING THEM OVER ME...

LYDIA HAD INDICATED THAT SHE HAD
HAD IT WITH HER MARRIAGE.

NO, I MEAN IT.

I MEAN, IF HE KEEPS THIS UP,
I'M GONNA KILL HIM.

OKAY, WAIT.

IT WAS A COMMENT THAT WAS SAID
IN A TONE AND IN A WAY

THAT CAUSED THE CO-WORKER
TO QUESTION LYDIA,

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

AND LYDIA CONTINUED TO SAY
IF HE CONTINUES TO GO OUT,

"NO, I MEAN IT.
I'M GONNA KILL HIM."

Narrator: LYDIA'S CO-WORKER
TAKES HER THREAT SERIOUSLY.

Schettino: AND ONE OF THE
CO-WORKERS ACTUALLY REFERRED LYDIA

TO A PROGRAM THAT THE EMPLOYER
OFFERS FOR COUNSELING.

I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.

I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD.

Narrator:
BUT LYDIA DOESN'T GET HELP.

INSTEAD,
SHE DECIDES TO GIVE MICHAEL

ONE LAST CHANCE
TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

ON AUGUST 11th, LYDIA'S DAUGHTER

IS AT HER FATHER MATT'S HOUSE
FOR THE WEEKEND.

LYDIA TEXTS MICHAEL

THAT SHE WANTS TO SPEND
THE EVENING TOGETHER.

Schettino: THEY HAD
PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH,

"WHAT TIME ARE YOU COMING HOME?"

HE SAID, "SOON."

SOON CERTAINLY CAME AND WENT,

AND MICHAEL STILL WAS NOT HOME.

Narrator: AT MIDNIGHT,
MICHAEL FINALLY STUMBLES THROUGH THE DOOR.

HERE I AM.

LYDIA TAKES ONE LOOK AT HIM
AND ERUPTS.

ALL YOU DO
IS NAG, NAG, NAG.

Salce:
HE'S COMPLETELY DRUNK,

AND I SEE THREE NEW BADGES
ON THE VEST,

SO I KNEW
WHAT HIS DECISION WAS.

OUR MARRIAGE REALLY DIDN'T
MATTER AT ALL TO HIM.

THIS IS WHAT MATTERED
TO HIM.

HE WAS GOING BACK
TO THIS LIFESTYLE

THAT MAYBE
HE NEVER REALLY LEFT.

THE BADGES BELONG
TO A LOCAL MOTORCYCLE GANG.

LYDIA FINALLY SEES
THE REAL MICHAEL,

AND REALIZES SHE MADE
A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.

YOU KNEW WHO I WAS
WHEN YOU MARRIED ME.

Schettino: AT THAT POINT
IN TIME, MICHAEL INDICATED -

SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M JUST DONE WITH THIS.

I WANT TO BE DONE WITH THIS."

YOU'RE DONE WITH THIS?

Narrator:
BUT LYDIA'S NOT DONE YET -

NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT.

I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.

THE FOLLOWING IS LYDIA'S VERSION
OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

LOOK AT THIS.
THAT'S RIGHT - DIVORCE PAPERS.

I SHOWED HIM THE DOCUMENT,

AND I SAID, "ALL I NEED YOU
TO DO IS SIGN THIS."

WE'LL JUST GO
OUR SEPARATE WAYS.

LYDIA CLAIMS THAT ACTUALLY
SEEING THE DIVORCE PAPERS

UNLEASHES MICHAEL'S DEMONS.

AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW,

HE GRABBED ME
BY THE BACK OF THE HAIR,

SLAMMED MY HEAD BACK
VERY ABRUPTLY.

FOR MORE ON HOW LYDIA
IS DOING NOW,

Narrator: AFTER ONLY
SIX MONTHS OF MARRIAGE,

LYDIA HAS HAD IT WITH
HER HUSBAND MICHAEL'S WILD WAYS.

WHEN HE COMES HOME LATE AGAIN

AFTER DRINKING
WITH HIS BIKER FRIENDS,

LYDIA DEMANDS A DIVORCE,

AND THE SITUATION IMPLODES.

I WAS LOOKING DOWN
AT THIS HUGE KNIFE...

YOU'RE NOT DIVORCING ME!

...AND...

JUST -
FORGIVE ME. I'M SORRY.

I WAS LOOKING DOWN
AT THIS HUGE KNIFE,

AND HE SAID, "I'M GONNA
[BEEP] KILL YOU, YOU [BEEP]"

PLEASE, LET GO OF ME.

LYDIA CLAIMS SHE COWERS

AS MICHAEL STARTS
REPEATEDLY PUNCHING HER.

I AM IN A FETAL POSITION
ON THE FLOOR

SCREAMING FOR HIM TO STOP.

YOU DON'T EVEN THINK
AT THAT POINT.

IT'S JUST TO GET THIS
TO STOP.

IT'S JUST COMPLETE PANIC.
"HE'S GOING TO KILL ME."

BUT LYDIA, YOU MADE IT STOP.

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

I DID MAKE IT STOP.
DID I HAVE A CHOICE?

I DON'T KNOW.

DID I MAKE
THE RIGHT CHOICE?

FOR ME, AT THE TIME, IT WAS
THE ONLY CHOICE I COULD MAKE.

AT THIS POINT,
HE HAD DROPPED THE KNIFE.

I WAS SWINGING
JUST BLINDLY -

MY HAIR WAS
IN FRONT OF MY FACE,

MY GLASSES ARE OFF,

I HAVE THE KNIFE
IN MY RIGHT HAND,

AND I'M SWINGING
HYSTERICALLY.

THE KNIFE CONNECTS
MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES

ACROSS MICHAEL'S BODY.

BUT MICHAEL AND THE PROSECUTION
TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS SIGN THEM.

THEY SAY THAT WHEN MICHAEL

TRIES TO LEAVE THE KITCHEN
TO GO TO THE BATHROOM,

LYDIA GRABS A KNIFE
AND LUNGES AT HIM.

SHE PLUNGED A KNIFE
INTO HIS BACK.

YOU CRAZY BITCH!

HE TURNED TOWARDS LYDIA.

SHE CONTINUED TO STAB HIM.

IN STRUGGLING FOR HIS LIFE,

HE TRIED TO GET THE KNIFE
AWAY FROM HER.

SHE STABS HIM MULTIPLE TIMES,

ALL THE WHILE CHANTING SOMETHING
TO THE EFFECT OF,

"YOU'RE DONE. YOU'RE DONE.
YOU'RE DONE."

Narrator:
AFTER WASHING HER HANDS,

LYDIA CALMLY TAKES MICHAEL'S
CELLPHONE OUT OF HIS POCKET.

Woman: 911.
I NEED AN AMBULANCE.

MY HUSBAND JUST TRIED
TO KILL ME.

AND WHAT IS YOUR HUSBAND
TRYING TO DO TO YOU?

HE JUST TRIED
TO STAB ME TO DEATH.

OKAY.
WHERE IS HE RIGHT NOW?

ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.

HE'S ON
THE KITCHEN FLOOR?

WE'RE BOTH
ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.

OKAY. DID YOU -
DID ANYBODY STAB ANYBODY?

YES, MA'AM,
WE ARE BOTH BLEEDING.

WE NEED AN AMBULANCE.

AND WHERE
IS HE BLEEDING FROM?

ALL OVER.

HOW MANY TIMES
DID YOU STAB HIM?

HE WAS TRYING TO STAB ME.
I DON'T KNOW.

OKAY. MA'AM, DID YOU
PHYSICALLY STAB HIM?

WE BOTH STABBED
EACH OTHER. YES.

HE'S BREATHING?

HE'S BREATHING.

WHERE ARE YOUR WOUNDS?

I DON'T KNOW I CAN'T TELL WHERE
THE BLOOD'S COMING FROM.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

PARAMEDICS ARRIVE

AND IMMEDIATELY
START TENDING TO MICHAEL.

POLICE SHOW UP
READY FOR A TAKEDOWN.

Schettino:
WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTERED,

THEY SAW A LIFELESS FIGURE
ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.

Narrator:
POLICE SEARCH THE HOUSE

AND FIND LYDIA SITTING OUT BACK
COVERED IN BLOOD,

BUT SHE HAS ZERO STAB WOUNDS -

THE BLOOD IS ALL MICHAEL'S.

HE ATTACKED ME.

PARAMEDICS WORK FRANTICALLY
TO SAVE MICHAEL'S LIFE.

HE MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVES,

AND IS RELEASED FROM
THE HOSPITAL SEVEN DAYS LATER.

HE TRIED TO STRANGLE ME.
HE PUT A KNIFE TO MY THROAT.

POLICE PLACE LYDIA UNDER ARREST.

HE TRIED TO STRANGLE ME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.

Dr. Jordan:
WHEN LYDIA PICKED UP THAT KNIFE

AND USED IT
AGAINST HER HUSBAND MICHAEL,

IT WASN'T JUST
THAT SHE BELIEVED -

TRULY BELIEVED - THAT MICHAEL
WAS ABOUT TO KILL HER,

IT WAS PROBABLY A CULMINATION
OF EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT

SHE EVER HAD IN MARRIAGE -

THAT THIS WAS
ONE LAST MARITAL FAILURE

THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE
THE FINAL VICTIM OF.

Narrator: ONE YEAR LATER,

LYDIA'S CONVICTED
OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

THIS CASE WAS ABOUT
OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES,

AND NOT JUDGING
EITHER HIM OR HER

BASED UPON
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ALONE.

THE JURY WAS ABLE TO SEE PAST
LYDIA'S INNOCENT FACADE.

THEY REALIZED SHE WASN'T
WHO SHE SEEMED TO BE,

AND THAT SHE WAS CERTAINLY
CAPABLE OF INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE.

Narrator:
SHE'S SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS

IN THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS.

HER CASE IS CURRENTLY ON APPEAL.

Salce: I WAS DEFENDING MYSELF
FROM BEING KILLED.

THE COURTS, THE LAW,
THE JUDGES, THE ATTORNEYS,

THE ASSISTANT
DISTRICT ATTORNEY -

THEY DID NOT SEE IT
AS DEFENDING MYSELF.

AND SO, NOW, YOU'RE HERE
AND SENTENCED...

TO 16 YEARS.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT
ON A DAILY BASIS?

ONE DAY AT A TIME.