Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 7 - The Blues and Blades Don't Mix - full transcript

Man: YEAH! OW!

Narrator: A FAILED MARRIAGE
LEAVES A YOUNG MOTHER BROKE

AND HUNGRY FOR LOVE.

YOU DON'T HAVE
A GIRLFRIEND?

BUT WHEN SHE THINKS
SHE'S BEEN BETRAYED...

WHO WAS THAT BITCH?

SHE STARTED STALKING ME.
IT WAS REAL CRAZY.

WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?
Narrator: ...SHE SEEKS REVENGE.

STOP!
Johnson: YOU HURT MY HEART,

I'M GONNA HURT YOU.

ON YOUR KNEES.



Narrator:
SHE GIVES LOVE ONE MORE TRY...

I'D MY LIFE FOR HER
IN A HEARTBEAT.

Narrator:
...UNTIL OLD WOUNDS SPLIT OPEN.

WHY CAN'T YOU BE FAITHFUL?

ALL I FELT WAS LIKE,
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU."

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

LAWRENCE!

COME BACK HERE!

LAWRENCE!

NOVEMBER, 2004,
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.



[ GROANS ]

23-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL JOHNSON
HAS SNAPPED.

LAWRENCE!

Narrator: HER BOYFRIEND
AND THE FATHER OF HER BABY

IS LEAVING HER,

AND SHE'LL DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE HIM STAY.

ALL SHE KEPT TALKING ABOUT WAS,
"WHY ARE YOU LEAVING ME?"

AND I WAS TELLING HER,
"THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT."

COME OUT!

SO, SHE BLEW UP, GOT UPSET,

AND SAID,
"I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT HERE."

[ GROANS ]

Johnson: HE BROKE MY HEART BAD,

SO I FELT LIKE,
"I'M GONNA HURT YOU.

I'M GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL
HOW I FEEL.

I'LL MAKE YOU FEEL IT IN PAIN
HOW YOU MADE MY HEART FEEL."

Narrator: IT'S THE LATEST ROUND
IN A VICIOUS CYCLE OF BETRAYAL

THAT HAS PLAGUED CRYSTAL
SINCE CHILDHOOD.

AAH!

THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES.

Narrator: FALL 1993.

THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT
FOR 12-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL JOHNSON.

SHE'S ENJOYING
A HAPPY CHILDHOOD,

GROWING UP IN A WORKING-CLASS
FAMILY IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

SHE'S CLOSE TO HER PARENTS,
GETS GOOD GRADES,

AND HAS DREAMS
OF BECOMING A NURSE SOMEDAY.

OH, SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN.

OKAY.

I HAVE SOMETHING
TO TELL EVERYBODY

NOW THAT WE'RE ALL TOGETHER.

WE'RE GONNA ADOPT A BABY.

Narrator: THE NEWS TAKES CRYSTAL
COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.

YES!

WHILE CRYSTAL LIKES THE IDEA
OF A SIBLING,

SHE WONDERS WHY
HER PARENTS WANT TO ADOPT.

I MEAN, SHE HAD ME. WHY DON'T SHE JUST...
HAVE ANOTHER ONE?

YEAH, THEY HAD YOU.
THEY WENT AND GOT YOU.

YOU'RE ADOPTED.

I'M NOT ADOPTED.
STOP KIDDING.

'CAUSE I WAS, LIKE, A GOOD CHILD
UNTIL THEN... UNTIL THEN.

I'M ADOPTED?!

Narrator: HER COUSINS REVELATION
SENDS CRYSTAL SPINNING

INTO A PAINFUL WHIRLWIND
OF CONFUSION AND BETRAYAL.

YOU'RE OUR DAUGHTER.
WE LOVE YOU.

APPARENTLY, I'M NOT.

SHE CAN'T BELIEVE

HER PARENTS HAVE LIED TO HER
ALL THESE YEARS,

AND SHE NO LONGER TRUSTS THE
PEOPLE SHE CALLS MOM AND DAD.

I STARTED TELLING THEM,
"YOU'RE NOT MY MOM.

YOU'RE NOT MY DAD.
YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO."

Narrator: THE PAIN AND RAGE
SHE FEELS IS ALMOST CRIPPLING.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

HEY, YOU NEED TO BACK UP.

OKAY, WELL, YOU NEED TO GET
YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY FRIEND.

Narrator:
CRYSTAL STARTS ACTING OUT.

Johnson:
I KIND OF STARTED REBELLING -

SKIPPING SCHOOL,
FIGHTING IN SCHOOL,

I STARTED GETTING EXPELLED
FROM SCHOOL,

MY GRADES STARTED FALLING
IN SCHOOL,

BECAUSE BEFORE, I WAS A 4.0.

LIKE, MY TEMPER WAS JUST BAD.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

CUT IT OUT! CUT IT OUT!

Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

Dr. Jordan: MANY ADOPTED CHILDREN
HAVE A DETACHMENT DISORDER.

WHEN CRYSTAL FINDS OUT AT AGE 12

THAT THE PEOPLE
SHE THINKS ARE HER PARENTS

ARE ACTUALLY
HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS,

SHE FEELS INCREDIBLY BETRAYED.

THIS WILL DEFINITELY AFFECT
HER FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS.

Johnson:
I THOUGHT I WAS DIFFERENT.

LIKE, I WONDERED WHY
I DIDN'T HAVE A REAL MAMA.

YOU KNOW, LIKE,
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WERE YOU ANGRY
AT YOUR BIRTH MOTHER

AND YOU WERE ACTING OUT
ON YOUR ADOPTIVE PARENTS?

YES.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT!
TAKE HER AWAY! TAKE HER AWAY!

Narrator: CRYSTAL GETS ARRESTED
AFTER A PARTICULARLY NASTY FIGHT.

SHE'S SENT TO A DETENTION CENTER
AND THEN PUT ON PROBATION.

Woman: AFTER THIS, WE'RE GONNA
GET SOMETHING TO EAT, OKAY?

Man: I'LL BE TWO SECONDS AWAY.
DAD, I'M FINE.

Narrator: HOPING TO WIN BACK
CRYSTAL'S TRUST,

HER PARENTS MAKE A BOLD MOVE

THAT THEY HOPE
WILL REIN THEIR DAUGHTER IN -

THEY ARRANGE FOR HER
TO MEET HER BIOLOGICAL MOTHER.

AND WHEN I MET HER,
SHE DENIED EVEN HAVING KIDS,

BUT I LOOK JUST THAT WOMAN.

Narrator:
CRYSTAL QUICKLY REALIZES

SHE'S BETTER OFF
WITH THE FAMILY SHE'S GOT.

Johnson: SHE WAS ON DRUGS, AND I
REALIZED THAT SHE HAD 12 KIDS

AND THE STATE
TOOK US ALL AWAY...

AND SEEING WHAT MY LIFE
REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN.

SO A LOT OF MY BEHAVIOR STOPPED.

Narrator: THE MEETING INSPIRES
CRYSTAL TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.

SHE THROWS HERSELF
BACK INTO HER SCHOOLWORK

AND EARNS
HER HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA...

WITH PLANS
TO APPLY TO NURSING SCHOOL.

WHEN CRYSTAL
MEETS HER BIRTH MOTHER,

SHE GETS PERSPECTIVE,

AND SHE UNDERSTANDS
THAT HER ADOPTIVE PARENTS

REALLY ARE HER FAMILY,

BUT STILL, THOSE FEELINGS
OF BETRAYAL AND ABANDONMENT

ARE ALWAYS LINGERING
UNDER THE SURFACE,

THREATENING TO POP UP
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator: A FEW WEEKS AFTER
CRYSTAL GRADUATES,

A FAMILY FRIEND SHOWS UP
ON HER PARENTS' DOORSTEP.

MARK IS 10 YEARS OLDER
THAN CRYSTAL.

WELL, I DIDN'T REALLY LIKE HIM,

BUT HE WAS
MY COUSIN'S BEST FRIEND.

Narrator: HE'S A CHARMER AND
TAKES AN INSTANT LIKING TO HER.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?

TV.

Johnson: HE KEPT TALKING TO ME.

HE WAS KIND OF AGGRAVATING
A LITTLE BIT.

MAYBE WE CAN GO CATCH A MOVIE
SOMETIME OR A BITE TO EAT.

BUT HE HAD A CAR, YOU KNOW?

AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CAR?
I'M 19.

SO, WE JUST TALKED.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A WALK
WITH ME?

YEAH.

Narrator: MARK'S UNLIKE ANY BOY
SHE'S EVER DATED.

Johnson: HE WOULD, LIKE,
TAKE ME OUT ON DATES AND STUFF.

Narrator:
HE QUICKLY WINS CRYSTAL OVER.

HE WAS, LIKE, REALLY SWEET.

Narrator: AT FIRST,
DATING AN OLDER MAN IS FUN AND EXCITING,

BUT AFTER ONLY THREE MONTHS,

CRYSTAL DISCOVERS
SHE'S PREGNANT.

I'M JUST NERVOUS...

WHEN MARK HEARS THE NEWS, HE
DECIDES THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION.

IT FORCES THE TEENAGER
TO MAKE A GROWN-UP DECISION.

WILL YOU DO ME THE HONOR
OF BEING MY WIFE?

Johnson: AND I KIND OF
DIDN'T WANT TO GET MARRIED

'CAUSE I WAS YOUNG, YOU KNOW?

BUT I WAS LIKE,
"WELL, TO HECK WITH IT.

I'M PREGNANT.
I MIGHT AS WELL TRY IT."

[ CHUCKLES ]
[ SMOOCHES ]

OH, THAT LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL
ON YOU.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

WE HAD, LIKE, A LITTLE COUNTRY
WEDDING AT MY MOM'S HOUSE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

AT YOUR MOM'S HOUSE.
YES.

[ SCOFFS ]
NOT MY IDEAL WEDDING.

[ CHUCKLES ]
[ CHUCKLES ]

WE GOT MARRIED,
GOT IN OUR OWN PLACE,

AND IT WORKED
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

Narrator: BUT THE HONEYMOON
PHASE QUICKLY SOURS.

CRYSTAL, IS THAT YOU?

Johnson:
WE JUST DIDN'T WORK.

CRYSTAL!

WHAT? WHAT?

HE WAS JUST BORING, LIKE, DON'T
WANT TO DO NOTHING BUT GO HUNT.

CRYSTAL,
IT IS 3:00 IN THE MORNING.

EVENTUALLY,
THAT'S WHAT IT LED UP TO.

I STARTED GOING OUT
WITH MY FRIENDS.

I NEED YOU TO START ACTING
LIKE YOU ARE A MARRIED WOMAN

WHO'S ABOUT TO
HAVE MY CHILD!

I WOULDN'T EVEN COME HOME
SOMETIMES.

HAVE YOU
LOST YOUR **** MIND?!

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

YOU NEED TO START
ACTING LIKE AN ADULT!

WHEN I WOULD BE HOME, I WOULD
FIND REASONS TO FUSS WITH HIM.

I'MA WALK AWAY.

Dr. Jordan:
CRYSTAL FALLS FOR MARK

BECAUSE, AS AN OLDER,
ESTABLISHED GUY,

HE CAN MARRY HER
AND GET HER OUT OF HER HOUSE,

GIVE HER A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE
SHE'S REALLY CRAVING,

BUT WHAT SHE DIDN'T EXPECT

WAS HOW BORING MARRIED LIFE
WOULD BE.

[ BABY COOS ]

Narrator:
ONE YEAR AFTER MEETING MARK,

CRYSTAL GIVES BIRTH
TO A GIRL THEY NAME JADA.

[ BABY CRYING ]

BUT BEING A MOM
DOESN'T COME EASY TO HER.

[ CRIES ]

AND I WAS GOING THROUGH POSTPARTUM
DEPRESSION LIKE REALLY BAD.

I'M NOT HAPPY!

I WAS A CRYBABY, I WAS MOODY,
REALLY DEPRESSED,

AND I WAS PULLING AWAY
FROM MY DAUGHTER.

ALL THE CRYING AND STUFF,
LIKE, EVERYTHING

WAS JUST STARTING TO BOTHER ME
AND REALLY GET TO ME.

CRYSTAL? HONEY?

WHAT?
Narrator: WEEKS GO BY,

AND CRYSTAL'S DEPRESSION
GETS EVEN WORSE.

JUST WANT TO TAKE YOU
TO TALK TO A DOCTOR.

MY MOM WAS KIND OF SCARED

THAT I, YOU KNOW,
WOULD HAVE BEEN SUICIDAL.

Narrator: MARK IS DESPERATE
FOR CRYSTAL TO GET BETTER.

Johnson: HIM AND MY MAMA,
THEY LINKED UP TOGETHER

AND FELT THAT IT WAS BETTER
FOR ME TO GO GET TREATMENT.

MAYBE GET YOU
SOME MEDICATIONS

SO YOU CAN JUST TRANSITION
WITH THE BABY.

Narrator: BUT THE YOUNG MOTHER
REFUSES THEIR HELP.

IF I LEAVE,
I'M NOT COMING BACK.

MAMA, NO!
I'M NOT COMING BACK!

CRYSTAL FEELS TRAPPED.

I'M LEAVING!
Mark: BABY, STOP!

CRYSTAL!

I AM NOT
GOING TO THAT DOCTOR!

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
WHERE YOU GOING?

CRYSTAL! CRYSTAL, CRYSTAL,
CRYSTAL, COME ON.

Narrator: MARK AND HER MOTHER
PANIC WHEN SHE TAKES OFF.

GET OUT OF THE CAR!

SHUT UP!

CRYSTAL!

[ TIRES SCREECH ]
CRYSTAL!

Narrator:
CRYSTAL JOHNSON'S HAD A HISTORY

OF ANGRY AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR

SINCE LEARNING AT THE AGE OF 12
THAT SHE WAS ADOPTED.

NOW 20,
THE BIRTH OF HER DAUGHTER

ADDS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
TO HER VOLATILE MIX.

CRYSTAL'S DETERMINED
TO ESCAPE HER REALITY...

CRYSTAL!

...ANY WAY SHE CAN.

CRYSTAL'S EMOTIONS
OVERWHELM HER,

AND SECONDS LATER,
SHE YANKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL

AND PURPOSELY RUNS HER CAR
INTO A DITCH.

AAH!

CALL 911! CRYSTAL!

WAIT A MINUTE. YOU RAN YOUR CAR
IN A DITCH PURPOSELY

TO KILL YOURSELF?
YES.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE
A CRAZY PERSON, YEAH.

Mark: CRYSTAL!

WHAT DO YOU WANT?!

WHAT?!

GET OUT OF THE CAR!
YOU SHUT UP!

Narrator:
MARK IS NOW CONVINCED

CRYSTAL IS A DANGER TO HERSELF
AND NEEDS HELP.

Johnson:
I WAS TALKING SUICIDAL.

I WAS, LIKE, CRYING NONSTOP.

BACK UP, SIR!
I'M HER HUSBAND!

WE GOT THIS!
I AM HER HUSBAND!

I AM HER HUSBAND!
HEY!

Narrator: THE POLICE TAKE CRYSTAL
TO A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

I DON'T WANT TO GO!

THE FACILITY IS 80 MILES AWAY
IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

I'M NOT COMING BACK!

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

NO! STOP! NO!
I DON'T WANT TO GO!

Narrator: DOCTORS THERE DIAGNOSE
HER WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION...

GET OUT!
GET OUT OF HERE!

...AND BIPOLAR DISORDER...

...BUT CRYSTAL DOESN'T THINK
SHE BELONGS THERE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT
IT WAS LIKE IN THE INSTITUTION.

IT WAS - I WAS NERVOUS

BECAUSE I BE WITH PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW,

THAT, LIKE,
TALK TO THEM THEMSELVES.

THEY'LL WALK AROUND,
BE LOOKING CRAZY.

ONE WOULD FOLLOW ME.
THAT WAS WEIRD.

PEOPLE THERE
GOT SOME REAL ISSUES.

AFTER JUST A WEEK OF TREATMENT,

THE CLINIC RELEASES HER WITH
A BOTTLE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS.

AND I TOOK THAT
FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

BUT THEN I QUIT TAKING IT
'CAUSE IT MADE ME SLEEP.

DID IT HELP AT THE TIME?
MM-HMM.

GOOD.
IT DID.

THE DOCTORS ALSO RECOMMEND

THAT SHE CONTINUE THERAPY.

CRYSTAL IGNORES
THE ADVICE OF HER DOCTORS.

SHE DECIDES TO STAY
WITH HER UNCLE IN COLUMBIA

INSTEAD OF GOING HOME

AND GETS A JOB
AT THE LOCAL MALL.

AFTER SPENDING TIME
IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL,

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WAKE-UP
FOR CRYSTAL,

BUT INSTEAD, SHE IS NOT
TAKING HER MEDICATION,

NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

Narrator:
BUT LIVING WITH HER UNCLE MEANS

SHE'S OVER AN HOUR AWAY
FROM HER DAUGHTER.

HELLO.
JOHNSON: Hello.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Crystal...

COULD YOU
BRING THE BABY BY?

No, I'm not gonna
bring her to you.

Johnson: I WOULD CALL FOR HIM
TO COME OUT THERE, YOU KNOW,

TO BRING HER TO SEE ME,

BUT HE WAS LIKE, "YOU COME HOME,
AND YOU CAN SEE HER."

I TOLD YOU,
"IF YOU SEND ME TO THE HOSPITAL,

I'm not coming back!"

[ TELEPHONE BEEPS ]

Narrator: WHEN HER UNCLE DIES
A YEAR LATER,

CRYSTAL IS FORCED
TO GO BACK HOME TO AUGUSTA,

BUT HER MARRIAGE TO MARK
IS OVER.

HEY, GIRL!

SHE GETS A JOB AT WALMART, RENTS
A SMALL APARTMENT OF HER OWN,

AND VISITS WITH HER DAUGHTER,
WHO'S IN MARK'S CUSTODY.

SHE'S BARELY SCRAPING BY.

WHY DON'T COME OVER TO THE CLUB
AND DANCE WITH ME?

I CAN'T DANCE, GIRL!
WHEN A FRIEND TELLS HER

HOW MUCH MONEY SHE CAN EARN
AS A STRIPPER...

HOW MUCH MONEY WE TALKING ABOUT?
A LOT MORE.

...CRYSTAL CAN'T RESIST.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Johnson:
MY FRIEND WAS DOING IT,

AND SHE WOULD HAVE, LIKE,
A LOT OF MONEY EVERY DAY,

SO I WAS LIKE,
"HMM, I'MA TRY IT."

Narrator: SURPRISINGLY, ON THE
FIRST NIGHT OF HER NEW CAREER,

SHE DANCES HER WAY
INTO ANOTHER RELATIONSHIP.

THAT'S WHEN I MET LAWRENCE.

Mitchell: GET IT, GIRL!

Mitchell:
I WAS JUST YOUNG AND NAIVE.

I REALLY WASN'T LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING

AND JUST OUT TO HAVE FUN.

LOOKS LIKE
YOU HAD A GOOD NIGHT.

I DID, YEAH.

YEAH.
[ CHUCKLES ]

WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME
LIKE THAT?

I JUST...[ CHUCKLES ]
I'M JUST AMAZED.

LIKE, YOU LOOK DIFFERENT
THAN ALL THESE OTHER GIRLS,

AND YOU GOT IT.

HE WAS CUTE,

AND WE WAS, LIKE,
AROUND THE SAME AGE, FINALLY.

YOU DON'T HAVE
A GIRLFRIEND?

AH, NO, NO.
NO GIRLFRIEND FOR ME.

Narrator: THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN
CRYSTAL AND LAWRENCE IS UNDENIABLE,

AND IT ENDS HER NEW CAREER
AFTER JUST ONE NIGHT.

CHEERS TO A BEAUTIFUL DATE.

Mitchell:
SHE WAS A NICE PERSON.

SHE WAS COOL TO BE WITH,
AND WE HAD FUN TOGETHER.

Johnson: AND I DIDN'T EVEN
GO BACK TO THE CLUB.

WE WAS TOGETHER LIKE EVERY DAY
AFTER THAT.

Narrator: HE SPOILS CRYSTAL.

EVEN THOUGH LAWRENCE
IS LIVING WITH HIS MOTHER,

HE HAS A STABLE JOB
WORKING AS A STOCK BOY

AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE.

CRYSTAL FALLS FOR HIM... HARD.

Johnson:
OH, I THOUGHT HE WAS THE ONE.

I CARED ABOUT LAWRENCE MORE THAN
WHAT I DID THE REST OF THEM.

LIKE, THE WAY I LOOKED AT HIM
WAS DIFFERENT.

IT WAS, LIKE,
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM.

LIKE, IT WAS JUST - EVERYTHING
JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS RIGHT.

WHAT WAS SO GOOD ABOUT HIM?

SEX WAS GOOD,
HE WAS FINANCIALLY STABLE,

YOU KNOW, HE WAS ADVENTUROUS,
YOU KNOW, WE HAD FUN TOGETHER.

EVERYTHING WAS JUST PERFECT.

BUT LAWRENCE
ISN'T LOOKING TO GET SERIOUS.

Mitchell: EVERYTHING WAS GOOD,
YOU KNOW, FOR A FEW MONTHS.

FIRST,
IT WAS JUST TO CHILL WITH HER.

I WASN'T EXPECTING FOR ANYTHING
TO PROGRESS FOR LONG-TERM.

IT WASN'T A REAL RELATIONSHIP.

I WAS MESSING WITH OTHER WOMEN

BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WAS OUT THERE
DOING WHATEVER SHE WANTED TO DO.

SO, SHE WAS WITH - YOU KNOW,
SHE DONE HAD OTHER GUYS

AT THE TIME
WHEN SHE WAS MESSING WITH ME.

Narrator:
BUT CRYSTAL CLAIMS OTHERWISE.

IF I LOVE SOMEBODY AND I REALLY
LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART,

I LOVE THEM HARD.

LIKE, I DON'T WANT NOBODY ELSE
BUT THAT PERSON.

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

Narrator: WHEN CRYSTAL PICKS UP
ON LAWRENCE'S LACK OF COMMITMENT,

SHE BECOMES POSSESSIVE
AND PARANOID.

HEY, EMILY!

HOW ARE YOU?

ONE DAY, LAWRENCE
RUNS INTO A CHILDHOOD FRIEND

AT THE NEARBY MALL.

HEY, WELL, I GOT TO RUN.
IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU.

IT WAS GOOD SEEING YOU.
HOPEFULLY, I SEE YOU SOON.

YEAH, LET'S CATCH UP SOON.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD.

SEE YOU.
READY?

NO, I'M NOT READY.
WHO WAS THAT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"WHO WAS THAT?"

WHO WAS THAT BITCH?
Narrator: THE ENCOUNTER

SENDS CRYSTAL REELING.

WHY ARE YOU TRIPPING RIGHT NOW?
WHY AM I TRIPPING?

Mitchell: WHEN SHE SEEN ME TALKING TO
HER, SHE GOT UPSET ABOUT IT,

CLAIMING THAT
THAT WAS MY GIRLFRIEND

AND WAS A WOMAN
THAT I WAS MESSING WITH.

SEEMS LIKE ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS MAKE ME MAD IN PUBLIC PLACES!

CRYSTAL, YOU NEED TO TAKE IT
DOWN A NOTCH, ALL RIGHT?

HOW DOWN YOU WANT ME TO GET?
ALL OF A SUDDEN,

SHE JUST STARTS TRIPPING
AND TRIPPING AND TRIPPING,

SO I SAID, "LOOK, JUST BRING ME
HOME, AND I'M DONE WITH THIS."

Johnson: YOU SHOULD HAVE
TOLD EMILY TO TAKE YOU HOME.

JUST GET IN THE CAR. LET'S GO.
YOU GET IN THE CAR!

CRYSTAL'S BIPOLAR DISORDER
MANIFESTS ITSELF

NOT ONLY IN MOOD SWINGS
BUT IN DISTORTED THINKING.

SHE BECOMES SKEWED AND OBSESSED
ABOUT PARTICULAR CONCEPTS.

IN CRYSTAL'S CASE, SHE THINKS

ANY MAN THAT SHE EVER LOVES
AND COMMITS HERSELF TO

IS BOUND TO CHEAT ON HER
AND BETRAY HER.

I DON'T WANT TO...[ SIGHS ]

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO
FIGHT WITH YOU ANYMORE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO FIGHT.

Narrator:
BY THE SIXTH-MONTH MARK,

CRYSTAL AND LAWRENCE
HAVE POLAR-OPPOSITE VIEWS

OF WHERE THEY SEE
THEIR RELATIONSHIP GOING.

OH, I WAS DEEP IN LOVE
WITH HIM -

LIKE DEEP, DEEP IN LOVE
WITH HIM.

LIKE, I KIND OF, LIKE, STOPPED
BEING AROUND WITH MY FRIENDS

AND EVERYTHING FOR HIM.

Mitchell:
I WAS NEVER IN LOVE WITH HER.

JUST TAKE IT DOWN
A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT WAS MORE LIKE

I DIDN'T REALLY WANT
A RELATIONSHIP AT THE TIME

BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE A FUTURE
WITH HER, ANYWAY.

[ SCOFFS ] OKAY.

AS THE TIME PROGRESSED,
I WANTED NOT TO REALLY BE THERE.

Narrator: WHEN LAWRENCE TELLS
CRYSTAL HE FINALLY WANTS OUT,

IT SENDS HER OBSESSIVENESS
INTO OVERDRIVE.

YOU CAN'T COME HERE TO MY
WORKPLACE WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.

Johnson: WELL, WE SEPARATED

'CAUSE HE TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T
WANT TO BE WITH ME NO MORE.

I KEPT AFTER HIM
FOR LIKE A WHOLE WEEK STRAIGHT,

AND HE WAS LIKE,
"I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU."

SO, JUST STOPPED
CHASING HIM AROUND.

Narrator: BUT THREE WEEKS LATER,
CRYSTAL'S GOT SOME NEWS

SHE HOPES WILL BRING LAWRENCE
BACK TO HER.

LIKE WHAT?
WHAT'S GOING ON?

Johnson: WE'RE PREGNANT.

Johnson: I WAS, LIKE, EXCITED
ABOUT THAT PREGNANCY.

YOU KNOW,
KIND OF WAS PLANNED IN A WAY -

LIKE, I WAS TRYING
TO GET PREGNANT, YOU KNOW?

I WANTED A FAMILY WITH HIM.

ARE YOU SURE?

Narrator: LAWRENCE CLAIMS CRYSTAL HAD
TOLD HIM SHE WAS ON BIRTH CONTROL.

I'MA BE RESPONSIBLE...

THE LAST THING LAWRENCE WANTS
IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH CRYSTAL,

BUT HE CAN'T BRING HIMSELF
TO ABANDON HER AND THEIR BABY.

A CHILD WAS BEING INVOLVED,
SO I KNEW, AT THAT TIME,

THAT I COULDN'T CONTINUE
TO DO WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO

AND NOT WORRY ABOUT
ANY RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO, THAT KIND OF MADE ME
STICK AROUND A LITTLE LONGER

TO JUST, YOU KNOW, HELP HER OUT
UNTIL THE BABY CAME.

HOW ARE WE DOING
OVER HERE?

Narrator: HAVING MADE THE
DECISION TO STICK AROUND,

LAWRENCE SEES NO HARM
IN BEING INTIMATE WITH CRYSTAL.

OH, YEAH.

BUT HE MAKES IT CLEAR

HE'S STILL NOT INTERESTED
IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

NONETHELESS, SHE REFUSES
TO LET GO OF HER DREAM

OF BUILDING A LIFE WITH HIM.

I'D HAD THE BABY BEDROOM.
EVERYTHING WAS WINNIE THE POOH.

Mitchell:
SHE GOT MORE SERIOUS.

SHE STARTED CLAIMING
SHE WANTED TO HAVE A FAMILY,

BUT I STILL KNEW
THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED.

SO, I TOLD HER
THAT AFTER THE BABY CAME

I DIDN'T WANT TO
BE WITH HER ANYMORE.

Narrator: OCTOBER 2004.

CRYSTAL GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY
SHE AND LAWRENCE NAME DEON...

BUT THE BABY'S PREMATURE
AND HAS TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.

LAWRENCE GOES HOME WITH CRYSTAL
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS

TO HELP HER RECOVER
FROM THE BIRTH.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Mitchell:
I KIND OF STUCK AROUND

JUST, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE
THAT SHE WOULD BE OKAY,

AND WHEN THAT TIME CAME,
NOW I CAN GO,

LEAVE HER ALONE, LET HER BE,
AND ME GO DO MY OWN THING.

SO, YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS?
I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE THE BABY.

Narrator: LAWRENCE ASSURES
CRYSTAL HE'LL BE A RESPONSIBLE DAD

BUT TELLS HER THEIR RELATIONSHIP
IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

CAN'T DO THIS!
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHEN CRYSTAL REALIZES
HE MEANS IT,

SHE COMES COMPLETELY UNHINGED.

I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS!
YOU'RE CRAZY! DON'T HIT ME!

Mitchell: THEN, SHE JUST HOPPED
UP AND WAS TRYING TO FIGHT ME,

PUTTING HER HANDS ON ME.

NO, DON'T YOU WALK AWAY
FROM ME!

JUST LOOK -
STOP! LOOK, RELAX!

I LOVED HIM, BUT I HATED HIM
FOR WHAT HE PUT ME THROUGH.

AND YOU FELT BETRAYED.

VERY. VERY BETRAYED.

YEAH, I SAID STOP TOUCHING ME!
I'M GONNA KILL YOU!

Dr. Jordan: THIS IS
THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMING

FOR LAWRENCE
TO BE BREAKING UP WITH CRYSTAL.

SHE HAS
HER UNTREATED BIPOLAR DISORDER

AND NOW POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
ONCE AGAIN,

MAKING HER THE PERFECT STORM TO
DO SOMETHING REALLY DANGEROUS.

Mitchell:
SHE LOOKED RIGHT UPSET

AND SAID,
"I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT HERE."

WHY DON'T YOU
JUST LET HIM LEAVE?

BECAUSE
I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM,

AND I FELT LIKE
I COULDN'T BE WITHOUT HIM.

I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T
DO NOTHING WITHOUT THAT DUDE.

I LOVED HIM
WITH ALL MY HEART.

Narrator: CRYSTAL SEES RED...

AND SHE'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

Narrator: WHEN THE FATHER OF
HER BABY TELLS HER HE'S LEAVING,

IT SHATTERS
CRYSTAL JOHNSON'S FANTASY

OF HAVING THE PERFECT FAMILY.

SHE REFUSES TO LET HIM GO.

LAWRENCE!
YOU'RE STILL PACKING?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
WITH THOSE?

I KNEW
SHE WAS CRAZY ENOUGH TO DO IT.

LOOK, YOU DON'T LISTEN.
I WAS SHOCKED...

GET OUT OF MY WAY!
...BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I WAS JUST MAINLY THINKING
ABOUT LEAVING.

I DIDN'T BELIEVE
THAT SHE GONNA REALLY STAB ME.

I WAS SO WRONG.

YOUR ASS IS CRAZY!
I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS!

I DON'T WANT TO
BE WITH YOUR ASS!

AAH!

SHE JUST STARTED
SWINGING THE KNIFE AT ME.

I TOOK, SIMULTANEOUSLY,
TWO IN THE SHOULDER.

SHE THREW A THIRD ONE
TO TRY TO STAB ME IN MY FACE.

I THREW MY ARM UP,
AND SHE HIT ME ON MY FOREARM.

AAH!

ALL I FELT WAS LIKE,
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU."

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?!

I TRIED TO RUN
DOWN THE STAIRS...

WHEN SHE SWUNG AGAIN
AND STABBED ME IN MY BACK.

I STUMBLED
AND ROLLED DOWN THE STAIRS.

[ GROANS ]

Johnson: THAT WAS THE ANGRIEST
I'D EVER BEEN.

AFTER ALL THE STUFF
HE DONE PUT ME THROUGH?

Narrator: LAWRENCE KNOWS
HE'S GOT TO SOMEHOW ESCAPE

IF HE WANTS TO LIVE.

AND I RAN OUT THE DOOR.

THAT'S WHAT SAVED HIS LIFE,
BECAUSE IF THAT DOOR WAS LOCKED,

I WOULD HAVE
JUST KEPT STABBING HIM

'CAUSE MY INTENTIONS
WAS TO KILL HIM.

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA LIE. LIKE,
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

Narrator: LAWRENCE IS STARTING TO
FEEL THE EFFECTS OF HIS WOUNDS.

Mitchell: MY ARM WAS NUMBING UP,
AND I COULDN'T LIFT IT.

SO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD
FOR ME TO DEFEND MYSELF.

I WAS IN PAIN
FROM THE STAB WOUNDS.

LAWRENCE!
COME BACK HERE!

Narrator:
LAWRENCE SEES NO WAY OUT.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ GROANS ]

Narrator: HE CALLS 911.

YEAH. MY EX-GIRLFRIEND
JUST TRIED TO KILL ME.

AAH!

Narrator:
ALL LAWRENCE CAN DO NOW IS WAIT.

LAWRENCE!

SHE REALLY WAS
TRYING TO TAKE MY LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HER MIND.

IT'S NOTHING
THAT I POSSIBLY COULD HAVE DID

TO HAVE HER
SO CRAZY AND POSSESSIVE

TO WANT TO TAKE MY LIFE.

AAH!

Narrator: CRYSTAL
IS SO DETERMINED TO FIND HIM,

SHE IGNORES
THE APPROACHING POLICE SIRENS.

DAMN!

MA'AM?
IS HE DEAD?

IS HE DEAD?

I DON'T KNOW!
DROP THE KNIFE!

THEY TAKE HER INTO CUSTODY

AND CHARGE HER
WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY.

I'M NOT FINISHED!

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

ALL RIGHT. GET IN THE CAR.

PARAMEDICS RUSH LAWRENCE
TO THE HOSPITAL,

WHERE DOCTORS TELL HIM
HE'S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

HE HAS NERVE DAMAGE IN HIS ARM,

BUT HIS BACKPACK
BORE MOST OF THE BRUNT

OF CRYSTAL'S ATTACK FROM BEHIND.

FROM WHAT THEY SAID, ONE,
LIKE, JUST MISSED HIS HEART.

WHEN CRYSTAL ATTACKS LAWRENCE,
THIS IS REALLY THE CULMINATION

OF ALL OF THE PAIN
OF BETRAYAL AND ABANDONMENT

FROM HER CHILDHOOD.

WHAT CRYSTAL IS REALLY SAYING
IS,

"DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME."

SHE WANTS TO DESTROY THE FEELING

THAT SOMEONE
IS WALKING AWAY FROM HER

AND NOT LOVING HER AGAIN.

Narrator:
CRYSTAL IS RELEASED ON BOND.

DEON'S STILL IN THE HOSPITAL

AND WILL STAY WITH HER PARENTS
WHEN HE'S READY TO GO HOME.

CRYSTAL REFUSES
TO GIVE UP ON LAWRENCE.

SHE CONVINCES HERSELF THAT THEY
STILL HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER.

HEY, BABE.

HI.

WHAT THE HELL
IS WRONG WITH YOU?

I CAME TO VISIT YOU.

I LOVED HIM TO DEATH, YOU KNOW?
I STILL TRIED TO BE WITH HIM.

DON'T YOU MISS ME?
I'M AT WORK!

I'M BUSY RIGHT NOW!
I'M AT WORK!

I DON'T BELIEVE
SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH ME.

I DON'T THINK SO AT ALL.

I THINK SHE JUST WANTED WHAT SHE
WANTED AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW -

JUST WANTED TO HAVE ME

'CAUSE SHE FELT, AT THAT TIME,
SHE COULDN'T HAVE ME NO MORE.

SO, YOU CAN RAISE YOUR VOICE,
BUT I CAN'T RAISE MINE?

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE,
OKAY?

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO LAWRENCE,

CRYSTAL'S OBSESSION WITH HIM
IS PUTTING HIS JOB AT RISK.

Mitchell:
I CAN'T DO THIS!

I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU
GETTING IN TROUBLE!

Mitchell:
SHE STARTED STALKING ME.

WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?

I TOLD YOU, YOU CAN'T COME HERE
AND BOTHER MY EMPLOYEE.

SHE WOULD TALK LOUD, THROW
THINGS AT ME OFF THE SHELF.

AT TIME, MY MANAGERS HAD TO COME
AND PUT HER OUT THE STORE.

I WOULD SEE HER
SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT,

WAITING FOR ME TO SHOW UP.

IT WAS REAL CRAZY -
REAL CRAZY.

Narrator: JANUARY 12, 2005.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS
SINCE THE STABBING,

AND CRYSTAL IS ONCE AGAIN
ON THE HUNT FOR LAWRENCE.

I WAS LOOKING FOR HIM ONE DAY

'CAUSE HE WASN'T
ANSWERING HIS PHONE.

Narrator: SHE LURKS OUTSIDE THE
GROCERY STORE AS HE LEAVES WORK.

HE'S WITH A WOMAN, AND CRYSTAL
IS SURE SOMETHING IS GOING ON.

SO, I GET OUT OF THE CAR,
AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT THE ****"

HEY, LAWRENCE.

HEY, LAWRENCE.
WHO IS THIS?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

I WAS GONNA BEAT HER ASS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHO ARE YOU, HUH?

HEY, HEY, HEY!
BREAK IT UP RIGHT NOW!

Johnson: I TRIED TO FIGHT WITH HER,
BUT HE WOULDN'T LET ME GET TO HER.

Narrator:
CRYSTAL IS CONVINCED THE WOMAN

IS STANDING IN THE WAY
OF HER HAPPINESS WITH LAWRENCE.

Mitchell: SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE GIRL.
IT WAS A COWORKER.

SHE NEVER MET THE GIRL BEFORE,

AND I WAS TALKING
TO ONE OF THE MALE COWORKERS.

IF YOU ANSWERED THE PHONE,
I WOULDN'T COME HERE!

STOP YELLING OUT HERE!
I WORK HERE!

WHEN YOU GET PREGNANT,
YOU GET A LITTLE BIT NUTTY,

AND YOU HAVE
YOUR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

WERE YOU JUST PARANOID?

NOPE. NOT AT ALL.
NOT AT ALL.

HOLD ON.

Dr. Jordan: CRYSTAL'S
UNTREATED BIPOLAR DISORDER

AND HER POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

ARE REALLY WREAKING HAVOC
WITH HER THOUGHT PROCESS.

SHE NOW SEES LAWRENCE
AND ANY WOMAN THAT HE'S WITH

THROUGH A PARANOID LENS
OF "HE'S CHEATING ON ME."

QUITE SIMPLY, SHE'S CREATING
SCENARIOS THAT AREN'T EVEN REAL.

GO GET MY PURSE!
CRYSTAL, JUST GO!

GET IT!

GET YOU PURSE AND GO!

Mitchell: AND THAT'S WHEN
SHE JUMPED IN THE CAR.

WHEN SHE BACKED UP,
I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, GOOD.

SHE LEAVING.

I WON'T HAVE NO PROBLEMS
TONIGHT."

IT'S ALL GOOD.
I THINK SHE'S ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

Narrator: BUT CRYSTAL ISN'T
FINISHED WITH LAWRENCE YET.

Johnson: AND WHEN I CAUGHT HIM WITH
HER, I JUST SNAPPED.

WHEN YOU HURT ME, YOU KNOW,
YOU HURT ME EMOTIONALLY,

I'M ABOUT TO HURT YOU
PHYSICALLY.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

Mitchell:
WE HEARD THE ENGINE REV UP.

SHE FLOORED IT.

[ TIRES SQUEAL ]

STOP! NO!

[ ENGINE REVS ]

Narrator: CRYSTAL JOHNSON
THINKS SHE'S BEEN JILTED

BY THE LOVE OF HER LIFE,
AND SHE'S OUT FOR REVENGE.

SHE'S ALREADY SLICED LAWRENCE
OPEN WITH A KNIFE,

BUT HE SURVIVED THE ATTACK.

NOW SHE'S BACK TO FINISH THE JOB
ONCE AND FOR ALL.

STOP! NO!

Woman: WHAT THE HELL?

Man:
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?

AND I GUESS SHE MADE HER MIND UP

TO IT GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE
TO TAKE MY LIFE.

I WAS LIKE, "THIS FEELS LIKE
A MOVIE - AN ACTION FLICK."

Johnson: HE'S DRAMATIC.

I WASN'T EVEN GOING THAT FAST,

BUT, YEAH,
I HIT HIM WITH THE CAR.

YEAH, I'M FINE, I'M FINE.
I'M GONNA CALL THE COPS.

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

MY EX-GIRLFRIEND
JUST TRIED TO RUN ME OVER.

Narrator: LAWRENCE CAN'T BELIEVE
CRYSTAL IS TRYING TO KILL HIM AGAIN.

Mitchell: I REALLY WANTED TO GO
AND DO HER HARM.

I WAS REALLY PISSED OFF.

[ SIREN CHIRPS ]

Narrator: SHE DOESN'T GET FAR
BEFORE POLICE TRACK HER DOWN.

WELL, HOW WAS IT
WHEN THE JIG WAS UP,

WHEN YOU SAW THE COPS
IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR

PULLING YOU OVER?

I WAS STILL TRYING
TO TALK MY WAY OUT OF IT.

BUT IT DIDN'T WORK,
SO I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, I DID IT."

STEP OUT OF THE CAR, PLEASE,
MA'AM.

Johnson: I TRIED TO GIVE THEM A
WHOLE STORY, BUT I WENT TO JAIL.

BEHIND YOUR BACK.

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN, CRYSTAL IS
CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BATTERY.

FOR WHAT?

Johnson:
MY LAWYER WAS TRYING TO SAY

THAT I'D BEEN GOING THROUGH
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

AND THAT I DIDN'T GET HELP
WITH THIS PREGNANCY,

SO THEY WAS TRYING
TO SEND ME TO A HOSPITAL.

Narrator: CRYSTAL ENDS UP
PLEADING TO A LESSER CHARGE

FOR BOTH THE STABBING
AND THE HIT- AND-RUN.

SHE'S SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS,
NINE OF WHICH ARE SUSPENDED.

SHE SPENDS ONE YEAR IN JAIL,

FOLLOWED BY FIVE YEARS
OF SUPERVISED PROBATION.

LAWRENCE GETS CUSTODY
OF THEIR SON, DEON.

Mitchell: HER GOING TO JAIL
WAS A BIG RELIEF.

YOU KNOW, SHE NEVER REALLY
TOOK CARE OF NONE OF HER KIDS,

BUT I'M PRETTY SURE
SHE DO LOVE HER KIDS.

CRYSTAL KNOWS THAT
YOU CAN ABANDON YOUR CHILDREN

WITHOUT RECOURSE.

HER OWN BIRTH MOTHER ABANDONED
12 OF HER OWN CHILDREN.

SO, CRYSTAL'S NOTION OF
MOTHERHOOD IS VERY DISTORTED.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 2006.

WHEN CRYSTAL GETS OUT OF JAIL,
SHE'S 25 YEARS OLD.

SHE MOVES BACK IN
WITH HER PARENTS

AND TRIES TO JUMPSTART HER LIFE.

Johnson: HI.

BUT GETTING A JOB IS TOUGH
WITH HER CRIMINAL HISTORY.

ON HER WAY TO A JOB INTERVIEW,

SHE CATCHES THE EYE
OF THE DRIVER, JORDAN SMITH.

NERVOUS?

I AM NERVOUS.

WELL, IF YOU GO IN
FOR THIS INTERVIEW...

I WANTED TO SEE
WHERE THINGS WOULD GO

BECAUSE I REALLY
WAS ATTRACTED TO HER.

HERE YOU ARE.
THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM.
YOU'LL DO GREAT.

[ CHUCKLES ] OH, THANKS.

Narrator: JORDAN'S FLIRTING BARELY
GETS A RESPONSE FROM CRYSTAL.

BUT TWO WEEKS LATER,
SHE FLAGS DOWN A CAB,

AND GUESS
WHO'S BEHIND THE WHEEL?

THIS IS FATE RIGHT HERE.
OH, IT'S FATE?

THIS IS FATE.

I FINALLY SAID,
"WELL, I SHOULD TRY."

AND I STARTED TALKING TO HER.

AND I JUST WORK AND SLEEP
BASICALLY.

WE ARE IN ATL,
AND YOU DON'T GO OUT -

SOMEBODY LOOKING LIKE YOU?

AND OUR CONVERSATION WAS GOOD.

I SEEN WE HAD THINGS IN COMMON.

WHY DON'T YOU LET ME
TAKE YOU OUT SOMETIME, RIGHT?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

SO, I STARTED
TO GET EVEN MORE EXCITED

ABOUT TRYING
TO PUSH SOMETHING FORWARD.

THE TAXI MAN.

THE TAXI MAN.
THAT'S RIGHT.

Narrator:
JORDAN'S MOM WORKS AT A HOTEL,

SO FOR THEIR FIRST DATE,
HE PLANS A ROMANTIC EVENING

IN ONE OF THE SUITES
WITH WINE AND ROOM SERVICE.

Johnson: WE SPENT
OUR FIRST NIGHT TOGETHER,

AND WE JUST HOOKED UP,

AND, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS ADVENTUROUS, IT WAS FUN.

Narrator: CRYSTAL THINKS THIS COULD
BE THE START OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

YOU REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU
ABOUT MY BABY DADDY, RIGHT?

THE NEXT MORNING,

CRYSTAL DECIDES TO COME CLEAN
WITH JORDAN.

I SPENT TIME IN PRISON
'CAUSE I STABBED HIM.

WAIT, HOLD ON.
LIKE - OKAY.

SHE GOES ON TO TELL HIM
HER HISTORY WITH LAWRENCE

AND HOW SHE FELT
HE BETRAYED HER.

YEP. I TOLD HIM UP FRONT

'CAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING
YOU JUST DON'T HIDE FROM NOBODY,

AND IT DIDN'T SCARE HIM AWAY,
YOU KNOW?

HE WAS LIKE, "WELL,
I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT TO YOU."

YOU WERE PUTTING JORDAN
ON NOTICE.

YEAH, A LITTLE HINT.

YEAH.

I KNOW THAT'S MEAN,
BUT, YEAH.

"IF YOU CHEAT ON ME,

YOU BETTER RUN FASTER
THAN A KNIFE CAN SWING"?

[ CHUCKLES ]

Smith: I WAS SHOCKED A
LITTLE BIT IN THE BEGINNING.

I KIND OF PUT MYSELF
IN HER SHOES

AND REALIZED
IF SOMEBODY DID THAT TO ME,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY REACTION
WOULD HAVE BEEN.

YOU AIN'T GOT TO WORRY
ABOUT THAT WITH ME, ALL RIGHT?

Narrator:
DESPITE CRYSTAL'S DARK PAST,

JORDAN IS COMPLETELY
SWEPT OFF HIS FEET.

MM-HMM.

I GOT YOU.

Smith: I WOULD DESCRIBE HER
AS BEAUTIFUL, SMART,

STRONG-MINDED, INDEPENDENT,
VERY CARING.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER,
WITH HER PASSION FOR LIFE.

Narrator: THE COUPLE
QUICKLY BECOMES INSEPARABLE.

Johnson: WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON,
YOU KNOW?

WE WERE BOTH ADVENTUROUS.
WE BOTH LIKED TO HAVE FUN.

Smith: I DID THINGS
THAT I AIN'T NEVER DID BEFORE.

I RODE A BOAT FOR THE FIRST TIME
WITH HER.

WE DID NATURE TRAILS.
WE DID EXCITING THINGS.

I THINK WE BOTH WAS VERY HAPPY.

Narrator:
WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS,

CRYSTAL MOVES INTO
JORDAN'S APARTMENT.

THEY'RE BOTH CONVINCED
THEY'VE FOUND THE ONE.

Smith:
I WANT A FAMILY WITH HER.

I LOVE HER TREMENDOUSLY.

I'D GIVE MY LIFE FOR HER
IN A HEARTBEAT.

UH, HOLD UP.

WHY IS LAURA TEXTING ME SAYING
YOU MESSING WITH SOME GIRL?

Narrator:
BUT AFTER TWO YEARS TOGETHER,

CRACKS BEGIN TO FORM IN CRYSTAL
AND JORDAN'S RELATIONSHIP.

I EVEN HAD GIRLS TELLING ME THAT
THEY WAS MESSING WITH JORDAN,

YOU KNOW,
WITH THE SAME SITUATION -

KIND OF LIKE WHAT I DEALT WITH
WITH LAWRENCE.

WHY CAN'T YOU BE FAITHFUL?

WHY ARE YOU
LISTENING TO HER?

MAN, SHE IS NOT
TELLING THE TRUTH.

BECAUSE THAT IS
MY BEST FRIEND!

Narrator: CRYSTAL'S PAST
INSECURITIES WITH HER RELATIONSHIPS

COME FLOODING BACK
IN FULL FORCE.

JUST CALM DOWN, GIRL.
DAMN. CALM DOWN.

SICK OF THAT!
CALM DOWN.

Johnson: JORDAN WAS LIKE,
"I'M NOT MESSING WITH NOBODY.

I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU
LIKE YOUR BABY DADDY DID

'CAUSE I KNOW
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH."

BUT BECAUSE
I DONE HEARD ALL THAT BEFORE,

I WASN'T BELIEVING IT

BECAUSE WHAT MY BABY DADDY
DID TO ME,

HE BROKE MY TRUST
WITH, LIKE, MEN BAD.

WE GOOD?
YEAH, WE GOOD.

WHY - COME ON.
WE GOOD FOR REAL?

I SAID WE GOOD, BOY.

Smith:
THE THING DEALING WITH LAWRENCE,

THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL THING
THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH

BECAUSE EVERYTHING SHE'S
JUDGING ME THROUGH HIS LENSES

TO HOW SHE JUDGED HIM

BECAUSE OF THE THINGS
THAT HE DID TO HER.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]
WHERE YOU BEEN?

Narrator: BUT SOON, JORDAN STARTS
TO FEED OFF CRYSTAL'S SUSPICIONS.

OH, HOW HAVE I BEEN?
YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I'VE BEEN?

Smith:
I TRUST HER, BUT I HAVE DOUBTS

THAT SHE COULD HAVE MESSED
WITH SOMEBODY ON MY TIME.

I GOT DOUBTS ABOUT IT,
BUT I AIN'T GOT EVIDENCE.

Narrator: THE MUTUAL DISTRUST
LEADS TO BIGGER AND BIGGER FIGHTS.

...COME IN HERE,
AND I WANT TO RELAX.

Smith: WELL, SOMETIMES WHEN
WE HAVE ARGUMENTS AND STUFF...

NO!

...I PUT MY HANDS ON HER.

SOMETIMES, IT'S ACTUAL HITTING.

I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT
'CAUSE THAT AIN'T ME.

THAT AIN'T MY CHARACTER.

SOMETIMES, IT'S HARD
TO CONTROL MY EMOTIONS.

Johnson: [ CRIES ]

Dr. Jordan: CRYSTAL AND JORDAN'S
RELATIONSHIP

HAS CLEARLY ENTERED THE ZONE
OF UNHEALTHY CODEPENDENCE.

THEY FEED
ON EACH OTHER'S INSECURITIES.

NOW THERE'S PHYSICAL ABUSE
GOING ON.

IF THIS KEEPS GOING
AND AMPING UP,

THERE IS NO WAY
THIS CAN END WELL.

Narrator:
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

CRYSTAL'S SUSPICIONS ONCE AGAIN
BEGIN TO EXTEND

TO ANY WOMAN
WHO HAS CONTACT WITH HER MAN...

...INCLUDING HER BEST FRIEND,
LAURA.

I KIND OF FELT THAT
THEY HAD SOME THINGS GOING ON.

I HAD HER PHONE,

AND I SEE HIS LITTLE BROTHER'S
NUMBER'S ON THE PHONE,

'CAUSE HIS BROTHER LIVES RIGHT
NEXT DOOR TO OUR APARTMENT.

Narrator: AND JORDAN HANGS OUT A
LOT AT HIS LITTLE BROTHER'S PLACE,

WHICH FEEDS RIGHT INTO
CRYSTAL'S PARANOIA.

WHY ARE YOU
CALLING JORDAN'S BROTHER?

WHY ARE YOU
ALL IN MY PHONE?

FIRST OF ALL,
ANSWER MY QUESTION.

YOU ARE IN MY HOUSE.

Johnson: I'M LIKE, "HOLD UP.
HOLD UP."

I WANTED TO FIGHT WITH HER.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT?

BUT SHE'S NOT THE TYPE TO FIGHT.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO FIGHT WITH ME
AT ALL.

OH, YEAH, JUST RUN AWAY, THEN,
BITCH.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO.

Narrator: WHEN JORDAN GETS HOME
THAT NIGHT,

CRYSTAL TURNS HER RAGE ON HIM.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!

WHOA, WHOA,
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

DESPITE LITTLE TO GO ON,
SHE'S CONVINCED HE'S GUILTY.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
WHAT'S WRONG?

I WAS, LIKE,
PISSED THE **** OFF.

WHY IS SHE
CALLING OVER THERE?

ARE YOU REALLY ACTING LIKE THIS?
WHY IS SHE CALLING OVER THERE?

I DON'T KNOW. ASK HER.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT
I WENT THROUGH WITH LAWRENCE

AND ALL OF THAT,

ALL THE EMOTIONS
JUST START COMING BACK UP,

AND ALL THE ANGER
STARTS COMING BACK UP.

WHEN SHE ASKED ME ABOUT IT,
I TOLD HER FROM JUMP STREET

THAT I AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO
WITH HER BEST FRIEND.

EVEN IF I TELL YOU WHERE I'VE BEEN, YOU AIN'T
GONNA BELIEVE IT. SO, IT DON'T MATTER!

SHE NEVER BELIEVED ME.

EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T SEE
NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,

I THINK ONCE THAT MIND-SET
PUT INTO HER MIND,

I THINK SHE RAN WITH IT.

Narrator: CRYSTAL AND JORDAN ARE
LIKE A RUNAWAY TRAIN ABOUT TO DERAIL.

ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH!

YOU WANT TO DO THIS
RIGHT NOW WITH YOU?!

I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS!
YOU ARE CRAZY! ALL RIGHT?

AND I WAS STARTING TO GET
SO HEATED UP IN THE ARGUING,

I FIGURED
I WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING

THAT I PROBABLY WOULD REGRET,

SO I WAS GONNA WALK AWAY.

Narrator: CRYSTAL LOSES IT.

Johnson:
ALL MY EMOTIONS FLARED UP.

YOU KNOW, ALL KIND OF THOUGHTS
START COMING BACK IN MY HEAD,

AND I GRABBED THE BUTCHER KNIFE.

Narrator: FOR MORE
ON HOW CRYSTAL IS DOING NOW,

LOOK - STOP! LOOK, RELAX!

Narrator:
THE SEA OF DECEPTION

THAT DEFINES ALL OF
CRYSTAL JOHNSON'S RELATIONSHIPS

HAS CREATED
A DANGEROUS TIDAL WAVE.

CRYSTAL BELIEVES HER BOYFRIEND,
JORDAN,

IS CHEATING ON HER
WITH HER BEST FRIEND.

NOW SHE WANTS REVENGE.

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF YOU
RUNNING AROUND ON ME!

AAH! AAH! AAH!

DAMN, MAN!

I REACTED ON MY EMOTIONS.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

I STABBED HIM IN THE BACK.

Smith: I WAS SHOCKED.

I'M NOT DOING NOTHING WRONG,
SO I DIDN'T FIGURE I DESERVE IT.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

Narrator: WHEN CRYSTAL SEES
THE KNIFE WOUND IN HIS BACK,

SHE STARTS TO PANIC.

I'M SORRY!

Johnson:
I REALIZED WHAT I DID TO HIM.

GET OFF ME! GET OFF ME!

I STARTED CRYING AND STUFF.

I'M SORRY!
I DIDN'T MEAN TO!

I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT HIM
LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,

AND THAT STAB WOUND
WAS REALLY BAD.

AND MY ANGER WENT AWAY,
LIKE, JUST LIKE THAT,

AND I BECAME SCARED

'CAUSE I ACTUALLY HAD THOUGHT

THAT HE WAS GONNA DIE
OR BE HURT BAD.

AND I WAS ON PROBATION
ALREADY,

SO I'M LIKE, "LORD,
I'M ABOUT TO GO TO JAIL

AND DO MY 10 YEARS
PLUS SOME MORE TIME."

IF HE DIES,
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

I'M GOING TO PRISON
FOR GOOD.

YOU NEED HELP!

NO.

Narrator:
EVEN THOUGH HE'S HURT,

JORDAN TELLS CRYSTAL
NOT TO CALL AN AMBULANCE.

YOU JUST SAID
YOU'RE AFRAID HE MIGHT DIE.

BUT HE SAID
THAT IF I CALL THE AMBULANCE,

THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED,

AND HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAY
WHAT HAPPENED.

Narrator: CRYSTAL GRABS
ANYTHING SHE CAN FIND

TO TRY AND STOP THE BLEEDING.

Johnson:
HE WAS UPSET, HE WAS CRYING,

HE WAS MAD, HE WAS IN PAIN,

BUT HE DID NOT SEND ME TO JAIL

BECAUSE HE SAID
HE WASN'T GONNA SEND ME TO JAIL.

Narrator: JORDAN THEN STARTS
DOWNING A BOTTLE OF VODKA

TO NUMB THE PAIN.

Smith:
I KNEW WHAT SHE WAS FACING,

I KNEW SHE WAS ON PROBATION,

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO
PUT HER THROUGH IT.

I LOVE HER TOO MUCH FOR THAT.

COME ON.

AND I FELT
SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL ME.

HER PAST
HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.

I FIGURED,

IF SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HURT
LIKE THAT IN THAT RELATIONSHIP,

WELL,
THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE GOT HURT.

Narrator: INCREDIBLY,
JORDAN BELIEVES THAT CRYSTAL'S ATTACK

IS A SIGN
THAT SHE TRULY LOVES HIM.

Smith: WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,

THERE AIN'T NOTHING
YOU WOULDN'T DO FOR THAT PERSON.

Narrator: CRYSTAL IS DETERMINED
TO SAVE HER MAN.

SHE USES STERI-STRIPS
TO TRY TO CLOSE JORDAN'S WOUND

AND DOUSES IT
IN PEROXIDE AND ALCOHOL.

FINALLY, IT STOPS BLEEDING.

Smith:
I WAS WAITING FOR SIGNS.

I TOLD MYSELF,
IF I WERE TO COUGH UP BLOOD,

I'D HAVE FELT THIS AND THIS,
I WAS GONNA GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

BUT I NEVER FELT NO SYMPTOM

WHERE I REALLY FELT
I NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

Narrator: IT TAKES A MONTH
FOR JORDAN'S WOUND TO HEAL.

Johnson: AND THEN, AFTER THAT,
I GOT RID OF KNIVES,

AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
I EVER USED A KNIFE.

I MADE IT MY VOW AFTER I SEEN
THAT I HURT HIM LIKE THAT.

'CAUSE I ACTUALLY LOVE THAT MAN
A LOT, SO, YOU KNOW?

I EVEN TOLD HIM,
"BABY, I'M SORRY.

I WILL NEVER TAKE ANOTHER KNIFE
TO YOU."

AND ME AND HIM HAVE GOT INTO

A MILLION AND ONE
FUSSES AND FIGHTS.

NOW, I MIGHT HIT OR SLAP HIM,
YOU KNOW,

WHEN WE'RE HAVING AN ARGUMENT
OR SOMETHING.

I'LL PUSH HIM OR SCRATCH HIM,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT AS FOR A KNIFE, NO.

SO, CRYSTAL AND KNIVES
DON'T MIX.

NOPE.
THEY DON'T MIX AT ALL.

Dr. Jordan: REMOVING EVERY KNIFE
FROM THE HOUSE

IS NOT GOING TO
SOLVE CRYSTAL'S PROBLEMS.

SHE STILL HAS THAT HOLE
IN HER HEART

FROM HER ABANDONED CHILDHOOD,

AND SHE NEEDS TO LEARN
TO LOVE HERSELF

AND NOT LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS
IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN,

BUT UNTIL
SHE IS TAKING MEDICATION

FOR HER BIPOLAR DISORDER

AND GETTING PROFESSIONAL HELP
AND THERAPY,

HER PROBLEMS
ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

Narrator: NOW,
FOUR YEARS AFTER THE STABBING,

CRYSTAL AND JORDAN
ARE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.

THEY'RE STARTING THEIR OWN
JANITORIAL BUSINESS TOGETHER.

AND IF THIS RELATIONSHIP
WOULD FAIL,

THAT WOULD HURT ME THE MOST.

WE WAS MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.
I BELIEVE THAT WITH MY HEART.

I KIND OF LOOK AT
THE BIGGER PICTURE,

THAT I JUST GOT TO SHOW
MORE PATIENCE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOVE HER
WITH ALL MY HEART.

Narrator: CRYSTAL INSISTS SHE WILL
NEVER USE KNIVES AS WEAPONS AGAIN,

WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

IF HE WOULD CHEAT ON ME,
YOU KNOW,

LIKE IF I WOULD CATCH HIM
IN THE ACT,

THEN THAT'S DIFFERENT.

AND I TOLD HIM THAT,
"IF I CATCH YOU WITH SOMEBODY,

I'MA STAB YOU,
AND I'MA STAB HER."

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.