Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 1 - Donna Buchanan - full transcript

A SMALL-TOWN GIRL
IS WHISKED AWAY

BY A CHARMING DRUG SMUGGLER

INTO AN EXCITING AND DANGEROUS
NEW WORLD.

A KILO HERE, A KILO THERE.

SHE'S STRAIGHT.
I TRUST HER.

MULES, THEY WERE THE ONES
THAT WERE TAKING THE MOST RISK

FOR FACING JAIL TIME.

BUT A BETRAYAL...

GARY!

...LAUNCHES HER INTO
A SEA OF ADDICTION...

IT WAS LIKE BEING HIT
WITH A BRICK WALL.



...AND DESPERATION THAT
FINALLY PUSHES HER OVER THE EDGE.

I HAVE NO DOUBTS
THAT HE PHYSICALLY ABUSED HER.

SAID HE WAS GONNA CUT
MY EFFING THROAT.

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,

A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S A STICKY
SEPTEMBER AFTERNOON,

AND 14-YEAR-OLD DONNA BUCHANAN
SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL.

BUT TODAY,
THE FREE-SPIRITED FARM GIRL

WOULD RATHER BE SWIMMING
THAN STUCK IN A HOT CLASSROOM.

I HAVE NOTHING BUT GOOD MEMORIES
OF MY CHILDHOOD.

DON'T MESS IT UP, NANCY
I WON'T.

DONNA'S PLAYING HOOKY
WITH HER BEST FRIEND, NANCY.



I AM SO GOOD AT THIS. SHH.
NO.

DID I TELL YOU
ABOUT THAT ONE BOY YET?

CUTTING SCHOOL ISN'T
THE ONLY WAY DONNA'S REBELLING.

SHE'S ALSO STARTED TO DATE,

DESPITE KNOWING
HER PARENTS WOULDN'T APPROVE.

I GREW UP
IN PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA,

AND THEN, WHEN I WAS PROBABLY
ABOUT 8 OR 9,

WE MOVED TO THE COUNTRY,
AND MY PARENTS BOUGHT A FARM.

MY FATHER ALWAYS WANTED A FARM.

WE STARTED OUT SMALL,
LIKE, WITH TWO CALVES,

AND WE WENT TO LIKE
TWO HERDS OF CATTLE.

THE KIDS, THEY COMPLAINED,
LIKE ALL KIDS DO,

ABOUT DOING FARM WORK,
BUT I THINK THEY ENJOYED IT.

DONNA'S FATHER IS A STRICT
BAPTIST WHO RUNS A TIGHT SHIP.

HONEY, WE GOT TO
GET READY FOR CHURCH.

MY UPBRINGING
WAS VERY RELIGIOUS.

EVERYTHING WAS INVOLVED
AT CHURCH.

YEAH,
LET'S CHANGE QUICKLY.

COME ON.

DONNA'S OLDER SISTER
TELLS HER PARENTS EVERYTHING,

BUT NOT DONNA.

SHE WAS ALWAYS QUIET,

AND I NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS
REALLY GOING ON WITH HER.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

DONNA IS BEING RAISED
BY THESE STRICT RELIGIOUS PARENTS.

SHE HAS ALL THE NORMAL
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

OF THE TEENAGE YEARS,

BUT SHE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE
SHE CAN TALK TO HER PARENTS

ABOUT THEM, LEST SHE BE JUDGED.

WHO'S THE BOY?

WHO IS THE BOY?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHEN DONNA'S PARENTS
LEARN SHE'S BEEN SECRETLY DATING,

HER FATHER LAYS DOWN THE LAW.

MY FATHER WAS VERY JUDGMENTAL.

I DIDN'T AGREE WITH
HOW HE SAW THINGS.

I AM NOT OVERREACTING!

WE BUMPED HEADS.

THIS IS DONE!
WE'RE DONE TALKING!

THAT'S IT!

THAT'S YOUR DAUGHTER.

TO KEEP THE PEACE,

DONNA'S MOM TRIES
TO MAKE HER DAUGHTER HAPPY.

I HAD BOUGHT HER A HORSE
OF HER OWN.

OH, SHE LOVED ANIMALS -
ALWAYS LOVED ANIMALS.

ONE DAY,
A FAMILIAR CAR PASSES DONNA

ON HER WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL.

THE DRIVER IS A FAMILY FRIEND
NAMED KEITH.

- YEAH?
- YEAH.

SO, KEITH OFFERS YOU
A RIDE HOME FROM SCHOOL.

MM-HMM.

LET ME GIVE YOU A RIDE.

ARE YOU SURE?
YEAH. JUMP ON IN.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT ONCE THE PRETTY TEEN
GETS IN THE CAR...

DOES HE TAKE YOU HOME?

NO, HE DOES NOT.

DID YOU KNOW WHERE
HE WAS TAKING YOU?

I REMEMBER I SAID, "THIS ISN'T
THE WAY TO MY HOUSE."

AND HE GOES, "OH,
I HAVE TO STOP SOMEWHERE FIRST."

WHEN KEITH VEERS OFF THE ROAD,

DONNA KNOWS
SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG.

HE DROVE OUT
INTO THE WOODS.

KEITH, WHERE ARE WE?

YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST
SIT HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT?

IT'S NICE HERE TODAY,
HUH?

MM-HMM.

THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS.

AND, UM,
THAT'S WHEN HE RAPED ME.

STOP.

I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW,
FIGHTING BACK

AND THEN
FINALLY JUST GIVING IN.

I JUST SHUT DOWN.

AFTER THE ASSAULT,
KEITH DROPS DONNA OFF NEAR HER HOUSE.

LOOK AT ME.

LOOK AT ME!

NOBODY'S GONNA BELIEVE YOU
ANYWAY.

YOU KNOW
YOU PROBABLY LIKED IT.

HIS INTIMIDATION WORKS.

I'M THINKING,
"I CAN'T GO HOME,"

THINKING MY FATHER
WOULD JUDGE ME.

I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
AFTER I WAS RAPED,

THAT I WAS RUINED BECAUSE
I WAS NO LONGER A VIRGIN.

THAT WAS INGRAINED IN ME.

NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO,

SHE HITCHES A RIDE
WITH THE FIRST CAR THAT STOPS.

I WAS RUNNING AWAY.
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

IT IS NORMAL
FOR RAPE VICTIMS TO FEEL GUILT

EVEN THOUGH
THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

SHE FEELS LIKE DAMAGED GOODS,

SO SHE BLAMES HERSELF
AND STUFFS THE FEELINGS DOWN.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE
A HABIT OF REPRESSION

THAT WILL CATCH UP WITH HER
LATER.

BY THAT NIGHT, THE
14-YEAR-OLD FINDS HERSELF 60 MILES AWAY

IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND,
SLEEPING ON A PARK BENCH.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE
LIVING ON THE STREETS?

SCARY... NOT KNOWING
WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SLEEP,

WHEN YOU'RE GONNA EAT.

I HAVE A HARD TIME
TALKING ABOUT IT.

SIR.
HEY, SHERIFF.

BACK AT THE FARM,
DONNA'S FAMILY FEARS THE WORST.

I WAS LOOKING FOR HER BODY.

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?

ALL I KNEW
FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE

AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

WAS SHE WAS LAST SEEN
SITTING BY THE ROAD,

BUT NOBODY SAW HE AFTER THAT.

AND, OF COURSE, WE COULDN'T
FIND OUT FROM ANYBODY

WHERE SHE HAD GONE - ONLY THAT
SHE HAD SKIPPED SCHOOL.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY,
MA'AM.

THE MANHUNT CONTINUES,
BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF DONNA.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO EXCEPT
FOR HOPE SHE WAS ALL RIGHT,

HOPE SHE WASN'T DEAD.

HELLO?

TWO WEEKS LATER,
A FRIEND OF DONNA'S MOTHER SPOTS HER.

MY GIRLFRIEND CALLED ME.

ARE YOU SURE IT WAS HER?

I SAID, "WELL, WE'RE COMING.

WE'LL COME GET HER."

DONNA?!

DONNA!

WHEN DONNA SEES HER
PARENTS, SHE'S RELIEVED,

BUT SHE KEEPS THE RAPE A SECRET,

NEVER REVEALING
WHY SHE RAN AWAY.

ARE YOU SURE?

DID YOU TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED?
NO, LATER ON. NOT THEN.

SHE SAYS
THAT SHE WAS ASHAMED OF IT,

BUT I'M SO SORRY
THAT SHE DIDN'T CONFIDE IN ME.

I'D HAVE PROBABLY KILLED HIM.
REALLY.

I'D HAVE PROBABLY TAKEN MY
SHOTGUN AND SHOT HIS HEAD OFF.

DONNA KEEPS QUIET,
BUT SHE'S WRACKED WITH SHAME.

SO, YOU'RE TRYING TO GO BACK TO
A NORMAL LIFE, 14, 15 YEARS OLD.

AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

IT JUST CHANGED HER WHOLE LIFE.

SHE COULDN'T GET OVER
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT REALLY BROKE HER SPIRIT.

SIX MONTHS LATER, WHEN SHE'S 15,

DONNA DROPS OUT OF SCHOOL.

AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO,

HER PARENTS DECIDE
A CHANGE OF SCENE

MIGHT BRING HER AROUND
AND GET HER BACK IN SCHOOL.

FLORIDA.
FLORIDA?

FORT LAUDERDALE.

DONNA LIKES THE IDEA.

BUT WHERE AM I STAYING?

BUT HER INSIDES TURN TO ICE
WHEN SHE FINDS OUT

THE FAMILY FRIENDS
SHE'S SUPPOSED TO STAY WITH

ARE KEITH AND HIS WIFE.

KEITH?

15-YEAR-OLD DONNA
BUCHANAN HAS DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL

AFTER STAYING SILENT
ABOUT BEING RAPED.

HER PARENTS OFFER TO SEND HER
TO LIVE WITH FAMILY FRIENDS

WHO RECENTLY MOVED TO FLORIDA,
UNAWARE THAT DONNA'S HOST...

IS ALSO THE MAN WHO RAPED HER.

DONNA'S SO DESPERATE TO GET OUT
OF HER SMALL TOWN, SHE GOES.

THERE SHE IS.

FLORIDA OFFERED, LIKE,
ALMOST A NEW START, NEW BEGINNING,

A NEW PLACE TO START OVER
WHERE NOBODY KNEW ME.

SO, TELL ME WHAT IT
FELT LIKE TO GO TO FORT LAUDERDALE

AND THEN SEE KEITH AGAIN
FOR THE FIRST TIME, I GUESS,

SINCE HE HAD
ATTACKED YOU.

DEFINITELY WASN'T
A VERY EASY SITUATION.

DID YOU JUST ACT LIKE
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN?

PRETTY MUCH.

I'D GOTTEN USED TO ACTING
LIKE THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

LIKE SO MANY RAPE VICTIMS,
ONCE DONNA MAKES THAT DECISION

TO NEVER TELL ANYONE
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER,

SHE ENTERS A ZONE OF DENIAL,

WHICH IS ALMOST LIKE
SELF-BRAINWASHING.

AND THAT NEW REALITY,
THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED,

IS HOW SHE'S ABLE TO GO LIVE

WITH THE SAME MAN
WHO ONCE ATTACKED HER.

KEITH NEVER
LAYS A HAND ON DONNA AGAIN,

BUT SHE STILL DOES HER BEST
TO AVOID HIM

BY SPENDING AS LITTLE TIME
AT HOME AS POSSIBLE.

SO, HOW OLD ARE YOU
AT THIS POINT, 15?

YEAH, 9th GRADE.

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU OFFICIALLY
DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL?

YES.

THE FORMER FARM GIRL
QUICKLY MAKES FRIENDS

THAT INTRODUCE HER TO
THE BEACH-PARTY SCENE.

FORT LAUDERDALE
WAS A VERY POPULAR PLACE

FOR STUDENTS TO COME PARTY
AND HANG OUT,

AND SOME OF THEM PARTICIPATED IN

DRUG ACTIVITY
AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.

DONNA FITS RIGHT IN.

WERE YOU INVOLVED WITH DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL AT THIS POINT?

YEAH. COCAINE, CRYSTAL METH,
AND CRANK, MARIJUANA.

AFTER SIX MONTHS, KEITH'S WIFE
KICKS DONNA OUT OF THE HOUSE

BECAUSE OF
HER CONSTANT PARTYING.

IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR HER,

YOU KNOW,
TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH DONNA.

DONNA'S PARENTS
TELL HER TO COME HOME,

BUT SHE HAS OTHER PLANS.

FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

DONNA CRASHES AT MOTELS
AND FRIENDS' HOUSES

AND WORKS BEACH JOBS
FOR SPENDING MONEY.

WE WERE RENTING
CATAMARANS OUT TO THE TOURISTS

AND SOLD SUNTAN LOTION,
SO IT WAS A VERY NICE LIFE.

DONNA SPENDS A DECADE
LIVING OFF THE BEACH AND PARTYING.

SHE MANAGES TO SCRAPE BY,

BUT HER LIFE IS ABOUT TO
RADICALLY CHANGE.

ONE MORNING IN HER MID-20s,

SHE RETURNS TO THE MOTEL ROOM
SHE SHARES WITH A FRIEND.

WHAT'S GOING ON?
WE'RE JUST HANGING OUT.

I'D BEEN OUT DRINKING ALL NIGHT
AND CAME HOME.

MY ROOMMATE'S THERE,

AND THERE WAS LIKE THREE OTHER
PEOPLE IN THE HOTEL ROOM.

HEY.
HEY. WHAT'S UP?

THE THREE STRANGERS
ARE DRUG SMUGGLERS

WHO NEED A PLACE TO LAY LOW
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

THE PILOT
WAS BRINGING A LOAD -

I THINK IT WAS, AT THE TIME,
COCAINE -

OVER FROM COLOMBIA,

AND HE THOUGHT THEY'D SAW HIM
ON THE RADAR,

SO HE DUMPED A LOAD,
AND NOW THEY'RE...

IN HIDING.
YEAH.

IS THERE ANY FIBER OF YOU
THAT SAID, "THIS IS BAD NEWS"?

NO.

"THE D. E. A. COULD BE SHOWING UP
FOR THIS GUY ANY MOMENT."

NO?
NONE OF THAT.

NOW, HOW LONG ARE YOU GUYS IN
TOWN FOR? DO YOU TRAVEL A LOT?

WE TRAVEL A LOT, YEAH.
WE TRY TO MOVE AROUND OFTEN.

AND WHERE DO YOU GO?

DONNA'S DRAWN TO
ONE OF THE GUYS.

NICE.

GARY IS NOTORIOUS
FOR BEING THE STEPSON

OF ONE OF FLORIDA'S
MOST POWERFUL DRUG LORDS.

HE'S ALSO DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS.

GARY WAS VERY GOOD-LOOKING
AND A CHARMER.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE,
THOUGH.

JUST FULL OF ENERGY.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY PHYSICAL
ATTRACTION ON BOTH OF OUR PARTS.

FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS,

GARY TELLS DONNA ALL ABOUT
HIS LIFE AS A DRUG SMUGGLER.

ON THE THIRD DAY, HE LEAVES
TO DELIVER A LOAD OF COCAINE.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL BE BACK
ON MONDAY, OKAY?

YOU'LL BE BACK MONDAY.

YEAH,
I'M GONNA BE BACK MONDAY.

AND I WOULD LAUGH,
AND, "OKAY, YEAH, OKAY."

I'LL SEE YOU.

OKAY.

BUT HE DID.
YEAH, HE DID.

MONDAY, HE WAS THERE.
GUESS WHO.

OH, MY GOSH.

JUST AS HE PROMISED,

DONNA'S COCAINE COWBOY COMES
BACK TO SWEEP HER OFF HER FEET.

PACK A BAG.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE SERIOUS.

PACK A BAG. COME ON.

I PACKED MY CLOTHES,
AND WE LEFT.

GET THAT BATHING SUIT
I LIKE.

OKAY.

IT'S LIKE YOUR PRINCE
COMING TO RESCUE YOU.

EXCEPT THAT YOUR PRINCE
IS A DRUG SMUGGLER.

YEAH.

OKAY, I'M READY.

IN AN INSTANT,
DONNA'S WORLD IS FOREVER CHANGED.

GARY INTRODUCES HER
TO A LIFE OF LUXURY.

IT WAS A VERY EXCITING
LIFESTYLE.

WE WERE ALWAYS TRAVELING.

HE SOON TELLS DONNA HE'S
LOOKING FOR MORE THAN JUST A GIRLFRIEND.

WHAT HE'S REALLY LOOKING FOR

IS A SIDEKICK
TO HELP HIM WITH HIS BUSINESS.

DOING WHAT?
SMUGGLING DRUGS.

YOU KNOW, A KILO HERE,
A KILO THERE.

OR MONEY.

I THINK IT WAS MORE
OF A SITUATION

WHERE HE WAS EXPLOITING HER.

HE KNEW HOW TO GET HER TRUST.

DONNA PROVED TO BE
THE PERFECT PARTNER.

GARY TRUSTS HER COMPLETELY,

BUT HIS STEPFATHER
HAS HIS RESERVATIONS.

DAD.

HEY, GARY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME.
HE DIDN'T TRUST ME.

HE THOUGHT I WAS AN INFORMANT.

SHE LOOKS LIKE
IF SHE GOT CAUGHT, SHE'D ROLL.

SHE'S STRAIGHT.
I TRUST HER.

LET'S GO AHEAD
AND DO IT.

DONNA'S DETERMINED
TO PROVE HERSELF.

OKAY, YOU READY?

THEY NEEDED A KILO
BROUGHT TO CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

THEY DECIDED TO USE ME,

SO HE STRAPPED ON A KILO
TO MY BODY.

MULES,
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S BEING EXPLOITED.

THEY WERE THE ONES
THAT WERE TAKING THE MOST RISK

FOR FACING JAIL TIME.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

GOOD LUCK, GARY.
YOU BETTER GET THIS RIGHT.

PRETTY SOON,
DONNA'S PART OF THE FAMILY'S INNER CIRCLE.

I THINK THEY ALL
GENUINELY CARED ABOUT ME.

IF I HAD BEEN CAUGHT,

I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER
GIVEN THEIR NAMES.

I WOULD HAVE PROTECTED THEM.

WE GOT TO GO, BABY.

NOW THAT SHE'S IN,
IT'S ALL ONE BIG, GLAMOROUS GAME.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO LOGISTICS,
SHE TAKES THE HELM.

I WOULD KNOW
WHICH STATE WE WERE GOING TO.

IF IT WAS IN THE CITY, I WOULD
HAVE US DRESS TO BLEND IN.

IF IT WAS GOING COUNTRY,

I WOULD DRESS US DOWN,
PUT A COWBOY HAT ON HIM.

WE WOULD EVEN DRIVE
A PICKUP TRUCK.

LIFE ITSELF IS
ONE BIG HIGH FOR DONNA AND GARY.

YOU DID GOOD.

I WASN'T OUT OF MY MIND
WITH NEEDING DRUGS OR ANYTHING.

A LOT OF TIMES,
WE WOULD GO LONG PERIODS

WITHOUT EVER USING DRUGS.

FOR THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS, DONNA IS LIVING THE DREAM.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING
THAT COULD MAKE IT BETTER.

DID YOU AND GARY EVER TALK ABOUT
GETTING MARRIED AND HAVING KIDS?

I THOUGHT, YES,
WE WERE GONNA GET MARRIED.

JUST KIND OF WAITING
FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT

FOR HIM
TO POP THE QUESTION?

YES.

BUT MARRIAGE IS THE FARTHEST
THING FROM GARY'S MIND.

DONNA IS STILL
LIVING IN A DREAM WORLD,

THINKING THAT HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH GARY IS THE REAL DEAL.

THEIR WHOLE LIVES
WERE JUST A CHARADE -

ROLE-PLAYING
AND COSTUME CHANGES.

BUT IT TURNS OUT GARY
WAS A BETTER ACTOR

THAN DONNA EVER THOUGHT.

SURE ENOUGH,
DONNA'S ABOUT TO DISCOVER

THE MAN SHE THOUGHT SHE'D SPEND
THE REST OF HER LIFE WITH

ISN'T AT ALL WHAT HE SEEMS.

GARY!

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS,

DONNA BUCHANAN
AND HER BOYFRIEND, GARY,

HAVE BEEN LIVING THE HIGH LIFE
IN FLORIDA

WHILE SMUGGLING DRUGS.

BUT DONNA'S PERFECT LIFE

IS ABOUT TO SHATTER
BEFORE HER EYES.

GARY!
WHAT IS THIS?!

DON-HEY, DON, NO -
WE'RE DONE.

JUST WAIT. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
HOLD ON A SEC.

WE ARE DONE!

HEY, NO, JUST GIVE ME A SECOND.
COME ON.

I NEVER SAW IT COMING.

DONNA, COME ON.

THERE WAS NOT ONE SIGN, TO ME,

THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG
WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP.

IT SEEMED PERFECT.

SO IT WAS LIKE BEING HIT
WITH A BRICK WALL.

HE JUST WANTED
AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP.

YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

DONNA.
GET AWAY FROM ME, GARY.

WAIT, DAMN IT.
JUST HOLD ON, WILL YOU?

AND YOUR ANSWER WAS...?

I MOVED OUT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?!
WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE -

WE'RE DONE!
DONNA, COME ON!

A HEARTBROKEN DONNA
QUICKLY FINDS HERSELF A LUXURY CONDO.

NOW IN HER LATE 20s,

IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS
SINCE SHE'S BEEN ON HER OWN,

AND SHE NEEDS TO START
PAYING THE BILLS.

LUCKILY, SHE'S STILL ON
THE DRUG-SMUGGLING PAYROLL

THANKS TO GARY'S STEPFATHER.

HEY, DONNA.
HOW'D EVERYTHING GO?

IT WENT WELL.

WILLIAM IS A WELCOME SOURCE
OF COMFORT AND SUPPORT.

HERE YOU GO.

THANKS.

HE ALSO STARTS LAVISHING
HIS OWN MONEY ON DONNA.

AND I SAW
THAT HE WAS INTERESTED.

I LIKE SURPRISES.

OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT WAS YOUR NEXT RELATIONSHIP
AFTER GARY?

IT WAS WITH HIS STEPDAD.

WILLIAM.
MM-HMM.

THE KINGPIN.

AND I THINK IT WAS A WAY
OF ME HURTING GARY.

SEE HOW IT LOOKS.

COME SEE.

SO, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH
SHE HAD A CERTAIN PIECE OF GARY

IN THE FATHER.

THANK YOU, BABY.
YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

SHE JUST TRIED TO CONVINCE
HERSELF THAT SHE LOVED HIM.

IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.

AND SHE REALLY DIDN'T.

- WAS HE SINGLE?
- NO.

HE WAS MARRIED.
MM-HMM.

SO I WOULD BE
HIS MISTRESS.

IN THE ARMS OF THE KINGPIN,

DONNA'S LIFE
IS MORE GLAMOROUS THAN EVER.

WE WERE LIVING IN
A FANTASY WORLD

BECAUSE WE WERE LIVING
OFF OF DRUG MONEY.

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK?
ALL OF IT. ALL OF IT.

OH, THAT'S NICE.

LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S SO CLASSY.

YEAH?
LET ME SEE. LET ME SEE.

YES.
HANDMADE.

NOW, WE HAVE THAT IN PURPLE,
TOO. YOU WANT TWO?

I WOULD LOVE PURPLE.

- TWO.
- WHATEVER YOU WANT.

SUCCESSFUL DRUG DEALERS
WERE GLAMORIZED ON TV

AS HAVING
EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLES.

OH, BABY, I LOVE IT.

LET ME SEE. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE
TOO MUCH SPARKLE.

THEY HAD BEAUTIFUL HOMES,
THEY HAD BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

OKAY.

CAREFREE DONNA LIVES FOR TODAY.

SHE FIGURES TOMORROW
CAN TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

BUT IT'S REALLY
JUST A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE SHE WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER CHOICES.

- HELLO?
- Hey, baby.

THEN DONNA'S FANTASY
LIFE COMES SCREECHING TO A HALT.

WILLIAM'S BEHIND BARS.

WHAT?

I THINK I'M IN TROUBLE.

HE GOT A CALL FROM HIS FRIEND.
HE HAD OWED HIM SOME MONEY.

WILLIAM GOES TO COLLECT
A $35,000 DEBT FROM HIS FRIEND.

AND THE FBI ARRESTED HIM.

I got to go.

WILLIAM IS CONVICTED
OF CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE

AND SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON.

DONNA'S CAREFREE LIFE IS OVER.

30-YEAR-OLD DONNA IS FORCED
TO POUND THE PAVEMENT

LOOKING FOR WORK.

I HAD TO GET A JOB -
A NORMAL JOB.

I STARTED WAITRESSING.

WITHOUT WILLIAM AND HIS
GLITTERY AFFECTIONS TO DISTRACT HER,

DONNA MUST FINALLY FACE THE PAIN
OF HER BREAKUP WITH GARY...

GARY!

...AND THE DEMONS
IN HER PAST.

I STARTED
THINKING ABOUT THINGS A LOT.

I FOUND WHEN I USED PAIN PILLS,
IT WOULD PUSH IT BACK AGAIN,

BECAUSE ALL THOSE THINGS

WERE STARTING TO WANT TO
COME FORWARD,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW
TO HANDLE THAT PAIN.

SHE'S ALWAYS
DONE DRUGS RECREATIONALLY,

BUT NOW SHE USES THEM
AS AN ESCAPE.

THAT WAS A WAY
FOR ME TO NUMB IT.

WITHIN MONTHS, DONNA'S HOOKED.

THE DEVASTATION OF
GARY'S BETRAYAL COMES FLOODING BACK,

AND WITH DONNA'S HISTORY
OF TRAUMA,

SHE IS MORE PRONE TO DRUG ABUSE.

SHE USES PILLS TO ESCAPE
THE EMOTIONAL PAIN,

SO IT'S MORE THAN
JUST A PHYSICAL ADDICTION.

THE PROBLEM IS, OVER TIME,
SHE'LL BUILD UP A TOLERANCE,

AND SHE WILL NEED
MORE AND MORE PILLS

TO ACHIEVE THAT NUMBING HIGH.

HAVE A SEAT.

WHEN DONNA'S REGULAR DOCTOR

REFUSES TO RENEW HER PAIN PILLS,

SHE'S TIPPED OFF TO AN
UNDERGROUND NETWORK OF DOCTORS

WILLING TO WRITE
FALSE PRESCRIPTIONS.

VICODIN'S OKAY,
BUT THERE'S BETTER DRUGS, TOO.

THERE WERE A LOT OF
WRITERS IN FORT LAUDERDALE,

DOCTORS THAT WILL
WRITE YOU ANYTHING.

SURE, SURE.

SO I STARTED GOING TO THEM.

THAT'LL FIX YOU UP.

SOME DOCTORS WOULD
WRITE ME DILAUDID,

LORCET, VICODIN,
XANAX, SECONAL,

AND SOMA IN ONE VISIT.

THANK YOU.

THE FIERCELY
INDEPENDENT 31-YEAR-OLD

HAS BECOME A SLAVE TO THE PILLS,

AND SHE'S HAD TO DOWNGRADE
TO A CHEAPER APARTMENT

TO SUPPORT HER HABIT.

HOW BIG
IS YOUR HABIT AT THIS POINT?

IT'S BIG.

HOW MANY A DAY?

OH, IT STARTED OUT
JUST A FEW...

...AND THEN ENDED UP
10, 20 A DAY.

VERY EXPENSIVE.

DONNA'S HABIT PRETTY MUCH
DESTROYS HER PERSONAL LIFE.

HEY, DONNA, ARE YOU HOME?

THE ONLY MAN WHO COMES CALLING
THESE DAYS

IS HER LANDLORD, CHARLIE,

A RETIRED BUSINESSMAN WHO OFTEN
DROPS BY HER APARTMENT.

HE WAS ALWAYS COMING OVER,
ASKING IF I NEED ANYTHING.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO
FOR YOU, DARLING,

I'LL BE RIGHT HERE,
WHENEVER YOU WANT ME.

THANK YOU, CHARLIE.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.
WE'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

MY FATHER
SAW A LITTLE GIRL IN DONNA.

SHE WAS LITTLE,
AND SHE WAS CUTE,

AND MY FATHER LOVED
LITTLE WOMEN, YOU KNOW,

LITTLE GIRL-LIKE WOMEN,
AND SHE WAS JUST ADORABLE.

TO SUPPORT HER ADDICTION,

DONNA FINDS NEW WAYS
TO MAKE MONEY.

HEY, DOLL.
HEY. HOW'S IT GOING?

GOOD.
YOU GOT MY STUFF?

ONE IS SELLING
HER EXTRA PILLS.

THE BLUE ONES.
THIS ONE'S BETTER.

OKAY, COOL.
HOW MUCH DO I OWE YOU?

I WAS GETTING BEHIND ON MY RENT,

AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT
IN ORDER TO KEEP MY RENT,

I WOULD HAVE TO SELL THE PILLS
I KEPT FOR MYSELF,

AND I WAS USING A LOT OF PILLS.

HER OTHER SOURCE
OF INCOME IS HER NEW JOB.

I KNOW SHE DID TABLETOP DANCING,
WHATEVER SHE COULD FIND.

SHE JUST TALKED IT UP
LIKE IT WAS GLAMOROUS,

AND I KNEW IT WASN'T GLAMOROUS.

TURNS OUT,
ONE OF HER BIGGEST FANS

IS HER LANDLORD, CHARLIE.

HE'S COMPLETELY INFATUATED
WITH DONNA.

MY FATHER LIKED DANCERS.

HE WAS A LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
WHEN HE WAS 16,

SO HE WAS LITTLE BUT POWERFUL.

BUT HE WAS GETTING
KIND OF PAUNCHY,

SO HE WASN'T THE MAN
HE USED TO BE.

HE'S ALSO
MORE THAN TWICE DONNA'S AGE.

HOW OLD'S CHARLIE?

40 YEARS OLDER.

NOT 40 YEARS OLD,
BUT 40...

YEARS OLDER.

SO HE'S IN HIS 70s.

YES.

CHARLIE'S DETERMINED
TO WIN DONNA OVER.

YOU'RE BEHIND
ON YOUR RENT.

HERE COMES CHARLIE.

HEY, HEY, HEY!
LOOK WHAT I GOT.

I GOT THE CAR KEYS.
OH!

HERE WE GO.

HE USED TO SELL USED CARS,
AND HE'D COME BY AND SAY,

"YOU WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR?"

LET ME TAKE YOU
OUT TO DINNER.

YOU NEED TO EAT SOMETHING,
DONNA.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME, HONEY. I -
I LIKE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

OKAY.
I'LL JUST GET READY.

HE PURSUED HER QUITE A BIT.

HE IMPLIED
THAT HE HAD A LOT OF MONEY,

AND HE WOULD
TAKE HER OUT TO EAT.

SHE WAS FINDING IT HARD
TO SUPPORT HERSELF AT THAT TIME.

JUST BE ONE MORE MINUTE,
CHARLIE. I'M ALMOST DONE.

DONNA, I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.

I'M OKAY.

I CAN HELP.

DOES HE HAVE A SOLUTION?

YES.

YOU JUST MOVE IN WITH ME.

I GOT THAT BIG HOUSE.

I'M JUST RATTLING AROUND
IN IT.

THIS JUST SEEMED LIKE
A DIFFERENT PATH TO TAKE.

LET ME... TAKE CARE OF YOU
A LITTLE.

COME ON,
WHAT DO YOU SAY?

OKAY.

WILL CHARLIE HELP
DONNA GET BACK ON TRACK...

YOU WOULDN'T BE ANY TROUBLE,
HONEY.

YOU'RE A SWEET,
LITTLE GIRL.

...OR PUSH HER EVEN CLOSER
TO THE EDGE?

FOR MORE
ON HOW DONNA'S DOING NOW,

31-YEAR-OLD DONNA BUCHANAN
USED TO LIVE IN THE LAP OF LUXURY,

BUT SINCE GETTING ADDICTED
TO PAIN PILLS,

HER LIFE AND FINANCES
HAVE TAKEN A NOSEDIVE.

WHEN CHARLIE,
HER 74-YEAR-OLD LANDLORD,

ASKS HER TO MOVE IN, SHE AGREES.

LIFE AT CHARLIE'S HOUSE
IS A HUGE STEP UP.

THE HOUSE WAS BEAUTIFUL -
FIREPLACE,

REALLY NICE, NICE HOUSE,
NICE LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVERYTHING IN DONNA'S
LIFE IS TAKEN CARE OF...

HEY, MORNING, DONNA.

...INCLUDING MONEY
TO FEED HER HABIT,

SINCE SHE'S STOPPED DANCING.

OH,
TIME TO RISE AND SHINE.

JUST TO GET UP OUT OF BED,

I USED TO LEAVE PILLS ON MY
NIGHTSTAND, JUST TO GET UP.

SO YOU COULD JUST SCOOP THEM
INTO YOUR MOUTH TO FUNCTION.

MM-HMM, JUST TO FUNCTION.

YOU'LL BE FINE.

DONNA CLAIMS
THAT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS,

CHARLIE SLOWLY BUT SURELY TAKES
CONTROL OF HER ADDICTION...

I REMEMBER THEY WERE COOL
AT THAT OFFICE.

...AND HER SIDE BUSINESS
OF SELLING PILLS.

BECAUSE OF HIS AGE, HE COULD
GO TO DOCTORS AND GET ANYTHING.

SOME MORE OxyContin.

THEY PILL-SHOPPED ALL OVER TOWN.

YEAH, BUT THIS GUY
GAVE ME A DOUBLE.

AND THEY HAD
A HUGE WALL CALENDAR

THAT THEY HAD THE NAMES
OF THE DOCTORS

AND THEN THE NAME
OF THE PHARMACY UNDER THERE,

SO THAT WAY THEY DIDN'T MESS UP.

THEY KNEW JUST WHERE
TO TAKE THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS.

COME ON. LET'S DO IT.

EVEN THOUGH
HE'S NEVER SOLD DRUGS BEFORE,

WITHIN MONTHS,
CHARLIE'S TURNED IT INTO

A FULL-FLEDGED OPERATION.

EVERY BUSINESS
THAT HE EVER STARTED,

HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY AT IT.

60 BUCKS.

BEFORE LONG,
CHARLIE CONTROLS THE MONEY,

THE BUSINESS,
AND THE SUPPLY.

WAS HE USING, TOO?

OH, NO.

SO YOU HAD A DRUG DEALER
WHO'S NOT AN ADDICT.

IT'S PURE PROFIT FOR HIM...
YEP.

...AND HE'S GOT YOU IN-HOUSE -
KIND OF THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS.

FOR CHARLIE,
GETTING IN ON DONNA'S BUSINESS

IS MORE THAN ABOUT
MAKING EXTRA MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT CONTROL.

HE IS SLOWLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY
TAKING AWAY DONNA'S INDEPENDENCE

SO SHE COMPLETELY RELIES ON HIM.

AND THINGS
ARE BOUND TO END BADLY.

ONCE CHARLIE HAS DONNA
UNDER HIS THUMB,

SHE CLAIMS
HIS PERSONALITY FLIPS.

THOSE GUYS WERE LOOKING AT YOU.
CHARLIE, COME ON.

YEAH,
THINKING YOU'RE A WHORE.

ACCORDING TO HER,

THE DOTING OLDER MAN
BECOMES A MANIPULATIVE MONSTER.

WHAT DID HE DO
TO MANIPULATE YOU?

EVERYTHING. IF I DID SOMETHING
TO MAKE HIM UNHAPPY,

HE'D TAKE THE PILLS AWAY
FROM ME, MAKE ME SICK.

"WELL, LET ME NURSE YOU
BACK TO HEALTH."

HE LIKED
THE NURSING PART...

GOOD GIRL.

...MAKING ME WELL AGAIN.

YOU'RE BETTER NOW.

AND THEN
HE'D TAKE THE DRUGS AWAY AGAIN.

THANKS, CHARLIE.

YOU SLUT!

CHARLIE, JUST STOP IT!

CHARLIE'S GRIP ON DONNA

IS FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL,
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL.

WHAT WOULD HE DO THAT WOULD
HURT YOU PSYCHOLOGICALLY?

NAME CALLING.

QUIT CRYING.

LOWERING MY SELF-ESTEEM.

JUST MAKING ME FEEL
JUST SO LOW.

IS DONNA THERE?
SHE CAN'T TALK RIGHT NOW.

CHARLIE DOESN'T
GIVE DONNA THE PHONE

BUT ACCIDENTALLY
FAILS TO HANG UP.

I DON'T KNOW
WHO THE HELL NANCY IS.

HE STARTS SCREAMING AT HER,
YELLING AT HER, BERATING HER.

CALLING FOR PILLS, PROBABLY!
WHY CAN'T YOU JUST STOP?

SELLING PILLS
TO YOUR JUNKIE FRIENDS!

JUST ON AND ON, AND I LISTENED
FOR TWO HOURS OF THAT MESS.

PLEASE, STOP.
DONNA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE
WORTH ****

STOP.
DAMN IT.

I KNEW SHE NEEDED HELP.

AS THE YEARS GO BY,
DONNA FANTASIZES ABOUT LEAVING CHARLIE

BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO SUPPORT HERSELF.

AFTER BEING ON THE STREETS,
YOU KNOW,

MY BIGGEST FEAR
WAS GOING BACK.

TO THE STREETS?
MM-HMM.

BY 1999,

DONNA HAS BEEN LIVING WITH
CHARLIE FOR SIX AGONIZING YEARS,

AND SHE'S AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.

SHE HAD LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

IN FACT,
SHE ONLY WEIGHED 74 POUNDS.

SHE CONSIDERS
MOVING BACK HOME TO VIRGINIA,

BUT SHE'S AFRAID
TO LET HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY

SEE HOW FAR SHE'S FALLEN.

I JUST - REALLY,
I THOUGHT ABOUT ENDING MY LIFE.

THIS WASN'T A LIFE.
THIS WASN'T LIVING.

BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING HER LIFE,

DONNA DECIDES TO
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

I STARTED TRYING
TO GET OFF THE DRUGS.

SHE CHECKS HERSELF IN
TO A DETOX CENTER.

AFTER ONE WEEK IN A METHADONE
CLINIC IN FORT LAUDERDALE,

DONNA'S RELEASED
TO RECOVER AT HOME.

SHE'S DETERMINED TO PUSH THROUGH
THE PAIN OF WITHDRAWAL

AND STAY OFF THE DRUGS.

I WAS TIRED OF BEING
A DRUG ADDICT, OF THE ADDICTION.

I WAS JUST TIRED OF IT ALL.

IT MAY SEEM ODD THAT
DONNA WOULD GO BACK TO CHARLIE'S HOUSE

AFTER LEAVING REHAB,

BUT VULNERABLE PEOPLE
RETURN TO THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

DONNA SEES HIM AS SOMEONE
WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF HER.

DONNA, IS THAT YOU?

YEAH.

DONNA'S GREETED
BY THE DOTING, GENEROUS MAN

WHO TOOK HER UNDER HIS WING
SIX YEARS AGO.

CHARLIE'S VERY SWEET.
HE'S SWEET?

OH, VERY SWEET.

BABY, WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU
IN THERE?

HE SAW I WAS VERY SICK.

"GO HAVE A SEAT IN THE DEN.
WATCH TV."

AND I'LL FIX
A SPECIAL DINNER.

BUT ACCORDING TO DONNA,

CHARLIE'S SUPPOSED
TRANSFORMATION IS ALL AN ACT.

SHE CLAIMS HE HAS A CRUEL TRICK
UP HIS SLEEVE

TO REESTABLISH CONTROL.

I REMEMBER
GLANCING DOWN AT THE FLOOR,

AND THERE'S PILLS ON THE FLOOR,

AND IT'S DILAUDID,
MY DRUG OF CHOICE,

AND HE'S GOT THEM LINED UP
TO THE SINK,

AND THERE'S A SYRINGE
AND A SPOON ON THE SINK.

CHARLIE, WHAT IS THIS?!

IT'S -
WHAT IS THIS?!

YOU NEED THIS.

I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS! I TOLD
YOU, I DO NOT WANT TO USE!

AFTER DONNA GOES TO REHAB,

CHARLIE FEELS LIKE
HE IS LOSING HIS GRIP ON HER.

IF SHE GETS BETTER,
SHE WON'T NEED HIM ANYMORE.

AND CHARLIE IS TERRIFIED
OF LOSING HER.

IT'S NOT WHAT I WANT.

BUT WERE YOU ABLE
TO RESIST?

AT FIRST, YES.

YOU ARE NOT HELPING ME!

AND HE SAID, "WHY DON'T YOU
JUST, YOU KNOW, DO ONE?"

HE KEPT YELLING
AND YELLING AND YELLING.

PLEASE,
DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS.

GET OVER THERE!

AND THEN
HE STARTED HITTING ME.

AND I JUST GAVE IN.

I'M SURE THAT
HE FELT LIKE HE WAS HELPLESS.

HE WAS OLD, SO I THINK THAT
HE REALLY TOOK IT OUT ON HER,

AND I BELIEVE
THAT HE PHYSICALLY ABUSED HER.

I HAVE NO DOUBTS.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS,

CHARLIE'S ANGER ESCALATES,
AND IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.

EVERYTHING'S FINE HERE.

THE NEIGHBORS DID TELL ME THAT
HE WAS ALWAYS SCREAMING AT HER.

ONE AUTUMN NIGHT, DONNA CLAIMS

CHARLIE TAKES THINGS
TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS,
HE HADN'T LET ME SLEEP AT NIGHT.

HE'D COME IN THERE AND WAKE ME
UP, ARGUING, SCREAMING.

BUT IT WAS DIFFERENT
THAT NIGHT.

OH, YEAH,
IT WAS DIFFERENT.

HE COMES IN BY THE BED.

WAKE UP!

HE PULLED A BUTCHER KNIFE,
PUT IT UP TO MY THROAT.

GET YOUR ASS UP!

SAID HE WAS GONNA
CUT MY EFFING THROAT.

LET GO OF ME!

LET GO OF ME! OH!

OH, GOD,
HE WAS IN SUCH A RAGE.

CHARLIE, STOP IT!

I REMEMBER THE RAGE
AND THE NAME CALLING.

COME ON, YOU BITCH!

"HEY, YOU **** WHORE.

YOU **** DRUG ADDICT."

HE USED TO CALL ME "DRUG ADDICT"
A LOT.

GET OFF ME!

GET OFF ME!

AFTER YEARS
OF REPRESSING HER ANGER,

DONNA FINALLY EXPLODES...

I JUST - I SNAPPED.

...AND UNLEASHES A
LIFETIME'S WORTH OF BITTER RAGE.

38-YEAR-OLD DONNA BUCHANAN
HAS BEEN TRYING TO BREAK FREE

OF HER DRUG ADDICTION

AND THE CLUTCHES
OF HER 80-YEAR-OLD BOYFRIEND,

CHARLIE.

DONNA CLAIMS
THAT AFTER SIX YEARS

OF PUTTING UP WITH CHARLIE'S
TYRANNICAL CONTROL, SHE SNAPS.

I REACHED FOR THE KNIFE
AND STARTED STABBING HIM.

STOP! STOP!

HOW MANY TIMES?

I STABBED HIM 54 TIMES.

WHERE WAS YOUR HEAD?

GONE.

THERE'D BEEN NO OUTLET
FOR HER FEELINGS,

SO I FEEL LIKE
IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH.

IT WAS JUST ONE TIME TOO MANY,
AND I GUESS SHE JUST WENT CRAZY.

WHEN DONNA
SNAPS BACK INTO REALITY,

SHE FINDS HERSELF
IN A GRUESOME SCENE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD.
I WAS COVERED IN BLOOD.

IS HE ALIVE?

NO, HE'S DEAD.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT I'D KILLED HIM -

THE FACT THAT HE WAS DEAD
AND THAT I DID IT.

SO I STARTED TAKING
AS MANY PILLS AS I COULD.

I WANTED TO DIE.

TO ESCAPE PUNISHMENT?

NO, BECAUSE OF WHAT I DID,
MY GUILT.

YOU DIDN'T CALL 911?

OH, NO, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T
WANT TO CALL 911.

I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF.

SHE WAITS
FOR THE PILLS TO KICK IN,

BUT HER TOLERANCE IS TOO HIGH.

IN A PANIC, SHE CALLS
HER BEST FRIEND, NANCY.

Hello?

N- NANCY?
Donna?

IT'S ME.

DONNA -
DONNA, WHAT'S GOING ON?

IT'S CHARLIE.

IT'S CHARLIE.

HE'S LOOKING -
HE'S LOOKING AT ME.

HE'S DEAD.

"HEY, DONNA, WHAT HAPPENED?"

EVERYTHING GOT SO CRAZY
SO FAST.

NANCY?

AND SHE KEPT ME ON THE PHONE,

AND SHE WAS CRYING
AND ALL UPSET.

DONNA?

Donna!

"YOU GOT TO CALL THE POLICE.
YOU GOT TO CALL THE POLICE."

Hello?

DONNA NOW FINDS HERSELF
IN THIS IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION.

SHE HAS A BUTCHERED BODY
ON HER HANDS.

SHE IS STUCK
IN A WHIRLWIND OF EMOTIONS

AS SHE TRIES TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO DO NEXT.

I NEED YOU TO GET
TO DONNA'S HOUSE RIGHT AWAY.

NANCY CALLS A LOCAL
FRIEND OF DONNA'S, WHO DIALS 911.

WHEN WE FIRST MET DONNA ON
THE SCENE, SHE APPEARED TO BE CALM.

SHE DIDN'T SEEM NERVOUS.
SHE WASN'T CRYING.

SHE WASN'T UPSET.

SHE CLAIMED THAT EVERYTHING
WAS FINE, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.

THE DEPUTY ASKED,
"WHERE'S YOUR BOYFRIEND?"

SHE CLAIMED THAT HE WASN'T HOME.

THEN LIEUTENANT KAMINSKY
NOTICES SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS.

SHE HAD DRIED BLOOD
AROUND HER NAILS.

WHAT'S THAT
ON YOUR FOOT?

UM...

SHE HAD DRIED BLOOD
IN BETWEEN HER TOES,

INDICATING SHE WAS WALKING
THROUGH THE PUDDLES OF BLOOD.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
TAKE A LOOK AROUND.

WHEN OFFICERS
WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE...

KEN!

...THEY COME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH THE GRISLY CRIME SCENE.

WHEN WE SAW CHARLIE,
HE WAS IN A FETAL POSITION,

LYING ON THE FLOOR
IN A POOL OF BLOOD.

HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD.

LIEUTENANT KAMINSKY
ARRESTS DONNA

AND CHARGES HER
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

THE PROSECUTION BELIEVES

THAT DONNA WAS PHYSICALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY ABUSED BY CHARLIE.

SO, IN THE END,
YOU DID NOT GO TO TRAIL.

THE OFFERED ME A PLEA -
15 YEARS.

MY FATHER PLAYED MIND GAMES,
AND I'M SURE HE TORTURED HER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW DONNA BUCHANAN
STAYED WITH HIM FOR SEVEN YEARS,

AND I'M SURPRISED
THAT SHE DIDN'T KILL HIM SOONER.

BUT I WANTED HIM TO KNOW

THAT NO MATTER HOW BADLY
HE TREATED ME

WHILE I WAS GROWING UP,

THAT I STILL LOVE HIM
AND I FORGIVE HIM.

AND SHE TOOK MY SECOND CHANCE
AWAY.

WHILE BEHIND BARS,
DONNA FINALLY BREAKS FREE FROM ADDICTION

AND TURNS HER LIFE AROUND.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN
IN THE 14 YEARS YOU WERE THERE?

OH, I LEARNED A LOT.

I FOUND OUT AGAIN WHO I WAS,
YOU KNOW?

I WAS THAT YOUNG GIRL.

SHE ALSO REDISCOVERS
HER LOVE OF ANIMALS.

I STARTED TRAINING DOGS
IN PRISON.

THERE WAS A PROGRAM CALLED

"2nd CHANCE AT LIFE
GREYHOUND PROGRAM."

DONNA IS RELEASED FROM PRISON
ON JULY 4, 2013.

SHE'S LIKE A LITTLE KID GOING OUT
IN THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

KANGA, HERE.

GOOD BOY.

SHE NOW LIVES
IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,

JUST MINUTES FROM THE ROLLING
HILLS WHERE SHE GREW UP.

NOW SHE'S THE GIRL
I ALWAYS WANTED AS A DAUGHTER.

SHE THINKS MORE ABOUT OTHER
PEOPLE'S NEEDS THAN HER OWN.

SHE'S SWEET.

SHE'S GOT THE BIGGEST HEART
OUT OF ANYBODY I KNOW.

SINCE HER RELEASE,
DONNA HAS PUBLISHED A MEMOIR

CALLED "SECOND CHANCE RUNAWAY."

I THINK IF ME TELLING MY STORY,

IF THAT COULD HELP SOMEBODY ELSE
OR HELP ANOTHER WOMAN,

THAT'S WORTH IT.

IT'S JUST VERY PAINFUL.

BUT THAT'S MY WAY
OF GIVING BACK.