Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 10 - The Ecstacy and the Agony - full transcript

KAT,
ARE YOU OKAY TO DRIVE?

Narrator:
A LOST YOUNG WOMAN DECIDES

IT'S TIME TO GET HER LIFE
BACK ON TRACK.

I DIDN'T WANT TO RELY ON ANYBODY
FOR ANYTHING.

HELLO, GORGEOUS.
HI.

Narrator: WHEN A HANDSOME
STRANGER DANCES INTO HER LIFE,

SHE'S CONVINCED
SHE'S FOUND HER SOUL MATE.

SHE FELL SO HARD, SO QUICK.
HE WAS WILD JUST LIKE HER.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

Narrator:
BUT JEALOUSY AND OBSESSION

SEND THIS WHIRLWIND ROMANCE
SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.



IT'S LOVE GONE TERRIBLY WRONG.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

Narrator:
AND IT WON'T BE LONG

BEFORE THIS TICKING TIME BOMB
EXPLODES.

YOU ARE GETTING
AN ABORTION!

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

ON A SUNNY SPRING DAY IN 2000,

10-YEAR-OLD
YEKATERINA "KAT" PETROV

ARRIVES IN LOS ANGELES.

SHE AND HER MOM TANYA AND
GRANDMA TATIANA HAVE EMIGRATED

FROM THE SMALL EASTERN EUROPEAN
COUNTRY OF LATVIA



IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Narrator: DAD'S BEEN OUT OF THE
PICTURE SINCE SHE WAS A BABY.

WHEN I WAS 1 YEARS OLD,
THEY DECIDED TO SEPARATE,

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE.

Narrator:
ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN THE U. S.

IS TOUGH ON THE WHOLE FAMILY.

Petrov: IT WAS OVERWHELMING
BECAUSE I WAS SO YOUNG,

AND I CAME INTO A COUNTRY -

I DIDN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE,
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS,

AND AT FIRST, I HAD TO ADJUST,
YOU KNOW,

MOSTLY WITH THE LANGUAGE.

THIS WILL HELP YOU.

Narrator:
KAT'S MOM FINDS WORK AS A NURSE.

I WILL BE BACK SOON.
I LOVE YOU, HONEY.

Narrator: HER GRANDMA'S HEALTH
IS DECLINING,

SO YOUNG KAT BECOMES
HER PRIMARY CAREGIVER.

THERE YOU GO.

Interpreter: AT THAT TIME,
I WAS STILL ABLE TO WALK,

BUT I WAS NOT WALKING TOO WELL,
SO SHE WOULD HELP ME.

SHE WOULD HELP ME
TO GET OUT OF MY BED.

SHE HELPED ME WITH EVERYTHING.

Narrator:
AS A TEENAGER,

KAT BLOSSOMS INTO A BEAUTIFUL
AND INTELLIGENT YOUNG WOMAN.

Petrov:
I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS IN CHEERLEADING,
AND I WAS IN TENNIS.

I WAS GETTING GOOD GRADES.

I THINK I KNOW SOMEBODY

WHO WANTS TO ASK YOU
TO DANCE.

Narrator: SHE'S NATURALLY
CHARMING AND MAKES FRIENDS EASILY.

AND KAT COULD GET
ANY BOY SHE WANTS.

YOU SHOULD GO.
LOOK, HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU.

INSTEAD, SHE FOCUSES HER ENERGY
ON SCHOOL AND EXCELS.

FOR KAT, IT SEEMS LIKE
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

I'LL SEE YOU GUYS,
OKAY?

SHE NEVER WANTS
TO HAVE ANY FUN.

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.

Narrator: THEN ONE DAY,
KAT GETS SOME DEVASTATING NEWS.

[ Voice breaking ]
THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT.

HER MOM'S BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH ADVANCED OVARIAN CANCER.

HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHAT'S GOING ON?

I THINK I WAS IN DENIAL,
YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS SO YOUNG.

SHE JUST TURNED 35.

I WENT TO SEE DOCTORS,
AND THEY THINK I HAVE CANCER.

I SHOULD BE FINE.

SHE WAS EVERYTHING FOR ME,
YOU KNOW,

AND I THINK I JUST COULDN'T
BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS DYING.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.

YES, I'LL BE FINE.
I'LL BE FINE.

OKAY.

Narrator:
AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS,

TANYA'S HEALTH TAKES
A SHARP TURN FOR THE WORSE,

AND KAT STAYS BY HER SIDE
NIGHT AND DAY.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

Petrov: SHE WAS ALREADY
VERY HEAVILY MEDICATED.

SHE WAS ABLE TO HEAR
WHAT I WAS SAYING,

BUT SHE COULD ONLY
SQUEEZE MY HAND

TO, YOU KNOW, RESPOND.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

[ SOBS ]

Narrator:
A YEAR LATER, TANYA DIES.

Interpreter: IT WAS VERY
HARD FOR ME IN MY OWN WAY,

FOR KAT IN HER OWN WAY.

AND THE LAST WORDS
THAT TANYA SAID WAS TO KATYA.

"KATYA, BE BRAVE."

I THINK I DIDN'T WANT TO CRY
AT THAT POINT

BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER
WAS SO DEVASTATED.

Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THE DEATH OF KAT'S MOTHER
AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE

IS BOUND TO HAVE
A MAJOR IMPACT ON HER LIFE

BECAUSE SHE IS LAUNCHED
INTO ADULTHOOD.

NOW SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE
OF HER GRANDMOTHER

AND DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW HERSELF
TO GRIEVE.

THAT SUPPRESSION OF HER EMOTIONS

COULD HAVE
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

Narrator: DEEP DOWN,
16-YEAR-OLD KAT'S HURTING BADLY,

AND HER MOM'S DEATH CASTS
A DARK SHADOW OVER HER.

Petrov: I JUST KIND OF
FOCUSED IN ON DOING SOMETHING.

I KEPT MYSELF DOING THINGS

THAT WOULD MAYBE KEEP MY MIND
OFF WHAT HAPPENED.

AT THAT POINT,
I WANTED TO REBEL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HOME.

I JUST WANTED TO BE OUT
AND FORGET MY PAIN AND...

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator:
WITH HER MOTHER GONE,

KAT'S LEFT TO CARE FOR HER
AILING GRANDMA ALL BY HERSELF.

GRANDMA. HEY.

Petrov: YOU KNOW, MY GRANDMOTHER,
SHE'S A VERY STRONG PERSON,

BUT THAT HIT HER SO HARD

THAT SHE WAS
IN SUCH A DEPRESSED STATE

THAT I HAD TO, YOU KNOW,
KEEP HER UPBEAT,

MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S
ALL RIGHT.

OKAY?

HER MOM'S DEATH, I THINK,
MADE HER GROW UP MUCH FASTER.

SHE DIDN'T GET TO BE A KID
AS MUCH,

AND, YOU KNOW, HAD THESE
VERY ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES.

OKAY.

Narrator: ONE NIGHT,
HOPING TO CHEER HER UP,

A FRIEND TAKES KAT
TO A NIGHTCLUB.

HOW WE DOING, LADIES?
I. D. s, PLEASE.

THE PULSATING MUSIC
RUSHES THROUGH HER BODY,

AND KAT FINDS
A SMALL ESCAPE FROM HER PAIN.

THESE TOTALLY WORKED.

TOLD YOU.

Petrov: I STARTED GOING OUT.
I STARTED PARTYING.

I STARTED MEETING
PEOPLE IN THE SCENE.

AROUND THEM, I WAS STRONG,

AND WITH MYSELF,

I WAS JUST BREAKING DOWN
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Dr. Jordan:
LIKE MOST TEENAGERS,

KAT REALLY HAS A CRAVING
FOR THE PARTY SCENE.

BUT IN HER PARTICULAR CASE,
IT'S ALSO AN ESCAPE.

WHEN SHE'S ON THE DANCE FLOOR,
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO THINK

ABOUT THE HARSH REALITY
OF HER CIRCUMSTANCES.

[ SOBS ]

Narrator: WITHOUT HER MOM
DRIVING HER TO SUCCEED,

KAT DROPS OUT OF SCHOOL
HER SENIOR YEAR.

[ ALARM BEEPING ]

[ BEEPING STOPS ]

I COULDN'T FOCUS ANYMORE.

I WOULD GO TO SCHOOL,

AND MY MIND
WOULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I WOULD BE FAILING MY CLASSES,

AND I FELT LIKE I'M WASTING
MY TIME AND THE SCHOOL'S TIME,

AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S WHAT MADE ME DROP OUT.

Dr. Jordan:
THAT'S A BIG THING, KAT.

I MEAN, 'CAUSE YOU WERE GETTING
GREAT GRADES.

YOU WERE DOING VERY WELL
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

YES.

[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ]

Narrator:
ONE NIGHT, KAT TRIES COCAINE

TO KEEP HER GOING
ON THE DANCE FLOOR.

IT TRANSFORMS THIS GOOD GIRL
INTO A WILD BEAUTY

AND CHANGES HER LIFE FOREVER.

Narrator:
AFTER HER MOM DIES OF CANCER,

16-YEAR-OLD KAT PETROV
DROPS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL

AND FALLS IN
WITH THE CLUB SCENE.

SHE STARTS USING DRUGS
TO KEEP THE PARTY GOING.

KAT LURES IN
A STEADY STREAM OF GUYS

WHO GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE WANTS.

Interpreter: YOU KNOW,
AFTER HER MOM PASSED AWAY,

SHE WAS CONSTANTLY
IN A SITUATION

OR A SENSE OF CARELESS
AROUND HER.

Narrator: AFTER A FEW MONTHS
OF HITTING THE CLUBS,

KAT MEETS JOSEPH,
A HANDSOME COLLEGE STUDENT.

I'M SORRY.
HI.

I'M JOSEPH.
KAT.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

JOSEPH ISN'T LIKE THE OTHER GUYS
SHE MEETS ON THE SCENE.

HE'S WELL-MANNERED AND SINCERE.

HE WAS TWO YEARS OLDER.

HE CAME FROM
A VERY SOLID FAMILY.

THINK I COULD BUY YOU
A DRINK?

YOU KNOW,
I WOULD LOVE THAT.

HE WAS IN COLLEGE,
AND HE WAS FOCUSED.

GREAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]

THANK YOU AGAIN.

GREAT.

Narrator:
WITHIN WEEKS, THEY'RE DATING,

AND JOSEPH HELPS KAT
TURN HER LIFE AROUND.

Petrov: I WAS BREAKING DOWN
AND DEPRESSED AND ANXIETY,

BUT HE HELPED ME GET THROUGH IT.

HE MADE ME GO GET MY G. E. D.,

AND HE MADE ME
ENROLL IN COLLEGE WITH HIM

TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW,
THERE IS STILL LIFE

AFTER SOMEBODY PASSES AWAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
WHAT?

THAT'S A COLLEGE
APPLICATION.

AND WHAT WERE YOUR DREAMS
AT THIS POINT?

Petrov:
I WANTED TO GET MY DEGREE.

I LOVE MUSIC, AND I WANTED
TO GET INTO MUSIC PRODUCTION,

BUT I FELT LIKE
A BUSINESS-MANAGEMENT DEGREE

IS VERY VERSATILE,

AND I COULD ALWAYS FALL BACK
ON THAT DEGREE.

Narrator: WHEN KAT LOSES
HER VIRGINITY TO JOSEPH,

SHE QUICKLY REALIZES
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A FLING.

WOW. [ CHUCKLES ]

WE HAD A VERY MATURE
RELATIONSHIP FOR THAT AGE,

A VERY LOVING RELATIONSHIP.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE GOING ON
TOMORROW?

I THINK I HAVE TO TAKE
MY GRANDMA TO THE DOCTOR.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS GOING THROUGH
A LOT OF STUFF,

AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT,

RESPECTED THAT
WHEN I HAD TO BE HOME

AND STAY WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.

I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.

Narrator:
THREE YEARS LATER,

KAT AND JOSEPH ARE STILL
VERY MUCH IN LOVE.

I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER DAY
TO DO THIS, BUT...

JOSEPH DECIDES HE'S READY
TO TAKE THE PLUNGE.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

HE WANTED TO GET MARRIED,
AND HE WANTED TO HAVE KIDS,

AND HE WANTED TO RAISE A FAMILY,
BUT I WAS VERY YOUNG,

AND THAT WAS A BIG DECISION
FOR ME TO MAKE AT THAT TIME.

I CAN'T.
I-I...

I STILL WANTED TO GO OUT
AND LIVE LIFE,

AND I FELT LIKE A LOT OF
PRESSURE WAS COMING FROM HIM.

I HAVE MY WHOLE FUTURE
AHEAD OF ME.

Narrator:
19-YEAR-OLD KAT

CAN'T BRING HERSELF
TO COMMIT TO JOSEPH

AND MAKES THE PAINFUL DECISION
TO BREAK UP WITH HIM.

Petrov: I WAS DEVASTATED.
I WAS REALLY DEVASTATED.

Narrator:
THE STING OF THE BREAKUP

IS TEMPERED BY KAT'S NEED
TO GET A JOB.

THE MONEY KAT'S MOM LEFT
HER AND HER GRANDMA IS GONE,

AND KAT FEELS BAD
RELYING ON HER RELATIVES

FOR MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS.

HEY, KAT.

SHE FINDS WORK

AT AN UPSCALE
HOLLYWOOD BOUTIQUE...

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA
TO ME.

...AND POURS THE REST
OF HER ENERGY INTO SCHOOL

AND TAKING CARE OF HER GRANDMA.

Petrov: I WOULD WAKE UP
IN THE MORNING, GO TO SCHOOL,

THEN I WOULD GO TO WORK.

I BARELY SLEPT.

Narrator: THE PRESSURE IS ALMOST
TOO MUCH FOR KAT TO HANDLE,

SO SHE TURNS TO THE ONE THING

THAT HELPS HER GET THROUGH
THE DAY.

Petrov:
I WAS STILL VERY FUNCTIONING.

I FELT LIKE,
"I CAN DO ALL OF THAT.

"I CAN DO THE DRUGS,
I CAN DO THE PARTYING,

AND I CAN STILL GO TO SCHOOL
AND I CAN STILL GO TO WORK."

Narrator:
SHE'S BURNING THROUGH MONEY

TRYING TO KEEP UP
WITH HER RICH FRIENDS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Petrov:
I WAS TRYING SO HARD TO FIT IN.

A LOT OF THE KIDS IN LOS ANGELES
AND BEVERLY HILLS,

THEY COME
FROM VERY WEALTHY FAMILIES.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

SO WITH ME,
I HAD TO PAY FOR MY OWN CAR,

YOU KNOW, I HAD TO PAY
FOR MY OWN CELLPHONE,

MY OWN CLOTHES.

OH, MY GOD.
KAT, ARE YOU OKAY?

Narrator: BUT WHEN KAT GETS
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HER NEW CAR

AFTER A NIGHT OF PARTYING...

GET IN THE CAR.
IT'S FINE.

...SHE COMES CLOSE
TO LOSING IT ALL.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

COME ON, KAT.
I DIDN'T EVEN DRINK THAT MUCH.

SOMEONE COULD HAVE DIED.

YES.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED?

...PAYING ATTENTION
TO THE ROAD RIGHT NOW.

[ SCREAMS ]
[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

I GOT CUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN.

A CAR HIT MY CAR,

AND, YOU KNOW,
THANKFULLY, NOBODY DID DIE.

NOBODY WAS HURT.

Officer: OKAY, MA'AM,
NEED TO RAISE YOUR HEAD.

I WANT YOU TO TOUCH
THE TIP OF YOUR INDEX FINGER

TO THE TIP OF YOUR NOSE.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

I ENDED UP GETTING A D.U.I.

WITH THE WORLD
AT HER FINGERTIPS,

IT'S REALLY HARD
FOR KAT TO PASS UP

ANY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FUN.

AND SHE USED TO HAVE HER MOTHER
TO KEEP HER IN LINE,

BUT NOW SHE'S GOING TO HAVE
TO LEARN TO REIN HERSELF IN.

IF KAT DOESN'T TAKE CONTROL
OF HERSELF SOON,

THERE COULD BE
BIG TROUBLE AHEAD.

OKAY, MA'AM, AT THIS TIME,

I'M GONNA PLACE YOU
UNDER ARREST.

Narrator: IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL
FOR YOUNG KAT.

NO.
Woman: IT'S NOT HER FAULT.

Narrator:
SHE DECIDES TO GET

AS FAR AWAY FROM LOS ANGELES
AS POSSIBLE.

I MEAN,
WHAT WERE YOU RUNNING FROM?

WHY DID YOU NEED THIS BIG,
CLEAN BREAK?

Petrov: I THINK I JUST NEEDED
TO CLEAR MY MIND.

YOU STILL HAD A LOT OF GRIEF
OVER YOUR MOM?

YEAH, I THINK I NEEDED
TO GRIEVE PROPERLY,

AND I THINK I NEEDED
TO GET AWAY

FROM THE PEOPLE
THAT WEREN'T GOOD FOR ME

BECAUSE THEY WERE
PARTY FRIENDS.

SHE SETS HER SIGHTS
ON MIAMI, FLORIDA.

HER GRANDMA CAN'T BE LEFT ALONE.

SO KAT'S RELATIVES OFFER TO PAY
FOR A FULL-TIME CAREGIVER.

LEAVING HER GRANDMA
IS A DIFFICULT CHOICE,

BUT IT'S ONE SHE'S GOT TO MAKE.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S
SO UNDERSTANDING OF ME,

YOU KNOW,
AND SHE'S VERY ACCEPTING

OF THE DECISIONS I MAKE.

OF COURSE I WANT YOU TO GO.

SHE KNEW THAT I NEEDED
TO GET AWAY FROM THINGS

AND GET A CLEAN BREAK.

NEED TO GET ON
WITH YOUR LIFE.

Interpreter: SHE HAD HERE

A HUGE AMOUNT OF FRIENDS
THAT WERE JUST HAVING FUN,

AND SHE FELT THAT SHE'S KIND OF
MESSED UP WITH ALL OF THAT.

GIVE ME A HUG
AND GET OUT OF HERE.

SHE'D GIVEN UP A BIG PART
OF HER CHILDHOOD

TO HELP HER GRANDMOTHER,

AND SHE WANTED TO SORT OF LIVE
HER OWN LIFE A LITTLE BIT.

Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 2010,

20-YEAR-OLD KAT
ARRIVES IN MIAMI,

A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND.

SHE CHECKS INTO A YOUTH HOSTEL
AND BEGINS TO LOOK FOR WORK.

OH, WE'RE NOT OPEN
FOR ANOTHER HOUR.

KAT'S STILL INTERESTED

IN PURSUING A CAREER
IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT,

BUT NEEDS CASH TO SURVIVE.

Dr. Jordan: KAT'S DECISION
TO MOVE OUT OF LOS ANGELES

SHOWS A NEW MATURITY
AND SELF-REFLECTION,

AND SHE'S GOING TO THRIVE
IN THE NEW CITY

AS LONG AS SHE CAN FOCUS
ON HER FUTURE

AND STAY AWAY
FROM THE LURE OF THE BARS.

Petrov: I WAS DOING AN
INTERNSHIP IN THE MORNING,

AND I WAS WORKING AS A WAITRESS
AND A BARTENDER.

HURRY UP AND CHANGE.
PERFECT.

[ SIGHS ]

Dr. Jordan: SO JUST WORKING
AND WORKING AND WORKING.

WORKING DOUBLES, TRIPLES
BECAUSE IT WAS EXPENSIVE.

I WAS ON MY OWN,

AND, YOU KNOW,
I HAD TO KEEP UP WITH MYSELF.

HERE'S A COUPLE DRINKS.
TAKE IT THOSE GUYS OVER THERE.

Narrator: IT'S A FAR CRY

FROM THE LAVISH LIFESTYLE
SHE'S USED TO IN L. A.

COUPLE OF US ARE GONNA GO
TO THE CLUB AFTER THIS.

OKAY.

NOT SURPRISINGLY,
MIAMI'S SIZZLING NIGHTLIFE

BECOMES TOO HARD TO RESIST.

HAVE YOU EVER
DONE ECSTASY BEFORE?

YEAH.

Petrov: I THINK IT'S THE AGE.
IT'S DEFINITELY THE AGE.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOUNG,
YOU WANT TO PARTY,

YOU WANT TO MEET PEOPLE,
YOU WANT TO BE SOCIAL.

Narrator:
KAT'S OUTGOING NATURE

QUICKLY WINS HER NEW FRIENDS
IN SOUTH BEACH.

A ROUND OF SHOTS
FOR MY FRIENDS, PLEASE.

[ ALL CHEERING ]

Gaglio: WE JUST HIT IT OFF,
LIKE, AS FRIENDS.

LIKE, KAT WAS JUST SO FRIENDLY

AND SO, LIKE, UNLIKE ALL
THE OTHER GIRLS IN THE CITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE DRINK.

YOUR NAME AGAIN?

SHE WAS, LIKE, REAL
AND REAL TO YOUR FACE,

AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKED
ABOUT HER.

Narrator: KAT EMBRACES HER NEW
LIFE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.

Gaglio: SHE WAS WILD, SHE WAS FUN,
SHE HAD CRAZY SENSE OF FASHION.

I WAS JUST LIKE,
"WOW, THIS GIRL IS CRAZY,

BUT, LIKE, CRAZY GOOD."

HEY, MAMI.

Narrator:
BUT SHE ALSO DEVELOPS AN EDGE.

SHE HAD BEEN KNOWN TO GET,
LIKE, FEISTY WITH PEOPLE.

CALL ME D-MONEY.
HMM.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, BABY?

JUST FOR LOOKING AT HER
THE WRONG WAY,

SHE DIDN'T TAKE NO ****
FROM NOBODY AT ALL.

I BET YOU'RE A REAL PUSSYCAT
IN THE BEDROOM.

EXCUSE ME?

SHE HAD A LITTLE BARK
TO HER BITE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY
TO ME?

DO I LOOK LIKE A PROSTITUTE
TO YOU?

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK TO ME
LIKE THAT?!

YOU WANTED KAT IN YOUR CORNER,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO ME,
AND YOU NEED TO BACK OFF!

Narrator: AND IT WON'T BE LONG
BEFORE HER HOTHEADED BEHAVIOR

GETS HER INTO MORE TROUBLE
THAN SHE CAN HANDLE.

YOU'RE SEXY!
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THIS WAY.
PLACE YOU IN THE CAR.

Narrator:
LOOKING FOR A FRESH START,

20-YEAR-OLD KAT PETROV
MOVES TO MIAMI, FLORIDA.

ROUND OF SHOTS
FOR MY FRIENDS, PLEASE.

BUT OLD HABITS DIE HARD,

AND THEY EARN
THIS GORGEOUS PARTY GIRL

A BAD REPUTATION.

I'M TALKING TO HER!

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU ALL
TO LEAVE.

I GOT HER.
I GOT HER.

HE'S A JERK.

I THINK HER FEISTINESS
JUST CAME FROM, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

ALL THE STRUGGLES
SHE WENT THROUGH IN HER LIFE.

WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN

AND YOU HAVE A TRAGEDY
LIKE LOSING YOUR MOM,

YOU KIND OF FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE
TO JUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

TOO PRETTY, BABY.

ON THE SURFACE, KAT LOOKS
COMPLETELY TOGETHER.

BUT THIS NEW, FEISTY BEHAVIOR
IS PROBABLY SHOWING

SHE HAS
SOME VERY SUPPRESSED EMOTIONS

FROM HER MOTHER'S DEATH.

THEY'RE BEGINNING TO LEAK OUT,

AND THE NEW, EDGY KAT
SEEMS TO BE TAKING OVER.

Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT YEAR,

KAT DATES A STRING OF MEN
SHE MEETS OUT AT THE CLUBS,

BUT NONE OF THEM
IS BOYFRIEND MATERIAL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO RELY ON ANYBODY
FOR ANYTHING,

AND IF I DID FIND SOMEBODY,
I FELT LIKE

IT WAS GONNA BE WHEN I'M READY.

BUT AT THAT TIME,

I WAS DEFINITELY NOT LOOKING
FOR A RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator:
THAT ALL CHANGES

ON A STEAMY, SUMMER NIGHT
IN JULY 2011.

KAT IS OUT WITH FRIENDS

WHEN SHE MEETS 22-YEAR-OLD
CLUB PROMOTER MARK ROMANO.

HELLO, GORGEOUS.
HI.

ARE YOU HAVING FUN?
YEAH, I AM.

MARK IS TALL, DARK,
AND HANDSOME,

AND THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN
HIM AND KAT IS UNDENIABLE.

YOU PICK THE DEEJAY.

I DO. THAT'S WHAT I DO.

Petrov: HE WAS CHARMING,
VERY CHARISMATIC,

AND WE HIT IT OFF.

DO YOU LIKE TO PARTY?

Narrator: KAT'S NOT LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING SERIOUS.

BUT SHE'S FLATTERED

THAT MARK SEEMS INTERESTED
IN HER,

SO SHE DECIDES
TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

Gaglio:
I JUST REMEMBER HE WAS FUN,

HE WAS, LIKE,
BITING HER NECK IN THE CLUB.

THEY WERE JUST MAKING OUT
THE WHOLE NIGHT,

AND HE WAS WILD JUST LIKE HER.

YOU GUYS READY TO GO?
YEAH.

CAN I GET YOUR NUMBER?

Petrov:
WE PARTIED THAT NIGHT

AND ENDED UP EXCHANGING NUMBERS.

I'M GONNA TEXT YOU.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

Narrator: IT'S NOT LONG

BEFORE THEY'RE SPENDING
NEARLY EVERY NIGHT TOGETHER.

SHE SAID THAT
THE RELATIONSHIP STARTED

AS A PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP.

THEY WOULD SLEEP TOGETHER.

IT WASN'T EXCLUSIVE,

AND THEY DEVELOPED
AN AFFECTION FOR EACH OTHER.

Narrator: SOON, MARK TELLS KAT
HE ONLY HAS EYES FOR HER.

I THINK
I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, KAT.

MARK HAS ALL THE APPEARANCES
OF BEING SUCCESSFUL -

NICE CLOTHES AND A LUXURY
APARTMENT WITH A KILLER VIEW.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO HIS INCOME
THAN MEETS THE EYE.

Petrov: I THINK HE WAS
MAKING MONEY SELLING DRUGS,

AND I THINK HIS PARENTS
WERE SUPPORTING HIM

WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

A TRUST-FUND BABY?
YES.

HIS PARENTS MADE SURE

THAT HE WAS
VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

HELLO, BEAUTIFUL.

Narrator:
MARK LOVES SPOILING KAT,

AND SHE LAPS UP THE ATTENTION.

THAT'S FOR ME?

Gaglio:
NOT HAVING A FATHER,

IT DEFINITELY LEADS,
ESPECIALLY YOUNG GIRLS,

TO, LIKE,
LOOK AT THEIR BOYFRIENDS

AS, LIKE, THAT FIGURE
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM,

AND I FEEL LIKE
THAT WAS A HUGE FACTOR

IN WHY SHE FELL
SO HARD SO QUICK.

I'M GONNA GO
TRY IT ON NOW.

Narrator: THIS RED-HOT ROMANCE
IS FUELED BY THEIR LOVE TO PARTY.

Petrov:
WE WERE BOTH USING DRUGS,

AND THAT KIND OF SET
THE STANDARDS

OF HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP
WILL FLOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
WHAT?

THAT'S A COLLEGE
APPLICATION.

HE WASN'T THERE FOR ME
LIKE JOE -

TRYING TO MAKE ME
DO BETTER THINGS

OR TRYING TO KEEP ME FOCUSED.

HE WAS JUST THERE
FOR THE GOOD TIMES.

HEY, LADIES. MY NAME'S MARK.

Narrator: BUT MARK'S WORK
AS A CLUB PROMOTER

STARTS TO BRING OUT
KAT'S JEALOUS SIDE.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
WHAT'S GOING ON?

OH, HEY.
HOW'S IT GOING?

I'M PROMOTING
FOR TOMORROW'S PARTY.

WHO'S THIS BITCH?
THIS IS NATALIA.

ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT ME?

Hurd:
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU PUT,

YOU KNOW, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
INTO THE MIX

AND YOU ENGAGE
IN A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY,

THAT SIGNIFICANT OTHER
CAN BECOME VERY JEALOUS.

WHO DO YOU THINK
YOU ARE?

AND WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO THIS
ONE IN A SLUTTY BLACK DRESS?

Gaglio: I MEAN, EVERY GIRL
IS, LIKE, JEALOUS

WHEN HER BOYFRIEND IS INTERESTED
IN SOMEONE ELSE

OR EVEN LOOKS AT SOMEONE ELSE.

IT'S JUST, LIKE,
A NATURAL THING.

BUT I THINK KAT - SOMETIMES
SHE TOOK IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

KAT NEEDS SOMEONE GROUNDED
TO TAME HER WILD SIDE,

BUT MARK IS EVEN MORE UNSTABLE
THAN SHE IS.

THIS RELATIONSHIP
CANNOT GO WELL.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
TALKING TO OTHER WOMEN?

Romano: THIS IS MY JOB!

Narrator: DESPITE THEIR
FIGHTING, KAT MOVES IN WITH MARK.

BUT HIS CONSTANT DRUG USE
STARTS TO BOTHER HER.

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?

I'M JUST DOING A LINE.

YOU'RE JUST DOING A LINE?

EVERY TIME SHE CONFRONTS HIM
ABOUT IT, THINGS EXPLODE.

DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T DO IT.

HEY! WHERE YOU GOING?!

THE NEIGHBORS SAID

THAT YOU COULD HEAR THEM
FIGHTING ALL THE TIME.

THEY WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING
AND YELLING AND SCREAMING.

HEY, COME BACK HERE.
NO!

Gaglio:
NOTHING GOOD CAN COME

FROM TWO PEOPLE
THAT ARE ON THE EDGE,

AND I THINK THAT
PLUS THE ALCOHOL

WAS JUST A BAD COMBINATION.

YOU LOOK LIKE A SLUT!

Narrator:
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

KAT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE
WITH A JEALOUS STREAK.

ARE YOU GONNA GO SEE
SOMEBODY?

MARK BECOMES
INCREASINGLY CONTROLLING.

HE WOULD JUST GET AGGRESSIVE
OVER LITTLE THINGS -

MY PHONE, WHERE AM I GOING,

WHO AM I CALLING,
WHAT AM I WEARING.

Narrator:
IN FEBRUARY 2012,

KAT FLIES HOME TO LOS ANGELES
FOR HER GRANDMA'S BIRTHDAY.

KAT!
COME ON!

BUT ACCORDING TO KAT,
BEFORE SHE CAN EVEN UNPACK,

MARK TAKES HIS OBSESSION
TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

I JUST NEED TO TAKE THIS.

HE WOULD CALL ME
FIVE TIMES A DAY -

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHERE YOU AT?" -

TRYING TO SEE WHAT I'M DOING.

KAT, DON'T HANG UP.

I'M VISITING WITH MY GRANDMA
RIGHT NOW.

PLEASE STOP.
I WILL CALL YOU LATER.

HE WOULD TEXT ME,
CURSE ME OUT, CALL ME.

AT SOME POINT,
I TURNED OFF MY PHONE.

AND HE WOULD TEXT
MY GRANDMOTHER'S PHONE,

SAYING WHERE AM I,

CURSING ME OUT
ON MY GRANDMOTHER'S PHONE.

I'll call you later.
WHERE ARE YOU?

Narrator: MARK'S BEHAVIOR RAISES
A MAJOR RED FLAG

WITH KAT'S GRANDMA, TATIANA.

Interpreter: I TOLD KATYA

THAT I DON'T LIKE
THIS YOUNG MAN.

I THINK
HE DOESN'T HAVE GOOD MANNERS

BECAUSE HE'S CALLING ON MY PHONE
ALL THE TIME, NIGHT AND DAY.

ALTOGETHER,
I THINK THAT HE'S A FOOL

BECAUSE NORMAL PEOPLE
DO NOT BEHAVE THIS WAY.

[ Ringing ]

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HE'S NOW CALLING...

Petrov:
SHE TOLD ME, SHE SAID,

"PLEASE,
ONE THING I'M ASKING YOU TO DO

"IS NOT GO BACK TO HIM

BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY TRYING
TO CONTROL YOU,"

SO SHE ALREADY SAW IT
FOR WHAT IT WAS,

AND I WAS STILL TRYING

TO CONVINCE MYSELF
AND EVERYBODY ELSE

THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST HIGH.

ANY EXCUSE THAT I COULD FIND,
I WAS GIVING IT.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD PERSON.

Narrator: KAT RETURNS TO MIAMI
NEARLY THREE WEEKS LATER,

AND SHE'S DETERMINED
TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH MARK.

MARK, YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN.
WE HAVE TO TALK.

I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

I WAS JUST WORRIED YOU WEREN'T
GONNA COME BACK HOME.

OKAY, I PROMISE.

BUT ACCORDING TO KAT,
MARK'S FULL OF EMPTY PROMISES.

THE FIRST TWO DAYS,

HE WAS VERY WELCOMING,
VERY LOVING, VERY CHARMING.

ON THE THIRD DAY,
IT WAS A DISASTER.

WHEN I WAS BARTENDING
AND WAITRESSING,

I USED TO GET TIPS IN CASH,

AND I WOULD GO THROUGH MY PURSE,
AND MY MONEY WOULD BE MISSING.

MARK, CAN YOU COME UP HERE,
PLEASE?

I CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT IT.

I SAID, "YOU DON'T HAVE
TO STEAL MONEY FROM ME.

"IF YOU NEED THE MONEY,
I CAN GIVE YOU THE MONEY.

"BUT NOW YOU'RE GOING
BEHIND MY BACK,

AND YOU'RE TAKING THE MONEY
FOR THE DRUGS."

I DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING
OUT OF YOUR PURSE!

AT FIRST, HE DENIED IT,
AND THEN HE JUST EXPLODED.

ASK ME, MARK. YOU DON'T HAVE
TO GO THROUGH MY STUFF.

THEY BOTH HAVE
VERY DIFFERENT VERSIONS

OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: WHAT COMES NEXT
SENDS THEIR RELATIONSHIP

HURDLING TOWARD
A POINT OF NO RETURN.

FOR MORE ON HOW KAT
IS DOING NOW,

Narrator: 21-YEAR-OLD KAT PETROV HAS
BEEN LIVING THE HIGH LIFE IN MIAMI

WITH HER BOYFRIEND MARK.

BUT WHEN SHE ACCUSES HIM
OF STEALING MONEY FROM HER...

I DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING
OUT OF YOUR PURSE!

...IT SETS THE STAGE
FOR AN EPIC WAR OF WILLS.

YOU'RE CRAZY!
I MAKE WAY MORE MONEY THAN YOU!

HE ENDED UP THROWING MY STUFF,
SMASHING MY COMPUTER,

GOING CRAZY ON ME
FOR JUST CONFRONTING HIM.

AFTER HE SMASHED THE PROPERTY,
HE ATTACKED ME.

...ACCUSING ME!
I'M SICK OF IT!

I REMEMBER HE WAS DRAGGING ME
THROUGH THE APARTMENT,

AND I WAS TRYING
TO HOLD ON TO THE WALL.

GET OUT OF MY LIFE!
I'M SICK OF YOU!

YOU'RE CRAZY!

I FELT LIKE I WAS BOXING
WITH SOMEBODY,

AND I WAS CRYING
AND BEGGING HIM TO STOP.

HE PUSHED ME
DOWN THE WHOLE FLIGHT OF STAIRS.

I WAS UNCONSCIOUS
FOR A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN I GOT UP,
HE WAS ON TOP OF ME.

YOU MADE ME MAD!

WHY ARE YOU STILL
IN MY LIFE?!

I ENDED UP SCRATCHING HIM
AND TRYING TO HIT HIM

BECAUSE I WAS TRYING
TO GET HIM OFF OF ME.

COME BACK HERE!

Narrator: BUT MARK TELLS
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.

Rosenberg: HE SAID THAT THERE WAS
$20 SITTING ON THE COUNTERTOP,

THAT IT WASN'T IN HER PURSE.

HE TOOK IT TO GO GET
SOME FOOD FOR BOTH OF THEM.

OH, NO,
I DIDN'T TAKE ANY MONEY.

I PROMISE.

YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY
GOING THROUGH MY STUFF, MARK?!

HIS VERSION WAS THAT HE WAS
JUST TRYING TO RESTRAIN HER

AS SHE WAS KIND OF
VICIOUSLY ATTACKING HIM

BUT THAT HE NEVER
LAID A HAND ON HER.

[ SOBS ] YES.

Narrator: REGARDLESS
OF WHOSE VERSION IS TRUE,

KAT DOES RUN OUTSIDE
TO CALL POLICE.

HE PUSHED ME DOWN THE STAIRS.
I NEED HELP.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GONNA DO.

AND YOU DID WHAT
ALL THE TEXTBOOKS SAY TO DO,

THAT THE VERY FIRST TIME

YOUR BOYFRIEND OR YOUR MAN
ATTACKS YOU,

YOU CALL THE POLICE.

AND I DIDN'T WANT
TO CALL THE POLICE,

BUT HE WAS SO AGGRESSIVE

THAT I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO.

[ Sobbing ]
I DON'T KNOW! PLEASE!

THEY WANTED ME
TO WRITE A STATEMENT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO COOPERATE.

I SAID, "ALL I WANT
IS FOR YOU TO CALM HIM DOWN

AND GET MY STUFF,"

AND THEY ARRESTED HIM
RIGHT AWAY

BECAUSE I HAD BRUISING ALL OVER
MY ARMS, ALL OVER MY NECK.

Narrator:
MARK IS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

AND SPENDS THE WEEKEND IN JAIL.

KAT FILES FOR
A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HIM.

HAS HE BEEN HITTING YOU,
KAT?

WE JUST GOT INTO A FIGHT,

AND HE SHOVED ME
AND HE THREW ME DOWN THE STAIRS.

IN THE PAST, WHEN KAT'S LIFE

HAS BEEN ON THE BRINK
OF SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL,

SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE
TO TURN IT AROUND,

FIRST WITH JOE

AND THEN BY MOVING
OUT OF LOS ANGELES.

YOU NEED TO GET ON
WITH YOUR LIFE.

BUT NOW IF SHE DOESN'T MAKE
A DRASTIC CHANGE,

THINGS ARE GOING TO GET
VERY BAD VERY FAST.

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
SHE'S DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH MARK,

KAT KNOWS IT'S BEST
TO BREAK THINGS OFF WITH HIM.

STILL,
SHE'S UTTERLY HEARTBROKEN.

Petrov: "I'M NOT GONNA GO BACK
WITH HIM."

I FELT LIKE MY MIND
WAS GETTING CLEAR,

AND I JUST COULDN'T HANDLE
THE FACT

THAT HE ATTACKED ME
OUT OF NO REASON.

I COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

ARE YOU TEXTING MARK?

Gaglio: I WAS SO MAD
WHEN I SAW THE BRUISES ON HER.

NO!
GIVE ME THIS.

FOR A GIRL THAT DOESN'T
TAKE... FROM ANYBODY,

YOU SHOULDN'T BE TAKING IT
FROM THE MAN YOU LOVE.

IF HE DOES IT ONCE,
HE'S GONNA DO IT AGAIN.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

Narrator: BUT A FEW WEEKS LATER,
KAT AND MARK RECONNECT.

Rosenberg:
I BELIEVE HE SAID

THAT SHE JUST BASICALLY
PURSUED HIM VERY AGGRESSIVELY

AFTER THIS INCIDENT.

MARK,
THE PARTYING HAS TO STOP.

AND THAT HE, TOO, LOVED HER
AND CARED FOR HER VERY MUCH.

COME ON.
LET'S GET SOME COFFEE.

AND THE THING

ABOUT A RESTRAINING ORDER
THAT'S VERY TRICKY IS

THAT SHE CAN DO
ALL THOSE THINGS,

BUT HE CAN GET THROWN IN JAIL
FOR ACCEPTING THE PHONE CALL.

Narrator: KAT CLAIMS
MARK PURSUED HER FIRST.

I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT LAYING OFF THE DRUGS.

Petrov: HE WAS TEXTING ME,
ASKING ME TO PLEASE TALK TO HIM,

PLEASE GIVE HIM A CHANCE,

AND I WAS IGNORING HIM
ALL THROUGHOUT.

AND IT'S LIKE,
WHEN YOU LOVE A PERSON,

IT'S HARD TO GET AWAY FROM THEM.

YOU FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CHANGE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN GIVE THEM
ANOTHER CHANCE.

YOU KNOW, I WENT OVER

TO MY FRIEND JIMMY'S HOUSE
THE OTHER DAY...

Narrator:
KAT AND MARK GET BACK TOGETHER,

AND SHE'S GOT A SOLUTION

TO KEEP THINGS
FROM GETTING UGLY AGAIN.

AND THE OTHER TWO FRIENDS
FROM COLLEGE,

THEY'RE ALREADY MARRIED.

I THINK I WANTED HIM TO CHANGE,

AND I THINK THAT WITH HELP
OR WITH COUNSELING,

WITHOUT THE DRUGS,
HE CAN BE A LOVING PERSON.

Narrator:
KAT AND MARK'S RELATIONSHIP

HITS AN ALL-TIME
BUT NATURAL HIGH.

THEY EVEN TALK ABOUT BUILDING
A FUTURE TOGETHER.

Dr. Jordan:
SO, YOU WANTED TO HAVE A BABY.

Petrov: YEAH, AND HE WANTED
TO HAVE A BABY, TOO.

BUT YOU JUST FINISHED SAYING

THAT YOU WEREN'T INTERESTED
IN A RELATIONSHIP,

AND YOU DIDN'T WANT
TO GET MARRIED.

THINGS CHANGE.

YOU FALL IN LOVE
WITH A PERSON,

AND YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK
ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

KAT REALLY BELIEVES

THAT THE BEST WAY TO SALVAGE
THIS RELATIONSHIP

IS FOR HER AND MARK
TO SIMPLY STAY SOBER.

BUT TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
ISN'T ALWAYS THAT EASY

AND COULD BE PUTTING
REAL PRESSURE

ON AN ALREADY FRAGILE
RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator:
BUT ACCORDING TO KAT,

THINGS TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE

JUST ONE WEEK LATER AFTER
AN EVENING OUT ON THE TOWN.

I'M NOT DRUNK!

ONCE AGAIN, THINGS GET PHYSICAL
BETWEEN THESE HOTHEADED LOVERS.

I NEED TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS!

YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME!
MARK, PLEASE!

Petrov:
AND I TRIED TO WALK AWAY.

HE TOOK MY HAND
AND SNAPPED TWO OF MY FINGERS.

YOU TALK TO ME!

[ BONES SNAP ]
[ SOBS ]

I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN.

I WAS CRYING, AND I WAS LIKE,

"I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL."

Narrator: ACCORDING TO KAT,
MARK REFUSES TO GO.

[ Sobbing ]
TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL, MARK.

NO. WE CAN'T GO THE HOSPITAL!
I'LL GO TO JAIL!

Rosenberg:
THEY GO BACK TO HIS APARTMENT,

AND IN THE MORNING,
SHE'S STILL IN PAIN,

AND SHE GOES BY HERSELF
TO THE HOSPITAL,

TELLS THEM,
"YES, SOMEBODY DID THIS TO ME,"

WOULDN'T SPECIFY WHO.

AND THEY PUT HER FINGER
IN A SPLINT.

NO. WE'LL FIX IT AT HOME!
LISTEN!

WE'LL FIX IT AT HOME!
[ SOBS ]

Narrator: KAT CLAIMS MARK'S DARK
SIDE IS BACK AND WITH A VENGEANCE.

BUT INSTEAD
OF LEAVING HIM FOR GOOD,

KAT CHOOSES TO STAY.

HEY.
HOW'S IT GOING?

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

MARK CLAIMS THE INCIDENT
NEVER EVEN HAPPENED.

Petrov: WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE
WITH SOMEBODY,

YOU WANT TO STICK
WITH THAT PERSON,

STICK BY THEIR SIDE
THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD,

AND TRY TO CHANGE HIM.

AND I KNEW THAT I SHOULD HAVE
WALKED AWAY A LONG TIME AGO,

BUT SOMETHING
WAS KEEPING ME AROUND HIM.

THERE WAS CERTAINLY
A PATTERN OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR,

AND YOU COULD SEE
HOW IT WOULD -

YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HAPPEN
IN A CYCLE ALMOST.

Narrator:
A FEW WEEKS LATER, IN EARLY MAY,

KAT MISSES HER PERIOD,

AND A TEST CONFIRMS
SHE'S PREGNANT.

KAT'S NERVOUS
TO TELL MARK THE NEWS.

AND SHE DOES A LINE OF COCAINE
TO STEEL HERSELF.

[ SNORTS ]

Petrov:
IT WAS MY FIRST PREGNANCY,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW HE WOULD REACT

EVEN THOUGH HE SAID
HE WANTS TO HAVE A KID,

HE WANTS TO HAVE A FAMILY.

Narrator: KAT MEETS UP WITH MARK
AT A NEARBY BAR THAT NIGHT,

BUT IT'S CLEAR HE'S IN NO MOOD
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

HOW WAS WORK TODAY?

IT WAS MISERABLE.

I REMEMBER I HAD MY CLUTCH WITH
MY PHONE, MY MONEY, EVERYTHING,

AND I ASKED HIM
TO HOLD IT FOR ME

WHILE I GO TO THE BATHROOM.

I'M GONNA USE THE RESTROOM.
CAN YOU PLEASE WATCH MY STUFF?

YEAH. SURE.

SO, WHEN I CAME
OUT OF THE BATHROOM,

THE CLUTCH WAS UNATTENDED,
JUST SITTING ON THE BAR.

HE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Narrator: MARK ALLEGEDLY ALSO
LEAVES HIS PHONE AT THE BAR.

AND WHEN KAT CLICKS ON IT,

SHE FINDS A RACY TEXT
FROM ANOTHER GIRL.

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING, MARK?

WHEN SHE RUNS INTO HIM OUTSIDE
MINUTES LATER,

SHE GOES OFF ON HIM.

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE
WATCHING MY STUFF.

YOUR STUFF'S FINE!

AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

I'M SICK OF YOU IN MY BUSINESS!
WHY YOU LOOKING AT MY PHONE?

DO I LOOK AT YOUR PHONE?
YOU KNOW WHAT, MARK?

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS,
I AM PREGNANT.

I TOLD HIM THAT I'M LEAVING HIM,
I WANT TO GET MY STUFF,

AND I'M GOING
TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE.

YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE DONE
WITH THE DRUGS.

YOU TOLD ME
YOU COULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

WE CAN'T KEEP THIS.

HE STARTED GETTING CRAZY.

I WILL BE DISOWNED!
I WON'T HAVE ANY MONEY!

I WILL BE OUT ON THE STREET!
FINE. I'M LEAVING.

COME BACK HERE!
I CAN'T HAVE A KID!

HOW DID HE RESPOND, KAT?

HE SAID THAT I CAN'T KEEP
THE BABY,

THAT HIS PARENTS
ARE GONNA DISOWN HIM,

THAT HIS PARENTS ARE GONNA STOP
GIVING HIM HIS ALLOWANCE,

THAT IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING,
POINT BLANK, PERIOD.

NOT HAPPENING.

YOU ARE GETTING
AN ABORTION!

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO KAT,

MARK TELLS HER
TO GET AN ABORTION.

HIS HARSH DEMAND
CUTS HER TO THE CORE.

STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO,
MARK!

I'M GETTING SICK OF IT!

HE STARTED GETTING VIOLENT.

LEAVE ME ALONE!

SOUNDS JUST LIKE
THE FIRST ASSAULT.

YEAH, AND ONCE HE STARTS
TO ATTACK...

YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

...THERE'S NO REASONING
WITH HIM.

YOU ARE GETTING
AN ABORTION!

I'M DONE!

OF COURSE, I'M TRYING
TO GET SOMETHING

TO, YOU KNOW, ATTACK HIM BACK
SO HE CAN LEAVE ME ALONE,

AND HE'S JUST...

IT WAS A MESS.

SO, AS HE'S HITTING ME,
I TOOK A KNIFE,

AND I TOLD HIM
TO GET AWAY FROM ME.

I'M SICK OF YOU!

IF YOU HIT ME ONE MORE TIME,
I'M GOING TO STAB YOU!

Narrator: 22-YEAR-OLD KAT PETROV
HAS JUST LEARNED

SHE'S PREGNANT
WITH HER BOYFRIEND MARK'S BABY.

I'M PREGNANT.

BUT THE REVELATION

IGNITES A FIRESTORM
BETWEEN THE COUPLE...

STOP TELLING ME
WHAT TO DO, MARK!

...LEADING
TO A TERRIFYING SHOWDOWN

THAT'S ABOUT TO TURN BLOODY.

YOU ARE GETTING AN ABORTION!

GET AWAY FROM ME.
GET AWAY FROM ME!

I WAS HOLDING THE KNIFE
TO MY CHEST,

AND I SAID, "GET AWAY FROM ME."

YOU WHAT? YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA
STAB ME WITH THAT?

DID HE GET AWAY FROM YOU?

NO.

HE ENDED UP
TRYING TO SMASH MY HEAD,

AND AT THAT MOMENT,
I STABBED HIM.

GET AWAY FROM ME!

IT WAS A REACTION.

IT WAS A REACTION FOR ME
TO GET HIM AWAY FROM ME.

AND AT THIS POINT,
I'M PROTECTING MYSELF

AND I'M PROTECTING
MY BABY.

Narrator:
MARK GOES INTO SHOCK

AND STAGGERS
OUT OF THE APARTMENT.

[ Sobbing ] I NEED HELP, PLEASE!
I NEED AN AMBULANCE!

I GOT MY CELLPHONE,
AND I STARTED CALLING 911.

MARK!

COME HERE, PLEASE!
HE'S BLEEDING!

HE'S BLEEDING! PLEASE!

Narrator: SECONDS LATER,
MARK LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS.

KAT PANICS.

PLEASE, HURRY! PLEASE!

HE WAS COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND,
UNRESPONSIVE,

AND COVERED IN BLOOD.

PLEASE!
[ SOBS ]

AND SHE'S JUST STANDING THERE,
THIS, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

JUST STANDING THERE
SOBBING HYSTERICALLY.

I'M SORRY!

I KEPT HOLDING HIS WOUND TO STOP
HIS BLEEDING OR SOMETHING.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
BUT I WAS COVERING HIS WOUND,

AND I WAS TRYING
TO TALK TO HIM, TOO,

SO THAT HE'S GOING
BACK INTO BEING CONSCIOUS.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: PARAMEDICS ARRIVE ON THE
SCENE AND RUSH MARK TO THE HOSPITAL.

THERE, HE UNDERGOES
EMERGENCY OPEN-HEART SURGERY.

Rosenberg: THEY OPENED HIM UP,

AND THEY FOUND HE HAD
A PARTIALLY COLLAPSED LUNG

BECAUSE THE KNIFE FIRST WENT
THROUGH THE LUNG,

AND THEN IT WENT THROUGH THE BAG
THAT THE HEART SITS IN,

WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT MAINTAINING
PRESSURE WHERE YOUR HEART IS,

AND YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DROPS.

Petrov: I WAS PRAYING,
PRAYING FOR HIM TO SURVIVE.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE
WHAT HAPPENED.

I DIDN'T CARE
IF I WAS GOING TO JAIL.

I DIDN'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS.
I JUST CARED FOR HIM TO LIVE.

WE'RE GONNA NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN
WHAT HAPPENED HERE TONIGHT.

[ Sobbing ]
WE WERE FIGHTING,

AND HE WAS HOLDING THE KNIFE,
AND THEN HE STABBED HIMSELF.

HOLD ON A SECOND.

Narrator:
WHEN OFFICERS QUESTION KAT,

SHE REPEATEDLY CHANGES
HER STORY.

Man:
HE STABBED HIMSELF?

HE STABBED HIMSELF, YES.

OKAY.
WHO WAS HOLDING THE KNIFE?

Petrov:
I WAS SO HYSTERICAL,

I WAS TRYING TO TELL THEM
THAT WE WERE ARGUING,

THAT HE WAS USING DRUGS,
AND THAT THE KNIFE WENT IN HIM.

I WOULDN'T SAY
THAT I STABBED HIM

BECAUSE I JUST - I WAS SCARED.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE YOU
COME WITH US.

Narrator: POLICE TAKE KAT INTO
CUSTODY FOR FURTHER QUESTIONING.

A PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE SCENE
TAKES SEVERAL PHOTOS

THAT MAKE FRONT-PAGE HEADLINES.

THE PHOTO OF HER STANDING THERE
COVERED IN HIS BLOOD

WITH THE -
JUST EXPRESSION ON HER FACE

WAS JUST, LIKE, PURE TERROR.

LIKE, SHE LOOKED TERRIFIED.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
[ SOBS ]

IT'S LOVE GONE TERRIBLY WRONG.

YOU HAVE THE ELEMENTS
OF JEALOUSY AND ANGER.

YOU MADE ME MAD!

YOU HAD THE DRUGS.

I THINK ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS

MADE AN INTRIGUING STORY.

[ SOBS ]

Narrator:
MARK SURVIVES THE SURGERY

AND IS EVENTUALLY RELEASED
FROM THE HOSPITAL.

KAT'S CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

SHE FACED A MAXIMUM OF 25 YEARS.

Narrator: IN JAIL, KAT'S FORCED
TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION.

Petrov: I HAVE NO FAMILY
BESIDES MY GRANDMOTHER,

AND SHE'S VERY SICK.

I HAD NOBODY
TO TAKE CARE OF THE BABY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT AT ALL
FOR MY FIRST PREGNANCY.

I DON'T WANT THE KIDS
TO BE TAKEN AWAY,

PUT IN A FOSTER HOME,

AND I'M SERVING TIME.

Narrator:
SHE HAS AN ABORTION.

SHE'S GETTING VERY AGITATED
THAT WE AREN'T...

Narrator: AT THE TRIAL
NEARLY TWO YEARS LATER,

MARK TESTIFIES AGAINST KAT.

I FELT SOMETHING REALLY HOT
ON THE LEFT SIDE,

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE STABBED ME.

Narrator: AND SHE'S FOUND GUILTY
ON ALL CHARGES.

Rosenberg:
WHEN SHE WAS ARRESTED,

SHE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COCAINE,

SO THAT PROBABLY
DIDN'T HELP HER.

[ GAVEL BANGS ]

Narrator:
BUT THE JUDGE SHOWS LENIENCY

AND REDUCES HER SENTENCE
FROM 25 TO 8 YEARS IN PRISON.

Dr. Jordan:
KAT MAY BE IN PRISON,

BUT SHE'S NOT
A HARDENED CRIMINAL,

AND SHE REALLY
IS NOT INTRINSICALLY VIOLENT.

KATERINA WILL LOOK FORWARD,
NOT BACKWARDS,

AND STRIVE TO HAVE
THE LIFE SHE WAS MEANT FOR.

Narrator: KAT ENROLLS
IN A PRISON COLLEGE PROGRAM.

SHE'LL BE 28 YEARS OLD
WHEN SHE'S RELEASED.

Petrov:
THROUGHOUT THIS, I'VE LEARNED

HOW TO BETTER KNOW MYSELF,

HOW TO BETTER DISCERN
INTO PEOPLE'S CHARACTERS,

AND I'VE MATURED A LOT.

AND YOU SAY YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU COULD TRUST A MAN AGAIN.

YES.

YOU'D LIKE TO GET MARRIED
AND HAVE KIDS?

IN THE FUTURE. SOMEDAY.