Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - Krista Clark - full transcript

YOU HAVEN'T MET HIM,
BUT HIS NAME IS REILLY.

Narrator: A PSYCHIC PREDICTION
BRINGS TWO PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WANT TO GET MARRIED?

HE WAS VERY CHARMING,
TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

Narrator:
THE ALL-AMERICAN COUPLE

BECOMES
THE PERFECT POLITICAL PAIR.

HE LOVED THE PERSONA,

THAT EVERYBODY CALLED US
BARBIE AND KEN.

Narrator:
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]



I SAW TIMES
WHERE HE WOULD PUSH HER.

STOP!
KNOCK IT OFF!

Narrator: JEALOUSY KEEPS
TEARING THE MARRIAGE APART...

JOE WAS ALWAYS A WOMANIZER.

WAIT, YOU THINK
I WANT TO BE WITH HER?

Narrator:
...UNTIL ONE NIGHT

WHEN THINGS TAKE A SHARP
AND DANGEROUS TURN.

STOP POKING ME,
JOE!

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

AT 20 YEARS OLD, DIANE RUSSO
IS THE PICTURE OF PERFECTION.

THIS VIBRANT YOUNG WOMAN
IS BEAUTIFUL AND AMBITIOUS.

SHE ALREADY HAS A FULL-TIME JOB



AND DREAMS
THAT ARE LARGER THAN LIFE.

I REALLY WANTED TO BE
A CAREER WOMAN.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD.

IT FELT WONDERFUL
TO WATCH MY DAUGHTER

GROW INTO A BRIGHT, OUTGOING,
RESPONSIBLE YOUNG ADULT.

DIANE, IT'S BILL
ON LINE ONE FOR YOU.

Narrator:
DIANE WORKS AS A BILLING CLERK,

INSPIRING A FUTURE CAREER
IN ACCOUNTING.

HI, BILL.
THIS IS DIANE.

BUT HER WORK LIFE
SEEMS TO TRUMP HER LOVE LIFE.

WELL, LET ME GET YOUR NUMBER,
AND I WILL CALL YOU RIGHT BACK.

Diane:
I WAS NOT DATING.

I ENJOYED, ACTUALLY,
JUST BEING MARRIED TO MY JOB.

AND I WAS. [ LAUGHS ]

I WAS A WORKAHOLIC.

Narrator: WHILE DIANE BLAMES HER
AMBITION FOR HER SINGLE STATUS,

A TEENAGE TRAUMA
MAY HAVE MORE TO DO WITH IT.

HE TOTALLY LOOKS AT YOU
IN THE HALLWAY.

OF COURSE.
REALLY?

YEAH, YOU KNOW -

HEY, GIRLS.
UH, WE'RE GOING OUT.

SO,
HAVE A GREAT TIME,

BUT DON'T HAVE
TOO MUCH FUN.

[ LAUGHTER ]
WHATEVER, DAD.

Diane:
THE END OF MY JUNIOR YEAR,

I HAD ASKED MY PARENTS
IF I COULD HAVE THE GIRLS OVER.

WE WERE JUST GONNA HANG OUT,
MAYBE END UP BEING A SLEEPOVER.

WASN'T QUITE SURE
WHERE IT WOULD LEAD,

BUT MY PARENTS
KNEW ALL OF MY FRIENDS.

YES.

AND I KNOW
YOU HAVE HIS NUMBER. GIVE IT.

FINE.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
IT WASN'T PART OF THE PLAN,

DIANE'S FRIEND INVITES SOME BOYS
OVER TO SPICE THINGS UP.

YOUR PARENTS
AREN'T EVEN HOME.

THEY'RE IN A MOVIE.

HEY, WHAT'S UP?
OH, MY GOD, YOU GUYS.

Diane:
THEY WERE DRUNK.

THEY WERE STONED.

THESE WERE THE GUYS
THAT WE WOULD HANG OUT WITH,

BASICALLY, SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR.

HEY, YOU GUYS
NEED TO LEAVE NOW.

Narrator:
KNOWN TO NEVER BREAK THE RULES,

DIANE TRIES
TO MAKE THE BOYS LEAVE.

WE'LL - WE'LL -
WE'LL BE OUT BY 10. PROMISE.

Narrator:
BUT IT'S ALL IN VAIN.

Diane: THERE WAS NO REASONING
WITH THEM.

I WAS THE PERSON
TRYING TO KICK EVERYBODY OUT,

AND IT WAS NOT
GETTING ME ANYWHERE.

COME ON.

FINE. FINE.

Narrator: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
WILL LEAVE AN EMOTIONAL SCAR

FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

WE HEARD ABOUT THE PARTY,
AND WE DECIDED TO SHOW UP.

I WANT TO PARTY.

DIANE CLAIMS THAT THE BOYS
FORCED THEMSELVES ON HER.

STOP IT.
STOP IT.

Diane:
IT WAS A PHYSICAL FIGHT.

IT WAS ONE OF ME AGAINST THEM.

I LOST THE BATTLE.

STOP.

WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME
IS THAT THEY RAPED YOU.

CORRECT.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO DIANE,
NOBODY COMES TO HELP HER.

NO!
NO, NO, NO, NO.

SHE ASKED YOU FIRST.

[ DIANE SCREAMING ]

Narrator:
WHEN DIANE'S PARENTS COME HOME,

THEY FIND THEIR DAUGHTER
HYSTERICAL AND THE HOUSE EMPTY,

BUT DIANE IS TOO DISTRAUGHT
TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.

[ Crying ]
I DON'T KNOW.

SEVERAL DAYS LATER, SHE TELLS
HER MOTHER WHAT HAPPENED.

I JUST TOLD MY MOM AND
HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH HER.

I DO NOT RECALL ALL OF THE
SPECIFICS AFTER THAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS TOO -
TOO TRAUMATIC FOR ME.

[ SOBBING ]

I HAD TWO CHOICES.

I COULD DWELL IN IT

AND BECOME
THIS RECKLESS INDIVIDUAL,

BUT THAT'S NOT WHO I AM.

I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON
WHO PICKS UP THE PIECES,

TAKES ALL THE INFORMATION IN,
AND MOVES FORWARD.

Woman: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THE TRAUMA OF RAPE
IS SO SEVERE IN ANY SITUATION,

BUT IN DIANE'S EXPERIENCE
WITH MULTIPLE ATTACKERS,

IT'S REALLY GOING TO
CRUMBLE HER FOUNDATION

AND DESTROY HER SENSE
OF SELF AND OF SAFETY.

THIS COULD HAVE
LONG-LASTING RAMIFICATIONS

ON HER ABILITY
TO FORM HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS,

MAYBE EVEN
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

WE SHOULD GO OUT
FOR A DRINK.

I DON'T KNOW.

Narrator:
FOUR YEARS LATER,

DIANE'S PUT THE TRAUMATIC EVENT
BEHIND HER

AND IS FEELING MORE CONFIDENT
THAN EVER.

COME ON.

A MARTINI
SOUNDS KIND OF NICE.

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL MEET YOU OUT FRONT.

OKAY. THANKS.

DIANE MAY EVEN FINALLY
BE READY TO OPEN HERSELF UP

TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ROMANCE.

HI, DIANE.
JOHN.

NICE TO MEET YOU,
JOHN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Narrator: ALMOST INSTANTLY,
SHE MEETS A NICE GUY NAMED JOHN.

I NEED ANOTHER DRINK.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I FEEL
A SETUP HAPPENING.

QUITE POSSIBLY.

I THINK
I SHOULD THANK HER.

HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLDER THAN I,
VERY SOPHISTICATED, VERY LOVING,

VERY CARING, VERY -
JUST COMPASSIONATE,

INTERESTED IN GETTING TO KNOW
WHO I WAS,

AND WE HAD A LOT
OF THE SAME INTERESTS.

Narrator:
THEY SOON START DATING,

AND DIANE FEELS
AN INSTANT CONNECTION WITH JOHN.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME SHE'S FELT
TRULY COMFORTABLE AROUND A MAN.

NICELY COIFFED.
IT LOOKS GOOD.

Diane: HE DID NOT FORCE
ANY TYPE OF INTIMACY.

IT WAS HOLDING HANDS, CUDDLING,

A VERY SAFE,
SECURE RELATIONSHIP FOR ME.

Narrator: NINE MONTHS LATER,
DIANE AND JOHN TIE THE KNOT.

I LOVED THE FACT
THAT WE HAD SUCH A DEEP,

MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP.

Jordan: IT'S NOT SURPRISING
THAT AS A VICTIM OF RAPE,

DIANE IS GOING TO SEEK SAFETY
IN ANY RELATIONSHIP,

AND SO WITH JOHN, SHE DECIDED
TO MARRY HER BEST FRIEND.

BUT A MARRIAGE
CAN'T BE SUSTAINED

ON CUDDLING AND HAND-HOLDING,

AND WITHOUT THAT SENSE
OF INTIMACY,

THE MARRIAGE WAS DOOMED TO FAIL.

Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

DIANE CONTINUES TO THRIVE
IN HER CAREER,

AND SHE WON'T LET ANYTHING
STAND IN HER WAY.

I DID HAVE DREAMS OF THE HOUSE
WITH THE WHITE PICKET FENCE,

BUT THAT WAS DEFINITELY

SOMETHING PUSHED BACK
IN MY MIND.

I WAS REALLY
JUST INTO MY CAREER.

WE'D LIKE
TO OFFER YOU THE PROMOTION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS.

Narrator:
BUT AFTER SIX YEARS OF MARRIAGE,

DIANE IS FINALLY READY
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

IN HER PERSONAL LIFE.

ON JUNE 7, 1995,

SHE GIVES BIRTH
TO A BEAUTIFUL BOY NAMED CONNOR.

IT'S A LOVE
SHE NEVER KNEW EXISTED.

WHEN HE CAME AROUND,
IT WAS LIKE, "WOW.

THIS IS, LIKE, THE BEST THING
THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME."

I WAS SO EXCITED.

IT WASN'T UNTIL HE WAS BORN THAT
THE STARS CAME OUT IN HER EYES.

Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

DIANE IS THE HAPPIEST
SHE'S EVER BEEN.

SHE WAS DEFINITELY BORN
TO BE A MOTHER.

Narrator: BUT AFTER BEING
MARRIED TO JOHN FOR 11 YEARS,

IT'S CLEAR THAT SOMETHING IS
MISSING IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP -

PASSION.

Diane: I JUST LOVED THE MATURITY
OF THE RELATIONSHIP,

BUT IT WAS
ON A BEST-FRIEND BASIS.

AS MUCH AS WE WERE
GOOD PARENTS TOGETHER,

WE STILL DIDN'T HAVE

THAT CONNECTION
AS A HUSBAND AND WIFE.

YOU OKAY?

Narrator:
IT'S AN AMICABLE SPLIT,

AND DIANE GETS CUSTODY
OF CONNOR.

JOHN CONTINUES TO BE
A DEVOTED FATHER AND FRIEND.

I MEAN,
I STILL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HIM,

AND HE IS THE FATHER TO MY SON.

Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A LONG TIME,

DIANE'S ON HER OWN,
THIS TIME AS A SINGLE MOTHER.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE,

BEING BACK OUT
INTO THE "DATING WORLD"

THAT I DIDN'T REALLY
KNOW MUCH ABOUT,

AND ESPECIALLY BEING IN MY 30s.

OKAY.

Narrator: ON A WHIM,

DIANE DECIDES TO TAG ALONG
WITH A FRIEND

TO VISIT A WELL-KNOWN PSYCHIC.

THE PSYCHIC WAS TELLING ME

ALL THESE DIFFERENT KINDS
OF THINGS.

YOU HAVEN'T MET HIM,
BUT HIS NAME IS REILLY.

OOH.

AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF,
"WELL, THAT'S REALLY BIZARRE."

OOH, MRS. REILLY,

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE
GONNA BE GETTING MARRIED.

Narrator: FOR THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, DIANE IS HAPPILY SINGLE,

UNTIL A FRIEND PUTS HER PROFILE
UP ON AN ONLINE DATING SITE.

DIANE PLAYS ALONG AND ENDS UP
ON A BLIND DATE WITH CHARLIE.

HE IS, ACTUALLY.

Diane:
IT WAS HORRIBLE.

WE MET, AND THE WHOLE TIME,

HE KEPT TALKING
ABOUT HIS ROOMMATE -

HIS ROOMMATE, JOE.

HIS ROOMMATE, JOE,
WAS A FAMILY PERSON.

HIS ROOMMATE, JOE,
IS AN ACCOUNTANT.

YOU DON'T PLAY SPORTS?
JOE PLAYS SPORTS.

JOE'S ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD
AT SPORTS.

JOE PLAYS SPORTS.

HE'S AMAZING AT SPORTS.

HIS ROOMMATE'S INTO BASEBALL
AND FOOTBALL AND BOWLING

AND ALL THESE SPORTS.

JOE'S A GREAT GUY.

Narrator: AS THE DATE GOES ON,
DIANE TUNES OUT,

BUT HER HEART STARTS RACING
WHEN CHARLIE REVEALS

AN INTERESTING DETAIL
ABOUT HIS ROOMMATE, JOE.

HE COMES FROM A FAMILY
OF POLITICIANS.

YOU EVER
HEARD OF THE REILLYS?

HIS NAME IS REILLY.

THE REILLYS?

Narrator: SINGLE MOTHER
DIANE RUSSO IS ON A BLIND DATE,

BUT THERE'S ZERO CHEMISTRY.

TURNS OUT SHE'S MORE INTERESTED

IN MEETING HER DATE'S ROOMMATE,
JOE,

ALL BECAUSE OF A VISIT
TO A FORTUNE TELLER.

HIS NAME IS REILLY.

Narrator: DIANE STARTS WONDERING
IF THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING

TO THE PSYCHIC'S PREDICTION
AFTER ALL.

MAYBE I NEED TO GIVE THIS GUY
A SHOT.

MAYBE THIS IS ALL HAPPENING
FOR A REASON.

Narrator:
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER,

DIANE DECIDES
TO DO SOMETHING BOLD.

SHE CALLS CHARLIE'S HOUSE WHEN
SHE KNOWS HE WON'T BE AROUND.

I CALLED THE HOUSE LINE,
AND JOE ANSWERED.

JOE:
Uh, hi, Diane.

Charlie's not here right now.

WELL, I KNOW.

I, UM, I KNOW
THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE WEIRD,

BUT WHEN CHARLIE AND I MET,

HE KEPT TALKING ABOUT YOU
AND HOW GREAT YOU WERE.

I SAID, "YES, I KNOW, JOE,
BUT NOW I CAN TALK TO YOU.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
TO GO ON A DATE?"

HAD YOU MET JOE?
NO.

YOU HAD NOT EVEN
SEEN HIM IN PERSON?

NO.

THAT'S VERY CONNIVING
OF YOU.

I KNOW.
COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BOX.

I'LL SEE YOU THERE.

All right, see you there.

Narrator: THEY MAKE PLANS
TO MEET FOR LUNCH

THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

THAT AFTERNOON,
JOE SHOWS UP EARLY,

EAGER TO MEET HIS MYSTERY WOMAN.

I JUST SAW, LIKE,
A SHADOW OF HER COMING BY,

AND I WAS LIKE,
"OH, I HOPE THIS IS HER.

SHE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING."

SHE WALKED OVER AND SAID,
"ARE YOU JOE?" I'M LIKE, "YUP."

JOE?
YEAH.

Narrator: AND THE ATTRACTION
IS UNDENIABLE.

THANK YOU.
YEAH.

Diane: HE WAS VERY CHARMING,
TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT
HIM THAT WAS VERY INTRIGUING,

SOMEBODY I WANTED
TO GET TO KNOW BETTER.

Narrator: THE DATE IS OFF
TO A GREAT START.

THEN, SECONDS LATER...

HEY, GUYS.
SORRY, THE POWER WENT OUT.

BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY
AND ENJOY YOUR DRINKS.

THANK YOU.
YEAH.

APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU.

Narrator:
DIANE AND JOE AND UP SPENDING

THE NEXT FOUR HOURS LAUGHING

AND TALKING OVER COLD BREAD
AND WARM SALAD IN THE DARK.

WE JUST LAUGHED THROUGH IT.
WE REALLY DID.

DIANE WAS VERY GOOD-LOOKING,
INTELLIGENT, VERY PERSONABLE

AND WAS JUST A PLEASURE
TO BE WITH.

Narrator: JOE WALKS DIANE TO
HER CAR AND KISSES HER GOODBYE.

DIANE IS SMITTEN.

OVER THE NEXT MONTH,

THINGS HEAT UP BETWEEN THIS HOT,
NEW COUPLE.

SO,
THESE ARE FOR YOU.

AWW,
THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.

AND I GOT YOU
YOUR FAVORITE, ITALIAN.

SHH.

Diane: HE WOULD COME UP
AFTER CONNOR WOULD BE IN BED.

HE WOULD BRING ME FLOWERS.

I LOVED IT.
I LOVED BEING PAMPERED.

Narrator:
AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE

DIANE FINDS THE VERY THING

THAT WAS MISSING
IN HER LAST RELATIONSHIP.

HE WAS VERY PASSIONATE,
VERY SENSUAL,

AND JUST SOMETHING
THAT I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED.

I HAD A HARD TIME
BEING INTIMATE PREVIOUSLY,

SO THE FACT THAT I COULD OPEN UP
AND BE COMFORTABLE

WAS TELLING ME THAT I TRUST HIM.

Jordan: SO, THE VULNERABILITY
YOU HAD FELT

BECAUSE OF THE ASSAULT
YOU SUFFERED AS A TEEN -

WAS IT ALL OKAY
WITH HIM?

YES, IT WAS DEFINITELY
A DISCOVERING DIANE

AND DISCOVERING
THAT PART OF LIFE,

AND THE INTIMACY WAS JUST
FIREWORKS AND JUST CRAZY.

Joe: I WAS VERY PASSIONATE.
IT WAS NUTS.

WITHOUT A DOUBT,
I WAS VERY PHYSICALLY ATTRACTED,

AND I THINK WE BOTH WERE.

IT WAS NONSTOP INTIMACY
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

[ CHUCKLES ]

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN
NEARLY 20 YEARS SINCE THE RAPE,

DIANE IS STILL STRUGGLING
WITH ISSUES OF INTIMACY,

BUT NOW WE HAVE JOE
BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS.

AND DIANE FINDS HERSELF READY
TO EXPLORE THE INTIMACY

THAT SHE'S BEEN AVOIDING.

AND IN THE FISCAL YEAR,
WE'VE ENDED UP IN THE POSITIVE.

Narrator: DIANE CAN DEFINITELY
SEE A FUTURE WITH JOE.

HE'S A WELL-RESPECTED
LOCAL POLITICIAN

WHO WORKS
AS AN ELECTED SUPERVISOR.

Jordan: WHAT WAS IT LIKE
GOING OUT WITH A MAN

WHO WAS
A PUBLIC OFFICIAL?

IT WAS INTRIGUING.
IT WAS SOMETHING NEW,

A NEW WORLD
THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN A PART OF.

IT WAS ACTUALLY
KIND OF FUN.

AND WE'RE DEDICATED
TO MAKE THE NEXT YEAR

EVEN BETTER THAN THIS ONE.

[ APPLAUSE ]

HEY,
YOU GOT A STRONG ARM.

Narrator: BUT JOE STILL HAS
ONE MORE TEST TO PASS...

Connor:
HOW 'BOUT THIS ONE?

...GETTING THE STAMP OF APPROVAL

FROM DIANE'S 7-YEAR-OLD SON,
CONNOR.

Connor:
HE WAS COOL.

WHEN HE FIRST STARTED COMING
AROUND, HE WOULD PLAY WITH ME.

HE WAS GREAT TO MY MOM,

AND HE SEEMED LIKE GOOD GUY
WHO CARED ABOUT BOTH OF US.

I JUST KNEW
THAT MY MOM WAS HAPPY,

SO THAT WAS GOOD FOR ME.

Narrator: JOE ALSO HAS A SON
FROM A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP

AND HITS IT OFF WELL
WITH CONNOR.

Diane:
THEY'RE BOTH INVOLVED IN SPORTS,

SO THEY HAD
AN INSTANT CONNECTION.

AND I LIKED THE FACT
THAT CONNOR WAS HAPPY.

Marie: WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO
THE NEW MALL AND CHECK IT OUT?

Narrator:
DIANE IS ON TOP OF THE WORLD,

BUT HER MOTHER
HAS SOME MISGIVINGS.

SO, CONNOR,
I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO JOIN

THE NEW SWIM TEAM?

Connor:
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

YOU DON'T WANT
TO JOIN THE SWIM TEAM.

YOU WANT TO PLAY BASEBALL.

Marie:
JOE COMES OFF VERY CHARMING,

BUT I JUST DID NOT HAVE
A GOOD FEELING INTERNALLY.

WANT TO GO OUT
AND THROW A BALL AROUND?

Connor:
YEAH, SURE.

LET'S GO DO THAT.

LET'S GO
CHECK OUT THIS...

Narrator:
AFTER THREE MONTHS OF DATING,

JOE WANTS TO TAKE THEIR
RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL,

AND THE CHARISMATIC POLITICIAN
KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO PLAY IT.

I TOOK CONNOR
DOWN TO THE BOARDWALK,

AND THERE WAS
A JEWELRY STORE THERE.

SO, CONNOR, WHICH ONE DO
YOU THINK YOUR MOM WOULD LIKE?

I DON'T KNOW,
WHY?

I SAID, "I'M THINKING ABOUT
ASKING YOUR MOM TO MARRY ME,"

AND CONNOR WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT.

REALLY?
YEAH.

I SAID, "SO..."

WHICH ONE
DO YOU THINK SHE'D LIKE?

"...I'M GONNA BUY A RING.

WHICH ONE
DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD GET?"

Connor:
MY MOM DIDN'T REALLY LIKE

ANYTHING THAT WAS BIG
AND FLASHY.

I PICKED OUT A GOLD BAND
WITH A GREEN STONE.

HERE IT IS.

READY?
ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO.

Narrator: LATER THAT EVENING,
JOE AND CONNOR MAKE THEIR MOVE.

YOU READY?

LET'S GO DO IT.

AND I JUST FLIPPED THE RING OUT.

AND I SAID, "HEY..."

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WANT TO GET MARRIED?

AND CONNOR WAS LOOKING UP
AT HIS MOM.

HIS MOM WAS WAITING.
WE ARE ALL SITTING THERE.

Diane:
I WAS SHOCKED.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

AND IT WAS THE CUTEST THING
I'VE EVER, EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

AND CONNOR WAS SO PROUD,
AND HE WAS LIKE,

"SAY - SAY YES, MOMMY."

SAY YES.
SAY YES.

COME ON.
YES. YES.

Diane:
SO I SAID YES.

AAW, SWEETIE.

I LOVE YOU.
LOVE YOU, TOO.

AW, COME HERE.

Narrator: JOE CAN'T WAIT TO
START THEIR NEW LIFE TOGETHER.

HE IMMEDIATELY ASKS DIANE
AND CONNOR TO MOVE IN WITH HIM.

DIANE IS ECSTATIC,

EVEN THOUGH HIS LIVING
ARRANGEMENT ISN'T EXACTLY IDEAL.

THAT LOOKS NICE.

HE WAS LIVING IN THE SAME HOME
THAT HIS MOTHER WAS RAISED IN

AND HE AND HIS FIRST WIFE
LIVED IN.

I FELT AWKWARD ABOUT THAT.

I ALSO FELT AWKWARD THAT
HIS MOTHER LIVED BEHIND HIM.

SO, MOM,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT'S GREAT,
RIGHT?

WELL,
IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.

I'M LIKE, "DIANE, I LOVE YOU.

"THIS IS NOT HEALTHY.

YOU NEED YOUR SPACE."

FAIR ENOUGH.
OKAY.

COME AND HELP ME
UNPACK THE BEDROOM.

SURE.

Narrator:
DIANE FINDS IT DIFFICULT

TO ADJUST TO HER NEW HOME.

THE REILLY FAMILY HAS
AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY, LITERALLY.

GOOD MORNING,
DIANE.

HOW ARE YOU
THIS MORNING?

I'M FINE.

I WAS JUST, UM,
HOPPING OUT OF THE SHOWER.

I DID NOT REALIZE
THE COMPLEXITY OF IT

AND THE DYNAMICS OF THE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I HAVE COFFEE ALL DONE,

AND I STARTED FIXING
THE BOYS' BREAKFAST.

UNFORTUNATELY,
HIS MOTHER HAS NO BOUNDARIES.

SHE'S VERY INTRUSIVE

AND FEELS LIKE SHE CAN JUST
COME INTO JOE'S HOME

AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN THE DAY.

I THINK I'M JUST GONNA GO
PUT SOME CLOTHES ON.

I ALWAYS
UNDERSTOOD DIANE'S POINT,

BUT I'D BEEN LIVING THERE
WITH MY FAMILY AND EVERYTHING

FOR SIX, SEVEN YEARS,
DOING THE SAME THING.

I TOLD DIANE, TOO,
THAT SHE HAD TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

Jordan:
DIANE PROBABLY HAD NO IDEA

SHE WAS MARRYING A MAMA'S BOY.

HIS ENTIRE FAMILY
LIVES RIGHT NEXT DOOR,

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THINGS
THE SAME WAY FOREVER.

AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE

JUST BECAUSE
DIANE IS NEW TO THE HOUSE.

Narrator: IT'S THE FIRST SIGN
OF TROUBLE IN PARADISE,

BUT IT DOESN'T CLOUD
THE COUPLE'S WEDDING PLANS...

THIS GARDEN
WOULD BE FABULOUS.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS -
SIMPLE, ELEGANT.

I'M THINKING
SOMETHING MORE FUN.

...ASSUMING THEY CAN AGREE
ON THEM.

I... SWORE TO EVERYBODY

THAT I'D NEVER GET MARRIED AGAIN
AFTER MY FIRST DIVORCE,

SO I ALWAYS MADE UP A SCENARIO

THAT IF I WAS EVER
GONNA GET MARRIED AGAIN,

I'D HAVE TO FLY TO VEGAS,
HAVE ELVIS PRESLEY MARRY ME

IN A DRIVE-THROUGH
WEDDING CHAPEL.

I'M NOT A VEGAS PERSON.

ELVIS IS NOT MY THING.

Narrator: IN THE END,
DIANE AND JOE COMPROMISE

AND PLAN
TWO SEPARATE CELEBRATIONS.

SO LET'S SHAKE ON IT.

LET'S KISS ON IT.

THE FIRST ONE
IS JOE'S VEGAS-STYLE WEDDING.

Marie: THEY GOT MARRIED BY ELVIS
BECAUSE JOE LOVES ELVIS.

THAT'S NOT A REASON
TO GET MARRIED BY ELVIS.

I'M SORRY.
IT WAS LIKE A ZOO TO ME.

I JUST WAS NOT HAPPY AT ALL.

IN CELEBRATION...

Joe:
THE VEGAS WEDDING WENT GREAT.

IT WAS A FUN TIME.

Marie:
WE ACCEPTED THE WEDDING THERE,

BUT SHE HAD TO HAVE
A CHRISTIAN CEREMONY.

Narrator: THAT WEDDING
HAPPENS A MONTH LATER,

AND IT'S EXACTLY
WHAT DIANE HAD IMAGINED.

Diane:
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

IT WAS OUT ON THE LAWN.

WE HAD COCKTAIL HOUR.

BASICALLY, IT WAS EVERYTHING
THAT I HAD WANTED.

YES.
YEAH.

IT'S AMAZING.
GOOD.

Narrator: EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR
AN ENDING SHE NEVER DREAMED OF.

Diane:
SOPHIE! OH, MY GOSH.

YOU LOOK AMAZING.

CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU.

MY BEST FRIEND WAS THERE,
AND I INTRODUCED JOE TO HER

BECAUSE THEY HADN'T HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET.

AND JOE'S WORDS TO ME WERE...

THANK GOODNESS I MET YOU FIRST,
RIGHT?

I'M GONNA GO GET
MORE CHAMPAGNE.

CONGRATULATIONS,
YOU GUYS.

I THREW A COMMENT OUT,
AND IT DIDN'T GO OVER TOO WELL.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WHAT?

DIANE GOT VERY UPSET.

COME HERE.

WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?

I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU WOULD DO THAT,

AND ON OUR WEDDING DAY.

AND HE TOOK HIS HAND,
AND HE SHOVED ME.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE MAKING
SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT.

OW!
I HIT MY HEAD.

Narrator: THIS MARRIAGE MAY BE
OVER BEFORE IT'S EVEN STARTED.

Narrator: WHAT STARTED OFF AS
DIANE REILLY'S PERFECT WEDDING

HAS SUDDENLY TAKEN
A TERRIBLE TURN

WHEN THE GROOM FIRST UPSETS...

THANK GOODNESS I MET YOU FIRST,
RIGHT?

...AND THEN ALLEGEDLY
SHOVES HIS BRIDE.

OW!

HONEY,
I'M SORRY.

DIANE IS IN TOTAL SHOCK,

BUT SHE'S DETERMINED
TO SHAKE IT OFF

AND PRETEND NOTHING'S WRONG.

I JUST -
I JUST NEED A MINUTE.

Diane:
SO, IT WAS KIND OF A,

"OKAY,
WE GOT TO PUT THIS OVER HERE,

"AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THIS LATER.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THIS NOW."

BUT YOU'RE PERFORMING.

ABSOLUTELY.
IT WAS A TOTAL PERFORMANCE.

IT WAS HARD
TO ENJOY MYSELF AT THAT POINT.

Jordan: WHEN YOUR FIANCé
MAKES A PASS AT A GOOD FRIEND

ON YOUR WEDDING DAY,

FOR MANY WOMEN, THIS IS A REASON
TO CALL OFF THE WEDDING.

BUT FOR DIANE,

SHE'S SO INVESTED
IN THIS RELATIONSHIP

AND THE FACT THAT SHE'S FEELING
DESIRE AND FEELING DESIRED,

SHE JUST LETS IT SLIDE.

I'M SO HAPPY
YOU FOUND SUCH A GREAT MAN.

SIR,
IT'S A PLEASURE.

ME, TOO, DAD.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Narrator:
THE PERFORMANCE CONTINUES

FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

ON THE OUTSIDE, THEY'RE
THE PERFECT POLITICAL PAIR,

AND JOE LOVES PARADING AROUND
HIS BEAUTIFUL TROPHY WIFE.

DIANE WAS ALWAYS GOOD
TO HAVE ON YOUR ARM.

SHE WAS A GOOD-LOOKING GIRL,

AND SHE WAS VERY PLEASANT
AND NICE.

Diane:
HE LOVED THE PERSONA,

THAT EVERYBODY CALLED US
BARBIE AND KEN.

AND HE LIKED THAT.

HE LIKED THE FACT
THAT I WAS HIS PERFECT WIFE.

Narrator: BUT DIANE
IS DISCOVERING A SIDE OF JOE

SHE DOESN'T LIKE.
GREAT FUTURE...

JOE, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO COME MEET THE SENATOR?

YEAH, SURE.

GREAT.
YEAH.

YOU WERE COMPLETELY
FLIRTING WITH HER.

WHY DID YOU - WHY -
NO, I WAS NOT.

IT'S DISRESPECTFUL!
DIANE...

Marie:
JOE WAS ALWAYS A WOMANIZER.

JOE REALLY TOOK
DIANE'S SELF-ESTEEM AWAY

AND MADE HER FEEL REALLY BAD
ABOUT HERSELF.

JOE?

JOE,
I'M TALKING TO YOU.

WHAT?

WHO IS THAT WOMAN THAT YOU
WERE TALKING TO AT THE PARTY?

Narrator: AS THE COUPLE'S
RELATIONSHIP STARTS TO UNRAVEL,

THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO SEES
THE CRACKS IN THEIR FACADE.

WHEN MY MOM STARTED DATING JOE,
HE WAS A GREAT GUY,

AND THEN, ONCE THEY GOT MARRIED,

THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE
AND ATTITUDE CHANGED,

WHERE IT WAS
A LOT MORE NEGATIVE.

I- I'M SICK OF IT!

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?

WHEN SOMEBODY GETS TO ME,

I HAVE A TEMPER
THAT CAN FLY OFF THE HANDLE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PERSON

THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING IN
UNTIL I EXPLODE,

AND THEN, ONCE I EXPLODE,
I UNLEASH EVERYTHING.

...TREAT ME LIKE THIS?

KNOCK IT OFF!

[ SOBS ]

I SAW YOU
FLIRTING WITH HER!

Narrator: AND THOSE EXPLOSIONS
SOMETIMES GET PHYSICAL.

I CAN'T LOOK
AT ANYONE?

WE HAD A FEW ABUSIVE MOMENTS
OF HIM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

HE'S MUCH BIGGER THAN I AM.

HEY!

Narrator: JOE CLAIMS HE'S SIMPLY
DEFENDING HIMSELF

AGAINST DIANE'S OUTBURSTS.

Joe:
SHE'D TRY TO HIT ME.

I'D GRAB HER WRIST.

Diane:
I COULDN'T FIGHT BACK.

NO, ALL I COULD REALLY DO
IS SLAP HIS FACE

AND THEN SCRATCH.

I SAW THE TIMES
WHERE HE WOULD PUSH HER.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

ONE TIME,
WE WERE IN THE BATHROOM.

HE SHOVED ME UP.
I HIT THE TOWEL BAR.

HONEY, YOU ALL RIGHT?
NO!

IT WAS NEVER ANYTHING
THAT WAS ON PURPOSE.

AT THE TIME,
I DIDN'T KNOW MY OWN STRENGTH.

I NEED TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CHAT
WITH YOUR WIFE RIGHT NOW.

YOU MIND
WAITING OUTSIDE?

Narrator: THE FIGHT RESULTS
IN A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM

FOR A CONCUSSION,

AND IT'S NOT HER FIRST
SINCE THEY GOT MARRIED.

AND I ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS
IS YOUR THIRD ONE THIS YEAR.

WE WERE PLAYING FOOTBALL,

OR THE BOYS
WERE PLAYING FOOTBALL, AND I...

EVERY TIME, SHE CLAIMS
IT WAS SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT.

I WAS PLAYING
WITH MY SON OUTSIDE.

I TRIPPED, AND I FELL.

AND I HIT MY HEAD
ON THE CONCRETE,

OR I TRIED SKATEBOARDING
WITH MY SON.

AND I FELL BACKWARDS,
AND I HIT MY HEAD.

I MADE UP ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES.

SO, FOOTBALL?

YES.
OKAY.

I WILL SEND YOUR HUSBAND
BACK IN.

THANK YOU.

Narrator:
DIANE IS TORN.

IT'S EASIER TO ACCEPT
JOE'S APOLOGIES AND MOVE ON

THAN DEAL WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I DIDN'T MEAN
TO DO THAT.

Jordan: WHY ARE YOU STICKING
WITH THIS MAN?

Diane: I THOUGHT
I COULD CHANGE HIM.

HOW?

TEACHING HIM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE,
RESPONSIBLE,

AND JUST TO BE THE PERSON THAT
HE WAS WHEN I FIRST MET HIM.

AND JOE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW

TO SPIN HIS WAY BACK
INTO DIANE'S HEART.

I PROMISE
IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

I TRUSTED HIM
AND BELIEVED IN HIM

AND BELIEVED
THAT WE COULD MAKE THIS WORK.

Jordan: SHE REALLY BELIEVES
THAT SHE HAS INVESTED IN JOE

AND THAT THIS WILL PAY OFF.

SHE CAN FIX HIM.
SHE CAN CHANGE HIM.

HER LOVE WILL SAVE HIM.

SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT
SHE'S ACCLIMATED TO THE VIOLENCE

AND THAT THINGS ARE VERY LIKELY
GOING TO GET WORSE

BEFORE THEY EVER GET BETTER.

Narrator: ONE EVENING,
THE MOOD IS UNUSUALLY TENSE.

HAVE YOU SEEN
MY WALLET?

AND DIANE CAN SENSE THAT HER
HUSBAND IS LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.

YES,
I CHECKED THE TABLE.

I CHECKED THE CAR.
I CHECKED MY CLOSET.

I -
YOU THINK I'M STUPID?

Diane:
I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE IT

THAT HIS EYES
LITERALLY GO BLACK,

AND HE HAS HAZEL EYES.

IF THEY'RE BLACK,
REALLY STAY AWAY.

I KNOW THAT SOMETHING
BAD WILL HAPPEN.

YOU EVER CHEATED ON ME,
I'D KILL YOU.

OUT OF THE BLUE,
HE BASICALLY INFORMED ME

IF I EVER CHEATED ON HIM,
HE WOULD KILL ME.

AND I WAS LIKE, "WELL,
I DON'T BELIEVE IN CHEATING,

SO WE REALLY DON'T NEED
TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION."

AND THEN HE'S LIKE, "NO,
YOU DON'T THINK I'M SERIOUS?

I'M SERIOUS."

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO DIANE,

JOE IS ABOUT
TO TAKE HIS VIOLENCE

TO A TERRIFYING NEW LEVEL.

YOU'RE KIND OF FREAKING ME OUT
A LITTLE BIT.

Diane:
HE WENT, AND HE GOT HIS GUN.

AND HE TOOK HIS GUN AND
POINTED IT AT ME AND SAID...

IF YOU EVER, EVER CHEAT ON ME,
I'LL KILL YOU.

JOE, I'M NOT
GONNA CHEAT ON YOU.

COME ON,
PUT THE GUN DOWN.

PUT THE GUN DOWN.

Narrator: FOR MORE
ON HOW DIANE IS DOING NOW,

Narrator: DIANE REILLY THOUGHT
SHE FOUND HER PRINCE CHARMING,

BUT HER FAIRY-TALE ROMANCE
HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE.

IF YOU EVER, EVER CHEAT ON ME,
I WILL KILL YOU.

COME ON, JOE,
PLEASE.

Jordan: EXPLAIN TO ME
WHY YOU DIDN'T LEAVE HIM

AFTER HE PUT A GUN
IN YOUR FACE.

I HONESTLY THOUGHT
THAT IF I DID TRY TO LEAVE,

HE WOULD HUNT ME DOWN
AND HE WOULD KILL ME.

WHY DIDN'T YOU
CALL THE POLICE?

BECAUSE EVERY TIME
I PICKED UP THE PHONE

TO CALL THE POLICE,

HE SAID
THAT NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE ME

BECAUSE OF
ALL THE OTHER TIMES

THAT WE HAD
GOTTEN INTO FIGHTS.

HE HAD PICTURES
OF SCRATCHED MARKS ON HIS FACE,

SO HE SAID HE HAS PROOF
THAT HE'S AN ABUSED HUSBAND.

OKAY.

NOW MORE THAN EVER,
DIANE FEELS TRAPPED

IN AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE
WITH NO WAY OUT.

Jordan: DIANE HAS LEARNED
TO DEAL WITH TRAUMA

BY COMPARTMENTALIZING IT,

SO WHEN JOE AMPS UP THE VIOLENCE
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

DIANE SIMPLY PUTS IT
INTO A LITTLE BOX IN HER BRAIN

AND IGNORES IT.

SHE'S A SURVIVOR,
AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE.

Narrator: DIANE KEEPS THE ISSUES
IN HER MARRIAGE TO HERSELF,

BUT HER MOTHER ISN'T FOOLED.

Marie: I DID CONFRONT HER
SEVERAL TIMES,

AND THE ODD THING ABOUT IT WAS,

SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY
THAT SHE PUSHED HIS BUTTONS.

SO SHE WOULD TAKE THE BLAME
OFF OF JOE

AND PUT IT ON HERSELF.

OH, MY GOODNESS.
WHAT IS THIS?

I SAW BRUISES ON HER ARMS,
AND I SAW BRUISES ON HER LEGS.

DEEP DOWN INSIDE, I ALWAYS KNEW
THAT SHE WAS A BATTERED WOMAN.

I WANTED HER TO LEAVE.

YES, BUT IT - BUT -
BUT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

I SLIPPED ON SOMETHING,
AND HE...

Narrator: BUT HER MOTHER WORRIES
IF SHE INTERVENES,

THINGS WILL ONLY GET WORSE

AND HER OWN DAUGHTER
WILL SHUT HER OUT.

BUSY.

IT'S REALLY FINE.

Marie: SO AS A MOTHER, I KEPT
A LOT OF THINGS TO MYSELF,

AND I DECIDED TO SAY NOTHING
AND BE THERE.

Narrator:
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER,

A TRAGIC EVENT
WILL SHIFT THE MOOD

AT THE REILLY HOUSEHOLD.

JOE'S BELOVED FATHER
PASSES AWAY.

Joe:
IT WAS VERY ROUGH.

HE WAS PROBABLY
ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

I HONESTLY FELT THAT

WHEN MY DAD WAS AROUND,
OUR FAMILY WAS SOLID.

JOE WAS ALMOST KNOCKED DOWN,
ALMOST JUST LOST.

I GAVE HIM THE SPACE.

I DID WHATEVER I COULD
WHENEVER I COULD.

Narrator:
OUT OF THE BLUE,

DIANE CLAIMS
THAT THE PHYSICAL ABUSE STOPS,

BUT A NEW SIDE OF JOE COMES OUT.

HE'S WITHDRAWN, DEPRESSED.

JOE?

AND THE FIGHT'S GONE OUT OF HIM.

DO YOU WANT TO GO FOR A WALK
OR SOMETHING?

NAH,
I'M - I'M TIRED.

Diane:
I WANTED TO HELP HIM,

BUT I WAS SCARED FOR HIM
BECAUSE, "A," HE HAS THIS GUN.

HE HAS A LICENSE
TO CARRY THIS GUN,

AND I DIDN'T REALLY TRUST HIM
THAT HE WOULD NOT TAKE HIS LIFE

OR TAKE MY LIFE,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

HE WAS JUST VERY UNPREDICTABLE.

ARE YOU STILL DEVOTED
TO TRYING TO HELP HIM

AND SAVE HIM
AT THIS POINT?

I WAS.

Jordan: DIANE IS NOW REVELING
IN HER ROLE

AS THE STRONG, RESILIENT SPOUSE.

AS JOE
SINKS INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION,

IT'S DIANE WHO IS KEEPING
EVERYTHING TOGETHER,

SO AS JOE STARTS
SHOWING SOME VULNERABILITY,

DIANE IS FINALLY
GETTING HER IDENTITY BACK.

Narrator: THAT SUMMER,
DIANE SEES A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

Diane:
HE WROTE ME A LETTER,

BASICALLY APOLOGIZING
FOR THE WAY HE'S BEEN,

THAT HE DOESN'T DESERVE
SOMEBODY LIKE ME.

HE APPRECIATES THE FACT
THAT I PUT UP WITH HIM.

"I'M SAYING SORRY NOW FOR ALL
THE TIMES THAT I SHOULD HAVE."

THAT WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, THERE'S HOPE.

"THERE'S LIGHT. THERE'S A HEART.

AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD
AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE."

AND WE HAD A GREAT SUMMER.
EVERYTHING WAS GOOD.

HE WAS BUSY.

I THOUGHT THINGS
WERE GOING VERY, VERY WELL.

WHOO-HOO!
NICE.

Narrator:
A YEAR AND A HALF GOES BY.

IT'S JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS 2004,

AND DIANE WANTS
TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR JOE.

Diane:
CONNOR WAS AWAY,

SO I FIGURED WE'LL PLAN

THIS NICE,
WONDERFUL EVENING TOGETHER.

THE WEEK BEFORE,
I HAD TAKEN A STRIPPER'S CLASS.

I WANTED TO GET THE PASSION BACK
IN THE RELATIONSHIP,

GET IT BACK TO WHERE WE WERE
WHEN WE HAD FIRST MET.

AND SO, YOU HAD A SURPRISE
PLANNED FOR JOE?

I DID.

Narrator: DIANE'S COOKED
JOE'S FAVORITES...

PRIME RIB
AND A BOSTON CREAM PIE.

Narrator: AT AROUND 7 P. M.,
JOE ARRIVES HOME.

THE FIRST THING HE DOES
IS GO INTO HIS OFFICE.

A MESSAGE FROM HIS SON'S MOTHER
HAS PUT HIM IN A BITTER MOOD.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS.

SHE WANTS MORE MONEY
IN CHILD SUPPORT.

Diane:
I WENT IN.

I SAID, "WELL, LISTEN, I HAVE
A REALLY NICE DINNER PLANNED,

A NICE EVENING PLANNED FOR US."

I HAVE TO TAKE CARE
OF THIS NOW.

WHAT IS SHE, LIKE,
SOME KIND OF BEAUTY QUEEN?

YOU HAVE TO ATTEND TO HER
EVERY NEED EVERY TWO SECONDS?

AND THAT'S WHEN
HE FREAKED OUT.

"YOU THINK
I WANT TO BE WITH HER?

YOU CALLED HER A BEAUTY QUEEN?"

I'M LIKE, "RELAX.

"I'M JUST TRYING TO HAVE
A NICE MEAL FOR THE TWO OF US.

I DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING BY IT."

I SAID,
"COME ON IN AND EAT DINNER."

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT.

FINE.

HE STARTED YELLING,
"YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT!

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT!"

STOP BEING
SUCH A CHILD.

AND YOU
CAN'T MAKE ME EAT.

Narrator: ALL TOO FAMILIAR
WITH JOE'S OUTBURSTS,

DIANE DECIDES
TO LEAVE HIM ALONE.

YOU CANNOT MAKE ME EAT.

BUT THE NIGHT IS ABOUT TO TAKE
A SHARP AND TWISTED TURN.

Diane:
I NEEDED TO EAT.

I WAS STARVING,
SO I STARTED TO EAT.

AND I HEAR HIM YELLING,
"YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT,"

LIKE A CHILD.

WELL, I WOULDN'T ENGAGE.

I WAS INDULGING IN MY PRIME RIB.

AND HE STARTED POKING ME
ON MY FACE...

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT!

...AS I'M TRYING TO EAT.

I'M EATING PRIME RIB, SO I HAVE
THE KNIFE IN THIS HAND.

I HAVE THE FORK IN THIS HAND.
I'M CUTTING.

HE'S POKING ME IN MY FACE.

Narrator:
DIANE'S HAD ENOUGH.

STOP POKING ME,
JOE.

WHAT?

YOU GONNA STAB ME?

Narrator: DIANE REILLY
HAD A ROMANTIC EVENING PLANNED

FOR HER HUSBAND, JOE,

BUT DATE NIGHT
TURNS INTO A DISASTER

WHEN THE TWO GET INTO A FIGHT
THAT ESCALATES OUT OF CONTROL.

EAT, DIANE.
STOP POKING ME, JOE!

ROUGHLY TWO HOURS LATER, JOE
IS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM

WITH A SERIOUS STAB WOUND
TO THE CHEST.

THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND
IS, HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

THE WOUND IS THREE INCHES DEEP,

AND IT PUNCTURED AN ARTERY
DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO HIS HEART.

WITHIN SEVEN MINUTES OF ME
GETTING TO THE OPERATING ROOM,

I'M WATCHING 'EM PUT A SCALPEL
THROUGH MY CHEST

AND CUTTING ME OPEN.

I WAS LIKE, "THAT'S NOT GOOD."

AND THAT'S THE LAST THING
I REMEMBERED.

Narrator:
AFTER THREE HOURS OF SURGERY,

JOE IS IN STABLE CONDITION.

THAT EVENING, THE COPS SHOW UP

TO QUESTION
THE COUPLE SEPARATELY.

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED
LAST NIGHT?

DIANE INSISTS
SHE'S NOT AT FAULT.

SHE CLAIMS JOE STABBED HIMSELF.

WE GOT INTO A FIGHT.

Diane: "OH, WHAT?
ARE YOU GONNA STAB ME?"

HE GRABBED MY WRIST,
PULLED IT INTO HIS CHEST.

I PULLED MY HAND OUT, AND...

OH, MY GOD,
JOE.

...THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY - OH, MY GOD.
THERE'S - OH.

HE'S LIKE, "YOU STABBED ME."

I SAID,
"NO, YOU GRABBED MY HAND.

YOU PULLED THE KNIFE
INTO YOUR CHEST."

I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD THOUGHTS
OF SUICIDE.

YOU'RE TELLING ME
THAT HE INTENTIONALLY

TOOK YOUR HAND
WITH THE KNIFE IN IT

AND PLUNGED IT
INTO HIS OWN CHEST?

YES.

OH, MY GOSH,
JOE.

OH, WE GOT TO GET YOU
TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE CAN'T GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.

I WANTED HIM
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL,

AND THAT'S ALL
THAT I KEPT SAYING TO HIM.

WE GOT TO CALL 911.

DO NOT CALL 911.

HE REFUSED.

HE WANTED NO PARTS
OF GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE CONVINCED ME NOT TO CALL 911,

WHICH WAS THE WORST MISTAKE
I COULD HAVE MADE.

YES, MY FINGERPRINTS
WERE ON THE KNIFE, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT IT WASN'T ME.
I DIDN'T DO IT.

JOE,
IT'S A LOT OF BLOOD.

Narrator:
BUT JOE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.

SHE STABBED YOU
WITH IT?

WHILE HE DENIES PUTTING
HIS OWN HAND ON THE KNIFE,

HE ALSO DOESN'T BLAME HIS WIFE
FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

Joe: SEE, I DON'T REMEMBER
HER EVEN EATING.

I DON'T SEE ME POKING HER IN
THE HEAD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I'M JUST
REALLY DISAPPOINTED.

SHE WAS STARTING
TO WALK AWAY FROM ME,

AND I GRABBED HER
AND TURNED HER BACK AROUND.

AND AS SHE TURNED BACK AROUND,
THE KNIFE HIT ME IN THE CHEST.

I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS ANY BIG DEAL.

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SCRATCH.

I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING,
AND I LOOKED DOWN.

THE KNIFE
WASN'T IN ME OR ANYTHING.

IT WAS LIKE
JUST A QUICK BOOM, IN AND OUT.

SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

Narrator: IN JOE'S WORDS,
IT WAS SIMPLY A FREAK ACCIDENT.

SHE WAS TURNING AWAY.
I...

Joe: I DON'T THINK SHE EVER
DID ANYTHING ON PURPOSE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PURE ACCIDENT,

AND HONESTLY, IF I THOUGHT
SHE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME,

PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK
SHE'D BE AROUND RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I WOULD'VE
TURNED THE TABLE ON HER.

Narrator: THE COUPLE CONVINCED
POLICE THAT NOBODY IS AT FAULT,

AND NO ARREST IS MADE.

A FEW DAYS LATER,
JOE IS RELEASED,

AND DIANE BRINGS HIM HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL.

BUT ON JANUARY 10th,
THE COUPLE LEARNS

THAT DIANE'S BEING CHARGED
WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

AND TWO MISDEMEANORS,

AND A WARRANT'S BEEN ISSUED
FOR HER ARREST.

THANKS, HONEY.

THE FOLLOWING DAY,

DIANE AND JOE DRIVE DOWN
TO THE POLICE STATION TOGETHER.

JOE CLAIMS HE HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THESE CHARGES.

THERE'S A WARRANT OUT
FOR MY WIFE'S ARREST.

NEITHER OF US WANTED TO PRESS
CHARGES AGAINST THE OTHER ONE,

AND WE BOTH SAID WE WOULDN'T.

AND WE NEVER DID,

AND IT DEFINITELY
GOT BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION.

THAT'S JUST PROMISE
TO APPEAR.

Narrator:
DIANE TURNS HERSELF IN

AND IS TOLD
TO APPEAR IN A MONTH.

THANK YOU.

Officer:
YOU'RE WELCOME.

Narrator: BUT DEEP DOWN, DIANE
BELIEVES THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY

THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED.

Diane: AFTER JOE WAS RELEASED
FROM THE HOSPITAL,

THE DETECTIVES CAME TO OUR HOUSE

AND SAID THAT THE D. A.
WANTED TO MEET WITH JOE ALONE.

I'M GUESSING HIS STORY CHANGED

AND HE SAID THAT I PURPOSELY
TRIED TO ATTACK HIM.

WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?

TO PROTECT HIMSELF.

FROM WHAT?

HE LIKES THE PERSONA THAT
HE IS THIS PERFECT PERSON,

AND THE POTENTIAL OF ANY OF THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMING OUT,

THAT HE HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT
IN THE INCIDENT,

WOULD POTENTIALLY
TARNISH HIS PERSONA.

Narrator: DIANE KEEPS
HER SUSPICIONS TO HERSELF,

AND NO ONE WANTS THE CASE
TO GO TO TRIAL.

IN THE END, DIANE CLAIMS
HER CASE IS MISHANDLED,

AND SHE ENDS UP PLEADING
GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
OF ALL PARTIES IS ORDERED,

AND AT THE FINAL COURT HEARING
IN OCTOBER 2005, DIANE AND JOE

PRESENT A UNITED FRONT
AS THEY WAIT FOR HER SENTENCE.

BASED ON THE EVALUATION,

A SYMPATHETIC JUDGE GIVES DIANE
THE LIGHTEST SENTENCE POSSIBLE,

NINE MONTHS OF HOUSE ARREST

TO BE SERVED
AT HER PARENTS' HOME.

THAT'S THE BEST
WE COULD'VE HOPED FOR.

REALLY?

YES.

BUT THERE'S ONE CONDITION -
EVERYONE INVOLVED MUST GET HELP.

Diane: I HAD TO GO TO
DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE SUPPORT GROUPS.

JOE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE
ANY COMMUNICATION WITH ME

UNTIL HE WENT
TO A "MEN WHO ABUSE" CLASS.

ESSENTIALLY, THE JUDGE TOLD ME,
"I DID MY PART

"TO GET YOU AND YOUR SON
OUT OF THAT ENVIRONMENT.

"IT'S TOXIC.
GET YOURSELF HEALTHY.

"GET YOUR SON COUNSELING.

AND THEN, IT'S UP TO YOU
IF YOU TAKE HIM BACK."

Marie: I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT
THEY NEEDED TO BE SEPARATED.

THERE'S SOME THINGS
YOU JUST CAN'T WORK OUT.

SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHEN TO LET IT GO.

Jordan: THE JUDGE HAS REALLY
HANDED DIANE A GIFT.

HE HAS ORDERED JOE AND DIANE

TO HAVE NO CONTACT
FOR NINE MONTHS.

FOR DIANE, THIS IS REALLY
THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY

TO LEAVE AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
WITH A MAN

THAT SHE THINKS
HAS BETRAYED HER.

Jordan:
THE END OF THE NINE MONTHS

OF GETTING OUT
OF THE TOXIC RELATIONSHIP

AND GETTING
ALL THE COUNSELING

THAT YOU NEEDED
TO GET BACK ON YOUR FEET

AND FIGURE OUT WHO YOU WERE
AND WHAT YOU WANTED,

WHAT DID YOU DO?

HI,
I'M HOME.

Diane:
I GAVE JOE A SECOND CHANCE.

WHEN THEY ENDED UP BACK
TOGETHER, I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED.

HOW CAN YOU GO BACK
AND REBUILD A MARRIAGE

WITH THE MAN WHO MAY HAVE
SET YOU UP TO GO TO PRISON?

I HAVE FORGIVENESS
IN MY HEART.

I HAVE LEARNED
THE DIFFERENCE

FROM BEING ABLE
TO SEE THE GOODNESS

AND TRYING
TO FIX PEOPLE.

I LOOK AT IT
FROM A BIBLICAL SENSE,

WHERE I
WAS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB

TO GET JOE
THE HELP HE NEEDED,

AND AS HARD AS THAT IS,
I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF.

[ Voice breaking ] AND IT'S
MADE ME BETTER AND STRONGER.

Narrator:
NEARLY A DECADE LATER,

DIANE AND JOE ARE STILL MARRIED.

Joe:
THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE

THAT THINK
THAT I SHOULDN'T BE WITH HER

OR SHE SHOULDN'T BE WITH ME.

WE'RE TOGETHER.

WE MADE IT THROUGH,

AND IT'S NOT THEIR DECISION
IF WE'RE TOGETHER OR NOT.

IT'S OURS.

OUR RELATIONSHIP IS ON
A MUCH DIFFERENT PLANE NOW,

AND A LOT OF IT
HAS TO DO WITH RESPECT.

I TRULY DON'T THINK
HE KNEW HOW TO RESPECT.

HE REALLY HAS COME A LONG WAY.

I WILL NEVER, EVER ALLOW MYSELF
TO GO BACK TO THAT PERSON

THAT I WAS AT THAT DARK TIME
AND THROUGH THOSE DARK MOMENTS.

THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.