Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 5 - Battlefield of Love - full transcript

HOOAH!

Narrator: A TEENAGE SOLDIER
FALLS HARD FOR HER FIRST LOVE...

HE ENDED UP TAKING MY VIRGINITY.

Narrator: ...BUT SHE'S BLINDSIDED
WHEN HE DROPS A BOMBSHELL.

HE WAS LIKE, "WELL, YEAH,
I LIKE BEING WITH OTHER WOMEN.

IT'S JUST SEX, YOU KNOW."

Narrator: THIS STRONG-WILLED WOMAN
TAKES MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS.

SHE HAD ENOUGH,
AND SHE JUST WANTED A DIVORCE.

IT'S NOT WORKING, OKAY?

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

HE DID NOT WANT
THE MARRIAGE TO END.



[ SMACK ]
Narrator: THE CONFLICT LEADS

TO A FULL-SCALE WAR.
WAKE UP, CHARLENE.

I REALLY FELT LIKE
THIS WAS MY LAST DAY ON EARTH.

[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

18-YEAR-OLD CHARLENE JACKSON
IS FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SHE'S GOT A PLAN - JOIN
THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVES.

SHE'S GEARING UP FOR EIGHT WEEKS
OF RIGOROUS TRAINING

AT BOOT CAMP IN KENTUCKY.

Charlene: I LIKE ROUTINE, AND
I WANTED THEM TO DISCIPLINE ME.

I WANTED THEM TO SHOW ME
HOW TO BE A WOMAN, IN A SENSE.



YOU KNOW,
I HAD NEVER BEEN TAUGHT THAT.

Narrator: CHARLENE JACKSON GREW
UP IN A SMALL TOWN

OUTSIDE TULSA, OKLAHOMA,
WITH NINE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

YOU CAN'T STOP ME.
YES, I CAN.

HEY, CHARLENE,
YOU WANT TO PLAY?

YEAH.

Pamela:
AS A CHILD, I WOULD SAY

CHARLENE WAS PRETTY SHY,
A LITTLE INTROVERTED.

AS SHE GREW UP, SHE
KIND OF CAME OUT OF HER SHELL.

SHE WAS REALLY GOOD
WITH BASKETBALL.

EASY MONEY.

WHERE THE HELL
ARE YOU GOING?

I'M LEAVING!

Narrator: THOUGH THE JACKSONS
ARE A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY,

CHARLENE CLAIMS
THAT THEY BEGIN TO CRUMBLE

WHEN HER MOTHER
STARTS ABUSING DRUGS.

WELL, JUST GO THEN!
WE BOTH KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING!

I HAD AN IDEA
THAT MY MOTHER WAS ON DRUGS.

SHE BEGAN TO LEAVE
FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS AT A TIME,

AND I WENT THROUGH HELL

'CAUSE I NEVER KNEW
IF, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS DEAD.

[ Voice breaking ] I NEVER KNEW, YOU
KNOW, WHERE SHE WAS OR WHAT SHE WAS DOING,

AND IT WAS -
IT WAS TOUGH.

DR. CASEY JORDAN STUDIES
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

Dr. Jordan: IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
ROLE MODELS IN THE FORMATIVE YEARS.

AND FOR CHARLENE,
LOSING HER MOTHER TO DRUGS

IS GOING TO HAVE A REAL IMPACT

ON HER ABILITY TO FORM HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FUTURE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Narrator: THE FAMILY SUFFERS
A DEVASTATING LOSS

WHEN THEIR HOUSE BURNS DOWN,

WHICH CHARLENE CLAIMS

IS THE RESULT
OF HER MOTHER'S CRACK HABIT.

YOU LOST
YOUR SENSE OF SANCTUARY,

THE IDEA
THAT YOU WERE SAFE.

I HAD LOST SOMETHING
THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME,

OR THAT MEANT
THAT I WAS SHELTERED.

NOT KNOWING
WHERE I WOULD BE,

NOT KNOWING
WHERE I WOULD GO NEXT,

NOT KNOWING
WHAT WAS NEXT FOR MY FAMILY.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

COME ON, PAMELA,
WE HAVE TO WATCH OUR SHOW!

THE FAMILY FINDS
TEMPORARY HOUSING IN A MOTEL,

BUT CHARLENE IS SOON DEALT
ANOTHER HEARTBREAKING BLOW.

ME AND MY SISTER
WENT TO THE POOL

AND WHEN WE GOT BACK
TO THE HOTEL ROOM,

WE SEE MY MOTHER,
AND SHE WAS BLACK AND BLUE.

WHAT?

MOM, W-WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK
LIKE WHAT HAPPENED?

WHO DID THAT TO YOU?
YOUR DADDY BEAT ME UP.

MOM, WHERE'S DAD?

HE GOT ARRESTED.
HE'S IN JAIL.

MY DAD WAS IN JAIL
BECAUSE HE HAD BEAT MY MOTHER.

WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT DAD?
LOOK AT MY FACE.

YOU SENT MY DAD TO JAIL.
[ SNIFFLES ]

GIRL, I'M GONNA GO
GET CLEANED UP.

[ Whimpering] MOM...

Narrator:
AT THE TENDER AGE OF 16,

CHARLENE IS SENT TO LIVE
WITH HER OLD BROTHER

IN A NEIGHBORING TOWN,
WHERE SHE FINISHES HIGH SCHOOL.

Charlene:
IT WAS TOUGH AT FIRST,

BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
I FELT SAFE WITH MY BROTHER.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT HIM LEAVING ME.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S START ON THIS ALGEBRA.

I JUST KNEW
I WANTED TO BE BETTER,

AND I HAD MY FOUR OLDEST
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN COLLEGE.

THERE YOU GO.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

Narrator: CHARLENE PROUDLY GETS HER
HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN MAY 2008.

[ APPLAUSE ]

THAT SUMMER,

CHARLENE MAKES ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT DECISIONS OF HER LIFE.

SHE DECIDES TO JOIN
THE ARMY RESERVE.

I FELT LIKE THEY COULD TEACH ME
HOW TO BE A GOOD PERSON.

Narrator: IN JUST THREE DAYS,

SHE'S HEADING OFF TO EIGHT WEEKS
OF BASIC TRAINING IN KENTUCKY.

SINCE GRADUATING
FROM HIGH SCHOOL,

SHE'S BEEN LIVING
WITH HER SISTER, PAMELA,

IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

ONE NIGHT BEFORE SHE LEAVES,

PAMELA BRINGS HER
TO A COLLEGE PARTY.

YOU REMEMBER MY SISTER,
CHARLENE?

YES.

Narrator:
FOR WIDE-EYED CHARLENE,

IT'S HER VERY FIRST
GROWN-UP EVENT.

Charlene:
AND I GOT ALL DRESSED UP,

AND MY SISTER DID MY MAKEUP
AND TOOK ME TO THE PARTY.

PAMELA INTRODUCES
HER LITTLE SISTER

TO ONE OF HER FRIENDS, PAUL...
PAUL!

...WHO'S NINE YEARS OLDER
THAN CHARLENE.

THIS IS MY SISTER,
CHARLENE. PAUL.

SHE JUST GRADUATED,
ACTUALLY.

CHARLENE
IS IMMEDIATELY SMITTEN.

I JUST KNEW
THAT I LIKED THIS GUY.

WE JUST DANCED ALL NIGHT,

AND FROM THERE, IT WAS ALMOST
LIKE WE WERE INSEPARABLE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

ARE WE READY TO ORDER?

OH, YEAH, I'LL BE ORDERING
FOR BOTH OF US.

UH, OKAY.

PAUL TURNER IS CONSIDERED ONE
OF THE MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELORS

IN THE TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY
OF OMAHA.

WHAT WAS THAT?

AH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL.
YOU LOVE IT.

HE'S SMART, GOOD-LOOKING,

AND IS JUST MONTHS AWAY FROM
EARNING HIS PhD IN CHEMISTRY

AT THE LOCAL UNIVERSITY.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
WITH YOUR LIFE?

WELL, YOU KNOW,
I'M IN THE ARMY.

Pamela: PAUL, MY HUSBAND, AND I
ALL ATTENDED THE SAME COLLEGE.

PAUL HAD A LOT OF THINGS
GOING FOR HIMSELF.

HE WAS VERY CHARMING. SO A LOT
OF WOMEN WERE DRAWN TO HIM.

ANYTHING ELSE?
NO, THIS IS PERFECT.

Narrator: CHARLENE IS CRUSHED
THAT SHE MET THE MAN OF HER DREAMS

JUST DAYS BEFORE LEAVING
FOR BASIC TRAINING.

[ LAUGHS ]

Charlene: I LIKED THAT
PAUL KNEW WHERE HE WAS GOING.

HE JUST HAD GREAT QUALITIES,
YOU KNOW?

HE MADE ME LAUGH.
HE LISTENED TO ME.

HERE WE GO.

Dr. Jordan: GIVEN THE LOSS OF
HER PARENTS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE,

CHARLENE FINDS HERSELF ADRIFT.

AND JUST LIKE WITH THE ARMY,

SHE IS DRAWN TO PAUL
BECAUSE OF HIS STABILITY,

BUT CHARLENE SHOULD PROCEED
WITH CAUTION

BECAUSE SHE IS SO YOUNG
AND SO INEXPERIENCED.

SHE'S VERY VULNERABLE TO PAUL'S
MATURITY AND HIS CHARISMA.

Narrator: THE NIGHT
BEFORE CHARLENE LEAVES,

SHE TAKES A BOLD STEP TO PROVE
HER DEVOTION TO PAUL.

I THINK
I'M FALLING FOR YOU.

I'M FALLING FOR YOU, TOO.

HE ENDED UP TAKING MY VIRGINITY.

AFTER THAT,
HE PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME

THAT I WAS EVERYTHING
THAT HE WANTED IN A WOMAN.

Narrator: BUT THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN
FOR THIS BLOSSOMING ROMANCE.

I HAVE TO GO.

Charlene:
I WAS REALISTIC WITH MYSELF,

AND I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW,
I'M GONE FOR EIGHT WEEKS."

I FELT LIKE HE WANTED TO BE
WITH ME, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I KNEW THAT HE WAS KIND OF FREE
TO DO WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

DRILL SERGEANT,
YES, DRILL SERGEANT.

Sergeant:
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

DRILL SERGEANT,
YES, DRILL SERGEANT.

Narrator: IN KENTUCKY, CHARLENE'S
LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SOLDIER,

AND SHE'S LOVING IT.

ALL RIGHT,
WELL GIVE ME THREE HOOAHS!

HOOAH! HOOAH! HOOAH!

Charlene:
IT WAS AN EYE-OPENER,

'CAUSE I WAS IN A SMALL CITY
ALL OF MY LIFE,

AND THEN I WAS SEEING
EVERYTHING.

DISMISSED.

Narrator: STILL, SHE
CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT PAUL.

SO WHEN SHE GETS
AN UNEXPECTED LETTER FROM HIM...

Man: CHARLENE JACKSON.

...SHE'S OVER THE MOON.

Charlene: HE'S THE ONLY ONE
THAT FOUND TIME TO WRITE ME,

TO SEE HOW I'M DOING.

IT MEANT A LOT
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE,

THIS GUY'S BUSY,
HE'S WORKING ON HIS PhD.

Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS,

CHARLENE AND PAUL
CONTINUE TO STAY IN TOUCH.

AND HER FEELINGS
GO FROM SCHOOLGIRL CRUSH

TO FULL-BLOWN LOVE.

THIS IS POSSIBLY GONNA BE
MY HUSBAND.

THAT'S HOW I FELT FOR HIM.

[ SIGHS ]

I'VE REALLY BEEN
SO THANKFUL...

Narrator:
WHEN BOOT CAMP ENDS,

CHARLENE'S TEMPTED TO SIGN UP
FOR ACTIVE DUTY.

IT WOULD GIVE HER THE STABILITY
SHE'S ALWAYS CRAVED.

BUT WHEN PAUL SHOWS UP OUT
OF THE BLUE,

LOVE AND DUTY COLLIDE
WITH LIFE-CHANGING CONSEQUENCES.

Sergeant: ATTENTION!

Narrator: 18-YEAR-OLD CHARLENE
JACKSON JUST GRADUATED FROM BOOT CAMP

AND IS NOW THINKING
ABOUT GOING ACTIVE DUTY.

BUT WHEN HER BOYFRIEND, PAUL,
SHOWS UP ON BASE UNEXPECTEDLY,

IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CAME ALL
THE WAY OUT HERE JUST TO SEE ME.

ACCORDING TO CHARLENE,
PAUL PROFESSES HIS LOVE FOR HER

THEN ASKS HER
TO MOVE IN WITH HIM.

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE MY HOME
OUR HOME?

Dr. Jordan: 18 YEARS OLD.
Charlene: YES.

AND YOU HAVE TO DECIDE
BETWEEN THIS CAREER MOVE,

GOING ACTIVE DUTY SO THAT
YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOME,

OR GOING
WITH THIS MAN THAT -

TO BE HONEST, YOU LOVE HIM, BUT
YOU DON'T KNOW HIM THAT WELL.

AND I CHOOSE PAUL.

IT SEEMED RISKY,

BUT I FELT LIKE THAT WAS
THE ONLY PERSON I HAD.

WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT
CHARLENE AND PAUL WERE DATING,

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING
THAT I AGREED WITH

BECAUSE OF THE AGE DIFFERENCE.

THEY CAN'T HAVE A DECENT
CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE'S NOTHING THERE
MORE THAN SEX.

I FELT VERY PROTECTIVE
OF CHARLENE.

Narrator: AFTER FINISHING HIS
PhD, PAUL LANDS A HIGH-PAYING JOB

AND PAMPERS CHARLENE

WITH A COMFORTABLE LIFE
IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

IT WAS FUN.
IT WAS SOMETHING NEW.

IT WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE,
AND I LIKED IT.

MY DAY REVOLVED
AROUND MAKING PAUL HAPPY

OR, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE
THE HOUSE WAS NICE,

COOKING, CLEANING.

MAKING SURE I LOOKED NICE
WHEN HE GOT HOME.

I REALLY BECAME A HOUSEWIFE,
I GUESS, WITHOUT THE RING.

Paul: HONEY, I'M HOME.

HEY, HONEY,
HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

CHARLENE'S FINALLY LIVING A LIFE
SHE'S ONLY DREAMED ABOUT,

PLAYING HOMEMAKER AND HOSTESS.

THE COUPLE ENJOYS ENTERTAINING.

Charlene: HE TREATED ME WELL,
AND HE HAD ALL THESE FRIENDS.

Paul: DRIVE SAFE.

BUT CHARLENE CLAIMS
THAT PAUL DROPS A BOMBSHELL

LESS THAN A YEAR
INTO THE RELATIONSHIP.

HOW'D YOU LIKE SOPHIE?

UM, SHE WAS COOL.
SHE WAS REALLY NICE.

YEAH, SHE WAS WONDERING
IF WE WANTED TO DO A THREESOME.

[ CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY ]
WHAT?

Charlene: PAUL TELLS ME,
"HEY, MY FRIEND, YOU KNOW,

SHE WANTS TO HAVE A THREESOME
WITH US."

AND I WAS LIKE, "HUH?"

HE WAS LIKE, "WELL, YEAH,
I LIKE HAVING THREESOMES.

I LIKE BEING WITH OTHER WOMEN.
IT'S JUST SEX, YOU KNOW."

SO HE REALLY MADE IT SEEM
LIKE SEX WAS SEX,

AND WHAT WE HAD WAS LOVE.
IT WAS DIFFERENT.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THAT, PAUL.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT CHARLENE IS ONLY 18,

AND PAUL
IS HER VERY FIRST BOYFRIEND.

SHE HAS NO BLUEPRINT
FOR NORMALCY IN A RELATIONSHIP.

SO WHEN PAUL SUGGESTS
A THREESOME,

IT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE
IT'S GOING TO MAKE CHARLENE

WONDER ABOUT
HER SEXUAL ADEQUACY.

"WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
WHAT IS IT THAT I DON'T KNOW?"

UNLESS THEY CAN COMMUNICATE
OPENLY ABOUT IT,

IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA CAUSE
PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE.

I THINK IT'D BE
SOMETHING...

Narrator: CHARLENE SAYS THAT PAUL
CONTINUES TO FORCE THE ISSUE.

MAYBE, MAYBE, BUT -
REALLY?

CHARLENE CLAIMS
THAT PAUL FINALLY WEARS HER DOWN

AND SHE AGREES TO INVITE
ANOTHER WOMAN INTO BED.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
THEY BOOK A HOTEL ROOM.

Charlene: WE DECIDED, "OKAY,
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS TONIGHT."

YOU KNOW, IT'S WEIRD AT FIRST,
'CAUSE I'M JUST LIKE,

"OKAY, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING."

Narrator: SEEING
HER BOYFRIEND KISS ANOTHER WOMAN

MAKES CHARLENE UNCOMFORTABLE.

Charlene: I FELT LIKE
HE DID IT WRONG, IN A SENSE,

BECAUSE HE HAD SEX
WITH HER FIRST.

AND AFTER HE HAD SEX WITH HER,
HE WENT TO SLEEP.

Narrator: CHARLENE CLAIMS
THAT WHEN PAUL WAKES UP,

HE TRIES TO HAVE SEX WITH HER.

THIS WAS -
THIS WAS A BAD IDEA.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THERE
THE WHOLE TIME.

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN - I WAS
THERE, AND YOU DIDN'T SEE ME.

THE ONLY THING I SAW YOU
TOUCHIN' WAS ALL OVER HER.

YOU DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT ME.
I-I'M DONE.

Charlene:
IT WAS A STEP TOWARDS ME KNOWING

THAT THIS ISN'T
WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
THIS IS NOT GONNA WORK.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO CHARLENE,

OVER THE NEXT YEAR,
PAUL REFUSES TO DROP THE ISSUE.

YOU DON'T THINK
WITH YOUR BRAIN.

THE ONLY THING YOU USE
IS THAT RIGHT THERE.

NOT ONLY SHOULD I NOT BE UPSET,
BUT "WE SHOULD TRY IT AGAIN."

I DON'T NEED A MOUSE.

I NEED A WOMAN.
OH!

AFTER THE CATASTROPHIC
"THREESOME" IN THE HOTEL ROOM,

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF,

"WHY IS CHARLENE
STILL IN THIS RELATIONSHIP?"

AFTER ALL, THEY CLEARLY WANT
DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT FOR CHARLENE, THAT LACK OF
FAMILY, THAT NEED FOR SECURITY,

SHE PINS ALL OF HER HOPES
ON HER COMMITMENT TO PAUL,

AND SHE DOESN'T REALIZE
SHE'S BECOME CO-DEPENDENT.

YOU NEED TO PLEASE YOUR MAN.
Narrator: CHARLENE'S HAD IT.

SHE'S DETERMINED TO END THIS
CONVERSATION ONCE AND FOR ALL.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PAUL
AND WHAT PAUL WANTS.

I'M TIRED OF IT.

HOW YOU DOING,
BABE?

Charlene:
HE HAD COME HOME FROM WORK,

AND I HAD BEEN BUGGING HIM
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS,

SAYING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY
SIT DOWN TALK ABOUT THIS.

IT'S REALLY BEEN BOTHERING ME

AND I JUST - I REALLY NEED
TO GET IT OFF MY CHEST.

WE CAN DO IT
TOMORROW.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: BUT THAT EVENING,

PAUL ISN'T IN THE MOOD
FOR A SERIOUS DISCUSSION.

I DON'T WANT TO DEAL
WITH IT.

I'M TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK
WITH YOU.

CAN'T YOU TELL
THAT I'M TRYING SO HARD?

I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE TRYING
TO MAKE - JUST COOK DINNER!

[ DOOR SLAMS ]

HE ESCAPES INTO HIS OFFICE,
LOCKING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM.

THIS TIME, I WAS JUST LIKE, "NO.

"WE'RE GONNA TALK TONIGHT
AND YOU'RE GONNA TALK BACK

AND YOU'RE GONNA RESPOND
AND WE'RE GONNA FIX THIS."

AND SO I ENDED UP GOING IN
THE KITCHEN AND GETTING A KNIFE,

AND I GOT THE KNIFE
TO OPEN UP THE DOOR.

Narrator:
CHARLENE PRIES HER WAY INSIDE.

YOU JUST BROKE THE DOOR.
COME ON.

AND SO I SIT ON HIS LAP AND
I'M LIKE, "NO, WE NEED TO TALK."

I DON'T WANT TO TALK
ABOUT ANYTHING, I'M -

AND HE JUST GETS REALLY UPSET
AND HE PUSHES ME OFF HIS LAP.

WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO HEAR -
I DON'T WANT TO TALK.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I TOLD YOU I WAS TIRED.

I AM SO DONE.
JUST GO.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO CHARLENE,

PAUL TRIES TO SLAM THE DOOR SHUT
AS SHE LEAVES.

Charlene: AND HE ENDED UP
CLOSING IT ON MY FOOT,

AND SO I KICKED THE DOOR BACK
WITH THE BACK OF MY FOOT,

AND IT ENDED UP HITTING HIM.

WHY YOU GONNA **** OPEN
DOORS AND BREAK DOORS?!

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET
YOUR ATTENTION.

HE PUSHES ME ONTO THE COUCH

AND HE HAS THE KNIFE
THAT I OPENED THE DOOR WITH.

SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE!
I OWN THIS HOUSE!

YOU DON'T EVEN LISTEN
TO WHAT I SAY!

THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT!

YOU NEED TO LISTEN!

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
CHARLENE FEARS FOR HER LIFE.

Narrator:
ARMY RESERVIST CHARLENE JACKSON

THOUGHT HER FIRST LOVE
WOULD BE FOREVER.

Paul: WHY YOU ****
OPEN DOORS?!

BUT SHE'S ABOUT TO DISCOVER THE
DARK SIDE OF THE MAN SHE LOVES.

KEEP ON TELLING YOU
TO BE QUIET!

I WAS STILL IN SHOCK
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME

THAT THAT
HE HAD EVER TOUCHED ME.

YOU NEED TO FREAKIN' LISTEN
TO ME!

CHARLENE SAYS THAT
PAUL FINALLY LOOSENS HIS GRIP.

AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS
TOGETHER, ONE THING IS CLEAR.

CHARLENE NEEDS TO GET OUT
OF THIS RELATIONSHIP FAST.

YOU'RE CRAZY.

THAT'S WHAT
EVERYBODY SAYS,

THAT "THE FIRST DAY HE LAYS
HANDS ON ME IS THE DAY I LEAVE,"

AND YOU LEFT.
YES.

SHE CALLS HER FORMER SERGEANT
AND EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED.

I TELL THEM THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO VOLUNTEER TO GET DEPLOYED,

AND THEY COME AND PICK ME UP.

Pamela:
I FELT REALLY RELIEVED

WHEN I FOUND OUT CHARLENE
HAD LEFT PAUL AND MOVED ON.

HE'S JUST -
I CAN'T ANYMORE.

I TOLD CHARLENE THAT
THIS WAS THE FIRST WARNING,

AND IT ONLY GETS WORSE.

WELL DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM.
WE WILL DEAL WITH HIM.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

Narrator: SHE IMMEDIATELY
REPORTS TO A BASE IN MISSOURI

TO PREPARE FOR HER ASSIGNMENT -
KUWAIT.

[ BLOWS WHISTLE ]
LET'S GO, MOVE IT! MOVE IT!

JACKSON,
YOU'RE SLOWER THAN STOPPED!

GET UP! GET UP! MOVE!

I FEEL LIKE THE ONLY REASON
WHY I VOLUNTEERED TO DEPLOY

WAS BECAUSE
I WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM HIM,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WAS SAD

BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMEBODY
I'M DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH.

MOVE IT!
JACKSON, GO!

Narrator: CHARLENE FOCUSES
ON PREPARING FOR DEPLOYMENT.

I'VE SEEN KINDERGARTNERS
THAT ARE HARDER THAN THAT.

THAT IS,
UNTIL PAUL SHOWS UP ON BASE.

I'M SO SORRY.

I HAD TO COME AND TELL YOU
I WAS SORRY,

AND IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
HOW DO I KNOW FOR SURE, PAUL?

AT THAT MOMENT,
I WAS CRYING AND I WAS HURT

AND HE BEGAN TO CRY, AS WELL,

SAYING THAT HE DIDN'T MEAN TO DO
IT, HE WAS JUST FRUSTRATED.

IT'S BEEN HELL
WITHOUT YOU.

Narrator: THEN PAUL PULLS
THE TRUMP CARD...

I HAVE TO GO.
...AND PROPOSES.

WELL, SORT OF.

IT WAS PICTURE OF A RING.

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?

THIS IS THE PERSON
THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF ME.

THIS IS THE PERSON
THAT TOOK MY VIRGINITY.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
THIS IS MY HUSBAND.

GIVEN HOW VIOLENT THEIR FIGHT
WAS BACK IN OMAHA

AND HOW FERVENTLY PAUL FOUGHT
TO HAVE AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP,

WHY WOULD CHARLENE TAKE HIM
BACK, LET ALONE MARRY HIM?

IT HAS TO BE THAT CRAVING
FOR STABILITY IN HER LIFE.

AND PAUL, ON THE SURFACE,

IS THE EPITOME OF A MAN
THAT EVERY WOMAN WOULD WANT.

SO CHARLENE THINKS THAT
HE WOULD MAKE A GREAT HUSBAND.

Narrator: CHARLENE
FLIES BACK TO OMAHA, NEBRASKA,

WHERE PAUL'S PLANNED
A SECRET WEDDING CEREMONY

AT A LOCAL CHURCH.

[ ORGAN PLAYS "AMAZING GRACE" ]

THEY DECIDE TO KEEP THE FAMILY
OUT OF IT

UNTIL THEY HAVE A PROPER WEDDING

WHEN CHARLENE RETURNS
FROM OVERSEAS.

Officiant: PAUL, DO YOU TAKE CHARLENE
TO BE YOUR LAWFULLY-WEDDED WIFE?

Dr. Jordan: IS THIS THE WEDDING
YOU ALWAYS DREAMED OF?

I HAD THIS FEELING THAT
MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS,

'CAUSE IT SEEMED SO RUSHED,

BUT I WAS SO SET
ON PLEASING HIM.

CHARLENE, DO YOU TAKE PAUL TO BE
YOUR LAWFULLY-WEDDED HUSBAND?

SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE!
I OWN THIS HOUSE!

I DO.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY, CHARLENE SHIPS
OFF TO KUWAIT AS A MARRIED WOMAN,

THOUGH NO ONE ELSE KNOWS IT.

WE KEPT IT A SECRET.

DESPITE BEING APART
FROM HER BRAND-NEW HUSBAND,

CHARLENE EMBRACES
HER LIFE ABROAD.

CAN YOU MAKE IT?
Woman: SHOOT, GIRL!

Charlene: IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST
TIME THAT I PROBABLY HAD BEEN LIVING

IN A DIFFERENT WORLD
WITHOUT HIM.

SO KUWAIT WAS MY LIFE.
KUWAIT WAS MY FRIENDS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

I BECAME MY OWN PERSON.

OH! [ LAUGHS ]

MUST BE KIND OF BORING,
PLAYING ALONE.

IT'S NOT THAT BAD.
Narrator: THEN ONE DAY,

A HANDSOME SOLDIER NAMED
LARRY GIBBS CATCHES HER EYE.

YOU MAY CALL ME
STAFF SERGEANT GIBBS.

SO, HOW 'BOUT
WE GET SOME ONE-ON-ONE?

Charlene: WE BUILT A FRIENDSHIP.
WE PLAYED BASKETBALL TOGETHER.

WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING,
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

HE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS MARRIED,
EITHER.

WELL, THEN YOU DIDN'T TALK
ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I SAID
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Gibbs: CHARLENE
WAS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT.

SHE HAD HER OWN WAY ABOUT HER,
AND SHE WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND

WHEN YOU NEEDED
SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

I DON'T PLAY WITH LOSERS.

WE BOTH KNOW THAT WE
WERE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER,

BUT NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.

Narrator: BUT ACCORDING TO CHARLENE,
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD,

PAUL'S NOT EXERCISING
THE SAME RESTRAINT.

[ CHIMES ]

HI, BABE.

HEY, BABE, HOW ARE YOU?

WHAT'S NEW?
WHAT'S GOING ON?

SO I'VE BEEN...

SLEEPING WITH SOMEBODY.

[ SIGHS ]
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,

YOU'VE BEEN SLEEPING
WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, PAUL?

COUNT TOTAL
WAS ABOUT SIX PEOPLE

WITHIN THE THREE MONTHS
THAT I HAD BEEN GONE.

BUT IT'S ONLY SEX.

IT'S NOT LOVE OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. I LOVE YOU.

AND WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT, I FELT
LIKE I COULD PURSUE LARRY NOW.

SO I'M GONNA KNOW
SOMEBODY ELSE,

AND I'M GONNA DO
WHAT I WANT TO DO.

HEY, LARRY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DOES
TO LARRY'S PLEASANT SURPRISE.

HEY, HONEY.
HEY, THERE.

HOW WAS IT?

I REALLY, REALLY LIKED HIM.

HE WAS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM PAUL.

HE WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT I WANTED.

Gibbs:
THE TRANSITION WITH CHARLENE

FROM FRIENDS TO A FULL-BLOWN
RELATIONSHIP WAS VERY EASY.

[ CHIMES ]

HEY.

Narrator: CHARLENE COMES CLEAN TO
PAUL ABOUT SLEEPING WITH LARRY.

WE'VE KIND OF...
BEEN HAVING SEX.

BUT SHE DOESN'T GET THE REACTION
SHE WAS HOPING FOR.

Charlene: HE WASN'T REALLY ANGRY
OR REALLY IRATE ABOUT IT.

HOW'D YOU LIKE IT?

IT WAS AMAZING.

SEE, I KNEW YOU'RE LIKE ME.
I'M RUBBING OFF ON YOU.

YEAH, I GOT TO GO.
BYE.

Narrator: CHARLENE NOW CRANKS UP
HER SIZZLING-HOT ROMANCE WITH LARRY

GUILT-FREE.

I REALLY - [ CHUCKLES ]
I GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK.

EVERYBODY KNEW AROUND KUWAIT
THAT IT'S LARRY AND CHARLENE,

AND WE WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER.

IT WILL BE THERE
IN 30-45 MINUTES.

WE BROUGHT A STABILITY
TO AN EVERYDAY CHAOTIC LIFE.

SO I CAN HONESTLY SAY
THAT I WAS ON MY WAY

TO FALLING IN LOVE
WITH CHARLENE.

WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH YOUR PHONE?

IT'S BEEN RINGING NON-STOP
THE LAST HOUR.

Narrator: BUT THERE'S
JUST ONE LITTLE SNAG -

NOBODY ON BASE CAN FIND OUT
THAT CHARLENE IS MARRIED.

SOME NUMBER FROM OMAHA
KEEPS CALLING.

EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIRS
ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.

GIVE ME A MOMENT.
I REALLY NEED TO TAKE THIS CALL.

GOOD IDEA.

Dr. Jordan:
YOU COULD BE KICKED OUT.

I COULD BE.

DOES THE MILITARY KNOW
YOU'RE MARRIED?

I'M A HUMAN-RESOURCE SPECIALIST
SO I DID MY OWN PAPERWORK.

SO I WAS THE ONLY ONE AWARE
OF ME BEING MARRIED.

CHARLENE TAKES
PAUL'S URGENT CALL.

[ CHIMES ]

HEY, PAUL, WHAT'S UP?

HEY, CHARLENE. GUESS WHAT
I HAVE PLANNED FOR US TONIGHT.

AND HE'S LIKE,
"I WANTED TO SEE

IF YOU WOULD WATCH ME HAVE SEX
WITH SOMEONE."

HE SHOWED ME THE GIRL

AND SHE WAS LAYING ON THE BED
AND SHE WAVED TO THE CAMERA.

NICE AND BEAUTIFUL
AND SEXY.

I WAS KIND OF STUNNED
AND I DIDN'T SAY "NO."

AND I DIDN'T EVEN SAY
"YEAH."

I JUST SAT ON THE CAMERA.

Woman: YOU SHOULD JOIN US.

FROM THERE, YOU KNOW,
THEY STARTED HAVING SEX.

WHILE HE WAS HAVING SEX WITH
HER, HE WAS CALLING MY NAME.

OH, CHARLENE.

A MILLION THINGS
ARE GOING THROUGH MY MIND,

AND ONE OF THEM WAS, "I'M DONE
WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP."

HE WAS SO BUSY, HE DIDN'T
EVEN REALIZE THAT I HUNG UP.

Dr. Jordan:
THIS LATEST STUNT OF PAUL'S

MAY FINALLY BE
CHARLENE'S BREAKING POINT

AND THE BIG PUSH
THAT SHE HAS NEEDED

TO END THINGS WITH PAUL
ONCE AND FOR ALL.

Narrator:
SEVERAL DAYS LATER,

CHARLENE TELLS PAUL
IT'S OVER BETWEEN THEM.

CHARLENE:
I need to get a divorce.

This is -
It's not working, Paul.

[ STAMMERING ]
W-WHAT - A DIVORCE?

Yes, a divorce. I don't want to
be a part of it anymore.

WE'RE NOT GETTING A DIVORCE.
HE REALLY JUST FLIPPED.

Having sex with other people
and threesome stuff -

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I COULD RUIN YOU.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD CALL
MY CHAIN OF COMMAND

IF I DIDN'T TELL LARRY
THAT I WAS MARRIED.

THAT'S WHAT GONNA HAPPEN!

I'm hanging up.
DON'T HANG UP THE PHONE!

[ Click ]
HELLO?

Narrator: BUT PAUL'S SO ANGRY

HE IMMEDIATELY PUTS HER CAREER
IN JEOPARDY...

OH, MY GOD!

...BY POSTING
THEIR WEDDING PHOTOS

ALL OVER HER PAGE
ON A SOCIAL-MEDIA WEBSITE,

KNOWING IT COULD END
CHARLENE'S MILITARY CAREER.

FOR MORE
ON HOW CHARLENE'S DOING,

Narrator: JUST SIX MONTHS
INTO HER MARRIAGE,

ARMY SOLDIER CHARLENE JACKSON
WANTS OUT.

CHARLENE: ...a divorce.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

BUT HER HUSBAND, PAUL,
WON'T LET HER GO THAT EASILY.

HE EXPOSES
THEIR SECRET MARRIAGE,

PUTTING HER AT RISK
FOR A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE.

Charlene: SO, WHEN I SEEN THE
PICTURES, I ENDED UP DELETING

ALL MY FRIENDS THAT WERE,
YOU KNOW, OVERSEAS WITH ME.

LUCKILY, NOBODY IN THE MILITARY
SEES THE PHOTOS,

BUT SHE'S NOW BEEN OUTED
TO HER FAMILY.

...DO THIS
AND NOT TELL ME?

I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO FIND OUT

THAT CHARLENE AND PAUL
WERE MARRIED.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
THAT THEY WERE TOGETHER.

Narrator: CHARLENE DECIDES
SHE NEEDS TO COME CLEAN

WITH HER LOVER, LARRY,

AND CONFESS
THAT SHE'S A MARRIED WOMAN.

I NEED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SOMETHING.

I'M KIND OF MARRIED,
BUT IT'S JUST -

Gibbs: SHE SAID IT WAS
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.

WE'RE GETTING A DIVORCE.
I JUST HAVE TO WAIT...

AND I ASKED, "ARE YOU SURE

THERE'S NOTHING FOR ME
TO WORRY ABOUT?"

SHE'S LIKE, "I PROMISE, THERE'S
NOTHING FOR YOU TO WORRY ABOUT.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HOW YOU WERE GONNA TAKE IT."

CHARLENE, UP TO THAT POINT,
HAS NEVER LIED TO ME.

THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING
BETWEEN YOU AND ME.

SO I BELIEVED HER 110%.

BEAT YOU TO THE END.
YOU KIDDING ME?

Narrator: CHARLENE PACIFIES PAUL
TO BUY HERSELF SOME TIME.

I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG.
I-I WILL ADMIT THAT.

Charlene: I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW,
WE COULD WORK THIS OUT.

I JUST DID THAT BECAUSE I
DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HIM ACT OUT

TO RUIN ME OR MY LIFE.

I NEED TO TAKE THIS.
IS IT OKAY IF I CALL YOU BACK?

Narrator: BUT HER PLAN IS TO FILE
FOR DIVORCE WHEN SHE SEES PAUL

DURING HER TWO-WEEK LEAVE
THE FOLLOWING MONTH.

ALL RIGHT, BYE, BABE.

GIVEN THAT PAUL
HAS ALREADY ACTED

ON HIS THREAT
TO JEOPARDIZE HER CAREER,

CHARLENE IS WISE TO PLAN HER
EXIT BUT TO TREAD LIGHTLY.

Narrator: IN JANUARY 2012,
CHARLENE ARRIVES BACK IN THE STATES.

SHE HEADS STRAIGHT
TO PAUL'S HOUSE IN OMAHA.

PAUL TRIES TO PICK UP
RIGHT WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.

CAN YOU JUST STOP?

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING FOR HIM.

I DIDN'T FEEL
THAT I MISSED THIS PERSON

THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN
FOR SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS.

CAN WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE -
NO.

WHY?

HE TRIED TO HAVE SEX WITH ME,

AND I DIDN'T WANT
ANY PARTS OF HIM.

AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I HAD EVER FELT LIKE THAT.

I JUST FLAT-OUT SAID
THAT I WANT A DIVORCE.

THERE WAS NO SUGAR-COATING IT.
WE'RE WORKING STUFF OUT NOW.

WHY DO YOU WANT A DIVORCE?
HE WAS UPSET.

EVERYBODY'S GONNA SAY
IT'S YOUR FAULT.

I REALLY DON'T CARE.

PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED AND HOW IT HAPPENED,

AND I DON'T THINK
HE WAS NECESSARILY READY

FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS.

...WHAT ANYBODY THINKS?

ACCORDING TO PAUL, HE DID NOT
WANT THE MARRIAGE TO END.

HE LOVED HER.
HE CARED ABOUT HER VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE GONNA STAY RIGHT HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA WORK THINGS OUT.

Narrator:
BUT CHARLENE STANDS HER GROUND.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

ONE NIGHT,
SHE'S HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING

AND DECIDES TO TEXT LARRY.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

WHO ARE YOU TEXTING?

WHY DON'T YOU JUST MIND
YOUR BUSINESS, OKAY?

Charlene: HE REALIZED
THAT I WAS TEXTING LARRY.

HE PROCEEDED TO CALL LARRY.

DON'T TEXT HER ANYMORE.

Gibbs: HE WAS LIKE,
"I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU.

"SHE'S MARRIED.
THIS IS MY WIFE.

DON'T EVER CALL HER
OR CONTACT HER AGAIN."

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG
WITH YOU?

MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS LIKE,
"SHE PLAYED ME."

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THAT DEEP.
I JUST IMMEDIATELY BACKED OFF.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD A CREED -

YOU JUST DON'T STICK YOUR HAND
IN ANOTHER MAN'S COOKIE JAR.

THINGS MAY NOT BE WORKING OUT
THE WAY THAT CHARLENE HAD HOPED.

NOW THAT LARRY KNOWS THE TRUTH,

THAT HER MARRIAGE TO PAUL

WAS MORE THAN A MARRIAGE
OF CONVENIENCE,

IF CHARLENE'S PLAN WAS TO LEAVE
PAUL TO BE WITH LARRY,

SHE HAS TO NOW FACE THE FACT
THAT THAT SHIP MAY HAVE SAILED.

CHARLENE,
COME BACK HERE!

OR WHAT?

[ DOOR SLAMS ]

Narrator: CHARLENE
CHECKS INTO A HOTEL THAT NIGHT.

WHEN SHE RETURNS AFTER SEVERAL
DAYS, PAUL'S COOLED DOWN.

HELLO.

PRESENTS FOR YOU. LOOK.

HE BOUGHT MY FAVORITE PERFUME.
HE BOUGHT ME PEARLS.

AND THEN, ON TOP OF THAT,

HE BOUGHT TICKETS
TO A "LION KING" PLAY.

"THE LION KING."

WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT
TOGETHER LIKE THAT.

Charlene:
HE BEGGED ME TO GO.

Narrator: CHARLENE AGREES,
UNDER THE CONDITION

THAT HE ACCEPTS
THAT THE MARRIAGE IS OVER.

BUT CHARLENE AND PAUL NEVER MAKE
IT OUT OF THE HOUSE THAT NIGHT.

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

OKAY.

AS CHARLENE
IS GETTING READY...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

...PAUL APPEARS BEHIND HER.

I CAN'T WATCH
MY WIFE GET READY?

CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME SOME SPACE
RIGHT NOW, PAUL?

ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE ME
ANOTHER CHANCE?

BEFORE
I COULD EVEN COMPLETE "NO,"

HE HAD PUNCHED ME
IN MY FACE.

[ GASPING ] PAUL, STOP!

Dr. Jordan: CHARLENE,
WERE YOU DIVING FOR YOUR PHONE

SO YOU COULD CALL 911?
YES.

[ GASPS ]

AT THIS POINT,
CHARLENE CLAIMS PAUL CHOKES HER.

I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG,
MAYBE A MOMENT.

CHARLENE COMES TO
ON THE LIVING-ROOM FLOOR.

SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO ME.

I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS A DREAM
AFTER I WOKE UP.

ALL I WANT TO DO
IS MAKE YOU HAPPY.

Narrator: BUT THIS IS ANYTHING
BUT A DREAM.

CHARLENE CLAIMS THAT PAUL
IS HOLDING A KNIFE IN HIS HANDS.

GET ON THE COUCH.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

Charlene: HE WAS RUNNING
THE BLADE AGAINST MY BODY.

[ Whimpering ]
DON'T DO THIS.

JUST TELLING ME, YOU KNOW,
"YOU MESSED UP."

AT THAT MOMENT, HE HAD STUCK
THE KNIFE IN MY SIDE.

BE STILL.

[ SCREAMS ]

HE JUST TOLD ME TO LAY THERE.

Narrator: THEN, ACCORDING
TO CHARLENE, HE RAPES HER.

DON'T DO THIS.

Charlene: I FELT HUMILIATED
BY HIM RAPING ME,

AND SO I WAS FOCUSED
ON GETTING THE KNIFE

AND DOING WHAT I HAD TO DO
TO GET AWAY FROM HIM.

CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME SOME SPACE
RIGHT NOW?

Narrator: ALL CHARLENE JACKSON WANTS
FROM HER HUSBAND, PAUL, IS A DIVORCE.

HELL, NO.
[ SMACK ]

BUT ACCORDING TO CHARLENE,

HE'S NOT ABOUT TO GIVE IT TO HER
WITHOUT A FIGHT,

AND CHARLENE'S ABOUT TO GO
ON THE DEFENSIVE.

AND I STABBED HIM IN THE ARM

LIKE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE
TIMES.

JESUS!

Narrator: CHARLENE'S
ABOUT TO RUN INTO THE NIGHT,

BUT SHE TAKES ONE LAST LOOK
BEHIND HER.

COME HERE.

YOU GOT TO HELP ME.

TELLING ME HE'S HURT,
HE'S BLEEDING PRETTY BAD.

COME HERE.
YOU GOT TO HELP ME.

ACCORDING TO CHARLENE, SHE
DECIDES TO GO BACK TO HELP PAUL.

Charlene:
I'M FOLLOWING HIM UP THE STEPS,

AND WE BEGIN TO FIGHT
FOR THE KNIFE.

Narrator:
WHEN PAUL WINS THE STRUGGLE,

ACCORDING TO CHARLENE, HE
PLUNGES IT INTO HER THIGH TWICE.

[ GROANS ]
NOW WE'RE EVEN.

BOTH OF THEM
ARE NOW BADLY INJURED.

[ Sobbing ] WE HAVE TO GO.

Charlene: HE TELLS ME
THAT IF IT'S GET WORSE

THAT HE'LL TAKE US
TO THE HOSPITAL.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE...

IMMEDIATELY, I'M THINKING

THAT I SHOULD JUST MAKE IT SEEM
LIKE IT'S WORSE.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

Narrator: BUT CHARLENE CLAIMS
THAT PAUL IGNORES HER PLEAS

AND BANDAGES THEIR WOUNDS
HIMSELF.

YOU'RE HURTING ME, PAUL.

CHARLENE SAYS
THAT WHEN HER WOUNDS

BLEED THROUGH THE BANDAGES,
PAUL FINALLY RELENTS.

WE HAVE TO GO.

AND SHE PRAYS THAT THIS
NIGHTMARE COULD FINALLY BE OVER.

I'M GONNA BLEED TO DEATH.

HE'S LIKE,
"WELL, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO

IS TELL THEM
THAT WE GOT ROBBED."

DON'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE.
OKAY, I PROMISE.

AND I'M THINKING, "OKAY,
WHATEVER YOU SAY, WE'LL DO."

HE ENDS UP
GETTING ME DRESSED.

Narrator: PAUL STARTS THE CAR
REMOTELY FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE...

[ GROANS ]

[ ENGINE IDLING ]

...AND CARRIES CHARLENE
TO THE GARAGE.

WHAT ARE YOU -
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I REALIZE THAT
THE GARAGE DOOR WASN'T OPEN

AND BUILDING UP
WHATEVER FUMES -

YOU'RE TELLING ME THE GARAGE
WAS FULL OF CARBON MONOXIDE?

YES.
ACCORDING TO CHARLENE,

PAUL PUTS HER INTO THE BACK SEAT
OF THE CAR.

HE'S NOT TRYING
TO OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR.

NO.

WE NEED TO GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE GETS IN THE CAR
WITH ME.

CHARLENE CLAIMS THAT
THE TERRIFYING TRUTH SINKS IN.

PAUL HAS NO PLANS
TO LEAVE THE GARAGE...

YOU'RE GONNA KILL US BOTH.

...AND SHE'S HIS HOSTAGE.

[ GASPS ]

I JUST SAT IN THE CAR,
HOPING THAT I WOULDN'T DIE,

THAT HE WOULD DIE FIRST.

I'M GETTING OUT.

OH, NO, NO, NO.

OH, NO. NO, PLEASE.

CHARLENE CLAIMS
THAT AFTER NEARLY 45 MINUTES,

SHE FINALLY CONVINCES PAUL
TO GO BACK INSIDE.

I JUST TOLD HIM
THAT IT WASN'T WORKING.

"WE'RE NOT GONNA DIE.
IT'S NOT WORKING.

WE'VE BEEN IN HERE
TOO LONG."

[ ENGINE IDLING ]

HE CARRIES HER BACK
INTO THE HOUSE...

...AND BOTH OF THEM
IMMEDIATELY PASS OUT.

I REMEMBER WAKING UP
ON THE GROUND.

HE'S UP ALREADY,
AND IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL REAL.

YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR SISTER
RIGHT NOW

AND TELL HER
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

HEY. HELLO?
YOU OKAY?

EVERYTHING'S BEEN R-REALLY,
REALLY CRAZY AROUND HERE.

Pamela: I COULD SENSE
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG

BECAUSE SHE HAD CALLED ME

AND YET SHE WASN'T REALLY
CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION.

CHARLENE?

Hello?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU STARTED
YELLING INTO THE PHONE

AND TELLING HER WHAT PAUL
HAS BEEN DOING TO YOU ALL NIGHT?

I'M SURE HE PROBABLY
WOULD HAVE KILLED ME.

IT'S JUST BEEN A LITTLE BUSY.
[ CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY ]

Narrator: THEN CHARLENE
DECIDES TO DROP A HINT.

I HEAR LISA - LISA WILL BE HOME
SOON FROM TOUR.

DID SHE DIE LAST NIGHT?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHEN?
AND SHE SAID "LAST NIGHT."

WHO ALMOST DIED?
YEAH, ME.

I'M ASSUMING YOU CAN'T TALK,
SO I SAID,

"IF YOU REALLY FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE IN DANGER,

TELL ME AND I'LL CALL POLICE."
AND SHE SAID, "YES."

Are you in danger?
OH, YEAH, UH-HUH.

AND SO I GUESS HE GOT UP
TO GO TO THE KITCHEN.

Please.
He's really gonna kill me.

HE'S GOT A KNIFE.
HE STABBED ME.

AND SHE TOLD ME THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE TRIED TO KILL HER,

THAT HE STABBED HER.

NOW, I'M CALLING THE POLICE,
CHARLENE.

Narrator: PAMELA STAYS
ON THE CELLPHONE WITH HER SISTER

AND CALLS THE POLICE
FROM A LANDLINE.

I NEED AN OFFICER
TO 2224...

I NEEDED TO STAY ON THE PHONE
WITH HER

BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID
FOR THE POLICE TO COME

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

HER HUSBAND
IS TRYING TO KILL HER.

[ SIREN WAILING,
POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Narrator: MINUTES LATER,
CHARLENE HEARS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

IT'S THE POLICE.

Charlene:
HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW,

AND HE WAS LIKE,
"PUT THE PHONE DOWN.

GET DOWN. GET DOWN.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING."

SOMEBODY CALLED THE COPS.
PUT THE PHONE DOWN.

Narrator: SUDDENLY, THE KNOCKING
STOPS, AND THE HOUSE IS DEAD SILENT.

[ WHIMPERS ]
Shh!

Officer: DISPATCH, WE'RE NOT GETTING
ANY RESPONSE AT THE RESIDENCE.

SHE CAN'T ANSWER THE DOOR.

JUST KICK THE DOOR IN.

SHE'S THERE.
I PROMISE SHE'S IN THERE.

[ MUFFLED SOBBING ]

I'M COMING IN!

HELP!

MA'AM, DO YOU HAVE A WEAPON?
NO.

Charlene: AT THAT POINT,
I'M IN SHOCK BUT I'M HAPPY.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS HOUSE
WITH HIM,

AND I'VE BEEN TORTURED
AND I'VE BEEN BEAT

AND I'VE BEEN STABBED.

SO I'M HAPPY
BECAUSE NOW I'M AWAY FROM HIM.

DON'T MOVE.

Narrator:
POLICE ARREST PAUL ON THE SPOT.

FREEZE!
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
CUFF HIM.

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL.
SHE STABBED ME.

LOOK, I - SHE -

BASED ON CHARLENE'S ACCUSATIONS,
HE'S CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING,

ASSAULT, DOMESTIC ASSAULT
BY STRANGULATION,

AND CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT.

SHE STABBED ME TWICE.

Pamela: I DO STILL BELIEVE
HAD SHE NOT CALLED ME

OR HAD THE POLICE NOT COME,
HE WAS GOING TO FINISH THE JOB.

HE WAS GOING TO KILL HER
AND PROBABLY KILL HIMSELF.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: CHARLENE'S TAKEN
TO THE HOSPITAL,

WHERE SHE'S TREATED FOR
THE STAB- AND-PUNCTURE WOUNDS.

JUST BECAUSE
POLICE HAVE ARRESTED PAUL,

THE OUTCOME TO THIS CASE
IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

IT WAS A DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE CASE

IN WHICH BOTH OF THEM
SUFFERED STAB WOUNDS,

THERE WERE NO WITNESSES, IT ALL
HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

AND THIS MEANS
A HE-SAID/SHE-SAID SITUATION.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO A JURY

TO DECIDE
WHICH ONE OF THEM THEY BELIEVE.

Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2012,
THE CASE GOES TO TRIAL

AND PAUL IS LOOKING
AT 20 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

I'M A MARRIED PERSON.
BUT HIS TESTIMONY

PAINTS A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE
OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

HE SAID HE NEVER ASSAULTED HER,
HE NEVER BEAT HER,

HE NEVER TRIED TO STRANGLE HER.

THEY HAVE PLANS TO GO OUT

AND THEY'RE LYING ON THE COUCH
TOGETHER.

THEY DECIDE TO HAVE SEX.

SHE KIND OF FLIPPED ON ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED.

AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN

SHE TAKES THIS KNIFE
AND STARTS STABBING HIM.

CHARLENE ATTACKED ME FIRST.

GOT ME A PEARL NECKLACE.

Narrator: PAUL ALSO INSISTS
HE NEVER WANTED TO KILL CHARLENE

OR HOLD HER HOSTAGE
AT ANY POINT.

HE SAID, "NO, I DID NOT HAVE
A DEATH WISH.

I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. I WANTED
THIS MARRIAGE TO CONTINUE."

I REALLY BELIEVED THAT SHE
WAS PLOTTING BEHIND MY BACK.

PAUL'S SIDE OF THE STORY IS

THAT HIS WIFE WAS THIS VERY
VINDICTIVE, MANIPULATIVE WOMAN.

SHE MADE UP THIS ELABORATE STORY

SO THAT SHE COULD GO BE
WITH HER SOLDIER BOYFRIEND.

Narrator: IN THE END,
PAUL IS FOUND NOT GUILTY

AND ACQUITTED BY A JURY
OF ALL CHARGES.

[ GAVEL BANGS ]

Emily G.: I WAS REALLY SURPRISED
AT THE VERDICT.

THE DEFENSE DID A GOOD JOB
OF POKING HOLES IN HER ARGUMENT

AND OF PAINTING HIM
AS THE GUY TO BELIEVE.

Charlene:
JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVED AT ALL.

HE WALKED AWAY SCOT-FREE,

AND IT'S ALMOST
LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED,

BUT I HAVE TO WEAR THE SCARS
THAT HE PUT ON ME.

WE BELIEVE YOU.
YOUR FAMILY BELIEVES YOU.

Narrator: TODAY, CHARLENE
HAS PUT THE PAST BEHIND HER.

SHE'S LEFT THE MILITARY
AND IS PURSUING HER DREAM

OF GETTING A COLLEGE DEGREE
IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT.

I DON'T SEE MYSELF AS A VICTIM.

I SEE MYSELF AS A SURVIVOR,
AND THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.