Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 7 - Mama's Little Princess - full transcript
Nicole Taylor is a spoiled princess never learned how to be independent. Spending a lifetime abusing drugs and chasing bad boys, she falls head over heels for Freddie. Her obsession with Freddie turns a lover's quarrel into a violent ending.
Narrator:
A SUBURBAN PRINCESS
FINDS HERSELF
TOSSED OUT OF HER CASTLE.
I WENT FROM PRINCESS
TO LIVING IN SOMEONE'S GARAGE.
Narrator: SHE THINKS
TRUE LOVE CAN SAVE HER.
Nicole: I GUESS I HAVE, LIKE,
AN OBSESSIVE PERSONALITY.
WHEN I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
NO!
Narrator: BUT WHEN THE MAN OF
HER DREAMS BETRAYS HER TRUST...
I SLEPT
WITH FOUR DIFFERENT WOMEN.
AND THEN I WENT BACK
AND TOLD HER I DID.
I LIKED IT!
YOU BELONG TO ME.
Narrator: ...IT UNLEASHES
A SAVAGE JEALOUSY...
SHE WOULD NONSTOP HARASS HIM.
BASH YOUR SKULL IN.
Narrator:
...THAT SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL.
HIS BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HER.
HER BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HIM.
[ 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
NICOLE TAYLOR
HAD AN IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD.
SHE GREW UP IN AN
UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD
IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA,
THE DAUGHTER OF POLICE OFFICER
AND A HAIRDRESSER.
WHEN SHE WAS A BABY, HER PARENTS
CAME INTO A LARGE INHERITANCE,
AND THEY USE IT TO MAKE
A GOOD LIFE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER.
Nicole:
I NEVER WANTED FOR NOTHING.
VACATIONS, NICE HOUSES,
NEW FURNITURE ALL THE TIME.
OH, MY GOD,
MY CHRISTMASES WERE OUTRAGEOUS.
SO, MOM, I WENT TO THE MALL
THE OTHER DAY,
AND I GOT THIS HEADBAND.
DO YOU LIKE IT?
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO NICOLE,
HER MOM, SHELLY,
IS WARM AND CARING.
BUT HER FATHER IS A COLD,
STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING GOING ON
IN THE KITCHEN.
COME ON.
Nicole:
I DIDN'T LIKE MY DAD.
MY DAD TREATED MY MOM BAD.
HE BOUGHT HER
EVERYTHING SHE WANTED,
"BUT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE
A BRAND-NEW CAR OR A NEW HOUSE,
THEN I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU
LIKE YOU'RE A PIECE OF CRAP."
Narrator:
LUCKILY FOR NICOLE...
HAVING TROUBLE
WITH YOUR HOMEWORK?
...HER MOM CATERS TO HER EVERY
NEED AND SPOILS HER ROTTEN.
LET ME SEE HERE.
Nicole:
I LOVED MY MOM SO MUCH.
I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE, LIKE,
BEING AWAY FROM HER
WHEN I WAS LITTLE.
MY MOM DID MY HOMEWORK FOR ME.
BUT MY MOM ONLY WANTED
WHAT WAS BEST FOR ME.
SHE WANTED ME TO BE OKAY.
SHE WANTED ME TO BE HAPPY.
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT MY DAD
TO BE MAD.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE TERM
"HELICOPTER PARENT"?
THEY, LIKE,
HOVER OVER THEIR CHILDREN
AND JUST KIND OF
TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.
WAS THAT YOUR MOM?
TIMES 10.
TIMES 10.
Narrator:
INSTEAD OF SCHOOLWORK,
NICOLE SPENDS HER TIME
HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS.
TELL ME
HOW YOU MET PETER.
I MEAN, YOU KNEW HIM
BY REPUTATION AROUND THE SCHOOL.
OH, MY GOD, HE WAS SO POPULAR.
ALL THE GIRLS LOVED HIM.
I MEAN, HE WAS,
LIKE, THE COOL KID.
Girl: HEY, PETER.
HEY.
THIS IS MY FRIEND
NICOLE.
HEY, NICOLE.
HI.
IN SCHOOL, I WAS A NERD.
I WAS VERY SHY, VERY QUIET.
I KNOW YOU.
YOU DO?
YEAH.
Narrator: NICOLE CAN'T BELIEVE
THEY'RE TALKING
TO THE MOST POPULAR BOY
ON CAMPUS.
Dr. Jordan:
INSTANT CHEMISTRY?
YES.
MY LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
WE SHOULD HANG OUT
SOMETIME.
Girl: ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU AROUND.
COME ON, NICOLE.
BYE.
BYE, PETER.
Narrator: LATER THAT WEEK,
PETER INVITES NICOLE
OVER TO HIS PARENTS' HOUSE.
I LOVE THIS RECORD.
YEAH, IT'S GOOD.
THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING
VERY SPECIAL WHEN I GOT HIM.
I WAS LIKE [SQUEALS]
HE WAS MY VERY FIRST BOYFRIEND,
AND HE MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL.
HE MADE ME FEEL COOL.
I'LL NEVER LOVE ANYBODY
LIKE THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S FUN HANGING OUT WITH YOU.
YEAH.
Narrator:
BUT INNOCENT NICOLE
QUICKLY REALIZES
SHE'S LANDED A BAD BOY.
Nicole: I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT HE HAD THIS WHOLE LIFE
OUTSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL.
HE WAS DOING THINGS
THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
EXISTED IN THE WORLD.
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA.
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT COKE.
IS THAT COCAINE?
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT NOTHING.
YEAH.
YOU EVER TRIED IT?
WELL, I JUST...
YOU KNOW, NEVER HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO, SO...
I LIVED A SUGAR-COATED,
FAIRY-TALE WORLD.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
NICOLE'S VERY PROTECTED
AND CONTROLLED UPBRINGING
PROVIDES A CLASSIC EXAMPLE
OF THE SLINGSHOT EFFECT.
THE FURTHER
THAT HER PARENTS PULL HER
IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING GOOD,
WHEN SHE FINALLY GETS TO
THE POINT WHERE SHE'S RELEASED,
THE FURTHER SHE FLIES
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
AND IN NICOLE'S CASE, SHE'S
REALLY GOING TO BE A REBEL.
Narrator:
LIKE NICOLE, PETER IS ONLY 15.
BUT HE'S ALREADY USING
AND DEALING DRUGS
AND STEALING WHATEVER HE CAN
TO BUY MORE.
HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, JUST -
JUST SNORT IT.
[ SNIFFS ] OW.
IT BURNS.
IT'LL FEEL BETTER
IN A SECOND.
Dr. Jordan:
SO, WHEN YOU MET PETER,
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE A LITTLE
BIT OF A BABE IN THE WOODS.
I FELL VICTIM TO HIS COOLNESS,
TO EVERYTHING.
I CAN'T -
I CAN'T FEEL MY TEETH.
I WANTED TO BE
IN HIS PRESENCE.
AND I WAS MAKING
ALL THE BAD DECISIONS
JUST SO I COULD
BE AROUND HIM.
HE WAS, LIKE, THAT COOL.
WITHIN MONTHS,
NICOLE IS SKIPPING SCHOOL,
AND THE DRUG USE
HAS BECOME A CONSTANT.
IT NOT ONLY BONDS
THE YOUNG LOVERS TOGETHER,
IT ALSO LEADS TO NASTY FIGHTS.
IT WAS A TWO-WAY STREET.
I WAS JUST AS CRAZY AS HE WAS.
WE FOUGHT A LOT,
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE FIGHTS,
THEN YOU HAVE THE MAKEUP.
I THRIVED ON THE MAKEUPS.
I JUST WANTED HIM TO WANT ME
SO BAD.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED IN LIFE
WAS TO BE WANTED.
Dr. Jordan:
BECAUSE NICOLE'S MOTHER
WAS SO PASSIVE AND SUBMISSIVE
AND HER FATHER SO STRUCTURED
AND CONTROLLING,
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DRAMA
ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE.
SO NOW NICOLE EQUATES THESE
FIGHTS FOLLOWED BY MAKING UP
WITH PASSION AND TRUE LOVE.
SHE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO HOLD ON TO THAT FEELING.
Nicole: HEY, PETER,
HAVE YOU SEEN MY PURSE?
Narrator:
DESPITE THE ROCKY RELATIONSHIP,
NICOLE AND PETER MANAGE TO SPEND
THE NEXT THREE YEARS TOGETHER.
THEN IN JUNE 1991, SHE MAKES
AN UPSETTING DISCOVERY.
Nicole: I FOUND A PAIR OF GIRLS'
UNDERWEAR IN HIS BEDROOM.
AND THESE WEREN'T MINE.
PETER.
WHOSE ARE THESE?
THOSE ARE MY SISTER'S.
OH, YEAH, RIGHT.
Narrator:
NICOLE CONFRONTS HER BOYFRIEND,
BUT THIS TIME, SHE GOES TOO FAR.
I SMACKED HIM.
THEN, FINALLY, HE HAD ENOUGH.
Narrator:
PETER IS SEEING RED,
AND HE'S GOING TO TEACH HER
A LESSON SHE'LL NEVER FORGET.
Narrator:
18-YEAR-OLD NICOLE TAYLOR
HAS BEEN DATING HER DRUG-DEALER
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART
FOR THREE YEARS.
WHEN SHE ACCUSES HIM
OF SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER WOMAN,
PETER FLIES INTO A RAGE.
AAH!
HE GRABBED ME BY MY HAIR,
AND HE BEAT MY HEAD
INTO THE HOOD OF MY CAR.
LOOK WHAT YOU
MADE ME DO!
[ SOBBING ]
WHY'D YOU
MAKE ME DO THAT?!
Rowbottom: NICOLE AND PETER
GETTING TOGETHER
WAS A BIG MISTAKE.
THEY BOTH HAVE TENDENCIES
TO BE VIOLENT,
AND PETER WASN'T ABLE
TO BE FAITHFUL TO HER.
IT WAS JUST HEARTBREAK
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
[ SOBS ]
Narrator:
NICOLE'S HURT SO BADLY,
SHE WINDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS.
Narrator: BUT SHE LIES ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO PROTECT PETER.
MY MOM NEVER REALLY BELIEVED IT,
BUT I STUCK TO IT.
WOULD YOU GIVE ME A FEW MOMENTS
ALONE WITH NICOLE?
THANK YOU.
Narrator:
THE DOCTOR DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
ARE YOU SURE?
SHE'S PREGNANT.
BEFORE SHE'S EVEN PROCESSED
WHAT THE DOCTOR JUST SAID,
PETER SHOWS UP TO APOLOGIZE.
LOOK, I-I-I -
I'M SORRY.
PETER, I HAVE TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I'M PREGNANT.
WHAT?
WHAT WAS
PETER'S REACTION?
"IT AIN'T MINE."
THAT IS NOT MY BABY.
HE WAS NOT READY TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR A FAMILY AT ALL.
Narrator: IT'S CLEAR SHE CAN'T
COUNT ON PETER FOR HELP.
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?
SO NICOLE RELUCTANTLY
TELLS HER PARENTS.
GOD.
HE DAD IS FURIOUS.
NORM. NORM, STOP. STOP IT.
I AM GONNA KILL THAT KID.
BUT AS ALWAYS,
HER MOM IS THERE FOR HER.
Nicole: [ Voice breaking ]
MY MOM MADE EVERYTHING OKAY.
MY MOM TOOK CARE OF ME.
OKAY.
[ BABY COOS ]
Narrator: NICOLE STAYS CLEAN
AND SOBER AND, IN JUNE 1992,
GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL
SHE NAMES STEPHANIE.
Dr. Jordan:
SO, YOUR DAUGHTER IS BORN -
YOUR PREFECT, PRECIOUS DAUGHTER,
STEPHANIE.
BEAUTIFUL.
[ SNIFFLES ]
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
SHE WAS SO LITTLE.
IS THAT OKAY?
MY PARENTS TOOK CARE OF ME
SO WELL.
I NEVER PAID A BILL.
MY MOM DID EVERYTHING
FOR ME.
Narrator: HER PARENTS
EVEN RENT AN APARTMENT
FOR HER TO LIVE IN
WITH THE BABY.
Dr. Jordan: THE WORST THING
THAT NICOLE'S PARENTS CAN DO
FOR HER AND THEIR GRANDCHILD
IS TRY TO TAKE CARE
OF EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
HELICOPTER PARENTS THINK THAT BY
TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN,
THEY'RE SAVING THEM
FROM THE HASSLES
OF DOING EVERYTHING THEMSELVES.
BUT, IN FACT, OVERPARENTING
ACTUALLY DOES
THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
IT SENDS CHILDREN A MESSAGE
THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ON THEIR OWN.
Narrator: WHEN PETER SHOWS UP
TO MEET HIS DAUGHTER...
THIS IS A NICE PLACE.
...HE SEES THE SWEET SETUP...
SHE'S SO SMALL.
...AND DECIDES TO STAY.
IT SEEMS KIND OF WEIRD
YOU GUYS ARE HERE ALL ALONE.
MAYBE I SHOULD
STAY THE NIGHT.
PETER MOVES IN.
BUT HE'S STILL USING DRUGS,
AND LIVING WITH HIM
BRINGS BACK NICOLE'S CRAVINGS
WITH A VENGEANCE.
YOU WANT SOME?
[ SIGHS ]
NO.
I SHOULDN'T.
ALL RIGHT.
WHATEVER.
Nicole: I REMEMBER THE DAY I
BROUGHT HER HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,
I WAS LIKE,
"I WANT TO DO DRUGS."
Narrator:
SHE GIVES IN TO THE TEMPTATION.
[ SNIFFS,
EXHALES SHARPLY ]
BUT AS THE MONTHS PASS,
NICOLE REALIZES HER LIFESTYLE
IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.
Nicole: I REMEMBER HIM
GETTING ME SO HIGH
THAT I COULDN'T EVEN SEE MY
DAUGHTER SITTING ON THE GROUND.
AND I WAS SCARED BECAUSE
I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HER.
AND I KNEW THAT
THAT WASN'T RIGHT.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPING ]
SHELLY: Hello?
HI, MOM.
Narrator: NICOLE REACHES OUT
TO HER PARENTS...
PETER'S TAKING DRUGS,
AND...
...WHO HELP KICK PETER
TO THE CURB.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPS ]
BUT NICOLE'S ATTEMPT AT A
FRESH START QUICKLY GOES STALE,
AND SHE SOON GETS THE NUMBER
OF A DRUG DEALER FROM A FRIEND.
HEY, MATT, IT'S, UH, NICOLE,
JASON'S FRIEND.
HEY.
NICOLE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
I'M MATT,
JASON'S FRIEND.
Narrator: WHEN MATT ARRIVES,
HE BRINGS HER DRUGS,
ALONG WITH HIS GOOD LOOKS.
YOU WANT TO DO A HIT?
SURE.
ALL RIGHT.
HIS EYES, HIS SMILE -
HIS SMILE WOULD LIGHT UP A ROOM.
THAT'S A LITTLE DUMP
FOR YOU.
HE HAD CHARISMA.
YOU GOT A BABY, HUH?
SO, WHERE'S DADDY?
[ CHUCKLES ]
DADDY'S
OUT OF THE PICTURE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
THE ATTRACTION IS MUTUAL,
AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS,
MATT MOVES IN.
ONCE AGAIN, NICOLE FALLS HARD.
Nicole: I NEVER LOVED ANYBODY
AS MUCH AS I LOVED HIM.
I WAS PSYCHO IN LOVE.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT NOTHING
BUT HIM.
I GUESS I HAVE, LIKE,
AN OBSESSIVE PERSONALITY.
WHEN I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
I DON'T KNOW MYSELF
UNLESS I'M WITH YOU.
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,
NICOLE, MATT, AND STEPHANIE
LIVE AS A FAMILY.
IN FACT, MATT TREATS STEPHANIE,
WHO IS NOW 7 YEARS OLD,
LIKE HIS OWN.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA RIDE
TO MOMMY.
BUT I'LL HOLD ON TO YOU
THE WHOLE TIME.
HE LOVED HER, AND HE TOOK CARE
OF HER, AND SHE ADORED HIM.
ARE YOU READY?
YEAH.
ON THE COUNT OF THREE.
SHE'S SO CUTE.
I KNOW.
Narrator: NICOLE EVEN TELLS HER
THAT MATT'S HER FATHER.
OKAY,
START PEDALING.
YEAH, HE WAS MY DAD, SO I DIDN'T
KNOW ANYTHING ELSE BUT HIM.
YOU GOT IT!
STEER!
HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.
YOU GOT IT!
YOU GOT IT!
I WAS DADDY'S GIRL.
WATCH OUT, MOMMY!
WATCH OUT! AAH!
Narrator: TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT.
WANT TO HAVE
A TEA PARTY?
ARE YOU PLAYING WITH TEDDY?
YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT TEDDY WOULD
PROBABLY WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW?
WHAT?
MAKE A FORT IN THE BEDROOM.
GO MAKE A FORT.
WE'LL COME IN AND LOOK AT IT.
OKAY.
OKAY.
BUT IN PRIVATE,
THE COUPLE CAN'T GET THROUGH A
SINGLE DAY WITHOUT GETTING HIGH.
HELLO.
ANYBODY HOME?
Dr. Jordan:
WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS THINK?
DID THEY KNOW ABOUT ALL
THE DRUG DEALING AND DRUG USE
THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE
APARTMENT THEY SET YOU UP IN?
MY MOM NEVER SMOKED CIGARETTES.
MY MOM DIDN'T DRINK.
HI, MOM.
MY MOM WAS LIKE
JUNE CLEAVER.
GOOD.
Shelly: WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?
Nicole: I HID IT SO VERY WELL
THAT NOBODY KNEW.
COLD LEMONADE.
Stephanie: GRANDMA!
Shelly: HI, PRINCESS.
Nicole:
NOBODY KNEW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
THERE WAS NO SIGNS.
Narrator: BUT AFTER
NEARLY SEVEN YEARS TOGETHER,
MATT STARTS STAYING OUT
LATER AND LATER.
ONE NIGHT, NICOLE'S WAITING UP
FOR HIM WHEN THE PHONE RINGS.
Nicole: I GOT A PHONE CALL, AND
IT WAS FROM THIS GIRL'S HUSBAND.
HE WAS SO FRANTIC.
AND HE TOLD ME,
"I JUST CAUGHT YOUR MAN."
SHE WAS DOING THINGS TO HIM
WHEN HER MAN WALKED IN.
Narrator: WHEN MATT COMES HOME,
NICOLE WANTS ANSWERS.
WHERE YOU BEEN?
I HAD A COUPLE CUSTOMERS.
YOU KNOW THAT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WELL,
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE.
MATT IS CAUGHT RED-HANDED.
HE HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO ADMIT TO THE AFFAIR.
I JUST -
IT JUST HAPPENED, OKAY?
Nicole:
MY WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN.
IT WAS, LIKE,
WORSE THAN ANYTHING
I'VE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE.
LIKE, MY LEGS GOT WEAK.
I JUST CRUMBLED WITHIN MYSELF.
LOOK, I'M JUST GONNA SLEEP
ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.
Narrator:
A WEEK LATER, MATT MOVES OUT.
NICOLE IS DEVASTATED AND COPES
THE ONLY WAY SHE KNOWS HOW -
THROUGH A DANGEROUS COMBINATION
OF COCAINE AND ALCOHOL,
WHICH DOESN'T DO MUCH
FOR HER PARENTING SKILLS.
STEPHANIE,
COME IN HERE!
STEPHANIE!
Dr. Jordan:
IT MAY SEEM UNFATHOMABLE
THAT NICOLE WOULD CHOSE DRUGS
OVER HER OWN DAUGHTER,
BUT ANY DRUG ADDICT
WILL TELL YOU
THAT A NON-USER
CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND.
THE PULL OF ADDICTION
WILL ALWAYS TRUMP
GOOD DECISION-MAKING.
WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGS,
ALL LOGIC GETS THROWN
OUT THE WINDOW.
Stephanie:
ALL SHE WOULD DO IS CRY.
IS HE EVER COMING HOME?
[ Voice breaking ] NO.
I REMEMBER MY MOM TELLING ME
THAT MATT CHEATED ON HER
AND MATT'S NOT MY REAL DAD.
HE'S NOT EVEN
YOUR REAL FATHER.
YOU'RE LYING!
Narrator: STEPHANIE IS OFTEN
LEFT TO FEND FOR HERSELF.
SHE WAS VERY INDEPENDENT AT A
YOUNG AGE 'CAUSE I WAS ON DRUGS.
BYE, MOM.
Stephanie: MY MOM WASN'T REALLY
THERE FOR ME.
SHE NEVER TOOK ME TO SCHOOL
OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.
MY GRANDMA TOOK ME TO SCHOOL.
MOM?
I CALLED MY GRANDMA "MOM."
Narrator: ONE MORNING,
NICOLE WAKES UP FROM A STUPOR
AND REALIZES SHE'S BEEN OUT COLD
FOR 24 HOURS.
SHE KNOWS SHE'S HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
Nicole: HEY, BABY.
HI, MOMMY.
GO IN THE KITCHEN.
I'LL BE THERE IN A SECOND.
OKAY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
HI, MOM.
Nicole: I SAID,
"MOM, I'M ADDICTED TO DRUGS.
AND I NEED HELP."
Narrator: AFTER YEARS
OF NICOLE HIDING HER SECRET,
SHELLY FINALLY KNOWS THE TRUTH.
AND SHE SAYS,
"I'LL BE RIGHT OVER."
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Narrator:
SHELLY TAKES IT UPON HERSELF
TO GET HER DAUGHTER CLEAN.
MY MOM DIDN'T QUESTION ME.
MY MOM DIDN'T JUDGE ME.
IF ANYTHING,
MY MOM JUDGED HERSELF
FOR NOT KNOWING
THAT I HAD SUCH A PROBLEM.
SHE JUST WAS THERE
TO MAKE IT ALL BETTER FOR ME.
Narrator: SHELLY ALSO TRIES
TO PATCH THINGS UP
BETWEEN NICOLE AND HER FATHER.
SHE'S LIKE, "YOU NEED TO
GET ALONG WITH YOUR DAD."
BUT, MOM, DAD'S A JERK.
I'M LIKE, "WHATEVER."
AND SHE'S LIKE, "HE LOVES YOU.
NO MATTER IF YOU KNOW IT OR NOT,
HE LOVES YOU."
YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER.
YEAH.
Narrator: NICOLE'S MOTHER
HAS BEEN THE PILLAR OF STRENGTH
THAT HAS HELPED NICOLE BOUNCE
BACK FROM ABUSE AND ADDICTION.
BUT NOW THAT PILLAR OF STRENGTH
IS ABOUT TO SHATTER,
AND NICOLE'S ADDICTION
WILL TAKE HER TO NEW LOWS
SHE COULD NEVER IMAGINE.
Nicole: I JUST REMEMBER
MY MOM TELLING ME,
"YOU NEED TO START DOING THINGS
FOR YOURSELF."
I'M LIKE,
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
I HAVE SOMETHING
THAT I NEED TO TELL YOU.
Narrator: AFTER GOING ON A DRUG
BINGE FOLLOWING A BAD BREAKUP,
NICOLE TAYLOR
IS FINALLY CLEAN AND SOBER.
BUT HER MOTHER IS ABOUT TO
REVEAL SOME HEARTBREAKING NEWS.
Shelly: [ SNIFFLES ]
I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH CANCER.
NICOLE IS DEVASTATED TO LEARN
THAT HER MOTHER
HAS STAGE IV LIVER CANCER
AND HAS BEEN TOLD SHE ONLY HAS
A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE.
[ CRYING ]
Nicole: THEY SAID SHE HAD
LESIONS ON THE LIVER.
I'M LIKE, "ON HER LIVER?"
MY MOM DIDN'T DRINK.
MY MOM DIDN'T SMOKE.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Narrator: SUDDENLY,
THE ROLES ARE REVERSED,
AND NICOLE THROWS ALL HER ENERGY
INTO BEING HER MOTHER'S
PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
THANKS.
MY MOM WAS ALWAYS
AT THE HOSPITAL.
SHE WAS ALWAYS AT THE HOSPITAL.
LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING
WE CAN DO FOR YOU.
Narrator: JUST A MONTH LATER,
NICOLE'S MOM IS ON HER DEATHBED.
Nicole: I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS
HOLDING ON FOR SOMETHING,
AND I TOLD HER THAT ME
AND MY DAUGHTER WOULD BE OKAY,
AND I PROMISED HER
THAT I WOULD BE OKAY,
IT WOULD BE OKAY.
Stephanie:
I REMEMBER ABOUT MY GRANDMA
SHE WAS THE BEST PERSON
IN THE WORLD.
I LOVE YOU, PRINCESS.
[ FLATLINE ]
MY MOM WAS HOLDING MY GRANDMA'S
HAND WHEN MY GRANDMA DIED.
AND, LIKE,
SHE SAID SHE HAD TO, LIKE,
PRY HER FINGERS OFF OF HER
AFTER SHE DIED.
Rowbottom: NICOLE TOOK THE DEATH
REALLY HARD.
SHE WAS CLOSE WITH HER MOM.
SHE HAD THINGS
THAT SHE WANTED TO STILL,
YOU KNOW, PROVE TO HER MOM,
AND SHE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO DO THAT.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: A FEW WEEKS
AFTER HER MOTHER'S DEATH,
NICOLE GOES TO HER PARENTS' HOME
TO CHECK ON HER FATHER
AND MAKES A SHOCKING DISCOVERY.
HI.
NICOLE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
I'M DIANE.
IT'S NICE
TO FINALLY MEET YOU.
I'M SORRY.
WHO ARE YOU?
HEY, NICOLE.
I SEE YOU'VE MET
YOUR NEW STEPMOM.
YES, WE HAVE.
HONEY, I'M GONNA
LET YOU GUYS TALK, OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH.
OKAY.
I'M LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK?"
JUST DUMBFOUNDED.
DAD!
Narrator: SHE LEARNS
THAT HER DAD MET DIANE,
HIS NEW, YOUNG WIFE, AT WORK
WHILE HER MOTHER WAS SICK.
SO, MY MOM AND DAD WERE TOGETHER
FOR 28 YEARS,
THEN MY MOM DIES,
AND HE MARRIES SOME BROAD
AND DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME
OR INVITE ME TO THE WEDDING.
[ SNIFFLES ]
ARE YOU FLIPPING SERIOUS?
NICOLE!
Narrator:
TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY...
HEY, DAD.
IT'S ME - NICOLE.
...NICOLE SOON DISCOVERS
HER FATHER AND NEW STEPMOTHER
ARE CUTTING HER OFF FINANCIALLY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY
OR ANYTHING.
Nicole:
EVERY CHECK BOUNCED.
AND REMEMBER, I WAS A PRINCESS.
THEY TOOK MY CAR.
THEY TOOK MY HOUSE.
SO, I'M STANDING OUTSIDE,
AND I'M CALLING MY DAD.
I'M LIKE,
"DAD, I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO."
Narrator: NICOLE'S PARENTS' HOME
WAS ALWAYS HER LAST REFUGE.
BUT NOW THAT REFUGE
WILL BE NO MORE.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
NICOLE'S FATHER IS SELLING THE
HOUSE AND MOVING OUT OF STATE.
MOMMY, CAN'T WE GO HOME?
NO, WE CAN'T.
HE'LL PAY FOR ONE MORE MONTH
OF NICOLE'S RENT,
BUT AFTER THAT,
SHE'S ON HER OWN.
NICOLE'S MOTHER
WAS HER ENTIRE WORLD.
AND NOW THAT HER MOM HAS DIED
AND HER DAD GOT A NEW WIFE,
SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S LOST
BOTH PARENTS.
SO WHEN HER DAD CUTS OFF
ALL FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
NICOLE REALIZES SHE HAS TO
SINK OR SWIM AND FAST.
Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF RELYING
ON HER PARENTS TO SUPPORT HER,
AT THE AGE OF 27,
NICOLE FINALLY NEEDS TO LEARN
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF
AND HER DAUGHTER.
I REMEMBER GOING TO SLEEP
AT OUR NEW APARTMENT,
LIKE, WITH NO BLANKETS, NO
NOTHING, SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.
COME ON.
LET'S GO
CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.
I WENT FROM PRINCESS TO "WHOA."
Narrator:
NICOLE HAS NEVER HAD A JOB.
AND WITH NO REAL SKILLS,
SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW
HOW TO FIND ONE.
Nicole: I BECAME LOST.
MY MOM DID EVERYTHING FOR ME,
AND THAT RUINED ME,
BECAUSE WHEN MY MOM PASSED AWAY,
I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO DO ANYTHING MYSELF.
Narrator:
NICOLE'S BEEN CLEAN AND SOBER
THROUGH HER MOTHER'S
ILLNESS AND DEATH,
BUT NICOLE'S
NEW LIVING SITUATION
HAS HER SEEKING
AN ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR ESCAPE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
[ SIGHS ]
THAT WAS FUN.
YEAH, THAT WAS.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE AROUND
TOMORROW NIGHT, TOO,
IF YOU WANT
TO PARTY SOME MORE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
SO, HOW DO YOU COPE
WITH THIS?
DRUGS.
ALCOHOL.
HAVING SEX
WITH STRANGERS.
HOW MUCH MORE OF THAT
CAN I GET?
I CAN GET AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AS
LONG AS YOU CAN KEEP PARTYING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OKAY.
JUST BEING CRAZY, OFF THE -
"WHOO-HOO!"
CRAZY.
[ Chuckling ] YEAH.
NOT BE THE MOM THAT I NEED TO BE
FOR MY DAUGHTER.
Stephanie: MY MOM, LIKE -
SHE WENT OFF THE HOOK.
WHEN MY GRANDMA DIED,
I LOST NOT JUST MY GRANDMA,
BUT I LOST MY MOM, AS WELL.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE LEFT.
YOU WANT IT?
YEAH.
Stephanie: MY LIFE BECAME HELL.
I LOST EVERYTHING.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
THANKS, BABE.
LATER, KID.
Stephanie:
I HAD TO BE THE MOM.
TOOK THE KID-NESS OUT OF ME.
Dr. Jordan: NICOLE HAS A LOT
OF CLASSIC ADDICT BEHAVIORS,
LIKE PLAYING THE VICTIM.
EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS
SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER CHOICES.
AND WHILE ADDICTION MAY BE
AN ILLNESS, RECOVERY IS A CHOICE
AND A CHOICE THAT NICOLE
SEEMS UNWILLING TO MAKE.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: NICOLE REALIZES SHE
CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HER DAUGHTER.
SHE CONTACTS HER EX-BOYFRIEND,
MATT...
MATT!
...WHO'S GOTTEN OFF DRUGS
SINCE LEAVING THEM,
AND HE AGREES
TO TAKE STEPHANIE IN.
OKAY.
NICOLE!
I SURVIVED MY WHOLE LIFE
BECAUSE OF EVERYBODY ELSE
THAN MY MOM TAKING CARE OF ME.
YEAH?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I DON'T KNOW.
Nicole: MY DAUGHTER FEELS LIKE
I ABANDONED HER.
MAYBE I DID.
BUT I DID ALL THAT I CAN
AND ALL I KNEW HOW TO DO.
GET IT TOGETHER!
YOU GOT A LITTLE GIRL!
SAD.
Narrator: NICOLE MANAGES
TO SURVIVE AS A NOMAD
FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS...
PUT YOUR STUFF
ANYWHERE.
...SCORING HER DRUGS
AND A PLACE TO CRASH
FROM WHOEVER
SHE'S SLEEPING WITH.
HER DAUGHTER, STEPHANIE,
IS NOW 18 YEARS OLD,
MOSTLY RAISED BY MATT.
SHE NEVER GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL
AND WORKS AT A CLOTHING STORE.
WHILE THEY'VE SEEN EACH OTHER
THROUGH THE YEARS,
IN THE FALL OF 2010,
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER REUNITE.
NICOLE'S FRIEND
GIVES THEM A PLACE TO LIVE,
AND THEY MOVE IN TOGETHER.
I WENT FROM PRINCESS
TO LIVING IN SOMEONE'S GARAGE.
SHE'S STILL A SPOILED PRINCESS,
IN HER EYES.
SHE WEARS HER HIGH HEELS
WITH HER DRESSES
AND CURL HER HAIR, YOU KNOW.
Nicole:
EVEN LIVING IN THE SLUMS
NEVER TAKE THE PRINCESS
OUT OF ME.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I'LL ALWAYS BE
THAT LITTLE STUCK-UP PRINCESS.
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S ONE THING
PRINCESS NICOLE IS STILL
MISSING - HER PRINCE.
THAT ALL CHANGES ONE EVENING
WHEN SHE GOES BAR-HOPPING
WITH A FRIEND.
HEY, CINDY.
OH, HEY! HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT'S UP? HOW ARE YOU?
Narrator: 26-YEAR-OLD FREDDIE
IS 12 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HER.
HI.
FREDDIE.
NICE TO MEET YOU. NICOLE.
Narrator:
AND NICOLE LIKES WHAT SHE SEES.
I'LL LET YOU GUYS,
UH, HANG OUT.
Nicole: HE WAS YOUNG, JUST CUTE
AND INNOCENT AND SWEET.
SO SWEET.
Narrator: NICOLE LEARNS
THAT FREDDIE'S JUST GOTTEN
OUT OF PRISON FOR CAR THEFT,
BUT THAT DOESN'T BOTHER HER.
HE'S TRYING
TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND.
AND, IN FACT, HIS STORY
PULLS ON NICOLE'S HEARTSTRINGS.
THE UPBRINGING THAT HE HAD
WAS VERY, VERY, VERY ROUGH.
[ LAUGHS ]
I WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
Narrator:
NICOLE'S SYMPATHY FOR FREDDIE
QUICKLY TURNS INTO
PURE ANIMAL ATTRACTION.
YOU WANT TO GO BACK
TO MY PLACE?
WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
SHE HAS A FUN PERSONALITY.
KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN.
LOVES TO PARTY.
Narrator: WITHIN DAYS,
FREDDIE MOVES IN WITH NICOLE.
THE ONLY PROBLEM
IS THAT STEPHANIE SHARES
THE SPACE WITH HER MOM.
Stephanie: MY MOM, LIKE,
WAS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR HIM.
IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE IN,
LIKE, TEENAGER LOVE AGAIN.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT
TO BE AROUND THEM
'CAUSE THEY WOULD, LIKE,
JUST CUDDLE IN MY BED AND STUFF.
IT JUST - IT WAS
A REALLY WEIRD, ODD SITUATION.
Narrator: STEPHANIE LEAVES
AND MOVES IN WITH A FRIEND.
ONCE AGAIN, NICOLE HAS CHOSEN
A MAN OVER HER DAUGHTER.
FREDDIE WAS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
FOR YOU.
MM-HMM.
MM-HMM.
HOW WAS HE GONNA FIX YOU,
BEING 12 YEARS YOUNGER?
'CAUSE HE WAS GONNA
LOVE ME FOR ME.
UGLY, SICK,
WAKING UP LOOKING GROSS -
HE LOVED ME,
WHICH I HADN'T FELT -
FOR A LONG TIME.
EVER.
HE JUST MADE ME FEEL
SO GOOD.
I JUST WANTED HIM WITH ME
ALL THE TIME.
IT WAS BLISS.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY
IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
Miller:
SHE CAN BE A SWEETHEART.
SHE CAN BE A GOOD PERSON.
AND I - I DID LOVE HER
FOR A MINUTE.
Narrator: FREDDIE'S LANDED A JOB
FRAMING AND MOUNTING PHOTOS
AT A PHOENIX ART GALLERY
AND IS PAYING ALL THE BILLS.
THIS WHAT YOU BEEN DOING
ALL DAY?
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?
Rowbottom: SHE IS PUTTING HIM
IN A HUSBAND ROLE.
HE WAS FRUSTRATED
WITH HAVING TO HANDLE
ALL THE FINANCIAL SITUATIONS
FOR HER.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING
FOR A JOB.
Miller:
SHE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF ****
SHE WAS BROKE AS A JOKE.
I WORKED.
I HAD A STEADY JOB.
Narrator: FREDDIE'S
ALSO GOT A SECOND "JOB"
TO HELP THEM MAKE ENDS MEET.
I WORK ALL DAY, BUST MY ASS,
GET OFF WORK.
AND THEN I'D SELL POPCORN
AFTER WORK.
I CALL IT POPCORN.
YOU GUYS CALL IT
WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT.
I'D LIKE TO COME HOME
TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN
A JUNKIE ON THE COUCH.
WHAT THE HELL
DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!
WHAT?
NOTHING.
I- I GOT TO GO.
SO GO!
YEAH.
GET - GET HIGH!
KEEP GETTING HIGH!
I WILL.
KEEP DOING IT!
IT'S GREAT!
I WILL!
Narrator: FREDDIE'S BEEN CLEAN
SINCE HE GOT OUT OF PRISON.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S DEALING DRUGS,
HE'S STRUGGLING TO STAY SOBER
AND NOT USE.
Nicole:
I DID DRUGS IN FRONT OF HIM,
NOT KNOWING THAT I WAS
TRIGGERING SOMETHING.
Rowbottom: IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE
INTO NICOLE'S WORLD,
YOU'RE JUST GONNA
GET SUCKED DOWN WITH HER.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT WENT BAD.
LET ME HIT THAT.
I'M TO BLAME FOR EVERYTHING.
Narrator: SOON, THE COUPLE
SPENDS MOST OF THEIR TIME
GETTING HIGH.
Rowbottom:
THAT WAS KIND OF A SHAME
BECAUSE HE SEEMED LIKE A REALLY
GOOD, HARDWORKING PERSON.
Narrator: THE DRUGS
FUEL THE COUPLE'S PASSION.
Miller: WE'D DO DRUGS ALL DAY
AND HAVE SEX.
WHO WOULDN'T LIKE THAT?
I MEAN, SHE BROKE ME OFF
LIKE NO OTHER.
THE AGE DIFFERENCE
WAS RIDICULOUS.
SHE KNEW WHAT THE HELL
SHE WAS DOING IN BED.
Nicole: TALKING TO OTHER GIRLS
ALL THE TIME!
YOU'RE MAKING UP ****
Narrator: BUT EVENTUALLY,
THE DRUGS TAKE A TOLL
ON THE RELATIONSHIP.
YOU'RE MAKING ME CRAZY!
WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO?
JUST GO!
Stephanie:
FREDDIE WAS VERY MEAN
WHEN HE STARTED DOING DRUGS
WITH MY MOM AGAIN.
CRAZY DIFFERENT PERSON.
HE HATED MY MOM.
THEY WEREN'T HAPPY TOGETHER.
THEY ARGUED A LOT.
Narrator: AND NICOLE
STARTS GETTING PARANOID
THAT FREDDIE'S CHEATING ON HER.
Rowbottom: SHE WAS VERY JEALOUS
AND REAL CONTROLLING.
NOBODY COULD TALK TO HIM.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTED
TO BE WITH HIM.
WHY ARE YOU TALKING
TO HER?
SHE'S OUR NEIGHBOR.
Narrator: NICOLE'S LIKE
A TICKING TIME BOMB.
IT WAS JUST DISASTER
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
STOP TALKING
TO OTHER GIRLS!
Narrator: FOR MORE
ON HOW NICOLE'S DOING NOW,
Narrator: NICOLE TAYLOR
HAS BEEN LIVING WITH FREDDIE,
THE LOVE OF HER LIFE,
FOR OVER A YEAR.
BUT SHE'S BECOME CONVINCED
THAT HE'S CHEATING ON HER,
AND SHE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO STOP HIM.
STOP TALKING
TO OTHER GIRLS!
I SEE THE WAY
YOU LOOK AT THEM!
Miller: IT GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I EVENTUALLY TOLD HER,
"LOOK, IF YOU'RE GONNA
ACCUSE ME OF CHEATING ON YOU,
I'M GONNA GO CHEAT ON YOU."
THERE WAS NO TRUST.
I WOULD GET A PHONE CALL
FROM HER EVERY 20, 30 MINUTES.
"WHO ARE YOU WITH?"
[ CELLPHONE BUZZES ]
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
I JUST COULDN'T HANDLE IT
NO MORE.
Dr. Jordan:
NICOLE'S DEPENDANCE ON OTHERS
AND HER PROLONGED DRUG USE
ARE ACTUALLY MAKING HER INSECURE
AND PARANOID.
FREDDIE IS HER EVERYTHING,
HER LOVER, HER SUGAR DADDY,
THE MAN WHO STILL MAKES HER
FEEL LIKE A PRINCESS.
BUT IRONICALLY,
SHE'S DRIVING HIM AWAY.
THE MORE SHE TRIES
TO HOLD ON TO HIM,
THE FURTHER HE WANTS TO RUN.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT,
WHEN FREDDIE DOESN'T
COME HOME FROM WORK,
NICOLE'S INSECURITY
GOES INTO OVERDRIVE.
WHEN HE FINALLY SHOWS UP,
HE CONFIRMS HER DEEPEST FEARS.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!
OUT.
THAT NIGHT, I WENT AND SLEPT
WITH FOUR DIFFERENT WOMEN.
YEAH, I DID IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU KEPT TELLING ME
I WAS GONNA DO IT.
I DID IT.
I ENJOYED EVERY ONE OF THEM.
AND I LIKED IT!
AND THEN I WENT BACK
AND TOLD HER I DID.
Narrator:
BUT HIS CONFESSION BACKFIRES.
I'M SORRY.
NO.
I'M SORRY.
Miller: WHEN I TRIED
TO BREAK UP WITH HER,
SHE WASN'T HAVING IT.
I KNOW YOU LOVE ME!
SHE WOULDN'T LET ME GO.
THAT'S WHEN I REALLY SEEN
HER TRUE PSYCHOTIC SIDE.
NO.
FREDDIE.
GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!
IT'S OVER!
ALL RIGHT?
I DON'T THINK YOU GET IT!
I WANTED HIM TO LOVE ME.
"WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME?"
AND IT WAS SICK.
I KNOW
YOU DON'T MEAN IT!
YOU WERE IN DENIAL.
LIKE, I SWIM THE RIVER
OF DENIAL, OKAY.
I'M ALL DOING LAPS,
OKAY.
FREDDIE!
Narrator: WITHIN A WEEK,
FREDDIE MOVES OUT.
NO!
BUT THE DRAMA DOESN'T END.
HE RENTS A PLACE
IN THE SAME COMPLEX
WHERE NICOLE STILL LIVES.
HEY, PRETTY LADY.
YEAH.
YOU'RE LOOKING REALLY NICE
TODAY.
HE MESSED WITH MY HEAD SO MUCH.
I WAS LIKE A PUPPY.
AND HE'D SEE ME,
BE LIKE, "WANT TO HANG OUT?"
GOT A COUPLE HOURS FREE?
AND I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD,
"HERE'S MY CHANCE
TO GET HIM BACK.
YES, LET'S HANG OUT."
I WAS DISGUSTINGLY PITIFUL.
Narrator:
FREDDIE LETS HER KNOW
THE SEX COMES
WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
Miller:
WE NEVER DID GET BACK TOGETHER.
I MADE IT CLEAR TO HER THAT
I WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.
I WAS GONNA SEE OTHER WOMEN.
SHE DIDN'T ACCEPT THAT.
THAT DIDN'T STOP ME BECAUSE
I'M GONNA COME BACK STRONGER.
Dr. Jordan: NICOLE IS NOT
SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH FREDDIE
AS SHE IS OBSESSED
WITH HAVING HIM.
SO EVEN AFTER THEY BREAK UP,
SHE FINDS SHE CAN'T
KICK HIM OUT OF HER BED,
EVEN WHEN HE COMES CALLING.
SHE THINKS
THAT BY SLEEPING WITH HIM,
IT PROVES THAT SHE STILL
HAS VALUE IN HIS LIFE.
WHEN SHE REALIZES
THIS ISN'T TRUE,
IT COULD LEAD HER
TO HER BREAKING POINT.
Narrator: THE HARDER
FREDDIE PUSHES NICOLE AWAY,
THE MORE SHE WANTS HIM.
SHE WOULD STALK HIM
IN THE APARTMENTS, YOU KNOW.
AND SHE WOULD NONSTOP
HARASS HIM.
BYE, FREDDIE.
Miller:
SHE WOULD HIDE IN THE BUSHES
AND STALK MY FEMALE GUESTS
THAT WOULD LEAVE MY APARTMENT...
HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
...AND BASICALLY APPROACH THEM
WITH A BASEBALL BAT,
TELLING THEM THAT THEY
NEEDED TO STAY AWAY FROM ME.
AND IF THEY WOULDN'T...
I'M GONNA
BASH YOUR SKULL IN.
VERY PSYCHOTIC, IF YOU ASK ME.
THINK I'M KIDDING?
I TRY TO BE MATURE ABOUT THINGS.
THAT'S JUST NOT
HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF.
Narrator:
THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BREAKUP,
NICOLE'S HEADING HOME
FROM THE POOL
WHEN SHE SEES FREDDIE WITH
HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND, APRIL.
YOU'RE SO SWEET.
I SEE HIM WALKING OUT WITH
THAT GIRL, AND I'M LIKE...
Nicole: WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
SO, THEN I START TO GET CRAZY
'CAUSE I'M FEISTY, RIGHT?
I THINK WE GOT
THAT YOU'RE FEISTY.
AND I KIND OF SNAPPED, I GUESS,
IN MY HEAD.
I WAS GONNA WHUP HER BUTT,
OKAY.
YOU BELONG TO ME!
BACK UP.
HE'S WITH ME NOW.
NICOLE!
SHE JUST NUTTED UP.
SHE STARTED YELLING AT ME.
I DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE NO SCENE.
I DON'T NEED THAT DRAMA
IN MY LIFE.
GET IN THE CAR, BABE.
****
ALL I WANTED WAS TO KNOW
WHY HE WOULD NOT LOVE ME.
WHAT DID I DO WRONG
FOR HIM NOT TO LOVE ME?
YEAH, REAL GOOD MAN
YOU GOT THERE!
NICOLE FELT LIKE IF SHE
WASN'T GONNA BE WITH HIM,
NOBODY WAS GOING TO BE WITH HIM.
AND SHE WOULD MAKE SURE OF THAT
BECAUSE HE WAS HERS.
Narrator:
FREDDIE AND APRIL TAKE OFF.
AN HOUR LATER,
NICOLE DECIDES SHE NEEDS A DRINK
AND HEADS TO A LOCAL BAR.
FREDDIE'S HEADING HOME
AFTER DROPPING APRIL OFF.
STILL FURIOUS,
HE SPOTS NICOLE IN HER CAR.
Miller:
AND THAT'S WHEN I LOST IT.
I TOLD HER TO PULL OVER
SO I COULD TALK TO HER.
[ HORN HONKS ]
NICOLE!
Nicole:
SO, HE'S FOLLOWING ME.
AND I'M THINKING, "OKAY."
THAT'S NOT
A COINCIDENCE.
YEAH.
HE HAD AN AGENDA.
BITCH, PULL OVER!
NOW!
WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?!
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S GETTING
REALLY CLOSE TO MY BUMPER.
SO I STARTED FEELING
A LITTLE NERVOUS.
OH, MY GOD.
STOP IT!
YOU PULL THAT **** CAR OVER
RIGHT NOW!
Narrator:
NICOLE PANICS AND PULLS OVER.
HE COMES AROUND
IN FRONT OF ME.
BLOCKS YOU WITH HIS CAR.
YES, YES, YES, YES.
AND JUMPS OUT OF THE CAR,
LIKE, SO FAST.
HE RUNS UP TO MY WINDOW...
****
YOU NEED TO STOP THIS!
...GRABS ME BY MY HAIR...
I LOVE YOU!
NO!
...AND HE'S PUNCHING ME
IN MY FACE AS HARD AS HE CAN.
[ SCREAMING ]
I'M SWALLOWING THE BLOOD.
STOP IT!
AS HE'S PUNCHING ME,
I'M LIKE, "I LOVE YOU.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS
TO ME?"
I THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
I THOUGHT
HE WAS BREAKING MY FACE.
Narrator:
SUDDENLY, NICOLE REMEMBERS
THERE'S A CORKSCREW
IN ARM'S REACH.
AAH!
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator:
39-YEAR-OLD NICOLE TAYLOR
HAS BEEN HARASSING
HER EX-BOYFRIEND, FREDDIE.
YOU BELONG TO ME!
BACK UP.
SHE HAS NO INTENTION
OF EVER LETTING GO.
AFTER SHE THREATENS HIS LATEST
GIRLFRIEND, HE'S HAD ENOUGH.
STOP IT!
AND SO HAS SHE.
[ SCREAMS ]
AAH! AAH!
AND I JUST STARTED STABBING HIM,
STABBING HIM IN THE FACE.
AND I GUESS I STABBED HIM
RIGHT HERE.
AND FINALLY, HE STOPPED.
GOD!
NICOLE, WHAT -
BITCH!
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!
STAY AWAY FROM ME,
NICOLE!
Narrator: FREDDIE JUMPS BACK
IN HIS CAR AND FLOORS IT.
BUT HE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.
Miller:
I WAS VERY COOL, VERY CALM.
I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE,
AND I ASKED HER NICELY
TO LEAVE ME ALONE.
NICOLE -
FREDDIE, I LOVE YOU.
SHE TELLS ME
THAT SHE'S NOT GONNA STOP.
IT'S OVER.
NO!
I DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
LISTEN, NO.
AND THIS IS WHEN I TOLD HER,
"CHECK IT OUT, BITCH.
YOU NEED TO STOP."
JUST STOP
AND LEAVE ME ALONE!
AND I LEANED INTO THE CAR.
AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT STABBED
IN THE HEAD.
AAH! AAH!
I KIND OF HAD TO, LIKE,
BLINK THE BLOOD AWAY
'CAUSE IT WAS STARTING TO GO
IN MY EYES.
THAT'S WHEN I NUTTED UP.
AAH! BITCH!
I SLAPPED THE ****
OUT OF HER.
I KNOCKED HER PRETTY GOOD
UPSIDE HER HEAD.
[ SCOFFS ]
I AIN'T GONNA LIE.
Rowbottom: I GOT TO SAY THAT I
BELIEVE FREDDIE'S VERSION OF IT.
HE'S JUST NOT THE TYPE
THAT WOULD JUST GO UP
AND START WHALING ON SOMEBODY
LIKE THAT.
HE'S NOT VIOLENT.
HE WAS JUST REALLY
AT THE END OF HIS ROPE.
HE HAD BEEN HARASSED
TO THE POINT
OF WHERE HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO WITH HER.
FREDDIE!
[ ENGINE REVS ]
OH!
OH, MY GOD! OH!
HIS BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HER.
HER BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HIM.
Narrator: NICOLE DISCOVERERS
THE CORKSCREW
IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
THE WINE OPENER CLOSED ON HER
PINKY, SO IT, LIKE, CUT IT OFF.
Narrator: NICOLE RUNS INTO
A NEARBY PIZZA PARLOR FOR HELP.
Nicole: I HAD BLOOD ALL OVER ME,
AND I'M HYSTERICAL.
AND MY HAND WAS LIKE THIS.
MA'AM,
WHAT HAPPENED?
Narrator: A CUSTOMER
HELPS NICOLE STOP THE BLEEDING
AND CALLS 911.
TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE,
OKAY?
BY THE TIME NICOLE GETS TO
THE HOSPITAL, SHE'S DELIRIOUS.
Nicole:
I'M, LIKE, FREAKING OUT.
I WAS JUST LIKE,
"CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?"
AND I'M LIKE, "I LOVE HIM."
I KEPT SAYING, "BUT I LOVE HIM.
WHY WOULD HE DO THIS TO ME?"
I SOUND LIKE A PSYCHO.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, FREDDIE,
WHO'S STILL ON PROBATION,
PATCHES UP HIS OWN WOUNDS
AND TRIES TO LAY LOW.
DID YOU KILL FREDDIE?
I WISH I WOULD HAVE.
MAYBE NOT LITERALLY,
BUT I WISH I WOULD HAVE HURT HIM
THE WAY HE HURT ME,
'CAUSE IT'S NOT OKAY.
SO, YOU HURT ME,
I'M GONNA HURT YOU.
IT TAKES DOCTORS SEVEN HOURS
TO REATTACH NICOLE'S FINGER.
[ Echoing ]
CAN YOU HEAR US?
MA'AM?
IN HER POST-SURGERY HAZE,
NICOLE TELLS POLICE
EVERY LAST DETAIL ABOUT FREDDIE,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP, AND THEIR
MOST RECENT VIOLENT INCIDENT.
[ Crying ]
AND HE HIT ME.
I GUESS I SING LIKE A BIRD.
[ GROANS ]
MA'AM, CAN YOU TELL US
WHERE WE CAN FIND -
HE LOVES ME.
MA'AM.
HE LOVES ME.
JUST TAKE IT EASY.
I UNDERSTAND. CAN YOU TELL ME
WHERE I CAN FIND FREDDIE?
Narrator: POLICE BELIEVE
NICOLE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF
AND TAKE FREDDIE INTO CUSTODY.
HE'S CHARGED
WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
AND FACES FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
Dr. Jordan:
IT'S, OF COURSE, VERY HARD
TO SAY WHO'S
TELLING THE TRUTH HERE.
INDEED, IT WAS FREDDIE
WHO APPROACHED HER CAR FIRST.
AND EVEN THOUGH NICOLE SAYS THAT
SHE STABBED HIM IN SELF-DEFENSE,
IT'S ALSO VERY TELLING
THAT SHE SAYS SHE WISHED
SHE HAD KILLED HIM.
TWO YEARS LATER,
HER ANGER IS STILL THAT RAW.
SO THE TRUTH IS PROBABLY
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
I'M THE SCUMBAG 'CAUSE I PUNCHED
HER IN THE FACE REPEATEDLY,
ACCORDING TO HER STORY.
COMPLETE LIE.
WHO THEY GONNA BELIEVE,
HER OR ME?
Narrator:
FREDDIE DOESN'T THINK
ANYONE WILL BELIEVE
HE'S INNOCENT.
HE ACCEPTS A PLEA BARGAIN
FOR A LESSER SENTENCE
AND SPENDS FOUR MONTHS IN JAIL.
Miller:
I DIDN'T DESERVE THAT TIME.
IF ANYTHING, SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN
GETTING TIME FOR STABBING ME.
[ SCREAMS ]
AAH!
Rowbottom:
I THINK IT WAS UNFAIR.
I DON'T THINK THAT
HE WAS DOING ANYTHING MORE
THAN JUST TRYING
TO MAKE HER STOP.
SELF-DEFENSE ON HIS PART,
YOU KNOW.
POOR GUY GOT STABBED.
Narrator:
NICOLE'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY
DON'T BELIEVE
SHE'S COMPLETELY OVER FREDDIE.
I THINK SHE WOULD ALWAYS
IN A MINUTE GO BACK WITH HIM.
I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH FREDDIE.
I'M IN LOVE
WITH WHO FREDDIE WAS,
THAT FREDDIE THAT I HAD
WHEN I WAS HAPPY.
AND I'LL HOLD ON TO THAT
TILL THE DAY I DIE.
Narrator: STEPHANIE FEARS
SHE'LL END UP LIKE HER MOTHER.
AFTER MANAGING TO STAY AWAY
FROM DRUGS MOST OF HER LIFE,
SHE STARTED USING
WHEN SHE WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
NOW SHE'S TRYING TO GET CLEAN.
[ Voice breaking ]
I GREW UP,
AND EVERYBODY SAID I'M GONNA
BE JUST LIKE MY MOM, AND I DID.
[ SNIFFLES ]
BUT...
I WON'T BE LIKE THIS FOREVER.
I'M STILL YOUNG.
AND I STILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT
OF LIFE AHEAD OF ME.
THIS WAY.
I KNOW I'LL BE OKAY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW
IF SHE'LL BE OKAY.
TODAY, NICOLE IS TRYING
TO MOVE ON.
SHE'S LIVING
WITH A NEW BOYFRIEND
AND LEADING A CLEAN
AND SOBER LIFE.
Nicole: THE THINGS THAT I'VE
BEEN THROUGH SINCE I LOST MY MOM
WILL MAKE OR BREAK A PERSON.
AND I'M STILL HERE RIGHT NOW,
AND I KNOW I CAN'T BE BROKE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
A SUBURBAN PRINCESS
FINDS HERSELF
TOSSED OUT OF HER CASTLE.
I WENT FROM PRINCESS
TO LIVING IN SOMEONE'S GARAGE.
Narrator: SHE THINKS
TRUE LOVE CAN SAVE HER.
Nicole: I GUESS I HAVE, LIKE,
AN OBSESSIVE PERSONALITY.
WHEN I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
NO!
Narrator: BUT WHEN THE MAN OF
HER DREAMS BETRAYS HER TRUST...
I SLEPT
WITH FOUR DIFFERENT WOMEN.
AND THEN I WENT BACK
AND TOLD HER I DID.
I LIKED IT!
YOU BELONG TO ME.
Narrator: ...IT UNLEASHES
A SAVAGE JEALOUSY...
SHE WOULD NONSTOP HARASS HIM.
BASH YOUR SKULL IN.
Narrator:
...THAT SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL.
HIS BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HER.
HER BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HIM.
[ 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
NICOLE TAYLOR
HAD AN IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD.
SHE GREW UP IN AN
UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD
IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA,
THE DAUGHTER OF POLICE OFFICER
AND A HAIRDRESSER.
WHEN SHE WAS A BABY, HER PARENTS
CAME INTO A LARGE INHERITANCE,
AND THEY USE IT TO MAKE
A GOOD LIFE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER.
Nicole:
I NEVER WANTED FOR NOTHING.
VACATIONS, NICE HOUSES,
NEW FURNITURE ALL THE TIME.
OH, MY GOD,
MY CHRISTMASES WERE OUTRAGEOUS.
SO, MOM, I WENT TO THE MALL
THE OTHER DAY,
AND I GOT THIS HEADBAND.
DO YOU LIKE IT?
Narrator:
ACCORDING TO NICOLE,
HER MOM, SHELLY,
IS WARM AND CARING.
BUT HER FATHER IS A COLD,
STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING GOING ON
IN THE KITCHEN.
COME ON.
Nicole:
I DIDN'T LIKE MY DAD.
MY DAD TREATED MY MOM BAD.
HE BOUGHT HER
EVERYTHING SHE WANTED,
"BUT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE
A BRAND-NEW CAR OR A NEW HOUSE,
THEN I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU
LIKE YOU'RE A PIECE OF CRAP."
Narrator:
LUCKILY FOR NICOLE...
HAVING TROUBLE
WITH YOUR HOMEWORK?
...HER MOM CATERS TO HER EVERY
NEED AND SPOILS HER ROTTEN.
LET ME SEE HERE.
Nicole:
I LOVED MY MOM SO MUCH.
I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE, LIKE,
BEING AWAY FROM HER
WHEN I WAS LITTLE.
MY MOM DID MY HOMEWORK FOR ME.
BUT MY MOM ONLY WANTED
WHAT WAS BEST FOR ME.
SHE WANTED ME TO BE OKAY.
SHE WANTED ME TO BE HAPPY.
AND SHE DIDN'T WANT MY DAD
TO BE MAD.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE TERM
"HELICOPTER PARENT"?
THEY, LIKE,
HOVER OVER THEIR CHILDREN
AND JUST KIND OF
TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING.
WAS THAT YOUR MOM?
TIMES 10.
TIMES 10.
Narrator:
INSTEAD OF SCHOOLWORK,
NICOLE SPENDS HER TIME
HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS.
TELL ME
HOW YOU MET PETER.
I MEAN, YOU KNEW HIM
BY REPUTATION AROUND THE SCHOOL.
OH, MY GOD, HE WAS SO POPULAR.
ALL THE GIRLS LOVED HIM.
I MEAN, HE WAS,
LIKE, THE COOL KID.
Girl: HEY, PETER.
HEY.
THIS IS MY FRIEND
NICOLE.
HEY, NICOLE.
HI.
IN SCHOOL, I WAS A NERD.
I WAS VERY SHY, VERY QUIET.
I KNOW YOU.
YOU DO?
YEAH.
Narrator: NICOLE CAN'T BELIEVE
THEY'RE TALKING
TO THE MOST POPULAR BOY
ON CAMPUS.
Dr. Jordan:
INSTANT CHEMISTRY?
YES.
MY LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
WE SHOULD HANG OUT
SOMETIME.
Girl: ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU AROUND.
COME ON, NICOLE.
BYE.
BYE, PETER.
Narrator: LATER THAT WEEK,
PETER INVITES NICOLE
OVER TO HIS PARENTS' HOUSE.
I LOVE THIS RECORD.
YEAH, IT'S GOOD.
THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING
VERY SPECIAL WHEN I GOT HIM.
I WAS LIKE [SQUEALS]
HE WAS MY VERY FIRST BOYFRIEND,
AND HE MADE ME FEEL SPECIAL.
HE MADE ME FEEL COOL.
I'LL NEVER LOVE ANYBODY
LIKE THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S FUN HANGING OUT WITH YOU.
YEAH.
Narrator:
BUT INNOCENT NICOLE
QUICKLY REALIZES
SHE'S LANDED A BAD BOY.
Nicole: I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT HE HAD THIS WHOLE LIFE
OUTSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL.
HE WAS DOING THINGS
THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
EXISTED IN THE WORLD.
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA.
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT COKE.
IS THAT COCAINE?
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT NOTHING.
YEAH.
YOU EVER TRIED IT?
WELL, I JUST...
YOU KNOW, NEVER HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO, SO...
I LIVED A SUGAR-COATED,
FAIRY-TALE WORLD.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
NICOLE'S VERY PROTECTED
AND CONTROLLED UPBRINGING
PROVIDES A CLASSIC EXAMPLE
OF THE SLINGSHOT EFFECT.
THE FURTHER
THAT HER PARENTS PULL HER
IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING GOOD,
WHEN SHE FINALLY GETS TO
THE POINT WHERE SHE'S RELEASED,
THE FURTHER SHE FLIES
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
AND IN NICOLE'S CASE, SHE'S
REALLY GOING TO BE A REBEL.
Narrator:
LIKE NICOLE, PETER IS ONLY 15.
BUT HE'S ALREADY USING
AND DEALING DRUGS
AND STEALING WHATEVER HE CAN
TO BUY MORE.
HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, JUST -
JUST SNORT IT.
[ SNIFFS ] OW.
IT BURNS.
IT'LL FEEL BETTER
IN A SECOND.
Dr. Jordan:
SO, WHEN YOU MET PETER,
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE A LITTLE
BIT OF A BABE IN THE WOODS.
I FELL VICTIM TO HIS COOLNESS,
TO EVERYTHING.
I CAN'T -
I CAN'T FEEL MY TEETH.
I WANTED TO BE
IN HIS PRESENCE.
AND I WAS MAKING
ALL THE BAD DECISIONS
JUST SO I COULD
BE AROUND HIM.
HE WAS, LIKE, THAT COOL.
WITHIN MONTHS,
NICOLE IS SKIPPING SCHOOL,
AND THE DRUG USE
HAS BECOME A CONSTANT.
IT NOT ONLY BONDS
THE YOUNG LOVERS TOGETHER,
IT ALSO LEADS TO NASTY FIGHTS.
IT WAS A TWO-WAY STREET.
I WAS JUST AS CRAZY AS HE WAS.
WE FOUGHT A LOT,
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE FIGHTS,
THEN YOU HAVE THE MAKEUP.
I THRIVED ON THE MAKEUPS.
I JUST WANTED HIM TO WANT ME
SO BAD.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED IN LIFE
WAS TO BE WANTED.
Dr. Jordan:
BECAUSE NICOLE'S MOTHER
WAS SO PASSIVE AND SUBMISSIVE
AND HER FATHER SO STRUCTURED
AND CONTROLLING,
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DRAMA
ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE.
SO NOW NICOLE EQUATES THESE
FIGHTS FOLLOWED BY MAKING UP
WITH PASSION AND TRUE LOVE.
SHE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO HOLD ON TO THAT FEELING.
Nicole: HEY, PETER,
HAVE YOU SEEN MY PURSE?
Narrator:
DESPITE THE ROCKY RELATIONSHIP,
NICOLE AND PETER MANAGE TO SPEND
THE NEXT THREE YEARS TOGETHER.
THEN IN JUNE 1991, SHE MAKES
AN UPSETTING DISCOVERY.
Nicole: I FOUND A PAIR OF GIRLS'
UNDERWEAR IN HIS BEDROOM.
AND THESE WEREN'T MINE.
PETER.
WHOSE ARE THESE?
THOSE ARE MY SISTER'S.
OH, YEAH, RIGHT.
Narrator:
NICOLE CONFRONTS HER BOYFRIEND,
BUT THIS TIME, SHE GOES TOO FAR.
I SMACKED HIM.
THEN, FINALLY, HE HAD ENOUGH.
Narrator:
PETER IS SEEING RED,
AND HE'S GOING TO TEACH HER
A LESSON SHE'LL NEVER FORGET.
Narrator:
18-YEAR-OLD NICOLE TAYLOR
HAS BEEN DATING HER DRUG-DEALER
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART
FOR THREE YEARS.
WHEN SHE ACCUSES HIM
OF SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER WOMAN,
PETER FLIES INTO A RAGE.
AAH!
HE GRABBED ME BY MY HAIR,
AND HE BEAT MY HEAD
INTO THE HOOD OF MY CAR.
LOOK WHAT YOU
MADE ME DO!
[ SOBBING ]
WHY'D YOU
MAKE ME DO THAT?!
Rowbottom: NICOLE AND PETER
GETTING TOGETHER
WAS A BIG MISTAKE.
THEY BOTH HAVE TENDENCIES
TO BE VIOLENT,
AND PETER WASN'T ABLE
TO BE FAITHFUL TO HER.
IT WAS JUST HEARTBREAK
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
[ SOBS ]
Narrator:
NICOLE'S HURT SO BADLY,
SHE WINDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS.
Narrator: BUT SHE LIES ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO PROTECT PETER.
MY MOM NEVER REALLY BELIEVED IT,
BUT I STUCK TO IT.
WOULD YOU GIVE ME A FEW MOMENTS
ALONE WITH NICOLE?
THANK YOU.
Narrator:
THE DOCTOR DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
ARE YOU SURE?
SHE'S PREGNANT.
BEFORE SHE'S EVEN PROCESSED
WHAT THE DOCTOR JUST SAID,
PETER SHOWS UP TO APOLOGIZE.
LOOK, I-I-I -
I'M SORRY.
PETER, I HAVE TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I'M PREGNANT.
WHAT?
WHAT WAS
PETER'S REACTION?
"IT AIN'T MINE."
THAT IS NOT MY BABY.
HE WAS NOT READY TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR A FAMILY AT ALL.
Narrator: IT'S CLEAR SHE CAN'T
COUNT ON PETER FOR HELP.
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?
SO NICOLE RELUCTANTLY
TELLS HER PARENTS.
GOD.
HE DAD IS FURIOUS.
NORM. NORM, STOP. STOP IT.
I AM GONNA KILL THAT KID.
BUT AS ALWAYS,
HER MOM IS THERE FOR HER.
Nicole: [ Voice breaking ]
MY MOM MADE EVERYTHING OKAY.
MY MOM TOOK CARE OF ME.
OKAY.
[ BABY COOS ]
Narrator: NICOLE STAYS CLEAN
AND SOBER AND, IN JUNE 1992,
GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL
SHE NAMES STEPHANIE.
Dr. Jordan:
SO, YOUR DAUGHTER IS BORN -
YOUR PREFECT, PRECIOUS DAUGHTER,
STEPHANIE.
BEAUTIFUL.
[ SNIFFLES ]
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
SHE WAS SO LITTLE.
IS THAT OKAY?
MY PARENTS TOOK CARE OF ME
SO WELL.
I NEVER PAID A BILL.
MY MOM DID EVERYTHING
FOR ME.
Narrator: HER PARENTS
EVEN RENT AN APARTMENT
FOR HER TO LIVE IN
WITH THE BABY.
Dr. Jordan: THE WORST THING
THAT NICOLE'S PARENTS CAN DO
FOR HER AND THEIR GRANDCHILD
IS TRY TO TAKE CARE
OF EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
HELICOPTER PARENTS THINK THAT BY
TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN,
THEY'RE SAVING THEM
FROM THE HASSLES
OF DOING EVERYTHING THEMSELVES.
BUT, IN FACT, OVERPARENTING
ACTUALLY DOES
THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
IT SENDS CHILDREN A MESSAGE
THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ON THEIR OWN.
Narrator: WHEN PETER SHOWS UP
TO MEET HIS DAUGHTER...
THIS IS A NICE PLACE.
...HE SEES THE SWEET SETUP...
SHE'S SO SMALL.
...AND DECIDES TO STAY.
IT SEEMS KIND OF WEIRD
YOU GUYS ARE HERE ALL ALONE.
MAYBE I SHOULD
STAY THE NIGHT.
PETER MOVES IN.
BUT HE'S STILL USING DRUGS,
AND LIVING WITH HIM
BRINGS BACK NICOLE'S CRAVINGS
WITH A VENGEANCE.
YOU WANT SOME?
[ SIGHS ]
NO.
I SHOULDN'T.
ALL RIGHT.
WHATEVER.
Nicole: I REMEMBER THE DAY I
BROUGHT HER HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,
I WAS LIKE,
"I WANT TO DO DRUGS."
Narrator:
SHE GIVES IN TO THE TEMPTATION.
[ SNIFFS,
EXHALES SHARPLY ]
BUT AS THE MONTHS PASS,
NICOLE REALIZES HER LIFESTYLE
IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.
Nicole: I REMEMBER HIM
GETTING ME SO HIGH
THAT I COULDN'T EVEN SEE MY
DAUGHTER SITTING ON THE GROUND.
AND I WAS SCARED BECAUSE
I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HER.
AND I KNEW THAT
THAT WASN'T RIGHT.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPING ]
SHELLY: Hello?
HI, MOM.
Narrator: NICOLE REACHES OUT
TO HER PARENTS...
PETER'S TAKING DRUGS,
AND...
...WHO HELP KICK PETER
TO THE CURB.
[ TELEPHONE BEEPS ]
BUT NICOLE'S ATTEMPT AT A
FRESH START QUICKLY GOES STALE,
AND SHE SOON GETS THE NUMBER
OF A DRUG DEALER FROM A FRIEND.
HEY, MATT, IT'S, UH, NICOLE,
JASON'S FRIEND.
HEY.
NICOLE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
I'M MATT,
JASON'S FRIEND.
Narrator: WHEN MATT ARRIVES,
HE BRINGS HER DRUGS,
ALONG WITH HIS GOOD LOOKS.
YOU WANT TO DO A HIT?
SURE.
ALL RIGHT.
HIS EYES, HIS SMILE -
HIS SMILE WOULD LIGHT UP A ROOM.
THAT'S A LITTLE DUMP
FOR YOU.
HE HAD CHARISMA.
YOU GOT A BABY, HUH?
SO, WHERE'S DADDY?
[ CHUCKLES ]
DADDY'S
OUT OF THE PICTURE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
THE ATTRACTION IS MUTUAL,
AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS,
MATT MOVES IN.
ONCE AGAIN, NICOLE FALLS HARD.
Nicole: I NEVER LOVED ANYBODY
AS MUCH AS I LOVED HIM.
I WAS PSYCHO IN LOVE.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT NOTHING
BUT HIM.
I GUESS I HAVE, LIKE,
AN OBSESSIVE PERSONALITY.
WHEN I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
I DON'T KNOW MYSELF
UNLESS I'M WITH YOU.
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,
NICOLE, MATT, AND STEPHANIE
LIVE AS A FAMILY.
IN FACT, MATT TREATS STEPHANIE,
WHO IS NOW 7 YEARS OLD,
LIKE HIS OWN.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA RIDE
TO MOMMY.
BUT I'LL HOLD ON TO YOU
THE WHOLE TIME.
HE LOVED HER, AND HE TOOK CARE
OF HER, AND SHE ADORED HIM.
ARE YOU READY?
YEAH.
ON THE COUNT OF THREE.
SHE'S SO CUTE.
I KNOW.
Narrator: NICOLE EVEN TELLS HER
THAT MATT'S HER FATHER.
OKAY,
START PEDALING.
YEAH, HE WAS MY DAD, SO I DIDN'T
KNOW ANYTHING ELSE BUT HIM.
YOU GOT IT!
STEER!
HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO RIDE A BIKE.
YOU GOT IT!
YOU GOT IT!
I WAS DADDY'S GIRL.
WATCH OUT, MOMMY!
WATCH OUT! AAH!
Narrator: TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT.
WANT TO HAVE
A TEA PARTY?
ARE YOU PLAYING WITH TEDDY?
YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT TEDDY WOULD
PROBABLY WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW?
WHAT?
MAKE A FORT IN THE BEDROOM.
GO MAKE A FORT.
WE'LL COME IN AND LOOK AT IT.
OKAY.
OKAY.
BUT IN PRIVATE,
THE COUPLE CAN'T GET THROUGH A
SINGLE DAY WITHOUT GETTING HIGH.
HELLO.
ANYBODY HOME?
Dr. Jordan:
WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS THINK?
DID THEY KNOW ABOUT ALL
THE DRUG DEALING AND DRUG USE
THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE
APARTMENT THEY SET YOU UP IN?
MY MOM NEVER SMOKED CIGARETTES.
MY MOM DIDN'T DRINK.
HI, MOM.
MY MOM WAS LIKE
JUNE CLEAVER.
GOOD.
Shelly: WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?
Nicole: I HID IT SO VERY WELL
THAT NOBODY KNEW.
COLD LEMONADE.
Stephanie: GRANDMA!
Shelly: HI, PRINCESS.
Nicole:
NOBODY KNEW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
THERE WAS NO SIGNS.
Narrator: BUT AFTER
NEARLY SEVEN YEARS TOGETHER,
MATT STARTS STAYING OUT
LATER AND LATER.
ONE NIGHT, NICOLE'S WAITING UP
FOR HIM WHEN THE PHONE RINGS.
Nicole: I GOT A PHONE CALL, AND
IT WAS FROM THIS GIRL'S HUSBAND.
HE WAS SO FRANTIC.
AND HE TOLD ME,
"I JUST CAUGHT YOUR MAN."
SHE WAS DOING THINGS TO HIM
WHEN HER MAN WALKED IN.
Narrator: WHEN MATT COMES HOME,
NICOLE WANTS ANSWERS.
WHERE YOU BEEN?
I HAD A COUPLE CUSTOMERS.
YOU KNOW THAT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
[ CHUCKLES ]
WELL,
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE.
MATT IS CAUGHT RED-HANDED.
HE HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO ADMIT TO THE AFFAIR.
I JUST -
IT JUST HAPPENED, OKAY?
Nicole:
MY WORLD CAME CRASHING DOWN.
IT WAS, LIKE,
WORSE THAN ANYTHING
I'VE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE.
LIKE, MY LEGS GOT WEAK.
I JUST CRUMBLED WITHIN MYSELF.
LOOK, I'M JUST GONNA SLEEP
ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.
Narrator:
A WEEK LATER, MATT MOVES OUT.
NICOLE IS DEVASTATED AND COPES
THE ONLY WAY SHE KNOWS HOW -
THROUGH A DANGEROUS COMBINATION
OF COCAINE AND ALCOHOL,
WHICH DOESN'T DO MUCH
FOR HER PARENTING SKILLS.
STEPHANIE,
COME IN HERE!
STEPHANIE!
Dr. Jordan:
IT MAY SEEM UNFATHOMABLE
THAT NICOLE WOULD CHOSE DRUGS
OVER HER OWN DAUGHTER,
BUT ANY DRUG ADDICT
WILL TELL YOU
THAT A NON-USER
CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND.
THE PULL OF ADDICTION
WILL ALWAYS TRUMP
GOOD DECISION-MAKING.
WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGS,
ALL LOGIC GETS THROWN
OUT THE WINDOW.
Stephanie:
ALL SHE WOULD DO IS CRY.
IS HE EVER COMING HOME?
[ Voice breaking ] NO.
I REMEMBER MY MOM TELLING ME
THAT MATT CHEATED ON HER
AND MATT'S NOT MY REAL DAD.
HE'S NOT EVEN
YOUR REAL FATHER.
YOU'RE LYING!
Narrator: STEPHANIE IS OFTEN
LEFT TO FEND FOR HERSELF.
SHE WAS VERY INDEPENDENT AT A
YOUNG AGE 'CAUSE I WAS ON DRUGS.
BYE, MOM.
Stephanie: MY MOM WASN'T REALLY
THERE FOR ME.
SHE NEVER TOOK ME TO SCHOOL
OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.
MY GRANDMA TOOK ME TO SCHOOL.
MOM?
I CALLED MY GRANDMA "MOM."
Narrator: ONE MORNING,
NICOLE WAKES UP FROM A STUPOR
AND REALIZES SHE'S BEEN OUT COLD
FOR 24 HOURS.
SHE KNOWS SHE'S HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
Nicole: HEY, BABY.
HI, MOMMY.
GO IN THE KITCHEN.
I'LL BE THERE IN A SECOND.
OKAY.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
HI, MOM.
Nicole: I SAID,
"MOM, I'M ADDICTED TO DRUGS.
AND I NEED HELP."
Narrator: AFTER YEARS
OF NICOLE HIDING HER SECRET,
SHELLY FINALLY KNOWS THE TRUTH.
AND SHE SAYS,
"I'LL BE RIGHT OVER."
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Narrator:
SHELLY TAKES IT UPON HERSELF
TO GET HER DAUGHTER CLEAN.
MY MOM DIDN'T QUESTION ME.
MY MOM DIDN'T JUDGE ME.
IF ANYTHING,
MY MOM JUDGED HERSELF
FOR NOT KNOWING
THAT I HAD SUCH A PROBLEM.
SHE JUST WAS THERE
TO MAKE IT ALL BETTER FOR ME.
Narrator: SHELLY ALSO TRIES
TO PATCH THINGS UP
BETWEEN NICOLE AND HER FATHER.
SHE'S LIKE, "YOU NEED TO
GET ALONG WITH YOUR DAD."
BUT, MOM, DAD'S A JERK.
I'M LIKE, "WHATEVER."
AND SHE'S LIKE, "HE LOVES YOU.
NO MATTER IF YOU KNOW IT OR NOT,
HE LOVES YOU."
YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER.
YEAH.
Narrator: NICOLE'S MOTHER
HAS BEEN THE PILLAR OF STRENGTH
THAT HAS HELPED NICOLE BOUNCE
BACK FROM ABUSE AND ADDICTION.
BUT NOW THAT PILLAR OF STRENGTH
IS ABOUT TO SHATTER,
AND NICOLE'S ADDICTION
WILL TAKE HER TO NEW LOWS
SHE COULD NEVER IMAGINE.
Nicole: I JUST REMEMBER
MY MOM TELLING ME,
"YOU NEED TO START DOING THINGS
FOR YOURSELF."
I'M LIKE,
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
I HAVE SOMETHING
THAT I NEED TO TELL YOU.
Narrator: AFTER GOING ON A DRUG
BINGE FOLLOWING A BAD BREAKUP,
NICOLE TAYLOR
IS FINALLY CLEAN AND SOBER.
BUT HER MOTHER IS ABOUT TO
REVEAL SOME HEARTBREAKING NEWS.
Shelly: [ SNIFFLES ]
I'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED
WITH CANCER.
NICOLE IS DEVASTATED TO LEARN
THAT HER MOTHER
HAS STAGE IV LIVER CANCER
AND HAS BEEN TOLD SHE ONLY HAS
A FEW MONTHS TO LIVE.
[ CRYING ]
Nicole: THEY SAID SHE HAD
LESIONS ON THE LIVER.
I'M LIKE, "ON HER LIVER?"
MY MOM DIDN'T DRINK.
MY MOM DIDN'T SMOKE.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Narrator: SUDDENLY,
THE ROLES ARE REVERSED,
AND NICOLE THROWS ALL HER ENERGY
INTO BEING HER MOTHER'S
PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
THANKS.
MY MOM WAS ALWAYS
AT THE HOSPITAL.
SHE WAS ALWAYS AT THE HOSPITAL.
LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING
WE CAN DO FOR YOU.
Narrator: JUST A MONTH LATER,
NICOLE'S MOM IS ON HER DEATHBED.
Nicole: I THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS
HOLDING ON FOR SOMETHING,
AND I TOLD HER THAT ME
AND MY DAUGHTER WOULD BE OKAY,
AND I PROMISED HER
THAT I WOULD BE OKAY,
IT WOULD BE OKAY.
Stephanie:
I REMEMBER ABOUT MY GRANDMA
SHE WAS THE BEST PERSON
IN THE WORLD.
I LOVE YOU, PRINCESS.
[ FLATLINE ]
MY MOM WAS HOLDING MY GRANDMA'S
HAND WHEN MY GRANDMA DIED.
AND, LIKE,
SHE SAID SHE HAD TO, LIKE,
PRY HER FINGERS OFF OF HER
AFTER SHE DIED.
Rowbottom: NICOLE TOOK THE DEATH
REALLY HARD.
SHE WAS CLOSE WITH HER MOM.
SHE HAD THINGS
THAT SHE WANTED TO STILL,
YOU KNOW, PROVE TO HER MOM,
AND SHE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO DO THAT.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: A FEW WEEKS
AFTER HER MOTHER'S DEATH,
NICOLE GOES TO HER PARENTS' HOME
TO CHECK ON HER FATHER
AND MAKES A SHOCKING DISCOVERY.
HI.
NICOLE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
I'M DIANE.
IT'S NICE
TO FINALLY MEET YOU.
I'M SORRY.
WHO ARE YOU?
HEY, NICOLE.
I SEE YOU'VE MET
YOUR NEW STEPMOM.
YES, WE HAVE.
HONEY, I'M GONNA
LET YOU GUYS TALK, OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH.
OKAY.
I'M LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK?"
JUST DUMBFOUNDED.
DAD!
Narrator: SHE LEARNS
THAT HER DAD MET DIANE,
HIS NEW, YOUNG WIFE, AT WORK
WHILE HER MOTHER WAS SICK.
SO, MY MOM AND DAD WERE TOGETHER
FOR 28 YEARS,
THEN MY MOM DIES,
AND HE MARRIES SOME BROAD
AND DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME
OR INVITE ME TO THE WEDDING.
[ SNIFFLES ]
ARE YOU FLIPPING SERIOUS?
NICOLE!
Narrator:
TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY...
HEY, DAD.
IT'S ME - NICOLE.
...NICOLE SOON DISCOVERS
HER FATHER AND NEW STEPMOTHER
ARE CUTTING HER OFF FINANCIALLY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY
OR ANYTHING.
Nicole:
EVERY CHECK BOUNCED.
AND REMEMBER, I WAS A PRINCESS.
THEY TOOK MY CAR.
THEY TOOK MY HOUSE.
SO, I'M STANDING OUTSIDE,
AND I'M CALLING MY DAD.
I'M LIKE,
"DAD, I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO."
Narrator: NICOLE'S PARENTS' HOME
WAS ALWAYS HER LAST REFUGE.
BUT NOW THAT REFUGE
WILL BE NO MORE.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
NICOLE'S FATHER IS SELLING THE
HOUSE AND MOVING OUT OF STATE.
MOMMY, CAN'T WE GO HOME?
NO, WE CAN'T.
HE'LL PAY FOR ONE MORE MONTH
OF NICOLE'S RENT,
BUT AFTER THAT,
SHE'S ON HER OWN.
NICOLE'S MOTHER
WAS HER ENTIRE WORLD.
AND NOW THAT HER MOM HAS DIED
AND HER DAD GOT A NEW WIFE,
SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S LOST
BOTH PARENTS.
SO WHEN HER DAD CUTS OFF
ALL FINANCIAL SUPPORT,
NICOLE REALIZES SHE HAS TO
SINK OR SWIM AND FAST.
Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF RELYING
ON HER PARENTS TO SUPPORT HER,
AT THE AGE OF 27,
NICOLE FINALLY NEEDS TO LEARN
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF
AND HER DAUGHTER.
I REMEMBER GOING TO SLEEP
AT OUR NEW APARTMENT,
LIKE, WITH NO BLANKETS, NO
NOTHING, SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.
COME ON.
LET'S GO
CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.
I WENT FROM PRINCESS TO "WHOA."
Narrator:
NICOLE HAS NEVER HAD A JOB.
AND WITH NO REAL SKILLS,
SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW
HOW TO FIND ONE.
Nicole: I BECAME LOST.
MY MOM DID EVERYTHING FOR ME,
AND THAT RUINED ME,
BECAUSE WHEN MY MOM PASSED AWAY,
I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO DO ANYTHING MYSELF.
Narrator:
NICOLE'S BEEN CLEAN AND SOBER
THROUGH HER MOTHER'S
ILLNESS AND DEATH,
BUT NICOLE'S
NEW LIVING SITUATION
HAS HER SEEKING
AN ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR ESCAPE.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
[ SIGHS ]
THAT WAS FUN.
YEAH, THAT WAS.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA BE AROUND
TOMORROW NIGHT, TOO,
IF YOU WANT
TO PARTY SOME MORE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
SO, HOW DO YOU COPE
WITH THIS?
DRUGS.
ALCOHOL.
HAVING SEX
WITH STRANGERS.
HOW MUCH MORE OF THAT
CAN I GET?
I CAN GET AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AS
LONG AS YOU CAN KEEP PARTYING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OKAY.
JUST BEING CRAZY, OFF THE -
"WHOO-HOO!"
CRAZY.
[ Chuckling ] YEAH.
NOT BE THE MOM THAT I NEED TO BE
FOR MY DAUGHTER.
Stephanie: MY MOM, LIKE -
SHE WENT OFF THE HOOK.
WHEN MY GRANDMA DIED,
I LOST NOT JUST MY GRANDMA,
BUT I LOST MY MOM, AS WELL.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE LEFT.
YOU WANT IT?
YEAH.
Stephanie: MY LIFE BECAME HELL.
I LOST EVERYTHING.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
THANKS, BABE.
LATER, KID.
Stephanie:
I HAD TO BE THE MOM.
TOOK THE KID-NESS OUT OF ME.
Dr. Jordan: NICOLE HAS A LOT
OF CLASSIC ADDICT BEHAVIORS,
LIKE PLAYING THE VICTIM.
EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS
SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER CHOICES.
AND WHILE ADDICTION MAY BE
AN ILLNESS, RECOVERY IS A CHOICE
AND A CHOICE THAT NICOLE
SEEMS UNWILLING TO MAKE.
[ INSECTS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: NICOLE REALIZES SHE
CAN'T TAKE CARE OF HER DAUGHTER.
SHE CONTACTS HER EX-BOYFRIEND,
MATT...
MATT!
...WHO'S GOTTEN OFF DRUGS
SINCE LEAVING THEM,
AND HE AGREES
TO TAKE STEPHANIE IN.
OKAY.
NICOLE!
I SURVIVED MY WHOLE LIFE
BECAUSE OF EVERYBODY ELSE
THAN MY MOM TAKING CARE OF ME.
YEAH?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I DON'T KNOW.
Nicole: MY DAUGHTER FEELS LIKE
I ABANDONED HER.
MAYBE I DID.
BUT I DID ALL THAT I CAN
AND ALL I KNEW HOW TO DO.
GET IT TOGETHER!
YOU GOT A LITTLE GIRL!
SAD.
Narrator: NICOLE MANAGES
TO SURVIVE AS A NOMAD
FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS...
PUT YOUR STUFF
ANYWHERE.
...SCORING HER DRUGS
AND A PLACE TO CRASH
FROM WHOEVER
SHE'S SLEEPING WITH.
HER DAUGHTER, STEPHANIE,
IS NOW 18 YEARS OLD,
MOSTLY RAISED BY MATT.
SHE NEVER GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL
AND WORKS AT A CLOTHING STORE.
WHILE THEY'VE SEEN EACH OTHER
THROUGH THE YEARS,
IN THE FALL OF 2010,
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER REUNITE.
NICOLE'S FRIEND
GIVES THEM A PLACE TO LIVE,
AND THEY MOVE IN TOGETHER.
I WENT FROM PRINCESS
TO LIVING IN SOMEONE'S GARAGE.
SHE'S STILL A SPOILED PRINCESS,
IN HER EYES.
SHE WEARS HER HIGH HEELS
WITH HER DRESSES
AND CURL HER HAIR, YOU KNOW.
Nicole:
EVEN LIVING IN THE SLUMS
NEVER TAKE THE PRINCESS
OUT OF ME.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I'LL ALWAYS BE
THAT LITTLE STUCK-UP PRINCESS.
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S ONE THING
PRINCESS NICOLE IS STILL
MISSING - HER PRINCE.
THAT ALL CHANGES ONE EVENING
WHEN SHE GOES BAR-HOPPING
WITH A FRIEND.
HEY, CINDY.
OH, HEY! HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT'S UP? HOW ARE YOU?
Narrator: 26-YEAR-OLD FREDDIE
IS 12 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HER.
HI.
FREDDIE.
NICE TO MEET YOU. NICOLE.
Narrator:
AND NICOLE LIKES WHAT SHE SEES.
I'LL LET YOU GUYS,
UH, HANG OUT.
Nicole: HE WAS YOUNG, JUST CUTE
AND INNOCENT AND SWEET.
SO SWEET.
Narrator: NICOLE LEARNS
THAT FREDDIE'S JUST GOTTEN
OUT OF PRISON FOR CAR THEFT,
BUT THAT DOESN'T BOTHER HER.
HE'S TRYING
TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND.
AND, IN FACT, HIS STORY
PULLS ON NICOLE'S HEARTSTRINGS.
THE UPBRINGING THAT HE HAD
WAS VERY, VERY, VERY ROUGH.
[ LAUGHS ]
I WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
Narrator:
NICOLE'S SYMPATHY FOR FREDDIE
QUICKLY TURNS INTO
PURE ANIMAL ATTRACTION.
YOU WANT TO GO BACK
TO MY PLACE?
WE HAD A GREAT TIME.
SHE HAS A FUN PERSONALITY.
KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN.
LOVES TO PARTY.
Narrator: WITHIN DAYS,
FREDDIE MOVES IN WITH NICOLE.
THE ONLY PROBLEM
IS THAT STEPHANIE SHARES
THE SPACE WITH HER MOM.
Stephanie: MY MOM, LIKE,
WAS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR HIM.
IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE IN,
LIKE, TEENAGER LOVE AGAIN.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT
TO BE AROUND THEM
'CAUSE THEY WOULD, LIKE,
JUST CUDDLE IN MY BED AND STUFF.
IT JUST - IT WAS
A REALLY WEIRD, ODD SITUATION.
Narrator: STEPHANIE LEAVES
AND MOVES IN WITH A FRIEND.
ONCE AGAIN, NICOLE HAS CHOSEN
A MAN OVER HER DAUGHTER.
FREDDIE WAS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
FOR YOU.
MM-HMM.
MM-HMM.
HOW WAS HE GONNA FIX YOU,
BEING 12 YEARS YOUNGER?
'CAUSE HE WAS GONNA
LOVE ME FOR ME.
UGLY, SICK,
WAKING UP LOOKING GROSS -
HE LOVED ME,
WHICH I HADN'T FELT -
FOR A LONG TIME.
EVER.
HE JUST MADE ME FEEL
SO GOOD.
I JUST WANTED HIM WITH ME
ALL THE TIME.
IT WAS BLISS.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY
IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
Miller:
SHE CAN BE A SWEETHEART.
SHE CAN BE A GOOD PERSON.
AND I - I DID LOVE HER
FOR A MINUTE.
Narrator: FREDDIE'S LANDED A JOB
FRAMING AND MOUNTING PHOTOS
AT A PHOENIX ART GALLERY
AND IS PAYING ALL THE BILLS.
THIS WHAT YOU BEEN DOING
ALL DAY?
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?
Rowbottom: SHE IS PUTTING HIM
IN A HUSBAND ROLE.
HE WAS FRUSTRATED
WITH HAVING TO HANDLE
ALL THE FINANCIAL SITUATIONS
FOR HER.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING
FOR A JOB.
Miller:
SHE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF ****
SHE WAS BROKE AS A JOKE.
I WORKED.
I HAD A STEADY JOB.
Narrator: FREDDIE'S
ALSO GOT A SECOND "JOB"
TO HELP THEM MAKE ENDS MEET.
I WORK ALL DAY, BUST MY ASS,
GET OFF WORK.
AND THEN I'D SELL POPCORN
AFTER WORK.
I CALL IT POPCORN.
YOU GUYS CALL IT
WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT.
I'D LIKE TO COME HOME
TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN
A JUNKIE ON THE COUCH.
WHAT THE HELL
DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!
WHAT?
NOTHING.
I- I GOT TO GO.
SO GO!
YEAH.
GET - GET HIGH!
KEEP GETTING HIGH!
I WILL.
KEEP DOING IT!
IT'S GREAT!
I WILL!
Narrator: FREDDIE'S BEEN CLEAN
SINCE HE GOT OUT OF PRISON.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S DEALING DRUGS,
HE'S STRUGGLING TO STAY SOBER
AND NOT USE.
Nicole:
I DID DRUGS IN FRONT OF HIM,
NOT KNOWING THAT I WAS
TRIGGERING SOMETHING.
Rowbottom: IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE
INTO NICOLE'S WORLD,
YOU'RE JUST GONNA
GET SUCKED DOWN WITH HER.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT WENT BAD.
LET ME HIT THAT.
I'M TO BLAME FOR EVERYTHING.
Narrator: SOON, THE COUPLE
SPENDS MOST OF THEIR TIME
GETTING HIGH.
Rowbottom:
THAT WAS KIND OF A SHAME
BECAUSE HE SEEMED LIKE A REALLY
GOOD, HARDWORKING PERSON.
Narrator: THE DRUGS
FUEL THE COUPLE'S PASSION.
Miller: WE'D DO DRUGS ALL DAY
AND HAVE SEX.
WHO WOULDN'T LIKE THAT?
I MEAN, SHE BROKE ME OFF
LIKE NO OTHER.
THE AGE DIFFERENCE
WAS RIDICULOUS.
SHE KNEW WHAT THE HELL
SHE WAS DOING IN BED.
Nicole: TALKING TO OTHER GIRLS
ALL THE TIME!
YOU'RE MAKING UP ****
Narrator: BUT EVENTUALLY,
THE DRUGS TAKE A TOLL
ON THE RELATIONSHIP.
YOU'RE MAKING ME CRAZY!
WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO?
JUST GO!
Stephanie:
FREDDIE WAS VERY MEAN
WHEN HE STARTED DOING DRUGS
WITH MY MOM AGAIN.
CRAZY DIFFERENT PERSON.
HE HATED MY MOM.
THEY WEREN'T HAPPY TOGETHER.
THEY ARGUED A LOT.
Narrator: AND NICOLE
STARTS GETTING PARANOID
THAT FREDDIE'S CHEATING ON HER.
Rowbottom: SHE WAS VERY JEALOUS
AND REAL CONTROLLING.
NOBODY COULD TALK TO HIM.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTED
TO BE WITH HIM.
WHY ARE YOU TALKING
TO HER?
SHE'S OUR NEIGHBOR.
Narrator: NICOLE'S LIKE
A TICKING TIME BOMB.
IT WAS JUST DISASTER
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
STOP TALKING
TO OTHER GIRLS!
Narrator: FOR MORE
ON HOW NICOLE'S DOING NOW,
Narrator: NICOLE TAYLOR
HAS BEEN LIVING WITH FREDDIE,
THE LOVE OF HER LIFE,
FOR OVER A YEAR.
BUT SHE'S BECOME CONVINCED
THAT HE'S CHEATING ON HER,
AND SHE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO STOP HIM.
STOP TALKING
TO OTHER GIRLS!
I SEE THE WAY
YOU LOOK AT THEM!
Miller: IT GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I EVENTUALLY TOLD HER,
"LOOK, IF YOU'RE GONNA
ACCUSE ME OF CHEATING ON YOU,
I'M GONNA GO CHEAT ON YOU."
THERE WAS NO TRUST.
I WOULD GET A PHONE CALL
FROM HER EVERY 20, 30 MINUTES.
"WHO ARE YOU WITH?"
[ CELLPHONE BUZZES ]
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
I JUST COULDN'T HANDLE IT
NO MORE.
Dr. Jordan:
NICOLE'S DEPENDANCE ON OTHERS
AND HER PROLONGED DRUG USE
ARE ACTUALLY MAKING HER INSECURE
AND PARANOID.
FREDDIE IS HER EVERYTHING,
HER LOVER, HER SUGAR DADDY,
THE MAN WHO STILL MAKES HER
FEEL LIKE A PRINCESS.
BUT IRONICALLY,
SHE'S DRIVING HIM AWAY.
THE MORE SHE TRIES
TO HOLD ON TO HIM,
THE FURTHER HE WANTS TO RUN.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT,
WHEN FREDDIE DOESN'T
COME HOME FROM WORK,
NICOLE'S INSECURITY
GOES INTO OVERDRIVE.
WHEN HE FINALLY SHOWS UP,
HE CONFIRMS HER DEEPEST FEARS.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!
OUT.
THAT NIGHT, I WENT AND SLEPT
WITH FOUR DIFFERENT WOMEN.
YEAH, I DID IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU KEPT TELLING ME
I WAS GONNA DO IT.
I DID IT.
I ENJOYED EVERY ONE OF THEM.
AND I LIKED IT!
AND THEN I WENT BACK
AND TOLD HER I DID.
Narrator:
BUT HIS CONFESSION BACKFIRES.
I'M SORRY.
NO.
I'M SORRY.
Miller: WHEN I TRIED
TO BREAK UP WITH HER,
SHE WASN'T HAVING IT.
I KNOW YOU LOVE ME!
SHE WOULDN'T LET ME GO.
THAT'S WHEN I REALLY SEEN
HER TRUE PSYCHOTIC SIDE.
NO.
FREDDIE.
GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!
IT'S OVER!
ALL RIGHT?
I DON'T THINK YOU GET IT!
I WANTED HIM TO LOVE ME.
"WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME?"
AND IT WAS SICK.
I KNOW
YOU DON'T MEAN IT!
YOU WERE IN DENIAL.
LIKE, I SWIM THE RIVER
OF DENIAL, OKAY.
I'M ALL DOING LAPS,
OKAY.
FREDDIE!
Narrator: WITHIN A WEEK,
FREDDIE MOVES OUT.
NO!
BUT THE DRAMA DOESN'T END.
HE RENTS A PLACE
IN THE SAME COMPLEX
WHERE NICOLE STILL LIVES.
HEY, PRETTY LADY.
YEAH.
YOU'RE LOOKING REALLY NICE
TODAY.
HE MESSED WITH MY HEAD SO MUCH.
I WAS LIKE A PUPPY.
AND HE'D SEE ME,
BE LIKE, "WANT TO HANG OUT?"
GOT A COUPLE HOURS FREE?
AND I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD,
"HERE'S MY CHANCE
TO GET HIM BACK.
YES, LET'S HANG OUT."
I WAS DISGUSTINGLY PITIFUL.
Narrator:
FREDDIE LETS HER KNOW
THE SEX COMES
WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
Miller:
WE NEVER DID GET BACK TOGETHER.
I MADE IT CLEAR TO HER THAT
I WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.
I WAS GONNA SEE OTHER WOMEN.
SHE DIDN'T ACCEPT THAT.
THAT DIDN'T STOP ME BECAUSE
I'M GONNA COME BACK STRONGER.
Dr. Jordan: NICOLE IS NOT
SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH FREDDIE
AS SHE IS OBSESSED
WITH HAVING HIM.
SO EVEN AFTER THEY BREAK UP,
SHE FINDS SHE CAN'T
KICK HIM OUT OF HER BED,
EVEN WHEN HE COMES CALLING.
SHE THINKS
THAT BY SLEEPING WITH HIM,
IT PROVES THAT SHE STILL
HAS VALUE IN HIS LIFE.
WHEN SHE REALIZES
THIS ISN'T TRUE,
IT COULD LEAD HER
TO HER BREAKING POINT.
Narrator: THE HARDER
FREDDIE PUSHES NICOLE AWAY,
THE MORE SHE WANTS HIM.
SHE WOULD STALK HIM
IN THE APARTMENTS, YOU KNOW.
AND SHE WOULD NONSTOP
HARASS HIM.
BYE, FREDDIE.
Miller:
SHE WOULD HIDE IN THE BUSHES
AND STALK MY FEMALE GUESTS
THAT WOULD LEAVE MY APARTMENT...
HEY.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
...AND BASICALLY APPROACH THEM
WITH A BASEBALL BAT,
TELLING THEM THAT THEY
NEEDED TO STAY AWAY FROM ME.
AND IF THEY WOULDN'T...
I'M GONNA
BASH YOUR SKULL IN.
VERY PSYCHOTIC, IF YOU ASK ME.
THINK I'M KIDDING?
I TRY TO BE MATURE ABOUT THINGS.
THAT'S JUST NOT
HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF.
Narrator:
THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BREAKUP,
NICOLE'S HEADING HOME
FROM THE POOL
WHEN SHE SEES FREDDIE WITH
HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND, APRIL.
YOU'RE SO SWEET.
I SEE HIM WALKING OUT WITH
THAT GIRL, AND I'M LIKE...
Nicole: WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON HERE?
SO, THEN I START TO GET CRAZY
'CAUSE I'M FEISTY, RIGHT?
I THINK WE GOT
THAT YOU'RE FEISTY.
AND I KIND OF SNAPPED, I GUESS,
IN MY HEAD.
I WAS GONNA WHUP HER BUTT,
OKAY.
YOU BELONG TO ME!
BACK UP.
HE'S WITH ME NOW.
NICOLE!
SHE JUST NUTTED UP.
SHE STARTED YELLING AT ME.
I DIDN'T WANT TO CAUSE NO SCENE.
I DON'T NEED THAT DRAMA
IN MY LIFE.
GET IN THE CAR, BABE.
****
ALL I WANTED WAS TO KNOW
WHY HE WOULD NOT LOVE ME.
WHAT DID I DO WRONG
FOR HIM NOT TO LOVE ME?
YEAH, REAL GOOD MAN
YOU GOT THERE!
NICOLE FELT LIKE IF SHE
WASN'T GONNA BE WITH HIM,
NOBODY WAS GOING TO BE WITH HIM.
AND SHE WOULD MAKE SURE OF THAT
BECAUSE HE WAS HERS.
Narrator:
FREDDIE AND APRIL TAKE OFF.
AN HOUR LATER,
NICOLE DECIDES SHE NEEDS A DRINK
AND HEADS TO A LOCAL BAR.
FREDDIE'S HEADING HOME
AFTER DROPPING APRIL OFF.
STILL FURIOUS,
HE SPOTS NICOLE IN HER CAR.
Miller:
AND THAT'S WHEN I LOST IT.
I TOLD HER TO PULL OVER
SO I COULD TALK TO HER.
[ HORN HONKS ]
NICOLE!
Nicole:
SO, HE'S FOLLOWING ME.
AND I'M THINKING, "OKAY."
THAT'S NOT
A COINCIDENCE.
YEAH.
HE HAD AN AGENDA.
BITCH, PULL OVER!
NOW!
WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?!
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S GETTING
REALLY CLOSE TO MY BUMPER.
SO I STARTED FEELING
A LITTLE NERVOUS.
OH, MY GOD.
STOP IT!
YOU PULL THAT **** CAR OVER
RIGHT NOW!
Narrator:
NICOLE PANICS AND PULLS OVER.
HE COMES AROUND
IN FRONT OF ME.
BLOCKS YOU WITH HIS CAR.
YES, YES, YES, YES.
AND JUMPS OUT OF THE CAR,
LIKE, SO FAST.
HE RUNS UP TO MY WINDOW...
****
YOU NEED TO STOP THIS!
...GRABS ME BY MY HAIR...
I LOVE YOU!
NO!
...AND HE'S PUNCHING ME
IN MY FACE AS HARD AS HE CAN.
[ SCREAMING ]
I'M SWALLOWING THE BLOOD.
STOP IT!
AS HE'S PUNCHING ME,
I'M LIKE, "I LOVE YOU.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS
TO ME?"
I THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
I THOUGHT
HE WAS BREAKING MY FACE.
Narrator:
SUDDENLY, NICOLE REMEMBERS
THERE'S A CORKSCREW
IN ARM'S REACH.
AAH!
[ SCREAMS ]
Narrator:
39-YEAR-OLD NICOLE TAYLOR
HAS BEEN HARASSING
HER EX-BOYFRIEND, FREDDIE.
YOU BELONG TO ME!
BACK UP.
SHE HAS NO INTENTION
OF EVER LETTING GO.
AFTER SHE THREATENS HIS LATEST
GIRLFRIEND, HE'S HAD ENOUGH.
STOP IT!
AND SO HAS SHE.
[ SCREAMS ]
AAH! AAH!
AND I JUST STARTED STABBING HIM,
STABBING HIM IN THE FACE.
AND I GUESS I STABBED HIM
RIGHT HERE.
AND FINALLY, HE STOPPED.
GOD!
NICOLE, WHAT -
BITCH!
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!
STAY AWAY FROM ME,
NICOLE!
Narrator: FREDDIE JUMPS BACK
IN HIS CAR AND FLOORS IT.
BUT HE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.
Miller:
I WAS VERY COOL, VERY CALM.
I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE,
AND I ASKED HER NICELY
TO LEAVE ME ALONE.
NICOLE -
FREDDIE, I LOVE YOU.
SHE TELLS ME
THAT SHE'S NOT GONNA STOP.
IT'S OVER.
NO!
I DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
LISTEN, NO.
AND THIS IS WHEN I TOLD HER,
"CHECK IT OUT, BITCH.
YOU NEED TO STOP."
JUST STOP
AND LEAVE ME ALONE!
AND I LEANED INTO THE CAR.
AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT STABBED
IN THE HEAD.
AAH! AAH!
I KIND OF HAD TO, LIKE,
BLINK THE BLOOD AWAY
'CAUSE IT WAS STARTING TO GO
IN MY EYES.
THAT'S WHEN I NUTTED UP.
AAH! BITCH!
I SLAPPED THE ****
OUT OF HER.
I KNOCKED HER PRETTY GOOD
UPSIDE HER HEAD.
[ SCOFFS ]
I AIN'T GONNA LIE.
Rowbottom: I GOT TO SAY THAT I
BELIEVE FREDDIE'S VERSION OF IT.
HE'S JUST NOT THE TYPE
THAT WOULD JUST GO UP
AND START WHALING ON SOMEBODY
LIKE THAT.
HE'S NOT VIOLENT.
HE WAS JUST REALLY
AT THE END OF HIS ROPE.
HE HAD BEEN HARASSED
TO THE POINT
OF WHERE HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO WITH HER.
FREDDIE!
[ ENGINE REVS ]
OH!
OH, MY GOD! OH!
HIS BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HER.
HER BLOOD WAS ALL OVER HIM.
Narrator: NICOLE DISCOVERERS
THE CORKSCREW
IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
THE WINE OPENER CLOSED ON HER
PINKY, SO IT, LIKE, CUT IT OFF.
Narrator: NICOLE RUNS INTO
A NEARBY PIZZA PARLOR FOR HELP.
Nicole: I HAD BLOOD ALL OVER ME,
AND I'M HYSTERICAL.
AND MY HAND WAS LIKE THIS.
MA'AM,
WHAT HAPPENED?
Narrator: A CUSTOMER
HELPS NICOLE STOP THE BLEEDING
AND CALLS 911.
TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE,
OKAY?
BY THE TIME NICOLE GETS TO
THE HOSPITAL, SHE'S DELIRIOUS.
Nicole:
I'M, LIKE, FREAKING OUT.
I WAS JUST LIKE,
"CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?"
AND I'M LIKE, "I LOVE HIM."
I KEPT SAYING, "BUT I LOVE HIM.
WHY WOULD HE DO THIS TO ME?"
I SOUND LIKE A PSYCHO.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, FREDDIE,
WHO'S STILL ON PROBATION,
PATCHES UP HIS OWN WOUNDS
AND TRIES TO LAY LOW.
DID YOU KILL FREDDIE?
I WISH I WOULD HAVE.
MAYBE NOT LITERALLY,
BUT I WISH I WOULD HAVE HURT HIM
THE WAY HE HURT ME,
'CAUSE IT'S NOT OKAY.
SO, YOU HURT ME,
I'M GONNA HURT YOU.
IT TAKES DOCTORS SEVEN HOURS
TO REATTACH NICOLE'S FINGER.
[ Echoing ]
CAN YOU HEAR US?
MA'AM?
IN HER POST-SURGERY HAZE,
NICOLE TELLS POLICE
EVERY LAST DETAIL ABOUT FREDDIE,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP, AND THEIR
MOST RECENT VIOLENT INCIDENT.
[ Crying ]
AND HE HIT ME.
I GUESS I SING LIKE A BIRD.
[ GROANS ]
MA'AM, CAN YOU TELL US
WHERE WE CAN FIND -
HE LOVES ME.
MA'AM.
HE LOVES ME.
JUST TAKE IT EASY.
I UNDERSTAND. CAN YOU TELL ME
WHERE I CAN FIND FREDDIE?
Narrator: POLICE BELIEVE
NICOLE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF
AND TAKE FREDDIE INTO CUSTODY.
HE'S CHARGED
WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
AND FACES FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
Dr. Jordan:
IT'S, OF COURSE, VERY HARD
TO SAY WHO'S
TELLING THE TRUTH HERE.
INDEED, IT WAS FREDDIE
WHO APPROACHED HER CAR FIRST.
AND EVEN THOUGH NICOLE SAYS THAT
SHE STABBED HIM IN SELF-DEFENSE,
IT'S ALSO VERY TELLING
THAT SHE SAYS SHE WISHED
SHE HAD KILLED HIM.
TWO YEARS LATER,
HER ANGER IS STILL THAT RAW.
SO THE TRUTH IS PROBABLY
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
I'M THE SCUMBAG 'CAUSE I PUNCHED
HER IN THE FACE REPEATEDLY,
ACCORDING TO HER STORY.
COMPLETE LIE.
WHO THEY GONNA BELIEVE,
HER OR ME?
Narrator:
FREDDIE DOESN'T THINK
ANYONE WILL BELIEVE
HE'S INNOCENT.
HE ACCEPTS A PLEA BARGAIN
FOR A LESSER SENTENCE
AND SPENDS FOUR MONTHS IN JAIL.
Miller:
I DIDN'T DESERVE THAT TIME.
IF ANYTHING, SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN
GETTING TIME FOR STABBING ME.
[ SCREAMS ]
AAH!
Rowbottom:
I THINK IT WAS UNFAIR.
I DON'T THINK THAT
HE WAS DOING ANYTHING MORE
THAN JUST TRYING
TO MAKE HER STOP.
SELF-DEFENSE ON HIS PART,
YOU KNOW.
POOR GUY GOT STABBED.
Narrator:
NICOLE'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY
DON'T BELIEVE
SHE'S COMPLETELY OVER FREDDIE.
I THINK SHE WOULD ALWAYS
IN A MINUTE GO BACK WITH HIM.
I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH FREDDIE.
I'M IN LOVE
WITH WHO FREDDIE WAS,
THAT FREDDIE THAT I HAD
WHEN I WAS HAPPY.
AND I'LL HOLD ON TO THAT
TILL THE DAY I DIE.
Narrator: STEPHANIE FEARS
SHE'LL END UP LIKE HER MOTHER.
AFTER MANAGING TO STAY AWAY
FROM DRUGS MOST OF HER LIFE,
SHE STARTED USING
WHEN SHE WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
NOW SHE'S TRYING TO GET CLEAN.
[ Voice breaking ]
I GREW UP,
AND EVERYBODY SAID I'M GONNA
BE JUST LIKE MY MOM, AND I DID.
[ SNIFFLES ]
BUT...
I WON'T BE LIKE THIS FOREVER.
I'M STILL YOUNG.
AND I STILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT
OF LIFE AHEAD OF ME.
THIS WAY.
I KNOW I'LL BE OKAY.
I JUST DON'T KNOW
IF SHE'LL BE OKAY.
TODAY, NICOLE IS TRYING
TO MOVE ON.
SHE'S LIVING
WITH A NEW BOYFRIEND
AND LEADING A CLEAN
AND SOBER LIFE.
Nicole: THE THINGS THAT I'VE
BEEN THROUGH SINCE I LOST MY MOM
WILL MAKE OR BREAK A PERSON.
AND I'M STILL HERE RIGHT NOW,
AND I KNOW I CAN'T BE BROKE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?