Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 8 - Army of Lovers - full transcript

Narrator:
A BRIGHT, YOUNG WOMAN

PUTS HER LIFE ON THE LINE
SERVING IN IRAQ.

Leday:
I LIVED IN SADDAM'S PALACE.

I LOST A LOT OF MY FRIENDS.

HEY, DO YOU NEED
SOME HELP?

Narrator: BUT NOTHING IS FAIR
IN LOVE AND WAR.

I LOVE YOU, JONATHAN.

I FELL HARD FOR THIS GUY.

LIKE NO OTHER GUY.

GIRL, HE'S MARRIED.

WILL YOU MARRY ME, BABY?
OH!



Narrator:
SHE SETTLES FOR SECOND BEST.

SHE WASN'T READY TO BE MARRIED.

[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYS ]

HI. I'M FATIMAH.

Narrator: WILL SHE BECOME A
CASUALTY OF HER OWN BAD CHOICES?

GIVE ME MY KEYS!

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

SHE'S BEEN ON A TEAM
FOR 9 YEARS?

9 YEARS.

Narrator: FATIMAH LEDAY
IS A STRAIGHT- "A" STUDENT

AND A PROMISING TRACK STAR.



[ SIGHS ] YOU READY?

ALL RIGHT.

THE START OF MY SENIOR YEAR,
MY TRACK COACH SAYS,

"LISTEN, USF HAS OFFERED YOU
A FULL SCHOLARSHIP

IF YOU GET YOUR TIME
DOWN .4 SECONDS."

WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE?

I WAS LIKE, "WHAT? THAT'S IT?
LET'S DO IT."

PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, WILLIE.
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO MEET HER RIGHT NOW?

ABSOLUTELY.
COME ON DOWN.

Narrator: THE DRIVEN 17-YEAR-OLD
HAS BEEN ON THE RADAR

OF RECRUITERS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

SINCE HER FRESHMAN YEAR
OF HIGH SCHOOL.

FATIMAH. HEY.

FATIMAH'S STEPFATHER, WILLIE,
IS HER HEAD COACH.

MY STEPDAD USED TO GET UP
EVERY MORNING AND RUN WITH ME

TO HELP ME PRACTICE
BEFORE SCHOOL

AND THEN PRACTICE WITH THE TEAM
AFTER SCHOOL.

SO, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE SEEING
YOU IN FRESHMAN YEAR, HUH?

Narrator:
WILLIE'S ALSO HER BIGGEST FAN.

HE'S BEEN COACHING FATIMAH SINCE
HE MARRIED HER MOM 12 YEARS AGO.

Outland:
I SAID, "GIRL, YOU GOT SKILLS!"

AND I'D TELL HER
WHAT SHE HAD TO DO,

AND SHE WENT OUT AND DONE IT,

NO MATTER HOW TIRED
SHE WOULD GET.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET INTO
A GOOD SCHOOL.

Narrator: WILLIE AND FATIMAH'S MOM,
TOY, HAVE BEEN PUSHING HER TO DO WELL

SINCE SHE STARTED HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS A MODEL STUDENT.

YOU KNOW, ALL "A's" AND "B's,"
HONORS CLASSES.

WE THINK RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME
FOR YOU TO START WORKING

ON THAT FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

Narrator:
THEY ALSO SEE ATHLETICS

AS HAVING REAL POTENTIAL FOR
BEING THE PATH TO HER SUCCESS.

Outland:
ME BEING A COACH AT THAT TIME,

ALL I WANTED HER TO DO
WAS EXCEL.

KEEP YOUR EYE
ON THE BIG PICTURE.

YOU KNOW,
MAKE HERSELF BETTER.

SOUNDS LIKE YOUR PARENTS
TRIED VERY HARD TO STEER YOU.

YES, THEY WANTED ME
TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT
THERE THAT WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE.

Leday:
BECAUSE THEY KNOW -

YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER KNEW
HOW IT IS TO STRUGGLE.

Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

AS FATIMAH'S COACH,
WILLIE PLAYS AN ENORMOUS ROLE

IN ALL OF HER DREAMS
AND AMBITIONS.

BUT HER PARENTS ARE SO INVOLVED
IN EVERY ASPECT OF HER LIFE,

THEY DON'T GIVE HER
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW

AND MAKE MISTAKES.

EVENTUALLY, FATIMAH IS GOING TO
HAVE TO LEARN

HOW TO STAND
ON HER OWN TWO FEET.

DRIVE. DRIVE, DRIVE.
PASS.

THROUGH. OH, GOOD ASSIST.
GOOD ASSIST.

Narrator: FATIMAH ISN'T
THE ONLY KID WILLIE MENTORS.

HE WORKS WITH AT-RISK TEENS
AT TAMPA'S PARKS AND REC CENTER.

FATIMAH SOMETIMES JOINS HIM
AT WORK.

WILLIE TAKES A SPECIAL INTEREST
IN ONE OF THE YOUTHS,

A STAR ATHLETE
WHO'S WORKING TOWARDS

A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP.

ANTHONY WAS ONE OF THE KIDS
IN OUR PARK PROGRAM.

ANTHONY, COME ON
OVER HERE, MAN.

WHAT'S UP?

AND IT WAS
ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS

WHERE HE WAS
BASICALLY ABANDONED.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
EVERYTHING IS NOT GOOD, MAN.

I'M GONNA PROBABLY NEED A PLACE
TO STAY IN A LITTLE BIT.

SO, HE COMES TO ME
IN ALMOST TEARS.

HE SAYS, "I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO."

ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW,
I INVITED HIM INTO OUR HOME.

THANKS, COACH.

THIS IS A KIND
AND WELL-INTENTIONED

BUT SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS DECISION
THAT WILLIE IS MAKING.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

INVITING ANTHONY,
A VIRILE, YOUNG MAN

HE DOESN'T REALLY KNOW
THAT WELL,

TO COME LIVE IN HIS HOUSE
WITH HIS TEENAGE DAUGHTER.

Narrator: FATIMAH SUDDENLY HAS
TO GET USED TO ANOTHER TEENAGER

LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF.

MAYBE YOU GUYS
CAN PRACTICE TOGETHER.

Narrator: WILLIE HOPES
THE TWO PROMISING ATHLETES

WILL DEVELOP
A HEALTHY SIBLING RIVALRY.

ALL RIGHT. [ SIGHS ]
MAYBE.

HE WAS BASICALLY
LIKE A BIG BROTHER.

AT THE TIME,
THAT'S THE WAY I SAW IT.

I KIND OF LOOKED AT HIM
LIKE A BROTHER AT FIRST.

Narrator: BUT FATIMAH SOON FEELS
MORE THAN BROTHERLY LOVE

FOR THE GOOD-LOOKING ATHLETE.

COME ON. YOU GOT TO TELL ME
HOW THIS CAME ABOUT.

HE WAS TALL AND HANDSOME,
OF COURSE,

BUT HE WAS ALREADY CRUSHING
ON ME BEFORE HE MOVED IN.

SO WHEN HE FINALLY MOVED IN,
IT WAS LIKE, "OH."

WHEN HE MOVED IN,
I WAS STILL A VIRGIN.

I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING.

AND THEN AS THE TIME
KIND OF WENT BY,

WE STARTED TO HAVE RELATIONS
WITH EACH OTHER.

HEY, KIDS! WE'RE HOME!

UNDER YOUR PARENTS' NOSES.
YES.

Leday's Mother:
WE'RE HOME!

Oh, my God!

Go! Go! Get out!

Jordan: IN THEIR HOME?
YES.

THAT PART OF MY LIFE
WAS SUCH A SECRET.

Leday's Mother:
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HON?

NO ONE KNEW
WHO I WAS HOOKING UP WITH.

I'M STUDYING, MOM.

I DIDN'T TELL MY BUSINESS
TO ANYBODY.

EVERYTHING
EVERYBODY SAW WAS,

"SHE'S A TRACK STAR, SHE GETS
GOOD GRADES, SHE'S A GOOD GIRL."

DINNER WILL BE AT 7:00.

OKAY!

AND CHAPTER SIX...

BY HER SENIOR YEAR,
FATIMAH AND ANTHONY

HAD BEEN SLEEPING TOGETHER
FOR TWO YEARS.

HEY, YOU KNOW THE BEST
GIRLFRIEND I NEVER HAD, RIGHT?

DON'T USE THAT WORD.

WHICH WORD?
THE "G. F." WORD.

FATIMAH LIKES HIM A LOT,

BUT SHE'S FOCUSED
ON HER OWN FUTURE,

WHICH MEANS
GETTING HER RUN TIME DOWN

TO GET THE UNIVERSITY
OF SOUTH FLORIDA SCHOLARSHIP.

FATIMAH IS TOO WRAPPED UP IN
HER OWN DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS

TO TAKE BOYS SERIOUSLY.

WHY DON'T WE FOCUS MORE
ON CHEMISTRY?

BUT IT IS THAT DISCONNECT

BETWEEN HER DREAMS
AND HER RELATIONSHIPS

THAT'S GOING TO CREATE INNER
TURMOIL THROUGHOUT HER LIFE.

Narrator: AFTER MONTHS
OF INTENSE TRAINING,

FATIMAH IS HORRIFIED TO LEARN

HER RACE TIMES
ARE GETTING WORSE.

HOW'D I DO?

A 14.
14?

I WOULD RUN A 100-YARD DASH
IN 12 SECONDS,

BUT NOW I'M RUNNING IT
IN 14 SECONDS.

SO, I'M TWO SECONDS OFF.
WHERE - YOU KNOW -

THAT'S BIG.
THAT'S HUGE.

I MEAN, I HAD CRAMPS
THIS MORNING, BUT...

WE WERE OUT THERE WATCHING HER,

AND SHE WAS REALLY LABORING
IN THE 200,

WHICH IS A VERY SMOOTH RACE
FOR HER.

ARE YOU OKAY?

AND SHE WAS LIKE -
SHE WAS WAY OUT OF BREATH.

I SAID, "HONEY, YOU OKAY?"

[ SIGHS ]

THAT'S ENOUGH FOR TODAY,
ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: FATIMAH'S MOTHER
TAKES HER TO THE DOCTOR,

WORRIED SOMETHING MAY BE
SERIOUSLY WRONG.

I FELT A LUMP IN MY SIDE.

THEY THOUGHT
I HAD PULLED SOMETHING.

THIS IS GONNA BE
A LITTLE COLD, OKAY?

SO, THEY WENT TO DO
AN ULTRASOUND TO FIND OUT,

YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED.

THE ULTRASOUND TECH,
SHE WAS GOING IN, AND SHE,

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT IT,
AND MY MOTHER'S STANDING THERE.

SHE'S LIKE, "OH, MY GOD!
WHAT IS THAT?!"

SHE'S OKAY, ISN'T SHE?

FATIMAH,
YOU'RE PREGNANT.

HOW COULD -
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?!

I JUST WANTED TO DIE
IN THAT MOMENT.

Narrator: IN AN INSTANT,
FATIMAH'S SCHOLARSHIP DREAMS

COME CRASHING TO THE GROUND.

Narrator: 17-YEAR-OLD FATIMAH
LEDAY IS WITHIN ARM'S REACH

OF SNAGGING A PRESTIGIOUS
TRACK- AND-FIELD SCHOLARSHIP.

THE OLYMPICS CAN BE
RIGHT IN SIGHT.

THEN A DOCTOR REVEALS
A HURDLE SHE WASN'T EXPECTING.

FATIMAH,
YOU'RE PREGNANT.

OH, MY!

I'LL GIVE YOU TWO
A MOMENT.

THE AMBITIOUS TRACK STAR

CONSIDERS TERMINATING
THE PREGNANCY.

MOM,
I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE
A BABY.

YOU'RE TOO FAR ALONG.

Leday: MY MOTHER TOLD ME
THAT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION.

SO, CHANCES OF ME GETTING A USF
SCHOLARSHIP WAS DOWN THE DRAIN.

YOU'RE DONE.
YEP.

THAT HAD TO HURT.

IT DID BECAUSE
I REALLY WANTED TO RUN TRACK.

WHAT'S GOING ON?
YOU OKAY?

Narrator: BACK AT HOME,
FATIMAH DREADS BREAKING THE NEWS TO WILLIE.

Outland:
HOW WAS YOUR DOCTOR'S VISIT?

[ Voice breaking ]
I'M PREGNANT.

WHAT ABOUT TRACK?

WHAT ABOUT
YOUR SCHOLARSHIP?

WHAT ABOUT COLLEGE?
FATIMAH.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

I WAS REALLY DEVASTATED.

WORST PART ABOUT THE WHOLE THING
IS THAT I DISAPPOINTED MY DAD.

DID YOU EVEN KNOW
SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND?

NO. NO.

I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS.

IT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW,
A SHOCK, THAT, YOU KNOW,

SHE WAS, YOU KNOW,
SEXUALLY ACTIVE.

WHO IS THIS BOY?

I ASKED HER WHO THE FATHER WAS,
AND SHE WOULDN'T SAY.

HE JOINED THE MILITARY.
HE'S GONE NOW.

Narrator: TO PROTECT ANTHONY,

THE BOY HER FATHER INVITED
TO LIVE IN THEIR HOME,

AND HERSELF, SHE LIES.

Leday: I'M SORRY, DAD.

WERE YOU AFRAID THAT YOUR DAD
WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED

IF HE FOUND OUT
YOU WERE PREGNANT

BY THE GUY
HE BROUGHT INTO THE HOUSE?

YES, BECAUSE WE PUT ON
THIS FACADE

OF A BROTHER/SISTER RELATIONSHIP
THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW,
I CALLED HIM MY BROTHER

AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator: EVEN WITH ANTHONY,
FATIMAH STICKS TO HER STORY.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

MY BABY?

YEAH, THE BABY.

THAT'S MY BABY, RIGHT?

NO.

WELL, WHO BABY IS IT?

ON THE ONE HAND,
IT'S NOT SURPRISING

THAT FATIMAH WOULD LIE
TO HER FAMILY

ABOUT WHO THE BABY'S FATHER IS,

BUT A LITTLE MORE SURPRISING
THAT SHE WOULD LIE TO ANTHONY.

IT'S NOT YOURS.
I GOT TO GO.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT BECAUSE
SHE LIVED THIS SECRET LIFE

FOR SO LONG,
SHE'S ENTERED A STAGE OF DENIAL,

WHERE SHE CAN'T EVEN
ADMIT THE TRUTH TO HERSELF.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator:
AS THE MONTHS GO BY,

DISAPPOINTMENT
OVER LOSING THE SCHOLARSHIP

GIVES WAY TO
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EMOTION.

VERONICA, LOOK.

Leday: I WAS SO EXCITED
ABOUT THIS BABY.

I'M, LIKE,
RUNNING AROUND THE WHOLE SCHOOL,

THIS CRAZY PERSON, 17 YEARS OLD.

"LOOK. I'M PREGNANT.

HERE'S THE PICTURE.
HERE'S THE ULTRASOUND."

THAT'S CUTE!

ANYWAY, I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW
WHEN THE BABY SHOWER IS.

BYE.

JUST TAKE A COUPLE,
JUST A COUPLE!

THAT'S ALL.
JUST A COUPLE.

AH, YOU TOOK
ENOUGH PICTURES.

Narrator: IN JUNE, FATIMAH AND
ANTHONY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AT THE END OF THE SUMMER,
ANTHONY LEAVES FOR COLLEGE.

WEEKS LATER, 18-YEAR-OLD FATIMAH

GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY BOY
SHE NAMES TITUS.

EXCELLENT.

LET'S GO.
LET'S GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

HOW'D YOU FEEL
WHEN THEY PUT HIM IN YOUR ARMS?

I WAS VERY HAPPY.

HE WAS ADORABLE.

MAMA.

AND JUST THERE,
HE WAS SO GOOD.

HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT.
HE BARELY CRIED.

I COULDN'T EVEN BELIEVE
HOW WONDERFUL HE IS.

Narrator:
FATIMAH MAY BE A SINGLE MOTHER,

BUT SHE'S LIVING AT HOME

AND HAS PLENTY OF HELP
FROM HER FAMILY.

YOU GOT THIS BABY,

BUT YOUR MOM
IS KIND OF STEPPING IN

AND DOING A LOT OF THAT
FOR YOU.

RIGHT, MAKING SURE THAT I COULD
TAKE HIM TO HIS APPOINTMENTS,

MAKE SURE
HE GETS HIS SHOTS.

BUT AS FAR
AS TAKING CARE OF HIM

AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT
AS A MOTHER SHOULD,

I WAS JUST
KIND OF BABYSITTING.

FATIMAH'S PARENTS STILL HAVE
HIGH HOPES FOR THEIR DAUGHTER.

WE NEED TO TALK.

WE WORKED TOO HARD
FOR YOU TO THROW YOUR LIFE AWAY.

MY STEPDAD,
HE WAS ALWAYS, ALWAYS ON ME.

YOU'VE BEEN SITTING
IN THAT SPOT...

HE WAS LIKE,
"WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?

GET IT TOGETHER.
DO SOMETHING. DO SOMETHING."

AND I'M LIKE,
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."

Narrator:
HER PARENTS PROPOSE A SOLUTION.

SO, WE'VE COME UP
WITH A PLAN.

"DO YOU WANT TO JOIN
THE MILITARY?"

I SAY, "YES."

LIKE, "YES!

YES, I WANT
TO JOIN THE MILITARY."

WHAT ABOUT THE BABY?
I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO -

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

Leday: SHE'S LIKE, "I'LL TAKE
YOUR BABY WHILE YOU'RE GONE."

Leday's Mother: OKAY?

[ DRUM CADENCE PLAYING ]

HEY!

HEY!

Narrator: IN APRIL, 2002,

SIX MONTHS AFTER
THE BIRTH OF HER SON,

FATIMAH HEADS TO TEXAS
FOR TRAINING.

IT WAS AN OUT
FOR ME TO DO SOMETHING,

MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF.

I SAID "HOOAH!"
All: HOOAH!

WHEN FATIMAH TALKS ABOUT THE
MILITARY BEING AN OUT FOR HER,

SHE'S REFERRING TO HER ESCAPE
FROM BEING A NEW SINGLE MOM.

AFTER ALL, HER MOTHER
IS NOW TAKING CARE OF THE BABY

LIKE IT NEVER EVEN HAPPENED,

AND THAT LETS FATIMAH
OFF THE HOOK,

AND SHE DOESN'T
HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR GETTING PREGNANT
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO, JOINING THE MILITARY
GIVES HER AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR A COMPLETE DO-OVER.

THAT COULD BE GOOD,
AND IT CAN BE BAD.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN
LESS THAN A YEAR SINCE 9-11,

AND FATIMAH IS SCHEDULED
TO DEPLOY TO IRAQ.

THE BRIGHT RECRUIT WILL SPEND
THE NEXT SIX MONTHS IN TEXAS

TRAINING FOR HER POSITION
AS A COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST.

ONE DAY, AS FATIMAH IS MOVING TO
A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE BASE,

ANOTHER SOLDIER
OFFERS HER A HAND.

HEY, DO YOU NEED
SOME HELP?

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

YEAH.

HIS NAME IS JONATHAN.

I SEEN HER COME THROUGH THE DOOR
WITH HER, YOU KNOW, DUFFEL BAGS.

WHERE YOU OFF TO?

AND I NOTICED
SHE WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

SHE HAD A PRETTY SMILE,
GOOD ATTITUDE.

I CAN TAKE YOU THERE.
IT'S A HUGE BASE.

OH, SURE. YEAH.

Narrator: JONATHAN IS
A 21-YEAR-OLD TANK MECHANIC.

I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
HE IS REALLY CUTE."

A LOT OF NICE RESTAURANTS
OFF BASE

IF YOU LIKE MEXICAN FOOD.

I WAS VERY, VERY ATTRACTED
TO THIS MAN, AND I REALLY -

I WAS LIKE,
"I HAVE TO HAVE HIM."

SO, NO GIRLFRIEND, HUH?

NO.

Narrator:
FROM THE MOMENT THEY MEET,

FATIMAH AND JONATHAN
BECOME A COUPLE.

K- KIND OF SHY, YOU KNOW?

WE'RE VERY, VERY CLOSE.

YOU KNOW, WE DID A LOT,
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

I FELL HARD FOR THIS GUY.

LIKE NO OTHER GUY.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM?

HE'S QUIET, HE'S NOT,
YOU KNOW,

ONE OF THOSE GUYS
THAT'S FLASHY,

AND HE NEEDS
A LOT OF GIRLFRIENDS.

HE'S JUST - HE'S HAPPY WITH
WHO HE'S WITH, AND THAT'S IT.

Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HER LIFE, FATIMAH IS IN LOVE.

THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM.

EVEN THOUGH
THEY'VE BEEN DATING FOR MONTHS,

JONATHAN STILL HASN'T TOLD HER
HE LOVES HER.

I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE
LIKE YOU BEFORE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT'S ALMOST LIKE
WE'RE MEANT TO BE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I'M VERY HAPPY
YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

Leday: I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
THE FEELINGS WERE MUTUAL

BECAUSE HE NEVER EXPRESSED TO ME
THAT HE LOVED ME,

SO I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HE DID.

Narrator:
FATIMAH DECIDES TO TAKE A CHANCE

AND PUTS HER FEELINGS
ON THE LINE.

I LOVE YOU, JONATHAN.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I- I-I LIKE YOU A LOT, TOO.

L- LOOK, I MEAN -

LOOK, WE GOT, LIKE,
AN EARLY MORNING TOMORROW,

SO, I MEAN, WE SHOULD PROBABLY
GET SOME SLEEP.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN REAL... QUIET.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW
HOW TO EXPRESS EMOTION TOO GOOD,

BUT I DID HAVE
A LOT OF FEELINGS FOR HER.

Narrator: FATIMAH'S CRUSHED
BY WHAT FEELS LIKE INDIFFERENCE.

FATIMAH IS THE KIND OF GIRL WHO
CAN EXPRESS HER LOVE VERBALLY,

AND SHE'S GOING TO EXPECT
THE SAME FROM JONATHAN,

SO WHEN HE DOESN'T REACT
THE SAME WAY,

SHE JUST ASSUMES
HE'S NOT INTERESTED,

AND THIS IS
THE KIND OF MISCOMMUNICATION

THAT CAN DOOM AN OTHERWISE HAPPY
AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

Narrator: LATER, JONATHAN PUTS HIS
TRUE FEELINGS FOR FATIMAH IN WRITING.

Bromell:
I DID WRITE A LETTER TO HER.

I TOLD HER THAT
I'M NOT A REALLY VERBAL PERSON

WHEN IT COMES TO EXPRESSING
MY FEELINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW,
THE EASIEST WAY FOR ME

TO LET YOU KNOW
HOW I WAS REALLY FEELING

IS TO, YOU KNOW,
WRITE YOU A LETTER,

TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU.

Narrator: HE HIDES THE LETTER
IN ONE OF HER BAGS...

...BUT FATIMAH DOESN'T SEE IT.

THINKING JONATHAN
DOESN'T LOVE HER,

FATIMAH ENDS THE RELATIONSHIP.

SO, IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?

IT'S NOT WORKING.

Leday: SO, I GUESS
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME

THAT I REALLY FELL FOR SOMEONE,

SO FOR ME TO
I GUESS MAKE MYSELF VULNERABLE,

I WASN'T COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT.

SO, I BROKE IT OFF.

WE CAN TRY.

Narrator: JONATHAN BELIEVES
SHE'S SEEN HIS LOVE LETTER,

BUT THINKS SHE'S BREAKING UP
WITH HIM ANYWAY.

Bromell:
I WAS A LITTLE SAD ABOUT IT,

BUT I DIDN'T SAY
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.

Narrator: JONATHAN AND FATIMAH
BELIEVED THEY HAD FOUND

THE LOVE OF EACH OTHER'S LIVES,

BUT THINGS LEFT UNSAID STOP
ROMANTIC DESTINY IN ITS TRACKS.

COMING UP,
FATIMAH FINDS JONATHAN'S LETTER,

BUT LEARNS A DEVASTATING SECRET.

IT'S NOT WORKING.

Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD
ARMY PRIVATE FATIMAH LEDAY

JUST BROKE UP
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, JONATHAN.

SHE NEVER SAW A LETTER
HE LEFT IN HER DUFFEL BAG

DECLARING HIS LOVE FOR HER.

THERE'S NO TIME
TO EMOTIONALLY PROCESS

THE END OF THE RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S MAY 2003, AND THE IRAQ WAR
IS IN FULL SWING.

ONE MONTH EARLIER,
U. S. MARINE AND COALITION FORCES

INVADED THE CITY OF TIKRIT,
QUICKLY TAKING CONTROL

OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
EXTRAVAGANT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

THE PALACE BECOMES
FATIMAH'S BASE OF OPERATIONS.

AND I LIVED IN SADDAM'S PALACE.

MARBLE FLOORING, WALLS.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

[ WHIZZING, EXPLOSION ]

Narrator: BUT OUTSIDE THE PALACE,
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD.

[ EXPLOSION ]

AND DID YOU SEE
BAD STUFF?

YES. A LOT.

I LOST
A LOT OF MY FRIENDS.

I WAS READY TO GO HOME.

[ EXPLOSIONS ]

FATIMAH MAY BE RUNNING AWAY
FROM HER RESPONSIBILITIES

AS A NEW SINGLE MOM,
BUT NOW SHE FINDS HERSELF

LITERALLY IN A WAR ZONE.

IT'S LIKE OUT OF THE FRYING PAN
AND INTO THE FIRE.

SHE IS NOT EVEN
20 YEARS OLD YET,

AND THIS IS A LOT FOR ANYONE,

LET ALONE SOMEONE SO YOUNG,
TO HANDLE PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Narrator: FATIMAH ISN'T THINKING
ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP,

BUT SIX MONTHS
INTO HER ASSIGNMENT,

SHE CATCHES THE EYE

OF A HANDSOME SUPPLIES OFFICER
NAMED CARLTON.

WHO - WHO IS THAT
RIGHT THERE?

YOU TALKING ABOUT
FATIMAH?

MAN, HOLD THIS.
WATCH THIS.

OH, OH.
WATCH ME WORK.

I SAW HER. I SAID TO MY FRIENDS,
"I'M GONNA TALK TO HER."

HOW YOU LADIES DOING
TODAY?

SHE WAS ATHLETIC.

SHE HAD A PRETTY SMILE,
SO MAYBE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

MY NAME IS CARLTON.

FATIMAH.

HOW ABOUT WE PLAY A GAME
OF ONE-ON-ONE?

SOME ONE-ON-ONE
WITH ME?

YOU'RE NOT SCARED
OF A LITTLE BIT OF "D," ARE YOU?

COME ON.
OKAY.

OKAY, OKAY, I MIGHT HAVE TO GET
A LITTLE SERIOUS ON YOU.

Narrator:
CARLTON IS QUICKLY ENAMORED

WITH THE FUN-LOVING
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER.

OKAY, OKAY.

I MIGHT HAVE TO
MESS AROUND

AND MAKE YOU
MY WIFE ONE DAY, GIRL.

I PROBABLY TOLD HER
WHEN I FIRST MET HER

THAT SHE WAS GONNA BE MY WIFE
WHEN I WAS IN IRAQ.

I DON'T TELL EVERY GIRL
THAT I MEET

I'M GONNA MARRY THEM
OR SOMETHING,

BUT I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I KIND
OF FELT A STRONG CONNECTION.

AH.

SO, CARLTON WAS FUN.

DEFINITELY. DEFINITELY.

GOOD, GREAT GUY.

Narrator: FATIMAH DECIDES
TO GIVE CARLTON A CHANCE

AND THE TWO START
SEEING EACH OTHER.

HE MADE IT MUCH EASIER
TO GET THROUGH THAT DEPLOYMENT.

HOW DO YOUR FEELINGS
FOR CARLTON

COMPARE TO THOSE THAT YOU HAD
FOR JONATHAN?

THEY DIDN'T COMPARE
AS MUCH.

JONATHAN HAD
YOUR HEART, HUH?

HE DID. HE DID.

Narrator: THEN ONE DAY,
AFTER MORE THAN SIX MONTHS,

FATIMAH FINALLY DISCOVERS
THE HIDDEN LOVE LETTER

JONATHAN WROTE TO HER.

IT WAS A LETTER EXPLAINING TO ME
HOW MUCH HE LOVED ME

AND NO, HE DOES NOT
VERBALLY SAY THAT HE LOVES ME,

BUT HE DOES,
AND I'M THE BEST THING

THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED
TO HIM.

I MEAN,
IT WAS THIS LONG LETTER

THAT HE WROTE
BEFORE WE BROKE UP.

I WAS IN MY BAG, AND I FOUND
THIS NOTE THAT HE WROTE.

Narrator: FATIMAH SETS HER HEART
ON GETTING JONATHAN BACK.

A.K.O., GET ON,
FIND HIS E-MAIL.

YOU'RE REALLY THINKING ABOUT
GETTING BACK WITH JONATHAN?

WHY NOT?

BUT WHEN SHE STARTS
ASKING ABOUT HIM,

A FRIEND
DELIVERS A BOMBSHELL.

GIRL, HE'S MARRIED.

[ CHUCKLES ]
NO. MARRIED?

THE NEWS
OF JONATHAN'S MARRIAGE

IS GOING TO LEAVE FATIMAH
VERY CONFUSED AND REJECTED.

SHE'S GOING TO FEEL
MORE ALONE THAN EVER,

AND SHE'S GOING TO CLING
TO THE ONE MAN

WHO IS CLOSE BY AND AVAILABLE.

I'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU GUYS
IN A MINUTE.

FATIMAH'S CRUSHED, BUT
ONCE AGAIN RESOLVES TO MOVE ON.

CARLTON.

LET'S PLAY BASKETBALL.

YEAH.

WITH JONATHAN, I KIND OF
GAVE HIM MY WHOLE HEART.

LET'S GO.

BUT I KIND OF, LIKE,
LET THAT GO,

AND I FOCUSED ON CARLTON.

I KIND OF CLINGED TO HIM.

THE COUPLE SPENDS
THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS TOGETHER

UNTIL CARLTON RETURNS TO BASE
IN TEXAS.

ONE MONTH LATER, IN MARCH, 2004,
FATIMAH JOINS HIM.

HE'S WAITING THERE
WITH OPEN ARMS, NICE NEW CAR.

THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE DEPLOYED,
WE HAD TO BE IN UNIFORM,

SO I NEVER SAW HIM
IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES.

HE CLEANED UP VERY NICE.

Narrator: THE PAIR PICK UP
WHERE THEY LEFT OFF,

AND THE ROMANCE
QUICKLY DEEPENS.

I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

WHEN SHE GOT BACK, WE STARTED
SPENDING MORE TIME TOGETHER.

THEY BOTH LIVE ON BASE AND
CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE ARMY.

I WOULD GO SPEND THE NIGHT
AT HER ROOM,

OR SHE'D COME OVER
AND SPEND THE NIGHT AT MY ROOM

PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.

Narrator: IN JUNE, THREE MONTHS
AFTER RETURNING TO TEXAS,

FATIMAH GOES TO THE DOCTOR
FOR A CHECKUP

AND GETS
SOME FAMILIAR NEWS.

YOU'RE PREGNANT.

FATIMAH'S FIRST CHILD,
TITUS,

IS IN STILL IN FLORIDA
WITH HER MOTHER.

FATIMAH SHARES THE NEWS
WITH CARLTON.

Addison: I WAS REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING A FATHER.

I ALWAYS SAID THAT I WANTED

MY MOTHER OF MY CHILD
TO BE MY WIFE, SO...

WHAT'S THAT?

[ CHUCKLES ]

THAT'S A MAGICAL FLOWER
RIGHT THERE, BAE.

I BOUGHT, LIKE,
A FAKE FLOWER THAT OPENS UP

AND HAD A RING ON IT...

Addison:
THEY'RE ROMANTIC, THOUGH.

OH!

...ASKED HER
IF SHE WOULD MARRY ME.

WILL YOU MARRY, ME BABY?

[ CHUCKLES ] PLEASE.

Narrator:
21-YEAR-OLD FATIMAH HESITATES.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[ CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY ]

UM... GIRL'S GOT TO THINK
ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IT ALL JUST
SPRUNG UP ON ME.

SHE CAN'T PICTURE HERSELF
AS CARLTON'S WIFE.

I AM TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S WHY I JOINED THE ARMY.

FATIMAH CLAIMS HER FAMILY
PRESSURES HER INTO ACCEPTING.

HE CONVINCED HIS MOM
AND CONVINCED MY MOM

TO TRY TO CONVINCE ME
TO SAY YES.

I CAN'T TAKE CARE
OF THIS BABY FOREVER.

AND I TOLD THEM -
EVERYBODY - NO.

"NO, I'M NOT READY
TO GET MARRIED."

I DON'T KNOW, MOM.

HONEY, IT IS TIME
FOR YOU TO START MAKING...

I'M JUST GETTING INTO
THE MILITARY.

I'M TRYING TO GET SITUATED,
BUT THEY WERE LIKE,

"HE WANTS TO MARRY YOU,
YOU NEED TO MARRY HIM."

CARLTON IS A GOOD MAN.

Don't pass up this opportunity.

FATIMAH IS RIGHT TO HESITATE.

WE THINK RIGHT NOW,

IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO START
WORKING ON THAT FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

I MEAN, SHE WENT
FROM HER PARENTS' HOME

AND HER COACH'S INFLUENCE
INTO THE MILITARY,

BUT SHE'S NEVER HAD THE TIME TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS

AND TO DISCOVER HERSELF AND
MAYBE EVEN SOW SOME WILD OATS.

BUT IF FATIMAH
GETS MARRIED TOO EARLY,

SHE COULD REALLY
LIVE TO REGRET IT.

HOW WAS YOUR DAY, BAE?

Narrator:
AFTER TWO MONTHS OF WAFFLING,

FATIMAH FINALLY GIVES CARLTON

THE ANSWER
HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR.

LOOK AT MY LITTLE GUY.

HEY, LITTLE MAN.

I FEEL
MY LITTLE MAN KICKING.

[ SMOOCHES ]

HEY.
WHAT?

LET'S DO THIS.

DO WHAT?

LET'S GET MARRIED?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
RIGHT NOW?

I'M A DAY-BY-DAY
TYPE OF PERSON.

LIKE, I WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED TODAY?"

HE WAS LIKE, "OKAY."

I'LL ASK
FOR AN EXTRA HOUR.

AND I CALLED MY BOSS
AND SAID,

"HEY, I'M GONNA BE LATE
COMING BACK FROM LUNCH,

'CAUSE I'M GETTING MARRIED."

THEY WERE LIKE, "WHAT?!"

FATIMAH,
ARE YOU TELLING ME

YOU GOT MARRIED
ON YOUR LUNCH HOUR?

I DID.
[ CHUCKLES ]

Man: AND IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS,
WE TAKE MARRIAGE VERY SERIOUSLY.

IT'S NOT THE WEDDING
CARLTON WAS HOPING FOR,

BUT HE GOES ALONG WITH IT
TO MAKE HIS FUTURE WIFE HAPPY.

THE WEDDING
THAT I WOULD PICTURE IS, LIKE,

A BIG CHURCH WEDDING WITH
HER FAMILY AND MY FAMILY THERE.

BUT BEING THAT
SHE WAS FROM FLORIDA,

AND I'M FROM SOUTH CAROLINA,
AND WE'RE LIVING IN TEXAS,

IT WAS KIND OF HARD
TO GET EVERYBODY THERE.

FATIMAH CASUALLY GETTING MARRIED
ON HER LUNCH HOUR,

AS IF IT'S NO BIG DEAL,

IS A GLARING SYMPTOM OF HOW
SHE FEELS ABOUT THIS MARRIAGE.

SHE'S RUSHING INTO IT.

SHE'S NOT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

SHE DOESN'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT IT

TO EVEN INVITE FRIENDS
AND FAMILY.

A LUNCH-HOUR MARRIAGE

IS USUALLY NOT A GOOD SIGN
OF THINGS TO COME.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

LOOK WHAT I GOT
MY LITTLE MAN.

Narrator:
A MONTH BEFORE SHE'S DUE,

FATIMAH LEAVES THE ARMY AND GETS
READY TO EMBRACE MOTHERHOOD.

THE MILITARY ALLOWS YOU
TO GET OUT IF YOU'RE PREGNANT.

DADDY KNOWS BEST.
OH, GOOD GOD.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

Narrator: BUT ONE WEEK
BEFORE THE BABY'S BORN,

THE COUPLE GET
SOME UPSETTING NEWS.

HELLO?

BUT, FIRST SERGEANT...

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

[ ALL GRUNTING AND SHOUTING ]

Narrator: FATIMAH NEVER DREAMED
OF BEING A HOUSEWIFE...

BUT THE 21-YEAR-OLD
TIED THE KNOT

WITH HER ARMY BOYFRIEND CARLTON

AFTER DISCOVERING
SHE WAS PREGNANT.

HELLO?

AND THEY'VE JUST GOTTEN THE CALL
THEY'VE BEEN DREADING.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

THE WEEK BEFORE
MY SON WAS BORN...

ROGER THAT.

...THEY DEPLOYED CARLTON.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU ALREADY KNOW
HOW THIS WORKS.

Narrator: HE'S SHIPPING OUT
TO IRAQ IMMEDIATELY.

Leday: I WAS SO UPSET.

I WAS VERY UPSET,
AND I WAS UPSET WITH HIM.

I HAVE TO GO.
I GOT TO DO MY JOB.

I WAS LIKE,
"YOU NEED TO BE HERE.

YOUR WIFE IS HAVING YOUR BABY."

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?!

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO DO?!

CALL HIM BACK!

Narrator: BUT CARLTON'S
JUST MADE SERGEANT,

AND THERE'S
NO GETTING OUT OF IT.

WHY YOU ACTING LIKE I DON'T WANT
TO BE THERE FOR MY SON?!

CALL HIM BACK!

Addison:
MY FIRST SERGEANT TOLD ME

THAT I HAD TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY
WITH THE COMPANY.

Narrator: CARLTON LEAVES
FOR IRAQ WITH A HEAVY HEART.

PLEASE TAKE CARE
OF MY BABY FOR ME.

HE'S MY FIRSTBORN SON,
AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE HIM.

SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY
MIXED EMOTIONS AT THAT POINT.

Narrator: FATIMAH RETURNS
TO FLORIDA TO HAVE THE BABY

AND WAIT OUT CARLTON'S
ONE-YEAR DEPLOYMENT.

SHE MOVES IN WITH HER MOM,

WHO'S SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS
RAISING HER FIRST SON, TITUS.

TITUS IS IN THE CAR.
WE'RE GOING SHOPPING.

BY NOW, HER STEPDAD WILLIE
AND HER MOTHER

ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER.

EVERY WEEK, THE ARMY DEPOSITS
CARLTON'S EARNINGS

INTO A JOINT BANK ACCOUNT.

[ BABY CRYING ]

FATIMAH CAN DEVOTE ALL HER TIME
TO BEING A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE PERFECT SETUP.

INSTEAD, SHE FEELS TRAPPED.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER

THAT FATIMAH HAS NEVER ENJOYED
FREEDOM AS A YOUNG ADULT.

SHE HAD A BABY IN HER TEENS,
THEN SHE JOINED THE MILITARY,

THEN SHE GOT MARRIED
AND HAD ANOTHER BABY.

NOW HER HUSBAND IS HALFWAY
AROUND THE WORLD IN IRAQ,

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,
SHE GETS TO EXPERIENCE

WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO BE A 21-YEAR-OLD.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THIS CLUB IS JUMPING.

Narrator: WHEN HER HIGH-SCHOOL
FRIENDS COME CALLING,

THE RESTLESS YOUNG MOTHER
DECIDES SHE DESERVES

TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN.

I HAD SINGLE FRIENDS
WHO, YOU KNOW,

THEY WANTED TO HANG OUT
ALL THE TIME, SO WE DID.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE KIND OF
MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME.

YEAH, I DID.
I MADE UP... A LOT.

YOU SHOULD TOTALLY
GO TALK TO MY BOYFRIEND.

HE'S THE DEEJAY, AND HE'S ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR PROMOTERS.

Narrator:
THE RESOURCEFUL YOUNG WOMAN

SOON FINDS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PULL IN SOME EXTRA CASH.

HI. I'M FATIMAH.

Leday:
I BROUGHT IN TALENT -

COMEDIANS OR SINGERS, RAPPERS -

TO THE CLUB, AND THEN COLLECTED
THE DOOR MONEY.

I'M NOT IN THE MILITARY ANYMORE.

I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
WITH MY LIFE.

HEY, BABY.
WHAT'S GOING ON?

OH, HI, BABE.

Narrator: FATIMAH DOESN'T THINK
CARLTON WILL APPROVE

OF HER NEW JOB,
SO SHE KEEPS IT TO HERSELF.

IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

YEAH, YEAH. I'VE JUST -
I'VE JUST BEEN BUSY.

HE WAS MORE OF A HOMEBODY.

AND HE EXPECTED YOU
TO BE A HOMEBODY.

YES.

YOU'RE NOT REALLY ANSWERING
MY E-MAILS OR ANYTHING.

Narrator: BUT CARLTON STARTS
TO SENSE THAT SOMETHING'S OFF.

SHE WOULD KIND OF BE SHORT
WITH ME.

YEAH, I'M ACTUALLY GETTING READY
TO DO SOMETHING.

SAY WHAT?
YOU'VE BEEN DOING WHAT?

I'VE BEEN DOING CLUB PROMOTIONS,
BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK.

Narrator:
FATIMAH FINALLY ADMITS

SHE'S BEEN SPENDING MORE TIME
AT THE CLUB THAN IN THE KITCHEN.

I'M OUT HERE
GETTING BOMBS DROPPED ON ME,

and you're out here
partying in the club?

ARE YOU SERIOUS,
FATIMAH?

I'M GOING OUT,
MAKING MONEY FOR OUR FAMILY.

SHE WOULD TELL ME THINGS LIKE
IT'S HER LIFE,

AND SHE'S YOUNG,
AND SHE STILL FEELS LIKE

SHE'S GONNA GO OUT
AND HAVE FUN...

WHO GOT THE KIDS?

...AND DO THE THINGS
SHE NEEDS TO DO

TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IN LIFE, SO...

DON'T YOU WANT ME
TO BE SOMEBODY.

...THAT WOULD BE
HER EXCUSE.

FATIMAH!

I WAS JUST KIND OF HOLDING ON
THE HOPE THAT WHEN I GOT BACK,

THINGS WOULD CHANGE, AND WE'D
BE ABLE TO WORK THINGS OUT

AND BE A FAMILY.

[ SIGHS ]

SO, WHAT'S GOING ON
IN YOUR MIND?

JUST GONNA ENJOY THIS
UNTIL HE GETS HOME.

COME HERE WITH JACQUEL.
LET ME SEE HIM FOR A SECOND.

Narrator: IN JANUARY, 2006,
CARLTON'S TOUR OF DUTY ENDS.

FATIMAH PACKS UP HER TWO KIDS
AND HEADS BACK TO TEXAS

TO REUNITE WITH HER HUSBAND.

IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR

SINCE THE NEWLYWED COUPLE
HAS SEEN EACH OTHER.

NOW FATIMAH WILL HAVE TO MAKE
A MAJOR LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENT.

YOU'RE PARTY GIRL
AND THEN YOU'RE SUZY HOMEMAKER

WHEN HE HITS THE GROUND?

YEP. I HAD TO.

WANT TO SEE
WHAT DADDY GOT YOU?

AND HOW WAS HE
WITH YOUR NEWBORN?

OH, MY GOSH.
LOVED BEING A DAD.

LOVED HIS SON TO PIECES.

Addison:
WHEN I FIRST GOT BACK,

MAYBE THE FIRST WEEK
WAS HAPPINESS OF BEING ABLE

TO BE THERE
WITH MY FAMILY AGAIN.

Narrator: BUT THE CHEERFUL
REUNION QUICKLY DISSOLVES

INTO A STRING
OF BITTER BATTLES.

FATIMAH!

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION?

CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT?

Leday: HE WANTED THINGS
THE WAY HE WANTED THINGS -

VERY CLEAN, VERY ORGANIZED,
YOU KNOW?

YOU DON'T SEE
ALL THESE FREAKING DISHES?

WHY'S THE HOUSE SO NASTY.

WE ARGUED, IT SEEMED LIKE,
ON A DAILY BASIS.

IT WAS LIKE PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING
WOULD SET OFF AN ARGUMENT.

THERE'S FOUR DISHES IN THE SINK,
AND IF YOU SEE THEM,

YOU JUST CLEAN THEM UP.

MY TEMPER WAS EXTRA-SHORT.

LISTEN HERE, FATIMAH!

Narrator:
AFTER A YEAR IN IRAQ,

CARLTON'S ALSO HAVING A HARD
TIME ADJUSTING TO FAMILY LIFE.

I'M OUT THERE
GETTING SHOT AT!

I WAS STUCK IN AN ENVIRONMENT

WHERE I WAS BASICALLY FENDING
FOR MY LIFE FOR 12 MONTHS.

HERE'S A BROOM!
YOU USE A BROOM JUST LIKE THIS!

THAT'S ALL
YOU GOT TO DO!

COME BACK HOME
AND INSTANTLY CALM BACK DOWN

IS KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE.

Narrator: FATIMAH'S TASTED
FREEDOM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

NOW SHE CAN'T PUT THE GENIE
BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

Leday: I AM LIKE,
"THIS IS WHY I TOLD YOU

"I DIDN'T WANT TO GET MARRIED.

I AM NOT A WIFE
AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE."

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT.

I AM 21-YEAR-OLD PARTY GIRL.

FATIMAH HAS ALWAYS
CRAVED EXCITEMENT,

BUT CARLTON, ON THE OTHER HAND,

HAS JUST RETURNED
FROM A WAR ZONE,

AND ALL HE WANTS
IS CALM AND STABILITY

WHILE HE ACCLIMATES
TO NORMAL LIFE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO WORK
40 HOURS A WEEK

AND CLEAN THE HOUSE, TOO?

SO, THE TENSION IS
GOING TO BUILD BETWEEN THEM.

THE QUESTION'S GOING TO BE

WHO WILL CRACK FIRST,
AND HOW UGLY WILL IT GET?

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: BY JUNE 2006,

THREE MONTHS
AFTER CARLTON'S RETURN,

THE HOUSEHOLD FEELS
MORE LIKE A WAR ZONE.

Leday:
HEY, BABE. HOW ARE YOU?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?
WHERE YOU GOING?

I'M GOING OUT.

GOING OUT?
GOING OUT WITH WHO?

[ SIGHS ] OUT, CARLTON.

ONE DAY,
CARLTON FINDS FATIMAH

GETTING READY TO GO SHOPPING
WITH A FRIEND.

Leday: MY GIRLFRIEND CALLS,
AND SHE'S LIKE,

"OKAY, WELL,
YOU WANT TO COME OUT WITH ME?"

I'M LEAVING.
MOVE.

WHERE YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING, FATIMAH?

WHERE ARE MY KEYS?
[ KEYS JINGLE ]

Narrator: BUT CARLTON PUTS
A LOCK ON HER PLANS.

Addison:
SHE COULD NOT GET THE KEYS.

I TOLD HER SHE WASN'T DRIVING
THE CAR THAT I PAID FOR,

AND THAT WAS JUST HOW
I WAS FEELING AT THE TIME.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
GIVE ME MY KEYS, CARLTON.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
GIVE ME MY KEYS.

THOSE CAR KEYS ARE A SYMBOL
OF FATIMAH'S FREEDOM,

AND CARLTON TAKING AWAY
THE CAR KEYS, TO FATIMAH,

IS HIS WAY OF CONTROLLING
HER INDEPENDENCE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING NOWHERE
TONIGHT.

THAT'S THE
CENTRAL BATTLE HERE.

FATIMAH IS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP
THAT FREEDOM WITHOUT A FIGHT.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE."

"WHAT?"

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
FATIMAH.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?!
GIVE ME MY KEYS!

OKAY, SO NOW WE HAVE
A PROBLEM.

NOW WE REALLY -
WE REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM.

Narrator: FATIMAH'S FURIOUS,
BUT CARLTON WON'T BACK DOWN.

AT THIS POINT,
I WAS JUST FED UP

WITH ALL THE THINGS
THAT WERE GOING ON,

AND I ALREADY HAD MADE IT UP
IN MY MIND

THAT THE MARRIAGE
WASN'T GONNA WORK,

AND YOU'RE NOT DRIVING
ANYTHING OF MINE,

AND I DON'T NEED ANYTHING
FROM YOU.

THERE'S A KEY.
[ KEY JINGLING ]

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU?!

Narrator:
THEN THE FIGHT TURNS PHYSICAL.

I'M UPSET, SO I'M TRYING
TO REACH FOR THE KEYS

AND GRAB FOR THEM.

REACHING, GRABBING, AND IT GOES
INTO A TUSSLING MATCH.

GIVE ME MY CAR KEYS,
CARLTON.

Narrator: CARLTON LOCKS HIMSELF
IN THE BATHROOM

ALONG WITH THE KEYS
TO BOTH CARS.

OPEN UP THE DOOR.

GIVE ME MY KEYS!

I'M NOT PLAYING.

HE'S HOPING THEY JUST NEED
SOME TIME TO COOL DOWN.

GIVE ME MY KEYS!

[ POUNDS ON DOOR ]
OPEN UP THE DOOR.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE TOOK A
SHOWER AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

CARLTON,
GIVE ME MY KEYS!

Narrator: FATIMAH'S THE ONE
IN NEED OF A COLD SHOWER.

I JUST HAD A LOT OF ANGER
BUILT UP AT THAT POINT.

[ Echoing ] DON'T YOU WANT ME
TO BE SOMEBODY?

IT WAS MORE THAN
JUST THE KEYS.

IT WAS DEFINITELY ALL OF THE
TRYING TO CONTROL ME, PERIOD.

CARLTON,
GIVE ME MY KEYS!

I HAD NEVER BEEN THIS ANGRY.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME

THAT I REALLY BECAME FILLED
WITH SUCH RAGE.

SOMEHOW, SHE MANAGED TO OPEN
THE DOOR OF THE BATHROOM.

I FELT OUT OF CONTROL, LIKE
I WAS GOING TO KILL THIS PERSON.

WHO ARE YOU TELLING ME
I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE?!

HI. I'M FATIMAH.

Narrator: FATIMAH LEDAY
IS A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT

23-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF TWO...

I'M GOING OUT,
MAKING MONEY FOR OUR FAMILY.

...WHO REFUSES TO BE CONTROLLED
BY HER HUSBAND, CARLTON.

I'M NOT GIVING YOU
ANYTHING.

WHEN HE TAKES HER CAR KEYS AND
LOCKS HIMSELF IN THE BATHROOM...

CARLTON!!

...SHE BUSTS DOWN THE DOOR
IN A FIT OF RAGE.

FATIMAH CLAIMS
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

STOP, FATIMAH!

THEN I MUST'VE HIT HIM
TOO HARD IN THE FACE

BECAUSE THEN HE STARTED
TO CHOKE ME UP AGAINST THE WALL.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
AHH!

WAS LITERALLY BLACKING OUT

AS IF, LIKE,
THE SHOW'S ENDING RIGHT NOW.

SO I HAVE THE SCISSORS
IN MY HANDS, AND AT THIS POINT,

I ENDED UP STABBING HIM
LIKE EIGHT OR NINE TIMES.

AAAAH!

Narrator:
FINALLY, CARLTON LETS GO.

AAAAH!

BUT CARLTON TELLS THE STORY
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

WHO ARE YOU TELLING ME
I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE?!

[ BOTH SCREAMING ]

I'M SICK OF THIS!!

HE SAYS HE ONLY CHOKED FATIMAH
AFTER SHE ATTACKED HIM.

WHEN I FIRST SAW THE BLOOD, I
DON'T WANT TO SAY "BLACKED OUT,"

BUT I WAS BASICALLY
SEEING RED.

I WAS MAD
THAT SHE HAD CUT ME.

LOOK AT THIS!

WHERE ARE MY KEYS?!

STOP, FATIMAH!

SO I KIND OF JUMPED OUT
OF THE SHOWER,

CHOKED HER UP AGAINST THE WALL,

TOOK THE SCISSORS
OUT OF HER HAND,

KIND OF HELD HER THERE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

HOPING SHE WOULD CALM DOWN.

Narrator: CARLTON GRABS HIS KEYS
AND RACES TO THE CAR.

BUT CARLTON CLAIMS FATIMAH'S
NOT DONE WITH HIM.

ON MY WAY OUT OF THE HOUSE,
SHE COMES OUT OF THE BATHROOM...

WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING?!

...AND GRABS SOME KNIVES
AND STARTS CHUNKING THEM AT ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

I RUN OUT THE FRONT DOOR.

SHE, UH, COMES OUT THE
FRONT DOOR, STILL SCREAMING...

CARLTON!!

...ALL CRAZY AND IRATE.

WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING?

AT THAT POINT,
I WANTED TO KILL HIM.

OPEN UP THE CAR DOOR,
CARLTON.

GET OUT THE CAR,
CARLTON!

I'M NOT GETTING OUT OF NOTHING!!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

Addison: WHEN I WAS TRYING TO
GET THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION,

SHE SAID, "I'M GONNA MAKE SURE
YOU DON'T GO NOWHERE,"

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE STABBED
THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

[ AIR HISSES ]

YOU'RE TELLING ME
YOU COULDN'T CATCH YOUR HUSBAND,

SO YOU USED THE KNIFE
TO SLASH HIS TIRES?

YES, 'CAUSE IF I COULDN'T LEAVE,
NO ONE'S GOING ANYWHERE.

[ SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY ]

HELLO?

[ AIR HISSING ]

I'M AT 211 LINCOLN DRIVE.
PLEASE HELP ME OUT.

GET OUT THE CAR.
CARLTON, GET OUT THE CAR.

YOU STARTED IT,
AND NOW YOU WANT TO RUN AWAY?

[ SIREN CHIRPS ]

YOU CALLED
THE POLICE ON ME?!

Officer: MA'AM, MA'AM, MA'AM, MA'AM.
STEP BACK FROM THE CAR.

STEP BACK.

MA'AM, DROP THE KNIFE.
DROP THE KNIFE.

Addison: WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED
ON THE SCENE,

THEY TOOK PICTURES
OF THE KNIVES THAT WERE THROWN,

TOOK PICTURES OF THE TIRE
THAT SHE HAD CUT,

THEY TOOK A STATEMENT
FROM ME AS WELL AS HER.

YOU HIT ME!

Narrator: LUCKILY FOR CARLTON,
HIS STAB WOUNDS AREN'T LIFE-THREATENING.

MA'AM!
WE NEED YOU RIGHT HERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL.
MA'AM.

DO NOT RESIST.
DO NOT RESIST.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE.
I WAS LIKE, "WAIT."

[ HANDCUFFS CLICK ]

"WAIT, REALLY? YOU'RE REALLY
TAKING ME TO JAIL? WAIT.

WHO TAKES THE WOMAN TO JAIL
IN A DOMESTIC FIGHT?"

NO. NO!
I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL!

YOU NEED TO TAKE HIM
TO JAIL!

Narrator: FATIMAH'S CHARGED

WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
WITH A DEADLY WEAPON

AND FACES 25 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

GET INTO THE CAR!
I'M GOING TO JAIL!

HEAD DOWN NOW!

DO YOU THINK
IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE?

YES.

DO YOU KNOW
IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE?

NO.

CARLTON REFUSES
TO PRESS CHARGES.

FATIMAH AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY

IN EXCHANGE
FOR FOUR YEARS' PROBATION.

I JUST KIND OF LEFT HER ALONE,
WENT HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA,

AND LET HER DEAL WITH
HER OWN SITUATION.

FATIMAH IS VERY LUCKY
TO HAVE GOTTEN PROBATION.

IF THIS HAD GONE TO TRIAL
AND THAT JURY HAD HEARD

THAT SCENE LIKE
FROM THE MOVIE "PSYCHO"...

[ Echoing ] WHO ARE YOU
TELLING ME I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE?!

...WHERE SHE PULLS BACK
THE SHOWER CURTAIN

AND STABS HER HUSBAND,

WITH ALL THE BLOOD
GOING DOWN THE DRAIN -

IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT FATIMAH
WOULD BE BEHIND BARS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU
AND CARLTON?

UH, WE FILED FOR DIVORCE -
DEFINITELY.

Narrator: CURRENTLY,
THEY SHARE CUSTODY

AND TAKE TURNS RAISING
THEIR SON.

I BELIEVE THAT THE WHOLE THING
HAS GIVEN ME, LIKE,

REALLY SERIOUS TRUST ISSUES.

Narrator: TODAY, FATIMAH'S
LOVE LIFE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE.

THANKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA,
I GOT A MESSAGE...

HONEY.

...FROM JONATHAN.

JONATHAN FROM YOUR FIRST WEEK
IN THE MILITARY

IN TEXAS JONATHAN?

YES. [ CHUCKLES ]

JONATHAN WHO STOLE
YOUR HEART JONATHAN?

YES.

YOU FORGOT YOUR KEYS.

Narrator: LIKE FATIMAH,
JONATHAN'S ALSO DIVORCED.

HE SAID HE NEVER STOPPED
THINKING ABOUT ME,

AND I TOLD HIM SOMEWHERE

I'D NEVER STOPPED THINKING
ABOUT HIM, EITHER.

THERE YOU GO.

10 YEARS AFTER THEIR BREAKUP,
THE TWO REUNITE IN FLORIDA.

IT WAS LIKE SEEING HER FOR
THE FIRST TIME ALL OVER AGAIN.

I TRY TO WORK ON BEING A LITTLE
BIT MORE VOCAL, YOU KNOW...

I LOVE YOU.
LOVE YOU, TOO.

...EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR LOVE.

Narrator: CURRENTLY,
JONATHAN TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS

WHILE FATIMAH WORKS
AS AN AESTHETICIAN.

MY LIFE RIGHT NOW IS -
IT'S VERY GOOD.

I'M IN A HAPPY PLACE.
I WORK AT THE SPA.

SO, IT'S VERY CALMING,
AND I WORK FOR MYSELF,

SO I DON'T HAVE A BOSS
TO KIND OF TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

FOR FATIMAH,
IT'S A FAIRY-TALE ENDING.