Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 2 - Born This Way - full transcript

A TOUGH TEENAGER
IS REJECTED BY HER FAMILY...

I GOT TO GO.

- HUH?
- BYE.

I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU, TERRI
WAS LOTS OF TROUBLE GROWING UP.

...AND FORCED TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SURVIVE.

HEY, GIRLS.
LOOKING GOOD.

WHEN A CAR COMES,
IF HE POINTS AT YOU,

GET IN THE CAR.

SHE EVENTUALLY
MEETS HER SOUL MATE,

A MAN
WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER.

I JUST LOVED HER
AT THE FIRST MOMENT I SAW HER.



BUT WHEN HIS DARK SIDE EMERGES,

THIS BRAVE, YOUNG WOMAN
IS PUSHED TO HER BREAKING POINT.

DANNY STARTS FLIPPING OUT,

TELLING ME
WE BOTH FINNA DIE TODAY.

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

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

IT'S A SUMMER DAY
IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

AND TERRI PEARSON HAS ENJOYED
HER LAST MOMENTS OF FREEDOM.

SHE'S ABOUT TO SERVE A 3-YEAR
PRISON SENTENCE FOR BURGLARY.

I KEPT GETTING ARRESTED
FOR TAKING FOOD,

MORE FOOD THAN ANYTHING.

I KEPT TELLING POLICE OFFICERS
THAT I'M HOMELESS.

AND INSTEAD OF GETTING ME HELP,
THEY KEPT TAKING ME TO JAIL.

AT THE MAXIMUM SECURITY
PRISON, THE AWFUL TRUTH SINKS IN.



NOT ONLY IS THE 17-YEAR-OLD
BEING INCARCERATED AS AN ADULT.

SHE'S BEING INCARCERATED
AS A MAN.

I WAS A MALE TO THEM.

TERRY DWAYNE PEARSON JR.

WAS BORN IN THE PROJECTS
OF ELK CITY, OKLAHOMA, IN 1982.

HER GENDER ASSIGNMENT - MALE.

FOR AS LONG AS SHE CAN REMEMBER,
TERRI'S ALWAYS FELT DIFFERENT.

IT WAS JUST CONFUSING.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I BELONGED.

I JUST WASN'T ACCEPTED
WHERE I WANTED TO GO,

AND THAT WAS TO PLAY
WITH THE GIRLS.

AT A VERY EARLY AGE,

TERRI STARTS SHOWING
HER FEMININE SIDE...

TERRI, DINNER TIME.

OKAY, DAD.

...MUCH TO
HER FATHER'S DISGUST.

EXCUSE ME?

OKAY, DAD.

IS - IS THERE A GIRL
IN HERE WITH YOU?

'CAUSE THAT SOUNDED
LIKE A LITTLE GIRL'S VOICE.

I GOT WHOOPINGS FOR NOT BEING
BOYISH ENOUGH FOR MY DAD.

STAND UP.

HEAD UP.
SHOULDERS BACK.

YOU ARE A YOUNG MAN.

I KEEP TELLING YOU,
KNOCK IT OFF.

I DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER.
I HAVE A SON, RIGHT?

- YES.
- RIGHT?

I ALWAYS HAD A SOFT VOICE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I WAS, LIKE,
TOO FEMININE TO BE HIS SON.

- I'M SICK OF THIS CONVERSATION.
- OKAY. I'M SORRY.

HE WAS LIKE, "TALK RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT A GIRL.
TALK LIKE A BOY."

AND HE'S LIKE,
"WHY YOU TALK LIKE THAT?"

I'M LIKE,
"IT'S JUST THE WAY I TALK."

I'M SICK OF THIS.

AND THAT GOT ME MORE LICKS.

DR. CASEY JORDAN

IS A CRIMINOLOGIST
WHO HAS STUDIED AT-RISK YOUTH.

TERRI APPEARS AS A BOY
BUT CARRIES HERSELF AS A GIRL.

AND THIS IS MISUNDERSTOOD
BY SOCIETY AND HER FAMILY.

THESE DIFFERENCES
ARE CONFUSING FOR TERRI,

AND IT'S GOING
TO MAKE IT VERY HARD

FOR HER TO FIGURE OUT
WHO SHE IS.

DESPITE FEELING
TRAPPED INSIDE HER BODY,

TERRI DISCOVERS A WAY TO COPE.

EVERY CHANCE SHE GETS, TERRI
SNEAKS INTO HER MOTHER'S CLOSET

AND TRIES ON HER CLOTHES
AND MAKEUP.

I WOULD JUST WALK AROUND
IN HER HEELS.

AND THEY WOULD BE WAY TOO BIG.

BUT IT WAS THE EXCITEMENT
OF ME DOING IT.

AND I WOULD TIE ONE OF HER
SHIRTS AROUND MY HEAD LIKE HAIR.

BUT HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU
PUT ON YOUR MOM'S MAKEUP

AND DRESSED UP
IN HER HIGH HEELS?

COMPLETE.
I FELT COMPLETE.

I HATED BEING A BOY.

YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE A GIRL.

IT FELT LIKE, "THIS IS
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING."

BUT ONE DAY,

HER MOTHER COMES HOME EARLY.

TERRI!

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?

I HAD A LITTLE BOY,
NOT A LITTLE GIRL.

SO HE SHOULD HAVE STAYED
AS A LITTLE BOY.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
IN MY DRESS?

YOU CRAZY?

AND TALKING TO TERRI

WAS JUST GOING IN ONE EAR
AND OUT THE OTHER.

TERRI WAS VERY BAD
AND DISRESPECTFUL.

I SPANKED TERRI,
AND I BEAT TERRI'S BUTT

FOR DOING THINGS
THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE.

FILLED WITH SHAME AND GUILT,

TERRI DESPERATELY
TRIES TO HEAL HERSELF.

WE USED TO GO TO CHURCH,

AND THEY WOULD PREACH
ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.

I WAS SCARED TO GO TO HELL
JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE WAS

AT A EARLY AGE.

AND SO I KIND OF TRIED
TO PRAY IT AWAY.

BUT IT DOESN'T WORK.

BY THE TIME I WAS LIKE 8,
I KNEW I WASN'T GAY,

AND I KNEW I DIDN'T LIKE GIRLS.

I WAS LIKE, "I'M A GIRL."

I WASN'T TRYING TO BE FEMININE.

IT WAS JUST ME.

BY THE TIME
TERRI STARTS HIGH SCHOOL,

HER PARENTS SPLIT UP.

TERRI'S MOTHER PACKS UP THE
FAMILY TO HEAD TO DALLAS, TEXAS,

TO START A NEW LIFE.

IT'S JUST GONNA BE ME, MY MAMA,
AND MY SIBLINGS.

LIKE, MY MAMA'S MUCH NICER
AWAY FROM MY DAD.

AND I WAS THINKING,
"IT'S GONNA BE GREAT."

LIFE IN DALLAS IS BETTER
THAN LIFE IN OKLAHOMA

BECAUSE YOU GOT
MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS IS A NEW START.
THIS IS WHERE I CAN BE ME.

IT JUST FELT GOOD.

HEY, MA.

TERRI GETS A JOB
AT A BURGER JOINT

TO HELP SUPPORT THE FAMILY.

SHE FEELS CLOSER TO HER MOTHER
THAN EVER BEFORE,

SO MUCH THAT TERRI DECIDES

TO SET HER MOM STRAIGHT
ABOUT HER GENDER IDENTITY.

WELL, SORT OF.

MA, I BEEN
THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING.

WHAT?

I THINK I'M...
BISEXUAL.

I TOLD MY MOM,

"I'M BISEXUAL," 'CAUSE
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

TERRI'S MOTHER
SIMPLY CHANGES THE SUBJECT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW
DISRESPECTFUL YOU'VE BEEN.

- HOW?
- DISOBEYING ME.

- HOW?
- THAT RIGHT THERE.

TERRI WAS DISRESPECTFUL.

- I'M NOT EVEN DOING -
- YOU'RE RUNNING YOUR MOUTH.

- I DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR TONE.
- MAN.

IT MADE LIFE
A LOT HARDER FOR HIM,

'CAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW HIS PLACE
AS A CHILD.

EYES OVER HERE.

YOU NEED TO STAY
IN A CHILD'S PLACE.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO OBEY THE RULES
IN THE HOUSE,

SO I GAVE TERRI
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

SHE WAS LIKE, "SINCE
YOU'RE MAKING ALL THIS MONEY

AND YOU THINK YOU'RE GROWN,

YOU GOT 120 DAYS TO GET OUT."

YOU'RE GROWN.
FIGURE IT OUT.

I'M LIKE, "I'M 14 YEARS OLD.

I'M NOT READY
TO LIVE ON MY OWN."

LOOK, I WANTED TO JUST
BE POWERFUL AND STRONG.

SO I'M SAYING, "I AGREE."

FINE.

ALL RIGHT.

TERRI PACKS UP
AND LEAVES THAT SAME DAY.

I LEFT EARLY BECAUSE I HAD MONEY
AND I COULD GO GET A WIG.

I COULD GO GET GIRL CLOTHES NOW.

TERRI TOOK IT UPON
HIS SELF TO LEAVE EARLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE DID.

THAT WAS THAT, AND I HAD
OTHER KIDS TO FOCUS ON.

GO.

SHE WAS REJECTING YOU
FOR WHO YOU WERE.

I AM NOT CRYING ON CAMERA.

I WANTED TO LEAVE AT THIS POINT,
'CAUSE I CAN GO BE ME.

TERRI IS RECREATING THE PAST AND
TRYING TO MAKE HERSELF BELIEVE

IT WAS HER OWN CHOICE
TO LEAVE.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE SEE WAY TOO OFTEN.

RECENT STUDIES SHOW THAT
FAMILY REJECTION IS THE REASON

WHY A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH
NUMBER OF YOUTH

THAT IDENTIFY AS LESBIAN, GAY,
BISEXUAL, OR TRANSGENDER

EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.

AT THE TENDER AGE OF 14,

TERRI DROPS OUT OF SCHOOL
AND IS LIVING ON THE STREETS.

WHERE DID YOU GO, TERRI?

EMPTY APARTMENTS,
GOING IN PEOPLE'S CARS.

IF YOU DIDN'T LOCK YOUR CAR
AT NIGHT,

I WOULD BE IN IT, ASLEEP.

AND THAT WAS JUST MY LIFE.

BUT EVERY CLOUD
HAS A SILVER LINING.

TERRI CAN NOW LIVE HER LIFE
THE WAY SHE WAS MEANT TO LIVE.

SHE DECIDES,
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD,

SHE WILL REINVENT HERSELF
AS A WOMAN.

50 CENT, THE RAPPER,
HAD A ALBUM OUT

CALLED "GET RICH OR DIE TRYING."

I USED TO SAY THAT ABOUT ME.

I'M EITHER GONNA BECOME A WOMAN,

OR I'M GONNA DIE TRYING,

'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA
WALK AROUND UNHAPPY AS A MAN

'CAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT

AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT
IN MY HEART, IN MY SOUL.

SO I HAD ONLY ONE OPTION -

DO IT OR DIE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE,

TERRI STARTS TO PUBLICLY
DRESS AS A WOMAN.

AND IT'S INTOXICATING.

IN SOME WAYS,
YOU EMBRACED YOUR FREEDOM.

YEP.

"NOW I CAN BE WHO I AM,
WHICH IS..."

A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

I HAD THE MAKEUP,
AND THAT MADE ME FEEL GOOD.

YOU KNOW, TRYING
TO FIND ANY LITTLE MIRROR,

GOING IN McDONALD'S BATHROOM.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE A PILLOW,
BUT YOU HAD A POWDER PUFF.

YES, MA'AM.

SHE ALSO STARTS TAKING
HORMONE INJECTIONS.

IT'S THE FIRST STEP

TOWARDS TRANSITIONING PHYSICALLY
INTO A WOMAN.

IT'S JUST $22 A SHOT.

ONE SHOT LASTS YOU
ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS,

AND YOU NEED ANOTHER ONE.

THE BIGGEST DEAL
WAS WHEN I SEEN MY BOOB COME IN.

THEY CALL IT YOUR NIPPLE POPPED.

WHEN MY NIPPLE POPPED, THAT WAS
THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD.

AND THEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT
CEDAR SPRINGS AND OAK LAWN.

CEDAR SPRINGS IS A
VIBRANT AND POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD

IN DALLAS THAT CATERS
TO THE LGBT COMMUNITY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A FANTASY TO ME.

I'M FROM ELK CITY,
POPULATION 5,000 OR 6,000.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE OZ, WONDERLAND.

HEY, DARLING.

I SEEN 6-FOOT DRAG QUEENS,

TWO MEN HOLDING HANDS,
KISSING.

I SEEN EVERYTHING.

I SEEN TRANSGENDER WOMEN.

I SEEN IT ALL.

IT IS TOO HOT TODAY.

OOH!
THIS SHOE, DAMN IT.

HEY.

EXCUSE ME, GIRL. NEW HEELS.
YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.

TERRI IS QUICKLY
BEFRIENDED BY A WOMAN NAMED NIKKI.

HER LIKE,
"HOW OLD ARE YOU, BABY?

YOU SHOULDN'T BE OUT HERE."

THEY WERE TALKING TO ME
LIKE A BABY.

YOU KNOW, I'M LIKE, "I'M 18."

EVEN THOUGH I LIED TO THEM
AND SAID I WAS 18,

THEY KNEW BETTER,
'CAUSE THE LOOK.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
ALREADY PRETTY UNCLOCKABLE.

SHE TOLD ME,

"YOU WOULD BE A PRETTY GIRL.

YOU WILL BE UNCLOCKED.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BLEND IN
WITH REGULAR FEMALES."

IT MEANS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE
WOULDN'T KNOW

YOU'RE TRANSGENDER.

GIRL, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT,
YOU GOT A LOT MORE TO LEARN.

YOU AIN'T
GOT NOWHERE TO STAY?

LOOK.
WHAT IF I TOLD YOU,

YOU COULD COME STAY WITH ME
FOR A COUPLE DAYS

- TILL YOU GET ON YOUR FEET?
- YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR ME?

SOMEONE DID IT FOR ME.
HOW YOU THINK I GOT OUT HERE?

COME ON. GET YOUR BAG, GIRL.
WE'LL GO TO -

I'LL GET IT. COME ON.
I LIVE AROUND THE BLOCK.

IT'S OKAY.
I'M NOT GONNA KILL YOU.

- DO I LOOK LIKE JEFFREY DAHMER?
- NO.

ALL RIGHT.
COME ON.

WHO'S JEFFREY DAHMER?

"WHO'S JEFFREY DAHMER?"
YOU DO GOT A LOT TO LEARN.

COME ON.

THE NAIVE TEEN THINKS
SHE'S FINALLY FOUND A FRIEND

AND A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

BUT SHE'S ABOUT TO FACE
A COLD, HARSH WORLD

THAT WILL PUT HER YOUNG LIFE
AT RISK.

15-YEAR-OLD TERRI PEARSON
HAS BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

WHEN SHE MEETS ANOTHER
TRANSGENDER WOMAN NAMED NIKKI,

SHE THINKS HER LIFE
WILL FINALLY TURN AROUND.

GIRL, YOU SAW THAT BOY
WHO CAME OVER LAST NIGHT?

HE WAS CUTE, TOO, HUH?

HE GAVE ME $1,400
AND IS BUYING ME A NEW PHONE.

I'M THINKING, "WE'RE FRIENDS.

WE'RE GONNA BE FRIENDS.
YOU'RE GONNA HELP ME."

SHE LET ME LIVE THERE,

FEEDING ME,
NOT ASKING ME FOR NOTHING,

GIVING ME,
LIKE, CLOTHES THAT FIT.

"HERE, WEAR THIS.
OH, THAT'D BE BEAUTIFUL ON YOU,"

JUST TRYING TO GET ME DONE UP.

TERRI QUICKLY BECOMES
NIKKI'S PET PROJECT.

BUT IT'S SOON CLEAR
THAT NIKKI HAS AN AGENDA.

AND HAVE YOU THOUGHT
ABOUT A BETTER NAME?

WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING
REAL CLASSY, LIKE FOXY?

SHE'S LIKE,
"WE'RE GONNA CALL YOU FOXY."

IT'S CUTE.

SHE MADE ME HER GAY DAUGHTER.

YOU KNOW,
THEY CALL IT DRAG DAUGHTER.

NIKKI THEN INTRODUCES TERRI

TO THE DANGEROUS WORLD
OF STREET WALKING.

LISTEN, GIRL.

THIS AIN'T NO JOKE.

HELLO?

I'M TALKING TO YOU.

SHE TOOK ME TO THE HO STROLL,

AND SHE WAS LIKE, "YOU JUST HANG
OUT WITH ALEXIA AND ALICIA."

HEY, GIRLS.
LOOKING GOOD.

"THEY'RE GONNA SHOW YOU.

WHEN A CAR COMES,
IF HE POINTS AT YOU,

GET IN THE CAR."

GIRLS, GATHER 'ROUND.

THIS IS MY NEW BABY.

YOU TELL EVERY CAR YOU GET IN,
'CAUSE YOU'RE PRETTY

AND YOU LOOK LIKE A GIRL,
$40 OR $50.

- PRINCESS.
- HEY, BOO.

WELCOME TO THE BLOCK.

THERE YOU GO.
YOU'LL BE OKAY.

YOU LOOK GOOD. JUST SMILE.

STICK IT OUT A LITTLE.

JUST SMILE.

THERE YOU GO, GIRL.

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
TERRI GETS HER FIRST CLIENT.

ME?

HI.

HE HAD A RING ON.
HE WAS DEFINITELY MARRIED.

$50.

TERRI'S HEART RACES.

SHE'S SCARED.

BUT BEING WANTED AS A BEAUTIFUL,
YOUNG WOMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME

IS ALSO EXHILARATING.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!

****

NIKKI TELLS TERRI,
FOR EVERY CLIENT SHE LANDS,

SHE MUST GIVE HER
A FINDER'S FEE.

HOW MUCH DID YOU MAKE?

- I GOT $50.
- LET ME SEE.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED REALIZING
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

I UNDERSTOOD, AT THAT POINT,
SO I GOT IT.

I GOT IT THEN.

ALL RIGHT.

AS THE HARSH REALITY SINKS IN,

TERRI WONDERS...

DON'T PLAY WITH ME, GIRL.

...IS THIS WHAT THE FUTURE
HOLDS FOR HER?

I LOVE YOUR CANDOR.
YOU KNOW THAT.

RIGHT.

- AND I LOVE YOUR TRUTHFULNESS.
- RIGHT.

BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW,
TO SOMEONE ON THE OUTSIDE,

THIS IS HEARTBREAKING
TO HEAR?

BUT I GOT THROUGH IT.
THAT'S THE THING ABOUT ME.

- BUT IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
- I GOT THROUGH IT.

THIS IS A TOUGH TOPIC
TO TALK ABOUT,

BUT IT'S HAPPENING
ALL AROUND US.

LGBT HOMELESS YOUTH

ARE ESSENTIALLY ENGAGING
IN SURVIVAL SEX.

AND THEY'RE OFTEN LEFT
OUT OF THE CONVERSATION

AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

AND COMMERCIAL SEX EXPLOITATION
OF CHILDREN

BECAUSE, WHEN WE DISCUSS
THESE ISSUES,

THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT THE FOCUS.

TERRI WORKS THE
STREETS FOR SEVERAL MORE MONTHS.

BUT THE TEENAGER IS HOMESICK
FOR HER REAL FAMILY.

- HELLO?
- HI, MA.

IT HAD BEEN LIKE 7 OR 8 MONTHS

SINCE I SEEN MY MOM
AND MY SIBLINGS.

OH, HI, TERRI.

I MEAN, I CARED ABOUT
TERRI. I LOVE TERRI, BUT...

WHAT YOU WANT?

...HE WANTED TO BE GROWN,
SO I PUT HIM OUT THERE.

AND HE LIVING THE LIFE
OF GROWN FOLKS.

I MISS YOU GUYS.

MM-HMM.

I WAS LIKE, "MAMA, IT'S COLD.

I WISH I COULD JUST COME HOME."

HOWEVER HE GOT HIS NEXT
MEAL IS HOW HE GOT HIS NEXT MEAL.

WHEREVER HE SLEPT,
THAT'S WHERE HE SLEPT.

IF IT HAD BEEN A GIRL,

IF MY DAUGHTER
WOULD HAVE LEFT HOME,

SHE'D HAVE
GOT TO COME BACK HOME.

I GOT TO GO.

BUT TERRI'S A BOY. SO ONCE
YOU LEAVE HOME, YOU GROWN.

- ALL RIGHT.
- MA?

Bye.

YOU CAN MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN.

THAT WAS CRUSHING.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

HE COULD'VE STAYED HOME
AND DONE THE RIGHT THING.

AND HE'D HAVE HAD A GOOD LIFE.

BUT HE CHOSE
NOT TO LISTEN TO ME,

SO HE HAD A HARD LIFE.

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE REJECTION.

WHEN FAMILIES
REJECT THEIR CHILDREN,

OFTEN, THE KIDS
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SURVIVE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR MANY,

THAT MEANS TRADING SEX
SOMETIMES JUST FOR A HOT MEAL.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT

TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES
TO SUPPORT THEIR LGBT CHILDREN.

THEY NEED TO ACCEPT THEM EVEN
IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM.

SO FAR, TERRI'S BEEN
TOUGH ENOUGH TO HANDLE HER NEW LIFE.

BUT SHE NO LONGER TRUSTS NIKKI

AND DECIDES
SHE CAN MAKE IT ON HER OWN.

WHY DON'T YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR
FOR ME?

BUT THINGS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE
A TERRIFYING TURN

FOR THE BRAVE, YOUNG TEENAGER.

- COME ON.
- OKAY.

COME ON.
IT'LL BE FUN.

A MAN PICKED ME UP.

HE PARKED HIS CAR.

HE KEPT HIS HEADLIGHTS ON,
LIKE, IN A VACANT PLACE.

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL.
YOU KNOW THAT?

HE SAID, "YOU SO PRETTY.
I JUST WANT TO SEE YOU MODEL.

I JUST WANT TO SEE
HOW YOU LOOK."

I'M THINKING, "OH, I'M PRETTY."

TURN AROUND FOR ME.

THAT'S REAL NICE.

I'M, LIKE, TWIRLING, DOING
WHATEVER HE TELLS ME TO DO.

HE LIKE, "YOU ARE SO PRETTY.

I WOULD WIFE YOU."
SO I'M LIKE, "OOH.

IF I GET WIFED, THEN I DON'T
HAVE TO BE OUT HERE NO MORE."

SO I'M THINKING I'M-A DO
WHATEVER THIS MAN TELL ME TO DO.

BUT THE MAN STARTS TO
GET A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.

I WAS REALLY SCARED OF HIM.

NO.

- NO?
- NO.

- COME ON.
- NO.

- COME ON. I'M ACHING.
- NO.

**** WALKING THE STREETS,

IT WAS JUST DANGEROUS.

I DON'T KNOW
IF HE FELT SOMETHING,

AND HE WAS LIKE,
"THAT'S NOT REAL.

THEM AIN'T BOOBS."

YOU A DUDE?

AND HE'S LIKE, "YOU ****
BITCH," JUST OUT THE BLUE,

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU,"
AND PULLED OUT A KNIFE.

- NO! PLEASE!
- **** DEAD.

PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.

LIKE MANY TRANSGENDER TEENS,

TERRI PEARSON
HAS BEEN REJECTED BY HER FAMILY

AND FORCED TO SELL HER BODY
ON THE STREETS

IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

BUT WHEN ONE OF HER CLIENTS
UNEXPECTEDLY THREATENS HER,

TERRI FEARS FOR HER LIFE.

PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.

- YOU DON'T WANT TO DIE?
- NO.

- I'M GONNA GUT YOU RIGHT HERE.
- NO, PLEASE.

- YEAH.
- PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.

TERRI TAKES OFF RUNNING...

GET BACK HERE, BITCH!

...AND ESCAPES INTO A CAB.

AND THE CAB DRIVER TOOK ME HOME.

AND I WAS LIKE $3 OR $4 SHORT,
BUT HE LET ME MAKE IT.

HE WAS LIKE, "IT'S OKAY."

WELL, THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD.

YEAH.
HE WAS COOL WITH IT.

BUT I NEVER, EVER HAD A FRIEND
IN THOSE YEARS.

EVERYBODY I CAME IN CONTACT
WANTED SOMETHING FROM ME.

ANYONE WHO HELPED ME
WANTED SOMETHING IN RETURN.

NO ONE WAS EVER MY FRIEND
BACK THEN,

'CAUSE THEY NEVER DID NOTHING
OUT THE KINDNESS OF THEIR HEART

WITHOUT ME
GIVING SOMETHING BACK.

FROM NOW ON,

TERRI LEARNS NOT TO LET
HER GUARD DOWN SO EASILY,

ESPECIALLY AROUND MEN.

AND AFTER
THIS TERRIFYING INCIDENT,

SHE'S DONE WITH STREET WALKING.

SHE DECIDES TO TRY
WORKING AS AN ESCORT INSTEAD,

HOPING IT WILL BE SAFER.

BUT SHE'S BARELY SCRAPING BY.

DESPERATE FOR MONEY,

TERRI COMES UP
WITH A BRAZEN, NEW PLAN.

I SAW THEM LEAVE.

I BROKE INTO
THESE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

I TOOK FOOD OUT THEIR FREEZER.

AND THEY HAD A VCR
AND A LITTLE TV.

I STOLE THOSE THINGS.

AS TERRI SLIPS AWAY,
SHE CARELESSLY DROPS HER I. D.

THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE COPS
TRACK HER DOWN AND ARREST HER.

BECAUSE TERRI HAS PRIOR ARRESTS
FOR STEALING,

SHE'S SHIPPED OFF TO A MAXIMUM
SECURITY PRISON FOR 3 YEARS.

EVEN WORSE,

SHE'S HOUSED ACCORDING
TO HER BIRTH-ASSIGNED GENDER.

I WAS SCARED.

THEY'RE PUTTING
A WOMAN IN A MEN'S PRISON

BECAUSE, IN THEIR RECORDS...

I'M A MALE.
I WAS A MALE TO THEM.

AND WHAT HAPPENS TO A WOMAN
LIKE YOU IN A MAN'S PRISON?

YOU BECOME THEIR PROPERTY.

IT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER WORLD.

THE DAY I GOT OFF THAT BUS,
THEY RAN OVER THERE AND TOLD ME,

"YOU GOT 24 HOURS TO GET
A BOYFRIEND, TO GET A MAN."

FOR PROTECTION?

MM-HMM.
BECAUSE I WAS SO CUTE

AND I LOOKED
JUST LIKE A GIRL.

TERRI HAS BEEN LIVING AS A WOMAN
FOR 3 YEARS,

BUT SHE'S HOUSED ACCORDING
TO HER BIRTH-ASSIGNED GENDER.

AND THIS IS TOTALLY UNJUST.

AS A RESULT, LGBT INMATES

ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE
IN THE PRISON POPULATION

AND ENCOUNTER A DISPROPORTIONATE
LEVEL OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

THE NEXT 3 YEARS ARE THE
DARKEST PERIOD IN TERRI'S LIFE.

YOU'RE SCARED
EVERY MORNING YOU WAKE UP.

YOU'RE SCARED EVERY NIGHT
YOU GO TO SLEEP.

YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE EVEN
GONNA WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

YOU DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GONNA
KILL YOU, RAPE YOU.

I HAD NO PEACE IN THERE,
AND I NEVER SMILED IN THERE.

I WAS NOT HAPPY IN PRISON.

IT WAS THE WORST TIME
OF MY LIFE.

SO WHEN YOU GOT OUT, YOU
KNEW YOU WERE NEVER GOING BACK.

I KNEW I WAS NEVER
GOING BACK TO THAT PLACE.

AT THE AGE OF 20,
TERRI'S FINALLY A FREE WOMAN.

IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG
TO GET ON MY FEET.

TERRI DECIDES IT'S
TIME TO FOCUS ON HER FUTURE.

SHE FINDS WORK AT A HAIR SALON
WHILE SHE STUDIES FOR HER G. E. D.

WHEN SHE GETS HER DIPLOMA,

SHE LANDS A SALES JOB AND MOVES
INTO A SMALL APARTMENT.

AT THIS POINT IN HER LIFE,

SHE'S NO LONGER SATISFIED
WITH JUST LOOKING LIKE A WOMAN.

SHE WANTS TO PHYSICALLY BECOME
A WOMAN,

FROM HEAD TO TOE.

I ALWAYS SAY, "I'M A FEMALE.

I WAS JUST BORN
WITH ALL THE WRONG EQUIPMENT."

BUT TERRI'S READY TO FIX THAT.

I WAS HAPPY.

BUT I NEVER GOT PAST HAVING
AN "A" CUP WITH HORMONES.

TO GET BIGGER,
I HAD TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE
TO GET A CONSULTATION.

FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

SHE SAVES EVERY PENNY SHE CAN TO
PAY FOR HER TRANSITION SURGERY.

AFTER THREE LONG PROCEDURES,

TERRI IS FINALLY
THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN

SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED TO BE,
INSIDE AND OUT.

MY NAME
IS TERRY DWAYNE PEARSON.

I JUST CHANGED MY NAME
TO TERRI DENISE PEARSON.

AND NO REGRETS?

NO REGRETS.

I WANTED IT
BY THE TIME I WAS 25.

THAT WAS MY GOAL,
AND IT HAPPENED.

IN HER NEW SKIN,
TERRI IS CONFIDENT AND RADIANT.

BUT THERE'S ONE LAST THING
SHE NEEDS TO DO -

PAY A VISIT TO HER MOTHER.

I WAS GETTING READY
TO GO TO WORK.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
IT WAS TERRI.

AND I SAID, "EXCUSE ME, MA'AM."
AND TERRI JUST STOOD THERE.

NO, NO.

TERRI?

YEAH.

IS THAT YOU?

OH, MY GOD.

AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME
I EVER SEEN HIM AS A WOMAN.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN
RECOGNIZE MY OWN CHILD.

WELL, LOOK AT YOU.

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

FAMILY ACCEPTANCE

IS CRITICAL TO THE WELLBEING
OF LGBT YOUNG ADULTS.

BUT TERRI COULD HAVE ALIENATED
HERSELF FROM HER MOTHER.

INSTEAD, SHE DECIDES TO FORGIVE
HER AND MEND THE RELATIONSHIP.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR OWN PLACE.

YOU HAVE YOUR WOMAN PARTS.

YES, I DO.

- AND YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD JOB.
- YES.

WHAT'S THE ONE THING
YOU DON'T HAVE?

A HUSBAND.

TERRI'S WILLING
TO WAIT FOR MR. RIGHT.

BUT SHE'S READY
FOR MR. RIGHT NOW.

HOW I WAS GONNA OPERATE WAS,

"HE'LL FIND ME."

WHOEVER'S SUPPOSED
TO BE WITH ME, HE'LL FIND ME.

I'M NOT GONNA LOOK FOR IT.

BUT I DID JOIN
ONLINE DATING SITES.

THAT MEANS
YOU WERE LOOKING FOR IT.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT A MAN.

I HAD A NEW... VAGINA.

I WANTED TO PUT IT TO WORK.

- SO...
- YOU WANTED TO SEE HOW -

I WANTED TO SEE
HOW IT ALL WORKED, SO...

GOD, THAT'S BAD
TO SAY THAT ON CAMERA.

RIGHT AWAY, SHE STARTS
CHATTING WITH A SWEET GUY NAMED DANIEL.

HE ALWAYS WROTE
ON EVERY PICTURE,

COMMENTED ON EVERY PICTURE
I POSTED, EVERY DAY.

SHE HAD LONG HAIR.

I LIKE WOMEN WITH LONG HAIR.

AND SHE HAD A GORGEOUS SMILE.

THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT HER.

I JUST LIKED HER.

EVERY DAY,
I WOULD SEND HER A MESSAGE,

LIKE, "YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL,"
AT LEAST TWICE A DAY, PROBABLY.

AND SHE ALWAYS RESPONDED BACK.

AFTER E-MAILING
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS,

THE TWO DECIDE
TO FINALLY MEET UP.

I WAS LIKE, "WOW.

SHE'S REALLY GORGEOUS."

I JUST LOVED HER
AT THE FIRST MOMENT I SAW HER.

AND I COULDN'T GET ENOUGH
OF HER.

I JUST KEPT WATCHING HER BODY.

THE COUPLE SPENDS THE ENTIRE DAY

TALKING AND SHARING INTIMATE
DETAILS ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

I AM TRANSGENDER.

TERRI'S UP-FRONT
ABOUT HER HISTORY.

DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.

AND DANIEL'S
TOTALLY UNPHASED.

WHEN I SAW HER, ALL I WAS WOMAN.

THAT'S ALL I SAW.
IT WAS NOT A ISSUE FOR ME.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW
MORE ABOUT HER.

SHE WAS SWEET AND UNDERSTANDING.

I FEEL LIKE SHE DIDN'T HAVE
A LOT OF LOVE IN HER LIFE.

AND IF I COULD BE THAT PERSON
TO GIVE HER LOVE,

THEN I WANTED TO BE
THAT PERSON FOR HER.

FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS,
DANIEL RELENTLESSLY PURSUES HER.

HE ALWAYS CAME OVER UNINVITED.

I USED TO GET OFF WORK.
HE'LL BE SITTING ON THE STAIRS.

AND HE JUST WOULDN'T STOP.

I LEARNED TO LOVE IT.

HE'S CONVINCED THAT
THEY'RE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.

I REALLY BELIEVED
THAT HE SAW SOMETHING IN HER

THAT RELATED TO HIM

AND THE STRUGGLES
THAT THEY BOTH HAD GROWING UP.

AND I THINK
THAT MADE THEM CONNECT.

ONCE TERRI INVITES
DANIEL INTO HER LIFE,

HE SWEEPS HER OFF HER FEET.

BUT THIS WHIRLWIND ROMANCE
WILL HURL TERRI HEADFIRST

INTO A DANGEROUS CYCLONE
OF EMOTIONS AND SECRETS.

FOR MORE ON HOW TERRI
IS DOING NOW,

GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.

TERRI PEARSON
IS ONLY 25 YEARS OLD,

BUT SHE HAS EXPERIENCED
A LIFETIME OF REJECTION,

BETRAYAL, AND ABUSE.

AFTER MEETING A NICE GUY
NAMED DANIEL,

SHE'S FINALLY READY
TO OPEN HER HEART

AND EXPERIENCE TRUE LOVE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GREW UP
WITHOUT LOVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE...

- YEAH.
- ...UNTIL YOU MET DANIEL.

DANIEL, EXACTLY.

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST MAN
WHO REALLY LOVED YOU...

- RIGHT.
- ...AND WAS WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.

EXACTLY.

AFTER 8 MONTHS
OF ROMANTIC BLISS,

TERRI INVITES DANIEL
TO MOVE IN WITH HER.

AT FIRST, TERRI IS THE HAPPIEST
SHE'S EVER BEEN.

BUT WITHIN WEEKS,
DARK CLOUDS ROLL IN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

DANIEL HAS JUST GRADUATED
FROM COLLEGE.

AND TERRI FEELS THE PRESSURE
OF BEING THE SOLE BREADWINNER.

I HAVE BEEN
LOOKING FOR A JOB.

HE WAS SO BROKE, AND
THAT WAS SO DISTURBING TO ME,

'CAUSE THERE WAS TIMES I WOULD
PAY ALL THE BILLS WITH MY CHECK,

AND THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE MONEY
UNTIL MY NEXT PAYDAY.

GET ONE, YESTERDAY.

SHE WOULD
RUN HER MOUTH CONSTANTLY,

AND IT WOULD IRRITATE ME,

'CAUSE I COULDN'T STAND TO HAVE
SOMEBODY ALWAYS IN YOUR FACE.

I THINK A LOT
OF THE FIGHTS START FROM TERRI

'CAUSE TERRI GETS UPSET
WHEN THINGS DON'T GO HIS WAY.

AND THEN HE JUST LASHES OUT
ON ANYBODY THAT'S AROUND.

AND IT JUST SO
HAPPENED THAT DANNY'S AROUND.

YOU ARE A LOSER.

AS THE TENSION
BETWEEN THE COUPLE MOUNTS...

HELLO?

...DANIEL'S BEHAVIOR
TURNS BIZARRE AND UNPREDICTABLE.

WAIT.

IT WOULD BE GREAT,
LIKE THE BEST DAY IN THE WORLD.

FIVE MINUTES LATER,
IT'S DIFFERENT.

GET IT TOGETHER... TODAY.

I AM TRYING
TO GET A DAMN JOB!

AND WHEN I SAY DIFFERENT,
I MEAN YOU CAN LITERALLY TELL

HE WAS SOMEONE ELSE.

- LET ME TALK FOR A SECOND!
- NO.

- LET ME TALK FOR A SECOND!
- ONE EVENING,

HIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR
HITS A SCARY NEW LOW.

YOU'RE NOT LISTENING
TO WHAT I'M SAYING.

SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!
SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!

TERRI IS DEVASTATED.

DANIEL LATER APOLOGIZES

AND PROMISES
IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT TERRI'S NOT CONVINCED.

TERRI TURNS TO DANIEL'S MOTHER
FOR HELP.

HE SLAPPED ME.
HE SLAPPED ME LAST NIGHT.

SHE REVEALS A SHOCKING SECRET.

DANIEL HAS
A MENTAL ILLNESS.

DANIEL DEFINITELY HAS ISSUES
THAT NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP.

AND I'VE KNOWN THAT
EVER SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER.

IT'S, LIKE, A REAL QUICK MOOD
CHANGE THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL.

BUT DANIEL'S
NEVER RECEIVED TREATMENT.

DANIEL'S MOTHER CAN ONLY OFFER
TERRI SOME WORDS OF ADVICE.

BABY, DON'T REACT SO MUCH.

LEARN HOW TO RESPOND TO IT

SO THINGS KIND OF
DIDN'T GET OUT OF HAND.

BUT TERRI'S NOT THAT PERSON.

I MEAN, SHE'S SWEET
AS SHE CAN BE, AND I LOVE HER.

BUT SHE'S VERY REACTIVE.

THAT'S THE PART THAT MAKES THEM
THIS VOLATILE COUPLE.

TERRI PUTS HER FEARS ASIDE

AND FEELS CLOSER TO DANIEL
THAN EVER BEFORE.

YOU NEVER
JUST GOT MY BACK.

ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS,
BABY, I JUST -

SHE CAN RELATE
TO HIS EMOTIONAL STRUGGLE.

JUST BREATHE, BABY.

AND SHE VOWS
TO STICK BY HER MAN.

- YOU DON'T WALK AWAY?
- NO.

AND YOU WEREN'T GONNA
GIVE UP EASY?

NO.

EVEN AFTER THE ABUSE
THAT SHE HAS SUFFERED,

TERRI CANNOT WALK AWAY.

INSTEAD, SHE FEELS A KINSHIP
WITH DANIEL.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO REJECT HIM

THE WAY THAT EVERYBODY
ELSE HAS ABANDONED HER.

BUT AN UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS

IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT ANYONE CAN CONTROL.

TERRI'S DEVOTION PAYS OFF.

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER,

AFTER LANDING A JOB
AT A WAREHOUSE,

DANIEL PROPOSES.

HE DROPPED TO HIS KNEES,
AND HE ASKED ME...

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

I LOVE YOU.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

AND I TOLD HIM YES.

- YES?
- YES.

YES?

I WAS HAPPY.

I'M ALWAYS HAPPY IF SHE HAPPY,

'CAUSE SHE MEAN EVERYTHING
TO ME.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY
HAVE A TRUE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

THINGS START
LOOKING UP FOR THE YOUNG COUPLE.

BUT A PETTY ARGUMENT
IS ABOUT TO TURN UGLY FAST.

DAMN IT.
DANIEL!

WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN OUR HOUSE.

I'LL COVER THE RENT.

YOU PLEASE TAKE CARE
OF GROCERIES, EVERY UTILITY,

AND THE CAR PAYMENT.

WELL, THEN,
WHY ARE THE LIGHTS OFF?

I DON'T KNOW
WHY THE LIGHTS ARE OFF!

CALL THE ELECTRICIAN.
I DON'T KNOW.

HONESTLY, I CAN'T
DO THIS ANYMORE.

THIS ISN'T WORKING.
STAY WITH YOUR MOM.

SHE WAS JUST CUSSING
AND FIGHTING

AND JUST DISRESPECTFUL.

I WAS LIKE,
"I WISH YOU WOULD GO AWAY."

I JUST WAS SO ANGRY AT HER.

THERE IS NO REASON
FOR ME TO GO HOME TO MY MOM.

I NEED A REAL MAN, DANIEL.
I NEED A REAL MAN!

NO! SHUT UP!
SHUT UP!

DANIEL SNAPS.

I BLACKED OUT, ALL THE WAY OUT.

AT THE TIME THIS IS GOING ON,
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

ALL I HEARD WAS,
"BITCH. STUPID."

I GOT SICK OF IT.

I JUST START HITTING HER
AND HITTING HER SOME MORE.

AND SHE KEPT SCREAMING,

"IT'S ME, TERRI."

AND I JUST KEPT HITTING HER.

PLEASE, BABY, IT'S ME.

NO. STOP.

BITCH. NO.

CRAZY, CRAZY FIGHT.

BITCH!

I HAVE TWO AND THREE BAGS
OF HAIR ON MY HEAD ALL THE TIME.

HE RIPPED IT OUT.

HELL NO.

GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!

IT WAS, LIKE,
ANOTHER PART OF ME.

IT WASN'T DANIEL NO MORE.

GET BACK HERE, DANIEL.

IT WAS ANOTHER PERSONA
OR SOMETHING.

BUT TERRI'S NOT ABOUT
TO GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU WANT TO HIT ME LIKE A MAN?

OKAY.
I'M-A HIT YOU LIKE A MAN.

I'M LIKE, "**** THIS.
I'M FEELING LIKE A MAN."

YOU KNOW,
YOU DONE RIPPED MY HAIR OUT.

I'M LIKE,
"I WANT TO FIGHT YOU RIGHT NOW."

WE GON' FINISH THIS NOW!

TERRI PEARSON
AND HER FIANCé, DANIEL,

ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A FIERCE FIGHT

THAT HAS SPIRALED COMPLETELY
OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU WANT ME TO BE A MAN, BITCH?

YOU WANT ME TO BE A MAN,
HUH?!

HUH?

HE COMES IN THERE,
AND HE'S JUGGING AT ME.

HE'S LIKE,
"BITCH, YOU WANT TO FIGHT ME?"

DANNY STARTS FLIPPING OUT,
TALKING ****

TELLING ME
WE BOTH FINNA DIE TODAY.

- NO.
- LET'S GO.

- JUST PUT IT DOWN, DANIEL.
- COME ON.

I'M CRYING.
I'M LIKE, "YOU NEED TO GO.

YOU NEED TO GO."

I'M TRYING TO GET TO MY PURSE,

GET THE CELLPHONE,
AND CALL FOR HELP.

WHAT YOU TRYING TO DO
ON THAT PHONE, HUH?

BITCH.

TERRI FIGURES
SHE HAS NOTHING TO LOSE

AND GOES INTO SURVIVAL MODE.

IT WAS JUST OVERWHELMING.

I WAS JUST MAD, UPSET,
DEPRESSED.

AND I JUST WANTED HER
TO SHUT UP.

I JUST WANTED TO CHOKE HER OUT.

I KEPT THINKING,
"WHAT IF HE DON'T LET GO?

WHAT IF HE CHOKE ME, AND I DIE?"

I DON'T WANT TO DIE,

NOT AT THE HANDS
OF THIS BROKE MOTHER****

I REALLY COULD NOT BREATHE.

I GRABBED THAT KNIFE
THAT HE DROPPED

WHEN HE WAS COMING BACK
TO HIT ME SOME MORE,

AND THAT KNIFE
WENT RIGHT IN HIM.

AND WHEN IT WENT IN HIM,
I FREAKED OUT.

TERRI, YOU STABBED HIM.

I STABBED HIS ASS.

HE HAD IT COMING.

I MEAN, I GUESS I'D BEEN HURT
SO MUCH BY PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY,

AND I NEVER DID NOTHING TO THEM.

AND I KIND OF FELT LIKE, "GOD.

FINALLY, SOMEBODY GOT IT."

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE HIT ME.

REALITY HIT ME, YOU
KNOW, LIKE, "OH, I'M STABBED."

AND I JUST WOKE UP.
AND I WAS, LIKE...

BABY.

...BLEEDING EVERYWHERE.

IT'S VERY POSSIBLE
THAT DANIEL WAS IN A FUGUE

AND HAD NO CONTROL
OVER WHAT HE WAS DOING.

I BELIEVE THIS WAS SELF-DEFENSE

BECAUSE TERRI IS USED
TO LOOKING OUT FOR HERSELF.

AND SHE WASN'T ABOUT
TO STOP NOW.

BABY, I'M SORRY.

AS TERRI WATCHES DANIEL
FADE IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS,

SHE BEGINS TO PANIC.

I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO DIE.
I DIDN'T WANT MURDER OR NOTHING.

I LOVED HIM TOO MUCH
FOR HIM TO DIE.

I CALL 911 INSTANTLY.

I GAVE THEM THE ADDRESS.
THEY SAID HELP WAS ON THE WAY.

AND HE WAS LAYING THERE
LIKE, "FINALLY,"

LIKE HE WAS READY TO DIE.

I TOLD HER,
LIKE, "IT'S OVER FOR ME,

AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT."

NO.

OH, MY GOD.

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME.

I CAN'T LOSE YOU.

I GAVE HER THE KEYS
AND TOLD HER TO GO AHEAD AND GO.

- GO.
- NO. I CAN'T.

- TAKE THE KEYS.
- NO.

TERRI.

HE LIKE,
"I'M NOT GONNA TELL THEM.

I'M TELLING THEM I DID IT."

I CAN'T.

I JUST WANT HER TO BE OKAY.

I'M SORRY.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS STABBED,

I JUST WANTED HER TO BE FINE.

I DIDN'T WANT HER
TO GO TO JAIL OR ANYTHING.

I WENT ACROSS THE STREET
AND WATCHED.

HELLO?

ONCE TERRI KNOWS
HELP'S ARRIVED, SHE TAKES OFF.

DANIEL KEEPS HIS WORD.

I TOLD THEM I STABBED MYSELF.

BUT THE ANGLE OF THE KNIFE,

IT'S NO WAY
I COULD HAVE STABBED MYSELF.

HANG IN THERE, BUDDY.

I STILL TRYING TO PROTECT HER
FROM GETTING IN TROUBLE.

AT THE HOSPITAL,

DANIEL LEARNS THAT THE STAB
WOUND NEARLY KILLED HIM.

IT WENT 6 INCHES DEEP,

AND I HAD SOME NERVE DAMAGE.

AN INCH MORE,

AND IT WOULD HAVE PUNCTURED
A KIDNEY OR A LIVER.

THREE DAYS LATER,

DANIEL IS RELEASED AND RECOVERS
AT HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE.

ALTHOUGH DANIEL STANDS
BY HIS STORY, THE STATE OF TEXAS

GATHERS ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO CHARGE TERRI WITH ASSAULT.

TERRI PEARSON?

CAN I HELP YOU?

YES, MA'AM.
PLEASE STEP OUTSIDE.

THAT'S GONNA GET ME LIFE
OR 50 YEARS.

I DON'T BELONG IN THERE

BECAUSE I AIN'T GOING AROUND,
COMMITTING CRIMES.

I WAS PUSHED TO THE WALL.

I NEVER ONCE
WENT TO GO GET A KNIFE.

BUT ALSO, YOU'RE A WOMAN

WHO'S BEEN IN A MAN'S PRISON
FOR 3 YEARS.

AND I WASN'T GOING BACK.
I WAS GONNA KILL MYSELF.

I WASN'T GONNA GO BACK
TO THAT DAMN PLACE, GIRL.

AFTER 12 LONG DAYS,
SHE'S RELEASED ON BAIL.

TERRI'S FORBIDDEN FROM
CONTACTING DANIEL FOR 90 DAYS,

BUT THE YOUNG COUPLE
CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

WHEN I SEEN HIM, I WAS LIKE,
"I FEEL BAD.

I NEED TO HELP MY BABY,
MY DADDY."

WELL,
IT'S, LIKE, A MAGICAL THING.

I JUST FOUND ONE PERSON THAT,
NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES TO ME,

I STILL WANT TO BE
WITH THAT PERSON.

I MEAN, SHE PROBABLY
COULD STAB ME AGAIN RIGHT NOW,

AND WE'LL STILL BE TOGETHER.

DANIEL REFUSES TO PRESS CHARGES

AND MAINTAINS
THAT HIS BATTLE WITH DEPRESSION

PROMPTED THE ATTACK.

SHE STABBED ME
OUT OF SELF-DEFENSE.

AND I DON'T BLAME HER
FOR DOING IT.

I THINK ANYBODY IN THAT
PREDICAMENT WOULD DO IT, TOO.

BY FEBRUARY 2015,
THE CASE IS DISMISSED.

INCREDIBLY, THE COUPLE INSISTS

THAT THE EXPERIENCE HAS
STRENGTHENED THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

ALLOWING DANIEL TO GET THE HELP
HE DESPERATELY NEEDED.

I HAVE BIPOLAR AND DEPRESSION.

AND WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR THE STABBING,

THEY HAD A PSYCH TEAM COME
SEE ME AND GIVE ME TREATMENT.

HE TAKES HIS MEDICATION
FAITHFULLY.

THEY MAKE HIM GO TO THERAPY.

HE'S CALMER NOW.

HE'S THE SAME PERSON ALL DAY.

HE REMINDS ME OF WHAT HE WAS
WHEN I FIRST MET HIM.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

VERY HAPPY.

LET'S NOT LEAVE THAT OUT.

I'M THE HAPPIEST I'VE BEEN
MAYBE IN MY WHOLE, ENTIRE LIFE.

IT MAY BE SURPRISING THAT TERRI
AND DANIEL ARE STILL TOGETHER.

BUT NOW THAT DANIEL HAS GOTTEN
HELP FOR HIS MENTAL ILLNESS

AND TERRI IS MAKING SURE
THAT HE TAKES HIS MEDICATION,

THIS RELATIONSHIP
ACTUALLY STANDS A CHANCE.

TERRI HOPES THAT
HER STORY WILL INSPIRE OTHERS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND,
BEING TRANSGENDER,

YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE IT.
IT CHOOSES YOU.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY
YOU CAN'T BE BORN LIKE THAT.

I WAS BORN LIKE THIS.

I DIDN'T CHOOSE THIS.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO YOUR 14-YEAR-OLD SELF?

I SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME.
I WISH I COULD HAVE STAYED HOME.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE.

'I REGRET TRYING TO CHANGE HIM.

AS A PARENT,
YOU WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR KIDS.

AND SHE COULD STILL HAVE THE
BEST BEING A TRANSGENDER WOMAN.

I FINALLY ACCEPT TERRI
FOR WHO TERRI IS.

DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR KIDS.

LOVE THEM.
DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM.

GAY, STRAIGHT,
WHATEVER THEY ARE, WHATEVER,