Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 3 - Debra Hudson - full transcript

DEBRA HUDSON
BELIEVES HER CALLING IN LIFE

IS TO HELP OTHER WOMEN IN NEED.

HE HIT ME AGAIN.

I'VE NEVER BEEN
AS HAPPY AS I AM

WHEN I'M HELPING
SOMEONE ELSE.

BUT HER OWN LIFE HAS BEEN A
STRING OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS.

SORRY I CAN'T PROVIDE
FOR YOU, DEBRA!

I WAS ASHAMED.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,
I WAS LIVING IN TERROR.

I'M JAMIE.

SHE THINKS SHE MAY HAVE
FINALLY FOUND THE ONE.



MY DRUG OF CHOICE WAS,
I NEEDED A MAN.

WHY YOU ALWAYS NAGGING?!

BUT THINGS QUICKLY GO SOUTH.

SHE DIDN'T TRUST HIM AS FAR
AS SHE COULD THROW HIM.

WHERE THE HELL
HAVE YOU BEEN?

I JUST THOUGHT
SHE LOST HER MIND.

AND HER OBSESSION TURNS DEADLY.

WHOA.
WHOA, BABY.

IT WAS JUST LIKE,
"OH, MY GOD.

THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS GUY'S
GONNA REALLY KILL YOU."

DIE, BITCH!

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

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

DEBRA HUDSON GREW UP
IN RURAL NORTH TEXAS.



WHAT'S UP?

BUT SHE DOESN'T LIKE
TO PLAY BY THE RULES.

LOOK WHO DECIDED
TO SHOW UP.

- HEY.
- HOW ARE YOU?

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 16,
I WAS - I WAS PRETTY WILD.

AND I WAS ALWAYS IN TROUBLE,
SKIPPING SCHOOL,

CHASING BOYS BIG-TIME.

AND BOYS CAME WITH BOOZE.

BOOZE AND BOYS
WERE MY PROBLEM.

BOTH ARE EASY AS PIE

FOR THE PRETTY, YOUNG TEEN
TO GET.

STEAL THAT YOURSELF?

I MEAN, SHE DIDN'T WEAR A LOT
OF MAKEUP OR ANYTHING.

SHE WAS JUST A NATURAL BEAUTY.

WHAT, MAY I ASK,
IS THIS?

ONE OF HER ADMIRERS
IS HER BUDDY SAM.

DON'T SMELL IT.

JUST DRINK IT.

HE WAS A GOOD OL' COUNTRY BOY.

SHE WAS A GOOD OL' COUNTRY GIRL.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BONFIRES, COUNTRY ROADS,
JIM BEAM,

JACK DANIELS, YOU KNOW,
WE ALL RAN HAND-IN-HAND.

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT.
I NOTICED.

SHE'S HAVING
TOO MUCH FUN RIGHT NOW

TO WORRY ABOUT CONSEQUENCES.

TRADE YOU SOME MORE OF THAT
FOR A KISS.

WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS
ANYTHING WRONG WITH ALCOHOL

BECAUSE MY - MY MOM
AND MY STEPFATHER,

THEY DRANK ALCOHOL.

I FELT LIKE A WILD MUSTANG
THAT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE.

AND ONE MORE.

JUST ONE MORE.

BUT HER WILD WAYS
SOON CATCH UP WITH HER.

- STOP.
- WHAT?

I NEED
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

SHE DISCOVERS SHE'S PREGNANT,

AND THE BABY'S FATHER
IS HER FRIEND SAM.

YOU KNOW,
THEY WERE MORE GOOD FRIENDS

THAN THEY WERE MADLY IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET'S GET MARRIED.

- YOU GOT PREGNANT AT 16?
- MM-HMM.

AND WHAT HAPPENED?

UH, MY MOTHER
MADE ME GET MARRIED.

SHE SAID, "YOU'VE MADE YOUR BED.
YOU LIE IN IT."

IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY ONE
OF MY, UH, GRANDPARENTS

AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
ALL MARRIED VERY YOUNG.

I WAS TAUGHT
THAT THE THING TO DO,

IF YOU REALLY
WANTED TO GET AHEAD,

WAS TO MAKE SURE
YOU HAD A GOOD PROVIDER.

FIND A GOOD MAN
AND GET HITCHED?

YES.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THE THINGS THAT DEBRA
OBSERVED HER PARENTS DOING,

LIKE GETTING MARRIED YOUNG

AND DRINKING EVERY DAY
AFTER WORK,

WERE ACTUALLY NOT THAT UNUSUAL
IN TEXAS IN THE 1970s.

BUT WITHOUT A ROLE MODEL
TO SHOW HER A BETTER WAY,

SHE'S GOING
TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH.

NOW PREGNANT AND MARRIED AT 16,

SHE IS ALREADY WELL ON HER WAY
TO REPEATING HISTORY.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AFTER THE WEDDING,

DEBRA GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY BOY.

EVEN THOUGH SAM
HAS A FULL-TIME JOB,

IT'S BECOME CLEAR
DEBRA'S TEENAGE HUSBAND

ISN'T READY FOR FAMILY LIFE.

HE MADE REALLY GOOD MONEY,

BUT HE HAD
A SERIOUS DRINKING PROBLEM.

THERE WAS NO
CUTTING IT OFF.

THE MARRIAGE CRUMBLES
AFTER ONLY FIVE MONTHS,

AND DEBRA MOVES BACK HOME
WITH HER FAMILY.

YOUR DRINKS HAVE ARRIVED.

DEBRA'S MOM WATCHES THE BABY

WHILE DEBRA
GETS A WAITRESSING JOB.

YOU GOT
MY HEART OVERHEATED.

BUT BEING FREE
OF HER MOTHERLY RESPONSIBILITIES

LETS HER FALL BACK
ON OLD HABITS.

DID YOU HEAR THAT LINE?

OH, MY GOSH.
THAT WAS FREAKING RIDICULOUS.

ALWAYS HAD A WILD SPIRIT
ABOUT ME, ALWAYS.

AFTER EVERYBODY GOT OFF OF WORK,
WE JUST ALL, AS A GROUP,

WE JUST KIND OF HUNG OUT
TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.

I LIKE MY VODKA.

YES.

SHE'S SOON HOOKING UP
WITH A CO-WORKER NAMED JAY.

I THINK I LIKED,
THE MOST ABOUT HIM,

HE WAS PRETTY QUIET AND
PRETTY SHY, KEPT TO HIMSELF.

YOU NEVER KNEW
WHAT HE WAS THINKING.

BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE YOU WERE IN LOVE.

YOU JUST ENJOYED GOING OUT

AND DRINKING WITH THE GUY
AFTER WORK?

AND HAVING FUN.

IF ANYBODY CONFUSED FUN
AND LOVE, THAT WAS ME.

HEY.

MISSED YOU LAST NIGHT.
WHERE WERE YOU?

- WASN'T FEELING WELL.
- WELL, I'M SORRY.

UH, COULD WE GET TWO SHOTS
AND TWO BEERS, PLEASE?

NO. NO.

WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS...

WHAT'S UP?

...HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

I'M PREGNANT.

SO 20 YEARS OLD,
PREGNANT AGAIN...

IN THE SAME SITUATION
THAT I WAS IN,

BUT A DIFFERENT PERSON.

GUESS WE SHOULD
GET MARRIED THEN.

HE REALLY WASN'T
THAT UPSET ABOUT IT.

HE WAS WILLING TO STEP UP
TO THE PLATE

AND DO
THE RIGHT THING.

WHICH MEANS?

MARRY ME.

WE WENT TO THE JUSTICE
OF THE PEACE AND GOT MARRIED.

- JUST LIKE THAT?
- THAT WAS ALL THERE WAS TO IT.

DEBRA HAS BEEN
TAUGHT TO SEEK A PROVIDER,

SOMEONE
WHO WILL GIVE HER SECURITY.

IN TRUTH, SAM AND JAY
ARE BOTH TOO YOUNG

TO GIVE HER
WHAT SHE'S LOOKING FOR.

SO UNLESS SHE'S ABLE TO GROUND
HER EXPECTATIONS IN REALITY,

THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOING
TO END IN DISAPPOINTMENT

OR WORSE.

SIX MONTHS LATER,

DEBRA GIVES BIRTH
TO A LITTLE GIRL.

SHE NOW HAS TWO CHILDREN
TO CARE FOR, BUT,

YET AGAIN, DEBRA'S NEW HUSBAND
ISN'T CUT OUT TO BE A DAD.

HOW WERE THINGS
AFTER THE BABY WAS BORN?

HE STARTED WITH SIGNS
OF NOT BEING

REALLY THAT INTERESTED
IN HAVING A FAMILY.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

OUT.

HE STARTED STAYING OUT
ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT

AND WOULD NEVER COME HOME

TILL, SOMETIMES,
A DAY OR TWO LATER,

AND I'D NEVER KNOW
WHERE HE WAS.

DO YOU THINK HE
WAS CHEATING?

YEAH.
I COULD NEVER PROVE IT.

MY INTUITION KNEW THAT
I WASN'T THE ONE AND ONLY.

WHO IS SHE?

THERE'S NO SHE.

I KNOW YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING,
AND I KNOW YOU'RE CHEATING.

DEBRA SAYS THAT,
TO PUT A STOP TO HER NAGGING,

JAY FINALLY
CONFESSES A DARK SECRET.

IT TURNS OUT IT'S NOT WOMEN
HE'S BEEN CHASING.

SO HE WAS
ON METHAMPHETAMINES.

WHAT IS THAT?

DEBRA IS SHOCKED.

I NEVER SAW IT COMING.

THAT'S THE SAD PART.

I JUST NEVER SAW
ANY OF IT COMING.

THERE'S NO WAY
THIS CAN END WELL.

WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

NOW THAT THINGS
ARE OUT IN THE OPEN,

DEBRA CLAIMS THAT,
INSTEAD OF OFFERING TO QUIT,

JAY ENCOURAGES HER
TO JOIN THE PARTY.

IT'S SOMETHING
WE COULD DO TOGETHER.

HE WANTED ME TO BE A PART
OF HIS LIFE,

SO I WOULD QUIT BEING
ON TOP OF HIM ALL THE TIME

FOR THE THINGS HE WASN'T DOING
RIGHT IN THE RELATIONSHIP.

HE THOUGHT,
IF HE BROUGHT ME INTO IT,

THEN MAYBE I'D BE
MORE OPEN TO IT.

TRY SOME.

DEBRA'S HESITANT AT FIRST.

HE JUST FIGURES,
IF HE CAN GET YOU ON HIS TRAIN

AND USING METH AS WELL,

THEN YOU'LL LIGHTEN UP ABOUT
WHAT A BAD HUSBAND HE'S BEING.

EXACTLY.

DESPERATE
TO SALVAGE HER RELATIONSHIP,

THIS NAIVE, YOUNG MOTHER OF TWO
GIVES IT A TRY.

AFTER HER FIRST
SHOTGUN MARRIAGE FIZZLES OUT,

20-YEAR-OLD DEBRA HUDSON

PINS HER HOPES
ON HER SECOND HUSBAND, JAY.

BUT JAY SPENDS MORE NIGHTS
OUT THAN HE DOES AT HOME,

AND SHE'S JUST DISCOVERED WHY.

THE METH MAKES HER HEAD SPIN.

I HATED IT.

IT FELT LIKE
I WAS SUFFOCATING.

SHE TAKES ANOTHER HIT
DESPITE HOW IT MAKES HER FEEL.

AND IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

THERE WAS SOMETHING
INSIDE OF ME THAT WAS MISSING.

DRUGS WAS ALL I HAD TO DO
TO FILL THAT HOLE UP.

LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW,
THIS IS A HABIT

THAT'S HARD TO BREAK.

DO THIS TOGETHER.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
BEFORE SHE'S COMPLETELY HOOKED.

HAVING 2 SMALL
CHILDREN BY THE AGE OF 20,

DEBRA IS DESPERATE TO MAKE
HER SECOND MARRIAGE WORK.

SHE IS NAIVE ENOUGH TO THINK
THAT DOING METH WITH JAY

WILL KEEP HER MARRIAGE TOGETHER.

AND IF SHE CONTINUES
DOWN THIS PATH,

SHE STANDS TO LOSE A LOT MORE
THAN JUST THIS RELATIONSHIP.

BY 1985, DEBRA AND JAY
HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 4 YEARS

AND ARE BOTH BATTLING SERIOUS
METH AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS.

THINGS HAVE GOTTEN SO BAD
THAT HER 7-YEAR-OLD SON

AND HER 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
ARE NOW LIVING WITH HER PARENTS.

ONE DAY, DEBRA GETS
A DEVASTATING PHONE CALL

THAT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING.

DO THEY KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED?

ACCORDING TO DEBRA,
HER 19-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, BILLY,

WAS ALSO ADDICTED TO METH
AND KILLED HIMSELF.

HE WAS THE YOUNGEST,
SO HE WAS THE BABY.

I'LL COME OVER.
YEAH. I'M ON MY WAY.

I THINK HE WENT
TO THE MEDICINE CABINET

AND JUST TOOK A HANDFUL
OF PILLS.

- WERE YOU SHOCKED?
- I FELL OUT.

I WAS, LIKE,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS MONSTER

HAD GOTTEN AHOLD OF MY LIFE,

AND THEN IT WAS ALSO AHOLD
OF MY BROTHER'S LIFE.

WELL, IT WAS REALLY
A WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME.

DEBRA FINALLY DECIDES
TO CHECK HERSELF IN

TO A 30-DAY DETOX PROGRAM.

I DID GO
TO A RECOVERY PROGRAM.

TO GET OFF METH?

TO PUT A STOP
TO EVERYTHING.

IN REHAB, DEBRA
KICKS HER METH ADDICTION

AND DOES SOME SERIOUS
SOUL SEARCHING.

AGAIN, I COULDN'T TAKE CARE
OF MY KIDS.

WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING
IS A TERM CALLED CODEPENDENCY.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN
IN REHAB?

THAT I WAS JUST
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING

SO I WOULDN'T HAVE
TO DEAL WITH LIFE.

AND WHAT I FOUND
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF,

YOU KNOW, BEING IN THAT -
IN THAT RECOVERY PROGRAM

AND GETTING
INTO PSYCHIATRIC COUNSELING,

MY DRUG OF CHOICE WAS,
I NEEDED A MAN.

I FEEL LIKE I'M
IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

YOU ARE.

I'M NOT AN ALCOHOLIC.
I'M NOT A DRUG ADDICT.

I HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH, UH, CODEPENDENCY.

DEBRA IS FINALLY
GETTING THE HELP THAT SHE NEEDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRST STEP
IN BATTLING ANY ADDICTION

IS ADMITTING
THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

AND DEBRA IS NOT READY TO ACCEPT

THAT THERE IS A CHEMICAL
DEPENDENCY TO HER NEED

FOR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

AND THIS DENIAL

IS GOING TO LEAVE HER
AT SERIOUS RISK FOR RELAPSE.

- CAN I USE THE PHONE, PLEASE?
- SURE.

ONCE HER 30 DAYS ARE UP,

DEBRA MAKES THE BOLD DECISION
TO END THINGS WITH JAY.

I MOVED HIM
OUT OF MY LIFE.

IT'S OVER.

DEBRA MOVES BACK HOME
WITH HER MOM AND KIDS

AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HER LIFE,

FOCUSES ON HER FUTURE.

AT 25, SHE ENROLLS
IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

I WENT TO SCHOOL, UH,
FOR SOCIAL WORK.

I THOUGHT, "WELL,
MAYBE I CAN HELP PEOPLE

WITH MY EXPERIENCE."

WELL, THIS HAS BEEN

A REALLY PRODUCTIVE MEETING
SO FAR.

IS THERE ANYTHING
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SAY?

I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY
THAT -

THAT I REALLY DON'T
APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

SHE QUICKLY LANDS
A JOB COUNSELING ALCOHOLICS.

AND WE'RE ALSO NOT HERE
TO BLAME.

IT'S THE PERFECT FIT.

I'VE NEVER, IN MY LIFE,

BEEN AS HAPPY
AS I AM WHEN I'M HELPING

SOMEONE ELSE TO OVERCOME
SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEM.

AND WHEN IT COMES
TO HER OWN LIFE,

DEBRA'S DETERMINED
NOT TO FALL FOR ANOTHER ADDICT.

THIS TIME, DEBRA'S HOLDING OUT
FOR MR. RIGHT.

IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE
HER MARRIAGE TO JAY CRUMBLED.

IT WAS A HUNT.

I WAS ALWAYS,
CONSTANTLY HUNTING.

SO YOU'RE ON THE HUNT
FOR WHAT?

SOME KIND OF FULFILLMENT
INSIDE OF ME.

I JUST FELT EMPTY INSIDE.

BUT HER LUCK'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.

HEY, COULD SOMEBODY
GIVE ME A HAND?

ONE DAY, A FRIEND
INVITES HER TO A BARBECUE,

WHERE SHE MEETS RICK.

WELCOME,
WELCOME, WELCOME.

LET ME TAKE THAT FOR YOU.
COME ON IN HERE.

HE WAS VERY NICE TO ME,
HAD PERFECT MANNERS,

OPENED THE DOOR FOR ME.

ARE YOU FROM AROUND HERE?

UH, I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE JUST CAME DOWN
TO VISIT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A LONG TIME,

DEBRA FINDS HERSELF SMITTEN.

WHEN WE STARTED TALKING,
IT WAS LIKE TWO PEOPLE

THAT COULDN'T GET ENOUGH
OF EACH OTHER.

WAS IT FINALLY
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?

OR DID IT JUST FEEL GOOD?
OR WAS IT...

IT JUST FELT GOOD.

SHE CAN'T RESIST RICK'S CHARM.

YEAH. SO I'LL -
I'LL PROBABLY CALL YOU...

- OKAY.
- ...IF I KNOW MY SCHEDULE.

I GUESS
I WOULDN'T MIND THAT.

DEBRA AGREES TO GO OUT WITH RICK
THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.

IT'S THE FIRST OF MANY DATES.

THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN
GOING REALLY GOOD.

I'VE BUILT IT
FROM THE GROUND UP.

HE DID EVERYTHING
HE COULD DO

TO TRY TO MAKE
EVERYTHING PERFECT

SO I WOULD WANT TO BE
WITH HIM.

RICK'S THOUGHTFUL, STABLE

AND ALSO OWNS A SUCCESSFUL
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

IN OKLAHOMA.

WE DATED LONG-DISTANCE
FOR A YEAR.

DEBRA'S SURE HE'S THE ONE

SHE'S BEEN WAITING
FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

HEY, ARE YOU OKAY?

LOOK A LITTLE SHAKY.

I'VE BEEN WAITING
TO ASK YOU THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

WHEN HE PROPOSES,
SHE'S OVER THE MOON.

LIKE, THE REAL PROPOSAL?

THE REAL PROPOSAL.

BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN
MARRIED TWICE BEFORE.

WITH NO PROPOSAL.

DID THIS MAN HAVE A RING?

YES, HE DID.

AND TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR WEDDING.

IT WAS AWESOME.
WE...

HE MARRIED ME HERE
IN MY CHURCH.

WELCOME, EVERYONE.

WE ARE HERE TODAY
TO CELEBRATE THE HOLY...

BEFORE, I THOUGHT, WELL,
NOT HAVING A CHURCH WEDDING,

YOU KNOW, NO BIG DEAL, NO...

LIKE YOU'D GIVEN UP
ON THE WHOLE FAIRY TALE.

LIKE THERE
REALLY WASN'T ONE.

I'D SETTLED
FOR SO LESS ALL MY LIFE.

BUT RICK WANTED YOU
TO HAVE IT.

WITH ALL MY HEART, I DO.

NOW, AT 33,

DEBRA KNOWS WHO SHE IS
AND WHAT SHE WANTS.

RICK OFFERS SECURITY
AND STABILITY, AND THIS IS

SOMETHING DEBRA HAS NEVER GOTTEN
FROM A RELATIONSHIP.

SHE WANTS IT TO WORK SO BADLY.

BUT THE COUPLE
HAS ONLY DATED FOR A YEAR,

AND IT'S BEEN LONG-DISTANCE.

IT REALLY BEGS THE QUESTION,

HOW WELL DO THEY REALLY
KNOW EACH OTHER?

AFTER THE WEDDING,

DEBRA AND HER TWO TEENAGERS MOVE
INTO RICK'S HOME IN OKLAHOMA.

HER NEW LIFE
FEELS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

DEBRA, WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?!

DEBRA CLAIMS THAT
HER NEW HUSBAND HAS A DARK SIDE

THAT ONLY COMES OUT
AFTER THE WEDDING.

REAL STUPID.

I'M SORRY.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

TO MEET HIM, YOU WOULD THINK
HE WAS THE MOST CHARISMATIC,

MOST WONDERFUL,
AWESOME PERSON.

BUT WHEN HE GOT
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

HE CAME OUT
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

HE WAS FAKE.

HE WAS MEAN.

CLEAN IT UP.

SO I WAS LOOKING
AND...

AS THE MONTHS GO BY,
THINGS JUST GET WORSE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A HONEYMOON.

WE SHOULD MAYBE PLAN
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT, THIS ISN'T ENOUGH
FOR YOU?

I MEAN,
WE COULD BE SITTING

AND HAVING A PERFECTLY GOOD
CONVERSATION,

AND THE NEXT THING
YOU KNOW WAS, BOOM.

- HEY.
- DEBRA.

WHAT IS THE MATTER
WITH YOU?

I SAID PUT THESE DOWN.

DID HE LAY HANDS ON YOU?

YES, MORE THAN ONCE.

YOU NEVER KNEW
WHEN HE WAS GONNA GO OFF.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

ALL YOU'VE BEEN DOING
LATELY IS YELLING AT ME.

SORRY I CAN'T PROVIDE
FOR YOU, DEBRA!

HE'D PICK ME UP AND THROW ME
ON TOP OF A COFFEE TABLE.

NOTHING IS EVER ENOUGH
FOR YOU!

AFTER TWO FAILED MARRIAGES,

DEBRA HUDSON THOUGHT
THE THIRD TIME WAS A CHARM

WITH HER HUSBAND, RICK.

BUT SHE'S JUST DISCOVERED
HOW WRONG SHE WAS.

NEVER ENOUGH FOR YOU!
NOTHING IS EVER ENOUGH!

BUT WHY NOT LEAVE?

I WAS ASHAMED.

YOU KNOW,
I'D BEEN SEARCHING

AND FOUND THIS AWESOME LIFE

THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
EXISTED FOR MYSELF.

SO I WAS LETTING EVERYBODY
THINK I WAS STILL HAPPY.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,
I WAS LIVING IN TERROR.

BUT DEBRA'S DETERMINED TO TRY
AND MAKE HER MARRIAGE WORK.

ONCE AGAIN, DEBRA'S
DESPERATE SEARCH FOR A PROVIDER

HAS LANDED HER
IN A TRAGIC SITUATION.

BUT AFTER WAITING NEARLY
A DECADE FOR THE RIGHT MAN,

SHE NOW
CAN'T BRING HERSELF TO LEAVE.

AND THE PROBLEM IS,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

TENDS TO ESCALATE WITH TIME.

IT'S NOW 2002,
9 YEARS AFTER DEBRA MARRIED RICK

AND DISCOVERED HIS
PRINCE-CHARMING ACT WAS A SHAM.

SHE'S FINALLY HAD ENOUGH.

OKAY.
HERE YOU ARE AGAIN,

SAME PLACE, SAME TIME,
DIFFERENT YEAR.

SO YOU CAME TO THIS
ON YOUR OWN?

YES. THAT AND A HIGHER POWER
I CALL GOD.

41-YEAR-OLD DEBRA
FINALLY MUSTERS THE STRENGTH

TO FILE FOR DIVORCE.

A FRIEND OFFERS HER
A PLACE TO CRASH

UNTIL SHE
CAN GET BACK ON HER FEET.

AT FIRST, DEBRA'S TOO ASHAMED
TO GO BACK TO SOCIAL WORK.

SHE SPENDS THE NEXT FEW YEARS

PICKING UP ODD JOBS
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

IF I WAS GONNA TEACH PEOPLE
HOW TO DO THINGS DIFFERENT,

THEN I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO BE
LIVING WHAT I WAS TEACHING,

AND I WASN'T CAPABLE
OF THAT.

BUT IN 2007,
DEBRA HAS AN EPIPHANY -

THAT HER PURPOSE IN LIFE
IS TO HELP OTHERS.

SHE DECIDES TO LEAVE OKLAHOMA
AND MOVE BACK TO TEXAS.

SHE QUICKLY SETTLES IN

AND LAUNCHES A NONPROFIT
CALLED SURVIVING SISTERS

TO HELP VICTIMS
OF ADDICTION AND DOMESTIC ABUSE.

SHE WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING
TO HELP OTHER WOMEN NOT FALL

INTO THIS SAME CATEGORY
OF BEING A VICTIM.

WELL, I BELIEVE THAT GOD
CALLED ME TO DO IT.

HE HIT ME AGAIN
WITH MY BOY THERE.

FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS,

DEBRA SPENDS HER DAYS COUNSELING
WOMEN TRAPPED IN RELATIONSHIPS

WITH ADDICTS AND ABUSERS.

THANK YOU.

BUT THERE'S STILL ONE THING
MISSING IN HER LIFE - A MAN.

I THINK I ALWAYS
THOUGHT ABOUT

MR., YOU KNOW, RIGHT,

EVEN WHEN
I WAS A YOUNG GIRL.

I WAS RAISED TO THINK

THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE A MAN
IN MY LIFE.

MAYBE A COUPLE THINGS.

OKAY.
WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT.

ONE NIGHT IN FEBRUARY 2013,
DEBRA'S WRAPPING UP

A FUNDRAISING EVENT
FOR SURVIVING SISTERS...

...WHEN SHE CATCHES THE EYE
OF A TALL, HANDSOME REDHEAD.

I WAS JUST KIND OF WINDING
DOWN FOR THE NIGHT

IS WHAT I WAS DOING

'CAUSE
I WAS A BARTENDER AT THE TIME.

AND WHEN I CLOSED DOWN THERE,

I WOULD HAVE A COUPLE DRINKS.

I'M JAMIE.

- DEBRA.
- NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW THAT SHE'S THRIVING,

DEBRA'S READY TO GET BACK
IN THE GAME.

OH, I'M DOING A FUNDRAISER
FOR MY NONPROFIT.

WHEN I WAS SINGLE

AND I DIDN'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
OR A BOYFRIEND IN MY LIFE,

I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THERE WAS
SOMETHING MISSING

'CAUSE THERE WASN'T A MAN
IN IT.

AND I WAS ALWAYS LOOKING,

EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T ACTING
ON MY THINKING AND MY LOOKING.

YOU COULD NEVER BE SINGLE
AND HAPPY.

NEVER COULD.

CHEERS TO DOING
GOOD STUFF.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS CUTE,
EASY TO GET ALONG WITH.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE
WHEN YOU FIRST MET HIM?

HE WAS YOUNG.
HE WAS - HE WAS HOT.

- HOW MUCH YOUNGER THAN YOU?
- 13 YEARS.

AND DID YOU HAVE
ANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE FACT

THAT HE WAS YOUNGER?

NO.
THAT WAS MORE EXCITING.

WELL, I - I GOT TO GET
OUT OF HERE SOON,

BUT I WAS WONDERING

IF MAYBE I COULD GIVE YOU
A CALL SOMETIME.

YEAH, SURE.
GIVE ME YOUR PHONE.

AFTER 10 YEARS
OF DETOXING FROM MEN,

DEBRA FINALLY
LETS HER GUARD DOWN.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A CALL.

- HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
- YOU TOO.

THE NEXT DAY,
JAMIE CALLS DEBRA

AND INVITES HER OUT FOR LUNCH.

YOU KNOW,
I DID LIKE HER ATTITUDE,

AND WE GOT ALONG GREAT.

DEBRA'S QUICKLY
HEAD OVER HEELS

FOR THIS HANDSOME REDHEAD.

YOU LOOK AMAZING.

HOW SOON DID YOU GET
GUT-HOOKED BY THIS MAN?

QUICK, LIKE THAT QUICK.

- WITH JUST ATTENTION?
- MM-HMM.

LITTLE NERVOUS
CALLING YOU 'CAUSE, UH,

I KNOW WE JUST MET,
IT WAS SO QUICK.

COULDN'T -
COULDN'T HELP MYSELF.

I THINK
THAT HE JUST, YOU KNOW,

PRETTY MUCH
SMOOGED HER OVER,

SAID THE RIGHT THINGS,
TOLD HER THE RIGHT THINGS,

AND SHE FELL FOR HIM.

WITHIN WEEKS,
THEY'RE INSEPARABLE.

EVERYTHING
JUST WENT SO QUICK.

I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE
HOW FAST IT WENT.

IT WAS JUST,
LIKE... BOOM.

I REALLY THOUGHT THAT
MAYBE HE WAS GONNA BE SOMEBODY

I WOULD BE ABLE
TO BE IN LOVE WITH.

BUT ONE THING DEBRA AND JAMIE
NEVER TALK ABOUT IS THEIR PASTS.

I FEEL LIKE I HARDLY KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT YOU.

TELL ME
SOMETHING PERSONAL.

YOU KNOW, BABY,
I'M CRAZY ABOUT YOU.

I MEAN, WHAT ELSE
YOU NEED TO KNOW?

I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

HEY, DEBRA,
HOW'S IT GOING?

HEY, HOW Y'ALL DOING?

- GOOD.
- GOOD.

SURE ENOUGH, ONE DAY,

MUTUAL FRIENDS
FILL IN SOME OF THE GAPS.

YEAH, WE JUST STARTED
SEEING EACH OTHER.

ACCORDING TO DEBRA,

THEY WARN HER THAT JAMIE'S BEEN
THROUGH SOME DARK TIMES

AND THAT HE'S STRUGGLED
WITH DRINKING AND DEPRESSION.

PEOPLE STARTED REVEALING TO ME
HOW HE HAD MENTAL PROBLEMS.

THEY STARTED TELLING ME,

"YOU BETTER GET AWAY FROM HIM
BECAUSE HE'S CRAZY."

I'LL KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THANK YOU.
- BE CAREFUL.

WHY DOESN'T THIS MAKE YOU GO
RUNNING AND SCREAMING

IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION?

I THINK BECAUSE I HAD TOO MUCH
COMPASSION FOR HIM,

AND I FELT BAD FOR HIM.

- DEBRA.
- I WAS CARETAKING.

YOU'RE A FIXER.

I'M A FIXER,
ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

AFTER TWO MONTHS
OF DATING, MONEY IS TIGHT.

THE LOVEBIRDS DECIDE
THE BEST SOLUTION

IS FOR DEBRA TO MOVE IN
WITH JAMIE AND HIS MOM, BARI.

HEY, MOM.
HOW ARE YOU?

MAMA, THIS IS DEBRA.

SOME PEOPLE CALL HER BARI,
BUT JUST MAMA TO ME.

FLUFFY DOESN'T
LIKE STRANGERS.

BUT THERE'S ONE PROBLEM -

BARI'S NOT A FAN
OF HER SON'S NEW GIRLFRIEND.

SHE WAS QUITE A BIT OLDER.

I DIDN'T LIKE HER
FROM THE GET-GO.

SHE WAS JUST... TOO BOSSY.

WHERE THE HELL
HAVE YOU BEEN?

OUT.

YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE
GONNA BE HOME AT 10:00.

IT'S 11:30.

BARI CLAIMS DEBRA
IS FEROCIOUSLY JEALOUS.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?

I GOT SOME BEER.

SHE DIDN'T TRUST JAMIE
AS FAR AS SHE COULD THROW HIM.

SHE WANTED TO KNOW
WHERE HE WAS 24 HOURS A DAY.

SHE WAS AFRAID OF OTHER WOMEN.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA STEAL HIM.

AND JAMIE'S JUST NOT LIKE THAT.

ONCE HE FINDS A WOMAN,
HE'S GONNA STICK WITH HER.

CAN I COME IN?

BUT DEBRA BELIEVES
HER FEARS ARE JUSTIFIED.

HEY. WHAT'S COOKING,
GOOD LOOKING?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

THERE WAS TWO TOTALLY
DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THERE WAS THE DAY JAMIE
AND THE NIGHT JAMIE.

I LOVE YOU.
YOU KNOW THIS.

BUT JAMIE FILLS UP THE HOLE
IN HER HEART,

AND DEBRA CAN'T BEAR THE THOUGHT
OF BEING ALONE AGAIN.

YOU WANT TO BE MAD AT ME,
BUT YOU CAN'T BE.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

- I WASN'T MYSELF.
- OKAY.

I SNAPPED AT THAT POINT
IN MY LIFE,

AND IT JUST TOOK
A WRONG DIRECTION.

AND I DIDN'T CARE.

HE WAS SHOWING ME ATTENTION,
AND SO I WENT WITH IT.

DEEP DOWN, DEBRA KNOWS THIS
RELATIONSHIP IS NOT HEALTHY.

TO COPE,
SHE STARTS DRINKING HEAVILY.

I PROBABLY DRANK MORE
THAN I SHOULD'VE

AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME

BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH
ALL THESE THINGS

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO DEAL WITH 'EM.

DESPITE ALL OF THE GOOD WORK

THAT DEBRA HAS BEEN DOING WITH
OTHERS OVER THE PAST DECADE,

SHE'S STILL CLEARLY IN DENIAL
ABOUT HER OWN RELATIONSHIP

WITH ALCOHOL.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

SHE QUICKLY UNRAVELS.

YOU'VE BEEN HERE DRINKING
WITH ME ALL DAY,

AND YOU'RE JUST
GONNA LEAVE?

AT FIRST, IT WAS LIKE SHE
DIDN'T WANT TO DRINK A WHOLE LOT

IN FRONT OF ME,
BUT THEN IT KIND OF PICKED UP.

THE ATTITUDE STARTED CHANGING.

AND IF SHE WAS IN A GOOD MOOD,

THEN EVERYTHING
WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.

BUT IF SHE WAS IRRITATED, WELL,

YOU JUST REALLY
NEVER KNEW HOW SHE WOULD ACT.

YOU ARE JUST -
YOU'RE NEVER HERE.

YOU ARE NEVER, EVER...

IT WAS JUST LIKE
I WAS INSIDE THIS TORNADO

THAT WAS JUST GOING AROUND
AND AROUND AND AROUND,

AND I COULD NOT STOP THE SHOW
TO GET OFF.

I JUST KEPT GOING.

THIS IS WHY
I'M NEVER HERE.

WHY YOU
ALWAYS NAGGING ME?!

IF YOU EVER DID WHAT
YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO

AND COME HOME AT NIGHT...
- YOU'RE DRUNK ALL THE TIME.

BARI AND JAMIE CLAIM
THAT, SOME NIGHTS,

THE FIGHTS GET SO BAD
THEY HAVE TO CALL THE COPS.

NAGGING ME, YOU DRUNK.

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.

SEE, I DON'T -
I DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE WITH HER.

ANY TIME ANYTHING WAS GOING ON
THAT HE WAS MAD AT ME ABOUT,

HE WOULD CALL THE POLICE.

HE WOULD ALWAYS BE
TOTALLY INTOXICATED.

DEBRA CLAIMS THE
POLICE WERE FRIENDLY WITH JAMIE

AND WOULD GO EASY ON HIM
AND ARREST HER.

THIS HAPPENED ON MORE
THAN ONE OCCASION?

FOR ABOUT A MONTH,

EVERY WEEK,
I WAS GOING TO JAIL.

I SAW
THAT 18-YEAR-OLD SLUT

HANGING ALL OVER YOU
AT THE BAR.

YOU ARE OUT OF -
YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR...

NO.

ACCORDING TO JAMIE AND BARI,
ONE NIGHT,

AFTER BEING OUT DRINKING,

THE COUPLE'S FIGHTING
REACHES A CLIMAX.

SHE CAME TO TALK TO ME.

I JUST ASKED HER TO LEAVE ME
ALONE FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

SO SHE CAN CALM DOWN
AND I CAN CALM DOWN,

AND WE'D TALK ABOUT IT LATER.

LEAVING ME ALONE
IN THAT HOUSE...

JAMIE CLAIMS
BEING TOLD TO RELAX

ENRAGES DEBRA EVEN MORE.

- PLEASE CALM DOWN.
- NO, I'M NOT GONNA CALM DOWN.

I'M SICK OF THIS.
- I AM GOING INSIDE.

THE SCREAMING
WAKES UP THE NEIGHBORS,

WHO CALL THE POLICE.

SHE KIND OF TURNED
INTO OTHER-DEBRA.

I WAS TRYING TO WALK AWAY,

AND SHE WENT AND GOT MY PISTOL.

NOT GONNA IGNORE ME
ANYMORE, JAMIE.

WHOA.
WHOA, BABY.

CALM DOWN, SWEETIE.
COME ON. PUT THAT DOWN.

JAMIE'S MOM,
BARI, HEARS THE COMMOTION.

CALM DOWN, PLEASE.
YOU DON'T MEAN THIS.

I SAW HER WITH THE GUN
POINTED AT HIS HEAD.

THAT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

SHE'S GONNA KILL ME.
PUT IT DOWN.

FOR MORE ON
HOW DEBRA'S DOING NOW,

GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.

51-YEAR-OLD
DEBRA HUDSON

THINKS SHE'S IN LOVE

WITH HER 38-YEAR-OLD BARTENDER
BOYFRIEND, JAMIE.

BUT JEALOUSY AND ALCOHOL

DOUSE THE FLAMES OF THE COUPLE'S
ONCE-STEAMY ROMANCE.

WHOA.
WHOA, BABY.

ACCORDING TO JAMIE AND BARI,

AS BARI WATCHES, SHE
CORNERS HIM WITH HIS OWN GUN.

SHE PULLED IT ON ME
AND STARTED PULLING THE TRIGGER.

NO, YOU DON'T MEAN THIS.
PUT IT DOWN.

LUCKILY, SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE
THE - THE SAFETY SWITCH WAS.

PUT IT DOWN, BABY.
PUT IT DOWN.

PUT IT DOWN.

HAD IT BEEN OFF SAFETY,
I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE NOW.

DEBRA RUNS INTO THE HOUSE.

- WHAT HAPPENED?
- MAMA.

MOMENTS LATER, POLICE ARRIVE.

COPS SHOWED UP, AND THEY
ASKED TO, UH, SEARCH THE HOUSE.

I LET 'EM SEARCH THE HOUSE.

WHY AREN'T YOU ARRESTING...

DEBRA INSISTS SHE
NEVER PULLED A GUN ON JAMIE.

POLICE DON'T BUY HER STORY.

LEAVE ME ALONE.
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING,

JAMIE TAKES PITY
ON HIS TROUBLED GIRLFRIEND

AND DECIDES
NOT TO PRESS CHARGES.

I CARED FOR HER,
YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH

TO SEE HER
GO TO JAIL AT THE TIME.

POLICE CONFISCATE THE GUN,

WHICH NEITHER JAMIE
NOR DEBRA HAS A LICENSE FOR.

WELL, WELL, WELL.

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

YEAH, YEAH.
I DESERVE THAT.

I - I WAS WAY
OUT OF LINE.

WHEN DEBRA POSTS BAIL, JAMIE,
SHOCKINGLY, TAKES HER BACK.

I KNEW I PROBABLY
SHOULD'VE LEFT THEN,

BUT I'M NOT THE SMARTEST KID
ON THE BLOCK.

HE SAID HE LOVED HER.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY STAYED TOGETHER.

BUT BARI IS LESS FORGIVING.

NO, THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.

I'LL GIVE YOU A WEEK TO GET OUT.

SHE KICKS JAMIE
AND DEBRA OUT OF HER HOUSE.

THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE
OF A CODEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP.

JAMIE AND DEBRA

ARE GOING TO CONTINUE PUTTING UP
WITH OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR.

TO HOLD THE OTHER ACCOUNTABLE,

THEY WOULD NEED TO FACE UP
TO THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

AND NEITHER OF THEM
IS WILLING TO DO THAT.

LET'S GO INSIDE
AND FIGURE THIS OUT.

THE COUPLE MOVES INTO A MOTEL.

NOW, HOW COULD YOU AFFORD
TO LIVE IN A MOTEL?

I GOT A JOB,
UH, DOING THE LAUNDRY,

AND I WAS ALSO DOING THE
LANDSCAPING WITH THE ROSES

AND DOING FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THEIR OFFICE.

YOU READ MY MIND, BABY.

AT FIRST,
THE CHANGE OF SCENERY

SEEMS TO HEAL
THEIR STORMY RELATIONSHIP.

FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

THERE'S PEACE
BETWEEN DEBRA AND JAMIE.

I'M GLAD
WE'RE OUT OF THAT HOUSE.

- YEAH, ME TOO.
- IT'S JUST BETTER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL
WITH OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE MY MOM,

BEING AROUND OR OTHER PEOPLE
STOPPING BY.

WHEN IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US,
FOR - FOR THE MOST PART,

WE GOT ALONG GREAT.

DAMN IT,
IT'S HOT IN THIS HOTEL.

YOU KNOW,
YOU WOULDN'T BE SO HOT

IF YOU WEREN'T DRINKING
SO MUCH.

BUT BY LATE JULY,

JUST FIVE MONTHS
INTO THE RELATIONSHIP,

THINGS ONCE AGAIN
START TO UNRAVEL.

I MEAN, I'M THE ONE OUT THERE
WHO'S WORKING SIX JOBS

JUST TO KEEP US
IN THIS HELLHOLE.

WHEN YOU TRIED TO BRING UP
HIS DRINKING WITH HIM,

WHAT WOULD HE SAY?

HE WOULD SAY
IT WAS ME, NOT HIM.

ADDICTED TO AN ADDICT

IS JUST AS BAD AS BEING
ADDICTED TO THE ALCOHOL.

AFTER I'VE BEEN WORKING
ALL DAY.

DEBRA AND JAMIE
ARE BOTH IN DENIAL

ABOUT THEIR DRINKING.

AND AFTER YEARS OF TRAINING,

DEBRA KNOWS BETTER THAN ANYONE
THAT THE FIRST STEP TO RECOVERY

IS ADMITTING
THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

YET SHE IS SO FIXATED
ON BLAMING JAMIE,

SHE IGNORES HER OWN ISSUES.

I'M OUT OF HERE.

WELL...

LATE ONE EVENING, DEBRA

COMES BACK
FROM AN ALL-DAY BABYSITTING JOB

AND CLAIMS
TO FIND JAMIE PLASTERED.

- ...SITTING HERE.
- SHUT UP.

YOU GOT US PUT IN HERE.
- I AM NOT SHUTTING UP.

HE HAS A BOTTLE
OF WHISKEY IN HIS HAND,

SO I KNEW
I WAS IN TROUBLE.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

SHE IMMEDIATELY
STARTS BERATING JAMIE

ABOUT HIS DRINKING.

I THINK SHE GOT UPSET
THAT I WAS DRINKING WHISKEY.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW,
I SHOULD'VE LISTENED...

- YOU'RE MY PROBLEM.
- I AM NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM.

HE WENT BALLISTIC.

HE SAID,
"I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,

I DON'T HAVE
A DRINKING PROBLEM."

AND IT JUST WENT ON AND ON
AND ON, ESCALATING, ESCALATING.

I'M LEAVING.

- YOU ARE NOT LEAVING.
- NO, I'M GONNA LEAVE.

I TOLD HER
I WASN'T GONNA ARGUE WITH HER.

TRIED GRABBING A COUPLE THINGS.

I WAS GONNA GO DOWN THE STREET
TO MY MOM'S HOUSE

AND STAY THE NIGHT AND TOLD HER
WE'LL TALK TOMORROW.

I'M OUT OF HERE!

SHE WASN'T HAVING THAT.

ACCORDING TO JAMIE,

DEBRA SPINS OUT OF CONTROL
AND GRABS HIS POCKETKNIFE.

THEN SHE REFUSES
TO LET HIM LEAVE.

- PUT MY KNIFE DOWN.
- NO.

I GUESS SHE WAS SO AFRAID
THAT I WASN'T EVER COMING BACK.

HE CLAIMS THAT,
WHEN HE TRIES TO GET AROUND HER,

SHE LASHES OUT,
NICKING HIS WRIST.

BUT I JUST THOUGHT
SHE LOST HER MIND, YOU KNOW.

THE ONLY THING
I DONE WAS SHOVED HER AWAY

JUST TO GET HER AWAY FROM ME.

BUT DEBRA
TELLS THE STORY DIFFERENTLY.

I'M OUT OF HERE!

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE
THIS CRAP FROM YOU.

I'M GETTING THE HELL
OUT OF HERE.

YOU ARE NOT LEAVING.
THERE IS NO WAY

THAT I'M LETTING
YOU LEAVE THIS ROOM.

- WOMAN.
- YOU ARE NOT LEAVING.

SHE CLAIMS SHE NEVER
TOUCHED THE KNIFE

AND THAT IT WAS JAMIE
WHO PULLED IT OUT.

I KNEW SOMETHING
INSIDE OF ME...

THERE WAS SOMETHING REALLY BAD
WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.

I JUST KNEW THAT SOMETHING
WAS FIXING TO HAPPEN.

ACCORDING TO DEBRA, INSTEAD
OF TURNING THE KNIFE ON HER,

HE DOES SOMETHING
COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA
LET ME LEAVE,

I'LL FIND A WAY
TO LEAVE ON MY OWN.

AAH!

HE SLIT HIS WRIST RIGHT IN FRONT
OF ME, STARTED BLEEDING.

THERE.
ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, DEBRA?

LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE NOW.

DEBRA'S SHOCKED.

BUT WHEN SHE REALIZES THE WOUND
IS NOT LIFE-THREATENING,

HER ATTITUDE CHANGES.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GONNA
MAKE ME FEEL SORRY FOR YOU?

IT DOESN'T.

I SAID, "I'M SORRY, DUDE.

I AIN'T GOT NO COMPASSION
FOR YOU."

I SAID, "'CAUSE IF YOU REALLY
WANT TO DO IT RIGHT,

YOU DON'T GO ACROSS.
YOU GO DOWN."

SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

DEBRA CLAIMS
JAMIE FLIES INTO A RAGE.

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW TO KILL YOURSELF RIGHT.

WELL, I DON'T CARE
IF YOU DIE, TOO.

YOU'RE GONNA LOSE...
AH!

WHEN I SAID THAT,
HE FLEW UP.

HE THREW ME
DOWN ON THE BED.

HE PUT HIS HANDS -
HANDS AROUND MY NECK,

AND HE STARTED
TO CHOKE ME.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

I'M GONNA DIE.

I MEAN, I WAS LITERALLY,
COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT.

WAS JUST LIKE,
"OH, MY GOD.

THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS GUY'S
GONNA REALLY KILL YOU."

THIS DESPERATE WOMAN'S
ADDICTION TO MEN

HAS FINALLY PUSHED HER
TO THE BRINK.

AND SHE'LL DO ANYTHING
TO BREAK FREE.

NO, I'M NOT GONNA CALM DOWN!
I'M SICK OF THIS!

51-YEAR-OLD DEBRA HUDSON

AND HER 38-YEAR-OLD BOYFRIEND,
JAMIE,

ARE NO STRANGERS TO FIGHTING.

WHOA. WHOA, BABY.
CALM DOWN.

I DON'T CARE
IF YOU DIE, TOO, THEN.

BUT THEIR LATEST BATTLE OF WILLS
IS ABOUT TO TURN BLOODY.

I START REACHING.

AND ON THIS DRESSER,

WHERE I'D BEEN OUT TRIMMING
ROSES THE DAY BEFORE,

I GRABBED
THE ROSE PRUNER.

AAH!

DEBRA PLUNGES THE SHEARS
DEEP INTO JAMIE'S LEG.

IT ALL KIND OF, LIKE, HAPPENED
IN SLOW MOTION, I GUESS.

EVIDENTLY,
THREE TIMES, THEY SAID,

I STABBED HIM
IN THE KNEE.

I DON'T RECALL
STABBING HIM THREE TIMES.

I JUST KNOW I STABBED HIM.

JAMIE IS STUNNED.

WHEN I REALIZED HOW BAD IT WAS,
I GRABBED MY PHONE.

HE STUMBLES OUTSIDE TO GET HELP.

MY RIGHT LEG
WAS BLEEDING QUITE A BIT.

NOW, I'M USED TO PAIN,
BUT, YEAH,

THAT WAS VERY PAINFUL.

WE'RE IN THE ROOM 243.

YEAH, SHE'S STILL HERE.

INSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM,

DEBRA FRANTICALLY
TRIES TO HIDE THE EVIDENCE.

I START PANICKING.

AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHY I WAS DOING THIS,

BUT I TOOK THOSE TRIMMERS

AND I STUCK 'EM UP
UNDERNEATH THE BED.

YOU'RE CRAZY.

YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU FRICKING PSYCHO.

WHEN I LOOKED OUT,
THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

HE WAS JUST BLEEDING
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I GRABBED THIS TUB, AND I
STARTED FILLING IT FULL OF WATER

AND STARTED THROWING WATER
ON THE BLOOD

TO GET IT
OFF OF THE SIDEWALK.

I WAS DOING EVERYTHING
I COULD DO TO HIDE THE EVIDENCE

THAT I'D STABBED HIM.

WHAT ARE YOU CLEANING FOR?
YOU CAN'T HIDE THIS.

YOU STABBED ME.

IT WAS JUST INTUITIVELY
BUILT INTO ME

TO TRY TO START -
START CLEANING THAT MESS UP.

AND I KNEW
I WASN'T GUILTY FOR NOTHING.

I KNEW THAT I HAD DID THAT
IN SELF-DEFENSE.

HOW, WHEN YOU START
TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE

AND WASHING BLOOD
OFF THE SIDEWALK, HOW...

WHAT DOES THAT PROVE?

WELL, HOW CAN YOU CONVINCE
ANYONE IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE?

YOU CAN'T.

PSYCHO.

STAND UP AND PUT YOUR HANDS
BEHIND YOUR HEAD.

- SHE'S CRAZY.
- STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

STAND UP.

SO THE POLICE, AUTOMATICALLY,
THEY JERKED ME UP.

THEY SNAPPED THEM...
- CUFFS ON.

...CUFFS ON ME.

JAMIE DENIES CHOKING DEBRA

AND PROVOKING THE ATTACK.

HE TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.

I THINK SHE SHOVED ME,
AND, "YOU'RE NOT LEAVING.

YOU'RE NOT LEAVING."

AND THEN, NEXT THING
I KNOW, I GOT...

- OKAY.
- ...STABBED.

POLICE EXAMINE
DEBRA'S NECK FOR BRUISES,

BUT DON'T FIND ANY MARKS.

HE JUST FLAT WILL NOT
RAISE A HAND TO A WOMAN.

WE GOT A WHITE FEMALE,
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON.

SHE'S ARRESTED

AND CHARGED
WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

EVEN THOUGH, ONCE AGAIN,

JAMIE REFUSES TO PRESS CHARGES.

I'M NOT THAT KIND OF PERSON.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GET HER
IN A, YOU KNOW,

ANYMORE TROUBLE THAN WHAT SHE
MIGHT'VE ALREADY BEEN IN.

- PUT THE KNIFE DOWN, DEBRA.
- NO, YOU ARE NOT LEAVING.

PUT IT DOWN
AND CALM DOWN.

I THINK SHE WAS JUST SO MAD,

SHE WASN'T IN THE RIGHT FRAME
OF MIND TO REALIZE, YOU KNOW...

AAH!
...WHAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY DOING.

IN SPITE OF ALL THE BLOOD,

JAMIE'S STAB WOUNDS
AREN'T LIFE-THREATENING.

HE GETS STITCHES AND IS RELEASED
FROM THE HOSPITAL

THE SAME NIGHT.

DESPITE JAMIE'S WILLINGNESS
TO FORGIVE AND FORGET,

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DECIDES TO PROSECUTE THE CASE.

THEY ULTIMATELY OFFER DEBRA
A GENEROUS PLEA DEAL.

SO YOU WERE ABLE
TO NEGOTIATE IT DOWN

TO 1-YEAR PROBATION.

UH, AND WHEN
I'M DONE WITH IT,

WHICH I'M ALMOST
OFF OF PROBATION,

THEY'RE GONNA EXPUNGE
IT FROM MY RECORD,

SO I WON'T EVEN HAVE
A FELONY.

IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE D. A.
WENT AHEAD AND PROSECUTED,

PARTICULARLY WITH THEIR LONG
HISTORY OF DOMESTIC SQUABBLES.

IN THE END, BOTH BEHAVED BADLY.

SO WHILE I DON'T THINK
IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE,

I ALSO DON'T THINK DEBRA REALLY
MEANT TO KILL OR HURT JAMIE.

THE EVENT WAS SORT
OF A PERFECT STORM.

IT SOMETIMES TAKES, IN ORDER
TO GET A COUPLE TO SEEK HELP

OR BREAK UP OR JUST MOVE
ON WITH THEIR LIVES...

HER 1 YEAR OF PROBATION
WAS ACTUALLY A VERY LUCKY GIFT.

NOT SURPRISINGLY,

JAMIE AND DEBRA
ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER.

NEVER EVEN THINK
ABOUT HER ANYMORE.

I DON'T LET THAT PART
OF MY LIFE BOTHER ME.

IT'S ALL BEHIND ME.

DEBRA STILL LIVES IN TEXAS

AND IS FOCUSED ON HELPING WOMEN

THROUGH HER SURVIVING SISTERS
NONPROFIT.

SHE CLAIMS HER DAYS OF HUNTING
FOR MR. RIGHT ARE OVER.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD
FOR DEBRA AGAIN?

I'M SO EXCITED.

I AM IN LOVE TODAY
WITH ME AND MY LIFE,

AND THAT'S -
THAT COUNTS MORE THAN ANYTHING.

IS IT ENOUGH?

IF YOU NEVER
FIND THE RIGHT MAN...

EVER.
I'LL BE OKAY.