Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 4 - Romance on the Open Road - full transcript

A FREE SPIRIT

HITS THE OPEN ROAD
IN SEARCH OF MEANING.

I WAS LOOKING FOR SOME SORT
OF VEHICLE TO SOME LIGHT.

THE JOURNEY IS A
ROLLER COASTER RIDE OF HIGHS...

SHE WAS JUST HITCHING
HER WAGON TO MY STAR.

...AND LOWS.

I COULDN'T REALLY DO THAT JOB
VERY GOOD SOBER - OR AT ALL.

DON'T YOU EVER!

AFTER A STRING
OF BAD RELATIONSHIPS...

IT'S OVER.

SHE THINKS
SHE'S FOUND HER WHITE KNIGHT.



WE IDENTIFIED WITH EACH OTHER
IN A WEIRD WAY.

BUT THE FINAL CHAPTER

OF THIS ROMANCE
WILL HAVE A BLOODY CONCLUSION.

I KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING
TO BE AN EXPLOSIVE END.

DON'T TOUCH ME AGAIN!

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

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

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA,

SITS ALONG HISTORIC ROUTE 66.

IT'S THE HOME
OF 16-YEAR-OLD KAREN MILLER.

THE FORMER STRAIGHT-A STUDENT

IS NOW A BROODING
HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT.

SCHOOL WAS
ABOUT THE SOCIAL STATUS

AND THE STRUCTURE AND THE WAYS
TO MANEUVER THROUGH THAT.



AND I WASN'T INTERESTED.

KAREN HAS
A DISCONNECTED RELATIONSHIP

WITH MOST OF HER FAMILY.

BUT SHE TAKES GREAT COMFORT
IN POURING HER THOUGHTS

INTO HER JOURNAL.

"I WISH I COULD JUST
HOP ON A BUS

AND GO SOMEWHERE
WHERE NOBODY KNOWS ME.

I COULD START A NEW LIFE."

I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,

BUT THAT DESIRE SORT
OF DIMINISHED AS A RESULT

OF THE CRUSHING REALITY
THAT I WAS SEEING KIND OF LOOM

OVER ME,

WHICH WAS THAT THE WORLD
ISN'T WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.

KAREN ALSO FEELS
LIKE SHE DOESN'T FIT IN AT HOME.

OUT OF FIVE CHILDREN,
SHE'S THE ONLY GIRL.

BUT THERE'S ONE EXCEPTION.

CIGARETTE?

HER OLDER BROTHER,
MIKE, IS HER BEST FRIEND

AND CLOSEST CONFIDANT.

WHAT'S UP?

I DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL.

YOU SURE DROPPING OUT
IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING HUMAN
BEING WHEN IT CAME TO ME.

HE LOVED ME VERY MUCH
AND TOOK CARE OF ME

AND HAD MY BACK, NO MATTER WHAT.

IF MOM AND DAD DON'T CARE,
WHY SHOULD I?

MY PARENTS, THEY WERE
SOMEWHAT PROGRESSIVE THINKERS.

WHEN YOU FALL OF YOUR BICYCLE

AND SKIN YOUR KNEE, THAT'S
HOW YOU LEARN NOT TO DO THAT.

YOU ARE THE SMARTEST
PERSON I KNOW.

COME HERE.
YOU CAN DO IT.

OH, GOD - STOP!

COME ON,
LET'S GO GET SOME DINNER.

KAREN'S PARENTS'
HANDS-OFF APPROACH

MAKES HER FEEL LIKE THEY
DON'T CARE, ESPECIALLY HER DAD.

"IT'S LIKE HE WISHES
HE NEVER HAD A DAUGHTER."

HE'S VERY INTELLIGENT,

AND I HAVE A LOT
OF RESPECT FOR HIM,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I THOUGHT HE HATED ME FOR A LOT
OF YEARS OF MY LIFE.

"AND HE IS ALWAYS SO DISTANT
FROM ME."

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

AND HAS WORKED
WITH WOMEN LIKE KAREN.

KAREN IS JUST SORT
OF DRIFTING ALONG IN LIFE

WITH NO CLEAR DIRECTION,
KIND OF LIKE A LEAF IN A STREAM.

AND THE FACT THAT HER PARENTS
SEEM DISTANT FROM HER

EMOTIONALLY, THIS LEAVES KAREN
VERY VULNERABLE TO ALL SORTS

OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCES THAT COULD
JEOPARDIZE HER FUTURE.

BY 1992,

KAREN'S FALLEN IN WITH A GROUP
OF OTHER DROPOUTS AND RUNAWAYS.

SHE'S EXPERIMENTING
WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS,

INCLUDING MARIJUANA AND ACID.

IT FEELS
LIKE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION,

BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

WHO IS IT?

BUT KAREN'S HIGH
IS ABOUT TO COME CRASHING DOWN.

IT'S UNLOCKED!

HER BROTHER, MIKE,

ARRIVES WITH SOME
DEVASTATING NEWS.

I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
COME ON.

OKAY.
SO WHAT'S WRONG?

KAREN, MARK'S DEAD.

WHAT?

SHE LEARNS
THAT HER 11-YEAR-OLD BROTHER,

MARK, HAS BEEN HIT BY A CAR
ON THE HIGHWAY.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS
HANDLE THE DEATH OF MARK?

THAT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING
WAS JUST REALLY SAD.

ACCORDING TO KAREN,

SHE AND MIKE
COPED BY GETTING DRUNK AND HIGH.

SO I TOLD HER,

"IF YOU LOOK AT ME AGAIN,

I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS."

DID YOU DO IT?

NO.

IF YOU TELL SOMEONE
YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING,

YOU GOT TO DO IT.

YOU JUST WANTED TO ESCAPE
THE PAIN.

YEAH.

DID IT WORK?

YEAH, I THINK, FOR A LONG TIME,
IT DID.

- MIKE, COME HERE.
- YEAH?

KAREN GRADUATES
TO HARDER DRUGS

LIKE METH AND COCAINE.

MIKE EXPERIENCED
THE SAME THING,

AND HE AND I JUST
KIND OF SHUT DOWN.

WHEN KAREN TURNS 18,

SOME FRIENDS INVITE HER
ON A ROAD TRIP TO WYOMING.

SHE JUMPS AT THE CHANCE
TO GET AWAY.

I WAS AFRAID
THAT IF I DIDN'T GET OUT, THEN I

WOULD NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DO ALL THE THINGS

THAT I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO.

THEY HEAD TO THE ANNUAL
RAINBOW GATHERING.

IT'S A MASSIVE COMMUNE
OF HIPPIES,

SET UP TO PROMOTE PEACE
AND LOVE AMONG NATURE.

I WAS LOOKING FOR
SOME SORT OF, UM...

ESCAPE?

OR A VEHICLE
TO SOME LIGHT.

KAREN BELIEVES
IT'S A CHANCE

TO START THE NEXT CHAPTER
OF HER LIFE.

"THIS PLACE
IS BEAUTIFUL

AND THE PEOPLE HERE
ARE AMAZING!"

FOR KAREN, THE RAINBOW

GATHERING
IS A MIND-BLOWING EXPERIENCE.

HI, KAREN?

YEAH.

YOU WANT TO GO
ON A TRIP?

GOT SOME MAGIC MUSHROOMS.

DEFINITELY.

COME ON.

IT'S PEOPLE GATHERING TOGETHER
TO JUST BE HUMAN BEINGS,

AND SHINING,

WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEAUTIFUL, CREATIVE IDEAS

AND THOUGHTS.

ON HER
FIRST DAY THERE,

SHE MEETS 28-YEAR-OLD
CHARLES MARTIN.

HEY, CHARLES?

THIS IS MY FRIEND, KAREN.

CHARLES.

HI.

YOU HAVING
A GOOD TIME?

YEAH, I LOVE IT HERE.

IT'S...

ALTHOUGH HE'S
NEARLY 10 YEARS OLDER,

SPARKS
INSTANTLY FLY BETWEEN THEM.

I THOUGHT HE WAS AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT HE WAS,

LIKE, GLOWING AND HAPPY,
SMART AND GOOD-LOOKING.

YEAH. SEE, THAT SOUNDED
PRETTY GOOD.

I JUST THOUGHT
SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I WAS VERY EXPERIENCED,
VERY WELL TRAVELED.

I'D BEEN TO MANY, MANY PLACES.

AND SHE WAS JUST KIND
OF HITCHING HER WAGON

TO MY STAR,
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

OVER THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS, KAREN AND CHARLES

BECOME ATTACHED AT THE HIP.

I'M USED TO LIVING
IN HIPPY COMMUNITIES WHERE

PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN WILLING
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS

AND WORK THINGS OUT.

AND SHE WASN'T THAT WAY.

FOR SOME REASON,
I WAS JUST ATTRACTED TO THAT.

BUT CHARLES
IS A DRIFTER AT HEART

AND IS GROWING RESTLESS.

IS SOMETHING WRONG?

I'M THINKING
ABOUT CUTTING OUT.

OH.

BUT HE DOESN'T WANT
TO LOSE THE BUDDING ROMANCE

HE HAS WITH KAREN.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT COMING WITH ME, THOUGH?

WHERE?

ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

NEITHER OF US HAVE A CAR.

I NEED A COMPANION.
I'VE STILL GOT A LOT

OF TRAVELING I WANT TO DO.

OKAY.

AND SHE SEEMED VERY YOUNG
AND ADVENTUROUS,

AND NO FEAR.

AND I JUST WAS DRAWN
TO ALL THOSE ELEMENTS.

THE COUPLE
HITS THE OPEN ROAD.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO
OR WHAT TO DO AT THE TIME.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN.

MAYBE WE'D GO
VISIT SOME FRIENDS.

JACK KEROUAC KIND OF STYLE,
YOU KNOW?

FOR THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, THEY HITCHHIKE AIMLESSLY

AROUND THE U. S.

YEAH.
YOU WANT TO GIVE US A RIDE?

YEAH, I'M HEADING WEST, TOO.
HOP IN.

I DON'T HAVE PLANS, TYPICALLY.

IF I HAD A PLAN,

THEN I WOULD KNOW EVERYTHING
THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.

AND THEN ANYTHING THAT CAME UP

AND DIDN'T GO WITH THE PLAN
WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

AND I PREFER TO VIEW THOSE
THINGS AS EXCITING MYSTERIES.

BEING OPEN
TO ADVENTURE

AND ALL THAT COMES
WITH BEING SPONTANEOUS

SEEMS IDEAL TO A TEENAGE DREAMER
LIKE KAREN.

BUT HOW WELL
DOES SHE REALLY KNOW CHARLES?

I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO WONDER
WHY A GROWN MAN

IS CONTENT TO JUST DRIFT
AROUND THE COUNTRY,

AND WHETHER HE'S RUNNING
FROM SOMETHING.

I MANIFESTED EVERYTHING
WE NEEDED,

'CAUSE I WAS JUST
THAT KIND OF GUY.

THANKS A LOT.
LOVE THEM TUNES, BROTHER.

YOU MIND HELPING ME AND
MY GIRL OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT

OF EXTRA MONEY?
THANKS A LOT, MAN.

I BELIEVE THAT HE
HAS A SILVER TONGUE.

KAREN FINDS
THE ADVENTURE ROMANTIC,

EVEN THOUGH THEY OFTEN FIND
THEMSELVES SLEEPING IN PARKS.

I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS EXACTLY
WHERE I SHOULD BE.

WERE YOU THINKING
YOU WERE GONNA BE

WITH CHARLES
FOR A LONG TIME?

FOREVER.

BABE.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING OUT THERE?

EVERYTHING'S FINE.
GO BACK TO SLEEP.

BUT KAREN AND CHARLES'
CROSS-COUNTRY ADVENTURE

MAY BE COMING TO AN ABRUPT END.

KAREN MILLER
HAS ALWAYS LONGED FOR ADVENTURE.

AFTER SHE MEETS A HANDSOME
OLDER MAN NAMED CHARLES,

SHE BELIEVES HE'S HER TICKET
TO LOVE AND EXCITEMENT.

BUT HER FANTASY ROAD TRIP

IS ABOUT TO COME
TO A SCREECHING HALT.

AND THEN I REALIZED
THAT I MIGHT BE PREGNANT.

AND HOW DID IT FEEL
WHEN YOU REALIZED?

THE FLOOR FELL OUT.

EVEN THOUGH
SHE'S ONLY 18 YEARS OLD,

KAREN IS CERTAIN
SHE WANTS THIS BABY.

I FELT LIKE THIS HAD TO
BE WHAT I HAD LEFT HOME TO FIND,

BECAUSE WHAT ELSE
WOULD SAVE MY LIFE?

BABY, WHAT'S WRONG?

I MEAN, IT COULD ONLY BE
SOMETHING SO BIG.

I THINK I'M PREGNANT.

SHE BREAKS THE NEWS
TO CHARLES.

WHAT?

I THINK I'M PREGNANT.

ALL I COULD THINK
OF IS NOW WE NEED STABILITY.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CHILD,

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE HELL I'M GONNA DO.

I KNOW, I KNOW, I GOT IT.

WE CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS
WITH A KID, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

HE SUGGESTS
THEY HEAD DOWN TO ALABAMA,

WHERE HIS MOM LIVES.

IF I'M GONNA BRING A BABY
INTO THIS WORLD,

I AT LEAST WANT IT TO BE
AROUND MY FAMILY OR HER FAMILY.

AND LET'S TRY TO MAKE
THIS LEGITIMATE AND HEALTHY

FOR THE CHILD.

- HEY, MOM.
- HOW YOU DOING?

ONCE THEY ARRIVE,

THEY MOVE IN WITH
CHARLES' MOM, REGINA.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK
THAT'S GONNA BE?

JUST A COUPLE WEEKS.

CHARLES GETS
A PART-TIME CONSTRUCTION JOB,

WHILE KAREN STAYS HOME.

I QUIT DOING DRUGS THE DAY
THAT I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT,

AND I THOUGHT THAT HE
WOULD MAYBE DO THAT AS WELL.

BUT HE DIDN'T.

THE RELATIONSHIP
TURNS UGLY.

SO THE NO-PARTYING RULES
ONLY APPLY TO ME?

THINGS DEFINITELY CHANGED.

I WASN'T THAT HAPPY
LITTLE HIPPIE BOY ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT
TO HEAR THIS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT'S
WHERE THE FIGHTING STARTED.

AND JUST PROGRESSED,
WENT FROM NAME-CALLING

TO ACTUALLY LAYING OUR HANDS
ON EACH OTHER.

DON'T YOU EVER
TOUCH ME LIKE THAT!

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

REGINA HASN'T EXACTLY ROLLED
OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR KAREN.

WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SON?

SHE WAS NOT VERY
NICE TO ME, EVER.

I DON'T KNOW WHY,
BUT SHE JUST ALWAYS WAS,

LIKE, KIND OF CONDESCENDING
TO ME, ACTUALLY.

OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!

IT'S A FAR CRY
FROM THE ROMANTIC JOURNEY

SHE AND CHARLES
EMBARKED ON A FEW MONTHS AGO.

"THIS IS NOT THE WAY
CHARLES SAID IT WOULD BE.

I FEEL SO ALONE
IN THIS HELLHOLE,

AND I'M SURROUNDED BY NOTHING
BUT BIBLE-THUMPING CREEPS."

I HAD MORNING SICKNESS
EVERY DAY FOR,

LIKE, SEVEN MONTHS,
AND I WOULD GET UP,

AND I'D THROW UP.

KAREN IS MISERABLE,
AND IT SHOWS.

I MEAN, MY MOTHER
LIVED IN RURAL, RURAL ALABAMA.

KAREN HAD NEVER BEEN EXPOSED
TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS MAYBE LIKE SOMETHING
YOU SAW IN "DELIVERANCE."

I FEEL LIKE I WAS IN A HOSTILE
ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE.

I MEAN, IT WAS BAD.
FEELING LIKE JUST,

"WHAT THE HELL AM I GONNA DO?"

BECOMING A MOTHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME CAN BE SCARY,

ESPECIALLY FOR A YOUNG WOMAN
LIKE KAREN.

SHE'S BEING FORCED
TO GROW UP FAST,

AND SHE'S NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL

WITH ALL THE PHYSICAL
AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

THAT COME WITH RAISING A CHILD.

IN MARCH, 1995,

KAREN GIVES BIRTH TO A HEALTHY
BABY GIRL NAMED MAYA.

SHE WAS SO GOOD,
I USED TO HOLD A MIRROR

UP TO HER FACE TO SEE
IF SHE WAS STILL BREATHING.

I'M LIKE, "ARE YOU OKAY?"

SHE JUST SLEPT ALL THE TIME.

BUT THE JOY
OF MOTHERHOOD IS SHATTERED

WHEN REGINA
VIOLATES KAREN'S PRIVACY.

SHE ACTUALLY WENT
INTO MY PERSONAL NOTEBOOK,

AND SHE READ IT.

AND IT SAID A LOT OF REALLY
NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT HER IN IT,

BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE
MADE MY LIFE HELL.

PILL-POPPING, TOOTHLESS...

KAREN, YOU KNOW,
CALLED MY MOTHER

A TOOTHLESS PILL-POPPING HAG

AND HOW SHE HATED EVERYONE THERE
AND DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE.

I GAVE YOU A PLACE
TO STAY, YOU SHOWED UP HERE -

THAT'S MY PERSON JOURNAL!

HER JOURNAL WAS HER CONFIDANTE.

- THIS IS MY JOURNAL.
- THIS IS MY HOUSE!

AND MY MOTHER
VIOLATED THAT SPACE

AND GOT HER FEELINGS HURT.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET HER
OUT OF THIS HOUSE, CHARLES!

GET HER OUT OF THIS HOUSE NOW!

SHE KICKED ME
OUT OF HER HOUSE,

AND MAYA, TOO, OBVIOUSLY.

JUST WHAT WAS
ALL THAT ABOUT?

YOUR MOM IS CRAZY.

KAREN WANTS TO TAKE
MAYA BACK HOME TO ARIZONA.

WAIT, WAIT.

BUT CHARLES CONVINCES
HER HE HAS A BETTER IDEA.

WHAT ABOUT AUSTIN?
AUSTIN WOULD BE GREAT.

KAREN HESITATES.

DON'T GIVE UP ON US.

I WAS NOT REALLY
INTERESTED IN BEING

WITH CHARLES ANYMORE,
BUT I WAS DEFINITELY INTERESTED

IN THE FATHER
OF MY CHILD BEING IN HER LIFE,

IF THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY.

YOU'VE GOT TO TRUST ME.

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT
THIS TIME. COME HERE.

SHE AGREES TO GIVE
IT A TRY.

KAREN, YOU JUST BELIEVED
EVERYTHING HE TOLD YOU.

I DID.

I WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM DRUG
ADDICTION, ESSENTIALLY,

SO I BECAME ADDICTED
TO CHARLES.

THEY SETTLE DOWN
IN TEXAS.

BUT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS,
THE NEW PARENTS ARE FLAT BROKE.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA
DO ABOUT MONEY?

THEN CHARLES COMES UP

WITH A WAY
TO COMBAT THEIR MONEY WOES.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT
ABOUT BECOMING A DANCER?

LIKE A STRIPPER?

I WOULD HAVE NEVER
IN A MILLION YEARS -

I MEAN, COME ON.

LOOK AT ME.
IT'S NOT MY GIG.

AND I HAVE NO BOOBS.

YOU'RE GORGEOUS,
YOUR BODY IS HOT.

SHE'S VERY ADVENTUROUS,
YOU KNOW.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TWIST
KAREN'S ARM TOO HARD, MAN.

I'M SERIOUS.

KAREN DECIDES
SHE'S GOT NOTHING TO LOSE.

REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING ELSE,
I NEEDED MONEY.

I ALWAYS HAD THIS ATTITUDE
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,

"I'LL TRY ANYTHING ONCE."

CAN'T KNOCK IT
TILL YOU TRY IT.

ALL RIGHT.
WHY NOT?

WHOO!

YEAH.

I TALKED HER INTO IT.
REGRETTABLY SO.

I WISHED I'D HAVE NEVER
SUGGESTED THAT

AND THREW THAT ON THE TABLE
AS A MEANS FOR US TO MAKE MONEY.

YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE
BEEN THE PROVIDER,

I SHOULD HAVE NEVER
ASKED HER TO DO THAT.

WHOO! YEAH!

I WAS PROBABLY THE WORST
TITTY DANCER IN THE WORLD.

I WAS HORRIBLE.

BUT THAT'S THE PART OF WHAT
HAS EMBITTERED ME IN MY LIFE

IS THAT DUDES DON'T CARE.

REGARDLESS OF HOW SHE
FEELS ABOUT THE WORK,

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
KAREN'S RAKING IN THE CASH.

KAREN FEELS FORCED
BY CHARLES TO JUGGLE BEING A MOM

WITH BEING THE SOLE BREADWINNER

FOR THE FAMILY IN A JOB
THAT FEELS DEMEANING.

AT SOME POINT,
RESENTMENT'S GOING TO BUILD UP

AND SPELL TROUBLE
FOR THIS COUPLE.

CHARLES BECOMES
A STAY-AT-HOME DAD

AND STARTS TO CONTROL
ALL OF THE MONEY KAREN MAKES.

SHE MADE THE MONEY,
I MANAGED THE MONEY.

I WANTED MY DAUGHTER
TO HAVE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

AND A CLEAN HOME, AND WE DID.

THAT'S WHAT I DID
WITH KAREN'S MONEY.

MY CHILD WANTED FOR NOTHING.
I LOVED IT.

THAT WAS THE...

BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE,

EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN
A VERY TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP.

BUT DANCING FULL-TIME
TAKES AN EMOTIONAL TOLL

ON KAREN, AND SHE STARTS
HITTING THE BOTTLE HARD

JUST TO GET THROUGH THE NIGHT.

SO YOU'RE BRINGING HOME
THE MONEY.

- I'M A RAGING ALCOHOLIC.
- AT THIS POINT?

YEAH, I COULDN'T REALLY DO
THAT JOB VERY GOOD SOBER -

OR AT ALL.

AT THIS POINT, IT HAS TO BE
WEARING A LITTLE THIN,

THIS LIFE WITH CHARLES.

WELL, YEAH, I CERTAINLY
DIDN'T ENJOY THAT SETUP.

I WAS LIKE, "WELL,
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?"

DESPITE FEELING
BITTER,

KAREN STILL COMES HOME
TO CHARLES EVERY NIGHT.

I WAITED IT OUT
AND WAITED IT OUT

AND WAITED IT OUT BECAUSE I
WANTED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE

THAT THERE WAS NOT CHANCE

THAT I WAS THROWING AWAY
SOMETHING THAT MY DAUGHTER

WAS GOING TO MISS
FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

WHERE THE HELL
HAVE YOU BEEN?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

I'VE BEEN AT WORK,
MAKING MONEY FOR OUR FAMILY.

- YOU WANTED THAT FAMILY.
- WHO DOESN'T?

YOUR SHIFT ENDS
AT 1:00 A. M.

BUT IT'S BECOME
CLEAR TO KAREN

THAT HAVING THE PERFECT FAMILY
WITH CHARLES

IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?

I JUST BECAME
A REAL SCHMUCK, MAN.

I STARTED LETTING HER DARKNESS
GET TO ME AND ALL HER -

AND IT JUST BROUGHT OUT
ALL THE BADNESS IN ME, TOO.

AND IT JUST
ESCALATED FROM CUSSING

AND SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER
TO GETTING PHYSICAL.

IT'S CLEAR
THIS COUPLE'S ROMANTIC ROAD TRIP

HAS FINALLY HIT A DEAD END.

STRIPPING WAS YOUR IDEA!

KAREN MILLER HAS BEEN
SUPPORTING HER FAMILY

BY DANCING FOR TIPS.

BUT THE JOB
IS AFFECTING HER RELATIONSHIP

WITH HER BOYFRIEND, CHARLES,

AND TEMPERS FLARE.

THIS FREEWHEELING COUPLE

HAS JUST REACHED THE POINT
OF NO RETURN.

AND YOU'RE DRUNK!

STRIPPING WAS YOUR IDEA!

I'M SORRY!

I BEGGED AND PLEADED WITH HER
TO THE VERY END.

"LET'S FIX THIS.
WE CAN DO THIS.

DON'T GIVE UP.
PLEASE, DON'T GIVE UP."

BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

KAREN, WE CAN -
WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

I THINK MY MOTHER HAD JUST
HAD ENOUGH OF MY FATHER.

SHE HAD LOVED HIM
AND TRUSTED HIM.

I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE.

BUT I THINK SHE FINALLY DECIDED
THAT WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR HER

AND FOR ME WAS TO JUST GET OUT.

IT'S OVER.

IT'S A BOLD STEP
FOR KAREN.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
SHE'S COMPLETELY ON HER OWN.

IT FELT GOOD.
IT FELT CALM AND PEACEFUL.

BUT KAREN
STILL HATES HER JOB.

SO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS I NEED
TO STOP DOING THIS BEFORE SHE'S

OLD ENOUGH TO START ASKING ME
WHAT I DO WHEN I GO TO WORK.

KAREN DECIDES IT'S
TIME TO LEAVE TEXAS FOR GOOD...

HEY, MOM, IT'S ME.

... AND HEAD BACK HOME
TO ARIZONA WITH MAYA.

YOU'VE GOT THESE PARENTS
WHO, MAYBE THEY'RE FLAWED,

BUT THEY LOVE YOU.

RIGHT.
AND THAT'S ALL PARENTS CAN DO.

KAREN IS DOING
THE RIGHT THING

BY GOING HOME TO HER FAMILY.

EVEN THOUGH HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER PARENTS IS STRAINED,

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAL THE RIFT

AND FOCUS ON HER FUTURE.

WITH HER PARENTS HELP,
THE 24-YEAR-OLD ENROLLS

IN COURSES TO GET HER G. E. D.

IT'S EXACTLY THE FRESH START
SHE NEEDS.

ONE DAY, SHE ATTENDS
A FRIEND'S WEDDING...

WHERE SHE MEETS
A 29-YEAR-OLD CAREFREE SPIRIT

WHO GOES BY THE NAME SUNBEAR.

- HI.
- KAREN, RIGHT?

- YEAH, HI.
- HI, I'M SUNBEAR.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME
I ACT LIKE A BEAR

BUT SHINE LIKE THE SUN.

IT'S A RAINBOW NAME.

DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER
AND GET A DRINK?

I GUESS WHEN I SAW HER,

I REALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS
INCREDIBLE AND PRETTY AND STUFF.

THEY SPEND THE REST
OF THE WEDDING HANGING OUT.

WE JUST HIT IT OFF.

SUNBEAR IS CLEARLY
INTERESTED.

MAYBE GO ON
A DATE SOMEWHERE?

LOOK, YOU SEEM
LIKE A REALLY GREAT GUY, BUT...

IT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE YOU WERE REALLY LOOKING

FOR A NEW BOYFRIEND.

I WASN'T.
AND I ALSO - HE'S NOT -

WELL, I DON'T REALLY HAVE
A TYPE, BUT HE WASN'T IT.

BUT HIS SINCERITY
GOT TO ME.

YEAH, SURE.

AWESOME.
THAT WILL BE GREAT.

KAREN
FINALLY GIVES IN.

I THINK THAT SHE WAS
ATTRACTED TO SUNBEAR

BECAUSE OF HIS PERSONALITY.

HE COULD BE REALLY FUN
AND FUNNY,

AND HE HAD A LARGE PRESENCE.

AND I THINK THAT IS KIND OF,
LIKE, MAGNETIC FOR HER.

THE PAIR START DATING
AND GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

GIVEN WHAT SHE'S BEEN THROUGH,

KAREN DOESN'T WANT
TO RUSH INTO ANYTHING.

WOW.

BEAUTIFUL UP HERE.

YEAH.

I USED TO COME
UP HERE A LOT.

SHE'S DEFINITELY
A COMPLICATED PERSON.

I JUST SAW THE GOODNESS
IN HER, YOU KNOW?

THE LIGHT JUST POURED FROM HER.

SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.

KAREN SOON LEARNS
THAT SUNBEAR HAS ALSO

BATTLED DRUG ADDICTION.

I USED TO HAVE A REALLY BIG
CRYSTAL METH PROBLEM

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

BUT IT DOESN'T
SCARE HER AWAY.

THAT'S SOMETHING
WE HAVE IN COMMON.

GOOD THING ABOUT A NEW DAY
IS YOU GET TO START OVER.

I FELT PROTECTED BY
SUNBEAR, THAT'S FOR SURE.

THAT WASN'T A FEELING

THAT I REALLY STARTED
TO IDENTIFY INSIDE MYSELF

WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
UNTIL SUNBEAR.

BUT OVER TIME,
KAREN SENSES SOMETHING'S AMISS.

WHEN I PICTURE HIM
IN MY MIND,

I SEE HIS EYES,

AND HE'S JUST IN IMMENSE PAIN.

HEY.
IS SOMETHING WRONG?

I GUESS SHE THOUGHT
I WAS THIS HAPPY

HIPPIE-DIPPIE TYPE GUY,
OR WHATEVER,

AND I TOLD HER ABOUT MY SON,

WHO'S LIVING ON THE WEST COAST
IN CALIFORNIA WITH HIS MOM,

AND SHE WAS DENYING ME
VISITATION.

SHE WON'T LET ME
HAVE VISITATION.

KAREN BELIEVES
THAT IF GIVEN THE CHANCE,

SUNBEAR CAN BE A GOOD FATHER,
NOT ONLY TO HIS OWN SON,

BUT TO MAYA, AS WELL.

SUNBEAR WAS A GOOD GUY
AND VERY FRIENDLY WITH ME.

I ENJOYED BEING AROUND HIM.

SHE MAKES
A BOLD DECISION.

LET'S MOVE.

KAREN IS REALLY
THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND

BY BEING WILLING TO UPROOT
HERSELF AND MAYA AGAIN,

BUT SUNBEAR SEEMS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM CHARLES.

AND THIS TIME, KAREN'S ENTERING
THE RELATIONSHIP

A LITTLE BIT OLDER
AND A LITTLE BIT WISER.

THEY SETTLE
IN THE SMALL TOWN OF UKIAH.

SUNBEAR GETS A JOB
IN A RESTAURANT,

AND KAREN ENROLLS
AT A LOCAL COLLEGE.

SHE DECIDES TO PURSUE
AND ENGLISH DEGREE

TO FULFILL HER CHILDHOOD GOAL
OF ONE DAY BEING A TEACHER.

I REALLY ENJOYED GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL.

I WAS DOING A LOT OF THINGS
THAT, TO ME, FELT LIKE PROGRESS

AND ENABLED
ME TO KIND OF PROVIDE FOR MAYA

THE TYPE OF HOME ATMOSPHERE
THAT I FELT WAS NECESSARY.

AND SHE ENJOYED IT, AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT,
HAVE A GOOD ONE.

KAREN IS THE HAPPIEST

AND HEALTHIEST
SHE'S BEEN IN YEARS.

"SUNBEAR AND I TOOK
MAYA TO THE BEACH TODAY.

SHE HAD NEVER SEEN THE OCEAN
BEFORE."

WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB
PARENTING WITH MAYA.

SHE WAS THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE.

MY MOTHER CLEANED UP
HER ACT A LOT.

SHE WAS TRYING HER BEST
TO GO TO SCHOOL

AND GO TO WORK AND SUPPORT ME
AND MAKE A LIFE FOR US

AND MAKE A LIFE FOR HERSELF.

AND I WAS A VERY,
VERY HAPPY CHILD.

BUT AFTER NEARLY
THREE YEARS,

KAREN AND SUNBEAR DRIFT APART.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

SUNBEAR AND I
WEREN'T REALLY GETTING ALONG.

FOR THE MOST
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP,

WE WERE CLEAN AND MOSTLY SOBER.

I JUST FELT
LIKE HE WAS NEVER AROUND.

I HAD RELAPSED AND TOLD HER
THAT I'D GOTTEN HIGH.

AND I THINK THAT WAS, LIKE,

WHEN I REALLY REALIZED
THINGS WERE NOT GONNA WORK OUT

BECAUSE SHE SAW THAT
AS A WEAKNESS IN ME.

HE WASN'T CRUEL,
AND HE WASN'T PHYSICAL.

BUT HE WAS ABSENT,
AND HE WAS INSENSITIVE.

DESPITE HOW KAREN
NOW FEELS ABOUT SUNBEAR,

SHE KNOWS MAYA HAS A STABLE,
HAPPY HOME LIFE.

SO SHE STAYS,

EVEN THOUGH THE RELATIONSHIP IS
NOW BUILT SOLELY ON CONVENIENCE.

YOU LOOK
BEAUTIFUL TONIGHT.

THANKS.

IT JUST WASN'T REALLY
FULFILLING FOR ME,

WHAT I WAS SEEKING
OUT OF SOMEBODY ELSE

THAT I'D SHARE
MY LIFE WITH.

WELL, I'M PRETTY TIRED.
I THINK I'M GONNA GO TO BED.

I THINK ON MY PART,
THERE WAS ROMANCE, BUT NOT ON HERS,

AND AT THE END,
IT WAS PRETTY MUCH PLATONIC.

THEN ONE MORNING,
KAREN'S PEACEFUL EXISTENCE

IS SHATTERED BY A PHONE CALL
FROM BACK HOME.

NO, NO!
NO, HE...

AND SHE WILL NEVER
BE THE SAME AGAIN.

FOR MORE ON
HOW KAREN'S DOING NOW,

GO TO
INVESTIGATIONDISCOVERY. COM.

27-YEAR-OLD
KAREN MILLER

HAS BEEN LIVING IN CALIFORNIA

AND MAKING THE MOST
OF A PASSIONLESS RELATIONSHIP

FOR THE SAKE OF HER DAUGHTER.

BUT HER OTHERWISE PEACEFUL WORLD

IS ABOUT TO BE TURNED
UPSIDE DOWN.

NO, NO!
NO, HE CAN'T BE DEAD!

THE CALL
IS FROM KAREN'S MOM.

HER BROTHER, MIKE, HAS DIED
FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE.

MIKE WAS HER ROCK.
MIKE WAS HER RAY OF LIGHT

SOMETIMES
WHEN SHE WAS IN HER DARKNESS.

SHE WAS REALLY UPSET,
AND SHE PUT ON HER HEADPHONES,

AND SHE GRABBED HER WALKMAN,
AND SHE LEFT.

KAREN IS
BEYOND DEVASTATED,

AND TRIES TO MAKE SENSE
OF THE TRAGEDY.

YOU DON'T THINK
IT WAS ON PURPOSE, DO YOU?

NO, BUT, UM...

IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE

IF YOU'RE PUTTING NEEDLES
IN YOUR ARM,

AND YOU'RE DOING SHOTS LIKE
OXYCONTIN AND COCAINE MIXED,

THEN YOU JUST DON'T CARE.

SO IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
ON PURPOSE,

BUT IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT,
YOU KNOW.

HE JUST WAS DONE.

KAREN'S NOW
LOST TWO BROTHERS UNEXPECTEDLY,

AND FEELS IT'S TIME TO BE
NEAR HER FAMILY ONCE AGAIN.

WHEN KAREN GETS HOME,
SHE BREAKS THE NEWS TO SUNBEAR.

- WHAT'S GOING ON?
- MIKE'S DEAD.

WHAT?

SHE BASICALLY TOLD ME
THAT SHE WAS GOING BACK

TO BE WITH HER FAMILY, AND...

THAT I WASN'T WELCOME.

YEAH, LET'S GO PACK.

NO, YOU'RE NOT
COMING WITH US.

SHE JUST WASN'T GONNA
LIVE A LIE,

WHICH IS WHY I THINK
SHE EVENTUALLY LEFT ME.

BECAUSE SHE JUST REALIZED
WE WEREN'T GOING ANYPLACE.

BACK IN FLAGSTAFF,
KAREN GETS A JOB,

SIGNS UP FOR CLASSES
AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE,

AND FINDS AN APARTMENT
NEAR HER PARENTS' HOUSE.

BUT, EVENTUALLY, THE PRESSURE
OF WORKING AND STUDYING

IS TOO MUCH FOR KAREN TO HANDLE.

SHE FALLS OFF THE WAGON.

THOSE LITTLE SHOOTERS
OF YUKON JACK, 100 PROOF,

I JUST DRANK THEM ALL DAY LONG,
ALL THE TIME.

THAT WAS WHAT I DID.

KAREN ENDS UP
DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.

SHE DRANK EVERY DAY,
ALL THE TIME.

HER DRINKING
AFFECTED ME PRETTY HARSHLY.

SEVERAL YEARS PASS

AND KAREN FINDS HERSELF WORKING
A DEAD-END OFFICE JOB.

HER DREAM OF BECOMING A TEACHER
IS NOW A DISTANT MEMORY.

HI.
HOW'S IT GOING?

I'M GOOD.
HOW ABOUT YOU?

ONE DAY
DURING A SMOKE BREAK, SHE

MEETS 26-YEAR-OLD
JIMMY THOMAS.

OH, YEAH?

THEY HIT IT OFF
INSTANTLY.

- BY THE WAY, I'M JIMMY.
- KAREN.

JIMMY INVITES HER
TO A HEAVY METAL CONCERT

THAT WEEKEND.

♪

KAREN HAS A BLAST AT THE SHOW

AND INVITES JIMMY BACK
TO HER PLACE.

YOU TOLD ME HOW, YOU KNOW,
YOU WERE SMITTEN WITH CHARLES.

AND THEN, WITH SUNBEAR,
YOU WERE TOUCHED BY HIS...

- PASSION.
- PASSION.

AND WITH JIMMY,
WHAT WAS THE MAGIC?

WE IDENTIFIED WITH EACH OTHER
IN A WEIRD WAY.

WE UNDERSTOOD EACH OTHER.

HE ENDS UP
SPENDING THE NIGHT.

I'M HAVING
A TOUGH TIME STANDING UP.

KAREN IS EMOTIONALLY VULNERABLE.

SHE NEVER WORKED
THROUGH THE PAIN

OF LOSING HER BROTHER, MIKE.

AND NOW THAT SHE'S MET JIMMY,

SHE THINKS
THAT HE CAN FILL THAT VOID.

BUT THAT IS A LOT OF PRESSURE
TO PUT ON A NEW RELATIONSHIP.

FOR KAREN,
LIFE WITH JIMMY IS FUN.

WHEN THEY AREN'T PARTYING,

SHE'S ABLE TO SEE
A SURPRISINGLY CARING MAN.

AND SHE FINDS HERSELF ABLE
TO CONFIDE IN HIM.

GOT A PRETTY FLOWER
FOR A PRETTY GIRL.

OH!

MAYA, DO YOU LIKE MAGIC?

THE COUPLE
QUICKLY BECOMES INSEPARABLE.

AND IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE JIMMY MOVES IN.

ANY CARD.

AT FIRST, MAYA,
WHO IS NOW 12, IS ALSO A FAN.

- NOW I'M GONNA GUESS YOUR CARD.
- NO, YOU CAN'T.

MIX 'EM ALL UP.

THERE WAS A SIDE
TO JIMMY

THAT WAS DOWN TO EARTH
AND FUNNY AND COOL,

AND MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT
SWEET.

AND I THINK THAT'S
WHAT ATTRACTED MY MOTHER TO HIM.

WHERE IS MY
QUEEN OF HEARTS?

HOW DID
YOU KNOW THAT?!

IT'S MAGIC.

WERE YOU STILL DRINKING
A LOT THEN?

OH, YEAH.

THAT WAS PROBABLY
THE MAIN BONDING BETWEEN US

WAS HE'S A RAGING ALCOHOLIC
AND SO WAS I.

JIMMY LOSES HIS JOB

JUST A FEW WEEKS
INTO THEIR ROMANCE.

AND WHEN IT BECOMES CLEAR
HE ISN'T EVEN LOOKING FOR WORK,

TENSIONS RISE.

BUT INSTEAD OF KICKING HIM OUT,

KAREN PICKS UP EXTRA HOURS
AT WORK TO SUPPORT HIM.

"I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO SAY TO JIMMY.

HE HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL,

BUT HE JUST DOESN'T
REALIZE IT."

I THINK I DEVELOPED
A LITTLE BIT

OF A SOFT SPOT FOR HIM
IN THE WAY THAT MY MOM DID,

AS HE DIDN'T REALLY
HAVE ANYBODY ELSE.

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY
TO TAKE CARE OF HIM,

DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

ARE YOU A FIXER?
ARE YOU RESCUER?

I THINK
I'M A WHITE KNIGHT.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A HORSE,

AND I NEED TO GET THAT
THROUGH MY HEAD.

KAREN MAY NOT
CONSCIOUSLY SEEK OUT MEN WITH ISSUES,

BUT NONETHELESS, SHE SEEMS
TO END UP WITH THEM EVERY TIME.

AND ON SOME LEVEL, SHE REALLY
BELIEVES SHE CAN HELP JIMMY.

BUT ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
ARE REALLY DIFFICULT HURDLES

TO OVERCOME.

PLUS, SHE'S BATTLING
HER OWN DEMONS.

YOU KNOW, KAREN,
ALL YOU DO IS COMPLAIN ABOUT ME.

WHY DON'T I COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU
FOR A MINUTE?

NOT SURPRISINGLY,
KAREN AND JIMMY'S PARTYING

OFTEN LEADS TO INTENSE FIGHTING.

THEY WOULD BOTH DRINK A LOT,

AND THEY WOULD JUST GET
IN THESE CRAZY FIGHTS.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M SICK OF IT!
I'M TIRED OF IT!

I HATED BEING AROUND MY MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS DRUNK.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG
WITH YOU, JIMMY?!

LOTS OF TIMES, I WOULD GO
STAY WITH MY GRANDPARENTS

OR TRY AND STAY
AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE.

THE SITUATION

CONTINUES TO DISINTEGRATE,
UNTIL ONE AFTERNOON

WHEN THINGS
REACH AN EXPLOSIVE NEW LEVEL.

HEY, THERE'S THE SLUT.

GOD, WHAT THE HELL, JIMMY?!

I GOT OFF WORK AT 3:00,
AND I GOT HOME.

HE HAD TAKEN EVERYTHING
OFF THE WALLS,

DUMPED EVERYTHING OVER,
RIPPED EVERYTHING UP,

WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE FLOOR,

SCREAMING
ABOUT HOW I WAS A WHORE.

GOD!

I FOUND THAT.

HE WAS VERY JEALOUS.

HE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE
OF MY MOTHER.

THEN KAREN
MAKES A HORRIFYING DISCOVERY.

YOU WROTE IN MY JOURNAL?

'CAUSE YOU'RE A SLUT!

IT BLEW MY MIND.

HE WROTE IN MY JOURNAL
OVER MY HANDWRITING.

THAT IS THE MOST INVASIVE THING
THAT ANYBODY'S EVER DONE TO ME.

HE JUST ASSUMED
THAT I WAS A WHORE

AND THAT I WAS OUT ****
SOMEBODY.

THIS IS HIS MIND.

"I'M JIMMY, I'M WORTHLESS.

SHE COULDN'T POSSIBLY WANT ME.

I'M ANGRY AT HER."

KAREN BECOMES
UNHINGED.

- DAMN IT, KAREN.
- OH, MY GOD!

BUT SHE'S ON
THE LOSING END OF THIS BATTLE.

HE HURT HER PRETTY BAD.

I KNEW THAT IT WOULD COME
TO AN END EVENTUALLY.

AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING
TO BE AN EXPLOSIVE END.

AMAZINGLY, KAREN
DOESN'T KICK HIM OUT.

MAYA!

WHAT?

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BEER
THAT WAS IN THE FRIDGE?

I DON'T KNOW.
MOM MUST HAVE DRANK THEM.

THEN A COUPLE
OF WEEKS LATER,

JIMMY'S VIOLENT TENDENCIES
SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO
TO THAT SLUT WHEN SHE GETS HOME?

DON'T YOU EVER!

32-YEAR-OLD
KAREN MILLER

HASN'T HAD MUCH LUCK
WITH MEN.

AND THINGS
WITH HER CURRENT BOYFRIEND,

JIMMY, ARE NO EXCEPTION.

SLUT!

ACCORDING TO KAREN,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP

IS IN SHAMBLES, THANKS
TO JIMMY'S DRINKING AND ABUSE.

AND IT'S ABOUT TO TAKE
A TERRIFYING TURN.

I AM GONNA KILL HER.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

JIMMY CAME IN BEFORE
MY MOTHER ONE NIGHT,

AND HE WENT,
AND HE GRABBED A KITCHEN KNIFE.

AND HE SAT ON THE COUCH,
AND HE WAS LIKE, "WELL,

I'M GONNA KILL YOUR MOTHER."

NO, YOU'RE NOT.

AND SO I WENT, AND I
GRABBED THE KNIFE FROM HIM.

I TOOK ALL OF THE KNIFES AND PUT
THEM IN MY ROOM AND LOCKED IT.

AND HE KEPT, LIKE,
CALLING MY MOM, LIKE,

ALL OF THESE HORRIBLE
DEROGATORY NAMES.

AND, EVENTUALLY,
HE STOPPED FIGHTING WITH ME

AND WENT TO BED.

- LEAVE ME ALONE!
- YOU NEED TO GO TO SLEEP.

STAY AWAY FROM ME!

WHAT'S WRONG?

JIMMY GOT HOME BEFORE...

WHEN KAREN GETS HOME,
MAYA TELLS HER WHAT HAPPENED.

...AND YELLING. MOM, HE SAID
HE WAS GONNA KILL YOU.

KAREN BRUSHES IT OFF.

I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

MAYA'S HAD ENOUGH.

SHE STARTS TO SPEND
WAY MORE TIME

AT HER GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE
THAN WITH HER MOM AND JIMMY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE
TO PLAY MARRIAGE COUNSELOR

TO HER OR REFEREE BETWEEN THEM.

IF SHE WANTED TO BE
WITH THIS HOT MESS,

THEN I WANTED HER TO BE ABLE
TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

A MONTH LATER,

TENSIONS ARE AT
AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

JIMMY'S COUSIN HAS BEEN
CRASHING ON KAREN'S COUCH

FOR THE PAST WEEK,
AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF LEAVING.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I JUST CAME HOME,
AND I WANT TO RELAX.

KAREN'S COMPLETELY FED UP.

WE'RE LISTENING TO MUSIC.

NO, I AM SICK OF THIS.

I HAD HAD ENOUGH
OF THESE TWO PEOPLE,

AND I WANTED
THEM TO BE IRRITATED

AND UNCOMFORTABLE, AT LEAST,

IF I WAS GONNA
BE IRRITATED AND UNCOMFORTABLE.

- DON'T PUSH ME!
- YOU DON'T TOUCH ME!

DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME!
DON'T EVER -

HE JUST DID NOT CARE
AT ALL. I SAW RED.

- NO!
- STOP.

YOU'RE GONNA
WAKE YOUR GUYS' NEIGHBORS.

AND, SOMEHOW, JIMMY
AND I ENDED UP IN THE BEDROOM.

- JIMMY, CHILL OUT, MAN.
- MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

CHILL OUT.

WHAT THE HELL
WAS THAT, KAREN?

ACCORDING TO KAREN,

JIMMY IS CONSUMED WITH RAGE
AND GETS PHYSICAL.

DON'T TOUCH ME
LIKE THAT AGAIN.

KAREN FEELS SHE
HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO FIGHT BACK

AND REACHES FOR A KNIFE.

YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN,
AND I'M GONNA STAB YOU.

I SAID TO HIM, "IF YOU PUSH ME
ONE MORE TIME,

I'M GONNA STAB YOU
IN THE THROAT."

AND SO HE JUST LOOKED RIGHT
AT ME AND JUST PUSHED ME.

I TOLD YOU,
DON'T TOUCH ME AGAIN.

SO I REMEMBER MY BROTHER MIKE

TELLING ME, "IF YOU
TELL SOMEBODY SOMETHING,

YOU NEED TO DO IT, BECAUSE
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE BLUFFING,

AND THEY'RE GONNA WALK
ALL OVER YOU."

SO I THOUGHT,
"WELL, ****."

AND SO I STABBED HIM
IN THE THROAT,

AND IT WAS A BRUTAL,
BRUTAL WOUND.

WHY THE HELL
DID YOU DO THAT?!

OH, MY GOD!

I INSTANTLY WAS REMORSEFUL
AND FRIGHTENED

TO DEATH THAT I
HAD JUST KILLED THIS PERSON.

AND THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

WHAT DID YOU DO THAT
TO ME FOR?!

HOLD IT TO YOUR NECK!
OH, MY GOD!

KAREN TRIES
TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

I NEED HELP.

NO!

THIS COUSIN HAD INSTANTLY GONE
TO CALL THE POLICE!

- AMBULANCE!
- I NEED HELP!

PARAMEDICS
ARRIVE MOMENTS LATER

AND RUSH JIMMY TO THE HOSPITAL.

KAREN REFUSES TO COOPERATE
WITH POLICE,

AND SHE'S CHARGED WITH
FIRST-DEGREE FELONY ASSAULT.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PRISON
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

SHE SPENDS
THE NEXT THREE DAYS BEHIND BARS.

I NOTICE YOU HAVE SOME
PRETTY GOOD INJURIES THERE.

WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THE STABBING?

THEN,
IN A SURPRISING TWIST,

JIMMY TELLS AUTHORITIES THAT HE
HAD ACTUALLY STABBED HIMSELF.

I JERKED MY HAND THE WRONG WAY,

AND STUCK MYSELF IN THE NECK.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE
YOU WANT TO ADD?

NO.

KAREN'S CHARGES
ARE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED.

SHE'S STUNNED
WHEN SHE'S SUDDENLY RELEASED.

YOU HAD TO BE
CONSUMED WITH FEAR

THAT HE WOULD FOLD,
CHANGE HIS STORY.

OF COURSE.

YOU ESCAPED PRISON THROUGH,
REALLY, JUST GREAT LUCK.

NO, IT WAS LOVE -
'CAUSE HE LOVED ME.

I AM GONNA KILL HER.

EVERYTHING THAT HE DID TO
HER WOULD COME TO LIGHT,

AND I THINK THAT EVEN IF HE
HAD DECIDED TO PRESS CHARGES,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE WON.

DON'T TOUCH ME AGAIN.

KAREN LATER LEARNS

THAT SHE NARROWLY MISSED
BEING CONVICTED OF MURDER.

WHY THE HELL
DID YOU DO THAT?!

I WAS LESS THAN A CENTIMETER
AWAY FROM HIS JUGULAR.

IF THE AMBULANCE HAD BEEN
MAYBE FIVE MINUTES LATER,

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD.

I HAVE TO ASK THAT, IF IT
WAS ONE CENTIMETER OVER,

HOW WOULD YOUR LIFE
BE DIFFERENT?

I'D PROBABLY BE IN PRISON,
FOR SURE.

OR I'D BE DEAD.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE REST
OF MY LIFE IN PRISON.

AFTER SPENDING
NEARLY A MONTH

RECOVERING IN THE HOSPITAL,

JIMMY MAKES ONE LAST ATTEMPT
TO PATCH THINGS UP WITH KAREN.

- ARE YOU GONNA BE OKAY?
- YEAH.

HE CAME BACK, BUT I HAD
BOUGHT HIM A BUS TICKET

AND SAID THAT,
YOU KNOW, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

IT WON'T WORK,
IT NEVER WILL WORK.

I PROMISE...

YOU DON'T GO BACK TO THE PERSON
WHO STABBED YOU IN THE THROAT.

GET A CLUE.

- I WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
- I STABBED YOU!

I THINK MY MOM
WAS JUST DONE WITH IT.

FINALLY, REALLY,
REALLY DONE WITH IT.

YOU NEED TO GO.

I HAVE LOVE FOR JIMMY,

BUT I DON'T EVER
WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM AGAIN.

I DON'T EVER WENT TO SEE
HIM FACE TO FACE OR TALK TO HIM.

IT WASN'T BECAUSE I HATED HIM
AND WANTED TO KILL HIM.

IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SICK OF HIM
AND HE WAS BULLYING ME.

AND I COULDN'T
TAKE IT ANYMORE.

IT MADE ME GROW UP REALLY,
REALLY FAST.

IT SHOWED ME WHAT ABUSIVE
RELATIONSHIPS LOOKED LIKE

AND WHAT ALCOHOLISM LOOKED LIKE.

I GUESS IT REALLY ALSO
HELPED ME WITH MY COMPASSION,

BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL MY MOTHER,
NO MATTER WHAT.

EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO PUT UP
WITH ALL THAT CRAP,

I STILL LOVED HER.

DESPITE
HER BAD TASTE IN MEN,

KAREN HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO HAVE

HER DAUGHTER'S
BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

AND IF THERE IS A SILVER LINING
TO THIS STORY, IT'S THAT,

HOPEFULLY, MAYA HAS LEARNED
FROM HER MOTHER'S MISTAKES

AND WILL NEVER SETTLE
FOR A PARTNER

WHO HAS SERIOUS ANGER MANAGEMENT
OR ADDICTION ISSUES.

MAYA HAS SINCE MOVED
ON TO WYOMING,

WHERE SHE WORKS AS A COOK
AT A RESORT.

KAREN IS, ONCE AGAIN,
BACK HOME WITH HER PARENTS.

SHE'S TRYING
TO MAKE A FRESH START

BY GETTING A NEW LANDSCAPING
BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND.

MY ULTIMATE GOAL
AT THIS POINT IS QUITE SIMPLE -

I'M GONNA OBTAIN A PIECE OF LAND

AND HAVE A LITTLE PLACE
AND PUTTER ON IT UNTIL I DIE,

AND THEN MY DAUGHTER
CAN HAVE IT.

MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL BE WITH ME,
MAYBE THEY WON'T.