Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 5 - Sin City Secrets - full transcript
Tina Gardner meets Andre who asks her to help him start a new business venture and they take Las Vegas by storm; the pressure leads to accusations of cheating and abuse with Andre on the losing end of a knife.
AN OREGON BEAUTY QUEEN
SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL...
YOU THOUGHT THE MOON, THE STARS,
EVERYTHING - THAT WAS TINA.
- LITTLE BIT OF THIS HERE?
- YEAH.
UNTIL SHE TAKES A FALL
FROM GRACE.
I JUST KIND OF LET LOOSE.
A NEW MAN INTRODUCES
HER TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
OF THE BIG CITY.
OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS A WHOLE NEW CLASS
OF PERSON THAT I HAD NEVER MET.
SHE'S BLINDED
BY HIS DEEP-SEEDED DEMONS,
BUT SHE'S NOT GOING DOWN
WITHOUT A FIGHT.
AND SHE JUST PULLED A KNIFE
OUT RIGHT THERE.
I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
SHE IS GONNA TRY
TO KILL ME TODAY."
YOU WANT TO SEE CRAZY?!
TINA, STOP IT!
TINA!
AAAAAH!
NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG, A WOMAN
CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
AT JUST 13 YEARS OLD,
TINA GARDNER IS A NATURAL
ON THE PAGEANT STAGE.
TINA, IF YOU HAD ONE WISH,
WHAT WOULD IT BE?
THAT WOULD BE EASY - TO EDUCATE
THE WORLD'S CHILDREN.
WE RECEIVED, UM, AN INVITATION
TO MISS TEEN OREGON,
WHICH WAS,
IF YOU MADE IT TO THE FINALS,
THEN YOU WOULD BE
IN MISS TEEN USA.
AND NOW, IN THIRD PLACE,
WE HAVE TINA GARDNER.
AAH!
SHE GOES ON
TO WIN BEST SMILE
AND MISS CONGENIALITY.
SHE WAS THE STAR
OF THE WHOLE PAGEANT.
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
AND SHE WAS THE BEST.
SHE LEARNS EARLY ON
TO USE HER LOOKS
TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS.
IT WAS DEFINITELY HIGHLIGHT
OF MY YOUNGER YEARS.
TINA AND HER OLDER SISTER,
MARIA, HAVE LIVED
WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS
SINCE THEY WERE VERY SMALL.
TINA'S RELATIONSHIP
WAS REALLY GOOD
WITH BOTH OF MY GRANDPARENTS.
I MEAN,
WE WERE ALL PRETTY CLOSE.
THEIR MOTHER WAS
TRAPPED IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
AND COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM.
AND THEY NEVER REALLY
KNEW THEIR FATHER.
THEIR MOTHER BEGGED ME TO COME
AND GET THE GIRLS.
LUCKILY,
LIFE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS
IS PRETTY GOOD.
THEY LIVE IN THE SMALL COASTAL
TOWN OF BROOKINGS, OREGON.
YOU THOUGHT OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER
AS YOUR MOTHER,
AS YOUR PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
FROM DAY ONE.
- HI, GIRLS.
- HEY, GRANDMA.
TINA AND HER SISTER,
MARIA, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE.
THEIR GRANDMA DOTES ON THE GIRLS
AND SHOWERS THEM
WITH LOVE AND ATTENTION.
I'M GONNA MAKE YOU
LASAGNA.
THEIR GRANDFATHER
IS LOVING BUT STRICT.
SORRY.
SORRY, GRANDPA.
WE DID A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.
WHAT'S ALL THIS
RUCKUS IN HERE?
GRANDMA'S MAKIN' LASAGNA.
THE GIRLS GOT GOOD GRADES
IN SCHOOL.
I WAS VERY PROUD OF MY GIRLS.
UP UNTIL WE WERE,
LIKE, ABOUT 10 AND 12 YEARS OLD,
THINGS WERE, LIKE,
KIND OF STORYBOOK IN OUR LIFE.
NO DINNER UNLESS YOU FINISH
THAT HOMEWORK.
NOW, GET ON IT.
BUT AS A YOUNG
TEENAGER, MARIA GROWS DEPRESSED.
I WAS GOING THROUGH THAT CHANGE
AND BECOMING A WOMAN
AND GETTING MORE EMOTIONS.
ONE DAY,
SHE DOES THE UNTHINKABLE.
I THOUGHT THE ANSWER
WAS SUICIDE.
SO I DID GET A KNIFE
AND TRY TO KILL MYSELF.
THEIR GRANDPARENTS
DON'T THINK THEY CAN HANDLE
MARIA'S CHALLENGES
AND SEND HER AWAY
TO A CHILDREN'S SHELTER.
MY SISTER WAS MY BEST FRIEND.
I DIDN'T EVEN GET
TO SAY GOOD-BYE.
DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
THE BOND
THAT TINA SHARED WITH HER SISTER
HAS BEEN RIPPED APART.
AND THAT KIND
OF EMOTIONAL TURMOIL
CAN HAVE LASTING EFFECTS
ON A CHILD
AND MAY MAKE IT HARDER FOR TINA
TO OPEN HER HEART TO OTHERS
IN THE FUTURE.
I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
DON'T TELL ME...
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
AS SHE ENTERS HER TEENAGE YEARS,
TINA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
HER GRANDFATHER DETERIORATES.
WELL, MY DAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
VERY, VERY STERN.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY STRICT.
I'M GOING TO SCHOOL TO...
WHEN TINA TELLS HIM
SHE WANTS TO BE A TEACHER,
HE SHOOTS DOWN HER DREAMS
IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE.
HE WAS VERY CRITICAL
AND TOLD ME THAT TEACHERS
DON'T MAKE THAT MUCH MONEY.
SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT
AND GET YOU SOMEWHERE.
- WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?
- BASKETBALL PRACTICE.
HE ALSO DISAPPROVES
OF HER SOCIAL LIFE.
YOU'VE GOT TO RAKE
THAT BACKYARD.
I WAS SUPER ACTIVE. I MEAN,
I PLAYED VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL.
HE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
HE WANTED ME HOME
ON THE WEEKENDS.
IT WAS LIKE,
ONCE BOYS WERE IN THE PICTURE,
THAT'S WHEN HE WAS LIKE,
"OH, NO."
TINA'S SO OUTGOING.
SHE IS A SOCIAL CREATURE.
I COULD SEE
THAT COULD CAUSE FRICTION.
WHEN HIGH SCHOOL ENDS,
TINA'S EXCITED ABOUT HER FUTURE.
SHE'S PLANNING TO LIVE AT HOME
AND GO TO COLLEGE.
BUT HER GRANDFATHER
HAS A DIFFERENT PLAN.
ONCE I GRADUATED,
MY THINGS WERE PACKED.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
AND WHEN I GOT BACK
FROM THE CEREMONY...
IT'S TIME
FOR YOU TO LEAVE.
I WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE.
THIS IS TOTAL ****
AND YOU KNOW IT.
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
DO WE REALLY
HAVE TO DO THIS TODAY?
YES.
TINA'S GRANDPA
IGNORES HIS WIFE'S PROTESTS.
ARE YOU PROUD OF THAT?
HER WHOLE WORLD
COMES CRASHING DOWN.
NOW HOMELESS,
TINA MOVES IN WITH A FRIEND
AND TRIES TO SUPPORT HERSELF
WORKING TWO JOBS.
HER DREAMS OF GOING TO COLLEGE
ARE TEMPORARILY DASHED.
BUT THIS DETERMINED YOUNG WOMAN
ISN'T ABOUT TO GIVE UP.
SHE APPLIES FOR A WRITING
SCHOLARSHIP.
TINA SAW THAT HER SCHOLARSHIP
WAS HER WAY TO DO SOMETHING
BESIDES STAY IN A SMALL TOWN
AND WORK AT McDONALD'S.
TINA WINS HER WAY
BACK INTO SCHOOL.
AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY,
SHE STARTS WORKING
TOWARDS HER DEGREE
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
TINA WORKED HARD.
SHE WAS MOTIVATED.
THE SKY WAS THE LIMIT,
AND SHE WAS GOING AFTER IT.
BUT THERE WAS ONE
THING MISSING -
A MAN - UNTIL JAKE.
- HEY.
- HI.
HE BROUGHT A NEW AIR OF
LIGHT INTO MY LIFE.
HE WAS, LIKE, SUCH A GENTLEMAN.
AFTER JUST
A COUPLE OF DATES,
TINA AND JAKE ARE INSEPARABLE.
JAKE WAS VERY KIND,
VERY SWEET TO TINA,
ALWAYS LOOKED AFTER HER,
TOOK REALLY GOOD CARE OF HER.
HE JUST WORSHIPPED HER,
PRETTY MUCH.
TINA ALSO LOVES JAKE'S
TIGHT-KNIT, WELL-TO-DO FAMILY.
THEY WELCOME HER WITH OPEN ARMS.
JAKE SAID THAT HIS MOM
ALWAYS WANTED A DAUGHTER.
AND WHEN SHE TOLD ME HERSELF,
SHE'S LIKE,
"YOU'RE LIKE A DAUGHTER TO ME,"
THAT WAS AN AMAZING PEACE.
AFTER JAKE AND TINA HAVE BEEN
DATING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS,
HIS PARENTS
RENT THEM AN APARTMENT.
THEN, ACCORDING TO TINA,
ONE MORNING,
JAKE'S MOM
COMPLETELY CROSSES THE LINE.
I'M STILL UNDER THE SHEETS,
AND I'M, YOU KNOW,
IN MY BIRTHDAY SUIT.
GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE.
MORNING.
SHE WOULD COME
INTO THE BED.
LIKE, COME SIT ON THE BED?
COME SIT ON THE BED
AND LAY ON TOP OF THE COVERS.
AND I'M LIKE, "UH, HELLO?
DO YOU SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"
OKAY, YOU KIDS.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
HAVE A LOVELY MORNING.
HOPE YOU'RE GONNA
GET DRESSED AT SOME POINT.
HEY, LISTEN.
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH JAKE'S
MOTHER PUSHED TINA AWAY
'CAUSE IT WAS LIKE SHE
COULDN'T BE NUMBER ONE TO HIM.
IT WAS STILL HIS MOM
THAT WAS NUMBER ONE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY THIS IS SURE A BIG DEAL.
- LOOK...
- DON'T LET YOUR MOM
COME IN THE BEDROOM
WHILE WE'RE BOTH NAKED!
MONEY IS ALSO AN ISSUE.
FOR GOD'S SAKES,
JAKE, GROW UP.
- I'M TRY-
- LET GO THE NIPPLE.
JAKE WAS DEFINITELY
A MAMA'S BOY.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS LATER.
I'VE GOT STUFF I'VE GOT TO DO.
HE'S GOT A MOM AND DAD
THAT CAN FINANCIALLY
SUPPORT HIM.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S HAVING
TO GET STUDENT LOANS
AND FOOD STAMPS.
THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE FOR TINA.
SHE'S REALLY WEIRD.
TINA WILL ALWAYS PLAY
SECOND FIDDLE TO JAKE'S MOM.
AND THE FACT THAT HIS PARENTS
ARE FOOTING THE BILLS
MEANS THAT
WHATEVER THEY SAY GOES.
WELL, THIS KIND OF MEDDLING
WILL ONLY SERVE TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN HER AND JAKE.
I DON'T WANT
US TO END ON BAD TERMS.
WE'RE GONNA SEPARATE.
WE'RE GONNA KIND
OF GO OUR OWN WAY.
AND WAS IT AMICABLE
WHEN YOU FINALLY ENDED IT?
THERE WAS ALWAYS
THAT THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE WE
COULD WORK IT BACK OUT.
BUT IF THIS IS THE WAY
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BEHAVE,
I CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WELL, FINE.
GO!
WITH JAKE'S HELP,
TINA FINDS A NEW PLACE TO LIVE.
WOW, McKENZIE.
YOU LOOK PRETTY.
HER ROOMMATE IS McKENZIE,
A FELLOW STUDENT
WHO'S ALSO A FRIEND
OF JAKE'S FAMILY.
I'M ACTUALLY RUNNING LATE.
UM, ARE YOU GONNA BE OKAY?
YEAH.
I'LL BE FINE.
ONCE SHE'S ALONE,
TINA STARTS THINKING ABOUT JAKE.
SHE'S TRYING TO FORGET HIM,
BUT SHE MISSES HIM DESPERATELY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS STILL,
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
THINKING, "WELL, LET ME
GIVE THIS ONE LAST GO ROUND."
SHE HEADS OVER TO JAKE'S PLACE,
HOPING TO REKINDLE THE ROMANCE.
JAKE, OPEN THE DOOR.
IT'S ME, TINA.
HE COMES, ANSWERS THE DOOR,
AND HE HAS ON JUST A PAIR
OF BASKETBALL SHORTS.
HIS SHIRT'S OFF.
HE'S LIKE, "OH," KIND
OF A SHOCKED LOOK ON HIS FACE.
TINA, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING HERE?
- I WANTED TO TALK.
- IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.
I - I...
WHY? WHAT'S GOING ON?
TINA GARDNER IS
A YOUNG COLLEGE CO-ED
WHO'S GOING
THROUGH A PAINFUL BREAKUP.
WE'RE JUST GOING
THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS.
SHE'S STILL IN LOVE
WITH HER EX-BOYFRIEND, JAKE,
AND SHOWS UP AT HIS DOORSTEP,
HOPING TO GET HIM BACK.
HEY, BABE.
TINA, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
AND FROM BEHIND THE SCREEN,
HERE COMES MY ROOMMATE.
I SEE WHY
IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.
SHE IS WEARING ONE
OF HIS JERSEYS AND NOTHING ELSE.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I GUESS HE HAD MOVED ON.
HOW CAN YOU
BETRAY ME LIKE THIS?
YOU HAVE NO SOUL.
I THOUGHT US
WAS OVER, OKAY?
TINA FEELS
COMPLETELY BETRAYED.
I WAS DEVASTATED BECAUSE I
WANTED THAT PICTURESQUE FAMILY.
YOU LOST ON THE BEST THING
YOU EVER HAD.
EVEN MORE THAN LOSING JAKE,
TINA IS GRIEVING THE LOSS
OF HIS FAMILY.
HER SEARCH FOR A RELATIONSHIP
GOES HAND IN HAND
WITH HER DESPERATE LONGING
FOR THE FAMILY
THAT SHE NEVER HAD GROWING UP.
TINA MOVES
OUT OF THE APARTMENT
SHE SHARES WITH MCKENZIE
THE NEXT DAY.
NOW BROKENHEARTED,
THE REST OF HER DREAMS
START FALLING BY THE WAYSIDE.
SHE STARTS PARTYING
TO DROWN HER SORROWS,
AND HER GRADES BEGIN FALLING.
I SAW THE CHANGE IN MY SISTER
FROM DOING REALLY WELL
TO STARTING TO SLIP.
THE GRADES, THE PARTYING,
ALL OF THAT STARTED JUST TO KIND
OF GET OUT OF CONTROL.
TINA ENDS UP
DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.
HER SISTER, MARIA, INVITES HER
TO VISIT HER IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.
I WAS A BARTENDER AT THE TIME
AT A GENTLEMEN'S CLUB.
MARIA THINKS SHE KNOWS
A WAY TO CHEER HER SISTER UP.
MY SISTER HAD SOMEONE
SHE WANTED ME TO MEET,
A WELL-TO-DO BUSINESSMAN.
YOU HAVE SOMEONE
THAT'S A BIG-TIME C. E. O.,
AND I WAS INTRIGUED BY THAT.
THIS IS MY BABY SIS, TINA.
HI.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
PLEASURE.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU
TO SOMEBODY WHO'S FUN,
WHO'S NOT LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING SERIOUS.
NICK IS JUST THE ESCAPE
TINA'S LOOKING FOR.
LITTLE BIT OF THIS HERE?
YEAH, SURE.
WHY NOT?
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE MY KIND OF GIRL.
FIRST THING,
HE OFFERS ME A BUMP...
- MM.
- ...OF COCAINE.
LIKE, STRAIGHT OFF
THE PLANE?
STRAIGHT OFF THE PLANE.
OKAY.
WELCOME TO THE CITY.
LET'S GET IT ON.
LET'S PARTY.
- CHEERS.
- IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT.
- MM.
- I CAN TELL.
YOU KNOW,
I JUST KIND OF LET LOOSE.
WHY DON'T WE GET
OUT OF HERE?
TINA'S LAUNCHED
INTO THE STRATOSPHERE.
LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN.
NICK INVITES TINA
TO STAY AT HIS LAVISH HOME.
SHE FIGURES SHE HAS NOTHING
TO LOSE.
HE STARTS USING HER TO LIVE OUT
HIS WILDEST FANTASIES,
AND HE KEEPS THE COCAINE COMING.
HE PUT JEWELRY ON ME THAT WAS,
LIKE, EXTRAVAGANT.
BUT HE WANTED ME TO STRIP DOWN.
AND THEN, HE WOULD ORDER PIZZA
AND WANT ME TO GO
AND ANSWER THE DOOR IN MY HEELS
AND ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
ELOQUENT JEWELRY AND NUDE.
- $22.50.
- HELLO.
$22...
$22 - $22.50.
DID YOU SEE HIS FACE?
I BELIEVE
THAT TINA'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE CEO WAS VERY TOXIC.
THEY GOT INTO A, UM, BINGE
AND BOTH BECAME VERY DETACHED
FROM REALITY.
BUT AFTER
A MONTH OF PARTYING,
TINA SNAPS BACK INTO REALITY.
MY NOSE STARTS TO BLEED.
I'M GETTING SCARED.
JUST STARTED TO GET
A LITTLE CRAZY.
SHE JUST FINALLY SAID, "OKAY.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."
YOU KNOW, RUN.
TINA KNOWS SHE HAS
TO GET HER LIFE BACK ON TRACK
AND BUYS A PLANE TICKET
BACK HOME TO OREGON.
THAT'S WHEN FATE INTERVENES
IN THE FORM
OF A CHANCE ENCOUNTER
WITH A HANDSOME STRANGER.
I WAS WALKING
THROUGH THE AIRPORT,
AND I SEE THIS GIRL STANDING
AT THE MONITORS,
LOOKING
AT THE DEPARTING FLIGHTS.
AND I STOPPED AND JUST
ASKED HER HER NAME.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I'M TINA.
OH, ANDRE, VERY DEBONAIR,
VERY, UH, ASTUTE.
WELL, TINA, IT'S A PLEASURE.
MY NAME IS ANDRE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
PROUD BLACK MAN,
BRIEFCASE IN HAND,
YOU KNOW, LEATHER,
SQUARE-TIPPED SHOES.
YOU KNOW, JUST VERY CLASSY.
- WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO?
- I'M OFF TO...
ANDRE IS 30,
8 YEARS OLDER THAN TINA.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
- I USED TO MODEL.
- YEAH? OKAY.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS?
HE TELLS HER
ABOUT HIS LINE OF WORK
AS A BUSINESS CONSULTANT,
HELPING COMPANIES
SAVE MONEY ON TAXES.
- I LIKE THAT.
- I DO WHAT I CAN.
TINA IS INTRIGUED.
SHE'S A VERY ARTICULATE
PERSON, SHE'S VERY WELL SPOKEN.
SHE'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE PERSON
INSIDE AND OUT.
AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT
I SAW A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
- WELL, I HAVE TO GO.
- THAT'S FINE.
TINA WANTS
TO KNOW MORE,
BUT SHE'S GOT TO BOARD
HER PLANE.
GIVE ME A CALL.
HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT.
YOU, TOO.
HAVE A GOOD ONE.
FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS,
TINA AND ANDRE CHAT FOR HOURS
ON THE PHONE.
I MEAN, GROWING UP,
I HAD A HARD CHILDHOOD.
YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T EASY.
WE END UP BECOMING GOOD,
CLOSE FRIENDS.
I USED TO PLAY SPORTS
IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AT THE END
OF ONE OF THEIR CALLS,
ANDRE BOLDLY ASKS TINA TO MOVE
TO VEGAS TO WORK WITH HIM.
IS - IS - IS A CERTAIN KEY,
UH, A PARTNER.
I WAS EXPLAINING TO HER THAT I
WAS STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE.
AND IT WAS GOING
TO BE A ROUGH RIDE,
BUT I WAS GOING
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WHAT EXACTLY WOULD I BE DOING?
THE FACT THAT ANDRE
IS SUCCESSFUL AND OLDER
MAKES TINA EVEN MORE
INTRIGUED BY HIM.
AND IT DOESN'T HURT
THAT HE'S HANDSOME.
SHE WANTS A FATHER FIGURE
WHO WILL WORSHIP HER.
BUT THAT MAY COME
AT A VERY HEFTY PRICE.
NOTHING CRAZY.
THERE'S NO FUNNY STUFF GOIN' ON.
HE TOLD ME, "I HAVE A CONDO,
AND I WANT YOU TO COME
AND STAY WITH ME."
SURE.
I'LL BUY MY TICKET TODAY.
TINA DECIDES TO TAKE A
LEAP OF FAITH AND BOOKS HERSELF
A ONE-WAY TICKET TO LAS VEGAS.
I WILL SEE YOU SOON.
I WILL SEE YOU IN -
IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
TAKE CARE.
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME,
WHAT DID YOU ENVISION?
WHAT DREAMS WERE
IN YOUR HEAD?
HE'S SAYING
ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS,
AND OF COURSE I HAD MINI
MANSIONS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
LIVING THAT
LAVISH LIFESTYLE.
TINA LANDS IN VEGAS,
EXCITED TO START HER NEW LIFE.
BUT WHEN SHE ARRIVES
AT ANDRE'S PLACE,
IT LOOKS LIKE HER DREAMS
OF A LAVISH LIFESTYLE
MAY ACTUALLY BE A NIGHTMARE.
OH, HELL NO.
MY NAME IS ANDRE.
HI. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M TINA.
22-YEAR-OLD
TINA GARDNER
HAS THROWN CAUTION TO THE WIND
BY EMBARKING ON AN ADVENTURE
WITH A MAN SHE BARELY KNOWS.
SURE.
I'LL BUY MY TICKET TODAY.
BUT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN
IN LAS VEGAS TO BE WITH HIM,
SHE GETS THE WELCOME RUG
PULLED OUT FROM UNDER HER.
OH, HELL NO.
AS WE ARE PULLING UP,
MY HEART IS RACING.
I CAN BARELY BREATHE.
I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH."
TINA'S CAB
DROPS HER AT A LOW-RENT MOTEL.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE'S THE CONDO?
WHERE'S THE POOL?
IS IT JUST
A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING?
OH, NO.
I'VE BEEN LIED TO.
TINA, HOW YOU DOING.
NOT TRUE AT ALL.
I WAS ACTUALLY STAYING
WITH A FRIEND AT THE TIME.
WELCOME.
AND I WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF MOVING.
SO I TOLD TINA ALL OF THIS
BEFORE SHE CAME OUT THERE.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
IT'S A MOTEL.
SHE KNEW WHAT
I WAS GONNA GO THROUGH
TO GET MY COMPANY SET UP.
AND LIKE I TOLD HER,
I WAS STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE.
IS THIS YOUR BUSINESS?
LOOK, TINA,
I WAS VERY CLEAR WITH YOU.
TINA WEIGHS HER OPTIONS.
IF SHE GOES BACK TO OREGON,
SHE HAS NO PROSPECTS.
AT LEAST HERE, SHE HAS A SHOT
AT A BETTER FUTURE.
I DON'T THINK
YOU WERE VERY CLEAR.
I STILL HAD A JOB.
THAT'S WHAT KEPT ME
HANGING ON.
EVEN THOUGH
THE BUBBLE OF HER FABULOUS
VEGAS LIFE HAS BURST,
TINA IGNORES HER INSTINCTS,
AND SHE STAYS WITH ANDRE.
ALL OF HER FAILURES IN THE PAST
HAVE RUINED HER CONFIDENCE.
SHE FEELS THAT SHE NEEDS
TO RELY ON HIM TO SAVE HER.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT
AND ONLY A SHOT.
OKAY.
THAT'S ALL I ASK FOR.
JUST GIVE IT A CHANCE.
MY BAG.
THE NEXT MORNING,
ANDRE TELLS TINA IT'S TIME
TO GET TO WORK.
HE'S RUN RADIO ADS PROMOTING
HIS TAX-SAVING BUSINESS,
AND SHE HAS TO FOLLOW UP
WITH ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CALLED IN.
HE HANDS A SCRIPT TO ME, SAYS,
"YOU NEED TO PRACTICE THIS,
AND WE'RE GONNA
GET ON THE PHONE."
IT'S REALLY SIMPLE,
REALLY EASY.
JUST HIT THESE FEW POINTS.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING -
WE'RE NOT GOING TO AN OFFICE?
THIS IS THE OFFICE.
SO WE'RE DOING THIS
OUT OF THE HOTEL.
UM, AND THEN,
JUST HOP ON THE PHONE.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED,
BUT I STUCK IT OUT.
I PRACTICED THE SCRIPT,
AND I BROUGHT IN A COUPLE DEALS.
FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS,
TINA AND ANDRE ARE JUST
SCRAPING BY FINANCIALLY.
BUT THE TOUGH TIMES
ONLY MAKE THEM GROW CLOSER.
WE STARTED FROM ZERO.
SO TINA AND I HAD TO DEPEND
ON EACH OTHER A LOT TO EAT,
KEEP THE BILLS PAID,
TO MAKE IT DAY TO DAY.
AND WE BECAME VERY CLOSE.
TINA WAS MY EVERYTHING.
SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND
AT ONE TIME.
SHE WAS MY PARTNER.
THE HARD WORK PAYS OFF.
PRETTY SOON, THE BUSINESS
TURNS A PROFIT.
OH, MY GOD.
I THINK YOU'VE EARNED IT.
WE WOULD HAVE OUR EXTREME,
UH, GREAT MOMENTS.
TINA CLAIMS THE COUPLE
STARTS RUBBING ELBOWS
WITH THE LAS VEGAS ELITE.
TO MAKING MONEY
AND SAVING IT.
AND MAKING SOME MORE.
YOU WERE OUT THERE
WITH BILLIONAIRES.
THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT -
THAT KEPT YOU GOING.
YOU FELT LIKE A ROCK STAR.
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT TINA'S BIG BREAK
IS SHORT-LIVED.
SO IT WAS LIKE THIS, UM, THIS -
A CYCLE, ABOUT A 3-MONTH CYCLE.
UP 3 MONTHS, DOWN 3 MONTHS.
NOTHING.
THIS TIME,
THEY BARELY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
TO EAT MEALS
OUT OF THE VENDING MACHINE.
WE GOT ONE LAST ONE.
ANDRE AND I ARE
SPLITTING DING DONGS FOR DINNER.
YOU WENT ALL IN,
AND NOW, THE COFFERS ARE DRY.
RIGHT.
CHEERS.
IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE 2004,
AND TINA'S BEEN IN VEGAS
FOR OVER A YEAR.
DON'T TOUCH ME!
YOU TOUCHED ME FIRST,
ALL RIGHT?
OH, I DID?
THE FINANCIAL
ROLLER COASTER
HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE.
TINA HEADS TO A LOCAL CASINO
TO BLOW OFF SOME STEAM...
AND GETS A TASTE
OF SIN CITY
THAT CATCHES HER COMPLETELY
OFF GUARD.
THE GENTLEMAN OVER THERE
WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN THEM.
THERE WAS TWO WOMEN
AND A GENTLEMAN.
I HAD CAUGHT THEIR EYE.
AND THEY'D ASKED ME
TO JOIN THEIR PARTY.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I'M TINA.
THE MAN MAKES IT
CLEAR TO TINA
THAT HE'LL MAKE IT
WORTH HER WHILE
IF SHE HAS SOME ADVENTUROUS FUN
WITH HIM AND HIS PARTY PALS.
COME UPSTAIRS WITH ME?
SO YOU WENT BACK
TO THE ROOM...
YES.
AND ENGAGED IN A SHOW?
YES.
I WAS UP FOR IT.
I MEAN, THESE WOMEN WERE -
WERE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY JUST MADE IT SEEM,
LIKE, VERY NATURAL.
I COULD TELL AMERICA THAT,
YES, I KISSED A GIRL.
THE NEXT MORNING,
TINA HAS DOZENS OF MESSAGES
FROM ANDRE.
WHEN SHE GETS BACK
TO THEIR MOTEL,
SHE SHOWS ANDRE THE CASH
SHE EARNED.
I MAKE IT RAIN, BABY.
WHAT'D YOU DO
TO GET ALL THIS?
I MADE IT.
HE'S LIKE, "WELL,
WHERE'D YOU GET THIS MONEY?"
SOME GUY AT THE CASINO.
I HUNG OUT WITH HIM.
YOU DON'T GET PAID THIS MONEY
JUST TO HANG OUT.
- HE DOESN'T BELIEVE YOU.
- HE DOESN'T BELIEVE ME.
I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT HIGH ROLLERS.
NO, ARE YOU SERIOUS
RIGHT NOW?
ARE YOU GONNA START
DISRESPECTING ME?
- HOW'D YOU GET THIS MONEY?
- WAIT A MINUTE, CALM DOWN.
NO, DON'T TELL ME
TO CALM DOWN.
HE'S STARTING TO AMP UP,
AND HE'S SAYING,
"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU."
COULD YOU AT LEAST
LOOK AT ME?
ALL I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT
IS WHAT YOU DID.
I WAS BEING LIED
TO ABOUT CERTAIN ACTIVITIES
AND WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE,
BUT TINA WAS ACTUALLY GOING OUT
PROSTITUTING.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WHO'S SO IMPORTANT
THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN TALK TO ME?
ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT I
DID THE SHOW WITH TEXTED ME.
SHE SAID
THAT I WAS A GREAT KISSER,
AND SHE WOULD LOVE
TO SEE ME AGAIN.
WHEN ANDRE
SEES THE MESSAGES,
TINA CLAIMS HE HAS
A COMPLETE MELTDOWN.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?
THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WE'RE HAVING A STRUGGLE
FOR THE PHONE.
THIS IS WHAT HANGING OUT
MEANS TO YOU?
ARE YOU SEARCHING
THROUGH MY PHONE?
I'M LOOKIN'
AT YOUR TEXT MESSAGES.
ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?
AS I'M, LIKE,
GRABBING FOR MY PHONE,
I - I SCRATCHED HIM,
HIT HIS FACE OR SOMETHING.
MY PHONE.
GIVE ME MY PHONE!
HER NAILS CAUGHT ME IN THE FACE,
AND IT MADE ME UPSET.
YEAH, AND I SMACKED HER.
- ANDRE, I'M -
- ARE YOU SERIOUS?
TINA SAYS IT WAS
MORE THAN A SMACK.
ANDRE, JUST CALM DOWN.
HE PUNCHES ME.
WHEN I FELT THE PAIN OF IT,
I WAS LIKE, "DID HE REALLY
JUST HIT ME?"
I WOULD NEVER PUT
MY HANDS ON HER FIRST.
BUT WHEN SHE HIT ME,
I WOULD HIT HER BACK.
YOU BETTER NOT
TOUCH ME AGAIN.
IT'S HARD TO SAY
WHO THE AGGRESSOR
IS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.
MORE THAN LIKELY,
THEY'RE BOTH AT FAULT.
AND THEY FEED OFF
EACH OTHER'S EGOS.
WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH,
THEY'RE QUICK TO POINT
THE FINGER AT EACH OTHER
AND REFUSE TO OWN UP
TO THEIR OWN ANGER ISSUES.
WHEN TINA RETURNS
TO THE ROOM LATER THAT DAY,
ANDRE APOLOGIZES.
CAN I JUST TALK
TO YOU, PLEASE?
HE SAID THAT HE JUST
GOT IN A RAGE
BECAUSE I HAD LIED TO HIM.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SLAP YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I JUST -
I JUST CARE ABOUT YOU.
HE DID PULL ON HER
HEARTSTRINGS ALL THE TIME
AND SAY, YOU KNOW,
"NOBODY'S EVER LOVED ME."
IT HURTS, ALL RIGHT?
IT HURTS, SO I LOST MY COOL.
BUT I'M SORRY.
AND TINA, FROM BEING
FROM THE SAME THING,
NOT HAVING THAT SECURITY
OR THE LOVE OR AN APPROVAL
THAT SHE WAS SEEKING,
THEY FOUND THAT IN EACH OTHER
IN A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL WAY.
I PROMISE YOU,
I'LL NEVER HIT YOU AGAIN.
I JUST WANT YOU TO BE WITH ME.
I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE IN ME.
I WAS DETERMINED
TO MAKE THINGS WORK.
TINA AND ANDRE MAKE UP
IN A BIG WAY.
THINGS GET,
YOU KNOW, HEATED.
AND I END UP
CONCEIVING THAT NIGHT.
WHEN TINA
DISCOVERS SHE'S PREGNANT,
SHE HAS MIXED FEELINGS.
SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED A FAMILY
BUT ISN'T SURE
SHE WANTS ONE WITH ANDRE.
ANDRE, I'M PREGNANT.
WHEN SHE BREAKS THE NEWS TO HIM,
HE'S THRILLED.
YOU'RE PREGNANT?
TO SEE HIS EYES LIGHT UP
THAT HE WOULD BE A FATHER,
AND THEN WE'D TALK ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE FUTURE OF OUR FAMILY.
IS IT - IS IT A GIRL
OR A BOY?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST...
I TOLD MYSELF
THAT I'M GONNA MAKE IT WORK.
I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER I
CAN TO MAKE IT WORK.
NOT ONLY ARE
THEY THRILLED ABOUT THE BABY,
BUSINESS IS BOOMING.
AND THEIR LUCK HOLDS.
ANDRE'S WEALTHY FRIEND
INVITES THEM TO STAY
IN HIS UPSCALE HOME.
DID YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU HAD ARRIVED?
I FELT, "YES, THIS IS IT.
THIS IS IT."
ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?
ARE YOU - ARE YOU SERIOUS
RIGHT NOW, REALLY?
WE'RE AT MY
BEST FRIEND'S HOUSE.
- IT'S A SWIM SUIT.
- IT'S NOT A SWIM SUIT.
THAT'S - THAT'S -
THAT'S DENTAL FLOSS.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER,
BUT THERE'S STILL THIS ANGER...
I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA
BE A MOTHER, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
OH, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE
PLENTY OF LITTLE GIRLFRIENDS.
...THAT JUST DOESN'T GO AWAY
IN ANDRE.
HE'S PARANOID.
TINA WAS ALWAYS
CHEATING, I DIDN'T TRUST HER.
AND WHEN I QUIT TRUSTING TINA,
I HAD KEPT GIRLFRIENDS
ON THE SIDE AFTER THAT.
I DON'T HAVE GIRLFRIENDS,
ALL RIGHT?
ARE YOU GONNA -
ARE YOU GONNA CHANGE, OR WHAT?
TINA ALSO CLAIMS ANDRE
TIGHTENS HIS CONTROL OVER HER
BY CLAMPING DOWN
ON THE PURSE STRINGS.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU
GIVE ME MONEY ANYWAY.
LOOK, I'LL START
GIVING YOU MONEY
WHEN YOU START ACTING LIKE...
IT'S BEEN
A YEAR AND A HALF
SINCE TINA STARTED HELPING ANDRE
WITH HIS BUSINESS.
HEY, HONEY.
CAN WE TALK FOR A MINUTE?
ABOUT WHAT?
I WAS THINKING,
BUSINESS IS ESTABLISHED.
SHE DECIDES IT'S TIME
TO FULFILL HER DREAM
OF BECOMING A TEACHER.
NO, NO.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE A TEACHER.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LEAVE
THE BUSINESS.
- YOU'RE ALWAYS OFFENDING ME.
- THAT IS THE STUPIDEST IDEA
I'VE EVER HEARD
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I WANTED THAT SEPARATION
OF HOME AND WORK.
THE PRESSURE
OF TRYING TO KEEP THE BUSINESS
AFLOAT HAS ANDRE WOUND
TIGHTER THAN A DRUM.
ACCORDING TO TINA,
HER DESIRE TO SWITCH CAREERS
FEELS LIKE A SLAP
IN THE FACE TO HIM
AND HE COME COMPLETELY UNHINGED.
AND I'M PREGNANT.
YOU'RE ACTING CRAZY.
- I'M ACTING CRAZY?
- YES.
I'M ACTING CRAZY?
I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!
HE'S ABOUT
TO TEACH HER A LESSON
SHE'LL NEVER FORGET.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- YOU WANT CRAZY? HUH?
- ANDRE!
FOR MORE ON
HOW TINA'S DOING NOW,
GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.
TINA GARDNER
AND HER BOYFRIEND, ANDRE,
HAVE BEEN LOVERS AND BUSINESS
PARTNERS FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS
AND ARE EXPECTING
A CHILD TOGETHER.
NO, NO. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE
A TEACHER AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
ACCORDING TO TINA,
WHEN SHE TELLS ANDRE
SHE WANTS TO LEAVE THE BUSINESS,
HE GOES ON A RAMPAGE.
I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!
YOU HAD TO KEEP
RUNNING YOUR MOUTH.
AND HERE HE COMES AGAIN,
SO I OPEN THE WINDOW.
AND I'M STANDING OUT
ON THE LEDGE.
I HOPE YOU DIE.
SHE CLAIMS
THEIR HOST COMES HOME
AND SEES HER STANDING THERE.
THE GUY IS LIKE,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOIN', T?
ARE YOU TRYING TO BE CATWOMAN
OR SOMETHING?"
I WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED
THAT ANDRE
WAS GOING TO KILL MY SISTER.
I BELIEVED THAT HE WAS
THAT PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE
THAT IT WAS TO
THE POINT OF DEATH.
THAT'S SUCH A LIE.
THAT'S A LIE.
TINA'S A LIAR.
OH, MY GOD.
I'M CHASIN' HER AROUND
WITH A SHAVING BLADE,
PREGNANT WITH MY SON?
COME ON.
MY SON WAS THE WORLD TO ME.
I WOULDN'T DARE HARM A HAIR
ON HER HEAD.
A SHAVING BLADE?
I DON'T EVEN USE SHAVING BLADES.
I USE DISPOSABLE RAZORS.
ANDRE TELLS
A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING?
GOING OUT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
GOING OUT?
YOU'RE DRESSED LIKE A SLUT
RIGHT NOW.
OH, I'M DRESSED LIKE A -
- OH. OH.
- I'M DRESSED LIKE A SLUT?
SHE GOT MAD AT ME,
AND SHE JUMPED ON ME
AND ATTACKED ME
WHILE I WAS LAYIN' IN THE BED.
- LET GO OF ME.
- DO NOT GIVE ME A REASON, TINA.
- DO NOT GIVE ME A REASON.
- A REASON TO DO WHAT?
AND I STARTED FIGHTING
HER BACK, OF COURSE.
AND I THINK SHE WAS
OVER-DRAMATIZING.
- I MIGHT AS WELL KILL MYSELF!
- FINE, GO AHEAD.
- 'CAUSE YOU DON'T CARE.
- GO AHEAD!
- FINE!
- GO AHEAD. DO IT.
AND SHE GOT ON THE ROOF
OF THE HOUSE.
AND I LET THE WINDOW DOWN,
AND I WOULDN'T LET HER BACK IN.
ENJOY.
HAVE A GOOD RIDE.
ANDRE!
ANDRE.
ANDRE, LET ME IN.
JUST LIKE
THEIR PREVIOUS FIGHTS,
THEY KISS AND MAKE UP
LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENED.
TINA IS SO DESPERATE
FOR A FAMILY
THAT SHE WILL STAY WITH ANDRE
DESPITE THEIR VENOMOUS
RELATIONSHIP.
SHE GREW UP
WATCHING HER GRANDMOTHER STAND
BY HER GRANDFATHER,
EVEN WHEN HE WAS WRONG.
YOU STAND BY YOUR MAN,
NO MATTER WHAT.
ON OCTOBER 14, 2004,
TINA GIVES BIRTH
TO A LITTLE BOY.
FINALLY, HER DREAM OF HAVING
A FAMILY IS COMING TRUE.
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS,
THE COUPLE ARE ON CLOUD NINE
WITH THEIR NEW SON, D. J.
AND THE MOOD AT HOME
IS PEACEFUL AND LOVING.
THIS IS THE TIME SPAN
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP
WHERE HE DID NOT PUT HIS HANDS
ON ME.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE BABY.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME.
SO I WAS FEELING REALLY GOOD
ABOUT EVERYTHING.
WHEN D. J. IS 8 MONTHS OLD,
ANDRE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OPEN A NEW OFFICE,
AND THE COUPLE
MOVES TO DESTIN, FLORIDA.
WITHIN WEEKS, THE COMPANY
IS DOING SO WELL THAT TINA
AND ANDRE BUY AN UPSCALE HOME.
YES, HE IS.
I'M SO HAPPY.
MY LIFE IN FLORIDA WAS GREAT.
IT WAS WHERE I WANTED TO BE.
HI. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M TINA.
- MARK.
- NICE TO MEET YOU.
- HEY. HOW'S IT GOING?
- HOW YOU DOING?
IT WAS PROBABLY ONE
OF THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE.
BUT JUST MONTHS
AFTER THE MOVE,
THE COUPLE'S STORM CLOUDS
BREW ONCE AGAIN,
AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
ONE OF THE GUYS
AT THE END OF THE CUL-DE-SAC
WAS BRINGING DRUGS TO THE HOUSE.
ANDRE BELIEVES ONE
OF THEIR NEIGHBORS
HAS INTRODUCED TINA
TO METHAMPHETAMINES.
TINA?
TINA?
I COME HOME,
AND I OPEN UP THE BATHROOM DOOR.
I CATCH HER IN THE BATHROOM
LIGHTIN' UP AND SMOKING
CRYSTAL METH IN THE BATHROOM.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING
IN HERE?
SHE TRIES TO TAKE
THE CRYSTAL METH PIPE
AND BREAK IT IN THE BATHTUB.
SMOKING ICE IN HERE?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
- I'M CURLING MY HAIR.
- YOU'RE CURLING YOUR HAIR?
I'M CURLING MY -
DON'T SLAP ME!
TELL ME THE TRUTH.
TINA CLAIMS THE DRUGS
WERE THE NANNY'S AND NOT HERS.
I OPENED THE DOOR,
AND SHE HAD AN ICE PIPE.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
AND I WAS LIKE, "HOLY ****.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME."
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT MY BOYFRIEND WOULD DO?
AND HERE COMES ANDRE.
TINA?
TINA, WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
ALL I KNEW TO DO WAS
CLOSE THE DOOR, GRAB HER STUFF.
AND HE IS BUSTIN' IN THE DOOR.
AND ALL I COULD DO
WAS THROW THE PIPE.
HEY.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING
ON IN HERE?
HE SAW A PIECE OF IT AND JUST,
LIKE, LOST IT.
IS SHE - WAS SHE SMOKIN' METH?
ARE YOU SMOKIN' METH?
YES, MAYBE,
BUT I GOT THIS.
ARE YOU TRYING TO PROTECT
THE NANNY FROM HIS WRATH?
I'M TRYING TO PROTECT MYSELF
BECAUSE I KNOW, SOMEHOW,
SOME WAY,
HE'S GONNA BLAME ME.
YOU'RE SMOKING IT
WITH HER?
YOU'RE SMOKING IT WITH HER,
AREN'T YOU?
IN OUR HOUSE
WITH OUR SON?!
BY THE SUMMER OF 2006,
THIS ROMANCE HAS BEEN
RIPPED APART AT THE SEAMS.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS DOING
IN THE BATHROOM?
ANSWER ME.
MY NEIGHBORS
WERE TELLING ME
THAT THERE'S TRAFFIC
COMING IN AND OUT OF MY HOUSE,
THAT SHE APPEARS
TO BE USING DRUGS.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING, TINA?
CAN YOU LOOK AT ME?
ACCORDING TO ANDRE,
TINA IS NOT ONLY ABUSING DRUGS
BUT, ONCE AGAIN, HIS TRUST.
I WOULD FIND
THE NEIGHBOR'S BASEBALLS CAPS
AND STUFF IN MY BATHROOM.
HER AND MY NEIGHBOR
WERE HAVING SEX.
YOU'RE SCREWING MARK?
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
YOU'RE LOSING YOUR MIND.
DON'T DOWNPLAY THIS, TINA.
I'M NOT LOSING MY MIND.
WE WERE ARGUING BACK AND FORTH
ABOUT SOME UNBEKNOWNST PERSON
THAT I WAS SUPPOSEDLY
HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH.
YOU'RE SMOKING CRACK, AND YOU'RE
SCREWING THE NEIGHBOR.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
TINA CLAIMS SHE'S FED
UP WITH ANDRE'S HARASSMENT
AND REFUSES TO FIGHT WITH HIM.
HE TRIED TO GRAB MY ARM,
AND I SNATCHED MY ARM AWAY.
LET GO OF ME.
YOU'RE SO DAMN PARANOID.
GET OUT OF MY WAY.
AND HE GRABBED A KNIFE.
COME BACK!
WE'RE NOT DONE!
HE WAS CHASING AFTER ME
WITH A BUTCHER KNIFE.
TINA, DO NOT WALK
AWAY FROM ME.
27-YEAR-OLD
TINA GARDNER HAS BEEN
IN A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, ANDRE,
FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?
THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
BUT A FLOOD OF ACCUSATIONS
AND ABUSE
HAS CRESTED
TO A TERRIFYING TIDAL WAVE.
DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM ME!
ACCORDING TO TINA,
SHE RACES UP THE STAIRS,
DETERMINED TO NOT BECOME
A VICTIM OF ANDRE'S WRATH.
WHEN I GOT TO THE TOP
OF THE STAIRS,
I LOCKED MY SON IN HIS ROOM.
SOON AS I TURNED AROUND,
THERE WAS ANDRE.
AND ALL I SAW WAS THE KNIFE.
THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE GONNA DO?
YOU'RE GONNA
DO THIS IN MY HOUSE?
GONNA MAKE ME DO THIS TO YOU,
RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
LOOK AT ME!
AND I THINK HE SAW THAT LOOK
IN MY EYES...
TINA.
BECAUSE HE WAS LIKE,
"OH, LET'S JUST TALK.
LET'S JUST TALK."
I COULDN'T HEAR THAT.
DON'T DO ANYTHING CRAZY, TINA.
STOP.
HE COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
AND I SAID, MM, IT WAS DONE.
TINA, STOP.
TINA, STOP.
TINA, STOP.
JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING CRAZY.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
STOP.
SHE SAID, "THAT'S ENOUGH.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE."
SHE SNAPPED.
HE MADE ME RUN, SO I WAS GONNA
MAKE HIM RUN FOR HIS LIFE.
YOU'RE HARD, HUH?
ANDRE KNOWS HE'S IN TROUBLE.
TINA, STOP IT!
TINA, STOP!
AAAAAH!
HE TRIES TO SLAM
THE BATHROOM DOOR,
BUT I PUT MY FOOT IN THE DOOR.
WHO'S HARD NOW?
TINA, STOP, PLEASE!
COME ON, TINA, STOP IT!
TINA, PLEASE.
AND ALL I DID WAS REACH AROUND,
LIKE THIS,
AND SLICE.
TINA!
YOU CUT ME!
SHE WAS SWINGING THAT KNIFE,
AND I KNEW SHE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME.
OH, MY GOD, YOU CUT ME!
****, TINA!
I CUT HIS ARM ALL THE WAY
UP UNDER HIS BICEP.
AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS,
"OH, MY GOD!
I'M BLEEDING."
- OH, MY GOD.
- TINA! AH!
- YOU CUT ME!
- I THOUGHT I HIT BONE.
YOU CUT ME!
OH, MY GOD.
****!
OH, MY GOD!
I DON'T EVEN REALIZE
SHE WAS CUTTING ME AT THE TIME
UNTIL I STARTED
SEEING ALL THE BLOOD.
YOU CUT ME!
I'M GONNA GET
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
I THINK THE MOST
SHOCKING PART
ABOUT AFTER I CUT HIM WAS SEEING
THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD.
- AAH!
- OH!
TINA TRIES
TO STOP THE BLEEDING.
IT'S LIKE,
"I DIDN'T KNOW I CUT YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW I CUT YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW I DID THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW."
ALTHOUGH TINA CLAIMS
SHE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE,
ANDRE CLAIMS SHE PULLED A KNIFE
ON HIM WITH THE INTENT TO KILL.
WHAT DID YOU DO?
REALLY?
I HAD WALKED DOWNSTAIRS,
AND I WAS RAISING HELL WITH HER.
YOU'RE GONNA SCREW
THE NEIGHBOR?
SO WHAT IF I SCREW
THE NEIGHBOR?
SO WHAT? YOU'RE THE MOTHER
OF MY CHILD.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?
REALLY?
AND SHE JUST PULLED THE KNIFE
OUT RIGHT THERE,
PUT THE KNIFE IN MY FACE AND WAS
JUST LIKE, "I'M TIRED OF YOU."
I AM TIRED
OF YOUR ****!
WAIT, WAIT, TINA.
TINA, OKAY.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
SHE'S JUST RAMBLING ON.
AND IT'S THIS LOOK
AND THIS GLAZE IN HER EYES
LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY.
TINA, OKAY.
OH, YOU WANT TO SEE
A WASHED-UP BEAUTY QUEEN?
I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
SHE IS GONNA TRY
TO KILL ME TODAY."
- STOP.
- YOU WANT TO SEE CRAZY?!
I START TO RUN FROM HER
AND RUN UP THE STAIRS,
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE CHASED ME
UP THE STAIRS.
I'LL SHOW YOU
CRAZY, ANDRE.
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
I'M A WHORE?
AAAAAH!
DON'T DO THIS.
AAH!
****!
YOU CUT ME!
AAH! YOU CUT ME!
WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHO
THE ORIGINAL AGGRESSOR WAS HERE.
BUT THE FACT
REMAINS THAT TINA GOT THE KNIFE
AND WENT AFTER ANDRE.
SHE COULD HAVE GRABBED THE KNIFE
AND RUN AWAY.
BUT INSTEAD,
SHE WENT ON THE ATTACK.
YOU CUT ME!
AFTER THE STABBING,
ANDRE IS AFRAID,
IF HE CALLS THE POLICE,
THEY'LL BREAK UP THEIR FAMILY.
THEN WE BOTH
CALMED DOWN, LIKE,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, TINA?
THIS IS STUPID.
AND I NEED
TO PROTECT YOU AND D. J.
I DO NOT WANT MY SON
AND I GETTING SPLIT UP,"
'CAUSE I FELT LIKE EVERYTHING
WAS GONNA BE AGAINST ME ANYWAY,
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO LISTEN.
LISTEN.
SO ANDRE
COMES UP WITH A PLAN.
HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WE'RE GONNA GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.
WE'RE GONNA TELL THEM THAT I -
I TRIED TO FIX A LIGHT.
WE CAN'T TELL THEM
THAT SORT OF THING!
SHUT UP! SHUT UP,
TINA, SHUT UP!
WE DON'T HAVE
ANY OTHER CHOICE.
TINA DRIVES ANDRE
TO THE HOSPITAL,
WHERE HE'S GIVEN 24 STITCHES.
I'M SO SORRY.
I DID NOT MEAN TO.
THE DOCTOR SAID,
ANOTHER HALF A CENTIMETER,
IT WOULD HAVE HIT
MY MAIN ARTERY.
CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA
OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
'CAUSE...
TINA AND ANDRE
ARE BOTH QUESTIONED.
I TOLD HIM
I JUST FELL ON THE KNIFE.
THERE WAS A LIGHT
THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.
THE ONLY THING I COULD FIND
AT THE TIME WAS A KNIFE.
SO I TRIED TO UNSCREW IT,
AND I - I SLIPPED.
IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT
TO ME, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THEY STICK
TO THE SAME SCRIPT.
AND HE FELL ON THE KNIFE.
EVEN THOUGH DOCTORS
SUSPECT THE TWO ARE LYING,
THEY DON'T CALL THE POLICE
AND LET THEM GO HOME.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
TINA AND ANDRE
DECIDE TO SEPARATE.
ANDRE STAYS IN FLORIDA,
AND TINA AND HER SON, D. J.,
GO TO STAY WITH HER SISTER,
MARIA, IN OKLAHOMA.
THANK GOD TINA
IS NOT WITH ANDRE ANYMORE.
I AM VERY THANKFUL
THAT SHE IS FINALLY RECOVERING
FROM THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SINCE THE INCIDENT,
ANDRE'S BUSINESS HAS COLLAPSED,
AND HE'S STRUGGLING
TO REBUILD HIS LIFE.
HE AND TINA
ARE NO LONGER IN CONTACT.
- YOU'RE ACTING CRAZY?
- I'M ACTING CRAZY?
- YES.
- I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!
MY LIFE WITH TINA WAS HELL.
TINA IS VERY MANIPULATIVE,
DECEITFUL.
ALL SHE CARES ABOUT IS HER.
SHE DOESN'T CARE
ABOUT TELLING LIES.
IS THIS WHAT YOU DO?
IS THIS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY?
I REGRET CHOOSING
TO BE WITH HER.
IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST MISTAKES
I EVER COULD HAVE MADE
IN MY LIFE.
TINA SAYS SHE HAS
TURNED HER LIFE AROUND.
SHE'S ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED
AND HAS STARTED
HER OWN CONSULTING BUSINESS.
BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING
I'VE BEEN THROUGH,
I THINK THAT I AM A STRONG,
EDUCATED,
WORLDLY, WISE WOMAN NOW.
GIVE ME A REASON, TINA.
DO NOT GIVE ME A REASON.
A REASON TO DO WHAT?
AS FAR AS REGRETS GO,
I HAVE NONE.
IT STARTED WITH LIES AND DECEIT,
AND IT CAME TO THE POINT
OF A KNIFE.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT ENDED.
SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL...
YOU THOUGHT THE MOON, THE STARS,
EVERYTHING - THAT WAS TINA.
- LITTLE BIT OF THIS HERE?
- YEAH.
UNTIL SHE TAKES A FALL
FROM GRACE.
I JUST KIND OF LET LOOSE.
A NEW MAN INTRODUCES
HER TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
OF THE BIG CITY.
OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS A WHOLE NEW CLASS
OF PERSON THAT I HAD NEVER MET.
SHE'S BLINDED
BY HIS DEEP-SEEDED DEMONS,
BUT SHE'S NOT GOING DOWN
WITHOUT A FIGHT.
AND SHE JUST PULLED A KNIFE
OUT RIGHT THERE.
I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
SHE IS GONNA TRY
TO KILL ME TODAY."
YOU WANT TO SEE CRAZY?!
TINA, STOP IT!
TINA!
AAAAAH!
NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG, A WOMAN
CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
AT JUST 13 YEARS OLD,
TINA GARDNER IS A NATURAL
ON THE PAGEANT STAGE.
TINA, IF YOU HAD ONE WISH,
WHAT WOULD IT BE?
THAT WOULD BE EASY - TO EDUCATE
THE WORLD'S CHILDREN.
WE RECEIVED, UM, AN INVITATION
TO MISS TEEN OREGON,
WHICH WAS,
IF YOU MADE IT TO THE FINALS,
THEN YOU WOULD BE
IN MISS TEEN USA.
AND NOW, IN THIRD PLACE,
WE HAVE TINA GARDNER.
AAH!
SHE GOES ON
TO WIN BEST SMILE
AND MISS CONGENIALITY.
SHE WAS THE STAR
OF THE WHOLE PAGEANT.
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
AND SHE WAS THE BEST.
SHE LEARNS EARLY ON
TO USE HER LOOKS
TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS.
IT WAS DEFINITELY HIGHLIGHT
OF MY YOUNGER YEARS.
TINA AND HER OLDER SISTER,
MARIA, HAVE LIVED
WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS
SINCE THEY WERE VERY SMALL.
TINA'S RELATIONSHIP
WAS REALLY GOOD
WITH BOTH OF MY GRANDPARENTS.
I MEAN,
WE WERE ALL PRETTY CLOSE.
THEIR MOTHER WAS
TRAPPED IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
AND COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM.
AND THEY NEVER REALLY
KNEW THEIR FATHER.
THEIR MOTHER BEGGED ME TO COME
AND GET THE GIRLS.
LUCKILY,
LIFE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS
IS PRETTY GOOD.
THEY LIVE IN THE SMALL COASTAL
TOWN OF BROOKINGS, OREGON.
YOU THOUGHT OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER
AS YOUR MOTHER,
AS YOUR PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
FROM DAY ONE.
- HI, GIRLS.
- HEY, GRANDMA.
TINA AND HER SISTER,
MARIA, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE.
THEIR GRANDMA DOTES ON THE GIRLS
AND SHOWERS THEM
WITH LOVE AND ATTENTION.
I'M GONNA MAKE YOU
LASAGNA.
THEIR GRANDFATHER
IS LOVING BUT STRICT.
SORRY.
SORRY, GRANDPA.
WE DID A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.
WHAT'S ALL THIS
RUCKUS IN HERE?
GRANDMA'S MAKIN' LASAGNA.
THE GIRLS GOT GOOD GRADES
IN SCHOOL.
I WAS VERY PROUD OF MY GIRLS.
UP UNTIL WE WERE,
LIKE, ABOUT 10 AND 12 YEARS OLD,
THINGS WERE, LIKE,
KIND OF STORYBOOK IN OUR LIFE.
NO DINNER UNLESS YOU FINISH
THAT HOMEWORK.
NOW, GET ON IT.
BUT AS A YOUNG
TEENAGER, MARIA GROWS DEPRESSED.
I WAS GOING THROUGH THAT CHANGE
AND BECOMING A WOMAN
AND GETTING MORE EMOTIONS.
ONE DAY,
SHE DOES THE UNTHINKABLE.
I THOUGHT THE ANSWER
WAS SUICIDE.
SO I DID GET A KNIFE
AND TRY TO KILL MYSELF.
THEIR GRANDPARENTS
DON'T THINK THEY CAN HANDLE
MARIA'S CHALLENGES
AND SEND HER AWAY
TO A CHILDREN'S SHELTER.
MY SISTER WAS MY BEST FRIEND.
I DIDN'T EVEN GET
TO SAY GOOD-BYE.
DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
THE BOND
THAT TINA SHARED WITH HER SISTER
HAS BEEN RIPPED APART.
AND THAT KIND
OF EMOTIONAL TURMOIL
CAN HAVE LASTING EFFECTS
ON A CHILD
AND MAY MAKE IT HARDER FOR TINA
TO OPEN HER HEART TO OTHERS
IN THE FUTURE.
I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
DON'T TELL ME...
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
AS SHE ENTERS HER TEENAGE YEARS,
TINA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
HER GRANDFATHER DETERIORATES.
WELL, MY DAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
VERY, VERY STERN.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY STRICT.
I'M GOING TO SCHOOL TO...
WHEN TINA TELLS HIM
SHE WANTS TO BE A TEACHER,
HE SHOOTS DOWN HER DREAMS
IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE.
HE WAS VERY CRITICAL
AND TOLD ME THAT TEACHERS
DON'T MAKE THAT MUCH MONEY.
SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT
AND GET YOU SOMEWHERE.
- WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?
- BASKETBALL PRACTICE.
HE ALSO DISAPPROVES
OF HER SOCIAL LIFE.
YOU'VE GOT TO RAKE
THAT BACKYARD.
I WAS SUPER ACTIVE. I MEAN,
I PLAYED VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL.
HE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.
HE WANTED ME HOME
ON THE WEEKENDS.
IT WAS LIKE,
ONCE BOYS WERE IN THE PICTURE,
THAT'S WHEN HE WAS LIKE,
"OH, NO."
TINA'S SO OUTGOING.
SHE IS A SOCIAL CREATURE.
I COULD SEE
THAT COULD CAUSE FRICTION.
WHEN HIGH SCHOOL ENDS,
TINA'S EXCITED ABOUT HER FUTURE.
SHE'S PLANNING TO LIVE AT HOME
AND GO TO COLLEGE.
BUT HER GRANDFATHER
HAS A DIFFERENT PLAN.
ONCE I GRADUATED,
MY THINGS WERE PACKED.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
AND WHEN I GOT BACK
FROM THE CEREMONY...
IT'S TIME
FOR YOU TO LEAVE.
I WAS OUT OF THE HOUSE.
THIS IS TOTAL ****
AND YOU KNOW IT.
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
DO WE REALLY
HAVE TO DO THIS TODAY?
YES.
TINA'S GRANDPA
IGNORES HIS WIFE'S PROTESTS.
ARE YOU PROUD OF THAT?
HER WHOLE WORLD
COMES CRASHING DOWN.
NOW HOMELESS,
TINA MOVES IN WITH A FRIEND
AND TRIES TO SUPPORT HERSELF
WORKING TWO JOBS.
HER DREAMS OF GOING TO COLLEGE
ARE TEMPORARILY DASHED.
BUT THIS DETERMINED YOUNG WOMAN
ISN'T ABOUT TO GIVE UP.
SHE APPLIES FOR A WRITING
SCHOLARSHIP.
TINA SAW THAT HER SCHOLARSHIP
WAS HER WAY TO DO SOMETHING
BESIDES STAY IN A SMALL TOWN
AND WORK AT McDONALD'S.
TINA WINS HER WAY
BACK INTO SCHOOL.
AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY,
SHE STARTS WORKING
TOWARDS HER DEGREE
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
TINA WORKED HARD.
SHE WAS MOTIVATED.
THE SKY WAS THE LIMIT,
AND SHE WAS GOING AFTER IT.
BUT THERE WAS ONE
THING MISSING -
A MAN - UNTIL JAKE.
- HEY.
- HI.
HE BROUGHT A NEW AIR OF
LIGHT INTO MY LIFE.
HE WAS, LIKE, SUCH A GENTLEMAN.
AFTER JUST
A COUPLE OF DATES,
TINA AND JAKE ARE INSEPARABLE.
JAKE WAS VERY KIND,
VERY SWEET TO TINA,
ALWAYS LOOKED AFTER HER,
TOOK REALLY GOOD CARE OF HER.
HE JUST WORSHIPPED HER,
PRETTY MUCH.
TINA ALSO LOVES JAKE'S
TIGHT-KNIT, WELL-TO-DO FAMILY.
THEY WELCOME HER WITH OPEN ARMS.
JAKE SAID THAT HIS MOM
ALWAYS WANTED A DAUGHTER.
AND WHEN SHE TOLD ME HERSELF,
SHE'S LIKE,
"YOU'RE LIKE A DAUGHTER TO ME,"
THAT WAS AN AMAZING PEACE.
AFTER JAKE AND TINA HAVE BEEN
DATING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS,
HIS PARENTS
RENT THEM AN APARTMENT.
THEN, ACCORDING TO TINA,
ONE MORNING,
JAKE'S MOM
COMPLETELY CROSSES THE LINE.
I'M STILL UNDER THE SHEETS,
AND I'M, YOU KNOW,
IN MY BIRTHDAY SUIT.
GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE.
MORNING.
SHE WOULD COME
INTO THE BED.
LIKE, COME SIT ON THE BED?
COME SIT ON THE BED
AND LAY ON TOP OF THE COVERS.
AND I'M LIKE, "UH, HELLO?
DO YOU SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"
OKAY, YOU KIDS.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
HAVE A LOVELY MORNING.
HOPE YOU'RE GONNA
GET DRESSED AT SOME POINT.
HEY, LISTEN.
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH JAKE'S
MOTHER PUSHED TINA AWAY
'CAUSE IT WAS LIKE SHE
COULDN'T BE NUMBER ONE TO HIM.
IT WAS STILL HIS MOM
THAT WAS NUMBER ONE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHY THIS IS SURE A BIG DEAL.
- LOOK...
- DON'T LET YOUR MOM
COME IN THE BEDROOM
WHILE WE'RE BOTH NAKED!
MONEY IS ALSO AN ISSUE.
FOR GOD'S SAKES,
JAKE, GROW UP.
- I'M TRY-
- LET GO THE NIPPLE.
JAKE WAS DEFINITELY
A MAMA'S BOY.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS LATER.
I'VE GOT STUFF I'VE GOT TO DO.
HE'S GOT A MOM AND DAD
THAT CAN FINANCIALLY
SUPPORT HIM.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S HAVING
TO GET STUDENT LOANS
AND FOOD STAMPS.
THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE FOR TINA.
SHE'S REALLY WEIRD.
TINA WILL ALWAYS PLAY
SECOND FIDDLE TO JAKE'S MOM.
AND THE FACT THAT HIS PARENTS
ARE FOOTING THE BILLS
MEANS THAT
WHATEVER THEY SAY GOES.
WELL, THIS KIND OF MEDDLING
WILL ONLY SERVE TO DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN HER AND JAKE.
I DON'T WANT
US TO END ON BAD TERMS.
WE'RE GONNA SEPARATE.
WE'RE GONNA KIND
OF GO OUR OWN WAY.
AND WAS IT AMICABLE
WHEN YOU FINALLY ENDED IT?
THERE WAS ALWAYS
THAT THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE WE
COULD WORK IT BACK OUT.
BUT IF THIS IS THE WAY
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BEHAVE,
I CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WELL, FINE.
GO!
WITH JAKE'S HELP,
TINA FINDS A NEW PLACE TO LIVE.
WOW, McKENZIE.
YOU LOOK PRETTY.
HER ROOMMATE IS McKENZIE,
A FELLOW STUDENT
WHO'S ALSO A FRIEND
OF JAKE'S FAMILY.
I'M ACTUALLY RUNNING LATE.
UM, ARE YOU GONNA BE OKAY?
YEAH.
I'LL BE FINE.
ONCE SHE'S ALONE,
TINA STARTS THINKING ABOUT JAKE.
SHE'S TRYING TO FORGET HIM,
BUT SHE MISSES HIM DESPERATELY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS STILL,
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
THINKING, "WELL, LET ME
GIVE THIS ONE LAST GO ROUND."
SHE HEADS OVER TO JAKE'S PLACE,
HOPING TO REKINDLE THE ROMANCE.
JAKE, OPEN THE DOOR.
IT'S ME, TINA.
HE COMES, ANSWERS THE DOOR,
AND HE HAS ON JUST A PAIR
OF BASKETBALL SHORTS.
HIS SHIRT'S OFF.
HE'S LIKE, "OH," KIND
OF A SHOCKED LOOK ON HIS FACE.
TINA, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING HERE?
- I WANTED TO TALK.
- IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.
I - I...
WHY? WHAT'S GOING ON?
TINA GARDNER IS
A YOUNG COLLEGE CO-ED
WHO'S GOING
THROUGH A PAINFUL BREAKUP.
WE'RE JUST GOING
THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS.
SHE'S STILL IN LOVE
WITH HER EX-BOYFRIEND, JAKE,
AND SHOWS UP AT HIS DOORSTEP,
HOPING TO GET HIM BACK.
HEY, BABE.
TINA, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
AND FROM BEHIND THE SCREEN,
HERE COMES MY ROOMMATE.
I SEE WHY
IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.
SHE IS WEARING ONE
OF HIS JERSEYS AND NOTHING ELSE.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I GUESS HE HAD MOVED ON.
HOW CAN YOU
BETRAY ME LIKE THIS?
YOU HAVE NO SOUL.
I THOUGHT US
WAS OVER, OKAY?
TINA FEELS
COMPLETELY BETRAYED.
I WAS DEVASTATED BECAUSE I
WANTED THAT PICTURESQUE FAMILY.
YOU LOST ON THE BEST THING
YOU EVER HAD.
EVEN MORE THAN LOSING JAKE,
TINA IS GRIEVING THE LOSS
OF HIS FAMILY.
HER SEARCH FOR A RELATIONSHIP
GOES HAND IN HAND
WITH HER DESPERATE LONGING
FOR THE FAMILY
THAT SHE NEVER HAD GROWING UP.
TINA MOVES
OUT OF THE APARTMENT
SHE SHARES WITH MCKENZIE
THE NEXT DAY.
NOW BROKENHEARTED,
THE REST OF HER DREAMS
START FALLING BY THE WAYSIDE.
SHE STARTS PARTYING
TO DROWN HER SORROWS,
AND HER GRADES BEGIN FALLING.
I SAW THE CHANGE IN MY SISTER
FROM DOING REALLY WELL
TO STARTING TO SLIP.
THE GRADES, THE PARTYING,
ALL OF THAT STARTED JUST TO KIND
OF GET OUT OF CONTROL.
TINA ENDS UP
DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.
HER SISTER, MARIA, INVITES HER
TO VISIT HER IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.
I WAS A BARTENDER AT THE TIME
AT A GENTLEMEN'S CLUB.
MARIA THINKS SHE KNOWS
A WAY TO CHEER HER SISTER UP.
MY SISTER HAD SOMEONE
SHE WANTED ME TO MEET,
A WELL-TO-DO BUSINESSMAN.
YOU HAVE SOMEONE
THAT'S A BIG-TIME C. E. O.,
AND I WAS INTRIGUED BY THAT.
THIS IS MY BABY SIS, TINA.
HI.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
PLEASURE.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU
TO SOMEBODY WHO'S FUN,
WHO'S NOT LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING SERIOUS.
NICK IS JUST THE ESCAPE
TINA'S LOOKING FOR.
LITTLE BIT OF THIS HERE?
YEAH, SURE.
WHY NOT?
ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE MY KIND OF GIRL.
FIRST THING,
HE OFFERS ME A BUMP...
- MM.
- ...OF COCAINE.
LIKE, STRAIGHT OFF
THE PLANE?
STRAIGHT OFF THE PLANE.
OKAY.
WELCOME TO THE CITY.
LET'S GET IT ON.
LET'S PARTY.
- CHEERS.
- IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT.
- MM.
- I CAN TELL.
YOU KNOW,
I JUST KIND OF LET LOOSE.
WHY DON'T WE GET
OUT OF HERE?
TINA'S LAUNCHED
INTO THE STRATOSPHERE.
LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN.
NICK INVITES TINA
TO STAY AT HIS LAVISH HOME.
SHE FIGURES SHE HAS NOTHING
TO LOSE.
HE STARTS USING HER TO LIVE OUT
HIS WILDEST FANTASIES,
AND HE KEEPS THE COCAINE COMING.
HE PUT JEWELRY ON ME THAT WAS,
LIKE, EXTRAVAGANT.
BUT HE WANTED ME TO STRIP DOWN.
AND THEN, HE WOULD ORDER PIZZA
AND WANT ME TO GO
AND ANSWER THE DOOR IN MY HEELS
AND ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
ELOQUENT JEWELRY AND NUDE.
- $22.50.
- HELLO.
$22...
$22 - $22.50.
DID YOU SEE HIS FACE?
I BELIEVE
THAT TINA'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE CEO WAS VERY TOXIC.
THEY GOT INTO A, UM, BINGE
AND BOTH BECAME VERY DETACHED
FROM REALITY.
BUT AFTER
A MONTH OF PARTYING,
TINA SNAPS BACK INTO REALITY.
MY NOSE STARTS TO BLEED.
I'M GETTING SCARED.
JUST STARTED TO GET
A LITTLE CRAZY.
SHE JUST FINALLY SAID, "OKAY.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."
YOU KNOW, RUN.
TINA KNOWS SHE HAS
TO GET HER LIFE BACK ON TRACK
AND BUYS A PLANE TICKET
BACK HOME TO OREGON.
THAT'S WHEN FATE INTERVENES
IN THE FORM
OF A CHANCE ENCOUNTER
WITH A HANDSOME STRANGER.
I WAS WALKING
THROUGH THE AIRPORT,
AND I SEE THIS GIRL STANDING
AT THE MONITORS,
LOOKING
AT THE DEPARTING FLIGHTS.
AND I STOPPED AND JUST
ASKED HER HER NAME.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I'M TINA.
OH, ANDRE, VERY DEBONAIR,
VERY, UH, ASTUTE.
WELL, TINA, IT'S A PLEASURE.
MY NAME IS ANDRE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
PROUD BLACK MAN,
BRIEFCASE IN HAND,
YOU KNOW, LEATHER,
SQUARE-TIPPED SHOES.
YOU KNOW, JUST VERY CLASSY.
- WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO?
- I'M OFF TO...
ANDRE IS 30,
8 YEARS OLDER THAN TINA.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
- I USED TO MODEL.
- YEAH? OKAY.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS?
HE TELLS HER
ABOUT HIS LINE OF WORK
AS A BUSINESS CONSULTANT,
HELPING COMPANIES
SAVE MONEY ON TAXES.
- I LIKE THAT.
- I DO WHAT I CAN.
TINA IS INTRIGUED.
SHE'S A VERY ARTICULATE
PERSON, SHE'S VERY WELL SPOKEN.
SHE'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE PERSON
INSIDE AND OUT.
AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT
I SAW A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
- WELL, I HAVE TO GO.
- THAT'S FINE.
TINA WANTS
TO KNOW MORE,
BUT SHE'S GOT TO BOARD
HER PLANE.
GIVE ME A CALL.
HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT.
YOU, TOO.
HAVE A GOOD ONE.
FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS,
TINA AND ANDRE CHAT FOR HOURS
ON THE PHONE.
I MEAN, GROWING UP,
I HAD A HARD CHILDHOOD.
YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T EASY.
WE END UP BECOMING GOOD,
CLOSE FRIENDS.
I USED TO PLAY SPORTS
IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AT THE END
OF ONE OF THEIR CALLS,
ANDRE BOLDLY ASKS TINA TO MOVE
TO VEGAS TO WORK WITH HIM.
IS - IS - IS A CERTAIN KEY,
UH, A PARTNER.
I WAS EXPLAINING TO HER THAT I
WAS STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE.
AND IT WAS GOING
TO BE A ROUGH RIDE,
BUT I WAS GOING
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WHAT EXACTLY WOULD I BE DOING?
THE FACT THAT ANDRE
IS SUCCESSFUL AND OLDER
MAKES TINA EVEN MORE
INTRIGUED BY HIM.
AND IT DOESN'T HURT
THAT HE'S HANDSOME.
SHE WANTS A FATHER FIGURE
WHO WILL WORSHIP HER.
BUT THAT MAY COME
AT A VERY HEFTY PRICE.
NOTHING CRAZY.
THERE'S NO FUNNY STUFF GOIN' ON.
HE TOLD ME, "I HAVE A CONDO,
AND I WANT YOU TO COME
AND STAY WITH ME."
SURE.
I'LL BUY MY TICKET TODAY.
TINA DECIDES TO TAKE A
LEAP OF FAITH AND BOOKS HERSELF
A ONE-WAY TICKET TO LAS VEGAS.
I WILL SEE YOU SOON.
I WILL SEE YOU IN -
IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
TAKE CARE.
YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME,
WHAT DID YOU ENVISION?
WHAT DREAMS WERE
IN YOUR HEAD?
HE'S SAYING
ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS,
AND OF COURSE I HAD MINI
MANSIONS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
LIVING THAT
LAVISH LIFESTYLE.
TINA LANDS IN VEGAS,
EXCITED TO START HER NEW LIFE.
BUT WHEN SHE ARRIVES
AT ANDRE'S PLACE,
IT LOOKS LIKE HER DREAMS
OF A LAVISH LIFESTYLE
MAY ACTUALLY BE A NIGHTMARE.
OH, HELL NO.
MY NAME IS ANDRE.
HI. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M TINA.
22-YEAR-OLD
TINA GARDNER
HAS THROWN CAUTION TO THE WIND
BY EMBARKING ON AN ADVENTURE
WITH A MAN SHE BARELY KNOWS.
SURE.
I'LL BUY MY TICKET TODAY.
BUT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN
IN LAS VEGAS TO BE WITH HIM,
SHE GETS THE WELCOME RUG
PULLED OUT FROM UNDER HER.
OH, HELL NO.
AS WE ARE PULLING UP,
MY HEART IS RACING.
I CAN BARELY BREATHE.
I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH."
TINA'S CAB
DROPS HER AT A LOW-RENT MOTEL.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE'S THE CONDO?
WHERE'S THE POOL?
IS IT JUST
A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING?
OH, NO.
I'VE BEEN LIED TO.
TINA, HOW YOU DOING.
NOT TRUE AT ALL.
I WAS ACTUALLY STAYING
WITH A FRIEND AT THE TIME.
WELCOME.
AND I WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF MOVING.
SO I TOLD TINA ALL OF THIS
BEFORE SHE CAME OUT THERE.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
IT'S A MOTEL.
SHE KNEW WHAT
I WAS GONNA GO THROUGH
TO GET MY COMPANY SET UP.
AND LIKE I TOLD HER,
I WAS STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE.
IS THIS YOUR BUSINESS?
LOOK, TINA,
I WAS VERY CLEAR WITH YOU.
TINA WEIGHS HER OPTIONS.
IF SHE GOES BACK TO OREGON,
SHE HAS NO PROSPECTS.
AT LEAST HERE, SHE HAS A SHOT
AT A BETTER FUTURE.
I DON'T THINK
YOU WERE VERY CLEAR.
I STILL HAD A JOB.
THAT'S WHAT KEPT ME
HANGING ON.
EVEN THOUGH
THE BUBBLE OF HER FABULOUS
VEGAS LIFE HAS BURST,
TINA IGNORES HER INSTINCTS,
AND SHE STAYS WITH ANDRE.
ALL OF HER FAILURES IN THE PAST
HAVE RUINED HER CONFIDENCE.
SHE FEELS THAT SHE NEEDS
TO RELY ON HIM TO SAVE HER.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT
AND ONLY A SHOT.
OKAY.
THAT'S ALL I ASK FOR.
JUST GIVE IT A CHANCE.
MY BAG.
THE NEXT MORNING,
ANDRE TELLS TINA IT'S TIME
TO GET TO WORK.
HE'S RUN RADIO ADS PROMOTING
HIS TAX-SAVING BUSINESS,
AND SHE HAS TO FOLLOW UP
WITH ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CALLED IN.
HE HANDS A SCRIPT TO ME, SAYS,
"YOU NEED TO PRACTICE THIS,
AND WE'RE GONNA
GET ON THE PHONE."
IT'S REALLY SIMPLE,
REALLY EASY.
JUST HIT THESE FEW POINTS.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING -
WE'RE NOT GOING TO AN OFFICE?
THIS IS THE OFFICE.
SO WE'RE DOING THIS
OUT OF THE HOTEL.
UM, AND THEN,
JUST HOP ON THE PHONE.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED,
BUT I STUCK IT OUT.
I PRACTICED THE SCRIPT,
AND I BROUGHT IN A COUPLE DEALS.
FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS,
TINA AND ANDRE ARE JUST
SCRAPING BY FINANCIALLY.
BUT THE TOUGH TIMES
ONLY MAKE THEM GROW CLOSER.
WE STARTED FROM ZERO.
SO TINA AND I HAD TO DEPEND
ON EACH OTHER A LOT TO EAT,
KEEP THE BILLS PAID,
TO MAKE IT DAY TO DAY.
AND WE BECAME VERY CLOSE.
TINA WAS MY EVERYTHING.
SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND
AT ONE TIME.
SHE WAS MY PARTNER.
THE HARD WORK PAYS OFF.
PRETTY SOON, THE BUSINESS
TURNS A PROFIT.
OH, MY GOD.
I THINK YOU'VE EARNED IT.
WE WOULD HAVE OUR EXTREME,
UH, GREAT MOMENTS.
TINA CLAIMS THE COUPLE
STARTS RUBBING ELBOWS
WITH THE LAS VEGAS ELITE.
TO MAKING MONEY
AND SAVING IT.
AND MAKING SOME MORE.
YOU WERE OUT THERE
WITH BILLIONAIRES.
THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT -
THAT KEPT YOU GOING.
YOU FELT LIKE A ROCK STAR.
ABSOLUTELY.
BUT TINA'S BIG BREAK
IS SHORT-LIVED.
SO IT WAS LIKE THIS, UM, THIS -
A CYCLE, ABOUT A 3-MONTH CYCLE.
UP 3 MONTHS, DOWN 3 MONTHS.
NOTHING.
THIS TIME,
THEY BARELY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
TO EAT MEALS
OUT OF THE VENDING MACHINE.
WE GOT ONE LAST ONE.
ANDRE AND I ARE
SPLITTING DING DONGS FOR DINNER.
YOU WENT ALL IN,
AND NOW, THE COFFERS ARE DRY.
RIGHT.
CHEERS.
IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE 2004,
AND TINA'S BEEN IN VEGAS
FOR OVER A YEAR.
DON'T TOUCH ME!
YOU TOUCHED ME FIRST,
ALL RIGHT?
OH, I DID?
THE FINANCIAL
ROLLER COASTER
HAS BECOME UNBEARABLE.
TINA HEADS TO A LOCAL CASINO
TO BLOW OFF SOME STEAM...
AND GETS A TASTE
OF SIN CITY
THAT CATCHES HER COMPLETELY
OFF GUARD.
THE GENTLEMAN OVER THERE
WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN THEM.
THERE WAS TWO WOMEN
AND A GENTLEMAN.
I HAD CAUGHT THEIR EYE.
AND THEY'D ASKED ME
TO JOIN THEIR PARTY.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
I'M TINA.
THE MAN MAKES IT
CLEAR TO TINA
THAT HE'LL MAKE IT
WORTH HER WHILE
IF SHE HAS SOME ADVENTUROUS FUN
WITH HIM AND HIS PARTY PALS.
COME UPSTAIRS WITH ME?
SO YOU WENT BACK
TO THE ROOM...
YES.
AND ENGAGED IN A SHOW?
YES.
I WAS UP FOR IT.
I MEAN, THESE WOMEN WERE -
WERE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY JUST MADE IT SEEM,
LIKE, VERY NATURAL.
I COULD TELL AMERICA THAT,
YES, I KISSED A GIRL.
THE NEXT MORNING,
TINA HAS DOZENS OF MESSAGES
FROM ANDRE.
WHEN SHE GETS BACK
TO THEIR MOTEL,
SHE SHOWS ANDRE THE CASH
SHE EARNED.
I MAKE IT RAIN, BABY.
WHAT'D YOU DO
TO GET ALL THIS?
I MADE IT.
HE'S LIKE, "WELL,
WHERE'D YOU GET THIS MONEY?"
SOME GUY AT THE CASINO.
I HUNG OUT WITH HIM.
YOU DON'T GET PAID THIS MONEY
JUST TO HANG OUT.
- HE DOESN'T BELIEVE YOU.
- HE DOESN'T BELIEVE ME.
I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT HIGH ROLLERS.
NO, ARE YOU SERIOUS
RIGHT NOW?
ARE YOU GONNA START
DISRESPECTING ME?
- HOW'D YOU GET THIS MONEY?
- WAIT A MINUTE, CALM DOWN.
NO, DON'T TELL ME
TO CALM DOWN.
HE'S STARTING TO AMP UP,
AND HE'S SAYING,
"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU."
COULD YOU AT LEAST
LOOK AT ME?
ALL I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT
IS WHAT YOU DID.
I WAS BEING LIED
TO ABOUT CERTAIN ACTIVITIES
AND WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE,
BUT TINA WAS ACTUALLY GOING OUT
PROSTITUTING.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WHO'S SO IMPORTANT
THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN TALK TO ME?
ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT I
DID THE SHOW WITH TEXTED ME.
SHE SAID
THAT I WAS A GREAT KISSER,
AND SHE WOULD LOVE
TO SEE ME AGAIN.
WHEN ANDRE
SEES THE MESSAGES,
TINA CLAIMS HE HAS
A COMPLETE MELTDOWN.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?
THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
WE'RE HAVING A STRUGGLE
FOR THE PHONE.
THIS IS WHAT HANGING OUT
MEANS TO YOU?
ARE YOU SEARCHING
THROUGH MY PHONE?
I'M LOOKIN'
AT YOUR TEXT MESSAGES.
ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?
AS I'M, LIKE,
GRABBING FOR MY PHONE,
I - I SCRATCHED HIM,
HIT HIS FACE OR SOMETHING.
MY PHONE.
GIVE ME MY PHONE!
HER NAILS CAUGHT ME IN THE FACE,
AND IT MADE ME UPSET.
YEAH, AND I SMACKED HER.
- ANDRE, I'M -
- ARE YOU SERIOUS?
TINA SAYS IT WAS
MORE THAN A SMACK.
ANDRE, JUST CALM DOWN.
HE PUNCHES ME.
WHEN I FELT THE PAIN OF IT,
I WAS LIKE, "DID HE REALLY
JUST HIT ME?"
I WOULD NEVER PUT
MY HANDS ON HER FIRST.
BUT WHEN SHE HIT ME,
I WOULD HIT HER BACK.
YOU BETTER NOT
TOUCH ME AGAIN.
IT'S HARD TO SAY
WHO THE AGGRESSOR
IS IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.
MORE THAN LIKELY,
THEY'RE BOTH AT FAULT.
AND THEY FEED OFF
EACH OTHER'S EGOS.
WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH,
THEY'RE QUICK TO POINT
THE FINGER AT EACH OTHER
AND REFUSE TO OWN UP
TO THEIR OWN ANGER ISSUES.
WHEN TINA RETURNS
TO THE ROOM LATER THAT DAY,
ANDRE APOLOGIZES.
CAN I JUST TALK
TO YOU, PLEASE?
HE SAID THAT HE JUST
GOT IN A RAGE
BECAUSE I HAD LIED TO HIM.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SLAP YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I JUST -
I JUST CARE ABOUT YOU.
HE DID PULL ON HER
HEARTSTRINGS ALL THE TIME
AND SAY, YOU KNOW,
"NOBODY'S EVER LOVED ME."
IT HURTS, ALL RIGHT?
IT HURTS, SO I LOST MY COOL.
BUT I'M SORRY.
AND TINA, FROM BEING
FROM THE SAME THING,
NOT HAVING THAT SECURITY
OR THE LOVE OR AN APPROVAL
THAT SHE WAS SEEKING,
THEY FOUND THAT IN EACH OTHER
IN A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL WAY.
I PROMISE YOU,
I'LL NEVER HIT YOU AGAIN.
I JUST WANT YOU TO BE WITH ME.
I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE IN ME.
I WAS DETERMINED
TO MAKE THINGS WORK.
TINA AND ANDRE MAKE UP
IN A BIG WAY.
THINGS GET,
YOU KNOW, HEATED.
AND I END UP
CONCEIVING THAT NIGHT.
WHEN TINA
DISCOVERS SHE'S PREGNANT,
SHE HAS MIXED FEELINGS.
SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED A FAMILY
BUT ISN'T SURE
SHE WANTS ONE WITH ANDRE.
ANDRE, I'M PREGNANT.
WHEN SHE BREAKS THE NEWS TO HIM,
HE'S THRILLED.
YOU'RE PREGNANT?
TO SEE HIS EYES LIGHT UP
THAT HE WOULD BE A FATHER,
AND THEN WE'D TALK ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE FUTURE OF OUR FAMILY.
IS IT - IS IT A GIRL
OR A BOY?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST...
I TOLD MYSELF
THAT I'M GONNA MAKE IT WORK.
I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER I
CAN TO MAKE IT WORK.
NOT ONLY ARE
THEY THRILLED ABOUT THE BABY,
BUSINESS IS BOOMING.
AND THEIR LUCK HOLDS.
ANDRE'S WEALTHY FRIEND
INVITES THEM TO STAY
IN HIS UPSCALE HOME.
DID YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU HAD ARRIVED?
I FELT, "YES, THIS IS IT.
THIS IS IT."
ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?
ARE YOU - ARE YOU SERIOUS
RIGHT NOW, REALLY?
WE'RE AT MY
BEST FRIEND'S HOUSE.
- IT'S A SWIM SUIT.
- IT'S NOT A SWIM SUIT.
THAT'S - THAT'S -
THAT'S DENTAL FLOSS.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER,
BUT THERE'S STILL THIS ANGER...
I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA
BE A MOTHER, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
OH, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE
PLENTY OF LITTLE GIRLFRIENDS.
...THAT JUST DOESN'T GO AWAY
IN ANDRE.
HE'S PARANOID.
TINA WAS ALWAYS
CHEATING, I DIDN'T TRUST HER.
AND WHEN I QUIT TRUSTING TINA,
I HAD KEPT GIRLFRIENDS
ON THE SIDE AFTER THAT.
I DON'T HAVE GIRLFRIENDS,
ALL RIGHT?
ARE YOU GONNA -
ARE YOU GONNA CHANGE, OR WHAT?
TINA ALSO CLAIMS ANDRE
TIGHTENS HIS CONTROL OVER HER
BY CLAMPING DOWN
ON THE PURSE STRINGS.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU
GIVE ME MONEY ANYWAY.
LOOK, I'LL START
GIVING YOU MONEY
WHEN YOU START ACTING LIKE...
IT'S BEEN
A YEAR AND A HALF
SINCE TINA STARTED HELPING ANDRE
WITH HIS BUSINESS.
HEY, HONEY.
CAN WE TALK FOR A MINUTE?
ABOUT WHAT?
I WAS THINKING,
BUSINESS IS ESTABLISHED.
SHE DECIDES IT'S TIME
TO FULFILL HER DREAM
OF BECOMING A TEACHER.
NO, NO.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE A TEACHER.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LEAVE
THE BUSINESS.
- YOU'RE ALWAYS OFFENDING ME.
- THAT IS THE STUPIDEST IDEA
I'VE EVER HEARD
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I WANTED THAT SEPARATION
OF HOME AND WORK.
THE PRESSURE
OF TRYING TO KEEP THE BUSINESS
AFLOAT HAS ANDRE WOUND
TIGHTER THAN A DRUM.
ACCORDING TO TINA,
HER DESIRE TO SWITCH CAREERS
FEELS LIKE A SLAP
IN THE FACE TO HIM
AND HE COME COMPLETELY UNHINGED.
AND I'M PREGNANT.
YOU'RE ACTING CRAZY.
- I'M ACTING CRAZY?
- YES.
I'M ACTING CRAZY?
I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!
HE'S ABOUT
TO TEACH HER A LESSON
SHE'LL NEVER FORGET.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- YOU WANT CRAZY? HUH?
- ANDRE!
FOR MORE ON
HOW TINA'S DOING NOW,
GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.
TINA GARDNER
AND HER BOYFRIEND, ANDRE,
HAVE BEEN LOVERS AND BUSINESS
PARTNERS FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS
AND ARE EXPECTING
A CHILD TOGETHER.
NO, NO. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE
A TEACHER AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
ACCORDING TO TINA,
WHEN SHE TELLS ANDRE
SHE WANTS TO LEAVE THE BUSINESS,
HE GOES ON A RAMPAGE.
I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!
YOU HAD TO KEEP
RUNNING YOUR MOUTH.
AND HERE HE COMES AGAIN,
SO I OPEN THE WINDOW.
AND I'M STANDING OUT
ON THE LEDGE.
I HOPE YOU DIE.
SHE CLAIMS
THEIR HOST COMES HOME
AND SEES HER STANDING THERE.
THE GUY IS LIKE,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOIN', T?
ARE YOU TRYING TO BE CATWOMAN
OR SOMETHING?"
I WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED
THAT ANDRE
WAS GOING TO KILL MY SISTER.
I BELIEVED THAT HE WAS
THAT PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE
THAT IT WAS TO
THE POINT OF DEATH.
THAT'S SUCH A LIE.
THAT'S A LIE.
TINA'S A LIAR.
OH, MY GOD.
I'M CHASIN' HER AROUND
WITH A SHAVING BLADE,
PREGNANT WITH MY SON?
COME ON.
MY SON WAS THE WORLD TO ME.
I WOULDN'T DARE HARM A HAIR
ON HER HEAD.
A SHAVING BLADE?
I DON'T EVEN USE SHAVING BLADES.
I USE DISPOSABLE RAZORS.
ANDRE TELLS
A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING?
GOING OUT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
GOING OUT?
YOU'RE DRESSED LIKE A SLUT
RIGHT NOW.
OH, I'M DRESSED LIKE A -
- OH. OH.
- I'M DRESSED LIKE A SLUT?
SHE GOT MAD AT ME,
AND SHE JUMPED ON ME
AND ATTACKED ME
WHILE I WAS LAYIN' IN THE BED.
- LET GO OF ME.
- DO NOT GIVE ME A REASON, TINA.
- DO NOT GIVE ME A REASON.
- A REASON TO DO WHAT?
AND I STARTED FIGHTING
HER BACK, OF COURSE.
AND I THINK SHE WAS
OVER-DRAMATIZING.
- I MIGHT AS WELL KILL MYSELF!
- FINE, GO AHEAD.
- 'CAUSE YOU DON'T CARE.
- GO AHEAD!
- FINE!
- GO AHEAD. DO IT.
AND SHE GOT ON THE ROOF
OF THE HOUSE.
AND I LET THE WINDOW DOWN,
AND I WOULDN'T LET HER BACK IN.
ENJOY.
HAVE A GOOD RIDE.
ANDRE!
ANDRE.
ANDRE, LET ME IN.
JUST LIKE
THEIR PREVIOUS FIGHTS,
THEY KISS AND MAKE UP
LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENED.
TINA IS SO DESPERATE
FOR A FAMILY
THAT SHE WILL STAY WITH ANDRE
DESPITE THEIR VENOMOUS
RELATIONSHIP.
SHE GREW UP
WATCHING HER GRANDMOTHER STAND
BY HER GRANDFATHER,
EVEN WHEN HE WAS WRONG.
YOU STAND BY YOUR MAN,
NO MATTER WHAT.
ON OCTOBER 14, 2004,
TINA GIVES BIRTH
TO A LITTLE BOY.
FINALLY, HER DREAM OF HAVING
A FAMILY IS COMING TRUE.
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS,
THE COUPLE ARE ON CLOUD NINE
WITH THEIR NEW SON, D. J.
AND THE MOOD AT HOME
IS PEACEFUL AND LOVING.
THIS IS THE TIME SPAN
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP
WHERE HE DID NOT PUT HIS HANDS
ON ME.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE BABY.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME.
SO I WAS FEELING REALLY GOOD
ABOUT EVERYTHING.
WHEN D. J. IS 8 MONTHS OLD,
ANDRE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OPEN A NEW OFFICE,
AND THE COUPLE
MOVES TO DESTIN, FLORIDA.
WITHIN WEEKS, THE COMPANY
IS DOING SO WELL THAT TINA
AND ANDRE BUY AN UPSCALE HOME.
YES, HE IS.
I'M SO HAPPY.
MY LIFE IN FLORIDA WAS GREAT.
IT WAS WHERE I WANTED TO BE.
HI. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M TINA.
- MARK.
- NICE TO MEET YOU.
- HEY. HOW'S IT GOING?
- HOW YOU DOING?
IT WAS PROBABLY ONE
OF THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE.
BUT JUST MONTHS
AFTER THE MOVE,
THE COUPLE'S STORM CLOUDS
BREW ONCE AGAIN,
AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
ONE OF THE GUYS
AT THE END OF THE CUL-DE-SAC
WAS BRINGING DRUGS TO THE HOUSE.
ANDRE BELIEVES ONE
OF THEIR NEIGHBORS
HAS INTRODUCED TINA
TO METHAMPHETAMINES.
TINA?
TINA?
I COME HOME,
AND I OPEN UP THE BATHROOM DOOR.
I CATCH HER IN THE BATHROOM
LIGHTIN' UP AND SMOKING
CRYSTAL METH IN THE BATHROOM.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING
IN HERE?
SHE TRIES TO TAKE
THE CRYSTAL METH PIPE
AND BREAK IT IN THE BATHTUB.
SMOKING ICE IN HERE?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
- I'M CURLING MY HAIR.
- YOU'RE CURLING YOUR HAIR?
I'M CURLING MY -
DON'T SLAP ME!
TELL ME THE TRUTH.
TINA CLAIMS THE DRUGS
WERE THE NANNY'S AND NOT HERS.
I OPENED THE DOOR,
AND SHE HAD AN ICE PIPE.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
AND I WAS LIKE, "HOLY ****.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME."
DO YOU KNOW
WHAT MY BOYFRIEND WOULD DO?
AND HERE COMES ANDRE.
TINA?
TINA, WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
ALL I KNEW TO DO WAS
CLOSE THE DOOR, GRAB HER STUFF.
AND HE IS BUSTIN' IN THE DOOR.
AND ALL I COULD DO
WAS THROW THE PIPE.
HEY.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING
ON IN HERE?
HE SAW A PIECE OF IT AND JUST,
LIKE, LOST IT.
IS SHE - WAS SHE SMOKIN' METH?
ARE YOU SMOKIN' METH?
YES, MAYBE,
BUT I GOT THIS.
ARE YOU TRYING TO PROTECT
THE NANNY FROM HIS WRATH?
I'M TRYING TO PROTECT MYSELF
BECAUSE I KNOW, SOMEHOW,
SOME WAY,
HE'S GONNA BLAME ME.
YOU'RE SMOKING IT
WITH HER?
YOU'RE SMOKING IT WITH HER,
AREN'T YOU?
IN OUR HOUSE
WITH OUR SON?!
BY THE SUMMER OF 2006,
THIS ROMANCE HAS BEEN
RIPPED APART AT THE SEAMS.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS DOING
IN THE BATHROOM?
ANSWER ME.
MY NEIGHBORS
WERE TELLING ME
THAT THERE'S TRAFFIC
COMING IN AND OUT OF MY HOUSE,
THAT SHE APPEARS
TO BE USING DRUGS.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING, TINA?
CAN YOU LOOK AT ME?
ACCORDING TO ANDRE,
TINA IS NOT ONLY ABUSING DRUGS
BUT, ONCE AGAIN, HIS TRUST.
I WOULD FIND
THE NEIGHBOR'S BASEBALLS CAPS
AND STUFF IN MY BATHROOM.
HER AND MY NEIGHBOR
WERE HAVING SEX.
YOU'RE SCREWING MARK?
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
YOU'RE LOSING YOUR MIND.
DON'T DOWNPLAY THIS, TINA.
I'M NOT LOSING MY MIND.
WE WERE ARGUING BACK AND FORTH
ABOUT SOME UNBEKNOWNST PERSON
THAT I WAS SUPPOSEDLY
HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH.
YOU'RE SMOKING CRACK, AND YOU'RE
SCREWING THE NEIGHBOR.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
TINA CLAIMS SHE'S FED
UP WITH ANDRE'S HARASSMENT
AND REFUSES TO FIGHT WITH HIM.
HE TRIED TO GRAB MY ARM,
AND I SNATCHED MY ARM AWAY.
LET GO OF ME.
YOU'RE SO DAMN PARANOID.
GET OUT OF MY WAY.
AND HE GRABBED A KNIFE.
COME BACK!
WE'RE NOT DONE!
HE WAS CHASING AFTER ME
WITH A BUTCHER KNIFE.
TINA, DO NOT WALK
AWAY FROM ME.
27-YEAR-OLD
TINA GARDNER HAS BEEN
IN A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, ANDRE,
FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?
THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY?
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
BUT A FLOOD OF ACCUSATIONS
AND ABUSE
HAS CRESTED
TO A TERRIFYING TIDAL WAVE.
DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM ME!
ACCORDING TO TINA,
SHE RACES UP THE STAIRS,
DETERMINED TO NOT BECOME
A VICTIM OF ANDRE'S WRATH.
WHEN I GOT TO THE TOP
OF THE STAIRS,
I LOCKED MY SON IN HIS ROOM.
SOON AS I TURNED AROUND,
THERE WAS ANDRE.
AND ALL I SAW WAS THE KNIFE.
THAT'S WHAT
YOU'RE GONNA DO?
YOU'RE GONNA
DO THIS IN MY HOUSE?
GONNA MAKE ME DO THIS TO YOU,
RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
LOOK AT ME!
AND I THINK HE SAW THAT LOOK
IN MY EYES...
TINA.
BECAUSE HE WAS LIKE,
"OH, LET'S JUST TALK.
LET'S JUST TALK."
I COULDN'T HEAR THAT.
DON'T DO ANYTHING CRAZY, TINA.
STOP.
HE COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
AND I SAID, MM, IT WAS DONE.
TINA, STOP.
TINA, STOP.
TINA, STOP.
JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING CRAZY.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
STOP.
SHE SAID, "THAT'S ENOUGH.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE."
SHE SNAPPED.
HE MADE ME RUN, SO I WAS GONNA
MAKE HIM RUN FOR HIS LIFE.
YOU'RE HARD, HUH?
ANDRE KNOWS HE'S IN TROUBLE.
TINA, STOP IT!
TINA, STOP!
AAAAAH!
HE TRIES TO SLAM
THE BATHROOM DOOR,
BUT I PUT MY FOOT IN THE DOOR.
WHO'S HARD NOW?
TINA, STOP, PLEASE!
COME ON, TINA, STOP IT!
TINA, PLEASE.
AND ALL I DID WAS REACH AROUND,
LIKE THIS,
AND SLICE.
TINA!
YOU CUT ME!
SHE WAS SWINGING THAT KNIFE,
AND I KNEW SHE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME.
OH, MY GOD, YOU CUT ME!
****, TINA!
I CUT HIS ARM ALL THE WAY
UP UNDER HIS BICEP.
AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS,
"OH, MY GOD!
I'M BLEEDING."
- OH, MY GOD.
- TINA! AH!
- YOU CUT ME!
- I THOUGHT I HIT BONE.
YOU CUT ME!
OH, MY GOD.
****!
OH, MY GOD!
I DON'T EVEN REALIZE
SHE WAS CUTTING ME AT THE TIME
UNTIL I STARTED
SEEING ALL THE BLOOD.
YOU CUT ME!
I'M GONNA GET
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
I THINK THE MOST
SHOCKING PART
ABOUT AFTER I CUT HIM WAS SEEING
THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD.
- AAH!
- OH!
TINA TRIES
TO STOP THE BLEEDING.
IT'S LIKE,
"I DIDN'T KNOW I CUT YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW I CUT YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW I DID THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW."
ALTHOUGH TINA CLAIMS
SHE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE,
ANDRE CLAIMS SHE PULLED A KNIFE
ON HIM WITH THE INTENT TO KILL.
WHAT DID YOU DO?
REALLY?
I HAD WALKED DOWNSTAIRS,
AND I WAS RAISING HELL WITH HER.
YOU'RE GONNA SCREW
THE NEIGHBOR?
SO WHAT IF I SCREW
THE NEIGHBOR?
SO WHAT? YOU'RE THE MOTHER
OF MY CHILD.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?
REALLY?
AND SHE JUST PULLED THE KNIFE
OUT RIGHT THERE,
PUT THE KNIFE IN MY FACE AND WAS
JUST LIKE, "I'M TIRED OF YOU."
I AM TIRED
OF YOUR ****!
WAIT, WAIT, TINA.
TINA, OKAY.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
SHE'S JUST RAMBLING ON.
AND IT'S THIS LOOK
AND THIS GLAZE IN HER EYES
LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY.
TINA, OKAY.
OH, YOU WANT TO SEE
A WASHED-UP BEAUTY QUEEN?
I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD.
SHE IS GONNA TRY
TO KILL ME TODAY."
- STOP.
- YOU WANT TO SEE CRAZY?!
I START TO RUN FROM HER
AND RUN UP THE STAIRS,
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE CHASED ME
UP THE STAIRS.
I'LL SHOW YOU
CRAZY, ANDRE.
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
I'M A WHORE?
AAAAAH!
DON'T DO THIS.
AAH!
****!
YOU CUT ME!
AAH! YOU CUT ME!
WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHO
THE ORIGINAL AGGRESSOR WAS HERE.
BUT THE FACT
REMAINS THAT TINA GOT THE KNIFE
AND WENT AFTER ANDRE.
SHE COULD HAVE GRABBED THE KNIFE
AND RUN AWAY.
BUT INSTEAD,
SHE WENT ON THE ATTACK.
YOU CUT ME!
AFTER THE STABBING,
ANDRE IS AFRAID,
IF HE CALLS THE POLICE,
THEY'LL BREAK UP THEIR FAMILY.
THEN WE BOTH
CALMED DOWN, LIKE,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, TINA?
THIS IS STUPID.
AND I NEED
TO PROTECT YOU AND D. J.
I DO NOT WANT MY SON
AND I GETTING SPLIT UP,"
'CAUSE I FELT LIKE EVERYTHING
WAS GONNA BE AGAINST ME ANYWAY,
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
SO LISTEN.
LISTEN.
SO ANDRE
COMES UP WITH A PLAN.
HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WE'RE GONNA GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.
WE'RE GONNA TELL THEM THAT I -
I TRIED TO FIX A LIGHT.
WE CAN'T TELL THEM
THAT SORT OF THING!
SHUT UP! SHUT UP,
TINA, SHUT UP!
WE DON'T HAVE
ANY OTHER CHOICE.
TINA DRIVES ANDRE
TO THE HOSPITAL,
WHERE HE'S GIVEN 24 STITCHES.
I'M SO SORRY.
I DID NOT MEAN TO.
THE DOCTOR SAID,
ANOTHER HALF A CENTIMETER,
IT WOULD HAVE HIT
MY MAIN ARTERY.
CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA
OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
'CAUSE...
TINA AND ANDRE
ARE BOTH QUESTIONED.
I TOLD HIM
I JUST FELL ON THE KNIFE.
THERE WAS A LIGHT
THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.
THE ONLY THING I COULD FIND
AT THE TIME WAS A KNIFE.
SO I TRIED TO UNSCREW IT,
AND I - I SLIPPED.
IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT
TO ME, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THEY STICK
TO THE SAME SCRIPT.
AND HE FELL ON THE KNIFE.
EVEN THOUGH DOCTORS
SUSPECT THE TWO ARE LYING,
THEY DON'T CALL THE POLICE
AND LET THEM GO HOME.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
TINA AND ANDRE
DECIDE TO SEPARATE.
ANDRE STAYS IN FLORIDA,
AND TINA AND HER SON, D. J.,
GO TO STAY WITH HER SISTER,
MARIA, IN OKLAHOMA.
THANK GOD TINA
IS NOT WITH ANDRE ANYMORE.
I AM VERY THANKFUL
THAT SHE IS FINALLY RECOVERING
FROM THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SINCE THE INCIDENT,
ANDRE'S BUSINESS HAS COLLAPSED,
AND HE'S STRUGGLING
TO REBUILD HIS LIFE.
HE AND TINA
ARE NO LONGER IN CONTACT.
- YOU'RE ACTING CRAZY?
- I'M ACTING CRAZY?
- YES.
- I'LL SHOW YOU CRAZY!
MY LIFE WITH TINA WAS HELL.
TINA IS VERY MANIPULATIVE,
DECEITFUL.
ALL SHE CARES ABOUT IS HER.
SHE DOESN'T CARE
ABOUT TELLING LIES.
IS THIS WHAT YOU DO?
IS THIS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY?
I REGRET CHOOSING
TO BE WITH HER.
IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST MISTAKES
I EVER COULD HAVE MADE
IN MY LIFE.
TINA SAYS SHE HAS
TURNED HER LIFE AROUND.
SHE'S ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED
AND HAS STARTED
HER OWN CONSULTING BUSINESS.
BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING
I'VE BEEN THROUGH,
I THINK THAT I AM A STRONG,
EDUCATED,
WORLDLY, WISE WOMAN NOW.
GIVE ME A REASON, TINA.
DO NOT GIVE ME A REASON.
A REASON TO DO WHAT?
AS FAR AS REGRETS GO,
I HAVE NONE.
IT STARTED WITH LIES AND DECEIT,
AND IT CAME TO THE POINT
OF A KNIFE.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT ENDED.