Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 6 - The Quiet Storm - full transcript

A SHY GIRL'S SHELTERED LIFE

SPLITS WIDE OPEN WHEN
SHE'S FORCED TO GROW UP FAST.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
I'M RIGHT HERE NEXT TO YOU.

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT
THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT,

I WAS TERRIFIED.

WHEN THE ONE THING SHE
LOVES MOST IS TAKEN FROM HER,

SHE NEARLY FALLS APART.

I MISS MY KIDS EVERYDAY.

SHE NEEDS A KINDRED SPIRIT...

I THINK HE WAS JUST LOOKING
FOR SOME SORT OF HAPPINESS.

...BUT WHEN HIS DEMONS
EMERGE, SHE HAS TO CHOOSE...



WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

HE TOTALLY TURNED INTO
SOMEONE ELSE.

...RUN OR FIGHT.

SHE WAS JUST LIKE A PSYCHO.

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

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

16-YEAR-OLD TAMARA QUINCY
IS STARTING HER FIRST YEAR

AT A NATIVE AMERICAN
BOARDING SCHOOL IN OREGON.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE SHY
TEEN'S BEEN AWAY FROM HOME.

FROM ALASKA
TO WASHINGTON TO MONTANA,

LOT OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS
WENT TO SCHOOL THERE.

I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

TAMARA GREW UP
ON A TINY RESERVATION

IN A RURAL MONTANA, 40 MILES
FROM THE CLOSEST TOWN.



OVERWHELMED
BY SO MANY NEW FACES,

TAMARA FEELS LUCKY
THAT HER OLDER SISTER

IS ALSO AT THE SCHOOL.

SHE INTRODUCES TAMARA
TO HER FRIENDS.

INCLUDING A HANDSOME YOUNG MAN
NAMED LEO.

HEY, LEO.

COME HERE.

HEY.
THIS IS MY SISTER, TAMMY.

I'M LEO.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

SHE'S A LITTLE BIT SHY.

CAN YOU SHOW HER AROUND CAMPUS?

YEAH, I'D LOVE TO.
YEAH? AWESOME.

WELL, HAVE A GOOD TIME.
YEAH, SURE. BYE.

UM, SO ARE YOU FREE
AROUND LUNCHTIME?

OKAY.
YEAH?

YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU THEN.
OKAY.

LATER.
BYE.

LEO AND TAMARA CLICK INSTANTLY.

HE WAS JUST
A REALLY NICE PERSON.

OUTGOING, FRIENDLY,
HE WAS VERY KINDHEARTED.

WHAT DO YOU CALL A COW
WITH NO LEGS?

LEO IS DRAWN TO
TAMARA'S QUIRKY SENSE OF HUMOR.

GROUND BEEF.

SHE TOLD BAD JOKES.

YOU KNOW, SHE TRIED TO BE FUNNY.

THAT'S THE WORST JOKE
I'VE EVER HEARD.

I PLAYED ALONG WITH THEM.

WE GOT ALONG REALLY WELL
AND JUST, KIND OF, HIT IT OFF.

I ALWAYS FIGURE I'D
GO INTO FISHING ONE DAY.

LEO HAILS FROM
A FAMILY OF COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN

IN WASHINGTON STATE AND ALSO
GREW UP ON A RESERVATION.

THE TWO RELATE
TO THEIR SIMILAR UPBRINGINGS

AND SOON BECOME INSEPARABLE.

SHE WAS REALLY HONEST TO ME.

SHE SAID
WHAT WAS ON HER MIND,

AND THAT'S
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT HER.

SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

AND LIKE MANY
CLOSE TEENAGE FRIENDSHIPS,

TAMARA AND LEO SHARE MORE
THAN JUST SECRETS.

WE'D BREAK THE RULES,

AND WE WOULD SNEAK OUT
AND MEET AFTER HOURS.

WHEN THEY'RE CAUGHT,

THEY'RE REPRIMANDED
BY ONE OF THE TEACHERS.

I CAN RECALL
HIM SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW,

"IF YOU GUYS KEEP THIS UP,
YOU'RE GONNA WIND UP PREGNANT."

I CAN REMEMBER HER LAUGHING.

WE WERE YOUNG AT THE TIME,
YOU KNOW, 17, SO WE DIDN'T CARE.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

TAMARA IS A SHELTERED,
NAIVE GIRL WHO HAS NOT HAD

VERY MUCH EXPOSURE TO THE WORLD
OUTSIDE OF HER RESERVATION.

NOW THAT SHE'S AWAY FROM HOME,

SHE'S ABLE
TO ASSERT HER INDEPENDENCE.

BUT SHE'S ALSO PRONE
TO MAKING SOME VERY BAD CHOICES

THAT COULD SHATTER
HER INNOCENT VIEW OF THE WORLD.

A FEW MONTHS LATER,
AT THE START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER,

TAMARA WAKES UP TOO SICK
TO GO TO CLASS.

I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD,
I WAS GETTING REALLY SICK.

DON'T WORRY,
YOU'RE NOT SICK.

BUT, IT'S NOT A STOMACH
BUG THAT SHE'S SUFFERING FROM.

YOU'RE PREGNANT.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT
WHEN THEY TOLD YOU THE NEWS?

I START CRYING AND I TOLD HIM,
I WAS REALLY SCARED.

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT
THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT,

I WAS TERRIFIED.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
I'M RIGHT HERE NEXT TO YOU.

WE WERE BOTH YOUNG,
AND WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BUT HE WAS SUPPORTIVE ABOUT IT.

AND HE SAID
HE'D BE THERE FOR ME.

TAMARA'S PARENTS
ARE STRICT CATHOLICS,

AND SHE KNOWS
THEY'LL BE FURIOUS.

Hello?
HI, MOM.

Hi, sweetie.

I HAVE SOMETHING
TO TELL YOU.

I'M PREGNANT.

SHE JUST SAID
THAT SHE'S WASN'T HAPPY

ABOUT ME BEING PREGNANT,
AND I NEED TO GO HOME...

This is a disaster.

I'M SORRY.

...'CAUSE I PRETTY MUCH
EMBARRASSED HER.

HER MOTHER WAS TRYING
TO BE STRICT WITH HER.

SHE WANTED TO MAKE APPEARANCE
TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND TAMMY JUST KIND OF
DISAPPOINTED HER.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT
GOING BACK HOME TO MONTANA?

I DIDN'T WANT TO.

AND YOU HAD TO DROP OUT
OF SCHOOL?

YES.

WHEN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

HEAR ABOUT TAMARA'S PREGNANCY,
THEY EXPEL LEO.

THE SOON-TO-BE FATHER
HAS A CHOICE TO MAKE -

RETURN TO HIS FAMILY
IN WASHINGTON

OR JOIN TAMARA IN MONTANA.

WE DECIDED
THAT I WAS GONNA GO

AND STAY WITH HER
AND HER FAMILY.

HI.

LEO.

TAMARA'S PARENTS ARE RELIEVED

THAT LEO'S STEPPING UP
TO THE PLATE,

BUT THEY MAKE IT CLEAR

THEY'RE NOT HAPPY
ABOUT THE COUPLE'S DECISION

TO HAVE A BABY
OUT OF WEDLOCK.

COME ON IN.
YOUR ROOM'S IN THE BACK.

THEY HAD PUT US
TWO DOUBLE BEDS IN THERE.

THEY TRIED
TO KEEP US SEPARATED.

WERE YOU THINKING THAT YOU
MIGHT WANT TO BE WITH THIS GUY

FOR THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE?

NO.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAY.

I WAS TOO YOUNG.

MY PLAN WAS JUST TO TRY
TO FINISH OUT SCHOOL

AND MOVE
OFF THE RESERVATION.

SO I CAN GO TO COLLEGE.

BUT, FOR NOW,
THE YOUNG COUPLE MAKES THE BEST OF THINGS.

THOSE BEDS
WERE EVENTUALLY PUSHED TOGETHER

AND PULLED APART EVERY DAY,
OF COURSE.

EVEN THOUGH LEO'S WILLING

TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE BABY,

HE ISN'T READY
TO CALL MONTANA HOME.

IMMEDIATELY,
I KNOW I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

I KNEW THAT THAT'S NOT
WHERE I WANTED TO BE.

WHAT I WANTED TO BE
WAS A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN,

AND I WASN'T ANYWHERE
NEAR ANY WATER IN MONTANA.

AT THE END OF THE SUMMER,

TAMARA GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY
THEY NAME MARK.

WAS YOUR FAMILY
KIND OF OVER THE EMBARRASSMENT?

OH, YEAH,
THEY SPOILED HIM.

AND THEY
HELPED ME OUT A LOT WITH HIM.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE
THRILLED WITH THEIR NEW GRANDSON,

TAMARA'S PARENTS
ARE STILL DETERMINED

TO SEE THE YOUNG COUPLE
TIE THE KNOT.

SHE WOULD LOOK GREAT
IN THAT.

I JUST REMEMBER
THEY WERE PLANNING A WEDDING,

AND I SAID,
"I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED,"

AND THEY SAID, "YES YOU ARE."

I DON'T WANT
TO GET MARRIED.

I SAID I WAS TOO YOUNG.

YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

BUT IT WAS SET UP ANYWAY.

SO, THEY PRETTY MUCH TOLD YOU
YOU HAD TO GET MARRIED?

MM-HMM, 'CAUSE
THAT'S THE CATHOLIC WAY.

DESPITE THEIR HESITATIONS,
AFTER A CASUAL CEREMONY,

LEO AND TAMARA
SETTLE INTO MARRIED LIFE.

OH, MY WEDDING DAY,
I WAS NERVOUS.

YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

COULDN'T EVEN SAY MY VOWS.
MY DAD WAS SAYING THEM FOR ME.

EVEN THOUGH THEY
WEREN'T GUNG HO ABOUT MARRIAGE,

THEY'RE VERY MUCH IN LOVE.

I BELIEVED, AT THE TIME,

THAT I WAS GONNA BE WITH HER
THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I THOUGHT WE'RE GONNA
BE TOGETHER FOREVER.

THAT'S THE WAY
I FELT AT THE TIME.

I LOVED HER,
AND I KNOW SHE LOVED ME.

BUT LIFE ON THE RURAL
RESERVATION IS ROUGH FOR LEO.

MOST JOBS GO TO THE PEOPLE
IN THE LOCAL TRIBE,

AND THE YOUNG FATHER STRUGGLES
TO FIND ANYTHING STABLE.

I WORKED
ON A PIG FARM FOR A WHILE,

AND THAT WAS REALLY HARD WORK,

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS
BASICALLY THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY

OF WORK I HAD OVER THERE.

BEING FORCED INTO A MARRIAGE
IS NOT A GUARANTEE

OF A HAPPILY EVER AFTER
FOR TAMARA AND LEO.

THEY'RE STILL KIDS.

BUT THEY'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING
WITH THE GROWN-UP CHALLENGE

OF JUST TRYING
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND ONCE ALL THAT PUPPY LOVE
WEARS OFF, THIS RELATIONSHIP

IS GOING TO FACE
SOME VERY SERIOUS OBSTACLES.

LATE SPRING IS THE START
OF FISHING SEASON IN WASHINGTON.

DETERMINED TO FOCUS
ON HIS FISHING CAREER,

LEO LURES TAMARA
TO THE WEST COAST.

I TOLD HER
THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON ME

MAKING ANY SORT OF MONEY,
AND SHE DID AGREE.

IN WASHINGTON,
THE COUPLE MOVES IN WITH LEO'S PARENTS.

WHILE HIS FAMILY
LOOKS AFTER THEIR SON,

BOTH QUICKLY FIND JOBS
IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

I START WORKING
AT A FISH HATCHERY.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE
THE KIND OF WORK YOU WERE DOING?

IT'S CALLED
SPOONING FISH.

YOU JUST OPEN THEM,
AND YOU SPOON ALL THE GUTS

AND EVERYTHING OUT OF IT
AND JUST MOVE IT DOWN THE LINE.

IT'S NOT GLAMOROUS
WORK, BUT IT'S A DECENT LIVING.

LEO'S FINALLY WORKING
AS A FISHERMAN.

BUT IT MEANS HE'S OUT AT SEA
FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.

WHAT IS IT, BABE?

IT'S ONLY GONNA BE
FOR A COUPLE WEEKS.

WE HAD SOME STABILITY.

I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS IS
WHERE BOTH OF US WERE GONNA

STAY THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

BUT SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS

IS ABOUT TO SHATTER
THE NEWLYWED'S PLANS

FOR THEIR FUTURE.

I TRIED TO GIVE HER
AN ULTIMATUM.

19-YEAR-OLD TAMARA
QUINCY AND HER HUSBAND, LEO,

ARE LIVING A SIMPLE BUT PEACEFUL
EXISTENCE IN WASHINGTON STATE.

BUT SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS

IS ABOUT TO CATAPULT THEIR LIVES
INTO CHAOS.

AFTER MONTHS
OF WORKING IN A FISH FACTORY,

TAMARA IS SUDDENLY REVOLTED
BY THE SMELL.

SO, ONE DAY YOU'RE ON THE
CONVEYER BELT LINE SPOONING FISH

AND YOU FEEL SICK?
YEAH.

BUT THE SMELL OF FISH
NEVER MADE YOU SICK BEFORE?

NO.

AND WHAT WAS IT?

IT WAS BEING PREGNANT.

WHAT'S UP, BABE?

I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME
'CAUSE I'M ON BREAK.

THIS TIME,
LEO'S NOT SO SUPPORTIVE.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA
THAT I WAS PREGNANT AGAIN

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
WE WERE STILL YOUNG.

AND THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER CHILD
TO TAKE CARE OF.

WHEN SHE TOLD ME
THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT AGAIN,

I REMEMBER THAT I WAS MORE
OF A "OH, NO," TYPE THING.

WE'RE STRUGGLING
WITH ONE KID.

HOW ARE WE GONNA
MAKE IT HAPPEN WITH TWO?

BUT LEO HAS
A DEEPER REASON FOR BEING UPSET

SINCE HE'S BEEN AWAY AT SEA.

HOW DO I EVEN KNOW
IT'S MINE, HUH?

HE TRIED TO SAY IT WASN'T HIS.

HE WAS TRYING TO SAY
IT WAS SOME OTHER GUY'S.

I NEVER EVEN
HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP.

AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT,

I GUESS I COUNTED UP THE MONTHS

AND REALIZED THAT MAYBE
I'M JUST BEING A BUTT.

I KNOW
THAT HURT HER A LOT.

I'M SORRY, OKAY?

LOOK, WE'LL MAKE IT WORK.

LEO QUICKLY COMES AROUND,

BUT HIS ACCUSATION DOES SERIOUS
DAMAGE TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

SEE YOU LATER.

AGAINST LEO'S WISHES,

TAMARA DECIDES TO MOVE BACK HOME
TO MONTANA TO HAVE THE BABY.

SHE TAKES THEIR SON,
MARK, WITH HER.

LEO STAYS BEHIND IN WASHINGTON.

IN MY HEAD, I JUST THOUGHT THAT,

"YOU JUST NEED TO STAY HERE

BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
BACK THERE.

YOU WON'T FIND A JOB.
YOU WON'T FIND NOTHING."

HEY.
HI, LEO.

SEPARATED BY 700 MILES,

THE COUPLE'S ALREADY FRAGILE
RELATIONSHIP DISINTEGRATES.

I WANTED TO KNOW
IF YOU WERE GONNA BE HERE

WHEN THE BABY IS BORN.

WELL, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
JUST A SEPARATION FOR A WHILE.

YOU KNOW I CAN'T LEAVE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON.

I TRIED TO GIVE HER
AN ULTIMATUM.

AT LEAST HERE,
YOU CAN FIND WORK, YOU KNOW?

WE CAN'T DO THIS.

AND I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT
THROUGH HER EYES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS
IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, OKAY?

SIX MONTHS AFTER MOVING HOME,

TAMARA GIVES BIRTH
TO ANOTHER BABY BOY.

SHE NAMES HIM TROY.

I think the kids
should stay with me.

ONE YEAR LATER,
LEO FILES FOR DIVORCE.

IT'S - IT'S PROBABLY
FOR THE BEST.

THE SPLIT IS AMICABLE.

BYE.

BYE.

I WANTED HER TO BE HAPPY,

AND APPARENTLY BEING WITH ME
WASN'T MAKING HER HAPPY.

TAMARA'S HEARTBROKEN.

BUT SHE DECIDES
TO BURY HER HEARTACHE

AND FOCUS ON HER FUTURE
AND GETTING HER G. E. D.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A NURSE,

TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE
WHO WERE SICK OR HANDICAPPED,

AND THAT WAS ALWAYS MY DREAM.

OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

TAMARA HAS A THIRD CHILD
FROM A CASUAL FLING,

A DAUGHTER SHE NAMES SALLY.

SHORTLY AFTER THE BIRTH,
TAMARA MAKES A BOLD DECISION.

AGAINST HER MOM'S WISHES,

SHE AND HER KIDS
MOVE TO A TOWN 80 MILES AWAY,

WHERE SHE ENROLLS
IN A NURSING PROGRAM

AND QUICKLY FINDS A NIGHT JOB
AT A NURSING HOME.

IT'S HER FIRST TIME LIVING ALONE
AND SUPPORTING HERSELF,

AND IT'S NOT EASY.

KIDS, I'M HOME.
TIME TO GET READY FOR SCHOOL.

I'D GO ON SHIFT
ABOUT 10:00 AT NIGHT.

AND GET OFF ABOUT -

I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 6:00
OR SOMETHING IN THE MORNING,

ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE IT HOME
TO GET MY KIDS UP FOR SCHOOL.

THREE KIDS AND WORKING FULL-TIME

AND TRYING TO GO TO COLLEGE
AROUND YOUR WORK HOURS.

YEAH.

THAT WOULD CRACK
THE BEST OF PEOPLE.

OH, YEAH,
IT WAS A STRUGGLE.

THEN I'D SLEEP, AND BY THE TIME
MY KIDS GOT HOME,

I'D TRY TO GET UP

SO I COULD DO THEIR HOMEWORK
AND FEED THEM.

HOW YOU DOING?

DESPITE HER HECTIC SCHEDULE,

TAMARA EXCELS BOTH AT SCHOOL
AND AT HER NEW JOB.

I LOVED IT.
I WAS DOING REALLY WELL.

MY TEACHERS
WERE VERY PLEASED WITH ME

BECAUSE I WAS
AN "A," "B" STUDENT.

IT WILL MAKE
YOU FEEL MUCH BETTER.

SHE WAS ALWAYS GOOD
AT WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

ANY KIND OF JOB SHE HAD,
SHE WAS ALWAYS GOOD AT IT.

IT'S GREAT THAT TAMARA IS
FINALLY FOCUSING ON HER FUTURE,

BUT SHE'S ALSO
BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

AND NO MATTER HOW HARD
SHE TRIES TO MAKE IT WORK,

TAMARA IS NOT DOING HERSELF
OR HER KIDS ANY FAVORS

BY SHOULDERING
THIS BURDEN ALL ALONE.

BUT BY SUMMER, THE PRESSURE
OF BALANCING WORK, SCHOOL,

AND FAMILY STARTS TAKING A TOLL
ON TAMARA AND THE CHILDREN.

STARTED REALLY AFFECTING
THEIR HOMEWORK

AND ALSO THEIR EATING HABITS.

I HAD FOOD ALL THE TIME,
I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO COOK.

TAMMY, WAKE UP.

MOM.

MONEY IS TIGHT,

AND HER MOM MAKES TAMARA
AN OFFER SHE CAN'T REFUSE.

I THINK IT'S TOO MUCH
FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

WHY DON'T YOU LET THE KIDS COME
WITH ME FOR THE SUMMER?

SHE SAID, "WELL, I'VE
COME UP HERE TO HELP YOU OUT,

SO YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE A BABYSITTER."

SAID, "OH, OKAY."
AND I THOUGHT,

THEY WERE GONNA GO HAVE
A GOOD SUMMER OUT THERE

WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AT
HOME ALL THE TIME WHILE I WORK.

AS MUCH AS TAMARA HATES
THE IDEA OF BEING AWAY FROM HER KIDS,

IT'S A RELIEF.

BUT, JUST A FEW DAYS LATER,
TAMARA GETS SOME NEWS

THAT SENDS HER LIFE
CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL.

AFTER NEARLY CAVING
UNDER THE PRESSURE

OF RAISING THREE KIDS
ON HER OWN,

TAMARA QUINCY THINKS
HER PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED

WHEN HER MOM OFFERS TO TAKE THEM
FOR THE SUMMER,

BUT, JUST A FEW DAYS LATER,
SHE RECEIVES

AN UNEXPECTED LETTER FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SERVICES

THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

GET A LETTER FROM THE DFS
STATING THAT SOMEBODY

WAS MAKING REMARKS
THAT I WASN'T A GOOD MOM,

THAT I WASN'T
TAKING CARE OF MY KIDS,

AND I WAS DRINKING A LOT.

TAMARA CAN'T IMAGINE
WHO WOULD HAVE FILED THE REPORT.

SO, I WENT UP
TO THE DFS DEPARTMENT,

AND I WENT IN THERE, AND I JUST
START TALKING TO THIS LADY,

AND I SAID,
"WHO WOULD DO SUCH A THING?"

DO YOU KNOW
AN ANNETTE QUINCY?

THAT'S MY MOTHER.

WELL, SHE'S THE ONE
THAT MADE THE REPORT ON YOU.

EXCUSE ME,
I HAVE TO TAKE THIS CALL.

TAMARA'S DUMBFOUNDED.

HELLO, DFS. THIS IS ROSE.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

SHE CALLS HER MOM
DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION.

HELLO?

HOW COULD YOU TAKE
AWAY OF MY KIDS?!

TAMMY.
TAMMY, CALM DOWN.

SHE SAID,
"'CAUSE YOU NEEDED HELP.

I GOT CUSTODY OF THEM, AND IF
YOU COME ON THE RESERVATION,

I WILL HAVE THE COPS
PICK YOU UP."

EVERY TIME I SEE YOU,
YOU'RE DRUNK.

IS THAT TRUE?
WERE YOU DRINKING A LOT?

NO, I DIDN'T
HAVE TIME TO DRINK.

AND SO, I MEAN,
THAT'S WHAT REALLY UPSET ME.

BUT OTHERS WHO KNOW TAMARA CLAIM

SHE'S PRONE
TO HITTING THE BOTTLE.

SHE DRANK A LOT.

I WOULDN'T SAY BLACKOUT DRUNK,
BUT I WOULD SAY DRUNK.

DRUNK ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT SHE'S
INEBRIATED AND CAN'T DRIVE.

YOUR MOM
PETITIONED TO THE TRIBE

THAT SHE SHOULD BE MADE LEGAL
CUSTODIAN OF YOUR CHILDREN?

APPARENTLY.

ACCORDING TO TAMARA,
THE TRIBAL COUNCIL SIDES WITH HER MOTHER.

THE TRIBE
GRANTED HER CUSTODY?

AS FAR AS I KNOW,
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

TAMARA FEELS BETRAYED
BY HER FAMILY AND THE TRIBE.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE TRUTH LIES.

PETITIONING TO HAVE TAMARA'S
KIDS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER

IS REALLY HARSH,
BUT YOU HAVE TO WONDER

WHY HER MOTHER
WOULD GO TO SUCH EXTREMES.

DID TAMARA HAVE
A DRINKING PROBLEM

THAT SHE JUST
ISN'T WILLING TO ADMIT?

SHE SPIRALS
INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION

AND DROPS OUT OF SCHOOL.

IT TORE ME UP.

IT TOTALLY TORE ME UP,
AND I JUST LOST IT.

I JUST STARTED DRINKING.

YOU WERE SEEKING SOLACE
IN A BOTTLE.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE TO TURN TO OR WHAT TO DO.

I MISSED MY KIDS EVERYDAY,

AND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY SHE WOULD DO IT,

AND IT STILL HURTS.

TAMARA'S DETERMINED TO WIN
BACK HER KIDS AND HER MOM'S TRUST.

SHE POURS HER ENERGY
INTO HER JOB

AND SAVES EVERY PENNY SHE CAN.

EVERY MONTH, SHE SENDS MONEY
TO HER MOTHER TO PROVE

SHE'S BEING RESPONSIBLE.

SO YOU WOULD TRY
TO REGAIN AT LEAST

A LINE OF COMMUNICATION
WITH YOUR MOM

SO YOU COULD SPEAK
TO YOUR KIDS, RIGHT?

YES, I WAS
HELPING HER OUT WITH THEM.

ANYTIME THEY NEEDED ANYTHING,

I'D MAKE SURE
I SENT MONEY HOME FOR HER.

HI, TROY.

HOWS SCHOOL, BUDDY?

It's good, Mommy.
I'm on the soccer team.

SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY START
LETTING ME TALK TO THEM,

AND THEY WERE ABLE
TO CALL ME.

Okay, hold on.
I love you.

HI, SALLY, IT'S MOMMY.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'm good, Mommy.
I just lost my front tooth,

and the tooth fairy
gave me a quarter.

IT WAS REALLY HARD,
YOU KNOW,

'CAUSE THEY
REALLY MISSED ME,

AND THEY
COULDN'T UNDERSTAND.

I COULDN'T EVEN
TELL THEM WHY.

IN 1998,
TAMARA'S OFFERED A PART-TIME JOB

AT AN ELDER CARE HOME
NEAR THE RESERVATION

WHERE HER KIDS
HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH HER MOM.

I TOLD HER THAT I'M COMING HOME
TO SEE THEM,

AND SHE WAS GOOD ABOUT IT.

HER MOM AGREES
TO LET HER LIVE WITH THEM,

BUT ONLY UNTIL SHE FINDS
HER OWN PLACE.

IT'S THE MOMENT TAMARA'S
BEEN WAITING FOR.

AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW,
THE FIRST TIME

I GOT TO SEE MY KIDS
PROBABLY IN A 2-YEAR PERIOD.

TAMARA HASN'T
BEEN BACK ON THE RESERVATION

SINCE SHE LEFT
NEARLY 6 YEARS EARLIER.

HI, BABY.

I MISSED YOU.
I MISSED YOU.

HER SISTER CATCHES HER UP
ON SOME MUTUAL FRIENDS.

SHE LEARNS THAT ONE OF
HER OLD CLASSMATES,

A FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER
NAMED MARVIN,

IS ALSO GOING THROUGH
A CUSTODY BATTLE.

MARVIN!

WHEN TAMARA REACHES OUT
TO MARVIN THE NEXT DAY,

THEY MAKE PLANS TO MEET UP
WHEN GETS OFF WORK.

WAY TO GO.
WAY TO HUSTLE.

MARVIN.
HEY, TAMMY.

LONG TIME NO SEE.

HE WAS THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

HE HAD A BIG HEART.

ALL THE KIDS AT THE SCHOOL
LOOKED UP TO HIM,

AND THEY RESPECTED HIM.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME
I ACTUALLY LAUGHED.

WE START TALKING.
HE WAS FEELING DOWN ON -

HE WAS DEPRESSED
'CAUSE APPARENTLY HE WAS

GOING THROUGH A LOT
WITH HIS EX-WIFE,

AND HE WASN'T ABLE
TO SEE HIS SONS.

DON'T GET TO
SEE MY KIDS AT ALL.

HE WOULD TELL US THAT,

"I JUST CAN'T HANDLE
BEING AWAY FROM MY KIDS."

WE'D JUST TELL HIM, YOU KNOW,
"JUST HANG IN THERE,"

AND I THINK HE WAS JUST LOOKING
FOR SOME SORT OF HAPPINESS.

TAMARA RELATES
TO MARVIN'S STRUGGLE.

THERE'S AN INSTANT CONNECTION.

TAMARA STARTS SPENDING EVENINGS
AT MARVIN'S HOUSE.

WITH HIS SISTER ANNA LEE
AND NIECE SHANIQUA.

I LIKED HANGING OUT WITH HIM.

HE WAS VERY MUSICAL.

HE LIKED TO SING A LOT
AND PLAY THE GUITAR.

SOMETIMES, WE'D GO OUTSIDE,
AND WE'D SIT THERE,

AND WE WERE ALWAYS LAUGHING
AND TALKING.

AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS,

MARVIN ASKED TAMARA
TO MOVE IN WITH HIM.

WE'RE SPENDING
ALL THIS TIME TOGETHER.

SHE ACCEPTS.

SHE'S FELT PRESSURE TO MOVE OUT
OF HER MOM'S PLACE ANYWAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA -
AT LEAST, TO THEM.

DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE
IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY

AND THINKING MAYBE -

I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD CALL IT,
SO MUCH, LOVE.

I THINK I FELT MORE
I'M SORRY FOR HIM.

I FELT MAYBE I JUST NEEDED
TO BE THERE FOR HIM.

JUST BECAUSE TAMARA UNDERSTANDS
WHAT MARVIN IS GOING THROUGH

DOESN'T MEAN
SHE HAS THE POWER TO HEAL HIM.

PLAYING THE RESCUER
COULD EASILY BACKFIRE ON HER.

TAMARA CLAIMS
ONCE HER BOXES ARE UNPACKED,

HER NEW MAN
QUICKLY BECOMES A MONSTER.

YOU'RE TELLING ME
THAT THE OUTSIDE WORLD WOULD SEE

THIS BIG,
TEDDY BEAR, FUN GUY.

BUT, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

HE WAS STILL UPSET
AND ANGRY ABOUT THINGS.

MM-HMM.

HE TRIED TO BE HAPPY,

BUT IT'S A LOT OF THINGS
BUILT UP IN HIM.

ACCORDING TO TAMARA,

ONE DAY IN AUGUST,
AFTER MEETING WITH HIS EX-WIFE,

MARVIN IS ANGRIER THAN EVER.

HE WAS REALLY UPSET, REALLY MAD.

YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR?!
I'M SORRY.

ANSWER ME!
DO YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR?!

IT'S NOT, BUT I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

TRIED TO TALK TO HIM AND HE
SAID, "YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND,

AND IT'S
NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS."

DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!
CALM DOWN, MARVIN!

STOP IT!

HE JUST STARTED
BEATING ME UP -

GOT ON TOP OF ME,
AND I COULDN'T MOVE.

FOR MORE ON
HOW TAMARA'S DOING NOW,

GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.

AFTER A WHIRLWIND
ROMANCE, 32-YEAR-OLD TAMARA QUINCY

MOVES IN WITH MARVIN,
HER BOYFRIEND OF 2 MONTHS.

BUT, ACCORDING TO TAMARA,
THE SHOTGUN RELATIONSHIP

IS QUICKLY TORPEDOED
BY SOME SEROUS DEMONS.

YOU GOT THAT?! DON'T YOU DARE
TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!

AFTER HE BEAT ME UP,
THEN HE GOT UP

AND WALKED OUT THE DOOR
AND LEFT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

TAMARA CLAIMS
THAT A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER,

MARVIN COMES BACK
TO BEG FOR HER FORGIVENESS.

I'M SORRY, BABY.

YOU KNOW
THAT'S NOT ME.

DESPITE BEING TERRIFIED
BY THE ATTACK,

TAMARA SAYS SHE FEELS BAD
FOR HIM AND FORGIVES HIM.

I LOVE YOU.

I THOUGHT I COULD CHANGE HIM.

I THOUGHT I COULD HELP HIM.

I KEPT IT
IN MY HEAD THAT I COULD.

TAMARA'S
FIXER MENTALITY IS DANGEROUS

BECAUSE IT GIVES HER
FALSE HOPE

THAT SHE CAN CURE
MARVIN'S BEHAVIOR.

BUT THE COLD, HARD TRUTH IS
THAT IF A PERSON IS ABUSIVE NOW,

ONLY A FEW MONTHS
INTO THE RELATIONSHIP,

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

STOP, MARVIN!

AND TAMARA CLAIMS
INSTEAD OF GOING AWAY...

THE ABUSE QUICKLY RAMPS UP.

STOP IT! STOP!

HOW OFTEN
WERE YOU GETTING BEAT?

AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.

GET BACK IN HERE!

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE WOULD EXPLODE.

AND YOU NEVER KNEW
WHAT WOULD SET HIM OFF?

MNH-MNH.

TAMARA!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

BUT MARVIN'S SISTER ANNA LEE

AND NIECE SHANIQUA
TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.

LISTEN TO ME!

TAMARA, CALM DOWN.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

SEE?!

NEVER, EVER WITNESSED
ANY ABUSE ON HIS PART TO HER.

NOT EVEN, LIKE,
AN ABUSIVE WORD - NOTHING.

LOOK AT ME, YOU IDIOT!

IN FACT, THEY SAY

THAT IF ANYONE'S GETTING
AGGRESSIVE, IT'S TAMARA.

TAMARA!

ONE TIME,
I WAS VISITING WITH THEM,

AND THEY WERE DRUNK,
AND SHE GOT MADE AT HIM

'CAUSE HE SPILLED SOMETHING
ON THE FLOOR,

AND SHE WOULD START
CALLING HIM NAMES -

SLOPPY PIG AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE SOBER VERSION
OF HER WAS QUIET.

SHE KEPT TO HERSELF.

BUT AS SOON AS SHE HAD ALCOHOL
IN HER, THEN SHE WOULD CHANGE.

SHE WAS LOUD...

THIS IS NONE
OF YOUR BUSINESS!

...OBNOXIOUS, MOUTHY.

WHY DO YOU
PUT UP WITH THIS?

SHANIQUA REPEATEDLY TELLS
MARVIN TO DITCH HIS GIRLFRIEND.

SHE'S NOT RIGHT
FOR YOU.

I'D TELL HIM ALL THE TIME,
"YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE."

HE WAS PROBABLY SCARED
TO BE LEFT ALONE AGAIN.

THAT'S MY THEORY, ANYWAY.

THAT'S WHY HE PUT UP
WITH THE ABUSE.

MAYBE HE LOVED HER.

MAYBE HE REALLY DID LOVE HER.

WE MAY NEVER KNOW

WHO THE AGGRESSOR REALLY WAS
IN THIS RELATIONSHIP,

BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME

SOMEONE HAS CALLED OUT TAMARA
ON HER DRINKING.

THE REALITY IS
THEY PROBABLY BOTH

BEHAVED VERY BADLY
TOWARDS EACH OTHER,

AND ONE OF THEM HAS TO LEAVE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

SO, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
IN A LONG TIME.

TAMARA CLAIMS THAT WHEN
SHE CONFIDES IN HER FRIEND, DONNA,

ABOUT MARVIN'S ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR,

SHE LEARNS HE'S GOT A HISTORY
OF ANGER ISSUES.

I THINK HIS EX-WIFE HAD
PUT A RESTRAINING ORDER ON HIM.

HE HITS ME.

I'M NOT SURPRISED.

HIS DIVORCE
WAS REALLY MESSY.

AND THEN HE HAD TO GO
TO ANGER MANAGEMENT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SYSTEM
WAS TRYING TO GET HIM HELP,

BUT WHY DO YOU THINK
IT NEVER HAD ANY STICKING POWER?

I DON'T KNOW.

I WISH
IN MY HEART AND SOUL

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO GET HELP.

'CAUSE I KNOW HE NEEDED REALLY
SEVERE COUNSELING AT ONE TIME.

HE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR,

TAMARA CONTINUES
TO WORK PART TIME AS A CAREGIVER

AND VISITS HER CHILDREN
EVERY WEEK.

WERE YOU THINKING
IN TERMS OF

MAYBE SOMEDAY SOON I CAN HAVE
MY KIDS BACK FULL-TIME,

AND I WONT HAVE TO JUST
SEE THEM AT MY MOM'S HOUSE?

MM-HMM.

YEAH.

YOU WERE PRETTY SURE YOU'D GET
CUSTODY OF THEM AGAIN.

YOU'D GO OVER TO THE HOUSE
AND SEE THEM.

WHEN HE'D LET ME.

HI, SIS.
HOW'S IT GOING?

SHE CLAIMS MARVIN DOES
WHAT HE CAN TO CUT HER VISITS SHORT.

IT'S FOR YOU.

HELLO?

I'D SAY, "HI" TO EVERYBODY,

AND HE'D CALL AND SAY,

"COME BACK HOME NOW."

SO, I DIDN'T EVEN GET
A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN.

THAT WAS MARVIN.
I GOT TO GO.

BUT THE KIDS
WILL BE HERE ANY MINUTE.

I CAN'T WAIT.

TAMARA KEEPS HOPING
THINGS WILL GET BETTER.

HE'D TRY TO TALK NICE TO ME,

THAT HE WOULDN'T NEVER
PUT HIS HAND ON ME AGAIN.

HE PROMISED ME
HE'D GET MORE COUNSELING,

AND I'D FALL FOR IT.

I'M SORRY
I LOST MY TEMPER, BABE.

BUT SHE CLAIMS THAT
AFTER ALMOST 2 YEARS TOGETHER,

MARVIN'S STILL FULL
OF EMPTY PROMISES.

YOU KNOW
PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAY,

"TAMMY, YOU'RE THE STRONG,
INDEPENDENT WOMAN.

YOU'RE THE WOMAN WHO DIDN'T EVEN
WANT TO GET MARRIED

WHEN YOU WERE PREGNANT.

YOU WENT TO COLLEGE,
YOU GOT YOU CNA,

YOU'RE WORKING TWO JOBS,

YOU'VE GOT
YOUR BABYSITTING COVERED.

YOU KNOW, WHERE'S THAT STRONG,
INDEPENDENT TAMMY NOW?

WHY ARE YOU
PUTTING UP WITH THIS?

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW
HOW HE GOT ME SO DOWN.

MY SELF-ESTEEM JUST WENT...

HE MADE ME BELIEVE
THAT I WAS NO GOOD.

SO, YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT HE'D
NOT JUST BEAT YOU,

BUT HE TORE YOU DOWN
PSYCHOLOGICALLY?

WHAT WOULD HE SAY TO YOU
THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL SO BAD?

THAT I WAS FAT AND UGLY
AND NOBODY WOULD WANT ME

EVEN IF I LEFT HIM.

IN DECEMBER 2000,

TAMARA TELLS MARVIN SHE WANTS TO
SPEND THE HOLIDAY WITH HER KIDS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

MARVIN AGREES
TO HAVE THEM OVER.

SAY, "MERRY CHRISTMAS."

MERRY CHRISTMAS.
OH, COME ON.

THE EVENING STARTS OFF
PICTURE-PERFECT.

I WAS CAM-CORDING MY BABIES,
AND THEY WERE HAVING FUN.

THEY WERE GIGGLING,
THEY WERE THANKING ME.

HE STARTED PUTTING HIS HAM IN.

THE HAM!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

IT SEEMS LIKE
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

UNTIL SUDDENLY, MARVIN'S
DARK SIDE COMES OUT, FULL FORCE.

THIS ISN'T FAIR.

HOW COME YOUR KIDS ARE HERE
AND MINE AREN'T?!

OUT OF THE BLUE, HE SAID,

"WHY IN THE 'F'
DOES YOUR KIDS CAN BE HERE,

AND I CAN'T SEE MINE
FOR CHRISTMAS?"

IS THAT FAIR?!
EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY.

BECAUSE YOUR KIDS WERE HAPPY,

OPENING THEIR PRESENTS,
FULL OF JOY,

AND HE WANTS TO STEAL
THIS MOMENT FROM YOU.

BY SAYING, "IT'S NOT FAIR
THAT YOU HAVE YOUR KIDS

WITH YOU ON CHRISTMAS, AND I
DON'T HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME."

MM-HMM.

TAMARA CLAIMS
MARVIN BECOMES THREATENING

IN FRONT OF HER KIDS.

IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
PLEASE STOP.

NO, I'M NOT GONNA STOP!

DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO
IN MY HOUSE!

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

HE START COMING TOWARDS
ME, AND I GRAB THE PHONE.

I CALL MY BROTHER.
I SAID, "COME AND GET ME NOW."

AND I DON'T WANT MY KIDS
TO SEE ME BE BEAT UP BY HIM.

RICK, I NEED YOU
TO COME NOW.

I'LL EXPLAIN LATER.
COME NOW!

CHRISTMAS IS OVER!
GET YOUR COATS!

JUST STOP.

STOP?
YOU WANT ME TO STOP?

YOU RUINED IT!

YEAH, CHRISTMAS IS OVER.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

AND HE START THROWING THINGS
AROUND IN THE KITCHEN,

AND I TOLD MY KIDS
TO RUN OUTSIDE AND WAIT.

JUST GO!
JUST GO!

GET OUT OF HERE!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MINUTES LATER,
TAMARA'S BROTHER RICK

COMES TO THE RESCUE AND DRIVES
TAMARA AND HER KIDS

TO HER MOM'S HOUSE.

WHAT WERE YOU FEELING
AT THAT MOMENT?

I WAS HURT.
I WAS MAD.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
THAT HE WOULD DO THAT -

TAKE IT OUT ON ME BECAUSE
HE COULDN'T SEE HIS KIDS.

HE RUINED MY CHRISTMAS.

HE THREW
THE FOOD AND STARTED YELLING.

MARVIN'S VIOLENT
BEHAVIOR CUTS TAMARA TO THE CORE.

BACK AT HER MOTHER'S HOUSE,

SHE TELLS HER FAMILY
SHE'S LEAVING MARVIN FOR GOOD.

I NEED TO GET AWAY.

TAMARA FEARS THAT CONFRONTING
MARVIN IN PERSON

WILL LEAD
TO A VICIOUS FIGHT.

SHE DECIDES TO SNEAK OUT
OF TOWN AND STAY WITH A FRIEND

UNTIL MARVIN'S HAD A CHANCE
TO COOL DOWN.

WERE YOU AFRAID
THAT HE WOULD FOLLOW YOU?

OH, HE WOULD.

HE STRUCK ME QUITE A FEW TIMES
IN THE RELATIONSHIP.

HE'S WENT TO THE POINT
WHERE HE WAS GONNA KILL HIMSELF,

OR HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.

HER BROTHER OFFERS HER
A RIDE THAT NIGHT.

AT 4 A. M.,
RICK AND TAMARA TAKE OFF.

ON THE WAY, SHE CONVINCES RICK
TO STOP AT MARVIN'S HOUSE

SO SHE CAN GRAB SOME CLOTHES.

IT'S FINE.
HE'S PROBABLY PASSED OUT.

BUT MARVIN'S FAMILY
SUSPECTS TAMARA AND HER BROTHER

WERE PLOTTING SOMETHING
MUCH MORE SINISTER.

WAIT HERE.
ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA GO AROUND BACK.

I THINK HER AND HER BROTHER

REALLY HAD SOMETHING,
LIKE, PLANNED.

IN MY HEAD, I JUST THINK

THAT THEY KNEW
WHAT THEY WERE GONNA DO.

IS TAMARA SNEAKING AWAY

OR MAKING SURE MARVIN'S NEVER
ABLE TO LAY A HAND ON HER AGAIN?

33-YEAR-OLD TAMARA QUINCY
IS LIVING WITH A MAN SHE CLAIMS

HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY ABUSING HER
FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS.

WITH THE HELP
OF HER BROTHER RICK,

SHE'S FINALLY DEVISED A PLAN
TO ESCAPE.

WHILE RICK
WAITS OUTSIDE MARVIN'S HOUSE,

TAMARA QUITELY
ENTERS TO COLLECT HER THINGS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING?

SHE CLAIMS MARVIN
IMMEDIATELY FLIES INTO A RAGE.

OH, YOUR THINGS.

HE TOOK THE SALT
AND PEPPER SHAKER,

AND HE THREW THEM AT ME
AND MISSED ME.

GET YOUR THINGS.

MARVIN!

MARVIN,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

ALL THAT GLASS WENT OVER
ON TOP OF ME,

AND HE SAID HE WAS GONNA
BEAT THE "F" OUT OF ME,

AND HE'S GONNA KILL ME.

SEE THIS?
IT'S GONNA BE YOUR HEAD.

TAMARA'S TERRIFIED,

BUT SHE'S TOO CLOSE TO FREEDOM
TO BACK DOWN NOW.

I WAS SCARED.
I WAS FRIGHTENED.

I DIDN'T WANT HIM
TO TOUCH ME ANYMORE,

AND I WAS SCARED
HE WOULD GET A HOLD OF ME.

THEN I GRABBED THAT KNIFE,
AND I HELD IT UP,

AND I SAID, "YOU'RE
NOT TOUCHING ME ANYMORE."

AND HE STOOD IN FRONT OF ME.

AND I SAID, "NO MORE.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA TOUCH ME.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA ABUSE ME
ANYMORE. I'M TIRED OF IT."

THEN, ACCORDING TO TAMARA,

MARVIN DOES SOMETHING
COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.

AND HE, JUST,
DIDN'T EVEN SAY NOTHING.

HE JUST GRABBED -
JUST WENT THAT QUICK.

DIDN'T LOOK
LIKE HE STABBED HIMSELF.

MARVIN!

WHY WOULD
HE STAB HIMSELF?

HE PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN
INTENTIONALLY MEAN TO.

I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING TO
PLAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SUICIDAL.

WERE YOU
GOING TO STAB HIM?

NO. NO.

I JUST WANTED TO
GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE.

AND I DIDN'T WANT HIM
COMING AROUND

AND TRYING TO GRAB ME
BACK BY THE HAIR

AND PUT ME ON THE GROUND
AND BEAT ME AGAIN.

BUT MARVIN'S FAMILY

CLAIMS THAT TAMARA
MEANT TO STAB HIM ALL ALONG.

THERE WAS NO WAY
THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO STAB HIMSELF LIKE THAT.

AND I KEPT SAYING, "HOW
COULD HE DO THAT TO HIMSELF?"

YOU KNOW, LIKE,
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

I'M DONE!

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT SHE MURDERED HIM.

RICK RUSHES IN,
SEES MARVIN COLLAPSED AND CALLS 911.

MINUTES LATER,
AN AMBULANCE ARRIVES.

OH, MY GOD.

THE FIRST E. M. T.
TO ENTER THE HOUSE

IS MARVIN'S NIECE,
SHANIQUA.

HOLY **** THAT'S MY UNCLE.

THAT'S WHAT MY REACTION WAS.

HE IS IN THE DOORWAY,
COVERED IN BLOOD.

AND HE WAS JUST LAYING THERE

IN A PUDDLE OF BLOOD,
TURNING PURPLE.

OKAY, MARVIN.

STAY WITH ME, MARVIN.
STAY WITH ME.

TAMARA APPEARS LOOKING DAZED.

WHAT THE HELL
DID YOU DO?

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!

SHE HAD, LIKE,
THIS GLOSS OVER HER EYES.

I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

IT'S LIKE A LOOK
THAT IS UNEXPLAINABLE.

THERE WAS DARKNESS IN HER EYES.

SHE ACTED LIKE
I WASN'T EVEN THERE.

TRIBAL POLICE ARRIVE
AND QUESTION TAMARA.

MA'AM, YOU NEED TO TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

MISS, WHAT HAPPENED?

I DON'T KNOW!

I DON'T KNOW.
HE STABBED HIMSELF.

YOU LYING BITCH!
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

MY UNCLE
WOULD NEVER DO THAT!

I HAD TO GET HELD BACK
BY A POLICE OFFICER.

HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT!

POLICE LET TAMARA RIDE
WITH MARVIN IN THE AMBULANCE.

I JUST KEPT PRAYING - PRAYING
HE'D BE OKAY, AND I'D CRY,

AND THAT WAS
ABOUT ALL I COULD DO.

BY THE TIME
THEY GET TO THE HOSPITAL,

MARVIN HAS DIED
FROM HIS WOUNDS.

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS THE MOMENT
WHEN THE DOCTORS COME OUT,

AND YOU SEE THAT LOOK
ON THEIR FACE.

PLEASE TELL ME
HE'S GONNA BE OKAY.

THEY COME OUT
AND TOLD US THAT...

THEY COULDN'T SAVE HIM,

AND HE LOST TOO MUCH BLOOD
BEFORE HE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED!

ALL I REMEMBER IS KEPT
STARING AT HER FEET

BECAUSE HIS BLOOD WAS ALL OVER
HER WHITE TENNIS SHOES.

AND I KEPT ASKING HER,
"HOW DID HE GET STABBED THEN?

WHO STABBED HIM?"

"I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED."

I DON'T KNOW.
I'M SORRY.

WHAT HAPPENED, TAMARA?!
YOU WERE THERE!

TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!

SHE JUST KEPT SAYING,
"I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY."

DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS
OF THE CRIME,

THE CASE IS
OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION

OF THE TRIBAL POLICE,
AND IT'S HANDED OVER TO THE FBI.

THEY LATER SPEAK
WITH TAMARA'S RELATIVES.

AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY TALKED
TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS,

AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS
SAID HE WAS ABUSIVE,

AND THAT IF I WROTE A STATEMENT
SAYING THAT I STABBED HIM,

THAT I'D GET OUT OF IT, AND
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO JAIL.

NEVERTHELESS, SHE'S
ULTIMATELY INDICTED FOR MURDER.

WERE YOU SHOCKED?
I WAS IN VERY BAD SHOCK.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AFTER TALKING TO A
LAWYER, TAMARA TAKES A PLEA DEAL.

HE SAID IF I TAKE IT TO TRIAL,
I'D GET 10 TO 25 YEARS, MAX.

THE CHARGES ARE
REDUCED TO VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER

AND SHE SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON.

NO, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS
A FAIR-ENOUGH SENTENCE AT ALL.

SHE TOOK MY BROTHER'S LIFE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE GOT LIFE.

LET ME JUST CLARIFY.

DO YOU THINK IT WAS SELF DEFENSE
OR AN ACCIDENT?

I DON'T KNOW.

'CAUSE I KNOW
I DIDN'T STAB HIM.

THERE WAS NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM
THAT I WANTED HIM DEAD.

I JUST WANTED HIM TO LEAVE ME
ALONE AND GET AWAY FROM ME.

SO MUCH OF TAMARA'S
STORY JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I MEAN,
WHY WOULD MARVIN GRAB THE KNIFE

AND TRY TO KILL HIMSELF?

THERE WERE ONLY TWO PEOPLE
IN THE ROOM WHEN IT HAPPENED

AND ONE OF THEM IS DEAD.

HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20,

AND IN TAMARA'S CASE
IT'S JUST FULL OF REGRET.

15 YEARS AFTER MARVIN'S DEATH,

TAMARA CLAIMS SHE HAS FINALLY
FOUND THE MAN OF HER DREAMS.

MY HUSBAND'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE,
VERY SUPPORTIVE.

THE COUPLE LIVES
IN RURAL MONTANA,

MILES AWAY FROM THE RESERVATION
AND THE GHOSTS OF HER PAST.

BEEN A LONG RUN.

I'M SAFE NOW, I KNOW THAT.

HE CAN'T TOUCH ME,
AND NOW I CAN ENJOY MY KIDS NOW,

AND NOW I GOT GRANDKIDS
THAT I CAN ENJOY.

I FEEL BAD THAT HE'S GONE.

CAN'T TAKE THAT BACK,
BUT NO MORE ABUSE, NO MORE HURT.