Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 7 - Episode #4.7 - full transcript

A YOUNG WOMAN IS
BETRAYED BY THE LOVE OF HER LIFE.

HELL, NO!

IT ALMOST DESTROYED HER, BECAUSE
HER HUSBAND WAS HER FIRST LOVE.

SHE REBOUNDS INTO
THE ARMS OF AN OLD FRIEND...

I JUST WANT TO FEEL
SOME SENSE OF CONNECTION

TO SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY.

MAMA, WHY ARE YOU
JUST NOW TELLING ME THIS?!

I - I JUST...

...ONLY TO HAVE
THE RELATIONSHIP

TORN APART BY SECRETS.

I'M HERE.



SHE THINKS
SHE'S FINALLY FOUND THE ONE.

THIS MAN - HE'S TO DIE FOR.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

BUT WHEN HER DREAM MAN DRINKS,

HE TURNS INTO THE DEVIL.

WHEN HE KICKED ME,

I WENT "KA-PA-YOW!"

IT'S A FIGHT TO THE FINISH.

I SEEN THIS LOOK IN HER EYES,
MAN, I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

I WILL CUT YOU!

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

WHEN LOVES GOES WRONG,

A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS



14-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE BANKS
LIVES IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

HORSIE.

MY GRANDPARENTS
LIVED OUT IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'D GO UP THERE EVERY WEEKEND.

RIDE HORSES,
PICK PLUMS, GO FISHING.

HOW YOU BEEN?

IN HIGH SCHOOL,

MICHELLE'S GOT
AN OUTGOING PERSONALITY

AND LOTS OF FRIENDS.

I LIKED HIGH SCHOOL.

HIGH SCHOOL WAS FUN.

SHE'S ALSO GOT BIG DREAMS.

I WANTED TO DANCE.

I WANTED TO SING AND ENTERTAIN.

I WANTED TO GO TO JUILLIARD.

HELLO.

HI.

- MICHELLE, RIGHT?
- YEAH, MICHELLE.

DURING HER JUNIOR YEAR,

SHE MEETS A HANDSOME
YOUNG JOCK NAMED ROBERT.

I'VE SEEN YOU AROUND SCHOOL.

- HAVE YOU?
- YEAH.

MAYBE YOU WANT TO GET
A BITE TO EAT SOMETIME?

- LIKE A DATE?
- YEAH, EXACTLY.

HER HEART SKIPS A BEAT.

SURE.

HE WAS VERY CHARMING.

UM, GOOD-LOOKING.

HE HAD A NICE PHYSIQUE.

A ROMANCE QUICKLY BLOSSOMS,

AND THE COUPLE
FALLS HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE.

COME ON.

SIX MONTHS LATER,
ON MICHELLE'S 17TH BIRTHDAY,

ROBERT TELLS HER
HE'S GOT A SURPRISE FOR HER.

FOR ME? WHAT?

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
MORE THAN ANYTHING, RIGHT?

HE'S LIKE, "I REALLY LOVE YOU,

AND I WANT TO SPEND THE REST
OF MY LIFE WITH YOU."

I WANT YOU TO MARRY ME.

- YES.
- YES?

MICHELLE IS GIDDY
WITH EXCITEMENT,

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S ONLY 17.

TO ME, IT DOESN'T MATTER
ABOUT THE AGE OR ANYTHING.

IF TWO PEOPLE
LOVE EACH OTHER, GET MARRIED.

BUT SHE DOES INSIST THAT
THEY WAIT UNTIL AFTER GRADUATION.

DR. CASEY JORDAN STUDIES
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN HIGH-SCHOOL PUPPY LOVE

AND COMMITTING TO SOMEONE
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

KIDS JUST DON'T HAVE
THE EXPERIENCE OR MATURITY

TO HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITIES
AND PRESSURES

THAT COME WITH GETTING MARRIED.

MICHELLE'S PARENTS THINK
SHE'S TOO YOUNG TO GET MARRIED.

BUT DESPITE THEIR OBJECTIONS,

SHE AND ROBERT SAY "I DO"
THE FOLLOWING SUMMER.

JUST DAYS AFTER THE WEDDING,
ROBERT ENLISTS IN THE ARMY

AND IS SENT TO VIRGINIA
FOR BASIC TRAINING.

MICHELLE STAYS AT HOME
WITH HER PARENTS

AND TAKES CLASSES
AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

I THOUGHT, "I'M MARRIED NOW.

JUILLIARD IS OUT.

HOLLYWOOD IS OUT.

MAYBE I SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE
AND DO SOMETHING."

BUT HER HEART'S NOT IN IT.

- HEY, BABY.
- HEY.

SO WHEN ROBERT GETS HIS FIRST
DUTY ASSIGNMENT OVERSEAS,

MICHELLE CAN'T WAIT TO GO.

- WE'RE GOING TO GERMANY.
- GERMANY?

YES!

I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE.

EVEN THOUGH
IT'S A HUGE CULTURE SHOCK,

MICHELLE FULLY
EMBRACES HER NEW LIFE OVERSEAS

AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

I LOVED IT OVER THERE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

I WENT TO PRAGUE.

I WENT TO SALZBURG, AUSTRIA.

YOUR FACE LIGHTS UP.
THESE ARE GOOD MEMORIES.

MM-HMM.

IN AUGUST OF 1986,
MICHELLE AND ROBERT

WELCOME A HEALTHY BABY BOY
INTO THE WORLD.

THEY NAME HIM TYRELL.

HE WAS THE MOST
BEAUTIFULLEST THING.

I WAS LIKE, "WOW."
FROM ME, FROM ROBERT, FROM US -

WOW.

MANY WOMEN
MIGHT CAVE UNDER THE PRESSURE

OF GETTING MARRIED SO YOUNG
AND THEN MOVING OVERSEAS

AND HAVING A BABY.

MICHELLE IS THRIVING.

HOPEFULLY, THE RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT COME WITH BEING A PARENT

ARE GOING TO STRENGTHEN THAT
BOND THAT SHE AND ROBERT SHARE,

RATHER THAN DRIVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THEM.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,

THEY GIVE TYRELL TWO LITTLE
SISTERS - BRIANNA AND CARAN.

IT WAS AN EXCITING TIME.

I LEARNED A LOT.

I WAS LEARNING TO SPEAK GERMAN.

THE COUPLE HAS NOW BEEN MARRIED

AND LIVING IN GERMANY
FOR EIGHT YEARS.

LIFE AS A MILITARY WIFE
AND MOTHER

SEEMS TO FIT
MICHELLE LIKE A GLOVE.

AMERICAN DREAM -

THE MARRIAGE, THE KIDS, THE CAR,

THE CUTE LITTLE HOUSE
WITH THE LITTLE DOG.

BUT ROBERT SUDDENLY
STARTS COMING HOME LATE

ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

GET OFF MY ASS,
MICHELLE.

ROBERT,
I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.

IT JUST STARTED OFF LIKE,

MAYBE AN HOUR, HOUR
AND A HALF, TWO HOURS.

THEN IT STARTED TO GET
TO BE FOUR OR FIVE HOURS.

YOU'RE NOT COMING HOME
TILL 10:00, 11:00 AT NIGHT.

ME AND THE KIDS
WAITED FOR YOU.

OH, I GOT A LOT OF NERVE.
YOU JUST NEVER SHOWED UP.

I HAVE A RIGHT
TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE,

BECAUSE IF THE SHOE
WAS ON THE OTHER FOOT,

I THINK YOU WOULD WANT
TO KNOW WHERE I AM.

I GOT TO TAKE A SHOWER, MAN.
FIX ME A PLATE.

MICHELLE'S HURT
BY ROBERT'S CALLOUS BEHAVIOR.

THE NEXT DAY,

SHE DECIDES TO DROP BY
HER GOOD FRIEND CHRISSY'S HOUSE

FOR SOME ADVICE.

ON THE WAY THERE, SHE'S STARTLED

TO SEE ROBERT'S CAR PARKED
OUTSIDE A STRANGER'S HOUSE.

SO I'M LOOKING AROUND.

I'M LIKE, "OKAY, MY HUSBAND
MUST BE OVER HERE."

INSTINCTIVELY,

SHE WALKS OVER AND PUTS HER HAND
ON THE CAR.

THE HOOD IS WARM.

HE JUST PULLED UP THERE.

AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
SOMETHING'S GOING DOWN.

OKAY, EVERYBODY GOT TO BE GOT."

MICHELLE'S GOT A FEELING

SHE'S ABOUT TO DISCOVER WHY
ROBERT'S BEEN COMING HOME LATE.

ROBERT, YOU BETTER
OPEN UP THIS DOOR

BEFORE I CALL THE MP's.

MICHELLE EVANS IS SEEING RED.

SHE'S JUST SPOTTED HER HUSBAND
ROBERT'S CAR

PARKED
IN A STRANGER'S DRIVEWAY

WHEN HE'S SUPPOSED
TO BE AT WORK.

ROBERT, YOU BETTER OPEN UP THIS
DOOR BEFORE I CALL THE MP's!

MICHELLE TRIES THE HANDLE.

THE DOOR'S UNLOCKED.

SHE LETS HERSELF IN.

ALL THE DOORS ARE CLOSED.

LIKE ON "LET'S MAKE A DEAL."

MICHELLE GOES STEALTH.

THE SOUNDS OF SOFT MUSIC

LEAD HER TO A ROOM AT THE END
OF A HALLWAY,

WHERE SHE HEARS VOICES.

AND THEN I JUST GO, "BOOM!"

I JUST PUSH THE DOOR OPEN.

AND THEY JUST

SHE FINDS ROBERT HALF NAKED
WITH A WOMAN SHE'S NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

OH, HELL, NO!

I HAD RIGHTS TO HIM SPIRITUALLY,

LEGALLY, MENTALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY.

EVERY OTHER - LLY
YOU COULD THINK OF.

MICHELLE'S IN A BLIND RAGE.

YOU HAVE VIOLATED
ME AND MY FAMILY,

SO NOW I HAVE TO VIOLATE YOU.

- MICHELLE!
- SHUT UP, ROBERT!

I GRABBED HOLD OF HER HAIR
AND I JUST PULLED MY HANDS

AND I WAS JUST...

- I HAD TO.
- HOW'D IT FEEL?

IT FELT GOOD.

IS THAT BAD?

I MEAN, BAD FELT GOOD.

ROBERT BREAKS UP THE FIGHT.

- SHE COMES IN MY HOUSE.
- GET OUT OF HERE!

- FLOOZY! WHAT?!
- CHILL!

LOOK AT YOURSELF!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

YOU'RE CRAZY!

HE FINALLY COMES CLEAN

AND ADMITS HE'S BEEN
HAVING AN AFFAIR.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I WANT OUT
OF THIS MARRIAGE.

"OUR MARRIAGE IS OVER,
AND I WANT A DIVORCE."

I WAS LIKE, "HOW COULD YOU
DO THIS TO ME?

HOW COULD YOU JUST
THROW IT ALL AWAY?"

THEN, ROBERT DEALS MICHELLE

YET ANOTHER DEVASTATING BLOW...

I'M GOING TO KUWAIT.

IN TWO WEEKS, ROBERT
IS BEING SHIPPED OFF TO KUWAIT

AS PART OF
OPERATION: DESERT STORM.

ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?

AND HE'S NOT COMING BACK
FOR THREE YEARS.

THIS IS HARD FOR ME, TOO.

I'M LIKE, "THIS CAN'T BE IT.

WHAT IF HE
GOES OVER THERE AND DIES?"

I HAVE NO CLOSURE, NO HEALING,

NO ANSWERS, NO NOTHING.

THE STING OF ROBERT'S BETRAYAL
CUTS HER TOO THE CORE.

HE IS MICHELLE'S FIRST LOVE.

SHE DEDICATED HER LIFE
TO THIS MARRIAGE

AND TO THIS FAMILY,
AND NOW IT'S BEING RIPPED APART.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL
IF SHE IS STRONG ENOUGH

TO WORK THROUGH ALL THIS HURT
AND REJECTION.

I JUST BECAME
VERY, VERY DEPRESSED

AND DETACHED
FROM EVERYTHING.

ROBERT SHIPS OFF
WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A GOODBYE.

I THINK IT DEVASTATED HER.

DEEPLY.

IT ALMOST DESTROYED HER,

BECAUSE HER HUSBAND
WAS HER FIRST LOVE.

PASTOR RUTHIE,
IT'S JUST REALLY HARD.

YOU KNOW,
AND I TRY TO HOLD ON.

LEFT BEHIND IN GERMANY
WITH HER THREE YOUNG CHILDREN,

MICHELLE TURNS TO SCRIPTURE
FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE.

YES.

I WAS GETTING
COUNSELING THROUGH A PASTOR,

AND SHE WAS REALLY AWESOME.

YOU'RE GONNA EMPOWER SO MANY
WOMEN BY YOUR STRENGTH.

ONE PRAYER AT A TIME,

SHE CLIMBS OUT OF THE ABYSS
THAT IS HER MISERY.

YES. WELL, YOU KNOW,
I GOT TO DO IT FOR MY BABIES.

SO I JUST HAVE SOME PAPERWORK
FOR YOU TO SIGN.

MICHELLE FINDS A JOB
ON THE MILITARY BASE

AND IS QUICKLY PROMOTED
TO AN ESTEEMED POSITION,

HANDLING ENCRYPTED FILES
FOR THE PENTAGON.

I KNOW IT CAN BE
SO HECTIC...

SHE WAS STRONG AND SHE BELIEVED,

"I CAN DO THIS
AND I CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN."

AND I ADMIRE HER FOR THAT.

SHE BURIES HERSELF IN
HER WORK AND RAISING HER KIDS.

BUT DEEP DOWN,
MICHELLE STILL HOPES

THAT SHE AND ROBERT
WILL PATCH THINGS UP ONE DAY.

THAT WAS MY HUSBAND.

I LOVED HIM DESPITE HIS FLAWS.

I'M A ROMANTICIST, SO
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT TRUE LOVE

CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING
IF YOU WANT IT TO.

THAT BELIEF IS PUT TO THE TEST

WHEN ROBERT SHOWS UP
AT HER DOORSTEP IN GERMANY

UNANNOUNCED.

IT'S BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS
WITH ALMOST NO COMMUNICATION.

WE JUST LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

HE STARTED WALKING TOWARDS ME.

I WALKED TOWARDS HIM.
AND THEN HE JUST HUGGED ME.

HE DIDN'T KISS ME OR ANYTHING.

HE JUST KEPT HOLDING
ME LIKE THIS.

HOW'D IT FEEL?

IT FELT REALLY GOOD.

BABY,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHEN I WAS OVERSEAS,
I GOT SOME BAD NEWS.

ROBERT'S FATHER
HAS PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER.

HE'S BEEN GRANTED
EMERGENCY LEAVE

SO HE CAN ATTEND
THE FUNERAL BACK IN MISSISSIPPI.

MICHELLE IS
IN A VULNERABLE POSITION.

ALTHOUGH SHE'S GOTTEN OVER
THE PAIN OF ROBERT LEAVING HER,

SHE HAS NEVER STOPPED
LOVING HIM.

BY LETTING HIM BACK
INTO HER LIFE,

SHE NOW RUNS THE RISK OF GETTING
BETRAYED BY HIM AGAIN,

AND THAT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH
FOR HER TO HANDLE.

THE ESTRANGED COUPLE
HEADS BACK TO MISSISSIPPI

TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL TOGETHER.

OKAY.
THANK YOU.

AFTER THE SERVICE,

ROBERT TELLS MICHELLE
HE WANTS HIS FAMILY BACK,

AND A CHANCE
TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

- I MISS YOU, BABY.
- REALLY?

YOU DO?
- REALLY.

WAIT, THE LAST THING YOU
HEARD FROM HIM IS HE'S DIVORCING YOU.

THIS HAS TO PLAY HAVOC
WITH YOUR EMOTIONS.

IT DOES, BECAUSE I'M LIKE,
"YOU'RE SENDING ME MIXED SIGNALS."

MICHELLE DECIDES

TO FORGIVE ROBERT IN HOPES
OF SAVING THEIR MARRIAGE.

I WANTED MY CHILDREN
TO HAVE THEIR FATHER,

AND I NEEDED MY HUSBAND,

AND I BELIEVED IN MIRACLES.

MICHELLE'S FAITH PAYS OFF.

AFTER HE COMPLETES HIS TOUR
IN KUWAIT,

ROBERT IS TRANSFERRED TO
A MILITARY BASE IN MISSISSIPPI,

AND THE FAMILY
MOVES INTO A NEW HOME.

THINGS WERE GOING REALLY GOOD.

I MEAN, IT'S ALMOST
LIKE WHEN WE GOT BACK TOGETHER,

IT WAS BETTER
THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

AND WITH GOD'S HELP,
THAT'S ALL WE NEED.

THAT'S ALL WE NEED.

I INTRODUCED HIM TO MY NEW WALK.

WE STARTED GOING TO BIBLE STUDY.

WE STARTED GOING TO COUNSELING.

WE STARTED JUST A WHOLE
NEW LIFE.

UNFORTUNATELY,
THE MOVE BACK TO THE STATES

WASN'T SO GOOD
FOR MICHELLE'S CAREER.

THE BEST SHE CAN MANAGE
IS A SERIES OF TEMP JOBS.

AND TROUBLE STARTS BREWING
AT HOME.

HEY.

ACCORDING TO MICHELLE,

EVER SINCE ROBERT'S
COME BACK FROM KUWAIT,

HE SPENDS MOST OF HIS FREE TIME
KNOCKING BACK COLD ONES.

SO, YOU DRUNK, HUH?

- AIN'T NOBODY DRUNK.
- YEAH.

YOU REEKING ALCOHOL.

I SMELLED IT YOU
WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR.

EVERY TIME I COME HOME...

SHE CLAIMS HISTORY
STARTS TO REPEAT ITSELF.

I SMELL PERFUME ON YOU.

YOU DON'T SMELL NO PERFUME
ON ME.

YES, I DO.
AND IT AIN'T MINE.

I REMEMBER STOPPING HIM - "NO.

YOU'RE GONNA
GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS."

THIS IS MY HOUSE.
BACK OFF ME.

ACCORDING TO MICHELLE,

THE ARGUMENT ESCALATES.

WE'RE YELLING
AND SCREAMING AND JUST FIGHTING,

TEARING UP THE HOUSE.

I REMEMBER HIM PUSHING ME
BY THE THROAT

UP AGAINST THE DISH DRAIN.

DON'T YOU EVER PUT YOUR HANDS
ON ME!

MY DAD USED TO
COME HOME DRUNK ALL THE TIME.

HE USED TO ABUSE HER REAL BAD
WHEN HE DRINKS.

I'LL KNOCK YOU OUT!

AND I REMEMBER GRABBING
THIS KNIFE.

MICHELLE - WHOA, WHOA -

BACK UP OFF ME!

33-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE EVANS
HAS DEVOTED NEARLY HALF OF HER LIFE

TO HER HUSBAND, ROBERT.

OH, HELL, NO!

I SMELL PERFUME ON YOU.

YOU DON'T SMELL NO PERFUME.

BUT WHEN SHE SUSPECTS HIM
OF CHEATING AGAIN,

SHE DECIDES TO TEACH HIM
A LESSON WITH A STEAK KNIFE.

SHUT UP!
I WILL CUT YOU!

EVERYBODY GOT A BREAKING POINT.

SHE LET IT ALL LOOSE AT ONCE.

ALL THE FEELINGS, ALL THE STUFF

THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST
TO THE PRESENT.

SHE JUST CRACKED.

SHUT UP!

BUT BEFORE SHE DOES
SOMETHING SHE'LL REGRET...

- STOP IT.
- UNGH!

CRAZY!

...MICHELLE COMES TO HER SENSES.

I JUST PUT THE KNIFE DOWN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE A CALM
CAME OVER - "DON'T DO IT."

MICHELLE REALIZES HER
MARRIAGE TO ROBERT IS BEYOND REPAIR.

I PUT MY BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND TEARS INTO THAT MARRIAGE,

AND YOU BROKE IT.

AND I JUST DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE LEFT TO GIVE.

SHE FILES FOR DIVORCE
THE VERY NEXT DAY.

FOR MICHELLE, THE PAIN
FROM THE END OF HER MARRIAGE

IS ABOUT TO MAGNIFY THREEFOLD.

I'M AWARDING FULL CUSTODY
OF THE CHILDREN...

IN A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS,

THE JUDGE GRANTS ROBERT
FULL CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

NO - SIR,
YOUR HONOR, PLEASE -

YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

I TOLD THE JUDGE, I SAID,
"PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY KIDS.

IF YOU TAKE MY CHILDREN,
I WILL DIE.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.

IF YOU TAKE THEM,
I HAVE NOTHING."

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE
IN A POSITION

TO SUPPORT
THESE CHILDREN FINANCIALLY.

I PROMISE, I'M LOOKING.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING
I HAVE TO SAY.

HE WAS THE DEVIL.

I'VE MADE MY DECISION.

UP TO NOW, MICHELLE

HAS TAKEN THE BLOWS THAT LIFE
HAS DEALT HER ON THE CHIN.

HER KIDS ARE HER WORLD,

AND WITHOUT THEM,
SHE FEELS COMPLETELY ALONE.

SHE'LL TRY
TO NUMB HERSELF ANY WAY SHE CAN,

BUT THAT COULD LEAD
TO MORE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES

IF SHE'S NOT CAREFUL.

MICHELLE'S LEFT WITH
LIMITED VISITATION WITH HER KIDS.

SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S HIT
ROCK BOTTOM.

THEN, OUT OF THE BLUE,

A MAN FROM HER PAST
REACHES OUT TO HER.

HEY, STRANGER.
GUESS WHO.

AW, HEY, KEENAN.

KEENAN WAS MY BEST FRIEND.

HE WAS ALSO HER FAVORITE COUSIN.

THEY USED TO HANG OUT
AS CHILDREN.

WE WERE ALWAYS OFF AWAY PLAYING,

DOING THINGS
AWAY FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE.

LIKE SOULMATES OR SOMETHING.

WHAT IS IT?

THEY'RE SO CLOSE,
THAT ONE DAY, HE TOLD HER SOMETHING

THAT WILL HAUNT HER FOREVER.

I GOT A SECRET
THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW ANY SECRETS
THAT I DON'T KNOW.

HE WAS LIKE,
"I KNOW SOME SECRETS."

YOU KNOW, LIKE LITTLE KIDS DO.

AND I SAID, "OKAY, TELL ME."

YOU KNOW YOU CAN TELL ME
ANY SECRET.

WELL...

AND HE WAS LIKE,
"I'M NOT YOUR COUSIN."

AND I WAS LIKE, "SURE.

IF YOUR MOM
AND MY MOM ARE SISTERS,

YOU HAVE TO BE MY COUSIN."

AND HE WAS LIKE, "BUT I'M NOT."

AND I SAID,
"WELL, WHAT ARE YOU?"

HE SAID, "YOU BETTER GO
TALK TO YOUR MOM."

I WASN'T SUPPOSED
TO SAY ANYTHING ANYWAY.

KEENAN HAD NO IDEA
HE WAS HITTING A NERVE.

MICHELLE!

MICHELLE ALWAYS SUSPECTED
THAT SHE WAS ADOPTED.

AND I USED TO QUESTION THEM
ABOUT IT.

WHAT'S WRONG?

SHE WOULD SAY, "YOU'RE OURS.

WE LOVE YOU."

YOU'RE MINE, OKAY?

WHEN MICHELLE
ASKED ABOUT KEENAN,

SHE GOT ANOTHER VAGUE RESPONSE.

KEENAN SAID
THAT WE WEREN'T COUSINS.

WHY WOULD HE SAY SOMETHING
LIKE THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

SHE'S LEFT WONDERING.

SO DON'T LISTEN
TO WHAT KEENAN SAYS, ALL RIGHT?

IT'S REALLY GOOD
TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.

MICHELLE HASN'T SEEN KEENAN
IN AGES.

WELL, YOU KNOW, HEY,
I'M AROUND.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IN TOWN,
YEAH, LET'S HOOK UP.

THEY MAKE PLANS
TO GET TOGETHER AND CATCH UP.

OKAY, BYE-BYE.

- HEY, STRANGER.
- KEENAN!

HEY!

OH, MY GOD.

- HOW ARE YOU?
- I'M GOOD.

I'M BETTER NOW.

- IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

- OH, MY GOD, LOOK AT YOU.
- YOU LOOK GREAT.

IT'S LIKE WE DIDN'T MISS A BEAT.

IT'S BEEN ROUGH.
YOU KNOW, I'M DIVORCED NOW.

MICHELLE'S EAGER TO
UNLOAD HER EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE,

AND KEENAN'S HAPPY TO HELP
SHOULDER THE WEIGHT.

WHATEVER YOU NEED,
I'M HERE.

- I APPRECIATE THAT.
- HEY.

I WAS HAVING THESE
BREAKDOWNS, THESE CRYING SPELLS.

I REMEMBER HIM JUST
CONSOLING ME, TALKING TO ME.

BEAUTIFUL AS EVER.

AW, THANK YOU.

MICHELLE CLAIMS
TALKING TURNS TO TOUCHING.

BUT SHE HESITATES.

NO, WE'RE COUSINS.

WE WERE RAISED AS COUSINS.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH ALL THIS
"YOU WAS MY COUSIN"?

WE'RE NOT REALLY COUSINS.

KEENAN REASSURES HER.

AND HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE?

I'M POSITIVE.

HE JUST STARTED
TELLING ME, YOU KNOW,

"I ALWAYS THOUGHT
YOU WERE VERY PRETTY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL.
YOU'RE SMART.

YOU'RE GORGEOUS.

WE ALWAYS HAD THIS THING
FOR EACH OTHER.

I NEED YOU.
YOU NEED ME."

REALLY?

YES.

KEENAN IS VERY PERSUASIVE,

AND MICHELLE CAN'T RESIST.

AT THIS POINT,
I DON'T EVEN CARE.

I DONE LOST EVERYTHING.

I JUST WANT TO FEEL
SOME SENSE OF CONNECTION

TO SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY.

WHAT'S NEW?

WELL...

I'M KIND OF
SEEING SOMEBODY NOW.

YOU ARE?

WELL, TELL ME ABOUT HIM.

ME AND KEENAN
STARTED DATING A FEW WEEKS AGO.

NO.

NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

SHE WAS LIKE, "YOU GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME."

AND I'M THINKING, "OKAY,
HERE WE GO.

YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO CONTROL
WHO I'M SEEING."

HE'S YOUR RELATIVE.

SHE WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW
Y'ALL ARE RELATED."

I SAID, "OKAY,
WE'RE BACK TO THAT AGAIN."

I'VE NEVER SEEN NO PROOF.

YOU'VE NEVER -
I'VE ASKED YOU 1,000 TIMES.

AND I'VE ASKED EVERYBODY
IN THE FAMILY.

EVERYBODY IS SO HUSH-HUSH.

YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING
WITH MY LIFE."

I'M GROWN.
I CAN DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I CAN SEE WHO I WANT TO SEE.

FINALLY, HER MOTHER

CONFIRMS WHAT MICHELLE
SUSPECTED ALL ALONG.

SHE HAS THIS DOCUMENT,
AND SHE TOSSES IT AT ME.

I'M LIKE,
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"

"THOSE ARE YOUR
ADOPTION PAPERS."

HER MOTHER IS ACTUALLY HER AUNT.

BUT THEN SHE LEARNS
A FAR MORE SHOCKING TRUTH.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
ME AND KEENAN, MAMA?

YOU AND KEENAN
ARE BROTHER AND SISTER.

- WHAT?!
- YES.

KEENAN
IS HER BIOLOGICAL BROTHER.

I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE.

THEY WERE BOTH ADOPTED
BY FAMILY MEMBERS

WHEN THEIR BIRTH MOTHER
COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM.

- BROTHER AND SISTER?!
- YES.

MAMA, WHY ARE YOU
JUST NOW TELLING ME THIS?!

EVERYONE IN MICHELLE'S FAMILY
KNEW THE TRUTH ALL ALONG.

DOES HE KNOW THIS?!

- YES.
- OH, GOD!

EVERYONE EXCEPT MICHELLE.

KEENAN KNEW
YOU WERE HIS SISTER.

HE DID.

THE BETRAYAL
FROM YOUR MOM IS ONE THING.

AND IT'S BIG AND IT'S DEEP.

MM-HMM.

BUT FROM KEENAN?

MAMA, THIS IS MESSED UP.

IF MICHELLE'S AUNT TOLD
HER THE TRUTH WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD,

SHE COULD HAVE PROCESSED
THE NEWS AND ACCEPTED IT.

BUT NOW IT'S GOING TO BE
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR MICHELLE

TO LET HER GUARD DOWN
AND TRUST ANYONE EVER AGAIN.

THE REVELATION
NEARLY DESTROYS HER.

MICHELLE RETREATS

AND CUTS OFF ALL CONTACT
WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

BUT MICHELLE CLAIMS KEENAN
WEARS HER DOWN AND A WEEK LATER,

SHE DECIDES TO MEET HIM
SO SHE CAN CONFRONT HIM.

HEY, GLAD YOU MADE IT.

WHAT'S WRONG?

WELL, LET'S JUST SAY
I FOUND OUT.

FOUND OUT WHAT?

THAT YOU'RE REALLY
MY BROTHER, KEENAN.

I ASKED HIM,
I SAID, "BUT YET YOU KNEW,

BUT YOU STILL PURSUED ME.

WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

BECAUSE IT'S SICK."

HIS ANSWER TO ME WAS,

"BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW YOU
AS A SISTER.

TO ME, YOU'RE JUST A WOMAN.

THERE WAS AN ATTRACTION
AS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

THAT'S ALL I SAW."

NO.
BUT YOU KNEW ALL THIS TIME?

ACCORDING TO MICHELLE,

HER REJECTION SENDS KEENAN
INTO A RED-HOT RAGE.

I DON'T DO STUFF LIKE THIS,
KEENAN.

THIS IS WRONG.

IT'S NOT WRONG!
YOU'RE WRONG!

WE LOVE EACH OTHER!
NO!

HE STARTS YELLING
AND SCREAMING AT ME,

EMBARRASSING ME IN THE PLACE.

I'M LIKE, "OKAY, I'M LEAVING."

I'M NOT LISTENING.

I'M LEAVING!
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

- GET YOUR HANDS -
- I'M TALKING TO YOU!

DON'T YOU WALK AWAY
FROM ME!

DON'T YOU WALK AWAY
FROM ME!

AS HE PUSHES ME, I FALL BACK.

DON'T YOU TELL ME
WHAT TO DO!

SO YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL
PHYSICAL SLUGFEST FIGHT.

MM-HMM.

THIS AIN'T OVER,
BITCH!

I'M COMING BACK!

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

KEENAN CALLS INCESSANTLY,
TRYING TO APOLOGIZE.

BUT MICHELLE WANTS NOTHING
TO DO WITH HIM.

OPEN THE DOOR!

SHE CLAIMS HE SHOWS UP

AT HER APARTMENT
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

MICHELLE, OPEN THE DOOR OR I'M
GONNA KICK THIS BITCH DOWN!

MICHELLE'S TERRIFIED.

SHE NO LONGER KNOWS
WHAT KEENAN'S CAPABLE OF.

I GOT TO GET OUT THE STATE.

MY LIFE IS IN DANGER.

IF I STAY HERE, I'M GONNA DIE.

OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!

TO SEE MORE "WIVES WITH KNIVES,"

GO TO
investigationdiscovery. com.

THANK YOU.

MICHELLE EVANS FINDS
SOLACE WITH HER OLD FRIEND KEENAN

AFTER LOSING HER KIDS
IN AN UGLY DIVORCE.

BUT WHEN SHE
LEARNS A HORRIFYING TRUTH...

YOU AND KEENAN ARE BROTHER
AND SISTER.

...SHE TRIES TO END
THE RELATIONSHIP,

BUT KEENAN WON'T LET HER GO.

OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!

AS HARD AS IT IS FOR MICHELLE
TO LEAVE HER CHILDREN BEHIND,

SHE GRABS A MAP
OF THE UNITED STATES

AND DECIDES HER FATE.

THEN I ZOOMED IN
AND WHERE MY FINGER WAS,

I OPENED MY EYES, I SAID,
"THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING."

MICHIGAN - CLEAN START,

FRESH SLATE.
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE.

LEAVING HER FUTURE
IN THE HANDS OF THE UNIVERSE

COULD BE A GOOD THING
FOR MICHELLE.

IN THE PAST, SHE HAS LET OTHER
PEOPLE CONTROL HER DESTINY.

BUT BY THROWING CAUTION
TO THE WIND,

SHE IS TAKING A BRAVE STEP
FORWARD

IN HOPES OF STARTING OVER.

WITH NOTHING
BUT A BACKPACK AND A BIBLE,

MICHELLE HEADS TO THE BUS
STATION THE NEXT MORNING.

SHE ESCAPES ON A BUS
HEADED TO ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

SHE LANDS A JOB
AS A BANK TELLER,

RENTS A SMALL APARTMENT,

AND SETTLES INTO HER NEW LIFE.

FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS,

MICHELLE FOCUSES ON GETTING
HER LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

THEN ONE DAY SHE RANDOMLY
RUNS INTO AN OLD FRIEND.

I SEE THIS LADY, AND SHE
SAID, "DON'T I KNOW YOU?"

AND I SAID,
"YOU LOOK FAMILIAR TOO."

DO YOU REMEMBER ME?

I SAID, "MICHELLE,
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?

I'M MAGGIE."
SHE SAID, "OH, MY GOD!"

YES, OF COURSE!

MAGGIE AND MICHELLE ARE
FROM THE SAME TOWN IN MISSISSIPPI

AND WENT TO THE SAME
HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE SAID, "SO, WHERE ARE YOU
STAYING?" AND I TOLD HER.

SHE SAID, "YOU'RE DIRECTLY
ACROSS THE HALL FROM ME."

I SAID, "NO WAY."
"WAY!"

SHE WAS LIKE,
"WE GOT TO CATCH UP."

YEAH,
HE SHOULD BE HERE ANY MINUTE.

WOW. THIS IS SUCH A TRIP.
SMALL WORLD.

MAGGIE WAS ON HER WAY TO
MEET HER YOUNGER BROTHER, CHARLES.

HERE HE IS.

WOW.

- HOW ARE YOU?
- HI.

HE SECRETLY
CARRIED A TORCH FOR MICHELLE

WHEN THEY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I USED TO SEE HER ALL THE TIME.

I SAID, "MAN, I LIKE THAT GIRL.

I LIKE THAT GIRL."

BUT I NEVER HAD THE COURAGE

TO COME UP TO HER
AND SAY ANYTHING.

I ALWAYS HAD A CRUSH ON YOU.

"I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
YOU WERE INTERESTED IN ME."

I SAID, "OH, BABY,
I WAS INTERESTED."

I'M BLUSHING.

CHARLES IS DETERMINED
NOT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.

CAN I GET YOUR PHONE NUMBER?

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU
TO GET AWAY.

I SAID, "GOD BROUGHT US TOGETHER
AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

IT'S A SIGN."

LET ME JUST SAY THIS -

I'M REALLY NOT LOOKING
FOR A RELATIONSHIP, CHARLES.

MICHELLE IS FLATTERED,
BUT GIVEN THE TRAUMAS OF HER PAST,

SHE'S SWORN OFF MEN.

LET ME JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE.

BUT I CAN USE A MALE FRIEND.

SEE YOU LATER.

BYE-BYE.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
DO WITH THAT NUMBER?

OHH...

OH, YEAH.

CHARLES WASTES NO TIME.

HE CALLS HER THE NEXT DAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO
TO LUNCH?

UH, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO.
IT'S OKAY.

NOT TODAY.

SO HE WAS LIKE,
"I'M ALREADY OUTSIDE."

YOU ARE?

AND I SAID, "OH,
SO YOU JUST KNEW I WAS GOING?"

HE SAID, "I DIDN'T KNOW,
BUT I WAS HOPING."

ALL RIGHT, WELL,

LET ME GET MY PURSE, AND I'LL BE
DOWN IN A FEW MINUTES.

BYE-BYE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ADORABLE.

HE WAS LIKE,
"YOUR CHARIOT AWAITS."

WHEN SHE STEPS OUTSIDE,

CHARLES IS WAITING
LIKE A LOVESTRUCK CHAUFFEUR.

HE'S A GENTLEMEN,

AND HE OPENS THE DOOR FOR ME,

AND I GET IN THE CAR,

AND WE RIDE OFF.

CHEERS.

THE IMPROMPTU DATE IS THE
FIRST OF MANY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD TIMES.

LOTS OF GOOD TIMES.

I MEAN, WE USED TO JUST LAUGH
AND TALK ABOUT ANYTHING,

EVERYTHING.

CHARLES FEELS SO CLOSE TO HER,

HE SHARES A PAINFUL TRUTH -

THAT HE LOST HIS RIGHT LEG 10
YEARS EARLIER TO A BLOOD CLOT.

DESPITE HIS PROSTHETIC LEG,
CHARLES IS A PRETTY GOOD DANCER.

WE LOVED MUSIC.

HE USED TO DEEJAY.

I USED TO DANCE.

OH, MY GOD.

DANCER AND A DEEJAY.

WE JUST CLICKED.

...FOR A LONG TIME.

YEAH?

THINGS ARE GOING GREAT.

BUT MICHELLE STILL
HAS HER GUARD UP.

OKAY?
AND I'M JUST REALLY -

I'M NOT FOR NO MESS,
CHARLES.

I TOLD HIM,
"I GOT TO TAKE IT SLOW.

DON'T LIE TO ME.

DON'T CHEAT ON ME.
DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME.

BABY, YOU WILL GET HURT,

BECAUSE THE STUFF I DONE BEEN
THROUGH, I'M LIABLE TO SNAP,

GO UP ONE SIDE OF YOU
AND DOWN THE OTHER.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH ME."

CHARLES HEEDS HER WARNING.

AND HE'S REWARDED WITH A KISS.

MAN, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL, MAN.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I SEEN STARS AND FLASHING LIGHTS
AND EVERYTHING THAT NIGHT.

IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE CHARLES ASKS MICHELLE

TO MOVE IN WITH HIM.

SHE ACCEPTS.

HE COOKED FOR ME,
WOULDN'T LET ME BUY GROCERIES.

NOT PAY A BILL.

HE JUST TOOK CARE OF ME.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE
YOUR PILLS.

OKAY, YOU HAVE TO STAY
ON TOP OF THIS, BABY.

WE CANNOT HAVE YOU HAVING
BLOOD CLOTS AGAIN, ALL RIGHT?

MICHELLE CARES FOR HIM

BY MAKING SURE HE TAKES
HIS BLOOD-THINNER MEDICATION

TO PREVENT FUTURE CLOTS,

LIKE THE ONE
THAT COST HIM HIS LEG.

SHE HELPED ME
THROUGH A LOT, MAN.

SHE HELPED ME, I HELPED HER.
YOU KNOW.

THE COUPLE IS HAPPY,

AND MICHELLE FEELS AS THOUGH
SHE'S TREATED LIKE A QUEEN.

AND YOU'RE MY KING.

BUT CHARLES HAS NEVER RECOVERED
FROM THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA

OF LOSING HIS LEG.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

JUST TO THINK ABOUT IT
RIGHT NOW, I MEAN,

IT HURT ME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

MY BODY PART IS GONE.

IT'S GONE FOREVER.

MICHELLE CLAIMS HE'S
BEEN SELF-MEDICATING WITH ALCOHOL

FOR YEARS.

AT FIRST, HE MANAGES TO HIDE
HIS DRINKING FROM MICHELLE.

- HEY, BABY.
- HEY!

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

HEY, I'M OKAY.

- I'M ALL RIGHT.
- GOOD.

HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

I WAS HURTING REAL BAD.

COULDN'T NOBODY FEEL MY PAIN.

'CAUSE NOBODY KNEW
WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.

- HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING?
- DRINKING?

BUT AS THEY SPEND
MORE TIME TOGETHER,

HIS MASK OF SOBRIETY
STARTS TO SLIP.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST HAD ONE BEER, YOU KNOW.

- OKAY.
- I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

OKAY.

CHARLES!

MUCH TO MICHELLE'S HORROR,

A FAMILIAR PATTERN
STARTS TO EMERGE.

BABY, GET UP.
COME ON, WAKE UP.

HE STARTS HANGING OUT,
PARTYING ALL THE TIME.

HE'S STAYING OUT
LATER AND LATER.

NO, LET ME GO.

SLEEP YOUR DRUNK ASS
IN THE CHAIR, THEN.

MICHELLE CLAIMS HE'S SO DRUNK,

HE CALLS AN EX-GIRLFRIEND
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER.

BABY, I'VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT YOU.

"BABY"?
AW, HELL, NO.

EXCUSE ME?!

WHO ARE YOU ON THE PHONE WITH?
WHO IS THIS?

- THAT'S MY SISTER!
- THIS AIN'T YOUR SISTER!

YOU CALL YOUR SISTER
"BABY"?

YOU DON'T EVEN
REALIZE, YOU'RE SO DRUNK,

THAT I'M BESIDE YOU.

I'M LIKE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

YOU DONE LOST
YOUR DAMN MIND.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

I USED TO HAVE BLACKOUTS,
'CAUSE I'D BE SO DRUNK, MAN.

HE DON'T REMEMBER NOTHING HE'S
DONE OR SAID WHEN HE'S DRINKING.

THE SHOUTING MATCH
QUICKLY ESCALATES.

HE TAKE THIS CANDLE HOLDER

AND SLING IT AT ME.

I WAS LIKE,
"DID YOU JUST THROW THAT AT ME?"

OKAY, SO I LEFT.

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, I JUST LEFT.

I DON'T DRINK LIKE THAT!

MICHELLE TAKES OFF
AND CALLS MAGGIE TO VENT.

BITCH.

MAGGIE SAYS MICHELLE
ISN'T THE FIRST

OF HER BROTHER'S GIRLFRIENDS
TO WITNESS HIS DARK SIDE.

THE OTHER GIRLFRIEND,
HE BEATED HER UP.

SHE COME OVER MY HOUSE,
HAD BLACK EYES, CRYING.

YEAH, HE GOT PUNCHED IN THE LIP,

BUT HE COULD FIGHT.

WHEN HE IS SOBER,
HE IS EVERY WOMAN'S DREAM.

I MEAN, THIS MAN,
HE'S TO DIE FOR.

I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.

BUT WHEN YOU PUT A DROP
OF LIQUOR IN HIM...

IT'S LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING
FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE DEVIL.

SHE DECIDES
TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.

THEN, A WEEK LATER,

WHEN IT SEEMS THINGS
ARE BACK ON TRACK,

THE DEVIL SHOWS HIS FACE.

WE WAS DRINKING,
ME AND A COUPLE FRIENDS OF MINE.

WE HAD DRUNK A LOT,
TOO, THAT DAY.

IT WAS JUST ONE?

IT SMELL LIKE YOU WAS
THROWING THEM BACK.

COME ON, BABY.

THEN CHARLES HAS A
SUDDEN CRAVING FOR NICOTINE.

- PLEASE?
- YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S REALLY LATE RIGHT NOW,
AND I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.

ACCORDING TO MICHELLE,
SINCE HE'S DRUNK,

SHE RELUCTANTLY
AGREES TO GO TO THE STORE.

OKAY.
UNH-UNH-UNH.

WHEN SHE GETS BACK
FROM THE CIGARETTE RUN,

SHE REALIZES SHE
DIDN'T TAKE HER KEYS.

SHE KNOCKS.

NO ANSWER.

I RANG THE DOORBELL ONE TIME.

DING-DONG.

SHE FINALLY
TRIES CALLING CHARLES.

AND STILL, NO ANSWER.

IS HE DEAD ON THE SOFA?

DID SOMETHING TERRIBLE
HAPPEN?

WHY CAN'T YOU REACH HIM?

BECAUSE HE'S ON THE PHONE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?

I SEE YOU ON THE PHONE.

I CAN'T WAIT, EITHER.

OH!

I GOT TO GO.

BOOP, PHONE GOES ON THE TABLE.

I'M SITTING HERE WATCHING YOU.

I'M WATCHING YOU.

WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?!

WHEN CHARLES
FINALLY ANSWERS THE DOOR,

MICHELLE'S A LIT FUSE
READY TO BLOW.

YOU AIN'T ANSWERING.

WHO YOU ON THE PHONE WITH?

HE WAS LIKE, "BITCH,
YOU WANT TO FIGHT, DON'T YOU?"

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

ARE YOU CRAZY?

MICHELLE CLAIMS
CHARLES WON'T LET UP.

SHE TRIES TO WALK AWAY.

AS I'M WALKING AWAY,
HE KICKS ME IN THE BACK.

HE KICKED ME SO HARD
I WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

AND I LOST IT.

I WENT FROM 0 TO 100.

I GOT UP, I SAID,

"DID YOU JUST KICK ME?

DO I LOOK LIKE A DOG?"

I HAULED OFF
WITH EVERYTHING IN ME.

I WENT, "KA-PA-YOW!"

ALL MY MIGHT.

I SAID, "LORD JESUS IN HEAVEN,

IF YOU'RE REALLY UP THERE,
GIVE ME THE STRENGTH OF 10 BULLS

TO BEAT THE DOG MESS
OUT OF THIS MAN."

AND HE GOT UP AND,
"KA-PA-YOW," HE HIT ME.

AND WE STARTED FIGHTING
AND FIGHTING AND FIGHTING.

WE WAS TEARING THAT HOUSE UP.

DURING THE STRUGGLE,

MICHELLE'S
DINNER TRAY GOES FLYING.

I SAW THE KNIFE GLIDE
ACROSS THE FLOOR,

AND I WENT TOWARDS IT.

LET ME GO!

AND HE WAS PULLING MY FOOT.

AND I KICKED HIM,
AND I GOT THE KNIFE,

AND I SAID, "STOP!
I WILL CUT YOU!"

I WILL CUT YOU!

48-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE EVANS

HAS FINALLY BEEN
PUSHED OVER THE EDGE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

HER BOYFRIEND, CHARLES,

HAS ATTACKED HER
DURING A HEATED ARGUMENT.

AND SHE'S ABOUT TO GIVE HIM
A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE.

I WILL CUT YOU!

I CLOSED MY EYES AND
I'M SWINGING THE KNIFE, AND...

HE KNOCKS THE KNIFE
OUT OF MY HAND

AND IT GOES ACROSS THE FLOOR.

SHE SAYS CHARLES
STARTS SLAMMING HER HEAD.

I SAID SHUT UP!

I FELT MYSELF GOING OUT.

AND I'M LIKE, "OH, LORD JESUS,
PLEASE DON'T LET ME GO."

I WAS LIKE, "MICHELLE,
STAY WITH ME, STAY WITH ME,

BECAUSE IF YOU GO OUT,
HE'S GONNA KILL YOU."

MICHELLE MANAGES
TO PUSH CHARLES OFF OF HER.

BABE, BABE, BABE!

THE FALL
KNOCKS HIS PROSTHETIC LEG LOOSE.

STOP!

STOP!
I SAID STOP!

SHE PULLS THE LEG OUT
THROUGH HIS PANTS.

THE LEG CAME OFF LIKE THAT,

AND I WAS LIKE, "NOW, BITCH!
UH-HUH!"

HE WAS LIKE, "OKAY, BABY, STOP."

"OH, IT'S 'BABY' NOW?"

SHUT UP!

BABY, COME BACK!

I WAS THE BITCH, RIGHT?

OH, I WAS THIS AND I WAS THAT,
RIGHT,

WHILE YOU WAS ON THE PHONE WITH
YOUR LITTLE GIRLFRIEND, RIGHT?

I MEAN, I JUST LOST IT.

SHE TOSSES THE LEG
OUT THE FRONT DOOR.

ACCORDING TO MICHELLE,

WHEN SHE COMES BACK INSIDE
AND RESUMES THE FIGHT,

CHARLES GETS THE UPPER HAND,

AND SHE DROPS THE KNIFE.

HE DOES THE WRESTLING THING
ON ME ACROSS WITH THE LEG.

AND HE'S CHOKING ME,
I SAID,

"IF I STAY HERE, I'M GONNA DIE."

SO I REACH WITH MY FOOT
AND GOT THE KNIFE.

AND HE PULLED IT FROM ME
OUT OF MY HAND,

AND I CUT MY FINGER RIGHT THERE.

AND THEN I PULLED IT FROM HIM
AND CUT HIS FINGER.

TRYING TO GRAB THE KNIFE,

IT'S LIKE, I SEEN THIS LOOK
IN HER EYES, MAN,

I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

IT WAS A LOT OF RAGE.

A LOT OF RAGE IN HER EYES.

I STUCK HIM IN THE LEG.

WHEN HE GOT CUT,
THE BLOOD SPROUTED OUT.

HE SAID, "STOP, I'M BLEEDING!"

CHARLES'
BLOOD-THINNER MEDICATION

MAKES EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CUT
POTENTIALLY LETHAL.

HE COULD BLEED TO DEATH
IN MINUTES.

I TOLD YOU!

IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS TRYING
TO LITERALLY KILL ME.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING
IN MY MIND.

BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

I TOLD YOU,
"DON'T MESS WITH ME!"

AND I SAID, "I TOLD YOU TO STOP!

I TOLD YOU TO STOP!
YOU WON'T LISTEN!

AND ALL OF THIS OVER A BITCH?!

IT'S OVER A BITCH.

IS SHE REALLY WORTH IT?"

YOU JUST WOULDN'T STOP.

CHARLES SAYS HE DOESN'T
RECALL WHAT STARTED THE ARGUMENT,

BUT CLAIMS
HE'S JUST AN INNOCENT VICTIM.

WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME?!

IT WASN'T LIKE I HAD HER
ON THE FLOOR,

TRYING TO CHOKE HER
OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I COULDN'T EVEN GET MY HANDS
ON HER.

MY LEG WAS GONE.

I JUST LAID ON THE FLOOR,
TRYING TO PROTECT MYSELF.

WHY WOULD SHE PICK UP
A WEAPON ON AN AMPUTEE?

WHEN MICHELLE SEES ALL
THE BLOOD POURING OUT OF CHARLES,

SHE CALLS 911 IN A PANIC.

SHE'S CRAZY!
SHE'S IN HERE!

POLICE ARRIVE MINUTES LATER.

WHEN THEY GOT THERE,
HE WAS LIKE, "SHE STABBED ME."

HE SAID, "I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT SHE DID WITH MY LEG.

SHE JUST WENT CRAZY."

SO I'M SOME CRAZY, DERANGED,

JEALOUS GIRLFRIEND THAT JUST UP,

SNAPS ALL OUT THE BLUE,
AND YOU'RE A VICTIM.

MICHELLE, DID THEY SNAP YOU
IN HANDCUFFS THAT NIGHT?

THEY DID.

THEY DIDN'T ASK ME ANYTHING.

SIR, OFFICER, PLEASE -

IT WAS LIKE, "UM,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST."

MA'AM, STEP AWAY, RIGHT NOW.

MY MOM, SHE'S NOT CRAZY.

IT'S JUST,
WHEN SHE LOVES, SHE LOVES HARD.

HE'S NOT INNOCENT.

I WAS SHOCKED.

WHEN I GOT THE PHONE CALL

THAT THEY WAS TALKING
ABOUT MY MOM STABBED HIM,

AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT?"

MICHELLE WOULDN'T HAVE
HURT CHARLES UNLESS SHE HAD TO.

THAT'S HOW MUCH SHE LOVED HIM.

ALTHOUGH CHARLES
LOST A LOT OF BLOOD,

HIS WOUNDS AREN'T SERIOUS.

HE GETS THREE STITCHES
IN HIS HAND

AND THREE MORE IN HIS LEG.

HE'S RELEASED
FROM THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT DAY.

MICHELLE ISN'T SO LUCKY.

SHE SPENDS TWO DAYS
IN A HOLDING CELL.

SHE'S CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

HER SENTENCE IF CONVICTED -

10 YEARS TO LIFE.

BUT WHEN CHARLES
TAKES RESPONSIBILITY

FOR HIS PART
IN THE ALTERCATION...

HE SAID, "YOUR HONOR,
IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING.

I WANT TO GO TO COUNSELING.

I LOVE THIS WOMAN,
AND I DRINK TOO MUCH."

...THE CHARGES
ARE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED.

I WAS ECSTATIC.

I WAS SO HAPPY.
I WAS JUST ELATED.

MICHELLE COULD BE
IN PRISON RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE HAD STRUCK
HIS FEMORAL ARTERY

AND HE HAD DIED, THIS COULD HAVE
A VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOME.

BUT BECAUSE CHARLES
BELIEVES IN MICHELLE,

IT'S VERY LIKELY THIS COUPLE
CAN WORK THROUGH THEIR PAST

AND HAVE A REALLY GOOD FUTURE
TOGETHER.

MICHELLE AND CHARLES

GET COUNSELING TO HELP
REPAIR THE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE.

WE FORGAVE EACH OTHER
FOR EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING'S GOOD NOW.

NO MORE OF THAT CRAZY STUFF.

I DON'T DRINK HEAVY
LIKE THAT NO MORE.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER
THE LAST TIME I FELL DOWN.

IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

A YEAR AFTER THE STABBING,

CHARLES ASKS MICHELLE
TO BE HIS WIFE,

ON HER 49TH BIRTHDAY.

WILL YOU MAKE ME
THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WORLD?

HE PULLS HIS LEG BACK,
GETS ON ONE KNEE.

HE SAID, "I LOVE YOU.

I'VE NEVER BEEN MARRIED.

I WANT TO SPEND THE REST
OF MY LIFE WITH YOU.

WE HAVE BEEN
THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

I BELIEVE WITH THE LORD'S HELP,
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?"
AND I SAID YES.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IN MY HEART, I WAS REAL HAPPY.

IT'S THE WOMAN I'VE BEEN
WAITING ON ALL MY LIFE.

AND I FINALLY GOT HER.

DOES HE TREAT YOU
WITH RESPECT NOW?

HE'S A LITTLE MOUTHY
STILL.

BUT WE WORKING ON IT.

I'M SURE
YOU'LL GET THAT UNDER CONTROL.

- AND YOU'RE HAPPY TODAY?
- I AM.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A TRAGEDY
TO GET YOU TO TRIUMPH.