Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 5, Episode 2 - I Slay - full transcript
After surviving a brutal gang attack at 17, Lashonda Woodard vows to never let anyone hurt her again. Over the next several years, she falls in love with three different men. But each time ...
[ EERIE MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: A YOUNG DIVA KNOWS
HOW TO HOLD THE SPOTLIGHT.
♪♪ AND WE GO ON AND ON ♪♪
THERE YOU GO.
♪♪ AND O-O-ON ♪♪
WOW! OKAY!
I'M LIKE "YEAH. I'M GONNA
BE A STAR ONE DAY."
BUT A TRAUMATIC EVENT
- YOU GONNA PAY FOR THAT.
TURNS HER WHOLE WORLD
INSIDE OUT.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?
I THOUGHT LIKE,
"I'M ABOUT TO BE UGLY."
IT LEADS HER DOWN A TWISTED PATH
OF CYBERAFFAIRS
- MMM!
- AND SEXUAL RIVALRIES.
- RELAX.
PUNKASS CLIFFORD?
HE JUST BEIN' NICE.
EITHER YOU CHEATIN',
OR YOU DOIN' STRANGE
THINGS FOR CASH.
THAT WILL PUSH HER -
COME ON, SHONDA,
PLEASE, COME ON.
AND HER LOVERS
TO THEIR BREAKING POINT.
I WAS PANICKING,
LIKE "GET OUT THIS DOOR."
OPEN UP. WHY -
WHY AIN'T YOU OPENIN' UP?"
LOOK, LOOK, I'M SORRY.
[EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS]
IMMA SHOW YOU WHAT SORRY IS.
NO. COME ON. PLEASE!
[ AIRY TUNE PLAYS ]
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
WHEN LOVES GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
[DOG BARKS]
[CLAPPING]
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
- ALL RIGHT, GIRL.
- ♪♪ AND WE JUMP ♪♪
♪♪ WE. JUMP ♪♪
♪♪ AND WE JUMP,
WE. JUMP ♪♪
AT JUST 14 YEARS OLD,
LaSHONDA WOODARD
IS ALREADY TURNING HEADS
ON THE STREETS
OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.
SOMEBODY JUMP.
GET IN THERE, GIRL.
AS A CHILD, OO-OO-OOH,
I HAD SUCH A SMART MOUTH.
I WAS VERY BLUNT.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
SHE SHOWIN' Y'ALL.
LIKE EVERYONE LOVED ME.
ALL RIGHT, GIRL.
- ♪♪ WE JUMP ♪♪
♪♪ WE. JUMP ♪♪
- YOU GOT THIS.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
AN ACTRESS AND A SINGER.
♪♪ AND THE HEAT
OF THE BEAT ♪♪
♪♪ IT RISE-E-E-S ♪♪
I'M LIKE, "YEAH, I'M GONNA BE
A STAR ONE DAY."
♪♪ COLORS OF LO-O-O-VE ♪♪
♪♪ SHOW ME THE COLORS
OF LO-O-VE ♪♪
[laughs] OH.
- GIRL, YOU GOT THAT!
AYE, YOU THINK SO?
SHE WAS VERY INDEPENDENT,
ALWAYS STRONG,
AND KINDA LOUD. [laughs]
AAH!
THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
LIKE NOT THE NEXT BEYONCé,
BUT BETTER THAN BEYONCé, OKAY?
SHE WOULD SAY WHAT'S
ON HER MIND.
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.
[laughs]
SHE DON'T EVEN CARE.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
Narrator: BUT, AT HOME,
LaSHONDA, THE OLDEST OF THREE,
IS VULNERABLE.
YOU THINK THESE BILLS
GONNA JUMP UP
OFF THIS TABLE
AND PAY THEMSELVES?
WHAT DO YOU THINK, YOU'RE
A COMEDIAN NOW, HUH?
HOW MUCH DOES THAT PAY?
HER AND MY DAD
WAS ALWAYS BICKERIN'
AND SO WE, THE KIDS,
WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
- YOU KNOW WHAT, JAMES?
- WHAT?!
- WE'RE DONE.
- DONE?
- DONE!
- YOU KNOW WHAT DONE IS?
- DONE.
- DONE IS THIS.
THAT'S DONE!
WHEN OUR HOME GOT BROKEN UP,
TO ME, IT WAS LIKE
MAN, LIKE, THAT WASN'T THE LIFE
THAT I WANTED TO LIVE.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
IS A CRIMINOLOGIST
WHO STUDIES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
WHEN LaSHONDA'S PARENTS
SPLIT UP,
IT BRINGS A LOT OF FEAR
AND UNCERTAINTY INTO HER LIFE.
THEY WAY THEY INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER
AND SHARE CUSTODY
CAN REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT
ON THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.
SO, WITH LaSHONDA,
IT COULD FOLLOW HER
THROUGH HER TEENAGE YEARS
AND REALLY IMPACT HER VIEW
OF WHAT A HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIP IS.
[ SOBBING ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA AND HER
YOUNGER BROTHER, ANTHONY,
MOVE ACROSS TOWN
WITH THEIR FATHER,
LEAVING THEIR MOTHER
AND YOUNGER SISTER BEHIND.
Woodard: MY MOM, OH,
SHE LOVED US TO DEATH,
BUT SHE DIDN'T WANNA RAISE
ALL THOSE KIDS BY HERSELF.
I HAVE TO ASK
HOW YOU FELT
ABOUT YOUR MOM
NOT BEIN' AROUND
AND GIVIN' UP ON YOU AND
SENDING YOU TO YOUR DAD'S.
I WAS HURT 'CAUSE I THOUGHT
MY MOM DIDN'T WANT US.
[ SOBBING ]
[ DOG BARKS ]
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ DOOR CREAKS OPEN ]
Narrator: ISOLATED FROM HER
MOTHER AND STARVED FOR ATTENTION,
LaSHONDA STARTS TO REBEL.
HEY! HEY!
WHAT IN THE HELL
WERE YOU THINKIN'?!
GETTING SUSPENDED FOR FIGHTIN'?!
- IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
- HUH?
- IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
SO YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT FIGHTIN' IS?
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT
FIGHTIN' IS.
MY DAD BEAT THE HELL OUT OF ME.
- OW!
- I TOLD YOU.
AAH!
HE USED TO TAKE LIKE
AN EXTENSION CORD
AND JUST BEAT MY ASS.
AAH!
NOW, YOU LEARNED
YOUR LESSON, HUH?
- [SOBBING]
- COME BACK HERE.
- AHH!
- GET UP!
AIN'T NOTHIN'
WRONG WITH YOU.
AH.
OH, BABY.
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYS]
HE JUST STOPPED.
HE WAS SHOCKED.
AND I HATED HIM FOR THAT.
BABY, C'MERE.
HEY. COME -
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ HIP HOP PLAYS ]
GO, REYAH.
GO, REYAH.
Narrator: A WEEK PASSES,
AND LaSHONDA TRIES TO FORGET
ABOUT THE PAINFUL ORDEAL.
YOU STILL GOT
YO MOVES.
Woodard: MY BROTHER HAD
THIS LITTLE DANCE THING.
OF COURSE, MY MOM WAS THERE
AND SHE SEES ME
WITH THIS BAND-AID
ACROSS MY EYE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
NOTHIN'.
IT'S NOTHIN'.
DID YOUR DADDY DO THIS?!
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
SHE WENT CRAZY.
- DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?
- NO.
SHE SNATCHED ME UP,
RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
STAY RIGHT THERE.
AIN'T NO SHAME IN MY GAME.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO TO HIM,
I KNOW I WOULD'VE WENT
TO JAIL FOR.
THE KIDS ARE
COMIN' WITH ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS
HAPPENIN' OVER THERE.
REALLY? WE'LL SEE
WHAT THE POLICE HAVE
TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
AND WE HAD IT OUT
ON THE PHONE.
I THOUGHT SO.
COME ON!
YOU SERIOUS?
COME ON, T.
LET'S GO.
Narrator: LaSHONDA AND HER
BROTHER MOVE BACK IN
WITH HER MOM
AND HER YOUNGER SISTER.
♪♪ DO IT LIKE THIS! ♪♪
3 YEARS LATER,
17-YEAR-OLD LaSHONDA'S LIFE
TAKES ANOTHER DRAMATIC TURN
WHEN HER MOTHER GETS
A NEW JOB IN CHICAGO.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
[ BARKING ]
YOUR BACK IS LAZY.
WHATEVER.
I WAS VERY CONCERNED
BECAUSE MY KIDS,
THEY WAS BORN
AND RAISED IN KANKAKEE.
THEY NEVER KNEW NOTHIN'
ABOUT CHICAGO.
AND, YES, IT DID
KINDA SCARE ME.
Narrator: BARBARA IMPOSES A STRICT
NO-DATING POLICY ON HER GIRLS.
OH, LOOK AT THAT GIRL,
MAN, UH. ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOT SOME FANS
OVER THERE ALREADY.
PSSH. I AIN'T GOT TIME
FOR THAT.
Woodard:
I COULDN'T LIKE NOBODY.
I COULDN'T EVEN STARE
AT NOBODY.
SO, OF COURSE, AT THAT AGE,
I'M THINKIN' A BOY,
"OOH, HE CUTE."
BUT THAT'S IT.
HEY, WHAT'S UP, MAMI?
WHAT'S UP?
OH OH, LOOK AT THAT.
SHE LOOKIN' AT ME.
Barbara: YOU AIN'T DATIN'
IN MY HOUSE.
NUH-UH. UNH-UNH.
YOU WANNA DATE?
DATE WHEN YOU GET
GROWN AND GET OUT. YEAH.
I THINK I GOT IT.
I WAS RAISED UP AS
MY BOYFRIEND WAS MY BOOKS.
Narrator:
BARBARA WANTS HER DAUGHTERS
TO AVOID ALL THE MISTAKES
THAT TEENAGE GIRLS CAN MAKE.
SO HER NO-DATING
POLICY IS EXTREME,
BUT, SHE'S CONVINCED IT
IS THE ONLY WAY
TO KEEP HER FEISTY
DAUGHTER OUT OF TROUBLE.
Narrator:
DESPITE HER MOTHER'S RULES -
WHAT'S UP,
LI'L MAMA?
LaSHONDA MEETS A YOUNG MAN
NAMED MARCUS MANLY,
A LOCAL BAD BOY
WITH A LOT TO PROVE.
WELCOME TO CHI-TOWN.
- WELCOME TO CHI-TOWN?
- YEAH.
YOU THE TOWN MAYOR
OR SOMEBODY?
NAH.
THEY CALL ME MARCUS.
WHEN I FIRST SEEN LaSHONDA,
I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW HER.
SO WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
WHAT'S UP WITH ME AND YOU?
I WAS GOT
TO SPEAKIN' TO HER,
LIKE LITTLE STUFF,
LIKE "HEY.
HOW YOU DOIN', CUTIE?"
AND LITTLE COMPLIMENTS.
ME AND YOU?
THERE IS NO ME AND YOU.
OH, COME ON NOW.
AND I GOT A MAN
ALREADY, ANYWAY.
GIRL, WHAT YOUR MAN
GOTTA DO WITH ME?
HE USED TO FOLLOW ME
AND I USED TO LIKE,
"I DON'T LIKE HIM.
HE UGLY."
I USED TO SAY ALL THE TIME
HOW LIKE HE LOOKS LIKE A FROG.
OH, COME ON NOW. LET ME
HELP YOU TAKE THAT IN.
SHE TRIED TO PUSH ME OFF
AND TELL ME
SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND
AND EVERYTHING.
AYE, HIT ME UP A LITTLE
LATER, ALL RIGHT?
AYE, I'M NEXT DOOR,
5 FEET AWAY.
- [LAUGHTER]
- ALL RIGHT.
- SO I JUST KEPT
PLAYIN' IT SMOOTH.
AW, THAT'S DIRTY, MAN.
GIMME
THAT DRINK, MAN.
WHEN YOU YOUNG,
GIRLS LIKE BAD BOYS
AND, AT THAT TIME,
I WAS A BAD BOY.
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
MARCUS STARTS
GROWING ON LaSHONDA.
THIS ONE TIME,
ME AND MY FRIENDS
GOT INTO THE ZOMBIE
TYPE OF MAKEUP THING.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHIN'
ABOUT HIM.
WHY WERE YOU
IN ZOMBIE MAKEUP?
I DON'T KNOW. HE PUT
A SPELL OVER ME OR SOMETHIN'.
COPS SHOWED UP
RIGHT NEXT TO US.
AND YOU KNOW WE LOOKIN'
LIKE THE UNDEAD,
RUNNIN' AROUND AND -
HE JUST LIKED ME. HE'S CRAZY.
HE WAS VERY FUNNY.
- WHAT'S UP?
- AND I STARTED LIKIN' HIM.
- THANK YOU FOR WALKIN' ME.
- OH, IT'S ALL GOOD.
Narrator:
ALTHOUGH THEY AREN'T DATING -
CAN I WALK YOU HOME
TOMORROW, TOO?
- I GUESS SO.
- LaSHONDA'S MOTHER TRIES
TO PUT AN END TO THIS
BUDDING FRIENDSHIP.
BOY, IF YOU DON'T
GET OFF MY PORCH!
OKAY.
CALM DOWN, MOM.
YES, I WENT OFF ON HIM.
I TOLD HIM TO STAY THE HELL
AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.
I'M JUST LOOKIN'.
I'M NOT BUYIN'.
YEAH. WELL, YOU GO SNIFF
SOMEWHERE ELSE. GO.
OKAY.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
Manly: I REALLY DIDN'T
PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
I THOUGHT LIKE SHE WAS
JUST OLD AND [laughs]
WAS JUST JEALOUS
OF HER DAUGHTER.
[ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS ]
ALL RIGHT, STOP.
IMMA GET THAT DUDE.
Narrator:
AS THE ATTRACTION BUILDS -
- HI, SHONDA.
- HEY. WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?
HEY. WHAT'S UP?
HOLD UP, HOLD UP, HOLD UP.
Narrator: MARCUS BECOMES FOCUSED
ON SEALING THE DEAL WITH LaSHONDA.
WHERE YOU GOIN'?
- HEY!
- UGH!
YOU NEED TO TAKE
THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE
'CAUSE I'M NOT
THAT KINDA CHICK.
I'M LIKE "BOY, YOU CAN GET
THE HELL OUT MY FACE.
AIN'T NOTHIN' GOIN' ON."
- AYE, I'M SORRY.
AYE, FOR REAL.
Manly: I HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO RESPECT IT.
AYE, I'LL -
I'LL TAKE IT BACK!
WELL, THAT JUST MADE ME
MORE THIRSTY, LIKE
"MAN, I REALLY WANNA
GET WITH HER NOW."
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
♪♪ AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE ♪♪
Narrator: MARCUS PURSUES
LaSHONDA FOR A FULL YEAR.
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIRL!
- THANK YOU.
Narrator: WHEN HER 18th
BIRTHDAY ROLLS AROUND,
SHE FINALLY DECIDES
TO LET HIM CATCH HER.
SO WHAT YOU DOIN'
LATER ON TONIGHT?
I CANNOT WAIT!
'CAUSE IT'S GOIN' DOWN.
YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU 18 NOW.
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU AN ADULT.
Narrator: SO FAR, LaSHONDA
HAS AVOIDED TROUBLE
ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO.
BUT HER LUCK IS
ABOUT TO RUN OUT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Woodard: THIS GIRL, NIKKI,
SHE COMES ACROSS THE STREET.
SHE DID NOT LOOK RIGHT TO ME.
WHEN I SEENT HER,
I WAS KINDA IN SHOCK
'CAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IMMA RUN TO THE STORE
REAL QUICK.
YOU WANT ME
TO GET YOU SOMETHIN'?
- NO.
- I DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT
ANY ONE OF THEM
TO FIGURE OUT
THAT THEY GOT
SOMETHIN' IN COMMON.
I'LL SEE YOU IN A SECOND,
ALL RIGHT?
SO I LEFT.
- ♪♪ UP OUT HERE IN CHI-TOWN ♪♪
- ♪♪ YEP ♪♪
♪♪ WANT A GIRL TO GET DOWN ♪♪
- ♪♪ OH! ♪♪
Narrator:
WHEN NIKKI APPROACHES -
LaSHONDA!
LaSHONDA LEARNS EXACTLY
WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON.
THAT'S MY BABY DADDY AND
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET MARRIED.
BABY? I DON'T KNOW
NOTHIN' ABOUT THAT.
WELL, HE DIDN'T
TELL ME THAT, YOU KNOW?
THAT AIN'T WHAT
HE SAID, BUT,
IF THAT'S YOUR MAN,
YOU CAN HAVE HIM.
Narrator: BUT NIKKI HAS NO INTEREST
IN LaSHONDA'S SIDE OF THE STORY.
- YOU A HO.
- I AIN'T NO HO.
YOU WANNA FIGHT, OVER HIM?
Narrator:
AND LaSHONDA'S HAD ENOUGH.
OH!
WE ARE FIGHTIN'.
WE ARE GETTIN' DOWN.
[ CROWD SHOUTING ]
I SEE A LOTTA PEOPLE
COMIN' AROUND.
YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
THEN, THERE WAS TWO PEOPLE
ON EACH OF MY ARMS
AND I'M THINKIN' THEY'RE
TRYIN' TO PULL ME UP OFF HER.
Narrator: BUT THESE STRANGERS
AREN'T LaSHONDA'S FRIENDS.
THEY'RE WITH NIKKI.
WHAT YOU DOIN'?
LET GO OF MY ARM!
YOU GONNA PAY FOR THAT,
BITCH.
THEY HOLDIN' ME DOWN!
- GET 'ER, NIKKI, GET 'ER!
- AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
- AAGH!
- Man: YEAH, YEAH.
NIKKI HAD A BOX CUTTER.
Man: SOMEBODY GET HELP.
[crying] WHEN I LOOKED DOWN,
BLOOD WAS JUST COMIN' OUT.
AAAAAAAH!
- STOP IT!
- I TOLD YOU THAT WAS MY MAN!
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?
IT WAS -
[ SNIFFLE ]
MY FACE WAS WIDE,
LIKE IT WAS WIDE OPEN.
MY FACE WAS A MESS.
THE ONLY THING I THOUGHT LIKE,
"I'M ABOUT TO BE UGLY."
[ SOBBING ]
Narrator: WHEN LaSHONDA
RETURNS HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,
THE TRAUMA FROM THE ATTACK
BEGINS TO SINK IN.
[ GASP, SOB ]
I'M JUST LOOKIN' IN THE MIRROR
AND CRY, LIKE "WHY? WHY ME?"
I HAD LIKE
70 STITCHES IN MY FACE.
I WAS DEPRESSED.
CAN YOU SHOW ME?
[ GASPING ]
Narrator:
IN A MOMENT OF DESPERATION,
LaSHONDA MAKES A SILENT
PROMISE TO HERSELF.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
IF I GET INTO IT WITH ANYBODY,
I'M GONNA GET YOU
BEFORE YOU GET ME.
- NO ONE'S GONNA HURT YOU.
- NO ONE'S GONNA HURT ME
'CAUSE IMMA HURT YOU
BEFORE YOU HURT ME.
TRUST ME. [chuckle]
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE
THAT THIS ATTACK
HAS LEFT LaSHONDA
SHAKEN AND REELING.
BUT, SHE'S TAKING AWAY
THE WRONG LESSON.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
HOW SHE WILL DEFEND HERSELF
IN THE FUTURE,
SHE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON
WHO SHE CAN TRUST.
NOW THAT SHE'S ARMED AND ANGRY,
I WORRY THAT SHE IS HEADING
DOWN A DANGEROUS PATH.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
Narrator: MARCUS WAITS
FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
♪♪ DOWNTOWN ♪♪
LaSHONDA.
THEN SHOWS UP
ON LaSHONDA DOORSTEP.
UGH!
WHAT YOU WANT?
CAN WE TALK?
AND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
YOU FINALLY SAW MARCUS?
I COULDN'T REALLY SO MUCH
LOOK AT HIS FACE
'CAUSE I WAS EMBARRASSED.
YOUR MAMA HERE?
NO. YOU GOT A FEW MINUTES.
SHE'S AT THE STORE.
Manly:
I WAS KIND OF IN SHOCK
'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
THE SEVERITY OF IT.
YOU GOOD?
NO, I AIN'T GOOD.
AYE.
I KEPT TELLIN' HER LIKE,
"IT DON'T AFFECT NOTHIN'.
YOU STILL PRETTY.
I STILL LOVE YOU.
IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE
THE WAY I LOOK AT YOU."
I'M SORRY.
THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY KICKED IN
AND I FELT REAL GUILTY.
TELL YOU HOW I FEEL
AND WHATNOT.
Dr. Jones: THAT'S PRETTY SEDUCTIVE,
A MAN WHO FEELS RESPONSIBLE
BECAUSE IT WAS
HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND.
THAT'S HOW YOU FEELIN'?
YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK ANY GIRL
IN YOUR SITUATION
WOULD BE A SUCKER
FOR THAT.
I WAS. I WAS
A BLOW POP FOR THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
I WAS. I WAS.
AND I GOT YOU SOMETHIN'.
Dr. Jones: LaSHONDA IS IN A
PIT OF DEPRESSION AND SELF-PITY
BECAUSE OF THIS VERY
DISFIGURING FACIAL SCAR.
MARCUS TAKES ADVANTAGE
OF THAT VULNERABILITY,
AT A TIME WHEN, REALLY,
LaSHONDA SHOULD HAVE NOTHING
MORE TO DO WITH HIM.
YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT ON
ALL THE TIME.
IT'LL PROTECT YOU,
ALWAYS.
HE REALLY LIFTED ME UP.
I WAS AT MY LOWEST.
I WAS DEPRESSED.
I FELT UGLY.
AND HE JUST, "YOU NOT UGLY."
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
AND I FELL FOR THAT.
I FELL FOR IT.
SO I'M THINKIN', "WOW,
HE REALLY LOVE ME."
WE FINALLY GET TO GO OUT.
I'M SO EXCITED.
Narrator: THEIR BOND GROWS STRONGER
AND THEY FINALLY START DATING.
IT JUST BECAME OFFICIAL
THAT WE BECAME A COUPLE
AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT
AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER.
BACK TO MY HOUSE,
JUST TO CHILL?
- PBBT!
- QUICK KISS.
IT TOOK THE LID OFF
THE COOKIE JAR, THOUGH.
OH, YEAH, THEN. HELLO.
- [LAUGHS]
I'M LIKE "I WANNA KNOW
WHY I ALMOST DIED.
LET ME SEE WHAT THIS
ALL ABOUT."
MMM.
Narrator: IT'S EVERYTHING
SHE HOPED IT WOULD BE.
- [LaSHONDA CHUCKLES]
- AND, FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL MONTHS, THE COUPLE
LIVES IN CARNAL BLISS.
BUT FOR MARCUS, HIS PASSION
QUICKLY DEVOLVES INTO JEALOUSY.
I WAS REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT HER LEAVIN' ME
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
PLENTY OF TIMES, I TOLD HER,
LIKE "DON'T GO OUTSIDE."
THE HELL IS THAT?
WHAT YOU DOIN'?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
WHAT'S GOOD?
I USED TO GO IN HER ROOM
AND TAKE HER CLOTHES,
SO SHE WOULDN'T GET DRESSED.
WHAT'S UP
WITH SHONDA, THOUGH?
- WHAT?!
- ME AND SOME FRIENDS
ARE GOIN' OUT.
JUST TRYIN' TO SEE
IF SHE WANNA COME WITH US.
- WHAT YOU MEAN?!
Woodard: THE MOMENT I GAVE IT
UP, OH, I WAS ALL HIS.
I MEAN,
WHY YOU TRIPPIN'?
IT'S A WRAP.
- [LAUGHS]
YEAH. IT'S A WRAP.
- YOU TRYIN' TO CLAIM MINE?!
I AIN'T TRYIN'
TO CLAIM SHIT.
MARCUS! MARCUS!
BRING MY CLOTHES
BACK HERE!
I BELONGED TO HIM.
IN HIS MIND.
[laughs]
YES.
MARCUS, BRING ME
MY CLOTHES BACK, LIKE NOW.
HEY. DON'T WORRY
ABOUT YOUR CLOTHES.
WHAT YOU NEED
YOUR CLOTHES FOR?
BECAUSE!
I'M GETTIN' READY TO GO.
WE CAN WATCH A MOVIE,
ALL DAY.
I DON'T WANNA STAY HERE
AND WATCH A MOVIE
- WHY NOT?
- AND YOU ACTIN' CRAZY.
Narrator: THEN,
LaSHONDA HEARS HER MOTHER FIGHTING
WITH HER NEW BOYFRIEND.
- WE'RE STAYING.
- HOLD ON.
- WHAT?
GET YOUR HANDS
OFF OF ME!
STOP!
- THAT'S MY MOM.
OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT?
MOVE OUT OF MY WAY.
- STEP BACK!
- STOP IT!
OH, HELL, NO! MAMA.
CALM DOWN.
HE TELLS ME IT'S NOT
NONE OF MY BUSINESS.
HEY, WOMAN, YOU BETTER
BACK UP RIGHT NOW!
THIS MY MOM.
DO YOU WATCH YOUR MOM GET BEAT?
I'M NOT GONNA WATCH
MY MOM GET BEAT.
- GET OUTTA MY WAY.
- YOU BETTER CALM DOWN!
WHAT YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
- Narrator: IN A FLASH OF RAGE,
- Marcus: OW!
- MARCUS GRABS LaSHONDA.
- LET GO!
- HE DRAGS ME LIKE
"YOU AIN'T HAVE NOTHIN'
TO DO WITH THAT."
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYS]
I TOLD YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!
BE QUIET!
Manly: LaSHONDA, SHE GOT
A LITTLE CERTAIN LOOK.
- [hoarsely] LET GO OF ME.
- SHUT UP AND LISTEN!
- LET GO!
- YOU NEVER LISTEN!
- [GRUNTING]
- AND SHE JUST FLIP OUT.
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
- GET THE HELL OFF OF ME.
WHOA! CRAZY?!
NO, YOU CRAZY.
NOW, IMMA SHOW YOU.
YOU GONNA PAY.
- REALLY?
I HONESTLY FELT LIKE
SHE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
[EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS]
CHILL!
PUT IT DOWN.
- MARCUS!
- NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
HE GRABBED THE KNIFE FROM ME.
CHILL!
MARCUS.
AND HE PUT THE KNIFE
UP TO MY THROAT.
- PUT THE KNIFE DOWN.
- SHUT UP!
- NO.
- TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
STOP! DON'T!
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
- MARCUS!
- NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WHO'S IN CONTROL NOW?
IT WAS CLEAR
THAT HE WAS CRAZY
AND IT LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
UNH!
- OH, NO.
- UH!
I TOLD YOU! PLAY THOSE
GAMES WITH ME, GIRL!
AND HE JUST GOT
TO BEATIN' MY ASS.
- [GRUNTING]
- NO!
[ SOBBING ]
LOOK WHAT YOU
MADE ME DO!
SHE WAS LIKE DAZED,
BUT SHE WAS MORE IN SHOCK
THAT I HIT HER.
OHHH!
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
AND I'M JUST ON THE FLOOR,
CRYIN' LIKE
"WHY DID YOU DO ME LIKE THIS?"
[ SOBBING ]
I KNEW SHE WAS HURT,
BUT I WASN'T TRYIN'
TO STICK AROUND
TO PAY HER NO ATTENTION.
[SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS]
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
[ DOG BARKS NEARBY ]
OHH!
Narrator: A WEEK LATER,
LaSHONDA BEGINS HAVING
SHARP ABDOMINAL PAINS.
Woodard:
I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN.
MY BACK AND MY STOMACH
WAS HURTIN'.
I WAS HAVIN' CRAMPS.
[ MOANING ]
THE WORST PAINS, EVER.
Narrator: LaSHONDA IMMEDIATELY
GOES TO THE HOSPITAL.
HI, SWEETIE.
WHERE SHE RECEIVES
DEVASTATING NEWS.
HOW ARE YOU?
ALL RIGHT.
LaSHONDA, I'M SORRY
TO BE THE ONE
TO HAVE TO TELL YOU,
BUT, UM,
YOU'VE HAD
SOME COMPLICATIONS
WITH YOUR PREGNANCY.
MY PREGNANCY?
YOU DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT.
[MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS]
[MONITOR BEEPS]
AND IT HURTED ME TO THE CORE.
[ SOBBING ]
I LOST MY BABY.
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA RETURNS HOME TO
SHARE THE TRAGIC NEWS WITH MARCUS.
[ SCOFF ]
I KNEW YOU'D BE BACK.
LOOK, YOU NEED
TO SEE THIS.
Manly: SHE SHOWED ME THE
PAPERWORK FROM THE HOSPITAL.
[ SCOFF ]
THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.
DEAL WITH IT.
IT HURTED ME,
BUT I DIDN'T WANNA LET HER
KNOW THAT IT HURTED ME.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
Narrator:
LaSHONDA IS SICKENED
BY MARCUS'S RESPONSE.
FORGET YOU.
AND CUTS HIM OUT
OF HER LIFE FOR GOOD.
I HATED HIM.
I HATED HIM.
I DIDN'T WANNA TALK
TO HIM ANYMORE.
YOU WERE DONE.
I WAS DONE.
Narrator:
ALONE AND DEPRESSED,
LaSHONDA KEEPS HER
SECRET LOCKED INSIDE.
HEY. WHAT'S
THE MATTER, BABY?
AND IT'S NOT
THE KINDA THING
YOU WANNA TELL YOUR MOM.
OH, NO.
- SHE WOULD'VE DISAPPROVED.
I WAS GONNA TAKE IT
TO THE GRAVE.
THERE'S NOTHIN' WRONG?
[crying] I HAD A ROUGH DAY
AT SCHOOL TODAY, MOM.
- WELL, WHAT HAPPENED?
- DRAMA.
Barbara:
SHE USED TO CRY ALL THE TIME.
IT'S LIKE A LOTTA ANGER
IN HER, A LOT OF ANGER.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT WHOLE ATTITUDE CHANGE,
LIKE "I DON'T GIVE
A 'L' ABOUT NOTHIN'."
OOH, I'M SO SICK
OF IT HERE!
I DO EVERYTHING!
- NO. I'M -
Narrator: BUT KEEPING THIS
SECRET FROM HER MOTHER
INCREASES THE TENSION AT HOME.
I'M 18 YEARS OLD!
I DON'T CARE.
YOU DON'T ACT LIKE IT.
OH, MY!
- AND, BEFORE LONG,
THEY'RE ARGUING
NEARLY EVERY DAY.
- IT'S NOT FAIR!
- I'M NOT GONNA BE A GRANDMOTHER!
I LOVE HER TO DEATH,
BUT ME AND LaSHONDA CAN'T STAY
IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEN, BARBARA SAYS SOMETHING
SHE CAN'T TAKE BACK.
THAT BITCH SHOULD'VE
KILLED YOU!
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
THAT KILLED ME INSIDE.
[ SNIFFLE ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA MOVES
OUT OF HER MOTHER'S HOUSE,
LEAVING A WAKE
OF PAINFUL MEMORIES BEHIND.
Woodard: I DON'T NEED IT.
I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE GOIN'
THROUGH THE THINGS
THAT I AM GOIN' THROUGH.
I'M TOO YOUNG FOR IT.
I NEVER EVEN HAD
A CHILDHOOD, AT ALL.
Dr. Jordan: BETWEEN LaSHONDA'S
SECRET ABOUT THE MISCARRIAGE
AND HER MOTHER'S
CONSTANT CRUELTY,
THEIR ABILITY TO LOVE
AND TRUST EACH OTHER
IS COMPLETELY COMPROMISED.
♪♪♪♪
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA REFUSES
TO LET HER MOTHER'S REJECTION
DESTROY HER FUTURE.
SHE MOVES TO THE
OUTSKIRTS OF CHICAGO
AND SPENDS THE NEXT 5 YEARS
[MUSIC PLAYS]
REBUILDING HER LIFE.
[ HUMMING ]
I ENDED UP MOVIN' OUTTA TOWN.
- ♪♪ DOWNTOWN ♪♪
I GOT MY OWN APARTMENT.
I WAS WORKIN'.
I WAS GOIN' TO SCHOOL.
♪♪ DOWN WE GO ♪♪
DIDN'T NOBODY BELIEVE IN ME,
[crying] BUT I DID IT.
I DID IT BY MYSELF.
♪♪ DOWN WE GO ♪♪
Narrator: LaSHONDA PAYS
THE BILLS AS A WAITRESS.
BRAIDING.
BUT SHE SPENDS HER FREE TIME
PURSUING HER PASSION.
[scoff]
I KNOW HOW TO BRAID.
WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING?
COSMETOLOGY. YES.
YOUR FACE JUST LIT UP.
'CAUSE I LOVED IT.
I'M LIKE
THIS GIRLY-GIRLY TYPE.
[ SCAT SINGING ]
I LOVE MY HAIR
AND MY LASHES AND MY NAILS
AND I'M LIKE "I WANNA GO
LEARN HOW TO DO THIS."
[ TRANQUIL TUNE PLAYS ]
AS LaSHONDA RECLAIMS HER LIFE,
SHE DECIDES TO UPDATE
HER FACEBOOK PROFILE
AND GETS A WELCOME SURPRISE.
I'M JUST GOIN'
DOWN MY TIMELINE
AND THIS GUY THAT I
HADN'T SEEN IN SO LONG,
HE WRITES ON MY WALL,
"HEY, BEAUTIFUL."
WHAT'S HIS NAME?
ANTONIO.
THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I SAY.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH ANTONIO
LIVES AN HOUR AWAY, IN KANKAKEE -
I LOVE TALKIN'
TO YOU, ACTUALLY.
I DO, TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
LaSHONDA DECIDES
TO STAY IN TOUCH.
HEY, CAN I
ASK YOU SOMETHIN'?
YEAH.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
IT'LL BE SHORT.
I'D LOVE
TO PRAY TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT.
Dr. Jones:
ANTONIO'S A SPIRITUAL GUY.
VERY.
ALMOST LIKE A THERAPIST.
YES. HE WAS MY DR. PHIL,
[LAUGHTER]
MY OPRAH.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER,
I WANT TO ASK YOU
TO KEEP YOUR EYES OVER LaSHONDA.
I WAS JUST TRYIN' TO DO
EVERYTHING I COULD TO UPLIFT HER
AND BRING HER UP TO PAR.
PRAISE YOU, JESUS.
IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN.
AMEN.
WE WAS TALKIN' ON THE PHONE,
LIKE 2, 3 HOURS.
YOU KNOW, I'D EVEN GO TO SLEEP
WITH HER ON THE PHONE.
SO, I MEAN, IT WAS COOL.
LIKE LaSHONDA MOST
DEFINITELY GOT A GOOD HEART.
[RING]
[WATER RUNS]
Narrator:
AS THE RELATIONSHIP HEATS UP,
ANTONIO STARTS
TO FEEL THE DISTANCE.
[ Ring ]
- Hey.
- HEY.
HEY. I'M SORRY
I MISSED YOUR CALL.
I WAS LIKE "OKAY.
I WANT YOU TO COME OUT HERE
WITH ME AND BE WITH ME."
Really?!
NO, SERIOUSLY, LIKE
I WANT YOU TO STAY WITH ME.
THOSE WERE THE WORDS
I WANTED TO HEAR.
SOUNDED LIKE GREAT MUSIC
TO MY EARS.
- SO YOU'RE FALLIN' FOR HIM.
- OH, YEAH.
I'M FALLIN' FOR HIM STRONG.
- I'd love to.
- [laughs] OKAY.
Dr. Jones:
LaSHONDA CRAVES NORMALCY.
SHE HAS SPENT THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS RECOVERING
FROM THE STRING OF TRAUMAS.
NOW THAT SHE'S TOTALLY ENAMORED
WITH HER SPIRITUAL BOYFRIEND,
IT REALLY BEGS THE QUESTION:
HOW WELL DOES SHE KNOW ANTONIO?
KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED.
OKAY.
Narrator: ANTONIO RECEIVES
LaSHONDA WITH OPEN ARMS
WAIT RIGHT HERE.
WAIT RIGHT HERE.
WHERE YOU TAKIN' ME?
AND HAS A BIG SURPRISE
UP HIS SLEEVE.
CAN I OPEN MY EYES NOW?
YES, YOU CAN OPEN
YOUR EYES.
OH, MY GOD! [laughs]
- YEAH!
- I LIKE THE CHOCOLATES.
- YOU LIKE THE CHOCOLATES?
BUT WHERE ARE WE?
THIS IS OURS, BABY.
- THIS IS OUR PLACE?!
- FOR REAL. FOR REAL, THOUGH.
OH, MY GOD!
YOU GOT A NEW PLACE?
WE STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM.
WE DIDN'T HAVE NO FURNITURE,
NO PLATES, NO ANYTHING.
BUT WE MADE THINGS HAPPEN.
LOOK. WE GOT
OUR OWN BACKYARD.
Narrator:
LaSHONDA EMBRACES HER NEW HOME
LOOK. WE GOT
ALL THIS SPACE.
AND YOU GOTTA SEE
THE KITCHEN.
AND DREAMS OF THE LIFE SHE
AND ANTONIO WILL BUILD TOGETHER.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
BUT LaSHONDA'S NEW LIFE
WITH ANTONIO BEGINS
TO LOOK LIKE A MISTAKE
WHEN SHE MAKES
A DISTURBING DISCOVERY.
WHAT IS...?
OH, HELL, NO.
I WAS CLEANIN' UP
AND I STUMBLE ACROSS A GUN.
A GUN
IN YOUR APARTMENT?
A GUN.
Narrator: LaSHONDA FEARS THAT HER
NEW MAN IS NOT ALL HE APPEARS TO BE.
♪♪♪♪
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ]
OH, HELL, NO.
Narrator:
LaSHONDA WOODARD WONDERS
WHAT HER DREAM MAN
COULD BE HIDING.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
****
CALL ANTONIO.
WHAT'S A GUN DOING
IN YOUR HOUSE?
I HAD NO IDEA, BUT I WAS GONNA
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.
- HEY.
- What's up?
GUESS WHAT I FOUND
IN THE DRAWER.
I don't know
what you talkin' about.
MM-HMM.
SHE TRIED TO ASK ME
TO GET RID OF IT, BUT,
I'M NOT GETTIN' RID
OF THIS GUN.
You gotta understand, it's
not safe out here, okay?
[scoff] PLEASE.
YOUSE A FAKEASS THUG.
Stop bein' like that.
You know me.
NO. NO. WE AIN'T GOTTA
WORK OUT NOTHIN'.
YOU SEEM LIKE YOU
GOT SOMETHIN'
YOU NEED TO WORK OUT.
Dr. Jones: A GUN IN THE
HOUSE IS A HUGE RED FLAG,
BUT LaSHONDA IS SO DESPERATE
FOR LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
THAT SHE DECIDES
TO LET IT SLIDE.
PUT YOUR OWN CLOTHES
AWAY, TOO.
SHE IS BLIND TO THE FACT THAT
SHE IS PLACING HER FUTURE
IN THE HANDS OF A MAN THAT SHE
REALLY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT.
IT'S AS IF SHE LEARNED NOTHING
FROM HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH MARCUS.
Narrator:
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP
IS TESTED, ONCE AGAIN.
HEY, BABY. WHAT YOU
DOIN' HOME SO EARLY?
THE WAREHOUSE
MADE SOME CUTBACKS
AND I DIDN'T MAKE
THE CUT.
OH. WE ALWAYS
FIND A WAY. C'MERE.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
I DON'T WANNA BE BACK
ON THE STREETS,
SO I'M STRESSIN'.
LIKE "DAMN.
I WISH THESE JOBS
WOULD CALL ME.
I WISH SOMETHIN' WOULD HAPPEN."
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
OKAY.
Narrator: AS THE PAIR
STRUGGLE TO FIND A JOB,
AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY FALLS
RIGHT INTO LaSHONDA'S LAP.
HMM.
I WAS ON FACEBOOK
AND THIS GIRL,
SHE POSTED UP
SHE HAD THIS SUGAR DADDY.
WHAT'S A SUGAR DADDY?
A MAN THAT GIVES A YOUNGER
WOMAN MONEY AND SPOILS HER.
THE GUY HAS SENT HER
LIKE $4,500.
- WHAT?
- AND I WAS LIKE "DAMN."
BUT FOR DOIN' WHAT, LaSHONDA?
SHE CLAIMS SHE HAD NEVER DONE
NOTHIN' WITH HIM, AT ALL.
BUT I WAS LIKE, "TCH,
THIS **** CAN'T BE TRUE."
LET'S DO IT.
Narrator:
IT SEEMS A LITTLE SHADY.
SHONDA.
BUT LaSHONDA IS OVERCOME
WITH CURIOSITY.
[ WHIMSICAL-SUSPENSEFUL
TUNE PLAYS ]
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
SO I SIGN UP
AND I THEN I RAN
ACROSS THIS ONE GUY.
HMM. GOOD ONE.
- AND WHAT'S HIS NAME?
- CLIFFORD.
HIS NAME IS CLIFFORD.
THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.
HE WAS IN HIS 50s.
I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING
THAT I WAS GOIN' THROUGH.
A WEEK
AFTER WE STARTED TALKIN',
I WOKE UP TO
A TEXT MESSAGE SAYIN',
"GO GET YOUR MONEY, HON.
I SENT YOU $1,000."
♪♪♪♪
- HEY, BABY.
- HEY, BABE.
Narrator: LaSHONDA RETURNS
HOME WITH THE CASH.
OUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.
HOW'D YOU GET THIS?
SHE COMES CLEAN TO ANTONIO.
IT'S NOTHIN'.
IT'S JUST TEXTIN', BABY.
ALL RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE NOT
SEEING THIS GUY, OKAY?
NO.
I TOLD HIM
I HAD A SUGAR DADDY.
WAIT A MINUTE.
AND HE'S OKAY WITH THAT?
YEAH. I WAS VERY HONEST
AND OPEN WITH HIM.
IT'S ALL GOOD.
OKAY.
Thomas:
I WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATED,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
SHE MADE THINGS HAPPEN.
[ ALERT CHIMES ]
I WAS JUST SO HAPPY
THAT THE MONEY WAS COMIN' IN.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Dr. Jones AS DEVIANT
AS THE SUGAR DADDY THING IS,
LaSHONDA HAS ACTUALLY FOUND
A WAY TO PAY THE BILLS.
STILL, SHE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL,
BECAUSE MOST
SUGAR-DADDY RELATIONSHIPS
GO WAY BEYOND TEXTING
AND, IF THAT ENDS UP
HAPPENING WITH LaSHONDA,
HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH ANTONIO IS OVER.
OH, WOW!
YOU DID ALL THIS FOR ME?!
OH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW IT, BABY.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY,
BABY.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
CLIFFORD'S COME TO HER RESCUE,
LaSHONDA'S HEART
BELONGS TO ANTONIO.
WHAT YOU GOT IN THERE?
PSSH! YOU GOTTA
WAIT YOUR TURN.
AND, ON VALENTINE'S DAY,
- [GASP]
HE PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
OH, MY GOSH.
WHAT'S -
- [LAUGHS]
- WHAT'S THIS?
- FOLLOW IT.
- I WAS STRESSED FOR CASH,
SO I HAD TO DO WHAT I COULD DO
ROMANTICALLY FOR BOTH OF US.
OHH, BABY.
Woodard: I CAME BACK HOME.
THERE WAS ROSE PETALS
- ROMANTIC.
THROUGH THE HALLWAY,
IN OUR ROOM, ALL IN OUR BED.
IT SPELLED OUT
"I HEART YOU."
IN ROSE PETALS?
IT WAS SO SWEET.
[ SIZZLING ]
HE'S COOKIN',
MAKIN' ME SOME STEAK
AND SHRIMP AND STUFF.
I WAS LIKE "OHH."
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
NEXT THING I KNOW,
WE HEAR SOMETHIN' AT THE DOOR.
HEY, BABE!
CAN YOU GET THAT?
IT WAS A DELIVERY MAN.
OH, WOW.
I LOVE 'EM, BABY.
THANK YOU!
- WHO THE HELL IS THAT FROM?
I'M THINKIN' IT'S
FROM ANTONIO.
- QUIT PLAYIN'.
- AYE, I'M NOT PLAYIN'.
WHO THE HELL
IS THAT FROM?
SO NOW I'M LOOKIN' CRAZY.
WHO IS IT FROM?!
YOU REALLY DIDN'T
SEND ME THIS STUFF?
MAN, I DIDN'T GET
YOU NONE OF THAT.
LET ME SEE.
WHO'S IT FROM?
THERE'S A CARD
AND THERE'S CASH IN THERE.
THAT PUNKASS CLIFFORD?
AND I WAS LIKE "OH, LORD,
IT'S ABOUT TO BE PROBLEMS NOW."
- RELAX, OKAY?
- I TOLD YOU -
Narrator: TO ANTONIO,
FLOWERS FROM CLIFFORD SUGGEST
THE ARRANGEMENT HAS MOVED
BEYOND FLIRTY TEXT MESSAGES.
EITHER YOU CHEATIN', OR YOU
DOIN' STRANGE THINGS FOR CASH.
WHAT THE HELL?
THAT'S MY STUFF!
- NO. IT'S CLIFFORD'S STUFF!
- HOW DARE YOU BREAK MY STUFF.
- THIS STUPID BEAR!
- WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
- STUPID CHOCOLATE!
- OH, I'LL SHOW YOU.
- NO. I'LL SHOW YOU!
- AAH! OH!
Narrator:
ANTONIO'S EYES GO BLANK.
LET ME GO!
TURNED HIS BACK,
I WENT TO GO GRAB A KNIFE.
YOU DONE LOST YOUR MIND,
BUT IMMA HELP YOU FIND IT!
- NO.
- IMMA CUT YO ASS.
LADY, YOU CRAZY,
LIKE, REAL CRAZY.
I'LL SHOW YOU!
[GRUNTING]
- PUT THE KNIFE -
SHE'S JUST SWINGIN'
THIS DAMN KNIFE
AND I'M LIKE
"GIRL, YOU MOST DEFINITELY
COULD'VE JUST STABBED ME,
FOR REAL, FOR REAL."
- IMMA CUT YOU!
Narrator: LaSHONDA LOSES
HER GRIP ON THE KNIFE.
AND THE TABLES SUDDENLY TURN.
WANT ME TO SHOOT YOU,
YOU CRAZY BITCH?
I TOLD YOU NOT TO MESS
WITH ME, YOU CRAZY BITCH.
YOU GONNA SHOOT ME?
[ GUNSHOT ]
HE SHOT AT ME.
I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY, BUT, NO,
YOU PULLED THE TRIGGER.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
SHE'S SO DRAMATIC.
LIKE I DIDN'T SHOOT IT AT HER.
I SHOT IT IN THE AIR.
[ GUNSHOT ]
AND THE HEAT HIT HER SHIRT.
- YOU DONE LOST YOUR MIND.
SHE'S ACTIN'
LIKE SHE WAS SHOT.
GET THE HELL OUT.
I GUESS SHE WANTED ME
TO GIVE HER SOME ATTENTION.
GET OUT!
[MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS]
[SOBBING]
THIS WAS YOUR FIRST
BIG RELATIONSHIP.
IT WAS.
IT WAS MY FIRST LIVE-IN.
[ SQUEAKS, SLAM ]
LIKE HE WAS SO MUCH
BETTER THEN MARCUS.
UNTIL HE LAID
HIS HANDS ON YOU.
'TIL HE LAID
HIS HANDS ON ME.
I'M LIKE,
"HE'S JUST LIKE MARCUS."
NO, COME ON, MAN.
FOR REAL?
Narrator: LaSHONDA
EMBRACES HER INDEPENDENCE.
SHE GETS A JOB AND CUTS TIES
WITH ANTONIO AND CLIFFORD.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHE'S LOOKING
FOR A FRESH START.
I KNOW THAT AIN'T
TEONNE RANDOLPH!
BOY!
- LaSHONDA?
I HEAR SOMEBODY
IN THE NEXT AISLE.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
OH, MY GOD,
MY FIRST CRUSH.
WOW. I MEAN, YOU LOOK -
YOU LOOK -
YOU LOOK -
YOU LOOK VERY GOOD.
YOU LOOK VERY GOOD.
[LAUGHTER]
Randolph: I KNEW HER SINCE
SHE WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
- I'M FINISHIN' UP HERE.
- ME TOO.
WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP,
REALLY, AS FRIENDS,
SO, WHEN I DID SEE HER,
IT WAS A BIG JOY.
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'VE DONE
WELL FOR YOURSELF.
I'M TRYIN'.
Narrator:
ALTHOUGH THEY NEVER DATED,
LaSHONDA ALWAYS FELT A SPECIAL
CONNECTION WITH TEONNE.
I GOTTA - I GOTTA ASK.
DO YOU STILL -
YOU STILL SING, RIGHT?
[laughs] YEAH.
OKAY. LET ME HEAR IT.
- RIGHT NOW?
- YEAH, RIGHT NOW!
- OH. OKAY.
- COME ON.
OKAY.
- HOLD ON.
LaSHONDA, SHE'S JUST
THE ULTIMATE STAR.
♪♪ AND WE GO ON AND ON ♪♪
♪♪ AND ON AND ON ♪♪
- THERE YOU GO.
♪♪ AND O-O-ON ♪♪
WOW! OKAY!
YOU STILL GOT IT.
AND ANY STAR NEED ATTENTION,
YOU KNOW, EVEN THE BRIGHTEST
ONE IN THE SKIES.
LOOK, LISTEN, LISTEN,
WE SHOULD HANG OUT,
FOR REAL. LIKE WE SHOULD
DEFINITELY CATCH UP.
- YEAH.
Narrator:
TEONNE AND LaSHONDA'S CHEMISTRY
IS EXPLOSIVE.
WHO SAID THAT I WANNA
WRITE A SONG ABOUT YOU?
WITHIN A WEEK
OF RECONNECTING,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP TAKES OFF
LIKE A ROCKET SHIP.
Woodard: IT WAS PERFECT.
I COULD NOT KEEP HIM
FROM UNDERNEATH ME.
- I KNOW THAT LOOK.
- YEAH.
HE KISSED THE GROUND
THAT I WALKED ON.
HE TREATED ME LIKE A QUEEN.
I COULD - I COULD BE
- I KNOW THAT LOOK.
- WITH YOU ALL DAY.
I ALREADY KNOW. NO.
Narrator: THE ATTENTION IS NICE,
BUT, AFTER 3 MONTHS OF DATING,
LaSHONDA NEEDS
SOME BREATHING ROOM.
SHE NEEDS A BREAK.
OH, OH, OH, OKAY.
WHY DON'T YOU
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE?
LIKE GO HANG OUT
WITH YOUR BOYS.
- OH, FOR REAL?
- YEAH.
Y'ALL NEED TO GET ON
THAT CHESS, THOUGH, MAN.
I WAS JUST KICKIN' IT
WITH THE BOYS,
DRINKIN' AND CHILLIN' AND JUST,
YOU KNOW, HAVIN' BOY TIME.
YOU BETTER WATCH
YOUR GAME, MAN,
'CAUSE YOU LOSIN'
- WHAT'S UP WITH Y'ALL?
Narrator: BUT BOY TIME
TAKES A DARK TURN -
AYE, LET ME RAP
TO YOU FOR A SECOND.
WHEN LaSHONDA'S EX ANTONIO
SHOWS UP TO MESS
WITH TEONNE'S HEAD.
- SO WHAT'S UP, MAN?
- AYE, MAN.
I KNOW LaSHONDA YOUR GIRL
AND EVERYTHING, BUT,
- YEAH.
- I GOT HER PREGNANT.
WHAT - WHAT YOU
TALKIN' ABOUT, MAN?
MAN, IT WAS LIKE,
IT WAS A WHILE AGO, MAN.
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, MAN?
KINDA GOT TO ME A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE, I MEAN, IN MY EYES,
THAT 'POSED TO BE
MY CHILD'S MOTHER.
THE BABY'S YOURS?
WHAT YOU TRYIN'?
- AYE, MAN, DON'T BE MAD AT ME.
- NAH. WHAT YOU MEAN,
DON'T GET MAD AT YOU?
- DON'T GET MAD AT ME. LOOK.
- AYE. IT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU.
- WHAT, YOU - YOU SEEIN'
MY GIRL LIKE THAT?
- IT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU, MAN.
HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS,
DUDE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
[ DOG BARKS ]
Narrator: TEONNE STUMBLES
HOME TO CONFRONT LaSHONDA
ABOUT HER LITTLE SECRET.
HEY, WHAT YOU DOIN' HERE?
I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOIN' OUT
WITH SHAQUAN AND THEM.
OH, NO, I WAS, BUT WE -
WE RAN INTO YOUR LITTLE
BOYFRIEND ANTONIO.
- MY BOYFRIEND?
- YEAH. YEAH, YOUR BOYFRIEND.
ANTONIO AIN'T
MY BOYFRIEND.
HE LET ME IN ON - ON YOUR
LITTLE SECRET, RIGHT?
MM-KAY -
- YEAH, MM, OKAY, YEAH.
YOU CARRYIN' HIS KID.
HUH?!
HE TOLD HIM THAT
I WAS PREGNANT BY HIM.
TEONNE DOESN'T BELIEVE
THIS, DOES HE?
HE'S DRINKIN',
SO HE BELIEVED IT.
- ONE.
- ONE WHAT?
- TAKE ONE STEP BACK.
- I'M NOT TAKIN' ANY STEPS BACK.
- YEAH. YOU NEED A BREATH MINT.
- NAH, I DON'T NEED - DON'T -
AND TWO, YOU STUPID
FOR BELIEVIN' THAT.
I AIN'T - NAH, NAH.
I'M STUPID FOR LIVING
WITH A FRICKIN' SLUT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M STUPID FOR.
- OH. OH, I'M A SLUT NOW?
- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU -
- WHAT, YOU FEELIN' SMALL?
YOU FEELIN' A LITTLE
SMALL, COMPARED TO HIM?
THAT'S WHY YOU TRIPPIN'.
SHE PRESSED MY BUTTON, SO,
I WAS JUST TRYIN' TO GET
AWAY FROM THE SITUATION.
- WAIT.
- Woodard: NEXT THING I KNOW -
- WAIT!
- DON'T - DON'T TOUCH ME.
HE PUNCHES ME IN MY MOUTH.
BUSTED MY WHOLE MOUTH OPEN.
LOOK, LaSHONDA, I'M -
I'M - I'M SORRY, OKAY?
LOOK, I -
I JUST MESSED UP.
AND I LOOKED AT HIM LIKE
"YOU JUST **** HIT ME."
I'M SORRY.
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK,
DON'T DO ANYTHING
CRAZY, OKAY?
LaSHONDA, WHERE YOU GOIN'?
I WAS APOLOGETIC,
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME,
I WAS WALKIN'
TOWARDS THE DOOR.
SHONDA, WHAT -
WHAT - WHAT YOU DOIN'?
WHOA. OKAY. WHOA. WHOA.
WHOA. WHOA. WHOA. WHOA.
LISTEN. WE CAN - WE CAN -
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
ALL RIGHT? WE CAN -
I'LL - I'LL - I'LL GO.
OKAY? LOOK, I'LL -
IT WAS A SCREEN DOOR
AND IT WAS HARD TO UNLOCK.
COME ON, SHONDA, PLEASE.
I WAS PANICKIN', LIKE
"OH, MAN, GET OUT THIS DOOR.
GET OUT THIS DOOR.
GET OUT THIS DOOR.
OPEN UP. WHY -
WHY AIN'T YOU OPENIN' UP?"
- LOOK - LOOK, I'M SORRY.
OH, YEAH,
YOU SORRY ALL RIGHT.
I AM PLAYIN', LIKE "LORD,
LET ME AT LEAST GET TO HIM
A LITTLE BIT,
SO HE CAN FEEL MY PAIN!"
COME ON, PLEASE, PLEASE!
I'M SORRY!
- YOU SORRY NOW? YOU SORRY NOW?
- I'M SORRY NOW. OKAY.
LOOK, STOP.
- IMMA SHOW YOU WHAT SORRY IS.
COME ON, PLEASE!
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
OKAY, LOOK, LOOK.
I'M SORRY.
- YOU SORRY NOW? YOU SORRY NOW?
- I'M SORRY NOW. OKAY.
LOOK, STOP.
- IMMA SHOW YOU WHAT SORRY IS.
COME ON, PLEASE!
I TURNT AROUND
AND I SEEN THE KNIFE
AND I'M LIKE
THINKIN' TO MYSELF,
"WHAT, YOU ABOUT TO CUT ME?"
STOP. STOP.
STOP! AH!
I STABBED HIM LIKE RIGHT HERE
IN HIS BACK SHOULDER.
YOU STABBED HIM
IN HIS BACK?
YEAH. I WANTED
TO TEACH HIM A LESSON.
WHAT THE HELL IS
YOUR PROBLEM?
WHAT THE HELL
IS YOUR PROBLEM?!
HE TRIED TO COME BACK IN.
- YEAH. IMMA SHOW YOU AGAIN.
AND I JUST TOOK THE KNIFE
AND JUST JAMMED IT
THROUGH HIS HAND.
[THWACK]
AAAAH!
AAH-AGH!
ARE YOU CRAZY?!
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!
THAT'S REVENGE.
THAT'S NOT SELF-DEFENSE.
YEAH. IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE
'CAUSE HE TOUCHED ME FIRST.
OH, YOU GOIN' TO JAIL,
BITCH. YOU GOIN' TO JAIL!
Narrator:
WHEN SHE SNAPS BACK TO REALITY,
LaSHONDA IMMEDIATELY
CALLS THE POLICE.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
[RADIO CHATTER]
HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING?
IT - THAT - THAT
DOESN'T MATTER, MAN.
MY HAND.
- PART OF ME THINKIN' THAT
THEY'RE GONNA ARREST BOTH OF US
BECAUSE I GOT STABBED
AND SHE GOT HIT.
THAT CRAZY BITCH STABBED ME
WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
ALL RIGHT?
I'M YELLIN' AT MYSELF LIKE,
"YOU GOT TO LEARN HOW
TO THINK BEFORE
REACTING, GIRL."
MA'AM, YOUR BOYFRIEND
SAID YOU STABBED HIM.
MY EX-BOYFRIEND.
AND THE POLICE WAS LIKE,
"WELL, HE TOLD ME
YOU STABBED HIM."
I SAID, "I DID."
- [LAUGHS]
YOU DON'T SEE MY MOUTH?
HE CAME HOME DRUNK
AND HE PUNCHED ME
IN THE FACE.
IN OTHER WORDS,
THE POLICE HEAR THE STORY
AND THEY DON'T WANNA GET
INVOLVED IN THE DETAILS.
AND THEY SEE A WOMAN
WITH HER MOUTH BUSTED OPEN.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: TEONNE IS ARRESTED
ON A DOMESTIC-ASSAULT CHARGE
AND SPENDS THE NIGHT IN JAIL.
BOTH DECIDE NOT
TO PRESS CHARGES.
SHE THOUGHT THAT ME
GETTIN' ARRESTED
WOULD TEACH ME A LESSON.
AND IT DID, [laughs] ABSOLUTELY.
Narrator: BUT TEONNE'S PUNISHMENT
IS NOT ENOUGH FOR LaSHONDA.
SHE BREAKS IT OFF
AND NEVER LOOKS BACK.
LaSHONDA IS A STRONG WOMAN,
BUT SHE'S ALSO
A DANGEROUS WOMAN.
THE FACT THAT SHE'S ATTACKED
THREE MEN WITH A KNIFE
AND HAS NEVER BEEN
ARRESTED IS AMAZING,
BUT IF SHE WANTS TO STAY OUT
OF PRISON IN THE FUTURE,
LaSHONDA NEEDS TO FIND
ANOTHER WAY TO RESOLVE CONFLICT.
[SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES]
[GULLS CRY]
Narrator: AFTER THE
STABBING, LaSHONDA MOVES
TO GALVESTON, TEXAS,
TO BUILD A NEW LIFE.
ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE LONELY,
LaSHONDA CLAIMS THE DISTANCE
HAS ALLOWED HER
TO REFLECT ON HER CHOICES
AND TURN HER LIFE AROUND.
I STILL HAVE MY DAYS
WHEN I THINK BACK TO,
"DAMN, GIRL,
YOU BEEN THROUGH A LOT
AND YOU ARE STILL
STANDIN' STRONG."
MY HUSBAND'S GONNA LOVE ME.
- [LAUGHS]
WHOEVER HE IS,
HE'S GONNA LOVE ME. [laughs]
[TRANQUIL TUNE PLAYS]
[GULLS CRY]
Narrator: A YOUNG DIVA KNOWS
HOW TO HOLD THE SPOTLIGHT.
♪♪ AND WE GO ON AND ON ♪♪
THERE YOU GO.
♪♪ AND O-O-ON ♪♪
WOW! OKAY!
I'M LIKE "YEAH. I'M GONNA
BE A STAR ONE DAY."
BUT A TRAUMATIC EVENT
- YOU GONNA PAY FOR THAT.
TURNS HER WHOLE WORLD
INSIDE OUT.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?
I THOUGHT LIKE,
"I'M ABOUT TO BE UGLY."
IT LEADS HER DOWN A TWISTED PATH
OF CYBERAFFAIRS
- MMM!
- AND SEXUAL RIVALRIES.
- RELAX.
PUNKASS CLIFFORD?
HE JUST BEIN' NICE.
EITHER YOU CHEATIN',
OR YOU DOIN' STRANGE
THINGS FOR CASH.
THAT WILL PUSH HER -
COME ON, SHONDA,
PLEASE, COME ON.
AND HER LOVERS
TO THEIR BREAKING POINT.
I WAS PANICKING,
LIKE "GET OUT THIS DOOR."
OPEN UP. WHY -
WHY AIN'T YOU OPENIN' UP?"
LOOK, LOOK, I'M SORRY.
[EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS]
IMMA SHOW YOU WHAT SORRY IS.
NO. COME ON. PLEASE!
[ AIRY TUNE PLAYS ]
Narrator: NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
WHEN LOVES GOES WRONG,
A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
[DOG BARKS]
[CLAPPING]
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
- ALL RIGHT, GIRL.
- ♪♪ AND WE JUMP ♪♪
♪♪ WE. JUMP ♪♪
♪♪ AND WE JUMP,
WE. JUMP ♪♪
AT JUST 14 YEARS OLD,
LaSHONDA WOODARD
IS ALREADY TURNING HEADS
ON THE STREETS
OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.
SOMEBODY JUMP.
GET IN THERE, GIRL.
AS A CHILD, OO-OO-OOH,
I HAD SUCH A SMART MOUTH.
I WAS VERY BLUNT.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
SHE SHOWIN' Y'ALL.
LIKE EVERYONE LOVED ME.
ALL RIGHT, GIRL.
- ♪♪ WE JUMP ♪♪
♪♪ WE. JUMP ♪♪
- YOU GOT THIS.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
AN ACTRESS AND A SINGER.
♪♪ AND THE HEAT
OF THE BEAT ♪♪
♪♪ IT RISE-E-E-S ♪♪
I'M LIKE, "YEAH, I'M GONNA BE
A STAR ONE DAY."
♪♪ COLORS OF LO-O-O-VE ♪♪
♪♪ SHOW ME THE COLORS
OF LO-O-VE ♪♪
[laughs] OH.
- GIRL, YOU GOT THAT!
AYE, YOU THINK SO?
SHE WAS VERY INDEPENDENT,
ALWAYS STRONG,
AND KINDA LOUD. [laughs]
AAH!
THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
LIKE NOT THE NEXT BEYONCé,
BUT BETTER THAN BEYONCé, OKAY?
SHE WOULD SAY WHAT'S
ON HER MIND.
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.
[laughs]
SHE DON'T EVEN CARE.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
Narrator: BUT, AT HOME,
LaSHONDA, THE OLDEST OF THREE,
IS VULNERABLE.
YOU THINK THESE BILLS
GONNA JUMP UP
OFF THIS TABLE
AND PAY THEMSELVES?
WHAT DO YOU THINK, YOU'RE
A COMEDIAN NOW, HUH?
HOW MUCH DOES THAT PAY?
HER AND MY DAD
WAS ALWAYS BICKERIN'
AND SO WE, THE KIDS,
WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
- YOU KNOW WHAT, JAMES?
- WHAT?!
- WE'RE DONE.
- DONE?
- DONE!
- YOU KNOW WHAT DONE IS?
- DONE.
- DONE IS THIS.
THAT'S DONE!
WHEN OUR HOME GOT BROKEN UP,
TO ME, IT WAS LIKE
MAN, LIKE, THAT WASN'T THE LIFE
THAT I WANTED TO LIVE.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN
IS A CRIMINOLOGIST
WHO STUDIES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
WHEN LaSHONDA'S PARENTS
SPLIT UP,
IT BRINGS A LOT OF FEAR
AND UNCERTAINTY INTO HER LIFE.
THEY WAY THEY INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER
AND SHARE CUSTODY
CAN REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT
ON THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.
SO, WITH LaSHONDA,
IT COULD FOLLOW HER
THROUGH HER TEENAGE YEARS
AND REALLY IMPACT HER VIEW
OF WHAT A HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIP IS.
[ SOBBING ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA AND HER
YOUNGER BROTHER, ANTHONY,
MOVE ACROSS TOWN
WITH THEIR FATHER,
LEAVING THEIR MOTHER
AND YOUNGER SISTER BEHIND.
Woodard: MY MOM, OH,
SHE LOVED US TO DEATH,
BUT SHE DIDN'T WANNA RAISE
ALL THOSE KIDS BY HERSELF.
I HAVE TO ASK
HOW YOU FELT
ABOUT YOUR MOM
NOT BEIN' AROUND
AND GIVIN' UP ON YOU AND
SENDING YOU TO YOUR DAD'S.
I WAS HURT 'CAUSE I THOUGHT
MY MOM DIDN'T WANT US.
[ SOBBING ]
[ DOG BARKS ]
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ DOOR CREAKS OPEN ]
Narrator: ISOLATED FROM HER
MOTHER AND STARVED FOR ATTENTION,
LaSHONDA STARTS TO REBEL.
HEY! HEY!
WHAT IN THE HELL
WERE YOU THINKIN'?!
GETTING SUSPENDED FOR FIGHTIN'?!
- IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
- HUH?
- IT WASN'T MY FAULT.
SO YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT FIGHTIN' IS?
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT
FIGHTIN' IS.
MY DAD BEAT THE HELL OUT OF ME.
- OW!
- I TOLD YOU.
AAH!
HE USED TO TAKE LIKE
AN EXTENSION CORD
AND JUST BEAT MY ASS.
AAH!
NOW, YOU LEARNED
YOUR LESSON, HUH?
- [SOBBING]
- COME BACK HERE.
- AHH!
- GET UP!
AIN'T NOTHIN'
WRONG WITH YOU.
AH.
OH, BABY.
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYS]
HE JUST STOPPED.
HE WAS SHOCKED.
AND I HATED HIM FOR THAT.
BABY, C'MERE.
HEY. COME -
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ HIP HOP PLAYS ]
GO, REYAH.
GO, REYAH.
Narrator: A WEEK PASSES,
AND LaSHONDA TRIES TO FORGET
ABOUT THE PAINFUL ORDEAL.
YOU STILL GOT
YO MOVES.
Woodard: MY BROTHER HAD
THIS LITTLE DANCE THING.
OF COURSE, MY MOM WAS THERE
AND SHE SEES ME
WITH THIS BAND-AID
ACROSS MY EYE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
NOTHIN'.
IT'S NOTHIN'.
DID YOUR DADDY DO THIS?!
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
SHE WENT CRAZY.
- DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?
- NO.
SHE SNATCHED ME UP,
RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
STAY RIGHT THERE.
AIN'T NO SHAME IN MY GAME.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO TO HIM,
I KNOW I WOULD'VE WENT
TO JAIL FOR.
THE KIDS ARE
COMIN' WITH ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS
HAPPENIN' OVER THERE.
REALLY? WE'LL SEE
WHAT THE POLICE HAVE
TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
AND WE HAD IT OUT
ON THE PHONE.
I THOUGHT SO.
COME ON!
YOU SERIOUS?
COME ON, T.
LET'S GO.
Narrator: LaSHONDA AND HER
BROTHER MOVE BACK IN
WITH HER MOM
AND HER YOUNGER SISTER.
♪♪ DO IT LIKE THIS! ♪♪
3 YEARS LATER,
17-YEAR-OLD LaSHONDA'S LIFE
TAKES ANOTHER DRAMATIC TURN
WHEN HER MOTHER GETS
A NEW JOB IN CHICAGO.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
[ BARKING ]
YOUR BACK IS LAZY.
WHATEVER.
I WAS VERY CONCERNED
BECAUSE MY KIDS,
THEY WAS BORN
AND RAISED IN KANKAKEE.
THEY NEVER KNEW NOTHIN'
ABOUT CHICAGO.
AND, YES, IT DID
KINDA SCARE ME.
Narrator: BARBARA IMPOSES A STRICT
NO-DATING POLICY ON HER GIRLS.
OH, LOOK AT THAT GIRL,
MAN, UH. ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOT SOME FANS
OVER THERE ALREADY.
PSSH. I AIN'T GOT TIME
FOR THAT.
Woodard:
I COULDN'T LIKE NOBODY.
I COULDN'T EVEN STARE
AT NOBODY.
SO, OF COURSE, AT THAT AGE,
I'M THINKIN' A BOY,
"OOH, HE CUTE."
BUT THAT'S IT.
HEY, WHAT'S UP, MAMI?
WHAT'S UP?
OH OH, LOOK AT THAT.
SHE LOOKIN' AT ME.
Barbara: YOU AIN'T DATIN'
IN MY HOUSE.
NUH-UH. UNH-UNH.
YOU WANNA DATE?
DATE WHEN YOU GET
GROWN AND GET OUT. YEAH.
I THINK I GOT IT.
I WAS RAISED UP AS
MY BOYFRIEND WAS MY BOOKS.
Narrator:
BARBARA WANTS HER DAUGHTERS
TO AVOID ALL THE MISTAKES
THAT TEENAGE GIRLS CAN MAKE.
SO HER NO-DATING
POLICY IS EXTREME,
BUT, SHE'S CONVINCED IT
IS THE ONLY WAY
TO KEEP HER FEISTY
DAUGHTER OUT OF TROUBLE.
Narrator:
DESPITE HER MOTHER'S RULES -
WHAT'S UP,
LI'L MAMA?
LaSHONDA MEETS A YOUNG MAN
NAMED MARCUS MANLY,
A LOCAL BAD BOY
WITH A LOT TO PROVE.
WELCOME TO CHI-TOWN.
- WELCOME TO CHI-TOWN?
- YEAH.
YOU THE TOWN MAYOR
OR SOMEBODY?
NAH.
THEY CALL ME MARCUS.
WHEN I FIRST SEEN LaSHONDA,
I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW HER.
SO WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
WHAT'S UP WITH ME AND YOU?
I WAS GOT
TO SPEAKIN' TO HER,
LIKE LITTLE STUFF,
LIKE "HEY.
HOW YOU DOIN', CUTIE?"
AND LITTLE COMPLIMENTS.
ME AND YOU?
THERE IS NO ME AND YOU.
OH, COME ON NOW.
AND I GOT A MAN
ALREADY, ANYWAY.
GIRL, WHAT YOUR MAN
GOTTA DO WITH ME?
HE USED TO FOLLOW ME
AND I USED TO LIKE,
"I DON'T LIKE HIM.
HE UGLY."
I USED TO SAY ALL THE TIME
HOW LIKE HE LOOKS LIKE A FROG.
OH, COME ON NOW. LET ME
HELP YOU TAKE THAT IN.
SHE TRIED TO PUSH ME OFF
AND TELL ME
SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND
AND EVERYTHING.
AYE, HIT ME UP A LITTLE
LATER, ALL RIGHT?
AYE, I'M NEXT DOOR,
5 FEET AWAY.
- [LAUGHTER]
- ALL RIGHT.
- SO I JUST KEPT
PLAYIN' IT SMOOTH.
AW, THAT'S DIRTY, MAN.
GIMME
THAT DRINK, MAN.
WHEN YOU YOUNG,
GIRLS LIKE BAD BOYS
AND, AT THAT TIME,
I WAS A BAD BOY.
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
MARCUS STARTS
GROWING ON LaSHONDA.
THIS ONE TIME,
ME AND MY FRIENDS
GOT INTO THE ZOMBIE
TYPE OF MAKEUP THING.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHIN'
ABOUT HIM.
WHY WERE YOU
IN ZOMBIE MAKEUP?
I DON'T KNOW. HE PUT
A SPELL OVER ME OR SOMETHIN'.
COPS SHOWED UP
RIGHT NEXT TO US.
AND YOU KNOW WE LOOKIN'
LIKE THE UNDEAD,
RUNNIN' AROUND AND -
HE JUST LIKED ME. HE'S CRAZY.
HE WAS VERY FUNNY.
- WHAT'S UP?
- AND I STARTED LIKIN' HIM.
- THANK YOU FOR WALKIN' ME.
- OH, IT'S ALL GOOD.
Narrator:
ALTHOUGH THEY AREN'T DATING -
CAN I WALK YOU HOME
TOMORROW, TOO?
- I GUESS SO.
- LaSHONDA'S MOTHER TRIES
TO PUT AN END TO THIS
BUDDING FRIENDSHIP.
BOY, IF YOU DON'T
GET OFF MY PORCH!
OKAY.
CALM DOWN, MOM.
YES, I WENT OFF ON HIM.
I TOLD HIM TO STAY THE HELL
AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.
I'M JUST LOOKIN'.
I'M NOT BUYIN'.
YEAH. WELL, YOU GO SNIFF
SOMEWHERE ELSE. GO.
OKAY.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
Manly: I REALLY DIDN'T
PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
I THOUGHT LIKE SHE WAS
JUST OLD AND [laughs]
WAS JUST JEALOUS
OF HER DAUGHTER.
[ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS ]
ALL RIGHT, STOP.
IMMA GET THAT DUDE.
Narrator:
AS THE ATTRACTION BUILDS -
- HI, SHONDA.
- HEY. WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?
HEY. WHAT'S UP?
HOLD UP, HOLD UP, HOLD UP.
Narrator: MARCUS BECOMES FOCUSED
ON SEALING THE DEAL WITH LaSHONDA.
WHERE YOU GOIN'?
- HEY!
- UGH!
YOU NEED TO TAKE
THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE
'CAUSE I'M NOT
THAT KINDA CHICK.
I'M LIKE "BOY, YOU CAN GET
THE HELL OUT MY FACE.
AIN'T NOTHIN' GOIN' ON."
- AYE, I'M SORRY.
AYE, FOR REAL.
Manly: I HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO RESPECT IT.
AYE, I'LL -
I'LL TAKE IT BACK!
WELL, THAT JUST MADE ME
MORE THIRSTY, LIKE
"MAN, I REALLY WANNA
GET WITH HER NOW."
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
♪♪ AYE, AYE, AYE, AYE ♪♪
Narrator: MARCUS PURSUES
LaSHONDA FOR A FULL YEAR.
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIRL!
- THANK YOU.
Narrator: WHEN HER 18th
BIRTHDAY ROLLS AROUND,
SHE FINALLY DECIDES
TO LET HIM CATCH HER.
SO WHAT YOU DOIN'
LATER ON TONIGHT?
I CANNOT WAIT!
'CAUSE IT'S GOIN' DOWN.
YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU 18 NOW.
YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU AN ADULT.
Narrator: SO FAR, LaSHONDA
HAS AVOIDED TROUBLE
ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO.
BUT HER LUCK IS
ABOUT TO RUN OUT.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Woodard: THIS GIRL, NIKKI,
SHE COMES ACROSS THE STREET.
SHE DID NOT LOOK RIGHT TO ME.
WHEN I SEENT HER,
I WAS KINDA IN SHOCK
'CAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IMMA RUN TO THE STORE
REAL QUICK.
YOU WANT ME
TO GET YOU SOMETHIN'?
- NO.
- I DEFINITELY DIDN'T WANT
ANY ONE OF THEM
TO FIGURE OUT
THAT THEY GOT
SOMETHIN' IN COMMON.
I'LL SEE YOU IN A SECOND,
ALL RIGHT?
SO I LEFT.
- ♪♪ UP OUT HERE IN CHI-TOWN ♪♪
- ♪♪ YEP ♪♪
♪♪ WANT A GIRL TO GET DOWN ♪♪
- ♪♪ OH! ♪♪
Narrator:
WHEN NIKKI APPROACHES -
LaSHONDA!
LaSHONDA LEARNS EXACTLY
WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON.
THAT'S MY BABY DADDY AND
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET MARRIED.
BABY? I DON'T KNOW
NOTHIN' ABOUT THAT.
WELL, HE DIDN'T
TELL ME THAT, YOU KNOW?
THAT AIN'T WHAT
HE SAID, BUT,
IF THAT'S YOUR MAN,
YOU CAN HAVE HIM.
Narrator: BUT NIKKI HAS NO INTEREST
IN LaSHONDA'S SIDE OF THE STORY.
- YOU A HO.
- I AIN'T NO HO.
YOU WANNA FIGHT, OVER HIM?
Narrator:
AND LaSHONDA'S HAD ENOUGH.
OH!
WE ARE FIGHTIN'.
WE ARE GETTIN' DOWN.
[ CROWD SHOUTING ]
I SEE A LOTTA PEOPLE
COMIN' AROUND.
YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
THEN, THERE WAS TWO PEOPLE
ON EACH OF MY ARMS
AND I'M THINKIN' THEY'RE
TRYIN' TO PULL ME UP OFF HER.
Narrator: BUT THESE STRANGERS
AREN'T LaSHONDA'S FRIENDS.
THEY'RE WITH NIKKI.
WHAT YOU DOIN'?
LET GO OF MY ARM!
YOU GONNA PAY FOR THAT,
BITCH.
THEY HOLDIN' ME DOWN!
- GET 'ER, NIKKI, GET 'ER!
- AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
- AAGH!
- Man: YEAH, YEAH.
NIKKI HAD A BOX CUTTER.
Man: SOMEBODY GET HELP.
[crying] WHEN I LOOKED DOWN,
BLOOD WAS JUST COMIN' OUT.
AAAAAAAH!
- STOP IT!
- I TOLD YOU THAT WAS MY MAN!
WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?
IT WAS -
[ SNIFFLE ]
MY FACE WAS WIDE,
LIKE IT WAS WIDE OPEN.
MY FACE WAS A MESS.
THE ONLY THING I THOUGHT LIKE,
"I'M ABOUT TO BE UGLY."
[ SOBBING ]
Narrator: WHEN LaSHONDA
RETURNS HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,
THE TRAUMA FROM THE ATTACK
BEGINS TO SINK IN.
[ GASP, SOB ]
I'M JUST LOOKIN' IN THE MIRROR
AND CRY, LIKE "WHY? WHY ME?"
I HAD LIKE
70 STITCHES IN MY FACE.
I WAS DEPRESSED.
CAN YOU SHOW ME?
[ GASPING ]
Narrator:
IN A MOMENT OF DESPERATION,
LaSHONDA MAKES A SILENT
PROMISE TO HERSELF.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
IF I GET INTO IT WITH ANYBODY,
I'M GONNA GET YOU
BEFORE YOU GET ME.
- NO ONE'S GONNA HURT YOU.
- NO ONE'S GONNA HURT ME
'CAUSE IMMA HURT YOU
BEFORE YOU HURT ME.
TRUST ME. [chuckle]
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE
THAT THIS ATTACK
HAS LEFT LaSHONDA
SHAKEN AND REELING.
BUT, SHE'S TAKING AWAY
THE WRONG LESSON.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
HOW SHE WILL DEFEND HERSELF
IN THE FUTURE,
SHE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON
WHO SHE CAN TRUST.
NOW THAT SHE'S ARMED AND ANGRY,
I WORRY THAT SHE IS HEADING
DOWN A DANGEROUS PATH.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CLIMBS ]
Narrator: MARCUS WAITS
FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
♪♪ DOWNTOWN ♪♪
LaSHONDA.
THEN SHOWS UP
ON LaSHONDA DOORSTEP.
UGH!
WHAT YOU WANT?
CAN WE TALK?
AND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
YOU FINALLY SAW MARCUS?
I COULDN'T REALLY SO MUCH
LOOK AT HIS FACE
'CAUSE I WAS EMBARRASSED.
YOUR MAMA HERE?
NO. YOU GOT A FEW MINUTES.
SHE'S AT THE STORE.
Manly:
I WAS KIND OF IN SHOCK
'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
THE SEVERITY OF IT.
YOU GOOD?
NO, I AIN'T GOOD.
AYE.
I KEPT TELLIN' HER LIKE,
"IT DON'T AFFECT NOTHIN'.
YOU STILL PRETTY.
I STILL LOVE YOU.
IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE
THE WAY I LOOK AT YOU."
I'M SORRY.
THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY KICKED IN
AND I FELT REAL GUILTY.
TELL YOU HOW I FEEL
AND WHATNOT.
Dr. Jones: THAT'S PRETTY SEDUCTIVE,
A MAN WHO FEELS RESPONSIBLE
BECAUSE IT WAS
HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND.
THAT'S HOW YOU FEELIN'?
YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK ANY GIRL
IN YOUR SITUATION
WOULD BE A SUCKER
FOR THAT.
I WAS. I WAS
A BLOW POP FOR THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
I WAS. I WAS.
AND I GOT YOU SOMETHIN'.
Dr. Jones: LaSHONDA IS IN A
PIT OF DEPRESSION AND SELF-PITY
BECAUSE OF THIS VERY
DISFIGURING FACIAL SCAR.
MARCUS TAKES ADVANTAGE
OF THAT VULNERABILITY,
AT A TIME WHEN, REALLY,
LaSHONDA SHOULD HAVE NOTHING
MORE TO DO WITH HIM.
YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT ON
ALL THE TIME.
IT'LL PROTECT YOU,
ALWAYS.
HE REALLY LIFTED ME UP.
I WAS AT MY LOWEST.
I WAS DEPRESSED.
I FELT UGLY.
AND HE JUST, "YOU NOT UGLY."
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
AND I FELL FOR THAT.
I FELL FOR IT.
SO I'M THINKIN', "WOW,
HE REALLY LOVE ME."
WE FINALLY GET TO GO OUT.
I'M SO EXCITED.
Narrator: THEIR BOND GROWS STRONGER
AND THEY FINALLY START DATING.
IT JUST BECAME OFFICIAL
THAT WE BECAME A COUPLE
AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT
AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER.
BACK TO MY HOUSE,
JUST TO CHILL?
- PBBT!
- QUICK KISS.
IT TOOK THE LID OFF
THE COOKIE JAR, THOUGH.
OH, YEAH, THEN. HELLO.
- [LAUGHS]
I'M LIKE "I WANNA KNOW
WHY I ALMOST DIED.
LET ME SEE WHAT THIS
ALL ABOUT."
MMM.
Narrator: IT'S EVERYTHING
SHE HOPED IT WOULD BE.
- [LaSHONDA CHUCKLES]
- AND, FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL MONTHS, THE COUPLE
LIVES IN CARNAL BLISS.
BUT FOR MARCUS, HIS PASSION
QUICKLY DEVOLVES INTO JEALOUSY.
I WAS REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT HER LEAVIN' ME
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
PLENTY OF TIMES, I TOLD HER,
LIKE "DON'T GO OUTSIDE."
THE HELL IS THAT?
WHAT YOU DOIN'?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
WHAT'S GOOD?
I USED TO GO IN HER ROOM
AND TAKE HER CLOTHES,
SO SHE WOULDN'T GET DRESSED.
WHAT'S UP
WITH SHONDA, THOUGH?
- WHAT?!
- ME AND SOME FRIENDS
ARE GOIN' OUT.
JUST TRYIN' TO SEE
IF SHE WANNA COME WITH US.
- WHAT YOU MEAN?!
Woodard: THE MOMENT I GAVE IT
UP, OH, I WAS ALL HIS.
I MEAN,
WHY YOU TRIPPIN'?
IT'S A WRAP.
- [LAUGHS]
YEAH. IT'S A WRAP.
- YOU TRYIN' TO CLAIM MINE?!
I AIN'T TRYIN'
TO CLAIM SHIT.
MARCUS! MARCUS!
BRING MY CLOTHES
BACK HERE!
I BELONGED TO HIM.
IN HIS MIND.
[laughs]
YES.
MARCUS, BRING ME
MY CLOTHES BACK, LIKE NOW.
HEY. DON'T WORRY
ABOUT YOUR CLOTHES.
WHAT YOU NEED
YOUR CLOTHES FOR?
BECAUSE!
I'M GETTIN' READY TO GO.
WE CAN WATCH A MOVIE,
ALL DAY.
I DON'T WANNA STAY HERE
AND WATCH A MOVIE
- WHY NOT?
- AND YOU ACTIN' CRAZY.
Narrator: THEN,
LaSHONDA HEARS HER MOTHER FIGHTING
WITH HER NEW BOYFRIEND.
- WE'RE STAYING.
- HOLD ON.
- WHAT?
GET YOUR HANDS
OFF OF ME!
STOP!
- THAT'S MY MOM.
OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT?
MOVE OUT OF MY WAY.
- STEP BACK!
- STOP IT!
OH, HELL, NO! MAMA.
CALM DOWN.
HE TELLS ME IT'S NOT
NONE OF MY BUSINESS.
HEY, WOMAN, YOU BETTER
BACK UP RIGHT NOW!
THIS MY MOM.
DO YOU WATCH YOUR MOM GET BEAT?
I'M NOT GONNA WATCH
MY MOM GET BEAT.
- GET OUTTA MY WAY.
- YOU BETTER CALM DOWN!
WHAT YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
- Narrator: IN A FLASH OF RAGE,
- Marcus: OW!
- MARCUS GRABS LaSHONDA.
- LET GO!
- HE DRAGS ME LIKE
"YOU AIN'T HAVE NOTHIN'
TO DO WITH THAT."
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYS]
I TOLD YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!
BE QUIET!
Manly: LaSHONDA, SHE GOT
A LITTLE CERTAIN LOOK.
- [hoarsely] LET GO OF ME.
- SHUT UP AND LISTEN!
- LET GO!
- YOU NEVER LISTEN!
- [GRUNTING]
- AND SHE JUST FLIP OUT.
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
- GET THE HELL OFF OF ME.
WHOA! CRAZY?!
NO, YOU CRAZY.
NOW, IMMA SHOW YOU.
YOU GONNA PAY.
- REALLY?
I HONESTLY FELT LIKE
SHE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
[EERIE MUSIC CLIMBS]
CHILL!
PUT IT DOWN.
- MARCUS!
- NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
HE GRABBED THE KNIFE FROM ME.
CHILL!
MARCUS.
AND HE PUT THE KNIFE
UP TO MY THROAT.
- PUT THE KNIFE DOWN.
- SHUT UP!
- NO.
- TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
STOP! DON'T!
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
- MARCUS!
- NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WHO'S IN CONTROL NOW?
IT WAS CLEAR
THAT HE WAS CRAZY
AND IT LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS GONNA KILL ME.
UNH!
- OH, NO.
- UH!
I TOLD YOU! PLAY THOSE
GAMES WITH ME, GIRL!
AND HE JUST GOT
TO BEATIN' MY ASS.
- [GRUNTING]
- NO!
[ SOBBING ]
LOOK WHAT YOU
MADE ME DO!
SHE WAS LIKE DAZED,
BUT SHE WAS MORE IN SHOCK
THAT I HIT HER.
OHHH!
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
AND I'M JUST ON THE FLOOR,
CRYIN' LIKE
"WHY DID YOU DO ME LIKE THIS?"
[ SOBBING ]
I KNEW SHE WAS HURT,
BUT I WASN'T TRYIN'
TO STICK AROUND
TO PAY HER NO ATTENTION.
[SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS]
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
[ DOG BARKS NEARBY ]
OHH!
Narrator: A WEEK LATER,
LaSHONDA BEGINS HAVING
SHARP ABDOMINAL PAINS.
Woodard:
I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN.
MY BACK AND MY STOMACH
WAS HURTIN'.
I WAS HAVIN' CRAMPS.
[ MOANING ]
THE WORST PAINS, EVER.
Narrator: LaSHONDA IMMEDIATELY
GOES TO THE HOSPITAL.
HI, SWEETIE.
WHERE SHE RECEIVES
DEVASTATING NEWS.
HOW ARE YOU?
ALL RIGHT.
LaSHONDA, I'M SORRY
TO BE THE ONE
TO HAVE TO TELL YOU,
BUT, UM,
YOU'VE HAD
SOME COMPLICATIONS
WITH YOUR PREGNANCY.
MY PREGNANCY?
YOU DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW IT.
[MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS]
[MONITOR BEEPS]
AND IT HURTED ME TO THE CORE.
[ SOBBING ]
I LOST MY BABY.
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA RETURNS HOME TO
SHARE THE TRAGIC NEWS WITH MARCUS.
[ SCOFF ]
I KNEW YOU'D BE BACK.
LOOK, YOU NEED
TO SEE THIS.
Manly: SHE SHOWED ME THE
PAPERWORK FROM THE HOSPITAL.
[ SCOFF ]
THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.
DEAL WITH IT.
IT HURTED ME,
BUT I DIDN'T WANNA LET HER
KNOW THAT IT HURTED ME.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
Narrator:
LaSHONDA IS SICKENED
BY MARCUS'S RESPONSE.
FORGET YOU.
AND CUTS HIM OUT
OF HER LIFE FOR GOOD.
I HATED HIM.
I HATED HIM.
I DIDN'T WANNA TALK
TO HIM ANYMORE.
YOU WERE DONE.
I WAS DONE.
Narrator:
ALONE AND DEPRESSED,
LaSHONDA KEEPS HER
SECRET LOCKED INSIDE.
HEY. WHAT'S
THE MATTER, BABY?
AND IT'S NOT
THE KINDA THING
YOU WANNA TELL YOUR MOM.
OH, NO.
- SHE WOULD'VE DISAPPROVED.
I WAS GONNA TAKE IT
TO THE GRAVE.
THERE'S NOTHIN' WRONG?
[crying] I HAD A ROUGH DAY
AT SCHOOL TODAY, MOM.
- WELL, WHAT HAPPENED?
- DRAMA.
Barbara:
SHE USED TO CRY ALL THE TIME.
IT'S LIKE A LOTTA ANGER
IN HER, A LOT OF ANGER.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT WHOLE ATTITUDE CHANGE,
LIKE "I DON'T GIVE
A 'L' ABOUT NOTHIN'."
OOH, I'M SO SICK
OF IT HERE!
I DO EVERYTHING!
- NO. I'M -
Narrator: BUT KEEPING THIS
SECRET FROM HER MOTHER
INCREASES THE TENSION AT HOME.
I'M 18 YEARS OLD!
I DON'T CARE.
YOU DON'T ACT LIKE IT.
OH, MY!
- AND, BEFORE LONG,
THEY'RE ARGUING
NEARLY EVERY DAY.
- IT'S NOT FAIR!
- I'M NOT GONNA BE A GRANDMOTHER!
I LOVE HER TO DEATH,
BUT ME AND LaSHONDA CAN'T STAY
IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEN, BARBARA SAYS SOMETHING
SHE CAN'T TAKE BACK.
THAT BITCH SHOULD'VE
KILLED YOU!
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
THAT KILLED ME INSIDE.
[ SNIFFLE ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA MOVES
OUT OF HER MOTHER'S HOUSE,
LEAVING A WAKE
OF PAINFUL MEMORIES BEHIND.
Woodard: I DON'T NEED IT.
I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE GOIN'
THROUGH THE THINGS
THAT I AM GOIN' THROUGH.
I'M TOO YOUNG FOR IT.
I NEVER EVEN HAD
A CHILDHOOD, AT ALL.
Dr. Jordan: BETWEEN LaSHONDA'S
SECRET ABOUT THE MISCARRIAGE
AND HER MOTHER'S
CONSTANT CRUELTY,
THEIR ABILITY TO LOVE
AND TRUST EACH OTHER
IS COMPLETELY COMPROMISED.
♪♪♪♪
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
Narrator: LaSHONDA REFUSES
TO LET HER MOTHER'S REJECTION
DESTROY HER FUTURE.
SHE MOVES TO THE
OUTSKIRTS OF CHICAGO
AND SPENDS THE NEXT 5 YEARS
[MUSIC PLAYS]
REBUILDING HER LIFE.
[ HUMMING ]
I ENDED UP MOVIN' OUTTA TOWN.
- ♪♪ DOWNTOWN ♪♪
I GOT MY OWN APARTMENT.
I WAS WORKIN'.
I WAS GOIN' TO SCHOOL.
♪♪ DOWN WE GO ♪♪
DIDN'T NOBODY BELIEVE IN ME,
[crying] BUT I DID IT.
I DID IT BY MYSELF.
♪♪ DOWN WE GO ♪♪
Narrator: LaSHONDA PAYS
THE BILLS AS A WAITRESS.
BRAIDING.
BUT SHE SPENDS HER FREE TIME
PURSUING HER PASSION.
[scoff]
I KNOW HOW TO BRAID.
WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING?
COSMETOLOGY. YES.
YOUR FACE JUST LIT UP.
'CAUSE I LOVED IT.
I'M LIKE
THIS GIRLY-GIRLY TYPE.
[ SCAT SINGING ]
I LOVE MY HAIR
AND MY LASHES AND MY NAILS
AND I'M LIKE "I WANNA GO
LEARN HOW TO DO THIS."
[ TRANQUIL TUNE PLAYS ]
AS LaSHONDA RECLAIMS HER LIFE,
SHE DECIDES TO UPDATE
HER FACEBOOK PROFILE
AND GETS A WELCOME SURPRISE.
I'M JUST GOIN'
DOWN MY TIMELINE
AND THIS GUY THAT I
HADN'T SEEN IN SO LONG,
HE WRITES ON MY WALL,
"HEY, BEAUTIFUL."
WHAT'S HIS NAME?
ANTONIO.
THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I SAY.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH ANTONIO
LIVES AN HOUR AWAY, IN KANKAKEE -
I LOVE TALKIN'
TO YOU, ACTUALLY.
I DO, TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
LaSHONDA DECIDES
TO STAY IN TOUCH.
HEY, CAN I
ASK YOU SOMETHIN'?
YEAH.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
IT'LL BE SHORT.
I'D LOVE
TO PRAY TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT.
Dr. Jones:
ANTONIO'S A SPIRITUAL GUY.
VERY.
ALMOST LIKE A THERAPIST.
YES. HE WAS MY DR. PHIL,
[LAUGHTER]
MY OPRAH.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER,
I WANT TO ASK YOU
TO KEEP YOUR EYES OVER LaSHONDA.
I WAS JUST TRYIN' TO DO
EVERYTHING I COULD TO UPLIFT HER
AND BRING HER UP TO PAR.
PRAISE YOU, JESUS.
IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN.
AMEN.
WE WAS TALKIN' ON THE PHONE,
LIKE 2, 3 HOURS.
YOU KNOW, I'D EVEN GO TO SLEEP
WITH HER ON THE PHONE.
SO, I MEAN, IT WAS COOL.
LIKE LaSHONDA MOST
DEFINITELY GOT A GOOD HEART.
[RING]
[WATER RUNS]
Narrator:
AS THE RELATIONSHIP HEATS UP,
ANTONIO STARTS
TO FEEL THE DISTANCE.
[ Ring ]
- Hey.
- HEY.
HEY. I'M SORRY
I MISSED YOUR CALL.
I WAS LIKE "OKAY.
I WANT YOU TO COME OUT HERE
WITH ME AND BE WITH ME."
Really?!
NO, SERIOUSLY, LIKE
I WANT YOU TO STAY WITH ME.
THOSE WERE THE WORDS
I WANTED TO HEAR.
SOUNDED LIKE GREAT MUSIC
TO MY EARS.
- SO YOU'RE FALLIN' FOR HIM.
- OH, YEAH.
I'M FALLIN' FOR HIM STRONG.
- I'd love to.
- [laughs] OKAY.
Dr. Jones:
LaSHONDA CRAVES NORMALCY.
SHE HAS SPENT THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS RECOVERING
FROM THE STRING OF TRAUMAS.
NOW THAT SHE'S TOTALLY ENAMORED
WITH HER SPIRITUAL BOYFRIEND,
IT REALLY BEGS THE QUESTION:
HOW WELL DOES SHE KNOW ANTONIO?
KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED.
OKAY.
Narrator: ANTONIO RECEIVES
LaSHONDA WITH OPEN ARMS
WAIT RIGHT HERE.
WAIT RIGHT HERE.
WHERE YOU TAKIN' ME?
AND HAS A BIG SURPRISE
UP HIS SLEEVE.
CAN I OPEN MY EYES NOW?
YES, YOU CAN OPEN
YOUR EYES.
OH, MY GOD! [laughs]
- YEAH!
- I LIKE THE CHOCOLATES.
- YOU LIKE THE CHOCOLATES?
BUT WHERE ARE WE?
THIS IS OURS, BABY.
- THIS IS OUR PLACE?!
- FOR REAL. FOR REAL, THOUGH.
OH, MY GOD!
YOU GOT A NEW PLACE?
WE STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM.
WE DIDN'T HAVE NO FURNITURE,
NO PLATES, NO ANYTHING.
BUT WE MADE THINGS HAPPEN.
LOOK. WE GOT
OUR OWN BACKYARD.
Narrator:
LaSHONDA EMBRACES HER NEW HOME
LOOK. WE GOT
ALL THIS SPACE.
AND YOU GOTTA SEE
THE KITCHEN.
AND DREAMS OF THE LIFE SHE
AND ANTONIO WILL BUILD TOGETHER.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
BUT LaSHONDA'S NEW LIFE
WITH ANTONIO BEGINS
TO LOOK LIKE A MISTAKE
WHEN SHE MAKES
A DISTURBING DISCOVERY.
WHAT IS...?
OH, HELL, NO.
I WAS CLEANIN' UP
AND I STUMBLE ACROSS A GUN.
A GUN
IN YOUR APARTMENT?
A GUN.
Narrator: LaSHONDA FEARS THAT HER
NEW MAN IS NOT ALL HE APPEARS TO BE.
♪♪♪♪
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS ]
OH, HELL, NO.
Narrator:
LaSHONDA WOODARD WONDERS
WHAT HER DREAM MAN
COULD BE HIDING.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.
****
CALL ANTONIO.
WHAT'S A GUN DOING
IN YOUR HOUSE?
I HAD NO IDEA, BUT I WAS GONNA
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT.
- HEY.
- What's up?
GUESS WHAT I FOUND
IN THE DRAWER.
I don't know
what you talkin' about.
MM-HMM.
SHE TRIED TO ASK ME
TO GET RID OF IT, BUT,
I'M NOT GETTIN' RID
OF THIS GUN.
You gotta understand, it's
not safe out here, okay?
[scoff] PLEASE.
YOUSE A FAKEASS THUG.
Stop bein' like that.
You know me.
NO. NO. WE AIN'T GOTTA
WORK OUT NOTHIN'.
YOU SEEM LIKE YOU
GOT SOMETHIN'
YOU NEED TO WORK OUT.
Dr. Jones: A GUN IN THE
HOUSE IS A HUGE RED FLAG,
BUT LaSHONDA IS SO DESPERATE
FOR LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
THAT SHE DECIDES
TO LET IT SLIDE.
PUT YOUR OWN CLOTHES
AWAY, TOO.
SHE IS BLIND TO THE FACT THAT
SHE IS PLACING HER FUTURE
IN THE HANDS OF A MAN THAT SHE
REALLY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT.
IT'S AS IF SHE LEARNED NOTHING
FROM HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH MARCUS.
Narrator:
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP
IS TESTED, ONCE AGAIN.
HEY, BABY. WHAT YOU
DOIN' HOME SO EARLY?
THE WAREHOUSE
MADE SOME CUTBACKS
AND I DIDN'T MAKE
THE CUT.
OH. WE ALWAYS
FIND A WAY. C'MERE.
[ MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS ]
I DON'T WANNA BE BACK
ON THE STREETS,
SO I'M STRESSIN'.
LIKE "DAMN.
I WISH THESE JOBS
WOULD CALL ME.
I WISH SOMETHIN' WOULD HAPPEN."
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
OKAY.
Narrator: AS THE PAIR
STRUGGLE TO FIND A JOB,
AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY FALLS
RIGHT INTO LaSHONDA'S LAP.
HMM.
I WAS ON FACEBOOK
AND THIS GIRL,
SHE POSTED UP
SHE HAD THIS SUGAR DADDY.
WHAT'S A SUGAR DADDY?
A MAN THAT GIVES A YOUNGER
WOMAN MONEY AND SPOILS HER.
THE GUY HAS SENT HER
LIKE $4,500.
- WHAT?
- AND I WAS LIKE "DAMN."
BUT FOR DOIN' WHAT, LaSHONDA?
SHE CLAIMS SHE HAD NEVER DONE
NOTHIN' WITH HIM, AT ALL.
BUT I WAS LIKE, "TCH,
THIS **** CAN'T BE TRUE."
LET'S DO IT.
Narrator:
IT SEEMS A LITTLE SHADY.
SHONDA.
BUT LaSHONDA IS OVERCOME
WITH CURIOSITY.
[ WHIMSICAL-SUSPENSEFUL
TUNE PLAYS ]
[SHUTTER CLICKS]
SO I SIGN UP
AND I THEN I RAN
ACROSS THIS ONE GUY.
HMM. GOOD ONE.
- AND WHAT'S HIS NAME?
- CLIFFORD.
HIS NAME IS CLIFFORD.
THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.
HE WAS IN HIS 50s.
I TOLD HIM EVERYTHING
THAT I WAS GOIN' THROUGH.
A WEEK
AFTER WE STARTED TALKIN',
I WOKE UP TO
A TEXT MESSAGE SAYIN',
"GO GET YOUR MONEY, HON.
I SENT YOU $1,000."
♪♪♪♪
- HEY, BABY.
- HEY, BABE.
Narrator: LaSHONDA RETURNS
HOME WITH THE CASH.
OUR PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED.
HOW'D YOU GET THIS?
SHE COMES CLEAN TO ANTONIO.
IT'S NOTHIN'.
IT'S JUST TEXTIN', BABY.
ALL RIGHT. BUT YOU'RE NOT
SEEING THIS GUY, OKAY?
NO.
I TOLD HIM
I HAD A SUGAR DADDY.
WAIT A MINUTE.
AND HE'S OKAY WITH THAT?
YEAH. I WAS VERY HONEST
AND OPEN WITH HIM.
IT'S ALL GOOD.
OKAY.
Thomas:
I WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATED,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
SHE MADE THINGS HAPPEN.
[ ALERT CHIMES ]
I WAS JUST SO HAPPY
THAT THE MONEY WAS COMIN' IN.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Dr. Jones AS DEVIANT
AS THE SUGAR DADDY THING IS,
LaSHONDA HAS ACTUALLY FOUND
A WAY TO PAY THE BILLS.
STILL, SHE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL,
BECAUSE MOST
SUGAR-DADDY RELATIONSHIPS
GO WAY BEYOND TEXTING
AND, IF THAT ENDS UP
HAPPENING WITH LaSHONDA,
HER RELATIONSHIP
WITH ANTONIO IS OVER.
OH, WOW!
YOU DID ALL THIS FOR ME?!
OH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW IT, BABY.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY,
BABY.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
CLIFFORD'S COME TO HER RESCUE,
LaSHONDA'S HEART
BELONGS TO ANTONIO.
WHAT YOU GOT IN THERE?
PSSH! YOU GOTTA
WAIT YOUR TURN.
AND, ON VALENTINE'S DAY,
- [GASP]
HE PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
OH, MY GOSH.
WHAT'S -
- [LAUGHS]
- WHAT'S THIS?
- FOLLOW IT.
- I WAS STRESSED FOR CASH,
SO I HAD TO DO WHAT I COULD DO
ROMANTICALLY FOR BOTH OF US.
OHH, BABY.
Woodard: I CAME BACK HOME.
THERE WAS ROSE PETALS
- ROMANTIC.
THROUGH THE HALLWAY,
IN OUR ROOM, ALL IN OUR BED.
IT SPELLED OUT
"I HEART YOU."
IN ROSE PETALS?
IT WAS SO SWEET.
[ SIZZLING ]
HE'S COOKIN',
MAKIN' ME SOME STEAK
AND SHRIMP AND STUFF.
I WAS LIKE "OHH."
[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
NEXT THING I KNOW,
WE HEAR SOMETHIN' AT THE DOOR.
HEY, BABE!
CAN YOU GET THAT?
IT WAS A DELIVERY MAN.
OH, WOW.
I LOVE 'EM, BABY.
THANK YOU!
- WHO THE HELL IS THAT FROM?
I'M THINKIN' IT'S
FROM ANTONIO.
- QUIT PLAYIN'.
- AYE, I'M NOT PLAYIN'.
WHO THE HELL
IS THAT FROM?
SO NOW I'M LOOKIN' CRAZY.
WHO IS IT FROM?!
YOU REALLY DIDN'T
SEND ME THIS STUFF?
MAN, I DIDN'T GET
YOU NONE OF THAT.
LET ME SEE.
WHO'S IT FROM?
THERE'S A CARD
AND THERE'S CASH IN THERE.
THAT PUNKASS CLIFFORD?
AND I WAS LIKE "OH, LORD,
IT'S ABOUT TO BE PROBLEMS NOW."
- RELAX, OKAY?
- I TOLD YOU -
Narrator: TO ANTONIO,
FLOWERS FROM CLIFFORD SUGGEST
THE ARRANGEMENT HAS MOVED
BEYOND FLIRTY TEXT MESSAGES.
EITHER YOU CHEATIN', OR YOU
DOIN' STRANGE THINGS FOR CASH.
WHAT THE HELL?
THAT'S MY STUFF!
- NO. IT'S CLIFFORD'S STUFF!
- HOW DARE YOU BREAK MY STUFF.
- THIS STUPID BEAR!
- WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
- STUPID CHOCOLATE!
- OH, I'LL SHOW YOU.
- NO. I'LL SHOW YOU!
- AAH! OH!
Narrator:
ANTONIO'S EYES GO BLANK.
LET ME GO!
TURNED HIS BACK,
I WENT TO GO GRAB A KNIFE.
YOU DONE LOST YOUR MIND,
BUT IMMA HELP YOU FIND IT!
- NO.
- IMMA CUT YO ASS.
LADY, YOU CRAZY,
LIKE, REAL CRAZY.
I'LL SHOW YOU!
[GRUNTING]
- PUT THE KNIFE -
SHE'S JUST SWINGIN'
THIS DAMN KNIFE
AND I'M LIKE
"GIRL, YOU MOST DEFINITELY
COULD'VE JUST STABBED ME,
FOR REAL, FOR REAL."
- IMMA CUT YOU!
Narrator: LaSHONDA LOSES
HER GRIP ON THE KNIFE.
AND THE TABLES SUDDENLY TURN.
WANT ME TO SHOOT YOU,
YOU CRAZY BITCH?
I TOLD YOU NOT TO MESS
WITH ME, YOU CRAZY BITCH.
YOU GONNA SHOOT ME?
[ GUNSHOT ]
HE SHOT AT ME.
I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY, BUT, NO,
YOU PULLED THE TRIGGER.
[ SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS ]
SHE'S SO DRAMATIC.
LIKE I DIDN'T SHOOT IT AT HER.
I SHOT IT IN THE AIR.
[ GUNSHOT ]
AND THE HEAT HIT HER SHIRT.
- YOU DONE LOST YOUR MIND.
SHE'S ACTIN'
LIKE SHE WAS SHOT.
GET THE HELL OUT.
I GUESS SHE WANTED ME
TO GIVE HER SOME ATTENTION.
GET OUT!
[MELANCHOLY TUNE PLAYS]
[SOBBING]
THIS WAS YOUR FIRST
BIG RELATIONSHIP.
IT WAS.
IT WAS MY FIRST LIVE-IN.
[ SQUEAKS, SLAM ]
LIKE HE WAS SO MUCH
BETTER THEN MARCUS.
UNTIL HE LAID
HIS HANDS ON YOU.
'TIL HE LAID
HIS HANDS ON ME.
I'M LIKE,
"HE'S JUST LIKE MARCUS."
NO, COME ON, MAN.
FOR REAL?
Narrator: LaSHONDA
EMBRACES HER INDEPENDENCE.
SHE GETS A JOB AND CUTS TIES
WITH ANTONIO AND CLIFFORD.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHE'S LOOKING
FOR A FRESH START.
I KNOW THAT AIN'T
TEONNE RANDOLPH!
BOY!
- LaSHONDA?
I HEAR SOMEBODY
IN THE NEXT AISLE.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
OH, MY GOD,
MY FIRST CRUSH.
WOW. I MEAN, YOU LOOK -
YOU LOOK -
YOU LOOK -
YOU LOOK VERY GOOD.
YOU LOOK VERY GOOD.
[LAUGHTER]
Randolph: I KNEW HER SINCE
SHE WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
- I'M FINISHIN' UP HERE.
- ME TOO.
WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP,
REALLY, AS FRIENDS,
SO, WHEN I DID SEE HER,
IT WAS A BIG JOY.
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'VE DONE
WELL FOR YOURSELF.
I'M TRYIN'.
Narrator:
ALTHOUGH THEY NEVER DATED,
LaSHONDA ALWAYS FELT A SPECIAL
CONNECTION WITH TEONNE.
I GOTTA - I GOTTA ASK.
DO YOU STILL -
YOU STILL SING, RIGHT?
[laughs] YEAH.
OKAY. LET ME HEAR IT.
- RIGHT NOW?
- YEAH, RIGHT NOW!
- OH. OKAY.
- COME ON.
OKAY.
- HOLD ON.
LaSHONDA, SHE'S JUST
THE ULTIMATE STAR.
♪♪ AND WE GO ON AND ON ♪♪
♪♪ AND ON AND ON ♪♪
- THERE YOU GO.
♪♪ AND O-O-ON ♪♪
WOW! OKAY!
YOU STILL GOT IT.
AND ANY STAR NEED ATTENTION,
YOU KNOW, EVEN THE BRIGHTEST
ONE IN THE SKIES.
LOOK, LISTEN, LISTEN,
WE SHOULD HANG OUT,
FOR REAL. LIKE WE SHOULD
DEFINITELY CATCH UP.
- YEAH.
Narrator:
TEONNE AND LaSHONDA'S CHEMISTRY
IS EXPLOSIVE.
WHO SAID THAT I WANNA
WRITE A SONG ABOUT YOU?
WITHIN A WEEK
OF RECONNECTING,
THEIR RELATIONSHIP TAKES OFF
LIKE A ROCKET SHIP.
Woodard: IT WAS PERFECT.
I COULD NOT KEEP HIM
FROM UNDERNEATH ME.
- I KNOW THAT LOOK.
- YEAH.
HE KISSED THE GROUND
THAT I WALKED ON.
HE TREATED ME LIKE A QUEEN.
I COULD - I COULD BE
- I KNOW THAT LOOK.
- WITH YOU ALL DAY.
I ALREADY KNOW. NO.
Narrator: THE ATTENTION IS NICE,
BUT, AFTER 3 MONTHS OF DATING,
LaSHONDA NEEDS
SOME BREATHING ROOM.
SHE NEEDS A BREAK.
OH, OH, OH, OKAY.
WHY DON'T YOU
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE?
LIKE GO HANG OUT
WITH YOUR BOYS.
- OH, FOR REAL?
- YEAH.
Y'ALL NEED TO GET ON
THAT CHESS, THOUGH, MAN.
I WAS JUST KICKIN' IT
WITH THE BOYS,
DRINKIN' AND CHILLIN' AND JUST,
YOU KNOW, HAVIN' BOY TIME.
YOU BETTER WATCH
YOUR GAME, MAN,
'CAUSE YOU LOSIN'
- WHAT'S UP WITH Y'ALL?
Narrator: BUT BOY TIME
TAKES A DARK TURN -
AYE, LET ME RAP
TO YOU FOR A SECOND.
WHEN LaSHONDA'S EX ANTONIO
SHOWS UP TO MESS
WITH TEONNE'S HEAD.
- SO WHAT'S UP, MAN?
- AYE, MAN.
I KNOW LaSHONDA YOUR GIRL
AND EVERYTHING, BUT,
- YEAH.
- I GOT HER PREGNANT.
WHAT - WHAT YOU
TALKIN' ABOUT, MAN?
MAN, IT WAS LIKE,
IT WAS A WHILE AGO, MAN.
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, MAN?
KINDA GOT TO ME A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE, I MEAN, IN MY EYES,
THAT 'POSED TO BE
MY CHILD'S MOTHER.
THE BABY'S YOURS?
WHAT YOU TRYIN'?
- AYE, MAN, DON'T BE MAD AT ME.
- NAH. WHAT YOU MEAN,
DON'T GET MAD AT YOU?
- DON'T GET MAD AT ME. LOOK.
- AYE. IT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU.
- WHAT, YOU - YOU SEEIN'
MY GIRL LIKE THAT?
- IT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU, MAN.
HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS,
DUDE.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
[ SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE ]
[ DOG BARKS ]
Narrator: TEONNE STUMBLES
HOME TO CONFRONT LaSHONDA
ABOUT HER LITTLE SECRET.
HEY, WHAT YOU DOIN' HERE?
I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOIN' OUT
WITH SHAQUAN AND THEM.
OH, NO, I WAS, BUT WE -
WE RAN INTO YOUR LITTLE
BOYFRIEND ANTONIO.
- MY BOYFRIEND?
- YEAH. YEAH, YOUR BOYFRIEND.
ANTONIO AIN'T
MY BOYFRIEND.
HE LET ME IN ON - ON YOUR
LITTLE SECRET, RIGHT?
MM-KAY -
- YEAH, MM, OKAY, YEAH.
YOU CARRYIN' HIS KID.
HUH?!
HE TOLD HIM THAT
I WAS PREGNANT BY HIM.
TEONNE DOESN'T BELIEVE
THIS, DOES HE?
HE'S DRINKIN',
SO HE BELIEVED IT.
- ONE.
- ONE WHAT?
- TAKE ONE STEP BACK.
- I'M NOT TAKIN' ANY STEPS BACK.
- YEAH. YOU NEED A BREATH MINT.
- NAH, I DON'T NEED - DON'T -
AND TWO, YOU STUPID
FOR BELIEVIN' THAT.
I AIN'T - NAH, NAH.
I'M STUPID FOR LIVING
WITH A FRICKIN' SLUT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M STUPID FOR.
- OH. OH, I'M A SLUT NOW?
- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU -
- WHAT, YOU FEELIN' SMALL?
YOU FEELIN' A LITTLE
SMALL, COMPARED TO HIM?
THAT'S WHY YOU TRIPPIN'.
SHE PRESSED MY BUTTON, SO,
I WAS JUST TRYIN' TO GET
AWAY FROM THE SITUATION.
- WAIT.
- Woodard: NEXT THING I KNOW -
- WAIT!
- DON'T - DON'T TOUCH ME.
HE PUNCHES ME IN MY MOUTH.
BUSTED MY WHOLE MOUTH OPEN.
LOOK, LaSHONDA, I'M -
I'M - I'M SORRY, OKAY?
LOOK, I -
I JUST MESSED UP.
AND I LOOKED AT HIM LIKE
"YOU JUST **** HIT ME."
I'M SORRY.
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK,
DON'T DO ANYTHING
CRAZY, OKAY?
LaSHONDA, WHERE YOU GOIN'?
I WAS APOLOGETIC,
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME,
I WAS WALKIN'
TOWARDS THE DOOR.
SHONDA, WHAT -
WHAT - WHAT YOU DOIN'?
WHOA. OKAY. WHOA. WHOA.
WHOA. WHOA. WHOA. WHOA.
LISTEN. WE CAN - WE CAN -
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
ALL RIGHT? WE CAN -
I'LL - I'LL - I'LL GO.
OKAY? LOOK, I'LL -
IT WAS A SCREEN DOOR
AND IT WAS HARD TO UNLOCK.
COME ON, SHONDA, PLEASE.
I WAS PANICKIN', LIKE
"OH, MAN, GET OUT THIS DOOR.
GET OUT THIS DOOR.
GET OUT THIS DOOR.
OPEN UP. WHY -
WHY AIN'T YOU OPENIN' UP?"
- LOOK - LOOK, I'M SORRY.
OH, YEAH,
YOU SORRY ALL RIGHT.
I AM PLAYIN', LIKE "LORD,
LET ME AT LEAST GET TO HIM
A LITTLE BIT,
SO HE CAN FEEL MY PAIN!"
COME ON, PLEASE, PLEASE!
I'M SORRY!
- YOU SORRY NOW? YOU SORRY NOW?
- I'M SORRY NOW. OKAY.
LOOK, STOP.
- IMMA SHOW YOU WHAT SORRY IS.
COME ON, PLEASE!
[FOREBODING MUSIC PLAYS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
OKAY, LOOK, LOOK.
I'M SORRY.
- YOU SORRY NOW? YOU SORRY NOW?
- I'M SORRY NOW. OKAY.
LOOK, STOP.
- IMMA SHOW YOU WHAT SORRY IS.
COME ON, PLEASE!
I TURNT AROUND
AND I SEEN THE KNIFE
AND I'M LIKE
THINKIN' TO MYSELF,
"WHAT, YOU ABOUT TO CUT ME?"
STOP. STOP.
STOP! AH!
I STABBED HIM LIKE RIGHT HERE
IN HIS BACK SHOULDER.
YOU STABBED HIM
IN HIS BACK?
YEAH. I WANTED
TO TEACH HIM A LESSON.
WHAT THE HELL IS
YOUR PROBLEM?
WHAT THE HELL
IS YOUR PROBLEM?!
HE TRIED TO COME BACK IN.
- YEAH. IMMA SHOW YOU AGAIN.
AND I JUST TOOK THE KNIFE
AND JUST JAMMED IT
THROUGH HIS HAND.
[THWACK]
AAAAH!
AAH-AGH!
ARE YOU CRAZY?!
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!
THAT'S REVENGE.
THAT'S NOT SELF-DEFENSE.
YEAH. IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE
'CAUSE HE TOUCHED ME FIRST.
OH, YOU GOIN' TO JAIL,
BITCH. YOU GOIN' TO JAIL!
Narrator:
WHEN SHE SNAPS BACK TO REALITY,
LaSHONDA IMMEDIATELY
CALLS THE POLICE.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
[RADIO CHATTER]
HAVE YOU BEEN DRINKING?
IT - THAT - THAT
DOESN'T MATTER, MAN.
MY HAND.
- PART OF ME THINKIN' THAT
THEY'RE GONNA ARREST BOTH OF US
BECAUSE I GOT STABBED
AND SHE GOT HIT.
THAT CRAZY BITCH STABBED ME
WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
ALL RIGHT?
I'M YELLIN' AT MYSELF LIKE,
"YOU GOT TO LEARN HOW
TO THINK BEFORE
REACTING, GIRL."
MA'AM, YOUR BOYFRIEND
SAID YOU STABBED HIM.
MY EX-BOYFRIEND.
AND THE POLICE WAS LIKE,
"WELL, HE TOLD ME
YOU STABBED HIM."
I SAID, "I DID."
- [LAUGHS]
YOU DON'T SEE MY MOUTH?
HE CAME HOME DRUNK
AND HE PUNCHED ME
IN THE FACE.
IN OTHER WORDS,
THE POLICE HEAR THE STORY
AND THEY DON'T WANNA GET
INVOLVED IN THE DETAILS.
AND THEY SEE A WOMAN
WITH HER MOUTH BUSTED OPEN.
[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: TEONNE IS ARRESTED
ON A DOMESTIC-ASSAULT CHARGE
AND SPENDS THE NIGHT IN JAIL.
BOTH DECIDE NOT
TO PRESS CHARGES.
SHE THOUGHT THAT ME
GETTIN' ARRESTED
WOULD TEACH ME A LESSON.
AND IT DID, [laughs] ABSOLUTELY.
Narrator: BUT TEONNE'S PUNISHMENT
IS NOT ENOUGH FOR LaSHONDA.
SHE BREAKS IT OFF
AND NEVER LOOKS BACK.
LaSHONDA IS A STRONG WOMAN,
BUT SHE'S ALSO
A DANGEROUS WOMAN.
THE FACT THAT SHE'S ATTACKED
THREE MEN WITH A KNIFE
AND HAS NEVER BEEN
ARRESTED IS AMAZING,
BUT IF SHE WANTS TO STAY OUT
OF PRISON IN THE FUTURE,
LaSHONDA NEEDS TO FIND
ANOTHER WAY TO RESOLVE CONFLICT.
[SUSPENSEFUL CHORD STRIKES]
[GULLS CRY]
Narrator: AFTER THE
STABBING, LaSHONDA MOVES
TO GALVESTON, TEXAS,
TO BUILD A NEW LIFE.
ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE LONELY,
LaSHONDA CLAIMS THE DISTANCE
HAS ALLOWED HER
TO REFLECT ON HER CHOICES
AND TURN HER LIFE AROUND.
I STILL HAVE MY DAYS
WHEN I THINK BACK TO,
"DAMN, GIRL,
YOU BEEN THROUGH A LOT
AND YOU ARE STILL
STANDIN' STRONG."
MY HUSBAND'S GONNA LOVE ME.
- [LAUGHS]
WHOEVER HE IS,
HE'S GONNA LOVE ME. [laughs]
[TRANQUIL TUNE PLAYS]
[GULLS CRY]