Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 5, Episode 7 - Shear Rage - full transcript

A SMALL-TOWN GIRL
REACHES FOR THE STARS...

I KNEW I WOULD
GET HIS ATTENTION

BECAUSE, IN MY YOUNGER AGE,
I WAS - I WAS PRETTY HOT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER,
BEAUTIFUL.

...AND QUICKLY DEVELOPS
A TASTE FOR THE HIGH LIFE...

WANT TO TAKE A RIDE
ON MY JET?

- DEFINITELY.
- I JUST HAVE TO ASK.

DID YOU HAVE
AN END GAME IN SIGHT?

I JUST WANTED A LOT OF MONEY.
I LOVED COLD, HARD CASH.

SHE DREAMS
OF BIG-SCREEN STARDOM...

SHE KNEW HOW TO GET THE GUYS' ATTENTION.
THEY USED TO LOVE HER.



THIS IS FOR YOU.

...UNTIL A LOVE GONE
BAD PUSHES HER OVER THE EDGE.

WHO'S SHE?
IT'S A POWDER KEG.

AND IT'S GETTING
WORSE AND WORSE.

TRENA!

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 TRENA ARCHIE

HAS ALWAYS DREAMED
OF A LIFE IN THE MOVIES.

I LOVED JEAN HARLOW.
I LOVED THE OLDER HOLLYWOOD.

MAMA.

HEY, BABY.

OUR FAVORITE PART'S
GONNA COME ON.



MY MOTHER,
SHE ALWAYS WORE GLOVES

AND HATS IN - TO CHURCH.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS
THAT OLD-HOLLYWOOD LOOK.

OKAY.
I WAS RAISED BY MY MOTHER.

I NEVER KNEW WHO
MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER WAS.

YOU TAKE
GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF.

AND I'LL SEE YOU
ON MONDAY.

THE FAMILY REMAINS CLOSE-KNIT,

EVEN AS HER MOTHER, BEATRICE,
MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE.

MY MOM WAS REALLY PRETTY,
AND SHE WAS A PARTY GIRL.

TRENA AND HER SISTER, LISA,

FIND SOME STABILITY
IN THEIR LIFE

ONCE THEIR MOTHER MARRIES
AN OLDER MAN NAMED MICHAEL.

SHE MARRIED A GUY 55 YEARS OLD,
AND HE WAS A PROVIDER.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD NICE THINGS,
WHICH WE ALWAYS DID.

MY MOM MADE SURE OF IT.

WE HAD A HAPPY HOUSE,

EXCEPT FOR WHEN
THE FIGHTS STARTED.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I SAW YOU.

WHAT ARE
YOU TALKING ABOUT?

TRENA'S NEW STEPFATHER
HAS A DARK SIDE.

WHAT?

HE WAS VERY JEALOUS.
SHE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

I MEAN, HE WAS, LIKE,
OBSESSED JEALOUS,

LIKE, OBSESSED, CRAZY JEALOUS.

WHY CALM DOWN?

- STOP.
- STOP.

IT WAS A LOT OF FIGHTING,
A LOT OF VIOLENCE.

- WELL, I DON'T CARE!
- GET OUT!

AFTER JUST
9 MONTHS OF MARRIAGE,

BEATRICE DECIDES
TO CALL IT QUITS.

I'M SORRY.

THAT WAS FUN.

BUT IT'S NOT OVER
FOR MICHAEL.

THERE WAS A CLUB
WHERE EVERYBODY HUNG OUT AT.

SHE WAS READY TO DO HER THING.
SHE WAS HAPPY.

BITCH, HEY,
YOU GOT YOUR...

BEATRICE
HAS HAD ENOUGH OF HIS WRATH.

YOU ARE STILL MINE!

SHE HAD TAKEN HER GUN
WITH HER THAT NIGHT.

AND - AND SHE TURNED AROUND
AND SHOT.

SO SHE GOES, AND SHE THINKS
HE'S PLAYING TO SCARE HER.

SO SHE KICKS HIM.
WAKE UP.

ARE YOU MESSING WITH ME?
AND SHE LOOKED CLOSER.

AND HE HAD, LIKE,
A SMALL HOLE IN HIS HEAD.

GET YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!

- DROP THE GUN.
- SHE REALLY DID DO IT.

SHE KILLED HIM.
SHE REALLY KILLED HIM.

IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC.

MIRACULOUSLY, TRENA'S
MOTHER DODGES A CRIMINAL CONVICTION.

THE POLICE HAD BEEN
CALLED SO MANY TIMES

BECAUSE OF THEIR
DOMESTIC VIOLENCES.

SO SHE WON SELF-DEFENSE.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
IS A CRIMINOLOGIST

WHO STUDIES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.

CHILDREN ARE LIKE SPONGES.

THEY ABSORB ALL OF THE BEHAVIOR
AND EXAMPLES THEY EXPERIENCE

AND INTERNALIZE THEM
IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT

AND THOUGHT PROCESS.

KNOWING THAT THEIR MOTHER SHOT
THEIR STEPFATHER IS TRAUMATIC.

BUT WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT,

IT TEACHES TRENA THAT VIOLENCE
IS A WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

THE EVENT
RATTLES TRENA'S PSYCHE.

THE STRAIGHT- "A" STUDENT
BEGINS LASHING OUT AT SCHOOL.

TRENA, IF YOU WANTED,
YOU CAN JUST LEAVE HER ALONE.

NO.
IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS, TRENA.

IT IS.
SHE MESSED WITH ME.

I WOULD TELL HER ALL THE TIME -

"TRENA, YOU DON'T GOT TO
FIGHT EVERYBODY.

IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS."

SHE'D SAY, "YEAH,
BUT THEY DID THIS TO ME.

AND I'M GONNA GET THEM
AFTER SCHOOL."

WATCH THIS.

EXCUSE ME!

- SHE WAS PRETTY BAD.
- WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

YOU PUSHED ME.
- NO, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

YOU BUMPED INTO ME.

- YOU BUMPED ME!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

- NO!
- DUDE, GET OUT OF MY FA-

- TRENA.
- OH, YOU WANT TO FIGHT ABOUT IT?

- YEAH.
- GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME.

- HIT HER. HIT HER.
- NO.

BREAK IT UP.
BREAK IT UP.

WHEN TRENA TURNS
HER ANGER ON THE FACULTY,

IT'S THE FINAL STRAW.

I DID HIT THE PRINCIPLE
IN THE HEAD WITH A ROCK.

YOU ARE OUT OF HERE.

THIS PROBABLY
WASN'T ON PURPOSE, THOUGH.

SHE JUST ACTED OUT A LOT.

THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SEVERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ACTUALLY
KILL SOMEBODY WITH THAT.

- PROBABLY COULD HAVE.
- AND THEY EXPELLED YOU?

EXCLUDED ME FROM SCHOOL
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THOUGH.

OH, THROUGH ALL OF TEXAS,

YOU CANNOT GO TO
ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL?

NOWHERE IN TEXAS.

- I MEAN, TRENA, THAT'S SERIOUS.
- IT'S A BIG STATE.

YEAH.
- IT'S A BIG STATE.

TRENA MOVES TO
LAS VEGAS TO LIVE WITH HER AUNT.

I GRAVITATED TO THIS
CROWD OF PEOPLE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
"THIS CROWD OF PEOPLE"?

GIRLS THAT LIKE
TO HAVE FUN.

DO YOU WANT TO
GET HIGH?

REALLY? SURE.

ACADEMICS ARE
THE LAST THING ON HER MIND.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED
TO STRAIGHT- "A" TRENA?

IT WAS VEGAS.

YOU TRANSITIONED
INTO THE PARTY GIRL

THAT YOUR MOM WAS, HUH?
YEAH.

YEAH, EXACTLY.
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER?

EXCEPT MY PARTYING WAS
ON A WAY BIG, BIGGER SCALE.

I BARELY MADE IT
THROUGH GRADUATION.

TRENA MAY HAVE MOVED
1,000 MILES FROM HOME.

BUT THOSE LESSONS
OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

ARE STILL WITH HER.

HER MOTHER MAY NOT BE
IN THE PICTURE ANYMORE,

BUT TRENA IS STILL ACTING OUT
AND IMITATING HER MOTHER,

ALMOST AS AN ACT OF REVENGE.

SHE NEEDS TO BECOME MORE AWARE
OF HER SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

OR ELSE SHE'S JUST
GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE

THOSE BIG MISTAKES
DOWN THE LINE.

SOON AFTER, TRENA
GETS A JOB AT A MAJOR CASINO.

I WOULD GO IN AND CLEAN ROOMS.

BUT I WOULD ALSO TAKE THINGS
TO THE GUESTS

IF THEY NEEDED MORE TOWELS.
- HOUSEKEEPING.

THE YOUNG BEAUTY IS MORE

THAN WILLING
TO GO THE EXTRA MILE.

THANK YOU FOR THE TOWELS.

NO PROBLEM.

CAN I OFFER YOU
SOME CHAMPAGNE?

I WOULD MEET RICH GUYS.

I WOULD DRINK WITH THEM
WHILE I WAS ON WORK.

THEY'D HAVE CHAMPAGNE WITH ME.
THEY'D DRINK WITH ME.

AND THEY'D EAT WITH ME.

AND I'D BE MISSING
IN ACTION, YOU KNOW.

TRENA FINDS A CERTAIN
GUEST PARTICULARLY FASCINATING.

TELL ME ABOUT MEETING
THE VERY FAMOUS ATHLETE.

WE'LL CALL HIM JOE.
I MEAN, IT -

IT DOESN'T GET MUCH
BIGGER THAN THAT.

HE WAS, LIKE,
THE BIG-TIME BOXER.

AND THAT'S WHO I WOULD -
HAD MY EYES ON.

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THAT BIG -
BIGGER AND BETTER DEAL.

AND MY EYES WAS SET ON JOE
'CAUSE I KNEW HE WAS IN TOWN.

AND I KNEW THERE WAS
A BIG FIGHT COMING UP.

- HEY, WE V. I. P., THOUGH, RIGHT?
- YEAH.

WE GOT YOU EVERYTHING.
LIKE, LIKE, BACK DOOR.

BACK WHATEVER YOU WANT.
- OKAY.

- BACKDOOR, WHATEVER YOU WANT.
- NO PROBLEM.

TRENA'S DRESSED FOR SUCCESS.

SHE'S READY
TO CATCH HER PREY.

SO I BORROWED ONE OF
MY GIRLFRIEND'S LEATHER JACKET.

I'LL NEVER FORGET
THIS JACKET.

AND I HAD ON A -
LIKE, THIS JUMPSUIT, BODYSUIT.

TRENA CAMPS OUT
IN THE HOTEL LOBBY.

OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,
I SAW JOE WALKING.

I KNEW I WOULD GET HIS ATTENTION
BECAUSE, IN MY YOUNGER AGE,

I WAS -
I WAS PRETTY HOT.

SO I STARTED TO WALK PAST HIM,
AND HE SAW ME.

AND HE WAS TALKING
TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND HE WAS LIKE...
HEY, HEY. HEY.

EXCUSE ME.
- "HEY, HEY, YOU. COME HERE."

AND I WAS LIKE, "WHO? ME?"
- MY NAME IS JOE.

TRENA HAS JUST CAUGHT
THE EYE OF A BONA FIDE SUPERSTAR.

20-YEAR-OLD TRENA ARCHIE

HAS JUST BUMPED INTO
A WORLD-FAMOUS BOXER.

- MY NAME IS JOE.
- HI. NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU LOOK FAMILIAR.

YEAH, UM...

- WHAT A SETUP, TRENA.
- IT WAS A SETUP.

I DID THAT.
I'M SO SORRY.

AND HE SAID, "MY NAME IS JOE."
AND I WAS LIKE...

AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW
WHO HE WAS.

I KNEW HE WAS. YEAH.
HE WAS LIKE, "LOOK.

I HAVE A LOT
TO DO THIS MORNING.

BUT IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN
MEET ME FOR DINNER TONIGHT?"

TRENA HAPPILY ACCEPTS.

- AROUND 10:00?
- OKAY. I'LL BE THERE.

- ALL RIGHT.
- SEE YOU THEN.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER,
BEAUTIFUL, MS. TRENA.

- YOU LOOK GREAT.
- THANK YOU. YOU TOO.

THE NIGHT MARKS THE
BEGINNING OF A SIZZLING AFFAIR.

WAS THERE A TIGER
IN THE ROOM?

OH, NOT A TIGER
BUT I GUESS ME.

GOOD MORNING.

AND I WAS TAKEN -
WHISKED OFF TO SHOPPING SPREES.

GET YOURSELF
SOMETHING NICE.

JUST BRING IT BACK TO ME
WHEN YOU'RE DONE.

OKAY.

GIVEN V. I. P. PASSES
TO THE WEIGH-INS,

TO THE WORKOUT SESSIONS.

I WAS IN. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AND IT WAS GOOD.

TRENA QUICKLY DEVELOPS
A TASTE FOR THE HIGH LIFE.

I WOULD GO TO THE CLUBS. I WOULD
GET V. I. P. BECAUSE I KNEW HIM.

AND PEOPLE WOULD
SEE US TOGETHER.

SO I WOULD AUTOMATICALLY
GET INTO V. I. P.

HE REALLY LIKED ME.

I MEAN, WE HAD
GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

WE LIKED EACH OTHER.

DESPITE ALL THE FUN
THEY'RE HAVING,

THE RELATIONSHIP

IS ANYTHING BUT MONOGAMOUS.
- I'M GETTING READY TO GO.

YOU WANT ME TO DROP
YOU OFF AT THE HOTEL?

NAH, I'M OKAY.
I'M GONNA JUST STAY OVER HERE.

- YOU SURE?
- YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
TRENA DRAWS ATTENTION

FROM OTHER MEN
OF EXTREME WEALTH...

HEY, HEY, HEY.
WHAT YOU DOING?

...MEN ONLY TOO HAPPY

TO LAVISH HER
WITH EXPENSIVE GIFTS.

YOU TOO FINE FOR THAT.

YOU NEED SOME FINE WINE.
THANK YOU.

AND I MAY MEET SOME OTHER GUY
THAT MAY OFFER ME MORE MONEY.

- IT'S A FANTASY WORLD.
- YEAH.

I MEAN,
MOST PEOPLE DREAM OF IT.

BUT THEY NEVER EVEN TASTE IT,
LET ALONE TOUCH IT OR SEE IT.

- YEAH.
- WANT TO TAKE A RIDE ON MY JET?

DEFINITELY.

IT WAS NEVER ABOUT
JUST GOING TO BED.

ONE GUY BOUGHT ME
A $900 PAIR OF BOOTS.

I WAS GETTING SO MUCH MONEY,
AND THERE WAS SO MUCH PRIVILEGE.

AND I WAS RIDING IN PORSCHES
AND MERCEDES AND...

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER.

YOU'RE HANGING
WITH A REALLY FAST CROWD.

- RIGHT.
- I MEAN, I JUST HAVE TO ASK.

DID YOU HAVE
AN END GAME IN SIGHT?

EVEN THOUGH I -
I KNEW THAT JOE WOULD BE IDEAL

IF I WANTED TO MARRY HIM,
I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO STOP.

I DIDN'T WANT TO STOP THE LIFE.
I JUST WANTED A LOT OF MONEY.

I'M BEING HONEST WITH YOU.
I LOVED COLD, HARD CASH.

I WOULD LIKE A BED OF CASH.

AND - AND THAT'S
THE WAY I LIVED.

TRENA, WHAT IS ALL THIS?

- RELAX.
- WHEN LISA ARCHIE VISITS HER

LITTLE SISTER IN SIN CITY,

SHE'S FLOORED BY TRENA'S
NEW LIFE OF EXCESS.

IT WAS, LIKE,
UNDERGROUND CLUB AT THAT.

I REMEMBER WE WENT.
IT WAS, LIKE,

3:00 OR 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

I WAS LIKE, "WHO GOES OUT AT
3:00 OR 4:00 IN THE MORNING?"

I REMEMBER SEEING
THE THING OF COKE.

I SAW PILLS.
I SAW MARIJUANA.

I SAW A LOT OF STUFF
I AIN'T NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

HEY. HOW YOU DOING?

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
WATCHING YOU ALL NIGHT.

DURING LISA'S VISIT,
TRENA MEETS ANOTHER SUITOR,

A WELL-KNOWN VEGAS JEWELER.

- WANT TO DO A LITTLE BUMP?
- UH...

NO. IT'S OKAY.
YOU'LL LIKE THIS.

- OKAY.
- TRUST ME.

HE INTRODUCES TRENA
TO DESIGNER DRUGS.

THIS IS WHEN
I STARTED SNORTING COCAINE.

'CAUSE HE DID A LOT OF IT.
IT WASN'T MY ADDICTION.

BUT IT WAS JUST SOMETHING
I DID WITH THIS PERSON

OR IF IT WAS A PARTY SITUATION.

I WAS SCARED, THOUGH,

'CAUSE I HAD NEVER DID
ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

THAT WAS THE SCARIEST
TIME OF MY LIFE.

THE JEWELER ALSO INTRODUCES HER

TO NEW EROTIC EXPERIENCES.

IT WOULD BE ME AND HIM
AND HIS FRIEND.

AND WE'D HAVE FUN.

WE'D BE, LIKE, WILD -
THREESOME WILD.

OH, GOOD MORNING.

- GOOD MORNING.
- HEY, HOW DID YOU SLEEP?

TRENA BECOMES A
REGULAR AT THE JEWELER'S HOUSE.

I HAD IT SPECIALLY
MADE FOR YOU.

HE MADE ME A DIAMOND RING
THAT WENT ALL ACROSS MY FINGER.

HE MADE ME A DIAMOND NECKLACE.

- WOW.
- YOU LIKE THAT?

YEAH. IT'S NICE.

BUT LIKE HER
ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH JOE,

SHE'S NOT LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING SERIOUS.

I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU,
HONEY.

DON'T SAY THAT.

NO. IT'S TRUE, HONEY.

TRENA IS MAKING UP
FOR LOST TIME IN A MAJOR WAY.

HER SMALL-TOWN UPBRINGING
LEFT HER SO ISOLATED

THAT SHE HAS NO IDEA
HOW MOST GIRLS HER AGE BEHAVE.

SIN CITY IS A MECCA
FOR PLEASURE-SEEKERS.

SO IT'S NO WONDER
THAT TRENA IS ADDICTED

TO THAT VEGAS LIFESTYLE.

THREE YEARS INTO
LIVING IN THE VEGAS FAST LANE,

20-YEAR-OLD TRENA STILL DREAMS
OF HOLLYWOOD STARDOM.

SHE LEAVES LAS VEGAS
TO TRY HER LUCK IN LOS ANGELES.

BUT A GIRL'S GOT TO EAT WHILE
SHE WAITS TO BE DISCOVERED.

A FRIEND FROM VEGAS
PUTS HER IN TOUCH

WITH THE OWNER OF A STRIP CLUB.

SO SHE COMES OUT.

AND SHE'S LIKE,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

YOU KNOW, SHE'S A MEAN LADY,
RIGHT?

AND I WAS LIKE,
"I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB."

AND HOW OLD ARE YOU?

- 21.
- YOU GOT ANY I. D.?

I WAS LYING. I WAS LIKE,
"I DON'T HAVE AN I. D.

BUT I'M 21."
SHE WAS LIKE, "OKAY. COME HERE."

SO SHE GAVE ME
AN OUTFIT TO WEAR.

HAD YOU
EVER STRIPPED BEFORE?

NO. BUT I DANCED
FOR MY MOM.

AND I USED TO JAZZ.
I TOOK UP JAZZ DANCING.

SO I COULD MOVE.

I MEAN, I - I DANCED BEFORE
BUT NEVER STRIPPED.

AND I DANCED.
AND I MADE MONEY.

- WHOO!

- NOT BAD. NOT BAD.
- THANK YOU.

WHY DON'T YOU COME BACK
NEXT SATURDAY?

ALL RIGHT. I WILL.

- HEY.
- WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU?

TRENA'S GOT THE JOB.
NOW SHE NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY.

SHE LUCKS OUT WHEN SHE MEETS
A CLUB EMPLOYEE NAMED ANGELA.

THEY HIT IT OFF RIGHT AWAY.

GIRL, YOU WERE REALLY GOOD
UP THERE.

THANK YOU.

YOU WOULD NOT KNOW
IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME.

I MEET TRENA.

AND WHEN I SAW
HER STYLE OF CLOTHES,

THAT JUST BONDED US RIGHT THERE.

AND I'D NEVER FORGET.

SHE HAD ON A LEOPARD
BLUE-JEAN SKIRT.

THAT WAS IT.
SO FASHION WAS OUR THING.

SO I HEARD YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR A PLACE TO STAY.

OH, MY GOSH. YES.
I AM.

I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING
FOR A ROOMMATE.

- REALLY?
- YEAH.

SHE LIVES IN A NICE
PART OF L. A., MAY WILSHIRE.

AND SHE SAID, "YOU KNOW,
MOVE IN WITH ME."

IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING,
YOU SHOULD COME BY

AND SEE IT TOMORROW.
OKAY. I WILL.

TRENA IS THRILLED.

HER NEW LIFE IN L. A.

SEEMS TO BE OFF
TO A GOOD START.

- WHOO.
- YEAH.

SHE'S A NATURAL
ONSTAGE WITH A STYLE

THAT DRIVES THE CUSTOMERS WILD.

THE GUYS, THEY USED TO LOVE HER

AND HER PERSONALITY
AND EVERYTHING.

THEY - THEY LOVED HER.

IT'D BE SO MUCH MONEY,
JUST THROWING CASH.

TRENA WAS DOWN FOR ALL KIND
OF THINGS BACK THEN.

SHE'D DO THE GIRLS.
SHE DID THE BOYS.

SHE - SHE - THAT WAS HER.

GIRL. HEY.

- HEY.
- I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU.

I HAVEN'T SEEN
ANYONE DANCE LIKE THAT

SINCE I STARTED
DANCING HERE.

THANK YOU, GIRL.

YOU KNOW,
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED

IN MAKING REAL MONEY,
LET ME KNOW.

WELL, WHAT IS IT?

I DID A LOT
OF PRIVATE PARTIES FOR -

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN SAY IT -
FOR NBA PLAYERS, CELEBRITIES.

THESE ARE
"A" - LIST CELEBRITIES.

- "A" - LIST CELEBRITIES.
- ACTORS, ATHLETES...

EVEN SOME FAVORS
TAKING PLACE.

THERE WERE SOME
"A" - LIST CELEBRITIES

THAT PEOPLE
WOULD NEVER IMAGINE.

BUT HER FULL-THROTTLE
JOY RIDE GRINDS TO A SUDDEN STOP.

LO AND BEHOLD,

I START GETTING SICK
WHILE I'M DANCING.

AND I'M PREGNANT.
I AM PREGNANT.

TRENA ISN'T READY

TO PART WAYS
WITH HER L. A. LIFESTYLE.

HONESTLY, I CONSIDERED ABORTION

BECAUSE I WAS SEEING THE MONEY
I WAS MAKING STRIPPING, TOO.

AND I SAW THE OPPORTUNITIES

'CAUSE CELEBRITIES
WERE COMING IN THE CLUB.

IN THE END, SHE
DECIDES TO RETURN HOME TO TEXAS.

AND MY AUNT ACTUALLY CALLED.

SHE WAS LIKE, "NO.
DON'T KILL THE BABY, PLEASE."

IN NOVEMBER OF 1989,

SHE GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY BOY
SHE NAMES JASTON.

THE NEW MOM IS TORN.

SHE KNOWS RAISING
JASTON NEAR HER FAMILY

IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CHILD.

AND THERE'S A CRIB
IN THERE.

AND I REALLY
WANT YOU TO KNOW

THAT YOU CAN STAY
AS LONG AS YOU LIKE.

MY MOTHER'S PERSONALITY
DOESN'T FIT FOR WELLINGTON, TEXAS.

IT'S A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN.

AND SHE WAS ALL ABOUT THE BRIGHT
LIGHTS AND THE BIG CITY.

SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN MISERABLE.

ULTIMATELY, TRENA'S NOT READY

TO GIVE UP HER GLAMOROUS LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

MOM, YOU KNOW
I CAN'T STAY HERE.

I HAD TO GET BACK INTO IT.

TRENA IS AT
A MAJOR FORK IN THE ROAD.

SHE JUST CAN'T
GIVE UP HER ADDICTION

TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS
AND BIG CITY.

SHE'S LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT

THAT LENDS ITSELF TO SEX,
DRUGS, AND IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR.

AND THAT COULD HAVE DISASTROUS
CONSEQUENCES OVER TIME.

THREE MONTHS LATER,
TRENA AND JASTON MOVE BACK IN WITH ANGELA.

SHE'S READY TO GO BACK
TO THE STRIP CLUB.

BUT THERE'S STILL
A BURNING QUESTION.

WHO IS JASTON'S FATHER?
- HE'S SO CUTE.

OH, THANK YOU.

WHEN I ADDED IT UP, IT WAS ONLY
GONNA BE THE DIAMOND GUY...

I HAD THIS SPECIALLY MADE,
JUST FOR YOU.

- OR JOE.
- GLAD YOU ENJOYED YOURSELF.

THEY WERE THE TWO POSSIBILITIES.

BUT ANGELA THINKS
THE ANSWER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I KNOW THESE THINGS.
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM.

TRENA ARCHIE HAS A PROBLEM.

- HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM.
- MAYBE.

SHE ISN'T QUITE SURE
WHO THE FATHER OF HER SON IS.

LOOK. HE'S PRACTICALLY
A SPITTING IMAGE OF HIM.

SHE HOPES IT'S JOE SMITH,
THE FAMOUS BOXER.

YOU SHOULD CALL JOE,
TOO.

HE DESERVES TO KNOW
ABOUT IT.

I'M GONNA THINK
ABOUT IT.

I WANTED HIM BECAUSE I KNEW

HOW MUCH MONEY
HE HAD AT THAT TIME.

A BABY WOULD SEAL IT.
I WOULD BE SET.

SHE CAN'T BE SURE,
NOT WITHOUT A BLOOD TEST.

BUT HER FRIEND,
ANGELA, HAS NO DOUBTS.

YOU SHOULD PROBABLY CALL
ONE OF THESE MAGAZINES.

IF YOU JUST TOLD THEM
YOUR STORY,

YOU WOULD GET
SO MUCH MONEY OFF THAT.

SHE'S REALLY INTO THIS.

"IT'S GOT TO BE HIS BABY.
IT'S GOT TO BE HIS BABY."

I'M GONNA GO
AND PUT THE BABY DOWN.

- OKAY.
- ALL RIGHT.

ANGELA DECIDES
TO BREAK THE STORY

OF JASTON'S BIRTH
TO THE TABLOIDS.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THE STORY GOT OUT,

HOPING THAT HE WOULD
COME FOR HIS CHILD.

SO I HAVE A BIG STORY
FOR YOU GUYS.

ONCE THE MEDIA
GOT AHOLD OF THE STORY,

IT WAS WAY BIGGER THAN ME THEN,
'CAUSE HE WAS A BIG, BIG PERSON.

THANK YOU.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN
ANGELA'S IDEA.

BUT TRENA HAS NO QUALMS
ABOUT EXPLOITING

HER PAST RELATIONSHIP
WITH JOE THE BOXER.

AND SHE'S NOT RUSHING OUT
TO GET A PATERNITY TEST EITHER

BECAUSE THE TRUTH MIGHT
ACTUALLY DESTROY HER PLAN

TO SHAKE JOE DOWN FOR MONEY.

THE STORY
SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE,

HITTING MEDIA MARKETS
BIG AND SMALL.

AND THERE THEY WERE
ON THE FRONT PAGE OF IT.

IN ONE OF THE MAGAZINES,
THEY WERE SAYING SHE WAS,

LIKE, A COUNTRY GIRL
JUST LOOKING FOR MONEY.

THEN IN ONE STORY,
THEY HAD A PICTURE OF HIM

WITH HIS HANDS UP LIKE THAT.

NOT ONLY IS TRENA PAID

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
FOR HER STORY,

IT ALSO GETS HER
IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

HI, TRENA.
THANKS FOR COMING IN.

APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA GO LIVE IN 3,
EVERYBODY.

I WAS MAKING
SO MUCH MONEY DOING STORIES.

AND THEN I WAS
GETTING PAID BY OVERSEAS,

LIKE, IN LONDON,
PAPERS IN LONDON.

IT WAS JUST, LIKE,
A WHIRLWIND OF MONEY AGAIN.

HOW DID YOU MEET
JOE SMITH?

WE MET AT A HOTEL IN VEGAS.
WE REALLY HIT IT OFF.

ACCORDING TO TRENA,
THE MEDIA MONEY PALES

IN COMPARISON TO THE MONEY
SHE'S PAID BY JOE

AND HIS CAMP TO STOP TALKING
ABOUT THE LOVE CHILD

THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE HIS.

THEY PAID ME, LIKE,
7 GRAND EVERY WEEK.

I MEAN, I HAD MONEY
STASHED IN BLOCKS IN THE WALL.

IT WAS CLOCKWORK.
IT WAS NEVER A DAY LATE.

SO,
CAN I SPEAK TO JOE?

JOE IS A BUSY GUY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY I'M
GONNA WANT TO SPEAK WITH HIM.

- I'M SORRY.
- I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS

TO ME LIKE HUSH MONEY.
- IT WAS HUSH MONEY.

TRENA KEEPS
HER END OF THE BARGAIN

AND STOPS TALKING TO THE PRESS.

I MEAN,
I HAVE TO ASK YOU STRAIGHT UP.

WERE YOU JUST
TRYING TO MILK HIM

AND EXTORT AS MUCH MONEY
OUT OF HIM?

I MEAN, 'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW
FOR SURE IT WAS HIS BABY.

MY HEART WAS ALWAYS
INTO JUST ABOUT THE MONEY.

MY HEART WAS NEVER INTO
GOING THE EXTRA STEP

TO SEE
WHETHER HE WAS OR NOT.

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

I WAS LIKE, "THAT IS NOT HI-
JOE'S BABY."

SHE'S LIKE, "YEAH. I KNOW.
IF HE SEE HIM RIGHT NOW,

HE'D PROBABLY KILL ME
WITH HIS BARE HANDS."

MONTHS LATER, TRENA IS
NO LONGER JOE'S BIGGEST PROBLEM.

HE'S ACCUSED
OF A VIOLENT ASSAULT

BY SOMEONE ELSE
AND SENT TO PRISON.

TRENA DECIDES TO COME CLEAN.

I JUST WROTE HIM AND TOLD HIM
THAT I WAS SORRY

FOR ALL THE THINGS
I HAD TAKEN HIM THROUGH

AND ALL THE INTERVIEWS
THAT I DID

WITHOUT REALLY PROOF
OF HIM BEING THE FATHER.

JUST TO THINK THAT MY NAME

IS EVEN ASSOCIATED WITH JOE
IS PRETTY BIZARRE.

IT'S A GOOD STORY TO TELL.

I TOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE.
LIKE, I WOULD MENTION IT.

AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE,
"WOW. FOR REAL?"

BUT THEN THEY
KIND OF BRUSH IT OFF.

I DON'T TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET
IN ANY TYPE OF FIGHTS.

I'M KIND OF BONY, SO...

IN THE END, TRENA'S CONVINCED

THAT JASTON'S FATHER
IS LIKELY THE JEWELER.

I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU,
HONEY.

- HEY.
- HEY.

GOOD JOB OUT THERE
TONIGHT, TRENA.

THANK YOU.

AFTER JOE GOES TO PRISON,

TRENA'S PHONE STOPS RINGING.

NO MORE PAID INTERVIEWS,
NO MORE HUSH MONEY.

THE MONEY
WAS WHITTLING DOWN SLOWLY.

SO I WOULD GO DANCE
AT A BIGGER CLUB,

WHERE THERE'S MORE MONEY.

BUT TRENA IS TIRED OF TAKING
HER CLOTHES OFF TO PAY THE BILLS.

I WANTED OUT.
I WAS YOUNG AND TIRED.

I WANTED OUT OF THE HUMILIATION
OF THE DANCING.

I WANTED OUT OF THAT LIFE.

BUT SHE'S GOT A RESPONSIBILITY

TO HER YOUNG SON.

SHE CAN'T GIVE UP STRIPPING,
NOT YET.

I HAD MY SON.
AND MY MOM KEPT TELLING ME,

"SEND HIM BACK TO ME,"
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE
AWAY FROM HIM

THE WAY MY MOM WAS AWAY FROM ME.

DETERMINED TO MOVE
FORWARD, TRENA IS SET UP WITH DAVID,

A MANAGER
AT A HIGH-END L. A. SALON.

HE'S A FRIEND OF ANGELA'S.

HERE HE IS RIGHT NOW.

- ANGELA, HEY.
- HI, DAVID.

- HOW YOU DOING, LOVE?
- I'M GOOD.

- HEY.
- WHOA. WHO IS THIS?

- THIS IS MY FRIEND, TRENA.
- HI.

HEY.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU,
TOO.

UM, SO WHERE -
SO WHERE YOU BEEN HIDING HER AT?

TRENA IS INSTANTLY
DRAWN TO HIM.

AND THE FEELING IS MUTUAL.

DAVID WAS OLDER THAN ME.

DAVID WAS 55.
I'M PROBABLY 22.

YEAH. YEAH.
I KIND OF GOT, UH...

I KIND OF GOT DISTRACTED,
YOU KNOW.

HE HAD THIS TECHNIQUE
TO WEAVE HAIR

THAT NO ONE HAD
EVER DONE BEFORE.

HE ACTUALLY PATENTED THIS -

THIS TECHNIQUE.
- YOU ADMIRED HIM.

HE WAS AN ARTIST.
- YES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE,
I WAS A DANCER.

SO WHO -
YOU LOVE YOUR HAIR.

- YEAH. SO HOW ARE THE KIDS?
- THEY'RE GREAT.

TRENA CAN'T HELP
FALLING UNDER DAVID'S SPELL.

- AND THE HUBBY?
- HE'S - HE'S DOING WELL.

- HE'S DOING WELL?
- YES.

HEY.

AND HE WOULD HAVE ME
COME IN EVERY DAY AND WATCH HIM.

- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- YOU, TOO, SWEETIE.

HOLD ON.
I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

DAVID CONSTANTLY
SHOWERS TRENA WITH ATTENTION

AND ROMANTIC GESTURES.

AND THIS IS FOR JASTON.

BUT IT'S DAVID'S
KINDNESS TOWARD HER SON, JASTON,

THAT REALLY TAKES
HER BREATH AWAY.

YOU KNOW, I'M OFF ON SUNDAY.
I WAS THINKING MAYBE WE COULD

TAKE HIM TO THE ZOO

AND HANG OUT A LITTLE BIT?
HE WOULD LOVE IT.

IT'S TRENA'S FIRST
TRUE RELATIONSHIP.

AND SHE FEELS LIKE
SHE'S HIT THE LOTTERY.

- LET'S GO.
- ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.

- I GOT SOMETHING FOR US.
- THANK YOU.

OH,
YOU'RE WELCOME, LOVE.

AFTER JUST
A FEW MONTHS TOGETHER,

DAVID INVITES TRENA
AND HER SON TO MOVE IN WITH HIM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALL

THAT YOU HAVE DONE
FOR ME AND MY KID.

- I LOVE YOU.
- HMM, REALLY?

YES.

WELL, I LOVE YOU TOO.

HMM, CHEERS.

NOW THAT THEY'RE
LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF,

DAVID FEELS COMFORTABLE

SHARING HIS LIFELONG DREAM
WITH TRENA.

I WANT TO OPEN UP
MY OWN SALON.

AND I REALLY WANT YOU
TO BE A PART OF IT.

SHE CAN'T BELIEVE HER LUCK.

THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THIS GUY

AND ALL THE OTHER GUYS,
HE WAS OFFERING ME AN OUT.

"JUST HELP ME GET IT. AND YOU
WILL HAVE YOUR OWN SALON."

THAT'S GOT TO
BE INTOXICATING.

IT WAS, LIKE,
A CHANCE TO STOP DANCING.

HE SAID, "YOU'D PROBABLY
BRING IN,

LIKE, $4,000 OR $5,000
A MONTH.

AND IT WOULD BE YOUR MONEY,
YOUR PROFIT."

SO I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH.
I HAVE MY SON.

HE'S, LIKE, 3 NOW.

I COULD FOCUS ON ACTING AND DO
THE THINGS I REALLY WANT TO DO."

IF YOU CAN LOAN ME THE MONEY
TO GET THE SALON GOING,

I THINK IT WOULD BE
GREAT FOR US.

YOU TRUST ME, DON'T YOU?

I GAVE HIM A LOT OF MONEY,
A LOT OF HARD-EARNED MONEY.

- TO US...
- TO US...

- ...AND THE SALON.
- ...AND THE SALON.

TRENA'S FALLEN SO HARD

FOR DAVID THAT SHE THROWS
CAUTION TO THE WIND.

SHE'S ENAMORED WITH BOTH
THE MAN AND HIS SALON.

SHE'S WILLING TO INVEST
IN AN INDUSTRY

SHE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT
WITH A MAN THAT SHE JUST MET.

AND THERE'S
ALWAYS A DANGER

WHEN YOU MIX BUSINESS
WITH PLEASURE.

THE SALON
IS AN INSTANT SUCCESS.

HEY, TRENA.

DAVID HAS
A STEADY STREAM OF CLIENTS

AND A TALENTED TEAM OF STYLISTS
AT HIS DISPOSAL.

THIS IS THE BEST CORNER
IN THE CITY, VERY UPSCALE.

THE SALON WAS FEATURED
IN THE L. A. TIMES.

IT WAS PROSPEROUS.

CAN I BORROW
A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY?

BORROW MORE MONEY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"BORROW MORE MONEY?"

EVEN THOUGH
BUSINESS IS BOOMING,

TRENA'S NOT SEEING
ANY RETURN ON HER INVESTMENT.

I GOT SHAMPOO.
I GOT THE STYLISTS.

I JUST NEED MORE MONEY.

THERE JUST STARTED TO BE $2,000,

$3,000, $4,000 A MONTH
FOR THEIR HAIR.

"OH, WE'RE NOT PROFITING
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW

WE'RE JUST BREAKING EVEN.

BUT WE NEED TO GET THIS HAIR,"
SO THERE GOES $3,000.

HERE GOES ANOTHER $2,000.

THIS IS FOR US.
THINK ABOUT IT.

AS TRENA HEMORRHAGES
CASH EACH MONTH,

SHE'S FORCED TO TAKE EVEN
MORE STRIPPING GIGS THAN BEFORE.

- OH, HOW WAS HE?
- HE WAS AN ANGEL.

REALLY?

SO I THINK DAVID FORGOT
TO PAY ME LAST TIME.

OH, OKAY.

I'M SO-
I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M DANCING HARDER.
AND I'M PAYING THE BABYSITTER.

I'M HAVING TO DANCE
TO KEEP THE MONEY COMING.

WAIT A MINUTE. THIS IS THE HELL
YOU WERE TRYING TO GET OUT OF.

IT'S GETTING WORSE NOW 'CAUSE
NOW I'M TAKING MORE PARTIES.

AND I'M NOT SEEING
ANYTHING IN RETURN.

THEN, TRENA GETS
A VISIT FROM THEIR LANDLORD.

- IS DAVID HERE?
- NO. HE'S NOT.

IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
- NO.

HE'S - HE OWES ME
A LOT OF MONEY.

HE NEEDED TO SELL SOMETHING
FROM ME FROM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO

SO HE WOULDN'T BE EVEN PAYING
THE RENT WHERE WE LIVED.

- HAVE HIM CALL ME.
- MM-HMM.

THANKS.

SO...

AND IT JUST
GETS WORSE FROM THERE.

THE LANDLORD CAME OVER.

AND I DON'T THINK DAVID'S
BEEN PAYING OUR RENT.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PERSON
NOT GETTING PAID.

THE GIRL WHO DID MY HAIR
FINALLY TOLD ME,

"HE HASN'T PAID ME FOR THE FOUR
WEEKS FOR WORKING IN THE SALON."

I DON'T WORK FOR FREE.
I HAVE BILLS TO PAY, TOO.

THAT'S NOT ALL
THE DISGRUNTLED STYLIST REVEALS.

I HEARD THAT HE'S BEEN PLACING
SOME BETS THAT HE CAN'T PAY OFF.

HE HAD A GAMBLING PROBLEM.
AND HE WAS A SHADY CHARACTER.

HE WAS IN DEBT
TO SOME BIG PEOPLE,

LIKE, SHADY PEOPLE.

- I NEED TO GO GET PRODUCT.
- OKAY.

THE NEWS TURNS TRENA'S STOMACH.

IT'S A POWDER KEG.

AND IT'S GETTING
WORSE AND WORSE.

LATER THAT DAY,
TRENA HEADS BACK TO THE SALON

TO CONFRONT DAVID...

I LOOKED IN THE WINDOW.
HE'S IN THERE WITH A WOMAN.

AND THEY'RE ALL
COZIED UP TOGETHER.

AND I START BEATING THE WINDOW,
BEATING THE WINDOW.

ALL TRENA HAS LEFT
TO GIVE IS HER UNFILTERED RAGE.

WHO'S - WHO'S SHE?
WHO?

- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
- WHO THE HELL IS SHE?

CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
- WHO ARE YOU?

YOU SEE THAT NAME
ON THE DOOR? I'M TRENA!

WHEN I SAW HIM WITH A GIRL,
I STARTED FIGHTING HIM.

ARE YOU SERIOUS
RIGHT NOW?!

- TRENA!
- I BEAT HIM UP.

WHY DON'T YOU ATTACK HER?

'CAUSE MY ANGER
WAS SO MAD AT HIM.

LIKE, WHO IS SHE?

SHE'S PROBABLY
ANOTHER VICTIM LIKE I AM.

MY ANGER WAS GEARED AT HIM.

AND EVEN TO THIS DAY,
I WOULD NEVER FIGHT A GIRL.

I'M DONE!
WE'RE DONE! STUPID BASTARD!

MY MOTHER IS VERY DRAMATIC.

THERE'S ALWAYS DRAMA
IN HER LIFE.

SHE'S DEFINITELY RULED
BY HER EMOTIONS.

TRENA HAS SPENT
HER VERY LAST DIME

AND EVERY OUNCE OF HER ENERGY
ON THIS MAN AND THE SALON.

SHE'S CREATED A SITUATION

WHERE EVERYTHING DEPENDS
ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS BUSINESS.

NOW SHE FEELS TRAPPED
IN THIS UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP,

CONCERNED ABOUT HER INVESTMENT,

AND HER ONLY RECOURSE
IS TO LASH OUT

WHEN SHE REACHES
HER BREAKING POINT.

TRENA LEAVES DAVID THAT NIGHT

AND SHOWS UP AT HER FRIEND
VICKIE'S APARTMENT.

HE CHEATED ON ME.

HER LIFE'S SAVINGS IS GONE.

I THOUGHT DAVID
WAS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS

WHEN I MET HIM

BECAUSE HE COULDN'T EVEN
LOOK ME IN MY EYES.

AND WHEN THINGS START GOING BAD
BETWEEN THEM, I TOLD HER.

I SAID, "I'M NOT FEELING HIM."

YOU KNOW, I JUST TOLD HER,
"THERE'S THE TRUTH.

YOU KNOW, YOU MY FRIEND."

- TRENA'S HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
- CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING?

- YES, PLEASE.
- OKAY. I'LL BE BACK.

OKAY.

SO THAT'S A LOT
OF PRESSURE, TOO.

- A LOT OF PRESSURE.
- IT'S NOT JUST YOU.

YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE
OF THIS CHILD.

I WAS MAKING GOOD MONEY.
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

DETERMINED TO MAKE A COMEBACK,

TRENA DECIDES TO PURSUE
HER LIFELONG DREAM OF ACTING.

THE CASTING DIRECTOR SAID
THAT I GOT THE PART!

OH, MY GOSH!

I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED
IN MOVIES, DID A FEW,

GOT IN SOME MOVIE PARTS,
WHICH WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

LET'S GO GET DRINKS. YES.
- I'LL PAY FOR IT.

LET'S GO. OKAY.

SHE'S THIS LARGER-THAN-LIFE,
LIKE, CHARACTER.

LIKE, YOU CAN'T REALLY
PINPOINT WHO SHE IS.

BUT THE SMALL MOVIE PARTS
AREN'T ENOUGH TO PAY THE BILLS.

AND TRENA IS STUCK ON THE POLE.

STARTED DRINKING.
AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,

I WAS THINKING
ABOUT EVERYTHING I LOST.

BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

SHE ALWAYS HAD THE MONEY
TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING I NEED.

OR SHE WAS, YOU KNOW,
EMOTIONALLY SUPPORTIVE.

SHE MADE HERSELF TO BE
ALL OF THESE THINGS

THAT SHE, HERSELF,
COULDN'T LIVE UP TO.

SHE WANTED TO BE THIS GREAT MOM.

BUT SHE COULDN'T.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.

AFTER ANOTHER
LONG SHIFT AT THE CLUB,

TRENA HITS THE BOTTLE
WITH A VENGEANCE.

AND THEN ONE DAY
I WAS JUST DRINKING, YOU KNOW.

I WAS HAVING A GLASS OF WINE,
YOU KNOW,

TWO GLASSES OF WINE,
THREE GLASSES OF WINE.

SHE'S FLOODED WITH THOUGHTS

OF DAVID AND THE PAIN
HE'S CAUSED HER,

EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HAD
NO CONTACT IN MONTHS.

HE CAN'T GET AWAY WITH THIS.

IT'S FESTERING.

AND I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M GONNA GET HIM."

TRENA STARTS PLOTTING
HER REVENGE.

MY WEAPON OF CHOICE WAS,
LIKE, A - A BOX CUTTER.

WHEN I WAS A DANCER, I CARRIED
IT WITH ME ALL OF THE TIME.

SHE ALSO KNOWS
WHERE TO FIND HIM.

HE HAD MOVED.
BUT I KNEW WHERE HE LIVED.

I KNEW HIS SCHEDULE.
I KNEW HOW HE WALKED HOME.

I KNEW WHAT TIME HE CAME HOME.

DETERMINED,
SHE PUTS HER PLAN IN MOTION.

TRENA IS OBSESSED
WITH REVENGE

EVER SINCE DAVID DEFRAUDED
HER OF ALL HER SAVINGS

WITH HIS BUSINESS SCHEME

WHILE ALSO CHEATING ON HER
AT THE SAME TIME.

IN HER MIND,
HER INABILITY TO GET AHEAD

IS DAVID'S FAULT, NOT HERS.

AND IN THE THROWS
OF THAT BLAME GAME,

HER FURY IS ABOUT TO BOIL OVER.

TRENA MAKES HER WAY
TO DAVID'S APARTMENT COMPLEX.

I WAS CONSCIOUS.
BUT I WASN'T CONSCIOUS.

I WAS SOMEONE ELSE.
- HOW MUCH OF THIS IS YOU?

AND HOW MUCH OF IT
IS THE ALCOHOL?

I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION
OF EVERYTHING.

WANT TO DO A LITTLE BUMP?

MAYBE EVERY MAN,

EVERY HURT THAT
I NEVER EXPRESSED,

THINGS I DID THAT
I DIDN'T WANT TO DO.

IT WAS EVERYTHING.

AS TRENA LIES IN WAIT
FOR DAVID TO EMERGE,

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.

ALL I KNEW IS I WAS
GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

BUT I KNEW WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.
I'M ON AUTOPILOT.

IT WAS, LIKE,
A PERFECT SETUP.

TRENA!

TRENA!

TRENA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- I JUMPED OUT.

AND I -
I JUST START CUTTING HIM.

I DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
- TRENA!

I WAS CUTTING HIM
EVERYWHERE I COULD.

I WAS CUTTING HIS FACE.
I WAS SLICING HIM.

AAH, TRENA!
AAH, TRENA!

YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!

- NO!
- I REMEMBER HIM SCREAMING.

HE HAS A VERY DEEP VOICE.
I REMEMBER HIM SCREAMING.

BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
WANTING TO STOP.

I REMEMBER THE BLOOD.
IT WAS EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS ALL OVER ME

BECAUSE I CONTINUED TO CUT
AND CUT AND CUT.

- TRENA.
- LUCKILY FOR DAVID,

DURING THE CHAOS,
TRENA DROPS HER WEAPON.

I THINK IF I HAD NOT
DROPPED THAT CARPET CUTTER,

I WOULD HAVE
KEPT ON CUTTING.

- OH, OH.
- I DIDN'T DROP IT INTENTIONALLY.

IT FELL OUT OF MY HAND.
I WAS NOT GONNA STOP.

SHE COMES TO HER
SENSES AND FLEES THE SCENE.

WHEN TRENA RETURNS
TO HER APARTMENT,

THE GRAVITY OF HER
VICIOUS ATTACK SETS IN.

I WAS BLOODY.
I WAS THINKING, "I DID THIS.

I DID THIS."

I HAD BLOOD ALL OVER MY HAND.
I HAD BLOOD ON MY CLOTHES.

I KEPT JUSTIFYING IT LIKE,

"THIS DAVID GUY,
HE PLAYED ME SO COLD.

HE SOLD ME THIS DREAM
THAT I BOUGHT."

I CAN REALLY
GET THIS SALON GOING.

YOU COULD STOP DANCING.

AND I'M THE ONE
THAT USUALLY SELLS THE DREAMS.

I WAS MENTALLY ABUSED.
HE'S AN OLDER GUY.

I WAS YOUNG GIRL.
HE PREYED ON ME.

I - I NEED MORE MONEY.

DESPITE HER PANIC,
TRENA DISPOSES OF THE EVIDENCE.

I'M 23.
I HAVE NO FAMILY IN THIS CITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEN SHE WAITS,

HOPING FOR A MIRACLE
BUT FEARING THE WORST.

SOON AFTER,
SHE'S ARRESTED AND CHARGED

WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER.

AND IF YOU JUST HAPPENED
TO SLICE JUST THE WRONG WAY,

THIS GUY BLEEDS OUT
IN 3 MINUTES.

AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT MURDER.
- I KNOW.

- YOU LIAR!
- TRENA!

I WAS LIKE, "OH, GOD.
THIS IS REENACTING SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO."

- YO, BITCH!
- IT MIGHT BE HEREDITARY.

WEEKS LATER,
AT HER TRIAL, TRENA'S NERVOUS

ABOUT FACING THE MAN
SHE NEARLY KILLED.

WHERE IS HE?

FOR HER TO SAY THAT
SHE STABBED THAT MAN UP,

I SAID SHE HAD TO SNAP

BECAUSE SHE'S NOT
THAT TYPE OF PERSON.

SHE IS A REAL LOVING PERSON.

I NEVER COULD REALLY
WRAP MY MIND

AROUND THAT SHE DID THAT.

HER MONEY WAS IMPORTANT TO HER.

SO YOU DON'T PLAY
WITH HER MONEY.

BUT I STILL DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.

ALL RISE.

BUT THE NERVES
SOON GIVE WAY TO SHOCK.

BECAUSE THE KEY WITNESS
HAS NOT APPEARED,

PROSECUTION CANNOT PROCEED.

- DAVID DIDN'T SHOW UP.
- THE VICTIM DIDN'T SHOW UP?

THE VICTIM DIDN'T SHOW UP.
HE DIDN'T SHOW UP.

THE CASE IS DISMISSED.

I FELL TO MY KNEES.
I WAS SO HAPPY.

I WAS SET FREE.

AND I WALKED
FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

ALL THE WAY TO WHERE
I LIVED IN CULVER CITY.

AND I DIDN'T STOP WALKING.
I WAS JUST WALKING.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE
EVERY SHACKLE

THAT WAS TAKEN OFF OF ME,
FROM THE DANCING,

FROM THE ATTEMPTED MURDER,

FROM THE FIGHTING,
FROM THE HURT.

I WAS FREE.

TRENA SUSPECTS
DAVID NEVER APPEARED

IN COURT OUT OF FEAR
HE'D BE EXPOSED AS A CON MAN.

SHE'S HAD ENOUGH
OF LOS ANGELES.

AND I END UP COMING HOME.
MY MOM WAS GETTING SICK.

- WELL, YOU WENT FULL CIRCLE.
- YEAH.

WELLINGTON, LAS VEGAS,
LOS ANGELES,

AND THEN BACK TO WELLINGTON.

IN MOST CASES LIKE THIS,

A SLASHER LIKE TRENA
WOULD BE CHARGED

WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER
AND LOCKED UP FOR LIFE.

SHE DODGED A BULLET WHEN
DAVID DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR COURT.

AND TO HER CREDIT, SHE KNOWS IT.

TRENA GOT A SECOND CHANCE
THAT MOST WOMEN NEVER GET.

AND SHE HONORS THAT GOOD FORTUNE

BY KEEPING
HER PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

IN 2008, MORE THAN 15
YEARS AFTER THE VICIOUS ATTACK,

WHILE VISITING FRIENDS IN L. A.,
TRENA RUNS INTO DAVID.

HE WAS ACTUALLY
ON A CORNER OF A STREET.

AND I SAW HIM.
- HELLO, DAVID.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M WELL.
HOW ARE YOU?

THEIR EXCHANGE
IS AWKWARD BUT POLITE.

WELL, I HAVE A NEW STORE.

- OH.
- AND HE WAS RELUCTANT.

BUT HE TALKED TO ME.
HE OWNED A STORE.

- HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT?
- MY GIRLFRIEND.

SHE HELPED ME GET IT.
OH.

AND I JUST SHOOK MY HEAD.

WOULD YOU LIKE
TO COME SEE IT?

OH, NO.
I HAVE SOMEWHERE TO BE.

THE DEEP SCARS
ON DAVID'S FACE

PROVIDE THE ONLY REMINDER
OF THEIR NEAR FATAL ENCOUNTER.

IF HE HAD DIED,
WHERE WOULD YOU BE TODAY?

I'D BE IN PRISON,
NO LIFE LIKE THIS,

NO SECOND CHANCES.

TRENA MADE THE MOST
OF HER SECOND CHANCE.

TODAY, SHE'S STILL
LIVING IN TEXAS.

I'M A WIFE.

I'M A MOTHER
OF FIVE WONDERFUL CHILDREN,

VERY, VERY SMART KIDS.

I WORK.
I'M INVOLVED WITH MY COMMUNITY.

I'M INVOLVED WITH MY CHURCH.

MY LIFE IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT IT WAS THEN.

ALL THOSE THINGS
I CHASED AFTER, IT -

IT WASN'T REALLY WORTH IT.

EVERYTHING I NEEDED
TO SUCCEED WAS IN ME.

IT WAS NOT IN THE THINGS.
IT WASN'T IN THE MEN.

IT WASN'T IN THE LIFESTYLE.
IT WAS ALL IN ME.