Wives with Knives (2012–…): Season 5, Episode 8 - Poetic Justice - full transcript

I THOUGHT YOU'RE GONNA HELP ME.

A YOUNG GIRL OVERCOMES
A ROUGH CHILDHOOD.

I'LL SHOW YOU HELP.

MY MOTHER JUST START
WAILING ON ME.

♪♪ HANDS UP ♪♪

AND FINDS LOVE
IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.

WAS THIS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE?

HE BROUGHT OUT
THE FREAK IN ME.

LIKE, YEAH.

IT WAS A LOVE TRIANGLE
AT THAT POINT.

BUT GREAT PASSION
FUELS EVEN GREATER JEALOUSY.



I HATE YOU. I HATE YOU.
I WAS YOUNG.

YOU KNOW, I JUST LIKED TO BE
WITH DIFFERENT WOMEN.

IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

SHE WANTED TO KILL HIM
BECAUSE SHE WAS HURTIN'.

SHE FELT PLAYED.

WILL THIS PLAYER
END UP LOSING THE GAME?

WAKE UP.

NOT ALL FAIRY TALES
HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

I'M GONNA TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW -

THIS IS THE LAST TIME
YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME.

14-YEAR-OLD LAURA LEWIS

HAS HAD A TRAUMATIC CHILDHOOD.



IT'S THE STUFF NIGHTMARES
ARE MADE OF.

DON'T YOU EVER PUT YOUR
HANDS ON ME AGAIN!

LAURA GREW UP WITH HER SIBLINGS

IN 1980s MINNEAPOLIS.

SO WHAT?
I DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOU?

I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE
OF YOU FOR 20 YEARS.

HER EARLIEST MEMORIES
REVOLVE AROUND

THE CONSTANT BATTLES
BETWEEN HER MOTHER, JOAN,

AND HER FATHER, DON.

THERE WAS SO MUCH FIGHTING.

MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS SAY,
"OH, YOUR MOM DID THIS TO ME.

SHE DID THAT."
SO IT WAS A WAR.

I LOVE YOU.
YOU UNDERSTAND?

THEY USED TO HAVE
A LOT OF DOMESTIC ISSUES.

LIKE, YOU KNOW,
THEY HAVE FULL-ON FIGHTS.

LISTEN TO ME.
BACK OFF ME.

ACCORDING TO THE CHILDREN,

ONE OF THEIR BRAWLS
GOES TOO FAR.

YOU LISTEN TO ME.

DON'T YOU POINT
YOUR FINGER AT ME.

YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME.

GET OUT!

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME.

I'M SORRY.

DON'T YOU EVER PUT
YOUR HANDS ON ME AGAIN.

BABY, YOU STABBED ME.

OH, MY GOD!

I DON'T CARE IF YOU
BLEED TO DEATH.

YOU STABBED ME!

YOU WILL NEVER PUT
YOUR HANDS ON ME AGAIN.

YOU'RE CRAZY.

HE JUST WENT TO SCREAMIN'

AND CRYIN' AND SAYING,

"CALL 911. CALL THE POLICE."

IT WAS VERY SCARY.

WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR?

I NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN
TO ME EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

HE HIT ME FIRST.

JOAN IS ARRESTED.

BUT THE CHARGES
ARE LATER DROPPED.

HE SLAPPED ME FIRST.

LAURA'S PARENTS DIVORCE
SOON AFTER.

AND HER MOTHER
GETS CUSTODY OF THE KIDS.

A BOY GAVE ME A LOVE LETTER.

I WAS SAD BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN CLOSER WITH MY DAD.

EVEN THOUGH
SHE'S JUST A CHILD,

JOAN GIVES LAURA
SOME GROWN-UP ADVICE.

MY MOM WOULD TELL US,

"A MAN'S EITHER GONNA
BEAT ON YOU OR CHEAT ON YOU.

KINDA JUST DECIDE WHICH ONE
YOU'RE GONNA DEAL WITH."

MOM.
THE DOLL BROKE.

ACCORDING TO LAURA
AND HER BROTHER,

THE DIVORCE DOESN'T END
THE VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME.

THE HELL IS WRONG
WITH YOU NOW, LAURA?

MY DOLL BROKE.

YEAH, SHE USED
TO DRINK EVERY DAY.

WHEN SHE STARTED DRINKING,
UM, YOU KNOW,

SHE'D JUST GET MORE EMOTIONAL.

I JUST THOUGHT
YOU COULD HELP ME.

HELP YOU DO WHAT?

MY MOM WOULD BEAT US
WITH STICKS

OR EXTENSION CORDS, SHOES.

WHY DON'T YOU HELP ME
CLEAN UP THIS HOUSE?

EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SMALL
CHILDREN AND DEFENSELESS,

SHE HAD NO, UM, BOUNDARIES.

WHY DON'T YOU HELP ME
PAY SOME BILLS AROUND HERE?

IT BECAME NORMAL A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I THINK IT MADE ME
QUIET OR SHUT DOWN

OR NOT, UM, KNOW HOW
TO REALLY EXPRESS MYSELF.

DR. CASEY JORDAN
IS A CRIMINOLOGIST

WHO STUDIES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.

LAURA'S BASELINE FOR NORMALCY
IS COMPLETELY SKEWED.

SHE HAS SEEN SO MUCH VIOLENCE
IN HER HOUSEHOLD

THAT SHE CAN'T EVEN
COMPREHEND A WORLD WITHOUT IT.

AND WE KNOW THAT KIDS
WHO WITNESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

GROWING UP ARE VERY
LIKELY TO REPEAT

THAT BEHAVIOR AS ADULTS.

ANYTHING YOU WANT
SPECIAL FOR DINNER?

IT DOESN'T TAKE JOAN LONG

TO FIND A NEW HUSBAND.

OKAY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW,

SAVE A LITTLE BIT
FOR DESSERT, TOO.

AFTER MY FATHER
AND HER GOT DIVORCED,

MY MOTHER MET KENNY.

ONE DAY, WE WAKE UP,
AND THEY'RE MARRIED.

AND HE'S LIVIN' AT OUR HOME.

MY MOM WAS HAPPIER.

I REMEMBER HER BEING HAPPY.

BUT LIFE WITH KENNY
IS MUCH DIFFERENT

AND FAR WORSE FOR LAURA.

YOU CAN PUT THAT
CHECKER GAME UP NOW.

MY MOM WOULD
LEAVE US WITH HIM.

SO KENNY, UM, ENDED UP,

UH, MOLESTING ME.

WORSE YET, HER MOTHER
DOESN'T BELIEVE HER.

LAURA, WHAT HAPPENED?

KENNY TRIED TO KISS ME.

I TOLD HER WHAT KENNY'S
BEEN DOING TO ME.

YOU WERE JUST DREAMIN'.
IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.

SHE WAS IN DISBELIEF.

NO, HE REALLY DID.

LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO EVER
HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THIS.

MY MOTHER TOLD HER
NOT TO LIE ON KENNY.

SHE CHOSE HER HUSBAND
OVER MY SISTER.

WHY DON'T YOU EVER
BELIEVE ME, MOM?

I MEAN, HOW DO YOU
COPE WITH THAT?

THAT PROBABLY CHANGED
THE DYNAMIC OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.

JOAN EVENTUALLY
DIVORCES KENNY.

BUT FOR LAURA,
IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

MAYBE SHE THOUGHT
THAT SHE COULD'VE

DID MORE ABOUT THE SITUATION.

BUT I KNOW THAT SHE LEFT HIM.

AND THAT WAS, LIKE,
THE END OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

WITH THE CONTINUED
DRINKING AND VIOLENCE AT HOME,

THE KIDS ARE SPLIT UP
AND MOVED TO FOSTER CARE.

I WAS SAD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
MY SISTER AND I WERE CLOSE.

FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

JOAN WORKS TO GET THEM BACK.

I REMEMBER, MY MOM HAD TO
GO THROUGH ALL THESE PROGRAMS,

I GUESS, REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

FOR HER DRINKING

AND MAYBE SOME COUNSELING.

SHE WAS TRYING
TO GET BETTER.

WATCH THIS.

WHEN LAURA'S 14,

THE LEWIS FAMILY IS REUNITED
BACK UNDER JOAN'S ROOF.

SHE'S LEARNED TO DEAL
WITH HER PAINFUL PAST BY

POURING HER SOUL
INTO HER JOURNAL.

I FIRST STARTED WRITING
JUST THOUGHTS

AND TURNED 'EM
INTO SHORT STORIES AND POETRY.

EVERY LITTLE GIRL DREAMS,

WHETHER IT BE THE GLITZ
OR THE GLAM OR THE GLEAM,

THE SHINING KNIGHT
ON THE WHITE HORSE

TO SAVE THE PRINCESS
FROM LIFE REMORSE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS JUST, LIKE,
THE CREATIVE ONE.

SHE LOVED TO WRITE THOUGH.

SHE WAS, LIKE,
ALWAYS A GOOD WRITER.

LAURA DREAMS OF
PUBLISHING A BOOK SOMEDAY.

THIS LITTLE GIRL IN ME
HAS BEEN SET FREE.

THIS IS MY LIFE.
THIS IS MY TESTIMONY.

LAURA HAS SO MUCH
TRAUMA TO DEAL WITH,

THAT IT'S REALLY FORTUNATE
THAT SHE HAS FOUND WRITING

AS AN OUTLET FOR HER FEELINGS.

OTHER GIRLS WHO'VE BEEN
THROUGH WHAT SHE'S EXPERIENCED

OFTEN RESORT
TO SELF-DESTRUCTIVE

BEHAVIORS LIKE DRUG ABUSE
AND CUTTING.

BUT LAURA HAS FOUND
A HEALTHY WAY

TO COPE WITH HER REALITY.

BUT BEING BACK HOME
IS ALREADY HARD.

LAURA'S HAD TO ADJUST
TO HER NEWEST STEPDAD, ROBERT.

HE WAS PRETTY COOL.
HE WAS A LOT BETTER THAN KENNY.

I COULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW.

UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS
WITH JOAN HAVE ALREADY GONE BAD.

AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS,

SHE WENT BACK
TO HOW THINGS WERE BEFORE.

LAURA, WHAT THE HELL
IS THIS?

ONE FALL AFTERNOON,
IT ALL COMES TO A HEAD.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
YOUR GRADES.

I TOLD YOU.

MY MOTHER AND LAURA WERE,

I GUESS,
ARGUING ABOUT SOMETHIN'.

I HATE YOU!

DON'T YOU DISRESPECT ME
LIKE THAT!

I WISH YOU WAS DEAD!

SHE START WAILING ON ME,

JUST HITTING ME AND BEATING ME.

SHE RIPPED MY SHIRT OPEN.

LIKE, I WAS BEING EXPOSED.

SUDDENLY, LAURA'S
STEPDAD, ROBERT, GETS INVOLVED.

HE DECIDED TO
COME AND HOLD ME,

LIKE, HOLD MY ARMS, GRAB ME.

AND I FELT VIOLATED.

JOAN CONTINUES TO STRIKE.

I WILL NEVER HAVE YOU
TALK TO ME LIKE THAT.

I GRABBED A KNIFE.

AND I REMEMBER SAYING
TO HIM, LIKE,

"TOUCH ME NOW.
GRAB ME NOW."

DON'T DO IT.
LEAVE ME ALONE.

I SAID, PUT THAT
KNIFE DOWN, GIRL.

LAURA'S ABOUT TO CHANGE

THE COURSE OF HER LIFE FOREVER.

TOUCH ME NOW!

PUT THAT KNIFE DOWN!

OH, MY GOD.

OH, GOD.
GOD.

LAURA, WHAT DID YOU DO?

ALL I KNOW IS I STABBED HIM
AS HE TURNED AROUND.

I THINK IT'S BECAUSE
SHE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF ANGER,

YOU KNOW,
FROM MY MOM AND,

YOU KNOW, UM, KENNY.

WE'RE ALL QUICK TO GRAB A WEAPON
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WITNESS.

PLEASE, PLEASE
SEND SOMEONE QUICKLY!

THERE'S BEEN
AN ACCIDENT.

YEAH, WE WERE FIGHTING.

I REMEMBER THE POLICE COMING.

SO WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?

I'M IN TEARS.
MY CLOTHES IS ALL TORE.

GRABBED ME.
I'M HER MOTHER.

DISRESPECTFUL LITTLE -
I'M SORRY.

BUT I'M GONNA NEED YOU
TO COME WITH ME.

MOMMY, ARE YOU GONNA
LET HIM TAKE ME LIKE THIS?

I WENT TO JAIL AT 14.

DID YOU FEEL LIKE
HE DESERVED IT?

I FELT BAD.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA BE
A MONSTER OR ANYTHING.

I HATE YOU!

LAURA IS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

AND ULTIMATELY SENT
TO A BOOT CAMP

FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.

I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH AUTHORITY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM
RESPECTING AUTHORITY

OR LISTENING OR FOLLOWING RULES.

UM, SO I WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I SAID DROP DOWN.

WHILE MOST OFFENDERS
NEED A YEAR

TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM,

LAURA MANAGES TO FINISH IT
IN 6 MONTHS.

WHEN YOU WERE GRADUATING
FROM BOOT CAMP,

WAS THIS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE?

I WANTED TO COME OUT AND GET
ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND JUST,

YOU KNOW, LIVE MY LIFE.

WHEN YOU GET ON THE OUTSIDE,
YOU'RE GONNA BE JUST FINE.

I WAS GONNA JOIN
THE NATIONAL GUARD.

GET OUTTA HERE.

NOW 16, LAURA IS READY
FOR A NEW START.

HEY, LAURA.
HEY.

SHE MOVES IN WITH HER
OLDER SISTER, KAREN.

I THINK HER AND MY MOM
WERE HAVING ISSUES AGAIN.

SO SHE JUST WANTED
TO BE OUT THE HOUSE.

ANOTHER SOUL-SUCKING SHIFT
OF FLIPPING BURGERS.

LAURA GETS A FAST-FOOD JOB

AND TAKES GED CLASSES

THROUGH THE MINNEAPOLIS
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU'LL HAVE A BETTER JOB.

SHE SEEMED A LITTLE MORE MATURE.

HANG IN THERE.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.

ON HER WAY HOME
FROM WORK ONE DAY,

LAURA WALKS PAST
22-YEAR-OLD ZACK MOORE.

HEY, BABY - BABY GIRL.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

YOU'RE TALKING TO ME?
YES, I'M TALKING TO YOU.

AIN'T NOBODY ELSE AROUND.
I HAD TO STOP YOU.

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

THE NAIVE TEENAGER
ISN'T USED TO THE ATTENTION.

YOU GOT A NUMBER?
MAYBE I CAN CALL YOU?

I MIGHT WANNA SLIDE THROUGH
AND GET A BURGER.

I MIGHT WANNA COME THROUGH.

AND YOU AIN'T GONNA GIVE ME
A FAKE NUMBER OR NOTHIN'?

I'MMA CALL YOU. ALL RIGHT?
OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, IF I COME OVER,
WHAT - WHAT YOU GONNA DO?

WELL, WHAT DO YOU
LIKE TO DO?

ZACK CALLS HER EVERY
DAY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?
I SAID WE GOTTA CHANGE THAT.

WE HAD SO MUCH CHEMISTRY.

AND WE'D STAY UP TALKING.

HMM, I SEE
SOMEBODY'S UP LATE.

LAURA GROWS TO TRUST
ZACK AND FEELS SAFE

SHARING SOME OF HER
DARKEST MEMORIES.

HE MOLESTED ME.

I'LL NEVER GET OVER IT, EVER.

ZACK RESPONDS BY BEING
THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY
LIFE, UH, I MET A GUY

WHO DIDN'T JUST TRY
TO SLEEP WITH ME.

I FELT, LIKE,
EVER SINCE I WAS 2,

MEN HAVE BEEN TRYIN'
TO SCREW ME, YOU KNOW.

SO I
APPRECIATED HIM FOR THAT.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHY

HE WASN'T TRYING
TO PUT THE MOVES ON YOU

'CAUSE HE KNEW THAT YOU HAD BEEN
MOLESTED AS A CHILD,

AND HE WAS TRYING TO BE
VERY RESPECTFUL OF YOUR SPACE?

YEAH, I THINK HE JUST
WANTED TO SHOW ME, UM,

THAT MAYBE ALL MEN
AREN'T BAD GUYS.

DANG, GIRL, CALM DOWN.
IT SCARED ME.

YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT ASKED TO WATCH THIS.

HE WAS JUST KINDA
QUIET AND STUFF.

AND HE SEEMED LIKE
HE WAS A NICE GUY.

AND, LIKE, HE CARED A LOT
ABOUT HER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT
HE WAS A OKAY GUY.

ZACK IS LAURA'S FIRST
REAL BOYFRIEND,

THE FIRST MAN SHE'S DATED
WHO ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT HER.

WITH HER HISTORY OF ABUSE,
SHE DOESN'T TRUST MEN.

AND IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT
TO LET HER GUARD DOWN

AND EMBRACE INTIMACY.

ZACK KNOWS HER PAST
AND RESPECTS HER BOUNDARIES.

SO THIS IS THE PERFECT CHANCE

FOR HER TO HAVE
A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

MAN, YOU BETTER BE GLAD
I LOVE YOU, OKAY?

WHY?
'CAUSE YOU DIDN'T CARRY

NONE OF THESE GROCERIES.

WHEN LAURA TURNS 18,

SHE MOVES IN
TO ZACK'S APARTMENT.

TELL ME ABOUT WORK.

I WAS HAPPY.
I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM.

I JUST LOVED BEIN' AROUND HIM.

HE'S A SWEETHEART,
YOU KNOW.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST
COOKS I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

I MEAN, ARE YOU THINKING,
"THIS IS THE GUY I WANNA MARRY"?

YEAH, I DID.

I'M GLAD I GOT YOU
IN MY LIFE, BABY.

MM, THANK YOU.

BUT OVER TIME,
THE PASSION STARTS TO FIZZLE.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

I HAD TOO MUCH WATER.
I HAVE TO GO TO THE RESTROOM.

AND A LATE-NIGHT CALL
AROUSES HER SUSPICIONS.

MY SISTER, SHE'S -
SHE'S, LIKE, REAL JEALOUS.

SO SHE'S GONNA GO
THROUGH YOUR PHONE.

SHE'S GONNA GO
THROUGH YOUR PANTS.

SHE'S GONNA DO, YOU KNOW,
INVESTIGATING TO FIND OUT,

YOU KNOW.

SOMEONE'S
BEEN A BAD BOY.

HE HAD A FEW OTHER
DIFFERENT WOMEN.

THEY WOULD LEAVE HIM,
LIKE, NAUGHTY MESSAGES.

NURSE NANCY CALLING.

TIME TO GET YOUR
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.

WHEN LAURA CONFRONTS ZACK...

ARE YOU CHEATING ON ME?

HE, SURPRISINGLY,
COMES CLEAN.

YEAH, I AM.

BUT IT AIN'T GOT
NOTHING TO DO WITH US.

YOU KNOW, I'M STILL
IN LOVE WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE ME SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE ME.

I WAS, LIKE, "I'M WILLING
TO DO THOSE THINGS.

I - I - I WOULD LIKE
TO EXPERIMENT THOSE THINGS."

ANYTHING THAT THEY DO,
I CAN DO, TOO.

NO.

SO YOU TOLD HIM YOU WERE
WILLING TO GET FREAKY?

YEAH, WE COULD ROLEPLAY.

WE COULD TRY NEW THINGS.

WHAT IS IT I CAN'T GIVE YOU?

LAURA HEARS HER
MOTHER'S VOICE.

THESE OTHER WOMEN,
THEY JUST FETISHES.

A MAN IS EITHER GONNA
BEAT ON YOU OR CHEAT ON YOU.

YOU DECIDE.

BUT YOU KNOW WE REAL.
YOU MY ANGEL.

WHY -
WHY ARE YOU BUGGIN', MAN?

DEALIN' WITH ZACK,
I'M FEELIN' LIKE,

MAYBE I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
I'M NOT PRETTY ENOUGH.

OR EVEN THE THOUGHT
OF CATCHIN' A DISEASE,

I JUST -
I COULDN'T DEAL WITH IT.

PROMISE THAT YOU
WON'T DO IT AGAIN.

YO, YOU GOT MY WORD, LAURA.

YOU MEAN MORE TO ME
THAN THEM OTHER GIRLS.

SO I TELL YOU WHAT,
LET'S MAKE THIS REAL, LAURA.

I WANT YOU TO HAVE MY BABY.
REALLY?

I BELIEVE, HIM BEING
AFRAID TO LOSE ME,

HE THOUGHT IF WE WOULD
HAVE OUR OWN CHILD,

MAYBE IT WOULD KEEP ME.

STARTING TONIGHT.

LAURA LOVES HIM DEEPLY
AND DECIDES TO TAKE THE LEAP.

BOTH ZACK AND LAURA
ARE PLAYING

A GAME OF EMOTIONAL ENTRAPMENT.

ZACK WANTS TO GIVE HER A BABY
SO THAT SHE'LL STAY WITH HIM.

LAURA THINKS THAT
HAVING A BABY

WITH ZACK WILL CURE
HIS INFIDELITY.

NEITHER OF THESE AGENDAS
WILL WORK IN THE LONG RUN,

BECAUSE NO BABY CAN FIX
A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP.

AFTER A YEAR OF TRYING,
LAURA FINALLY GETS PREGNANT.

AREN'T YOU THINKING,

"MAYBE I SHOULD GET
SOME TEST OF COMMITMENT

FROM HIM LIKE A RING
AND A - A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL?"

HE PROPOSED ME. HE BROUGHT ME
A LITTLE RING.

I HAD A RING.

BUT WHEN THE PHONE
RINGS ONE DAY...

HELLO?

LAURA GETS SOME NEWS
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

I JUST THINK YOU NEED
TO KNOW I'M PREGNANT.

AND IT'S ZACK'S BABY.

WHAT?

I JUST THINK YOU NEED
TO KNOW I'M PREGNANT.

AND IT'S ZACK'S BABY.

WHAT?

YOUR MAN IS
THE FATHER OF MY BABY.

THIS GOTTA BE
SOME TYPE OF JOKE.

NO JOKE, I'M PREGNANT.

THE SURPRISE CALLER
IS ZACK'S EX-GIRLFRIEND.

LAURA, HE'S STILL SEEING HIS EX?
YES.

YOU'RE TELLING ME
YOU'RE BOTH PREGNANT

AT THE SAME TIME?

YES, WE WERE.

LAURA IS HEARTBROKEN.

SHE BREAKS OFF
THE ENGAGEMENT AND LEAVES.

LAURA STAYS WITH FAMILY
FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

AND IN APRIL 2005,

SHE GIVES BIRTH
TO A HEALTHY BABY BOY, ALEX.

I HAD MY SON.
HE WAS HEALTHY, HEALTHY.

I'LL LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE.
AND SHE, PRETTY MUCH,

WAS JUST ABOUT HER SON,

YOU KNOW, TRYIN' TO MAKE
A GOOD LIFE FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, RIGHT?

EVEN THOUGH
LAURA AND ZACK

AREN'T TOGETHER ANYMORE,

HE'S STILL COMMITTED TO BEING
A PART OF THEIR SON'S LIFE.

LAURA IS DETERMINED TO MAKE IT
AS A SINGLE MOTHER.

AND WHEN ALEX IS
JUST 6 WEEKS OLD,

SHE GETS A JOB
AS A BUS DRIVER.

THIS IS WHEN MY SISTER
WAS DOING VERY WELL.

SHE HAD A JOB WORKIN'
FOR METRO TRANSIT.

SHE'S MAKING, LIKE, $19 AN HOUR.

SHE WAS, LIKE, TAKIN'
SOME COLLEGE CLASSES.

LIKE, SHE REALLY HAD
HER STUFF TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.

LAURA HAS A GOOD JOB,
HER OWN PLACE.

AND NO ONE IS MISTREATING HER

OR DESTROYING HER CONFIDENCE.

FOR ONCE, SHE HAS A SENSE
OF CONTROL OVER HER LIFE.

AND SHE SEEMS EMPOWERED
BY HER NEWFOUND INDEPENDENCE.

SHE IS NOT LOOKING FOR A MAN
FOR EMOTIONAL VALIDATION.

THINGS ARE GOING
GREAT FOR LAURA.

BUT SHE'S LONELY.

ONE NIGHT,
ON A SINGLES CHAT LINE,

SHE CONNECTS WITH 21-YEAR-OLD
STEPHEN THOMAS.

HELLO?
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

MY NAME IS LAURA.
I LIKE THAT NAME.

MY NAME'S STEPHEN.

I LOVED HIS VOICE. THE SOUND OF
HIS VOICE WAS SO SEXY.

DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND?

I JUST THOUGHT HE WAS JUST -
JUST A COOL PERSON.

HE WAS JUST NICE.
HE WAS POLITE.

WELL, CALL ME TOMORROW.

IT WAS REALLY NICE TALKING
TO YOU, LAURA.

THE TWO SINGLES MAKE
PLANS TO MEET UP SOON IN PERSON.

A FEW NIGHTS LATER,
STEPHEN INVITES HER

TO A PARTY AT A HOTEL ROOM.

YES, OH, MY GOD.
WHO ARE YOU?

LAURA.
YOU'RE LAURA?

LAURA'S BROUGHT HER BROTHER,
EMANUEL, ALONG.

LOOK LIKE
SHE MADE A FRIEND.

♪♪ ALL-STAR KNOCKING 'EM
OFF GUARD ♪♪

♪♪ TRANSFORMER ALL-STAR ♪♪

AT THAT TIME,
I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS A RAPPER.

SO HE WAS INTO MUSIC.
HE SHARED HIS MUSIC WITH ME.

LAURA'S MESMERIZED
BY HIS TALENT AND CHARM.

♪♪ OFF WITH YOUR TOP,
BERETTA IN TOW ♪♪

WHOA!

BUT NOT EVERYONE'S IMPRESSED.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, I THOUGHT
HE SUCKED, ACTUALLY.

BUT, I MEAN, PERSONALLY,
I WOULDN'T BUY IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
BUT HE WAS OKAY.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE REAL FRIENDLY.
OH, MY GOD.

YOU ARE GORGEOUS.
THANK YOU.

THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN
LAURA AND STEPHEN IS UNDENIABLE.

I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS

THE RIGHT
TYPE OF GUY FOR MY SISTER.

DESPITE HER BROTHER'S DOUBTS,

LAURA GOES OUT
ON A DATE WITH STEPHEN.

AND THEY CAN'T KEEP
THEIR HANDS OFF EACH OTHER.

IT WAS, LIKE, OUTTA THIS WORLD.

HE PICKED ME UP.

HE TURNED ME UPSIDE DOWN.

IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.

LIKE, I JUST NEVER BEEN
DOMINATED LIKE THAT.

STEPHEN MAKES IT CLEAR THAT

HE'S NOT LOOKING
FOR ANYTHING SERIOUS.

I'M JUST NOT TRYING
TO GET TIED DOWN

WITH A FEMALE RIGHT NOW.

I WAS YOUNG, YOU KNOW,

I JUST LIKED
TO BE WITH DIFFERENT WOMEN.

IT WAS JUST OFF
AND ON OR JUST RANDOM.

I'M NOT TRYING
TO GET TIED DOWN EITHER.

LAURA'S SO ENTHRALLED
WITH HER NEW LOVER,

THAT SHE'S TOTALLY FINE
WITH THE ARRANGEMENT.

ALL I KNOW IS, HE BROUGHT
OUT THE FREAK IN ME.

LIKE, YEAH.

THEY BEGIN CASUALLY
HOOKING UP EVERY FEW WEEKS.

I WAS, LIKE, ADDICTED.
I NEEDED IT.

LIKE, I JUST COULDN'T
GET ENOUGH OF IT.

LAURA STILL SEES ZACK OFTEN

SINCE THEY SHARE CUSTODY
OF THEIR SON, ALEX.

AND ONE DAY, HE MAKES
A SURPRISING ADMISSION.

WHAT ARE THESE?

LOOK, LAURA,
I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU.

I WAS SHOCKED.

LIKE, WHAT?
LIKE, WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?

I WANT A SECOND CHANCE.

IT'S NOT EVEN LIKE

I BEEN GIVING HIM
MIXED SIGNALS

OR FLIRTING WITH HIM
OR ANYTHING.

I'M A CHANGED MAN.

HE JUST WAS REALLY
TRYING TO GET WITH ME.

FOR OLD TIME'S SAKE,
IT CROSSED MY MIND.

I KNOW I MESSED UP, BUT...

LAURA WEIGHS HER OPTIONS.

I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY
DIFFERENT FROM NIGHT AND DAY.

LAURA DECIDES TO GIVE
ZACK ANOTHER CHANCE.

YEAH.

WE'RE BACK TOGETHER.

NO, NO,
WE'RE NOT BACK TOGETHER.

WE GONNA TAKE IT SLOW.

JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER,

LAURA FINDS HERSELF
IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION.

I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT.
AND IT WAS SO CLOSE.

I WASN'T EXACTLY FOR SURE.

IS THAT BABY ZACK'S
OR IS IT STEPHEN?

MM-HMM.

THAT'S GOTTA BE
A REALLY BAD CONUNDRUM.

IT WAS.

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME.

IT WAS A LOVE TRIANGLE
AT THAT POINT.

LAURA COMES CLEAN
TO BOTH MEN

AND THEY AGREE TO DO
A PATERNITY TEST

AFTER THE BABY'S BORN.

LAURA IS OBVIOUSLY CONFLICTED
ABOUT HOW THINGS

WILL CHANGE ONCE THE PATERNITY
OF HER BABY IS CONFIRMED.

IS IT BETTER TO HAVE
THE BABY DADDY BE ZACK,

THE UNFAITHFUL
BUT LOVING MAN IN HER LIFE?

OR STEPHEN, WHO IS EXCITING,
BUT COMPLETELY NON-COMMITTAL?

IN OCTOBER 2007,

LAURA GIVES BIRTH
TO A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL

SHE NAMES ANNIE.

AND SHE FINALLY FINDS
OUT WHO THE FATHER IS.

HERE, HOLD HER.

IT'S NOT THE OUTCOME
LAURA HAD HOPED FOR.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED
THAT IT WASN'T ZACK'S BABY.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

ZACK, HE WAS MORE,
UM, HUSBAND MATERIAL,

YOU KNOW, VERSUS STEPHEN.

HE WASN'T HUSBAND
MATERIAL AT ALL.

YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE
FOR US, RIGHT?

YEAH, I'M GONNA
BE HERE FOR YOU.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

BUT SHE MAKES THE BEST OF IT.

I THINK SO.

I WAS JUST HAPPY
TO HAVE A GIRL THOUGH.

THAT MADE IT BETTER.

IT JUST MADE ME, LIKE,
WANT A BETTER LIFE FOR MY KIDS.

WHAT ABOUT YOU AND ME?

THAT'S ABOUT IT
AND JUST BE A GOOD FATHER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THAT'S WHAT LIFE ABOUT,
REPRODUCTION.

HIS DAD WASN'T THERE FOR HIM.

HE WANTS TO BE THERE
FOR HIS CHILD.

HE WANTS TO BE A FAMILY.

MIGHT AS WELL BE TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YEAH.

STEPHEN MOVES IN WITH
LAURA AND HER CHILDREN.

SHE GOES BACK TO WORK
AS THE MAIN PROVIDER,

WHILE HE CONTINUES
TO PURSUE HIS MUSIC CAREER.

♪♪ I'M AN AMERICAN HUSTLER,
YOU JUST A CUSTOMER ♪♪

♪♪ ON YOUR OWN,
FLAT LIKE A MUFFLER ♪♪

SO I ASKED HIM.
I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,

"WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO TO
TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER?"

"OH, MAN, I'M GONNA BE
A RAP STAR.

I'LL GET
A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DEAL."

AND I WAS, LIKE,
"MAN, BUT YOU'RE BROKE.

LIKE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY."

LIKE, IT DIDN'T SEEM
REALISTIC TO ME, YOU KNOW.

KEEP IT DOWN
FOR THE BABY.

WHAT?
KEEP IT DOWN FOR THE BABY.

HE WOULD KEEP THE BABY
WHILE I WENT TO WORK.

YOU'RE SUPPORTING HIM?

I - I DIDN'T MIND, UM, 'CAUSE,

I - I BELIEVED IN -
I BELIEVED IN HIS MUSIC.

OKAY.

SO YOU'RE THINKIN' THERE
MIGHT BE A PAYOFF AT THE END?

I - I MEAN, IT CROSSED
MY MIND, YEAH.

IN TIME,
SHE FEELS ENCOURAGED

AS STEPHEN SETTLES
IN TO FAMILY LIFE.

TO SEE HIM BE ATTENTIVE
TO THE BABY

AND KISS HER AND GRAB HER UP

AND HUG HER

AND WANNA TAKE HER SHOPPING...
HE WAS A GOOD DAD.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
I - I WAS VERY SURPRISED.

LAURA'S INSPIRED
TO START WRITING AGAIN.

HE TOOK MY BREATH
AWAY AT FIRST SIGHT.

IF THIS IS WRONG,
THEN I DON'T WANNA BE RIGHT.

BEFORE LONG,
STEPHEN STARTS TO LAND

HIGH PROFILE GIGS
AT NIGHT CLUBS AROUND TOWN.

♪♪ YOUR WIFE SECRETLY
TRIES TO CREEP WITH ME ♪♪

♪♪ I PUT IT DOWN ♪♪

AND LAURA LOVES
WATCHING HER MAN ON STAGE.

IT MAY HAVE APPEALED
TO LAURA,

UM, FOR A WHILE, YOU KNOW,
JUST THAT CLUB LIFE.

♪♪ HANDS UP, HANDS UP, HANDS UP ♪♪

BUT THAT'S NOT HER.

♪♪ CHILL WITH THE EBONY FREAK
THAT'S STILL NEXT TO ME ♪♪

BUT AS STEPHEN REACHES
FOR SUCCESS WITH HIS MUSIC...

♪♪ WE TURNED TO THE BACK
BURGUNDY AND BLACK ♪♪

♪♪ RAG TOP CADILLAC ♪♪

...IT'S LAURA
WHO FEELS THE STRAIN.

♪♪ I BROWN BAG THE HENNY MAKING
SURE THE JACK IS EMPTY ♪♪

HE LIKED TO PARTY.

THEY WERE TAKING ECSTASY
OR PARTYING ALL NIGHT.

AND YOU'RE A MOTHER.

SO THAT JUST -
THAT DOESN'T MIX.

I'M MAXINE WITH DUSTY RECORDS.
I LIKED YOUR SET.

YOU SHOULD GIVE US A CALL.

STEPHEN CAN SMELL SUCCESS.

BUT LAURA'S PATIENCE
IS WEARING THIN.

WHEN THAT CARD BECOME CASH,
THEN I'LL BE EXCITED.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

AND IT SPARKS
A MASSIVE BLOWOUT.

I DON'T KNOW,
A VIP CHICK OR SOMEBODY?

DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT.

WHAT?
I'M YOUR GIRLFRIEND.

HEY, RELAX. CALM DOWN.

WHAT YOU THINK YOU GONNA HIT ME
IN FRONT OF MY BROTHER?

CALM DOWN.

I MEAN, SHE NOT
GONNA CONTROL ME.

I'M A GROWN MAN.
I DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.

THERE'S NOTHIN' SHE CAN TELL ME
TO DO I WOULDN'T DO ANYWAY.

NOBODY WANNA BE AROUND THAT.

SEE WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?

BUT FOR LAURA,
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A FIGHT.

I'M GONE.
FUELED BY LOCAL STARDOM,

STEPHEN'S BEHAVIOR HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY ERRATIC.

HE JUST SEEMED KIND
OF WEIRD, YOU KNOW.

LIKE, STUFF
HE WOULD TALK ABOUT

JUST KINDA SEEMED
OFF THE WALL.

YOU KNOW, HE JUST
SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS

SOMETHIN' ODD ABOUT HIM.

AND IT ONLY GETS WORSE.

ACCORDING TO LAURA,
ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER 2008,

SHE AND STEPHEN GET INTO
ANOTHER HEATED ARGUMENT.

YOU SPENDING MY MONEY!
I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHAT IT WAS OVER.

BUT I WAS DOIN' 70 MILES
AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY.

THIS HOW IT'S GONNA BE?

THIS IS HOW WE
GONNA LIVE, RIGHT?

BUT THIS IS HOW
IT ALREADY IS.

EVERY SINGLE DAY,
IT'S A FIGHT, RIGHT?

OUR DAUGHTER'S
IN THE CAR SEAT.

HE GRABBED MY HANDS
OFF THE STEERIN' WHEEL.

HE SAID HE WANTS TO DIE,

AND HE'S GONNA TAKE ME
AND OUR DAUGHTER WITH HIM.

THE BABY'S
IN THE CAR!

A HEATED ARGUMENT

HAS PUT LAURA LEWIS' FAMILY
IN SERIOUS DANGER.

THE BABY'S
IN THE CAR!

YES! I DON'T CARE.
STOP! STOP!

HE FINALLY LET GO
AND I PULLED OVER

INTO THE NEAREST EXIT
AND TOLD HIM

I NEEDED TO GET SOMETHIN'
FROM THE GROCERY STORE.

AND I CALLED THE POLICE.

I THINK MY BOYFRIEND

IS TRYING TO HURT ME
AND MY CHILD.

AND, UM, THE POLICE
MET ME THERE.

SIR, IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
WHAT'S GOIN' ON OVER HERE?

WE GOT A PHONE CALL
ABOUT SOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DO YOU THINK HE JUST WAS
UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OF DRUGS AT THE TIME?

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T
REMEMBER HIM USIN' DRUGS.

I DON'T KNOW.
BUT HE WAS, LIKE, SO STONED.

TAKE A LOOK.
ALL RIGHT.

JUST - JUST STAY RIGHT HERE,
OKAY? I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

DISORIENTED,
HE COULDN'T EVEN TALK.

SO WHEN AN OFFICER CAME,

STEPHEN LOOKED LIKE HE DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WAS GOIN' ON.

HE TRIED TO KILL ME
AND MY CHILD.

MA'AM, I UNDERSTAND
YOUR FRUSTRATION.

BUT THERE'S REALLY
NOTHING WE CAN DO.

THEY JUST LET HIM GO.

THEY DIDN'T TAKE HIM
TO JAIL OR ANYTHING.

UM, THEY JUST LET HIM GO.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHILD?

LAURA'S TOO SPOOKED
TO LET STEPHEN BACK IN THE CAR.

SHE GIVES HIM $40
FOR A CAB AND HEADS HOME.

TAKE THIS.
TAKE IT.

STEPHEN CLAIMS TO HAVE NO MEMORY
OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

TAKE THIS...
WELL, FINE THEN.

AND GO.
WELL, FINE THEN.

MAYBE THAT HAPPENED.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER.

I REMEMBER SOMETHIN'
LIKE THAT HAPPENIN'.

BUT I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER
ANY DETAILS, THOUGH.

THAT NIGHT,
WHEN STEPHEN RETURNS HOME,

HE AND LAURA HASH IT OUT.

BABY, I'M SORRY.
DON'T CALL ME BABY.

SHE CLAIMS THAT HE ADMITS

TO NOT HANDLING STRESS WELL

AND THAT IT GETS WORSE
WHEN HE DRINKS.

I WANNA TALK TO YOU.

I REALLY FELT
A DEEP SYMPATHY FOR HIM.

I JUST LOSE IT.
I WIG OUT.

I TRIED TO ENCOURAGE HIM
TO GO TO A HOSPITAL, A DOCTOR.

HE WOULD SAY HE WOULD GO.

THAT'S WHY I PROBABLY
WOULD STAY.

AND IT WOULD JUST NEVER HAPPEN.
IT NEVER HAPPENED.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO GET IT TOGETHER.

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO DEAL WITH THIS.

LET'S MAKE IT
BETTER TOGETHER.

I WAS GAMBLING.

I WAS PLAYING RUSSIAN
ROULETTE BEING WITH HIM.

IT WAS A BIG GAMBLE NOT KNOWING

IF HE'S REALLY GONNA TAKE THINGS

TO A POINT OF NO RETURN.

ACCORDING TO LAURA,
OVER THE NEXT YEAR,

STEPHEN'S BEHAVIOR
GETS EVEN MORE ERRATIC.

AND TAKES A VIOLENT TURN.

ONCE THINGS SPIRALED OUT
OF CONTROL, IT KEPT CONTINUING.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO COPE 'CAUSE EVEN,

LIKE, HIM PUTTING HIS HANDS

ON ME AND ME ACCEPTING IT,

I NEVER JUST SAW MYSELF

BEING SOME VULNERABLE,
BATTERED WOMAN.

LIKE, I GUESS
I JUST SHUT DOWN MENTALLY.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REALLY
GET OUT OR FIGHT BACK.

GET OFF.

IT BREAKS MY HEART
'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE

WHAT YOUR MOM WENT THROUGH.

WITH ALL THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

YOU GREW UP WITH
IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD

AND YOU SWORE IT
WOULDN'T BE THAT WAY.

RIGHT.

AND WHAT WAS IT THAT
YOUR MOM ALWAYS SAID?

A MAN WOULD CHEAT ON YOU
OR BEAT ON YOU.

YOU DECIDE.

YOU JUST GOT RID OF THE MAN
WHO CHEATED ON YOU.

MM-HMM.
AND NOW YOU GOT THE GUY...

WHO WAS BEATIN' ON ME.

YEP.

LAURA CLINGS
TO THE NOTION THAT,

NO MATTER WHAT HER MAN DOES,

HER CHILDREN MUST
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP

WITH THEIR FATHERS,

EVEN IF THAT MAN
IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND ABUSIVE.

HER BELIEF THAT HER KIDS
NEED TO KNOW THEIR DADDY

IS THE REASON
SHE CAN'T BREAK IT OFF.

BUT SHE ENDS UP GETTING
EXPLOITED IN THE PROCESS.

WHERE IS THIS BILL
THAT I SPENT ALL...

BUT STEPHEN TELLS
A DIFFERENT STORY.

MY HOUSE!
IT'S NOTHIN' BUT YOU!

SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING,

YOU KNOW, I JUST -
I JUST LOST TRACK OF EVERYTHING.

WHENEVER LAURA WOULD ATTACK ME,

I WOULD JUST GRAB HER
OR TRY TO HOLD HER DOWN.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

JUST TRY TO DEFUSE
THE SITUATION,

JUST DEFENDIN' MYSELF,

THAT'S ALL I WAS TRYIN' TO DO.

LISTEN TO ME!

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA
HAVE A RECORD DEAL?

I HATE YOU.
I HATE YOU.

HUH?
YOU WANNA SPEND MY MONEY?

I DON'T WANNA FIGHT WITH YOU.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANNA DO?

LET ME GO.
I DON'T WANNA FIGHT WITH YOU.

THE NEXT MORNING,
LAURA CALLS THE POLICE.

I MEAN, WHEN THE POLICE
COME TO THE HOUSE,

SHE WOULD TELL 'EM
A DIFFERENT STORY,

"OH, HE TRIED TO HIT ME.
HE TRIED TO CHOKE ME."

AND THEY'D TAKE ME TO JAIL.

STEPHEN FACES UP
TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON.

THAT WAS HIS FIRST TIME
GOING IN JAIL.

AND THEY CHARGED HIM
WITH ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT

FELONY CHARGES,

LIKE, TERRORISTIC THREATS,
STRANGULATION.

LAURA HAS A CHANGE OF HEART.

AND SHE QUICKLY TRIES
TO DROP THE CHARGES.

I JUST WANTED TO LET HIM KNOW,

THAT'S NOT OKAY,
GET ARRESTED.

BUT THEN I DIDN'T THINK
HE DESERVED TO BE

IN JAIL FOR YEARS.

HE PLED GUILTY TO, UM,
I THINK, TERRORISTIC THREATS.

HE WAS IN THERE
FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

AND THEN THEY LET HIM
GO WITH TIME SERVED.

AS PART OF HIS PLEA,

STEPHEN IS ORDERED TO TAKE
ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES.

STEPHEN, SERVING ONLY 1 MONTH

OF A POSSIBLE 5-YEAR SENTENCE

FOR ALL OF THAT VIOLENCE
REALLY SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE.

LAURA FINALLY
CALLED THE POLICE

AND BROKE THAT CYCLE OF ABUSE.

BUT NOW THAT STEPHEN IS OUT,

WITH BARELY A SLAP ON THE WRIST,

THAT LACK OF CONSEQUENCES

WILL MAKE IT VERY EASY

FOR THEM TO GET BACK TOGETHER.

BY CHRISTMAS 2009,

THE COUPLE IS BACK TOGETHER.

AND LAURA FEELS LIKE
THEIR RELATIONSHIP

IS ON THE UPSWING.

WE HAD A NICE CHRISTMAS
WITH THE TOYS AND OUR DAUGHTER

AND KIDS OPEN UP THE, UM,
THEIR PRESENTS.

AND YOU FELT LIKE YOU
HAD YOUR OLD STEPHEN BACK?

YEAH, IT WAS NICE.

STEPHEN'S WAITING TO
HEAR BACK FROM A RECORD LABEL

ABOUT A POSSIBLE CONTRACT
FOR HIS DEMO.

AND LAURA FANTASIZES
ABOUT THE DAY

HE'LL FINALLY GET HIS BIG BREAK.

LIFE IS A ROAD
TO EVERLASTING HAPPINESS,

RATHER IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH.

ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE
TO CHOOSE YOUR SELF-WORTH.

BUT THEIR HOLIDAY
CHEER DOESN'T LAST LONG.

SHE JUST FELT SOMETHING
WAS SUSPICIOUS ABOUT HIM

'CAUSE HE KEPT,
YOU KNOW,

TEXTING ON THE PHONE
AND THEN HIDING THE PHONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO SHE KNEW
SOMETHING WAS UP.

IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

YEAH, YEAH, FOR SURE.

ON JANUARY 7, 2010,

STEPHEN'S TAKING
AN AFTERNOON NAP.

SOMETHING JUST MADE ME
JUST WANNA LOOK AT HIS PHONE.

IT SAID, LIKE, "I'M MEETING YOU,
LIKE, AT THE HOTEL"

OR SOMETHING.

I WAS JUST, LIKE, "DANG."

I JUST FELT, LIKE,

WE NEVER HAD THESE TYPE
OF PROBLEMS REALLY BEFORE.

LIKE, I DON'T THINK
HE'S EVER REALLY CHEATED ON ME.

HE'S A CHEATER AND A BEATER.
MM-HMM.

AND YOU GOT THE WHOLE PACKAGE.

YEAH.

AND IT GETS WORSE.

AS LAURA DIGS DEEPER,

SHE LEARNS THAT STEPHEN'S
BEEN CHEATING ON HER FOR MONTHS.

I FELT ANGRY, HURT, BETRAYED,
JUST, JUST EVERYTHING.

I HAD SO MANY MIXED EMOTIONS.

TELLING ME I CAN'T GO OUT.

I CAN'T DO WHAT I WANTED.
BUT HE'S DOING WHAT HE WANNA DO.

I WAS JUST - YEAH,
I WAS VERY ANGRY.

SHE'S IMPULSIVE ALSO.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES
SHE REACTS WITHOUT THINKING.

YOU KNOW, SHE REACTS
BY HER EMOTIONS.

IT WAS FOR PROTECTION BECAUSE
I WANTED TO CONFRONT HIM.

AND I KNEW, IF I WERE
TO CONFRONT HIM

HE PROBABLY WOULD ASSAULT ME.

SHE WANTED TO KILL HIM
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,

SHE WAS - SHE WAS HURT.

AND SHE FELT
PLAYED AND...

SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE
IMAGINED HERSELF,

YOU KNOW,
JUST...

IN HIS SLEEP, YOU KNOW.

WAKE UP.

AND THEN SHE PUNCHED ME
IN THE FACE.

AND I WOKE UP
AND SAW HER WITH A KNIFE.

HELL, NO!
HELL, NO!

AND SHE SWUNG WITH THE KNIFE.
AND I TRIED TO GRAB IT.

AND THEN SHE CUT ME.

I NEED TO GET HER OFF
OF ME BEFORE I DIE.

GET OFF OF ME!

THE KNIFE SLICES HIS HAND.

THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS, LIKE,
GUSHIN' OUT EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS DRIPPING DOWN HIS ARM.

I WAS CUT TOO.
YOU KNOW, AND HE TUSSLED ME.

AND I HIT MY HEAD OR SOMETHING.
AND I'M STILL ANGRY.

SO I DIDN'T REALLY CARE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

AND I WAS BLEEDING LIKE CRAZY.

SO I THINK LIKE I NEEDED
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

MY WOMAN JUST STABBED ME
IN THE HAND.

HE'S ON THE PHONE
CALLING 911 AND SAYING,

"MY GIRLFRIEND STABBED ME."

HOW DOES IT FEEL NOW?

I WAS JUST HOPING THAT
I COULD KEEP MY FINGER.

THAT WAS WHAT I WAS
THINKING AT THE TIME.

SEND SOMEONE RIGHT NOW.
IT WAS, LIKE, HALFWAY OFF.

SO HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?

LAURA IS ULTIMATELY
ARRESTED AND CHARGED

WITH SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT
WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON.

THEY THREATENED ME
WITH 7 YEARS IN PRISON.

SO IN THE END,
WHAT DID YOU DO?

TAKE A PLEA?
I DID.

I DID -
FOR 6 MONTHS, 180 DAYS.

HANG IN THERE.

WITH NOWHERE TO GO
AFTER HER RELEASE,

LAURA WINDS UP
TAKING REFUGE WITH STEPHEN.

I HAD NO INTENTIONS
OF BEING WITH HIM.

I KNEW I WASN'T GONNA BE
WITH HIM WHEN I GOT OUT.

BUT WHEN YOU GOT OUT YOU
WENT RIGHT BACK TO HIM.

BECAUSE OF OUR DAUGHTER.

HERE, HOLD HER.

SHE WAS LIVING WITH ME.

SHE HAD JUST GOT OUT OF JAIL.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY.

SO I DIDN'T WANT HER
TO BE HOMELESS.

LAURA SAYS THAT SHE HAS
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

BUT THE TRUTH IS,
SHE JUST CAN'T STAY AWAY.

AGAIN, SHE'S USING HER
DAUGHTER AS AN EXCUSE.

SHE COULD GO TO A HALFWAY HOUSE,
A WOMEN'S SHELTER.

SHE COULD APPLY
FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

BUT SHE DOESN'T.

ONCE YOU BREAK FREE FROM THIS
SORT OF ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP,

YOU NEVER GO BACK
TO THE MAN WHO BEATS YOU.

EVERY SINGLE TIME.
I PUT UP WITH YOU.

THEY STAY TOGETHER
FOR ANOTHER 4 YEARS.

BUT IT'S A STRUGGLE.

WHEN STEPHEN IS SENT TO JAIL

FOR AN UNRELATED
ASSAULT CHARGE IN 2014,

LAURA FINALLY
LEAVES HIM FOR GOOD.

THE ONLY WAY YOU WERE ABLE
TO BREAK THE SPELL

AND GET AWAY FROM THIS MAN IS

BECAUSE HE FINALLY
WENT TO PRISON...

YES.
FOR 2 YEARS.

YES, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY.
'CAUSE IF HE DIDN'T, I WOULD -

WE WOULD PROBABLY
STILL BE TOGETHER.

LIKE, IT WAS A ADDICTION.

I FELT, LIKE,
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY

I WAS ABLE TO, LIKE, IS THAT -

OR BREAK HIS SPELL
OR THE CURSE OR WHATEVER.

SHE KNEW THAT I WAS
NO GOOD FOR HER.

SHE WAS NO GOOD FOR ME.

BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO -

HOW TO JUST, LIKE,

DISCONNECT HERSELF EMOTIONALLY,

LIKE, FROM THE RELATIONSHIP.

HOW DOES IT FEEL NOW?

LAURA HAS FINALLY BEEN
GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY

TO CONQUER HER
ADDICTION TO STEPHEN.

SHE SIMPLY NEEDS TO FIND
HER RESOLVE AND STICK TO IT.

IF SHE CAN WORK ON HERSELF,
REGAIN HER CONFIDENCE

AND NOT COUNT ON A RELATIONSHIP
TO DEFINE HER,

SHE HAS A REAL CHANCE
OF FINDING TRUE HAPPINESS.

STEPHEN IS NOW OUT OF JAIL

AND WORKING ON GETTING
HIS LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

HE'S RELIEVED THAT LAURA IS
NO LONGER A PART OF IT.

I'M NOT PERFECT.

AND, I MEAN, I WAS NEVER
IN A PERFECT RELATIONSHIP.

BUT I STILL DIDN'T
DESERVE THE WAY

I WAS TREATED AND EVERYTHING
THAT I WENT THROUGH.

BUT, I - I MEAN,
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

AND - AND THAT'S THAT.

TODAY, LAURA LIVES IN
LAS VEGAS

AND IS WORKING ON GETTING
HER TRUCK DRIVING LICENSE.

I THINK THERE'S HOPE FOR HER.

SHE'S, UH, IN TRUCK
DRIVING SCHOOL.

SO SHE'S GONNA, YOU KNOW,
GET A GOOD JOB.

I THINK WHEN SHE BUILDS UP HER
SELF-ESTEEM AGAIN,

YOU KNOW,
WHEN SHE GETS HER FINANCES

IN ORDER, SHE'LL BE OKAY.

LAURA'S OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT THE FUTURE.

AT THIS POINT, I AM SINGLE.

AND I -

I WANNA BE SINGLE FOR A WHILE
'CAUSE I FEEL, LIKE,

I JUST HAVE A LOT OF
SELF-REFLECTION TO DO.