Your Worst Nightmare (2014–…): Season 3, Episode 6 - Black Widow - full transcript

IT'S AN EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

AND AT THE HOME
OF DR. GEORGE TEDESCO,

AN OFFICER FROM
THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

UNCOVERS A STARTLING SCENE.

DISPATCH,
SEND BACKUP RIGHT AWAY.

GEORGE TEDESCO WAS
AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST.

WHEN HE DIDN'T
SHOW UP FOR COURT,

AND WHEN HE DIDN'T
SHOW UP FOR WORK,

EVERYONE BECAME CONCERNED.

AND SO THEY EVENTUALLY SENT
THE POLICE OUT TO LOOK FOR HIM.

AND THEY FOUND HIS BODY.



HE HAD BEEN,
BLUDGEONED BY,

SOMEONE AND JUST REALLY,

REALLY BEATEN, SAVAGELY.

GEORGE TEDESCO HAD BEEN
DATING CATHERINE MEHAFFY.

I HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS
A VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP.

AND HE WAS AFRAID FOR HIS LIFE.

AT A LAWYER'S COCKTAIL PARTY,

SOME OF HOUSTON'S BEST
AND BRIGHTEST ARE TALKING,

FLIRTING, AND GOSSIPING,

INCLUDING 32-YEAR-OLD
CRIME-BEAT REPORTER GARY TAYLOR.

IN MY LIFE, AT THE TIME,
I WAS PROBABLY AT ONE

OF THE LOWEST POINTS
I'VE EVER BEEN IN.

AND I HAD SPLIT UP
WITH MY SECOND WIFE.

I WOULD GET UP, GO TO
THE COURTHOUSE EVERY DAY,



DO MY JOB,
GO DRINKING SOMEWHERE.

AND YOU'D GET A LOT
OF YOUR STORIES THERE,

TALKIN' TO DEFENSE LAWYERS,
PROSECUTORS, COPS.

YOU'D BE FINDING OUT
WHAT WAS REALLY GOIN' ON

HAVIN' DRINKS WITH PEOPLE.

IT WAS A STRANGE EXISTENCE.

HEY, GARY.

I WAS, JUST TALKIN'
TO ONE OF THOSE LAWYERS...

WHO WORKED THE TEDESCO CASE.

JIM STRONG WAS A RADIO REPORTER.

WE BOTH WORKED
AT THE COURTHOUSE.

BIG CASE.

THE POOR GUY FOUND
IN HIS GARAGE LIKE THAT.

I STILL THINK HIS GIRLFRIEND
TOOK HIM OUT,

- A CRIME OF PASSION.
- MAYBE.

BUT I HEAR HE WAS,
LIKE, TWICE HER SIZE.

THAT'S PRETTY HARD
TO BELIEVE.

UNLESS SHE SNUCK UP ON HIM
OR DRUGGED HIM OR SOMETHING.

I DON'T BUY IT.

I GUESS THERE'S ONE WAY
TO SETTLE THIS, YOU KNOW?

- HOW'S THAT?
- WHY DON'T YOU ASK HER,

THE ONE IN THE RED?

YOU SEE, THAT'S THE LATE
GEORGE TEDESCO'S GIRLFRIEND.

YEAH?

CATHERINE MEHAFFY WAS
A HOUSTON ATTORNEY,

VERY ATTRACTIVE,
VERY CHARMING WOMAN.

OKAY.

AS A COURTHOUSE REPORTER,
I KNEW OF,

OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE TEDESCO.

AND I KNEW THAT CATHERINE
HAD BEEN A SUSPECT IN IT.

BUT THAT JUST SORT OF ADDED
TO THE ALLURE OF HER.

SHE HAD THIS AURA ABOUT HER
OF DANGER AND MYSTERY.

I KNOW YOU.

AROUND THE COURTHOUSE,
I MEAN.

I'VE SEEN YOU, TOO.

WORKIN' AS A LAWYER, I MEAN.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT.

SHE WAS AN INTERESTING
CHARACTER,

VERY INTELLIGENT, WOMAN.

AND I THOUGHT
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN

A FAIRLY EFFECTIVE ATTORNEY.

SHE WAS FUNNY
AND REALLY QUICK-WITTED.

AND I JUST LOOKED AT HER.
AND I SAID,

"SO THIS IS THE NOTORIOUS
CATHERINE MEHAFFY."

LISTEN.
I KNOW PEOPLE HERE MUST BE

TALKING ABOUT ME AND GEORGE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DO YOU THINK I'M GUILTY?

YOU DON'T EXACTLY
LOOK INNOCENT.

CALL ME SOMETIME.

THERE WAS
AN INSTANT CHEMISTRY THERE.

AND I'M NOT SURE

CAN ANYBODY EVER - -
EVER IDENTIFY

THE ELEMENTS OF SOMETHIN'
LIKE THAT?

WE JUST KINDA CLICKED.

GARY WASTES NO TIME
MAKING HIS MOVE.

A FEW WEEKS LATER,
HE SEES CATHERINE AGAIN.

HELLO.

AND I THOUGHT CHIVALRY
WAS DEAD.

SORRY. I KNOW THAT SHE'S
PRETTY OLD BUT RUNS GREAT.

I BOUGHT HER REALLY CHEAP AFTER
MY WIFE BURNT UP MY OLD CAR.

- YOUR WIFE MUST BE PRETTY NUTS.
- IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING.
AND THE ENGINE BLEW.

IS THAT WHY YOU LEFT HER,
BECAUSE SHE RUINED YOUR CAR?

IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN THAT.

BESIDES, SHE AND I - -
WE'RE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS.

LOTS OF EXES SAY THAT.

IN FACT, WE'RE EVEN USING
THE SAME DIVORCE LAWYER.

SPEAKING AS AN ATTORNEY, GARY,

I COUNSEL YOU TO GET
YOUR OWN REPRESENTATION.

THANKS. BUT I DON'T WANNA
TALK ABOUT OLD FLAMES.

GARY AND CATHERINE
HAVE A MAGNETIC CHEMISTRY.

AND RIGHT AWAY,
THEY SEEM TO HIT IT OFF.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS
A LOT OF FUN, AND...

BASICALLY, THAT'S KIND OF
WHERE I WAS AT THAT TIME.

I WASN'T LOOKING
FOR A RELATIONSHIP.

I MEAN, I HAD JUST BEEN 2 WEEKS
OUT OF A 4-YEAR MARRIAGE.

AND THERE WAS A TWINKLE
IN HER EYE.

AND THERE WAS A SNAP
IN HER CHATTER.

AND I THOUGHT WE COULD JUST,
HAVE A GOOD TIME FOR A WHILE.

YOU KNOW WHAT
I WOULD REALLY LOVE?

TURN HERE. GO, GO, GO.
RIGHT THERE. TURN UP THERE.

O- OKAY.

- YOU OKAY?
- YEAH. I JUST - - I'M SORRY.

I THOUGHT SOMEONE
WAS FOLLOWING US.

WHO?

PEOPLE, COPS,
SPECIAL CRIMES.

TURN. PLEASE. TURN.

SHE WAS CONVINCED THAT
THE TEDESCO INVESTIGATORS

WERE FOLLOWING HER EVERYWHERE.

AND SHE WAS ALWAYS
LOOKIN' OVER HER SHOULDER.

HE USED TO BEAT ME,
YOU KNOW.

- WHO?
- HE WAS A MONSTER.

YOUR EX?

SHE COULD GO FROM LAUGHING
ABOUT THINGS TO PARANOIA.

AND THEN, WITHIN MINUTES,

SHE COULD BE BACK TO A CALM,
CHARMING PERSON.

A FEW WEEKS LATER,
CATHERINE'S AT GARY'S PLACE

WHEN HE WAKES UP
TO AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I'LL COME PICK UP THE GIRLS.

MY ESTRANGED WIFE
WAS HAVING A PROBLEM.

AND SHE HAD ASKED ME FOR HELP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

GETTING DRESSED.
I GOTTA GO PICK UP MY KIDS.

I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA
SPEND THE DAY TOGETHER,

JUST YOU AND ME.
- I KNOW, CATHERINE.

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN
MY GIRLS IN WEEKS.

PLUS, CINDY CALLED.
AND SHE SAID SHE - -

CINDY?

SO THIS IS ABOUT CINDY.

NO.

OKAY. IF YOU ASK ME,

SOMEBODY SHOULD REALLY
TEACH CINDY A LESSON,

PUT HER IN HER PLACE.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

MY GOD.
DID YOU THINK I WAS SERIOUS?

SOME OF THE TIME I COULDN'T TELL

WHETHER SHE WAS KIDDING
OR SERIOUS.

HER PERSONALITY
COULD TURN ON A DIME.

GO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR KIDS,
GARY, SERIOUSLY.

SEE YOU SOON, I HOPE.

CATHERINE WAS VERY JEALOUS
OF GARY'S MARRIAGE.

IT WAS CATHERINE'S TYPICAL WAY
OF HANDLING A RELATIONSHIP.

AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS,
SOMETHING WOULD SET HER OFF.

A FEW WEEKS INTO
THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

32-YEAR-OLD
JOURNALIST GARY TAYLOR

THINKS HE'S STARTING TO SEE SOME
OF THE REAL CATHERINE MEHAFFY.

IF YOU ASK ME, SOMEBODY SHOULD
REALLY TEACH CINDY A LESSON,

PUT HER IN HER PLACE.

BUT THAT'S JUST
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

I DON'T THINK CATHERINE
HAD ANY KIND OF BOUNDARIES.

IT WAS JUST LIKE THAT
WITH EVERY RELATIONSHIP

SHE'S EVER HAD.

WHERE ARE YOU?

DON'T WORRY.

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

I OFTEN WONDERED WHAT HER
INTEREST ACTUALLY WAS IN ME

BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY SEEM
LIKE, THE KIND OF GUY

THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE
TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF.

SHE PROBABLY LOOKED
AT ME AND THOUGHT,

"BOY, I CAN MAKE THIS
BROKEN DOG HEEL."

SO MAYBE I COULD BE
HER SLAVE OF SOME KIND.

BUT I THOUGHT,
FOR THE TIME BEIN',

I WOULD JUST GO ALONG
FOR THE RIDE.

GARY. HEY, MAN. HOW ARE YA?

GOOD, KENNY. HOW ARE YOU?

SO I HEAR YOU'VE GOT A THING
FOR CATHERINE MEHAFFY?

YEAH.
WE'RE JUST HAVIN' SOME FUN.

- THAT'S ALL.
- FUN?

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHAT
GEORGE TEDESCO WOULD CALL IT.

WE HAD A FILE ON HER,
FROM THE TEDESCO MURDER.

I TOLD HIM ABOUT HER HISTORY
AND THAT, YOU KNOW,

"YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL, MAN."

I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW.
CATHERINE'S TROUBLE.

I'M NOT KIDDIN' YOU, GARY.
SOME OF HER EXES - -

SHE REALLY PUT THEM
THROUGH THE RINGER.

COME ON, BUDDY.
I CAN HANDLE IT.

YOU KNOW, I SAID,
"I'M ESTRANGED FROM MY WIFE.

"IT'S NOT AN ADULTEROUS AFFAIR.

"AND, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA TELL ME

WHO I CAN SEE
AND WHO I CAN'T SEE."

WHY, THANK YOU.

- TO US.
- TO US.

KEEPING IN MIND THAT MY,

MY GOAL IN THIS RELATIONSHIP

WAS AN ADVENTURE,

I ACCEPTED WHAT SOME PEOPLE
MIGHT CALL FLAWS

AS, ECCENTRICITIES.

BUT GRADUALLY,
SHE STARTED SHOWING,

LIKE, ALMOST
A DUAL PERSONALITY.

- I CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.
- WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?

YOU SEEMED TO BE HAVIN'
A GOOD TIME A MINUTE AGO.

I'M SERIOUS, GARY.
I NEED YOU TO MAKE A COMMITMENT.

CATHERINE, I'M NOT EVEN
OFFICIALLY DIVORCED YET.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?

SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO HAVE
A SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH ME.

SHE WANTED THIS
LAWYER FRIEND OF HERS

TO TAKE OVER MY DIVORCE.

AND I SAID, "NO. I - - YOU KNOW,
I'VE GOT AN ATTORNEY.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT."

AND THAT SORT OF
WORRIED ME A LITTLE BIT.

BUT SHE APOLOGIZED AND SAID,
"I CROSSED THE LINE."

I NEED YOU
TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

YOU CANNOT JUST USE ME
AND WALK AWAY.

ANY MAN SHE WOULD MEET,
SHE WOULD BECOME POSSESSIVE.

I THINK CATHERINE WAS MORE
SO POSSESSIVE WITH GARY THAN - -

THAN ANYTHING.

IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE
AROUND HIM

THAT GARY IS IN OVER HIS HEAD.

BUT SOON, EVEN HE CAN'T
IGNORE THE WARNING SIGNS.

ARE YOU OKAY?

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

I KEEP IT FOR PROTECTION.

I THOUGHT I HEARD
SOMETHIN' EARLIER.

I KNEW I WAS PLAYIN' WITH FIRE.

I JUST SAID, "GOSH. IS THIS
FOR REAL? WHAT'S GOIN' ON?"

GO BACK TO SLEEP. OKAY?

ONE MONTH
INTO THEIR RELATIONSHIP,

IT GETS STRANGER.

THIS CAKE IS GOOD.

YOURS IS BETTER.

IT WAS IN EARLY NOVEMBER,
WHERE WE WERE HAVIN' DINNER.

SHE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND S--
GOT INTO THIS SORT OF CREEPY

INNER-AFTERGLOW LOOK
ON HER FACE.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU
I KILLED HIM?

WHO?

GEORGE TEDESCO?

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU HE WANTED
TO BREAK UP WITH ME

AND LEAVE ME WITH NOTHING?

AND SO I GRABBED A BAR STOOL,
AND I SWUNG IT AT HIM.

AND I HIT HIM.

AND I HIT HIM AGAIN.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
I JUST LOOKED AT HER.

AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
"WHERE IS THIS GOING NOW?

THIS IS, THIS IS
GETTIN' A LITTLE CRAZY."

I'M KIDDING!

I'M JUST KIDDING.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I JUST WANTED TO SEE
WHAT YOUR REACTION WOULD BE.

IT WAS JUST A JOKE, BABE.

THAT'S NOT FUNNY.

- IT'S NOT FUNNY.
- I THINK IT'S FUNNY.

AND ALL THE TIME SHE WAS
TELLING ME THIS STORY,

HER EYES TOOK ON THIS
SORT OF SURREAL AURA.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS
COMING FROM HER IMAGINATION

OR HER REAL EXPERIENCE.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

GARY TURNS HIS FOCUS TO HIS WORK
AND DOES HIS BEST TO CREATE

SOME DISTANCE FROM CATHERINE.

"HOUSTON POST." TAYLOR.

WHEN ARE YOU COMING
OVER FOR DINNER, HON?

CATHERINE, I AM NOT.
I CAN'T.

I AM PICKING UP THE GIRLS

from school today
and takin' them out.

WE HAD PLANS.

I'm sorry. I just - -

YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T
SEEN THE GIRLS IN AGES.

WELL, IF YOU WOULD FIGHT
FOR CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILDREN,

THEN YOU COULD SEE THEM
WHENEVER YOU WANTED, YOU KNOW?

CATHERINE, I AM
UNDER A DEADLINE.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS LATER?
OKAY?

AS HE WANTED OUT
AND TO GET AWAY FROM HER,

SHE WENT AHEAD AND - -
AND MADE HIS LIFE MISERABLE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' HERE?

YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST SCREW ME
AND THEN WALK AWAY?

CATHERINE, NO.
I WAS JUST...

OOH.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

WHAT?
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

GET DOWN ON MY KNEES
AND JUST BEG YOU TO STAY?

CATHERINE, I DON'T
CARE WHAT YOU DO.

I'M LEAVIN'.

AND THAT WAS BASICALLY
THE BLOWUP

THAT CONVINCED ME THAT,
THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP

WAS PROBABLY HEADED
FOR A REALLY DARK TURN.

THINGS ARE UNRAVELING
FASTER THAN GARY REALIZES.

THAT NIGHT, CATHERINE
SETS A PLAN INTO MOTION.

HI, CINDY.

HI THERE. IT'S CATHERINE.

THE NIGHT AFTER THE BLOWUP,

CATHERINE CALLED MY WIFE
ON THE PHONE.

YES. I'M - - I'M JUST
OVER HERE AT GARY'S AND...

HE RAN OUT.
UM, BUT YOUR KIDS ARE HERE.

SHE WAS, EXTREMELY INSECURE
ABOUT MY EX-WIFE.

AND SHE KEPT TRYING TO WANT
TO DRAW HER INTO HER SPHERE.

YES. DO YOU JUST WANNA SWING BY
AND PICK THEM UP?

GREAT. WE'LL SEE YA THEN.

BYE, NOW.

AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING
JUST BLEW ALL TO HELL.

AFTER COURT REPORTER
GARY TAYLOR TRIES

TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM
INTENSE CATHERINE MEHAFFY...

OOH.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

HI, CINDY.
YOUR KIDS ARE HERE.

SHE ONLY GETS CLOSER
TO THOSE HE LOVES MOST.

YES. DO YOU JUST WANNA SWING BY
AND PICK THEM UP?

THE NIGHT AFTER THE BLOWUP,
MY WIFE - -

SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP AT HER HOUSE
WHEN SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO.

AND I GOT A LITTLE
WORRIED ABOUT HER.

CINDY!

HI.

AND I GOT THERE JUST
AS MY WIFE SHOWED UP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

- I CAME TO GET THE KIDS.
- THE KIDS?

I DROPPED 'EM OFF AT YOUR HOUSE
WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND.

MY BOY - - WELL, BUT CATHERINE
SAID THAT THEY WERE HERE...

NO. DON'T - -
DON'T TALK TO HER.

DON'T TAKE HER PHONE CALLS.

DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING
SHE HAS TO SAY, OKAY?

- OKAY. FINE.
- YEAH.

- BUT, GARY, WHY - -
- JUST GO HOME.

- OKAY. ARE YOU - -
- IT'S OKAY. EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

THAT CUT IT FOR ME.

I- I REALIZED
THAT I HAD TO PROTECT MY FAMILY

AND FRIENDS FROM HER.

- ALL RIGHT, GARY. BE CAREFUL.
- BYE.

GARY.

HEY.

STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY.
DO YOU HEAR ME?

SHE'S NOT YOUR FAMILY.
SHE'S YOUR EX.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE'RE FINISHED.

AFTER EVERYTHING THAT
I'VE DONE FOR YOU,

THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME?

HOW DARE YOU?

IT WAS A STUNNING
CHANGE OF PERSONALITY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

- DO YOU WANT ME TO BEG?
- STOP. STOP.

HAVEN'T YOU HUMILIATED ME
ENOUGH?!

I WON'T STAND FOR THIS. NO!
YOU'RE RUINING MY LIFE!

CATHERINE, PLEASE.

I- I THINK THAT
WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF APART.

NO. YOU WOULD BE BETTER OFF!

YOU USED ME FOR SEX.

AND THEN YOU THREW ME AWAY
LIKE YESTERDAY'S TRASH!

I WILL NOT LET YOU
DO THAT TO ME!

CATHERINE, GOODBYE.
WE'RE FINISHED.

NO!

- NO. NO!
- S-S-STOP.

HE WAS CONSTANTLY BEING
HARASSED BY HER.

WHEN A PERSON HAS THIS MUCH
VIOLENCE IN THEIR BACKGROUND,

I WOULD USE CAUTION AS YOU MIGHT
WITH A RATTLESNAKE.

NO!

- STOP.
- NO!

STOP. AAH!

NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

CATHERINE, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO.

IT - - YOU - - I'M - - I'M...

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT SORRY IS, GARY.

I WILL TELL EVERYBODY
WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

- I WILL TELL EVERYBODY...
- CALM DOWN.

...WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING AND HOW - -

AND HOW YOU HAVE
ABUSED ME FOR MONTHS.

CATHERINE, THAT'S JUST
SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

NO. IT IS TRUE. IT IS TRUE.

AND I MADE A MENTAL NOTE.

THAT WAS ALWAYS
GONNA BE HER EDGE,

WAS TO CLAIM THAT THE MAN
WAS BEATING ON HER.

AND THEN I REALIZED
THAT I HAD TO GET OUT OF THIS.

BUT AS HARD AS HE TRIES,

GARY'S NOT FINISHED
WITH CATHERINE,

NOT BY A LONG SHOT.

CATHERINE,
WOULD CALL ME ALL THE TIME.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT SHE MIGHT DO AT THAT TIME

IF I CUT OFF
ALL COMMUNICATION WITH HER.

I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE
A PEACEFUL WAY TO DO IT.

BUT IT TURNED OUT THERE WASN'T.

WHAT DO YOU WANT,
CATHERINE?

WE WERE HAPPY. WEREN'T WE?

I don't know. I thought so.

BUT I'VE BEEN WRONG ABOUT
A LOT OF THINGS LATELY.

WE CAN BE HAPPY AGAIN,
YOU KNOW?

NO. NO. I'VE - -
I'VE GOTTA WORK ON MY FUTURE,

on my job, on my kids.

I HAD A BOYFRIEND ONCE
WHO TRIED TO LEAVE ME.

I ruined him.

IN ALL OF HER RELATIONSHIPS,

IF THERE'S A TIME WHEN THE MAN
WANTS TO PULL BACK,

THEN THAT'S WHEN IT STARTS
TO GO BAD FOR THEM.

HE HAS NO JOB,

No family, nothing.

CATHERINE, ARE YOU
THREATENING ME?

CATHERINE?

CATHERINE?

THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED

THAT I NEEDED
TO GET SOME KIND OF

AN INSURANCE POLICY
ON THIS SITUATION.

GARY, COME ON IN.

I WENT TO VISIT
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,

SPECIAL CRIMES BUREAU.

HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN
GOIN' ON, THE PHONE CALLS?

ABOUT A MONTH.

GARY CAME IN AND GAVE US
A FULL AFFIDAVIT

ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE HAD DONE
AND WHY HE WAS AFRAID OF HER

AND THAT HE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT HIS SAFETY.

THERE - - THERE'S MORE.
SHE, UM,

SHE MADE A CONFESSION,

SORT OF, UM,
ABOUT GEORGE TEDESCO.

SHE GIVE YOU ANY DETAILS,

I MEAN, ANYTHING TO HELP US
SOLVE THE CASE?

NO. SHE - - SHE SAID
IT WAS A JOKE.

I WAS SCARED OF HER.

I REALIZED I HAD TO GET
VERY CAUTIOUS,

THAT THE SITUATION
WAS VOLATILE.

I WENT TO TELL 'EM THAT
I THOUGHT THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP

WAS, HAD A GOOD CHANCE
OF COMING TO A VIOLENT END.

THE REASON WHY I'M HERE

IS THAT I WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW.

KNOW WHAT?

IF SOMETHIN' HAPPENS TO ME,

I- I WANT THEM
TO KNOW WHO DID IT.

I WANTED TO LEAVE 'EM
A STATEMENT

THAT WOULD BE LIKE ME
TALKING FROM THE GRAVE.

BUT INSTEAD OF WAITING
FOR THE TRAGEDY,

SPECIAL CRIMES COMES UP

WITH A PLAN TO CATCH
CATHERINE IN THE ACT.

I PROVIDED GARY WITH A TAPE
RECORDER TO PUT ON HIS PHONE

AND SHOWED HIM
HOW TO OPERATE IT.

WE WERE HOPIN' THAT CATHERINE
WOULD ADMIT SOMETHIN'

ABOUT THE DR. TEDESCO'S DEATH

OR SOME OTHER VIOLENT ACT

THAT SHE HAD COMMITTED
THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

GOOD MORNING.

- MEHAFFY AND ASSOCIATES.
- CATHERINE, IT'S ME.

YOU'RE RECORDING THIS,
AREN'T YOU?

YOU TRAITOR.

I THINK SHE PROBABLY REALIZED
SHE WAS BEING RECORDED.

AND UNTIL I CAN
GET THAT STATEMENT,

THAT TAPE RECORDED STATEMENT,

ALL YOU'VE GOT WAS NOTHING.

- GARY.
- CATHERINE.

WHAT DID YOU TELL
SPECIAL CRIMES?

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT.

DON'T YOU LIE TO ME.

FINE.
I TOLD THEM THE TRUTH,

THAT YOU WON'T LEAVE ME ALONE
BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO STOP.

SO TELL ME ALREADY.
HOW DO I MAKE THIS STOP?

YOU CAN'T, AND IT WON'T.

THIS DOESN'T STOP
UNTIL ONE OF US IS DEAD.

GARY TAYLOR IS TRYING
TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

OR WHAT PASSES FOR NORMAL

WHEN YOUR EX
IS CATHERINE MEHAFFY.

HELLO?

HELLO, CATHERINE.

I KNOW IT'S YOU.

I HAD NEVER HAD ANYBODY

JUST REFUSE
TO SAY GOODBYE LIKE THIS.

SO I REALLY DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEY TOLD ME
TO KEEP RECORDING HER.

IN TEXAS, THERE'S - -
THERE'S NO LAW AGAINST IT.

IF - - IF ONE PARTY AGREES
TO THE RECORDING,

WHICH IS THE RECEIVING PARTY,
THEY CAN RECORD IT.

WEEKS GO BY,
AND CATHERINE NEVER LETS UP

ON GARY OR HIS FRIENDS,
FOR THAT MATTER,

ESPECIALLY HIS FRIEND, JIM.

WHAT'S UP?

SHE KEEPS LEAVING ME MESSAGES,

THAT SHE WANTS
TO TALK ABOUT YOU

AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO HER.

- I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO HER.
- I KNOW THAT.

BUT IF SHE KEEPS SAYING
THESE KINDS OF THINGS...

SHE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU?

- YEAH.
- THEN GO AHEAD.

LET'S LET HER TALK.

SO THEN JIM CALLED HER

AND RECORDED
HIS CONVERSATION WITH HER.

AND IT WAS A STUNNING
CHANGE OF PERSONALITY.

HELLO?

CATHERINE, IT'S ME, JIM.

SHE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T THINK
JIM WAS RECORDING HER.

AND SHE FLIPPED OUT.

I HAVE TO BEG FOR MY LIFE.

You have to beg for my life.
Okay? He's hurting me.

I'M TRYING TO GET AWAY.
I'VE DONE NOTHING.

- I'M TRYING TO GET AWAY.
- ALL RIGHT.

LEAVE HIM ALONE.

IF YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE,
HE'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE.

No. No.
He won't leave me alone!

HE WILL NOT LEAVE ME ALONE!

CATHERINE, HE WILL
LEAVE YOU ALONE.

No, he's not willing!

HE'S NOT WILLING
TO LEAVE ME ALONE!

CATHERINE.

CATHERINE?

SHE HUNG UP ON ME.

SHE WAS LIKE A SHE-DEVIL
AND SCREAMIN' AND HOLLERIN'

AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS
LIKE A CRAZY WOMAN.

STILL, GARY AND JIM
HAVE WHAT THEY NEED - -

PROOF ON TAPE
OF CATHERINE'S HOSTILITY.

THE TAPE RECORDING
OF THIS CONVERSATION

WAS, ALWAYS,
REFERRED TO AMONG PEOPLE

WHO KNEW ABOUT IT
AS "THE EXORCIST" TAPE.

WE NOW HAD
A VERY THREATENING TAPE

THAT SHE HAD MADE WITH JIM

THAT WE COULD LISTEN TO
AND REMEMBER,

THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE THREAT.

BUT LATER THAT NIGHT,

GARY REALIZES HE WON'T HAVE
THE UPPER HAND FOR LONG.

I CAME HOME.
AND I THOUGHT, "NO.

WHAT THE HELL'S GOIN' ON NOW?"

WHAT?

I LOOKED AROUND.

AND THE BURGLARS
HAD TAKEN A STEREO.

AND THERE'D ALSO BEEN A COPY
OF "THE EXORCIST" TAPE

LYING AROUND, WHICH WAS TAKEN.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THIS
WAS THE WORK OF CATHERINE.

THAT WAS,
PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME

I REALLY GOT ANGRY.

I CALLED HER,
AND SHE HUNG UP ON ME.

AND I THOUGHT, "ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS MY PROBLEM.

"AND I'VE GOT TO
TAKE CARE OF IT.

"AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS,

I'M - - I'M NOT GONNA
LET THIS GO ANY FURTHER."

GARY DOESN'T REALIZE

HE'S WALKING
RIGHT INTO A TRAP.

CATHERINE!

WHAT A NICE SURPRISE.

YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR
THIS TIME.

I DECIDED IF WE COULD GET HER

TO ACTUALLY RETURN
SOME OF THE STOLEN ITEMS,

THAT THAT WOULD IMPLICATE
HER IN THE BURGLARY.

YOU BREAK INTO MY PLACE
AND GOING THROUGH MY STUFF.

I DID NO SUCH THING.

NO MORE LIES. OKAY?

DID YOU EVER REALLY
LOVE ME, GARY?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO
WITH ANYTHING AT THIS POINT?

YOU USED ME FOR SEX,
AND THEN YOU THREW ME AWAY.

HOW DO YOU THINK
THAT MAKES ME FEEL?

YOU WENT THROUGH MY PLACE
AND TRASHED MY PLACE.

HOW DO YOU THINK
THAT MAKES ME FEEL?

I DID NO SUCH THING.

I- I CAN PUT IN A CALL
TO SOME FORMER CLIENTS.

- MAYBE THEY KNOW - -
- THIS HAS GOTTA STOP, CATHERINE!

ME AND YOU,

IT... IS... OVER.

OVER.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HONEST
ABOUT SOME THINGS.

I HAVE SOME OF YOUR STUFF.

IT'S IN THE DINING ROOM CLOSET
IF YOU WANNA GO GRAB IT.

WHEN I REALIZED THAT
THIS CLOSET WAS EMPTY,

I THOUGHT, "YEAH.

THIS IS, THIS IS NOT
LOOKIN' REAL GOOD."

AND THEN I HEARD A GUN CLICK.

I WISH THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN
DIFFERENT BETWEEN YOU AND ME.

AND DON'T YOU WORRY.

I WON'T HURT YOUR LITTLE
WIFE AND KIDS.

THIS IS BETWEEN
YOU AND ME, GARY!

I REALIZED, YOU KNOW,
THAT I WAS TRAPPED HERE.

AND, I WONDERED
WHAT I WAS GONNA DO.

YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD REALLY
COME OUT OF THERE

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIE
LIKE A COWARD!

I ACTUALLY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT,
"JUST STEP OUT AND TAKE IT."

AND THEN I GOT PISSED.

AND I SAID,
"THIS IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN."

AAH!

THE ADRENALINE, AT THAT POINT,
WAS PUMPING SO MUCH,

I WAS KIND OF
IN WHAT ATHLETES CALL THE ZONE.

EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE
HAPPENING IN SLOW MOTION.

GARY!

I LANDED ON MY BELLY
IN THE, FRONT YARD.

AND I REMEMBER LAYING THERE.

AND I LOOKED UP
OVER MY SHOULDER.

AND SHE WAS STANDING
ON THE PORCH

WITH THIS PISTOL IN HER HAND.

AND I WAS THINKIN', "GOD,
THAT BITCH REALLY SHOT ME."

GARY! I'M SORRY.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

I'M SORRY. GARY.

I COULD MOVE MY TOES
AND MOVE MY HANDS.

AND I THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA GET
THE HELL OUTTA HERE."

AAH!

- WHAT DOES HE WANT?
- NO. I CAN'T.

- PLEASE.
- ROLL UP YOUR WINDOW.

ROLL UP THE WINDOW.
ROLL UP YOUR WINDOW.

- WHAT DOES HE WANT?
- ROLL UP THE WINDOW.

ROLL UP YOUR WINDOW ALL THE WAY.

THANK YOU. PLEASE.

HELP ME. PLEASE.

I DON'T KNOW. I CAN'T.

AFTER BEING SHOT BY
EX-GIRLFRIEND CATHERINE MEHAFFY,

32-YEAR-OLD GARY TAYLOR

DOES ALL HE CAN TO GET AWAY.

PLEASE, HELP ME.

- PLEASE.
- PLEASE, I LOVE YOU!

HE RAN DOWN THE STREET,

SAW A CAR WITH A COUPLE
OF, YOUNG GIRLS IN IT.

DON'T LET HIM IN.

I'M NOT GONNA. I'M NOT GONNA.

THEY WERE AFRAID
TO LET HIM IN OR HELP HIM.

HE KEPT RUNNING.

- HE'S MAIMED.
- GARY!

- MY GOD. MY GOD.
- IS SHE OKAY?

COMPARED TO THE BLOODY MAN

WHO FIRST CROSSED THEIR PATH,

THE TEENAGE GIRLS
FIND MORE SYMPATHY

FOR SOFT-FEATURED CATHERINE.

CATHERINE
WAS TRYING TO SAY THAT,

SHE WAS THE VICTIM

AND THAT GARY HAD
TRIED TO SHOOT HER

AND THAT THE GUN
SHE HAD PULLED OUT

WAS TO DEFEND HERSELF.

I THINK THE GIRLS
CALLED THE POLICE.

AS CATHERINE WAITS
WITH THE GIRLS

TO GIVE HER STATEMENT,

GARY GOES SEARCHING
FOR HELP ELSEWHERE.

I RAN A COUPLE OF BLOCKS
TO AN ALL-NIGHT GROCERY STORE

AND GOT THEM TO CALL
AN AMBULANCE.

AT THE HOSPITAL, GARY
UNDERGOES EMERGENCY SURGERY.

AND THE TRUE EXTENT OF
HIS INJURIES COMES TO LIGHT.

ONE BULLET GRAZED ME
ON MY LEFT TEMPLE,

THE SIDE OF MY HEAD.

THE SECOND BULLET
THAT WENT INTO MY BACK,

I FOUND OUT LATER,
IT STOPPED A CENTIMETER

FROM MY HEART, RIGHT DEAD ON.

AND, I REMEMBER

THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR
KEPT SAYIN',

"I-I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU'RE NOT DEAD."

BUT GARY'S NOT
COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

HOW'S IT GOIN', BUDDY?
HOW YOU FEELIN'?

- NEVER BETTER.
- HEY, LISTEN.

I GOTTA ASK YOU
'BOUT SOMETHIN'.

HE SAID, "OKAY.
WHICH GUN DID YOU HAVE?"

AND I-I STOPPED FOR A SECOND.

AND I SAID,
"I DIDN'T HAVE A GUN."

I DID NOT PULL A GUN ON HER. NO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED.
THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE'S SAYING.

WELL, SHE CAN SAY
WHATEVER SHE WANTS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.

SHE SAID THAT GARY HAD
COME AT HER WITH A GUN

AND SHOT AT HER.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON
SHE HAD PULLED A GUN

AND TRIED TO SHOOT HIM.

YOU KNOW I'M ON YOUR SIDE.

BUT YOU GOTTA GIVE ME SOMETHIN'
TO WORK WITH HERE, MAN.

IT'S LIES, ALL LIES.

- YOU KNOW THAT.
- I'M JUST DOIN' MY JOB.

SHE HAD A KEY
TO YOUR PLACE?

NO. NOT ANYMORE.

WHY?

THAT'S JUST SOMETHIN'
TO THINK ABOUT.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T
HURT CHANGING THE LOCKS.

HE GOT SHOT.

AND HE COULD GET SHOT AGAIN.

THAT WOMAN IS DANGEROUS.
IT'D BE BETTER TO BE CAREFUL.

GARY DOESN'T SEE CATHERINE AGAIN

UNTIL THEY'RE INSIDE
A COURTROOM.

HEY. THERE HE IS.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKIN'
ON NOW, PAL?

JUST LIKE THE COMPETITION,
TRYIN' TO STEAL MY SCOOP.

- I BETTER GET IN THERE.
- YEAH, MAN.

IN MARCH OF 1980,
THE SHOOTING CASE GOES TO TRIAL.

AND GARY CAN ONLY HOPE IT
WILL BRING AN END

TO HIS 5-MONTH ORDEAL.

THEY HAD ALL THIS INFORMATION,
AMMUNITION,

"THE EXORCIST" TAPE,
THE TEDESCO RUMORS.

THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD
EXPLAIN THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

OR THE BULLET IN MY BACK,
ALL OF THAT KINDA STUFF.

BUT INSIDE THE COURTROOM,

THE VERDICT ISN'T CUT AND DRY.

WE ENDED UP HAVING TWO TRIALS.

THE FIRST TRIAL ENDED
IN A HUNG JURY.

THE JURORS, THE FIVE THAT
VOTED NOT GUILTY,

THEY THOUGHT GARY TAYLOR
MUST HAVE DONE SO MANY

BAD THINGS TO HER
TO CAUSE HER TO SAY

ALL THESE THINGS THAT
SHE OBVIOUSLY DID NOT MEAN.

AND TO ME, IT SOUNDED
LIKE SHE MEANT IT.

THREE MONTHS LATER,
THE CASE GOES TO A SECOND TRIAL.

THIS TIME, THE JURY SEES
THE CRACKS IN CATHERINE'S STORY.

BUT ON APPEAL,
THE CASE IS REVERSED.

SO THEN WE WERE
FACING A THIRD TRIAL.

AND WE WEREN'T SURE
WE WOULD GET THE SAME RESULTS

IN THE THIRD TRIAL
THAT WE DID IN THE SECOND TRIAL.

I SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW,

"I'VE ABOUT GIVEN ENOUGH
OF MY LIFE TO CATHERINE MEHAFFY.

"I'LL TESTIFY AGAIN
IF YOU CAN GET HER

TO PLEAD GUILTY TO A FELONY."

SO THAT'S WHAT SHE DID.

PLEADING GUILTY
TO AGGRAVATED ASSAULT,

CATHERINE MEHAFFY
IS ULTIMATELY SENTENCED

TO JUST 10 YEARS PROBATION.

I'M TOTALLY AMAZED
THAT CATHERINE MEHAFFY

HAS NEVER SPENT A DAY IN JAIL

FOR ANY OF THE CRIMES
SHE'S COMMITTED.

I FEEL SORRY FOR ANYBODY

THAT EVER COMES IN CONTACT
WITH THAT WOMAN

AND HAS SOME KINDA RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER OF ANY KIND.

YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST SCREW ME
AND THEN WALK AWAY?

BECAUSE IF THAT PERSON
CROSSES HER,

THERE'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.

WHEN I LOOK BACK ON
THAT WHOLE EXPERIENCE...

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO,
GET DOWN ON MY KNEES

AND JUST BEG YOU TO STAY?

CATHERINE, I DON'T
CARE WHAT YOU DO.

I'M LEAVIN'.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE BEING
EMBROILED

IN A 1930s GANGSTER MOVIE.

AAH!

WITH ALL THE STRANGE,
CONVERSATION THAT WENT ON.

NO.
NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

CATHERINE, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO.

IT - - YOU - - I'M - - I'M S...

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT SORRY IS, GARY.

THERE WAS PLENTY OF ANXIETY.
THERE WAS PLENTY OF FEAR.

THERE WAS PLENTY OF ANGER...

...ALL THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD.

GARY.

AAH!

AND, I REALIZED
I'VE GOT TO ASSUME...

- MY GOD.
- ROLL IT UP.

...THAT SHE MAY COME BACK
TO FINISH THE JOB SOMETIME.

HELP ME. PLEASE.

PLEASE. PLEASE, HELP ME.

GARY!

WHICH IS WHY GARY CALLS UP

PRIVATE DETECTIVE KENT FERGUSON,

THE SAME DETECTIVE WHO WORKED
GEORGE TEDESCO'S MURDER CASE.

ARE YOU SURE
YOU WANNA DO THIS?

POSITIVE.

I CONTACTED KENT.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, "HOW'D YOU
LIKE TO INVESTIGATE MY DEATH?"

THE RETAINER IS STILL ACTIVE.

AND THANKFULLY, SO FAR,

WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO
AN INVESTIGATION.

SO IT STILL CONTINUES.

THERE'S THIS
UNDERCURRENT OF FEAR.

SHE'S KIND OF
A CONTINUING FIXTURE IN MY - -

IN MY SUBCONSCIOUS, I GUESS.

IT IS KIND OF
A MILESTONE EXPERIENCE

WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES
TO MURDER YOU.