01x04 - Right There in Black and White

[bunniefuu]

[reporter] [on TV]

Local mother and author

Kristine Barnett tonight is

out on bond

after being arrested for abandoning

her adopted daughter.

Why are you watching these lies?

How did they find enough

evidence to arrest you,

if none of it's true?

[dramatic sting]

[Michael Barnett] Previously,

on Good American Family

- Something is off, I feel it.

- Ow, ow, ow!

Her behavior in a seven-year-old

is one thing.

What if she isn't a kid?

[unsettling music plays]

She's been hiding her period.

- For how long?

- [Natalia] I don't know.

Mommy said it, ask her.

[spits]

- Did you try to poison me?

- No!

Hey, hey, hey! Kris, Kris, you can't

yell at her like this.

[Kristine Barnett] You live in denial

about the fact that

there's a sociopathic con artist

making a fool of you.

I'm not scared of you.

- [Kristine] Natalia!

- [tires screeching]

- Natalia!

- [crash]

- Daddy, that was so scary!

- Okay, okay, it's okay.

[Kristine] She's got you

wrapped around her finger.

You refused to give up

on one disabled child.

What's Glenn Beck gonna think

when he finds out

that you gave up on another one?

You threatening me?

Fine. Not paying for

her surgeries.

- And you can take care of her.

- Gladly.

[Kristine] And don't let her

out of your sight.

["Sometimes When We Touch"

by Dan Hill playing]

[vehicle engine humming]

You ask me if I love you ♪

[Kristine]

It's been like this since 1995.

- I choke on my reply ♪

- Come on, come on.

- I'd rather hurt you, honestly ♪

- Where are you?

Back then, I'd wake up

in the middle of the night

and roll over,

and he'd be gone.

[sighs]

And who am I to judge ya ♪

On what you say or do? ♪

I'm only just beginning ♪

To see the real you ♪

- And sometimes when we touch ♪

- [tires screech, brakes squeak]

The honesty's too much ♪

[Kristine] Over the years,

he tried so many things

to make himself feel better,

but nothing ever worked

for very long.

[indistinct conversation]

In these moments,

all I wanted was to hold him

and to take care of him.

'Til we both break down

and cry ♪

But that night,

things were so bad,

I realized

I was the helpless one.

I just had to convince him

of that,

how much I needed him,

that without him, I'd be toast.

And so, finally, I did what

I probably should have done

in the first place.

Leaves me battling

with my pride ♪

I told him to ask

me to marry him.

But through the insecurity ♪

And he did. And I said yes.

tenderness survives ♪

[music swells]

Sometimes when we touch ♪

The honesty's too much ♪

- And I have to close my eyes and hide ♪

- [giggling]

I wanna hold ya 'til I die ♪

'Til we both break down

and cry ♪

[Kristine]

I saved him from himself then,

and it's the same thing today,

25 years later.

'Til the fear in

me subsides ♪

I make him feel needed,

when really, we both know

he's the one who's

always needed me.

And that's why I can

get him to fall in line,

even after the divorce.

But, he talked to the cops

about you?

Because of his new wife.

And look what happened.

He went and told a bunch of lies

and got himself arrested.

But I-- won't she try and pin

this whole nonsense on you?

Nah.

She can't give him

what I give him.

Back in the day, when he would

have one of his episodes

[unlocks phone]

this is how I'd get him

to pep back up.

[gasps]

[Kristine laughing]

- [gasps]

- Shh.

I mean, you look hot as hell.

But Kris,

you're not gonna send him

one of these now, are you?

Val, he's a married

man. I would never.

But the point is, in the end,

I'm the only one who knows

how to make him feel like a man.

[curious theme music playing]

[flag flapping in breeze]

♪

[bridge cracking]

[engine humming]

[TV static buzzing]

[paper cutting]

[theme music fades out]

[Michael] It was 2011,

a few months after

our trip to New York.

I was still looking for work,

but basically being

a stay-at-home dad,

doing housework, doing errands.

I mean, somebody had

to do this stuff,

'cause Kristine had just gotten

a big fancy book deal

from all of her TV appearances.

I just wanna make sure

we get everything in, you know?

There's just so much.

Where do I even start?

[Ginny] [on phone]

Oh, don't worry, lovie,

Myra knows how to write a book.

She's the best ghostwriter

we've got.

Wrote two bestsellers

for us last year,

- although I'm not allowed to say which.

- Wow.

[Steven] This first visit today is just

to orient her in your story,

give her enough to go away

and get started with,

and then she'll be back.

I think we've got you,

let's see, uh,

four visits budgeted

over the next few months.

Honestly, my biggest

piece of advice is just

let her into your life.

Take her to your

favorite coffee shop,

introduce her to your friends.

Make her feel like

a part of the family.

[Kristine] Don't worry,

she'll be a Barnett in no time.

[Steven] Yes!

That is exactly the feeling

we want from the book.

All of us at Random House

have fallen in love

with your story.

[Kristine]

Oh, stop. You're too nice.

[Steven] No,

honestly, you were incredible

on 60 Minutes last night.

- You had us bawling.

- [dryer door closes]

[knobs turning]

I just wanna help families

help their kids.

Uh, let me go freshen up,

will you?

I'll let you know

how it turns out.

What are you still doing here?

Well, you know, it

takes me a while

to get her out of the house,

Kris.

Well, just go already.

She's in pain. She moves slowly.

You know, this would be

a heck of a lot easier

if I could just plop her

in front of the TV upstairs,

- while you--

- [Kristine] No!

Not an option.

I'm not taking any chances

having her pull

any of her nonsense

while the ghostwriter's here.

What would she possibly do?

Oh, I don't know,

maybe poison her coffee

or put a tampon in her lap.

- Kristine.

- This book advance and Jacob's Place

has us barely squeaking by.

- Kris.

- So, until you get a job--

[doorbell rings]

Oh, she's early.

Go. Go, keep her quiet.

Oh, sure, sure. Yeah, yeah.

Welcome to--

I'm sorry. Are you Myra?

Oh, no, ma'am. I'm Ted Jones,

and this is Melinda Aguilar,

and we're with, uh,

Child Protective Services.

[light, tense music playing]

- What?

- Well, we're here

because there's been some

concern about the safety

of the children in your home.

So, we're gonna have

to have a look around.

Well, you must have

the wrong house.

You are Kristine Barnett,

and your husband is

Michael Barnett?

Okay, well, we'll also need

to speak with Jacob,

Wesley, Ethan, and Natalia.

[birds chirping]

[grandfather clock ticking]

[Kristine] Do you know how much longer

this is gonna take?

I have somewhere to be.

Maybe if you could just

tell me who called you,

I could clear up any

misunderstandings,

save you all a lot of time.

I can't go into specifics.

[Ethan] Mommy, are they gonna

take us away

like in Lilo & Stitch?

No, sweet boy.

No one is taking anyone away.

[light, tense music playing]

Nobody's taking anyone.

[Melinda] Removing children

from their homes

is never our intention.

[door opens]

Okay, we're done for today.

Uh, there are a few loose ends.

We'll follow up after

Natalia's foot surgery,

you know, see how she's doing.

Talking to them was

so scary, Mommy.

You were brave, sweet pea.

- We'll, uh, talk soon.

- Uh, yeah.

[front door opens]

Boys, go upstairs.

[kids chattering]

[grandfather clock chimes]

You told them

you were having foot surgery?

I-I w-- I was trying to help.

I didn't want you to go to jail.

You see this, right?

- What?

- [Kristine] Come on, Michael.

She called CPS and told them

she has to have foot surgery,

so now we're on the hook for it.

She has us over a barrel,

and she knows it.

Or it was Mrs. Murphy.

You know, she-she-- she's always

complaining about the noise.

- We don't know.

- [Kristine] Michael.

I have no time for this.

Myra will be here any minute.

Get her upstairs.

Yeah. Come on, sweetie.

- [Natalia mutters]

- [Michael] Okay.

[Natalia Grace]

Can you help me please, Daddy?

Yeah, of course

I'll help you, yep.

Come on, baby, it's okay.

I know you were only

trying to help.

[Kristine] I wanted to give my kids

the kind of childhood

I didn't have,

where their dreams

were encouraged,

- where they could each find their spark

- I'm Wesley.

[Kristine] the thing that

gets them up in the morning.

- I'm Ethan.

- [Kristine] Getting to write this book

shows the world that's

possible.

Oh my gosh. They're scrumptious.

So now, I need to know

everything about you.

[Kristine chuckles]

- [loud thud upstairs]

- [gasps]

We, um, had to crate the dog.

- She's terrible with strangers.

- Ah.

But what you need to know

about me is I love a latte.

I'm gonna take you to Norma's,

it's my favorite.

Okay, uh, now?

- Yeah.

- Yeah? Okay.

[Kristine] I wanna write about

how even in dark times

- Um, okay. Bye.

- [Kristine] there's hope.

After you.

As happy as my family is now,

we've had those dark times.

We're not proud of it,

but that first therapist

that said the word "autism"

talking about Jake?

- Mm-hmm.

- Michael fired him on the spot.

Wow.

I just cried.

[monitors beeping]

I want people to know that,

that getting a diagnosis

for your kid

can be scary and destabilizing.

Recovery from clubfoot

surgery is long.

She's gonna need to be

off her feet

for a couple months and

[Kristine] And we felt that too,

the hopelessness.

But we got through it

together.

[Myra Grant]

I'm impressed that you

and Michael seem so strong.

It could be such a strain

on a marriage to have

kids with medical issues. It--

You know, it's a pretty

high divorce rate, actually.

[Kristine]

We took our vows seriously.

- You are crushing this.

- [Natalia chuckling]

- [Michael] Does it hurt?

- [Natalia] A little.

[Michael]

You're doing great.

I know him better than

I know anyone.

Probably better than

he knows himself.

We're a team.

- [indistinct shouting]

- [Myra] Mm, that's very,

very inspirational.

How'd you too meet?

It was a frat party.

- [both laughing]

- I think the theme

was, uh,

"Neanderthal Free for All"?

Something like that.

Basically, Mike was,

uh, Fred Flintstone.

[softly] Oh, God.

And I guess I was sexy Wilma.

♪

It's funny having

so much history with someone.

We started dating so young.

We learned to face life

together.

I was so focused on Jacob.

I'd forget to take care of me.

But Michael never did.

Sometimes he'd bring

home dinner,

and after Jake had gone down,

we'd spread out a blanket

on the living room floor

and have a date-night picnic.

So, if anything,

Jacob's diagnosis

brought us closer.

- [Michael and Natalia chattering]

- We didn't always agree,

but we were always

each other's port in the storm.

Our marriage really

got us through.

- Wow.

- Um, I thank God every day for Michael.

This is great. It's total gold.

You know, I, I hate to say it,

but I think I've got

most of what I need

for one hell of a book.

- [laughing]

- Mm! [clapping]

They're already on me

to send in a draft.

They want to fast-track

this one.

That's good news, right?

The best news.

Um

one last ask.

I would just love to

spend more time

at your house, for color.

Uh, aside from the first day,

I, I haven't really been there.

It's such a mess.

I love a mess.

I'm a mess.

And a mess is

what grounds the story.

[light, tense music playing]

- Let's go.

- Okay.

Just

- no judgments.

- [laughing]

♪

Here we are,

back at the living room.

Pretty standard stuff.

[music fades out]

Did I tell you Jacob

has been accepted

to the Perimeter Institute

for graduate work?

Oh. Is that the one in Pasadena?

No, it's in Canada.

Super prestigious.

Oh, personal question.

How do you pay for

Jake's schooling?

I know that you have

the book advance

and Jacob's Place.

Does Michael bring in a lot?

Oh, Michael's been

out of work for a while.

Oh, that must be really hard.

Your career is taking off

as his is struggling.

You know, Mike's always

been a dabbler.

He's into music,

and writing, and cars.

- [Myra] Mm-hmm.

- [Kristine] Retail was

good for him until recently,

and probably not what

he wanted to do.

- It's maybe not his dream.

- Mm. Yeah.

It seems like he never

found his spark.

[Kristine] Hmm.

[Myra] Hmm.

You know, in our wedding vows,

I said that Mike makes

the impossible possible

every day.

What do you think about that,

for the dedication for the book?

- Has a nice ring to it.

- [door closes]

Really sells the romance.

Oh.

Changing gears

- [front door opens]

- Dad! Dad!

- Jacob, what is it?

- Mom, you have to come now.

[Kristine]

Why, what's wrong?

- Uh

- What's wrong?

- Natalia.

- Where's your dad?

- I don't know!

- Who's Natalia?

- Wes! Ethan!

- [traffic rushing]

[Wesley Barnett]

Natalia, what are you doing?

- That's my toy!

- [Kristine] Natalia! Stop!

- [toy clatters]

- [Wesley] No!

- [Michael] Wes, don't! No, no, no!

- [Kristine] Wesley!

- Don't!

- [tires screeching]

Wesley!

- Come on! I got ya!

- [both grunting]

- [tires screeching]

- [horns honking]

- [Michael] Natalia!

- [Ethan Barnett] Wes!

- [Natalia] We were just playing.

- Stay away from us!

- Kris, what the heck?

- Where were you?!

Mrs. Murphy's battery died.

It just took one minute.

Well, that's all it takes!

- [Michael] Natalia, you--

- [Natalia grunting]

What happened? Wait.

Are you okay?

[Natalia whimpering]

[unsettling music playing]

[Kristine]

I don't like to hide things.

It's not in my nature.

I just didn't know

how to tell you.

We're in such a hard situation.

- I can see that.

- I want the best for Natalia.

I do.

We adopted her because

of how much I care

about these kids.

But this book is supposed to be

an inspiration for families.

And if I write about Natalia,

it might discourage people.

So, please don't tell

your editor.

- Please.

- [Myra] Kristine,

I've written books

for all sorts of folks,

athletes, politicians, billionaires.

Natalia would hardly

be the first secret kid

that I have buried.

You decide what's in this book.

You're the author, not me,

and not Michael, not Natalia.

You.

[light music playing]

But if this is the

version of the story

that you're going to tell

make sure everyone around you

is telling it too.

Or it might come back

to bite you.

[suitcase thudding]

Hey, Kris, what--

what are you doing?

Wait, wait, where are you going?

I'm taking the boys to my mom's.

- Wait, for how long?

- I don't know.

Wait, hold on, we don't-- W-We--

Let me just talk to her.

We don't even know

what happened yet.

She tried to k*ll our boys.

I'm not sticking around

so she can succeed next time.

Kris, don't-- don't do this.

Like I said,

she belongs in an institution.

No, you don't just

lock people away

because they're suffering.

What are you-- What are you--

Y-You're gonna--

You're gonna commit me

every time I'm having a, a low?

Is that it?

If you try to k*ll

our boys, yeah.

Kris, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Kris, please, come on.

Just give me some

more time, okay?

I swear, I can figure this out.

Michael, she's been

with us for two years.

You had your chance.

You made your choice.

- I'm leaving.

- Wait, wait, wait. What?

I, I heard you talk

to the writer, you know?

You said, um [sighs]

I make the impossible possible.

Oh, Michael.

I said that for the book.

It's not true anymore.

[somber music playing]

Oh, but now ♪

["No More 'I Love You’s'"

by Annie Lennox playing on stereo]

Whistling my conscience

to make me cry ♪

No more I love you's ♪

The language is leaving me ♪

[Kristine]

[sighs] Okay.

No more I love you's ♪

- Changes are shifting ♪

- Grandma!

[Almeda] Get over here,

you little dickens!

- Grandma!

- [Almeda laughing]

Hello. Hello. Oh! Boys,

you're in the upstairs

bunk room.

- I got top.

- I call bottom.

[kids chattering]

[Almeda] I got your room

all ready for you.

I'll clear out the

closet tomorrow.

Not moving in, Mom.

It's only temporary.

Uh-huh.

Desire, despair, desire ♪

So many monsters ♪

[Natalia] Do you think

they're coming back?

- [song stops]

- [crickets chirping]

What?

Don't be silly, sweetie.

It's just gonna be a few days.

Come on, let's get you in bed.

You're gonna turn

into a pumpkin.

[Natalia] [chuckles]

Okay, Daddy.

[Michael] Okay.

- [crickets chirping]

- [dog barking]

[somber music playing]

[grunts]

[pill bottle lightly rattling]

[sighs]

[phone beeps]

[line ringing]

[Kristine] [on voicemail] Hi, you've

reached Kristine Barnett.

If you know me,

you know I'm most likely

on the other line.

- Leave a message at the beep.

- [beep]

[Michael] [over phone]

Hey, did you hit ignore?

'Cause that's not cool,

unless you're sleeping.

Um,

in which case,

I guess that is cool,

'cause it's late,

and people need their sleep.

Anyway, um,

when you do get this,

gimme a call.

And you're gonna--

you're gonna laugh

'cause this is classic me.

Tomorrow's that big

Skype interview.

T-Mobile.

And I, I can't find

my lucky red tie.

I know what you're thinking.

I would lose my head

if it wasn't screwed

on straight.

Um, but I--

Do you have any idea

maybe where it is?

Um, the tie. I mean,

not my head,

'cause that's on my shoulders

while I'm leaving you

a message here.

Um

it's the-- it's the,

the silk one

with the little,

tiny little dots on it.

You got it for me in Chicago.

Um, I don't know

if you remember.

It was that last trip we took

right before we had Jacob.

And I was a doofus,

and I spilled wine

on my first lucky tie,

which was the one that

I wore at our wedding.

- Um, anyway. And I, um--

- [Kristine sighs]

I looked everywhere.

I looked in the hall closet,

and I looked, uh,

in our closet,

and I can't find it

anywhere, so, um

You know what, I'm sorry.

This is stupid. [laughing]

Uh, you don't need to, um,

worry about this,

'cause I'm a grownup,

and I've got this,

and we're good here.

And, um

it's awesome sauce,

is what it is.

And, uh, I'm gonna

wear another tie.

It's just as good.

It's a great tie.

And I'll talk to you later.

[hangs up]

Oh, you're so f*cking stupid.

A f*cking tie? [laughing]

Come on. Come on, Michael.

Come on. You got this.

[softly weeping]

Come on, Michael!

Come on, Michael!

You got everything

you could possibly need, okay?

- [Natalia humming]

- Now, listen, Natalia,

I have to ask you something.

- Natalia.

- [continues humming]

I'm sorry, can you stop, please?

The humming is really--

Okay, thank you. Look

this interview is

very important.

And I just need--

W-- How do I say this?

Uh

[with silly voice]

I need you to promise me

that you will

um

No funny business, okay?

Hang out quiet in here

- until Daddy's finished.

- [giggling]

No jumping out, or scaring,

or harming--

[chuckling] I'll be good.

[normal] It'll be an hour, tops.

Good luck, Daddy.

Thank you, sweetie.

You know what?

If this goes well,

I think the whole family's

gonna, gonna come back.

Everything's gonna go

back to normal, right?

[sighs]

[exhales deeply]

Okay, here we go.

[interviewer] [on computer]

Sounds like you're pretty good

- on your feet.

- Thanks.

Can you tell me about

how you deal with conflict?

[exhales sharply]

Good question.

Conflict, gosh, um

Well, I avoid it. [laughing]

Who likes conflict,

you know what I mean?

Anyway, well, that's--

I was joking.

- Um, serious-- Um

- [doorbell ringing]

- One of my tasks at Circuit City

- [doorbell ringing]

uh, was being a team builder,

making sure this was a place

- where-- where everybody--

- [banging on door]

- [banging intensifies]

- You know what?

There is somebody at my door.

People-- people knocking down

my door trying to hire me.

[laughs]

Um, I will be right back.

Don't go anywhere. One second.

- Okay.

- So sorry.

- [banging continues]

- f*cking sh*t!

[interviewer]

I can still hear you, man.

- [doorbell ringing]

- Jesus Christ, what?!

Oh, I'm-- I'm sorry, Officer.

We've received several

911 calls from this address.

Is this your house?

It is, but I was just on

an important Skype call,

- so I wasn't--

- What about her?

[birds chirping]

Uh, that's my daughter, Natalia.

Wait, Natalia,

did you just call 911?

- I wanted pizza.

- You--

Uh [chuckles] I'm sorry.

Apparently, pizza constitutes

an emergency.

[chuckling]

You know how it is.

You think this is funny, sir?

Folks die when 911 is busy.

No, I didn't mean that.

I-- I'm so sorry.

Listen, man, I-I just-- I became

a single parent all of a sudden.

My wife just left me,

like, yesterday,

and I'm unemployed,

and I was on this job interview,

which is why I'm dressed

like this,

and we're just really--

we're just having

a really hard time, okay?

And-And, man to man,

if you could please just--

Could you let--

let this one slide?

Man to man, you need to get

your act together, for your kid.

Okay, yeah. Thank--

Thank you, thank you.

Sorry, sorry, okay.

Okay, coming.

I'm--

Wait, no. No!

[sighs] Goddammit, Natalia.

Are you mad at me, Daddy?

Natalia, that was very--

What the heck was that?

Uh, I was hungry. You were busy.

S-So, you call 911?

That doesn't make any sense.

I was bored.

You we're-- Well, which was it?

Were you bored, or did you

want pizza, 'cause y--

Wait. Did--

Did you call CPS

like Mommy thinks you did?

[chuckling]

Why would I do that?

I told you how important

that interview was to us!

What the hell are

we supposed to do now?

How are we gonna get

the family back?!

I don't want them to come back,

I want them to die.

[tense, unsettling

music playing]

What?

Don't say that.

You don't mean that.

[music intensifies]

sh*t.

[kids playing outside]

[Kristine] Boys, be careful.

The fence is on.

- [Jacob Barnett] Okay, Mom.

- [kids clamoring]

- [Almeda grunting]

- [Kristine] Let me do that.

I would be doing it

if you weren't here.

But I can do it faster.

[Almeda scoffs]

You know, I hate that you

and Michael are having trouble.

No, you don't.

Oh, what do you want me to say?

- The man's an empty shirt.

- Ha!

Michael's not empty,

he's completely full of it.

[both chuckling]

But the thing is, honey,

you let him know it.

Ask me, I think that's what

sent him into that girl's arms.

Mom, that's revolting.

Get your mind out of

the gutter, Jezebel.

I am saying that you

gave him an ultimatum,

and look who he chose.

She makes him feel big.

You made him feel small.

You think you're better

than everyone else.

- That is not true.

- No?

Isn't that why you left home?

You thought you were

better than us?

Now, you're out there

writing a whole book

about how you're a better mother

than I am.

My book has zero to do with you.

Oh, please.

It's always about the mother.

[Kristine] If you wanna talk

about what kind of mother you were,

I didn't leave home because I thought

I was better than you.

I left home

because you didn't make it safe.

You're always so dramatic.

What about when he

tried to make us eat

only saltines and sugar water

- for a week?

- Oh, for Pete's sake!

You were getting chubby.

It's called a diet.

Okay, what about when

he tried to make us eat glass?

Was that a diet too?

See, this is--

This is what I mean.

Even now, you think

you have all the answers,

but it wasn't so easy.

[tense music playing]

You don't know how hard I fought

to keep our family together.

You should have fought

to keep us safe.

[scoffs]

Daddy was sick.

He was seeing things,

and you saw nothing

- and did nothing.

- Don't be ridiculous.

I kept the worst of it from you.

Nobody really ate glass,

did they?

[Kristine] You should have

cut the cancer out

and divorced him.

Maybe you tried to

keep us together,

but look at you now.

You're alone.

[Wesley] Ow! It bit me!

Mom! Mom! We found a turtle.

- Can I hold it, Wes?

- And Dad's here.

[Michael] Here you go.

I'm just gonna go head up to the house

and talk to Mom real quick.

Okay?

- Hi.

- The boys are inside.

I'm gonna go talk to her.

[tense music continues]

[electric fence humming]

- Mommy.

- [Kristine] Nope.

Don't "Mommy" me.

Tell me what it's gonna take

to make you go away,

to leave us alone.

You want me to go away?

You manipulated us

into paying for your surgery.

What else do you want? Money?

Why would I want money?

What are you doing

this for then?

Just torturing us for fun?

Why do you keep saying

all these mean things about me?

I am not going to keep

putting my children in danger.

I'm not going to let

you keep doing this.

It hurts my feelings.

Why don't you love me

Kristine?

What's up, my dudes? Hug attack.

The plastron is flat,

not concave.

Whoa, is that a turtle?

Love turtles.

That is awesome.

[Ethan] He's so cute.

[Wesley] Cool.

I missed you guys so much.

Come here.

Gimme a hug. Come on.

- No. Dad.

- Yes, yeah.

[Wesley] It was just one night.

I saw you yesterday.

- [Natalia] You never loved me!

- Chill.

- [brothers chattering]

- [Kristine] Ow!

- [electricity zaps]

- Michael! Michael, help!

[dramatic music playing]

Oh! Oh, my God, Kris!

[medic] The main thing is

make sure you keep

- the burn clean.

- [Michael] But she's okay?

Yeah. Yeah. We were super lucky

the voltage was low

on the part of the fence

where she fell.

But in the meantime,

keep drinking that Gatorade.

- Okay, Mrs. Barnett?

- Okay, thank you so much.

- Absolutely.

- [Michael/Kristine] Thank you.

- [light music playing]

- [birds chirping]

[ambulance door opens, shuts]

[Michael] Kris, I'm--

I'm so glad you're okay.

You do realize I didn't fall, right?

You do realize

she tried to k*ll me, again?

What is it gonna take

for you to believe me?

- Does one of us have to die?

- No.

Kris, no.

I'm so sorry. You're not alone.

I'm so sorry I doubted you,

but I believe you.

I believe you.

Just please,

please just don't leave me.

I want-- I just want us

to go back to normal, okay?

I'm-- I'm an idiot.

I'm so-- I'm so sorry.

[Michael sobbing]

It's okay, baby.

You're not an idiot.

I'm the idiot.

I let her break our

family apart.

You were just trying

to keep us together.

[Michael]

That's all I wanted. [sobs]

[sobbing]

[sobbing continues]

[Kristine] [softly]

It's okay.

But Michael,

what are we gonna do?

[Michael sighs]

You were right.

She's a freakin' psycho.

[light, tense music playing]

We can't take her home.

We can't.

[sighs] Okay.

So what, I don't know, what, do we call

the police, or?

[sniffling] No.

- We can't call the police.

- Okay.

If we do that,

she can spin the story

and make us the bad guys.

- Right. Yeah.

- And that's why she called CPS.

So, we have to have

her committed.

[gentle, curious

music playing]

Okay. Okay, yeah.

You take the boys home and,

and I'll take her to Providence.

- [dramatic music playing]

- [rain pattering]

[thunder rumbling]

How did it go?

[thunder cracks]

- What the heck happened?

- The kids' wing at Providence was full.

They said maybe try this other place,

Larue, in the morning.

What do we do tonight?

Do I bring the boys

back to my mom's?

No, no. I have an idea.

- [banging]

- I know you can hear me! Hey!

Are we sure this is okay?

I-I mean, she has everything

in there she needs,

you know,

and it's just one night.

No, I mean, can she get out?

[Natalia] [over monitor]

Don't you love me?!

Oh yeah, no.

I took the garage door

off the tracks.

- [Natalia yelling]

- Uh, the button doesn't work.

I-It's fully secure.

[thunder crashing]

We just gotta keep watch,

I guess,

you know, take turns tonight.

It's just one night.

- [Natalia shouting]

- [boxes thudding]

Exactly. It's just one night.

- [Natalia shouting]

- [Ethan] Mommy?

Uh, what--

What do we tell the boys?

I'll be right there, sweet boy.

[thunder continues]

We're gonna tell them the truth,

that we are getting Natalia

the help she needs,

and that they're safe.

We are gonna take care of them.

[lion roars]

[dramatic music

playing on video]

- I know you can hear me!

- [banging]

I hate you!

[banging continues]

I'm gonna k*ll you!

- [raises volume of video]

- Let me outta here!

Can you go try and

get her quiet?

- The neighbors.

- Yeah, okay.

[Natalia]

Let me outta here!

[dramatic orchestral music

continues on video]

[Natalia]

I hate you!

[raises volume higher on TV]

Let me out of here!

[indistinct shouting]

[banging continues]

[TV volume increasing]

- [electricity zaps]

- [TV and video stop playing]

- [Ethan] Mom!

- [Kristine] It's okay, just

power went out, that's all.

- [rain pattering]

- [thunder rumbling]

It'll be fine.

It'll come back on.

What about Natalia?

- She's fine.

- But it's quiet.

Daddy must have talked to her.

- [door banging]

- Is that the front door?

[thunder continues]

[door banging]

I-- I-I think it's the police.

[thunder cracks]

[door banging]

[door opens]

[officer]

Sir, I'm Detective Taylor.

Do you live here?

Uh, I'm Michael Barnett.

This is my wife, Kristine.

We live here, yes.

We received a complaint

from a neighbor.

They said they heard screaming.

Sounded like a child.

- We-we-we can explain.

- I'd like to take a look around.

[tense music playing]

Our boys are upstairs

in our room.

The storm's got us

all a bit jumpy.

I don't wanna be out

in this either,

but we've received

multiple complaints

at this address.

There's an open CPS

investigation,

and now sounds of

a child screaming.

I think what our

neighbor heard was

our adopted daughter,

Natalia.

- She's not well.

- Where is she now?

Well, we-- we have her isolated

from the rest of the family.

- Where?

- In there.

In-In-- In, uh, the garage.

It's in here. It's--

It's a, a finished room, though.

Yeah, it-- We're--

it's just temporary

until we get her a room

at a hospital.

Okay, I think I'd like to hear

what she has to say.

Well, you have to understand,

she's dangerous.

She's hurt me and my boys,

and she's lied about who she is.

Her papers are all fake.

- What papers?

- [Kristine] Everything.

Birth certificate, immigration.

- Go get the folder.

- Yeah. Yeah.

How old is your daughter?

Well, that's the problem,

Officer.

This is gonna sound nuts.

I mean, like, horror movie nuts.

But she's an adult.

She's a sociopath.

She's impersonating a child.

- Have you called the police?

- We can't.

As soon as I got suspicious,

she called CPS.

And now, there's a file on me.

All she has to do is

call the police

and say I've abused her,

and the state will

take my boys away.

I mean, she's got us trapped.

[thunder crashing]

- Wait.

- Ma'am.

I just-- I know how this looks.

And I'm just telling you,

I'm a mother, and I'm a teacher,

and I'm a Christian,

and all I'm trying to do

is keep my family safe.

I'm going in there now.

Okay. Okay.

Natalia.

You in here?

[dramatic music playing]

It's okay, honey.

I'm Detective Taylor.

Can you come out from there?

[Kristine]

This is her birth certificate.

It's in Ukrainian.

And this is everything we have,

but this is what did it for me.

Look, that's not her.

[sighs]

[tense, curious music playing]

What did she say to you?

About what you'd expect.

She denied everything.

Said it was you who

tried to hurt her.

All we've ever tried

to do is help.

That's right.

You know James,

chapter one, verse twenty-seven?

"Religion that is pure

and undefiled

before God, the Father,

is this: visit orphans"

"and widows

in their affliction."

Yes, exactly.

Exactly what we have

tried to do.

[sighs]

Hm.

Seems to me

she took advantage

of your faith and generosity.

Yes, that is exactly

what she's done.

You have evidence,

not of a crime, per se,

but I can tell that

she's much older

than what she says.

Like here.

She hasn't grown at all

since she came to the U.S.

four years ago.

If she's a kid,

she would have grown, right?

- I I didn't even think of that.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- So, what can we do now?

Well, why not, uh,

dissolve the adoption,

give her up to the state?

Well, but then she could

just go and con another family.

It hurts my heart that you felt

like you couldn't come to us.

If you're good people

and keep to the law,

we're here to help you.

You know,

there's a legal process

to correct someone's birth date.

We did it with

my sister-in-law's parents.

They're from Tanzania,

and their birth certificates

were off by a few years.

Got tricky with Social Security.

Wait, so you can just do that?

It's basically just correcting

a clerical error.

Then, you can make her legal age

match the age she is.

And because of her disability,

you can probably elect

to stay on as her guardian,

make sure she doesn't

target anyone else.

It's a simple process

if you have documentation.

What kind of documentation

do you need?

Probably just what

you have here.

Maybe a letter from a doctor

reviewing her records.

I can recommend a lawyer,

if you need,

gal I know from church.

[sighs]

That would be great. Thank you.

["No More 'I Love You’s'"

by Annie Lennox resumes playing]

[Kristine] This probably feels

quite sudden to you.

We were surprised

at how quickly things moved

once we got started.

But eventually,

the truth was always

gonna catch up to you.

While you've been

getting the help you need,

we met with a bunch

of doctors and lawyers.

They looked through

all your records, and agree.

You're an adult.

One of the doctors wrote

a letter for us.

And we took that to a judge,

who signed an emergency

petition.

So, it's official now.

We've taken care of

everything for you,

but you're gonna have to start

living on your own

as an adult.

It's time.

[Michael]

We got you an apartment.

It's really nice inside.

The kitchen's full of

your favorite foods.

The closet's full

of new clothes.

Kris even bought you

some new makeup.

We also got you a bus pass,

a new ID,

and an EBT card so

you can buy food.

[Kristine] The court allows

some adults with disabilities

to have legal guardians,

so we've decided to do that.

[Michael] So, even though

you'll live on your own,

we'll make sure rent

and bills get paid,

and we'll check up on you.

But otherwise, you're

pretty much all set up

and good to go.

[Kristine] It may feel strange

telling the truth,

you've been lying for so long.

So, if anyone asks,

you can tell them

you look young,

but you're actually an adult.

You're 22 years old.

So, no more tricks,

and no more little kid act.

It's right there in

black and white.

You're 22.

I know this must

be overwhelming.

You've been telling

this lie a long time.

But this is a clean slate,

a new beginning.

[birds chirping]

Do you have anything

you wanna say?

No.

[walker rattles]

Okay, well, um

[keys jingling]

Voila! There you go.

Well, go on, Natalia.

We talked about this.

Focus on staying out of trouble.

[walker rattles and thumps]

[thumping]

["Sometimes When We Touch"

by Dan Hill resumes playing]

[door creaking]

Whew.

- Okay. You okay?

- Yeah.

You ask me if I love you ♪

- I love you.

- I love you too.

- We're gonna be okay.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- And I choke on my reply ♪

- We're gonna be okay.

- Okay.

I'd rather hurt

you, honestly ♪

Than mislead you with a lie ♪

And sometimes when we touch ♪

The honesty's too much ♪

And I have to close

my eyes and hide ♪

I wanna hold you 'til I die ♪

'Til we both break down

and cry ♪

I wanna hold ya ♪

'Til the fear in me

subsides ♪

At times I'd like

to break you ♪

And drive you to your knees ♪

At times I'd like

to break ♪

[fanfare playing]