I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco (2026)

[bunniefuu]

[Mary Jo]: Look, I don't know

what kinda game you're playin'

but I'm not interested!

[Amy]: No, you really need

to hear what I've gotta say.

[Mary Jo]: I told you I'd tell

Joey you stopped by.

That good enough for you?

- No.

[g*nsh*t cracks]

[Mary Jo]: Everyone saw Amy

Fisher as a victim.

A teenaged girl seduced

by an older man.

And in some ways she was.

But that's not the whole truth.

Amy Fisher made choices,

devastating choices, that

nearly cost me my life.

I am Mary Jo Buttafuoco

and this is the first

time you're hearing

the story directly from me.

A story a lot of people

think they know, but don't.

Not all of it. Not everything.

[Man]: Thank you for coming in,

Mary Jo.

Do you mind if I call

you Mary Jo?

[Mary Jo]: Sure.

[Man]: You know, you do not look

like someone

who was uh, shot in the face.

Well, it was over 30

years ago.

It's been a long journey

and the surgeries,

but here I am, still intact.

Here you are.

You know, and that's why I

think now is the time

that we make a documentary

about what you

and Amy Fisher suffered through.

[chuckling]: Excuse me.

The other victim.

I think reuniting you two would

be what I would call undeniable.

Just to make sure

that I'm following.

[Man]: Mm-hmm.

I get shot in the head,

which causes me to go through

decades of living hell.

Me, and my kids.

And you think that Amy Fisher,

the person who shot me,

is the other victim?

Right?

That b*llet's still

lodged in my skull.

A permanent reminder of

that day.

Thanks to what happened,

my beautiful, innocent children

and I learned what it

was like to be watched publicly,

long before the Kardashians.

Amy and Joey both made choices

that changed all of

our lives forever.

[reporters]: Joey! Joey! Joey!

[Joey]: Look, I never had

nothin' to do with Amy Fisher.

[Amy]: Joey Buttafuoco took

advantage of my innocence.

I did not sleep

with that girl!

The g*n went off by accident.

You'd think, after all

this time,

my story's been fully told,

but it hasn't.

And I'll start by answering

the question

on most people's minds:

Why did I believe Joey

didn't sleep

with Amy Fisher for so long,

after I was shot?

Or should I have realized

what kind of man Joey was

before any of this happened?

The answers are clearer now,

but they weren't back then.

Not when this all started.

Not on day one.

[students chattering]

[Joey]: Think I'm sitting here.

What, are you shy?

[Mary Jo]: My mother told me not

to talk to strangers, is all.

I'm Joey. Joey Buttafuoco.

You are?

Mary Jo. Mary Jo Connery.

So, uh Mary Jo,

you believe in density?

[half-laughs]

- You mean destiny?

No, no, no, I'm talkin'

'bout the teacher.

Don't be mean.

Who's being mean?

Look at all the framed degrees

and diplomas behind her desk.

I'm talkin' about density, like

in the context

of describing

the volume of something.

But hey, seeing as you

brought up destiny.

[tender music playing]

[guests clapping]

[guest]: Hey, hey, hey!

[Joey]: Hey!

I'm the luckiest

guy in the world.

[Mary Jo]: Hmm, not gonna argue

with you.

Oh, you better not,

Mrs. Buttafuoco.

'Cause with

our autobody business,

I'm gonna make sure we get

whatever we want

and whatever we need,

for the rest of our lives.

I can't believe we were able

to save up for and buy a house

on top of planning this wedding!

Stick with me, babe.

You're not gonna have

a bad day from here on out.

Have you been drinking?

It's a celebration, isn't it?

Well, yeah. Whatcha got?

Shh! Come on.

[Mary Jo]: Okay.

Take a sip. That's the spirit.

Oof!

Come on get back to dancing!

[giggles]

You think it's always gonna

be like this.

You and me, on cloud nine.

What could ever stop that?

[laughs happily]

[Mary Jo]: Only, life moved on

a little faster

than either of us expected.

I'm pregnant.

[chuckles]

[Joey]: For real?

Uh... I mean, wasn't this

always the plan?

Get married,

buy a house, have kids?

[Joey]: Yeah...

[Mary Jo]: Yeah.

[Joey]: But uh, are we even done

being kids yet ourselves?

[Mary Jo]: I mean...

[Joey]: Life was just starting

to get good.

[Mary Jo]: Look...

[Joey sighs]

I-I can double check

with my doctor.

I mean, but these tests are

supposed to be pretty accurate.

Plus I'm late, which is why

I did the test

in the first place, you know?

[gentle music]

You know what?

This is great.

This is really, really great.

[Mary Jo]: You mean it?

[Joey]: You can always count

on me. You know that.

No matter what.

And that goes for our kids, too.

I'd never do anything

to hurt ya.

[squeals]

[Mary Jo]: Joey was my first

serious relationship,

my only sexual partner.

I was an Irish Catholic girl

in the 70s.

This was the man I loved,

I trusted.

I was committed to raising

a family with.

Being Joey's other half

became my identity.

And I was sure he loved me

just as much,

even though there were times

he definitely tested my limits.

[siren whooping]

Joey, they just pulled

up behind us.

You weren't speeding, were you?

How should I know?

All right, just say

you're goin' into labor,

so I had to drive

a little faster.

Joey, no, I'm not doin' that.

[Joey]: Just trust me on this,

Mary Jo. Come on!

Don't I always

know what I'm doin'?

[sighs]

[exhales]

What's the problem?

You could a gotten

a ticket, Joey.

Key word, could've.

But I didn't. All 'cause

of my brilliant idea.

[Joey]: Yeah, yeah.

[singing]: Joy to the world...

Ah, stick with me, babe.

I can get away with anything.

[Mary Jo]: I think Joey really

believed that,

which explains why his

behavior got even worse

after I gave birth

to our son, Paul.

[baby crying]

But the time our daughter

Jessie came along,

I was having more and

more trouble keeping track

of Joey and what he was up to.

[gasping]: Ooh, what's that?

It's okay. Yeah.

It's almost time

to take little Jessica back

to the nursery,

Mrs. Buttafuoco.

[Mary Jo]: Oh, I'm waitin'

on my husband.

Uh, he went home to

get our son Paul

so he could bring him here and

meet his little sister.

[nurse]: Visiting hours ended

over 30 minutes ago.

Really?

Promised he was comin' right

back. Didn't he?

Yeah, he did.

Yeah. It's okay, though.

I got you.

I was really excited to be

a good mom and wife.

I knew it was the right thing

to give up the partying.

But Joey, he sorta stayed

a perpetual teenager.

But that's what everyone

loved about him.

My mother considered him a son.

My baby sister Eileen thought of

him as an older brother.

Anytime I tried to share

behavior I was troubled by,

everyone assured me

that's just Joey.

All they saw was his sweetness.

Not that he was usually

trying to make up

for some kind of bad behavior.

Is there a beautiful

woman in here?

[Mary Jo]: For me? Thank you.

Oh, Joey, it's beautiful!

[Joey]: All right, careful.

One big step.

[Mary Jo]: All right. All right.

I trust you. Now we turn?

[Joey]: Ya-dah.

[Mary Jo]: You got me

a sports car?!

[Joey]: A sports car.

[Mary Jo]: Oh!

[Joey]: Mwah! Yeah, I did.

[Mary Jo]: I kept telling myself

he'd eventually get it together

and be the man I thought

I married.

Yeah, honey, I got this.

[Joey]: Babe?

Don't be mad. I didn't mean

to stay out this late.

It's after midnight, Joey.

Remember you promised

you would come home

and help me put the kids to bed?

[Joey]: Things got

a little outta hand.

[Mary Jo]: Did they?

Is it so wrong?

I just wanted

to let off a little steam.

[sighs]

All right, all right,

I messed up.

I...

I think this partyin's

gettin' a little outta hand,

you know? I mean...

[laughs]

No, look, I-I need you

to be a part of this family.

A part that the kids and

I can rely on. You know?

Or, or else, you know...

- Oh. Or else.

[Mary Jo]: Yeah.

Or else what? Hmm?

You can never stay mad

at me, babe.

Hey, I'm not playin'

around, Joey.

I think it's time

you get some help.

Hmm?

Yeah. Help.

Just...

[sighs]

You know, to...

[grunts]

Look just to, just to, just

to control

whatever it is that

makes you...

[expl*si*n noise]

[exhales]

Hmm?

You know you and the kids

mean the world to me.

I'll do anything

to prove that to ya.

Anything?

All right, I will

get some "help".

You will?

[Joey]: Your wish is my command.

I love you, Joey Buttafuoco.

And I love you,

Mary Jo Buttafuoco.

[Mary Jo]: Yeah.

And I'll never stop

provin' that to ya.

Never.

[Mary Jo]: I should have seen

the pattern.

Joey would mess up,

promise to change,

then go right back

to his old ways.

But I loved him. I loved

our kids, our life.

I wanted to believe

him so badly.

[tool rattling]

Yeah, that'll work as

a replacement part.

And I think uh... oh.

Can't be in the work area,

ma'am. It's too dangerous.

I like danger. Makes me hot.

How old are you?

Sixteen. Why, like

what you see?

[embarrassed mutter]

[giggles]

Talkin' 'bout my car.

[Joey]: Looks a little beat

up, to be honest.

[Amy]: Only 'cause I like

to go fast.

And sometimes I get distracted

when I see a cute guy.

You're Elliot

Fisher's daughter.

Oh, guilty.

But don't hold it against me.

My dad has an account here

so he would want you

to take extra special care

of my car.

Would he now?

Mm-hmm.

While I was home taking care

of our kids

and managing our life,

I honestly had no idea

what my husband was really

doing behind my back.

[Amy]: We're not done yet,

are we?

[chuckles] Don't you

ever get tired?

Isn't that what you like

about me?

That I can go longer

and more often than your wife?

All right, all right.

No more of this

pay-per-view stuff, okay?

These one-hour hotel stays

are breakin' my bank.

You'd have a lot more time

and money if you left Mary Jo.

How do you know

my wife's name?

I know your kids' names too,

Paul and Jessica.

What's wrong with that?

You know, I'm 17 now,

which means I'm legal in

the state of New York.

We could get married.

Would you stop?

Undressing you or talking

about getting married?

All of the above.

I-I... I wanna be with

you all the time.

What part of "I'm married"

do you not understand?

[door slams]

[sighs]

This is where I want you

to really pay attention.

I know now that Amy Fisher came

from a troubled background.

That she was struggling with

her own pain.

And I have compassion

for that young girl.

But that doesn't erase

the choices she made next

calculated, deliberate choices.

She was determined to get

what she wanted

and she knew exactly

what she was doing.

[pop music plays on radio]

C'mere.

You're Steven, right?

Yeah.

I'm Amy. I know Lou. He told

me I could find ya here.

[chuckles nervously]

I heard you would do

just about anything to spend a

little time with a girl like me?

He did? I'm...

I mean uh... yeah.

=- As it happens, you are just

the kinda guy I'm lookin' for.

You got a g*n, right?

I've been on a few hunting

trips with my uncle.

Got a r*fle.

Hmm. Perfect.

'Cause I need you to

k*ll someone for me.

[swallows hard]

Joey worked hard to provide

for the family.

But I was the one

running the household,

paying the bills, taking care

of every detail of our lives.

Sure, he was a hard worker,

but Joey and my's relationship

was more like mother and son.

I grew up while Joey stayed

a perpetual teenager.

I did a lot of research

on adult men

who showed no signs of maturing.

Peter Pan Syndrome describes

adults

who cling to teenage

habits and attitudes.

Yep, that was Joey, only I

had no idea what to do about it.

Still, never in a million years,

did I think he'd ever

cheat on me and the kids.

[Amy]: Hey.

[Joey]: Thought you were mad at

me for not leaving my wife?

Oh, how could I stay

mad at you, Joey?

[door shuts]

We were meant to be together.

[Joey]: What're you doin'?

Decided you've been

right all along.

Oh yeah?

As long as you're married,

I don't expect you to marry me.

'Course, if that ever changes...

I wanna be the first in line to

be the next Mrs. Buttafuoco.

[tense music]

[birds chirping]

Indistinct chatter

You did good, Steven.

We can use this information

for our next move.

Hello? Now we know when Mary

Jo's all alone in the house.

For?

For when we go there

to sh**t her with your g*n?

Oh um... right.

You mean my-my r-r-r-r*fle?

Mm-hmm.

Um... I mean...

Say it, Steven.

I'm not really sure if I can

actually k*ll somebody.

I mean, between you and me,

I had a hard time k*lling

a deer upstate.

Hmm.

[chuckles nervously]

[giggles]

[exhales nervously]

You wanna sleep

with me, don't you?

Then all you've gotta do is

k*ll that b*tch.

Trust me, I'm doing a public

service here.

Mary Jo's an obstacle

that I'm clearin' outta

the way for everyone's sake.

[shaky inhale]

[giggles]

[Steven]: Thanks for treating.

How's it that you come by

so much cash?

I mean, does your boyfriend...

[giggles]

Joey? You can say his name.

Yeah, but you here with me,

isn't that cheating?

Uh, first off, he's cheating

on me with his wife.

Besides, he likes

that I'm so sexual.

It's one of my many qualities.

Cool. So... he just

gives you money?

Actually, I earn it.

Men pay to spend

time with me. You know,

through an escort service?

And Joey's good with that?

Yeah, what'd I just say?

He likes that I'm so comfortable

with my body.

Cool.

So uh, when are you free

to sh**t Mary Jo?

The sooner the better.

Gotta make sure I could get

a good aim at her.

You know, for the k*ll shot.

Don't worry, Steven,

I got a plan.

[knock on door]

Hi. Can I help you?

I'm here to raise money

for my high school.

I think you went there too?

How would you know that?

The uh, principal's office

gave us a list of names

to solicit on account of uh,

he wanted us girls to be safe

when raising money

for the school.

And what are you

sellin' exactly?

[Amy]: Uh, candy bars.

Only got three left, then I'll

meet my goal.

Just, just give me a moment.

What you waitin' for?

[Mary Jo]: Excuse me?

[Amy]: Um... um...

Which one do you want?

You have a nice day.

[Amy]: Yeah, um...

[door shuts]

You too.

This isn't candy for

a school charity.

Is she serious?

[Amy]: What were you waitin'

for, a written invitation?

All you had to do

is take the shot.

You kept on stepping

in front of my aim.

I did not want to sh**t you

by mistake.

So instead you didn't end up

sh**ting anybody.

After I planned

everything perfect.

I tried telling you, I don't

think I could ever k*ll nobody.

It's "can't k*ll

anybody" you idiot!

You could forget about me

ever sleepin' with you now.

Sorry.

[scoffs]

Don't be.

I'll find a way to

k*ll the b*tch myself,

if it's the last thing I do.

Amy Fisher became fixated

on Joey.

Looking back, I can see how

he manipulated

that young girl the same way

he manipulated me.

He was that good

at convincing anyone

that they were the

center of his attention.

Everyone loved him.

He was mister fun.

He had everyone fooled.

Especially me.

Your carburetor's filthy.

I gotta take out the whole

thing, clean it up.

I don't wanna let you drive

outta here without,

without me

doin' that, all right?

It's kind of expensive.

It is, yeah.

[chuckles]

[Amy]: Joey, I got good news.

A way we can be together all

the time.

Sir, I'll call you

back, all right?

Out.

[sighs]

- Joey...

Hey, hey. Get it through

that thick skull of yours

once and for all, I'm married.

[huffs]

Not for long, you're not.

[Mary Jo]: Amy Fisher wasn't

about to stop trying.

In her mind, I was the only

thing standing between her

and the life she wanted

with Joey.

And she decided the solution

was to eliminate me.

She was gonna make it happen.

[indistinct chatter]

[Peter]: You're just crazy, man.

I see.

Couldn't help but notice

you been starin'

at me all night.

I'm Peter.

I know.

Amy.

You messin' with me?

No, but you definitely

got somethin' I want.

Do I now?

Relax, Romeo.

I'm here on business.

Business?

Heard you could sell me a g*n.

Get lost, little girl.

Eight hundred. Cash.

Wow...

[Amy]: Close your mouth, Peter.

You're practically drooling.

g*n first. Cash second.

Oh yeah? What's third?

You teachin' me how to use it

so I don't miss

my intended target.

[knock on door]

Mrs. Buttafuoco?

Do I know you?

No. Definitely not.

I'm Anne-Marie Fisher.

I'm here 'cause I'm concerned

about my little sister, Amy.

Why do you um, why do

you look so familiar?

Uh, probably seen me and my

sister around the neighborhood.

She's why I'm here.

She's only 17.

And how old are you?

Nineteen. Which is why

I'm,

so concerned about my little

sister, see? 'Cause,

your husband seduced her

when she was even younger

than she is now.

Is... is this some

kind of prank?

Your husband's

Joey Buttafuoco, right?

Listen, look, I'm a little

busy right now

so if you're done messin'

around I'm gonna...

No, no I'm serious.

Your husband and

my little sister

have been sleeping together.

I have proof.

Where'd you get this?

I mean, you can't even get

this at the shop yet.

Your husband gave it to my

little sister.

After he slept with her.

Over and over and over.

Look, I don't know how

you got this, but keep it.

I don't want it.

I'll tell Joey you stopped by.

No, don't do that!

Why not?

Listen, I-I don't want any

trouble. I'm here because...

What are you lookin' at?

Is that who you

came here with?

Look, I don't know what

kinda game you're playin'

but I'm not interested.

I told you I'd tell Joey you

stopped by, all right?

That good enough for you?

[Amy]: No.

[g*nsh*t cracks]

[panicked breathing]

[nurse]: Dr. Flores,

dial 182, please.

[Mary Jo]: In an instant,

everything about my life

was changed forever.

I don't understand. Shouldn't

we have heard something by now?

[doctor]: Mr. Buttafuoco.

Oh, this is Eileen.

This is Mary Jo's sister.

Is Mary Jo okay?

Your wife's still with us.

[relieved exhales]

The b*llet severed her

carotid artery

and is lodged at

the base of her brain.

Just above her spinal column.

But she'll be okay?

She'll live?

[Doctor]: Honestly, it's too

early to tell.

We want to operate

but even if she survives

the surgery,

she's likely to

have severe brain damage.

Could even be paralyzed,

deaf, and or blind.

[inhales shakily]

Now, with your permission,

we'll operate right away.

You do what you gotta do.

You go save my wife.

We'll do the best we can.

I don't understand.

Who would do somethin' like

this? Who'd wanna hurt Mary Jo?

Nobody I can think of,

that's for sure.

[monitor beeping]

[doctor]: Mrs. Buttafuoco?

[doctor]: Mrs. Buttafuoco?

[labored, breathy exhale]

Mary Jo, can you hear me?

Can you blink if you hear me?

Mary Jo, you've been shot.

We're doing everything we can

for you.

Stay strong now. Okay?

Mary Jo. Hey, who shot you?

Who did this to you?

[whines]

[doctor]: Don't try to speak,

Mrs. Buttafuoco.

You've been outfitted with

a tracheostomy tube.

We'd better sedate her.

[Eileen]: Can we at least

let her try writing?

[Mary Jo]: I was fighting

for my life

while everyone else was

fighting about the truth.

No one took me

seriously at first

because they were convinced

that I had brain damage.

Not to mention,

they couldn't remove the b*llet

since it might've

put me in even more danger.

[whines]

Anne-Marie, who's

is that who shot you?

No. No, we... we don't

know any Anne-Marie.

[Eileen]: She's writing more.

[Mary Jo]: Even with a b*llet in

my head

I was determined to be heard.

None of this is

makin' any sense.

[monitor beeping]

[doctor]: Um...

Your wife has suffered a

great deal of harm.

It's very likely she's

delirious or... worse.

We're still assessing

possible brain damage.

[Mary Jo]: I lost track of all

the surgeries

and physical therapy sessions

I had to go through.

I wasn't the one who

committed the crime

but I was the one

paying the price.

[beeping continues]

[knock on door]

[doctor]: Mr. Buttafuoco,

I have some news.

The b*llet penetrating your

jaw bone

likely saved your life.

But it got stuck

there and we weren't able

to remove it without

jeopardizing you further.

Unfortunately, with the

b*llet being so close

to your brain and spinal cord,

it's likely that your

facial paralysis

and hearing loss are permanent.

Honey, it's okay.

[cries]

You don't, you don't have to.

[unintelligible]

When can I go back to

solid foods at least?

[doctor]: As you know, your jaw

bone was shattered.

So only liquids for now.

And uh, how 'bout her eye?

Well, she has to wear an eye

patch for a while,

due to severe corneal damage.

We are gonna find

out who did this.

I already know who did it.

[deep inhale and exhale]

And I know why she did it.

[groaning in pain]

I spoke to the nurse.

She's gonna have

your pain medication

at the top of the hour.

[wincing]

Hey...

Sweetheart, we're gonna

get through this. Okay?

[whines]

I don't care what

that doctor says.

What about what the...

the police think, huh?

I keep tellin' ya, I...

I got no connection to this

Anne-Marie or her sister.

Honey, honey,

I did not have an affair with

this awful person who shot you.

Or anyone, for that matter.

On our kids' lives, I swear.

[angered breathing]

What? Come on, come on.

Okay, okay, okay.

[Mary Jo]: It hurts.

[detective]: Only a few more

questions, Mrs. Buttafuoco.

Anything to help find

who did this to Mary Jo.

According to your wife, the

young lady with the g*n

said that you and her little

sister were having an affair.

[Joey sighs]

Uh...

No, I got no knowledge

of that sorta thing.

- We gotta ask.

- The shirt.

[Joey]: You know how many shirts

we give away in a year?

It was one of the new

golf shirts. Yeah.

Those are still in boxes.

Sh-sh... she said you gave it

to her little sister

it's how she

was trying to prove that

what she said was true.

[laughs incredulously]

Wasn't.

It isn't.

I don't know. Maybe someone

stole the shirt?

Maybe another employee of the

autobody shop had access to 'em?

You know, on second thought,

there actually was a customer

I-I gave one of those shirts

to as a preview.

A male customer.

Elliot Fisher.

And he's the only one you

gave a golf shirt to?

Maybe this Elliot Fisher has,

has daughters,

or nieces, or somethin'.

[knock on door]

[detective]: We got somethin'.

[Joey]: 'Bout time.

That's her. Yeah, that's

that's the girl that shot me.

Th-that's Anne-Marie.

Amy. Amy Fisher.

The daughter of your

customer, Elliot Fisher.

Wow. So, he got kids, huh?

[detective]: One daughter.

We just needed

your confirmation.

Now we can lure her in.

How you gonna do that?

[tape recorder clicks on]

Stick to the script.

Nothin' more, nothin' less.

Yeah, yeah, got it.

[call ringing]

[phone rings]

Hello?

Hey, is this Amy Fisher?

This is Joey Buttafuoco

from the autobody shop.

Joey, how come you're...

[Joey]: You know what? It's

better we talk in person.

Yeah. Uh...

Can you meet right now?

[Amy]: Just uh, tell me where

you're at. Okay.

Be right there.

[siren whooping]

Stay calm. Could be just

a, uh, traffic ticket.

[officer]: Step out of

the vehicle

and place both hands

on your head.

[reporter]: Amy! Amy!

Did you do it?

If you didn't, who did? Amy!

[reporter 2]: Amy! Miss Fisher!

Talk to us, Miss Fisher.

It'll take two minutes.

Amy! Amy!

Amy Fisher, dubbed "The Long

Island Lolita"

since it's rumored

she was having an illicit affair

with the victim's husband,

is now the prime

suspect in the sh**ting

of Mary Jo Buttafuoco.

It should be noted that Miss

Fisher is only 17 years old,

leaving many to wonder just how

responsible

someone this young could be,

for the circumstances

she finds herself in.

The media portrayed Amy Fisher

as this sweet 17-year-old

who'd been taken advantage of.

Who didn't know

what she was doing.

I understand the complexity now,

that someone can be both

victim and perpetrator.

But I was there

on that front porch

the day she shot me,

and Amy Fisher knew what

she was doing before,

during, and after.

[Joey]: All right, I got this.

[reporters]: Ms. Buttafuoco!

Ms. Buttafuoco!

Hey, what're you doin'?

Back off! Clear a path. Come on!

Hey, I got ya. I got ya.

[Mary Jo]: What, these people

don't have anything

better to do, huh?

[Joey]: I keep tellin' ya,

sweetheart, we're famous.

I don't wanna be famous.

I want my kids.

Mom!

[Mary Jo]: Hi! Oh, my God.

[Paul]: Mom!

[Mary Jo]: Oh, hey,

c'mere, c'mere.

Careful, Paul and Jessie,

your mother's still hurt.

[Mary Jo]: Don't listen to

your father.

[Paul]: I love you.

[Mary Jo]: I love you too.

I never want you to let go.

I love you too, baby.

[reporter]: Who do you believe,

Mary Jo,

your husband or Amy Fisher?

[breathing sternly]

[Mary Jo]: I was so beaten up,

so dependent on Joey

financially.

I didn't want to break up

our family.

The kids were young.

I was worried what people

would say.

What my Irish

Catholic mother would think

if I questioned Joey's

and my wedding vows.

Joey was all I knew.

All I thought I had.

And he seemed so sincere.

It wasn't so much that

I was ignorant,

it's that Joey was

that good at being dishonest.

The realization that my life

would never be the same,

that I might never

be able to smile again,

was something I didn't know if

I could ever come to terms with.

[sombre music]

Jess?

Sweetie, you awake, huh?

Hmm?

Hi.

Can I see this?

You are the sweetest girl.

Thank you.

I keep telling you,

it was an accident.

That's all you gotta

say for yourself?

I was confused on account of

Joey's so much older than me,

and I really didn't know

what I was doing.

You gotta believe me. The g*n

went off by itself. I swear!

[Mary Jo]: The physical evidence

told a different story.

Detectives had the theory

that the g*n Amy used

had its slide pulled back

before it was fired,

which showed she came to my home

with the intent to sh**t me.

That was hard to accept.

All I wanted was for my life

to return to normal,

and that meant

putting faith in my family.

I'm not sure this

is the best idea, Joey,

you know? I mean...

Feels like...

It feels like it's too soon.

[clapping and cheers]

What'd I tell ya?

Everyone loves ya.

Same as us.

Especially me.

All right, let's go find

a nice cabana for your mother.

Come on.

Does it hurt?

'Scuse me?

Where the b*llet

went in and out.

You wanna know a secret?

It's still in my head, yeah?

In my jaw.

Can we see?

Sure ya can.

If you had X-ray vision

like Superman,

you'd be able

to see right there.

Wow!

Mm-hmm.

Mrs. Buttafuoco,

you're the coolest lady, ever!

He's right, you know.

You're definitely

the coolest lady ever.

[Mary Jo]: Joey was a

fabulous liar and manipulator.

But he wasn't the only one still

hiding the truth

of what really happened.

I'm glad we came.

[kids chattering]

[cups thud loudly on table]

So?

Anything change?

You can ask me

the same questions over and over

all you want.

My story's never gonna change.

None of this is my fault.

I got caught up in

other people's troubles, is all.

Their manipulations.

I was used!

A Mr. Steven Sleeman

and a Mr. Peter Guagenti

tell a very different story

from the one you've shared,

Miss Fisher.

They tell one of helping you

try to kil Mary Jo Buttafuoco

last November.

And when that plan

didn't work out

the other says that

he sold you a g*n

and drove you to

the Buttafuoco residence

so that you could

do it yourself.

We're not gonna comment

on what sounds like hearsay,

at best.

Holding back information

isn't gonna do you any favors.

We're aware of our rights.

According to sources,

the only person

who doesn't suspect

Joey Buttafuoco had an affair

with the accused assailant

is his wife,

the g*nsh*t victim,

Mary Jo Buttafuoco.

[door creaks open]

[Joey]: Come bearing gifts.

[scoffs in disgust]

Apple sauce and cottage cheese?

At least you don't

have to eat through a straw.

Yeah.

All right.

[Mary Jo]: Yuck.

I hear the news on here again?

Hmm?

How many times I gotta tell you

that stuff's no good for ya.

Can I help it if

we're all that's on TV?

And if I wanted to be famous

or infamous?

You know who really

doesn't mind being famous?

It's that girl.

Who...

Who?

What?

You go ahead, say it.

You don't believe I never

slept with Amy Fisher, do ya?

[Mary Jo]: Looking back, I

can see the cracks forming

all around me.

If only I'd been ready

to admit it to myself

at the time.

It's not that

I don't believe you, Joey.

I just wish that these...

These idiots on TV did.

You know I'm...

The things that these reporters,

these newscasters are saying

about us.

About our marriage?

We've gotta make sure

Paul and Jessie

never see this stuff.

Amy Fisher is

a very confused young girl.

Sure, I remember her

being in the shop a lot.

Her dad let her charge repairs

to his account.

She was a really bad driver,

always getting in

all these accidents.

[snorting laugh]

Anything she says about me?

Bald-faced lie.

That's all there is to it.

Besides, something I want to

talk to you about

that's better than TV?

[Mary Jo]: Oh, yeah?

What's that?

Movies.

[Mary Jo]: "Dear Mr.

And Mrs. Buttafuoco",

"if you'll kindly grant us

your valuable time

"for a meeting,

we'd like to explain

"how telling your story

cinematically,

"can bring something good

outta something that's been"

"truly awful for you."

[somber music]

[Joey] Give me a kiss.

[Mary Jo]: Hollywood came

calling sooner than the police

could wrap up the case.

Everyone wanted in

on the action.

They were making three movies

at the same time.

I couldn't believe it.

But everyone around me

thought it was so exciting.

"Oh, Mary Jo's on TV.

Joey's consulting on a movie."

I thought to myself,

if this was happening

to my best friend,

it would be exciting.

So, I went along with it.

[Mary Jo]: Even though

we were on the set

for one of the movies,

I was still in total denial

of the absurdity of it all.

Not to mention barely

functional because of all

the drugs I was on for pain.

[director]: And action.

You're gonna wanna hear

what I have to say.

[Movie Mary Jo]: I need to

get back to my painting.

[Movie Amy]: He's lying to you.

It's not how it happened.

Nah, it's Hollywood, babe.

Just be glad that one of these

movies is finally telling

my side of the sto...

Our side of the story.

Hmm.

[piercing ringing]

You okay?

Someone call 911!

Mary Jo.

Mary Jo, you okay?

Come on.

Dr. Forrest, dial 118, please.

[PA speaker]: Dr. Forrest,

please dial 118.

Joey?

[painful breathing]

[Nurse]: You should be resting,

Mary Jo.

Hmm?

You don't mind me

calling you that, do you?

No, of course not.

So, um

you feeling well enough

for me to ask a small favor?

Can I get an autograph?

I figure if I get yours

and Joey's,

then all I need is Amy Fisher's.

Although I am

very much Team Mary Jo.

[Mary Jo]: I never wanted

to be recognized in public.

I was happy being a wife, a mom.

I loved my life.

All I wanted was

to be there for my children.

Those three movies did nothing

to help my anonymity.

Pfft. At this point

in my life,

I've seen myself shot

in the head on TV

more than 300 times.

Everything became about

Joey and Amy.

Me and my kids

got lost in the shuffle.

And things just

kept getting worse.

Was Joey Buttafuoco

the one who told you

to sh**t Mary Jo, Amy?

Whose idea was it

to k*ll Mrs. Buttafuoco?

If you're innocent,

we wanna hear from you, Amy.

You can talk to us.

[hard knocking]

[laughter]

[laughter]

What's so funny?

This show really cracks me up.

Come on.

Watch some TV with us.

Take a load off.

No, I'm okay.

[Mary Jo]: A lot of

the comedy shows back then

thought it was funny

to do sketches,

making fun of what happened,

what I was going through,

me being paralyzed

on one side of my face.

You know who didn't

find any of that funny?

Me.

I can't even watch

those comedy shows right now.

And like not knowing when

they're gonna

make fun of us again.

When did I...

Did we become the

punchline?

Our lawyer's looking in

and see when the shows

that are doing that.

'Cause because I got shot

in the face?

'Cause I believe you?

The man I promised to love

'til death do us part, you know.

What you and I got

is rock solid.

No one needs to understand that

except for you, me,

and the kids.

[Mary Jo]: Looking back, I

can see I had all the symptoms

of Stockholm Syndrome.

I still didn't think Joey

had been having an affair

with the person

who did this to me.

Life was too foggy

because of the multiple

pain medications I was on.

When I was in 6th grade,

I had a concussion

after a bad fall

and couldn't remember anything

for a short period.

Catholic school left me back

a grade.

Everyone called me immature,

the left-back baby.

Kids told me I was stupid.

Then later in life,

this all happens,

and now I'm stupid again

because I'm not leaving Joey.

Because I believed the man

I swore to stay with,

for better or for worse.

These interrogations are

bordering on harassment.

My client remains

a frightened young girl,

a victim of everyone

who's trying to take

inappropriate advantage of her.

We're just trying to do

our best to piece together

the facts as they're revealed

to us,

for everyone's best interest,

including Miss Fisher's.

If you've got something

you haven't disclosed,

that alone could

be grounds for...

All we're asking for is

a little clarification

on all the stuff

about Miss Fisher

being reported on TV night

after night.

Tabloid fodder, none of

which has been substantiated.

Just some people trying

to make a quick buck off

all the publicity

surrounding my client.

Coming, Cap.

Hey, don't worry.

We're still gonna get 'em

to agree to a plea deal.

[Amy sniffles]

[door closing]

[phone ringing]

[Mary Jo]: Hello?

[lawyer]: I just wanted

to let you know

that Amy Fisher's grand jury

testimony has been

temporarily postponed.

What?

Yeah, apparently she's been

hit hard by a news story

airing last night with a video

of her admitting to

her boyfriend that she's keeping

her name in the press

to make a lot of money

and get a super high-end car.

Really.

Mm-hmm.

So, they said that

she'll be there for at least

a week for psychiatric

examination and observation.

Look, it's not like

I want her to...

You know?

I'll be in touch when

we have more information.

Okay. Thank you.

[lawyer]: Take care of yourself,

Mary Jo.

[slams down phone]

Everything good?

Nothing's been good

since May, Joey.

Or have you not

been paying attention?

Babe, I...

Amy's in the hospital

for psychiatric examination.

[exhales]

- Yeah, yeah, I mean,

I keep telling you

how messed up she is.

What about me, Joey?

Do you understand how long

I have been waiting to finally

see the person who shot me

testify to a grand jury

so she will finally

face charges?

I do.

[Mary Jo]: No.

[sighs]

This is never gonna end,

is it?

Will today be the final chapter

in the lengthy saga

of the Long Island Lolita?

Inside this courthouse,

Amy Fisher will at long last

come face to face

with her victim.

It will be the first time

the two have seen each other

since May 19th, 1992,

when Amy Fisher allegedly

visited a tranquil

Massapequa home and put a b*llet

in Mary Jo Buttafuoco's head.

[courtroom murmurs]

Let's try to keep this matter

as efficient as we can

since the defendant has already

agreed to plead guilty

to the sh**ting in arrangement

for her plea deal.

[courtroom murmurs]

[gavel bangs]

The defendant has a statement

she wishes to enter?

Uh, yes, Your Honor.

[Mary Jo]: Seeing Amy

Fisher in person for the first time

since the sh**ting was surreal.

The girl who tried to k*ll me

in the same room.

But I held my head high.

I knew who I was.

I had my integrity,

and I wasn't trading it

for anything.

Sometimes I think this

was a nightmare,

and it didn't really happen,

and then I realize that it did.

I went up to the doorstep

with a loaded g*n in my pocket.

I spoke with Mrs. Buttafuoco

outside her Massapequa home

for 15 minutes until

Mrs. Buttafuoco turned

to go back inside.

I hit her on the back

of the head.

I hit her again.

The g*n went off.

I tried to get her off of me,

and I hit her, I think, twice.

And then I left.

I ran away.

These, Your Honor, are all true.

They are all facts.

And I cannot and will not

take them back

for the sake of harmony.

And now I believe we'll hear

from Amy Fisher's victim.

[courtroom murmurs]

[bangs gavel]

[judge]: Make no mistake,

this courtroom will not devolve

into the media frenzy

that has surrounded

these goings-on

for the last year and a half.

Mrs. Buttafuoco.

My two beautiful children

are having a difficult time

leaving me alone.

They are afraid I might not

be there when they get home

from school.

They have been

severely traumatized

by this event.

And this, to me,

is the greatest tragedy of all.

All this damage by someone

who still shows absolutely

no remorse for her actions.

The b*llet is still lodged

in the base of my brain

and causes me constant pain

and suffering.

The future holds

numerous operations,

and if there is any

unnatural movement

of the b*llet,

I am faced with paralysis,

and perhaps, even death.

[judge]: I understand you have

a letter written

by your daughter, Jessica,

that you'd like to read?

"Thank you for putting

Amy Fisher in jail.

"She has done so many bad things

to my family and I.

"Please make Amy Fisher stay

in jail for a very long time

"so she can't hurt my mom again."

"My daddy,"

"brother Paul,

and I love her very much."

[sniffles]

So far, the seductive teenager

has stuck to her story,

that she had a steamy romance

with the Mary Jo Buttafuoco's

husband, Joey Buttafuoco,

who isn't in

the courtroom today.

At an earlier news conference,

he once again claimed

he never had sex

with the accused.

I have a brief statement.

Amy Fisher is a liar

and has zero credibility.

She knows that.

I know she's a liar.

I know she has no credibility.

That's all I'm gonna say.

You are a tragedy

and disgrace to yourself,

to your family,

to your friends, and to society.

And you deserve no less

than the maximum sentence

I can impose by law.

For many months, You had stalked

Mary Jo Buttafuoco

like a wild animal

st*lks its prey.

Motivated by lust and passion,

you were a walking stick

of dynamite with the fuse lit.

Amy Fisher

you are sentenced

to 5 to 15 years in prison.

[courtroom murmurs]

Do you have anything you wish

to say to the court?

Or to Mrs. Buttafuoco?

If I could change everything,

I would.

If I could put my hand

over her face

and make it go away, I would.

I don't wanna be

the Amy Fisher

that stands here today.

I wanna be the Amy Fisher

I was before I met Joe Butafuoco

in November of 1990.

[gavel bangs]

[reporter]: Do you still believe

your husband didn't sleep

with Amy Fisher?

Do you feel sorry

for her at all?

You don't need

to talk to them, okay?

Amy Fisher is a liar,

not to mention

an attempted m*rder*r.

Right?

And the DA is taking

her word over Joey's.

I am not gonna let this

one person destroy our lives.

There you have it.

[grumbles]

You're Mary Jo Buttafuoco,

right?

You've been through so much.

I am a big fan.

Thank you.

I am so embarrassed.

Sorry.

No, it's okay.

Have a nice day, all right?

[woman]: Is it true

what they're saying?

That Amy Fisher can describe,

you know, Joey's privates?

[Mary Jo]: I developed

this weird ability to ignore

what anyone was saying.

I still believed Joey.

I was in pain,

mental and physical,

and on way too many drugs

to know the difference.

Not to mention being raised

Catholic in the 60s

absolutely shaped my view

of what was right and wrong.

Catholics don't get divorced.

One time when Joey and I

temporarily separated,

my mother said,

"This is what happens when"

"you don't have Jesus

in your life."

That was her answer

to everything

I was going through.

Everyone close to us

still believed Joey,

even when one

of his former employees

told a talk show Joey

had admitted to sleeping

with Amy Fisher.

And the DA filed charges

because of it.

[Joey] I keep telling ya,

that former employee is

just trying to stir up trouble.

None of what he says

on TV is true.

You want me to go to trial

to get sentenced for something

I never did?

Six counts of statutory r*pe,

12 counts of sodomy,

one count of endangering

the welfare of a child?

If you never did any of it

why did

the grand jury indict you?

And why would gonna trial

be a problem, Joey?

Our lawyer says

taking the plea deal

is the safe bet.

Even though you and me,

we both know I never did

what that girl said.

[footsteps stomp away]

[slams cup on table]

Hey, no, no,

none of that's true.

Don't get yourself worked up.

When is this all gonna be

done?

I could save my face,

or I could save my butt

and be here with you

and the kids where I belong.

[ring taps twice on table]

This is the last of it,

all right?

The last of this

awful nightmare.

I take the plea,

and then we can finally move on

and get the happy ever after

that you, me,

and the kids deserve.

[Mary Jo]: This was

yet another wake-up call,

but I wasn't ready to wake up.

Instead, I numbed myself

with pills,

believed harder,

held on even tighter,

to a version of Joey

that didn't really exist.

[Amy] When this

relationship began,

I was not just

a 16-year-old teenager

taken to bed by a man

over twice my age,

I was a 16-year-old teenager

shown a world that

I was not ready for,

a world of elaborate spending

and fast boats.

This man took me

to expensive restaurants

and cheap motels.

I hope whatever sentence

you might impose today

will send a message

to other teenagers

who might be tempted

by men like Mr. Buttafuoco.

I know with all my heart

that if Mr. Buttafuoco

had permitted me to cross

the bridge between adolescence

and adulthood unmolested,

I would not be where I am today.

[sniffs]

Thank you.

[footsteps stomping]

[judge]: I cannot accept

your plea unless, in fact,

you are guilty.

Please, tell me.

On July 2nd, 1991,

I had sexual relations

with Amy Fisher at a motel.

[courtroom murmurs]

[gavel bangs]

There is a family

involved here.

Joseph, Mary Jo's father,

in-laws, children.

That's the kind of man Joey is.

He did all he could do

in that courtroom

so that everybody else's life

could go free.

[reporter]: Joey,

why didn't Mary Jo

accompany you here today?

Well, last night, Mary Jo

had a rough night.

Her true pain

is for her children.

That's all we're saying.

[Jessica]: These are for

the walls in your cell, Daddy.

It's not a cell, baby.

It's a room.

So you don't forget about us.

These are great, Jess.

How about you, Champ?

You doing all right?

[Paul]: I don't know.

This isn't right, Joey.

Bringing the kids here

to visit you of all places, huh?

You know, the lawyer says

I'll get off early.

Four months instead of six,

then it'll be like

none of this ever happened.

Yeah, maybe not

for the both of us, huh?

[laughs]

You wait and see, Mary Jo.

I'm gonna prove it to you.

Everything gets better

from this moment.

Look what our daughter

drew for me.

Huh?

Pretty good.

Is that me in the orange?

Come on.

[Mary Jo]: After

the statutory r*pe conviction,

when Joey got out of jail,

the neighborhood threw

a huge party.

Joey came home

a triumphant hero.

Nothing he did or was accused of

changed the opinions

of those closest to him.

Not our friends, not our family,

not me,

not yet.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[Joey]: Don't be upset.

What am I not supposed

to be upset about, Joey?

It's the middle

of the night here.

All right.

I, uh...

I was arrested for

solicitation here in L.A.

What?

You swore you were gonna

stay out of trouble

while you were

on the West Coast.

It was a total setup.

I-I'm innocent.

You forget that

you're on parole?

Hmm?

- No, I talked to the lawyer.

He's... He's gonna

clear it all up.

Yeah, and what about

the next time, Joey?

Huh?

Everything's just gonna

get cleared up for you again?

'Cause everything's

about you, right?

You know, all the news

just makes everything about Amy.

And at the end of the day,

nobody cares about the woman

walking around with a b*llet

permanently stuck in her jaw.

Sweetheart, we're gonna

clear this up, okay?

[sniffles then grumbles]

[slams down receiver]

[Mary Jo]: With Joey,

it always wasn't him.

It didn't happen this way.

He didn't give her the money,

whatever.

It was the same crap

I heard over and over again.

I needed the pills to function.

I wasn't getting high.

I was avoiding incredible pain.

Physical, and I now realize,

mental.

The pills dulled my mind

and my instincts.

I relied on drugs

for seven long years.

But eventually, even they

couldn't numb the depths

of what I was feeling.

After Joey's arrest in L.A.,

I went into a spiral

of depression.

At this point,

I just wanted to be dead.

[drawer rasps open]

[pills rattling]

[Mary Jo]: I didn't

know where else to turn,

what else to do.

[Jessica]: Mom?

It's been like three days

you've been in here.

[pill bottles clatter]

[Jessica]: Mommy?

Jess?

You scared me.

[exhales]

I'm sorry, honey. I just...

I haven't felt like doing much

the past few days with sleep,

you know?

All me and Paul

want is to see you happy.

Hey, I know that, sweetheart,

but

the paralysis

from the b*llet is permanent.

One half of my face

is never gonna work right.

Hey, but that doesn't mean

I don't love you and Paul

with all my heart, okay?

[worried exhale]

Oh, thank you.

You're too good to me.

Come here.

I love you.

[Mary Jo]: It was the

lowest point in my life,

and I gave up fighting.

Nothing was getting better.

I was so torn up on the inside,

so depleted,

I actually researched

carbon monoxide poisoning.

That's how low I sunk.

I didn't think there was

any way out for me

or my kids.

Thank God I finally realized

I wasn't thinking

with a clear mind.

[pill bottles thump

in waste basket]

I finally decided

if the b*llet still lodged

in my head hadn't done me in,

then I was gonna have to

somehow find a way to go on.

[lawyer] Let's make sure.

[Mary Jo]: We're

sure about this?

[lawyer]: Mm-hmm.

[Mary Jo]: This is

the best idea?

[lawyer]: Yeah, well, I wouldn't

be footing the bill if I didn't.

You remind me that

there's still good in the world.

You know that?

I could say the same

to you, Mary Jo.

Look, we both know that pills

aren't the answer,

not ultimately.

But it's time

you treated yourself

after all this mental pain

you've been suffering through.

Thank you.

[sobbing and groaning in pain]

[Mary Jo]: Hey! Hey!

Oh, you gotta help me,

all right?

You gotta at least give me

my, my prescription, okay?

Please!

[heavy breathing]

Please!

Mary Jo, it can get better

from this moment

if you decide to make this

your rock bottom.

[sobbing]

[melancholic music]

[shivering breaths]

[nurse]: You can do this.

[Mary Jo]: Yeah.

[nurse]: I'll get you

some water.

[shivering breaths]

Thank you for sharing.

And what about shame?

Oh, definitely me.

Sorry, did you,

did you say fame or shame?

[chuckling]

I don't really know

what's worse.

The fact that I...

I never wanted to be famous

or the fact that I...

I really loved being

a mom and a wife.

And I know that that's not

popular to say nowadays,

but it's true.

I loved it.

I never wanted to be

recognized in public,

least of all for

having a life-altering injury.

You know, for people

thinking that I'm, I'm an idiot

for desperately trying to honor

my wedding vows, you know?

I never wanted any of this.

Not for me and, and...

Especially not for my,

for my kids, you know?

From what you shared,

I'm not sure that was

a choice you made for them.

Music

Woo!

[Mary Jo]: Jessie, Paul,

c'mere, c'mere, c'mere!

We missed you so much.

[Mary Jo]: Oh, my God,

I missed you so much.

Thank you for your letters

and your drawings.

Where's your father?

He-he couldn't make it.

Don't worry about it.

Forget I said anything.

I'm just so happy you're here.

You look great!

Kinda happy!

Just kinda?

From now on,

we're gonna be really happy.

You know, my time in here

did me a lot of good.

I can finally let go,

move on, got my power back.

That means I got to forgive.

- Forgive?

- Forgive who?

Go ahead, Miss Fisher.

I'd like to say

something to Mary Jo.

What happened to you

wasn't your husband's fault,

wasn't your fault,

wasn't my father's fault,

and wasn't anybody else's fault.

It was my fault.

And I have spent

the last seven years

trying to figure it out.

It was my fault, and I'm sorry.

[melancholic music]

[heavy footsteps]

[judge]: Mrs. Buttafuoco?

Amy Fisher has shown

great remorse and sorrow

for what she did to me.

You're being given

a second chance in life,

and I pray that you take it

and make something good out

of something tragic.

I'm sorry.

I'm truly very sorry.

People always ask,

why did I forgive the person

who tried to k*ll me?

It wasn't for Amy Fisher's sake,

I promise you.

It was for me.

Back then, I still had

a lot to figure out.

About Joey, about myself.

But I knew this much,

I wasn't gonna let

hate define me.

Not anymore.

Your Honor,

given that my client

now accepts full responsibility

for the terrible act

of seven years ago,

and in light of her testimony,

we are urging you to

grant Ms. Fisher parole.

[Mary Jo]: When I finally came

to my senses and told my mother

I was leaving Joey,

she didn't speak to me

for four months.

I was wrong, he was right.

I was the bad Catholic.

That's the stronghold Joey

still had on everyone

who knew him.

One day I just looked

at that picture of our family,

covered Joey's face

with my thumb,

and realized me and the kids

were better off without him.

I know you might be wondering

if there was some big moment

that caused me to

finally leave Joey?

Some dramatic confrontation

or giant revelation.

But it wasn't like that.

It was more like death

by a thousand cuts.

It took years and years

before I realized

Joey was never gonna change.

And it was time for me

to reclaim my power, my life.

I was finally done

with him, once and for all.

Today, our son Paul has

a limited relationship with him.

Jessie and I don't speak

to him at all.

And yes, people still ask me

about Amy Fisher.

Needless to say,

we aren't in touch.

The g*n went off by accident.

[Mary Jo]: Her version of events

has changed over the years

since she shot me.

It was Joey who told me

to go up to the door,

point the g*n, and keep firing.

[Mary Jo]: Her truths aren't

necessarily mine.

I took the plea deal

on account I'd get parole

three years after

I went to jail.

Amy Fisher's story

is hers to tell.

Mine is about survival.

About refusing to let

what she did

define the rest of my life.

Me and my kids are still here.

We're still standing.

We're still smiling.

That's our victory.

And would you believe

I even got married again?

Stu Tendler and his children

were a wonderful gift,

each of them showing Paul,

Jessie, and me what it meant

to be part of a family

that loved and was committed

to one another.

Even though the marriage

didn't last,

Stu reminded me of my worth.

And that led to yet

another surgery that

was completely unexpected.

You really think I'm gonna

be able to smile again,

Dr. Azizzadeh?

I've been dealing

with this frozen look

for so long, it feels like I've,

you know, kinda given up hope.

[Dr. Azizzadeh]: There's

certain muscles

keeping your paralysis

from improving.

What I'm talking about

is rewiring your nerves.

My mom doesn't think

of herself as pretty

or beautiful,

when the complete

opposite's true.

I mean, she's the most

beautiful person I know.

The surgery will be intense.

I'd be using a nerve stimulator

to identify which

microscopic nerves are working

and which are misfiring.

Well, Mary Jo, what do you say?

[Mary Jo]: My smile was there

all along, mind you.

Just hidden.

But it was always

under the surface.

Thanks to Jessie and Paul, who,

through everything,

always gave me a reason

to be happy.

Now Dr. Azizzadeh was

offering me a chance

to show my smile

to the world again.

[Jessica]: Mom, how are you?

So can you smile now or what?

Hmm...

I don't know.

Try-try tellin' me a joke.

Dad.

[chuckling]

[Jessica]: Mom?

Doctor said it's gonna

get even better.

[Paul]: You're amazing.

[Mary Jo]: To this day,

Joey doesn't accept

any responsibility

for the lives he wrecked.

He never apologized

to Paul or Jessie.

He couldn't even admit

to me in person that

he really did sleep

with Amy Fisher.

Speaking of causes

for celebration,

May 15th is around the corner.

Must we celebrate

when you're getting older?

Duh! That's kinda what people

do on their birthdays, Mom.

Yeah, I think I'd rather

celebrate sh**ting day

on May 19th.

[laughs]

Oh, my gosh. That's genius.

The three of us celebrating

everything we survived

on the actual date everything

about our lives changed.

Yeah, I wasn't certain

I was being serious about that.

[Paul]: sh**ting day. I'm in.

We're gonna take back that

date that's always brought us

shame and fear.

And we're gonna make it our own.

Who are you callin'?

I'm making restaurant

reservations at our favorite

Italian place for May 19th.

Mom, you're a genius.

So, that's what we do now.

Every May 19th, Paul, Jessie,

and I get together

and celebrate "Survival Day"

because it's our day

and no one else's.

We're finally through

being a spectacle

and done with letting that

date pull us back into

the misery of what

was in the past.

I am Mary Jo Buttafuoco.

I'm alive, I'm grateful,

I'm at peace,

and I'm smiling.

[pensive music]