01x11 - Dunleavy Family

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR: They're every
parent's worst nightmare.

Big [bleep].

[children shrieking]

NARRATOR: Kids
completely out of control

and taking over the household.

These families have reached
the end of the road.

They're in desperate
need of help.

No, I'm not!

Yeah!

NARRATOR: They only have
one alternative left.

It's time to dial Nanny 911.

[phone rings]

Hello?

This is Nanny 911.

NARRATOR: We've gathered a
team of world-class nannies

from all over the globe.

Each week, from Nanny
Central, they will watch

a video of a family in crisis--

[children shrieking]

--and decide which nanny
is best suited to help.

They will then have one week to
take our families from living

hell to a family bliss.

Not once did these
children get praised.

I do say thank you!

You can ask them!

NARRATOR: Can these
families be saved?

You called me to come
fix your family problems.

But if you think you can do
a better job, get on with it.

Get in that bed
now and stay there!

NARRATOR: Parents of
America, help is on the way.

How are you?

NARRATOR: Tonight--

[boys grunting, screaming]

You cut it out
with your mouth!

NARRATOR: Denise
and Kevin Dunleavy

have completely
lost their minds.

Poured it all over me!

Get out of here, Logan.

There's soda all over now.

NARRATOR: Stay-at-home
Mom and retired cop Dad

haven't got a clue how to raise
their five little monsters.

KEVIN: Hey, get off
the table like that.

You just punched him
in the face, and I--

BOY: No, I didn't.
- That's enough!

Now, sit down!

NARRATOR: Mom is out of answers.

I'm not dealing
with this no more.

That's it, I'm done.

I'm finished.

NARRATOR: And Dad
is out of order.

Look at the lady in
her face and apologize.

NARRATOR: Can Nanny
Deb keep this family

from taking a b*ating?

[glass shatters]

Nanny, go home.

NARRATOR: It's
extreme resistance.

I hate the nanny.

Make sure she hears that.

I'm leaving.

I'm leaving.

Stop it!

[door slams]

NARRATOR: Tonight
on "Nanny 911."

[theme music]

DENISE: Get off of him!

[boys grunting]

Get over here and
finish your homework!

I'm feeding this baby!

I'm Denise Dunleavy.

I'm the mom of five kids.

He can't find his shoes.

My name is Kevin Dunleavy.

I'm a retired New York
City Police detective,

and I operate a home
improvement business.

You need money?
You have money, right?

I need money.

I don't have money on me.

I have to go to the bank.

We've been married
approximately--

now, this could get me
in trouble because I

don't remember exactly.

Just give me $20!


Goodbye, everybody.

Have fun at school.

Is it 12 years?
I'm not sure.

My wife would know that.

I want to strangle my husband.

Get off of him!

You're all going
up for adoption.

We have a hectic house.

[RIMSKY KORSAKOV, "FLIGHT OF THE
BUMBLEBEE"]

I'm everything to everybody.

Raising four boys.

It's crazy.

Connor is a bad mouth.

That's not acceptable.

You're not acceptable!

He'll call me a jerk.

Write your [bleep] words!

You call me a jerk again
and I swear to God,

that'll be the last time.

"You're an idiot."

Get away from me, you idiot.

There's not a lot of
respect in this house.

Call me an idiot again,
I'll get the hot sauce.

I'm telling you right now.

Logan was a little devil
from the day he was born.

Get away.

Logan, you're
breaking my thumb!

Logan!

He can't even tie
his own shoes yet.

KEVIN: Kyle-- we
call him Jerry Lewis.

He's always flopping around.

He's like a character.

DENISE: Kyle, get
your [bleep] up.

Kevin.

If he doesn't get his
way, he starts crying,

"I hate you, Mommy."

Corinne is my only girl.

[thump]

Hey!

No, you don't hit Mommy!

And she has Down syndrome.

Down.

Good girl.

Woo.

She's into everything.

She's at that typical age.

Oh, my god, I'm going
to be handcuffed

and taken away in this house.

There's a big of light bulbs.

Bring me up a light bulb.

My husband likes
to move into houses

that are handyman specials.

This particular house
needs a lot of work yet.

[door thumps]

[wailing]

DENISE: What'd you do?

I can't live like this anymore.

The windows are banging
and banging and opening,

and the cold air is coming
in, and the house is basically

falling apart in front of me.

I can't live like
this much longer.

It's not healthy
conditions for the kids.

Our romance is like,
[blows raspberry]..

On the bed.
Go.

Oh yeah?

Everybody's sleeping
in the bed with me.

Kyle, you can't
sleep on top of me.

My husband sleeps
in his own room.

There is no romance.

Sick of yelling.

All day, yelling.

Then your father comes home, and
he expects a three-course meal.

When you come home
and you're aggravated,

kids are jumping
all over the place,

everybody's yelling
and screaming.

Poured it all over me!

Get out of here, Logan!

There's soda all over now!

You start losing it.

You might not like
it, but you're

going to do your homework.

[chatter]

DENISE: It's just crazy.

The TV--

[grunting]

The-- the yelling.

[boys laughing]

The screaming.

[screaming] He bit me!

The arguing.

I'm not doing your homework!

BOY: You are!

I am not doing your homework!

Yes!

I!

Am!
- No!

I didn't take them!

What else do want
from me, blood?

It doesn't end.

It's a joke.

The house is totally a joke.

My house is a pigsty.

I'm a slob?

Don't stand here and tell the
world that I'm the bad guy.

DENISE: What are
you plugging in?

Get out of here.

The discipline's a joke.

You just punched him
in the face, and I--

- No, I didn't!
- That's enough.

Now, sit down.

You know, I'm a joke.

I'm not dealing
with this no more.

That's it, I'm done.

I'm finished.

[music playing]

What are you talking about?

Now write your words!

[boys grunting]

[screaming]

Ah!

What else do you
want from me, blood?

That's absolutely terrible.

That's no place to raise kids.

Dad must be the builder with
the worst house on the street.

If she's a disciplinarian,
I'm the Queen of England.

[chuckles]

Fix that in only one week?

You'd better bring a hard hat.

Yes, you cannot bring
kids up in that house.

Deborah, I think
that you should be

the one to clean up this mess.

[music playing]

DEB (VOICEOVER): I'm
Nanny Deb, and I'm

from Holyhead, North Wales, and
I've been a nanny for 22 years.

Get off the bed and make it!

Kevin!

b*at the crap out of that kid.

DEB (VOICEOVER):
I've been summoned

to snowy Long Island to
help dig the Dunleavys out

of a big mess.

I can't stand in your mouth.

[boys laughing]

DEB (VOICEOVER): This
family is out of control,

and I've only got
one week to bring

some warmth to this icy home.

[knocks]

[dog barks]

- Hello.
- Hello.

- It's nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

I'm Nanny Deb.
- Come on in.

Thank you.

Kevin, nice to meet you.

I'm Nanny Deb.

[barking, kevin shouting]

So what happens today is
I'm going to blend in.

Pretend I'm not here.

I'm just going to be
watching things that you do,

taking a few notes to help
come up with this plan.

That's going to
change your life.

No, it isn't!

I want the nanny to
get out of our house.

DEB (VOICEOVER): After our
charming introductions,

the first thing
I see is typical.

I gotta go in to clean.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Dad
heads off to work

without lifting a finger.

I'll see you later.

Bye-bye, Daddy.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Leaving
Mom alone to feed her five

rambunctious little ones.

DENISE: What?

Can you make
pan-- one pancake?

DENISE: I'm not making pancakes.

You know what?

I'm tired of cooking 10
different meals every day.

Fine, I'll make it myself.

You're not making it yourself.

Hey!

Don't you hit her!

I'm stressed.

Already.

How long have I
been up, an hour?

DEB (VOICEOVER): While Mom
busies herself with breakfast,

I show myself around.

And what I find is a house
in complete disarray.

The Dunleavy house was
an absolute nightmare.

Exposed electrical sockets.

Boarded-up windows.

There are broken light bulbs.

Tools.

The floors aren't finished.

There are nails everywhere.

And not one of the children
has a room to call their own.

It was complete disaster.

Meanwhile, downstairs, breakfast
has turned into a circus.

Go inside!

Take your shirt off.
Give me the soda.

Hey, that was mine!

I don't want you to
drink the soda now.

It's 9 o'clock in the morning.

Get out of here, go
inside, and change.

DEB (VOICEOVER):
Rather than eating,

Kevin Jr. has wandered
off to play video games.

You're not playing
the game now!

Five minutes, it's going off.

Let's go.

You're sitting down
and you're eating!

DEB (VOICEOVER): When
Denise refuses to give in,

he throws a tantrum.

No!

When Kevin throws
his fits, sometimes I

want to just strangle him.

I am throwing it in the garbage!

Do you understand?

No!

I don't know what to do.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Kevin has
obviously learned to lash out

rather than to use his
words to communicate

his wants and needs.

[grunting]

You want to go
upstairs to your room?

You want to be punished?

Here you go.

You stop.

DEB (VOICEOVER): And when
Denise lashes back at him,

his behavior is only validated.

Lunchtime with these kids seems
to be quite the adventure.

This is glass because
I have no to put

anything in this kitchen!

DEB (VOICEOVER): There is
no schedule of any kind.

Kids are going to jump
on the bed at 3 o'clock,

and they're going to start
choking each other at 2:00.

[gags]

Cookies all over my bed.

What is this, a restaurant?

DEB (VOICEOVER): By
allowing these children

to walk all over her, she's
clearly lost their respect.

The only way anyone
communicates in this house

is to become
physically aggressive.

Yelling, screaming,
choking, hitting.

I'm very disturbed
by what I'm seeing.

Mom is under an enormous
amount of stress.

She's just so b*at, and
she's just so defeated.

DENISE: Mommy's
just going to leave.

Yeah, because I can't
take it anymore.

What do you want, Logan?

I'm making dinner.

DEB (VOICEOVER):
Now that Dad's home,

I'd like to find out why this
house is in such disrepair.

Do you want to see the attic?

I would love to see the attic.

Okey-doke.

DEB (VOICEOVER): As I walked
up the stairs to the attic,

I couldn't help
feeling like these boys

were up to something.

[spits]

Logan leaned over
and spat on me.

Whoa.

What did you do?

Look at me when I talk to you.

Why would you do that?

Because I thought it was funny.

You think that's funny?

Yeah.

Apologize.

DENISE: And I won't do it again.

Look at the lady in
her face and apologize.

Ow!

KEVIN: Listen to me.

Dad literally hit the roof.

I'm sorry, Nanny.
[mutters]

KEVIN: I don't
accept that apology.

It's not from the heart.

Go over there and
do what you're told.

Because he spit
on Nanny, and then

I snapped, and I wanted
him to apologize.

And I thought that was the
proper, manly thing to do.

Let him go.

Mommy!

Downstairs, and-- down.

Mommy!

His face turned red, his
veins came out of his neck,

and I thought he was
going to k*ll this kid.

No.

Sit down and think
about what you did.

How would you like it
if somebody spit on you?

That's disgusting.

Gonna knock your teeth
out of your mouth.

You stay here and think
about what you did,

and then you give
that lady an apology--

[corrine screeches]

--from your heart.

Sit down and relax.

No.

I'm upset.

I'm sad.

I know it's discipline,
and he needs-- but there's

got to be another way.

That's why--

DEB: The what?

What is the belt?

If I, as a parent, want
to discipline my child,

you can't do that.

It's a politically
correct society.

I don't agree with
it, but that's

the way the world is today.

DEB: Kyle grabbed a belt and
started talking about the fact

that Dad hits the
bed with a belt.

What does Daddy do with
the belt when you say--

He hits the bed with the belt?

DENISE: My husband
spanks the kids.

For me, it's not appropriate.

I'm not like one of
these liberals that

try to coddle their children.

That's not me.

Get downstairs, now.

DEB (VOICEOVER):
When I saw the belt

and heard about the spankings,
I knew I'd seen enough.

I could go no further
with this family

until they agree to
stop the spanking.

DEB: I do this for
these children,

and you're not
going to go in there

and start screaming and yelling,
and grabbing these kids,

and hitting them.

That is abusive behavior,
and I won't tolerate it.

It's a really,
really big problem.

All of a sudden, I'm getting
the Riot Act read to me.

What is this, the third degree?

I need you guys to tell
me right now that you are no

longer going to thr*aten
your kids with v*olence,

you're no longer going
to hit your children,

and you are no longer going
to grab them by the hair

or the ear and scream at them.

I thought Kevin would turn
around and say, you know what?

I don't need anybody
to come into my family

and tell me what to do
and how to raise my kids.

But I will not do this
until I have a commitment.

Here I am, former
law enforcement,

and she's laying down
the law in my house

on how I should raise my kids.

I had my doubts, but
I bought the ticket.

I got to take the ride.

DEB (VOICEOVER): After a day
of observation, the Dunleavy's

problems are clear.

There is no respect in
this house whatsoever.

So today, I'm giving the
family their own set of rules.

DEB: The family rules.

No!

Uh-oh.

Uh-oh.

Rule number one, there
is no more hitting.

Hey!

Don't you hit her!

No choking.

[boys laughing]

No v*olence whatsoever.

Look at the lady in
her face and apologize.

Ow!

DEB (VOICEOVER): This family
doesn't talk about things.

They just lash out verbally or
physically instead of sitting

down and talking about it.

Number two,
respect each other.

What's that mean?

You think that's funny?

Yeah.

Someone telling
you that you're

not respected by your children.

That's, like, the worst
thing a man could hear about.

People get k*lled for that.

DEB: We need to prioritize
and get this house finished.

DEB (VOICEOVER): None of
the children's bedrooms

are done a year after
they've moved in.

These children need their
space, and so do Mom and Dad.

[music playing]

DEB: In these bowls
are some tickets.

These tickets will be handed
out for good behavior.

If you do your chores,
you get your tickets.

Each ticket is worth--

$0.25?

Money?

$0.25.

[cash register dings]

[laughing]

I want that money!

DEB: So you guys are
going to work hard?

Yes!

You're going to
get all your tickets!

Yes!

No!

You're not?

DEB: Connor's is the oldest
child in this family,

and he obviously is resistant
to this particular change,

and that resistance must
come from somewhere.

I'm going to try earning
my ticket right now.

DEB: Logan's on board.

Ready?
LOGAN: What do we do now?

Ready?
KEVIN: Gotta shake.

It's a contract.
You just shook.

OK, now you shook.

That means you're
going to do it.

When I made that
promise, I had my fingers

crossed behind my back.

DEB: The first one to
earn a ticket is Kevin!

DENISE: Yay!

Here's your jar.

Good job.

I could care less.

I don't care about the tickets.

I don't care about the rules.

- You clean it out?
- Yup.

Wow.

DEB (VOICEOVER): While his
siblings jumped on board

with the reward system, Connor's
resistance was only beginning.

Connor's still in
the mode of "I'm

going to cause trouble here."

DENISE: What are you doing?

Put the plug in!

DEB (VOICEOVER): So he's
trying to rile his brothers up.

And I hate the nanny.

Make sure she hears that.

DEB (VOICEOVER): And
before I knew it,

Connor and I were at w*r.

And he began letting me know
by leaving me little notes all

over the house.

Oh, there's a note.

"Get out.

Do not.

Love, Kyle."

I've been leaving signs that
say "go home" to the nanny

all over the house.

I hate the nanny because of
the changes and the rules

she's trying to make.

They're not going to help.

They're just making it worse.

I want things to
just stay the same.

It's says, "Deb, go home.

Love, Connor Dunleavy."

No, it says "love."

It's L-O-V-E. Thank you.

I'm going to save these.

[music playing]

Good.

I'm not playing mind
tricks on anybody.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Then,
Connor did something

no child has ever done before.

He began picketing me.

[deb cheers]

It's a free world, people.

My life is similar
to Connor's, in a way.

We moved a lot.

And it just triggered
in me that he's

resisting this change
because, in his life,

change has not been
a positive thing.

It's been a negative thing.

I wanted to really
touch base with him

and say I understood
where he was coming from.

I want to talk to you
about when I was a kid.

When I was little, my
family moved a lot.

I'm talking about by the time
I was 12, we'd moved 16 times.

I've moved four times in
the last couple of years

to four different houses.

And to, like, seven
different schools.

Sometimes, I remember it
being kind of scary for me.

And I thought you,
being the oldest,

might be able to
help me figure out

how you think people in this
family deal with the changes.

You know, if you
think they're feeling

or what you're
feeling about it--

And now our parents are
thinking of moving again.

Well, how do you
feel about that?

I don't want to move.

DEB: You like this house?

Not that I like it.

I just don't want to move.
- Right.

You don't like the moving part.

Because I have to go to new
schools and make new friends.

I just want to stay here.

I really want your
dad and your mom

to hear what you have to say
about when you have to move.

So you know what I
think we should do?

What?

I think we should
have a family meeting.

DEB (VOICEOVER):
Constantly moving

is obviously a major
issue for these children,

and Dad needs to realize how
troubling it is for his kids.

So I'm calling a family meeting
to get everyone's concerns out

in the open.

DEB: You've been
living here for a year.

And for you having a
construction company,

to have made your house
low on the priority list

tells me that your family
is low on the priority list.

And that really bothers me.

Nanny or not, it's just
a wake-up call, you know.

Whoever tells you
something like that.

DEB: Everyone is miserable.

And the biggest
problem for the kids

is that they don't feel safe.

[wailing]

DENISE: What'd you do?

DEB: This environment is very
detrimental to your children.

It's never going
to be big enough.

It's never going to
be the dream house.

We're not millionaires.

I was the one that was working
hard to fix the houses to get

rid of them so that she could
have a place to live that she

would be more comfortable in.

And, you know, now I'm
getting b*at up for it?

I'm raving inside.

I think this is all
nonsense at this point.

My children don't have any
problem with the house,

from flopping to house to house.

DEB: You're in denial.
- I'm in denial?

DEB: You're in denial.

I'm telling you right now.

I have spoken to your
children about this.

The kids made a lot of
friends and they are happy here.

And I don't think they
want to move again.

It makes a difference in
life when you have a childhood

friend, when you
have a place that you

remember as being your home.

You know, I was
really crushed.

I was.

You know, I-- I didn't
know how to react.

I was like, are you
kidding me or what?

You know, I'm trying
to do the best I can.

Don't blame me.
DENISE: I'm not blaming you.

Well, you are.

Everybody's looking at me
like I'm a bad guy here.

How many houses can I finish?

What, are you going to tell me
next week you wanna move again?

Every time I--
- I don't want to move.

I told you, I'm happy here.
- I don't know if that's true.

That's why I didn't
do nothing for a year.

You got to face up to the facts.

Maybe you didn't--

That's right, shame on me.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Kevin
is so disconnected

from his children's
feelings, it's imperative he

spend some time with his kids.

So today, I'm sending Mom away.

I'm on my way.

All right.

DENISE: Oh, my god.

OK, bye.

KEVIN: When Nanny gave Denise
the day off, you know, I had--

my anxiety level went up.

Tell you the truth, I think
she was siding with-- you know,

two women were ganging up on me.

But I just dove into doing
what we were supposed to do,

which was homework.

Get your books out,
boys, and your pencils.

Let's go.

How many nails
did the bear have?

Oh, it's a tough one.

See?

Aha, I threw a curveball at you.

DEB (VOICEOVER):
Dad must have taken

last night's talk to heart.

As the day wore on, he
not only tutored his boys.

He lovingly looked after
his precious little girl.

He was very nurturing.

He took her upstairs for a nap.

He showed a much gentler
side with his kids

than he does with
his wife, and really

did a great job all around.

He even made dinner.

Tell me if cook
better than your mother.

It's good.

You like that?

Does anybody want
bread and butter?

I do.


DEB: Look who's here!

Mommy's home!

When Denise returned home,
Denise saw a different picture.

If there was a ticket
jar, Dad would have earned

quite a few tickets today.

DENISE: Wow.

But wait, did he do the laundry?

Did he change the baby's diaper?

Yes.

Daddy made dinner.

Yeah, and I cooked.

And you cooked?

KEVIN: Yeah.

Is it burnt?

DEB: Nothing was positive.

She just tried to put a
negative spin on things.

Daddy didn't make
enough for me, did he?

Yeah, it is a whole
'nother thing in there.

Oh, but there's not a
fork for Mommy available.

I gotta wash forks.

KEVIN (VOICEOVER):
She's jealous.

She didn't think I could do it.

Maybe I accomplished
more than she would

normally be able to accomplish.

Maybe I got them to sit
down and do homework,

and maybe she was upset at that.

You know, I didn't say
that, but I was thinking

that a little bit, you know?

DEB (VOICEOVER): Denise
was so unappreciative

of Kevin's efforts,
it was clearly time

to have some words with Mom.

I think Kevin, he's
really made a change.

Right.

And I see a very big
difference in the way he's

parenting the boys, you know?

But right now, I'm not
really worried about Kevin.

What I'm most concerned
about is the fact that you're

the one who made the call.

You're the one who wanted
to fix the problems.

And right now, you're the one
causing most of the problem.

When Nanny said that
Kevin was a team player

and I actually wasn't,
I was really surprised.

I guess I was taken back by it.

DEB: The kids don't respect
you or Kevin when you guys

aren't respecting each other.

I respect
everything he's done,

and I love what he's
done to the house.

Well, then go tell him.

Because he doesn't
appreciate it when I tell him.

- Well, let me see for myself.
- OK.

Let's do it.
- Do it for me.

Let's go.

Before I believe
it, I want to see it.

DENISE: Nanny
suggested that I come

downstairs and talk to my
husband and show him respect.

All right, what's
going on over here now?

Are the radiators warm?

DEB: Ooh, feels warmer.

DENISE: Looks like you're
doing a good job, Dad.

Yeah.

Mm, you did a
good job upstairs.

It looks great so far.

He didn't even give
me any eye contact.

He just was like, [grumbles].

So I kind of got a
little upset about that.

You know, I don't
need that crap.

DEB: I told her she
had to come down

and say thank you because you
guys have to start respecting

and listening to each other.

If you guys don't
respect each other--

Well, it's obvious.

My wife and I, we have issues.

We can't get along
and agree on things,

and the kids pick up on it.

And that's where
they disrespect us.

They don't even listen to us.

When I voice my opinion,
it's counted for nothing.

Whatever I say, you just do and
give the kids what they want,

when they want it.

That's the bottom line.

I don't know if it's--

if there's going to be
anything that can be done.

You don't want to listen to my
opinion no more, what can I do?

Finally, I just
couldn't take it anymore.

You know, it was like a
b*mb waiting to explode.

Listen, you know what?

DEB: --the respect.

I give up.

I can't.

You know, he blames
me for everything.

I'm not dealing
with this no more.

That's it, I'm done.

I'm finished.

I'm not doing it no more.

Forget it, I'm done.

You know, he's always--

I'm always the-- I'm
the bad guy because I'm

always getting yelled at
because my house is a pigsty.

I'm a slob?

You know what, I had these
kids, and I'm taking care

of them the best that I can.

And you know what?

No man is going to come
in and [bleep] tell me how

to raise my kids, and [bleep].

I'm not doing it.

DEB: Take a breath.

Take a breath.

I'm leaving.

I'm leaving.

Look, you've got your kid
sitting in front of you here.

You can't talk in
front of him right now.

DEB (VOICEOVER): When Denise
threatens to leave her husband

in front of the kids,
she shows them that she

doesn't respect their father.

These two must clear the air
if they're ever to take control

of their house and their lives.

Let me tell you--

There's nothing to talk about.
It's over.

There is, Denise.

There is, Denise, because if
you're not happy and you're--

I'm not happy.

I'm not happy the way I
get treated, and that's it.

DEB: But what I'm saying, OK?

You're not happy the
way you get treated

because he's coming
home, and you're

feeling he's disrespecting you.

He's--

He never respects me, either.

Honestly, there's no
respect in this house.

There's nothing.

That's why the kids--

And I am not living like that.

I can't live like that.

You shouldn't.

KEVIN: What are you getting
bent out of shape for?

Because I am, because
you're not talking to me.

You're saying, oh, [stammers]
this marriage is over.

- I never said that.
- Yeah, you did.

I didn't say that.

Listen, whatever it is, it is.

If it is, it is.

So then, you don't know
how to talk to people.

Then talk to people.
- Neither do you.

You're just sitting there
rolling your [bleep] eyes.

Everything came up to a head.

So it was-- it was rough.

It's the same deal every night.

The lady asked me
if there was respect.

But the things that you
did, I've told you before.

It didn't come out right now.

It's every day,
it's the same thing.

Oh, how much money
did you spend?

KEVIN (VOICEOVER): The reality
is, it had to come out,

and it was just
a matter of time.

It's been festering
underneath the surface.

I don't know, I feel
like I'm a whipping boy,

that I was getting
blamed for everything

that goes wrong in life.

You can't take too much of
that when you're trying as best

you can.

DENISE: I can't take it no more.

I have no-- this
lack of respect.

It goes both ways.

Either we work with this
marriage, or we don't.

That's all I'm saying,
and I'm saying it--

You didn't say that.
You said you were out of here.

DENISE: I'm saying it right now.

You threw your hands
up and walked way.

DEB: But she says
to her own kids--

KEVIN: She tells her
children a lot of things.

DEB: --that she's out of here.
- Right, all the time.

She takes them in the car.

I'm going to Nan.

She calls her mother
because I'm such a mean guy.

DEB: The thing is--

I never said you
were a mean guy.

You're always demeaning me.

DEB: That is something
that he is working on.

Denise, this stuff takes time.

It's not going to
happen overnight.

But I can honestly
say to you, he

has seriously been
really working

on trying to be positive.

He's really making the effort,
and that's what I want here,

is I want this
effort to be made.

DEB (VOICEOVER): They called me
into this house for a reason.

They knew things
weren't working the way

that they had been doing
them for the last nine years.

They knew things had to change.

You can't keep
constantly just blowing

up and threatening to walk out.

It's all down to respect.

Everything in this house is down
to putting your family first

and respecting each other.

Listen, this is really
been a long time coming.

It always is.

It builds up.

But what I'm saying
is, sometimes you need

that break, that time away.

KEVIN: But I haven't
been not saying it.

I've been-- I've been
speaking my mind all along.

When I'm upset, I tell
her where I'm coming from.

She don't like to hear
it, and then she--

she says things in
front of the children.

It's not just me.

Don't stand there and tell
the world that I'm the bad guy

and you're leaving.
- Both of us.

We both talk in
front of the kids.

I don't want to put
anybody through that.

I'm not going to be living
my life so you're miserable.

No.
DEB: No.

And you know what?

If he's not feeling the respect
that he feels he deserves,

then he's miserable, too.

Who wants to raise the kids
in a miserable household?

You know what, there's a lot
of love in this household.

I don't care what
either of you say.

There's love here.

I see it.

KEVIN: I didn't see
it a few minutes ago.

I seen her walking out the door.

There's a lot of resentment.

There's a lot of resentment, and
there's a huge lack of respect.

Mhm.

But you get those
two things sorted out,

and there's love here.

Nanny really kind of
put us back together

and showed us how to
communicate with each other,

which is what we were lacking.

I think you give them too much
stuff, and I've told you that.

And you still don't
listen to my opinion.

I don't know what to say.

DEB: It's about respect,
so find the respect.

Find a middle ground.

You know, it's compromise.

And that's what
marriage and life is.

So I'm willing to accept that.

BOY: Daddy's actually smiling!
- I have an arm.

I have a right arm.

I have a left arm.

Once you guys start
to respect each other,

they'll respect
you more and more

and more and more and more.

I think that this
was the best thing

that could have happened to us.

It got out issues
that were simmering,

and now we can rectify these
problems and go forward.

DENISE: You know, I think
there's a time and place,

and it was just--

it was just the right
time and the right place.

KEVIN: After like
dwelling on it while I

was lying in bed
trying to sleep,

I kind of came to
some conclusions.

I realized that fight I had with
Denise, it was a good thing.

It got out issues
that were festering.

And now we can
maybe move forward.

Also, I came to realize that
I have to make it number

one priority to fix this house.

The house not being
finished, living

like a vagabond
from place to place,

you know, you can't do that.

You got to put kids in
a stable environment.

No matter what it does
for you and your fantasies

about what kind of house
you want to live in,

it has to be a home first.

And that's what we were lacking.

We had a house.

We had several houses.

We were lacking a home.

[music playing]

DEB (VOICEOVER): Now that
Denise and Kevin have begun

rebuilding their
relationship, they must

begin rebuilding their house.

DENISE: My husband
finally realized

that it was definitely
best for us to stay put,

so we're staying.

KEVIN (VOICEOVER):
We've decided that we're

going to stay in this house.

We're going to make
this house our home.

We're finishing it up,
and we're not going to go

anywhere for a real long time.

[all cheering]

DEB (VOICEOVER): Inspired
by Dad's decision

to stay in the
house and lay down

roots, the family finally
converted the attic

into a proper bedroom.

All right, here it comes.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

We have to do it as a team.

The boys got right on.

It was nice to
see that they were

actually helping me do something
without having to be told.

We're going to line
them up with the holes.

Where's your level?
- Here.

Now you got a level
the picture out.

KEVIN (VOICEOVER):
I'm excited just

knowing that they have a
place to put their things

and call themselves
their little space.

DEB: Good night.

See you guys in the morning.

DEB (VOICEOVER): At
the end of the night,

the boys finally had a
room to call their own.

And so did Mom and Dad.

Good night, Nanny.

Thank you.

DEB: Have a good night's
sleep tonight in your own bed.

DENISE: Cozy.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Over
the next few days,

I was pleased to see that
Kevin and Denise's relationship

was really moving in
the right direction.

Daddy massaged my
neck this morning.

Oh, Daddy, nice one.

That's right.

Hope it leads to more
than just a ticket.

[laughs]

DEB: Well, you guys have your
own reward system going on,

so we'll leave that one alone.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Dad
has begun to embrace

his role as a father.

And Mom has finally
stopped yelling,

and is at peace with
her role as a parent.

What do you want, tickets?

Oh, anything for tickets.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Under the
guidelines of respecting

parents, the
children are happier,

and their behavior
is greatly improved.

We have to end the game.

We have to put it aside.

All right, so we got to
put this away, Mommy said.

That's it.

DEB (VOICEOVER): But the
most dramatic turnaround

by far has been
made by Mom and Dad.

The house is shaping up.

We're shaping up.

So we're really,
definitely-- we're there.

DEB (VOICEOVER): They've renewed
their commitment to each other,

and the kids will surely
prosper as a result.

I truly believe they're
going to make it.

But before I can leave the
Dunleavys in good conscience,

I must be sure that Connor has
put the resistance behind him

and is ready to get on
board with his family.

That one's going to be for me?

How do you spell your name?

I actually do like
the nanny more

than I did the
first time she came.

Wow!

Connor painted me a
picture of the Union Jack.

By reaching out to me
this way, he really

showed that I was
important to him

and that he was fully on board.

It's time for me to say goodbye
because I have to go and help

another family who needs me.

DEB (VOICEOVER): I
said goodbye to Rinny.

You want to give me five, too?

OK.

Yay!

And then I said
goodbye to Connor.

Hold on a second.

Here comes the emotion.

DEB (VOICEOVER): It was hard
saying goodbye to Connor

because he put up
such resistance.

I know you didn't want
to follow the rules.

But thank you for
doing it anyway.

And even though we started off
passing notes back and forth,

I want you to know that I think
of you always as my friend.

And I want you to think
of me the same, OK?

Yes.

All right, thank you.

And Dad.

DEB (VOICEOVER): Kevin is
now learning to communicate

in an honest, open
way, and to command

the respect from his
children that he deserves.

Yes.

Thank you, dear.

Turned out to be OK.

KEVIN (VOICEOVER): I was
dead set against Nanny

coming to this household.

I was adamant.

I didn't want no part of this.

I realize now that she's really
had a great impact on my life.

It was an eye-opening
experience.

DEB: And you.

Oh!

CONNOR: Here comes--

There are tears all around.

DENISE (VOICEOVER):
The greatest lesson

that I've learned
is the importance

of communicating
with my husband,

having a relationship
again, and respect.

You've been great.

KEVIN: Thank you.

DENISE: Nanny's the best.

DEB: All right.

Bye, everyone.

Mwah.

ALL: Bye.

Bye-bye, Nanny.

DEB (VOICEOVER): As I walked
away from the Dunleavy house,

I was touched by the fact
that despite a rough start,

in the end, Denise, Kevin,
Connor, and the children

really embraced me.

The Dunleavy family
will always hold a very

special place in my heart.

Look what Nanny Deb left us!

"Dear Dunleavy Family, I
want to thank all of you

for working so hard
to follow the rules.

Nanny Central and I would like
to give you this new--" Oh!

"--this new kitchen."

Wow.

"Love, Nanny Deb."

Told you.

Come on, open that up.

Let's see.

Whoa, man!

[all exclaiming]

DENISE: Wow!

KEVIN: Ah, that's beautiful.

[audio logo]