01x03 - Ghosts Everywhere

[bunniefuu]

How did things between

your ex and Natalia turn ugly?

Kristine is is insane.

Basically, the devil,

but she's the worst kind of devil,

you know, because she thinks she's

God's gift to the

whole dang world.

Don't believe anything

that man says.

[Kristine Barnett] Previously,

on Good American Family

Headline, "Genius at work."

-Michael, Michael, wake up!

-What, what?

-We're on the front page!

-Yes! That's our boy!

How come you didn't tell Dad that Natalia

got kicked out of school?

I thought I saw something,

and then no, it wasn't.

Stress dreams feel really real.

That's all this was, okay?

You are not your dad.

-No!

-Natalia, drop it, now!

-[knife clatters]

-I felt like she wanted to hurt me.

Kristine, [laughing] she's

she's just a little girl.

Mommy! I want my Bessie Cow!

-What happened here?

-Please don't tell Mommy I broke it.

I shouldn't do this,

but I promise I won't tell.

Were you happy with

your other family?

I was just sad to leave them.

[wind blowing, traffic rushing]

Natalia!

-[tires screeching]

-[horns honking]

How are we supposed to help her if

you don't admit there's an issue?

-She's troubled.

-[Michael Barnett] I feel like she's

the missing puzzle piece

in our family.

[knife clacks on counter]

[Kristine]

Have you seen Natalia?

[screams]

Close the door!

What Wh-What happened?

She has hair.

-What hair?

-Down there!

I don't think she's

a little girl.

[reporter 1] And following up

on a bizarre story we broke earlier today,

local mother and author

Kristine Barnett

tonight is out on bond

after being arrested

this morning.

[Kristine]

It was that same day, 2019,

I was in hell, and all I wanted

was to get back to my boys.

[reporter 1] [on phone] Barnett faces

eight counts of neglect

for abandoning her

adoptive daughter.

Prosecutors say Barnett

and her then-husband

adopted Natalia Grace,

who has a rare form

of dwarfism, in 2010,

then left her to

fend for herself

in an apartment

just two years later,

before fleeing to Canada.

[reporter 2]

Spectators at this morning's

Indiana Science and

Education Convention

were shocked to see one

of their key speakers yelling

[on TV] taken away in handcuffs.

That's right

[Jacob Barnett] Mom, Mom, Mom.

Mom, are you okay?

Sorry that took so long, guys.

Who wants pizza?

A memoir about parenting.

You gotta say

it's probably not

Why are you watching these lies?

Turn that off.

-Where's the remote?

-I don't know.

[reporter 2]

If convicted Barnett faces

-[Jacob] Where is it?

-up to 75 years in prison.

[traffic noise outside]

You know, it's probably good

that you watched that.

None of it's true,

but it's helpful

to know what you're up against.

How did they find

enough evidence

to arrest you,

if none of it's true?

Jake, your dad.

You guys know he'd do

anything to punish me.

Is Dad gonna get arrested too?

No.

I'm sure he took a deal.

[bags rustling]

Come and eat.

[reporter 1] [on TV]

television, going back as far as 2011.

[reporter 2]

Spectators at this morning's

Indiana Science and

Education Convention

were shocked to hear

that their key speaker

was taken away in handcuffs.

-[mouthful] Oh, my God, she looks awful.

[reporter 1]

memoir, The Spark

She must be hating this.

[laughing]

-This is so surreal.

-That's crazy.

[phone ringing]

Mm, hang on one second.

[reporter 1]

she abandoned her daughter.

What's up, my guy?

Yeah, we're just, uh,

watching the, uh, arrest footage

of-of Kristine right now.

Well done, my friend.

[Detective Drysdale] [on phone]

Um, yeah.

So, Mike [sighs]

-there's no easy way to say this.

-Say what?

[Drysdale] Prosecutors

have filed felony charges

-against you.

-Wait, wait, what?

Wait, wh um, what,

what charges?

[Drysdale]

Same as Kristine.

Wait, Detective Drysdale,

wait, wait, wait.

[stammers] I don't understand.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

I've been cooperating, okay?

I-I answered all your questions

for-for-for weeks,

and I thought we agreed.

I mean, we did, right?

It was her, not me, that did all

the really bad stuff.

[tense music playing]

-[Drysdale] Mike

-Are you okay, hon?

-Uh, y-yeah. Yes, just one second.

-[Drysdale] listen.

You told me yourself,

you're not innocent.

Yeah, I was just

I thought we were friends, man,

I thought you understood.

[Drysdale] I don't know

what you want me to do.

There just has to be

some form of justice.

-f*ck you.

-[hangs up]

[insects chirping]

[dramatic music playing]

[curious theme music playing]

[flag flapping in breeze]

♪♪

[bridge cracking]

[engine humming]

[TV static buzzing]

[paper cutting]

[theme music fades out]

[gentle music playing]

[doctor] [muffled]

See, I told you I didn't bite.

Now, you've been

a very good girl.

Why don't you just pick out

a lollipop with Nurse Shannon?

[normal] I'm gonna talk to

your folks for a few minutes.

-Be my guest.

-Okay.

See you soon, sweetie.

This was 2010.

I'd just discovered

Natalia's hair.

-Mm! I love ya.

-Mm, I love you, Daddy.

See you soon.

[Natalia Grace]

Thank you.

[gentle music stops]

What do you say, Steve?

No way she's seven, right?

Well, it would be unusual

to see pubic hair on

a girl so young.

I mean, I've never seen it.

Okay, fine, but she is seven.

We have her birth certificate.

But what if we didn't?

What would you guess

her age was, medically speaking?

Puberty is a range.

Has she had her period?

S-Steve, come on, she's a kid.

Just this morning, she was asking me

if peanuts are a type of rock.

We don't know that she hasn't.

But I'm not sure

she'd tell us if she had.

I suppose I should refer you

to an endocrinologist,

check the hormone levels.

What? Uh thank you, no.

Kris, we haven't met

our deductible yet.

Oh, you just got a promotion.

[Dr. Stephen Lawrence]

Oh, hey. Wow, congrats, Mike.

-Uh, thanks. Yeah, it

-Look at you.

Yeah, it's a it's a technicality

as on-on paper.

Anyway, I just don't want

to subject Natalia

to any more appointments

than are necessary.

She hates going to the doctor.

You know,

present company included.

-No offense, Stevie.

-None taken.

But guys, that is something

that you really need

to work through with her.

I'm not an orthopedist

and I haven't seen any imaging,

but just judging from

a physical exam,

I can see that she needs surgery

on her club feet,

and possibly hip surgery.

Frankly, surgical intervention

has been long overdue.

[stammers] They told us she had

a, a clean bill of health.

They made us pay seven grand

for a bunch of surgeries

she'd already had.

Who made you pay seven grand?

Uh, the adoption agency,

First Path.

[Stephen] As far as I can see,

she hasn't had any surgeries.

[tense, curious music playing]

-How do you know that?

-There would be scars.

Right.

[indistinct office

PA announcement]

Mike, I have to tell

you something.

Okay.

There's a lawsuit against

First Path.

-What? What kind of lawsuit?

-Class action.

They got caught doing

some awful things.

Promising the same child

to multiple families,

some trafficking, potentially

and changing ages

on birth certificates.

How long have you

known about this?

-Just a few days.

-Why didn't you tell me?

-Kris, this is important.

-Guys, uh, you need a minute?

-Yes, please.

-No, no, stay. Stay. It's your office.

-Kris.

-I know, I know.

I should have told you,

and I'm sorry.

But I was trying to protect you,

because I thought you'd

be upset about the idea

-of possibly losing Natalia.

-Upset?

Of course, I'd be upset.

She's our daughter

and I love her.

Yes, and I do too.

But Mike, if First Path

lied about the surgeries,

what else have they lied about?

I mean, her behavior

in a seven-year-old is one thing.

But if she's actually older

than what they've said,

then that gets very dangerous.

Kr Kris, I think you are

really overreacting here.

The tacks?

Dismembering Ethan's stuffie?

A stuffed animal.

These are things kids do.

-Steve

-But what if she isn't a kid?

Steve, something is off,

I feel it.

I-I-I know it.

We have to figure this out.

Kris, one of my deepest regrets

in my 30 years

practicing medicine

was not listening to

you about Jacob.

You insisted that

something was off,

that there was

more to the story.

And I ignored your instincts.

I think we all did.

Well, I won't do it again.

I'll get you some referrals.

Thank you.

["Shilo" by Neil

Diamond playing]

[Kristine]

So, he sent us to every

possible specialist

under the sun

orthopedist, endocrinologist,

neuropsychologist, the dentist.

I had to get a second Filofax

-just to keep track of her doctor visits.

-Crying out loud.

Natalia, I'm not in the mood

for this today. Let's go.

-When children play ♪

-Let's go. Come on.

But the frustrating thing is,

while all the doctors agree

she needs a lot of surgeries,

the kind of dwarfism

she has is incredibly rare.

Papa says he'd love

to be with you ♪

One doctor told us

she is not just one in a million,

she's one in two million.

So, the usual ways

they determine age don't work.

friend you can find ♪

-He made me smile ♪

-No! [struggling]

[Kristine]

Now, is it possible

she is really just

seven years old? Sure.

But her skull is the size

of a fully-formed adult.

She has adult teeth,

there are signs of puberty.

[tray and instruments clatter]

♪♪

-Shilo, you always came ♪

-That's not funny.

And you'd stay ♪

And after three months

of poking and prodding,

her behavior is

worse than ever,

she terrorizes my boys.

-[kids fighting]

-Natalia

In my work, I have dealt

with all kinds of kids

with so many different needs.

And I have tried my entire

arsenal with Natalia

praising, redirecting,

time-outs, time-ins,

nature walks, meditation

and nothing works.

Because the way you

manage behavioral issues

in a seven-year-old

is a heck of a lot different

from how you deal with

a 15-year-old.

Mm.

["Shilo" fades out]

That must be frustrating

for you.

Yeah, it is frustrating.

So, Dr. Burch,

how old do you think she is?

Cognitively, developmentally?

Well, you're right

to be asking about age.

If she were over 18,

her behavior would suggest

antisocial personality disorder,

colloquially known

as sociopathy.

You're saying she's a sociopath?

[Randi Burch]

If she's 18, maybe.

But in a child, particularly one

with Natalia's background,

her behavior suggests RAD

reactive attachment disorder.

Now, it's rare, but we do

sometimes see this in children

who were abandoned in infancy

or spent formative years

in institutional orphanages.

-[Michael] Mm.

-And the behaviors

correspond with what

you described

anger, dishonesty, aggression,

sometimes violence

towards pets and siblings.

So, how do you suggest

we deal with her behavior?

Are there facilities

-or rehab centers for children like this?

-No, no, no. Hold on,

wait, we're not,

we're not gonna put her away.

-That's

-No, no, there is no need to rush to that.

There are proven protocols

that do wonders with

these cases.

You treat her like an infant.

[light, curious music playing]

-I'm sorry, what?

-It's called

reattachment therapy.

Now, imagine this.

-In those early days of development

-[Michael] Mm.

she did not learn

how to attach to her mother

to depend on her.

-Because the mother was gone.

-[Randi] Exactly.

Now, it will take time,

but you can actually

rewire her mind.

-Interesting.

-Teach her that love is safe,

that she can depend on you.

-She already depends on us.

-Not like this.

Now, it may seem unusual,

but for this to work,

you have to fully commit.

Carry her, cradle her,

get a crib,

feed her every meal yourself.

Bottle feeding is best,

but you can spoon-feed her.

-That's

-Uh. I'm so sorry.

So, you're saying in a few years

we can diagnose her

as a sociopath,

but until then,

we should feed her a bottle?

[Almeda] [on phone]

Oh, for crying out loud.

You know his mama

dropped him on his head, right?

For the hundredth time, Mom,

that's a joke Michael made

in 1997

when he took a wrong turn on his way

to the Mentone Egg Festival.

Well, you're entitled

to your own spin, I suppose.

But then, what good explanation

do you have

[over phone] for why he's

in there feeding

a grown child a baby bottle?

Lets him feel useful

for a minute or two.

-[gentle music plays on computer]

-What in jimminy?

Ever since that Star article,

families have been calling me

to consult on their kids.

[over phone]

So, I'm making a website,

and this thing lets you put

a song on the splash page.

Do you like this one?

["Wind Beneath My Wings"

by Bette Midler plays]

Did you ever know

that you're my hero ♪

Well, it's one way to put lipstick

on a pig, I suppose.

What's that supposed to mean?

You know, I'm not

an expert in childcare,

but I am happy to

come by and help.

[over phone]

I do have some experience,

you may recall that you were

a holy terror at her age.

We don't know her age, Mom.

That's the whole thing.

[Almeda]

At her size, then.

Point is, might be best

to get your own family in line

before you try and

build a business.

[presses button,

plays song again]

I have to go, Mom.

Michael needs some help.

Isn't that the truth?

Well, you know where to

find me if you need me.

-I've got it all here in my ♪

-[music stops abruptly]

Okay, open up the hangar.

[sputtering]

Coming in for a landing.

-No, it's gross.

-Well, it [sighs] I'm

Mommy and I are

just trying to show you

that love can feel safe, honey.

How about [sighs]

Will you let me hold you then?

And I'll feed you a little milk.

Okay, just a little bit.

-Just a

-No, no, no.

[Michael] Would you

at least just try

like a-a-a little bit

of these apples?

[in deep voice] They're so yummy

to your tummy, baby!

-I'm not a baby!

-[spoon clatters]

Natalia, go take a walk

around the block.

-And calm down.

-[Natalia groaning]

-[footsteps receding]

-[walker rattling]

[Michael sighs]

It's fine. You know,

this is all part of it.

Dr. Burch said it would

take some time, so

Well, Michael, the only

useful thing that woman said

is that sociopathy starts at 18.

We need to find out

how old she is.

[Michael] So, my wife

tells me this thing,

she's like, "You make the impossible

possible every day."

When someone tells me no,

"I say watch out,

I'm gonna prove you, yes."

-Uh-huh.

-[Michael] Mm-hmm, so listen, I know

things have been not

looking good here, you know?

But look at Best Buy,

their stock's still cruising.

-You wanna know why?

-Why?

Lower prices.

Mass merchandising.

-Michael, listen

-No, no, no, no, listen.

This is not the time to give up.

This is an opportunity.

It's, it's a time to

think about things

-in a whole new way.

-Look, man. [sighs]

You know this. It's over.

[tense music playing]

I'm gonna need you and your team

to vacate by the

end of the day, okay?

Great.

[indistinct chatter]

[Kristine]

"What to do,

adoption scam, fake age."

"How to know international

birth certificate real."

[mouse clicking]

[phone ringing]

Kristine Barnett.

Mm-hmm.

Oh!

We'd be honored.

[indistinct chatter on phone]

We could do it here tomorrow.

Sure, no, no, yes.

Thank you!

Thank you for helping us

get our little story out there.

[caller] [on phone]

Okay. Thank you so much.

Okay, we'll see you soon.

[hopeful music playing]

Whoo!

[sighs]

[groans]

[crockery clattering]

[Kristine vocalizing]

[sings]

You're everything I wish I could ♪

Could be ♪

[humming]

Did you ever know ♪

That you're my hero ♪

[humming]

Did you ever know ♪

You're my he ♪

[dramatic music playing]

[swings squeaking]

[children chattering, shouting]

[Dr. Wachter] You okay there,

Mrs. Barnett? [chuckles]

Oh, Dr. Wachter.

Yes, just waiting for Natalia.

[Dr. Wachter] Well, speaking of

your little nugget,

she's doing better.

Yeah, fewer incidents.

But frankly,

I am a wee bit concerned.

She's not really making friends

her own age.

Her own age?

Seems she prefers eating lunch

with the teachers,

[chuckles] and well,

they've expressed needing

a little break from Natalia.

So, I thought maybe you could

rope her brothers in

to play with her a little

bit at lunch?

Anyway, we'll get

there together.

Alright, happy Friday.

[Valika] Kristine?

Hi, honey, you okay?

-Hi. Yes!

-Okay.

All good stuff.

-Got a call this morning.

-Yeah?

Channel 11 wants to do

an on-camera interview.

Oh, look at you, Oprah.

Oh, I can't wait to tell everyone

I knew you when.

What are you gonna wear?

Geez, I haven't even

given it a thought.

They gave me zero notice.

It's tomorrow in my living room.

-Miss Val!

-Natalia.

-Hi, sweet girl.

-[Natalia giggling]

Hey, did you hear the big news?

Your mom is gonna be on TV.

Why would anyone put her on TV?

-[laughs] Um

-It's okay, sweetie.

Val's excited enough

for both of you.

[Valika] I sure am.

Hey, you know what?

Why don't you come over tonight

and see if I have anything

you could wear for

the interview?

We can order some Thai,

get some Prosecco open.

Let Michael have the kids

for a night. You deserve it.

[Michael]

I just really loved this place.

I didn't think we

were gonna close.

I thought somebody

would buy it or

I don't know.

We were the top selling store

in the state.

I don't know.

I'm just not the kind of person

who gives up on things

they love.

["Don't Cha" ringtone playing]

-It's okay. Uh, answer it.

-No, no. No, it's okay.

[ringtone stops]

[Jennifer] You know what I think

you should do?

I think you should bring

her here tonight

before you have to hand

the keys back over

and just do the nasty

all over the sales room floor.

I can't.

Come on, I mean,

why not make it a day

you remember as something

other than your last one here?

I can't

I can't bring her here.

I haven't told her

the store's closing yet.

-Michael!

-I know, I know.

[Jennifer] Whoa. Dude, it's been like

three months.

[laughing] Oh!

You are so lucky

she hasn't seen it on the news.

She doesn't really

watch the news, and

[clicks tongue]

[sighs] I just don't wanna

disappoint her, you know?

I get it. But take it from me,

the fastest way to disappoint

your wife is to lie to her.

Mm.

Your ex?

[whispers] Don't tell this kid,

but his dad is

[normal]

an a*s-wipe d*ck for brains.

[both laughing]

And also a liar.

So

Hmm.

I think that's what

I'm worried about.

I'm

Me being outta work,

it's just more

um [clicks tongue]

proof that Kristine

deserves better than me.

Oh, friend.

-[crying] I'm sorry. [sighs]

-[Jennifer groans]

-Hey.

-[sniffling]

Go home and

bring her some flowers,

and tell her the truth.

-[sighs]

-I promise it'll all be okay.

[Kristine]

I just wanna know the truth.

-I was cleaning your room today.

-[Natalia humming]

Closet, the floor.

How did all those socks

end up covered in blood?

I don't know. Weird question.

Well, did you cut yourself

or get a bloody nose?

[Natalia continues humming]

Or maybe you're having

your period?

[stops humming]

You know what that is, right?

When you bleed down there?

Girls usually get them

when they're older.

I got mine when I was 13.

I know, I know. But it's

it's gonna be okay

'cause I'm gonna get a new job.

You know, I'm gonna

update my resume,

gonna, uh, get on LinkedIn,

hit the p hit the pavement.

We've, we've been through worse,

you know?

When I got mine, my mother

told me it was God's way

of showing his love for us.

That our bodies had

a special purpose.

That even though they come

with mess and pain,

periods are their own

kind of blessing.

Well, I know, I never

believed any of that either.

But Natalia, you

can't use socks.

It's, it's disgusting.

When we get home, I can show you how

to use a tampon.

No, I don't need you to.

[tense, curious music playing]

So, you've used one before?

It's okay that you

have, you just

you need to tell me the truth.

No, leave me alone!

-[seatbelt unbuckling]

-When did you get your period?

-Oh! Natalia!

-[car tires screeching]

-Natalia!

-[crash]

Mom!

[Michael]

Kris!

-What happened?

-Mom!

What happened?

What happened?

Daddy, that was so scary!

-Okay, okay, it's okay, sweetheart.

-[Natalia sobbing]

-Natalia, you could have k*lled someone.

-[Michael] What happened?

She put her hands over my eyes

when I was driving.

And I-I-I hit the brake,

but I thought it was you.

No. The kids are okay,

everything's okay.

Natalia, what were you thinking?

You can't do things like that,

sweetheart, you can't.

[whining] I'm sorry, Daddy,

I didn't mean to.

Mommy was just being

so mean to me.

You're the only one

who understands me.

[Natalia sniffling]

[tense music playing]

I'm going to Val's

-and I'm taking the boys.

-Oh [sighs] Okay.

You can stay here

and feed her a baby bottle.

It's okay, sweetie, it's okay.

You know that there is a movie

about exactly this, right?

-What movie?

-It came out last year,

it was called Orphan.

Don't judge me, but I loved it.

But it is about this little girl

who gets adopted,

and at first, she's very sweet,

and then she starts

getting violent.

And then she's, you know,

threatening the family

with knives.

And I mean, I even think

there was something with a car.

-What do the parents do?

-They die.

Well, the dad dies.

But wait, I haven't even

told you the worst part.

It turns out she's

not a kid at all.

She's got dwarfism.

She is an adult,

a sociopathic serial k*ller.

Oh, Lordy.

Oh, sweetie, sweetie.

No, no, no, no, no.

I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.

Don't listen to me, okay?

It's just a stupid movie,

it is not your life.

Except it's pretty darn close.

Well, yeah.

Worst part is

Michael doesn't see any of it.

Well, of course not.

Men never see what we see.

They're too afraid to see it.

But you're not.

You're gonna figure this out.

That needs a scarf.

Oh, you know what?

One of my girlfriends told me

about this therapist

who works with teenagers.

Apparently, he's ex-military.

Her teenager was very troubled.

And, oh, she says

he's unorthodox,

but apparently,

he saved her kid.

-Where is he?

-Well, it's all online.

You just take videos

of your kid,

and then, I don't know,

you send them to him

and he gives you feedback.

I mean, I'll send you

his information.

It's, "Tough Loving Your Teenager,"

or something like that.

The pink looks divine on you.

Maybe something a

little less soft.

Okay.

Yeah, dress for the woman

you wanna be.

I count my blessings every day

that I get to be Jacob's mama.

[interviewer] He's lucky too.

You know, one of the things

that really struck me

about this story

is just the power

of a mother's intuition.

You didn't listen to

any of the doctors

who told you Jacob

would never speak again.

-No, I didn't.

-[interviewer] Where did that come from?

That idea that, "I'm going to reject

the opinions of these experts.

I'm his mother, and I'm not

afraid to do this my way."

[Kristine laughing]

Some people would

call me stubborn.

-[interviewer laughing]

-But I'm just a person

who trusts my instincts.

If you don't follow your

own truth, who are you?

[interviewer] I can just

imagine the conversation

you had with your husband.

"Sweetie, I don't care what

the professionals are saying.

"I think they're wrong.

And you know what?

I have a different plan."

-[Kristine chuckles]

-How did that go?

It did not go well.

[laughing]

But what was I gonna do?

Everybody had given up hope

on finding answers for Jacob.

But one thing to know

about me, Kristine Barnett,

I don't like not having answers.

[unsettling music playing]

Are are you okay

there, Kristine?

-Huh?

-[interviewer] Uh, are you okay?

-Yes, yes.

-A-Are you sure?

-You need a break?

-[Kristine] No.

I, um I think we should just

talk more about Jacob.

Wouldn't you like to hear

more about Jacob?

Isn't that what everybody

would like?

[interviewer]

Um, of course. Uh

-[Kristine] Michael, it's me.

-[bag shaking]

I've been trying to call you.

Where are you?

Call me back.

It's very, very important.

It's about Natalia.

Call me back.

[hangs up]

I I don't wanna do

any more TV interviews.

Oh, bud, don't say that.

We were on a roll

until I got distracted.

And they said they'd edit that part out,

no one will ever know.

It's not about that.

Okay, what's it about, then?

[sighs]

I don't like when you talk

about yourself like that.

Oh, well, how do I

talk about myself?

I don't know.

Your voice gets different.

You just don't seem

like yourself.

Oh.

Of course, baby.

[knife chopping]

We don't have to do any more TV,

if that's what you need.

-[Michael] You called that second strike.

-[Natalia laughing]

You know they if you get three strikes

in a row, you know what they call it?

-[Natalia] No. What?

-[Michael] A turkey. Isn't that weird?

-[Natalia] A turkey? Why a turkey?

-[Michael] Yeah.

-I don't know where that comes from.

-That's so weird.

[laughing]

I like turkey, though.

-Hey, babe, how'd it go?

-[Natalia chuckles]

I found what you left me

in the living room.

[laughing]

[tense music playing]

[Natalia laughing]

You think this is funny?

[continues laughing]

Go ahead, tell Daddy

what you did today.

Go ahead, tell him

about the tampon.

Uh, it's okay, sweetie,

you-you can tell me.

-Anything.

-[Natalia] Well

I have a period.

And I've been hiding it.

Okay, um for how long?

I don't know.

Mommy said it, ask her.

I'm sorry, um,

I'm a little lost, sweetheart.

Are you hiding your period,

or does Mommy just think so?

I don't know.

I don't know what's going on.

Oh, for crying out loud,

she knows exactly what's going on.

She's been hiding her period

and putting socks

in her underwear.

I found a pile of bloody

socks yesterday.

-What?

-And I confronted her about it.

And to punish me,

she made me crash the car.

But apparently,

that wasn't enough,

because today, she tried to sabotage

my interview

by leaving a bloody

tampon on the set,

which almost ruined

the entire day,

which is exactly

what she wanted.

Children don't know how to

manipulate like this, Michael.

She's got you wrapped

around her finger.

And you don't see it, but I do.

And she's punishing me

for seeing it.

How long have you

had your period?

You are not seven years old,

admit it.

Kris, can we

let's maybe give her some space.

You need to tell me

the truth right now.

How old are you?!

[tense, dramatic

music playing]

I'm not pretending

she's a little girl anymore.

Things need to change.

[music fades out]

Everything your father and I

provide you with is a privilege.

Moving forward, if you wish

to receive privileges,

you will have to earn them

with good behavior

and consistent completion

of chores.

Every day, you'll be responsible

for a new set of chores.

Today is cleaning the kitchen.

You may now be dismissed.

I said, you may now

be dismissed.

[tense music playing]

-Go get up against that wall.

-What?

We also have a new system

of punishment in place

that escalates every

time you disobey.

This is level one.

I am asking you politely

to stand with your nose

against the wall

and think about your choices.

[phone beeps]

I am not scared of you,

you know.

But Daddy is.

He didn't tell you

he lost his job, did he?

[phone beeps]

You do not wanna see

what this website says

about lying, Natalia.

Michael is the one who's lying.

His store closed.

He's known for months.

Natalia, go take a walk

around the block.

[scoffs]

♪♪

[mouse clicking]

-Doggone it, Michael.

-[door opens]

[Michael] [sing-songy]

Dad's home ♪

-[door closes]

-[mouse clicks]

Got a little mail for

you here, Kris.

Also, something from

Homeland Security.

What's that all about?

[Natalia]

I'm ready to clean now.

[Kristine gasps]

Okay. Go.

Hey, what's up with the letter?

Kris.

We can talk about it later.

-I don't understand.

-[email alert chimes]

No way!

Okay, what? What is going on?

Glenn Beck's producer

saw me and Jacob's interview

last week

and wants us to go to New York

to be on the show.

Mom! No, you promised.

[Wesley Barnett] Dad, will you

come up here for a minute?

Yes, I'm coming.

No, no, bud, we won't go.

It's just flattering, is all.

[sponge scrubbing]

[spits]

[unsettling music playing]

Natalia, what did you do?

-[glass breaking]

-Mom, what are you doing?

-Did you put that in my coffee?

-No.

-Did you try to poison me?

-What?

-No.

-Smell it.

-Stop it. Stop it!

-Smell it, it smells like bleach!

Kris, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Kris, Kris.

-You can't yell at her like this.

-She tried to poison me.

Smell my coffee. She put cleaning spray

in my coffee.

-What?

-No, that isn't true, it was an accident.

Natalia, did you put bleach

in Mommy's coffee?

No, I was cleaning

around the cup!

I-I-I I didn't do it,

I promise.

Okay, I-I wasn't here,

I didn't see her do it.

Jacob, did you see her

put anything in?

Do you wanna see what

that paper is?

Okay. W

It's her immigration papers.

I applied for them online.

Oh my God, you are obsessed.

Okay, fine.

Let's hear it.

How old is Natalia?

It says she's seven.

-Okay, she's

-But the photo on the paper

isn't her.

-What?

-[Kristine] She stole someone's identity

to impersonate a child.

[tense music playing]

I don't know. I mean,

maybe it's just a bad photocopy.

Oh, for Pete's sake, Michael.

I don't know, okay?

I'm just saying what I see.

I'm sorry.

-What do you think?

-[Natalia whimpers]

-Does that look like you?

-Daddy. [mutters]

-I'm scared, Daddy.

-Is that you?

-[Natalia] I'm scared.

-Just take it easy.

-Can you carry me to my room?

-Does it look like you?!

Kris, Kris, Kris, Kris.

It's okay.

[Natalia whimpering]

This isn't her.

[dramatic music playing]

[Kristine] We are two blocks from

Central Park and Carnegie Hall.

Wow, this looks like

the type of place

that has gold toilets,

don't you think, Jakey?

[Jacob] I don't care about

golden toilets.

You said no more interviews.

Well, sometimes moms know best.

[indistinct chatter]

Kris, please tell me

we're not paying for this place.

Don't worry about it, baby.

You just got a big promotion.

[luggage unzipping]

Okay, I'm off.

Wait! What? Where are you going?

Squeezing in a family consult.

I'll see you at Glenn Beck

at 5:00.

Oh, and grab my dress.

I'll see you, Jakey.

-[classical music plays in lobby]

-[guests chattering]

[knocking]

[birds chirping]

Hi, can I help you?

Hi. Sorry to pop in

on you like this.

I'm Kristine Barnett,

Natalia Grace's new mom.

-I brought some kringle

-[door slams]

Are you kidding me?

Oh, come on!

[knocking]

Please.

If you don't get off

my porch right now,

I'm calling the cops.

[Kristine]

Clearly, this is fake.

And your address is on it.

So, maybe I'm the one

who needs to be calling the cops.

Fine.

Five minutes.

We can't talk here.

-Why can't we talk here?

-[Mary sighs]

-What do you want?

-Information, the truth.

Nothing about Natalia

makes sense.

The adoption agency made us

pay seven grand to your family

for surgeries she never had.

Do you know anything about that?

-[scoffs] Did you pay it?

-Well, by the time

I knew something was fishy,

they had closed.

First Path closed?

Oh, Jesus.

[scoffs] You know, well, maybe you

should ask Natalia about it.

She's very smart.

You think she's in on this?

You think she's older?

Is that why you gave her up?

If my husband knew that I was out here

talking about her

This was supposed to be

a closed adoption for a reason.

But what was the reason?

I'm begging you.

She's destroying my life,

my family,

threatening my career.

I'm here because of you.

You put this on us.

You owe me an explanation.

I I never meant

to hurt anyone.

We just

[sighs] I had to protect

my family.

From what?

[Kristine crying]

[solemn music playing]

[Kristine] It's so much worse

than we thought.

She's been playing us

this whole entire time.

She's in on it.

In on what, exactly?

With First Path, as a way

to get her medical care paid for

and to skim some money

off the top.

The mom said she knows

exactly what she's doing.

And she's an adult.

-She said that?

-Yeah.

That she's made the

whole thing up, it's an act.

And get this,

the birth date on Natalia's

messed up paperwork

is exactly the same birthdate

as Mary's son.

What are the odds?

The Well, they're

exactly one in 365.

-Don't get fresh with me.

-I'm not being fresh,

I was just saying what

-[sighs]

-Okay, what are we gonna do?

What Um

[Kristine]

What? Michael?

I-I just

I-I see I see where

you're coming from,

I just

I'm not totally convinced.

I was sobbing my brains out

on the drive back here.

Because finally,

I have some answers.

And somehow, that still

isn't enough for you?

Honey, it just doesn't

explain things for me.

How can that be?

I don't know, okay?

I don't know,

maybe you can't explain love,

or-or-or lack of love, you know?

Kris, when you grow up

thinking that

no one loves you

that maybe nobody's ever

gonna love you,

do you know what that

does to a person?

I don't think you really

understand.

Oh, Michael, are you still

on that baby bottle quack?

-She made good points.

-Get real!

Oh, you [stammers] how would you know?

How would you know?

You You're too terrified

to even consider therapy.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means you had

a horrific childhood too, okay?

Your dad effed you up.

But instead of trying to fix it

or-or-or work through it,

you just go around

seeing ghosts everywhere, and

[Michael sighs]

I thought you said

I was nothing like my dad.

I didn't mean-

Do you remember the last time

you told me I needed therapy?

It was when all the doctors were saying

that Jacob would never speak again.

Oh, my God, when are you gonna

leave that alone?

This is not at all

the same thing, Kris.

You're right.

It is not at all the same thing,

because it isn't Jacob's fault

that he has autism.

This is Natalia's fault.

She's choosing to con us.

You're choosing to believe her.

You're choosing to let her

break us apart.

Oh my gosh.

You're the one who's been

sneaking around behind my back.

You're the one lying to me.

Michael Barnett,

you are shameless.

What?

Your big promotion?

What about it?

You've been lying

to me for months.

Natalia told me.

-She told you?

-She did.

You live in denial.

Denial about Jacob,

about your job,

about the fact that there's

a sociopathic con artist

making a fool of you.

We are done talking about this.

Here's what's gonna happen.

When we go home, we're

gonna put her

in a psychiatric hospital

-who can handle her problems.

-No, no, no, no.

I'm not gonna let you

do that, Kris. I'm [sighs]

Just, hold on, let's take a breath.

Okay, what

[scoffs] This Honey,

this is going too far, okay?

Let [scoffs]

W What happened to

the little girl we would save

and would save us, and,

and we could dance with her

at, at her wedding?

Honey, this this is still

our daughter, honey.

Oh, Michael.

She's not our daughter.

[tense, dramatic

music playing]

Um the thing is, though,

the world thinks she is,

Kristine.

And you have been invited

on national television to

tell everybody that you, um,

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?

Are you threatening me?

That's where we are.

-Fine.

-[Michael] Mm-hmm.

I'm not paying for

her surgeries.

I don't want any

of her classmates to get hurt,

so she can't go to school.

Good.

What's she gonna do all day?

Well, you don't have a job,

so that's great.

-You can take care of her.

-Gladly.

-You can make her meals.

-I'll do it better than you.

-Make sure she's clean.

-Mm-hmm.

-[knocking]

-And don't take your eyes

off her for a second.

-You are so paranoid.

-Because that girl is dangerous.

-She is not dangerous.

-No, I am not paranoid.

-You are in denial.

-You are sticking to this narrative.

-Mr. and Mrs. Barnett?

-[Kristine] That'll be on you!

Hi.

Uh, I-I'm I'm so sorry,

but we're ready for you.

Okay. We're coming.

Be right there.

[Glenn Beck] At times, life might feel

a little hopeless.

But no, my website,

glennbeck.com,

found a little bit

of hope recently

in a boy named Jacob Barnett.

He's a 13-year-old science prodigy,

and he's renewing faith

that the power of a person's mind can

change the world.

He's here today with

his parents,

Kristine and Michael Barnett,

who in raising this boy,

have proven once again

that a good American family

is the solution to all

of our nation's ills.

We're so happy to

be here, Glenn.

[Glenn] I think in recent years

many Americans have been asking,

"What is happening with this country?

With this world?

With the American family?"

["Big Red Balloon" by Lee Hazlewood

and Nancy Sinatra playing]

[Lee Hazlewood]

Sometimes a man and a woman

spends thirty or forty

years together.

And they don't belong together.

And then one day,

one of 'em tries to leave

and does, but in

a most peculiar way.

Woman, one of these

days I'm ♪

Leavin' ♪

Leavin' you far behind ♪

And on that day you'll be ♪

Grievin' ♪

Grieve on, woman,

I don't mind ♪

[song fades out]

[fanfare playing]