All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E14

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Steven:
NO ONE CAN HANDLE MY WEIGHT.

SO MY DAD HAS BEEN TRYING
TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ME

TO GO OUT TO HOUSTON
AND SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

MY SON STEVEN IS GONNA BE
TRANSPORTED IN A MEDICAL R.V.

TO HOUSTON,
AND I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIM.

AND MY SON JUSTIN
WANTS TO COME WITH ME.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

I WANT TO MEET THE DOCTOR,
AS WELL,

BECAUSE I WANT HELP
WITH MY WEIGHT, TOO.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

STEVEN ASSANTI SUFFERS
FROM SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES

SO HE'S GOING TO BE
A UNIQUE CASE.

THIS LOOKS REALLY YUMMY!

Steven Sr.: GOING TO HOUSTON

WILL BE STEVEN'S LAST CHANCE
IN GETTING HIS HELP,

AND I HOPE HE STICKS WITH IT
'CAUSE HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
[ GROANS ] OH, GOD.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WE NEED TO STOP SOON.
I AM HUNG-A-RY.

I am feeling very weak.

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME,
YOU'RE GONNA BE VERY SORRY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A PERFECT STORM
OF DYSFUNCTION IS COMING,

AND WE MAY BE FACING
THE HARDEST CHALLENGE YET

WITH THE ASSANTIS.

STEVE.
-HI.

-I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
-HI. HOW ARE YOU?

OKAY. LET'S GET YOU IN
AND CHECK YOU OUT.

**

Steven:
I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,

AND I CAN REALLY USE
SOME PAIN MEDICINE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
STEVEN IS CASUALLY ASKING
FOR SOME PAIN MEDICATION,

BUT HIS BODY LANGUAGE SHOWS
THAT HE REALLY WANTS IT.

THIS IS DILAUDID...

YEAH.
...THE PAIN MEDICINES.

HAVE YOU HAD THIS BEFORE?
YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
SO WE ARE DEALING WITH

A VERY ADDICTIVE AND
PATHOLOGICAL PERSONALITY HERE.

HOPEFULLY, HIS BROTHER, JUSTIN,
IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME WAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JUSTIN, I HEAR
FROM YOUR FATHER

THAT YOU NO LONGER ARE
INTERESTED IN ANY HELP.

HE'S LOOKING AT US
THROUGH THE CAMERA.

SO, WE'LL GET
THE ECHOCARDIOGRAM

AND SEE
WHAT HIS HEART IS DOING.

Steven Sr.: YEAH.
AND THEN HE CAN GO HOME.

JUST GET HIM -- MY OTHER ONE --
DOWN TO 250.

Steven Sr.:
SAY "BYE" TO YOUR BROTHER.

BYE.

BYE.

Justin: I JUST WANT TO GET
AS FAR AWAY FROM HIM

AS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan:
THIS WHOLE FAMILY IS

IN A DOWNWARD
DEATH SPIRAL TOGETHER.

SO I HOPE THERE'S SOMETHING
WE CAN DO BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT.
I'M GONNA CHECK YOUR WEIGHT

730.

OKAY, STEVEN,
WE'RE GOING TO START YOU

ON A CONTROLLED DIET
HERE IN THE HOSPITAL.

Steven:
BUT I'M NOT GONNA LIE --

IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ME
SOME FAST FOOD OR SOMETHING,

I'D PROBABLY EAT IT...

BECAUSE I'M A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE.

ALL RIGHT, STEVEN,
LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

YOU LOST OVER 100 POUNDS
IN TWO MONTHS.

THAT'S REALLY GOOD, HUH?

I NEED SOMEBODY
IN MY ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING.

I WANT THIS LIGHT OFF.

Steven: IT'S RIDICULOUS
WHAT I HAVE TO DO

TO GET PEOPLE
TO RESPOND AROUND HERE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN.
TRUST ME -- I'M NOT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WE'RE STARTING TO DEVELOP
SOME ISSUES WITH STEVEN.

A LOT OF HIS
PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

HAS STARTED TO COME OUT.

STEVEN.
-HEY.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
-OKAY.

SO, YOU SEEM LIKE
YOU HAVE AN ISSUE

GETTING ALONG
WITH HOSPITAL STAFF,

AND I DON'T WANT
TO HEAR OF THIS AGAIN.

YES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANY PATIENT LIKE STEVEN.

HE'S ASKING FOR PAIN MEDICINE
EVERY 15 MINUTES,

AND THEN HE SPILLED URINE
ON THE FLOOR.

I'M JUST REALLY UPSET,
OKAY?

YOU'RE DONE HERE.

I'VE BEEN DOING GOOD AND
EVERYTHING. PLEASE.

UNLESS YOU HAVE
AN EMERGENCY,

YOU WILL NOT
BE ADMITTED BACK.

[ Voice breaking ] PLEASE.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
STEVEN WILL CRY AND HE'LL BEG,

BUT THE REALITY IS,

HE DOESN'T CARE
ABOUT CHANGING.

-HELLO.
-Steven has been misbehaving.

DR. NOWZARADAN:
If you want him to stay

in the program in Houston,

then you need to get him set up
at a residence of his own.

Steven Sr.:
I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH --

I DON'T KNOW HOW
THIS IS GONNA TURN OUT.

EITHER HE WANTS TO LIVE,
OR HE DON'T WANT TO LIVE.

ALL RIGHT, DAD.
I WANT PIZZA.

OH, MY GOD.

IT'S THE ONLY TIME
I WANT TO HAVE IT, SO...

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

JUST A LARGE PIZZA
WITH CHEESE AND PEPPERONI

AND A 2-LITER BOTTLE OF COKE.

THERE. YOU HAPPY?
YEP.

-HAVE A PARTY.
-I WILL.

I KNOW YOU WILL.

I'VE HAD A PERSONAL-CARE
ASSISTANT HELP TAKE CARE OF ME,

AND I LIKE PRINCESS SO FAR.

SHE COMES OVER AND BATHES ME,
PREPARES FOOD FOR ME,

AND SHE MAKES SURE
I'M DOING OKAY.

TODAY, I'M GOING BACK
TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

BUT I'M NERVOUS BECAUSE
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WEIGH.

**

THAT IS NOT GOOD.

STEVEN.

YOU MANAGED TO GAIN
80 POUNDS.

SO, IF THIS IS NOT
WORKING FOR YOU,

I'M NOT GONNA BE THE ONE
TO WRITE YOUR DEATH CERTIFICATE.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JUSTIN HAS BEEN
REFUSING TREATMENT SO FAR,

AND HIS FATHER HAS NOT GIVEN ME
AN UPDATE ON HIS WEIGHT,

WHICH MEANS THIS IS
NOT IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

STEVEN IS ABUSING THE SYSTEM
TO GET PAINKILLERS.

AND THAT BEHAVIOR
IS NOT ACCEPTABLE

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
HIS ADDICTION TO PAIN MEDICATION

IS GOING TO KILL HIM
BEFORE HIS OVEREATING DOES.

STEVEN, YOU'RE LYING ABOUT
EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING,

SO, HERE'S WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO.

I'M SUSPENDING YOU
FROM THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM,

AND YOU'RE GOING FROM HERE
TO A DRUG-ADDICTION PROGRAM

BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW,

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO
TO WAKE YOU UP.

I WISH YOU THE BEST.

THANK YOU.

**

I'M CURRENTLY ON MY WAY

TO THE COUNCIL ON RECOVERY
IN HOUSTON.

DR. NOWZARADAN HAS ADVISED ME
TO BE ADMITTED

TO THEIR REHAB PROGRAM.

SO I'M GONNA BE EVALUATED
FOR THAT.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT.

I KNOW DR. NOW IS RIGHT.

AND I'VE BEEN
ABUSING PAINKILLERS

TO THE POINT THAT I'VE BEEN
RISKING MY LIFE EVERY DAY.

BUT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT,
I STILL WANT THEM.

IF I GET THE URGE
OF WANTING A NARCOTIC AGAIN

AND WANTING TO GET HIGH,

I WILL GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL

AND TRY TO CON ANOTHER DOCTOR.

AND I'M GOOD AT GETTING
WHAT I WANT.

BUT I'M DOING TOO MUCH DAMAGE
TO MY BODY,

AND IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE
THE WEIGHT THAT'S GONNA KILL ME,

IT'S GONNA BE THE DRUGS.

SOMEONE HAS TO HELP ME STOP.

AAH!
-YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING?

WE ARE GOING IN THE GATES
OF THE DRUG COUNCIL

AND REHAB PLACE
TO GO SEE THE DOCTOR.

-THESE GATES?
-YES, THOSE GATES --

THE GATES OF HELL.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS THE DAY
MY LIFE TURNS AROUND.

SELFIE.

I WANT TO GET BETTER.

AND I'M HOPING
I ACTUALLY GET HELP HERE.

BUT THIS IS STILL
ONE OF THE SCARIEST THINGS

THAT I'VE EVER DONE.

THANK YOU.

HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'M STEVEN.

-HOW ARE YOU?
-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
-THANK YOU.

-THANKS FOR COMING IN TODAY.
-YOU, TOO.

Dr. Flowers:
SO, WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY?

OH, WELL, UH,
I'M ADDICTED TO PAIN MEDICINE.

OKAY, HOW LONG
HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?

-YEARS.
-YEAH?

EVER SINCE
MY GALLBLADDER SURGERY

WHEN I WAS, LIKE, 25.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I EVER GOT ADMITTED

TO ANY HOSPITAL BEFORE.

AND THAT'S
WHEN I FIRST GOT PAIN MEDICINE

AND I REALIZED
HOW GOOD IT FEELS

AND HOW MUCH
I WANTED MORE.

SURE.

SO, IT'S BEEN GOING ON
FOR A WHILE.

AND NOW I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO FIGHT THE URGE

OF GOING BACK TO, LIKE,
AN E.R. FOR MORE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO END UP
LIKE ALL THESE CELEBRITIES,

LIKE PRINCE AND STUFF.

-MM-HMM.
-I DON'T WANT TO BE, LIKE,

THE NEXT PERSON TO DIE.

BUT I DON'T GET
MY DRUGS ILLEGALLY.

-RIGHT, THEY'RE ALL PRESCRIBED.
-IT'S LEGAL. CORRECT.

Dr. Flowers: SO,
YOU UNDERSTAND, JUST BECAUSE

A PHYSICIAN
PRESCRIBES SOMETHING --

DOESN'T MEAN
YOU'RE NOT AN ADDICT.

-THAT'S RIGHT.
-RIGHT.

SO, MOST OF YOUR USE
HAS BEEN INTRAVENOUS

AT A FACILITY.
-CORRECT.

I JUST CALL

A NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE
MAYBE 10 TIMES,

15 TIMES A MONTH,

AND THE HOSPITALS
CAN'T TURN ME AWAY

BECAUSE WHAT I USE
FOR EXCUSE IS MY RIGHT LEG.

SO, AS LONG AS I'D TELL THEM
MY PAIN WAS OVER AN EIGHT

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10,
THEN THEY HAVE TO TREAT ME.

AND WHEN THEY GIVE
THE INJECTION

THROUGH THE I.V.,
LIKE, I'M ON ANOTHER PLANET.

IT JUST KIND OF TAKES
YOUR FEELINGS AWAY.

-YEAH, IT NUMBS EVERYTHING.
-YEAH. MM-HMM.

-NOT HAVE TO WORRY.
-YEAH. NO WORRY.

AND THEY MAYBE WOULD
OR WOULDN'T GIVE YOU

A PRESCRIPTION FOR CONTINUED
PAIN MEDICATION.

-CORRECT.
-HOW MANY TABLETS

WOULD YOU BE GIVEN?

120, 7.5 MILLIGRAMS.

SO, YOU'D GO HOME.

A DAY OR TWO LATER,
YOU'D CALL

AND GO TO THE SAME FACILITY
OR WHAT?

I DON'T GO
TO THE SAME FACILITY, NO,

'CAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW
WHO I AM.

AND I HAD TO GO
TO A NEW PLACE EACH TIME.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
YOU WENT TO AN E.R.?

-MAYBE A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
-OKAY.

SO, YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH DETOX SYMPTOMS BEFORE

IN BETWEEN GETTING
TO THE E.R.?

I MEAN, TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
-YOU MEAN WHEN YOU'RE NOT

ON THE OPIATES
FOR A WHILE OR WHATEVER?

YEAH, OF COURSE.

YOU JUST FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE GONNA DIE.

Dr. Flowers: AND HOW
ARE YOU FEELING NOW

SINCE IT'S BEEN
A COUPLE OF DAYS?

I FEEL OKAY, BUT I-I --
MY BRAIN'S STILL, LIKE,

TELLING ME,
"GO BACK FOR MORE."

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT
THAT YOU'RE A DRUG ADDICT.

YEAH, I AM.

AND YOU NEED TREATMENT
FOR THAT.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO ASSESS HERE

IS WHETHER
YOU NEED MEDICAL DETOX...

-MM-HMM.
-...AND HOW MUCH OF IT YOU NEED.

RIGHT. YEAH.

SO, TELL ME
ABOUT DEPRESSION.

I DON'T THINK
I'M DEPRESSED.

-NO DEPRESSION AT ALL?
-I DON'T FEEL DEPRESSED, NO.

I REALLY AM,
FOR THE MOST PART,

A PRETTY HAPPY GUY.

YOU SAY YOU'RE HAPPY.

THIS ISN'T WHAT A HAPPY PERSON
DOES TO THEMSELVES.

YEAH.

AS AN ADDICT, THE WAY
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THINGS

REALLY ISN'T WORKING.

AND ONE THING
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE

BEFORE WE HELP YOU IS THAT
WE GET A COMMITMENT FROM YOU

THAT YOU'RE GONNA GO THROUGH
AND FOLLOW THROUGH

WITH OUR PROGRAM
AND PARTICIPATE.

SO, OUR PROGRAM STARTS OFF
WITH DETOX.

YOU WOULD THEN BE DOING
INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS

WITH OUR THERAPIST

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES
WITH ADDICTS,

THERE'S CORE TRAUMA
AND THINGS UNDERNEATH

THAT WE'RE NOT --
YOU'RE NOT ADDRESSING --

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GETTING BETTER RIGHT NOW.

AND SO IF WE DON'T ADDRESS
THOSE THINGS...

-YEAH.
-...YOU'RE GONNA STAY

IN THE SAME CYCLE, AND IT'S JUST
A BRUTAL CYCLE TO BE IN,

AS YOU KNOW.

SO, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING
TO TALK AND DO THE WORK

BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA DIE.
-YEAH, I KNOW.

AND THERE'S NO USE
IN CONTINUING DOWN THIS PATH

UNLESS YOU JUST WANT TO DIE.

ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL --
THEY'VE ACCEPTED YOU.

THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE YOU
IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO.

HOW LONG IS THE STAY?

SO, WE DON'T KNOW.

IT COULD BE 3 DAYS,
AND IT COULD BE 10 DAYS.

YOU NEED 24-HOUR
MEDICAL MONITORING

TO GET YOU
THROUGH THIS DETOX.

IT'S NOT LOCKDOWN
OR ANYTHING, RIGHT?

-YES.
-IT'S THE PSYCH FLOOR.

Dr. Flowers:
IT'S THE MED/PSYCH FLOOR,
BUT IT IS A TRUE MEDICAL DETOX.

AM I ALLOWED
TO HAVE A PHONE?

PROBABLY NOT.

DO THEY HAVE
INTERNET ACCESS

AT ST. JOSEPH'S?
-I DON'T KNOW.

CAN YOU FIND OUT?

THAT'S A SECONDARY CONCERN
RIGHT NOW.

UH, NOT FOR ME.

I MEAN, I NEED
TO CONTACT MY PEOPLE.

ARE YOU ALLOWED
TO HAVE YOUR iPAD?

Dr. Flowers: YOUR iPAD
AND YOUR iPHONE

AND EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

SHOULD BE SECONDARY
RIGHT NOW TO YOU.

NO, I DON'T WANT
TO BE BORED, EITHER.

OH, YOU WON'T BE BORED.

YOU'RE GONNA BE BUSY
GETTING BETTER.

RIGHT NOW,
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS

IS SAVING YOUR LIFE,
AND THIS IS SAVING YOUR LIFE.

YOU REALLY NEED
TO WORK ON YOU.

THAT -- WELL, YEAH,
I'M GONNA DO THAT, TOO.

Dr. D'Aunno: YOU DON'T DICTATE
YOUR DETOX, OKAY?

THE PROFESSIONALS DICTATE
YOUR TREATMENT AND YOUR DETOX.

YOU DO NOT.

THIS GAME ISN'T GONNA
LAST VERY MUCH LONGER.

SO, YOU NEED TO GO TO TREATMENT,
AND YOU NEED TO DETOX.

-ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO.
-OKAY.

GOOD.

THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR --
CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT'S THE BEST THING
FOR YOU.

-THANKS.
-YEAH.

Dr. Flowers: SO, I SEE A LITTLE
BIT OF SADNESS IN YOUR EYES.

WHAT'S GOING ON?
-[ LAUGHS ]

Green: IT'S A LITTLE SCARY,
BUT IT'S OKAY.

YEAH.

YOU READY TO DO THIS?

OKAY.
-OKAY.

-OKAY.
-YEAH.

Dr. Flowers:
STEVEN'S PROBLEM IS EXTENSIVE.

HE CAN'T HELP BUT BE
IN THIS MUCH PAIN

BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.

AND HE ADMITTED
THAT HE DOES TAKE OPIATES

BECAUSE IT NUMBS HIS FEELINGS.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO FEEL.

STEVEN WAS AS HONEST
AS HE COULD BE,

BUT I THINK THERE'S
A LOT OF TRAUMA

THAT HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT.

AND IF THAT TRAUMA
ISN'T ADDRESSED IN TREATMENT,

THEN IT'S NOT GONNA RESOLVE.

GASTRIC BYPASS OR A SLEEVE
IS NOT THE ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS GOING
THROUGH DETOX,

THEN GOING
THROUGH A TREATMENT PROGRAM

AND REMAINING FOR LIFE
IN LONG-TERM THERAPY.

SO, GOOD LUCK. ALL RIGHT.
-THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME. TAKE CARE.
-THANK YOU.

UNFORTUNATELY,
PAST FAILURE FOR STEVEN

IS A BIG CONCERN MOVING FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU SOON.

YEAH, SEE YOU SOON.
SEE YOU BOTH SOON.

THANK YOU.
-STEVEN HAS GOT

TO BUY INTO THIS.

HE'S GOT TO REALIZE THAT,
"IF I DON'T COMPLETE THIS TIME,

I'M GONNA DIE."

AND IF HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT,

THEN HE'S GONNA FAIL.

GOT TO PUT IT
ON SPEAKERPHONE.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
THANK YOU, HONEY.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

STEVEN SR.: Hello.
I GOT TO LEAVE SOON.

I FIGURED
I'D GIVE YOU A QUICK CALL

AND LET YOU KNOW
I'M GONNA BE AT THE HOSPITAL

IN THE PSYCH-WARD SECTION.

SO, I DON'T KNOW
IF THEY'RE GONNA ALLOW ME

TO HAVE MY TABLET OR NOT.

Okay, well,
this is a good thing,

and you need
to do this, Steven.

You're running
out of chances.

[ Voice breaking ] YEAH.

JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS.

Why are you nervous?

There is no place better
for you to be on this planet

than where you're going.

I KNOW I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT
THAT WAY, RIGHT?

It's one of the only places

where you can't keep
killing yourself

like you have been.

OKAY.
Trust me.

This is a very good place
you're going, Steven.

I TRUST YOU.
I KNOW. OKAY.

[ SNIFFLES ]

All right.
Bye.

**

Steven:
I'M SO SCARED RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
OR HOW HARD THIS IS GONNA BE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

EITHER I DO THIS,
OR I'M GONNA DIE.

**

Steven:
I'M STARTING MY DETOX NOW,

AND I'M IN A DAZE.

**

I'M JUST TRYING
TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND

WHAT I'M ABOUT
TO GO THROUGH MENTALLY

AND PHYSICALLY AS I START
THE WITHDRAWAL PROCESS.

I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD
TO THIS AT ALL.

BUT I KNOW
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

**

MY FIRST DAY IN DETOX,
AND THIS IS MY ROOM.

AND THAT'S THE DOOR
I CAME THROUGH.

GIVE YOU A LITTLE TOUR HERE.

THAT'S THE LIGHT, THE CHAIRS.
THEY'RE VERY SMALL.

MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN FIT
IN CHAIRS LIKE THAT.

IT WOULD BE NICE.

AND UP HERE IS
WHERE THE CAMERAS ARE.

AND THAT LOOKS AT ME
ALL DAY LONG.

SO, I'M FEELING
QUITE TIRED RIGHT NOW

'CAUSE WE HAD A LONG DAY TODAY.

I'M HOPING I CAN GET
THROUGH THE FIRE

AND BEAT THIS AND LEARN
A LOT AND RECOVER.

OTHERWISE, THINGS COULD
GET WORSE, AND I CAN DIE.

SO, I GOT TO FOCUS ON THE NOW,

AND THE NOW IS,

"AM I GONNA RECOVER OR NOT?

OR AM I GONNA GIVE UP
AND GO HOME?"

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE STRENGTH
TO DO THAT, BUT NOTHING'S EASY.

**

THIS IS DAY 2 IN THE PSYCH WARD,
DRUG REHAB IN THE HOSPITAL.

PRETTY BAD NIGHT --

THEY KEPT COMING
IN MY F'ing ROOM

EVERY 15 F'ing MINUTES.

I SWEAR I TURNED
INTO THE SPAWN OF SATAN.

I DON'T FEEL NORMAL

WHEN I'M NOT ON VICODIN,
DILAUDID, OR ANYTHING.

JUST STARTED
MY SUBOXONE TREATMENT.

SO, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO WEAN ME

OFF THE REALLY
HARD-CORE PAIN MEDICINE.

BUT WHAT I'M NOTICING
WITH THE SUBOXONE

IS THAT I FEEL NORMAL
EVEN ON THAT.

SO FAR, SO GOOD.
YEAH.

CROSSING MY FAT FINGERS.

**

Justin:
I FEEL THINGS HAVE BEEN BETTER
FOR ME FOR THE PAST MONTH.

AND I'M STILL GLAD
STEVEN IS GONE.

WHEN STEVEN WAS HERE,
HE ALWAYS JUST PUT ME DOWN,

AND ALL THE ATTENTION
WENT TO HIM CONSTANTLY.

SO, NOW I'VE STARTED
TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT I WANT TO DO IN LIFE.

AND I'VE DECIDED
TO OPEN A HOBBY SHOP.

AND MY DAD IS
GONNA HELP ME DO IT.

MY SON STARTED GETTING
INTO BUILDING MODELS.

AND HE FIGURES
HE CAN MAKE MONEY.

AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING

THAT HE WANTS TO START
THIS STORE OF HIS

SO HE CAN GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

HE WAS REALLY RECLUSIVE
FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS,

WOULD HARDLY LEAVE HIS ROOM,

AND HE NEEDS TO GET OUT
IN THE WORLD.

SO, HOPEFULLY JUSTIN CAN
TAKE THIS CHANCE

TO START HIS OWN THING.

I FEEL LIKE JUSTIN'S DOING
A LOT BETTER

NOW THAT HE'S
AWAY FROM HIS BROTHER.

I'M HAPPY STEVEN'S
IN REHAB RIGHT NOW,

AND I REALLY HOPE THIS
TURNS THINGS AROUND FOR HIM.

BUT HE'S THE MOST
STUBBORN PERSON I EVER KNOWN.

SO, I JUST HOPE
THEY CAN BREAK HIM

BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO.

Justin:
WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON,

I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE
TO FOCUS MUCH ON MY DIET...

BECAUSE I HAVE TO FOCUS
ON MY WORK

AND SETTING UP MY STORE
RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T THINK
I'VE GAINED ANY MORE,

WHICH MEANS MY WEIGHT
IS DOING OKAY.

I'M NOT GETTING BIGGER,

AND I CAN STAY MOBILE
AND STILL GET AROUND.

BECAUSE MY GOAL IS
TO NOT END UP LIKE STEVEN.

I KNOW DR. NOWZARADAN WANTS ME
TO COME BACK FOR A CHECKUP

TO SEE WHAT MY WEIGHT IS
AND HOW I'M DOING.

BUT RIGHT NOW I NEED TO FOCUS ON
GETTING MY LIFE BACK TOGETHER.

I DON'T WANT THIS.
HERE, ROCKY, YOU CAN HAVE IT.

GIVE IT TO HIM.
LET HIM FINISH IT.

THERE'S ONLY
A COUPLE PIECES LEFT.

Justin: SO, I'LL GET BACK
TO DR. NOWZARADAN

AND HIS DIET...
-GOOD BOY.

Justin:
...BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.

**

Steven: Okay?

Steven Sr.:
Steven, calm down.

You have to calm down.

Stop acting like this.

I'm gonna hang up
if you don't calm down.

Freak out all you want.

You're not getting
any more drugs.

[ Sobs ]

**

Steven:
I'M FINALLY BEING RELEASED
FROM THE DETOX PROGRAM.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK.

AND THEY SAY NOW THE DRUGS
ARE OUT OF MY SYSTEM

AND I'M FREE TO GO HOME.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST
THINGS I'VE EVER DONE.

THERE WERE MOMENTS
WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.

I NEVER WANT TO GO THROUGH
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN,

AND I'M JUST GLAD
IT'S FINALLY OVER.

AND HOPEFULLY I CAN START
LOOKING TO A BETTER FUTURE.

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO STAY
ON MY DETOX DRUG

SO THAT THE WITHDRAWAL
DOESN'T START UP

WHEN I'M AT HOME.

I WANT TO BE DRUG [BLEEP] FREE.

* I WENT -- I WENT DRUG FREE *

* I WENT DRUG -- I WENT FREE *

PRINCESS HAS ALREADY PICKED UP
MY CURRENT PRESCRIPTION

AND SAID IT'LL BE
AT MY APARTMENT WAITING FOR ME.

SO, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THAT URGES

THAT WILL TEMPT ME TO TRY
TO GET BACK ON PAIN MEDS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING HOME FINALLY.

I WAS REALLY WORRIED, TOO,

BECAUSE I GOT A CAT
TO KEEP ME COMPANY

RIGHT BEFORE I WENT
TO THE CLINIC

TO SEE DR. NOW,
AND THEN I ENDED UP IN REHAB.

SO, PRINCESS HAS BEEN
TAKING CARE OF HER.

**

[ SIGHS ]

THERE'S NO SUBOXONE HERE
WHATSOEVER.

[ CAT MEOWS ]

**

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

PRINCESS DIDN'T DROP IT OFF
LIKE SHE SAID.

HOW DOES ANYONE EXPECT ME
TO DO THIS

IF I DON'T HAVE WHAT I NEED?

I'M GONNA TELL HER
JUST HOW UNACCEPTABLE THIS IS

AND HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM

AND FIND OUT WHAT THE HECK
IS GOING ON.

PRINCESS IS TELLING ME NOW,
"THE MEDICINE'S NOT READY.

THEY NEED
YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION.

RIGHT NOW YOU ARE LOOKING
AT $150 TOTAL."

FIRST THING, I'LL TRY TO ASK DAD
AND SEE IF HE HAS $150.

[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S GONNA BE HIGHLY DOUBTFUL.

Steven: HELLO?

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN
GOING THROUGH, OKAY,

IN THAT PSYCH WARD.

HUH?

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME,

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME
[BLEEP] NOW!

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME
LOUD AND [BLEEP] CLEAR!

OKAY?

CLEAN OUT YOUR [BLEEP] EARS
AND CLEAN THEM OUT GOOD!

I NEED $150
TO FILL MY TREATMENT MEDICINE.

DO YOU GOT POTATOES
IN YOUR [BLEEP] EARS?

I WILL RELAPSE

IF I DON'T HAVE
THAT MEDICINE HERE!

IS IT GOING OVER YOUR HEAD,
WHAT I'M TELLING YOU?

THE INSURANCE IS NOT COVERING
MY [BLEEP] TREATMENT MEDICINE

FOR SOME REASON THIS MONTH,
OKAY?

GOODBYE, FATHER.

GOODBYE.

[ RECEIVER CLICKS ]

IF MY DAD OR PRINCESS

DOESN'T GET MY PRESCRIPTION
TO ME NOW

AND I END UP BACK ON PAIN MEDS,

IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM.

AND THEN, WHEN I OVERDOSE,
IT'S GONNA BE THEIR FAULT.

OH, THIS IS JUST
ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS

WHEN YOU JUST WISH
YOU WERE DEAD,

LIKE, AT THIS MOMENT
IN TIME RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW, SON.

[ SIGHS ]

**

Steven:
IT'S BEEN A HARD MONTH.

I'VE BEEN STAYING
ON MY PRESCRIPTION

TO FIGHT
THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS,

BUT IT'S STILL BEEN REALLY HARD

BECAUSE I HAVE MY MOMENTS

WHERE I WANT SOMETHING
REALLY STRONG.

AND I'M HAVING
A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I LOST MY TEMPER
AT PRINCESS AGAIN

WHEN SHE WAS TAKING A WHILE
TO GET MY PRESCRIPTION.

AND SHE TOLD ME
SHE WAS GONNA RESIGN

AS MY PERSONAL-CARE ASSISTANT.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA
GET MY PRESCRIPTION FOR ME NOW

AND TAKE CARE OF ME.

SHE'S COMING OVER RIGHT NOW,
THOUGH, FOR HER LAST VISIT.

SHE ALSO SAID SHE'S GONNA
TAKE BACK MY TV SET

SINCE IT BELONGS
TO THE HEALTHCARE COMPANY

AND THAT THEY LENT IT TO ME,

BUT I'M NOT LETTING HER DO THAT.

SHE CAN DROP OFF THE PILLS,
GET ME SOMETHING TO EAT, AND GO.

I'M SICK OF HER ANYWAY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
COME IN.

OKAY, ASSANTI, I PICKED UP
SOME LAST-MINUTE STUFF FOR YOU.

AFTER DETOX, STEVEN IS
STILL UP TO HIS OLD WAYS.

WHATEVER MEDICINE
THE REHAB DOCTOR PUT HIM ON,

HE LOVES IT.

AND I JUST GOT HIM
A SCRIP FOR 120 PILLS,

AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL GONE.

HIS MOOD SWINGS
ARE WORSE THAN EVER,

AND HIS BEHAVIOR IS PARTICULAR
UNACCEPTABLE TOWARDS ME,

SO I'M NO LONGER GOING
TO BE TREATING HIM AFTER TODAY.

TWO WEEKS WORTH OF FOOD
YOU'LL GO THROUGH IN TWO DAYS.

NOBODY'S GONNA BE HERE
TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE

YOU'RE TAKING IT
IN PORTION.

THAT'S GONNA BE
UP TO ME NOW.

IT IS.

Princess: RIGHT NOW, STEVEN
IS NOT STICKING TO HIS DIET.

I'M TAKING OUT PIZZA BOXES,
COOKIE BOXES, BROWNIE BOXES,

AND EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT HIS DAD ORDERS HIM.

HE'S NOT WORKING
ON CHANGES RIGHT NOW.

HE'S JUST TRANSFERRING
HIS ADDICTION

TO HIS NEW PRESCRIPTION,
AND HE'S ABUSING IT.

SO, THERE'S NOTHING
I CAN DO WITH THAT.

I'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH HIM,

BUT STEVEN REFUSES
TO LISTEN TO ME.

SO I JUST CANNOT WORK LIKE THAT.

Princess: OKAY, I'M GOING
TO GET YOUR LAUNDRY.

I'LL BE BACK.
I'M GONNA GET YOUR LAUNDRY.

ALL RIGHT.

Steven: I NEED A POLICE OFFICER
HERE IMMEDIATELY, PLEASE.

MY PERSONAL-CARE ATTENDANT HERE
BOUGHT ME A TV, OKAY?

SHE BOUGHT IT
AS A GIFT FOR ME,

AND NOW SHE'S TRYING
TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.

SHE'S MAD
THAT SHE'S LOSING HER JOB.

IT AIN'T MY PROBLEM
SHE DIDN'T DO HER [BLEEP] JOB.

STEVEN ASSANTI.

Steven: THANK YOU.

[ DOOR HANDLE RATTLES ]

WHO IS IT?
-ME.

I'M INSTRUCTED
NOT TO LET YOU IN YET,

UNTIL THE POLICE GET HERE.
-TILL THE POLICE GET HERE?

YEAH, PRINCESS IS TRYING
TO GET IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO I DO?

WHAT?!

THE TV IS NOT BEING TAKEN OUT
UNTIL WE SEE THE PROOF.

OKAY, WELL, NO PROBLEM.
I'LL WAIT TILL THEY GET HERE.

YOU WANT TO WAIT?

OF COURSE,
'CAUSE THAT TV COMING WITH ME.

THE TV AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.
IT WAS A GIFT.

-IT WAS A LOANER.
-IT WAS A GIFT.

Princess: I'M GONNA CALL
ANOTHER CAREGIVER

AND HAVE THEM DEAL
WITH YOU.

WE WANT TO SEE THE PROOF!
THAT'S ALL, BABY DOLL!

GROW UP -- YOU AND YOUR DAD.
HOW ABOUT THAT?

HONESTLY, I BELIEVE
THAT STEVEN PITCHED A FIT

ABOUT THE TELEVISION BECAUSE
HE DON'T WANT TO SEE ME GO.

AND HE HAVE EXPRESSED THAT
IN TEXT MESSAGES AND E-MAILS.

IT'S NOT OPEN.
-I NEED MY FOOD-STAMP CARD,

AND I WANT YOU GONE.

YOU CAN TAKE
YOUR [BLEEP] TV.

IT AIN'T EVEN YOURS, ANYWAY.
-IT SURE AIN'T.

IT'S THE COMPANY'S, SO...

[ DEAD BOLT CLICKS ]
COME IN.

-[ SIGHS ]
-TAKE THE GIFT.

Steven: HOW ABOUT
YOU JUST DO WHAT I SAY

AND GET THE HELL
OUT OF MY HAIR?

Princess: WELL, I THOUGHT
YOU CALLED THE POLICE.

I DID CALL THE POLICE.

SO NOW I GOT TO STAY HERE ANYWAY
'CAUSE THEY'RE COMING.

SO, ARE YOU GONNA
PUT YOUR CLOTHES UP,

OR YOU WANT ME TO?

[ SIGHS ]
HUH, ASSANTI?

IF YOU'RE GONNA RELEASE ME,
THEN I CAN GO,

BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT ME
TO HELP YOU OR ASSIST YOU

OR NOTHING --
-I AM CALLING THE POLICE BACK!

HOLD ON!

HELLO.

I'M TRYING TO CALL THE POLICE
AND CANCEL MY CALL.

YEAH, THEY TOOK BACK THE GIFT.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]

MY FEARS FOR STEVEN IS THAT
HE'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER.

HE'S GONNA GET WORSE,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PILLS,

'CAUSE HE'S NOT MANAGING

HOW MUCH IS IN HIS SYSTEM
AT ONE TIME.

IT'S EASY FOR HIM TO O.D.

THEN, I TELL HIM
EVERY TIME I COME,

"I DON'T WANT TO OPEN THE DOOR
AND YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIVE.

I DON'T WANT TO DO IT."
SO, I REFUSE TO WATCH HIM DIE.

LAST DAY,
YOU WANT TO CALL THE POLICE?

ALL RIGHT, WHAT A NICE WAY
TO SAY GOODBYE, STEVEN.

ALL RIGHT.
BYE-BYE.

Steven: I DON'T NEED HER,
AND I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE

TO DEAL WITH HER CRAP ANYMORE.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

**

[ SOBBING ]

MY LEGS HURT.
CAN YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME?

I NEED SOMETHING.

MY LEG, OKAY?

Woman: YES, SIR.

WE'RE TRYING
TO GET ORDERS FROM DR. FLOWERS.

JUST TAKE SLOW,
DEEP BREATHS, OKAY?

I SEE SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW.

-I SEE SOMETHING.
-HE WANTS SOME DILAUDID.

STEVEN...

YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE.
-CAN YOU HELP ME?

[ SOBBING ]

WE'LL HELP YOU.
CAN YOU GIVE HIM --

JUST GIVE HIM
A 30-MILLIGRAM TORADOL I.V.

-OKAY.
-OKAY?

WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU
SOME PAIN SHOT, OKAY?

-YEAH.
-ALL RIGHT. JUST RELAX.

JUST TAKE IT EASY.
YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

AND HE HAS NOT CHANGED IN
HIS PAIN-MEDICATION ADDICTION.

HE LOOKS BIGGER NOW THAN EVER,

AND HE'S EVEN PULLING
HIS HAIR OUT AGAIN.

BUT WE CAN'T IGNORE
THE POSSIBILITY

THAT HIS LEG
ACTUALLY IS HURTING.

HE CRIES WOLF SO MANY TIME,

YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT'S REAL WITH STEVEN.

SO, WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT

IF STEVEN'S LIFE IS
IN DANGER RIGHT NOW.

HIS BODY CAN GO TO SHOCK,

WHERE HE WON'T
BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

SO, THIS IS
A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY
TO HELP AND DO AS WE CAN.

HE JUST HAS TO COOPERATE
BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T,

HE'S NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

**

**

Steven:
I'M BACK IN THE HOSPITAL AGAIN
UNDER DR. NOWZARADAN'S CARE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN CHECKING
ON MY LEG

TO SEE WHAT'S CAUSING THE PAIN.

AND NOW THAT THEY'VE FINISHED
THEIR TESTS ON ME

AND GOT MY PAIN UNDER CONTROL,

DR. NOWZARADAN
WANTS TO CHECK MY WEIGHT

AND SEE WHERE IT'S AT.

BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
TO FIND OUT.

Steven: HEY.

ALL RIGHTY, I ZEROED IT.

Steven: OH, NO.

I GAINED OVER 100 POUNDS BACK.

I'M UPSET.

I DON'T THINK DR. NOWZARADAN'S
GONNA BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

HE'S COMING IN LATER TO TELL ME
ABOUT MY TEST RESULTS,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED
TO FACE HIM RIGHT NOW.

-HI, STEVEN.
-HEY.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
-HEY.

YOUR TEST RESULTS ARE BACK,
AND HERE'S THE SITUATION.

SO, YOU HAVE A NEW BLOOD CLOT
IN YOUR LEFT LEG.

YOU HAD THE PROBLEM
WITH RIGHT LEG.

NOW YOU GOT A PROBLEM
WITH BOTH LEGS.

YOU KNOW, FROM DAY ONE
THAT YOU ARRIVED HERE,

YOU HAVE GONE
SO FAR BACKWARD

THAT IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU GAINED 100 POUNDS,

AND YOU'RE DEALING STILL
WITH THE DRUG ADDICTION.

AND YOU'RE STILL DEALING
WITH THE FOOD ADDICTION.

HOW IN THE WORLD
DID THAT HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.

SINCE PRINCESS QUIT,

I BELIEVE EVERYTHING
WENT DOWNHILL.

LOOK, STEVEN,
YOU NEED TO HAVE

SOME SENSE
OF YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY

AND STOP BLAMING
EVERYONE AROUND YOU.

WE ARE
THE ONES HELPING YOU.

AND RIGHT NOW
WE HAVE TO INTERVENE AGAIN

SO YOU WON'T KILL YOURSELF.

Dr. STEVEN HAS COMPLETELY
GONE OFF THE RAILS

SINCE I SAW HIM LAST.

HIS DETOX FAILED,

SO WE'LL HAVE TO HELP HIM
THROUGH WITHDRAWAL

TO SAVE HIS LIFE
AND ALSO PUT HIM

ON A CONTROLLED DIET
FOR THE NEXT MONTH

SO WE CAN GET HIS WEIGHT DOWN.

STEVEN,
I'M GOING TO ALLOW YOU

TO GET BACK
IN THE PROGRAM AGAIN

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T START
TO LOSE YOUR WEIGHT NOW,

YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.

AND RIGHT NOW
IT'S A TOSS-UP

BETWEEN YOUR PAIN MEDICATION
KILLING YOU OR YOUR WEIGHT.

SO, YOU WANT TO DO THIS
OR NOT?

-YEAH.
-OKAY, THEN I EXPECT YOU

TO BE ON YOUR
BEST BEHAVIOR.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU LATER.

-OKAY.
-MM-HMM.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE
A LONG WAY TO GO WITH STEVEN,

BUT THERE'S A LONGER ROAD NOW
BECAUSE HE'S WORSE SHAPE

AND HE'S BIGGER NOW
THAN WHEN HE ARRIVED.

HE'S KNOCKING AT DEATH'S DOOR.

SO, IF HE DECIDED
HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS,

THEN HE CAN TAKE THE RISK
AND QUIT THE PROGRAM FOR GOOD.

Justin: I'M REALLY EXCITED TODAY

BECAUSE WE ARE FINALLY
OPENING UP MY HOBBY STORE.

I'VE LOVED COLLECTIBLES
AND MODELS

AND FIGURE THIS
IS SOMETHING I REALLY KNOW.

SO, WHY DON'T I DO IT
FOR A LIVING?

THE NAME OF MY STORE
IS HOBBY HAVEN.

AND MY DAD
AND TWO OF MY FRIENDS --

TONI AND BRIANNA --
ARE COMING TO HELP ME SET UP...

SO WE CAN FINALLY OPEN
OUR DOORS TO THE PUBLIC.

I'M READY FOR THIS.

**

Steven Sr.:
THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR JUSTIN.

HE'S BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD TO DO THIS

AND GET IT ALL SET UP.

AND WITH STEVEN NO LONGER HERE
TO BULLY JUSTIN ALL DAY LONG,

HE'S LEAVING HIS ROOM MORE,

AND HE'S MADE TOW
GOOD FRIENDS ALREADY.

AND IT'S AMAZING
THAT HE FOUND PEOPLE LIKE THIS

IN HIS LIFE SO QUICK.

A LITTLE BIT OF SPRAY PAINT,
AND YOU SHOULD BE ALL GOLDEN.

AND TONI -- I CAN'T BELIEVE
HOW ATTACHED SHE GOT TO MY SON,

LIKE IT'S HER OWN SON.

I LOVE HER FOR THAT.

IT'S LIKE HE'S GOT A MOTHER
TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO

THAT HE NEVER HAD.

EVERYTHING'S
WORKING WELL SO FAR.

BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT,

BUT I THINK THE STORE IS
GONNA HELP HIM A LOT.

I WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL
FOR HIM.

I REALLY DO, HONEY.

I BELIEVE IN JUSTIN.

AND WITH STEVEN GONE,
I'M SEEING HIM THRIVE.

I JUST HOPE STEVEN STARTS
TO TURN THINGS AROUND, TOO,

AND THEN BOTH MY SONS
WILL BE ON THE RIGHT PATH

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN THEIR LIVES.

IT'S GONNA BE
A STEPPING STONE.

IT'S GONNA MAKE HIM
GET THAT CONFIDENCE

AND THAT ABILITY
TO GET OUT THERE AND DO

AND BE PART
OF PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY.

HE'S A GOOD PERSON.
HE REALLY IS A GREAT PERSON.

**

Justin: IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
TO START A CAREER

AND A BUSINESS LIKE THIS.

AND ONCE I START
TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND,

I CAN MAKE MORE TIME
TO FOCUS ON STUFF

LIKE MY DIET AND LOSING WEIGHT.

BUT RIGHT NOW I FEEL GOOD,
SO I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT

I'M DOING WELL
AND ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

**

Steven: I'VE BEEN BACK
IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND DR. NOW SAYS
I'M GOING HOME TODAY.

SO, HE'S COMING
TO CHECK MY WEIGHT,

AND THEN I'M SUPPOSED TO LEAVE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY
THEY'RE KICKING ME OUT AGAIN

BECAUSE I BEHAVED A LOT BETTER
THIS TIME

AND I STAYED
ON THE CONTROLLED DIET

LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO.

SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR.

BUT HE DID SAY I CAN GO BACK
ON THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM,

SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT, STEVEN,
LET'S SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.

OKAY.

DO YOU HAVE
A GOWN ON OR ANYTHING?

IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

DOESN'T MEAN
THAT EVERYBODY ELSE NEEDS TO.

OH, OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

THAT'S ABOUT
AN 80-POUND WEIGHT LOSS.

HEY.
[ CHUCKLES ]

Dr. Nowzaradan:
OVER THE PAST MONTH,

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO GET STEVEN'S WEIGHT

GOING BACK
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
HE'S WORSE OFF AND HEAVIER

THAN WHEN HE LEFT
THE HOSPITAL FIVE MONTHS AGO.

YOUR LEG IS DOING
A LITTLE BIT BETTER,

AND WE GOT YOU OFF
THE PAIN MEDICATION, TOO.

SO, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU
GOING HOME.

-OKAY.
-AND WE'RE GONNA SEE

IF WE CAN GET YOU
BACK ON TRACK AGAIN.

-OKAY.
-OKAY?

BUT HERE'S THE SITUATION.

YOU'RE GOING
TO FINALLY START SEEING

THE THERAPIST I HAVE SENT
TO YOU A NUMBER OF TIMES

AND YOU AVOIDED.

IF YOU WANT BACK
ON THE PROGRAM,

YOU NEED TO COMPLY
WITH EVERYTHING.

SO, YOU SEE THE THERAPIST
IN A FEW DAYS.

-OKAY.
-YOU START MEETING WITH HIM,

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING
TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS

WITH YOUR WEIGHT.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE
AT LEAST 40 POUNDS A MONTH.

-WELL, I HAVE A QUESTION.
-YEAH?

YOU DID SAY
YOU'RE GONNA SEND ME HOME

WITH SOME HYDROCODONE,
THOUGH, RIGHT?

RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY REASON TO BE ON IT.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTROL
YOUR EATING HABIT YOURSELF.

I'M -- I'M -- I'M --
ACTUALLY,

I'M DONE TALKING NOW.

I JUST WANT
TO GO HOME, OKAY?

WELL, YOU'RE NOT DONE
LISTENING, THOUGH.

YOU MAYBE --
-NO. I DISAGREE WITH THE PART --

YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOTHING
AT HOME FOR PAIN.

YOU HAVE A DRUG ADDICTION.

WHAT PART OF THAT
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, STEVEN?

-OKAY. I DO.
-EVERY DAY YOU LIVE RIGHT NOW

IS A MIRACLE.

THE MIRACLE OF YOUR LIFE
WILL STOP

NEXT TIME YOU DO THIS

OR THE TIME AFTER THAT
OR SHORTLY AFTER THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT MY JOB IS?

TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT SOON.

LISTEN TO ME, YOU WILL LIVE.

DON'T, YOU WILL DIE.

SO, I WANT TO SEE YOU
IN ONE MONTH.

STAY OFF OF THE PAIN MEDICINE
AND SEE THE THERAPIST

AND LOSE 40 POUNDS
IN THAT TIME FRAME, OKAY?

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

THANK YOU.

STEVEN DOESN'T LIKE AUTHORITY.

EVERYTHING EXISTS FOR HIS USE
AND ABUSE RIGHT NOW.

THE CORE ISSUE
IS THE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS
BEFORE ANY CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE,

WHICH MEANS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST
HAS TO WORK

A LITTLE BIT WITH HIM

BEFORE WE CAN EXPECT
ANY REAL CHANGES.

SO, IF HE FAILS TO SEE
A THERAPIST AGAIN THIS TIME,

THEN THIS IS
ALL GOING TO PLAY OUT

LIKE IT HAS IN THE PAST,

AND WE'RE GONNA
LOSE STEVEN FOR GOOD.

**

Steven: ADDICTION'S TOUGH --
FOOD ADDICTION, DRUG ADDICTION.

BUT I'M NOT LONGER ADDICTED.

AND RIGHT NOW
I'M ACTUALLY IN A LOT OF PAIN.

AND DR. NOW WON'T
EVEN LISTEN TO ME ABOUT IT.

HE DOESN'T BELIEVE
I'M IN AS MUCH PAIN AS I AM.

Man: TAKE ONE MORE FOOT
THIS WAY.

AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD DOCTOR.

TRY TO GO THAT WAY.

OKAY.

I JUST NEED HELP WITH MY LEG.

HOW CAN I DO
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO

IF I DON'T EVEN HAVE
WHAT I NEED TO DO IT?

I WANT TO GET BETTER
AND SHOW EVERYONE I CAN DO THIS.

BUT HE WANTS ME TO LOSE
A LOT OF WEIGHT ON MY OWN

AND START SEEING A THERAPIST.

AND THAT'S A LOT TO EXPECT
FOR ME OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO BLOW THIS.

SO I'LL FORCE MYSELF
TO ENDURE IT

IF THAT'S WHAT I'LL TAKE
TO MAKE THE DOCTOR HAPPY.

**

**

Steven:
TODAY, I'M SEEING THE THERAPIST

THAT DR. NOWZARADAN
WANTED ME TO START SEEING.

I'VE NOT REALLY BEEN INTERESTED
IN TALKING TO ANYONE,

AND I'VE BEEN AVOIDING IT.

BUT I'M GIVING IT A CHANCE

BECAUSE DR. NOW
HAS GIVEN ME ANOTHER CHANCE,

AND I DON'T WANT
TO LOSE HIS HELP.

SO, I'M JUST
CLEANING UP A LITTLE

AND MAKING THIS PLACE
SMELL A LITTLE BETTER

SO WE CAN HAVE A NICE SESSION.

BUT I DON'T THINK
TALKING ABOUT THINGS

IS GONNA SOLVE A WHOLE LOT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

COME IN.

HI. ARE YOU STEVEN?
YEAH. HOW ARE YOU?

HI, STEVEN.
I'M DR. PARADISE.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANKS.

CAN I SIT OVER THERE?

YEAH, OF COURSE.

SO, TELL ME
HOW YOU'RE DOING.

I'M ALIVE, SO, UM...

TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT MY BEING HERE.

ABOUT MY ADDICTION
TO FOOD?

SO, I'M HERE TO WORK WITH YOU
ON YOUR ADDICTION TO FOOD?

PROBABLY MY PIZZA.
OKAY.

SO, LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO --
TO YOUR HISTORY A LITTLE BIT.

MM-HMM.
WHERE DID THIS START?

FOR THE MOST PART,
I WAS CHUBBY EVEN AS A KID.

OKAY.

YOU WERE STEADILY
GAINING WEIGHT THE WHOLE TIME.

YEAH, THEN THINGS TOOK A TURN
FOR THE WORSE WHEN I HIT 30.

I JUST KNEW
THAT WHEN YOU TURN 30,

THAT'S WHEN YOU START
FEELING YOUR BODY BREAKING DOWN.

YOU HAD PAIN
ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR SIZE?

YEAH, I DO.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S
A BLOOD CLOT IN THIS LEG,

AND THERE'S A BLOOD CLOT
IN THIS LEG.

THEY BOTH
LOOK VERY PAINFUL.

IT IS.

OKAY.
YEAH.

SO, THOSE GOT PAINFUL.
YEAH.

AND YOU GOT
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE FOR IT.

YEAH.

I WAS ADDICTED
TO THE I.V. DILAUDID STUFF.

I WAS TAKING SO MUCH,
IT COULD KILL ANYONE,

SO I WENT TO A DRUG-AND-ALCOHOL
REHABILITATION CENTER.

HOW DO THE DRUGS
COMPARE TO THE FOOD?

THEY'RE BOTH ABOUT
SELF-CONTROL, RIGHT?

YEAH, AND I WISH I CAN GRASP
ONTO THE FOOD ADDICTION

LIKE I DID THE DRUGS.

YOU FEEL LIKE THE DRUGS
ARE NOT AN ADDICTION NOW?

NO, THEY'RE NOT.

I CONQUERED THAT,
AND I WANT TO TRY TO AVOID

BEING IN THE HOSPITAL
AS MUCH AS I CAN NOW.

SO, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST
BARRIER TO THAT?

THERE REALLY ISN'T
ANY BARRIER.

I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER
THAT. I WANT YOU TO REALLY --

OH, OKAY.
I COULD ALSO WRITE THAT DOWN.

SO, YOU'RE KIND OF
A SMOOTH TALKER.

YES.

YEAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE
NOT SMOOTH-TALKING YOURSELF.

[ LAUGHS ]
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YEAH, I KNOW.

LIKE, YOU SEEM TO BE ABLE
TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF STUFF.

YOU THINK THAT HAS HELPED YOU
OR HURT YOU?

OH, IT'S HURT ME,
I THINK, MORE.

YOU'RE CONVINCING YOURSELF
OF STUFF THAT'S NOT TRUE, RIGHT?

YEAH.

AND I THINK OUR JOB
IS TO FIGURE OUT

THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH
YOU SUCCEED...

MM-HMM.

...AND THEN ALSO
IDENTIFY THOSE PLACES

WHERE YOU SEEM
TO FALL OFF THE WAGON, RIGHT?

OH, YEAH, DEFINITELY.

WHERE YOU GO WRONG.

YEAH.

AND IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT, I GUESS,
FEELING BETTER, RIGHT?

IT'S A VERSION OF THAT --
THE FOOD?

WHEN YOU LOST THE WEIGHT IN
THE HOSPITAL, HOW DID THAT FEEL?

REALLY GOOD.

I FELT LIKE
I WAS WALKING ON CLOUDS.

I FELT LIGHTER.
YOU WERE LIGHTER.

I WAS LIGHTER.

SO, TELL ME WHAT
YOUR NEXT POTHOLE'S GONNA BE.

WHAT'S THE NEXT THING
THAT'S GONNA TRIP YOU UP?

HOPEFULLY NOTHING.

OKAY, NOW,
THAT'S THE SWEET TALKER.

YOU'RE EVEN SMILING, RIGHT?
BUT BE STRAIGHT UP.

OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE TO FIND A WAY
TO EVENTUALLY SAY NO,

LIKE I CONQUERED
THE DRUG ADDICTION,

JUST GAIN CONTROL.

RIGHT,
AND YOU'VE HAD SUCCESS --

BUT WITH THE PIZZA, I JUST --
YEAH, I HAVE HAD SUCCESS,

AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO
KEEP THINKING ABOUT.

LIKE,
I HAVE DONE IT.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO
BEFORE NEXT TIME...

MM-HMM.

...IS TO REMEMBER THOSE TIMES
WHEN YOU'VE HAD A SUCCESS.

YEAH.

AND I WANT YOU TO BE
REALLY AWARE OF THOSE POTHOLES.

SO, SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS
PEOPLE ARE WALKING INTO POTHOLES

AND THEY DON'T EVEN
REALIZE IT.

MM-HMM.

AND THEN THE NEXT TIME,
THEY WALK UP TO IT,

THEY SEE IT,
AND THEY STILL FALL IN.

YEAH.

AND THEN THE NEXT TIME,
THEY WALK UP TO IT

AND THEY SEE IT
AND THEN THEY WALK AROUND IT.

SO, WE'VE GOT TO IDENTIFY
YOUR POTHOLES...

YEAH.

...AND IDENTIFY THOSE CONDITIONS
WHERE YOU CAN BE A SUCCESS.

AND YOU'VE DONE IT,

AND I THINK YOU CAN DO IT
OUTSIDE OF A HOSPITAL.

YEAH, TOTALLY.

IT WAS GOOD
TO MEET YOU.

YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU, DR. PARADISE.

THANKS.
THANK YOU.

**

Dr. Paradise:
STEVEN TALKED A LOT ABOUT
OVERCOMING HIS DRUG ADDICTION.

AND AT THIS POINT,

I DIDN'T CONFRONT HIM
ABOUT THE ONGOING PAINKILLER USE

'CAUSE I WAS MOSTLY INVESTED
IN ESTABLISHING TRUST

AND RAPPORT WITH HIM.

AND THAT CONFRONTATION
COMES OVER TIME,

ESPECIALLY WITH SOMEBODY
LIKE STEVEN.

**

Steven: I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN
DOING GOOD OVER THE LAST WEEK.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET,

AND I HAVEN'T GONE
TO THE HOSPITAL FOR PAIN MEDS.

I HAVE FOUND A FEW AROUND HERE
AND TOOK THEM,

BUT IT'S BEEN MINIMAL.

SO, I'M DOING GOOD.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE MY DAD
FLEW INTO TOWN TODAY,

AND HE'S COMING TO SEE ME

AND HELP FIND ME
A NEW PLACE TO LIVE

BECAUSE THIS ONE HAS JUST BECOME
TOO EXPENSIVE TO STAY IN.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Steven: HEY.

**

Steven Sr.: OH, MY GOD!

Steven: WHAT?
THIS PLACE IS DISGUSTING.

IT SMELLS
LIKE CAT PISS.

THIS [BLEEP] HOUSE STINKS
WICKED [BLEEP] BAD.

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THIS FLOOR?

THIS [BLEEP] KITCHEN FLOOR
IS FILTHY.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN I WALKED
INTO STEVEN'S APARTMENT,

I EXPECT IT TO LOOK CLEAN,

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT I WAS WALKING INTO HERE.

I WANT TO KILL HIM.

BETWEEN PAYING FOR HIS PLACE AND
JUSTIN'S STORE, I'M GOING BROKE.

I AIN'T GONNA GET SUED
FOR THIS [BLEEP] APARTMENT, TOO,

ON TOP OF IT,
BEING SO [BLEEP] DIRTY.

[ COUGHS ]

[ CAT MEOWS ]
IT'S OKAY.

I MEAN, WHAT'S IT TAKE
TO MOP A [BLEEP] FLOOR?

TWO MINUTES?

I ALMOST LOST MY HOUSE

BECAUSE OF ALL THE [BLEEP] MONEY
I'VE BEEN DISHING OUT

TO TRY TO KEEP
THIS [BLEEP] IN --

KEEP YOU IN
THIS [BLEEP] APARTMENT.

Steven:
MY DAD IS JUST VERY UPSET

AND FRUSTRATED AND SCARED.

BUT I KNOW HE LOVES ME.

AND I LOVE HIM, TOO.

I DIDN'T MEAN
TO GET UPSET LIKE THAT.

Steven:
ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT? I'M GONNA TRY
TO GET YOU AN APARTMENT.

OKAY.

IF I SEEN YOU
DO THE RIGHT THING,

I WOULDN'T EVEN
BE FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

WHEN I CAME HERE TONIGHT,
I THOUGHT I WOULD SEE YOU

A LITTLE THINNER
THAN WHAT YOU WERE.

YEAH.

BUT YOU'RE STILL
THE SAME.

YEP.

AND IF YOU KEEP PROLONGING THIS
AND PROLONGING THIS,

YOU AIN'T GONNA BE HERE
MUCH LONGER.

I KNOW IT.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING
I GOT ON MY MIND.

HOW MUCH LONGER
DO YOU GOT?

AND YOU LOOK HIGH.

**

BUT I'M NOT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS
RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I CAN ONLY TAKE
SO MUCH.

DO YOU EVER LOOK AT YOURSELF
IN THE MIRROR?

BE HONEST.

**

YEAH.

WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE?

SHOULD YOU
LOOK LIKE THAT?

NO, I -- NO. NO. NO.

NO.
YOU SEE THIS?

SEE ALL THIS?

YEAH.

CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL THIS GONE
AND IT'S ALL AS BIG AS THIS NOW?

NO.

COULD YOU IMAGINE IT?

NO.
IT WOULD BE NICE, THOUGH.

IT WOULD BE,
WOULDN'T IT?

Steven Sr.: STEVEN'S CHANCES
HAVE JUST ABOUT RUN OUT

WITH EVERYONE ELSE,

AND THEY'RE ABOUT
TO RUN OUT WITH ME, TOO, NOW

BECAUSE I CAN'T TAKE
ANY MORE OF THIS BULL[BLEEP]

AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

IF HE FAILS, I KNOW I DID
MY PART, BUT HE DIDN'T DO HIS.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I'M JUST HOPING I CAN FIND YOU
A PLACE BY FRIGGIN' THURSDAY.

WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?

IF I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE HELL'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I REALLY DON'T.

I'LL BE BACK
TOMORROW MORNING.

GOODBYE.

BYE-BYE.

**

Steven Sr.: TODAY IS A VERY
BUSY DAY FOR STEVEN AND ME.

WE ARE LOOKING AT APARTMENTS,

AND THEN HE HAS
HIS THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

SO IT'S A LOT IN ONE DAY
FOR HIM,

AND I CAN TELL HE'D RATHER BE
AT HOME DOING NOTHING.

BUT HE HAS TO DO THIS
SO HE CAN GET OVER IT.

**

HERE'S MY SON.
THAT'S THE PROPERTY MANAGER.

Steven: HI.
HOW DO YOU DO, MY FRIEND?

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD, GOOD.

WANT ME TO TRY AND PULL
THE GOLF CART OVER HERE?

YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE BETTER OFF
BACKING IT IN.

[ BEEPING ]

RIGHT HERE.

**

YOU GUYS
NEED A HAND?

Steven: I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
MOVING AROUND AND DOING THIS,

SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

ALL RIGHT,
JUST HOLD ON.

ALL RIGHT.
READY?

LET'S GO PLAY GOLF.

ALL RIGHT,
LET'S DO THIS.

OH, MY GOD.

ALL RIGHT, IT'S GONNA BE
A LITTLE -- LITTLE BUMPY.

AH, AH!
OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD.
YOU SHOULD BE OKAY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT,
I'M GONNA GO UP

A LITTLE BIT
OF A -- OF A CURB HERE.

I DON'T WANT YOU
TO GET HURT.

OH! OH!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. HOLD IT.

AHH! OHH!

YOU ALL RIGHT?

NO!
OH, GOD!

[ GASPS ] NO!

OH, MAN.
COME ON.

NO! GO! NO!

NO, I CAN'T.

YOU CAN GET UP.
COME ON.

OHH,
MY WHOLE BODY!

I CAN'T! NO!
ARE YOU OKAY?

NO!

[ SOBS ]

YOU NEED A --
AMBULANCE.

YOU NEED
AN AMBULANCE?

OH, GOD, YEAH.

OH, GOD.
OHH.

Steven Sr.:
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

I DON'T THINK
HE FELL FOR REAL...

OH, GOD.

...BUT I DON'T KNOW

BECAUSE STEVEN HAS DONE THIS
SO MANY TIMES.

I'M NOT SURE
WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

OH, I CAN'T!

IF HE'S HURT AND I IGNORE IT,
HE CAN END UP WITH AN EMERGENCY.

BUT IF HE'S FAKING,

THEN HE'LL GET MORE PAIN MEDS
LIKE HE WANTS.

AND I FEEL LIKE EITHER CHOICE
IS THE WRONG ONE RIGHT NOW.

OH, I GOT TO GO.

I GOT TO GO.
IT HURTS.

OH, MY GOD.
OH, GOD.

**

Steven: OH, GOD!

[ GROANS ]
OHH, I CAN'T.

IT HURTS.
Steven Sr.: WHAT HURTS?

EVERYTHING.

MY BACK AND STUFF.
DID THEY CALL?

YEAH. THEY'RE HERE NOW.
THEY'RE HERE. THEY'RE HERE NOW.

OHH!

I GOT TO GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.

MY WHOLE
[BLEEP] BODY HURTS.

MY BACK
AND MY LEGS.

YEAH.
MORE MY BACK.

**

Steven Sr.: YOU THINK
THAT YOU COULD WALK OVER THERE?

YOU [BLEEP] KIDDING ME?!

WHY YOU YELLING?

'CAUSE I HIT
THE [BLEEP] GROUND HARD,

AND YOU WANT ME
TO MAKE A MIRACLE?!

**

I NEED
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

Steven Sr.:
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

I THINK STEVEN'S
UP TO HIS OLD GAMES

AND THIS IS ALL JUST AN ACT.

HIS LEG EXCUSE
DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE,

SO HE HAS TO
COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW.

AND I HAVE TO PUT AN END TO IT.

STEVEN,
YOU'RE TOO BIG TO LIFT,

AND THEY CAN'T GET
THE AMBULANCE OVER HERE.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW --

WHAT I COULD DO
IS PULL THE VAN UP OVER HERE.

Steven:
YEAH, YEAH.

LET ME SEE.
OH, GOD.

YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
I'LL GET HIM INTO THE VAN.

YOUS GUYS
HELP ME GET HIM UP.

THEN YOUS CAN GO.
HE'LL BE OKAY.

**

LET ME GET BEHIND HIM.

I DON'T KNOW,
BUT...

OKAY. READY?

YEAH.
GO.

COME ON. LIFT.

ALMOST THERE.

YEAH, ONCE HE'S STANDING UP,
HE'S FINE.

**

ARE WE READY?

**

IT'LL GO AWAY.
THE PAIN GOES AWAY.

SHUT THE [BLEEP] UP.

'CAUSE IF YOU WAS HURTING
REAL BAD -- I'M GONNA EXPLAIN
SOMETHING TO YOU...

YOU'RE A [BLEEP]

...YOU WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO GET UP OFF THAT
GROUND, AND YOU DID.

WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO --
STAY THERE?

ALL RIGHT, WHATEVER.
THINGS HAPPEN.

DID I KNOW I WAS GONNA SLIP OFF
THE [BLEEP] GOLF CART? NO.

DID I HAVE A FEELING?
YES.

YOU LISTEN TO ME.

YOU'RE NOT MISSING
YOUR THERAPIST APPOINTMENT.

I ALREADY CALLED HIM
AND TOLD HIM

THAT WE WOULD BE THERE
IN 10 MINUTES

AND HE NEEDS TO COME OUTSIDE
AND GET YOU.

IF YOU STILL THINK
YOU NEED A HOSPITAL AFTER THAT,

I'LL TAKE YOU.

I'M NOT TALKING
TO DR. PARADISE.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T,
YOU REALLY AIN'T GOING.

I'LL TAKE YOUR [BLEEP]
RIGHT HOME.

THEN I'LL GO MY WAY.

YOU'RE FINE RIGHT NOW.
DON'T PLAY GAMES.

YOU'RE NOT IN PAIN
RIGHT NOW.

NO, I'M NOT!

NO, YOU'RE RIGHT!
I'M NOT!

I'M NOT
TALKING TO NOBODY.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA
GET TO AVOID HIM.

YOU HEAR ME?

**

IS THAT HIM?
YEP.

STEVEN.
Steven: HI.

HOW YOU DOING,
MAN?

CRAPPY NOW.

WHY ARE YOU CRAPPY?
I SLIPPED OFF THE GOLF CART

AND I HIT THE GROUND
REALLY HARD.

I'M SORRY
TO HEAR THAT.

IS THIS YOUR DAD?
YES.

I'M DR. PARADISE.
HOW ARE YOU?

HI.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

YEAH.
I'M STEVEN.

SO, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WANT
TO COME IN AND TALK TO ME.

YEAH, I'M NOT -- I CAN'T GO IN,
BRO, NOT RIGHT NOW.

I HIT THE GROUND
PRETTY HARD.

I NEED
TO GET CHECKED OUT.

WE'VE GOT
A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT,

SO I'M GONNA MEET WITH YOU
AND YOUR DAD TOGETHER...

UH...

...OR I'M GONNA MEET
WITH JUST YOUR DAD,

BUT I'D RATHER
YOU BE THERE.

I CANNOT
DO THAT TODAY, OKAY?

NO CHANCE?
NO.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA WAIT IN THE VAN
WHILE I TALK TO YOUR DAD?

NO. I NEED TO
GET GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

STEVEN, DO YOU WANT TO
COME INTO MY OFFICE, MAN?

WE'RE NEAR THE HOSPITAL ANYWAY.
THEY CAN DO IT.

STEVEN, THE BEST THING
FOR YOUR SON RIGHT NOW

IS FOR YOU TO COME IN
AND TALK TO ME.

CAN WE DO THAT?
YEAH, I GUESS.

YEAH.
WHY DON'T YOU COME IN?

JUST WAIT HERE.
WE'LL BE OUT IN A HALF-HOUR.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN
THE SESSION WHENEVER YOU WANT.

NO. NO, I'M NOT.
I GOT TO GO.

DO WHAT YOU WANT.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

LET'S TALK.
YEAH, YOU, TOO. [ CHUCKLES ]

**

YOU CAN COME IN
AND HAVE A SEAT ON --

GO STRAIGHT THROUGH
THE WAITING ROOM.

SO, WHAT I SAW
IN THE CAR THERE --

IS THAT FAMILIAR,

HIM SORT OF
DEMANDING SOMETHING FROM YOU

AND IT FEELS LIKE
YOU CAN'T SAY NO?

OH, YEAH.
IT'S BASICALLY WHAT HE DOES.

THE THING
THAT I NOTICED, THOUGH,

IS HE'S VERY DEPENDENT

ON OTHER PEOPLE
TO MAKE THOSE DEMANDS.

HE NEEDS YOUR HELP
TO DO THIS STUFF.

YEAH.

HE NEEDS ACCOMPLICES
IN THIS BEHAVIOR.

HE NEEDS DOCTORS
TO PRESCRIBE THE MEDICINE.

HE NEEDS SOMEBODY
TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND I THINK
THAT'S WHAT WE CAN WORK ON,

IS INCREASING OUR ABILITY
TO TELL HIM NO.

I HAD A SPILL.

I FELL OFF A GOLF CART,
AND I'M HURTING REALLY BAD.

YEAH, I SLIPPED OFF
FROM THE BACK.

I HIT THE GROUND PRETTY HARD.

I THINK WHAT HIS PROBLEM IS,
IS HE GETS --

WHEN HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL,
HE'S SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE.

YEAH.
WHEN HE GOES HOME,

HE DON'T HAVE NOBODY THERE.
YEAH.

SO, I THINK HE GETS
A LOT OF DEPRESSION.

MM-HMM.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE EATS

BECAUSE HE'S BY HIMSELF.

YEP.
HE'S LONELY.

YEP.
I WONDER IF THIS IS THE --

[ SIREN WAILS ]

THIS MUST BE THE AMBULANCE
RIGHT NOW, YOU THINK?

YEAH.

WE SHOULD COME UP
WITH A PLAN RIGHT NOW

AND DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
AND THEN JUST DO IT.

AND HE'LL TALK
AND HEM AND HAW,

BUT IF THE PLAN IS THAT
HE SHOULDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL,

I THINK WE HAVE TO
CONSISTENTLY REPEAT TO HIM

THAT
YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

I SLIPPED OFF A GOLF CART
AS IT WAS DRIVING,

AND I HIT THE GROUND
REALLY, REALLY HARD.

Man: WHAT'S HURTING ON YOU
RIGHT NOW?

MY BACK
AND MY LEGS.

YOUR BACK AND YOUR LEGS?
ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10?

DID YOU LOSE
CONSCIOUSNESS AT ALL?

LIKE A 9.
NO.

YOU DRIVE THE CAR.
IT'S YOUR CELLPHONE.

HE CAN COMPLAIN,
BUT IF HE GETS LIKE THAT,

I JUST WANT YOU TO PRETEND
YOU DON'T HEAR HIM.

Steven Sr.: OKAY,
I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

**

HE'S FINE.

YEAH.

HEY, CAPTAIN KUDI.

NO.
OKAY.

YEAH. YOU GUYS HAVE GOT
TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.

THIS IS BULL[BLEEP]
HE'S ADDICTED TO A DRUG.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
HE WANTS THAT...

HE WANTS THAT DRUG
SO HE CAN GET -- "AHH" --

FLOATY.
YEAH.

WHATEVER YOU SAY,
BUDDY.

I SWEAR TO GOD,
YOU GO WITH THESE GUYS,

I AM GOING
BACK HOME,

AND YOU'RE GONNA BE HOMELESS
'CAUSE I'M --

YOU'RE GONNA BE
ALL DONE.

YOU GOT TO MAKE
THAT DECISION YOURSELF.

YOU'RE GOING WITH THEM,
GO.

I'M GOING BACK HOME,
AND YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING.

OKAY. WHATEVER.

NO.
I'LL GO WITH MY DAD.

SO GET THAT OFF YOUR NECK.
YOU DON'T NEED IT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT ON
ALL THIS TIME.

Dr. Paradise: SO,
I'M GONNA SEE YOU NEXT WEEK?

YES.

FOR REAL?
YEAH.

OKAY.
FEEL BETTER.

I WANT THIS TO BE JUST LIKE
A LITTLE SETBACK, OKAY?

OKAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND REMEMBER, LIKE, EVERY TIME
YOU TAKE THE PAINKILLER,

IT PUSHES YOU A LITTLE BIT
FURTHER FROM YOUR GOAL.

OKAY.
OKAY.

I'LL SEE YOU SOON, OKAY?
OKAY.

**

Steven Sr.: STEVEN'S GOT TO GET
HIS ACT TOGETHER NOW.

I WANT TO HELP PUSH HIM
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

IF HE CAN'T CLEAN HIMSELF UP,
HE'S GONNA DIE.

BUT THE CHOICE IS ALL HIS.

**

Steven Sr.: AFTER A WEEK
OF LOOKING EVERYWHERE,

WE FINALLY FOUND
A NEW APARTMENT FOR STEVEN,

AND SO WE'RE MOVING HIM TODAY.

Steven Sr.: HELLO?

JUSTIN:
When are you coming home?

WELL, ACCORDING TO
THE FLIGHT THING,

IT SAYS I'M ARRIVING
IN GREEN AIRPORT

LIKE AT 12:30,
QUARTER TO 1:00.

I HAD TO GO HELP JOHN.
I HAD NO CHOICE.

DON'T WORRY.
I'LL BE -- I'LL BE --

I'LL BE THERE
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TOMORROW.

BUH-BYE!

YOU'RE A [BLEEP]
PAIN IN MY ASS.

YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE
EMERGENCY ACCESS

WORKS ON
THAT PHONE, TOO.

JOHN,
DON'T EVEN START.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANT
TO SEE AMBULANCES

THERE ALL THE TIME.
NO.

I GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EMERGENCY ACCESS WORKS

JUST IN CASE.

Steven Sr.: STEVEN'S GOT TO
REALIZE THAT I'M AT AN AGE NOW

THAT HE CAN'T JUST
KEEP AGGRAVATING ME

BECAUSE THE AGGRAVATION'S
GONNA KILL ME.

NOW WHERE'S HE GONNA BE
IF I'M NOT HERE?

**

I'M HELPING STEVEN MOVE
BECAUSE HE'S NOT CAPABLE.

HE'S HANDICAPPED.

AND HE COULDN'T LIFT UP A BOX
IF HE WANTED TO,

SO I BASICALLY
GOT TO DO EVERYTHING.

I'M GONNA TRY LIKE HELL
TO GET ALL THIS DONE TONIGHT

SO I CAN GO BACK TO
RHODE ISLAND TOMORROW MORNING...

OH, MY GOD.

...BECAUSE I NEED
TO GET BACK TO JUSTIN.

I WORRY ABOUT BOTH OF MY SONS,

BUT STEVEN MORE BECAUSE
HE'S SO BAD OFF RIGHT NOW.

SO IT SCARES ME.

LIKE THIS,
AGAINST THE WALL?

Steven: CORRECT.

Steven:
I'M SAD TO SEE MY DAD GO.

AS MUCH AS
WE FRUSTRATE EACH OTHER,

I LIKE HAVING HIM AROUND.

AND I KNOW HE JUST
WANTS THE BEST FOR ME,

SO I WANT TO MAKE HIM PROUD.

BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS
WHERE I JUST WANT PAINKILLERS

OR TO EAT
THAT I CAN'T RESIST IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO CHANGE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, MAN,
I'M GONNA GO.

ALL RIGHT.
BYE-BYE.

NEXT TIME I SEE YOU IS
WHEN YOU GET THE OPERATION DONE.

ALL RIGHT.
BYE.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

**

**

IT'S BEEN A MONTH
SINCE I LEFT THE HOSPITAL.

**

AND NOW I'M SUPPOSED TO SEE
DR. NOWZARADAN FOR MY CHECKUP.

**

BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO
BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE

I'M GONNA HAVE MADE THE PROGRESS
I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

**

BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE HIM
EVEN MORE UPSET BY SKIPPING.

**

SO I'LL GO FACE THE MUSIC
IF I HAVE TO.

**

I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOSE AT LEAST
40 POUNDS AND GET UNDER 670.

HI.

AND I'M NOT SURE
IF I DID THAT.

BUT I DO FEEL LIKE
I MADE SOME PROGRESS.

THAT'S REALLY NOT GOOD.

I'VE GAINED
SOME OF THE WEIGHT BACK AGAIN,

AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW
HOW THAT HAPPENED.

IF I DIDN'T THINK DR. NOWZARADAN
WOULD BE ANGRIER IF I LEFT,

THEN I WOULD

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO FACE HIM RIGHT NOW.

HELLO.
Steven: HI.

HOW YOU DOING,
STEVEN?

WELL,
FIRST LET ME SAY --

'CAUSE I KNOW
YOU'RE GONNA BRING IT UP --

I GAINED 21 POUNDS

BECAUSE I SLIPPED UP
A COUPLE TIMES.

BUT I'M
BACK ON TRACK NOW.

HOWEVER --
NO. WAIT A MINUTE.

HOW MANY TIMES
YOU BEEN BACK ON TRACK?

NO.
I REALLY --

NO. HOW MANY TIMES?
WELL...

LET ME GIVE YOU
SOME STATISTICS, OKAY?

YOU CAME TO HOUSTON
10 MONTHS AGO,

AND YOU WERE 730 POUNDS.

WE HELPED YOU
TO LOSE 100 POUNDS.

THEN YOU
GAIN IT ALL BACK AND MORE.

SO WE GOT YOU BACK
TO 729.

NOW YOU GAINED
20 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH

WHEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO
LOSE 40 POUNDS.

SO, YOU MADE NO PROGRESS,

AND WHEN WE DO HELP YOU,
YOU IMMEDIATELY UNDO IT.

MM-HMM.
AND WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

ABSOLUTE FAILURE.
MM-HMM.

ABSOLUTE FAILURE.

WELL,
I CAN EXPLAIN --

NEXT TIME,
IT'S GONNA BE 800 POUNDS?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

NEXT TIME,
IT'S GONNA BE UNDER --

PROBABLY 600
OR UNDER 600.

THAT'S NEVER
GONNA HAPPEN,

AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT
YOURSELF, EITHER.

I DO WANT TO COMMIT
TO WORKING OUT NOW,

BUT I'M HAVING
A HARD TIME

'CAUSE I OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE MEDICATION ANYMORE.

AND I JUST NEED,
LIKE, YOU KNOW,

A REFILL TO HELP ME OUT,
LIKE, WITH WORKING OUT.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASKING ME
FOR PAIN MEDICATION?

YEAH. I WANT TO WORK OUT
TWO TIMES A DAY.

ALL RIGHT.
I REALLY DO.

I REALLY DO.
STEVEN, IN THE PAST MONTH --

I WANT TO COMMIT
TO THIS, THOUGH.

EH.

I KNOW YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME.
IN THE PAST MONTH,

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU
BEEN TO EMERGENCY ROOM?

I HAVE BEEN TO
THE EMERGENCY ROOM -- HMM --

MAYBE FIVE TIMES,
I THINK.

FIVE TIMES IN A MONTH.

AND SO YOU GO
TO ONE HOSPITAL.

THEY RECOGNIZE
THAT YOU'RE A DRUG ADDICT.

THEN YOU GO
TO ANOTHER ONE.

LET ME JUST
GIVE YOU SOMETHING.

THIS IS A PRESCRIPTION
MONITORING PROGRAM

WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.

YOU RECEIVED 39 PRESCRIPTIONS
FROM 17 DIFFERENT DOCTORS.

MM-HMM.
THAT RING A BELL?

WELL, OBVIOUSLY,
I CAN SEE IT ON THE PAPER.

IT CAN'T BE A LIE.
THEN YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE.

YOU HAVE RECEIVED TYLENOL
AND CODEINE, 259 TABLETS.

YOU'VE RECEIVED TRAMADOL,
1,045 TABLETS,

HYDROCODONE, 970 TABLETS
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IF YOU HAVE PRESCRIPTION

FROM ANY OTHER DOCTOR
THAN ONE DOCTOR,

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
PRESCRIBE YOU PAIN MEDICATION.

MM-HMM.
SO, THIS IS THE END OF IT.

YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED

LIFETIME HOSPITAL PRIVILEGES
TO BE ADMITTED.

SO YOUR DAYS OF ABUSING
THE SYSTEM ARE OVER.

OKAY. THANK YOU.
HAVE A NICE DAY.

I WANT TO LEAVE.
YOU GOT THAT?

YES. I'M DONE. TAKE THIS.
OKAY.

THIS INFORMATION
IS GOING TO DATABANK.

OKAY.

AND ONCE I PUT THIS
IN THE DATABASE,

THE NEXT TIME YOU DO THIS,
YOU'LL BE ARRESTED.

I WANT TO LEAVE.
I WANT TO LEAVE.

NO.

I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
I WANT TO LEAVE.

AH, FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE.
I WANT YOU TO COME WITH ME.

LET'S GO
DOWN THE HALL.

WHERE?

JUST WALK WITH ME.

I'M GONNA
SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

OKAY.

MAKING ME WALK.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
COME ON IN.

NOW, STAND OVER HERE
AND LOOK AT THAT MIRROR.

[ Chuckling ] WHY?

LOOK AT YOURSELF.
LOOK.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU
HAVE DONE TO YOUR BODY.

TELL ME
WHAT YOU SEE.

A BIG FAILURE.

YOU'RE NOT
LOOKING AT YOURSELF.

COME ON.
KEEP LOOKING AT YOURSELF.

OKAY.

YOU SEE YOURSELF THERE?

CAN I STEP AWAY
FROM THE MIRROR?

YOU HAD ENOUGH?
YOU LOOK ENOUGH AT YOURSELF?

YOU SEE WHAT
YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE?

YEAH.
I DON'T WANT TO LOOK ANYMORE.

LOOK AT YOUR BODY.

LOOK AT YOUR STOMACH.

WHEN YOU CAME,
IT WASN'T HANGING THAT FAR.

NOW IT'S HANGING
ALL DOWN.

MM-HMM.
LOOK AT YOUR LEG --

SWOLLEN, RED,
LYMPHEDEMA IN BOTH OF THEM,

LOOK LIKE
AN ELEPHANT'S LEG.

MM-HMM.

IT DOESN'T
LOOK HUMAN ANYMORE

BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
MM.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT SEEING
YOURSELF THE WAY YOU ARE.

YOU SEEN ANYBODY
DO THAT TO THEIR BODY?

NO.
YOU DID THAT ALL TO YOURSELF.

MM-HMM.
I DON'T WANT TO LOOK ANYMORE.

WHAT'D IT TAKE TO REALIZE
THAT YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF?

MM. NOW?

I NEVER LOOK
IN THE MIRROR, SO, YEAH.

CAN I SIT ON THAT?

YES, YOU CAN SIT.

BACK IS GIVING OUT.

OKAY.

SO, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO CONTROL
ANY OF YOUR IMPULSES.

YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED
IN GIVING UP YOUR DRUG HABIT.

AND I DON'T SEE
ANY WAY OUT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA
SAVE YOU FROM YOURSELF.

I NEED HELP WITH --
NO.

YOU HAD ALL THE HELP
YOU'RE GONNA GET.

THIS ADDICTION
IS GONNA KILL YOU.

YOU NEED TO DECIDE
TO GIVE UP YOUR FOOD ADDICTION

AND DRUG ADDICTION
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THINK ABOUT WHAT
YOU SAW IN THE MIRROR.

IF YOU WANT THAT
TO BE YOU, THAT'S FINE.

YOU CAN
DO WHAT YOU WANT

AND FIND A WAY
TO KILL YOURSELF ON YOUR OWN.

BUT IF
YOU COME BACK HERE,

I EXPECT TO SEE YOU DOWN
A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

IF NOT,
WE'RE COMPLETELY DONE.

MM-HMM.

STEVEN IS AT A VERY IMPORTANT
CROSSROADS RIGHT NOW.

HIS PAIN MEDICINE
HAS BEEN SHUT OFF,

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE
BUT TO GIVE UP THIS ADDICTION.

AND HE CAN EITHER
GET WITH THE PROGRAM

AND WORK WITH US

TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK
TO LIVE

OR HIS CHANCES ARE UP.

AFTER THIS,

THERE ARE NO MORE OPPORTUNITIES
ON THIS PROGRAM.

**

Steven: WHEN I GOT HOME AFTER
SEEING DR. NOW LAST WEEK,

IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE,
BUT THE STUFF HE SAID SUNK IN.

**

TWO...

IT WAS REALLY HARD AT FIRST

NOT HAVING
ANY PAINKILLERS ANYMORE.

AND I'M STILL REALLY STRUGGLING.

BUT I FEEL LIKE
I'M WAKING UP A LITTLE,

LIKE SOME HAZE
IS CLEARING IN MY HEAD.

I DON'T WANT WHO I SAW
IN THE MIRROR TO BE ME,

SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A CHANGE.

AND I'M DOING IT BY THROWING OUT

ALL THE STUFF
THAT'S BAD FOR ME.

GOT A LOT MORE SODA TO GO,
A LOT MORE BAD STUFF.

**

BY DOING THIS,

I'M ACTUALLY CONQUERING
MY ADDICTION FOR ONCE.

IN YOU GO, ADDICTION.

SEE YOU. BYE.

DOWN THE DRAIN. BYE.

**

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A WHILE,

I WANT TO LIVE
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

AND ONCE DR. NOW
STARTED TO READ OFF

HOW MANY PAINKILLERS
I HAD TAKEN IN JUST A MONTH,

I REALIZED HOW RISKY
THIS HAS BEEN FOR ME...

...BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT.

THIS IS MY HYDROCODONE BOTTLE --
120.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE.

OH, WOW.

I DIDN'T REALIZE
I TOOK THAT MANY.

WHOA. THAT'S SCARY.

I WANT MY LIFE TO CHANGE.

AND WHEN I GO BACK
TO SEE DR. NOW,

I KNOW I HAVE TO HAVE
LOST WEIGHT.

SO I'M EATING RIGHT
AND TRYING TO STAY ACTIVE.

[ WHIMPERING ]

I'M OUT HERE
IN THE FREEZING-COLD RAIN,

AND EACH STEP I TAKE,

MY FEET HAVE
THIS BURNING SENSATION.

AND ALL I WANT TO DO
IS GO BACK INSIDE.

BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO TELL DR. NOWZARADAN

THAT I'M WALKING
THROUGH THE FIRE THIS TIME

AND NOT BEING A FAILURE
AND A LOSER.

I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO CHANGE.

AND MAYBE THAT COULD LEAD
TO GOOD THINGS,

LIKE REPAIRING MY RELATIONSHIP
WITH JUSTIN.

BUT I NOW I HAVE TO START
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MYSELF

TO PROVE I CAN GET READY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Justin: THE HOBBY STORE
HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND I'VE BEEN THINKING
THAT MAYBE I WANT

TO GO BACK
TO HOUSTON SOMETIME SOON

TO TRY
AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I HAVE A SKYPE APPOINTMENT TODAY
WITH DR. NOW

BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO HIM
AND I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM.

IT'S BEEN LIKE 11 MONTHS
SINCE I SAW HIM,

SO I'M NOT SURE
WHAT HE'S GONNA THINK.

[ RINGING ]

HI, JUSTIN.
HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
I'M DOING GOOD.

SO, ARE YOU CHECKING YOUR WEIGHT
LIKE WE ASKED YOU TO?

BUT I DON'T REALLY
LIKE THE SCALE.

WELL,
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT,

BUT YOU NEED TO LEARN
HOW TO USE IT

IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET
YOUR WEIGHT DOWN.

SO, I NEED YOU
TO START GETTING

ON THE SCALE
AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

OKAY.

HOW ARE YOU DOING
WITH YOUR DIET?

I FELL OFF
THE RAILS ONCE.

I HAD A LITTLE BIT
OF RAVIOLI WITH MY FATHER.

SO, YOUR DIET ISN'T REALLY
GOING WELL RIGHT NOW.

NOT AT ALL.

WELL, YOU DON'T WANT
TO END UP

BEING LIKE YOUR BROTHER,
STEVEN, THAT HAS --

HIS WEIGHT
IS OUT OF CONTROL.

I KNOW.
IT'S JUST BEEN VERY STRESSFUL

SINCE OPENING THE STORE
WITH MY FATHER.

STRESS IS PART OF LIFE,

BUT STRESS SHOULD NOT REFLECT
ON OUR EATING HABIT.

IT'S JUST AN EXCUSE,
I GUESS.

SO, DO YOU THINK
SEEING A THERAPIST

IS GOING TO BE
ANY HELP FOR YOU?

NOT AT ALL.
WHY IS THAT?

I TRIED IT BEFORE
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

MAYBE YOU NEED TO SEE
A DIFFERENT THERAPIST.

NO, I FIGURED OUT HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ON MY OWN.

I HAVE
COPING MECHANISMS.

WELL, SOMETIMES
COPING MECHANISMS TRANSLATE

INTO GAINING WEIGHT,
THOUGH.

WELL, MY COPING MECHANISM
IS BASICALLY

JUST LISTENING
TO MUSIC.

IF THAT WORKS
FOR YOU,

YOU WOULD HAVE LOST
A LOT OF WEIGHT,

BUT YOU HAVEN'T.

I'M NOT GAINING
ANY WEIGHT.

I DON'T THINK
THAT'S COMPLETELY ACCURATE.

YOU'RE GAINING STILL.

NO ONE THAT IS
OVER 600 POUNDS

HAS THEIR WEIGHT
STAYED THE SAME.

YOU'RE EITHER GAINING
OR LOSING.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR LINE
OF THINKING

ABOUT HAVING SURGERY
FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

I DO WANT IT.
OKAY.

FOR THAT, YOU HAVE TO
CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS

AND START LOSING
30 POUNDS EVERY MONTH

IF YOU WANT
TO DO THIS, RIGHT?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

BUT I NEED TO GET
A STARTING WEIGHT FROM YOU,

AND YOU HAVE TO GET
ON THE SCALE, OKAY?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

LET'S START DOING THAT.

IN THE MEANTIME,
I WANT YOU TO HAVE OPEN MIND

ABOUT SEEING
A THERAPIST, OKAY?

I'LL TRY.
STICK WITH THE PROGRAM,

AND I'LL BE IN TOUCH
WITH YOU, OKAY?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

BYE, DR. NOW.
BYE.

I THINK THE CALL WENT WELL.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA
OF SEEING A THERAPIST

BECAUSE I THINK
I CAN KEEP USING MUSIC

TO HELP ME DEAL WITH THINGS.

TO COPE WITH THE STRESS
AND GET BACK ON THE PROGRAM,

I'M JUST GONNA
CRANK UP THE MUSIC TO 11.

BUT I'LL CONSIDER EVERYTHING
THAT DOCTOR'S TELLING ME

AND PROBABLY BE APPROVED
BEFORE MY BROTHER IS.

**

Steven: TODAY,
I'M AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

TO SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT
I'VE LOST.

IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS
SINCE I SAW DR. NOW LAST.

I'VE NOT HAD ANY PAIN MEDS,
AND I'VE STUCK TO THE DIET.

Woman:
STEVEN ASSANTI?

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M DOING BETTER.

BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA
IF I'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS

OR JUST A LITTLE.

AND I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I KNOW

EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON
WHAT THE SCALE IS ABOUT TO SAY.

**

Steven:
I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I WAS AT 750 THE LAST TIME
I WEIGHED IN,

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME TO LOSE
A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT

ON MY OWN TO PROVE TO HIM

I'M FINALLY 100% COMMITTED
TO THE PROGRAM.

OH! [ CHUCKLES ]

[ LAUGHS ]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

OOH!

**

I JUST REALLY HOPE
THIS IS ENOUGH FOR DR. NOW

TO THINK I'M READY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

HELLO.
HI.

HOW YOU DOING,
STEVEN?

WELL, GOOD.

OKAY, SO, YOU LOST 73 POUNDS
IN A BIT OVER TWO MONTHS.

THAT IS A MOVE
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO I'M PROUD OF YOU.

YOU'VE SHOWN ME
THAT IT IS POSSIBLE

FOR YOU
TO CONTROL YOURSELF.

BUT I STILL NEED
TO SEE MORE FROM YOU

BEFORE I KNOW YOU'RE READY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY.

BUT IT'S IMPERATIVE
TO KEEP SEEING THE THERAPIST.

BUT YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

STEVEN STILL HAS
A LONG WAY TO GO,

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN HERE,

I'M FEELING OPTIMISTIC

AND LIKE THERE IS A CHANCE
TO HELP HIM RIGHT NOW.

SO, THIS IS
A GOOD MOMENTUM,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE 40 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS
WITH STEVEN

ARE DEPENDING TOTALLY ON HIM,

AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN TAKE
A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH

TO GETTING HIM TO BECOME
A HEALTHY PERSON

SO HE CAN START TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND CHANGE HIS LIFE.

Steven: THAT'S THE FIRST TIME
I'VE SEEN DR. NOW SMILE AT ME.

I KNOW THIS CHANCE IS A GIFT,

AND I'M NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING
TO SCREW IT UP.

AS I GET FURTHER AND FURTHER
FROM MY DRUG ADDICTION,

I FEEL LIKE THINGS
ARE GETTING CLEARER FOR ME,

AND ONE THING
THAT'S REALLY BEEN ON MY MIND

IS MY RELATIONSHIP
WITH MY BROTHER.

I THINK WHAT HURT
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BRO

IS I WAS A BIG BULLY
AND I DROVE HIM INSANE.

**

I KNOW I HAVEN'T
BEEN GOOD TO HIM.

BUT I NEED HIM TO KNOW
HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM.

AND I REALLY WANT HIM

TO TRY AND GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, TOO.

HI, JOHN.
HI.

HOW'S YOUR STORE DOING, JUSTIN?
VERY GOOD.

MADE A LOT OF $100s TODAY.

GOOD.
SO, HOW MUCH DID YOU LOSE?

I WAS DOWN 73 POUNDS.
ALL RIGHT.

SO, HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN EATING?

HAVE YOU BEEN TRYING
TO LOSE WEIGHT?

YEAH.
YEAH.

YEAH.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY.

BELIEVE ME.
I KNOW.

I JUST
WANT TO TELL YOU

THAT I REALLY HOPE
YOU GET THE SURGERY, AND...

I JUST WANT YOU TO DO
THE RIGHT THING, ALL RIGHT?

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I CARE ABOUT YOU.

UH...

[ Voice breaking ]
I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE

ABOUT EVERYTHING
I PUT YOU THROUGH IN THE PAST.

I'M NOT SOMEBODY
YOU SAY THAT TO

AND YOU AUTOMATICALLY
GET FORGIVENESS FROM ME.

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND,

AND I WILL EARN
YOUR FORGIVENESS.

YOU HAVE TO. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY
YOU'LL GET IT BACK.

JUST KEEP DOING
THE RIGHT THING.

AND I LOVE YOU
AS A BROTHER.

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE DO THIS,
OKAY?

I'M PLANNING
ON GETTING THE SURGERY.

THAT'S AWESOME, JUSTIN.
YEAH, OF COURSE.

I HAVE TO UPDATE
MY WILL FIRST.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT'S GONNA BE VERY EXCITING
FOR THAT DAY TO COME FOR ME.

I'LL BE DOWN --
I'LL BE DOWN THERE SOON.

SO, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YOU, TOO.

BYE.
BYE.

**

WHY DON'T YOU STAND
IN THE SUN WHERE IT'S MORE --

YOU FEEL
THE HEAT BETTER.

Justin: I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN
BELIEVE ANYTHING STEVEN SAYS

BECAUSE HE HAS MOOD SWINGS,
HE HAS DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

IT DEPENDS ON WHICH STEVEN
HE IS TODAY.

I KNOW RIGHT NOW
HE IS MAKING BETTER CHOICES,

BUT STEVEN HAS TO KEEP
DOING THE RIGHT THING

IF HE WANTS TO GET
MY TRUST BACK.

AND THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO.

[ WHISTLES ]

STEVEN HAS TO EARN IT.

I MEAN, NO MATTER
HOW LONG IT TAKES,

HE STILL HAS TO EARN IT.

OH!
I GOT IT.

AND DESPITE EVERYTHING
THAT STEVEN HAS DONE TO ME,

I DO WANT THE BEST FOR HIM,
NO MATTER WHAT.

**

I LOVE MY BROTHER,
AND ONE OF THE THINGS

I WANT THE MOST IS TO REPAIR
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

AND I KNOW
THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME

AND THAT THERE'S A LOT TO PROVE.

SO, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO,
NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.