Original subtitles

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- This season on "Mama June"...

- Mama June Shannon and her boyfriend Geno Doak

were arrested--

- It's been tough dealing with the fallout

of Mama's addiction.

What more is there to do?

What more can we physically do for her?

- She is selling everything.

Bubble gum machine that come out of Alana's room.

- Oh, my God.

I don't know if things will ever go back

to being the same.

- Come on, we need to go. - What's the rush?

- Mama texted me, "There may be people looking for y'all.

Be careful." She owes people money.

So now she's put us in danger.

There have been moments of hope.

- Your mom has agreed to go to rehab.

- Really?

- Well, maybe she's really now. - Maybe she is ready.

- Mama's going to rehab. Can this day get any better?

- But like so many addicts...

- June. - Mama backed out on her word.

- And ran away and hid from me,

Alana, and our whole family.

- I mean, if it wasn't for social media,

we wouldn't even know if she was alive.

- Oh, my God. - What?

- Geno crashed into the house, drunk.

There's video.

- And we were all worried

about how Geno might be treating her.

- Run, bitch!

- Are you [bleep] stupid?

[baby crying] - All this has taken

its toll on our family.

Alana, seriously?

- She fakely snorted cocaine online.

Meanwhile, Jennifer thinks

that she can step into Mama's old role.

- Ever since June got arrest for crack cocaine,

I'm becoming the star that I always knew I could be.

- And she's trying to replace her as Alana's mama.

- Who's Alana gonna be with?

- Y'all need custody, not Pumpkin.

- We're filing for full custody of Alana.

- I had enough, so I called Mama.

Now is the time for you to come and sit down with me.

And she agreed to meet.

- What's up with y'all?

- But nothing could prepare us for who Mama has become.

- Are y'all ready for me?

- She's coming in?

- [cries]

- I'm surprised you'd come.

- [sobs]

- It's been five months since Mama's seen our family.

- If you want to try to make this work,

then I'm willing to do whatever the [bleep] it takes.

How do you not see that I'm begging?

- I gave her an ultimatum.

If you are wanting to see Ella and Alana,

then you have to take the drug test.

- You're gonna do this every week in outpatient rehab

three days a week.

- But getting Mama to agree to go to rehab

was the easy part.

- I don't. - You do.

Getting her to cooperate was the real challenge.

- It is. Rehab.

- It is [bleep] rehab.

If she ever wants to her family again,

she's gotta overcome the addiction of drugs...

- First thing we need to do, not use.

- [laughs]

And Geno. - Baby, I need--

- If you keep following me, I'm leaving.

- Like, you have to be willing to, like,

not have those kind of people around you.

- It's up to Mama now to bring this crisis to an end.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Nobody knows what the real story is.

I'm worse than I ever have been.

- Does Geno have anything to do with that?

- I don't give two [bleep] about anything.

I don't need this [bleep].

[melancholy music]

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

- Come on, let's take our medicine.

Come on.

- [coughing]

- [cries] - Come on.

- Oh, boy.

- Why couldn't I buy one lip gloss?

- Alana, no. - Just one.

- Necessities. You want to be sick,

or you want your face to look beautiful?

One of the two.

- I want my face to look beautiful.

- Well, sucks for both of us, doesn't it?

- [coughs]

- The past month has been just nerve-racking.

Like, Gina called me to tell me that Mama

skips out on rehab once again,

and things have just gotten worse since then.

I just don't know how much more I can take.

Here. - It's nasty.

- Well, I don't care.

- Mama would've bought me lip gloss.

- No. I'm having to put dinner on the table.

I'm basically a single mom when Josh is not here.

I'm having to pick up extra shifts at work.

- I've been stressing out a lot more lately,

especially knowing Mama left rehab again.

It's just, like... it's so frustrating.

Like, why don't you try and do better for yourself

so you can be back in our life?

She's not showing any improvement

that she's trying to get better because she misses us.

It's either you miss us, or you don't.

And, like, if you don't, don't lie to us.

This stinks, Pumpkin.

- Yeah, tell her. Take your medicine, Alana.

- Yes, take your medicine. Let's go.

- Okay.

- Eww. - Alana's face is not good.

Y'all are both so whiney.

I should've left y'all guys at the house, and...

- Really? - Yes.

Well, I've got to go to work, Alana.

You want to go to work and pay the bills?

I didn't think so.

- This makes no sense.

I'm not saying that I don't want to watch Ella,

but, you know, I just started a new school.

I have new friends, homework.

I have to do a lot of stuff.

I understand it could be hard, but, like,

it'd be great if Mama came back home,

and, like, healthy, everything was just fine.

Maybe then I could just be a normal teenager.

- Come on, let's go home.

- [laughs]

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

- Good.

- Actually, I did hear from June.

- You know, one of her many reasons.

One time, it was she doesn't need it.

The next time was, you know,

it's not the right program for her.

- In the truck.

- Yeah. They're homeless.

- Yeah, for sure. They have no money.

They've gotten thrown out the last hotel

that they were in for non-payment.

They have no home. They have nothing.

I think this is rock bottom.

- Well, I found this inpatient rehab in Florida

that will take her for free.

- I don't want to be in an inpatient thing.

[bleep] that [bleep].

- I think she will because this is our only hope right now.

- I just want to wait. - Sure.

- You know, they've been let down so many times

by June recently, and I just...

I want her to be there and been there for, like, a week or two

before I tell them anything.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- What has life been like currently for you guys?

You been on the road, you're staying in hotels,

staying in the Suburban.

- It has been kind of [bleep] up.

It got to the point where being able to afford a hotel

and being able to live just was not possible,

so then we started sleeping in the Suburban.

We slept in the Suburban, like, what was it, four nights?

- Well, it was a few nights we ended up staying in there.

- Why couldn't you just stay at that hotel?

- Hell, in the past six months,

we've spent $150,000 on cocaine.

- Shh. Yeah. - Yeah.

- It's been rough. It really has.

- Well, the other thing is that we just, like,

get in that vicious cycle.

Like, we want to do good,

but then it's like...

- Well, that's what addiction does, June.

It's not--you can want to do good all you want,

but you're at the mercy of a substance.

- You know, regardless if we want to be clean or not,

or don't want to use,

and we may not be out looking for it,

you know, your buddy rolls up and he's got a pocketful--

- That's what happened four or five days ago.

That's what happened five days ago.

We wasn't even looking for any, didn't even ask for any.

We had been clean for over a week,

and they threw it--

- It was a week.

- You act like--no.

One week to the following week was [bleep] a week.

Yes, because if we don't stay in the same area,

and I'm not saying nobody forced us to do it,

but if we don't go on that side of town,

we are not most likely not to do it.

- I mean, we're talking about--

- A couple ounces a day, sometimes three.

I mean, it's-- we're not gonna be alive.

I mean, honestly. I mean, we really aren't.

- We'd stay clean for a week if we would not

have got offered that one hit, like four to five days ago.

We probably-- we would've still been clean.

And that's true.

- We would because we didn't have the money.

- That's--okay, now you're-- now that's true.

Now that's true.

That's the reason we were clean.

We didn't have the money.

That's true. - We have not used an ounce.

- We would go through an eight-ball in an hour.

- If we don't have the [bleep] money,

we may go a [bleep] week.

We may go four or five days.

- June, like, think about it, though.

There's a difference between deciding

to do a smaller amount,

and being forced to do a smaller amount

because you don't have the money.

What changed?

What made you think this is it?

- Well...

- We've had a few days clean here and there, but--

- He's lying.

- When you found out that I had got high

and not shared with you, oh, my God.

That's true.

[dramatic sting]

- I don't know how to feel, like honesty, I don't.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[birds chirping]

[upbeat music]

- Your water's not even boiling.

Stop!

- [laughs]

I gotta do something to bring up my spirits.

- Well-- - [laughs]

So I have a little news.

I got this phone call.

June has a storage unit that is going up for auction

because, shock, they haven't made a payment on it in months.

So when you don't make a payment

on your storage unit--

- Yeah. - They put it up for auction.

- [snickers] Wow.

- She says she gonna...

let me come up there and see if there's anything in it.

- It could be nothing. It could be garbage.

It could be Geno's crap.

We don't know what's in there.

- I understand, but it could be something of the girls'.

- If she hadn't already sold them.

- If there's a chance that some of their stuff's in there,

at least it's gonna make them feel better,

even if it's one thing.

One thing would be better than nothing.

I knew it was bad when June sold all her stuff.

I mean, that was bad enough.

Poof! It's gone. And for what?

Drugs and Geno.

I've gotta do whatever I can to get the girls

at least some of their good memories back.

Think about it.

We've gotta give it a chance.

I just wish June would get her [bleep] together.

She's hurting more people than she realizes.

- She's gotta want to, and right now,

she don't want to.

- Only thing she wants is what she don't need,

and what else is new?

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- What should I expect?

- It really depends on the person.

Your initial level, which is gonna be

a detox level of care,

and depending what you're on, those days vary.

If you guys really want to abandon,

like, your old way of living

and the way that you're thinking and doing things,

then Banyan's gonna give you guys the tools to do so.

I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm scared.

- What are you scared of?

- I don't know.

I guess the unknown.

Hell, it's been so long since I've been clean,

I don't know what it's--

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Is that it right there?

- Yellow building right here, yeah.

- [bleep], here we go. Are you ready?

- [sighs] I don't know.

- Are you going in there? - No, ma'am.

- What?

- Coming up on "Mama June"...

- You have temporary custody of Alana, not full.

- You don't give me any money to take care of her.

- You guys want to say your good-byes?

- I can't. - I need to go to the airport.

- [sobs]

[dramatic sting]

[dramatic music]

- No, ma'am. - What?

Are you ready?

- Ready.

Yes, sir. - Come on.

- [mutters] - Here we go.

Oh. Really?

- I'm gonna check your temperature.

[machine beeps]

- All right.

- No, I remember my first time, I was like,

"What am I signing up for?"

- For me...

we wanted a facility that we could come together.

- Hi. - Hi, how are you?

- Good. How are you?

I'm Lauren. I will be the therapist

that'll be working with you while you're here.

There's other therapists in the building,

and there's plenty of staff that'll be around you

for the next couple days.

- June plans on sleeping most of the day, right?

- And that's kind of what I figured.

You're residential because of what you're coming off of,

but it--you need some sleep.

- Yeah. - All right.

- You guys will definitely be split up.

[dramatic tone]

- Um...

yes, I am.

Not easy, but it's worth it.

The fun was probably gone a long time ago.

- Mm-hmm. - I get it.

Been there, done that.

- Yeah, it's not fun. Not at all.

- 250. 254. I know.

- [whistles]

- 196.6.

[dramatic sting]

- I told you.

- Let's stand against this wall.

Let me take your picture for your chart.

- All right.

- Any way you want. That's all.

- Let me grab it right quick. Be right back.

- Thank you.

- Have you ever taken drugs using needles?

- Yes.

- Okay, did you ever forget what you were doing

when you were high or intoxicated?

- Yes.

- Yeah, so you only use crack and cocaine.

Is that correct?

- Not ever.

- Have you ever had sex when you were high or intoxicated?

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- Have you ever been to jail or prison?

- Yes.

- Well, it's scary and it's overwhelming, I know.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Are you ready to follow me back here?

If you guys want to say your good-byes,

you can say it now.

- [mumbles]

- This is hard.

- I know.

[somber music]

- All right, June.

- Bye, baby. I love you.

- I love you, too, babe.

And take good care of him over there.

- Oh, we will.

- So we're gonna be taking you upstairs.

So how's everything going for you so far?

- You know what I'm saying? Like, I stayed up

most of the night last night, just 'cause of my nerves.

- Well, we got your suitcases in your room.

- Okay. - So you're in suite C.

- And D. - And D.

- Okay?

- Who did all these?

- Our housekeeper does that for us.

- Oh, that's so nice. - Yes.

- Okay, so my head-- I'm not trying to make--

my head's, like, probably going

a hundred miles an hour right now.

My anxiety right now is a little high.

And so it's just, like, I'm in a new place, and--

- Yes. You're in good hands.

- You're in good hands. We'll take care of everything.

- So it's just kind of like--

- Yeah, that's expected.

- Yeah.

[sighs]

[dramatic music]

- Coming up on "Mama June"...

The real reason you want Alana is to be

Honey Boo Boo's stepmom.

- I'm not a crackhead.

- You ready to do this? - Yeah.

Peace out, bitches.

[dramatic sting]

[dramatic music]

- Is it gonna be easier to have

this new clean life together

now that you're both committed to this process?

- I don't know. I'm just--

I don't know.

Like, I have been clean. I was clean for nine months.

And I went back when he was still using.

I mean, I'm thinking about, like, life.

And I'm thinking about, like, if I don't have

anywhere to sleep or I don't have any more thing to eat

or, you know, whatever.

- When you sat down with Pumpkin,

she gave you the ultimatum of what she expected from you

to gain trust back and allow you to see

Alana and Ella.

But like I said, if they're not,

I can't think about

what they're thinking about right now.

- Yeah. - So we don't know.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- So how you been doing?

- With all this cold weather,

my hip, it's killing me.

- I know how you feel about that one.

- I like your hair.

- Thank you. It took Mike three chances

to look to figure out I had got a haircut.

- All right, ladies. - Thank you.

- You're so welcome.

- Oh, thank you.

- So I just need to talk to someone

about custody options for Alana.

- Yeah. - Seeing all this stuff

that June is putting them through

through Pumpkin,

why wouldn't we get custody of Alana?

- So what are you and Mike gonna do?

- Mike finally signed the papers.

[dramatic sting]

And served them to Pumpkin, he gave her the papers.

And she threw them in my face.

- Who the [bleep] do you think you are?

- Somebody that's gonna get custody of Alana

and take her out of your-- - Know what you can do

with these [bleep] papers?

You can shove these right up your [bleep] ass.

- She told me I lived in a two-bedroom trailer.

Where was I gonna put Alana?

- You need a bigger place.

- You know what?

Miss Janice is right.

I'm tired of living in June's big, fat shadow.

I'm not gonna let that crackhead June or Pumpkin

get in our way of giving Alana a better home

and a better place to live with me and her daddy.

- I have a friend. - Mm-hmm.

- She has a house, and she's gonna rent it out.

It's, like, four bedrooms,

two and a half baths, on a lot of land.

I could hook you up with her.

- That's a fresh start for us.

- If you got this house, the judge would be like,

"Oh, wow, look. You have all this land.

Alana has her own room."

Lord only knows where June is.

Why would he not give y'all custody?

- I like the sound of that. You know what?

If the judge does give us custody of Alana,

I'll always be the better mother than June

has ever thought she was.

And with Pumpkin, she doesn't have the experience

I do of raising kids.

I will get in touch with her, and we'll go from there.

And I think it's time for a change.

- Not only for you and Mike, but--

both: For Alana. - Yep.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- So at this point,

how do you feel about your addiction?

- It's kind of hard for me to say that.

Feel like I have spent a lot of money.

- Do you feel you have an addiction?

- Now, I do have an addictive personality,

but when I think about a drug addict,

I guess I don't think about myself.

- It's perfectly normal to be on the fence

about whether you are or are not an addict.

But the first thing we have to get to

is for you to begin to accept that you are an addict.

[dramatic sting]

- Like, I was managing every day.

But I knew to manage

and get up and do what I needed to do,

that dope had to be there when I woke up,

if that makes sense.

- You were managing your addiction.

- I was--yeah, to be able to function.

- But acceptance of your addiction

comes in layers,

starting with first your ability

to admit you are the addict.

You can't go anywhere until you do.

[dramatic music]

In your case, the cocaine, crack,

when you got in those hotel rooms,

one day went to another day.

- I mean, yes, pretty much.

Or we would go on binges, if that makes sense.

Like, maybe I would binge for, like, a couple days and then--

- Take a break for a little bit.

- We would take a break for, like,

three or four days and then I took a break

for, like, three weeks and then I'd take a break

for another week. You know what I mean?

- Was it taking up more of your time?

- Oh, yeah. - Okay.

What were you gonna say before that?

- Been affected? - Mm-hmm.

[dramatic tone]

- Your taking care of yourself has certainly been affected.

[laughs] - But again,

your willingness to take aside the money

that it would've took to fix it as opposed to buying the crack,

you decided, "Nah, I'd rather have the crack

than fix my tooth."

- Yeah, pretty much.

- Home. How was home looking?

Was home in disarray? Was home looking--

- Yeah, for the most part, yeah.

I mean, but like I said, It wasn't like it was a wreck.

- People in recovery have to gain

the trust of their loved ones.

- What, you're talking about, like the--

- Family relations, issues with Geno, tension.

- Yeah, I mean, that was the main thing.

That was, honestly, the main reason

why I went back to using.

- You're being stupid.

You don't know what the [bleep] going on,

you're [bleep]damn so delirious and confused,

except until when I start [bleep]--

- No, I did not. - Now you know I'm [bleep].

- Baby, I need you-- - If you keep following me,

I'm leaving. Bye.

- I quit for nine months,

and I didn't want to deal with what was going on

between me and him, and so I thought I would

and it kind of, like-- the feelings I was having.

It just--using the cocaine

just kind of blew that feeling up.

Like, it-- - It made it worse.

You smoked it,

hope with the intent to forget it, feel better.

But what actually happened was you became

what they saw, which was erratic,

out of control, maybe more aggressive.

Which is an effect from the substance.

The substance...

has now become the priority over every person

and every thing and every...

object in the world that we care about.

And right now,

that's very much what you're saying.

It has now become top dog.

[dramatic tone]

So I'm gonna ask you again.

Are you an addict?

- I have an addictive personality.

We'll just leave it at that for right now.

- But you either are, or you're not.

You're either in, or you're out.

You can't pussyfoot around this.

- Mm-hmm.

- Marker.

- I do actually have a question

before we get to the serious questions.

So is it okay for June to text her daughters,

and let them know what's going on?

- Yes, yes.

Her ability to accept her addiction,

that's a huge piece that has to happen

in order for her to move forward.

I don't think she understands the true depth of--

and the patience and time it's gonna take.

Part of her is just blocked to that

because she's done a lot of wreckage.

So we will keep going at that.

[bird caws]

[upbeat music]

- You want a cookie, Pumpkin?

- I do not.

I ate too many of Doe Doe's cookies, too.

- Doe Doe made some big ones this time.

- That's what's wrong with me now.

- Doe Doe.

- You want one of Doe Doe's cookies?

- [gasps]

[cell phone chimes]

- Who's texting you?

[cell phone chimes]

- [gasps] It's Mama.

- For real? What'd she say?

- Seriously. She said,

"Hi, I just wanted to let you know that me and Geno

are in inpatient rehab in Florida."

[dramatic sting]

- Inpatient rehab?

Coming up on "Mama June"...

Now, when the drug test that she took

when she, like, first initially came,

did it come up positive for anything?

[sighs]

Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?

- He never calls me.

He's texting me only if we go to court,

so it looks good.

- Me and Josh take better care of her

than anybody ever has. - 'Cause you know why?

- You don't give me any money! - You ain't never

gave him a chance to do it!

Get in the car and leave!

[dramatic sting]

- Hold my hand. We're gonna go play at the park.

We're gonna go play at the park.

- Now, look, make sure you're home before dark.

It's a two-minute walk up the street.

- Pumpkin is doing good as my sister-mom.

I understand it can be pretty hard.

- Come on, you got it. You got it.

You got it!

And it also can be hard

'cause she never really took care of a teenager,

so she don't really know what she's doing.

I guess they're just learning every step of the way.

- I'm a little bit of practice when Ella becomes a teenager.

Whee!

She's gonna be--whew.

- Whee!

- Crazy.

[cell phone chimes] It's Mama.

"I just wanted to let you know that me and Geno

are in inpatient rehab in Florida."

- Inpatient rehab?

- Yeah, she said inpatient rehab.

- That's crazy. All of a sudden,

now you mysteriously want to go?

But I'm not mad that she's there,

but, like, how are you there? Why are you there?

- I wonder if Gina knows anything.

- Call her.

[line trilling]

- Hello? - Hey.

- Hey. - So...

Mama texted me and was like,

"Me and Geno are in Florida at inpatient rehab."

- Right. So I was gonna tell you guys,

but I wanted to wait because I wanted to make sure

that they weren't gonna leave again like last time.

You know? So I wanted to give them

a few days before I told you

'cause I didn't want to disappoint you guys again.

- Well, yeah, but I mean, it would've been nice

to get a little heads-up, Gina.

- I know, I know. Listen.

I only did it for your guys' on good,

'cause I just wanted to make sure they were going.

You know, I've been trying to reach out constantly.

Your mom started responding to me, you know?

'Cause I was telling her that I could get her in--

both of them into rehab for free.

- Right.

- And Geno actually wanted to go.

You know, like...

he was super into going immediately.

- And see, that's what is so weird to me.

Like, I wonder if that's just like

one of the mind games he's playing,

or, like, is he genuinely wanting to go, you know?

- He sounded genuinely interested in going,

and he's there.

He could've left.

I know that rehab has kept them

at different wings of the rehabilitation center.

They know what they're doing.

It's the same place Mike Sorrentino works with.

[record scratch]

- Yeah. - I mean, no, I do hope

that Mama, like, goes through with this rehab and stuff

because, like, I could really use the help right now.

- I know, but you gotta remember, too,

that it's take time to get back on her feet.

- Right.

- If I hear anything, I'll let you know.

- All right, thank you.

- Okay. - Bye.

I told Mama that she'd never see Alana again

until she got fully through rehab,

and got herself better.

Now I'm getting a call that she's at another place,

which is good, but I also don't have

the hope that I once had before

because she's let us down so many times.

- [babbles] - Mama better get her [bleep]

together this time, or seriously, we're done.

[upbeat music]

♪ ♪

- Whew. My salad and potato soup was really good,

but I'm full.

So how was your burger?

- Was a good-ass burger.

- You know what, Mike? - What?

- If we're going to get Alana, we got to have a place

where she could have her own space.

Like, a room and stuff like that.

- Oh, Jennifer's got something on her mind.

I wonder where this is gonna go.

- You ever get tired of hearing that railroad,

people driving by,

everybody stopping,

neighbors complaining?

- I mean, you know, I can't pee of the porch

with all these nosy neighbors.

Ooh.

[exhales]

- Sugar Bear, what are you doing?

- Everybody's so freaking nosy.

You just cannot do anything

without everybody knowing what you doing.

- You right about that.

- This house that Miss Janice set me up with

is going to be amazing.

The papers has been signed.

Now I gotta break it down to Mike,

then we can show Pumpkin

when it comes to custody of Alana,

the place that she belongs is with me and her daddy.

- So what are you proposing?

- We outgrowed our house.

- But it's our house.

- I talked to Miss Janice,

and she knows a person that has a house.

- What? Where is this place at?

- She said it would be perfect.

It's out in the country.

We could put Alana in a room.

We could have a room.

Harper and them could have a room.

Everybody would be out of the way.

- But when are we gonna look at this house?

- That's already done.

- But--we're already moving out?

- Boxes will be brought in in a couple of days.

- I mean, you know, we do gotta give

a month's notice to the landlord.

- Already taken care of.

- What?

- Just what I said.

- I reckon I don't have a choice.

- Nope.

- Well, this sure is news to me.

I wish Jennifer would've asked me

before getting a whole new house.

But I guess what's done is done.

I'm usually the last one to know anything anyway.

I mean, Pumpkin ain't gonna like this,

but, I mean, I'm gonna do what it takes

for Alana to be safe and away from all that drama

that her mama caused.

I'm kind of looking forward

being able to piss off the back porch

- I knew you were gonna love it.

You know why?

'Cause we're gonna be one big happy family

in one big ole house.

- Let's do it.

[cell phone ringing]

- Florida?

Hello? - Hi, this is Lauren,

your mother's therapist here at Banyan.

- Hello. - Hi. How are you?

- I'm doing good.

- Okay.

- Oh, my gosh. What if they're calling me

to tell me that she overdosed or something?

Then I'm gonna have to tell Alana that.

- I let Mom know that we were gonna call you today

just to kind of give you an update of how she's doing.

- Okay.

- As she got situated within a day or two,

she's actually been very engaged

and attentive in most the groups.

- Right. - In therapy,

she's working with me.

But as far as her ability

to come to terms with accepting

that she has an addiction,

she has a very long way to go.

That is not uncommon.

That is very necessary for her

to get to a point that she can accept her addiction

in order to move forward.

- Right.

- Now, when the drug test that she took

when she, like, first initially came...

- I'm gonna check your temperature.

- Did, you know, did it come up positive for anything?

[dramatic music]

Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?

Coming up on "Mama June"...

Just really need Mama to let rehab work this time.

- I don't know.

- I'm nothing like your mama.

I'm not a crackhead.

- [sobs]

- Now, when the drug test that she took

when she, like, first initially came,

did, you know, did it come up positive for anything?

- Yeah, for crack cocaine.

- Yes, ma'am.

[sighs]

This is so disappointing because Mama knows

that there was only three rules

if she wanted to see Alana again.

These are the only [bleep] three things I'm asking you.

One, getting a working phone.

And then the second is

you have to take a weekly drug test.

Number three, you have to go to inpatient rehab.

She leaves the rehab that she was in outpatient-wise,

then enters a new facility

to find out she's still using crack cocaine.

She tried to tell me before she become to this,

"I'm clean. I've been clean

for such and such months,"

and I kind of figured that was a lie.

I mean, you know her actions speak louder to me

than her words at this point.

- And that's gonna take time.

- It's just, there's a lot of anger.

Like, Mama has done a lot to not only just me,

but, like, I'm taking care of her 14-year-old daughter.

And that's really who needs her the most

and she thinks that, "Oh, if I go to rehab

"for, you know, a week, then I'm better

and we're find and we can be back to our big family."

And there's a lot of damage

that has to be--

- Sure.

- Repaired, of course,

and I don't feel she's at the state

to be responsible for that.

I'm really so torn because one minute,

Mama seems hopeless

and there's no hope for her at all.

And the next minute, it seems like

she's trying to get her act together.

I'm stressing myself out trying to figure out

what she's really wanting to do.

I know that her boyfriend is there.

How often are they allowed to see each other?

- Due to confidentiality,

I can only speak to you about June.

- Okay, well, thank you so much,

but if you have any, I guess,

any more updates on her, you can just call this number.

- Okay. Bye-bye.

- Oh. Geno better not [bleep] this up for her again.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- How are you doing today?

- Doing well. How are you?

- Good. So a big thing

of what we're trying to work on

is figuring out...

what other things can you do to prevent a potential relapse?

What have you come up with

for when you're outside of here?

What's the plan there?

- Oh, the--one of the main things is staying away

from the negative people.

- Mm-hmm. - Um...

I know that everybody knows what I was doing,

and although I don't really care

because they already know, but still.

I know what I'm gonna do.

Plus, I'm, you know, I've got I think today,

what, 15 or 16 days clean?

- Yeah.

- It's been a long time since I could say that.

- And 15 days is a really good accomplishment.

How long have you had before that?

As off recent, you know, the longest we've had--

I've had is...

[bleep], maybe a week.

- Okay. - And even that, you know,

during that week, still felt good.

It's like, hey, you know, today's day seven,

and we--I haven't used.

And...

but still fell right back into the--

- Right, yeah. - And addict thinking is,

well, it's, you know, it's only an eight-ball.

You know? - Yeah.

So we gotta figure out what makes you feel good

that's not drugs or alcohol.

- Yeah.

- Which family relationships do you think

are most important to kind of bring back into play

for that support?

- Um, my children.

- Your children, yeah. - Yeah. But also June's kids.

I love you. I love your mom.

I love everybody, and I'm not going anywhere.

I promise I'm gonna be here for you.

- Pinky promise? - All right, I love you, baby.

The drugs have led to complete isolation.

- Yeah. - Once I actually--

they can see that I'm actually doing something

instead of just saying it,

then they're gonna be more willing to support, you know?

- It's a good thought process.

I think that's a good place to say,

okay, what's our next step?

What can we do while we are in a safe,

stable environment to learn these boundaries,

to learn what I do like, what I don't like,

to learn skills when I get frustrated

or anxious or depressed,

to not have to use instead? - Mm-hmm.

- What can you do to make sure you're not

sitting up somewhere, being able to isolate?

- A lot of it is just gonna be being clean, you know?

Just feel decent about walking out,

and, you know, not having to look down

and worried about who's looking at me

or who's thinking this or that?

- We have to plan how to be balanced,

how to move it forward.

- [coughs]

[hip-hop music]

♪ ♪

- Pumpkin, why can't you just take the night off?

- Why can't you just stop asking me that?

- Why--like, just tonight.

- I can't.

[cell phone ringing]

Who is it?

- Sugar Bear's calling.

- Hello?

Nothing, really.

I mean, I don't know if I can hang out

because I just might have to watch Ella.

This sucks. I have to watch Ella again.

I mean, it's not the fact that I don't love her.

It's just, like, I have no time to hang out with my friends,

or to even hang out with Sugar Bear.

You have a surprise?

He said it'd be this weekend, and he wants us both there.

- Tell him to go [bleep] himself.

- Okay, well, Pumpkin said

I can come see y'all this weekend.

All right, well, I guess I'll just see you then.

All right.

All right, bye.

Okay.

He told me that he was gonna give me an address,

and we'd just meet him there.

- An address?

I'm pretty sure that Jennifer's behind all of this

because she always tries setting me up,

just like last time.

- We have filed for full custody of Alana.

- So I'm gonna bring Josh along with me

because I don't want to her trying no

little nanny-pick bull[bleep] with me.

This sounds a little sketchy. What do they want now?

- I don't know.

My family is weird and confusing, though, so...

- Coming up on "Mama June"...

- Yes, sir, I need to go to the airport.

- Let me tell you something. I'm nothing like your mama.

I'm not a crackhead.

- Man, [bleep] that bitch.

[dramatic sting]

[dramatic music]

[line trilling]

- What are you doing?

- Stressed out.

- Well, it's very aggravating 'cause you're not here.

I mean, to be honest, I just really need Mama

to get it together and let rehab work this time.

Every day, there's just more piling up on me

between taking care of Alana and Ella.

Josh is always out of town working.

Meanwhile, Mama only has one thing to do,

and that's get clean.

So she better hold up her end of the bargain.

- Right.

When are you coming home next?

- Well, good, because Sugar Bear and Jennifer

want to meet up with us, and I'm glad you will be here.

- About what? - Who the hell knows?

Hurry the [bleep] up and come home.

- Okay, love you.

- Bye.

It sucks not having Josh around all the time.

I really need him here because things are starting

to get overwhelming.

And if Jennifer and them keep stirring up more shit,

I'm gonna need Josh here for support,

and to make sure I don't kill a bitch.

[dramatic music]

[hip-hop music]

- So catch us up, June.

- Well, I been at this crazy madhouse,

and I don't know.

- This one's gonna be the last one, you think?

It's gonna stick? - Yeah.

- Are you proud of yourself that you've made it this far?

This is the third time now,

clearly the longest time you've stayed with a program.

- Um...

I mean, yeah, I mean, I'm proud of myself.

I mean, some days is better than others.

I'm half-ass doing good.

- Yeah.

- How do you think Geno's doing?

- Um...

I don't know.

It's just a vicious cycle, though.

If we see one of us checking out,

and then decide, "Okay, let's go."

- Is it gonna feel good to start

to prove to the girls?

You know, like, to start earning their trust back?

They've been through a lot.

Pumpkin, I know they're glad that you're here,

but they have a little bit of a, like...

well, you know...

- They don't think I'm gonna stay?

- No. No, they don't.

- Pumpkin ain't stupid.

You know what I mean?

She knows what's up.

I mean, right now, I'm just taking one day at a time.

Some days, minute by minute, if that makes sense.

- Mm-hmm. Yeah.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Are you excited to see your daughter?

- Yes, finally.

- Me and Sugar Bear has been making some changes

to show Pumpkin the stability that me and Mike has.

- Who the [bleep] do they think they are?

I feel like they think that they are, like,

superior compared to me.

Like, bitch, I will [bleep] you up.

I mean, he lives in a [bleep] trailer.

What does he think he's gonna do with Alana?

- That's right. We got us a big ole house now.

She's here. - Here we go.

- Why do I gotta get out first?

- It's your daddy and your [bleep] stepmom.

- I want to get out. - I'm coming, Ella.

- Hi, guys.

- Had some trouble finding the place,

but we're here.

- I really don't know what Sugar Bear

and Jennifer got going on,

but I know I don't feel good about it,

because I know that little sneaky bitch

will do something like calling Social Services on me.

- How are y'all?

- Come on. - Doing great.

- Hmm.

- What is this?

- We got a new house.

- Why a new house?

- We got a new house, so we want you to live with us.

- [scoffs]

Come live with you?

Over my dead body.

- What's so funny?

- It's just funny to me, I guess,

'cause why would she come live with y'all?

I mean, don't y'all think y'all should make that

Alana's decision? - I mean, you'd love it here.

Peaceful, quiet.

- She'll have a room. - Full bedroom.

- I don't know why y'all are pushing that so much.

- We're stable and you're not,

'cause you're having to keep running from motel to motel.

- We bought a house.

- Y'all moved without telling us?

- With Alana's own room.

We're doing everything right, and I don't understand

why she can't still stay with us.

- Yeah, I did.

- I hear that Alana

has become the nanny for Ella.

Is that why you don't want her coming here,

because you'll lose your personal babysitter?

- Uh, no, she watches her because I have to pay bills.

I mean, and Alana understands Mama's the one

who got us into this [bleep].

So here we are.

- Yeah, well, that's why she needs to come live with us,

then her mama can't affect her no more.

- So what does that have to do with her living with me, too?

- Because you still have to deal

with her mama's [bleep].

- You're the one who's trying to be her mama.

I seen you on that "Star" magazine.

- First of all, honey, let me tell you something.

I'm nothing like your mama.

I'm not a crackhead.

I'm not in the media

with drug possessions and all that [bleep] on me.

Okay? Second of all, let me tell you something.

I'm a mama none of y'all will ever be.

[dramatic tone]

- Well, I have custody of her now.

- No. Back it up.

You have temporary custody of Alana.

- Correct. - Not full.

- It will be full custody.

- We all know the real reason you want Alana

is to be Honey Boo Boo's stepmom.

- I want to see the child grow up with a stable person

in a stable home,

and actually be a child.

- That's her daddy standing right there,

and you've done nothing but run your mouth

this entire time. Why can't he speak for her?

Come on, Sugar Bear. Come on.

I said I'm her father,

and she needs to be here with us, too.

- Nothing at all. - Well, come on.

- But you need to go on and tell them how you feel.

You always-- - That's how I feel.

- You're always telling me how you feel--

- Your wife's been sitting here,

running her [bleep] mouth. - I'd like to--

- Shut up, Pumpkin. - Everybody, stop!

[dramatic tone]

Y'all are always making decisions on my life,

and I can never make them for myself.

If I want to live with Pumpkin, I--

- Coming up on "Mama June"...

- So think about, then, your addiction.

- You're just not verbalizing it.

- Stop. June.

- Nervous of June still there.

- Hurry up, driver.

- [cries]

[dramatic sting]

- Y'all are always making decisions on my life,

and I can never make them for myself.

If I want to live with Pumpkin, I--

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[sobbing]

- Don't cry.

♪ ♪

- I appreciate you wanting to be in my life, Sugar Bear.

I really do.

But you should just know that

I want to stay with Pumpkin,

and that's the end of the conversation.

Like, y'all never want to hear what I have to say.

- 'Cause you don't answer your phone, Alana.

- He never calls me. All he does is text,

and I don't text him back because I know what he's doing.

It's either you telling him to text me--

- I do not say anything to him.

This man is texting you when he's at work.

I'm at home, but no, no--

- But I know he's texting me only if we go to court

so it looks good.

Sugar Bear does not want to be in my life.

I can tell you that right now--

- And you don't want to be in his.

- No, I can tell you that right now, Jennifer.

Sugar Bear doesn't want me because I'm not a boy.

- That is a lie.

- No, he told me that.

He's told me and my mother that before.

- He says, "I wonder what Alana is doing today."

- No, that's not true. - Every day.

- That is why I have fought so hard

just for him to have a little time with you.

- I can tell you.

- Get out of my hard.

- All right, seriously, guys, calm down.

- If she don't give a [bleep] how Alana feels,

then [bleep] them. How about that?

Me and Josh take better care of than anybody ever has.

[dramatic tone]

- Yeah. 'Cause you know why?

- You don't give me any money! - You ain't never gave him

a chance to do it!

You never gave him a chance.

- I do everything! [overlapping shouting]

- Pumpkin, come on. No, don't--

no, don't give her your [bleep] time.

- Man, [bleep] that bitch.

- You, too! [bleep] you, bitch!

- That's why I have custody.

- No, you got temporary custody!

All we gotta do is take your ass to court and you--

- Shut up! - Leave them alone!

- Get in the car and leave, like you always do!

- Yeah, because he's a piece of [bleep].

- Yeah, you are, too, honey!

You're the biggest piece of [bleep] there is.

- Alana, just shut the door. - You go off somewhere else.

- What the hell?

They're not playing nice.

- I knew this [bleep] was gonna happen.

[bleep] her, man. That bitch ain't gonna sit here

and talk to me like that. I promise you that.

[dramatic music]

- This isn't over.

♪ ♪

- So we're gonna work on a vision board.

- Okay, okay. - All right, okay.

- So the first thing we have kind of know

is what your vision is for the future.

- That's kind of scary. - It's kind of scary, right?

Yeah. So we have magazines, cutouts.

- Okay. - Words, pictures, anything.

What do you got here?

- Definitely the fun. - Definitely fun.

- Mm-hmm. - Right?

- And then, yeah, Seeing the kids again.

- Yeah.

- Being able to trust them, definitely.

- Yeah. What's something about you

that you want to continue growing with?

- I guess it's, like, my relationships--

- Relationships. Definitely.

- My kids, which you-- we've already got that.

- We already have the kids, yeah.

- Just to be able to, like, see them.

- To see them.

I have a car.

- Mmm. - That might help.

- Right? No, we don't want to live here.

- [bleep] it. It is what it is.

You know what I mean? - Yeah.

- It's just like, I know that right now,

if I would've waited two days or a day and a half,

it's like...

You know what I mean? I would've been like,

"[bleep] it. I want to get high."

You know what I mean? For, like, me,

I had to do it. I had to have it there

to function, to move, to get up and not sleep for two days.

You know what I mean?

I don't know, like...

and it's just, I don't know. I can't wrap my head around it.

- Like, think about, like, anxiety, right?

- Mm-hmm. - Some days, you have

more anxiety than others.

- Definitely. This morning, my anxiety was, like, 5,000.

- Right.

- Right. - Because even though

I was doing cocaine, I was smoking crack...

If that makes sense. - Yeah. And that's good.

So, like, think about the board, right?

We'll talk about all the things we want.

Can you get all that right now, right in this moment?

- Definitely not the kids. The RV, I could probably get.

- Mm-hmm. - And I can--

I don't trust anybody, pretty much, say,

so I don't trust myself right now.

So I don't get that.

And then starting to see the sunshine come through,

and the light is starting to, but not all the way.

- Not all the way yet. Okay, so think about, then,

your addiction, like you said, you're like,

"I'm not sure if it's there yet," right?

If you never took a drug,

where do you think all these things would be?

- I wouldn't be in rehab.

- Right. So would all of them be more attainable?

- Yes. - That's the definition

of what an addiction is, something that's overtaking you

so you can't get the things that you need in life.

- Mm-hmm. - Right? So you are saying it.

You're just not verbalizing it with those words.

- I know. - And it's hard to admit,

but that's one of the biggest parts of it is,

is, "Am I in a place where I can get

all these things easily right now?"

- No. - If the answer's no,

then I'm in my addiction. Right?

- Mm-hmm. - So the addiction's still

affecting you right now.

- Mm-hmm. - Because you can't get

the things that you see for yourself.

So that's something we gotta work on.

We gotta focus on this, the good stuff,

instead of the bad, and get there.

- Mm-hmm. - Okay?

Cool? Got this.

- Yeah. - All right.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- I'm nervous.

- Me and Amber took a look

at June's abandoned storage unit.

A few things we found,

we want to show Pumpkin and Alana.

Hopefully, it's some positive news

to come out of this horrific situation.

- I mean, I'm worried, and...

but I'm excited 'cause I want to give them their stuff.

- Here they come.

- Just stay calm.

Hi!

[baby cheering] [laughs]

- You ready, go go see Doe Doe?

- Yeah!

- Doe Doe called and said she had a surprise for us,

but after dealing with everything with Jennifer

and Sugar Bear and then Mama failing a drug test at rehab,

it's like, I don't know if I'm ready

for any more surprises.

But at least I hope maybe they cooked for us,

'cause I really could go for some Amber chicken.

- Ella-bella! Oh!

- Well, this sure is a weird place to be cooking dinner.

- Dinner? Who said anything about dinner?

- We thought we was coming over here for a free meal.

- No, surprise does not technically always mean food.

Yeah. - [groans]

- So what are we doing?

both: Well...

- Okay, a friend of mine owns a storage unit.

- Yes. - And your mama had one there.

[dramatic tone]

And it was going up for auction.

- Yes.

- Anywho...

I talked them into letting me look at it

to see if I could get anything out that was personal.

- What did y'all get?

- Okay. You ready?

- Here, stand beside me. - What is it?

- I mean, this was all she had left.

It was the only thing she actually kept

that maybe meant something to her, which...

- I'm nervous. - Me, too.

- I'm scared, too, like at the same time.

- Exactly. - All right.

Are you sure you're ready for this?

- Yes.

[suspenseful music]

- Are we ready?

Okay.

♪ ♪

[dramatic sting]

[dramatic music]

- Are you sure you're ready for this?

- Yes.

- Are we ready?

- Okay.

- Those are all your trophies.

- That's it. - That's it.

That was it.

- Aww.

- I know. It's like...

- [cries]

- I don't think she could've done anything

with 'em, sweetheart.

[warm music]

- Aww.

- I'm honestly so shocked that Mama kept the trophies,

and now I just feel like all the memories are coming back.

- June and Alana!

[cheers and applause]

- Me and you, back in the pageant world.

- So many memories doing pageants,

and I remember it was so fun.

So I know there is a little bit of Mama,

like, the old Mama, in her.

[cheers and applause]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[upbeat music]

- The old June is back.

I mean, I'm feeling good. I mean...

just being back to my old self.

- Hi, babe!

- Where the hell you been?

- I'm right here.

I like you all spruced up, babe.

We made it through inpatient together,

so we're just gonna make a fresh new start for us.

We worked really hard to get where we're at right now,

and neither one of us wanted to go to inpatient

and we just gotta stay clean.

- You ready to do this?

- Yeah.

[laughter]

- Like a little Barbie doll there.

- Yes, you do.

You know, I mean, there's photo albums.

There's some pictures in here.

- That time in California.

- Is that me? - Yeah.

- Oh, that was our first trip ever to California.

These are my glasses.

- The girls loved the stuff in there.

It was all worth it.

There's still hope for this family

to be whole and happy.

The girls just want their mom back,

the June I know, that the girls know.

And we can get back to a better place.

- High five!

[Ella cheering]

[heartwarming music]

- It was for y'all. You know that.

- Oh, yeah.

♪ ♪

- Hi, y'all! [cheers and applause]

Okay, whatever.

Don't be clapping just for me. I know I'm good.

[laughter]

- It's been a pleasure working with you guys,

and the one thing that I hope that you take from this is,

you know, we gave you the tools,

and it's up to you to use them when you leave.

You guys have a lot of work ahead of you.

Meetings, steps.

You know, y'all can do this.

It's just about really applying yourselves,

and putting in the work.

- There's gonna be triggers and trials daily,

and you just gotta keep fighting through it.

- My addiction to crack cocaine, cocaine,

I didn't feel like I was an addict,

if that makes sense,

but now that, you know, we're ready or whatever,

I mean, I am definitely an addict.

[dramatic tone]

- Your past doesn't have to define your future.

The past is part of your life,

but doesn't have to be the rest of your life.

- Here, look. This was something else, too.

It's a little photo album. It's all kinds of pictures.

It was loose and everything.

- Pumpkin, look.

- It's mix of all kinds of stuff.

- Aww. - So Geno was the man.

- Yeah.

- That was the father-daughter dance.

- Alana, look.

[laughter] This is Alana's unicorn.

- I can't get it. It's duct tape.

It's on--wait a minute, baby.

- All right, baby. Hold on, hold on.

- There we go. Here you go.

There you go!

- [babbles] - Yep. Have him sit in there.

- Ella, Ella, look, look. Who is this?

- Um...

- [chuckles]

- Wana.

- Yeah! - Yay!

- This is Wana.

- The little bit of clean time we got,

you know, 30 days, we haven't had that in a long time.

- No. - Um, I'm...

I mean, I personally feel a hundred times better.

- I just want to say thank you or whatever.

Like, I really enjoyed being here,

if that makes sense.

- We tried to quit on our own, but for me,

we just needed some clean time.

That was good for us

to get, like, what do they say? Clarity, or whatever.

- Can actually think clear and look forward to, you know,

getting out and doing this.

We've done a lot of damage.

You know, I've neglected relationships with our kids.

[bleep]'s gonna take time to repair.

We've already taken positive steps to getting us better.

Now that we're sober,

as long as we're doing the right thing,

we're just gonna continue to get stronger.

- You know, Pumpkin, the girls wanted me to do this,

so I really hope that, you know,

this journey shows the kids about what I'm gonna do.

And they want to come along the journey with me.

- That's when y'all were happy.

Y'all were happy then. - Yeah.

- [babbles] Ta da!

- Ta da! - I did it!

- Sash!

- A sash! - A sash!

- [babbles] - [indistinct].

[laughter]

In a way, I guess it's still, like,

has me holding onto hope for something, I guess.

'Cause if you do stuff like this,

that makes us think that, okay,

you were in the right state of mind

when you sold the house

and you were taking stuff out of it.

- Right. - Nobody in their right mind,

as many drugs as they had been using,

would've thought to grab this stuff, but she did.

- She had a moment of clarity somewhere.

- Right. - Yeah.

It's just one more sign

that she's still in there. - Right.

- We just gotta get her back home.

Leave this here for minute. We'll go in and get--

- We're gonna go inside and get cookies.

- Ooh, I'm gonna get the donuts first.

I'm gonna get them first!

I'm gonna get 'em first!

- I don't really know what life is ahead.

But it's like, I mean, nobody can tell

what six months looks like from now.

You can only take it one day at a time.

Sometimes minute by minute, second by second.

- We'd love to have you come back in the future, you know?

Share how positive your life has been.

- Thank you. [applause]

I know, right? [laughs]

See ya. Peace out, bitches.

- Take care.

[overlapping chatter] - Give me a hug.

- Thank you. - Take care.

Good luck. - Thank you so much.

Appreciate everything.

Thank you so much. - You're welcome.

- We aren't gonna stay in a line.

- Another hug.

- Come on, babe. - We ready?

- Yes, babe. Let's go.

- There's the cab. Watch your step.

- I mean, the world better watch out.

I'm back, bitches, and here we go.

[laughter]

Give me a kiss, babe.

[inspiring music]

- I know I did.

Bye!

- Here's to new beginnings.

♪ ♪