Original subtitles

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "OPEN FORUM."

AN EVERYDAY AMERICAN COUPLE...

MY NAME IS CHARLES BILLIS.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY WIFE, CHRISTINE.

...WHO HAPPENED TO HOST A SHOW ON PUBLIC ACCESS TV.

IN THESE EXCLUSIVE CLIPS FROM THE TV STUDIO,

THEIR MARRIAGE SEEMS FINE...

OKAY. OFF WITH THE CAMERA NOW.

...BUT BEHIND THE SCENES LURKS A DARK SECRET...

YOU'D SEE A FEW CRACKS SURFACE HERE AND THERE.

THERE'S A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT THAT SAYS

I HAVE TO BE POLITE, YOU KNOW?

...THAT WILL LEAD TO A SHOCKING DEATH.

I JUST REMEMBER FEELING,

LIKE, SUCH AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF DREAD.

NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS.

THAT WAS A SIGN TO ME

THAT MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE GOING ON.

I WAS TANGLED UP WITH SOMEBODY

THAT I'D REALLY RATHER NOT BE TANGLED UP WITH.

SOMEWHERE IN THESE LIGHTHEARTED AMATEUR BROADCASTS

IS AN AMERICAN MONSTER.

Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

WELCOME TO NORTHERN VERMONT,

CIRCA 2009.

YOU'RE WATCHING PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION STATION NEK-TV.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW SHOW, "IT'S NEWS TO US."

THIS IS YOUR HOST, STEVE MERRILL.

I'M YOUR...CO-HOST, I GUESS, CHARLIE BILLIS.

AND WE'D LIKE TO SAY THIS IS OUR SECOND EPISODE.

WE HOPE YOU SAW THE FIRST ONE, 'CAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T,

WE'LL COME INTO YOUR HOUSE, AND I'M GONNA CANE YOU.

BASICALLY, IT'S KIND OF A GENERAL-PURPOSE NEWS SHOW

FOR STUFF FROM VERMONT TOPICS,

NATIONAL TOPICS, AND INTERNATIONAL TOPICS

THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE THE NEWS OR THE NETWORK NEWS,

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE COVER IT HERE,

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED "IT'S NEWS TO US."

THE FLOATING HEAD THERE IS STEVE MERRILL,

A PUBLIC ACCESS TV REGULAR.

AT NEK-TV, WE PRODUCE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF,

YOU KNOW, LOCAL PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE MUSICAL EVENTS AND LOCAL EVENTS, LIKE PENGUIN PLUNGES.

WE HAD A GUY WHO USED TO DO CREATURE FEATURE

AND HORROR MOVIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

NEK-TV IS ONE OF MORE THAN 300 PUBLIC ACCESS STATIONS

ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

WHERE LOCAL VOLUNTEERS CAN BROADCAST

THEIR OWN UNIQUE MIX OF PROGRAMS.

THIS IS FUN. WE'RE HAVING FUN.

WE ARE HAVING FUN.

IT IS KIND OF A PECULIARLY AMERICAN INSTITUTION.

NEK-TV TAPES THEIR SHOWS AT A SMALL STUDIO

HERE IN NEWPORT, VERMONT.

OH, AND HERE WE ARE. BACK TO VERMONT.

OH, WELCOME HOME.

YEAH, WELCOME HOME TO VERMONT. "STATE OFFICIALS..."

THESE RARE BROADCAST CLIPS FEATURE

THE STATION'S LATEST OFFERING, "IT'S NEWS TO US."

THE PIRATE-HATTED STEVE MERRILL IS YOUR HOST.

WE TRY AND FIND THE MOST OUTRAGEOUSLY STUPID-LOOKING HATS

AND HEADGEAR SO THAT,

WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE CHANNELS,

THEY'D SAY, "WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS?"

NEXT TO STEVE IS HIS TRUSTY SIDEKICK,

57-YEAR-OLD CHARLIE BILLIS.

WELL, I'VE NOTICED SOME OF THE EFFECTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONITOR OUT THERE, RIGHT,

YOU SEEM TO BE PARTIALLY FLOATING FOR SOME REASON.

IT'S MADE ME SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

THANK GOD I AIN'T GOING NEAR THAT PLANT.

LET ME OUT OF HERE.

LET ME OUT OF HERE!

PERCHED IN FRONT OF A GREEN SCREEN

FLOWING WITH PSYCHEDELIC IMAGES,

THE TWO SERVE UP A UNIQUELY LOCAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEWS.

AND I ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THAT WITH, LIKE, BISEXUALS. WHAT DO YOU DO? I MEAN,

DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND FLIP A COIN?

YOU KNOW? HOW DOES THAT WORK?

WELL, SHOULD I TELL YOU?

AM I ALLOWED TO GIVE YOU MY INTERPRETATION OF THIS...

WELL, THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE A TRISEXUAL.

YOU LIKE MEN, WOMEN, AND BARNYARD ANIMALS, RIGHT?

ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS WEAR BOOTS.

YEAH.

CHARLIE WAS ALWAYS ON HIS TOES, AND WHEN YOU FIRST MEET HIM,

YOU KNOW, ALL IT TAKES IS A FEW SENTENCES,

AND YOU KNOW THAT THE PERSON'S, LIKE, ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH.

WE JUST CRACK EACH OTHER UP.

DEATH BY STONING-- THAT'D TAKE A LOT OF WEED.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO-- WHOO.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

BEHIND THE CAMERA, WATCHING EVERY WISECRACK,

IS CHARLIE'S WIFE,

42-YEAR-OLD CHRISSY BILLIS.

A MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN NORTHERN GREECE

FOR ALLEGEDLY GROWING MARIJUANA IN THE MEDIAN STRIP

OF THE COUNTRY'S MAIN HIGHWAY.

HEY! HEY.

HOW INTELLIGENT ARE THOSE GREEK COPS ANYWAY,

IF IT'S GROWING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU?

IT'S ONLY 5, 6 FEET HIGH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE'LL LET THE GOATS EAT IT.

YOU'RE DRIVING A CRUISER. YOU'RE--

BACK THE SHEEP UP TO IT, BOYS.

GONNA HAVE US A HOEDOWN.

CHRISSY ALSO PROVIDES THE IN-STUDIO LAUGH TRACK.

CHARLIE'S WIFE, CHRISSY, WAS HIS PRODUCER, HIS EDITOR.

CHRISSY PRETTY MUCH RAN EVERYTHING,

AND CHARLIE WAS THE ON-CAMERA PERSONALITY.

ALL RIGHT. MINUTE MAN AND SECOND MAN.

EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE HAVING FUN...

WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT WEEK. PASTA LA VISTA.

...BUT YOU SHOULDN'T ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE ON TV.

BUT THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EPISODE

OF "IT'S NEWS TO US."

AND REMEMBER, WHEN THE NEWS BREAKS, WE FIX IT.

THIS WILL BE THEIR FINAL EPISODE OF "IT'S NEWS TO US."

BYE!

AND CUT.

OH, THANK GOD THAT'S OVER.

WELL, AT LEAST WE DIDN'T COMPLETELY MUCK IT UP.

WITHIN MINUTES OF TAPING THIS SHOW,

ONE OF THESE CHEERFUL TV MAKERS...

WILL BE DEAD.

DRIVE SAFE.

I WILL. SEE YOU TOMORROW.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.BYE, STEVE.

CHRISSY DRIVES CHARLIE THE 30-MINUTE TRIP

TO THEIR FARMHOUSE OVER IN BROWNINGTON.

STEVE HAS A 20-MINUTE JOURNEY TO NORTH TROY.

OH, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL OUT, ESPECIALLY UP HERE

IN NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

IN SEPTEMBER, IT CAN BE REALLY NICE.

JUST 15 MINUTES OUTSIDE OF NEWPORT,

PAM AND RAY HELENEK ARE FINISHING THEIR DAY

AT THEIR ROADSIDE FARMHOUSE.

WE WERE SITTING DOWN FOR SUPPER, AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN, JUST BANG.

IT SOUNDED LIKE DYNAMITE.

WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

IT'S 2004, AND CHARLIE AND CHRISSY BILLIS

HAVE MOVED UP FROM BOSTON

TO THE QUIETER PASTURES OF NORTHEASTERN VERMONT...

BETTER HURRY UP. BUS IS GONNA BE HERE SOON.

...WHERE THEY LIVE WITH DAUGHTER KATHERINE

AND CHRISSY'S DAUGHTER FROM HER PREVIOUS MARRIAGE, CORRINA.

MY FAMILY WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY, LIKE, NORMAL GROWING UP.

THEY CARED FOR US, PUT US THROUGH SCHOOL.

YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL--

NOT EVERYONE GETS A FREE SHOW AT BREAKFAST.

MY PARENTS DID LOVE EACH OTHER A LOT.

I ONLY LAUGH AT YOU TO AVOID CRYING.

CHARLIE AND CHRISSY OFTEN USE HUMOR TO DISTRACT THEMSELVES

FROM THEIR MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

S-SORRY, COULD I HAVE SOME MORE COFFEE, PLEASE?

CHARLIE IS LEGALLY BLIND.

HE'S SUFFERED FROM IMPAIRED VISION SINCE CHILDHOOD.

STILL, HE'S BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY.

MY DAD USED TO WORK AS A USED-CAR SALESMAN,

WHICH SOUNDS KIND OF TRASHY,

BUT HE WAS REALLY GOOD AT IT

BECAUSE OF HIS CHARISMA AND HIS PEOPLE SKILLS.

THE HOME IS CHRISSY'S DOMAIN,

AND SHE'S THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THIS FAMILY TOGETHER.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MY MOM, YOU KNOW,

BEING THAT CARETAKER FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY.

OF COURSE, MAKING ENDS MEET ON CHARLIE'S TINY SALARY IS TOUGH.

MONEY WAS KIND OF TIGHT, AND IT WAS KIND OF DIFFICULT FOR US.

BEING OUT IN THIS, LIKE, LITTLE FARMHOUSE

AND CARING FOR MY SIBLING AND I--

I GUESS SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO HERSELF.

JUST 6 MONTHS AFTER MOVING HERE, CHARLIE DISCOVERS A NEW PASSION,

MAKING TELEVISION DOWN AT THEIR PUBLIC ACCESS TV STATION, NEK-TV.

BEFORE LONG, CHRISSY JOINS HIM AT THE STUDIO.

DON'T PRESS THE WRONG BUTTONS, HONEY.

IT TURNED INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD WORK ON

AND DO TOGETHER.

IN 2005, THE TWO LAUNCHED THEIR OWN CHAT SHOW

CALLED "OPEN FORUM."

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "OPEN FORUM."

MY NAME IS CHARLES BILLIS.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY WIFE, CHRISTINE.

HI.

AND, CHRISTINE, IF YOU WOULD DO US THE HONOR

AND INTRODUCE THE FIRST GUEST.

WELL, WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU,

AND WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME LINDA.

THE SERIES FEATURES CHARLIE AND CHRISSY IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST

INTERVIEWING ANYONE THEY FIND INTERESTING.

WE'LL START BY YOU TELLING US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

AND HOW YOU STARTED WITH THIS COMPANY AND...

THE HOMESPUN SHOW WILL RUN FOR NEARLY 5 YEARS.

MY MOM WOULD DO A LOT OF THE EDITING

AND KIND OF GO THROUGH, LIKE,

"THIS IS WHAT WE WANT. THIS IS WHAT WE DON'T WANT."

THE COUPLE CHAT WITH LOCALS OF ALL SORTS...

CAN I START?

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

...FROM ANIMAL COMPLIANCE OFFICERS...

THAT'S A FASCINATING JOB.

I BET YOU MEET A LOT OF FASCINATING PEOPLE OUT THERE.

YOU MEET INTERESTING PEOPLE, SEE DIFFERENT PLACES.

...TO BELLY DANCERS.

TODAY, OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS ALIA SABAT.

SHE IS A MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE ARTIST.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW. THANK YOU.

HELLO. GLAD TO BE HERE.

DO YOU WANT TO START THE QUESTIONS,

OR YOU WANT ME TO START?

YOU ALWAYS START.

ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL START THE QUESTIONS.

THERE'S A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT THAT SAYS

I HAVE TO BE POLITE, YOU KNOW?

OH. BUT...

CHRISSY ISN'T AS EXCITED TO BE ON CAMERA AS HER HUSBAND,

BUT FOR HIS SAKE,

SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE IT A WHIRL.

I THINK MY MOM HAD A LOT OF FUN, ESPECIALLY SINCE

SHE WAS KIND OF COOPED UP IN THIS HOUSE A LOT.

THE STUDIOS OF NEK-TV WERE KIND OF LIKE

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR CHARLIE AND CHRISSY,

AND THEY WERE A GOOD TEAM.

THEY PRODUCED A LOT OF STUFF.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT-- IT'S A STRANGE SHOW.

BUT FOR THOSE LOOKING BACK YEARS LATER,

STRANGE DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT.

CHARLIE OR CHRISSY COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED THAT THESE CLIPS

WILL LATER BE BROADCAST NATIONWIDE

AND THAT THIS FOOTAGE MIGHT HOLD CLUES

TO THE TERRIBLE EVENTS THAT ARE ABOUT TO UNFOLD.

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "OPEN FORUM."

THIS IS YOUR HOST, CHARLIE BILLIS.

I'M CHRISSY BILLIS.

IN UPSTATE VERMONT, CHARLIE AND CHRISSY BILLIS

ARE PRODUCING THEIR OWN ODDBALL TALK SHOW

ON THE LOCAL PUBLIC ACCESS STATION, NEK-TV.

I'M GLAD YOU CAME.

JUST AN OPINION, DO YOU...

MY DAD'S DECISION TO START A TALK SHOW,

I THINK, REALLY STEMMED FROM,

YOU KNOW, HIS INTELLECTUAL SIDE AND HIS PEOPLE SKILLS.

...SO I CAN LEARN HOW TO DELETE IT.

IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A HIGHWIRE ACT.

YOU KNOW, THE GUY WAS GOOD AT WHAT HE DID.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

I MEAN, WE CAN TAKE HOURS AND HOURS.

I SEE ON SCREEN SAVERS,

YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

IT'S AMAZING.

WORKING ON A TV SHOW TAKES A LOT OF COMMUNICATION,

AND I THINK THAT WAS REALLY GOOD

IN HELPING THEM COME TOGETHER.

MY COMPUTER AT HOME IS SO SLOW

I GO-- I GO TO THE LIBRARY.

IT'S LIKE, "YAY."

IT MAY BE JUST AN UNPAID GIG AT A PUBLIC ACCESS STATION,

BUT CHARLIE HAS BIG AMBITIONS IN TV.

HE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO GO FROM PUBLIC ACCESS TO,

YOU KNOW, LIKE, MAINSTREAM TELEVISION.

CHRISSY IS MORE REALISTIC.

I FEEL LIKE, FOR HER, IT WAS MORE OF A HOBBY.

IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, THE TWO SHARE AN EASY CHEMISTRY.

WHEN THEY GET HOME, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

CHRISSY IS STARTING TO RESENT HOW MUCH TIME

CHARLIE IS SPENDING AT THE STATION,

LEAVING HER TO RUN THE HOUSEHOLD AND RAISE THE GIRLS.

SHE HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK.

I COULD SEE HOW THAT WOULD BE OVERWHELMING.

SHE NEEDS CHARLIE TO GET OUT THERE AND MAKE SOME REAL MONEY.

OH, HEY, HONEY.

HEY.

BUT CHARLIE HAS OTHER IDEAS.

I'VE BEEN THINKING, UM...YEAH?

I'M GONNA BE FOCUSING ALL MY ENERGY ON THE TV BUSINESS.

CHARLIE DECIDES NOT TO LOOK FOR A JOB IN VERMONT.

SO THEIR ONLY INCOME WILL BE HIS DISABILITY CHECKS.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN DISCUSSED THIS.

LOOK, YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO THIS FAMILY.

BUT WHAT IS THERE TO DISCUSS?

WE'RE BARELY GETTING BY.

YOU KNOW, MONEY IS ALWAYS TIGHT.

BUT I'D NEVER HEARD THEM COMPLAIN ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING.

WE'RE OUT IN THE FIELD TODAY...

CHARLIE BARELY NOTICES.

HIS ONE-TIME HOBBY HAS BECOME A NEAR OBSESSION.

WELL, THERE YOU GO, FOLKS.

LEAVE IT UP TO CHARLIE TO MESS IT UP ONE MORE TIME.

FOR FOUR DAYS A WEEK, HE STARTS TAKING "OPEN FORUM"

OUT OF THE STUDIO AND ONTO THE ROAD.

CHRISSY IS LEFT AT HOME, DOING ALL THE HOUSEWORK

AND STRETCHING EVERY DOLLAR SHE CAN.

MY MOM WAS SORT OF OVERWHELMED WITH HOW MUCH TIME MY DAD

WAS DEDICATING TOWARDS,

YOU KNOW, HIS SHOW, "OPEN FORUM."

MONEY WAS TIGHT,

SO THAT WAS ALWAYS KIND OF, LIKE, A STRESSOR.

BUT IN 2009, DISASTER STRIKES THE BILLIS FAMILY

WHEN CHRISSY GETS DEVASTATING NEWS FROM HER DOCTOR.

SHE HAS OVARIAN CANCER AND HAS HAD TO UNDERGO

A FULL HYSTERECTOMY.

I REMEMBER FEELING, LIKE, REALLY OVERWHELMED WITH EVERYTHING.

SHE'S OUR MOM, AND IT WAS REALLY SCARY TO THINK

THAT WE COULD LOSE HER TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THERE WE GO.

SHE DECIDED TO QUIT SMOKING

BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST DECISION FOR HER HEALTH.

SHE WENT ONTO AN ANTI-SMOKING DRUG,

AND SHE STARTED NOT GETTING A LOT OF SLEEP.

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "OPEN FORUM." MY NAME IS CHARLES BILLIS.

WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. RON TAB.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN VERMONT?

AS CHRISSY EMBARKS ON HER RECOVERY THAT SUMMER,

CHARLIE DOUBLES DOWN ON HIS TV PROJECTS.

IN AUGUST 2009,

WHEN HE HEARS STEVE MERRILL IS LAUNCHING A NEW SHOW,

HE VOLUNTEERS TO BE STEVE'S ON-SCREEN SIDEKICK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAME AT THE DECISION

TO HAVE HIM AS A CO-HOST.

IT WAS BY MUTUAL AFFIRMATION, I GUESS.

IN SEPTEMBER, STEVE AND CHARLIE PRESENT THEIR NEW SHOW

TO THE PEOPLE OF VERMONT.

WELL, I HEAR IT'S BAD NEWS.

SO GO AHEAD AND GIVE ME SOME GOOD NEWS.

I GOT TO GIVE YOU GOOD NEWS?

YOU'RE GOING ON THE WRONG CHANNEL.

IF YOU WANT GOOD NEWS... GO TO CNN?

OH, I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, GO TO CNN.

IT'S ALL HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY.

AND IT WAS FUN TO BE ABLE TO PLAY

INTELLECTUAL HANDBALL WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THAT.

OH, AND HERE'S A GOOD ONE.

NORTH KOREANS FIGHT BACK WITH THE SOMALI PIRATES.

ARE THEY USING SWORDS? NO, NO.

THEY WERE USING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.

ALL RIGHT! THAT'S MY BOYS.

CHARLIE, HE HAD A VERY TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR,

AND HE HAD SEEN AND DONE A LOT OF STRANGE THINGS.

FOR THE UNINITIATED, A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL

IS SIMPLY GASOLINE-- GASOLINE IN A BOTTLE,

AND YOU STUFF A RAG IN THE TOP, POUR A LITTLE GAS ON IT,

AND IT MAKES-- IT'S NAMED AFTER MOLOTOV,

ONE OF THE BOLSHEVIKS.

IT WAS JUST A RIOT.

THE ONLY THING WE HAD TO LOSE WAS OUR TIME,

AND, YOU KNOW, WE BOTH HAD PLENTY OF THAT.

BUT FOR CHRISSY, NOW BACK ON HER FEET,

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THE BILLS HAVE BEEN PILING UP AT HOME,

AND CHARLIE'S BEEN DOING NOTHING TO PAY THEM.

WHILE YOU'RE PLAYING TV OVER THERE,

THEY'RE GONNA CUT THE POWER.

AS ALWAYS, CHARLIE DOESN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

I'M GOOD WITH CANDLES.

MY PARENTS DID HAVE

A PRETTY STRESSFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER,

AND I THINK IT WAS JUST A LOT OF MY MOM

BEING OVERWHELMED BY EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING TO HER.

I HAVE MONEY COMING IN.

MY DISABILITY IS MONEY.

WHAT DO YOU BRING IN?

YEAH, I THOUGHT SO!

CHARLIE REFUSES TO GIVE UP MAKING HIS SHOWS,

AND CHRISSY DECIDES THAT SHE COULD USE

A LITTLE TIME OUTSIDE THE HOUSE HERSELF.

BY THE FALL OF 2009, I THINK MY MOM WAS PRETTY EXCITED

TO START WORKING ON THE SHOW AGAIN.

IT WAS SORT OF GETTING BACK INTO THE, LIKE, DYNAMICS THAT,

YOU KNOW, BEFORE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED.

WHICH IS WHY CHRISSY IS BACK BEHIND THE CAMERA

FOR CHARLIE AND STEVE'S NEW SHOW

ON THAT FATEFUL SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2009.

WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT THIS WILL BE

THE GROUP'S LAST EPISODE TOGETHER.

WELCOME TO A NEW SHOW, "IT'S NEWS TO US."

THIS IS YOUR HOST, STEVE MERRILL.

I'M YOUR...CO-HOST, I GUESS, CHARLIE BILLIS.

THAT DAY, WHEN WE SHOT THE SHOW,

NOTHING SEEMED OUT OF THE ORDINARY TO ME.

YOU'RE DRIVING A CRUISER IN GREECE.

YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE RADIO.

"CRUISER"? WHAT'S THAT, A BICYCLE WITH TWO REFLECTORS?

WITHIN THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AFTER WE STARTED,

WE WERE ON A ROLL.

A DONKEY? A DONKEY WITH ONE OF THEM--

OKAY, YOU'RE DRIVING A CHARIOT DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN GREECE, OKAY?

"BAA!" TWO SHEEPS RIDING A TRICYCLE.

I'M SORRY. LISTENING TO THE RADIO.

WE WERE GETTING LAUGHTER FROM CHARLIE'S WIFE, CHRISSY.

IT WAS A GOOD THING. WE WERE HAVING FUN.

IN LESS THAN AN HOUR, ONE OF THE PEOPLE

IN THIS ALL-AMERICAN STORY...

WILL BE DEAD.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME. WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

HERE WE ARE-- WE'LL HAVE TO SAVE THIS ONE FOR NEXT WEEK

BECAUSE OUR ENGINEER HAS TOLD US WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND OUT OF STORIES, TOO.

YEAH. NO, NOT REALLY.

WE'VE GONE MELTDOWN 101.

BUT WE'LL SAVE THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW

WE'RE STILL MELTING DOWN

AS FAR AS WALL STREET GOES.

SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2009.

THIS CLIP SHOWS CHARLIE BILLIS AND HIS FRIEND STEVE MERRILL

WRAPPING UP THE SECOND EPISODE

OF THEIR PUBLIC ACCESS NEWS SHOW.

I'M YOUR HOST, MINUTE MAN, AND MY BUDDY HERE...

SECOND MAN. SECOND MAN?

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

MINUTE MAN AND SECOND MAN.

WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT WEEK. PASTA LA VISTA.

BEHIND THE CAMERA IS CHARLIE'S WIFE, CHRISSY BILLIS.

AND CUT.

SHE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ENJOYING

STEVE AND CHARLIE'S ON-SCREEN CHAT.

BY 3:30 THAT AFTERNOON, EVERYONE'S HEADED HOME.

IT WAS JUST A NORMAL DAY LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY.

THAT'S WHEN PAM AND RAY HELENEK ARE HAVING AN EARLY DINNER...

...AND HEAR THAT TERRIBLE CRASH IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.

BY THE TIME RAY REACHES THE CAR,

OTHERS FROM PASSING VEHICLES ARE DRAGGING SOMEONE OUT.

THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF COMMOTION.

PEOPLE WERE ALL AROUND.

IT'S CHRISSY AND CHARLIE BILLIS,

AND THEY'VE BEEN IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT.

WE LIVED HERE SINCE 1971,

AND WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

CHRISSY SEEMS OKAY, BUT CHARLIE WASN'T WEARING HIS SEAT BELT.

HIS LEGS ARE CRUSHED.

EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO FREE HIM,

AND THEY RUSH THE COUPLE TO THE E.R.

AT THE HOSPITAL, DOCTORS SOON GIVE CHRISSY THE ALL-CLEAR.

BUT AS THE HOURS PASS WITH NO WORD,

THE FAMILY IS WORRIED ABOUT CHARLIE.

THERE WAS JUST, LIKE, ALL THIS FEELING OF DREAD

THAT I HAD JUST BEEN BUILDING UP ALL DAY.

IT WAS LIKE A TIP OF THE ROLLER COASTER.

I'M SO SORRY...

YOUR HUSBAND HAS DIED.

IT WAS REALLY OVERWHELMING, JUST TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, LIKE,

"OH, YOUR DAD DIDN'T MAKE IT."

AND IT WAS, LIKE...

SO, LIKE-- PROBABLY THE BIGGEST HEARTBREAK OF MY LIFE,

I'D HAVE TO SAY, FOR SURE.

MY DAD AND I HAD ACTUALLY GOTTEN IN A FIGHT THE DAY BEFORE,

SO I DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE TO HIM.

THE FUN-LOVING JOKER, SEEN IN THE NEK-TV VIDEOS,

WILL BE MUCH MISSED.

IT'S JUST LIKE THE UNITED STATES.

OUR BUSINESS IS DEATH, AND, UH...

YOU KNOW, JOB ONE IS DEATH, AND BUSINESS IS GOOD.

ABSOLUTELY, SIR. AND WHO PROFITS? THE UNDERTAKER.

YEAH. YEAH.

AS WITH ANY FATAL CAR CRASH ALONG A STATE ROUTE,

VERMONT STATE POLICE ARRIVE TO INVESTIGATE.

THERE WASN'T ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING FOUND IN THE ROADWAY

THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED HER TO SWERVE.

THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ON THE ROADWAY.

THE INVESTIGATORS ARE LEFT SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS.

CHRISSY HAS MANAGED TO CRASH INTO THE ONLY TREE

ALONG THAT STRETCH OF ROAD

FOR AT LEAST A MILE IN EITHER DIRECTION.

THE NEXT DAY, CHRISSY IS RELEASED BACK HOME

INTO THE CARE OF HER DAUGHTERS.

THE STATE TROOPER STOPS BY TO QUESTION HER ABOUT THE CRASH.

G-GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT WAS KIND OF STRANGE TO SEE MY MOM BEING INTERROGATED

WITH ALL THESE QUESTIONS, LIKE, ESPECIALLY, LIKE,

RIGHT AFTER LOSING SOMEBODY.

TELL ME, ARE YOU ON ANY MEDICATIONS?

IT SORT OF FELT, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

IT WAS MY MOM, MY SISTER, AND I AGAINST THE WORLD AT THAT POINT.

CHRISSY REVEALS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ANTI-SMOKING DRUGS,

SHE'S ALSO BEEN TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS

AND SLEEPING PILLS.

IT GIVES THE TROOPER A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE CRASH.

CHRISSY'S MEDICATIONS MAY HAVE MADE HER BLACK OUT BRIEFLY

JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

MY CONDOLENCES. I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

WITHIN DAYS OF CHARLIE'S DEATH,

FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHER TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

THE PUBLIC ACCESS TV HOST WAS WELL-KNOWN

AND WELL-LOVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER, WHAT?

IT WOULD TAKE FIVE YEARS FOR THE TICKS

TO BE UP HERE, YOU KNOW?

WELL, HOPEFULLY, I WON'T BE AROUND.

I MISS HIM TERRIBLY.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

HE WAS A GREAT GUY AND VERY SMART.

NEVERTHELESS, EIGHT DAYS AFTER CHARLIE'S DEATH,

STEVE MERRILL RETURNS TO SCREENS WITH "IT'S NEWS TO US"...

WITH A NEW CO-HOST.

WHERE MY CO-HOST CHARLIE BILLIS WAS KILLED

JUST AFTER HE LEFT THE STUDIO

IN A HORRIBLE CAR CRASH.

AND, CHARLIE, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, THIS SHOW IS FOR YOU.

AND, LET'S SEE-- WE'LL START OFF

WITH THE BIGGEST NON-NEWS NEWS STORY

THAT HASN'T...

AFTER BREAKING THE TRAGIC NEWS TO VIEWERS,

STEVE FORGES AHEAD WITH THE PROGRAM.

AFTER ALL, THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WELCOME.

I MEAN--[ LAUGHS]

YOU SEE WHAT THIS STUFF DOES TO ME?

NOW I CAN'T THINK TOO GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING PROGRAM.

HE WAS DANCING OVER THERE.

YOU COULDN'T SEE HIM, BUT HE WAS.

IT'S BEEN JUST FOUR WEEKS SINCE THE DEATH

OF VERMONT PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION HOST CHARLIE BILLIS.

HIS WIFE, CHRISSY, WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL

WHEN THEIR CAR CRASHED INTO A TREE,

BUT SHE SURVIVED.

THAT'S A REALLY BIG LOSS TO JUST FACE OUT OF NOWHERE,

AND IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR HER, TOO,

TO LOSE THE PERSON THAT SHE LOVED, YOU KNOW?

WE ALL LOVED HIM, AND...

UM...

THE COMPUTER COMES ON. EVERYTHING'S FINE.

NOW IT WON'T RECOGNIZE THE MODEM TO GET DIAL-UP.

OH.

YEAH, THAT'S HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.

THE INFAMOUS DRIVER ISSUE.

YES, SIR. I SPEND MORE TIME WITH THIS.

I THINK I CAN PAY FOR THE COMPUTER.

FOR NOW, CHRISSY CAN'T RETURN TO THE TV STUDIO.

THE MEMORIES ARE JUST TOO PAINFUL.

THAT SAME FALL OF 2009,

STEVE MERRILL VISITS THE STATE POLICE.

TAKE A SEAT. THANK YOU.

STEVE CAN'T SHAKE THE IDEA THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE

TO CHARLIE'S DEATH THAN ANYONE THOUGHT

BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HE NOTICED AT HIS GOOD FRIEND'S FUNERAL.

OH, GOSH.

I FOUND THAT CHRISSY'S BEHAVIOR AT THE FUNERAL

WAS JUST COMPLETELY WEIRD.

YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T, LIKE, EVEN A TEAR THERE.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

STEVE TELLS THEM ABOUT AN ODD CONVERSATION HE AND CHRISSY HAD

ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

I WAS TELLING CHRISSY ABOUT A FRIEND OF MINE.

HIS WIFE HAD A CAR. THE CAR WAS A LEMON.

THEY STRAPPED THEMSELVES, AND THEY PUT

ALL THESE PILLOWS INSIDE.YEAH?

AND THEY HAD DRIVEN THE CAR INTO A TREE TO TOTAL IT.

IT WASN'T INSURANCE FRAUD.

BRILLIANT.

I COULD SEE THE CHANGE COME OVER HER.

IT WAS LIKE I COULD TELL THAT SHE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY

TO GET CHARLIE OUT OF HER LIFE.

BUT IT'S A BIG ACCUSATION,

AND POLICE HAVE NOTHING TO GO ON BUT STEVE'S SUSPICIONS.

AFTER SOMEONE BROKE IN AND STOLE ELECTRONICS...

IT'S BEEN 10 MONTHS SINCE CHARLIE BILLIS

MADE HIS LAST APPEARANCE ON NEK-TV.

YEAH, WHAT, DID THE GUY COME BACK FOR MORE?

ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW... DID HE FORGET SOMETHING?

...HE MUST HAVE HEARD ABOUT ALWAYS RETURNING

TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

CHRISSY DECIDES IT'S TIME TO STOP GRIEVING

AND LOOK TO HER FUTURE.

AFTER ALL, SHE'S STILL ONLY 43 YEARS OLD.

SO SHE TIPTOES INTO THE WORLD OF ONLINE DATING.

MY MOM IS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE,

AND I FELT LIKE MAYBE SHE WAS LOOKING FOR THAT AGAIN.

AND BEFORE LONG, SHE FINDS AN INTERESTING MATCH

THAT WILL QUICKLY CHANGE HER LIFE.

HIS NAME IS KEVIN LELAND,

AND HE'S JUST MOVED TO THE VERMONT AREA.

ON THIS PARTICULAR WEBSITE,

THEY RATE YOU AS FAR AS A MATCH IS CONCERNED,

AND IT TURNED OUT WE WERE A VERY CLOSE MATCH-- 98%.

IT'S KIND OF UNCOMMON.

WE HAD A VERY SIMILAR SENSE OF HUMOR.

YEAH, AFTERNOON WAS GOOD. AND YOURS?

OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS,

CHRISSY AND KEVIN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER.

WE HAD AN INSTANT-MESSAGE CONVERSATION,

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE MENTIONED

THAT SHE LOST HER HUSBAND IN A CAR CRASH.

I DID FEEL HORRIBLE TO THINK OF LOSING A HUSBAND--

LOSING A SPOUSE-- THAT WAY.

IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE CHARLIE'S DEATH,

AND KEVIN AND CHRISSY HAVE DECIDED TO MEET UP

FOR A WALK OUT IN THE ROLLING FARMLANDS.

SHE WASN'T IN SUCH AN UPBEAT MOOD,

AND I ASKED HER WHAT WAS WRONG.

AND SHE SAID, "THE ACCIDENT."

CHARLIE'S DEATH IS NEVER FAR FROM CHRISSY'S MIND.

WE HAD WALKED DOWN ROUTE 5,

THE SAME ROAD AS THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON.

AND WE WENT RIGHT AROUND THE TREE THAT SHE HIT.

AND SHE WAS EXPLAINING THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT.

CHARLIE WASN'T WEARING HIS SEAT BELT.

I'D FELT KIND OF WEIRD.

YOU KNOW, AND I WASN'T GOING TOO FAST, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 55.

BEFORE LONG, CHRISSY IS CONFIDING IN KEVIN

ABOUT HER MARRIAGE TO CHARLIE.

EVEN THOUGH, AS MUCH AS I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THE GORY DETAILS,

I WANT TO KNOW.

OKAY, HE WAS ABUSIVE...

TO ME, TO THE GIRLS.

I WAS DEVASTATED, HEARING THIS.

YOU KNOW, I-- MY BREATH STOPPED.

AND SHE TALKED ABOUT FEELING GUILTY

ABOUT THE ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW?

AND I SAID, "OF COURSE,"

YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE GONNA FEEL GUILTY.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, NATURAL, BUT IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT."

SHE WAS, "NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND."

"NO, I DID IT ON PURPOSE."

"I KILLED HIM ON PURPOSE."

AND I'M LIKE, "WOW."

I-I WAS SHOCKED.

I DID REALIZE I JUST BECAME A WITNESS TO A MURDER.

I WAS TANGLED UP WITH SOMEBODY

THAT I'D REALLY RATHER NOT BE TANGLED UP WITH.

WHY WOULD CHRISSY BILLIS, CHARLIE'S WIFE OF 17 YEARS,

CRASH THE CAR ON PURPOSE?

KEVIN KNOWS HE SHOULD GO STRAIGHT

TO THE VERMONT STATE POLICE,

BUT FIRST, HE DECIDES TO TRY AND GET FURTHER PROOF.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE BELIEVED JUST TELLING MY STORY

WITHOUT ANY KIND OF BACKUP EVIDENCE.

I DECIDED I WAS GONNA PUT A DIGITAL RECORDER IN MY POCKET

AND SET UP ANOTHER MEETING WITH HER

AND GET HER TO CONFESS.

HI.

WHEN HE SHOWS UP AT THE VERMONT STATE POLICE THE NEXT DAY,

HE PLAYS A RECORDING THAT WILL STARTLE DETECTIVES.

IT SOUNDS LIKE CHRISSY IS CONFESSING TO A MURDER.

HE LISTENED, AND, YOU KNOW, HIS EYEBROWS WENT UP.

THE POLICE HAVE THEIR DOUBTS.

IT LED US TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE SUSPICIOUS,

BUT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS SAYING THAT STUFF

TO IMPRESS MR. LELAND

OR WHETHER SHE WAS BEING TRUTHFUL ABOUT IT OR NOT.

ALSO, THE RECORDING WAS CLEARLY MADE WITHOUT CHRISSY'S KNOWLEDGE

OR ANY KIND OF POLICE WARRANT.

IT WOULD BE INADMISSIBLE IN COURT.

POLICE WILL NEED MORE EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THIS ACCIDENT

WAS ACTUALLY PREMEDITATED MURDER,

AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET EXACTLY THAT.

OH, AND HERE'S ANOTHER GOOD ONE FOR ALL YOU NEW YORKERS.

"AN AGING HIT MAN ONCE USED

AS AN ENFORCER BY MOB BOSS JOHN GOTTI

HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FOUR COLD-BLOODED KILLINGS."

NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO EDITORIALIZE IN THE NEWSPAPER.

HOW IS IT "COLD-BLOODED"?

AND, YOU KNOW, ISN'T EVERY KILLING COLD-BLOODED?

AS FAR AS I KNOW. YEAH.

WHEN STEVE MERRILL TAPED THIS SHOW,

HE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING HIS FRIEND, CHARLIE BILLIS,

WOULD BE DEAD IN LESS THAN AN HOUR--

THE APPARENT VICTIM OF A CAR ACCIDENT.

LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW,

I BELIEVE I SHOOK HIS HAND AND SAID,

"HAVE A GOOD ONE. WE'LL DO THIS AGAIN NEXT WEEK," YOU KNOW?

BUT 18 MONTHS LATER, HIS WIDOW, CHRISSY,

SEEMS TO ADMIT TO HER NEW BOYFRIEND, KEVIN LELAND,

THE CRASH WAS INTENTIONAL.

VERMONT STATE POLICE NEED TO GET SOLID PROOF

AS TO WHAT HER INTENTIONS WERE.

DETECTIVE ANNIS DECIDES THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT

IS TO GO TO THE SOURCE.

ON APRIL 25, 2011, HE PAYS CHRISSY A VISIT

AND CAPTURES THEIR WHOLE DISCUSSION ON TAPE.

SHE WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT

I WAS THERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE INSURANCE CLAIM.

CHRISSY HAS BEEN TRYING TO CASH IN

ON CHARLIE'S $100,000 CAR INSURANCE POLICY.

IT'S A FAIR CHUNK OF CHANGE FOR SOMEONE

WHO'S HAD TO GET BY ON SO LITTLE.

AND I WAS LIKE, "WELL, WHY?"

BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'VE HAD CAR CLAIMS BEFORE...

AS WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE INSURANCE CLAIM,

I THEN KIND OF CHANGED GEARS.

AND SO IS THERE MAYBE A CHANCE THAT

YOU'RE DRIVING HOME AND HE PISSES YOU OFF...

BUT THE MORE DETECTIVE ANNIS PRESSES IN

ON WHAT SHE WAS THINKING THAT DAY,

THE MORE CHRISSY TRIES TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

DETECTIVE ANNIS IS IN NO MOOD FOR SMALL TALK.

HE COMES RIGHT OUT WITH IT.

ARE YOU SURE? YEAH.

CHRISSY HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN A LIE.

POLICE DO HAVE PROOF THAT SHE TOLD SOMEONE

SHE CRASHED THE CAR ON PURPOSE.

DO I NEED A LAWYER?

THAT IS UP TO YOU.

CHRISSY STARTS TO CRACK,

AND THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES OUTSIDE,

AWAY FROM THE CHILDREN.

FIRST, I NEED TO KNOW THAT I HAVE VISITATION RIGHTS

TO THE KIDS.

CAN YOU PROMISE ME THAT?

DURING THAT CONVERSATION, SHE BASICALLY CONFESSED

THAT SHE'D CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY,

WHICH LED TO THE DEATH OF CHARLES BILLIS.

SURE, HONEY, I TOLD YOU BEFORE, OKAY?

I'M GETTING THE MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

ARE YOU EVER GONNA GET A JOB?

GET OFF MY BACK! WE'RE FINE!

WE'RE NOT FINE.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?JUST SHUT UP.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE QUITTING.

YEAH?

WELL, IT PISSES YOU OFF!

I CANNOT LIVE WITH THE SMOKE IN THE CAR!

LOOK WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING!GOD, JUST SHUT UP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! - SHUT UP!

CHRISSY BILLIS IS CHARGED WITH THE FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

OF HER HUSBAND, CHARLIE BILLIS.

BUT THE PROSECUTOR'S ONLY REAL PROOF ARE HER CONFESSIONS.

SO BEFORE SHE CAN RECANT, THEY OFFER HER A DEAL.

IN JULY OF 2012, CHRISSY PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER

AND IS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON.

CHRISSY'S CLAIMS OF MENTAL ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF CHARLIE

ARE NEVER PROVEN.

I JUST REMEMBER HER IN THE COURTROOM.

IN MY MIND, IT WAS LIKE, "OKAY, FIRST, I LOST MY DAD,

AND NOW I'M GONNA LOSE MY MOM."

THAT WAS JUST SO CRAZY TO ME.

IT WAS JUST REALLY OVERWHELMING, FOR SURE.

STEVE MERRILL IS STILL MAKING KOOKY PUBLIC ACCESS SHOWS

OVER AT NEK-TV STUDIOS.

IT'S JUST INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME, YOU KNOW,

LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW, THAT WE'RE DOING THIS SHOW,

AND THEN NOT AN HOUR LATER, HE'D BE DEAD.

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE, BUT YOU NEVER THINK IT'S GONNA BE

AT THE HAND OF YOUR OWN SPOUSE.

MAN, WE'RE REALLY MOVING TODAY, HUH?

I MEAN, WHAT PART OF "THOU SHALT NOT KILL" DON'T YOU GET?

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF "IT'S NEWS TO US."

AND REMEMBER, WHEN THE NEWS BREAKS, WE FIX IT.

ABSOLUTELY. GET THE DUCT TAPE OUT.

THANK YOU.

SEE YOU LATER.

BYE!