Original subtitles

[reporter] We're reporting shocking news

from Dover Plains, New York, tonight

of a series of crimes that have left a family shattered.

[reporter #2] ...following reports

of a North Carolina arrest

on charges of incest and adultery.

[reporter #3] ...that what they are looking at

is, by all appearances,

a triple murder and suicide.

[reporter #4] There were stunning allegations

that a father and his own daughter...

[Alyssa] In retrospect, I see how I was manipulated--

how we all were.

I've asked myself

if there was something more I could have done

to protect my family,

to protect myself.

Why would he do it?

All I can say

is that there is real evil in the world.

[Alyssa] I'm just gonna close the drapes, Detective.

Steven would kill me

if he knew I was meeting with you.

[Detective] Alyssa, were you always afraid of Steven?

[sighs]

[sighs]

Steven loved bragging about shooting up his room with a .45

and covering the bullet holes with-with posters.

And you didn't see that as a red flag?

No, I just thought...

it was cool.

It was bad-ass.

How did you two get together?

We met in a chatroom.

I was 15. He was 21.

I don't know, he just, right from the start,

had my number.

He love-bombed me from 2,000 miles away.

Pretty soon, we were just talking on the phone for hours.

Do you, uh, do you do puzzles?

Yeah, I've done jigsaw puzzles.

Okay, you know when you're about

to finish a puzzle

and there's just that-that one missing piece,

and, you know,

you-you just kill yourself trying to find it,

and then,

out of nowhere it pops up and...

[blows air]

...it's perfect?

Yeah?

[older Alyssa] 37-year-old me knows

he was just pouring honey in my ear.

That's how I feel now that I've met you.

[knocking at door]

I'll call you back!

Okay, yeah.

[bangs phone down]

[Alyssa] I wish I could go back and tell myself

not to stop caring about everything except Steven,

to not fall for his act,

to not let my grades go to hell,

to listen to my parents.

Everything they were saying was right,

even when they forbade me from ever talking to him again.

[exhaling deeply]

Well, you know...

Steven didn't like that.

He didn't take that so well.

[thumps desk]

[chair hits floor]

[raging, glass shatters]

[Alyssa] When he heard that,

nothing could stop him from coming for me...

...and the crazy thing is, I wanted him to.

Some girls are just moths to the flame.

I guess I was one of those girls.

[car door closing]

You're my baby.

Okay, let's go.

[Detective] How did your parents react

after you left?

The second

my beautiful, perfect daughter, Denise, was born,

my mom and dad came around.

[tearfully] And they were trying to help, you know?

But Steven would say that--

that they were trying to take the baby from us.

My baby was not even six months before...

he moved us 2,000 miles away.

And that's when his true colors came out.

You have to take it back!

[Steven] No way! It's too late!

You've had it for two hours. Just take it back--

Oh, so you want me to lie?

What kind of example is that setting for my little girl?

Steven, we need food for the baby!

Oh! Yeah, and all that organic crap you buy--

no wonder we're broke!

You know, for once, once,

maybe you can get a job you don't, like, lose right away!

I told you, I will not lick boots!

[whirring]

[crashing]

What the hell? That is not supposed to happen.

Stupid thing.

Does she ever shut up?

-[crying] -It's okay--

Stop it!

She has to learn! You coddle her!

You promised me never again-- you swore!

What are you doing?

[Steven] Getting some peace and quiet!

[Alyssa] Please, Steven, don't put her in the cooler!

Please, I promise, I'll keep her quiet!

You say that every single day!

I don't want her to die! Please!

[Alyssa] Sometimes, Steven would pinch her

to get her to stop crying,

but that would only make it worse,

or he'd put her in the cooler so he wouldn't hear her scream.

I was too young.

I knew I couldn't protect her.

She would be safer away from him.

[arguing, indistinct, Denise crying]

When I told him

we had to put Denise up for adoption,

he said yes.

He would say anything not to lose me.

[adoption agent] They're good people.

I'm sure they'll do everything they can

to make her feel safe and loved.

They did have one request, though--

her name.

They'd like to give her a new name for her new life,

if that's all right with you.

[Denise crying]

Th-That'll be fine.

They're her new parents now.

[¶¶¶]

[Alyssa] I told my parents

that Denise was going to a good family

and they had good jobs,

and they had a nice house,

and they would love her.

They just couldn't understand why I wanted to give her up.

I couldn't tell them what Steven had done.

I didn't...

didn't...

didn't want to give her up.

[sighing]

In the back of my mind,

I'd always hoped to be reunited,

that I'd see Denise again...

...but not like this.

[mother and father] ¶ Happy birthday to you

[all] ¶ Happy birthday to you

¶ Happy birthday Dear Katie ¶

¶ Happy birthday to you

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you.

Oh, wow.

Mm. Thanks, Mom.

Oh, my god!

[laughter]

Oh, my god, it's like a thousand colors.

I'm actually gonna go crazy.

That's the best kind of crazy to go.

It's pancakes and lots of bacon

as soon as you're dressed.

Come on.

Uh, Mom, Dad?

Yeah?

I'm-I'm ready to do it now.

It's... time.

To do what, honey?

Uh... sweetheart?

What? Why shouldn't I?

You... should, if you want to.

Your birth parents were good people.

They knew what was right for you, but--

[deep breath]

...they were damaged,

and I'm sure long since broken-up.

You don't know what kind of chaos

you could be stepping into.

Maybe just wait a while longer,

until you have a little more life under your feet.

Baby, if you're sure now is the time...

N-No, I'm not,

but I want to anyway.

-Right after pancakes. -Okay, good.

Okay.

-I love you. -I love you.

[Alyssa] Why does anyone stay in hell?

I don't know.

Where would I have gone?

I had no money,

and the girls, they loved Steven.

He was more of a playmate than a daddy,

and with Caroline having autism, change is crazy tough for her.

I didn't want to blow up her world.

Staying with him became a habit,

something I got used to,

even when we were sleeping in separate bedrooms.

[handle clunking]

[toothbrush hits jar]

[sighing]

[exhaling deeply with resolve]

[calling out] Steven?

[Steven] Surrender, earthlings!

The invaders from Zorgon have overcome your defenses!

Surrender!

We will never surrender!

Oh, ho, ho, then Zorgon will finish this...

the Zorgon way!

[Alyssa] Always the Pied Piper.

He knew how to turn it on for the whole world.

Oh, no! You're-- You're killing Zorgon!

The Earthlings are too strong!

[he groans theatrically]

Can you please go make us breakfast?

I need to talk to your dad.

You heard your mom.

Go rustle me up some waffles.

Thank you.

Heavy on the syrup!

The water's off.

You swore you were gonna pay for it.

Yeah, yeah, I thought we were in the--

what do you call it-- grace period.

-You "thought"? -Yeah.

[fidgeting with water gun]

How can you let the girls live like this?

Like what?

Look, I know where the box is on the side of the house.

I'll grab my wrench, have it on like that--

-no problem. -Mm-hmm. What if we get caught?

[snickers] Cops are gonna come and arrest you?

You know what? Just forget about it.

You know, I'll go downtown and I'll talk to them,

and I'll work four overtime shifts,

and I'll get it paid by Friday--

[mockingly] Ohh!

And get a start on next month's rent.

Great, yeah.

Yeah. What happened to your job at the shop?

Total jerks. Waste of my time.

Providing for your family is a waste of your time?

Don't worry about it.

Steven.

Steven, I'm done.

Good to know.

[water sloshing as he fidgets]

Stop!

Yeah, in a minute.

[water sloshing]

Now! Stop.

Don't touch me like that.

Well, you sure know how to stab a knife in the back of fun,

don't you?

-You know what I can do? -Hmm?

I can pawn something

-to get out of this hole. -Oh, yeah? What?

Something I should've done a long time ago.

No.

Don't you joke about that.

Do you seriously want

to keep going around this merry-go-round,

pretending that we're in any kind of marriage?

That's the joke!

You can't

do that to me.

I actually can,

if I do it really fast before I chicken out.

You can keep the house.

I will get a house with the girls.

You're great mom.

You'd do that to Caroline?

You know the hell she goes through

when things change.

She's the reason that I've been here so long.

She's the reason I'm here.

I'll be at peace...

finally.

Dad!

I can't find the waffle mix!

Dad?

Go.

Coming!

[exhales intensely]

[Steven] Did you look in the cupboard?

[¶¶¶]

[Steven] Alyssa? You have to see something.

What happened?

Nothing.

You just have to see it.

You ready for your world to explode?

What--

[Steven] She, uh... she tracked us down.

[laughs] She-she knows everything about us.

She even wants to come and meet us after she graduates

from high school in May.

It's our baby girl.

We get to see her again.

What?

Hey, what-- [thumps lid down]

What is your problem?

Why aren't you excited about this?

Have you forgotten why we gave her up?

The things you did to that baby?

Oh, for god's sake.

You have no right to be happy about seeing her.

You can't tell me how to feel.

I'm her dad,

and I did what I thought was best.

I just wanted her to stop screaming.

But did I ever, ever do that to Caroline or Jenna?

No, I didn't.

So I have every right, I think,

to feel whatever I want to about our baby.

She's not our baby.

So, what are you gonna do?

You're just gonna tell her, "No, you can't come meet us"?

I probably should.

Alyssa, but will you?

Could you actually do that?

No. No, you couldn't.

I-I couldn't.

So we're agreed, and there is no problem.

And...

we can't exactly break up now, right?

What are you talking about?

Well, what kind of a welcome would that be?

"Hi. Great to meet you. We're splitting up"?

You're just trying to stop me from leaving.

Alyssa, but what about Caroline and Jenna, huh?

Uh, "Hi, girls. Guess what?

"You have a big sister

we kind of forgot to ever tell you about,

and, oh, yeah, by the way,

as of right now, you come from a broken home."

I mean, y-you really want to drop all of that

on your daughters

in-in one big... blammo?

Think of what that would do to them.

I'm-I'm gonna write her back.

Thanks.

[sighs heavily] Oh, my god.

[¶¶¶]

This looks like the address.

They're here!

[Mom] You feeling okay?

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

You call us anytime, okay?

Every day.

[Katie] Okay.

[door creaks]

[Mom] Do you want me to get that?

I think I got it. Thanks.

I'll get the door.

Hi! Long drive?

[Katie] Yeah. [chuckles]

Okay.

[Steven] Hey.

Wow.

Hi.

Hi, I'm Kelly, and this is Anthony.

Hey.

Good to meet you.

-Hey. -Hi.

This is Katie.

Katie, this is...

Oh, Alyssa, Steven, and Jenna.

Jenna, please say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Fusco.

Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Fusco.

Hi!

Are you my sister?

Yeah, I am.

[laughs] Yeah.

You're pretty.

Oh, thank you.

My other sister's inside-- she's on the spectrum,

so she's a little bit shy.

A little shy? That's okay.

I'm-I'm a little bit shy, too, so, I think we'll get along.

[laughter]

So nice to meet you.

[chuckling] "Katie".

Okay, well, you all must be hungry after a long drive.

We're having a barbecue.

Backyard?

-Uh... -Thank you.

Yeah, thanks, but we've got a long drive to get back, so...

Oh!

All right. Yeah. Okay.

[claps his shoulder]

[Alyssa] All right, well,

thank you so much for driving her down,

and, of course, I'll keep you in the loop.

Great, thank you.

And yeah, me, too, obviously.

-[laughter] -I know.

-Okay, bye, Mom. -Okay, bye.

All right-- ding-ding, hear that lunch bell ringing?

Bye, Dad.

-See you in two weeks! -Bye.

-Have fun. -I will.

-See you. Love you. -Bye.

[Steven] Jenna, a hand, please? Yeah, there you go. Oh.

[Alyssa] When Katie first arrived,

I had that horrible feeling you get

when you know things are gonna go very bad.

I should have stopped it right there.

[Detective] How could you have?

[Alyssa] I don't know. I just should have.

Let's just go, okay?

How about you go show her, okay?

You've gotta see your room.

We made it pretty for you.

[¶¶¶]

[Katie gasps]

Thank you.

It's wonderful. Thank you.

Why are you, like, crying?

Oh. No, I'm not crying. I'm just, um... [sniffling]

It'll be the first time I've ever slept in my own room.

Yeah, in our trailer, I had to share with my sister.

Trailer?

It's really nice! It's bigger than a lot of homes.

[Steven] When did you move out?

Uh, we didn't. We still live there.

Jenna, why don't you go help her unpack, okay?

[Katie] You gonna help me?

Okay, come on.

-[door closes] -Did you know about this?

[hushed] Talk over there.

Do you remember what I remember?

A two-bedroom house?

[Alyssa] It was better than our house!

[Steven] This whole idea

that she'd be raised by a family who could give her a better life

is a load of crap!

Will you please just be quiet?

She's right next door!

Can you put a lid on it for two weeks?

Please, for her sake?

Just...

[thumps door]

All right, Burger Express! All aboard! Choo-choo!

I'm sorry.

[¶¶¶]

-[Katie] A little to the left. -[Alyssa] This way?

[Katie] Yeah, so the light falls on you.

[Alyssa] Okay.

-That's perfect. Perfect. -All right.

Yeah, just hold that.

I'm sorry, I've never done this before.

No, it's... it's perfect.

Can I talk?

Yeah, absolutely, as long as you don't move.

Okay.

You know, I thought about you every day.

Yeah, I prayed that you were happy.

Mm. I was happy.

Yeah. Had an awesome life.

I, um... I mean, sometimes, I wish I wasn't, like,

buried in a small town, but, um...

you know, my parents are good people.

They're like "the real deal," you know?

Yeah, I was, um... felt completely, uh...

...loved, yeah, yeah.

Oh, that's beautiful.

So,

what do you think about living in a small town?

Oh, no, I'm gone. I'm already gone.

[laughs] I hear a plan.

-Okay. Um, community college-- -Okay?

...And then transfer to SUNY to study art.

That's awesome.

Yeah. [laughs]

Yeah. Yeah, without art, I-- I don't even...

I don't even know what life looks like.

I wish Chris got that.

Boyfriend?

Um... ish.

Ah! Let me guess--

he wants you to have three kids before you're 20?

Kind of. I don't know.

I really like him!

I-- I do. I-I don't know.

Listen.

I'm probably the last person that should be giving advice,

but, you know, don't let anybody

come between you and what you really want.

What did you really want when you were my age?

You.

Beyond that, I don't even know.

It was just so...

buried under so much stuff, you know?

[chuckles sadly]

Sorry.

[softly] It's okay.

I carried you.

I breastfed you.

You were my baby.

It feels so good to hug you.

[¶¶¶]

[laughter]

[Katie] Oh, my god, like, the look on his face!

Did you see it? I actually died.

It was so funny.

[both laughing]

Hey, guys, does the whole class get to hear the joke?

[both laughing]

You had to be there.

-It was like...

-I had the best time.

I know. Me too. Let's do it again, okay?

Yeah.

Hey, Katie, would you please go put the groceries inside,

-please? -Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

What?

Talk about not fair.

[Alyssa] What's not fair?

You monopolizing Katie.

I want to spend time with her, too.

You can hang out with her tomorrow.

I had today off. Is that okay?

Since you have nothing else to do.

[scoffs]

Why are you even home right now?

Idiot foreman had it in for me

because he knew I could do his job blindfolded.

It was only a matter of time

before he found some lame-ass excuse to can me.

[door shuts]

Oh, wow.

I mean, look at this one.

It is...

a genius--

-[giggles] -...Out of my own blood.

No, I don't know about genius.

I mean, yeah, I have a lot to learn.

Yeah, you think you're gonna get that

at Podunk Community College?

Well, yeah, it's just till I transfer.

Pfft. Same difference.

Look, college is for losers wasting their parents' money

while they figure out how to get their thumbs out of their asses.

-It's true. -What?

You're a mile ahead of that.

So, what? I just, like...

Like, I don't go to college at all?

Yeah.

[laughs] What else do I do?

Uh, get out of Podunk

and start being an artist right now.

Richmond is the big city, tons of art schools.

You can take classes.

You can live with us-- for free, in your own room--

and do all the art you want all day long.

So, I-- you mean, like, I just don't go home next week?

This is home.

[chuckles and sniffles]

Sorry.

What? What did I say?

[crying] I'm sorry.

Hey.

Why did you give me up?

I had nothing to do with that.

[groans]

It is all this crap your mom made up.

She said, "Oh, Steven," you know,

"she's gonna be raised by a rich family with a big house.

She'll have all these opportunities.

She'll travel the world."

I'm such an idiot for falling for it.

No, no! You're not an idiot. Like, I had a great childhood.

Yeah, but you could've had that with your real parents,

plus your own room,

and two baby sisters to worship you,

but you didn't.

And you know why?

All because your quote-unquote mom

wasn't ready to give up partying

and hanging out with her friends.

That's why?

Hmm.

Hey, you've got something right there.

It's okay.

[laughs] I'm okay.

Are you sure?

[laughing] Yeah.

No, it's... I'm happy.

-Me too. -Yeah.

[Steven] Oh!

[laughing loudly]

You're kidding me!

Are you kidding me? Here we go.

[Katie] Yeah, I'm ready.

[Steven] Oh, my god!

[Katie] That was so close.

[Steven] One, two, three...

Open your mouth! Open your mouth!

You guys are getting on like gangbusters.

Yeah, you know it.

Uh, hi, Katie.

[Katie] Hey.

What are you guys doing for dinner?

Uh, we were gonna go out.

Yeah, yeah. Finish the day off

with a little father-daughter burger night.

Cool. Well, it sounds fun.

All right.

See you later, then.

Thanks.

-Yeah, thanks. -Okay, ready?

-Oh, yeah, I am ready. -Ready. This is the time.

-The question is, are you? -This is my moment.

My-- Okay.

[laughing]

[rock music playing in background]

[Steven] Thank you so much.

[¶¶¶]

Oh, sorry.

Whoa.

A strawberry margarita with... a cute little umbrella.

What's the drinking age here?

21, why?

Then it's illegal.

[laughs] So?

No one's gonna card you!

My parents hate when I drink alcohol,

even like half a beer.

Kelly and Anthony Fusco--

sworn enemies of fun and excitement.

-[laughs] -Who are they--

or anybody else on the planet,

to tell a tough, incredibly talented,

amazing and totally awesome young woman

what she can and can't do?

-Right? -Yeah!

-Who are they? Right? -Yeah.

-Yeah! -[laughs]

I mean, sure, yeah, legally, it's a crime.

Riddle me this, Batman--

where's the harm?

[¶¶¶]

[clink]

[thumps glass down]

[muffled strains of retching]

[Steven] Quiet.

Shh, shh, shh...

You're doing good. Just get it all out.

Get it all out.

Oh, my god!

What did you feed her?

Oh, no, I believe it's more a matter

of what she had to drink.

You got your underage daughter drunk?

What is wrong with you? Are you a monster?

Hey, a person's first big drunken puke

is an important rite of passage.

-[gagging] -Ooh!

Just be glad she's going through it

with a responsible adult who cares for her,

and not some horny teenage boy.

You sound crazy! And disgusting.

[slurring] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I should've stopped at just one.

Baby, this is not your fault, okay?

What happened?

[Alyssa] Oh, don't worry. It's normal.

She just ate something bad.

It doesn't look normal to me.

Shh. Hey.

Are you all right?

You want to sleep it off? Want to go to bed?

-Yeah. -Okay.

-Okay. -We'll get you to bed, honey.

-Okay. -Hold on.

[Steven laughing] Oh, no.

[Katie gags, Steven snickers]

Get out! Just get out!

[Steven laughing]

[Katie retches]

Oh, I got you. I got you.

[birds singing]

[¶¶¶]

[Steven groans]

[grunts]

[Alyssa gasps anxiously]

Good morning.

[hushed] You're sleeping in her room?

What planet is that normal on?

Okay, you know what?

I don't know what it is about your voice,

but even your whispering just makes me want to vomit.

Shh.

You should be in jail for what you did last night.

What?

What do you mean, what?

[scoffs] Oh!

-What's wrong with you? -Let me see.

I keep losing track.

Which excuse is this to divorce me?

Hmm?

Number 687?

Oh, no! You know what? I forgot.

You don't need any excuse.

No, no, no.

So long as it makes you feel all good and righteous

about bailing on your family again.

You know that's a lie.

Oh, yeah, yeah, I-I-I keep forgetting.

Yeah, uh, Katie's been here all along,

her name's still Denise,

and us losing her for all these years

was just an ugly, screaming nightmare.

[breath shaking]

You make it so easy for me to just hate you.

Oh, that's good! Now we're getting somewhere.

Go on, admit it. You wish I was dead.

[sobs]

Oh, my god, Katie! I'm so sorry.

[door slams]

-[Katie] Go away! -Katie, I'm sorry!

-[knocking] -Please, can you open up?

-Why? -I just want to talk to you.

There's nothing to talk about. It's fine. It's not a big deal.

What's not a big deal?

You walking out on Steven and everyone else!

-What? -It's fine.

-That's just what you do! -No! Oh, my god.

-It's fine. -Please!

Go away!

Please, can I just talk to you?

No, I actually don't care! I actually don't care.

Please go away.

[Steven sighs]

There's something deeply and seriously wrong with you.

Oh--

You telling her God knows what about our past?

That's just gonna hurt her.

She has a right to know her own history.

If it's the truth.

Try this...

keeping it together.

For Katie's sake.

For our girls.

And?

I can't even breathe in the same room as you.

Stay.

I'll take the girls.

I'll get a new place.

And what about Katie?

Katie...

what she does is her call.

Fine.

Smash us all to pieces.

Knock yourself out.

[¶¶¶]

[door opens and closes]

[Caroline] Do you really hate Dad?

[Alyssa] Of course not.

He gave me two beautiful babies.

I-I don't hate Dad.

But you said you did.

People say all kinds of things when they're upset--

things they don't mean.

Then why do we have to move to a different house?

Then why are you guys breaking up?

We were kids, you know?

Now we're adults, we go two different directions.

When can we see Daddy?

Honey, anytime you want, okay?

Mom?

Yeah?

Did you ever want to give me and Jenna away

like you gave Katie away?

Oh, my god, no, baby.

No, no, no, no, not in a million years.

Come here. Come here. No.

[swing creaking]

Hey.

You know Steven and I breaking up

has nothing to do you, right?

It's been a long time coming.

Okay.

It's not your fault...

okay?

I want you to come with me and the girls.

No, you don't.

I do.

You don't really know Steven.

He isn't...

[deep breath]

I just, I-I...

You don't really know him, and he's just--

Is what?

He's irresponsible.

I'm 18.

I don't need someone to be responsible for me.

Yeah, I thought the same thing, too.

You know, whatever you say about him

is just your side of the story, right?

I don't come with you...

[sighs shakily]

...do I still get to see Jenna and Caroline?

Of course.

Then I'll stay.

I mean, I like it here. I like my room.

I'll be fine.

I'm gonna help the girls pack.

[¶¶¶]

It's gonna be so great, you guys.

You're gonna be in a new neighborhood,

and you'll meet new friends,

and there's probably gonna be new types of frogs in the yard,

and maybe a new place to get ice cream.

It's exciting!

You'll get to paint your room a new color.

Isn't that exciting?

Um, no.

No? Okay, well, what about you, J?

What color are you gonna paint your new room?

Um, peanut butter.

Peanut-- Peanut butter!

Okay. Um, right, right, right,

so are we going crunchy or creamy?

-Crunchy! -Crunchy. Got it.

Got it, got it. Love you, baby. Mwah.

Sorry.

Oh!

[Steven chuckles]

Oh, goodbye, my darling angel.

I'll see you real soon, okay?

Come over whenever you want--

day, middle of the night--

[tearfully] ...it's your home, too, okay?

Come on, baby girl.

Let's go.

Hey, Caroline, got a hug for your dad?

Yeah. Thanks.

Be good.

[Alyssa] I didn't fight hard enough for her.

It's like I left a baby deer in a lion's den

to fend for itself.

[crying softly]

Love you!

Bye!

[¶¶¶]

[shots firing]

Just like that.

You're up.

[laughs]

Right?

-Okay. Here, here, here. -All right.

Hold it with both hands. Yeah. Just like that. Good.

Now...

line up the notch with the can.

Yeah. Take a deep breath...

...and pull the trigger.

-[fires] -Yes!

-[laughs] -Whoo!

[giggles and squeals]

[¶¶¶]

[mailbox claps shut]

[¶¶¶]

[chuckles]

[¶¶¶]

[Alyssa] That was my freedom I was holding in my hands.

I couldn't sign those divorce papers

fast enough.

[Steven] Is this good?

Yeah, move your shoulders a little more to face me.

[chuckles] Like that?

Yeah, a little-- split the diff.

-Hold that. -Okay.

Can I see it?

Just want to take a peek.

-I'm not done. -Let me take a peek.

You did that already? That is great!

[Katie laughs]

You never got that from me.

I'm lucky if I can figure out

how to draw a stick figure for a game of hangman, you know?

Um, what about Alyssa?

Yeah.

Yeah, she's more the artistic type.

I never saw her pick up a brush, though.

Hmm.

Hey, wait, why don't--

why don't we do this more like the real thing?

How about if I take off my shirt?

Yeah?

-Yeah. -Yeah.

How's that?

[¶¶¶]

[Alyssa] I'd been with the same guy since I was 15,

and now, wow, I'm free--

totally free--

the whole world's out there.

But it was scary, too,

because I didn't know anything about being free.

[sighs]

[¶¶¶]

Sometimes, when I look at you,

I... feel like,

I don't know, like I'm looking in a mirror.

Mm.

Look at this.

Oh, yeah, right here, with the thumbs?

Yeah, same hand.

And how about this?

[laughs] Same weird crooked toes!

Speak for yourself.

Same.

Same...

...same.

[Katie chuckles awkwardly]

But it all looks better on you.

[chuckles nervously]

[clapping]

[car approaching]

[calls out] Dad's here!

All right, here you go.

Come on, girls, let's go.

Hop in.

[snickers] What are you trying to do with your hair?

What? You say that like it's a bad thing.

You're not 16 anymore.

A guy shouldn't look his best?

Can you just make sure

you give them more than candy at the movies, please?

What do you take me for?

Yes.

Say goodbye to your mom.

[girls, jokingly] "Goodbye to your mom."

[chuckles] Bye, girls.

Have fun.

[door rumbles and thuds]

[car engine starts]

[text alert chimes]

[¶¶¶]

Okay! Pladl-berry muffins!

Thank you.

Here.

[giggling] Give me it!

[chuckling]

[¶¶¶]

[giggling]

Dig in, guys.

[Katie keeps laughing]

[¶¶¶]

[man] The very best they ever wrote?

Yes! In your humble opinion, of course.

I-I don't know how humble, but maybe...

"The grass ain't greener, the wine ain't sweeter

either side of the hill"?

A truer word was never spoken.

Okay, you.

Best Dead lyric ever.

Oh! Okay, no contest.

"If all you have to live for is what you left behind--"

[both] "...Get yourself a powder charge

and seal that silver mine."

You got it.

I love that song.

-Okay. -Full disclosure--

I have three beautiful daughters,

one's on the spectrum,

and the others just ask too many questions,

and, um...

I have a psycho ex

that's the spawn of the devil,

and he has many guns.

Hmm.

[sighs]

Do your girls like fishing?

[laughs]

Yeah.

[clink]

[Jenna] Okay, okay.

So I hold it like this, with my thumb here?

Yup. My god. We've got ourselves a natural.

Ex-Exactly.

Now, don't think about making it fly, right?

Just keep your thumb on here, and then you just flick it,

and when you flick it, that's when you let go.

Whoa!

-Yay! -Look at you.

Good job, Jenna.

-I got it into the stream! -You did get it in the stream.

Did you want to give it a try?

No? All right.

I don't think the fishes are very hungry.

I don't know.

Maybe they already had their breakfast,

and now they're just hanging out.

Doing what?

Eh, not much, just rolling with the day.

Kind of like we are right now?

Yeah.

Oh... I see your point.

Like, here we are just enjoying the sunshine,

and what if a giant hook just came

and snatched one of us up into the sky,

and that would-- yeah, that would--

that would kind of take the fun out of the day, wouldn't it?

-Pretty much. -Yeah, yeah.

Okay, well, I have an idea. What is your--

What's your favorite food?

Rocky road ice cream!

Oh, I love rocky road. What about you, Caroline?

Blueberries.

Blueberries? All right.

Well, what if, right now,

blueberries came raining out of the sky,

coming down really hard,

and we got to eat as much as we wanted

until our tongues turned purple? How would you like that?

Really a lot.

Yeah? All right.

Well...

Well, fish aren't big on blueberries,

but we have the next best thing.

Here, can you get me the bread, please?

You'll see. You will-- Thank you, love. Okay.

Now, this is really important.

We've gotta make blueberry-sized pieces.

Okay, you take one.

Take one.

Very important. Blueberry-sized pieces, okay?

[chuckling]

[Alyssa] Eric, he's just...

he never judges anything.

He accepts me for who I am,

-who the girls are. -What?

With him, I'm just, you know...

[¶¶¶]

I have to tell you something.

I've given birth to three girls,

and I don't work out,

and Steven is the only one that I ever...

You are perfect just the way you are.

Really?

Really.

[¶¶¶]

[door thuds]

[Katie] What do you mean?

Just...

you know, the stuff

that comes bubbling up from the deep,

in the dark of your soul, when nobody's looking and...

keeps you awake at 3:00 A.M.

What is it, for you?

Fear.

Yeah, fear I'm-- I'm never gonna make it as an artist,

and the whole world will think I'm a joke.

Well, there's a way to make that noise in your head go away,

-you know? -I would love to know.

Well, you tell it to go to hell.

Literally. Out loud.

I do it all the time.

You say,

"Screw you, voices inside my head,

trying to tell me what I should and shouldn't be

because I, Katie Pladl,

am the most amazing person who ever lived."

-[chuckles] "Fusco," sorry.

It's okay.

It's the same difference, though.

"I, Katie Fusco, kick ass no matter what I do,

so out of my head, now."

Yeah, I wish I believed that.

Well, you don't have to believe it.

You just have to do it. Go ahead.

-Right now? -Yeah.

Loud as you can.

Scare the hell out of those voices. Go!

I, Katie Fusco, kick ass, so get out of my head!

[laughing]

There. Done.

You'll never hear from them again.

From your lips to God's ears.

You know that--

that feeling you get

when you do a, like, a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle,

and you get it all done, every bit of it,

but there's still a piece missing?

And you look for it for days and days,

and you finally give up,

you think you'll never find it, and then...

out of the blue...

out of nowhere,

there it is...

it just turns up...

...and you put it back in the puzzle, and...

...[exhales] ohh...

the picture is complete.

Yeah.

That's how I feel right now.

Me too.

[¶¶¶]

Is this wrong?

Is what wrong?

I don't know, this--

you and me being, kind of-- I don't know.

Hey...

does it feel wrong?

[¶¶¶]

[Katie crying]

Hey, Katie, it's okay.

I'm here. You're safe.

Nothing can hurt you.

[Katie panting]

[¶¶¶]

[Eric] So did your parents ever forgive you

for giving up Katie?

Not entirely.

It's complicated.

Do you visit them often?

Uh... I haven't seen them since Katie was Denise.

Yeah, because, you know, travel's expensive, and...

but we do video call.

Wow.

Yeah, "wow."

Wow.

"Wow."

[gasps]

-What? -I gotta go pick up the girls!

No, not right now.

Yes, no, I gotta go. I gotta go.

Okay.

You see?

This is the upside of split custody

nobody tells you about,

but I gotta go.

Oh, I'll be right here.

[laughs]

[Caroline] No!

What do you mean, no?

Are you too stupid to know what "no" means?

[Steven] Do not raise your voice at me!

[shouting] Caroline!

Do you want me to break this door down?

Caroline, you know the rules.

Everyone washes their breakfast dishes.

Go away!

Caroline, open up the door!

Caroline, I will break this door down, I swear,

unless you come out now and wash those dishes.

You have three seconds.

One, two...

[car horn honking]

Hey, you get back here.

Get back here and wash those dishes!

[roars] Caroline!

Bye, Katie.

Bye, Daddy.

See you next Wednesday.

[breath shaking] Bye, sweetheart.

[pounding railing]

You'll never guess the big news at the Pladl house.

What big news?

Oh, nothing.

Just the cat's gonna have kittens.

What cat?

All right, come on, girls, what's going on?

You two look guilty. Tell me.

Katie's pregnant.

Is Chris the dad?

Dad's the dad.

What did you just say?

Did you just say, "Dad is the dad"?

I'm sorry.

Did you just say, "Dad is the dad"?

No, she's just joking. Chris is the daddy.

Caroline, please, come on.

Tell me the truth.

Chris is the dad.

Are you sure?

Is she okay?

She's fine.

She said she feels really good.

Okay, honey. All right. Why don't you guys go inside?

I have to make a phone call.

-[both laughing] -I'm over here.

[phone buzzing]

Who is it?

Oh. [sighs]

[Katie] Hello?

Hey, um, I heard the news.

What news?

About the baby?

It's all right, Katie.

I was three years younger than you are.

Have you told your parents?

Yeah.

What'd they say?

I don't know, not much.

Have you told Chris?

Um, I can't really talk right now.

Do you have a doctor?

Um, I have to go. Bye.

[¶¶¶]

[¶¶¶]

Goodbye to you guys, too.

[Alyssa] Hey, kiddos!

Hey.

Good luck with Caroline.

She's been a real nightmare at home.

That's weird. She's an angel when she's with me.

Oh, so it's my fault again-- like always.

And you're Miss Most Perfect Mom of All Time?

Okay, Steven.

Look, there's something in Caroline's journal

you need to read.

Why are you going through her things?

She keeps leaving it out.

I think she wants us to see it.

Really? Well, what does it say?

Just read it, and then we'll talk.

Call me!

[¶¶¶]

[Alyssa crying]

What's wrong?

Steven told me that I needed to read Caroline's journal.

Okay.

"Daddy says him and Katie feels like couples.

Did they get a little too drunk that night?

My dad is a slut. He's Satan.

My dad says Katie's my stepmom.

He doesn't even want me to call her 'sister' anymore."

-Read this! -Oh, my god. What's--

Okay. "He'll go to hell,

but he won't be the one getting tortured.

He'll be the one torturing people.

Wait, one second-- if he's Satan

and Katie is a human,

then the baby will be half-demon."

-What the h-- -He's the devil.

Why on Earth is he showing you this?

Because he thinks that he didn't do anything wrong!

Can you please just watch the girls?

Of course, go. Are you k--

Oh!

-[sobbing] -[starts car]

[pounding on door]

[pounding]

Get outside, right now.

[door closes]

What is going on?

You made me read that on purpose?

That you conquested your daughter?

Are you evil?

You really are evil.

I thought you already knew.

-Oh, my god! -Alyssa, it's not a secret.

Katie and I are in love. We're planning to--

[shrieking in rage]

Get off of me!

It's illegal!

Are you crazy?

No law can tell me who I can love.

It's incest!

[sobbing] She's your daughter.

She's your daughter, my god!

Look, she loves me.

[shrieking]

Don't you ever touch her again!

Don't you touch her again!

It's over. You hear me?

It's over.

If I had a gun...

I would kill you!

But I have daughters that need me.

I would murder you!

Don't you-- Don't you ever touch her again.

[sobbing]

[Alyssa] With the new plan automatically replacing

the grandfathered plan,

you're gonna get a slight increase

in angry and abusive callers, right?

But... it's important to maintain a calm tone.

[shrieking]

Okay? Stay calm.

[raging]

[Alyssa, echoing in rage] Don't you ever

touch her again!

Whoa. Um...

[voice shaking] I'm sorry, I can't do this.

Can you-- Can you take over for me?

Please?

Thank you.

[Alyssa hyperventilating]

[¶¶¶]

[Alyssa] I remembered you

from when my car was stolen last year,

and I just felt like--

like I could trust you.

[Detective] I'm glad you called.

[exhaling deeply, phone ringing]

[Alyssa] So you see why he would kill me

if he knew you were here?

Yes. I can.

You've been through something unimaginable.

It feels like it's happening to someone else.

I wish it was happening to someone else.

Katie and Steven have absolutely committed

a crime for which they can be arrested.

Both of them?

Yes.

But given Steven's history of violence,

once he finds out he's the object

of possible prosecution,

you and your younger daughters may be in danger.

We're already in danger.

I believe that.

How fast can it all happen?

With the restraining order

preventing him from seeing you and the girls,

almost immediately.

An arrest warrant on charges of incest

is a bigger deal.

Okay.

Just act super-cool.

Pick up the girls like everything was normal,

then take them someplace-- anywhere but home.

Someplace safe.

[breathes shakily]

-[both chuckling] -I don't know. I mean...

-Yeah. -I've got time now, right?

[Katie] Yeah, it's true. Yeah.

I'm proud of you, though.

Yeah.

[car doors closing]

Are you expecting anyone?

[Katie] Who would I be expecting?

[Detective] Steven Pladl?

Wait here.

I'm Detective St. James.

What is, uh, all this about?

We're serving you with a restraining order

preventing you from approaching or contacting

your ex-wife or minor children.

Appreciate you bringing this by, Detective.

You have a good day now.

She thinks she can do this to me?

She thinks she can keep me from seeing my children?

Don't get upset.

Please, please, it's gonna be okay.

No, she is gonna pay so hard for this.

Steven, Steven, don't think about that!

-[rages] So hard! -Just think about our baby!

Honey, and us! And our future, okay?

What Daddy's done with Katie is wrong...

and it's against the law.

Why is it against the law?

Because it is.

That's not a very good answer.

Okay, honey, look.

When one person is... the parent,

and the other person is the child,

and they get together--

which is not right--

the child isn't making that decision on their own.

It's the parent's fault.

Does that help you understand a little bit?

Kind of.

Okay.

You know how--

you know how Daddy gets really angry sometimes?

[dryly] Uh... yeah.

He's gonna get so angry when he finds out

I told the police about what he did,

so angry

that he might do bad things that he might regret.

So... we can't stay home right now.

We have to find a place

where Daddy doesn't know where we are.

Then where are we gonna go?

We'll figure that out.

Right now,

all I need you to do

is get your giraffe and all your toys...

where's that smile? [chuckles]

...And your favorite bag.

I got you.

Can you do that?

-Okay. -Yeah?

Okay, come on.

[phone rings]

Hey.

[voice breaks] Hey.

Look.

Steven has a restraining order now,

but the police, they're saying that...

they're saying that I can't stay home,

and you could totally say no--

Okay, l-listen, say no more.

Okay, l--

-Are you okay? -Yeah.

Good.

Okay, here's what I want you to do.

I want you to come over right now.

I'll leave the garage door open.

Thank you, Eric.

Hey. Everything's gonna be fine, I promise.

[¶¶¶]

[Detective] Girls, can you explain to me

exactly what your father told you?

Yes. My father said Katie isn't our sister anymore.

She's our step-mom.

[Jenna] Is Katie still our sister?

Yes, she is.

Then why did Daddy say she isn't?

You girls have been great.

I'm just gonna go speak to your mom.

[Alyssa] I should be out there.

No, look, they're gonna be fine, all right?

It's their mom I'm worried about.

-I'm fine. -Yeah.

Hey, how were they?

They're fine.

-Yeah? -Did you get anything helpful?

I did.

Okay, so when can we arrest him?

Steven and Katie are on their way to North Carolina,

to live near Steven's mother.

What? Okay, so now it's interstate?

Yeah, that's right.

Big mess of red tape to coordinate jurisdictions.

But how long? How long?

Months.

If we're lucky.

Hey, sweetheart.

Hi.

[forced cheer]

I'll be in touch.

When can we see Katie?

I don't know, honey,

but right now, we just have to learn a big lesson,

and we have to stay strong for one another.

Can you be strong for me?

Okay, but I don't wanna learn a lesson.

[laughing]

I don't want to learn any more either.

Hey! Yeah.

Well, you know, it's an exciting time.

And obviously I want you guys to be excited.

Look, it's, like--

...it's important to me, and I want you guys to be there.

Uh, it's just...

It's just what?

It-It's a big thing to take in.

Okay. Well...

I mean, getting married's what people do

when they love each other.

Yeah, but it can't be legal!

Mm-hmm. So we have different last names,

so we just don't

say we're related on our application.

No one's gonna know.

You know, it's not just about that.

What-- What is it about, then?

Like, Steven's mom is coming.

She's so happy for us, and she wants us to be happy.

So do we! Always.

Well, why are you against it?

Like, you want your grandchild to be raised

by two people who love each other,

who are married to each other.

Hi, Anthony. How's it going?

[sniffs] Hi, Steven.

Listen, I know you guys love your daughter,

and you care about her happiness.

I don't doubt that for a second.

Thank you.

[Steven] And I know you want to be a part of her life,

just like you want your grandchild

to be a part of yours, so--

[chuckles] ...I can't imagine you not being there

on what ought to be the happiest day of her life.

Yeah.

[Steven] So we're agreed?

Great.

-Well-- -Okay.

I gotta run. We'll see you there.

Talk soon. Love you.

-Okay. [chuckles] -Bye.

Okay? All right. I love you so much.

I love you.

Okay, I'll talk to you soon.

Bye.

[¶¶¶]

[¶¶¶]

[Caroline] That is seriously weird.

I know, honey.

Why did Katie do it?

Um...

that's just something that you're not gonna understand

until you're a little older.

Your dad, he, um...

he got into your sister's head

and just...

made her do things that aren't right...

or legal.

Is the baby gonna be born soon?

Yeah...

in a couple of months.

Will I get to meet my baby brother or sister?

Or niece or nephew-- depending on how you look at it.

Um...

one day, yeah.

When?

Uh, I don't know, honey.

We're just gonna have to wait and see, okay?

Eat up.

[smooch]

[whispers] I got you.

[¶¶¶]

[Katie] Steven, please, please. I just want to hold him.

-[Steven] No. I just want-- Please, please.

I just want to hold my baby!

No!

I'm so tired. I just-- I just want to hold him!

This is for his sake!

A boy needs to learn how to get through the hard stuff without

-being coddled by his mother! -What are you doing?

Maybe he's sick!

-Oh, he's fine! -Will you just

-get out of my way! -Shut up!

Get-- Ow! Ow! Ow!

I will not let you turn my son

into a sniveling little mama's boy!

[baby crying]

[pounding on door]

[Katie] Get the door, Steven.

Just get the door! Get the door!

-[Steven roars] What the hell?

[baby crying]

-What? -Steven Pladl and Katie Fusco?

Yeah.

[officer] Mr. Pladl and Ms. Fusco,

you're under arrest for charges of incest.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will

be used against you in a court of law.

Ma'am, can you step outside, please?

You have the right to an attorney.

If you cannot afford an attorney,

one will be appointed for you.

Um... um, what about my baby?

This is Gloria Jimenez

with North Carolina Child Protective Services.

She will make sure your child is brought safely from here

to his grandmother, Grace Pladl,

to be placed into her care.

No, you can't take my baby!

You can't take him! You can't take him!

[Steven] You can't fight it, Katie.

This is the state

in all their dark and awesome powers.

[sobbing] What are they gonna do to us?

Whatever they want.

[Steven] What are you looking at?

[¶¶¶]

[reporter] The mother of the child

has now been released from jail on bond.

The father remains in custody.

The pair are forbidden to have any contact with each other

or be unsupervised with their son,

who has been placed in the care of his paternal grandmother.

[crying]

All right, not a word.

[slams lid shut]

[forced cheer] Hey.

Did they get a snack?

Uh, no, we did not have ice cream.

We had ice cream.

I got rocky road!

[Alyssa] What? You had a rocky road?

-[phone buzzing] -All right, girls, come on.

Upstairs, homework on the double.

[overlapping] Yes, Mom.

[phone buzzing]

Hello?

I'm sorry, who is this?

I'm sorry--

[whispers] "The Outlook"?

Some tabloid thing on TV.

I'm sorry, can you say that again?

No. No, no.

I'm not interested. Thank you.

[sighing] Oh, geez.

They want to interview me...

about Katie

on TV.

[sighs]

How did they even get my number?

They have their ways.

[¶¶¶]

[sighs]

[Katie] It's been weeks, and they won't let me see him.

We're not even in the same state.

Katie, you gotta let the process play out.

He's a baby, and he needs me. Like--

[sobs] I just...

I just need to see him.

[sighs shakily]

He's gonna think I abandoned him.

I'm sure Steven's mother's taking good care of him.

I'm his mother.

[phone buzzes]

[buzzing]

[sighs sadly]

[crying]

[Eric] Try her again.

I've already tried five times.

I'm the one who blew up her life.

She's not gonna answer me.

Well, don't give up.

Hold on. Hold on.

I've got an idea.

Hi. Yeah, this is Alyssa Pladl.

Are you the person I spoke to yesterday?

I want to do the interview.

[Alyssa] If I could say something to Katie,

it would be that...

[deep breath]

...that I hope she realizes how truly young she is,

and that she has a chance...

to start over,

and I hope to God that she does.

And I want to let her know

that whatever Steven did to her...

...was exactly what he did to me when I was only 15.

All the attention,

um...

[sighing]

...saying that I was the most amazing person in the world...

...drowning me

in whatever it is he thinks love is.

And I would tell her

to protect her little baby from him...

because of the things he did to her

when she was little,

just to keep her from crying--

pinching her...

...putting her inside of a cooler

with the lid on it.

And he doesn't have a heart--

not like she does.

[sobs] Katie, if you're listening to me,

you have such a beautiful heart.

[shouts] Katie! Come here!

[Alyssa on TV] And you're so strong.

And with the love of your adoptive parents,

you can survive this,

and have the beautiful life you deserve.

And I know you're angry at me--

and I'm sorry...

I truly am.

But I want you to know

that wherever you go,

whatever you do...

[sniffling] ...I will always love you.

Thank you for letting me

be just a little part of your life.

[begins hyperventilating]

Daddy?

Yes?

Did I do something horrible?

Nothing we do for love is horrible.

And I know you loved him.

You say that in the past tense.

Well, maybe because I hope it is.

Horrible or not,

you did what he wanted you to do,

what he got you to do.

You're just beginning your life...

...and it's all ahead of you.

No mistake

is too big or too late to undo.

[¶¶¶]

[phone ringing]

Oh, whoa, whoa. [laughs]

Hey, hey!

I can't believe I am looking at your face.

I'm literally just about to walk in the door from jail.

Hi, Steven.

[laughs] I haven't even called my mom yet.

How's our boy?

I don't know. I don't know. I hear he's crying a lot.

He misses us.

Steven...

[Steven cackles]

Whoo! Katie, I love that you called me.

You know what? Screw them.

Screw the world and all their stupid rules.

Nobody can keep us apart.

Well, jail sucked.

How was it for you?

It was okay. Steven--

Oh, hey, when-when can I come see you?

Steven, will you please listen to me?

I'm listening. What?

I don't think you should come see me!

[snickers]

I'm sneaky. They'll never know.

No, it's not that. I just-- I think that--

You think--?

I think that maybe they're right!

I think they-- I don't--

I don't think we should see each other anymore.

Katie, you listen to me.

That is your parents talking.

They forced you to do this.

They have hated me

ever since they took you away from me

when you were a baby.

It's not my parents.

Then who is it, hmm?

Did Alyssa get to you? Have you talked to her?

No.

Then who?

Katie, do you love me?

Yes. Yes, I love you, but I just--

I just-- I need to figure out--

Figure out what?

If you love me, then what is there to figure out?

A lot!

I have a lot to figure out! I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

No, no, no! Do not hang up on me!

I'm sorry. I have to go now. I love you. Goodbye.

[crying]

Katie!

Damn it!

[bag thumping deck]

[¶¶¶]

[Eric] Oh, my god! The bubbles!

Look at them all. Stop!

Stop it!

Get him!

You're getting me all wet with those bubbles!

Stop it, stop it! Come here. Come here.

Come here, you. Come here. Come here.

[grunts playfully]

Look at you.

[Alyssa chuckles]

[Eric] Look at them all. Look at them all.

Oh, my goodness.

I'm gonna get you. Oh.

[¶¶¶]

I know you just got back here.

I'm sorry to just show up like this, but...

[sighs] I wanted to tell you in person.

Steven's been released.

Where is he?

He went home.

Bennett's with Steven's mother.

You need to protect you and your family.

Thank you for telling me, okay?

Okay.

What's wrong, Mommy?

Oh, honey, everything's okay, I promise.

Okay.

Hey.

I'm gonna take care of you and the girls.

[Bennett cooing]

Hi.

Who's this?

Oop.

Toes in my nose!

[chuckles] Hi.

I know you like puppets.

Oh, hello!

Oh... hello.

Nice to meet you, too.

[deep voice] Hey, do you know who I am?

[higher voice] Oh, yes!

Yes, I know who you are!

[deep voice] No way.

Because if you knew who I was,

there's no way you'd pull that crap with me.

[higher voice] Oh, no, I'm sorry!

I'm sorry.

[deep voice] No, it's too late for sorry.

No! Oh...

[makes hitting noises]

[pretends to cry]

[chuckles]

Yeah.

[¶¶¶]

[¶¶¶]

[wheezing]

[laughing deliriously]

[hyperventilating]

[racks cartridge]

[¶¶¶]

[sighing tensely]

[keys clacking]

[phone rings]

Hi. This is Alyssa.

This is Miss Fitchman at the office at school.

Yeah?

We've gotten a call from the police in North Carolina

that, um, your ex-husband's mother called them.

Jenna and Caroline may be in danger.

Wait! What do you mean? Where are they?

Please, don't be alarmed.

They're here in the office right now,

and we have a police officer on campus.

Okay, I'll be there in 10 minutes.

Great.

[slams receiver down]

[¶¶¶]

What's going on?

I'll let you know on the way home, okay?

Why aren't we going to Eric's house?

We are, honey.

All right, it's gonna be okay.

Just get in.

[garage door humming]

[¶¶¶]

Did you see anybody coming?

No.

Okay.

We're safe now.

Nobody can hurt us.

[shuts engine off]

[¶¶¶]

[car engine starts]

[car engine starts]

[¶¶¶]

[¶¶¶]

[brakes screeching]

[¶¶¶]

[Anthony] No! Steven!

[gun fires]

[firing]

[horn starts blaring]

[horn blaring]

Oh, god!

[¶¶¶]

[¶¶¶]

[car engine shuts off]

[Steven weeping]

[slams steering wheel]

[wheezing and sobbing]

[gun fires]

[Alyssa] No, no, no--

It's a little wet, I'm just saying.

It's just a little wet.

Oh...

[Eric] I'm just saying, and I like it.

[phone begins buzzing]

It's Detective St. James.

Hello?

Mm-hmm?

[gasping] Oh!

[wails]

Oh, my god, no!

Oh, my god! No, please, don't tell me--

no!

[phone hits floor]

[screaming] Katie's dead!

Katie's dead!

[¶¶¶]

[weeping]

Oh...

[Alyssa wailing]

Oh...

I can't tell them.

I don't know how.

[sniffling and sobbing]

[Alyssa, tearfully] Hey, babies. Come sit.

I'll wait downstairs.

[sniffling]

There's something that I have to tell you

that's really scary...

and that you may not understand.

Your dad, uh...

he did something really bad--

something that he can never undo.

And we won't see Daddy...

or Katie again.

What about Bennett?

[sniffling]

He's in Heaven with Katie.

I'm so sorry.

Come here.

[crying]

I'm sorry, babies.

[sobbing]

[¶¶¶]

[Alyssa] It's starting to rain.

Yeah.

Mom?

Yeah?

Do you remember the time

where Dad made us all hamburgers,

and he was really silly,

and we laughed a lot?

[sighs]

No, honey, I don't remember that.

But I'm happy you do...

and I hope you never forget that.

Is there a Heaven?

I hope so.

If there is, is Dad there?

I don't think so, honey.

What about Katie?

Is... Is Katie there?

100%, Katie's there.

And you know where else she'll always be?

Where?

In here...

and here...

forever.

Come here.

[Alyssa] Through everything, Eric stayed by my side.

After all that the girls and I went through,

it was hard to believe that we could be so happy.

But we are.

This is our new life.

[¶¶¶]

[¶¶¶]