Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story (2024) Movie Script
1
(crowd cheering)
(loud bang)
(gasps)
(fireworks banging)
(sighs)
(crowd): Ten, nine,
eight, seven--
(TV clicks off)
(fireworks continue)
(ominous music)
(floorboard creaks)
(crickets chirping)
(exhales)
- Happy New Year's, kiddos.
(sighs)
(crickets chirping)
(tense music)
(fireworks crackling)
(floorboard creaks)
(fireworks bang slowly)
(breathing heavily)
(gunshot cracks)
(screaming)
- Honey, I'm here.
It's okay.
I'm right here. Just
remember the breathing, okay?
You can do this. Okay?
- Okay, Morgan,
I need you to push
on this next contraction, okay?
- I can't, I can't, I can't.
- Yes, you can do this, baby.
I know you can do this.
- Okay, good. Now, push!
(screaming)
Push, push!
- Push, push, push, push!
- Good, you got it.
- Oh, my God,
you're doing it, baby!
- Almost there!
You're doing it, baby.
You're doing it.
- The head is coming.
- Oh, Morgan, it's...
He's...
- I got him. I got him.
(baby cries)
Do you wanna cut the cord?
- Yeah.
(crying)
- Hey!
Hey! Hi.
(crying)
Kevin.
Rodney.
- I know.
(crying continues)
- Okay, we do need
to take him now.
- Can we just have
a few minutes?
- I'm sorry. Do you remember
what we talked about?
Every minute matters.
- Yeah, okay.
(crying continues)
(crying fades)
(monitor beeps steadily)
- As we suspected
from the prenatal ultrasound,
Kevin's atrial ventricular
septal defect
is allowing oxygen rich blood,
that's the red stuff
you see here,
it's allowing it to pass
from his left atrium
to his heart.
We have to go into
surgery right away.
(indistinct PA system
announcement)
(Rodney): You'll put
it on him soon.
- Yeah.
- Hey.
You know,
you and me,
we've been together
since we were 14 years old.
(Morgan chuckles)
And right now,
we're being tested.
But I want you to know
that I'm gonna take care of you.
And we're gonna be okay.
No matter what.
(knock on door)
- Mr. and Mrs. Metzer.
I'm very sorry.
(exhales)
(sobbing)
You are my sunshine,
my only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
So, please don't take
My sunshine away
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
So, please don't take
My sunshine away
(somber music)
(birds chirping)
- I'll take care of our folks
when they get here.
You wanna go upstairs and rest?
()
- Where's Morgan?
Is she, is she doing okay?
- She just needs a minute.
She's upstairs.
- Okay.
- I'm sorry son.
- It's not right, Rodney.
It's not right.
When we lost your brother...
(Rodney): I know.
(mournful music)
(sobbing)
(birds chirping)
(gentle melancholy music)
(Rodney): Hey hon. Smells great.
- Well, it better because
I had to start over twice.
(laughs)
- So, how was
your run this morning?
- It was good. Enlightening.
Or at least trying
to make it enlightening.
- Oh yeah?
- Yes.
And actually, something
I wanna talk to you about.
- Uh yeah, me too. And...
I have some news.
It's not the good kind.
- Okay, you first.
- Apparently, Daniel has been
holding it against me
that I missed so much time
from work after the hospital,
and...
he fired me.
- What?
- That's what I said, but...
there's no HR
at the car lots.
There's not really anything
I can do
unless we wanna hire an attorney
and go through
the expense of all that.
But...
you needed me here,
so whatever, screw that guy.
- Well, what are we gonna
do about money?
- I'll get another job.
- You know, I always thought
I could be good
at interior design.
So, maybe now
I could start that.
- Babe, come here.
I got you.
Man of the house, remember?
- Mm-hmm.
- Besides, I think you need
a degree
for any decent job in design.
But don't worry, it's okay.
We have plenty of dough
in the trust fund.
We're gonna be fine.
(Rodney inhales deeply)
Ah...
Anyway, what was
your thing about?
- Oh, um...
I just hope you like
my new cranberry sauce.
- Must be a heck of a sauce.
Let's try it.
(electric toothbrush humming)
(humming stops)
(Morgan): Hey, honey.
- Yeah.
- There is, uh,
something I wanna talk about.
- Sure, what?
- Uh, it's kind of a big thing.
- Oh.
- I thought you know,
it's been a while and...
- I am so on board.
- And it's...
not just for fun.
You know, I've been thinking
that maybe the best way to heal
is to keep trying.
- Oh.
- Say something.
- Well, I mean, that was
always our dream.
I guess...
I guess it's just scary
knowing that trying
can lead to so much pain.
- I mean, but we still
have to try, right?
I mean, we at least,
we owe ourselves that.
- You sure you're ready?
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
(Morgan chuckles)
(inhales and exhales deeply)
Five more minutes.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mom! Amelia took my space man!
- Mason wouldn't share with me.
- You never share
anything with me.
- Not true.
Dad, tell Mason to share!
- I don't care.
(Morgan laughs)
- Dad!
- I'm sorry, Mason,
share with your sister.
- Fine. Mom, can we have
pancakes this morning?
(children): Pancakes! Pancakes!
Pancakes!
- Pancakes?
- Oh, the tickle dragon
is angry!
Tickle, tickle, tickle.
(laughing)
(children): Tickle! Tickle!
Tickle!
- Got you. Got ya.
- Okay, okay, I'm gonna
get on those pancakes.
- Where do you think
you're going?
You cannot escape
the tickle dragon.
(laughing)
- Tickle, tickle, tickle!
- Oh...
- Did Kevin like pancake
as much as us?
- Oh, I don't know, honey.
He never got to try them.
- All right, come on you two
hooligans. Let's get downstairs.
(inhales and exhales deeply)
(exhales deeply)
- Morgan?
Morgan,
do you wanna finish your story?
- Oh, um, yeah. Um...
I feel like I'm the only one
who's trying to keep Kevin
a part of our lives.
You know, we bake a cake for him
at every birthday,
we sing and blow out candles,
and he's got a stocking
at Christmas.
Tell the twins
about their big brother.
Uh, the kids, they...
they go along with it.
You know, they sorta get it,
as much as they can.
And they ask about him
sometimes.
Rodney, he just...
He tolerates it.
- Those memories can take
a toll on everyone.
- I know, I just, I feel...
so isolated.
You know, I...
initially thought the kids
could replace Kevin,
but they didn't.
And...
I don't work, so my life
is just Rodney and the kids.
And...
and those memories.
(eerie music)
(car engine starting)
(man crying)
- Hey.
(tearfully): Oh, hi.
Um, I was just uh...
I dropped my keys and...
(sniffling)
Was just, uh...
Sorry for disturbing your story.
I didn't mean to.
- No apology needed.
Are you okay?
- Yeah. I mean, no, I'm not,
but I need to be, you know?
I got kids, too,
and after their mother,
you know...
I'm all they have.
- That must be really hard.
You're doing a great job,
though.
- Yeah.
Hiding in the parking lot
instead of going home
to make dinner for my kids.
- No, I mean, being here,
coming to group.
And look, it... it gets better.
Not a lot, but enough to go on.
Hmm. My favorite spot
is hiding in the closet.
Lights off, total darkness,
any time of the day.
And hey, as for dinner,
how about you surprise them
with a few of these?
- Yeah, my kids love donuts.
- Well, you'll be a hero, then.
(sniffling)
- What about your twins?
- Heh.
I still have plenty.
- Oh, I'm Griff, by the way.
Griffith Walker.
- Morgan Metzer.
- You're a real lifesaver,
Morgan. Thank you.
Anyway, hope to see you around.
- Yeah, you too.
(sniffling)
(car engine starts)
(Morgan screaming)
(thudding blows)
(crying)
(man grunting)
(thudding)
(crying)
(gunshot cracks)
(screaming)
(man grunting)
(Morgan crying)
(tie zips)
(grunting)
(crying)
(man, distorted voice):
That's good. That's good.
You belong like this.
(Morgan sobbing)
- Please, no.
(sinister music)
(choking)
(man): Where's your husband?
(Morgan): Hey, guys.
(children): Hey, Mom!
- Hey, where have you been?
- I was at my Tuesday group.
Is everything okay?
- Not really. I thought you
were picking up the kids.
- Isn't Tuesday your day?
- Usually, but you said
you could do it today.
Don't you remember?
- Um, I always
do group on Tuesday,
and with it being
Kevin's birthday this weekend...
(Rodney sighs)
I don't... know why
I would tell you I'd skip it
and pick up.
- Yeah. It's all good.
Don't worry about it.
- Oh, guys, I told you
not to play with that
when I'm not here.
You leave it open
and it turns hard as rock.
- Sorry, Mom.
- Yeah, sorry, Mom.
- Kids, why don't you go
upstairs and play
for a little bit, and then
we'll do dinner and donuts?
- Donuts?
- That's what I said.
(children): Okay, Mom!
- Go, go!
I don't understand
why this is such a big deal.
- It really shouldn't be.
- Okay, well then, what's wrong?
- Well, I had to leave work
early to pick up the kids.
No big deal, right?
But then guess who calls
30 minutes later?
Mr. Davis.
And guess who's getting fired
for cutting out early from work?
- Rod...
- Yep.
- Rod, I'm so sorry.
- I know you are.
It's just...
It is what it is.
(sighs)
(light knock on door)
- You okay?
- I've been better.
- Hmm.
- You know I don't like
working for other people.
(both chuckle)
- Hmm.
- Look at this.
I've got 2.7 million
in the trust.
That's up 30 percent.
- That's a lot, right?
- It's pretty damn good.
And I've been reading up
on investing.
I can save us on commissions
and do just as well if I start
managing the account myself.
I can cover our mortgage
and all our expenses.
- Yeah, I mean, if that's
what you think is best, I'm...
I'm with you.
- Of course you are.
(soft music)
(sniffles)
(distant giggling and chatter)
- This guy can throw a ball 91.
His curve, unhittable.
- Oh, and. 400 on base.
You should have been all-state.
(Rodney): Stop.
Oh, man the grill, Pete.
I'll be right back.
Hey, everybody, look who's here.
Hey babe, you okay?
- Got the cake.
- Uh, do you want me to put
Kevin's beanie
back on the mantle?
- It's his birthday.
- Yeah, I know, hon,
but you know, all our friends
are here to celebrate
it with us.
It's gonna be great, right?
Here, let me get that for ya.
- No, I got it.
- I'm just gonna put it --
(guests gasp)
(Amelia): Kevin's cake!
- It's okay,
we can salvage this.
(Rodney): Okay!
- Just a little Grandma TLC.
- Thanks, Linda. You
can go play, it's okay.
It's okay, it's okay.
Here.
Go inside, take a break.
Pete, those burgers
better not be burnt!
(deep inhale and exhale)
- Oh, hey!
- Ah, Nicole from
high school, right?
- You remembered.
Yeah. I'm dating Tom Calloway.
He's a friend of Rodney's uh...
(both): From the baseball team.
- Yeah, sure. Rod loves his old
baseball buddies.
(Morgan clears throat)
- I love your place.
Did you decorate yourself?
- Uh yeah and painted and did
the wallpaper in the bathrooms.
- Wow, okay.
(Morgan chuckles)
Well, you have a real talent.
Seriously.
Do you mind if I take pictures
uh, for inspiration for my own?
- Yeah, sure. And thank you.
- Yeah, I always wanted
to get into design.
Stuck selling renter's insurance
right now, though.
Really riveting stuff.
- Huh.
(shutter clicks)
Well, thanks.
Happy birthday to you
(gentle applause)
- Ready to do the release?
(children): Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
Thank you, Mom.
(tender music )
(exhales)
Ready?
- Yep.
()
- How are things, man?
Like, for real?
- It's for Kevin,
because Kevin was a baby.
- Um...
Well, Morgan...
Well, it's just,
she's still on these pills.
And you know,
she goes to therapy,
which I used to think
was a good idea,
but now...
I don't know. I mean,
she says she wants to keep
celebrating Kevin's birthday,
but then...
(sighs)
...she shows up,
and she's a total mess.
I...
It's a lot.
- It's tough dude, I'm sorry.
(children laughing)
- Oh, hey, Kathy.
- That was very nice.
Thank you for having us.
- Yeah, of course.
- I, of all people, know what
it's like to lose a child.
Anyway, I filled this up
for you.
I thought you might
wanna switch to water.
- Thanks.
- Morgan, we need to talk.
- Okay.
- What are you doing?
- I'm cleaning up.
- Can you stop for a second?
Look, you show up late.
You come in basically crying.
You pick a fight with me.
You're drinking too much,
you're hanging
all over my friends?
- What? I wasn't--
- I grew up, okay?
I expect you to do the same.
Just stop acting
like a crazy teenager.
- Just don't call me crazy.
- What was that?
- I said, don't call me crazy.
- You don't want me
to call you crazy?
Stop mixing wine and pills.
- Get off me!
- Ow! Ow!
- Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.
- What the hell are you doing?
- I don't... know.
- Just go inside
and sleep it off.
I don't want the kids
seeing you like this.
(Morgan breathing shakily)
(Rodney): God...
(phone beeps)
(tense music)
- Morgan.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- She just...
she just hit me in the face
with her water bottle.
- You need some ice, man?
- No, no, I'll be fine.
- I'm gonna get you some ice.
- What the hell
is wrong with her?
(whispering voices)
- It's been eight years.
- Oh, my God.
(overlapping whispers)
(Amelia): Why did Mom do that?
(Rodney): Well, you know
sometimes when you guys act bad
and Mommy and Daddy say
you can't do that?
That's all it was.
Mommy was just acting bad today.
But don't worry, Daddy's here.
I love you so much.
One last hug.
Okay, under the covers.
And lights out
or no treat tomorrow.
Let's go, buddy.
(Mason): Good night!
(Rodney): Good night!
(Amelia): Good night!
- Are the kids okay?
Should I go in?
(Rodney): They're fine.
- I don't know what happened.
I didn't mean to--
- You hit me in the face.
- I didn't mean to.
- All I want from you
is an apology.
- I'm sorry.
(tense music )
- You can do this.
(crying)
(surgeon): We have to go
into surgery right away.
(overlapping voices)
(tense music crescendo)
(woman whispers): She's been
acting so crazy.
(overlapping whispers)
- Get off of me!
(whispering continues)
(music fades)
(Morgan panting)
- Hey, Morgan?
You burning off those donuts?
Thought they were for your kids.
(Morgan chuckles)
Ouch.
- Uh, I'm...
Yeah, no, I just hit myself
when I was cleaning
something, so...
- Ah. Hey, um,
do you wanna exchange numbers
if I ever need some more advice
or if you need to talk?
It would be the donut
crisis hotline.
(chuckles)
- Uh, yeah. Sure.
- Yeah?
(children screaming)
- Got you!
(Morgan): Hey, guys.
(children): Hey, Mom.
- Hey, Rod.
Is everything okay?
Rodney?
- Huh? Uh, yeah.
Yeah, all good.
(toy guns popping)
- Oh!
(laughs)
Hey! Hey, this isn't fair!
(knock on door)
(Rodney): Yeah?
- Do you wanna tell me
what's wrong? Maybe I can help.
- Sure. Let's see
if you can help.
- Uh...
So, your trust account
is overdrawn.
Looks like there's interest.
- It means the money is gone.
The trust is gone.
- How is that possible?
- Do you watch the news?
Inflation, banks going under.
The-the Fed's been raising
rates like crazy
and we leveraged the trust
to buy bonds
back when rates were low.
And now it's all,
it's all just worthless.
- How does that,
how does that even happen?
- You're not gonna
understand it, okay?
The money is just gone!
All right?
It's, it's, it's gone!
(keyboard crashes to floor)
(breathing nervously)
- We'll sell the house. I'll...
I'll get a job and we'll
figure it out, all right?
We'll make it work.
(phone pings)
(tense music builds slowly)
- You have a beautiful house.
Thank you for inviting me
into it.
And I would love to
turn your house into a home
where I can help you create
the perfect, warm family space
for your baby
and the newlywed couple.
So, let me show you what I mean.
Um, this should be the nursery.
You do not wanna go
up and down the stairs
every time you have
a wet diaper.
(all chuckle)
And then down the road,
you should transform this area
to more of a mudroom.
Uh, we could do lockers
right there.
I have twins, so whether
it's soccer cleats
or ballet shoes,
you're gonna need the space.
And then, I was thinking,
for the entryway, some runners.
Something durable, though.
Something where you do not
have to get down on your hands
and knees to clean every month.
And then, the kitchen,
I was thinking maybe
more of a neutral palette
with the backsplash.
All right, now,
if you're open to it,
this color would be amazing
in the entryway.
- Yes. And I mean,
yes to working with you.
I just, I love your vision
for us and the house.
And let's do it.
- Don't you need
to ask your husband?
- Oh no, he trusts me
with all things house and home.
(laughs)
- Amazing. Then I will um,
get started right away.
- Great! Let me go find him.
- Morgan?
- Oh, hey Nicole.
- Hey.
- Good to see you again.
- Nice to see you.
Are you, uh,
redoing your kitchen or...
- No, I actually started
my own design company.
- You're... you're kidding?
That is incredible.
- Yeah, and pretty scary.
I just landed my first big job.
A starter home for a family
coming from
a New York apartment.
So, they don't have
a stick of furniture,
and the house is totally bare.
I pitched them on
having this whole company
and how I could handle it all,
but it's just me. So...
- Well, you've done it before.
I've seen your house,
remember? So...
- Are you still
selling insurance?
- I am. Yeah. Yeah, I am.
Even though it is wildly,
wildly mundane.
(both chuckle)
- Would you wanna work for me?
- What... me? You're serious?
- Yeah.
- Uh... yes, I would.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
Wait, when do I start? What?
- And you're starting right now
because I just, I don't,
okay, so this is the palette
that I was going for.
(heavy metal music)
(panting)
- Hey.
Did you get my message?
- No, I've been working out.
What's up?
- Babe, I won. I won it.
- Oh, hon, that's...
that's great.
- Yeah, this couple
is so lovely.
And the house, I mean,
it's completely bare,
but I mean it's got
natural light,
there's an open floorplan, and--
- Hey, I uh, I actually have
some good news, too.
There's this equity firm
in Dallas
and they're gonna fly me
in for an interview.
- Rodney, oh my gosh!
That's terrific!
And you are so
incredibly sweaty.
But I don't even care,
because I am so proud of you.
- There's one thing.
The interview's
on Valentine's Day,
so I would have
to cancel our dinner.
- Okay. Yeah, no,
that, that's good.
- Yeah? And you can
watch the kids for a few days?
- Yeah. Yes, yes, I can juggle
the kids and the new job.
Plus, I've got Nicole working
for me now too, so it'll help.
- Oh. You hired someone?
- Yeah, your buddy Tom,
his ex-girlfriend.
All right, I'm gonna get dinner
started for the kids.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- Hmm, thank you.
Oh.
(laughing)
Babe, babe the kids
are just right inside.
- Let's celebrate.
(garage door rumbles)
- Okay, well just make it quick.
Oh, Mason, come on,
please don't eat from there.
All right, give me 15 minutes
and I'll have some dinner
ready for you guys.
- Let's just order pizza!
(Amelia): Yay!
- I love pizza!
- Can I have cheese, please?
- Can I have sausage, please?
- Sorry guys, your mom's
too much of a horn dog
to make anything tonight.
- What's a horn dog?
(Rodney): I'll tell you
when you're 18.
(children humming happily)
(sports fans cheer on TV)
(exhaling deeply)
(clears throat)
(exhales)
- Oh shoot. Shoot.
What?
(sinister music swell)
I like the gray one.
It looks good on you.
- Oh, you like a man
in a suit, huh?
What else do you like?
- I'm not really
in the mood, babe.
- That's not what
I'm getting from you.
- Rod, we just did it, okay?
And hey, I don't like
you talking like that
in front of the kids.
- Oh, come on.
Don't play coy.
You know you like it
when we mess around
in the middle of the day.
All right? All right?
Or in the car.
- I'm serious.
(Rodney laughs)
- Okay, fine.
Pretend all you want.
I actually have something
serious I wanna talk about, too.
I know I'm gonna be gone
for Valentine's Day.
But I did get you something.
(buttons beep)
- Rod!
- I'm gonna be gone
for a few days.
You need to be able
to protect yourself.
- We have kids. Come on,
I don't want a gun in our house!
- Okay, calm down.
It has a trigger lock.
It's fine.
I need you and the kids safe,
no matter what.
- Okay, fine.
- You're welcome.
- Rod, I said I wasn't
in the mood.
Rodney, I said I...
Rodney, I don't--
(Rodney grunts)
What are you doing? Rodney!
(Rodney grunting)
(sinister music)
(music fades)
(door creaks lightly)
(exhales)
(Morgan): Okay, I think this
palette is gonna work
really nicely together.
So, these.
- Oh yeah, definitely.
I like that.
- Let's try for the living room.
- Do you ever treat yourself?
Like a new, a new car maybe or,
okay, a fancy dress?
Or a... a trip to Italy.
- Oh.
- You know, whatever.
- Yeah, okay.
- Oh my gosh.
Well, your business
is killing it,
so you should do something nice.
Something for you.
I mean I would,
I would love a new purse.
- There you go.
- Something designer.
- Okay.
- That I'd...
that I'd buy
with my own money.
I've um, I've never
done that before.
- Like, ever? Really?
- Is that bad? I just,
I've never had a job
that paid that much
and, and Rod, he's...
from family money,
so he was always in charge
of the big purchases.
But he never treats
any of his stuff nicely.
I guess when you're from money,
you just expect that money's
always gonna be there,
and then when it's not...
Anyways it's just, um,
it's just been hard for him.
- Yeah, but you make
great money now, right?
I mean, isn't he happy
about that?
- Yeah. Yeah, he is.
- Morgan...
(clears throat)
Has Rod ever--
- Hey, there he is.
Did they love you in Dallas?
- Don't.
- What's wrong?
- This was in our mailbox.
Know anything about this?
- Uh, I have no idea.
- This is a threat.
You understand that, right?
- Rod, I said I don't know.
- Well, why else would
somebody write this?
- Uh--
- Maybe it was a joke.
It could've been an accident.
They could've put that
in the wrong mail--
- Could you give us
some privacy, please?
(Morgan): Rodney.
- I'm serious.
- Yeah.
- Are you being unfaithful?
- Of course not.
(sinister music)
(Rodney breathing heavily)
(cocks gun)
(children's program plays on TV)
- Ah!
- We got a letter
from the credit card company.
Did you happen to take out
a second card?
Said there's already
$7,000 on it.
- I bought some new tools
for the carpentry business,
remember?
Your entrepreneurial spirit
inspired me to start
my own business.
- Yeah, right, I just,
I don't...
remember us talking about
a second card.
- Aren't you proud of me, honey?
- Rodney...
- You know,
you didn't consult me
when you hired Nicole.
I'm, I'm being proactive.
- Yes, you are.
- Look, if you wanna see
every little receipt,
I can bring out
the itemized bill right now.
- Rodney, that's fine.
No, Rodney, stop. Never mind.
- No, no, no,
you wanna see receipts?
- Stop, never mind.
- It's good. It's smart.
You wanna see receipts,
that's good business.
- Stop. Never mind, okay?
There's something more
important anyway.
I... I found a bag
in the bathroom.
It had steroids in it?
Rod, that stuff's dangerous.
(laughs)
- Morgan, steroids?
Come on, you know I'm diabetic.
- I know what your insulin
looks like. This was different.
(whispers): You don't know
what you're talking about.
- Rodney, we need
to discuss this.
(Rodney exhales)
(Rodney): Don't you dare
emasculate me
like that in front of the kids.
- Rodney.
- Look, I've been dealing
with so much
and I've been shouldering
it alone this whole time.
The, the threatening letters,
this new job,
taking care of the kids
'cause you're never around.
- You?
I pick them up from school,
I do their homework,
I cook them meals,
I take them to baseball.
- Oh, please, you're out there
doing God knows what.
Or more like
doing God knows who.
- Rodney!
- Look at you!
I'm glad Kevin isn't here to see
what his mother's become.
- Oh, no, no. No, you don't.
No, you don't.
You do not get to unload on me
and then just walk away
like that. Really?
That's how low you're stooping?
Kevin?
(Rodney sighs)
Look, you wanna start
itemizing things?
How about your new little
credit card bill?
'Cause it's not just tools,
Rodney, it's movies,
and drinks, and nights out
with your baseball friends.
- It's none of your business!
- Well, it's my money,
it's my business.
- Oh, shut up!
When I brought home
the paycheck,
I never would've said
anything like that to you.
- Do you think I'm an idiot,
Rodney?
Seriously, Rodney,
do you think I'm an idiot?
(grunts)
(sinister music)
(sounds muffle)
(echoing exhales)
- Rod, are you okay?
- What the hell's
wrong with you?
- Me?
- You trying to kill me?
(groans)
- Daddy!
- Are you okay?
- It's okay, it's okay.
Daddy's okay.
Mommy didn't mean to push me.
She's just upset, okay?
(Morgan breathing shakily)
(whispering voices)
(Morgan panting)
(music crescendos)
- Her husband...
- Is she even fit to be a mom?
- Are you kidding me?
(doorbell chimes)
(Morgan): Be right there!
Oh, Mom, Dad, what are you...
- Can we come in?
- How are you doing, honey?
(deep sigh)
- Can I get you anything?
- Come on.
- We know about the fight.
(sighs)
- We know things in marriage
can be hard.
Couples fight. But, um...
- But...
Ppushing them down the stairs?
Honey, that is not
how we raised you.
- Wait, what?
- I'm...
Oh, I can't. Richard.
- Rod came over this morning.
He's very concerned...
about himself,
but also for the kids.
- You're not violent
with them, are you?
- Mom! Why is everyone
on his side?
I would never do that.
You know that.
And Rod, he...
Do you even wanna hear
my side of the story?
- We didn't raise a liar either.
- What?
- Rodney showed us
the security footage.
(Morgan): Seriously, Rodney,
do you think
I'm an idiot?
(sinister music swells)
(Morgan sighs)
- Whoa, whoa, what are you
doing with my tools?
- I'm cleaning up.
- Morgan, come on.
- Have you been able to use
them for any new work?
- It's tough out there. Okay?
- How long are you going
to pursue it, Rodney?
- What is this?
Are you coming down on me
because I haven't been able
to find a job?
Morgan, I have been out
there every day,
submitting resumes,
I'm talking to friends,
colleagues.
I'm on message boards.
I even asked your dad for a job.
Do you understand
how that makes me feel?
- Why did you send him
the video?
- Because I'm worried
about you, Morgan.
You've been violent.
Erratic. Unfaithful.
- Rodney, I have never
cheated on you. Never.
So, why would you set me up
like that with my parents?
Look, I... I didn't
mean to hurt you.
- It's on camera.
- But that's not...
I never intended to hurt you.
You know that.
- No one is going
to believe you.
Everyone we know
is friends with me. Not you.
And if you ever try to leave me,
they'll never let you
keep the kids.
Never.
(door slams)
(Morgan): Yeah, I like that.
- That's nice. Ooh,
what about this for the Allens?
- Hmm, no,
it's not upscale enough
for what Geri's looking for.
She wants solids, whites,
off-creams.
Um, elegant without
being too showy, you know?
- Mm-hmm, yeah.
(clicks tongue)
Oh, what about that?
Is that elegant enough?
- Yes, exactly.
(sighs)
Oh, nope.
- What?
Well...
Come on.
Come on, you deserve it.
Just, just pick it up.
Just try it. Just pick it up.
(gasps)
- She's cute.
- Oh, she's so cute.
- Okay. Okay.
- Yep.
- Tomatoes...
You guys almost done
with your homework?
(children): Yes.
- Nice bag. Looks expensive.
- Four new clients this month.
We can afford a little luxury.
- How many glasses is that?
- It's apple cider.
- Mm-hmm.
Who is Griff Walker?
- He's a friend
from therapy. Why?
- A friend with
a criminal record.
Interesting choice.
Oh, you didn't know that?
- What is this? Have you been
looking through my phone?
- No, I didn't need to.
I just needed to look
at my phone.
I was sitting here
in my house, with my kids,
minding my own business,
when I get this email.
- That's not Griff.
He's not like that.
- Booming business,
new purse, new man.
- Rod, not here, please.
- When were you planning
to tell all of us
that you'd moved on?
- Griff is just a guy
who lost his wife.
Look, I barely know him.
There's no affair.
There never was.
- I can't trust you.
- Of course you can trust me.
- No, the signs were there
all along, the drinking,
the pills, you disappearing
all day from me and the kids.
- I'm at work.
- Work?
Your little interior
design business?
That's what you call a job?
Gimme a break!
You're not a mother
to these children anymore.
You're not even a wife to me!
- I didn't choose this.
Someone needed to make money.
- Oh, so now you're the victim.
The cheater is the victim.
- Kids, clear the table.
Dinner's ready.
(children): Okay.
(Morgan breathing heavily)
(whispering voices)
(tense music crescendos)
- Trauma is real.
When we suffer from trauma,
we can sometimes find ourselves
inviting in people.
People who don't have
our best interests at heart.
Today I wanna talk
about narcissists,
personalities who have
an excessive interest
in their own appearance,
their own control
over the world.
They are entitled,
lacking empathy.
They lash out when threatened.
Nothing is ever their fault.
Bad outcomes are always
the symptom
of something someone else did.
A narcissist has this
compulsion for control.
Sometimes the only way to handle
a narcissist
is to give them that control
they so desperately desire.
Lend it to them
for the short term,
but do so knowing that
the control you're giving them
is only in their minds
and not in yours.
(stirring music hums then fades)
- Oh, sorry. Sorry,
I didn't mean to startle you.
- I... I didn't see you
in group.
- Oh, I snuck in late.
The kids have been so busy
with school and sports, it's...
it's hard to find the time.
- Uh-huh. Um, look,
I don't mean to sound crazy,
but...
did you happen to write
my husband Rodney an email?
- Your husband?
- Yeah, um...
did you tell him to back off
so we could be together?
(Griff laughs briefly)
So, you put the letter
in the mailbox, too?
- You're serious?
- Well, did you?
- Morgan, I didn't email
your husband.
And I haven't written a letter
by hand in, I don't know,
ten years.
Listen, I thought we could help
each other,
but whatever's going
on between you and your husband,
just...
leave me out of it.
(Morgan sighs)
- Hey.
I'm sorry. I am so sorry.
- Save your breath.
They are long gone.
(sighs)
- Sorry.
- Hmm. Don't be.
We have a new client!
- Ah! Yes! Oh, I knew it,
I knew it.
I always said confidence is key.
And look at that, you have it.
You are the best.
- No, you are the best.
- Oh, yes.
- Okay, I've gotta ask.
What is going on with you?
You've been really... off.
- Oh, no, I'm good. It's just...
(sighs)
You know, with kids,
and sports and...
(ominous music swells)
(Nicole): Wasn't Rodney
in Dallas for Valentine's?
I'm really sorry.
- No, it...
it must be the wrong year.
- Morgan...
He is not a good partner.
Okay? I'm sorry,
but someone needs to say it.
- It's...
- It's complicated, yeah.
Yeah, I know.
But it's also really simple,
okay? He's full of it,
and he...
he doesn't treat you well.
(tearfully): I don't even know
who I am anymore.
I am a horrible mom,
I am a horrible wife.
- Hey, no, don't say that.
- No, no, no.
- No, that's not true.
- You don't know
what I've done. Look,
you don't get it, all right?
I... I pushed him
down the stairs.
- What?
- I hit him.
- What?
- I did,
at Kevin's birthday party,
I hit him.
- Morgan.
- Please, you just don't get it.
All right?
- No, mm-mm.
- Okay, I do not need
to relive that
any more than I already
did, okay?
- No. No, Morgan.
That is not what happened.
(Morgan): Get off of me.
Ah!
(ominous music)
- What was that?
- I said, don't call me crazy.
- You don't want me
to call you crazy?
Stop mixing wine and pills.
- Get off of me!
Ah!
- You hit me. Now get inside
and don't make a scene.
(Morgan breathes shakily)
I never would have said
anything like that to you.
(Morgan): Do you think
I'm an idiot, Rodney?
(Morgan screams)
(panting)
Rodney? Rod, are you okay?
- What the hell are you doing?
- Me?
- Are you trying to kill me?
(Amelia): Daddy!
(Mason): Are you okay?
(Rodney): Daddy's fine.
I'm fine. Daddy's okay.
Mommy didn't mean to push me,
okay? She's just upset.
(Morgan breathes shakily)
(high-pitched ringing)
(breathing heavily)
(Nicole): You okay?
- Yeah, I'm gonna be sick.
- You're so strong, okay?
(music fades)
(sniffs)
(breathing heavily)
- Oh!
(announcer 1): ...in another
bunker there short left.
(sighs)
(announcer 2): Trying to land
soft and maybe
run up to the hole.
(Morgan): Rod?
You should go.
(Linda): Morgan.
- I need to talk to my husband.
Why?
- What?
- There is piss
all over my purse.
- Maybe the cat pissed on it.
- For once in your life,
stop lying.
- What are you--
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah, so that's cat piss?
- I don't know, maybe.
- Yeah, maybe.
Maybe like how
you lost your jobs?
- What are you talking about?
- It's always someone else's
fault, isn't it, Rodney?
Oh, I got another one.
Remember when you went to Dallas
for an interview
over Valentine's Day?
Or did you?
- Oh, here we go.
- Maybe instead, you spent
the weekend playing golf.
Ugh, I'm such a fool!
For all these years
you had me convinced
that I was the broken one,
the, the crazy one,
the drunk one, the,
the one who wouldn't move on
from the memory of our son.
The one who acted like a child
and needed to grow up.
That I was bad.
- Okay. So, this is all
my fault now?
You know, Morgan,
this is why marriages fail.
Because you move on,
and you leave all of us behind.
You go out and get
your fancy new job,
and your new man.
Please tell me, do you even care
about this family anymore?
You are still behaving like
a child. This is your fault!
- It's not her fault!
- What?
- It's yours.
- Are you turning
my own children against me?
You ungrateful--
- Go away!
- Shut up, you little brat!
- Hey, no.
You do not touch him
and you do not
get to talk to any of us
like that anymore.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
- Or what?
- I want a divorce.
Let's go, let's go.
Let's get in the car.
Come on, baby girl, hustle up.
All right, come on, let's go.
In the car.
Here, get in there, baby.
- Morgan, stop!
Morgan, don't do this.
- Rodney, stop, stop.
- Morgan, Don't do this. No, no.
- Rodney, please stop.
- Come back inside.
Let's talk about this.
- Stop this, Rodney!
- Please don't leave me!
- Rodney! We're done.
Please, we're done.
(door slams shut)
(threatening music)
(car engine starts)
(instrumental "Deck the Halls"
plays)
(Nicole): Nice. Ooh,
that's creative.
- It's so bad.
(laughing)
It's so bad.
- Ah!
(all laughing)
(Morgan): Amelia!
(laughing)
Oh, my gosh, Mason,
do not eat that.
That frosting is like glue.
(doorbell chimes)
(clears throat)
One sec.
Come in.
(Rodney): Hey, guys.
Merry late Christmas.
(children): Merry Christmas,
Dad.
- Hi, buddy. Hi.
You guys ready for a road trip?
- Aunt Lizzie's is so far away.
- Well, maybe these will help?
- No way! This is amazing, Dad!
- The batteries are charged
and ready to go.
(children): Thank you, Dad!
- I will go get the kids' stuff.
Okay, one, two, three,
four shirts.
(floorboard creaks)
- You know I could fix
that floorboard?
(laughing)
- I know.
That's okay.
I actually like it.
Let's me know when the kids
try to sneak downstairs
to get ice cream.
- Hmm.
Rodney seems, um... normal-ish.
- Yeah. No, he's been
really great, actually.
Um, it's his week
with the twins.
But when my sister called
asking if they could visit
for Christmas, he gave up
his time so they could go.
- Hmm.
And you're going on this
drive with him, to Florida?
- Uh-huh.
- And after you drop off
the kids,
Rod is driving you back?
Are you sure you wanna be alone
with him for two hours?
- He's turned over a new leaf.
I mean it'll...
it'll be good for us.
- Yeah.
(zipper whizzes)
You want me to get this?
- Yeah. Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.
- Looks like your business
has been doing really well.
I see your ads
on Facebook all the time.
- Yeah, it's been great.
- I'm proud of you.
- I'm... I'm glad
you're good too, Rod.
- It's okay,
you don't have to say that.
- No, really. I mean you've,
you've cleaned up,
you've been nice to the kids.
I'm really happy
you're thriving.
(sighs)
Thank you, again, for driving.
Um, I'd like to get the kids
through their first week
of school after break,
but I uh, I could give them
back the second?
- It might be better if you
just keep them through January.
- Is everything okay?
- I'm not... I'm not okay.
- You know you can still
tell me anything.
(shakily): I have cancer.
Pancreatic cancer.
It's...
Stage three and two,
and the doctors say
it's still confined
to the pancreas...
but the tumor's grown,
and...
it's spreading
to the lymph nodes.
I'm not gonna beat it.
- No. No, no, no, Rod.
It's okay. You're gonna be okay.
- I'm so sorry.
I should have been
a better father.
And a better husband.
(Rodney sobs)
- It's okay.
(exhales deeply)
- Thank you.
- Yep.
- I'm sorry I lost it like that.
- No, it's... it's okay.
- Hey, you should know, um,
I put my affairs in order.
I don't have a lot,
but you and the kids
will collect on my insurance.
- Please don't give up
like that. Look, there's chemo,
surgery, radiation.
Rodney, you can beat this.
(chuckles)
- You were always so positive.
Even when we lost Kevin.
- I was a disaster.
- No, you took it head on.
I just hid from it.
- Well, we've been
through a lot, so...
- Yeah.
Hey, um...
do you think maybe if...
the chemo and radiation stuff
all works...
maybe you and I could work, too?
(exhales)
- Rod, I'm here for you.
Through it all.
But only as a friend.
Good night.
(unsettling music)
(door creaks open)
(birds chirping)
(engine starts)
(suspenseful music)
(crowd cheering on TV)
(party horns blowing)
(sighs)
(unsettling music)
(loud bang)
(gasps)
(fireworks banging)
(crowd cheering on TV)
(crowd): Ten, nine,
eight, seven--
(TV clicks off)
(banging continues)
(menacing music )
(floorboard creaks softly)
(shutter clicks)
(floorboard creaks)
(crowd cheers loudly)
(Morgan screaming)
- No, no, no, no!
(thudding blows)
(grunting)
(sobbing)
(thudding)
(crying)
(gunshot cracks)
(Morgan screams)
(sobbing)
(tie zips)
(grunting)
(Rodney, distorted):
That's good. That's good.
You belong like this.
(sobbing)
- Please, no.
(sobbing)
- Where's your husband?
- I don't know. I don't know.
- Where is your husband?
(unsettling music building)
(inaudible dialogue)
(fireworks banging)
- Please, please don't
kill my husband.
Please, please, I love him more
than anything.
Please, I love
him more than anything.
Please don't kill him. Please.
- You love him?
- Of course. Of course I do.
I love him so much. Please.
- You love him?
- Yes.
Please, don't kill him. Please.
- Ah. Where's your jewelry?
- I don't have any.
- Ah!
(panicked breathing)
Don't move!
(fireworks continue)
(breathing shakily)
- Please.
You don't have to do this.
(sobbing)
Please.
No, no, no, please.
(sobbing)
Please, no. Please. No.
(screaming)
(Rodney grunts)
(sinister music)
(Rodney, distorted):
Don't move until you hear
a honk three times,
or I'll kill you.
(footsteps run away)
(door slams)
(horn honks three times)
(tires screech)
(Rodney, muffled):
Morgan, Morgan.
Honey, it's okay. You're safe.
I'm here. I'm right here.
- There. Is that better?
Oh...
When I find out who did this,
I'm gonna kill them.
- I'm just glad you got
here when you did.
- Yeah, me too. Oh...
- Can I have your phone?
I wanna call my dad.
- Yeah, of course.
- We should call
the police, too.
- Yeah, good idea.
(siren wails)
(doorbell chimes)
- Good evening, Rodney Metzer?
- Yes, sir, I was
the one that called.
- We were told there
was a break-in?
- Yes. Um, there was.
But no, everything's fine now.
We're okay. Thanks for getting
here so quickly.
- Hmm, well can you tell us
a little more
about what happened?
- Yeah, sure of course.
It's just uh, you know,
everything's calmed down now.
We're... you know, it's late.
We're safe now.
(fireplace tools clatter)
- What was that?
- I don't know.
- I'm sorry, I was um,
I was trying to stand.
I'm still just
a little bit woozy.
- Geez, Rick, call medical.
And a detective.
We need them right away.
And uh, can you sweep
the exterior, just in case?
- Yeah.
I'm sorry, ma'am, we did not
understand how serious this was.
- Yeah, um, uh,
someone broke in,
she was attacked.
But we're okay now.
- Ma'am, can you tell me
anything else?
- I was in the bedroom.
He was um... wearing a mask.
Um...
He had a gun. I think,
I think it was my gun.
He assaulted me.
- Yeah, uh, when I got here,
she was on the deck, terrified,
and um...
I must have scared him off
just in time.
I, I, I don't know
where they went.
- So, you were not here
during the attack?
- Oh, no, no, I don't, I don't
live here. We're separated.
- I understand.
- But it's a good thing
I got here when I did,
otherwise who knows
what could have happened.
- Jones, there's no sign
of anyone on the property.
Basement door's open, though.
- Mr. Metzer, why don't you go
with Officer MacLaughlin.
Show him where
you found Ms. Metzer.
- I really wanna stay.
- Please, you can take him
through everything,
moment by moment.
It will help us tremendously.
- Yeah, of course.
- Thank you.
Ma'am, you can talk to me.
Do you know who did this?
Is he still armed?
- I don't know.
I don't know. He might be.
- Okay, thank you.
Wait right here.
- Like I said,
if I hadn't got here,
who knows what might
have happened.
- It was very brave,
Mr. Metzer.
You have any idea
who might have done this?
- Oh, actually, yeah.
Um, before the divorce,
there was this guy,
uh, Griff Walker.
He was obsessed with Morgan.
He would call and text her
all the time.
And then it got worse. He sent
some threats in the mail.
He even emailed me
and told me to leave her.
- Really?
Do you still have these emails?
- Oh.
Yeah, that's it right there.
- Pfft. Sick bastard.
Can I hold on to this?
- Yeah, definitely.
- I wanna give this
to the detectives
when they get here.
Can you take us upstairs
to the bedroom?
- Yeah, sure.
- You know, you two go on up.
I'm right behind you.
I'm gonna send this right away.
(tense music builds slowly)
(door opens)
(music swells)
(door opens)
- Thought you were
taking us upstairs?
- Yeah. Yeah, I, I just need
to be with Morgan right now.
- Of course.
How about you and I go up?
And uh, Rick here can
keep her company.
- No, she's scared.
I think she needs me, okay.
(Morgan): It's okay, I can...
I can go up there with you.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
I'm good.
(tense music builds)
(Rodney): I guess the guy
tried to rob the place, too.
You'll have to ask Morgan
about jewelry and stuff.
- Yeah, he didn't...
(clears throat)
He didn't take much.
- Don't worry, ma'am,
we're gonna get this guy.
I'm just glad you arrived
when you did, sir.
- Yeah, me too.
Otherwise, my kids might not
have a mother right now.
- Isn't that a terrible thought?
How did you even think
to come here tonight?
- Uh...
Well, I was at my place
and I got this strange call.
Just breathing on the other end
of the line.
And I got this
weird feeling and...
I just felt like
I had to come check on her.
- Hmm.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa,
what are you doing, man?
- Rodney Metzer, you have
the right to remain silent.
- Are you serious?
- Anything you say can and will
be used against you
in a court of law.
- No, this is not right!
- You have the right--
- Morgan!
- ...if you cannot afford one,
one will be provided for you.
Do you understand the rights--
- Morgan!
(Rodney thuds on wall)
- Nod if you understand.
Nod.
- I got him.
(indistinct radio chatter)
(soft music)
(Rodney thuds on car)
- All right. All right.
(judge): How do you plead?
- Guilty.
- Excuse me?
Louder, please.
- Guilty. I'm guilty.
- All right. I will accept
a plea of guilty.
You have anything
you'd like to add?
- Yes.
I um...
I just want to say, I'm sorry.
I...
fell down this dark path.
But...
I love my wife.
I love her,
and I never meant to...
I never meant to hurt her.
- Ms. Metzer,
I understand you have
a statement
you'd like to share
with the court today?
- Yes, Your Honor.
(exhales)
Not only will this statement
be to my attacker...
it will be my last words
to the man I once thought
was the love of my life.
Rodney,
love does not
emotionally abuse.
Love does not
break into your home
in the middle of the night.
Love does not strike you
countless times with a gun,
tie you up, and strangle you.
Love...
does not sexually assault you.
Love does not leave
you outside
with a pillowcase
over your head,
wondering if you are ever going
to see your children again.
(trembling breath)
I gave you my heart and soul,
and you tried to destroy them.
And here's what I have to say
in response.
Thank you.
(whimpers)
(steadying breaths)
Thank you for the gift
of my children.
Even though you are a monster,
my heart aches
that our children will not
have a father.
This attack wasn't just
a trauma,
it was a blessing in disguise.
(sniffles)
Rodney, it is time
to let you go.
And lay you down to rest.
(inhales deeply)
(serene music)
(birds chirping)
(Morgan): I can now walk
with confidence
knowing that the pain
you gave me
has been turned into power.
(deep exhale)
- Hey, Mom,
what's for breakfast?
- Whatever you want,
my little loves.
(Morgan): And that I now know
what true love is.
It's how I feel about our kids
and how I feel about myself.
(relieved exhale)
(soft music)
(crowd cheering)
(loud bang)
(gasps)
(fireworks banging)
(sighs)
(crowd): Ten, nine,
eight, seven--
(TV clicks off)
(fireworks continue)
(ominous music)
(floorboard creaks)
(crickets chirping)
(exhales)
- Happy New Year's, kiddos.
(sighs)
(crickets chirping)
(tense music)
(fireworks crackling)
(floorboard creaks)
(fireworks bang slowly)
(breathing heavily)
(gunshot cracks)
(screaming)
- Honey, I'm here.
It's okay.
I'm right here. Just
remember the breathing, okay?
You can do this. Okay?
- Okay, Morgan,
I need you to push
on this next contraction, okay?
- I can't, I can't, I can't.
- Yes, you can do this, baby.
I know you can do this.
- Okay, good. Now, push!
(screaming)
Push, push!
- Push, push, push, push!
- Good, you got it.
- Oh, my God,
you're doing it, baby!
- Almost there!
You're doing it, baby.
You're doing it.
- The head is coming.
- Oh, Morgan, it's...
He's...
- I got him. I got him.
(baby cries)
Do you wanna cut the cord?
- Yeah.
(crying)
- Hey!
Hey! Hi.
(crying)
Kevin.
Rodney.
- I know.
(crying continues)
- Okay, we do need
to take him now.
- Can we just have
a few minutes?
- I'm sorry. Do you remember
what we talked about?
Every minute matters.
- Yeah, okay.
(crying continues)
(crying fades)
(monitor beeps steadily)
- As we suspected
from the prenatal ultrasound,
Kevin's atrial ventricular
septal defect
is allowing oxygen rich blood,
that's the red stuff
you see here,
it's allowing it to pass
from his left atrium
to his heart.
We have to go into
surgery right away.
(indistinct PA system
announcement)
(Rodney): You'll put
it on him soon.
- Yeah.
- Hey.
You know,
you and me,
we've been together
since we were 14 years old.
(Morgan chuckles)
And right now,
we're being tested.
But I want you to know
that I'm gonna take care of you.
And we're gonna be okay.
No matter what.
(knock on door)
- Mr. and Mrs. Metzer.
I'm very sorry.
(exhales)
(sobbing)
You are my sunshine,
my only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
So, please don't take
My sunshine away
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
So, please don't take
My sunshine away
(somber music)
(birds chirping)
- I'll take care of our folks
when they get here.
You wanna go upstairs and rest?
()
- Where's Morgan?
Is she, is she doing okay?
- She just needs a minute.
She's upstairs.
- Okay.
- I'm sorry son.
- It's not right, Rodney.
It's not right.
When we lost your brother...
(Rodney): I know.
(mournful music)
(sobbing)
(birds chirping)
(gentle melancholy music)
(Rodney): Hey hon. Smells great.
- Well, it better because
I had to start over twice.
(laughs)
- So, how was
your run this morning?
- It was good. Enlightening.
Or at least trying
to make it enlightening.
- Oh yeah?
- Yes.
And actually, something
I wanna talk to you about.
- Uh yeah, me too. And...
I have some news.
It's not the good kind.
- Okay, you first.
- Apparently, Daniel has been
holding it against me
that I missed so much time
from work after the hospital,
and...
he fired me.
- What?
- That's what I said, but...
there's no HR
at the car lots.
There's not really anything
I can do
unless we wanna hire an attorney
and go through
the expense of all that.
But...
you needed me here,
so whatever, screw that guy.
- Well, what are we gonna
do about money?
- I'll get another job.
- You know, I always thought
I could be good
at interior design.
So, maybe now
I could start that.
- Babe, come here.
I got you.
Man of the house, remember?
- Mm-hmm.
- Besides, I think you need
a degree
for any decent job in design.
But don't worry, it's okay.
We have plenty of dough
in the trust fund.
We're gonna be fine.
(Rodney inhales deeply)
Ah...
Anyway, what was
your thing about?
- Oh, um...
I just hope you like
my new cranberry sauce.
- Must be a heck of a sauce.
Let's try it.
(electric toothbrush humming)
(humming stops)
(Morgan): Hey, honey.
- Yeah.
- There is, uh,
something I wanna talk about.
- Sure, what?
- Uh, it's kind of a big thing.
- Oh.
- I thought you know,
it's been a while and...
- I am so on board.
- And it's...
not just for fun.
You know, I've been thinking
that maybe the best way to heal
is to keep trying.
- Oh.
- Say something.
- Well, I mean, that was
always our dream.
I guess...
I guess it's just scary
knowing that trying
can lead to so much pain.
- I mean, but we still
have to try, right?
I mean, we at least,
we owe ourselves that.
- You sure you're ready?
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
(Morgan chuckles)
(inhales and exhales deeply)
Five more minutes.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mom! Amelia took my space man!
- Mason wouldn't share with me.
- You never share
anything with me.
- Not true.
Dad, tell Mason to share!
- I don't care.
(Morgan laughs)
- Dad!
- I'm sorry, Mason,
share with your sister.
- Fine. Mom, can we have
pancakes this morning?
(children): Pancakes! Pancakes!
Pancakes!
- Pancakes?
- Oh, the tickle dragon
is angry!
Tickle, tickle, tickle.
(laughing)
(children): Tickle! Tickle!
Tickle!
- Got you. Got ya.
- Okay, okay, I'm gonna
get on those pancakes.
- Where do you think
you're going?
You cannot escape
the tickle dragon.
(laughing)
- Tickle, tickle, tickle!
- Oh...
- Did Kevin like pancake
as much as us?
- Oh, I don't know, honey.
He never got to try them.
- All right, come on you two
hooligans. Let's get downstairs.
(inhales and exhales deeply)
(exhales deeply)
- Morgan?
Morgan,
do you wanna finish your story?
- Oh, um, yeah. Um...
I feel like I'm the only one
who's trying to keep Kevin
a part of our lives.
You know, we bake a cake for him
at every birthday,
we sing and blow out candles,
and he's got a stocking
at Christmas.
Tell the twins
about their big brother.
Uh, the kids, they...
they go along with it.
You know, they sorta get it,
as much as they can.
And they ask about him
sometimes.
Rodney, he just...
He tolerates it.
- Those memories can take
a toll on everyone.
- I know, I just, I feel...
so isolated.
You know, I...
initially thought the kids
could replace Kevin,
but they didn't.
And...
I don't work, so my life
is just Rodney and the kids.
And...
and those memories.
(eerie music)
(car engine starting)
(man crying)
- Hey.
(tearfully): Oh, hi.
Um, I was just uh...
I dropped my keys and...
(sniffling)
Was just, uh...
Sorry for disturbing your story.
I didn't mean to.
- No apology needed.
Are you okay?
- Yeah. I mean, no, I'm not,
but I need to be, you know?
I got kids, too,
and after their mother,
you know...
I'm all they have.
- That must be really hard.
You're doing a great job,
though.
- Yeah.
Hiding in the parking lot
instead of going home
to make dinner for my kids.
- No, I mean, being here,
coming to group.
And look, it... it gets better.
Not a lot, but enough to go on.
Hmm. My favorite spot
is hiding in the closet.
Lights off, total darkness,
any time of the day.
And hey, as for dinner,
how about you surprise them
with a few of these?
- Yeah, my kids love donuts.
- Well, you'll be a hero, then.
(sniffling)
- What about your twins?
- Heh.
I still have plenty.
- Oh, I'm Griff, by the way.
Griffith Walker.
- Morgan Metzer.
- You're a real lifesaver,
Morgan. Thank you.
Anyway, hope to see you around.
- Yeah, you too.
(sniffling)
(car engine starts)
(Morgan screaming)
(thudding blows)
(crying)
(man grunting)
(thudding)
(crying)
(gunshot cracks)
(screaming)
(man grunting)
(Morgan crying)
(tie zips)
(grunting)
(crying)
(man, distorted voice):
That's good. That's good.
You belong like this.
(Morgan sobbing)
- Please, no.
(sinister music)
(choking)
(man): Where's your husband?
(Morgan): Hey, guys.
(children): Hey, Mom!
- Hey, where have you been?
- I was at my Tuesday group.
Is everything okay?
- Not really. I thought you
were picking up the kids.
- Isn't Tuesday your day?
- Usually, but you said
you could do it today.
Don't you remember?
- Um, I always
do group on Tuesday,
and with it being
Kevin's birthday this weekend...
(Rodney sighs)
I don't... know why
I would tell you I'd skip it
and pick up.
- Yeah. It's all good.
Don't worry about it.
- Oh, guys, I told you
not to play with that
when I'm not here.
You leave it open
and it turns hard as rock.
- Sorry, Mom.
- Yeah, sorry, Mom.
- Kids, why don't you go
upstairs and play
for a little bit, and then
we'll do dinner and donuts?
- Donuts?
- That's what I said.
(children): Okay, Mom!
- Go, go!
I don't understand
why this is such a big deal.
- It really shouldn't be.
- Okay, well then, what's wrong?
- Well, I had to leave work
early to pick up the kids.
No big deal, right?
But then guess who calls
30 minutes later?
Mr. Davis.
And guess who's getting fired
for cutting out early from work?
- Rod...
- Yep.
- Rod, I'm so sorry.
- I know you are.
It's just...
It is what it is.
(sighs)
(light knock on door)
- You okay?
- I've been better.
- Hmm.
- You know I don't like
working for other people.
(both chuckle)
- Hmm.
- Look at this.
I've got 2.7 million
in the trust.
That's up 30 percent.
- That's a lot, right?
- It's pretty damn good.
And I've been reading up
on investing.
I can save us on commissions
and do just as well if I start
managing the account myself.
I can cover our mortgage
and all our expenses.
- Yeah, I mean, if that's
what you think is best, I'm...
I'm with you.
- Of course you are.
(soft music)
(sniffles)
(distant giggling and chatter)
- This guy can throw a ball 91.
His curve, unhittable.
- Oh, and. 400 on base.
You should have been all-state.
(Rodney): Stop.
Oh, man the grill, Pete.
I'll be right back.
Hey, everybody, look who's here.
Hey babe, you okay?
- Got the cake.
- Uh, do you want me to put
Kevin's beanie
back on the mantle?
- It's his birthday.
- Yeah, I know, hon,
but you know, all our friends
are here to celebrate
it with us.
It's gonna be great, right?
Here, let me get that for ya.
- No, I got it.
- I'm just gonna put it --
(guests gasp)
(Amelia): Kevin's cake!
- It's okay,
we can salvage this.
(Rodney): Okay!
- Just a little Grandma TLC.
- Thanks, Linda. You
can go play, it's okay.
It's okay, it's okay.
Here.
Go inside, take a break.
Pete, those burgers
better not be burnt!
(deep inhale and exhale)
- Oh, hey!
- Ah, Nicole from
high school, right?
- You remembered.
Yeah. I'm dating Tom Calloway.
He's a friend of Rodney's uh...
(both): From the baseball team.
- Yeah, sure. Rod loves his old
baseball buddies.
(Morgan clears throat)
- I love your place.
Did you decorate yourself?
- Uh yeah and painted and did
the wallpaper in the bathrooms.
- Wow, okay.
(Morgan chuckles)
Well, you have a real talent.
Seriously.
Do you mind if I take pictures
uh, for inspiration for my own?
- Yeah, sure. And thank you.
- Yeah, I always wanted
to get into design.
Stuck selling renter's insurance
right now, though.
Really riveting stuff.
- Huh.
(shutter clicks)
Well, thanks.
Happy birthday to you
(gentle applause)
- Ready to do the release?
(children): Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
Thank you, Mom.
(tender music )
(exhales)
Ready?
- Yep.
()
- How are things, man?
Like, for real?
- It's for Kevin,
because Kevin was a baby.
- Um...
Well, Morgan...
Well, it's just,
she's still on these pills.
And you know,
she goes to therapy,
which I used to think
was a good idea,
but now...
I don't know. I mean,
she says she wants to keep
celebrating Kevin's birthday,
but then...
(sighs)
...she shows up,
and she's a total mess.
I...
It's a lot.
- It's tough dude, I'm sorry.
(children laughing)
- Oh, hey, Kathy.
- That was very nice.
Thank you for having us.
- Yeah, of course.
- I, of all people, know what
it's like to lose a child.
Anyway, I filled this up
for you.
I thought you might
wanna switch to water.
- Thanks.
- Morgan, we need to talk.
- Okay.
- What are you doing?
- I'm cleaning up.
- Can you stop for a second?
Look, you show up late.
You come in basically crying.
You pick a fight with me.
You're drinking too much,
you're hanging
all over my friends?
- What? I wasn't--
- I grew up, okay?
I expect you to do the same.
Just stop acting
like a crazy teenager.
- Just don't call me crazy.
- What was that?
- I said, don't call me crazy.
- You don't want me
to call you crazy?
Stop mixing wine and pills.
- Get off me!
- Ow! Ow!
- Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.
- What the hell are you doing?
- I don't... know.
- Just go inside
and sleep it off.
I don't want the kids
seeing you like this.
(Morgan breathing shakily)
(Rodney): God...
(phone beeps)
(tense music)
- Morgan.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- She just...
she just hit me in the face
with her water bottle.
- You need some ice, man?
- No, no, I'll be fine.
- I'm gonna get you some ice.
- What the hell
is wrong with her?
(whispering voices)
- It's been eight years.
- Oh, my God.
(overlapping whispers)
(Amelia): Why did Mom do that?
(Rodney): Well, you know
sometimes when you guys act bad
and Mommy and Daddy say
you can't do that?
That's all it was.
Mommy was just acting bad today.
But don't worry, Daddy's here.
I love you so much.
One last hug.
Okay, under the covers.
And lights out
or no treat tomorrow.
Let's go, buddy.
(Mason): Good night!
(Rodney): Good night!
(Amelia): Good night!
- Are the kids okay?
Should I go in?
(Rodney): They're fine.
- I don't know what happened.
I didn't mean to--
- You hit me in the face.
- I didn't mean to.
- All I want from you
is an apology.
- I'm sorry.
(tense music )
- You can do this.
(crying)
(surgeon): We have to go
into surgery right away.
(overlapping voices)
(tense music crescendo)
(woman whispers): She's been
acting so crazy.
(overlapping whispers)
- Get off of me!
(whispering continues)
(music fades)
(Morgan panting)
- Hey, Morgan?
You burning off those donuts?
Thought they were for your kids.
(Morgan chuckles)
Ouch.
- Uh, I'm...
Yeah, no, I just hit myself
when I was cleaning
something, so...
- Ah. Hey, um,
do you wanna exchange numbers
if I ever need some more advice
or if you need to talk?
It would be the donut
crisis hotline.
(chuckles)
- Uh, yeah. Sure.
- Yeah?
(children screaming)
- Got you!
(Morgan): Hey, guys.
(children): Hey, Mom.
- Hey, Rod.
Is everything okay?
Rodney?
- Huh? Uh, yeah.
Yeah, all good.
(toy guns popping)
- Oh!
(laughs)
Hey! Hey, this isn't fair!
(knock on door)
(Rodney): Yeah?
- Do you wanna tell me
what's wrong? Maybe I can help.
- Sure. Let's see
if you can help.
- Uh...
So, your trust account
is overdrawn.
Looks like there's interest.
- It means the money is gone.
The trust is gone.
- How is that possible?
- Do you watch the news?
Inflation, banks going under.
The-the Fed's been raising
rates like crazy
and we leveraged the trust
to buy bonds
back when rates were low.
And now it's all,
it's all just worthless.
- How does that,
how does that even happen?
- You're not gonna
understand it, okay?
The money is just gone!
All right?
It's, it's, it's gone!
(keyboard crashes to floor)
(breathing nervously)
- We'll sell the house. I'll...
I'll get a job and we'll
figure it out, all right?
We'll make it work.
(phone pings)
(tense music builds slowly)
- You have a beautiful house.
Thank you for inviting me
into it.
And I would love to
turn your house into a home
where I can help you create
the perfect, warm family space
for your baby
and the newlywed couple.
So, let me show you what I mean.
Um, this should be the nursery.
You do not wanna go
up and down the stairs
every time you have
a wet diaper.
(all chuckle)
And then down the road,
you should transform this area
to more of a mudroom.
Uh, we could do lockers
right there.
I have twins, so whether
it's soccer cleats
or ballet shoes,
you're gonna need the space.
And then, I was thinking,
for the entryway, some runners.
Something durable, though.
Something where you do not
have to get down on your hands
and knees to clean every month.
And then, the kitchen,
I was thinking maybe
more of a neutral palette
with the backsplash.
All right, now,
if you're open to it,
this color would be amazing
in the entryway.
- Yes. And I mean,
yes to working with you.
I just, I love your vision
for us and the house.
And let's do it.
- Don't you need
to ask your husband?
- Oh no, he trusts me
with all things house and home.
(laughs)
- Amazing. Then I will um,
get started right away.
- Great! Let me go find him.
- Morgan?
- Oh, hey Nicole.
- Hey.
- Good to see you again.
- Nice to see you.
Are you, uh,
redoing your kitchen or...
- No, I actually started
my own design company.
- You're... you're kidding?
That is incredible.
- Yeah, and pretty scary.
I just landed my first big job.
A starter home for a family
coming from
a New York apartment.
So, they don't have
a stick of furniture,
and the house is totally bare.
I pitched them on
having this whole company
and how I could handle it all,
but it's just me. So...
- Well, you've done it before.
I've seen your house,
remember? So...
- Are you still
selling insurance?
- I am. Yeah. Yeah, I am.
Even though it is wildly,
wildly mundane.
(both chuckle)
- Would you wanna work for me?
- What... me? You're serious?
- Yeah.
- Uh... yes, I would.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
Wait, when do I start? What?
- And you're starting right now
because I just, I don't,
okay, so this is the palette
that I was going for.
(heavy metal music)
(panting)
- Hey.
Did you get my message?
- No, I've been working out.
What's up?
- Babe, I won. I won it.
- Oh, hon, that's...
that's great.
- Yeah, this couple
is so lovely.
And the house, I mean,
it's completely bare,
but I mean it's got
natural light,
there's an open floorplan, and--
- Hey, I uh, I actually have
some good news, too.
There's this equity firm
in Dallas
and they're gonna fly me
in for an interview.
- Rodney, oh my gosh!
That's terrific!
And you are so
incredibly sweaty.
But I don't even care,
because I am so proud of you.
- There's one thing.
The interview's
on Valentine's Day,
so I would have
to cancel our dinner.
- Okay. Yeah, no,
that, that's good.
- Yeah? And you can
watch the kids for a few days?
- Yeah. Yes, yes, I can juggle
the kids and the new job.
Plus, I've got Nicole working
for me now too, so it'll help.
- Oh. You hired someone?
- Yeah, your buddy Tom,
his ex-girlfriend.
All right, I'm gonna get dinner
started for the kids.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- Hmm, thank you.
Oh.
(laughing)
Babe, babe the kids
are just right inside.
- Let's celebrate.
(garage door rumbles)
- Okay, well just make it quick.
Oh, Mason, come on,
please don't eat from there.
All right, give me 15 minutes
and I'll have some dinner
ready for you guys.
- Let's just order pizza!
(Amelia): Yay!
- I love pizza!
- Can I have cheese, please?
- Can I have sausage, please?
- Sorry guys, your mom's
too much of a horn dog
to make anything tonight.
- What's a horn dog?
(Rodney): I'll tell you
when you're 18.
(children humming happily)
(sports fans cheer on TV)
(exhaling deeply)
(clears throat)
(exhales)
- Oh shoot. Shoot.
What?
(sinister music swell)
I like the gray one.
It looks good on you.
- Oh, you like a man
in a suit, huh?
What else do you like?
- I'm not really
in the mood, babe.
- That's not what
I'm getting from you.
- Rod, we just did it, okay?
And hey, I don't like
you talking like that
in front of the kids.
- Oh, come on.
Don't play coy.
You know you like it
when we mess around
in the middle of the day.
All right? All right?
Or in the car.
- I'm serious.
(Rodney laughs)
- Okay, fine.
Pretend all you want.
I actually have something
serious I wanna talk about, too.
I know I'm gonna be gone
for Valentine's Day.
But I did get you something.
(buttons beep)
- Rod!
- I'm gonna be gone
for a few days.
You need to be able
to protect yourself.
- We have kids. Come on,
I don't want a gun in our house!
- Okay, calm down.
It has a trigger lock.
It's fine.
I need you and the kids safe,
no matter what.
- Okay, fine.
- You're welcome.
- Rod, I said I wasn't
in the mood.
Rodney, I said I...
Rodney, I don't--
(Rodney grunts)
What are you doing? Rodney!
(Rodney grunting)
(sinister music)
(music fades)
(door creaks lightly)
(exhales)
(Morgan): Okay, I think this
palette is gonna work
really nicely together.
So, these.
- Oh yeah, definitely.
I like that.
- Let's try for the living room.
- Do you ever treat yourself?
Like a new, a new car maybe or,
okay, a fancy dress?
Or a... a trip to Italy.
- Oh.
- You know, whatever.
- Yeah, okay.
- Oh my gosh.
Well, your business
is killing it,
so you should do something nice.
Something for you.
I mean I would,
I would love a new purse.
- There you go.
- Something designer.
- Okay.
- That I'd...
that I'd buy
with my own money.
I've um, I've never
done that before.
- Like, ever? Really?
- Is that bad? I just,
I've never had a job
that paid that much
and, and Rod, he's...
from family money,
so he was always in charge
of the big purchases.
But he never treats
any of his stuff nicely.
I guess when you're from money,
you just expect that money's
always gonna be there,
and then when it's not...
Anyways it's just, um,
it's just been hard for him.
- Yeah, but you make
great money now, right?
I mean, isn't he happy
about that?
- Yeah. Yeah, he is.
- Morgan...
(clears throat)
Has Rod ever--
- Hey, there he is.
Did they love you in Dallas?
- Don't.
- What's wrong?
- This was in our mailbox.
Know anything about this?
- Uh, I have no idea.
- This is a threat.
You understand that, right?
- Rod, I said I don't know.
- Well, why else would
somebody write this?
- Uh--
- Maybe it was a joke.
It could've been an accident.
They could've put that
in the wrong mail--
- Could you give us
some privacy, please?
(Morgan): Rodney.
- I'm serious.
- Yeah.
- Are you being unfaithful?
- Of course not.
(sinister music)
(Rodney breathing heavily)
(cocks gun)
(children's program plays on TV)
- Ah!
- We got a letter
from the credit card company.
Did you happen to take out
a second card?
Said there's already
$7,000 on it.
- I bought some new tools
for the carpentry business,
remember?
Your entrepreneurial spirit
inspired me to start
my own business.
- Yeah, right, I just,
I don't...
remember us talking about
a second card.
- Aren't you proud of me, honey?
- Rodney...
- You know,
you didn't consult me
when you hired Nicole.
I'm, I'm being proactive.
- Yes, you are.
- Look, if you wanna see
every little receipt,
I can bring out
the itemized bill right now.
- Rodney, that's fine.
No, Rodney, stop. Never mind.
- No, no, no,
you wanna see receipts?
- Stop, never mind.
- It's good. It's smart.
You wanna see receipts,
that's good business.
- Stop. Never mind, okay?
There's something more
important anyway.
I... I found a bag
in the bathroom.
It had steroids in it?
Rod, that stuff's dangerous.
(laughs)
- Morgan, steroids?
Come on, you know I'm diabetic.
- I know what your insulin
looks like. This was different.
(whispers): You don't know
what you're talking about.
- Rodney, we need
to discuss this.
(Rodney exhales)
(Rodney): Don't you dare
emasculate me
like that in front of the kids.
- Rodney.
- Look, I've been dealing
with so much
and I've been shouldering
it alone this whole time.
The, the threatening letters,
this new job,
taking care of the kids
'cause you're never around.
- You?
I pick them up from school,
I do their homework,
I cook them meals,
I take them to baseball.
- Oh, please, you're out there
doing God knows what.
Or more like
doing God knows who.
- Rodney!
- Look at you!
I'm glad Kevin isn't here to see
what his mother's become.
- Oh, no, no. No, you don't.
No, you don't.
You do not get to unload on me
and then just walk away
like that. Really?
That's how low you're stooping?
Kevin?
(Rodney sighs)
Look, you wanna start
itemizing things?
How about your new little
credit card bill?
'Cause it's not just tools,
Rodney, it's movies,
and drinks, and nights out
with your baseball friends.
- It's none of your business!
- Well, it's my money,
it's my business.
- Oh, shut up!
When I brought home
the paycheck,
I never would've said
anything like that to you.
- Do you think I'm an idiot,
Rodney?
Seriously, Rodney,
do you think I'm an idiot?
(grunts)
(sinister music)
(sounds muffle)
(echoing exhales)
- Rod, are you okay?
- What the hell's
wrong with you?
- Me?
- You trying to kill me?
(groans)
- Daddy!
- Are you okay?
- It's okay, it's okay.
Daddy's okay.
Mommy didn't mean to push me.
She's just upset, okay?
(Morgan breathing shakily)
(whispering voices)
(Morgan panting)
(music crescendos)
- Her husband...
- Is she even fit to be a mom?
- Are you kidding me?
(doorbell chimes)
(Morgan): Be right there!
Oh, Mom, Dad, what are you...
- Can we come in?
- How are you doing, honey?
(deep sigh)
- Can I get you anything?
- Come on.
- We know about the fight.
(sighs)
- We know things in marriage
can be hard.
Couples fight. But, um...
- But...
Ppushing them down the stairs?
Honey, that is not
how we raised you.
- Wait, what?
- I'm...
Oh, I can't. Richard.
- Rod came over this morning.
He's very concerned...
about himself,
but also for the kids.
- You're not violent
with them, are you?
- Mom! Why is everyone
on his side?
I would never do that.
You know that.
And Rod, he...
Do you even wanna hear
my side of the story?
- We didn't raise a liar either.
- What?
- Rodney showed us
the security footage.
(Morgan): Seriously, Rodney,
do you think
I'm an idiot?
(sinister music swells)
(Morgan sighs)
- Whoa, whoa, what are you
doing with my tools?
- I'm cleaning up.
- Morgan, come on.
- Have you been able to use
them for any new work?
- It's tough out there. Okay?
- How long are you going
to pursue it, Rodney?
- What is this?
Are you coming down on me
because I haven't been able
to find a job?
Morgan, I have been out
there every day,
submitting resumes,
I'm talking to friends,
colleagues.
I'm on message boards.
I even asked your dad for a job.
Do you understand
how that makes me feel?
- Why did you send him
the video?
- Because I'm worried
about you, Morgan.
You've been violent.
Erratic. Unfaithful.
- Rodney, I have never
cheated on you. Never.
So, why would you set me up
like that with my parents?
Look, I... I didn't
mean to hurt you.
- It's on camera.
- But that's not...
I never intended to hurt you.
You know that.
- No one is going
to believe you.
Everyone we know
is friends with me. Not you.
And if you ever try to leave me,
they'll never let you
keep the kids.
Never.
(door slams)
(Morgan): Yeah, I like that.
- That's nice. Ooh,
what about this for the Allens?
- Hmm, no,
it's not upscale enough
for what Geri's looking for.
She wants solids, whites,
off-creams.
Um, elegant without
being too showy, you know?
- Mm-hmm, yeah.
(clicks tongue)
Oh, what about that?
Is that elegant enough?
- Yes, exactly.
(sighs)
Oh, nope.
- What?
Well...
Come on.
Come on, you deserve it.
Just, just pick it up.
Just try it. Just pick it up.
(gasps)
- She's cute.
- Oh, she's so cute.
- Okay. Okay.
- Yep.
- Tomatoes...
You guys almost done
with your homework?
(children): Yes.
- Nice bag. Looks expensive.
- Four new clients this month.
We can afford a little luxury.
- How many glasses is that?
- It's apple cider.
- Mm-hmm.
Who is Griff Walker?
- He's a friend
from therapy. Why?
- A friend with
a criminal record.
Interesting choice.
Oh, you didn't know that?
- What is this? Have you been
looking through my phone?
- No, I didn't need to.
I just needed to look
at my phone.
I was sitting here
in my house, with my kids,
minding my own business,
when I get this email.
- That's not Griff.
He's not like that.
- Booming business,
new purse, new man.
- Rod, not here, please.
- When were you planning
to tell all of us
that you'd moved on?
- Griff is just a guy
who lost his wife.
Look, I barely know him.
There's no affair.
There never was.
- I can't trust you.
- Of course you can trust me.
- No, the signs were there
all along, the drinking,
the pills, you disappearing
all day from me and the kids.
- I'm at work.
- Work?
Your little interior
design business?
That's what you call a job?
Gimme a break!
You're not a mother
to these children anymore.
You're not even a wife to me!
- I didn't choose this.
Someone needed to make money.
- Oh, so now you're the victim.
The cheater is the victim.
- Kids, clear the table.
Dinner's ready.
(children): Okay.
(Morgan breathing heavily)
(whispering voices)
(tense music crescendos)
- Trauma is real.
When we suffer from trauma,
we can sometimes find ourselves
inviting in people.
People who don't have
our best interests at heart.
Today I wanna talk
about narcissists,
personalities who have
an excessive interest
in their own appearance,
their own control
over the world.
They are entitled,
lacking empathy.
They lash out when threatened.
Nothing is ever their fault.
Bad outcomes are always
the symptom
of something someone else did.
A narcissist has this
compulsion for control.
Sometimes the only way to handle
a narcissist
is to give them that control
they so desperately desire.
Lend it to them
for the short term,
but do so knowing that
the control you're giving them
is only in their minds
and not in yours.
(stirring music hums then fades)
- Oh, sorry. Sorry,
I didn't mean to startle you.
- I... I didn't see you
in group.
- Oh, I snuck in late.
The kids have been so busy
with school and sports, it's...
it's hard to find the time.
- Uh-huh. Um, look,
I don't mean to sound crazy,
but...
did you happen to write
my husband Rodney an email?
- Your husband?
- Yeah, um...
did you tell him to back off
so we could be together?
(Griff laughs briefly)
So, you put the letter
in the mailbox, too?
- You're serious?
- Well, did you?
- Morgan, I didn't email
your husband.
And I haven't written a letter
by hand in, I don't know,
ten years.
Listen, I thought we could help
each other,
but whatever's going
on between you and your husband,
just...
leave me out of it.
(Morgan sighs)
- Hey.
I'm sorry. I am so sorry.
- Save your breath.
They are long gone.
(sighs)
- Sorry.
- Hmm. Don't be.
We have a new client!
- Ah! Yes! Oh, I knew it,
I knew it.
I always said confidence is key.
And look at that, you have it.
You are the best.
- No, you are the best.
- Oh, yes.
- Okay, I've gotta ask.
What is going on with you?
You've been really... off.
- Oh, no, I'm good. It's just...
(sighs)
You know, with kids,
and sports and...
(ominous music swells)
(Nicole): Wasn't Rodney
in Dallas for Valentine's?
I'm really sorry.
- No, it...
it must be the wrong year.
- Morgan...
He is not a good partner.
Okay? I'm sorry,
but someone needs to say it.
- It's...
- It's complicated, yeah.
Yeah, I know.
But it's also really simple,
okay? He's full of it,
and he...
he doesn't treat you well.
(tearfully): I don't even know
who I am anymore.
I am a horrible mom,
I am a horrible wife.
- Hey, no, don't say that.
- No, no, no.
- No, that's not true.
- You don't know
what I've done. Look,
you don't get it, all right?
I... I pushed him
down the stairs.
- What?
- I hit him.
- What?
- I did,
at Kevin's birthday party,
I hit him.
- Morgan.
- Please, you just don't get it.
All right?
- No, mm-mm.
- Okay, I do not need
to relive that
any more than I already
did, okay?
- No. No, Morgan.
That is not what happened.
(Morgan): Get off of me.
Ah!
(ominous music)
- What was that?
- I said, don't call me crazy.
- You don't want me
to call you crazy?
Stop mixing wine and pills.
- Get off of me!
Ah!
- You hit me. Now get inside
and don't make a scene.
(Morgan breathes shakily)
I never would have said
anything like that to you.
(Morgan): Do you think
I'm an idiot, Rodney?
(Morgan screams)
(panting)
Rodney? Rod, are you okay?
- What the hell are you doing?
- Me?
- Are you trying to kill me?
(Amelia): Daddy!
(Mason): Are you okay?
(Rodney): Daddy's fine.
I'm fine. Daddy's okay.
Mommy didn't mean to push me,
okay? She's just upset.
(Morgan breathes shakily)
(high-pitched ringing)
(breathing heavily)
(Nicole): You okay?
- Yeah, I'm gonna be sick.
- You're so strong, okay?
(music fades)
(sniffs)
(breathing heavily)
- Oh!
(announcer 1): ...in another
bunker there short left.
(sighs)
(announcer 2): Trying to land
soft and maybe
run up to the hole.
(Morgan): Rod?
You should go.
(Linda): Morgan.
- I need to talk to my husband.
Why?
- What?
- There is piss
all over my purse.
- Maybe the cat pissed on it.
- For once in your life,
stop lying.
- What are you--
- Oh, yeah.
Yeah, so that's cat piss?
- I don't know, maybe.
- Yeah, maybe.
Maybe like how
you lost your jobs?
- What are you talking about?
- It's always someone else's
fault, isn't it, Rodney?
Oh, I got another one.
Remember when you went to Dallas
for an interview
over Valentine's Day?
Or did you?
- Oh, here we go.
- Maybe instead, you spent
the weekend playing golf.
Ugh, I'm such a fool!
For all these years
you had me convinced
that I was the broken one,
the, the crazy one,
the drunk one, the,
the one who wouldn't move on
from the memory of our son.
The one who acted like a child
and needed to grow up.
That I was bad.
- Okay. So, this is all
my fault now?
You know, Morgan,
this is why marriages fail.
Because you move on,
and you leave all of us behind.
You go out and get
your fancy new job,
and your new man.
Please tell me, do you even care
about this family anymore?
You are still behaving like
a child. This is your fault!
- It's not her fault!
- What?
- It's yours.
- Are you turning
my own children against me?
You ungrateful--
- Go away!
- Shut up, you little brat!
- Hey, no.
You do not touch him
and you do not
get to talk to any of us
like that anymore.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
- Or what?
- I want a divorce.
Let's go, let's go.
Let's get in the car.
Come on, baby girl, hustle up.
All right, come on, let's go.
In the car.
Here, get in there, baby.
- Morgan, stop!
Morgan, don't do this.
- Rodney, stop, stop.
- Morgan, Don't do this. No, no.
- Rodney, please stop.
- Come back inside.
Let's talk about this.
- Stop this, Rodney!
- Please don't leave me!
- Rodney! We're done.
Please, we're done.
(door slams shut)
(threatening music)
(car engine starts)
(instrumental "Deck the Halls"
plays)
(Nicole): Nice. Ooh,
that's creative.
- It's so bad.
(laughing)
It's so bad.
- Ah!
(all laughing)
(Morgan): Amelia!
(laughing)
Oh, my gosh, Mason,
do not eat that.
That frosting is like glue.
(doorbell chimes)
(clears throat)
One sec.
Come in.
(Rodney): Hey, guys.
Merry late Christmas.
(children): Merry Christmas,
Dad.
- Hi, buddy. Hi.
You guys ready for a road trip?
- Aunt Lizzie's is so far away.
- Well, maybe these will help?
- No way! This is amazing, Dad!
- The batteries are charged
and ready to go.
(children): Thank you, Dad!
- I will go get the kids' stuff.
Okay, one, two, three,
four shirts.
(floorboard creaks)
- You know I could fix
that floorboard?
(laughing)
- I know.
That's okay.
I actually like it.
Let's me know when the kids
try to sneak downstairs
to get ice cream.
- Hmm.
Rodney seems, um... normal-ish.
- Yeah. No, he's been
really great, actually.
Um, it's his week
with the twins.
But when my sister called
asking if they could visit
for Christmas, he gave up
his time so they could go.
- Hmm.
And you're going on this
drive with him, to Florida?
- Uh-huh.
- And after you drop off
the kids,
Rod is driving you back?
Are you sure you wanna be alone
with him for two hours?
- He's turned over a new leaf.
I mean it'll...
it'll be good for us.
- Yeah.
(zipper whizzes)
You want me to get this?
- Yeah. Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.
- Looks like your business
has been doing really well.
I see your ads
on Facebook all the time.
- Yeah, it's been great.
- I'm proud of you.
- I'm... I'm glad
you're good too, Rod.
- It's okay,
you don't have to say that.
- No, really. I mean you've,
you've cleaned up,
you've been nice to the kids.
I'm really happy
you're thriving.
(sighs)
Thank you, again, for driving.
Um, I'd like to get the kids
through their first week
of school after break,
but I uh, I could give them
back the second?
- It might be better if you
just keep them through January.
- Is everything okay?
- I'm not... I'm not okay.
- You know you can still
tell me anything.
(shakily): I have cancer.
Pancreatic cancer.
It's...
Stage three and two,
and the doctors say
it's still confined
to the pancreas...
but the tumor's grown,
and...
it's spreading
to the lymph nodes.
I'm not gonna beat it.
- No. No, no, no, Rod.
It's okay. You're gonna be okay.
- I'm so sorry.
I should have been
a better father.
And a better husband.
(Rodney sobs)
- It's okay.
(exhales deeply)
- Thank you.
- Yep.
- I'm sorry I lost it like that.
- No, it's... it's okay.
- Hey, you should know, um,
I put my affairs in order.
I don't have a lot,
but you and the kids
will collect on my insurance.
- Please don't give up
like that. Look, there's chemo,
surgery, radiation.
Rodney, you can beat this.
(chuckles)
- You were always so positive.
Even when we lost Kevin.
- I was a disaster.
- No, you took it head on.
I just hid from it.
- Well, we've been
through a lot, so...
- Yeah.
Hey, um...
do you think maybe if...
the chemo and radiation stuff
all works...
maybe you and I could work, too?
(exhales)
- Rod, I'm here for you.
Through it all.
But only as a friend.
Good night.
(unsettling music)
(door creaks open)
(birds chirping)
(engine starts)
(suspenseful music)
(crowd cheering on TV)
(party horns blowing)
(sighs)
(unsettling music)
(loud bang)
(gasps)
(fireworks banging)
(crowd cheering on TV)
(crowd): Ten, nine,
eight, seven--
(TV clicks off)
(banging continues)
(menacing music )
(floorboard creaks softly)
(shutter clicks)
(floorboard creaks)
(crowd cheers loudly)
(Morgan screaming)
- No, no, no, no!
(thudding blows)
(grunting)
(sobbing)
(thudding)
(crying)
(gunshot cracks)
(Morgan screams)
(sobbing)
(tie zips)
(grunting)
(Rodney, distorted):
That's good. That's good.
You belong like this.
(sobbing)
- Please, no.
(sobbing)
- Where's your husband?
- I don't know. I don't know.
- Where is your husband?
(unsettling music building)
(inaudible dialogue)
(fireworks banging)
- Please, please don't
kill my husband.
Please, please, I love him more
than anything.
Please, I love
him more than anything.
Please don't kill him. Please.
- You love him?
- Of course. Of course I do.
I love him so much. Please.
- You love him?
- Yes.
Please, don't kill him. Please.
- Ah. Where's your jewelry?
- I don't have any.
- Ah!
(panicked breathing)
Don't move!
(fireworks continue)
(breathing shakily)
- Please.
You don't have to do this.
(sobbing)
Please.
No, no, no, please.
(sobbing)
Please, no. Please. No.
(screaming)
(Rodney grunts)
(sinister music)
(Rodney, distorted):
Don't move until you hear
a honk three times,
or I'll kill you.
(footsteps run away)
(door slams)
(horn honks three times)
(tires screech)
(Rodney, muffled):
Morgan, Morgan.
Honey, it's okay. You're safe.
I'm here. I'm right here.
- There. Is that better?
Oh...
When I find out who did this,
I'm gonna kill them.
- I'm just glad you got
here when you did.
- Yeah, me too. Oh...
- Can I have your phone?
I wanna call my dad.
- Yeah, of course.
- We should call
the police, too.
- Yeah, good idea.
(siren wails)
(doorbell chimes)
- Good evening, Rodney Metzer?
- Yes, sir, I was
the one that called.
- We were told there
was a break-in?
- Yes. Um, there was.
But no, everything's fine now.
We're okay. Thanks for getting
here so quickly.
- Hmm, well can you tell us
a little more
about what happened?
- Yeah, sure of course.
It's just uh, you know,
everything's calmed down now.
We're... you know, it's late.
We're safe now.
(fireplace tools clatter)
- What was that?
- I don't know.
- I'm sorry, I was um,
I was trying to stand.
I'm still just
a little bit woozy.
- Geez, Rick, call medical.
And a detective.
We need them right away.
And uh, can you sweep
the exterior, just in case?
- Yeah.
I'm sorry, ma'am, we did not
understand how serious this was.
- Yeah, um, uh,
someone broke in,
she was attacked.
But we're okay now.
- Ma'am, can you tell me
anything else?
- I was in the bedroom.
He was um... wearing a mask.
Um...
He had a gun. I think,
I think it was my gun.
He assaulted me.
- Yeah, uh, when I got here,
she was on the deck, terrified,
and um...
I must have scared him off
just in time.
I, I, I don't know
where they went.
- So, you were not here
during the attack?
- Oh, no, no, I don't, I don't
live here. We're separated.
- I understand.
- But it's a good thing
I got here when I did,
otherwise who knows
what could have happened.
- Jones, there's no sign
of anyone on the property.
Basement door's open, though.
- Mr. Metzer, why don't you go
with Officer MacLaughlin.
Show him where
you found Ms. Metzer.
- I really wanna stay.
- Please, you can take him
through everything,
moment by moment.
It will help us tremendously.
- Yeah, of course.
- Thank you.
Ma'am, you can talk to me.
Do you know who did this?
Is he still armed?
- I don't know.
I don't know. He might be.
- Okay, thank you.
Wait right here.
- Like I said,
if I hadn't got here,
who knows what might
have happened.
- It was very brave,
Mr. Metzer.
You have any idea
who might have done this?
- Oh, actually, yeah.
Um, before the divorce,
there was this guy,
uh, Griff Walker.
He was obsessed with Morgan.
He would call and text her
all the time.
And then it got worse. He sent
some threats in the mail.
He even emailed me
and told me to leave her.
- Really?
Do you still have these emails?
- Oh.
Yeah, that's it right there.
- Pfft. Sick bastard.
Can I hold on to this?
- Yeah, definitely.
- I wanna give this
to the detectives
when they get here.
Can you take us upstairs
to the bedroom?
- Yeah, sure.
- You know, you two go on up.
I'm right behind you.
I'm gonna send this right away.
(tense music builds slowly)
(door opens)
(music swells)
(door opens)
- Thought you were
taking us upstairs?
- Yeah. Yeah, I, I just need
to be with Morgan right now.
- Of course.
How about you and I go up?
And uh, Rick here can
keep her company.
- No, she's scared.
I think she needs me, okay.
(Morgan): It's okay, I can...
I can go up there with you.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
I'm good.
(tense music builds)
(Rodney): I guess the guy
tried to rob the place, too.
You'll have to ask Morgan
about jewelry and stuff.
- Yeah, he didn't...
(clears throat)
He didn't take much.
- Don't worry, ma'am,
we're gonna get this guy.
I'm just glad you arrived
when you did, sir.
- Yeah, me too.
Otherwise, my kids might not
have a mother right now.
- Isn't that a terrible thought?
How did you even think
to come here tonight?
- Uh...
Well, I was at my place
and I got this strange call.
Just breathing on the other end
of the line.
And I got this
weird feeling and...
I just felt like
I had to come check on her.
- Hmm.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa,
what are you doing, man?
- Rodney Metzer, you have
the right to remain silent.
- Are you serious?
- Anything you say can and will
be used against you
in a court of law.
- No, this is not right!
- You have the right--
- Morgan!
- ...if you cannot afford one,
one will be provided for you.
Do you understand the rights--
- Morgan!
(Rodney thuds on wall)
- Nod if you understand.
Nod.
- I got him.
(indistinct radio chatter)
(soft music)
(Rodney thuds on car)
- All right. All right.
(judge): How do you plead?
- Guilty.
- Excuse me?
Louder, please.
- Guilty. I'm guilty.
- All right. I will accept
a plea of guilty.
You have anything
you'd like to add?
- Yes.
I um...
I just want to say, I'm sorry.
I...
fell down this dark path.
But...
I love my wife.
I love her,
and I never meant to...
I never meant to hurt her.
- Ms. Metzer,
I understand you have
a statement
you'd like to share
with the court today?
- Yes, Your Honor.
(exhales)
Not only will this statement
be to my attacker...
it will be my last words
to the man I once thought
was the love of my life.
Rodney,
love does not
emotionally abuse.
Love does not
break into your home
in the middle of the night.
Love does not strike you
countless times with a gun,
tie you up, and strangle you.
Love...
does not sexually assault you.
Love does not leave
you outside
with a pillowcase
over your head,
wondering if you are ever going
to see your children again.
(trembling breath)
I gave you my heart and soul,
and you tried to destroy them.
And here's what I have to say
in response.
Thank you.
(whimpers)
(steadying breaths)
Thank you for the gift
of my children.
Even though you are a monster,
my heart aches
that our children will not
have a father.
This attack wasn't just
a trauma,
it was a blessing in disguise.
(sniffles)
Rodney, it is time
to let you go.
And lay you down to rest.
(inhales deeply)
(serene music)
(birds chirping)
(Morgan): I can now walk
with confidence
knowing that the pain
you gave me
has been turned into power.
(deep exhale)
- Hey, Mom,
what's for breakfast?
- Whatever you want,
my little loves.
(Morgan): And that I now know
what true love is.
It's how I feel about our kids
and how I feel about myself.
(relieved exhale)
(soft music)