01x06 - Not Today Satan

[bunniefuu]

[Detective Drysdale] I pieced together
a bit about your time with the Barnetts.

But I'd sure love to hear
some in your own words.

[Natalia Grace] Previously
on Good American Family...

[Kristine Barnett]
There's your school

where you're gonna get your GED
and finally stop living off us.

So you'll go to school,

come home, that's it.

Mommy?

Mommy? Mommy, I need my walker!

Wait! Please don't leave me!

♪

[raw noodle crunching]

[grunts, whimpers]

- Daddy?
- Good grief, Natalia.

Have you not cleaned once
since the last time I was here?

Looks like you've got everything
you need. Right, Natalia?

- Right, Natalia?
- Oh, yeah, right.

Everything I need.

Daddy, please wait.

In Mommy's book, she said
that all kids are special.

- You're not a kid, are you, Natalia?
- I know you guys said that

but I would remember all
the other ages, wouldn't I?

- Please, please, I just wanna go home.
- No, you cannot...

No, you're staying
here. Natalia, stop!

You said! You said
you loved me for me.

♪

Mommy?

I wanna know what you
are gonna tell people

when they ask you who you are.

I-I'll say what you want!

I want you to understand what
will happen if you lie again!

[screams]

[Natalia] "Write about yourself.

Tell us a story of who you are."

[Kristine] Nobody's gonna
believe you, Natalia.

♪

[water running]

[Natalia] It was 2011.

I'd been living with the Barnetts
for like four months, I think.

I was really trying to be
a good girl, but then...

[Kristine] Natalia.

Natalia.

Mommy?

W-What is it? Is
something wrong?

It's what we talked
about in the car.

I can't keep finding bloody
socks in your closet,

so I got you these.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[bag rustling]

Are these for feet?

I thought you said you
knew how to use them.

Which is it?

I... I got... I got mixed up.

I-I-I don't know
what these are. I...

- I don't know how to use them.
- Well, I'll show you, then.

[nervous chuckle] I'm just kidding!
I-I do know how to use them.

- You don't...
- Enough, Natalia.

[echoing slam]

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[Drysdale] So, you were,
uh... menstruating?

Kristine said I was.

[Drysdale] Kristine
told you that you...

um... [clearing throat]

that you had your period, but...

I'm sorry, Natalia, I know this
is a very personal question.

But did you notice
that yourself?

Just that time.

After she showed you
how to use a tampon?

[Natalia sighs]

And that's the only time
you ever saw any blood?

This is so gross.

[Drysdale] I know. I just...

I want to understand
why she thought you...

Could you tell me a little bit more
about what led up to that moment?

I want to help, Natalia.

I'm trying to understand.

You just...

You don't wanna know.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[♪ music stops]

[♪ curious theme music playing]

[flag flapping in breeze]

♪

[bridge cracking]

[engine humming]

[TV static buzzing]

[paper cutting]

[♪ theme music fades out]

[Natalia] "When I discover
who I am, I'll be free.

"With that in mind,
write about yourself.

Tell us a story of who you are."

[♪ subtle, suspenseful
music playing]

[teacher] That's our
time. See you next week.

[Natalia] It was April 2013.

Kristine had left
me in my new place.

I was in school, but it was
kind of hard to make friends,

because all the other students
were a lot older than me.

Well, I guess not legally.

[♪ "These Days" by
Kathryn Williams playing]

♪ I've been out walking ♪

[Kristine] You need
to leave people alone.

Go to school, come
home, that's it,

because if I get one more call,

if I hear one more time
that you are lying,

pulling that little kid act,

I'll come back for you,

and you know what that means.

♪ About the things
that I forgot to do ♪

[dog barking]

♪ And all the times I had ♪

[Kristine] Nobody wants to talk
to you. Nobody wants you around.

Every time you bother someone,
they call me and complain.

I can't have that.

♪ I stop my rambling ♪

♪ I don't do too much
gambling these days ♪

♪ These... ♪

[Kristine] I don't want to
have to spray you again.

I won't do it
unless you make me.

So, repeat after me,

"I'm 22, I just look
young for my age."

♪ My way ♪

♪ And I wonder... ♪

[Kristine] You're an adult, and
if you don't want me to come back,

you will start acting like one.

♪ Highway ♪

- [♪ song ends]
- [distant alarm blaring]

[Natalia shivering]

[engine rumbling]

Hon, you good?

Uh, um, yeah,
I-I'm just resting.

- [engine shuts off]
- [car door opens]

[shaky breaths]

Looks like you're bleeding.

How about a Band-Aid?

Uh, no. I'm fine, thank you.

It's no bother. My kids
never met a sidewalk

they didn't wanna face-plant
on. I got about a million.

Thanks.

- [distant glass crashing]
- [sighs]

[people shouting in distance]

So, are you waiting for someone?

No, I-I'm just heading
home from school.

Okay.

You live nearby, or...

Not far, just off of Salem.

On those banged-up feet?

Let me give you a
ride. It's on my way.

Um, no. No, thank you.
I-I really like walking.

Gotta get my steps in.

I hear that.

Can I at least call
someone for you?

- Your mom, maybe?
- No, I'm fine.

I'm 22, I just look
young for my age.

Okay.

I'm gonna need the number
for your dermatologist.

- [g*nsh*t]
- [dog barking]

Okay, that sounded
kind of close.

- [g*nshots]
- [people shouting]

Not today, Satan.

I don't know about you, but I
have come too far to die this way.

So, will you please get in the car
before one of us catches a stray?

- Come on.
- [whispering] Okay.

Okay.

[Natalia groans]

[wincing]

There you go.

- [distant sirens wailing]
- [dog barking]

I'm Cynthia, by the way.

[♪ "Learning to Ride" by Caitlin
Rose playing softly on the radio]

I'm guessing you got a name too.

Sorry, um...

I'm... It's...
it's Natalia Grace.

And how long you been in
Lafayette, Natalia Grace?

A few months.

[Cynthia Mans] Huh.
How do you like it?

Yeah.

- It's nice.
- [Cynthia giggling]

Nice? It's the hood.

Well, I, I like...

I like... I like the trees.

And... and-and-and-and
the people, and the dogs.

A-At first, some of them were scary,
but now I think they're pretty cool.

I like you, Natalia Grace.

You got a sunny
disposition, like me.

- [Natalia] Mm.
- Glass-half-full kind of gals.

- Yeah.
- And, um...

And your family,
you stay with them?

No, I told you, I'm


My parents live in Canada.

Canada? That's kind of far.

Well, it's fine, I
have everything I need.

They call me every
day to check up on me.

We're super close.

♪ ...to hide ♪

♪ I get knocked down when
I'm learning to ride ♪

[grunts]

[car honking]

[bag scraping pavement]

[groans]

Here, let me help you, hon.

Uh, I'm fine, I'm just tired.

Come on, let me at
least grab your bag.

Hm, sure, but I have to go.
I have lot of stuff to do.

No problemo, I'll just get you
inside, and I'll get outta your hair.

[distant dog barking]

[wincing]

- You sure I can't help?
- No, thank you, I'm fine.

- Want me to help get your mail?
- Uh, yeah, sure.

It's just the usual, bills,
and "cataclogs," you know?

Girl, me too.

I could wallpaper my whole
house in JCPenney "cataclogs."

[Natalia softly chuckles]

[Natalia wincing and whimpering]

No, I'm fine!

It's fine.

[Natalia breathing heavily]

Well, thanks for everything.
It's been a real pleasure.

Oh, it's a pleasure meeting you.

Um, can I use your bathroom?

Let's go!

Um, I...

I know, I know you're busy, it's
just, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

- I haven't cleaned at all.
- Oh, please, my house is a wreck.

I don't judge. On my mama.

Please? I'll be so fast.

[door unlocking]

[Natalia] I'm... I'm... I'm
doing a big cleaning today.

I-I wasn't expecting
company, I'm... I'm sorry.

I... I had a... a-a long week.

[♪ tense music playing]

Do you have a cell?

[softly] Uh, mm-mm.

You said your parents
call every day.

How can they when
your phone's shut off?

I use my neighbor's?

I thought you had to pee.

Must have gone back in.

When was the last time you
went to a grocery store?

My landlord took me a while ago.

A while ago, huh?

What do you want from me?

I wanna take you to
the grocery store.

I don't have money.

Yeah, you do. You got
this EBT card in the mail.

You don't have to be
embarrassed, I got one too.

And this one's brand-new,
you're gonna be flush.

Come with me, I'll
show you how to use it.

My parents like me to stay here.

If-If they come and I'm not
here, they'd be worried.

I thought they were in Canada.

Okay.

Here's the deal. I
kinda need your help.

My kids told me if I make pierogies one
more night, that they are gonna riot.

And you do not wanna see
what happens to a person

when they get a frozen
pierogi thrown at them.

Trust.

So, what do you say?

How about you come with me and
help me figure out what to make,

so that I don't die
of blunt force trauma?

Do you know my mom?

No, I don't. Should I?

No, it's... Are you sure?

Yes. I am sure.

Okay, I'll go.

- And that's how I met my husband.
- [scanner beeping]

Ran smack into him with my clarinet
during marching band practice.

If his forehead had been any harder,
I would have lost my front teeth.

[giggling] You would've
looked like that guy.

- [coughing]
- Girl, you gotta slow down and chew.

I do not know the Heimlich.

About to go down like a Cathy
cartoon, choking to death in Kroger.

Who's Cathy?

Now, see?

They don't teach the classics
anymore. You sound just like my kids.

How many kids do you have?

[Cynthia] At the present, seven.

Whoa! Seven? That's a lot.

Well, they're not all
mine, technically.

Most are God babies,

kids that need caring for
one reason or another.

For me, it's all the same.

You must like being a mom, huh?

It's what I was put on
God's green Earth to do.

[soft chuckle]

I think I wanna be a mom, too.

Oh, yeah? How come?

'Cause I'd never
have to be alone.

[cashier clears throat]

Sorry, we're all
bagged and ready.

No problem, sugar.
Just love your jewelry.

Thanks.

Total's gonna be $250.82.

You know what?

Would you like to
come over for dinner?

I can take you home right
after, it's no trouble.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

Um, I should probably get home.

Aw, come on!

I know you want
that mac and cheese.

But I'd go home right after?

Perfect. Settled.

But you know what?

Since I'm gonna cook
for you, I might ask you

to put these groceries
on your EBT card.

That seems fair, right?

And then whatever we don't eat,

you can take home, and you'll
have plenty of food for later.

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

Great.

Oh, man, you're just
gonna love my kids.

On God, Natalia, we're
gonna have so much fun.

♪

[dogs barking]

[bags rustling]

I, uh, I thought we were
going to your house.

We are.

This is my husband's church.
We live behind it through here.

I promise, it's less
creepy than it looks.

Come on.

[♪ subtle, suspenseful
music playing]

[kids chattering]

Mom, you were supposed
to be here hours ago.

Sorry.

- Hey, meet my new friend.
- 'Sup?

[Cynthia] Mama C needs help. All
butts in the living room, please.

[speaker] Say hi to mom.

- [kids chattering]
- [TV playing]

- That's Priscilla and Zoe.
- [both] Hi.

[Cynthia] Working on Halloween
costumes, I'm guessing.

- Aiden.
- [Aiden] Hi.

- [Cynthia] Zachary.
- Hey.

[Cynthia] Theo. Theo's the
one with the toy up his nose.

- [Theo giggles]
- And last but not least, Jordan.

We call her Jelly. Say hi, baby.

Oh...

- Hi.
- [Cynthia chuckles]

- Clean all this up, please.
- [Jordan "Jelly" Clark] Yes, ma'am.

Alright, groceries
in the car, let's go.

Oh, and this is my friend,
Natalia Grace, say hi.

- [kids] Hi.
- Welcome to my favorite house.

You know what?

We're gonna do high-fives
tonight, everybody, not hugs.

[Zachary] Is it
because she smell?

No, Zachy, it's
because you smell.

You like that my feet
smell like corn chips.

[Cynthia] Let's get some hustle.
Last one to the car is a rotten egg.

[kids shouting]

[♪ "Teen Party" by Georgia South,
Featherstone, & William South plays on TV]

Hey.

That looks cool.

What are you making?

Um, it's a card for my bio mom.

- [Natalia] Mm.
- Her birthday's in October,

so that's how come
it's Halloween-themed.

[Cynthia] Careful, Theo,
your shoe's untied.

[quietly] Don't tell
Mama C about the card.

[Cynthia] Alright.

Thank you, thank you.

- Oh, my God!
- Thank you, thank you.

Is this ice cream?

[Zachary] Geez, Mama C,
what'd we do, win the lotto?

[Zoe] Mama C, can I put
the grapes in the freezer?

- Yes.
- [Zoe] Or do you think Zachary's gonna

put them down his pants again?

[Zachary] It was an experiment,
I was doing science!

[Cynthia] Hey, Natalia Grace,
hey, you got a nickname?

You want one?

Let's try... Tally-boo then.

You gonna come help with dinner?

Those Toll House cookies aren't
gonna separate themselves.

Okay, um, but could
we do the M&M ones?

- They're my favorite.
- You betcha.

Thank you, thank you.

Okay, okay, slow it down.

- In the freezer.
- [kids chattering]

Someone open the door for me.

[chatter and laughter]

[Antwon Mans] Hey, hey,
hey, hey, smelling good.

- [Cynthia] Oh, hey, baby.
- Okay, okay, okay.

So, I see y'all
couldn't wait, huh?

- [laughter]
- Huh?

Well, I hope y'all
at least said grace.

- Uh-oh.
- Sorry, Dad.

Does it count if
I thought grace?

No. How about we
grab hands though?

- Okay.
- [Antwon] Right, hm? Grab your brother.

- [kids snickering]
- Alright, let's settle down. Settle down.

[sighs]

Lord Jesus, thank
You for this food.

Everything we have is due to
You, and we are not worthy,

so we thank You, and we
repent when sometimes

we say thank You on the
wrong end of the food.

- Hm?
- [kids giggling]

- In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
- Amen.

[all] Amen.

Ah, so I see we
hit the Powerball

- and nobody told me.
- [Cynthia laughs]

[Zachary] That's what I said.

[soft laughter]

[Zoe] Can I have
some more water?

Hi.

Hello.

[chuckles] And uh,
whose child are you?

I'm not a child, I'm 22.

Don't worry about it, babycakes,
we'll talk about it later.

[kid 1] That mac
and cheese is good.

Alright, everybody, bath time.

[kid 2] Aw!

Natalia's staying for
movie night though, right?

Well, that's up to Natalia.

[kids chattering]

I-I should... I should go home.

No, it's only one
movie. Right, Mom?

I'm right there with ya.

I'm happy to take you
back after, Natalia.

[kid 3] Jelly, come on!

I guess it's only for
a couple of more hours.

- Yes!
- [Cynthia] Perfect, that's settled.

You're welcome to stay and
have a bath too, if you want.

No! No way.

[pounding table] I hate
baths. I hate them.

Okay. No skin off my back.

Uh, you wanna pick
out a movie instead?

Maybe something
spooky for Halloween?

Yeah, come on.

[giggling]

[♪ subtle piano music playing]

[Natalia grunting]

[♪ subtle lullaby music playing]

[distant TV chatter]

[♪ subtle lullaby music
continues playing]

[distant TV chatter]

[Antwon] Okay, but we really got
no idea why she keeps saying that?

[Cynthia] None, and
she's not just saying it.

I peeked at her ID, and it
literally says she's 22.

[Antwon] Oh yeah, that's weird, 'cause
she sure seems like a kid to me.

Where's her family?

She mentioned her mom,
but... she's afraid of her.

I can't take her back to
that place she's staying.

[Antwon] Okay, well, you know Jelly's
mom's still harassing us, right?

Filing complaints.

[Cynthia] Are you trying to say that
taking in our Jelly was a mistake?

- 'Cause that's a bunch of crap.
- [Antwon] Okay, language.

[Cynthia] Sorry, but that
woman is a leech, a dog.

Jelly is terrified of her,
hates spending time with her.

[Antwon] And what I'm saying
is once you bring a kid on,

you bring on the whole family.

We don't know anything about
Natalia's people or situation.

[Cynthia] She paid
for groceries.

You know how we've
been struggling.

What if she was sent
by God to help us?

How about we sleep
on it, we pray on it?

The Lord will show us
the way in the morning.

[Antwon] Yeah.

[Cynthia and Antwon kiss]

[door closes]

[footsteps]

[Cynthia] Hey, sleepy head.

- It's time for church.
- Mm.

It's Tuesday.

Every day of the week with
"-day" is a day we gotta pray.

Huh?

- But I gotta get home.
- Come on.

We'll grab breakfast
afterwards, since you missed it.

I'll take you home after, okay?

[Antwon] You feel good?

- Praise God, praise God.
- [applause]

- [speaker] Praise God.
- [Antwon] Look at your neighbor

and say, "It feels
good to be seen."

[congregation] It
feels good to be seen.

[Antwon] It feels
good to be seen.

Now, we know every individual,
no matter who you are,

they have their place
in God's kingdom, right?

- [scattered applause and exclamations]
- Right?

Because God...

God has an open-door policy.

- [speaker] Amen.
- [Antwon] Amen, and His policy

is to hear from you
when you come in, hm?

- [Zachary] Speak on it.
- Ah, amen.

- [applause]
- So, who wants to come in today?

Who here wants to testify?

- Me!
- Praise God.

Come on. Praise God.

- [chatter and applause]
- This one here. This one here.

I want you to tell
everyone what you...

Don't worry, everyone
gets a chance.

You wanna go next?

[Antwon] Praise God,
come on. For family!

[applause]

This isn't my house.

I know, hon, it's
a doctor's office.

Well, what are we doing
here? I hate doctors.

I don't like 'em either, but I
saw how much it hurts you to walk.

I don't care. I'm not going.

I'll be with you the whole time.

Promise, it'll be fine.

No! I'm not going,
and you can't make me.

You're right. I can't.

But I'm not dropping you back
at your place unless we do this.

If you wanna walk home,
go ahead, be my guest.

[ice rattling]

[doctor] Okay, now say, "Ah."

Ah.

Hm. You said you're 22?

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

[pepper spray hissing]

Natalia?

Mm-hmm.

Okay. And when was
your last period?

I don't know, a few years ago.

That's surprising. Are you sure?

[Cynthia] She's not
wild about doctors.

I mean, it is kinda
somber in here.

- They pay you to put that up?
- My daughter painted that.

Uh-oh.

[laughing] Sorry.

Natalia, I wanna ask you some
questions about your medical history.

I was only able to see your records
from the last couple of years.

I'm guessing that's how long
you've been on Medicaid?

- Uh...
- [Cynthia] You know, we're here

about Natalia's chronic pain.

You think we could
focus on that?

In a second.

I'm curious, I see that
you've been prescribed

a host of psychiatric medications,
but I see no diagnosis whatsoever.

- Why would that be the case?
- Really, Doctor?

She's in pain every day.

- So, could we just...
- I'm sorry, ma'am,

what exactly is your
relationship to this patient?

I'm her mother. So,
what are you gonna do

to help with my poor
daughter's pain?

[scoffs] I won't be
prescribing painkillers, okay?

I'm not some tweaker
off the street.

Natalia can barely
walk. I want a solution.

[doctor] You're gonna
have to lower your voice.

You do not tell me what to do.
Come on, let's go, Natalia.

Come on, Natalia, let's go.

Okay, okay, okay, listen.
Just hold on, okay?

How about this? We can
do some imaging today

so I'll be able to get a better
sense of what's hurting Natalia.

And it's not because I
don't believe you, okay?

It's just with such a
limited medical history,

I can't tell you
what's wrong, okay?

And I'll set up a follow-up
in just two weeks, okay?

After I've had some time
to look at the imaging.

Just two weeks, okay?

And what are we supposed to do
with my daughter in the meantime?

[doctor] You can get
Natalia a walker,

and I can write up a prescription
for some custom shoes that'll help.

Are they covered by Medicaid?

They aren't. Is
she on disability?

Great, then that
should cover them.

And you just hang
in there, alright?

And when you come back,
we'll make things better.

[♪ light, curious music playing]

So Tally-boo, you ever
received a disability check?

Probably going to
your folks, then.

They ever send you money for any
medical stuff, anything like that?

Any idea what that
money's being spent on?

Well, in that case, I think we should
get your SSDI benefits reassigned.

Your parents shouldn't
be pocketing it.

Those checks should be going to
you so you can get your walker,

those special shoes.
That's your money.

They'd know if I changed it.

Well, then let's have
the check sent to me.

Your mom gets mad, she
can come for me, not you.

So, I think before we head
over to the SSDI office,

we ought to get you cleaned up.

- Cleaned up?
- Yeah, to make a good impression.

I'd like to get you in a bath
and give you a good scrub.

- You said you were taking me home!
- Or a shower.

I know it's been a while,
you gotta be getting itchy.

- No!
- We got bubbles, bath toys.

- Come on, it'll be fun.
- I said no!

You're trying to get
my money, aren't you?

Natalia!

[softly] I... I didn't
mean to hit you.

You...

You made me do it. Look
what you made me do?

I know, baby.

I get like that sometimes too.

You're okay.

You're not my mom.

[voice breaking] You
shouldn't have said you were.

You're right.

I should have checked
with you first.

Sometimes a white lie gets
you where you need to be

faster than the truth, and
in there, you needed a mom.

I'm 22.

I know, I know you are.

I'm 42, I still need my mama.

I wish anything to
still have her around.

[whispering] I'm sorry.

Thanks, sugar. Me too.

[♪ gentle music playing]

Now, I'm gonna level with you.

I am not ready to take you home.

So, would you do me a
favor and stay with me

until we go back
to the doctor's?

We can go check on your place,
make sure your mom hasn't been by

so you don't get in any trouble.

And then, after we go back to
the doctor's, we can figure out

what happens next, okay?

Stick with me, kid.

Everything's gonna
go great. I promise.

[Natalia] I've been
hanging in there.

My mom and I have been super busy
doing lots of housekeeping stuff.

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

[whimpering]

Natalia.

Please, please go
away, please go away.

[Cynthia] It was just
a bunch of "cataclogs."

[Natalia] We've been checking all
kinds of things off our to-do list,

doing lots of errands.

So, you'd like me to void the
outbound social security check

and reissue it to Cynthia
Mans at 306 Molson Avenue?

[office phones ringing]

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[Natalia] But we always make time
to just hang out with the family,

just getting everything
ready for Halloween.

It's my favorite time of the
year, dressing up, you know?

[Jelly] Cute, and you could see
like a whole Laffy Taffy in there,

like he swallowed it
whole or something.

- So gross.
- [Natalia giggling]

[family chattering]

[♪ tense, suspenseful
music playing]

- [phone ringing]
- Uh, I, um...

I-I gotta... I gotta
go, I gotta go pee.

Gotta go pee.

So yeah, everything
has been good, normal.

Nice couple of weeks, can't
complain. They even got me a walker.

Sounds great, Natalia.

But I do notice you seem
to be a bit on edge.

I'm telling you,
it's those horses.

I'm just playing. Your
daughter's a... a true artist.

[phone ringing]

Sorry.

Keep getting these spam calls.

[doctor] Well, let's
get to it, shall we?

It's clear from what I've seen

that Natalia's pain is
chronic and intense,

which is common with
her type of dwarfism.

But while I was
reviewing her scans,

I found something else,
something unusual.

You see this here and here?

These are Natalia's
growth plates.

And you see how there's
plenty of space between here?

Which means Natalia is a perfect
candidate for a series of surgeries

that would significantly
lower her discomfort.

- [Antwon] Hm.
- Well, great.

Let's do that then.

We would, except you came in
here saying that Natalia is 22.

If she were anywhere near 22, her
growth plates would be closed,

which proves unequivocally

that this person you're trying to
say is an adult is, in fact, a child.

[Cynthia] Well, of course she's a child.
We've got her dressed like a dang Minion.

[doctor] Then why does she have
paperwork saying she's an adult?

Can you come in here, please?

Wait, hold... hold on.
What's going on here?

[doctor] This is Detective
Drysdale, Indiana State Police.

[Drysdale] Child
trafficking division.

You called the cops?

You're Cynthia Mans, and Dr. Meehan
tells me that Natalia here

is physically a child,
medically speaking,

but that you brought
her in here with an ID

saying she's an adult
seeking pain meds,

that you fabricated a
relationship with this child,

- moved her into your home...
- Oh, no, no.

- You see, you got this all wrong.
- Then, signed over her SSDI benefits

- to your home address?
- [Cynthia] Oh, no.

You have no idea how those
people left this girl.

We are helping her.
All we do is help kids.

Like you're helping
Jordan Clark?

I have a letter here from Jordan's
mother filed with the state of Indiana.

She alleges that one Cynthia
Mans is abusing her child,

restricting her
rightful visitation.

[voice muffled] That
woman is a liar, a user.

From where I stand, it seems like
this behavior might be habitual,

like maybe you're claiming a
child needs to be taken in,

then using their benefits
for your own gain.

[Cynthia] I saved Jelly.

[normal] That is my baby.

You have no idea what you're
talking about, no idea,

so why don't you shut your
mother-friggin' mouth?!

[Antwon] Hey, hey,
Cynthia, come on now.

[Drysdale] Natalia, what
I need to know right now,

is what Mrs. Mans saying true?

[Cynthia] It's okay,
baby, you can talk to him.

I went by your
previous address, too.

Did someone leave you there?

Abandon you?

Who did this to you?

I'm fine, I'm fine.

It's okay. You're safe here.

[Kristine] Natalia!

Natalia, stop!

[whispering] I'm 22.
I just look young.

My parents love me.
They take care of me.

They bought... they
bought me an apartment.

They... They... they
call me every day.

I'm grown, I'm 22, I'm 22!

- I'm 22!
- [Dr. Meehan] That's not true.

She still has baby
teeth, for Christ's sake!

I pulled them out!
I'm 22! I go crazy!

- I'm 22! I... [stammers]
- Will someone...

I'm a liar! It's all my fault!

- [sobbing]
- Alright, alright, alright.

Did Cynthia and Antwon
take you from your parents?

It's all my fault,
it's all my fault!

[Cynthia] [muffled] You need to
stop, you're making it worse.

[Antwon] Are we
under arrest here?

- Hm?
- [Natalia] [softly] It's all my fault.

No.

- No, you are not.
- Great, then we're leaving.

- [Natalia] [crying] I didn't do anything.
- It's okay, come on, come on.

It's okay. It's okay.

Hey kids, we're
going. Come here.

[kids chattering in distance]

I know it doesn't seem like it, but
I'm here to protect you, Natalia.

- That is all.
- [Natalia shivering]

If you ever want to talk,
whenever you're ready,

I want you to give
me a call, okay?

[walker rattling]

♪ Taxi man turned on the radio
and a Jay-Z song was on ♪

- [Jelly] Turn it up, turn it up!
- ♪ Jay-Z song was on ♪

[kids singing along] ♪ And
the Jay-Z song was on ♪

♪ So I put my hands up,
they playing my song ♪

♪ The butterflies fly away ♪

♪ I'm nodding my
head like, yeah ♪

♪ Moving my hips like, yeah ♪

- [phone ringing]
- [♪ music stops abruptly]

[Jelly] Come on, Mom, that
was like the best part.

Sorry, sorry.

- [sighs]
- [phone ringing]

It's that same number,
they just keep calling.

I'm gonna answer it.

Alright, everybody, I need
a minute of quiet, please.

[Kristine] [on phone] Hello?

Hello? Is this Cynthia?

Yes, it is. Who's this?

[Kristine] My name's
Kristine Barnett.

I hear you've taken in Natalia?

- Yes, that's correct.
- [Kristine] Please, tell me

you don't have other children
in the house with her.

Because she's very dangerous.

Your best bet is to take
her back to her apartment

and hope she doesn't find you before
the people in your real family get hurt.

- Ant, stop the damn car.
- [tires screeching]

Kristine, whatever-your-name-is,
I need you to wait one minute.

- [car door slams shut]
- [Kristine] [echoing] Who are you?

[Jelly] Was that,
was that your mom?

- [Antwon] Natalia...
- [Kristine] Tell me the truth.

- [whimpering]
- [Antwon] Hey, sweetie.

Natalia? Natalia!

[indistinct chatter]

[Kristine] [echoing] Natalia!

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[sobbing]

Natalia!

- You're not going anywhere.
- [thudding]

What was that sh*t you
pulled at the dentist?

[whimpers] Let go!

[Kristine] Just tell me how old
you are, then we could end this.

[crying] Please, leave me alone!

Who the f*ck are you?

[smacking]

[Natalia] Stop hitting me!

[♪ dramatic music continues]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
I won't do that again!

[whimpering]

[echoing] Look what
you made me do.

[crying, grunting]

Go take a walk around the block
and think about what you did.

Go!

[Natalia whimpering]

No, no! No shoes,
just in your socks.

I want this lesson to stick.

Go.

[echoing door closing]

[echoing laughter]

[grunting]

[♪ music softens]

[Natalia wincing]

[shaky breaths]

[wincing]

[gasping and panting]

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

[grunting]

[children] Trick or treat!

[indistinct chatter]

Thank Jesus. Thank you, God.

Natalia, you can't
just run off like that.

You really scared me, okay?

There's still plenty of
trunk-or-treating to do.

There's a car over there giving out
those cookies-and-cream bars you like.

Can't miss that, right?

Or we could just hang
here. That's good too.

I, uh...

I brought you some juice.

Thought you might be parched
after all that running.

[sniffling] What else?

Kristine... what did
she say about me?

Oh, nothin', hon,
it doesn't matter.

Yes, it does.

Okay.

Alright.

She said you're just
pretending to be a kid.

That you tried to
hurt her and her sons,

that you attacked a librarian.

And that...

you tried to steal
her husband from her.

What? No.

That's so gross. Why...

Why would she say that?

I don't understand
why she'd say that.

I didn't. I didn't. I-I didn't.

I... that's so gross, I wouldn't...
I didn't... I didn't do that.

- Natalia. Natalia.
- I didn't, that's so gross.

- You have to believe me.
- Natalia, of course, I believe you.

I know you're telling the truth.

[softly] But...

I did hit that librarian.

And...

And I... and I hit you.

Oh, honey, that's what kids do.

Especially ones who have
had a rough time of it.

But... all that stuff...

But she was right about
all that stuff, so...

Is she right that I'm bad?

That no one can ever love me?

Well, now, you know
that's not true.

'Cause I've only known you a couple
weeks, and I already love you.

I do, Natalia. I
really, really do.

- They always say that.
- Who?

Moms, families.

They say it, but
they never mean it.

- Not really.
- Oh, baby.

You know, I made a promise
to all my God babies...

that I'll love 'em forever.

It's a holy promise,
unbreakable.

What if you and me did
something like that?

What do you think?

It would really be unbreakable?

Yeah, baby, unbreakable.

- Between you, me, and our creator.
- [sniffling]

In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

[both laughing]

Amen.

Now, you do me.

[giggling]

- Ah!
- [Natalia laughs]

Ah, I'm melting!
I'm melting, ah!

[both laughing]

It's gonna be okay.

How about we just go home?

Just us.

We could eat some candy,

maybe soak your legs
in an Epsom salt bath.

That...

that would be nice.

[♪ "Stay" by Rihanna
ft. Mikky Ekko playing]

♪ All along it was a fever ♪

[soft, quiet chatter]

♪ A cold sweat,
hot-headed believer ♪

[Natalia] Yes, you may.

♪ Round and around and
around and around we go ♪

♪ Oh, now, tell me now, tell
me now, tell me now, you know ♪

I was sitting in math class,
I didn't know a single thing.

So, I prayed on it.

My mind opened up, I understood.

[applause]

[whispering] You wanna testify?

[Antwon] He prayed on it.

And his heart opened
up. Hallelujah!

- Let's give him a hand.
- [applause]

Thank you, Jesus.

♪ I want you to stay ♪

So, I prayed on it,
and then I understood.

[Cynthia] How 'bout it,
Tally-boo? You ready?

♪ Tell me now, tell me now ♪

Yeah, I'm ready.

I wanna testify.

[congregation] Amen.

♪ Not really sure how
to feel about it ♪

♪ Something in
the way you move ♪

♪ Makes me feel like I
can't live without you ♪

♪ Yeah, it takes
me all the way ♪

♪ And I want you to stay ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, the
reason I hold on ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, 'cause I
need this hole gone... ♪

[♪ fanfare playing]