01x08 - Blood on Her Hands

[bunniefuu]

[Michael Barnett] The family that
Natalia has been staying with?

They wanna be her
legal guardians now.

They can make her a kid again.

Then they can say we
abandoned a child.

When you were re-aged, you
didn't have due process.

We should be able to get
the ruling thrown out.

- You need to get down there.
- Now?

What? I thought we were
gonna have a date night.

Until you fix this,
the shop is closed.

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

What evidence did you guys
use to change her age?

We've got some doctor letters.

We've got immigration papers.

Oh, I'm sorry, man.
Scrolled too far.

- Oh.
- Looks like you're out of the dog house.

I don't think these
are f... are for me.

- [bailiff] All rise!
- We intend to stay on

as Natalia's legal guardians.

We can still appeal.
We'll find a way.

Absolutely not. No appeal!

- But she didn't even get to speak.
- I'm her mother. I said no!

Who were those pictures for? 'Cause
I don't think they were for me.

You sound like a crazy person.

Oh, my God! I can't...

I can't do this anymore!

Okay, so what's your plan?

You're gonna leave and do what?
You can barely get out of bed!

If that's how you feel then...
why are you even with me?

If you've got
something on your ex

that can really help with
your custody troubles...

So, you folks knew
she was a kid?

Yes, we knew she was a kid.

He gets it. He's gonna
help me get the boys back.

If you told the detective that
you knew Natalia was a kid,

then you're probably guilty too.

If these charges hold, we
could be gone for 75 years.

We have a natural advantage

because the public will look
at her and they will see

a fascination.

But we need to approach
this as a united front.

Folks just love a
good American family.

♪

[♪ curious theme music playing]

[flag flapping in breeze]

♪

[bridge cracking]

[engine humming]

[TV static buzzing]

[paper cutting]

[♪ theme music fades out]

[Dr. Phil] There's just one
question on everybody's mind.

Were you a 22-year-old
scam artist...

- [Natalia chuckles]
- ...or an 8-year-old child left for dead?

- Is that a funny question?
- [Natalia] Well, no.

It's like if somebody decided
to start telling people

that your name's not
Dr. Phil, it's Dr. Will.

And then, those
people tell people,

and no matter how
hard you try now,

everybody's like, "Hey,
it's Dr. Will!" [scoffs]

- So, you're saying...?
- I was eight.

I knew I was eight,

just like how you
know you're Dr. Phil.

But you told people you were 22.

'Cause Kristine
trained me to lie...

so people wouldn't figure out
that I was a kid living on my own.

But what about these accusations
the Barnetts keep making,

the horror movie stuff?

You at the foot of their bed
with a knife in your hand?

Of course, I didn't
do any of that!

Poisoning Kristine's coffee?

I was cleaning the kitchen,
like she told me to.

I have my spray bottle in
my hand next to her coffee,

she starts screaming.

Kristine Barnett also claims you
pushed her into an electric fence.

The woman tripped.

Then all of a sudden, she
starts screaming I pushed her.

And our lawyer, you know, talked
to the farm who owns that fence.

It wasn't even on.

So, then, they made it all up.

Why?

Listen, when Natalia
first got with us,

there were some moments
where she would act out,

and I'd feel like, "How am
I gonna deal with this?"

Because this girl's been broken.

You are not a burden
to me, you are a light.

But I think Kristine adopted
Natalia as a project,

another disabled kid to save.

And when things got rough and she
couldn't be the role model mom

that she thought she was, she had
to find a way to get rid of her.

So, now, you're
taking them to court.

What do you hope
to get out of that?

It used to be getting
back to my real age...

and getting legally
adopted by my parents here.

And yeah, of course, I
still want that part.

But the other part?
Getting to be a kid again?

That's all gone now.

I'm 16, it's too late.

So then, what do you want now?

I want justice.

I want the Barnetts
to do their time.

[Kristine Barnett] Oh, for
Pete's sake, turn it off.

I mean, look at how angry
she is. It's terrifying.

Just looking at her makes
my blood pressure go up.

It's not good for me.

[Jennifer Barnett] That's
so weird, you know?

'Cause I was just thinking
this is exactly like a spa day.

Is this why you brought me here?
To be tortured and taunted?

[Deidra Haynes] Okay, uh, Terrance,
could you please tell my client

what you told me on the phone?

I know that this
is hard to watch,

but in the three years since
Natalia gave that interview,

her story's only
gotten more damning.

Now, my team's been
culling her depositions,

some of her vlogs.

She, uh, posted this last week.

[Natalia] [on video] Hey, y'all, me
and my family have started a GoFundMe

to pay for my surgeries.

I hate being out here begging,

but my doctors say I
wouldn't have so much pain

if the Barnetts would have taken
care of me when I was a kid, so...

Altogether, they give
a pretty good peek

into what the state's gonna lay
out in Mike's trial next week,

and yours after that,

that you all were not
harmed by Natalia,

but that she was harmed
by you. Grievously.

- It's hogwash.
- Can you please let him talk?

Despite your differences, you two
have been k*lling it in the press

and in the court
of public opinion.

But now, we have to
face the court of law.

And as good as my team is,
we've had some difficulty

- finding rock-solid witnesses.
- [exhales sharply]

Now, if things go well for Mike,

chances are the charges against
you will get dropped too.

So, we have been hoping that
you would have some ideas

of people who could
corroborate your story.

- Our story.
- You're the one who saw everything.

Excuse me, pretty sure Mike's
the reason we're in this mess.

[Jennifer] Is he?

[inaudible whispering]

I'm not talking with her here.

Okay, Jen, do you mind giving
us the room for a few minutes?

I do, actually, yeah.

Michael, Jen, with all due
respect, just for a little bit.

- We want Kristine to feel comfortable.
- [Jennifer scoffs]

[Michael sighs]

Look, I-I-I think we
need her help, okay?

[scoffs] Oh my God. Yeah,
fine. I brought a book.

Okay, thank you.

Mm.

[kiss smacks]

[door opens, shuts]

[Natalia] My mom keeps saying I'm
rabbit-holing and I gotta chill.

But of course, I'm
obsessing. This is my life.

No one's saying not to focus on it,
baby. I'm just saying, you gotta eat,

- you gotta pee...
- Will you stop?

The other day, I nearly
jumped outta my skin

'cause I heard Kristine Barnett's
voice coming from the john.

Turns out it was just Natalia
Facebook-stalking her from the toilet.

I'm not stalking her.

I'm gonna pretend I didn't
hear anything about stalking,

and draw your attention instead
to the case we're building.

[Terrance Kinnard] Now, the case
we're building rests on two things.

One, we have to
discredit Natalia.

Paint her as
unreliable, a sociopath.

And two, we need to show that
you all were a nice couple

who tried to support your
capable adult dependent

as best you could.

So, let's start with the age.

Who else can speak to that?

[Michael exhales sharply]

[Kristine] Did you
look into First Path?

They were changing birth
dates, fudging documents.

- There was a whole class action lawsuit.
- [Terrance] Yep, yep.

That suit absolutely goes towards,
uh, discrediting Natalia's age,

but it doesn't confirm it.

So, who else?

Doctors, uh,
outside of Lawrence?

I just cannot believe
I'm here again.

This is literal hell!

Okay. Well, um... maybe we
could think about people

who could speak to her
behavior, uh, the violence.

- What about somebody from the school?
- Oh.

[Jackie Starbuck] [on
video] So, Dr. Wachter,

one thing the defense will argue

is that Natalia was expelled
for behavioral issues.

Yeah, I heard that
Mrs. Barnett was saying

that she had pulled Natalia out of school
because she was a danger to other kids,

she was bullying them,
ramming them with her walker.

- But that's baloney.
- [Kristine] That's a dead-end.

He blacklisted me
'cause I called out

the way they treated
kids with disabilities.

Natalia was the sweetest
kid. Polite, funny.

Uh, honestly, it was the
mom who made me nervous.

I offered accessibility training,
and they laughed in my face.

They were hostile.

She was really strict
with Natalia, and mean.

But if you raised that
with her, she would flip

and say what an advocate
she was for special kids.

- [Kristine sighs]
- Okay, what about the mom

from New Jersey, right? She had
the same issues that we had.

[Mary Leones] [on video]
She showed up at my door

with this theory

that Natalia was a con artist
stealing money for her medical care.

[scoffs] She kept saying

that it was exactly
like that movie Orphan.

[Jackie] And did that
track at all for you?

What, that she was
a con artist? No.

The last time I saw
her, she was seven.

No way. What's she gonna do?

Get up there and say, "Yeah,
I knew she was an adult,

so I foisted her
on another family"?

She'll just lie.

[Jackie] [on video] So, why
did you, then, give her up?

Her needs were more than
we were prepared for.

We thought that we were
doing the right thing,

giving her to a family that was
better equipped to care for her.

[sighs]

I'll never forgive
myself for that.

I don't know, she was totally
honest with you, right?

About... about her
son's birthday,

and... and how Natalia stole
money from them, right?

That's different, sweetie.

Me on the street
versus in court?

She'll never tell the truth.
She has blood on her hands.

[Terrance] Okay, um, what
about the psychiatric hospital?

I'm a pediatric nurse at
Larue Psychiatric Hospital.

Natalia was on my rotation
when they changed her age.

I was worried about what
might happen to a child

in the adult wing of a
psychiatric facility.

But it was court-ordered.
I didn't have a choice.

Natalia's very good at making
people feel sorry for her,

especially vulnerable people.

It's what she did to Mike.

That's part of
sociopathy: manipulation.

[Toni] [on video] I have no idea where
this talk of sociopathy came from.

Natalia expressed joy,
curiosity, empathy.

I mean, despite the mother's
insistence, there was no diagnosis.

Is there no one who
can talk on our behalf?

Don't be ridiculous.
There's plenty of people.

What about the neighbors?

I practically had to beg that
woman not to call the cops on her.

She was always asking for
food or to use my phone.

She was dirty.

I thought she was peculiar, but
now knowing, it all adds up.

[sighs]

I was so peeved about what
she did to my grandson,

but turns out she was
even younger than he was.

So, that's it then.

I'm toast.

I wish she had held me up
against that fence until I fried.

- Oh, my God...
- This is so much worse!

[♪ dramatic music plays]

[JJ] [on video] I
hope Natalia knows,

if I'd known what was really
going on, I'd have done something.

I... I hope this helps get her

- the justice she deserves.
- [remote clicking]

Wow.

[Cynthia Mans] Now,
is this gonna hurt us,

since Tally first told
that gal she was 22?

Because Kristine told me to.

I understand that, baby.

I'm asking if the judge
will understand it.

We'll have psychologists speak
to the coercion Natalia faced,

the Stockholm syndrome.

You're feeling confident then?
Nothing keeping you up at night?

Will you stop? She
said she feels good.

Well, no, no, no.
I didn't say that.

Optimism gives me indigestion.

I still wish we had a
clear story for the jury

to explain why a nice-seeming couple
would do something so god-awful.

We've been scouring their texts to
see if they ever talk about you,

but it's almost nothing.

Wait, did you
check her Facebook?

Why?

[♪ curious music playing]

Kristine lives on Facebook.

I bet a thousand bucks
they use Messenger.

Gabe?

Can we subpoena the
Barnetts' Facebook messages?

- Isn't the trial in two days?
- Yes, and?

[door closes]

Hey, sorry you had to wait.

Driving the final nail in my
coffin took longer than expected.

Oh, really? So, the
Kristine Barnett

didn't swoop in
and save the day?

Oh God, it was brutal.

It's like being tortured,
beaten to a pulp.

[Terrance] Trials
are pugilism.

You gotta punch, get punched.

Which is why I would love to
discuss a potential nuclear option.

A... a Hail Mary,
should we need it.

Listening.

Should this not go our way,

my guess is that they
will offer us immunity

to testify against Kristine.

I mean, the state wants
Mike, but they want her more.

Really?

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

[Terrance] Do you think
that's something you could do?

[sighs]

Yes, of course that's
something he can do.

She is the mother
of my children.

Who she never lets you see!

Mike, this is a no-brainer.

This is a literal
get-out-of-jail-free card.

[Kristine] All I've ever wanted to do is
help as many kids as humanly possible.

So, the one silver
lining of the pandemic

- was realizing...
- [door opens]

...I'm not a sl*ve to geography,

and I can take my patented
Spark Method international,

and bring it and sell it to
organizations like yours.

[computer audio glitching]

[garbled] Can you hear me?

Sorry, no, you're frozen.

[garbled] Okay, um...

[audio clears up]
Um, is this better?

I'm trying to say, we were very
interested in your program,

but my board was doing
their homework on you,

and something comes up
about child neglect charges?

- Um...
- Oh, wow, we made it

all the way to Slovenia, huh?

Hi. Hi, sorry,
um... [chuckles]

Just so you know, Kristine
was the real victim.

This is my friend, Val.

I've been staying with her
during this very difficult time.

Hi, hi.

You know, [scoffs] she was
targeted by a con artist

pretending to be a child,

and this person's just dragging her
and her family's name through the mud.

[Irena] [on laptop] A
res? That's unbelievable.

Yeah, well, what makes
it even more tragic

is Kristine is the real deal.

My daughter Shawn? [sighs]

My God, what we went
through when we adopted her,

and now, she's going to
be a freshman at Penn

because of Kristine.

She completely
changed our lives.

Wow, that's very powerful.

I would be happy to, you know,
send a letter to your board,

or whatever you might need.

Oh yeah, yes. Yes, wonderful.

- Thank you, speak soon.
- I'm looking forward to it.

God bless the children.

You are a literal godsend.

[laughing] Well,
gotta do something

to help you pay me back for
all those fancy lawyers, right?

[laughing]

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

You know I am happy to
help however I can, truly.

You know, the lawyers
say if Mike gets off,

they'll drop my charges too.

- That's great!
- But the witnesses

his team is bringing in
are just... terrible.

- Would you ever be willing?
- Yeah.

No, of... [scoffs] of course.

I mean, you know I'm happy to
sing your praises whenever I can!

Mainly, it would be talking
about Natalia and what you saw,

how violent she was
and manipulative,

and how she was a threat
to me and my family.

- [♪ tense music playing]
- Right.

Sorry, I'm just... I'm
just trying to think.

I don't know that I actually
saw saw any of the incidents.

You just told
Irena all about it.

[scoffs] Well, sure.

But I mean, that's all
stuff that you told me.

I... I can't go into court and say
that I saw things I didn't see, right?

What do they always
say on those shows?

Uh, "Objection! Hearsay."
[slight chuckle]

Right. No, I wouldn't want you

to do anything you're
not comfortable with.

- [knocking]
- [door opens]

We got the Facebook
messages, and holy sh*t,

hold onto your butts.

[Terrance] These messages are
the most incriminating evidence

I've seen in my entire career.

For starters, you both
use the M-word repeatedly

- when referring to Natalia.
- What's the M-word?

[Terrance] No matter how many times
we say that you cared for Natalia,

using an epithet against
little people proves bias,

- and that indicates intent.
- That's not fair!

Uh, I didn't know it was
a bad word. Kris, did you?

These words go in and out
of fashion all the time.

Oh... Well, okay, Michael,

you also referred to
her as "that thing,"

as in, "That thing totally
blew people for McDonald's."

And Kristine, you called her "a
smoked-out, hungover hooker."

That doesn't sound like me.

- [chuckling scoff]
- [papers rustling]

[paper stack thuds]

Who hasn't said ugly things about
a person who was cruel to them?

She was torturing us.

[Terrance] Honestly, it
doesn't matter what you said.

It's that you didn't
tell us about this crap,

and the trial starts tomorrow.

Well, these were private
messages, and we were married.

In a case involving a child,
spousal privilege doesn't hold.

- She isn't a child!
- The charges say she is.

And so did Michael, which is why
even though she's legally an adult,

they're able to say
you abandoned a child.

They... they can't read
these in the courtroom.

No kidding.

[sighs] Deidra and I
are going to huddle up,

get back into these case files,

- and see if we can get these stricken.
- [exhales sharply]

In the meantime, you two,
get your sh*t together.

Read through these.

Be prepared for what the
other side now knows.

And I'm gonna call you
an Uber, my friend,

because you don't look fit
to drive. [patting back]

It's okay. I'll take him.

We can go through
this stuff together.

[Natalia] "I have a video of you
whooping the holy freaking hell

"out of Natalia
in the living room

when you tried to beat
the truth outta her."

Then she says, "Whatever.

That m*dget was very
evil, and you know it."

[kids playing in distance]

I mean, the worse they are,
the better for me, right?

I knew it was bad.

But getting in their heads,

understanding how they saw you,

the words they used
to talk about you?

I hate that you have
to see all this.

It's the way a lot of people
talk about people like me.

I'm just saying, if you
decide it's too much,

that you don't want to go
to court, we've got you.

I promise.

I'm not a kid anymore, Brandon.

When I tell you I
can handle this...

I need you to listen.

[Kristine] Why would you write
something like that in a message?!

That you beat her?
Because you did!

And... and you wrote right
back like it was nothing,

like you were proud!

Whatever. She was
evil, and you know it.

I was just trying to
protect my family from her.

When you take it out of context,
it makes me sound like a monster!

I swear, Michael, if I go
to jail because of you...

[scoffs]

- What's so funny?
- Nothing, it's just... it's ironical.

[Kristine] I'm not gonna let you
pull that crap with me, Michael.

What is funny?

Terrance says that if
I'm found guilty...

they'll probably offer me
immunity to testify against you.

Apparently, the state wants you so bad
that they're willing to let me off.

[♪ tense music playing]

And what will you do?

It's a problem for another day.

[inhales sharply]

I know you don't wanna
go to jail, Michael.

I know you wanna stay
with your new family.

But I don't really think you
want me to go to jail, do you?

Can you live with that?

The boys having no mother?

I don't know.

We should go somewhere and go
through these, like Terrance said.

Maybe there's a way I can help.

It should be quiet in here. Boys
went to go see the new Thor.

- Oh, okay.
- [video games playing on TV]

[Kristine] Oh!

- What happened to the movie?
- Tickets were sold out.

- [Kristine] Oh.
- What's he doing here?

Your dad's trial starts tomorrow,
so we have a few things to go over.

You guys look really
good. You got so big.

Mike, why don't you let
me talk to the boys?

I'll meet you upstairs, it's
the second door on the right.

- So did you guys get something to eat?
- [Wesley Barnett] No, we're not hungry.

- Can we please talk about what's going on?
- [Kristine] I told you,

I'm helping your dad.

[Ethan Barnett] But you
said that he hurt you.

[Kristine] He's on his meds
now, and he's harmless.

You don't have to see him again.

[Wesley] Who cares? I
don't wanna see him.

[Kristine] End of discussion.

- I'm going up there now.
- [Jacob Barnett] Mom, no. This is crazy.

[Kristine] Keep playing.

- [sighs]
- [paper stacks thud]

[sighs]

[♪ tense music playing]

Uh... did... did you
plan for them to be here?

What? No, you heard them.

The movie got sold out, though
they've seen it three times.

I-I don't... I don't... I'm
not sure I believe you, Kris.

Look, it... [scoffs]
It's fine, I just...

We need to talk about
everything else.

This is... this is feeling
really weird, okay?

It's really weird that
no one is backing you up.

And I'm just like, "She
didn't make this up, did she?"

I mean, did... did
you make this up?

You've got to be kidding me. No,
you're not pinning this on me.

Who took her to Larue?

Who made her her own trustee?

Pretty sure it's both of our
names on the re-aging petition.

I did those things
because of you!

- You lower your voice.
- Kris!

I don't wanna scare my boys.

I did those things, and
I only did those things,

because I believed you, because
you told me it was true,

and you asked me to do
it, and I did that stuff.

And if this isn't real, Kris...

Do... do you understand?

If, if, if what you said is...

and if Natalia didn't...

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God, if we...

[♪ tense music continues]

I can't... I...

I can't... oh, hold on, I
need to sit down. I can't...

[hyperventilating]

Kris, I'm having a panic attack.

- I can't.
- Okay. Okay.

- Oh God, I can't breathe.
- Okay, I'm here.

- It's okay.
- [breathing heavily]

- I'm here. I'm here.
- [coughing]

- [breathing heavily]
- Shh.

- Do you feel my hand?
- Yes!

[Michael wheezing and panting]

I'm here. It's okay.

- [sighs deeply]
- It's alright.

- [softly] Okay.
- You know what I think?

You can't let them get
into your head, baby.

Okay.

Don't let them undo
all the good you did.

Natalia was lying.

She was dangerous.

I know this is hard, and I
know you've been hurting.

But you're a good man.

You're a good father.

[whispering] A good man.

[Michael sighs]

You know why things got
bad for us at the end?

It's because you
stopped needing me.

Kris, no, I needed
you. I did, I...

[stammering] I thought
you were ignoring me.

And I... I was so lonely, I...

I was dying without you.

You never got over
what happened with her.

You blamed me.

I mean, the way you looked
at me completely changed.

You started looking at
me like I was the enemy.

And I know you don't
mean it, but...

it kind of feels like
what you're doing now.

Like I'm this terrible person.

Baby, what we did was heroic.

We had to protect our family.

And you stepped up.

When I needed you,
you stepped up.

Then you had a plan
to put her away,

and to go to Dr. Lawrence.

- Yeah.
- [sighs] When you did that,

- it made me feel so safe.
- Mm.

So loved.

And I guess that's...

[sighs]

That's the feeling I was
trying to hold onto when I...

I sent you those pictures.

[Michael] Mm.

God, those f*cking pictures.

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

I...

I kept them.

[whispering] You did?

Yeah... [clicking tongue]

I like those pictures.

I know what you like, Michael.

You know I do.

[door opens]

We're, uh, we're pretty hungry. Can
we go get some pizza or something?

Well, that's a great idea.

What do you say we go to
Villa Tronco, like old times?

Jacob?

Wes?

You wanna come, Dad?
It's been a while.

♪ A bottle of white ♪

- ♪ A bottle of red ♪
- Yeah. [chuckles]

♪ Perhaps a bottle
of rose instead ♪

[people chattering]

[♪ "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"
by Billy Joel playing over speakers]

- Wes, have another piece.
- I'm good.

Waste not, want not.

Kris, he said
he's good. Christ.

Don't talk to Mom like that.

♪ A bottle of white ♪

♪ It all depends
upon your appetite ♪

[phone ringing]

Oh. Uh, that's
Terrance. Be right back.

Hey, what's up, my man?

[Terrance] [on phone]
Check your texts.

[keypad clacking]

Oh, my God, holy sh*t.

[Terrance] Yep. The
birth mom came forward

with hospital records, the birth
certificate, the whole nine.

Uh, so this is, like,
really, really bad?

[Terrance] Could
be the death knell.

You think any more
about immunity?

[sighs]

If the tables were turned,
you know she'd take it.

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

Yeah, um...

If... if it goes bad, let's...

let's do it.

[Natalia] "This girl is my
daughter who was born 20 years ago.

"Doctors told me
to leave the baby,

"that she had a
complex pathology.

"'Don't ruin your
life, ' they said.

They had me surrender her
immediately to an orphanage."

[sighs]

[sighs deeply]

[grunts]

[Cynthia] I don't
think we can show her.

[Antwon Mans] Well, how
are we gonna hide it?

I know it's awful, but I
mean, it's all over the news.

[Cynthia] But the way
she's been obsessing,

she's liable to hop on a plane
and hightail it to the Ukraine.

[Antwon sighs]

Hi, baby.

I read it.

It's great for the case.

[♪ gentle music playing]

[grunting]

- [Michael sighs]
- [Jennifer] Mm.

[Michael sighs deeply]

I told Terrance I'll do it.

The immunity thing.

- Mm.
- Baby, I'm really scared.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[reporter 1] Proceedings begin today
in a most unusual adoption case

that has attracted
international attention.

Morning, bud.

Have you read this, Mom?

I don't read lies.

Wheels up in five, boys.

[reporter 2] Michael Barnett
and his now ex-wife Kristine

stand accused of multiple
counts of felony neglect,

for abandoning their adopted
eight-year-old daughter Natalia Grace,

whom they claim was an adult
con artist out for blood.

[breathes deeply]

[reporter 3] In
breaking news overnight,

Natalia's biological
mother has come forward

with the revelation that she
gave birth to Natalia in 2003,

not 1989, as the Barnetts claim.

This could be the smoking
g*n the state needs to prove

that the Barnetts abandoned
her in a Westfield apartment

when she was only
eight years old.

- [people chattering]
- [camera clicking]

All eyes are on the
Tippecanoe County Courthouse

where counsel from both sides have
gathered for a pretrial hearing

to discuss the inclusion
of this latest wrinkle.

[Michael] You're
okay, you're okay.

[Michael exhales sharply]

[sighing] Okay.

[doors bang shut]

Uh, wait, where's Terrance?

[Jackie] Your Honor, at this
time, the state requests...

[Judge Huss] Just a
moment, Miss Starbuck.

Where's the counsel
for the defense?

Uh, I'm sorry, my honor.

"Your Honor," please.

[Michael] [chuckling]
Right, "Your Honor."

Doh. [slight chuckle]

Long-time listener,
first-time defendant.

Uh, my... my counsel, um, uh,
Terrance Kinnard, he's never late.

So, if I could... maybe we
could have just a quick, um...

- Uh, what do you call it?
- [softly] Recess.

[Michael] Recess.
Um, I could call him.

I'm afraid I'm the one that
calls the recesses, Mr. Barnett.

[Terrance] Ah, Your Honor.

Uh, Judge Huss, please
accept my deepest apologies.

Uh, two flat tires.
What are the odds?

Nice to see you, Terrance.

Uh, as I started to say,

in light of the breaking news
about my client's birth mother,

the state requests
a postponement

so we can send someone
to Ukraine to test DNA.

Uh, I... I apologize, Your Honor,
uh, but I hold our legal system

in the highest regard,
as I know you do, too.

Uh, so, I'm offended on your behalf
that Miss Starbuck would waltz in here

on the day our proceedings are to
begin and attempt to trick this court

into relitigating, uh,
Miss Barnett's age.

Miss Barnett filed countless
petitions to change her age,

each of which was
denied by the court,

who upheld the fact
that she was an adult

when the, uh, Barnetts
rented her an apartment.

Your Honor, the state
has unequivocal evidence

that Natalia was eight years old when
the Barnetts abandoned her, alone.

[Terrance] You know, I should
thank you, Miss Starbuck,

because in trying
to relitigate this,

you forced me to go
back through paperwork

I've read a hundred times, and
something new caught my eye.

See this here.

Um, the state was previously granted
the opportunity to appeal the decision

in Miss Barnett's 2017 re-aging
trial, and they opted not to.

And so, now, here we
are, five years later,

and they wanna waste the court's
time by suddenly trying to appeal?

I mean, I'm sorry, but that ship has
circumnavigated the globe by now.

Uh, Your Honor, Mr. Kinnard
knows he has a losing case...

- [laughing]
- ...so he's grasping at straws,

trying to throw out evidence
on a technicality, truly.

If you wanna talk
grasping at straws,

uh, look no further than Miss
Starbuck trying to use a tabloid

to smuggle the question of
Miss Barnett's age into court.

[Jackie] I'm sorry, but the
question of Natalia's age

has not been smuggled in here.

Half the charges against Mr. Barnett
hinge on the question of her age!

[Terrance] Um, which is why the
defense would like to submit a motion

to dismiss these
bogus charges...

- What?!
- ...uh, so as not to waste any more

of the court's valuable time.

Miss Starbuck, is it
true that the state

declined to appeal the ruling
of Natalia's age in 2017?

- Yes, Your Honor, but...
- Hold that thought.

[Jackie sighs]

Ah.

- [people murmuring]
- [Jackie scoffs]

[♪ tense, curious music playing]

[inaudible conversation]

[Judge Huss] Okay, this
court will not set precedent

for a criminal case to
attack civil decisions,

especially ones that have
been upheld so many times.

The state had ample opportunity

to appeal the results of
Natalia's age in 2017,

and they declined.

So, I hereby grant the defense's
motion to dismiss the four charges

that rely on Miss
Barnett being a child.

The remaining four charges that
concern a legal dependent still hold.

Please, Your Honor, I beg
you to reconsider this.

- [gavel bangs]
- I will give the state lunch

to adjust their strategy.

When we reconvene, the
following rules will apply:

Rule number one,

Natalia may not be called
a child or an adult.

If the notion of her
age must be referenced,

she may be referred to as,
"a person born in 1989."

The word "adoption" and
discussion of her schooling

are also barred, as
those relate to her age.

Rule number two,
the topic of Natalia

having been re-aged
is off-limits.

"Rule number three, given
Natalia's legal age,

"the statute of limitations
preclude litigating offense

that took place prior to 2014"?

[Cynthia] This is BS!

Everything they did to
her happened before 2014.

[Detective Brandon Drysdale]
Dr. Young, your orthopedist.

Keep. The growth
plate stuff is out.

But she can testify that
they didn't give her

a walker or orthopedic shoes, and
that increased her pain tenfold.

- [Drysdale] Her immigration papers?
- [Jackie] No.

They have her birthday as 2003.

Agent Aguilar from CPS?

Uh-uh. "Child"
Protective Services.

[Cynthia] I'm sorry,
what is happening here?

The whole point is
they abandoned a child.

- What else is there?
- They abandoned a disabled adult.

We still have a
case. Four charges.

Well, we can still say
they beat me, right?

You don't have to be
a kid to be abused.

We have the Facebook stuff.

We can't use the
Facebook messages.

What? Why the heck not?

They're protected under
spousal privilege now.

We were able to make an exception because
she was a child when the abuse occurred.

This is what I'm saying, it's rigged.
This whole system, it's rigged.

[Drysdale] Cynthia, with all
due respect, you gotta stop.

We've all been working too
long and hard to let this go.

- This is our chance.
- [Antwon] Don't do that.

Let's try to stay respectful.

[♪ tense, solemn music playing]

This isn't gonna end well, baby.

- What else am I supposed to do?
- [knocking]

It's time to get back in there.

[Jackie] Okay, we
can still do this.

Okay.

[bailiff] In the case of the State
of Indiana versus Michael Barnett,

the Superior Court of Tippecanoe
County is now in session.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[door creaks]

[walker rattling]

[Natalia grunting]

[grunts]

God is in control.

- Remember that.
- [whispering] Amen.

[♪ gentle music playing]

[Judge Huss] Will the
defendant please rise?

How does the defendant plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

[Jackie] Ladies and gentlemen of
the jury, because of her disability,

Natalia Barnett was incapable
of doing even basic tasks.

She has no ability to
take care of herself,

yet Mr. Barnett
abandoned her anyway.

Now, the defense will argue...

[Terrance] Natalia Barnett may
look different than you and me...

but she is a perfectly
competent individual.

Any difficulties she
had while living alone

are not my client's fault.

Did Michael Barnett
cause her dwarfism?

I don't think so.

[Jackie] So, Dr. Wachter,
can you tell us

how you came to observe
Natalia's disability?

Sure. She attended Chapel
Ridge Elementary School.

Objection! Your Honor,
please instruct counsel

and the witness to
abide by your rulings.

[Judge Huss] Sustained. The
jury will ignore that response.

I'm an LPN in the
pediatric wing of Larue.

- Objection!
- [Judge Huss] Sustained.

[Mary] This makes no sense.

Her disability wasn't the
reason she couldn't live alone.

- It was because she was a ch...
- Objection.

[Judge Huss] Miss
Starbuck, watch yourself.

- Well, if I'd known she was a child...
- [Terrance] Objection.

[witness 1] Of course she didn't
know how to shop for herself.

- She was a little...
- [Terrance] Objection.

[witness 2] Then I don't know
how to answer that question.

- [witnesses speak indistinctly]
- Objection! Objection! Objection!

We ran a battery of tests
that were conclusive.

- She was a child.
- [Terrance] Objection.

- They knew she was a child!
- [Terrance] Objection!

I'm sorry, are we
just not interested

- in the truth here?
- Objection!

[court murmuring]

- [Judge Huss] Order!
- [gavel bangs]

The jury will ignore the
witness' last remarks.

The state claims that you
couldn't live on your own.

But according to my math,

you were old enough to
take care of yourself.

So, can you please tell
the members of the jury

in what year were you born?

[♪ dramatic music playing]

- [Kristine] Natalia.
- Hi!

♪

I... I'm a person...

Are you gonna be
my mommy and daddy?

[Michael] We sure would love
that, if you'll have us.

...born in 1989.

♪

Please don't leave me!

I will. I will.

Please!

[♪ music fades out]

[Judge Huss] Ladies and
gentlemen of the jury,

in the matter of the State of
Indiana versus Michael Barnett,

have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

[Judge Huss] We know these
things can be emotional,

but please, no outbursts.

Will the defendant please rise?

[jury foreperson] On count
one, neglect of a dependent,

we find the defendant...

[echoing] ...not guilty.

[voice fading, echoing]
Count two, not guilty.

Count three, not guilty...

[door opens]

[people chattering outside]

I'm fine. I'm fine.

You're smart to hide here.

It's a circus down there.

Michael Barnett trying
to win himself an Oscar,

literally on the floor.
"Thank God, thank God!"

- This isn't funny.
- I know, baby.

Nothing about this is funny.

But you're not surprised, right?

You knew this was gonna happen.

I said nothing of the sort.

You think your face hides
anything you're thinking?

I guess it does, if you're getting
"I told you so," from this.

Who was it that said this
wasn't gonna end well?

- I was trying to help you.
- By treating me like a child?

No.

By treating you like a young
lady with a head full of steam.

You act like you're invincible,
and, honey, you are close.

But nobody's invincible,
not all the way.

You don't think I know that?

But we both know it didn't
have to be this way.

- What are you gettin' at?
- The guardianship hearing!

You were trying to
help me then, too?

You didn't let us appeal the
decision, you made us stop!

Oh, Tally. That is low.

We could have used the 10
million pieces of evidence

to prove that I was a kid!

My birth mother!

The Facebook
messages, the doctors!

But I'm gonna be
like this forever.

For the rest of my
life, people will see me

like the Barnetts want
me to be... a monster.

A 33-year-old monster, just
because you wanted to help.

Oh, no. Uh-uh.

This is not on me, baby.

There is a whole clown
car of people to blame.

Courts, doctors, all the adults

that knew what was happening
and did nothing to stop it.

And I am not one
of those people.

Maybe not, but you're worse, 'cause
you act like you believe in me,

but you think this is all I am.

A project to help you feel
better about yourself.

You're just like Kristine!

You really think that?

I know you're hurting right
now, but as hurt as you are,

you can't treat me like that.

I'm not the one you're mad at.

I love you.

I don't think you
wanna push me away.

I'm a grown-a*s woman now.

You can't tell me what I want.

Okay, then.

[people chattering]

[door closes]

[Kristine] I just feel
giddy to get my life back.

Just finally feel like
there's this weight

that's been lifted off,
and I can just breathe

and just get back
to saving kids.

- I... I'm okay.
- We have to celebrate!

I'm gonna email
my old publicist,

tell her to shake
off the cobwebs.

- [computer chiming]
- Whoa!

[giggles] Facebook's
blowing up.

[speaker 1] I hope you rot in jail for
what you did to that poor little girl.

You wh*re!

[speaker 2] There's a dark corner
in hell for people like you.

[speaker 3] I hope
you get r*ped!

- [gasps] Ugh!
- [laptop slams]

What? What is it?

[Kristine exhales sharply]

Kristine, what is it?

People are sick, that's what.

Case is literally closed. How
can people still have questions?

I have a question.

Oh?

Well, I just thought that...

I thought Natalia looked
a lot older up there.

She looked mature.

Well, no matter how hard
we Botox, we all age.

That's not what I meant.

Kris, she looked taller.

She has breasts now, and hips.

She's... her, her face
looks like a young adult.

Do you have a point, Val?

It's just that a lot of
what they were saying,

what the witnesses
were trying to say...

Do you think that possibly, maybe,
maybe you could have been wrong?

Are you kidding me?

[♪ tense music playing]

- Whose side are you on, Val?
- I was on yours, Kristine.

- But if she was a child...
- She is a monster.

But why are you the only one who's
still holding onto that story?

There were so many doctors who were...
who were willing to testify on her behalf.

And all that stuff with her bio mom,
a-and you couldn't find witnesses, right?

Wow.

I would expect this
from some people.

Not my best friend.

Who knew you were
such a Judas? Boys!

I feel so stupid. I
believed you, Kristine.

Mom?

- Get your stuff, we're going.
- [Wesley] What? No way!

Ethan and I are going
to a party with Jaden.

Fine. Jacob, let's go.

Kris, seriously?

I saved your daughter.

[insects chirping]

[knocking]

[Natalia] Surprise!

Sorry, I didn't
know how to start.

I just, I really
need to talk to you.

Yeah, uh, you know, I don't
know if that's a... a good idea.

Michael, come on, you got off. So,
can we please just talk honestly?

I need to understand.

Okay. Just, um, just for
a minute though, okay?

What is it? [sighs]

It's... it's just,
you knew, right?

That I was a kid, that
she was hurting me?

Um...

That's...

I mean, it's... [stammers]
it's complicated, you know?

I mean, uh...

You...

You have to
understand that, um...

W...

We were both
victims here, right?

Kristine, uh, controlled me too.

She... She... She
did it for years.

She still... I mean,
she still does,

and... and I just didn't have
the strength to stand up to her.

I think... I think
what happened,

we... we were, uh,
facing the same monster.

That whole time, we were,
and we didn't even know it.

That we... we're the same here.

Right? I mean, does
that make sense?

But Michael, I was a kid.

You were supposed to be my dad.

[♪ somber music playing]

You... do you wanna...
do you wanna sit down?

- Mm-hmm.
- Okay.

[Kristine] Don't tell
your brothers this, but...

you know I always like
our private time the best

when it's just you and me.

Do you want some music?

[♪ "Romeo's Tune" by Steve
Forbert playing softly]

♪ Bring me southern
kisses from your room ♪

I remember what
you did to Natalia.

♪ Meet me in the middle of the
night, let me hear you say ♪

I'm not judging you.

I'm not laying blame, I just...

I just had to say that.

Oh, sweet boy.
You were too young

to know what was
happening around you.

We did everything we could to
protect you from what was going on.

But you didn't protect
me from it. I saw it.

And I'm not certain
how to live with that.

How do you?

Mom, please. The trial's over.

Exactly!

So, there's nothing
more to talk about.

♪ Come on out beneath
the shining sun ♪

In that article, her
mom said the doctors

told her that Natalia would
never amount to anything.

That her life would be better if
she didn't even take Natalia home.

It's a lot like what
they told you about me.

It's not the same, not the same
at all. Don't you even say that.

I've heard you give that
speech a thousand times.

"He'd never learn to
read, to tie his shoes.

"He'd never learn to wrap his
arms around me and tell me

that he loves me."

We're almost there.

[Natalia] Why'd
you do it, anyways?

[insects chirping]

Why did you adopt me?

I don't... I don't know. I
can only speak for myself,

but I... I just really
wanted a daughter. I did.

But why?

It's everything I've
been saying, I just...

I was really...

broken, and I wanted
to feel better.

So, I made you feel better,

- and then you didn't need me anymore?
- No. No, no, no, no, no.

I... I didn't mean it like
that, you have to understand.

I... I was the one who was...
who was trying to hang onto you

for... for as long as I could.

I mean, I'm not
a bad guy, right?

I... I was just trying to...
to make everybody happy.

Don't look at me like that.
What do you want me to do?

Seriously, I will do...
I will do anything.

Can you just admit what you did?

That you hurt me?

I...

Kristine hurt you.

Michael, if she was
hurting you too,

if you knew what was happening,
why didn't you stop her?

If you loved me...

why didn't you do something?

[♪ somber music playing]

- [sniffling] Mm.
- [car approaching]

Hurt people hurt people,
Natalia. That's just...

[car doors closing]

But you didn't have to.

[footsteps approaching]

[Kristine] Are you
freaking kidding me?

What is she doing here?

- [Michael] What are you doing here?
- [Kristine] I need a place to stay.

- There's a gas leak at Val's.
- [Michael] Uh...

Well, you can't stay here.

You can't, my family's inside.
You're gonna have to find a motel.

I'm out of money, Michael,
because of you, and...

I saw you at the trial, Natalia.

But I wasn't sure
if I should say hi.

You... you can say hi.

I also wasn't sure if I should say that
I've had time to think about stuff...

and I should have helped you.

[Kristine] Alright,
Jacob, that's enough.

She made us scared of you,
but you were just a kid.

I shouldn't have listened.

I'm very sorry.

I-It's okay.

It's okay, you were...
you were just a kid too.

Okay, let's go to Grammy's.

I don't think I want to.

Do you... do you
wanna stay here?

[♪ tense music playing]

Okay.

Okay.

Judases everywhere.

Everywhere.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[walker rattling]

[dog barking]

How'd it go?

- Kristine showed up.
- [sighs]

Jake, too.

I'm sorry, I should
have gone with you.

- [softly] Mm. It's okay.
- [sighs]

[♪ cover of "Shilo" by
Neil Diamond playing]

[Drysdale] You shouldn't have
had to face her on your own.

[Natalia] It's fine. At this
point, I know how to handle her.

[Drysdale] That woman. I don't
know, I can never decide.

You think she believes
the story she tells?

Who cares? Everyone else does.

♪ Young child with dreams ♪

[car starting]

♪ Dreaming each
dream on your own ♪

Are you coming to bed?

♪ When children play ♪

Okay.

♪ Seems like you end up alone ♪

♪ Papa says he'd
love to be with you ♪

♪ If he had more time ♪

[Anna Gava] [on computer]
After Natalia was born,

the doctor said I
should give her up.

They said she would
never live a normal life.

The doctor said there's
nothing I could do for her.

"You're young," they said.

"You are 24 years old.
Don't ruin your life."

[sighs]

♪ Shilo, when I was young ♪

♪ I used to call your name ♪

♪ When no one else would come ♪

[Drysdale] I wanted
this to go differently.

We failed you, Natalia.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry they made
you lie on the stand.

I'm sorry people didn't
get to see the real you.

Thanks for the ride.

♪ Oh ♪

[Anna] [on computer]
After Natalia was born,

the doctors said I
should give her up.

[Jelly] Hey, Tally, is
that you? Come here!

[Anna] They said she would
never live a normal life.

The doctor said there's
nothing I could do for her.

"You're young," they said.

"You are 24 years old.
Don't ruin your life."

Oh. Cool, yeah, I saw it.

No, it's not that.

Look. "We love you, Natalia."

"You are a light
unto the world."

"God gave you
strength, Natalia."

"That's right,
Natalia. You go, girl!"

"You are a survivor!"

Wait, this dude's talking
about marrying you.

[Jelly] "Love your YouTube
videos! You're so funny and nice!"

[Jehari] "I feel so bad
I doubted you, Natalia."

"Hope this will silence the
doubters and the haters."

- "We're praying for you, Natalia Grace."
- "You're beautiful inside and out."

- "You're so courageous."
- "You're such a fighter."

"You deserve the
world, Natalia."

- "And now, the healing can begin."
- "I wish I had her strength."

[commenter 1] I'm sorry
the court got it wrong.

[commenter 2] Natalia
Grace is a warrior!

[commenter 3] They don't get
to decide who you are, Natalia.

[commenter 4] It's
such an awful story.

But she is so amazing.
Nobody can bring her down!

[Jelly] "We see you, Natalia."

- [Natalia giggles]
- "You are loved."

[Natalia sighs deeply]

♪ When no one else would come ♪

[Michael] Since this
series was completed,

a buse allegations against Antwon
and Cynthia Mans have come to light.

[Kristine] They maintain
their innocence,

and to this day, so
does Kristine Barnett.

[Natalia] But in 2024, with
the help of an attorney,

Natalia received a U.S. passport

that officially restored her
birthdate to September 4, 2003,

making her just 21 years old at
the time this series was released.

♪ All I saw was the way
that she made me smile ♪

♪ She made me smile ♪

♪ Shilo, when I was young ♪

♪ I used to call your name ♪

♪ When no one else would come ♪

♪ Shilo, you always came ♪

♪ Come today ♪

[♪ song fades out]