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Narrator: A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN ON THE HUNT FOR A HUSBAND...
SHE WAS LOOKING TO FILL THAT VOID OF NOT BEING ALONE.
Narrator: ...FALLS PREY TO A STRING OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS.
I THINK I'D BE BETTER OFF ON MY OWN.
AND WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT...
ARE YOU ASKING ME ON A DATE?
HE DID SERVE A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME IN PRISON.
Narrator: ...IT'S A FORMULA FOR DISASTER...
MY FAITH IN GOD TOLD ME ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
AND THAT PEOPLE CHANGE.
Narrator: ...UNLEASHING DEMONS...
DIVORCE PAPERS!
...THAT NO ONE COULD SEE COMING.
TAKE THAT BACK?
Salce: I SHOULD HAVE QUIT OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP
AND RAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
NOT ALL FAIRY TALES HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS.
[ WOMAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
WHEN LOVE GOES WRONG, A WOMAN CAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
ALBANY, NEW YORK -- IT'S 1979.
19-YEAR-OLD LYDIA SALCE HAS JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
THE STRAIGHT-"A" STUDENT IS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY FOR COLLEGE
BY WORKING AS A WAITRESS AT A LOCAL DINER.
MY OLDEST SISTER WAS STILL IN COLLEGE,
SO, FOR MY DAD,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FINANCIALLY
TO HELP ME OUT.
AND I COULDN'T AFFORD IT YET, SO I WENT AND WORKED.
YEAH, CAN I HELP YOU?
DO YOU MIND IF I GET SOME BLACK COFFEE, PLEASE?
OKAY. A BLACK COFFEE?
OKAY.
Narrator: ONE DAY, SHE NOTICES A HANDSOME MAN
SITTING IN HER SECTION,
AND IS INSTANTLY SMITTEN.
Salce: AND I SEE THIS GUY, AND I WAS LIKE "WHOA."
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT FOR ME, DEFINITELY.
I TOOK HIM A CUP OF COFFEE THAT ALMOST LANDED ON HIM.
I WAS SO NERVOUS.
THE SAUCER WAS SHAKING, LITERALLY,
AND THE WHOLE CUP WAS CHATTERING.
WHAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME WAS HE CAUGHT THE CUP...
I'M SO SORRY.
...NOT A DROP ON HIM.
SO I WAS SORT OF SMITTEN.
Narrator: THE SHY, INSECURE TEENAGER
COMES FROM A STRICT, RELIGIOUS GERMAN FAMILY,
AND SHE HAS NO EXPERIENCE WITH MEN.
Salce: MY PARENTS WERE SOMEWHAT MORE AUTHORITARIAN.
SO I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DATE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Narrator: LYDIA WAS AN EXCELLENT STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL
WITH DREAMS OF BECOMING A TEACHER.
YOU'D PROBABLY CALL LYDIA A NERD,
'CAUSE SHE WAS VERY SMART.
SHE GOT PICKED ON A LOT,
JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS SO TIMID.
SHE NEVER REALLY STOOD UP FOR HERSELF.
SO SHE WAS JUST A TARGET.
Narrator: DR. CASEY JORDAN STUDIES CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
LYDIA NEVER HAD A DATE WITH ANY GUY BEFORE SHE GRADUATED.
THIS WOULD LEAVE HER VULNERABLE
AND SIMPLY HAVING NO BLUEPRINT
FOR WHAT IS A NORMAL, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.
Narrator: AT THE DINER,
JOHN IS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO THE QUIRKY WAITRESS,
AND MAKES A MOVE.
DO YOU WORK HERE OFTEN?
MOSTLY ON THE WEEKENDS.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE FREE SATURDAY NIGHT?
HE WAS VERY GOOD-LOOKING, VERY CHARMING OUTSIDE.
I'M JOHN BY THE WAY. SO, YOU KEEP THE TIP.
THANKS.
Narrator: AFTER JUST A FEW WEEKS,
A SERIOUS ROMANCE BLOOMS.
JOHN IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF MAN LYDIA HAS ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT.
HE'S ALSO GERMAN, AND BETTER YET,
OWNS A SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
FOR THE TIMID YOUNG WOMAN,
IT ALL SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
AND AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR OF DATING...
SO, WHY NOT JUST GET MARRIED?
LOVE-STRUCK LYDIA TOSSES HER COLLEGE PLANS ASIDE
TO SETTLE DOWN WITH HER DREAM MAN.
Salce: I GOT MARRIED AT 19,
AND I WENT FROM LIVING WITH MY PARENTS --
LIVING AT HOME --
TO LIVING WITH MY HUSBAND.
THERE WAS NO TRANSITION TIME.
ALL RIGHT.
A LOT OF THOSE DREAMS JUST WENT RIGHT OFF THE CLIFF.
MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE SEVERELY.
OKAY.
Narrator: AT FIRST, LIFE WITH JOHN
IS EVERYTHING THE YOUNG WIFE COULD WISH FOR.
SHE SPENDS HER DAYS KEEPING HOUSE,
GOING TO BIBLE STUDY,
AND DOING PAPERWORK FOR JOHN'S BUSINESS.
AND SHE'S DRIVEN BY AN ALL-CONSUMING DESIRE
TO MAKE HER HUSBAND HAPPY.
OH, HEY, HON. GOOD.
WHAT'S THAT?
YOU LOSE EVERYTHING ELSE. YOU LOSE SIGHT OF OTHER THINGS.
YOU DON'T LOOK FOR THE FLAWS. YOU DON'T LOOK FOR THE REALITY.
YOU JUST LOOK FOR MR. PERFECT.
"OH, THERE HE IS."
FRESH APPLE PIE.
SMELLS NICE.
Narrator: BUT SHE SOON LEARNS THAT NOTHING SHE DOES IS GOOD ENOUGH.
SOMETHING WRONG, HONEY?
LYDIA, WHAT IS THIS?
WHERE'S THE CHEESE? WHERE'S THE CROUTONS?
YOU DO REALIZE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TEAR LETTUCE.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CUT IT.
I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING.
GO MAKE ME SOMETHING ELSE.
I START QUESTIONING MYSELF WITH HIM,
BECAUSE HE ALWAYS HAD THE DEFINITIVE WORD --
THE "MR. RIGHT SYNDROME" KIND OF THING --
WHERE THE WAY HE DID IT WAS PROPER.
THE WAY I DID IT -- THAT WASN'T RIGHT.
LYDIA?
JUST A MINUTE, HONEY. COMING.
Narrator: THE MORE ENERGY LYDIA PUTS INTO THE MARRIAGE,
THE LESS JOHN GIVES BACK.
DID HE EVER JUST HUG YOU AND SAY, "I LOVE YOU"?
MY HUSBAND NEVER SAID "I LOVE YOU" EVER.
HE JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
HE WASN'T CAPABLE OF IT, I DON'T THINK.
HE BECAME MORE AND MORE DISTANT,
AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE INTIMACY,
THERE SHOULD BE MORE PASSION,
AND THAT JUST DID NOT EXIST.
YES.
YES.
BUT ACCORDING TO LYDIA, JOHN'S NOT TRYING VERY HARD,
AND HER HOPES OF A PERFECT MARRIAGE AND BEING A MOTHER
FADE AWAY.
SHE FALLS INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.
Dr. Jordan: LYDIA WAS RAISED IN A VERY TRADITIONAL FAMILY,
AND VERY RELIGIOUS, WHERE MARRIAGE IS FOREVER
AND DIVORCE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.
SO EVEN WITHOUT CHILDREN, REALLY FEELING UNLOVED,
IT NEVER OCCURRED TO LYDIA THAT SHE COULD LEAVE THE MARRIAGE.
Narrator: AFTER 11 YEARS WITH JOHN, LYDIA, NOW 30,
REALIZES SHE'S COMPLETELY LOST HER SENSE OF IDENTITY.
Salce: IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO REALIZE I HAD DISAPPEARED.
YOU BECOME SO ENTWINED WITH SOMEONE
AND SO WRAPPED UP WITH SOMEONE YOU LOSE YOURSELF.
Narrator: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST HER HOPELESSNESS,
LYDIA VOWS TO FOCUS ON HERSELF.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ME TAKING SOME CLASSES.
WHATEVER SUITS YOU, DEAR.
YOU STILL WANTED TO BE A TEACHER AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?
NEVER GREW UP --
STILL WANTED TO BE A TEACHER AND PLAY WITH CRAYONS.
YOU'RE NOT TO MISS ME TOO MUCH WHEN I'M AT CLASS.
OF COURSE I'LL MISS YOU, LYDIA.
Narrator: IN 1990, SHE ENROLLS IN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM.
NOW I HAD SOMETHING TO FOCUS ON.
I HAD A TITLE. I HAD A LABEL.
I COULD HAVE A PERSONALITY AGAIN.
I COULD BE A SOMEBODY.
Dr. Jordan: LYDIA TRANSFORMS HERSELF INTO THE COLLEGE STUDENT.
NOW, BEING SUCCESSFUL IN HER STUDIES
IS HER ENTIRE REASON FOR BEING.
SHE APPLIES HERSELF COMPLETELY
AND FAILURE IS NOT GOING TO BE AN OPTION.
Narrator: LYDIA POURS ALL HER ENERGY INTO HER SCHOOL WORK,
AND TWO YEARS LATER, TRANSFERS TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE NEARBY.
SHE CONTINUES TO EXCEL.
THE TEACHING DEGREE SHE'S WANTED SINCE HIGH SCHOOL
IS ALMOST IN HER HANDS.
THEN, JUST THREE WEEKS BEFORE GRADUATION,
HER WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN.
I'M LYDIA SALCE. I'M HERE TO PICK UP MY CAP AND GOWN.
THANK YOU.
GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.
LYDIA IS TOLD SHE'S NOT ON THE LIST OF GRADUATING STUDENTS.
ACTUALLY, IT SAYS HERE
THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO SEE THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR.
THE STRAIGHT-"A" STUDENT IS STUNNED.
SORRY.
THE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
IS ALSO A PROFESSOR LYDIA'S TAKEN CLASSES FROM IN THE PAST.
HI. IT'S LYDIA.
HI, LYDIA. PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
I WAS TOLD I SHOULD COME AND TALK WITH YOU.
APPARENTLY, MY NAME'S NOT ON THE LIST TO GRADUATE.
THE PROFESSOR GIVES HER SOME DEVASTATING NEWS.
Salce: HE WAS DEMANDING THAT I TAKE ADDITIONAL CLASSES
THAT I HAD ALREADY TAKEN, GOTTEN AN "A" IN,
AT A PREVIOUS COLLEGE.
MY TRANSCRIPTS WERE RECEIVED.
I WORKED REALLY HARD. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Narrator: THE SHY STUDENT COMES OUT HER SHELL
AND PUTS HER FOOT DOWN.
I UNDERSTAND.
Salce: HE WAS SAYING, "YOU CAN'T GRADUATE.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO TAKE THIS CLASS."
AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS JUST IN TEARS.
I SAID, YOU KNOW -- I STARTED SWEARING.
I SAID, "WHAT THE 'F' DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"
AND HE SAID, "WELL, NOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE POINT."
LYDIA, COME ON.
LOOK, I'M A MARRIED WOMAN.
I DON'T CARE.
Narrator: THEN, ACCORDING TO LYDIA,
HE SUDDENLY FORCES HIMSELF ON HER.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Salce: HE'S GOT ME BACKED UP AGAINST THE DOOR,
AND I'M THRASHING AGAINST THE METAL AND THE WOOD.
MY CLOTHES WERE TORN.
IT WAS A MESS. IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE MESS.
Narrator: AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN A LOVELESS MARRIAGE
FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS,
LYDIA SALCE FINDS A LIFELINE
IN THE FORM OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION
UNTIL, JUST DAYS BEFORE HER GRADUATION,
SHE SAYS HER PROFESSOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTS HER.
LYDIA CLAIMS SHE'S IN SHOCK
AND STRUGGLES TO BREAK FREE FROM HER PROFESSOR'S IRON GRIP.
Salce: AFTER I GOT OUT OF HIS OFFICE AND RAN DOWNSTAIRS,
HE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND SAID I HAD ATTACKED HIM.
Narrator: ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES,
THE *** ASSAULT NEVER HAPPENED.
WE CAN'T HAVE YOU GRADUATE.
WHAT? NO, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
INSTEAD, THEY SAY WHEN LYDIA'S THREATENED
WITH LOSING THE ONE THING THAT GIVES HER LIFE MEANING,
SHE SUDDENLY SNAPS.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE THAT GRADE.
I DESERVE TO GRADUATE.
LYDIA PULLED OUT A KNIFE,
AND SHE HELD IT AT THE PROFESSOR,
AND SHE INDICATED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF
"YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT I SAY OR ELSE."
BECAUSE I DESERVE IT.
AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME,
THE PROFESSOR WAS ABLE TO SOUND A SILENT ALARM
REQUESTING SECURITY COME TO HIS OFFICE.
Narrator: THE SECURITY GUARD WRESTLES THE KNIFE FROM LYDIA
AND ARRESTS HER.
Salce: HE SAID I HAD A KNIFE.
Dr. Jordan: DID YOU?
I HAD A PAPER OPENER.
YEAH.
DID YOU TRY TO ATTACK HIM WITH IT?
NO. BUT YOU HAD IT ON YOU?
YEAH, I HAD IT IN MY BOOK BAG.
Narrator: LYDIA IS ULTIMATELY CONVICTED OF TWO COUNTS OF MENACING
AND SENTENCED TO TWO MONTHS BEHIND BARS.
LYDIA HAS BEEN A GOOD LITTLE GIRL HER ENTIRE LIFE --
A FAITHFUL WIFE, A RULES FOLLOWER.
THE INCIDENT IN THE DEAN'S OFFICE
INTRODUCES A SIDE OF LYDIA THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN.
IT REALLY IS A SIGN THAT SHE'S NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE,
BUT IT ALSO RAISES THE QUESTION,
"JUST HOW MUCH IS LYDIA CAPABLE OF?"
Narrator: ONCE SHE'S RELEASED, SHE GOES HOME
TO FIND HER MARRIAGE ON VERY SHAKY GROUND.
YOU KNOW, THE THING IS I'M JUST --
NO, JOHN I --
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I TOLD YOU NOT TO WEAR THE SKIRT SCHOOL.
JOHN BELIEVES LYDIA'S VERSION OF THE STORY,
BUT THINKS SHE BROUGHT THE INCIDENT ON HERSELF.
JOHN! JOHN, HE ATTACKED ME.
PLEASE, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME.
THE WHOLE MARRIAGE JUST COMPLETELY MELTED DOWN.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA...
Narrator: JOHN NO LONGER TRUSTS LYDIA,
AND GIVES HER A CELLPHONE SO HE CAN KEEP TABS ON HER.
TAKE THE PHONE, LYDIA. TAKE THE PHONE.
Narrator: TO ESCAPE THE STRESS AT HOME,
LYDIA STARTS JOB HUNTING,
AND QUICKLY FINDS WORK DOING SOFTWARE TRAINING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AT THE AGE OF 37,
IT'S THE FIRST TIME SHE'S BEEN EMPLOYED
SINCE SHE WAS A TEENAGER.
GET YOU OUT, AND AGAIN. YOU HAVE ALL MY CONTACT NUMBER,
AND YOU COULD ALWAYS USE THE BOOK...
HER FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB,
LYDIA CATCHES THE EYE OF A SALESMAN NAMED MATT.
Taylor: SHE LOOKED LIKE A TEACHER --
HAD HER HAIR DONE NICE AND WORE GLASSES.
AND SHE LOOKED PROFESSIONAL.
AND I DON'T KNOW -- IT STRUCK ME AS SEXY.
HOW'S IT GOING OVER HERE IN TRAINING LAND?
PRETTY GOOD. THANKS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S TOLD YOU THAT YET.
WELL...
Narrator: LYDIA'S NEVER BEEN UNFAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND,
BUT MATT QUICKLY BECOMES A TEMPTATION
THAT'S HARD TO RESIST.
HE WAS ATHLETIC. HE WAS VERY GREGARIOUS.
HE'S VERY HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, WHAT YOU'D SAY.
YOU KNOW, I BET YOU COULD USE A JOKE.
Taylor: EVERY TIME I'D SEE HER,
I'D SAY SOMETHING FUNNY TO MAKE HER LAUGH.
SHE HADN'T HAD A LOT OF LAUGHTER IN HER LIFE.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
THAT'S REALLY BAD.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
HEY!
MATT.
YOU LOOK REALLY GOOD TODAY.
Narrator: BEFORE LONG, LYDIA AND MATT START TO FLIRT OPENLY AT WORK.
AT ONE POINT, I GRABBED HER AND SAT HER DOWN ON MY LAP,
AND SO I GRABBED A KISS FROM HER THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE KIND OF LIKED IT,
AND WE WERE VERY FOND OF EACH OTHER,
AND WE WERE STARTING, I THINK,
TO START TO FALL IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.
YEAH, JOHN. WHAT?
NO, I KNOW.
Narrator: MATT WANTS TO TAKE THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL,
BUT HE CAN SEE JOHN KEEPS CLOSE TABS ON LYDIA.
Taylor: HE CALLED HER A LOT OF TIMES DURING THE DAY
TO FIND OUT WHAT SHE WAS UP DO,
AND ANYBODY COULD SEE
THAT THAT'S NOT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.
Narrator: IN FACT, LYDIA'S MARRIAGE
IS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE.
YOU DOING OKAY?
YEAH. YEAH, I'M FINE.
WANT TO GET SOME COFFEE?
I THINK, WHEN SHE MET ME --
I THINK THE BALL STARTED ROLLING FOR HER.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE, "HERE'S A NICE GUY.
"I'M IN A CRUMMY SITUATION.
"YOU KNOW, MAYBE I CAN TURN MY FORTUNES AROUND
A LITTLE BIT HERE."
Dr. Jordan: LYDIA STILL DOESN'T BELIEVE IN DIVORCE,
BUT SHE GETS TO THE POINT WHERE SHE REALIZES
MAYBE SHE CAN START OVER AGAIN WITH SOMEONE NEW,
AND HAVE HER FAIRY TALE DREAM
OF THE PERFECT MARRIAGE AND HOUSEHOLD.
IT JUST WOULD BE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
Narrator: ONE MORNING, LYDIA LAYS IT ON THE LINE WITH JOHN.
I THINK WE SHOULD GET A DIVORCE.
Salce: HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, "WHY?"
TOTALLY EMOTIONLESS.
I SAID, "BECAUSE I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT MAKING YOU HAPPY,
"AND IT'S MAKING ME MISERABLE.
"I'M FAILING MISERABLY IN THIS MARRIAGE,
"I'M FAILING AS A WIFE, AND I'M FAILING AS A PERSON,
"AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM ANYMORE.
"AND I THINK WE SHOULD JUST LET EACH OTHER GO,
AND GO OUR OWN WAYS, TRY TO FIND SOMEONE."
AND HE AGREED.
THEN I'LL TALK TO BOB AND HE'LL PUT US IN CONTACT
WITH A LAWYER WHO CAN DRAW UP THE PAPERS.
Narrator: ONE WEEK LATER,
MATT HELPS LYDIA MOVE INTO HER NEW APARTMENT,
AND HE NEVER LEAVES.
MATTHEW, YOUR FIRST RELATIONSHIP AFTER YOUR MARRIAGE --
HOW WAS HE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN YOUR HUSBAND?
VERY GREGARIOUS, VERY FUN-LOVING.
WHAT I FIRST SAW IS VERY CHILD-LIKE,
AND I WAS VERY ATTRACTED TO THAT
HAVING COME FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS VERY COLD AND VERY SOLEMN.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND PRETTY AND YOU KNOW...
SO, LIKE FIVE MINUTES AGO?
OH, YOU'RE CUTE.
SHE WOULD ALMOST LIKE WORSHIP THE GROUND I WALKED ON,
THAT'S HOW MUCH SHE REALLY, TRULY LOVED ME,
AND CARED ABOUT ME.
Narrator: THE TWO QUICKLY FALL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE.
Taylor: SHE'D DO ALMOST ANYTHING FOR ME.
LET ME DO THE THINGS THAT I WOULD NORMALLY DO IN MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS BIG INTO SPORTS.
WE SHOULD SPEND SOME MORE TIME ON THE BEDROOM.
[ LAUGHS ]
PASS IT.
ONE MONTH AFTER THE COUPLE MOVES IN TOGETHER,
THEY GET SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE SURPRISE.
FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT. THAT WAS A BIG SHOCK.
'CAUSE, OF COURSE, I DIDN'T THINK I COULD HAVE KIDS
BECAUSE OF MY 17-YEAR MARRIAGE.
BUT, LOW AND BEHOLD, GOD HAD BETTER PLANS FOR ME.
Narrator: LYDIA SALCE HAS A NEW CAREER, A NEW BOYFRIEND,
AND AFTER THINKING IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE,
HAS JUST FOUND OUT SHE'S PREGNANT.
I THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T.
I KNOW, BUT GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.
IT WAS LIKE, "OH BOY," YOU KNOW, "WHAT DID I DO?"
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW,
AFTER TALKING TO HER ABOUT IT AND EVERYTHING, I FELT BETTER.
AND THEN I GOT EXCITED FOR IT.
I KNOW.
ALL RIGHT! WOW.
I KNOW.
Narrator: LYDIA'S FANTASY OF THE PERFECT FAMILY
IS FINALLY WITHIN REACH.
HEY, BABE, NEXT TIME YOU GO OUT,
COULD YOU PICK UP SOME MORE BEER?
BUT DURING THE PREGNANCY, EVERYTHING CHANGES.
YOU NEED TO CLEAN THAT UP.
I WILL, AFTER THE GAME'S OVER.
HE WAS VERY, VERY IMMATURE,
VERY IRRESPONSIBLE, VERY SELFISH.
YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO HELP OUT AROUND HERE.
Narrator: MATT STARTS TO RESENT LYDIA'S CONSTANT NAGGING.
THINGS I SAID OR THINGS I WOULD DO OR WOULDN'T DO
WERE STARTING TO BOTHER HER.
I WAS RESISTANT THE WHOLE TIME.
YOU KNOW, "YOU'RE NOT GONNA CONTROL ME."
"OKAY, YOU WERE IN THAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP.
"YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW IT IS TO BE CONTROLLED.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT TO ME."
Dr. Jordan: LYDIA SPENT 17 YEARS IN A MARRIAGE
WHERE JOHN WORE THE PANTS.
SHE WAS ALWAYS SUPPRESSING HER POTENTIAL.
IN HER NEW RELATIONSHIPS,
SHE IS GOING TO HAVE THE CONTROL THAT SHE NEVER HAD,
AND SHE WILL NOT SACRIFICE WHAT SHE WANTS
FOR ANY MAN AGAIN.
Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER 1999, AT THE AGE OF 39,
LYDIA GIVES BIRTH TO HER FIRST AND ONLY CHILD, AMANDA.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY DIDN'T THINK I COULD HAVE CHILDREN
AFTER BEING MARRIED FOR 17 YEARS AND CHILDLESS.
SO, IT WAS A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.
Taylor: DAMN IT, LYDIA, WILL YOU JUST GET OFF MY CASE?
I WOULD GET OFF YOUR CASE IF YOU DID MORE
THAN JUST SIT AROUND AND WATCH SPORTS.
OH, PLEASE, YOU'RE LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH THE RELATIONSHIP SEEMS DOOMED,
LYDIA FEELS SHE SHOULD STAY WITH MATT
FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR CHILD.
Salce: I FELT THAT THE CHILD SHOULD HAVE BOTH PARENTS,
BECAUSE I WAS RAISED BY BOTH OF MY PARENTS
IN A VERY TRADITIONAL HOME.
SECOND, BECAUSE IT WAS HIS CHILD,
AND HE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE SOME INVOLVEMENT
IN HER LIFE, AND SO ON.
BUT THE NEGATIVES OUTWEIGH THE POSITIVES SO STRONGLY
THAT I REALIZED THAT JUST WAS NOT GONNA WORK OUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT, MATT?
I THINK I'D BE BETTER OFF ON MY OWN.
Narrator: LYDIA ASKS MATT TO LEAVE.
I'LL GO PACK MY STUFF.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE,
SHE'S ON HER OWN.
[ BABY CRIES ]
LATE 30s, SINGLE MOTHER -- DESCRIBE YOURSELF.
ARE YOU STILL INTROVERTED?
ARE YOU STILL SHY, DEEPLY INSECURE?
INSECURE, MAYBE.
STILL FEELING LIKE BRIDE-OF-FRANKENSTEIN UGLY.
BUT NO, NOT A LOT OF SELF-ESTEEM.
BUT KNOWING I WAS CAPABLE OF KEEPING MYSELF FED
AND KEEPING A ROOF OVER MY HEAD
AND TAKING CARE OF MY DAUGHTER.
THE CONFIDENCE OF "I CAN SURVIVE, I CAN STILL DO THIS"
IS STILL THERE.
WITH THE MONEY SHE MAKES AS A SOFTWARE TRAINER,
LYDIA IS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF HER APARTMENT
AND RENTS A HOUSE IN CLIFTON PARK,
A LEAFY SUBURB OUTSIDE OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.
SECRETLY, SHE DREAMS OF FINDING A HUSBAND.
BUT FOR THE MOMENT, SHE PUTS HER DATING LIFE ON HOLD.
YOU WERE PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH MEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I REALLY NEEDED TO FOCUS ON MY DAUGHTER.
I NEEDED TO FOCUS ON ME.
THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON
WITH TRYING TO GET THINGS RESTRUCTURED.
SO I WAS NOT DATING AT ALL.
BUT AFTER THREE YEARS OF BEING SINGLE,
LYDIA CAN'T KEEP BURIED HER DESIRE
TO HAVE A MAN IN HER LIFE.
SHE DECIDES TO START DATING.
DO YOU MIND IF I SIT DOWN?
Salce: NOT ONLY DID I HAVE A DAUGHTER
AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A FATHER FIGURE FOR MY DAUGHTER
AND A PARTNER,
I STILL DON'T FEEL WHOLE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE BEFORE.
YEAH.
MUST BE MY LUCKY NIGHT, HUH?
Narrator: THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM --
AT THE AGE OF 42, LYDIA IS NEW TO THE DATING POOL,
AND SHE SEEMS DESTINED TO SWIM AMONG A SEA OF LOSERS.
Salce: I HAD NO DATING EXPERIENCE,
SO NOW, I KIND OF GET THRUST OUT THERE
INTO THE WORLD AS A SINGLE WOMAN
WITHOUT REALLY A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE
OR BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE.
AND SO, SORT OF LIKE HAVING THIS BIG SIGN ON YOUR HEAD
THAT SAYS, "INEXPERIENCED. TAKE ADVANTAGE."
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: LYDIA'S NAIVETE RESULTS IN SOME PRETTY POOR CHOICES.
HEY, WILL YOU GET ME A BEER WHILE YOU'RE UP?
HEY.
HOPE SOMEONE'S READY TO HAVE SOME TIME WITH DAD.
YEAH, SHE'S IN HER ROOM.
Taylor: ONLY A COUPLE OF THE GUYS THAT SHE WAS WITH
THAT I KNEW OF HAD JOBS.
MAYBE SHE FELT SORRY FOR THEM,
OR, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A CONNECTION THERE
THAT SHE FELT A NEED TO HELP THEM.
WHAT'S UP, MATT?
WHAT'S UP?
WOW. LOOKS LIKE YOU PICKED A REAL WINNER.
EACH GUY SHE ENDED UP LIVING WITH OR MOVING IN WITH
AND BREAKING UP WITHIN A WEEK OR MONTH OR --
IT WAS VERY SHORT-LIVED.
Dr. Jordan: LYDIA'S ABILITY TO TRANSFORM HER LIFE
MAKES HER THINK THAT OTHERS SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME THING.
AND IN HER RELATIONSHIPS, SHE BECOMES A FIXER.
SHE FINDS OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REALIZING THEIR POTENTIAL
AND TRIES TO CONTROL THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT TO DO
SO THAT THEY CAN BE AS GOOD AS SHE IS.
Narrator: IN 2007, THE ECONOMY COLLAPSES,
AND LYDIA'S WORLD COMES GRINDING TO A HALT.
SHE LOSES HER HIGH-PAYING JOB AS A SOFTWARE TRAINER
AND STRUGGLES TO FIND WORK.
THE NEED TO FIND A JOB
PUTS THE SEARCH FOR A MAN ON THE BACK BURNER.
HI. GOOD HOW ARE YOU?
AFTER MONTHS OF LOOKING,
SHE'S FORCED TO TAKE THE FIRST OFFER SHE GETS
JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
OKAY.
Salce: I HAD A DAUGHTER TO TAKE CARE OF, HAD TO KEEP MYSELF FED.
AND BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND, I MEAN, AGAIN,
GOING BACK TO MY DAD, WELFARE WASN'T HIGH ON OUR LIST.
SO, I WAS TAUGHT
TO PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BOOTSTRAPS AND KEEP GOING.
AS A BOOTSTRAPPER, YOU ENDED UP WITH A JOB?
AT WALMART.
Narrator: LYDIA STARTS AS A CASHIER.
THREE YEARS AND FIVE PROMOTIONS LATER,
SHE LANDS A POSITION IN THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT.
THOUGH SHE'S THRIVING AT WORK,
HER PERSONAL LIFE IS A VIRTUAL WASTELAND.
SHE'S JUST MONTHS AWAY FROM TURNING 50
AND MORE DESPERATE THAN EVER TO FIND HER SOUL MATE.
I DON'T REALIZE YET THAT I'M A WHOLE PERSON ALL BY MYSELF.
I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT OTHER HALF -- THE COMPLETENESS.
Narrator: IN SEARCH OF SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT,
LYDIA JOINS HER CHURCH'S BIBLE STUDY.
WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
All: GOOD MORNING.
SHALL WE BEGIN?
IT BECOMES A PLACE WHERE SHE CAN BEAR HER SOUL
AND GET GUIDANCE.
I WAS ALWAYS INVOLVED IN BIBLE STUDIES.
I WAS ALWAYS DOING GROUPS WITH THE CHURCH.
Narrator: ONE EVENING,
AN UNLIKELY STRANGER WALKS INTO THE CHURCH.
MICHAEL! COME IN, COME IN.
LYDIA IS SHOCKED BY MICHAEL'S APPEARANCE.
EVERYONE, THIS IS MICHAEL.
HE'LL BE JOINING US FOR BIBLE STUDY.
TELL ME ABOUT MICHAEL. DESCRIBE HIM TO ME.
HIS APPROACH IS THAT YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
WHAT DOES HIS COVER LOOK LIKE?
HIS COVER IS EXTRAORDINARY.
HE IS TATTOOED FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD
DOWN TO HIS FEET.
MICHAEL.
THAT'S GOOD. WE'RE READING JOHN 3.
Paul: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERMON.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
I WILL. BE WELL.
HI, PASTOR. HOW ARE YOU?
Narrator: LYDIA DOESN'T THINK MICHAEL BELONGS IN THE BIBLE STUDY.
HE JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD FIT.
THE PASTOR SAYS HE'S BEEN COUNSELING MICHAEL.
Salce: HE TOLD PASTOR PAUL THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE WAS LOOKING FOR A GOOD CHRISTIAN WIFE,
THAT HE WANTED TO SETTLE DOWN AND HE WANTED A FAMILY.
MAYBE I JUDGED TOO SOON.
HE'S A GOOD MAN.
THANK YOU.
Narrator: ON MONDAY, LYDIA GOES TO WORK AS USUAL,
BUT SHE'S IN FOR A SURPRISE.
HEY, LYDIA, RIGHT?
ON THE WAY TO THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT,
SHE RUNS INTO MICHAEL.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I JUST GOT A JOB HERE.
I ASSEMBLE BIKES AND GRILLS AND STUFF.
OH, THAT'S GREAT.
I'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO IT.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, WHEN DID YOU START GETTING TATTOOS?
I GOT MY FIRST ONE WHEN I WAS 18.
AT LUNCHTIME, LYDIA REACHES OUT TO MICHAEL,
TAKING HER PASTOR'S WORDS TO HEART.
SHE GETS THE FULL DOWNLOAD ON HIS BACK STORY.
SO, WHAT DOES THE HEART MEAN?
MICHAEL SPILLS EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS HARD LIFE,
INCLUDING HIS 20 YEARS IN A FLORIDA PRISON
ON ARSON AND ASSAULT CHARGES.
IT'S ALL A REMINDER OF MY PAST
AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO GET BACK TO.
Salce: HE HAD A LOT OF ENDURANCE.
LIKE, HE DIDN'T HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE FAMILY LIFE THAT I HAD
THAT WERE SUPPORTIVE, THAT WERE LOVING.
HE WOULD STILL TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF HIMSELF.
Narrator: LYDIA FEELS SORRY FOR MICHAEL
AND BELIEVES HIM HE SAYS
HE'S TRYING TO PUT HIS PAST BEHIND HIM.
Salce: HE SAID, "THAT'S WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER THEN.
I'VE MATURED SINCE THEN."
AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, SO THAT'S LIKE PAST TENSE.
YOU DON'T -- YOU'RE NOT INTO THAT STUFF ANYMORE."
HE'S LIKE, "OH, NO, NO. I DON'T EVEN OWN A MOTORCYCLE."
SO HE WAS REFORMED?
I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
AT THE TIME, I WANTED TO BELIEVE HIM THAT HE WAS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LYDIA.
HI.
I BELIEVE THIS IS YOURS.
I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO GO GET SOME COFFEE.
ARE YOU ASKING ME ON A DATE?
Narrator: WHEN MICHAEL ASKS HER OUT,
SHE DECIDES TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
Salce: MY FAITH IN GOD TOLD ME ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
AND THAT PEOPLE HEAL AND PEOPLE CHANGE.
MY FAITH IN GOD TOLD ME THAT EVEN SOMEONE LOOKED LIKE THIS,
IF HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO GO DOWN A DIFFERENT ROAD,
GOD WOULD HELP HIM IF HE REALLY WANTED THAT IN HIS HEART.
OKAY.
Dr. Jordan: WHEN LYDIA MEETS MICHAEL,
SHE GRADUATES FROM FIXER TO RESCUER.
FOR LYDIA, THIS IS A MAN
THAT SHE CAN TRY TO SUPPORT IN HIS NEW LIFE,
AND SHE CAN GET THE RESPECT AND THE GRATITUDE
THAT SHE NEVER GOT FROM HER OTHER RELATIONSHIPS.
LEAD THE WAY.
Narrator: AFTER JUST A FEW DATES,
LYDIA FINDS HERSELF UNEXPECTEDLY FALLING FOR THAT TATTOOED BIKER.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER,
MICHAEL SAYS THE WORDS SHE'S BEEN WAITING YEARS TO HEAR.
OH!
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
HE SAID, "I WANT TO GET MARRIED ON MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY."
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
YES!
Narrator: IT'S A ROMANTIC GESTURE,
AND IT'S WHAT LYDIA WANTS MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD,
BUT IT'S ALL HAPPENING SO SUDDENLY.
Dr. Jordan: SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT, BASICALLY,
YOU STARTED DATING A GUY
WHO WANTED TO GET MARRIED TWO MONTHS LATER.
YES.
COMING UP...
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THIS RELATIONSHIP
TO GO CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL.
YOU'RE HURTING ME.
I SHOULD HAVE QUIT OUT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP
AND RAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
Narrator: FOR YEARS, LYDIA SALCE
HAS BEEN OBSESSED WITH FINDING A HUSBAND.
NOW, SHE'S FOUND ONE IN A MAN NAMED MICHAEL,
A TATTOO-COVERED BIKER
WHO CLAIMS TO BE A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
YES!
ON FEBRUARY 8, 2011, THEY GET MARRIED.
FRIENDS, THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
WE HAD GOTTEN MARRIED IN THE CHURCH.
IT WAS VERY GEARED TOWARD BEING A FUN WEDDING.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MODELED AFTER, YOU KNOW,
THE BIKER IMAGE THAT MIKE LIKED TO PORTRAY
THAT HE HAD FROM HIS PAST.
SO, LYDIA, DID YOU WEAR JEANS ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?
I DID WHAT HE WANTED.
I DID WHAT HE ASKED FOR,
AND HE WAS SORT OF LIKE SUPERIMPOSING THE BIKER IMAGE
OVER THE FACT THAT, NOW,
HE'S GOING TO BE A HAPPILY MARRIED MAN.
THINK OF IT AS A COMEDY THING.
THIS IS HOW HE PUT IT TO ME.
YOU MAY KISS YOUR BRIDE.
Narrator: THE MARRIAGE RAISES THE EYEBROWS OF LYDIA'S BIBLE STUDY FRIENDS,
BUT SHE'S DETERMINED THAT THIS MARRIAGE
WILL END IN HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
WHEN I GET INVOLVED IN A RELATIONSHIP,
I HAVE TO GIVE IT MY ALL
AND WORK TOWARDS IT WHOLE HOG, 100 PERCENT.
IT HAS TO SURVIVE. I HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK.
BEING RAISED IN THAT NUCLEAR, STRONG TRADITIONAL FAMILY
WHERE PARENTS WERE ALWAYS MARRIED FOR LIFE
IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF HER IDENTITY.
LYDIA BECOMES SO ENTHRALLED
IN HER SUCCESS IN THIS NEW RELATIONSHIP.
SHE MISSES ALL OF THE RED FLAGS.
EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS WHERE THIS RELATIONSHIP IS GOING --
EVERYONE EXCEPT LYDIA.
Narrator: AFTER THE WEDDING, MICHAEL MOVES IN WITH LYDIA
AND HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AMANDA.
SHE DEVOTES ALL HER TIME AND MONEY
TO MAKING SURE THAT MICHAEL WILL STAY.
I WAS PAYING FOR EVERYTHING.
I WAS PAYING FOR THE HOUSE,
THE HEAT, THE GAS, THE PHONES.
HE MADE ABOUT $400 EVERY TWO WEEKS.
HE WOULD BUY TWO PACKS OF CIGARETTES A DAY,
AND HE WOULD BUY AN 18-PACK OF BUDWEISER EVERY DAY.
SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH GONE.
LYDIA EXPECTS MICHAEL
TO PLAY THE ROLE OF THE DOTING HUSBAND,
BUT IT SOON BECOMES CLEAR THAT MICHAEL
HASN'T PUT HIS WILD PAST BEHIND HIM.
YOU KNOW, MARRIAGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PARTNERSHIP.
YOU'RE COOKING. YOU'RE CLEANING. YOU'RE WORKING.
YOU'RE SUPPORTING HIM.
WE WOULD GET OUT OF WORK AT 4:00,
BE HOME BY 4:10, 4:15.
HE'D START DRINKING.
HE WOULDN'T STOP. IT WOULD BE ONE CAN AFTER ANOTHER.
POP, GONE. POP, DOWN.
I TOLD RODNEY AND THE GUYS THAT I'D GO OUT WITH THEM TODAY.
WHAT? WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK?
AND MICHAEL ISN'T JUST DRINKING AT HOME --
HE'S OFTEN OUT DRINKING WITH HIS FRIENDS, TOO.
Schettino: LYDIA HAD WANTED MICHAEL
TO BE SOMEBODY WHO WAS ALWAYS HOME
AND ALWAYS WILLING TO STAY
AROUND HER AND HER YOUNG DAUGHTER.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG STRESSORS
ON THE RELATIONSHIP.
SEE YOU LATER, BABE.
Narrator: LYDIA IS HEARTBROKEN AND FEELS BETRAYED
BY MICHAEL AND HIS PARTYING WAYS.
Dr. Jordan: YOU FIND OUT, NOT LONG AFTER YOU MARRY HIM,
THAT HIS RECOVERY IS NOT NEARLY AS PROGRESSED
IT WAS A SHAM.
IT WAS NOT A RECOVERY AT ALL.
SO, THE BIKER PAST WASN'T IN HIS PAST, WAS IT?
IT WAS VERY, VERY MUCH IN HIS PRESENT.
OUT IN PUBLIC, LYDIA PUTS ON A BRAVE FACE.
BUT INSIDE,
THE ANGER AND DISAPPOINTMENT ARE BUILDING.
SHE WAS GOOD AT, LIKE, MASKING THINGS.
VERY GOOD AT HIDING HER EMOTIONS AND HER FEELINGS.
SHE ALWAYS PUT ON A GOOD FRONT FOR PEOPLE.
HI.
I WAS VERY ASHAMED BY THE FACT THAT,
"WOW. I BLEW IT AGAIN."
YOU KNOW, I WAS TOTALLY CONNED.
I GET MARRIED AND I'M PAYING FOR THIS MAN'S ENTIRE LIFE
WHILE HE JUST GOES OUT AT NIGHT.
I HAVE NO HUSBAND BECAUSE HE'S NOT HOME WITH ME
ALL NIGHT LONG UNTIL 5:30 IN THE MORNING.
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator: IN EARLY JULY,
THE COUPLE'S BEEN MARRIED FOR JUST SIX MONTHS.
LYDIA COMES HOME FROM WORK SICK ONE NIGHT
WHILE MICHAEL IS ONCE AGAIN OUT PARTYING WITH HIS FRIENDS.
[ Ringing ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HEY, BABE.
YEAH, I'M NOT FEELING SO WELL.
SO I SAID TO HIM, "I'M IN TERRIBLE PAIN.
I NEED YOU TO COME HOME."
NAH, I AIN'T COMING HOME RIGHT NOW.
BUT THERE'S NO WAY MICHAEL IS LEAVING ANY TIME SOON.
HE SAYS, "I'M OUT WITH MY BROTHERS" --
HIS BROTHERS IN THE BIKER GANG.
I SAID, "WELL, ARE YOU COMING HOME?"
HE SAID, "WELL, YEAH."
I SAID, "WELL, LIKE, ARE YOU COMING HOME NOW
"OR DO YOU MEAN AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING
WHEN YOU GET HOME?"
AND HE GOT VERY ABRASIVE.
HE GOT VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE AND HUNG UP.
I SAY WHEN I COME HOME.
MICHAEL! MICHAEL!
[ Dial tone ]
AW, MAN!
....TRYING TO GET ME TO GO HOME.
[ COUGHS ]
Narrator: LYDIA IS FURIOUS,
AND THE SICKER SHE FEELS, THE MORE FRUSTRATED SHE BECOMES.
IS THIS THE SNAPPING MOMENT? IS THIS IS THE BREAK?
THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH, I WAS LIKE, "OKAY.
"THIS ISN'T A MARRIAGE. THIS IS NOT WORKING AT ALL.
THIS IS DIVORCE TIME."
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
YOU KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN. I WAS OUT WITH MY BOYS.
WHEN MICHAEL COMES HOME LATE, A LIVID LYDIA CORNERS HIM.
WELL, I'M HERE NOW.
Salce: I TOLD HIM I'M FILING FOR DIVORCE.
AND HE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF.
YOU'RE NOT DIVORCING ME.
WE MADE AN OATH IN FRONT OF GOD.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO...
ACCORDING TO LYDIA, MICHAEL FLIES INTO A RANGE.
HE FOLLOWED ME INTO THE BATHROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR.
HE STARTED POUNDING ON IT, OPENED THE DOOR,
CAME INTO THE BATHROOM AND GRABBED MY HANDS.
HE SAID, "GIVE ME THE F'ing WEDDING RING BACK."
YOU'RE HURTING ME.
HE TOOK AND RIPPED IT LITERALLY OFF MY HAND.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
I WAS CRYING -- I WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN,
I MEAN, BECAUSE MY WHOLE HAND WAS THROBBING.
I WAS LIKE, "JUST GET OUT. JUST GET OUT."
LYDIA KICKS MICHAEL OUT OF THE HOUSE.
BUT MICHAEL HAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO
AND SHOWS UP THE NEXT MORNING.
I'M SORRY I MESSED UP.
TAKE THAT BACK?
UNABLE TO SHED HER ROLE AS A RESCUER,
SHE LETS HIM BACK IN.
Dr. Jordan: LYDIA DOES THIS BECAUSE SHE CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT SHE IS FAILING AT A MARRIAGE AGAIN,
AND SHE ALSO WANTS TO BELIEVE
THAT SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FIX MICHAEL --
THAT SHE, LYDIA, IS THE ANSWER.
Narrator: BUT THE MARRIAGE HAS REACHED A TIPPING POINT,
AND ACCORDING TO LYDIA,
THEIR HOME IS NOW A BATTLEGROUND.
AND THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PUSHING
AND KNOCKING YOU OVER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ABUSE.
DID YOU TELL ANYBODY?
NO. I WAS VERY EMBARRASSED.
IN FACT, WHEN ASKED, LYDIA DENIES BEING ABUSED.
CO-WORKERS ENQUIRED AND SAID,
"LYDIA, ARE YOU AFRAID?
DOES HE HURT YOU? DOES HE HIT YOU?"
ALL OF WHICH SHE RESPONDED TO THE NEGATIVE,
THAT NO HE WASN'T VIOLENT OR AGGRESSIVE WITH HER.
NO, I MEAN IT.
I MEAN, HE STAYS OUT, YOU KNOW, ALL NIGHT.
Narrator: BY EARLY AUGUST, LYDIA IS AT THE END OF A ROPE.
AT WORK, ALL SHE CAN TALK ABOUT IS HER HATRED FOR HER HUSBAND.
HE GOES OUT EVERY NIGHT, YOU KNOW, WITH HIS BROTHERS,
YOU KNOW, AND IF HE KEEPS PICKING THEM OVER ME...
LYDIA HAD INDICATED THAT SHE HAD HAD IT WITH HER MARRIAGE.
NO, I MEAN IT.
I MEAN, IF HE KEEPS THIS UP, I'M GONNA KILL HIM.
OKAY, WAIT.
IT WAS A COMMENT THAT WAS SAID IN A TONE AND IN A WAY
THAT CAUSED THE CO-WORKER TO QUESTION LYDIA,
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
AND LYDIA CONTINUED TO SAY IF HE CONTINUES TO GO OUT,
"NO, I MEAN IT. I'M GONNA KILL HIM."
Narrator: LYDIA'S CO-WORKER TAKES HER THREAT SERIOUSLY.
Schettino: AND ONE OF THE CO-WORKERS ACTUALLY REFERRED LYDIA
TO A PROGRAM THAT THE EMPLOYER OFFERS FOR COUNSELING.
I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.
I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD.
Narrator: BUT LYDIA DOESN'T GET HELP.
INSTEAD, SHE DECIDES TO GIVE MICHAEL
ONE LAST CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
ON AUGUST 11th, LYDIA'S DAUGHTER
IS AT HER FATHER MATT'S HOUSE FOR THE WEEKEND.
LYDIA TEXTS MICHAEL
THAT SHE WANTS TO SPEND THE EVENING TOGETHER.
Schettino: THEY HAD PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH,
"WHAT TIME ARE YOU COMING HOME?"
HE SAID, "SOON."
SOON CERTAINLY CAME AND WENT,
AND MICHAEL STILL WAS NOT HOME.
Narrator: AT MIDNIGHT, MICHAEL FINALLY STUMBLES THROUGH THE DOOR.
HERE I AM.
LYDIA TAKES ONE LOOK AT HIM AND ERUPTS.
ALL YOU DO IS NAG, NAG, NAG.
Salce: HE'S COMPLETELY DRUNK,
AND I SEE THREE NEW BADGES ON THE VEST,
SO I KNEW WHAT HIS DECISION WAS.
OUR MARRIAGE REALLY DIDN'T MATTER AT ALL TO HIM.
THIS IS WHAT MATTERED TO HIM.
HE WAS GOING BACK TO THIS LIFESTYLE
THAT MAYBE HE NEVER REALLY LEFT.
THE BADGES BELONG TO A LOCAL MOTORCYCLE GANG.
LYDIA FINALLY SEES THE REAL MICHAEL,
AND REALIZES SHE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
YOU KNEW WHO I WAS WHEN YOU MARRIED ME.
Schettino: AT THAT POINT IN TIME, MICHAEL INDICATED --
SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M JUST DONE WITH THIS.
I WANT TO BE DONE WITH THIS."
YOU'RE DONE WITH THIS?
Narrator: BUT LYDIA'S NOT DONE YET --
NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT.
I GOT NEWS FOR YOU.
THE FOLLOWING IS LYDIA'S VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
LOOK AT THIS. THAT'S RIGHT -- DIVORCE PAPERS.
I SHOWED HIM THE DOCUMENT,
AND I SAID, "ALL I NEED YOU TO DO IS SIGN THIS."
WE'LL JUST GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS.
LYDIA CLAIMS THAT ACTUALLY SEEING THE DIVORCE PAPERS
UNLEASHES MICHAEL'S DEMONS.
AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW,
HE GRABBED ME BY THE BACK OF THE HAIR,
SLAMMED MY HEAD BACK VERY ABRUPTLY.
FOR MORE ON HOW LYDIA IS DOING NOW,
GO TO investigationdiscovery.com.
Narrator: AFTER ONLY SIX MONTHS OF MARRIAGE,
LYDIA HAS HAD IT WITH HER HUSBAND MICHAEL'S WILD WAYS.
WHEN HE COMES HOME LATE AGAIN
AFTER DRINKING WITH HIS BIKER FRIENDS,
LYDIA DEMANDS A DIVORCE,
AND THE SITUATION IMPLODES.
I WAS LOOKING DOWN AT THIS HUGE KNIFE...
YOU'RE NOT DIVORCING ME!
...AND...
FORGIVE ME. I'M SORRY.
I WAS LOOKING DOWN AT HUGE KNIFE,
AND HE SAID, "I'M GONNA [BEEP] KILL YOU, YOU [BEEP]"
PLEASE, LET GO OF ME.
LYDIA CLAIMS SHE COWERS
AS MICHAEL STARTS REPEATEDLY PUNCHING HER.
I AM IN A FETAL POSITION ON THE FLOOR
SCREAMING FOR HIM TO STOP.
YOU DON'T EVEN THINK AT THAT POINT.
IT'S JUST TO GET THIS TO STOP.
IT'S JUST COMPLETE PANIC. "HE'S GOING TO KILL ME."
BUT LYDIA, YOU MADE IT STOP.
HOW DID YOU DO THAT?
I DID MAKE IT STOP. DID I HAVE A CHOICE?
I DON'T KNOW.
DID I MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE?
FOR ME, AT THE TIME, IT WAS THE ONLY CHOICE I COULD MAKE.
AT THIS POINT, HE HAD DROPPED THE KNIFE.
I WAS SWINGING JUST BLINDLY --
MY HAIR WAS IN FRONT OF MY FACE,
MY GLASSES ARE OFF,
I HAVE THE KNIFE IN MY RIGHT HAND,
AND I'M SWINGING HYSTERICALLY.
THE KNIFE CONNECTS MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES
ACROSS MICHAEL'S BODY.
BUT MICHAEL AND THE PROSECUTION TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN THEM.
THEY SAY THAT WHEN MICHAEL
TRIES TO LEAVE THE KITCHEN TO GO TO THE BATHROOM,
LYDIA GRABS A KNIFE AND LUNGES AT HIM.
SHE PLUNGED A KNIFE INTO HIS BACK.
YOU CRAZY ***!
HE TURNED TOWARDS LYDIA.
SHE CONTINUED TO STAB HIM.
IN STRUGGLING FOR HIS LIFE,
HE TRIED TO GET THE KNIFE AWAY FROM HER.
SHE STABS HIM MULTIPLE TIMES,
ALL THE WHILE CHANTING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF,
"YOU'RE DONE. YOU'RE DONE. YOU'RE DONE."
Narrator: AFTER WASHING HER HANDS,
LYDIA CALMLY TAKES MICHAEL'S CELLPHONE OUT OF HIS POCKET.
I NEED AN AMBULANCE.
MY HUSBAND JUST TRIED TO KILL ME.
AND WHAT IS YOUR HUSBAND TRYING TO DO TO YOU?
HE JUST TRIED TO STAB ME TO DEATH.
OKAY. WHERE IS HE RIGHT NOW?
ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.
HE'S ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR?
WE'RE BOTH ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.
OKAY. DID YOU -- DID ANYBODY STAB ANYBODY?
YES, MA'AM, WE ARE BOTH BLEEDING.
WE NEED AN AMBULANCE.
AND WHERE IS HE BLEEDING FROM?
ALL OVER.
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU STAB HIM?
HE WAS TRYING TO STAB ME. I DON'T KNOW.
OKAY. MA'AM, DID YOU PHYSICALLY STAB HIM?
WE BOTH STABBED EACH OTHER. YES.
HE'S BREATHING?
HE'S BREATHING.
WHERE ARE YOUR WOUNDS?
I DON'T KNOW I CAN'T TELL WHERE THE BLOOD'S COMING FROM.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
PARAMEDICS ARRIVE
AND IMMEDIATELY START TENDING TO MICHAEL.
POLICE SHOW UP READY FOR A TAKE DOWN.
Schettino: WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTERED,
THEY SAW A LIFELESS FIGURE ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.
Narrator: POLICE SEARCH THE HOUSE
AND FIND LYDIA SITTING OUT BACK COVERED IN BLOOD,
BUT SHE HAS ZERO STAB WOUNDS --
THE BLOOD IS ALL MICHAEL'S.
HE ATTACKED ME.
PARAMEDICS WORK FRANTICALLY TO SAVE MICHAEL'S LIFE.
HE MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVES,
AND IS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL SEVEN DAYS LATER.
HE TRIED TO STRANGLE ME. HE PUT A KNIFE TO MY THROAT.
POLICE PLACE LYDIA UNDER ARREST.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
Dr. Jordan: WHEN LYDIA PICKED UP THAT KNIFE
AND USED IT AGAINST HER HUSBAND MICHAEL,
IT WASN'T JUST THAT SHE BELIEVED --
TRULY BELIEVED -- THAT MICHAEL WAS ABOUT TO KILL HER,
IT WAS PROBABLY A CULMINATION OF EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT
SHE EVER HAD IN MARRIAGE --
THAT THIS WAS ONE LAST MARITAL FAILURE
THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE FINAL VICTIM OF.
Narrator: ONE YEAR LATER,
LYDIA'S CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED ***.
THIS CASE WAS ABOUT OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES,
AND NOT JUDGING EITHER HIM OR HER
BASED UPON PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ALONE.
THE JURY WAS ABLE TO SEE PAST LYDIA'S INNOCENT FACADE.
THEY REALIZED SHE WASN'T WHO SHE SEEMED TO BE,
AND THAT SHE WAS CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE.
Narrator: SHE'S SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS
IN THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
HER CASE IS CURRENTLY ON APPEAL.
Salce: I WAS DEFENDING MYSELF FROM BEING KILLED.
THE COURTS, THE LAW, THE JUDGES, THE ATTORNEYS,
THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY --
THEY DID NOT SEE IT AS DEFENDING MYSELF.
AND SO, NOW, YOU'RE HERE AND SENTENCED...
TO 16 YEARS.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT ON A DAILY BASIS?
ONE DAY AT A TIME.