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Dale: I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A HOARDER.
I JUST THINK I LIKE TOO MANY THINGS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Roy: THIS IS [BLEEP] RIDICULOUS.
YOUR DAUGHTER ISN'T GOING TO HAVE A LIFE OF HER OWN
IF YOU KEEP THIS [BLEEP] UP.
Jessica: BEING A LITTLE PERSON LIVING IN A GIANT HOARD
IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.
Sheila: IT'S GOT TO CHANGE.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE,
THERE'LL BE AN EVICTION NOTICE.
SHE HOARDS IN A RAGEFUL WAY LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.
WE NEED TO DO A FIRE DRILL.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
AH!
[ COUGHS ]
WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT OUT ON TIME.
Beaton: THERE IS NO WAY
THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT UP IN 30 DAYS.
THEY MIGHT GET EVICTED.
OH, COME ON!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Dale: IT'S A NIGHTMARE GOING THROUGH MY HOUSE.
YOU CAN NEVER JUST WALK DOWN THE HALL.
YOU CLIMB AND JUMP, CLIMB AND SLIDE, CLIMB AND FALL.
[ GRUNTS ]
IT'S NOT NORMAL TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE ROOM IN THE HOUSE.
NOW, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT
BECAUSE UNDERNEATH HERE THERE'S A KITCHEN.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COOK ANYTHING IN THIS MICROWAVE
FOR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 8 AND 10 YEARS.
IT'S GOT NOODLES AND TIMERS
AND LITTLE STORAGE THINGS AND COCOA AND CUPCAKE HOLDERS.
I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A HOARDER.
I JUST THINK I LIKE TOO MANY THINGS.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S A HOARDER. DARN IT.
[ SIGHS ]
Shirley: SHE ALWAYS IS BUYING STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SHE'LL HAVE NEW STUFF, OBVIOUSLY,
STACKED UP EVERYWHERE.
BUT SHE'LL GO OUT TO THE STORE AND BE LIKE, "OH, WELL, LOOKIT.
"THEY HAVE THESE TOWELS ON SALE. I'LL GET THAT.
"AND THIS IS ON SALE.
I'LL BUY THAT."
THEY CALL HER SALE DALE. YES, THEY DO.
Narrator: BUT WHILE DALE,
A 59-YEAR-OLD RETIRED HOME HEALTHCARE AIDE,
MAY HAVE A NOSE FOR A SALE,
HER COMPULSIVE SPENDING AND COLLECTING
HAVE GREATLY IMPACTED BOTH HER LIVING SPACE AND HER DAUGHTER'S.
Dale: JESSICA'S MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OUT OF FOUR CHILDREN.
SHE'S 21 YEARS OLD, GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
OH, SHE'S A LITTLE PERSON.
DIDN'T MENTION THAT.
BEING A LITTLE PERSON LIVING IN A GIANT HOARD
IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.
THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM -- OR WHAT USED TO BE THE LIVING ROOM.
THERE'S ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE I CAN GET TO.
MY BAG OF TOYS THAT ARE UP THERE
WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO SORT THROUGH.
IF I WERE TO CLIMB UP THERE,
I'D PROBABLY FALL INTO A PIT OF STUFF
OR THE STUFF WOULD COME FALLING DOWN ON TOP OF ME.
SO THIS IS HARD, YOU KNOW?
IT IS HARD WATCHING THE SITUATION,
ESPECIALLY WITH JESSICA.
THE STOVETOP DOESN'T WORK.
THEY CAN'T DO ANY DISHES BECAUSE THE KITCHEN SINK IS ALL FULL.
THE BATHROOM IS NEARLY INACCESSIBLE.
THERE'S STUFF PILED UP AROUND THE TOILET,
AND I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE HOW IT DOESN'T ALL COLLAPSE ON THEM.
AND THAT'S A BIG FEAR THAT I HAVE.
Jessica: THIS IS THE HALLWAY.
THIS DRESS I WORE AT AN LPA CONVENTION.
I WORE IT AT THE BANQUET.
AND LPA IS LITTLE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.
THIS IS A BRACELET THAT I GOT
I BELIEVE AT A LITTLE PEOPLE'S CONVENTION, AS WELL.
SOMEONE HAD A JEWELRY STAND, AND I JUST COULDN'T RESIST.
IT'S GORGEOUS!
IT IS HARD TO GET THROUGH THE HALLWAY.
I MEAN, IT'S AN OBSTACLE, BUT, YOU KNOW, LIFE IS AN OBSTACLE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Roy: JESSICA HAS A LOT OF MEDICAL CONCERNS.
SHE WAS BORN AS AN ACHONDROPLASIA DWARF,
ALSO KNOWN AS A LITTLE PERSON.
[ SQUEAK ]
Shirley: THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS
THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
SHE DID HAVE TO HAVE AN INCH AND A HALF
TAKEN OFF THE BASE OF HER SKULL
BECAUSE IT WAS CRUSHING HER SPINAL CORD.
SHE HAS A SHUNT THAT DRAINS EXCESS BRAIN FLUID
FROM HER HEAD IN HER STOMACH.
Roy: DOCTORS SAID SHE WOULDN'T MAKE IT A FEW MONTHS.
THEN SHE WASN'T GONNA MAKE IT PAST SIX YEARS.
AND LAST YEAR,
SHIRLEY AND I TOOK HER OUT FOR HER 21st BIRTHDAY.
THIS ROOM USED TO BE MY ROOM.
IT'S NOW BEING USED FOR LIKE A STORAGE UNIT.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ METAL CLANGING ]
[ GRUNTS ]
IT'S BEEN ALMOST A DECADE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN HERE.
I MISS THIS ROOM A LOT.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW THINGS IN HERE THAT HOLD MEMORIES.
AHA!
I HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.
I LOVE TO COLLECT TEDDY BEARS, AND I DO LIKE TO COLLECT DOLLS.
FOR A LONG TIME, STUFFED ANIMALS WERE MY ONLY FRIENDS
BECAUSE I HAD AN OXYGEN TUBE
FROM THE TIME I WAS LIKE 2 OR 3 UNTIL I WAS 7.
SO LITTLE KIDS WERE KIND OF AFRAID OF ME.
AND SO, STUFFED ANIMALS WERE MY FRIENDS
'CAUSE THEY STUCK AROUND
AND BASICALLY, THEY WERE ALWAYS SMILING AND HAPPY TO SEE ME.
AND I GUESS IT'S PART OF THE REASON
WHY THE COLLECTION GOT SO BIG.
I THINK, IN A SENSE,
I BASICALLY HAVE BECOME A HOARDER
BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SEE A STUFFED ANIMAL
THAT'S REALLY CUTE OR HAS BIG EYES,
IT'S LIKE I'VE JUST GOT TO HAVE IT.
IT'S GOT TO BE MINE!
SO, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT IS CONTAGIOUS.
Narrator: WITH BOTH DALE AND JESSICA HOARDING,
THE SITUATION IN THEIR HOME CONTINUES TO GET WORSE,
FILLING EVERY ROOM TO CAPACITY
AND FORCING THEM TO SHARE THE ONLY SMALL SPACE
THAT REMAINS IN THE HOUSE -- THE MASTER BEDROOM.
AND THIS... IS OUR ROOM.
HI, MOM.
HI, SWEETHEART.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE COLLECTION CONTINUES.
FOR JESSICA, A LONELY CHILDHOOD PUSHED HER TO HOARD.
BUT FOR HER MOTHER, DALE, IT WAS HER HUSBAND'S INFIDELITIES
THAT TURNED A FONDNESS FOR COLLECTING
INTO AN OBSESSIVE COMPULSION.
MY TRUST IN HUMANITY IN GENERAL WENT RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW
AND HOARDING BEGAN IN FULL FORCE.
TRUST NO ONE.
BUILD YOUR WALLS, AND BUILD THEM THICK.
THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH AND HURT ANYMORE.
Narrator: AS A SINGLE PARENT
RAISING A CHILD WITH SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES,
MOUNTING MEDICAL BILLS SENT DALE INTO FINANCIAL RUIN.
IT WAS THEN THAT HER PARENTS STEPPED IN TO HELP.
THE HOUSE THAT MY MOM AND JESSICA LIVE IN
IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY MY GRANDMOTHER.
WE ALL MOVED IN THERE AS A FAMILY.
IT'S NOW IN TRUST BECAUSE MY MOTHER'S IN A NURSING HOME,
AND I'M THE TRUSTEE IN CHARGE OF IT.
I HESITATE TO CALL MYSELF HER LANDLORD, BUT...
Dale: SHEILA AND I HAVE HAD SOME VERY ROUGH TIMES
WHERE WE DIDN'T SPEAK FOR A LONG TIME, OFTEN DISAGREE.
WE'RE NOT THE SAME TYPES OF PERSONALITY
AND WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS.
Narrator: FOR YEARS, DALE WAS SUCCESSFUL
IN HIDING THEIR DANGEROUS LIVING CONDITIONS FROM HER SISTER.
BUT SIX MONTHS AGO, THE SECRET WAS EXPOSED.
WHILE DALE WAS OUT, SHEILA GAINED ENTRY TO THE HOME.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY SISTER CAME INTO THE HOUSE
WITHOUT MY PERMISSION
AND SAW MY LIVING ENVIRONMENT, I WAS DEVASTATED...
[ SIGHS ]
[ Voice breaking ] ...ASHAMED.
Sheila: IT REALLY WAS A DEATH TRAP.
IF ANYTHING HAPPENED, THEY WOULD BE KILLED.
I MEAN, THEY'D JUST BE KILLED. THEY'D BE DEAD.
YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE HER SOME TIME TO CLEAN IT UP,
BUT IT CANNOT CONTINUE.
IT WILL NOT CONTINUE.
IF SHE WANTS TO LIVE THAT WAY,
IT'LL HAVE TO BE AT A DIFFERENT ADDRESS.
IF WE CANNOT CLEAN UP THE HOUSE AND STOP HOARDING,
THEN MY MOM AND I WON'T HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
WE JUST FEEL STUCK.
I ABSOLUTELY DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
[ Voice breaking ] I DON'T KNOW.
[ SNORING ]
Jessica: BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING AT HOME,
I DON'T REALLY GET OUT MUCH.
I DON'T GET TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE
OR GET THE CHANCE TO MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS MY AGE.
Narrator: 21-YEAR-OLD JESSICA
SHARES HER MOTHER'S COMPULSIVE HOARDING DISORDER.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
HER MOTHER ALSO BATTLES SEVERE DEPRESSION --
A COMBINATION THAT HAS ISOLATED THEM BOTH
FROM THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE HOME.
Jessica: MY MOM SPENDS A LOT OF EXTRA TIME
SLEEPING DURING THE DAY.
AND WHEN MY MOM IS SLEEPING, SADLY, I JUST SIT AND WATCH TV.
Dale: I SLEEP IN A BED WITH JESSICA.
WE SHARE.
JESSICA AND I, ON THE AVERAGE,
SPEND PROBABLY 20 TO 22 HOURS A DAY IN...BED.
WE HAVE OUR MEALS THERE.
WE WATCH TELEVISION THERE.
WE DO ANY ACTIVITIES THAT AN AVERAGE FAMILY WOULD DO --
WE'RE DOING THEM THERE ON TOP OF THE BED
BECAUSE IT IS THE LAST CLEAR SPOT IN THE HOUSE.
Narrator: BUT WHILE DALE AND HER DAUGHTER JESSICA
HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE TIGHT QUARTERS,
DALE'S SISTER AND LANDLORD, SHEILA,
FINDS THE LIVING SITUATION UNACCEPTABLE.
Sheila: THROWING MY SISTER OUT ON THE STREET
WHEN I KNOW SHE HAS NOWHERE TO GO
AND NO MONEY IS JUST A REALLY, REALLY UGLY ALTERNATIVE.
BUT LEAVING HER IN A DEATH TRAP IS SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH
SINCE SHEILA WAS LAST INSIDE THE HOME.
TODAY SHE HAS RETURNED TO SEE WHAT PROGRESS --
IF ANY -- HER SISTER AND NIECE HAVE MADE.
Jessica: I AM WORRIED THAT SHE WILL BE VERY UPSET
WITH THE CONDITION OF THE HOUSE
'CAUSE THE HOUSE IS IN WORSE SHAPE
SINCE THE LAST TIME SHE WAS HERE.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
HELLO.
HI. HOW YOU DOING?
IT GOT A LITTLE WORSE IN HERE.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ SIGHS ]
MM-HMM.
NO.
RIGHT?
RIGHT.
[ SIGHS ]
I WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY...[SIGHS]
CRESTFALLEN TO SEE IT WAS WORSE THAN IT EVER WAS.
I SWEAR THE PILE WAS A FOOT HIGHER
IN THE LIVING ROOM THAN IT HAD BEEN BEFORE.
IT'S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A BAD DREAM.
IT'S LIKE, YOU DON'T -- IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT REAL.
[ CRUNCHING ]
DALE, CAN YOU COOK IN HERE AT ALL?
YES. AMAZINGLY, I CAN.
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH, YOU'VE GOT FOOD HERE.
IT'S LIKE, THIS STUFF LOOKS LIKE IT'S REALLY OLD.
SOME OF THEM MIGHT MAKE YOU SICK TO EVEN USE IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET RID OF AT LEAST 90% OF THIS STUFF.
IT'S JUST NUTS.
A FIRE COULD HAPPEN IN HERE SO EASILY.
FORGET TO TURN A BURNER OFF, SOMETHING FALLS ON IT.
THE TWO OF YOU WOULD BE DEAD IN A MINUTE.
BEING A SMOKER, TOO,
IT'S SO EASY TO DROP A CIGARETTE BUTT
AND NOT BE ABLE TO FIND IT QUICK.
BE UP IN FLAMES BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
YEAH, YOU'RE OFFICIALLY LIVING IN A DEATH TRAP.
[ SIGHS ] MUST CHANGE.
THIS IS MUCH WORSE THAN I THOUGHT --
MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
YOU SURE YOU'RE READY TO EMBRACE THIS?
I DON'T THINK I HAVE A CHOICE IF I WANT TO LIVE ANY LONGER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE HERE, YOU DON'T. YEAH.
IT JUST -- THIS CANNOT CONTINUE.
IT JUST CAN'T.
THREAT'S NOT NECESSARY.
IT'S NOT A THREAT. IT'S JUST A STATEMENT.
MM.
Jessica: SHE SAYS SHE LOVES US AND SHE'S TRYING TO HELP US,
AND, IN MY OPINION, INSTEAD OF HELPING,
SHE BASICALLY MORE LIKE THREATENED.
WHERE DO YOU GUYS HAVE MEALS NOW?
WE HAVE ONE BEDROOM WHERE WE SIT ON THE BED AND EAT.
LET'S SEE THAT.
OH.
IT'S GOT TO BE BETTER THAN THIS. RIGHT?
NO.
WELL, LET'S GO.
Sheila: JESSICA -- SHE'S HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE
HANGING ON TO THINGS, TRYING TO MANEUVER IN THERE.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
BUT JESSICA FOLLOWS DALE'S LEAD.
I MEAN, SHE DOES MODEL EVERYTHING THAT DALE DOES.
DALE HOARDS, SHE HOARDS.
DALE'S ATTACHED TO STUFF, SHE'S ATTACHED TO STUFF.
WHY ARE THESE FALLING DOWN?
[ SIGHS ]
OKAY.
IS THIS THE BEDROOM YOU USE?
Dale: YEAH, IT'S GOTTEN PRETTY BAD.
I MEAN...
WELL, NOT TO BE RUDE,
BUT I THINK IT'S WELL BEYOND PRETTY BAD.
[ SIGHS ]
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE SLEEPING IN THERE.
YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH THINGS PILED TO THE CEILING
AND FOUR FEET ACROSS, ONLY ONE BEDROOM THAT YOU CAN GET INTO,
AND I PERSONALLY CAN'T EVEN SEE THE BED.
OH, DEAR.
[ GROANS ]
I EXPECT EXTREME CHANGE.
AND I EXPECT IT TO BE CLEANED UP AT LEAST WITHIN A MONTH.
YOU'RE POSSESSED BY YOUR POSSESSIONS.
YOU'RE DROWNING IN THEM.
I'LL GIVE IT A MONTH, BUT I WON'T GIVE IT ANY LONGER.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO CHANGE.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE,
THE HOME WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LIVE IN.
MM-HMM.
THERE'LL BE AN EVICTION NOTICE.
THERE WILL BE THE SHERIFF COMING.
IT WILL NOT BE PRETTY.
I TOLD HER SHE HAD 30 DAYS TO FIX IT -- PERIOD.
IF SHE WANTS TO LIVE THAT WAY,
IT WILL HAVE TO BE AT A DIFFERENT ADDRESS.
YOU EITHER CHANGE OR YOU LEAVE.
Dale: I HAVE HAD MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
WONDERING WHAT I WOULD DO...
IF MY PROGRESS ISN'T SATISFACTORY
TO MY SISTER'S DEMANDS.
Jessica: WE WOULD HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
IF WE WERE EVICTED,
WE WOULD PROBABLY END UP LIVING IN OUR CAR.
UNLESS WE HAD HELP,
I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD BE ANY WAY
WE COULD GET IT DONE IN A MONTH.
Narrator: JESSICA'S SISTER, SHIRLEY,
HAS MADE EFFORTS TO CLEAN THE HOUSE IN THE PAST,
BUT HER MOTHER'S RESISTANCE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE.
TODAY, FOR JESSICA'S SAKE,
SHIRLEY AND HER BROTHER, ROY, HAVE AGREED TO TRY ONCE MORE.
I PROBABLY HAVEN'T BEEN INSIDE MY MOM'S HOUSE
IN SIX TO EIGHT YEARS.
I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH INVOLVEMENT WITH IT IN YEARS
'CAUSE I'M USUALLY A LITTLE TOO BLUNT WITH MY FEEDBACK.
I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE A HARD TIME SUGARCOATING THINGS,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOULD.
ALL RIGHT. SO, COME ON IN.
WATCH YOUR STEP.
THE LIVING ROOM.
IF THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WORD FOR IT.
STEP OVER THIS GUY HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO GO THAT WAY?
Roy: [BLEEP]
YEAH, IT'S REALLY TIGHT.
[ SIGHS ] [BLEEP] UNBELIEVABLE.
[ CRUNCHING ]
AND THAT'S HER ROOM IF YOU WANT TO LOOK.
HI.
WELCOME TO MY HUMBLE ABODE.
I GUESS THAT'S ONE WAY TO PUT IT.
WANT ME TO COOK YOU DINNER?
IT WAS A JOKE, ROY.
FORGIVE ME IF I HAVE LESS THAN A SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT THIS.
Roy: ASIDE FROM THE SHOCK OF EVERYTHING,
YOU GET TO THE BEDROOM AND THERE'S MY MOM AND JESSICA
JUST SLEEPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON,
KNOWING THAT THINGS HAVE TO GET DONE.
OTHERWISE, SHE'S GONNA BE OUT OF THE HOUSE.
SIT UP, JESS.
I'M TRYING!
I'M PROBABLY SQUISHING HER.
[ GRUNTING ]
WELL, IT'S MESSY.
NO, NO.
MY CAR IS MESSY.
Dale: [ CHUCKLES ]
BECAUSE I HAVE A CANDY-BAR WRAPPER
AND THREE BOTTLES OF WATER ON THE FLOOR.
THIS IS [BLEEP] RIDICULOUS.
YOUR DAUGHTER ISN'T GOING TO HAVE A LIFE OF HER OWN
IF YOU KEEP THIS [BLEEP] UP.
I DON'T -- I'M SORRY.
I DON'T HAVE A POLITE WAY TO PUT THIS.
HE WAS EXTREMELY ANGRY AND COULD NOT HELP BUT VOICE IT,
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULD BE.
HE REALLY RESENTS ME FOR THE WAY I LIVE.
DO YOU STILL WANT TO HELP ME WITH IT?
YEAH, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP YOU
SHOVEL THE [BLEEP] OUT OF YOUR HOUSE
AND FOR IT TO NOT COME BACK IN YOUR HOUSE.
Shirley: WE ALL WANT TO HELP.
WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO WHERE YOU GUYS CAN ENJOY THE HOUSE.
LET'S GET GOING. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, I'M READY.
Narrator: BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ACTUALLY START CLEANING,
DALE DEPLOYS A TACTIC
THAT BOTH ROY AND SHIRLEY HAVE GOTTEN USED TO OVER THE YEARS.
Shirley: SHE LIKES TO STALL.
YOU KNOW, SHE TAKES AS LONG AS SHE POSSIBLY CAN
TO GET BACK THERE TO START HELPING OUT.
THEY START ON THE KITCHEN?
Shirley: WE'VE BEEN STANDING HERE WAITING TO START
FOR ABOUT 15, 20 MINUTES.
HOPEFULLY, THEY COME IN SOON SO WE CAN GET STARTED.
YOU GUYS READY TO GET THIS GOING?
YEAH, I THINK WE NEED
TO HAVE A LITTLE CHAT FIRST, THOUGH.
NO.
Roy: INSTEAD OF GETTING STARTED,
MY MOM WANTED TO TALK AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
WE DO NEED TO HAVE A TALK BEFORE WE START.
TYPICAL MOM. "I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS,
SO I'M GONNA FIND A WAY TO DISTRACT AS LONG AS I CAN."
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE UPSET, OBVIOUSLY,
AND THAT EVERYTHING TO YOU IS GARBAGE AND JUNK, OKAY?
BUT IT ISN'T ALL GARBAGE AND JUNK.
IF YOU HAVE IT LAYING ON THE FLOOR IN PILES,
YOU ARE TREATING IT LIKE GARBAGE.
IF THIS ISN'T GARBAGE,
THEN WHY IS IT SO DISORGANIZED, AND, I MEAN -- LOOK.
IS THIS -- YOU PROBABLY WOULD TELL ME THIS ISN'T GARBAGE,
BUT IT'S JUST THROWN IN A BIN HERE.
I --
THIS ISN'T HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF THINGS.
SOME OF IT MAY NOT BE GREAT STUFF.
A LOT OF IT IS VERY, VERY GOOD QUALITY.
THESE ARE MY THINGS.
Shirley: WELL, EVEN SOME OF THE NICE STUFF'S
GONNA HAVE TO GO, THOUGH.
THESE CHOICES ARE MINE TO MAKE.
ASSUMING ENOUGH IS GONE
THAT SHEILA DOESN'T EVICT YOU, YEAH.
SHEILA'S NOT GOING TO EVICT ME.
Roy: MY MOM IS OBVIOUSLY COMPLETELY DELUSIONAL.
SHE THINKS THAT SHEILA IS NOT GONNA EVICT HER,
AND YOU WOULD THINK AFTER 50-SOME YEARS,
SHE WOULD KNOW HER SISTER WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW
THAT SHE'S NOT GONNA HAVE A HOUSE
IF SHE DOESN'T GET THIS DONE.
Dale: I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU
TREATING EVERYTHING LIKE IT'S ALL GARBAGE
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GARBAGE.
YOU'RE INSANE.
I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY.
THAT'S SOMETHING FOR YOU AND A COUNSELOR
TO FIGURE OUT, APPARENTLY.
I LOVE MY MOM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN HELP HER.
SHE'S MADE HER OWN CHOICES, THOUGH.
JESSICA HAS NOT MADE MOST OF THESE CHOICES,
AND SHE DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE IN THIS POSITION.
SHE'S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH HELL IN HER LIFE.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ] SORRY.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW WE GOT BURIED SO DEEPLY.
OUT OF DEPRESSION, ANGER, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT BOY, OH, BOY, A MESS BEYOND MY PHYSICAL CAPABILITY
OF CLEARING ANY LONGER.
Narrator: DALE HAS BEEN GIVEN JUST 30 DAYS
TO CLEAR THE HOARD FROM HER HOME
OR SHE AND HER DAUGHTER WILL FACE EVICTION.
DR. BECKY BEATON IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
WHO SPECIALIZES IN COMPULSIVE HOARDING.
AFTER REVIEWING DALE'S CASE,
SHE HAS AGREED TO VISIT THE HOME TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.
COME IN!
ONE OF THE ISSUES IN TREATING TWO HOARDERS
IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD
IS THAT IF ONE DOES NOT GET BETTER,
IT'S LIKELY TO AFFECT THE OTHER.
THERE'S A SYSTEM GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM,
AND IN ORDER TO TREAT THEM, YOU HAVE TO TREAT THE SYSTEM.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
Beaton: YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
IS IT OKAY WITH YOU,
SINCE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE CLEANING,
IF I JUST TAKE A QUICK TOUR AROUND?
OH, BY ALL MEANS. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
IF YOU NEED A GUIDE, YOU CAN TAKE JESSICA.
SHE CAN HELP YOU OUT.
YOU CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND STEP ON THAT.
OKAY, THANKS.
IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR YOU
TO GET OVER ALL THIS STUFF, ISN'T IT?
YEAH.
IT WAS REALLY HARD TO WATCH JESSICA MOVE THROUGH THAT HOARD.
SHE COULD BARELY GET HER LEG OVER EACH ITEM
AS SHE WENT ALONG.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT DALE HAS JUST THROWN THINGS AROUND.
I THINK DALE HAS A LOT OF ANGER, AND HER HOARD EXEMPLIFIES THAT.
IS IT OKAY IF I HAVE A SEAT?
ALL RIGHT.
SO, CAN YOU TELL ME, IN GENERAL,
WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT YOU FIRST STARTED HOARDING?
I THINK MY HUSBAND LEAVING
PROBABLY PUSHED IT OVER THE EDGE.
WHAT YEAR DID HE LEAVE?
HE LEFT TWICE.
I LET HIM COME BACK ONCE.
AND THAT WAS 1991.
I GOT HER, THOUGH.
SO, WHEN HE CAME BACK, YOU GOT PREGNANT.
YEAH, 1990, ACTUALLY,
I GOT PREGNANT WITH JESSICA, YEAH.
AND THEN JESSICA WAS HOW OLD WHEN HE LEFT AGAIN?
HE WAS GONE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.
MM.
SO, HE GOT YOU PREGNANT.
AND PSHEW.
AND THEN LEFT AGAIN,
LEFT YOU WITH A CHILD THAT NEEDED, YOU KNOW,
HOW MANY SURGERIES?
23.
23.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WAS NOTICING
IS THE WAY THINGS ARE... KIND OF THROWN AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE...
YOU NAMED IT.
IT'S LIKE AN ANGRY HOARD.
WHEN DALE'S HUSBAND LEFT,
IT WAS A VERY SEVERE BETRAYAL TO HER.
AND THAT JUST KICKED OFF THE RAGE OF HOARDING.
I MEAN, SHE HOARDS IN A RAGEFUL WAY LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE CHANNELING YOUR ANGER
INTO THE HOARDING.
AND YOU'RE USING THESE THINGS TO BUILD WALLS UP
TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
AND IF YOU PUT WALLS UP AROUND YOU,
THEN IT WILL KEEP PEOPLE AWAY.
DALE, TELL ME THE SITUATION ABOUT THE EVICTION.
SHEILA TOLD ME --
YESTERDAY SHE TOLD ME I HAD A MONTH.
SHE CAME IN, LOOKED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE,
WAS MORTIFIED TO SEE THE CONDITION THAT IT WAS IN
AND THE FIRE HAZARD.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.
IF THERE WERE A FIRE IN HERE --
NO.
...THIS WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF,
AND YOU'RE JEOPARDIZING YOUR SAFETY IN THIS HOUSE
BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A FIRE HAZARD.
AND YOU'RE A SMOKER, UNFORTUNATELY.
I KNOW YOU MEAN WELL,
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU REALLY GET IT
ON A DEEP ENOUGH LEVEL HOW SERIOUS THIS IS.
I WANT YOU TO REALLY GET HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS
BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL HELP YOU IN THE LONG RUN.
SO WE NEED TO DO A FIRE DRILL.
I CHOSE TO DO A FIRE DRILL WITH DALE AND JESSICA
BECAUSE HOARDERS IN GENERAL
RESPOND VERY WELL TO EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES.
I WANTED JESSICA AND DALE TO FEEL WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO TRY TO GET OUT OF A HOME QUICKLY
IN CASE THERE WAS A FIRE,
TO REALLY RUN FOR THEIR LIVES THROUGH THAT HOARD.
OKAY, I AM GONNA GO OUTSIDE
AND BLOW THIS AIR HORN RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW,
AND THAT SIGNIFIES FIRE.
OKAY?
AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO
IS GET OUT OF THE HOME AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
AND I'M GONNA BLOW THIS EVERY 30 SECONDS
SO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT'S TAKING YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES BEFORE YOU WOULD BE UP IN FLAMES.
YES.
OKAY? SO, WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS GO AHEAD AND LAY DOWN
LIKE YOU'RE SLEEPING AND JUST WAIT FOR THE HORN.
OKAY.
GOT IT?
GOT IT.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
GOT TO GO. QUICK. GO.
RUN, RUN, RUN.
OKAY, OW! I'M TRYING!
[ GRUNTS ]
OOH, OKAY.
KEEP GOING. FASTER.
COME ON.
UH-OH.
30 SECONDS, JESSICA.
WE COULD BURN. MOVE. RUN.
COME ON, HONEY.
YOU CAN DO IT.
GOOD GIRL. RUN, RUN, RUN.
OUT THE DOOR.
WHOA!
GO, GO, GO.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
GO.
ALL RIGHT!
THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.
SO, YOU FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT AFTER THAT?
YOU GOT OUT IN A MINUTE.
YEAH.
SO, THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT
A LITTLE BIT MORE REALISTIC.
THAT WASN'T REALISTIC?
WELL, FOR STARTERS,
IF IT WERE NIGHTTIME, YOU WOULD HAVE THE LIGHTS OUT.
WHAT?!
WE'RE GONNA UP THE ANTE JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UH-OH. COME ON.
Beaton: THE FIRST FIRE DRILL WASN'T ENOUGH
TO REALLY HIT HOME FOR THEM.
THEY GOT OUT RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
AND I WANTED THEM TO SEE
THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT IT'S GONNA BE LIKE IN REAL LIFE.
SO I DID ANOTHER FIRE DRILL WITH THEM,
ANOTHER ONE WITH SMOKE AND OBSTACLES IN THE WAY.
AND STILL, THAT ISN'T EVEN COMPLETELY REALISTIC.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
Dale: LET'S GO. QUICK.
GO. RUN, RUN, RUN.
Jessica: OKAY.
[ COUGHS ]
RUN, RUN, RUN.
THATAGIRL. COME ON.
YOU CAN DO IT. RUN.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
HALF A MINUTE. WE'RE BEHIND.
RUN, RUN, RUN.
OKAY, OW! I'M TRYING.
OKAY.
GO, GO.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
[ GRUNTING ]
OH, DEAR.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
YOU'RE GOING TOO SLOW. FASTER.
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
[ GRUNTS ]
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
GO RIGHT OVER IT.
[ COUGHING ]
[ AIR HORN BLOWS ]
WOW.
[ COUGHING ]
OH, MY GOSH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
ON THE FIRST EXERCISE, THEY MADE IT OUT IN TIME,
BUT THE SECOND TIME, IT WAS TOO LATE.
Dale: [ Chuckling ] WHOA.
[ WHISTLES ]
THAT EXERCISE WITH DR. BECKY WAS VERY FRIGHTENING.
AND WE COULDN'T SEE SO WELL AND THINGS HAD FALLEN OVER,
WHICH WOULD DURING A FIRE.
THAT REALLY HIT HOME.
IT WAS TERRIFYING.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT OUT ON TIME -- PERIOD.
[ BREATHES SHAKILY ]
I HAVE LET YEARS ROT AWAY IN MY OWN LIFE.
AND WORSE YET, I'VE SUBJECTED MY CHILD TO THIS.
LIFE HAS DEALT HER ENOUGH HARD KNOCKS ALREADY.
I CAN'T LET MY DAUGHTER LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
Narrator: COMPULSIVE HOARDER DALE
IS FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT THE EXTREME CONDITIONS INSIDE HER HOME
COULD LEAVE BOTH SHE AND HER DAUGHTER JESSICA HOMELESS.
SO IN A FINAL ATTEMPT TO AVOID EVICTION,
DALE HAS AGREED TO A MASSIVE HAUL-AWAY.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER AMY TRAGER
IS ON SITE TO OVERSEE THE PROCESS.
WE'RE GONNA START BY CLEARING OUT SOME SPACE
FOR DALE AND JESSICA.
WE DO HAVE SOME GROUND RULES ALREADY MADE UP --
THINGS WE KNOW WE CAN GET RID OF AND THINGS WE KNOW WE CAN KEEP.
JUST REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE THEIR BELONGINGS, THEIR HOME.
PLEASE RESPECT THOSE.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
SO, LET'S GET STARTED.
ALL RIGHT, BRING THAT DOWN.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
Narrator: BUT AS SOON AS THE ORGANIZERS BEGIN THE PROCESS,
DALE IS OVERCOME BY HER ANXIETY AND FLEES THE SITUATION.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
Beaton: DALE AND JESSICA DISAPPEARED.
I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF, "THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY LONG DAY."
Jessica: [ GRUNTS ]
CAREFUL. THEY'RE WATCHING US.
OH.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I NEEDED JUST TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE SITUATION
FOR A FEW MINUTES.
Beaton: THERE'S A CERTAIN COMPONENT OF WATCHING IT
THAT HELPS YOU DESENSITIZE TO LETTING GO.
SHE CAN'T HANDLE IT.
SHE'S HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME.
AND SHE'D RATHER JUST BE ABSENT, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR HER.
SHE NEEDS TO PROCESS THE IDEA OF LETTING GO.
MOM, I'M GOING BACK, OKAY?
GOODBYE. GO GET TO WORK.
YOU'RE A TROUPER.
SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
LET'S GO START SORTING.
Narrator: WHILE JESSICA GEARS UP FOR THE SORTING PROCESS,
HER SIBLINGS, ROY AND SHIRLEY,
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DALE'S ABSENCE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
IS THIS GARBAGE?
THAT'S GOT TO BE GARBAGE.
ALL RIGHT.
I THINK THE SMELL IS COMING FROM THIS.
OH, DO WE WANT TO OPEN THAT OR...?
[ GROANS ]
IS THAT WHAT IT IS?
NO, THIS -- IT'S NOT THIS ONE.
IT'S GOT TO BE THAT ONE.
NO.
NO.
EW, IT'S THIS ONE!
OH, GOD. YEAH.
FOR SURE. OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD. [ GROANS ]
Shirley: WE GOT TO THE DEEP FREEZES,
AND THE BIG DEEP FREEZE'S FULL OF ROTTING FOOD,
AND IT JUST HIT US IN THE FACE.
SO WE HAD TO GET OUT AND GET SOME FRESH AIR.
WE NEED TO THROW THE DEEP FREEZE AWAY.
YOU CAN'T GET THE SMELL OUT OF IT.
IT'S SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF FOOD IN HERE.
SO IF WE EMPTY THE FOOD OUT,
IT WILL BE A LOT EASIER FOR US
TO GET THE CHEST FREEZER INTO THE TRUCK.
[ GAGS ]
[ GAGGING ]
[ SIGHS ]
[ GAGS ]
MY NEW GUY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A WEAK STOMACH.
[ GAGS ]
Daniel: I NEVER EXPERIENCED NOTHING LIKE THAT.
MY STOMACH IS DEFINITELY SICK.
THAT'S PRETTY NASTY STUFF.
Narrator: AFTER A LONG BREAK, DALE FINALLY RETURNS
TO BEGIN SORTING THROUGH THE ITEMS IN HER YARD.
Woman: DALE?
MOST OF THAT HAD GOODWILL TAGS ON.
SO, THE BOXES OF THE STUFF,
WE CAN EITHER OPEN IT ALL UP FOR YOU TO REVIEW,
OR IF YOU THINK YOU WANT TO DONATE...?
Dale: I'D RATHER REVIEW IT FIRST.
OKAY.
Woman #2: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN SEE
THAT YOU DON'T WANT RIGHT AWAY?
THAT, RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
OKAY.
THIS GUY, I DO WANT TO KEEP.
THIS IS MY MOM'S,
AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP BROKEN...
I CAME UP TO A TOY,
BUT IT'S GARBAGE BECAUSE IT'S BROKEN.
I'M GONNA THINK ON IT.
ALL DVDs ARE STAYING, OR DO YOU WANT TO...?
ALL DVDs ARE STAYING.
ALL DVDs ARE STAYING.
OKAY.
NO.
BRAND-NEW BIBLE.
THE PERCENTAGE OF STUFF THAT SHE'S GETTING RID OF --
IT NEEDS TO BE HIGHER.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE TOSSING.
THINGS HAVE TO BE DONATED,
THEY HAVE TO BE GOTTEN OUT OF THE HOUSE.
NOW, IT'S A CHOICE -- YOU MAKE THE HOUSE LIVEABLE OR YOU LEAVE.
THERE JUST -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO IN BETWEEN.
TRY TO TOSS A LITTLE MORE, HONEY.
I KNOW YOU ARE.
SHEILA HAD A VERY STRONG PRESENCE DURING CLEAN-UP DAY.
SHE WAS BASICALLY STANDING OVER ALL OF US,
KIND OF OBSERVING HOW THINGS WERE GOING.
I THINK BOTH DALE AND JESSICA ARE AFRAID OF SHEILA.
SHEILA CAN TAKE THAT HOME AWAY IN A SECOND FROM THEM.
SHEILA HAS A LOT OF POWER.
I THINK SHE'S VERY SCARY TO THEM.
WE'RE GONNA PROBABLY NEED TO PICK UP THE PACE,
YEAH.
I JUST DON'T WANT -- IT'S VERY COLD.
WE CAN TRY TO FIND ANOTHER COAT FOR YOU.
YEAH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF COATS IN THAT PILE.
YEAH, I'M GONNA LET HER GO.
THE SNAIL CAN GO.
Beaton: ALL RIGHT!
THE BEAR -- THAT BEAR THAT YOU WERE JUST HOLDING,
THAT ONE CAN GO.
ALL RIGHT! GOOD GIRL.
Roy: WHEN IT GOT TO CLEANING DAY,
JESSICA WAS HAPPILY FINDING STUFF TO DONATE AND GIVE AWAY.
I MEAN, SHE GOT RID OF A LOT MORE
THAN I THINK ANY OF US THOUGHT SHE WOULD.
Narrator: BUT FOR DALE, THE PROCESS IS MORE DIFFICULT,
AND AS THE DAY PROGRESSES, HER ANXIETY GROWS.
THIS IS NOT WORKING. I CAN'T --
WHAT'S GOING ON, DALE?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
YEAH, TELL US -- WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
NOW, WHICH CLOTHES GOT SHOVELED OUT?
Dale: THIS IS INSANE.
WE CAN'T JUST SHOVEL THE WHOLE HOUSE INTO THE TRASH.
WELL, THE ONLY CLOTHES
I THINK THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING IN THE GARBAGE
IS 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN FINDING SOME THINGS
THAT MAYBE THE DOGS WENT TO THE BATHROOM ON.
BECAUSE DALE WAS SO DISTRACTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY --
WALKING AWAY, WANDERING AROUND --
WHEN SHE FINALLY DID REALIZE THAT THERE WERE SOME THINGS
THAT MADE IT INTO THE GARBAGE THAT SHE WANTED TO KEEP,
THAT'S WHEN SHE REALLY GOT ANGRY.
SO, THAT WAS SORT OF A STOPPING POINT FOR EVERYBODY,
WHICH REALLY SLOWED US DOWN.
[ SOBS ]
[ SNIFFLES ]
DALE STARTED TO GET ANGRY, AND THEN JESSICA DID.
WHAT THE HECK?!
SHOE, DVD, SCISSORS.
DALE THREW SOMETHING, JESSICA THREW SOMETHING.
IN HERE!
[ SNIFFLES ]
OH, COME ON!
[ SOBBING ]
THERE IS NO WAY THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT UP IN 30 DAYS.
THEY MIGHT GET EVICTED.
[ CRASHING ]
Dale: OH, MY GOD.
[ GASPS ]
Narrator: DALE HAS ONLY 30 DAYS
TO MAKE HER HOME SAFE AND LIVEABLE
OR SHE AND HER DAUGHTER JESSICA WILL BE EVICTED.
BUT WITH TIME RUNNING OUT ON HAUL-AWAY DAY,
PROGRESS HAS COME TO A HALT
BECAUSE DALE REFUSES TO LET GO OF ANYTHING.
I CHOOSE WHAT I WANT TO KEEP AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO.
Paul: RIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND.
WE'VE GOT THE FRONT YARD TOTALLY PILED UP HIGH
AND DEEP WITH STUFF.
WE'VE GOT THE BACKYARD PILED HIGH AND DEEP WITH STUFF.
AND WE HAVE DALE INSIDE OF MY DUMPSTER
GOING THROUGH THINGS.
Narrator: SO, AS HAUL-AWAY DAY COMES TO AN END,
RATHER THAN MOVING ITEMS TO THE DUMPSTER,
THE CREW IS INSTRUCTED TO MOVE THEM BACK INTO THE HOUSE.
INSIDE.
PUT THAT IN THE KITCHEN?
YEAH.
Beaton: IT WAS SO DISCOURAGING FOR EVERYONE TO WATCH.
IT FELT ALMOST AS TIGHT IN THERE
WHEN WE WERE DONE THAN WHEN WE STARTED.
Jessica: WE HAVE LIKE 29 DAYS LEFT,
AND I AM A LITTLE WORRIED
THAT WE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT TO THE DEADLINE.
Narrator: DALE'S 30-DAY DEADLINE HAS COME AND PASSED,
AND HER CHILDREN ARE MAKING ONE FINAL DESPERATE ATTEMPT
TO TRY AND GET THINGS CLEANED UP BEFORE SHEILA RETURNS
TO CHECK ON THEIR PROGRESS.
SHIRLEY AND I ARE KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE HOUSE
TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S READY
'CAUSE SHEILA'S GONNA BE COMING OVER TODAY
TO DO A FINAL INSPECTION ON IT.
Dale: WHAT?
TAKE THAT AND PUT IT WHERE?
IN THE GARAGE.
IN THE GARAGE, YEAH.
GENTLY.
THERE'S SOME CHINA AT THE BOTTOM.
Narrator: BUT AS SHEILA ARRIVES,
JESSICA'S NERVES BEGIN TO GET THE BETTER OF HER.
[ SOBS ]
Sheila: I MADE IT CLEAR TO DALE
THAT SHE HAD TO CLEAN UP THE HOUSE
OR GET OUT OF IT BECAUSE IT SIMPLY WASN'T SAFE.
I'M SURE A DECISION WILL BE MADE TODAY, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Shirley: HELLO.
WOW. BIG CHANGE.
HI!
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING, HUH?
HOW YOU DOING?
ALL RIGHT. I'M OKAY. HOW ARE YOU?
OKAY. WOW.
YES. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THERE'S A FLOOR.
LOOKS MUCH, MUCH BETTER.
MM-HMM.
WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN TODAY, I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THE FLOOR.
AND JUST BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR
AND NOT HAVE IT HIT AGAINST SOMETHING WAS TREMENDOUS.
YOU GONNA SHOW ME YOUR ROOM?
Jessica: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT'D YOU DO WITH YOUR ROOM, JESS?
THIS IS MY ROOM.
WOW.
YOU, TOO, HAVE A FLOOR.
YEAH, I KNOW. ISN'T IT NICE?
MUCH BETTER, HONEY.
MUCH BETTER.
JESSICA'S ROOM HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS CHANGE.
SHE'S GOTTEN RID OF, OH, AT LEAST 75% OF THE TOYS.
THERE'S STILL WAY TOO MANY,
BUT SHE'S MADE A REALLY BIG DENT IN IT.
ALL RIGHT, ON TO THE KITCHEN.
THIS PLACE YOU'RE GONNA REALLY LIKE.
OKAY. [ GASPS ]
THERE'S A FLOOR.
THERE'S A FLOOR!
A FLOOR. IT'S A MIRACLE.
YOU DID GOOD IN HERE, DALE.
THE LIDS ARE ORGANIZED, THE PANS ARE ORGANIZED --
GOT AN AWFUL LOT OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE ORGANIZED.
IT'S CLEAN.
LOOKS GOOD. YOU DID GOOD.
THANK YOU.
DID GOOD, DALE.
Narrator: AFTER SEEING THE PROGRESS
DALE AND HER CHILDREN HAVE MADE IN THE HOUSE,
SHEILA SITS DOWN WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE THERE.
I'M SURE YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE STAYING IN THE HOUSE, DALE.
YES.
WELL, I'VE GIVEN IT A LOT OF THOUGHT.
YOU'VE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS.
YOU'VE ALL DONE REALLY WELL.
I EXPECT YOU TO CONTINUE AND TO LIVE HERE A LONG TIME.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE EVICTED.
I DO EXPECT YOU TO CONTINUE, BUT, YOU KNOW, GET COMFY.
SO, WE CAN STAY?
YES, YOU CAN STAY.
[ CHUCKLES ] OH!
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHEN SHE SAID THAT, IT MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD AND SO RELIEVED.
[ LAUGHS ]