Good American Family (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
How did things between
your ex and Natalia turn ugly?
Kristine is is insane.
Basically, the devil,
but she's the worst kind of devil,
you know, because she thinks she's
God's gift to the
whole dang world.
Don't believe anything
that man says.
[Kristine Barnett] Previously,
on Good American Family
Headline, "Genius at work."
-Michael, Michael, wake up!
-What, what?
-We're on the front page!
-Yes! That's our boy!
How come you didn't tell Dad that Natalia
got kicked out of school?
I thought I saw something,
and then no, it wasn't.
Stress dreams feel really real.
That's all this was, okay?
You are not your dad.
-No!
-Natalia, drop it, now!
-[knife clatters]
-I felt like she wanted to hurt me.
Kristine, [laughing] she's
she's just a little girl.
Mommy! I want my Bessie Cow!
-What happened here?
-Please don't tell Mommy I broke it.
I shouldn't do this,
but I promise I won't tell.
Were you happy with
your other family?
I was just sad to leave them.
[wind blowing, traffic rushing]
Natalia!
-[tires screeching]
-[horns honking]
How are we supposed to help her if
you don't admit there's an issue?
-She's troubled.
-[Michael Barnett] I feel like she's
the missing puzzle piece
in our family.
[knife clacks on counter]
[Kristine]
Have you seen Natalia?
[screams]
Close the door!
What Wh-What happened?
She has hair.
-What hair?
-Down there!
I don't think she's
a little girl.
[reporter 1] And following up
on a bizarre story we broke earlier today,
local mother and author
Kristine Barnett
tonight is out on bond
after being arrested
this morning.
[Kristine]
It was that same day, 2019,
I was in hell, and all I wanted
was to get back to my boys.
[reporter 1] [on phone] Barnett faces
eight counts of neglect
for abandoning her
adoptive daughter.
Prosecutors say Barnett
and her then-husband
adopted Natalia Grace,
who has a rare form
of dwarfism, in 2010,
then left her to
fend for herself
in an apartment
just two years later,
before fleeing to Canada.
[reporter 2]
Spectators at this morning's
Indiana Science and
Education Convention
were shocked to see one
of their key speakers yelling
[on TV] taken away in handcuffs.
That's right
[Jacob Barnett] Mom, Mom, Mom.
Mom, are you okay?
Sorry that took so long, guys.
Who wants pizza?
A memoir about parenting.
You gotta say
it's probably not
Why are you watching these lies?
Turn that off.
-Where's the remote?
-I don't know.
[reporter 2]
If convicted Barnett faces
-[Jacob] Where is it?
-up to 75 years in prison.
[traffic noise outside]
You know, it's probably good
that you watched that.
None of it's true,
but it's helpful
to know what you're up against.
How did they find
enough evidence
to arrest you,
if none of it's true?
Jake, your dad.
You guys know he'd do
anything to punish me.
Is Dad gonna get arrested too?
No.
I'm sure he took a deal.
[bags rustling]
Come and eat.
[reporter 1] [on TV]
television, going back as far as 2011.
[reporter 2]
Spectators at this morning's
Indiana Science and
Education Convention
were shocked to hear
that their key speaker
was taken away in handcuffs.
-[mouthful] Oh, my God, she looks awful.
[reporter 1]
memoir, The Spark
She must be hating this.
[laughing]
-This is so surreal.
-That's crazy.
[phone ringing]
Mm, hang on one second.
[reporter 1]
she abandoned her daughter.
What's up, my guy?
Yeah, we're just, uh,
watching the, uh, arrest footage
of-of Kristine right now.
Well done, my friend.
[Detective Drysdale] [on phone]
Um, yeah.
So, Mike [sighs]
-there's no easy way to say this.
-Say what?
[Drysdale] Prosecutors
have filed felony charges
-against you.
-Wait, wait, what?
Wait, wh um, what,
what charges?
[Drysdale]
Same as Kristine.
Wait, Detective Drysdale,
wait, wait, wait.
[stammers] I don't understand.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
I've been cooperating, okay?
I-I answered all your questions
for-for-for weeks,
and I thought we agreed.
I mean, we did, right?
It was her, not me, that did all
the really bad stuff.
[tense music playing]
-[Drysdale] Mike
-Are you okay, hon?
-Uh, y-yeah. Yes, just one second.
-[Drysdale] listen.
You told me yourself,
you're not innocent.
Yeah, I was just
I thought we were friends, man,
I thought you understood.
[Drysdale] I don't know
what you want me to do.
There just has to be
some form of justice.
-Fuck you.
-[hangs up]
[insects chirping]
[dramatic music playing]
[curious theme music playing]
[flag flapping in breeze]
♪♪
[bridge cracking]
[engine humming]
[TV static buzzing]
[paper cutting]
[theme music fades out]
[gentle music playing]
[doctor] [muffled]
See, I told you I didn't bite.
Now, you've been
a very good girl.
Why don't you just pick out
a lollipop with Nurse Shannon?
[normal] I'm gonna talk to
your folks for a few minutes.
-Be my guest.
-Okay.
See you soon, sweetie.
This was 2010.
I'd just discovered
Natalia's hair.
-Mm! I love ya.
-Mm, I love you, Daddy.
See you soon.
[Natalia Grace]
Thank you.
[gentle music stops]
What do you say, Steve?
No way she's seven, right?
Well, it would be unusual
to see pubic hair on
a girl so young.
I mean, I've never seen it.
Okay, fine, but she is seven.
We have her birth certificate.
But what if we didn't?
What would you guess
her age was, medically speaking?
Puberty is a range.
Has she had her period?
S-Steve, come on, she's a kid.
Just this morning, she was asking me
if peanuts are a type of rock.
We don't know that she hasn't.
But I'm not sure
she'd tell us if she had.
I suppose I should refer you
to an endocrinologist,
check the hormone levels.
What? Uh thank you, no.
Kris, we haven't met
our deductible yet.
Oh, you just got a promotion.
[Dr. Stephen Lawrence]
Oh, hey. Wow, congrats, Mike.
-Uh, thanks. Yeah, it
-Look at you.
Yeah, it's a it's a technicality
as on-on paper.
Anyway, I just don't want
to subject Natalia
to any more appointments
than are necessary.
She hates going to the doctor.
You know,
present company included.
-No offense, Stevie.
-None taken.
But guys, that is something
that you really need
to work through with her.
I'm not an orthopedist
and I haven't seen any imaging,
but just judging from
a physical exam,
I can see that she needs surgery
on her club feet,
and possibly hip surgery.
Frankly, surgical intervention
has been long overdue.
[stammers] They told us she had
a, a clean bill of health.
They made us pay seven grand
for a bunch of surgeries
she'd already had.
Who made you pay seven grand?
Uh, the adoption agency,
First Path.
[Stephen] As far as I can see,
she hasn't had any surgeries.
[tense, curious music playing]
-How do you know that?
-There would be scars.
Right.
[indistinct office
PA announcement]
Mike, I have to tell
you something.
Okay.
There's a lawsuit against
First Path.
-What? What kind of lawsuit?
-Class action.
They got caught doing
some awful things.
Promising the same child
to multiple families,
some trafficking, potentially
and changing ages
on birth certificates.
How long have you
known about this?
-Just a few days.
-Why didn't you tell me?
-Kris, this is important.
-Guys, uh, you need a minute?
-Yes, please.
-No, no, stay. Stay. It's your office.
-Kris.
-I know, I know.
I should have told you,
and I'm sorry.
But I was trying to protect you,
because I thought you'd
be upset about the idea
-of possibly losing Natalia.
-Upset?
Of course, I'd be upset.
She's our daughter
and I love her.
Yes, and I do too.
But Mike, if First Path
lied about the surgeries,
what else have they lied about?
I mean, her behavior
in a seven-year-old is one thing.
But if she's actually older
than what they've said,
then that gets very dangerous.
Kr Kris, I think you are
really overreacting here.
The tacks?
Dismembering Ethan's stuffie?
A stuffed animal.
These are things kids do.
-Steve
-But what if she isn't a kid?
Steve, something is off,
I feel it.
I-I-I know it.
We have to figure this out.
Kris, one of my deepest regrets
in my 30 years
practicing medicine
was not listening to
you about Jacob.
You insisted that
something was off,
that there was
more to the story.
And I ignored your instincts.
I think we all did.
Well, I won't do it again.
I'll get you some referrals.
Thank you.
["Shilo" by Neil
Diamond playing]
[Kristine]
So, he sent us to every
possible specialist
under the sun
orthopedist, endocrinologist,
neuropsychologist, the dentist.
I had to get a second Filofax
-just to keep track of her doctor visits.
-Crying out loud.
Natalia, I'm not in the mood
for this today. Let's go.
-When children play ♪
-Let's go. Come on.
But the frustrating thing is,
while all the doctors agree
she needs a lot of surgeries,
the kind of dwarfism
she has is incredibly rare.
Papa says he'd love
to be with you ♪
One doctor told us
she is not just one in a million,
she's one in two million.
So, the usual ways
they determine age don't work.
friend you can find ♪
-He made me smile ♪
-No! [struggling]
[Kristine]
Now, is it possible
she is really just
seven years old? Sure.
But her skull is the size
of a fully-formed adult.
She has adult teeth,
there are signs of puberty.
[tray and instruments clatter]
♪♪
-Shilo, you always came ♪
-That's not funny.
And you'd stay ♪
And after three months
of poking and prodding,
her behavior is
worse than ever,
she terrorizes my boys.
-[kids fighting]
-Natalia
In my work, I have dealt
with all kinds of kids
with so many different needs.
And I have tried my entire
arsenal with Natalia
praising, redirecting,
time-outs, time-ins,
nature walks, meditation
and nothing works.
Because the way you
manage behavioral issues
in a seven-year-old
is a heck of a lot different
from how you deal with
a 15-year-old.
Mm.
["Shilo" fades out]
That must be frustrating
for you.
Yeah, it is frustrating.
So, Dr. Burch,
how old do you think she is?
Cognitively, developmentally?
Well, you're right
to be asking about age.
If she were over 18,
her behavior would suggest
antisocial personality disorder,
colloquially known
as sociopathy.
You're saying she's a sociopath?
[Randi Burch]
If she's 18, maybe.
But in a child, particularly one
with Natalia's background,
her behavior suggests RAD
reactive attachment disorder.
Now, it's rare, but we do
sometimes see this in children
who were abandoned in infancy
or spent formative years
in institutional orphanages.
-[Michael] Mm.
-And the behaviors
correspond with what
you described
anger, dishonesty, aggression,
sometimes violence
towards pets and siblings.
So, how do you suggest
we deal with her behavior?
Are there facilities
-or rehab centers for children like this?
-No, no, no. Hold on,
wait, we're not,
we're not gonna put her away.
-That's
-No, no, there is no need to rush to that.
There are proven protocols
that do wonders with
these cases.
You treat her like an infant.
[light, curious music playing]
-I'm sorry, what?
-It's called
reattachment therapy.
Now, imagine this.
-In those early days of development
-[Michael] Mm.
she did not learn
how to attach to her mother
to depend on her.
-Because the mother was gone.
-[Randi] Exactly.
Now, it will take time,
but you can actually
rewire her mind.
-Interesting.
-Teach her that love is safe,
that she can depend on you.
-She already depends on us.
-Not like this.
Now, it may seem unusual,
but for this to work,
you have to fully commit.
Carry her, cradle her,
get a crib,
feed her every meal yourself.
Bottle feeding is best,
but you can spoon-feed her.
-That's
-Uh. I'm so sorry.
So, you're saying in a few years
we can diagnose her
as a sociopath,
but until then,
we should feed her a bottle?
[Almeda] [on phone]
Oh, for crying out loud.
You know his mama
dropped him on his head, right?
For the hundredth time, Mom,
that's a joke Michael made
in 1997
when he took a wrong turn on his way
to the Mentone Egg Festival.
Well, you're entitled
to your own spin, I suppose.
But then, what good explanation
do you have
[over phone] for why he's
in there feeding
a grown child a baby bottle?
Lets him feel useful
for a minute or two.
-[gentle music plays on computer]
-What in jimminy?
Ever since that Star article,
families have been calling me
to consult on their kids.
[over phone]
So, I'm making a website,
and this thing lets you put
a song on the splash page.
Do you like this one?
["Wind Beneath My Wings"
by Bette Midler plays]
Did you ever know
that you're my hero ♪
Well, it's one way to put lipstick
on a pig, I suppose.
What's that supposed to mean?
You know, I'm not
an expert in childcare,
but I am happy to
come by and help.
[over phone]
I do have some experience,
you may recall that you were
a holy terror at her age.
We don't know her age, Mom.
That's the whole thing.
[Almeda]
At her size, then.
Point is, might be best
to get your own family in line
before you try and
build a business.
[presses button,
plays song again]
I have to go, Mom.
Michael needs some help.
Isn't that the truth?
Well, you know where to
find me if you need me.
-I've got it all here in my ♪
-[music stops abruptly]
Okay, open up the hangar.
[sputtering]
Coming in for a landing.
-No, it's gross.
-Well, it [sighs] I'm
Mommy and I are
just trying to show you
that love can feel safe, honey.
How about [sighs]
Will you let me hold you then?
And I'll feed you a little milk.
Okay, just a little bit.
-Just a
-No, no, no.
[Michael] Would you
at least just try
like a-a-a little bit
of these apples?
[in deep voice] They're so yummy
to your tummy, baby!
-I'm not a baby!
-[spoon clatters]
Natalia, go take a walk
around the block.
-And calm down.
-[Natalia groaning]
-[footsteps receding]
-[walker rattling]
[Michael sighs]
It's fine. You know,
this is all part of it.
Dr. Burch said it would
take some time, so
Well, Michael, the only
useful thing that woman said
is that sociopathy starts at 18.
We need to find out
how old she is.
[Michael] So, my wife
tells me this thing,
she's like, "You make the impossible
possible every day."
When someone tells me no,
"I say watch out,
I'm gonna prove you, yes."
-Uh-huh.
-[Michael] Mm-hmm, so listen, I know
things have been not
looking good here, you know?
But look at Best Buy,
their stock's still cruising.
-You wanna know why?
-Why?
Lower prices.
Mass merchandising.
-Michael, listen
-No, no, no, no, listen.
This is not the time to give up.
This is an opportunity.
It's, it's a time to
think about things
-in a whole new way.
-Look, man. [sighs]
You know this. It's over.
[tense music playing]
I'm gonna need you and your team
to vacate by the
end of the day, okay?
Great.
[indistinct chatter]
[Kristine]
"What to do,
adoption scam, fake age."
"How to know international
birth certificate real."
[mouse clicking]
[phone ringing]
Kristine Barnett.
Mm-hmm.
Oh!
We'd be honored.
[indistinct chatter on phone]
We could do it here tomorrow.
Sure, no, no, yes.
Thank you!
Thank you for helping us
get our little story out there.
[caller] [on phone]
Okay. Thank you so much.
Okay, we'll see you soon.
[hopeful music playing]
Whoo!
[sighs]
[groans]
[crockery clattering]
[Kristine vocalizing]
[sings]
You're everything I wish I could ♪
Could be ♪
[humming]
Did you ever know ♪
That you're my hero ♪
[humming]
Did you ever know ♪
You're my he ♪
[dramatic music playing]
[swings squeaking]
[children chattering, shouting]
[Dr. Wachter] You okay there,
Mrs. Barnett? [chuckles]
Oh, Dr. Wachter.
Yes, just waiting for Natalia.
[Dr. Wachter] Well, speaking of
your little nugget,
she's doing better.
Yeah, fewer incidents.
But frankly,
I am a wee bit concerned.
She's not really making friends
her own age.
Her own age?
Seems she prefers eating lunch
with the teachers,
[chuckles] and well,
they've expressed needing
a little break from Natalia.
So, I thought maybe you could
rope her brothers in
to play with her a little
bit at lunch?
Anyway, we'll get
there together.
Alright, happy Friday.
[Valika] Kristine?
Hi, honey, you okay?
-Hi. Yes!
-Okay.
All good stuff.
-Got a call this morning.
-Yeah?
Channel 11 wants to do
an on-camera interview.
Oh, look at you, Oprah.
Oh, I can't wait to tell everyone
I knew you when.
What are you gonna wear?
Geez, I haven't even
given it a thought.
They gave me zero notice.
It's tomorrow in my living room.
-Miss Val!
-Natalia.
-Hi, sweet girl.
-[Natalia giggling]
Hey, did you hear the big news?
Your mom is gonna be on TV.
Why would anyone put her on TV?
-[laughs] Um
-It's okay, sweetie.
Val's excited enough
for both of you.
[Valika] I sure am.
Hey, you know what?
Why don't you come over tonight
and see if I have anything
you could wear for
the interview?
We can order some Thai,
get some Prosecco open.
Let Michael have the kids
for a night. You deserve it.
[Michael]
I just really loved this place.
I didn't think we
were gonna close.
I thought somebody
would buy it or
I don't know.
We were the top selling store
in the state.
I don't know.
I'm just not the kind of person
who gives up on things
they love.
["Don't Cha" ringtone playing]
-It's okay. Uh, answer it.
-No, no. No, it's okay.
[ringtone stops]
[Jennifer] You know what I think
you should do?
I think you should bring
her here tonight
before you have to hand
the keys back over
and just do the nasty
all over the sales room floor.
I can't.
Come on, I mean,
why not make it a day
you remember as something
other than your last one here?
I can't
I can't bring her here.
I haven't told her
the store's closing yet.
-Michael!
-I know, I know.
[Jennifer] Whoa. Dude, it's been like
three months.
[laughing] Oh!
You are so lucky
she hasn't seen it on the news.
She doesn't really
watch the news, and
[clicks tongue]
[sighs] I just don't wanna
disappoint her, you know?
I get it. But take it from me,
the fastest way to disappoint
your wife is to lie to her.
Mm.
Your ex?
[whispers] Don't tell this kid,
but his dad is
[normal]
an ass-wipe dick for brains.
[both laughing]
And also a liar.
So
Hmm.
I think that's what
I'm worried about.
I'm
Me being outta work,
it's just more
um [clicks tongue]
proof that Kristine
deserves better than me.
Oh, friend.
-[crying] I'm sorry. [sighs]
-[Jennifer groans]
-Hey.
-[sniffling]
Go home and
bring her some flowers,
and tell her the truth.
-[sighs]
-I promise it'll all be okay.
[Kristine]
I just wanna know the truth.
-I was cleaning your room today.
-[Natalia humming]
Closet, the floor.
How did all those socks
end up covered in blood?
I don't know. Weird question.
Well, did you cut yourself
or get a bloody nose?
[Natalia continues humming]
Or maybe you're having
your period?
[stops humming]
You know what that is, right?
When you bleed down there?
Girls usually get them
when they're older.
I got mine when I was 13.
I know, I know. But it's
it's gonna be okay
'cause I'm gonna get a new job.
You know, I'm gonna
update my resume,
gonna, uh, get on LinkedIn,
hit the p hit the pavement.
We've, we've been through worse,
you know?
When I got mine, my mother
told me it was God's way
of showing his love for us.
That our bodies had
a special purpose.
That even though they come
with mess and pain,
periods are their own
kind of blessing.
Well, I know, I never
believed any of that either.
But Natalia, you
can't use socks.
It's, it's disgusting.
When we get home, I can show you how
to use a tampon.
No, I don't need you to.
[tense, curious music playing]
So, you've used one before?
It's okay that you
have, you just
you need to tell me the truth.
No, leave me alone!
-[seatbelt unbuckling]
-When did you get your period?
-Oh! Natalia!
-[car tires screeching]
-Natalia!
-[crash]
Mom!
[Michael]
Kris!
-What happened?
-Mom!
What happened?
What happened?
Daddy, that was so scary!
-Okay, okay, it's okay, sweetheart.
-[Natalia sobbing]
-Natalia, you could have killed someone.
-[Michael] What happened?
She put her hands over my eyes
when I was driving.
And I-I-I hit the brake,
but I thought it was you.
No. The kids are okay,
everything's okay.
Natalia, what were you thinking?
You can't do things like that,
sweetheart, you can't.
[whining] I'm sorry, Daddy,
I didn't mean to.
Mommy was just being
so mean to me.
You're the only one
who understands me.
[Natalia sniffling]
[tense music playing]
I'm going to Val's
-and I'm taking the boys.
-Oh [sighs] Okay.
You can stay here
and feed her a baby bottle.
It's okay, sweetie, it's okay.
You know that there is a movie
about exactly this, right?
-What movie?
-It came out last year,
it was called Orphan.
Don't judge me, but I loved it.
But it is about this little girl
who gets adopted,
and at first, she's very sweet,
and then she starts
getting violent.
And then she's, you know,
threatening the family
with knives.
And I mean, I even think
there was something with a car.
-What do the parents do?
-They die.
Well, the dad dies.
But wait, I haven't even
told you the worst part.
It turns out she's
not a kid at all.
She's got dwarfism.
She is an adult,
a sociopathic serial killer.
Oh, Lordy.
Oh, sweetie, sweetie.
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.
Don't listen to me, okay?
It's just a stupid movie,
it is not your life.
Except it's pretty darn close.
Well, yeah.
Worst part is
Michael doesn't see any of it.
Well, of course not.
Men never see what we see.
They're too afraid to see it.
But you're not.
You're gonna figure this out.
That needs a scarf.
Oh, you know what?
One of my girlfriends told me
about this therapist
who works with teenagers.
Apparently, he's ex-military.
Her teenager was very troubled.
And, oh, she says
he's unorthodox,
but apparently,
he saved her kid.
-Where is he?
-Well, it's all online.
You just take videos
of your kid,
and then, I don't know,
you send them to him
and he gives you feedback.
I mean, I'll send you
his information.
It's, "Tough Loving Your Teenager,"
or something like that.
The pink looks divine on you.
Maybe something a
little less soft.
Okay.
Yeah, dress for the woman
you wanna be.
I count my blessings every day
that I get to be Jacob's mama.
[interviewer] He's lucky too.
You know, one of the things
that really struck me
about this story
is just the power
of a mother's intuition.
You didn't listen to
any of the doctors
who told you Jacob
would never speak again.
-No, I didn't.
-[interviewer] Where did that come from?
That idea that, "I'm going to reject
the opinions of these experts.
I'm his mother, and I'm not
afraid to do this my way."
[Kristine laughing]
Some people would
call me stubborn.
-[interviewer laughing]
-But I'm just a person
who trusts my instincts.
If you don't follow your
own truth, who are you?
[interviewer] I can just
imagine the conversation
you had with your husband.
"Sweetie, I don't care what
the professionals are saying.
"I think they're wrong.
And you know what?
I have a different plan."
-[Kristine chuckles]
-How did that go?
It did not go well.
[laughing]
But what was I gonna do?
Everybody had given up hope
on finding answers for Jacob.
But one thing to know
about me, Kristine Barnett,
I don't like not having answers.
[unsettling music playing]
Are are you okay
there, Kristine?
-Huh?
-[interviewer] Uh, are you okay?
-Yes, yes.
-A-Are you sure?
-You need a break?
-[Kristine] No.
I, um I think we should just
talk more about Jacob.
Wouldn't you like to hear
more about Jacob?
Isn't that what everybody
would like?
[interviewer]
Um, of course. Uh
-[Kristine] Michael, it's me.
-[bag shaking]
I've been trying to call you.
Where are you?
Call me back.
It's very, very important.
It's about Natalia.
Call me back.
[hangs up]
I I don't wanna do
any more TV interviews.
Oh, bud, don't say that.
We were on a roll
until I got distracted.
And they said they'd edit that part out,
no one will ever know.
It's not about that.
Okay, what's it about, then?
[sighs]
I don't like when you talk
about yourself like that.
Oh, well, how do I
talk about myself?
I don't know.
Your voice gets different.
You just don't seem
like yourself.
Oh.
Of course, baby.
[knife chopping]
We don't have to do any more TV,
if that's what you need.
-[Michael] You called that second strike.
-[Natalia laughing]
You know they if you get three strikes
in a row, you know what they call it?
-[Natalia] No. What?
-[Michael] A turkey. Isn't that weird?
-[Natalia] A turkey? Why a turkey?
-[Michael] Yeah.
-I don't know where that comes from.
-That's so weird.
[laughing]
I like turkey, though.
-Hey, babe, how'd it go?
-[Natalia chuckles]
I found what you left me
in the living room.
[laughing]
[tense music playing]
[Natalia laughing]
You think this is funny?
[continues laughing]
Go ahead, tell Daddy
what you did today.
Go ahead, tell him
about the tampon.
Uh, it's okay, sweetie,
you-you can tell me.
-Anything.
-[Natalia] Well
I have a period.
And I've been hiding it.
Okay, um for how long?
I don't know.
Mommy said it, ask her.
I'm sorry, um,
I'm a little lost, sweetheart.
Are you hiding your period,
or does Mommy just think so?
I don't know.
I don't know what's going on.
Oh, for crying out loud,
she knows exactly what's going on.
She's been hiding her period
and putting socks
in her underwear.
I found a pile of bloody
socks yesterday.
-What?
-And I confronted her about it.
And to punish me,
she made me crash the car.
But apparently,
that wasn't enough,
because today, she tried to sabotage
my interview
by leaving a bloody
tampon on the set,
which almost ruined
the entire day,
which is exactly
what she wanted.
Children don't know how to
manipulate like this, Michael.
She's got you wrapped
around her finger.
And you don't see it, but I do.
And she's punishing me
for seeing it.
How long have you
had your period?
You are not seven years old,
admit it.
Kris, can we
let's maybe give her some space.
You need to tell me
the truth right now.
How old are you?!
[tense, dramatic
music playing]
I'm not pretending
she's a little girl anymore.
Things need to change.
[music fades out]
Everything your father and I
provide you with is a privilege.
Moving forward, if you wish
to receive privileges,
you will have to earn them
with good behavior
and consistent completion
of chores.
Every day, you'll be responsible
for a new set of chores.
Today is cleaning the kitchen.
You may now be dismissed.
I said, you may now
be dismissed.
[tense music playing]
-Go get up against that wall.
-What?
We also have a new system
of punishment in place
that escalates every
time you disobey.
This is level one.
I am asking you politely
to stand with your nose
against the wall
and think about your choices.
[phone beeps]
I am not scared of you,
you know.
But Daddy is.
He didn't tell you
he lost his job, did he?
[phone beeps]
You do not wanna see
what this website says
about lying, Natalia.
Michael is the one who's lying.
His store closed.
He's known for months.
Natalia, go take a walk
around the block.
[scoffs]
♪♪
[mouse clicking]
-Doggone it, Michael.
-[door opens]
[Michael] [sing-songy]
Dad's home ♪
-[door closes]
-[mouse clicks]
Got a little mail for
you here, Kris.
Also, something from
Homeland Security.
What's that all about?
[Natalia]
I'm ready to clean now.
[Kristine gasps]
Okay. Go.
Hey, what's up with the letter?
Kris.
We can talk about it later.
-I don't understand.
-[email alert chimes]
No way!
Okay, what? What is going on?
Glenn Beck's producer
saw me and Jacob's interview
last week
and wants us to go to New York
to be on the show.
Mom! No, you promised.
[Wesley Barnett] Dad, will you
come up here for a minute?
Yes, I'm coming.
No, no, bud, we won't go.
It's just flattering, is all.
[sponge scrubbing]
[spits]
[unsettling music playing]
Natalia, what did you do?
-[glass breaking]
-Mom, what are you doing?
-Did you put that in my coffee?
-No.
-Did you try to poison me?
-What?
-No.
-Smell it.
-Stop it. Stop it!
-Smell it, it smells like bleach!
Kris, hey, hey, hey, hey!
Kris, Kris.
-You can't yell at her like this.
-She tried to poison me.
Smell my coffee. She put cleaning spray
in my coffee.
-What?
-No, that isn't true, it was an accident.
Natalia, did you put bleach
in Mommy's coffee?
No, I was cleaning
around the cup!
I-I-I I didn't do it,
I promise.
Okay, I-I wasn't here,
I didn't see her do it.
Jacob, did you see her
put anything in?
Do you wanna see what
that paper is?
Okay. W
It's her immigration papers.
I applied for them online.
Oh my God, you are obsessed.
Okay, fine.
Let's hear it.
How old is Natalia?
It says she's seven.
-Okay, she's
-But the photo on the paper
isn't her.
-What?
-[Kristine] She stole someone's identity
to impersonate a child.
[tense music playing]
I don't know. I mean,
maybe it's just a bad photocopy.
Oh, for Pete's sake, Michael.
I don't know, okay?
I'm just saying what I see.
I'm sorry.
-What do you think?
-[Natalia whimpers]
-Does that look like you?
-Daddy. [mutters]
-I'm scared, Daddy.
-Is that you?
-[Natalia] I'm scared.
-Just take it easy.
-Can you carry me to my room?
-Does it look like you?!
Kris, Kris, Kris, Kris.
It's okay.
[Natalia whimpering]
This isn't her.
[dramatic music playing]
[Kristine] We are two blocks from
Central Park and Carnegie Hall.
Wow, this looks like
the type of place
that has gold toilets,
don't you think, Jakey?
[Jacob] I don't care about
golden toilets.
You said no more interviews.
Well, sometimes moms know best.
[indistinct chatter]
Kris, please tell me
we're not paying for this place.
Don't worry about it, baby.
You just got a big promotion.
[luggage unzipping]
Okay, I'm off.
Wait! What? Where are you going?
Squeezing in a family consult.
I'll see you at Glenn Beck
at 5:00.
Oh, and grab my dress.
I'll see you, Jakey.
-[classical music plays in lobby]
-[guests chattering]
[knocking]
[birds chirping]
Hi, can I help you?
Hi. Sorry to pop in
on you like this.
I'm Kristine Barnett,
Natalia Grace's new mom.
-I brought some kringle
-[door slams]
Are you kidding me?
Oh, come on!
[knocking]
Please.
If you don't get off
my porch right now,
I'm calling the cops.
[Kristine]
Clearly, this is fake.
And your address is on it.
So, maybe I'm the one
who needs to be calling the cops.
Fine.
Five minutes.
We can't talk here.
-Why can't we talk here?
-[Mary sighs]
-What do you want?
-Information, the truth.
Nothing about Natalia
makes sense.
The adoption agency made us
pay seven grand to your family
for surgeries she never had.
Do you know anything about that?
-[scoffs] Did you pay it?
-Well, by the time
I knew something was fishy,
they had closed.
First Path closed?
Oh, Jesus.
[scoffs] You know, well, maybe you
should ask Natalia about it.
She's very smart.
You think she's in on this?
You think she's older?
Is that why you gave her up?
If my husband knew that I was out here
talking about her
This was supposed to be
a closed adoption for a reason.
But what was the reason?
I'm begging you.
She's destroying my life,
my family,
threatening my career.
I'm here because of you.
You put this on us.
You owe me an explanation.
I I never meant
to hurt anyone.
We just
[sighs] I had to protect
my family.
From what?
[Kristine crying]
[solemn music playing]
[Kristine] It's so much worse
than we thought.
She's been playing us
this whole entire time.
She's in on it.
In on what, exactly?
With First Path, as a way
to get her medical care paid for
and to skim some money
off the top.
The mom said she knows
exactly what she's doing.
And she's an adult.
-She said that?
-Yeah.
That she's made the
whole thing up, it's an act.
And get this,
the birth date on Natalia's
messed up paperwork
is exactly the same birthdate
as Mary's son.
What are the odds?
The Well, they're
exactly one in 365.
-Don't get fresh with me.
-I'm not being fresh,
I was just saying what
-[sighs]
-Okay, what are we gonna do?
What Um
[Kristine]
What? Michael?
I-I just
I-I see I see where
you're coming from,
I just
I'm not totally convinced.
I was sobbing my brains out
on the drive back here.
Because finally,
I have some answers.
And somehow, that still
isn't enough for you?
Honey, it just doesn't
explain things for me.
How can that be?
I don't know, okay?
I don't know,
maybe you can't explain love,
or-or-or lack of love, you know?
Kris, when you grow up
thinking that
no one loves you
that maybe nobody's ever
gonna love you,
do you know what that
does to a person?
I don't think you really
understand.
Oh, Michael, are you still
on that baby bottle quack?
-She made good points.
-Get real!
Oh, you [stammers] how would you know?
How would you know?
You You're too terrified
to even consider therapy.
What's that supposed to mean?
It means you had
a horrific childhood too, okay?
Your dad effed you up.
But instead of trying to fix it
or-or-or work through it,
you just go around
seeing ghosts everywhere, and
[Michael sighs]
I thought you said
I was nothing like my dad.
I didn't mean-
Do you remember the last time
you told me I needed therapy?
It was when all the doctors were saying
that Jacob would never speak again.
Oh, my God, when are you gonna
leave that alone?
This is not at all
the same thing, Kris.
You're right.
It is not at all the same thing,
because it isn't Jacob's fault
that he has autism.
This is Natalia's fault.
She's choosing to con us.
You're choosing to believe her.
You're choosing to let her
break us apart.
Oh my gosh.
You're the one who's been
sneaking around behind my back.
You're the one lying to me.
Michael Barnett,
you are shameless.
What?
Your big promotion?
What about it?
You've been lying
to me for months.
Natalia told me.
-She told you?
-She did.
You live in denial.
Denial about Jacob,
about your job,
about the fact that there's
a sociopathic con artist
making a fool of you.
We are done talking about this.
Here's what's gonna happen.
When we go home, we're
gonna put her
in a psychiatric hospital
-who can handle her problems.
-No, no, no, no.
I'm not gonna let you
do that, Kris. I'm [sighs]
Just, hold on, let's take a breath.
Okay, what
[scoffs] This Honey,
this is going too far, okay?
Let [scoffs]
W What happened to
the little girl we would save
and would save us, and,
and we could dance with her
at, at her wedding?
Honey, this this is still
our daughter, honey.
Oh, Michael.
She's not our daughter.
[tense, dramatic
music playing]
Um the thing is, though,
the world thinks she is,
Kristine.
And you have been invited
on national television to
tell everybody that you, um,
refused to give up
on one disabled child.
What's Glenn Beck gonna think
when he finds out
that you gave up on another one?
Are you threatening me?
That's where we are.
-Fine.
-[Michael] Mm-hmm.
I'm not paying for
her surgeries.
I don't want any
of her classmates to get hurt,
so she can't go to school.
Good.
What's she gonna do all day?
Well, you don't have a job,
so that's great.
-You can take care of her.
-Gladly.
-You can make her meals.
-I'll do it better than you.
-Make sure she's clean.
-Mm-hmm.
-[knocking]
-And don't take your eyes
off her for a second.
-You are so paranoid.
-Because that girl is dangerous.
-She is not dangerous.
-No, I am not paranoid.
-You are in denial.
-You are sticking to this narrative.
-Mr. and Mrs. Barnett?
-[Kristine] That'll be on you!
Hi.
Uh, I-I'm I'm so sorry,
but we're ready for you.
Okay. We're coming.
Be right there.
[Glenn Beck] At times, life might feel
a little hopeless.
But no, my website,
glennbeck.com,
found a little bit
of hope recently
in a boy named Jacob Barnett.
He's a 13-year-old science prodigy,
and he's renewing faith
that the power of a person's mind can
change the world.
He's here today with
his parents,
Kristine and Michael Barnett,
who in raising this boy,
have proven once again
that a good American family
is the solution to all
of our nation's ills.
We're so happy to
be here, Glenn.
[Glenn] I think in recent years
many Americans have been asking,
"What is happening with this country?
With this world?
With the American family?"
["Big Red Balloon" by Lee Hazlewood
and Nancy Sinatra playing]
[Lee Hazlewood]
Sometimes a man and a woman
spends thirty or forty
years together.
And they don't belong together.
And then one day,
one of 'em tries to leave
and does, but in
a most peculiar way.
Woman, one of these
days I'm ♪
Leavin' ♪
Leavin' you far behind ♪
And on that day you'll be ♪
Grievin' ♪
Grieve on, woman,
I don't mind ♪
[song fades out]
[fanfare playing]