- 15 hours ago
I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:28The End
00:00:29I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm not interested.
00:00:33You really need to hear what I'm about to say.
00:00:35I told you I told Joey you stopped by.
00:00:37That good enough for you?
00:00:39No.
00:00:45Everyone saw Amy Fisher as a victim.
00:00:48A teenage girl seduced by an older man.
00:00:50And in some ways, she was.
00:00:52But that's not the whole truth.
00:00:55Amy Fisher made choices.
00:00:57Devastating choices that nearly cost me my life.
00:01:01I am Mary Jo Buttafuoco.
00:01:02And this is the first time you're hearing the story directly from me.
00:01:07A story a lot of people think they know, but don't.
00:01:10Not all of it.
00:01:11Not everything.
00:01:15Thank you for coming in, Mary Jo.
00:01:17Do you mind if I call you Mary Jo?
00:01:19Sure.
00:01:19You know, you do not look like someone who was shot in the face.
00:01:24Well, it was over 30 years ago.
00:01:26It's been a long journey in the surgeries, but here I am, still intact.
00:01:31Here you are.
00:01:33You know, and that's why I think now is the time that we make a documentary about what you and
00:01:37Amy Fisher suffered through.
00:01:39Excuse me.
00:01:40The other victim.
00:01:42I think reuniting you two would be what I would call undeniable.
00:01:47Just to make sure that I'm following.
00:01:49Mm-hmm.
00:01:50I get shot in the head, which causes me to go through decades of living hell, me and my kids.
00:01:57And you think that Amy Fisher, the person who shot me, is the other victim.
00:02:07Right?
00:02:08That bullet's still lodged in my skull.
00:02:11A permanent reminder of that day.
00:02:13Thanks to what happened, my beautiful, innocent children and I learned what it was like to be watched publicly long
00:02:19before the Kardashians.
00:02:21Amy and Joey both made choices that changed all of our lives forever.
00:02:25Joey!
00:02:25Joey!
00:02:29Look, I never had nothing to do with Amy Fisher.
00:02:31Joey, but if you go too advantage of my innocence.
00:02:33I did not sleep with that girl.
00:02:35The gun went off by accident.
00:02:37You'd think, after all this time, my story's been fully told, but it hasn't.
00:02:43And I'll start by answering the question on most people's minds.
00:02:48Why did I believe Joey didn't sleep with Amy Fisher for so long after I was shot?
00:02:52Or should I have realized what kind of man Joey was before any of this happened?
00:02:58The answers are clearer now, but they weren't back then.
00:03:02Not when this all started.
00:03:04Not on day one.
00:03:08I think I'm sitting here.
00:03:14I think I'm sitting here.
00:03:20What, are you shy?
00:03:23My mother told me not to talk to strangers at all.
00:03:26I'm Joey.
00:03:27Joey, but a Fuco.
00:03:29You are?
00:03:30Mary Jo.
00:03:31Mary Jo called me.
00:03:32So, I'm Mary Jo.
00:03:34You believe in density?
00:03:36You mean destiny?
00:03:38No, no, no.
00:03:39I'm talking about the teacher.
00:03:40Don't be mean.
00:03:41He's being mean?
00:03:43Look at all the framed degrees and diplomas behind a desk.
00:03:46I'm talking about density like in the context of describing the volume of something.
00:03:51But, hey, seeing as you brought up destiny.
00:04:08I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
00:04:10I'm not going to argue with you.
00:04:13Oh, you better not, Mrs. Butterfew, go.
00:04:16Because with our auto-body business, we're going to make sure we got whatever we want
00:04:19and whatever we need for the rest of our lives.
00:04:23I can't believe we were able to save up for and buy a house on top of planning this wedding.
00:04:31Stick with me, babe.
00:04:33You're not going to have a bad day from here on out.
00:04:37Have you been dreaming?
00:04:39It's a celebration, isn't it?
00:04:41Will you?
00:04:43What you got?
00:04:46Okay.
00:04:51Take a sip.
00:04:54It's your spirit.
00:04:56Come on, get back to jam today.
00:05:04You think it's always going to be like this?
00:05:07You and me?
00:05:08I'm sorry, am I?
00:05:09What could ever stop that?
00:05:18Only life moved on a little faster than either of us expected.
00:05:23I'm pregnant.
00:05:32For real?
00:05:35Wasn't this always the plan?
00:05:37Get married, buy a house, have kids?
00:05:41Yeah.
00:05:43Yeah.
00:05:44Are we even done being kids yet ourselves?
00:05:49I mean...
00:05:50Life was just starting to get good.
00:05:51Look, I can double check with my doctor, but these tests are supposed to be pretty accurate.
00:06:01Plus I'm late, which is why I did the test in the first place, you know?
00:06:11You know what?
00:06:18This is great.
00:06:21This is really, really great.
00:06:24You mean it?
00:06:27You can always count on me, you know that?
00:06:29No matter what.
00:06:30And that goes for our kids, too.
00:06:33I never do anything to hurt you.
00:06:37Joey was my first serious relationship, my only sexual partner.
00:06:42I was an Irish Catholic girl in the 70s.
00:06:45This was the man I loved.
00:06:47I trusted.
00:06:48I was committed to raising a family with.
00:06:51Being Joey's other half became my identity.
00:06:54And I was sure he loved me just as much.
00:06:57Even though there were times he definitely tested my limits.
00:07:03Joey, they just pulled up behind us.
00:07:05You hurt speeding, right?
00:07:06What should I know?
00:07:09All right, just so you're going into labor, so I have to drive a little fast, all right?
00:07:12Joey, no, I am not doing that.
00:07:13Just trust me on this, Mary Jo.
00:07:14Come on.
00:07:15Don't I always know what I'm doing?
00:07:35What's the problem?
00:07:37You could have gotten a ticket, Joey.
00:07:40Key word, could have.
00:07:42But I didn't.
00:07:43All because of my brilliant idea.
00:07:46Yeah, yeah.
00:07:48Joy to the world.
00:07:53Stick with me, babe.
00:07:56I can get away with anything.
00:07:58I think Joey really believed that, which explains why his behavior got even worse after I gave birth to our
00:08:04son, Paul.
00:08:08By the time our daughter, Jessie, came along, I was having more and more trouble keeping track of Joey and
00:08:14what he was up to.
00:08:16Oh, what's that?
00:08:17It's okay.
00:08:19It's almost time to take little Jessica back to the nursery, Mrs. Bettafuoco.
00:08:23Oh, I'm waiting on my husband.
00:08:25He went home to get our son, Paul, so he could bring him here and meet his little sister.
00:08:29Visiting hours ended over 30 minutes ago.
00:08:32Really?
00:08:35Joey, promised he was coming right back, didn't he?
00:08:39Yeah, he did.
00:08:42Yeah, it's okay, though.
00:08:44I got you.
00:08:45Joey, I was really excited to be a good mom and wife.
00:08:49I knew it was the right thing to give up the partying.
00:08:52But Joey, he sort of stayed a perpetual teenager.
00:08:56But that's what everyone loved about him.
00:08:58My mother considered him a son.
00:09:00My baby sister Eileen thought of him as an older brother.
00:09:04Anytime I tried to share behavior I was troubled by, everyone assured me that's just Joey.
00:09:10Joey, all they saw was his sweetness.
00:09:12Not that he was usually trying to make up for some kind of bad behavior.
00:09:18Is there a beautiful woman in here?
00:09:21See you?
00:09:21Yeah.
00:09:26Oh, Joey, it's beautiful.
00:09:29All right, careful.
00:09:31One big step coming up.
00:09:32All right, I trust you.
00:09:34How are you, Bob?
00:09:34All right.
00:09:35Shut up.
00:09:36You got me a sports car?
00:09:38I'm a sports car.
00:09:40Come on, yeah, I do.
00:09:41I kept telling myself he'd eventually get it together and be the man I thought I married.
00:09:45What are you waiting for?
00:09:46Come in!
00:09:46I'm getting in, I'm getting in, I'm coming, I'm coming.
00:09:59Babe, don't be mad.
00:10:02I didn't mean to stay out this late.
00:10:12It's after midnight, Joey.
00:10:18Remember you promised you would come home and help me put the kids to bed?
00:10:24These things got a little out of hand.
00:10:25Didn't they?
00:10:26This is so wrong.
00:10:27I just wanted it off a little steam.
00:10:33All right, all right, all right, I messed up.
00:10:42I, I think this potty is getting a little out of hand, you know?
00:10:46No, look, I, I need you to be a part of this family, a part that the kids and I
00:10:52can rely on, you know?
00:10:57Or, or else, you know?
00:10:59Oh, or else.
00:11:01Yeah.
00:11:02Or else what?
00:11:03Hmm?
00:11:04You can never sleep at me, babe.
00:11:06Hey, I'm not playing around, Joey.
00:11:12I think it's time you get some help.
00:11:17Hmm?
00:11:19Yeah.
00:11:20Help.
00:11:22Just, you know, look, just to, just to, just to control whatever it is that makes you.
00:11:35Yeah.
00:11:36Hmm?
00:11:43You know, you and the kids mean the world to me.
00:11:45I'll do anything to prove that to you.
00:11:49Anything?
00:11:52All right.
00:11:53I will get some help.
00:11:56You will?
00:11:57Your wish is my command.
00:11:59I love you, Joey, but if you go.
00:12:00And I love you, Mary Jo, but if you go.
00:12:03Yeah.
00:12:04And I'll never stop proving that to you.
00:12:08Ever.
00:12:10I should have seen the pattern.
00:12:13Joey would mess up, promise to change, then go right back to his old ways.
00:12:17But I loved him.
00:12:18I loved our kids, our life.
00:12:21I wanted to believe him so badly.
00:12:28Yeah, that'll work as a replacement pot.
00:12:31And I think, uh...
00:12:33Oh.
00:12:42Can't be in the work area, you ma'am.
00:12:44Too dangerous.
00:12:47I like danger.
00:12:48Makes me hot.
00:12:53How old are you?
00:12:5416.
00:12:55Why?
00:12:56Like what you see?
00:12:58All right.
00:13:03I'm talking about my car.
00:13:09Looks a little beat up, to be honest.
00:13:12Only because I like to go fast.
00:13:14And sometimes I get distracted when I see a cute guy.
00:13:22You're really a Fisher's daughter.
00:13:26Guilty.
00:13:27But don't hold it against me.
00:13:29My dad has an account here, so he would want you to take extra special care of a cop.
00:13:38What do you know?
00:13:40Mm-hmm.
00:13:41While I was home, taking care of our kids and managing our life, I honestly had no idea what my
00:13:47husband was really doing behind my back.
00:13:50We're not done yet, are we?
00:13:53Don't you ever get tired?
00:13:55Isn't that what you like about me?
00:13:57That I can go longer and more often than your wife?
00:14:00All right, all right.
00:14:01No more of the pay-per-view stuff, okay?
00:14:03These one-hour hotel stays are breaking my bank.
00:14:07You'd have a lot more time and money if you left to marry Joe.
00:14:13How do you know my wife's name?
00:14:14I know your kid's name, too.
00:14:16Paul and Jessica.
00:14:17What's wrong with that?
00:14:18You know, I'm 17 now.
00:14:21Which means I'm legal in the state of New York.
00:14:25We could get married.
00:14:28Would you stop?
00:14:30Undressing you or talking about getting married?
00:14:33All of the above.
00:14:36I want to be with you all the time.
00:14:40What part of I'm married do you not understand?
00:14:52This is where I want you to really pay attention.
00:14:55I know now that Amy Fisher came from a troubled background, that she was struggling with her own pain.
00:15:01And I have compassion for that young girl.
00:15:04But that doesn't erase the choices she made next.
00:15:08Calculated, deliberate choices.
00:15:11She was determined to get what she wanted.
00:15:13And she knew exactly what she was doing.
00:15:35You're Stephen, right?
00:15:38Yeah.
00:15:39I'm Amy.
00:15:40I know Lou.
00:15:41He told me I could find you here.
00:15:45I heard you would do just about anything to spend a little time with a girl like me.
00:15:51She did.
00:15:53I mean, yeah.
00:15:55Yeah.
00:15:56As it happens, you are just the kind of guy I'm looking for.
00:16:00You got a gun, right?
00:16:04Yeah.
00:16:06Been on a few hunting trips with my uncle.
00:16:09Got a rifle.
00:16:10Hmm.
00:16:11Perfect.
00:16:13Because I need you to kill someone for me.
00:16:20Joey worked hard to provide for the family.
00:16:23But I was the one running the household, paying the bills, taking care of every detail of our lives.
00:16:28Sure, he was a hard worker.
00:16:31But Joey and Mai's relationship was more like mother and son.
00:16:34I grew up while Joey stayed a perpetual teenager.
00:16:41I did a lot of research on adult men who showed no signs of maturing.
00:16:47Peter Pan Syndrome describes adults who cling to teenage habits and attitudes.
00:16:52Yep, that was Joey.
00:16:53Only I had no idea what to do about it.
00:16:56Still, never in a million years did I think he'd ever cheat on me and the kids.
00:17:11I thought you were mad at me for not leaving my wife.
00:17:18How could I stay mad at you, Joey?
00:17:22We were meant to be together.
00:17:28What are you doing?
00:17:30Decided you've been right all the long.
00:17:33Oh, yeah.
00:17:35As long as you're married, I don't expect you to marry me.
00:17:39Of course.
00:17:40If that ever changes,
00:17:42I want to be the first in line to be the next Mrs. But if you go...
00:17:47Come with me.
00:17:50Come on.
00:18:02Come on.
00:18:07Come on.
00:19:11Hello. Now we know when Mary Jo's all alone in the house.
00:19:16For?
00:19:18So when we go there to shoot her with your gun?
00:19:21Oh, um, hey, you mean my rifle?
00:19:25Mm-hmm.
00:19:28Um, I mean...
00:19:31Say it, Steven.
00:19:33I'm not really sure if I can actually kill somebody.
00:19:37I mean, between you and me, I had a hard time killing a deer upstate.
00:19:41I mean, I'm not really sure if I can't kill somebody.
00:20:07Bitch, trust me, I'm doing public service here.
00:20:11Mary Jo's an obstacle that I'm clearing out of the way for everyone's sake.
00:20:25Thanks for treating.
00:20:26Hey, how is it that you come by so much cash?
00:20:29I mean, as your boyfriend.
00:20:33Joey?
00:20:34You can say his name.
00:20:36Yeah, but you here with me, isn't that cheating?
00:20:40Uh, first off, he's cheating on me with his wife.
00:20:43Besides, he likes that I'm so sexual.
00:20:45It's one of my many qualities.
00:20:47Cool.
00:20:48So, he just gives you money?
00:20:50Actually, I earn it.
00:20:52Men pay to spend time with me.
00:20:54You know, through an escort service.
00:20:57Joey's good with that?
00:20:59Yeah, but I just say, he likes that I'm so comfortable with my body.
00:21:03Cool.
00:21:08So, uh, when are you free to shoot Mary Jo?
00:21:11The sooner, the better.
00:21:13Gotta make sure I can get a good aim at her.
00:21:15You know, for the kill shot.
00:21:20Don't worry, Steven.
00:21:21I got a plan.
00:21:38Hi, can I help you?
00:21:39I'm here to raise money for my high school.
00:21:43I think you went there, too.
00:21:47How would you know that?
00:21:50The, uh, principal's office gave us a list of names to solicit on account of, uh,
00:21:56who wanted us girls to be safe and raising money for the school.
00:22:03And what are you selling, exactly?
00:22:06Uh, candy bars.
00:22:08Only got three left.
00:22:10That'll meet my goal.
00:22:13Just, just give me a moment.
00:22:16Just, just give me a moment.
00:22:22What are you waiting for?
00:22:33Excuse me?
00:22:34Excuse me?
00:22:38Um.
00:22:42Which one you want?
00:22:45You have a nice day.
00:22:46Yeah, um.
00:22:51You, too.
00:22:55This isn't candy for a school charity.
00:22:59Is she serious?
00:23:03Were you waiting for a written invitation?
00:23:05All you had to do was take the shot.
00:23:06You kept on stepping in front of my hand.
00:23:08I did not want to shoot you by mistake.
00:23:09So instead you didn't end up shooting anybody?
00:23:11After I planned everything perfect.
00:23:16Try telling you.
00:23:17I don't think I could ever kill nobody.
00:23:20It's, can't kill anybody, you idiot.
00:23:26You can forget about me.
00:23:27I have a sleep in with you now.
00:23:31Sorry.
00:23:34Don't be.
00:23:37I'll find a way to kill the bitch myself
00:23:39if it's the last thing I do.
00:23:49Amy Fisher became fixated on Joey.
00:23:53Looking back,
00:23:53I can see how he manipulated that young girl
00:23:56the same way he manipulated me.
00:23:58He was that good at convincing anyone
00:24:00that they were the center of his attention.
00:24:03Everyone loved him.
00:24:05He was Mr. Fun.
00:24:07He had everyone fooled.
00:24:09Especially me.
00:24:11Your carburetor's filthy.
00:24:12I gotta take out the whole thing,
00:24:14clean it up.
00:24:15I don't want to let you drive out of here
00:24:16without, without me doing that, all right?
00:24:20It's kind of expensive, it is.
00:24:22Yeah.
00:24:24Joey, I got good news.
00:24:27Oh wait, we can be together all the time.
00:24:29Sir, I'll call you back, all right?
00:24:36Joey.
00:24:38Joey.
00:24:47Hey, hey, get it through that thick skull of yours
00:24:49once and for all.
00:24:50I'm married.
00:24:55Not for long, you know.
00:24:57Amy Fisher wasn't about to stop trying.
00:25:00In her mind,
00:25:02I was the only thing standing between her
00:25:04and the life she wanted with Joey.
00:25:06And she decided the solution was to eliminate me.
00:25:10She was gonna make it happen.
00:25:11You're gonna make it happen.
00:25:35Couldn't help but notice you've been staring at me, haven't I?
00:25:38I'm Peter
00:25:39I know
00:25:42Amy
00:25:46You messing with me?
00:25:48No
00:25:49But you definitely got something I want
00:25:53Do I know?
00:25:55Relax, Romeo
00:25:57I'm here on business
00:26:02Business
00:26:09I heard you could sell me a gun
00:26:14Get lost, little girl
00:26:17800
00:26:18Cash
00:26:20Close your mouth, Peter
00:26:21Practically drooling
00:26:24Gun
00:26:26First
00:26:27Cash
00:26:27Second
00:26:29Oh, yeah?
00:26:30What's that?
00:26:32You teaching me how to use it
00:26:34So I don't miss my intended target
00:26:48Mrs. Butterfucco?
00:26:51Do I know you?
00:26:52No
00:26:53Definitely not
00:26:56I'm Anne-Marie Fisher
00:26:57I'm here because I'm concerned about my little sister Amy
00:27:02Why do you, uh, why do you look so familiar?
00:27:05Uh, probably
00:27:06Seeing me and my sister around the neighborhood
00:27:08She's
00:27:09Why I'm here
00:27:10She's only 17
00:27:11And how old are you?
00:27:1319
00:27:15Which is why I'm
00:27:16So concerned about my little sister
00:27:18See, because
00:27:19Your husband seduced her
00:27:20When she was even younger than she is now
00:27:24Is this some kind of prank?
00:27:27Your husband's Joey Butterfucco, right?
00:27:31Listen, look, I'm a little busy right now
00:27:33So if you're done messing around
00:27:34No, no, I'm serious
00:27:36Your husband and my little sister have been sleeping together
00:27:39I have proof
00:27:45How did she get this?
00:27:48You can't even get this at the shop yet
00:27:50Your husband gave it to my little sister
00:27:52After he slept with her
00:27:54Over
00:27:54And over
00:27:55And over
00:28:00Look
00:28:01I don't know how you got this
00:28:03But keep it
00:28:04I don't want it
00:28:09I'll tell Joey you stop by
00:28:11No, don't do that
00:28:13Why not?
00:28:15Listen, I don't want any trouble
00:28:16I'm here because
00:28:19What are you looking at?
00:28:21Is that who you came here with?
00:28:23Look, I don't know what kind of game you're playing
00:28:25But I'm not interested
00:28:26I told you I'd tell Joey you stop by
00:28:28All right?
00:28:28Is that good enough for you?
00:28:29No
00:29:04In an instant
00:29:05Everything about my life was changed forever
00:29:11I don't understand
00:29:13Shouldn't we have heard something by now?
00:29:14Mr. Perfuoco
00:29:16Oh, this is Eileen
00:29:17This is Mary Jo's sister
00:29:18Is Mary Jo okay?
00:29:20Your wife's still with us
00:29:22The bullet severed her carotid artery
00:29:24And is lodged at the base of her brain
00:29:26Just above her spinal cord
00:29:29But she'll be okay
00:29:31She'll live
00:29:33Honestly, it's too early to tell
00:29:36We want to operate
00:29:37But even if she survives the surgery
00:29:39She's likely to have severe brain damage
00:29:41Could even be paralyzed
00:29:42Deaf and or blind
00:29:45With your permission
00:29:46We'll operate right away
00:29:47You do what you gotta do
00:29:48You go save my wife
00:29:50We'll do the best we can
00:29:54I don't understand
00:29:56Who would do something like this?
00:29:58Who'd want to hurt Mary Jo?
00:30:01Nobody I can think of
00:30:02That's just true
00:30:14We'll do something like this
00:30:15We'll do anything
00:30:16I don't think of
00:30:17That περι hindsight
00:30:17What does that mean?
00:30:19Mother
00:30:19What do you want?
00:30:32I don't know
00:30:33I don't know
00:30:37This is but if you go, you go.
00:30:43This is but if you go.
00:30:52Mary Jo, can you hear me?
00:30:57Can you blink if you hear me?
00:31:05Mary Jo, you've been shot.
00:31:08We're doing everything we can for you.
00:31:10Stay strong now, okay?
00:31:20Mary Jo, hey.
00:31:23Who shot you?
00:31:25Who did this to you?
00:31:27Don't try to speak, Mrs. Butterfugou.
00:31:29You've been outfitted with a tracheostomy, too.
00:31:35We better sedate her.
00:31:37Can we at least let her try writing?
00:31:46I was fighting for my life while everyone else was fighting about the truth.
00:31:51No one took me seriously at first because they were convinced that I had brain damage.
00:31:55Not to mention, they couldn't remove the bullet since it might have put me in even more danger.
00:32:01Hmm.
00:32:11And Maria is...
00:32:14Is that who shot you?
00:32:16Yeah.
00:32:38No, we don't know any Anne-Marie.
00:32:46She's writing more.
00:32:52Even with a bullet in my head, I was determined to be heard.
00:33:00None of this is making any sense.
00:33:11Your wife has suffered a great deal of harm.
00:33:14It's very likely she's delirious, or...
00:33:17Worse.
00:33:18We're still assessing possible brain damage.
00:33:21I lost track of all the surgeries and physical therapy sessions I had to go through.
00:33:27I wasn't the one who committed the crime, but I was the one paying the price.
00:33:51Mr. Barofuco, I have some news.
00:33:55The bullet penetrating your jawbone likely saved your life, but it got stuck there, and we weren't able to remove
00:34:02it without jeopardizing you further.
00:34:04Unfortunately, with the bullet being so close to your brain and spinal cord, it's likely that your facial paralysis and
00:34:09hearing loss are permanent.
00:34:13Honey, it's okay.
00:34:15Babe, you don't have to.
00:34:18When can I go back to solid foods, at least?
00:34:21As you know, your jawbone was shattered.
00:34:23It's only liquids for now.
00:34:27And, uh, uh, how about her eye?
00:34:30She has to wear an eye patch for a while, due to severe corneal damage.
00:34:35We are gonna find out who did this.
00:34:38I already know who did it.
00:34:44I don't know why she did it.
00:34:49Help.
00:34:50Help.
00:34:52Help.
00:34:58I spoke to the nurse.
00:35:00She's gonna have your pain medication at the top of the hour.
00:35:08Sweetheart, we're gonna get through this.
00:35:11Okay?
00:35:13I don't care what that doctor says.
00:35:18Water.
00:35:18The police.
00:35:25I keep telling you, I...
00:35:27I got no connection to this Aunt Marie or her sister.
00:35:32Honey.
00:35:34Honey.
00:35:35I did not have an affair with this awful person who shot you.
00:35:40Or anyone, for that matter.
00:35:43On our kids' lives.
00:35:45I swear.
00:35:54Come on.
00:35:55Come on.
00:35:56Come on.
00:36:00Okay, okay, okay.
00:36:02That hurts.
00:36:05Only a few more questions was about a few call.
00:36:08Anything to help find her did this to Mary Jo?
00:36:10According to your wife, the young lady with the gun said that you and her little sister were having an
00:36:15affair.
00:36:20Uh...
00:36:25No, I got no knowledge of that sort of thing.
00:36:27We got an axe.
00:36:28This shirt.
00:36:30You know how many shirts we give away in a year?
00:36:33It was one of the new golf shirts.
00:36:36Yeah.
00:36:37Those are still in boxes.
00:36:41She said you gave it to her little sister.
00:36:46And it's how she was trying to prove that what she said was true.
00:36:53It wasn't.
00:36:55It wasn't.
00:36:56It isn't.
00:36:58I don't know.
00:36:59Maybe someone stole the shirt.
00:37:01Maybe another employee of the auto body shop had access to him.
00:37:07You know, on second thought, there actually was a customer I gave one of those shirts to as a preview.
00:37:14A male customer.
00:37:17Elliot Fisher.
00:37:19And he's the only one you gave a golf shirt to?
00:37:21Maybe this Elliot Fisher has daughters or nieces or something.
00:37:42We got something.
00:37:43Our time.
00:37:51That's her.
00:37:54Yeah, that's the girl that shot me.
00:37:56That's Anne-Marie?
00:37:57Amy.
00:37:58Yeah.
00:37:58Amy Fisher.
00:37:59The daughter of your customer, Elliot Fisher.
00:38:03Wow.
00:38:04So he had kids, huh?
00:38:05One daughter.
00:38:09We just needed your confirmation.
00:38:11Now we can lure her in.
00:38:13How are you going to do that?
00:38:24Stick to the script.
00:38:25Nothing more?
00:38:26Nothing less.
00:38:27Yeah, yeah.
00:38:28Got it.
00:38:39Hello?
00:38:40Hey, this is Amy Fisher.
00:38:41This is Joey Buttafuoco from the auto body shop.
00:38:43Joey, how come you...
00:38:44You know what?
00:38:45It's better we talk in person.
00:38:46Yeah.
00:38:48Can you meet right now?
00:38:49Yeah.
00:38:50Tell me where you're at.
00:38:52Okay.
00:38:54Be right there.
00:39:00Okay.
00:39:08Stay calm.
00:39:09Could be just a traffic ticket.
00:39:13Step out of the vehicle and put both hands on your head.
00:39:27Amy.
00:39:29Did you do it?
00:39:30And if you didn't, who did?
00:39:31Amy.
00:39:31Miss Fisher.
00:39:33Talk to us, Miss Fisher.
00:39:34Amy.
00:39:35It'll take two minutes.
00:39:36Amy.
00:39:36Amy.
00:39:40Amy.
00:39:40Amy Fisher, dubbed the Long Island Lolita since it's rumored she was having an illicit affair
00:39:45with the victim's husband, is now the prime suspect in the shooting of Mary Jo Buttafuoco.
00:39:50It should be noted that Miss Fisher is only 17 years old, leaving many to wonder just how
00:39:56responsible someone this young could be for the circumstances she finds herself in.
00:40:00The media portrayed Amy Fisher as this sweet 17-year-old who'd been taken advantage of,
00:40:07who didn't know what she was doing.
00:40:09I understand the complexity now, that someone can be both victim and perpetrator.
00:40:14But I was there on that front porch the day she shot me.
00:40:17And Amy Fisher knew what she was doing.
00:40:20Before, during, and after.
00:40:34Hey, what are you doing?
00:40:35Back off.
00:40:36Clear a path.
00:40:37Come on.
00:40:39I got you.
00:40:40I got you.
00:40:45Boy, these people don't have anything better to do, huh?
00:40:49I keep telling you, sweetheart.
00:40:50We're famous.
00:40:51I don't want to be famous.
00:40:54I want my kids.
00:40:56Mom!
00:40:57Hi!
00:40:58Oh, Mom!
00:40:58Hey!
00:41:00Careful, Paul and Jessie.
00:41:02Your mother's still hurt.
00:41:03Don't listen to your father.
00:41:05I love you.
00:41:05I love you, too.
00:41:06I never want you to let go.
00:41:08I love you, baby.
00:41:09Who do you believe, Mary Jo?
00:41:11Your husband?
00:41:12Do it.
00:41:12Amy Fisher.
00:41:14Amy Fisher.
00:41:15Amy Fisher.
00:41:28I was so beaten up, so dependent on Joey financially.
00:41:33I didn't want to break up our family.
00:41:35The kids were young.
00:41:37I was worried what people would say, what my Irish Catholic mother would think if I questioned
00:41:42Joey's and my wedding vows.
00:41:44Joey was all I knew, all I thought I had, and he seemed so sincere.
00:41:51It wasn't so much that I was ignorant.
00:41:53It's that Joey was that good at being dishonest.
00:42:02The realization that my life would never be the same, that I might never be able to smile
00:42:07again, was something I didn't know if I could ever come to terms with.
00:42:25Jess?
00:42:34Sweetie, you awake, huh?
00:42:53Can I see this?
00:43:17You are the sweetest girl.
00:43:37I keep telling you it was an accident.
00:43:40That's all you got to say for yourself?
00:43:46I was confused on account of Joey is so much older than me, and I really didn't know what
00:43:52I was doing.
00:43:53You got to believe me, the gun went off by itself, I swear.
00:44:00The physical evidence told a different story.
00:44:04Detectives had the theory that the gun Amy used had its slide pulled back before it was
00:44:08fired, which showed she came to my home with the intent to shoot me.
00:44:13That was hard to accept.
00:44:15All I wanted was for my life to return to normal, and that meant putting faith in my family.
00:44:26I'm not sure this is the best idea, Joey.
00:44:29You know, I mean...
00:44:34It feels like...
00:44:35It feels like it's too soon.
00:44:44What did I tell you?
00:44:45Everyone loves you.
00:44:46Same as us.
00:44:48Especially me.
00:44:50All right, let's go find a nice cabana for your mother.
00:44:52Come on.
00:45:07Does it hurt?
00:45:10Excuse me?
00:45:12But the bullet went in the mouth.
00:45:14You want to know a secret?
00:45:17The bullet is still in my head, yeah?
00:45:20In my jaw.
00:45:22Can we see?
00:45:24Sure you can.
00:45:27If you had x-ray vision like Superman, you'd be able to see right through it.
00:45:38You're the coolest lady ever.
00:45:45He's right, you know.
00:45:47You're definitely the coolest lady ever.
00:45:50Joey was a fabulous liar and manipulator, but he wasn't the only one still hiding the truth
00:45:55of what really happened.
00:45:58I'm glad we came.
00:46:17So, anything change?
00:46:18You can ask me the same questions over and over all you want.
00:46:22My story's never going to change.
00:46:24None of this is my fault.
00:46:27I got caught up in other people's troubles is all.
00:46:29Their manipulations.
00:46:32I was used.
00:46:37A Mr. Steven Sleeman and a Mr. Peter Guigente tell a very different story from the one you've
00:46:42shared, Ms. Fisher.
00:46:44The first guy says he helped you try and kill Mary Jo Butterfuco last November.
00:46:49And when that plan didn't work out, the other says that he sold you a gun and drove you to
00:46:56the Butterfuco residence so that you could do it yourself.
00:46:58We're not going to comment on what sounds like hearsay at best.
00:47:06Holding back information isn't going to do you any favors.
00:47:11We're aware of our rights.
00:47:16According to sources, the only person who doesn't suspect Joey Butterfuco had an affair with
00:47:22the accused assailant is his wife, the gunshot victim, Mary Jo Butterfuco.
00:47:32Come here and gifts.
00:47:39Applesauce and cottage cheese.
00:47:40At least you don't beat it through a straw.
00:47:42Yeah.
00:47:49I hear the news on here again?
00:47:52Hmm?
00:47:52How many times I got to tell you that stuff's no good for you?
00:47:56Can I help it if we're all that's on TV?
00:47:59And if one to be famous or infamous?
00:48:02You know who really doesn't mind being famous?
00:48:05It's that girl.
00:48:08Who?
00:48:09Who?
00:48:13What?
00:48:14Go ahead, say it.
00:48:16You don't believe I never slept with Amy Fisher, do you?
00:48:19Looking back, I can see the cracks forming all around me.
00:48:24If only I'd been ready to admit it to myself at the time.
00:48:27It's not that I don't believe you, Joey.
00:48:30I just wish that these, these idiots on TV did.
00:48:34You know, I'm, the things that these reporters, these newscasters are saying about us, about
00:48:41our marriage.
00:48:45We've got to make sure Paul and Jesse never see this stuff.
00:48:49Amy Fisher is a very confused young girl.
00:48:53Sure, I remember her being in the shop a lot.
00:48:55Her dad let her charge repairs to his account.
00:48:57She was a really bad driver, always getting into all these accidents.
00:49:00Hmm.
00:49:02What do you think she says about me?
00:49:04Bull-faced lie.
00:49:05That's all there is to it.
00:49:06Besides, someone I want to talk to you about that's better than TV.
00:49:09Oh, yeah, what's that?
00:49:14Movies.
00:49:17Dear Mr. and Mrs. Butterfuoco, if you'll kindly grant us your valuable time for a meeting,
00:49:24we'd like to explain how telling your story cinematically can bring something good out
00:49:30of something that's been truly awful for you.
00:49:41Hollywood came calling sooner than the police could wrap up the case.
00:49:46Everyone wanted in on the action.
00:49:48They were making three movies at the same time.
00:49:51I couldn't believe it.
00:49:52But everyone around me thought it was so exciting.
00:49:55Oh, Mary Jo's on TV.
00:49:57Joey's consulting on a movie.
00:49:59I thought to myself, if this was happening to my best friend, it would be exciting.
00:50:04So, I went along with it.
00:50:09Even though we were on the set for one of the movies, I was still in total denial of
00:50:14the absurdity of it all.
00:50:17Not to mention, barely functional because of all the drugs I was on for pain.
00:50:22And action.
00:50:24You're going to want to hear what I have to say.
00:50:26I need to get back to my painting.
00:50:28He's lying to you.
00:50:31It's not how it happened.
00:50:33I'll tell you what, babe.
00:50:35Just be glad that one of these movies is finally telling my side of the story.
00:50:39Our side of the story.
00:50:42Yeah, well, he lies about a lot of things.
00:50:48You okay?
00:50:50Yeah.
00:50:56Someone call 9-1-1.
00:50:58Mary Jo.
00:50:59Mary Jo.
00:50:59You okay?
00:51:01Come on.
00:51:12Joey?
00:51:30You should be resting, Mary Jo.
00:51:33You don't mind me calling you that, do you?
00:51:36No.
00:51:37Of course not.
00:51:40So, um, are you feeling well enough for me to ask a small favor?
00:51:49Can I get an autograph?
00:51:53I figure if I get yours and Joey's, then all I need is Amy Fisher's.
00:51:57Although I am very much Team Mary Jo.
00:52:01I never wanted to be recognized in public.
00:52:04I was happy being a wife, a mom.
00:52:07I loved my life.
00:52:09All I wanted was to be there for my children.
00:52:12Those three movies did nothing to help my anonymity.
00:52:15At this point in my life, I've seen myself shot in the head on TV more than 300 times.
00:52:22Everything became about Joey and Amy.
00:52:26Me and my kids got lost in the shuffle.
00:52:29And things just kept getting worse.
00:52:34Joey, what if you were the one who told you to shoot Mary Jo, Amy?
00:52:37Whose idea was it to kill Mrs. Badafugel?
00:52:40If you're innocent, we want to hear from you, Amy.
00:52:42You can talk to us.
00:52:57What's so funny?
00:52:59This show really cracks me up.
00:53:00Come on.
00:53:02Watch some TV with us.
00:53:04Take a load off.
00:53:08No, I'm okay.
00:53:17A lot of the comedy shows back then thought it was funny to do sketches, making fun of what happened.
00:53:22What I was going through.
00:53:24Me being paralyzed on one side of my face.
00:53:27You know who didn't find any of that funny?
00:53:30Me.
00:53:36You can't even watch those comedy shows right now.
00:53:40I'm not knowing when they're going to make fun of us again.
00:53:50When did I do it?
00:53:52Did we become the punchline?
00:53:55Our lawyers looking in to see when the shows that are doing that.
00:53:58Because I got shot in the face because I didn't believe you.
00:54:03Man, I promised to love to take that to his part, you know?
00:54:09What you and I got is rock solid.
00:54:13No one needs to understand that except for you, me, and the kids.
00:54:16Looking back, I can see I had all the symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome.
00:54:20I still didn't think Joey had been having an affair with the person who did this to me.
00:54:25Life was too foggy because of the multiple pain medications I was on.
00:54:30When I was in sixth grade, I had a concussion after a bad fall and couldn't remember anything for a
00:54:35short period.
00:54:37Catholic school left me back a grade.
00:54:40Everyone called me immature, the left-back baby.
00:54:43Kids told me I was stupid.
00:54:46Then later in life, this all happens and now I'm stupid again because I'm not leaving Joey.
00:54:52Because I believed the man I swore to stay with, for better or for worse.
00:54:58These interrogations are bordering on harassment.
00:55:01My client remains a frightened young girl, a victim of everyone who's trying to take inappropriate advantage of her.
00:55:07We're just trying to do our best to piece together the facts as they're revealed to us.
00:55:11For everyone's best interest, including Ms. Fisher's.
00:55:14If you've got something you haven't disclosed, that alone could be grounds for...
00:55:17All we're asking for is a little clarification on all the stuff about Ms. Fisher being reported on TV night
00:55:22after night.
00:55:23Tabloid fodder, none of which has been substantiated.
00:55:25Just some people trying to make a quick buck off all the publicity surrounding my client.
00:55:32Call me, Cap.
00:55:41Don't worry.
00:55:42We're still gonna get him to agree to a plea deal.
00:55:46Okay.
00:56:08I just wanted to let you know that Amy Fisher's grand jury testimony has been temporarily postponed.
00:56:13What?
00:56:14Yeah, apparently she's been hit hard by a news story airing last night with a video of her admitting to
00:56:19a boyfriend that she's keeping her name in the press to make a lot of money and get a super
00:56:24high-end car.
00:56:25Really?
00:56:26Mm-hmm.
00:56:26So, uh, they said that she'll be there for at least a week for psychiatric examination and observation.
00:56:33Look, it's not like I wanted to, you know.
00:56:38I'll be in touch when we have more information.
00:56:40Okay.
00:56:42Take care of yourself, Mary Jo.
00:56:52Everything good?
00:56:56Nothing's been good since May, Joey.
00:56:59Or have you not been paying attention?
00:57:01Babe, I...
00:57:02Amy's in the hospital for psychiatric examination.
00:57:09Yeah, yeah, I mean, I keep telling you how messed up she is.
00:57:15What about me, Joey?
00:57:19Do you understand how long I have been waiting to finally see the person who shot me testify to a
00:57:24grand jury so she will finally face charges?
00:57:28I do.
00:57:30No.
00:57:31No.
00:57:39This is never going to end, is it?
00:57:50Will today be the final chapter in the lengthy saga of the Long Island Lolita?
00:57:55Inside this courthouse, Amy Fisher will at long last come face-to-face with her victim.
00:57:59It will be the first time the two have seen each other since May 19, 1992, when Amy Fisher allegedly
00:58:05visited a tranquil Massapequa home and put a bullet in Mary Jo Barrafico's head.
00:58:25Let's try to keep this matter as efficient as we can, since the defendant has already agreed to plead guilty
00:58:31to the shooting in arrangement for her plea deal.
00:58:41The defendant has a statement she wishes to enter?
00:58:44Yes, Your Honor.
00:58:52Seeing Amy Fisher in person for the first time since the shooting was surreal.
00:58:57The girl who tried to kill me in the same room.
00:59:01But I held my head high.
00:59:03I knew who I was.
00:59:04I had my integrity.
00:59:06And I wasn't trading it for anything.
00:59:15Sometimes I think this was a nightmare, and it didn't really happen, and then I realized that it did.
00:59:21I went up to the doorstep with a loaded gun in my pocket.
00:59:25I spoke with Mrs. Barrafico outside her Massapequa home for 15 minutes until Mrs. Barrafico turned to go back inside.
00:59:34I hit her on the back of the head.
00:59:36I hit her again.
00:59:38The gun went off.
00:59:40I tried to get her off of me, and I hit her, I think twice.
00:59:45And then I left.
00:59:47I ran away.
00:59:49These, Your Honor, are all true.
00:59:51They are all facts.
00:59:53And I cannot and will not take them back for the sake of hominy.
01:00:03And now I believe we'll hear from Amy Fisher's victim.
01:00:10Make no mistake.
01:00:12This courtroom will not devolve into the media frenzy that has surrounded these goings-on for the last year and
01:00:18a half.
01:00:20This is but a Fuco.
01:00:22No.
01:00:35My two beautiful children are having a difficult time leaving me alone.
01:00:41They are afraid I might not be there when they get home from school.
01:00:46They have been severely traumatized by this event.
01:00:49And this, to me, is the greatest tragedy of all.
01:00:53All this damage by someone who still shows absolutely no remorse for her actions.
01:01:02The bullet is still lodged in the base of my brain and causes me constant pain and suffering.
01:01:08The future holds numerous operations.
01:01:11And if there is any unnatural movement of the bullet, I am faced with paralysis and perhaps even death.
01:01:19I understand you have a letter written by your daughter, Jessica, that you'd like to read.
01:01:27Thank you for putting Amy Fisher in jail.
01:01:31She has done so many bad things to my family and I.
01:01:35Please make Amy Fisher stay in jail for a very long time so she can't hurt my mom again.
01:01:44My daddy, brother Paul, and I love her very much.
01:02:09So far, the seductive teenager has stuck to her story.
01:02:12That she had a steamy romance with Mary Jo Barofiucco's husband, Joey Barofiucco, who isn't in the courtroom today.
01:02:19At an earlier news conference, he once again claimed he never had sex with the accused.
01:02:25I have a brief statement.
01:02:28Amy Fisher is a liar and has zero credibility.
01:02:31She knows that.
01:02:33I know she's a liar.
01:02:34I know she has no credibility.
01:02:36That's all I'm going to say.
01:02:37Joey!
01:02:38Joey!
01:02:41You are a tragedy and disgrace to yourself, to your family, to your friends, and to society.
01:02:50And you deserve no less than the maximum sentence I can impose by law.
01:02:56For many months, you had stalked Mary Jo Barofiucco like a wild animal stalks its prey.
01:03:04Motivated by lust and passion, you were a walking stick of dynamite with the fuse lit.
01:03:12Amy Fisher, you're sentenced to five to fifteen years in prison.
01:03:21Do you have anything you wish to say to the court or to Mrs. Barofiucco?
01:03:29If I could change everything, I would.
01:03:32If I could put my hand over her face and make it go away, I would.
01:03:38But I don't want to be the Amy Fisher that stands here today.
01:03:41I want to be the Amy Fisher I was before I met Jo Barofiucco in November of 1990.
01:04:02Do you still believe your husband didn't sleep with Amy Fisher?
01:04:05Do you feel sorry for her at all?
01:04:07You don't need to talk to her, okay?
01:04:08Amy Fisher is a liar, not to mention an attempted murderer.
01:04:13And the DA is taking her word over Joey's.
01:04:17I am not going to let this one person destroy our lives.
01:04:23There you have it.
01:04:37You're Mary Jo Barofiucco, right?
01:04:40You've been through so much, I am a big fan.
01:04:47I am so embarrassed.
01:04:49Sorry.
01:04:50No, it's okay.
01:04:52Have a nice day, all right?
01:04:54Is it true what they're saying, that Amy Fisher can describe, you know, Joey's privates?
01:04:59I developed this weird ability to ignore what anyone was saying.
01:05:04I still believed Joey.
01:05:06I was in pain, mental and physical, and on way too many drugs to know the difference.
01:05:11Not to mention being raised Catholic in the 60s absolutely shaped my view of what was right and wrong.
01:05:18Catholics don't get divorced.
01:05:20One time when Joey and I temporarily separated, my mother said, this is what happens when you don't have Jesus
01:05:26in your life.
01:05:27That was her answer to everything I was going through.
01:05:31Everyone close to us still believed Joey, even when one of his former employees told a talk show Joey had
01:05:37admitted to sleeping with Amy Fisher.
01:05:38And the D.A. filed charges because of it.
01:05:45I keep telling you, that former employee is just trying to stir up trouble.
01:05:49None of what he says on TV is true.
01:05:55You want me to go to trial to get sentenced for something I never did?
01:05:59Six counts of statutory rape, 12 counts of sodomy, one count of endangering the welfare of a child?
01:06:08If you never did any of it, why did the grand jury indict you?
01:06:15And why would going to trial be a problem, Joey?
01:06:19Our lawyer says taking the plea deal is the safe bet.
01:06:23Even though you and me, we both know I never did what that girl said.
01:06:39Hey, no, no, no.
01:06:41None of that's true.
01:06:42Don't get yourself worked out.
01:06:44How is this all going to be done?
01:06:47I could save my face or I could save my butt and be here with you and the kids where
01:06:52I belong.
01:07:02This is the last of it, all right?
01:07:05The last of this awful nightmare.
01:07:07I take the plea and then we can finally move on and get the happy ever after that you, me,
01:07:12and the kids deserve.
01:07:14This was yet another wake-up call, but I wasn't ready to wake up.
01:07:19Instead, I numbed myself with pills, believed harder, held on even tighter.
01:07:26To a version of Joey that didn't really exist.
01:07:32When this relationship began, I was not just a 16-year-old teenager taken to bed by a man over
01:07:38twice my age.
01:07:40I was a 16-year-old teenager shown a world that I was not ready for.
01:07:44A world of elaborate spending and fast boats.
01:07:48This man took me to expensive restaurants and cheap motels.
01:07:55I hope whatever sentence you might impose today will send a message to other teenagers who might be tempted by
01:08:00men like Mr. Buttafuoco.
01:08:06I know with all my heart that if Mr. Buttafuoco had permitted me to cross the bridge between adolescence and
01:08:12adulthood unmolested, I would not be where I am today.
01:08:46I cannot accept your plea unless, in fact, you are guilty.
01:08:50Please, please, tell me.
01:08:57On July 2nd, 1991, I had sexual relations with Amy Fisher at a motel.
01:09:16There is a family involved here.
01:09:19Joseph, Mary Jo's father, in-laws, children.
01:09:24That's the kind of man Joey is.
01:09:27He did all he could do in that courtroom so that everybody else's life could go free.
01:09:31Joey, why didn't Mary Jo accompany you here today?
01:09:34Last night, Mary Jo had a rough night.
01:09:36Her true pain is for her children.
01:09:39That's all we're saying.
01:09:48These are for the walls in your cell, Daddy.
01:09:51It's not a cell, baby.
01:09:52It's a room.
01:09:53So you don't forget about us.
01:09:55These are great, Jess.
01:09:59How about you, champ?
01:10:00You doing all right?
01:10:02I don't know.
01:10:03This is all right, Joey.
01:10:05Bring in the kids here to visit you of all places, huh?
01:10:09You know, the lawyer says I'll get off early.
01:10:11Four months instead of six.
01:10:13Then it'll be like that unless it ever happened.
01:10:15Yeah, maybe not for the both of us, huh?
01:10:18You wait a seat, Mary Jo.
01:10:19I'm going to prove it to you.
01:10:20Everything gets better from this moment.
01:10:24Look what her daughter do for me, huh?
01:10:27Pretty good.
01:10:30After the statutory rape conviction, when Joey got out of jail,
01:10:34the neighborhood threw a huge party.
01:10:37Joey came home a triumphant hero.
01:10:40Nothing he did or was accused of changed the opinions of those closest to him.
01:10:45Not our friends.
01:10:47Not our family.
01:10:48Not me.
01:10:50Not yet.
01:11:01Hello?
01:11:02Don't be upset.
01:11:04What am I not supposed to be upset about, Joey?
01:11:07It's the middle of the night here.
01:11:09Huh?
01:11:13I, uh...
01:11:17I was arrested for solicitation here in L.A.
01:11:22What?
01:11:25You swore you were going to stay out of trouble while you were on the West Coast.
01:11:28It was a total set-up.
01:11:30I, I'm innocent.
01:11:31You forget that you're on parole?
01:11:33Hmm?
01:11:34No, I talked to the lawyer.
01:11:35He's, he's going to clear it all up.
01:11:37Yeah, and what, what about the next time, Joey?
01:11:40Huh?
01:11:42Everything's just going to get cleared up for you again?
01:11:46Because everything's about you, right?
01:11:48You know, all the news just makes everything about Amy.
01:11:52And at the end of the day, nobody cares about the woman walking around with a bullet permanently stuck in
01:11:59her jaw.
01:12:00Sweetheart, we're going to clear this up, okay?
01:12:07Oh, yeah.
01:12:17With Joey, it always wasn't him.
01:12:19It didn't happen this way, he didn't give her the money, whatever.
01:12:24It was the same crap I heard over and over again.
01:12:32I needed the pills to function.
01:12:34I wasn't getting high.
01:12:36I was avoiding incredible pain.
01:12:39Physical, and I now realize, mental.
01:12:42The pills dulled my mind and my instincts.
01:12:45I relied on drugs for seven long years.
01:12:49But eventually, even they couldn't numb the depths of what I was feeling.
01:12:53After Joey's arrest at L.A., I went into a spiral of depression.
01:12:58At this point, I just wanted to be dead.
01:13:12I didn't know where else to turn.
01:13:14What else to do?
01:13:20Mom?
01:13:22It's been like three days you've been in here.
01:13:34Mommy?
01:13:39Jess?
01:13:40You scared me.
01:13:44Sorry, honey, I just...
01:13:47I even felt like doing much the past two days of his sleep, you know?
01:13:51All me and Paul want is to see you happy.
01:13:55Hey, I know that, sweetheart, but...
01:14:00The paralysis from the bullet is permanent.
01:14:03One half of my face is never going to work right.
01:14:07But that doesn't mean I don't love you and Paul with all my heart, okay?
01:14:20You're too good to me.
01:14:22Come here.
01:14:24I love you.
01:14:25It was the lowest point in my life, and I gave up fighting.
01:14:32Nothing was getting better.
01:14:34I was so torn up on the inside, so depleted.
01:14:39I actually researched carbon monoxide poisoning.
01:14:42That's how low I sunk.
01:14:45I didn't think there was any way out for me or my kids.
01:14:49Thank God I finally realized I wasn't thinking with a clear mind.
01:15:02I finally decided if the bullets still lodged in my head hadn't done me in,
01:15:06then I was going to have to somehow find a way to go on.
01:15:10Let's make sure...
01:15:11We're sure about this?
01:15:13Mm-hmm.
01:15:13This is the best idea?
01:15:14Yeah, well, I wouldn't be footing the bill if I didn't.
01:15:19You remind me that there's still good in the world.
01:15:21You know that?
01:15:24I could say the same to you, Mary Jo.
01:15:27Look, we both know that pills aren't the answer.
01:15:31Not ultimately.
01:15:33But it's time you treated yourself after all this mental pain you've been suffering through.
01:16:02Hey, hey.
01:16:08Oh, you gotta help me, all right?
01:16:10You gotta at least give me my prescription, okay?
01:16:13Please?
01:16:16Please!
01:16:17Mary Jo, it can get better from this moment if you decide to make this your rock bottom.
01:16:43You can do this.
01:16:46I'll get you some water.
01:16:56Thank you for sharing.
01:16:58And what about shame?
01:17:01Oh, definitely me.
01:17:04Sorry, did you say fame or shame?
01:17:07I don't really know what's the fact that I never wanted to be famous or the fact that I really
01:17:19love being a mom and a wife.
01:17:21And I know that that's not popular to say nowadays, but it's true.
01:17:31I loved it.
01:17:34I never wanted to be recognized in public, least of all for having a life-altering injury or for people
01:17:40thinking that I'm an idiot for desperately trying to honor my wedding vows, you know?
01:17:47I never wanted any of this.
01:17:53Not for me and, uh...
01:17:58Especially not for my kids, you know?
01:18:02From what you shared, I'm not sure that was a choice you made from them.
01:18:10Oh, my God.
01:18:32Jessie, boo, come here, come here, come here, come here.
01:18:34We missed you so much.
01:18:35Oh, my God, I missed you so much.
01:18:37Thank you for your letters and your drawings.
01:18:42Where's your father?
01:18:43He couldn't make it.
01:18:45Don't worry about it. Forget I said anything.
01:18:46I'm just so happy you're here.
01:18:48You look great.
01:18:49Kind of happy.
01:18:50Just kind of.
01:18:52From now on, we're going to be really happy.
01:18:56You know, my time in here did me a lot of good.
01:18:59I can finally let go, move on, got my power back.
01:19:05And that means I got to forgive.
01:19:07Forgive?
01:19:08Who?
01:19:19Go ahead, Miss Fisher.
01:19:20I'd like to say something to Mary Jo.
01:19:30What happened to you wasn't your husband's fault, wasn't your fault, wasn't my father's fault, and wasn't anybody else's fault.
01:19:38It was my fault, and I have spent the last seven years trying to figure it out.
01:19:46It was my fault, and I'm sorry.
01:19:56Mrs. Butterfugel?
01:19:58Mrs. Butterfugel?
01:20:15You know my faults, and sorrow for what she did to me?
01:20:19You're being given a second chance in life.
01:20:22And I pray that you take it, and make something good out of something tragic.
01:20:36I'm sorry.
01:20:38I'm truly very sorry.
01:20:47people always ask why did i forgive the person who tried to kill me
01:20:52it wasn't for amy fisher's sake i promise you it was for me back then i still had a lot
01:20:59to figure
01:21:00out about joey about myself but i knew this much i wasn't going to let hate define me
01:21:07not anymore your honor given that my client now accepts full responsibility for the terrible act
01:21:18of seven years ago and in light of her testimony we're urging you to grant miss fisher parole
01:21:26when i finally came to my senses and told my mother i was leaving joey she didn't speak to
01:21:31me for four months i was wrong he was right i was the bad catholic that's the stronghold joey
01:21:39still had on everyone who knew him one day i just looked at that picture of our family
01:21:44covered joey's face with my thumb and realized me and the kids were better off without him
01:21:53i know you might be wondering if there was some big moment that caused me to finally leave joey
01:21:58some dramatic confrontation or giant revelation but it wasn't like that it was more like death
01:22:05by a thousand cuts it took years and years before i realized joey was never going to change
01:22:11and it was time for me to reclaim my power my life i was finally done with him once and
01:22:18for all
01:22:19today our son paul has a limited relationship with him jesse and i don't speak to him at all
01:22:26and yes people still ask me about amy fisher needless to say we aren't in touch the gun went
01:22:32off by accident her version of events has changed over the years since she shot me it was joey who
01:22:37told me to go up to the door point the gun and keep firing her truths aren't necessarily mine
01:22:42i took the plea deal on account i get parole three years after i went to jail amy fisher's story
01:22:48is hers
01:22:49to tell mine is about survival about refusing to let what she did define the rest of my life
01:22:56me and my kids are still here we're still standing we're still smiling that's our victory
01:23:04and would you believe i even got married again stew tendler and his children were a wonderful gift
01:23:11each of them showing paul jesse and me what it meant to be part of a family that loved and
01:23:16was
01:23:16committed to one another even though the marriage didn't last stew reminded me of my worth and that
01:23:22led to yet another surgery that was completely unexpected you really think i'm gonna be able
01:23:27to smile again dr aziz today i've been dealing with this frozen look for so long feels like i've
01:23:32you know kind of given up hope there's certain muscles keeping your paralysis from improving
01:23:38what i'm talking about is rewiring your nerves my mom doesn't think of herself as pretty or beautiful
01:23:43and when the complete opposite's true she's the most beautiful person i know
01:23:49the surgery will be intense i'd be using a nerve stimulator to identify which microscopic nerves
01:23:55are working and which are misfiring well mary joe what do you say my smile was there all along mind
01:24:01you
01:24:01just hidden but it was always under the surface thanks to jesse and paul who through everything
01:24:08always gave me a reason to be happy now dr aziz today was offering me a chance to show my
01:24:14smile to
01:24:14the world again mom how are you so can you smile now or what
01:24:30i don't know i don't know i tried to tell me a joke dad
01:24:39mom
01:24:41doctor said it's gonna get even better you're amazing to this day joey doesn't accept any
01:24:48responsibility for the lives he wrecked he never apologized to paul or jesse he couldn't even admit
01:24:55to me in person that he really did sleep with amy fisher speaking of causes for celebration may 15th
01:25:01around the corner must we celebrate when you're getting older duh that's kind of what people do on
01:25:08their birthdays mom yeah i think i'd rather celebrate shooting day on may 19th
01:25:16oh my gosh that's genius the three of us celebrating everything we survived on the actual date everything
01:25:23about our lives changed yeah i wasn't certain i was being serious about that shooting day i'm in
01:25:31we're gonna take back that date that's always brought us shame and fear and we're gonna make it our own
01:25:41who are you calling i'll make them restaurant reservations at our favorite italian place
01:25:46for may 19th mom you're a genius
01:25:52so that's what we do now every may 19th paul jesse and i get together and celebrate survival day
01:26:00because it's our day and no one else's we're finally through being a spectacle and done with
01:26:08letting that date pull us back into the misery of what was in the past i am mary joe but
01:26:13a fuco
01:26:14i'm alive i'm grateful i'm at peace and i'm smiling
01:26:21i feel the change in the air
01:26:27you
01:26:34you
01:26:35you
01:26:36you
01:26:37you
01:26:43you
01:26:50you
01:26:53you
01:27:04you
01:27:17you
01:27:21you
01:27:24you
01:27:30you
01:27:31you
01:27:32you
01:27:32you
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