Original subtitles

DEE DEE: Did you look up at the sky tonight?

[dramatic music]

And what did you see?

- Lacey, can we be friends?

LACEY: Heck, yeah, we can.

- My mama used to say, "Sometimes the only way

out of the fire is through it."

- What does that mean?

- She meant you have to suffer. You'll learn more from it.

- Crap.

- You saved me. - I saved you?

- You did. You are a hero. - I'm a hero?

[both gasping] OFFICER: Get back! Out of there!

SHERIFF: We have located Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

And I want to say that things are not always

as they appear.

LACEY: She can walk?

- Son of a bitch.

[insects chirping]

GYPSY: Mom, I'm scared of the ghosts.

I wanna go back home.

- It's okay.

There are no ghosts.

Hmm.

Look, just look up at the stars.

[dramatic music]

The stars are angels,

and the angels protect us.

And you are my angel.

I protect you.

- Mm-hmm.

DEE DEE: And you protect me.

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[gavel bangs]

JUDGE PALMER: This is the arraignment

in the related matters

of State of Missouri vs. Gypsy Rose Blanchard

and State of Missouri vs. Nicholas Godejohn.

Mr. Rippy, that's your cue to read the charges.

RIPPY: Thank you, Your Honor.

The State of Missouri hereby charges Gypsy Rose Blanchard

and Nicholas Godejohn with first-degree murder,

pursuant to section 565.020.

On or between June 9, 2015

and June 14, 2015,

the defendants did knowingly and after deliberation

cause the death of Clauddinnea Blanchard

by stabbing her,

which is punishable by life imprisonment...

Or death.

[Kate whispering indistinctly]

- Miss Blanchard, how do you plead?

- Not guilty.

[audience murmuring]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

REPORTER: Neighbors expressed shock about the murder

and years of deception.

And detectives tell us they've never seen a case

quite like this.

Questions still remain on the nature of the crime,

but Gypsy Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn

will both face the death penalty

if convicted of first-degree murder.

♪ ♪

- Don't be scared, hon.

We'll never give up on each other,

like Bonnie and Clyde.

- W-what happened to Bonnie and Clyde in the end?

OFFICER: Let's move.

♪ ♪

[door closes]

- Um...

they wouldn't really do it, would they?

- Do what?

- You know...

um, execute me.

KATE: They can.

So much depends on public perception.

If you look like a monster,

they will probably seek the death penalty.

But if you can appear sympathetic,

they'll be more likely to go easy on you.

That's one of the things I'm trying to help you with.

There's a lot of evidence

that doesn't look good for us, Gypsy.

Witnesses...

bus drivers, cab drivers,

the waitress at the diner,

that lady at the hotel, plus all of the text messages.

- I didn't kill her.

- [mouths words]

Okay, um, all right. Let me ask you something else.

We know that your mom forced you to use the wheelchair.

But we know that you can walk, right?

She wouldn't allow you to feed yourself,

but we know you can eat.

Do you think that there are any other things

your mom might have told you that were wrong?

- I don't know.

KATE: Gypsy, I've been trying to get a hold

of your medical records so that we can see what the doctors

said about you, not just what your mom said.

But, um, I'm running into a lot of red tape.

They're telling me that you signed

some sort of power of attorney.

Um, we might have better luck

if a next of kin requested the records.

So what about your dad? He's down there, right?

In Louisiana?

I've written and called a couple times,

but no one answers, but maybe if you called him--

- I don't have a dad.

It was only ever me and my mom.

And, yes, I know-- I know that she did bad things.

But...

But she cared about me.

And she loved me at least.

He didn't.

- We have to start changing the story.

Right now the world sees you as a cold-blooded killer.

[dramatic music]

- But-- but I-I couldn't have killed my mom.

I love her so much.

♪ ♪

Then we need to get a hold of those medical records.

We need people on your side,

or the State of Missouri is going to kill you.

♪ ♪

[indistinct shouting]

[screeching]

- Oh. Sorry.

I'm wobbly.

I spent my whole life in a wheelchair.

♪ ♪

[door buzzes]

♪ ♪

[shouting continues]

♪ ♪

[door buzzes]

♪ ♪

[shouting continues]

[device beeps, machine vibrating]

DR. SENNA: You're gaining weight.

Don't see that a lot in here.

- Can I ask you a favor?

Um...

I need to get a hold of my medical records from Louisiana,

and I was hoping maybe you could try and get them

because you're my new doctor.

- That's not how it works. Lie back.

Shirt up.

Oh.

I think that I can get rid of this for you.

- Are you sure that's a good idea?

DR. SENNA: You don't need it.

GYPSY: Um, I've been having some aches and pains lately.

Mostly my head and in my joints.

And I know that sometimes that can be symptoms of infection.

Do you think it's related? DR. SENNA: No.

You just need some aspirin. [sighs]

- [gasps, breathing sharply]

The old doctor did that more gentle.

- I see people all day with real medical issues,

like cancer and stabbing.

You're one of the healthiest people in here.

Sit up.

[pen scratching]

- [clears throat]

Um, could I keep the tube?

It's the last thing that I have of my mom.

DR. SENNA: Well, it's biohazard now.

[indistinct chatter]

[dramatic music]

[officer speaking indistinctly over PA]

♪ ♪

- [sniffling]

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[buzzer sounding]

GUARD: Up against the wall! Let's go!

Female inmates coming through!

Move! [indistinct chatter over PA]

GUARD: Do you need to be told twice?

Wall!

NICK: Gypsy? Gypsy?

I can answer the question.

Bonnie and Clyde, they died together.

They stuck together just like us.

Together until the end.

- No, no. I don't want that.

♪ ♪

- What?

- I don't wanna die!

GUARD: Hey! [shouting] [buzzer sounding]

- But we'll stick together, though, right?

GUARD: Jesus Christ!

NICK: Because that's-- that's why I saved you,

is so that we could stay together.

- I said up against the wall, motherfucker.

Move! NICK: G-Gypsy!

GUARD: Hey! What are you looking at?

Look at the wall, asshole!

[indistinct chatter]

[phone receiver clacks]

INMATE: I understand.

It's just that you never--

[beeping]

[line trilling]

LACEY: Hello?

- Lacey?

LACEY: Gypsy.

- Lacey, oh, my gosh. Hi!

Hi. I'm so sorry I didn't call you before.

I'm-- I'm so sorry.

I thought I would just be home so much sooner

to be able to tell you everything in person.

Everything on the news, like,

that we were cheating people to get money and stuff,

it's-- it's not the whole story.

I just-- I just wanted you to know that.

I mean, my mom-- I guess she was,

but as far as I-- like, for me,

my lawyer says it was basically a case of her, um,

medically abusing me.

- So y-you killed her?

- Not-- not like how they-- they make it sound.

I-I couldn't.

You know that, right?

- Could you always walk?

Like, this whole time?

- Um, can I tell you something?

The first day that we moved in,

ever since then,

all I wanted was to be like you.

And...

And I really just need someone to talk to right now.

I want to tell you everything.

It's just really complicated.

I--

Do you think that...

Do you think maybe you could come, I don't know, see me?

Please?

- Um...

Uh...

I'll have to think about it.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

I have to go.

- But-- [line clicks]

[phone receiver clacks]

[phone receiver clacks]

INMATE: This bitch.

Hey, one call per turn!

You think these rules don't apply to you?

[buttons beeping]

[line trilling]

ROD: I'm not here. Leave a message.

[beeps]

- This is your daughter...

Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

Um, I know that you don't even know me.

But I'm, um,

calling with just one little, tiny favor.

[Dionne Warwick's "I'm Your Puppet"]

♪ ♪

WARWICK: ♪ Pull the string, and I'll wink at you ♪

♪ I'm your puppet ♪

BACKGROUND SINGERS: ♪ I'm your puppet ♪

♪ ♪

WARWICK: ♪ I'll do funny things... ♪

SHELLEY: I picked her up once to move her.

Held her in my own two arms.

MEL: The two of them sitting over there together

laughing at us.

- Hmm, and stealing from Ronald McDonald.

NEIGHBOR: You ask me, she deserves the chair.

And I don't mean no damn wheelchair either.

SHELLEY: They do it with a needle in Missouri.

NEIGHBOR: Good. MEL: Baby?

- This feel good to you?

Everybody talking shit about them?

- Yes, it does.

Fucking pissed.

Every day that goes by, I'm more fucking pissed.

Thinking about the two of them frauds taking advantage.

No, they're worse than frauds.

Emotional vampires, sucking people dry.

Sucking their goodwill, their trust.

♪ ♪

- You're just mad because you think

you got everybody's number and they had you fooled

for seven-straight years just like everybody else.

MEL: So what if I am? Why shouldn't I be?

WARWICK: ♪ All you gotta do is just wave your hand ♪

♪ I'm your puppet ♪

BACKGROUND SINGERS: ♪ I'm your puppet ♪

- She called me, you know?

From jail.

- She did? When?

- The other day.

It didn't even sound like her.

I swear her voice was different.

♪ ♪

She wants me to come visit.

♪ ♪

- You gonna?

WARWICK: ♪ I'll do anything for you ♪

♪ Oh, oh, I'm your puppet ♪

- I don't know.

WARWICK: ♪ Yeah, I'm your puppet ♪

♪ ♪

MEL: What the fuck?

LACEY: What? MEL: I think that's my blender.

I lent it to Dee Dee last year. LACEY: Mom--

- What? I want it back.

It's mine. SHELLEY: The hell you doing?

- Don't. MEL: I'm going to get my shit.

And if any of y'all donated your shit to these con artists,

I suggest you do the same.

WARWICK: ♪ I'm your puppet ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[dramatic music]

GUARD OVER PA: Visiting hours start in 20 minutes.

The following inmates please report

to the security screening area--

Adler, Beckham, Blanchard.

♪ ♪

GYPSY: Lacey.

♪ ♪

- I had 'em take me to the vending machines.

You always liked sweet stuff.

[exhales shakily]

I'm kind of nervous, Gypsy.

Not sure what to say, you know?

Do you remember me?

- I remember you, Dad.

- Can we sit?

- [sniffles]

- I didn't ask you to come here.

- Well, I wanted to.

I know your mom's told you a lot of things about me.

- Please, I can't talk about her.

- No, I don't either.

But here we are.

- Did you bring the medical records or not?

[papers rustling]

- [sighs]

But...

Do you see here?

"Mother reports that child wakes up choking

several times a night."

- Yeah.

ROD: Then there's this one.

GYPSY: "According to mother, patient has seizures

six times a week."

ROD: And look here.

"Mother says child was treated for leukemia at age three."

Gypsy, that never happened.

They're all like that.

She always spoke for you.

- She always just told me to let her do all the talking.

ROD: That was her whole tactic, you know?

That's how she made you a prisoner.

GYPSY: But at least she was there.

She did love me.

You... left.

- Gypsy...

I was 17 when I married your mom.

That's seven years younger than you are now.

And she was a lot older.

She was in the driver's seat, you know?

I was a kid.

- I don't want to hear your excuses.

I know that you left,

and I know that you didn't love her or me.

- That's just not true. I did love you.

Do love you, you know?

But I...

[stammering] I didn't know how to do it.

It was easier to just let her have you.

- For my whole entire life?

- I tried to come visit.

- Well, then you must not have tried hard enough.

ROD: She said you couldn't handle it.

And then she moved. Kept moving around.

Th--there was always some reason.

- I think you should go now. Thank you for the records.

That's all I need from you. Can you-- can you please go?

ROD: Every month I sent the checks.

Every month, even when we were scraping for it.

I had to borrow. - Can I go now?

- Wait! Wait.

Wait, wait.

Just one second.

Okay?

Gypsy, please.

I got to show you something.

[grunts softly]

[sighs]

This is a few days after you were born.

[sighs] I never held a baby before.

This is you when you were three.

I was trying to teach you a song.

This is you and me at the Special Olympics.

You're eight here.

I-I was so proud of you that day.

- That's not how I remember. That-- you weren't there.

- I was. - No, you weren't.

Mom asked you to go, and you said no.

- That's--

that's not true.

I-I came.

I gave you this flag you're holding.

- I remember the flag.

- I thought you would.

You kept it for weeks till it broke.

[dramatic music]

I remember thinking I should get you another one.

But at the end, I forgot.

♪ ♪

- I guess I forgot, too.

♪ ♪

[sniffles]

- Oh, Gypsy, I...

♪ ♪

I'm so sorry.

I'm so, so, so, so sorry. [sniffles]

I wish I had gotten to know you.

- [stifled sobs]

♪ ♪

[sniffles, sobs softly] [gavel bangs]

JUDGE PALMER: This is a pre-trial conference

in the matter

of the State of Missouri vs. Gypsy Rose Blanchard

and the State of Missouri vs. Nicholas Godejohn.

I understand counsel has a motion to make.

- Your Honor, I've shared with the prosecutor medical records

which show that my client was the victim

of lifelong medical abuse at the hands of her mother.

Dee Dee Blanchard was forcing her daughter

since at least the age of five years old

to pretend she was sick

at great physical and emotional cost to my client.

On that basis, Gypsy Rose Blanchard

is entitled to have her trial severed

from that of Nicholas Godejohn.

The circumstances of this crime

were not the same for both of them.

She was an abused child being imprisoned and controlled

by her mother, whereas Mr. Godejohn--

JUDGE PALMER: Uh, counsel, before you get into it...

- Sure.

- Let me ask the prosecutor if, uh, he concurs.

- Um, I do, Your Honor.

Miss Blanchard's, uh, circumstances differ...

significantly from Mr. Godejohn's.

JUDGE PALMER: Thank you.

The, uh, defendant's motion for severance is granted.

Uh, Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn

will now be tried separately.

- But I-I did it for Gypsy. I did it to protect--

JUDGE PALMER: [bangs gavel] All right, settle down.

Counsel, have you made a decision yet

as to whether you intend to seek the death penalty

against either defendant?

- We haven't, Your Honor.

We're still reviewing the materials provided us

by the attorney representing Miss Blanchard.

We should be able to complete that in the coming weeks

and come to a decision.

JUDGE PALMER: That concludes the matter at hand.

We will take a recess. [gavel bangs]

[both whispering indistinctly]

- Um, but that's good, though, right?

They're gonna read my medical records,

and they're not gonna give me the death penalty?

- Well, um, Gypsy, what we hope for now is a deal.

You plead guilty, you maybe get to walk

while you're still young.

- Guilty? But I'm not--

But what-- I'm a victim. That's what you just--

That's what you said, right?

REPORTER: Blanchard's lawyer

says she is not a cold-blooded murderer

but a victim

of long-term physical and psychological abuse

who had to break free.

She says it's a case of self-defense.

- My client almost never got to talk.

Not once.

Not in any of the medical files I obtained.

This is a case of Munchausen by proxy,

and Gypsy is a victim--

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- You know, I told her about that website

where she met him.

♪ ♪

- Look, she lied to us. It's okay to be mad.

- No, I'm-- I'm mad at myself.

There were so many times

I-I feel like she told me stuff,

and I just thought it was all in her head,

all some fairy tale.

But this whole time it was just right in front of us,

and I... [sighs] I didn't even see it.

[cell phone vibrating]

♪ ♪

MEL: Christ, it's like she heard us.

[cell phone continues vibrating]

Are you gonna pick up?

[cell phone continues vibrating]

♪ ♪

[phone receiver clacks]

[indistinct chatter]

MEL: I was thinking.

LACEY: Yeah?

- Maybe you should go see her in there.

- Why would I do that?

MEL: Aren't you curious?

I mean, after all those lies?

Don't you kind of just want to look her in the eye?

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[officer speaking indistinctly over PA]

[indistinct shouting]

♪ ♪

- She ain't coming.

I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't have come either.

GYPSY: Well, I'm happy that you did.

It's really nice to see you.

You don't have to be nervous around me.

Still the same old Gypsy.

- I don't know who the old Gypsy was.

- You were always so nice to me, Mel.

I used to always think,

"I just wish that Mel could be my mom."

And now maybe you can be, 'cause...

'cause I need one.

- When did you know?

GYPSY: Know what?

- That you could walk.

That it was all a con, that you were taking money

and charity from people when you didn't need it.

- Um...

I don't know.

I just...

Well, I trusted her, you know?

I mean, she was my best friend

up until she...

wouldn't let me grow up.

But...

I always really loved her.

- Then why didn't you just get up out of your chair

and walk away?

- Why did you come here?

- I guess to see if I still recognized you.

- Do you?

- I don't know.

I can't understand it.

You and her all those years, all those lies.

No version of it makes sense to me.

- Well...

Well...

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

- There is no goddamn reason this happened to you.

There's no reason.

Sometimes we can't make things better.

We just gotta live through 'em.

- I guess that's right.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- I can't be your mom, Gypsy.

♪ ♪

You're on your own now.

♪ ♪

You hear what I'm saying?

Does any of this make sense to you?

♪ ♪

- Yeah.

♪ ♪

MEL: Who are you, Gypsy?

♪ ♪

Do you even know?

♪ ♪

You don't always want to be the person she made you into.

♪ ♪

Sometimes the only way out is through.

♪ ♪

[keyboard clacking]

[cell phone bloops]

[water running]

DEE DEE: [spits]

[groans softly]

♪ ♪

Did you look up at the stars tonight?

♪ ♪

Hmm.

And what did you see?

♪ ♪

- I saw all the stars hanging up there.

♪ ♪

- You remember that night?

♪ ♪

Huh.

- The Spanish moss in the trees...

looked like ghosts.

♪ ♪

And it scared me.

And I held on to you.

DEE DEE: Mm-hmm.

And I told you...

"Look at the stars

and not the ghosts."

♪ ♪

- Because the stars are angels...

♪ ♪

And the angels...

protect us.

♪ ♪

- And you are my angel.

♪ ♪

And you protect me,

and I protect you.

♪ ♪

Mm.

What's the matter, huh?

♪ ♪

- Good night, Mom.

♪ ♪

DEE DEE: [muttering softly] Good night, baby.

♪ ♪

Good night.

♪ ♪

Oh.

♪ ♪

Mm.

♪ ♪

Don't hurt me, sweetpea.

♪ ♪

[insects chirping]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

GYPSY: Okay.

[cell phone vibrates]

♪ ♪

[music stops]

[insects chirping]

GYPSY: [shakily] Shh...

[door clatters lightly]

[screen door closes]

[door creaks]

[lock clicks]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[music intensifies]

♪ ♪

[music fades]

[door creaks closed]

[sniffles, breathing shakily]

DEE DEE: Gypsy?

Who's there?

[object clatters, Nick grunts]

[Dee Dee gasps, thud]

[Nick grunts, Dee Dee screams]

[eerie ringing music]

♪ ♪

[Dee Dee continues screaming]

Gypsy!

♪ ♪

[screaming]

- [groaning]

[breathing heavily]

[Dee Dee screaming]

♪ ♪

[screaming continues]

[dark music]

♪ ♪

[silence]

[loud knock on door] - [gasps]

[breathing heavily]

- [breathing heavily] NICK: Gypsy?

[knock at door] Gypsy, let-- let me in.

- [breathing heavily]

NICK: Can-- can you let me in, please?

[Gypsy breathing shakily]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[door closes]

[dark musical sting] [loud heartbeat]

♪ ♪

- Okay, okay, okay.

Okay. Okay.

[breathing heavily]

Um...

♪ ♪

[groans]

♪ ♪

[shuddering] [knobs squeak, water running]

♪ ♪

[exhales sharply]

[coughing]

[eerie ringing music]

♪ ♪

[water stops]

♪ ♪

Okay.

[breathing shakily]

♪ ♪

[stammering]

♪ ♪

Oh, oh.

♪ ♪

Sorry.

♪ ♪

NICK: Ow, ow. GYPSY: Oh!

♪ ♪

NICK: Ow! Ow, ow.

- Sorry. It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

It's all right, it's all right.

♪ ♪

[breathing shakily]

[door creaks open]

[breathing shakily]

- Um, which one is your room?

GYPSY: That one.

[breathing shakily]

- Oh, I covered it up

so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

- Um, I started packing.

[exhales deeply]

I'm so excited that you're taking me on an adventure!

- Well, you are my princess, right?

- And you're my prince.

That's why you came to save me, right?

- Yep.

- I knew you would.

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

Oh.

♪ ♪

Um...

♪ ♪

NICK: [grunting]

Um... [grunts]

♪ ♪

Okay.

♪ ♪

[both grunting]

♪ ♪

[bed creaking, both grunting]

♪ ♪

- D-did you...

- Basically.

♪ ♪

Welcome to the rest of your life.

♪ ♪

[Fiona Apple's "Why Try to Change Me Now"]

♪ ♪

[water running]

APPLE: ♪ I'm sentimental ♪

♪ So I walk in the rain ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I've got some habits ♪

♪ Even I can't explain ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Why try to change me now? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I sit and daydream ♪

♪ I got daydreams galore ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Go away weekends ♪

♪ Leave my keys in the door ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Why try to change me now? ♪

♪ ♪

[phone line clicks]

GYPSY: Hi, um, I'd like to call a taxi, please.

It's a street called West Volunteer Way.

Do you know where that is?

It's a pink house.

Yes. Mm-hmm.

Okay, and how long do you think that'll be?

♪ ♪

Okay.

Great. Thank you.

♪ ♪

- ♪ Why can't I be more conventional? ♪

GYPSY: Good babies.

APPLE: ♪ People talk

♪ And they stare ♪

♪ So I try ♪

♪ But that can't be ♪

GYPSY: Go on, you two.

APPLE: ♪ Because I can't see ♪ GYPSY: Be free.

[Guinea pigs squeaking]

APPLE: ♪ My strange little world ♪

♪ Just go passing me by ♪

♪ ♪

♪ So let people wonder ♪

♪ Let 'em laugh, let 'em frown ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You know I love you ♪

♪ Till the moon's upside down ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Don't you remember ♪

♪ I was always your clown? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Why try to change me? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Why would you want to change me? ♪

[vehicle approaching]

♪ ♪

♪ Why try to change ♪

♪ Me now? ♪

♪ ♪

NICK: Are you sure you still wanna do this, babe?

Hon?

- I'm ready to go.

[door opens]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[door creaks closed]

♪ ♪

[car door opens]

♪ ♪

[door buzzing]

♪ ♪

[door buzzing]

[door opens in the distance]

[door closes in the distance]

[indistinct chatter]

[The Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale"]

♪ ♪

NICO: ♪ Here she comes ♪

♪ You better watch your step ♪

♪ ♪

♪ She's going to break your heart in two ♪

♪ It's true ♪

♪ It's not hard to realize ♪

♪ Just look into her false-colored eyes ♪

♪ ♪

♪ She builds you up ♪

♪ To just put you down, ♪

♪ What a clown ♪

♪ 'Cause everybody knows ♪

BACKGROUND SINGER: ♪ She's a femme fatale ♪

NICO: ♪ The things she does to please ♪

BACKGROUND SINGER: ♪ She's a femme fatale ♪

NICO: ♪ She's just a little tease ♪

BACKGROUND SINGER: ♪ She's a femme fatale ♪

NICO: ♪ See the way she walks ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Hear the way she talks ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You're written in her book ♪

♪ You're number 37, have a look ♪

♪ ♪

♪ She's going to smile to make you frown ♪

♪ What a clown ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Little boy, she's from the street ♪

♪ Before you start, you're already beat ♪

♪ ♪

♪ She's going to play you for a fool ♪

♪ Yes, it's true ♪♪