Original subtitles

49 -year -old Dr. Jean -Claude Dominique is unwinding after a long shift in the

emergency room.

Hi, baby.

I'm in the office.

Dr. Dominique was a force to be reckoned with. He was an intelligent,

thoughtful, and resourceful human being.

I miss you, too. He was, by all accounts, the empathetic physician.

I'm at the condo.

No, I want to sleep here.

No, I haven't forgotten about Rachel's recital. I haven't forgotten.

Yeah. I'm just so tired, okay?

I love you more. Bye.

Dr. Jean -Claude Dominique's life really wasn't very easy. We're talking about a

situation of where you get very little sleep.

But pulling double shifts in the ER isn't the only thing wearing him out.

Hey, good evening.

Hi.

Hey, how are you?

Everything's good. I'm on my way.

Yeah, I'll be there in an hour.

Just before midnight, the unthinkable happens.

There was a tremendous impact.

So strong that Jean -Claude was thrown into the gutter.

Hey, man, you alive?

You alive?

I need an ambulance over here on Carroll and Bedford.

Yeah, some guy just got hit right now by a car. He had multiple trauma to his

head, to his entire body.

Hey, help!

The question is whether or not it was an intentional hit by somebody.

Members of the family said in essence this was no accident.

At 29 years old, Jean -Claude Dominique is one of Interfaith Hospital's most

eligible bachelors. Everything's signed for.

You're good to go. Oh, don't look.

Oh, my gosh.

You're making it obvious.

Elliot was a very gentle person, very soft -spoken.

No, you're all set. Thank you. Call me if you have any problems.

Hello, doctor.

Hi. I'm Elliot. I'll be assisting you today.

Hi. How are you doing?

That's a beautiful necklace that you have on.

That reminds me of home.

Really? Where's home?

Haiti.

I'm originally from St. Louis du Nord. You?

Oh, I've been here most of my life, but I still have some family in Haiti that I

visit from time to time. That's wonderful.

It's very important to stay close to the people that you love.

Yes.

Yeah, so, check on the blood work I ordered for the patient in room number

three. Uh, yes, doctor.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

They were both from Haiti. He was a doctor. She had medical background being

registered nurse.

So they were a perfect fit.

Oh!

Elliot only has to spend a few

months in the ER with Jean -Claude.

Before she knows, this is the man she will marry.

I got a surprise for you later, too. Oh, I can't wait.

Good. Hey.

I love you.

I love you, too.

And. And.

On May 20th, 1980, the couple marries.

And Jean -Claude moves into Elliot's two -bedroom Brooklyn condo, five minutes

from the hospital. Welcome home, Mrs. Dominique.

Who would have ever thought that I could marry such a beautiful, smart woman?

Oh, well, and that is just the beginning.

Soon, we will have our own family.

I like the sound of that. Do you?

Yeah.

Jean -Claude's smarts

catapult him up the ladder of success.

He's known not only for his charm, but also for his empathy.

I'm great, man. How's that knee doing? You still icing it? Yeah, man, it's much

better. Jean -Claude was a beloved person, figure, physician.

He would help people in his neighborhood.

This is the kind of position that we want.

Before long, the Dominiques welcome two more members to the family.

There's Jean -Claude Jr.

I just feel like I just saw him. He's huge.

Oh, and here's our baby girl, Rachel.

I bet you're looking forward to spending time with them.

Oh, I can't wait. I can't wait. Hi.

Soon after the birth of their daughter, Jean -Claude lands a promotion at a

nearby hospital.

while Elliot decides to take a break to focus on the kids.

I'm going to miss you guys. Oh, we're going to miss you too.

Bye.

Bye. Bye.

By 1993, they outgrow their Brooklyn condo and move to one of Long Island's

exclusive neighborhoods, Baldwin Harbor.

Wow.

It's huge, babe.

They came to Long Island so that their two children would get a better

education. Oh, the kids are going to love it.

Is this place really ours?

Every square foot of it. I love it.

And I love you, Mr. Dominique.

Are you ready to go see the inside?

Yes!

Over the next decade, the Dominique family flourishes in the suburbs.

Jean -Claude puts in grueling hours at the hospital, so it's a pleasant

when he makes it home for dinner.

So, Rachel.

Yes, Dad.

How'd you do on your chemistry exam?

Oh, you too.

Did you prepare properly?

Of course I did.

Mom made me study all weekend. I always do.

Family is important to the Dominiques.

In fact, Jean -Claude is one of an astounding 23 siblings.

Though many of them still live in Haiti, younger brother Ali has also settled in

New York.

Hey, is anybody here?

Hey! Hey!

Did you guys have enough for me or did my brother eat it all? Oh, really funny.

Ali Dominique was a chemistry teacher at the high school. He was a soccer coach.

Jean -Claude was the guy that brought the family to America.

Ali was proud of him. He looked up to him.

Oh.

No, no, no, no. I got it. I got it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, guys. I got to go. I

got to run to Brooklyn.

It's been an emergency at the hospital, baby.

Come on. Duty calls, brother.

Got to handle your business.

Absolutely. Hurry up. Okay.

All right. I love you guys.

Elliot was used to his not being home for dinner

based upon his lack of having a regular schedule.

Okay, Ron, Ron, do you know where you are? Yeah, the grocery store. Okay, that

sounds good.

All right, I need you to get him prepped for an IV.

Check his sodium level. He's showing signs of a hyponatomia, okay? Okay.

Ron?

Sometimes long days turn into long nights.

Hey, you know I'm trying to get out of here as fast as I can.

Doctor, I need you in room seven.

Okay. I got to go, babe.

All right, love you.

So Jean -Claude often sleeps at the old Brooklyn condo to avoid the lengthy

commute back to the suburbs.

Hi, baby. He didn't want to take a chance of driving home and possibly

asleep at the wheel.

Look, I'm just so tired, okay?

Elliot has peace of mind knowing her husband is safe in their old place.

But Jean -Claude has other plans.

He was then taken to Kings County Hospital.

Oh, my God, John Claude. Can you hear me? It's me, Cassie.

I'm going to the OR. Back at the scene of the accident, police speak with the

only witness.

All of a sudden, I see this car come out of nowhere so fast, hit this guy.

Guy had no chance.

Do you remember what kind of car it was?

Yeah, it was a Cadillac DeVille.

They canvas the area and locate the car one block away.

It had been reported stolen some days before. But whoever was behind the wheel

is long gone.

The fact that they abandoned the car leaves open a question as to whether or

this was an intentional striking of Dr. Dominique.

Excuse me, ma 'am. Ma 'am?

Ma 'am?

Who are you?

Most people would have had a nervous breakdown right at that moment.

After a vicious hit -and -run accident, Dr. Jean -Claude Dominique is on life

support. His wife of nearly 20 years, Eliette, rushes to his bedside.

You feel the worst thing you could feel is that your partner in life is not

going to be around.

But when Eliette enters his room, she gets the shock of a lifetime.

Who are you?

I'm his wife. Who are you?

Excuse me? No.

I'm his wife.

Wait, what are you talking about?

This is Jean -Claude Dominique. Yeah, this is Jean -Claude Dominique. My

husband. My husband.

Her husband is lying in a hospital bed, clinging to life.

He understands that he may not make it. And then this other woman says she's

Jean -Claude's wife?

You know, I don't know what game you're playing here, but, like, could you just

leave? Look, I don't know who you are, but I am Mrs.

Elliot Dominique. I've been married to this man for 20 years and we have two

children together.

I know exactly who you are and you guys got divorced 17 years ago and

we have been married ever since and we have two kids together.

Two kids?

Ladies, ladies, please. We need you both to calm down. I need to save this man's

life. I need to know who Mrs. Dominique is. I am.

This can't be real.

Let's step outside.

Your mouth has to drop and say, what? He can't even argue because it's

beyond argument.

In a baffling turn of events, Betsy produces a marriage certificate.

Oh, yeah, thank you for your patience through this whole thing.

Okay.

I'm sorry, Miss, but I've looked through all the paperwork.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave.

The hospital felt that they had to go with this piece of paper as the proof of

who is going to make decisions on behalf of Dr. Dominique.

I am Mrs. Elliot Dominique. I am Mrs. Elliot Dominique.

Over the next month, Elliot still

visits whenever she can, as long as Betsy is not around.

And so 49 -year -old Jean -Claude rests in limbo between his two lives.

It's infuriating to not be able to confront him as to what the heck is this

all about? How could you do this to us?

With a severe brain injury, his prognosis is bleak.

Elliot turns to Jean -Claude's brother, Ali, for answers.

We need to talk about Betsy.

I mean, do you know anything about her?

He knew about Betsy. I have no doubt that he was aware of that relationship.

Jean -Claude and Betsy, they dated for years back in Haiti. Her family, our

family, we were close.

How did you know that they were secretly married?

Behind my back? I mean, how could he do that to our family?

Did you know this, Ellie?

I don't know what to say.

You're his brother.

Why don't you know what to say?

It's my brother's business.

I can't speak for him.

In the early 1980s, Betsy comes to America.

Soon after, she and Jean -Claude rekindled their relationship.

You're such a beautiful, smart woman.

We came here to have a good time, you know?

No wonder we get to dance, though.

They came from the same village in Haiti.

They were childhood sweethearts.

And so Jean -Claude secretly marries Betsy and starts a second family.

He actually had two children with Betsy, and he ultimately bought a house with

her in New Jersey. I'm going to need to see it, though.

So he was living two separate lives.

Two separate lives that require a lot of lying.

On nights he's with Elliot on Long Island, he tells Betsy he's staying at

Brooklyn condo.

Elliot and Betsy, by all accounts, bought it. He took good care of his

But juggling two wives has its challenges.

Baby!

Hey! What's going on?

Have you missed me? Of course I've missed you. I haven't seen you in days.

Because I've been here. I'm slammed.

You forgot about Jackson's game.

I forgot Jackson's game. It's tonight.

It's tonight. Yeah, they're all in the car. Go get the car. Just bring it

the front and I'll be down in five minutes.

Five minutes.

Five minutes.

Okay.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey. You're back. Good that I was in the neighborhood and I thought maybe you

could use some sustenance. So I was going to take you out to some dinner.

Oh.

No. Yes.

Don't do that.

We just got three new patients.

I can't leave. I'm slammed right now.

People who are involved in these dual lives have some sort of narcissism. It's

crazy.

I'm taking economics.

It's not that cool. A very manipulative person.

I'm going to get more wine.

All right, baby.

For nearly 20 years, Dr. Jean -Claude Dominique balances his thriving medical

career with two marriages built on defeat.

This is essentially the person who wants to have their cake and eat it too.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today with bow heads, humble hearts, and

open spirits.

But even worse, they manipulate other people into fulfilling

that fantasy.

Thank you for my family.

But in an instant.

the good doctor's house of cards blows away.

And though the investigation into the hit and run continues, police have come

a dead end. There were some latent fingerprints found in the stolen

but those were never successfully matched against any suspect.

After 39 days in the hospital, Jean -Claude Dominique passes away on April

1999, never facing the two women he deceived for so many years.

The death certificate lists the cause of death as blunt trauma with

complications and lists Betsy as next of kin.

Eliette is left to pick up the pieces and make sense of her new reality as a

single mother.

One can only imagine.

That when Elliot found out Jean -Claude was dead, she has to think, what about

me? What about my children? Who is going to provide for the family?

She starts packing up the Brooklyn condo and discovers a bombshell.

There is an envelope which is addressed to Elliot Dominique.

She looks at it and is...

A gas.

And sure enough, inside that envelope is a divorce decree signed by Elliot

Dominique.

This is certainly a crazy love triangle that Dr.

Jean -Claude Dominique has created.

While mourning the man she thought was her husband, Elliot Dominique makes a

devastating discovery.

She's cleaning up, and sure enough, inside that envelope is a divorce decree

signed by Elliot Dominique.

No. None of the signatures on there are hers.

Um, Mary, it's Elliot.

I'm at the condo in Brooklyn, and, uh...

I just found divorce papers.

I'm so confused. You know, I never signed them.

You know, John never even told me he wanted a divorce.

I thought we were in love.

Her marriage, she now sees, was over, even though nobody ever told her it was

over.

Not only was that a betrayal, but then to discover...

He claimed that Elliot asked for a divorce?

It was a double betrayal.

How could you?

Before Elliot has time to process this revelation, she learns Betsy has taken

control of Jean -Claude's finances.

But she fights back.

Elliot, so good to see you.

I am so sorry about Jean -Claude.

I need your help.

Elliot came to my office to do the litigation to get acknowledged as the

true wife.

Elliot, you never signed it. No, I just can't believe Jean -Claude did this to

me.

I'm going to get you through this.

Thank you, Charles.

Her attorney brings in a handwriting expert to examine the signatures.

Nice to meet you, I'm Phil.

Nice to meet you, Phil.

Elliot has some documents that has her signature on them, but she swears she

signed none of them.

If you wouldn't mind, would you sign your name on this piece of paper right

here? Of course.

Thank you.

I can already see some key differences here.

Where you start your D, it's very different from this one.

And your signature is smooth, whereas with this one, you can tell that it was

deliberate. What does that mean?

It means that they're not the same signatures.

This signature was forged.

Oh, thank you.

Considering the papers had to be signed in front of a notary, they believe Jean

-Claude used an imposter.

So what can I do for you?

My soon -to -be ex -wife and I are getting a divorce, so we're just here to

the final paperwork.

That's a shame. She's a stunner.

Well, at least you two can be in the same room.

My ex and I?

No way.

I had to sell my damn jet skis to pay for all those damn attorney fees.

You know what I'm talking about.

We're kind of in a hurry, so could you... Right, right. Licenses, please.

Go ahead and sign here.

The ball and chain is gone.

Thank you.

Fifteen months after Jean -Claude's death, a judge issues a ruling in

case.

It is clear that Elliot Dominique did not sign the

divorce decree.

With that being the case, the marriage to Betsy is not.

And has never been legal.

Case dismissed.

What does that mean?

Elliot was very grateful. Her reputation had been dragged through the mud.

She had been subjected to so much heartache.

At the end of the day, justice had been served.

Betsy got up in a huff.

and walked out of the room, not to be seen again for many, many months.

The verdict gives Elliott full control of Jean -Claude's assets.

The estate was substantial.

He had $70 ,000 in mutual funds.

There were life insurance policies, one life insurance policy that was worth $1

million.

All four of Jean -Claude's children receive a share of the inheritance.

But Betsy?

It's not so lucky.

Elliot, this might be hard, but this is something that we're going to have to

talk about.

It's the property in New Jersey.

The house in New Jersey was owned by both Dr. Dominique and Betsy. But

once the determination was made that they were not legally married, his share

went to Elliot.

I'll give Betsy the house, but that's... It's the right thing to do.

As for other matters, Elliot is not so generous.

Turns out the doctor owned another building in Brooklyn.

And Betsy and Jean -Claude's brother Ali were in business together.

Ali turned the building into a beauty supply slash money transmittal store.

Mr. Sloan sent a letter advising her to immediately stop collecting rent on the

storefront and the rental apartments.

And that was the intent of Elliot to sell the property.

Elliot does her best to move on.

She goes back to nursing.

working the early shift at Interfaith Hospital.

Her normal procedure was to remotely start the car because it happened to be

extremely cold.

She noticed that her motion detector lights in the driveway were on.

But when she went to go out this time, the light did not come on.

She turned to see if the switch was on.

She gets shot a number of times.

And all hell breaks out in the Elliott household.

In the early morning hours of October 30, 2000, 56 -year -old nurse Elliot

Dominique is gunned down outside her home.

Five shots were fired.

She was hit twice in the head, once in the hand.

Just before 5 .30 a .m., officers arrive on the scene.

It's going to be okay.

We're getting you to the hospital.

So what do we know so far? The victim was leaving for work when two men

approached from the side and fired multiple gunshots.

I was assigned to the first squad as a detective supervisor.

Little did I know that I wouldn't be home for a couple days.

The neighbor was out walking his dog, said he saw two black males fleeing the

scene with dark puffy jackets.

A neighbor saw one heavyset man walking south.

He said, I saw another man who was taller walking north.

Neighbors are on edge as police swarm the community.

Officers cordon off the blocks.

We have a crime scene search unit that is especially trained to document and

catalog evidence.

Detective!

I found a gun over here.

We knew, looking at the crime scene, that this was an assassination attempt.

So we immediately put a police guard on her at the hospital.

Elliot survives the attack with only a minor head wound and a few fractured

fingers.

Doctors believe one small move made a huge difference.

The fact that she had turned her head to see that light is what saved her life.

That's the reason why the bullet went through the top of her scalp instead of

penetrating her skull.

Hi, Elliot.

I'm Detective Barkis.

I just want to ask you a few questions, if that's okay.

Sure.

Do you have any idea who these guys might have been?

No, I've never seen them before.

Is there anyone you can think of who would have wanted to cause you harm?

I lost my husband about a year and a half ago.

There's been a lot of fighting within the family.

Elliot tells Detective Barkus that there was an ongoing dispute with Betsy.

But that's not the only contentious relationship in Elliot's life.

I've had some problems with my brother -in -law, Ali, and his family.

Ali, It's the middle of the day. What are you doing here?

Stopping by, checking on the kids.

And talk about my brother's funeral.

She said that after Dr.

Jean -Claude passed, Ali said that he had plans for a grandiose, over -the

funeral for his brother.

Now, we need seven limousines to get our family from the wake to the funeral.

Okay, that sounds very... Expensive, Ali. I can't afford that. Excuse me?

My brother was a doctor. What do you mean you can't afford it? I can't afford

that. Yeah, it's not always about you, Elliot.

He had 22 brothers and sisters, four kids, and an entire community in Haiti

worshipped him.

I'm going to make sure that he gets the service that he deserves.

I guarantee you that.

After that, Ali just took control of the funeral and didn't include me at all.

All of Jean -Claude's family suddenly against me.

Elliot received a telephone call from a cousin. He said to her, you are not the

true wife.

Betsy is the true wife.

We do not want you at the funeral.

I couldn't bury my husband.

My kids couldn't say goodbye to their father.

There was $30 ,000 spent.

on this event of his passing. Ali asked her to pay for part of it, and she

refused, and that was a source of animosity between the two families.

I assure you we'll do everything we can to figure this out, okay?

There's family disputes.

There's fights over assets.

We were looking at everyone and anyone at this point.

Officers continue to patrol Elliot's neighborhood and spot a suspicious

individual walking down a nearby street.

Alexander Ixama seems extremely nervous.

He's not dressed appropriately for the cold weather. He has no outer jacket on.

They asked him if he knew where he was.

He said he did not.

The police first this individual and put him in custody, and they took him down

to the first squad.

And Ixama went for the crime.

Right off the bat.

About two months ago, I was hanging out with this guy named Mike.

And he asked for my help because he had been hired to kill some lady and he

needed a driver for the getaway car.

Did he say who he was hired to kill?

No, he didn't.

Mike, did he have a last name?

Look, man, I don't know.

You don't know?

Look, man, I told you I don't know.

They just call him Big Mike.

Example told the police that Mike said if he came along...

they would be getting $3 ,000.

Are you willing to say everything you just told me on camera?

I mean, at this point, it really doesn't matter, does it?

You're doing the right thing.

Can I get you anything?

Water? Coffee?

Coffee is fine.

Coffee it is.

Call up the detective.

I want to change my story.

Mike is not a Mike.

It's a Marvin.

Who hired you to do the hit?

A guy that lived down the street from me named Joe.

So you and Marvin hired by Joe?

Yes, sir.

Okay, I'll be back.

At 2 a .m., less than 24 hours after Elliot was gunned down,

Detectives sit down with 38 -year -old Joseph Moy.

We knew what was going on, so he decided to give us a statement.

I asked Alexander for help.

So he brings in Marvin, because Marvin had a gun.

So what I was going to do was take them to Long Island to take care of it.

Moyes gives an account which is very similar to Exama's. Why did you want to

kill Elliot Dominique?

Just doing it for a friend. But Moise imparts another dimension.

What friend?

The motive behind the shooting.

24 hours after

Elliot Dominique is shot in her driveway.

My mom has been shot.

Joseph Moyes reveals he was approached back in July by a friend with an unusual

request.

He wanted her dead.

Joe was very fortunate in that he did cooperate because all the evidence

to Joe.

Though Moyes admits he was originally going to drive the two hitmen, Alexander

Exama and Marvin Geddon, to Elliot Dominique's home, he backed out the

before.

Hey,

man, you got the gun?

Looks like this might be our ride here. Let's do it.

Moy says the mastermind behind the hit... Let's go!

...stepped in to get the job done, Elliot's brother -in -law, Ali

This bitch gonna get what she deserves.

Moise had known Dominique for many, many years. They had grown up together in

Haiti.

And Ali, in speaking to Moise, had this volcanic anger.

The scenario was there was a sister -in -law who was very, very disrespectful to

the family.

Joseph told us that he was upset with the storefront his brother had purchased

in Brooklyn.

And she proceeded to take that from them, and he basically said, I'm not

standing for that.

Ali had said to him, I will not permit her to have this door for him.

She's coming, she's coming.

You ready?

Within hours of Joseph Moyes' confession, investigators track down Ali

Dominique. We box him in, identify ourselves, and tell him he's under

He was very surprised.

Ali comes clean about wanting Elliot killed, but he claims it was only to

protect himself.

You guys know that Elliot was involved in the accident, right?

Yeah, and I guarantee you I was next.

Ali Dominique.

believed that his brother did not die as a result of an accident, but Elliot was

somehow responsible for the death of Jean -Claude.

I had a decision to make. I mean, it was either just run or take a stand.

I decided to be a man.

You were full of crap and you know it. No, I was the one that wanted to fly the

family in.

Yeah, she was the one talking about she didn't have the money, disrespecting my

family, continue with me.

He was very upset.

that Elliot didn't pay for it or even contribute to the funeral.

Yeah, now she has the money. She doesn't deserve it. She also doesn't deserve

the storefront.

Everything should have gone to Betsy and the family.

And you thought with her out of the way, you and Betsy were going to get all the

money? You think you're going to spend that money behind bars?

Because I don't.

Keith thought by killing off Elliot that...

This estate was going to come to him.

Within two days of the attempt on Elliot's life, Alexander Exama, Joseph

Ali Dominique, and Marvin Geddon are all in jail.

Betsy Dominique is cleared of any involvement in the murder plot.

At trial, Ali argues that the police are framing him.

The confession I signed was blank. Those cops wrote in all those lies.

They set me up.

They set me up.

There was so little truth to what he said at one point. I said that trying to

find something of value in his testimony is like searching through the sewers

for little silver coins.

Prosecutors reveal that Ali Dominique may have had an even more sinister plot.

Joseph Moyes, he said that Ali wanted to kill Elliot first so that everybody

would believe that Betsy was responsible for the homicide.

But then he talked about possibly killing Betsy's two children and

children as well.

His issues with Elliot pushed him to a place that has to do with a vendetta

that was pathological.

She's going to get what she deserves.

This was the last case I tried as a trial attorney, and I felt that I had

out on a high note. But most importantly, I also felt a sense of

for Elliot, because if this individual had been found not guilty, I genuinely

think that she would still have been at risk.

Despite all of this, Elliot somehow was able to take one step at a time and make

a life for herself and her two children.

Babies. Oh, I love you.

I love you, too.

Elliot is now retired from nursing and spends her time traveling and enjoying

her family.

She let her kids know their father would want them to do the best that they

could. Rachel graduated from two Ivy League universities and is now an

Jean -Claude Jr.

earned a degree in engineering and is pursuing his master's.

We are going to go on the biggest vacation.

Yes, that's right.

There are all of these mysteries that will always be part of their lives.

Both families, their hearts are broken.

That's amazing.

I'm so proud of you two. Their father wasn't truthful, so how does that affect

the love that they have for him?

The mysterious death of Dr. Jean -Claude Dominique remains an open

investigation. Thank you for my family.

In many respects, she is an amazing woman to be able to go forward after all

these things hit her all in a space of three years.