New York City Friends

Season 3, Episode 15: We All Need Therapy, Rehab, Or Advice

Starring~ Michelle McCool, Ashley Massaro, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson.


In a world full of wars, rape, shooting sprees, stealing, lying, cheating, hunger, poverty- I can go on, but my point is we all need help. I sure did.

Jack had been angry at Michelle for some time now, and that just made Michelle get angry at him too.

When Jack found out that Michelle still hadn't put up her place for sell, he lost it and only got more angry. "So, apparently... you still haven't put your apartment up for sell, they called and said the rent is due next week," Jack confronted Michelle on.

Michelle was caught, she was hiding that fact from Jack, but he found out. She couldn't get all defensive or lie about it, so she stood by her decision. "I didn't sell it because I haven't found the time to do so," Michelle told him.

"It was already on the market when we left, so you had the time to take it off the market," Jack said back. "We both know you can't afford to pay that place while paying this place at the same time," he added.

Michelle didn't know what to say, she had no words or points to fight with.

"Do you already know that our marriage is going to end, is that why you're keeping your place," he asked. Michelle turned to him and tried to shake her head, but she couldn't. "Tell me, is that why," he asked.

Michelle couldn't say it wasn't true. She began crying, because it wasn't something she could deny.

It's true, I did feel like our marriage was going to end any day now.


That morning Ashley walked to her old therapist, but when she reached for the door she just couldn't seem to go through with it. She turned around and instead went for coffee and a cigarette.

Coffee and cigarettes were Ashley's version of travel-size therapy. We all have our own versions of travel-size therapy that we can just take with us in our purses.

There on the street she ran into Titus, Dwayne's friend. Dwayne was the Knicks basketball player Ashley slept with months and months ago. "Hey girlie," Titus waved to her.

Ashley couldn't quite remember him, until she saw his Knicks pullover sweater. "Hey, how's Dwayne," Ashley right away asked.

"He's doing fine, still single," Titus told her. He could tell she was considering going back to him for more casual sex, "But you deserve better," he insisted.

Ashley ignored him, "Okay, well it was good seeing you," she said and then walked away. Ashley had a plan, to sleep with Dwayne that night for some reevaluation.

Ashley wouldn't take the advice. After leaving therapy she had lost a girlfriend, went on horrible dates, lost a man she thought was meant for her, and cried about an ugly penis- Ashley needed therapy, but she wouldn't take it either.


Candice didn't mind taking advice, but only if it came from her son. Brooklyn finally forgave her and the two met up for breakfast.

The two ordered breakfast to go, they sat in the penthouse balcony just eating in silence. "So, how was Summer boarding school," Candice asked.

Brooklyn shrugged, "I liked it," he told her. Candice put her fork down just to take it in. Brooklyn was devastated with telling her the news that he would be attending that boarding school for the next school year.

"It's fine... if you want to go full time, that's fine, I just have to learn to let you go," Candice said.

"Thanks," Brooklyn responded. They went on like this for the next fifteen minutes or so, until Brooklyn finally spoke the unspoken. "Mom, I know everything that happened during Summer... and I just wanted you to know that I think you might-" he couldn't even say it.

Candice knew what he was going to say, so she said it for him. "An alcoholic, I am an alcoholic... there, you happy," Candice said as she got up to leave.

She didn't need advice from her son... she needed more than that, rehab.

Brooklyn followed her in, "Mom, I'm sorry... I'm just looking out for you," he told her. Candice turned to him and pushed him off, "Okay, Brooklyn, I get it, I'm a terrible mother who is just tragedy and I need help... it's not the first time I've heard that," Candice yelled.

"It's just gonna get worse... once I leave again for Fall, it's gonna get worse and I can't keep worrying about you... you're not some needy seventy year old and I'm only just a teenager, I can't keep worrying about you not being safe because I feel like you're just slowing me down and bringing me down with you," he yelled back at her.

Candice cried, the tears poured down her rosy cheeks. She fell to her knees and he went to hug her.


Jack knew Michelle was betting on their marriage to end, he couldn't stand the thought and being under the same roof as her only made him more angry. So Jack left to his mother's house.

Michelle was out on the porch, when she heard the front door slam open and there he was, Jack. He ran out to his car and Michelle followed, "Where are you going," she asked.

"None of your business... you probably wouldn't even care anyway, you're too busy counting down the days until we finally finish," Jack roared into her face.

Jack and I needed couples counseling- which is a sad point in a marriage, but if it's gonna keep us together it is worth it.

Jack got in his grey truck and off he went. He sped off and left Michelle behind in the dust.

Michelle could either stay behind and think about everything that was crashing down, or she could go after him.

Michelle put on a cardigan, yes a cardigan, and she locked the doors. She ran to her neighbor Taryn and she knocked harder than ever. "Sorry, you're probably busy or something... but can I burrow your car, you don't even have to drive me, I kind of already know how to drive," Michelle asked.

Taryn smiled and got her keys. "Oh girl, don't worry, I'll drive you myself," Taryn told her.

So the two ladies got in the car and followed Jack. "Keep on following that car," Michelle demanded. Taryn was a sweet country girl, but she stepped on the pedal.

"Thank you by the way," Michelle added. Taryn smiled, "No problem, so where is your husband off to," Taryn asked. Michelle shrugged, "I don't know, that's why we're following him," she answered.


We chase people we want to help, but grateful people we've helped chase us for a lifetime. Punk was back in the city, feeling better than when he left, and it was thanks to Torrie.

Torrie heard a knock, one she never thought she'd hear again. She opened the door and there he was, Punk. It's like he never changed- he was wearing a beanie, a flannel, some simple blue jeans, and his old Converse. Most importantly, he was still a friend. Torrie jumped for a hug.

"How have you been, I've missed you," Torrie said. "I came back to get a few things from storage... and I had to come here just to drop by and say hey," Punk told her.

Torrie let go of him, "Oh, you're going back," she asked. He nodded, but she wasn't going to let her last possible moments go to waste, so she didn't think about it. "Let's do something, how long are you here for," she asked.

"I'm here for about a week," Punk told her, "How about we have pizza and then take a walk?" Torrie jumped out of excitement, "Yeah, okay, we have to walk at our place... the Brooklyn Bridge... duh," she exclaimed.

Torrie desperately wanted to spend time with him because she was now the one who needed the shoulder to lean on. Punk was her personal therapist and she was in desperate need of him after her breakup with Seth and after having her book panned by critics.

Punk started walking down the stairs, he turned and said, "Thanks for being such a great friend... I needed you and if you need me I'll be here... for this week at least, but you can always fucking call." Torrie was happy hearing him curse, that was so Punk. She was used to him walking across the street to his place, but he no longer lived in the city and she needed a new way to help her cope when things went bad.


After not taking the advice, Ashley went back home to change into a provocative outfit. She waited by Dwayne's door, without any advice to consider.

Ashley was wearing thigh-high fishnet stockings, black stilettos, a button up shirt, and a little plaited skirt underneath. Thankfully it was a warm day- not too cold or hot. It was the perfect August summer day.

When Ashley saw the cab pull up she composed herself and got all sexy to seduce him, but when she saw him step out of the cab with another woman everything changed.

The woman was tall and thin, she was practically a Victoria's Secret model. Dwayne held her hand as they drank coffee. The two laughed on and on while on their way to the door, Ashley panicked and couldn't find a place to hide.

Suddenly she was regretting not taking the advice she was given.

"Ashley, what are you doing here," Dwayne asked. Ashley froze, she tried hiding her slutty ensemble, but she didn't bring a coat. Dwayne's date looked at Ashley, feeling bad for her.

Ashley tried saying something, but nothing would come out of her mouth. Dwayne and his date both stared, waiting. Ashley ran off, she was humiliated.

No matter how strong she was trying to be, she needed the advice and the help.


Michelle and Jack also needed the advice and help, they needed to talk to each other to better understand.

I followed Jack for nearly two hours until he finally stopped at his mother's place. Maybe she could help him, but she sure couldn't help him, he was the only one who could make her view less foggy.

"Jack, what are you doing," she asked. He ignored her and kept on walking, "I need an answer... I need something, we need to talk, that is what married couples do," she yelled.

"Well according to you we won't be married for much longer," he yelled, "You haven't even sold your place, you don't want kids with me, you've given up."

Taryn got back inside the car, to give them some privacy. "That is not true Jack... I've given up so much for you, I'm trying here, why can't you give up a few things for me," she asked him crying.

Maybe we both needed help, separately. Maybe that is why we weren't fitting into this marriage- because we left the missing pieces in our puzzles so undone.

"And stop seeing Mark," Jack added. Michelle crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, "Fuck you Jack, fuck you," she uttered and then walked away.

She got in Taryn's car and off they went. Jack went to his mother and he told her everything.

It's as if they were both starting to write the last few chapters to their book.


Getting help is tough, because accepting and looking for help means you've admitted to being down. Candice didn't want to admit to the scary fact that she was an alcoholic- she had been denying since last year, even before that.

The 41 year old walked in- dressed sharply and confident. The second Candice saw all of the desperate broken people she left.

"Mam, it's okay," a man told her. Candice ignored him, "No, no, I'm fine," she insisted as she shunned him.

It looks like Candice didn't want to go to rehab. They tried to make her go, but she said "no, no, no".

Candice took off with her Prada and she ran as fast as she could. No woman like her would go to rehab, and nobody could make her go. Not even her son, because nobody knew what she needed. At least that's what she was telling herself.


Torrie was telling herself the opposite- she was telling herself how much she needed Punk's help. Having him back, even if it was just for a week, was exactly what Torrie needed.

The two walked along the bridge, like always, right in between their two vastly different worlds. "So how the hell have you been," Punk asked.

"Where do I start! My book, it got horrible reviews, but I'm proud of it," Torrie told him, "I'm excited for the next one, I'm working to make it better than the first one!"

Punk raised his eyebrows, he was surprised that he didn't bring up her dating life. "What about Brock, or any other love-related issues," he asked, "I'm so used to that being our topic of discussion!"

Torrie shrugged, "Well I didn't give Brock a third chance because I knew he would ignore my life and keep me as a prop," Torrie explained to her friend.

"What about the Yankee you were telling me about," Punk asked. Torrie laughed out loud, "He was exactly like Brock... everything was about him, he was living in his own little world! A man with a big ego just didn't fit into my life because I was too busy with my book and career," Torrie said.

It turns out Torrie didn't need Punk as much as she thought she did.

Punk was surprised in every good way, he gasped. "Holy fuck! I am proud," Punk exclaimed. "You've come a long way and I'm glad you have," Punk told her.

Torrie blushed. "Well, I'm no longer thirty... I'm thirty-one now and I am learning that a man won't help me be happy... life won't stop, so I figured that I'd keep moving forward and keep building my life and a man will someday come into that built life," Torrie explained to him.

Punk wrapped his arm around her, "This is how a proud father feels when his daughter is all grown up," Punk teased. The two kept on walking down the Brooklyn Bridge, with the sunset in the background.

Punk wasn't Torrie's personal therapist- but he sure was her friend. She didn't need his advice anymore, but she still needed his love and support.


Ashley needed a therapist more than she needed a friend.

After humiliating herself, Ashley rushed home with tears in her eyes. She put herself in a vulnerable situation, only to be shot down.

Ashley lied on her bathroom floor, crying over her loneliness. She couldn't help it, she broke down. After all, a girl can only take so much.

Maybe that's why we need the help. Therapists exist for a reason.

Ashley didn't feel like getting up, the bathroom mat felt nice and soft. She felt so alone and empty. Every time she tried to get a little pill out of a man, he would only end up poisoning her.

The phone rang and Ashley went to pick it up. She hesitated at first, but she finally went over. It was a number she didn't recognize, so she let it go to voicemail. "Hey, this is Brooklyn, I found your number on my mother's address book-" before he could finish Ashley picked up.

"Hey sweetie, what's going on," Ashley asked with a stuffy nose. "I want to have an intervention for my mother, she's an alcoholic and I just thought her friends should be at the intervention," he said.

Ashley didn't know what to say about Candice being an alcoholic. Regardless, off she went. "I'm on my way," Ashley said.

Candice needed rehab and Ashley needed therapy- but we all need friends.


After chasing Jack around, I was chasing myself... with the help of Taryn, because god knows I lost sight of who I was before all of this.

Michelle and Taryn sat in the car, Michelle threw her head back and looked out the window. Jersey had a pretty starry sky, it was the typical summer night- fresh and free.

"I don't know what to do... I've given up so much for him because I keep thinking that he is the one and that marriages work like that," Michelle admitted, "I always feel like this marriage can end any day now, and I always thought that's how relationships work... but it's not how they work! A relationship should mesmerize you and enchant you, endings shouldn't even be on one's mind!"

And then I realized Jack and I didn't need couples counseling... we just needed a good lawyer.

Taryn didn't feel like it was her place to speak about her marriage, so she didn't, instead she spoke about the rights of a woman. "I love New Jersey... I can't imagine moving for a man," Taryn told Michelle. "You don't love Jersey, you're a city girl," Taryn added.

Michelle couldn't fight the tears. "I miss my friends, I miss the city... I miss my freedom," Michelle cried out.

Taryn tapped her on the shoulder, "Do what's right for you... whatever it is, do it," Taryn advised her. "Life is too short to let some man feel it for you.. you have to go out and feel it for yourself," Taryn told her.

A friend's advice is something we all need- I got it from a Jersey girl and it opened up my eyes.


No matter where Candice ran to the help found her because she had people that cared about her in her life.

After going out for a long dinner alone and a contemplated walk around Central Park. Candice finally came home... only to find herself trapped.

"What is going on," Candice asked. Brooklyn was standing up, Ashley and Torrie were sitting down on the couch, Michelle was on speaker, and Candice's sister was on the laptop's web-cam. "Seriously, what the hell is going on," Candice continued to ask.

Brooklyn took her by the arm and he brought her to the living room, "This is an intervention," Brooklyn said. "Candice, we care about you, your son cared so much that he set this all up! We don't want you to end up dying or something from alcohol poisoning," Ashley told Candice.

"We're here for you- not to judge, but to support and help," Torrie added. "From your hometown Milwaukee," Candice's sister said. "To Jersey," Michelle added through the phone's speaker. "Because mom you've tried to avoid and escape all of this- but it only made things worse! And now you know that people from all corners care, so you can only run so far," Brooklyn told his mother.

Like mine- Candice's eyes opened up too.

"Yes, I am an alcoholic," Candice admitted to everybody. "I just feel like I've let you all down... especially you Brooklyn. I just thought that the more I ran the better chances were of me finding a better place... because ever since that divorce I have been in a dark place and I have hated myself for not being stronger," Candice explained, "But it's time to take a different approach and go to rehab..."

Brooklyn hugged her, then Torrie and Ashley hugged her too. Candice's sister and Michelle both hugged her virtually.

We all need rehab, therapy, and advice... also known as friends- after all, friends are free. They're priceless, unlike therapy sessions or rehab or counseling... learning from mistakes is truly priceless because without mistakes you wouldn't grow and prosper.


Special Guest Stars~ Jack Swagger, Titus O'Neil, Brooklyn Barrett, Taryn 'Tiffany' Tarrell, CM Punk, and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

Published On August 11, 2016.