In the gripping fifth episode of "Good American Family," the narrative takes a dramatic turn as we delve into Natalia's perspective of her ordeal. The scene opens at the police station, where Detective Drysdale escorts Natalia in for his second attempt to unravel her story. A year and a half have elapsed since the Barnetts abandoned her in that dilapidated apartment, leaving her to fend for herself.
Detective Drysdale harbors hope that this interview will shed more light on the events that transpired. However, Natalia appears overly anxious and reluctant to fully cooperate. As the detective persists in his questioning, Natalia reluctantly confesses to her actions – lashing out in frustration, hiding knives, and issuing threats towards the Barnett family. Detective Drysdale finds her answers somewhat amusing and excuses himself to converse with an anonymous woman waiting outside. Their exchange is tense, as they argue over Natalia's uncooperative demeanor.
The narrative then flashes back to 2012, when Kristine and Michael cruelly deserted Natalia in the new apartment they had secured for her. Natalia, desperate and clinging to hope, chases after them, pleading with them not to leave her behind or at least to return her walker. Unfortunately, the Bartlett couple did not turn back. Initially, Natalia believed it to be yet another punishment, and in a fit of frustration, she throws toys around the room before collapsing in tears, eventually passing out.
As evening descends, Natalia awakens from her nap and surveys the pantry. The food options do not appeal to her, and she decides on canned peaches. Alas, she struggles to grasp the concept of using a can opener. Resigning herself, she settles for peanut butter and crackers instead.
For the next few days, Natalia's existence revolves around mindless eating and television watching. The apartment is ill-suited to her disability, making it difficult to reach high drawers and turn faucets. Cooking is out of the question, leaving her to subsist on uncooked noodles and boxed meals. As these supplies dwindle, Natalia's determination to open the canned peaches grows stronger. Armed with resolve, she grabs a knife, determined to overcome this final hurdle.
She ultimately winds up cutting herself, yet, being merely a child, she is oblivious to the art of treating her wounds. In desperation, she resolves to seek assistance from one of her neighbors. Upon entering their house, her eyes light up upon catching sight of some donuts gracing the table. Hunger gnawing at her, she indulges in the donuts without hesitation, only to be startled when the homeowner, JJ, discovers her unexpected presence.
JJ is equally taken aback when Natalia asserts that she is 22 years old. Fortunately, JJ is a compassionate soul and readily agrees to assist Natalia in reaching out to her mother. She swiftly retrieves the Barnetts' phone number and places the phone in Natalia's hands. Sadly, upon dialing, Natalia is greeted by the family's voicemail, and her heart sinks as she realizes she was excluded from the family's voice greetings.
Sensing a hint of tension between Natalia and her mother, JJ shares a photo of her grandson and recounts her strained relationship with her own daughter. She gently urges Natalia to bridge the gap with her mother.
Returning to her apartment later, Natalia catches Kristine's interview on TV. As Kristine passionately explains why no parent should abandon their child, Natalia is deeply moved. She further reveals that her new book aims to provide support to struggling families. The next day, driven by curiosity, Natalia heads to the library to procure Kristine's latest work. The librarian raises an eyebrow when Natalia claims to be 22 and Kristine as her mother. Matters take a turn for the worse when, unable to afford the book, Natalia resorts to stealing it.
At home, as Natalia flips through the pages, she is devastated to find that she has been omitted from the family photographs. Tears streaming down her face, she uses a pencil to oblivion the offending images. Over the subsequent days, Natalia's condition steadily declines.
One morning, Michael stops by to replenish the kitchen supplies. He scolds Natalia for leaving the place in a pigsty state.
Natalia pleads with him earnestly to escort her back home, yet he remains unyielding. He places the blame for what transpired squarely on her shoulders and grills her about the incident at the library, inquiring specifically about her conversation with the attendant. Despite her earnest attempts to clarify, Michael's suspicions are aroused by the sight of a book containing defaced, blacked-out images, prompting him to accuse her outright of lying.
After quickly tidying up the kitchen, Michael exits abruptly, only to reappear moments later with a camera in hand. He films the interior of the house and Natalia, emphasizing that she has all the necessities at her disposal. As he prepares to depart once more, Natalia's desperate pleas echo through the air, but Michael stands firm, refusing to relent. He insists that she is no longer a child and should pull herself together.
Michael's harsh words strike Natalia deeply, evoking memories of Kristine's lectures about privilege. In the subsequent days, Natalia devotes herself to scrubbing the house from top to bottom. She also strives to cleanse herself, though the task proves challenging due to her difficulty in operating the faucets. Once her efforts are complete, Natalia feels a renewed sense of composure and self-assurance.
Armed with renewed determination, Natalia ventures to JJ's place to borrow her phone once more. However, this time, Keaton, JJ's grandchild, is visiting for the holidays. JJ lends Natalia the phone, but to her dismay, she discovers that the number is out of service. JJ excuses herself to catch some sleep after her long shift, leaving Keaton to suggest an alternative plan. He notes that Natalia doesn't necessarily need to call; she could simply visit her family in person. He generously offers to assist her in taking the bus, and with Keaton's bus card in hand, the two embark on their journey, passing the time with games. It is during this bus ride that Natalia casually reveals she is only eight years old. Tragically, their bus adventure does not unfold as idyllically as they had hoped.
Natalia inadvertently misled the bus driver to the wrong stop, leaving Keaton furious as they were forced to endure an interminable wait for another bus. The entire day slipped away unnoticed, the sun dipping below the horizon before they finally boarded another conveyance. During the journey, Natalia caught sight of her house and, without hesitation, requested the bus driver to halt. She persuaded a hungry and exhausted Keaton to accompany her, dangling the promise of snacks as bait. However, upon arrival, they were met with a jarring "For Sale" sign towering above the property. Natalia noticed Valika nearby and inquired about the Barnetts' whereabouts. Valika, scathing in her reproach, laid the blame squarely on Natalia's shoulders. Keaton chimed in, protesting that he had been duped by Natalia, but Valika wasted no time in escorting them back home.
At their residence, JJ didn't hold back, unleashing a torrent of scathing words upon Natalia, who offered profuse but unheeded apologies. The community had turned against her, and she retreated to her apartment, pleading with God for guidance and the strength to do better.
The following morning, Kristine arrived to escort Natalia to her new abode. The neighbors' impatience for her departure was palpable. Kristine, displeased with Natalia's expulsion, nonetheless showed her the way to her new school on the journey. She insisted that Natalia obtain her GED and cease relying on others.
Upon reaching the new apartment, it was heart-wrenching to witness Natalia's struggle up the stairs. Kristine warned Natalia that any misstep would land her in jail. She compelled Natalia to rehearse her predetermined responses should anyone inquire about her circumstances, culminating in a startling display of pepper spray. The episode concluded with Natalia enrolled in her GED classes, penning her inaugural essay—a narrative of her identity amidst turmoil.
