this is the kind of thing that ushers in the terror of a hitler's germany. we must not allow these kind of things to enter our consciousness. >> i wanted to write a story very much about this guy and his power and the reach he had. so i began to contact ex-members. and they said that all is not so good inside, that there were beatings if you got out of line. there was a lot of sex abuse. and the story took on a new life at that point. very soon afterwards, the church members began leaving san francisco for guyana. >> you see in the distance the housing complex that is being built. >> he figures if i'm in guyana, it really doesn't matter what's said or written. nobody's going to get me here. ♪ we are a happy family ♪ we're a happy family ♪ yes we are >> it was an escapade that's almost unparalleled in the history of religious movements. they had very little communication with loved ones at home.