made for television, starring George C. Scott, Rachael Leigh Cook, Ally Sheddy

Why is it that guys never get prosecuted for statutory rape? It's a crime, punishable with prison time upon conviction. When you look at it seriously enough, it is equivalent to child molestation.

Cook plays Emma, a 15-year old high school student raised by her grandfather (Scott). Over Christmas break she decides, against her grandfather's wishes, to spend a week with her mother (Sheddy). Her mother's boyfriend takes an interest in Emma and gives her a warm reception. The next night he gives her a sexy dress and buys her an expensive dinner, complete with champaign. After dinner, Roy takes a drunken Emma to an empty trailor and rapes her. She gets pregnant as a result.

Baby Matthew has an asthma attack, and Emma is told by the doctors that this will be a continual problem. The grandfather has health benefits that he's never used, but they will not cover his grandchild, so the decision is made for the grandfather to adopt Matthew. Roy will not allow the adoption, and declares Emma to be an unfit mother. At the custody hearing, Emma is outraged that Roy is to receive Matthew, and refuses on the grounds that she was raped. Since there were no charges pending against the rapist, the court could not consider this matter and decides in Roy's favor. Her grandfather gave her the option of reporting the rape, but Emma chose not to. Emma lets her grandfather "kidnap" Matthew so that Roy never gets her baby, which is a violation of the court order. With help from his brothers in the United Mine Workers, the grandfather avoids the law at every turn.

Yes, there is a happy ending, but Roy fades away and never gets to make new friends in prison. That was disappointing to me.

Cook demonstrated a level of maturity in this film that more established actresses never achieve throughout their careers. This film is an early indicator of how good an actress she will be.