''Country Justice'' (also known as ''Family Rescue'') is a 1997 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

starring

Rachael Leigh Cook Rachael Leigh Cook (born October 4, 1979) is an American actress and model. She has starred in the films '' The Baby-Sitters Club'' (1995), ''She's All That'' (1999), and '' Josie and the Pussycats'' (2001), and in the television series '' Into ...

George C. Scott George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 – September 22, 1999) was an American actor, director, and producer who had a celebrated career on both stage and screen. With a gruff demeanor and commanding presence, Scott became known for his port ...

Ally Sheedy Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy (born June 13, 1962) is an American actress. Following her film debut in 1983's '' Bad Boys'', she became known as one of the Brat Pack group of actors and starred in '' WarGames'' (1983), '' The Breakfast Club'' (198 ...

and

Don Diamont Don Bruce Diamont (born Donald Feinberg; December 31, 1962) is an American actor. His best known roles include Brad Carlton on ''The Young and the Restless'' and Bill Spencer Jr. on ''The Bold and the Beautiful''. In 1990, Diamont was chosen ...

Plot

Emma (

) is a 15-year-old girl who was raised in a

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...

mining town by her miner grandfather, Clayton Hayes (

). She wants to know about her mother Angie Baker (

), who abandoned her when she was a baby. She decides to go visit her mother in

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to ...

despite her grandfather's insistence against it, leaving him a note. When she arrives at the trailer where her mother lives, she is greeted by her mother's partner Ray Wilcox (

) who is instantly attracted to her. He keeps complimenting her using

superficial charm Superficial charm (or insincere charm) refers to the social act of saying or doing things because they are well received by others, rather than what one actually believes or wants to do. It is sometimes referred to as "telling people what they w ...

until one night she goes out to dinner with him. He gives her too much

champagne Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...

before taking her to an abandoned trailer and

rapes Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, Abusive power and control, ...

her. After the rape, Emma returns home to her grandfather, who threatens to murder Ray, only barely being talked out of it by Emma. Emma soon finds out that she is pregnant and, after some contemplation, decides to keep the baby. Some months later, Ray begins

stalking Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them. The ter ...

her, which causes her to go into

labor Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

from shock when she catches him watching her from outside a house window. She gives birth to a son named Matthew Baker and becomes focused on being a good mother. Ray sues for sole custody of their son, easily winning the case due to his age and financial income, but Clayton kidnaps the baby to keep Ray from taking him. After Clayton becomes a fugitive, the police arrive at Emma's house along with Ray to get the baby. Emma tells them she doesn't have the baby and, after persistent threats from Ray, they leave. Clayton is assisted by various friends while on the run, including a minister. Clayton is forced to come out of hiding and seek a hospital when the baby's health starts to decline, causing him to stop breathing. He is eventually found and Emma wins the custody fight on appeal and Clayton is granted custody of the baby. Ray comes back and tries to talk to Angie, but Clayton sends him away. At the end of the movie Angie, Clayton, and Emma wind up living together and taking care of Matthew. Emma goes back to school, able to maintain a scarred but peaceful life as a teenager and mother.

Cast

as Emma Baker - Daughter of Angie, granddaughter of Clayton, and mother of Matthew. Her father Gene Baker is only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the film and not much is known about him. *

as Clayton Hayes - father of Angie, grandfather of Emma, and great-grandfather of Matthew. *

as Angie Baker - Mother of Emma, daughter of Clayton, grandmother of Matthew, and partner of Ray. Her ex-husband Gene Baker is only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the film but not much is known about him. *

as Ray Wilcox - Partner of Angie and father of Matthew and the film's main villain.

References

* Rivera, Ursula. "Celebrity Bios: Rachael Leigh Cook", 1st Edition (2002)

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0118891 1997 television films 1997 films 1997 crime drama films American crime drama films Films set in Tennessee Films set in Virginia Films shot in Virginia Films shot in Tazewell County, Virginia American pregnancy films Teenage pregnancy in film Teenage pregnancy in television Films directed by Graeme Campbell (director) American drama television films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films