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The Accused (1988 film)

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The Accused is a 1988 film about a woman who suffers a brutal rape in a bar one night and a prosecutor who assists in bringing the perpetrators to justice, including the ones who encouraged and cheered on the attack.

Directed by Jonathan Kaplan. Written by Tom Topor.
The first scream was for help. The second is for justice.

Kathryn Murphy

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  • This is what the jury is going to see. And they are going to see the girl too and you can't tell it from these. But she's tiny. She's the most defenseless looking thing you you ever saw.
  • Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Paulsen has told you that the testimony of Sarah Tobias is nothing. Sarah Tobias was raped, but that is nothing. She was cut and bruised and terrorized but that is nothing. All of it happened in front of a howling crowd and that is nothing. Well, it may be nothing to Mr. Paulsen, but it is not nothing to Sarah Tobias and I don't believe it is nothing to you. Next, Mr. Paulsen tried to convince you that Kenneth Joyce was the only one in that room who knew that Sarah Tobias was being raped - the only one! Now you watched Kenneth Joyce, how did he strike you? Did he seem especially sensitive, especially observant? Did he seem so remarkable that you said to yourselves, 'Of course! This man would notice things other people wouldn't.' Do you believe that Kenneth Joyce saw something in that room that those three men didn't see? In all the time that Sarah was pinned down on that Pinball machine that other people didn't know? Kenneth Joyce confessed to you that he watched a rape and did nothing. He told you that everyone in that bar behaved badly - and he was right. But no matter how immoral it may be, it is not the crime of criminal solicitation to walk away from a rape. It is not the crime of criminal solicitation to silently watch a rape. But it is the crime of criminal solicitation to induce or entreat or encourage or persuade another person to commit a rape. 'Hold her down! Stick it to her! Make her moan!' These three men did worse than nothing. They cheered, and they clapped, and they rooted the others on. They made sure that Sarah Tobias was raped, and raped, and raped. Now you tell me, is that nothing?

Sarah Tobias

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  • What the hell are you talking about? You saw me at the hospital, what you think I asked for that? Is that what you think? If that's what you think then you get the fuck out of my house!
  • You don't understand how I feel! I'm standing there with my pants down and my crotch hung out for the world to see and three guys are sticking it to me, a bunch of other guys are yelling and clapping and you're standing there telling me that that's the best you can do. Well, if that's the best you could do, then your best sucks! Now, I don't know what you got for selling me out, but I sure as shit hope it was worth it!

Dialogue

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Kathryn Murphy: Listen again..."A person is guilty of criminal solicitation if he commands, induces, entreats or otherwise persuades another person to commit a felony-"
Paul Rudolph: You can read it to me until you're blue in the face, I am not gonna let you prosecute a bunch of spectators -
Kathryn Murphy: [cutting him off] They're not spectators. They solicited the rape.
Paul Rudolph: Do you really want to ask a jury to lock up a bunch of people for clapping and cheering?
Kathryn Murphy: Clapping? Cheering? Pushing? Goading? Getting the rape going and keeping it going!
Paul Rudolph: And what happens if you lose? You'll look like an incompetent. If you win, you'll look like a vengeful bitch. Either way, you'll hurt yourself and this office. Now, drop it. You've got more important things to do.
Kathryn Murphy: No I haven't.
Paul Rudolph: You haven't got more important things to do than go to trial with a sure loser? What the hell's gotten into you?
Kathryn Murphy: We owe her.
Paul Rudolph: Owe her what? We put the rapists away.
Kathryn Murphy: I owe her.
Paul Rudolph: I see. You wanna spend my money to put a bunch of spectators on trial - a trial that you'll lose - because you owe her? No! You don't get to use this office to pay your debts!
Kathryn Murphy: I am going to try this case and you are not going to stop me.
Paul Rudolph: Kathryn, you're an ace. You've got a great future. Don't put it in jeopardy.
Kathryn Murphy: What are you going to do, fire me? Go right ahead. My first case will be a civil suit against the rapists, the solicitors, the Bar and the State. I will show that Sarah Tobias ended up in a hospital bed because this office sold her out. I will personally subpoena your records, put you on the witness stand and cross-examine you about every single sleazy plea-bargain this office has ever made. [turns to exit]
Paul Rudolph: [shouting] Go ahead! Try your case! Have a good time! Because win or lose, you're through! [turns to notice others in the office staring at him] What are you lookin' at? Get back to work!
Sarah Tobias: [Larry tries to kiss Sarah] Stop! Stop!
Larry: When are you going to get over this? Because it's getting really boring!
Sarah Tobias: Get out!
Larry: Fine. I'll be back in a couple of hours.
Sarah Tobias: No. This is my house, and I don't want you in it. Get out!
Cliff 'Scorpion' Albrect: No, I don't know her. She's a whore, the last time I saw her she was doing a sex show.
Kathryn Murphy: You watched?
Cliff 'Scorpion' Albrect: You bet your ass I watched she put on a great show!
Kathryn Murphy: I thought she was raped?
Cliff 'Scorpion' Albrect: Raped? She fucked a bar full of guys then she turns round and blames them for it? Listen lady, she loved it, she had an audience, she did the show of her life!
Sarah Tobias: What are our chances?
Kathryn Murphy: 50-50 at the most. Good night.
Sarah Tobias: Good night.

Cast

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