CBS, March 15, 1992
Written by April Smith
Directed by Harry Winer
Executive Producers Harry Winer, Lawrence A. Lyttle
Cast: Patricia Wettig, Stephen Lang, Shelley Hack, Joanna Cassidy, Gina Hecht, Eileen Brennan, Ellen Burstyn
Filmed by An Elliot Friedgen and Co. Inc, Production and a Lyttle/Heshty Production in association with Warner Bros. Television

     When executive producers Harry Winer and Larry Lyttle asked April to write an original TV movie based on the true story of a rape victim who goes public, she was intrigued. Long a supporter of The Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica Hospital, April had witnessed the moving testimony of rape survivors fighting to regain their wholeness, and felt this would be an opportunity to dramatize the deep psychological impact of this crime. 
     The story took place in the small town of Grinnell, Iowa. Nancy Ziegenmeyer (Patricia Wettig), a mother of three, was married to Steven Ziegenmeyer (Stephen Lang), a car mechanic. Their marriage was on the rocks due to Nancy fooling around with other men and the jealous interfering of Stephen's half-crazy mother, Wilma (Ellen Burstyn). At one point Nancy left her family and ran away with a drifter, but came back, remorseful, willing to work on her marriage. She quit bartending and went to school to become a real estate agent. She was sitting in her car in a parking lot at seven AM, studying for her licensing exam, when a man pulled the door open, threw her coat over her head, and raped her several times. He took her wallet, threatening that if she told anyone he would kill her children. 
      The family lived in terror while the police searched for the suspect. Nancy suffered flashbacks from the trauma as well as stinging gossip from town locals. She became increasingly frustrated with the legal system in which she was just another victim without a name. After reading an article in the Des Moines Register written by editor Geneva Overholser (Joanna Cassidy) encouraging rape victims to come forward, Steven convinced Nancy to go the newspaper, which began her journey out of secrecy and shame.
     April and Harry Winer spent several days in Grinnell and Des Moines interviewing everyone involved, although the film was ultimately shot in Memphis. Harry Winer's commitment to depicting the attack unflinchingly led the Los Angeles Times to call the movie, "The boldest expression of rape that has ever aired on prime-time network television." The Hollywood Reporter termed it, "A hard-hitting, deeply emotional and brilliantly made piece of television . . . with fine acting throughout," citing, "Exquisite and insightful direction by Harry Winer" and, "A crisp, thoughtful and biting script by April Smith."

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