Country Justice


Country Justice is a 1997 American made-for-television crime drama film starring Rachael Leigh Cook, George C. Scott, Ally Sheedy and Don Diamont.

Plot

Emma is a 15-year-old girl who was raised in a West Virginia 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 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 attracted to her the minute he meets her. He keeps complimenting her using superficial charm until one night she goes out to dinner with him. He gives her too much champagne before taking her to an abandoned trailer on the same lot that her mother Angie and Ray live on and rapes 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, she decides to keep the baby. However, Ray begins stalking her, which in turn causes her to go into labor and she gives birth to a son named Matthew Baker. Ray sues for sole custody of their son, easily winning the case due to his age and financial income, but Clayton kidnaps the baby.
After becoming 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 questioning and 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 and Emma still going to school, able to maintain a scarred but peaceful life as a teenager and mother.

Cast