Scared Silent (2002) - full transcript

[ Siren wails ]

[ Applause ]

Man: Hey, people,
what do you call it

when a Minnesota gopher
marries a badger?

Second man:
I don't know, what?

Man: I don't know, either,
but it's illegal in 12 states.

[ Laughter ]

I've never been happier to see
two folks get married,

even if Doug is from Wisconsin.

[ Booing ]

But all kidding aside,



I just want to take off my hat

to the toughest, fairest,
most honest person

I've ever had the pleasure
to see get hitched.

And, Doug,

you're not bad either.

We wish you both love

and luck.

And may you live happily
ever after, Doug,

where god always
meant you to be --

in Minnesota.

Minnesota!

♪ I've been
waiting such a long time ♪

♪ I feel it comin' ♪

♪ get down and party ♪



♪ see me jumpin' ♪

♪ we're gonna rock this house ♪

♪ I see you comin' ♪

♪ get down and party ♪

♪ see me jumpin' ♪

♪ we're gonna rock this house ♪

No!

Beer.

Wait, wait, your hairpiece
is falling out.

No running!

Hey, Claire,
stop chasing Brian.

They're so cute.

Oh, you look so happy.

I am happy.

All right, here they come,
go get them.

♪ And standing next
to you, baby ♪

♪ making all the right moves ♪

♪ stepping in the right groove ♪

Oh, my baby, bye.

I love you! Bye, mom!

Do you have my purse
and my suitcase?

I love you!

Thank you for everything.

♪ Can't you see me comin',
get down and party ♪

♪ see me jumpin' ♪

♪ we're gonna rock this house,
feel it comin' ♪

♪ ooh, get down and party ♪

♪ ooh, see me jumpin' ♪

♪ we're gonna rock this house ♪

♪ feel it comin',
feel it comin' ♪

♪ feel it comin',
feel it comin' ♪

♪ baby, don't you
feel it comin' ♪

♪ gonna rock this house ♪

♪ I've been waitin'
such a long time ♪

Woman:
I found it on the Internet.

Hawaiian honeymoon special.

White beaches, blue water,

surfing.

What am I going to do
with a surfboard?

You can't fish off them.

I don't know,

you might love it.

You don't want to see me in
those flowery shorts, trust me.

Man: I do.

You don't
get a vote, Harley.

Besides, I don't think

there'll be much time
for surfing anyway.

Hi.
There he is.

Come here, partner.

How'd the morning go?

Ah, busy.

I ordered a couple more cases
of the coffee.

And you need to call
that guy in stockwell

about his invoice.

You having lunch
with Carole?

Well, unless she forgets
it's Wednesday, I am.

Say hello.
Okay, I will.

Hey, Carole.
Hey, Paul.

Hey, Rick.

Woman: Hey, Carole,
how you doing?

Hey.

I swear he's grown
since the wedding.

In a week?

I think you're licking
too many stamps

at the chicken plant.

Don't listen to her.

You are the biggest
and the sweetest

and the only good thing
to come out

of your mom's
first marriage.

What was his name again?

Um, I don't believe
I recall.

Well, he's long gone now.

And anyway,

Brian's going to be
Doug's son any day now.

He filed the adoption papers
with the state.

I love Doug.

God! Men!

Can I pick them,
or what?

Rusty James, ninth grade.

Hey, you don't
have to be nasty.

So you're going to work here
in the mornings

and the afternoons
at your mom's?

For now.

It's kind of crazy with Doug
starting a second business.

But, you know,
he feels really strongly

about putting Brian
through college.

And it is kind of hard

with a small town
police chief's salary, so.

Did I tell you
I love Doug?

I saw him first.

"Then all of a sudden,

"Libby jumped
into the little cloud

"and snuggled there
like a cotton ball.

"And the little cloud began
to float into the starry sky.

"'Where are you going,'
shouted Otto.

"'To dreamland,' said Libby.

'Good night.'"

Doug: Remember that
assault and battery I had

where the lady
punched her sister?

You mean
out on topper lake?

Yeah, well, it turns out
the lady who got hit,

her husband's
making her press charges

because he hates
his brother-in-law.

Well, there's no war
like a family war.

Well, good news is,
it's not my problem any more.

The county's
going to handle it.

They got some new deputy
in the sheriff's office.

A guy named John mccrane.

He's going to go
talk to the husband,

see if he can fix it.

Good luck.

The husband's an oil rigger.

What do you think of those odds?

[ Gasping ]

I said, what do you think
of those odds?

Honey?

Kath?

Honey?

Oh, my god, what happened?

Are you okay?

Baby, what happened,
did you hurt yourself?

Kathy, it's after 8:00.

Sweetheart, I, um,
I gave Brian his breakfast,

and your mom's
on her way over.

I got to go, okay?

You got to get up.

Please, just tell me
what's going on.

It's nothing,
just cramps.

I'll be fine.

[ Telephone rings ]

Ellis county sheriff's office,
Debbie caston speaking.

Oh, hi, Deb, it's Kathy.

Look, I know you're busy,
but, um, ah,

is the church covered dish
next Sunday or the Sunday after?

Sunday after.

Oh, okay, well,
that's all I was looking for.

Oh, you know what, um,
Doug was talking about this,

um, new deputy that you have,
John mccrane.

And I was just wondering, um,
does he happen to be

the same guy that worked here in fremont about, I don't know,

13, 14 years ago?

Thirteen years?

Um, yeah,
he would have been, um,

a police officer then,
not a sheriff's deputy.

I don't know -- he's not here.

He just called in
from the high school, though.

I can ask him
when he gets back.

Oh, no, no.

I'll ask Doug when I see him.

Um, I got to get back.

Okay, bye.

Bye.

[ Dial tone ]

Man:
No wonder you're cheerleaders.

Working on your studies?

Are you?

You love studying, I can tell.

Want to show me a cheer?

Come on, you can do it.

Girl: Go, hawks go!

One more time.

One more time,
come on, for good luck.

Yeah!

Hi, Carole.

Hey.

The worst thing about being
a secretary in this place,

by the time you type
"chicken parts" 95 times a week,

I wouldn't buy the little
suckers on a bet.

What's wrong?

He's back.

How do you know?

I saw him.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god.

He can find US,
he can find US.

We have to tell, Carole.

No, no,
he'll come after US.

He said he would.

We have to tell.

We've talked about this.

At least Doug --
we have to tell Doug.

No, no, no, no, no.

I saw him
at the high school...

Talking to the girls.

Well, John mccrane --

he'd been coming
to the football games,

joking with the cheerleaders,

saying it was his sworn duty as
a fremont police officer

to protect US
from the high school boys.

He'd stop by the drive-in
on weekends,

hang out.

We all liked him.

He was nice to US.

We all called him John.

Anyway...

Two weeks after graduation...

I was driving home one night.

It was late.

[ Siren wails ]

He knew my car.

He flashed his lights.

He pulled me over.

Hey, Kathy, how are you doing?

Okay.

I know it's kind of late,

but there's something I want to
show you back at the station.

Why don't you follow me, okay?

Yeah, all -- all right.

I followed him.

I don't know why.

I mean, the police station was
closed for the night,

and I don't
feel right being there.

But he is a police officer.

And it's the station we're at.

Anyway, we

go down these stairs, me first.

Right down here.

He says he has this

new soda machine
he wants to show me.

And then --

no!

What are you doing?

Stop it!

No!

And I'm trying to get up
and I'm trying to get away.

I keep screaming,
please don't! Stop!

Stop it, no!

But he keeps --

no, stop!

Finally he stops.

And I remember that
he put his hand on his gun

and he leaned over

and he says,

you know what'll happen
if this gets out?

And then he walks away,

like it was nothing.

It's like it was yesterday.

I didn't know who to tell
or where to go.

I couldn't go to the police.

He was the police.

And finally you say to yourself,
you know,

if I leave it alone long enough,

it's going to go away.

It never does.

I'm really glad
you told me.

You've been carrying this alone
for 13 years.

I'm not alone.

Tell him, Carole.

Tell him what happened to you.

Carole.

What for?

All it does is tear you up
all over again.

You can tell Doug,
he'll understand.

Tell Doug --

I haven't even told Todd.

I haven't even
told my own mother.

So...

It's okay,
don't tell me.

Why don't you go home

and you see
if you can tell Todd.

Because if you
can't tell your husband,

there's not much chance

that you can stand up
to this thing later on.

We're out of beer.

And do me a favor,

get me bottles next time,
will you, babe?

Okay.

Okay, shoot.

What is it?

Um...

I was raped
when I was 17.

Ah, when you
were in high school?

It was on the night
of graduation.

Kathy put me to bed
at the kellers' house

because I, ah,

I'd been drinking,
was passing out,

and I didn't want
my parents to know.

And, um...

There was a...

There was
this police officer.

Kathy told him
to look in on me.

And when I came to,

he had me
up against a wall...

Raping me.

I still had
my graduation dress on.

When it was done,

he threw me
down on the couch.

And I could hear him
in the bathroom cleaning up.

A cop?

Happy graduation.

Please, use your schooling.

Because if you tell anyone...

I won't, I won't.

Todd: Jeez, honey,
are you sure?

I mean, you said
you'd been passed out.

Yeah, oh, yeah,
I'm sure.

And this guy works down
at the county sheriff's now?

Mm-hmm.

Well, it's not like he's always
going to be here in town.

And I hope to god
he's grown up by now.

I'm sure he has.

But he raped me.

And he should be
shot for that.

But that was
13 years ago, Carole.

We don't have
to tell anyone.

He raped Kathy, too.

Two weeks after me.

Doug knows.

Doug knows?

We just took out
a second mortgage, Carole.

We have a kid --
we both have jobs.

If we have to start dealing
with this out in the open...

Okay.

All right, it's up to you.

Whatever you want.

Okay.

Okay.

I just...

What if he finds out
where I live?

Where Claire goes to school?

I'm just so scared.

I can't do it.

You remember
after it happened

I went to Kansas City
to live with my dad.

Mm-hmm.

God, I wanted it
to be over,

all of it.

Feeling guilty, ashamed,
afraid to tell.

All of it.

One day I went into the bathroom
and I looked in the mirror...

I couldn't take it anymore.

I took every pill
in that cabinet.

My dad found me
half dead on the floor.

That's what keeping it inside
did to me.

Is everything okay?

Well, I made some calls.

It turns out deputy mccrane
moves around a lot.

He's had 11 jobs
in the last 18 years.

And I called the chief
where mccrane worked

before he came to this town
13 years ago.

I just mentioned that we have

sexual misconduct allegations

against one of
his former officers.

Without missing a beat,
he says,

"uh, you're talking about
John mccrane."

Thirteen years ago?

And he knows in a second?

Yeah, mccrane
was there six months,

there's a complaint against him,
sexual misconduct.

They reprimand him.

Four months later,
there's another complaint,

different woman.

Oh, my god.

Yeah, he's
in his probation year,

so they let him go
without cause.

Do we know
who these women are?

Yeah, they're in bonner Springs,
about 30 miles.

Well, can we talk to them?

I can.

If you two go,
the defense can claim

collaboration between
complainants later.

Now, I'll go find them.

But are we doing this?

Because I'll keep going
until I drop.

But there is no halfway,
there can't be.

I'm doing it.

Okay.

[ Horn honks ]

Hey.
Hey.

So Doug talked to the women
in bonner Springs?

Yeah, he found two
willing to talk.

And they were raped
by mccrane?

So they're going
to join in with US, right?

They don't want
to go public.

Great.

So it's just US?

Well, there's a problem
with US, too.

What?

Doug found out
we're outside the statute.

What does that mean?

Well, the statute of limitations
is nine years on rape.

We were raped 13 years ago.

So were the other two women.

Doug doesn't even know
if we can put him in jail.

I'm sorry, Carole.

Doug: They both took polygraphs
and tested truthful.

The results are in this file.

Kathy and miss bakelin
are from fremont.

I've listed other leads
in bonner Springs.

It's all in the file.

The pattern of behavior
is very clear, Owen.

What a horrible thing.

I'm real sorry,
Mrs. Clifson.

Even if there's a problem
with the time lag,

I'm thinking there's
more than enough cause

to dig into his personnel file,

call a review board,
and put his feet to the fire.

Time lag?

He's got a family.

Gosh, all four
of these incidents

occurred well over
10 years ago.

And the statute runs out
at nine, I know.

But, Owen.

Exactly what is it you want me
to do here, chief?

Well, first of all,
investigate the son of a bitch.

We know for a fact he's still
hanging around the high school.

Well, I have a lot of deputies
patrolling the high school.

You know, I have to tell you,

I have a hard time imagining
that John mccrane's

anything like the man
who did these things

13 years ago?

I assure you he's the man.

I mean, I was
the chief deputy

before you were
a cub scout, Doug.

You've got feeling for the men
you put in harm's way.

John mccrane's a church Deacon,
for heaven's sake.

With all due respect,
I've got four victims who --

who will what, prosecute?

You can't.

Drag him through the mud?

Yeah, but before
I take a good man --

he's a rapist.

Alleged.

Now, um, chief clifson,

you've got yourself
a pretty new wife,

a good job,
a new security company,

a little double dipping.

You're on a roll.

Do you really want
to hurt this man's family,

stir up all this turmoil?

I mean, what's best?

We want him punished.

And you either put someone
on this case right now,

or I'm going to channel 5

and tell them everything I know.

Okay, here you go.

Six dollars.

Okay.

Thanks.

Oh, here's
your receipt.
Thank you.

Hello.

Can I help you?

Mrs. Clifson?
Yeah.

Are you the person who made
the complaint in Ellis county?

I did.

I'm whit Colby,

Minnesota bureau of
criminal investigation.

The sheriff asked US
to look into your allegation.

We'll see what we can do.

Is this a good time?

Yeah.

It's a real good time.

Man: Will you take
this call on line 3?

Woman: I'll get it.

Shut the door.

So the fremont chief of police
and his wife

showed up here yesterday
with this.

Some statement saying that
you diddled a couple of girls

about 13 years ago.

Assaulted them,
while on duty.

Well?

Well.

I know I sowed some wild oats
back then, but...

It must have sprouted
some weeds.

So...what,
cop groupies?

Yeah,
I would think so, sir.

To tell you the truth,
I get that a lot.

Yeah.

Hell...

Don't we all?

This chief of police,
clifson,

he's the guy who started
that rent-a-cop business

over in fremont.

Maybe it's just me,
but I always took that

as a real
slap in the face.

It's like telling
the rest of US

we don't do our job.

You better believe
a lot of boys resent that.

Anyway, he's turned up here
and he's raising a fuss.

I'm real sorry for any trouble
that this is causing.

Well, I'm running
an investigation,

that's the law,
and I believe in the law.

But I'll tell you this,

I also believe in
the young men who have to

go out on those streets
and enforce the law.

Too bad we can't say the same
about Doug clifson, hmm?

Yes, sir.

Chief, feel free
to keep that copy.

We've got a possible

trailer truck theft
out on the interstate.

Ah, we're a little
confused here,

is the whole
of your investigation?

That's it.

Oh, but there's
a lot left out.

Well, ma'am, I'm afraid
that that's as far

as the law
will let me go.

Call me if you've got
any questions.

Wait.

Um, what about
the other two women

besides Carole and me,
did you interview them?

No.

But they were raped, too.

Well, unfortunately
there's no physical evidence

of sexual assault.

Of course not,
it all happened 13 years ago.

Which puts all four women
outside the statute.

Plus the other two
won't press charges.

And mccrane's read your file
and he denies having sex --

wait a second.

Mccrane read the file?

Yeah, sheriff Bradley
gave him a copy.

Since when does
a rape suspect

have a right to see his file?

Sheriff Bradley never felt
that the file

was official to start with.

I really got
to get going.

He knows who we are now,
phone numbers and addresses.

How's he get
the file, whit?

Now he knows
every accusation date,

he could write
his own story.

How is that right,
explain it to me?

Nobody's going to let this guy
go down without a fight,

he's a career cop.

He's a cop raping women.

Does that bci badge
you're wearing

mean nothing to you?

I don't have
an easy job here, chief.

I'm one investigator
covering four counties.

And I don't sunburn as easy
as everyone else.

But you said you were
going to help.

You said
we'll see what we can do.

There's nothing more
I can do.

You got someone assaulted
inside the statute,

sure, then I'm in the hunt.

Otherwise my hands are tied.

You want some coffee?

I guess one more
won't hurt.

Busy morning?

Yeah, Doug and I met
with the bci man today.

And?

Well, he's investigating.

I guess they put

mccrane on some kind of leave
in the meantime, paid.

Great,

now he's paid
to cruise the schoolyard.

Yeah.

And...

And they, ah...

They what?

Spit it out.

They showed mccrane
our statements.

Carole?

Carole,
what are you doing?

Hey, come on.

At least he's not on duty.

You live in town, Kathy,
you got neighbors.

Look where I live.

Todd will take Claire
to school one morning,

I'll be alone, he'll show up,
no one will know.

Hey, you remember fourth grade

when Lyle parks pulled down
the top of your swimsuit?

We rolled his bike
into the river.

This isn't fourth grade.

Woman: What are you looking at?

Nothing.

I've been noticing

the same nothing driving by

three, four times a day, slow.

They want you to see.

I know.

Those kind of men,
they want to scare you.

Well, I'm not
scared of them.

Hey, want some more milk?

No?

And they're not allowed
in this restaurant.

You and Brian,
I'll protect you, baby, I swear.

You take your 130-pound
arthritic frame

and knock them cross-eyed.

I'll feel much better.

[ Door opens ]

He flew the Coop.

Mccrane resigned here
in Ellis county.

To go where?

Right back where he came from
before he came here.

Lang county?

They hired John mccrane
as deputy?

Yup.

"Sheriff Owen Bradley
confirmed early this morning

"that mccrane's resignation
from Ellis county

"had nothing to do with
the reported investigation

into alleged sexual misconduct
by the deputy."

My guess is mccrane
must have called in a favor.

"'Our investigation is over,'
Bradley said.

There is no crime,
it's a non-issue."

But they have
sworn statements.

These women took
lie detector tests.

It doesn't matter.

The brotherhood's
making a stand.

Well, at least
he's further away.

Yeah, 40 miles.

There's got to be someone.

I mean,
Colby said if we find

someone within the statute
he's in the hunt.

I mean, what if we put
an ad in the paper?

Wrote a letter?

What, looking
for other victims?
Yeah.

No, it's a hornet's nest.

Oh, god.

We've come this far.

We could spell out the charges
in the sworn statements.

Hell yeah.

I'll challenge the son
of a bitch to take a polygra.

Yeah.
Okay.

Let's write a letter,
I'll sign it.

I'll sign it, too.

No way,
I'm not exposing you.

John mccrane
already knows it's me,

he's read the file.

No.

Well, if I don't
come forward,

■■
how are we going
to get anyone else to?

I don't want
to hide anymore, Doug.

Hey, Kath.

Oh, morning, Marty.

Is Doug around?

Well, he had a court
appearance this morning.

Is there something
I can help you with?

Ah, yeah.

Kathy: Well, the coffee
will only take about a second.

Ah, none for me.

I'm just here on business.

Okay, well what can
I do for you?

Wait a second, Marty.

You can't do this.

I can according
to my contract.

But you need
this service.

You came to US,

as a friend.

What am I
supposed to do?

A deputy
comes to my office.

Wait a second,
what deputy?

Who the hell knows his name,
I never saw him before.

He says,

"you're going to have
a hard time getting backup here.

"We don't
trust Doug anymore.

"Doug's been writing letters
in the paper,

"talking about all the victims
of a supposed bad cop.

Doug's a loose Cannon,"
he's this, he's that.

You stand up to them.

I've got three motels
on the interstate, Kathy.

I need the deputies.

They're squeezing you
to hurt US.

Please don't let them.

The cops take care
of their own.

Doug should know that
better than anybody.

If you and Doug want
to make trouble, fine.

I can't afford it.

Skip,
eating pizza again?

Hey, John,
I wouldn't be talking.

Tommy?

Hi, John.

Your wife have
that baby yet?

No, still waiting --
kid's going to be huge.

Sheriff?

Hey, John.

You want to see me?

Shot this bull
with the governor last winter.

I should say
for the governor.

Guy couldn't hit a silo
with a pea shooter.

I'm impressed, ed.

You're hobnobbing
with the governor.

Well, not exactly that.

The governor
hobnobs with me.

You seen this?

Yes, sir.

Buddy of mine
mailed me a copy.

I pulled him out of
the line of fire six years ago.

He wanted to give me
a head's up.

That was the hostage incident
in Henderson?

Yes, sir.

I remember that.

You maybe
saved his life.

He thought so.

Two of the complainants
have come forward,

age 17 at the time
of the assault,

alleged forcible rape

by an on-duty
armed officer of the law.

Listen to this.

"I make a public offer
of $5,000 to Mr. John mccrane

"if he passes
a polygraph test

administered by
an independent expert."

Boy,

this chief clifson,

he's not exactly
a fan of yours, is he?

Well, the chief doesn't have
too many fans himself, sir.

Jelly bean?

No, thanks.

I'll tell you

why I hired you.

A good lawman is like
god's gift to civilization.

You do the right thing,

word spreads.

You know Jack Potter?

Potter?

Used to head the union.

May run for Attorney General.

Well, he called me about you

before that trouble started

over in Ellis county.

He wondered if I might
take you on here.

I said, you bet.
John mccrane's a winner.

And hell, this business

is about building points,
you know what I mean?

Whatever I can do to help you
stay in office, I'm ready.

I'm just sorry that you got
to go through all this mess.

I know what
it's like out there.

Whatever it takes.

That's why I want you
to take a polygraph test.

This police chief
is offering you

$5,000

to pass a polygraph test.

Hell, take the damn thing.

Nothing to these
allegations, right?

No, sir.

I never had sex
with any of these women.

Not then, not ever.

Well, then let's take this
rogue cop up on this challenge

and put an end to this thing
right here and now.

Besides, it'll be the easiest
$5,000 you'll ever make.

I guess it would.

I'll let you
take me out to lunch.

In Miami.

Hey.

What are you doing here?
I thought Brian had a fever.

Oh, well, it's down a degree.
He's with mom.

Listen, I just came here
to get your signature

so I can get this
in the mail.

Oh, my god,
the adoption application.

Yeah, I found it
on your dresser.

Okay,
I'll take care of it.

Well, it's due
in St. Paul tomorrow.

Okay, well, then
if I mail it tonight

or if I mail it tomorrow it's
still going to be late, right?

Late's not
the goal here, Doug.

Okay, well, this is
kind of important.

Oh, more important
than Brian?

Okay, Kathy, I just had to let
Rick and Paul go.

I'm writing their severance
checks right now,

we're going to be lucky
if they don't bounce.

I see, okay,
well, I'm really sorry,

because if this is
getting too much for you,

then why don't you
just walk away?

Because I don't really think

you wanted to fight
mccrane anyway.

Okay, don't do this, Kathy,
because I never said that.

[ Telephone ringing ]

Right, I never said that.

Clifson security,
this is Kathy speaking.

Yeah.

Yes.

No, that would be fine.

No, I understand.

Well, I'll give
you directions.

Can you just
hold the line please?

It's a woman
named Camille.

She said she read
our letter in the paper.

She wants to come
to our house tonight.

I have dyslexia real bad.

But a friend told me
about your letter

and so I stumbled through it
at least 10 times.

And I said, lord,

that's me they're talking about.

I know him

from the truck stop,
I wait tables.

He comes in

for coffee with his boys.

He's nice to me,

I'm nice to him back.

Hey, give me that.

He likes to joke.

They all do.

They got important jobs.

Ah, she broke my back.

Oh.

Oh, Camille,

you're an Amazon woman.

I'm just trying
to be supportive, you know?

Feel that.

Why?

It's okay,
work that over.

That?

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

You give a hell of a back rub,
you know that?

Yeah, I used to do that
for my ex.

I said to him,

you should get your wife
to give you a back rub.

Maybe two nights later,

he stops by my house --
I live alone,

outside town.

In his uniform,
and, uh...

He's there for his massage,
he says,

and I'm like,
something's wrong.

I want to say to him,
"no, no,

you go home
to your wife,"

but he's so big,

and I don't like guns.

And I'm getting more scared
every minute.

He takes his shirt off

and he lays on my bed

and then he turns over,
his pants are open,

and he's holding it.

And he pulls my head down

and he makes me do it.

I mean, I do it
because I have to, you know.

And...
He has his gun.

Camille...

I want you to know
that we believe you,

and we're so sorry.

Yeah.

Okay.

Doug: Now, this is
kind of important.

As best as you can remember,

when was it that mccrane
raped you?

How long ago?

Yeah.

Um...

Eight months.

Okay, well,
then you know what?

We have a chance
to bring this man to justice.

Now, it's not
going to be easy,

but mccrane raped you
inside the statute.

Inside the --
you can't charge him

of a crime like this

if it happened
more than nine years ago.

I was raped
13 years ago.

Doug: But if you
would make a sworn statement

and testify in court --
oh.

Oh, no.

In court?
No, I can't do that.

I just came here
to give you a cheer,

you know,
for what you've been doing.

Thank you so much.

I got to get going.

Oh...

Uh, how old is he?

He's 4.

Oh.

Mine's 18.

He used to like
stuffed animals like that.

And then he decided
he wanted to go off

and live with his father.

Camille.

I think you came here
for more than just support.

I'm a nice person,
I really am.

I got three cats,
I got a job.

If I lose my job,
then I lose my house,

then I don't have money
to travel to see my son,

and you're asking me
to come forward alone.

No, not alone.

I'll be there.

In court?
Right behind you.

Yeah,
but you can't --

can't speak,
but I can stand.

And so will
another victim.

And we'll be with you
the whole time, all the way.

I'll put an armed guard
outside your house if I have to.

You'd be speaking
for all of US

who can't, Camille.

I mean, a man like
John mccrane,

he depends on US
to stay silent.

What you'd be doing
is so important

in helping
so many people.

And if you
wanted him to know,

the person who would
be proudest of you

is your son.

Whit: This victim, is there any
physical proof of rape?

He didn't beat her up,
but he forced her.

No scratches, scars.

John mccrane
carries a gun.

He forced her to do
what she didn't want to do.

That's sexual assault,
that's rape.

It is,
but it's harder to prove.

We get in court,
it's her word against his.

You said if we found
someone inside the statute

that you were
in the hunt.

Camille fenton is
inside the statute,

way inside.

All right.

Got this woman's
number?

Yeah.

Where does she work?

At a truck stop
near clarksville.

Where did this rape
supposedly take place?

At her home,
a couple miles from her work.

In lang county?

Yeah.

What's wrong?

That's not my county,
Mrs. Clifson.

But the bci has jurisdiction
anywhere in the state.

Yes, but we're all
assigned counties,

just like
any other agency.

I'm on a leash.

You're going to have to take
this matter to lang county.

Lang county?

John mccrane works

in lang county,
in the sheriff's office.

How fair
are they going to be?

I'm sorry,
Mrs. Clifson.

This is
a lang county matter.

The law is the law.

Camille, honey,
there's no smoking in here.

I mean,
you could go outside.

There'd just be more
deputies out there, though.

This place
is cop-o-rama.

Kathy ever tell you

how she ended up
with a police officer?

No.

But I was wondering.

I mean, after being --

yeah, well,
my first marriage...

Well, it had ended.

The guy was like,

"you mean, if I'm married,
I can't date anymore?"

Anyway, I got talked into
this church singles thing

and, um...
And there was Doug, you know.

And he walked over to me
with this glass of punch.

He wasn't in uniform
or anything.

And we
got to talking and...

He asked to see
a picture of Brian.

When was the last time
a man asked

to see a picture
of your kid?

Yeah, I mean, I'd given up.

I thought men like Doug,
they only existed in the movies,

you know, but...

There he was.

Your wife and her girlfriend,

those two incidents happened
too long ago.

You know that, chief.

Yes, sir, I do,

but they'll testify
to a pattern of behavior.

On its own, that's good enough
reason to investigate.

And this Camille fenton,
the one within the statute,

how is it she came forward?

She saw the letter
in the paper.

Then she came
straight to you?
Yes.

Be better if she came forward
on her own.

Who's she going
to go to, bill?

She was raped
by a deputy sheriff.

That's her story.

Jill, will you send in
the women, please?
Jill: Yes, sir.

Well, you know, there's
clearly grounds here.

I'm going to assign
dick Carter to investigate.

Dick Carter?
Yeah.

He's bci, right?

Yeah.

Well, now, don't these guys
work out of the same office

here in lang county?

Because if they work together
every day, bill,

I'm just wondering how impartial
they're going to be.

Excuse me?

If there's a possible
conflict of interest --

number one,

dick Carter is a top-flight
agent of the bureau

and the closest thing
we've got to the FBI.

Number two,
even if it weren't

the legally prescribed remedy
in this matter,

I'd still assign dick Carter.

Why?

Just to remind you, chief,
because I can.

It's my forest.

You come from Ellis county.

I talk to the Ellis county
authorities every day.

It's our strongest weapon
against the bad guys,

communication.

Lawmen stick together.

Yes, sir, they do.

You either trust lawmen,

or you give way
to the lawless.

Now, according
to Ellis county,

that's not your theory,
chief.

But it's mine.

[ Knock on door ]

Jill: The ladies
are here, sir.

Who wrote
this statement?

I did.

Your name?

Camille fenton.

Miss fenton, these
are serious charges.

Are you absolutely sure
about these accusations?

Yes, sir.

Phone number?

555-0199.

Thank you.

That's all.

[ Clears throat ]

Goodbye.

Deputy mccrane.

Hey, dick.

You're looking
pretty official this morning.

Did they tell you
that I'm assigned

to look into

these sexual misconduct
allegations against you?

I figured.

Yeah.

Well, I'm going to do
my job, John.

It'll probably end up
in front of a grand jury.

So I just want you
to know up front

that, uh...
I'm doing the drill.

I wouldn't expect
anything less.

I didn't rape
those women, dick.

None of them.

Okay.

John, are there any other women
I should be talking to?

Man: Hey, Lynn,
you see the score?

Oh, you so owe me five bucks,
that was a terrible game.

They couldn't hit free throws,
you lucked out!

[ Knock on window ]

You're the only female officer
in the department,

is that right?

[ Laughs ]

Yeah, dick,
you know that.

This is for the record.

Oh, okay, yes,

I am the only uniform
woman deputy, that's right.

How long now?

Four years.

Did you know
John mccrane

the first time
he worked in lang county?

Mm-hmm, yes.

[ Clears throat ]

And you work
with him now?

I am.

In all the time
you've known him...

Did you ever hear of
any sexual misconduct

on his part?

No.

[ Sighs ]

I understand you talked
to dick Carter.

Yeah.
Wasn't anything.

That's what I heard.

You know, I've been
putting up with

polygraphs, with rumors,

all the bull.

You're a breath
of fresh air, partner.

Thanks for watching
my back, okay?

Yeah.

Like I watch yours.

Yeah, sure.

Do you want me
to drop by tonight,

go over last week's
case files?

I'm not going to be
home tonight.

I'm just kidding.

[ Chuckling ]

Kathy: They're coming
from prairie view?

Camille: That's outside
ark city, right?

I think
that's what Doug said.

Okay, here they are.

Hi, Lynn,
I'm Kathy.

This is Carole
and Camille.

Camille.

Thanks for coming.

[ Sigh ]

Yeah.

Lynn: His first day
in the department,

he stopped me on the street
and he rolled his window down

and he said, "hey, I love
a woman in uniform."

So, I guess
I should have known then.

Except
he's an officer.

Never crosses your mind.

About a year ago,
he shows up at my house

out on 21,

and it was early
in the morning,

and, um, I was just

stunned to see him standing
outside my door like that.

Good morning.

Hi.
Brought home
those training files.

You want
to go over them?

Cup of coffee?

Well, I'm not
dressed yet.

Why don't you just
bring them into work?

Don't just
leave me standing here.

You're hurting
my feelings.

Open the door.

This is pretty
unprofessional, deputy.

Okay, okay.

Next thing I know, he's got
two hands behind my head

and he's pulling me
down on him.

And then I did it.

And I know
I shouldn't have.

But I felt like,
if I didn't...I...

I'm the only woman on the force,
and I have to be one of the guys

to get along.

I'm alone in a patrol car
every day

and this guy's my backup.

And for me,

this thing with mccrane,

it's not the first time
in my life.

When I was 8,

there was an older kid
in my neighborhood

and he used to hit me,
and he...

It was the same thing,

I never told anyone,
I just kept going.

That's what
we all did.

And then
I saw your letter.

But the sheriff
and all the deputies

and all those people
who've been my friends,

they're so mad
at all of you,

and I knew
that if I spoke up,

all that anger was going to
come down on me, too.

And my career and my...

Reputation...

And my life would be over.

But here you are.

Yeah.

I, um...

I thought I was
the only one.

And...

I said to myself,

"he's doing this
to other women,

"he's not going to stop,
and if I don't say anything,

he's going to get away with it."

Then you know what?

How could I keep
wearing my badge?

Kathy: Well, I found
this newspaper article

about this class action.

Ah, Liberty bell insurance,
sexual harassment.

That's exactly right.

Thanks.

And, well...

We don't have
much money.
Well, that's okay.

The way this works is,
if we agree I ought to do this,

then I'd work
on a contingency basis,

and the only thing you risk
is some expenses.

Oh.

Yeah.

That's really good.

'Cause there's only
the four of US, sir.

I'll tell you what,
you call me Scott,

I'll call you Kathy,

and "sir" we'll save
for the first cop

who's trying to give US
a traffic ticket.

Okay?
Okay.

Kathy, I went through
all the notes that you faxed me,

and I guess
I only have one question.

Do you know
what you're in for?

Because whoever
gets on that stand

is going to have to tell
every intimate detail,

including the color
and texture of his semen.

You'll be called names,

you may be shunned
by your friends.

It may take forever.

You'll fight
with your husbands,

your kids, yourselves.

Sleeplessness,
depression --

are you ready
for that?

All four of you?

Well, Scott...

That's old hat
for US now.

Did you feel that
they were being truthful?

Man: Absolutely,
there's no question.

Did you feel they
were hiding anything?

Camille: It was about then
that he unzipped his pants

and pulled out his penis
and forced my head down.

I went ahead and did it
because I had been...

Well, I learned a long time ago
not to fight it.

How long did
this act last?

Less than
five minutes.

Yeah, and then
he used the phone

and he left.

But he, he,
he came back again.

I remember, it was
right after my knee surgery.

I was in my chair
and I was wearing

this little sun dress.

And then he started
touching me and --

so, when he came back,

did you know who it was
at your door?

Yes.

I have a glass --

and even with
this prior experience,

you still asked deputy mccrane
to come back in?

Well, I just --

he was standing there.

And, and --
I didn't think --

you asked him

to come in.

Uh --

did you ask
deputy mccrane

why he kissed you
there at the door

before he proceeded
to your living room?

No, I didn't.

And when he
exposed himself to you,

you didn't ask him
what he was doing?

No, bill, I didn't.

Then what happened?

He put his hand
on the back of my head

and he pulled me down to make me
have oral sex on him.

Did you consent
to that or not?

I, I did it,

and I didn't want to.

You never did
express that to him?

No, I think that
my body language --

how would he know
if he was doing something

that he wasn't
supposed to be doing?

He's a married man.

He's a grown man.

I'm asking a question.

How would he know

you weren't consenting
to this?

Mccrane: I think
I can answer that.

I have never
forced myself on anyone,

but I have been in situations

where a lot of women
seem to like me

and I would give in to that
in a mutual way.

I'm not justifying my actions,

but I have been a Deacon
in the church,

and I fell away

from the lord.

And if you help me
to get through this,

this is it for me.

This ends it.

I have been
a good and gentle man

to my family
for 23 years.

But I have got off
to some consensual things

with some of these women,

which I sincerely do regret.

But that does not mean
that god does not forgive me.

And it doesn't mean that
I can't overcome this.

Man: Everything okay?

I hope so.

Don't worry
about it.

I want you to follow up
with the appeal board.

What's this
about a no bill?

That is correct,
that's decided.

Scott: You're ignoring
the witnesses?

What are
they saying?

Scott: I do mind,
that's right, I mind.

That's really great
for a county attorney.

Thank you very much.

Mccrane said

that he had consensual sex
with all of you.

Kathy: What?

He admitted
he had sex with US?

Consensual sex.

What he testified to was that,
in each encounter,

each of you agreed
to the sex --

that you wanted it.
Well, he's lying.

You get me
in that room, Scott.

It's too late --

the county attorney is not
going to call you or Carole.

It's a no bill,
which means

mccrane's not going to be
charged -- I'm sorry.

Tell me, Mr. Gibson,

do you have
a daughter?

A sister, a mother,
a wife?

It was up to
the grand jury.

No, it was
up to you first!

God help you.

And god help
every woman out there,

because you just released
a monster in their backyard!

Excuse me.

You're in my way.

Want some more?

No, I won't sleep.

I won't sleep anyway,
may as well, thanks.

What's so grand
about a grand jury?

It's not the jury,
it's the prosecution.

Doug's absolutely right.

Gibson didn't consider
your polygraphs,

he didn't let Kathy
or you testify

to establish a pattern
of behavior.

Well, I mean,
as far as I can tell,

the man did not explain
to the grand jury

the standard of proof
to get an indictment.

Well,
isn't there

any way
around Gibson?

Yeah, in lang county?

It hasn't happened
since Moses parted the sea.

Scott: We don't have
a criminal case.

That's over.

So I guess sending Gibson
a bill for our gas money

is out of the question.

Scott: It is.

But --

there might be another bill
we can send him.

Okay.

We're dead
in criminal court,

but there may be
civil relief.

A lawsuit?

Federal court in St. Paul.

We're still outside the statute,
though, Kathy and me.

He intimidated you

to keep you
from coming forward.

He stopped all of you
from court access

for 13 years.

That's not only
a crime,

that may well be
a violation

of your civil rights.

But isn't civil court
about money?

Yeah.

This can't just be
about the money.

I mean,
can't we get him

out of law enforcement,
for good?

I don't know.

But it's a shot.

It's a shot.

It's even odds.

More time,

but, and this is
very important,

it will never work
veless you all agree.

We all have to be in together.

You all have to be
in together.

[ Sigh ]

Todd wants this over.

Well, I'm just sick
of being scared.

Hey, I'm scared, too.

But what about
the other women?

All the other women

John mccrane
is going to hurt --

next month,
and the month after.

I mean, sure,
we can quit,

tell ourselves,
"nice try."

But how are
we going to feel

when we hear about
those women?

And we will
hear about them.

[ Sigh ]

Well, that's
good of you to say.

[ Chuckling ]

Sheriff Owen Bradley?

Yeah.

I tried to pick him up.

Good morning, sheriff.
Your subpoena, sir.

Sir, you are going to
be deposed.

Sir.

Bye, Gayle.

I'll call you after lunch.

Scott: So you met with
Mr. Mccrane

in your office
on February 16th

to discuss the accusations
in Ellis county.

Did you ask him about
a letter that appeared

in the fremont newspaper
at that time?

Yes, I did.

Was he aware of the challenge
issued by Mr. and Mrs. Clifson

to take
a polygraph test?

He was aware --
as a matter of fact --

I, uh, I asked him
to take the test.

And did Mr. Mccrane
take a polygraph?

He did.

At my office.

Do you have the results
of that test?

Did you tell anyone else
that Mr. Mccrane

had failed a polygraph?
No.

Did you tell
agent Carter?
No.

Bill Gibson?

No.

Prior to his failing
the polygraph,

had Mr. Mccrane ever
acknowledged sexual contact

with any of the women,

forceful or otherwise?

Zero.

He totally denied it.

So you knew
that Mr. Mccrane

had flat-out lied to you
about having sexual contact

with the victims,
is that correct?

That's correct.

Scott: Do rapists
usually admit

they have committed
the crime of rape?

I don't know.

I guess not.

Mm-hmm,
and if they do deny it,

isn't it important for
a law enforcement agency

to be ready to prove they're
not telling the truth?

Well, that sounds --

I mean --

yes, that's right.

And if that's right,
and you're trying

to expose a rapist
as a liar,

do you think it's sound
police procedure

to furnish
the rapist with

the entire
investigative report

that you have
at your disposal?

I, uh --

I don't know.

Agent Carter, did you talk
to John mccrane

about his encounters
with Camille fenton?

No, sir.

About his encounters
with Lynn Jordan?

No, sir.

Did you talk to him about
any purported victim?

Kathy clifson,
Carole bakelin?

No, sir.

And yet,
you were assigned

to investigate

whether or not
John mccrane committed

criminal sexual misconduct

against these women,
is that correct?

Yes, that's correct.

Mr. Mccrane.

Hi, John.
Have a seat.
Good morning.

Hi there.

Scott:
So we've established

four different statements
by four different women

about sexual encounters
they had with you,

is that correct,
Mr. Mccrane?

Yes.

And you recognize that
each woman

tells a different story
than you?

Yes.

And yet, they passed
a polygraph test.

Your polygraph,
you failed.

You failed

because you couldn't
answer truthfully.

So I'm going to ask you
again, Mr. Mccrane,

did you have forced sex
with Kathy clifson?

Did you have forced
sex with Carole bakelin?

Have you had forced sex
with any woman

since 1990?

True or false,
Mr. Mccrane?

True or false?

False.

False.

The man,
woman: I was 17 once.Fficer guy,

you know what you're doing.

Woman: Oh, yeah.
Woman: Yeah.

Look, it's possible
he's a real bad apple,

it's just hard to tell.

But here's the thing --

you get right down to it,
all of these women

more or less
asked for it.

I don't think
they asked for it,

but, well, it's true,
they didn't say no.

"No" isn't that hard to say,
no matter how scared you are.

Why didn't they just
say no?

And by the way, two of the women
are girlfriends from way back,

so, you know, they may just be
reinforcing each other.

Woman: That's true,
people tend to do that.

Woman: Well, of course they do,
one story leads to another,

it's perfectly natural.

They're not getting it.

They believe mccrane,
not US.

I don't know what the hell
else we're supposed to do.

It's like
being raped again.

But this is
a mock jury, right?

Yeah, but it's probably the way
a real jury's going to go down.

Woman: On the issue
of intimidation,

all those opposed,
say "aye."

All: Aye.

And on the issue
of damages,

all those opposed,
say "aye."

All: Aye.

[ Imitating airplane ]

I should have
shot him.

Maybe I could have
grabbed his gun.

Fought him harder,
something.

Come on, baby,
it's just one mock jury.

And Scott's putting together
another test panel, right?

Yeah.

But they're just
going to be looking

at the same videotape,

asking the same questions.

Doug.

Doug!

Do you know
what happened?

It was poison.

[ Sniffs ]

I know how much
you loved him.

Where's Brian?

With mom.

I can't protect you.

You and Brian -- I mean,
they killed my dog.

They'd do anything.

[ Sniffling ]

I'm going to resign.

No.

I'm fine.

We can't quit.

No, we're going to
leave Minnesota.

And go where?
Home, Wisconsin.

We can come back for the trial,
but we're going to leave.

I'm so sorry, Doug.

I'm so sorry.

Hi, Kathy.
Hi, Teri.

We're here to see Scott,
with Dr. Tobin.
I'll let him know.

Scott wanted me
to thank you

for coming here
to his office.

Oh, it's fine, I had
business at the capitol,

so it worked out.

He's putting together
a second mock jury.

The last one,

this deputy,
he charmed them

like he did
the rest of US.

Abusive men
often use charm

to exploit a woman's
vulnerability.

Charm is his weapon.

Hello, ladies.
Just in time for lunch.

I hope you brought
your appetites.

This is
Dr. Tobin.

Nancy Tobin.
Scott Miller.
Nice to meet you.

You know, I have to tell you,
when Kathy told me

she found a clinical
psychologist on the Internet,

I thought, "oh, no, here we go,
off into talk radio land."

Oh, no,
they won't have me --

not flashy enough.

Oh, well,
I read your book.

Good.

And we'll have you.

Dr. Tobin,

in your report,

you don't even allow for
the possibility

that these sexual
relationships

were consensual.

Tobin: That's correct.

Can such a report be
truly objective, then?

Most women
who are forced,

or coerced, into having
sex with a man

develop psychological
symptoms

that support
their allegations

and completely negate
the possibility

that they consented.

[ Chuckling ]
What?

These women believe
that if they resist

or they report
the attack,

that the man
will make good on

his implied
or direct threats

to harm them.

They fear exposure

will cost them their
reputations, careers.

The fact is,

they may have developed
learned helplessness.

The fact also is,

a woman is never,
ever to blame.

I may develop
learned helplessness

trying to get through
your report.

What is
learned helplessness?

A psychological condition
that leaves them

paralyzed to take any action
against the man.

Isn't that overstated?

It is understated.

These women, during
the course of their life,

have learned
to fear authority.

They have learned
that they cannot predict

which of their actions

will protect them

and which ones
will cause them more harm.

A battered woman,

if she sees her husband
getting angry,

is much less likely
to walk out the door

if she cannot predict
if leaving or not

will harm her.

If she leaves, her husband
may beat her again,

or, this time,
he may kill her.

Resistance is not a behavior
that she can count on,

so when she's in danger,
she is not going to leave,

she is not going to fight back,

and she is not
going to say no.

Man: You're saying, what,

that because these women
all have learned helplessness,

Mr. Mccrane
somehow guessed that,

that makes him a,
a sexual predator?

Tobin: I'm saying that
Mr. Mccrane's behavior

is consistent with others
who are sexual predators.

It is in
my professional opinion,

based on a reasonable degree
of psychological certainty --

and I have reviewed
every document in this case --

that Kathy clifson,
Carole bakelin,

Camille fenton,
and Lynn Jordan

were all sexually assaulted
by John mccrane.

Man: "Reasonable degree
of psychological certainty,"

just what does that mean,
Dr. Tobin?

Tobin: More likely
than not.

Man: Well,
that just happens to be

the standard of proof
in this case.

Tobin: Exactly.

How much money are we allowed
to give these women?

Woman: Well, it says --

so we have a chance?

More than we had.

[ Sigh ]

Oh, finally.

[ Whispering ]
Doug?

Yeah, I'm up here.

Hey.
Hey.

So, the truck's
all packed.

Yeah, everything
but the beds.

I'll pack them
in the morning.

Are you all right?

Yeah, great.

I was just...
Watching him breathe.

I, uh, I called the lady
at child services

and gave her
our forwarding address.

I just have one more
paper to sign,

and --

and he's my son.

Say that again.

What?

"My son."

Our son.

Mr. Miller?

For the plaintiffs,
your honor.

That makes you
Mr. Grant?

Representing lang county,
your honor.

Are you prepared to go
to trial, Mr. Miller?

Yes, your honor.

And you, Mr. Grant?

We are,
your honor.

Good for you, but my interest is
saving the court time.

Counselors, I'm ordering
mediation in this matter.

Settle on a mediator
and keep me informed.

Thank you.

Scott: But, ahem,
your honor, respectfully --

Mr. Miller, unless
you're telling me

that you and Mr. Grant
have come to an agreement,

I can't imagine what else
there is to say.

Next case.

[ Pounds gavel ]

Kathy: We don't want
an agreement,

we want to be able
to walk down the street

without people whispering
like we're the criminals.

I can't change the order
to bargain, Kathy.

But if we make
an agreement,

then John mccrane
goes on with his life

like nothing
ever happened.

We want him to be seen
for who he really is.

We want his badge.

Look, maybe
we can make a deal

to unseal the records,

make what he did public
once and for all.

I don't know,
I can try.

Carole: I should have
brought my knitting,

I could have stitched
a whole parka by now.

Doug: They're just trying
to wear you down.

Well, it won't work.

Will it?

I think we should stop
listening to offers.

Until they're talking about
the same things we are,

it's just too hard.

Yeah, I agree.

Ladies, okay,
here's where we're at.

Scott, we're thinking
this is pointless.

I mean, until they're
willing to talk about --

I know you're
frustrated, just --

here's where we're at.

Okay, $350,000.

Wow, another $15,000.

The county
will have to cancel

their Christmas pageant.

They've dropped their demand
for schedule of payments.

Lump sum is okay.
Scott.

This is about
John mccrane.

And all records
are unsealed.

All the court records?

Grand jury testimony,

civil depositions,
unsealed, public domain.

Lynn: That's great.

Scott: One more thing.

Mccrane's badge.

He resigned.

Oh, my god.

But what if
he moves,

can't he get
another badge?

Not a soul
in law enforcement

would ever hire this guy
again, not ever.

I mean, they'd be
looking at

horrendous legal exposure,
not to mention that

he cost his county
big-time money.

And he insulted
good lawmen

all over this country --
it's not going to happen.

You stopped him.

All of you.

You won.

I'm so happy.

Oh.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Scott, thank you.

I love you so much.

I love you, too.

I couldn't have done it
without you.

Scott: Pepe's,
just down the block,

best margaritas
in town.

I just got to talk
to the judge.

We won't start
without you.
Yeah, we will!

All right, I'm going to
get the car,

I'll see you guys
over there.

Guacamole.

Yeah, I know,
I'm starving!

Lynn: Come on,
Camille.

Grant: No, no,
you don't understand.

Jail is not an option --
this was not a trial,

this was mediation.

Also, you're going to
have to declare bankruptcy.

That is not an option.

Your wife, however,
does --

you have no choice
but to --

hey, hey.

I just want you
to know,

we've set aside
$10,000 for you --

when you finally realize
you need help.

Let's go.

Come on.

It's time we have
some fun.