#207 TAKE BACK THE NIGHT          (Original air date:    11/06/97)
 

Written by:	Claire Whitaker
Directed by:	Jim Johnston
Produced by:	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, E.F. Wallengren & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Dr. Smith	Jameson Parker
Dr. Bea Goldman	Lynne Thigpen
Clyde Pigeon	Duane Stephens
Queenie Pigeon	Micaela Nelligan
Frankie	Josh Marchette
Parker	Louis Crugnali

 

Most of the family has lined up jobs during a visit to a small Illinois town. On her way home at night from her job at a university hospital florist, Dinah is attacked. She bites her attacker and escapes. Dinah returns home, traumatized. Russell and Claire meet a social worker at the hospital, Dr. Bea Goldman, who explains what Dinah is going through. The effect of the attack ripples through the family. Russell handles this with great difficulty -- scouring the campus grounds, seeing suspects around every corner. The attack also triggers Claire's painful memories of a high school friend who was raped. Josh initially doesn't understand the profound impact this will have on Dinah for the rest of her life. But when a co-worker accosts a young woman on his job at a local car wash, Josh intervenes. The fight between the boys escalates, causing both Josh and Frankie to be fired on the spot. News of an actual rape on campus is a sobering reminder of just how lucky Dinah was to escape. When Dinah returns to work, she remains guarded around male employees. When Dr. Smith, a kind family man and a regular customer at the florist, asks how she's doing, Dinah's antennae go up. How did he know about the attack? He reminds her he's a doctor and has access to medical records. Dr. Smith invites Dinah and her supervisor, Mrs. Little, to lunch. Mrs. Little is called away at the last moment, leaving Dinah and Dr. Smith alone in his Mercedes Benz. Dinah notices the tell-tale bite marks on his arm when he reaches to put a CD in the player. She takes the first opportunity to bolt from the car at an abandoned amusement park. Dr. Smith pursues her through the house of horrors, assuring her he means no harm. Dinah manages to call her father and tries to call 911, but Dr. Smith hangs up the phone before the call is completed. Dinah manages to keep him at bay until her father arrives. Russell arrives in time to save Dinah and turns the Smith over to the police. A campus wide rally is held to raise awareness about rape awareness and the healing begins.