Summaries

Synopsis

In a courthouse of a small rural Texas town, Ruby Jenkins, a divorced parent, stands trial for the rape of her 14-year-old daughter, Linda, under a Texas law which states that a person who encourages an unlawful act may be held accountable as a principal offender. The prosecutor first calls George Gomez, a 16-year-old of Mexican descent, to witness stand and relates how he and Linda fell in love. He claims that Mrs. Jenkins encouraged him to have sexual intercourse with Linda, stating that Mrs. Jenkins gave her daughter a contraceptive and sent them into a bedroom to have sexual relations.

Next, Linda takes the stand and testifies that her mother encouraged her to have sexual relations with George so that they might achieve lasting happiness. Further, when Linda attempted to break off with George, her mother told her that it was impossible: they were married in the eyes of God.

Sybel Riley, Linda's aunt, takes the stand and claims that Linda came to her for shelter after the event and had refused to return home, but Mrs. Jenkins attests that Sybel kidnapped the girl and held her by force. At this point, the local justice of the peace corroborates Sybel's testimony and calls the situation nothing more than a family squabble.

The judge calls in Wilbur Neal, a local minister, to testify as a character witness for George, Linda, and Mrs. Jenkins. After announcing that the relationship between the teenagers seemed innocent enough, Neal claims that Mrs. Jenkins had consulted him when she felt that George and Linda were becoming too intimate.

Barney Jenkins, Linda's father, testifies and says that he suspected that Linda and George were having sexual relations, and, as a result, he had considered filing a statutory rape charge against the boy.

Finally, Mrs. Jenkins takes the stand and fervently denies the charge, saying that the couple had voluntarily and surreptitiously begun to have sex. The jury deliberates... but the film suddenly ends here before they reach their verdict.