Said to be based on a true story, Tori Spelling stars as Joanna Halbert, smart girl, good student, medical school is in her plans, dad died when she was young, she helps her mom by working in the bakery. One day on a whim a friend of hers leaves Joanna's name and a message, as a prank, on the answering machine of a Los Angeles escort service. She gets a return call from Kimberly (Jeri Ryan, recently of "Boston Public"), is invited to a Malibu party, is made to feel special, goes to dinner with a client, gets an envelope with $400 cash. She is very reluctant but, being poor and somewhat "needy", accepts only because she is told she will never be asked to do anything she feels uncomfortable with. Being innocent and trusting, she believed that lie.
MAJOR SPOILERS. As she progresses in her sideline, she sleeps with some clients because she likes them, but refuses others. Made to feel guilty, then threatened, she just wants to get out. "Let me go, please. We can still be friends", she pleads with Ron Tamblin (Scott Plank). In what is in all likelihood self-defense, she shoots him, thinks she has killed him, runs away, is arrested, he is alive, and points to her as the shooter.
In the eventual trail, Ron the pimp is exposed as a fraud with many identities, shady businesses, and a tax evader. The jury believes the testimony of Joanna, who claims self-defense, and is acquitted on both charges. As she walks through the courthouse halls with mom and Jack, her boyfriend, Ron leers at her with a giant grin, a strange ending.
I never cared for Tori Spelling on the TV series, and with her father's looks isn't particularly attractive, but she does a respectable job in this role.
MAJOR SPOILERS. As she progresses in her sideline, she sleeps with some clients because she likes them, but refuses others. Made to feel guilty, then threatened, she just wants to get out. "Let me go, please. We can still be friends", she pleads with Ron Tamblin (Scott Plank). In what is in all likelihood self-defense, she shoots him, thinks she has killed him, runs away, is arrested, he is alive, and points to her as the shooter.
In the eventual trail, Ron the pimp is exposed as a fraud with many identities, shady businesses, and a tax evader. The jury believes the testimony of Joanna, who claims self-defense, and is acquitted on both charges. As she walks through the courthouse halls with mom and Jack, her boyfriend, Ron leers at her with a giant grin, a strange ending.
I never cared for Tori Spelling on the TV series, and with her father's looks isn't particularly attractive, but she does a respectable job in this role.