The Rape of Richard Beck (1985 TV Movie)

Meredith Baxter: Barbara McKee

Quotes 

• Barbara McKee : I have dealt with 440 rapes in the last year, all those women have gone through the exact same things you are: no more, no less. So what makes you so special, huh? Because you're a cop, because you're a man?

• Richard Beck : [to Barbara about a rape victim]  Will she go through the mug books?

  Barbara McKee : Eventually. Just give her some time.

  Richard Beck : How much?

  Barbara McKee : Depends. A couple weeks, a month. Some women can never look at the guy who attacked them.

  Richard Beck : Wait a minute. You're telling me we might catch the guy and she won't even ID him?

  Barbara McKee : I'm telling you she's terrified!

  Richard Beck : You know I don't understand you people. First you scream at us because you want action and then when we give it to you, you don't want it anymore.

  Barbara McKee : Well it may be action to you, but it's a nightmare to her. She's the victim, not the criminal.

  Richard Beck : And what do we do with the criminal?

  Barbara McKee : Let him walk, Beck. You're good at that.

• Barbara McKee : How long has it been since you slept, Beck? Can't seem to get clean? You take 10 showers a day and it doesn't help. You see a face that looks the same or a place and you freeze, afraid to take another step.

  Richard Beck : Why don't you get the hell away from me, lady?

  Barbara McKee : At first, you try and pretend it didn't happen, but that doesn't work so you try to accept it. Say "it didn't really matter. I'm okay in spite of it". But that doesn't do it either. Can't eat, pretty soon you lose your appetite for people too. You'd rather be locked in your room with the doors and windows locked than spend another minute with another human being. You're isolated, alone, just you and the guy who did it to you. It doesn't go away by itself, Beck: not by wishing or waiting or hoping, but if you deal with it, if you try and understand what it means, if you try to talk to someone about it, then gradually you'll start to make a dent.

• Lt. Hugo : Miss McKee tells me that a sexual assault warrant for a suspect named Weatherspoon was issued, but never served. You want to explain to me, and to her, why that is?

  Richard Beck : Well, sir, I uh, I tried to execute the warrant, but somebody must've tipped him off that we were coming because he just got away.

  Barbara McKee : Wrong, you were seen talking to him.

  Richard Beck : Lieutenant, this is police business, does SHE have to be here?

  Lt. Hugo : Yes, I invited her. I've worked very hard to establish an atmosphere of trust and cooperation among the hotline of volunteers and you let a rape suspect walk away.

  Richard Beck : Wrong, I traded him, I traded. Correct me if I'm wrong, Lieutenant, but murder is still the top tune on the charts, isn't it?

  Barbara McKee : Exactly, and rape has priorities somewhere below jaywalking.

• Sgt. Wally Rydell : [about an elderly rape victim]  What was she doing down in that neighborhood at that time of night?

  Barbara McKee : What's that got to do with it?

  Sgt. Wally Rydell : That's the first question the court is going to ask.

  Barbara McKee : I don't know! She was going somewhere, she was going to meet... the woman was raped! Does she have to be beaten to a pulp before you guys believe her?

  Sgt. Wally Rydell : No I believe her.

  Richard Beck : [about the elderly victim]  Can you tell me who'd want to rape her?