Hush Now, Don't You Die

I started to work professionally with the victims of serious abuse in 1990. It was my job to try and help victims to start again. To try and find a semblance of peace and security. To try and help victims to trust again. My work burnt me out as I heard countless stories of the most appalling abuse imaginable.

Sadly, I came to the conclusion that we must have the death penalty for evil people. Some people loose their right to life.

This harrowing kojak episode tells a familiar story for me. The content still upsets me as you never get immune if you truly care. If you don't care you can't effectively help victims. It's a vicious circle.

Kojak was never afraid to tell a graphic and disturbing story.

The victims fathers way of dealing with the trauma is exactly how many men understandably react. But we have to laws and judicial process as we are no better than those who do evil. Summery justice should only be for films.

Kojak is a fine series. Decades on, we still have a system that seemingly has problems prosecuting rapists and supporting victims. It's left to people like me to help victims find their way in life.

The majority of victims live in eternal fear of their abuser getting out of jail.

There's only one effective method to prevent evil people getting out of jail.

I am retired now but you never forget some things as they are so inhuman.

Kojak is a class act. His last line sums it all up perfectly.

Two buddies out for a good time decide to rape pretty young Kathleen Quinlan. During the course of the incident one of them Todd Sussman has a fight with his pal and kills them. While that was going on Quinlan manages to escape and she tells her parents including her very uptight and protective dad Mike Kellin.

Telly Savalas and the squad get called in on the homicide, but Savalas and forensics say a sex crime took place here. Kojak is now looking for a victim who is a witness and Kellin is looking for a rapist who did his daughter wrong.

The one to watch in this Kojak story is Sussman who plays the socially awkward nerd type who gets his dates at gunpoint. His is the standout performance in this Kojak story.

Jan Conforti , a pretty, young girl, is dragged screaming into a car by two vicious, drunken youths who criminally assault her. One of them then kills the other. Jan's father persuades her not to go to the police - without realising that he is placing his daughter's life in great danger.

A solid and suspenseful entry with some grand performances especially by Kathleen Quinlin who plays the rape victim and Sussman, the bespectacled rapist. There's some good dialogue - even humorous ones - uttered by Kojak, which is much needed where a heavy subject is featured. He is always a positive presence amidst the grittiness.

Back in 1974, rape was only just beginning to be discussed on TV...and generally in very hushed tones. Fortunately, "Kojak" was ahead of its time...and dealt with sexual assault frankly and effectively in "Hush Now, Don't You Die".

The story begins with two evil dirtbags out on a night on the town. After getting drunk, the pair kidnap a young woman and rape her. Surprisingly, following the assault the two men get into a fight...and one kills the other! The woman, fortunately, is able to get away and survives the ordeal. But she also doesn't go to the police...and her father is planning on finding the surviving rapist and killing him. But every step along the way, Kojak is investigating...trying to prevent yet another murder as well as bringing the creep to justice.

The show really needs to be commended. It handled the rape scene very well (showing nothing) and Lt. Kojak does a lot to educate everyone (including the viewers) on rape and its consequences. At one point, he confronts the girl's parents...as they act like she has something to be ashamed of...and he insists to the parents that she did nothing wrong...very appropriate and sensitive. All in all, a very brave episode...one that needs to be seen.

By the way, the rabbi comment at the end...what a classic.

Kathleen Quinlan is a pretty face as "Janet Conforti," a rape victim in this story. Two scumbags kidnap this college girl from a campus, have their way with her, get into an argument and one shoots the other. He then flees, and apparently the rape victim does, too.

When the cops finally arrive, it takes a while to figure this out since there is one dead body but other evidence looking like a rape took place and perhaps there were two guys involved. This is conjecture, but it turns out the cops have it right.

The story moves quickly and there is another sub-plot when the girl's father does his own investigation, finds out who the remaining rapist is, and goes after him. Also, the punk gets nervous and decides he's got to eliminate the girl before she identifies him. Can Theo beat them both to the punch? Tune in, and find out. It's a suspenseful episode.