MOMENT OF TRUTH: CRADLE OF CONSPIRACY

US, 1994, 100 minutes, Colour.
Dee Wallace Stone.
Directed by Gabriel Beaumont.

Cradle of Conspiracy is a real-life drama, a warning to impressionable young girls. It focuses on Kristen, a star athletics student in her final year at school. By chance, she meets a young man and is attracted towards him, becomes pregnant, is afraid to tell her parents and disappoint them and runs away with him. It emerges that he is part of a racket for impregnating young girls and getting the babies for sale to rich families.

Dee Wallis Stone is the mother, narrates the film, has a secret about her past, is strict with her daughter and she and her husband become desperate to get her daughter back.

While the material is very familiar, it portrays it quite plausibly, the young girl of seventeen swept off her feet, not knowing what to do, believing the young man, angry with her parents - until the truth is revealed?

1. True-life drama? Warning for young girls? The intended audience, television audience, parents, children?
2. The Arizona locations, the transition to Louisiana? Authentic atmospheres? Homes, schools, the hotel for the pregnant mothers? The open roads? The musical score?

3. The title and its play on words?

4. The focus on Kristen, good at athletics, the pressures from her parents, trying to please them, wanting to be the perfect daughter? Her girlfriend and their chance encounter with Ken? His pursuing her, flattering her, the photographs, the movies, arguing with her parents, their meeting him, staying out late and drinking, her relationship with him, her pregnancy? His not being too upset? His advice, her running away after her birthday party, the gift of her grandmother's ring? Going to Louisiana, being received at the centre, the attentions of the people, her talk with the other pregnant girls, their cavalier attitudes? Time passing, the contact with her mother? The build-up to the coming of the police, running with Ken, the arrest, her meeting her parents, her anger with them, refusing to believe the truth? Her coming home, in her parents' care? The difficulty of the birth? Her indifference towards the baby? Back to school, shunned by the girls, discussions with her friend? Ken's arrival, her knowing the truth after her mother taken to see the other girl with the baby? His trying to snatch the baby, her pursuit? His being arrested, the baby being returned to her? Her going to see him in jail, with the document? His taking her ring as a pay-off? A future for her? The talks with her mother and her mother revealing the truth about her own pregnancy?

5. Ken, callous, part of the ring, charm, flattery of Kristen, taking her out, the photographs, sex? His reaction to the news about the baby, taking her away? His dealing with the adoption ring? Demanding money? His wanting to pawn the ring? Going, persuading Kristen to be hostile to her parents on the phone? His being taken, arrested? His return, snatching the baby? In prison, taking the precious ring and signing the contract?

6. The parents, average parents, their concern about their daughter, strictness, support? Ken and their attitude? Her mother's disappointment about her coming home late? Failing at the track event? The birthday party and wanting everything to be happy - and not giving Kristen the opportunity to tell her mother about her pregnancy? Their concern, arguing with each other, pressure on the police, disappointments? The father's anger and confrontation with Ken? The return home, Kristen's anger towards them, the mother taking her to see the other girl with the baby and learn the truth? Support of Kristen during the birth, the aftermath? The abduction and the return of the baby, the reconciliation?

7. The girlfriend, confidante, attracted towards Ken? Her not telling Kristen's mother the truth? Being interrogated, giving the information, her support of Kristen back at school?

8. The adoption ring, well organised, trying to stay within the law, minors and age limits in Louisiana? Their being ahead of the law, the phone calls, the pursuit?

9. The police, power and lack of power? The surly policemen in Louisiana and their lack of cooperation? Law and protection of the law?

10. The film as a warning for impressionable young girls, a warning for their parents?