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I Can Make You Love Me
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Wikipedia article
'I Can Make You Love Me', also known as 'Stalking Laura', is an American made-for-television psychological thriller film starring Richard Thomas and Brooke Shields. The film is based on the real-life story of American mass murderer Richard Farley, a former employee of ESL Incorporated whose romantic obsession and subsequent stalking of co-worker Laura Black culminated in the mass murder of several co-workers at ESL's headquarters in California, resulting in the first anti-stalking laws to be enacted in the United States. The first half of the film covers the events of the stalking and Farley's unrequited love for Black that led to the shootings, while the second half deals with Farley's rampage on the ESL offices.
For the purposes of the film and the victims of the incident, the fictional computer company Kensitron Electronics International (K.E.I.) was used to portray the events at ESL Incorporated.
Plot
Laura Black, a young and ambitious intern from Virginia, accepts a job at Kensitron Electronics International (KEI) in Silicon Valley, California. During a tour of her new workplace with future co-worker Chris, Laura meets long-time KEI employee Richard Farley, who instantly becomes infatuated with Laura's beauty. Richard invites her to a local tractor pull, but she politely refuses. Looking for a home, she later visits an apartment in Sunnyvale, and is accepted as a new roommate by the current tenant.
On her first day at the office, Richard is waiting at her new work station with fresh-baked blueberry bread to show his affections. In the days that follow, Laura enrolls in a local aerobics class, where Richard watches her intently. When the class dismisses, Richard meets Laura in the parking lot and asks her out to a concert and dinner afterwards; but again, she politely refuses. Becoming frustrated, Richard then says that they could not have a relationship if she keeps refusing him. Laura is quick to correct Richard, strictly informing him that their relationship is professional.
Richard continues to make advances on Laura, convinced that he and Laura are in a romantic relationship. At a KEI softball game, Laura once again denies that their relationship extends outside the workplace. During the game, Laura's new friend and co-worker Glenda Moritz takes note of Richard's infatuation with her, though Laura says she can handle him. Richard also becomes offended when he notices Laura and Glenda looking toward him laughing, thinking they are teasing him.
Richard continues his hopeless pursuit of Laura. Through an excuse of wanting to present a staff birthday celebration for Laura, he is permitted by a coworker to see her personal dossier, from which he learns of her birthday and address, later showing up at her apartment with a gift. When her roommate says she should inform KEI management of the apparent stalking, Laura insists that she can handle Richard, saying that if she did otherwise, she would be his defeated victim.
Richard later slashes Laura's tires at her home. Laura calls the police about the incident and suspects Richard as the culprit. Richard later confronts Laura on her suspicions, saying that she'll be sorry if he sees any cops after him. Laura finally approaches KEI management to file a formal complaint; but management brushes it off, thinking that Richard only liked her because of her smile. However, management instructs Richard to leave her alone at work, which he skirts by enrolling in the same non-work aerobics class as Laura. Richard later photographs Laura from the yard in front of her house, and uses the photos to doctor a picture of himself and Laura together. With the harassment progressing, Laura and her roommate relocate to a new apartment, which is gated for added security.
Richard later breaks into Laura's office during after-hours and discovers her new address, as well as her family records. Richard then threatens to go after Laura's sisters if Laura does not learn to accept that she "is meant for him." While visiting her family for Christmas in Virginia, a gift arrives: the above-mentioned doctored photograph of the two of them together, which Richard labels the photograph of them "on their summer vacation." Laura confesses the situation to her family, who insist that they help her get out of this before it boils over. Laura insists that she loves her job and will not let Richard intimidate her. Laura then files a second complaint at KEI upon her return, again with little effect.
On another day at work, an enraged Richard confronts Laura in the ladies' restroom, smashing the bathroom mirror and threatening her for not accepting his advances. Laura reports the incident to KEI management, and when Richard declares that he will kill anyone who attempts to interfere with his "private relationships," he is immediately fired for this threat.
The harassment continues on an irregular basis. Laura begins dating Sam Waters, who fears for Laura's safety. To protect her, Sam teaches her how to use a gun for self-defense. When Richard breaks into her garage and leaves a note on her windshield, Laura confronts him and he casually brushes it off with yet another advance. At work, Laura receives a major promotion that is delayed when she is unable to obtain security clearance. Thinking the delay is because of Richard's harassment, Chris convinces Laura to serve papers on Richard for a restraining order, which seems to set him off.
Enraged by the restraining order, Richard purchases numerous guns and over 2000 rounds of ammunition. At work, Laura is looking forward to her upcoming court appearance for the restraining order to become permanent. On that same day, Richard arrives at the KEI offices in an RV, bringing numerous shotguns, revolvers and explosives. He blasts his way through the lobby, firing at random employees. Richard blasts his way into the secure offices, shooting several more employees and killing Glenda. Richard bursts into Laura's office, shooting her in the left shoulder and leaving her for dead, though she is only unconscious.
SWAT units arrive and evacuate most of the building, though Richard remains holed up with dozens of hostages. While hostage negotiator Lt. Grijalva speaks with Richard; Laura, although weakened due to loss of blood, makes her way through the ransacked offices. Richard remains stubborn, and attempts to convince Lt. Grijalva that Laura is the guilty party for refusing dates with him, and insists that she was the one messing with him. Laura finally manages to escape the building and is rushed to a hospital for surgery on her shoulder, all the while blaming herself for the unfolding horror.
Richard continues his rampage, at one point executing one of his surviving victims, unknowingly shoots Chris (who rescued a previous victim after running in while everyone else as running out) through a wall, but also permitting Nancy to leave the building unharmed. Exhausted and thinking that he will die, Richard demands food while he considers surrendering. Hours later, the police produce the food but informs Richard that they do not have the proper means of getting the food to him. Overcome with exhaustion and dehydration, Richard agrees to surrender to the police. Seemingly unconcerned by the carnage he has caused, Richard asks Grijalva if he thinks Laura will remember all this.
Epilogue
The film ends with an epilogue on the events following the shooting:Richard Farley was found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder, and as of 2021 remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison.
Laura Black recovered partial use of her shoulder and continued to work for the same company (KEI's real-life counterpart, ESL Incorporated, was sold to Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2002).
In the wake of this case, as well as numerous high-profile stalking cases during the 1980s, in 1990, California became the first state to enact anti-stalking laws nationwide. All other states have since followed suit.
Cast
* Richard Thomas as Richard Farley
* Brooke Shields as Laura Black
* Viveka Davis as Mary Ann, Laura's roommate.
* William Allen Young as Chris, Laura's section manager at K.E.I.
* Richard Yniguez as Lt. Grijalva, hostage negotiator.
* Scott Bryce as Sam Waters, Laura's boyfriend.
* T. Max Graham as Captain Olson, Police Captain.
* Tim Snay as Lt. Bannister, SWAT Officer.
* Kevin Brief as Lt. Mark Shegan, Police Officer.
* Linda Emond as Penny, HR person.
*Dick Mueller as Tom Black.
*Merle Moores as Donna Black.
*Caroline Vinciguerra as Sarah Black.
*Donna Thomason as Glenda Moritz, Laura's co-worker.
*Hollis McCarthy as Phyllis, Laura's co-worker.
*Barbara Houston as Nancy Hammond, Richard's co-worker and landlady.
Reception
John Marriott of Radio Times gave a positive review of Shields' and Thomas' performances but criticized the overall depth of characters in the film.
References
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