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A 1984 MadeForTVMovie on Creator/{{NBC}} starring the late Creator/FarrahFawcett as a battered wife who kills her husband, played by Paul Le Mat. The film is an [[TheFilmOfTheBook adaptation]] of the book by the same name, written by Faith [=McNulty=].

The book is based on the true story of Francine Hughes and her killing of her abusive husband after over a decade of extensive domestic abuse at his hands.

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!!Some tropes appearing in the film include:

* TheAlcoholic: Mickey blame his abusive behaviour on his drinking, and promises he won't hit Francine anymore when he vows to stop drinking.
* AssholeVictim: No one will miss Mickey, who abuses his entire family and rapes his wife, all that much when he's killed.
* BeautyIsNeverTarnished: Despite the black eyes, Francine looks pretty good throughout her ordeal.
* BerserkButton: Mickey has many, but they usually involve some perceived infidelity.
* BlatantLies: Flossie (Mickey's mother)'s testimony.
-->"Never, have I ever seen any of my sons strike one of their wives."
* TheCharmer: Mickey is this, at first. It doesn't last long.
* CrazyJealousGuy: When Francine buys a pretty new outfit, Mickey claims he doesn't want anyone else looking at her.
* DestroyTheAbusiveHome: Francine sets fire to the home, and Mickey.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Many examples. Mickey slaps Francine across the face in front of a room full of people because she went into town without his permission.
* DivorceIsTemporary: Francine divorces Mickey, but it doesn't last long.
* DomesticAbuse: The couple's relationship is one of the most well-known examples, and possibly the TropeCodifier. It was pretty shocking in its day, although it presents many well-known Abuse tropes.
* FlashBack: The story is told in a series of flashbacks from the "present day" of 1977, back to the start of Francine's relationship with Mickey in 1963, through their courtship and early marriage, then the deterioration into violence.
* FourthDateMarriage: While they actually have a relationship, the first section of the film is presented very quickly from the time Mickey and Francine meet until their wedding day, so it feels this way.
* GoodLawyersGoodClients: Francine's lawyer is portrayed as the better lawyer, representing the victim. Anyone representing or defending Mickey is shown in a negative way.
* HollywoodLaw: Strongly averted. The events of the film and the trial are realistically portrayed.
* HouseFire: How Francine finally ends her terrible marriage. After Mickey beats her, forces her to quit school and burn her textbooks, and then rapes her, she tells her kids to get their coats. Then she pours gasoline around the bed and sets her husband on fire.
* InMediasRes: The film starts with the fire.
* InsanityDefense: A very well-known example. Hughes was acquitted. It's shown in the movie that a self-defense plea probably wouldn't convince a jury, so her lawyer suggests a plea of temporary insanity.
* KickTheDog: Francine's story of how Mickey treated the kids' pregnant dog cements him as a terrible person.
* LetsWaitAWhile: Francine tries, but Mickey puts so much pressure on her, she eventually gives in. She was only 16 when they got married, so her desire to wait and maybe finish high school is justified.
* MaritalRapeLicense: Francine only agrees to sleep with a drunken, impotent Mickey because if she doesn't, he'll start beating her again.
* NightmareFace: During the last sequence, when Mickey is advancing upon Francine, he looks terrifying.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Zigzagged. The social worker Francine speaks to tells her only the "head of the household" can apply for social assistance. He softens when she takes off her sunglasses, revealing a terrible black eye. Then when Francine doesn't have the filing fee, he pays it for her. The other people she asks for help are sympathetic, but can't do anything to keep Mickey away without punishing Francine.
* PoliceAreUseless: Not only can they not arrest Mickey unless they catch him in the act of hitting Francine, one of the cops testifies against her.
* SocialServicesDoesNotExist: With how long Mickey gets away with his abuse, it does make you wonder.
* SympatheticMurderer: Francine. Yes, she brutally (and painfully) murders her husband, but after all the abuse she's suffered at his hands its hard to feel anything but glad that she does so.
* TroubledFetalPosition: While awaiting the verdict, Francine sits this way in a chair, smoking a cigarette.
* VirginityFlag: After she and Mickey have sex [[TheirFirstTime the first time]], Francine asks if she looks any different, or if anyone can tell.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: And how. After his wears off soon after they begin their relationship, Mickey has pretty much no redeeming qualities for Francine to stay for; the only thing keeping her with him is fear, lack of other options, and concern for their children.