"Eye for an Eye" is the twentieth episode of season 4 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Rosemary Hardt, a classmate of Brian and Colleen's, wanders into town after missing school. When Dr. Mike examines her, she discovers Rosemary was raped. When a drifter is convicted of the rape, and of murdering an old man, he is sentenced to death. The townspeople of Colorado Springs are divided over whether or not to take "an eye for an eye." Dr. Mike finds her own family being torn apart, as her feelings about the murderer's fate differ strongly from those of Sully and Colleen. Ultimately, the town wires a district judge to hold a proper trial instead of vigilante justice, and the judge passes sentence that he is to hang for his crimes, ordering the town to construct a gallows to carry out his sentence. As the execution approaches, emotions run high, and Matthew must take a strong stand to maintain law and order, but is tormented by Hank's eagerness to assist him and disturbingly savvy knowledge of hangings, as he believes Matthew lacks the constitution for executing someone.
This episode provides examples of:
- Defiled Forever: Rosemary's brother fears this fate for her.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: Rosemary is mute and in shock when she is found and brought to the clinic. When Mike begins to undress her and sees the bodice of her dress is ripped, she orders Colleen out of the room. At the end of the episode, she takes the girl's father aside and quietly warns him to watch for signs of pregnancy.
- Unusual Euphemism: Mike gently informs Rosemary's father that "she's been assaulted by a man". Oddly enough, the word "rape" is used several times afterwards.
