Rain Without Thunder

Allison discovers she is pregnant and discusses options with her boyfriend Jeremy Tanner and her family. They consider the possibility of an abortion abroad due to U.S. fetal murder laws, setting up the plan to travel for the procedure. The moment establishes the central dilemma driving the early part of the story.

Allison and Beverly decide to go overseas to terminate the pregnancy, seeking safety from restrictive domestic laws. Tanner’s later denial complicates the memory of support, while the family remains invested in the plan. The choice marks a bold break from the domestic legal landscape.

Interviews reveal a society slowly curtailing civil liberties in the name of fighting 'hypercrime'. The narrative frames a broader context where reproductive rights become increasingly vulnerable. This backdrop foreshadows the legal shifts impacting Allison and Beverly.

Restrictions on warrants are loosened and several states pass laws criminalizing abortion. Initially, only abortionists are targeted, and feminists underestimate how quickly the situation will worsen. The legal climate grows harsher for those seeking abortions.

The Roman Catholic Church accepts barrier contraception, contributing to a weakening of feminist power and support. This shift accelerates anti-abortion sentiment and legislative momentum. The cultural landscape becomes more hostile to reproductive rights.

A wave of anti-abortion legislation culminates in a constitutional amendment defining personhood at conception. This fundamental redefinition tightens the restrictions on abortion and reshapes legal rights surrounding pregnancy. The punitive framework expands beyond doctors to others involved.

Following the amendment, laws are enacted that directly target women seeking abortions, and feminism becomes politically incorrect with revisionist narratives about its impact. The enforcement landscape broadens to penalize those pursuing termination.

New York passes a law that classifies traveling abroad for an abortion as 'fetal kidnapping'. Beverly is aware of the change but doubts when it would be enforced. The legal risk becomes more concrete for families seeking abroad options.

Interviews from Walker Point show how fetal murder laws are applied in ways that disproportionately affect poor minority women. The stories illustrate the human cost and inconsistencies in enforcement. The environment underscores the urgency of legal reform or resistance.

African American district attorney Andrea Murdoch discovers the Goldrings' actions and prosecutes them under the new fetal murder framework. Critics question her motives, while she is portrayed as responding to systemic disparities in enforcement. The case highlights race and class dynamics in the application of the law.

During the trial, Allison takes the stand and confesses to what she did. She does not express remorse at the time and later explains a sense of relief from speaking out. Her confession condemns both Allison and Beverly to potential prison sentences.

The Swedish clinic later determines the fetus had been dead for almost three weeks prior to the procedure. The Goldrings are released, but Murdoch vows to prosecute them for attempted fetal kidnapping based on their intent. The ending frames ongoing legal peril despite a procedural outcome.