1
00:00:06,958 --> 00:00:09,041
♪
2
00:00:09,042 --> 00:00:12,708
Cathouse was my first
introduction to, like...
3
00:00:12,833 --> 00:00:14,624
prostitution.
4
00:00:14,625 --> 00:00:17,541
I arrived while they were
filming Cathouse on HBO.
5
00:00:17,542 --> 00:00:19,582
Cathouse put the
Moonlite Bunny Ranch
6
00:00:19,583 --> 00:00:21,749
and Dennis Hof
on the map.
7
00:00:21,750 --> 00:00:23,624
Suddenly,
everybody in America
8
00:00:23,625 --> 00:00:25,541
knew what the
Bunny Ranch was.
9
00:00:25,542 --> 00:00:27,582
The show flaunted the
amount of money
10
00:00:27,583 --> 00:00:28,792
that girls can make.
11
00:00:29,083 --> 00:00:30,874
I'm a businessman. I'm a
partner with these girls.
12
00:00:30,875 --> 00:00:32,999
You see the girls...
13
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:34,999
making money
on the show.
14
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,166
And, then you're like,
let's go for it.
15
00:00:38,167 --> 00:00:41,666
Younger women
were being drawn in
16
00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:43,707
by the show itself.
17
00:00:43,708 --> 00:00:46,999
They're coming because they
bought into this idea
18
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,083
that this is this hidden gem
of a career opportunity.
19
00:00:50,208 --> 00:00:53,500
Cathouse definitely
made it seem like it was...
20
00:00:53,625 --> 00:00:55,542
the Playboy Mansion.
21
00:00:55,708 --> 00:00:56,999
It wasn't like
that at all.
22
00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,582
It was like,
oh [beep].
23
00:00:58,583 --> 00:01:01,082
It was sold as this
illusion of power.
24
00:01:01,083 --> 00:01:02,916
[Dennis] They're independent
contractors.
25
00:01:02,917 --> 00:01:03,999
They don't have to work
unless they want to.
26
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,292
But that's not
the reality.
27
00:01:06,583 --> 00:01:07,916
And you become
28
00:01:07,917 --> 00:01:10,500
constantly trying
to pay off your tab.
29
00:01:10,625 --> 00:01:12,957
I felt, I'm never gonna be
able to leave here
30
00:01:12,958 --> 00:01:15,666
because I can't
pay that debt off.
31
00:01:15,667 --> 00:01:16,874
Its debt bondage.
32
00:01:16,875 --> 00:01:18,582
This is brutal out here.
33
00:01:18,583 --> 00:01:21,333
Dennis owned all of us.
34
00:01:21,458 --> 00:01:23,582
If you don't do
exactly what they want,
35
00:01:23,583 --> 00:01:25,124
they become violent.
36
00:01:25,125 --> 00:01:27,957
Once you're there,
you're not allowed to leave.
37
00:01:27,958 --> 00:01:29,874
I was trapped.
38
00:01:29,875 --> 00:01:32,624
♪
39
00:01:32,625 --> 00:01:34,749
It was no longer safe.
40
00:01:34,750 --> 00:01:40,082
♪ [moody pop]
41
00:01:40,083 --> 00:01:43,250
♪ You put me under
the covers. ♪
42
00:01:43,458 --> 00:01:46,457
♪ For all the world
to see. ♪
43
00:01:46,458 --> 00:01:49,207
♪ But I never
recovered. ♪
44
00:01:49,208 --> 00:01:52,499
♪ You never
cared about me. ♪
45
00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:55,541
♪ So now you're
being uncovered. ♪
46
00:01:55,542 --> 00:01:58,916
♪ I kept all
the receipts. ♪
47
00:01:58,917 --> 00:02:01,832
♪ You and all
of the others. ♪
48
00:02:01,833 --> 00:02:04,542
♪ Under a fantasy. ♪
49
00:02:04,667 --> 00:02:09,542
♪
50
00:02:09,667 --> 00:02:12,832
♪
51
00:02:12,833 --> 00:02:15,500
[Crew] Interview
Dolly Hart.
52
00:02:15,625 --> 00:02:16,957
Around the time
that I caught
53
00:02:16,958 --> 00:02:18,457
a glimpse of Cathouse,
54
00:02:18,458 --> 00:02:21,583
I want to say I was
probably like 11, 12.
55
00:02:21,708 --> 00:02:24,500
Being something that
was on late at night
56
00:02:24,625 --> 00:02:27,832
that my parents didn't
really want me to watch.
57
00:02:27,833 --> 00:02:30,832
And as a kid, that only
makes you more intrigued.
58
00:02:30,833 --> 00:02:32,832
They would go to bed,
59
00:02:32,833 --> 00:02:35,499
and I would sneak
out of my room,
60
00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:36,957
go downstairs,
and I would watch it
61
00:02:36,958 --> 00:02:40,208
with the volume
turned down low.
62
00:02:40,333 --> 00:02:43,707
[Dolly] The girls looked
like they were having fun.
63
00:02:43,708 --> 00:02:46,333
I think what got me
the most is, like,
64
00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:48,624
the camaraderie
between the women.
65
00:02:48,625 --> 00:02:50,166
♪
66
00:02:50,167 --> 00:02:53,124
Just that,
seeing how...
67
00:02:53,125 --> 00:02:55,666
you can make
friends there.
68
00:02:55,667 --> 00:02:57,582
I'm over here thinking,
like, when I grow up,
69
00:02:57,583 --> 00:02:59,957
I'm gonna visit
the Bunny Ranch.
70
00:02:59,958 --> 00:03:03,207
[Alice] I just thought it was
like the coolest thing, like...
71
00:03:03,208 --> 00:03:06,499
damn, getting paid to
just be gorgeous, like...
72
00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:09,791
Yes,
that sounds amazing.
73
00:03:09,792 --> 00:03:11,957
So I decided I'm gonna
go to the Bunny Ranch.
74
00:03:11,958 --> 00:03:18,624
♪
75
00:03:18,625 --> 00:03:21,749
After the first season of
Cathouse had been on the air,
76
00:03:21,750 --> 00:03:23,916
young women wanted to...
77
00:03:23,917 --> 00:03:27,582
live in the glamor
image of it.
78
00:03:27,583 --> 00:03:30,207
And so, the show
began to attract
79
00:03:30,208 --> 00:03:35,082
younger women to
the Bunny Ranch.
80
00:03:35,083 --> 00:03:38,166
It kind of grew on me as
we were working there,
81
00:03:38,167 --> 00:03:40,749
that people were
being drawn in
82
00:03:40,750 --> 00:03:44,207
by the show itself.
83
00:03:44,208 --> 00:03:47,749
It became clear to me
that we were part of
84
00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:50,707
the recruiting system
for the Bunny Ranch.
85
00:03:50,708 --> 00:03:53,082
I, I, I did not
feel good about it.
86
00:03:53,083 --> 00:03:54,874
I did not feel
good about that.
87
00:03:54,875 --> 00:03:58,999
♪
88
00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,541
In the early 2000s,
89
00:04:00,542 --> 00:04:02,416
Cathouse the
television series,
90
00:04:02,417 --> 00:04:05,957
focuses on the prostitutes
at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch.
91
00:04:05,958 --> 00:04:08,750
It is a phenomenal success.
92
00:04:08,875 --> 00:04:13,042
It's seen by 2.6 million
people in its first airing.
93
00:04:13,167 --> 00:04:15,500
Dennis Hof is getting
free advertising,
94
00:04:15,667 --> 00:04:19,124
and HBO is also
getting a money-maker.
95
00:04:19,125 --> 00:04:22,249
Once mainstream
got a taste of us...
96
00:04:22,250 --> 00:04:25,957
oh, it was
just golden, right?
97
00:04:25,958 --> 00:04:27,207
They wanted more
because
98
00:04:27,208 --> 00:04:30,207
their ratings went
through the roof.
99
00:04:30,208 --> 00:04:33,041
It was like full blown
celebrity-ism.
100
00:04:33,042 --> 00:04:36,208
[indistinct chatter]
101
00:04:36,333 --> 00:04:37,999
I didn't think
that it would be
102
00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,832
all over the
place like it was.
103
00:04:40,833 --> 00:04:45,124
I had no idea, until I saw
the show dubbed in Spanish,
104
00:04:45,125 --> 00:04:46,749
and I realized,
wow,
105
00:04:46,750 --> 00:04:49,207
this, this is
actually a big deal.
106
00:04:49,208 --> 00:04:51,666
[Dennis] We've taken
my house, my Cathouse,
107
00:04:51,667 --> 00:04:54,583
into the homes of
people in 27 languages,
108
00:04:54,708 --> 00:04:56,957
in 49 countries, and you
know what they do?
109
00:04:56,958 --> 00:04:59,832
They look at it, and say,
"That ain't so bad."
110
00:04:59,833 --> 00:05:02,291
[News] Dennis Hof is a
multi-millionaire.
111
00:05:02,292 --> 00:05:03,957
[Dennis] I don't
recruit girls.
112
00:05:03,958 --> 00:05:05,375
They come to me.
113
00:05:05,542 --> 00:05:08,416
[News] The Bunny Ranch name
has become so successful,
114
00:05:08,417 --> 00:05:11,207
it's now a highly
watched series on HBO,
115
00:05:11,208 --> 00:05:13,832
appropriately called
"Cathouse."
116
00:05:13,833 --> 00:05:16,167
And the biggest
cat of all, Dennis Hof,
117
00:05:16,292 --> 00:05:17,999
says this is just the
beginning of
118
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,249
a budding bunny empire.
119
00:05:20,250 --> 00:05:23,541
The Bunny Ranch was
Dennis's first brothel.
120
00:05:23,542 --> 00:05:25,749
It was in a little
circular area,
121
00:05:25,750 --> 00:05:28,082
almost like a
little strip mall,
122
00:05:28,083 --> 00:05:31,375
and it was all brothels that
had different brothel owners.
123
00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:33,416
Dennis didn't like having
his competition
124
00:05:33,417 --> 00:05:35,332
right outside
his front door,
125
00:05:35,333 --> 00:05:38,207
so he started
buying them up.
126
00:05:38,208 --> 00:05:40,374
His whole focus was on
getting these girls
127
00:05:40,375 --> 00:05:44,542
to make him really insane
amounts of money.
128
00:05:44,750 --> 00:05:46,957
[Alice] He was like
the Monopoly Man
129
00:05:46,958 --> 00:05:48,291
of all the brothels.
130
00:05:48,292 --> 00:05:50,082
He would just buy them
off of people,
131
00:05:50,083 --> 00:05:51,125
and he'd buy one,
then the next,
132
00:05:51,375 --> 00:05:53,458
and the next,
and the next, and the next.
133
00:05:53,583 --> 00:05:55,500
[Dennis] In northern Nevada,
where the Bunny Ranch is,
134
00:05:55,708 --> 00:05:57,166
I have four places
up there.
135
00:05:57,167 --> 00:05:59,166
But you fly into Reno.
136
00:05:59,167 --> 00:06:01,166
I have three places in
Southern Nevada
137
00:06:01,167 --> 00:06:04,041
that are one hour
from the strip.
138
00:06:04,042 --> 00:06:05,750
He was very successful.
139
00:06:05,875 --> 00:06:08,791
He was making money left-
I mean, left and right.
140
00:06:08,792 --> 00:06:09,791
♪
141
00:06:09,792 --> 00:06:11,291
He just started
transforming them.
142
00:06:11,292 --> 00:06:13,207
He cleaned them up.
143
00:06:13,208 --> 00:06:14,417
[Amy] He was like
the remodel king.
144
00:06:14,542 --> 00:06:16,875
I mean,
"Pull that carpet out.
145
00:06:17,042 --> 00:06:18,291
Make this bigger."
146
00:06:18,292 --> 00:06:20,583
[Glen] He just completely
renovated everything,
147
00:06:20,875 --> 00:06:21,832
and turned them into
148
00:06:21,833 --> 00:06:25,291
multi-million-dollar
investments.
149
00:06:25,292 --> 00:06:27,124
[Alice] So there's this
constant need for
150
00:06:27,125 --> 00:06:29,249
new ladies to be
entering the industry.
151
00:06:29,250 --> 00:06:31,041
Not to mention that
there's a certain
152
00:06:31,042 --> 00:06:33,166
appeal to fresh faces.
153
00:06:33,167 --> 00:06:36,417
And Dennis loved
the new ladies.
154
00:06:36,542 --> 00:06:37,749
[Dennis] These are the girls
from the new season
155
00:06:37,750 --> 00:06:39,791
right here,
all these hot blondes.
156
00:06:39,792 --> 00:06:41,832
[Host] How do you
recruit the women?
157
00:06:41,833 --> 00:06:43,416
[Dennis] We don't
recruit the girls.
158
00:06:43,417 --> 00:06:46,207
Uh, we recruit the girls
by them watching
159
00:06:46,208 --> 00:06:48,708
our TV show on HBO.
160
00:06:48,833 --> 00:06:50,457
They'll hear me
on Howard Stern,
161
00:06:50,458 --> 00:06:53,249
or they'll see us
in magazines.
162
00:06:53,250 --> 00:06:55,957
That's how we do this.
163
00:06:55,958 --> 00:06:58,291
[Amy] People wanted
to be on the show.
164
00:06:58,292 --> 00:07:01,332
Oh my God,
people came from all over.
165
00:07:01,333 --> 00:07:03,457
If you look at
the mechanics of
166
00:07:03,458 --> 00:07:06,124
how it is that
they wind up there,
167
00:07:06,125 --> 00:07:07,332
it's because of
Cathouse.
168
00:07:07,333 --> 00:07:09,749
Women trust women so,
169
00:07:09,750 --> 00:07:12,707
when they see them
on HBO,
170
00:07:12,708 --> 00:07:15,750
and then apply
for a job there,
171
00:07:15,875 --> 00:07:20,875
it's part of the exploiter's
marketing toolbox
172
00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,957
to make sure that you
normalize an atrocity.
173
00:07:25,958 --> 00:07:29,124
[Racquel] Cathouse was
promoting a very
174
00:07:29,125 --> 00:07:31,457
enticing message
for the viewers
175
00:07:31,458 --> 00:07:33,541
that was really
nefarious.
176
00:07:33,542 --> 00:07:37,041
What it says to us, frankly,
is that it can't be that bad
177
00:07:37,042 --> 00:07:39,792
if so many people are
interested in doing it.
178
00:07:39,958 --> 00:07:41,000
[Dennis] These are
all applications. New York.
179
00:07:41,208 --> 00:07:43,667
Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
Clarksville, Tennessee.
180
00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:44,874
Miami, Florida.
181
00:07:44,875 --> 00:07:46,457
Some of the good ones
do slip through.
182
00:07:46,458 --> 00:07:49,541
That's why it is
good to be, ah, um...
183
00:07:49,542 --> 00:07:52,999
consistent and keep going
and keep emailing me.
184
00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:54,499
♪
185
00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:58,708
[Tom] Many more young women
from places like...
186
00:07:59,042 --> 00:08:00,874
Indiana and Ohio
187
00:08:00,875 --> 00:08:04,833
learned about the
Bunny Ranch and came.
188
00:08:04,958 --> 00:08:07,499
♪
189
00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:10,291
[Dolly] I just saw, like,
the velvet couch,
190
00:08:10,292 --> 00:08:11,832
the pink bunny house,
191
00:08:11,833 --> 00:08:13,874
and it was like,
this is so cute.
192
00:08:13,875 --> 00:08:17,374
As a girl, I was having
trouble making friends
193
00:08:17,375 --> 00:08:19,541
because I'm like,
this first-generation little
194
00:08:19,542 --> 00:08:24,332
Mexican girl getting
bullied left and right and,
195
00:08:24,333 --> 00:08:26,667
being labelled
the ugly duckling.
196
00:08:26,875 --> 00:08:29,875
I have extremely curly hair,
and so...
197
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,832
I guess I was very
racially ambiguous,
198
00:08:32,833 --> 00:08:34,417
so I was being
called the n-word.
199
00:08:34,542 --> 00:08:36,166
It was brutal.
200
00:08:36,167 --> 00:08:38,667
And, I didn't come from
a privileged background,
201
00:08:38,875 --> 00:08:41,207
so I was working
17-hour days,
202
00:08:41,208 --> 00:08:42,499
6 days a week.
203
00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:44,333
You're tired,
you're burnt out.
204
00:08:44,458 --> 00:08:46,249
And you see the girls
205
00:08:46,250 --> 00:08:49,249
making money on
the show, and...
206
00:08:49,250 --> 00:08:50,832
then you're like,
207
00:08:50,833 --> 00:08:54,083
"Let's go for it.
Let's do it."
208
00:08:55,667 --> 00:08:58,957
[Racquel] Cathouse really
packages prostitution
209
00:08:58,958 --> 00:09:01,542
in this neat, little,
cute package,
210
00:09:01,667 --> 00:09:04,999
and it makes it very
marketable to young women.
211
00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,957
The story really comes
together in the editing booth.
212
00:09:07,958 --> 00:09:11,166
Those are decisions
that are made by HBO.
213
00:09:11,167 --> 00:09:15,207
The design and music of the
opening credits of Cathouse
214
00:09:15,208 --> 00:09:17,999
feel like a sitcom.
215
00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:23,000
♪ [upbeat] ♪
216
00:09:23,167 --> 00:09:26,917
♪
217
00:09:27,042 --> 00:09:28,582
[Racquel] And when
we think of sitcoms,
218
00:09:28,583 --> 00:09:30,207
we automatically
think about something
219
00:09:30,208 --> 00:09:32,374
that is happy,
that is fun,
220
00:09:32,375 --> 00:09:34,124
that is light in tone.
221
00:09:34,125 --> 00:09:37,582
It predisposes young women
to like these characters,
222
00:09:37,583 --> 00:09:39,499
and I find myself rooting
for the people that
223
00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:42,166
I'm supposed to root for,
according to the show.
224
00:09:42,167 --> 00:09:43,499
And I,
I know better,
225
00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:46,375
and yet I still
feel that pull.
226
00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,999
Yeah, we did get a
number of girls who came
227
00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,541
after seeing the show,
like Brooke Taylor.
228
00:09:51,542 --> 00:09:53,291
[Racquel]
In episode one of
229
00:09:53,292 --> 00:09:55,207
the second season
of Cathouse,
230
00:09:55,208 --> 00:09:56,416
the young woman,
Brooke,
231
00:09:56,417 --> 00:09:57,542
we see her for
the first time,
232
00:09:57,667 --> 00:09:58,957
she has pigtails,
you know,
233
00:09:58,958 --> 00:10:00,500
she looks like
Cindy Lou Who.
234
00:10:00,625 --> 00:10:01,707
[Woman] A little nervous.
[laughing]
235
00:10:01,708 --> 00:10:02,833
[Brooke] Oh.
That's okay. Me too.
236
00:10:02,958 --> 00:10:04,375
[laughing]
We'll be nervous together.
237
00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:05,541
- So you're going too?
- Yes.
238
00:10:05,542 --> 00:10:06,624
Oh, God, all right.
239
00:10:06,625 --> 00:10:08,582
Great, great, great.
Well, hey!
240
00:10:08,583 --> 00:10:09,958
[Racquel] I find it
disturbing because
241
00:10:10,083 --> 00:10:13,499
it's making it cutesy
and infantilizing them.
242
00:10:13,500 --> 00:10:16,707
It's making it as if
they're little girls...
243
00:10:16,708 --> 00:10:20,416
as if these women are
not now about to go
244
00:10:20,417 --> 00:10:23,666
and do very, you know,
like adult work.
245
00:10:23,667 --> 00:10:26,499
♪ Here, pretty kitty.
Here, pretty kitty. ♪
246
00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:28,124
♪ Here... ♪
247
00:10:28,125 --> 00:10:30,124
♪ pretty kitty. ♪
248
00:10:30,125 --> 00:10:32,291
- Brooke?
- Yes, hi.
249
00:10:32,292 --> 00:10:33,583
It's nice to meet you.
250
00:10:33,917 --> 00:10:36,499
We would lean toward music
that could be kind of cheeky.
251
00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:40,207
You were going to be
a cat in the Cathouse.
252
00:10:40,208 --> 00:10:42,957
And that's the name of
the show, is Cathouse.
253
00:10:42,958 --> 00:10:45,958
So, here comes
Kitty, Kitty.
254
00:10:46,083 --> 00:10:49,583
But I didn't think of it as,
"come one, come all."
255
00:10:49,708 --> 00:10:51,666
There wasn't a
Snidely Whiplash, you know.
256
00:10:51,667 --> 00:10:54,374
"Here, Kitty Kitty,
you know, come to,
257
00:10:54,375 --> 00:10:57,457
come to destroy your life,"
or anything like that.
258
00:10:57,458 --> 00:11:00,332
It's, I guess, a testament
of my naivety.
259
00:11:00,333 --> 00:11:03,207
[Tom] This was the kind of
avalanche of girls
260
00:11:03,208 --> 00:11:07,999
who had found out by
seeing the first season.
261
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,457
- Can you see it?
- Oh, I do see it.
262
00:11:09,458 --> 00:11:10,875
Oh my God.
[laughing]
263
00:11:11,042 --> 00:11:12,707
[Jill] Oh my God,
I remember filming this.
264
00:11:12,708 --> 00:11:15,167
[Brooke] Bunny Ranch!
Let's do it.
265
00:11:23,625 --> 00:11:26,291
[Jill] Well, I...
266
00:11:26,292 --> 00:11:28,582
if a girl is of age...
267
00:11:28,583 --> 00:11:30,667
you know, I mean,
268
00:11:30,792 --> 00:11:32,041
we ended up getting,
you know,
269
00:11:32,042 --> 00:11:33,457
after the show
started airing,
270
00:11:33,458 --> 00:11:35,749
getting a lot of people
that came in,
271
00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:38,667
you know, some girls.
But yeah, I mean...
272
00:11:38,792 --> 00:11:41,624
I guess I never
thought of it that way.
273
00:11:41,625 --> 00:11:44,166
As a recruitment thing.
274
00:11:44,167 --> 00:11:47,374
[Dolly] Cathouse definitely
made it seem like it was...
275
00:11:47,375 --> 00:11:49,582
the Playboy Mansion with
276
00:11:49,583 --> 00:11:51,666
Bunny playmates
277
00:11:51,667 --> 00:11:54,582
jumping on each other,
tickle fighting.
278
00:11:54,583 --> 00:11:56,499
But it was
nothing like that.
279
00:11:56,500 --> 00:11:58,791
♪ [menacing]
280
00:11:58,792 --> 00:12:01,208
Not everything
you see on TV is a reality.
281
00:12:07,292 --> 00:12:08,375
I love your show on HBO.
I've been watching it.
282
00:12:08,625 --> 00:12:10,416
It's great, The Bunny Ranch.
[Dennis] Yeah.
283
00:12:10,417 --> 00:12:11,832
At the time
I was at HBO,
284
00:12:11,833 --> 00:12:14,416
HBO was really at the
top of their game.
285
00:12:14,417 --> 00:12:17,499
They were very, very popular.
Very, very successful.
286
00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:19,332
You had shows
like The Sopranos.
287
00:12:19,333 --> 00:12:22,166
And HBO always wanted
to be a little edgy,
288
00:12:22,167 --> 00:12:25,666
and so there were a
number of programs
289
00:12:25,667 --> 00:12:29,666
that were very edgy,
sexually. Sex sells.
290
00:12:29,667 --> 00:12:33,333
HBO were among the
first of television
291
00:12:33,500 --> 00:12:36,666
to really bank
on that notion.
292
00:12:36,667 --> 00:12:41,291
But Cathouse was
glamorizing the sex trade.
293
00:12:41,292 --> 00:12:43,917
It was glamorizing pimps.
294
00:12:44,042 --> 00:12:47,832
It was not looking at the
suffering of the women
295
00:12:47,833 --> 00:12:50,166
who are in
these brothels.
296
00:12:50,167 --> 00:12:53,457
So, after four years,
I left HBO.
297
00:12:53,458 --> 00:12:58,125
I went to this organization
called Equality Now.
298
00:12:58,250 --> 00:13:02,749
And when Cathouse
aired for the first time,
299
00:13:02,750 --> 00:13:05,332
we wondered at the time
300
00:13:05,333 --> 00:13:06,666
how we would deal with
301
00:13:06,667 --> 00:13:09,457
sexual exploitation
as entertainment.
302
00:13:09,458 --> 00:13:12,541
[Suzette] I try to make it
as nice as possible,
303
00:13:12,542 --> 00:13:14,500
so they don't really
want to leave.
304
00:13:14,625 --> 00:13:17,707
They want to stay here
and have fun.
305
00:13:17,708 --> 00:13:20,374
[Taina] There's
free-flowing alcohol
306
00:13:20,375 --> 00:13:21,750
and everybody's
laughing.
307
00:13:21,875 --> 00:13:23,457
There's a pool.
308
00:13:23,458 --> 00:13:26,832
I mean, it's a beautiful
marketing ploy to recruit...
309
00:13:26,833 --> 00:13:29,707
young, vulnerable women
to try it out.
310
00:13:29,708 --> 00:13:31,707
Dennis had
underage girls,
311
00:13:31,708 --> 00:13:33,332
who weren't
quite 18,
312
00:13:33,333 --> 00:13:35,624
sending him nude photos
and things like that.
313
00:13:35,625 --> 00:13:38,874
He loved the idea of
hiring a girl and
314
00:13:38,875 --> 00:13:41,832
having her start when
she was 18 years old.
315
00:13:41,833 --> 00:13:44,791
He loved young girls because
you can control them.
316
00:13:44,792 --> 00:13:46,582
It's all about control.
317
00:13:46,583 --> 00:13:48,000
♪
318
00:13:48,208 --> 00:13:50,874
He had people that worked
for him that would sit outside
319
00:13:50,875 --> 00:13:54,042
Dayton High School and
Carson High School.
320
00:13:54,250 --> 00:13:56,374
Tried to recruit
young women.
321
00:13:56,375 --> 00:13:58,500
There's a restaurant really
close to the Bunny Ranch.
322
00:13:58,625 --> 00:14:00,707
He would host
teen nights.
323
00:14:00,708 --> 00:14:02,457
He would talk to the girls.
324
00:14:02,458 --> 00:14:03,832
♪
325
00:14:03,833 --> 00:14:05,000
[Brenda] Like,
"You're so pretty.
326
00:14:05,333 --> 00:14:06,874
When you get older, I would
like to have you come
327
00:14:06,875 --> 00:14:09,292
and work for me."
328
00:14:09,417 --> 00:14:11,707
It was grooming,
absolutely, 100%.
329
00:14:11,708 --> 00:14:13,667
Grooming, manipulation.
330
00:14:13,792 --> 00:14:16,750
So, when I first
got onto the
331
00:14:16,875 --> 00:14:18,708
Bunny Ranch website,
332
00:14:18,833 --> 00:14:20,666
I was looking at
all the girls...
333
00:14:20,667 --> 00:14:22,832
and seeing who was there,
and of course,
334
00:14:22,833 --> 00:14:24,957
the famous ones
were there, um...
335
00:14:24,958 --> 00:14:28,624
And then I noticed
their sister brothels,
336
00:14:28,625 --> 00:14:30,666
and I was like,
well, okay, maybe...
337
00:14:30,667 --> 00:14:31,999
I should apply
to one of these.
338
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,332
I actually applied for
Kit Kat 'cause I'm like,
339
00:14:36,333 --> 00:14:38,583
the Bunny Ranch is
kind of intimidating.
340
00:14:38,708 --> 00:14:40,457
♪
341
00:14:40,458 --> 00:14:44,416
And on the day that I was
travelling towards Nevada
342
00:14:44,417 --> 00:14:48,832
and the brothels,
I was definitely nervous.
343
00:14:48,833 --> 00:14:51,749
But, more than anything, excited.
344
00:14:51,750 --> 00:14:53,791
But upon, like,
345
00:14:53,792 --> 00:14:56,832
arriving to the
actual location...
346
00:14:56,833 --> 00:15:00,125
at first I was like, wait
a minute, like, we're...
347
00:15:00,333 --> 00:15:01,916
out here in the
boonies, like...
348
00:15:01,917 --> 00:15:04,375
[laughs] you know,
it doesn't look like that
349
00:15:04,542 --> 00:15:06,125
on the show.
350
00:15:06,458 --> 00:15:08,332
♪
351
00:15:08,333 --> 00:15:09,707
When I arrived
at the Bunny Ranch,
352
00:15:09,708 --> 00:15:10,875
it was this little, like,
353
00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,957
almost
trailer-looking house.
354
00:15:12,958 --> 00:15:15,667
And I got there while they
were filming Cathouse.
355
00:15:15,792 --> 00:15:17,041
♪
356
00:15:17,042 --> 00:15:19,333
It was really eerie.
357
00:15:19,458 --> 00:15:22,332
There was all these young
girls there, and I remember...
358
00:15:22,333 --> 00:15:24,332
when they were filming
some scene, it was like,
359
00:15:24,333 --> 00:15:26,499
I remember hearing
the loud footsteps
360
00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:28,457
as they were kind of
running through the halls
361
00:15:28,458 --> 00:15:30,082
playfully with the cameras
362
00:15:30,083 --> 00:15:32,832
and trying to make it out
like it was this playful time.
363
00:15:32,833 --> 00:15:35,082
♪
364
00:15:35,083 --> 00:15:38,832
And I had already been a
prostitute for about
365
00:15:38,833 --> 00:15:41,791
five years when I arrived
at the Bunny Ranch.
366
00:15:41,792 --> 00:15:43,208
So, I knew
that these kids
367
00:15:43,417 --> 00:15:45,707
had no idea
what it's really like.
368
00:15:45,708 --> 00:15:48,666
They had no clue what
prostitution takes out of you.
369
00:15:48,667 --> 00:15:50,124
♪
370
00:15:50,125 --> 00:15:52,749
Your dignity, your worth
as a human being,
371
00:15:52,750 --> 00:15:55,292
your treatment in society.
372
00:15:55,542 --> 00:15:57,542
It is not like Cathouse.
373
00:15:57,708 --> 00:15:59,707
♪
374
00:15:59,708 --> 00:16:03,041
[Dolly] The first time
I met Dennis,
375
00:16:03,042 --> 00:16:05,666
I was like, "Holy [beep],
this really is Dennis."
376
00:16:05,667 --> 00:16:08,124
From, like,
I seen this man on TV.
377
00:16:08,125 --> 00:16:11,166
He welcomes the new
group of the week,
378
00:16:11,167 --> 00:16:14,333
and that's where he does
the rundown of how,
379
00:16:14,458 --> 00:16:17,999
like, money splitting
works, and...
380
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,832
to follow the Bunny Bible,
and don't be disrespectful.
381
00:16:21,833 --> 00:16:24,333
The house rules definitely
made sense to me.
382
00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:26,708
[Bekah] Yeah, I remember
the Bunny Bible.
383
00:16:26,833 --> 00:16:29,042
I remember learning
all these rules.
384
00:16:29,167 --> 00:16:32,416
They definitely try to just
legitimize prostitution and
385
00:16:32,417 --> 00:16:35,917
the brothels, that this is
a normal employee workplace,
386
00:16:36,042 --> 00:16:38,541
like this is HR.
387
00:16:38,542 --> 00:16:40,832
[Amy] The Bunny Bible
was all the rules.
388
00:16:40,833 --> 00:16:42,707
There's always
a lot of rules.
389
00:16:42,708 --> 00:16:44,999
[Alice] Condoms
are required.
390
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,499
[Shelly] There was
no drugs allowed.
391
00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:51,499
[Amy] You could choose
who you slept with.
392
00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:54,791
Don't do anything
sexual in the parlor.
393
00:16:54,792 --> 00:16:56,791
♪
394
00:16:56,792 --> 00:16:58,417
But the rules didn't
apply to Dennis.
395
00:16:58,583 --> 00:17:00,582
[Dennis] Come on,
girls, light it up.
396
00:17:00,583 --> 00:17:03,041
[Bekah] These rules are
from the perspective of,
397
00:17:03,042 --> 00:17:05,207
this is to keep you safe.
398
00:17:05,208 --> 00:17:08,666
But it felt like just a way
to control all the women.
399
00:17:08,667 --> 00:17:11,041
[Dennis] I'm a businessman
that supplies a place
400
00:17:11,042 --> 00:17:13,292
and an opportunity for
ladies to work,
401
00:17:13,458 --> 00:17:15,124
and we share
the proceeds.
402
00:17:15,125 --> 00:17:18,500
The last thing I am
is, is, is a pimp.
403
00:17:18,625 --> 00:17:21,124
♪
404
00:17:21,125 --> 00:17:24,207
[Bekah] I remember standing
at my first line up.
405
00:17:24,208 --> 00:17:26,542
It was so, so weird.
You know,
406
00:17:26,667 --> 00:17:29,207
the bell rings and you know
that a customer has shown up,
407
00:17:29,208 --> 00:17:31,582
and everybody has to
hurry up and get there
408
00:17:31,583 --> 00:17:35,249
for the lineup so he can
look at each person.
409
00:17:35,250 --> 00:17:38,207
And it was always like a
nerve-wracking experience,
410
00:17:38,208 --> 00:17:40,957
because you're standing
there in a lineup of just
411
00:17:40,958 --> 00:17:43,166
the most beautiful women
on the face of the planet,
412
00:17:43,167 --> 00:17:46,916
AND I am 4'8" and
I have colleagues
413
00:17:46,917 --> 00:17:48,875
that are like 6'2"
and I'm like,
414
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,000
head level with
their boobs.
415
00:17:51,125 --> 00:17:52,791
[Dolly] My first lineup,
416
00:17:52,792 --> 00:17:53,833
of course,
I was nervous.
417
00:17:54,208 --> 00:17:56,000
I had no idea, like, would
I even be good at this?
418
00:17:56,125 --> 00:17:59,667
Dennis always said that
sex work empowered women.
419
00:17:59,792 --> 00:18:01,791
The power's in
the negotiation.
420
00:18:01,792 --> 00:18:03,791
♪
421
00:18:03,792 --> 00:18:06,457
[Diana]
You are merchandise.
422
00:18:06,458 --> 00:18:09,707
You negotiate prices
based on...
423
00:18:09,708 --> 00:18:14,124
if I knock my price down $50
and he thinks I'm pretty,
424
00:18:14,125 --> 00:18:16,749
maybe he'll go with me
instead of her.
425
00:18:16,750 --> 00:18:18,875
[Dolly]
The first time...
426
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,207
that I ever did the
427
00:18:21,208 --> 00:18:23,666
full-service sex work, um,
428
00:18:23,667 --> 00:18:26,041
I thought, what if this dude
starts off good,
429
00:18:26,042 --> 00:18:27,999
but then halfway through
switches up?
430
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,832
Like, what if he attacks?
Men are scary.
431
00:18:30,833 --> 00:18:32,916
It was like, oh,
this job is gonna be
432
00:18:32,917 --> 00:18:35,875
a little harder than
I thought.
433
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,957
♪
434
00:18:38,958 --> 00:18:40,707
I learned
very quickly,
435
00:18:40,708 --> 00:18:42,249
in this line of work,
436
00:18:42,250 --> 00:18:44,874
they really don't give a
[beep] what you look like
437
00:18:44,875 --> 00:18:46,999
as long as you're
blonde and white.
438
00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,667
So, that was very
disheartening,
439
00:18:49,792 --> 00:18:51,667
and it was very difficult
440
00:18:51,792 --> 00:18:54,124
for me to make
money at first.
441
00:18:54,125 --> 00:18:57,166
[Taina] What Cathouse
doesn't say is that
442
00:18:57,167 --> 00:19:00,957
it's much easier to get in
than it is to get out.
443
00:19:00,958 --> 00:19:02,750
It's very, very
hard to get out.
444
00:19:07,333 --> 00:19:11,332
Prostitution is not a
common job like any other.
445
00:19:11,333 --> 00:19:15,166
Having some hot, sweaty dude
hunching over you
446
00:19:15,167 --> 00:19:17,042
and trying to get
whatever rape fantasy
447
00:19:17,167 --> 00:19:20,082
he has in his mind played
out by choking you,
448
00:19:20,083 --> 00:19:22,999
or whatever position
that his wife won't do.
449
00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,999
This is access
to your body...
450
00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,166
to your soul.
451
00:19:28,167 --> 00:19:31,291
There's no work that,
that takes out of you
452
00:19:31,292 --> 00:19:33,791
what prostitution
takes out of you.
453
00:19:33,792 --> 00:19:37,333
♪ [suspenseful]
454
00:19:37,458 --> 00:19:40,332
♪
455
00:19:40,333 --> 00:19:42,666
Look...
456
00:19:42,667 --> 00:19:46,875
Dennis' world was buying
and selling people.
457
00:19:47,042 --> 00:19:48,833
♪
458
00:19:48,958 --> 00:19:50,833
[Bekah] Dennis traded
human bodies
459
00:19:50,958 --> 00:19:53,207
just like he would
have a used car.
460
00:19:53,208 --> 00:19:56,166
You are a product that
is to be bought and used,
461
00:19:56,167 --> 00:19:58,249
and then discarded.
462
00:19:58,250 --> 00:20:01,291
And women are
just commodities.
463
00:20:01,292 --> 00:20:02,916
[Dennis] People are working,
developing new product
464
00:20:02,917 --> 00:20:05,208
for me right now in the back
seat of a car somewhere,
465
00:20:05,333 --> 00:20:06,500
because 18 years
from now
466
00:20:06,625 --> 00:20:09,207
they'll be coming
to work for me.
467
00:20:09,208 --> 00:20:10,666
[Racquel] Dennis Hof took
468
00:20:10,667 --> 00:20:14,291
whatever rules he used in
his timeshare practice
469
00:20:14,292 --> 00:20:16,999
to prostitution in Cathouse.
470
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,124
You see every single one
of these rules in practice.
471
00:20:20,125 --> 00:20:21,625
[Dennis] It's the
customer's job
472
00:20:21,875 --> 00:20:24,332
to get you to
do this free...
473
00:20:24,333 --> 00:20:26,375
or for very small money.
474
00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:28,958
It's your job to take
their house,
475
00:20:29,083 --> 00:20:31,875
and their car,
and their 401K plan.
476
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:33,332
Now, somewhere in
the middle,
477
00:20:33,333 --> 00:20:35,375
you got a happy buyer
and a happy seller.
478
00:20:35,542 --> 00:20:37,667
♪
479
00:20:37,792 --> 00:20:39,374
[Racquel] It's really
important to note that
480
00:20:39,375 --> 00:20:41,542
when Dennis is giving
the women advice on
481
00:20:41,708 --> 00:20:43,082
how to negotiate
higher rates,
482
00:20:43,083 --> 00:20:45,332
that it also is
self-serving because...
483
00:20:45,333 --> 00:20:47,417
the brothel has
a 50/50 split,
484
00:20:47,542 --> 00:20:49,333
meaning that the
house gets 50%,
485
00:20:49,458 --> 00:20:51,124
and the women
get 50%.
486
00:20:51,125 --> 00:20:53,166
But the women don't
even take home 50%
487
00:20:53,167 --> 00:20:55,124
because they also have
to pay for supplies.
488
00:20:55,125 --> 00:20:57,208
♪
489
00:20:57,333 --> 00:20:59,625
[Dolly] Dennis does the
rundown of how we split it.
490
00:20:59,875 --> 00:21:01,249
He was doing the 50/50.
491
00:21:01,250 --> 00:21:02,832
And I was like,
okay, that's fine.
492
00:21:02,833 --> 00:21:06,332
And then he said, "Oh,
well, that includes tips."
493
00:21:06,333 --> 00:21:08,499
And I'm like...
That's horse [beep].
494
00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:11,416
And then, he's like,
"That includes gifts."
495
00:21:11,417 --> 00:21:14,749
So, he had a girl
split a car
496
00:21:14,750 --> 00:21:16,791
that one of her clients
gave her...
497
00:21:16,792 --> 00:21:20,666
made her, like, pay out
the other half of the car.
498
00:21:20,667 --> 00:21:23,207
And I'm over here like,
why did you tell him?
499
00:21:23,208 --> 00:21:25,750
[laughing]
Why did you tell him?
500
00:21:25,875 --> 00:21:27,416
♪
501
00:21:27,417 --> 00:21:29,250
[DeAnne] They booked
$1,000 maybe...
502
00:21:29,375 --> 00:21:30,458
on a good day.
503
00:21:30,750 --> 00:21:34,332
When they got paid out,
the brothel took their 500.
504
00:21:34,333 --> 00:21:37,208
Now from the girl's 500,
they're given a card
505
00:21:37,333 --> 00:21:39,374
that shows all the money
that was deducted.
506
00:21:39,375 --> 00:21:41,374
[Bekah] They don't explain
that your room and board
507
00:21:41,375 --> 00:21:45,416
is gonna be coming out of
your 50% of the money.
508
00:21:45,417 --> 00:21:48,042
[DeAnne] $45 a day,
seven days a week.
509
00:21:48,167 --> 00:21:50,207
♪
510
00:21:50,208 --> 00:21:51,832
[Bekah] So is
all your supplies.
511
00:21:51,833 --> 00:21:53,124
♪
512
00:21:53,125 --> 00:21:54,833
We had to buy
our clothing.
513
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,916
We had to buy
the condoms.
514
00:21:56,917 --> 00:21:58,124
♪
515
00:21:58,125 --> 00:22:00,249
[Diana] Get our hair and
our makeup done.
516
00:22:00,250 --> 00:22:01,250
[Shelly] We had
to buy the lube.
517
00:22:01,375 --> 00:22:02,916
We had to buy
the sex toys.
518
00:22:02,917 --> 00:22:04,917
♪
519
00:22:05,042 --> 00:22:06,875
[Alice] Pay the
photographer.
520
00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:07,957
♪
521
00:22:07,958 --> 00:22:09,833
$80 for the sheriff card.
522
00:22:09,958 --> 00:22:12,166
[DeAnne] You have to pay if
you want to do your laundry,
523
00:22:12,167 --> 00:22:14,166
you need to tip
the housekeeper.
524
00:22:14,167 --> 00:22:15,917
You need to tip the staff.
525
00:22:16,042 --> 00:22:18,000
The cashier expects a tip.
526
00:22:18,125 --> 00:22:19,250
♪
527
00:22:19,375 --> 00:22:22,417
Everybody's got
their hands in that money.
528
00:22:22,542 --> 00:22:25,374
[Bekah] They take as
much money as possible.
529
00:22:25,375 --> 00:22:28,417
Your little 50% just
basically dwindles down.
530
00:22:28,542 --> 00:22:30,791
♪
531
00:22:30,792 --> 00:22:32,291
[DeAnne] And that
was the norm.
532
00:22:32,292 --> 00:22:33,833
And you would
sit there at the cashier
533
00:22:34,042 --> 00:22:35,207
when the
money came in,
534
00:22:35,208 --> 00:22:37,416
and you would hear
over and over again,
535
00:22:37,417 --> 00:22:39,499
"Is that all I've got?"
536
00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:41,332
[Diana] You could go
days without
537
00:22:41,333 --> 00:22:43,957
having a client.
538
00:22:43,958 --> 00:22:47,957
But the tab grew,
and it grew, and it grew,
539
00:22:47,958 --> 00:22:49,708
and you become...
540
00:22:49,875 --> 00:22:52,374
constantly trying
to pay off your tab.
541
00:22:52,375 --> 00:22:54,499
That's why it was
called debt bondage.
542
00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:58,000
♪
543
00:22:58,167 --> 00:23:00,124
[Bekah] There are
many girls there
544
00:23:00,125 --> 00:23:01,958
that are falling in debt.
545
00:23:02,083 --> 00:23:04,332
And that's a position you
don't ever want to be in
546
00:23:04,333 --> 00:23:05,999
at the brothel.
547
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,624
♪
548
00:23:07,625 --> 00:23:10,374
That means that whenever
a customer finally does
549
00:23:10,375 --> 00:23:12,666
pick them, they have to
do whatever he wants,
550
00:23:12,667 --> 00:23:15,000
no matter if they
want to or not.
551
00:23:15,125 --> 00:23:18,583
♪
552
00:23:18,708 --> 00:23:21,457
The brothel is designed
to make money for
553
00:23:21,458 --> 00:23:24,000
the pimp, for the house.
554
00:23:24,125 --> 00:23:26,957
It's not at all in favor of
555
00:23:26,958 --> 00:23:29,207
the women that work there.
556
00:23:29,208 --> 00:23:32,832
And the brothel
owner always wins.
557
00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:35,291
[DeAnne] I saw women
come into the brothel
558
00:23:35,292 --> 00:23:37,124
and they had a certain
set of boundaries.
559
00:23:37,125 --> 00:23:41,208
For instance, they didn't do
certain types of sex acts.
560
00:23:41,333 --> 00:23:43,083
But as they became more
and more desperate
561
00:23:43,208 --> 00:23:44,457
and they needed money,
562
00:23:44,458 --> 00:23:47,416
their personal
boundaries changed.
563
00:23:47,417 --> 00:23:48,916
Suddenly they were
doing things
564
00:23:48,917 --> 00:23:51,374
that they didn't
feel right about.
565
00:23:51,375 --> 00:23:55,707
They lost themselves.
566
00:23:55,708 --> 00:23:58,457
When you're desperate,
you don't have a choice.
567
00:23:58,458 --> 00:24:01,124
You're gonna do what
you can to survive.
568
00:24:01,125 --> 00:24:03,332
♪
569
00:24:03,333 --> 00:24:05,500
And that's not
empowerment at all.
570
00:24:09,625 --> 00:24:10,625
♪
571
00:24:10,958 --> 00:24:14,082
I learned very quickly that
it wasn't like the show...
572
00:24:14,083 --> 00:24:16,374
that a lot of the men that
would come through there
573
00:24:16,375 --> 00:24:18,499
were very racist.
574
00:24:18,500 --> 00:24:19,999
And I was like, oh, no,
575
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,541
I should totally be
making more money,
576
00:24:21,542 --> 00:24:23,457
but I know
why I'm not.
577
00:24:23,458 --> 00:24:24,957
It made me angry.
And then,
578
00:24:24,958 --> 00:24:27,332
I just started
talking [beep] to the men,
579
00:24:27,333 --> 00:24:29,375
and they'd be like,
"Alright! Sold!"
580
00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:32,416
It was weird. I had to be
mean to get bookings.
581
00:24:32,417 --> 00:24:34,416
The meaner I was to them,
582
00:24:34,417 --> 00:24:36,417
the more they booked.
583
00:24:36,542 --> 00:24:38,499
Because it's like
they wanted to see...
584
00:24:38,500 --> 00:24:42,042
a brown girl get
riled up or something.
585
00:24:42,167 --> 00:24:44,541
It just sucked again that
I had to work harder
586
00:24:44,542 --> 00:24:46,582
than I should have.
And meanwhile,
587
00:24:46,583 --> 00:24:48,374
you could see the
white women walk out
588
00:24:48,375 --> 00:24:50,999
with just their PJs
and get picked.
589
00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,749
The reality isn't
the same as the show.
590
00:24:54,750 --> 00:24:56,582
[chanting] HBO,
the network pimp.
591
00:24:56,583 --> 00:24:59,167
HBO,
you've hit a new low!
592
00:24:59,292 --> 00:25:01,500
Cathouse has got to go!
593
00:25:01,625 --> 00:25:04,541
[Taina] So, when Cathouse
first was being aired,
594
00:25:04,542 --> 00:25:08,000
we decided to protest HBO.
595
00:25:08,208 --> 00:25:10,332
HBO,
the network pimp!
596
00:25:10,333 --> 00:25:12,291
[Taina] The protest
was in front of
597
00:25:12,292 --> 00:25:14,832
HBO headquarters
in Manhattan.
598
00:25:14,833 --> 00:25:16,791
[Taina at protest]
It is absolutely critical
599
00:25:16,792 --> 00:25:19,666
that HBO take a
very close look
600
00:25:19,667 --> 00:25:22,416
at the types
of programs they...
601
00:25:22,417 --> 00:25:24,332
put on the air
that actually degrades
602
00:25:24,333 --> 00:25:26,707
and objectifies
women and girls.
603
00:25:26,708 --> 00:25:29,250
I just remember people
walking by like
604
00:25:29,375 --> 00:25:31,542
they didn't quite
understand, like,
605
00:25:31,667 --> 00:25:34,457
why we were protesting,
or what, what,
606
00:25:34,458 --> 00:25:37,707
sort of, what the problem
was with Cathouse.
607
00:25:37,708 --> 00:25:39,624
Like, what are
they talking about?
608
00:25:39,625 --> 00:25:43,707
So, it was the only way to
raise awareness about abuse
609
00:25:43,708 --> 00:25:46,624
and what the impact of
mainstreaming violence
610
00:25:46,625 --> 00:25:50,417
does to human beings,
especially women and girls.
611
00:25:50,542 --> 00:25:53,374
The show was mainly
produced by women,
612
00:25:53,375 --> 00:25:56,333
that is, Sheila Nevins
was at the top and,
613
00:25:56,458 --> 00:25:59,292
and everybody under Sheila
on the HBO side
614
00:25:59,417 --> 00:26:01,832
were all women.
And Patti Kaplan,
615
00:26:01,833 --> 00:26:03,457
who was the...
616
00:26:03,458 --> 00:26:05,624
director-producer
of the show.
617
00:26:05,625 --> 00:26:07,749
[Host] The New York Post
gave you a bad review.
618
00:26:07,750 --> 00:26:10,416
They said, "This is a bad
infomercial for hookers."
619
00:26:10,417 --> 00:26:11,874
They say it's not
journalistic,
620
00:26:11,875 --> 00:26:12,792
it's trite,
it's phoney.
621
00:26:13,042 --> 00:26:15,582
Maybe even more damning,
they say it's boring.
622
00:26:15,583 --> 00:26:17,708
Were you trying to do
sort of a journalistic-
623
00:26:17,833 --> 00:26:20,000
[Patti] It's so,
so not boring.
624
00:26:20,208 --> 00:26:22,333
[Host] Right there we see a
business transaction.
625
00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:23,374
I mean, the guy looks like
he's ordering
626
00:26:23,375 --> 00:26:24,541
off the menu
at McDonald's.
627
00:26:24,542 --> 00:26:25,499
[Patti] It's something
nobody's seen.
628
00:26:25,500 --> 00:26:26,625
Nobody's seen.
629
00:26:26,875 --> 00:26:29,333
And only HBO can do
this kind of a program.
630
00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:33,208
[Protester] Why is
Sheila Nevins of HBO...
631
00:26:33,375 --> 00:26:35,166
leading this culture
632
00:26:35,167 --> 00:26:38,083
in her network?
633
00:26:38,208 --> 00:26:42,499
Can someone please call
Sheila Nevins down here now?
634
00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:45,791
Sheila! Can you
hear me, Sheila?
635
00:26:45,792 --> 00:26:47,500
Can you come
down here?
636
00:26:47,625 --> 00:26:49,666
There's a few people
that want to talk to you.
637
00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:52,167
We want to know why...
638
00:26:52,375 --> 00:26:54,167
you think this is the way
639
00:26:54,375 --> 00:26:56,667
to build a
successful network.
640
00:26:56,792 --> 00:26:59,874
[Taina] The people who make
money from the sex trade,
641
00:26:59,875 --> 00:27:02,166
they are unbelievable
marketers.
642
00:27:02,167 --> 00:27:04,624
They wanted prostitution
to be mainstreamed.
643
00:27:04,625 --> 00:27:07,332
They want it to be normalized.
644
00:27:07,333 --> 00:27:09,666
And Mr. Pimp Dennis Hof,
645
00:27:09,667 --> 00:27:13,666
the ultimate marketer,
tried to do that.
646
00:27:13,667 --> 00:27:15,666
[Dennis] Hello. Thank you
for having me here
647
00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:17,832
at the world's
oldest university
648
00:27:17,833 --> 00:27:20,292
to discuss the
world's oldest profession.
649
00:27:20,417 --> 00:27:21,707
Prostitution.
650
00:27:21,708 --> 00:27:23,791
[Taina]
"It's the oldest profession"?
651
00:27:23,792 --> 00:27:25,750
That's a slogan.
It means nothing.
652
00:27:25,875 --> 00:27:28,666
It's the oldest
form of oppression.
653
00:27:28,667 --> 00:27:29,666
[Dennis] You know what
the exploitation is?
654
00:27:29,667 --> 00:27:31,666
The exploitation
is on us men,
655
00:27:31,667 --> 00:27:35,167
who don't get enough
variety, quality,
656
00:27:35,375 --> 00:27:36,707
or type of sex
that we want.
657
00:27:36,708 --> 00:27:38,708
[laughing and applauding]
658
00:27:38,833 --> 00:27:41,874
That's exploitation!
659
00:27:41,875 --> 00:27:47,541
♪
660
00:27:47,542 --> 00:27:48,750
[Bekah] I was a
high school dropout.
661
00:27:48,875 --> 00:27:50,874
And, I mean,
I was homeless.
662
00:27:50,875 --> 00:27:54,624
And so I was forced into
prostitution at 17 years old.
663
00:27:54,625 --> 00:27:57,167
My pimp had forced me to
get a fake identification
664
00:27:57,333 --> 00:27:59,707
that showed me as older.
665
00:27:59,708 --> 00:28:01,707
The reason I went to
the Bunny Ranch
666
00:28:01,708 --> 00:28:03,916
was because I had
another pimp.
667
00:28:03,917 --> 00:28:06,582
I was forced to go work
at the Bunny Ranch
668
00:28:06,583 --> 00:28:08,333
because my pimp
would send us there,
669
00:28:08,458 --> 00:28:09,582
if we were getting
arrested too much
670
00:28:09,583 --> 00:28:10,749
in Las Vegas and our
face was getting
671
00:28:10,750 --> 00:28:12,624
too known by the vice.
672
00:28:12,625 --> 00:28:15,499
I was being pimped out
by one man to be
673
00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,416
pimped out by another man,
Dennis Hof.
674
00:28:19,417 --> 00:28:20,667
I had
firsthand knowledge of
675
00:28:20,792 --> 00:28:22,916
Dennis and Suzette
working with pimps
676
00:28:22,917 --> 00:28:25,291
who supplied them
with women.
677
00:28:25,292 --> 00:28:27,874
If a pimp has a reputation
of having very well-trained
678
00:28:27,875 --> 00:28:31,208
women who aren't a problem,
they're probably the best
679
00:28:31,333 --> 00:28:33,583
working girls, are some
of the ones with pimps.
680
00:28:33,708 --> 00:28:35,417
They're terrified,
they're controlled.
681
00:28:35,542 --> 00:28:36,832
They've been trained.
682
00:28:36,833 --> 00:28:38,582
They've been
indoctrinated.
683
00:28:38,583 --> 00:28:41,375
That's a lot less work
for the brothel.
684
00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:43,916
[Bekah] Suzette and
Dennis both knew
685
00:28:43,917 --> 00:28:45,707
all the girls that were
being trafficked
686
00:28:45,708 --> 00:28:48,500
that had pimps
outside of the brothel.
687
00:28:48,625 --> 00:28:50,250
You know the girls that
are getting beaten?
688
00:28:50,417 --> 00:28:53,707
I mean, the branding that
we would have, you know,
689
00:28:53,708 --> 00:28:56,624
we would have the
same matching tattoos.
690
00:28:56,625 --> 00:28:58,874
It was my pimp,
his initials.
691
00:28:58,875 --> 00:29:00,583
That's where all of
our brands were,
692
00:29:00,708 --> 00:29:01,999
was on the
back of our neck.
693
00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,041
So I wound up covering
that with a big tree.
694
00:29:05,042 --> 00:29:07,916
They didn't care about
my situation at all.
695
00:29:07,917 --> 00:29:10,624
All they cared about was,
was I performing?
696
00:29:10,625 --> 00:29:12,832
I never felt like there
was somebody that
697
00:29:12,833 --> 00:29:14,999
I could have
said anything to.
698
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,333
It just felt like
no one cared.
699
00:29:17,458 --> 00:29:20,749
[Dolly] Management did not
care if you were being
700
00:29:20,750 --> 00:29:24,624
called some type
of slur, but if...
701
00:29:24,625 --> 00:29:27,999
one of the black
or brown girls...
702
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:30,291
said anything to hurt one
of the little white girl's
703
00:29:30,292 --> 00:29:32,916
feelings, like, we were
seen as the aggressor,
704
00:29:32,917 --> 00:29:35,624
and we would immediately
get us a talking to
705
00:29:35,625 --> 00:29:37,874
in the office.
706
00:29:37,875 --> 00:29:39,666
That's where
it was like...
707
00:29:39,667 --> 00:29:41,750
this is brutal
out here.
708
00:29:42,875 --> 00:29:44,832
[Dennis]
Our system is flawless.
709
00:29:44,833 --> 00:29:46,833
We just don't have
any problems.
710
00:29:46,958 --> 00:29:49,707
And that's why we don't have
any underage girls in here.
711
00:29:49,708 --> 00:29:51,874
[Bekah] The brothels
try to say like, oh, well,
712
00:29:51,875 --> 00:29:53,916
there's no trafficking that
takes place in brothels.
713
00:29:53,917 --> 00:29:57,874
That is simply not true.
714
00:29:57,875 --> 00:30:00,082
When I had to go to the local
sheriff's office to get
715
00:30:00,083 --> 00:30:03,000
your local sheriff's card to
work at the Bunny Ranch,
716
00:30:03,125 --> 00:30:06,499
I had my fake social security
number, my fake address,
717
00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:08,666
my fake birthday,
my fake name.
718
00:30:08,667 --> 00:30:11,166
And here I was in this
state licensing agency
719
00:30:11,167 --> 00:30:14,707
getting a work card to go
work for this legal pimp.
720
00:30:14,708 --> 00:30:17,707
The whole system just
encouraged itself.
721
00:30:17,708 --> 00:30:20,041
♪
722
00:30:20,042 --> 00:30:22,957
I was constantly checking in
with my pimp over the phone,
723
00:30:22,958 --> 00:30:25,791
via text message,
letting him know, kind of,
724
00:30:25,792 --> 00:30:27,791
how much money I had.
725
00:30:27,792 --> 00:30:29,708
And he would tell me
I needed to go put
726
00:30:29,833 --> 00:30:32,832
X amount of money
in the bank.
727
00:30:32,833 --> 00:30:35,000
It felt like I was kind of
free for a moment.
728
00:30:35,167 --> 00:30:38,542
♪
729
00:30:38,667 --> 00:30:41,417
♪
730
00:30:41,542 --> 00:30:44,082
I almost felt like I was back
to being normal, in a way,
731
00:30:44,083 --> 00:30:46,500
that I was able to
drive my own car
732
00:30:46,667 --> 00:30:48,500
and go and do something.
733
00:30:48,708 --> 00:30:50,666
♪
734
00:30:50,667 --> 00:30:52,791
But then, I had
to go right back.
735
00:30:52,792 --> 00:30:54,999
I had to turn around and
736
00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,999
go right back in
through the gates.
737
00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,000
And that is the
moment I realized
738
00:31:00,125 --> 00:31:01,916
that while I was
at the Bunny Ranch,
739
00:31:01,917 --> 00:31:04,292
I gave Dennis Hof
50% of the money,
740
00:31:04,458 --> 00:31:07,458
and I gave my other pimp
50% of the money.
741
00:31:07,583 --> 00:31:11,958
I was literally having sex
with strangers for nothing.
742
00:31:19,167 --> 00:31:22,082
Dennis was notorious
for just partying,
743
00:31:22,083 --> 00:31:24,082
which meant have sex with
whoever he wanted
744
00:31:24,083 --> 00:31:26,916
and not giving them
any money.
745
00:31:26,917 --> 00:31:28,749
My pimp told me that
746
00:31:28,750 --> 00:31:30,374
if he ever tried to
party with me,
747
00:31:30,375 --> 00:31:33,666
to just stay as far away
from him as I could,
748
00:31:33,667 --> 00:31:35,749
because of course,
he wasn't gonna let me
749
00:31:35,750 --> 00:31:37,791
free [beep] someone, right?
750
00:31:37,792 --> 00:31:40,666
So I knew anytime Dennis
was around in the parlor
751
00:31:40,667 --> 00:31:44,124
or wherever, I would try to
kind of stay away from him.
752
00:31:44,125 --> 00:31:47,166
[Dolly] I'm sure Dennis is
very capable of assault
753
00:31:47,167 --> 00:31:50,832
'cause he is a man
who's rarely told no.
754
00:31:50,833 --> 00:31:54,166
He definitely is a predator.
755
00:31:54,167 --> 00:31:57,625
He just knew
who he could, like,
756
00:31:57,750 --> 00:32:00,166
coerce and who
he can manipulate.
757
00:32:00,167 --> 00:32:01,958
He could be a real
piece of [beep]
758
00:32:04,708 --> 00:32:06,166
[Dolly] Oh, yeah, absolutely.
759
00:32:06,167 --> 00:32:09,333
The last one was at
his birthday party.
760
00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:11,000
He expected me to have
like a threesome
761
00:32:11,125 --> 00:32:12,999
with him
and this other girl.
762
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,124
I went to go say happy
birthday, and he's like,
763
00:32:15,125 --> 00:32:17,124
"Hey, would you be down
for a threesome?"
764
00:32:17,125 --> 00:32:18,667
And I was like,
"Am I getting paid?"
765
00:32:18,792 --> 00:32:21,082
And he's like,
"No, it's my birthday."
766
00:32:21,083 --> 00:32:23,916
And I was like,
hm, like, no. [laughs]
767
00:32:23,917 --> 00:32:25,916
Dennis was intimidating.
768
00:32:25,917 --> 00:32:27,916
You can never
trust these dudes,
769
00:32:27,917 --> 00:32:29,874
but I've never
been a fool.
770
00:32:29,875 --> 00:32:33,082
I'm like, money first.
[laughs] Money first.
771
00:32:33,083 --> 00:32:35,666
[Bekah] I saw the absolute
worst of humanity
772
00:32:35,667 --> 00:32:37,499
as a prostitute.
773
00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:39,832
My pimp taught us how to
protect ourselves
774
00:32:39,833 --> 00:32:42,832
because violence
is so common.
775
00:32:42,833 --> 00:32:44,999
If you don't perform,
if you don't do
776
00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,041
exactly what they want,
they fly into a rage.
777
00:32:48,042 --> 00:32:50,750
They become violent.
778
00:32:50,875 --> 00:32:52,832
Around the time
that I was there,
779
00:32:52,833 --> 00:32:54,333
Vince Neil from Motley Crue
780
00:32:54,542 --> 00:32:56,583
came to visit Dennis
at the brothel.
781
00:33:00,708 --> 00:33:03,082
Filed by an Andrea Terry,
782
00:33:03,083 --> 00:33:05,249
about what happened to her.
783
00:33:05,250 --> 00:33:06,500
[Rebekah reading]
"He tried to get me
784
00:33:06,708 --> 00:33:07,999
to touch his penis.
785
00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,999
I reminded him that
we had to pay before
786
00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,791
any sexual acts
could take place.
787
00:33:12,792 --> 00:33:14,832
With such a rage
in his eyes,
788
00:33:14,833 --> 00:33:16,957
he grabbed me by the throat
789
00:33:16,958 --> 00:33:18,916
and pushed me against
the window frame,
790
00:33:18,917 --> 00:33:20,999
holding me there,
yelling at me,
791
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,500
then yanked me down
towards the bed.
792
00:33:23,625 --> 00:33:26,208
He was more angry than
I've ever seen someone."
793
00:33:26,333 --> 00:33:31,583
♪
794
00:33:31,708 --> 00:33:34,291
[Bekah] What offends me
the most about this story
795
00:33:34,292 --> 00:33:37,166
is that instead of Dennis
kicking Vince Neil out
796
00:33:37,167 --> 00:33:40,500
for assaulting
one of his employees,
797
00:33:40,708 --> 00:33:42,166
he took him to the bar,
798
00:33:42,167 --> 00:33:43,333
bought him another drink,
799
00:33:43,625 --> 00:33:46,749
and then paid for him to
party with some other girl.
800
00:33:46,750 --> 00:33:48,999
I mean, they...
801
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,166
they don't protect you.
802
00:33:52,167 --> 00:33:55,207
In the end, the police
actually charged Vince Neil,
803
00:33:55,208 --> 00:33:57,166
and he pleaded no contest.
804
00:33:57,167 --> 00:34:00,207
But if the Bunny Ranch
and Dennis Hof
805
00:34:00,208 --> 00:34:03,249
had their way, no one
would have ever known.
806
00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:06,999
♪
807
00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,916
[Dolly] I hadn't booked
in like two weeks.
808
00:34:09,917 --> 00:34:11,582
Two or three weeks,
and...
809
00:34:11,583 --> 00:34:13,082
you still have to
pay room and board,
810
00:34:13,083 --> 00:34:15,707
even if you're
not booking.
811
00:34:15,708 --> 00:34:17,166
That was just
adding up.
812
00:34:17,167 --> 00:34:19,207
And, I was like, I know
this is not my fault
813
00:34:19,208 --> 00:34:21,874
because my regulars
are still coming.
814
00:34:21,875 --> 00:34:24,207
But, no new bookings?
No- What?
815
00:34:24,208 --> 00:34:27,542
Like,
something's happening.
816
00:34:27,792 --> 00:34:31,374
So, I noticed emails.
817
00:34:31,375 --> 00:34:34,041
A bunch of emails,
client emails in my inbox,
818
00:34:34,042 --> 00:34:35,332
and I was like,
oh, great!
819
00:34:35,333 --> 00:34:39,166
I go to refresh,
they're gone.
820
00:34:39,167 --> 00:34:40,582
They're gone.
821
00:34:40,583 --> 00:34:45,375
I caught my emails
being rerouted, but...
822
00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:48,374
now I was like,
I'm gonna be a target.
823
00:34:48,375 --> 00:34:50,999
The big difference I did
see between Cathouse
824
00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:53,624
and the reality
of it is that...
825
00:34:53,625 --> 00:34:56,041
the women don't have
your back all the time.
826
00:34:56,042 --> 00:34:59,916
It isn't this big sorority.
827
00:34:59,917 --> 00:35:02,166
It's very manipulative...
828
00:35:02,167 --> 00:35:04,874
conniving, and...
829
00:35:04,875 --> 00:35:07,124
we had to fight harder,
I mean,
830
00:35:07,125 --> 00:35:10,082
the Women of Color
had to fight harder when...
831
00:35:10,083 --> 00:35:12,291
somebody was messing
with our money.
832
00:35:12,292 --> 00:35:15,666
♪
833
00:35:15,667 --> 00:35:17,542
[Bekah] Every time
I needed to go into town,
834
00:35:17,708 --> 00:35:21,249
I had to talk to Suzette and
have to ask permission
835
00:35:21,250 --> 00:35:23,207
to be able to leave
my workplace,
836
00:35:23,208 --> 00:35:25,999
like I didn't have control
over my own movement.
837
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,041
And I remember having to
argue with Suzette
838
00:35:29,042 --> 00:35:31,332
for just being able to
leave the premises.
839
00:35:31,333 --> 00:35:35,957
♪
840
00:35:35,958 --> 00:35:38,166
[Taina] The Bunny Ranch
is a fortress.
841
00:35:38,167 --> 00:35:39,542
[gate buzzing]
842
00:35:39,750 --> 00:35:42,332
You cannot go in without
being buzzed in.
843
00:35:42,333 --> 00:35:45,332
You cannot leave without
being buzzed out.
844
00:35:45,333 --> 00:35:47,041
[Bekah] You have
multiple gates.
845
00:35:47,042 --> 00:35:49,999
There's security cameras.
846
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,374
I saw numerous times
that girls would be
847
00:35:52,375 --> 00:35:54,999
on the phone trying to
borrow from other girls,
848
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,541
trying to get money for
a ticket out of there,
849
00:35:57,542 --> 00:35:59,833
sometimes they didn't even
have cash to pay a driver
850
00:35:59,958 --> 00:36:02,041
to take them
to the airport.
851
00:36:02,042 --> 00:36:04,291
[Bekah] If you do owe
money to the brothel,
852
00:36:04,292 --> 00:36:06,166
you can't just
walk away.
853
00:36:06,167 --> 00:36:07,499
You can't just say,
"You know what?
854
00:36:07,500 --> 00:36:09,332
I'm gonna call a cab
and I'm gonna leave,"
855
00:36:09,333 --> 00:36:12,999
like that,
that's not possible.
856
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:15,250
People try to say
it's a regular job.
857
00:36:15,375 --> 00:36:17,291
Who doesn't
leave their job?
858
00:36:17,292 --> 00:36:22,791
♪ [somber piano]
859
00:36:22,792 --> 00:36:24,957
♪
860
00:36:24,958 --> 00:36:27,249
You're literally
there 24/7.
861
00:36:27,250 --> 00:36:29,291
That,
that's not normal.
862
00:36:29,292 --> 00:36:31,957
It's like they're being
kept in captivity.
863
00:36:31,958 --> 00:36:39,333
♪
864
00:36:39,458 --> 00:36:41,499
[Dennis] This is an
opportunity for you either
865
00:36:41,500 --> 00:36:44,833
to make a lot of money
in 4 or 5 years,
866
00:36:44,958 --> 00:36:46,667
invest it properly,
867
00:36:46,792 --> 00:36:48,999
and never have to work
another day in your life.
868
00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,291
Or, to make a good
amount of money
869
00:36:51,292 --> 00:36:52,917
in a short period
of time every month
870
00:36:53,042 --> 00:36:54,332
so you can be
with your kids,
871
00:36:54,333 --> 00:36:56,499
you can work on your
writing or acting career,
872
00:36:56,500 --> 00:36:58,499
or your studies.
873
00:36:58,500 --> 00:37:01,166
I get a lot of girls that are
paying off their school loans.
874
00:37:01,167 --> 00:37:04,499
[Taina] It's a myth that
there'd be a lot of...
875
00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:07,875
millionaires of, of
women in prostitution.
876
00:37:08,042 --> 00:37:10,416
The minute they
leave prostitution,
877
00:37:10,417 --> 00:37:12,541
they are in abject poverty,
878
00:37:12,542 --> 00:37:14,416
and it's very, very
difficult for them to
879
00:37:14,417 --> 00:37:18,332
rebuild their lives without
extensive medical,
880
00:37:18,333 --> 00:37:21,625
psychological,
psychiatric assistance.
881
00:37:21,833 --> 00:37:23,750
♪
882
00:37:23,875 --> 00:37:25,332
[Dolly] It started getting
a little rougher,
883
00:37:25,333 --> 00:37:28,749
and very unfair, and...
884
00:37:28,750 --> 00:37:30,582
having quite a few
debacles with, like,
885
00:37:30,583 --> 00:37:32,999
racist girls...
886
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:36,249
in the house,
and racist clients.
887
00:37:36,250 --> 00:37:37,750
It was no longer safe.
888
00:37:42,500 --> 00:37:46,249
♪
889
00:37:46,250 --> 00:37:48,124
The women
who had no family,
890
00:37:48,125 --> 00:37:49,333
who had no one
to help them,
891
00:37:49,458 --> 00:37:51,416
they got
stuck there.
892
00:37:51,417 --> 00:37:53,791
The women who could
get out of the brothel
893
00:37:53,792 --> 00:37:55,999
got out of the brothel
with their own money,
894
00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,083
or have family
get them out,
895
00:37:57,208 --> 00:37:59,042
or a pimp would
pull them out.
896
00:37:59,167 --> 00:38:00,999
♪
897
00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:03,332
[Bekah] My pimp finally
let me come back to Vegas...
898
00:38:03,333 --> 00:38:06,416
when he felt like he had
punished me enough.
899
00:38:06,417 --> 00:38:09,291
When he had taught me
a lesson that
900
00:38:09,292 --> 00:38:11,000
I better be smarter out
there in the streets
901
00:38:11,125 --> 00:38:13,166
and stop getting
arrested.
902
00:38:13,167 --> 00:38:14,832
I felt relieved.
903
00:38:14,833 --> 00:38:17,499
Even though I was gonna
stay in prostitution,
904
00:38:17,500 --> 00:38:21,249
I didn't want to be at the
brothel anymore, and...
905
00:38:21,250 --> 00:38:23,000
I remember packing
my stuff up
906
00:38:23,125 --> 00:38:24,916
and getting in
my little car,
907
00:38:24,917 --> 00:38:28,499
and I put the Bunny Ranch
in my rear view mirror.
908
00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:31,207
My pimp, as horrible
as he was,
909
00:38:31,208 --> 00:38:33,042
at least let me
leave that prison.
910
00:38:33,167 --> 00:38:36,333
♪
911
00:38:36,458 --> 00:38:38,832
I wasn't able to get away
from my pimp until the
912
00:38:38,833 --> 00:38:41,624
federal authorities
finally became involved.
913
00:38:41,625 --> 00:38:43,541
He was racking up credit
card debt in my name,
914
00:38:43,542 --> 00:38:46,042
so I had about $50,000 of
credit card debt.
915
00:38:46,208 --> 00:38:47,999
I had a $600,000 home
in my name
916
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:49,000
that got foreclosed.
917
00:38:49,375 --> 00:38:51,917
I had two $80,000 cars
that got repossessed.
918
00:38:52,042 --> 00:38:54,499
They arrested me and they
thought maybe I would snitch,
919
00:38:54,500 --> 00:38:57,457
but because I was too afraid
to testify against him,
920
00:38:57,458 --> 00:39:00,291
I wound up
taking a charge...
921
00:39:00,292 --> 00:39:03,166
and serving 13 months
in federal prison
922
00:39:03,167 --> 00:39:06,624
for conspiracy to
commit tax evasion.
923
00:39:06,625 --> 00:39:09,416
I served my 13 months
in prison, and so...
924
00:39:09,417 --> 00:39:13,167
I moved back to Texas
January 7th of 2012 and...
925
00:39:13,292 --> 00:39:14,624
started my life over.
926
00:39:14,625 --> 00:39:16,291
I wound up going
back to school.
927
00:39:16,292 --> 00:39:18,332
Lo and behold,
I'm actually pretty smart.
928
00:39:18,333 --> 00:39:19,582
I wound up getting my
master's degree in
929
00:39:19,583 --> 00:39:22,457
criminology and
criminal justice.
930
00:39:22,458 --> 00:39:25,666
In 2013, I launched
Bekah Speaks Out.
931
00:39:25,667 --> 00:39:27,582
I train
law enforcement officers,
932
00:39:27,583 --> 00:39:30,374
social workers, nurses,
across the country
933
00:39:30,375 --> 00:39:32,500
on human trafficking
education.
934
00:39:32,625 --> 00:39:34,374
My name's
Bekah Charleston.
935
00:39:34,375 --> 00:39:35,750
I spent some time working at
936
00:39:35,875 --> 00:39:38,332
the Moonlite Bunny Ranch
for Dennis Hof,
937
00:39:38,333 --> 00:39:39,707
and they like to claim
that that prevents
938
00:39:39,708 --> 00:39:42,666
trafficking from happening,
but it doesn't.
939
00:39:42,667 --> 00:39:45,833
And then one day, I remember
I was out at dinner at
940
00:39:45,958 --> 00:39:48,499
a work event and CBS
called me on my phone.
941
00:39:48,500 --> 00:39:50,416
It hasn't really
sunk in yet.
942
00:39:50,417 --> 00:39:53,374
[News] Bekah Charleston says
receiving a full pardon
943
00:39:53,375 --> 00:39:56,166
from President
Donald Trump is a gift.
944
00:39:56,167 --> 00:39:58,249
[Bekah] And so,
to finally have it happen
945
00:39:58,250 --> 00:40:01,250
the day before Christmas Eve
is just surreal.
946
00:40:01,375 --> 00:40:03,916
And now, I have a
shiny piece of paper
947
00:40:03,917 --> 00:40:05,833
that the president signed
that says he forgives me
948
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,249
for being a victim of
human trafficking.
949
00:40:08,250 --> 00:40:11,541
Honestly, it takes so much
strength to be
950
00:40:11,542 --> 00:40:15,416
vulnerable enough to begin
the healing process.
951
00:40:15,417 --> 00:40:18,042
It's a really hard shift
that a lot of people
952
00:40:18,167 --> 00:40:20,166
are never
able to make.
953
00:40:20,167 --> 00:40:21,542
[Dolly] You know,
Dennis Hof,
954
00:40:21,667 --> 00:40:26,249
he has definitely
gained financial...
955
00:40:26,250 --> 00:40:29,457
power and control
off of, like,
956
00:40:29,458 --> 00:40:31,416
women's
autonomy and...
957
00:40:31,417 --> 00:40:33,791
our labour, our...
958
00:40:33,792 --> 00:40:38,250
and let's be-
our talents to maintain...
959
00:40:38,375 --> 00:40:39,500
like, clients.
960
00:40:39,625 --> 00:40:41,500
You need to have
personality.
961
00:40:41,625 --> 00:40:44,582
There's a reason why
there's returning clients.
962
00:40:44,583 --> 00:40:47,000
He thinks that it's all
'cause of him.
963
00:40:47,167 --> 00:40:52,291
♪
964
00:40:52,292 --> 00:40:54,667
I finally...
965
00:40:54,792 --> 00:40:56,541
started...
966
00:40:56,542 --> 00:40:59,957
[sighing] to detach
from the brothels
967
00:40:59,958 --> 00:41:02,457
because they were
messing with my money.
968
00:41:02,458 --> 00:41:05,708
And that's when I started,
like, packing up.
969
00:41:05,833 --> 00:41:07,750
And, yeah...
970
00:41:07,875 --> 00:41:09,707
I left.
971
00:41:09,708 --> 00:41:13,207
If I could talk to my
11-year-old me
972
00:41:13,208 --> 00:41:15,374
watching Cathouse...
973
00:41:15,375 --> 00:41:17,374
Oh, man.
[laughs]
974
00:41:17,375 --> 00:41:19,582
Sorry if I get
emotional in this, um...
975
00:41:19,583 --> 00:41:21,457
What I would say to
that little girl
976
00:41:21,458 --> 00:41:24,500
is don't let...
977
00:41:24,667 --> 00:41:27,707
any of the [beep] things
thrown your way break you.
978
00:41:27,708 --> 00:41:30,708
Don't diminish yourself to
make others comfortable.
979
00:41:31,708 --> 00:41:34,542
Be comfortable being you.
980
00:41:34,708 --> 00:41:44,083
♪
981
00:41:45,292 --> 00:41:47,042
I was a working girl
for Dennis Hof.
982
00:41:47,167 --> 00:41:49,500
I just thought, oh, God,
it's gonna be so much fun.
983
00:41:49,625 --> 00:41:51,582
He said, "You get to
pick and choose
984
00:41:51,583 --> 00:41:54,082
who you have sex with."
985
00:41:54,083 --> 00:41:56,250
[Dennis] I don't make
anybody do anything ever.
986
00:41:56,375 --> 00:41:58,166
[Tom] I know that there
are allegations of
987
00:41:58,167 --> 00:41:59,499
rape and violence.
988
00:41:59,500 --> 00:42:02,541
The job of the documentary
was not to do
989
00:42:02,542 --> 00:42:06,374
an investigation into
the Bunny Ranch.
990
00:42:06,375 --> 00:42:08,957
The job was to create
a good time series.
991
00:42:08,958 --> 00:42:10,207
[Dennis] We're at
the Bunny Ranch.
992
00:42:10,208 --> 00:42:11,375
We're having fun.
993
00:42:11,667 --> 00:42:13,083
I just thought, oh, God,
it's gonna be so much fun.
994
00:42:13,208 --> 00:42:16,499
And I thought it was safe,
but it wasn't safe.
995
00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:18,582
[DeAnne] He was
a very sick man.
996
00:42:18,583 --> 00:42:20,249
He hurt a lot of people.
997
00:42:20,250 --> 00:42:21,167
[Dennis]
I'm a straight guy.
998
00:42:21,500 --> 00:42:23,416
I pay my taxes,
I do the right things.
999
00:42:23,417 --> 00:42:25,666
He's a monster.
I was molested,
1000
00:42:25,667 --> 00:42:28,749
and beaten, and raped
on a regular basis.
1001
00:42:28,750 --> 00:42:31,291
Girls come in, shut the door,
put a blanket over you
1002
00:42:31,292 --> 00:42:32,333
and beat the
[beep] out of you.
1003
00:42:32,708 --> 00:42:34,541
The Bunny Ranch is kind
of like Walmart or church.
1004
00:42:34,542 --> 00:42:36,416
You don't have to go
unless you want to.
1005
00:42:36,417 --> 00:42:37,624
[DeAnne] If you make
Dennis unhappy,
1006
00:42:37,625 --> 00:42:39,166
he is gonna hurt you.
1007
00:42:39,167 --> 00:42:41,417
This feels like
organized crime.
1008
00:42:41,542 --> 00:42:44,041
He was sort of a
degenerate Tony Soprano.
1009
00:42:44,042 --> 00:42:47,332
He thought he could do
whatever he wanted.
1010
00:42:47,333 --> 00:42:49,416
[DeAnne] He had
gotten so big...
1011
00:42:49,417 --> 00:42:52,667
that he couldn't be
contained anymore.