PAPER CHASE, THE: THE THIRD YEAR: THE CHOICE (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about law student James T. Hart and his fellow Harvard classmates, based on the novel by John Jay Osborn, Jr. In this episode, Franklin and his girlfriend Diana spend a night out with Hart, and then return home and spend the night in bed. Kingsfield and Tyler discuss the "Dean's Tea," the social events in which the faculty mingles with the 1Ls, or first-year students. She describes it as "nerve-wracking" for the young students, but Kingsfield points out that they will face far more stressful situations in their careers. Weinstein studies up on topics to discuss at the tea and snaps at Bell when he bothers her, then fretting with the others about the date for which she has been invited. Samuels tells Diana that she is not interested in the tea, being rather older than most of the other students, but Diana encourages her to go. She suddenly feels unwell, and later arrives at Franklin's home and informs him that she is pregnant. She states that she wants to terminate and asks him to pay for half, to which he agrees. However, he approaches her the next day and says that they have "other choices," suggesting that they get married and raise the child together, but she laughs off the suggestion, saying that their relationship is already "disintegrating" and that it is her choice.
Weinstein interrogates other students about their experience at the Dean's Tea, and Bloomfield reports that it was very stressful. Diana avoids Franklin's calls and he finally tracks her down at home, wanting to discuss the pregnancy further, but she reiterates that it is her career on the line and that he is merely a "spectator," adding that she has made an appointment for an abortion. Franklin appeals to Hart, looking through textbooks for any laws regarding fathers' rights, and Hart offers to help, though he asks Franklin to examine why he really wants the child. Franklin then turns to Golden, who offers a "drastic" temporary solution, a restraining order. Diana is incensed at his actions, saying she will lose her scholarship if she fails to complete the term and begging him to see her point of view. Samuels comforts her, and Diana admits that she has considered having children later in life, but feels that she will resent the child if the pregnancy interferes with her schooling. Samuels says that she had no such choice 20 years ago and ended up going to law school later in life because she had children early, noting the pros and cons of her situation. Diana asks Franklin why he is so desperate to have the child, and he describes his vision of his future and his family, and she is somewhat won over by his loving dreams of fatherhood and begins to reconsider. She tells him that if she had the child, it would be entirely his responsibility and she would require financial assistance from him, and he happily agrees.
At the Dean's Tea, Weinstein talks with Kingsfield at length about different kinds of tea, and Samuels chats with Tyler about the experience of being an older student amongst 20-somethings. Franklin invites his brother Tom over for dinner and Tom asks him if he knows what he is in for with his impending parenthood. Franklin assures him that he has the "means" to provide for the child, but Tom points out that they too had rich, neglectful parents who raised them in an impersonal manner, and Franklin begins to doubt himself. He finds Hart working late at the law review office and explains that he feels that his life has been prescribed for him by his family name, and says that he lacks the courage to change his plans. He admits that he thought having a child would "free" him from his restricted future, but Hart assures him that he will find happiness somehow. Franklin then goes to Diana and apologizes to her, and they make amends before heading off to the appointment together. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Showtime
- DATE: August 13, 1985 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:15868
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal
- SERIES RUN: Showtime - TV series, 1978-1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lynn Roth … Executive Producer
- Ernest A. Losso … Producer
- Keith Alexander … Associate Producer
- James Bridges … Developed by
- Ralph Senensky … Director
- Judy Merl … Writer
- Paul Eric Myers … Writer
- John Jay Osborn Jr. … Based on the novel by
- Stephen Seretan … Music by
- John Houseman … Cast, Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.
- James Stephens … Cast, James T. Hart
- Tom Fitzsimmons … Cast, Franklin Ford III
- James Keane … Cast, Willis Bell
- Andra Millian … Cast, Laura Kiernan
- Michael Tucci … Cast, Gerald Golden
- Diana Douglas … Cast, Professor Tyler
- Clare Kirkconnell … Cast, Rita Harriman
- Peter Nelson … Cast, Tom Ford
- Penny Johnson … Cast, Vivian Conway
- Lainie Kazan … Cast, Rose Samuels
- Annabella Price … Cast, Diana
- Wortham Krimmer … Cast, Martin Zeiss
- Betty Harford … Cast, Mrs. Nottingham
- Cathy Silvers … Cast
- Joe Brutsman … Cast
- Lisa Pescia … Cast
- Scott Lincoln … Cast
- Claud Mann … Cast