HYSTERICAL BLINDNESS (TV)

Summary

This made-for-television drama film tells the story of two New Jersey friends looking for love in the 1980s. The story begins as Debby Miller tells her best friend Beth that she suffered a sudden stress-induced attack of hysterical blindness while at work. They head for their usual bar, Ollie's, and fix themselves up in the bathroom, encountering their "friend" Carolann, who is now engaged. Debby is intrigued when she spots a man with "Patrick Swayze eyes," but grows annoyed when Beth flirts heavily with the bartender, Bobby, and storms out, accusing her friend of ignoring her. Outside the bar, Debby encounters the handsome guy and awkwardly flirts with him, learning that his name is Rick. He walks her to her car, and she offers to buy him a drink the next time they meet and goes home happy. In the morning, however, she is taken aback to find that her mother, Virginia, has spent the night with a man, Nick, a regular at her diner. Debby heads to Beth's, encountering her daughter Amber and wanting to make up, though Beth is doubtful when Debby tells her that Rick is "real different." They head for the Skyway Diner where Virginia works and Beth notices the tension between mother and daughter, and Amber figures out that Virginia now has a boyfriend. Debby cautions her mother against getting too invested, however, believing that Nick will break her heart.

At Ollie's, Debby is embarrassed by Beth's exuberant dancing and then spots Rick, who does not appear to notice her. She finally approaches him, though he asks about Beth and Debby falsely says that she has a boyfriend. When Beth complains that she is bored, Debby tells her to take her car and leave so that she can spend time with Rick. Elsewhere, Virginia and Nick enjoy another date together, talking about their past loves, and Amber sits at home alone and bored. At Debby's suggestion, she and Rick head to his house together, where she bluntly offers him sex. In the morning, they discuss his plans for renovating his house, though he turns down her offer of breakfast and prepares to leave. She invites him over to her place for dinner, saying that she will cook filet mignon, and he agrees. Beth picks her up, still skeptical about her friend's new relationship, and at work, Debby happily tells her friends all about Rick. Nick visits Virginia at her diner and tells her about his ideas for moving to a mobile home in Florida with her, though she admits that she doesn't "have time for daydreaming." As Amber practices her baton routine, Debby tells Beth that Rick could be "the one," and at work, Debby's friends catch her looking at engagement rings in a catalog. While grocery shopping for the dinner, Beth reminisces about her almost-engagement to Amber's father when they were teenagers.

Debby anxiously toils over the filet mignon, eventually calling Beth for help, while Virginia and Nick spend the evening dancing and discussing their plans for Florida. Rick does not show up, however, and Debby is heartbroken and drives over to his house, watching him from her car. She skips work and heads to Ollie's in the afternoon, where she encounters Nick. He tries to comfort her, saying that she has a "special something," like her mother, and deserves to be treated well. Later, Nick fails to pick Virginia up from work, and she and Debby argue when Debby tells her that he has clearly abandoned her and does not truly care for her. Debby is further upset when Amber makes a casual comment about her father's departure many years ago, and Virginia receives a phone call from Nick's son Michael and learns that he has died of a heart attack. She mourns her loss and attends the funeral, where Michael assures her that she made his father happy. Debby's co-workers express their condolences, though she lies and claims that Rick has been supportive as well. At Ollie's, Bobby gives Beth a lesson in mixology and Debby is annoyed to encounter Carolann again, and Amber soon calls on the phone, demanding that Beth come home. She protests that she is having a good time, but Beth's mother soon calls as well, and Beth heads home, ashamed. Debby returns to the bar, noting that her father used to drink there as well, and then runs into Rick. He invites her to go home with him later, but she is upset to realize that he has no interest in talking or dancing with her, and despite her desperate attempts to win his attention, he coldly tells her to "sober up" and leaves.

Crushed and wondering what is "wrong" with her, Debby heads home to her mother, who comforts her. Later, she is shocked to find that their house has been refurnished and spruced up, with Virginia explaining that she has been saving up her money. While sunbathing, Beth comments that she intends to quit smoking and suggests that they should start having more neighborhood parties together, which seems to make Debby happy. Virginia joins them, and Amber entertains the three of them with her baton routine, set to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Commercials deleted.

Details

NETWORK: HBO
DATE: August 25, 2002 9:30 PM
RUNNING TIME: 1:38:38
COLOR/B&W: Color
CATALOG ID: B:75596
GENRE: Drama
SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Friendship; New Jersey
SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 2002
COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

Uma Thurman … Executive Producer
Jason Blum … Executive Producer
Amy Israel … Executive Producer
Lydia Dean Pilcher … Producer
Laura Cahill … Associate Producer
Alex Steyermark … Executive Music Producer
Mira Nair … Director
Laura Cahill … Writer
Lesley Barber … Music by
Uma Thurman … Cast, Debby Miller
Gena Rowlands … Cast, Virginia Miller
Juliette Lewis … Cast, Beth
Justin Chambers … Cast, Rick
Ben Gazzara … Cast, Nick
Anthony De Sando … Cast, Bobby
Jolie Peters … Cast, Amber Autumn
Callie Thorne … Cast, Carolann
Lisa Altomare … Cast, Dora
Laura Cahill … Cast, Tonya
Johann Carlo … Cast, Susan
Alex Draper … Cast, Michael
Russell Gibson … Cast, Diner Customer
Jayne Haynes … Cast, Annie
Susan Isaacs … Cast, Theresa
Ali Marsh … Cast, Trina
Wade Mylius … Cast, Bill
Bobby Tisdale … Cast, Guy
Susan Varon … Cast, Rose