ABC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?: THE WAR FOR BABY JESSICA (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie, based on a true story, is about Jan and Roberta “Robby” DeBoer’s efforts to get custody of adopted baby Jessica. The program begins in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1991 with Robby learning of a child that she and Jan may be able to adopt. Meanwhile, Cara Clausen tells officials that Scott, the man responsible for her pregnancy, lives in North Carolina and will sign all necessary papers. Cara then welcomes her parents back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before exposing her pregnant belly. Cara reveals to her parents that she is putting her child up for adoption, infuriating her mother. Soon, Cara is in labor and headed to the hospital, giving birth to a baby girl on Feb. 8, 1991. Robby discusses the situation with her friend Gina, wondering what is going on with the baby’s delivery. After the birth, Robby calls Jan to tell him the good news about the baby girl. Jan is worried that Cara’s plans for the child may change. Lawyer John Monroe goes to Cara with a release-of-custody form. Soon, Robby is headed for Iowa, with Jan staying behind to work. Robby soon gets to meet her adopted baby, which she names Jessica. Meanwhile, Cara is in anguish over having given away her baby; John tells Robby that Cara has post-partum depression, but that the paperwork should be processed soon. Later, Cara goes to truck driver Dan Schmidt, claiming the baby is actually his and not Scott’s. He is shocked to hear that she gave the baby up for adoption. Cara starts attending a support group for concerned birth parents. There, she is encouraged to get her daughter back, with the group offering to help with lawyers’ expenses. Soon, Robby receives a letter from Cara written to Jessica. Robby tells her mother that she feels like she has taken Jessica from Cara. Meanwhile, Cara goes to her mother, discussing how she may be able to undo things and get her “Anna” back. One day, Robby receives a message from John, who claims something has gone wrong and that Cara wants Jessica. He says that Cara admits having lied about the father, and that she may have some rights. Meanwhile, Cara meets with Scott and reveals to him that Dan is the father, infuriating him. Cara then joins Dan, who knows that he will be needed if Cara wants to raise the baby. Dan joins Cara at her group meeting to discuss his desire to have the baby returned. Meanwhile, Jan and Robby enjoy a spin on his treasured Indian motorcycle. Later, Robby learns that Cara is appealing the court decision and Dan is getting his blood tested to prove his paternity. Robby wonders if it might be better for Jessica to give her back to Cara. The DeBoers’ new lawyer, Gary Robinson, reveals that they can’t just give Jessica back; she would have to go to foster care. Robby worries how they will afford the resulting legal fees. The DeBoers have a garage sale to make some money while Gary reveals that blood will have to be drawn from Jessica. Soon, the blood tests are in and Dan is proven to be the biological father. Robby tells Gary again that she wants to return Jessica to her mother, but doesn’t want her to go to Dan. Cara tells Dan how she just wants the court case over. Cara then tells Dan that she will marry him. Robby is shocked to learn that Dan already has two abandoned children. The DeBoers go to the Iowa district court, where they see Cara and Dan for the first time on Nov. 4, 1991. There, the court examines Dan’s shoddy record of child support. Afterward, Cara tells Dan that they’ll get the baby back by Christmas. In the spring, Cara’s mother tells Dan that the courts have denied the DeBoers’ petition to adopt and Jessica is going back to him and Cara. Though the DeBoers are determined to fight it, Robby has to inform Jan that their legal defense fund is empty and they have no money to appeal. The relationship between Jan and Robby becomes strained, with Robby thinking Jan is upset that she was never able to get pregnant herself. The next day, Jan decides to sell his beloved motorcycle to help meet their expenses. Meanwhile, the news picks up the story, championing the DeBoers and criticizing Cara and Dan. Later, Cara and Dan wed, after which Robby and Jan celebrate Jessica’s first birthday. At the same time, the Iowa appeals court votes against the DeBoers, but Robby won’t give up. Robby tells Jan that they have a grace period. Soon, the case has become national news. Then, Cara and Dan get the idea to head to Michigan to retrieve Jessica. Robby drops off Jessica at day care before visiting child advocate Suellyn Scarnecchia to learn if Jessica has any rights. Soon, the Schmidts are in Ann Arbor trying to get Jessica and a reporter tips Robby to the fact. Jan thinks maybe they need security people to guard Jessica. In Iowa, it’s ruled that the DeBoers have broken the law. But shortly after Jessica’s second birthday, the Ann Arbor Circuit Court rules that Jessica shouldl stay with the DeBoers. The Michigan couple’s joy proves short-lived, however. In five months, the state’s Supreme Court rules that baby Jessica must now be returned to the Schmidts within a month. The court therapist recommends that the Schmidts be allowed to start visiting Jessica and once the transition occurs, the DeBoers be allowed to visit them. Dan objects to any interactions with the DeBoers. Robby is also upset that the Schmidts will rename the little girl Anna. Later, Robby and Jan continue fighting for Jessica, getting signatures for petitions to be sent to Washington D.C. Robby speaks out publicly against “the system” and insists that someone “has to show that they care.” Nevertheless, the DeBoers must begin preparing for the transfer. One day, the Schmidts make their first visit to the DeBoers’ house, telling Jessica about her new little sister, baby Chloe, and giving the child a stuffed rabbit. Robby is distraught by the Schmidts’ treatment of Jessica. On July 30, 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court denies the DeBoers’ appeal and allows the Schmidts to retain custody. The DeBoers struggle in giving Jessica back and the child, too, doesn’t wish to leave. Following Robby’s screams of despair, Jessica leaves the house for the last time on Aug. 2, 1993. With the media snapping photos, Jessica wails as she is taken from the DeBoers and given to the Schmidts for good. Includes commercials. Also includes an “ABC News Brief” with Carol Simpson. This program is closed-captioned.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 26, 1993 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30415
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1993
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "The Joy Luck Club" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - Acura automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Aetna AIDS awareness
- TV - Commercials - Bounce fabric softener
- TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Clorox 2 bleach
- TV - Commercials - Continental airlines
- TV - Commercials - Crest toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Dawn dish cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Ford Citibank cards
- TV - Commercials - Good Year tires
- TV - Commercials - Hertz rental cars
- TV - Commercials - Hitachi camcorders
- TV - Commercials - Home Box Office channel
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
- TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
- TV - Commercials - L"Oreal conditioner
- TV - Commercials - Leadership Conference Education Fund, Inc. for anti-racism
- TV - Commercials - MCI frequent flier programs
- TV - Commercials - Maybelline makeup
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Milky Way candy bars
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Oil of Olay soap
- TV - Commercials - One-Step Clearblue Easy pregnancy tests
- TV - Commercials - Pantene hair care
- TV - Commercials - Pepto-Bismol antacid relief
- TV - Commercials - Plus + White toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Prego tomato sauce
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Sears stores
- TV - Commercials - Tide detergent
- TV - Commercials - Wash 'n Curl shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Windex window cleaner
- TV - Promos - "Coach"
- TV - Promos - "Day1One"
- TV - Promos - "Empty Cradle"
- TV - Promos - "Full House"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Grace Under Fire"
- TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
- TV - Promos - "Joe's Life"
- TV - Promos - "Matlock"
- TV - Promos - "Missing Persons"
- TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "Moon Over Miami"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Phenom"
- TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
- TV - Promos - "Thea"
CREDITS
- Dale A. Andrews … Executive Producer
- Bernard Sofronksi … Executive Producer
- Robert Frederick … Producer
- Donna Carolan … Associate Producer
- John Kent Harrison … Director
- Jacqueline Feather … Writer
- David Seidler … Writer
- Lucinda Franks … Based on an article from the New Yorker Magazine by
- Lawrence Shragge … Music by
- Susan Dey … Cast, Roberta "Robby" DeBoer
- Michael Ontkean … Cast, Jan DeBoer
- David Keith … Cast, Dam Schmidt
- Amanda Plummer … Cast, Cara Clausen
- Anna Ferguson … Cast, Mary
- Joy Coghill … Cast, Earlen
- Barbara Tyson … Cast, Gina
- Quinci Camazzola … Cast, Jessica, 2 1/2 years
- Tom Heaton … Cast, Shorty
- Alf Humphreys … Cast, Uncle Barry
- Iris Bernard … Cast, Barbara Schlict
- Marilyn Norry … Cast, Joann Hoffpauir
- Tom McBeath … Cast, John Monroe
- Howard Storey … Cast, John Riccolo
- Morris Panych … Cast, Gary Robinson
- Walter Marsh … Cast, Judge Ager
- Joyce Gordon … Cast, Marian Faupel
- Gabrielle Rose … Cast, Jackie Miller
- Susan Astley … Cast, Laurie
- Suki Kaiser … Cast, Doris
- Pamela McDonald … Cast, Sue
- Rebecca Toolan … Cast, Court Therapist
- Brent Stait … Cast, Scott
- Louise Vallance … Cast, Lady Reporter
- Gillian Barber … Cast, City Attorney
- Halle Huston … Cast, Jessica, 1 year
- Zoe Bellis … Cast, Jessica, 6 months
- Linda Darlow … Cast
- For "ABC News Brief"
- Carol Simpson … Anchor