HABITATION OF DRAGONS, THE (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama film, based on the 1988 play by Horton Foote, follows the story of the troubled Tolliver family of Harrison, Texas. The story begins in January 1935 as Leonard Tolliver informs his younger brother George that he has accepted his estranged brother-in-law, Billy, as his new associate in his law firm. Leonard's wife Margaret and their two sons head out for a day with the handyman, Wally, and when George announces that he intends to run for county attorney, Leonard informs him that Billy is also intending to enter the race. The two brothers argue bitterly over George's perceived betrayal over Leonard's personal success, with Leonard informing him that he is simply jealous because of his own inferiority, though their mother Leonora tries to intervene. At the same time, longtime family friend Lonny states that he intends to leave town, but tells Leonard that he will always be grateful for Mr. Tolliver's kindness towards him, as Leonard's late father treated Lonny, the maid's son, like his own.
The family is surprised by a visit from their long-absent Uncle Virgil, who offends Leonard by stating their his brother's death was not a "hunting accident," as everyone claims, but in fact a suicide, brought on by his dire economic situation. Virgil offers to help the family, as he is now wealthy and alone, but Leonora, also the last surviving sibling of her family, coldly orders him to leave, but Virgil suffers a heart attack on their front lawn. In May, on the day of the attorney election, a recovering Virgil encounters the mysterious townsperson Lester Whyte and learns that he has not spoken in many years, apparently in penance for having murdered his wife's lover. Margaret is revealed to be having an affair with Wally, though she admits that she is still affected by her own father's unfaithfulness, which prompted Billy and their mother to ostracize him. Billy wins the election and George comes in second, and George tells Lonny, who was unable to buy his intended new house after all, about visiting the old family plantation and graveyard and feeling a sense of "primitive stillness" about the place.
In June, Virgil privately admits that he is lingering with the Tollivers because he is broke, and Leonard confronts Margaret with an "anonymous" letter from Lester detailing her affair, adding that Wally has severely beaten Lester in retaliation. Margaret admits the truth and declares that she wants a divorce, but the family is then horrified to learn that Leonard and Margaret's two sons have drowned in the river while fishing with Wally. A grief-stricken Margaret blames herself, feeling that she is being cosmically punished for her affair, and Billy soon murders Wally and is arrested. A tormented Leonard admits to George, who is representing Billy, that he has a collection of love letters from Margaret to Wally, but he quickly destroys the evidence despite George's warnings. Evelyn, the mother of Lester's victim, attempts to blackmail the Tollivers by declaring that she remembers the content of the letters and will testify against Billy, feeling that Billy deserves the punishment that Lester never received. Margaret suffers a breakdown and is hospitalized, and Leonard soon admits that he has long known the reality of his father's death, having found and destroyed his suicide note. Leonora and George confess that they too suspected the truth, and Leonard resolves to tell the district attorney about the damning love letters.
In September, Virgil confesses the truth of his bankruptcy and Billy is found guilty of Wally's murder, though he receives a suspended sentence. He decides to leave town for good and thanks Leonard for his support during the trial, though Leonard questions why he did not actively defend himself on the stand. Leonora questions Leonard about her husband's suicide note, desperately wondering if their family is cursed with tragedy and admitting that she is losing the will to "pretend courage" in the face of so much heartache. Leonard voices his deep regrets about his dead sons, and they are surprised when Margaret arrives in their midst, having escaped the hospital. She spends several months recuperating at home and seems considerably better when Leonard visits in March, though he admits that he is now nearly broke. Margaret begs his forgiveness for the affair and for the boys' deaths, but Leonard declares that he is leaving Texas and heading to Canada, unable to be around her any longer. George and Leonard begin arguing anew, though the brothers are now in the opposite positions, with Leonard angrily declaring that George has "everything." However, Leonard rethinks his plans and begins to rekindle his relationship with Margaret when he discovers that she is still deeply troubled by the deaths, and he tells George that he does not wish to leave town out of shame and that he and Margaret finally "need one another." As Leonard sits by Margaret's bedside, a somewhat senile Virgil wanders in and questions him about his "broken heart," and Leonard muses that his sorrows may eventually heal with time. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: TNT
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:34:22
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 123396
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Families
- SERIES RUN: TNT - TV, 1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Brandman … Executive Producer
- Donald P. Borchers … Producer
- Leanne Moore … Co-Producer
- Sarah Bowman … Associate Producer
- Michael Lindsay-Hogg … Director
- Horton Foote … Writer
- David Shire … Music by
- Brad Davis … Cast, George Tolliver
- Hawthorne James … Cast, Lonny Johnson
- Roberts Blossom … Cast, Mr. Charlie
- Maureen O'Sullivan … Cast, Helen Taylor
- Jean Stapleton … Cast, Leonora Tolliver
- Frederic Forrest … Cast, Leonard Tolliver
- Hallie Foote … Cast, Margaret Tolliver
- Elias Koteas … Cast, Wally Smith
- Blake Stokes … Cast, Horace Tolliver
- Chris Lane … Cast, Leonard Tolliver Jr.
- Horton Foote Jr. … Cast, Billy Dalton
- Pat Hingle … Cast, Virgil Tolliver
- David Smith … Cast, Lester Whyte
- James Jeter … Cast, Man in Crowd
- Brady Coleman … Cast, Man in Drugstore
- Lucinda Jenney … Cast, Bernice Dayton
- Joanna Miles … Cast, Evelyn Sparks
- Brandon Smith … Cast, Sheriff