PAPER CHASE, THE: THE SECOND YEAR: SPREADING IT THIN (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, Hart struggles to write an article on maritime law, and Connie comes over to watch a televised interview with one of her professors, Morrison, in which he promotes his latest book. Connie is enthralled by him and his talk of "humanism," though Hart dismisses him as a "phony." In class, Morrison proves himself to be a dynamic teacher as he lectures on liability laws, and Connie is excited to meet him afterwards when he signs her book. In Kingsfield's class, however, Howe makes a showy presentation about indecency laws, but Kingsfield denounces the work as "shallow" and criticizes him for putting theatrics over quality. At the law review office, Golden attempts to organize the next issue and tells Hart to get Morrison's article from him, as the deadline is that Friday. When Hart approaches him, however, he is exceptionally busy and promises to get it done soon. Hart works on his own article and Connie arrives, telling him that they are giving an engagement party for a few of their friends and asks him to help her write a funny song for it, to which he reluctantly agrees.
Morrison brings a film crew to campus and records a class session in which he and his students discuss a hypothetical kidnapping case. Later, Kingsfield tells him that he is "disturbed and disappointed" at his actions, saying that he found the filming undignified, though Morrison points out that it is not against the rules. Golden continues to hassle Hart about getting Morrison's article from him, and Hart complains to Connie, saying that he expects the article to be poorly written anyway, judging from Morrison's book. Connie takes offense and makes a bet with him, and they discuss the song for the party. As the other students watch Morrison's class on TV, Hart learns Morrison submitted the article to Golden in time for the issue after all, and is taken aback when it is remarkably good. He expresses surprise that he managed to write it in four days, wondering if Connie is right and the man is in fact a "genius." They enlist Franklin's help with the song, but the next day, Hart says that there is "something weird" about Morrison's article that he cannot explain. Connie doubts him, saying that Morrison is perfectly articulate in class, and Golden points that writers employ different styles for different genres, but Hart remains unsure. Hart makes his own presentation on eminent domain in Kingsfield's class, but the professor is unimpressed and tells him that it is not well done, suggesting that he is overworking himself and needs to focus.
Connie encourages Hart to make an appointment with Morrison to discuss the matter, but Hart has a revelation and goes to Bell, bribing him into assisting with the problem. As they look through endless old anthropology articles, Franklin asks Hart why he is pursuing the matter so diligently, and Hart states that it is not out of a personal grudge but rather out of a respect for the integrity of the law review. He finds nothing, however, and eventually tells Connie that he is giving up the search, but Bell then bounds into their room with proof that Morrison plagiarized the piece. Hart goes to Morrison and presents the evidence, but Morrison defends himself, saying that he merely used the other work as a "reference piece." When Hart says that Kingsfield must be informed, however, Morrison opts to speak to him himself. He argues to Kingsfield that his celebrity presence is an asset to the school, but Kingsfield says that he is endangering his career and could face a hearing for the plagiarism, and Morrison regretfully resigns, then going to Hart and thanking him for coming to him first. Later, Hart, Connie and the others attend the engagement party, celebrating and singing their law-themed love songs. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Showtime
- DATE: June 15, 1983 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:14364
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal
- SERIES RUN: Showtime - TV series, 1978-1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lynn Roth … Executive Producer
- Cleve Landsberg … Producer
- Keith Alexander … Associate Producer
- Corey Allen … Director
- James Bridges … Developed by
- Lee Kalcheim … 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
- Jane Kaczmarek … Cast, Connie Lehman
- Michael Tucci … Cast, Gerald Golden
- Betty Harford … Cast, Mrs. Nottingham
- Wortham Krimmer … Cast, Zeiss
- Michael Shannon … Cast, Morrison
- Charles Fleischer … Cast, Howe
- Geoff Edwards … Cast, Jeffers
- Carolyne Barry … Cast, Professor Morrison's secretary
- Gary Dubin … Cast, Kaiser
- Ty Henderson … Cast, Jenks
- Dan Chambers … Cast
- Tom McDonald … Cast
- Deborah Tilton … Cast