PAPER CHASE, THE: THE SECOND YEAR: MY DINNER WITH KINGSFIELD (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 toils feverishly on a paper for Kingsfield and is eventually pleased with his work, but when he presents it in class, Kingsfield is as underwhelmed as ever and declares that it is not quite "enough." However, he then offers Hart a special assignment, an article for the law review on the parallels between literature and law with particular focus on Dickens and his contemporaries, and Hart accepts. A few days later, though, Hart admits to Ford that he feels unmotivated to do the work because of Kingsfield's reaction to his other paper, saying he wants to enjoy himself over the weekend. He prepares for a visit from Cathy and fights with the malfunctioning toilet as a heavy snowstorm hits Cambridge. Mrs. Nottingham cautions Kingsfield about the snow, but he heads out anyway, planning to attend a special dinner in New York City. Ford is kicked out of the house as Hart prepares for Cathy, and when he meets up with Bell at a bar, they are both surprised when Mrs. Nottingham arrives as well.
Hart grows nervous when Cathy does not turn up, and is shocked to find Kingsfield on his doorstep instead. The ill-tempered professor explains that his car broke down, and asks to use the phone to call a tow truck. Hart admits that he has a guest coming, but they soon realize that Kingsfield is stuck there for the time being because of the weather. At the bar, Bell and Ford drink with Mrs. Nottingham and inquire about how she has put up with the irascible Kingsfield for so many years, and she becomes quite candid under the influence of drink. Kingsfield gripes that he is due in New York, and Hart realizes that the dinner is in his honor to celebrate a landmark case from years ago. When the tow service says that they will be delayed, Kingsfield and Hart both reflect on their childhood memories of snow and the joy of getting out of school. Hart ends up offering drinks and dinner to Kingsfield, and Kingsfield helps him to repair his faulty toilet. Over dinner, Hart evades discussion of his law review article, and Kingsfield quotes Dickens at length, citing "Bleak House" as a noteworthy work about the law. He compliments Hart's dinner and asks about his female guest, and Hart admits that he is not sure if things are serious with Cathy or if it is just a summer romance. Kingsfield talks about his wife and his own experiences with love, and Hart ruminates on marriage and the possible death of passion over time.
When Kingsfield asks about the article again, Hart admits that he is reluctant to write it because of Kingsfield's lackluster reaction to his first paper, and the professor upbraids him for "sulking" over his lack of praise, saying that the work should stand for itself. Hart points out that everyone likes for their hard work to be acknowledged, stating that Kingsfield is a paternal figure to himself and many other students. They end up playing Scrabble together and sharing cappuccinos in Hart's good china, and the tow truck finally arrives. Hart goes out to meet it and Cathy chooses that moment to phone, and Kingsfield is forced to take a message. A few days later, Hart marvels to Ford about his dinner with Kingsfield, saying that they had an excellent talk and are "really friends" now, but then finds that the professor has already returned to his usual aloof manner. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Showtime
- DATE: July 24, 1984 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:55:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:43328
- 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
- Michael van Himbergen … Associate Producer
- Corey Allen … Director
- James Bridges … Developed by
- Lee Kalcheim … Writer
- John Jay Osborn Jr. … Based on the novel by
- Steven 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
- Michael Tucci … Cast, Gerald Golden
- Andra Millian … Cast, Laura Kiernan
- Penny Johnson … Cast, Vivian Conway
- Clare Kirkconnell … Cast, Rita Harriman
- Betty Harford … Cast, Mrs. Nottingham