JANE'S HOUSE (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama film, based on the novel by Robert Kimmel Smith, is about one family's struggles to overcome the sudden death of their wife and mother Jane. The story begins as Paul Clark, the father, comes home and greets seven-year-old Bobby as he plays with his nanny, Gemma, and catches sixteen-year-old Hilary upstairs with her boyfriend. She objects to his strictness, further annoyed when he cajoles her into attending family dinner. Later, Bobby refuses to attend school, but Paul's friend and fellow school parent Marion convinces him to get on the bus – with a bribe. Marion and Paul discuss Jane's death a year earlier, with Marion marveling at her parenting skills and Paul admitting that he is having trouble letting go. He heads to his job at a sporting goods store, where his slovenly business partner Charlie brings up their plans for opening a second location. Paul argues that they only need one, but Charlie points out that he married very young and does not have grand aspirations. Paul carries on trying to take over Jane's duties at home, but Hilary admits that she feels as though they are living with a ghost, as Jane's belongings are still everywhere.
Charlie and Paul meet with a sports agent and former tennis star, Mary Parker, in the hopes of securing a big-name athlete to appear at their new store's opening, though money soon proves an issue. Paul, Hilary and Bobby head over to Marion's for dinner, and tempers flare when Marion asks Hilary about her plans for college, noting that Jane had hopes for her attending Brown University. Hilary tearfully admits that she and her mother planned to look at colleges together before her sudden death, and Marion comforts the grieving family. Later, the three of them take Jane's old car out and share happier memories over ice cream, and Paul throws out some of Jane's old papers, finally ready to begin moving on. The new store's grand opening is a disaster at first, with Charlie accusing Paul of shirking his duties as partner, but Mary suddenly arrives with baseball star Barry Bonds in tow and they are soon flooded with customers. Mary and Paul head off for a chat, with Paul explaining that Jane died of a heart attack at thirty-eight, and Mary seems awed at their steady seventeen-year relationship, saying that she never really considered settling down herself. Paul later sends her a gift and the two begin seeing more of one another, though even after several dates he assures Hilary and Bobby that they are "just friends."
Paul visits Mary at work, and after a round of tennis, she notes that he is "secure" and not threatened by her past fame or successful business. They head back to her apartment and, despite their nervousness, they spend the evening in bed, and Paul tells her that he loves her. At work, Mary is unusually tough in a meeting and confesses to her business partner that she may be in over her head, shocked to find herself in love with an unassuming widower father. Paul takes her home to meet his children and she wins them over with gifts, and though dinner goes well, she is clearly still aware of Jane's presence in the home. Some months later, Paul suggests that they marry, though Mary is clearly unsure. He discusses the matter with his children and Hilary is not pleased, admitting as they decorate their Christmas tree that she cannot yet be happy for him. Everyone gathers at the Clarks' to celebrate the holiday, and in the evening Mary privately accepts Paul's proposal. The family prepares for the wedding and Paul tells his kids about the day he married Jane, assuring them that Mary will never truly replace their mother. They are wed in a simple courthouse ceremony, and though they plan to honeymoon on a beach, Mary suggests that they skip it and simply head home when she notices Paul's anxiety about being away from the kids.
Mary attempts to adjust to her new role as stepmother, though things get off to a shaky start and she struggles with various domestic tasks, particularly cooking. Paul assures her that parenting is often exhausting and Marion tells her that it will take time, but Mary remains nervous and is relieved to enjoy time alone with Paul. Her prom dress shopping trip with Hilary is more awkward than fun, and she finally grows exasperated when Hilary turns down her offer of her own mother's pearls to wear at her graduation. Mary points out that she has desperately tried to win her over and be her friend, but Hilary retorts that she had no choice in the matter and was not ready for a new mother figure. Matters grow worse when Mary briefly loses Bobby at a birthday party, and she finally declares that she can no longer handle feeling like a stranger in her own home and leaves. Paul finds her at her office, where she confesses that she feels as though she has lost herself, and Paul admits that he has been resisting compromise and has tried to make everything familiar without truly considering her feelings. They make up and head for home, where they learn that Bobby is missing. Everyone searches for him in a panic, but Mary soon finds him in the basement, where he tells her that he does not want her to leave as his mother did, and she promises that she loves him and will stay with the family. Sometime later, Hilary heads off for Brown after all and bids farewell to her family, with Mary assuring her that they have plenty of time to build a relationship. Mary, Paul and Bobby then move out of "Jane's house," signaling a new beginning for their family. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: January 2, 1994 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:11
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:64363
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Families
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1994
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Phillips … Executive Producer
- Aaron Spelling … Executive Producer
- E. Duke Vincent … Executive Producer
- Debra Greenfield … Co-Executive Producer
- Chris Morgan … Producer
- Glenn Jordan … Producer, Director
- Shelley Hull … Associate Producer
- Eric Roth … Writer
- Robert Kimmel Smith … Based on the novel by
- David Shire … Music by
- James Woods … Cast, Paul Clark
- Anne Archer … Cast, Mary Parker
- Missy Crider … Cast, Hilary
- Graham Beckel … Cast, Charlie
- Diane D'Aquila … Cast, Marion
- Keegan MacIntosh … Cast, Bobby
- Barry Bonds … Cast, Himself
- Jeff Irvine … Cast, Paressi
- Carrie Cain-Sparks … Cast, Gemma
- Eric Keenleyside … Cast, Frank
- Terence Kelly … Cast, Judge
- Fred Henderson … Cast, Tailored Man
- Austin Basile … Cast, Peter
- Debbie Podowski … Cast, Woman #1
- Donna Yamamoto … Cast, Woman #2
- Lossen Chambers … Cast, Mary's Assistant
- Gabrielle Miller … Cast, Girl
- Michael McCormick … Cast, Football Player
- Robyn Driscoll … Cast, Limo Driver