JAMES AT 15 (FIFTEEN) {AKA JAMES AT 16}: THE APPLE TREE, THE SINGING AND GOLD (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about an imaginative teenager's personal experiences and fantasies as he copes with his family's move from Oregon to Boston. James tries to start dating his new friend Paisley, a New England blueblood-type, and she seems to agree. That night, James gets a call from Bob Graham, his old friend from Oregon, who announces that he’s visiting Boston and will be staying with the Hunter family, much to James’s excitement. They arrive that Wednesday, and Bob and James get reacquainted. During their roughhousing, Bob starts hyperventilating and coughing, and James is concerned. However, Bob dismisses the incident, claiming that it is not serious despite having happened before. He reveals that part of the reason for his visit is to visit Massachusetts General Hospital, where there are experts who may be able to treat him for his respiratory disorder. James finds himself unable to sleep that night, and goes down to talk to his parents. They explain to him that Bob has acute myeloid, a form of cancer, and that Bob didn’t tell James so as not to worry him. The next day James offers to meet Bob when he gets back from his testing at the hospital and they agree to go out together. They get pizza together and later, while Bob is asleep, James asks his father for more information about Bob’s condition. James is distressed at the outlook for Bob’s health, and wishes that he could cure his condition. Bob’s mother arrives to drop off a sweater for him. The next day, James introduces Bob to his friends, and Bob is somewhat awkward around them, unused to their mannerisms. Paisley arrives and she and Bob seem to take an immediately liking to each other. While dancing with Paisley, Bob collapses again and James rushes over to help him. He criticizes Sly for joking about Bob’s collapse, but does not tell his friends about Bob’s myeloma. Later, Bob talks to James about Paisley, and confesses that he is in love with her. Bob realizes that James knows about his myeloma, and remarks that James has changed since he last saw him. They talk about Bob’s condition, and he reveals that he is concerned about his future, wondering if he will be cured and be able to move on with his life. He is frightened and feels alone. That weekend, Bob and James go on a bicycle ride with Paisley, Marlene, and Sly. Bob and Paisley grow closer and kiss, but he cannot accompany her around Boston since he has to be in the hospital for a few days for further testing. Bob asks James not to tell Paisley about his condition. He remarks that he and Paisley will be married one day, and James fantasizes about attending their reception. However, in the real world, Bob again contemplates his fate. At school, Paisley inquires about Bob’s whereabouts, and also asks him how Bob feels about her. She is concerned that he hasn’t called her, but James tries to put her at ease. Later, James visits Bob in his hospital room. Bob tells him he is being discharged that day, but that his test results indicate that his recovery may take longer than he expected, although he is eager to get on with his life. Soon Bob has to return to Oregon, and Paisley is distraught over his departure. Bob admits that he loves her, and she reciprocates his feelings. Just before he is to leave for Oregon, Bob asks James to play a song on his flute from their childhood Christmas pageant, and James does so. They bid each other a heartfelt goodbye as Bob is taxied off to the airport with his mother. James hopes that Bob will be able to come back for Christmas, and remarks about his feelings about Bob’s situation. One day, James comes home from school to find his parents waiting for him. They tell him that they have just found out that Bob has died. James quietly tries to find ways to cope with his grief. Later, his mother gives him a letter Bob wrote to him before he died. He reads the letter to his friends; it details his feelings about being in Boston, his love for Paisley, and how he no longer feels alone or afraid about his illness. Paisley is especially distraught, and James gives her Bob’s letter. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 15, 1977 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:56
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:78963
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1977-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Martin Manulis … Executive Producer
- Joseph Hardy … Executive Producer
- Ernest Losso … Producer
- Peter Levin … Director
- Dan Wakefield … Created by
- Ronald Rubin … Writer
- Miles Goodman … Music by
- Lance Kerwin … Cast, James Hunter
- Linden Chiles … Cast, Paul Hunter
- Lynn Carlin … Cast, Joan Hunter
- Kim Richards … Cast, Sandy Hunter
- Deirdre Berthrong … Cast, Kathy Hunter
- Susan Myers … Cast, Marlene
- David Hubbard (See also: David Raynr) … Cast, Ludwig "Sly" Hazeltine
- Perry Lang … Cast, Bob Graham
- Lisa Pelikan … Cast, Paisley
- Sue Ann Gilfillan … Cast, Mrs. Graham