SUDIE AND SIMPSON (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television drama, based on the 1986 novel by Sara Flanigan, tells the story of an inquisitive pre-teen girl's secret friendship with an African-American man in World War II-era Georgia. In the small town of Linlow, where blatant road signs make it clear that black people are not welcome, young Sudie Harrigan sneaks into the woods with her friend Mary Agnes Clark and examines a hidden shack. Back at home, Sudie's father quarrels with her mother, as ever, and heads out of town to work at the shoe factory where he is employed, having been exempted from the army by his bad heart. Word spreads throughout Linlow about Mrs. Marge Allen, the glamorous new "Yankee" schoolteacher, while Sudie, alone in the woods, is alarmed to encounter the middle-aged Simpson, the first black person she has ever seen. Simpson, tending to an injured rabbit, assures that, despite what she has heard about his people, he has no intention of harming her, and Sudie in turn gives her word not to tell any of the racist townsfolk that he has secretly taken up residence in the forest shack.
The unlikely pair soon establishes a friendship, and Simpson teaches Sudie to use the word "Negro" rather than the more offensive version to which she is accustomed. Later, she "fixes" the offensive sign from the town and changes it into a message of welcome, much to Simpson's amusement. Unable to confide in Mary Agnes about her new friend, Sudie instead asks her if she has ever "touched a grown man." Sudie tells Simpson about her parents' disagreements and her father's long absences, and Simpson reveals that his wife and baby died in childbirth when they were unable to find a hospital willing to treat black patients. Saddened, he tries to tell Sudie that they can no longer spend time together, but Sudie stubbornly refuses to abandon her friend.
Later, Sudie admits to Mary Agnes that she has committed a "bad sin," indirectly explaining that she was repeatedly molested by their schoolteacher, Earl Rice, and believes it to be her own fault. Guessing that a "Yankee" will be more understanding, Sudie attempts to tell Mrs. Allen about Simpson, and Simpson later surprises Sudie with a small hideout that he has constructed for her. Sudie at first takes the gesture as rejection, but Simpson assures her that they can remain friends as long as she does not take the risk of visiting him at his home. Sudie brings Mary Agnes to her "secret place," claiming that her father built it for her, and she is confused when Mary Agnes suddenly "becomes a woman." When Mr. Rice corners and assaults Sudie again after a school function, she flees to Simpson, who kindly comforts her and then secretly escorts her back home. Sudie and Simpson soon begin work on a garden, and Sudie, examining the colors of the earth, concludes that all people are simply "made out of dust" and must therefore all be equal.
Mary Agnes briefly spots Sudie interacting with Simpson, though Sudie quickly fibs that he is a random passerby and no one else in town believes her claim of spotting a black person within Linlow's borders. Mary Agnes soon spots Mr. Rice with an even younger girl, Clara Mae, and struggles to explain to her other friend Nettie about the adult man's "needs." Sudie surprises Simpson with a kindhearted gift but finds him seriously ill in bed, and she begs an uncertain Mrs. Allen for help. She introduces the two adults, and Mrs. Allen quickly realizes that Simpson is an honorable man who genuinely cares for the girl. Sudie eventually tells Mary Agnes the truth about her secret friend, urging her to stop using the common racial epithets. When two unfriendly locals come across Simpson in his garden, he explains that he works for a Mr. Crowder in the next town and claims that he only comes to Linlow's edge once a week to work on the crops. The men leave without incident, and Simpson reassures a frightened Sudie, telling her that he loves her like his own daughter. Moved, Sudie finally confesses the truth about Mr. Rice's actions against her and several other girls, and Simpson firmly assures her that she is not at fault and urges her to tell an authority figure.
Though sure that she will not be believed, as she has been repeatedly told about girls' apparent seductive power over men, Sudie tells Mrs. Allen about Rice, and Allen, having received a note from Simpson on the same subject, immediately rushes to Principal Etheridge with the disturbing news. Etheridge refuses to believe it, and Mary Agnes and Nettie cannot bring themselves to speak up about their trauma. When Clara Mae goes missing, Allen and Sudie discover that Simpson, knowing that he will be unfairly blamed, has fled. The townsfolk soon find his recently abandoned shack and garden, and when Clara Mae is discovered in a state of mute shock, Mary Agnes' father recalls her strange story about spotting a black man in town and begins to draw the predictable conclusions. Allen takes Sudie to Dr. Walter Stubbs, who also believes her claims about Rice, and he addresses the townsfolk at large, explaining that Clara Mae is one of several girls that have been victimized and shamed into keeping quiet.
Suddenly, Simpson reappears along with Mr. Crowder, and Crowder firmly defends his employee against any accusations of wrongdoing. Simpson gently encourages Sudie to tell the truth, and she finally reveals that Rice is the true predator. Etheridge again attempts to defend him, but the town turns on Rice and hauls him away to face justice. Later, Simpson reaffirms his love for Sudie and suggests that they were brought together by divine intervention, but concludes that they "can't change the world" and put an end to racism. He decides to head for Houston, where his brother are currently living, and gives her a sweet parting gift. Later, the local kids rip down the offensive anti-black sign, deciding that Linlow will no longer hold such views. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Lifetime
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:12
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 103940
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama; Racism - Drama; World War II; Child molesters
- SERIES RUN: Lifetime - TV, 1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Donald March … Executive Producer
- Carroll Newman … Supervising Producer
- Richard J. Freed … Producer
- Ira Laufer … Producer
- Joan Tewkesbury … Director
- Ken Koser … Writer
- Sara Flanigan Carter (see also: Sara Flanigan) … Writer, Based on the book by
- Michel Colombier … Music by
- Louis Gossett Jr. … Cast, Simpson
- Sara Gilbert … Cast, Sudie Harrigan
- John Jackson … Cast, Dr. Walter Stubbs
- Frances Fisher … Cast, Mrs. Marge Allen
- Paige Danahy … Cast, Mary Agnes Clark
- Ken Strong … Cast, Mr. Harrigan
- Robby Preddy … Cast, Mrs. Hester Harrigan
- Larry Black … Cast, Mr. Etheridge
- Scott Higgs … Cast, Lem Coker
- Howard Kingkade … Cast, Earl Rice
- Tim Powell … Cast, Mr. Clark
- Linda Pierce … Cast, Mrs. Clark
- Jane Smithwick … Cast, Nettie
- Wallace Wilkinson … Cast, Preacher Miller
- Amanda Pillow … Cast, Clara Mae
- Sherry Foster … Cast, Mrs. McMillian
- Tom Nowicki … Cast, Mr. McMillian
- Ted Manson … Cast, Mr. Henderson
- Ed Grady … Cast, Mr. Crowder
- Reid Binion … Cast, Billy Harrigan
- Larry Shuler … Cast, Hunter #1
- David Lenthall … Cast, Hunter #2
- Benji Wilhoite … Cast, Bully #1
- Troy Florence … Cast, Bully #2
- Kathy Thomas … Cast, Girl #1
- Melanie Parks-Webster … Cast, Girl #2