ABC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: LOVE AND LIES (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television production, based on a true story, is about detective Kim Paris, who is sent to work undercover to seduce and implicate the suspected murderer of an elderly couple. The program begins in Houston, Texas, as elderly James and Virginia Campbell are murdered at home as they sleep. Two years later, Kim is assigned to pretend she has a flat tire in order to dupe a man suspected of faking his injuries. After a little prodding, the man changes her tire as a photographer snaps away. Meanwhile, back at the detective agency for which Kim works, boss Clyde Wilson mulls the lack of progress in nailing any suspects in the double murder, particularly the couple’s daughter Cindy and her boyfriend at the time, David West. Kim suggests creating a whole new persona for herself in order to investigate David. She decides on the guise of “Teresa McNeil,” discussing David with co-worker Tom. Tom addresses the potential danger Kim faces. Kim uses her seductive skills to weasel her way into David’s birthday party, quickly intriguing the man. Soon they are flirting and discussing the concept of luck. By night’s end, Kim is giving David a ride home. During the drive, Kim and David discuss her life story as Kim has a slight slip-up with her phony persona. She convincingly makes up an excuse on the spot to regain David’s confidence. Once at David’s home, he wonders what the deal is with her and why things feel strange, then asks her for a second date.
That night, Kim’s roommate Sammi wonders if she will have to sleep with David. The next day, waiting for David at a bar, Kim runs into an old acquaintance who nearly blows her cover. She begins to get David to talk about Cindy, after which he tells how her parents were “killed in a car crash.” Later, she discusses “older sister “ Sammi and her controlling husband “Sonny.” The following evening, Kim introduces Sammi to David and they bet on a game of pool. Afterward, David and Kim kiss inside her car, but Kim has to claim she is not yet ready to have sex with him. David seemingly has no problem with delaying any physical action. He tells more about Cindy’s life, and how he her parents treated her badly. David says he changed her from a fat girl into a woman who exercised and read. The next day, Kim goes over her findings on the case with Clyde, who is angered at how Kim is handling the investigation. Kim complains to Sammi about how she is being treated by Clyde, though Sammi thinks Kim just likes role-playing and getting involved with “creeps.” Kim claims that David actually respects her. That night, Kim goes to visit David and he surprises her. Then, Kim explains that she struggles to be intimate due to getting raped a year previous. The next day, Clyde’s colleague, Clinton Posey, speaks with Sergeant Halsey about the Campbell case and “the David West angle.” Clinton explains that Kim has “her hooks” into David, but Clyde is not taking her seriously. He encourages the policeman to speak with Kim.
Later, Kim runs into David on the street and forces Tom to pretend to be Sonny. Tom is not thrilled about being forced to go to dinner with David, Kim, and Sammi. Nevertheless, the trio heads over to David’s home to play their roles. Privately, David tells Tom that he plans to one day marry Kim. Kim is surprised by David’s intentions after he proposes. Later, Kim tells Sammi her fears about where things are headed. Sammi says that Kim has become attracted to David. The next day, Kim tracks down Sgt. Halsey to discuss David. She talks about him having dated Cindy and what he thought about the deaths of James and Virginia. Halsey is truculent to Kim and chases her from the station, calling her “a bimbo.” Kim wonders to Sammi if she should run out on David. Later, Kim tells David that she needs to get away for a while to get things “straight” in her life. David is upset that his beloved has to go away, not understanding why. That night, Kim reveals to Sammi that she told David she loves him. Then, she is visited by Sgt. Halsey and Clinton, who want her to wear a wire to record David. After reluctantly agreeing to the plan, a wired Kim goes to speak with David, asking why he lied to her about the way in which Cindy’s parents died. David wonders how Kim knew he was lying and marvels at her instincts. Kim says she is angered by David’s fabrication and can’t trust him. David subsequently tells Kim that Cindy’s father was molesting her, and that he couldn’t walk out on Cindy until she was OK. David tries to prevent Kim from departing. Sgt. Halsey is mad, thinking Kim “chickened out” by acting like she needs to get away from David.
Ultimately, David admits that he killed the Campbells to help Cindy. Kim then says she has to drive home “to let it all sink in.” The next day, the D.A. and grand jury listen to the recording Kim made. Sgt. Halsey is excited when David gets indicted, complimenting Kim on her job well done. Halsey also reveals that the D.A. wants Kim to visit David one more time wearing a wire, getting him to admit that Cindy was in on the murders. Kim is fearful about reuniting with David. Clyde calls her into his office, complimenting Kim on her performance. Clyde also wants David to place Cindy at the scene of the crime so that they can get the death penalty for David. He infers that she fell for David, preventing her from “tying up the case with a ribbon.” That night, Kim calls David for a date, though Sammi is fearful for Kim. Kim heads to a restaurant to meet David, attempting to learn Cindy’s exact whereabouts during the murders. Sgt. Halsey gives Kim explicit instructions not to go back to David’s place. He also tells her how to make her escape from David so that he may be apprehended. At the restaurant, Kim uses her skills to get some answers from David, during which he admits that Kim was his accomplice at the murder scene. Later, Kim goes against protocol and David nearly discovers her mike. However, she is able to get back to the liquor store meeting point, enabling Sgt. Halsey to arrest David. Kim tearfully watches as David is apprehended. Graphics reveal that David and Cindy are serving life sentences for the murder of her parents. Includes commercials. This program is closed-captioned.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 18, 1990 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:50:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:17706
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Drama, police/private detective; Murder
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1990
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AT&T calling plans
- TV - Commercials - Alberto styling mousse
- TV - Commercials - Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine
- TV - Commercials - Alpo cat food
- TV - Commercials - Aqua-fresh toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Bayer pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - Beef Industry Council and Beef Board
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Clairol Nice 'n Easy hair color
- TV - Commercials - Contac cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - CoverGirl makeup
- TV - Commercials - Delta airlines
- TV - Commercials - Fruit of the Loom underwear
- TV - Commercials - Halls lozenges
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
- TV - Commercials - I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! butter substitute
- TV - Commercials - Isuzu automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Jack in the Box restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Jell-o gelatin
- TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
- TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Maytag dishwashers
- TV - Commercials - National AIDS Network/Musicians for Life
- TV - Commercials - Nike athletic products
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Commercials - Philips light bulbs
- TV - Commercials - Revlon No Sweat deodorant
- TV - Commercials - Shell emergency repair book
- TV - Commercials - Sudafed cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - Vick's Pediatric Formula 44 children's cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
- TV - Promos - "4th Annual American Comedy Awards"
- TV - Promos - "62nd Annual Academy Awards"
- TV - Promos - "Anything But Love"
- TV - Promos - "China Beach"
- TV - Promos - "Dangerous Passion"
- TV - Promos - "Doogie Howser, M.D."
- TV - Promos - "Equal Justice"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Growing Pains"
- TV - Promos - "Head of the Class"
- TV - Promos - "MacGyver"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
- TV - Promos - "The Barbara Walters Special"
- TV - Promos - "thirtysomething"
CREDITS
- Roger Young … Director
- Alan Sharp … Writer
- Patrick Williams … Music by
- Mare Winningham … Cast, Kim Paris
- Peter Gallagher … Cast, David West
- Tom O'Brien … Cast, Tom
- G.W. Bailey … Cast, Sgt. Halsey
- Robert Harper … Cast, Clinton Posey
- Caroline Williams … Cast, Sammi
- M. Emmet Walsh … Cast, Clyde Wilson
- William Shockley … Cast, Steve
- Freyda Rothstein
- Art Levinson
- James Harper
- Garth D. Williams
- William Raulerson
- Brendan Ryan
- Sean B. Ryan
- Dennis Bowen
- Karl Rumburg