ABC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: EVERYBODY'S BABY: THE RESCUE OF JESSICA MCCLURE (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie, based on true events, is about the rescue of baby Jessica McClure from an abandoned backyard well in Midland, Texas. The program opens as police officers Manny Beltran and Andy Glasscock discuss the economy while cruising the streets in their patrol car. That afternoon, Cissy McClure takes a phone call while watching children at her sister Jamie’s house, and her daughter, eighteen-month-old Jessica, falls down a pipe-like well with an eight-inch-wide opening, disappearing from sight. Upon hearing her cries, Cissy runs to call rescue workers as Manny and Andy rush to the scene. Police chief Richard Czech and Carolyn Henry of the Victims Assistance Program also learn about the emergency situation. When a pile driver is brought in, it’s feared that the vibrations will make the baby slip further. Soon, a slew of emergency workers are on the scene, accompanied by members of the press. Meanwhile, Jamie arrives, taking in the scene. Then, Richard and Fire Chief Jim Roberts – who share a contentious relationship -- learn the latest, with Richard claiming that Jessica will be rescued in a couple hours. Meanwhile, Carolyn continues consoling Cissy, thinking she should alert her husband, Chip, at work. Later, Jim plots “Plan A,” with designs to dig a rescue shaft parallel to the well and then drill a tunnel across to the child. Then, the drilling begins as Chip is alerted to the situation by police officer Sally Jo Francis. Chip wonders why Cissy waited four hours to tell him. Meanwhile, the drilling runs into some impenetrable rocks, requiring a harder bit to get through them. At the same time, Richard is sure that Jessica will be rescued before nightfall, though he quickly changes his thoughts on the situation.
More press begins to arrive, headed by TV reporter Rodney Wunsch, with all wanting to speak with the McClures. Carolyn claims the McClures are still in shock, unsure why the rescue is taking so long. By night, a spelunker arrives to help out, as does a local physician, Dr. Fitzpatrick. After the child passes the fourteen-hour mark in the pipe, Dr. Fitzpatrick claims Jessica can go perhaps two days without water before dehydrating. Late that night, after getting some shut-eye, Cissy speaks with Carolyn and learns that the program coordinator is a grandmother. After reflecting on Jessica’s birth, Cissy says that she blames herself for the situation. By morning, local resident Charles Boler and his boy Ribble pitch in with the rescue efforts. Soon, more rescue ideas are coming from people like the persistent Bill Jones, with his idea for a high-powered water-driven drill. Cissy begins cracking while Chip is frustrated by not being allowed to help. Paramedics Robert O’Donnell and Steve Forbes make plans for going down into the parallel hole. After twenty-eight hours, the press tries to get into the McClure house to speak with Cissy. Next, mine disaster expert Thomas Kaye arrives to offer his advice. Later, Chip makes a statement to the press after practicing his speech. Then, a New York inventor arrives in town with a fabric-grabbing device that he claims can rescue Jessica. Rodney takes Andy to task for the slow rescue. Richard counsels Rodney and says that he needs to go home and rest. That night, Cissy and Chip console each other as the situation appears without a solution. By morning, Bill finally gets to explain his idea in detail for rescuing Jessica and is allowed by Jim to bring in the equipment. Later, Carolyn learns that Jessica has become the world’s biggest news story.
After not hearing Jessica in the well for five hours, Andy and Manny wonder about the child’s status, hoping she’s asleep. Dr. Fitzpatrick discusses the onset of dehydration, and how that could cause Jessica to slip down further. Eventually, the drill finally breaks through into the well shaft, and a mild celebration ensues. Thomas inserts a steel rod from the tunnel to prevent more potential slippage for the little girl. Bill’s equipment finally arrives with three experts from Houston, though the rescue workers no longer see a need for it. Robert is sent into the parallel hole as Steve monitors the situation beside him. Robert, who says the tunnel is “like a grave,” can’t move but can hear Jessica and is soon touching her leg. However, he doesn’t believe he can extract Jessica and goes back above ground. By Friday night, the city’s support system intensifies as the rescue enters its fifty-sixth hour. The rescuers finally begin to use Bill’s water drill to widen the tunnel leading to Jessica. As Robert returns into the parallel hole, Thomas says this is their last chance to save the child. As they get closer, Richard tells Cissy and Chip the plan for what will happen if Jessica is plucked from the well and needs to go to the hospital. Finally, after coating the well’s walls with petroleum jelly, Robert is able to retrieve the crying Jessica after fifty-eight hours in the well and pull her into the tunnel with him. The child and two paramedics are subsequently brought to the surface as the crowd around erupts in applause. As Jessica is taken to the hospital with Cissy and Chip, all celebrate the triumph. Jim and Robert finally make peace after agreeing that they helped to pull off “a miracle.” Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 21, 1989 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:34:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:20298
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Texas; Children; Rescues
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ted Field … Executive Producer
- Dick Berg … Executive Producer
- Patricia Clifford … Executive Producer
- John Kander II … Co-Executive Producer
- Diana Kerew … Producer
- Mel Damski … Director
- David Eyre, Jr. … Writer
- Mark Snow … Music by
- Beau Bridges … Cast, Richard Czech
- Pat Hingle … Cast, James Roberts
- Roxana Zal … Cast, Cissy McClure
- Will Oldham … Cast, Chip McClure
- Whip Hubley … Cast, Robert O'Donnell
- Robin Gammell … Cast, Thomas Kaye
- Walter Olkewicz … Cast, Andy Glasscock
- Jack Rader … Cast, James White
- Rudy Ramos … Cast, Manny Beltran
- Guy Stockwell … Cast, Bill Jones
- Daryl Anderson … Cast, Richard Armstrong
- Mills Watson … Cast, Charles Boler
- Bo Foxworth … Cast, Steve Forbes
- Robin Frates … Cast, Jamie Moore
- Don Hood … Cast, Alan Doyle
- Patty Duke (See also: Patty Duke Astin) … Cast, Carolyn Henry
- Randy Crowder … Cast, Phil
- Jessie Jones … Cast, Dr. Fitzpatrick
- Mark Davenport … Cast, Texas Electric Workman
- Molly McClure … Cast, Mrs. Sprague
- Carmen Filpi … Cast, Cotto
- T.V. Reeves … Cast, First Reporter
- Kate Finlayson … Cast, Sally Jo Francis
- Nancy Stephens … Cast, Second Reporter
- Scott Fults … Cast, Ribble Boler
- Hank Woessner … Cast, First Rock Driller
- Rodney Wunsch … Cast, Himself
- Laura Loesch … Cast, Jessica McClure
- Dean Abston … Cast
- Michelle Harrell … Cast
- Steven Barr … Cast
- Jeff Heston … Cast
- William Brochtrup … Cast
- Tom Christopher … Cast
- Tim Dezarn … Cast
- Rosemary Moritz … Cast
- Connie Evans … Cast
- Steve Prutting … Cast
- Dale Swann … Cast