SARAH: PLAIN AND TALL: WINTER'S END (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic specials presented by Hallmark. In this second sequel to the drama "Sarah, Plain and Tall," Jacob and Sarah Witting deal with the return of a man from Jacob's past while enduring one of Kansas's harshest winters.
The production begins in 1918 as Sarah worries about the "grown-up" Anna moving into town to become a full-time nurse to Dr. Sam Hartley, the father of Anna's boyfriend Justin. Anna tells Sarah of her worries for Justin's safety in Europe, where he remains as a World War I soldier. As Caleb plays with half-sister Cassie, a stranger emerges from the barn and asks Cassie for her father's name, taking satisfaction in learning that it's Jacob. Sarah and Caleb find the stranger and offer him lodging. The man says his name is John, and reveals that he came to see Jacob. In town, Jacob takes Anna to Sam's home, where Sam tells them of a letter he just received from Justin.
The next morning, Jacob returns from town and identifies John as his long-absent father. Jacob later tells Sarah how he remembers John deserting the family. Jacob wants John to leave since he can't forgive him. Later, John admits to Sarah that he returned to "see how the story came out" regarding the farm he once owned. When Sarah finds John taking mysterious pills, she insists that he get medical help from Sam and Anna. Later, Sam tells John that he has a potentially fatal heart condition.
That night in the barn, Jacob and John discuss their past, with John stating that his wife -- Cassie's namesake -- drove him away due to her hatred for the prairie. The two fight and Jacob's leg is broken. With Sam unable to get to the house, John sets Jacob's leg, having been a medic during the Spanish Civil War. Afterward, Sarah and John exchange stories about their earlier lives. That night, Sam says Jacob must rest and can't tend to the farm's chores. When John volunteers to help, Sam warns that the work might kill him. Regardless, John does chores with Caleb, who admits to John that he loves him.
In town, Sam reads a telegram to Anna stating that Justin has been injured and was sent back to the States. As a blizzard hits, the family becomes closer when forced to band together. When Caleb goes to the barn to check on a mare about to foal, he spends the night with the animals. A worried Sarah goes to find him, but becomes lost in the storm. The next morning, John and Sarah discover her nearly frozen body. With John and Jacob's help, Sarah is revived.
Back in town, Anna reads a letter from Justin, then hears that Justin is in a New York hospital. Sarah relays the news to Jacob, then encourages him to reconcile with John. Jacob subsequently asks John why he never wrote to him after leaving. John reveals that Cassie returned all letters sent to Jacob. John admits to deep unhappiness with Cassie and recalls thinking that they'd be better apart, though he always regretted his actions. Jacob and John's rapport warms further as spring arrives. On Easter, the family gathers to celebrate, just as Sam drives up with Justin for a reunion with Anna. Commercials deleted. This program is closed-captioned.
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which, since 1952, has aired under the title "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 21, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:38:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:87082
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations; Kansas; Families
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Glenn Close … Executive Producer
- William Self … Executive Producer
- Ed Self … Supervising Producer
- Glenn Jordan … Producer, Director
- Patricia MacLachlan … Co-Producer, Writer, Based on the book "Caleb's Story" by
- David Shire … Music by
- Glenn Close … Cast, Sarah Witting
- Christopher Walken … Cast, Jacob Witting
- George Hearn … Cast, Sam Hartley
- Lexi Randall … Cast, Anna Witting
- Christopher Bell … Cast, Caleb Witting
- Emily Osment … Cast, Cassie Witting
- Jack Palance … Cast, John Witting
- Betty Laird … Cast, May Parkley
- Calen Pick … Cast, Justin Hartley
- Delno Ebie … Cast, Farmer