IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie concerns three women, from different generations and social climates, who have lived in the same house and have faced the same difficult decisions concerning abortion. The first segment takes place in 1952 and focuses on a young widow, Claire Donnelly, who becomes pregnant six months after her husband's death. Still in mourning for her husband and relying on her in-laws for financial and emotional support, she feels unable to continue her pregnancy. Since she is a nurse in a hospital, she tries to question co-workers discreetly about abortion, but because the procedure is illegal they are unwilling to discuss it with her. A neighborhood woman refers to a notorious house to which women are rumored to go in times of desperation, but Claire is afraid for her safety. She tries to induce a miscarriage herself but soon realizes that she needs professional help. She knows that the identity of the baby's father makes it impossible for her to bring the baby into the world so when she learns of a man who performs abortions in her area, she immediately agrees to the conditions. She realizes that there are serious health risks involved, but few options are available to single, lower-income women.
Next, 1974 finds the Barrows family in the home in which Claire Donnelly used to live. Barbara Barrows is a wife and mother of four who has recently returned to college. Although her family life is fulfilling, it is also hectic, and she struggles to balance it with her school workload. When Barbara finds out that she has accidentally become pregnant, it forces her to reexamine her life and reconsider her priorities. Although her husband was not anticipating having another child, he is willing to sacrifice in order to provide for it. Barbara does not want to further delay her own education, however; nor does she want to force her daughter Linda to study in a second-rate university because of financial constraints. Linda, the epitome of the young 1970s feminist, encourages her mother to get an abortion and focus on her own fulfillment. After serious deliberation, Barbara finally makes a difficult decision that will affect her own future and that of her family.
By 1996, the Donnelly and Barrows home has become a residence for college students. An architecture student named Christine lives there with her best friend Patti and several other classmates. Christine's dilemna is that she has become pregnant during an affair with her married professor. When the professor learns of her pregnancy, he abruptly ends the relationship and gives Christine money to handle the situation because he is afraid that his wife will find out. Christine comes from a strict Catholic family and is tormented by the issue of abortion. Patti urges her to carry out the pregnancy, but Christine does not want to. She goes alone to a women's clinic to learn about abortion but is confronted in the parking lot by a group of women who have organized to encourage pregnant women to choose birth over abortion. Although she is initially confused by the protesters' message, Christine returns to the clinic the following day with Patti's support. That day an enormous and violent protest surrounds the clinic, and it eventually explodes with tragic consequences. This program is closed-captioned.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: October 13, 1996 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:37:45
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59509
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Women's Collection - Drama; Drama; Abortion
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1996
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Suzanne Todd … Executive Producer
- Demi Moore … Executive Producer
- J. J. Klein … Associate Producer
- Laura Greenlee … Line Producer
- For "1952":
- Nancy Savoca … Director, Writer
- Pamela Wallace … Writer, Story by
- Demi Moore … Cast, Claire Donnelly
- Shirley Knight … Cast, Mary Donnelly
- Catherine Keener … Cast, Becky
- Jason London … Cast, Kevin Donnelly
- C.C.H. Pounder … Cast, Jenny Ford
- Kevin Cooney … Cast, Dr. Kramer
- Robin Gammell … Cast, Jim Donnelly
- Phyllis Lyons … Cast, Audrey
- Aaron Lustig … Cast, Tom
- Dena Burton … Cast, the Young Nurse
- Marie CeCicco … Cast, Annie Ross
- Lorna Scott … Cast, Louise
- Mary Portser … Cast, Margaret
- Anne Weldon … Cast, the Nurse
- Vaughn Armstrong … Cast, the Painter
- Jack Kehler … Cast, the Cab Driver
- Tim DeKay … Cast, Becky's Husband
- Jamy Myatt … Cast, Rose
- Bob Shuttlesworth … Cast, the Hospital Visitor
- For "1974":
- Nancy Savoca … Director, Writer
- Susan Nanus … Writer
- Sissy Spacek … Cast, Barbara Barrows
- Xander Berkeley … Cast, John Barrows
- Hedy Burress … Cast, Linda Barrows
- Janna Michaels … Cast, Sally Barrows
- Ian Bohen … Cast, Scott Barrows
- Zack Eginton … Cast, Ryan Barrows
- Joanna Gleason … Cast, Julia
- Harris Yulin … Cast, Professor Sporas
- Jordana Spiro … Cast, Alison
- Michael David Carter … Cast, a student
- Tiffany Kyler … Cast, a student
- Chester … Cast, himself
- For "1996":
- Cher … Director
- I. Marlene King … Writer
- Nancy Savoca … Writer
- Cher (See Also: La Pierre, Cherilyn) … Cast, Dr. Beth Thompson
- Anne Heche … Cast, Christine Cullen
- Jada Pinkett … Cast, Patti
- Eileen Brennan … Cast, Tessie
- Lindsay Crouse … Cast, Frances White
- Craig T. Nelson … Cast, Jim Harris
- Diana Scarwid … Cast, Marcia Shulman
- Lorraine Toussaint … Cast, Shameka Webb
- Rita Wilson … Cast, Leslie
- La Piere, Georganne … Cast, the Clinic Director
- Sally Murphy … Cast, Doreen
- Rusty Schwimmer … Cast, a prayer group member
- Christine Avila … Cast, a prayer group member
- Chris Ellis … Cast, the Crowd Leader
- Matthew Lillard … Cast, a young couple
- Susie Spear … Cast, a young couple
- Brendan Ford … Cast, Corey
- Rob Camilletti … Cast, the Photographer
- Sarah Koskoff … Cast, the Female Testimonial
- Robert Wisdom … Cast, the Policeman
- Judith Drake … Cast, the Angry Woman
- Geoffrey Nauffts … Cast, the Angry Man
- Ben Marley … Cast, the Man in Crowd
- Carmer Thomas … Cast, the Nurse
- Aaron Cash … Cast, David
- Hilda Manos … Cast, the Second Hand Rose Clerk