In the Best Interest of the Children
Encyclopedia
In the Best Interest of the Children is a fact-based TV film starring Sarah Jessica Parker
who plays a woman struggling with manic-depression
while raising her five children. This leads to the children eventually being taken from her and put in foster care.
The film was partially shot in Marengo, Iowa
, roughly 30 miles west of Iowa City.
's "Take Me Home, Country Roads
" as she moves back to her hometown of Estherville, Iowa
with her 4 young daughters (plus another baby on the way) and boyfriend Ray (Hodges). Despite the initially optimistic mood and the efforts of Callie's brother John (Graham) and sister-in-law Wanda (Atkinson) to try and help them, Ray (the father of youngest child Jason, who is frequently abusive towards the children) has no interest in working, and Callie rebuffs Wanda's suggestion that she continue treatment for the manic depression she suffers from. As a result, the family soon finds themselves living in poverty, with oldest child Jessi (Randall) forced to play mother to her younger sisters (Julie, Susan, and Cindy) and brother. A short time later, Ray leaves them after Jessi threatens to kill him if he ever touches any of them again, and Callie continues on a downward spiral, drinking and crawling into bed with men while neglecting her children.
Sensing his sister has some serious problems, John notifies the authorities, who send social worker Donna Evans (Barnes) to the house. After initially attempting to avoid her, Callie agrees to undergo treatment for her disorder, on the condition that John and Wanda don't get custody of her children (despite their willingness to take them in).
The Cain children, initially resentful that their mother put them in foster care
, are taken in by Patty and Harlan Pepper (Struthers and Johnston). Immediately loving the kids, Patty raises the possibility of her and Harlan becoming their adoptive parents, should Callie not be released, but Donna reminds her not to get ahead of herself. However, between the fact that the children are not only thriving in the Peppers' care, but also referring to them as "Mom" and "Dad", Patty soon becomes more determined to win custody, particularly after seeing the effects that the children suffer after their required visits with Callie at the hospital.
A difficult legal battle soon ensues and drags on over a period of two years, as Callie seems to be doing better and believes the Peppers somehow "brainwashed" the children against her, with John equally frustrated that he's been unable to see them. The court initially sides with Callie, declaring the children must be returned to her by the end of the year, but an incident on Halloween
where Jessi and younger sister Julie (Campbell) attempt to purchase sleeping pills from a local drugstore to use in a possible suicide attempt, soon turns the tide. The story generates outrage, with the children telling reporters that they don't want to go back to Callie and would rather remain with their "real Mom and Dad", and a flood of angry mail castigating the legal system's failure to act in the children's best interest soon follows. As a result, Patty is informed that the decision to move the children has been postponed until next year, resulting in a merry Christmas
for all of them.
Unfortunately, their happiness proves to be short-lived. Four months later, after much consideration, the presiding judge rules that the children be removed from Patty and Harlan's care. After a tearful farewell that generates more media attention, the children are placed in the care of the state, during which time they begin receiving therapy. During one of these sessions, Julie expresses anger towards her older sister for things not working out, despite Jessi's promise that they would, and tells her she's "just like Callie". Later, Jessi tearfully tells her therapist that she tried her hardest, but was overwhelmed by the adult role she attempted to fill. Meanwhile, all is not well for Harlan and Patty, whose marriage is deteriorating as a result of the grief caused by the children's removal.
In a subsequent therapy session, Callie joins Jessi and admits to her past poor judgments, but asks for another chance. However, Jessi angrily reminds Callie that she gave her 10 years worth of chances, only for her and her siblings to be shoved aside every time Callie brought another man home. Jessi also points out that while she was taking care of the other kids and her mother, no one took care of her, and she accuses Callie of never really loving her. Angered by this apparent rejection, Callie runs from the center and suddenly disappears, thus detouring the original plan of eventually returning the children to her. Nor is there an alternate workable plan, as the current foster placement is only short-term, Harlan and Patty have split, and the kids blame their Uncle John for having them removed.
After an argument with Wanda over the situation, John storms out of the house and climbs in his truck, which refuses to start. Angrily, he pounds the steering wheel, but Callie pops up in the backseat and tells him to stop. At this point, he attempts to convince Callie to go back to the hospital, but she refuses, and an argument breaks out. Pleading with his sister to go back, John tearfully promises to care for the children as if they were his own, and she finally agrees.
Callie explains the situation to her kids, who want to know why their Uncle John and Aunt Wanda never stepped in to help them before. At this point, Callie admits she refused to accept their help because of her illness, but assures the kids that the decision of where they will live is up to them. The younger children look to Jessi as to what they should do, but she snaps and tells them "I don't know everything, I'm just a kid. Take a vote or something!" and runs after Callie. After catching up, she tells her mother "good luck, Mom", making an apparent peace with her, and Callie later bids goodbye to her children as they leave with John and Wanda, whom they have decided to live with. The film ends in the same manner as it opened, with the children singing a rendition of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", eventually joined by their aunt and uncle.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
who plays a woman struggling with manic-depression
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
while raising her five children. This leads to the children eventually being taken from her and put in foster care.
The film was partially shot in Marengo, Iowa
Marengo, Iowa
Marengo is a city in and the county seat of Iowa County, Iowa, United States. It has served as the county seat since August 1845, even though it was not incorporated until July 1859. The population was 2,528 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,535 in the 2000 census. -Geography:Marengo's longitude...
, roughly 30 miles west of Iowa City.
Plot
The film opens with Callie Cain (Parker) leading her kids in singing along to John DenverJohn Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's "Take Me Home, Country Roads
Take Me Home, Country Roads
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a song written by John Denver, Taffy Nivert, and Bill Danoff and initially recorded by John Denver. It was included on his 1971 breakout album Poems, Prayers and Promises; the single went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" as she moves back to her hometown of Estherville, Iowa
Estherville, Iowa
Estherville is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,360 in the 2010 census, a decline from 6,656 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Emmet County. Estherville is home to the main campus of Iowa Lakes Community College...
with her 4 young daughters (plus another baby on the way) and boyfriend Ray (Hodges). Despite the initially optimistic mood and the efforts of Callie's brother John (Graham) and sister-in-law Wanda (Atkinson) to try and help them, Ray (the father of youngest child Jason, who is frequently abusive towards the children) has no interest in working, and Callie rebuffs Wanda's suggestion that she continue treatment for the manic depression she suffers from. As a result, the family soon finds themselves living in poverty, with oldest child Jessi (Randall) forced to play mother to her younger sisters (Julie, Susan, and Cindy) and brother. A short time later, Ray leaves them after Jessi threatens to kill him if he ever touches any of them again, and Callie continues on a downward spiral, drinking and crawling into bed with men while neglecting her children.
Sensing his sister has some serious problems, John notifies the authorities, who send social worker Donna Evans (Barnes) to the house. After initially attempting to avoid her, Callie agrees to undergo treatment for her disorder, on the condition that John and Wanda don't get custody of her children (despite their willingness to take them in).
The Cain children, initially resentful that their mother put them in foster care
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
, are taken in by Patty and Harlan Pepper (Struthers and Johnston). Immediately loving the kids, Patty raises the possibility of her and Harlan becoming their adoptive parents, should Callie not be released, but Donna reminds her not to get ahead of herself. However, between the fact that the children are not only thriving in the Peppers' care, but also referring to them as "Mom" and "Dad", Patty soon becomes more determined to win custody, particularly after seeing the effects that the children suffer after their required visits with Callie at the hospital.
A difficult legal battle soon ensues and drags on over a period of two years, as Callie seems to be doing better and believes the Peppers somehow "brainwashed" the children against her, with John equally frustrated that he's been unable to see them. The court initially sides with Callie, declaring the children must be returned to her by the end of the year, but an incident on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
where Jessi and younger sister Julie (Campbell) attempt to purchase sleeping pills from a local drugstore to use in a possible suicide attempt, soon turns the tide. The story generates outrage, with the children telling reporters that they don't want to go back to Callie and would rather remain with their "real Mom and Dad", and a flood of angry mail castigating the legal system's failure to act in the children's best interest soon follows. As a result, Patty is informed that the decision to move the children has been postponed until next year, resulting in a merry Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
for all of them.
Unfortunately, their happiness proves to be short-lived. Four months later, after much consideration, the presiding judge rules that the children be removed from Patty and Harlan's care. After a tearful farewell that generates more media attention, the children are placed in the care of the state, during which time they begin receiving therapy. During one of these sessions, Julie expresses anger towards her older sister for things not working out, despite Jessi's promise that they would, and tells her she's "just like Callie". Later, Jessi tearfully tells her therapist that she tried her hardest, but was overwhelmed by the adult role she attempted to fill. Meanwhile, all is not well for Harlan and Patty, whose marriage is deteriorating as a result of the grief caused by the children's removal.
In a subsequent therapy session, Callie joins Jessi and admits to her past poor judgments, but asks for another chance. However, Jessi angrily reminds Callie that she gave her 10 years worth of chances, only for her and her siblings to be shoved aside every time Callie brought another man home. Jessi also points out that while she was taking care of the other kids and her mother, no one took care of her, and she accuses Callie of never really loving her. Angered by this apparent rejection, Callie runs from the center and suddenly disappears, thus detouring the original plan of eventually returning the children to her. Nor is there an alternate workable plan, as the current foster placement is only short-term, Harlan and Patty have split, and the kids blame their Uncle John for having them removed.
After an argument with Wanda over the situation, John storms out of the house and climbs in his truck, which refuses to start. Angrily, he pounds the steering wheel, but Callie pops up in the backseat and tells him to stop. At this point, he attempts to convince Callie to go back to the hospital, but she refuses, and an argument breaks out. Pleading with his sister to go back, John tearfully promises to care for the children as if they were his own, and she finally agrees.
Callie explains the situation to her kids, who want to know why their Uncle John and Aunt Wanda never stepped in to help them before. At this point, Callie admits she refused to accept their help because of her illness, but assures the kids that the decision of where they will live is up to them. The younger children look to Jessi as to what they should do, but she snaps and tells them "I don't know everything, I'm just a kid. Take a vote or something!" and runs after Callie. After catching up, she tells her mother "good luck, Mom", making an apparent peace with her, and Callie later bids goodbye to her children as they leave with John and Wanda, whom they have decided to live with. The film ends in the same manner as it opened, with the children singing a rendition of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", eventually joined by their aunt and uncle.
Epilogue
As a result of the public consciousness raised by the real-life Cain children's experience, the Iowa State Legislature subsequently enacted new laws regarding the rights of foster children. The children themselves were subsequently adopted by their aunt and uncle, and continued to visit their mother frequently, though she was still battling mental illness.Cast
- Sarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
as Callie Cain - Sally StruthersSally StruthersSally Ann Struthers is an American actress and spokeswoman, best-known for her roles as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy awards, and as Babette on Gilmore Girls.-Personal life:...
as Patty Pepper - Lexi RandallLexi RandallLexi Randall is a former child actor in films and television. She appeared in the film The Long Walk Home and The War with Kevin Costner and Elijah Wood. Randall starred in the three television movies made from the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall...
as Jessica Cain - Gary GrahamGary GrahamGary Graham is an American actor. He is probably best known for his starring role as Detective Matthew Sikes in the television series Alien Nation , which was followed by the TV movies Alien Nation: Dark Horizon , Alien Nation: Body and Soul , Alien Nation: Millennium , Alien Nation: The...
as John Birney - Susan Barnes as Donna Evans
- Jayne AtkinsonJayne AtkinsonJayne Atkinson is an English-born American film, theatre and television actress. She is perhaps best known for the role of Karen Hayes on 24 as well as her Tony Award-nominated roles in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April...
as Wanda Birney - John Dennis Johnston as Harlan Pepper
- Tom Hodges as Ray Jacobs
- Elizabeth Ashley as Carla Scott
- Jessica CampbellJessica CampbellJessica Campbell is a film and television actress. Her appearances include the roles of Tammy Metzler in the 1999 film Election, Julie Gold in the 2001 film The Safety of Objects and the two episode guest role of Amy Andrews in the TV series Freaks and Geeks.-External links:...
as Julie Cain - Lacey Guyon as Susan Cain
- Amanda Laughlin as Cindy Cain (age 5)
- Molly Laughlin as Cindy Cain (age 3)
- Matthew and Mitchell Cook as Jason Cain (age 3)
- Chase and Corey Johnson as Jason Cain (age 2)
- Milo Popp as Cousin Mark Birney
- Jeremy Hopkins as Cousin Bobby Birney
- Sonny and Alex Stinnet as Baby Jason Cain
- Harry Lennix as Tim Coffey
- Jane LynchJane LynchJane Marie Lynch is an American comedian, actress and singer. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently best known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the television series Glee...
as Gwen Hatcher