WE’LL MEET AGAIN

US, 2002, 90 minutes, Colour.
Laura Leighton, Brandy Ledford, Gedeon Burkhard, Andrew Jackson, Anne Openshaw, Bryan Genesse, Paula Shaw.
Directed by Michael Story.

We’ll meet again is one of many version of Mary Higgins Clark’s novels. It has been written and filmed in the vein of many of the Danielle Steele novels. Romance, glamour, and a murder mystery.

Laura Leighton has a strong screen presence as a journalist who had left the small town after the suicide of her father who had been accused of embezzling moneys and returns as a journalist. School friend, played by Brandy Ledford, has been released from prison after six years for allegedly murdering her husband though she has amnesia.

This sets the scene for interaction between the two women, their school friends now professionals, the housekeeper and her mentally-impaired son. It is fairly clear that the wife did not murder her husband – but there are a lot of complications from the hospital, malpractice at the hospital, secret files, doctors having affairs with nurses.

If one is led to suspect the most unlikely character, one could probably see who one of the murders is. The other one, in retrospect, also seems obvious. However, the film gives clues while leading audiences away from the suspects.

This is telemovie material along the lines of soap operas.

1.The popularity of Mary Higgins Clark’s novels? Their murder mysteries, their characters – and suitability for a wide range of readers?

2.The affluent setting, the town, mansions, hospitals? Newspaper offices? The musical score?

3.The focus on Molly, her declaration in the court, acceptance of the prison sentence, unable to remember, accepting her fate? Her release after six years? Her lawyer, the press wanting an interview? Her return home? Mrs Barry and the care of the house? Her attempts to remember, sounds suggesting themselves, images? The encounter with Fran, wanting to meet her, openly discussing her plans to find out who the murderer was? Their collaboration? Molly and her friendship with Jenna, visiting her twice a week in prison? The nastiness of Jenna’s husband, Nick? The friendship with Doctor Peter Gaynes? Molly and tracking down the nurse, meeting her at the diner, discovering her dead body? The pressures on Molly, her having an inner resolve? The dangers from Jenna, the champagne, her recovering consciousness, saving Fran from Jenna’s attack? The happy ending?

4.Fran, her background, her life in the town, at school, her father, the accusation of embezzlement, the disdain of the townspeople, her mother taking her to New York? Her not wanting to return? The job at the paper, the editor and interactions with him? His giving her the assignment, watching Molly come from prison? The phone calls, the meetings, discussions? Her own investigative journalism? Interviews with people, the woman at the cafeteria giving her information about the two murders? Information from Molly? Meeting Jenna and Nick, the meal, Nick and his hostility? Edna Barry and her hostility? Meeting with Peter, agreeable, on the rounds, finding the young woman in coma? Going to the stables, the attraction towards Peter? His explanations of the situation, the murders, the secret files?

5.Jenna, the good friend, visiting Molly in prison twice a week for six years, the marriage with Nick, their clashes? Jenna helping Molly? Nick and his behaviour at the dinner, warning Fran off? The interactions with Peter? The hospital, wanting to do the deal? Public relations? The revelation to Fran about her father’s money, his being the occasion for her father killing himself?

6.Edna, gossiping with the neighbour, her son, her suspicions, the issue of the keys? Her son and his concern for Molly? The plausibility of his murderer as explained by Fran to the lawyer? His collapse, his mother taking him away, his disagreement with his mother? The fact that he saw Gary dead? Looking in the window at Molly?

7.Audiences not being suspicious of Peter, the meetings with Fran, the attraction, the kiss? The revelation of the truth, discussions with Nick, his lies to Fran? The murder of the first doctor, his being guilty of malpractice? His killing the nurse? Chasing Fran in the car and trying to make her crash?

8.The nurse, Molly contacting her, the meeting, her telling the truth, her expectations about Gary and love? The pregnancy, adoption? Her being murdered? Her sister visiting Fran and explaining the situation?

9.Fran, her conversations, the man at the diner, building up the information? Finding out that Peter was lying? Going to the stables, the confrontation, his attempt to kill her, her kneeing him, getting in the car, his holding onto the car, his falling off, his death?

10.A satisfactory resolution to the mystery? And happy ever after for the survivors?