ABC, 1985
Written by April Smith
Directed by Larry Peerce
Producer April Smith
Co-Producers Rod Paul, Bob Thompson
Cast: Christine Lahti, Sam Waterston, Mary Stuart Masterson, Ricky Paull, Bill Calvert, John Wesley, Keri Houlihan, Jack Thibeau, Kevin Scannell, John Doolittle, Margaret Blye, Brent Hinkley, Charles Sweigart, Eugene Williams, Carrie Hamilton, Billy Kane, Louise Latham, Holly Lauren
Filmed by ABC Circle Films

     This is the true story of Susan Wallace (Mary Stuart Masterson, in her TV-movie debut), a teenage drug-abuser who lived in the working-class town of Bingham, Massachusetts. She spent nine months in a rehab house getting off drugs only to discover she had cancer. Her chances for survival were placed at twenty-five percent. 
     Although she underwent chemotherapy and lost her hair, Susan met Brian (Ricky Paull) and they fell in love. Shortly thereafter, Susan became pregnant. When it was explained the chemotherapy would harm the fetus, Susan was forced to choose between her own survival and the life of her child. She chose to forgo treatment. Her parents were movingly portrayed by Christine Lahti and Sam Waterston.
     It was an honor to work with director Larry Peerce, whose extensive feature credits include two of April's' all-time favorites, A Separate Peace and Goodbye Columbus. Larry Peerce and April traveled to Bingham to meet Susan's real parents, who were raising the baby, Brian, Jr.. Susan's poetry was used in the script. The film was shot in Los Angeles.