Love Lives On

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1985 American TV series or program

Love Lives On

Genre| Drama
Written by| April Smith
Directed by| Larry Peerce
Starring| Sam Waterston
Christine Lahti
Theme music composer| James Di Pasquale
Douglas Brayfield
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
Production
Producers| Rodrick Paul
April Smith
Robert C. Thompson
Production location| Providence, Rhode Island
Cinematography| Gerald Hirschfeld
Editor| Eric A. Sears
Running time| 95 min.
Production companies| ABC Circle Films
Script / Song Productions
Original release
Network| ABC
Release| April 1, 1985 (1985-04-01)

Love Lives On is a fact-based TV film that aired on ABC on April 1, 1985. It was directed by Larry Peerce and starred Mary Stuart Masterson.

## Plot

[edit]

Susan Wallace (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a 14-year-old girl addicted to drugs. After getting high with her best friend Tracy (Lauren Holly), her parents find them both passed out in her bedroom. Her father Bernie (Sam Waterston), a recovered alcoholic, refuses to see his daughter go down the same path, while his wife Marilyn (Christine Lahti) berates her daughter for her stupidity. They issue Susan an ultimatum: get clean or get out.[1]

Several months later, Susan, now clean and sober, is rushed to the hospital when she aspirates fluid during a lake excursion with her rehab group. She is then diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and begins chemotherapy. Susan becomes withdrawn after losing her hair, but Marilyn coaxes her back to the outside, where she meets teenage mechanic Brian (Ricky Paull Goldin).

Some time passes, and Susan and Brian have grown closer. They confide in each other about how their fathers both run away from life. Brian agrees to stay with Susan even after she tells him of her illness, and the two share their first kiss.

Susan and her family go on vacation, which is cut short when Susan's grandfather, a cancer victim who had given up, dies. Brian comforts her at the funeral, and they wind up sleeping together.

Shortly after Susan's 16th birthday, she learns she's pregnant. Her doctor tells her bluntly that if she will continue the chemo, her baby will not survive, and that there are numerous risks, including premature birth, and that she will die if she stops chemo.[2] After much discussion with her family and with Brian, she agrees to a doctor-ordered abortion. However, she gets cold feet the night before, calling Brian to come to the hospital. The neonatologist (Christine Avila) decides to take Brian and Susan to the NICU to show them what their baby might face, hoping it will solidify Susan's decision. Susan, after seeing the premature infants, ultimately decides to keep the baby, even though that will mean stopping the chemo and ultimately shortening her life. Brian yells at her for being selfish. Susan accuses him of just being scared to tell his parents, especially his alcoholic father. Brian confesses he loves her and doesn't want to lose her, and walks off.

A few weeks later, when Brian still hasn't told his parents, Susan's kid sister Christine (Keri Houlihan) takes matters into her own hands and tells Brian's mother Lucille (Margaret Blye). An argument takes place that night, with Bernie and Marilyn on Susan's side, while Brian's father (Jack Thibeau) says they can't afford it. Lucille, an abused wife afraid to leave her husband, is shut down when she tries to offer an opinion. After the Wallaces leave, Brian's father goes after him, and Brian leaves home.

As Susan's cancer spreads, she is put on a morphine pump to manage her pain, as Bernie finally comes to terms with his daughter dying. After a tense conversation between Marilyn and Lucille at the supermarket, Lucille finally stands up to her husband and gets Brian's location from him. She reaches out to Brian at a local racetrack to let him know that Susan is dying. Brian races to the hospital, where he discovers they are moving Susan to a different hospital: she has gone into premature labor.

Brian finally catches up to Susan as the doctors rush her in for an emergency c-section. Her father and longtime oncologist (Joe Regalbuto) are with Susan as she delivers a very premature boy, whom she names after his father.

Marilyn attempts to get Brian to take responsibility for his sick son, Baby Brian, but to no avail. Susan's condition continues to deteriorate. She dies one night shortly after her son's birth, with Bernie, Marilyn, and Brian by her side. Brian, unable to take his grief, walks out in a storm.

That same night, a grieving Bernie and Marilyn share a slow dance in the hallway to a ballad on the radio, “Lullaby”. The song continues to play as Brian walks into the NICU and visits Baby Brian, grasping his finger in a hopeful ending as he appears to finally accept his son. An epilogue reveals that the real “Baby Brian” is normal, happy, and healthy.

## Cast

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* Mary Stuart Masterson as Susan Wallace
* Sam Waterston as Bernie Wallace
* Christine Lahti as Marilyn Wallace
* Joe Regalbuto as Dr. Dan
* Ricky Paull Goldin as Brian
* Margaret Blye as Lucille
* Jack Thibeau as Mike
* Bill Calvert as Matthew
* Keri Houlihan as Christine Wallace
* Lauren Holly as Tracy
* Brent Hinkley as Patrick

## Based on a true story

[edit]

Susan Cummings was 17 when she gave birth to Brian Bobillier Jr. in November 1981,[3] two months before she succumbed to cancer.[4]

## Music

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The songs featured in this film are “Wildflower” and “Lullaby” performed by David Palmer and Amy Holland.[5] The film's composer and lyricist, James Di Pasquale and Douglas Brayfield, won the 1985 Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics.[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ McGuire, Carolyn (April 2, 1985). "LOVE LIVES ON' FOR ADDICT". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
2. ^ O'Connor, John (April 1, 1985). ""A YOUNG GIRL'S DILEMMA IN 'LOVE LIVES ON'."". The New York Times.
3. ^ ""Boy Sleeps During Movie About Mom's Sacrifice"". AP News. April 2, 1985.
4. ^ ""Three Years Ago, Susan Cummings -- 17, Pregnant, And..."". UPI. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
5. ^ ""Love Lives On"". Library of Congress. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
6. ^ Emmy Awards on IMDb

## External links

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* Love Lives On at IMDb

* v
* t
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Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics

1970s|

* Love, American Style – Music and Lyrics by Charles Fox and Arnold Margolin (1970)
* The First Nine Months Are the Hardest – Music and Lyrics by Ray Charles (1971)
* The Funny Side – Music and Lyrics by Ray Charles (1972)
* Liza with a Z – Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb (1973)
* "Light My Way" – Music and Lyrics by David Paich and Marty Paich (1974)
* Queen of the Stardust Ballroom – Music and Lyrics by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Billy Goldenberg (1975)
* "Cinderella Gets It On" – Music and Lyrics by Artie Malvin, Ken & Mitzie Welch (1976)
* No Award (1977)
* "Hi-Hat" – Music and Lyrics by Stan Freeman and Arthur Malvin / "See You Tomorrow in Class" – Music and Lyrics by Ken & Mitzie Welch (1978)
* No Award (1979)

1980s|

* No Award (1980)
* "This Is My Night" – Music and Lyrics by Ken & Mitzie Welch (1981)
* "On the Outside Looking In" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1982)
* "We'll Win This World" – Music by James Di Pasquale; Lyrics by Dory Previn (1983)
* "Gone Too Soon" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1984)
* Love Lives On – Music by James Di Pasquale; Lyrics by Douglas Brayfield (1985)
* "My Christmas Wish" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1986)
* "Welcome to Liberty" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1987)
* "The Sound of Christmas" – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1988)
* "The First Time I Loved Forever" – Music by Lee Holdridge; Lyrics by Melanie (1989)

1990s|

* From the Heart... The First International Very Special Arts Festival – Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Buz Kohan (1990)
* "He's Guilty!" – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman (1991)
* "Why Do I Lie?" – Music by Curt Sobel; Lyrics by Dennis Spiegel (1992)
* "Sorry I Asked" – Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb (1993)
* "The Song Remembers When" – Music and Lyrics by Hugh Prestwood (1994)
* "Ordinary Miracles" – Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman (1995)
* "Let's Settle Down" – Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Lee Adams (1996)
* "We Put the Spring in Springfield" – Music by Alf Clausen; Lyrics by Ken Keeler (1997)
* "You're Checkin' In (A Musical Tribute to the Betty Ford Center)" – Music by Alf Clausen; Lyrics by Ken Keeler (1998)
* "A Ticket to Dream" – Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman (1999)

2000s|

* "Up to You" – Music and Lyrics by John Kimbrough (2000)
* "A Dream That Only I Can Know" – Music and Lyrics by Patrick Williams (2001)
* "You've Got a Lot to See" – Music by Walter Murphy; Lyrics by Seth MacFarlane (2002)
* "Aren't They All Our Children" – Music by David Foster; Lyrics by Linda Thompson (2003)
* "Because You Are Beautiful" – Music by Toni Childs; Lyrics by Toni Childs, Eddy Free, and David Ricketts (2004)
* "Mary Jane/Mary Lane" – Music by Dan Studney; Lyrics by Kevin Murphy (2005)
* "A Wonderfully Normal Day" – Music by Greg O'Connor; Lyrics by Jim Wise (2006)
* "Dick in a Box" – Music by Katreese Barnes, Asa Taccone, Jorma Taccone, and Justin Timberlake; Lyrics by Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Justin Timberlake (2007)
* "I'm F**king Matt Damon" – Music and Lyrics by Tony Barbieri, Sal Iacono, Wayne McClammy, Sarah Silverman, and Dan Warner (2008)
* "Hugh Jackman Opening Number" – Music by John Kimbrough, William Ross, and Rob Schrab; Lyrics by Dan Harmon and Ben Schwartz (2009)

2010s|

* "When I'm Gone" – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman (2010)
* "Justin Timberlake Monologue" – Music by Katreese Barnes; Lyrics by Seth Meyers, John Mulaney, and Justin Timberlake (2011)
* "It's Not Just for Gays Anymore" – Music by Adam Schlesinger; Lyrics by David Javerbaum (2012)
* "If I Had Time" – Music by Adam Schlesinger; Lyrics by David Javerbaum (2013)
* "Bigger!" – Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2014)
* "Girl You Don't Need Make Up" – Music by Kyle Dunnigan; Lyrics by Kyle Dunnigan and Jim Roach (2015)
* "Til It Happens to You" – Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren (2016)
* "Letter to the Free" – Music by Common; Lyrics by Common, Robert Glasper, and Karriem Riggins (2017)
* "Come Back Barack" – Music by Eli Brueggemann; Lyrics by Chris Redd, Will Stephen, and Kenan Thompson (2018)
* "Antidepressants Are So Not a Big Deal" – Music by Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger; Lyrics by Rachel Bloom, Jack Dolgen, and Adam Schlesinger (2019)

2020s|

* "All for Us" – Music and Lyrics by Labrinth (2020)
* "Agatha All Along" – Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (2021)
* "Corn Puddin'" – Music and Lyrics by Cinco Paul (2022)
* "A Beautiful Game" – Music and Lyrics by Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance, and Max Martin (2023)
* "Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?" – Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman (2024)

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