The Paper Chase (1978)
Critically lauded drama about the life and pressures of a group of students at a prestigious Eastern law school, with a strict and domineering contract-law professor named Charles Kingsfield, who alternately inspires and terrifies the students.
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Episode 1 - Outline Fever
Release Date: 1983-04-15The second year begins with Hart and Ford moving to an off-campus apartment, while Bell is still at the dorm as the advisor for the 1-L students. Some of the 1-L students hound Hart for his Contracts outline, until Ford and Bell auction it off (against Hart's wishes). Meanwhile, 1-L Connie Lehman shows a personal interest in Hart ... or is it only his outline?
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Episode 2 - Birthday Party
Release Date: 1983-05-15Kingsfield's friend and former student, now the Attorney General of the United States, asks him if he would accept a nomination to the Supreme Court. Hart decides to celebrate Kingsfield's eightieth birthday, even though it is known that the professor disapproves of such festivities.
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Episode 3 - Spreading It Thin
Release Date: 1983-06-15Hart has a feeling that a popular law professor has plagiarized an article for Law Review, and tries to prove it, to the detriment of his schoolwork. Lehman suspects he is just jealous because she greatly admires the professor.
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Episode 4 - Cinderella
Release Date: 1983-07-15Connie attempts to help a returning student, now a single mother with no child care, and recruits Hart and Bell for assistance. Ford is assigned to an older woman's case against a slumlord.
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Episode 5 - Commitments
Release Date: 1983-09-15Hart fails to appreciate Connie's heavy workload and turns to another woman for comfort. Bell attempts to help a first-year student who cracks under the pressure of Kingsfield's class.
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Episode 6 - Plague of Locusts
Release Date: 1983-10-15Hart has a tough choice when multiple firms offer him internships, while Bell is anxious because all his interviews go badly. Ford considers turning his father in for violating school policy by taking students' grades into consideration when selecting interns.
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Episode 7 - Snow
Release Date: 1983-11-15As usual, the Law Review is behind schedule, but this time Golden is sidelined with pneumonia. Second-in-command Shaw seizes the opportunity for a power play, but it predictably backfires. Law Review activities are further complicated when, while their new computer is being installed and tested, a power failure threatens their precious deadline - until they enlist the help of the 'Wonks'.
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Episode 8 - Mrs. Hart
Release Date: 1984-05-22Hart is given a run of the Review for the night when Golden meets a woman who is demanding of his time and attention. For dates a woman whose ambition is to marry a lawyer.
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Episode 9 - Tempest in a Pothole
Release Date: 1984-05-29Hart's girlfriend receives a scholarship offer in England. Hart tries to presuade her to stay with him, she suggests he come to England, which he refuses. Awaiting her decision on whether to accept the scholarship or stay there with Hart, she asks him to go with her to Kingsfield's empty classroom which she describes as a ""temple of reason"" (you knew then which she had chosen). Hart leaves angrily, but Golden talks him into seeing her before she leaves. As she leaves, Bell is there to comfort his friend Hart. True to form, Hart announces that he needs to check on what assignments Golden has for him and then he will study for Kingsfield's seminar.
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Episode 10 - Labor of Love
Release Date: 1984-06-05Hart and Harriman compete to represent the school in the national moot court competition. First-year student Vivian struggles with speaking up in class.
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Episode 11 - Burden of Proof
Release Date: 1984-06-12Bell sues the city for damages and lost wages when he rides over a pothole and breaks his arm. Kingsfield has difficulty coping when Nottingham, his secretary, transfers to another office.
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Episode 12 - War of the Wonks (a.k.a.) Machine
Release Date: 1984-06-19A minor incident between Golden and an engineering student about a parking space causes hostilities between the law students and the engineering students (or ""Wonks"" as they are called on campus). Golden has the Wonk's car impounded and the Wonks retaliate by moving Golden's car into the Law Review office (which is in a basement...). A romance between a law student and a Wonk is strained by the conflict. The matter is settled by a contest of legal knowledge between Kingsfield and a computer.
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Episode 13 - Limits
Release Date: 1984-06-26Ford reaches out to Kingsfield for help when his fellow students seek to force a teacher they suspect is senile in retirement.
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Episode 14 - Hart Goes Home
Release Date: 1984-07-10Working in the public defender's office, Hart has to defend the perpetrator who assaulted and robbed Kingsfield. The violence on campus puts student on edge.
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Episode 15 - Judgement Day
Release Date: 1984-07-17The students fear they will lose a popular professor when he becomes eligible for tenure but lacks significant publication credits.
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Episode 16 - My Dinner With Kingsfield
Release Date: 1984-07-24A snowstorm strands Kingsfield, forcing him to spend the evening with Hart while Ford and Bell get to know Nottingham in a local bar.
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Episode 17 - The Advocates
Release Date: 1984-08-07Hart and Harriman compete to represent the school in the national moot court competition. First-year student Vivian struggles with speaking up in class.
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Episode 18 - Not Prince Hamlet
Release Date: 1984-08-14A grieving father struggles to understand why his son committed suicide.
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Episode 19 - Billy Pierce
Release Date: 1984-08-21Stressed-out first-year students prepare for Kingsfield's final. When the final exam is stolen, Bell is charged with finding the students responsible.