- The life of a young, professional married couple and their baby takes a sharp turn when the pair is arrested and charged with several counts of fraud. What ensues is a tense courtroom drama about the legalization of gay marriage.
- The lives of a professional young married couple, parents of a darling baby, turn a sharp, dark corner when they are arrested and charged with several counts of fraud. The reason: Terry and Samantha Succi aren't the man and woman that they purported to be... Terry and Samantha married under false pretenses, ignoring state law that discriminates against homosexual partners and prohibits them from receiving the same rights and benefits as their straight counterparts. Now the Governor, in an effort to protect his politically necessary anti-gay marriage bill, secretly arranges for a quick slap-on-the wrist plea offer that will ensure both a guilty plea and a fast end to the case. But Terry and Samantha decide to fight the fight and enlist the unlikely representation of self-absorbed but respected attorney John DeMine. What ensues is a massive media covered courtroom battle, with equally divided views...and equally plotted acts of legal--and illegal--warfare. After a violent invasion into Samantha and Terry's home by a fringe right-wing outfit, the case is closed to the public and the courtroom becomes a stage of safety--and justice. One affirmative act, deciding not only the fate of the women's freedom but also the governor's bill and one of the most controversial issues facing the United States, will be had in this courtroom. One affirmative act--of justice. Or maybe not.—Kenneth Del Vecchio
- In New Jersey, Terry and Samantha and their young son Mario look like an ordinary family. Although this is a movie about lesbians, Terry does appear to be a man and does have a really high voice.
Samantha is a law professor and really smart. The movie shows how good she is with her class. Terry is supposedly an architect but the movie doesn't show Terry at work.
The way the couple talk when they are out walking the baby, they indicate they have a reason to think people don't accept them. Neighbor John is a lawyer but doesn't seem that nice. But his hot wife Christie is friendly and the couple invite them over.
Then one day cops show up and arrest the couple for deception. Terry pretended to be a man so the couple could marry and adopt.
The governor appears to be terminally ill. He wants the couple to plead guilty because he doesn't want to attract national attention.
At first, Rollie is the couple's lawyer. But they want John and he finally agrees. Samantha shows she really knows the law (of course she does, but she doesn't have books with her) as the couple learn what they have to do. They are told to plead guilty, which will get them seven years. Now who would do that? But finally, they get a deal involving no jail time and a small fine, and not even probation. Samantha agrees. After all, they did lie; charges could be dropped or a jury could find that because they couldn't legally marry, they had to lie in order to do what they wanted.
40 minutes (including commercials) into a 2-hour movie, it appears to be over, but something else has to happen.
When they make their court appearance, Lori Belmont is the prosecutor, and she is also handling the case of Dixie Backus. Judge Nicholas Frier is the judge in both cases as well. Lori is overly enthusiastic about making sure the women get punished. The situation appears predictable.
There are threats, protests, and a very violent video starring Charles Durning as a man in a white suit. Where he is THE man in the white suit that people are afraid of, the audience doesn't know.
To say the governor is not pleased is an understatement. Meanwhile, among those protesting this attack on values is Backus, who appears to be a rich man who gets what he wants, who has a swastika and a Confederate battle flag in his office.
Both Lori and John go overboard, taking actions in court that result in objections from the other side. Meanwhile, it turns out Christie has a brain. She investigates for her husband.
There is plenty of controversy to be uncovered, and things get really crazy before an unusual ending.
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