So-Called Independence

[blondie44]

So-Called Independence

Starring Cam Gigandet as Jason Samuels, an independent 22 year old with a dark past of alcoholism, drug abuse, trouble with the law, defiance against all authority figures (i.e. parents, teachers, cops, etc), and becoming a deadbeat dad. Jason now has just recently been released from a rehabilitation center in Philadelphia, and is now living on his own with his new live-in girlfriend, Breanne Pierson (Stephanie Sherrin)-who comes from an upper-class family with their share of family secrets. Jason and Breanne met each other in rehab, where she was sent after overdosing (for 3rd and last time) after attending a "pharm party". Breanne's parents are now-divorced (after Breanne being in rehab, which was urged by her father). Breanne's arrogant businessman father, Richard (Charles Shaughnessy) is the entrepreuneur of Pennsylvania's largest pharmaceutical drug store/warehouse. Breanne's ex-hippie, free-spirited mother, Betsy (Rosanna Arquette) who runs the local floral shop, and secretly is growing marijuana on the side for extra profits and recreational uses as well. Betsy and Richard, who are complete opposites now, were once high school sweethearts and activists, but that all went down the drain when Richard's father died and he used his inheritance to go to business school. However, Betsy is very fond of Jason, and his relationship with her daughter, but Richard isn't feeling the same and feels Breanne's stint in rehab has caused her to be "an embarrassment" to the Pierson family name. Breanne's relationship with her dad is definitely not the greatest and has a great deal of effect on why Breanne started to attend "pharm parties". Jason's relationship with his mom, Nancy (Jamie Lee Curtis) isn't exactly near perfection either. Jason's beloved police officer father had died in the line of duty (an undercover operation gone south) when Jason was only 10 years old. Nancy wasn't the best of mother when he was younger and had always struggled with trying to discipline Jason. But now after his multiple stints in and out of rehab centers, Nancy and Jason's relationship has gone up and down fluctuating like a rollercoaster, yet Nancy always stands by her son even when she knows he's at fault. Also to add to the chaos, Jason's former older girlfriend, Carrie Nolan (Mary Louise Parker) has always stayed true to Jason, even when he went in and out of rehab centers, neglected to be there for her when she was pregnant with his daughter, failure to voluntarily pay child support or even to see his daughter, and even the few times he had gotten violent with her when he was high on cocaine. Carrie is a single mom of three kids: an 8 year old boy Will (whom is the child of being raped by a "friend"), a 5 year old boy Jackson (whom is the child of her brief marriage with an abusive alcoholic, whom she later divorced after being sent to jail for beating a pregnant Carrie all the way to cause a miscarriage and a few broken ribs), and a 3 year old girl Zoey (whom is the daughter of Carrie and Jason's). Carrie has full custody of all three of her children, of whom she loves dearly. Carrie, also, has her share of dark secrets and problems with addiction. Carrie and the three kids live in the same low-income apartment complex as Jason and Breanne. Breanne and Carrie get along great, even after the fact that Jason and Carrie once were a couple and have a child together. In the pilot episode, Breanne's mom, Betsy has offered Breanne and Carrie both jobs at her floral shop after learning they both need jobs to help support themselves and their families (meaning Jason, and the kids).


Cast:
Cam Gigandet as Jason Samuels
Stephanie Sherrin as Breanne Pierson
Mary Louise Parker as Carrie Nolan
Charles Shaughnessy as Richard Pierson
Unknown as Will Nolan
Unknown as Jackson Nolan
Unknown as Zoey Nolan-Samuels
with Rosanna Arquette as Betsy Pierson
and Jamie Lee Curtis as Nancy Samuels