Guarding Tess is a 1994 comedy starring Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage as a former First Lady and the security officer assigned to her case. Secret Service agent Doug Chesnic (Nicolas Cage) has chosen a life-threatening job to protect and serve, but he did not anticipate serving breakfast in bed to an elderly and cantankerous old woman. For three years, he has ensured the safety of widowed Tess Carlisle (Shirley MacLaine), a former First Lady, who fills her time with philanthropic work and diplomatic matters. Tess considers Doug no different than her other staff, like chauffeur Earl (Austin Pendleton) or male nurse Frederick (Richard Griffiths). Weary of her demeaning attitude and refusal to listen to his security advice, Doug impatiently waits for his required three years of service to finish. However Tess pulls a few strings with the current President to keep Doug by her side, which infuriates the long-suffering agent. Hugh Wilson ("Police Academy") directs this odd couple comedy.moreless