After being revived from death in network television, Showtime took over production of "The Paper Chase" in the early 80s. This first show re-introduces Hart, Bell and Ford as second year students, and John Houseman as the intimidating Professor Kingsfield. Jane Kaczmarek is introduced as first year student Connie Lehman and as a love interest for Hart.

Lehman and the other first year students struggle with Kingsfield's Contracts class and - desparate for good help - drive Hart crazy for his own Kingsfield outline from the prior year. Hart is reluctant - he wants the 1-Ls to go through "the process" of writing their own outlines and learning how to think about the law on their own.

James Stephens (Hart), Tom Fitzsimmons (Ford) and James Keane (Bell) slip easily back into their roles.