The Initiation of Sarah

The Initiation of Sarah, a 1978 American made-for-TV supernatural horror film directed by Robert Day, aired on ABC on February 5, 1978. Kay Lenz stars as a shy, withdrawn young woman who, after joining a sorority, learns she possesses psychic powers. The film sparked controversy when it first aired because it included a scene in which Morgan Fairchild, after being thrown into a fountain, appears with her wet clothing clinging to her body—a provocative moment for network television at the time. ABC Family later remade the film in 2006, with Fairchild returning to play Mrs. Wells, the adoptive mother of the title character Sarah and her sister Lindsay. Fairchild initially regretted playing Jennifer in the 1978 version but later changed her mind after producer Chuck Fries noted that while finding an ingenue was easy, finding someone convincing as a "bitch" was difficult.

The story opens with Sarah and her beautiful sister Patty driving to college, with a flashback later revealing them playing on a beach at sunset. Patty wanders off with a young man who tries to force himself on her, but he recoils, implying Sarah used telekinesis to save her. The sisters then drive to college, where Patty plans for both to join Alpha Nu Sigma (ΑΝΣ), their mother's former sorority. Sarah, adopted shortly after birth, notes that Patty is their mother's only biological child and that their mother favors Patty. At a rush week party, Patty is welcomed into ΑΝΣ, but the sorority girls dismiss Sarah, directing her to the refreshment table and then to Phi Epsilon Delta (ΦΕΔ). Both sisters visit ΦΕΔ, where only the awkward, shy "Mouse" shows interest in Sarah. After rush week, Patty is thrilled to join ΑΝΣ but hurt when its president, Jennifer, insists she stop speaking to Sarah, who was accepted into ΦΕΔ. This strains the sisters' relationship, as Sarah resents Patty's compliance.

Over the semester, Sarah develops a relationship with Paul, a psychology teaching assistant, and grows closer to Mouse. She is unsettled by ΦΕΔ's house mother, Mrs. Hunter, who recognizes Sarah's powers and urges her to use them to lead ΦΕΔ to victory over ΑΝΣ. It is strongly implied, though never confirmed, that Mrs. Hunter is Sarah's biological mother, having had an affair with Sarah's adopted father. Patty repeatedly tries to talk to Sarah but fails.