"Every Woman's Dream" is based on a true story from its account in a 1993 novel by Karen Kingsbury, "Deadly Pretender: The Double Life of David Miller." The TV movie closely follows the details of the book, and the true story as reported over time in newspaper accounts. So, with the exception of name changes, the characters, events and lies of the double life and bigamy of David Miller are mostly accurate.
In this movie, Miller's character is named Mitch Parker. His first wife is Candy and his second wife is Liz Wells. As the book explains and the film shows, Parker had the perfect ruse to be able to live two lives. He told his first wife that he was a CIA agent, so he would be gone for long spells and she couldn't question him about it. To his second wife, he worked for Disney in Orlando coordinating and planning projects, and that often took him away for long spells.
Jeff Fahey plays the Parker character well - at least as one might imagine a smooth, calm character. But that masked a drive for power, being the center of attention, and self-centeredness. He is a narcissist and master manipulator who lives in his own fantasy world. Eventually, his financial problems catch up with him and he can no longer manipulate his way out of that problem. When that happens, and both wives discover the sham, he finally flips out. In broad daylight and with people nearby he kills his second wife, shooting her seven times at point blank range.
Who can second guess either of these women falling for this guy? These weren't wild romances of young kids or crazy affairs. And both women seemed well-balanced themselves. Perhaps physical attractions outweighed all other matters. And, he appeared well-grounded himself. But there are some things in this movie that should normally be red flags. There's nothing in the story about his parents or family. Wouldn't the women ask about that and want to know about it? Or where he went to school and more of his background? None of that comes up in the film. Is that every woman's dream - to have an attractive man who seems to be on top of the world but with no background or relatives or information a woman can relate to or know?
I have a close male relative who resembles the narcissism of Mitch. His wife left him long ago. For many years he manipulated members of his family, but we soon discovered what he was doing, and he can no longer do that. No one has been in touch with him in a long time, and he's quite old now and not likely to be able to fool anyone for any personal benefit.
That old saying that one can't judge a book by its cover is as true for people as well. Just as one has to open the cover and read the book to know what it's about, so one has to look inside a person to get to know him or her. If someone doesn't let one do that, it should be a red flag to be wary and keep one's distance. The two women in this story liked the cover and seemed satisfied with what they saw and how they lived -- until it was too late for Liz.
In February 1993, David Russell Miller was sentenced to life in prison in Florida. Besides not being able to find out anything about his family, Miller's wives might have noticed some things about him that would send up red flags. At his trial, a doctor testified that Miller suffered from depression and narcissistic personality disorder. He then listed 10 signs of that disorder in a person. They are: (1) Reacts to criticism with feelings of rage; (2) Takes advantage of others to achieve his or her ends; (3) Has a grandiose sense of self-importance; (4) has fantasies of unlimited success and power; (5) Has a sense of entitlement; (6) Obsessions of wanting more and more; (7) Desires to be associated with people of power; (8) Lacks empathy; (9) Preoccupation with self-gratification; and (10) Requires constant attention and adoration.
The doctor at the trial said that Miller exhibited all 10 of these signs. In playing Mitch Parker, the character based on Miller, actor Jeff Fahey was calm and smooth, yet attentive viewers could clearly see several of the 10 signs in that character. While this movie at times has the feel of a daytime soap opera, it also can be educational for noting troubling character signs when one meets and becomes acquainted with someone new.
In this movie, Miller's character is named Mitch Parker. His first wife is Candy and his second wife is Liz Wells. As the book explains and the film shows, Parker had the perfect ruse to be able to live two lives. He told his first wife that he was a CIA agent, so he would be gone for long spells and she couldn't question him about it. To his second wife, he worked for Disney in Orlando coordinating and planning projects, and that often took him away for long spells.
Jeff Fahey plays the Parker character well - at least as one might imagine a smooth, calm character. But that masked a drive for power, being the center of attention, and self-centeredness. He is a narcissist and master manipulator who lives in his own fantasy world. Eventually, his financial problems catch up with him and he can no longer manipulate his way out of that problem. When that happens, and both wives discover the sham, he finally flips out. In broad daylight and with people nearby he kills his second wife, shooting her seven times at point blank range.
Who can second guess either of these women falling for this guy? These weren't wild romances of young kids or crazy affairs. And both women seemed well-balanced themselves. Perhaps physical attractions outweighed all other matters. And, he appeared well-grounded himself. But there are some things in this movie that should normally be red flags. There's nothing in the story about his parents or family. Wouldn't the women ask about that and want to know about it? Or where he went to school and more of his background? None of that comes up in the film. Is that every woman's dream - to have an attractive man who seems to be on top of the world but with no background or relatives or information a woman can relate to or know?
I have a close male relative who resembles the narcissism of Mitch. His wife left him long ago. For many years he manipulated members of his family, but we soon discovered what he was doing, and he can no longer do that. No one has been in touch with him in a long time, and he's quite old now and not likely to be able to fool anyone for any personal benefit.
That old saying that one can't judge a book by its cover is as true for people as well. Just as one has to open the cover and read the book to know what it's about, so one has to look inside a person to get to know him or her. If someone doesn't let one do that, it should be a red flag to be wary and keep one's distance. The two women in this story liked the cover and seemed satisfied with what they saw and how they lived -- until it was too late for Liz.
In February 1993, David Russell Miller was sentenced to life in prison in Florida. Besides not being able to find out anything about his family, Miller's wives might have noticed some things about him that would send up red flags. At his trial, a doctor testified that Miller suffered from depression and narcissistic personality disorder. He then listed 10 signs of that disorder in a person. They are: (1) Reacts to criticism with feelings of rage; (2) Takes advantage of others to achieve his or her ends; (3) Has a grandiose sense of self-importance; (4) has fantasies of unlimited success and power; (5) Has a sense of entitlement; (6) Obsessions of wanting more and more; (7) Desires to be associated with people of power; (8) Lacks empathy; (9) Preoccupation with self-gratification; and (10) Requires constant attention and adoration.
The doctor at the trial said that Miller exhibited all 10 of these signs. In playing Mitch Parker, the character based on Miller, actor Jeff Fahey was calm and smooth, yet attentive viewers could clearly see several of the 10 signs in that character. While this movie at times has the feel of a daytime soap opera, it also can be educational for noting troubling character signs when one meets and becomes acquainted with someone new.