---snippet from form (this is not the full form)-----
<?php  echo $form->text('email', $email, array('style' => 'width: 70%'))?>
 
<?php echo $captcha->display(); ?>
<?php echo $captcha->showInput(); ?>
------
 
Included in the page is my js--------------
 
$(function() {
  $('.error').hide();
  $('input.text-input').css({backgroundColor:"#FFFFFF"});
  $('input.text-input').focus(function(){
    $(this).css({backgroundColor:"#ffffff"});
  });
  $('input.text-input').blur(function(){
    $(this).css({backgroundColor:"#ffffff"});
  });
 
  $(".button").click(function() {
      // validate and process form
      // first hide any error messages
    $('.error').hide();
 
 
 
         var email = $("input#email").val();
      if (email == "") {
      $("label#email_error").show();
      $("input#email").focus();
      return false;
    }
 
 
      var dataString = 'email=' + email ;
 
      $.ajax({
      type: "POST",
      url: "/ndestates/index.php/tools/blocks/book_viewing/action_ajax_dialog_2",
      data: dataString,
     error: function(XMLHttpRequest,status,errorThrown) {
            showError("There was an error submitting this form.  Please contact the administrator of this site.");
         },
      success: function() {
        //alert ('winner');
        $('#contact_form').html("<div id='message'></div>");
        $('#message').html("<p><b>Thank You.</b></h2>")
        .append("<p>Your request has been successfully sent.</p><p>A member of our team will be in contact with you soon to arrange your viewing.</p>")
      }
     });
    return false;
   });
});
runOnLoad(function(){
  $("input#name").select().focus();
});