The ever-reliable Brian Dennehy delivers one of his most subtle and touching performances in this thoughtful drama. He plays a successful career man who falls for Jacqueline Bisset while married to Blythe Danner, then pushes his marriage to the edge by insisting on caring for Bisset when she falls victim to a terminal disease. Dennehy is more than matched in the acting stakes by Bisset, and there are equally strong turns from a supporting cast that includes Play Misty for Me's Jessica Walter and Polly Bergen. It's made for TV, but is in a different league from the usual small-screen fodder.

A man asks his wife for a 'leave of absence' in order to care for his mistress who is dying of cancer.