In this poignant but over-ambitious TV movie, a doctor (Dermot Mulroney) secretly gives away one of his newborn twins after discovering one of them has Down's syndrome. It's an impulsive mistake bringing lasting consequences, both for him and his wife (Gretchen Mol), and also the compassionate nurse (Emily Watson) who takes in the abandoned child. Yet, though the characters' stories are rich with emotional complexity, events are rarely as engrossing as they should be. The source novel by Kim Edwards is squandered as too great a time period is covered in too little depth, and this gives the film a simplistic and uneven feel. Bland performances and uninspired direction compound these faults, leaving it to the dramatically heart-tugging conclusion to make amends.

During a blizzard in 1964, Dr. David Henry delivers his son Paul with the help of nurse Caroline. But when Henry realizes his wife is also carrying a girl with Down syndrome, he hands the second child over to Caroline without his wife's knowledge. Henry's fateful decision yields grave consequences for his family over the next 20 years.