In 1954, Jill Kinmont won two important ski competitions for the 1956 Olympics. Then in 1956, she plunged off the side of a mountain during the Snow Cup Race. Her neck was broken and her body paralyzed from the shoulders down. It was a long and hard road to rehabilitation.
In this true-to-life sequel to the film that told the story of her accident and recovery, the time is 1976 and Jill is receiving the Los Angeles "Woman of the Year" award for her courage in pursuing a teaching career. She and her mother decide to take a vacation to their hometown of Bishop, California. They rent a cottage from a long-haul trucker John Boothe.
Jill's friends advise her to open herself up to the possibility of romance. Since the accident and the deaths of her fiancé and father, she has closed off her emotions. John Booth slowly brings her back in touch with her feelings as they begin a relationship. Despite the protestations of Jill's mother, the twosome decide to take a trip to Canada — a test for both of them to see how well they adapt to her handicap. They decide to get married. But when John almost dies in a truck crash, Jill caves in to her old fears about losing the ones she loves. However, the ending (as you might have guessed) is up-tempo.
Marilyn Hassett returns in the role of Jill Kinmont. She is quite fetching — although one wonders how her hair can always look so Farrah Fawcett fresh. Timothy Bottoms is good as John Boothe, a tender fellow capable of handling far more responsibility than it seems. Be forewarned — lovers of melodrama will need three hankies!