A childhood tragedy informs the life of a woman who is the successful mother of two daughters, but who cannot come to terms with the past and who cannot escape the shadow of her own mother.From
Manhattan in the 50s to London in the 60s and 70s, Alyssa's choices and decisions are influenced by her divorced parents, by her powerful grandmother, by the two men in her life -- Andrew, the
gentle and unassuming actor destined for great success, and Jeremy, the ferociously ambitious actor who is destined for success of another kind -- and, ultimately, by her own children.Alyssa
feels compelled to live with the results of her choices, good and bad. But despite her best efforts, her childhood tragedy reverberates through to a second generation. Finally, ironically,
through a series of losses, Alyssa realizes her right to choose and to altogether and successfully herself.