A young mother struggles to raise her family after her husband goes to prison. It’s the 1950s and a horrible time for working women.

SYNOPSIS:

This is the dramatized story of my early family life. By the time I was fourteen; my father had been in prison twice totaling ten years. It’s the 1950s and the world is in full swing after the war. Not so for JANA NICKERSON, a young mother whose dream of marital bliss is shredded after her prison bound husband DALE is shot by DR. HOAR, an angry investor with mother issues toward Jana. Ashamed and broke, Jana and her first son move back home to a judgmental mother. Only her career and doll making passion carry Jana through this devastating time. Jana applies her nursing talent to a new job only to butt heads with HEAD NURSE-JACOBY when she tries to help a foster child beaten by her wealthy father, WHIP MORROW a rich puppet master. Bad Dr. Hoar, a sexual predator, becomes this hospital’s new administrator, courtesy of Whip Morrow. Even the good DR. SEDGEWAY who’s perfect for Jana if they were both single, is eventually forced to betray her. Dale is released. As was custom then, Jana takes him back. Less than two years later, with a total of three children; Dale is back in prison for six years. Jana’s oldest; STEVE NICKERSON grows and follows in Dale’s footsteps. With his likeminded friend, JIMMY BRISTOL, they burglarize a gas station, are caught and sent to reform school. Steve’s released and not reformed as he and Jimmy continually escalate their crimes until one night they rob and beat an old merchant to death. Sentenced to a choice of ten years in prison or the marines; it’s straight to Vietnam for both of them. Steve regrets his choices just before he and Jimmy die heroically. Dale gets out and goes straight this time until he’s forced to feed crooked attorneys inside info. The stress kills Dale. Although devastated by these recent deaths, Jana continually stands up for the area’s abused children. This gets her fired by Dr. Hoar and sued by senate candidate Whip Morrow. Drowning in hopeless depression, Jana’s a step from death when former Pediatric boss Head Nurse-Jacoby saves her. Working a new career as a nursing instructor, Jana meets a business teacher who has a unique interest in her dolls. She soon learns that her lifelong hobby will save her family. Our story ends happily in the 80s, with Jana’s two sons finishing med/law school while she’s richer than the imprisoned Whip Morrow and the deceased Dr. Hoar.