Family of Strangers

Julie Lawson experiences a sudden blackout while driving, which leads her to crash her car. In the hospital, she is diagnosed with inflammation of the arteries to the brain and faces the urgent prospect of brain surgery. The doctors warn her that a fatal stroke could occur soon if she doesn't undergo the procedure promptly.

Julie contacts her father to inquire if strokes run in her family, but he admits she was adopted and has no information about her biological parents' medical history. This revelation shocks her, prompting her to seek answers about her origins. She learns that her adoptive parents obtained her through the black market and hired a lawyer for the adoption.

Julie tracks down the lawyer who handled her adoption, and although he has passed away, his son Bill Curtis provides her with documents indicating payments made to a woman named Frances Thompson. The details suggest Frances may be her biological mother, motivating Julie to travel to British Columbia to find out more.

In Cloverton, Julie discovers that Frances Thompson was a 75-year-old former schoolteacher who recently died in a car accident along with her husband. Her investigation leads her to their daughter Beth, who runs a beauty parlor in the area and is believed to be her mother. This sparks a confrontation with her maternal roots.

Julie contacts Beth, who initially denies being her mother but eventually confesses that she was raped after a school dance and had Julie as a result. Beth's trauma is revealed, along with the suspicion that her rapists include four men present at the dance, each with their own troubled past.

Julie begins to trace the four men thought to be her biological father. She first finds Del Smith, a car salesman, and investigates his background. During a drive, Del attempts to assault her, revealing his aggressive nature and making her suspect him as her rapist.

Julie also contacts Tim Webster, who is confirmed to be infertile, ruling him out as her father. Later, Del harasses her on the street, implying a personal connection and revealing that his father died of a stroke, a clue to her potential biological link.

Beth recalls her traumatic rape and remembers she collected a button from her attacker, which she keeps secret. She further investigates by analyzing a photograph from the dance, leading her to identify Jake Gibson as her rapist and confirming her suspicions.

Julie learns from Sue, Jake Gibson’s widow, that Jake was her rapist. Sue is shocked to discover Jake's past and that his family history did not include strokes, which conflicts with the suspicion that he might be her biological father. This revelation complicates her search for her roots.

As Julie recovers, her biological mother Beth arrives, leading to an emotional reunion. This moment signifies her acceptance of her true roots and marks a new chapter in her life, blending her past with her present.