Where Love Has Gone

Near the end of World War II, Army Air Forces hero Miller is celebrated in a San Francisco parade. The public tribute marks him as a national hero and pulls him into the city's social circles. This moment foreshadows his later connection to Valerie Hayden.

Miller attends an art show in San Francisco where Valerie Hayden's work is displayed. Valerie's charm and the influence of her mother draw him into their orbit. The encounter plants the seeds for a complicated, fateful relationship.

Valerie's mother invites Miller to dinner and tries to lure him with a job and a dowry to marry Valerie. Miller leaves frustrated, but Valerie admires his integrity. The scene reveals the mother's power over the couple's future.

A connection grows after the dinner, leading to marriage despite the mother's scheming. The couple starts a life together, unaware of how deeply Mrs. Hayden will influence their fate. The union begins a period of strain that will stretch for years.

Dani Miller is born, bringing new hopes to the young family. For a time the family seems settled, but the stresses of money and behavior soon take their toll. Her birth anchors the family in a volatile cycle that will echo later in Dani's life.

Valerie's mother leverages her banking connections to block Miller's business loans, stalling his growth. To support the family, Miller accepts a position within Mrs. Hayden's company. The power dynamic tightens as he becomes dependent on the same family that pressures his marriage.

Over the years, Miller sinks into alcoholism while Valerie pursues a more promiscuous lifestyle. Trust erodes and communication breaks down, fracturing their relationship. The couple's once stable life collapses into conflict.

Valerie ultimately divorces Miller, ending the marriage as both pursue separate paths. Dani, now an adult, becomes her mother's rival for the same man, deepening the family tensions. The daughter is pulled between loyalty and her own desires.

In the present day, Dani Miller faces trial for the death of Rick Lazich, Valerie's former lover. Dani claims she killed Rick while defending Valerie against an attack, arguing the act was justifiable self-defense. The courtroom drama reveals the long shadow of the family's troubled history.

The case concludes with a verdict of justifiable homicide, acknowledging Dani's claimed defense of Valerie. The ruling settles the legal question but leaves unresolved questions about Dani's state of mind and upbringing. The decision closes the immediate case while the family continues to confront its past.

Following the verdict, investigators Marian Spicer and psychiatrist Dr. Jennings begin evaluating Dani for custody and placement. Neither expert can coax Dani to reveal her true feelings or past traumas. The lack of disclosure underscores the depth of the family history's impact on Dani.

Mrs. Hayden files for custody, insisting on Dani's welfare under her guidance. Valerie contends that Dani was attempting to kill her and that Rick Lazich's death occurred only as he defended Valerie. The dispute compounds the emotional and legal stakes for Dani.

Valerie returns home after the tumult and takes her own life, plunging Dani into fresh crisis. Luke Miller steps in to support his daughter and help her begin rebuilding her life. The final act focuses on trying to heal the family’s deep wounds.