The Broken Circle

Lisa Delaney drops out of law school to care for her four younger siblings after her parents are killed in a car crash. The children don't want to be split up among relatives even though Lisa's aunts insist her parents would want her to remain in school. Mike Brennan, Lisa's fiancee, is in his rookie year with the NFL, and suggests he and Lisa marry quickly and give the kids a home. After a fruitless search for a will or any legal directive, Lisa finally agrees with Mike, and they wed. Moving from rural Massachusetts to Boston, they leave close friends behind. They are on their own. Mike is the second backup QB for the Boston Riders and focused on his dream career. He thinks his potential earning will solve all their problems. Lisa insists the children are not charity cases and works full-time to supplement their income. Soon Lisa is overwhelmed with the responsibility of daily life, and Mike is no help. Her grief is constant. She has no interest in making friends with other football wives. She twice tries to return to school, and twice drops out again. When Mike's career takes off, he buys a large house in Boston's elegant Beacon Hill neighborhood. Working class Lisa feels out of place. Most of all, however, she's haunted by thoughts of her parents' expectations. Is she a good enough mom for their precious children? Are they proud of her? Slowly the issues between Lisa and Mike lead to a meltdown of their marriage. Has love died? Or has it been buried beneath obligations faced by two young people armed only with good intentions?