The loving and nurturing Mariel marries Edward after his first wife abandons him and their three children. Mariel strives to win the acceptance and affection of her new stepchildren, even as she tries to define her role in the family.

This second feature film based on the popular television series features two true legal cases. The first is of a nanny accused of kidnapping the child in her care, and the second is about how a rich family tries to cover up the murder of a poor man.