List of a Lifetime 2021

Brenda Lee is diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, and she begins a quiet, determined mission to warn her daughter about a hereditary gene mutation that could affect their family.

Over three months, she gathers the courage to meet her daughter for the first time, while her relationships at home and at work grow strained because she hasn’t told anyone about the illness except her close friend, Meg, a social worker who helps locate the daughter.

Brenda eventually shows up unannounced to see Talia, and at first Talia is protective and wary. But when Brenda reveals that she has cancer, Talia lets her in. The two agree to talk again at dinner the next evening, and they exchange phone numbers as they begin to bridge the gap between mother and child.

Talia keeps the meeting secret from her adoptive parents, and she even asks her adoptive mom whether she ever knew Brenda, her birth mother, deepening the tension underneath the growing bond.

During their first dinner, they start talking about a bucket list. Talia prompts Brenda to come up with a short list on the spot, and Brenda’s story triggers memories that bring up PTSD tied to the death of her own parents when she was young.

As time passes, Brenda and Talia spend more time together. Talia asks about Brenda’s parents and learns about the tragedy that shaped her, including why Brenda’s bucket list includes a goal like “get back in the water.” The deepening conversation reveals more about Brenda’s history and the risks she has faced.

Trouble arises when Talia’s adoptive parents arrive at her home and confront the truth. Brenda feels used when she suspects Talia is leveraging the experience for an article at her work. Before she can leave, Brenda faints and wakes up in a hospital.

In the hospital, Brenda debates her treatment options with Dr. Elisabeth Boyer. She tells the doctor that she will go through with chemotherapy, a decision that Talia overhears while standing outside Brenda’s room.

The next morning, Talia visits to offer support, but Brenda has already checked herself out, choosing to postpone treatment for the moment. Meg encourages Talia to keep trying to reach Brenda, urging patience and persistence because Brenda’s sense of self-worth may depend on it.

Eventually, a lakeside visit to a place Brenda cherished as a child helps her confront her fears. On the water, she begins to relax, and Talia shows her a paper proving she does not carry the gene mutation. Realizing she has a reason to live for Talia, Brenda resolves to fight the cancer and take the next steps forward.