A Place for Annie 1994
Directed by
John Gray
Made by
Gross-Weston Productions
A Place for Annie Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for A Place for Annie (1994). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Nurse Susan, Sissy Spacek cares for six-week-old Annie, a baby born with HIV. Rather than watching Annie wait to die at Treemont Centre, Susan decides to adopt and keep her close. After a heartfelt conversation with her son, Jack Noseworthy David, who is understandably concerned about such a bold move, Susan files the adoption papers and Annie becomes legally her foster daughter. To ensure Annie has steady care, Susan hires a babysitter and brings in Dorothy, Joan Plowright, to help with the daily routines and to provide a stable presence in Annie’s early life.
One year later, on Annie’s first birthday, S. Epatha Merkerson as Alice arrives to tell Susan that Annie’s mother, Linda, has completed rehab and wants to regain custody, taking the matter to court with Alice representing her. Susan fights to keep Annie but loses the case; Linda is granted only supervised visits while the court reviews the situation. The competing pull of family ties and the risk Annie faces weighs heavily on everyone involved.
As visits unfold, Susan grows increasingly wary of Linda’s seeming apathy toward her own daughter, a coldness that hardens Susan’s resolve to protect Annie. Although Linda agrees to follow Susan’s care plan, she refuses to phone or keep Susan informed about Annie’s progress. When Susan and David find Linda’s cluttered apartment, they remove Annie to keep her safe, but the judge rules in Linda’s favor the very next day, awarding custody back to Linda. With limited options, Susan opens her home to Linda so that Annie can have stable housing while Linda learns to be a mother again under better circumstances.
Linda finally shares the stories of her difficult childhood, including the pain of being disowned by her own parents. This backdrop helps Linda understand why she pursued motherhood for Annie, hoping to redeem herself in at least one important way. She learns that Susan’s generosity is rooted in a life where responsibilities and love were freely given, even when they could be costly. A later attempt to contact Linda’s family ends in disappointment, underscoring the long shadows cast by past choices.
During a visit to the hospital, Linda collapses in the hallway and is rushed to emergency care. In the ambulance, she tells the doctors that she may not survive and that, when the time comes, they should let her go. Susan visits her in the hospital, and Linda vows to turn her life around if she survives, while expressing a wish for Annie to have every opportunity.
The following day, doctors reveal a startling change: Annie no longer tests positive for HIV antibodies. It appears Annie’s exposure was limited to antibodies at birth, not the virus itself, suggesting she can live a long, normal life. This news shifts the sense of peril into cautious hope, and Susan approaches Linda with renewed warmth, inviting her to stay and participate in Annie’s future. Linda recovers further and returns home to Susan, where she is welcomed and encouraged to pursue a better path. She checks on Annie, speaking softly of a hopeful life ahead, and, moved by the moment, decides to step back from the immediate need to care for Annie alone.
As the family navigates these revelations, Linda chooses to move toward hospice care to spare Annie witnessing her decline. Susan supports this painful but compassionate choice, recognizing it as the right thing to do. Before leaving, Linda hands Susan a letter—her surrender of custody to Susan—so that Annie’s life can continue under the care of the person who has already become her mother. The two share a quiet, hopeful goodbye as Linda departs for the hospice, leaving Annie in a future that promises greater health and stability than anyone anticipated.
A Place for Annie Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of A Place for Annie (1994) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Susan decides to adopt Annie
Nurse Susan, who has been caring for six-week-old Annie, decides she cannot let the baby be left at Treemont Centre to die. She discusses the plan with her son David, who is understandably concerned, and they proceed to file and sign adoption papers. Annie becomes legally Susan's foster daughter, and Susan arranges for a babysitter to help.
Custody motion filed after rehab
One year later, on Annie's first birthday, Linda's attorney Alice informs Susan that Annie's mother Linda has finished rehab and has filed a motion with a court. Alice represents Linda in the legal proceeding. Susan fights for custody but loses the case, with Linda granted supervised visits while the court reviews the matter.
Suspicious apathy during a visit
During one of Linda's supervised visits, Susan notices Linda's surprisingly apathetic demeanor toward her own daughter, confirming her concerns about Linda's care. The interaction deepens Susan's resolve to protect Annie. This moment strains the ongoing custody battle.
Annie temporarily removed from Linda's care
Linda refuses to phone or keep Susan updated on Annie's progress, and Susan and David discover Linda's slovenly apartment. They remove Annie from the premises to safeguard her health, which leads to a judge awarding custody to Linda the very next day.
Custody awarded to Linda
The judge rules in favor of Linda the next day, keeping Annie in Linda's care despite concerns raised by Susan. The decision forces Susan to reassess her options and her role in Annie's life. The legal battle continues even as living arrangements change.
Susan shelters Linda to care for Annie
Seeing no alternative, Susan invites Linda to live in her own home to ensure Annie has decent accommodations. Many heated confrontations follow as they navigate cohabitation, but Linda opens up about her troubled childhood while Susan shares her own experience of being disowned by her parents.
Linda's realization about motherhood
The conversations with Susan lead Linda to realize that she wanted Annie mainly to be a mother and to redeem her life by doing something right. This insight reframes her motivation and deepens her commitment to Annie's wellbeing. The moment marks a turning point in her perspective on family.
Call to Linda's mother
Days later, Susan calls Linda's mother to inform her of Linda's progress, but the response is distant and unhelpful. The lack of support underscores the fractured family dynamics surrounding Annie. Susan is left to navigate the situation with limited backup from the maternal side.
Search for forgiveness and acceptance
Linda laments the difficulty of seeking forgiveness for her past choices and recognizes Susan's generosity and unconditional care. She comes to terms with her life choices and the impact on Annie. The emotional struggle highlights the fragile path toward reconciliation.
Linda collapses; emergency hospitalization
On the way to having a smoke, Linda collapses in the hallway and is rushed to the hospital. In the ambulance, she tells the doctors that she may not survive and asks to be allowed to go when her time comes. The moment intensifies the urgency of the family situation.
Annie's HIV status clarified
The next day, a doctor informs Susan that Annie is no longer testing positive for HIV antibodies. It is explained that Annie contracted the antibodies at birth, not the virus itself, meaning she can live a long, normal life. The diagnosis changes the future prospects for Annie's health and family life.
Linda returns home and reconnects
Linda recovers enough to return to Susan's home and checks on Annie, expressing hope that Annie will have a great life. The reunion is tentative but hopeful, as both women reassess their roles. Annie's future seems brighter as health issues recede.
Linda plans hospice and a final message
Sometime later, Linda decides to enter hospice so Annie won’t have to witness her decline. Susan reluctantly agrees that this is the right choice. Linda gives Annie a letter to deliver to Susan, outlining her final wishes and asking for understanding.
Goodbye and the custody letter
Linda departs for hospice, and Susan and Annie wave goodbye. Susan reads Linda's letter, which is the maternity document relinquishing all legal custody of Annie to Susan. The letter cements the new family arrangement and marks the end of Linda's direct parental role.
A new life for Annie
With the formal custody settled, Annie begins a new, healthier chapter under Susan's care. Linda's presence fades, but the bond between Susan and Annie reinforces a stable home. The story closes on the hope of a long, normal life for Annie.
A Place for Annie Characters
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Susan Lansing
Annie's foster mother and nurse who refuses to abandon the infant. She fights the legal system to keep Annie safe and cared for. Her empathy and practical resolve drive the film's core drama.
Linda
Annie's biological mother who has battled addiction and undergone rehab. She faces judgment and legal hurdles while seeking custody and a better future for Annie. Her health crisis later pushes the family toward forgiveness and closure.
Annie
Six-week-old infant initially identified as HIV positive. Her medical status drives the central conflict of the film, shaping adoption and custody decisions. As test results change, her prognosis shifts toward a long, healthy life. Her resilience anchors the hopeful arc of the story.
Alice
Alice informs Susan that Annie's mother Linda wants her back and represents Linda in the hearing. She acts as a catalyst in the custody drama and a practical intermediary.
Dorothy
Dorothy is the babysitter introduced to help care for Annie while Susan navigates the situation. She provides stability and support within the household during the custody struggle.
David
Susan's son, understandably concerned about adoption and his sister's welfare. He offers emotional support and helps illustrate the familial bonds that underpin Susan's case.
Dr. Palmer
A physician who explains Annie's HIV status and the medical reasoning behind her prognosis. He provides the clinical context that drives the decision-making around Annie's health.
A Place for Annie Settings
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Time period
The narrative spans roughly one year, from Annie's birth to her first birthday and through the custody proceedings. The period covers medical revelations about Annie's HIV status and the shifting dynamics among Susan, Linda, and their families. Key milestones, such as the birthday and the hospital visits, anchor the emotional arc.
Location
Treemont Centre, Susan's Home, Hospital, Hospice
Treemont Centre serves as the initial medical setting where Annie's fragile health is monitored and the option of leaving her there is discussed. Susan's home becomes both a sanctuary and a battleground as she fights for custody and provides stable care. The hospital scenes frame the legal and medical decisions impacting Annie's future. The hospice sequences underscore the emotional stakes as Linda's illness leads to hard choices about end-of-life care.
A Place for Annie Themes
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Motherhood
The film centers on the transformative power of motherhood as Susan adopts Annie and provides unconditional care. It explores the moral complexities of choosing a child over institutional care and the emotional toll of custody battles. The bond between Susan and Annie drives the story, underscoring the redemptive potential of familial love.
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Custody & Law
The story navigates legal and social obstacles in the child custody dispute between Susan and Linda. It highlights the tension between maternal devotion and systemic judgments, and the ways in which the courtroom and social services shape family futures. The film uses the judge's decision and Linda's recovery arc to question what 'best for the child' really means.
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Hope & Resilience
Hope emerges as Annie's medical tests reveal she is not infected and can live a normal life. The resilience of Linda to make amends, even in illness, adds layers of forgiveness and growth. The film ends on a note of possibility, emphasizing second chances and the enduring strength of chosen family.
A Place for Annie Spoiler-Free Summary
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In a quiet, understated world where a small clinic becomes a place of quiet urgency, Susan—a compassionate nurse—finds herself caring for a newborn whose first breath is clouded by a life‑threatening diagnosis. The infant, Annie, arrives abandoned, her mother lost to addiction, and the medical staff faces a stark choice: let her wait in a hospice that offers little hope, or forge an uncertain path of guardianship. The film settles into a tender, character‑driven atmosphere, letting the everyday sounds of a clinic and a modest home breathe life into a story about love pressed against circumstance.
Susan’s own family adds depth to the moral terrain. Her teenage son, David, watches his mother wrestle with what it means to become a parent of a child not her own, and his doubts and affection provide a subtle counterpoint to her resolve. The dynamics within the household—quiet moments of caretaking, the rhythm of daily routines—are painted with a gentle realism that feels both intimate and universal. The tone balances quiet hope with the weight of responsibility, inviting the audience to linger on small gestures that speak louder than grand statements.
Beyond the walls of the clinic, the looming presence of Annie’s biological mother, Linda, lingers like an echo. Her past, hinted at through brief encounters, suggests a life marked by hardship and missed chances, creating an undercurrent of tension that threatens to upend the fragile stability Susan has built. The film hints at legal and emotional hurdles without spelling them out, allowing viewers to feel the stakes of custody and belonging without revealing how they resolve.
Through its restrained storytelling, the movie offers a meditation on what it means to choose family, the quiet bravery of everyday caretakers, and the lingering question of whether love can bridge the gap between a broken past and an uncertain future.
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