Robin Snow is a world class marathon runner at the top of her game. After studying on a Fulbright scholarship abroad, she returns home to run tracks at inner city schools. The tragedy strikes.

At the peak of her career she suffers heart failure while training for a race, and is rushed to hospital where a machine keeps her heart beating. Her mother Kathryn is devasted. An excellent runner herself she had sacrificed her career to marry and have a family, and lived vicariously through Robin her favourite child.

Molly, Robin's little sister has grown up in her shadow. Even though she resented Robin's first place in their mother's heart, she loves her sister. Jonathan, Robin's brother is a scientist.

Emotionally disconnected and wedded to the facts, he is the first to call for the machines to be switched off. Robin's father lives for his family, and defers to them rather than voicing his own opinion. More than anyone he stuggles with the definition of 'brain-dead' and the religious and moral issues of the right to life.