Ten years after the sudden and mysterious "death" of her husband, Patrick (Jay O. Sanders), Elizabeth "Peachy" Welch (
Margaret Colin) comes into possession of disturbing evidence that Patrick may still be alive. Even worse, it appears that Patrick faked his death and has assumed a new identity -- and is now the patriarch of a whole new family. Angered over the fact that Patrick has forced her to live a hardscrabble life as a single mother for over a decade, Elizabeth prepares for a showdown with the man who left her and their children in an advanced state of financial ruin. An unexpectedly sentimental finale caps the made-for-TV The Familiar Stranger, in keeping with the factual story upon which the film was based. The production first aired over the Lifetime cable network on March 12, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide