Its record of five Primetime Emmy Awards was not matched until 2010, by the film Temple Grandin.

When his mother dies, estranged son Bob inherits her estate, and, surprisingly, custody of his younger brother D.J., who suffers from schizophrenia.

[1] Promise was first broadcast December 14, 1986, as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame television anthology series.

Directed by Glenn Jordan from a screenplay by Richard Friedenberg,[2]: 193  the film was shot September–October 1986 on location in Oregon, in Corvallis, Salem and Dallas, and at Triangle Lake.

"[2]: 250  He researched his role at a halfway house in Santa Monica, California, where he met a young man whose eloquent description of living with schizophrenia was put into the script: It's like, all the electric wires in the house are plugged into my brain.

[2]: 194–195 "Accepting the Emmy for Best Teleplay, Richard Friedenberg said he hoped the film would help schizophrenics by calling attention to their plight," Garner wrote.

"I'm sorry to say that 25 years later, schizophrenia is the worst mental health problem facing the nation.