[1] The teleplay by Richard Levinson and William Link was considered the first sympathetic depiction of gay people on American television.

Divorced San Francisco contractor Doug Salter is looking forward to a summer visit from his 14-year-old son Nick, who lives in Los Angeles with his mother Janet.

Nick is at the cable car barn, where a sympathetic Muni employee, realising the boy has something on his mind, convinces him to go home.

[4][6] He felt an emotional connection to the character in the film because at the time he had separated from his first wife and had not told his two young children about the split.

"[7] When asked if at the time he was concerned the role could affect his career, he responded, "I'd robbed banks and kidnapped children and raped women and murdered people, you know, in any number of shows.

"[7] Doug's coming out speech to Nick was criticized by gay activists who objected to the father telling his son "some people think that it's [homosexuality] a sickness" and "if I had a choice, it isn't something I'd pick for myself."

[9][8][6] In an interview with the Television Academy foundation, writer William Link said they first took the project to NBC, but they said "we wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole, get out of here.

"[6] Out Magazine said the film was "the first television-movie to offer a sympathetic portrayal of homosexuality, and with an all-star cast of Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen, it was a pretty big deal.

The situation is one that is painfully all too common: a homosexual parent who somehow has to explain to his child the facts of a sexual preference which is a taboo in our society...there were few slick cliches, and perhaps because of the quality of the cast, no glib acting".

The performances throughout the film are excellent"...and the movie "can lay claim to some of the most impressive and sensitive acting ever contributed to television".

"[8][14] Film critic Charles Champlin praised the movie for "avoiding melodrama, moralizing or convenient resolutions, and it "would do honor to any size screen.

The center noted the movie's success at "educating and enlightening a select few and giving others a little bit of hope", and also "demonstrated the more progressive element of television".