''Stop at Nothing'' is a 1991

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

directed by Chris Thomson. The

thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

, starring

Veronica Hamel Veronica Hamel (born November 20, 1943) is an American actress and model. She was nominated five times for an Emmy Award for her role as attorney Joyce Davenport in the TV police drama ''Hill Street Blues''. Biography The daughter of a Philade ...

and

Lindsay Frost Lindsay Frost (born June 4, 1962) is an American former actress. Early life Frost was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up elsewhere in Minnesota. She is the daughter of actor Warren Frost. Career On television, Frost played the role ...

, premiered on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

, and has since been frequently aired on

Lifetime Television Lifetime is an American basic cable channel that is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a subsidiary of A&E Networks, which is jointly owned by Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company. It features programming that is geared toward ...

Plot

Private detective and former Drug Enforcement agent Parrish (

) is hired to be a

bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an very important person, important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public offic ...

for a week to 8-year-old Kimberly Howard (Deborah Ann Gorman), who currently serves the key role in the custody battle of her parents James (Joseph Hacker) and Glenna (Annabella Price). James fears that Glenna will run off with Kimberly, considering that she is losing the battle, is refusing

alimony Alimony, also called aliment (Scotland), maintenance (England, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand), spousal support (U.S., Canada) and spouse maintenance (Australia), is a legal obligation on a person to provide ...

and is advised by the judge to seek psychiatric help. James is awarded temporary custody, and hires Parrish for assistance during his work hours. Parrish does not feel comfortable around children, and Kimberly immediately shows her lack of interest in her. Glenna, meanwhile, is heartbroken over having lost the case, and tells her lawyer that she hates how James can abuse Kimberly on a daily basis now. Her lawyer feels sorry for the woman and puts her in contact with former reporter Nettie Forbes (

), who has spent a year in prison for attempting to murder the man who had abused and killed her daughter. Since then, Nettie specializes in helping mothers to kidnap their children from their abusive husbands, and she offers Glenna a new identity following the kidnapping of Kimberly. Meanwhile, Parrish grows closer to Kimberly and even tells her about her love of her life: a former colleague who was shot and killed by a man who they were arresting. Their conversation is interrupted by a sudden visit from Nettie and Glenna, who have Parrish held at gunpoint, and take Kimberly. While they head out to a safehouse and come up with a new name, Parrish is criticized by her colleagues for having failed her job. James insists that Parrish try to find Kimberly, informing her that she is not safe with Glenna, who was institutionalized three years ago following a manic-depressive episode. Parrish's partner Sgt. Jake Morris (

Robert Desiderio Robert Desiderio (born September 9, 1951) is an American actor best known for his roles on television. He starred as Steve Piermont in the ABC daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'' (1982–83) opposite his future wife, Judith Light. He starred ...

) – with whom Parrish has had a romantic past – eventually arrests Nettie, but she refuses to talk while being held. Instead of being charged, Nettie is released, enabling the police to follow her every move. Nettie, however, loses them via a drive-in, and surprises Glenna with a new birth certificate, that of Carol Davidson. While Nettie and Glenna prepare to leave for Mexico, Parrish locates them and begins a dangerous car chase. Glenna finally gives up and gets out the car to stop Parrish, while Nettie drives off with Kimberly. Nettie leaves Kimberly to stay with her friend, but Kimberly does not feel safe and cries out for her mother. Back at the station, Parrish looks into the rape allegations against James. Through Glenna's lawyer, Parrish finds out that Kimberly brought up the abuse claims herself, and that Glenna's so-called mental illness is nothing more than a depression. Even though there is no hard proof for the abuse, Parrish slowly starts to believe the lawyer, and offers to help Nettie to reconcile Glenna with Kimberly. Nettie wants to help Glenna break out of jail, but this is not an option for Parrish, who does not want to jeopardize her career. Meanwhile, the FBI locates Kimberly through one of Nettie's posted letters. Parrish tries to help her out by warning Kimberly's caretaker Victoria before the FBI can get to her, but Victoria is unavailable, and the police are able to take Kimberly. As soon as she is reconciled with James, Parrish offers her babysitting services to continue the battle to help Glenna. Charges against Glenna are dropped on condition that she leaves the state, and Nettie is also released from any allegations as well. Shortly after, following a confession about the

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical abuse, physical, child sexual abuse, sexual, emotional and/or psychological abuse, psychological maltreatment or Child neglect, neglect of a child, especially by a p ...

from Kimberly herself, Parrish arranges for Glenna to leave the state with Kimberly. To assure herself of not losing her job, Nettie shows up and fakes to have cuffed her, before having kidnapped Kimberly. Believing that she was part of the kidnapping, James threatens to sue Parrish, but she assures him that she will tell everyone about the abuse if he does.

Cast

as Annette 'Nettie' Forbes *

as Sarah McConnell Parrish *

David Ackroyd David Ackroyd (born May 30, 1940) is an American actor, who first came to prominence in soap operas such as ''The Secret Storm'' and ''Another World (TV series), Another World''. Early life On May 30, 1940, Ackroyd was born in East Orange, N ...

as Agent Conroy *

as Sergeant Jake Morris * Joseph Hacker as James Howard * Deborah Ann Gorman as Kimberly Howard *

Caroline McWilliams Caroline Margaret McWilliams (April 4, 1945 – February 11, 2010) was an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill in the television series '' Benson''. McWilliams had also appeared in nine episodes of its parent-series ''S ...

as A.J. Parker * Annabella Price as Glenna Howard * Francis X. McCarthy as Dean Bowles * Lou Beatty Jr. as Sergeant Wade * Ingrid Oliu as Ofelia *

Al Ruscio Al Ruscio (June 2, 1924 – November 12, 2013) was an American character actor who appeared in numerous television shows and films. Early life Ruscio was born in Salem, Massachusetts on June 2, 1924. He graduated from Salem High School, after ...

as Judge Quentin

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=0102985, title=Stop at Nothing 1991 television films 1991 films American thriller films 1991 thriller films ABC Motion Pictures films 1991 drama films Films directed by Chris Thomson (director) 1990s English-language films 1990s American films English-language thriller films