Judge Rusty Sabich is charged with the murder of his wife, a situation that comes 20 years after he was cleared in the death of his mistress. During this latest trial, a secret affair from Rusty's recent past threatens to hamper his defense and fracture his relationship with his son.

The film follows 17-year-old Gracie (Bell) who, for as long as she can remember, has been raising her four siblings, each of whom has a different, absent father — and their mother (Heche) is on the fast track to self-destruction. When these children's lives are about to be pulled apart, Gracie first takes on temporary parental responsibility and finally seeks to gain custody of her brothers. Inspired by actual events, the film is based on a story that appeared in .l Reader's Digest]</ref>, and is described as being "sure to touch your heart".[1]
Gracie's choice was well-received by critics, particularly praising both Bell and Heche's performances. Heche was nominated for the 2004 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie".