"Heartbeat," also known as "Danielle Steel's Heartbeat," is a 1993 American TV movie directed by Michael Miller and written by Jan Worthington. It is based on a 1991 novel by Danielle Steel and was produced for NBC. The story follows a man who was mistreated as a child and does not want to have children. When Adrian tells her husband she is pregnant, he pressures her to have an abortion. Adrian refuses his demands, and he ignores her. Adrian’s boss, who works on a soap opera she writes and produces, becomes romantically involved with her. They eventually marry and help raise Adrian’s baby. John Ritter plays the TV producer, Polly Draper plays Adrian, and Kevin Kilner plays Adrian’s husband.

According to Hal Erickson of Rovi, the movie received a lot of criticism when it was released and was often called a "yuppie love story." It also received an Emmy Award nomination in 1993 for Best Costume Design in a Mini-Series or Special.

Plot

Bill Grant is a television producer who works on a soap opera called A Life Worth Living. He is a man who recently divorced and does not often spend time with his sons. Without knowing, he frequently meets Adrian Towers, a woman who works as a writer for a news organization. Adrian is married to Steven, a man who had a difficult childhood and does not want to have children. When Adrian becomes pregnant, Steven insists she have an abortion. She agrees but is unable to proceed with the procedure. When Steven discovers this, he leaves her and threatens to file for divorce if she keeps the baby.

Adrian struggles to accept Steven’s departure and avoids discussing it with others. She meets Bill and, although she likes him, she is still deeply affected by her divorce, which will be finalized two weeks before her baby is born. She joins Bill on a camping trip with his sons and begins to enjoy spending time with children. She does not tell Bill about her pregnancy but grows closer to him. Bill shares that he once feared becoming a father but changed his mind after holding his sons. He admits he may never marry again and tries to kiss her, but she refuses, saying it is too soon for her.

The next day, Tommy, one of Bill’s sons, is nearly hit by a car. Adrian tries to save him and is injured instead, risking a miscarriage. Bill learns about her pregnancy and she tells him everything that happened. He is frightened but supports her. He admits he is worried he might fall in love with her and that she might return to Steven. Later, Adrian’s lawyer tells her that Steven does not want to see their child and offers financial support only if he is not responsible for the baby. Adrian refuses, saying Steven must see the child before making such a decision. She finds comfort with Bill, and they begin a romantic relationship.

Months later, Adrian sees Steven in a restaurant and confronts him, but Steven refuses to speak to her. Bill tells her there is no future with Steven. The next day, Adrian is hospitalized due to early labor. She agrees to the divorce and accepts Bill’s proposal, though she says she is not yet over her marriage to Steven. On Christmas Eve, Adrian gives birth to a boy named Sam. Steven agrees to see the child and says he wants to reconcile for Sam’s sake, but Adrian rejects him. Bill, who sees Steven with Adrian, keeps his distance. Eventually, they reunite and marry when Adrian assures Bill that he is the only man for her.

Cast

• John Ritter as Bill Grant, the head writer and show creator of a popular soap opera.
• Polly Draper as Adrian Towers, the television writer and producer for the same soap opera who is pregnant.
• Kevin Kilner as Steven Towers, Adrian's strict husband.
• Michael Lembeck as Ted
• Nancy Morgan as Zelda
• Christian Cousins as Tommy Grant
• Victor DiMattia as Adam Grant