ANNE HECHE AND TATE DONOVAN STAR IN "SILVER BELLS," A NEW "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME" PRESENTATION TO BE BROADCAST NOV. 27 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

SILVER BELLS, a new "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation starring Anne Heche ("The Dead Will Tell") and Tate Donovan ("The O.C."), will be broadcast Sunday, Nov. 27 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The story, which takes place at Christmastime, centers around a widower with children and a young woman who has lost her husband who help each other to put their painful pasts behind them as they discover the joys of being together during the holiday season.

Every year on December 1st, Christy Byrne (Donovan) has traveled from Nova Scotia with his children, Danny (Michael Mitchell) and Bridget (Courtney Jines), to sell their homegrown Christmas trees in the Chelsea District in New York City. This year, Christy will sell his trees, but will also try to find his 17-year old son who, following a bitter argument, ran away just before they were headed home one year ago. Except for one post card, Danny has not contacted his family since.

Catherine O'Meara (Heche), who lives in the same Chelsea neighborhood, has lost her enthusiasm for the holiday season since her husband passed away on Christmas Eve three years ago. Christy has tried to sell her a tree in the intervening years, but has met with a polite refusal.

Neither Catherine nor Christy realize that their lives are connected by Danny, who met Catherine at a photography exhibit and has been in touch with her ever since. Widow and widower are brought together when Danny wants to visit his sister and Catherine lends a hand.

Catherine finally confesses to Christy that she has seen Danny over the past year and allowed him to study in the library at the museum where she works. Christy, who has been tirelessly searching for his son, feels betrayed by both of them. But, when Danny is in an accident and taken to the hospital, Christy has the chance to see his boy and try to make things right for all of them.

Anne Heche was nominated for an Emmy Award for the television movie "Gracie's Choice," and for a Tony Award for the Broadway play "Twentieth Century" in 2004. Her other television credits include the movie "One Kill," on the Network, the series "Ally McBeal," and "If These Walls Could Talk." Her feature film credits include "Birth," "Psycho," "Augie Rose," "The Third Miracle," "Wag the Dog," "The Juror," "Volcano," "Donnie Brasco" and "Walking and Talking."

Tate Donovan's television credits include the series "The Guardian," on the Network, "The O.C.," "The Outer Limits," "Hercules" and a recurring role on "Friends." His feature film credits include "The Pacifier," "West of Here," "Drop Back Ten," "The Thin Pink Line," "Murder at 1600," "Holy Matrimony," "Philly Heat" and "Ethan Frome."

SILVER BELLS was produced by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions. Richard Welsh ("Riding The Bus with My Sister") and Brent Shields ("The Magic of Ordinary Days") are the executive producers. Andrew Gottlieb ("The Blackwater Lightship") is the producer. Dick Lowry ("Follow The Stars Home") directed from a script by Jim McGrath ("Father Dowling Mysteries") based on the book by Luanne Rice ("Follow The Stars Home").

RATING: To Be Announced