The Brighter Day is an American daytime soap opera which aired on CBS from January 4, 1954 to September 28, 1962. Originally created for NBC radio by Irna Phillips in 1948, the radio and television versions ran simultaneously from 1954-1956. Set in New Hope, Wisconsin, the series revolved around Reverend Richard Dennis and his four children, Althea, Patsy, Babby and Grayling.
The Brighter Day was the first soap opera to air on network television with an explicitly religious theme. Another soap opera created by Phillips, The Guiding Light, initially had a religious theme as a radio show but dropped it by the time the series moved to television.
“Mom of Number 10” tells the story of Tina Manotas, a beautiful and humble woman forced to leave her hometown because of problems his husband Edwin gets involved in. Already in the big city, Edwin abandons her with their two sons, and she must overcome difficulties and lack of money. She’ll sacrifice everything to make her son Victor’s dream of becoming a professional football player come true. Although the financial situation gets more complicated each day, Victor makes his mother a promise: “With my football I will buy you a palace, dear mother, I will take you to the sky”. Several years later, her son manages to buy her an apartment at the Sky Building. However, problems will start with elitist neighbors that feel envious of Tina Manotas’ new and luxurious life.
Eva Kralj, a beautiful widow who recently lost her husband, moves from Zagreb to the lively place of Jablanovo, wishing to start a new life. Upon arrival in Jablanovo, Eva discovers a shocking secret: her late husband led a double life and lived with Julija Vitezovic, his mistress with whom he had a child. Julija is the popular mayor of Jablanovo and has a wealthy family and a large agricultural estate. Eva's arrival in Jablanovo turns the settlement upside down. Two men slowly enter Eva's life, the withdrawn and charming Andrija and Christian, but she is still hurt emotionally. Andrija Bukovac and Kristijan Vitezovic fall for Eva, but they both have their problems: Andrija carries a burden of guilt for a serious accident that took place in Jablanovo, while Kristijan had faced betrayal and the struggle for supremacy in the family business.