[3][4] The story starts out in a small North Carolina town with Carolyne Lovejoy (Carroll), a schoolteacher, singing in the choir at her church.

Later, their estranged sister Frieda (Cash), who has been living in inner-city Detroit for the last 13 years, shows up with her 12-year-old son Danny (Kristoff St. John).

They decide to stay for a while because Danny has had some trouble with the law in Detroit and Frieda wants to give him a fresh start in a new environment.

The movie ends with Sissy leaving for New York and Frieda deciding to stay in North Carolina and work things out with Carolyne[citation needed].

Cara won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for her role in the film.