 A young girl, Joanne, (Yvonne Zima at age 7, Madeline Zima at age 14) born out-of-wedlock and abused by her maternal grandfather (Ron White), finds happiness when she is with an older black couple (Ossie Davis, Della Reese). Her mother (Crystal Bernard), not knowing who fathered her daughter, tries to overcome the family s problems, but is constantly beaten back by her controlling father.