The story takes place in the tiny town of Melton, Iowa, where Cora Jenkins' family lives in isolation as the town's only African Americans. Their precarious existence is supported solely by Cora's earnings as housekeeper to the Studevants. Tested early in life by the death of her own daughter, Cora transfers her maternal love to the Studevant's daughter, Jessie, whose mother is unable to demonstrate affection for her child. When tragedy strikes as the result of a lapse in judgment by Jessie's mother, Cora's devotion to the girl empowers her to speak the truth to the town -- regardless of the cost.

Stars Regina Taylor, Cherry Jones, Michael Gaston, Kohl Sudduth, Arlen Dean Snyder, CCH Pounder, Tinashe Kachingwe, Ben Easter, Tom Woodward. Not rated. Made for television; based on a short story by Langston Hughes.