Movies

Billie Jean, the youngest of three half-sisters, lives with her mother Mama Rosie and grandmother M'Dear. She desperately wishes to avoid the fate of her two sisters Norma Faye and Ruth Ann, neither of whom finished high school and are now stuck married with kids. Billie Jean dreams of becoming a successful dancer, but her mother and sisters belittle her attempts to improve herself. Mama Rosie compares her daughters unfavorably with the more ambitious Netta, a young lady from the neighborhood. When Netta comes home from college to visit Mama Rosie for Mother's Day, Norma Faye and Ruth Ann resent their mother's doting on her. The sisters try to trick Billie Jean into believing Netta will move in and take her room once she graduates. Netta does her best to rise above their insults and makes plans for Billie Jean to finish high school and to apply for college at the end of the school term. Mama Rosie's ex-husband Earl returns to town to visit the family with hopes to rekindle a relationship with Mama Rosie. He suggests Billie can make it by dancing in a bar in Detroit. M'Dear's live-in boyfriend Herbert objects to the disrespectful conversation and vulgar language. Mama Rose says that everyone present is grown and married except Billie. Earl and Mama Rosie visit a nearby neighborhood park, where they remember their days of youth and discuss their bittersweet past. Earl suggests Rosie come with him to Detroit, where he owns a shoe business, but Rosie rejects his offer and they part company. Back at home, Rosie and her mother discuss the old wounds which Earl's visit has resurrected. The elder sisters gang up on Billie Jean, holding her down, insisting Billie Jean needs to be put into reform school as they fail to understand and respect Billie's goals. M'Dear reminds Rosie of her past dreams and asks Rosie to allow Billie to fulfill her own dreams without interference. The film ends with Billie Jean leaving home to attend college despite protests from her envious sisters.