Sara wants to be a ballerina, but her dreams are cut short by the sudden death of her mother. She moves in with her father, who she has not seen for a long time, in Chicago, mainly the ghetto. She gets transferred to a new school where she is the only white there. Her life takes a turn for the better when she is friends with Chenille. Later, she falls in love with her brother, Derek.
| Julia Stiles | .... | Sara Johnson |
| Sean Patrick Thomas | .... | Derek Reynolds |
| Kerry Washington | .... | Chenille Reynolds |
| Fredro Starr | .... | Malakai |
| Terry Kinney | .... | Roy Johnson |
| Bianca Lawson | .... | Nikki |
| Vince Green | .... | Snookie |
| Garland Whitt | .... | Kenny |
| Elisabeth Oas | .... | Diggy |