Ironically, he saves her when they meet, helping her out of a shoplifting charge by pretending to know her, then inviting her to a club to see him perform. She has no idea she'll become the date of a star that evening. Quickly the facade is revealed, however, and she even turns to prostitution to pay their rent. Fox begins as a naive enthusiasic and ends up a harshly funny realist. Frankie proves to be her financial ruin, although, ever the true professional, she manages to rebuild her life.
Berry begins as a seemingly world wise mature woman who becomes a world weary cynic.
Lela Rochon plays the apparently meekest of the three, a real church going innocent swept of her feet by a somewhat inexplicably changed Lymon who's returned from the Army with a buddy to a small Southern town. When Emira recounts her days spent gardening with Frankie, she's met by hoots of derision by Elizabeth and Zola. She spends the shortest time with Frankie, who leaves to revive his career after being reminded of who he 'used to be' and immediately is discouraged and overdoses. Rochon' s older character shows a backbone and force of will we wouldn't have guessed at in her younger days. Larenz Tate is terrific recreating the excitement of Frankie's stage presence.