SECRET PATH, THE {A.K.A. CHASING SECRETS} (TV)

Summary

This made-for-television drama film, based loosely on the book by Rose Mary Evans, tells the story of a young girl's struggle to find a loving family in World War II-era Tennessee. The story begins as author Jo Ann Foley overhears her teen daughter Lydia gossiping with a friend about their "white trash" classmate. Having decided to "go back after all," Jo Ann brings a reluctant Lydia along on a road trip to Tennessee and shows her the small, rundown shack where she grew up. Forty years in the past, Jo Ann's mother Marie's is distressed as her bootlegger father Hank takes her newborn away, declaring that they cannot have another mouth to feed. He leaves the infant on the side of the road, but soon she somehow reappears on their front porch, bearing a crucifix necklace and a stern note. Seven years later, young Jo Ann is thrilled when Marie's GI boyfriend Carl promises to take them to Kokomo, though she is soon forced to attend the local school alongside Bobby, her uncle of the same age. She flees from the classroom in embarrassment when she cannot point out Kokomo on the map, and when Bobby pursues her, they encounter an elderly black man, "Too Tall." Bobby immediately offends Too Tall with his prejudiced attitude, but Jo Ann accompanies him home and meets his warmhearted wife, Honey, who immediately takes a shine to the unhappy girl.

Back at the Foley household, Hank is disgusted to hear that Jo Ann has been socializing with black people and takes away her dinner. Starving, Jo Ann steals tomatoes from Honey's garden, and Marie urges her daughter not to antagonize her cruel grandfather. Jo Ann later attempts to repay Honey with eggs, but Honey invites her in for a cooking lesson and the two continue to bond. Carl leaves Marie after hearing unsavory rumors about her, and Jo Ann is crushed at the loss of her Kokomo dream. Honey helps Jo Ann with her writing, urging her not to be intimidated in class, though Bobby catches wind of her "secret" and threatens to tell Hank. Later, she saves Bobby from a bully at school, and Hank is impressed enough to take Jo Ann out fishing, explaining that the Foley family was prosperous before Prohibition and the Great Depression rendered them impoverished. During one of their afternoons together, Jo Ann unknowingly uses a racial epithet towards Honey and is confused when she reacts with anger, and Honey complains to Too Tall that she may have been unwise to form such a relationship with a young white girl. Too Tall, however, reminds her that Jo Ann has no one and cannot help her ignorant upbringing, and Jo Ann is deeply apologetic when Honey explains the offensiveness of that word.

Seven years later, Hank declares that Jo Ann is ready to visit "the joint," the local speakeasy. Honey and Too Tall warn Jo Ann to avoid such dangerous situations in the future, and Jo Ann is thrilled when Honey promises to make her a personalized apron of her own for their cooking. Jo Ann's teacher praises her latest composition, which tells of her "fictional" kindly neighbors, and Marie is elated to hear that Jo Ann will receive an award at graduation, though Hank is apathetic. Jo Ann is again taken to the speakeasy, implied to also be a brothel, and she bonds with a young soldier, Paul. Marie makes Jo Ann a dress and promises to attend her graduation, but she flees from the event when the other parents regard her with a judgmental eye and Jo Ann is crushed by her mother's absence. Honey and Too Tall, however, celebrate her achievement, and Honey presents her with the personalized apron. Honey takes Jo Ann to her first-ever church service, where Jo Ann is dazzled by the passionate gospel music, and Honey gifts her with a hymnal. Honey's friend Evelyn questions her privately about her motherly relationship with the girl, revealing that Honey lost a baby in childbirth and suggesting that there will be "a price" for her choosing to "adopt" a white girl.

Hank beats Jo Ann badly when she finally refuses to visit the speakeasy, and she flees to Honey and Too Tall's home in despair. Evelyn and her husband Dr. Joe warn Honey that she will never win custody of Jo Ann in a courtroom, but Honey angrily declares that her family does not love her and reveals that she was the one to return infant Jo Ann to her family when Hank abandoned her many years ago. She apologizes to Jo Ann for having to take her back yet again, and once back at the Foley home, she furiously confronts Hank for his cruel behavior, stating that she will not tolerate his ongoing abuse against his family. Marie admits the truth to Jo Ann, agreeing that she is better off with Honey and Too Tall than in her unhappy home. Hank gets into a scrape with several soldiers at "the joint" and decides that they must leave the state, and Marie prepares to leave on her own, vowing that she will return for her daughter someday. Jo Ann realize that she is now expected to make money through prostitution to make up for Marie's absence, though she is pleased to encounter Paul when she returns to the speakeasy. Paul gets into a scuffle with Bobby, who is essentially serving as a pimp, and Jo Ann takes him to Honey's to be patched up. Realizing that they have no other options, Honey gives Jo Ann and Paul her secret stash of money and urges them to escape together, aware that she may never see her honorary daughter again. Jo Ann bids her a tearful farewell, promising to make something good of her life, and in the present, Lydia is humbled by her mother's exceptional story. They meet up with Elizabeth, Evelyn's adult daughter, and Paul, revealed to be Jo Ann's husband and Lydia's father. Jo Ann, preparing to write a book about her life with Honey and Too Tall, is touched when Elizabeth presents her with her old apron. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: CBS
• DATE: April 4, 1999 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:31:27
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:84487
• GENRE: Drama
• SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama; Surrogate mothers
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1999
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Robert Greenwald … Executive Producer
• Kimberly Rubin … Executive Producer
• Franklin Lett … Co-Executive Producer
• Philip Kleinbart … Producer
• Bruce Pittman … Director
• Bill C. Davis … Writer
• Quinton Peeples … Writer
• Rose Mary Evans … Based on the book by
• Steve Edwards … Music by
• Della Reese … Cast, Honey
• Crystal Bernard … Cast, Marie Foley
• Madeline Zima … Cast, Jo Ann (Age 14)
• Yvonne Zima … Cast, Jo Ann (Age 7)
• Ron White … Cast, Hank Foley
• Yolanda King … Cast, Ms. Evelyn
• Ossie Davis … Cast, Too Tall
• Brenda Bazinet … Cast, Grandma Foley
• William Greenblatt … Cast, Bobby Foley (Child)
• Lyn Mason Green … Cast, Jo Ann (Age 40)
• David Roemmele … Cast, Bobby Foley (Age 15)
• Zachary Bennett … Cast, Young Paul
• Johnie Chase … Cast, Dr. Joe
• Aimee Castle … Cast, Lydia
• Vince Corazza … Cast, Karl
• Nola Augustson … Cast, Schoolteacher
• Roger Dunn … Cast, Sheriff
• Karen Glave … Cast, Elizabeth
• Kyle Downes … Cast, Bully
• Gavin Hope … Cast, Gospel Singer
• David St. Louis … Cast, Gospel Singer
• Aubrey Mann … Cast, Gospel Singer
• Stephanie Mills … Cast, Lydia's Friend
• Jonathan Whittaker … Cast, Older Paul
• Christopher Crumb … Cast, Drunk
• Patrick Mark … Cast, Soldier