T.J. (T.E. RUSSELL) faces deep emotional challenges in both the professional and personal sides of his life. First, his hopes are dashed when he fails to land a job as a writer for Cascade Music. The rejection, plus having his music described as "derivative," causes him to second-guess his talent.
He confides to Suzanne (HEIDI NOELLE LENHART) that he fears that he lacks depth as a songwriter because he was raised in the suburbs, not the inner city. At the same time, his long-absent father Carl (TAJ MAHAL), a marginally successful but talented blues musician, reappears in T.J.'s life. T.J. is forced to deal with his deep anger towards Carl for walking out on him and his mother, Ellysa (DEBORAH LACEY), whos become a successful lawyer.
In his inimitable style, Marcus becomes romantically involved with Vanessa (JULIE BENZ), a beautiful, naive actress wannabe, by passing himself off as a theater producer. Realizing that he's falling in love with her, Marcus begins to feel guilty about misrepresenting himself. At dinner at Who's Who, Marcus decides to tell her the truth. Vanessa walks out, but only after telling Marcus that she would have gone out with him no matter who he was. Marcus is shattered and learns an enormously painful lesson in honesty.
T.J is haunted by sounds and images of his father's work as a musician. Carl pays him a visit at Legacy recording studios and they have a serious conversation for the first time. With the responsibility now on T.J.'s shoulders to accept his father into his life, T.J. has a decision to make. Their conversation leads to the two singing a soulful ballad written by T.J., together.