Regina Louise, an abandoned black child, is placed in a home where she demonstrates anger issues. Jeanne Kerr, a white counselor, empathizes with her and they form a bond which leads to a petition for adoption. The home's director, a black woman, informs her that she will fight the petition, believing that a black child could not be raised by a white woman; the judge agrees. Regina is sent to a private institution and Jeanne's attempts to communicate with her are hindered. When Regina comes of age the institution releases her, with no financial or other support; however, they turn over all of Jeanne's letters which had been withheld from her. Regina pursues an education and begins a search for the woman she always thought of as her mother.

A young journalist looks behind the curtain of a nearby mental hospital, only to uncover the grim and gruesome acts they bestow upon their "patients".