B.A.P.S 1997

Denise “Nisi” Halle Berry and Tamika “Mickey” Natalie Desselle-Reid helm a humble soul food diner in Decatur, Georgia, where their shared dream is as bold as it is practical: to one day run the world’s first combined hair salon and soul food restaurant. Their romantic partners, Ali Pierre Edwards and James Anthony Johnson, share a similar ambition to own a luxury cab company, weaving a tight-knit circle of friends who believe in turning talent and grit into a thriving future.

When a contest for a video girl offers a $10,000 prize, the duo liquidates their savings and flies to Los Angeles to seek their big break. On the plane, Nisi pores over etiquette tips in a book, while Mickey and Nisi chatter about towering new hairstyles that literally block the movie projector, underscoring how far they are from their ordinary lives. Though Nisi misses the dancing girl role, a man named Antonio spots them at the auditions and pulls them into a different music video project, inviting them to a Beverly Hills mansion. The invitation feels glamorous, but the true motive soon becomes clear: they are being brought there to pose as Lily’s granddaughter, a persona designed to charm the mansion’s aging owner, Mr. Blakemore.

The mansion reveals a sharp turn in their plans. They discover that the purpose of the ruse is not just opportunity but a test of loyalty and affection, as they grow unexpectedly fond of Mr. Blakemore, the man who once loved Lily. Despite the initial deception, Nisi and Mickey refuse to take his money when they realize the emotional stakes involved, choosing integrity over profit. Their guilt weighs heavily, and they intend to return to Decatur with a confession letter waiting for him to read after they depart. But before they can leave, tragedy strikes: Mr. Blakemore is rushed to hospital, and Nisi attempts to confess at his bedside; he interrupts her and passes away soon after.

Mr. Blakemore’s lawyer, Tracy Shaw [Troy Byer], explains that he knew all along Nisi was not Lily’s granddaughter, because Lily never had any children. Back at the mansion, the mood shifts from deception to revelation as the living and their partners prepare to return home. The will follows, and Mr. Blakemore’s final testament designates the two women as his heirs, caringly calling them his “B.A.P.S.”—Black American Princesses—and leaving them a share of his wealth.

In the end, Nisi and Mickey embark on the next chapter of their lives, transforming their shared dream into reality. They open Lily’z, a place where style and soul food coexist, honoring their own growth and the bond that carried them from Decatur to a world of possibility. The film closes on a hopeful note, celebrating friendship, ambition, and the empowerment that comes from staying true to oneself.