A Different World

Lena James is in danger of not being able to finish college without scholarship funding. She tries to capture one of these grants by writing an essay. It's a ringing tribute to her father, to whom she ascribes a record of impassioned activism.



The problem is, he did none of those things. In the old days, his idea of victory was cheating at cards. Lena, however, lives in the here and now, and regrets that she picked up her father's habit of doing whatever it takes to win-- even at the cost of her honor.



Soon the gig is up, as a professor sniffs out the student's fakery, forcing Lena to confront her father and her prospects at once. A stroke of luck gives Lena another chance. It's a hard lesson learned, but one that will stick in memory.



A serious episode, which deals with the love of family and the bitter consequences of lies and dirty deals. In the end, honesty is the best policy-- and Lena finds out she doesn't have to cheat to get somewhere. Her real talents, creativity and perseverance, are more than enough.