association to take action against the landlord for lack of building maintenance. A lesbian couple, Lorraine and Theresa, move into Brewster Place and are victims of Miss Sophie's homophobia. Lorraine is raped by drug dealer C.C. Baker, who leaves her, bleeding and battered, behind the trash cans near the brick wall. Ben discovers Lorraine and attempts to help her. But Lorraine, traumatized for the attack, mistakes him for C.C. and attacks him with a board. She holds off all the other residents until the ambulance arrives. Both she and an unconscious Ben are driven away with Tee, who is alerted by a neighbor. Mattie, whose anger has finally overcome her apathy towards life, grabs a crowbar and starts to chip away at the much-despised brick wall. All the other residents grab tools and, finally coming together as a community, join together in knocking down the wall. Cast Oprah Winfrey as Mattie Michael Robin Givens as Melanie "Kiswana" Browne Jackée as Etta Mae Johnson Lynn Whitfield as Lucielia "Ciel" Turner Paula Kelly as Theresa Lonette McKee as Lorraine Olivia Cole as Miss Sophie Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Cora Lee Moses Gunn as Ben, The Handyman William Allen Young as Eugene, Ciel's Husband Leon as Abshu, Kiswana's Boyfriend Douglas Turner Ward as Reverend Woods Glenn Plummer as C.C. Baker Barbara Montgomery as Miss Eva Turner, Ciel's Grandmother Eugene Lee as Basil, Mattie's Son Paul Winfield as Sam Michael, Mattie's Father Mary Alice as Fannie Michael, Mattie's Mother Cicely Tyson as Mrs. Browne, Kiswana's Mother Larenz Tate as Sammy, Cora Lee's Son Ratings Awards and nominations References Further reading (via FindArticles) External links The Women of Brewster Place at Paley Center for Media The Women of Brewster Place at Museum of Broadcast Communications (Archive) 1989 television films 1989 films 1980s American LGBT-related drama television series 1980s American television miniseries 1989 drama films 1989 LGBT-related films African-American LGBT-related films American LGBT-related films Films scored by David Shire Lesbian-related television shows Television shows based on American novels Television series by Harpo Productions 1980s American films