Mark Watson, portrayed by C. Thomas Howell, is a recent graduate eager to embark on a new journey by attending law school at Harvard. He’s been banking on his affluent parents, who promised to cover his tuition and fees. However, during a perplexing conversation with his quirky father, James Sikking, Mark is dismayed to discover that his parents spent the funds on a timeshare in the Tropics instead of saving it for his education. Enraged, he resorts to a rather unusual tactic by hanging an effigy of his father, using a Cabbage Patch doll dressed to resemble him.
Determined to secure a scholarship, Mark faces a significant obstacle: the wealth of his parents disqualifies him from most financial aid. After some searching, he finds a scholarship aimed specifically at academically outstanding African-American students from California. Seizing the opportunity, Mark concocts a plan that involves obtaining experimental tanning pills from a friend working as a pharmaceutical technician. He takes them in excessive amounts, resulting in a darker appearance that allows him to masquerade as black. This scheme leads him to successfully deceive his best friend, Gordon Bloomfield, played by Arye Gross, as well as the scholarship committee. During a jog, Mark confides in Gordon about his deception, causing Gordon to tumble off a pier into the ocean in surprise.
Once they arrive in Boston, Mark and Gordon rent a place from Mr. Dunbar, an overtly prejudiced landowner, portrayed by Leslie Nielsen. To compound matters, Dunbar's vivacious daughter, Whitney, played by Melora Hardin, is eager to get close to Mark. She misinterprets his African-American heritage and invites him to dinner with her family, leading to an incredibly awkward evening where her father watches him suspiciously, fearing Mark's intentions involve dating his daughter solely for her skin color.
As classes commence, Mark breaks a pact with Gordon by enrolling in criminal law, hoping to leverage his connection with the black professor, James Earl Jones, expecting an easy semester. However, he soon realizes that Professor Banks' class is far more challenging than anticipated, with the professor explicitly stating, > "I don't play favorites, regardless of race."
Amid his struggles, Mark meets Sarah, brought to life by Rae Dawn Chong, an intelligent law student with a much poorer background who is also a single mother to her son, George. Though initially, she sees through Mark's flirtation, he gradually earns her respect through hard work.
One day, while navigating Cambridge, Mark finds himself the target of a racist police officer who falsely arrests him. While detained, he suffers not only humiliation but also physical violence at the hands of racist football fans. This unexpected turn of events makes it impossible for him to submit an essential term paper for Professor Banks, who, even after learning of Mark’s ordeal, reluctantly grants him a brief extension to complete it.
As the semester progresses, Mark uncovers a shocking truth: Sarah was the other candidate for the scholarship he secured. This realization sends him into a guilt-ridden state, as he grapples with the moral implications of his deception. Despite Gordon's attempts to persuade him to keep quiet, fate intervenes when Professor Banks offers Mark a position on the student judiciary council, adding to his inner turmoil.
In a whirlwind of chaos, Mark's world unravels when his parents pay an unannounced visit, coinciding with a surprise appearance from Sarah. Attempting to maintain the facade collapses when Mark ultimately reveals the truth. What follows is a sequence of events with Sarah storming off in anger, his parents' shock, and an eviction notice due to his situation as he reconciles with the aftermath.
The judiciary council convenes to discuss Mark's actions, where Gordon defends him while Mark comes forward, leading to surprising reactions from his peers. Professor Banks later meets with Mark, agreeing that his misguided actions, while wrong, have given him a unique perspective on racism and prejudice. He counsels Mark that he has learned something profound about being treated as a minority.
To make amends, Mark takes on a busboy job in the university cafeteria, where he witnesses bigoted students telling racist jokes. This compels him to confront them, leading to a physical altercation. The story ultimately concludes with Mark and Sarah rekindling their friendship, setting the stage for new beginnings after this tumultuous journey.
