
Lisa feels controlled by her mother, but decides to leave with her and return home.

She orders Lisa that to marry Carlos in order to take care of her mother. Also, she reveals that Victoria set Lisa up with Carlos in exchange for his money. Vanessa reveals that when she was a child, Victoria let Lisa's father rape Vanessa. Vanessa takes charge and refuses to let Lisa leave with Victoria until Victoria tells Lisa the "truth". After a week, Victoria comes by to pick up Lisa unannounced. Following Vanessa's advice, Lisa stays at Madea's house for the next few days. One night when Lisa is visiting Vanessa and Madea, Lisa reveals to Vanessa that Carlos is beating her. Carlos threatens to drop her from the balcony if she doesn't say that she will stay. Meanwhile, Lisa tries to leave her fiance but is caught. After many dates with Frankie, Vanessa begins to trust Frankie with her kids. Surprised, she recites one of her poems while Frankie paints a picture inspired by the poem on stage. He takes her to a local poetry lounge where he signs them up to participate. Vanessa is attracted by this as she is a poet and also has children. Vanessa suspects that he is just like the other men she has dated until he reveals that he is a single father with a 5 year old son and is an artist when away from his job. Frankie continues to ask Vanessa out and, after many advances, she accepts a date. Yet, Lisa has always been close to Vanessa and her kids. Vanessa has never had a healthy relationship with her mother, Victoria ( Lynn Whitfield). Vanessa is staying in Madea's house under the condition of paying rent in exchange for room & board and watching her kids. Lisa's sister Vanessa, who has two young children and has had trouble trusting men, is starting to fall in love with Frankie ( Boris Kodjoe), a bus driver.

Her niece Lisa is getting married to one of the most eligible bachelors in Atlanta, Carlos ( Blair Underwood), but Lisa's fiance has been abusing her since their engagement.

The southern matriarch Mabel "Madea" Simmons (Tyler Perry) has just been court ordered to take care of Nikki ( Keke Palmer), a rebellious runaway, who has been in foster care most of her life.
