Man of Her Dreams (2009) - full transcript
Marcus seems to have the perfect marriage, but a surprise visit from his long-absent sister-in-law, Louise, threatens to disrupt his serene home. Louise brings along her adopted daughter, who professes her love for Marcus's son. The news forces Marcus to share his own long-buried secret in this film adaptation of Donald Gray's stage play - a secret that may destroy his family.
[ Indistinct conversations ]
-Roll camera.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Mid-tempo music plays ]
-♪ Ba-da da-da-da ♪
♪ Ahh ♪
♪ Ba-da-da da da da ♪
♪ Ba-da-da da da ♪
♪ Ahh ♪
♪ Da da-da da-da da ♪
♪ Man of her dreams ♪
♪ Man of
her dreams ♪
♪ Man of her dreams ♪
♪ Oh ♪
-Say a prayer for you,
Miss James. Ulah May James!
-I'll tell you, God is good.
-Amen, all the time.
-Ooh, and listen,
the ladies are so excited
about the women's conference.
-Yes.
-We got pastor Darlene Bishop
coming, and --
Whoo! -- we gonna have a time
in the Lord.
-Well, praise God!
Oh, I'm so proud of you.
Thank you for all that you do
for the church.
-Aw, it's nothing.
-All right, look, I got to run.
I got another meeting.
-Okay.
-But you know I'm gonna be
praying for you and your family.
-Oh, please do.
-Oh, God bless you!
I just thank you so much!
-God bless you, pastor.
-Hallelujah!
-Take care, now.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Chuckles ] Yes.
Praise God.
[ Telephone rings ]
Oh.
Hello?
Oh, hey, Lucille.
Girl, what's wrong?
You and brother Jackson
didwhat?!
Oh, I'm gonna tell you
the truth.
Honey, the question is,
can youhandlethe truth?
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ You should have
counted up the cost ♪
♪ But instead you, y-y-you,
y-y-you got lost ♪
♪ In the second,
in the minute ♪
♪ In the brrrrr, hey ♪
♪ Before you lay, sister girl,
you need to pray ♪
I'll see you at Bible study.
Bye.
That's right, honey.
Mm-hmm.
And count it up...
♪ Before you get lost ♪
♪ In the second, in the minute ♪
♪ In the hour ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
-Mama.
-"The Lord
is my shepherd."
-Mama.
-Huh?
-Look.
Look who came to visit.
-Hey, Grandma! Hey!
Grandma, I-I got to go
to your bathroom.
I had Big Macs,
apple pies,
French fries, and a milkshake,
Grandma.
I -- I really --
I got to go, I got to go.
-[ Laughs ] Child, don't forget
to spray for the smell.
-Grandma!
-[ Laughs ]
-Now, Mama, listen, I have
another surprise for you.
-Okay, okay, what is it?
-You got to keep
an open mind.
-Girl, I'm open.
-You promise?
-Honey, I am o-pen.
-All right.
-I like surprises.
As a matter of fact,
I love surprises.
-Hello, Mother.
Whew.
You can't speak?
[ Sighs ]
How you doing, Mother?
-Iwasdoing just fine
before you came in.
I'm going to the back
to get my oil
so I can anoint things...
Because the devil
just showed up.
-Ohhhh.
-Please.
I know, I know.
I know, you know Mama.
She's -- she's --
she's set in her ways.
It's been a lot of years, so you
just got to give her some time.
-Oh, wow!
Boy, oh, boy.
-You know Mama. She hasn't
changed. She's still Mama.
-Oh!
-Mama, what didIdo?
-Ooh.
-[ Clears throat ]
-Ooh.
Hmm. Need just
a little more time, huh?
[ Laughs ]
-You see how long you left me
to put up with this by myself?
-I know. I'm sorry.
-And, Louise -- [Sighs]
you know Mama.
She's -- she's still upset
about you not coming
to Daddy's funeral, and --
and I know, I know.
I know you have your reasons
for not coming,
and I forgave you.
But it's gonna take Mama
a little while.
Look, I'm just happy
you're here!
-Oh, me too!
[ Both laugh ]
-And you look amazing!
-[ Laughs ]
-And Chania.
Oh, my goodness,
you adopted this little girl,
and now she's grown all up,
on her way off to college.
You've done
such a good job.
-Yeah, I did do a good job,
didn't I?
Yeah.
[ Chuckles ]
-[ Chuckles ]
What is your secret?
-[ Chuckles ]
I got me a sugar daddy.
[ Laughs ] I know.
He takes good care of me.
I'll tell you all about him
later, okay?
-Okay.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Make sure you don't
leave out any details.
You know, you haven't seen
the kids in a while.
Erica has a new man
in her life.
-Hmm!
-Erica!
-[ Chuckles ]
-Erica!
-Ugh! One and two and ugh!
Get it, girl.
Ugh!
-Oh!
-Mom, you interrupted
my Tae Bo!
You know I got to
keep it tight.
And get...that...money!
I got to get it! Whew!
Got to get it, girl.
Get it, girl.
Get it.
Oh. Oh, yes! Oh!
Aah!
-Aaaaah!
Look at you!
Aren't you beautiful!
-Come over here!
Erica,
show your Aunt Louise
the beautiful ring
that Kevin gave you.
Whoo!
-Whoo!
-Louise, my baby's
about to get married,
and I can hardly wait to start
planning the wedding.
-A woman my age ain't looking
for no full-time commitment.
-Wait a minute.
Now, Erica, why would you
accept a young man's ring
if you're not ready
for a commitment?
-We accepted his proposal
because he asked,
and this ring
'cause we ain't crazy.
-Ooh, yeah. With that.
I got that.
-Well, that sounds crazy
tome.
You know, I've been trying
to tell the young women
down at the women's conference
that a good man is hard to find.
And Kevin
is such a good man.
-Mmm.
-He reminds me of her father.
Yeah, he has a -- you know,
a good little job,
but he loves her, he respects
her, and he loves the Lord.
-I'm gonna tell you right now
what I do.
I come in and I --
hyah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!
-Cletous!
-Yeah, that's what I do.
-Where have you been?
-Don't worry about
where I been.
You worry about what I did
when I was down there.
That's what I'm talkin' about.
mm-Hmm. Yeah! uh-Huh.
Them young boys down at the
Waffle House think I'm a punk!
Gonna park in my space when I've
been waiting there
for 15 minutes! Gah! Gah!
That's what I did.
Now, look here,
if FBI, CIA, DEA, A.D.D., PSAT
come in here looking for me,
y'all got my alibi.
You got that?
-No, no, now, you know
I'm not gonna lie for you.
-Hey!
You gonna do what I say!
I'll "ugh!" Your neck will be
looking like a Pez dispenser.
Tell you what --
I'm the one taught Ray J
how to stab a white woman
and get away with it.
Nah! Nah! Nah!
-[ Laughs ]
Who is that?
-Girl, you remember him --
You know, Mama's friend
from, like, way long time ago.
-[ Laughs ]
Oh, my God, Ma, you ain't
gonna even believe this.
Cletous just wild out.
We was down there --
man, I'm telling you --
Today, I mean, he just took
the switchblade and just whack,
yack,
just sliced them up!
I mean...
Auntie!
[ Laughs ]
What's kickin', Auntie?
-Whew! Your breath
is what's kickin'.
-Oh!
Auntie, you know
it's that green.
[ Laughs ]
-Ooh!
-Yo, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Yo, what ever happened to that
ugly little daughter of yours?
-Oh, now, hold on, sucker,
you ain't that high
off that old head-bangin' mess.
-I'm just sayin',
last time
I saw her when we was little,
she was so ugly, we had to
trick-or-treat over e-mail.
[ Laughs ]
-Boy, you're a fool.
Turn around.
She's right there,
right behind you, right there.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Oh, Lord.
-Aah!
-Oh, Lord.
Oh, wait, wait!
Oh, wait a minute!
Wait!
Oh, Lord, looky here,
looky here.
Mine eyes
have seen the glory.
Oh. Oh, look!
Look like she got two midgets
in her back pocket. Looky there.
Oh, look at the humps
and the bump!
Oh, the Apple Bottom jeans!
Whoo!
[ Hip-hop music plays ]
-Oh, that's my song!
-Oh, oh, oh!
Oh! Hold it!
Hold it, now!
Oh, oh, wait!
-Oh! What is that?!
No, no, no, no!
No, no, no!
-Oh, you got it!
Oh, you got it!
You got it.
You -- you got it.
You -- I'm trying to get
underneath it.
I'm trying to get --
-Tyrone!
-Trying to...
-Tyrone!
Do not come in this house high
and embarrass me.
-I'm not high, Mother.
I'm ha!
Ha ha ha ha!
[ Coughing ]
-Now, you know your father's
up for re-election.
And I don't want him to come in
this house and see you this way,
so go upstairs right now
and get yourself together.
-Yes, ma'am.
But tell Dad, uh,
"happy re-erection day."
[ Laughing ]
-Girl, what happened?
You done raised a fool.
When did this happen?
-He is funny to me.
If Ty just stopped smoking
all that weed,
he can make somebody
real happy.
-What?!
-What?!
[ Scoffs ] Oh, let's just
forget about all that.
Now, let's talk
aboutyourhusband.
Ho ho!
Senator Marcus Gordon.
Oh, that's wonderful.
You have got yourself
a good man.
-Yes, my daddy is up
for re-election.
And when he wins,
he's getting me a new car!
And he's gonna
give me money, yes.
That's what
daddy said.
-Uh-oh. Oh, oh.
Uh, Chania, honey,
what's -- what's the matter?
What's wrong?
Something happen?
-I never met
my biological parents.
-I told you not to bring that up
while we're here.
Okay?
Now, don't do this to me.
Now, I adopted you,
and you are my daughter.
We are a family,
me and you.
Don't do this to me, not now,
Chania, please? Please.
-Erica, why don't you show
your -- your Aunt Louise
and your cousin Chania
to their room
so they can make themselves
at home.
I'll have Cletous
get your bags out the car.
-You know what, baby?
I'm gonna take you shopping.
But you not gonna get
all my money this time.
I'm only giving you
$1,500.
-$1,500?!
-Yeah, girl,
we on a budget.
-[ Scoffs ]
What kind of budget is that?
$1,500.
-Hey, baby.
Hey, baby.
I'm rushing.
Oh. No, sit down.
I got something for you.
-But I have something I need to
talk to you about, okay?
-Baby, sit down.
-It's really important.
-Baby, baby, baby, please.
[ Sighs ]
You know I, uh -- I get
choked up when I talk about you.
[ Sighs ]
I just want to thank you
for being patient with me.
I know I've been
in and out of the house
with this re-election stuff,
and, um...
I love you, and I couldn't
do this without you.
Close your eyes.
-[ Chuckles ]
-I saw you looking at this
the other day,
and I thought that I would
pick it up for you.
Look at that.
Open your eyes.
-Oh!
Marcus, they're beautiful!
Mwah! I love you.
-Listen, baby, I got to get
down to the office.
-Wait, wait, wait.
Before you go, I need to talk to
you about something.
-Oh, Senator Marcus Gor-don!
[ Laughs ]
-Margaret,
what is she doing here?
-Well, Marcus, that's what
I was trying to tell you.
-Chania got a full scholarship
down here,
and I came with her
to make the transition easier.
And I talked to Margaret
on the phone about it.
She said, "hey, it's all right.
Come on down."
Uh-huh.
-Margaret doesn't speak for
everybody in our family, Louise.
Do you, Margaret?
Doyou, Margaret?
Now, Louise, you know
Chania could have gone
to any college
she wanted to.
I would have arranged that
for you.
-Y-yes.
-Why would you
come back here?
You didn't have the decency
to come to your own
father's funeral.
-Wait a minute, Marcus.
I just --
-I am talking!
I am talking.
Now, you didn't have
the decency
to come to your own father's
funeral five years ago.
And you hurt me. You hurt my
wife. You hurt the whole family.
And you have the nerve
to come back here now?
You know what?
You are not welcome
in this house.
You understand?
Do you understand?
And I don't care
if thisisyour sister.
Well, now...
[ Chuckling ]
Doesn't she look nice,
Margaret?
Is that -- is that a --
is this silk?
-[ Gasps ]
-Did you see the brand-new BMW
she has in the driveway?
-Marcus.
-Who bought that for you?
Your new sugar daddy?
-[ Huffs ]
-I got some business
downtown, okay?
And when I get back here,
I want her gone.
-But, Marcus,
I told her...
-What didIsay?
-Oh!
-I can't stand you.
I'm not playing,
Margaret.
You should know better.
-Margaret, I thought you said
that he was all over this!
You said that you were gonna
take care of things!
Is that taken care of?
Oh!
-Listen to me.
I apologize for Marcus.
-I don't want to be --
I can't stand -- ow!
-I apologize for Marcus!
And I apologize
for how Mama acted earlier.
But -- but --
-You set me up, Margaret.
-No.
I would never do that.
Why would I bring you back
to set you up?
It's just that Marcus --
he's --
he's under a lot of pressure
with the re-election,
and I didn't have a chance
to talk to him,
but I would have.
Louise... [Sighs]
I prayed for this.
I asked the Lord to bring
my family back together again.
And now that I have you back,
I am not gonna let you go
without a fight.
Okay?
So you go upstairs and --
and get comfortable,
and I'll handle Marcus,
okay?
-Girl, he gets on my nerves.
-I know, he gets on my nerves
sometimes, too.
Louise.
-Oh.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Me and you, us, never part!
[ Laughs ]
-I love you!
Don't you let mister run you
up out of this house.
-Aah! Ha ha!
Whoo-Hoo-Hoo ha ha!
Oh, yes, yes, yes!
♪ Money, money,
money, money ♪
[ Laughs ]
-Cletous!
-Yes, yes, yes!
-What are you
carrying on about?
-Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Margaret, listen,
my dead ex-wife --
she forgot to take my name
off of her insurance policy!
[ Laughs ]
I'm a beneficiary!
[ Laughs ]
Oh, my God!
$350,000!
-How much?
-3-5-0.
Look at the zeros.
[ Laughs ]
Oh, my goodness.
Oh!
God is good
all the time.
-And all the time...
-And all the time...
-...God is good.
-...He is good.
-That's right.
-Whoo!
[ Shouting indistinctly ]
Whoo!
"Whoo-Sama" bin Laden!
-[ Laughs ]
Oh, well, what's going on?
-Ohh!
[ Chuckles ]
The Lord is my shepherd.
And he knows what I want.
[ Laughs ]
-Oh, well, I'm sorry.
I don't do bald-headed men.
-Uh-huh. Well,
you might do this one.
[ Laughs ]
Uh...
My name
is Cletous Jones.
And just like a cancer,
I will spread
all over you, girl.
-No.
Why would a woman of my caliber
associate herself
with some old wannabe,
dried-up, swolled-up,
wannabe, no-more-money,
got-broke
Evander Holyfield look-alike?
-I knowyouain't talking,
dressed like you
a Coca-Cola can.
-Oh!
-And you know what?
You look like that girl
from "227," except you're older.
-Ohh!
You want to go there?
[ Indistinct arguing ]
Come on, sucker!
Well, come on with it.
-I'll cut you right --
unh! Unh!
You don't know
what I'd do!
-Put your leg down!
What is going on in here?
Now, you know the Lord
does not like ugly.
-Well, he must be furious
with her!
-Margaret, who is that?
-Cletous Jones, Mama's friend.
You remember...
-Uh, you better tell that woman
to respect me up in here.
-And you remember
my sister Louise.
-Oh, girl, I'm so sorry.
You gotallthe good genes.
Faces.
-So, listen, why don't
you two shake hands?
-What? No way. Unh-unh!
No, I'm not shaking hands.
-It's a handshake.
-Don't touch me, no.
No way, unh-unh.
♪ Unh-unh, no ♪
♪ No, I'm not gonna do, no ♪
-♪ Shake, shake ♪
-♪ No ♪
-♪ I ain't gonna shake -- ♪
-Stop it!
Why are we rocking?
-'Cause... [ Sighs ]
They do that in these
black plays, you know.
They move back and...
-[ Sighs ]
-Cletous.
-Hmm?
-Will you shake her hand,
please, for me?
-Just for you, Margaret.
Okay?
-Thank you. Thank you.
-Ooh, girl,
you got man knuckles.
That's ashy.
Do you box?
They look hard.
-Well, the handshake
didn't go over that well,
so how about
a holy ghost hug, okay?
-How about
a holy ghost "no"?
-Let's just
get it over with.
If he wants a hug,
he's got to come over here
'cause I don't go to men.
-[ Laughs ]
-Whew.
-All right, then,
let me work this out.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, girl.
[ Laughs ]
My name is Cletous Jones again,
and let's do this.
-Aah!
Oh, you can't touch this.
If you want this, you've
got to pay for all of this.
-Uh, I've got a quarter.
You got some change?
-Ohh!
Oh, no!
Oh, no, unh-unh,
this ain't right.
Oh, no, first Mama,
then your husband,
and then this fool?
Oh, this is too much for me.
Unh-unh. I ain't staying here.
What is that?
Ugh!
-Cletous is a nice man.
He really is.
He's a nice man, Louise.
And he has some money.
-Ugh.
-He just got
a $350,000 check
from his wife's
life insurance policy.
-Oh?
-Mm-hmm.
-Cash?
-Yes.
-But ew!
Okay, well,
I guess a woman's got to do
what a woman's got to do.
Whoo, Cletous,
you can feel me up now, baby!
Where that money?
Come on! Give me that check!
Ahh! Cletous!
[ Birds chirping ]
-That's what I would have
told Jamal, lame-ass --
We'll be in bed, and I'll be
falling asleep on his ass.
I'll be like,
"What is going on?"
So weak, girl.
But you know Kevin, though?
I mean, I really could love him.
He just so broke.
He is the worst, girl.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, I'm waiting on Jamal
to bring me that money.
He should be here any minute.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, there that
noodle-ass nigga now.
Girl, let me call you back.
Bye.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Mnh.
-What's up, baby?
I can't get
a "what's up?"
I mean, come on.
What's happening?
What's up, baby?
-No, get off of me.
Don't "baby" me.
Look, I called your house,
your cellphone,
your condo,
and I called your boys.
You had me up all night
waiting for you last night.
Look, I don't have time
to play those silly-ass games
with you, Jamal.
-Will you calm down?
I had some important business to
take care of.
-You and I both know Iam
your important business.
-Erica, you need to
stop tripping now.
You and I know you ain't
my first priority, anyway.
-[ Scoffs ]
So? You still have obligations
to me, and don't forget that.
-[ Chuckles ]
Obligations?
As long as I take care
of your first love...
And you and I both know
what that is, right?
-[ Chuckles ] I guess papi
does know what mami wants.
-Yeah, papi does.
But if papi
give you this,
what are you
gonna give papi?
-Mmm.
Anything papi wants.
But not right now, 'cause
you know Cletous
almost caught us last time,
and you know
I can't be getting caught.
-Girl, please, I ain't worried
about no Cletous.
-Excuse me.
What you say, boy, huh?
You say something?
-I didn't say nothing, man.
-Okay, don't 'cause I will --
yah! --
Right there
in the hand, boy.
Yah! Right there.
New Jack City --
hyah! Hyah! Hyah!
-Man, what's wrong
with that dude?
-You know
that's just Cletous.
-Matter of fact,
come here.
-Okay.
-Look at your fine self.
-What are you doing?
-What you mean,
what I'm doing?
Ain't that how you like it --
from the back?
-Ooh! You better stop.
You know that's my spot.
-[ Laughs ]
That's your spot.
That's not what you
were saying last night.
-Last night?
Excuse me, Jamal.
I wasn't with you last night.
-I didn't mean last night.
You know what I'm saying.
I meant, like,
the other night
or the night
that we was together.
What I'm saying is that
it's so good it just be --
It be on me every night.
-Jamal,
you're so full of [bleep]
-Erica, I got some business
to take care of.
-Oh, no, this conversation
is not over with.
Now, I don't know who you
think you're dealing with,
but I don't play that.
-[ Chuckles ]
All right, baby girl,
I see where this is going.
I'm gonna give you
a little extra, all right?
How's that?
-The twin
is very lonely.
-The twin is lonely.
How's that?
-Mnh.
They want more.
-So, what you saying
is you want it all.
Is that
what you saying?
-Yes, the whole $2,500.
-Have fun shopping.
-Ding, ding, ding, ding,
ding, ding, ding, ding!
-Yeah, "ding, ding,
ding, ding, ding" --
That's what you better
be ready for later on.
-Oh, I will.
-Yeah, you better be.
When I get back here tonight,
you be ready, all right?
And don't have me waiting,
Erica.
-[ Laughs ]
-See you later.
-Bye, baby.
[ Door closes ]
♪ Got my money
so I can go shopping ♪
[ Laughs ]
All of it.
Oh, yeah.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, no, baby,
I hope you don't think
you're getting
all this money back,
'cause this is all mine's,
all mine's.
Kevin!
-Hey, baby.
Baby, who was that
in the driveway?
-Oh, that -- that was just
somebody for my mama.
-That boy looked too young
for your mama.
-You know my mama married,
boy.
-Girl, your mama nasty.
That's what she is.
Ooh, baby, you --
ooh, you look so good.
Can't wait till you become
Mrs. Kevin Smith
so we can do all the things
that married folks do.
Mmm-Mmm-Mmm.
-Really? Like what?
-Like wait till you
see my "ohh."
Wait till you see
my "ohh."
-Ooh!
-Girl, I'm gonna be like,
bam, bam, bam, bam,
bam, bam, bam, bam, bam!
-Oh, Kevin!
Oh! Oh.
-[ Coughing ]
-Oh, my God.
[ Inhales sharply ]
Let me help you up.
-Well -- well --
-Come sit down.
-Okay.
Wait a minute.
Whew!
I went a little too far
with that one, huh?
-Yeah, you did.
-Baby, when I get in shape,
I'm gonna work out.
Whew.
Hold on.
[ Inhales sharply ]
Okay, baby, listen.
Listen.
I was at work today, right?
-Uh-huh.
-So, my boss had a drawing.
He put all our names
in a hat, right?
Boss reached his hand
way, way, way down in there.
Guess whose name
he came out with.
-Who?
-Mine, baby!
-Ahh!
-Pack your bags.
We going to Jamaica, baby.
-Ooh!
-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga!
-♪ Boogie da, boogie da,
boogie da ♪
Ahh!
[ Reggae music plays ]
[ Tongue trilling ]
♪ Ooh, a-boo ♪
♪ A-booga booga boo
a-booga booga booga ♪
-Babe! Hey, baby!
-Yeah?
-I said Jamaica,
not Africa.
-[ Laughs ]
Oh, I'm sorry, baby.
I'm just so excited.
I got to get new clothes.
-No, baby, look, look,
look, look, look.
That's what I really
came over here for.
I need to borrow your car
'cause I got to go to the studio
tonight and finish the song.
-Oh, no, baby, I need my car.
Chania and I are going out.
-But, baby,
I need to use it tonight.
-Okay, okay,
I know how to fix it.
Here, take this money
and go get your car --
-No, no, no.
You know how I feel about that.
I'm not taking your money.
-Kevin, stop it.
Now, we are gonna be married.
And what's yours is mine,
and what's mine's is mine's.
But you know what
I'm trying to say, baby.
Just take the money
and go get your car fixed.
-Okay, okay, okay.
Baby, thank you.
Mwah!
-Mwah!
-I'll see you later, okay?
I got to get back to work.
But, babe, remember --
[ Jamaican accent ] Girl,
we going to Jamaica, girl.
-Jamaica! Jamaica!
-Ga-ga-ga-ga-ga, ooh!
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!
-I'm going to Jamaica!
[ Reggae music playing ]
I'm gonna be in the sun,
like, "ooh!"
-Erica.
Girl, what are you doing?
-Girl, it's hard out here
for a pimp.
Shew!
-Do these jeans look
too tight on me?
-Yeah, a little bit,
but that's why your mama
don't want me hanging
around me, anyway --
'cause I am
a number-one player.
-Girl, let's get to the mall.
I seen this girl with some
bad Gucci shoes on today,
and I just
got to have them.
And they was just calling
my name -- "Chania.
"Oh, Chania.
Oh, Chania, Chania,
Chania, Chania!"
-That is real funny
'cause you ain't got no money,
no money, no money,
no money, no money!
[ Laughs ]
-Don't worry about me,
'cause I got mine.
And I work
for Uncle Marcus.
-How could I forget?
That is my daddy, right?
But just hold
your little mew
'cause I got to text one of
my other men and get some money.
-I guess I'm gonna be going
to the mall by myself,
'cause you and I both know
that Kevin ain't got no money.
-Oh! Hold up.
[ Laughs ]
I said my other man,
not my boyfriend.
-What?
-Girl, let your cuz school you.
Come sit down.
Let me teach you
the game.
Now, women --
you know, we need a man
that's gonna give us
all our needs, you know?
We need a man
that's gonna wine and dine us.
We need a man
that's gonna give us money.
We need a man that in bed
is just gonna know how to just
lay you down, just --
Ohh, just make you, "ohh,"
just, "ohh! Ohh!
Oh, yeah! Yeah, yeah!
Oh! Ohhh!"
[ Whimpering ]
Whew.
Oh, girl,
I forgot you was there.
Oh, my bad.
[ Laughs ]
-You are nasty.
-Girl, look,
speaking of Kevin,
you know, he's just
too predictable, you know?
I need a man that's gonna
tie me up
and just bend me over
and choke me from behind...
-Did someone call my name?
'Cause, you know,
they used to call me
"Choke me from behind,
please."
-Ain't nobody call you,
Cletous! Go!
-Okay, well...
-You know?
And I just need a man
that's gonna just, you know --
Just beat that thing,
whup that thing,
just put it on me to --
-Somebody keeps calling
my name...
'Cause that's what
they used to call me --
"Whup that thing
and smack that thing
and hit that thing
and, when you're doing it right,
kick that thing."
Not me? All right.
-And that's why I like Jamal,
you know?
'Cause he's a roughneck,
and he just knows how to ram it
and just hurt me,
just make me hurt, just hurt --
-Somebody keeps calling me!
That's what they
used to call me --
"Hurt that thing,
pinch that thing,
kick it, whip it,
spike it."
They called me
"The Punisher"!
-Erica, girl,
I forgot my purse.
-Chania.
Chania, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Look, hey, hey, hey.
Hang on.
I know you got to go.
-No, I got to go.
She's about to leave.
-You ain't gonna believe it.
I'm telling you.
-What? What, Ty? What?
-Look, uh, give me a kiss
before you go.
-I can't kiss you.
-No, no, no, wait.
Come on, now.
-We are cousins.
-Oh, no,weain't nothing
'cause you adopted.
Right, right.
Ain't no blood.
Ain't no blood, so just --
look, just -- come on.
Ain't nobody looking.
Just one.
Just one. I mean --
-O-okay, okay, just one.
-Or two if you can slip --
okay, okay. One.
-And on the cheek.
-Man, I don't care how you do
it, just get it done.
Now,
what you want me to do?
-Close your eyes.
-Don't play with me now, Chania.
Don't you play with me.
-Keep them eyes closed.
-What else
you want me to do?
-I want you to pucker up
them lips.
-Oh, girl, watch yourself
right now.
-Are you ready?
-Am I ready?
You see my lips poked out?
Now, come on, now.
Come on, now. My back hurts.
Now, come on.
Come on, girl.
I'm just --
[ Door closes ]
Chan--
Chania?
Chania? Chani--
I feel like Bernie Mac.
[ Imitating Bernie mac ]
I'm tired.
I'm 42 years old.
I can't take it no more.
[ Normal voice ]
Chania? Chania?
[ Cletous laughs ]
-Yeah, boy,
I'm telling you.
There are only three things
in the world
white folks are scared of.
I'm telling you.
Listen, they are a-scared
of Osama, Barack Obama,
and your fat-ass mama.
[ Laughs ]
You know, I tell you what --
get off my phone here.
I'm telling you, now.
You get off my --
-[ Clears throat ]
-Wait a minute, man.
You know what?
The pink panther
just walked in here.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah, I --
No, it's --
it's a cougar.
-Hello, Cletous.
-Mm-hmm.
Uh, the senator is not in.
May I help you?
-I didn't come
to see the Senator.
I came to see you.
-Mm.
What you want me for?
-I wanted to apologize for the
way I treated you the other day.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm s-- ohhhhhh.
-Ooh. Okay.
Okay, yeah, that's --
that's sorry. All right.
-I need you to do me,
um, a favor.
-Huh?
What you need from me?
-I need you to lend me,
um, $20,000.
[ Laughs hysterically ]
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
-Ah-ah.
[ Chuckles ]
Yeah, o-Okay.
Yeah,
I think I can do that.
$20,000? That all you need?
$20,000?
Okay.
I got that in the bank.
Come on. Let's go on down there
and get it.
Let me ask you something,though.
Um, after I give you
that $25,000,
what you gonna give me?
-Well, what do you want?
-Well, uh, I'd like for you
to bend over on all fours
and throw your hair
back to the right. [Laughs]
-No, no, no, I am not
that kind of girl.
-Oh, for $25,000,
you gonna be a whole lot
of different girls, okay?
As a matter of fact, you gonna
be Whitney before the crack,
you gonna be -- you gonna be
Halle Berry in "Monster's Ball,"
and you gonna be Beyoncé.
Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Oh!
You gonna --
Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!
You gonna do it
till I tell you to stop!
You gonna be --
I'm gonna tell you what --
For $25,000, you're gonna be
somebody I want you to be.
That's what I'm talking about.
Mm-hmm.
-I followed you up here
because I knew in my spirit
you was up to no good.
-Mm-hmm, up in here.
-Look, Mama, I don't have time
for your nonsense, okay?
I'll talk to you
about that later, okay?
Now --
Cletous.
-What?
-Don't forget.
Don't forget about
what we talked about, now,
'cause I really need that,
okay?
-Mm-hmm.
The answer
is still gonna be no.
-Oh, you so silly.
-No, I'm so serious.
[ Both laugh ]
-West Side!
[ Speaking indistinctly ]
-What's going on, baby?
-Hey, honey.
-How you doing?
-I'm good. How you doing?
-Aw, it's so good to see you
up in here.
Mmm-mmm-mmm.
You know what? I have been
meaning to talk to you.
I, um...
[ Chuckles ]
You know,
we go back a long way.
-Yeah, we do, baby.
-All the way back
to club Shay-Shay.
-Ooh, you talking about Sha--
you remember Shay-Shay.
-Yeah, I remember Shay-Shay.
-1963.
-Oh, my goodness.
Boy, we had some good times.
-Yeah, we did.
-A-a-and you always
took care of me.
-Supposed to.
-Always, and I know
when I got divorced
and my wife kicked me out,
you took me out on the road
and had me working
at Shay-Shay's,
and you always did
for me.
And I remember that time
them -- them gangsters came
and was going --
yeah, they were gonna --
Cletous didn't have his knife,
and you was...
[ Laughs ]
You had my back.
-Supposed to, baby,
supposed to.
-And -- and --
and you gave me that money,
and, uh...
I-I-I can never forget that.
And I said one day
I was gonna pay you back.
A-a-and now is the time
'cause --
-Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
-No, no, no.
-It's not necessary.
-Yeah, it is.
-Honey, that's what
friends are for.
-No, no, no, no.
Uh, I want you to take this.
-Oh, no, baby,
it's okay.
-No, Ulah May,
come on, now.
-Oh, no, no, no.
-It's interest.
It's $25,000.
-Thank you, Jesus.
I'll take it.
[ Laughs ]
-Club Shay-Shay, girl.
Remember that birthday party --
You remember that birthday party
I threw for you?
-You know I do.
You know I do.
-I called all your friends,
and they were all there.
-All of them.
Can you believe they all came?
-Everybody came.
-Ooh, and you know --
The Temptations.
-'Tations.
[ Both laugh ]
-Ooh, "My Girl."
-Ooh, here we go!
Come on, girl, let's go.
Yeah, I'm ready. Mmm.
[ Humming The Temptations'
"My Girl" ]
-You ready?
-Yeah, come on. Go, girl.
-♪ I've got sunshine ♪
Temptations.
-Yeah.
-♪ On a cloudy day ♪
-[ Humming melody ]
Come on, yeah.
Work it, girl.
Mmm.
-♪ Well ♪
♪ I guess you'll say ♪
♪ What can make me
feel this way? ♪
♪ My guy ♪
-♪ My girl ♪
-♪ Girl ♪
-♪ Guy ♪
-It is agirlin the song --
"MyGirl."
-I'm a girl, so it's "guy."
-Ah, girl,
do what you want to do.
[ Both laugh ]
Oh, and your boy?
-Ooh.
-Did he do it?
-Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Come on.
Stevie Wonder.
-Stevie Wonder.
-♪ Clap your hands
just a little bit louder ♪
♪ Clap your hands just a little
bit louder ♪
♪ 'Cause if you want me to,
if you want me to ♪
♪ I'm gonna swing the song,
yeah ♪
[ Imitating
harmonica playing ]
[ Music stops, she continues ]
-Yes!
Ahh!
Grandma, you the best
at air harmonica, girl.
You are a beast!
-I'm the beast, baby!
I'm the beast!
-I love you.
-I love you, too.
[ Imitates
harmonica playing ]
-[ Snoring ]
Don't start nothing,
won't be nothing.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Snoring ]
I told you about that!
Now, you just...
[ Chuckles ]
[ Doorbell rings ]
Cletous!
[ Doorbell rings ]
Cletous!
Get the door.
-Uh, Grandma, you know
I'm not even in this scene.
[ Doorbell ringing ]
-Hold on, baby. Hold --
hold -- hold on. Hold on.
Hey, Kevin, come on in.
Come on in.
-Hey, Grandma, what's going on?
How you doing?
Girl, you looking good.
Look at you.
-Ahh!
-Good to see you, Grandma.
-Good to see you,
too, baby.
-Grandma, is Erica home?
-No, baby,
but I expect her back anytime.
Sit down.
I'll get you some Kool-Aid.
-No, no, no, Grandma.
That's okay. That's okay.
I'll come back. I'll come back
when she's home, okay?
-Sit down, boy.
-Huh?
-Sit down.
-Did I
do something wrong?
-No, child.
Honey, listen.
I really been meaning
to talk to you for a while.
Uh, Kevin?
-Ma'am?
-All eyes closed
ain't asleep.
Son.
-Hmm?
-Erica is my grandbaby,
and I love her.
But Erica is on page 52.
And you...
Son, you on page 2.
Honey, y'all different
as night and day.
See, you so worried
about pleasing her,
you done forgot about
pleasing yourself.
Uh-huh.
Now, now, now, um,
tell me something.
Erica whip something on you
and make you sweat?
-See, I --
-No, baby, I really --
I don't want -- that's
too much information.
Please, I really
don't want to know.
But, see,
what I'm gonna help you do
is help you
to make a change
'cause you need a change,
honey,
'cause what you
need to do, son --
You need to stand up
and put your foot down
and be a man.
So, come on.
Stand up.
Stand up!
-Stand up.
-Put your foot down.
-Put your foot down.
-And be a man.
-And be a man.
-That's all you got?
Come on, sugar.
You got to put some -- man up.
Put some man in it.
Stand up!
-Stand up!
-Put your foot down!
-Put your foot down!
-And be a man!
-And be a man!
-Oh, you almost there.
Do it again. Come on.
Stand up!
-Stand up!
-Put your foot down!
-Put your foot down!
-And be a man!
-And be a man!
-Oh, you feeling that?
You feeling that!
[ Both grunting ]
That's what
I'm talking about.
-[ Groaning ]
-W-W-What's wrong?
What's wrong?
-Cramp!
-Cramp? What I do?
-Massage it right there.
-Right there?
-Right there, yeah, yeah.
-You all right?
Is you conscious?
-Yeah, yeah.
-Who the president?
-Grandma!
-Grandma!
-Grandma!
Grandma! Grandma!
-Baby?
-Hey, baby.
-Hi, Grandma.
[ Both laugh ]
-All right.
-Yeah.
-All right, I'll see you
in a minute.
-You okay?
-Yeah, I'm okay, baby.
-Oh, hi.
-Hi.
-I got something
for you today.
[ Laughs ]
A picture of me so you can
put it on your desk at work.
-You got jokes.
You know I ain't got
no desk, baby.
I work
for the gas company.
-Well, put it
on your boss's desk, then.
-Okay. Thank you, baby.
Baby, sit down.
Sit down. Sit down.
I got some good news.
-Okay.
-Okay.
Uh, so, you know
how I've been wanting to,
uh, pursue my career
in music.
And when I get this deal,
I want to get you
everything and anything
you ever wanted, so...
[ Sighs ]
I went into work today,
babe,
and, uh,
I told the boss I quit.
-What you mean,
you quit?
-I quit.
Baby, didn't you --
-[ Scoffs ]
Look at you, Kevin.
Ain't nobody
gonna sign you.
Now, no job means no money.
And no money?
[ Scoffs ]
Means no Erica.
-Baby, but I still got money
in the account.
-Please!
A little chump change --
that ain't [bleep] compared
to what I'm used to.
-Wait. Wait. Wait.
Compared to what you're u--
what are --
Erica,
are you cheating on me?
-Kevin, please.
-Wait a minute.
[ Doorbell rings ]
I -- babe, I know
you're not cheating on me.
-Oh, gosh.
-Baby, what is
taking you so long?
Come on, now.
I got the car outside.
We gonna miss the flight.
What are you doing?
Baby, who is this clown?
-No, who areyou,partner?
-Who areyou?
-Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.
Now, baby, let me talk to him,
okay? He doesn't know.
-You better let him know.
-Give me five minutes, okay?
Just --
just let me talk to him.
-I don't have time
for these high school games.
Matter of fact, hold up.
What's up, partner?
I don't know
who raised you.
But they
should have told you
to never, ever bite the hand
that feeds you.
Now, when you
get your weight up --
And I don't mean
the weight on the scale --
I mean your paper, boy --
You can come play
some big-boy games,
and maybe you can see
how your girl really is.
[ Scoffs ]
But until then, sit your $5 ass
down before I make change.
And I'm not playing
with you, Erica.
Hurry up, all right?
No more games, 'cause I can go
to Saint-Tropez by my damn self.
-Okay.
ASAP, ASAP.
-Erica, baby,
what are you doing?
-Now, Kevin, I didn't
want to go there with you.
[ Scoffs ]
But I know
you'd feel weak to know
that another man was keeping
you and your woman up.
-Come on. What do you mean,
keepingmeup?
-Look, those clothes in your
closet --hebought those.
Those shoes in your closet --hebought them.
That money I gave you
to get your little raggedy-ass
car fixed,hegave me.
So, who's keeping up who?
[ Scoffs ]
Now, why would I go
to Jamaica withyou
when I can go and roll
with big daddy Jamal
and Diddy and Beyoncé
and Jay-Z down in San Pedro?
-Erica, oh, baby,
I love you.
-Please!
You just got played.
-Erica, wait a minute.
Baby, but wait a minute.
What about --
what about the ring, baby?
What abou--
Erica, wait.
[ Intro to Dave Hollister's
"Destiny" plays ]
What did I do?
Oh, God.
♪ Can a rose petal
live without water drops? ♪
♪ Can my heart
live without you? ♪
♪ Surely not ♪
♪ 'Cause a rainbow
is what you gave me every day ♪
♪ Now I can't go on,
I'm devastated ♪
♪ 'Cause you're not here ♪
♪ Girl, I know you're
not in the mood for apologies ♪
♪ But it's killing me to think
of what I've done to you ♪
♪ Well,
I realize that I was wrong ♪
♪ And I don't want to change ♪
♪ Destiny ♪
♪ You and me ♪
♪ Ooh, can't you see? ♪
♪ We're destiny ♪
-♪ We're
destiny ♪
-♪ Ohh, ohh, girl ♪
♪ Now, I had to face it ♪
♪ The pain you feel is from
the man says he loves you ♪
♪ And in spite of all my tears
is fear ♪
♪ That you'll never forgive me ♪
♪ Ooh, I need a sign ♪
♪ That you'll remember
the vow that holds us, baby ♪
♪ 'Cause true love
is never artificial ♪
♪ It's always pure ♪
♪ Girl, I know you're not
in the mood for apologies ♪
♪ But it's killing me to think
of what I've done to you ♪
♪ And I realize
that I was wrong ♪
♪ And I don't want to change ♪
♪ Destiny ♪
-♪ We're destiny ♪
-♪ You and me ♪
♪ Ooh, can't you see? ♪
♪ We're destiny ♪
-♪ We're
destiny ♪
-♪ We're destiny ♪
♪ Ohh, whoa ♪
♪ Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Oh, girl ♪
♪ Erica, what did I do wrong? ♪
♪ I can't live life
without you ♪
♪ I can't do it, no, whoa ♪
♪ Don't you ever leave ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ 'Cause I'd die without
you right here by my side ♪
♪ Ohh, girl, I know you're ♪
♪ You're not in the mood,
oh, for apologies ♪
♪ But it's killing me, yeah ♪
♪ It's killing me, yeah ♪
♪ It's breaking me down
to know that you're not here ♪
♪ That you're not
with me no more, no ♪
♪ I don't want to change,
oh, our destiny, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ Girl, I know that I can't
live without you, no, no ♪
♪ Ha ♪
♪ Girl, I know that I,
I'd break down without you ♪
♪ There's no me without you,
no ♪
♪ There's no me
without you, no ♪
♪ I realize, I realize ♪
-♪ My destiny ♪
-[ Rapping ]
♪ Watch and learn ♪
♪ There are stones encrusted in
the Jeep ♪
♪ Bloodstone be the birthstone
of the company ♪
♪ Only got red blood sun
hanging off me ♪
♪ Like, oh ♪
[ Humming ]
-Hey, Ty.
-Oh, yo, yo, yo, yo.
Hey, yo, yo, Chania, Chania.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Hold on.
Where you going?
-I got to go take care
of some math homework.
-Oh, well, I'm your man,
'cause I'm a beast in math.
Come on. No, no, no, no,
let me help. Let me help.
What's up?
Is it trig, or what's happening?
-What?
-Oh, Mama got the picture
just -- what's this?
Erica. I'll tell you.
I'll tell you the truth.
Hey, look, what's up?
What's up with you?
What you need, though?
-I just got a lot of schoolwork.
-How's school coming?
-Going good right now,
really good.
-Yo, well, what's up?
We need to get the homework
cracking right now.
What's happening?
-Ty.
-Huh?
-You want to tell me
therealreason
you started smoking
all that weed?
-No.
Look, um...
Look, I ain't never really,
uh --
I really don't talk about it
that much.
You know what I'm saying?
And I never really told nobody.
But you're the only one
to ever ask me.
Um, well,
let's talk about you.
You -- you -- you know,
all these years,
you've been trying
to find out
who your real parents are,
right?
-I've been looking,
searching, praying...
Just thinking to myself,
"somebody has to
know something."
-Well, you ought to try
being me.
Got a father right here...
And still...
Ain'tgot a father
right here.
Know what I mean?
Chania, I remember
one time I -- I came home,
and I walked right
through the front door.
My mom was sitting
where you were.
And -- and I said,
"Ma, you know, I'm excited.
Tonight's my championship
basketball game."
And she said,
"Baby, I know."
She said, "I done contacted
all the family, your cousins,
and everybody
will support you.
We're gonna show up
tonight."
Chania, when she said that,
you know, I got excited,
but the thing
that really made me excited --
She said, "your father called
and said
he was gonna take off..."
"...to come
check his boy out."
Man, when I got in the gym,
I don't know --
I don't know
what happened.
I-I -- it seemed like
something just --
From the inside,
just exploded.
I-I-I put up 45 points.
I put up 45 points,
broke school records.
I heard everybody screaming,
just, "Tyrone, Tyrone."
And I got there and...
Right in the middle of hearing
all the cheering and chanting,
looked in the bleachers.
And sure enough,
my mama was there...
My grandmother,
my sister, Erica.
Even old Cletous
came out.
-[ Chuckles ]
-I kept looking.
The one person I needed
to be there to see me...
Didn't show up again.
I was all-American.
Not one time --
Notonetime...
I've ever heard,
"boy, I'm proud of you."
Nothing.
So, you want to know the reason
why I do what I do?
There it is.
He ain't never been there
for me, Chania, never.
-Look, Ty...
I know Uncle Marcus hasn't
always been there for you.
But God --
Godalwayshas,
and he alwayswillbe.
Now, all you got to do
is take that first step.
-First step?
I'm -- I don't know how
to take no first step.
-You are like family to me,
and I'm gonna help you.
I'm gonna help you out.
-Thank you.
Thanks, Chania,
'cause I need it.
I appreciate it.
-It's gonna be okay.
It's all gonna be okay.
I better get back
to that math homework.
-Yeah, homework is good
right now, yeah.
Yeah. Chania!
I think it's gonna be
a little difficult
to do homework
without no books.
-[ Laughs ]
-Yeah, I think
you need the books.
-Yeah, I'll get it.
-Yeah, that's --
-I'll see you later, Ty.
-Study hard.
-Keisha?
This is Grandma Ulah May.
Uh-huh.
Do me a favor -- tell pastor
I'm running a little bit late,
but I am on my way, okay?
All right, sugar.
Thank you.
Tyrone. Get up.
-I'm not --
have you seen my glasses?
-Get up.
Stop, Tyrone.
T-Tyrone.
-My glasses --
um, they...
-Now, enough is enough,
Tyrone.
Honey, I've watched you.
It's time for us to talk.
Tyrone, you are my flesh
and blood, and I love you.
But, honey, it kills me
to see you
throw your life away
with that --
With that mess
you been smoking.
Baby, don't you know that,
with every bad decision
that you make in life,
there's a price tag
attached to it?
Honey, it's affecting
everybody around you.
Now, listen,
everybody makes mistakes --
Everybody...
Even old Grandma.
-Oh, Grandma, please,
you don't make no mistakes,
and if you did,
you and God are cool.
It don't even matter.
-Please, son.
Honey, I've done some things
in my life I'm not proud of.
Do you, uh --
You ever hear me and Cletous
talking about a --
About Shay-Shay's,
down on the corner of 45th?
-[ Chuckles ]
Yeah, I heard y'all talk
about that a few times.
-Meet Shay-Shay.
Baby, I've done some things
in my life I'm not proud of.
That lifestyle had me
drinking and popping pills,
and, honey, I just saw --
I saw my whole life
just spiral out of control.
On the outside, it looked like
I was having a good old time.
But on the inside,
honey, I was slowly dying.
I got tired.
I got tired
of waking up hung over.
I got tired of waking up,
throwing up,
and sometimes waking up
in places
I didn't even know where I was
or who I was laying up next to.
But then I remembered
my mama.
Mama said, "Baby,
there's nothing you've done
that God can't forgive.
There's no place that you
can go and God is not there.
You can't be so far
that the hand of God can't
reach out and bring you back."
Honey, my friends laughed at me,
but I didn't care.
'Cause, you see,
I tried everything,
and didn't nothing work.
So, honey,
I fell to my knees.
And I lifted up my hands
toward glory.
And I said, "Jesus!
"I need you.
"Jesus, I need you to take
the taste of drugs and alcohol
out of my mouth."
That's when I began
to feel joy in my spirit
and peace in my soul.
So, baby, all you got to do
is call on Jesus.
If you call him,
he'll answer.
Jesus.
Jesus.
[ Voice breaking ]
Jesus!
Jesus.
♪ Tears wouldn't stop
flowing down my face ♪
♪ Thought I was losing
my way ♪
♪ Thought I lost sight
of you ♪
♪ I really didn't know,
no, no, no ♪
♪ W-W-W-What to do ♪
♪ Seemed like I lost my ♪
♪ Like I lost
my whole mind ♪
♪ Seemed like
I was running ♪
♪ Running out of time ♪
♪ So I screamed out,
"Lord, rescue me ♪
♪ Why don't you hear me?" ♪
♪ Whoa-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Can't you see? ♪
♪ That's when ♪
♪ That's when I heard
a small voice ♪
♪ He was right there
in the midst of the storm ♪
♪ Telling me be strong ♪
♪ Keep holding on ♪
♪ Don't you know
I still care? ♪
♪ And I'm always there ♪
♪ God says I'm never ♪
♪ Never gonna let you down ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no, no,
I'll never, never ♪
♪ Gonna let you down ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, never, never, never ♪
-♪ Never, never, never ♪
-♪ No ♪
Listen, this is what God
is saying to you, son.
♪ God says,
I'm Alpha and I'm omega ♪
♪ Yes, I am ♪
-♪ Never let you down ♪
-♪ He says that, "I am the
beginning and I'm the end" ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Demons tremble
at the sound of my name, ha ♪
♪ Oh, yes, they do ♪
♪ And I'll never, never,
never, never, never ♪
♪ Oh, I ain't
gonna let you down ♪
♪ If you'll wait on him ♪
Listen...
♪ I guarantee you he will
renew your strength ♪
-♪ Never let you down ♪
-♪ You gonna ride up wings
like an eagle ♪
♪ You'll run and not get weary,
walking that thing ♪
I wish I had some holy
ghost-filled people
in here tonight,
somebody that knows
there's a little
something-something
in the power
of the name of Jesus.
Do y'all know
that there's healing?
Do y'all know that
there's deliverance?
Can I get somebody
to help me call on Jesus?
♪ Say, "Jesus" ♪
♪ Whoa, whoo, whoo,
whoo, whoo, Jesus ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Jesus ♪
♪ I got to call him,
got to, got to call him ♪
♪ Hey, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Like Shadrach and Meshach
and Abednego ♪
♪ Like the three Hebrew boys
that were in the fiery furnace ♪
♪ Like blood
by the man, sir ♪
♪ The lady
with the issue of blood ♪
♪ I got to, got to, got to,
got to call on Jesus ♪
♪ I'm calling you, calling you,
calling you, calling you ♪
♪ I'm calling you ♪
♪ Calling you, calling you,
calling you ♪
♪ I'm calling you, calling you,
calling you, calling you ♪
♪ Calling you,
calling you ♪
♪ Hey-ey-ey-ey ♪
♪ He will never let
you down ♪
He'll never let you down,
baby.
♪ Just put your hand
in God's hand ♪
♪ And everything
is gonna be all right ♪
♪ If you call on him,
if you call on him ♪
♪ Baby, I'm going to my meeting,
and I'm gonna see you later ♪
♪ Oh, he'll never ♪
♪ No, no, no,
never let you down ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no... ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no ♪
[ Chorus fades ]
[ High-pitched voice ]
-Cletous, Cletous,
clean your colon.
Clean your colon, Cletous.
Clean your colon, boy.
God... [ Laughs ]
I'm just a mess with that, boy.
Mnh-mnh-mnh.
Ooh.
[ Telephone ringing ]
Ooh, yeah, girl.
Take you home
to meet my wife.
-Cletous, do you hear
the phone ringing?
-Yes, I do, and you better get
it before they hang up,
'cause you know
I don't do phones, all right?
-Whatdoyou do?
-Well, not much...
'Cause y'all
don'tpaymuch.
-Hello?
Hi, Kevin.
Uh, no.
Erica's not in right now.
Is everything okay?
Okay. Come right over, yes.
Yes, I'm here.
All right, bye-Bye.
-Hello. You ain't gonna
speak to nobody?
-Erica. Could you
come back in here?
I need to talk to you
about this women's conference
I'm trying to put together --
the youth part.
Do you hear me?
Why do you have
these huge glasses on?
-Aaaaaah!
Oh, my God, that girl look
like a raccoon on one side!
-Who hit you?
Erica...
Listen, Kevin is
on his way over here.
-Mom, please,
just let it go.
-I'm not gonna let it go.
Kevin is upset,
and something happened.
And I need to know what that
something is
before he gets here.
-Please, just let it go!
-Look at your face!
Get your butt back here.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Erica, come here.
-Hey, Cletous,
I wanted to talk --
Hey, Ms. Gordon.
-Kevin.
-Ma'am?
-You put your hands
on my daughter?
-What are you
talking about?
-I thought you were
a respectable young man,
and you put your hands
and you hit her in her face!
-I didn't --
-Look at her face!
-Babe?
What happened to you?
-Don't -- get away from me!
-Erica.
-No, no, Kevin.
No, that is enough!
Kevin, get --
get your hands off of her!
Listen, I don't want to
call the police.
Can you please
put him out?
-Let's walk out or limp out,
player. Come on.
-Cletous, I didn't do that.
-Yeah, mm-Hmm.
-Kevin didn't do it.
He didn't do this to me.
-Well, who -- who did it?
-Mama, I messed up.
I was sleeping around.
-Ooh, that is nasty!
-Why would you be
sleeping around, Erica?
I thought you were
in love with Kevin.
-No, you and Daddy
are in love with Kevin.
I love him, but I'm not
in love with Kevin.
-That's okay.
-I went to the doctor today.
I'm pregnant.
-Oh, Lord, a black eye!
Pregnant!
Girl, why didn't you use
the tae bo for protection?!
Use the Tae Bo!
-Cletous!
-You know, that Tae Bo don't
work unless you got music.
I'm telling you,
it just...
-I told the guy, and this is
what he did to me.
-Listen, I raised you to be
a responsible young lady,
right?
So...
We'll --
we'll get through it.
-Iamresponsible.
And I'm gonna take care
of my responsibilities,
and I'm gonna
get rid of this baby.
-Get rid of it?
You mean an abortion?
That's not gonna work.
You know, Erica,
you were grown enough
to go out there
and get pregnant,
and you are
gonna be grown...
-Iamgrown!
-And raise this baby.
-And this is my baby!
And this is my body!
I'll do whatever
the hell I want!
-Now, you pick your face up!
-[ Crying ] I'll get it!
It's right here! Hold on!
-I don't know
what's gotten into you,
but I will
knock it out of you.
I don't care how grown
youthinkyou are.
-Okay, Miss Celie,
she's had enough!
-Cletous!
I mean, have you lost your mind?
Do you know how much I have
sacrificed for you and Tyrone?
We -- as parents,
we worked our finger to the bone
to make sure you have
a better life than we had.
And you want to come
in this house
'cause you've been
in the streets,
running around,
getting pregnant,
Tyrone running around,
getting high?
Y'all just gonna
worry me to death.
But as long as I have breath
in my body,
you're gonna respect me.
-[ Crying ] Okay, Miss Celie,
I think she understands.
You're strong than the both
of us, Miss Celie.
You're too strong!
It's two against one!
You're like Hulk Hogan.
You got the W.W.--
-Cletous, it is not the time
for that.
-Okay, Miss Celie.
We quit, Miss Celie.
Time out. Don't be...
[ Breathing heavily ]
-Cletous.
Cletous, please.
-Everything you do
to that child...
-I can't believe
you hit me.
I can't --
-I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for hitting you.
-Mama, I know I messed up.
But I'm scared!
-I know you're scared.
-I don't know what to do.
[ Crying ]
-Oh, baby.
Listen, I told you we're
gonna get through this.
Me and you are gonna --
we're gonna --
We're gonna do it together,
okay?
But, Erica,
you cannot go around
and treat people
any kind of way
and think that good things
are gonna happen to you,
because you will reap
what you sow.
"Reap what you sow"?
-So, you're saying
I deserve this?
-Of course I'm not --
-I knew you wouldn't understand!
-That's why I wish
I was Cletous's child!
-You do not wish that!
-Yes, I do.
-Why not? I'm a nice-looking
fella, Miss Celie.
-Cletous.
Erica --
-I hate you!
-[ Exhales sharply ]
You hate me.
[ Sniffles ]
Erica...
I love you so much.
[ Exhales ]
-Mama, what's going on?
-Tyrone, just --
-Hold on.
Mama, you know how
your heart is, now.
-Tyrone, please.
I need to go lay down.
I don't feel well.
-Mama, you sure?
-Just go talk to
your sister, Tyrone.
-Erica, what's wrong with mama?
-Ty, I don't want to
talk about it.
-Hold on. Wait. Wait.
Hold on. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
What --
what is going on?
-You ain't nothing but
a pothead!
You can't help me!
-What happened to your face?
Erica, what's wrong
with your face?
-Ty, I'm sorry, okay?
I just found out
I'm pregnant,
and I don't know what to do,
and I'm scared.
-Know what?
I love you, too.
And let me say this --
I apologize to you
for not really being
the big brother I ought to be.
I apologize.
All of us is going through
a lot right now.
And you're right.
You're right.
Um...
You know, got my
little thing happening.
I'm not where
I'm supposed to be.
I know that.
But you can put your life
on it -- twice on it --
I'm on my way.
I'm on my way.
I believe
we gonna be all right.
I don't know how.
I don't know when.
But I just believe
we're gonna be all right.
I love you.
[ Mid-tempo gospel music plays ]
♪ Aaaaah-aah-aah ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Erica ♪
♪ I know I shouldn't
say anything right now ♪
♪ Because I got
my own issues ♪
♪ I got -- ee, ooh, ooh,
oh, I got my own issues ♪
♪ Got my own issues ♪
♪ And I know ♪
♪ Ooh, I know, I know ♪
♪ I know you know I'm down,
oh, yeah, oh ♪
-♪ You a liar ♪
-♪ Yes, I am ♪
-♪ And a cheat ♪
-♪ I may be ♪
-♪ And no good ♪
-♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Wait a minute,
wait a minute ♪
♪ Wait a minute, Erica,
wait a minute ♪
Listen, it's in me.
Listen.
♪ I remember when ♪
♪ Grandma and Uncle Jerome
came in our room ♪
♪ And they told you ♪
♪ I remember them saying,
they said ♪
♪ "Get down on your knees,
knees, knees, knees ♪
♪ Get down on your knees" ♪
♪ "Get on your knees,
baby get on your knees" ♪
♪ They told you ♪
♪ And they told me,
they said, "Tyrone" ♪
♪ Ahm, ahm, ahm ♪
♪ "Tyrone,
kneel down right here" ♪
♪ Grandma told me, she said,
"get down on your..." ♪
♪ "Knees, knees, knees, knees,
get down on your knees" ♪
♪ She got down
on her knees ♪
♪ Ohh, ahh ♪
♪ And she said, "hee, hee, ooh,
ahh, ooh, oba, yeah, yeah" ♪
[ Singing indistinctly ]
♪ On the most high God,
yeah ♪
-♪ Shall abide ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Shall ab-i-i-i-ide ♪
♪ Shall
ab-i-i-i-ide ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Shall abide ♪
-♪ Ohh ♪
-♪ I'm gonna be all right ♪
♪ We're gonna be all right ♪
♪ I'm gonna be all right ♪
♪ It's gonna be all right ♪
-♪ Yes, I will ♪
-♪ I believe, I believe ♪
♪ Now, will you
hang on in there? ♪
♪ Yes, I will ♪
-♪ Will you hang on in there? ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
-♪ Thank you, God ♪
-♪ Will you hang on
in there? Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Will you do it, do it,
d-do it, do it, just do it ♪
♪ Do it, do it, d-do it,
do it, d-do it, do it ♪
♪ D-do it, do it, d-do it,
do it, d-do it, do it ♪
♪ Do it for me? ♪
♪ Will you do it for me,
Erica, yeah? ♪
♪ It's gonna be all right,
yeah, yeah ♪
♪ It's gonna be all right ♪
♪ Just hang on in there ♪
♪ Stand up, Erica,
yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Can you hold on
just a little while longer? ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
[ Telephone ringing ]
-Senator Gordon's office.
Uh-huh.
Okay, thank you for calling.
Have a great day.
[ Telephone rings ]
[ Sighs ]
Senator Gordon's office.
Hey, Ty.
Baby, where are you?
How close are you?
[ Laughing ]
-What's up, Chania?
-Oh, my God.
Ooh, hey.
-Hey, these are for you.
-Oh, my God,
you are so sweet.
-I try to be.
-These are beautiful.
-Hey, listen, um...
Listen, uh...
I just stopped by to say that,
uh, I appreciate you...
For kind of just
sharing with me about God,
and even when I don't think
God is there,
you told me
that he is always there.
And everything
that you said to me,
it really stuck with me.
It's funny because Grandma
came by and said the same thing.
She said the exact same thing
you were saying.
And, uh...
Um, yeah, I --
I care about you a lot.
-I care about you, too.
-Hey, you remember, uh,
when we were young?
We was riding the bikes --
you remember?
We were riding
in the middle of the street,
having a good time.
And there was a pothole
right there,
and you tried to get around
that pothole and it didn't work.
-[ Laughs ]
I remember that.
-And you hit the pothole,
flew over the handlebars,
and was laying out
in the street.
That was funny.
That was funny.
But do you also remember
when I got off my bike...
-Mm-hmm.
-And I came to you
and I got down on my knee...
And I began to clean off
your bruises?
Do you remember that?
-I remember it.
-Chania, right then,
I knew...
That I -- that I had a special
place for you in my heart.
I knew it.
And that's why I want you
to come and do me a favor.
-Uh-huh.
-Come on. I want you
to sit right here.
Sit right here.
Sit right here.
Close your eyes.
And I'll be right back.
-Okay.
[ Sighs ]
Baby, tell me what it is.
-Are you ready?
-I'm so ready.
Open your eyes.
-[ Gasps ]
-Chania...
Will you marry me?
-Oh, my God.
Ty, this is beautiful.
But...
What about the family?
-Chania, look at me.
-[ Sighs ]
-I'm not
just on one knee.
I'm on both knees...
Asking you to marry me.
Will you?
-I don't know, Ty.
You know I talk to God
about everything I do.
I just need to
consult him first.
-Nothing I can say
about consulting God.
That's fair enough.
Listen...
I got to go.
Um...
But while you're
down there...
Asking God
to show you...
Ask him to show you
my heart.
I love you.
-[ Exhales slowly ]
Ty...
Wait.
[ Sighs ]
God says yes.
Yes! I'll marry you!
Yes, yes!
-Girl, please!
No, girl.
Girl, he got $350,000.
I only asked for $20,000.
What you talking about?
Well, after I mix it up,
up and down, left and right,
I'm gonna get another $20,000 on
top of that after he hit this.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, girl, they call me a
cougar, but I'm a super cougar.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, let's go shopping, girl.
What you want?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I got them Gucci boots,
Charlotte.
Let's go get them other ones.
[ Laughs ]
Ohh!
-Get off my phone.
-[ Sighs ]
Ohh.
Oh, Mother.
Yeah, what you want?
What is it?
-I want to talk to you.
-Mm!
youwant to talk to me.
Really?
After all this time that --
that I've been here,
nowyou want to talk.
Well, let's -- go ahead.
-You the one that left
out of here 18 years ago
with a suitcase
in one hand
and a plane ticket
in the other.
Did nobody know
where you were going or why.
-[ Scoffs ]
Well, let me tell you something,
Ulah May --
I do what I want
when I want
and with who I want.
-You better get your hand
out my face
'cause I'm still your mama.
Honey, I brought you
into this world,
and I will take you out.
Margaret would never talk to me
like that.
-Hmm.
I'm not Margaret, am I?
[ Chuckles ]
If I was Margaret, I'd have put
your raggedy, old, rusty butt
in a nursing home
years ago.
-Let me tell you something.
I tried to see to it
that you and your sister
were well taken care of.
When your father lost his job
at the plant,
it was me that worked my fingers
to the bone,
trying to see to it
that you and your sister
had clothes on your back
and food on the table.
All of those sacrifices
I made for you.
You would dare talk to me
like that?
-You know,
you want to talk?
Well, let's talk about something
I ain't never talked about
before.
Let's talk about daddy.
Let's talk about
your husband.
You want to talk?
He was not the man
that you think he was, mama.
I'm gonna tell you.
You don't know.
Daddy used to touch me.
-No, no, no.
I don't want to hear that.
-Oh, no, see, you don't want
to talk now, do you,
now when I start talking
about something?
He used to touch me.
When you used to leave me alone
with him,
he used to touch me
all over my body.
-Child.
-Yes, he did.
I'm not lying to you.
Why would I lie?
-Baby, he loved you.
-He used to touch me.
Where were you then?
-He loved you.
-You want to talk now?
-He loved you!
Honey, I had to remind him
that he had another daughter.
He would say,
"Ulah May, you take Margaret
and leave Louise here with --"
-[ Voice breaking ]
"Leave Louise here with me."
You can't e-- you can't even
say that, can you?
You can't, can you?
[ Crying ]
-Baby, I didn't know.
Baby, I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
[ Voice breaking ]
Baby, I didn't know.
I wouldn't let nobody
hurt you.
I didn't know.
-I know, Mama.
I know.
I know.
[ Sniffles ]
-Mama, oh, my God,
I've got something to...
Mama...
[ Sniffles ]
-Are you okay?
-Mama, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You didn't know, did you?
-It's not your fault, baby.
-Oh, I'm sorry, mama.
-No, baby.
But I'm here for you, okay?
-We'll talk later.
-Okay.
-Go on to the back.
Mama gonna make
your favorite.
-Okay, Mama.
Mama, I love you.
-Love you, too, baby.
-Mama, is everything okay?
-Oh, yeah. Yeah, baby,
everything's okay now.
Me and your grandma --
We just having a little
heart-to-heart, that's all.
[ Sighs ] It's gonna be
all right now, though.
What is it, baby?
What's -- what is it?
What's wrong?
-Okay, you just sit back
and relax.
Here, let me fluff your pillows
for you.
Mom, I'm gonna make you
a big dinner tonight.
-Chania, what is it?
-Well, I've been seeing someone
real special
for about three months now.
-Uh-huh.
-Mama...
He's special?
-Oh, yeah?
But, uh, how come
I haven't met him?
-You'll meet him
soon enough.
Mommy, he asked to marry him,
and I said yes!
-What?
Marry him?
Marry him?
He's a -- what is that?
A ring?!
Chania, you --
You haven't even talked to me
about this yet.
What is this?
Honey, you --
Don't you think you're too young
to get married?
Mom, I know I'm young,
but I promise we're gonna
do this the right way.
I'm still gonna go
to school,
and we're gonna get
an apartment together,
and we're gonna go shopping
for an apartment and --
And we're gonna have kids
and --
-Oh, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Hold on. Hold on. Wait a minute.
Wait, now. Come on, now.
What are you talking about?
What --
D-does the boy
have any money?
-No.
-Oh, see? No, unh-unh, no.
-But his daddy does.
-Oh! His daddy got money?
-Daddy got money.
-Ooh.
Well, if the daddy got money,
that mean he got money.
That mean we got money.
Ooh, money, money, money.
Oh, I like him already.
Oh, sit down over here
on the small couch
so I can hear everything.
Tell me all about it.
Now, what's his name?
-[ Laughs ]
-What's his name?
-Ty.
-Ty.
Oh, that's a nice name.
Ty -- Ty who?
-Ty Gordon.
-Ty Gordon.
Ty Gordon?
-Mm-hmm.
Ty -- Ty -- Ty Gordon?
-[ Chuckles ]
-Chania,
you can't marry your cousin.
You can't marry your cousin,
baby.
-Mama, I love him.
-Love? You don't know nothing
about no love.
Everybody needs love.
Everybody love.
Don't love nobody.
What's love got to do
with it?
Love -- you don't know nothing
about that.
You know what?
You are going to go find
your cousin Ty,
and you tell him
that the wedding is off.
You're not going to marry him,
Chania.
Now, that's --
that's a fact.
-Well, let me tell you
something, Louise --
I'm grown, I'm 18 years old,
and I can do --
-No, you cannot!
-Get off of me!
You're not my real mother,
anyway!
I'm adopted!
And I'm gonna marry Ty,
and that's a fact!
[ Exhales sharply ]
-No, I'm just packing things
right now to come on down.
Oh, I'm sharp.
No, I'm gonna be sharp.
Yeah.
Well, you know that O-Obama --
Well, he did done
a crossover.
They say I'm crossing over?
Well, that's good.
Well, you know, i-I --
White folks in Atlanta
are all right with me.
-Excuse me, um, Marcus.
I need to talk to you.
-John, I-I --
I got to call you back.
Uh...
I got an unwanted guest,
and I --
Well, I-I-I'll talk to you
about it later.
H-Hold on a second.
Louise,
do you see me on the phone?
-I know,
but this is important.
I'm not gonna leave here
until you talk to me.
John, tell them I'll be there
in about 20 minutes.
My wife's sister,
and she's a bugaboo.
Yeah.
Yeah. Okay.
All right.
I'm gonna call you right --
I-I-I-I'll call you
when I'm on my way.
All right.
Louise, can you tell me
what it is that can't wait
until I get off
the telephone?
That was one of my biggest
supporters right there.
-Okay, okay,
look, Chania --
-You can't do white folks
like that.
-Chania came to me today.
She told me
she's been seeing this guy,
this boy,
for about three months
and today he asked her
to marry him
and she said yes.
-Marry him?
-Yes.
-Louise,
you don't need me for that.
-Yes.
-You can handle --
She can't get married.
She's too young.
-That's right.
-And she just started
working for me,
she just started college.
Go back and tell her she can't
get married to the boy.
I told her that,
but she will not listen to me.
She won't listen to a thing
that I have to say,
so I --
you talk to her, please.
-Louise, I don't have time.
-Talk to her.
She respects you, Marcus.
Please talk to her for me.
-Louise, young people
don't listen to me these days.
They got
their own things now.
They got the iPods
and the Internets
and the I.T.s and the TVs
and the flat-screens.
They're not --
they do their own thing now.
-Marcus, she respects you.
Now, I told her.
-If she's made up her mind,
Louise,
there's nothing
you can do.
Young love
is the hardest love.
Am I right or wrong?
-Yes, but, Marcus, please,
now, just do this for me,
just this one thing
for me.
I don't ask you to do too much.
Now, just do that.
Now, I told her everything
you told me.
-Louise,
I got to get downtown.
You talk -- listen...
It ain't nothing you can do
about it.
-Marcus, please --
-All I wish is -- is for her
to find a nice young man.
Is the boy
from a good family?
-Yes.
-Well, that's good.
Is he
a good Christian boy?
-Yeah.
-Well, that's good.
Do -- do --
do they got some money?
-Oh, yeah.
-Huh.
Hell, seem like she made
a good choice.
You know, a hard man
is good to find,
and a good man
is hard to find!
Listen, I got to get downtown,
all right?
Listen...call me --
-Marc-- Marcus --
-Listen, call me on my cell,
Louise.
It's good to see you,
baby.
-Marcus, it's Tyrone.
-Tyrone who?
-Gordon.
-[ Laughs ]
Louise,
are you still smoking weed?
She can't marry Tyrone Gordon.
That's her cousin.
-That's right.
-Besides,
Tyrone is -- is -- is --
She can't marry her cousin!
Tyrone drinks,
and he smokes weed
and all that crazy stuff.
-Oh, you don't even know
your own son.
He stopped smoking weed
two months ago.
-He did?
Well, praise the Lord.
Louise, look...
They can't get married.
They're cousins.
-Yeah.
-Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
You're saying my son,
Tyrone --
[ Laughs ]
Louise,
you are out of your mind --
Is marrying your daughter,
Chania?
Louise,
I ain't got time for this.
-Correction...
-Listen, call me down
the office, all right?-Ourdaughter.
-Louise!
Are you out
of your damn mind?!
Why would you come back in here
with that nonsense?!
They can't get married!
They are brothers and sisters!
Now, why would you come back
in here after 18 years
and bring up that secret?
That's something that happened
between you and i
a long time ago.
And that's where we need to keep
it -- in the past, Louise.
You will destroy everything
I'm trying to build.
Now, come on, baby.
Now, you knew when we she got
into that college
you should have called me.
You don't come back in here
with this.
You see how -- how we sold that
thing to Margaret this morning?
I acted like
I didn't like you.
Now, come on.
Now, baby, listen to me.
Look...
It's good to see you.
It's good
to see you.
Listen, listen,
I got to go downtown
and take care
of some business.
When I get back,
we're gonna talk
and -- and -- and, you know,
we'll work this thing out.
[ Laughs ]
-Let's keep this
between you and I.
-Boy, Senator Marcus Gordon.
Ooh, you haven't changed
not one bit, have you?
-You're damn right
I haven't changed.
I'm still taking care
of you
and I'm still taking care
of Chania
and that's one thing
that will never change.
Now, come on, Louise.
Come on, baby,
I'm in --
I'm in the middle
of a re-election.
And if this thing gets out,
my whole life is over.
Now, don't do this, okay?
I'm begging you,
please, now.
[ Laughs ]
I know that look.
I know exactly
what you need.
I don't even know why
we fussing about this.
I know what you like,
and you know how I do it.
Obama done cleared the way
for me, baby.
Now, you gonna take
this check --
$25,000.
This is some
of my campaign money,
and you're not gonna say nothing
about that, either.
Listen.
Listen. Listen to me.
Listen to me.
Listen to me.
You talk to Chania.
You take her out
of the college down here,
and you enroll her
in any college you want to.
I'll make some calls
for you, okay?
Now, we've kept this thing
this long.
We can keep it longer,
baby.
Just don't do this.
I'm begging you, Louise.
Now, take this check.
It's $25,000.
Get yourself something.
Get Chania whatever you want.
Go shopping.
I know you like the Gucci.
Listen, listen, listen.
Look at me.
Look at me.
Do that for me, please?
Now, I got to get downtown,
okay?
-Hmm, $25,000, huh?
Ooh, I wonder how muchThe Enquirer
would give me
for my story.
Oh, more than $25,000,
I'm sure.
-Louise, please...
Don't play with me now.
-I'm not playing with you,
Marcus.
-Don't come in this Goddamn
house and play with me, okay?
-Look, Marcus, I'm tired --
-Look, don't you come in here
and take my life!
Now, I'm not playing games
with you, now.
-I'm tired of living
this lie.
We've been going through this
for 18 years.
Now, I'm tired of it, now.
-We went through it for 18
years, and we can keep it!
-No, no matter what I --
you do not --
I am going to talk
to my sister Margaret,
and I'm going to tell her about
th-- I don't want this money.
-Louise, listen, do me a favor.
-You know,
just to show you I'm serious --
-Louise...please.
This is between you, me,
and God.
You understand me?
-I'll show you better
than I can tell you.
Now what?
Hmm.
Now, Marcus.
-Louise, please...
Don't -- don't do this.
-No.
-You think I'm playing games
with you, don't you?
You think I'm playing games
with you, Louise?
I don't care nothing
about what you say.
-I don't care
about your reputation.
-You think I'm playing games
with you, Louise?
-What?!
-I swear to God.
-Marcus, are you --
-Louise...
If you come in here
and you try to destroy
my life,
you won't walk out
of this house, Louise.
-M-Marcus --
-Louise, don't talk right now.
Now, baby --
-But M-- [ Gasps ]
-Louise, just listen to me.
I don't want to hurt you.
But you know me.
I'm not gonna let you come in
here and destroy my family.
I've worked for 35 years
to put myself in this position.
-Mar--
-And I swear to God, Louise,
you know I can make
one call.
Now, don't do it.
And you think about it.
I'm not playing.
You know me.
Ohh...
Ohh.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, Pastor.
You're a little early,
aren't you?
-Yeah, well, I got ahead
of my schedule,
so I decided
to stop by early.
-Oh, it's okay, Pastor.
Louise ain't gonna want you
to know this,
but she -- she ate something,
and it gave her the runs.
-Well, is she okay?
-She's fine.
She's fine.
Just hold -- hold on a second,
Pastor.
Louise.
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Louise, listen, baby,
it's the pastor.
Baby, listen to me.
Sit back.
Sit back.
Just relax.
Sit back.
Sit back.
Louise,
just trust me, baby.
That -- that gun -- that ain't
nothing but a starter's pistol.
I would never hurt you.
You know that.
I-I-I just -- I just got beside
myself for a second.
Now, listen, baby,
sit back.
Just r--
Louise, come on.
Now, you know
I would never hurt you.
Move this pillow
out the way.
Hold on a second, Pastor!
Listen, listen, listen.
Pastor don't need to know
none of this, okay?
Me and you -- come here.
-[ Gasps ] Oh, God.
Ohh.
-You okay?
Louise, I'll get you some --
Come on in, Pastor.
Louise, I'll get you
some Pepto-Bismol or something.
-You -- you --
you sure she's okay?
-Oh, she's fine.
-You sure, Marcus?
Yeah, she -- Louise, you want
some ginger ale or something?
I'll bring you some Pepto-Bismol
and some crackers.
Okay, baby,
I'll see you later, okay?
Come on in, Pastor.
Maybe she just --
she just ate something.
I tell her to stay away
from that seafood.
Hey, I'm -- I'm gonna
see y'all later, okay?
Hey, Pastor,
call me on my cell, okay?
-All right,
don't forget our meeting.
-All right.
-I'll call you.
[ Door closes ]
Louise.
Louise?!
Louise, look, I didn't want
the senator to hear,
but I heard everything
that went down.
Shh.
Louise, you can hide from man,
but you can't hide from God.
Look, Louise...
He sits up high,
and He looks down low.
Louise, our God --
He sees everything
that happens.
He hears
everything we say.
Oh, sweet Louise,
listen to me.
Listen to me.
-[ Inhales sharply ]
-Sister, sweet sister, I've --
I've watched people like you.
Sweetie,
you search the whole world.
You search it all over, looking
for love in the wrong places --
Love, when it's been right here
all the time.
Come on.
Get yourself together.
Straighten up.
Come on. Stand up.
Stand up with me.
Now, look, if you take one step,
my God -- our God --
He will take two.
Louise, I am so proud
to worship a God
that's a God
of second chances.
Come on,
pull yourself together.
You have to do what's right,
Louise.
God -- He will give you
strength, all right?
I don't care
what the problem is,
no matter what
the circumstances, Louise.
-I know.
-No, no, put it at the feet
of Jesus and leave it there.
I'm not talking about
one or two.
I'm talking about all your
burdens He will bear, sweetie.
So, all you got to do --
All you got to do
is trust Him
and believe that anything --
Oh, my God, anything --
He's got what you need.
-Okay, I'll try.
-He's got everything.
-Well, we better do it right
now, pastor.
-Chania, hey.
Hey, you ready?
-I think so.
-You ready?
Okay, now, look,
Um...you go find Granny,
and I get Mama, okay?
All right, um...
Mama!
Erica!
Cletous!
Hey, hey.
-What do you want?
I'm on the phone.
-Sis, I know.
Get off the phone.
Get off the -- where's Mama?
-I'm trying to make a cake.
What's -- what's going on?
-What is it, Tyrone? I'm getting
dressed for my luncheon.
-Cletous, come on.
Well, you ain't got no business.
Come on, Cletous.
I got something to tell you.
Come on. Look.
Mama, Granny, Cletous,
y'all, look, um,
I got some important news.
-What's your important news,
Tyrone?
-I just saved a whole bunch
of money by switching to GEICO.
No, no, no, no!
Mama, I'm -- I'm playing.
I'm -- I'm playing.
Wait, wait, wait.
-I ain't got time -- I ain't
got time for foolishness.
-I'm -- I'm -- I'm sorry.
-Tyrone!
-I-I'm sorry.
I'm playing.
Cletous.
For real, y'all.
No, no, seriously.
No, no, seriously,
no, I'm -- I'm sorry.
-Do I need to sit down
for this?
-Yeah, you and Grandma
need to sit down.
Uh...okay, come on.
Come on, Mama.
Come on.
Come on, now.
-All right.
-All right, now,
uh, brace yourselves.
Okay.
I just asked Chania to marry me,
and she said yes.
-Ohh, Jesus!
They trying to kill me.
Child, I want you to tell me
how this boy
is gonna marry his cousin.
And when you find out,
call me.
-Call you?
Why call you?
-'Cause I got a caller I.D.,
and I ain't gonna answer.
-Granny, wait --
-Oh, Jesus.
Oh, Tyrone.
-Well, Mama --
-Listen, I know that you
and Chania
aren't biologically related,
but, baby,
it's just weird.
-But we talked to God
and everything.
-And you talked to God,
and what did God say?
-He said yes.
-He said
it's all good.
I mean --
-Tyrone.
Well, I'm happy for you.
I'm happy for you!
Congratulations!
Listen, I just want
to plan a wedding.
So, what colors
are you gonna wear?
-Hey, hey,
I'm telling you right now...
-Excuse me, everyone.
Uh, Louise has something
she'd like to say.
Louise?
-Uh, Margaret, um...
Pastor.
-Go. Go on. Get it out.
-[ Sighs ]
-Say it.
Say it.
-Um, Chania,
could you come here, baby?
Um...
Chania, I need to talk
to you and the family.
Where's Mama?
Um...
-Go ahead.
-When I, uh, went away
from home 18 years ago,
I-I left because, uh...
I was pregnant.
-Pregnant?
-Grandma, you pregnant?
-Cletous!
-Well, you know,
artificial insemination --
They can do a lot of things
with it.
-Um, Chania, I'm your --
I'm your biological mother.
-Well, who's my father?
-I'll be
that baby's papi.
-Um...
Marcus.
-Marcus who?
-Marcus Gordon.
-Louise!
You're gonna come in this house
and lie on my husband?
-I'm not lying.
-Oh, yes, you better be lying.
-Oh, no, I wouldn't lie
about a thing like that.
Margaret, no.
Mama, I'm...
[ Voice breaking ]
Honey, I'm sorry.
I know you --
-[ Voice breaking ]
How could you not tell me?
-I-I don't know.
-You've been lying to me
all these years?
-I'm -- just go upstairs.
I'll come upstairs.
I'll talk to you, please.
-I hate you.
-I know.
-I hate you!
-Pastor, I told you.
-Aunt Louise,
I can't believe you.
You just gonna let me just marry
my own --
-No, I wasn't. I --
-You ought to be ashamed.
-I'll talk to y'all later.
Just wait for me.
Margaret, now, look,
now, let me tell you --
No, let me just tell you
as much as I can.
Remember that women's
conference that you went away
that weekend, and you said to
go by and check on your house?
Well, I went over there
to check on your house
and Marcus was there
and he'd been drinking
and I started
talking to him.
And he was kind of
nice to me
and one thing
just led to another
and it just happened,
Margaret.
I didn't plan it.
-Oh, it just happened.
You're my sister,
and you just happened
to sleep with my husband.
-Yeah.
-Are you crazy, Louise?
You know,
Mama was right about you.
I should have never let you
come back in this house!
You are the devil!
And I want you out of my house!
-I would never hurt you!
-Louise!
Cletous, you better show Louise
the way out --
-Wait till Marcus gets here.
-Before I lose my salvation!
-When Marcus gets here,
we'll know.
-Louise!
-Let's go.
No, just wait for Marcus.
He'll be home any minute.
I know he will. And then we'll
see what he has to say.
Oh, here he is.
Marcus, Marcus, you t--
Marcus, you --
you tell Margaret.
Tell her.
Tell her.
-Tell Margaret what, Louise?
What's going on in here?
-Oh, Marcus,
no, not another 18 years.
It's the truth, Margaret.
I would never lie to you!
You know it!
-Louise, what are you
talking about?
-You tell her, Marcus!
-Get out of this house,
Louise!
-Louise, my wife asked you
to leave.
-Marcus.
-I told you
when she came here
it was gonna be a problem,
didn't it?
-I'm not lying, Margaret.
-You didn't listen to me.
You didn't listen to me,
did you?
Can y'all just give me a second
with my wife, please?
Ulah May?
Pastor, what's going on here?
-Marcus, are you satisfied?
-About what, Ulah May?
-You have destroyed
your family.
-Ulah May,
you know she makes up things.
Come on, Ulah May.
Y'all gonna let her come in here
and tear our family apart?
This is crazy.
-I'll go get your medicine.
-Cletous, please,
give me a second with my wife.
Baby, is this --
is this about the funeral?
-You know this is not about
the damn funeral, Marcus.
-Well, what is it about?
-She told me everything.
-Everything like what?
-She told me about
you sleeping with her
and that
you got her pregnant...
-And you you believe that?
-And that Chania is
your daughter, Marcus!
-She's lying, Margaret.
[ Scoffs ]
Come on, Margaret.
You gonna let her
come in here
and destroy our family
with these lies?
None of this started
before she came in here.
She's lying, Margaret.
-And you're a politician,
so I know you're a liar.
-Don't do that, Margaret.
Politics have -- have helped us
for a long time, okay?
Now, listen, I came home.
We said we were gonna go
to dinner.
That's what we're gonna do,
okay?
Margaret, she's lying.
-Marcus...
You know, I've been nothing
but a good wife to you.
-You have, baby.
-And I can't believe
you would even --
You know what?
If it wasn't for me
and my family's money
and me supporting
your career,
you wouldn't be half the man
you are today.
-Now, wait a minute.
I've done real good
by this family.
You understand me?
Everybody drives nice cars.
Our kids
go to the best schools.
I've done the best that I can
by this family, Margaret.
Now leave it alone,
okay?
Now, I'm going upstairs
to get ready for dinner
and have a nice evening
with my wife, okay?
Jesus Christ.
Why are you looking at me
like that?
-I'm trying to keep myself
from killing you, Marcus.
-Margaret, what are you
talking about here?
-I just --
I deserve to know the truth.
-I told you the truth.
-Because it's all
making sense --
The reason you didn't want her
back in this house.
-I didn't want her here
because I don't like her.
And you went over my head
and invited her down here.
-No, you wanted to say,
"Look at her.
Look how good she looks.
Look at her clothes.
Look at her jewelry.
Look at her car --"
just to find out
that you are the sugar daddy
that's been
taking care of her.
Oh, Marcus.
I just --
I can't believe you.
-Margaret...
When I first started,
my career was hard.
I-I-I mean, the country
wasn't like it is now.
I never thought
we would even have
a black man
nominated for president.
When I started in politics,
there was nobody like me.
And I worked hard,
Margaret.
You know that.
And -- and I'm ashamed
to admit it,
but one night, I-I came home
and I was drinking.
And Louise
was sitting there.
And, Margaret,
we started talking.
And I started drinking,
and we both were drinking.
And then -- and one thing
led to another, Margaret,
and --
and it just happened.
-So it's true.
-But she doesn't mean anything
to me, Margaret.
-And so that makes it
okay?
-No, I'm not saying it's okay,
Margaret.
-No, no, it's not okay.
-Here I'm thinking
I have the perfect --
the perfect husband,
the perfect family.
I'm trying to be
the perfect wife for you.
And it's been a lie.
-It hasn't been a lie,
Margaret.
-It's been a lie.
I used to think you were
the man of my dreams, Marcus.
And you turned out to be
my worst nightmare.
-Margaret, don't say that.
-I want you out of my house.
-Louise, please don't say that.
-Louise?!
-No, no, no --
-Then you call me Louise?
-Margaret, I'm so sorry.
Margaret, listen --
-I want you to get out of
this house right now, Marcus.
Marcus, no, if you do not leave
this house,
I'm going to expose you for
the lowlife that you really are.
-Margaret --
-Yes, yes, yes, yes.
-Margaret, this isn't --
-I'm gonna contact
every newspaper
and every constituent you think
you could possibly have,
every supporter,
and I am going to expose you
if you do not
leave this house.
-Okay, Margaret,
just listen to me.
If you do that, you will ruin
my career, Margaret.
Please just -- just --
-That's all you care about,
is your career.
-Just let me stay until
the election is over, please.
-M-Margaret, listen to me,
the same thing I d--
The same thing I did for her,
I did for you.
Ohh!
How dare you?
I'm your wife.
You're supposed to do
for this family, Marcus.
-You're right, Margaret.
-[ Voice breaking ]
You disgust me.
-Just -- just let me stay
until the election is over,
Margaret.
-Marcus.
-I'm gonna go up
and get my things, okay?
-Cletous?
-Margaret, don't do it
like this, please.
H-how am I going to get the rest
of my things, Margaret?
-I'll mail them.
-Margaret,
please just think about it.
-Get out, Marcus.
[ Sniffles ]
[ Crying ] Oh, God.
[ Sniffles ]
Oh, Jesus.
-Come on, Margaret.
Don't --
don't cry, okay?
It's gonna be okay.
Now, now, now, um...
W-weren't you the one
that told me
that, um, God never gives you
more than you can handle?
-Oh.
That's -- that's before
my family started falling apart.
-Well, did, um --
d-did God change?
-No.
No. No.
-Have you changed?
-No.
-'Cause I was scared
you were gonna tell me yeah
'cause that's kind of confusing
to a person
who wants to be a new Christian
like myself
when you talk about God
and everybody changing.
God ain't no changer.
He's...
-Are you thinking about
being a Christian?
-Got to be something.
-[ Sniffles ]
Got to be something.
-Look, Margaret,
it's gonna be okay
'cause I remember something else
you told me.
You said that...
God can fix anything.
-Yes, He can.
-He can fix this.
-Yes, He can.
-All we got to do is believe,
right?
-Yes.
-Have some faith?
-Yes.
-Come on, baby.
It's gonna be okay.
Come on. Don't --
-Oh, Cletous,
I can't believe this --
This has happened.
-Come on.
Don't worry about it, baby.
-[ Crying ]
-Oh, oh, wait.
Now, wait a minute,
Margaret.
-I'm sorry.
-You done got snot all over
my doggone uniform, Margaret.
Here.
Wipe your nose.
That's nasty.
-I'm sorry, Cletous.
Cletous.
-Margaret.
It's gonna be okay,
all right?
Margaret?
-Yes?
-I love you.
-And I love you.
[ Sighs ]
Thank you, Cletous.
[ Sighs ]
[ Sniffles ]
[ Exhales sharply ]
[ Inhales deeply ]
Oh, my God.
[ Exhales sharply ]
Cletous!
-Ain't been like that
in a while.
Whew!
It was really nice to spend
some quality time with you.
Well, it was really nice to see
you dressed up tonight.
Frankie Beverly Goddamn.
Man, it was good to see you
just doing your thing.
Erica.
Erica.
-I'm sorry.
What were you saying?
-Damn, baby,
your body's here,
but your mind's
on the other side of town.
-Look, Jamal,
we really need to talk.
-You know what?
I wanted to talk to you, too,
'cause there's some things
I've been dying to tell you,
too, you know?
Like,
I had a lot on my mind,
and I just was like,
"I should just tell her."
-Yes. Me too.
I've been holding a lot inside.
-That's good,
so we should just --
You know,
mine ain't gonna take long.
-No, no, let me go first.
Let me get it out.
-All right.
-Okay.
-You get it out.
-[ Sighs ]
-I'm listening.
-[ Sighs ]
You know,
now, don't get me wrong,
but, um...
I love everything
you do for me, you know?
I love the jewelry.
I love the gifts,
the money,
the trip to Saint-Tropez.
-That was fun.
-Yeah, it was.
But, baby...
When we make love...
Something's
just not right.
-Wow.
I was thinking
the same thing.
What's not right?
-[ Chuckles ]
Believe it or not...
I'm ready to settle down.
I want to be loved and --
and cherished
and treated like a queen.
-[ Chuckles ]
Wait a minute.
So, you --
You saying you ready
to be loved...
-Yes.
-And cherished...
-Yes.
-And treated like a queen.
Now, Erica,
you and I both know
you're not ready
for a commitment
'cause you are
too damn selfish.
It's always about you, you,
and what you want.
-What is with you
all of a sudden?
-What do you mean,
what's with me all of a sudden?
I done told you you cannot turn
no ho into a house--
-What did you
just call me?!
-Did I stutter?
-The hell with you, Jamal.
-Did I stutter?!
-The hell with you!
-I mean, come on, now.
Face it, baby.
I mean, I enjoy spending time
with you 'cause you my bottom.
You know what I'm saying?
But I take care of you.
-So what?
-"So what?"
"So what?"
Is I'm doing you a favor.
-I am doing you a favor, too,
little man.
-[ Chuckles ]
That's real creative,
Erica, real creative.
But don't get mad at me
'cause your young ass is
stretched out like a hula hoop.
As a matter of fact,
I can go down to Castle Street
and find somebody
just like you,
and it wouldn't even cost me
as much.
-You don't talk to me
like that.
-Matter of --
You better calm down
'cause, as a matter of fact,
I'm overpaying you.
-[ Chuckles ]
You haven't paid [bleep] yet.
Wait till this baby
is born.
-I done told you
that's not my baby.
-You don't touch me.
-I done told you
that ain't my baby.
-You're the only one I slept
with without a condom, Jamal.
-Yeah, right.
-Now, you wait
till I take you to court
because child support
is a mother.
-You better stop talking.
-And we'll see who pays up then.
-I'm tired of hearing
your mouth.
-We'll see who pays up then.
You back away from me.
-You better stop --
-You bet--
[ Intro to Teddy Pendergrass'
"Love TKO" plays ]
-♪ Looking back ♪
♪ Over my years ♪
♪ I think I've shedded
some tears ♪
♪ Told myself ♪
♪ Time and time again ♪
♪ "This time I'm gonna win" ♪
♪ But another fight ♪
♪ Things ain't right ♪
♪ I'm losing again ♪
♪ Takes a fool to lose twice ♪
♪ And start all over again ♪
♪ Think I'd better let it go ♪
♪ Ohhhh, yeah ♪
♪ Another love T.K.O. ♪
♪ What you say about it, yeah ♪
♪ Think I'd better let it go ♪
♪ Let it go ♪
♪ Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh ♪
♪ T.K.O. ♪
♪ Tired of getting beat up
by love ♪
♪ Tired of getting beat up
by love ♪
♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh ♪
♪ T.K.O. ♪
♪ Ohh, ohh ♪
♪ Ooh-wee ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ My, my, my, my ♪
♪ My, my,
my, my ♪
-♪ Promises we don't keep ♪
-♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ Oh, whoa, whoa ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ We don't keep ♪
-♪ Whoa, whoa, girl ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-♪ My love, my love, my love ♪
-♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ Why can't I get it right? ♪
♪ I've been in love before ♪
♪ And it let me down ♪
♪ But now I'm all grown up ♪
♪ No turning back, girl ♪
♪ But like a child's heart
at play ♪
♪ You know the things
we used say ♪
♪ Oh, when we were in love ♪
♪ We made... ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-♪ Oh, yeah ♪
-♪ We don't keep ♪
♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-No ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-♪ Ohh ♪
-♪ We don't keep ♪
-♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Ohh, yeah, yeah ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ It seems
no matter what I do ♪
♪ B-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ad luck ♪
♪ Has been my best friend ♪
♪ And now to me ♪
♪ Now to me,
those words you say ♪
♪ They are just promises
once again ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ We don't keep ♪
♪ Promises, promises ♪
-If I could just get one woman
in this world...
-♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-To not look at me
for my money...
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-But to truly
just love me for me.
If I could just get one.
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-One!
♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ We don't keep ♪
-♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ♪
-♪ Promises ♪
-[ Scoffs ]
I don't need him, anyway.
Kevin!
Dang answering machine.
Ohh.
I hope he gets
this text message.
"Come over, Kevin.
A.S.A.P."
[ Doorbell rings ]
Ooh.
He did get my text.
Who is it?
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, yes.
Okay.
Whew.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, Kevin!
Oh, I'm so happy to see you!
-Hey.
I just called you.
I just texted you.
Did you get my text?
-Yeah.
-Okay.
Oh!
-Look, um...
I just came back
to bring you your things.
Have a good life.
-What?
Wait. Kevin, Kevin,
no, no, no, no.
Now, let's talk
about this.
Now, I know
the other day --
But it's not
what you think.
I'm sorry.
-You're sorry?
Erica, you're pregnant
by another man,
and all you can say
is you're sorry?
-Babe, just give me
another chance.
I can make it r--
-There's not going to be
another chance, Erica.
There's not gonna be
another chance.
You don't know --
You just don't know
how hard it is to try your best
and your best
just ain't good enough.
-Kevin, stop.
-Stop?
-No, just --
-Stop?!
Erica, that's what you
should have did
when you was running around here
sleeping with everybody.
Then you want to come back
to me
like you ain't
done nothing wrong.
You know what?
Sounds like to me, Erica,
you ain't nothing
but a classy ho.
-Look, baby --
baby, look, look --
Look, we can just
make it all --
-No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no.
Let's just call it
what it is.
I mean, you got your needs met.
What about my needs?
What about a need to have
a woman I can respect,
one that I can trust?
I can't trust you
as far as I can see you.
-Baby. Baby.
-Don't touch me.
-Look, I just want it
the way that it was.
I don't want that.
I want you. I love you.
-Love?
[ Laughs ]
Erica, you don't even know
the meaning of the word.
God gave us
the real meaning --
"For God so loved the world
that he gave."
"He gave," Erica.
I can't give you a ride
in an expensive car.
But, Erica, I gave you a ride
on the inside of my heart.
I don't confess
to be a smart man.
But I'm smart enough to know
that in order to receive love,
you got to give it.
-Kevin, wait.
Now, you mean to tell me
this ring means nothing to you?
-[ Sighs ]
-Now, I know --
I know I messed up.
Everybody messes up,
and I'm not perfect.
But I need you.
I cannot go through
this pregnancy by myself.
I love you. I love you.
I love you.
Please.
I love you. Don't.
-You know what?
You --
You're right
about one thing.
This ring
does mean a lot.
It took me a year
to save up for it.
So I'm gonna
just take it.
-[ Gasps ]
[ Whimpers ]
Never did -- it didn't mean
nothing to you, anyway.
[ Scoffs ]
Oh, yeah, you know what?
You told me that I would never
get a record deal, right?
[ Chuckles ]
Guess what.
Your boy Diddy
signed me yesterday.
And I didn't even have to
make the band.
So, I guess the saying
is true --
Good things come
to those that wait.
I waited on that record deal,
and I finally got it.
[ Chuckles ]
Bye, Erica.
Oh, oh, oh,
wait, wait, wait.
Got a little something
for you.
This is
for your boy Jamal.
That's for the shoes
he bought me.
For the clothes
he bought me.
That's for my raggedy-ass car
that he got fixed.
And this dollar
is for you.
Now, you tell me,
who just got played?
-♪ Mm-mmm-mmm ♪
♪ He's got everything ♪
♪ Anything ♪
♪ Whoa, yeah, baby ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no ♪
-Look, Mama, I'm so sorry
for everything,
and I love you.
-I know, baby.
Here.
It's okay.
I'm so tired.
-Hey, Ty,
you might not want to dress
in all black like that.
'Cause the black
on black
make it look like that chain
is floating by itself like that.
-Cletous!
-Trying to help him out.
Boy's dark.
Ooh.
Just dark.
You know, up against
that white curtain like that,
look like a tunnel --
that's what it look like.
-Cletous.
Hey, hey, Ulah May, I got --
Cl-Cletous,
will you stop, please?
Ulah May --
Cletous,
stop it, now.
-Okay, let me just tell you
something, boy.
You come down here
to General Hospital...
'cause your life feels like
a little soap opera.
You come down here
to see all your children.
But remember, boy,
you only got one life to live.
But know this --
Let something else happen
to these people,
and I'm gonna stab you.
And as your bleeding
and the life is leaving you,
look for
the guiding light.
Do you hear me?
-Cletous, stop.
Stop, Cletous, please.
Um...
Margaret,
are you okay?
-I'm fine, Marcus.
-Look, I-I-I know this is
an awkward time, and...
I know my actions
have hurt this family.
When they called me
at the office --
Margaret, I know it's
inappropriate for me to be here,
but I just wanted to make sure
you were okay.
Margaret, I still love you,
and -- and I'm so sorry.
-Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa.
You what?
You love her?
Oh, I guess
you loved her so much,
you slept
with her sister, huh?
-Tyrone, please,
please, son.
-That's a lot of love, Pop.
-Son, that was
a long time ago.
Now, please
leave it alone.
-Leave it alone?
You done left it alone
18 years.
Leave it alone?
-Tyrone.
-No, Mama, you know
what I'm saying?
What, like we're supposed to
just look over it
like, you know,
it's all good?
-Tyrone,
I made a mistake.
-We know that.
We know that.
-Son, please,
leave it alone, okay?
-Do I have to
tell you again, Pops?
I'm not
leaving it alone.
Look what you done
done, man.
It's because of you.
It's because of you --
this whole thing.
You're the reason I started
getting high in the first place.
And you want me
to leave it alone.
-Tyrone, I'm sorry.
Son...
Son,
listen to me, son.
-Hey, hey...
-Son, listen to me.
-Tyrone.
-Listen to me.
Listen to me, son.
There's a lot of things
that happen between adults
that young people
don't understand, Tyrone.
I made a mistake, son,
and I'm sorry I wasn't there
for you in the early years
when you were
growing up.
But you're my son, Tyrone,
and I love you, son.
I love you.
-You better get off me.
You better get off me.
-Come on, man!
-No, no, get up!
-Ty, don't hurt him!
Don't hurt him!
-Get up! Get up!
-Come on, Ty. Don't hurt him!
-Why?!
-[ Crying ] 'Cause he could be
my daddy, too,
and I don't want...
-Oh, Cletous!
Cletous, please!
-Get up!
Get up!
-Tyrone, Tyrone,
that's your father.
That's your father.
You need to respect him.
-Yeah, old man.
-You gonna put your hands
on your father?
-That's right.
That's right.
-No, Tyrone.
-No, no, no,
don't go nowhere.
-You put your hands --
-Hey, yo, come here!
-When I was growing up,
you never put your hands
on your father, son.
-Yeah, but they
ain't sleep with --
-Let me tell you
something.
Don't you ever hit me.
-Ty! Stop it!
Stop it! Stop! Stop!
Don't you ever in your life
put your hands on me!
-Move out the way,
pastor.
What you got?!
What you got?!
-Marcus!
-What you got?!
-Pastor, please, will you
help me pray for my family?
Listen!
Listen to me, Marcus!
-Stop it.
Stop it.
-Pastor, please,
just help me pray
for this family right now.
Right now, please.
-But lead us not
into temptation,
oh, Father,
but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory...
Forever and ever.
In the mighty name of Jesus
we pray.
Bless this family.
[ Slow gospel music playing ]
-♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Peace, yeah ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Peace, yeah ♪
-♪ Ooh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Thy will, thy will ♪
♪ We, we need,
we need ♪
♪ Come on, we need ♪
-♪ P-e-e-eace ♪
♪ I need,
n-n-n-need some peace ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Ye-eah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Ye-a-a-a-ah ♪
♪ We need it,
we need, need it ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ We need it in ourselves
and we need it in our church ♪
♪ We need it in our city ♪
♪ We need it in our country ♪
♪ Ye-a-a-a-a-a-h ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Ohh, yeah ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Peace, peace ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Peace, peace ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
Whew!
♪ Peace, peace ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
-Roll camera.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Mid-tempo music plays ]
-♪ Ba-da da-da-da ♪
♪ Ahh ♪
♪ Ba-da-da da da da ♪
♪ Ba-da-da da da ♪
♪ Ahh ♪
♪ Da da-da da-da da ♪
♪ Man of her dreams ♪
♪ Man of
her dreams ♪
♪ Man of her dreams ♪
♪ Oh ♪
-Say a prayer for you,
Miss James. Ulah May James!
-I'll tell you, God is good.
-Amen, all the time.
-Ooh, and listen,
the ladies are so excited
about the women's conference.
-Yes.
-We got pastor Darlene Bishop
coming, and --
Whoo! -- we gonna have a time
in the Lord.
-Well, praise God!
Oh, I'm so proud of you.
Thank you for all that you do
for the church.
-Aw, it's nothing.
-All right, look, I got to run.
I got another meeting.
-Okay.
-But you know I'm gonna be
praying for you and your family.
-Oh, please do.
-Oh, God bless you!
I just thank you so much!
-God bless you, pastor.
-Hallelujah!
-Take care, now.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Chuckles ] Yes.
Praise God.
[ Telephone rings ]
Oh.
Hello?
Oh, hey, Lucille.
Girl, what's wrong?
You and brother Jackson
didwhat?!
Oh, I'm gonna tell you
the truth.
Honey, the question is,
can youhandlethe truth?
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ You should have
counted up the cost ♪
♪ But instead you, y-y-you,
y-y-you got lost ♪
♪ In the second,
in the minute ♪
♪ In the brrrrr, hey ♪
♪ Before you lay, sister girl,
you need to pray ♪
I'll see you at Bible study.
Bye.
That's right, honey.
Mm-hmm.
And count it up...
♪ Before you get lost ♪
♪ In the second, in the minute ♪
♪ In the hour ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
-Mama.
-"The Lord
is my shepherd."
-Mama.
-Huh?
-Look.
Look who came to visit.
-Hey, Grandma! Hey!
Grandma, I-I got to go
to your bathroom.
I had Big Macs,
apple pies,
French fries, and a milkshake,
Grandma.
I -- I really --
I got to go, I got to go.
-[ Laughs ] Child, don't forget
to spray for the smell.
-Grandma!
-[ Laughs ]
-Now, Mama, listen, I have
another surprise for you.
-Okay, okay, what is it?
-You got to keep
an open mind.
-Girl, I'm open.
-You promise?
-Honey, I am o-pen.
-All right.
-I like surprises.
As a matter of fact,
I love surprises.
-Hello, Mother.
Whew.
You can't speak?
[ Sighs ]
How you doing, Mother?
-Iwasdoing just fine
before you came in.
I'm going to the back
to get my oil
so I can anoint things...
Because the devil
just showed up.
-Ohhhh.
-Please.
I know, I know.
I know, you know Mama.
She's -- she's --
she's set in her ways.
It's been a lot of years, so you
just got to give her some time.
-Oh, wow!
Boy, oh, boy.
-You know Mama. She hasn't
changed. She's still Mama.
-Oh!
-Mama, what didIdo?
-Ooh.
-[ Clears throat ]
-Ooh.
Hmm. Need just
a little more time, huh?
[ Laughs ]
-You see how long you left me
to put up with this by myself?
-I know. I'm sorry.
-And, Louise -- [Sighs]
you know Mama.
She's -- she's still upset
about you not coming
to Daddy's funeral, and --
and I know, I know.
I know you have your reasons
for not coming,
and I forgave you.
But it's gonna take Mama
a little while.
Look, I'm just happy
you're here!
-Oh, me too!
[ Both laugh ]
-And you look amazing!
-[ Laughs ]
-And Chania.
Oh, my goodness,
you adopted this little girl,
and now she's grown all up,
on her way off to college.
You've done
such a good job.
-Yeah, I did do a good job,
didn't I?
Yeah.
[ Chuckles ]
-[ Chuckles ]
What is your secret?
-[ Chuckles ]
I got me a sugar daddy.
[ Laughs ] I know.
He takes good care of me.
I'll tell you all about him
later, okay?
-Okay.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Make sure you don't
leave out any details.
You know, you haven't seen
the kids in a while.
Erica has a new man
in her life.
-Hmm!
-Erica!
-[ Chuckles ]
-Erica!
-Ugh! One and two and ugh!
Get it, girl.
Ugh!
-Oh!
-Mom, you interrupted
my Tae Bo!
You know I got to
keep it tight.
And get...that...money!
I got to get it! Whew!
Got to get it, girl.
Get it, girl.
Get it.
Oh. Oh, yes! Oh!
Aah!
-Aaaaah!
Look at you!
Aren't you beautiful!
-Come over here!
Erica,
show your Aunt Louise
the beautiful ring
that Kevin gave you.
Whoo!
-Whoo!
-Louise, my baby's
about to get married,
and I can hardly wait to start
planning the wedding.
-A woman my age ain't looking
for no full-time commitment.
-Wait a minute.
Now, Erica, why would you
accept a young man's ring
if you're not ready
for a commitment?
-We accepted his proposal
because he asked,
and this ring
'cause we ain't crazy.
-Ooh, yeah. With that.
I got that.
-Well, that sounds crazy
tome.
You know, I've been trying
to tell the young women
down at the women's conference
that a good man is hard to find.
And Kevin
is such a good man.
-Mmm.
-He reminds me of her father.
Yeah, he has a -- you know,
a good little job,
but he loves her, he respects
her, and he loves the Lord.
-I'm gonna tell you right now
what I do.
I come in and I --
hyah!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!
-Cletous!
-Yeah, that's what I do.
-Where have you been?
-Don't worry about
where I been.
You worry about what I did
when I was down there.
That's what I'm talkin' about.
mm-Hmm. Yeah! uh-Huh.
Them young boys down at the
Waffle House think I'm a punk!
Gonna park in my space when I've
been waiting there
for 15 minutes! Gah! Gah!
That's what I did.
Now, look here,
if FBI, CIA, DEA, A.D.D., PSAT
come in here looking for me,
y'all got my alibi.
You got that?
-No, no, now, you know
I'm not gonna lie for you.
-Hey!
You gonna do what I say!
I'll "ugh!" Your neck will be
looking like a Pez dispenser.
Tell you what --
I'm the one taught Ray J
how to stab a white woman
and get away with it.
Nah! Nah! Nah!
-[ Laughs ]
Who is that?
-Girl, you remember him --
You know, Mama's friend
from, like, way long time ago.
-[ Laughs ]
Oh, my God, Ma, you ain't
gonna even believe this.
Cletous just wild out.
We was down there --
man, I'm telling you --
Today, I mean, he just took
the switchblade and just whack,
yack,
just sliced them up!
I mean...
Auntie!
[ Laughs ]
What's kickin', Auntie?
-Whew! Your breath
is what's kickin'.
-Oh!
Auntie, you know
it's that green.
[ Laughs ]
-Ooh!
-Yo, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Yo, what ever happened to that
ugly little daughter of yours?
-Oh, now, hold on, sucker,
you ain't that high
off that old head-bangin' mess.
-I'm just sayin',
last time
I saw her when we was little,
she was so ugly, we had to
trick-or-treat over e-mail.
[ Laughs ]
-Boy, you're a fool.
Turn around.
She's right there,
right behind you, right there.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Oh, Lord.
-Aah!
-Oh, Lord.
Oh, wait, wait!
Oh, wait a minute!
Wait!
Oh, Lord, looky here,
looky here.
Mine eyes
have seen the glory.
Oh. Oh, look!
Look like she got two midgets
in her back pocket. Looky there.
Oh, look at the humps
and the bump!
Oh, the Apple Bottom jeans!
Whoo!
[ Hip-hop music plays ]
-Oh, that's my song!
-Oh, oh, oh!
Oh! Hold it!
Hold it, now!
Oh, oh, wait!
-Oh! What is that?!
No, no, no, no!
No, no, no!
-Oh, you got it!
Oh, you got it!
You got it.
You -- you got it.
You -- I'm trying to get
underneath it.
I'm trying to get --
-Tyrone!
-Trying to...
-Tyrone!
Do not come in this house high
and embarrass me.
-I'm not high, Mother.
I'm ha!
Ha ha ha ha!
[ Coughing ]
-Now, you know your father's
up for re-election.
And I don't want him to come in
this house and see you this way,
so go upstairs right now
and get yourself together.
-Yes, ma'am.
But tell Dad, uh,
"happy re-erection day."
[ Laughing ]
-Girl, what happened?
You done raised a fool.
When did this happen?
-He is funny to me.
If Ty just stopped smoking
all that weed,
he can make somebody
real happy.
-What?!
-What?!
[ Scoffs ] Oh, let's just
forget about all that.
Now, let's talk
aboutyourhusband.
Ho ho!
Senator Marcus Gordon.
Oh, that's wonderful.
You have got yourself
a good man.
-Yes, my daddy is up
for re-election.
And when he wins,
he's getting me a new car!
And he's gonna
give me money, yes.
That's what
daddy said.
-Uh-oh. Oh, oh.
Uh, Chania, honey,
what's -- what's the matter?
What's wrong?
Something happen?
-I never met
my biological parents.
-I told you not to bring that up
while we're here.
Okay?
Now, don't do this to me.
Now, I adopted you,
and you are my daughter.
We are a family,
me and you.
Don't do this to me, not now,
Chania, please? Please.
-Erica, why don't you show
your -- your Aunt Louise
and your cousin Chania
to their room
so they can make themselves
at home.
I'll have Cletous
get your bags out the car.
-You know what, baby?
I'm gonna take you shopping.
But you not gonna get
all my money this time.
I'm only giving you
$1,500.
-$1,500?!
-Yeah, girl,
we on a budget.
-[ Scoffs ]
What kind of budget is that?
$1,500.
-Hey, baby.
Hey, baby.
I'm rushing.
Oh. No, sit down.
I got something for you.
-But I have something I need to
talk to you about, okay?
-Baby, sit down.
-It's really important.
-Baby, baby, baby, please.
[ Sighs ]
You know I, uh -- I get
choked up when I talk about you.
[ Sighs ]
I just want to thank you
for being patient with me.
I know I've been
in and out of the house
with this re-election stuff,
and, um...
I love you, and I couldn't
do this without you.
Close your eyes.
-[ Chuckles ]
-I saw you looking at this
the other day,
and I thought that I would
pick it up for you.
Look at that.
Open your eyes.
-Oh!
Marcus, they're beautiful!
Mwah! I love you.
-Listen, baby, I got to get
down to the office.
-Wait, wait, wait.
Before you go, I need to talk to
you about something.
-Oh, Senator Marcus Gor-don!
[ Laughs ]
-Margaret,
what is she doing here?
-Well, Marcus, that's what
I was trying to tell you.
-Chania got a full scholarship
down here,
and I came with her
to make the transition easier.
And I talked to Margaret
on the phone about it.
She said, "hey, it's all right.
Come on down."
Uh-huh.
-Margaret doesn't speak for
everybody in our family, Louise.
Do you, Margaret?
Doyou, Margaret?
Now, Louise, you know
Chania could have gone
to any college
she wanted to.
I would have arranged that
for you.
-Y-yes.
-Why would you
come back here?
You didn't have the decency
to come to your own
father's funeral.
-Wait a minute, Marcus.
I just --
-I am talking!
I am talking.
Now, you didn't have
the decency
to come to your own father's
funeral five years ago.
And you hurt me. You hurt my
wife. You hurt the whole family.
And you have the nerve
to come back here now?
You know what?
You are not welcome
in this house.
You understand?
Do you understand?
And I don't care
if thisisyour sister.
Well, now...
[ Chuckling ]
Doesn't she look nice,
Margaret?
Is that -- is that a --
is this silk?
-[ Gasps ]
-Did you see the brand-new BMW
she has in the driveway?
-Marcus.
-Who bought that for you?
Your new sugar daddy?
-[ Huffs ]
-I got some business
downtown, okay?
And when I get back here,
I want her gone.
-But, Marcus,
I told her...
-What didIsay?
-Oh!
-I can't stand you.
I'm not playing,
Margaret.
You should know better.
-Margaret, I thought you said
that he was all over this!
You said that you were gonna
take care of things!
Is that taken care of?
Oh!
-Listen to me.
I apologize for Marcus.
-I don't want to be --
I can't stand -- ow!
-I apologize for Marcus!
And I apologize
for how Mama acted earlier.
But -- but --
-You set me up, Margaret.
-No.
I would never do that.
Why would I bring you back
to set you up?
It's just that Marcus --
he's --
he's under a lot of pressure
with the re-election,
and I didn't have a chance
to talk to him,
but I would have.
Louise... [Sighs]
I prayed for this.
I asked the Lord to bring
my family back together again.
And now that I have you back,
I am not gonna let you go
without a fight.
Okay?
So you go upstairs and --
and get comfortable,
and I'll handle Marcus,
okay?
-Girl, he gets on my nerves.
-I know, he gets on my nerves
sometimes, too.
Louise.
-Oh.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Me and you, us, never part!
[ Laughs ]
-I love you!
Don't you let mister run you
up out of this house.
-Aah! Ha ha!
Whoo-Hoo-Hoo ha ha!
Oh, yes, yes, yes!
♪ Money, money,
money, money ♪
[ Laughs ]
-Cletous!
-Yes, yes, yes!
-What are you
carrying on about?
-Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Margaret, listen,
my dead ex-wife --
she forgot to take my name
off of her insurance policy!
[ Laughs ]
I'm a beneficiary!
[ Laughs ]
Oh, my God!
$350,000!
-How much?
-3-5-0.
Look at the zeros.
[ Laughs ]
Oh, my goodness.
Oh!
God is good
all the time.
-And all the time...
-And all the time...
-...God is good.
-...He is good.
-That's right.
-Whoo!
[ Shouting indistinctly ]
Whoo!
"Whoo-Sama" bin Laden!
-[ Laughs ]
Oh, well, what's going on?
-Ohh!
[ Chuckles ]
The Lord is my shepherd.
And he knows what I want.
[ Laughs ]
-Oh, well, I'm sorry.
I don't do bald-headed men.
-Uh-huh. Well,
you might do this one.
[ Laughs ]
Uh...
My name
is Cletous Jones.
And just like a cancer,
I will spread
all over you, girl.
-No.
Why would a woman of my caliber
associate herself
with some old wannabe,
dried-up, swolled-up,
wannabe, no-more-money,
got-broke
Evander Holyfield look-alike?
-I knowyouain't talking,
dressed like you
a Coca-Cola can.
-Oh!
-And you know what?
You look like that girl
from "227," except you're older.
-Ohh!
You want to go there?
[ Indistinct arguing ]
Come on, sucker!
Well, come on with it.
-I'll cut you right --
unh! Unh!
You don't know
what I'd do!
-Put your leg down!
What is going on in here?
Now, you know the Lord
does not like ugly.
-Well, he must be furious
with her!
-Margaret, who is that?
-Cletous Jones, Mama's friend.
You remember...
-Uh, you better tell that woman
to respect me up in here.
-And you remember
my sister Louise.
-Oh, girl, I'm so sorry.
You gotallthe good genes.
Faces.
-So, listen, why don't
you two shake hands?
-What? No way. Unh-unh!
No, I'm not shaking hands.
-It's a handshake.
-Don't touch me, no.
No way, unh-unh.
♪ Unh-unh, no ♪
♪ No, I'm not gonna do, no ♪
-♪ Shake, shake ♪
-♪ No ♪
-♪ I ain't gonna shake -- ♪
-Stop it!
Why are we rocking?
-'Cause... [ Sighs ]
They do that in these
black plays, you know.
They move back and...
-[ Sighs ]
-Cletous.
-Hmm?
-Will you shake her hand,
please, for me?
-Just for you, Margaret.
Okay?
-Thank you. Thank you.
-Ooh, girl,
you got man knuckles.
That's ashy.
Do you box?
They look hard.
-Well, the handshake
didn't go over that well,
so how about
a holy ghost hug, okay?
-How about
a holy ghost "no"?
-Let's just
get it over with.
If he wants a hug,
he's got to come over here
'cause I don't go to men.
-[ Laughs ]
-Whew.
-All right, then,
let me work this out.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, girl.
[ Laughs ]
My name is Cletous Jones again,
and let's do this.
-Aah!
Oh, you can't touch this.
If you want this, you've
got to pay for all of this.
-Uh, I've got a quarter.
You got some change?
-Ohh!
Oh, no!
Oh, no, unh-unh,
this ain't right.
Oh, no, first Mama,
then your husband,
and then this fool?
Oh, this is too much for me.
Unh-unh. I ain't staying here.
What is that?
Ugh!
-Cletous is a nice man.
He really is.
He's a nice man, Louise.
And he has some money.
-Ugh.
-He just got
a $350,000 check
from his wife's
life insurance policy.
-Oh?
-Mm-hmm.
-Cash?
-Yes.
-But ew!
Okay, well,
I guess a woman's got to do
what a woman's got to do.
Whoo, Cletous,
you can feel me up now, baby!
Where that money?
Come on! Give me that check!
Ahh! Cletous!
[ Birds chirping ]
-That's what I would have
told Jamal, lame-ass --
We'll be in bed, and I'll be
falling asleep on his ass.
I'll be like,
"What is going on?"
So weak, girl.
But you know Kevin, though?
I mean, I really could love him.
He just so broke.
He is the worst, girl.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, I'm waiting on Jamal
to bring me that money.
He should be here any minute.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, there that
noodle-ass nigga now.
Girl, let me call you back.
Bye.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Mnh.
-What's up, baby?
I can't get
a "what's up?"
I mean, come on.
What's happening?
What's up, baby?
-No, get off of me.
Don't "baby" me.
Look, I called your house,
your cellphone,
your condo,
and I called your boys.
You had me up all night
waiting for you last night.
Look, I don't have time
to play those silly-ass games
with you, Jamal.
-Will you calm down?
I had some important business to
take care of.
-You and I both know Iam
your important business.
-Erica, you need to
stop tripping now.
You and I know you ain't
my first priority, anyway.
-[ Scoffs ]
So? You still have obligations
to me, and don't forget that.
-[ Chuckles ]
Obligations?
As long as I take care
of your first love...
And you and I both know
what that is, right?
-[ Chuckles ] I guess papi
does know what mami wants.
-Yeah, papi does.
But if papi
give you this,
what are you
gonna give papi?
-Mmm.
Anything papi wants.
But not right now, 'cause
you know Cletous
almost caught us last time,
and you know
I can't be getting caught.
-Girl, please, I ain't worried
about no Cletous.
-Excuse me.
What you say, boy, huh?
You say something?
-I didn't say nothing, man.
-Okay, don't 'cause I will --
yah! --
Right there
in the hand, boy.
Yah! Right there.
New Jack City --
hyah! Hyah! Hyah!
-Man, what's wrong
with that dude?
-You know
that's just Cletous.
-Matter of fact,
come here.
-Okay.
-Look at your fine self.
-What are you doing?
-What you mean,
what I'm doing?
Ain't that how you like it --
from the back?
-Ooh! You better stop.
You know that's my spot.
-[ Laughs ]
That's your spot.
That's not what you
were saying last night.
-Last night?
Excuse me, Jamal.
I wasn't with you last night.
-I didn't mean last night.
You know what I'm saying.
I meant, like,
the other night
or the night
that we was together.
What I'm saying is that
it's so good it just be --
It be on me every night.
-Jamal,
you're so full of [bleep]
-Erica, I got some business
to take care of.
-Oh, no, this conversation
is not over with.
Now, I don't know who you
think you're dealing with,
but I don't play that.
-[ Chuckles ]
All right, baby girl,
I see where this is going.
I'm gonna give you
a little extra, all right?
How's that?
-The twin
is very lonely.
-The twin is lonely.
How's that?
-Mnh.
They want more.
-So, what you saying
is you want it all.
Is that
what you saying?
-Yes, the whole $2,500.
-Have fun shopping.
-Ding, ding, ding, ding,
ding, ding, ding, ding!
-Yeah, "ding, ding,
ding, ding, ding" --
That's what you better
be ready for later on.
-Oh, I will.
-Yeah, you better be.
When I get back here tonight,
you be ready, all right?
And don't have me waiting,
Erica.
-[ Laughs ]
-See you later.
-Bye, baby.
[ Door closes ]
♪ Got my money
so I can go shopping ♪
[ Laughs ]
All of it.
Oh, yeah.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, no, baby,
I hope you don't think
you're getting
all this money back,
'cause this is all mine's,
all mine's.
Kevin!
-Hey, baby.
Baby, who was that
in the driveway?
-Oh, that -- that was just
somebody for my mama.
-That boy looked too young
for your mama.
-You know my mama married,
boy.
-Girl, your mama nasty.
That's what she is.
Ooh, baby, you --
ooh, you look so good.
Can't wait till you become
Mrs. Kevin Smith
so we can do all the things
that married folks do.
Mmm-Mmm-Mmm.
-Really? Like what?
-Like wait till you
see my "ohh."
Wait till you see
my "ohh."
-Ooh!
-Girl, I'm gonna be like,
bam, bam, bam, bam,
bam, bam, bam, bam, bam!
-Oh, Kevin!
Oh! Oh.
-[ Coughing ]
-Oh, my God.
[ Inhales sharply ]
Let me help you up.
-Well -- well --
-Come sit down.
-Okay.
Wait a minute.
Whew!
I went a little too far
with that one, huh?
-Yeah, you did.
-Baby, when I get in shape,
I'm gonna work out.
Whew.
Hold on.
[ Inhales sharply ]
Okay, baby, listen.
Listen.
I was at work today, right?
-Uh-huh.
-So, my boss had a drawing.
He put all our names
in a hat, right?
Boss reached his hand
way, way, way down in there.
Guess whose name
he came out with.
-Who?
-Mine, baby!
-Ahh!
-Pack your bags.
We going to Jamaica, baby.
-Ooh!
-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga-Ga!
-♪ Boogie da, boogie da,
boogie da ♪
Ahh!
[ Reggae music plays ]
[ Tongue trilling ]
♪ Ooh, a-boo ♪
♪ A-booga booga boo
a-booga booga booga ♪
-Babe! Hey, baby!
-Yeah?
-I said Jamaica,
not Africa.
-[ Laughs ]
Oh, I'm sorry, baby.
I'm just so excited.
I got to get new clothes.
-No, baby, look, look,
look, look, look.
That's what I really
came over here for.
I need to borrow your car
'cause I got to go to the studio
tonight and finish the song.
-Oh, no, baby, I need my car.
Chania and I are going out.
-But, baby,
I need to use it tonight.
-Okay, okay,
I know how to fix it.
Here, take this money
and go get your car --
-No, no, no.
You know how I feel about that.
I'm not taking your money.
-Kevin, stop it.
Now, we are gonna be married.
And what's yours is mine,
and what's mine's is mine's.
But you know what
I'm trying to say, baby.
Just take the money
and go get your car fixed.
-Okay, okay, okay.
Baby, thank you.
Mwah!
-Mwah!
-I'll see you later, okay?
I got to get back to work.
But, babe, remember --
[ Jamaican accent ] Girl,
we going to Jamaica, girl.
-Jamaica! Jamaica!
-Ga-ga-ga-ga-ga, ooh!
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!
-I'm going to Jamaica!
[ Reggae music playing ]
I'm gonna be in the sun,
like, "ooh!"
-Erica.
Girl, what are you doing?
-Girl, it's hard out here
for a pimp.
Shew!
-Do these jeans look
too tight on me?
-Yeah, a little bit,
but that's why your mama
don't want me hanging
around me, anyway --
'cause I am
a number-one player.
-Girl, let's get to the mall.
I seen this girl with some
bad Gucci shoes on today,
and I just
got to have them.
And they was just calling
my name -- "Chania.
"Oh, Chania.
Oh, Chania, Chania,
Chania, Chania!"
-That is real funny
'cause you ain't got no money,
no money, no money,
no money, no money!
[ Laughs ]
-Don't worry about me,
'cause I got mine.
And I work
for Uncle Marcus.
-How could I forget?
That is my daddy, right?
But just hold
your little mew
'cause I got to text one of
my other men and get some money.
-I guess I'm gonna be going
to the mall by myself,
'cause you and I both know
that Kevin ain't got no money.
-Oh! Hold up.
[ Laughs ]
I said my other man,
not my boyfriend.
-What?
-Girl, let your cuz school you.
Come sit down.
Let me teach you
the game.
Now, women --
you know, we need a man
that's gonna give us
all our needs, you know?
We need a man
that's gonna wine and dine us.
We need a man
that's gonna give us money.
We need a man that in bed
is just gonna know how to just
lay you down, just --
Ohh, just make you, "ohh,"
just, "ohh! Ohh!
Oh, yeah! Yeah, yeah!
Oh! Ohhh!"
[ Whimpering ]
Whew.
Oh, girl,
I forgot you was there.
Oh, my bad.
[ Laughs ]
-You are nasty.
-Girl, look,
speaking of Kevin,
you know, he's just
too predictable, you know?
I need a man that's gonna
tie me up
and just bend me over
and choke me from behind...
-Did someone call my name?
'Cause, you know,
they used to call me
"Choke me from behind,
please."
-Ain't nobody call you,
Cletous! Go!
-Okay, well...
-You know?
And I just need a man
that's gonna just, you know --
Just beat that thing,
whup that thing,
just put it on me to --
-Somebody keeps calling
my name...
'Cause that's what
they used to call me --
"Whup that thing
and smack that thing
and hit that thing
and, when you're doing it right,
kick that thing."
Not me? All right.
-And that's why I like Jamal,
you know?
'Cause he's a roughneck,
and he just knows how to ram it
and just hurt me,
just make me hurt, just hurt --
-Somebody keeps calling me!
That's what they
used to call me --
"Hurt that thing,
pinch that thing,
kick it, whip it,
spike it."
They called me
"The Punisher"!
-Erica, girl,
I forgot my purse.
-Chania.
Chania, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Look, hey, hey, hey.
Hang on.
I know you got to go.
-No, I got to go.
She's about to leave.
-You ain't gonna believe it.
I'm telling you.
-What? What, Ty? What?
-Look, uh, give me a kiss
before you go.
-I can't kiss you.
-No, no, no, wait.
Come on, now.
-We are cousins.
-Oh, no,weain't nothing
'cause you adopted.
Right, right.
Ain't no blood.
Ain't no blood, so just --
look, just -- come on.
Ain't nobody looking.
Just one.
Just one. I mean --
-O-okay, okay, just one.
-Or two if you can slip --
okay, okay. One.
-And on the cheek.
-Man, I don't care how you do
it, just get it done.
Now,
what you want me to do?
-Close your eyes.
-Don't play with me now, Chania.
Don't you play with me.
-Keep them eyes closed.
-What else
you want me to do?
-I want you to pucker up
them lips.
-Oh, girl, watch yourself
right now.
-Are you ready?
-Am I ready?
You see my lips poked out?
Now, come on, now.
Come on, now. My back hurts.
Now, come on.
Come on, girl.
I'm just --
[ Door closes ]
Chan--
Chania?
Chania? Chani--
I feel like Bernie Mac.
[ Imitating Bernie mac ]
I'm tired.
I'm 42 years old.
I can't take it no more.
[ Normal voice ]
Chania? Chania?
[ Cletous laughs ]
-Yeah, boy,
I'm telling you.
There are only three things
in the world
white folks are scared of.
I'm telling you.
Listen, they are a-scared
of Osama, Barack Obama,
and your fat-ass mama.
[ Laughs ]
You know, I tell you what --
get off my phone here.
I'm telling you, now.
You get off my --
-[ Clears throat ]
-Wait a minute, man.
You know what?
The pink panther
just walked in here.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah, I --
No, it's --
it's a cougar.
-Hello, Cletous.
-Mm-hmm.
Uh, the senator is not in.
May I help you?
-I didn't come
to see the Senator.
I came to see you.
-Mm.
What you want me for?
-I wanted to apologize for the
way I treated you the other day.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm s-- ohhhhhh.
-Ooh. Okay.
Okay, yeah, that's --
that's sorry. All right.
-I need you to do me,
um, a favor.
-Huh?
What you need from me?
-I need you to lend me,
um, $20,000.
[ Laughs hysterically ]
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
-Ah-ah.
[ Chuckles ]
Yeah, o-Okay.
Yeah,
I think I can do that.
$20,000? That all you need?
$20,000?
Okay.
I got that in the bank.
Come on. Let's go on down there
and get it.
Let me ask you something,though.
Um, after I give you
that $25,000,
what you gonna give me?
-Well, what do you want?
-Well, uh, I'd like for you
to bend over on all fours
and throw your hair
back to the right. [Laughs]
-No, no, no, I am not
that kind of girl.
-Oh, for $25,000,
you gonna be a whole lot
of different girls, okay?
As a matter of fact, you gonna
be Whitney before the crack,
you gonna be -- you gonna be
Halle Berry in "Monster's Ball,"
and you gonna be Beyoncé.
Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Oh!
You gonna --
Uh-oh! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!
You gonna do it
till I tell you to stop!
You gonna be --
I'm gonna tell you what --
For $25,000, you're gonna be
somebody I want you to be.
That's what I'm talking about.
Mm-hmm.
-I followed you up here
because I knew in my spirit
you was up to no good.
-Mm-hmm, up in here.
-Look, Mama, I don't have time
for your nonsense, okay?
I'll talk to you
about that later, okay?
Now --
Cletous.
-What?
-Don't forget.
Don't forget about
what we talked about, now,
'cause I really need that,
okay?
-Mm-hmm.
The answer
is still gonna be no.
-Oh, you so silly.
-No, I'm so serious.
[ Both laugh ]
-West Side!
[ Speaking indistinctly ]
-What's going on, baby?
-Hey, honey.
-How you doing?
-I'm good. How you doing?
-Aw, it's so good to see you
up in here.
Mmm-mmm-mmm.
You know what? I have been
meaning to talk to you.
I, um...
[ Chuckles ]
You know,
we go back a long way.
-Yeah, we do, baby.
-All the way back
to club Shay-Shay.
-Ooh, you talking about Sha--
you remember Shay-Shay.
-Yeah, I remember Shay-Shay.
-1963.
-Oh, my goodness.
Boy, we had some good times.
-Yeah, we did.
-A-a-and you always
took care of me.
-Supposed to.
-Always, and I know
when I got divorced
and my wife kicked me out,
you took me out on the road
and had me working
at Shay-Shay's,
and you always did
for me.
And I remember that time
them -- them gangsters came
and was going --
yeah, they were gonna --
Cletous didn't have his knife,
and you was...
[ Laughs ]
You had my back.
-Supposed to, baby,
supposed to.
-And -- and --
and you gave me that money,
and, uh...
I-I-I can never forget that.
And I said one day
I was gonna pay you back.
A-a-and now is the time
'cause --
-Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
-No, no, no.
-It's not necessary.
-Yeah, it is.
-Honey, that's what
friends are for.
-No, no, no, no.
Uh, I want you to take this.
-Oh, no, baby,
it's okay.
-No, Ulah May,
come on, now.
-Oh, no, no, no.
-It's interest.
It's $25,000.
-Thank you, Jesus.
I'll take it.
[ Laughs ]
-Club Shay-Shay, girl.
Remember that birthday party --
You remember that birthday party
I threw for you?
-You know I do.
You know I do.
-I called all your friends,
and they were all there.
-All of them.
Can you believe they all came?
-Everybody came.
-Ooh, and you know --
The Temptations.
-'Tations.
[ Both laugh ]
-Ooh, "My Girl."
-Ooh, here we go!
Come on, girl, let's go.
Yeah, I'm ready. Mmm.
[ Humming The Temptations'
"My Girl" ]
-You ready?
-Yeah, come on. Go, girl.
-♪ I've got sunshine ♪
Temptations.
-Yeah.
-♪ On a cloudy day ♪
-[ Humming melody ]
Come on, yeah.
Work it, girl.
Mmm.
-♪ Well ♪
♪ I guess you'll say ♪
♪ What can make me
feel this way? ♪
♪ My guy ♪
-♪ My girl ♪
-♪ Girl ♪
-♪ Guy ♪
-It is agirlin the song --
"MyGirl."
-I'm a girl, so it's "guy."
-Ah, girl,
do what you want to do.
[ Both laugh ]
Oh, and your boy?
-Ooh.
-Did he do it?
-Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Come on.
Stevie Wonder.
-Stevie Wonder.
-♪ Clap your hands
just a little bit louder ♪
♪ Clap your hands just a little
bit louder ♪
♪ 'Cause if you want me to,
if you want me to ♪
♪ I'm gonna swing the song,
yeah ♪
[ Imitating
harmonica playing ]
[ Music stops, she continues ]
-Yes!
Ahh!
Grandma, you the best
at air harmonica, girl.
You are a beast!
-I'm the beast, baby!
I'm the beast!
-I love you.
-I love you, too.
[ Imitates
harmonica playing ]
-[ Snoring ]
Don't start nothing,
won't be nothing.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Snoring ]
I told you about that!
Now, you just...
[ Chuckles ]
[ Doorbell rings ]
Cletous!
[ Doorbell rings ]
Cletous!
Get the door.
-Uh, Grandma, you know
I'm not even in this scene.
[ Doorbell ringing ]
-Hold on, baby. Hold --
hold -- hold on. Hold on.
Hey, Kevin, come on in.
Come on in.
-Hey, Grandma, what's going on?
How you doing?
Girl, you looking good.
Look at you.
-Ahh!
-Good to see you, Grandma.
-Good to see you,
too, baby.
-Grandma, is Erica home?
-No, baby,
but I expect her back anytime.
Sit down.
I'll get you some Kool-Aid.
-No, no, no, Grandma.
That's okay. That's okay.
I'll come back. I'll come back
when she's home, okay?
-Sit down, boy.
-Huh?
-Sit down.
-Did I
do something wrong?
-No, child.
Honey, listen.
I really been meaning
to talk to you for a while.
Uh, Kevin?
-Ma'am?
-All eyes closed
ain't asleep.
Son.
-Hmm?
-Erica is my grandbaby,
and I love her.
But Erica is on page 52.
And you...
Son, you on page 2.
Honey, y'all different
as night and day.
See, you so worried
about pleasing her,
you done forgot about
pleasing yourself.
Uh-huh.
Now, now, now, um,
tell me something.
Erica whip something on you
and make you sweat?
-See, I --
-No, baby, I really --
I don't want -- that's
too much information.
Please, I really
don't want to know.
But, see,
what I'm gonna help you do
is help you
to make a change
'cause you need a change,
honey,
'cause what you
need to do, son --
You need to stand up
and put your foot down
and be a man.
So, come on.
Stand up.
Stand up!
-Stand up.
-Put your foot down.
-Put your foot down.
-And be a man.
-And be a man.
-That's all you got?
Come on, sugar.
You got to put some -- man up.
Put some man in it.
Stand up!
-Stand up!
-Put your foot down!
-Put your foot down!
-And be a man!
-And be a man!
-Oh, you almost there.
Do it again. Come on.
Stand up!
-Stand up!
-Put your foot down!
-Put your foot down!
-And be a man!
-And be a man!
-Oh, you feeling that?
You feeling that!
[ Both grunting ]
That's what
I'm talking about.
-[ Groaning ]
-W-W-What's wrong?
What's wrong?
-Cramp!
-Cramp? What I do?
-Massage it right there.
-Right there?
-Right there, yeah, yeah.
-You all right?
Is you conscious?
-Yeah, yeah.
-Who the president?
-Grandma!
-Grandma!
-Grandma!
Grandma! Grandma!
-Baby?
-Hey, baby.
-Hi, Grandma.
[ Both laugh ]
-All right.
-Yeah.
-All right, I'll see you
in a minute.
-You okay?
-Yeah, I'm okay, baby.
-Oh, hi.
-Hi.
-I got something
for you today.
[ Laughs ]
A picture of me so you can
put it on your desk at work.
-You got jokes.
You know I ain't got
no desk, baby.
I work
for the gas company.
-Well, put it
on your boss's desk, then.
-Okay. Thank you, baby.
Baby, sit down.
Sit down. Sit down.
I got some good news.
-Okay.
-Okay.
Uh, so, you know
how I've been wanting to,
uh, pursue my career
in music.
And when I get this deal,
I want to get you
everything and anything
you ever wanted, so...
[ Sighs ]
I went into work today,
babe,
and, uh,
I told the boss I quit.
-What you mean,
you quit?
-I quit.
Baby, didn't you --
-[ Scoffs ]
Look at you, Kevin.
Ain't nobody
gonna sign you.
Now, no job means no money.
And no money?
[ Scoffs ]
Means no Erica.
-Baby, but I still got money
in the account.
-Please!
A little chump change --
that ain't [bleep] compared
to what I'm used to.
-Wait. Wait. Wait.
Compared to what you're u--
what are --
Erica,
are you cheating on me?
-Kevin, please.
-Wait a minute.
[ Doorbell rings ]
I -- babe, I know
you're not cheating on me.
-Oh, gosh.
-Baby, what is
taking you so long?
Come on, now.
I got the car outside.
We gonna miss the flight.
What are you doing?
Baby, who is this clown?
-No, who areyou,partner?
-Who areyou?
-Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.
Now, baby, let me talk to him,
okay? He doesn't know.
-You better let him know.
-Give me five minutes, okay?
Just --
just let me talk to him.
-I don't have time
for these high school games.
Matter of fact, hold up.
What's up, partner?
I don't know
who raised you.
But they
should have told you
to never, ever bite the hand
that feeds you.
Now, when you
get your weight up --
And I don't mean
the weight on the scale --
I mean your paper, boy --
You can come play
some big-boy games,
and maybe you can see
how your girl really is.
[ Scoffs ]
But until then, sit your $5 ass
down before I make change.
And I'm not playing
with you, Erica.
Hurry up, all right?
No more games, 'cause I can go
to Saint-Tropez by my damn self.
-Okay.
ASAP, ASAP.
-Erica, baby,
what are you doing?
-Now, Kevin, I didn't
want to go there with you.
[ Scoffs ]
But I know
you'd feel weak to know
that another man was keeping
you and your woman up.
-Come on. What do you mean,
keepingmeup?
-Look, those clothes in your
closet --hebought those.
Those shoes in your closet --hebought them.
That money I gave you
to get your little raggedy-ass
car fixed,hegave me.
So, who's keeping up who?
[ Scoffs ]
Now, why would I go
to Jamaica withyou
when I can go and roll
with big daddy Jamal
and Diddy and Beyoncé
and Jay-Z down in San Pedro?
-Erica, oh, baby,
I love you.
-Please!
You just got played.
-Erica, wait a minute.
Baby, but wait a minute.
What about --
what about the ring, baby?
What abou--
Erica, wait.
[ Intro to Dave Hollister's
"Destiny" plays ]
What did I do?
Oh, God.
♪ Can a rose petal
live without water drops? ♪
♪ Can my heart
live without you? ♪
♪ Surely not ♪
♪ 'Cause a rainbow
is what you gave me every day ♪
♪ Now I can't go on,
I'm devastated ♪
♪ 'Cause you're not here ♪
♪ Girl, I know you're
not in the mood for apologies ♪
♪ But it's killing me to think
of what I've done to you ♪
♪ Well,
I realize that I was wrong ♪
♪ And I don't want to change ♪
♪ Destiny ♪
♪ You and me ♪
♪ Ooh, can't you see? ♪
♪ We're destiny ♪
-♪ We're
destiny ♪
-♪ Ohh, ohh, girl ♪
♪ Now, I had to face it ♪
♪ The pain you feel is from
the man says he loves you ♪
♪ And in spite of all my tears
is fear ♪
♪ That you'll never forgive me ♪
♪ Ooh, I need a sign ♪
♪ That you'll remember
the vow that holds us, baby ♪
♪ 'Cause true love
is never artificial ♪
♪ It's always pure ♪
♪ Girl, I know you're not
in the mood for apologies ♪
♪ But it's killing me to think
of what I've done to you ♪
♪ And I realize
that I was wrong ♪
♪ And I don't want to change ♪
♪ Destiny ♪
-♪ We're destiny ♪
-♪ You and me ♪
♪ Ooh, can't you see? ♪
♪ We're destiny ♪
-♪ We're
destiny ♪
-♪ We're destiny ♪
♪ Ohh, whoa ♪
♪ Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Oh, girl ♪
♪ Erica, what did I do wrong? ♪
♪ I can't live life
without you ♪
♪ I can't do it, no, whoa ♪
♪ Don't you ever leave ♪
♪ No ♪
♪ 'Cause I'd die without
you right here by my side ♪
♪ Ohh, girl, I know you're ♪
♪ You're not in the mood,
oh, for apologies ♪
♪ But it's killing me, yeah ♪
♪ It's killing me, yeah ♪
♪ It's breaking me down
to know that you're not here ♪
♪ That you're not
with me no more, no ♪
♪ I don't want to change,
oh, our destiny, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ Girl, I know that I can't
live without you, no, no ♪
♪ Ha ♪
♪ Girl, I know that I,
I'd break down without you ♪
♪ There's no me without you,
no ♪
♪ There's no me
without you, no ♪
♪ I realize, I realize ♪
-♪ My destiny ♪
-[ Rapping ]
♪ Watch and learn ♪
♪ There are stones encrusted in
the Jeep ♪
♪ Bloodstone be the birthstone
of the company ♪
♪ Only got red blood sun
hanging off me ♪
♪ Like, oh ♪
[ Humming ]
-Hey, Ty.
-Oh, yo, yo, yo, yo.
Hey, yo, yo, Chania, Chania.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Hold on.
Where you going?
-I got to go take care
of some math homework.
-Oh, well, I'm your man,
'cause I'm a beast in math.
Come on. No, no, no, no,
let me help. Let me help.
What's up?
Is it trig, or what's happening?
-What?
-Oh, Mama got the picture
just -- what's this?
Erica. I'll tell you.
I'll tell you the truth.
Hey, look, what's up?
What's up with you?
What you need, though?
-I just got a lot of schoolwork.
-How's school coming?
-Going good right now,
really good.
-Yo, well, what's up?
We need to get the homework
cracking right now.
What's happening?
-Ty.
-Huh?
-You want to tell me
therealreason
you started smoking
all that weed?
-No.
Look, um...
Look, I ain't never really,
uh --
I really don't talk about it
that much.
You know what I'm saying?
And I never really told nobody.
But you're the only one
to ever ask me.
Um, well,
let's talk about you.
You -- you -- you know,
all these years,
you've been trying
to find out
who your real parents are,
right?
-I've been looking,
searching, praying...
Just thinking to myself,
"somebody has to
know something."
-Well, you ought to try
being me.
Got a father right here...
And still...
Ain'tgot a father
right here.
Know what I mean?
Chania, I remember
one time I -- I came home,
and I walked right
through the front door.
My mom was sitting
where you were.
And -- and I said,
"Ma, you know, I'm excited.
Tonight's my championship
basketball game."
And she said,
"Baby, I know."
She said, "I done contacted
all the family, your cousins,
and everybody
will support you.
We're gonna show up
tonight."
Chania, when she said that,
you know, I got excited,
but the thing
that really made me excited --
She said, "your father called
and said
he was gonna take off..."
"...to come
check his boy out."
Man, when I got in the gym,
I don't know --
I don't know
what happened.
I-I -- it seemed like
something just --
From the inside,
just exploded.
I-I-I put up 45 points.
I put up 45 points,
broke school records.
I heard everybody screaming,
just, "Tyrone, Tyrone."
And I got there and...
Right in the middle of hearing
all the cheering and chanting,
looked in the bleachers.
And sure enough,
my mama was there...
My grandmother,
my sister, Erica.
Even old Cletous
came out.
-[ Chuckles ]
-I kept looking.
The one person I needed
to be there to see me...
Didn't show up again.
I was all-American.
Not one time --
Notonetime...
I've ever heard,
"boy, I'm proud of you."
Nothing.
So, you want to know the reason
why I do what I do?
There it is.
He ain't never been there
for me, Chania, never.
-Look, Ty...
I know Uncle Marcus hasn't
always been there for you.
But God --
Godalwayshas,
and he alwayswillbe.
Now, all you got to do
is take that first step.
-First step?
I'm -- I don't know how
to take no first step.
-You are like family to me,
and I'm gonna help you.
I'm gonna help you out.
-Thank you.
Thanks, Chania,
'cause I need it.
I appreciate it.
-It's gonna be okay.
It's all gonna be okay.
I better get back
to that math homework.
-Yeah, homework is good
right now, yeah.
Yeah. Chania!
I think it's gonna be
a little difficult
to do homework
without no books.
-[ Laughs ]
-Yeah, I think
you need the books.
-Yeah, I'll get it.
-Yeah, that's --
-I'll see you later, Ty.
-Study hard.
-Keisha?
This is Grandma Ulah May.
Uh-huh.
Do me a favor -- tell pastor
I'm running a little bit late,
but I am on my way, okay?
All right, sugar.
Thank you.
Tyrone. Get up.
-I'm not --
have you seen my glasses?
-Get up.
Stop, Tyrone.
T-Tyrone.
-My glasses --
um, they...
-Now, enough is enough,
Tyrone.
Honey, I've watched you.
It's time for us to talk.
Tyrone, you are my flesh
and blood, and I love you.
But, honey, it kills me
to see you
throw your life away
with that --
With that mess
you been smoking.
Baby, don't you know that,
with every bad decision
that you make in life,
there's a price tag
attached to it?
Honey, it's affecting
everybody around you.
Now, listen,
everybody makes mistakes --
Everybody...
Even old Grandma.
-Oh, Grandma, please,
you don't make no mistakes,
and if you did,
you and God are cool.
It don't even matter.
-Please, son.
Honey, I've done some things
in my life I'm not proud of.
Do you, uh --
You ever hear me and Cletous
talking about a --
About Shay-Shay's,
down on the corner of 45th?
-[ Chuckles ]
Yeah, I heard y'all talk
about that a few times.
-Meet Shay-Shay.
Baby, I've done some things
in my life I'm not proud of.
That lifestyle had me
drinking and popping pills,
and, honey, I just saw --
I saw my whole life
just spiral out of control.
On the outside, it looked like
I was having a good old time.
But on the inside,
honey, I was slowly dying.
I got tired.
I got tired
of waking up hung over.
I got tired of waking up,
throwing up,
and sometimes waking up
in places
I didn't even know where I was
or who I was laying up next to.
But then I remembered
my mama.
Mama said, "Baby,
there's nothing you've done
that God can't forgive.
There's no place that you
can go and God is not there.
You can't be so far
that the hand of God can't
reach out and bring you back."
Honey, my friends laughed at me,
but I didn't care.
'Cause, you see,
I tried everything,
and didn't nothing work.
So, honey,
I fell to my knees.
And I lifted up my hands
toward glory.
And I said, "Jesus!
"I need you.
"Jesus, I need you to take
the taste of drugs and alcohol
out of my mouth."
That's when I began
to feel joy in my spirit
and peace in my soul.
So, baby, all you got to do
is call on Jesus.
If you call him,
he'll answer.
Jesus.
Jesus.
[ Voice breaking ]
Jesus!
Jesus.
♪ Tears wouldn't stop
flowing down my face ♪
♪ Thought I was losing
my way ♪
♪ Thought I lost sight
of you ♪
♪ I really didn't know,
no, no, no ♪
♪ W-W-W-What to do ♪
♪ Seemed like I lost my ♪
♪ Like I lost
my whole mind ♪
♪ Seemed like
I was running ♪
♪ Running out of time ♪
♪ So I screamed out,
"Lord, rescue me ♪
♪ Why don't you hear me?" ♪
♪ Whoa-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Can't you see? ♪
♪ That's when ♪
♪ That's when I heard
a small voice ♪
♪ He was right there
in the midst of the storm ♪
♪ Telling me be strong ♪
♪ Keep holding on ♪
♪ Don't you know
I still care? ♪
♪ And I'm always there ♪
♪ God says I'm never ♪
♪ Never gonna let you down ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no, no,
I'll never, never ♪
♪ Gonna let you down ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, never, never, never ♪
-♪ Never, never, never ♪
-♪ No ♪
Listen, this is what God
is saying to you, son.
♪ God says,
I'm Alpha and I'm omega ♪
♪ Yes, I am ♪
-♪ Never let you down ♪
-♪ He says that, "I am the
beginning and I'm the end" ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Demons tremble
at the sound of my name, ha ♪
♪ Oh, yes, they do ♪
♪ And I'll never, never,
never, never, never ♪
♪ Oh, I ain't
gonna let you down ♪
♪ If you'll wait on him ♪
Listen...
♪ I guarantee you he will
renew your strength ♪
-♪ Never let you down ♪
-♪ You gonna ride up wings
like an eagle ♪
♪ You'll run and not get weary,
walking that thing ♪
I wish I had some holy
ghost-filled people
in here tonight,
somebody that knows
there's a little
something-something
in the power
of the name of Jesus.
Do y'all know
that there's healing?
Do y'all know that
there's deliverance?
Can I get somebody
to help me call on Jesus?
♪ Say, "Jesus" ♪
♪ Whoa, whoo, whoo,
whoo, whoo, Jesus ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Jesus ♪
♪ I got to call him,
got to, got to call him ♪
♪ Hey, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Like Shadrach and Meshach
and Abednego ♪
♪ Like the three Hebrew boys
that were in the fiery furnace ♪
♪ Like blood
by the man, sir ♪
♪ The lady
with the issue of blood ♪
♪ I got to, got to, got to,
got to call on Jesus ♪
♪ I'm calling you, calling you,
calling you, calling you ♪
♪ I'm calling you ♪
♪ Calling you, calling you,
calling you ♪
♪ I'm calling you, calling you,
calling you, calling you ♪
♪ Calling you,
calling you ♪
♪ Hey-ey-ey-ey ♪
♪ He will never let
you down ♪
He'll never let you down,
baby.
♪ Just put your hand
in God's hand ♪
♪ And everything
is gonna be all right ♪
♪ If you call on him,
if you call on him ♪
♪ Baby, I'm going to my meeting,
and I'm gonna see you later ♪
♪ Oh, he'll never ♪
♪ No, no, no,
never let you down ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no... ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no ♪
[ Chorus fades ]
[ High-pitched voice ]
-Cletous, Cletous,
clean your colon.
Clean your colon, Cletous.
Clean your colon, boy.
God... [ Laughs ]
I'm just a mess with that, boy.
Mnh-mnh-mnh.
Ooh.
[ Telephone ringing ]
Ooh, yeah, girl.
Take you home
to meet my wife.
-Cletous, do you hear
the phone ringing?
-Yes, I do, and you better get
it before they hang up,
'cause you know
I don't do phones, all right?
-Whatdoyou do?
-Well, not much...
'Cause y'all
don'tpaymuch.
-Hello?
Hi, Kevin.
Uh, no.
Erica's not in right now.
Is everything okay?
Okay. Come right over, yes.
Yes, I'm here.
All right, bye-Bye.
-Hello. You ain't gonna
speak to nobody?
-Erica. Could you
come back in here?
I need to talk to you
about this women's conference
I'm trying to put together --
the youth part.
Do you hear me?
Why do you have
these huge glasses on?
-Aaaaaah!
Oh, my God, that girl look
like a raccoon on one side!
-Who hit you?
Erica...
Listen, Kevin is
on his way over here.
-Mom, please,
just let it go.
-I'm not gonna let it go.
Kevin is upset,
and something happened.
And I need to know what that
something is
before he gets here.
-Please, just let it go!
-Look at your face!
Get your butt back here.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Erica, come here.
-Hey, Cletous,
I wanted to talk --
Hey, Ms. Gordon.
-Kevin.
-Ma'am?
-You put your hands
on my daughter?
-What are you
talking about?
-I thought you were
a respectable young man,
and you put your hands
and you hit her in her face!
-I didn't --
-Look at her face!
-Babe?
What happened to you?
-Don't -- get away from me!
-Erica.
-No, no, Kevin.
No, that is enough!
Kevin, get --
get your hands off of her!
Listen, I don't want to
call the police.
Can you please
put him out?
-Let's walk out or limp out,
player. Come on.
-Cletous, I didn't do that.
-Yeah, mm-Hmm.
-Kevin didn't do it.
He didn't do this to me.
-Well, who -- who did it?
-Mama, I messed up.
I was sleeping around.
-Ooh, that is nasty!
-Why would you be
sleeping around, Erica?
I thought you were
in love with Kevin.
-No, you and Daddy
are in love with Kevin.
I love him, but I'm not
in love with Kevin.
-That's okay.
-I went to the doctor today.
I'm pregnant.
-Oh, Lord, a black eye!
Pregnant!
Girl, why didn't you use
the tae bo for protection?!
Use the Tae Bo!
-Cletous!
-You know, that Tae Bo don't
work unless you got music.
I'm telling you,
it just...
-I told the guy, and this is
what he did to me.
-Listen, I raised you to be
a responsible young lady,
right?
So...
We'll --
we'll get through it.
-Iamresponsible.
And I'm gonna take care
of my responsibilities,
and I'm gonna
get rid of this baby.
-Get rid of it?
You mean an abortion?
That's not gonna work.
You know, Erica,
you were grown enough
to go out there
and get pregnant,
and you are
gonna be grown...
-Iamgrown!
-And raise this baby.
-And this is my baby!
And this is my body!
I'll do whatever
the hell I want!
-Now, you pick your face up!
-[ Crying ] I'll get it!
It's right here! Hold on!
-I don't know
what's gotten into you,
but I will
knock it out of you.
I don't care how grown
youthinkyou are.
-Okay, Miss Celie,
she's had enough!
-Cletous!
I mean, have you lost your mind?
Do you know how much I have
sacrificed for you and Tyrone?
We -- as parents,
we worked our finger to the bone
to make sure you have
a better life than we had.
And you want to come
in this house
'cause you've been
in the streets,
running around,
getting pregnant,
Tyrone running around,
getting high?
Y'all just gonna
worry me to death.
But as long as I have breath
in my body,
you're gonna respect me.
-[ Crying ] Okay, Miss Celie,
I think she understands.
You're strong than the both
of us, Miss Celie.
You're too strong!
It's two against one!
You're like Hulk Hogan.
You got the W.W.--
-Cletous, it is not the time
for that.
-Okay, Miss Celie.
We quit, Miss Celie.
Time out. Don't be...
[ Breathing heavily ]
-Cletous.
Cletous, please.
-Everything you do
to that child...
-I can't believe
you hit me.
I can't --
-I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for hitting you.
-Mama, I know I messed up.
But I'm scared!
-I know you're scared.
-I don't know what to do.
[ Crying ]
-Oh, baby.
Listen, I told you we're
gonna get through this.
Me and you are gonna --
we're gonna --
We're gonna do it together,
okay?
But, Erica,
you cannot go around
and treat people
any kind of way
and think that good things
are gonna happen to you,
because you will reap
what you sow.
"Reap what you sow"?
-So, you're saying
I deserve this?
-Of course I'm not --
-I knew you wouldn't understand!
-That's why I wish
I was Cletous's child!
-You do not wish that!
-Yes, I do.
-Why not? I'm a nice-looking
fella, Miss Celie.
-Cletous.
Erica --
-I hate you!
-[ Exhales sharply ]
You hate me.
[ Sniffles ]
Erica...
I love you so much.
[ Exhales ]
-Mama, what's going on?
-Tyrone, just --
-Hold on.
Mama, you know how
your heart is, now.
-Tyrone, please.
I need to go lay down.
I don't feel well.
-Mama, you sure?
-Just go talk to
your sister, Tyrone.
-Erica, what's wrong with mama?
-Ty, I don't want to
talk about it.
-Hold on. Wait. Wait.
Hold on. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
What --
what is going on?
-You ain't nothing but
a pothead!
You can't help me!
-What happened to your face?
Erica, what's wrong
with your face?
-Ty, I'm sorry, okay?
I just found out
I'm pregnant,
and I don't know what to do,
and I'm scared.
-Know what?
I love you, too.
And let me say this --
I apologize to you
for not really being
the big brother I ought to be.
I apologize.
All of us is going through
a lot right now.
And you're right.
You're right.
Um...
You know, got my
little thing happening.
I'm not where
I'm supposed to be.
I know that.
But you can put your life
on it -- twice on it --
I'm on my way.
I'm on my way.
I believe
we gonna be all right.
I don't know how.
I don't know when.
But I just believe
we're gonna be all right.
I love you.
[ Mid-tempo gospel music plays ]
♪ Aaaaah-aah-aah ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Erica ♪
♪ I know I shouldn't
say anything right now ♪
♪ Because I got
my own issues ♪
♪ I got -- ee, ooh, ooh,
oh, I got my own issues ♪
♪ Got my own issues ♪
♪ And I know ♪
♪ Ooh, I know, I know ♪
♪ I know you know I'm down,
oh, yeah, oh ♪
-♪ You a liar ♪
-♪ Yes, I am ♪
-♪ And a cheat ♪
-♪ I may be ♪
-♪ And no good ♪
-♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Wait a minute,
wait a minute ♪
♪ Wait a minute, Erica,
wait a minute ♪
Listen, it's in me.
Listen.
♪ I remember when ♪
♪ Grandma and Uncle Jerome
came in our room ♪
♪ And they told you ♪
♪ I remember them saying,
they said ♪
♪ "Get down on your knees,
knees, knees, knees ♪
♪ Get down on your knees" ♪
♪ "Get on your knees,
baby get on your knees" ♪
♪ They told you ♪
♪ And they told me,
they said, "Tyrone" ♪
♪ Ahm, ahm, ahm ♪
♪ "Tyrone,
kneel down right here" ♪
♪ Grandma told me, she said,
"get down on your..." ♪
♪ "Knees, knees, knees, knees,
get down on your knees" ♪
♪ She got down
on her knees ♪
♪ Ohh, ahh ♪
♪ And she said, "hee, hee, ooh,
ahh, ooh, oba, yeah, yeah" ♪
[ Singing indistinctly ]
♪ On the most high God,
yeah ♪
-♪ Shall abide ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Shall ab-i-i-i-ide ♪
♪ Shall
ab-i-i-i-ide ♪
♪ Whoa ♪
♪ Shall abide ♪
-♪ Ohh ♪
-♪ I'm gonna be all right ♪
♪ We're gonna be all right ♪
♪ I'm gonna be all right ♪
♪ It's gonna be all right ♪
-♪ Yes, I will ♪
-♪ I believe, I believe ♪
♪ Now, will you
hang on in there? ♪
♪ Yes, I will ♪
-♪ Will you hang on in there? ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
-♪ Thank you, God ♪
-♪ Will you hang on
in there? Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Will you do it, do it,
d-do it, do it, just do it ♪
♪ Do it, do it, d-do it,
do it, d-do it, do it ♪
♪ D-do it, do it, d-do it,
do it, d-do it, do it ♪
♪ Do it for me? ♪
♪ Will you do it for me,
Erica, yeah? ♪
♪ It's gonna be all right,
yeah, yeah ♪
♪ It's gonna be all right ♪
♪ Just hang on in there ♪
♪ Stand up, Erica,
yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Can you hold on
just a little while longer? ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
[ Telephone ringing ]
-Senator Gordon's office.
Uh-huh.
Okay, thank you for calling.
Have a great day.
[ Telephone rings ]
[ Sighs ]
Senator Gordon's office.
Hey, Ty.
Baby, where are you?
How close are you?
[ Laughing ]
-What's up, Chania?
-Oh, my God.
Ooh, hey.
-Hey, these are for you.
-Oh, my God,
you are so sweet.
-I try to be.
-These are beautiful.
-Hey, listen, um...
Listen, uh...
I just stopped by to say that,
uh, I appreciate you...
For kind of just
sharing with me about God,
and even when I don't think
God is there,
you told me
that he is always there.
And everything
that you said to me,
it really stuck with me.
It's funny because Grandma
came by and said the same thing.
She said the exact same thing
you were saying.
And, uh...
Um, yeah, I --
I care about you a lot.
-I care about you, too.
-Hey, you remember, uh,
when we were young?
We was riding the bikes --
you remember?
We were riding
in the middle of the street,
having a good time.
And there was a pothole
right there,
and you tried to get around
that pothole and it didn't work.
-[ Laughs ]
I remember that.
-And you hit the pothole,
flew over the handlebars,
and was laying out
in the street.
That was funny.
That was funny.
But do you also remember
when I got off my bike...
-Mm-hmm.
-And I came to you
and I got down on my knee...
And I began to clean off
your bruises?
Do you remember that?
-I remember it.
-Chania, right then,
I knew...
That I -- that I had a special
place for you in my heart.
I knew it.
And that's why I want you
to come and do me a favor.
-Uh-huh.
-Come on. I want you
to sit right here.
Sit right here.
Sit right here.
Close your eyes.
And I'll be right back.
-Okay.
[ Sighs ]
Baby, tell me what it is.
-Are you ready?
-I'm so ready.
Open your eyes.
-[ Gasps ]
-Chania...
Will you marry me?
-Oh, my God.
Ty, this is beautiful.
But...
What about the family?
-Chania, look at me.
-[ Sighs ]
-I'm not
just on one knee.
I'm on both knees...
Asking you to marry me.
Will you?
-I don't know, Ty.
You know I talk to God
about everything I do.
I just need to
consult him first.
-Nothing I can say
about consulting God.
That's fair enough.
Listen...
I got to go.
Um...
But while you're
down there...
Asking God
to show you...
Ask him to show you
my heart.
I love you.
-[ Exhales slowly ]
Ty...
Wait.
[ Sighs ]
God says yes.
Yes! I'll marry you!
Yes, yes!
-Girl, please!
No, girl.
Girl, he got $350,000.
I only asked for $20,000.
What you talking about?
Well, after I mix it up,
up and down, left and right,
I'm gonna get another $20,000 on
top of that after he hit this.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, girl, they call me a
cougar, but I'm a super cougar.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah, let's go shopping, girl.
What you want?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I got them Gucci boots,
Charlotte.
Let's go get them other ones.
[ Laughs ]
Ohh!
-Get off my phone.
-[ Sighs ]
Ohh.
Oh, Mother.
Yeah, what you want?
What is it?
-I want to talk to you.
-Mm!
youwant to talk to me.
Really?
After all this time that --
that I've been here,
nowyou want to talk.
Well, let's -- go ahead.
-You the one that left
out of here 18 years ago
with a suitcase
in one hand
and a plane ticket
in the other.
Did nobody know
where you were going or why.
-[ Scoffs ]
Well, let me tell you something,
Ulah May --
I do what I want
when I want
and with who I want.
-You better get your hand
out my face
'cause I'm still your mama.
Honey, I brought you
into this world,
and I will take you out.
Margaret would never talk to me
like that.
-Hmm.
I'm not Margaret, am I?
[ Chuckles ]
If I was Margaret, I'd have put
your raggedy, old, rusty butt
in a nursing home
years ago.
-Let me tell you something.
I tried to see to it
that you and your sister
were well taken care of.
When your father lost his job
at the plant,
it was me that worked my fingers
to the bone,
trying to see to it
that you and your sister
had clothes on your back
and food on the table.
All of those sacrifices
I made for you.
You would dare talk to me
like that?
-You know,
you want to talk?
Well, let's talk about something
I ain't never talked about
before.
Let's talk about daddy.
Let's talk about
your husband.
You want to talk?
He was not the man
that you think he was, mama.
I'm gonna tell you.
You don't know.
Daddy used to touch me.
-No, no, no.
I don't want to hear that.
-Oh, no, see, you don't want
to talk now, do you,
now when I start talking
about something?
He used to touch me.
When you used to leave me alone
with him,
he used to touch me
all over my body.
-Child.
-Yes, he did.
I'm not lying to you.
Why would I lie?
-Baby, he loved you.
-He used to touch me.
Where were you then?
-He loved you.
-You want to talk now?
-He loved you!
Honey, I had to remind him
that he had another daughter.
He would say,
"Ulah May, you take Margaret
and leave Louise here with --"
-[ Voice breaking ]
"Leave Louise here with me."
You can't e-- you can't even
say that, can you?
You can't, can you?
[ Crying ]
-Baby, I didn't know.
Baby, I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
[ Voice breaking ]
Baby, I didn't know.
I wouldn't let nobody
hurt you.
I didn't know.
-I know, Mama.
I know.
I know.
[ Sniffles ]
-Mama, oh, my God,
I've got something to...
Mama...
[ Sniffles ]
-Are you okay?
-Mama, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You didn't know, did you?
-It's not your fault, baby.
-Oh, I'm sorry, mama.
-No, baby.
But I'm here for you, okay?
-We'll talk later.
-Okay.
-Go on to the back.
Mama gonna make
your favorite.
-Okay, Mama.
Mama, I love you.
-Love you, too, baby.
-Mama, is everything okay?
-Oh, yeah. Yeah, baby,
everything's okay now.
Me and your grandma --
We just having a little
heart-to-heart, that's all.
[ Sighs ] It's gonna be
all right now, though.
What is it, baby?
What's -- what is it?
What's wrong?
-Okay, you just sit back
and relax.
Here, let me fluff your pillows
for you.
Mom, I'm gonna make you
a big dinner tonight.
-Chania, what is it?
-Well, I've been seeing someone
real special
for about three months now.
-Uh-huh.
-Mama...
He's special?
-Oh, yeah?
But, uh, how come
I haven't met him?
-You'll meet him
soon enough.
Mommy, he asked to marry him,
and I said yes!
-What?
Marry him?
Marry him?
He's a -- what is that?
A ring?!
Chania, you --
You haven't even talked to me
about this yet.
What is this?
Honey, you --
Don't you think you're too young
to get married?
Mom, I know I'm young,
but I promise we're gonna
do this the right way.
I'm still gonna go
to school,
and we're gonna get
an apartment together,
and we're gonna go shopping
for an apartment and --
And we're gonna have kids
and --
-Oh, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Hold on. Hold on. Wait a minute.
Wait, now. Come on, now.
What are you talking about?
What --
D-does the boy
have any money?
-No.
-Oh, see? No, unh-unh, no.
-But his daddy does.
-Oh! His daddy got money?
-Daddy got money.
-Ooh.
Well, if the daddy got money,
that mean he got money.
That mean we got money.
Ooh, money, money, money.
Oh, I like him already.
Oh, sit down over here
on the small couch
so I can hear everything.
Tell me all about it.
Now, what's his name?
-[ Laughs ]
-What's his name?
-Ty.
-Ty.
Oh, that's a nice name.
Ty -- Ty who?
-Ty Gordon.
-Ty Gordon.
Ty Gordon?
-Mm-hmm.
Ty -- Ty -- Ty Gordon?
-[ Chuckles ]
-Chania,
you can't marry your cousin.
You can't marry your cousin,
baby.
-Mama, I love him.
-Love? You don't know nothing
about no love.
Everybody needs love.
Everybody love.
Don't love nobody.
What's love got to do
with it?
Love -- you don't know nothing
about that.
You know what?
You are going to go find
your cousin Ty,
and you tell him
that the wedding is off.
You're not going to marry him,
Chania.
Now, that's --
that's a fact.
-Well, let me tell you
something, Louise --
I'm grown, I'm 18 years old,
and I can do --
-No, you cannot!
-Get off of me!
You're not my real mother,
anyway!
I'm adopted!
And I'm gonna marry Ty,
and that's a fact!
[ Exhales sharply ]
-No, I'm just packing things
right now to come on down.
Oh, I'm sharp.
No, I'm gonna be sharp.
Yeah.
Well, you know that O-Obama --
Well, he did done
a crossover.
They say I'm crossing over?
Well, that's good.
Well, you know, i-I --
White folks in Atlanta
are all right with me.
-Excuse me, um, Marcus.
I need to talk to you.
-John, I-I --
I got to call you back.
Uh...
I got an unwanted guest,
and I --
Well, I-I-I'll talk to you
about it later.
H-Hold on a second.
Louise,
do you see me on the phone?
-I know,
but this is important.
I'm not gonna leave here
until you talk to me.
John, tell them I'll be there
in about 20 minutes.
My wife's sister,
and she's a bugaboo.
Yeah.
Yeah. Okay.
All right.
I'm gonna call you right --
I-I-I-I'll call you
when I'm on my way.
All right.
Louise, can you tell me
what it is that can't wait
until I get off
the telephone?
That was one of my biggest
supporters right there.
-Okay, okay,
look, Chania --
-You can't do white folks
like that.
-Chania came to me today.
She told me
she's been seeing this guy,
this boy,
for about three months
and today he asked her
to marry him
and she said yes.
-Marry him?
-Yes.
-Louise,
you don't need me for that.
-Yes.
-You can handle --
She can't get married.
She's too young.
-That's right.
-And she just started
working for me,
she just started college.
Go back and tell her she can't
get married to the boy.
I told her that,
but she will not listen to me.
She won't listen to a thing
that I have to say,
so I --
you talk to her, please.
-Louise, I don't have time.
-Talk to her.
She respects you, Marcus.
Please talk to her for me.
-Louise, young people
don't listen to me these days.
They got
their own things now.
They got the iPods
and the Internets
and the I.T.s and the TVs
and the flat-screens.
They're not --
they do their own thing now.
-Marcus, she respects you.
Now, I told her.
-If she's made up her mind,
Louise,
there's nothing
you can do.
Young love
is the hardest love.
Am I right or wrong?
-Yes, but, Marcus, please,
now, just do this for me,
just this one thing
for me.
I don't ask you to do too much.
Now, just do that.
Now, I told her everything
you told me.
-Louise,
I got to get downtown.
You talk -- listen...
It ain't nothing you can do
about it.
-Marcus, please --
-All I wish is -- is for her
to find a nice young man.
Is the boy
from a good family?
-Yes.
-Well, that's good.
Is he
a good Christian boy?
-Yeah.
-Well, that's good.
Do -- do --
do they got some money?
-Oh, yeah.
-Huh.
Hell, seem like she made
a good choice.
You know, a hard man
is good to find,
and a good man
is hard to find!
Listen, I got to get downtown,
all right?
Listen...call me --
-Marc-- Marcus --
-Listen, call me on my cell,
Louise.
It's good to see you,
baby.
-Marcus, it's Tyrone.
-Tyrone who?
-Gordon.
-[ Laughs ]
Louise,
are you still smoking weed?
She can't marry Tyrone Gordon.
That's her cousin.
-That's right.
-Besides,
Tyrone is -- is -- is --
She can't marry her cousin!
Tyrone drinks,
and he smokes weed
and all that crazy stuff.
-Oh, you don't even know
your own son.
He stopped smoking weed
two months ago.
-He did?
Well, praise the Lord.
Louise, look...
They can't get married.
They're cousins.
-Yeah.
-Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
You're saying my son,
Tyrone --
[ Laughs ]
Louise,
you are out of your mind --
Is marrying your daughter,
Chania?
Louise,
I ain't got time for this.
-Correction...
-Listen, call me down
the office, all right?-Ourdaughter.
-Louise!
Are you out
of your damn mind?!
Why would you come back in here
with that nonsense?!
They can't get married!
They are brothers and sisters!
Now, why would you come back
in here after 18 years
and bring up that secret?
That's something that happened
between you and i
a long time ago.
And that's where we need to keep
it -- in the past, Louise.
You will destroy everything
I'm trying to build.
Now, come on, baby.
Now, you knew when we she got
into that college
you should have called me.
You don't come back in here
with this.
You see how -- how we sold that
thing to Margaret this morning?
I acted like
I didn't like you.
Now, come on.
Now, baby, listen to me.
Look...
It's good to see you.
It's good
to see you.
Listen, listen,
I got to go downtown
and take care
of some business.
When I get back,
we're gonna talk
and -- and -- and, you know,
we'll work this thing out.
[ Laughs ]
-Let's keep this
between you and I.
-Boy, Senator Marcus Gordon.
Ooh, you haven't changed
not one bit, have you?
-You're damn right
I haven't changed.
I'm still taking care
of you
and I'm still taking care
of Chania
and that's one thing
that will never change.
Now, come on, Louise.
Come on, baby,
I'm in --
I'm in the middle
of a re-election.
And if this thing gets out,
my whole life is over.
Now, don't do this, okay?
I'm begging you,
please, now.
[ Laughs ]
I know that look.
I know exactly
what you need.
I don't even know why
we fussing about this.
I know what you like,
and you know how I do it.
Obama done cleared the way
for me, baby.
Now, you gonna take
this check --
$25,000.
This is some
of my campaign money,
and you're not gonna say nothing
about that, either.
Listen.
Listen. Listen to me.
Listen to me.
Listen to me.
You talk to Chania.
You take her out
of the college down here,
and you enroll her
in any college you want to.
I'll make some calls
for you, okay?
Now, we've kept this thing
this long.
We can keep it longer,
baby.
Just don't do this.
I'm begging you, Louise.
Now, take this check.
It's $25,000.
Get yourself something.
Get Chania whatever you want.
Go shopping.
I know you like the Gucci.
Listen, listen, listen.
Look at me.
Look at me.
Do that for me, please?
Now, I got to get downtown,
okay?
-Hmm, $25,000, huh?
Ooh, I wonder how muchThe Enquirer
would give me
for my story.
Oh, more than $25,000,
I'm sure.
-Louise, please...
Don't play with me now.
-I'm not playing with you,
Marcus.
-Don't come in this Goddamn
house and play with me, okay?
-Look, Marcus, I'm tired --
-Look, don't you come in here
and take my life!
Now, I'm not playing games
with you, now.
-I'm tired of living
this lie.
We've been going through this
for 18 years.
Now, I'm tired of it, now.
-We went through it for 18
years, and we can keep it!
-No, no matter what I --
you do not --
I am going to talk
to my sister Margaret,
and I'm going to tell her about
th-- I don't want this money.
-Louise, listen, do me a favor.
-You know,
just to show you I'm serious --
-Louise...please.
This is between you, me,
and God.
You understand me?
-I'll show you better
than I can tell you.
Now what?
Hmm.
Now, Marcus.
-Louise, please...
Don't -- don't do this.
-No.
-You think I'm playing games
with you, don't you?
You think I'm playing games
with you, Louise?
I don't care nothing
about what you say.
-I don't care
about your reputation.
-You think I'm playing games
with you, Louise?
-What?!
-I swear to God.
-Marcus, are you --
-Louise...
If you come in here
and you try to destroy
my life,
you won't walk out
of this house, Louise.
-M-Marcus --
-Louise, don't talk right now.
Now, baby --
-But M-- [ Gasps ]
-Louise, just listen to me.
I don't want to hurt you.
But you know me.
I'm not gonna let you come in
here and destroy my family.
I've worked for 35 years
to put myself in this position.
-Mar--
-And I swear to God, Louise,
you know I can make
one call.
Now, don't do it.
And you think about it.
I'm not playing.
You know me.
Ohh...
Ohh.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, Pastor.
You're a little early,
aren't you?
-Yeah, well, I got ahead
of my schedule,
so I decided
to stop by early.
-Oh, it's okay, Pastor.
Louise ain't gonna want you
to know this,
but she -- she ate something,
and it gave her the runs.
-Well, is she okay?
-She's fine.
She's fine.
Just hold -- hold on a second,
Pastor.
Louise.
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Louise, listen, baby,
it's the pastor.
Baby, listen to me.
Sit back.
Sit back.
Just relax.
Sit back.
Sit back.
Louise,
just trust me, baby.
That -- that gun -- that ain't
nothing but a starter's pistol.
I would never hurt you.
You know that.
I-I-I just -- I just got beside
myself for a second.
Now, listen, baby,
sit back.
Just r--
Louise, come on.
Now, you know
I would never hurt you.
Move this pillow
out the way.
Hold on a second, Pastor!
Listen, listen, listen.
Pastor don't need to know
none of this, okay?
Me and you -- come here.
-[ Gasps ] Oh, God.
Ohh.
-You okay?
Louise, I'll get you some --
Come on in, Pastor.
Louise, I'll get you
some Pepto-Bismol or something.
-You -- you --
you sure she's okay?
-Oh, she's fine.
-You sure, Marcus?
Yeah, she -- Louise, you want
some ginger ale or something?
I'll bring you some Pepto-Bismol
and some crackers.
Okay, baby,
I'll see you later, okay?
Come on in, Pastor.
Maybe she just --
she just ate something.
I tell her to stay away
from that seafood.
Hey, I'm -- I'm gonna
see y'all later, okay?
Hey, Pastor,
call me on my cell, okay?
-All right,
don't forget our meeting.
-All right.
-I'll call you.
[ Door closes ]
Louise.
Louise?!
Louise, look, I didn't want
the senator to hear,
but I heard everything
that went down.
Shh.
Louise, you can hide from man,
but you can't hide from God.
Look, Louise...
He sits up high,
and He looks down low.
Louise, our God --
He sees everything
that happens.
He hears
everything we say.
Oh, sweet Louise,
listen to me.
Listen to me.
-[ Inhales sharply ]
-Sister, sweet sister, I've --
I've watched people like you.
Sweetie,
you search the whole world.
You search it all over, looking
for love in the wrong places --
Love, when it's been right here
all the time.
Come on.
Get yourself together.
Straighten up.
Come on. Stand up.
Stand up with me.
Now, look, if you take one step,
my God -- our God --
He will take two.
Louise, I am so proud
to worship a God
that's a God
of second chances.
Come on,
pull yourself together.
You have to do what's right,
Louise.
God -- He will give you
strength, all right?
I don't care
what the problem is,
no matter what
the circumstances, Louise.
-I know.
-No, no, put it at the feet
of Jesus and leave it there.
I'm not talking about
one or two.
I'm talking about all your
burdens He will bear, sweetie.
So, all you got to do --
All you got to do
is trust Him
and believe that anything --
Oh, my God, anything --
He's got what you need.
-Okay, I'll try.
-He's got everything.
-Well, we better do it right
now, pastor.
-Chania, hey.
Hey, you ready?
-I think so.
-You ready?
Okay, now, look,
Um...you go find Granny,
and I get Mama, okay?
All right, um...
Mama!
Erica!
Cletous!
Hey, hey.
-What do you want?
I'm on the phone.
-Sis, I know.
Get off the phone.
Get off the -- where's Mama?
-I'm trying to make a cake.
What's -- what's going on?
-What is it, Tyrone? I'm getting
dressed for my luncheon.
-Cletous, come on.
Well, you ain't got no business.
Come on, Cletous.
I got something to tell you.
Come on. Look.
Mama, Granny, Cletous,
y'all, look, um,
I got some important news.
-What's your important news,
Tyrone?
-I just saved a whole bunch
of money by switching to GEICO.
No, no, no, no!
Mama, I'm -- I'm playing.
I'm -- I'm playing.
Wait, wait, wait.
-I ain't got time -- I ain't
got time for foolishness.
-I'm -- I'm -- I'm sorry.
-Tyrone!
-I-I'm sorry.
I'm playing.
Cletous.
For real, y'all.
No, no, seriously.
No, no, seriously,
no, I'm -- I'm sorry.
-Do I need to sit down
for this?
-Yeah, you and Grandma
need to sit down.
Uh...okay, come on.
Come on, Mama.
Come on.
Come on, now.
-All right.
-All right, now,
uh, brace yourselves.
Okay.
I just asked Chania to marry me,
and she said yes.
-Ohh, Jesus!
They trying to kill me.
Child, I want you to tell me
how this boy
is gonna marry his cousin.
And when you find out,
call me.
-Call you?
Why call you?
-'Cause I got a caller I.D.,
and I ain't gonna answer.
-Granny, wait --
-Oh, Jesus.
Oh, Tyrone.
-Well, Mama --
-Listen, I know that you
and Chania
aren't biologically related,
but, baby,
it's just weird.
-But we talked to God
and everything.
-And you talked to God,
and what did God say?
-He said yes.
-He said
it's all good.
I mean --
-Tyrone.
Well, I'm happy for you.
I'm happy for you!
Congratulations!
Listen, I just want
to plan a wedding.
So, what colors
are you gonna wear?
-Hey, hey,
I'm telling you right now...
-Excuse me, everyone.
Uh, Louise has something
she'd like to say.
Louise?
-Uh, Margaret, um...
Pastor.
-Go. Go on. Get it out.
-[ Sighs ]
-Say it.
Say it.
-Um, Chania,
could you come here, baby?
Um...
Chania, I need to talk
to you and the family.
Where's Mama?
Um...
-Go ahead.
-When I, uh, went away
from home 18 years ago,
I-I left because, uh...
I was pregnant.
-Pregnant?
-Grandma, you pregnant?
-Cletous!
-Well, you know,
artificial insemination --
They can do a lot of things
with it.
-Um, Chania, I'm your --
I'm your biological mother.
-Well, who's my father?
-I'll be
that baby's papi.
-Um...
Marcus.
-Marcus who?
-Marcus Gordon.
-Louise!
You're gonna come in this house
and lie on my husband?
-I'm not lying.
-Oh, yes, you better be lying.
-Oh, no, I wouldn't lie
about a thing like that.
Margaret, no.
Mama, I'm...
[ Voice breaking ]
Honey, I'm sorry.
I know you --
-[ Voice breaking ]
How could you not tell me?
-I-I don't know.
-You've been lying to me
all these years?
-I'm -- just go upstairs.
I'll come upstairs.
I'll talk to you, please.
-I hate you.
-I know.
-I hate you!
-Pastor, I told you.
-Aunt Louise,
I can't believe you.
You just gonna let me just marry
my own --
-No, I wasn't. I --
-You ought to be ashamed.
-I'll talk to y'all later.
Just wait for me.
Margaret, now, look,
now, let me tell you --
No, let me just tell you
as much as I can.
Remember that women's
conference that you went away
that weekend, and you said to
go by and check on your house?
Well, I went over there
to check on your house
and Marcus was there
and he'd been drinking
and I started
talking to him.
And he was kind of
nice to me
and one thing
just led to another
and it just happened,
Margaret.
I didn't plan it.
-Oh, it just happened.
You're my sister,
and you just happened
to sleep with my husband.
-Yeah.
-Are you crazy, Louise?
You know,
Mama was right about you.
I should have never let you
come back in this house!
You are the devil!
And I want you out of my house!
-I would never hurt you!
-Louise!
Cletous, you better show Louise
the way out --
-Wait till Marcus gets here.
-Before I lose my salvation!
-When Marcus gets here,
we'll know.
-Louise!
-Let's go.
No, just wait for Marcus.
He'll be home any minute.
I know he will. And then we'll
see what he has to say.
Oh, here he is.
Marcus, Marcus, you t--
Marcus, you --
you tell Margaret.
Tell her.
Tell her.
-Tell Margaret what, Louise?
What's going on in here?
-Oh, Marcus,
no, not another 18 years.
It's the truth, Margaret.
I would never lie to you!
You know it!
-Louise, what are you
talking about?
-You tell her, Marcus!
-Get out of this house,
Louise!
-Louise, my wife asked you
to leave.
-Marcus.
-I told you
when she came here
it was gonna be a problem,
didn't it?
-I'm not lying, Margaret.
-You didn't listen to me.
You didn't listen to me,
did you?
Can y'all just give me a second
with my wife, please?
Ulah May?
Pastor, what's going on here?
-Marcus, are you satisfied?
-About what, Ulah May?
-You have destroyed
your family.
-Ulah May,
you know she makes up things.
Come on, Ulah May.
Y'all gonna let her come in here
and tear our family apart?
This is crazy.
-I'll go get your medicine.
-Cletous, please,
give me a second with my wife.
Baby, is this --
is this about the funeral?
-You know this is not about
the damn funeral, Marcus.
-Well, what is it about?
-She told me everything.
-Everything like what?
-She told me about
you sleeping with her
and that
you got her pregnant...
-And you you believe that?
-And that Chania is
your daughter, Marcus!
-She's lying, Margaret.
[ Scoffs ]
Come on, Margaret.
You gonna let her
come in here
and destroy our family
with these lies?
None of this started
before she came in here.
She's lying, Margaret.
-And you're a politician,
so I know you're a liar.
-Don't do that, Margaret.
Politics have -- have helped us
for a long time, okay?
Now, listen, I came home.
We said we were gonna go
to dinner.
That's what we're gonna do,
okay?
Margaret, she's lying.
-Marcus...
You know, I've been nothing
but a good wife to you.
-You have, baby.
-And I can't believe
you would even --
You know what?
If it wasn't for me
and my family's money
and me supporting
your career,
you wouldn't be half the man
you are today.
-Now, wait a minute.
I've done real good
by this family.
You understand me?
Everybody drives nice cars.
Our kids
go to the best schools.
I've done the best that I can
by this family, Margaret.
Now leave it alone,
okay?
Now, I'm going upstairs
to get ready for dinner
and have a nice evening
with my wife, okay?
Jesus Christ.
Why are you looking at me
like that?
-I'm trying to keep myself
from killing you, Marcus.
-Margaret, what are you
talking about here?
-I just --
I deserve to know the truth.
-I told you the truth.
-Because it's all
making sense --
The reason you didn't want her
back in this house.
-I didn't want her here
because I don't like her.
And you went over my head
and invited her down here.
-No, you wanted to say,
"Look at her.
Look how good she looks.
Look at her clothes.
Look at her jewelry.
Look at her car --"
just to find out
that you are the sugar daddy
that's been
taking care of her.
Oh, Marcus.
I just --
I can't believe you.
-Margaret...
When I first started,
my career was hard.
I-I-I mean, the country
wasn't like it is now.
I never thought
we would even have
a black man
nominated for president.
When I started in politics,
there was nobody like me.
And I worked hard,
Margaret.
You know that.
And -- and I'm ashamed
to admit it,
but one night, I-I came home
and I was drinking.
And Louise
was sitting there.
And, Margaret,
we started talking.
And I started drinking,
and we both were drinking.
And then -- and one thing
led to another, Margaret,
and --
and it just happened.
-So it's true.
-But she doesn't mean anything
to me, Margaret.
-And so that makes it
okay?
-No, I'm not saying it's okay,
Margaret.
-No, no, it's not okay.
-Here I'm thinking
I have the perfect --
the perfect husband,
the perfect family.
I'm trying to be
the perfect wife for you.
And it's been a lie.
-It hasn't been a lie,
Margaret.
-It's been a lie.
I used to think you were
the man of my dreams, Marcus.
And you turned out to be
my worst nightmare.
-Margaret, don't say that.
-I want you out of my house.
-Louise, please don't say that.
-Louise?!
-No, no, no --
-Then you call me Louise?
-Margaret, I'm so sorry.
Margaret, listen --
-I want you to get out of
this house right now, Marcus.
Marcus, no, if you do not leave
this house,
I'm going to expose you for
the lowlife that you really are.
-Margaret --
-Yes, yes, yes, yes.
-Margaret, this isn't --
-I'm gonna contact
every newspaper
and every constituent you think
you could possibly have,
every supporter,
and I am going to expose you
if you do not
leave this house.
-Okay, Margaret,
just listen to me.
If you do that, you will ruin
my career, Margaret.
Please just -- just --
-That's all you care about,
is your career.
-Just let me stay until
the election is over, please.
-M-Margaret, listen to me,
the same thing I d--
The same thing I did for her,
I did for you.
Ohh!
How dare you?
I'm your wife.
You're supposed to do
for this family, Marcus.
-You're right, Margaret.
-[ Voice breaking ]
You disgust me.
-Just -- just let me stay
until the election is over,
Margaret.
-Marcus.
-I'm gonna go up
and get my things, okay?
-Cletous?
-Margaret, don't do it
like this, please.
H-how am I going to get the rest
of my things, Margaret?
-I'll mail them.
-Margaret,
please just think about it.
-Get out, Marcus.
[ Sniffles ]
[ Crying ] Oh, God.
[ Sniffles ]
Oh, Jesus.
-Come on, Margaret.
Don't --
don't cry, okay?
It's gonna be okay.
Now, now, now, um...
W-weren't you the one
that told me
that, um, God never gives you
more than you can handle?
-Oh.
That's -- that's before
my family started falling apart.
-Well, did, um --
d-did God change?
-No.
No. No.
-Have you changed?
-No.
-'Cause I was scared
you were gonna tell me yeah
'cause that's kind of confusing
to a person
who wants to be a new Christian
like myself
when you talk about God
and everybody changing.
God ain't no changer.
He's...
-Are you thinking about
being a Christian?
-Got to be something.
-[ Sniffles ]
Got to be something.
-Look, Margaret,
it's gonna be okay
'cause I remember something else
you told me.
You said that...
God can fix anything.
-Yes, He can.
-He can fix this.
-Yes, He can.
-All we got to do is believe,
right?
-Yes.
-Have some faith?
-Yes.
-Come on, baby.
It's gonna be okay.
Come on. Don't --
-Oh, Cletous,
I can't believe this --
This has happened.
-Come on.
Don't worry about it, baby.
-[ Crying ]
-Oh, oh, wait.
Now, wait a minute,
Margaret.
-I'm sorry.
-You done got snot all over
my doggone uniform, Margaret.
Here.
Wipe your nose.
That's nasty.
-I'm sorry, Cletous.
Cletous.
-Margaret.
It's gonna be okay,
all right?
Margaret?
-Yes?
-I love you.
-And I love you.
[ Sighs ]
Thank you, Cletous.
[ Sighs ]
[ Sniffles ]
[ Exhales sharply ]
[ Inhales deeply ]
Oh, my God.
[ Exhales sharply ]
Cletous!
-Ain't been like that
in a while.
Whew!
It was really nice to spend
some quality time with you.
Well, it was really nice to see
you dressed up tonight.
Frankie Beverly Goddamn.
Man, it was good to see you
just doing your thing.
Erica.
Erica.
-I'm sorry.
What were you saying?
-Damn, baby,
your body's here,
but your mind's
on the other side of town.
-Look, Jamal,
we really need to talk.
-You know what?
I wanted to talk to you, too,
'cause there's some things
I've been dying to tell you,
too, you know?
Like,
I had a lot on my mind,
and I just was like,
"I should just tell her."
-Yes. Me too.
I've been holding a lot inside.
-That's good,
so we should just --
You know,
mine ain't gonna take long.
-No, no, let me go first.
Let me get it out.
-All right.
-Okay.
-You get it out.
-[ Sighs ]
-I'm listening.
-[ Sighs ]
You know,
now, don't get me wrong,
but, um...
I love everything
you do for me, you know?
I love the jewelry.
I love the gifts,
the money,
the trip to Saint-Tropez.
-That was fun.
-Yeah, it was.
But, baby...
When we make love...
Something's
just not right.
-Wow.
I was thinking
the same thing.
What's not right?
-[ Chuckles ]
Believe it or not...
I'm ready to settle down.
I want to be loved and --
and cherished
and treated like a queen.
-[ Chuckles ]
Wait a minute.
So, you --
You saying you ready
to be loved...
-Yes.
-And cherished...
-Yes.
-And treated like a queen.
Now, Erica,
you and I both know
you're not ready
for a commitment
'cause you are
too damn selfish.
It's always about you, you,
and what you want.
-What is with you
all of a sudden?
-What do you mean,
what's with me all of a sudden?
I done told you you cannot turn
no ho into a house--
-What did you
just call me?!
-Did I stutter?
-The hell with you, Jamal.
-Did I stutter?!
-The hell with you!
-I mean, come on, now.
Face it, baby.
I mean, I enjoy spending time
with you 'cause you my bottom.
You know what I'm saying?
But I take care of you.
-So what?
-"So what?"
"So what?"
Is I'm doing you a favor.
-I am doing you a favor, too,
little man.
-[ Chuckles ]
That's real creative,
Erica, real creative.
But don't get mad at me
'cause your young ass is
stretched out like a hula hoop.
As a matter of fact,
I can go down to Castle Street
and find somebody
just like you,
and it wouldn't even cost me
as much.
-You don't talk to me
like that.
-Matter of --
You better calm down
'cause, as a matter of fact,
I'm overpaying you.
-[ Chuckles ]
You haven't paid [bleep] yet.
Wait till this baby
is born.
-I done told you
that's not my baby.
-You don't touch me.
-I done told you
that ain't my baby.
-You're the only one I slept
with without a condom, Jamal.
-Yeah, right.
-Now, you wait
till I take you to court
because child support
is a mother.
-You better stop talking.
-And we'll see who pays up then.
-I'm tired of hearing
your mouth.
-We'll see who pays up then.
You back away from me.
-You better stop --
-You bet--
[ Intro to Teddy Pendergrass'
"Love TKO" plays ]
-♪ Looking back ♪
♪ Over my years ♪
♪ I think I've shedded
some tears ♪
♪ Told myself ♪
♪ Time and time again ♪
♪ "This time I'm gonna win" ♪
♪ But another fight ♪
♪ Things ain't right ♪
♪ I'm losing again ♪
♪ Takes a fool to lose twice ♪
♪ And start all over again ♪
♪ Think I'd better let it go ♪
♪ Ohhhh, yeah ♪
♪ Another love T.K.O. ♪
♪ What you say about it, yeah ♪
♪ Think I'd better let it go ♪
♪ Let it go ♪
♪ Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh ♪
♪ T.K.O. ♪
♪ Tired of getting beat up
by love ♪
♪ Tired of getting beat up
by love ♪
♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh ♪
♪ T.K.O. ♪
♪ Ohh, ohh ♪
♪ Ooh-wee ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ My, my, my, my ♪
♪ My, my,
my, my ♪
-♪ Promises we don't keep ♪
-♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ Oh, whoa, whoa ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ We don't keep ♪
-♪ Whoa, whoa, girl ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-♪ My love, my love, my love ♪
-♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ Why can't I get it right? ♪
♪ I've been in love before ♪
♪ And it let me down ♪
♪ But now I'm all grown up ♪
♪ No turning back, girl ♪
♪ But like a child's heart
at play ♪
♪ You know the things
we used say ♪
♪ Oh, when we were in love ♪
♪ We made... ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-♪ Oh, yeah ♪
-♪ We don't keep ♪
♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-No ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-♪ Ohh ♪
-♪ We don't keep ♪
-♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Ohh, yeah, yeah ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-♪ It seems
no matter what I do ♪
♪ B-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ad luck ♪
♪ Has been my best friend ♪
♪ And now to me ♪
♪ Now to me,
those words you say ♪
♪ They are just promises
once again ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ We don't keep ♪
♪ Promises, promises ♪
-If I could just get one woman
in this world...
-♪ Can't eat nor sleep ♪
-To not look at me
for my money...
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-But to truly
just love me for me.
If I could just get one.
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
-One!
♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh ♪
-♪ Promises, promises ♪
♪ We don't keep ♪
-♪ Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ♪
-♪ Promises ♪
-[ Scoffs ]
I don't need him, anyway.
Kevin!
Dang answering machine.
Ohh.
I hope he gets
this text message.
"Come over, Kevin.
A.S.A.P."
[ Doorbell rings ]
Ooh.
He did get my text.
Who is it?
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, yes.
Okay.
Whew.
[ Doorbell rings ]
Oh, Kevin!
Oh, I'm so happy to see you!
-Hey.
I just called you.
I just texted you.
Did you get my text?
-Yeah.
-Okay.
Oh!
-Look, um...
I just came back
to bring you your things.
Have a good life.
-What?
Wait. Kevin, Kevin,
no, no, no, no.
Now, let's talk
about this.
Now, I know
the other day --
But it's not
what you think.
I'm sorry.
-You're sorry?
Erica, you're pregnant
by another man,
and all you can say
is you're sorry?
-Babe, just give me
another chance.
I can make it r--
-There's not going to be
another chance, Erica.
There's not gonna be
another chance.
You don't know --
You just don't know
how hard it is to try your best
and your best
just ain't good enough.
-Kevin, stop.
-Stop?
-No, just --
-Stop?!
Erica, that's what you
should have did
when you was running around here
sleeping with everybody.
Then you want to come back
to me
like you ain't
done nothing wrong.
You know what?
Sounds like to me, Erica,
you ain't nothing
but a classy ho.
-Look, baby --
baby, look, look --
Look, we can just
make it all --
-No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no.
Let's just call it
what it is.
I mean, you got your needs met.
What about my needs?
What about a need to have
a woman I can respect,
one that I can trust?
I can't trust you
as far as I can see you.
-Baby. Baby.
-Don't touch me.
-Look, I just want it
the way that it was.
I don't want that.
I want you. I love you.
-Love?
[ Laughs ]
Erica, you don't even know
the meaning of the word.
God gave us
the real meaning --
"For God so loved the world
that he gave."
"He gave," Erica.
I can't give you a ride
in an expensive car.
But, Erica, I gave you a ride
on the inside of my heart.
I don't confess
to be a smart man.
But I'm smart enough to know
that in order to receive love,
you got to give it.
-Kevin, wait.
Now, you mean to tell me
this ring means nothing to you?
-[ Sighs ]
-Now, I know --
I know I messed up.
Everybody messes up,
and I'm not perfect.
But I need you.
I cannot go through
this pregnancy by myself.
I love you. I love you.
I love you.
Please.
I love you. Don't.
-You know what?
You --
You're right
about one thing.
This ring
does mean a lot.
It took me a year
to save up for it.
So I'm gonna
just take it.
-[ Gasps ]
[ Whimpers ]
Never did -- it didn't mean
nothing to you, anyway.
[ Scoffs ]
Oh, yeah, you know what?
You told me that I would never
get a record deal, right?
[ Chuckles ]
Guess what.
Your boy Diddy
signed me yesterday.
And I didn't even have to
make the band.
So, I guess the saying
is true --
Good things come
to those that wait.
I waited on that record deal,
and I finally got it.
[ Chuckles ]
Bye, Erica.
Oh, oh, oh,
wait, wait, wait.
Got a little something
for you.
This is
for your boy Jamal.
That's for the shoes
he bought me.
For the clothes
he bought me.
That's for my raggedy-ass car
that he got fixed.
And this dollar
is for you.
Now, you tell me,
who just got played?
-♪ Mm-mmm-mmm ♪
♪ He's got everything ♪
♪ Anything ♪
♪ Whoa, yeah, baby ♪
♪ No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no ♪
-Look, Mama, I'm so sorry
for everything,
and I love you.
-I know, baby.
Here.
It's okay.
I'm so tired.
-Hey, Ty,
you might not want to dress
in all black like that.
'Cause the black
on black
make it look like that chain
is floating by itself like that.
-Cletous!
-Trying to help him out.
Boy's dark.
Ooh.
Just dark.
You know, up against
that white curtain like that,
look like a tunnel --
that's what it look like.
-Cletous.
Hey, hey, Ulah May, I got --
Cl-Cletous,
will you stop, please?
Ulah May --
Cletous,
stop it, now.
-Okay, let me just tell you
something, boy.
You come down here
to General Hospital...
'cause your life feels like
a little soap opera.
You come down here
to see all your children.
But remember, boy,
you only got one life to live.
But know this --
Let something else happen
to these people,
and I'm gonna stab you.
And as your bleeding
and the life is leaving you,
look for
the guiding light.
Do you hear me?
-Cletous, stop.
Stop, Cletous, please.
Um...
Margaret,
are you okay?
-I'm fine, Marcus.
-Look, I-I-I know this is
an awkward time, and...
I know my actions
have hurt this family.
When they called me
at the office --
Margaret, I know it's
inappropriate for me to be here,
but I just wanted to make sure
you were okay.
Margaret, I still love you,
and -- and I'm so sorry.
-Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa.
You what?
You love her?
Oh, I guess
you loved her so much,
you slept
with her sister, huh?
-Tyrone, please,
please, son.
-That's a lot of love, Pop.
-Son, that was
a long time ago.
Now, please
leave it alone.
-Leave it alone?
You done left it alone
18 years.
Leave it alone?
-Tyrone.
-No, Mama, you know
what I'm saying?
What, like we're supposed to
just look over it
like, you know,
it's all good?
-Tyrone,
I made a mistake.
-We know that.
We know that.
-Son, please,
leave it alone, okay?
-Do I have to
tell you again, Pops?
I'm not
leaving it alone.
Look what you done
done, man.
It's because of you.
It's because of you --
this whole thing.
You're the reason I started
getting high in the first place.
And you want me
to leave it alone.
-Tyrone, I'm sorry.
Son...
Son,
listen to me, son.
-Hey, hey...
-Son, listen to me.
-Tyrone.
-Listen to me.
Listen to me, son.
There's a lot of things
that happen between adults
that young people
don't understand, Tyrone.
I made a mistake, son,
and I'm sorry I wasn't there
for you in the early years
when you were
growing up.
But you're my son, Tyrone,
and I love you, son.
I love you.
-You better get off me.
You better get off me.
-Come on, man!
-No, no, get up!
-Ty, don't hurt him!
Don't hurt him!
-Get up! Get up!
-Come on, Ty. Don't hurt him!
-Why?!
-[ Crying ] 'Cause he could be
my daddy, too,
and I don't want...
-Oh, Cletous!
Cletous, please!
-Get up!
Get up!
-Tyrone, Tyrone,
that's your father.
That's your father.
You need to respect him.
-Yeah, old man.
-You gonna put your hands
on your father?
-That's right.
That's right.
-No, Tyrone.
-No, no, no,
don't go nowhere.
-You put your hands --
-Hey, yo, come here!
-When I was growing up,
you never put your hands
on your father, son.
-Yeah, but they
ain't sleep with --
-Let me tell you
something.
Don't you ever hit me.
-Ty! Stop it!
Stop it! Stop! Stop!
Don't you ever in your life
put your hands on me!
-Move out the way,
pastor.
What you got?!
What you got?!
-Marcus!
-What you got?!
-Pastor, please, will you
help me pray for my family?
Listen!
Listen to me, Marcus!
-Stop it.
Stop it.
-Pastor, please,
just help me pray
for this family right now.
Right now, please.
-But lead us not
into temptation,
oh, Father,
but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory...
Forever and ever.
In the mighty name of Jesus
we pray.
Bless this family.
[ Slow gospel music playing ]
-♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Peace, yeah ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Peace, yeah ♪
-♪ Ooh-oh-oh ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Thy will, thy will ♪
♪ We, we need,
we need ♪
♪ Come on, we need ♪
-♪ P-e-e-eace ♪
♪ I need,
n-n-n-need some peace ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Ye-eah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Ye-a-a-a-ah ♪
♪ We need it,
we need, need it ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ We need it in ourselves
and we need it in our church ♪
♪ We need it in our city ♪
♪ We need it in our country ♪
♪ Ye-a-a-a-a-a-h ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Ohh, yeah ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ Peace, peace ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Peace, peace ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
Whew!
♪ Peace, peace ♪
♪ Peace ♪
♪ There'll be peace ♪
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.