One Last Christmas (2016) - full transcript
Mia and Ryan decides to have one last Christmas with their friends before they leave town. Surprising things happen at the party that makes this Christmas a special one.
♪ I'm ready, no I'm ready,
to love you to love ♪
(alarm beeping)
♪ Forever ♪
(laughs)
♪ Hey love ♪
- Well what's the point
in having an alarm clock
if they're not gonna use it!
(pot clanks)
(alarm beeping)
This'll get 'em up, mmhmm.
(walking footsteps)
(alarm beeping)
♪ Get up, get up, get
up you sleepy heads ♪
♪ Get up, get up, get up get out of bed ♪
(alarm beeping)
♪ Get up, get up, get up you sleep heads ♪
♪ Get up, get up, get up get out of bed ♪
(clanking pot)
(children groaning)
(laughing)
Now next time it'll be my belt.
Now you have 30 minutes
to get ready for school
or I'ma feed your breakfast to the dogs.
It's the first day of school!
You're suppose to be excited!
Come on move move move move move!
(clanking pot)
(sighs)
Hmm, boys.
(giggles)
(boys chattering)
(knocks)
Get dressed!
- [Child] Okay.
(chuckles)
- My boys.
- What the? (laughs)
My boys (laughs).
Okay lets take this picture.
Where's Dylan?
- It takes girls longer to get dressed.
- Yeah he needs to put on his makeup.
(boys laughing)
- Boys, be nice.
- You just take him back, he don't fit in.
- Elijah, stop it!
- He doesn't, he's gay.
- Michael you don't even
know what gay means.
Now shut up before I send you all back.
- Where?
- [Mom] To the home, now hush.
Dylan, Dylan baby, Dylan baby.
(gentle piano music)
(knocking)
Oh Dylan.
- Now they're gonna make fun of me
and say I look like a girl.
I hate my voice.
- Oh baby, you can't spend your whole life
afraid of what other people are gonna say.
How many times do I have
to tell you that, huh?
Baby, your voice is a blessing from God.
Now you wanna know something else?
- What?
- I love your voice the best.
- Really?
- (chuckles) Yep.
Now let's go take this
picture and get you on a bus.
- [Dylan] Okay.
- Okay, gimme a hug.
(laughing)
You are so silly.
(laughing) Go downstairs.
(sighs)
(camera clicking)
(gentle piano music)
David, your dinner's ready, baby.
- Mama, how did you deal with this?
- (exasperated sigh) I ask
myself that same question.
(laughing) Come on, let's eat.
- [David] Well I'm surprised
I'm the only one here.
- Well Dylan wanted to come,
but he had a show in London.
Xavier got a new job and
he needs the holiday pay
and well, Elijah was deployed again.
Mm, I worry about my baby Elijah,
Mm, off fighting that white man's war.
- Well, better that he
be serving the country
than serving time.
- Amen.
- What about Michael?
- Malachi is at Emani's family.
- (coughing) Malachi?
- David--
- You mean Michael?
Look, I'm not calling that
man Malachi just because
he decided to marry a woman
who turned him Muslim,
it doesn't mean you gotta
change your name for all that.
- David, you have to
respect the man's wishes.
- Respect the man's wishes?
How about he respect the
woman who adopted him
and come home for the holiday
that he can actually celebrate?
- We talk.
- No, I mean, when's the last
time you actually seen him?
- The wedding.
- Exactly, the wedding and
that was almost a year ago.
- But we talk though, okay?
And everybody's got their
own careers and families
and I get that.
- Yeah right, whatever.
They should still be here.
I mean you are our family.
Who else is gonna sacrifice
their life adopting five boys?
Ma, why you ain't doing
your cooking show no more?
- (clears throat) How's
that fellowship program?
- Come on, ma.
- David--
- Don't change the subject.
- David, how was your fellowship--
- Ma.
- Look, I've been busy
doing other things, okay?
Okay?
Now how's your fellowship program?
(sighs)
- It's almost over.
It's okay.
The trial didn't go so well.
- Mm.
- I mean, I'll just start
going to medical school
where I'll be actually saving lives.
- What about Megan?
How's she doing?
- We broke up.
Which is probably the
reason why she's not here.
- Oh Lord.
What was the fight about this time?
- (sighs) well um, she
wants to leave Atlanta.
- Mm?
- She wants to go to
a hospital in Seattle.
She's been keeping up
with this general surgeon
named Miranda Bailey, wants to
work for her diabetes trial.
- So what's wrong with Seattle?
- Seattle?
- Yeah.
- (laughing) Come on, ma, ain't
no black people in Seattle.
(laughs) Like, come on, you know that.
- David, why are you so
afraid to leave me, huh?
You went to Morehouse to stay close.
You went to Emery to stay close.
I think you should leave
Georgia for a while.
It'll be good for you.
And you love that girl.
(laughs sarcastically) There was one time
I thought you loved
her more than medicine.
And I think it'll be good for you
to go out there and support her.
And there's nothing
keeping you here but me.
- (laughs) What?
I have more here.
- [Angel] Oh really?
- Yeah really.
- [Angel] Like what?
- (sighs) I got friends.
- (laughing) What friends?
- I got friends.
- (laughing) oh stop lying.
- I do.
- Oh,
I can always tell when you are lying.
- I'm not lying.
Plus, I think I found someone.
- Oh.
You got you another girl.
- Oh, no.
No, not exactly.
Um--
- Wait a minute.
(sighs)
- No, don't, don't give
me that look, okay?
- Okay.
- Dylan is the gay son.
I'm not your gay son (laughs) okay?
That has nothing to do with this.
It's not that. (laughs)
Um,
no, I uh,
think I may have came
across some new information
about finding my birth mom.
- Oh.
Oh.
- Yeah, um, but I'm just curious, okay?
- Okay.
- I mean, being involved with this trial,
I just learned how this
disease is linked to genetics
and everybody else is talking
about their family history
and then they look at me and
I don't know how to react.
I don't know anything about my genetics.
I don't know if my mom was a diabetic.
I don't know if she's ever had a tumor.
I mean all of these questions, you know?
- Okay, so you find out.
Then how will that help you, hm?
- I don't know.
Maybe it'll tell me how
I'll die or something.
You know?
- (laughing) Oh, now
that is a pile of bull.
- I mean, come on, I mean listen,
if I find out who she
is, maybe I can find out
who my dad is.
Maybe I can find out if my hairline
is gonna be receding before 30.
I mean, you just never
really know, come on.
- (laughing) You are funny.
Mm.
- Doesn't mean I'm replacing
your or anything, okay?
If that's what you're thinking, okay?
- Well I know that.
Ain't no replacing me, baby. (laughs)
'Cause she ain't got nothing
on me, you hear? (laughs)
But you do that if
that's what you wanna do,
but you be careful.
And if you need me to help
you, just let me know.
- I will.
I promise you, I will.
- Oh, I am so glad to see you.
- Oh gosh.
(laughing)
I'm glad to see you too, mom.
- Eat up.
- Okay.
Here I go.
So, you're turning the big 50 this year.
- Yeah, 50.
(foil rattling)
- Are you not excited?
- Yeah. (laughs)
Yeah, I am.
- Okay, so what's the plan, ma?
- Well it's Christmas, so
it's gonna be the usual,
toy drive and dinner at the boy's home.
Why?
- You're turning 50.
It's time to, you know, it's
time to turn the fuck up!
- Oh, watch your mouth, boy.
- What? (laughing)
Okay, okay, I'm sorry, but I mean, we are.
Look, I'm running to the bathroom,
once I get back, we're
planning the biggest,
most spectacular birthday
party ever, okay?
My mom's turning 50.
(claps) I don't know what
you thought this was.
(laughs)
- Woo, um, use the one upstairs,
the one in the hallway is broken, baby.
- [David] All right.
(coughing)
(gasping)
(gasping)
(coughs)
(clears throat)
(labored breathing)
(gentle piano music)
(water trickling)
- Did you wash your hands?
(water trickling)
- How long has it been back?
- (clears throat) What baby?
(bottle slaps counter)
- The cancer.
- David--
- How long, ma?
- Not too long.
- How far along are you in this treatment?
- I don't,
I don't know.
(exhales) I don't know.
(sniff) I don't know when it came back.
They caught it a few weeks
ago in my blood work, so.
- Is this why you haven't
been doing your show?
- Yeah.
I've just been so tired.
(coughing)
- So what did they say?
You gotta do chemo again?
(sighs)
- It's bad this time, David.
- How bad, ma?
- It's everywhere.
It's in my blood.
It's in my bones.
(exhales)
It's just spreading too fast.
(slaps legs)
- What's next?
- No, I can't go through that again, baby.
- Oh man, that's the
only option, mom, we--
- No.
No, it's not the only option.
- So what you gonna do, huh?
What are you gonna do?
Just gonna sit here and die?
- Baby, sometimes you just
gotta know when it's time.
- What do you mean when it's time?
Man, you're 49 years old, dammit!
- Don't you curse me.
Now you don't know how
it felt to watch my boys
just fall apart because y'all
didn't know how to function without me.
(crying)
Baby, the pain that this
cancer has caused your hearts
is way worse than the pain
that it's made me feel.
No, and no matter what,
it's gonna keep coming back.
That girl down at the
church has has had cancer
seven times in 15 years.
Oh God, I just, I just don't
wanna spend the rest of my life
fighting something that is not curable.
(water trickling)
- So how long did they give you, huh?
- (crying) Six weeks.
Six beautiful weeks.
(sighs)
- When were you gonna tell me?
- I don't know.
- (slams counter) You don't know?
- Yes, I don't 'cause I
don't know how to pick up
the damn phone and tell
the people that I love
that I am dying.
How do you do that, huh?
How do you break everyone's heart, huh?
You tell me the words.
Mmhmm.
It is better like this.
David this is my wish.
This is my last wish.
I just wanna enjoy the
time that I have left.
So see, you can get on that
plane and go to Seattle.
I'm gonna be okay.
- You know you can't expect me
to keep this from everybody, right?
- Oh, you have no choice.
(sniffs)
- Selfish woman.
This is selfish.
If they had any idea, they
would be here right now,
they would be here everyday!
- Yes, yes, they would be here everyday
falling apart and I
just cannot watch that.
- Well sometimes it's
not about what you want.
- Excuse me?
- Yeah.
We're gonna fall apart anyway
and that's something you're
just gonna have to deal with.
(gentle piano music)
(sobbing)
(tearful muttering)
(gentle music)
♪ Oh holy night ♪
♪ The stars are brightly shining ♪
♪ It is the night of our
dear Savior's birth ♪
♪ Long lay the world in
sin and error pining ♪
♪ 'Til he appeared and
the soul felt its worth ♪
♪ A thrill of hope the weary ♪
As hard as this is for me to say,
(sniffs) I know it's about the holidays
a time when you're supposed
to be with your family,
you wanna go out,
(sniffs)
if you go out,
going out with a fuckin' bang, yeah.
(sniffs) Yeah, that's
right, I said fucking.
(laughs)
And I mean it.
I mean it. (sniffs)
♪ Oh night divine ♪
I just have
I just got a few requests.
- Okay.
- Let me talk to the
oncologist at the hospital.
I just wanna make sure
that you're comfortable as possible.
♪ With glowing hearts by
his cradle we'll stand ♪
And second,
second, I just want us,
just want us to have one last Christmas.
- Yes,
one, one last Christmas.
- Yeah.
I mean all of us,
celebrate like we used to,
house full of family (crying)
gifts, dancing, music,
all of that, mama, it's gonna be fun.
(crying) It'll be fun.
(sighs)
- Do you have to invite your aunt, Heaven?
(laughing)
- Yes, we do have to invite Aunt Heaven
and Uncle Roy and his
bougie ass wife, Faith.
- Oh God, not Faith. (laughs)
- [David] Yes. (sighs)
- Okay,
okay I can deal with that.
But can you please let me
tell them after Christmas?
I don't want everybody following me around
like I'm about to slip
into my casket. (laughs)
- I can honor that, I can honor that.
(coughing)
(labored breathing) One last Christmas.
♪ And his gospel is peace ♪
♪ Oh, chains shall they break ♪
- One last Christmas.
- (sighs emotionally) Okay.
♪ And in his name all
oppression shall cease ♪
Okay now get off me. (crying)
It's gonna be okay.
(sighs)
(coughing)
♪ Praise his name ♪
♪ Oh Christ is the Lord ♪
♪ Oh praise his name forever ♪
♪ Oh night divine, oh night divine ♪
♪ Oh night when Christ was born ♪
♪ Oh night, oh night ♪
- I miss you.
- I don't wanna play this
game with you, David.
(sighs) I'm going to Seattle.
I already accepted the
offer from Dr. Bailey.
(distant dog barking)
- Okay.
- Okay?
- Yeah, okay.
- So what now?
- I mean, I don't know.
I guess I'll just have to figure it out.
Isn't that what people do?
- Yeah, I guess.
What's wrong?
- Why does something have to be wrong?
- David, I know you, all right?
Something's up.
- My ma's cancer came back.
(distant dog barking)
- Damn.
Oh, you should bring her in.
- I can't, she's refusing treatment.
- What?
- I don't know.
Probably shouldn't have said anything.
I promised her that I wouldn't.
- How long does she have?
- Six weeks.
- Six weeks?
David, she's so young.
- Yeah.
Yeah, I know.
I know, but listen, uh,
I need you to do me a favor, okay?
- What's up?
- I need you to come home
with me for Christmas.
I mean, I want this Christmas
and I want her birthday to be so special
and I feel like after I'll
be able to convince her
to do the treatment.
- Then no problem, of course, of course.
Come here, come here.
(gentle slow music)
- Come on man, we can't
have me looking like a punk
in front of this hospital.
(laughing)
- Come on, everyone out
her knows you're a crybaby,
but you are my crybaby.
- Mmhmm.
(laughs)
(slow gentle music)
- Have you talked to your brother yet?
- No that's actually the
next thing on my list.
- It's nice to know I
was first on the list.
- Always, baby, always.
(soft gentle music)
- I'm gonna get back
inside, got a surgery,
but Christmas at Mama Angel's, all right,
it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great.
- Okay.
- Get your brothers home.
We'll talk more over dinner.
- All right.
- Love you.
- I love you too.
See you later.
(soft gentle music)
(sighs)
- [Woman] How much for a pie?
- [Malachi] As-salamu alaykum,
my beautiful black sister,
it's gonna be $10.00 for a pie.
- [Woman] All right.
- [Malachi] All right--
- Thank you.
- There you go.
All right, as-salamu alaykum, my sister,
peace be onto you, okay?
- All right.
- All right, take care.
(phone rings)
Ha, Davey.
As-salamu alaykum, my
brother, what's going on?
- Hey Michael, what's going on?
What's up, man?
Hello?
(airplane engine humming)
- Yo bro, you know my name.
- Malachi.
- Thank you, now we can talk.
As-salamu alaykum, my beautiful
black brother, what's up?
- (sighs) What's up, brother?
- As-salamu alaykum.
- Look man, I ain't Muslim.
I ain't gotta say all that, okay?
I'm just calling you 'cause I
need you home for Christmas.
- Brah, you know I don't
celebrate Christmas, man.
- Look, it's not always about you, okay?
It's mama's 50th birthday and she's having
a birthday celebration,
man, I need you home.
Look, I know you don't
celebrate Christmas, all right,
so while everybody else
is saying merry Christmas,
all you gotta do is just say,
happy birthday, all right?
- Brah, if ma was having a
big party and everything,
why she didn't call me
herself and tell me?
- 'Cause she didn't.
She wanted me to do it.
She need me to get everybody together.
So look, just tell your
wife, whatever you gotta do,
tell her it's just you and the kids,
y'all coming home for Christmas
and leave that woman
wherever the hell she at.
- (laughs) My brother, my brother,
why is there so much hatred
towards another brother's wife?
- All right man, all
right, I'm sorry, I get it.
Just bring everybody.
- Well, it would be good to see ma
and the kids been asking about her.
I'm sure they'll love to get their hands
on some of her banana pudding.
I might have to sell a few more bean pies
to make it happen, but we'll be there.
- All right, just do what
you gotta do to be here, man.
- All right, well,
damn.
(sighs)
Well peace be unto you too, brother.
Bean pies, get your bean pies.
What's up, my black brother?
(cheerful holiday music)
♪ Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas ♪
♪ I won't even ask for snow ♪
♪ I'm just gonna keep on waiting ♪
♪ Underneath the mistletoe ♪
♪ I won't make a list and send it ♪
♪ To the North Pole for Saint Nick ♪
♪ I won't even stay awake to hear ♪
♪ Those magic reindeer click ♪
♪ I just want you here tonight ♪
♪ Holding on to me so tight ♪
♪ What more can I do ♪
♪ Baby all I want is
to sing noel and you ♪
- Hey man, that was perfect!
Let's do some ad-libs.
- Yeah, yeah, I like how that felt.
- Yeah.
(phone rings)
- Hold on, let me take this real quick.
- [David] Yo.
- Hey, talk to me.
- [David] Dylan, what's good, superstar?
- Yo, what's good, bro?
How the doctor life treating you?
- [David] Everything's good, man,
everything's good with the
whole doctor position, man.
I can't thank you enough for
helping me out with that.
- Well you already know.
If my brother good, I'm
good, that's all that matter.
But where that sexy ass girl of yours at?
- [David] Hey man, she's around.
- All right.
Hey, you talk to her sister for me?
- Dylan, where is Jessie?
- I'ma take this out.
(distant traffic humming)
Man, I don't know what
you're talking about.
- [David] Jessie, your boyfriend?
- (laughs) Man, you know
I ain't got one of those.
- I mean, come on, what happened now?
I thought he was the one.
- Jessie wanted a fairytale
and I'm a mainstream R and B singer.
My name is not Frank Ocean.
- Oh, I see, I see, I see.
So he wanted you to come out.
- All that and more, man.
This nigger saw Gucci
and Keisha wedding on BT
and then talked about starting
a reality show of his own.
Said it'll help him start
his acting career out.
Selfish ass.
- Damn man, I'm sorry to hear that.
- No, it's good.
I'm just gonna find me
a wife and settle down.
- Yeah well um, before you do that,
I do need you to come home for Christmas.
- No can do, bro.
- What do you mean?
- (sighs) I got this Christmas
concert in South Africa
for a bunch of group home kids.
You know, a bunch of nappy headed kids
trying to get adopted like you and me.
I can't cancel on 'em.
- Well look man, ma was
really looking forward
to having us all there.
You know she's really
gonna be disappointed.
- Yeah, but mom's gonna
understand, bro, she know my heart.
But eh, look, I gotta head
back into the session.
(sighs) Maybe I'll try
to figure something out,
maybe come a couple of
days after Christmas.
- All right, man.
(sighs) Just let me know
what you can do, all right?
- Yeah, fo' sho.
- Bye.
(sighs loudly)
All right, well, that's one and one.
(singing happily)
(sighs)
Come on David, get it
together, get it together.
(phone rings)
(singing happily)
- (laughs) 'Bout time your
punk ass call me back.
- Xavier, what's good?
- Shit man, nothing much,
just trying to make it to the next day.
- Look um, I'm just calling you.
I need you uh, I need you
home for Christmas, man.
Well, mom needs you home for Christmas.
- For what?
- It's Christmas, man, what do you mean.
- (laughs) Man, I can't
go back to Georgia.
Shit, I'm behind on child support.
- Child support?
- Yeah, $3,500.
They catch me down there,
they trowing my black ass back in jail.
- Why haven't you been
paying child support?
- 'Cause I got a lot of damn kids.
Shit man, I'm out here struggling,
but you know, I'm just
doing the best I can.
- Look man, yeah, I get
it, I get it, but um,
I really need you home.
- I can't.
You know, all this money I'm making,
just trying to save up so my
kids can have a good holiday.
(laughs) If I come home,
it's gonna be one ugly ass Christmas.
- Zav, you gotta get home, man.
- Something going on with ma?
- No, not exactly.
- What you mean, not exactly?
- All I can really say is
man, she really needs us.
- Is it that bad?
- Yeah.
- All right brah.
Hey, don't tell nobody I'm coming home.
I gotta keep a low profile.
- All right, man.
I'll talk to you later.
- All right, man, yeah.
Merry fuckin' Christmas.
Fuck.
They bought to lock me up and
throw away the fucking key.
Shit.
(plan engine humming)
- Yo, big bro, what's happening?
- (laughs) What's up, Elijah?
- (laughs) Man, just, you know,
out here fighting this
war man, keeping you safe.
You know what I'm saying, 'cause you soft.
- Come on, man.
(laughs)
Why you gotta be a punk?
- Yeah man.
- Look man, I'm just excited
to have you home for Christmas
man, it's been too long.
- What?
No, I ain't gonna be home for Christmas.
- What do you mean?
It's Christmas, momma's
birthday, Atlanta, home.
- No, ain't nobody say nothing to me
about coming home for Christmas, man.
- Ah, come on, man.
What you mean, you gotta put in for it.
You can't miss out on this one.
It's momma's 50th birthday celebration.
Everybody's gonna be there.
- Oh damn.
- You can't miss out, man.
- It is ma's 50th.
I mean, yeah man, it
ain't gonna happen, man
'cause I didn't ask for leave, man.
I mean, I could try man, I can see,
but you know, they mainly give priority
to the people with wives
and stuff like that, man--
- Well can you at least try?
(sighs)
- It ain't looking good.
- You gotta pull it through, man.
It's been too long.
It's time for you and momma,
it's time for y'all to make up.
- Did she say that?
- Yeah man, she misses you.
- Yeah, I miss her, man.
All right, fuck it, I'm
gonna try for mama, man.
- Well you know what you gotta do?
- I'm gonna see what I can do.
I'm gonna do the best I can.
- (laughs) All right, man,
I'll hit you up later, man.
I love you, brah.
- Oh, there you go with that lovey stuff,
man, you soft, man.
You gotta remember, I'm
not the gay brother.
- See that's what I'm saying,
man, you don't love me, brah.
- (laughs) All right,
man, I'll hit you later.
- Bye.
(exhales) That's two and a possibility.
(sighs) Lord,
I know you wanna call her home. (sighs)
But I need her, we need her.
If you can just help me get
all of my brothers together,
I know we can try to convince
her to get the treatment.
Just praying for a miracle.
Just praying you do whatever you gotta do.
♪ When I know our love
is waiting the wind ♪
♪ So many a times, well ♪
♪ I can't go on fighting this fight ♪
♪ When I know it's over ♪
- Hey D!
- Yeah what's up, why you stop the track?
- Man, you need to come see this.
You on MZZ.
- See what?
I don't got time for no tabloids.
We gotta finish this track.
- Nah man, you need to come see this.
(sighs) Oh man.
- This just in,
a sex tape has been
leaked of singer, Dylan
and it's not with a woman.
There has always been speculation
about Dylan's sexuality
and his close relationship
with his assistant, Jessie.
Yeah, that's right, ladies,
your favorite sexy idol
is not checking for you.
It seems all those years,
doing all those videos
with beautiful women,
guess what, they were all a lie.
It's 2019, who is afraid
to be labeled gay nowadays?
It seems Frank Ocean
busted that door wide open.
- [Brooklyn] Babe, turn
it to channel five.
- For what, baby, I'm playing the game.
- Your brother, Dylan is on the news.
- Fuck Dylan.
(sighs)
- Xavier--
- What the fuck?
- This is serious.
- But the question still remains,
how could you lie to all your
fans for that length of time?
That's the question these
ladies wanna know the answer to.
And the sex tape, (chuckles) wow.
There were things done in that sex tape
that screamed professional gay, not just,
baby, I apologize, I got caught
up in the moment type thing.
There were things done on that sex tape
that said, Dylan invented sex.
(laughing)
(claps hands)
- Shit, so the faggot
finally came out the closet.
- So it's clear, this young man
has a second career in doing porn
because ladies and gentlemen,
his music career is definitely over.
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Let your heart be light ♪
♪ From now on your troubles
will be out of sight ♪
(gentle piano music)
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Make the yule tide gay ♪
(sighs)
♪ From now on ♪
- Hello?
Yeah baby, I just saw it.
Now you know when the enemy attacks,
you gotta keep standing.
Oh baby, it's gonna pass over.
(laughs) You know you can.
I'll be here waiting.
I love you.
♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪
(coughing)
♪ Are then near to us ♪
♪ Once more ♪
(knife thumping)
♪ Through the years ♪
♪ We all will be together ♪
- It seems like somebody outed him.
- Well shit, Mr. Perfect ain't
so goddam perfect no more.
- You need to call your
brother and check on him.
- I ain't gotta do a goddam thing.
- This is your brother.
- Foster brother and he
ain't done shit for me.
- Why do you have to be so evil?
What is the problem?
You never even told me what he did to you.
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
- (chuckles) We'll see if
he sells another record.
(sighs)
(laughing)
♪ A merry little Christmas ♪
(mutters quietly)
(door clatters)
- Now if I have to tell you one more time
to leave my property,
we're gonna have a problem.
- Ma'am, can you just tell
us how Dylan is doing?
- Are you proud to have a gay son?
- Is it true that he's leaving music?
- Did you know he was a
homosexual the entire time?
- I done warned y'all.
(reporters protesting)
(door slams)
(door rattling)
- Ma'am--
- I'm a good Christian woman,
but I got a pass that'll blow
your ass clear off this block!
(clicking heels)
(door slams)
The nerve of these people
saying I had a mental breakdown.
I shoulda shot all their ignorant asses.
I'll show 'em a mental breakdown.
(sighs)
(knife clanking)
- Mom, I'm sorry.
- For what?
- For bringing all this.
I wasn't trying to, I didn't mean it.
- Shut your mouth, okay?
Now I don't wanna hear it.
Don't apologize.
Have no control over it.
- I know, but it's just so much--
- And what do we tell you, hm?
Take it one day at a time.
Take it one day at a time.
That's all you can do.
- And then what?
What am I supposed to do after that?
- You're gonna have to face it, baby.
You're gonna have to face it.
When you get ready, you
are gonna have to face it
and move on with your life.
God won't give you anything
that you cannot bear.
- God is just punishing
me because I'm gay.
- Oh, he is doing no such thing.
All this is just preparation for you
to do something bigger.
Just think about it, somewhere out there,
there are some kids lookin' up to you,
waiting for you to speak your truth,
waiting for you to speak your
truth and stand tall in it
so that they can find the
strength to do the same thing.
- If you say so.
I just wish somebody
would stand up for me.
- Oh no, now, you've got
to stand on your own.
But those of us that love you,
we're gonna stand with you
and I am sure your family and your friends
and your fans will do so
when you are ready, okay?
(chuckles) Come here.
It's gonna be all right.
- You think so?
- Oh, I know so.
I know so.
Now, your brothers'll be here any moment
so you should go get cleaned up, okay,
so we can get this day started.
- Yeah, I guess so.
- (laughs) Dylan baby?
- Yes momma?
- Smile, it's Christmas.
(laughing) That's my baby.
Tis the season, (coughing)
♪ Season to be jolly ♪
(coughing)
♪ Fa la la la la, la la la (coughing) ♪
Woo.
Oh, there go my boys,
come here. (laughing)
- [Boy] Grandma!
Oh, I missed you so much. (laughing)
- Hey momma, what about me?
You miss me too?
- Oh, I guess I missed you a little bit.
- (laughs) Hey momma. (grunts)
- And how are you, Emani?
- I'm fine, Miss Angel, how are you?
- Oh, I've never been better
now that my boys are here
and I got something, oh,
I got a special surprise
for you all. (snapping)
- Really, what is it?
- Yeah, what is it?
- How 'bout we find out, come on.
- You need to talk to her
about taking the boys.
- (sighs) Please don't
start this, Emani, okay?
- I'm gonna start it
because I wanna make sure
you don't forget why
I agreed to come here.
- Look, okay, I'm not
leaving my kids here, okay?
That's not gonna happen, so
you might as well get over it.
- No, I'm not gonna get over it.
I can't play stepmom to
that dead woman's kids.
They are destroying our marriage.
Please, now Angel took all the boys in.
I'm sure she won't mind,
you know, taking your kids.
(sighs)
And besides,
I'm sure that she needs the company.
Now, either you talk to her or I will,
but I will not leave this
house with those boys.
(sighs)
- Oh my God. (sighing)
Why? (exhales)
(grunting)
(laughing) There you go, Davey.
- (laughs) Micheal.
You know I'm not calling you Malachi.
- [Malachi] Whatever, man.
- How are you, Malachi?
- (laughs) And how are you doing,
my beautiful black, my beautiful queen?
- (laughs) You know, I was
good, but now I'm great.
- Amazing.
(laughs)
- [Megan] I'll see you inside, okay?
- All right.
Hey brah, man, why you
gotta be so difficult, huh?
- What you mean, man?
I don't really see it that way.
I mean when you so used to calling a man
by one name your entire life,
all of a sudden you
call him by another name
just because his bougie
ass wife told him to?
Doesn't work like that.
- Well, all right, whatever well,
I see somebody still is
afraid to put a ring on it.
(laughs)
but you know what?
I understand because it takes a real man
to step up to the plate. (laughs)
Oh, snap, look at this,
pretty boy Zay. (laughs)
You mean to tell me that this dude
stepped away from his player's life
long enough to come and
spend Christmas with us?
Brah, how did you make that happen?
- Hey man, come on, that's my brother.
Leave him alone, okay?
- You know I heard you, right?
- He's a changed man now.
- (laughs) Yeah, still
good at changing women.
What, no.
This dude opening doors for women now?
(laughs)
Hot damn,
pigs must be flying.
- Very funny, fake ass Malcolm X.
(chuckling)
- Oh man.
- Okay, what's up, brah?
- What's going on, Zay? (laughs)
- I'm doing good man,
long as you don't sell me none
of them stale ass bean pies.
- [Malachi] Well, whatever, brah.
- (laughing) He got your game, brah.
- Whatever, both of y'all hush.
Oh man.
- Hey, baby, this is my brother David
and that here is Michael, aka, Malachi,
aka Louis Farrakhan's bastard lost child.
- [Malachi] Whatever man, how
you doing by beautiful black,
(laughs) come on, man,
let me greet your beautiful woman here.
How you doing my beautiful Nubian goddess.
So good to meet you.
- You too.
- Brah, why must I have
so much hate in thy spirit
when you have such a beautiful
Nubian goddess by your side?
- Gosh, it's overkill at this point, Mike,
cut it out, dude.
- All right, man,
where is everybody at, man?
- Everybody's inside,
man, except for Elijah.
- All right, well come on baby, let's go.
I'm going inside before I
get converted to a Muslim.
(laughing)
Come on.
- All right. (laughs)
You okay, bro?
- No, I'm not okay.
My life is in a million pieces.
- You'll be fine, you just gotta
let shit smooth over, okay?
I mean Kevin Hart cheated on his wife.
R. Kelly had people
trapped in the basement
and Usher gave all his groupies herpes
and they all bounced back.
- Yeah, you're right.
- Yeah.
- Right,
I just don't know how
to handle it, you know?
- I mean shit man, can't
do what you been doing.
Keep sucking and sucking--
- Xavier.
(laughing)
- It's like a shit man, look, listen,
look at it like this,
you don't have to sing
about women anymore,
you could start singing about men.
You know what I'm saying?
You ain't gotta act no more, brah,
start living your truth,
the faggot that you are.
(laughing) Shit, you know what I'm sayin'?
- Yeah, I might be a faggot,
but I'll whip your ass.
- Try it here.
- Hey y'all come on, chill out, all right?
- Fellahs--
- Relax.
(sighing)
- [Angel] What's going on up there?
- [Dylan] Momma.
- Yeah, we're fine, all right?
Just happy to see each other.
- Yeah.
- [Angel] Dinner's ready.
Wash your hands and come on down.
- [Xavier] All right momma, I'm coming.
Shit, I wanna try your food anyway.
Okay ma.
- I'm gonna whoop his ass.
I'm not playing that shit today.
- You don't have to do
all of that, all right?
There's no need for violence.
Can we all just get along for mama please?
- We are non-violent with those
who are non-violent with us.
- Nigger, did you just quote Malcolm X?
- Come on, let's go eat
before the great menace,
Malachi starts to speak in tongues.
- Muslims don't speak in tongues, brah.
- [David] Whatever.
♪ I just wanna keep on waiting ♪
♪ Underneath the mistletoe ♪
♪ I will make a list and send it ♪
♪ To the North Pole for Saint Nick ♪
- Bartholomew.
Bartholomew, hon!
♪ I just want you here tonight ♪
♪ Holding on to me so tight ♪
- Bartholomew, get down here!
♪ All I want is to hang
on to you, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Oh all the lights are shining
so brightly everywhere ♪
- My name is Bart, mom, Bart.
- Really?
For the nine months that
I carried your black ass
growing inside of me, and
for the 18 hours of labor,
I can call you whatever the
hell I want to call you.
- Yes ma, yes.
- Now, Angel is having
a 50th birthday party
which means her sons are gonna be in town,
which means there will be distractions
for you to get in and steal the recipes.
- Mom, why don't you just
ask her for the recipe--
- Son, shut up.
I've waited 20 long years for
that banana pudding recipe.
So you wanna know what
I want for Christmas?
- What mom?
A man?
- Really Bart?
Does it look like I need a goddam man?
- (sighs) Okay mom, the recipe book.
- So, you listen,
you and that dumb ass sidekick
of yours devise a plan,
make it happen.
- I'm more like a best
friend, not a sidekick.
- Who told your dumb fat ass to talk?
Both of y'all, get your asses out my face.
(laughing)
- So Xavier how's your
car repair business going?
- It's going pretty good, mama.
- So that mean you making a
lot of money then, brah, huh?
- Yeah, you know, everything
going pretty good, bro.
- I hope it's going good enough for you
to start to pay your child support
and take care of your seven kids.
He told you he got seven kids, right?
- She knows how many
kids I have, all right?
Now you know, maybe I
should hire you a publicist
to save your little music career?
- Uh boys, can we please act your age?
- He started it.
(sighs)
- Malachi, how are the boys
adjusting to their new school, huh?
- Mm, things are fine.
- They could be better--
- Things are fine.
The boys, they love their new school.
- I mean, they're getting so big.
I'm just glad they're doing
okay after they lost their mom.
(people agreeing)
- Yeah, the boys, you
know, they understand
that she's in a better
place, you know, they get it.
- Just glad they were able
to spend some time with her
before she passed.
I mean, just imagine
what it would be like
if she were to pass away
and nobody got a chance to say goodbye.
- Um, yeah, Megan, I
just love your blouse.
- Oh, (clears throat) (laughs)
why thank you, Mama Angel.
- Yeah, the earrings are lovely too.
- [Megan] Thanks.
- Yeah. (laughs)
Yeah you know, maybe you
should let Dylan here
borrow them for his new
album cover, Tinker Bell.
(people laughing)
- Xavier.
- Yeah, I could use a little extra money
to take care of your un-fathered children.
Well hey, Brooklyn, if you ever get tired
of being with him, all you
gotta do is get pregnant.
I'm sure he'll run away then.
- Oh, don't come for my man.
- I'm just letting you
know the truth, that's it.
- Okay, be quiet, eat.
(mumbling under breath)
(clicking heels)
(labored breathing)
(playful dramatic music)
♪ You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch ♪
- (labored breathing) Now,
now you go in there in the front
while I go around back,
slip in and try to get
this recipe book, okay?
(labored breathing)
- Ho, ho, ho,
sounds like a merry good idea.
(bag thumps)
Ow!
- Shut up!
(labored breathing) And you know mama
wanted this recipe book.
You better not fuck this
Christmas up for me!
- How could I do that, I'm Santa.
(bag thumps)
Ow!
♪ You're a monster, Mr. Grinch ♪
- The strongest level of brotherhood
is a sense of community, friendship
and a common purpose in
Islam for the sake of Allah.
Now, the Koran teaches us
that we should avoid harming each other.
We should be generous to one another
and we also should behave
in the best manner.
- Mm, beautiful words, baby.
- [Malachi] Thank you, mama.
- And the Bible say something similar.
In Romans 12:10, it says,
be devoted to one
another in brotherly love
and preference one another in honor.
- Angel, how do you feel about two Muslims
raising children that don't
know Allah, but know Jesus?
- Well, I mean, I think there are
many inter-religious households out there,
but as long as you
believe in a higher being
and have guiding values,
I believe it could work.
However, I gave my boys
the freedom to choose
whatever religion they wanted to.
- So you were flexible?
- Yeah.
My babies came from all
different walks of life
and I felt that it was important
for them to hold on to
whatever was important to them.
- Hm.
So do you feel that the lack
of a strong religious structure
had a negative outcome
on their relationships?
(clears throat)
- Mama, damn, what did
you put in this pie?
This thing is good.
- Mama, this pie is delicious.
(people agreeing)
You know what?
I think I'm gonna have me another piece.
Better yet, you should cook
this on your next episode.
- Maybe I should.
Now Emani, back to your question--
- Mm, matter of fact, you know what?
You should do a Christmas special.
That's what you should do.
- Yeah, that's a great idea, son.
Now Emani, like I was about to say--
(doorbell rings)
Oh, I wasn't expecting anyone.
Excuse me.
(whispering)
- Don't start this now.
(arguing quietly)
(doorbell rings)
- [Angel] Oh, why Charisse,
what brings you here?
- I'm here 'cause I'm bringing her here.
I heard her daddy was in town
and what he's not gonna do is continue
to act as if my child does not exist.
So what I'm gonna need for
you to do is go on inside
and tell him to bring his black ass out
'cause he's got about 13 years
worth of Christmas gifts that he owe us.
- Now this is not--
- First of all, don't Charisse me.
Xavier!
Get yo' black ass out here
because I know you in there!
- Okay, let's be reasonable about this.
There's a child involved.
(laughing)
- Let me tell you what reasonable is,
reasonable is a grown ass man
taking care of his own child
even if he's a broke ass nigger.
He still need to have
some type of presence
in his own child's life.
My daughter is becoming a teenager.
She needs her father.
- This is not the way to
do things, not like this.
- I'm sorry, what is it that
you're not understanding
'cause I've been trying for years, okay?
Now Miss Angel, I understand
that that fool of yours
is your son, but I ain't never
took you to be no dumb bitch.
- Dumb bitch?
- Hey man, don't you come
talking to my mama like that.
You tripping, tripping.
- Daddy.
- I told you. (laughs)
Okay, this is what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna leave her here for
a reasonable amount of time
with that fool.
Um sweetie, Zooey, you wanted your daddy.
There his big ass is, okay, boo?
I'm out, all right?
- [Zooey] But ma, I would--
- Don't but ma me, okay?
You already got your Christmas gift early.
I'm out.
Bye. (laughs)
I'm out!
- Well everybody, this is
Zooey, Xavier's oldest daughter.
You hungry, baby?
- Not really, I just ate.
- Okay, well, let's get
you settled in upstairs.
You must be tired after that long drive.
(sighs) Come on.
- Uh, bro, you need to go.
- Go where?
- Go check on your daughter, dumb ass.
(sighs)
(slow walking footsteps)
- Are you sure this is a good idea?
They got a lot of shit going on.
- Well damn, there's a
lot of people in there.
(exasperated breath) Let me think.
Let me think.
I think we should come
back during the party.
- Right.
- 'Cause they'll be distracted.
It'll be a good way to get in.
(labored breathing) Now let's go.
- Which way?
- Down there.
(bells jingling)
(sighs)
- I am so sorry we had to meet like this.
- It's not your fault.
- Are you okay?
- I guess so.
I wanted to meet him,
maybe ask a few questions,
but not be dropped off.
- Yeah, I understand that.
(laughs) Well I hate we had
to wait this long to meet, hm?
Oh.
- I should be the one apologizing,
not you, mama.
- Oh well, I'll let you two talk.
Okay.
- Why didn't you want me?
- Huh?
- After all these years,
you never came to see me.
No birthday gifts, no Christmas.
- I never meant to let so much time go by.
See, when you was a baby,
I got into some trouble.
I got put away for some time.
- How much time?
- Seven years.
- For what?
- I stole a couple cars.
- How many?
- About 30 that they know of.
- So what about after you got out,
why didn't you come see me then?
- I felt like I ain't
had nothing to offer you.
I've been trying to get myself together.
I didn't want you to see me like that.
- Are you together now?
- I'm working on it.
- (sighs) When I was a little girl,
I will cry for you, I
will cry myself to sleep.
All the other girls would
always have their dads
for the father daughter dance
and I would just have my mother.
Grandpa came one year and then he died.
- I'm sorry, baby.
- (sighs) There was always
this song that came on.
Mama said it was a classic.
The other girls would go crazy.
It was called, "Dance With My Father".
- (chuckles) Yeah.
Yeah, it's a classic.
You know my brother, Dylan.
- Really?
- Yeah, he made a cover to the song.
- Your brother's Dylan?
- Mmhmm.
- I thought I saw him downstairs.
I was so nervous.
- (laughs) Yeah, that's him.
♪ Back when I was a child ♪
♪ Before life removed all the innocence ♪
Can I ask you a question, Zooey?
- Yeah.
♪ My father would lift me high ♪
- (sniffs) I know I wasn't there for you.
I don't know how I'm gonna
be able to make it up to you,
but I think this might be a good start.
We can listen to it 13
times if you'd like,
one time for each year.
- Thanks, daddy.
I think this is a great start.
♪ Another dance with him ♪
♪ I played a song that
would never ever end ♪
♪ How I love, love, love to
dance with my father again ♪
(gentle piano music)
♪ I know my mother would disagree ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ To get my way, I would
run from her to him ♪
♪ He'd make me laugh just to comfort me ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Then finally make me ♪
- You see she just dropped that girl off?
Do you really think that
woman is coming back?
No, she is leaving that girl here.
And your irresponsible
brother is not gonna
step up and take care of that child.
So, it would be perfect
for the boys to stay here.
- (sighs) Look, I'm going
to sleep, all right?
- Oh no, we need to talk about this.
- Emani, baby, you talked.
All right, I have nothing to say.
- Conversation is not over.
I didn't sign up for this.
- (sighs) Woman, do you hear
yourself right now, huh?
You asking a man to get rid
of his own flesh and blood
all because it reminds
you of their dead mother?
- Wow, you have no idea how
heartbreaking this is for me.
- What?
Do you think you're the
only one hurting, huh?
I lost my wife.
I lost the love of my life.
My boys lost their mother,
the most important woman in their lives.
We're heartbroken so fuck your heartbreak!
Your ego is what's broken.
Our hearts will forever have a hole in it.
So you can do one of two things,
you can help fill that hole
or you can get the fuck out of our lives!
- Excuse me?
- I've been waiting to say this
shit for a long time, Emani,
I'm tired of your bullshit!
I'm tired of it!
- Malachi, my feelings are valid
and my feelings should matter to you!
Hey, don't you want me to be happy?
- Look, okay,
I love you, all right,
but I'm not gonna choose
you over my children.
That's just something I'm not gonna do
because at the end of the day,
you can decide to leave
and then what will I have, huh?
My boys and my mother are all I have.
I'm not gonna leave my kids on the curb
like my mother did me, okay?
I was in therapy for 10 years,
10 years in therapy.
My mother left me on the curb.
I'm not gonna do that to my boys.
It took 10 years for that woman
to love the fuck outta me
for me to realize that
I was worth something.
She adopted me when I was 10 years old.
So for 10 years, for 10 years
I went from house to house.
For 10 years, I felt
like nobody wanted me.
She adopted me at 10 years old.
So for 10 years, I went
from house to house.
For 10 years, I thought
I was better off dead.
For 10 years, I didn't
think anybody wanted me.
For 10 years, I didn't
even know what love was.
I don't want to hear you say
another goddam thing about my boys.
You can either step up and be their mother
or you can get the fuck out of our lives
because there is no way in hell
that they gonna go through
what I went through.
Do you hear me?!
(door rattles)
(door slams shut)
Mama,
thank you. (crying)
If I've never told you anything before,
I just wanna let you
know, I appreciate you.
I wouldn't be the man I am today
if it wasn't for you, thank you. (crying)
(crying) Thank you, thank you.
(sobbing)
- It's okay.
- None of us would be who we are
if it wasn't for you, mama.
- I don't know what I
would do without you, mama.
- Yeah, I'd probably be
dead if it wasn't for you.
Thank you for saving me.
(sighs)
(sobbing)
- It's okay, baby.
It's okay.
(sobbing)
(coughing)
(knocking at the door)
Who is it? (clears throat)
- [Emani] It's me, Emani, it's me Emani.
- Come in.
Hi, you okay?
- Um, I think I owe you an apology.
I'm sorry for my behavior.
- Oh, Emani, I get it and I get you.
- I don't know how to be who they need.
- (sighs) (chuckles) I fostered five boys.
(laughs) Five unruly boys
and everyday I had to
look them in their eyes,
knowing that I wasn't their mother,
that I didn't carry them
and that I wouldn't have the connection
that I wish I could. (coughs)
- So how did you do it?
Because (sighs) I feel
like such an outsider
and walking around my house
looking at pictures of their
mother, it's killing me.
- Yeah, well I took it day by day.
(sighs) Emani, I know we both have
two different religions and
but I do know, is that we
believe in one higher being,
a higher being that brings us,
brings us things for a reason.
And Emani, God brought you
those boys for a reason
and whether you believe it or not,
those boys need you.
(laughs) And you just gonna
have to understand that.
And everyday won't be
easy, but it'll get better.
But it won't get better
if you look at those boys
like they're a foreign object.
- I have a question,
what made you wanna adopt all these boys?
And I mean, at such a young age?
- Get on up here.
(coughing)
Well, (sighs)
(laughs) a failed marriage
will make you do some
crazy things. (laughs)
We tried to have a baby for a few years,
but I just couldn't.
So my husband left me.
He said I was only half of a woman.
So during the divorce, I
got this house paid in full
and a large lump sum of money
and that's when I met your husband
stealing out of the grocery store.
(laughs) Oh, I stopped
him, paid for the food
and we became fast friends.
Every week I would see him
standing outside of that grocery store
and then finally I said,
"Where are your parents?"
And that's when he told me
his heartbreaking story.
So I went home, slept
on it and I adopted him.
And after a year of us being together,
Christmas came and he
made a Christmas list
and on that list he asked
for a little brother.
(laughs) There I was again,
having to relive the fact
that I couldn't deliver,
but then God, he spoke to me.
So I, I adopted Xavier. (laughs)
Good God and then the next year,
Xavier put on his Christmas list
that he wanted a little brother
because he didn't wanna be the youngest.
(laughs) So I went down to the agency
and they showed me these two little boys,
Elijah and David and I just
couldn't make the decision.
So I choose both of 'em.
There, there, I was done, four was enough.
Oh, but then one of my
friends died during childbirth
and that's how I got Dylan.
Now Dylan was the only
one that I had from birth.
- So all these boys,
you never wanted a little girl?
- Yeah, I wanted whatever God
would bless me with. (laughs)
Oh but honestly, I couldn't
handle a little girl
with all these boys.
(laughs) You see 'em.
- And here I was trying to give
you two more for Christmas.
He won't tell you,
but I was trying to convince
him to let you take the kids.
I wasn't seeing straight.
I feel so selfish.
- Oh baby, don't you beat yourself up.
The problem is, we all
have this dream picture
of what, what our lives should be
and what our families should look like
and as women, we see
that at a very young age.
No woman every pictures
themselves as raising
somebody else's children,
but sometimes we just
gotta let go of that dream
and open up our hearts
to what God has for us.
- Yeah, you're right.
- Take your time.
It'll all work out, I promise you that.
- Thanks.
- No problem. (laughs)
Now, I know you don't celebrate Christmas,
but in this house, we like
to love on one another
and celebrate family, okay?
So no more fighting.
- No more fighting.
- That's right. (coughing)
- Are you okay?
(coughing)
- Just a little cough, I'm
gonna be all right. (coughing)
- [Emani] All right, let
me get you some water.
- [Zooey] Are you okay, Miss Angel?
(coughing)
- [Emani] Are you okay?
I'm gonna, (gasps)
you're coughing up blood.
- [Zooey] Daddy, daddy!
- No, no, don't call
'em, they'll just panic.
- [Xavier] What's going on, baby girl?
- [Zooey] Grandma is sick.
- Sick?
(coughing)
Is it back again?
- [Emani] Is what back?
- What's up?
- Answer me, mama, is the cancer back?
- Yeah, it's been back for a few weeks.
- What you mean it's been
back for a few weeks?
You ain't tell nobody?
How long have you known about this?
- Come on, man, she wanted
to tell everybody herself.
- How long, David?
- Since Thanksgiving.
- Thanksgiving and you
hold something like this
from us for that long?
- Zav, calm down.
- Calm down?
How you expect me to calm down, huh, how?
- Hey, hey, what's up?
What's going on?
- Man, mama's cancer's
back and this nigger
been knowing since Thanksgiving.
- What, mama.
- Is this the reason why you
wanted us all to come back home?
- Yeah, it is.
All right, but I shouldn't have
to make anybody do anything.
Y'all shoulda been here for Thanksgiving.
- [Angel] David.
- No, come on, they shoulda been here.
I mean, y'all shoulda
been here for Thanksgiving
to find out for yourselves.
- David--
- No, come on, ma.
- David, don't do this--
- No, it's true.
They never come by.
They never check on you.
Phone calls and text messages don't count.
You make time for the
people that you love.
- (sighs) Look mom, I'm so sorry.
I mean, have you at least
started treatment yet?
- (coughs) We need to talk about this.
- Oh mama, hey, we all here,
so we're listening, what's going on?
(sighs)
- There is no treatment.
- What do you mean there is no treatment?
- I have chosen not to
take treatment this time.
This is my third time and I am tired.
- So you're just gonna give up on us?
You can't leave us, we need you.
- I already tried to talk about it.
- What are her options, David?
- Well my friend knows
about this new trial
that she can be a part of, but
she has to agree to it first.
- I need to go get a drink.
- Mama, where you going?
- To get a drink of water.
(coughing)
(slow somber music)
- Mama, you gotta sign up for that trial.
- Oh, she's signing up for this trial.
- Mama look, no is not an option.
- Mama, I'm taking you in after Christmas.
- No.
Now I have fought and I have
fought and I have fought
and I am tired.
My body is so very tired.
All I want is to make it to my birthday
and spend my last days with my boys.
I'm not doing chemo.
I'm not doing radiation.
I'm not doing a trial.
I'm not doing any treatment.
Now y'all are grown.
You have your own lives and
it's time for you to grow up!
Now there is life and there is death
and you have to understand it.
Now I have prayed about
this cancer so much
that my knees have blisters.
Every time they tell me that it's gone,
it comes back over and
over and over again.
This is not the life that I wanna live
the rest of my life fighting
this disease forever.
Now instead of telling
me what I need to do,
you need to be men,
men I raised you to be!
Get your shit together.
No, don't touch me, don't touch me.
Now I am tired and I'm gonna go upstairs
and I'm going to sleep.
Now tomorrow's Christmas
Eve and I'm gonna wake up
and we not gonna talk about this.
I just wanna enjoy my Christmas.
(coughing)
(labored breathing)
(coughing)
- I tried to talk to her.
- Why didn't you just tell us?
- I promised her I wouldn't.
You know, I figured if
she didn't say anything
during this visit, I would
just sit you all down
and tell you myself.
- So how long does she have left?
- The doctor says six weeks.
- Six weeks, what?
- The cancer's more
aggressive this time, guys
and by her not doing the
treatment, it's taking over.
The blood is a sign that
it's moving to her lungs.
- So we just need a miracle then.
- I mean this trial would be the miracle,
but she has to be a part of it first.
It's literally her last option.
(sighs)
- I mean, what are we supposed to do, huh?
Are we supposed to just all sit around
and just watch her die?
- We can't do that.
There's something we gotta do
to be able to get through to her.
- I don't know how.
- Elijah.
- Huh?
- He's always had mama's heart.
- Well you know they've been at odds
ever since he went to the military,
but it could work.
- They haven't really
spoken in five years.
- Well look, if that's our only option,
then what we need to do
is we need to get Elijah on the phone
and tell him that he needs to come home.
- I already tried.
They denied his leave.
- No!
You need to get Elijah on the phone
and tell him that mama
is dying, all right?
He needs to come home and
he needs to come home now.
Davey, call him again.
Tell him to bring his ass home!
(gentle somber music)
- Hey bro, what's going on, man?
Yeah, yeah, no, I'm good, I'm good, um.
(gentle somber music)
- G-ma, are you cooking pancakes?
- Yep, I sure am.
- I love breakfast food.
- I love your pancakes.
My new mom can't cook.
- Really, Malik?
Is that how you really feel?
- You can't cook like G-ma.
- Hm.
- Our old mama couldn't cook either.
Daddy has a thing for
women that can't cook.
- Excuse me.
- Uh,
Emani, why don't you come
on over here and help me.
I'll teach you my recipe, come on.
(laughs) So, what I do is, I
put a cup of all-purpose flour,
take a little pinch of (voice trails off)
- Hey mama, you need some help?
- (sighs) I'm good, baby.
So--
- Everything okay?
- I'm fine.
- [Dylan] You sure?
- Boy!
♪ Before the king, ba rum pa bum bum ♪
♪ Rum pa bum bum, rum pa bum bum ♪
- (knocking) Hey ma, need some help?
- Uh, I'm good. (chuckles)
- How you feeling?
- Fine.
- You sure?
- Boy!
You gonna make me whoop
your ass, now, oop,
I'm sorry, you got me cussing
in front of these kids.
Now go on.
(sighs) Okay, so anyway,
you take this egg,
crack it here and the second
egg, (voice trails off)
- Hey mama, can I help you with something?
- She good.
- She good.
- Hey mama, how you feeling?
- She's fine.
- She's fine.
- Man, dude, I'm talking to mama--
- If y'all don't get out of my kitchen,
now if you are not a woman
or under the age of 14,
I want you to leave now!
Get out, get out, get out, get out!
We'll call you when it's ready.
(coughing)
Okay, now where was I?
- Two eggs.
- Oh, two eggs, okay, so we did the eggs.
Oh we have our baking powder.
♪ Ba rum pa bum bum, ba rum pa bum bum ♪
(doorbell rings)
♪ Mary nodded, ba rum pa bum bum ♪
- What the?
(grunting)
(muffled yelling)
What are you doing?
(chaotic arguing)
(grunting)
- Dylan!
- Oh damn you whoopin' his ass.
- [Roy] Come on boy, help me break it up!
(door thumps shut)
- Oh child, the ghetto.
- [Man] Stop, Dylan!
(grunting)
(chaotic yelling)
- [Dylan] Where the fuck is (mumbles)?
I'm gonna kill you!
- Really, kill me, Dylan?
- [Dylan] You ruined my fuckin' life!
- I brought you out of the closet.
I did you a fucking favor.
You're gay, you know that, right?
- I'm gay, but I ain't gay, gay.
- [Roy] What, not gay gay?
- Look, there's levels to this shit, okay?
- What kind of levels are there?
- Goddammit, hell if I know.
- Man, you need to leave my
mama's house right the fuck now.
- I'm not going anywhere, okay?
It's Christmas and I wanna
spend it with my future husband.
- Man, you're delusional as fuck
and I will never marry your ass.
- Oh, oh, you're not gay anymore, huh?
You delivered, huh?
Is that what you're saying to me?
(chaotic arguing)
- What is going on out here?
You can't just let 'em,
white folks live out here.
(grunting)
(chaotic arguing)
They're gonna call the police.
David, Xavier, break 'em up.
(laughing)
- Hell no, shit I ain't
breaking up no chick fight.
I ain't trying to get scratched up.
(laughing)
Shit.
- Get offa me.
- Come here!
Let me go, let me go!
- [Angel] Get your ass in the house.
- [man] You know you still love me.
- Fuck you!
- [Man] Yeah that's what you've been doing
the last four years, remember?
- Oh baby, look at you.
(sighs) Come on inside, let
me get you cleaned up, okay?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Come on.
Damn well.
Oh.
(cheerful music)
♪ I give anything ♪
- Woo, ha ha, I'm here.
A party ain't a party unless
I'm up in it. (laughs)
Oh, there goes my doctor
with your handsome self.
Oh my goodness.
- Wow, look at you.
You look beautiful, Auntie.
- [Auntie Heaven] Is
that my smooth criminal?
- Auntie.
- Hey baby. (laughs)
Hey baby.
- Hey.
And now you know I'm a changed man now.
- (laughs) Yeah right,
once a con, always a con.
You just got to learn
how to not get caught.
Oh there goes the bean pie man.
Michael, oh.
- Auntie, it's Malachi now.
- No, I've been calling
you Michael all these years
and I'm gonna continue to call you Micheal
and don't matter to me how
much that woman of yours
got you wrapped around her finger,
changing names and all that mess.
That pussy must be good.
- (laughs) Auntie.
The kids are upstairs, they can hear you.
- Okay, they know what that is.
That's the first thing they
tasted when they came here.
Now where's the gay one?
Hey baby.
- Hey Aunt Heaven.
- Now I'm really sorry about everything
that's going on with you.
- Yeah.
(laughing)
- You need to stop lying, boy,
you ain't had no business
tricking all them women
for all them years, but
Auntie still loves you.
- Love you too, Aunt Hell.
- The shade, I'm not the
one that changed my name,
that's your confused brother, hm.
Oh.
Oh, Angel, look at my
sexy ass little sister.
(shrieking)
(laughing)
Yes, y'all, let's get this
party started, all right?
Roy.
I see you over there, you and
your shady ass wife, mmhmm.
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now, ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off. ♪
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Ah, set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ On the left ♪
♪ On the left ♪
(laughing)
♪ On the left ♪
♪ I see Jess when we left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left ♪
♪ Set it off on the right ♪
♪ Set it off ♪
(laughing)
(clapping hands)
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set if off on the right ♪
(laughing)
(clapping hands)
(cheering)
(clapping)
♪ Set it off, set it off ♪
(people laughing)
(clapping hands)
(cheering)
♪ Y'all set it off on the right now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, set it off ♪
(chanting "go mama")
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, set it off ♪
(laughing)
(people talking happily)
(clapping)
(playful music)
♪ You're a mean one Mr. Grinch ♪
♪ You really are a heel ♪
♪ Prickly as a cactus ♪
♪ You're as charming as an eel ♪
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Let your heart be light ♪
(group responding "Aw")
♪ From now on our troubles
will be out of sight ♪
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in
a one horse open sleigh, hey ♪
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
- I did, I really did see
mama kissing Santa Claus
and I'm gonna tell my daddy.
♪ I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus ♪
♪ Underneath the mistletoe last night ♪
(people clapping)
(animated chattering)
♪ 'Cause this ain't 1823 and even 1970 ♪
♪ Well he the guy named Curtis Blow ♪
♪ And Christmas is one thing I know ♪
♪ That every year just about this time ♪
♪ I celebrate it with a rhyme ♪
(animated cheerful bantering)
(laughing)
- [Man] Next!
(animated cheerful bantering)
♪ This Christmas ♪
♪ Silent night ♪
♪ Holy night ♪
♪ All is calm and all is bright ♪
♪ Round yon virgin, mother and child ♪
♪ Holy infant so tender and mild ♪
♪ Say sleep in heavenly peace ♪
♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪
(family applauding)
(cheering)
- [Everyone] 10,
nine,
eight,
seven,
six,
five,
(coughing)
four,
three,
two,
one!
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday dear mama ♪
♪ Happy birthday to, to you ♪
♪ And many more ♪
- Thank you, baby.
(family applauding)
All right, look y'all
have really tired me out.
I am going to sleep.
I just wanna thank you
for coming out tonight,
but y'all have really tired me out.
I'm going to bed, okay?
- All right, you need some help?
- Yes baby, I'm fine,
I'm just tired, okay?
Now, (sniffs) thank you again, everyone,
for a great birthday.
Now if y'all want my
annual Christmas breakfast,
I need to get some sleep. (coughing)
- All right, mama.
- Goodnight, sis.
- Let's go get some cake.
- (sighs) Wait, wait, wait a minute,
why does everybody keep
asking her how she feeling?
- Yeah, like she dying or something.
- Well I mean, she didn't look her best.
- Faith.
- What?
- (sighs) It's back.
- What's back?
- The cancer and she
not taking the treatment
and I need to have a talk to her.
- Well, how long has it been back?
- I don't know, but the doctor
only gave her six weeks.
- What?
- There's this new trial at my hospital,
but she is refusing to be a part of it.
- Yeah well as fucked up as that may be,
we are going to have
to respect her wishes.
None of y'all truly know
what she went through
that last two years.
I was there with her, every minute
and it wasn't nothing pretty.
- Wait a minute now, sis,
so we're supposed to sit back
and just let her give up?
- We are not letting her give up.
Roy, it's a transition.
Life is a transition.
Death is not the greatest loss in life.
Death is just a part of life.
- But no one wants to
see their mother die.
- No baby, but eventually
you're gonna have to.
(sniffs) Roy, you remember that
riddle grandma used to say?
- Life asks death,
"How come everybody love
me, but they hate you?"
- Hm, and death responded,
"Because you are a beautiful lie
"and I am the painful truth."
- (sighs) Look, boys, it's true,
death ain't something you
can prepare yourself for
so you just gotta live each
minute like it's the last.
(doorbell rings)
- Who is it now?
Damn, the party over.
(claps hands)
- I'll get it.
(knocking on door)
Elijah?
- [Elijah] What's up, man?
- [David] How did you even just--
- [Elijah] Oh now,
I moved Heaven and Earth to get here, man.
Just pray I don't go get
arrested for going AWOL.
- [David] Well look man,
you just missed the party.
Step in.
- [Elijah] Hey everybody, how y'all doing?
(group greeting Elijah)
- [Malachi] What's up bro? (grunts)
- How y'all doing, guys?
(group responding)
Where's mama?
- Eh, she, she went to sleep. (sighs)
- All right, cool, I'm gonna go say hi.
(sighs)
(gentle quiet music)
(knocking)
Mama.
Mama?
Mama?
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Oh shit.
(gentle somber piano music)
Mama,
Mama?
Mama?
Come on mama, get up.
Mama get up.
Help!
Help!
- Hey mama, you gotta come
down and see. (laughs)
Mama.
(sobbing)
(muttering) What's going on?
What's going on, mama?
- (sobbing) I found her on the
floor and she wasn't moving.
- Come on.
- Ah, how bad is the cancer, yo?
How bad is the cancer, David?
- Listen man, calm down.
We just gotta get her
some help, man, calm down.
- I'll call 911.
- Megan!
Megan!
- Oh my God.
- Baby, you gotta help.
Baby, she's not breathing.
- Mama Angel, Mama Angel, can you hear me?
- This 911?
Yes, it's my mom, she's a cancer patient.
She's unresponsive.
We're at 630 Echo Street, Atlanta.
No, when was the last time she had chemo?
- [David] She's not on chemo, man.
- What do you mean she's not on chemo?
- She didn't want no radiation.
Just tell 'em to get the fuck here, man.
- Okay, okay, no chemo, no radiation,
they're doing CPR right now.
Yes, we have two doctors in the family.
Okay got you, hurry up please.
- Wait, what's wrong?
Mama!
- [Dylan] Is she okay?
Oh my God.
- [Malachi] Oh my God.
- I just found her.
She was in the bathroom passed out.
- [Xavier] Come on mama, come on mama,
stay here for us, come on.
- Why the fuck wasn't
she getting treatment?
David, you're a fucking doctor, man.
What the fuck's going on, man?
- She refused the treatment, man.
- What?
Wait.
Did you know when you called me?
Did you know when you called me?
- I've known since Thanksgiving, man,
she wanted to tell everybody herself.
- What the fuck and you didn't say shit?
You was gonna leave us
in the fucking dark?
(yelling over each other)
- The fuck, don't talk to
me like that, all right?
You're the one who been
gone for five years.
You ain't called her, you
ain't sent her a letter
or nothing like that.
So don't come at me
talking about what the fuck
I coulda been doing when you
ain't been doing shit, nigger.
Come on!
- Goddammit, goddamn.
- [Malachi] Calm your ass down, boy!
- He shoulda told her!
(screaming)
(siren blaring)
Somebody call an ambulance.
- I think I hear 'em outside.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, come on.
Come on, let's go.
- [Xavier] Come on, I need you, mama.
I need you mama.
Oh mama, be strong, mama.
Mama. (crying)
You're a fighter, you've been here before.
This ain't your first time,
this ain't your first rodeo.
I need you to ride this one.
(people muttering)
(praying)
- [Uncle Roy] I pray that you
lay your hands on my sister.
Keep her with us just a little bit--
- [Malachi] This ain't your time!
- [Megan] Come on Angel, come on.
- [Roy] Come on, it's gonna be all right,
she gonna be all right.
Be strong now.
- (sobbing) Please get up.
- [Xavier] Damn, where's that ambulance!
(sobbing)
- [Xavier] Come on mama, come on mama.
- One, two, three, four, five.
- [Roy] Where's that damn ambulance?
(people muttering)
(crying)
(slow somber music)
- You got to stay with
me, you got to stay.
Now Angel, you better come back to me!
(sobbing)
(gentle somber music)
- Now listen, I know this
is tough on you guys,
but we gotta stick together.
Now she needs us to be strong.
She's a fighter, but we gotta
let the doctors do their job.
- Dad, dad we should pray.
- That's right, we should pray.
And you should lead us.
(sighs)
- Dear heavenly Father, we
ask that you send your angels
to help heal an angel.
Lord please cover her in your anointed
and protect her body
from foreign intruders.
Father we ask that you empower the hands
that are working on her for we know
that all things are possible
through you and your grace
and we ask please extend her life
so that she may receive our love
and we may continue to receive hers
as long as you can, Father, please.
In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen.
- Amen, amen.
That was real nice, son, I appreciate it.
Pastor Jordan, you made it.
- Yes, sir, where is she?
- Oh she's in ICU.
- Can we see her?
I wanna pray over her right now.
- Uh (sighs)
- Hi, are you all the
family of Angel Williams?
- Yes, we are, how's she doing?
- She's not doing too good right now.
- What you mean?
- Her heart rate is extremely high
and her blood pressure's really low.
Now I put her on a few steroids
to see if I could slow
down her heart rate.
Just wait and see how that does.
- Can we see her?
- I'm afraid not right now.
There's just way too much
going on in there right now.
- Ma'am, we need to see her right now.
- I'm sorry, that's impossible.
Any extra excitement will
only raise her heart rate.
- (laughs) May I ask a question,
what is your job, ma'am?
- I'm the cardiologist specialist.
- Ah, ah, cardiologist,
you're a heart doctor.
- No, I'm the cardiologist specialist.
- Mm, well what's the difference?
- You see, I'm the one they call
when the cardiologist fails at his job.
That's why I'm here.
- I understand, but you're
missing part of her treatment.
I need to be in the room right now.
- And who are you?
- I am Joseph Jordan.
- Okay and what is it that you do, Joseph?
- I work for the man that we
all call on when you fail.
Can you please escort us to the room?
- Please.
- Listen, at least let the
pastor and her sons go in.
The rest of us, we can
wait out here in the lobby.
- All right, it has to be quick.
♪ Never could have made it without you ♪
♪ I would have lost it all ♪
♪ But now I see ♪
- I'm sorry, mom.
I'm sorry, but you can't leave me.
- Everybody put a hand on your mother.
Lord, we come before you ever so humble.
My heart feels as if there's 1,000 knives
running through it.
I am weary.
I am spent and I am very sad.
Please help me, Lord,
please hear my prayer.
Hold me and my family up.
Please give us the
strength to walk through.
Please be present, be
persistent with your love.
Carry us through this heartache,
sustain us, give us joy, give us hope.
First Corinthians chapter
15, verse 54 and 55
say that death is swallowed in victory.
Oh death, where is your victory?
Oh death, where is your sting?
Where is the sting of
death for the believer?
It's ripped out.
At the cross, Jesus ripped
the stinger from death
so us, as Christians, we
should no longer fear death
because our souls will
forever be with Christ
as we walk in your truth, Lord.
Please keep our eyes
fixed on heavenly things
and though we know there
will be terrifying events
that we will face through this life,
but ultimately, the victory belongs to you
and as we continue to walk in your truth,
Lord keep our eyes fixed
on heavenly things.
Oh Lord God, we trust you
and if you see fit,
give Angel the strength,
give her the strength, Lord,
to fight and live another day.
We are forever grateful
that we are forever covered in your grace.
In your son's name, Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
- [Group] Amen.
- Mama, if you can hear me, I love you.
- We all love you.
(crying)
- We gotta sing for her.
She used to love when we sang
some of her favorite songs.
- Which song, bro?
- Boys to Men, of course.
- All right.
Go ahead and lead it off.
♪ Loving you is like food to my soul ♪
♪ Do do ♪
♪ Do do do ♪
♪ Do tell me everything and
everything you've given me ♪
♪ I'll always keep it inside ♪
♪ You're the driving force in my life ♪
♪ And ya ♪
♪ There isn't anything or
anyone that I could be ♪
♪ And it just wouldn't feel right ♪
♪ If I didn't have you by my side ♪
♪ You were there for me
to love and care for me ♪
♪ When skies were gray ♪
♪ Whenever I was down, you were
always there to comfort me ♪
♪ And no one else can be
what you've been to me ♪
♪ You will always be, you will always be ♪
♪ The girl in my life for all time ♪
♪ Mama ♪
♪ Mama, you know I love you ♪
♪ You know I love you, mama ♪
♪ Mama, you're the queen of my heart ♪
♪ Your love is like tears from the stars ♪
♪ Mama, I just want you to know ♪
♪ Loving you is like food to my soul ♪
♪ Yes it is, yes it is ♪
(heart rate machine beeping)
(echoing heart beat)
(machine beeping)
(flat line signaling)
- [Doctor] I need a crash cart in here!
- What's going on?
- What's happening?
- You guys need to leave right now.
- Wait no, we have clearance.
All right, everybody just back away.
Give her some space.
- [Man] Come on mama, please.
- We're losing her!
- Save her!
Help her!
- Time of death, 9:23, Christmas Day.
(sobbing)
(gentle music)
♪ My hallelujah belongs to you ♪
♪ My hallelujah, my
hallelujah belongs to you ♪
- [Woman] And then the next part
just simply says this, it says,
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
Come on say it again, you deserve it.
♪ You deserve it ♪
You deserve it.
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
You deserve it.
♪ You deserve it ♪
All of the glory.
♪ All of the glory belongs to you ♪
All of the glory belongs to you.
♪ All of the glory belongs to you ♪
♪ All of the glory belongs to you, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, all of the glory
belongs to you, yeah ♪
♪ This is why you deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
(applauding)
- Thank you choir for
a beautiful selection.
Now we are gonna go ahead
and bow our head for prayer.
Lord Jesus, we come before
you today ever so humble.
Today I cry tears that mean
100 different things at once,
happy and sorrowful and
desperate and hopeful.
I trust you to sort them
out as you catch them.
I hear an answer.
I hope you hear an answer
each prayer they represent.
I cry for those of us left behind
for the lonely ones with
hallows in our hearts.
I ask you to comfort us, give us peace,
restore hope and lavish us with love,
family and belonging.
In the depths of loss,
meet us with yourself.
I cry for the legacy
this loved one leaves.
(sighs) For the ways the
world has been made better
by her presence, for the memories
that become both more beautiful
and more painful on this side of death
and I pray that the work
you have accomplished
in this remarkable life will grow deeper,
wider and stronger in the days to come
and for all the ways you're
making it right again.
I ask that you make me part of your work
into bringing the Kingdom
of Heaven to Earth.
I cry knowing you are here for me
and because you are here,
even my tears have meaning.
Amen.
- [Everyone] Amen.
- We will now open the
floor for reflections.
(gentle slow music)
♪ I just wanna make it to Heaven ♪
♪ I just wanna make it in ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I just wanna cross the river ♪
♪ I know I'm gonna be free from sin ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I just wanna make it for love ♪
♪ Bring me the lamps both of light ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ And when this life is over, yeah ♪
♪ Just wanna have eternal life, oh ♪
♪ I wanna hear you say
I wanna hear you say ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ I wanna hear you say (music fades) ♪
- How do you find the words
to reflect on a mother as great as ma?
- You know, when I was young,
I watched my ma fill out an application.
She was trying to get a part-time job so
she could get our Christmas
gift off of layaway
So we could have 'em
in time for Christmas.
- (sighs) I looked at
the line that asked about
past professions and I
remember thinking to myself--
- It's too small to write
down what she's been.
- Everyday, everyday my
mother worked that job,
(crying) everyday, my mother,
she helped me with my homework.
Everyday, my mother, she cooked us dinner.
- Everyday, even though she was
tired, she loved us no less.
- (crying) We never wanted for anything.
Nothing.
- She raised me to be
the best man I could be.
- So when I sit back and
I think about everything
that this woman has been to me,
how she showed me unconditional love--
(sighs)
- My mama had this favorite song.
It was by Trevor Campbell, "I'm Ready".
♪ I'm ready to love you forever ♪
♪ Hey love now, come
love me forever more ♪
- I'm ready to love you forever. (crying)
This woman had so much love. (crying)
They say that God will send you angels
while you're here on Earth.
Well God, I want you to know,
I'm very thankful and
grateful for my angel
because I was blessed
to call my angel, mama.
- My mama.
- My mama.
- All my mama.
- Be able to call my mama.
- My mother.
(crying)
- I love you mama, forever.
- I love you, our angel,
and I'll never forget you.
I'll always remember to
do what you told me to do
and keep God first.
I just ask that you send
me a woman down here
that can cook half as good as you
because I don't know what I'm
gonna do without your cooking.
- Not many black women
would accept a white girl
dating their son. (laughs)
I always feared going to meet
Mama Angel for the first time,
but they named her Angel
for a reason (laughs)
'cause that's what she was.
I am so, so grateful to
have been in her presence
and to have been able to accept her love.
And I'm so grateful for all
the nights that we stayed up
and she taught me to cook. (laughs)
Her recipes, collard
greens, macaroni and cheese.
(laughs) That is priceless.
I love you, Angel, thank you.
I'll take good care of him.
I promise.
- I'm sad that I only got
to know you for a few days,
but to think of the possibility
to have never met you,
I appreciate the time we had together.
I have always loved to cook
and just in those few days,
I've learned so much.
When I grow up, I'm gonna
own my own restaurant
and name it Angel's Heavenly Kitchen.
There will be a big
picture of you on the sign
so everyone knows how much I love you.
- Mama Angel, thank you
for always accepting me.
Thank you for loving
Dylan and I regardless
of what society had to say.
When my mother disowned me, you took me in
so today I feel like I
lost a mother as well,
but through it all, I have
to remember what you told me
when my grandmother died, you said,
"When you loose someone
special to you here on Earth,
"you gain a powerful angel
"fighting for you on the other side."
So I'm happy to know that I
have the most powerful angel
fighting for me now.
- [Together] Thank you G-ma
for teaching our new mama how to cook.
- I know that my family and
I share a different religion
than all of you, but I
think it's safe to say that,
we all know what it's like
to lose someone that we love.
Angel and I had a lot in common,
(laughs) a lot more than I
ever wanted to admit to myself.
We are both mothers who (crying)
to children that we didn't birth
and it wasn't until after
talking to Angel that
I learned the true meaning
of loving someone unconditionally.
Loving someone so much despite their flaws
and despite them not being yours. (crying)
Angel, thank you for making
me see the value of life,
the value of love and the value of family.
I will forever be in debt to you.
- You know, I didn't
know Mama Angel that long
and I wish I woulda got
more time to spend with her,
but the time that we did spend
was some of the best moments
that I'll cherish forever. (crying)
She was always so loving
and kind. (crying)
She opened up her home and her heart to me
and taught me the true value of family.
I'm gonna miss you, Angel.
- My sister, she was a
gift, a gift from God
and she always held a
special place in my heart.
She was my mini-me when we were growing up
and I never thought, I
never thought (crying)
I never thought that she would
leave this earth before me,
but God, you called my Angel home.
(gentle somber music)
(sighs)
- When the boys asked me
to deliver the eulogy,
I was afraid, but I was honored.
Now I had to ask myself, what
what can you say about a woman so great
as my sister, Angel?
(sniff) I um, my sister,
she was the baby. (laughs)
But she was the bossy one.
I mean, she was special
and as a little girl, she
would always remind me,
she would always say, "My name is Angel
"and my sister is Heaven
and we are special (laughs)
"and you just Roy." (laughs)
But hey, she's, she was my little sister
so I just let her say
what she wanted to say
because I love her.
I love her.
You see my sister was special because
she was made different.
You know, she was made kinda like her
world famous banana pudding.
I mean, there's so many ingredients,
so many layers, but she was
still the sweetest thing
you ever come across, but my son, R.J.,
and he would call it Nana's Pudding
and everybody loved Nana's Pudding.
I mean there was just
something about that pudding.
You know when I was thinking
about my sister last night,
I thought there had to
be something in that,
I mean to make people that excited,
there had to be something in that
that we could take away
today for ourselves
and add to our lives
and remember her always.
You see, in cooking,
there are three stages.
First you have the prep time.
Now first you have the prep time
and that's when you, that's
when you set the temperature
and when you're making a banana pudding,
you gotta make sure that the
oven is warmed in advance.
Then, then you got the cook time.
That's when God is
working, working with us
and getting us in that space,
that's when God is getting us situated
so that we and we're
prepped for this life.
We live.
I want somebody to turn
to your neighbors and say,
"It is time for somebody to live."
- [Group] It is time for somebody to live.
- Yes, and we ask, we ask
what are those ingredients
that we are needed to give
us that expected outcome?
First we have flour.
Now flour is in the Bible.
Now flour represents the truth of God.
Now God, God will pour
that flour into a sifter.
Amen and some of y'all don't,
y'all don't know the point of the sifter.
Now the sifter will separate
all of the clumps of our life,
all of the arrogance, all of the anger,
all of the uptight-ness.
See, God, he would pour us into a sifter
and we come out fine.
I want you to look at somebody and say,
"You, you, you are fine."
- [Group] You are fine.
(laughing)
Now my sister never judged anybody.
she just had a way of sifting
all of that stuff out of your life.
Then you have sugar, pure cane sugar.
Now the sugar,
what that represented
was the boost of energy.
Now look, I know that,
I know that sometimes we all get down,
but there was just something
about when Angel came around
with that banana pudding,
would just give you a boost of energy.
It was hard to be around
her and still be sad
'cause just like her sweet banana pudding,
she was a ball of energy.
Salt.
Salt is of the Earth.
Now we use salt to preserve
our covenant with God.
(laughs) Now my sister,
she was big on the church.
You can ask her boys
that now, she was serious
when it came to waking up
in time for church. (laughs)
She would always say, "I'm gonna make sure
"that they have a strong
foundation with God.
"I'm gonna make sure that they maintain
"and preserve that foundation
"because I'm gonna keep them in church."
And she did.
But most importantly, she
preserved the word of God.
So when she dropped that
salt in her pudding,
she was saying, there are some things
that we, some stuff we need to preserve.
Now I know that there
are some of y'all here
that are hunkered down
because she no longer with us,
but you need to know
that that merengue on top
was important and she
took the yolk from an egg
and she made that
merengue light and fluffy.
You see it's no coincidence
that we loved this dish
because each time she was ministering us
every time she made it.
She was saying, "Baby, I'm
making your stress light.
"I'm making your situation easy."
And when you think about it,
Angel really was an angel.
I mean, she was just like Jesus.
I mean she was loving
us and not judging us
and just being what she needed to be
and even in her transition,
she made sure she did not
leave these boys uncovered.
She taught Malachi how
to make a banana pudding.
She taught Xavier, she taught Elijah,
she taught David and even Dylan.
She made sure that even in her absence,
that we all had what we
needed to keep moving forward.
Ezekiel 16:13 and then
I'm gonna close with that.
Thou eats from fine
flour and honey and oils
and when you mix all that together,
you've got something exceedingly beautiful
and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
When she made her banana pudding,
she only used three bananas,
one for the Father, one for the Son
and one for the Holy Ghost.
And if your vision, if your
dream is all about you,
then it's too small.
Now she took the bananas
like Jesus took fish
and if I give you fish, you will eat,
but tomorrow you will come back hungry,
but if I could teach you how to fish,
then you can feed and
take care of yourself.
You all need to listen to me,
when Angel shared her
recipe with those boys,
she was making sure that they could
take care of themselves
and survive in her absence.
Not only did she make sure
those boys was covered,
but she made sure that for generations,
her family would be
loved, blessed and fed.
Y'all should hear her right now.
Say well, well, well.
(clapping)
(sighs)
Look uh, if there's any of you here
in this time, in this moment that
that your vision, your
dream is just about you
and nobody else, then I encourage you
to be like Angel and change.
And to my sister,
my sister, I love you.
(crying) I love you for who you are.
I pray, I pray that you
rest forever and have peace.
(gentle somber music)
- This funeral is so damn long.
Who does she think she
is, Aretha Franklin?
(laughing)
- This next selection is coming from
Angel's youngest, Dylan.
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ How do I let you go ♪
♪ How do I walk away ♪
♪ How do I give you all my
love for one last time ♪
♪ I though about your favorite song ♪
♪ Hoping it would make me strong ♪
♪ No way I could ever say goodbye to you ♪
♪ Now I only know heartbreak ♪
♪ I won't let them take you away ♪
♪ This can't be real, this can't be fate ♪
♪ With me beside you ♪
♪ I need you more than you will know ♪
♪ I will never let you go ♪
♪ I implore you even
though you have to go ♪
♪ I never though I'd see the day ♪
♪ When angels would take you away ♪
♪ And every single night
I pray to see you again ♪
♪ My mind won't let me move on ♪
♪ My heart is weak and not strong ♪
♪ I'm stuck right here, I can't go on ♪
♪ Without your love ♪
♪ So let me love you one last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know it's over ♪
♪ Let me love you one last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know you're gone ♪
♪ Let me love you one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ Baby, let me love you one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ Let me love you one last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know it's over ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know you're gone ♪
♪ One last time ♪
- Fellas, we're gonna get through this.
All right, with our heads held high.
That's what mama would
have wanted us to do.
She would of, she would of
wanted us to be strong for her.
(crying)
- I didn't even get to say goodbye, man.
(crying)
I didn't get to make things right.
(sobbing)
- She knew where your heart was.
Now she's looking over you.
- Looking over all of us.
- Stop all that crying, man,
before you have us all in here crying.
- (laughs) Like we did when
we lost that talent show.
Y'all remember that?
(groups laughs)
- Right.
Shit it was Elijah fault
hitting all the wrong notes.
(laughing)
(group chattering)
- No, no, now come on, Zay,
it was you missing all them steps, man.
You were so nervous.
- Hey, I messed up some steps,
but who got us that record deal though?
(groaning)
- Hey that's a good point.
(laughs)
- Yeah, sometimes I wonder
if we woulda kept going,
I wonder if we woulda really made it big.
- Yeah, I mean, I do miss performing
on stage with all my brothers.
- Really?
'Cause the way I remember,
you didn't like sharing the spotlight.
- You got locked up.
You went to jail.
You ruined the group.
- So it's my fault?
- Stop!
Fellas, just stop, stop
this right now, man.
Damn, I mean, it's been years.
Y'all need to handle this shit
right now, once and for all.
- Exactly, come on man,
it was Dylan's dream to begin with.
Xavier, you can't keep
holding a grudge, man,
like he was supposed to
hold up his dream for you?
- I mean, if anything,
mama woulda wanted us
to put this to rest.
Can we do that?
- I just wanted my shot.
I just wanted my shot.
You promised me an
audition when I got out.
- And I did everything I
could to give you that.
I'm sorry I led you on.
I really am.
But I just really want my brother back.
- Xavier, come on, brah.
- I'm sorry.
(clears throat)
I'm sorry for holding you responsible.
(clears throat)
And not taking accountability
for my actions.
Look man,
I got into some trouble
and I messed up the group contract.
I'm sorry, y'all.
You know,
you just (sighs)
it just eats at me every time knowing that
my life decisions, man.
You know, Dylan, I'm proud of you.
I really am.
You know, no matter what,
no matter what I've ever said to you, man,
you still my brother and I
accept you for who you are
'cause you've always accepted me
and uh, thank you.
- For what?
- For the child support
payments over the years.
Mama told me it wasn't her.
- I just wanted to make sure
that my brother was okay.
- Thank you, damn.
It's about damn time, Jesus.
- So now you know Jesus?
(laughing)
(sighs)
Zay apologized and he know Jesus now.
That's where we at, guys.
Man, we on the come up.
- Come on Zay, yo brah.
(laughing)
Chill man, you know what I meant.
- Yeah, we know what you meant, Michael.
(laughing)
- Shut up, punk.
(laughing)
Oh you all got jokes.
Okay, okay.
- Hey man, ain't being part of (mumbling)
That's all I'm saying.
- That's good, I got someone to call.
(laughing)
- Shit, homey.
- Brothers?
- [Together] Brothers.
(mellow music)
- [Man] This is for my
brothers in the hood,
♪ This is for my brothers in the hood ♪
♪ In the high rises on the
mansion with the Miss ♪
♪ We' gotta come together, y'all ♪
♪ David, Dylan, Malachi,
Xavier, Dmitri, Elijah ♪
♪ I'm sitting here alone
trying to face another day ♪
♪ Gotta stay strong, stay strong ♪
♪ To endure this pain ♪
♪ And dearly, we're right now ♪
♪ It flipped my whole life upside down ♪
♪ I don't want your help ♪
♪ I don't need your strength ♪
- [Angel] Now I'm a good Christian woman,
but I got a pass that'll blow your ass
clear off this block! (sighs)
- And I'm going to continue
to call you Michael
no matter how that woman of yours
has got you wrapped around her finger.
Change your name all that mess.
Pussy must be good.
- Auntie.
- This is preparation
for something bigger.
Just think about it,
all those kids somewhere,
they're out watching you.
They are waiting for you to, line.
- Life asks death, "How
come everybody love me,
"but they hate you?"
- Hm, and death responded, "Because you--
♪ I made a big mistake, yes ♪
♪ And I'm feeling so ashamed ♪
♪ And I don't want to lose
a friendship over this ♪
- [Xavier] You trippin, trippin.
- Told you. (laughs)
Okay, this is what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna leave her here for
a reasonable amount of time
with this fool.
Zooey, sweetie, you wanted your daddy--
- Come on, Xavier, come on.
(laughing)
Chill man, you know what I meant.
- Yeah, we know what you meant, Michael.
(men chatting)
(laughing)
- That's good, I got
some in the car. (laughs)
- Brothers.
(chuckles)
- [Together] Brothers.
(laughing)
to love you to love ♪
(alarm beeping)
♪ Forever ♪
(laughs)
♪ Hey love ♪
- Well what's the point
in having an alarm clock
if they're not gonna use it!
(pot clanks)
(alarm beeping)
This'll get 'em up, mmhmm.
(walking footsteps)
(alarm beeping)
♪ Get up, get up, get
up you sleepy heads ♪
♪ Get up, get up, get up get out of bed ♪
(alarm beeping)
♪ Get up, get up, get up you sleep heads ♪
♪ Get up, get up, get up get out of bed ♪
(clanking pot)
(children groaning)
(laughing)
Now next time it'll be my belt.
Now you have 30 minutes
to get ready for school
or I'ma feed your breakfast to the dogs.
It's the first day of school!
You're suppose to be excited!
Come on move move move move move!
(clanking pot)
(sighs)
Hmm, boys.
(giggles)
(boys chattering)
(knocks)
Get dressed!
- [Child] Okay.
(chuckles)
- My boys.
- What the? (laughs)
My boys (laughs).
Okay lets take this picture.
Where's Dylan?
- It takes girls longer to get dressed.
- Yeah he needs to put on his makeup.
(boys laughing)
- Boys, be nice.
- You just take him back, he don't fit in.
- Elijah, stop it!
- He doesn't, he's gay.
- Michael you don't even
know what gay means.
Now shut up before I send you all back.
- Where?
- [Mom] To the home, now hush.
Dylan, Dylan baby, Dylan baby.
(gentle piano music)
(knocking)
Oh Dylan.
- Now they're gonna make fun of me
and say I look like a girl.
I hate my voice.
- Oh baby, you can't spend your whole life
afraid of what other people are gonna say.
How many times do I have
to tell you that, huh?
Baby, your voice is a blessing from God.
Now you wanna know something else?
- What?
- I love your voice the best.
- Really?
- (chuckles) Yep.
Now let's go take this
picture and get you on a bus.
- [Dylan] Okay.
- Okay, gimme a hug.
(laughing)
You are so silly.
(laughing) Go downstairs.
(sighs)
(camera clicking)
(gentle piano music)
David, your dinner's ready, baby.
- Mama, how did you deal with this?
- (exasperated sigh) I ask
myself that same question.
(laughing) Come on, let's eat.
- [David] Well I'm surprised
I'm the only one here.
- Well Dylan wanted to come,
but he had a show in London.
Xavier got a new job and
he needs the holiday pay
and well, Elijah was deployed again.
Mm, I worry about my baby Elijah,
Mm, off fighting that white man's war.
- Well, better that he
be serving the country
than serving time.
- Amen.
- What about Michael?
- Malachi is at Emani's family.
- (coughing) Malachi?
- David--
- You mean Michael?
Look, I'm not calling that
man Malachi just because
he decided to marry a woman
who turned him Muslim,
it doesn't mean you gotta
change your name for all that.
- David, you have to
respect the man's wishes.
- Respect the man's wishes?
How about he respect the
woman who adopted him
and come home for the holiday
that he can actually celebrate?
- We talk.
- No, I mean, when's the last
time you actually seen him?
- The wedding.
- Exactly, the wedding and
that was almost a year ago.
- But we talk though, okay?
And everybody's got their
own careers and families
and I get that.
- Yeah right, whatever.
They should still be here.
I mean you are our family.
Who else is gonna sacrifice
their life adopting five boys?
Ma, why you ain't doing
your cooking show no more?
- (clears throat) How's
that fellowship program?
- Come on, ma.
- David--
- Don't change the subject.
- David, how was your fellowship--
- Ma.
- Look, I've been busy
doing other things, okay?
Okay?
Now how's your fellowship program?
(sighs)
- It's almost over.
It's okay.
The trial didn't go so well.
- Mm.
- I mean, I'll just start
going to medical school
where I'll be actually saving lives.
- What about Megan?
How's she doing?
- We broke up.
Which is probably the
reason why she's not here.
- Oh Lord.
What was the fight about this time?
- (sighs) well um, she
wants to leave Atlanta.
- Mm?
- She wants to go to
a hospital in Seattle.
She's been keeping up
with this general surgeon
named Miranda Bailey, wants to
work for her diabetes trial.
- So what's wrong with Seattle?
- Seattle?
- Yeah.
- (laughing) Come on, ma, ain't
no black people in Seattle.
(laughs) Like, come on, you know that.
- David, why are you so
afraid to leave me, huh?
You went to Morehouse to stay close.
You went to Emery to stay close.
I think you should leave
Georgia for a while.
It'll be good for you.
And you love that girl.
(laughs sarcastically) There was one time
I thought you loved
her more than medicine.
And I think it'll be good for you
to go out there and support her.
And there's nothing
keeping you here but me.
- (laughs) What?
I have more here.
- [Angel] Oh really?
- Yeah really.
- [Angel] Like what?
- (sighs) I got friends.
- (laughing) What friends?
- I got friends.
- (laughing) oh stop lying.
- I do.
- Oh,
I can always tell when you are lying.
- I'm not lying.
Plus, I think I found someone.
- Oh.
You got you another girl.
- Oh, no.
No, not exactly.
Um--
- Wait a minute.
(sighs)
- No, don't, don't give
me that look, okay?
- Okay.
- Dylan is the gay son.
I'm not your gay son (laughs) okay?
That has nothing to do with this.
It's not that. (laughs)
Um,
no, I uh,
think I may have came
across some new information
about finding my birth mom.
- Oh.
Oh.
- Yeah, um, but I'm just curious, okay?
- Okay.
- I mean, being involved with this trial,
I just learned how this
disease is linked to genetics
and everybody else is talking
about their family history
and then they look at me and
I don't know how to react.
I don't know anything about my genetics.
I don't know if my mom was a diabetic.
I don't know if she's ever had a tumor.
I mean all of these questions, you know?
- Okay, so you find out.
Then how will that help you, hm?
- I don't know.
Maybe it'll tell me how
I'll die or something.
You know?
- (laughing) Oh, now
that is a pile of bull.
- I mean, come on, I mean listen,
if I find out who she
is, maybe I can find out
who my dad is.
Maybe I can find out if my hairline
is gonna be receding before 30.
I mean, you just never
really know, come on.
- (laughing) You are funny.
Mm.
- Doesn't mean I'm replacing
your or anything, okay?
If that's what you're thinking, okay?
- Well I know that.
Ain't no replacing me, baby. (laughs)
'Cause she ain't got nothing
on me, you hear? (laughs)
But you do that if
that's what you wanna do,
but you be careful.
And if you need me to help
you, just let me know.
- I will.
I promise you, I will.
- Oh, I am so glad to see you.
- Oh gosh.
(laughing)
I'm glad to see you too, mom.
- Eat up.
- Okay.
Here I go.
So, you're turning the big 50 this year.
- Yeah, 50.
(foil rattling)
- Are you not excited?
- Yeah. (laughs)
Yeah, I am.
- Okay, so what's the plan, ma?
- Well it's Christmas, so
it's gonna be the usual,
toy drive and dinner at the boy's home.
Why?
- You're turning 50.
It's time to, you know, it's
time to turn the fuck up!
- Oh, watch your mouth, boy.
- What? (laughing)
Okay, okay, I'm sorry, but I mean, we are.
Look, I'm running to the bathroom,
once I get back, we're
planning the biggest,
most spectacular birthday
party ever, okay?
My mom's turning 50.
(claps) I don't know what
you thought this was.
(laughs)
- Woo, um, use the one upstairs,
the one in the hallway is broken, baby.
- [David] All right.
(coughing)
(gasping)
(gasping)
(coughs)
(clears throat)
(labored breathing)
(gentle piano music)
(water trickling)
- Did you wash your hands?
(water trickling)
- How long has it been back?
- (clears throat) What baby?
(bottle slaps counter)
- The cancer.
- David--
- How long, ma?
- Not too long.
- How far along are you in this treatment?
- I don't,
I don't know.
(exhales) I don't know.
(sniff) I don't know when it came back.
They caught it a few weeks
ago in my blood work, so.
- Is this why you haven't
been doing your show?
- Yeah.
I've just been so tired.
(coughing)
- So what did they say?
You gotta do chemo again?
(sighs)
- It's bad this time, David.
- How bad, ma?
- It's everywhere.
It's in my blood.
It's in my bones.
(exhales)
It's just spreading too fast.
(slaps legs)
- What's next?
- No, I can't go through that again, baby.
- Oh man, that's the
only option, mom, we--
- No.
No, it's not the only option.
- So what you gonna do, huh?
What are you gonna do?
Just gonna sit here and die?
- Baby, sometimes you just
gotta know when it's time.
- What do you mean when it's time?
Man, you're 49 years old, dammit!
- Don't you curse me.
Now you don't know how
it felt to watch my boys
just fall apart because y'all
didn't know how to function without me.
(crying)
Baby, the pain that this
cancer has caused your hearts
is way worse than the pain
that it's made me feel.
No, and no matter what,
it's gonna keep coming back.
That girl down at the
church has has had cancer
seven times in 15 years.
Oh God, I just, I just don't
wanna spend the rest of my life
fighting something that is not curable.
(water trickling)
- So how long did they give you, huh?
- (crying) Six weeks.
Six beautiful weeks.
(sighs)
- When were you gonna tell me?
- I don't know.
- (slams counter) You don't know?
- Yes, I don't 'cause I
don't know how to pick up
the damn phone and tell
the people that I love
that I am dying.
How do you do that, huh?
How do you break everyone's heart, huh?
You tell me the words.
Mmhmm.
It is better like this.
David this is my wish.
This is my last wish.
I just wanna enjoy the
time that I have left.
So see, you can get on that
plane and go to Seattle.
I'm gonna be okay.
- You know you can't expect me
to keep this from everybody, right?
- Oh, you have no choice.
(sniffs)
- Selfish woman.
This is selfish.
If they had any idea, they
would be here right now,
they would be here everyday!
- Yes, yes, they would be here everyday
falling apart and I
just cannot watch that.
- Well sometimes it's
not about what you want.
- Excuse me?
- Yeah.
We're gonna fall apart anyway
and that's something you're
just gonna have to deal with.
(gentle piano music)
(sobbing)
(tearful muttering)
(gentle music)
♪ Oh holy night ♪
♪ The stars are brightly shining ♪
♪ It is the night of our
dear Savior's birth ♪
♪ Long lay the world in
sin and error pining ♪
♪ 'Til he appeared and
the soul felt its worth ♪
♪ A thrill of hope the weary ♪
As hard as this is for me to say,
(sniffs) I know it's about the holidays
a time when you're supposed
to be with your family,
you wanna go out,
(sniffs)
if you go out,
going out with a fuckin' bang, yeah.
(sniffs) Yeah, that's
right, I said fucking.
(laughs)
And I mean it.
I mean it. (sniffs)
♪ Oh night divine ♪
I just have
I just got a few requests.
- Okay.
- Let me talk to the
oncologist at the hospital.
I just wanna make sure
that you're comfortable as possible.
♪ With glowing hearts by
his cradle we'll stand ♪
And second,
second, I just want us,
just want us to have one last Christmas.
- Yes,
one, one last Christmas.
- Yeah.
I mean all of us,
celebrate like we used to,
house full of family (crying)
gifts, dancing, music,
all of that, mama, it's gonna be fun.
(crying) It'll be fun.
(sighs)
- Do you have to invite your aunt, Heaven?
(laughing)
- Yes, we do have to invite Aunt Heaven
and Uncle Roy and his
bougie ass wife, Faith.
- Oh God, not Faith. (laughs)
- [David] Yes. (sighs)
- Okay,
okay I can deal with that.
But can you please let me
tell them after Christmas?
I don't want everybody following me around
like I'm about to slip
into my casket. (laughs)
- I can honor that, I can honor that.
(coughing)
(labored breathing) One last Christmas.
♪ And his gospel is peace ♪
♪ Oh, chains shall they break ♪
- One last Christmas.
- (sighs emotionally) Okay.
♪ And in his name all
oppression shall cease ♪
Okay now get off me. (crying)
It's gonna be okay.
(sighs)
(coughing)
♪ Praise his name ♪
♪ Oh Christ is the Lord ♪
♪ Oh praise his name forever ♪
♪ Oh night divine, oh night divine ♪
♪ Oh night when Christ was born ♪
♪ Oh night, oh night ♪
- I miss you.
- I don't wanna play this
game with you, David.
(sighs) I'm going to Seattle.
I already accepted the
offer from Dr. Bailey.
(distant dog barking)
- Okay.
- Okay?
- Yeah, okay.
- So what now?
- I mean, I don't know.
I guess I'll just have to figure it out.
Isn't that what people do?
- Yeah, I guess.
What's wrong?
- Why does something have to be wrong?
- David, I know you, all right?
Something's up.
- My ma's cancer came back.
(distant dog barking)
- Damn.
Oh, you should bring her in.
- I can't, she's refusing treatment.
- What?
- I don't know.
Probably shouldn't have said anything.
I promised her that I wouldn't.
- How long does she have?
- Six weeks.
- Six weeks?
David, she's so young.
- Yeah.
Yeah, I know.
I know, but listen, uh,
I need you to do me a favor, okay?
- What's up?
- I need you to come home
with me for Christmas.
I mean, I want this Christmas
and I want her birthday to be so special
and I feel like after I'll
be able to convince her
to do the treatment.
- Then no problem, of course, of course.
Come here, come here.
(gentle slow music)
- Come on man, we can't
have me looking like a punk
in front of this hospital.
(laughing)
- Come on, everyone out
her knows you're a crybaby,
but you are my crybaby.
- Mmhmm.
(laughs)
(slow gentle music)
- Have you talked to your brother yet?
- No that's actually the
next thing on my list.
- It's nice to know I
was first on the list.
- Always, baby, always.
(soft gentle music)
- I'm gonna get back
inside, got a surgery,
but Christmas at Mama Angel's, all right,
it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great.
- Okay.
- Get your brothers home.
We'll talk more over dinner.
- All right.
- Love you.
- I love you too.
See you later.
(soft gentle music)
(sighs)
- [Woman] How much for a pie?
- [Malachi] As-salamu alaykum,
my beautiful black sister,
it's gonna be $10.00 for a pie.
- [Woman] All right.
- [Malachi] All right--
- Thank you.
- There you go.
All right, as-salamu alaykum, my sister,
peace be onto you, okay?
- All right.
- All right, take care.
(phone rings)
Ha, Davey.
As-salamu alaykum, my
brother, what's going on?
- Hey Michael, what's going on?
What's up, man?
Hello?
(airplane engine humming)
- Yo bro, you know my name.
- Malachi.
- Thank you, now we can talk.
As-salamu alaykum, my beautiful
black brother, what's up?
- (sighs) What's up, brother?
- As-salamu alaykum.
- Look man, I ain't Muslim.
I ain't gotta say all that, okay?
I'm just calling you 'cause I
need you home for Christmas.
- Brah, you know I don't
celebrate Christmas, man.
- Look, it's not always about you, okay?
It's mama's 50th birthday and she's having
a birthday celebration,
man, I need you home.
Look, I know you don't
celebrate Christmas, all right,
so while everybody else
is saying merry Christmas,
all you gotta do is just say,
happy birthday, all right?
- Brah, if ma was having a
big party and everything,
why she didn't call me
herself and tell me?
- 'Cause she didn't.
She wanted me to do it.
She need me to get everybody together.
So look, just tell your
wife, whatever you gotta do,
tell her it's just you and the kids,
y'all coming home for Christmas
and leave that woman
wherever the hell she at.
- (laughs) My brother, my brother,
why is there so much hatred
towards another brother's wife?
- All right man, all
right, I'm sorry, I get it.
Just bring everybody.
- Well, it would be good to see ma
and the kids been asking about her.
I'm sure they'll love to get their hands
on some of her banana pudding.
I might have to sell a few more bean pies
to make it happen, but we'll be there.
- All right, just do what
you gotta do to be here, man.
- All right, well,
damn.
(sighs)
Well peace be unto you too, brother.
Bean pies, get your bean pies.
What's up, my black brother?
(cheerful holiday music)
♪ Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas ♪
♪ I won't even ask for snow ♪
♪ I'm just gonna keep on waiting ♪
♪ Underneath the mistletoe ♪
♪ I won't make a list and send it ♪
♪ To the North Pole for Saint Nick ♪
♪ I won't even stay awake to hear ♪
♪ Those magic reindeer click ♪
♪ I just want you here tonight ♪
♪ Holding on to me so tight ♪
♪ What more can I do ♪
♪ Baby all I want is
to sing noel and you ♪
- Hey man, that was perfect!
Let's do some ad-libs.
- Yeah, yeah, I like how that felt.
- Yeah.
(phone rings)
- Hold on, let me take this real quick.
- [David] Yo.
- Hey, talk to me.
- [David] Dylan, what's good, superstar?
- Yo, what's good, bro?
How the doctor life treating you?
- [David] Everything's good, man,
everything's good with the
whole doctor position, man.
I can't thank you enough for
helping me out with that.
- Well you already know.
If my brother good, I'm
good, that's all that matter.
But where that sexy ass girl of yours at?
- [David] Hey man, she's around.
- All right.
Hey, you talk to her sister for me?
- Dylan, where is Jessie?
- I'ma take this out.
(distant traffic humming)
Man, I don't know what
you're talking about.
- [David] Jessie, your boyfriend?
- (laughs) Man, you know
I ain't got one of those.
- I mean, come on, what happened now?
I thought he was the one.
- Jessie wanted a fairytale
and I'm a mainstream R and B singer.
My name is not Frank Ocean.
- Oh, I see, I see, I see.
So he wanted you to come out.
- All that and more, man.
This nigger saw Gucci
and Keisha wedding on BT
and then talked about starting
a reality show of his own.
Said it'll help him start
his acting career out.
Selfish ass.
- Damn man, I'm sorry to hear that.
- No, it's good.
I'm just gonna find me
a wife and settle down.
- Yeah well um, before you do that,
I do need you to come home for Christmas.
- No can do, bro.
- What do you mean?
- (sighs) I got this Christmas
concert in South Africa
for a bunch of group home kids.
You know, a bunch of nappy headed kids
trying to get adopted like you and me.
I can't cancel on 'em.
- Well look man, ma was
really looking forward
to having us all there.
You know she's really
gonna be disappointed.
- Yeah, but mom's gonna
understand, bro, she know my heart.
But eh, look, I gotta head
back into the session.
(sighs) Maybe I'll try
to figure something out,
maybe come a couple of
days after Christmas.
- All right, man.
(sighs) Just let me know
what you can do, all right?
- Yeah, fo' sho.
- Bye.
(sighs loudly)
All right, well, that's one and one.
(singing happily)
(sighs)
Come on David, get it
together, get it together.
(phone rings)
(singing happily)
- (laughs) 'Bout time your
punk ass call me back.
- Xavier, what's good?
- Shit man, nothing much,
just trying to make it to the next day.
- Look um, I'm just calling you.
I need you uh, I need you
home for Christmas, man.
Well, mom needs you home for Christmas.
- For what?
- It's Christmas, man, what do you mean.
- (laughs) Man, I can't
go back to Georgia.
Shit, I'm behind on child support.
- Child support?
- Yeah, $3,500.
They catch me down there,
they trowing my black ass back in jail.
- Why haven't you been
paying child support?
- 'Cause I got a lot of damn kids.
Shit man, I'm out here struggling,
but you know, I'm just
doing the best I can.
- Look man, yeah, I get
it, I get it, but um,
I really need you home.
- I can't.
You know, all this money I'm making,
just trying to save up so my
kids can have a good holiday.
(laughs) If I come home,
it's gonna be one ugly ass Christmas.
- Zav, you gotta get home, man.
- Something going on with ma?
- No, not exactly.
- What you mean, not exactly?
- All I can really say is
man, she really needs us.
- Is it that bad?
- Yeah.
- All right brah.
Hey, don't tell nobody I'm coming home.
I gotta keep a low profile.
- All right, man.
I'll talk to you later.
- All right, man, yeah.
Merry fuckin' Christmas.
Fuck.
They bought to lock me up and
throw away the fucking key.
Shit.
(plan engine humming)
- Yo, big bro, what's happening?
- (laughs) What's up, Elijah?
- (laughs) Man, just, you know,
out here fighting this
war man, keeping you safe.
You know what I'm saying, 'cause you soft.
- Come on, man.
(laughs)
Why you gotta be a punk?
- Yeah man.
- Look man, I'm just excited
to have you home for Christmas
man, it's been too long.
- What?
No, I ain't gonna be home for Christmas.
- What do you mean?
It's Christmas, momma's
birthday, Atlanta, home.
- No, ain't nobody say nothing to me
about coming home for Christmas, man.
- Ah, come on, man.
What you mean, you gotta put in for it.
You can't miss out on this one.
It's momma's 50th birthday celebration.
Everybody's gonna be there.
- Oh damn.
- You can't miss out, man.
- It is ma's 50th.
I mean, yeah man, it
ain't gonna happen, man
'cause I didn't ask for leave, man.
I mean, I could try man, I can see,
but you know, they mainly give priority
to the people with wives
and stuff like that, man--
- Well can you at least try?
(sighs)
- It ain't looking good.
- You gotta pull it through, man.
It's been too long.
It's time for you and momma,
it's time for y'all to make up.
- Did she say that?
- Yeah man, she misses you.
- Yeah, I miss her, man.
All right, fuck it, I'm
gonna try for mama, man.
- Well you know what you gotta do?
- I'm gonna see what I can do.
I'm gonna do the best I can.
- (laughs) All right, man,
I'll hit you up later, man.
I love you, brah.
- Oh, there you go with that lovey stuff,
man, you soft, man.
You gotta remember, I'm
not the gay brother.
- See that's what I'm saying,
man, you don't love me, brah.
- (laughs) All right,
man, I'll hit you later.
- Bye.
(exhales) That's two and a possibility.
(sighs) Lord,
I know you wanna call her home. (sighs)
But I need her, we need her.
If you can just help me get
all of my brothers together,
I know we can try to convince
her to get the treatment.
Just praying for a miracle.
Just praying you do whatever you gotta do.
♪ When I know our love
is waiting the wind ♪
♪ So many a times, well ♪
♪ I can't go on fighting this fight ♪
♪ When I know it's over ♪
- Hey D!
- Yeah what's up, why you stop the track?
- Man, you need to come see this.
You on MZZ.
- See what?
I don't got time for no tabloids.
We gotta finish this track.
- Nah man, you need to come see this.
(sighs) Oh man.
- This just in,
a sex tape has been
leaked of singer, Dylan
and it's not with a woman.
There has always been speculation
about Dylan's sexuality
and his close relationship
with his assistant, Jessie.
Yeah, that's right, ladies,
your favorite sexy idol
is not checking for you.
It seems all those years,
doing all those videos
with beautiful women,
guess what, they were all a lie.
It's 2019, who is afraid
to be labeled gay nowadays?
It seems Frank Ocean
busted that door wide open.
- [Brooklyn] Babe, turn
it to channel five.
- For what, baby, I'm playing the game.
- Your brother, Dylan is on the news.
- Fuck Dylan.
(sighs)
- Xavier--
- What the fuck?
- This is serious.
- But the question still remains,
how could you lie to all your
fans for that length of time?
That's the question these
ladies wanna know the answer to.
And the sex tape, (chuckles) wow.
There were things done in that sex tape
that screamed professional gay, not just,
baby, I apologize, I got caught
up in the moment type thing.
There were things done on that sex tape
that said, Dylan invented sex.
(laughing)
(claps hands)
- Shit, so the faggot
finally came out the closet.
- So it's clear, this young man
has a second career in doing porn
because ladies and gentlemen,
his music career is definitely over.
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Let your heart be light ♪
♪ From now on your troubles
will be out of sight ♪
(gentle piano music)
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Make the yule tide gay ♪
(sighs)
♪ From now on ♪
- Hello?
Yeah baby, I just saw it.
Now you know when the enemy attacks,
you gotta keep standing.
Oh baby, it's gonna pass over.
(laughs) You know you can.
I'll be here waiting.
I love you.
♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪
(coughing)
♪ Are then near to us ♪
♪ Once more ♪
(knife thumping)
♪ Through the years ♪
♪ We all will be together ♪
- It seems like somebody outed him.
- Well shit, Mr. Perfect ain't
so goddam perfect no more.
- You need to call your
brother and check on him.
- I ain't gotta do a goddam thing.
- This is your brother.
- Foster brother and he
ain't done shit for me.
- Why do you have to be so evil?
What is the problem?
You never even told me what he did to you.
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
- (chuckles) We'll see if
he sells another record.
(sighs)
(laughing)
♪ A merry little Christmas ♪
(mutters quietly)
(door clatters)
- Now if I have to tell you one more time
to leave my property,
we're gonna have a problem.
- Ma'am, can you just tell
us how Dylan is doing?
- Are you proud to have a gay son?
- Is it true that he's leaving music?
- Did you know he was a
homosexual the entire time?
- I done warned y'all.
(reporters protesting)
(door slams)
(door rattling)
- Ma'am--
- I'm a good Christian woman,
but I got a pass that'll blow
your ass clear off this block!
(clicking heels)
(door slams)
The nerve of these people
saying I had a mental breakdown.
I shoulda shot all their ignorant asses.
I'll show 'em a mental breakdown.
(sighs)
(knife clanking)
- Mom, I'm sorry.
- For what?
- For bringing all this.
I wasn't trying to, I didn't mean it.
- Shut your mouth, okay?
Now I don't wanna hear it.
Don't apologize.
Have no control over it.
- I know, but it's just so much--
- And what do we tell you, hm?
Take it one day at a time.
Take it one day at a time.
That's all you can do.
- And then what?
What am I supposed to do after that?
- You're gonna have to face it, baby.
You're gonna have to face it.
When you get ready, you
are gonna have to face it
and move on with your life.
God won't give you anything
that you cannot bear.
- God is just punishing
me because I'm gay.
- Oh, he is doing no such thing.
All this is just preparation for you
to do something bigger.
Just think about it, somewhere out there,
there are some kids lookin' up to you,
waiting for you to speak your truth,
waiting for you to speak your
truth and stand tall in it
so that they can find the
strength to do the same thing.
- If you say so.
I just wish somebody
would stand up for me.
- Oh no, now, you've got
to stand on your own.
But those of us that love you,
we're gonna stand with you
and I am sure your family and your friends
and your fans will do so
when you are ready, okay?
(chuckles) Come here.
It's gonna be all right.
- You think so?
- Oh, I know so.
I know so.
Now, your brothers'll be here any moment
so you should go get cleaned up, okay,
so we can get this day started.
- Yeah, I guess so.
- (laughs) Dylan baby?
- Yes momma?
- Smile, it's Christmas.
(laughing) That's my baby.
Tis the season, (coughing)
♪ Season to be jolly ♪
(coughing)
♪ Fa la la la la, la la la (coughing) ♪
Woo.
Oh, there go my boys,
come here. (laughing)
- [Boy] Grandma!
Oh, I missed you so much. (laughing)
- Hey momma, what about me?
You miss me too?
- Oh, I guess I missed you a little bit.
- (laughs) Hey momma. (grunts)
- And how are you, Emani?
- I'm fine, Miss Angel, how are you?
- Oh, I've never been better
now that my boys are here
and I got something, oh,
I got a special surprise
for you all. (snapping)
- Really, what is it?
- Yeah, what is it?
- How 'bout we find out, come on.
- You need to talk to her
about taking the boys.
- (sighs) Please don't
start this, Emani, okay?
- I'm gonna start it
because I wanna make sure
you don't forget why
I agreed to come here.
- Look, okay, I'm not
leaving my kids here, okay?
That's not gonna happen, so
you might as well get over it.
- No, I'm not gonna get over it.
I can't play stepmom to
that dead woman's kids.
They are destroying our marriage.
Please, now Angel took all the boys in.
I'm sure she won't mind,
you know, taking your kids.
(sighs)
And besides,
I'm sure that she needs the company.
Now, either you talk to her or I will,
but I will not leave this
house with those boys.
(sighs)
- Oh my God. (sighing)
Why? (exhales)
(grunting)
(laughing) There you go, Davey.
- (laughs) Micheal.
You know I'm not calling you Malachi.
- [Malachi] Whatever, man.
- How are you, Malachi?
- (laughs) And how are you doing,
my beautiful black, my beautiful queen?
- (laughs) You know, I was
good, but now I'm great.
- Amazing.
(laughs)
- [Megan] I'll see you inside, okay?
- All right.
Hey brah, man, why you
gotta be so difficult, huh?
- What you mean, man?
I don't really see it that way.
I mean when you so used to calling a man
by one name your entire life,
all of a sudden you
call him by another name
just because his bougie
ass wife told him to?
Doesn't work like that.
- Well, all right, whatever well,
I see somebody still is
afraid to put a ring on it.
(laughs)
but you know what?
I understand because it takes a real man
to step up to the plate. (laughs)
Oh, snap, look at this,
pretty boy Zay. (laughs)
You mean to tell me that this dude
stepped away from his player's life
long enough to come and
spend Christmas with us?
Brah, how did you make that happen?
- Hey man, come on, that's my brother.
Leave him alone, okay?
- You know I heard you, right?
- He's a changed man now.
- (laughs) Yeah, still
good at changing women.
What, no.
This dude opening doors for women now?
(laughs)
Hot damn,
pigs must be flying.
- Very funny, fake ass Malcolm X.
(chuckling)
- Oh man.
- Okay, what's up, brah?
- What's going on, Zay? (laughs)
- I'm doing good man,
long as you don't sell me none
of them stale ass bean pies.
- [Malachi] Well, whatever, brah.
- (laughing) He got your game, brah.
- Whatever, both of y'all hush.
Oh man.
- Hey, baby, this is my brother David
and that here is Michael, aka, Malachi,
aka Louis Farrakhan's bastard lost child.
- [Malachi] Whatever man, how
you doing by beautiful black,
(laughs) come on, man,
let me greet your beautiful woman here.
How you doing my beautiful Nubian goddess.
So good to meet you.
- You too.
- Brah, why must I have
so much hate in thy spirit
when you have such a beautiful
Nubian goddess by your side?
- Gosh, it's overkill at this point, Mike,
cut it out, dude.
- All right, man,
where is everybody at, man?
- Everybody's inside,
man, except for Elijah.
- All right, well come on baby, let's go.
I'm going inside before I
get converted to a Muslim.
(laughing)
Come on.
- All right. (laughs)
You okay, bro?
- No, I'm not okay.
My life is in a million pieces.
- You'll be fine, you just gotta
let shit smooth over, okay?
I mean Kevin Hart cheated on his wife.
R. Kelly had people
trapped in the basement
and Usher gave all his groupies herpes
and they all bounced back.
- Yeah, you're right.
- Yeah.
- Right,
I just don't know how
to handle it, you know?
- I mean shit man, can't
do what you been doing.
Keep sucking and sucking--
- Xavier.
(laughing)
- It's like a shit man, look, listen,
look at it like this,
you don't have to sing
about women anymore,
you could start singing about men.
You know what I'm saying?
You ain't gotta act no more, brah,
start living your truth,
the faggot that you are.
(laughing) Shit, you know what I'm sayin'?
- Yeah, I might be a faggot,
but I'll whip your ass.
- Try it here.
- Hey y'all come on, chill out, all right?
- Fellahs--
- Relax.
(sighing)
- [Angel] What's going on up there?
- [Dylan] Momma.
- Yeah, we're fine, all right?
Just happy to see each other.
- Yeah.
- [Angel] Dinner's ready.
Wash your hands and come on down.
- [Xavier] All right momma, I'm coming.
Shit, I wanna try your food anyway.
Okay ma.
- I'm gonna whoop his ass.
I'm not playing that shit today.
- You don't have to do
all of that, all right?
There's no need for violence.
Can we all just get along for mama please?
- We are non-violent with those
who are non-violent with us.
- Nigger, did you just quote Malcolm X?
- Come on, let's go eat
before the great menace,
Malachi starts to speak in tongues.
- Muslims don't speak in tongues, brah.
- [David] Whatever.
♪ I just wanna keep on waiting ♪
♪ Underneath the mistletoe ♪
♪ I will make a list and send it ♪
♪ To the North Pole for Saint Nick ♪
- Bartholomew.
Bartholomew, hon!
♪ I just want you here tonight ♪
♪ Holding on to me so tight ♪
- Bartholomew, get down here!
♪ All I want is to hang
on to you, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Oh all the lights are shining
so brightly everywhere ♪
- My name is Bart, mom, Bart.
- Really?
For the nine months that
I carried your black ass
growing inside of me, and
for the 18 hours of labor,
I can call you whatever the
hell I want to call you.
- Yes ma, yes.
- Now, Angel is having
a 50th birthday party
which means her sons are gonna be in town,
which means there will be distractions
for you to get in and steal the recipes.
- Mom, why don't you just
ask her for the recipe--
- Son, shut up.
I've waited 20 long years for
that banana pudding recipe.
So you wanna know what
I want for Christmas?
- What mom?
A man?
- Really Bart?
Does it look like I need a goddam man?
- (sighs) Okay mom, the recipe book.
- So, you listen,
you and that dumb ass sidekick
of yours devise a plan,
make it happen.
- I'm more like a best
friend, not a sidekick.
- Who told your dumb fat ass to talk?
Both of y'all, get your asses out my face.
(laughing)
- So Xavier how's your
car repair business going?
- It's going pretty good, mama.
- So that mean you making a
lot of money then, brah, huh?
- Yeah, you know, everything
going pretty good, bro.
- I hope it's going good enough for you
to start to pay your child support
and take care of your seven kids.
He told you he got seven kids, right?
- She knows how many
kids I have, all right?
Now you know, maybe I
should hire you a publicist
to save your little music career?
- Uh boys, can we please act your age?
- He started it.
(sighs)
- Malachi, how are the boys
adjusting to their new school, huh?
- Mm, things are fine.
- They could be better--
- Things are fine.
The boys, they love their new school.
- I mean, they're getting so big.
I'm just glad they're doing
okay after they lost their mom.
(people agreeing)
- Yeah, the boys, you
know, they understand
that she's in a better
place, you know, they get it.
- Just glad they were able
to spend some time with her
before she passed.
I mean, just imagine
what it would be like
if she were to pass away
and nobody got a chance to say goodbye.
- Um, yeah, Megan, I
just love your blouse.
- Oh, (clears throat) (laughs)
why thank you, Mama Angel.
- Yeah, the earrings are lovely too.
- [Megan] Thanks.
- Yeah. (laughs)
Yeah you know, maybe you
should let Dylan here
borrow them for his new
album cover, Tinker Bell.
(people laughing)
- Xavier.
- Yeah, I could use a little extra money
to take care of your un-fathered children.
Well hey, Brooklyn, if you ever get tired
of being with him, all you
gotta do is get pregnant.
I'm sure he'll run away then.
- Oh, don't come for my man.
- I'm just letting you
know the truth, that's it.
- Okay, be quiet, eat.
(mumbling under breath)
(clicking heels)
(labored breathing)
(playful dramatic music)
♪ You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch ♪
- (labored breathing) Now,
now you go in there in the front
while I go around back,
slip in and try to get
this recipe book, okay?
(labored breathing)
- Ho, ho, ho,
sounds like a merry good idea.
(bag thumps)
Ow!
- Shut up!
(labored breathing) And you know mama
wanted this recipe book.
You better not fuck this
Christmas up for me!
- How could I do that, I'm Santa.
(bag thumps)
Ow!
♪ You're a monster, Mr. Grinch ♪
- The strongest level of brotherhood
is a sense of community, friendship
and a common purpose in
Islam for the sake of Allah.
Now, the Koran teaches us
that we should avoid harming each other.
We should be generous to one another
and we also should behave
in the best manner.
- Mm, beautiful words, baby.
- [Malachi] Thank you, mama.
- And the Bible say something similar.
In Romans 12:10, it says,
be devoted to one
another in brotherly love
and preference one another in honor.
- Angel, how do you feel about two Muslims
raising children that don't
know Allah, but know Jesus?
- Well, I mean, I think there are
many inter-religious households out there,
but as long as you
believe in a higher being
and have guiding values,
I believe it could work.
However, I gave my boys
the freedom to choose
whatever religion they wanted to.
- So you were flexible?
- Yeah.
My babies came from all
different walks of life
and I felt that it was important
for them to hold on to
whatever was important to them.
- Hm.
So do you feel that the lack
of a strong religious structure
had a negative outcome
on their relationships?
(clears throat)
- Mama, damn, what did
you put in this pie?
This thing is good.
- Mama, this pie is delicious.
(people agreeing)
You know what?
I think I'm gonna have me another piece.
Better yet, you should cook
this on your next episode.
- Maybe I should.
Now Emani, back to your question--
- Mm, matter of fact, you know what?
You should do a Christmas special.
That's what you should do.
- Yeah, that's a great idea, son.
Now Emani, like I was about to say--
(doorbell rings)
Oh, I wasn't expecting anyone.
Excuse me.
(whispering)
- Don't start this now.
(arguing quietly)
(doorbell rings)
- [Angel] Oh, why Charisse,
what brings you here?
- I'm here 'cause I'm bringing her here.
I heard her daddy was in town
and what he's not gonna do is continue
to act as if my child does not exist.
So what I'm gonna need for
you to do is go on inside
and tell him to bring his black ass out
'cause he's got about 13 years
worth of Christmas gifts that he owe us.
- Now this is not--
- First of all, don't Charisse me.
Xavier!
Get yo' black ass out here
because I know you in there!
- Okay, let's be reasonable about this.
There's a child involved.
(laughing)
- Let me tell you what reasonable is,
reasonable is a grown ass man
taking care of his own child
even if he's a broke ass nigger.
He still need to have
some type of presence
in his own child's life.
My daughter is becoming a teenager.
She needs her father.
- This is not the way to
do things, not like this.
- I'm sorry, what is it that
you're not understanding
'cause I've been trying for years, okay?
Now Miss Angel, I understand
that that fool of yours
is your son, but I ain't never
took you to be no dumb bitch.
- Dumb bitch?
- Hey man, don't you come
talking to my mama like that.
You tripping, tripping.
- Daddy.
- I told you. (laughs)
Okay, this is what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna leave her here for
a reasonable amount of time
with that fool.
Um sweetie, Zooey, you wanted your daddy.
There his big ass is, okay, boo?
I'm out, all right?
- [Zooey] But ma, I would--
- Don't but ma me, okay?
You already got your Christmas gift early.
I'm out.
Bye. (laughs)
I'm out!
- Well everybody, this is
Zooey, Xavier's oldest daughter.
You hungry, baby?
- Not really, I just ate.
- Okay, well, let's get
you settled in upstairs.
You must be tired after that long drive.
(sighs) Come on.
- Uh, bro, you need to go.
- Go where?
- Go check on your daughter, dumb ass.
(sighs)
(slow walking footsteps)
- Are you sure this is a good idea?
They got a lot of shit going on.
- Well damn, there's a
lot of people in there.
(exasperated breath) Let me think.
Let me think.
I think we should come
back during the party.
- Right.
- 'Cause they'll be distracted.
It'll be a good way to get in.
(labored breathing) Now let's go.
- Which way?
- Down there.
(bells jingling)
(sighs)
- I am so sorry we had to meet like this.
- It's not your fault.
- Are you okay?
- I guess so.
I wanted to meet him,
maybe ask a few questions,
but not be dropped off.
- Yeah, I understand that.
(laughs) Well I hate we had
to wait this long to meet, hm?
Oh.
- I should be the one apologizing,
not you, mama.
- Oh well, I'll let you two talk.
Okay.
- Why didn't you want me?
- Huh?
- After all these years,
you never came to see me.
No birthday gifts, no Christmas.
- I never meant to let so much time go by.
See, when you was a baby,
I got into some trouble.
I got put away for some time.
- How much time?
- Seven years.
- For what?
- I stole a couple cars.
- How many?
- About 30 that they know of.
- So what about after you got out,
why didn't you come see me then?
- I felt like I ain't
had nothing to offer you.
I've been trying to get myself together.
I didn't want you to see me like that.
- Are you together now?
- I'm working on it.
- (sighs) When I was a little girl,
I will cry for you, I
will cry myself to sleep.
All the other girls would
always have their dads
for the father daughter dance
and I would just have my mother.
Grandpa came one year and then he died.
- I'm sorry, baby.
- (sighs) There was always
this song that came on.
Mama said it was a classic.
The other girls would go crazy.
It was called, "Dance With My Father".
- (chuckles) Yeah.
Yeah, it's a classic.
You know my brother, Dylan.
- Really?
- Yeah, he made a cover to the song.
- Your brother's Dylan?
- Mmhmm.
- I thought I saw him downstairs.
I was so nervous.
- (laughs) Yeah, that's him.
♪ Back when I was a child ♪
♪ Before life removed all the innocence ♪
Can I ask you a question, Zooey?
- Yeah.
♪ My father would lift me high ♪
- (sniffs) I know I wasn't there for you.
I don't know how I'm gonna
be able to make it up to you,
but I think this might be a good start.
We can listen to it 13
times if you'd like,
one time for each year.
- Thanks, daddy.
I think this is a great start.
♪ Another dance with him ♪
♪ I played a song that
would never ever end ♪
♪ How I love, love, love to
dance with my father again ♪
(gentle piano music)
♪ I know my mother would disagree ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ To get my way, I would
run from her to him ♪
♪ He'd make me laugh just to comfort me ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Then finally make me ♪
- You see she just dropped that girl off?
Do you really think that
woman is coming back?
No, she is leaving that girl here.
And your irresponsible
brother is not gonna
step up and take care of that child.
So, it would be perfect
for the boys to stay here.
- (sighs) Look, I'm going
to sleep, all right?
- Oh no, we need to talk about this.
- Emani, baby, you talked.
All right, I have nothing to say.
- Conversation is not over.
I didn't sign up for this.
- (sighs) Woman, do you hear
yourself right now, huh?
You asking a man to get rid
of his own flesh and blood
all because it reminds
you of their dead mother?
- Wow, you have no idea how
heartbreaking this is for me.
- What?
Do you think you're the
only one hurting, huh?
I lost my wife.
I lost the love of my life.
My boys lost their mother,
the most important woman in their lives.
We're heartbroken so fuck your heartbreak!
Your ego is what's broken.
Our hearts will forever have a hole in it.
So you can do one of two things,
you can help fill that hole
or you can get the fuck out of our lives!
- Excuse me?
- I've been waiting to say this
shit for a long time, Emani,
I'm tired of your bullshit!
I'm tired of it!
- Malachi, my feelings are valid
and my feelings should matter to you!
Hey, don't you want me to be happy?
- Look, okay,
I love you, all right,
but I'm not gonna choose
you over my children.
That's just something I'm not gonna do
because at the end of the day,
you can decide to leave
and then what will I have, huh?
My boys and my mother are all I have.
I'm not gonna leave my kids on the curb
like my mother did me, okay?
I was in therapy for 10 years,
10 years in therapy.
My mother left me on the curb.
I'm not gonna do that to my boys.
It took 10 years for that woman
to love the fuck outta me
for me to realize that
I was worth something.
She adopted me when I was 10 years old.
So for 10 years, for 10 years
I went from house to house.
For 10 years, I felt
like nobody wanted me.
She adopted me at 10 years old.
So for 10 years, I went
from house to house.
For 10 years, I thought
I was better off dead.
For 10 years, I didn't
think anybody wanted me.
For 10 years, I didn't
even know what love was.
I don't want to hear you say
another goddam thing about my boys.
You can either step up and be their mother
or you can get the fuck out of our lives
because there is no way in hell
that they gonna go through
what I went through.
Do you hear me?!
(door rattles)
(door slams shut)
Mama,
thank you. (crying)
If I've never told you anything before,
I just wanna let you
know, I appreciate you.
I wouldn't be the man I am today
if it wasn't for you, thank you. (crying)
(crying) Thank you, thank you.
(sobbing)
- It's okay.
- None of us would be who we are
if it wasn't for you, mama.
- I don't know what I
would do without you, mama.
- Yeah, I'd probably be
dead if it wasn't for you.
Thank you for saving me.
(sighs)
(sobbing)
- It's okay, baby.
It's okay.
(sobbing)
(coughing)
(knocking at the door)
Who is it? (clears throat)
- [Emani] It's me, Emani, it's me Emani.
- Come in.
Hi, you okay?
- Um, I think I owe you an apology.
I'm sorry for my behavior.
- Oh, Emani, I get it and I get you.
- I don't know how to be who they need.
- (sighs) (chuckles) I fostered five boys.
(laughs) Five unruly boys
and everyday I had to
look them in their eyes,
knowing that I wasn't their mother,
that I didn't carry them
and that I wouldn't have the connection
that I wish I could. (coughs)
- So how did you do it?
Because (sighs) I feel
like such an outsider
and walking around my house
looking at pictures of their
mother, it's killing me.
- Yeah, well I took it day by day.
(sighs) Emani, I know we both have
two different religions and
but I do know, is that we
believe in one higher being,
a higher being that brings us,
brings us things for a reason.
And Emani, God brought you
those boys for a reason
and whether you believe it or not,
those boys need you.
(laughs) And you just gonna
have to understand that.
And everyday won't be
easy, but it'll get better.
But it won't get better
if you look at those boys
like they're a foreign object.
- I have a question,
what made you wanna adopt all these boys?
And I mean, at such a young age?
- Get on up here.
(coughing)
Well, (sighs)
(laughs) a failed marriage
will make you do some
crazy things. (laughs)
We tried to have a baby for a few years,
but I just couldn't.
So my husband left me.
He said I was only half of a woman.
So during the divorce, I
got this house paid in full
and a large lump sum of money
and that's when I met your husband
stealing out of the grocery store.
(laughs) Oh, I stopped
him, paid for the food
and we became fast friends.
Every week I would see him
standing outside of that grocery store
and then finally I said,
"Where are your parents?"
And that's when he told me
his heartbreaking story.
So I went home, slept
on it and I adopted him.
And after a year of us being together,
Christmas came and he
made a Christmas list
and on that list he asked
for a little brother.
(laughs) There I was again,
having to relive the fact
that I couldn't deliver,
but then God, he spoke to me.
So I, I adopted Xavier. (laughs)
Good God and then the next year,
Xavier put on his Christmas list
that he wanted a little brother
because he didn't wanna be the youngest.
(laughs) So I went down to the agency
and they showed me these two little boys,
Elijah and David and I just
couldn't make the decision.
So I choose both of 'em.
There, there, I was done, four was enough.
Oh, but then one of my
friends died during childbirth
and that's how I got Dylan.
Now Dylan was the only
one that I had from birth.
- So all these boys,
you never wanted a little girl?
- Yeah, I wanted whatever God
would bless me with. (laughs)
Oh but honestly, I couldn't
handle a little girl
with all these boys.
(laughs) You see 'em.
- And here I was trying to give
you two more for Christmas.
He won't tell you,
but I was trying to convince
him to let you take the kids.
I wasn't seeing straight.
I feel so selfish.
- Oh baby, don't you beat yourself up.
The problem is, we all
have this dream picture
of what, what our lives should be
and what our families should look like
and as women, we see
that at a very young age.
No woman every pictures
themselves as raising
somebody else's children,
but sometimes we just
gotta let go of that dream
and open up our hearts
to what God has for us.
- Yeah, you're right.
- Take your time.
It'll all work out, I promise you that.
- Thanks.
- No problem. (laughs)
Now, I know you don't celebrate Christmas,
but in this house, we like
to love on one another
and celebrate family, okay?
So no more fighting.
- No more fighting.
- That's right. (coughing)
- Are you okay?
(coughing)
- Just a little cough, I'm
gonna be all right. (coughing)
- [Emani] All right, let
me get you some water.
- [Zooey] Are you okay, Miss Angel?
(coughing)
- [Emani] Are you okay?
I'm gonna, (gasps)
you're coughing up blood.
- [Zooey] Daddy, daddy!
- No, no, don't call
'em, they'll just panic.
- [Xavier] What's going on, baby girl?
- [Zooey] Grandma is sick.
- Sick?
(coughing)
Is it back again?
- [Emani] Is what back?
- What's up?
- Answer me, mama, is the cancer back?
- Yeah, it's been back for a few weeks.
- What you mean it's been
back for a few weeks?
You ain't tell nobody?
How long have you known about this?
- Come on, man, she wanted
to tell everybody herself.
- How long, David?
- Since Thanksgiving.
- Thanksgiving and you
hold something like this
from us for that long?
- Zav, calm down.
- Calm down?
How you expect me to calm down, huh, how?
- Hey, hey, what's up?
What's going on?
- Man, mama's cancer's
back and this nigger
been knowing since Thanksgiving.
- What, mama.
- Is this the reason why you
wanted us all to come back home?
- Yeah, it is.
All right, but I shouldn't have
to make anybody do anything.
Y'all shoulda been here for Thanksgiving.
- [Angel] David.
- No, come on, they shoulda been here.
I mean, y'all shoulda
been here for Thanksgiving
to find out for yourselves.
- David--
- No, come on, ma.
- David, don't do this--
- No, it's true.
They never come by.
They never check on you.
Phone calls and text messages don't count.
You make time for the
people that you love.
- (sighs) Look mom, I'm so sorry.
I mean, have you at least
started treatment yet?
- (coughs) We need to talk about this.
- Oh mama, hey, we all here,
so we're listening, what's going on?
(sighs)
- There is no treatment.
- What do you mean there is no treatment?
- I have chosen not to
take treatment this time.
This is my third time and I am tired.
- So you're just gonna give up on us?
You can't leave us, we need you.
- I already tried to talk about it.
- What are her options, David?
- Well my friend knows
about this new trial
that she can be a part of, but
she has to agree to it first.
- I need to go get a drink.
- Mama, where you going?
- To get a drink of water.
(coughing)
(slow somber music)
- Mama, you gotta sign up for that trial.
- Oh, she's signing up for this trial.
- Mama look, no is not an option.
- Mama, I'm taking you in after Christmas.
- No.
Now I have fought and I have
fought and I have fought
and I am tired.
My body is so very tired.
All I want is to make it to my birthday
and spend my last days with my boys.
I'm not doing chemo.
I'm not doing radiation.
I'm not doing a trial.
I'm not doing any treatment.
Now y'all are grown.
You have your own lives and
it's time for you to grow up!
Now there is life and there is death
and you have to understand it.
Now I have prayed about
this cancer so much
that my knees have blisters.
Every time they tell me that it's gone,
it comes back over and
over and over again.
This is not the life that I wanna live
the rest of my life fighting
this disease forever.
Now instead of telling
me what I need to do,
you need to be men,
men I raised you to be!
Get your shit together.
No, don't touch me, don't touch me.
Now I am tired and I'm gonna go upstairs
and I'm going to sleep.
Now tomorrow's Christmas
Eve and I'm gonna wake up
and we not gonna talk about this.
I just wanna enjoy my Christmas.
(coughing)
(labored breathing)
(coughing)
- I tried to talk to her.
- Why didn't you just tell us?
- I promised her I wouldn't.
You know, I figured if
she didn't say anything
during this visit, I would
just sit you all down
and tell you myself.
- So how long does she have left?
- The doctor says six weeks.
- Six weeks, what?
- The cancer's more
aggressive this time, guys
and by her not doing the
treatment, it's taking over.
The blood is a sign that
it's moving to her lungs.
- So we just need a miracle then.
- I mean this trial would be the miracle,
but she has to be a part of it first.
It's literally her last option.
(sighs)
- I mean, what are we supposed to do, huh?
Are we supposed to just all sit around
and just watch her die?
- We can't do that.
There's something we gotta do
to be able to get through to her.
- I don't know how.
- Elijah.
- Huh?
- He's always had mama's heart.
- Well you know they've been at odds
ever since he went to the military,
but it could work.
- They haven't really
spoken in five years.
- Well look, if that's our only option,
then what we need to do
is we need to get Elijah on the phone
and tell him that he needs to come home.
- I already tried.
They denied his leave.
- No!
You need to get Elijah on the phone
and tell him that mama
is dying, all right?
He needs to come home and
he needs to come home now.
Davey, call him again.
Tell him to bring his ass home!
(gentle somber music)
- Hey bro, what's going on, man?
Yeah, yeah, no, I'm good, I'm good, um.
(gentle somber music)
- G-ma, are you cooking pancakes?
- Yep, I sure am.
- I love breakfast food.
- I love your pancakes.
My new mom can't cook.
- Really, Malik?
Is that how you really feel?
- You can't cook like G-ma.
- Hm.
- Our old mama couldn't cook either.
Daddy has a thing for
women that can't cook.
- Excuse me.
- Uh,
Emani, why don't you come
on over here and help me.
I'll teach you my recipe, come on.
(laughs) So, what I do is, I
put a cup of all-purpose flour,
take a little pinch of (voice trails off)
- Hey mama, you need some help?
- (sighs) I'm good, baby.
So--
- Everything okay?
- I'm fine.
- [Dylan] You sure?
- Boy!
♪ Before the king, ba rum pa bum bum ♪
♪ Rum pa bum bum, rum pa bum bum ♪
- (knocking) Hey ma, need some help?
- Uh, I'm good. (chuckles)
- How you feeling?
- Fine.
- You sure?
- Boy!
You gonna make me whoop
your ass, now, oop,
I'm sorry, you got me cussing
in front of these kids.
Now go on.
(sighs) Okay, so anyway,
you take this egg,
crack it here and the second
egg, (voice trails off)
- Hey mama, can I help you with something?
- She good.
- She good.
- Hey mama, how you feeling?
- She's fine.
- She's fine.
- Man, dude, I'm talking to mama--
- If y'all don't get out of my kitchen,
now if you are not a woman
or under the age of 14,
I want you to leave now!
Get out, get out, get out, get out!
We'll call you when it's ready.
(coughing)
Okay, now where was I?
- Two eggs.
- Oh, two eggs, okay, so we did the eggs.
Oh we have our baking powder.
♪ Ba rum pa bum bum, ba rum pa bum bum ♪
(doorbell rings)
♪ Mary nodded, ba rum pa bum bum ♪
- What the?
(grunting)
(muffled yelling)
What are you doing?
(chaotic arguing)
(grunting)
- Dylan!
- Oh damn you whoopin' his ass.
- [Roy] Come on boy, help me break it up!
(door thumps shut)
- Oh child, the ghetto.
- [Man] Stop, Dylan!
(grunting)
(chaotic yelling)
- [Dylan] Where the fuck is (mumbles)?
I'm gonna kill you!
- Really, kill me, Dylan?
- [Dylan] You ruined my fuckin' life!
- I brought you out of the closet.
I did you a fucking favor.
You're gay, you know that, right?
- I'm gay, but I ain't gay, gay.
- [Roy] What, not gay gay?
- Look, there's levels to this shit, okay?
- What kind of levels are there?
- Goddammit, hell if I know.
- Man, you need to leave my
mama's house right the fuck now.
- I'm not going anywhere, okay?
It's Christmas and I wanna
spend it with my future husband.
- Man, you're delusional as fuck
and I will never marry your ass.
- Oh, oh, you're not gay anymore, huh?
You delivered, huh?
Is that what you're saying to me?
(chaotic arguing)
- What is going on out here?
You can't just let 'em,
white folks live out here.
(grunting)
(chaotic arguing)
They're gonna call the police.
David, Xavier, break 'em up.
(laughing)
- Hell no, shit I ain't
breaking up no chick fight.
I ain't trying to get scratched up.
(laughing)
Shit.
- Get offa me.
- Come here!
Let me go, let me go!
- [Angel] Get your ass in the house.
- [man] You know you still love me.
- Fuck you!
- [Man] Yeah that's what you've been doing
the last four years, remember?
- Oh baby, look at you.
(sighs) Come on inside, let
me get you cleaned up, okay?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Come on.
Damn well.
Oh.
(cheerful music)
♪ I give anything ♪
- Woo, ha ha, I'm here.
A party ain't a party unless
I'm up in it. (laughs)
Oh, there goes my doctor
with your handsome self.
Oh my goodness.
- Wow, look at you.
You look beautiful, Auntie.
- [Auntie Heaven] Is
that my smooth criminal?
- Auntie.
- Hey baby. (laughs)
Hey baby.
- Hey.
And now you know I'm a changed man now.
- (laughs) Yeah right,
once a con, always a con.
You just got to learn
how to not get caught.
Oh there goes the bean pie man.
Michael, oh.
- Auntie, it's Malachi now.
- No, I've been calling
you Michael all these years
and I'm gonna continue to call you Micheal
and don't matter to me how
much that woman of yours
got you wrapped around her finger,
changing names and all that mess.
That pussy must be good.
- (laughs) Auntie.
The kids are upstairs, they can hear you.
- Okay, they know what that is.
That's the first thing they
tasted when they came here.
Now where's the gay one?
Hey baby.
- Hey Aunt Heaven.
- Now I'm really sorry about everything
that's going on with you.
- Yeah.
(laughing)
- You need to stop lying, boy,
you ain't had no business
tricking all them women
for all them years, but
Auntie still loves you.
- Love you too, Aunt Hell.
- The shade, I'm not the
one that changed my name,
that's your confused brother, hm.
Oh.
Oh, Angel, look at my
sexy ass little sister.
(shrieking)
(laughing)
Yes, y'all, let's get this
party started, all right?
Roy.
I see you over there, you and
your shady ass wife, mmhmm.
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now, ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off. ♪
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Ah, set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ On the left ♪
♪ On the left ♪
(laughing)
♪ On the left ♪
♪ I see Jess when we left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, just set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left ♪
♪ Set it off on the right ♪
♪ Set it off ♪
(laughing)
(clapping hands)
♪ Set it off on the left y'all ♪
♪ Set if off on the right ♪
(laughing)
(clapping hands)
(cheering)
(clapping)
♪ Set it off, set it off ♪
(people laughing)
(clapping hands)
(cheering)
♪ Y'all set it off on the right now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, set it off ♪
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, set it off ♪
(chanting "go mama")
♪ Set it off on the left, y'all ♪
♪ Set it off on the right, now ♪
♪ Set it off, come on, set it off ♪
(laughing)
(people talking happily)
(clapping)
(playful music)
♪ You're a mean one Mr. Grinch ♪
♪ You really are a heel ♪
♪ Prickly as a cactus ♪
♪ You're as charming as an eel ♪
♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪
♪ Let your heart be light ♪
(group responding "Aw")
♪ From now on our troubles
will be out of sight ♪
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
♪ Oh what fun it is to ride in
a one horse open sleigh, hey ♪
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪
♪ Jingle all the way ♪
- I did, I really did see
mama kissing Santa Claus
and I'm gonna tell my daddy.
♪ I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus ♪
♪ Underneath the mistletoe last night ♪
(people clapping)
(animated chattering)
♪ 'Cause this ain't 1823 and even 1970 ♪
♪ Well he the guy named Curtis Blow ♪
♪ And Christmas is one thing I know ♪
♪ That every year just about this time ♪
♪ I celebrate it with a rhyme ♪
(animated cheerful bantering)
(laughing)
- [Man] Next!
(animated cheerful bantering)
♪ This Christmas ♪
♪ Silent night ♪
♪ Holy night ♪
♪ All is calm and all is bright ♪
♪ Round yon virgin, mother and child ♪
♪ Holy infant so tender and mild ♪
♪ Say sleep in heavenly peace ♪
♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪
(family applauding)
(cheering)
- [Everyone] 10,
nine,
eight,
seven,
six,
five,
(coughing)
four,
three,
two,
one!
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday dear mama ♪
♪ Happy birthday to, to you ♪
♪ And many more ♪
- Thank you, baby.
(family applauding)
All right, look y'all
have really tired me out.
I am going to sleep.
I just wanna thank you
for coming out tonight,
but y'all have really tired me out.
I'm going to bed, okay?
- All right, you need some help?
- Yes baby, I'm fine,
I'm just tired, okay?
Now, (sniffs) thank you again, everyone,
for a great birthday.
Now if y'all want my
annual Christmas breakfast,
I need to get some sleep. (coughing)
- All right, mama.
- Goodnight, sis.
- Let's go get some cake.
- (sighs) Wait, wait, wait a minute,
why does everybody keep
asking her how she feeling?
- Yeah, like she dying or something.
- Well I mean, she didn't look her best.
- Faith.
- What?
- (sighs) It's back.
- What's back?
- The cancer and she
not taking the treatment
and I need to have a talk to her.
- Well, how long has it been back?
- I don't know, but the doctor
only gave her six weeks.
- What?
- There's this new trial at my hospital,
but she is refusing to be a part of it.
- Yeah well as fucked up as that may be,
we are going to have
to respect her wishes.
None of y'all truly know
what she went through
that last two years.
I was there with her, every minute
and it wasn't nothing pretty.
- Wait a minute now, sis,
so we're supposed to sit back
and just let her give up?
- We are not letting her give up.
Roy, it's a transition.
Life is a transition.
Death is not the greatest loss in life.
Death is just a part of life.
- But no one wants to
see their mother die.
- No baby, but eventually
you're gonna have to.
(sniffs) Roy, you remember that
riddle grandma used to say?
- Life asks death,
"How come everybody love
me, but they hate you?"
- Hm, and death responded,
"Because you are a beautiful lie
"and I am the painful truth."
- (sighs) Look, boys, it's true,
death ain't something you
can prepare yourself for
so you just gotta live each
minute like it's the last.
(doorbell rings)
- Who is it now?
Damn, the party over.
(claps hands)
- I'll get it.
(knocking on door)
Elijah?
- [Elijah] What's up, man?
- [David] How did you even just--
- [Elijah] Oh now,
I moved Heaven and Earth to get here, man.
Just pray I don't go get
arrested for going AWOL.
- [David] Well look man,
you just missed the party.
Step in.
- [Elijah] Hey everybody, how y'all doing?
(group greeting Elijah)
- [Malachi] What's up bro? (grunts)
- How y'all doing, guys?
(group responding)
Where's mama?
- Eh, she, she went to sleep. (sighs)
- All right, cool, I'm gonna go say hi.
(sighs)
(gentle quiet music)
(knocking)
Mama.
Mama?
Mama?
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Mama!
Oh shit.
(gentle somber piano music)
Mama,
Mama?
Mama?
Come on mama, get up.
Mama get up.
Help!
Help!
- Hey mama, you gotta come
down and see. (laughs)
Mama.
(sobbing)
(muttering) What's going on?
What's going on, mama?
- (sobbing) I found her on the
floor and she wasn't moving.
- Come on.
- Ah, how bad is the cancer, yo?
How bad is the cancer, David?
- Listen man, calm down.
We just gotta get her
some help, man, calm down.
- I'll call 911.
- Megan!
Megan!
- Oh my God.
- Baby, you gotta help.
Baby, she's not breathing.
- Mama Angel, Mama Angel, can you hear me?
- This 911?
Yes, it's my mom, she's a cancer patient.
She's unresponsive.
We're at 630 Echo Street, Atlanta.
No, when was the last time she had chemo?
- [David] She's not on chemo, man.
- What do you mean she's not on chemo?
- She didn't want no radiation.
Just tell 'em to get the fuck here, man.
- Okay, okay, no chemo, no radiation,
they're doing CPR right now.
Yes, we have two doctors in the family.
Okay got you, hurry up please.
- Wait, what's wrong?
Mama!
- [Dylan] Is she okay?
Oh my God.
- [Malachi] Oh my God.
- I just found her.
She was in the bathroom passed out.
- [Xavier] Come on mama, come on mama,
stay here for us, come on.
- Why the fuck wasn't
she getting treatment?
David, you're a fucking doctor, man.
What the fuck's going on, man?
- She refused the treatment, man.
- What?
Wait.
Did you know when you called me?
Did you know when you called me?
- I've known since Thanksgiving, man,
she wanted to tell everybody herself.
- What the fuck and you didn't say shit?
You was gonna leave us
in the fucking dark?
(yelling over each other)
- The fuck, don't talk to
me like that, all right?
You're the one who been
gone for five years.
You ain't called her, you
ain't sent her a letter
or nothing like that.
So don't come at me
talking about what the fuck
I coulda been doing when you
ain't been doing shit, nigger.
Come on!
- Goddammit, goddamn.
- [Malachi] Calm your ass down, boy!
- He shoulda told her!
(screaming)
(siren blaring)
Somebody call an ambulance.
- I think I hear 'em outside.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, come on.
Come on, let's go.
- [Xavier] Come on, I need you, mama.
I need you mama.
Oh mama, be strong, mama.
Mama. (crying)
You're a fighter, you've been here before.
This ain't your first time,
this ain't your first rodeo.
I need you to ride this one.
(people muttering)
(praying)
- [Uncle Roy] I pray that you
lay your hands on my sister.
Keep her with us just a little bit--
- [Malachi] This ain't your time!
- [Megan] Come on Angel, come on.
- [Roy] Come on, it's gonna be all right,
she gonna be all right.
Be strong now.
- (sobbing) Please get up.
- [Xavier] Damn, where's that ambulance!
(sobbing)
- [Xavier] Come on mama, come on mama.
- One, two, three, four, five.
- [Roy] Where's that damn ambulance?
(people muttering)
(crying)
(slow somber music)
- You got to stay with
me, you got to stay.
Now Angel, you better come back to me!
(sobbing)
(gentle somber music)
- Now listen, I know this
is tough on you guys,
but we gotta stick together.
Now she needs us to be strong.
She's a fighter, but we gotta
let the doctors do their job.
- Dad, dad we should pray.
- That's right, we should pray.
And you should lead us.
(sighs)
- Dear heavenly Father, we
ask that you send your angels
to help heal an angel.
Lord please cover her in your anointed
and protect her body
from foreign intruders.
Father we ask that you empower the hands
that are working on her for we know
that all things are possible
through you and your grace
and we ask please extend her life
so that she may receive our love
and we may continue to receive hers
as long as you can, Father, please.
In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen.
- Amen, amen.
That was real nice, son, I appreciate it.
Pastor Jordan, you made it.
- Yes, sir, where is she?
- Oh she's in ICU.
- Can we see her?
I wanna pray over her right now.
- Uh (sighs)
- Hi, are you all the
family of Angel Williams?
- Yes, we are, how's she doing?
- She's not doing too good right now.
- What you mean?
- Her heart rate is extremely high
and her blood pressure's really low.
Now I put her on a few steroids
to see if I could slow
down her heart rate.
Just wait and see how that does.
- Can we see her?
- I'm afraid not right now.
There's just way too much
going on in there right now.
- Ma'am, we need to see her right now.
- I'm sorry, that's impossible.
Any extra excitement will
only raise her heart rate.
- (laughs) May I ask a question,
what is your job, ma'am?
- I'm the cardiologist specialist.
- Ah, ah, cardiologist,
you're a heart doctor.
- No, I'm the cardiologist specialist.
- Mm, well what's the difference?
- You see, I'm the one they call
when the cardiologist fails at his job.
That's why I'm here.
- I understand, but you're
missing part of her treatment.
I need to be in the room right now.
- And who are you?
- I am Joseph Jordan.
- Okay and what is it that you do, Joseph?
- I work for the man that we
all call on when you fail.
Can you please escort us to the room?
- Please.
- Listen, at least let the
pastor and her sons go in.
The rest of us, we can
wait out here in the lobby.
- All right, it has to be quick.
♪ Never could have made it without you ♪
♪ I would have lost it all ♪
♪ But now I see ♪
- I'm sorry, mom.
I'm sorry, but you can't leave me.
- Everybody put a hand on your mother.
Lord, we come before you ever so humble.
My heart feels as if there's 1,000 knives
running through it.
I am weary.
I am spent and I am very sad.
Please help me, Lord,
please hear my prayer.
Hold me and my family up.
Please give us the
strength to walk through.
Please be present, be
persistent with your love.
Carry us through this heartache,
sustain us, give us joy, give us hope.
First Corinthians chapter
15, verse 54 and 55
say that death is swallowed in victory.
Oh death, where is your victory?
Oh death, where is your sting?
Where is the sting of
death for the believer?
It's ripped out.
At the cross, Jesus ripped
the stinger from death
so us, as Christians, we
should no longer fear death
because our souls will
forever be with Christ
as we walk in your truth, Lord.
Please keep our eyes
fixed on heavenly things
and though we know there
will be terrifying events
that we will face through this life,
but ultimately, the victory belongs to you
and as we continue to walk in your truth,
Lord keep our eyes fixed
on heavenly things.
Oh Lord God, we trust you
and if you see fit,
give Angel the strength,
give her the strength, Lord,
to fight and live another day.
We are forever grateful
that we are forever covered in your grace.
In your son's name, Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
- [Group] Amen.
- Mama, if you can hear me, I love you.
- We all love you.
(crying)
- We gotta sing for her.
She used to love when we sang
some of her favorite songs.
- Which song, bro?
- Boys to Men, of course.
- All right.
Go ahead and lead it off.
♪ Loving you is like food to my soul ♪
♪ Do do ♪
♪ Do do do ♪
♪ Do tell me everything and
everything you've given me ♪
♪ I'll always keep it inside ♪
♪ You're the driving force in my life ♪
♪ And ya ♪
♪ There isn't anything or
anyone that I could be ♪
♪ And it just wouldn't feel right ♪
♪ If I didn't have you by my side ♪
♪ You were there for me
to love and care for me ♪
♪ When skies were gray ♪
♪ Whenever I was down, you were
always there to comfort me ♪
♪ And no one else can be
what you've been to me ♪
♪ You will always be, you will always be ♪
♪ The girl in my life for all time ♪
♪ Mama ♪
♪ Mama, you know I love you ♪
♪ You know I love you, mama ♪
♪ Mama, you're the queen of my heart ♪
♪ Your love is like tears from the stars ♪
♪ Mama, I just want you to know ♪
♪ Loving you is like food to my soul ♪
♪ Yes it is, yes it is ♪
(heart rate machine beeping)
(echoing heart beat)
(machine beeping)
(flat line signaling)
- [Doctor] I need a crash cart in here!
- What's going on?
- What's happening?
- You guys need to leave right now.
- Wait no, we have clearance.
All right, everybody just back away.
Give her some space.
- [Man] Come on mama, please.
- We're losing her!
- Save her!
Help her!
- Time of death, 9:23, Christmas Day.
(sobbing)
(gentle music)
♪ My hallelujah belongs to you ♪
♪ My hallelujah, my
hallelujah belongs to you ♪
- [Woman] And then the next part
just simply says this, it says,
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
Come on say it again, you deserve it.
♪ You deserve it ♪
You deserve it.
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
You deserve it.
♪ You deserve it ♪
All of the glory.
♪ All of the glory belongs to you ♪
All of the glory belongs to you.
♪ All of the glory belongs to you ♪
♪ All of the glory belongs to you, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah, all of the glory
belongs to you, yeah ♪
♪ This is why you deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
(applauding)
- Thank you choir for
a beautiful selection.
Now we are gonna go ahead
and bow our head for prayer.
Lord Jesus, we come before
you today ever so humble.
Today I cry tears that mean
100 different things at once,
happy and sorrowful and
desperate and hopeful.
I trust you to sort them
out as you catch them.
I hear an answer.
I hope you hear an answer
each prayer they represent.
I cry for those of us left behind
for the lonely ones with
hallows in our hearts.
I ask you to comfort us, give us peace,
restore hope and lavish us with love,
family and belonging.
In the depths of loss,
meet us with yourself.
I cry for the legacy
this loved one leaves.
(sighs) For the ways the
world has been made better
by her presence, for the memories
that become both more beautiful
and more painful on this side of death
and I pray that the work
you have accomplished
in this remarkable life will grow deeper,
wider and stronger in the days to come
and for all the ways you're
making it right again.
I ask that you make me part of your work
into bringing the Kingdom
of Heaven to Earth.
I cry knowing you are here for me
and because you are here,
even my tears have meaning.
Amen.
- [Everyone] Amen.
- We will now open the
floor for reflections.
(gentle slow music)
♪ I just wanna make it to Heaven ♪
♪ I just wanna make it in ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I just wanna cross the river ♪
♪ I know I'm gonna be free from sin ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ I just wanna make it for love ♪
♪ Bring me the lamps both of light ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ And when this life is over, yeah ♪
♪ Just wanna have eternal life, oh ♪
♪ I wanna hear you say
I wanna hear you say ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ I wanna hear you say (music fades) ♪
- How do you find the words
to reflect on a mother as great as ma?
- You know, when I was young,
I watched my ma fill out an application.
She was trying to get a part-time job so
she could get our Christmas
gift off of layaway
So we could have 'em
in time for Christmas.
- (sighs) I looked at
the line that asked about
past professions and I
remember thinking to myself--
- It's too small to write
down what she's been.
- Everyday, everyday my
mother worked that job,
(crying) everyday, my mother,
she helped me with my homework.
Everyday, my mother, she cooked us dinner.
- Everyday, even though she was
tired, she loved us no less.
- (crying) We never wanted for anything.
Nothing.
- She raised me to be
the best man I could be.
- So when I sit back and
I think about everything
that this woman has been to me,
how she showed me unconditional love--
(sighs)
- My mama had this favorite song.
It was by Trevor Campbell, "I'm Ready".
♪ I'm ready to love you forever ♪
♪ Hey love now, come
love me forever more ♪
- I'm ready to love you forever. (crying)
This woman had so much love. (crying)
They say that God will send you angels
while you're here on Earth.
Well God, I want you to know,
I'm very thankful and
grateful for my angel
because I was blessed
to call my angel, mama.
- My mama.
- My mama.
- All my mama.
- Be able to call my mama.
- My mother.
(crying)
- I love you mama, forever.
- I love you, our angel,
and I'll never forget you.
I'll always remember to
do what you told me to do
and keep God first.
I just ask that you send
me a woman down here
that can cook half as good as you
because I don't know what I'm
gonna do without your cooking.
- Not many black women
would accept a white girl
dating their son. (laughs)
I always feared going to meet
Mama Angel for the first time,
but they named her Angel
for a reason (laughs)
'cause that's what she was.
I am so, so grateful to
have been in her presence
and to have been able to accept her love.
And I'm so grateful for all
the nights that we stayed up
and she taught me to cook. (laughs)
Her recipes, collard
greens, macaroni and cheese.
(laughs) That is priceless.
I love you, Angel, thank you.
I'll take good care of him.
I promise.
- I'm sad that I only got
to know you for a few days,
but to think of the possibility
to have never met you,
I appreciate the time we had together.
I have always loved to cook
and just in those few days,
I've learned so much.
When I grow up, I'm gonna
own my own restaurant
and name it Angel's Heavenly Kitchen.
There will be a big
picture of you on the sign
so everyone knows how much I love you.
- Mama Angel, thank you
for always accepting me.
Thank you for loving
Dylan and I regardless
of what society had to say.
When my mother disowned me, you took me in
so today I feel like I
lost a mother as well,
but through it all, I have
to remember what you told me
when my grandmother died, you said,
"When you loose someone
special to you here on Earth,
"you gain a powerful angel
"fighting for you on the other side."
So I'm happy to know that I
have the most powerful angel
fighting for me now.
- [Together] Thank you G-ma
for teaching our new mama how to cook.
- I know that my family and
I share a different religion
than all of you, but I
think it's safe to say that,
we all know what it's like
to lose someone that we love.
Angel and I had a lot in common,
(laughs) a lot more than I
ever wanted to admit to myself.
We are both mothers who (crying)
to children that we didn't birth
and it wasn't until after
talking to Angel that
I learned the true meaning
of loving someone unconditionally.
Loving someone so much despite their flaws
and despite them not being yours. (crying)
Angel, thank you for making
me see the value of life,
the value of love and the value of family.
I will forever be in debt to you.
- You know, I didn't
know Mama Angel that long
and I wish I woulda got
more time to spend with her,
but the time that we did spend
was some of the best moments
that I'll cherish forever. (crying)
She was always so loving
and kind. (crying)
She opened up her home and her heart to me
and taught me the true value of family.
I'm gonna miss you, Angel.
- My sister, she was a
gift, a gift from God
and she always held a
special place in my heart.
She was my mini-me when we were growing up
and I never thought, I
never thought (crying)
I never thought that she would
leave this earth before me,
but God, you called my Angel home.
(gentle somber music)
(sighs)
- When the boys asked me
to deliver the eulogy,
I was afraid, but I was honored.
Now I had to ask myself, what
what can you say about a woman so great
as my sister, Angel?
(sniff) I um, my sister,
she was the baby. (laughs)
But she was the bossy one.
I mean, she was special
and as a little girl, she
would always remind me,
she would always say, "My name is Angel
"and my sister is Heaven
and we are special (laughs)
"and you just Roy." (laughs)
But hey, she's, she was my little sister
so I just let her say
what she wanted to say
because I love her.
I love her.
You see my sister was special because
she was made different.
You know, she was made kinda like her
world famous banana pudding.
I mean, there's so many ingredients,
so many layers, but she was
still the sweetest thing
you ever come across, but my son, R.J.,
and he would call it Nana's Pudding
and everybody loved Nana's Pudding.
I mean there was just
something about that pudding.
You know when I was thinking
about my sister last night,
I thought there had to
be something in that,
I mean to make people that excited,
there had to be something in that
that we could take away
today for ourselves
and add to our lives
and remember her always.
You see, in cooking,
there are three stages.
First you have the prep time.
Now first you have the prep time
and that's when you, that's
when you set the temperature
and when you're making a banana pudding,
you gotta make sure that the
oven is warmed in advance.
Then, then you got the cook time.
That's when God is
working, working with us
and getting us in that space,
that's when God is getting us situated
so that we and we're
prepped for this life.
We live.
I want somebody to turn
to your neighbors and say,
"It is time for somebody to live."
- [Group] It is time for somebody to live.
- Yes, and we ask, we ask
what are those ingredients
that we are needed to give
us that expected outcome?
First we have flour.
Now flour is in the Bible.
Now flour represents the truth of God.
Now God, God will pour
that flour into a sifter.
Amen and some of y'all don't,
y'all don't know the point of the sifter.
Now the sifter will separate
all of the clumps of our life,
all of the arrogance, all of the anger,
all of the uptight-ness.
See, God, he would pour us into a sifter
and we come out fine.
I want you to look at somebody and say,
"You, you, you are fine."
- [Group] You are fine.
(laughing)
Now my sister never judged anybody.
she just had a way of sifting
all of that stuff out of your life.
Then you have sugar, pure cane sugar.
Now the sugar,
what that represented
was the boost of energy.
Now look, I know that,
I know that sometimes we all get down,
but there was just something
about when Angel came around
with that banana pudding,
would just give you a boost of energy.
It was hard to be around
her and still be sad
'cause just like her sweet banana pudding,
she was a ball of energy.
Salt.
Salt is of the Earth.
Now we use salt to preserve
our covenant with God.
(laughs) Now my sister,
she was big on the church.
You can ask her boys
that now, she was serious
when it came to waking up
in time for church. (laughs)
She would always say, "I'm gonna make sure
"that they have a strong
foundation with God.
"I'm gonna make sure that they maintain
"and preserve that foundation
"because I'm gonna keep them in church."
And she did.
But most importantly, she
preserved the word of God.
So when she dropped that
salt in her pudding,
she was saying, there are some things
that we, some stuff we need to preserve.
Now I know that there
are some of y'all here
that are hunkered down
because she no longer with us,
but you need to know
that that merengue on top
was important and she
took the yolk from an egg
and she made that
merengue light and fluffy.
You see it's no coincidence
that we loved this dish
because each time she was ministering us
every time she made it.
She was saying, "Baby, I'm
making your stress light.
"I'm making your situation easy."
And when you think about it,
Angel really was an angel.
I mean, she was just like Jesus.
I mean she was loving
us and not judging us
and just being what she needed to be
and even in her transition,
she made sure she did not
leave these boys uncovered.
She taught Malachi how
to make a banana pudding.
She taught Xavier, she taught Elijah,
she taught David and even Dylan.
She made sure that even in her absence,
that we all had what we
needed to keep moving forward.
Ezekiel 16:13 and then
I'm gonna close with that.
Thou eats from fine
flour and honey and oils
and when you mix all that together,
you've got something exceedingly beautiful
and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
When she made her banana pudding,
she only used three bananas,
one for the Father, one for the Son
and one for the Holy Ghost.
And if your vision, if your
dream is all about you,
then it's too small.
Now she took the bananas
like Jesus took fish
and if I give you fish, you will eat,
but tomorrow you will come back hungry,
but if I could teach you how to fish,
then you can feed and
take care of yourself.
You all need to listen to me,
when Angel shared her
recipe with those boys,
she was making sure that they could
take care of themselves
and survive in her absence.
Not only did she make sure
those boys was covered,
but she made sure that for generations,
her family would be
loved, blessed and fed.
Y'all should hear her right now.
Say well, well, well.
(clapping)
(sighs)
Look uh, if there's any of you here
in this time, in this moment that
that your vision, your
dream is just about you
and nobody else, then I encourage you
to be like Angel and change.
And to my sister,
my sister, I love you.
(crying) I love you for who you are.
I pray, I pray that you
rest forever and have peace.
(gentle somber music)
- This funeral is so damn long.
Who does she think she
is, Aretha Franklin?
(laughing)
- This next selection is coming from
Angel's youngest, Dylan.
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ How do I let you go ♪
♪ How do I walk away ♪
♪ How do I give you all my
love for one last time ♪
♪ I though about your favorite song ♪
♪ Hoping it would make me strong ♪
♪ No way I could ever say goodbye to you ♪
♪ Now I only know heartbreak ♪
♪ I won't let them take you away ♪
♪ This can't be real, this can't be fate ♪
♪ With me beside you ♪
♪ I need you more than you will know ♪
♪ I will never let you go ♪
♪ I implore you even
though you have to go ♪
♪ I never though I'd see the day ♪
♪ When angels would take you away ♪
♪ And every single night
I pray to see you again ♪
♪ My mind won't let me move on ♪
♪ My heart is weak and not strong ♪
♪ I'm stuck right here, I can't go on ♪
♪ Without your love ♪
♪ So let me love you one last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know it's over ♪
♪ Let me love you one last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know you're gone ♪
♪ Let me love you one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ Baby, let me love you one last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ One last, one last time ♪
♪ Let me love you one last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know it's over ♪
♪ One last time ♪
♪ Even though there is no way ♪
♪ Even though you cannot stay ♪
♪ Even though I know you're gone ♪
♪ One last time ♪
- Fellas, we're gonna get through this.
All right, with our heads held high.
That's what mama would
have wanted us to do.
She would of, she would of
wanted us to be strong for her.
(crying)
- I didn't even get to say goodbye, man.
(crying)
I didn't get to make things right.
(sobbing)
- She knew where your heart was.
Now she's looking over you.
- Looking over all of us.
- Stop all that crying, man,
before you have us all in here crying.
- (laughs) Like we did when
we lost that talent show.
Y'all remember that?
(groups laughs)
- Right.
Shit it was Elijah fault
hitting all the wrong notes.
(laughing)
(group chattering)
- No, no, now come on, Zay,
it was you missing all them steps, man.
You were so nervous.
- Hey, I messed up some steps,
but who got us that record deal though?
(groaning)
- Hey that's a good point.
(laughs)
- Yeah, sometimes I wonder
if we woulda kept going,
I wonder if we woulda really made it big.
- Yeah, I mean, I do miss performing
on stage with all my brothers.
- Really?
'Cause the way I remember,
you didn't like sharing the spotlight.
- You got locked up.
You went to jail.
You ruined the group.
- So it's my fault?
- Stop!
Fellas, just stop, stop
this right now, man.
Damn, I mean, it's been years.
Y'all need to handle this shit
right now, once and for all.
- Exactly, come on man,
it was Dylan's dream to begin with.
Xavier, you can't keep
holding a grudge, man,
like he was supposed to
hold up his dream for you?
- I mean, if anything,
mama woulda wanted us
to put this to rest.
Can we do that?
- I just wanted my shot.
I just wanted my shot.
You promised me an
audition when I got out.
- And I did everything I
could to give you that.
I'm sorry I led you on.
I really am.
But I just really want my brother back.
- Xavier, come on, brah.
- I'm sorry.
(clears throat)
I'm sorry for holding you responsible.
(clears throat)
And not taking accountability
for my actions.
Look man,
I got into some trouble
and I messed up the group contract.
I'm sorry, y'all.
You know,
you just (sighs)
it just eats at me every time knowing that
my life decisions, man.
You know, Dylan, I'm proud of you.
I really am.
You know, no matter what,
no matter what I've ever said to you, man,
you still my brother and I
accept you for who you are
'cause you've always accepted me
and uh, thank you.
- For what?
- For the child support
payments over the years.
Mama told me it wasn't her.
- I just wanted to make sure
that my brother was okay.
- Thank you, damn.
It's about damn time, Jesus.
- So now you know Jesus?
(laughing)
(sighs)
Zay apologized and he know Jesus now.
That's where we at, guys.
Man, we on the come up.
- Come on Zay, yo brah.
(laughing)
Chill man, you know what I meant.
- Yeah, we know what you meant, Michael.
(laughing)
- Shut up, punk.
(laughing)
Oh you all got jokes.
Okay, okay.
- Hey man, ain't being part of (mumbling)
That's all I'm saying.
- That's good, I got someone to call.
(laughing)
- Shit, homey.
- Brothers?
- [Together] Brothers.
(mellow music)
- [Man] This is for my
brothers in the hood,
♪ This is for my brothers in the hood ♪
♪ In the high rises on the
mansion with the Miss ♪
♪ We' gotta come together, y'all ♪
♪ David, Dylan, Malachi,
Xavier, Dmitri, Elijah ♪
♪ I'm sitting here alone
trying to face another day ♪
♪ Gotta stay strong, stay strong ♪
♪ To endure this pain ♪
♪ And dearly, we're right now ♪
♪ It flipped my whole life upside down ♪
♪ I don't want your help ♪
♪ I don't need your strength ♪
- [Angel] Now I'm a good Christian woman,
but I got a pass that'll blow your ass
clear off this block! (sighs)
- And I'm going to continue
to call you Michael
no matter how that woman of yours
has got you wrapped around her finger.
Change your name all that mess.
Pussy must be good.
- Auntie.
- This is preparation
for something bigger.
Just think about it,
all those kids somewhere,
they're out watching you.
They are waiting for you to, line.
- Life asks death, "How
come everybody love me,
"but they hate you?"
- Hm, and death responded, "Because you--
♪ I made a big mistake, yes ♪
♪ And I'm feeling so ashamed ♪
♪ And I don't want to lose
a friendship over this ♪
- [Xavier] You trippin, trippin.
- Told you. (laughs)
Okay, this is what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna leave her here for
a reasonable amount of time
with this fool.
Zooey, sweetie, you wanted your daddy--
- Come on, Xavier, come on.
(laughing)
Chill man, you know what I meant.
- Yeah, we know what you meant, Michael.
(men chatting)
(laughing)
- That's good, I got
some in the car. (laughs)
- Brothers.
(chuckles)
- [Together] Brothers.
(laughing)