Holiday Heart (2000) - full transcript

When days are dark
and cloudy are my skies

-I hold on and learn to...
-Stretch out

Yeah

Keep on believing
Keep on praying

-Hold on and learn to...
-Stretch out

Now the race
isn't given to the swift

And neither is it
given to the strong

But to them
that endureth to the end

Stretch out
Oh, stretch out

When days are dark
and cloudy are my skies

-I hold on and learn to...
-Stretch out



You got to keep
on believing Keep on praying

-Hold on and learn to...
-Stretch out

Oh, when Satan
gets on my track

And tries to
turn me back

I don't worry
I don't fret

I just stretch out

Whoa!

When I am lost
when I am sad

-Jesus is there
-Jesus is there

-He'll make me glad
-He'll make me glad

You know

The Lord won't deceive you
The Lord, He won't leave you

-Stretch out
-Oh, Jesus

-Stretch out
-Oh, my Jesus



Stretch out
Stretch out

Oh, stretch out
stretch out

Stretch out
Stretch out

Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the Penthouse.

You are going up...

Up... Up...

Ding, ding, ding!
You are at the top floor.

A warm hand, please,
for the Penthouse girls.

Alexandra.

Antoinette.

Athena.

Vonya Teasya.

Wild Orchid.

Roxanne.

And, of course,
there's Mark.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
Welcome to the Penthouse.

You've reached the top floor.

...right here
at the Penthouse. You're going up.

You're going up.

Ding, ding, ding! You're here.
You have arrived at the Penthouse.

Nothing up here is a drag.

So won't you give a warm welcome,
if you please

to the Penthouse's oldest treasure,

Holiday Heart.

Holiday. Holiday.
We love you, Holiday.

Ooh!

Baby love, my baby love

I need you
Oh, how I need you

But all you do
is treat me bad

Break my heart
and leave me sad

Tell me
what did I do wrong

To make you
stay away so long

I love you, Holiday.

My baby love

Been missing ya, miss kissing ya

Baby love, my baby love

Why must we
separate, my love

All of my whole
life through

I never love
no one but you

Why you do me
like you do

I get this need

Ooh! Ooh!

We love you, Holiday.

Need to hold you
once again, my love

Feel your warm
embrace, my love

Don't throw our love away

Please don't do me this way

So deep in love with you

Baby, baby, ooh

Save me, save me

Oh, baby, baby love

Don't throw our love away

Don't throw our love away

Don't throw our love away

All right, baby, we're almost there.

Keep your eyes closed.
You're not playing with me, are you?

I'm gonna
make sure you got your eyes closed.

All right, you ready?

-I bought it.
-Oh!

For you, baby.

Oh, yeah.

It's ours, baby.

We can tell people
you live on one side, I live on the other.

You know, we play the game.

Between me and you,
we just got ourselves a big ass place, baby.

You better carry me
over the threshold.

I'm sorry we had to meet
on such an occasion.

I would have liked
to have met you all before now.

But judging from
the temperature drop at my entrance,

baby, you did right

by keeping me in the corner crack
of your closet.

Don't touch me.

I've heard enough of this.

Okay, baby.

Per your request.

Oh, my baby love

I need you

But all you do

Is treat me bad

I've heard enough of this in my church.

Deacon Johnson,
Deacon Booker.

Break my heart
and leave me sad

Give me the mic.

-Give me the microphone.
-Tell me, what did I do wrong?

Give me the microphone.

Tell me what...

No! No! No! No!

The wine.

Paris is magnificent
in the spring.

Now, you try.

End of side four.

Plan on starting my New Year there.

New beginnings.
Well, Paris is the place.

Two tickets?

No, just one.

Well...

If you're looking,

Paris is the place.

People are so real, man.

Race, who you fuck,
it doesn't matter.

I met my lover there.

Maybe you will get lucky, too.

-Hello?
-Miss Holiday, girl.

Where are you?
Where are you...

Blue, I'm on my way.

Look, now I know we're not taking
that broke down car of yours.

Yes, I'm taking my car,
and it's not going to break down, okay?

-Bye, fool.
-Don't you hang up on me, girl.

Miss Holiday, I told you
to sell that piece of car.

I don't care if it was Fisher's.

Now look at us.

Just stuck out here
in the middle of nowhere.

God, you're like a sissy
with his legs stuck in midair.

Ready, but nothing's happening.

Over here we got
Holiday before Fisher's death.

And over here, well, this is where Fisher is
going to be reincarnated in France.

And what do you have right here
in the middle staring you in your face?

Blue, you giving me
a headache, girl.

No, missy, everything
gives you a headache.

Your big head hurts
'cause your little head ain't getting enough.

Somebody, please help me!

Please just help me!
He's beating on my mom, please!

Help.

Help me. Please.

He's beating up on my mama, hurry.

Holiday? What you doing?
Miss Holiday?

Get back over here, girl!
She might have an Uzi!

Holiday!

Taxi!

I typically have to whip
your ass, all right.

It's gonna be the last
ass you whip!

I ain't playing with you!

You know what,
I'm gonna kill you!

Mom!

Shit! I don't want to hurt you, man.

-But I'll go ahead.
-Hey, asshole!

What's the matter?
You can't find a man to beat up on?

Get your hands off me.

Now, come on.

Yeah, throw another punch.

I want the undertaker
to earn his fee,

'cause he gonna be picking up pieces of
your ass all over this damn building.

Now come on, macho man. Trick or treat?

Just what I thought. Little bitch!

You okay, girl?

Come on, we gonna
get you out of here.

Stupid ass faggot friends out here.

Run a knife on me?

Huh? Lookie here, Wanda.

Oh, no! LT, not my stories!

-Not my stories!
-Now, please. Not my mama's stories.

You ain't never gonna be shit.

You ignorant junkie!

You can't read.
You don't know if I can write.

You sissy.

We gonna get your mom out of here.

That's my place over there.

Oh, I was going to get that fixed,

but I thought until somebody
moved in, why bother.

People just ain't raising their kids

to value anything anymore.

Does this work?

Last time I looked, Miss Niki.

Now, I usually only rent
to the old and infirmed.

Well, I ain't old,
but I guess I'm infirmed.

Well, baby, we all got a story to tell.

Don't worry.
I wasn't about to tell you anything.

Mama, I got my own bedroom!
My own bedroom!

But, baby, there ain't
even a bed in there.

So I know. I'll just make me
a pallet on the floor.

That's what I usually do.

Well, maybe we can see
about finding you a bed.

I may have something downstairs
in the storage or in my other building.

Now I'm only helping
you out for a month or so.

I'm planning a big trip overseas.

I can't pay you much
'cause he took my last check.

Don't worry about that.
We'll talk about that in the morning.

I think Miss Niki here
needs her beauty sleep.

Now, tomorrow
we go over house rules.

I called out your name

In a mystic dream last night

Saw that old smile that I miss

It was a beautiful smile

Now, baby, I don't know
what you and God cooking up,

but I'm only taking them
in for a few days.

I ain't letting nothing
get in the way of Paris.

Each time I...

Knowing that you're not here

But what can I do

Hello?

Miss Holiday, girl,
what happened to you?

I've been looking for you
all night long, honey.

Blue, Blue, stop screaming.

I'm still alive.

Hey!

May I come in?

I'm sorry about tonight.

I thought he was going
to stay clean this time.

You shouldn't have
thrown his stuff in the toilet, though.

You knew that was
gonna make him mad.

We're not going back, are we?

No.

No, Niki.

No, ma'am.

You know, I made you a promise.

I am not gonna be
around drugs anymore.

No, ma'am.

Not in this life.

You know what?
You know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna start writing.

I'm gonna start
my writing again.

Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do.

I can get some of
my poetry together.

You know how they
have in the back of Essence?

How they have
the poetry and sisters

sending their stuff
from all over the country?

I could get my stuff
in the back of Essence.

Hey,

I will not stop working
on my life story

'cause that's the bestseller.

You know, writers...

Good writers have
to go through a whole lot of stuff.

I've been through this.
I just gotta write it down.

Thanks.

Child, where'd you learn to eat? The army?

Okay, this is the story.

I'm gonna make you a deal.
And I've already prayed on it.

You need to let us stay here.

See, my mother needs
to stay away from men for a while.

I don't mean you.

I just mean men
that ain't no good.

See, men are her weakness.

She's a writer.

She writes poetry and short stories.

And she's been working on this book about
her life when she used to do drugs.

But don't worry, now she's clean.

She's been rehabbing
for six months.

LT, you know, the one
with no vocabulary?

He was rehabbing too.

But now he's back on the re-habit,
if you know what I mean.

See, I'm trying to keep
my mother from doing the same thing.

And I think if she becomes a famous writer
like Terry McMillan or somebody,

she'll never use drugs again.
You feel me?

Oh, I feel you.

Look, Holiday, if you let us stay,

I'll do anything you want.
That's the deal.

It's too early for Blue.

Hello?

Holiday,
the toilet done overflown.

Lorenzo gone in there.
Please help me out.

Okay, Miss Mason.
Don't use it till I get there.

Bye-bye.

You ever fix a toilet?

Man, you must really
be rich to own two places.

But you really need
to fix your places up.

Or, are you supposed
to be a slum landlord?

Now, child, you could have kept
that last comment to yourself.

I can always take this bed
and put it back in the basement.

You are so cool!

Who would have thought
you like rap?

And you like it loud,
just like I do.

Yeah, who would have thought.

Where have you been?

I was worried sick, Niki.

I left you a note.

I went with Holiday.

We had so much fun.

He bought us all this food
and he bought us a bed.

Take your little womanish
self in the house.

Why are you being
so good to us?

You know, just so you know,
I don't do fags.

Oh, good.
And just so you know,

I don't do no-talent evil bitches

who sleep all day instead of taking
care of their damn children.

Okay?

What a friend we have

in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear!

Yes!

It's Niki.

I made you some Kool-Aid.

I made you some dinner.

Don't expect me
to beg you to eat it.

Well, come on in Laurel and Hardy.

See, Mama, look.
See, it ain't portable.

"Isn't portable."

I'm trying to get her
to use correct grammar.

Oh, that's very nice.

Well, I hope I say this
with correct grammar,

but sister girl, this food
sure don't look appetizing.

It's all beige, isn't it?

Well, let's just put it this way,

Holiday can burn.
So from here on out,

let's say I do all the cooking. Okay?

What is it anyway?

I don't know.

Oh, you look beautiful, darling.

Yes.

I don't have to go to
church to fellowship with the Lord.

That's what every sinner
says on Sunday.

Now you need to mingle
to be an example for your daughter.

I rebuke this nicotine
in the name of Jesus.

Darling, you look fab.

-Yeah?
-Just go in there and be yourself.

Wish I had a cigarette.

No.

Okay, I just wish I had one.

Not a lot of work history.

I told Brother Holiday
at church that we was really looking

for someone
with some experience.

Cool. Thank you very much.

Hey, now just hold on a minute.

Lady, I do not have a minute.
I just gave you 20.

I have a 12-year-old daughter
who's starting not to believe in me again.

And I need a job.
But I am not about to beg you

or anybody else to work in here.

And for the record.

In my opinion,
you got a nice little shop here,

but you'd sell
a lot more stuff if you liven it up.

Oh, Jesus, please.
Wanda, don't talk too much, girl.

Brother Holiday is
one of our most loyal church members.

I guess if he can
give you a chance,

I can, too.

Yes!

The bible tells me so

"They used to be
young and firm

"Quick to part
and slow to learn

"But my thighs
are mine to keep"

When you gonna write about something
that doesn't involve your body parts?

You know what, remind me never to
show anything to you again.

And you're lucky
I don't show you my Sally right now.

-Your what?
-My Sally.

My sugar bowl.

-Please, darling.
-Oh, yes!

Happy birthday, Holiday!

-It's my birthday.
-It's your birthday.

Okay, if these young'uns
have a gun, you drop, all right?

Yeah, I know, I know.

Principal Reed,

I'm having a real problem
with you-know-who.

-Not again.
-Excuse me.

-Are you the principal?
-Yes.

Excuse me.
Okay, I'm Wanda Dean.

This is Niki Dean.
This is my daughter.

Hi, Niki.

Niki Dean.
Remember her name now.

She is brilliant.

Now I'm delivering her
to you as a happy straight "A" student

with an imagination.

And I expect you
to return her to me the same way.

Otherwise I can be
a nightmare bitch.

So if she as much
gets a hangnail,

you let me know, okay?

-I promise you. I understand.
-Okay.

We'll take good care
of your daughter.

Have a good day, Nicole.

"A nightmare bitch"?

I'm just keeping it real.

Where are we going?
Where are we going?

Hey.

Happy birthday, Niki!

Oh, my God!

That's why you spent
the whole week at my house.

Your mother was up
all day and night doing this.

And I almost finished.
Wait, look here.

See, these are
the goddesses, Nicolette...

Nicolette and Wandesia.

And they discovered
their secret powers

and they go on
to encounter infinite possibilities

in their new kingdom.

Just like us, girl.

Thanks, Mom.

You're the best mother
in the whole wide world.

I love you so much.

Stand back!

-But it's my mother.
-Stand back.

I'm telling you,

I just don't get how she could
deny her mother like that.

I mean, her mother
was so good to her.

Everybody has a story to tell, child.

So when are you
gonna tell us yours?

About the time you publish
your first book and looking for a second.

Oh, God!

In all directions
under the midnight sun,

the junkiest feast ever,
has just begun.

To the wind. Sail!

Okay.

I don't know.

I mean, I usually have a list of wishes,
but we got everything!

We got a place, you're happy...

And we got a family, finally!

You, me and Holiday.

So, I don't know, you go.

Okay.

I wish...

I wish that I could stop wishing.

With my Jesus

With Jesus
He is my Lord

Walking with my Jesus
He's around

Oh, with my Jesus

Can't go on

He walks with me

All day long

I've been walking

Walking with Jesus

He is our Lord

He is

He is our Lord

Oh, yeah

Yeah, man,
how much you want?

Wanda?

What's up, baby?

Don't get shot, LT.

-What's up, girl?
-What do you think is up?

Hey, give me some love, baby.
Come on, man.

Come on! Come on!

I'm at church!

Get off me! Damn!

You've been
my good luck charm.

It ain't gonna work this time, LT.

-Is that right?
-That's right!

-Huh?
-Yeah!

Come on now.

What?

For you, baby.

If you want more where that came
from, you know where to find me.

Yes.

Niki! What's happening?

How you doin'?

Come here! It's me, baby!

You know, he is ignorant. Here.

Wanda, look here,
keep working them stories, right?

-All right.
-Just like I was talking about.

Warrior women! Woo!

Sorry about that, fellas.

Cool. Cool.

LT...

Oh, Niki, I'm okay.

I'm okay.

It's all right.
Mommy's okay. Come here.

Come here.

Sweetie, I'm all right.

I was just talking to LT.

I'm scared, Niki.

I was thinking about
maybe putting off my trip a little bit.

Paris is prettier
in the spring anyway.

Lord knows somebody
got to keep y'all out of trouble.

I can't breathe!

I love you!

I love you too!

Girl, you gonna make
my makeup run.

And now, you can all
fight for your soul

-because Holiday is here!
-Holiday!

I need love, love
to ease my mind

I need to find, find
someone to call mine

But Momma said

Can't hurry love
You'll just have to wait

She said love
don't come easy

It's a game of give and take

I can't hurry love
No, you'll just have to wait

You gotta just give it time
No matter how long it takes

But how many heartaches
must I stand

Not many, darling.
Not many.

Before I find a love
To let me live again

Right now the only thing
That keeps me hanging on

When I feel my strength
Yet, it's almost gone

I remember Momma said
No, you'll just have to wait

She said
love don't come easy

It's a game of give and take

Can't hurry love
Oh, you'll just have to wait

She said just give it time

No matter how long it takes

Gotta wait

No love, love
don't come easy

But I keep on waiting

What's a fine woman like you
doing in a place with all these fags, baby?

That's my friend.
What you doin' here?

Looking for you.

Not here, please.

To hold me tight

Oh! Oh!

But it ain't easy

Oh! Wait a minute!
There's a show going on!

Tell me about it.

She said just give it time

No matter
how long it takes

It's times like this
I really miss getting high.

Holiday,

if anything ever happens to me,

will you look after Niki?

Girl, just 'cause I wrap my legs around
you don't mean you're gonna die!

Damn!

I'm serious!

Wanda, I would lay down
my life and die for Niki.

You know that, girl.

I know.

I know.

Thank you.

I love you, Holiday.

Now, you entered
this talent show, so we're in it to win it.

So, no half stepping.
Now, you win this show,

and you keep on winning
and then one day,

all of that winning is
going to take care of Holiday in his old age.

Yeah, I'm gonna
take care of you too.

You can come live with me,
my husband and our five kids.

Child, you better
hush your fast mouth!

Ain't nothing ever
coming out of you but Malindy Sings.

Now, let's hear it.

"Fu' real

"melojous music."

Ooh! Holiday,
my favorite cereal. Please!

You gonna learn
Malindy Sings?

Yeah, I'll learn it.
And this cereal really helps me think.

Okay!

Thank you so much.

"Fu' real melojous..."

Wanda, open up
the damn door!

Mama! Mama, open the door!

-Mama!
-Hang on. Hang on.

Go on and take your bath, girl,

you look like you need one.

How about some
smothered chicken tonight,

corn bread, mashed potatoes?

My favorite.

Yeah, mine too.

How long has
this been going on?

Honey, I was up and down Michigan
Avenue picking up this and that for you,

Niki.

So this one has money.

Yipee.

So, when does he move in?

Or do we go
shack up with him?

Or does he even have a shack?

Maybe he just lives
and deals in his limo.

So you don't have to go
anywhere out of the car.

You can just go in his briefcase
and grab what you call,

"Your little glass dick."

Gee, Niki!

Shit is not worth it.
This is bullshit!

He never has our money when
he's supposed to have it, Miss Holiday.

That's why I'm leaving
this tired ass club.

Girl, if you had any sense,
you'd do the same damn thing!

I mean, look at this trap. He said...

Excuse me.

Hey, I need to talk to you, Holiday.

Negro, we ain't
got shit to talk about!

-Hey, man, I'm talking to you.
-You're fucking...

What?

Man, don't ever pull
away from me when I'm talking to you!

You understand?

So what, you don't like me?

You better get over that shit.

'Cause come tomorrow, man,
we're gonna be neighbors.

And all of them dinners
and them little outings,

there ain't gonna be
no more of that shit.

It's Niki, it's Wanda and me.

We're family now.

Man, I just gotta
start taking my fatherly duties seriously,

'cause I can't have
my little girl being influenced

by a man who wears a dress.

Now, can I?

Now, can I?

No.

This is the first month's rent

and a little something
extra for you, man.

Stay away.

Just stay away.

Have a good show.

You okay?

He didn't hurt you, did he?

He didn't hurt you, did he? All right.

You're gonna be okay.
You'll be fine.

Niki, what are you
doing in the hallway?

Mama said I couldn't
go to your house anymore.

Don't worry, baby,

I'm not gonna let anyone
take my Niki away from me.

I promise.

Come on.

Is Niki...

Niki, get up and go to your bed.

Can I talk to you?

You look good for
this time of morning.

You're gonna make
this hard, aren't you?

I wouldn't be me if I didn't.

I've been thinking
that me and Niki,

we've become too
dependent on you.

And you call yourself a writer,

now, can't you do
better than that?

Okay, I love him.
All right? You satisfied?

I wanna have something
that I thought I never would.

A real family.

Holiday, all my life
I've been trying to get into the loop.

I just...

I'm so tired of being different.

I wanted to be in a family
that I could be proud of.

Like a man, a wife and a child.

You act like God picked you
and only you, to give a hard life to.

Well, look around, baby,
because it's a big world out there.

And believe me,
it's turning mostly on misery.

The only thing saving
any of us is the good Lord's mercy.

I am trying to talk to you.
I don't want one of your religious lectures.

And I don't want
your bullshit, how's that?

We're on the same page?

Poor little orphan girl,
she got passed around at foster homes.

Well, try being passed around
between 20 men in a jail cell.

A place a 16-year-old should
never have laid eyes on,

let alone spend 10 years in.

But he does, because
he killed a man for beating up his mama.

Who then, the grateful bitch,
begged the authorities

to lock him up and
throw away the key.

So don't you tell me
about being in some goddamn family loop!

-Oh...
-No!

No!

I don't want sympathy.

And I ain't offering any.

I like how God made me.

I've always had
a switch in my walk

and music in my talk.

And if I go tomorrow,
Holiday will go happy.

You know why?

'Cause I got out of this world
what you're supposed to,

to like yourself,

and to love some damn body
just because you goddamn can!

And the good Lord,
He gave me back something extra,

somebody loved me back.

Fisher loved me.

And that child
in there loves me.

And I thought
you loved me, Wanda.

I thought you loved me.

I thought you loved me.

I do.

I'm sorry, Holiday.

I am truly sorry.

But, I know what
my daughter needs.

And you know
she deserves a father!

You call Mac Daddy
in there a father?

You don't know him!

His heart is as big as yours.

Oh, no, what's bigger,
is his pocketbook.

Or is it his dick?

I just don't know which one, the one in his
pants or the one in his briefcase.

Fuck you! Fuck you!

You and your damn child

already did that.

"Fu' real melojous music,
Dat jes' strikes yo' hea't and clings,

"all dem things,
Heish dey moufs an' hides dey faces

"When Malindy sings."

The end.

Oh, man!

Hey!

My mom painted my room
and it was so beautiful. She had all...

Oh, I thought I heard somebody.

I just wanted to know
about the talent show.

-Hey, Holiday.
-Hi, Wanda.

Oh, Niki, you have a friend.

Yeah, this is my new cousin.

Silas' niece.

Are you wearing makeup?
Are you the fag?

-Sarah!
-Baby, he is a fag.

She won second place.

That's wonderful, Niki,
I knew you could do it.

I got something for you.

Oh, Holiday...

No, I thought they would match the
necklace that I got you for your birthday.

You're not wearing it.

I took it off.

They're beautiful, Holiday, thanks.

Thank you.

Can I go in now?

Oh, sure,
I didn't mean to keep.

I just wanted to
say congratulations, girl.

Hey, hey,
it's been a long time.

So how you doin'?

Child, I just been so busy,
I can't even keep up with myself.

You look good.

Thank you. I stopped
over at the shop,

they said you aren't
working there anymore.

No, I quit because I'm writing.

I just wanted to really concentrate.

I think that's the key,
I just wanted to focus

totally on the writing.

You can't be a part-time writer.

And then Silas bought me
a new computer and I'm busting out pages.

Wanda, I know you, girl.
Things ain't all bliss, are they?

You know what? See, that's why
I can't deal with you, Holiday.

Why you always
trying to make something out of nothing?

I'm fine. I'm fine, honey,
Niki's fine, we are fine.

Oh!

Well, Mr. Heart,
your ticket's all together.

You send me a postcard.

Holiday Heart's been
performing at the Penthouse

for 20 plus years.

And I must say,
the plus feels almost as long as the 20.

Yes, Holiday is moving
on to bigger,

and I do mean bigger, things.

Have any of y'all ever
been to gay Paris?

Oui!

Do y'all think I'll have a problem
finding anything that will fit?

But, you know what I miss
and you know what I love.

Whoo!

I love the nightlife
I got to boogie

On the disco round
oh, yeah

Oh, I love the night life

I got to boogie

On the disco round
oh, yeah

Miss Holiday, I want you to
meet my baby.

This is Joe.

Who actually happens to
like my new look. Huh?

What do you think, baby?
It's different, right?

He goes by Joe, but guess what, baby?
I calls him Farmer.

Girl, he got himself
40 acres and a mill. Ouch!

-Girl!
-So yeehaw, baby!

See ya, girl,
Blue's gonna be a farmer!

Blue, you were right.
I'm so glad to be getting out of here.

I'm so happy that you are
finally getting away

from them
me-myself-and-I bitches.

Especially that pipe-sucking
bitch, Miss Wanda.

Oh, yeah! I saw her.
Copping right behind my building.

Damn! There I go.

And there you go,
in that red cape.

Look, she ain't Lois Lane and,
Holiday, you're not Superman.

Wanda don't wanna be saved, baby.

She's one of them microwave bitches.
She want everything quick.

You and I both know change
don't happen like that.

Now, look, if I who ain't got
a single Christian bone in my body,

can still get somebody.

You know that your
Prince Charming is

just waiting to drop out
of heaven for you.

Look, you'll go to Paris,
you'll fall in love again

and get fatter!

Oh!

I'm gonna miss you.

I'm gonna miss you too.

-That's bullshit! Fuck this shit!
-How do you know?

Look, Wanda, stop that shit, okay?

You better watch
your mother-fucking mouth.

You're supposed
to be an example for Niki

and I'm working
to get us a house

and you can't keep
your end of the deal

and leave that damn shit alone!

You don't know what
you're talking about!

-You better get your shit together!
-I have my shit together!

Oh, that's great!
Tear the fucking house up!

Wanda, don't walk away
from me when I'm talking to you!

You don't know what
kind of shit you've got going here!

'Cause I ain't a drug dealer!

Look I told you, I sell it, okay? I don't use it

and I don't lay down
with anybody who does.

Holiday!

Holiday!

Come on, man!

-What?
-Hey, Miss, can I come in?

No!

If you're lost that's
your apartment over there,

the one you paid good
money to keep me out of.

Look, man, I gotta go
out of town on business, all right?

Wanda and I,
we just need a little break.

Oh, Jesus! This fool
must think I really care!

I got my own itinerary, baby,
I don't need yours!

Look, man, all right?

Come on, man,
this ain't easy for me.

Now they need you.
Wanda's in trouble.

Then call Johnnie Cochran,
they tell me he's a miracle worker.

Look, man,
you better step up.

Wanda has got us all
in some damn trouble.

Now I gotta go talk
to some people.

First, it was just a little bit of shit
missing from my case but now it's...

I'm worried about Niki.

Oh, now you're worried?

You didn't worry when you
stepped up in here buying them everything

with that damn pharmacy
briefcase of yours!

I thought that was you
and Wanda's second child.

Look, man, I know
you think I ain't shit.

No, you're worse than that.

Shit stinks for a reason,
you, just plain unnecessary.

You tell Wanda
I'll be back in a couple of weeks or so.

Now, I'm banking
on you, man.

I'm banking on you
loving them more than you hate me.

Holiday!

Wake up! Come on!

Come and open the door!

Who the fuck is it now?

It's Wanda.
Come, open the door. I wanna talk to you.

I got something to tell you.

Just open the door, please?

I need to talk to you.

Wanda, why don't you
call a damn therapist?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah!

Wanda, go home. Go to sleep.

I'm trying!

Holiday, I'm trying hard to...

I'm trying...

Oh, me too, Wanda!

I'm trying hard
to live my own life

instead of being
your sugar teat all the time!

So why don't you just
leave me to my own goddamn madness?

Wanda.

Au revoir!

The number you have
reached is not in use.

What? Shit! Shit!

And it's different
with every hand I got

I'm lending, you knew when you know

I flew and I flow

I wanna know
what's on your mind

Niki? Hey!

It's Mama! Hey!

You know, I have to get
my head together so, uh...

That's what I'm doing,
I'm getting my head together.

And, do you know what?

I'm gonna call you.
I'm calling you like...

I ain't worried because
I know that Holiday

and Silas are
taking good care of...

We're the warrior women, Niki.
We are warrior women!

You remind Holiday of
what he's promised me.

You know I love you.

We're warrior women!

Turn that fucking music down!

Light me up!
Get this shit up and light me up!

Niki?

Now I know you're in here.

Wanda?

Holiday.

You okay?
Where's your mother?

She's gone.

She's been gone for two days.

Why didn't you tell me, Niki?

Because I thought
you were mad at me.

I mean, the way we treated you.

I'm so sorry, Holiday.

Oh, baby.

You ain't got nothing
to be sorry about.

You comfortable?

Say your prayers?

I can't pray.

Sing to me, Holiday.

Okay, baby.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch

Like me

I once was lost

But now I am found

Was blind

Lord Jesus...

But now...

...I pray that you come back
into this child's life.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch

Like me

Let this child be baptized. Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

But now I am found

Was blind

But now I see

And now, we will hear from
Nicole Dean who graduates with honors.

Nicole's poem won
the school-wide poetry competition.

She will now come forward
and read her poem.

Nicole?

That's my girl!
That's my Niki!

The name of my poem is called
"Finding the Blessing."

"Where do you find the blessing

"When the trees stop whispering

"And the ocean stops roaring

"When the pen can't write

"And everything around you
is one big fight

"Where do you find the blessing

"When everything is still

"And yet your heart
can no longer feel

"When all the music stops playing

"And a poor child
won't even try praying

"Where do you find the blessing

"When a smile can't be found

"And your own voice
you can't bear to hear the sound

"When a fist, a slap and whipping

"Is supposed to say,
'I love you, my child,'

"But all it does is make you want to go
out and do something wild

"Where do you find the blessing

"Somebody, please tell me the score

"Because I want to
feel joy just once more

"But my mama always said

"Weeping might
endure for a night

"But joy comes in the morning

"If you wait"

Joy. Joy.

"So I wait"

How y'all doing?

"And I try not to hate"

What you looking at?

"So I put my ear to the earth

"And I wait

"I listen, oh, so quietly

"And I put my eyes to the sky

"And I wait

"And I try to see if blessings..."

Bless her! Bless her!

"Are really free..."

Bless her!

"But this I know

"That when we are the most still"

Here you go, Wanda.

"That's when God
really lets you feel his blessings

"Flowing through you

"And through me"

Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Lord.

Jesus.

Thank you.

Thank you.

To high school.

I mean,
junior high school, Miss Thang.

To our future together

and to the Lord's blessings.

Would you ever lie to me, Holiday?

No.

No, no, child,
whatever you getting ready to ask me,

please, don't let it
give me indigestion before I even eat.

Especially at these prices.

Do you really sleep with men?

Yes, I sleep with men.

Do you feel bad about it?

No.

Do you feel bad
about me sleeping with men?

I'm not sure

'cause Silas said Mama act like
something was wrong with it.

Yeah, well,
a lot of people feel that way.

I, myself believe
that when it comes to matters of the heart,

the only sin
is turning your back on love

because of what other people think.

Yeah.

People think I shouldn't love my mother
because she used to do drugs

and, you know...

But I do.

Oh, darling, I know.
You ain't gotta tell Holiday.

Well, so are you and me
gonna march in the gay parade?

Oh, no, baby.
I'm from the old school.

I marched with King.

I ain't about
to start marching with the queens.

I leave all that carryin'
on to the younger folks.

Holiday done got
too old to change now.

So you stay in the closet.

Girl, where you get that from?

The library.
I've been reading up on it.

Yeah, well,
you ain't been reading close enough.

A closet means somewhere
where the door is closed.

I ain't secret,
and I ain't never been closed.

I'm just choosy about
who I invite in.

You feel me?

See, in my day,
we believed in privacy.

In your day,
it's about letting it all hang out.

Now, the truth
probably lies somewhere in between.

Anyway, girl, enough about parades
and closets and things, okay?

Okay.

Well, I love you
just the way you are.

So let's toast
to letting it all hang out, privately.

She's back!
I knew she'd come back.

Mama?

Hey.

Niki, let her breathe.

Hey!

I came to give you a card.

I made it. I wrote this.

I've been doing some writing.

That's yours.

And I got you some flowers.

They didn't hold up.

But they almost match your dress.

Sit down, Wanda.
You hungry? I'll fix you something.

Oh, no, I ate. I ate.
But just popped by.

Just wanted to say "Hey"
and check on my little gal.

God, I am so proud of you.

No, I'm just staying
with some friends for a little bit.

Can I go with you? Please?

Who'd be with Holiday?
No, you can't go with me.

I...

They don't have much space
and I gotta get myself together

in that space.

Oh, come here.

Baby girl.

Mama!

Where's that necklace that Silas gave
you with the diamonds, Niki?

Wanda, shit!
Get the hell out of here!

No! You don't tell me!

Get the hell out of here!

Your child doesn't need to
see you like this, Wanda!

This is my house! Holiday!

-Get your hands off me!
-Holiday! Stop!

Just take it.

Thank you,

my daughter,

for helping me.

I love you.

And I'm gonna
make that up to you.

Wanda! Come on!

Wanda, leave that!

Hey, this is my stuff.

That belongs to you and Niki!

Silas gave me this!

Go next door!

He always getting me going.

I just got to rectify a few things
and then I'm gonna...

I'll be back, I won't...

Okay, bye.

And don't come back here
until you have yourself straight.

Look at you. Drop it!

I'm okay, I'm fine!

Do you think I wanted
her to see me like this?

What's she doing home? Shit!

Wanda!

There you go.

There you go, you're punishing me.
You want to punish me.

No, Wanda. Wanda, please.

Please, Wanda, let me help you.

Holiday, relax!

Let me take you to the hospital.

I'm... I'm fine.

Let me take you
to the hospital, please!

Wanda, let me take
you to the hospital.

Just...

-Let's go!
-Come on.

-It's okay.
-No. Holiday. Holiday.

Take care of her.

Take care of her.

I know you will.

She stole the diamond earrings
you gave me.

And the little heart necklace.

The first thing she ever stole from me

was a bike the shelter
gave me one Christmas.

A real pretty red bike.

You know with
the red and silver streamers

hanging out of the handlebars?

When she thought I was asleep,

she took it somewhere
and got money for it.

She told me some boy
at the shelter stole it.

But I knew better.

I just didn't say anything
because she already felt so bad.

Do you think if people
stop giving me things,

then maybe she'd
stop stealing from me?

Come on, let's go night-night.

Your mother's problems
have nothing to do with you, Niki.

You know, she used to be
the best mother, Holiday.

Really.

I mean, we never
had a lot of money,

but she was always
finding free things for us to do.

You know, sometimes, we would spend
the whole day in the library.

No.

Then we'd have a picnic somewhere.

I mean, she couldn't cook.

But we'd have a junk food fest.

At least that's what
she used to call it.

Then when I was around seven

she met this man.

And he was into drugs.

And he got her into it.

Then it seemed like after that,

we never really had a home again.

Well, you have a home now.

And whatever mistakes
your mother made,

she always
tried to make sure that you were safe

-and feeling loved.
-By leaving me?

Baby, sometimes leaving
is the only way left

to show someone
how much you really do love them.

Especially if they can't
give you what you need.

Now you get some sleep.

I'm gonna have
a little talk with Johnny Walker Red.

'Cause this motherhood thing
drive us all to drink.

Yo! Yo!
I'm always looking for a good rhyme

Searching my soul
for fiction and fact

And my right hand man

And my boys on the street
with my new rap band

-What's up, Holiday?
-What you doing here?

Just came to see Niki.
Surprised to see me?

I thought you were in jail!

Silas!

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God, I missed you!

I have so much to tell you.

Come on! You missed out.

What's all this?

What's it look like?

A robbery.

What a friend we have
in Jesus

Whoo!

Our sins and grief to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

That doesn't count!

Do you know
I'm trying to prepare for service tomorrow?

Oh, sorry, Holiday.

But this game is the bomb.

Why don't you come play?

Yeah, yeah,
Holiday, why don't you,

-come play with us, man?
-Come on.

No, I've never been
good at things like this

and I'm sure you two wanna
spend some time together.

-No, no, no. It's cool. Really.
-Here.

Really? Okay.

So how do we play this?

Why don't you tell him, Silas?

The green button, jump.

Ooh.

Ooh, that little white man
jumped over that big, black ball.

Ooh!

Yeah, I mean, she'd tick me off.

And then she'd make me laugh,
that's what I loved about her.

I mean, she said she always wanted
a house so I bought her one.

You know,
I stayed down there, fixed it up.

Then I get back here and I find out
she's been working the streets.

Shit!

So I left again, man.
Just couldn't deal with that.

You don't have to tell me.
You don't owe me any explanation.

No, no.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I do.

I mean, shit, I don't know why,
I just want you to understand.

-No, I do.
-Hey, man, what's up?

Oh, please!

On a good day, slim,
you wouldn't be my type.

Oh, please.

Man, don't even go there.

Is that a gun in your pants?

Or you just happy to see me?

It's a gun.

Holiday, wake up. Wake up, wake up.

-What?
-Holiday, wake up.

I got my period.

How?

Silas! Silas!

The girl done become a woman.
She got her period.

How?

I don't know.
Would y'all stop asking me how

and take me somewhere
to get something, please?

Man, we don't all
have to go do that, do we?

Oh, yes, we do, Mac Daddy.

Let me get my face on.

Condoms over there.

Thank you.

You know, this is junior high.

I mean, dang,
y'all act like I'm going to preschool.

I don't need escorts.

I love you.

Bye.

Yeah, well, I guess
we should go home.

Yeah, I've been meaning
to talk to you about that.

Specifically,
when are you going home?

Because you're wearing my couch out.

Shut up, man. I know you like having
me around there for protection.

Protection from whom, negro?

Oh, y'all macho men
always underestimating us pretty ones.

You know, I was thinking I might as well
just rent that apartment out.

Now, don't you fucking do that.

Not... Not yet.

-All right?
-All right.

You still paying rent,
so what can I say.

Now, if we're going, let's get to it.

Tonight, you cook.

Oh, and by the way,
I think I'll sit in the back.

I've never been
properly chauffeured.

Man, you better get
your ass in the car.

Oh, no, you didn't.

No, you didn't!

I didn't mean it.
I didn't mean it.

Mama, do you hear me?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Mama.

Mama, I did love you.

Man, this is some heavy shit.

I used to think that, too.

But now I get
how you could hate your mother.

Hey!

Hey, baby.

I picked you up today 'cause I got
somethin' I wanna talk to you about.

See, I gotta do a little run.

I mean, I shouldn't be gone too long.

You know, two weeks,
three at the most.

And then, you know,
we can go down to Florida.

And see that house.

I mean, Holiday... I mean, I'm sure
he wants to go to Paris, you know.

Take his little trip.

He didn't say that, but...

Hey, I'm gonna drop you at home.

Go handle this little business.

And then maybe we can
go out to dinner tonight.

Huh?

I just wanna ride.

I'll wait for you in the car
while you make your delivery.

Hey, I'll just be a minute.

You can listen
to the radio if you want to.

Lock the doors.

Yeah, nobody going to
bother you around here.

All right? They know me.

Oh, that's Silas right there.

You want some?

Hey, little girl.

You wanna make some money?

I lost...

Speak up, I can barely hear you.

I said I lost Niki, Holiday.

I left her in the car,
I came back, she was gone.

I can't believe
you put my child in harm's way like that!

I told you I didn't! All right?

She said she wanted
to stay in the car.

I said, "Cool. Lock the doors.
Stay in the car, Niki."

I come back, she's gone, man.

You the damn adult!

Now, why didn't you just say, "No"?

My girl could be anywhere.

I know that, Holiday. All right?

Just...

Hold on, man.
My pager's goin' on.

No! Get rid of that
goddamn beeper, Silas! Get rid of it!

-Shut up!
-Silas!

Go on, get out of here!

Come back...

What did I tell you?
Man, what did I tell you? You see?

I ain't goin' in there no more.

I ain't getting high no more.

Look here, brother,
this is an economic principle.

I can't give you nothin'
if you got nothin' on you.

What you bought was...

Like little Jack Horner

True OG
Never stop to ask questions

One step ahead 'cause
you know I'm the best in the land

I can drop a bomb
like a man on a mission

Oh, yeah, shake that thing.

Mama!

Oh! Niki?

Hey! Whoa...

Mama, please. Come home.

You always get better
when I take care of you.

We can be a family again.

Just the two of us.

Who this little mama?

Get away from her. Ricky!

You get away from her.

Hey, man, come back. Hey, man!

She gonna do her thing!

Mama, please. Come on!

"Mama"?

You just... You better
leave her alone.

I thought you called me.

Mama, please.

My bad.

It's...

I am good for it.

-Come on.
-No.

-Come on.
-No, no, no, baby.

I rather break
this sweet, young thing.

What? No, wait a minute.

This?

This... This is...

This is my baby.

I'm begging you.
I'm begging you, 'cause...

Niki...

Oh, he just...

He just wanna kiss you.

You're a big girl. Come on.

He's just gonna kiss you.

He's your friend.

Give me a kiss, little girl.

Oh, shit!

Oh!

This is how
you teach your little girl?

You abusing me?

You was just testing me?

The police found Niki.

I'm on the way
to the station to pick her up now.

Holiday, would you take this?

Please, Silas, don't go.

My temper sometimes
speaks before I can catch up with it.

That's why Wanda's
in the situation that she's in.

If I only had
opened up the door that night...

No, no, man.
That wouldn't have even made a difference.

People like Wanda, people like me,

we expect anything good
to be a surprise.

And anything bad
to just come like clockwork.

Man, I'm trying
to stay in the race.

Wanda dropped out
a long time ago.

Well, stay in the race with Niki.
She needs you.

Look, man, I almost
got her killed last night.

She don't need me.

I ain't even in a business
where people can need me.

Well, get out the damn business
then because I need you.

Yeah, but Niki
would do better with one of you

than a hundred of me.

Later.

Silas...

Look, Silas...

Ta-da!

The bomb!

I like it and all, but...

You can't afford this.

What's wrong with the duplex?

We needed a new start, girl.

Now, come on, let's take a look.

It's 10:00.

Where's Niki?

Get the hell off my baby!

If you ever touch her again,

I'll be pissing on your grave,
you motherfuckin' cradle robber!

"Trust me, Holiday,
I'm just going skating."

And your little fast ass
is laid up with some boy.

Rather some man.

I wasn't laid up with him.

Look, if your feet
wasn't flat on the floor,

then your ass was
more prone than it needed to be.

I can't believe this!

I'm home slavin',
tryin' to fuckin' pack up my life

to give you a better life.

But I didn't ask you
for a better life.

I'm sorry, Niki.

Jesus.

Have I gone psycho?

What am I apologizing for?

I ain't Father Knows Best.

And you ain't Leave It to Beaver.

You lucky I ain't
kicking your little behind

all up and down this apartment.

Lying to me, and I'm trying to take
care of your trifling butt.

No! I am the one owed an apology.

And unless I get one right now,

you gonna really see me
act the queenly fool

and it won't be nothin' pretty.

I'm sorry.

I can't hear you.

I'm sorry.

No, I want everybody
out in the damn street to hear you.

I'm sorry, Holiday.

Good. Now, go to your damn room.
You're grounded.

Blue, I don't know
what would have happened

if I wouldn't have gotten there.

I say the baby girl
is just testing you, that's all.

Just keep talking to her.

Hell, I mean,
if she's anythin' like you say she is,

she's just scared, that's all.

Look, poor baby is just scared

that she's going to turn out to be like
that mom of hers, that's all.

She just don't know
how to stop it.

Yeah, you're right.
I never thought about it like that.

Hold on. Farmer! Milking this cow is
not working, baby. Okay?

We're gonna have
to have some honey with that tea.

Girl, he got me milking a cow.

-What?
-Honey,

happiness
in this fresh air done lifted me

to the other side
of brilliant, baby!

Okay, girl.

I'll talk to you soon.

All right. Love you.

I love you too, Blue.

Bye-bye now.

Farmer, honey,
we need a new cow, baby.

This one is out of milk.

Okay?

Now, I'm about to
go to the supermarket.

See you later.

Damn chickens!

I have a surprise for you.

It's the most
important thing in the world.

Look.

I said look.

You're not her.

I want you to be able
to look in the mirror,

and see Niki.

Not your mother,

not your circumstances,

not anyone else.

And every day it's your job,

it's your God-given duty
to tell that person staring at you

that you love her.

It's okay. It's okay, baby.

You've been holding it in
for a long time.

That's right, let it out. Just let it out.

Your Holiday's here for you.

O, Christmas Tree
O, Christmas Tree

You stand in verdant beauty

O, Christmas Tree
O, Christmas Tree

You stand in verdant beauty

Your boughs are green
in summer's glow

And do not fade
in winter's snow

O, Christmas Tree
O, Christmas Tree

You stand in verdant beauty

I ordered a red racing bike

with red and silver streamers
in the handle bars.

Look, we don't have your bike.

No, now, you really
need to arrest that attitude,

go back in the warehouse and get my damn
bike by the time I get there,

or I'm gonna raise
all kind of holy hell

and that wouldn't be nice
at Christmas.

Whatever, pal,
we don't need your business.

Oh, you really tryin'
to block my salvation, aren't you?

What?

Oh, you don't know me. I will preach
heaven and beat the hell out of you.

O, Christmas Tree
O, Christmas Tree

You stand in verdant beauty

It's Christmas time.

I ain't never been
away from her at Christmas time.

You know what?
At one time she...

She had a bike
and it was kinda like this.

Oh, no...

I probably messed it up.

But I'm gonna
make it up to her because...

You know, all I ever really
wanted was to make her happy.

That's true.

I just...

Do you know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna get in a program.

I'm gonna love the program.

Twelve steps.

Well, is it just...
It's just the steps.

I'm gonna do all the steps.

You know what?

I just need to...

I need to come home.

I just... Holiday,
please let me come home.

Yes. Yes, Wanda, yes.

That's what
I've been praying for all this time.

And Niki, she misses you so much.

I need to take a shower.

I don't want...
I know I have no presents.

Never mind that.
I'm gonna tell Niki

that this bike is from you.

I got this bike?

Yes, you brought this bike.

Now, I'm gonna
go get my check and I'll be right back.

Ooh...

I got the bike.

Actually this one
is a mountain bike.

That's good.

See, I never
let these whores get the upper hand.

You know what I'm saying?
You gotta keep them in check.

It's also a boy bike.

Peep, your girl...

It's got these gears. It's good.

-What's up, Wanda?
-Oh!

How you doin', girl?

Holiday!

Cowboy, come get this bike.

Let's get out of here, man.

I want my bike.

I said I want my damn bike.

I'm gonna knock
your bitch-ass out.

Come on, pussy.
Come on, pussy.

Get him, Holiday.

You motherfucker!

Oh, Jesus.

-Come on, Wanda.
-Let me get the bike.

Wanda, hurry up.

Asshole!

Wanda, come on!

Wanda, hurry up.

We buried you next to Fisher.

So, I hope he's taking
good care of you now.

Silas says the dead
are one big happy family anyways.

He's back in Florida now.

I won another poetry contest
writing about you.

This year went by so fast.

Well, I guess that's all for now.

It's just so hard
when you don't get to say goodbye.

Look, come on now,
you've been rearranging these flowers

for the past two hours,

and your spring break is ticking away.

And here, tell,
Paris is calling for a pretty little black girl

and an ageless
pretty black man.

Is that right?

Silas!

So, how's my little Niki doin'?

-I'm good. I missed you.
-Yeah.

You called him, didn't you?

Well...

Now Mama can really
rest in peace.

How's that?

Because now she knows
the both of you are gonna take care of me.

She's always wanted
two parents for me.

Yeah, well, listen.

When you guys get back from Paris,

give me a call
'cause I got a surprise for you.