The List (2007) - full transcript

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

[ Faint Praying ]

[ Metal Squeaking ]

[ Thunderclaps ]

[ Horse Whinnying ]

Take Mr. Candler's horse
and lead it in the back.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

Thank you.
Go on in.

[ Men Chattering ]

Are you with us then?

[ Thunderclap ]



[ Door Closes ]

[ Man ]
I, the Lord, my God,

am a jealous God...

visiting the iniquities...

of the fathers
upon the children...

unto the third
and the fourth generations...

and showing mercy...
[ Continues, Faint ]
[ Thunder Continues ]

This is the final...

[ Thunderclap ]
[ Horse Whinnies ]

[ Chuckling ]
[ All ]
Hear! Hear!

[ Metal Squeaking ]

[ Thunderclaps ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Gun Cocks ]



[ Explosive Thunderclap ]

[ Intercom Beeps ]
[ Woman ] Jefferson
McClintock on line one.

Please, Bonny, no more calls.
I'm late enough as it is.

Did you say "McClintock"?
Yes.

[ Sighs ]
Put him through.

[ Phone Beeps ]
Mr. McClintock.
Renny Jacobson.

Yes, sir,
it has been a long time.
What can I do for you?

Okay.

Yes, sir. I understand.

Yes, sir.

Right.

I appreciate you calling.

Thank you.

Sir.

Tell Mr. Barnette...

Tell Mr. Barnette
there's nothing I can do
about the signatures...

on the South End
merger documents.

Seems I gotta
go to Charleston
to bury my father.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I have high hopes
for Mr. Jacobson.
Very high hopes.

[ Man ]
♪ Amazing

♪ Grace

♪ How sweet

♪ The sound

♪ That saved

♪ A wretch [ Sniffling ]

♪ Like me

♪ I once

♪ Was lost

♪ But now

♪ I am found

♪ So blind ♪♪

I wanna miss him, Mama A.

I know, son.

He was just so different
after your mama died... harder.

All I ever knew was hard.

Well, you know,

he told me,
right before he died,

that he knew he might have
been too hard on you.

I guess he never told you.

Come on, honey.

Oh.

[ Exhales ]

[ Man ]
There we are in the quad
at The Citadel.

Can you find your father?

Yup.

Shall we?

Uh, have a seat.
I brought my copy.

Even with the size
of the estate, it shouldn't
be too complicated.

He left everything to me.

Renny, uh,
what do you remember
about holographic wills?

They're handwritten,
without the legal
boilerplate.

Uh, usually no witnesses.
Why?

Well, your, uh, father
added this to his file.

It's dated one month
after the will you have.

We just found it.

How do we know
this is authentic?
He anticipated that.

This from a local
psychiatrist attesting
to his mental competency.

Handwriting analysis.

It's a match.

"All my residual estate...

"in equal shares to The Citadel,

Charleston Historical Society
and the Episcopal Parish
of St. Albans."

Whoa.

He left me nothin'?

- Well, we can just tear it up.
- Renny, you're a lawyer.
You know better than that.

St. Albans Parish?
I mean, he wasn't
even religious.

- Yeah, maybe that was
the guilt speaking.
- Oh, please!

He's paying his way into heaven!

Well, he did say that you
were to receive his, uh,

gold coin collection and, uh...

"The right, title
and interest...

"to any and all assets,
tangible and intangible,

to my share of the Covenant List
of South Carolina, Limited."

We went through the inventory
of assets and didn't find
any record of this company.

You know what it is?
He never told me anything,
Mr. McClintock. Obviously.

Well, he, uh,

did leave you this key
to a safe-deposit box.

Number 413 at Planters
and Merchants Bank.

Oh, and one other thing here.

Do, uh...
Do you recognize
any of these names?

"Desmond Larochette,
Bart Maxwell,

Thomas Layne IV,
Taylor Johnston."

[ Sighs ]

Families with long histories
in the low country.

No personal connections?

No, none that I know of.
Why?

Well, he left instructions
that his obituary was to
be sent to these people.

Well, any responses?
No.

Was there anything else,
or... should I not
even bother to ask?

Fortunately not.

I'll delay
the sale of the house
for a few weeks,

so you can take out
anything you want to.

What about, uh...

What about the first edition
of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Well, you keep it.

And his boat, the Jacobson IV?

Oh, sorry.
That's a titled asset.

Tell me.

What was he worth?

How much did he not leave me?

Well, depending on
the value of the securities
at the time of probate,

it was more than $22 million.

♪♪♪ [ Man Vocalizing ]

♪ Everybody everywhere

♪ Is happy

♪♪♪ [ Indistinct ]

♪ Leads them up
the garden path ♪

♪ So easily

♪ Don't close your eyes

♪ Don't look so surprised

♪ You had to swallow
every lie ♪♪♪

[ Exhaling ]

Also, uh,

contact Mr. Thompson
at New Dominion.

Get a meetin' lined up
sometime in the next week
to discuss escrow.

Remind him that Pat Jenkins
promised us prime plus one.

If he doesn't...

[ Quiet Hissing Sound ]

[ Male Voice Whispering ]

[ Hinges Squeaking ]

"1863."

What's this?

[ Man's Voice ]
I expect the terms of my will
may have come as a shock.

My father's will contained
those same provisions.

Don't worry.

Your true wealth lies
in the Covenant List
of South Carolina...

or, as we call it,
"The List."

If anyone else is
in the room with you,

please ask them to leave.

The gold coin
has been passed down
from father to son...

for 140 years...

as a symbol of the true source
of financial stability...

for our family.

Toward the end of the war,
most planters and landowners
faced the loss...

of everything
their families had built.

Our family, together with
10 other plantation owners,

entered into an agreement,
a covenant, if you will.

This group smuggled gold
out of the Confederacy...

to safe havens
throughout the world.

Funds now flow
through Swiss banks.

For many years,
I've had the honor and privilege
of being the keeper of the List.

On the wall next to my desk...

there is a compartment.

In the top left drawer
rests a key.

That key opens the compartment
which contains the List.

By now there should be
a letter on my desk...

notifying you
of the meeting that will begin
your initiation process.

Do not discuss this with anyone.

Most importantly,

there has not always been
unity among the members.

Be careful.

Preservation of the List
is everything. Carpe diem.

Rice Planter's Inn,
this weekend.

Listen to me.
Listen to me!

I am holding in my hand,
as we speak,

a letter from your bank
giving me full ownership
of this account.

Now you're telling me
that without this Desmond
Larochette's signature,

I can't get access
to my money? Really?

Listen here.
I'm goin' out of town
this weekend.

Come Monday,
you better have my money.

No. Not again.

Hi.
[ Chattering ]

Thanks.
[ Bells Jingle ]

Can I help?

No. Thank you.

- Haven't I seen you before?
- Honestly, right now is
really not the time.

You were at St. Albans
Cemetery, right?

I was burying my father.

So was I.

- How did you remember me?
- You were crying.

I wasn't.

- [ Dog Barking ]
- One of y'all need a tow?

Yeah. I do. Hi.

Uh, shop's right around
the corner, baby. You wanna
ride over with me and Harold?

[ Harold Barks ]
I can give you a lift.

Or at least allow me
to wait with you, make sure
everything's okay.

Really, it's okay.
I think I'll just
chance it with Harold.

How 'bout, uh, I buy you lunch?

Hey, uh... Y'all can
call my cell, right?

Yeah.
How's that barbecue
over there?

The best pig in the county.
Tell 'em I sent you, they'll
give you extra hush puppies.

- Best pig in the whole county.
- Sugar, you sure you
don't want a ride?

We'll be in plain view
the whole way.

Promise.

Renny Jacobson.

Jo Johnston.

Pleased to meet you, Jo.

[ Man On Radio: Country ]
♪ And you shiver
when the cold... ♪

I always thank God for barbecue.

At this place,
you pray after you eat.

[ Laughing ]

- Some more tea?
- Yeah. Please.

[ Tea Pouring ]
Mmm. Thank you.
[ Chuckles ]

- What was your father's name?
- Taylor.

Taylor Johnston.

[ Cell Phone Rings ]
Harold.

Ooh. Thanks. Hello.

[ Sighs ]

Mm-hmm.

Okay. Yeah.

Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Bye.

Unbelievable.
I'm not going to know
anything until tomorrow.

Jo, are you going to
the Rice Planter's Inn?

Jo Taylor Johnston?

Yeah.

Josiah Fletchall Jacobson.

Let's make some arrangements.

I can bring you back
for your truck.

Have you tried
to get your money?
Money?

What money?

What did your father tell you?

Nothing. He left
when I was a baby.

I got a letter and that truck,
and you can see
how that turned out.

Well,

figure over 140 years'
compound interest.

Is this legitimate?
[ Chuckles ]

I'm a lawyer, and I'm
keepin' an open mind.

Hmm.

I just came here
to find out more
about my father.

[ Engine Starts ]
I know too much
about my father.

[ Both Chuckling ]

Which one
doesn't belong? Wow.

My mom's always been
a volunteer.

She used to volunteer
at the library, and she also
volunteered at the hospital,

so that kind of got me
interested in medicine,
but I don't know.

School's really expensive,
so right now I'm just
taking the semester off...

from nursing school
at Wake Forest.

Hmm. How do you like
the South as opposed
to Michigan?

Um, well,
when it's like this,
I like it a lot.

You know, it's nice
not having as much snow.

The people are friendlier,
at least when you
first meet them.

What about you?

Me? Well, uh...

For me the South is many things.

It's, uh, live oaks
with long memories,

like the ones we passed
coming in here.

Azaleas in April.

Novels, for sure,
by Faulkner, Percy.

Characters so real,
they remind me
of my neighbors.

[ Chuckling ]

The sun rising over
the Ashley River...

with the mist
comin' off the water.

- And barbecue.
- [ Laughing ]
Definitely the barbecue.

[ Renny ]
Wow.

Impressive, huh?

You ready for this, Jo?
I guess.

Good afternoon.

Your father's room,
Mr. Jacobson.

Second floor, turn right,
third door on your left.

And your father's room
is across the hall.

The meeting is in there.

7:00.

Thank you.

Are you ready?

[ Chattering ]
A woman!

[ Chattering Stops ]

[ Chuckling ]
Well, we can see that, Gus.

You must be Josiah.
You have your father's eyes.

Desmond Larochette.
People call me Renny.

I bet they do.
And you are?

Jo Taylor Johnston.

Jo. Ah.
Without an "E,"
I presume.

[ Kisses ]
Mmm. Very nice to meet you.

Uh... Well, gentlemen, please,

introduce yourself
to our guests.

Mr. Jacobson,
Miss Johnston.

Bart Maxwell.

Bart Maxwell.
Renny Jacobson.
Nice to meet you.

Thomas Layne.
Michael Flournoy.

- Nice to meet you.
- Welcome.

Hey. I'm Gus Eicholtz.
Hey. Renny Jacobson.

Can I get y'all a drink?
Rather, two drinks.

Um, soda water,
with lime, please.
Yes, ma'am. You, sir?

Chivas, rocks.
Comin' up.

Nervous?
Not since the bar exam.

You should've had
Gus coach you. He seems
to know the bar very well.

Here you go.
Oh. Thank you.

Thank you.
Who is that?

That's John C. Calhoun,

secretary of state under
William Henry Harrison.

Enduring symbol
of the old South.

Died in 1850.
He looks mad.

Not half as mad as he'd look
if he died in 1865.

In these parts, when people
talk about "the war," they mean
the war between the states.

Or some of us down here
call it "the war
of Northern aggression."

[ Jo Laughs ]
Oh, come on now, Harry.

Hurts no one
to let her dine with us.

What can you tell me
about my father?

He was a brilliant engineer.

Could have designed
the Golden Gate.

But every time I talked to him,
he was in a new town.

At these things,
he'd stay at the bar,
kept mostly to himself...

especially about his family.

Why would he keep me a secret?

Dear heart, do you see
any other women here?

[ Tone Ringing ]
Lady and gentlemen.

Would you please
take your places
for dinner?

We all have assigned seats.
Your family sits right over
there, Miss Johnston.

- This is your father's chair.
- Thank you.

I was, uh, sorry to
hear about your father.
Where'd it happen?

He'd just double bogeyed
number 17 on the links course
at Wild Dunes.

That hole almost killed me
one time, remember?
Yeah.

[ Laughing ]

Now, I'll give you
the real introductions
to these people here.

Flournoy wishes
he could put "count"
in front of his name.

Roget there is Desmond's shadow.

Harry nurses his grudge
against Desmond.

Seems that
Desmond's great-granddaddy
shot Harry's great-granddaddy...

in the kneecap with a Derringer.

Do you like chateaubriand?

Yes, I do.
Good.

Weiss...

He's a bean counter
from Virginia.

He looks tough, but he takes
a bodyguard with him
everywhere he goes.

And Desmond, well,

he's not enjoying this evening.

He does not enjoy
the controversy...

caused by Miss Johnston.

And unless he can pull
a Strom Thurmond,

he'll die without an heir.

Of course, Thomas here...

is enjoying Miss Johnston.

Absolutely.

And poor Bart Maxwell.

Getting married in two weeks.
Gonna lose his freedom.

To a Yankee, no less.

Hear. Hear.
[ Chuckling ]

Miss Johnston,
your presence here
tonight...

presents us
with quite a dilemma.

I'm sure you can
appreciate that.

Now, I've spoken to Harry here,

and we believe the issue
should be discussed
by all the members...

in your absence.

As for Mr. Jacobson,

why, I see no reason why
he shouldn't be part
of these discussions.

Is that fair,
to put him in that position?

I have no problem
with him staying.

- Well, I do.
- [ Desmond ] All right.
Let's put it to the vote.

I shall abstain.

All those in favor
of Mr. Jacobson
leaving the room...

while Miss Johnston's
status is discussed,

please raise your right hand.

Harry, Robert, Michael.
Anyone else... Jerrod.

That's four to three.
Majority rules.

They seem harmless enough.

I'm sure you'll get in.

I'm not sure I want in.

What?
I don't know, Renny.
Come on.

It's like secret societies
and blood oaths.

These aren't little kids.
They're grown men.
It feels weird.

Just play along, Jo.
Think about the money.

Please, rejoin us.

Miss Johnston, your family...

has participated in the List
since the very beginning.

Uh, nevertheless,
there's something
to be said...

for tradition.

Membership has passed
from father to son...

for nearly a century and a half.

Now, it's this...
this dedication
to tradition...

that's been our strength.

The Johnston family
participation
in the List...

has come to an end.

I'll go,

but first I have some questions.

I want to know more
about my father.

Uh, we don't socialize
very much, Miss Johnston.

It's a business partnership.
So you don't know anything.

My father left me a letter
blaming this group for the way
his life turned out.

Every old Southern family
has its share
of, um, lunatics...

in the back parlor...

and illegitimate children
in the shack down the road.

[ Men Chuckling ]
That's not quite what I meant,
and I think you know that.

Well, then thank you
for dinner, gentlemen.
Miss Johnston.

- We do hope that you
will use your discretion.
- Wait a minute.

What about her money?
Participation in the List
is for members only.

Even if she's out,
shouldn't she be paid
for the past?

That's her father's
responsibility.
That's not ours.

Miss Johnston,
you wait here
just a minute.

Years ago,

your father and I
were fishing off
the Florida Keys,

and a storm wave
washed me overboard.

Your father saved my life.

Now, when you think about him,

try to remember,
that's the kind
of man he was.

Thank you. Good night.

[ Chattering ]

Gentlemen.

I'd like to call to order...

the 247th meeting...

of the Covenant List
of South Carolina, Limited.

Now, I... Renny.

Will you please sit down?

Thank you.

Now at this time,
I'd like to pause...

in honor of the memory
of Benjamin Hammond,

an original signer of the list,

who died childless in 1884.

Right. Harry here...

He's our historian.

[ Clears Throat ]

The Covenant List
of South Carolina, Limited,

was established during
the war between the states
by our ancestors...

to provide for
the financial security...

of their families
and descendants.

Now, wherefore...

the mutual promises
recited herein...

are agreed to
by the undersigned...
[ Clears Throat ]

Uh, in... by blood covenant...

and bind their descendants...

to the rule of primogeniture.

Signed Henri Larochette,

George P. Smithfield,
Alexander Weiss,
Frederick Eicholtz...

Harry. Are you finished?
Pierre Roget...

- Good job. Good job, Harry.
- Marcus J. Johnston...

Good. Thank you, Harry.

All right, Harry.
Thank you.

Um, right.
Good job.

Uh... Renny, would you mind?

- I have some questions too.
- There's no need.
You're already in.

[ Laughing ]

Would you join me?
It's just a formality.

[ Chuckling ]

Now,

just sign here in the space...

underneath your father's name.

Now, for millennia,

blood has represented life.

Now, your life,
along with your
forefathers,

is joined to us
by an irrevocable bond.

Congratulations, son.
[ Laughing ]

[ Chuckling ]
Welcome.

Hear! Hear!
Welcome.

[ Men Chattering ]

Bravo. Bravo.

You're one of us now.
Gentlemen.

I'd like to propose a toast...

to Bart.
[ Chuckling ]

Hear! Hear!
Hear! Hear!

Thank you, everyone.

Uh, tomorrow we're
reenacting the South's
defeat at Fort Anderson.

I'm sure you've
seen the signs.
Everyone's invited.

Thanks. For the record,
I will be wearing gray.

[ All Laughing ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Squawking ]

Good morning.
Hey. Good morning, Renny.

Uh, Renny.
We need to talk.

Okay.

Not here.
At the Jamboree
later today.

Good.

So you're
gettin' married?
Yeah. Two weeks.

[ Chuckling ]
How'd you know
she was the one?

You'll know.

So, you learn
the secret handshake yet?

Somethin' like that.

[ Laughs ]

Could you, uh...
Could you meet me out front
in a few minutes?

Sure.

[ Whispering ]

Good morning, Renny.

Good morning.

You have not touched
the shrimp and grits.

That recipe is
from 82 Queen Street.

It is delicious.

A woman scorned.

I don't think
she's the type to...

Well, we don't take any chances.

Why, look at how
her daddy deceived us.

Just make sure
she's headed home...

and that she intends on
keeping her mouth shut.

Delicious.

Okay.

Mr. Larochette.
Where are you going
in such a hurry, huh?

Pursuing Miss Johnston?
I'll tell you this.

It's a better hobby
than any of mine.
[ Laughs ]

Mr. Weiss sort of
asked me to...
Oh, that old goat.

Listen, the List
has survived for
over 140 years.

She's not a threat.

You spend as much time
with her as you want.

Thank you, sir.
I intend to.
Good.

Oh, listen. We'll be
reconvening tonight,

discussing a possible
disbursement.

Sounds good.
Yeah.

Did you see
that Corvette in the lot?

Beautiful, huh?
Yes, sir.

Well, it's yours.
Welcome to the List, son.

The title
and a little gas money
in the envelope.

Thank you,
Mr. Larochette.
Renny.

I know your relationship
with your daddy
wasn't the best.

He kind of had his own way.
Yeah, he did.

I know I didn't
see eye to eye
with him either.

I just want you to know
that I am here for you...

whenever you need me.

Thank you, sir.
I... I appreciate it.

Now, you drive safely.
I will. Thank you.

Well, looks like
you got more than
a secret handshake.

Just found out
my transmission's
totally shot.

Hmm.

Best I can do.
Thank you.

Ah, but wait.
You gave me the wrong set.

You wanna go for a ride?

[ Safety Bell Dinging ]

My grandfather owned
several miles of beach
just north of here.

He sold it
in the '20s.
Dumb move, huh?

How can you own the beach?
Oh, wait.

Then again, who needs
beachfront property when
you're a member of the List?

Ah. Ha-ha.
Ha-ha.

So what are you gonna do
with all your money anyway?

[ Sighs ]
Get free. Quit the firm.

I'm tired of being
lawyer number 104
out of 104...

on that letterhead.

Then... I don't know.
I thought I might... write.

Write? Hmm.
Any ideas?

Somethin' important
like, uh, The Yankees'
Guide to Southern Barbecue.

[ Laughing ]
I'm almost done
with my research.

Oh, okay.

Actually, I do have
an idea in mind.

I've always been fascinated
with the story about a group
of 10,000 Southerners...

who pulled up
and moved to Brazil
in 1867.

Really?
I never heard that.
Most people haven't.

They, uh... They
settled in the jungle
near São Paulo.

That's amazing.

Uh... And this is a true story?

Planted sugarcane.
Their descendants
still live there.

Well, what's it called?
Americana.

Hmm.

Well, I think it's a great idea.

You should do it,
no matter what happens.

Junior year I told my father
I was thinkin' of changin'
majors to English.

Hmm. What'd he say?
[ Laughs ]

He made it easy for me.
Uh-huh.

Major in pre-law
or go on financial aid.

Hmm. Well, I think you
should write it now.

In fact, if you don't, I will.

You're not
an intellectual property
lawyer, are you?

[ Both Laughing ]
Ooh!

Wow!
Uh-huh!

May I?
Yeah.

People comb this beach
for years and never
find one like that.

So what's it worth?
Well, nothing.

You can buy one
at any beach shop
for two bucks.

Finding it yourself
is what makes it valuable.

Good answer.
Come on.

[ Man ]
Was that a heart attack?
[ Chuckling ]

Fire! Fire!

You see Bart?
He's got the flag.

Fire!

Up the hill!
Up the hill!

[ Heart Beating ]

[ Heart Beating Stops ]

[ Renny ]
Good night, Jo. I'll, uh...
I'll see you in the morning.

[ Jo ]
Good night.
Renny.

Can I have a word
with you a minute?

[ Sighs ]

The meeting's being postponed
till next weekend.

I presume you want to
be present to discuss
the disbursement.

Yes, sir.
Well.

I just can't believe he's gone.

He truly was a sweet,
sensitive soul.

Please.

My nanny used to read me
Bible stories every mornin'.

My favorite was
the one about Joseph.

In a jealous rage,
his brothers threw him
into a pit,

tried to kill him.

But he survived.

And years later,
when he was in charge
of the whole country,

they came and knelt before him,

begging for their lives.

Yeah. Power.

True power
is when your enemies
beg down before you.

[ Grunts ]
[ Pats Renny's Leg ]

You must take
every opportunity, son.

The world is about to be yours.

Bart's gone.

I'm glad you're here.

Hey!
Keep your voice down!

Okay, okay. Okay.
Keep your voice down.

Bart Maxwell...
He was with us,
me and your dad.

Have you tried to get
any of your money yet?
Yes.

Did you get it?
No.

What stopped ya?
Gettin' Mr. Larochette's
permission.

Exactly.

Do you think he should
have power of veto over
what's rightfully ours?

I don't know.
I just want my money.

Right.

I'll be in touch.

Here.
Oh. Thanks.

Hey, um, could we stop
by the family cemetery
on the way out?

I just want to visit
my father's grave again,

and I don't know when
I'm gonna be back.

Sure.

I'll meet you back here.
Take your time.

[ Bell Tolling ]

I hope I didn't disturb you.
Beautiful, aren't they?

Made in Charleston,

patterned after larger versions
in a cathedral in France.

Pretty fancy for a small church.

They're magnificent.
Hmm.

Renny Jacobson.
Michael Harriston.

You the church historian?

Uh, some might say so.

You know, you pick up
a lot by osmosis if you
stay around long enough.

You might remember
my mother's family.
The Candlers.

Sure do. Good family.

- You been to the plot recently?
- Not since I was a little boy
at my grandfather's funeral.

Well, I can lead you
right to it.

[ Phone Camera Clicks ]

[ Clicks ]

[ Clicks ]

"Dead at 33."

Here you are.

"Amos Candler.

Though dead,
he speaks."

Was he a direct ancestor?

Amos Candler?

Why, he would have been
your great-great-great
grandfather.

First Candler
to settle around here.

- Did the church put
the flowers on the grave?
- No, I did.

Today's the anniversary
of his death.

I do a little something
each year.

He was as fit for heaven
as anyone who ever set foot
in the low country.

Well, I'll leave you alone.

No, I'm... I'm done.

You know much
about the Civil War?

I know a little bit.

I'm sure I probably had
some ancestors fighting in it.

I just... Hmm.

I don't know.
Probably so.

You ever have dreams
about the Civil War?

I can't say that I have.

I do.

We were talkin'
about Amos Candler.

Now, Amos, he used to sit...

at the end of the family pew,

right there behind us,
in the second row.

He's probably lookin'
over our shoulder
right now.

How's that?
Part of the great cloud
of witnesses.

That's, uh... That's unsettling.

[ Laughing ]
Well, only if you got
something to hide,

which, of course, all people do.

But I like to think of it
as positive.

You know, more like
the... the home crowd...

cheering you on at a...
at a football game.

So, if he were here,

what would he be yelling
from the grandstand?

Given our surroundings
and your pilgrimage,

I'd say he'd probably
be yellin',

"Pray, Josiah!

Pray!"

Yeah. I don't know
much about that.

Mm-hmm. Well, supposedly,

he... often left his pew...

to go kneel and pray
at that altar right there.

You know, I should...
I should be leavin'.

Hmm.

I'll pray for your journey, son.

How'd you know my name was...

Josiah?

Hello?

Hello!

[ Jo ] Hey.
Hey. Have you seen
the caretaker?

Was I supposed to?

Question.

Where can we find out
more about your family?

[ Car Doors Closing ]

She practically raised me.

Gave me the name Renny.

Said I pecked at my food
like a Carolina wren.

Mama A.
[ Laughing ]
Oh!

[ Laughing ]
Mmm.

Mama A, this is Jo.
Oh, hello, children!

Hi.
Mmm.

[ Mama A Laughing ]

But you didn't come here
for johnnycakes,
now, did you, boy?

What can you tell us
about the Jacobsons?

Sad tales.

Well, you know,
the old-time Jacobson,

the one that made it
through the war...

J.F.
Jeremiah.

Now, as I recall, he was a...
he was a rich planter
before the war.

Very successful.

What became of him?

Got himself killed
in a bar fight.

His son, Hiram, went crazy.

Locked himself up in a room.

Died from something
they used to call
the apoplexy.

A stroke.
Mm-hmm.

Now, I knew
your father's daddy
personally...

who was one unhappy man.

He was lost on his yacht
at sea, right?

Left Charleston Harbor
one bright, sunny day
and never come back.

After that, only your mama
could reach your daddy.

Seemed like he was mad
at the whole wide world.

And now him.

Ah, it's just...

just a tragedy,
that whole Jacobson story.

What about my mother's side,
the Candlers?

Not so much money,
but a whole lot more
happiness.

I saw the Amos Candler monument.

Hmm. Now, he was rich
before the war.

By the time it got into
your mama's generation,

all that money had done
gone with the wind.

What else do you know
about my mother's family?

Um, here.

Your mama told me
one day you'd come here,

lookin' for answers
about her family.

And I knew today was that day.

She wanted me to give you this.

How did she know
I was goin' to ask?

[ Chuckles, Laughing ]

[ Laughing Continues ]

[ Woman's Voice ]
Dear Renny, I have
said prayers for you...

that I believe
will be answered
after my death.

The letter
you hold in your hand
is one of them.

Son, your life has
an ordained purpose.

When you were born,
I named you Josiah.

Josiah was a king of Israel,

a righteous man who confronted
an ancient evil.

I know this may sound strange
and unusual to you,

but I believe Josiah's call
is similar to your own.

There is more to life
than we can see...

with our natural eyes...

or know with our finite minds.

My prayers for you
live on after I'm gone.

All my love, Mother.

Hey.
Hey.

Look, uh, today at the cemetery,

I saw every List member
in my family,

and they all died
really, really young,
Renny.

And just... Will you look?

And then... And then
there were all these...
these baby crosses,

and they're all over the place.

I don't know, Jo, okay?
I just, uh...

But think about it.
Your father, my father,
Bart Maxwell.

Something's wrong.
I hear you. I do.

I know you need to get back
to Winston, Salem, but...

I was hoping maybe
you'd follow me
to Charlotte.

I'd really like
to introduce you
to my landlady, Mrs. Stokes.

It's fine.
She reminds me of Mama A.
Yeah.

Hickory nuts.
Oh, thank you.

Put 'em in hot water,
boil 'em for 30 seconds
to separate the meat.

Thanks.

Now, you... you be careful, son.

Hmm.

[ Renny ]
Is it okay if Jo
spends the night?

My guest room's
always available.
Thanks, Mrs. Stokes.

[ Ringing ]
Ah! Barnette's office again.
Here you go.

Excuse me.

So you were a missionary?
Forty-five years.

And is that your father?
Mm-hmm.

What was he like?

He did his best.

And yours?

Absent.

Leaves a hole, doesn't it?

A big one.

You know,

years ago,

I wrote down
every disappointment
on a piece of paper,

forgave each one,

and then burned them.
[ Chuckles ]

Now I can look
at that picture...
and smile.

Hmm.

This is where she prays.

Can you tell Jo I'll be
back in a few hours?
Sure thing.

So what do you think?

She's great, but I don't think
it really matters what
I think now, does it?

I'll be back soon.

I'm sure you will.

Morning.

Jo, hey! It's Renny.

No, everything's fine.
Uh, listen.

I wonder if you wouldn't mind
staying at Mrs. Stokes's house
just a couple more days.

Really? Well, that...
that'd be great.

Okay, I'll, uh...
I'll see you soon.

All right, bye.

I'm worried about him.

Mm-hmm.

I've prayed for a lot
of people in that room,

but recently it's Renny
who keeps sending me back.

I don't think
you and I are worried
for the same reasons.

You wanna tell me?

Good morning, Bonny.
Good morning, Renny.

Will you tell Barnette
I got the signatures and I'll
have the memo on Monday.

Will do.
Thank you.

Mm-hmm.
Is he here?

Right behind you.

Hey, Renny.
Thomas.

[ Chuckles ]
Good to see you.

I'm here on behalf
of Gus Eicholtz.

Let's get some air.
How ya doin', darlin'?

Gus says we can trust you
on this matter.

The Larochette family
has maintained a tight
grip on the List...

and its funds for far too long.

We now believe that
Desmond and a couple
of the others...

are plotting to tip
the scales even further
in their favor.

I don't understand, Thomas.

The List has been going strong
since the Civil War.

Well, Taylor Johnston,
a daughter.

Bart Maxwell, no son.

The power of attorney we all
sign enables the List...

to reclaim a member's money
if he dies without
a male heir.

The power of attorney
is invalid
once a person dies.

[ Laughs ]
That's very true.
Very true.

So who's telling
the Swiss bankers, hmm?

Well, who gets the money?

Larochette.
You're kidding.

From the beginning,
that family's been
in total control.

And nobody, but nobody,
crosses 'em.

Till now.

There's a plan in place,
and you play a big part in it.

Me?

I saw the way you stood up
for Miss Johnston
the other night.

You got a lot of guts, kid.

We like that.

As it stands now,
there's eight voting members.

But before we put
a rubber stamp on Desmond's
distribution plan,

I want you to call
for a vote to replace him
as president.

On what grounds?
Well, you're an attorney.
Be creative.

If Desmond tries a power play,
we'll come up with somethin'.

All we need to act on this
is a simple majority,
and we'll have that.

Now, Harry and Robert,
well, they'll side with Desmond.
That's no big surprise.

But the others...

well, the others
are with me... with us.

Who'll be the new president?

Well, that would be me.

And my first act
as president will be
to make a motion...

for the distribution
of the significantly
larger sum of money...

than any of us, except
for Desmond, of course,
has ever seen.

Exactly... how large?

[ Chuckles ]

Does 30 million each
work for you?

[ Sighs ]

My second act
is to give that girl
what is rightfully hers.

You know, you guys,

y'all keep telling me
how great my father was.

He was.
Really? Really?

Well, what kind of man
disinherits his only son
with no explanation whatsoever?

Can you answer me that?

I didn't think so.

And Desmond Larochette
has been the only person
who has helped me so far.

I'm gonna have to think
about it.

Well, I'm sure
when the time comes,

you'll make the right decision.

[ Pats Leg ]

Something I've learned, Jo,

is that God's children
and his enemies
make the same mistake...

they both underestimate
the power of prayer.

Let's keep praying.
[ Phone Ringing ]

Renny Jacobson.

Renny, I want you
to come out to dinner
on Friday night.

Yeah.
Can you do that?

Well, you can stay
here the night.

Right, no problem. Okay.

Listen, I'm gonna put
you on to Frank.
He'll give you directions.

I'll see you then.
All right.

Now, what have we got?
You know, I like that
Jacobson boy.

[ Larochette ]
Would you like a drink, Renny?
Brandy's fine.

Good. It's a brandy kind
of room, isn't it?
[ Laughs ]

Well, down the hatch.

Here's to all of us.

Mmm. Do you play?

From time to time.
Ah. Mm-hmm.

[ Typing ]
Desmond Larochette.

Right there.
Let's see.

A little castle here.
Hmm.

Very good.
That's good.

Interesting.
All right now.

Rook takes pawn.
That would be checkmate.

[ Chuckles ]
Smart. Good. Good.

Congratulations.
Thank you.

You know, Renny,

the benefits of the List
are many.

A sense of belonging to history,
to a brotherhood, loyalty.

Prosperity.

[ Chuckles ]
Yeah.

There's more to your inheritance
than just money.

It's called power, Renny.
There's tremendous power
in the List.

It's something that
your daddy knew about.

It can either be used
for good or for evil.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

Come with me.

Here, come here.
Give me your hand a minute.

Now...

Yeah, nice and clean.

Now, I want you to totally
have your mind a blank.

Touch this.
Now, Renny.

Is there someone in your life,
someone whose heart
you wanna touch?

[ Thunderclap ]
[ Panting ]

Now just concentrate.

Picture them, Renny.
Picture them.

See their face.

[ Gasps ]

Good, good, good.

Now, release the power.

[ Gasps ]

Release the power and touch 'em!

Yeah!

Good. How do you feel?

All right?
Good.

That's enough for tonight.

Good night, gentlemen.
Good night.
Sleep well.

Was it the girl?

I think so.
[ Laughs ]

I like him.

He's a good man.
He's a good man.

Jo?

[ Phone Rings ]

[ Line Rings ]

[ Monitors Beeping ]
[ Machine Pumping ]

[ Sighs ]

Yeah, right.
Well, let me know
as soon as escrow closes.

Right. Oh, Renny.
Here.

Yeah, all right.
I'll talk to ya later.
All right, bye.

Lawyers! Sit down.
Ah, coffee?

Please.
Ah, well.

Renny, I'm real proud of ya.

Real proud of you.
You did real well
last night.

It was exhilarating.
Exhilarating?

Yes, sir.
Some milk?

Please.
Ah.

I think it's time
we had a money talk.

Now I've decided,
given the global
economic picture,

I think maybe
we should hold off
for a year or two.

What do you say?

Oh. You look disappointed.

Uh, Mr. Larochette...

Listen, son. I'm always
gonna take care of you.

I mean, there'll be tens
of millions soon enough.

Sugar?

[ Daisy ]
Help her, Lord.
Heal her.

Lord, please, help her.

Help her. Help her.

Heal her.

Heal her. Heal her.

Heal her.

Help her.
Help her, Lord, please.

Heal her.

Thomas!

You were right.
Of course I was.

About what?
No disbursement.

All right, look.
I'll do this
on one condition.

I get to be custodian,
like my father,
to keep the List.

You serious?
Of course I'm serious!

[ Sighs ]

All right. Done deal.

All right, look. Before
Desmond speaks, you have to
make the motion. All right?

All right.
You okay with this?

Yeah.
All right.

Give me a little head start.
I don't want people to see us
walk in together.

[ Sighs ]

[ Men Chattering ]
[ Rapping ]

Gentlemen, please.
I'd like to call to order...

the 248th meeting
of the Covenant List
of South Carolina, Limited.

I'd like to make a motion.
So be it, Renny.

I move for the election
of Thomas Layne
as president of the List.

- You are crazy!
- The boy has every right.

Is there a second?

I second.

- Discussion?
- I realize I'm a new member,

but I think there needs
to be more openness
about our finances...

and a more liberal distribution
of funds.

Maintaining heavy
central control is
no longer necessary, gentlemen.

This isn't 1863.

Do not make his mistake.

It's time for a change.
Look at the small number
in this room.

You know it. I know it.

He knows it.

Don't be blinded by commitment
to the past.

Well, you can tell
the man's a lawyer.

[ Men Laughing ]

Any other discussion?

No? Right. Well, let's
put it to the vote.

All those in favor of
Thomas Layne becoming president?

One.
[ Men Laughing ]

You seconded the motion?

Just so we could vote
on it and move on.

- I'm perfectly satisfied
with Desmond's leadership.
- Well...

Thomas?

Where did you come up
with this bull?

I can assure you
I have never had any aspirations
for that office.

Never have, and I'd venture
to say I never will.

Oh, I see.

This was a test.

If you choose to call it that.

Now, please be quiet.

What on earth
were you thinking, son?

Now, as I was saying,

the sole purpose
of this meeting tonight is...

to discuss the distribution
of monies.

Now I propose
a distribution from...

the corpus of the List
to our individual accounts...

excluding Renny here...

to the sum of $30 million.

- [ Men Murmuring ]
- That's 30 million each,
gentlemen.

[ Men Chuckling ]

As for Jacobson here,

I move that we delay
any payment of monies to him...

for a probationary period
of, say, 24 months.

No... 36 months.

I second.

Hmm.

[ Cell Phone Beeps ]

Three missed calls.

[ Monitors Beeping ]

[ Daisy ]
I ever tell you the story
behind this picture?

This is Vusi... Vusi Lakota.

It was taken just outside
of Cape Town.

One day someone says
there's a deadly black mamba
in the bush...

and that everyone must
get inside.

Panic. But not Vusi.

He just calmly grabbed a shovel,

headed straight into the bush.

Thirty minutes later, he came
out holding the dead mamba.

That's when we took the picture.

That night,

I asked him why he did it.

And he just said,
"When you know evil exists,

you must fight it."

The ledger.

[ Footsteps ]
[ Men Chattering ]

[ Footsteps ]

[ Larochette ]
Welcome back.
[ Men Laughing ]

Well, nice to see
you again, Renny.

Oh, thank you.
I was just looking
for that. Thank you.

Gentlemen, would you mind
giving us a minute?

All right.
Well, come with me.
[ Laughs ]

You cannot seize power, Renny.

You have to be groomed for it.

I didn't come here to steal it.

What did you do to her?
[ Chuckles ]
Me?

No. You did it.
But that's all right.

We can fix it because
you are the key, Renny.

How am I the key?

There were 12 invitations...

to the first meeting in 1863.

Only one of the 12... a Judas...

decided to go his own way.

What does that have
to do with Jo? Or me?

Amos Candler.

He foolishly then walked away.

Your mother's family
then faced financial ruin.

But you...
a Candler and a Jacobson...
you complete the List.

Now, you felt the power, right?
How did you describe it?

Oh, yeah. Exhilarating.

It is written,
"A cord of three strands...

cannot easily be broken."

Larochette, Candler, Jacobson.

I can be the father
that you so long for.

What about Jo?

Come on!
That's no problem.
No, she can be fine.

That can be part of our
pilgrimage together.

How?
Unity.

It's time for the Candler
and the Jacobson blood to join.

And it's time for you
to stand up and be a man!

It's time for you
to make your mark!

And unlike your daddy,
I will be here for you.

All right.

All right.
All right.

I'm out! It's over.

You better think
about our future, boy.

Trust me, I have.

Someone with your potential...

doesn't come along
but once in the generations.

But let me tell you this.

Before this is over,
you're gonna be beggin'
for mercy.

Call the police.

We have an intruder.

[ Chuckles ]

Jacobson, your lawyer's here.

[ Door Closes ]
A.L. Jenkins.

You can thank Mama A
for bringing me down here.

That doesn't mean I'm staying.

You got four charges facing you.

Criminal trespass,
possession of burglary tools,

criminal damage to property
and attempted burglary.

That last one's a felony.

And, uh,

your law firm just called
the desk sergeant.

- You're fired.
- [ Scoffs ]

You got one hour.

[ Slams Watch On Table ]

♪♪♪ [ Vocalizing ]

♪♪♪ [ Humming ]

[ Humming Stops ]

Oh, Father,

God, you got to do something
about Renny now.

I can't help him no more.
I can't.

[ Monitors Beeping ]
[ Mama A ]
You see the trouble he in.

His mommy and daddy
leave me to care for him.

But he needs you, Jesus.
I can't help him no more.

He in this mess
and he in this trouble,

but, Lord, he just need
to know you, Jesus.

Help him, Lord.
Help my Renny.

Help my baby boy.

Oh, Lord.

♪♪♪ [ Humming ]

♪♪♪ [ Vocalizing ]

Save his soul.

[ Sobbing ]

Is that it?

Yeah.

You got any evidence?

No.

I mean, uh, nothing
except three dead,
a woman in the hospital,

and me stuck here
about to lose everything.

What do you want, son?

What do I want?

Well, let's see.

I want the money.
I want the girl.

And I want no criminal record.

[ Laughs ]
Okay. No problem.

Let's just call
Desmond Larochette.

I'm sure he'll be willing
to drop the charges
and take you under his wing.

What do you really want?

[ Sighs ]

I want Jo to be okay.

I want no jail time.

And I would just like...

to start over.

Now, that's better.

We've got problems legal
and spiritual,
but we can handle both.

First, let's just face
Judge Austin.

Let's post bail.

Great.

[ Voice Whispering ]
Larochette.

[ Cocks Gun ]

Who's there?

[ Sets Gun On Desk ]

Who are you?

[ Voice Whispering
Indistinctly ]

What do you want?

[ Voice Whispering
Indistinctly ]

[ Chuckles ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Heart Beating ]

Renny!

Oh, shoot. Renny.

[ Female Voice Screams ]

What is this, Lord?
Victory?

What do I need to do?
My strength is almost gone.

"For I am poured out
like a drink offering,

"and the time
for my departure has come.

"I have fought the good fight.

"I have finished the race.

I have kept the faith."

[ Closes Book ]

Do you understand
that with a guilty plea
to these charges,

you'll never practice law again?

Yes, Your Honor, I understand.

Mr. Jacobson,
you are hereby sentenced...

to three years confinement
in the South Carolina
State Penitentiary.

[ Gasps ]

Said sentence to be served
on probation.

I further order you
not to go on or about...

the person or the property
of Desmond Larochette.

I hope you get
your life together, son.

- Court adjourned.
- [ Gavel Raps ]

Well, that's one of
your problems solved.

Disbarment?

[ Pats Back ]
But no jail time.

Let's walk outta here.

Robert, inform the members...

that there'll be a special
meeting tomorrow night!

So how do we handle Gus?

Something unique would be nice.

I called the hospital.
She's still hanging on.

I'm surprised she's not dead.

Ah.

The others submitted
to the power of the List.

But don't worry.

I've seen the end
right from the beginning.

I call that my wall of faith.

Look at their eyes.

Before God got hold of them...

and after.

All those people had
one thing in common...

they thought they
were 1,000 miles from
the promised land.

Truth is, they was
just one step away.

[ Mama A ]
Amen.

[ Daisy's Voice, Overlapping ]
"The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want."

Heal her.
"He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures"...

Heal her.
"And leadeth me beside
the still waters."

Heal her.
"He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth me in the path of
righteousness for his namesake."
Surrender.

"Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil"...

Surrender. Strength.
"For thou art with me. Thy rod
and thy staff, they comfort me.

"He preparest a table
before me in the presence
of mine enemies.

"Thou anointest
my head with oil.
My cup overflows.

"Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days
of my life.

And I will dwell in the house
of the Lord forever."

[ Crying ]

[ Thunderclap ]

Yes! Yes,
I, the Lord thy God,

am a jealous God...

visiting the iniquities
of the fathers
upon the children...

unto the third and the fourth
generation of them that hate me,

and showing mercy...

unto the thousands of them
that love me...

and keep my commandments.

This is what the Lord said.

I've got something to say.

I kept asking myself, "Why?"

Why did my father
leave me nothin'?

Why did you trick me?

And why did all this
have to happen?

And then I realized...

you're all blind.

My father. You, Larochette.

[ Chuckles ]
Even you, Gus.

You're all blinded by this.

You're nothing but a bunch
of selfish, greedy old men.

And I don't want any part of it.

Whatever has happened
in the past,

whatever will happen
from this point forward,

your power over me,
over my family,

over the people I love,
ends now!

[ Gasps ]

[ Keys Jangle ]

He signed in blood.
I own him.

[ Larochette ]
Power? I'll show you power.

Blessing.

Blessing.

Bless...

[ Crying ]

[ Sighs ]

What's this?
It's Daisy's holographic will.

Her what?
It's a will
in her own handwriting.

She wrote it four days ago.
Perfectly legal.

Believe me, I should know.

Renny, she gave you the house.

She gave me
a lot more than that.

They all did.

So why weren't you?

Why wasn't I what?

Crying.

Why were you?

My entire life I've been
looking for my father.

So, when we buried him,
that was it. You know?

I'd never know him.

But... here,
with Mrs. Stokes,

I think I found what it is
I'm looking for.

Thank you.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Yes, it is.

This place kind of reminds me
of Lake Moultrie in Charleston
where I grew up.

I was... five years old,
I guess,

the first time my parents
brought me there.

It's where my father
taught me to swim.

I was horrible at it too.

I mean,
I'd struggle in the water,
flailing my arms,

trying anything I could
just to stay afloat.

My mother,
she'd stand on the bank,

lookin' down.

She'd just pray.

Jo.

[ Daisy's Voice ]
There is something
I've learned, Jo.

God's children
and his enemies...

both make the same mistake...

they both underestimate
the power of prayer.

Let's keep praying.