Greenleaf (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - A Time to Heal - full transcript

So where you folks flying in from?

Phoenix.

You preaching on Sunday?

I mean, you are Grace Greenleaf,
ain't you?

I am.

I don't preach anymore.

You don't? Oh. How come?

Can we get out here, please?

Well, the house
is just up the road here...

- I know, but could we...
- Why are we stopping...

- Right here is great.
- Okay.



Hope I didn't say the wrong thing.

Not at all.

I just wanted a chance to
stretch my legs, you know?

How far is it to the house?

Not far. Just wait a second.

My mama used to love your preaching.

I hope I can say that.

- You've seen her preach?
- Oh, yeah.

My mama used to go to Calvary
every Sunday when she was alive.

She used to drag me there
when your mama was preaching.

She'd say, "How come you can't find

a righteous girl like that, Eugene?

Why you always running around
with these trashy hos?"

I'm sorry. That's how my mother was.



Oh, no, no, no. It's all right.

She's heard it all.

Here you go.

Tip's already included
in the fare, ma'am.

That's the genius of the app.

Did your mama give money
to Calvary when she was alive?

Well, I suppose she did, yeah.

This isn't a tip. This is a refund.

Partial refund, anyway.

All right. God bless you.

You, too. Thanks.

Baby, come on.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

I just wanted to stop.

Is that the lake where Aunt Faith...

Better get going.

Wow.

Yeah.

Didn't look like this when I lived here.

They've made some improvements.

Can I help you folks?

Hi. I'm Grace Greenleaf.

I'm sorry, Miss Greenleaf.

I heard you guys would be in a town car.

Yeah, I just... wanted to walk.

Hey, Noah.

I'm so sorry.

Yeah, me, too.

Thank you.

Sophia, this is Mr. Kendall.

- Head of security.
- Nice to meet you.

I'll drive you out to the house.

I'll take those for you.

That'd be great. Thank you.

So how far is it to the house?

It's about a mile or so.

Wow.

♪ Amen

♪ Amen

♪ Well

♪ Amen, amen, ooh.

So, are you still
reporting for the news?

Yeah.

We might be moving to New York.

- Sophia.
- For what?

She's going to be on "20/20."

- Seriously?
- No.

That's big time.

I just interviewed twice.

They haven't even
offered me the job yet.

That's cool to be considered, anyway.

And you'll probably get it.

We'll see.

Does the whole
family live in this house?

- Yeah.
- Wow.

The prodigal daughter returns.

Daddy.

No, no. Stay right here, child.

I want to hold on to you.

I... I need to.

You know what Isaiah said.

Isaiah said a lot of things, Daddy.

"Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old."

This here's a time for healing.

- Hmm?
- I know.

You going to greet your Uncle Mac?

Hi.

Oh, let me take a look at
my beautiful granddaughter.

I've waited so long to meet you.

Promise me...

you're not here to sow discord

in the fields of my peace.

Nice to see you, too, Mama.

I mean, I just don't want trouble.

I don't think I could take it.

I'm only here for two days.

I just want to pay my respects.

Good.

- Come on.
- Sophia!

So tell me, how was your flight?

Lord, we stand humbly
before you on this day

facing a great mystery.

As your servant Job said long before us,

"Where shall wisdom be found?

Where is the place of understanding?"

We mortals do not know it.

It is not found
in the land of the living.

You've taken our daughter...

our sister...

our friend.

Please hold her close, Lord,

and let her know that she is loved.

Let us pray.

The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want.

Hey, babe.

What you getting all made up for?

It's just family.

It's not just family.

Gigi's home.

So, why didn't it work out
with you and Noah?

He seems nice.

That obvious, huh?

Kind of, yeah.

Ugh, I have to work on my poker face.

All right, get washed
up for dinner, honey.

You didn't answer my question.

I know. Hey.

Who is it?

It's your Great-Aunt Mavis, baby.

Y'all get in okay?

Yeah, just unpacking.

How was the funeral?

It was fine.

No one said "suicide."

No one said it was all our fault.

It was just God's mysterious ways.

You know how Daddy is.

Huh. Well, you know, you cannot
expect people to feel bad about

what they didn't have the heart

to think happened in the first place.

Think you can escape later?

- If dinner doesn't go late.
- Won't be too late for me.

I don't even stop serving
till 2:00 in the morning.

Then I guess I'll see you.

Good, and when you drive in, baby,

take 240, 'cause Barton's
all closed down.

- Why?
- Demonstration.

Some cop shot another child.

Anyway...

steal one of your daddy's
cars and come see me.

I will.

Yes. Hey.

Thanks, Annika.

Jacob.

Zora's ready. Let's go.

All right, one second.
I'll be right there.

Don't you look nice?

Come here.

What's he do in there?

Who knows?

All right. Who's hungry?

Senator Bob Banks
is coming by your office

tomorrow morning before service.

Why? Is he asking for money
for his campaign?

Doesn't he know what we're
going through right now?

I tried to reschedule, but...

I'm happy to have something to
move on to, in all honesty.

Well, maybe he's breaking up
with that crazy wife of his.

You remember the last time we were
in Washington at their house?

She was dressed like something
out of "Star Wars."

Who's Bob Banks?

He's the senior senator from Tennessee.

He's coming to church
tomorrow morning to visit.

I think he's coming to ask
me about David Nelson,

that trigger-happy cop.

He's a member at Calvary?

No, he's on the roll.

So he's black?

On the outside.

Oh, Mac.

But, see, I think that Bob believes

this fella has confessed to me,

given me some kind of privileged account

about what really happened that night.

But I've never even met the man.

You said he's a member.

Well, he is, but we have 4,000
people every Sunday, Gigi.

I don't know half the people there.

Now, can we talk about something else?

I mean, I'm tired of borrowing trouble.

Yes, Bishop. Yeah.

What church do you go to in Phoenix?

We're at Fountain of Life.

Aw, they must be so blessed to have you,

with all your experience.

Yeah, well, I don't think they even know

that I'm there, honestly.

We pretty much just go
Christmas and Easter.

- Really?
- Work keeps me pretty busy.

- Hmm.
- Oh, well, that's interesting.

Are you still Christian?

What?

Come on. What is this, an inquisition?

No, it's a conversation.

It's something people have
when they're in the same room

and their phones are off.

Sorry.

Mother, may we be excused?

Of course. Flee, flee!

I would, too, if I wasn't anchored here

by the demands of propriety.

Oh!

Come on, darling.

Hey, Zora, sweetheart,
where you guys going?

Just around.

Okay, stay together.

We will.

So, are you one of these people
nowadays I hear so much about

who are more spiritual than religious?

- Um...
- Mmm, whatever that means.

No, I'd say I'm a Christian.

Who believes what, though?

I'm only asking because you say

you don't go to church regularly.

Well, I think there's lots
of ways to commune with God,

and not all of them take place in
a church or a house of worship.

But the Bible commands Christians

to go to church regularly.

Or don't you believe
in the Bible anymore?

Or do you just cherry-pick
what you like from it?

I know that's the fashion now, too.

Kerissa.

Oh.

I hope it's okay to talk about this.

I'm just curious.

Grace, she used to be
this legendary preacher.

- She was.
- Thank you, Daddy.

I wish I had heard her preach.

Now here she's sitting

saying she doesn't even
go to church anymore?

I mean, I'm just curious.

Kerissa...

I think it best if we
go on to something else.

- Yes.
- Please.

No.

Go on.

I'm interested, too.

What do you believe, Grace?

Well, Mama, I believe that the Bible

is one useful tool to see
into the heart of God,

in the Christian tradition.

And what other tradition is there?

- Amen.
- Jesus said,

"I am the way, the truth, the life.

No one comes to the Father
except through me."

Or do you not believe in Jesus anymore?

- Kerissa, come on, now.
- It's just a question.

And we're all family.

What do you believe, Gigi?

I'm actually interested to know.

Well, I guess I believe

there's a part of everything that tries.

You know, like plants try to
grow, animals try to survive.

People try to better
themselves to get ahead.

Everything tries to do something.

And I guess I think that...

Christianity is just one way

that the trying part
of people tries to connect

with the trying part of everything else.

Hear, hear. I'd go to that church.

Me, too. Amen!

I think that's marvelous.

- Thank you, Daddy.
- Really, Bishop?

Really, and I don't see any reason

why that couldn't be
preached at Calvary.

Well, I will give you one,

because it has nothing to do with Jesus

and the price he paid
on the cross for my sins.

- Amen.
- Amen.

I've got an idea for a sermon.

You do?

Yes. Remember?

I told you.

- Yeah.
- I've got an idea

for a whole series of sermons, Daddy.

It's a good one.

Charity, we've been over this.

I know, but you said

that if I ever wanted to preach
a series, I'd need a theme.

And I've got a theme now

for a whole 12-part series.

What is your theme, child?

The seasons of Christian marriage.

So, there are 12 seasons now?

So, tell me, what would that be about?

You know, it would be about

how things change

and grow deeper.

And how with the help of God

couples can push through tough times

and experience all God has to offer.

You've been married three years

and you don't even have children.

What do you know about tough times?

I think it's a wonderful idea, Charity.

Gigi, stay off of my team.

Daddy, what do you think?

Well, I...

I think you're such
a wonderful singer, Charity,

such a powerful exalter.

And you preach twice a month

to the little saints
in the children's church, right?

Yeah.

I'm a grown woman, Daddy.

I want to preach a series, like Jacob,

in the church on Sunday like a grown-up.

Uh, Gigi.

Daddy.

How would you like to stay on

and preach to the little saints?

About what? Trying?

Why won't you let me do a series?

Jacob just did that one
on running the race

or race to the finish.

Finishing God's holy race.

It's not like he's good at it.

What? Come on, Charity.

Why won't you give me a chance?

Your daddy's made
his position clear, girl.

Sit your ass down.

Don't talk to her like that.

Don't you talk to your uncle like that.

Daddy, I think that Charity
is just trying to...

Gigi!

How many times do I have to tell you

I don't need you looking out for me?

I don't want your help.

Charity. Charity, baby.

Go on, go on.

If you all would excuse me.

What?

I told you I didn't want trouble.

Mama, the truth is trouble to you,

and it always has been.

Don't you dare start in
on me about the past,

not when I just lost your sister.

You didn't lose my sister, Mama.

You gave her away!

- Gigi...
- And you let him sit right here

- at the table next to you!
- Gigi!

- I swear to God...
- That is enough!

We don't talk like that in my house.

We do not swear to God.
This is not Arizona.

You're going to church in the morning.

Well, come on.

Good night, Gigi.

Jacob.

- Uncle Mac.
- Uh-huh.

I better be going.

It's going to be a long drive home.

So, how'd she look?

Same. Older.

Uh-huh.

She's got nothing on you.

You know, I could
stay tonight if you want.

Stay? Like, stay over?

Yeah, like, don't act so surprised.

I'm not, it's just...

Do you not want me to?

I know it's a strange time,

but I thought you might
like the company.

I do. I want the company, totally.

It's just...

I thought we were waiting.

We are waiting.

Doesn't mean we can't wait together.

Yeah.

Stay.

I'd like that.

- Why the hell did you do that?
- Do what?

Don't act like you don't
know what I'm talking about.

Why'd you get all up on Gigi like that?

Because I know how your daddy thinks

and I wanted to be sure that he knows

she's not a preacher anymore.

She's leaving Monday, Kerissa.

But he wishes she wasn't.

And meantime, you get treated every day

like some kind of broken glass

while Grace shines on in his
memory crystal and complete.

And you should be thanking me

instead of getting all up
in my face about it.

I'm the best friend
you got around here...

the only real one.

And you better tell
that little side piece

to stop texting so damn much.

I won't be disrespected.

Hey, baby. How you doing?

I'm all right.

And what was that all about?

This 12-part sermon series

that you've been planning for so long?

I've thought about it.

Seasons of Christian marriage?

I swear.

Was that all just to impress Gigi?

You tell me.

You're the one who was in such
a hurry to go to her church.

Aw, come on, baby.

You know I didn't mean it.

It's just that Kerissa
was going at her so hard.

You know me.

Look, tell you what.

Why don't we go upstairs,

make a big bowl of ice cream...

with chocolate syrup...

cuddle up and watch "The Bachelor"?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

I just can't believe she's gone.

I know, baby.

I know.

So, what is this thing?

An old lookout tower from the Civil War.

Were there slaves here back then?

Yeah, there were slaves
all over Tennessee.

This whole estate used to belong

to an old lady called Miss Davis.

When she was killed,
it turned out that...

- Killed?
- Yeah.

- Are you serious?
- She was murdered.

- By who?
- Some random guys.

What are you doing?

Ritalin. Want some?

Do you have ADD or ADHD?

Neither, but I told my doctor I did.

I was like, "I can't concentrate.

I keep interrupting
my friends when they talk.

It's pissing them off."

He still wouldn't give it to me,

so I finally said,

"If I don't start crossing
things off my to-do list,

I might hurt myself."

Bam.

- Why do you take it?
- My mom's school.

It's all you.

Nice form.

If you don't keep your grades
up or get in too much trouble,

then you get in the red zone.

Then your name goes up on a
bulletin board in the lobby.

My mom's the principal.
I can't be in the red zone.

Feel anything?

I think so, yeah. Yeah.

I love Jesus so much.

What's the matter?

It's just a lot harder than I thought,

having you stay over.

Why? I like it.

So do I, but it's...

you know, we're getting to that
point where we can't do anything.

Who says we can't do anything?

We can't do one thing.

That leaves a whole lot of options.

Unless, of course,
you don't like options.

Oh, oh, oh, no.

No.

I'll take an option.

I feel bad for Stacey G.

- Don't you?
- Hmm?

Everybody knows
he's going to pick Stacey B.

Stacey G. is just somebody to say no to.

What are you doing?

They're just about to go
into the fantasy suite.

Do you want to have a baby?

Do you?

You want to now?

I wouldn't ask if I didn't.

I guess it would be a good time to...

you know, make a new life.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think so, too.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Okay.

What, James?

Did we do the wrong thing?

We did the best we could.

Yeah.

Auntie.

Oh.

- So good to see you.
- It's good to see you, too.

Oh!

Well, the place hasn't changed much.

It's about to.

I'm getting ready to renovate.

Going to knock out that wall over there,

add a new line of banquettes over there,

new stage lights.

Just waiting on the permit.

I like it the way it is.

Well, I will take a picture.

Remember the first time
you came in here?

- Yeah.
- We sat right here.

Auntie, you know I was scared to death.

Mama's always talking
about her evil sister Mavis

purveying the devil's music
down on Beale Street.

I figured I had to come see for myself.

I used to make you those little
Shirley Temples, remember?

And you would sit
and you would sip on them.

So serious. Mmm.

- So dignified.
- Aw.

You weren't anything like Mama said.

Nothing is.

Ugh.

Did, um...

did Faith ever come in here?

She moved down
to this neighborhood, right?

She did.

But after she moved out of the house,

she started moving in her own circles.

Yeah.

Nothing you could do about that.

Nothing.

She had her own path,

and we both know
who's to blame for that.

Yeah.

So, what's going on?

Hey, y'all!

Give it up for Mr. Anthony David!

Your Uncle Mac.

What?

He did it again?

Honestly, Gigi, I don't think
he ever really stopped.

Every couple of years you hear rumors

about some girl he's mixed up with.

Nothing ever comes of it.

I didn't even bother to tell you.

But two months ago,

one of the cops who works
around here came to see me

and told me about a 15-year-old
girl from the church

who had come in and gave a statement.

And what happened?

Nothing. She recanted.

After three days,

said she made the whole thing up.

Just like Faith.

Why are you telling me this?

Because right now

I'm the only person in this family

that knows that happened besides Mac.

And you are the only one

who can do something about it.

Senator Banks and his aids is here to see
you sir.

Gentlemen, to what
do I owe this pleasure?

And if it has anything to do with
that police officer David Nelson,

- I can't help you.
- It doesn't.

Well, praise God, that's a blessing,

'cause Lord knows I've had
enough heartache lately.

The Senate is launching
an inquiry, James,

into whether your church
and others like it

are taking advantage
of your tax-exempt status

to bilk the American people
out of billions of dollars.

- For real?
- For real.

What?

Well, I'm just wondering,

what are white people going to think

when they see black people
picking on each other like this?

What will black people
think if we don't?

There are white churches
on there, too, James.

- Have a look.
- Give me that thing. Let me see.

Where's Basie Skanks?

His church is growing like a weed.

He just said he was
buying that old YMCA.

We're not talking about Triumph
Church or Basie Skanks.

We're talking about you and Calvary.

I don't see what's wrong.

If everything is in order,

there shouldn't be a problem.

There isn't.

Alexa, show the senator out, please.

Right this way.

I got you.

Hi. How's it going?
Got everything under control?

- Yes, sir.
- All right.

Alexa!

- Pastor Greenleaf.
- You got a minute?

Your father needs his Bible.

It'll only take a second.

It's about the special offering.

♪ Confused in my head

♪ It should have been me...

- ♪ I got a testimony
- ♪ I've got a testimony

- ♪ I'm here to testify
- ♪ Ooh, testimony

- ♪ I've got a testimony
- ♪ I've got a testimony

- ♪ And he loves me
- ♪ Ooh

♪ Testify

♪ I should have been dead

♪ Testify

♪ Buried in my grave

- ♪ I've got a testimony
- ♪ Ooh, a testimony

- ♪ I've got a testimony
- ♪ Ooh, a testimony

♪ I've got a testimony...

You can't take away my testimony!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

♪ Yeah...

Hallelujah!

Oh!

Oh!

Yeah!

Has God given me a message

for the people of God today!

Hallelujah!

And amen! Amen!

Now...

Now, this goes back
to when Lady Mae and me

were still flying commercial.

Never again. Thank you, Jesus.

First lady
says, "Never again, Thank you Jesus."

And this man sees me
poring over my Bible.

I was getting ready
for my sermon on Sunday.

And he grunts at me,

sipping on his wine,

said, "Are you one
of them Bible bangers?"

I said, "Well, what's a Bible banger?"

He said, "You know, one of those people

that bangs people on the head
with their Bible."

And this made me so sad

to think that's what
the Bible is to some people,

something they think someone's
going to be beating on them with.

Beating them on the head.

Now, imagine that you were
born in a real small town,

and on the first day of kindergarten

you're standing on the milk line,

and the little kid next to you in line

says hi and starts talking to you.

And it turns out that he likes
the same cartoons as you.

Yeah!

The same flavor ice cream.

Same video games.

It's like you two
were made for each other.

So you start to go to each
other's houses after school

and you become friends... best friends.

That's right! That's right!

And then when it comes time
to graduate from high school,

now you have to stay in town
because of a family business

and your friend goes off to college

and then gets a job on the
other side of the world.

But you keep in touch,

email each other once a week or so.

And at the end of every email,

you say, "I love you.

I miss you. Please come home."

After many years of this,

one day you get an email
from your friend.

He says, "I have some business

going to take me through your area,

and I was wondering if I could see you."

Yes.

So, on the day your friend
is coming to visit,

you drive three hours to the big airport

and you stand there outside security
by the baggage claim and you wait.

Now, all these people
are coming through the doors.

And you think, "Well,
maybe there's a problem."

"Maybe I got the date wrong."

But then, way back...

at the back of this river of people,

you see your friend.

And, oh, how your heart fills!

You see, the Bible is not a rulebook!

The Bible is not a bunch of myths!

It's not even a work of literature!

And it certainly isn't something

to be banging people over the head with.

The Bible, praise God,

is like a bunch of emails

from the best friend
you ever had saying,

"I love you! I miss you.

Please, come home!"

Preach!

Now, I don't know who
I'm preaching to today.

Maybe I'm preaching to myself.

But if there's anybody out there today

who's thinking, "I want to come home.

I'm so tired of being
out there by myself,

fighting by myself!

I just want to go home
and see my friend."

Well, I'm here to tell you,
come on home!

Come down here,

because Jesus wants to welcome you home!

Come on!

Come on down here.

Come on down here.

Come on, while there's still time!

Come on!

Come on down!

Come on down here, child.

Praise Jesus.

That's right, come on.

Oh, come on.

- Daddy.
- Come on, Gigi.

♪ Take me to the river...

You know how this works, Gigi.

Just pray with me, child.

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee...

- ♪ Take me...
- Welcome home, baby.

♪ Take me to the river...

Bishop, over here.

Excuse me, child.

Daddy gonna be right back, hear?

Okay.

♪ Take me to the river

♪ Take me to your river...

- ♪ I want to know...
- Beloved!

Praise God! Ha ha!

Beloved, now,
these saints of the church,

Claire and Horace Jackson,

who we all know just won
themselves that Powerball...

Hallelujah!

...who could have run off this weekend

and blown it all on riches
that rust and fade away,

but instead they came to
church like regular folk

to drop a deposit
into the bank of eternity

to the tune of $50,000!

Praise God! Boom!

Dropping like the atomic bomb!

- Boom!
- Boom!

Right into the pit of Hell.

- Boom!
- Boom!

Breaking down those walls
and setting captives free!

- Boom!
- Boom!

The Lord God of hosts proclaims,

"You're not going to keep my
saints bound up down there!"

Not today, Satan! Not today!

Praise God!

Oh, yes!

Amen!

Church good?

Listen, that girl you mentioned,

the one from the church
who gave her statement?

You think your friend from the
force can get me her name?

I can ask,

but you got to promise me something.

You won't run away
like you did last time.

I promise.

♪ Satan

♪ Lord Jesus

♪ Oh, oh, Satan

♪ Oh, yes

♪ You've been building

♪ All over this land...

by LiviuBoss