The Righteous Gemstones (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 8 - The Prayer of a Righteous Man - full transcript
As the dust settles back at the compound, Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy consider where they stand. Baby Billy reconnects with a figure from his past.
[TV static drones]
[bright tone]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- [chuckling]
Oh, these boys
are gifted athletes.
- Daddy, nobody
does midgets anymore.
That shit is played out.
- No, these are mega-midgets.
They are huge in Mexico.
- Well, we ain't
in fucking Mexico.
- ♪ Always get the devil... ♪
- Oh! Yeah!
[music continues faintly]
What the fuck is your problem?
Look, I--I'm trying
to turn this ship around.
Are you gonna help me or not?
- How can I?
You don't listen
to nobody's ideas.
- Liquidate?
That's your big idea?
Have a fucking fire sale?
- Daddy, this ain't
the fuckin' '70s anymore.
Wrestling has changed.
You need big money
to go after big talent.
- So what?
So you just want
to sell my gambling operations?
- Daddy...
you always said
you was gonna leave
the business to me
when you retire, right?
Well, look at me, Daddy.
I'm going grey
with my dick in my hand,
standing here
because you don't trust
your boy's instincts.
- Well, maybe if my boy
had better instincts,
I wouldn't question 'em.
- Man, the shit
you say to me.
You hurt my feelings.
- Aw, cue the waterworks.
Oh, do you--waaah.
- I ain't crying.
Shut up.
You don't know
what you're talking about.
You're gonna tank our business
'cause you're too fuckin'
stubborn to retire.
That's all there is to it.
[tense music]
- Maybe you're right.
♪ ♪
Huh.
Yeah, maybe...
maybe I am trying
to hold on too long.
♪ ♪
[playful music]
- Mr. Dukari.
It's a pleasure
doing business with you.
- Uh-uh.
- He want that money.
[bills rustling]
- Mm-hmm.
I'ma double this money.
Turn this league around.
I will never let you down,
Daddy.
[dramatic music]
- I know you won't, son.
- What the hell?
- Handcuff yourself
to that inversion table
and shut the fuck up.
Do it!
[gunshot]
- Daddy, come on.
All right. Damn.
What are you doing, Daddy?
- What, you think
I busted my ass
my whole damn life
just to give everything to you?
Shit.
Take one last look
at your old man, boy,
'cause you ain't never
gonna see this ass again.
[laughs]
Yeah.
- Daddy?
- Bye, boy.
- Daddy!
[yelling]
Daddy!
- ♪ Praise ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Praise ♪
- There is no
additional information?
They have no criminal records?
- No way of knowing.
IDs are fakes.
Prints aren't in the system.
They're friggin' teenagers.
And the little assholes
ain't cooperatin'.
They got into it
with Boyle here.
- Yeah, one of those
little fuckers bit me.
- May I speak with them?
At the request of Eli Gemstone.
I work
for the very powerful man
you tried to kill.
We know who sent you.
Now you tell us.
Whatever you are being paid,
I assure you,
we can offer more.
Yes?
- [farts]
- ♪ There is a balm
in Gilead ♪
♪ It makes the wounded whole ♪
♪ If you can't pray
like Peter ♪
♪ If you can't be like Paul ♪
♪ Go home
and tell your neighbor ♪
♪ He died for us all ♪
♪ To heal the wounded soul ♪
Don't forget,
one squirt of this...
voilà!
No more COVID.
Mmm.
[lips smacking]
Damn mustard.
Fuck.
[mysterious music]
Harmon...
- You're not far now,
Baby Billy.
He lives right nearby.
It's why you came all this way.
You know it is.
- I'm sure the boy hates me,
Aimee-Leigh.
I ruined his damn life.
What if he sics his dogs on me?
- That's not the Harmon I knew.
Go see your son.
- Goddamn, I hate when you
drill into me like this.
All this holier-than-though,
self-righteous bullshit.
Why don't you save that
for your heavenly homeboys?
- You just mad
'cause you know I'm right.
- Of course you are.
That's what makes it
so goddamn irritatin'.
- It's time, Baby Billy.
- Why don't you
just get out of here?
Just go rattle some chains
or walk through some walls
or something.
Just...
leave me alone.
♪ ♪
- Without all of your help,
I wouldn't be here today.
Gideon...
What you did was reckless,
foolish,
and incredibly impressive.
I can't even believe it,
honestly.
- I--I just wanted to make sure
those men paid
for what they did
to our family.
- Thanks to you, they will.
Judy, my love,
when I was laid up in that bed,
listening to your sweet voice
singing me little ditties,
inspiring me to hang on,
I heard your mama.
- Shit, Daddy. Damn.
- I think I'm gonna cry.
- Oh, please don't.
Kelvin, you and Queef
have been such a help.
I keep saying,
"Go back to your house,"
but you wouldn't hear it.
You've stayed on, helping me
get back on my feet
with physical therapy.
I underestimated your talents.
I belittled
your muscular men group.
For that, I am sorry.
But, please, go on home now.
Rejoin your men.
Train for you missions.
Rip phone books.
Do whatever you all do.
- [chuckles]
- And also, don't forget
the one who was running
the whole operation
while you were sickly, Eli.
- Sickly?
- His name is Jesse Gemstone.
He's sitting right here.
- He did do
a really great job.
- You done good, Jesse.
You stepped up.
You showed leadership.
- He sure did.
So, Eli, you take all the time
you need returning.
And if this Sunday service
just feels like too much,
you know, Jesse's got it.
- I appreciate you.
But I'm ready.
I need to preach.
I need to preach!
- Jesse, we have given
so much to this family.
Not Judy.
Definitely not Kelvin.
Us.
And you let them get away
with all the glory.
Kissin' Eli's ass?
Baby, we been kissin' Eli's ass
the entire time.
- Amber, Daddy knows who's been
kissing his ass, all right?
I mean,
he gave Gideon good props.
- Yeah!
That was nice of him.
- No, no, we are not
patting Gideon on the back
for doing something
so dangerous and asinine.
I mean, we are being demoted.
We should have just made moves
when we had control
of the church.
Wired the money
to the Lissons for Zion's.
- All right, well, Daddy
was on his deathbed,
so I wasn't trying
to do damn business deals
behind his back.
- Maybe you and Eli
could be co-head pastors.
Right?
Just until he retires.
- Well, I think this is not
an appropriate time
to discuss who's in charge.
- Well, maybe that's why
you're not in charge.
- [huffs]
Well, ain't you got
everything figured out, huh?
Telling everybody what to do.
Making decisions for everybody.
- Baby, I just want what--
what we deserve.
For our family.
- Gold digger person.
- What did you call me?
- Hmm?
I said, "I--I love you,
Amber...son."
Amberson.
- Why would you call me that?
- It's called
being lighthearted.
But I guess a man can't do
fucking Amberson wordplay
these days.
Jeez. Good God.
[dramatic music]
- What's your mama's
house like?
- They do a lot
of fracking out there,
so you gotta watch out
for, like, sinkholes
and 'splosions and stuff.
But Mama says
you get used to it.
[grunting]
- Goddang, them frackers.
- Well, this is me.
15 hours and I'll be back home.
Baby Billy will be just a dream
that don't exist no more.
Except for this kid
he put in me
that I'm gonna have to raise
by myself with no money.
- I kind of feel
like you shouldn't go.
- No, no, no. No, BJ.
She needs to get on home
to West Virginia.
When things go tits up
like all the stuff
in Tiffy's life has,
you need to turn to family.
- But aren't we family?
- Not if you and Baby Billy
don't stay married.
If y'all don't stay married,
then, sadly,
we ain't nothing
to each other no more.
- Okay, well, I better go.
Makes me sad to think
I won't never see y'all again.
I liked being your aunt,
Judy Leigh.
- That's enough.
Go get on that bus,
and don't look back.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
- [sniffles]
♪ ♪
- 15 hours on a bus.
That's a brutal trip
for a pregnant girl.
Her big-ass belly,
she probably can't even fit
into that shitter.
- We should have offered her
a ride.
- Maybe so.
- Should I stop the bus?
- Yes, BJ. Go get her.
- Wait!
Don't pull away!
Hey! Hey!
Hey! Stop! Wait!
[uplifting music]
- [grunts]
Tiffany!
Tiffany!
- Hey, you cracked my door!
♪ ♪
- What's going on?
We were just leavin'.
- Not anymore.
Now, look.
I know you may be
a backwoods simpleton
who--who scrubs her dresses
on tree bark
and stinks up the entire house
with roadkill stew,
but goddamn if I wouldn't miss
the pitter-patter
of your filthy-ass bare feet
or the way you chew
shrimp tails with ice
like a animal.
You're family.
And the thought of you
running away
on this bus right now
is making my gooch pucker.
- Sweetie--
- Gooch pucker?
- 'Cause there's something
inside of me
that would actually miss you.
And I didn't even want
to have you, girl.
[laughs]
Just, please, Tiff--
just come on back home with us.
- Is she your daughter?
- No, bitch.
That's my aunt.
And she's coming home with me.
♪ ♪
- [laughs]
[drum pounding]
- Unacceptable.
[distant laughter]
[dramatic music]
No one can know
what happened here.
Especially damn Jesse and Judy.
♪ ♪
It's time to cleanse
the temple.
[dramatic militaristic music]
♪ ♪
Do I have your attention now?
This was a house of prayer.
But ye made it
a den of thieves.
- Where've you been?
- None of your business.
And no, I wasn't hiding.
I know that's
what you're thinking, Cody.
- Don't even think
he was hidin'.
- Place him back
in his containment.
- [grunts]
- No! Hands off!
No one re-cages Keefe.
This ends now.
This is my house.
This is my gym.
Those are my slippers.
[men chuckling]
What has happened
to you God-fearing bros?
We follow this man now?
Torsten?
- Shut your mouth.
- Nah, son.
It ain't like that, see?
Before I brought you here,
your body fat percentage
was through the roof!
You were a little doughboy
who still lived
with his parents.
I built you up,
chiseled you down,
molded you into the sculpture
that you are today.
Cody, when your calves
cramped up
and you couldn't sleep
at night,
who crawled into your yurt
and massaged you till sunrise?
We were supposed
to serve together,
be a brotherhood.
God is ashamed.
- If you really are
the Messiah of the Muscle Men
that you say you are,
then you should have
no problem...
bearing the cross!
all: Ooh!
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Ahh!
♪ ♪
[chorus vocalizing]
♪ ♪
Ahh!
♪ ♪
Ahh!
[groaning]
♪ ♪
[grunting]
♪ ♪
[grunts]
Ahh!
[grunting]
[triumphant music]
♪ ♪
Ahh!
♪ ♪
Now get the fuck
out of my house.
- It's your house, bro.
You could've just said, "Go."
You didn't have to get
all weird about it.
- Yes, I did have to.
- Miracle...
- I did it.
[guitar riff playing]
- Uh, Daddy,
you're looking chipper.
Ain't you supposed to be dead?
- Rumors of my death
have been greatly exaggerated.
Laughter from audience.
I want to express my...
Hey, you know what?
Uh, y'all?
I think my mark
should be downstage center.
- Are you sure, Daddy?
We just--we figured,
with the cane and all,
we'd give you the shorter walk.
We don't want you to fall
on your big return
to church, now.
- Yeah, Daddy, we could put
a chair to the side,
and you could sit on that
while I'm performing.
- Don't try to convince him.
He ain't gonna change
his mind about nothing.
- I think we should just go on.
Um, I want to express
my gratitude
to each and every one of you
who prayed for me
and my family.
God heard you.
God heard you.
- All right.
Jesse, Kelvin, off stage left.
Dancers onstage.
Uh, choir, no.
You sit this one out.
Down.
That's good, that's good.
- Stop, Kelvin.
- That's it.
All right, quickly, quickly.
Head tilts.
- ♪ Jesus knows ♪
- And over--that's it.
- ♪ That the day
that I sing free ♪
- Overhead, overhead.
No, fully extended.
- ♪ I will sing strong ♪
- That's it, thanks.
- ♪ Sassy on Sunday ♪
- From the bottom right.
- Keep up the good work,
Tootie.
No one will notice.
- Jesse.
I imagine you're disappointed
not to be leading the church.
But I--I want to tell you,
I know you're capable.
- It's okay, Daddy.
Leading the church,
and everybody looking to me
for answers,
everybody depending on me,
frankly,
I found it all to be...
annoying as fuck,
if I can be honest.
- You're a Gemstone.
You can handle it.
And your day will come.
I've been watching you
on your journey, son.
The way you've healed
your family,
grown into a leader--
I'm impressed.
But even more,
I'm proud of you, son.
I'd be happy to help you
with the money
for that hotel.
- Holy shit.
Are you fucking kidding me?
- Shh.
- [laughs]
- Oh.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
You're not okay, are you?
- I'm a bit better.
- What's gonna happen
with Junior?
- Junior and I have
a complicated relationship.
I think it's time
you know the truth.
My daddy's dementia
was getting pretty bad
at that point.
And I'm embarrassed to say,
I was also concerned
about negative press.
Afraid everything
I worked so hard to get
would be taken away.
I buried Glendon.
Right under that pylon.
Never told a soul about it.
Not even your mother.
- You loved Grandaddy Roy.
You were doing it
to protect him.
- That's why you were
on the rollercoaster, Daddy.
I knew that
was part of the puzzle,
and Jesse said that it wasn't.
And I knew it.
- You didn't know that
somebody was fucking buried
underneath it.
- I knew it was something.
- Well, but you didn't
know that.
- Okay.
What are you gonna do, Daddy?
- [sighs]
Junior's motorcycle fellas
ain't talking.
It's only a matter of time
before he sends more.
I've only got one option.
I gotta come clean
with Junior.
I've been carrying this lie
for far too long.
- Daddy, we can't let you
do that.
- No.
- Those men are animals.
- No, son.
They came from the same place
I came from.
This is something I have to do.
I owe Junior that much.
He needs to hear the truth
face to face.
- Well, I know I'm
gonna sound like a pussy,
but I think you just need
to let the police
handle it from here.
Uh, you don't owe him
any truth.
Fuck that man.
Don't tell him nothin'.
- Mm-hmm.
Daddy, Jesse's right.
He is a pussy,
and you need to save
all your energy
for your big return to church.
I mean, I'm serious.
You are in no condition
health-wise to be
meeting up with killers.
- I'll tell you what.
If I agree not to meet Junior,
can we all agree
to treat each other better?
Work together
like your mama wanted?
- Yeah, of course we can.
- Yes, easy.
- Yeah, Dad.
- Like a team
and a family too.
- Don't go.
- Family team.
- Come on.
- Daddy, do it.
all: Ughh!
[laughter]
- Hey, Glendon.
[babbling]
[all babbling]
- Just about everyone
has had their bottom blanked
at least once.
[buzzer rings]
- Spanked.
[doorbell rings]
[tender music]
- I was wondering
if you'd find that photo
a little creepy.
Judging by the look
on your face,
you might have.
Well, come on, now.
Don't--don't tell me
you don't know who I am.
It's me!
It's your daddy.
You still got them Oakleys?
♪ ♪
Well, you done well
for yourself.
Got you a--a couch with
a bunch of cupholders in it.
[cheers and applause]
[buzzer drones]
[audience groans]
Well, uh...
we ain't seen each other
for a while,
so bound to feel
a little strange.
Uh, is that woman your wife?
Them little ones your kids?
My--my grandbabies?
- Yeah.
- Uh-huh.
Well, what's your wife do?
- Lawyer.
- A educated breadwinner.
Well, you know,
that can be a blessing
or a curse,
if you can handle it.
- Why'd you come here?
- Well, uh...
I came to say, "Hey."
You know?
And, uh, just for this.
And, uh--
and I'm--I'm sorry
about everything.
You know, all the--
all the stuff.
You know?
- That day you left,
we stayed at the mall
till it closed.
Mom got me the cat I wanted.
Apples lived 17 years.
- Wow.
- Mom told me he was you.
She told me
that you turned into a cat
and that you
were my companion now.
- Well, Lord God,
why would she tell you
something like that?
- 'Cause it made me happy
thinking the cat
was actually you.
- Well, then, uh,
meow-meow, son.
- I knew it wasn't
the real you.
Just some nice version
I made up.
I knew the real you
was out there, just...
doing whatever.
- Hard living.
That's what I was doing,
hard living.
That's, uh--
that's the--the very thing
that I was--
I was trying to save you from.
And look how good
you turned out.
Things wouldn't
have been like this
if--if I'd have stuck around.
Now, trust me, son,
they wouldn't have.
- I guess we won't ever know.
- Son, I was a...
coward.
Ain't no other way
for me to put it.
And I've...
well, I've been, uh,
a coward...
For longer than
I care to admit.
But I got a new wife now,
and I'm starting
a family with her.
But I--I think first, that--
that you and me,
now, we need to make peace.
So we ain't got to be
stuck in that day
back in the mall
for the rest of our lives.
- I'm not stuck there.
- You--you don't think
about me all the time?
- Not really.
- Well, damn.
I wasn't expecting that.
Here I thought I was coming
to give a devastated boy
his wholeness back.
- Nah, I'm fine.
- All right, well,
since you're doing so good,
maybe you want to forgive me.
Let my ass off the hook.
- You're off the hook.
- Harmon, come on, now.
I got to make amends
with you for real
so that I--I--I can--
I can move forward
and do it right
with my new son.
Now, come on.
Let's fix this.
- You can't.
[somber music]
All you can do is just not make
the same mistake again.
- Well, damn, I just--
I feel like
I'm getting off easy.
Now, son, are you sure
that there--
there ain't something
that I can do for you?
♪ ♪
- Can I hit you
with a closed fist
as hard as I can?
One time,
just right in the face?
- Well, um...
Do you--you really think
that'd make you feel better?
- I do.
- [sighs]
Well, then...
okay.
But, now, one hit.
Now, if you glance
or you--you trip
or something like that,
that counts as your hit.
Now, no do-overs.
I'm open to doing
something else, you know?
Maybe taking your dog
for a walk?
Maybe throw a little baseball
or--
[grunts]
[groans]
Ah, goddamn.
Oh, you got me.
I didn't think
you'd pack quite the punch
without having
a--a daddy around, but...
yeah, you did, huh?
- Thank you.
- I love you...son.
[melodic whistling]
[mellow music]
♪ ♪
[laughs]
- [laughing]
♪ ♪
- Come on, it ain't
that goddamn funny.
- [continues laughing]
- [laughing]
trio: ♪ Children of the poor ♪
♪ Children of the poor ♪
Dame Judy Dench.
Dane Cook.
- Y'all.
Let's make Daddy
really proud today, okay?
Show him that we love
each other for reals.
- I can do that.
- Me too.
- I got mad love
for my baby sis and baby bro.
- Love you too, Jesse Smollett.
- Ooh.
- And I love you, K-Fed.
- Ooh.
[laughter]
- If you'll come along,
the Millins
are ready for their photo.
- Who the fuck are the Millins?
- The impoverished family
we are sponsoring
and showcasing today.
[children squealing]
- Dang, they're so excited
over such a small amount.
- I feel like $50,000
is, like, barely any money.
- Poor people love money,
y'all.
- Have you seen your daddy?
- That ain't like Daddy
to miss a photo-op
with a poor-people family.
- Mm-mm.
- No, it's not.
Let me call this fool.
[line ringing]
Yo, Daddy.
Place is packed.
People are pumped.
Where are you?
- I'm sorry, son.
I had to go.
- Go where?
- Don't worry about me, Jesse.
I love you kids.
Tell Judy and Kelvin.
[line beeping]
[ominous music]
♪ ♪
[door clicks]
♪ ♪
- There he is,
ladies and gentlemen.
The Maniac Kid.
- [grunts]
- You come alone?
- I'm all by myself.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I ain't.
♪ ♪
- I have no desire to keep
going back and forth like this.
- Well, that's
mighty big of you.
But kind of late,
seeing as how you ignored
and disrespected me.
Sent your asshole son
to threaten me with violence.
Said he was gonna
behead my relatives
and rape me.
What the fuck is that about?
- I didn't send him.
I am very sorry he did that.
- You're sorry.
Well, that's mighty convenient
now that I got the upper hand.
These sons of bitches
will destroy you
if I tell them to.
- Well, what I'm about to say
may make you sic 'em on me.
- Yeah?
What are you on about?
- A good while ago,
your daddy showed up in Rogers.
It was unexpected,
but I was glad to see him.
He said he wanted
to retire, cash out,
and move to Bolivia.
- And you helped him get away.
- No, I wanted to.
But he wanted to launder money
through my church,
so I had to turn him down.
He didn't like that.
He came to my home with a gun,
threatened to hurt my family.
My father saw him
pointing a gun at me,
and he shot him.
- Shot my daddy.
[chuckles]
You're a liar.
You helped him get away
to Bolivia.
You helped him get away.
- No, Junior,
he's dead and buried.
I wish that weren't true,
but it is.
♪ ♪
This belonged to Glendon.
[gun clicks]
- We used to read about you
in the papers.
He'd talk about
how proud he was.
Used to make me fuckin' nuts.
- He was always good to me.
But what I told you
is the truth.
He wasn't the same man
I used to know.
There was a meanness to him.
He had the devil in him,
Junior.
- Holy Roller Eli.
You better than all of us,
ain't you?
- No, sir.
I have the devil in me too.
I think we all do,
but that doesn't mean
he has to win.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Hey, boys,
give us a minute.
Go on, go on, go on.
♪ ♪
He was a asshole anyway.
- I'm sorry, Junior.
- Yeah.
You know, that reporter
did come to see me, Eli.
Came snooping.
That's what got me
thinking on you.
I didn't tell him nothing.
- I appreciate it.
You've been
a better friend to me
than I was to you.
- Eli...
Pop was loaded with some cash
last time I saw him.
- I believe I can probably
help you find it.
- I'd feel good about that.
- So no more threats,
no more sending motorcycle men
to kill me.
- I had nothing to do
with you getting shot, Eli.
- Junior, it's okay.
I forgive you.
- I'm telling you the truth,
Eli.
I did not send
no motorcycle men.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[explosion]
[alarms blaring]
- Hey, let me out of here!
[pounding]
♪ ♪
[yelling]
- Weaver, you all right?
- I can't hear nothing!
♪ ♪
- You gotta be shitting me!
♪ ♪
[engines roaring]
♪ ♪
choir: ♪ O Father ♪
♪ O Satan ♪
♪ O Sun ♪
♪ Let the children
come to thee ♪
♪ Behold the morning star ♪
♪ Akephalos ♪
♪ Shine through me ♪
♪ Come forth in war ♪
♪ Come forth in peace ♪
♪ Like a day
without the dawn ♪
♪ Like a ray void of the sun ♪
♪ Like a storm
that brings no calm ♪
♪ I'm most complete
yet so undone ♪
[vocalizing]
♪ ♪
- [low indistinct speech]
♪ ♪
[bright tone]
[bright tone]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- [chuckling]
Oh, these boys
are gifted athletes.
- Daddy, nobody
does midgets anymore.
That shit is played out.
- No, these are mega-midgets.
They are huge in Mexico.
- Well, we ain't
in fucking Mexico.
- ♪ Always get the devil... ♪
- Oh! Yeah!
[music continues faintly]
What the fuck is your problem?
Look, I--I'm trying
to turn this ship around.
Are you gonna help me or not?
- How can I?
You don't listen
to nobody's ideas.
- Liquidate?
That's your big idea?
Have a fucking fire sale?
- Daddy, this ain't
the fuckin' '70s anymore.
Wrestling has changed.
You need big money
to go after big talent.
- So what?
So you just want
to sell my gambling operations?
- Daddy...
you always said
you was gonna leave
the business to me
when you retire, right?
Well, look at me, Daddy.
I'm going grey
with my dick in my hand,
standing here
because you don't trust
your boy's instincts.
- Well, maybe if my boy
had better instincts,
I wouldn't question 'em.
- Man, the shit
you say to me.
You hurt my feelings.
- Aw, cue the waterworks.
Oh, do you--waaah.
- I ain't crying.
Shut up.
You don't know
what you're talking about.
You're gonna tank our business
'cause you're too fuckin'
stubborn to retire.
That's all there is to it.
[tense music]
- Maybe you're right.
♪ ♪
Huh.
Yeah, maybe...
maybe I am trying
to hold on too long.
♪ ♪
[playful music]
- Mr. Dukari.
It's a pleasure
doing business with you.
- Uh-uh.
- He want that money.
[bills rustling]
- Mm-hmm.
I'ma double this money.
Turn this league around.
I will never let you down,
Daddy.
[dramatic music]
- I know you won't, son.
- What the hell?
- Handcuff yourself
to that inversion table
and shut the fuck up.
Do it!
[gunshot]
- Daddy, come on.
All right. Damn.
What are you doing, Daddy?
- What, you think
I busted my ass
my whole damn life
just to give everything to you?
Shit.
Take one last look
at your old man, boy,
'cause you ain't never
gonna see this ass again.
[laughs]
Yeah.
- Daddy?
- Bye, boy.
- Daddy!
[yelling]
Daddy!
- ♪ Praise ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Praise ♪
- There is no
additional information?
They have no criminal records?
- No way of knowing.
IDs are fakes.
Prints aren't in the system.
They're friggin' teenagers.
And the little assholes
ain't cooperatin'.
They got into it
with Boyle here.
- Yeah, one of those
little fuckers bit me.
- May I speak with them?
At the request of Eli Gemstone.
I work
for the very powerful man
you tried to kill.
We know who sent you.
Now you tell us.
Whatever you are being paid,
I assure you,
we can offer more.
Yes?
- [farts]
- ♪ There is a balm
in Gilead ♪
♪ It makes the wounded whole ♪
♪ If you can't pray
like Peter ♪
♪ If you can't be like Paul ♪
♪ Go home
and tell your neighbor ♪
♪ He died for us all ♪
♪ To heal the wounded soul ♪
Don't forget,
one squirt of this...
voilà!
No more COVID.
Mmm.
[lips smacking]
Damn mustard.
Fuck.
[mysterious music]
Harmon...
- You're not far now,
Baby Billy.
He lives right nearby.
It's why you came all this way.
You know it is.
- I'm sure the boy hates me,
Aimee-Leigh.
I ruined his damn life.
What if he sics his dogs on me?
- That's not the Harmon I knew.
Go see your son.
- Goddamn, I hate when you
drill into me like this.
All this holier-than-though,
self-righteous bullshit.
Why don't you save that
for your heavenly homeboys?
- You just mad
'cause you know I'm right.
- Of course you are.
That's what makes it
so goddamn irritatin'.
- It's time, Baby Billy.
- Why don't you
just get out of here?
Just go rattle some chains
or walk through some walls
or something.
Just...
leave me alone.
♪ ♪
- Without all of your help,
I wouldn't be here today.
Gideon...
What you did was reckless,
foolish,
and incredibly impressive.
I can't even believe it,
honestly.
- I--I just wanted to make sure
those men paid
for what they did
to our family.
- Thanks to you, they will.
Judy, my love,
when I was laid up in that bed,
listening to your sweet voice
singing me little ditties,
inspiring me to hang on,
I heard your mama.
- Shit, Daddy. Damn.
- I think I'm gonna cry.
- Oh, please don't.
Kelvin, you and Queef
have been such a help.
I keep saying,
"Go back to your house,"
but you wouldn't hear it.
You've stayed on, helping me
get back on my feet
with physical therapy.
I underestimated your talents.
I belittled
your muscular men group.
For that, I am sorry.
But, please, go on home now.
Rejoin your men.
Train for you missions.
Rip phone books.
Do whatever you all do.
- [chuckles]
- And also, don't forget
the one who was running
the whole operation
while you were sickly, Eli.
- Sickly?
- His name is Jesse Gemstone.
He's sitting right here.
- He did do
a really great job.
- You done good, Jesse.
You stepped up.
You showed leadership.
- He sure did.
So, Eli, you take all the time
you need returning.
And if this Sunday service
just feels like too much,
you know, Jesse's got it.
- I appreciate you.
But I'm ready.
I need to preach.
I need to preach!
- Jesse, we have given
so much to this family.
Not Judy.
Definitely not Kelvin.
Us.
And you let them get away
with all the glory.
Kissin' Eli's ass?
Baby, we been kissin' Eli's ass
the entire time.
- Amber, Daddy knows who's been
kissing his ass, all right?
I mean,
he gave Gideon good props.
- Yeah!
That was nice of him.
- No, no, we are not
patting Gideon on the back
for doing something
so dangerous and asinine.
I mean, we are being demoted.
We should have just made moves
when we had control
of the church.
Wired the money
to the Lissons for Zion's.
- All right, well, Daddy
was on his deathbed,
so I wasn't trying
to do damn business deals
behind his back.
- Maybe you and Eli
could be co-head pastors.
Right?
Just until he retires.
- Well, I think this is not
an appropriate time
to discuss who's in charge.
- Well, maybe that's why
you're not in charge.
- [huffs]
Well, ain't you got
everything figured out, huh?
Telling everybody what to do.
Making decisions for everybody.
- Baby, I just want what--
what we deserve.
For our family.
- Gold digger person.
- What did you call me?
- Hmm?
I said, "I--I love you,
Amber...son."
Amberson.
- Why would you call me that?
- It's called
being lighthearted.
But I guess a man can't do
fucking Amberson wordplay
these days.
Jeez. Good God.
[dramatic music]
- What's your mama's
house like?
- They do a lot
of fracking out there,
so you gotta watch out
for, like, sinkholes
and 'splosions and stuff.
But Mama says
you get used to it.
[grunting]
- Goddang, them frackers.
- Well, this is me.
15 hours and I'll be back home.
Baby Billy will be just a dream
that don't exist no more.
Except for this kid
he put in me
that I'm gonna have to raise
by myself with no money.
- I kind of feel
like you shouldn't go.
- No, no, no. No, BJ.
She needs to get on home
to West Virginia.
When things go tits up
like all the stuff
in Tiffy's life has,
you need to turn to family.
- But aren't we family?
- Not if you and Baby Billy
don't stay married.
If y'all don't stay married,
then, sadly,
we ain't nothing
to each other no more.
- Okay, well, I better go.
Makes me sad to think
I won't never see y'all again.
I liked being your aunt,
Judy Leigh.
- That's enough.
Go get on that bus,
and don't look back.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
- [sniffles]
♪ ♪
- 15 hours on a bus.
That's a brutal trip
for a pregnant girl.
Her big-ass belly,
she probably can't even fit
into that shitter.
- We should have offered her
a ride.
- Maybe so.
- Should I stop the bus?
- Yes, BJ. Go get her.
- Wait!
Don't pull away!
Hey! Hey!
Hey! Stop! Wait!
[uplifting music]
- [grunts]
Tiffany!
Tiffany!
- Hey, you cracked my door!
♪ ♪
- What's going on?
We were just leavin'.
- Not anymore.
Now, look.
I know you may be
a backwoods simpleton
who--who scrubs her dresses
on tree bark
and stinks up the entire house
with roadkill stew,
but goddamn if I wouldn't miss
the pitter-patter
of your filthy-ass bare feet
or the way you chew
shrimp tails with ice
like a animal.
You're family.
And the thought of you
running away
on this bus right now
is making my gooch pucker.
- Sweetie--
- Gooch pucker?
- 'Cause there's something
inside of me
that would actually miss you.
And I didn't even want
to have you, girl.
[laughs]
Just, please, Tiff--
just come on back home with us.
- Is she your daughter?
- No, bitch.
That's my aunt.
And she's coming home with me.
♪ ♪
- [laughs]
[drum pounding]
- Unacceptable.
[distant laughter]
[dramatic music]
No one can know
what happened here.
Especially damn Jesse and Judy.
♪ ♪
It's time to cleanse
the temple.
[dramatic militaristic music]
♪ ♪
Do I have your attention now?
This was a house of prayer.
But ye made it
a den of thieves.
- Where've you been?
- None of your business.
And no, I wasn't hiding.
I know that's
what you're thinking, Cody.
- Don't even think
he was hidin'.
- Place him back
in his containment.
- [grunts]
- No! Hands off!
No one re-cages Keefe.
This ends now.
This is my house.
This is my gym.
Those are my slippers.
[men chuckling]
What has happened
to you God-fearing bros?
We follow this man now?
Torsten?
- Shut your mouth.
- Nah, son.
It ain't like that, see?
Before I brought you here,
your body fat percentage
was through the roof!
You were a little doughboy
who still lived
with his parents.
I built you up,
chiseled you down,
molded you into the sculpture
that you are today.
Cody, when your calves
cramped up
and you couldn't sleep
at night,
who crawled into your yurt
and massaged you till sunrise?
We were supposed
to serve together,
be a brotherhood.
God is ashamed.
- If you really are
the Messiah of the Muscle Men
that you say you are,
then you should have
no problem...
bearing the cross!
all: Ooh!
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Ahh!
♪ ♪
[chorus vocalizing]
♪ ♪
Ahh!
♪ ♪
Ahh!
[groaning]
♪ ♪
[grunting]
♪ ♪
[grunts]
Ahh!
[grunting]
[triumphant music]
♪ ♪
Ahh!
♪ ♪
Now get the fuck
out of my house.
- It's your house, bro.
You could've just said, "Go."
You didn't have to get
all weird about it.
- Yes, I did have to.
- Miracle...
- I did it.
[guitar riff playing]
- Uh, Daddy,
you're looking chipper.
Ain't you supposed to be dead?
- Rumors of my death
have been greatly exaggerated.
Laughter from audience.
I want to express my...
Hey, you know what?
Uh, y'all?
I think my mark
should be downstage center.
- Are you sure, Daddy?
We just--we figured,
with the cane and all,
we'd give you the shorter walk.
We don't want you to fall
on your big return
to church, now.
- Yeah, Daddy, we could put
a chair to the side,
and you could sit on that
while I'm performing.
- Don't try to convince him.
He ain't gonna change
his mind about nothing.
- I think we should just go on.
Um, I want to express
my gratitude
to each and every one of you
who prayed for me
and my family.
God heard you.
God heard you.
- All right.
Jesse, Kelvin, off stage left.
Dancers onstage.
Uh, choir, no.
You sit this one out.
Down.
That's good, that's good.
- Stop, Kelvin.
- That's it.
All right, quickly, quickly.
Head tilts.
- ♪ Jesus knows ♪
- And over--that's it.
- ♪ That the day
that I sing free ♪
- Overhead, overhead.
No, fully extended.
- ♪ I will sing strong ♪
- That's it, thanks.
- ♪ Sassy on Sunday ♪
- From the bottom right.
- Keep up the good work,
Tootie.
No one will notice.
- Jesse.
I imagine you're disappointed
not to be leading the church.
But I--I want to tell you,
I know you're capable.
- It's okay, Daddy.
Leading the church,
and everybody looking to me
for answers,
everybody depending on me,
frankly,
I found it all to be...
annoying as fuck,
if I can be honest.
- You're a Gemstone.
You can handle it.
And your day will come.
I've been watching you
on your journey, son.
The way you've healed
your family,
grown into a leader--
I'm impressed.
But even more,
I'm proud of you, son.
I'd be happy to help you
with the money
for that hotel.
- Holy shit.
Are you fucking kidding me?
- Shh.
- [laughs]
- Oh.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
You're not okay, are you?
- I'm a bit better.
- What's gonna happen
with Junior?
- Junior and I have
a complicated relationship.
I think it's time
you know the truth.
My daddy's dementia
was getting pretty bad
at that point.
And I'm embarrassed to say,
I was also concerned
about negative press.
Afraid everything
I worked so hard to get
would be taken away.
I buried Glendon.
Right under that pylon.
Never told a soul about it.
Not even your mother.
- You loved Grandaddy Roy.
You were doing it
to protect him.
- That's why you were
on the rollercoaster, Daddy.
I knew that
was part of the puzzle,
and Jesse said that it wasn't.
And I knew it.
- You didn't know that
somebody was fucking buried
underneath it.
- I knew it was something.
- Well, but you didn't
know that.
- Okay.
What are you gonna do, Daddy?
- [sighs]
Junior's motorcycle fellas
ain't talking.
It's only a matter of time
before he sends more.
I've only got one option.
I gotta come clean
with Junior.
I've been carrying this lie
for far too long.
- Daddy, we can't let you
do that.
- No.
- Those men are animals.
- No, son.
They came from the same place
I came from.
This is something I have to do.
I owe Junior that much.
He needs to hear the truth
face to face.
- Well, I know I'm
gonna sound like a pussy,
but I think you just need
to let the police
handle it from here.
Uh, you don't owe him
any truth.
Fuck that man.
Don't tell him nothin'.
- Mm-hmm.
Daddy, Jesse's right.
He is a pussy,
and you need to save
all your energy
for your big return to church.
I mean, I'm serious.
You are in no condition
health-wise to be
meeting up with killers.
- I'll tell you what.
If I agree not to meet Junior,
can we all agree
to treat each other better?
Work together
like your mama wanted?
- Yeah, of course we can.
- Yes, easy.
- Yeah, Dad.
- Like a team
and a family too.
- Don't go.
- Family team.
- Come on.
- Daddy, do it.
all: Ughh!
[laughter]
- Hey, Glendon.
[babbling]
[all babbling]
- Just about everyone
has had their bottom blanked
at least once.
[buzzer rings]
- Spanked.
[doorbell rings]
[tender music]
- I was wondering
if you'd find that photo
a little creepy.
Judging by the look
on your face,
you might have.
Well, come on, now.
Don't--don't tell me
you don't know who I am.
It's me!
It's your daddy.
You still got them Oakleys?
♪ ♪
Well, you done well
for yourself.
Got you a--a couch with
a bunch of cupholders in it.
[cheers and applause]
[buzzer drones]
[audience groans]
Well, uh...
we ain't seen each other
for a while,
so bound to feel
a little strange.
Uh, is that woman your wife?
Them little ones your kids?
My--my grandbabies?
- Yeah.
- Uh-huh.
Well, what's your wife do?
- Lawyer.
- A educated breadwinner.
Well, you know,
that can be a blessing
or a curse,
if you can handle it.
- Why'd you come here?
- Well, uh...
I came to say, "Hey."
You know?
And, uh, just for this.
And, uh--
and I'm--I'm sorry
about everything.
You know, all the--
all the stuff.
You know?
- That day you left,
we stayed at the mall
till it closed.
Mom got me the cat I wanted.
Apples lived 17 years.
- Wow.
- Mom told me he was you.
She told me
that you turned into a cat
and that you
were my companion now.
- Well, Lord God,
why would she tell you
something like that?
- 'Cause it made me happy
thinking the cat
was actually you.
- Well, then, uh,
meow-meow, son.
- I knew it wasn't
the real you.
Just some nice version
I made up.
I knew the real you
was out there, just...
doing whatever.
- Hard living.
That's what I was doing,
hard living.
That's, uh--
that's the--the very thing
that I was--
I was trying to save you from.
And look how good
you turned out.
Things wouldn't
have been like this
if--if I'd have stuck around.
Now, trust me, son,
they wouldn't have.
- I guess we won't ever know.
- Son, I was a...
coward.
Ain't no other way
for me to put it.
And I've...
well, I've been, uh,
a coward...
For longer than
I care to admit.
But I got a new wife now,
and I'm starting
a family with her.
But I--I think first, that--
that you and me,
now, we need to make peace.
So we ain't got to be
stuck in that day
back in the mall
for the rest of our lives.
- I'm not stuck there.
- You--you don't think
about me all the time?
- Not really.
- Well, damn.
I wasn't expecting that.
Here I thought I was coming
to give a devastated boy
his wholeness back.
- Nah, I'm fine.
- All right, well,
since you're doing so good,
maybe you want to forgive me.
Let my ass off the hook.
- You're off the hook.
- Harmon, come on, now.
I got to make amends
with you for real
so that I--I--I can--
I can move forward
and do it right
with my new son.
Now, come on.
Let's fix this.
- You can't.
[somber music]
All you can do is just not make
the same mistake again.
- Well, damn, I just--
I feel like
I'm getting off easy.
Now, son, are you sure
that there--
there ain't something
that I can do for you?
♪ ♪
- Can I hit you
with a closed fist
as hard as I can?
One time,
just right in the face?
- Well, um...
Do you--you really think
that'd make you feel better?
- I do.
- [sighs]
Well, then...
okay.
But, now, one hit.
Now, if you glance
or you--you trip
or something like that,
that counts as your hit.
Now, no do-overs.
I'm open to doing
something else, you know?
Maybe taking your dog
for a walk?
Maybe throw a little baseball
or--
[grunts]
[groans]
Ah, goddamn.
Oh, you got me.
I didn't think
you'd pack quite the punch
without having
a--a daddy around, but...
yeah, you did, huh?
- Thank you.
- I love you...son.
[melodic whistling]
[mellow music]
♪ ♪
[laughs]
- [laughing]
♪ ♪
- Come on, it ain't
that goddamn funny.
- [continues laughing]
- [laughing]
trio: ♪ Children of the poor ♪
♪ Children of the poor ♪
Dame Judy Dench.
Dane Cook.
- Y'all.
Let's make Daddy
really proud today, okay?
Show him that we love
each other for reals.
- I can do that.
- Me too.
- I got mad love
for my baby sis and baby bro.
- Love you too, Jesse Smollett.
- Ooh.
- And I love you, K-Fed.
- Ooh.
[laughter]
- If you'll come along,
the Millins
are ready for their photo.
- Who the fuck are the Millins?
- The impoverished family
we are sponsoring
and showcasing today.
[children squealing]
- Dang, they're so excited
over such a small amount.
- I feel like $50,000
is, like, barely any money.
- Poor people love money,
y'all.
- Have you seen your daddy?
- That ain't like Daddy
to miss a photo-op
with a poor-people family.
- Mm-mm.
- No, it's not.
Let me call this fool.
[line ringing]
Yo, Daddy.
Place is packed.
People are pumped.
Where are you?
- I'm sorry, son.
I had to go.
- Go where?
- Don't worry about me, Jesse.
I love you kids.
Tell Judy and Kelvin.
[line beeping]
[ominous music]
♪ ♪
[door clicks]
♪ ♪
- There he is,
ladies and gentlemen.
The Maniac Kid.
- [grunts]
- You come alone?
- I'm all by myself.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I ain't.
♪ ♪
- I have no desire to keep
going back and forth like this.
- Well, that's
mighty big of you.
But kind of late,
seeing as how you ignored
and disrespected me.
Sent your asshole son
to threaten me with violence.
Said he was gonna
behead my relatives
and rape me.
What the fuck is that about?
- I didn't send him.
I am very sorry he did that.
- You're sorry.
Well, that's mighty convenient
now that I got the upper hand.
These sons of bitches
will destroy you
if I tell them to.
- Well, what I'm about to say
may make you sic 'em on me.
- Yeah?
What are you on about?
- A good while ago,
your daddy showed up in Rogers.
It was unexpected,
but I was glad to see him.
He said he wanted
to retire, cash out,
and move to Bolivia.
- And you helped him get away.
- No, I wanted to.
But he wanted to launder money
through my church,
so I had to turn him down.
He didn't like that.
He came to my home with a gun,
threatened to hurt my family.
My father saw him
pointing a gun at me,
and he shot him.
- Shot my daddy.
[chuckles]
You're a liar.
You helped him get away
to Bolivia.
You helped him get away.
- No, Junior,
he's dead and buried.
I wish that weren't true,
but it is.
♪ ♪
This belonged to Glendon.
[gun clicks]
- We used to read about you
in the papers.
He'd talk about
how proud he was.
Used to make me fuckin' nuts.
- He was always good to me.
But what I told you
is the truth.
He wasn't the same man
I used to know.
There was a meanness to him.
He had the devil in him,
Junior.
- Holy Roller Eli.
You better than all of us,
ain't you?
- No, sir.
I have the devil in me too.
I think we all do,
but that doesn't mean
he has to win.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Hey, boys,
give us a minute.
Go on, go on, go on.
♪ ♪
He was a asshole anyway.
- I'm sorry, Junior.
- Yeah.
You know, that reporter
did come to see me, Eli.
Came snooping.
That's what got me
thinking on you.
I didn't tell him nothing.
- I appreciate it.
You've been
a better friend to me
than I was to you.
- Eli...
Pop was loaded with some cash
last time I saw him.
- I believe I can probably
help you find it.
- I'd feel good about that.
- So no more threats,
no more sending motorcycle men
to kill me.
- I had nothing to do
with you getting shot, Eli.
- Junior, it's okay.
I forgive you.
- I'm telling you the truth,
Eli.
I did not send
no motorcycle men.
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[explosion]
[alarms blaring]
- Hey, let me out of here!
[pounding]
♪ ♪
[yelling]
- Weaver, you all right?
- I can't hear nothing!
♪ ♪
- You gotta be shitting me!
♪ ♪
[engines roaring]
♪ ♪
choir: ♪ O Father ♪
♪ O Satan ♪
♪ O Sun ♪
♪ Let the children
come to thee ♪
♪ Behold the morning star ♪
♪ Akephalos ♪
♪ Shine through me ♪
♪ Come forth in war ♪
♪ Come forth in peace ♪
♪ Like a day
without the dawn ♪
♪ Like a ray void of the sun ♪
♪ Like a storm
that brings no calm ♪
♪ I'm most complete
yet so undone ♪
[vocalizing]
♪ ♪
- [low indistinct speech]
♪ ♪
[bright tone]