Original subtitles

LEAH: | marry a lie and there is nothing in the scripture for what | do about that.

MOMMA GLADYS: De dutty bwoy come round.

Him finally the husband you deserve.

That's how | find heaven.

My babies.

They'll be here soon.

LEAH: How am | supposed to afford the children's fares?

Anybody here want to join a new pardner scheme?

DUKE: Mr Brahms. You're behind on your payments.

We'll have to go over new terms.

You can clear a huge debt just by handing me over those keys.

HOSANNA: You don't owe anything now?

ASTON: It's not that simple.

MUSIC: "(You've Got) The Magic Touch" by The Platters

# You've got the magic touch #

# (Woo-o0) #

# It makes me glow so much #

# (OO-woo-o0o) #

# It casts a spell #

# It rings a bell #

# The magic touch #

# Oh, when | feel your charm #

# (Woo-o0) #

# It's like a fourth alarm #

# (OO-woo-o0o) #

# You make me thrill so much #

# You've got the magic touch #

# I'm gettin’ married in-a the mornin’ #

# Ding dong the bells are going to chime #

WOMAN: Tomorrow's the big day. — Mornin’.

Mornin’. - MAN: Alright, Aston?

# Pull out the stoppers I'm gonna have a whopper #

# And get me to the church on time #

# I'm getting married in-a the morning #

Alright, Aston? Your mates are inside.

How you mean, "mates"?

Said | should stop asking 'em stuff cos they've "Got work to do."

HE MUTTERS

WOMAN SCREAMS - OBJECTS CLATTER

Hosanna!

HOSANNA YELLS No, no!

Please, please!

Hey, what you think you doin'?

THEY GRUNT

Hosanna!

Put dem tings back!

Aston Brahms, as | live and breathe. Come in, sit.

Aston!

If you don't take your hand off of her, | kill you!

DUKE: Yeah?

And I'll put this in your ear hole till it comes through the other side.

Sit.

HOSANNA GASPS

MAN SCREAMS

Bloody woman! Get in there!

Come on. Come on. Come on, that's not right.

Come on, now

DUKE: Listen to me, Prince Charmin’.

HOSANNA BANGS ON DOOR Let me out!

You owe me.

You're overdue.

Big time.

You ain't come to me.

I've come here.

And now

I'm takin’ anything | want. And then...

well, maybe then...

we'll be all square.

You took me Car. Surely that was enough.

Your debt will be clear when | say so.

Understand?

ASTON: Mr Duke.

That's not mine.

That's Leah's, my sister.

It's her pardner money, and she need it.

| will pay you back, me just more time.

| Know, | Know, | Know, | Know. HE GRUNTS

All done?

Hold 'im. —- No.

HOSANNA PANTS — Aston!

ASTON GRUNTS No! No!

HE GRUNTS

That's nice.

Ah. Very...

nice! —- ASTON SCREAMS

SHE GASPS —- HE GROANS

Let me out!

HOSANNA BANGS ON DOOR

DUKE: Let's go, lads.

HOSANNA: Aston! — ASTON: Hosanna, them hurt you?

SHE GASPS What happened?

They nearly broke off me finger.

We are lucky not to be dead.

HE GROANS

OK. Breath. —- HE GRUNTS

OK — HE INHALES SHARPLY

ASTON GRUNTS

HE SCREAMS — OK, I'm sorry.

OK.

You nurse good.

| delivered a ten-pound baby in a potato field back home.

This is nothing.

SHE SIGHS

What we gonna do?

HOSANNA: Aston, I've tried to forgive the baby.

| thought | could deal with that.

SHE SIGHS

But this could have avoided, Aston, if you had just...

if you had just been honest with me.

Hosanna-— - Don't touch me.

You've had visitors. They made a bloody big mess upstairs.

| thought they were Aston's friends!

They weren't friends, they were bastards!

They took your money, everything.

LEAH: Aston!

Aston!

Aston, why you let the man thief my pardner money?

That was for the children's boat fares!

You turn simple?

Oh, Aston.

LEAH: Are you alright?

Hosanna.

Aston loves you, whatever he's done.

Aston has a child!

Aston has a child!

Aston has a child!

That's what he has done!

| swear to God above, Hosanna, | never know.

SHE SOBS

All this time...

All this time, Aston has been running up and down.

Up and down the streets, side by side with Satan!

Come on now, Hosanna.

Aston is a good man.

And you know that in your heart.

SHE SOBS

SHE CRIES

PEOPLE CHATTER

Chantrelle, slow down! I'm not on roller skates, y'know?

Jimmy, we don't have time for no foolishness today.

Leah says she want us to find perfect wedding gifts.

You alright?

Anything you want, Chantrelle, I'll sort it out for ya.

Hm.

| love ya.

Is that so?

And what is it about me you love so much?

That we like the same music.

That you like fast cars, so do I.

You like movies and books, so do l.

| mean, come on! We're made for each other.

We should get married.

Jimmy...

you and | are just friends.

| value that friendship.

But that's as far as it goes.

It's not exactly a definite "no" though, is it?

THEY LAUGH

Come now!

So...

you're a daddy?

HE SNIFFLES

HE SUCKS HIS TEETH Lord God.

What a mess.

What a mess.

Where is this baby of yours?

Mrs Boyce?

My name is Leah.

This is my brother.

He tells me he hasn't met his daughter.

Let's put that right today.

Now, you listen to me. You can't just come here--

LEAH: Mrs--— —- MR BOYCE: Who is it?

Mrs Boyce?

You know what it's like to lose a child.

Well, so do I.

The ones | still have are in Jamaica.

And every day | don't see them...

it kills me.

| bet if you could hold your daughter right now

you'd do anything to make that happen.

ASTON: Mrs Boyce.

Let me hold her.

Please.

MRS BOYCE: They've come about Gwyneth.

MR BOYCE: | don't want him anywhere near her.

Mr Boyce. I'm her father.

| don't Know what's got into you, bringing coons into my house.

My house!

Piss off out of it!

That's enough!

Get out! You can't treat people like this.

They're not people!

MR BOYCE: You killed my Myfanwy.

She might forget...

but | won't.

I'll just go and get her.

HE SIGHS DEEPLY

This one, yeah?

Here she is.

Hello.

Gwyneth, this is your daddy.

ASTON: Hello.

Nice to meet you.

| have to say, it's been a bit rough.

Wheeling a brown baby up and down this street.

SHE GIGGLES

SHE LAUGHS She look just like you.

Why Myfanwy didn't tell me she was pregnant?

She coulda sent me a message.

She knew where | was.

She wanted to.

Father wouldn't let her.

Shall we see? One, two, three!

TOY SQUEAKS - THEY LAUGH

Aston. Whenever you want to visit Gwyneth

I'll make it work, OK?

GWYNETH GIGGLES — Thank you.

SHE SIGHS Sorry, Aston.

| can't marry you.

MRS BOYCE: Clever girl.

Hosanna.

You promised me. You said to me. You said

"Hosanna, if the time comes and things don't work out

| will take you back to Jamaica."

Well, time come!

You have to fix this, Aston.

But | don't know what to do.

Tell her every last thing that's in your heart.

Me and Chantrelle will take care of everything else.

This wedding will happen. Trust me.

And what do we tell everybody?

We'll tell them we're desperate. We need everyone's help.

What about me and Hosanna?

LEAH: If this wedding doesn't happen now, it never will.

She's the best thing that's happened to you.

As far as everybody concern, you and she still gettin' married.

You just have to convince the bride to change her mind.

I'll do everything | can.

You have to do more than that.

SHELTON: Leah?

| hear say you in trouble?

All my pardner money gone.

How will | get the children over here now?

| have savings put away. | could organise them to come over here.

And how would that work? My children and me and you, all under the same roof?

We'd be a family.

All I'm tryin’ to do is—- — Shelton. Stop.

| don't need you to come to my rescue.

If you want to do something, help us get this wedding back on track.

Leah, wait.

| love you. —- DOOR CLOSES

I'd been here a while.

And the loneliness...

was unbearable.

Did you love her?

| was younger then.

A lickle foolish.

| try to be the knight in shining armour.

But after her brothers beat me one too many times

| wondered if the bruises was worth it.

If that was love...

they certainly made me pay for it.

What a mess.

Hosanna?

Forgive me this once?

| hear what you sayin', Aston, and | do understand.

But this isn't easy for me.

| just need more time.

MUSIC: "Il Don't Know" by Ruth Brown

#1 don't know # - # (l don't know, | don't know) #

#1 don't know # - # (l don't know, | don't know) #

MRS BISWAS: Fifteen, twenty years ago, how many of them were there then?

Three big, big men, running up the stairs, they were after Aston.

| don't understand, why did Aston have to get--

Everybody hush up!

Thank you.

Now, we have to re-organise Aston and Hosanna weddin' tomorrow

because dem have all kinds of trial and tribulation.

We need your help.

What happen to all the money Aston borrow from we? And the pardner?

It was my turn to draw down the pardner and that gone now.

Let me worry ‘bout that.

Well, what is the issue then?

They teef every ting else as well.

So, we need new outfits, transport to and from the wedding.

We have to pay for food and drink

ad' we can't finish paying for the reception hall.

SHE SUCKS HER TEETH

Anybody have any ideas?

HE GROANS

Anybody have any spare change?

GROUP MUTTERS

| lose count of the amount of money | lend to Aston.

MURMURS OF AGREEMENT

This is not some little some ting you is askin’ for.

Mr Claude, everybody make mistakes.

We'll make sure he pays everybody back.

Help us, please?

How we know any of dis is true?

Hm?

Aston Brahms in debt to everybody!

And his sister?

She's a liar!

| send telegram to my mother

‘pout how Leah Whittaker in England

cheatin’ on her husban', while her picknies starvin' back a Jamaica!

Bitch, why you chattin' 'bout me in front a people, hm?

Who you calling bitch, slut?

PEOPLE EXCLAIM

LEAH: Mind your business!

Somebody stop them, man!

MAN: Someone stop this!

Stop! - BERNADETTE SQUEALS

Stop the fight!

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

That's not right!

Hold on, no, no! -— Wait!

She never lay a finger 'pon me.

Best if you steer clear of the looking glass for a while.

BERNADETTE IN DISTANCE: How dare she? How dare she!

I'll kill her!

I'm sorry for that.

That's not who | am.

Ephesians say, "Let all bitterness

be put away from you, with all malice."

Although...

Bernadette had it coming. — Mm.

She too damn nosey.

Chuh, man, Bernadette always chattin' everybody business.

She was outta order!

Alright.

Settle down now.

Listen, now.

We all Know Aston and Hosanna. They're good people.

And | believe that Leah is an honest and decent woman.

With a left hook like Sugar Ray Robinson!

Alright! ~ THEY LAUGH

The point is...

they're our friends.

Are we going to help them or what?

WOMAN: Yes. -— Yeah, man.

Yeah, man.

We can't just sit aroun' chattin' foolishness like we on vacation.

The weddin' is tomorrow!

So, whatever suggestions or any money you have give now

so we can fix things for the bride and groom.

Dem finally give me the keys for me church.

We can do everything there.

That's progress.

| can cook food in time for the reception tomorrow.

You better have curry goat an' rice otherwise me no goin’ nowhere!

SHE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE

And | have some material that you can use for the wedding dress as well.

SHAUN: I'll donate a few crates of wine.

Got both types, red and white.

| think Jimmy can find them a motor to take them to the church.

And my head is not too big, so it shouldn't be too hard to fill it up wi' some money.

MURMURS OF AGREEMENT —- Hm?

| can run up a bridal outfit overnight and they will look like movie stars

but from back-a-yard!

THEY LAUGH

So, what we say? We doin’ dis or what?

THEY CHEER

We're doing this, we're doing this.

You can't sit there forever, huh?

Well?

She says she need more time.

SHE SIGHS

She'll come round.

Ooh! Now this is interesting.

MRS BISWAS: Oh, you know what this colour signifies?

Purity, peace, and simplicity.

Although, by looking at Aston's face just now we'd be better off with sackcloth and ashes.

CHANTRELLE LAUGHS

Shakespeare say "The course of true love never did run smooth."

How am | supposed to work with this?

| mean, Hosanna wants Cinderella.

This is the Curtain Monster from the Black Lagoon.

For thou art with me

thy rod and thy staff, they comfort-- —- ASTON: Hosanna!

| will be your rod and staff.

HOSANNA LOUDLY: Our Father, which art in heaven

hallowed be thy name--

Alright, Hosanna. Alright.

Sorry!

Bloody hell, Claude! What the...

| thought you said you got a church!

| had to take this one, or wait another year.

The bishop say it just need a little elbow grease.

Looks to me like it want elbow, Knee, spine, and back-foot grease as well.

THEY LAUGH

Come.

Thank you, Shelton.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Aston, what you doin' here?

She says she don't trust me.

Says she want for go back home.

Can you help? — LEAH: So, it's up to me again?

| can't do everything!

It's bad enough you lost my money.

CHURCH BELL TOLLS

SHE CRIES

No, no, no, no, come back! I'm trying my best!

I'm trying my best.

DOOR CLOSES

Everybody cleanin' up Mr Claude's church for the weddin' tomorrow.

Aston is no better than Daddy.

Keepin' secrets and runnin' away when things get bad.

You still have his address. Maybe you should find out if that's true.

| just wanna go home.

Hosanna.

Look at me.

You trust me?

Yes.

You alright, Skinny?

SKINNY: Miss Chantrelle.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Thank you, everybody, for you hard work.

This will be better than the Queen's coronation!

You're doin' yourself proud.

Keep goin', you all doin' good.

Hey? — Alright!

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

SKINNY YELLS - CHANTRELLE YELPS

Skinny! — HE GROANS

Bloody hell! This place is tryin' to kill us! —- MAN: Him alright?

MR COOPER: He might have broken a leg. — HE GROANS

Skinny, what happened?

Come sit him down. - Are you alright?

SKINNY: Me alright, man, me alright.

You alright?

We live through 400 years of slavery! This is nuthin’.

He's right, you Know. —- THEY LAUGH

Aston, will deal wi' dis. I'm runnin’ back home to finish the wedding dress.

SKINNY: You have any rum? — We have no rum.

Watch the roof. —- We have to fix the roof!

BUS BELL DINGS

CHANTRELLE: Oo-00?

Hosanna?

Leah?

Daddy?

| thought you were...

| didn't Know where you were or if you...

| didn't know...

| thought you'd come and gone...

Pastor Drake

Hosanna wants to go back to Jamaica.

| was thinking that you could take her. She is your responsibility, after alll.

| can't go back to Jamaica.

Them wi' string me upside down and set fire to me head top.

| can't go back and neither can she. You wan' dem kill we?

Daddy, you left me to deal with everything.

You took every last piece of the church donation funds

and you never say nuthin' to anybody about what you were doin’.

You let me down!

| thought you were the best man in the world.

But I'm not that.

| am not Jesus Christ.

I'm just a man.

Don't you think you owe her an apology?

And look at her.

Lady, | don't know you.

So, stop tellin' me what to do in my own house.

Please do not talk like that to Leah, Daddy.

| was supposed to marry her brother tomorrow.

But he lied to me and kept secrets, just like you.

After your mother died...

| do my best to take care of you

give you everything.

| Know it's a old time sayin’, but...

| needed to feel wanted.

When | used to tell you, "I'm goin' to convention," | wasn't doing that.

| was seein' somebody.

| had this stupid idea that we could all be a family.

You, me, and her.

So, | come over here, buy this place.

Ask her to join me.

She refuse.

She didn't love me.

Daddy, why you never tell me where you was?

1am not a child.

You took the people's money and ran away!

That's how church works.

You take a collection.

That pay for your upkeep. Anything left?

You give to the parishioners.

But | always put you first.

Dis church pay for everything!

How am | supposed to trust any man after what you did?

|! am so disappointed in you, Daddy.

Hosanna. Hold on. Hosanna!

This was a mistake. Let's go.

HE SIGHS

| think | will take the later bus home.

You sure?

DOOR CLOSES

Put your backs into it.

Aw, nice one, lads.

MR CLAUDE: Shelton! Come.

| need to practice the wedding ceremony, come and stand with Karen.

SHELTON LAUGHS | don't think Leah would be happy with that.

Happy with what?

| need your help. It not take long.

Come.

What? — HE LAUGHS

MUSIC: "I Only Have Eyes for You" by the Flamingos

# My love must be a kind of blind love #

# | can't see anyone but you #

| will welcome the guests, then | will greet the happy couple.

We will exchange the vows

take her by the hand, and will exchange the rings.

I'll pronounce you husband and wife

and then you will seal the marriage with a kiss. Alright?

PEOPLE APPLAUD

SEWING MACHINE CLATTERS

KNOCK AT DOOR

KNOCK AT DOOR

Is who that now?

Leah?

KNOCK AT DOOR

SHE TUTS

KNOCK AT DOOR ~ Alright!

| don't have time for this.

Siobhan!

| don't suppose now's the right time to give you this?

Uh!

|! wouldn't want you to give up on everythin’.

Lord Jesus Christ. You came! SHE LAUGHS

You've got a dream. | wanna be part of that.

Siobhan... SHE LAUGHS

lam so happy that you're here

but | have to make a wedding dress overnight.

Show me what we're doin' and we'll plough through it like a knife through butter.

Are we good?

We good.

THEY LAUGH

Well, it's better than it was there before.

Mm.

Good night, everybody.

See you tomorrow. —- Tomorrow.

Tomorrow. - Good night.

So, what happen with Hosanna?

She's deciding where to call home.

LEAH: Aston, she's back.

Hosanna! Hosanna!

Thank God you come back!

Listen. | love you.

So whatever you want to do, we are going to do.

Forget about the past, Aston.

So, you forgive me?

God has.

And with the help of my sisters, I'm sure | will.

In the meantime...

| think we should get married. —- CHANTRELLE GASPS

Yes! HE LAUGHS

Right.

#1 saw three ships come sailing in #

# On Christmas Day in the morning #

#1 saw three ships come sailing in #

# Come sailing in come sailing in #

#1 saw three ships come sailing in #

# On Christmas Day in the morning #

Looking good, gentlemen.

You ready?

It's 20 past.

Nuh bother y'self. It's tradition for the bride to be a lickle late, man.

PIANO CONTINUES TO PLAY "| Saw Three Ships"

You alright? - God bless.

Beryl don't Know anything else?

THEY LAUGH

PEOPLE GRUNT WITH EFFORT

THEY GRUNT

When you pushin’ a car this big, you need all the help you can get.

Come on ladies, we're late. | want to show off me dress.

You want to show off your dress?

THEY LAUGH

You all look gorgeous. — Thank you!

Let's get you straightened out, alright?

Let me see. Y'ready?

You don't think this is all a bit too much?

Hosanna, if there's one time to look like a trollop, it's your wedding day.

Hosanna, come nuh. We have to start the procession.

REMUEL: Hosanna.

HOSANNA: Daddy?

Hosanna.

You look beautiful.

Just like your mother.

| want to cry but | don't want to spoil my make-up.

Tell Beryl to play the tune now.

Tell Beryl, please.

Tell Beryl.

Tell Beryl.

Tell Beryl.

Beryl. - WOMAN: Of, finally.

PIANO PLAYS: "Bridal march" from Lohengrin by Wagner

I'm glad you're here.

HE LAUGHS

You look amazing.

I'm sorry | never get the Cinderella church you wanted.

This will do just fine, Aston.

In its own way, it's perfection.

Who give this woman to be with this man?

That's me. I'm the father of the bride, it's me.

Thank you, Pastor Drake.

You can take your seat now.

| Know. I've done weddings before.

HE CHUCKLES

Today we are here to witness the marriage

of Aston Brahms and Hosanna Drake.

They are to be joined together in holy matrimony, for the rest of their days.

Hosanna and Aston, could you face each other, please?

Who have the ring?

ASTON: Duke take everything. | forget all about the ring.

What do you mean, you don't have the ring?

HOSANNA: Aston?

Aston. There has to be a ring.

This is embarrassing.

What are we gonna do?

Just take care of this. lt was your mother's.

Thank you.

OK.

Aston Bustamente Brahms

do you take Hosanna Louise Drake

to be your lawful, wedded wife?

| do.

MUSIC: "Hallelujah, | Love Her So" by Ray Charles

PEOPLE CHATTER

Right there.

You're going to pay everybody back home what you owe them?

I'll do my best, Hosanna. But it might take a while.

Pastor Drake. | just want to say

| will look after your daughter, just as well as you did.

Cheers.

Cheers.

THEY GIGGLE

Shelton. Look...

When | said that | don't need anyone's help earlier

that's not true.

Look, if you really meant it

| would like to take you up on...

| mean...

| accept your help.

Gratefully.

What make you change your mind?

You, of course.

There's too much for me here now.

The only thing that kept me going yesterday was when | hear you say...

you love me.

In the street. In the middle of a crisis.

You just dash that out there like a hand grenade or something.

THEY LAUGH

# ...why | know, yes, | know #

# Hallelujah, | just love her so #

Alright?

# Oh, hallelujah #

# Don't you know | just love her so #

# She's my little woman waiting across town #

WOMAN: Anybody called Aston Brahms here?

I'm Aston Brahms. This is my wedding day and we don't want no trouble.

PEOPLE GASP

Aston, if this is another one of your fancy women

| do not care if we are married, | will take this cake and jam it in your-—-

Hosanna, settle.

This is Winifred Atwell.

Winifred Atwell!

How she jump out of the jukebox? — HE LAUGHS

Your sister Chantrelle is a very persuasive young woman, Mr Brahms.

She said | had to come and play for some Jamaicans as a change from my usual audience.

Yes!

Somebody make up a plate for Miss Atwell and get her a lemonade.

| prefer rum.

Rum! — PEOPLE CHEER

Alright, people! This number's called Boogie Woogie Stomp!

SHE SQUEALS

MUSIC: "Boogie Woogie Stomp" by Winifred Atwell

Come here, come. You're me bride!

Stamp your foot!

HOSANNA SQUEALS Aston!

You alright? — Careful!

Alright? ~ Alright!

It's alright. Party!

ASTON: Hey, be careful with me sister!

Them look good together, don't they?

Oh, yeah.

SOUND ECHOES

INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT

| love you, Shelton Powell.

SHE LAUGHS

CHILDREN: Momma!

SHE SOBS HAPPILY

Oh, my baby.

My little girl.

It's OK, Momma.

Don't cry, Momma.

Where's Gideon?

He tell Momma Gladys he don't want to come.

OK.

OK.

That's alright.

Children...

| want you meet Momma's friend.

| hope you don't mind, but | tek Gideon ticket and come instead.

Ephraim?

Who's this?