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- John?

John?

The Lord don't wait on no man,
especially

them that are late in
serving him.

- When I
remember growing up,

I think first of Sunday morning,
of a chariot, brightness,

of the bustle of the Grimes
family on their way to church.

- Hey Roy,
how's your mama?

- Roy, keep up.

John, come on.

I don't know why

we always have to be
the last ones at church.

Y'all gonna be the last
one on Judgment Day too.

- As long as the gates don't
shut tight, it don't matter.

- What did you say?

- Nothing.

- Better be nothing.

- Hi you, hottie.

Wanna make some time?

- John, did you hear her?

She wants me.

- Stop it!

Praise the Lord, Mr. Grimes.

- Praise the Lord,
Mother Washington.

Ella Mae.

- Praise the Lord.

- Fine morning for
praising the Lord.

- Sure look fine to me.

- Every day is a fine
day to serve the Lord.

- Mm-hmm.

Now all we have to
do is get that

through to our young people.

- The Lord knows that try.

- The Lord is a savior for
young as well as the old.

Soon as you youngins learn that,
the sooner you'll be saved.

Ain't that right,
Sister Elizabeth?

- Appears right to me.

- We here in church, ain't we.

- Yes, son.

That's the first step.

- Praise the Lord,
Sister Elizabeth.

- Praise the Lord, Elijah.

- Morning, Mother Washington.

Praise the Lord, Ella Mae.

- Play something nice to
help lift our spirits, son.

- Play all day and all
night if you want me to.

- Mm-hmm.

That's the way.

- Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

Oh, hallelujah.

- Praise.

- Hallelujah.

Yeah.

Thank you

Thank you

- Hallelujah, Jesus.

Praise the lord.

- Whoo!

- Amen!

- Amen!

- Let us all submit!

Praise Him!

- Praise him.

- Great God almighty.

- Yes, yes, yes.

I'm glad

to see so many saints
come together.

- That's right.

- Putting aside

the fun and frolic of the world.

- To turn your mind to God.

We are the ones who
are sanctified.

And baptized.

We, we are the ones

you save from sin.

- Yes, oh yes, Lord.

- Thank you, Jesus!

- Whoo!

- Thank the Lord and praise us.

Deacon Burns, Deacon Grimes,

tell us something from
the gospel of Matthew,

12th chapter,

verse 38

and 39.

- Down South,
my father

had been a great preacher,
with the church all his own.

Now in Harlem, he was
only a Deacon

in the temple of the
fire baptized.

- But he answered them,

an evil and adulterous
generation seeks

for a sign, but no sign--

- Ah!

An evil generation

got to have a sign

before they could come
to understanding

the love of God.

- There he goes again.

- See it's like today,
young people

are always asking for a sign.

Don't, don't think
because you are young,

that's not plenty time.

God sees the young as
well as old.

There's sin among us.

Brother Elijah, and
Sister Ella Mae,

will you come to the alter,
please?

But let them remember this--

- Elijiah?

- When they think I'm hard,

let them remember that
the world is hard.

Now the Lord

has led me

to give you

two public warning before
it's too late.

I know you are good
young people,

dedicated to the
service of the Lord.

- I'd like to get
my hand up her skirt.

- Shut up.

- Sin may not be in your mind,

but the devil lurks on
every street corner,

every dark hallway.

Remember, remember the Lord
said, "He that dwells in me,

"shall have life everlasting.

"But he that entertains Satan,

"shall burn in the fires
of damnation forever."

- Elijah!

Hey!

What happened?

- Simple, little one.

Me and Ella Mae been getting
together a whole lot lately.

We been gettin'
tighter and tighter.

- So?

- So, it was in my
mind, maybe in hers too.

- Okay, what are you
talking about?

- Well, don't you see?

That's how the devil works.

Just when you ain't got
nothing in your mind,

that's when he jump in there
and start telling you things.

- Things like what?

- Like how pretty Sister
Ella Mae look,

and how maybe you want
to touch her,

so much so that you
can't even breathe,

and you feel like you've
got to do something,

but you can't do nothing.

- I get those feelings,
about girls in school and--

- You got to fight
them feelings.

You got to fight them hard,
little John.

- How?

- By putting your
mind on the Lord.

Man, they'll be plenty
of time for all of them

other things when you get older.

Follow, little John?

- Hey, why you gotta
call me little?

- Because you's
frail and little.

And I'm big and strong.

- Uh huh, is that
what you think?

- Yeah, that's what I think.

- Well one of these days,
I'm gonna surprise you.

- You gonna be tough
when you get older, huh?

Well you do that.

You surprise me.

Hey, ain't that your brother,
Roy, over there on the corner?

- Yo, I know it's not
your brand, man.

- That chocolate
has smoke, man.

- What are you doing smoking,
Royal?

- Man, take your hands of me,
big brother.

- We gotta get home,
or we're both

gonna catch it, so come on.

- I'll see y'all later,
all right?

- You need to stop hanging
around those hoodlums.

- Those hoodlums are my friends,

so you better leave them alone.

- So what
kind of meat you

gonna put in these boys?

- I've got some
good fat back over here.

- I don't like no
fat back me myself, I like ham.

- Stay out of my business.

Aunt Florence, how you doing?

- Boy, you got so tall.

- Where you two been
all this time?

Oh, look at your clothes.

What you been doing?

- Nothing, Mama.

- Go on, clean yourself up.

- Do you think you can
come town with me later,

help me carry some packages?

- Roy, you know I will.

- Aw, now come on give
me another hug here.

- You know what?

I wouldn't ask you, I'm
just a little tired.

You know, I'm resting--

- What's all this noise?

Doesn't anybody have
respect for the Sabbath?

Elizabeth?

- I'll keep them quiet, Gabriel.

- Get in here, boy.

- Sometimes, watching that boy,

he reminds me so much
of my father.

Got the same way of laughing.

Same quiet way of
holding in hurt.

Papa always used to tell me,
"When you cry, cry alone.

"Never let the world see you.

"Never ask for mercy,
and if you've

"got to die, then go on and
die, but just don't let nobody

"beat you down."

- Just don't let nobody
beat you down.

Your father must have been a
mighty fine man, Elizabeth.

- I was his only child.

I gotta check on these boys.

- You been
doing your daily

reading from the Bible?

- Yes, sir.

- I don't mean just on Sunday,

I mean all during the week.

- Yes--

- Speak up, what?

- Yes, sir.

- Got time to be reading
them books them

white people give you.

The least you can do is
study the word of the Lord.

- Yes, sir.

- Mm-hmm.

Give me that yes, sir.

And no, sir.

You ain't fooling me, boy.

You better be studying.

I'm warning you.

A man can't grow up to
be a preacher,

unless he know that bible
inside and out.

Forwards and backwards.

- But does he have to make

that decision right now,
Gabriel?

I mean after all, he's
still just a little boy.

- This boy knows that ain't
nobody here rushing him

into anything.

But the way of the Lord
takes a long, long time.

And anyway, if you remember,
I was

studying the Bible when I
was even younger than him.

- I don't remember it
doing you too much good.

- Say what?

- Until later, that is.

- If you ain't going to help,
Florence,

it ain't no point in you
saying anything.

Anyway, it wasn't me said
he should be a preacher.

He's the one been saying that,

ever since is was a little boy.

Ain't that right, John?

Hmm?

- Yes, sir.

- Mm hmm.

All I'm doing is trying to
tell him what the price is.

- Right.

Right.

- And you being the oldest.

You should be setting an
example for your brother, Roy.

- Now how he gonna do that?

Roy got his own way of
doing things.

Can't nobody tell him
what to do, Not even you.

- Florence!

How many times I have
to tell you!

- You expect me to stand here!

- Never mind.

Just never mind.

This is the Sabbath.

And I at least intend
to respect that.

See, I can't even talk to my
own family in my own house,

without interference.

Well maybe I can talk to my God.

- But you're not making
any sense, Gabriel.

All I'm trying to say,

Jesus, that brother of mine.

Damn.

- I don't know to do with you,
Gabriel.

I pray everyday, and
nothing seems to change.

- I'm sorry, Mama.

- I don't want to see
you grow up shiftless,

and die in a shameful state.

I pray everyday against it,

but it seems that my prayers
just ain't doing any good.

- I know, Mama.

I'm going to try, and I'm
going to change.

- When Hell
freezes over.

- I am not a well woman.

My time here is short.

- I promise, Mama.

You'll see.

- Come on, Gabriel,
walk us home.

- I done told you twice, Flo,
Now go on.

- You coming in, honey?

- I've got other fish to fry.

- You gonna fall right
out of the frying pan

into another fire, Gabriel.

- Let's go on, Florence.

- Now if you must, you go on.

Maybe I can escort Ms.
Deborah here home.

- Thanks anyway.

Gabe.

- Girl, she
looked so terrible.

Did you see that
dress she wearing?

- Mm-hmm.

I'll tell you.

- Look at this.

- Run, Florence.

Run!

Run, Florence, run!

- Lord say hate
the sin, not the sinner.

- I know, but I hate him.

And I hate this town.

I'm gonna leave it.

Just you wait and see.

Now if you were smart,
you'd leave it too.

- This Shame gonna follow me
no matter where I take myself.

Whenever folk look at me,
they're

gonna say, that the girl
the white man ruined.

So I may as well stay here.

- Oh my God.

Sweet Jesus, I'm asking you.

Help me, you're stronger.

- That all you planning to do?

Say prayers while the boy
puke all over his self?

- Child, fix your
brother some coffee.

- I ain't
fixing nothing for him.

- What's the
matter with you?

- I been
fixing for him

since the day he was born.

I'm through.

- What you mean?

- I'm going, Mama.

- Going, child?

Going where?

- North, Mama.

- Florence, honey, I want
you to close your eyes

and pray with me.

- No, Mama.

I done prayed enough.

My mind is made up.

- Oh, God.

What are you doing to me?

Letting the devil get into my
house, stealing my children.

- Bye, Mama.

I gotta go.

I'm sorry.

- Florence,
you can't leave like this.

- Watch me.

- You can't leave Mama.

- Why not?

She got you.

- But you is the one she need.

I can't do for her like you do.

- She never needed me.

It's always been you.

Always.

- Florence!

Dammit, Florence!

You gonna pay for this!

- I done already paid, Gabriel!

Long and hard!

- We just different,
your father and I.

Like oil and water,

like you and Roy.

- Ah, but we get along.

- Not always, now.

I've seen you two together.

- Mama loves Daddy anyway.

- Yeah.

- And he had another wife too,
didn't he?

- Yeah.

Poor soul, she's dead and gone.

Mm mm mm.

Phew.

- But why does he have
to be like that?

So hard and cold, and yet read
from the Bible all the time?

- Now you asking me a
whole lot of questions

I ain't got no answers for.

Nobody knows why people
is the way they is,

or why they do the
things they do.

Well put those packages
down over there.

- Oh, thank you.

How come you never had any
children, Aunt Florence?

Someone to be around you.

Help take care of you?

- Just wasn't in the cards.

I had me a husband, I should
have had me some children.

Just wasn't in the cards,
I guess.

Sit down.

- Well maybe--

- Hand me them zippers
over there, boy.

Thank you.

- I don't want to go back
to that house.

It, it's like he's
watching me all the time,

just waiting for me to
make one mistake,

just so he can jump one.

- I know it.

- Well, well then,

could I come and live
with you, Aunt Florence?

- Oh Angel, nothing would
make me happier,

but a boy has got to
stay with this family.

You gotta stay there and
work out those difficulties.

You belong there.

John.

- And Ezekiel fell down
upon his knees,

and God said unto him, "Son
of man, stand up on your feet.

"I'm going to send you
unto Israel, a nation that

"is sinned," are you
listening to me, boy?

- Yes, sir.

- All right.

Fine.

Elizabeth, guide us away,
will you?

- "Ezekiel went down among
the Israelites and asked them

"and asked them to turn
away from their wicked ways

"and idle worship.

"Some listened to him, and
some stubbornly refused."

- That's the way it is.

That's the way it has
always been.

- "Then God instructed Ezekiel

"to take up a big clay tile

"and to draw the city
of Jerusalem."

- John, continue where
your mother left off,

if you know the place.

- "When Ezekiel made his
journey, God told him

"that enemy can't"--

- Hold it.

Read it with some feeling.

This is the word of God,
not some school book.

- "When Ezekiel--

- Never mind.

Give it to your brother.

Show him where you left off.

- "One day is,

is,

is--

- Spell it.

How many times I have
to tell you.

Spell out the word if you
don't know how to say it.

- I-S-R-A-E-L.

- Israel.

Go on.

- One day Israel--

- Woman, ain't you doing
anything about this boy's cough?

Can't you keep up with
these children?

- I didn't
even know he had a cold.

- It ain't a cold, Mom.

It's just a tickle.

- What is that you're
putting in your mouth?

- My teacher gave it to me.

She said it's good for a cough.

- Let me see that thing.

Look at that.

A half-naked woman on the tin.

That's good for the cough,
I suppose, hmm?

What white people don't
waste good money on.

Just fix this boy some hot
tea with lemon.

That's the way you cure a cold.

As for this thing,
throw this in the trash.

Bible reading is over
for tonight,

but it was not very
satisfactory.

Next Sunday, I want us
to do better.

All of us, you understand?

- Yes, sir.

- All right, now don't
forget to say your prayers.

- We won't.

- I am not a well woman.

My time here is short.

- I promise, Mama.

- Him and his damn Bible.

Next thing you know, she
gonna be having a baby.

- What are you
talking about?

- Didn't you hear him
praying this morning

for a little voyager soon
to be among us?

- No.

- That's how it works.

First they read the good book,

then fight, after
that have a baby.

- Why don't you shut up
when you don't

know what you talking about?

- Wait a while.

You'll hear that bed in there
making all kind of noise.

Hey look at this!

I wish I was over there.

- Oh you're disgusting.

- Why it's only natural.

Bible even says so.

That man sure know how to live.

- Elizabeth, you know
I've got to be up

before six in a morning.

You gonna stay out
there all night?

- Oh Lord, Gabriel, let's end
this night with some quiet,

just for once, please.

Remember, I've got to get up
early in the morning, too.

- Come here.

- What?

- You know as soon as I leave,
you

gonna jump back in this bed,
ain't you?

- You don't know what
I'm gonna do.

- Well you better be
thinking about me.

- Why?

What's so good?

- What's so good?

- Yeah.

- What's so good?

- Mm-hmm.

- Come here, I'll tell you.

- Tell me.

- It's a little secret I got.

- Mm-hmm.

- Come here.

- Letting the
devil get into my house.

Stealing my children.

- Gabriel?

What's the matter, honey?

- Gotta go.

Can't stay here no more.

Can't live like this no more.

Lord God have mercy on my soul!

- Let me see you

on the path of
righteousness before I go.

- I promise, Mama.

You'll see.

- Gabriel?

Gabriel?

You really gonna
preach tomorrow?

After working yourself to
death on this place all week?

- With the Lord's help.

Think you can make
yourself free to come?

- I don't know.

I might try,

Reverend.

- Well that's all the
Lord asks, is that we try.

And the Lord, true to his
word destroyed the cities

of Sodom and Gomorrah with
a earthquake, and flood,

and fire.

The question for the day is,
suppose

I said supposed the Lord
came down here right now,

would we be able to deliver
him 10 righteous souls?

Would we be able to
deliver him 10 holy people?

Would we be able to
deliver him 10 young people

of life everlasting?

And would we, I said
would we would we

perish in sin and
damnation forever?

Amen!

Amen!

- Preached today like
you've got the call, son.

Got to get the fire.

Got to pray to the Lord to
put his fire in your soul.

- I will pray, sir.

I will.

Because I intend to serve
the Lord with all my might.

- Got to want to carry his word.

- I do.

- Got to feel his power.

- I do.

- Then God is going to
make you a man among men.

- Reverend Joshua.

- Wait a minute, sister,
I'll walk with you.

- I see you're keeping
company with the good sister.

Too bad that poor child
all choked up

from white man's milk.

No colored man ever
gonna let her

taste his richer,
sweeter substance.

I'll hold you in my prayers,
brother.

- Your mama would have been
so proud of you this morning.

I wish she could have
lived to see it.

- It took a long time, sister,
but there

ain't no shelter
against the Lord.

- No.

You've got to be the word,
and the gates of Hell

can't stand against it.

- Just say in the word,
little sister and the windows

of Heaven gonna open up and
shower down blessings upon you.

- Oh, they already has,
Reverend.

God blessed me when he
saved your soul,

and called you to preach.

- Sister, all that sinful
time, was you praying for me?

- We sure was, me and
your mother,

we was praying all the time.

- Sister?

The Lord done lay
something on my heart

that I want to share with you.

And I want you to take
it to the Lord in prayer.

- Oh I will, Reverend.

- Sister, the Lord done led
me to ask you to be my wife.

- Me?

How?

Me?

- He wants you to be my
holy health mate.

You ain't scared, is you?

You ain't got nothing
to be scared of.

- No.

I ain't scared.

- Bless you, sister.

God bless you.

For God.

- God.

- I say, God.

God.

God.

God sent,

God sent his only begotten son.

God sent his only begotten
son that you and I

might have a chance at
everlasting life.

God sent his son so that you
and I could wipe out this sin.

God sent his son, who carried
the cross, for you and me.

Amen.

Sin!

- Preach the word!

- Sin!

Sin!

- Preach!

- Just thought I'd had me
a little drink

while I was waiting for
you to lock up.

I hope you don't mind, Reverend.

- You's done made up your mind

to serve Satan all your days,
ain't you?

- I made up my mind to live
all I can, while I can.

With the Emersons gone,
we got three days

of just the two of us.

Just you and me here
by ourselves.

I intend to enjoy it.

- Girl, Don't you
believe in God?

- No, pretty man.

What I believe in is me and you.

And the way you been looking
at me when you think I

ain't been noticing.

Don't be afraid, preacher man.

What you feeling is natural.

I feel it too.

- Esther, but I can't.

I'm not allowed.

- Hush.

Listen to my heart.

It's pounding so fast.

Listen, yours is pounding too.

- Esther, please.

Please.

- Turn down the light, Gabriel.

We got a nice moon in the sky.

God's smiling on us.

I know he is.

- Wipe your sin.

Your sins every time.

What they question.

Satan, God will knock him down.

Amen.

I want you to know.

I want you to know I'm
telling Satan,

I rebuke you in the
name of Jesus.

I rebuke you, Satan, in
the name of Jesus.

I rebuke you in the
name of Jesus.

Get back.

Get back.

Get back.

Get back, Satan.

Get out of here, Satan,

- You got the fire, son.

You got the fire.

- Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

- God bless you sister.

- Thank you.

I know I ain't been a real
wife to you, Reverend,

and I'm sorry.

- It's all right.

- I want to be.

And I try, but every time
we get started,

I see those white men

and I remember that night.

- It's all right, Sister.

These things take time.

- But I want to be your
whole and proper wife.

- You are my proper wife.

God put us together,

and ain't nothing going
to pull us apart.

- I hope so.

- I promise.

God takes care of it all.

The saints as well as the
sinners in his own good time.

Now let's get on to bed.

I gotta work tomorrow.

- I love the Lord
because he has

heard my voice and my
supplication.

- There go elementary.

- I kinda like Elijah.

I see him at service
all the time.

He's so nice.

- Watch this.

- Oh, no, please.

- Hey Ella Mae!

- Hi Joshua.

How you doing?

That brother of yours.

I'm gonna get him one
of these days.

- Morning, class.

- Morning.

- Which one of you is
John Grimes?

John Grimes?

- John, you hard your
name called.

Why don't you answer?

- I'm sorry.

- Did you write this essay?

The history of New York
through one native's eyes?

- Yes, sir.

- Well, I want to know
it's an excellent essay.

God, it's work like
this that makes

me proud to be principal
of this school.

If you'll step up here Mr.
Grimes,

I'd like you to meet Mr.
Walter North

from the Board of Education.

He came by here today
especially to present you

with a certificate
for your essay.

It's a certificate from
the mayor himself, John.

- So John, have you been
writing all along

or is this your very
first real essay?

- No, sir.

I've been writing and reading
lots ever since I was a child.

- So is that what
you want to do?

You want to be a writer, John?

- I don't know.

- John's father is a minister.

A deacon in his church.

- Temple of the Fire Baptized.

- He must be a fine man
to have a son like you.

John, we're proud of you.

- Thank you.

- Hey!

Little John!

Congratulations on that thing!

I heard about it.

All right.

You should be proud of yourself.

Good.

I'm proud of you.

See you at service, man.

- Thank you.

- Man, layup, layup, man.

- Come on, let's go.

- Pass me the ball.

- Man, over here, man.

Come on.

- Here we are the station.

Four of us here in the
broadcast booth.

Oh, we haven't got much time.

- Evening, sir.

- John.

Turn that thing off.

I'm tired.

I don't need all that
noise in my ear.

- Evening, Gabriel.

- Mm-hmm.

- You ready for dinner, or
you wanna rest for a spell?

- Just let me catch my breath,
Elizabeth.

I'll eat in a while.

- Well it's ready
when you ready.

John?

You seen Roy?

- He's out on
the fire escape.

- Lord, if I
told that boy once, I've

told him a hundred times!

I don't want him out there!

- Oh, God.

- This
here's my brother

I been telling you about.

Gotta be mighty
careful what we say,

because he's a preacher.

- Oh, no reason
to be afraid of me.

I'm just a weak vessel
in the hands of the Lord.

- Now you see what I'm
talking about?

Here's Johnny.

Johnny, shake hands
with the preacher.

- Hey!

What a fine looking boy.

- I'll go get us some coffee.

- Your husband
must be a very handsome man.

- His father isn't alive.

- Oh I see.

Well I'm sorry, but with
a fine son like this,

the Lord will surely bless you.

- John, why don't you
show your father

the prize you got in
school today?

- No, Mama, not now.

He just came in, and
he's too tired.

- Oh go on.

He'll want to see it.

He likes to know we have
bright children too.

- All right.

- Come in.

- I got something
from school today,

and Mom said I should show you.

- Well, just
don't stand there.

Bring it here.

History of New York, huh?

- I wrote it over and
over again, and I

had to read a lot of
books about it.

- Might have been nice if
you'd written something

about the Bible.

Something about your own people,
and God.

- I will next time, sir.

- Listen boy, sit down.

When the white man start
giving us prizes,

I've got to ask myself,
what is he after?

White man's been our
torment for over 100 years.

Anything he do,
everything he try

is a way of beating us
down, keeping us small.

You don't believe me, do you?

John, just read the newspapers.

Or just look around you.

Right here in Harlem.

So when I see
something like this,

I can't rejoice and feel glad.

I got to know that he's up
to some kind of new trick.

So you just take this thing,

and give it back to
your teacher.

- Gabriel!

Gabriel!

You determined to ignore me,
ain't you?

- Esther, Please I
got work to do.

- I have to talk to you.

- Look, what happened
between us was as while ago.

It's over, so let's leave it be.

- That's what I'm trying
to tell you, man.

It ain't over.

We still got another little
chapter we got to deal with.

- Esther, please.

- Gabriel, I'm going
have a baby.

- What?

- It's the God's truth, Gabriel.

I'm gonna have a baby.

- Baby.

How come you so sure it's mine?

- I ain't in the habit of lying,
Gabriel.

And I ain't been with
so many mens

I's likely to get confused.

This is your baby, whether
you want it or not,

this baby's yours!

- All right, you
ain't gotta shout.

- I can see you don't want me.

And I ain't likely to be with
no man that don't want me.

So I been figuring.

- Yeah?

- Maybe I could go away.

Go someplace where
me and my baby

could be loved and appreciated.

But I'm gonna need some
money, and I ain't got any.

You got some money, Gabriel?

Is this all there is?

- It's all I could get.

- I'll have to make due.

You know, I made a mistake.

That mistake was you.

I know what we done was natural.

If it's a sin, then I'll go
down to Hell and pay for it.

But least ways, I'll
be bringing up my baby

to be a good man.

He ain't listening to
no preacher,

and he ain't never
setting foot in a church.

- Roy.

Roy!

I'm talking to you, boy.

Come here.

What are you doing running
with that no count trash.

- What's it to you,
Reverend Grimes.

- You don't intend to show
nobody no kind of respect,

ever, do you?

- I respect those
who respect me.

- Have I ever
talked ugly to you?

- I don't even know why
you talk to me at all?

- I knew your mother, son.

We used to work together up at
the Emerson place you know--

- What that got
to do with me?

- I take an interest in you.

- Save your time,
Reverend Grimes.

Ain't nothing to me to
take interest in.

- Child, all parents have
high hopes for their children.

Why your mother's dead,
God rest his soul,

but your father, maybe
your father's still alive.

- Well if he is, he's
a thousand miles away,

so he don't count for much,
now do he?

Now save your time,
Reverend Grimes.

I've got places to go,
and things to do.

- Royal.

Royal.

- That old man is
getting to me man, I don't know.

He's getting to me.

- He ain't gonna

me listening to no preaching.

If he don't do nothing but
drink whiskey all day long,

he'll be a better man
than his daddy ever was.

- Put that thing out.

Daddy's home and if he
smells it, we both catch it.

- Between you, and Daddy,
and Mama, of course

I can't have no fun
in this house.

But at least you ain't my boss.

- Who did this?

- How should I know?

- Okay.

Where's my knife?

- That's none of your business.

- I woke on the morning
of my 14th birthday

with the feeling that
something important

had happened or was
about to happen.

Morning, Mama.

- Well, sleepy head.

- Ah, what's
for breakfast?

- About time you was getting up.

- What you think's
for breakfast?

You got a special need
for something?

- What is it with you?

Did I say something to you?

- Oh excuse me.

- Don't let Roy bother you.

He crossed his two
sticks this morning.

- I asked you a question, Mama.

You didn't give me no answer.

- Oh yes, you want an answer,
do you?

Well, your father
only spanks you

when he thinks it's necessary.

Keep you from growing
wild like all those people

we see on the street everything.

- I see people on
the street too.

- Roy.

- And they all ain't drunks
and thieves like you say.

Most of them go to work, and
come home, and laugh and talk,

and don't have beat up
on one another,

or read the Bible all the time.

- Roy, you know and I know
that there ain't no safety

unless you walk with the Lord.

And your Father know it.

That's why he worries about you.

Else he's let you go
down to Hell

where it looks like you
determined to go anyhow.

Or ride on until somebody
puts a knife in you,

or takes you off to jail.

- I ain't looking to
go to no jail.

You think that's all
there is in the world.

Jails.

Churches.

- Mama?

- Yes, John?

- Is Daddy a good man?

- Now what kind of
questions is that?

You don't know no better man.

You children are young.

You don't know how lucky you
are to have a father that

worries about you and tries

to see that you come
home all right.

- Yeah, we sure is lucky
we have a father that

won't let us go to no
movies, play on no streets,

don't want us to do
nothing, except go to church

and read that old Bible.

- Hush up, boy.

Let me see you do some eating.

- I'm eating, I'm eating.

- And when you're finished,
I got work for both of you.

- Work?

- This is Saturday,
ain't it?

- What you think
today's something special?

- You sweep out the front
room, like a good boy and dust

off the furniture.

And Roy, you clean
you all's room.

I want this whole place clean
when your father comes home,

you hear me?

Nearly finished John?

- Yes'm, almost.

- You know you're your
Mama's right hand man.

I never did ask you what you
wanted for your birthday,

but I ain't never forgot it.

Go and get yourself
something you really want.

- Thank you, Mama.

I knew you'd remember.

- Son?

Make it special.

- With a fine son like this,
the Lord will surely bless you.

He'll open up the windows of
Heaven for you and your son.

Gonna pour down blessings,
until you

won't know where to
put them all.

You mark my words.

- The sky that led
downtown was bringing us

the city, the shining
city which I

had looked at with a
longing from afar.

Today I, I sensed again
it's richness and variety,

and I knew someday it
would be mine.

It would take me to it's heart,
and reveal

mysteries my eyes
had never seen.

Among it's wonders were
the movie palaces

my father forbid us to enter,

where Satan beckoned in
the silver images.

But today was my birthday.

My 14th birthday.

And it was special.

- I love that music.

Whenever I hear it, I
think of you,

how pale you are.

How strange.

How cold.

- You are going it.

You always order champagne?

- No.

- Then why'd
you do it now?

- I was hoping it would
make you more friendly.

Do you think it will?

- Well, there's one
thing I can say

for you, gentleman in
every sense of the word.

- Please get up.

You're making a fool of
yourself, and a fool of me.

- I can't go
on like this.

- You disgust me.

- You won't have none of me,
because you're a monster!

You know what you are
you give me--

- Yeah, man.

John, man.

Dude John.

Hey John, man.

Your brother got hurt
real bad today.

They been looking for you.

They cut him up real bad.

Just like that, you know.

I ran after I saw that.

- We been wondering
where you was, boy.

Your brother done gone
out and got his-self hurt.

- Give me the peroxide, woman.

- Oh, Lord.

- Now that's gonna sting
for a little bit but--

- Don't hurt him.

- It's all right.

Just hold still.

- Ah!

- It's all right.

Don't you have sense enough to
come home when you're needed?

There, it's going to
be all right.

There.

There, it's all over now, see?

You a brave boy.

Couple more inches and it
could have been this boy's eye.

Now I got some questions
for you about why

you let this boy go out of
here and get his-self killed.

- Gabriel, I didn't even
know he had gone out.

- Didn't know?

- One minute--

- Didn't know?

Well what kind of woman are you?

- You ain't got no right to
say them things to this woman!

- I am talking to my wife.

- Florence!

- Blaming this
woman because this boy

has got a head as hard as
his father just ain't right.

- All I know is that I come
home and find my son hurt

and bleeding and nobody's got
any explanation as to why.

- We told you, Gabriel.

- What?

- He went
out with out permission.

He went out with a gang
to fight some white boys.

- Yeah.

Mama didn't know.

- Gabriel, you gonna make
me do something.

- What?

- You gonna make me call you
out for what you really are.

- Call me out for who?

What are you talking about,
woman?

- Don't worry.

I know what I'm saying.

You always talking about
setting an example.

Well what do you think
these children are seeing?

- What they see is a poor
man trying to serve his lord,

because that's my life.

- And I guarantee you
they gonna do their best

to keep it from
being their life.

- She's talking gibberish.

Look here.

Come here.

I want you to see what
them people have

done to your brother.

Almost took out his eyes.

Them white people that
you love so much.

- Yes, and he was trying
to take out theirs.

- Woman, don't you ever stop?

I mean, can't you see
this boy is hurt?

- Yes.

But it was his fault, but
you don't want to admit that.

- Are you not gonna stop putting
your mouth in my business

until I slap you
upside your head?

- Slap?

- That's right.

- Slap me?

- Wait!

- Do you know who
you talking to?

- Don't force me, woman.

- You slap me, and I
guarantee you,

you won't do no more slapping,
brother.

- What you should be
doing is telling this boy,

this is what whites
do to blacks.

- Oh, I swear to God
that boy was in a fight,

and he got his-self hurt.

- It looks like
neither one of you

care whether he lives or dies.

- Now that ain't fair, Gabriel.

He's my son too.

I love him just as
much as you do.

- Then why don't you
take care of him?

- I don't know how you expect
me to take care of this place

and keep running around the
block, looking after this boy.

No.

I can't stop him, and
you can stop him neither.

And that's why you keep trying

to fix the blame on everybody,

but there ain't nobody to blame.

He's just got a wild
streak in him,

and we better pray to
God he lose it,

before the next person
puts a knife in him that

puts him in his grave.

- Woman, you better watch

how you talking to
these children--

- Gabriel, it's the truth--

- You give me respect
in my house.

You hear me?

- Gabriel.

- You give me respect!

- You black bastard!

You slap my mother again, I
swear to God I'll kill you!

- You say what?

You curse and disrespect me?

- Gabriel.

Gabriel let us--

- Let go of me, woman.

- Gabriel, please.

- I'm gonna teach
this boy a lesson he's not

gonna forget in a long time.

- Gabriel, please!

- Never forget!

- Gabriel, please!

Gabriel!

Gabriel, stop it!

Stop it!

Gabriel!

Gabriel, you is wild!

Stop it!

Stop it!

Gabriel, stop it!

Stop it, stop it, brother.

Stop it Gabriel.

You ain't gonna change nothing.

You can't take the whole
world with you.

And you ruined one family,
don't ruin this one.

- Hey, come here, boy.

Did you hear what I said?

I said come here, boy.

- I ain't no boy.

You looking at a man, and
when you talk to me as one,

then I'll come to you.

- What'd you say, nigger?

- Calm down and
wait a minute, now.

That negro, Grimes, is
a preacher man.

- He's got a mighty
smart tongue for a nigger.

- Hey, hey.

Go on home, Gabriel.

Go on now.

- Boy, what do you
think you're doing out here?

- Ain't nothing to be scared of,
Reverend.

They done got their
nigger for tonight.

- They intend to get
another one.

Now you hurry along home.

- No, I ain't going
home tonight.

I'm taking a train out of here.

I'm going to Chicago.

Royal, a--

- Hey, ain't got no
time to talk.

Get on the move, I'm a
catch that train.

- Royal,

go with God.

- Oh, yeah.

Except, I'm traveling light.

- It's my grand baby!

They killed him!

My baby!

He's gone!

It's my grand baby!

- The boy is dead.

Esther's son, Royal.

Somebody put a knife
in his throat.

Tried to tell me that
he was gambling,

but I don't believe that.

It was them.

One of them whites killed him.

- Oh my Lord.

Seemed like that boy been
doomed right from the start.

- Just last night.

Just last night, he was telling
me about all of his plans.

I tried to tell him.

I tried to talk to him, and,

but even then it was too late.

- Too late for what,
Gabriel?

- It was too late
for everything.

- That boy was kin to you,
wasn't he?

- What?

- He was your
flesh and blood.

- Yes, he was my son.

- And you sent that girl away

with the money out of that box.

- Yes.

Yes.

- Oh, Gabriel.

Why you do it?

Why you send her off by herself
and you didn't say nothing?

Oh honey, I ain't never asked,
but I've got a right to know.

- I asked my God over and
over again to forgive me,

but I didn't want no
harlot's son.

- Esther weren't no harlot.

- She weren't my wife, and
I couldn't make her my wife,

now could I?

I mean where could I
have gone with Esther?

And me, a preacher.

- Gabriel, all these years,
I been praying to the Lord

to touch my body, and
make me like other women

because I know you wanted a son.

But it just wasn't his will.

But I don't understand.

When that poor child died,
why didn't we

take him and raise
him as our own?

Why didn't you say something?

I wouldn't have cared
what folks said,

or where we might
have had to go.

I would have raised
him as my own.

And we would have had a son.

- I'm down in a hole, old lady.

Don't dig me no deeper.

- I've been thinking, you
better commence

to tremble when the Lord
give you your heart's desire.

I know I been wanting you
since I wanted anything.

And then I got you.

- Woman, do you know how
low you brought me tonight?

- What?

- God, how far do I have to
go to be free from your sin?

- Ain't my sin that's
holding you.

I ain't the one that's
got the chains.

- And that boy of yours,
he don't count for nothing?

- We have two sons, and
both of them are equal.

I make no difference
between them,

and you ain't going to neither.

- Even though one of
them was born from sin?

- You can't make me sorry
I bore Johnny, I done

told you that a hundred times!

I don't repent what I
did in love.

- Oh, woman.

You better pray loud
tonight, because you've got

a lot to answer for.

- We all do, Gabriel.

- You ain't so holy, either.

- Are you
talking to me?

- You broke your word.

Broke the promise that you
made to God, to Johnny and me.

You said you'd bring him up as
you're own, treat him equal,

and be a father to him.

But you ain't done none of that,
Gabriel.

Every time that child
looks to you,

you treat him cold and hard.

He can't do nothing right
for you, and he tries.

God knows he tries.

I ain't gonna stand
for it no more.

If you don't make good
to your promise,

you and I are gonna have
words about what

we doing, living together.

- Are you
hearing what you're saying?

- Yes.

- And you ain't afraid of
what I might do?

- No.

- John?

- Yes, sir?

- Shouldn't
you be down at church,

preparing for Tara's service?

- Yes, sir.

- Well, well,
little John.

It's nice of you to come.

seeing as how I'm
almost finished.

- I told you before, I don't
like you calling me names.

- What kind of names?

Little?

I'm warning you, Elijah.

- Hey, what's the matter?

You in some kind of
mood or something?

- Why don't you just
leave me alone.

- Hey, what if I don't want to?

- Look, we're here to
put out chairs,

so why don't we just do that?

- Not until you answer me.

What's wrong?

- What are you hard of hearing?

I said leave me alone.

- Then why don't you make me?

I mean, you supposed to
be so big and strong.

Don't like nobody
calling you little.

Why don't you show me
how tough you is.

- You want me to show you?

- Yeah.

I wanna see.

I wanna see.

Can you get up?

- No.

- Now what you gonna do?

You wrapped like a little snake.

Can you get up?

Huh, huh?

- No.

- Are you gonna give, John?

- Go to hell!

- Strong as a mule, and
twice as stubborn.

What you say?

Huh?

- Will we be even then?

- I didn't hurt you or nothing,
did I?

- No.

I just had to catch my
breath was all.

- Pretty strong for your size.

- Why don't you teach me
how to wrestle?

- No.

You strong enough already.

You was pretty angry
about something.

It was nothing I did, was it?

- No.

- I'm glad because
you my friend.

I don't want nothing
to hurt you.

- I don't want to be
no preacher.

- What you saying, John?

- I don't wanna live my
life in no church.

- Preaching and
spreading the word of God

is the greatest thing a
man can do in his life.

- My father's a preacher, and
I don't want to be like him.

- Your father is a good man.

- That's what you think.

- He may be hard, but
he's righteous.

- Praise the Lord.

- Praise the Lord Mrs. McCain's.

- Huh, is we the first?

- No.

Me and brother Johnny
here already done

some cleaning up this evening.

- Oh, brother Johnny is
mighty faithful.

The Lord is going to
work something

out mighty big for you.

Just mark my words.

- Brother Johnny ain't
even saved yet.

- Is Father James going to come
out and be with us tonight?

- I don't reckon so.

He be saving his strength
for the morning service.

- Oh, yes he's
a praying man.

The Lord done blessed
us with a good shepherd.

Oh, he's mighty hard, but
then the word is hard.

- He made me know that.

- Yes, I guess you could say so.

Don't look to me like
nobody else is coming.

- Oh don't be of such
little faith.

Son, ain't your Daddy gonna
come out and be with us tonight?

- Yes, ma'am.

He said so.

- And your mama.

Ain't she coming too?

- I don't know.

She's been feeling tired.

- She ain't so tired she can't
come and pray a little while.

- I reckon we ought to
start a song.

I sure hate to walk
into a church

where folks are
sitting and talking.

Ah, that just kills my spirit.

- Amen

- Praise the Lord,
Sister.

- Yes.

Sister Ella, will you
help me to sing this song?

- Praise the lord.

- You never had any children,
huh?

- Girl, it's a good thing I
didn't, I barely had a husband.

- Johnny's daddy died
before he was even born.

- Oh you didn't tell me that.

Oh it must be hard on you.

- Sometimes.

But I have Johnny for company.

At least I know there's
somebody there

who need me when I
walk in the door.

- Now girl, you're still
a young woman.

Don't you be in no rush
to get no new husband.

Ain't a nigger been born
knows how to treat a woman.

At least ain't never found him.

I was with Frank for ten years,
and he ain't never learned

how to be no kinda husband.

- Richard wasn't like that.

He was a man so full
of love for me.

- What happened?

- Trouble with the police.

- Was he a criminal?

- No.

They took him for one
because he was black.

When they found out
their mistake,

it was already too late.

He'd been in their
prison for 30 days,

and when he came out,

he just didn't want to live.

Not even for me.

And then he killed himself.

- And he didn't even marry you.

Oh.

Gabriel.

- Florence.

- So you came?

- Yes, the Lord brought me safe.

- Well come on in.

- I want to start me a new life.

You know, after Deborah
died, that was the end of it.

So now, I want to start over
someplace new and fresh.

Because everything I
ever knew and loved down

there is dead and buried.

- Except me.

Oh!

There's my baby!

Hello!

Elizabeth, this
here's my brother I

been telling you about.

He's a preacher, so we
gotta be careful

what we say around here.

- No reason to be afraid of me,

I'm just a weak vessel
in the hands of the Lord.

- You see what I'm
talking about?

Johnny, shake hands
with the preacher.

- Blessed Jesus.

- I'll go fix us some coffee.

- What a fine looking boy.

With a fine son like this, the
Lord will surely bless you.

Going to open up the windows
of Heaven for you and your son.

Gonna pour down blessing on you,
until you

won't know where to
put them all.

You mark my words.

- Help me, Jesus.

I'm tired, Jesus.

Oh, Jesus.

Oh, Jesus.

I'm tired, please, lord.

Oh, Jesus, help me.

Help me.

Oh, Jesus.

Jesus, please, Jesus.

I'm tired, I'm so, not anymore,
Jesus.

Please, Jesus.

Just help me.

Help.

Ooooh.

- Oh!

Oh yeah!

- Now is the time.

Now is the hour.

- Said God, God said order

Yes.

Now is the time.

Ask your forgiveness.

- Jesus please.

Jesus, please, reach out and
touc me with your hand, Jesus.

Please.

- That's right
talk to Jesus.

- I asked him Lord.

I asked him.

How long has it been?

How far must I travel?

- Find my way.

- Find it.

For your sins, and for
those committed against you.

Jesus, Lord, give me
the strength

to cleanse my house and my soul.

- I'm tired!

I'm tired, Jesus!

Whoo!

- Yes, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

Ah!

- I feel it!

Oh!

- He's feeling
the holy power.

- Johnny?

Johnny?

God.

Johnny, come on back to me.

Come on, John.

- I can't.

- That boy needs help.

You could take him, too.

You're his father.

He need you.

He needs your help.

Help him, Gabriel.

- Oh yes, Jesus, help.

- Come on through, John.

Come on through.

I'll help you, brother John.

I'll pray you through.

I'll pray you through,
brother John.

I'll pray you through,
brother John.

Yes, I will.

Oh Jesus.

- Jesus accept this child.

Listen to his heart.

- Say Jesus.

- Jesus.

- Say Jesus.

- Jesus.

- Say Jesus.

Do what to take Jesus
as your personal savior?

Yes, call him.

Let him come!

Oh yes he will!

Jesus!

Oh Jesus!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus.

Jesus, oh Jesus.

No!

No, Jesus.

Jesus.

Call him.

Call him now.

- Jesus.

Jesus.

Jesus.

Jesus.

Jesus.

- Save me Lord!

Say save me lord.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Oh, yes, Jesus.

Oh, yes Lord.

Yes, Lord.

Oh yes, Lord.

- The boy is through!

John's been saved!

- Rise up, brother John.

Oh, yes Jesus.

Oh yes, Jesus.

Jesus.

- Bless you, child.

- Thank you, Jesus.

Woo, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

- God bless you.

- Oh, thank you, Jesus.

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

Oh, thank you, Lord.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

Oh, Jesus.

- I'm saved.

I'm saved, Father.

- Praise the Lord, John.

- Oooh, Lor,d it's morning.

You done prayed all
through the night.

- And what a glorious morning.

- Hallelujah, Jesus.

- Oh, you must be very proud.

Mighty proud.

- Come, brother John.

Let's you and me walk together.

- Thank you, Jesus.

- You know, no matter what
happens today, or where I go,

or what people may say about me,

you remember that I was there.

- I'll remember.

See you all later, Sister
Grimes, Sister Elizabeth.

- Bye, Elijah.

- Praise the Lord, Brother John.

- Sure you don't want to
come up for some breakfast?

- No, child, I should be
home resting in my bed.

That's just where I'm gonna go.

I'll see you.

Now I want you to fight the
good fight, you hear me?

Don't you get scared.

Don't you lose your nerve.

Because the Lord has put
his hands on you.

I knew there was a
reason why I should

have come to church last night.

- I'll see you later.

- Bye.

Bye, Bye, Gabriel.

- Boy, what are you doing up?

- What took you all so long?

- Just get on back inside.

- But Mama.

- Go on.

- John?

- Yes, sir?

- Aw, nothing.

Go on in.

John?

I want to tell you something.

Son, you did it tonight,
didn't you?

Climbed up that mountain.

- Yes, sir.

- But you've got to understand,
son.

That mountain is very high,
and it's got many peaks.

And I'm gonna try to help
you get over those peaks.

Every man should do
it for himself.

I mean, nobody can
do it for him.

- Yes, sir.

- And it ain't going to be easy,

but I'm gonna try to help you.

I'm gonna try.

- Standing
there that morning, each of us

wanted to speak some final,

some living word that
would conquer

the great division between us.

- Come on, let's go in
and get some breakfast.

- And though my
father tried,

he could not find that word.

And in his absence,
something died in me.

But something also came alive,

something that gave me
the new words.

I'm ready.

I'm coming.

I'm on my way.