Original subtitles

- Church, we need volunteers over at our food pantry.

Now the sign-up sheets are right outside the door.

You see, it'’s not enough to just scream out

how much you love God.

- Mm-hmm.

- It'’s not about your "Jesus Is My Homeboy" bumper sticker

or your praying hand emojis.

- Preach, Boyce. - Amen.

- So let'’s turn those amens into some signatures.

- Yeah! - Amen!

- Amen! - Amen!

- Tell us! - Amen!

- Dad, would you look at this?

Nobody signed up.

All them "Amens" and "Tell it, Pastors,"

those were fake.

- Did you put a pen on a string?

- Yes, I put a pen on a string.

- Well, you did everything you could do.

- You know what, Dad, nobody wants to get involved.

When I first got the calling,

I thought I was gonna help people.

You know, change some lives.

Now I'’m wondering if I'’m having any effect at all.

Lollipop, baby, look at this.

- Wow, this is--

this is great.

- It'’s great that nobody signed up to help at our food pantry?

- Uh--uh, yes,

because now there'’s more room for me to sign up.

- Come on, Lolli.

Admit it. You can'’t even read this.

You got to call the eye doctor.

- Boyce, I'’m not having my eyes checked, okay?

So those quacks can tell me I got glaucoma

or cataracts or scurvy.

- Scurvy? You not a pirate.

- Tell that to the quacks!

- Well, fine, if you'’re not gonna call the doctor,

then you can work at the food pantry.

- Oh, fine. - All right.

- Boom.

- Whoa. [chuckles]

6:00 a.m. shift. That is impressive.

- Oh, say what now?

Wha--

Yeah, I'’ma--

I'’ma go on and call the eye doctor.

- Mm-hmm.

[soul music]

♪

- ♪ Illegally blonde, warrant pending ♪

♪ Mixing Grey Goose and Patron, I'’m unrelenting ♪

- Stamps, do you mind if I change the station?

- Uh, yes, I do.

Now, Lolli, I'’ll drive you to your eye doctor,

but nobody changes my music.

[rap music plays on radio]

♪ I'’m knuckle deep, we stone-cold killaz ♪

♪ Buy my side bitch a Tesla, die hard like Willis ♪

[siren wailing]

- Stamps, I think the police are trying to pull you over.

- Nah, that'’s just part of the song.

- Mm-hmm.

- Nobody likes a gloater.

- [groans] - Look, it was profiling, Boyce!

A cop saw a black man driving through Clayton

and thought, "Hey, I'’ll just harass that guy for no reason."

- You were driving with a suspended license.

- He didn'’t know that!

- Stamps, I didn'’t know that!

It'’s a thing you might want to mention

before you drive a person somewhere.

- Look, my license wasn'’t suspended for bad driving, okay?

I have an outstanding ticket for not wearing my seat belt.

- See, that was stupid and dangerous, Stamps.

- I had on a brand-new silk shirt.

Okay, I wasn'’t gonna go on my date all wrinkled.

- Go home, Stamps.

- I can'’t. He took my license.

And how am I supposed to even get to city hall

to pay for my ticket now?

- Fine. I'’ll drive you.

But you gonna wear a seat belt.

- This is suede.

- Boy, don'’t make me--

- Okay, all right.

Hi, I got this moving violation back in January,

but I had to wait for my next paycheck to cover it

because, well, I-I'’d just bought

that remote control "Star Wars" droid that rolls around,

which, by the way, is amazing.

See, it has this app that you can use--

- Stamps, would you get on with it?

- Oh, right.

Anyway, when I finally had the money to cover it,

they told me I owed a late fee,

which I couldn'’t afford until thatweek'’s paycheck came in,

because, well, I'’d rolled my first droid off a balcony

and had to buy a new one.

- Sir, if there'’s a late fee,

you have to pay that at Collections on the third floor.

- I'’ll have to find you in the system.

Can I see your driver'’s license?

- Well, the cop took it.

- Oh, then you'’re gonna need a temporary identification card.

- Okay, well, just give us one.

- That'’s $15.

- $15?

Fine, we'’ll pay it.

- Payments are on the second floor.

- Attach your check, fill this out,

but don'’t write in this box.

Any marks in the box, we have to start over.

- So why is there a box?

- It shows you where not to write.

Just complete that and take it up to three.

- Okay, everything looks in order.

- Great.

- You'’ll have your license within ten business days.

- Ten days?

How am I even supposed to get to work?

- Ma'’am, he can'’t afford to miss two more weeks of work.

All right, there'’s got to be a way to get this done today.

- Sorry, but the only way would be to use the expedited form.

- So why aren'’t we using the expedited form?

- He didn'’t ask for the expedited form.

- Well, you didn'’t tell him you had an expedited form.

- Don'’t you get snippy with me.

Here you go.

There'’s $130 convenience fee for expedited processing.

- For a $55 ticket?

- By the time I pay the convenience fees,

the handling fees, and the late fees,

I won'’t be able to afford to pay the ticket.

- You can fill out the financial hardship application...

on one.

- Hold on, so the financial hardship application costs $25?

- No, the application is free.

The processing fee is $25.

- You know what?

This man just wants to pay his traffic ticket

so he can get his life back, all right?

I demand somebody who can help me with that.

Who'’s in charge of all these damn windows?

- Sir, I have to ask you to calm down.

- I am calm!

- You'’re losing your temper.

- That'’s because you'’re saying I'’m not calm.

But I have a legitimate complaint.

My brother had a $55 ticket,

and now it'’s a $250 ticket,

and y'’all won'’t even let him pay it!

- Sir, I'’m gonna have to ask you to leave.

- [scoffs] Oh, you want me to leave?

Now all of a sudden-- I'’ve been here all day,

and you tryin'’ to ask me to leave.

Only way I'’m leavin'’ out of here

is you gonna have to tase me.

- Tase him. - Yeah, partner.

You have to--oh, don'’t tase me.

Ooh, don'’t tase me with that.

That man was actually gonna tase me.

Stamps!

- That was embarrassing.

I'’ve never heard so much screaming and carrying on

at the eye doctor'’s.

- It'’s not my fault, Barton.

They shined a bright light in my eyes.

They held my eyelids open and put drops in there!

And then they interrogated me!Right?

They were screaming all kind of stuff.

What letter is this? Is that a Q?

Is that a G?

Like I don'’t know my letters!

- Lolli, look, there'’s no reason to fight this.

We all get old.

- Who is "we"?

I'’m wayyounger than you,Barton.

- But I don'’t need glasses, do I?

I think I'’ll read the paper...

with my naked eyes.

- Oh, Barton, I'’m sorry.

It'’s just that I don'’t want Boyce to see me

as some old eyeglass-wearing lady.

Lollipop keeps it spicy.

- I know you do.

I walked in on you three times.

- Oh, you know what, and I'’m sorry.

Boyce and I will start locking the door.

- Once was in the backyard.

- Right. [laughs nervously]

- Look, Lolli, I know what you'’re worried about.

But trust me, Della and I were married for 41 years.

- And you guys were able to keep the fire going that long?

- Oh, God, no.

But a long marriage isn'’t about fire.

It'’s about companionship.

It'’s about going out to dinner at 5:00 and beatin'’ the crowd.

Helpin'’ each other find the car in the parking lot at the mall.

Listenin'’ to the Cardinals on the radio

while the woman you love shaves your neck.

- Thank you, uh, Barton.

I have so much to look forward to.

- Oh, my goodness. I can'’t believe it.

I mean, 3 hours, 7 different lines,

20 different forms.

We had the money, and they still wouldn'’t take it.

- Yeah, it'’s like they didn'’t want me to pay my ticket.

- Well, why would they do that?

- Baby, that'’s how they get you.

You know, they just keep adding on penalties

until you owe them for the rest of your life.

- What do you expect, son?

The expression is, "You can'’t fight city hall."

Not, "Go ahead and fight city hall.

"That'’s a good thing to do.

You'’ll almost definitely win."

- I tried to pay a ticket ten days after I got it.

They told me it was already late.

They had sent it to a collection agency.

- What was your ticket for?

- You know those signs with the man sitting on the circle?

- Handicap signs.

- Oh, no, I'’m talking about the blue ones

that they paint on the parking spots.

- Handicap signs.

- Apparently, you'’re not supposed to park there

unless you got a matching sign for your car.

- '’Cause you not handicapped. - It'’s a handicap spot.

- Well, whatever it was,

my fine is growing faster than I can pay it.

If I could just pay it off,

I wouldn'’t have to steal so much Splenda.

- How much Splenda do you need?

- Some I keep,

some I sell.

- Hey, this is bad. This is bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.

- I know.

She ain'’t the only one who want sweet coffee.

- No, babe, I'’m talking about the city

and the way that they just jackin'’ people up.

And Shirley, well, that is-- you know what?

We been to Costco like three times this week.

Brothers and sisters, by show of hands,

how many of you have gotten a simple traffic ticket

that has spiraled into a never-ending cycle of debt?

Uh-huh, yeah. See, that'’s what I thought.

Church, let me break this down to you.

37% of the city'’s operating budget

comes from traffic fines and late fees.

It'’s like the police aren'’t servin'’ and protectin'’,

they'’re servin'’ and collectin'’.

- That'’s right.

- And Mayor Saxby needs to understand

what a problem this is.

- Oh, yeah!

- So--so I need all of you

to call his office, and send emails, and fax.

Daddy, you can write a letter.

Now y'’all remember four years ago

when Mayor Saxby was first running for office, huh?

- Mm-hmm. - Absolutely.

- He would come down here and shake hands and kiss babies.

But now that we need him, where is he?

In Arizona playing golf!

Well, Mayor Saxby, we need you here!

- Right now! - Show your face!

all: Show your face! Show your face!

Show your face! Show your face!

- Uh, I'’ve just been informed that Mayor Saxby

is actually in Arizona for a funeral.

Okay? So...

- [inaudible whisper]

- His grandmama died.

So let'’s say a prayer for Nana Saxby.

Amen.

all: Amen.

- But still, we demand that Mayor Saxby show his face

and address our concerns...

after a reasonable period of mourning.

Show your face. all: Show your face.

- Show your face. all: Show your face!

- Show it! all: Show your face!

- Show your face. all: Show your face!

- I want to see your face.

I'’ma need some face time.

Face the fact! Face it!

- Uh-huh, good. I look forward to it.

Babe, just got off the phone with Mayor Saxby'’s office.

- And?

- He'’s coming to the service on Sunday.

We did it.

- Ah! I'’m so proud of you, Boyce!

- Oh, baby, it'’s not just me.

It was the whole congregation.

The mayor'’s office said he got hundreds of faxes and emails

and one letter.

Come on, let'’s go celebrate.

I am starving, man.

- Well, Boyce, it'’s just 5:00.

- I know. We can beat the crowd.

- Boyce, we are not going to dinner at 5:00.

And I'’m not shaving your neck.

- It'’s packed in there, son.

You got standing room only. - As he should.

The mayor'’s coming, and he'’s gonna have to answer to me.

- No, Stamps.

He'’s coming to address the congregation.

Don'’t talk to him. I mean it.

No, not one word.

I just thought of another question for the mayor.

Shirley, you got a pen?

Oh, Lord. Shirley.

- You don'’t know my struggle.

- Boyce, a town car just pulled up outside in the parking lot.

- Oh, good. All right, guys, it'’s show time.

- Baby, I am so proud of you.

I mean, you demanded respect,

and you got a meeting with the mayor.

- Knock knock?

- Hey, you'’re not the mayor.

- No, I'’m Nick Peters from Mayor Saxby'’s office.

- And where is Mayor Saxby?

- Well, uh, Mayor Saxby sends his regrets.

- So he'’s blowing us off.

- No, this meeting is a priority for the mayor.

And he just respects you too much to come

if he can'’t give the matter his full attention.

- Oh, so he'’s blowing us off as a favor.

- You could say that, yeah!

And I have good news.

The mayor has reviewed your brother'’s case

and agreed to waive all fines and return his license.

- Ah, I knew I liked you, Nick.

- Hold on. We didn'’t ask for a bribe.

- Didn'’t ask for it, but we'’re not mad at it.

- You don'’t get it, do you?

This isn'’t about one guy.

This about a mayor who doesn'’t give a damn

about the very people who elected him,

including the 300 people sitting in the sanctuary

who Mayor Saxby respects too much to face.

- How old are you anyway? 12?

Does your mama even know you'’re here?

- Uh, she does.

I'’m the assistant director of community outreach.

I'’ve got, like, 500 business cards.

- You know what? You can keep your cards.

And you can tell Mayor Saxby he can keep his bribe.

- Or we--we can really teach him a lesson

by taking the bribe

and telling him to kiss our butts.

- We'’re done here.

- Can I leave some campaign buttons or, uh, bumper stickers?

- Get out!

- You know what, bro? I don'’t know what'’s worse.

That you just did that,

or that everyone'’s gonna tell you how great it was.

- It was so great, Boyce. - It sure was.

- I'’m proud of you, son.

- Oh, come on.

I'’m gonna be the one to have to get a second job now.

- You know what? I'’m done with Saxby.

This city needs to elect a mayor,

somebody who will fight for the little guy.

You know, the people that make this city great.

He'’s got to be out there somewhere.

- Son, I think you should take a page from your own sermon.

You'’ve been telling your congregation to get involved,

take some action.

I think you should practice what you preach.

- Seriously, Dad?

Me, run for Mayor?

- I think that is a great idea, Barton.

- Okay, see--

- I don'’t see any reason why I shouldn'’t.

You know, why not me?

- Why not you?

- I am a pillar of the community.

- A pillar!

- My face is already out there.

- Face. Boom. Everywhere.

- And I know what this city needs.

- Feed the need, Boyce!

- I meant you should start a petition

or maybe go to the news.

- No, no, no, you were right the first time, Daddy.

You know, it is time to take some serious action here.

All right, the congregation is sitting out there

waiting to hear from the mayor, but instead,

they are gonna hear from the next mayor.

I'’m gonna do it.

Come on, baby, let'’s go tell the congregation.

- Oh, me too? Oh!

- Say, uh, Pop,

think you can spot me $250?

- Oh, let me think about it.

No.

- Shirley, how much do you get for that Splenda?

- I better not catch you on my block, sucker.

- Babe, that was amazing.

- Boyce, that congregation was eatin'’ you up with a spoon.

- Yeah, you know,

I wish they got that excited when I talked about Jesus.

And that ain'’t on you, Lord, that'’s all on me.

- Boyce, I'’m so proud of you.

- Look how many people signed up to work on my campaign.

- Boyce, I'’m not gonna lie. I can'’t see that.

- Well, you know what would help,

if you put on your glasses.

- Nuh-uh, you are never seeing me in those ugly things.

- So you just never gonna read again?

- Stamps never reads and he'’s happy.

- Lolli. - Fine.

Okay, Boyce.

We had a good run, me and you.

Mm-hmm, right now,

we are about to pour cold water

on the fire of our marriage.

Once I put these glasses on,

the nasty'’s over.

- Say, what'’s up? Say, hello!

What'’s the matter?

Yeah! - Really?

Boyce, stop it. Just stop.

- I like that. Look.

Lolli, you remind me of my sixth grade Spanish teacher,

Mrs. Guzman.

Ah, she had the long hair, and she had those glasses on.

And she would look at me and she'’d be, "Boythe, Boythe."

It got me through. Come on, come, put '’em back on.

Put '’em back on. - Are you sure?

- Ooh, muy caliente!

[scatting Latin melody]

- Aah! Boyce!

Okay, Boyce, okay.

I can--I can wear them,

you know, well, you know, when I need to read something.

- Or when you need to see something up close.

- [squeals]

- AÁndale, girl!

AÁndale!

Babe, babe, no, no, no, backyard.

Come on.

- Hello, my name is Boyce Ballentine.

This is my wife, Lolli.

And I'’m officially running for mayor.

I have the signatures of 1,000 of my fellow citizens.

And I have a plan to revitalize this city.

I have message of hope for all of St. Louis.

- Do you have form EG-3502?

- Baby, you got-- uh, is it EG?

Yeah, we have that. Oh, yeah, yeah.

- It'’s not notarized. You have to go to three.

- I have a plan to revitalize this city.

And I have a message of hope for all of St. Louis.

- All I care about

is that you have a driver'’s license and a thumb.

Don'’t be shy.

- Hey, hey, hey! Hey, ah!

- Your fingers are pretty meaty.

- Give me my finger. Give me my thumb.

- Hello! - You know what?

I have a plan to revitalize this city!

I have a message of hope for all of St. Louis!

- I have five minutes left on my lunch break.

- Stamps? - What are you doing back there?

- I told you I was gonna have to get another job

to pay for my ticket.

Let me see what you got.

Oh, you smudged some ink in the "do not write here" box.

You'’re gonna have to get a waiver on two.

- Stamps, let me--

let me talk to you for a second. - Oh, what'’s up, bro?

- If you don'’t come up out of there--I don'’t know who

you think you talking to! [shouting furiously]

[soul music]

♪

- ♪ The Soul Man

- ♪ Hey