Original subtitles

- Look at me, Boyce.

- I'’m looking at you.

- Do you want to be mayor?

- Yes. - Do you?

- Yes. - Do you really want it?

- Okay, was my dad not clear on the phone?

That'’s why I'’m interviewing campaign managers.

- Oh, you can cancel those other interviews.

Fred'’s your man. - I don'’t know, Barton.

I don'’t think he really wants

to be mayor.

- I want to be mayor. - But how bad?

- Again, reallybad.

- Baby, is Fred hard of hearing?

- I heard that. Now you hear this.

Your opponent--he ain'’t gonna give it to you.

You got to take it,

and if he hits you,

you got to hit him back,

and if he throws mud in your eye,

you got to kick his teeth in,

and if he'’s still coming at you,

you got to knock him down.

You got to put your boot on his neck,

and twist, and you don'’t let up

until he stops twitching.

- Uh, okay, just to reiterate,

I'’m running for mayor.

I don'’t want to kill anybody.

- He don'’t want it.

- He wants it.

- I don'’t think I want it.

- Hey, Fred, would you excuse us

for a minute?

Daddy, come on.

- There, now.

Mm, that Fred'’s quite a character, huh?

He used to run campaigns in Chicago.

He old school.

- Okay, here'’s the thing, Dad.

I didn'’t get into this race to be

an old-school politician.

That'’s the great thing about me.

I'’m not a politician.

- Yeah, you'’re not like

one of those City Hall insiders

with all the experience and qualifications.

- Exactly.

You meant that in a good way, right?

- Right, right.

- Yeah, bro, it takes guts

to be this unprepared.

- Son, running a campaign is a complicated thing.

You need a campaign manager

who knows his stuff.

- But he doesn'’t know me. Right?

All he wants to do is put me in a box.

Or maybe a trunk.

Look, I want people I can trust.

My family.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Are--are you saying you want us

to run your campaign?

- Yes, that'’s exactly what I'’m saying.

I mean, we can do this like a family business.

We'’ll be like the Jacksons, you know?

I'’m Michael.

- All right, y'’all know I'’m Janet.

- Yeah.

- Ooh, I got dibs on Jermaine.

- I--I don'’t think nobody was fighting you

on that one, Stamp.

Daddy, you'’ll be Joe.

- Why I got to be Joe?

- You old and mean.

- Well, they do say Joe was the one

that made it all happen.

Fine, I'’ll be Joe.

- All right. - All right.

See, this is great, man.

People are sick of politics

as usual, all right?

We gonna do this grassroots style.

I'’ma be the grass,

and y'’all gonna be my roots.

- Ooh, you sound like the mayor already.

- [laughs]

- We are gonna give these voters

a big shot of pure, uncut Boyce.

- [laughs] You think they can

handle it, baby? - I don'’t know.

It'’s pretty strong stuff, daddy.

- Unprofessional.

- Look, don'’t worry, Dad.

With you guys behind me,

I know what I'’m doing, okay?

And there'’s no challenge I can'’t face.

Now, I'’m just gonna hide in here

until you get Fred out my house.

[soul music]

♪

All right, team, let'’s brainstorm.

Now, when I announce my candidacy,

what are a few key words

we want people to associate with me?

- Real.

- Grounded.

- Empathetic.

- Grounded.

- I just said that.

- Oh, I thought we were voting

on the one we like best.

- Will you stop playing around

on your phone, Stamps,

and pay attention? - I'’m not playing around.

I'’m setting up a Twitter account

for the campaign.

- Ah, that'’s great, Stamps.

I'’m gonna make you Director of Communications.

- Director. You hear that?

#InYourFace, Lolli.

- Hashtag "Don'’t talk slick to me in my kitchen or you will

get dealt with," Stamps. - Okay, Lolli, baby.

Baby, baby, baby, baby.

Come on, baby.

Look, guys, now all we have to do

is figure out how to announce my candidacy.

We only have one shot to define this campaign.

- You should do it on the steps of City Hall.

- Nah, nah. That'’s played.

How about the ballroom at the Hotel Pierre?

That place is swank.

- No, no, no, no, no, no.

I don'’t want swank.

I'’m not running for the people

who stay at the Pierre.

I'’m running for the people

who work at the Pierre.

I want to make my announcement

directly to them.

- Then go to the Pierre.

- You'’re missing my point.

- Ooh, you know where you should do it?

At the rib joint on West 11th.

- The Bossy Hogg? - The Bossy Hogg.

- You know what? I love it.

That'’s smart thinking, baby.

- Their baked beans are too sweet.

- I know, Daddy, I know.

But it'’s where the little guy eats, all right?

These are the people I'’m fighting for.

- Yeah, Pop, you know what, the cornbread is dry too.

- And their collard greens are watery.

- And you know they got the nerve

to charge for the extra...

- Okay, guys, guys, guys.

Look, what I'’m saying is, making my announcement

at the Bossy Hogg sends a message.

- That you don'’t like good barbecue?

- No, Barton, it says that Boyce

is a man of the people.

- See? I like it, Lolli.

That'’s why I'’m making you Director of Campaign Events.

- Aww.

Can you make it executive director?

I want to outrank Stamps.

- [chuckling] - Mwah!

Done. [laughs]

- Sleeping your way to the top, huh?

- Aw, man, this is good, man.

This is gonna be great.

- If you don'’t hire Fred, you'’re an idiot.

- See, that'’s why you'’re Joe.

♪

[people conversing quietly]

Check it out, Dad.

I'’m really drawing a crowd.

- Oh, this place is always packed.

- It'’s packed more than usual.

- Actually, this is light for a Friday.

- Daddy, do you mind?

I'’m trying to psych myself up here.

- I'’ve never seen it this crowded.

- Babe, I'’ve got reporters here

from the Post and the Weekly.

I got Stamps video-ing everything.

Oh, and check out my sign.

Ah!

- Oh.

Wow, babe, that'’s...

That'’s nice-- there'’s a lot of hashtags.

- All right, Boyce, hold it right there.

- Man, would you get that thing out my face?

- Well, that'’s not usable.

- Boyce, are you ready?

- Yeah, come on. Let'’s do this.

-Okay.

- All righty, can I have everyone'’s attention, please?

- Oh, you'’ve got it, sweet thing.

- Uh, okay.

Today is an historic day,

and you'’re about to find out why.

Please put your hands together

for my husband,

Reverend Boyce Ballentine.

[light applause]

- Citizens of St. Louis,

I stand here today for one reason.

The city is at a crossroads.

City Hall is not working for us.

The people who can least--

- Cornbread up!

- The people who can least afford to--

- Who wanted hot sauce?

- Look, the--the city'’s at a crossroads, guys,

and so we need to--

- We got two rib tip up,

two chicken up,no dark!

- Who wanted hot sauce?

- Okay, guys, do you mind if I-- - Tay Tay, who waiting on beans?

- Tay Tay, I got two chicken, no dark.

- I had a chicken, two brisket.

- Okay, guys.

Could you just chill out for just a minute

so I can do my thing here?

- Hell no.

Why did you insist on doing this

during Friday dinner rush?

- Because we wanted a lot of people!

- Wish granted.

- Tay Tay, I got two rib platter up.

- Who had the chicken, no dark?

- I'’m still waiting on sausages.

- Boyce, we will make this work.

Give me the chicken, two brisket.

Tay Tay'’s busy.

All right, Stamps.

Get these rib platters to the table in the back.

All right, give me the two chicken, no dark.

- Babe, I think this lady here

waiting on beans.

- And gizzards.

- Barton, please get this woman her beans...

and gizzards!

Enjoy. All right, we good?

Everybody good? Good.

- Look, guys, I stand here today

for one simple reason.

The city of St. Louis

is not watching out for you,

the little guy.

Who here has tried to pay a late fee

on a traffic violation,

only to have the city send it

to a collection agency?

- Me, I had to do it last week.

- Okay, and who here believes

the city is paying

for the new football stadium

and the convention center

by taking the poor people to the cleaners?

[crowd murmurs]

Who here is tired of being pushed around?

Huh?

All right, who here has the baby back ribs

and mac and cheese and a Sierra Mist?

- That'’s me.

- Hey, how come he get his ribs?

I ordered my brisket first.

- Well, brisket take longer.

- Brisket'’s up!

- Hey, that better be mine.

- Will you pipe down?

My husband is talking.

- I don'’t care what your husband--

[all shouting at once]

♪

- You were right, Daddy.

This barbecue tastes like dirty laundry.

- What'’d I tell you, boy?

I was right about the Bossy Hogg,

and I'’m right about Fred.

- Dad, I'’m not hiring Fred.

We'’re doing fine.

- Fine? That was a disaster.

I got hit in the head with a rib.

- What do you expect at the Bossy Hogg?

- Shut your pie hole.

I said, "I'’m sorry."

- Look, guys, come on, let'’s not fight

amongst ourselves.

We'’re cool, all right?

This is a learning process for us all.

- You know who could teach you?

- Dad, do not say Fred.

- Fred.

- Look, I hate to say this,

but all of y'’all are out of touch, okay?

Now, as Boyce'’s President of Digital Outreach--

- Ah! - I gave myself a title bump.

I have an eye to the future.

- Oh, really? - Really.

Yes, in fact, I'’ve cooked up a little sizzle reel.

This is what we need

to capture the tech-savvy youth vote.

- Hey, I like the sound of that.

- Now, keep in mind, it'’s a work in progress.

- ♪ I am Boyce

♪ I am the choice

♪ The choice, Boyce, Boyce, Boyce ♪

♪ Boyce, Boyce, Boyce R-r-r-r-respect ♪

♪ All day respect, all day, every day ♪

♪ Day, day, day, day, day, day, day ♪

♪ I can'’t make my chair go up ♪

♪ The choice, the choice, the choice, Boyce ♪

- [laughs]

That'’s how we do it.

- Did I say, "I can'’t make my chair go up?"

- Well, yeah, I didn'’t have enough audio samples

to work with, but I told you, it'’s a work in progress.

- No, no, it'’s good stuff. It'’s good stuff.

In the final thing, I won'’t be saying anything

about my chair not going up, though, right?

- Oh, yeah, please take that out.

- Yeah, I wouldn'’t miss it.

- Oh, so now everybody'’s giving me notes?

- Great start, Stamps.

You know, everybody'’s doing good work.

But if I'’m gonna lead this city,

I have to lead this team,

so here'’s what I was thinking.

You know, actually, it'’s a good thing

I never made my announcement at the Bossy Hogg,

because I get a do-over.

And what'’s the one domain I already rule?

- All of this.

- I-I was thinking radio.

Yeah, that'’s where I'’m gonna make my announcement.

- Yes, radio.

See, we were thinking too small.

- Exactly.

I can reach the whole city at once.

I'’ll go on KBTB.

They play all my hits.

- Yeah.

- What'’s wrong with KBTB?

- They play all your hits.

Look, bro, do you really want to announce on a station

that plays "all your classic grooves that make you

boogie-oogie-oogie"?

- Yeah, that'’s a good radio station.

- Nobody "oogies" any more.

- I do.

- Point taken.

- Check it, bro.

If you want to announce on the radio,

there'’s only one place to do it,

and that'’s the number one morning show in St. Louis.

- Why is the guy wearing a diaper?

Nobody sees him. He'’s on the radio.

- I don'’t know.

Comfort? Convenience?

- Stamps, are you sure

this is the right radio station for Boyce?

- Trust me, all right.

Fat Dog and Shank are number one for a reason.

They get all kinds of big guests.

- Hey, is the guy in the helmet the same guy

that rode the grocery cart down the roller coaster?

- Classic Fat Dog.

- Well, they may be nitwits,

but it looks like

Boyce has them eating out of his hand.

- Well, I'’m glad you asked me that, Fat Dog.

In my mind, I'’ve never changed jobs.

I'’ve always been a truth-teller.

I did it as a soul singer,

done it as a pastor,

and hope to be doing it

in the next phase of my career.

- That'’s right, we understand

you have a big announcement to make this morning,

and we'’ll get to that in a few minutes.

But first, you know what day it is.

Oh.

- What--what day is it?

- Uh-oh.

[funk music]

- Stamps, who are they?

- [stammering]No idea.

- Stamps, are those girls porn stars?

- Oh, come on, Lolli.

That'’s judgmental.

I mean mean, you see two attractive women

dressed unconventionally, and--

yes, they'’re porn stars.

♪

But very gifted.

- Stamps, are you out of your damn mind?

Boyce is a preacher.

- How could you do this to him?

- Well, how was I supposed to know this would happen?

Usually, they only have porn stars on Wild Wednesday.

- Then why are they here today?

- Oh, damn, it'’s Ta-ta Tuesday.

- Oh, come on!

- Get me out of here!

- Get off of him!

Ooh.

They really are nasty.

- Yeah, I know.

- Oh, thank you for coming, Alicia.

No one saw you come in, did they?

- No, why?

- Well, I am working closely

with my family on the campaign,

and I haven'’t told '’em

I'’m meeting with campaign managers yet.

I may not even need one.

- You do.

- I'’m not sure, though. You know.

- I am.

I have a radio.

- [chuckles] Of course, but the thing is, is--

- Reverend Ballentine, the good news is

you'’re a very strong candidate.

You have charisma, you'’ve got name recognition,

you'’ve done a lot of goody-goody crap.

- You mean like spreading the word of the Lord?

- Exactly.

You can win this,

but you need professional help.

I have won 14 campaigns in the last five years,

and you know why?

I don'’t let my candidates go on the radio

and spank porn stars.

- [chuckling]

I-I wasn'’t actually spanking the porn stars.

Yeah, Fat Dog has a sound effect that adds the whole--

[clapping]

It'’s crazy.

- Whew. - Yeah.

- Boyce?

- [stammering]

Okay, would you excuse me for a second?

- Mm-hmm.

- Boyce?

- Hey, hey, guys.

What--what are you doing here?

- Hi, honey. We--we--we need to talk.

- Of course, baby. Any time.

- Okay, here'’s the thing--

- Well, any time but now.

Yeah, I'’m actually in the middle of something,

so we can talk about this at home.

- Whoa, Boyce, this is very important.

- Okay, look, Boyce, I know you want to keep

the campaign in the family

and stay true to who you are,

but the stakes are too high.

What you'’re fighting for is too important.

- This is gonna be hard to hear, bro,

but we'’ve decided

we'’re not the people to run your campaign.

- Wow. Wow.

- No, no, no. No, no, no.

Babe, don'’t try to talk us out of it.

- Oh, darn it.

Okay, I'’ll see you guys at home.

All right.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. That'’s it?

- Yeah, you said, "Don'’t try to talk you out of it."

- Yeah, but don'’t you think you should try

and talk us out of it a little bit?

- I'’m sorry, Reverend, but I have a 1:00,

so if you'’re going to be long.

- Boyce, who is this white woman?

- She'’s-- - I'’m Alicia Frizzell.

- Look, Lolli, Stamps,

I decided to interview a few campaign managers.

- Wow. Wow.

I can'’t believe this. - You firing us?

- Yeah, what was all that talk about "I want to do this with--"

both: "My family."

- Really, do you guys really think that you'’re up to the job?

- No, we'’re terrible.

- Then what are we arguing about?

- I don'’t know. I'’m mad.

- Good news, Boyce.

I called Fred.

He'’s willing to give you a second chance.

You just got to prove to him that you want it.

- It'’s too late, Barton.

Boyce is about to hire A-lee-sha.

- Actually, it'’s A-lee-see-a.

- Actually, I don'’t care.

- How could you do Fred like this?

- Daddy, I was never gonna hire Fred.

- Anyway, Reverend,

I think that I'’m going to scoot.

- No, what? Why?

- Well, I just don'’t think this is a situation

that makes sense for me, professionally.

There is already a lot of conflict,

and your family is clearly dysfunctional.

You'’re like the Jacksons.

- Excuse me.

I--I thought Jermaine was pretty cool.

- Was he?

Anyway, before I go,

let me give you a little advice.

Running a campaign with your family

is a very dicey proposition.

You need someone who can give you

an outside perspective.

For instance, you don'’t run

a political campaign out of a church.

It'’s a violation of about 40 laws.

- Is it? - I didn'’t know that, no.

- Yes.

Also, you don'’t start riots in rib joints.

You don'’t do radio shows

with anyone called "Shank,"

and you never pose for a photo eating a corndog.

- Okay, I didn'’t do that one, now.

- The way things are going, you will.

Good luck with your campaign.

- Alicia, don'’t leave.

You'’re hired.

- I haven'’t told you my fee yet.

You'’re still hired. What'’s your fee?

- Good Lord.

- Are we hiring you or sending you to college?

- Fred'’s only $40 a day plus gas.

- There he is, Joe.

- Here'’s your catfish. Vote for Boyce.

- Vote for Boyce. Gizzards up.

- Alicia, I got to hand it to you.

This is a great event.

- Oh, please, announcements are the easy part.

Anyone who can'’t do that

has no business going near a campaign.

- Uh, you do know

that we were kind of running the campaign before?

- Yes.

- Oh, all right.

- You see, Lolli, the key to an event like this

is to stack the crowd with friendlies

and promise them free food,

but--and this is the key part--

you don'’t feed them till after the announcement.

- Well, I'’m glad you learned from my mistake.

- Well, you made a lot of '’em.

- You'’re welcome.

- Hey, Lolli. Tay Tay'’s busy.

Can you come help get these ribs out?

- Who waiting on red pop?

- Wings up. Brisket up!

- Come on, Tay Tay'’s in the weeds.

- Oh, no, that'’s not really my thing.

- Oh, girl, you in it now.

- I got wings.

- I got pulled pork and collards.

- I'’ve got some kind of meat.

♪

[soul music]

♪

- ♪ The soul man

♪ Hey