Original subtitles

(film reel clicking)

- [Man] Yeah, bruh.

Get over here, man.

- [Man] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- [Man] Man.

- [Man] Yo get his legs, that's the foundation.

(man shouts)

(laughing)

- Yo, why was you at the house last night, dog?

- [Man] Man, I don't even know you, man.

- Talk, talk. - What's your name, man?

- Talk.

- [Man] I aint no snitch, boy.

I don't know what you're talking about.

- Hey yo, code green leprechaun.

Let's get it.

Huh, huh?

(overlapping chatter)

(bell tolls)

- There's a time for everything.

A season for every activity under the sun.

There's a time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to uproot.

A time to kill.

A time to heal.

A time to tear down.

A time to build up.

Time to weep.

Time to laugh.

A time to mourn.

A time to dance.

Brothers and sisters, today.

Is a day to mourn.

We mourn today for our beloved brother Michael Washington.

The earthly ties that bind us together

have forever been severed.

It can never be restored.

(sobbing)

Michael has ascended.

Amen.

I want to tell you something.

As the pastor of Mount Zion Church

to do funerals.

- [Woman] Yes.

- And I can tell you, brothers and sisters,

that I have done many many funerals.

But today, this funeral,

this funeral for Michael is personal.

It touches me here.

- [Woman] Amen.

- You see, I've known Michael since he was a little boy.

I saw his ultrasound.

Probably before anybody else, other than the family.

Aretha came, she was happy, she just showed it off.

I want to tell you something.

It gave me great joy to know this boy.

He was probably one of the most behaved children

that have ever come into my congregation.

(crowd agreeing)

- Yes, he was.

Yeah.

You said it.

You say it.

- In this church! - Yes, sir.

- Him and his brother,

were tight, they were close.

I never had to, Michael come here and sit down.

Uh uh, not Michael.

'cause Michael was good.

That was a good boy.

Now, Sister Aretha

I know you wanted a quiet service

but your baby boy, Jerome, has got something to say

and I think we should indulge him.

Brother Jerome?

Take the floor.

- Come on, J, you got this.

You good.

- We're with you. - You aight.

- Take your time son, take your time.

- Um, hi y'all.

I'm Jerome.

- Hi, Jerome. - It's all right, baby.

- Most of y'all knew me already but

aint know my brother Michael.

He aint been around the church in awhile

and I know y'all haven't seen me there in awhile neither.

I don't know what happened to him.

Not just that day in the streets

but months and months before, too.

Michael and me, we've been drifting.

- It's all right baby. - I aint gonna deny it.

- God's got you. - Go on, talk about it.

Talk about it. - Go ahead.

- But my brother was a believer.

Just like me and my momma.

It doesn't matter how long its been since I talked to her

and Michael Washington, he believed that there

was something more and I pray deep down in my soul

that that's where he is.

- It's gonna be all right. - And now we're all

left here to pick up the pieces.

But I'm gonna take care of my momma and Keesha

and if y'all could watch their backs out here, too.

- Don't worry about it. - We're here for you.

Yes, we're here for it.

- I know Michael will, too.

(overlapping talk in crowd)

(soft reflective music)

- It's gonna be all right.

Bless him, lord, bless him.

- [Woman] It's all right, baby.

Its gonna be all right.

- And Jerome, yes, we will always take care of you

and your mother and your family.

We will hold you close in our hearts forever.

Yes we will.

But now Michael's wife, his widow,

would like a few words to say.

Before she comes, let's pray.

Soul of Jesus.

- [All] Sanctify me.

- [Pastor] Body of Jesus.

- [All] Save me.

- Keesha.

- Jerome.

(shushes)

- [Pastor] Blood of Christ.

- [All] Strengthen me.

- I know you lie.

- Water from the side of Jesus.

- [All] Watch me.

- Passion of Jesus.

- [All] Strengthen me.

- Oh Jesus, hear me lord.

- [All] Hear me.

- Amen. - Amen.

- Amen. - Amen.

- Amen.

Amen. - Amen.

- Sister Keesha, please, we open ourselves up

to your words.

- Thank you, Pastor Rodney.

- You're welcome.

- Good morning, everyone.

- Good morning. - We love you Keesha.

- Yes, yes.

Yeah.

- And I love you, too.

I love all of you.

And you know I want to thank y'all

for all coming here for me, Jerome, and Aretha.

It means the world to us.

But I got to keep it real, y'all,

this is not the hardest day for me out of this whole thing.

Like Michael was fading away, he was getting distant.

You know but then the night

that whenever he didn't come home

and then the next night and then the next night,

that was a secret I held on for so long.

It was the hardest.

- Didn't tell us for two weeks that Michael was missing.

What kind of woman--

- Mama.

We don't know what it was like.

- No, we don't.

Because she didn't tell us.

- [Keesha] But that's why the day his body

was found in the street was such a relief.

- I'm sorry, what she saying?

(crowd grumbling)

- What?

- Like yeah like, see I don't want to remember

an idea we're all making up here.

I want us all to know the truth.

Michael didn't hit me or nothing like that.

I'm not finna say that.

But he wasn't no husband.

I mean, he wasn't a bad man but I mean

he wasn't no good one.

(crowd grumbling)

You know what I'm saying?

- [Man] I'll take care of you, Keesha.

(crowd grumbling)

- [Man] Did she really say that?

- [Keesha] But I know y'all wasn't expecting this.

- Did she really say that?

- Honestly, I didn't know if I was gonna even come up here

but I always keep it 100 and I'm not about to change today.

- That no good little.

- A lot of y'all are sad today remember what y'all

are thinking that Michael was in your head.

- [Man] She got, I know the heifer didn't say that.

- But I'm also glad that it's finally over.

(crowd grumbling)

- [Man] She got, I know the heifer didn't say that.

(crowd grumbling)

- [Woman] What?

Girl.

Wait a minute (shushes) let me hear, let me hear.

- That's all I got to say, though.

- [Man] That heifer said that?

(crowd grumbling)

- We gonna pray, we gonna have to leave now.

The ushers have prepared some refreshments

for us downstairs. - She's a hot one.

- Please the join the family with fellowship

and repass right after this.

- You know what I mean, bro?

I feel like we were right on the brink

of solving the code man, we're like right there.

Hey, how y'all doing, how y'all doing?

- Thank you so much for coming.

Thank you so much.

- Hey man, you almost cracked the code, bro.

I'm telling you, man, you know what I'm saying,

like you know, I like to say,

life is like a Rubik's Cube, bro.

You just got to have the right--

- Algorithm, right?

Right, algorithm. - You know what I mean?

Just find the, find the, find the rhythm.

The alger.

- The algorithm.

- The algorithm baby, come on now.

You know what to do.

- Yeah but this girl, Keesha, man,

it's like, we'll talk about one thing

and then, she'll just do the complete opposite, bro.

Like Kevin, I don't think you get it, bro.

Like, we'll agree on one thing and then she wants

to do her own thing.

- Facts, that's facts, that's facts.

But you got it, though.

You a smart, you know what I mean,

so it's only a matter of time before,

you know, crack the code and do what you got to do

but you know what I'm saying,

just keep your foundation intact

and you can't--

- Yeah but Keesha acts like she don't know

how to know say, man.

Yo, so when should I even talk to her like

'cause I aint feeling it today, man.

- No, no I think she over there right now.

You might just want to holler at her right now, bro.

But you already know what to do, bro.

You know what to lock in.

I mean there's no time like the present.

The present is the gift.

Its around Kwanza time, you know what I'm saying,

so its time to go.

- You're saying handle it right now?

- I think you should for real go.

- Find the algorithm right now?

- Let's get it, let's get it, bro.

You got that.

You got that.

My man, no doubt.

All right, all right, all right.

- [Keesha] Girl, Jerome won't even look at me now.

- Listen, Keesha, this was your truth.

If that's how you was feeling,

then that's what it is.

- Keesha, you aint tell me you were gonna say none of that.

Come on, girl, just in my mama's face?

- Jerome, calm the hell down.

- Brianna, you aint a part of this.

- I'm just saying, you always so hysterical and crazy.

It aint that serious, chill out.

- I aint asking if you just saying.

We friends and right now I'm talking to family.

So I'ma need you to step.

- [Brianna] Excuse me, step?

- Okay, okay, okay y'all.

- Aint nobody stepping nowhere.

Make me step.

- I'm gonna just see you tonight, all right.

- You aint gonna do nothing, Jerome.

You aint about that life.

- I'm gonna see you tonight, girl, aight.

- Yeah, we gonna see tonight.

I'm gonna see you tonight.

We gonna see. - I'm gonna see you tonight.

Look, chill.

- Yo, Keesha that was--

- You know I got to say what I feel.

That's the way I've always been.

I aint got to lie to nobody.

- Keesha you don't got to lie.

You just got to keep your mouth shut.

- Excuse me?

Who are you telling to keep they mouth shut?

- I'm just saying, Keesha,

you don't got to put words in my mouth

or my mama's.

This whole thing got me so confused.

I don't know how I'm feeling or nothing.

- Jerome, he just stopped talking

and then you know he was working down at that gas station,

coming home with $50 in scratch tickets

smelling like liquor, smelling like weed

and all that shit like that

hanging out with them shady characters.

- Nah, Jerome was gonna start that foundation.

Boy him and me talked about since we was little.

- Yeah, yeah okay yes swimming, basketball, homework,

yeah I heard this speech before and that's all it ever was.

- He told me took out a loan.

He got cleared for some money

and that he was gonna start stuff up.

For real this time.

- Uh I thought you two wasn't talking, though?

- Not much but he called me all excited

and I thought things were gonna start being different

this time but then this dude disappears again.

I don't get it, Keesha.

I just don't get it.

- You know he was, J,

he talked and talked and talked

but when he woke up the next morning

he didn't remember shit.

It wasn't you, it was him.

- Well what about that money?

You got to know about that, too, though.

- Man, look, I don't know nothing about no loan.

Maybe he said something when he was drunk

or something like that.

In fact, he got it from one

of them people at the gas station.

I don't know, I don't know who he's been talking

to lately, seriously.

- Jerome.

A word.

- Oh my god.

- Mama--

- She talking more junk?

- Nah, mama.

She's hurting too, its complicated.

- Yeah that's what I've been telling everyone inside.

Lord help me, I think they believe it.

- And you don't?

- She can think what she thinks

but that little girl needs to grow up

and realize that today is not at all about her.

- She knows that.

- I don't think so, Jerome.

- Mama, why you always gotta be like this?

- Me?

- You know how Michael was getting.

- I know my boy.

He was lost but he was finding his way back.

- She knows that, too.

Just give her time.

She fronting 'cause she's scared.

- I don't want her in my house, Jerome.

- Mama.

- I'm not done.

But I will have her there

because I don't want people talking.

Aint nothing worse than people talking.

- She don't got nobody right now just us.

She'll come around.

I'll talk to her.

- You better knock some sense into her, Jerome.

(tense hip hop) (Keesha laughing)

- Oh baby.

God damn.

What the fuck?

What's wrong with you, now?

What's wrong now?

- Keesha, we can't do this.

- Why?

Like what's wrong with you?

Like come on, we down here.

- No, no I can't.

I can't right now.

- Why?

- 'cause, it's wrong.

- What's wrong about it?

Let them you hear scream.

Baby, I want them to hear us.

- What?

- Like, I don't understand what's going on with you.

- I can't, I can't be doing this right now.

It's not right, Keesha.

- What's not right about it?

- Everything.

- Everything?

Like we've been doing it for this long.

Like I can't believe you doing this right now.

Like are you fucking kidding me?

- Will you keep your voice down?

- Who's gonna hear?

- Oh I don't know, everyone upstairs.

- So what?

- No. (metal clangs)

- Come on, baby.

- Knock knock.

- Yo, Kev, give us a second will ya?

- [Kevin] Yo, what y'all two banging in here?

- Hell nah. - She was getting emotional.

Wanted to talk and all that.

- Anyway, yo Aretha wanted to talk to you both, man.

Party's over, hasn't been going about 20 minutes

but she wants to talk to you both, man.

As for me, you already I got another business to handle,

I got a lot of meetings, you know what I'm saying,

I got people to say, you know what I'm saying,

I'm a man of many hats.

This is just one of them.

You know what I'm saying?

- Okay.

- I was telling you about that.

You remember?

Nah?

Anyway, I'm out, peace.

Oh, oh yeah your mom did say she really did want

to talk to you.

So y'all should probably go handle that.

Peace.

(soft tense hip hop)

- That was out of order

what she said. - I know.

I know, I'ma handle it.

(door shuts)

- Let me, you two got to talk.

Okay, I'm gonna leave you alone.

Just talk, talk.

- Keesha.

I've been thinking.

I know you're in pain

and you don't even know it

but I forgive you for the things you said today

because we are family and that's the most important thing.

- Thank you, Aretha.

You're family to me, too

and I don't regret marrying Michael.

He brought me to all of you.

It's time for us to start building something new.

I don't have much else to say right now

but I just want you to know that that's true.

- To Michael.

(soft R&B)

- To Michael.

Hey baby, I missed you.

(giggling)

(soft R&B)

(laughing)

(soft R&B)

- What you doing, Jerome?

(screaming)

- Mike what the?

Michael.

- What the hell?

Boy what is wrong with you?

- Michael, Michael, he was just...

- What?

- Over there.

- No he's not.

- But I just!

- There is nobody there.

He is not there. - But I just saw.

- He is dead, J.

He's dead.

- I know.

- He's not here.

He's never gonna be here again, J.

It's just me and you.

When you gonna tell people about us?

- Keesha.

There aint no us right now.

Look.

We both miss Michael, aight.

We've been messing around and it's been fun but.

- But what?

- But I don't know what tomorrow is.

I don't know what next week is or next month is.

I got to figure my stuff out.

- What's there to figure out?

Don't you like all of this?

- Keesha.

- Come on, J.

Just let me...

- No, no, no!

Not now.

- Oh, okay.

All right then, all right then,

well then you figure it the fuck out, all right?

You figure it out, then.

How bout that?

How bout that?

Figure that shit out.

(low tense music)

(objects clattering)

- Oh hell no.

What the fuck?

Yeah you better run.

- What is going on down here?

- Somebody was just up in here.

- What you mean?

- Somebody broke in, mama.

- Oh my god.

What they want?

- I don't know.

- I'm calling the police.

- Wait mama, don't call.

- What you talking 'bout?

- He dropped this.

I'ma take care of it, I got it.

- Child you done lost your mind.

- I got this, I'm gonna take care of it.

- Baby, you do not put yourself in harms way.

We call the police and let the police take care of this.

- Like they did last time?

- Oh come on now.

- Look, they ran off 'cause they were scared.

I got them.

- No, you best be safe.

Boy I got to catch my breath.

Give me a minute.

- What's up, J?

- Yo, Kevin, man, we got to meet up tomorrow, bro.

- Word? - Yo, some dude

just broke into my mama's house.

- What?

- Yo, trashing the place like he was looking

for something, man.

Yo I chased him up out of there but,

well he dropped something before he left.

- What?

- A receipt from Kbarr.

- Oh that's where I do karaoke on Tuesday.

- Yeah, yeah man that's the one.

Yo why don't you say you and me meet tomorrow

like around noon to see if we can figure out

who this guy was.

- Damn, J.

You a straight detective.

You know I'm in.

- Aight, man.

Tomorrow.

- Hey, man, J, I got to go though.

Man I got a girl on the side right now,

you know what I'm saying, shorty real,

you know what I'm saying, she ready,

you know what I'm saying?

I really got her in a good place

so I don't want to screw that thing up.

You know you only got a small little window of time

that you could really exercise.

You know what I'm saying?

I mean, I saw you downstairs.

I know you know what I'm saying.

You know what I'm saying?

- Word, bro.

- Word.

So I'ma gonna go tend to that situation real quick.

Aight?

Peace.

- Thanks, mama.

- You know I'm always looking out for you

but baby, you best be looking out for yourself.

(tense somber rap music)

- Girl, I just had a bomb pedicure.

I thought you was coming.

- Girl, I couldn't, girl.

I had too much on my mind.

- So anyway, how you feeling about everything?

- Girl you know dealing with this family is tricky right now

like for real, like there's too much going on.

- Girl, it's been tricky.

How you think its not gonna be tricky dealing with two,

three of the brothers?

- I'm sick of you girl like but for real,

like Aretha, his mom, she don't like me, dog.

I know she don't.

- Girl, don't worry about his mother.

You got it, it's okay.

- Yeah.

- So listen.

You know I've been wanting to you ask you

you know a little something.

- Oh lord, what is it?

I know how your questions be.

What?

- Who is bigger?

- Girl I'm not finna play with you with this.

Like really today?

Like this is not, this--

- Jerome or Michael.

Who is bigger? - I'm not gonna do this.

Like really?

- Listen, I done heard about Michael in these streets

but Jerome I aint heard nothing about him here or there.

(both chirp like birds)

- I'm not finna playing with you girl.

You got me acting crazy, look.

- You could tell me when to stop.

- I'm not finna play with you.

We not finna do this.

Like seriously, no, no, no.

I don't know. - this big?

- No.

- Cross your legs. - I'm not finna play with you.

- They already cross.

This big?

This big.

Oh my.

- I don't know, girl.

I'm sick of you.

- Tell me when to stop.

- I'm not playing.

Stop. - This big?

(laughing)

'Cause I'm trying to find out.

- Okay, look.

No, nah but for real

like dead ass though, Jerome was acting crazy

as hell last night.

Like he was acting real, like for real.

- What, what happened?

- Girl, we was doing our thing,

we were, you know, what I'm saying,

knocking, you know, knocking it down

and then, girl, all of a sudden,

dude say his brother name.

- What?

- Yes, like dead ass, said his brothers name.

Like, he was like.

(grunting)

Michael, I'm like what the fuck?

- What in the entire world?

- Like yes, girl, dead ass.

- Are you kidding me? - No.

Up on me, like, girl, like.

- I would of lost my damn mind.

- I'm like what like really like while we doing it

like you thinking about your brother.

- Get his ass up from me.

Uh uh.

- Yeah that's why I was like,

you gonna have to raise up, bruh.

- Wait. - Like yeah.

- He must have something on his mind

to be doing that foolishness.

You think he knows something? - guilty conscience.

I don't know.

No. - That's a little weird

to be saying your brother's name while you,

come on now.

- I don't know.

I don't think he knows.

- No?

- I don't think so.

Well.

- I don't know, that sounded a little funky like.

- I don't, girl, but he aint gonna let it go though.

No, no girl.

It was a little strange to me but I don't know.

You know what I'm saying?

- I mean have he text you?

- Nah, nah.

I don't know, girl, my phone been dead.

I aint even been worrying about it.

- Oh so you ghosted him?

- No I'm not.

I'm just--

- I think you need to cut that phone on

to find out what's going on with him.

- Girl I'm just letting him know who's in charge

and you know keeping him at arms length,

you know what I'm saying.

Just let him know who's in charge.

You know what?

- Arms length? - I'm not finna...

I'm tired of you with.

- I'm just saying.

I'm trying to figure it out

'cause you never really answered me.

- We sat down, first thing you talking 'bout is (laughing).

- Anyways.

Um, I heard they were having a sale up at the plaza

on shoes, you know, buy one get one

or is it two for one kind of like Jerome and Michael

buy two get one free type thing?

- Shut up, you!

You know what?

I'm sick of you saying that.

I can't tell you shit.

- So let's go up there and check it out.

- Yeah right, okay.

Yeah, let's go.

- Jerome, Michael.

(overlapping talking)

- Okay okay so you trying to be like me.

(soft instrumental music)

- Sister Aretha.

- Pastor Rodney.

- Beautiful day, isn't it?

- The day the lord has made.

- Amen.

- Please, come on in.

- Don't mind if I do.

How you holding up?

- Well.

- Spring cleaning?

- Some of Michael's clothing.

Keesha brought them by to see if there was anything

that I needed to keep.

- And is there?

- His jersey.

First communion cross.

But I'm gonna let you bring these things back to the church.

Better to bless those in need.

- It's always better to share your love with others.

- Even if you have a broken heart?

- The lord saves those with a broken heart

and he saves those who are crushed in the spirit.

- Psalms 33.

- 34 but you were real close.

- Can I get you anything?

Coffee, tea?

- Coffee.

Black.

- I know how you like it.

- I know you do.

- Jerome, you better say good afternoon to the pastor.

- Afternoon, Pastor Rodney.

- Good afternoon, Jerome.

- And you think you gonna run out of this house

without kissing your mama?

- I'm not a kid, ma.

I'm a grown ass man and I got stuff to do.

- Boy, you better not be sassing me.

I brought you into this world

and lord knows I will bring you up out of it

faster than the white man run up out of the North End.

Now give me a kiss.

- Mama.

- Jerome.

- Jerome, Jerome, now you know your mama

is one of the most stubborn women in this whole county,

probably the whole state.

- And proud of it.

- Let me give you some advice.

A pastor to man, pastor to man.

Do what your mama tell you to do

and you'll wake up tomorrow morning.

- Michael didn't.

- Jerome!

Now you know that wasn't even necessary, man.

- I got to go.

- Jerome!

- He's so angry.

- I know.

- All the time.

- It's to be expected.

- But Rodney, I'm angry, too.

I'm angry, too.

- Aretha, you have every right to be angry.

- Every morning I wake up and ask god

why my Michael had to be taken away,

why my little boy had to go.

- Aretha--

- But God doesn't answer me, Rodney.

He doesn't answer me.

- Aretha, the lord works in mysterious ways.

- Well the least he could do is give me a clue.

- Thank you so much.

Thank you. - You're welcome.

- Oh no.

Uh, no.

That's bad, that's bad, Aretha.

That's horrible.

- You're a handful, Rodney.

- As bad as I was back when we was in school?

- Worse.

(laughing)

- Aretha, let me ask you something.

I'm serious now, okay.

Are you starting to lose your faith?

- No, I don't, I don't think so.

- That's good cause if you were--

- I believe in God.

- I know you do.

- It's just sometimes I don't think he believes in me.

- What do you mean, why?

- I have gone to church every Sunday

since I was a little girl.

The little girl in braids up front at the balcony.

I have gone every Sunday, Rodney.

Lord knows I'm devoted, honest, loyal.

- Strong.

- And then my children,

my community, I have given everything that I have

to give to the Lord and his glory

and when the man that I thought shared my values

and beliefs, he took a trip down to the gas station

and never came back.

I thought God was punishing me.

- Why?

(somber piano music)

- I thought something was wrong with me.

- You never told me that, Aretha.

- I never told anybody.

I thought there was something wrong with me,

that I wasn't good enough.

So I prayed and prayed and prayed

and asked God for guidance and direction,

that he would protect my sons from turning out to be

like their daddy was.

- And he did, Aretha.

- Did he, Rodney?

- Yes.

- Because my first baby boy was found dead in the street

two weeks ago and my house was broken into by that man.

- This house?

Broken into last night?

- Round about 12 midnight.

I came downstairs for a glass of water

and there was some commotion going on down here.

- Did y'all call the cops?

- Jerome grabbed a bat and chased whomever it was

up out of here.

- A bat, a baseball bat?

- I know there has to be a connection to Michael.

- Why you say that?

- Because all the nonsense he was going to.

He was so secretive.

- Secrets, what secrets, Aretha?

- I just didn't recognize him anymore.

I don't even know who he is

but I pray Jerome does not go down that path.

- Aretha, Aretha.

Listen to me.

Jerome is a good man.

He's pure at heart.

- Good men do bad things, Rodney.

- Aretha, listen to me.

Look at me, Aretha.

Forgiveness, forgiveness.

- Forgiveness.

(somber piano music)

I'ma take this nasty coffee up out of here.

- You gonna make some more though, right?

- I'm not talking to you, Rodney.

- Make some, just change the filter.

All you got to do is change the filter and add some water.

- There's only so much a mother can do.

- I understand, Aretha.

I really do.

- When was the last time Jerome was up at the church?

- Sunday.

- What do you mean?

- He was there Sunday.

- He hasn't been to service with me

since he and Michael were both teenagers.

- I didn't say anything about service, Aretha.

Listen, see.

At the church, you know we going through the hard times,

you know, we're short staffed, collections are low.

So a lot of things we have to do ourself, okay,

so I'm there, you know, every Sunday I'm always there late.

There was one Sunday about a year ago,

I was coming out of my study

and I walk into the sanctuary and there he was.

- Pastor.

- Jerome was sitting right there in the pew.

He was praying

and I walked up to him and it sounded like he was trying

to find himself.

- Jerome?

- Yes Jerome.

So I just stood there.

I stood there with him

and then he asked me, he said, he said

Pastor is there anything that I can do,

anyway that I can serve the lord?

And so we talked for a little bit

and we prayed and he's been coming back to this church

every Sunday after service.

He maintains things that need to be maintained.

He fixes things so that they don't break.

Aretha, the boy is here every Sunday.

- Rodney, why haven't you told me this?

- Aretha...

You know each man has to navigate these waters for himself

just like each woman has to.

But look here, let me tell you something.

I'll keep an eye out for him, Aretha.

I promise you.

- Thank you, pastor.

- Everybody needs somebody to look out for 'em.

Hey, even you.

(reflective piano music)

- Bless you, pastor.

- Well look here, I better go.

- Have a good day.

- Yes, I will.

- You be well.

- I'll have somebody over to get it.

Don't you try to bring it down.

I'll send somebody over here. - It won't go anywhere.

- [Pastor] All right, take care now.

- Jerome.

My baby.

(upbeat rap music)

- What's good man?

Yo, Kev, you got to slow down, man.

(mumbling)

I'm guessing you want to try that one more time.

- I said, this food is damn good, bro.

Shoot.

Yo, you late by the way, what's up?

- Man, I didn't fall asleep till damn near sunrise, dog.

Still hyped from chasing home out of there with a bat, dog.

- Hell yeah, grand slam, pop his ass.

- Word, man.

Mama couldn't fall asleep after that,

so you know who had to stay up with her.

- Damn, man.

That's crazy, man.

Miss W don't deserve that, man.

After all she been through, man.

Shoot.

- Yo, that's why we out here, bro.

That's why we out here.

- Facts, bro.

This is like some top tier investigatory status,

you know what I mean?

- Feel me.

- Word life, bro.

This is like some real life investigatory

obligatory status, ya mean?

Word.

- Exactly, bro.

- Wait, wait, wait.

But hold up, before we go too far,

did you get to see his face?

You saw his characteristics,

like what's up, bro?

- Yo matter of fact, I did get my eye on him

for a couple seconds, yo.

Shit, he was kinda tall, I'll give him that.

Yo, homie was wearing a MAGA hat, bro.

- A MAGA hat?

What?

- Yo, I'm saying.

- Can I get you anything else?

- Hey, uh, do you free refills on the sodas?

- Yeah.

- All right, I'll take another Dr. Pepper, then.

Hey Rome, you sure you don't want anything, bro?

- I'm good.

- I mean, come on, bro.

They got some jalapeno peppers here.

It's crazy.

- Nah, I said I'm good, dog.

- No man, come man, they got these mozzarella sticks here,

they so good, bro.

Six for the three, bro.

You can't beat that, man.

- We're out of mozzarella sticks.

- Wait you out of what?

- We ran out last night.

- How you gonna sit me here at this table

and not tell me that you're out of mozzarella sticks?

- Don't get no attitude with me.

- Girl, how old is you, 19 20?

- 29.

- 29.

How you 29 you don't know how to have no mozzarella sticks

at the table, girl?

This is a crazy madness blasphemy of a,

dude comes up in here just looking for a simple meal.

- Excuse me, Kev, Kev, chill out.

I'll take a Dr. Pepper, too, thank you.

- Man, yo.

Hey you the nerve on that girl, bro.

- Yo, Kevin, this is serious, aight.

Yo, whoever trashed my momma's place probably work here, yo

or he mop around this mother.

But anyway, yo, so just play it nice with the waitress.

I know she fine, brother.

Just chill, you know, I'm trying to get some info from her,

feel me?

- Aight, no doubt, aight Jerome.

I feel, I feel.

Word, word, word.

No doubt, no doubt.

Hey yo, so what's up with you and Keesha by the way?

- I don't know what you're talking about, man.

- I mean, nah I mean, like I know y'all too

was messing around and I wasn't sure if it was still a--

(shushing)

- Yo, come on, dog.

You got to keep your voice down with that.

- Hey, bro, hey hey.

I mean, I know you know it's been what like,

like five, six hours since I got,

man you know I know what them eyes look like, bro.

- Yo, I guess I got an idea that

I guess I aint know you knew.

- I didn't but now I do.

I got you.

Yo, so that was y'all messing around

in the basement afterwards, yesterday?

- Yo, Kev, I don't know what's happening between me

and Keesha, man.

- Damn. - For real, yo.

- Yo man, I mean damn like,

we just buried Michael, bro.

- Yo Kev, come on with that.

- Come on, three hours after we put him in the ground, bro.

- Yo, what do you want from me, dog, for real?

What do you want?

- Yo, you lucky I'm your best friend, man.

Most people wouldn't get you like this, man.

- Yo listen, man.

I feel terrible about it.

I feel guilty.

Since the start I've been feeling guilty, all right?

Yo but one, Michael was gone,

two shorty was kind of lonely man.

- And three? - I don't know>

guess I might of just--

- Wanted that booty?

(laughing)

No doubt.

Hey, what's up, girl?

Aight, right back at ya then.

(laughs)

- Yo, Kev, look this whole thing is a mess right now, yo.

She wants to start telling people about us,

she wants it to be the real deal, dog

but I don't even know where my heads at right now, man.

- I know where one of your heads is at.

(laughing)

- Yo, all I know is I got to figure out

who was in my mama's house last night.

That's the one thing that I can control out here

right now, bro.

Maybe if I do that, I don't know,

I'll figure out what stuff Michael was into.

Why he disappeared, word.

- MAGA hat?

- Yo, he was wearing a MAGA hat, I told you.

- No MAGA hat right there.

- Yo, no way, son.

- Bro, hey you we like Sherlock and Holmes, bro.

- Nah, nah.

Like you sure that's him, yo?

- Yo, I mean I don't know how many brothers you know

walking around with a damn MAGA hat

but I feel like I'm looking at a unicorn right now, bro.

- Yo, yo.

Nah, that's.

- Hi there, how you doing?

- Hey, good, how you doing?

- All right, thanks for the grub.

- You're welcome, Eugene.

- Grub always looking good and smelling good just like you.

Always got that good thing going on.

A little money for you.

- You serious?

- Yeah, its real, hold it up.

See the watermark.

- Oh, but why?

Hold on now, you must of hit the lotto or something.

You normally don't be giving me tips like this.

You gonna--

- No I don't hit the lotto.

I got a couple good things going on right now.

Positive vibes, hopefully you're gonna spread

the love a little bit.

- Yo, Jerome, your mom missing any money?

- Nah but yo that's definitely the guy, yo.

Somethings up for real.

- Okay.

- Positive vibes flowing, you know.

- Okay, I see, I see.

- Spread it out a little bit for you.

What you doing tonight?

- I don't know.

Working.

(mumbling)

Wait a minute, what's your motive now?

You trying to get something?

'cause that's not happening, Eugene.

You gonna have to give me a lot more than this

to get some of this.

- Okay, well I got more where that's coming from

so after seven o'clock come down to Village Pizza,

I'm playing pool, come see me.

- Look, Eugene, I am not sleeping with you.

That's not happening, I'm sorry.

No, nah nah.

I don't think its gonna happen.

We gonna have to talk a little bit more,

more than that, okay?

- You know its going for 40 nowadays,

so I got another 40 for you.

- I'm not playing you today, Eugene.

Bye, take care.

- Yo, you heard that? - Yeah.

- So what you thinking?

- Man I got something I got to take care of right now

but what you doing around seven?

- You already know, let's get it, bro.

(shouting)

- See shorty was looking, so I let you win.

- Yeah, aight.

(soft upbeat rap music)

- [Aretha Voiceover] You do not put yourself in harms way.

We call the police and let the police take care of this.

- [Jerome Voiceover] Like they did last time?

- [Aretha Voiceover] You best be looking out for yourself.

(tense music)

- Oh my god.

- Hey yo, Keesha, why you aint be answering my calls, girl?

- I've been busy, J, what's up?

- Yeah my mama's house got broken into last night.

- What you mean, what they wanted?

- Yo, that's what I've been trying to figure out all day.

I just met up with Kevin trying to find dude.

- What you've been going around looking for these dudes?

You tripping, like tripping.

Yeah, you is.

- Yo, that's my house, my family, too.

- Yo, aint nobody doing this to my mama,

you hear me?

- Oh okay, well look.

You've been wilding ever since your brother died,

you've been losing your mind, you've been tripping.

Like I don't even know what's going on with you.

Look, you know this not like you, though.

You know that's not you.

- Nah, nah.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. - Oh no.

Okay, okay, I see.

You losing your mind, for real, you really bugging.

Like seriously, like I don't know what's going

on with you but don't go start digging in stuff,

like seriously, like don't go digging.

Don't go digging.

- What's up, Jerome?

What's up?

- Nothing.

- I heard this whole little Michael situation

is messing with your head

but I'm telling you you better chill out.

You not the same as him.

- What you mean I aint like him?

- What I said.

You aint the same as him.

You don't want no smoke.

You don't know them dudes and who they rolling with, Jerome.

- Word, facts. - Everybody, what?

Everybody been saying that but,

I don't know, I aint never meet none of 'em.

- Huh, well you said at the funeral

that he was turning to a ghost lately.

You know what I'm saying, I mean you said it.

You know what I'm saying?

So what's up?

- Hey what you two been up to today anyway?

Why nobody answering my calls?

- Chill out.

We was just having a girl's day out, that's all.

- Yeah, baby.

You know this stuff been messing with my head, too.

You know I just had to unplug, you know,

get my mind right and everything.

You know what I'm saying?

You already know.

- I feel that.

Aight.

- Yeah but, you know.

You know my number one, though.

You know that.

(laughing)

what?

Come on, she knows.

Come on. - You told her?

- She knows. - We don't keep

stuff like that from each, Jerome.

Chill out.

- Keesha, come on.

- Listen, your secret is safe with me.

You know I can keep a secret.

- Aight.

- You know what I'm saying, we gonna keep this going

and you gonna have to text me later or something.

All right?

- All right, I'll text you.

- Aight, I'ma see you outside.

- Yeah, I'ma see you outside.

Yo, Jerome, I'm not gonna keep telling you.

Keep your hands off Keesha.

I see you push up on her all that,

don't be disrespectful.

You need to chill out.

I know you got a lot of stuff going on

but that aint my problem

but you gonna be my problem, all right?

Don't be pushing her.

You might do that with your other broads

but not Keesha.

You not gonna disrespect Keesha

and I'm not gonna keep telling you.

Word.

- [Man] Let's go, y'all gotta bounce.

- Word, Jerome. - Yeah right, Brianna.

It's got nothing to do with you.

- It got all to do with me.

Everything to do with me. - Hey yo, just step, aight?

- Don't mess with Keesha.

You mess with Keesha you messing with me.

- [Jerome] Yeah, aight.

- Its serious over here, man.

- That's crazy.

- I don't (mumbling).

Do it to my presence like that.

Yeah. - It's crazy, man.

That's right.

- Come on, brother, you got to get outside.

- Aight, aight, aight.

Damn. - Let's go.

- Yo, Kevin, man.

Plan's still on.

Yeah, aight.

(soft reflective music)

- [Both] Happy mother's day.

- Oh you boys.

- We love you momma, right, Mikey?

- Yeah, we love you, mom.

- What did I do to deserve such good boys?

- You're the only girl we need, right Mikey?

- Yeah, you're the only girl we need.

- Oh really?

- We got you something.

- Yeah, we thought we needed a place to make memories.

- Did you do all of this by yourselves?

- [Both] Well.

- We got some help from Pastor Rodney.

- Is that so?

- Yeah, he's a really good man.

- Like.

- [Both] Really good.

- Pastor Rodney.

Pastor Rodney Rodney Rodney.

Well, why don't we see how this works?

- Okay, mom.

Mama, let me show you how it works.

- Okay, come on, let me see.

Oh my goodness.

- Move it down some.

- Okay, hold on. - Tell Jerome

to move over, mom. - Okay stop it, now.

- Mikey, stop. - I can't even get

in the picture.

- Hold it right here.

Okay, on three.

One, two, three.

- [All] Cheese.

(soft reflective music)

- Jerome, it's your mama.

I just called to let you know that I'm thinking about you.

I care for you, baby.

I love you and am happy with the man that you are.

No matter where we are, just know,

we will always be together.

If you need me, you want to talk, I'll be here.

Always.

Always.

- Yo where is this dude Kevin at?

Come on.

If I tell him three he'll be here like 5:30.

(sighs)

- Boo!

- Yo.

(laughing)

Come on, man.

You can't be doing that, son.

- Yo, I got you that time, bro.

You gotta give it to me, man. Come on.

- Yeah yeah, you got me.

- Bro word, huh?

- Yeah you need to chill out with that.

- Geeze, all right boss man.

I just wanted to know what the algorithm is, bro.

What's the moves, man?

- Bringing that bruh.

Yo, we about to get up here,

we about to get up in here, aight?

Yo, we gonna find this Eugene,

get up in his face a little bit

and figure out what the hell he was doing here last night.

- For show.

- Feel me?

- For show, bro.

- Dang, man.

Yo, honestly, dog.

I don't really care to leave until dude

tells us what he was doing there last night, you feel me?

- Let's get it, baby.

- Word, yo.

- Nah I mean.

Hey, good cop, bad cop?

- Bad cop bad cop.

(cheers)

(tense music)

Where the hell you get that Rubik's Cube anyway?

- [Kevin] Hey man, you already know.

ABP, always be packing.

- Yo you packed with, you packed with a cube, Kev?

- You know how I do.

Let's handle this biz, real quick, bro.

- Yeah right, well show me the algorithm now.

- We got it.

We got a lot of rhythm, you know what I'm saying?

(cheers)

- Yo, you ever talk to that Spanish chick?

- Yeah, of course, bro.

You already know.

I had to show her the algorithm.

- Yeah right, right. - See that tells you.

I said life was like a Rubik's Cube, baby.

(soft upbeat electronic music)

- Yeah, I know she coming tonight.

I got that--

- Hey yo, bro.

Hey yo, Kev, he aint too smooth now, is he?

- Looks like your eight ball just hit the corner pocket

prematurely, bro.

- What? - Let's get him.

- Yeah, bruh.

Get over here, man.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yo, get his legs.

That's the foundation.

(groaning)

Yeah, bruh.

- Hey yo, why you was at my mama's house last night, dog?

- I wasn't near your mother house.

I don't even know you, man.

- Talk. - Hell you don't.

Hell you don't. - You wearing the same hat

that you had in my mother house last night.

- That's right.

- You wearing the same hat that you had

on in my mother's house last night, bruh.

Talking that Kbarr there's money coming you into, dog.

You stealing from me, stealing from my family, yo?

What's your name, man?

- Talk, talk. - What's your name, man?

- Man, Eugene, boy. - Eugene, bro what?

You could have last chose like Reginald

or Quincy, bro.

Yo man, what is this 1928?

- Yo, this dude a war vet?

- 1928 ass name. - My mother gave

me that name.

(overlapping talking)

- That's the revolutionaries name, bro.

Come on, now. - My grandmother

gave me that name, boy.

- Your grandmother gave you that name, man.

- [Kevin] Industrial revolution ass name, bro.

Come on, now.

- Yeah, right.

What you got a cotton gin, Eugene?

Yeah, right.

Yo, so if you aint steal from me

why you was in my mama house then, huh?

- I aint no snitch, boy.

I don't know what you're talking about.

- Hey yo, code green leprechaun.

Lets get it, lets get it, lets get it.

(overlapping talking)

- You know Mike.

You better talk.

- Yeah, how you like that?

How you like that, huh?

- Kev Kev Kev Kev Kev.

Is that the new stapler?

- Oh yeah, they got this from the bar.

You already know, they had nice one.

If you nice to the bartender

they'll good for you.

You know, that's just like a human virtue,

the golden rule, you know what I'm saying?

- Why you got a stapler, though?

- You know what I'm saying, bro?

(overlapping talking)

- So you brought a poster though, too?

He's lying. - You already now, bro.

They had it by the bar out there.

You already know.

Touch it, touch it real quick, bro.

I talked to the bartender real quick,

spiced her up real quick, you know what I'm saying,

slid my number real quick,

she had the stapler, you know what I'm saying,

she got another one we can get you in a second,

you know what I'm saying,

but you know you do good to people

people gonna do good to you,

you know what I'm saying?

But APB is the bottom line, though.

You always wanna be packing.

You know what I'm saying?

It's like step number one is ABP,

always be packing.

You know what I'm saying?

Denzel style.

Y'all seen the movie, you know what I'm saying.

You got oh oh, I'ma oh.

(overlapping talking)

Young Bruce Lee in this.

Oh okay.

- Can we handle this real quick?

- Yeah, yeah.

(overlapping talking)

- Who are your sources, bro?

Come on now, get to talking.

- Boy you gotta talk?

Hey on five, yo.

- Yes, yes, yes, yes.

- Oh he talking, oh he talking.

- This dude got a stapler, boy.

Wow.

- So what's good?

Spill, Eugene.

- Oh I got 40 dollar girl coming later.

Y'all trying.

- All right, all right, all right.

- Yeah right. - All right.

- Talk to me, Eugene.

So if you aint steal from me

so who pays you to do what?

- Listen man. - Huh?

- All right, man, some chick named Brianna seen me, man,

she ran up on me, say yo would you like to make a stack?

I said, why not, hell yeah I'm trying to get paid.

So she gave me the money, told me to run up in the spot,

I just roughed it up a little bit.

I wasn't trying to hurt nobody, man,

I was just trying to get paid, man, that's it.

Threw a couple things around.

- Yo, you did not just say the name Brianna, bro.

- He said Brianna.

Yo, I told you she was no good, bro.

Can't believe this right here.

Can't believe this.

- Since that's out in the open.

When I was in the house I dropped my allergy medicine

in your house, I really need it.

Over by the pillows or something.

So if it's possible I could go back over there, man.

- What?

What?

- Hey yo, hold on, let me get it right, war vet.

Eugene, right? - Yeah.

- Yo, let me get this right, war vet boy.

- War vet!

- [Jerome] Yo, what you got a cotton gin

you about to bring, too, Eugene?

- What you got a printing press,

you about to spread a message?

You start a newspaper, boy?

Come on now.

How many recipes for peanuts you got?

- Yo, what you just say to me?

- When I was in your spot, I dropped my allergy medicine.

I really need my medicine.

So if it's possible I get, you could, somebody.

I really need my medicine.

- Louis Armstrong ass.

- [Jerome] You got the sniffles, huh?

You aint come up with an invention yet to fix that?

- Lewis Latimer.

- [Eugene] I just need the medicine.

- Yo, war vet, let me get this right, aight.

So Eugene, you want me to let you come back

to the crib that you just robbed, right?

- Come on now.

- Open the door.

- Yeah. - War vet.

- War vet, huh?

- Yo, and let a mug like you walk right

back in the front door?

I'ma let a dude with name like Eugene come in my crib again

with his cotton gin.

- That's not logic.

- [Jerome] To pull up and what, clean my carpet bruh?

- What? - What you got something

you need, is that what I heard?

- Benjamin Banneker ass.

- [Jerome] So you can just what, take what you need again?

- Yeah.

- Hey yo, Kev, get that stapler.

- Yo, yo, J J J J.

Chill, chill, chill.

Not the green leprechaun, bro.

Think about it, take your time, take a breath.

Know what I mean?

- Yo, Brianna, son.

Yo, I got to tell Keesha.

Yo, I'ma call you.

- Aight, aight.

Aight bro.

Aight, aight bro, aight.

- Yo, can I at least get my medicine?

I can't get my meds?

I really need, man y'all got me Takeshi 69ing out here, bro,

I can't even get my meds?

- [Man] That sounds like a personal problem.

- Bro.

Where'd you get that hat from, anyway?

- Keesha, I know you in, girl.

Come on.

Keesha.

(soft tense music)

Keesha, it's Jerome.

We got a real problem here.

You got to call me, okay.

I'm at your house right now but you're not here.

Call me, let me know where you're at.

Stay away from Brianna.

I think she might of done something to Michael.

Call me back.

Come on, Keesha.

(soft tense music)

- Wow.

You're nothing but consistent.

You all right, son?

You looked troubled.

- Don't I always?

- Depends on the night.

- I made a lot of mistakes, Pastor.

- They're part of the journey.

- And where does this journey lead to, Pastor?

- Let me tell you something.

When you were a little boy,

you and your brother used to run allover this church.

Wherever Michael was there was Jerome.

You all found places in this church

that we didn't even know existed.

Did you know that?

Can I tell you something, son?

A few Sundays before Michael disappeared,

a few weeks before Michael disappeared,

he was right here in this church.

- What? - Yeah,

sitting right over there.

We sat over there, we talked.

Yeah, he came before you usually showed up.

We had a nice long talk.

He told me had some regrets in his life.

How he regretted not being there for you and your mother

like he wanted to be

and how the lifestyle that he was living,

you know, made it difficult for him to reach to you all

and for you all to reach out to him.

It really bothered him.

You know what else he told me?

He said that he looked up to he, he admired you.

Yeah.

- Yeah right.

- That's true.

You know, many people thought that it was you

who looked up to him, you wanted to be like him.

But it was just the other way around.

Son, he really loved you.

- Pastor I got, I got to tell you.

- What, about Keesha?

Yeah, I knew about her.

I've always known about her.

- Did Michael know?

- No, Michael never knew.

- Wait, then how?

- How did I know?

Son listen, let me tell you something,

when you have dealt with the lord

the way that I have over all these past years

and when you've had to deal with people

the way that I've had to deal with people,

you learn a few things, a few things are revealed to you.

- Well, Pastor I know it's wrong.

- That may be true.

- But I feel like it's my fault he's gone.

- No, no, no that's definitely not true.

Michael loved you, that's a fact.

- Pastor, I don't even know how to--

- What, what son, what?

Jerome.

Jerome, what do you want to do?

What does your mother want you to do?

Son, I'm not trying to force you to do anything,

I would never do that.

I'm not gonna try and force you to be anything

or any way, think anyway

but I want you to be true to yourself.

Be true to your mother.

Because God sees everything.

Truth is the way of the light.

Son, look I got to get ready to go.

- You leaving?

- Yeah man, I got to go.

I got an appointment I got to keep.

You gonna be all right?

- Yeah.

- Now son, I'm here for you.

You got my cell number?

- Yeah. - I'm here for you.

All right, God bless you.

- You as well, Pastor.

- All right, let me hurry up.

- Keesha, I, listen, we have to talk.

- What up, J?

- Keesha, what are you doing here?

How did you get in here?

- You know I got a spare key.

- But it's after midnight.

- I got a clock, J, I know what time it is.

- Listen, Brianna--

- Yes, Jerome.

- Brianna, what are you doing here?

- Keesha brought me, we was looking for you.

- Yeah, baby.

Now what was you gonna say about Brianna?

- Keesha, we need to talk for a second.

- But we are talking.

- Alone.

- Oh baby, but you don't want to be rude to Brianna.

- Does my mama know you're--

- Course I do, baby.

These two ladies and I have been chatting.

- Chatting?

- Yeah baby, chatting.

- It's so late, mama.

- Well J, we worry about you.

- Yeah, J, we worried about you.

- They letting me know all of what you been getting into.

- Mama, what you mean?

- They been talking all about the craziness

you've been putting yourself through today

looking into Michael's business.

(somber music)

You need to take care of yourself.

He made his choice, Jerome.

- Yeah, J.

- They're letting me know they care about you.

Just like me.

Well, it's well past my bedtime.

I won't lie.

Y'all sure had me scared thinking y'all some intruders

when I came downstairs.

But I'm glad you two came.

If you need me, Jerome, I'll be right here.

- What's going on?

- What you mean?

- Keesha, I, Brianna, she the one.

She paid the guy to bust up in here.

- What, Jerome you sound crazy.

- Yeah, Jerome, what are you talking about?

- Really?

Because I know for a fact you was.

- You done lost your damn mind.

- Why the hell would you do this?

This don't make any damn sense.

- Come on, J.

You need to use your brain.

Don't be making accusations like that.

- Listen.

- You know something, J,

the strangest thing happened about an hour ago.

I got a message on my phone from your number

and a voice that sounded a lot like yours

saying that they didn't want to be with me no more.

Aint that funny, Jerome?

- Keesha, this aint the way.

- 'cause why would a man say no to me, you feel me?

- Keesha, what we've been doing, it's not right.

It's not right.

- You scared baby, I see it.

I feel it.

You've been acting different ever since Michael was found.

But I did this for us, for me and you.

- What you say?

- You don't got to be scared no more, baby.

- Nah, nah Keesha, you said something else, too.

- Nah, you hearing things.

- What you mean you did it all for us?

- So yeah, J, I got that voicemail

and you want to know what I did when I got it? '

I laughed and then I called Bri and she laughed with me

and you want to know why?

'Cause it was funny.

It's a joke, it had to be a joke

'cause if it wasn't a joke what kind of man

would call it off with a woman this good?

- Yeah, what kind of man gonna do that, Jerome?

- And that's why I laughed, J, 'cause I knew it was a joke

and if you wasn't joking you

better start reevaluating yourself

'cause I didn't put in all this work

for you to act like this is all for nothing.

- Keesha, what are you talking bout?

- Our future, J.

Me and you.

- Keesha, if you think there's a future between us

then you better start telling me the truth.

Spill.

- Oh okay.

Alright, baby.

Well here you go.

Maybe Bri did pay that MAGA wearing ass nigga

come rough up the house.

- Keesha, that's what I'm saying.

- But who's money do you think she used?

- What?

- You know that your loan that your brother had got?

- Yeah. - Well that wasn't no loan.

- What you talking about?

- Well, you know those scratch tickets

that he was getting at the gas station?

Well around Thanksgiving, one of them hit.

- Big ticket.

- And why the hell she knew all this?

- Well maybe if you listen, J,

you'll hear everything that you need to know.

(horn honking)

You call the cops?

- Keesha, you know I aint call no police,

I handle my own business.

- Bri, go outside and see what's up.

I want to make sure that don't nobody

interrupt me and my man.

- Aight, Keesha, I got you.

- Yeah you know what, as a matter of fact,

stay out there and keep watch.

I'll let you know whenever we done in here.

- Jerome, don't let a good thing go to waste, now.

- Like I said, J.

Michael wasn't no husband, not no real one anyway.

But we have been doing this for what, three,

four months now?

- No!

- Oh I'll say about five.

I'll count the time me and you did in the car

at his birthday party.

- No, shut up shut up shut up.

- But now I have this money, this power, this freedom.

I told Michael not to tell nobody.

Figured he'd tell you, though.

- He said it was a small loan, a few grand.

- Really?

- What?

- It was a lot more than a few grand.

- How much was it, Keesha?

Keesha.

- Enough for a new life.

That's when I decided to make one.

- So what are you saying?

- Michael needed to disappear.

Everybody knew that he was dealing with them shady people.

It was easy.

- Don't you tell me.

- All those ropes and chains that Michael

had in his shed?

Well they in my basement now.

See, when I was a little girl,

I went to camp and I learned how to tie a lot of knots.

- No, no, no, no.

- Don't worry, J.

I fed him good for two months.

I let him watch TV and everything to keep him calm.

I aint that bad of a person, am I?

- And then you killed him?

- Killed him?

I don't like using words like that.

He had been dying on his own since I knew him.

I just put him to sleep.

Shot him up with some of that good stuff

that you get off Prospect

and then me and Bri drug his body

out into the street one night,

you know, then we paid that Eugene to come rough up

the house a little bit, you know,

to act like he owe somebody a little bit of money and stuff.

Like I said, it was easy.

- You little--

- Aretha, help!

See in about 30 seconds your mothers gonna come down here

and it's up to what she sees.

Did a spider scare me or did her last living son

put his fist through my face?

- She aint gonna believe none of that.

- Why don't you try to find out?

See your mother and me, we're friends now.

See, I'm a player, J, I knew how to play the game.

That's why you wanted me

and that's why you still want me.

(tense music)

So what they gonna believe?

That poor widow Keesha had her husband chained up

in the basement for two months

or that you just had him killed just so you can get some?

- Oh.

- I know what I believe.

- Mama.

- I heard it all son, I heard it all.

Come here.

- Oh mama, I'm so sorry.

I never meant to.

- I knew she was playing the second that redhead heifer

came up in here tonight.

- You saved me, mama.

- I told you she wasn't no good, Jerome, I told you.

(tense action music)

- Wait, what about Brianna?

- You rang?

- [Jerome] Kevin.

- Yo, Bri Bri was out here looking like she was up

to some business and I asked her what she was doing

out here, she reached for the pepper spray,

so I smacked her up real quick.

She's out in the parking lot right now, bro.

- Ha, my man.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

What the hell happened here?

Sorry, Ms. Washington.

- Yo, she killed Michael.

Yo, Michael hit it big in a lottery, nobody knew.

She kept him in the basement for months

and killed him for the money.

Wanted to start new with me.

- Crazy ho.

- What is going on down here?

- [Both] Pastor Rodney.

- Yeah, hey dude.

Hey, how doing?

- It's fine now.

- Pastor, you was in this house this whole time?

- He's a heavy sleeper, Jerome.

- Mama.

- Mrs. W.

- [Aretha] You two better fix your tongues, you hear?

- What's up?

- Oh hell no.

- Its cool, he's with me.

We talked more after you left the Y,

he's been doing security detail with me tonight

just because of all the trouble he's caused.

Matter of fact, he's the one who noticed Brianna

reach for her pepper spray.

- Yeah, I just want a second chance, man.

Can we make America great together?

Look man, you know, like allergies last time I was out here

dropped something, my medicine?

I'm just gonna go look for my medicine.

Y'all got bodies down here?

Hey man I watched that movie on the cable channel,

don't, I'm touching nothing but my medicine man.

- Come on, y'all we got to pray on that one.

- Yeah we can use a prayer.

We can definitely use a prayer.

- [Aretha] Hallelujah.

- Father in the name of Jesus, lord,

we thank you for saving us from the evil, lord.

Yes, lord. (overlapping praying)

We praise you know, lord.

- Thank you father.

(overlapping prayer)

- Thank you for our family.

Thank you for my Aretha.

Thank you lord in everything.

You gracious, in Jesus, lord.

Thank you for delivering us, lord,

from the mind of sin.

We here, lord, to give you praise and glory.

(overlapping praying)

My Aretha, lord.

I thank you for delivering them to me, now.

Thank you.

- My mama.

(funky bass line) (overlapping prayer)

- We say amen, we say amen again.

I just want y'all to say amen.

- [All] Amen.

- All right, now.

♪ Say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I said ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I said ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ Yo you can't lie to me ♪

♪ Got my primary source ♪

♪ What I'm speaking about ♪

♪ Is the funk of course ♪

♪ Other dope people in the place to be ♪

♪ Funky fresh ♪

♪ Dressed to impress ♪

♪ Ready to party ♪

♪ Come along over here with me ♪

♪ And if you dig the vibe ♪

♪ Let me hear you scream ♪

♪ Its the place to be ♪

♪ Now I know that you're alive with me ♪

♪ So ♪

♪ Let's go ♪

♪ Let's let's go ♪

♪ To a solid place with so much soul ♪

♪ Getting down is the only goal ♪

♪ Handle your biz ♪

♪ Out on the dance floor ♪

♪ Say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I said ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I said ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I'm on point ♪

♪ Swag on fleek ♪

♪ Man can't you see ♪

♪ I made the choice ♪

♪ Made the choice to be this funky ♪

♪ Its like style ♪

♪ Yes its on my mind all of the time ♪

♪ And I know when the groove is the room ♪

♪ Everything is all fine ♪

♪ You gotta get down ♪

♪ With your bad self ♪

♪ You can swing it to the big sound ♪

♪ No time to play ♪

♪ With no connect ♪

♪ When you step up ♪

♪ Want to make her say ♪

♪ Say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ Bridge ♪

♪ Say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ I say ah ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

♪ That's funk right there ♪

- Feel the spirit of the lord in this mother...

(laughing)