Original subtitles

Here it is --

four years after my mother's death,

and it seems as if everyone has moved on

except for me.

The reflections of my hurt and pain

have had a tendency to stagnate me.

It used to take me only a day or two to write a song,

but I've been picking this song up

and putting it back down going on about four years now.

Where did all my inspiration go?

Where are all the answers to the questions in my head?

Lord, I don't hear your voice anymore.

Have you left me, too?

Have you left me, too, Lord?

Have you left me, too?

-Man, it is hot as hell in here.

It don't make no sense.

You know I was downtown.

I think I seen Harriet Tubman catching a cab.

-You got that right.

-Yeah, you sure right.

But it ain't too hot for you to grind it out in that studio,

though, right?

-Well, I was thinking.

-You ought to be trying to come up with a song

that's gonna be a big hit on the R&B charts

and stop thinking.

You need to be writing!

-No, Freddy, Alicia.

She wants to enter this new songwriters competition,

and if she wins, then, you know --

-Listen, listen, listen.

If she don't win, and she loses,

tell her she's got a job at my law office,

or on my new record label.

The same go for you.

-No thanks to the office thing, bro.

It's a gospel competition. -Uh-huh.

It's gonna be held at the Berklee School of Music.

So if she wins, she'd get some scholarship money.

-Oh, that's cool.

-I just need to be, uh, you know,

trying to find the money to help her be able to do it.

So I was, you know...

-I can't help you, sorry.

But I see she's following in the footsteps

of her famous daddy.

-Real funny, Fred.

My break is on the way, I'm telling you.

What is wrong with you? What is --

Man, you know, you going through something.

You need some of them little Prozac.

That's what you need.

You having them mood swings, man.

One day, you're talking about doing one thing,

and the next thing, you're talking about

doing something totally different.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, Fred, man.

I think I'm gonna leave this R&B thing alone,

and I'm going to focus on my music and my ministry."

That's what you be saying, man. Your moods be changing.

Hey, look, man, you got something to drink in here?

Oh, okay.

-I'll have you know I still am, bro.

I'm just doing R&B to help me get the gospel.

That's all.

-Let me get this right --

You're going to use the Devil's doors

to get into God's house?

-Look who's preaching.

I can talk... 'cause I grew up with you.

I know you.

Look, I know all about your dreams

and all your aspirations,

all the things that you've ever thought about, Gary.

You share them with me, man,

and there's a lot of things people want to be

that simply ain't meant for them.

Dude, you're 35 years old, man.

You got a kid.

You're not gonna be no R&B singer.

I-I-I keep trying to get you to grasp that concept, man.

Ain't gonna happen.

You ain't gonna be, uh, uh, uh, no little Teddy Pendergrass.

Or little Luther Vandross, man.

I'm telling you.

You don't seem to get it.

You know what? You know what I've been doing?

I've been worshipping God on my face.

Mm-hmm, prostrate and everything.

-Really? -And you know what he told me?

He been talking, too. Do you know what he told me?

Nothing.

-Exactly. -[ Laughs ]

Man, I ain't been to church in a long time, though.

I don't -- Guess what.

I don't even believe in God no more.

Uh-huh.

[ Speaking gibberish ]

Mamasay mamasa mamakusa!

I think I'm feeling a touch from God.

Mm-hmm!

Hallelujah!

Yes, Jesus!

You remember Pastor Jones?

Remember he used to say,

"If the God you serve is so powerful,

and he supplies you with all your needs

according to his riches and his glory, ha,

then why, my brother, ha,

why, my brother,

are you still so poor, and you're so broke?

Ha, uh-huh.

If the God you serve is so powerful,

then why, my brother,

are you still calling all your friends

to drive you to and from the work? Huh-huh.

If the God you serve is so powerful, uh-huh,

then why is your home going into foreclosure,

and you're calling me, saying, 'Freddy, huh, Freddy, huh,

Freddy, can I borrow a little money?'

and I say, "No, you can't.

No, you can't."

Somebody say yeah!

Yeah, ha-ha!

Somebody say hallelujah!

Somebody say, God is real!

No, he ain't, ha-ha!

Hello, somebody. Hello, church.

Oh, you don't want to say nothing to me?

I say hello, lights. Hello, lights.

Hello, lights. -Real funny.

-Hello...

A-ha.

-I'm just messing with you, man.

-And the first shall be last,

and the last shall be first. -Shall be first.

You've been using that same tired line

since high school, man,

and you're still in last place,

and you're still broke.

-Where all this criticism come from, bro?

-Man, I'm not criticizing you, man.

I'm playing with you, man. I'm your buddy.

-[ Sighs ] -You know what, man,

you a little defensive.

You need that Prozac.

You know what, bro? I'm messing with you.

You know what you need?

Know what you need?

You need a drink.

-Oh, really. -Yeah, yeah.

Me, you, and the fellas go down, hang out,

have a couple of drinks,

bring a couple of ladies.

You remember Anna?

Pow, pow, Anna! Pow, pow, Anna!

You know what I'm saying?

Hey, look at me, baby.

You know how Freddy do it, baby.

-I know how Freddy do it, baby.

And that's what I'm afraid of.

-What's that supposed to mean, man?

-Well, I'm just saying, you know, bro, you -- you --

you -- you -- you know, you a little free

with the ladies. -No, no, no.

It's more like the ladies are a little free with me, player.

Uh-huh. -Oh, they free with you?

-Uh-huh. -Okay. -Free with Freddy. -Okay.

-I call them Free Freddy.

Mm-hmm.

Uh-huh.

And I don't know why you talking, Mr. I'm Married.

Gary, you ain't nobody, bro.

-Well, at least I'm with one person, okay?

-No, now you with one person.

I remember back in the days,

you was a sinner shaped in iniquity.

Mm-hmm.

We used to go up in the church,

"Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,"

get our praise on just for the attention, Gary.

Then we was in the club, "Don't stop, get it, get it,"

spanking up,

spanking up some booties.

You was a little player, Gary.

You was a player, player.

I remember the first time you seen Alice walk

across that stage. -Don't go there with me, Freddy.

She had that big Jennifer Lopez booty.

-Don't go there with me, Freddy.

Now you let my wife rest in peace, okay?

You know nothing about her.

Last thing she needs is people like you

trying to commentate on how she passed.

-Look, man, I'm sorry I brought it up.

-I told you, don't go there, Freddy.

-I said I'm sorry I brought it up, man.

-Freddy. Shut it up, Freddy. -Saying you was a player, man.

-I told you not to do that. -You was a player, Gary.

-Don't go there with me, Freddy.

Wow.

[ Chuckling ] Wow.

Wow, okay.

Alright.

I see you're a little sensitive.

It's all good.

It's all good. My bad.

Wow, man, we've been friends almost 20-something years.

I can't even joke with you. It's all good.

So, uh...

when is Sheila coming home, man?

-Here she come now.

-Oh.

-Oh. Hey, baby. -Hey, baby.

-How are you? -Mm.

-Hey, hey, hey. How you doing, Sheila?

-Oh, hey, Freddy.

How you doing? -I'm good.

I was telling your husband how proud I am of y'all.

You know, y'all got a great marriage and everything.

-Oh, really? -Yeah.

-Mm.

-How was work today, baby?

-It was fine, honey.

It was fine.

-Hey, uh, listen, I got to roll out, uh, Gary.

I'm still going to see you at the studio tonight, right?

-Yeah.

-About what time?

-9:00-ish -[ Scoffs ]

-Oh, that's cool. -Unreal.

-How you gonna bring it up when she's standing there?

-Dude, I thought y'all had -- -I'm warning you, Freddy.

You pushing it. -Don't -- No, don't...

-Oh, you pushing it. -No, you pushing it.

-You -- I thought -- -Freddy...

you would work out going in the studio with your wife, man.

-I want you to see your way out the front door, bro.

That's about enough for today. -You tripping, dawg.

-That's about enough for today. -I'm finna pray for you.

-Pray for yourself.

-You standing in need of prayer, bro.

-Pray for yourself at the same time.

-No, you standing in need of prayer.

[ Speaking gibberish ]

-Freddy! -Mamas--

Please.

-Sheila, what was that all about?

You just totally made me look stupid in front of Freddy.

-Well, you just basically said,

"Forget about my wife who's standing there.

I don't have to ask her if I can go out tonight."

-Sheila, do we have to go there again, huh?

You know what I'm trying to do with this new R&B album.

-Oh, the album. The album, really?

-I swear, man. -You know what, honey?

You've been talking about this album forever.

Gary, we need some help around here.

Why haven't I seen your check from work?

Hello?

Tell me something.

-Uh...

-"Uh"?

-I invested in a new guitar for the band.

-Oh, okay, you invested.

You invested. You know what?

You really need to stop with that fake terminology.

You're not investing in the band, Gary.

You're wasting money on it.

Honey, come on.

Baby, I've been with you, what, through thick and thin.

Okay, but for the last six months,

it's like I'm paying all of the bills around here

while you're too busy playing rock star.

-Why can't you just support me, huh?

-Support you? -Yeah, support me.

Support you? How come you can't support me, Gary?

I'm not asking for the spotlight.

I just need a little bit of your attention, baby.

That's all I want...

just a little bit of your time and your attention

every now and then.

-Okay, I'm sorry. Alright?

I will do better. -Okay, yeah.

You've been saying you'll do better

since the beginning of time.

I really don't know what to believe anymore.

-Baby, we ain't been happy in some time now, huh?

I mean, we ain't slept in the same bed in over six months.

I know time is not the real issue.

What's the real problem?

We used to go out. We used to enjoy one another.

Something has changed, baby.

Something has changed.

What can I do to make things right right here, right now?

What can I do to make things better?

-I just need you to hold me, okay?

Just hold me every now and then

or just -- just give me some attention, baby.

I feel like I'm crying out. You're not listening to me.

I'm crying out, and you're not listening.

Is that too much to ask?

Is it?

[ Knocks on door ]

-Hello?

Hello?

Hello? -Are we expecting company?

-It's your mother and father. -That's my daddy and his wife,

and who told them they could come over?

-Gary, it's your mother and your father.

-It's my dad and my step-mama. -Okay, okay.

-Hello? -Hey, Ms. Lisa.

-Ooh, God is good, ain't he?

-Hey. -Glory to God!

How you doing? You look good.

-Alright. -Y'all gonna be mad and stuff?

Uh-huh, he look mad.

Wh-What is all this, children? -Ah, ah, ah, I'll do that.

-This young woman ain't never learn

how to keep no house right, Lord Jesus.

What's going on in --

Decorations all jacked and everything, honey.

Why you keep following me?

I ain't fixing to steal nothing in this raggedy house.

I mean, hey.

Wait a minute. I got discernment.

I feel something right here.

-What? -Let me...

-Honey, you got that lying, lusting demon in you.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Close that door!

She don't even go to church on TV or nothing.

-Miss Lisa. -Ha, hey, hey.

Jimmy, help me. She ain't saved.

I'm trying to get her saved.

She just sitting over here being fat.

Look at her, got her little tight pants on.

Look at her. -Y'all are talking crazy.

Look here, man, the older I get,

the longer that ride seems to get, man.

Dad, you stay around the corner. -That thing ain't no corner.

That thing a whole piece now, man, shoot.

-Did you walk or something?

-No, Lisa, she drove.

I'm just tired from watching her jump curves and things.

-Ah, Jimmy, go and tell them about your blessing, go.

-Oh, thank you, baby. -Hey, son,

did I tell you about my job offer?

-Job offer? -Yeah.

-You are too old to be working, Dad.

-Well, you know, we got one on the way, so you know...

-Oh. -...a little extra money

won't hurt nobody, now, would it?

-Oh, my goodness, really?

-Sure, I got a mouth to feed.

-That's just nasty. -I didn't say nothing

when y'all two hooked up and did it.

-Dad, we're, uh, young.

-Look, man, I ain't too old.

I can get that thing and drive it down like a hammer.

-I get it. Don't I get it? -Dad, Dad, Dad!

Yeah, you get in that thing. -Come on, Dad. Come on, bro.

-Well, I was just trying...

-You've only had a couple years, please.

-I mean, son, look, you have something for so --

for so long, you know, you drive it so hard,

you'll tear that thing up.

-[ Giggles ] -You know?

There's time for something... There's time for something new.

There's time for something new, you know, just...

What? Say...

Y'all look like y'all seen some daggum ghost or something.

Say, "Hey, want to take a picture?

Snap, snap." -Are you finished?

That's enough, bro. Please, Dad.

-Well, you know what, baby?

I think it's really sweet y'all still got

all that fire in your relationship.

It must be nice, huh?

-Fire? -And desire.

I always did like that song.

-B-But wait.

I think y'all mind in the daggum gutter, man.

We talking about getting one of them Ford Geos.

-Ford Geos, Ford Geos. -Oh, thank you, God.

-My buddy, Hank, went all the way to Israel on 5 cents.

That's crazy gas mileage.

That's good gas mileage, ain't it?

That is good. -Hey, son,

how many miles can you get to a gallon?

Probably go from here to California on about,

what, $4 or $5 -- something like that?

That wouldn't get me a lot of gas.

About $8 a gallon before Barack got up in the office, wasn't it?

-Dad, what are you talking about right now, huh?

-[ Sighs ]

Look, son.

Listen, son.

I'm just saying, I mean -- Look, yeah --

I mean, gas was pretty high, I'm just saying.

-Okay, Gary, don't be like that with your father.

Just let him talk, alright? -Would you just tell him

to stop, okay? -He doesn't have to stop.

No, she... -My dad is an actor, okay?

Been an actor his entire life.

-You know what, Sheila? Don't worry about it.

You know what?

Because see, son, one day, you're going to look for me.

I'm going to be already gone to a home,

sitting next to Jesus, at the right hand of my father.

I feel something in my left leg, right there.

-What is it? -I can't hold it.

I see you, Jesus.

Hey.

Don't leave me. Don't pass me by.

Hold me tight in the midnight hour.

♪ If anybody asks you ♪

-Now that's my song right there. -I'm going there.

♪ Where I am going ♪ -Where you going, Jimmy?

♪ Where am I going ♪

♪ I'm going there ♪

♪ If I could take their pain ♪ -Take it, Jimmy. Take it.

♪ I'd run this way ♪

I'm out! Pow, I'm out of there. -Boy, you better run.

You better run. -♪ Until I see my savior ♪

♪ Face-to-face ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ I'm going up that yonder ♪

-Say what?

♪ I'm going up that yonder ♪ -Say what?

♪ I'm going up that yonder ♪

♪ To be with my Lord ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ I'm going up ♪

[ Mumbling ]

-Say what?

-♪ I'm going ♪

-♪ I'm going up ♪ -What's wrong, Jimmy?

What's wrong?

-♪ Ooh ♪

-I think I'm dead. -You're dead?

You dying right here on the couch?

[ Sobbing ]

Y'all see?! Is his spirit around?

Y'all just...

Oh, let's take a trip, yeah?

Don't nobody see what we...

♪ Precious Lord ♪

♪ Take my ♪

♪ Take my hand ♪

♪ Come with me ♪

[ Sobbing ]

Lord, Jimmy, get up now.

-What? Wait. Wait a minute.

-Why is it so hot up in heaven?

-Dad, get up. Get up, get up.

Come on, get up. I told you.

-I thought I died for... I thought I was dead.

I'm sorry.

I'm still here, though.

Thank you, Jesus. -Where the baby at?

She didn't come to the funeral!

-She wasn't there? -She wasn't there, Jimmy.

I was crying and saying, "She wasn't there."

I thought I seen her. -Wait a minute,

What baby are you talking about?

Felicia. -Alicia.

Her name is Alicia. She's not a baby anymore.

She don't even know the girl's name.

But, look, her head was this big last time I saw her.

-It was smaller. -No, Alicia is 16.

-Felicia is not no 16.

-Miss Lisa...

-Call me mama. I married your dad.

We family now. -Yeah, we together now.

-Miss Lisa... you just seen her last week.

Okay? -See, that's what wrong.

Families just don't visit like they used to.

-No. -A week is like 5 years.

I'm getting too old for that. -It's too long.

-I got to see you everyday.

-Wait, wait. It's her.

-...that I'm ugly, girl. She's just so jealous of me.

I can't stand...

Oh! They just get on my nerves, girl.

Oh.

-Hold on. Pinch me, Lisa.

I'm-a pinch you, too. Well, we still...

We still alive, but... -I'm alive.

But she walks by like we daggum an invisibles or something.

-Invisible. I ain't no invisible.

-You know what, Lisa? -Huh?

-It ain't the kid's fault.

It's these no good parents,

ain't raising their kids right.

That's how the parents are these days, ain't it?

-Well, excuse the hell out of me.

-Now, son, is that really called for?

-How you gonna come up in my house

and, basically, tell us we not good parents

and expect me not to get upset, huh?

-Well, I tell you, I'm going to die, boy.

Look here. -Gary, baby.

All he trying to explain to -- -I didn't ask you, lady.

Boy, I tell you. Boy, look here.

Woo!

Look, son, I might be a small piece of leather...

-Small.

-...but I'm well put together.

-Look at them guns. Look at them guns.

-Boy, I will slap you so daggum hard, boy,

your eyelids are gonna be talking in tongue,

talking about migity-migity- migity mac daddy.

"I'm crazy." I'm crazy.

-He crazy. Look out.

-Okay, I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry.

-I know you're sorry, but daggum it.

What's wrong with this guy? -Alicia.

-I don't know, baby. -Alicia!

Come in here and say hello to your grandfather

and your, uh...

step-grandmother. -Hold on.

L-Let me call you back. -Oh.

-Hello, everybody.

-"Hello, everybody."

Girl, we ain't no daggum immigrants.

-I ain't Mexican. -Come on.

Give your Gramps a hug. Wait, wait, wait...

♪ That rope, that rope, That rope ♪

♪ That rope, that rope ♪

♪ That rope, that rope ♪

♪ That rope, that rope ♪

♪ That rope ♪ Wait, I'm lost.

Where am I at? -Where you at?

Got her. -Oh, you gotta hook her.

You hooked her. -You want some, too?

You want some, too?

♪ That rope, that rope ♪

♪ That rope, that rope ♪

♪ That rope, that rope ♪

Get her.

-You're just so pretty. Look at you.

You're so pretty. -Yeah.

What you about to do, girl, huh? -I'm-a set the table.

Why don't you come help me? -Okay, I'll come help you.

I'll watch her. She lies.

I mean, hey.

Hey, praise the Lord.

Good.

-I tell you, man, you know that child now,

she about that age, man, you know?

Maybe need a little more fatherly attention.

Don't you think? Just a little bit more.

You know. -Attention?

-Yeah.

-I know you just come up here talking about attention.

You mean the kind of attention that you gave me growing up?

You know what?

Maybe if you didn't spend so much time chasing women,

like you apparently still are, maybe you would have had

more time to spend with me and my mom at the house.

-How about that?

-Gary, you almost died, son.

I almost turned around and killed you.

You know that?

I thank God for Jesus, son.

I almost took your heart out your chest right then.

I'm-a say it one daggum time, Gary.

Lower you daggum voice. Shoot.

-Well, Dad, don't come in here

trying to tell me how to raise my family,

seein' you never had time to raise your own.

Why don't you save it? -Oh, Gary, come on, man.

-Save it. -Gary, just listen a bit.

-Save it, Dad. -Gary, just listen.

-I don't want to hear it.

-Look, son, all I'm saying is

that you spend so much time working, man.

If you don't start spending no time with your family,

you may have some problems, son.

[ Scoffs ]

You know, look, son.

I'm not talking about this from some --

some stuff I read from a comic book, son.

I learned it from personal experience, man.

-Why are we still talking about this, Dad?

I-I'm --

I'm just saying, son, I'm --

[ Sighs ] Look, son. I know what I did was wrong.

I know I wasn't there for you and your mama,

but, man, if I could just rewind in time,

I sure enough would. -Well, that's just it.

You can't rewind time.

And I know I ain't perfect, but at least I'm here

for my family when they need me the most.

-Look, son, why don't you take a...

Ain't you going to by that studio tonight?

Why don't you take her with you? She like that music and stuff.

Why not spend some time with her at studio?

She like that music stuff, too, don't she?

Take her with you.

-Gary.

Gary, it's getting late, baby.

-Alright. Thank you.

I'm-a go on and get up out of here and go

to my other job now, okay?

-Other job, huh?

With you and the band?

-Yeah.

We working on a new album.

-Oh, yeah? -Yeah.

-You know, son, you'll go a whole lot further

if you just did gospels.

That's what -- I tell him all the time.

-Dad, did I ask you about my career?

Besides, I'm still gonna do gospel, okay?

I'm just... I'm just doing R&B to get to...

get to gospel and my real passion.

There's no money in gospel anyway, okay?

-Well, how much you made in R&B so far?

-Get him, boy.

Multiple by zero, Jimmy.

What's that? -That's still zero, ain't it?

-He ain't got no money in R&B. -He still broke.

[ Laughter ] -Oh, whoa.

[ Laughter stops ] -[ Coughs ]

-That's not the point. Alright?

I got to go, man. -I didn't get to eat nothing.

She back there playing with them Oodles of Noodles.

He ain't get to eat. Just hungry.

-Don't worry about it, Lisa, 'cause, apparently,

we ain't wanted, either.

So we're gonna go on over to the house.

We're gonna go -- [ Laughs ]

-Look at her. Look at her. Look at Alicia.

Look at her head on top of her body.

-It's just so pretty.

-Look at her. She's scared of us.

Let's go, woman.

-You just look at her.

-♪ That rope, that rope ♪

And her cheeks, tight and everything.

Just pretty. -Bye, Gramps.

-Bye. -Alright.

Y'all be good now. -Bye, y'all.

-Uh, Daddy. -Yes, baby?

You going already?

You only been here about an hour.

-Baby, you want to be a cheerleader, right?

-Whoever said I wanted to be a cheerleader?

-Well, then, I gotta go make this money so that you can be.

Okay? -But, Daddy,

I thought we were going to the movies tonight.

Whoever said I wanted to be a cheerleader?

I want to be a musician like you.

You know, a songwriter and everything, like you.

-Listen, I want you to go to college, okay?

I want you to be a doctor or a lawyer or something.

-But -- -Life is no fun with no money.

-Daddy, you used to always tell me

that it's about enjoying the life

that God has blessed us with.

Right?

-Yeah.

I said that? -Yes.

You and Mom would always tell me that it was about --

-Alicia. Hey, baby.

How's your little gospel competition coming along?

It's coming along alright? -It's going.

Hey, Daddy, you wanna hear the song I been working on?

Let me show you. -Baby, listen.

Listen, listen. -I got the words.

I will listen to every single song you've written tomorrow,

when I get you home from school, okay?

Right now, I want you to get your books.

I want you to go to class

and make your old man proud, okay?

Okay? -Okay, okay, Daddy.

-Okay.

I will see you two pretty ladies a little bit later.

-[ Sighs ]

-[ Sighs ] Bye, baby.

-Bye-bye.

-Little girl,

don't you ever disrespect your father like that.

Do you understand me? -[ Scoffs ]

-Your father works hard to make sure you have

everything on your back, do you understand?

-What are you talking about?

-Why would you bring up your mother?

-Why wouldn't I? She was my mother.

-Well, you know what that does to your father.

-Well, only if you knew what it did to me

to see you constantly hurt him.

-Hurt him? Hurt him?

Little girl, I'll have you to know

that I love your father very much.

Do you understand me? -Whatever, Sheila.

I'm not even gonna get into it with you tonight.

-Oh, no, no, no, no. Wait, hold up, hold up.

No, I want to hear what you got to say.

-You know...

there's this scripture in the Bible that says

what goes on in the dark will be revealed in the light.

You ever read that scripture, Sheila?

-Yes, Alicia. I happen to know it very well.

So, what does that have to do with me, honey?

-Why do you play so stupid with everybody, huh?

You walk around here as if you're this perfect person,

condemning everybody else,

when the truth is, you ain't nothing but a che--

-Now you listen to me, little girl.

I love your father very much, and there is no way in hell

I'm-a let you or anybody else separate that.

Do you understand me?

Now you know you're little gospel competition costs

a little bit more than your daddy can afford,

so you would want to be nice to me.

That's what I thought.

Now if you don't mind, it's getting a little late,

and I need to go to bed.

-[ Sobs softly ]

Everything has changed

since this woman has come into my father's life.

♪ Sometimes I feel like you don't care ♪

♪ In times of trouble, you're not there ♪

♪ But God is always there ♪

♪ By my side ♪

♪ You miss out on my cries for help ♪

♪ You only think about yourself ♪

♪ You've changed so much over the years ♪

♪ You've changed in time ♪

♪ Don't you know that you changed ♪

♪ You changed, you changed ♪

♪ But my God remains the same ♪

♪ I give it all to you ♪

♪ Because I know ♪

♪ Know that you will fix it in time ♪

♪ You used to tell me how beautiful I was ♪

♪ You showed how much you loved me ♪

♪ But I wonder what happened ♪

♪ This time around ♪

♪ I wish that I could tell you ♪

♪ Without living my life in regret ♪

♪ I wish that I could express myself ♪

♪ But I'm afraid it wouldn't help ♪

♪ So I'll just keep my thoughts ♪

♪ My thought to myself ♪

♪ You changed, you changed ♪

♪ But my God remains the same ♪

♪ Oh, whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ I wish I could just go back in time ♪

♪ But I can't, so I'll just ♪

♪ Live ♪

♪ Oh, whoa, oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I'll just live ♪

♪ I'll just li-i-ive ♪

♪ I'll just live ♪

♪ I'll just li-i-ive ♪

♪ 'Cause I know that you will fix it in time ♪

♪♪

-Oh, good morning, Alicia. How you doing, baby?

-Better than you, I'm sure. -Oh, come on, honey.

Can we just stop all this hateration? Huh?

I mean, really, must we continue on like this, honey?

-You know, is it an educated issue,

or you really have no understanding, do you?

You can't just cook a meal

and expect for everything to be okay.

-Woo!

-Hey, hey.

How are my two favorite, prettiest ladies

in the world doing?

Huh?

Baby, we finished our third track tonight.

Tried to get the best of us, but we got it done.

-Good.

-It's so hard to lay tracks of music

with Freddy not being there in the studio.

-Will somebody spare me, please?

Hey, Daddy. -Yeah?

You know, the songwriting competition is next month,

and I really want to do a good job,

so I was wondering if you could help me with the lyrics --

-Princess. Listen, listen.

I will... Just give me a second.

Let me get in for a minute. I will definitely listen to it.

Okay? Give me -- Give me a minute, baby.

Let me relax.

-Gary? -Yes, ma'am?

-You know what time it is?

-Yeah, I know.

Listen, we got carried away last night.

-Uh-huh.

-But you know I got to do it, baby.

You know my dreams. -Yeah.

I know. -My dream is to never

have to ride on the back of a garbage truck again...

-Mm-hmm.

-...to not have to feel bad about apologizing

for working all those long night hours.

-Mm-hmm.

-My dream is to come in this house,

sit on my throne,

order people around for us just by saying a word.

Huh? What you think about that, huh?

-I feel you, baby. I really do.

But we need you here.

We do.

-I know. Listen...

Listen, Sheila, I know I haven't been holding up

my end of the bargain on our responsibilities, okay?

I know that. Alright?

And I know that we should spend more quality time,

but, baby, things can only get better.

-[ Scoffs ]

-Believe it.

-Alright. You know what, Gary?

You know what I've decided? I'm not gonna get mad.

I am not gonna get mad anymore. You know what?

If you feel like you want to stay out all night long

to get your work done, then you go ahead.

You go ahead.

I don't ever want to be a hindrance to you

or to anything that you feel like you have to do.

Trust me.

-Seriously? -Mm-hmm.

-You gonna make me start singing gospel again,

all this good news you telling me.

-Well, now, you know with the good news,

there's gonna be some bad news, too.

-I don't want to hear no bad news.

-Well... -No bad news.

If I want to hear bad news, I'll turn on the TV.

-[ Sighs ]

-Let me guess. Let me guess.

Um, you can't make it to the show Friday night,

is that it? -No.

Gary, come on, you know how I feel about those clubs.

I mean, it's just no place for a good Christian woman to be.

-Come on, Sheila.

-What?

-Sheila, come on, baby. We went through this.

We go through this all the time.

A club is simply a place where people socialize.

-Man, Freddy can't come. Now you too, huh?

-Would somebody spare me, please?

-What'd you say?

-Uh, nothing, Daddy.

-I thought I heard you say something.

What'd you say?

-Nothing.

Gary, let me talk to you for a minute.

Listen, something going on with Alicia.

I mean, I just don't get it.

It's like we're not connecting anymore.

I just think you need to talk to her.

-Oh, come on, baby.

-What? I'm -- -She's young.

You know how y'all women are

when you're young -- young and fresh.

-Gary, listen to me. I'm serious.

You need to talk to her.

Alright?

-Okay. Alright. Alright.

If that'll make you feel better, alright.

-[ Sighs ] Okay.

Woo. I'll see you later, baby.

You leaving? -Yeah.

Bye, Alicia!

-[ Scoffs ]

-Alicia.

What's wrong with my girl, huh? What's wrong?

-Nothing, Daddy.

I'm just doing my usual rehearsal for the day.

Excuse me.

-Your usual rehearsal for the day?

Is everything alright in school?

You know, I ain't seen no report card in a little while.

-Daddy, if I brought you my report card,

would you even have time to look at it,

or would you just glance over it like you do everything else

and say, "Keep it up, my little princess."

I find it so funny that you always seem

to find time to spend with Sheila

whenever she cries about how much she wishes you were around,

but your very own flesh and blood

just gets the crumbs off the table.

-Alicia, don't talk about your mother like that, okay?

-She is not my mother!

My mother is in Heaven.

You remember?

She passed away of cancer.

She was a real woman,

unlike that fake lady that lives here.

-Alicia, I'm sorry, but your mother

is no longer here to take care of you, okay?

-[ Scoffs ] Daddy, it's not like anybody's here

to take care of me either, Daddy,

so what do you expect for me to do?

Just sit up here and constantly watch

how this woman really doesn't love you

but still at the same time -- -You watch your mouth.

That's what you --

I don't know what's gotten into you,

but this woman helps with the bills.

-Some sense.

Some sense, Daddy.

That's what's gotten into me.

I mean, Daddy, why can't you just open up your eyes

and see that this woman really doesn't love you?

Daddy, you used to take me to church.

Now you're not even concerned whether I go or not.

Daddy, you used to read the Bible with me.

Now you don't even read the bible yourself.

That woman is your first-class ticket

straight to Hell. -Alicia!

Now, that is a good Christian woman there, okay?

Now, just because I don't go to church on Sundays,

you know why, it's because I work.

I don't know why you acting like you don't know that.

And it don't make a person more spiritual

because you go to church other than the next one, okay?

Now, you remember that, Miss Self-Righteous.

-But you been spiritually blind ever since you --

-Look!

Now, I don't know what the hell has gotten into you,

but you will not talk to your father

or your stepmother like that, you understand me?

-[ Voice breaking ] I'm sorry, Daddy, I was just trying to --

You were just going to your room.

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Searching for so long to rectify my own lifestyle ♪

♪ But it seems that I, I only make it worse ♪

♪ You said that you would help me ♪

♪ Overcome all my life's fears ♪

♪ But it seems that I, the less I feel you near ♪

♪ So I ♪

♪ So much more ♪

♪ I need to find a way to find myself ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ So much more ♪

♪ I need to find a way to find myself ♪

♪ My life has been ♪

♪ So upside down ever since I walked away ♪

♪ Although I heard your voice begging me to stay ♪

♪ It's been so hard trying to keep my head ♪

♪ Above the river shore ♪

♪ In this life, I know you want me to have ♪

♪ So much more ♪

♪ I need ♪

♪ I need to find a way to find myself, oh ♪

♪ So much more ♪

♪ Lord, I need, yeah ♪

♪ I need to find a way to find myself ♪

♪ You said that you would help me ♪

♪ You said that you would care for me ♪

♪ You said that you would never forsake me ♪

♪ You said you would help ♪

♪ Said that you would give me ♪

♪ You said that you would never forsake me ♪

♪ I need something more than this ♪

♪ I need something more than that ♪

♪ I need to find a way to find myself ♪

♪ Lord, I need ♪

♪ Something more, yeah ♪

♪ I need to find a way to find myself ♪

♪ Lord, I need ♪

♪ Lord, I need ♪

♪ Can you help me find a way to find myself ♪

-♪ Baseball bat ♪

♪ How about a baseball bat ♪

Daggum door ain't never been locked

in the middle of the daggum daytime.

♪ Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat ♪

♪ Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat ♪

♪ Lord Jesus ♪

Whoa.

Hey, man, you here.

I -- Sorry,

I wanted to come by and fix this here door

as a little surprise for you.

This thing going to hang off the daggum hinge the other day.

Son, do you realize that...

You realize it's boards in the back of this house, son?

[ Mumbles ]

-It's what?

-There's boards back there.

I'm just wondering if you knew there was, like,

people back there, sets and things.

Look, here, son. Where everybody at, man?

-Sheila is at work,

and Alicia's at school, of course.

-And you sittin' here typical, like a 21st-century man,

looking broke, busted, and disgusted.

-Dad, don't start with me right now, please.

-What you got to eat, man? Hmm?

-You don't know my situation, so I would appreciate it

if you laid off the corny jokes for a while, okay?

-I ain't say it was typical of you.

I just said it was typical of a 21st-century man.

-Okay. Whatever. what do you want, Dad?

-[ Clears throat ] Alright.

I really came by to get something to eat,

but since you ain't got nothing,

I'll just eat this chicken in my pocket I had from earlier.

Boy, it's...

Oh, boy.

Mm-hmm.

Hey, son.

What? You want some?

-No. -It's fresh.

Look, son.

Why aren't you at work, man. This ain't like you, man.

-Well, Dad, if you must know, I got laid off.

It's only temporary, though.

-What, about two or three weeks, something like that?

That's crazy, man, dadgum.

[ Quietly ] Four to six months.

-Boy, I thought you said four to six months.

Boy, I thought I -- I heard some stuff, boy.

-Four to six months, yeah.

-Yeah, but...

You fired, man.

Lookit... That's the --

♪ Jesus on the mainline ♪

♪ Tell him what you want -- ♪

-Dad, please. Please, come on, Dad.

I'm just saying, you need a dadgum job.

Son, look.

How in the world... I'm just asking a question.

Just... It's a general question.

How in the world do you get fired

from picking up dadgum trash?

I'm trying to analyze here. I mean, maybe --

Were you pulling off too fast

before your partner can jump on the back?

Look...

It take time, Gary, for that man to get on the back.

Pick that garbage can up, he says, "I'm ready to go."

You can't pull -- You can't pull off

too dadgum fast on 'em, Gary, that's all I'm saying.

What happened? Talk to me, son.

-They s--

They said I wasn't picking up the trash fast enough.

-Gary...[ Sighs ]

that's worse.

Son, how fast...

...do you have to pick up trash...

to keep your dadgum job?

Doggone it.

What...

[ Grumbles ]

Son, when --

when was the last time you been to church?

Man, that's what you need, some Jesus in your life.

Boy, I tell you.

-I don't know.

I'm -- I'm going -- I'm going Easter, though.

-Easter? Easter, son?

Well, some of us got to work, remember?

-Son, is everything about work with you, man?

Wh-When do you spend time with your family, huh?

-You know what, like I said before, Dad,

you the last person need to be talking about

spending time with somebody family,

seeing you didn't spend no time with your own.

-Look, son, that's really water up under the dadgum bridge,

now, man.

Like, you walk around the house

with your cowboy boots on all you want to,

complaining about, "Well, spending time

with the family.

Look, son, but every man needs some help

from time to time, son,

and right now is one of them dadgum times.

Your life depends on it, man,

just as much as your daughter do.

Now, look, man, I-I ain't no genius or nothing like that,

but all I'm saying is this --

Alicia is really trying to tell you a lot of stuff, son.

You might need to stop and listen to her.

She trying to tell a lot of information.

That's all I'm trying... -What she trying to tell me?

Dad, what's she trying to tell me, huh? What?

What's she trying to tell me, huh?

-Well, son...

Well, son, she think that just maybe --

just maybe now -- that Sheila might be

having an affair on you, son.

-Dad, I don't need to be hearing this right now.

-Son, I don't blame you.

I -- It's hard to hear the dadgum truth.

I know it is. -I know the truth.

I know what you saying ain't true, okay?

I swear, I feel like people don't want to see me happy

no more, man.

-Gary, that ain't true at all, man.

-No, it's like ever since I messed up with Alice,

people just been holding it over my head for the longest,

and I tell you, I'm getting sick of it.

-Look, man. You talking crazy, man.

-She would always tell me, "If you could just get one job.

You don't work enough."

But she the same one who said,

"Whatever it is you want to do in life, baby.

I'm right there for you."

-Son, you talking crazy, man.

Look, do you need some chicken or -- or what you need, man?

'Cause you need something to eat or something.

You talking crazy here. [ Chuckles ]

Go on and get a drumstick out, man.

Go ahead.

There's still some meat on the bone.

-She found her satisfaction elsewhere, Dad.

Son...

what is you talking about?

[ Chuckles ]

-Alice --

Alice found her satisfaction in -- in drugs.

S-Say what, son?

-Sh-- She didn't die of cancer.

-Son...

I had no way of knowing.

I mean, y'all were back in Atlanta.

-How could you?

You was always off doing your thing.

You remember that, huh?

She found her satisfaction in drugs...

the very thing she would preach to our daughter about.

"Let's go to church.

We don't want to be late for Sunday school."

This went on for 10 years of our marriage.

I took her to church.

I took my daughter to church every Sunday,

and Sunday school.

I wasn't one of these parents

that would just, you know, send them.

I would get up with my daughter. I would take her.

Next thing I know, I'm not doing enough.

Then I'm doing too much.

And I just feel like life is just --

it's just one big circle, you know?

And it never stops, and it never makes sense.

I don't even know what to do right now, Dad.

W-Well, son...

it sound like that's what your problem been

all the time, son.

-[ Sniffles ]

-Son, it sound like you been doing it for everybody else,

but you forgot to do it for God and for yourself.

Look, I'm gonna take a seat.

Look, man, when you try

to please everybody else around you,

but forget to please God and make sure that he's pleased,

man, ultimately, man, you going to please nobody.

Look, man.

You know, let's talk about this young man.

Let's talk about this young man.

This man was bright,

"edumacated," you know,

had a good J-O-B, [chuckles] a job.

But he had a huge dream and a huge vision, you know,

and folks became so attracted to that man,

and I learned something from watching him.

You know, you come across one of three kind of peoples

in this here life.

One kind of folk,

they the kind of people who they result-happy.

They cling to you, you know, like a vine, and they --

they push into the result so fast,

or they try to anyway,

and if it don't happen as fast as they want it to,

then they'll turn their backs on you.

But then you got some other kind of folk.

These are -- These are the kind of people

who -- who -- who, they do just enough --

they do just enough, son, to stick close enough to you

so that just in case you ever blow up

and that dream ever come to pass,

they can jump on board,

you know, like the garbage man.

Jump on board like they been there with you all the time.

But then -- but then, son --

but then, son, you got a few -- a few genuine peoples.

Just a couple of them -- a very rare breed of folk.

These the people who love you just because you're you,

you know?

Man, these folks, they put their blood,

sweat, and tears in all your little projects, man.

Then won't ask you for a dime when it's all over.

You understand what I saying, son?

-Yeah, I think so.

-Son, listen.

Out of curiosity, son, did you and, uh...

Did you and Sheila pray before y'all two got married?

-Yeah. I mean...

of course we prayed.

-Son, I'm not talking about at the ceremony, son.

I mean, did y'all two really pray.

-I don't know, Dad. I was excited.

You know, she was excited.

-Son, you can't marry somebody out your emotions.

That don't last long at all, son.

-I know, okay.

Alice had been dead for a year.

I was ready to move on.

-Look, son, you know that song I used to sing for you?

♪ A bird in the hand ♪

♪ Better than a thousand in the bushes ♪

♪ Ooh, young Jesus ♪

You still don't get the words of that song, do you?

Look, the point of that is like this --

You got a bird in the hand, better than 1,000 in the bushes.

See, watch his.

Now, you got your one bird in your hand.

That's Alicia.

Don't let go of that one bird

to reach down for all them other birds out in the bushes

that fly away from you as soon as you reach out for them.

Hold on to the ones that love you right now, son.

Don't let her go.

You feel me, son?

-Yeah, I feel you, Dad.

-Well, that's what's up then.

What else you got planned for the rest of the day, man?

Yeah.

-Well, I -- I, uh... I got a job interview, so...

But, um... -Oh, yeah?

I was -- I don't know.

You think I should maybe cancel it

and spend some more time with my family?

-Gary...

did your mother drop you on your head, son,

when you was young?

I told her she need to be more careful with you.

-Look here, son.

You see them lights up there? You see them lights?

How them lights stay on, son? Talk to me.

How them lights stay on?

-I -- You got to work.

Oh, wait. So say it again?

-You got to work.

-Alright. Now, what does work bring?

Work it out. Process of elimination.

What does work bring?

-It bring -- It brings money.

-Okay, so you got to work to get money.

Money what keep the lights on, right? Alright.

So now, if you don't work, what you want to do --

you want to eat, right?

You ever get hungry every now and then, Gary?

Hmm?

Chicken, no chicken?

-I get it. I get it, Dad.

-Look, son. If you don't work, you don't eat, man.

-You don't eat. I understand.

-Go to the dadgum job interview. Get a job, son.

Duh. Man...

That's an easy one, man.

You have a good one, son. -Alright, Dad.

Phew.

Oh, Alice.

[ Chuckles ]

It seems like yesterday we was just holding hands,

walking through the park.

♪ You don't miss your water ♪

♪ Till your well runs dry ♪

You remember that song?

I would come in singing some R&B.

You would come in singing some gospel

with your beautiful voice.

You sure were beautiful.

Everybody misses you, you know?

Gramps misses you.

You know I miss you.

If you could just show up one more time,

it would make it so right.

[ Notes plucked on guitar ]

Your touch can make the world brand-new again.

♪ Together, we can change the world ♪

♪ Helping every man, boy, and girl ♪

♪ With a simple melody ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Together, we can change the land ♪

♪ Help the spiritual cripple to stand ♪

♪ And walk in destiny ♪

♪ Together, we can see the rainbow ♪

♪ Have God's promises ♪

♪ Continue to glow ♪

♪ I can feel your hands of mercy upon me ♪

♪ With you beside me ♪

♪ And I don't know how I can make it ♪

♪ And I don't know how I can take it ♪

♪ Without you in my life ♪

-♪ Me and you will make a great team together ♪

♪ With the power of God ♪

♪ We could change the weather in other's lives ♪

♪ From stormy days, through the sunshine and the rain ♪

♪ Me and you would be an influence forever ♪

♪ Now if I could just hold your hand ♪

♪ Maybe I could understand ♪

♪ Why all good things must come to an end ♪

♪ And I didn't know how I could take it ♪

♪ And I didn't know how I can make it ♪

♪ Without you in my life ♪

♪ Oh, oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Yes ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

♪ H-e-e-e ♪

♪ And I didn't know how I could take it ♪

♪ And I didn't know how I could make it ♪

♪ without you in my life ♪

♪ Whoa, oh-oh ♪

♪ Without you in my life ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Without you ♪

♪ Without you in my life ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I don't know if I can make it without you in my life ♪

♪ Yeah, without yo-o-u ♪

♪ Without yo-o-ou ♪

♪ In my life ♪

-Thank you for walking me home from school today, Kenneth.

-But, Alicia, I do that every day.

-Um...

Listen, why don't you come inside for a while?

I mean, my dad's always working,

so I know he won't be home for a while.

-Well, what about your mom?

-First of all, she's not my mom.

She's my step-mom. She lives here.

-Okay, your "stepmom"

if that makes you feel any better.

-Thank you.

Sheila is at work.

She won't be getting off until about 6:00.

-And what does she do again?

-She's a guidance counselor.

Are you thirsty?

W-What kind of music do you like?

-Let's see.

I have some...

Beyoncé.

Oh, I got a little "Rock the Boat,"

you know, that song where Aaliyah is like...

♪ Rock the boat ♪

♪ Rock the boat ♪

♪ Rock... ♪

-Yeah, okay.

That's fine.

-Okay.

Well, Kenneth, you know,

you and have had so many discussions on life,

you know, on family and everything,

but I never hear you talk about your mother and father.

You dress nice.

I mean, what do they do for a living?

Well, my mom and dad left me when I was only 2,

so my Uncle Freddy took me in.

He's my uncle,

but I call him my dad.

He's a lawyer.

And my mom -- or my aunt, rather --

she -- she left when I was only 7.

-Oh. Why did she leave?

-Well, people say she was unhappy.

And my dad admits that it was all his fault.

He always said to me, "Son, no matter what you do,

make sure you spend more time with your lady

than with your boys."

-That's true because your boys can't do for you

what a woman can.

-[ Chuckles ]

-Yeah, they most definitely can't do everything a woman can.

-Yeah, I guess so, but anyway...

-I'm kind of thirsty. You have anything to drink?

-Yeah, we have some OJ and some water.

-I'll take some OJ.

-You don't have to take anything.

I'll give it to you.

-Baby girl...

you better stop playing.

[ Chuckles ]

That makes me feel right at home, then.

-Do you want it with ice?

-I'll take it anyway you want to give it to me.

-Wh-What you say?

-Nothing. -Oh.

-Just that I'm really thirsty.

-Okay, well, I'll go ahead and get that for you.

But I know how you feel about that whole attention thing.

It's like, if you can't get it from the ones you love,

then who can you get it from?

I mean, like, take my daddy.

My daddy is always working.

He's always trying to buy me something

or trying to impress my stepmom.

But I miss my mama so, so much.

It's like I would give the world just to have one moment

with my mama and daddy again.

It's like she had this touch about her.

Like, every time I would feel down,

she had this thing about her where she could just touch you

and make you feel better, you know?

She would always tell me,

"Never let a man tell you what you can and cannot be."

She'd always quote this one scripture

from Timothy 2: 4 and 12.

She'd say, "Let no one despise your youth,

but be thou an example to the believers in word,

in faith and...

in purity."

-How did she die?

-Well...

I guess I was kind of young when it -- it happened,

but she had cancer.

I guess everybody thought I was just too young

to really understand, you know?

-Man, that's real messed up.

-What you say?

-Nothing.

-You know what, Kenneth?

It feels really good to just be able to talk

to somebody about your problems, you know?

-Yeah, baby girl.

We can do all the talking you want to.

-You know, I....

Sometimes, I wonder what's the purpose in living.

It's like it's this big rule book

that you have to live by, and as a child,

you're told that if you break the rules,

then you won't be successful, but the funny thing is,

it seems like the ones that are the most successful

are the ones that break all the rules.

There is just so much I don't understand about life.

[ Sighs ]

But...

I think I'm ready to break one of the rules, Kenneth.

A-A-As crazy as it may seem,

I think I want you to be my first.

[ Sultry funk music plays ]

-[ Chuckles ]

[ Music stops ]

-Oh.

-Help me. -What?

-But, Alicia, I mean,

are you sure you want to do this?

-I...

-This is something that you can never get back.

-What is it? Am -- Am I ugly?

D-D-Does my breath smell or something?

What's -- What's the...

-No, that's not it.

-Well, let's stop talking about it

and go through with it.

[ Sultry funk music resumes ]

-Oh.

[ Music stops ]

-But you not doing this because you want to.

You just doing this out of pain.

You're trying to fill an empty space

with an empty action,

and when it's all over,

you're just gonna feel worse.

You should wait until it's worth something.

You don't have to be like everyone else

for me to like you.

I like you because you can't dance.

I like you for you.

♪ You don't have to hurt anymore ♪

♪ You can reach for the stars ♪

♪ In the sky above ♪

♪ So let no man ♪

♪ Stop you now ♪

♪ You've come too far ♪

♪ To live in doubt ♪

♪ He'll lead you to your destiny, oh ♪

♪ You're my queen ♪

♪ You're my queen ♪

♪ You never have to try and be something that you're not ♪

♪ Just stay true to yourself ♪

♪ God, he'll be your help ♪

♪ And lead you to your destiny ♪

♪ The tears, you've had so many ♪

♪ You've cried yourself to sleep ♪

♪ Thinking no one cares about your suffering ♪

♪ When all your hope is gone ♪

♪ Find a brand-new song ♪

♪ It's a thing only queens can see ♪

♪ You're a queen ♪

♪ You're a queen ♪

♪ You never have to try and be something that you're not ♪

♪ Just stay true to yourself ♪

♪ God, he'll be your help ♪

♪ He'll lead you to your destiny ♪

♪ You've sacrificed so much ♪

♪ Trying to taste this sinless dream ♪

♪ I know sometimes it feels like it's far beyond your reach ♪

♪ When all your hope is gone ♪

♪ Find a brand-new song ♪

♪ It's a thing only queens can see, yeah ♪

♪ To truly get the chance to shine ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Oh, girl ♪

♪ Spread your wings and fly, girl ♪

♪ Spread your wings and fly ♪

♪ Spread your wings and fly, girl ♪

♪ 'Cause you're my queen ♪

♪ You're my queen ♪

♪ You never have to try and be something that you're not ♪

♪ Stay true to yourself ♪

♪ God, he'll be your help ♪

♪ He'll lead you to your destiny, yeah ♪

♪ You're my queen ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Oh, hey ♪

♪ You just stay true to yourself ♪

♪ God, he'll be your help ♪

♪ He'll lead you to your destiny ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

-Thank you, Kenneth.

Oh, Gramps...

Uh, how did you get in here? -Shut up.

How did you get...

-Just shut it on up.

-How did you get a ke-- -I caught you red-handed.

Just shut up.

Thought I heard Michael Jackson outside.

So what's your name, son?

-It's Kenneth.

-"It's Kenneth."

You don't got a fu-- a last name, son? Huh?

Trying to be smart? What's your full name, son?

-It's Kenneth Woods.

-[ Chuckles ]

See, son...

I see what your wood do, Kenneth Woods.

My question, well... My granddaughter --

My question is, what won't you do, dadgummit?

Hm? Now, I'm-a ask you one more dadgum time

before I slap your end.

What's your full name, son?

It's Kenneth Woods, man.

I'm a get -- -Oh, hey, Dad? Daddy?

What -- What are you doing home so early?

It's only 3:30.

-What's your name, son? -Kenneth Woods, sir.

-Hold on. Pause.

Now, why does he want to get all nice and courteous

when he walks in dadgum house?

Hm? Y'all answer me. Look, I'm...

But I'm the crazy one, though?

Un-pause.

-What you doing in my house? -Uh, nothing.

-About to get your behind to whoop, huh?

-And one of these stakes is right there.

-Sir, I was just walking her in the house.

-Ain't you Fred's boy?

-Yes, sir.

Wait -- Wait a minute. -Well, I'll be...

-Gary, listen, Gary... -Sit down.

-Fred's boy was about to be

your daughter's baby daddy, man,

right there on the plastic.

I seen it right with my own two dadgum eyes.

-It's been a long time. Boy, you growed up, huh?

Where's your father at? I go by the house.

There's a sign on the door, "We'll be back later."

-Yeah, well, he hasn't been feeling too well lately.

-Hm.

-Yeah, there's a lot of that going around, huh?

I try to call him. He don't call me back.

You know, me and him used to...

Dad...

let the boy breathe, okay?

-Oh, I'm sorry.

Me and him used to chase skirts and everything.

I, uh... I've been looking for him.

-Ah, well,

too much hasn't changed about that, either.

-Alicia, did you invite him to the cookout on Saturday?

-Oh, yeah. You should come.

My dad is, like, the best cook in the world.

-Man, well, y'all...

Boy, y'all got some lying demons

in the dadgum house, boy.

That boy can't cook dadgum toast.

-Dad, I think I hear Lisa calling you.

-What? Say, I don't hear Lisa.

-Eh! -What?

-Ehhh! -Where Lisa?

I hear Lisa. -Yeah!

-I hear her calling. -Boy, you got some good ears.

-Eh! -But, son,

I got something for you.

You think I'm crazy, don't you? -Yeah.

Do -- Do you think I'm crazy?

Watch this here.

-[ Gasps ] Huh! [ Sultry funk music plays ]

[ Music stops ]

-What grade you in, boy?

-I'm in the same grade as Alicia -- 11th.

-Hm, you gonna graduate on time?

-Yes, sir.

-You know what, Kenneth?

You should never try to be normal.

You understand what I'm saying?

Normal people, they don't amount to nothing.

You know, we just work day-to-day,

check-to-check, hoping we got enough money

to save up at the end of the month

to take our family out for a Popsicle or something.

-[ Laughs ]

A Popsicle? Heh.

-That's funny, huh?

See, that's funny to you because you probably

a little rich boy, huh?

I ain't mad, though. That's a blessing.

But you just keep it up in school,

so you never end up normal, like me, alright?

You don't want that, do you?

You don't want that, do you?

-No. -Do you?

Boy, I'm talking to you. Is you deaf?

-No, sir. I don't want to be like you.

-Okay. Uh, what -- what school you go to, bro?

I attend -- -Ah, Daddy...

would you please stop badgering my guest?

-I'm just encouraging the boy. -Come on, Ken.

-Listen, man. Listen...

come on out to the cookout on Saturday,

bring your father, alright?

Maybe you can get in contact with him because I sure can't.

-Well, I'll see you Saturday, Kenneth.

-I'll see you... -[ Clears throat ]

-...Saturday, too, Alicia.

And be blessed, too.

And remember, when the prices go up,

the blessings go down.

-[ Sighs ]

-Hey. Hey, babe.

-This is Kenneth. -I know you.

-Uh, yeah, I teach at Magnolia High School.

-Uh, Kenneth.

-Yeah, nice to meet you.

-Hm.

Well, uh... -Well, I best be going now.

-Okay, well, I'll see you Saturday, Kenneth.

-Okay, Alicia.

[ Door closes ]

-What was that about?

-Seem like a pretty nice boy, Alicia.

You like him? -Ye--

Well, he seems pretty cool.

-Yeah, he seem like he's alright.

That doggone Freddy, though.

-Ooh, Jesus.

Excuse me.

-Daddy, what are you doing home so early?

I thought you had to work late tonight.

-Well, baby, listen.

I've been doing some serious thinking lately, you know?

I know I haven't always

been there for you, like I should be.

I been so consumed with what I'm doing.

I decided to maybe, you know, take the day off,

spend some more time with you and Sheila.

-Oh, her again?

[ Scoffs ]

-Alicia, do you have to go there with me again?

-[ Scoffs ] Wow.

-[ Sighs ]

-Gary... -Yes?

-What are you doing home? -Well, I was...

-I thought you were gonna work overtime or something.

-Well, I was just telling Alicia, you know,

I, um...

I've been doing some serious praying, you know,

and I -- I know that I haven't been the best husband.

I haven't been the best father.

So I decided to take the day off and spend some time with you.

-Oh, really? Take a day off?

The way that the bills are growing,

did you really think that we can afford

to have you take a day off?

-Yeah, I felt the need to.

Listen, if I'm not careful,

my little girl will be a grown woman,

and I won't have nothing to do with it.

-Gary, you're gonna have everything to do with it.

She's your daughter.

How do you provide the clothes on her back?

You're there.

You make all the sacrifices you can

for the little girl.

Baby, I...

You know what, is this about the gospel money?

Is it? Is this about the gospel competition money?

You know what? Don't worry about it.

I already put the money up.

I knew you were gonna ask for it.

I don't know if I like the way you talking

about my daughter like that.

I know that.

-Well, do you know she talks about me the same way?

Did you know that?

-Okay, listen. Come here. Come here. Listen.

I don't want to argue with you, okay?

I am off work today.

You are off work today.

Let's celebrate, baby. Let's celebrate.

-Oh, God, Gary. What are we gonna celebrate,

the 20th day of us being home at the same time?

-Yeah, that's -- that's cool.

Baby, let's go out. Let's go out.

Remember we used to dance, huh?

Huh?

Huh? -[ Chuckles ] Gary.

Oh, snap. You know what?

-Huh? -I totally forgot, baby.

I --

I got to do some paperwork.

I told him I'd come back and finish up

all of the filing and everything.

I can't believe I forgot, baby.

You know what? I'll be back early, I swear.

-So the day I get off, you --

you suddenly have to be at the office?

-Gary, I'll be back.

I promise.

It'll be early.

-Okay. -Love you, boo.

-Be safe.

-Bye, Gary.

-As I said before, Ms. Washington,

um...

we're just trying to, uh, close this case out.

Um, I feel bad about your son,

but there's nothing I can do about it.

-What you said?

-Ms. Washington, I've said this over and over again.

There's nothing we can do for... -Did you? Okay, so anyways,

I don't know what you talking about,

but I'm-a say what I got to say.

Look, I got three kids, okay?

And what I need you to do is help me get my three kids back

because they just giving me the runaround.

It makes me... It gets on my nerves and stuff,

and I need you...

Okay, this is the paper they gave me

the last time, and they told me,

"You can get your kids back, Ms. Washington.

You can get your kids back," and I said, "Well, that's cool,

'cause I'm Shaniqua de Shaquan Washington,

and you don't play me for no fool,"

so they said I can get my kids back,

then they found that crack... -Ms. Washington, Ms. Washington.

-...that one time. -Ms. Washington,

you're rambling.

-I'm trying to tell you my story about the crack

when they found it and took my kids.

So, they found the crack. They took my kids.

And, you know, that was dirty when they took them

and, you know, little, little de Shaquan was sticky,

but she was gonna be alright.

And, um, okay, so when they found it and stuff,

and then I said, "I just slipped up that one time,"

and then the lady was like, "We don't really care,

'cause we gonna take your kids." -Ms. Washington, please.

I got a few more clients coming this afternoon.

-So, they more important than me?

-I'm not saying that. -What you trying to say?

-I'm saying we need to tie this up,

and I will get in contact with you,

or somebody from my office will get in contact.

-You know what, every time I come here to see you,

and I be trying to have you help me,

you always give me the runaround.

You always constantly telling me stuff,

and you give me the runaround about what you going to do,

and then you don't never evers

do nothing that I need to happen.

Going on like you ain't never seen a little bit of gnat

and some little lice or something before.

You -- And you act like you always been rich.

-Ms. Washington, please, uh... I think we need to wrap this up.

Please? Thank you so much.

Um, I will be in contact.

-So, what, you gonna call security on me?

-If I have to, I will. -You know what?

You real janky because you can keep this, keep that,

and you ain't gonna never gonna help me out,

do what I need to do, and you just be showing me

attitude every time I come in here,

and I'm done with you, 'cause you done forgot

what you done came from with your roots,

and you know what?

For my inconvenience, 'cause you inconvenienced me.

Excuse you. -Ooh.

-That's why I say, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

Wow. Wow. -Hey.

-Hey, baby.

-Hey.

-Mm.

-Hey. -How you doing, baby?

-I'm good. Look, I got your call.

I came over as soon as I could.

What's going on? You sounded worried.

-I am.

Um...

We need to talk about a few things.

-What'd you want to talk about, baby?

-Um...

Let me just get right to the point, baby.

We got to stop this.

We got to break it off.

-Freddy...

[ Laughs ]

Freddy...

come on, baby, mnm-mnm.

Not Mr. Don't-Stop Get-it-Get-it.

Freddy, you know what, you say that all the time,

and then what happens, huh? -I know.

-We always end up right back on top each other, don't we?

-I know, baby, but this time, I'm serious.

We've got to stop this thing. It's getting dangerous.

-[ Scoffs ] Now, I understand

you ran into my son the other day.

-Yeah. He came over to the house.

I didn't know he and Alicia were such good friends.

-That's what I'm talking about.

He's seen us together.

-Freddy, that's no big deal.

Baby, look, I can make up something.

I can make it seem like, what?

We were just having a business meeting, or...

It's no big deal.

-Wow.

-What?

-That's not the only reason I think we need to break it off.

-Freddy, come on, you losing me.

You know, I -- I think you been drinking

a little bit too much lately.

What's going on?

-I went to the doctor the other day and I'm not...

I haven't been feeling well lately.

-Well, that swine flu going around now.

Well, what? Baby, come on. It's probably nothing.

-Sheila, can I ask you a question?

Do you...

Do you think God will give me another chance?

-Freddy, what are you talking about?

-You know, out of all the women in the world I could've met,

I met you --

a married woman,

my best friend's wife.

It's like the cycle just goes around and around, Sheila.

-Freddy, stop. You're losing me.

Alright?

-Let me ask you another question.

Do you think God will forgive us?

Huh? -Freddy...

-I was reading the Bible the other day, Sheila.

-[ Scoffs ] -Something I haven't done

in about 20 years.

And I came across this scripture, uh...

Samuel 2:12,

and -- and -- and it talked about this poor farmer,

who was out in the woods, and he found a lamb,

and he took the little lamb in,

and -- and he fed the lamb, and h-he gave the lamb water,

and he cleaned the lamb, and he even let his --

his lamb sleep with his children,

and he held the lamb in his arms like it was one of his own.

And there was a -- a -- a -- a rich farmer

who lived not too far away from the poor farmer,

and then a stranger came to town one day,

and you know what the rich farmer did?

He took that lamb,

and he sacrificed that lamb from that poor farmer

and gave it to the stranger,

and God, it said in the scriptures,

condemned that man,

the rich man.

Sheila, I am that man.

I am the man who turned you

against the one who honestly loved you.

I am the man who turned you into a hypocrite.

Look, stop talking like that, Freddy.

You go into that church...

every Sunday,

and you put your mask on.

And you praise Jesus, and you shout "Hallelujah"

to the preacher man every Sunday, Sheila!

And you got that mask on like nobody can see who you are,

and you keep that mask on for a few pleasurable moments,

and then God takes that mask off

for the whole world to see.

Bad company...

corrupts good manners, Sheila.

Don't you see that? -No, wh-wh-wh--

What does all of this mean, Freddy?

What are you talking about? -We -- we -- we -- we -- we --

We've been doing wrong so long,

you can't even see what's right anymore, Sheila.

Think about it. -Okay, fine.

You know, baby, if you want to stop this,

we can just try and stop. -No, we can't try!

We can't try. We got to do it.

I kept...

I kept reading that scripture, Sheila.

And it talked about two deaths --

two deaths as I kept reading on.

And, you know, [chuckles] I-I grew up in church, Sheila...

and I -- and I...

As I got older, and I start becoming

more successful in my practice,

I start looking at all the lies and all the deceit

and all the stuff that went on in church,

and I lost -- I lost -- I lost favor with church.

I-I-I just got confused,

and I shut it all down,

and I stopped believing in God, Sheila,

[voice breaking] and now God is punishing me.

-God is not punishing you, Freddy.

What are you talking about?

What are you talking about?

[ Sobbing ] Sheila...

I went to the doctor.

And the doctor told me...

God, I don't know how to tell you.

-What is it, Freddy?

The doctor told me I had full-blown AIDS, Sheila.

-Oh, God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my god, Freddy.

Freddy... -[ Sobbing ]

-Oh, my god.

Oh, my God.

-Shh.

Oh, shh. Be real quiet, Lisa.

Look, he's sleeping,

Okay?

Wh-- You -- -Shh, shh, shh.

-You walking too loud, Lisa.

Stop all that dadgum stomping now.

Good thing we got light feet, though.

And he smell like old Pink moisturizer

or something. -Yeah, he immersed.

He needs some of that 'tussin,

You know, the kind you rub on like this?

I sure can't wait to get my son some --

some -- get some good old-fashioned ribs and things.

-Yeah, me, too. -It's barbecue time.

It's barbecue time.

-What are you doing here so early?

-Huh?

-Morning. -It's 5:45.

Why y'all here right now?

-Well, look, son, I don't...

Y'all don't know how to make no dadgum barbecue.

Can't wait till 10:00 a.m. to get that grill good and ready.

You got to start early, mama, at 5:45 in the morning.

Look, that way, get that good old-fashioned grill,

put a little bit of that gasoline --

just little bit of gasoline in that thing --

-Yeah. -...put that meat on top

of that grill, make one of them good old-fashioned.

-[ Imitates sizzling ] -That's the sound

you're looking for right there, man.

That's it.

-Okay. Whatever, man.

-What's wrong, precious? You look a little stressed.

-Nothing, Ms. Lisa. -Nothing?

-Nothing. -You know what?

-I know what will get you right,

a mouthful of Grandma's famous old coleslaw.

You see, I start off with the cabbage and the carrot,

and then you put in a pineapple, kiwi with the fur on it,

then cherries, bananas, grapes, and onions.

Then you wrap it up in a burrito,

put it on the grill, right?

When you put it on the grill -- Mm, this gum is good.

You want a piece? Let me see if I got...

Never mind, but anyway, then we take it off the grill.

After about five minutes, you open it back up,

put a little moonshine.

My cousin Brita over there at the corner,

she got some moonsh-- I mean --

Well, don't tell her I told you. That's a secret.

Okay, so anyway, you roll it back up,

dip it in Listerine, shut up,

put it in the freezer, four seconds.

When you pull it out, lay it out like a cinnamon roll,

and then you just cut it up like that right there.

Ooh! Get you right. -Okay.

-You might need a little extra freshener for your restroom.

It -- It goes straight through you.

But other than that, it's good. Look.

-I'm still alive. Look at me. -He's still alive. Look at him.

Look at him, just go on.

-Look, son, I'll tell you what. -You're welcome.

-I tell you what, go on and get your rest, son.

We'll be out back, go on, get the grill ready,

for sure how we do it, old-school way.

Alright, son. Go and get some rest.

Alright? -Oh, this is the first phase.

Burrito on the grill.

I'm-a be back with coleslaw on the grill.

Burrito.

Hallelujah, burrito!

[ Door closes ]

-Sheila?

Where you been, baby?

I've been waiting up all night for you.

I thought something happened to you.

-Uh, I'm sorry, baby. I just...

I fell asleep at the office.

Ah, you feel asleep at the office again?

-Yeah. -Listen, I keep telling you,

when you get tired,

pack up and leave early.

You -- you good? -Yeah, I'm alright.

-Whew. I've been worried sick. I slept on the couch.

-Let me get you some -- some juice.

Have a seat, baby.

-Uh... -Wow.

Whew.

Baby, you should have seen the band last night,

boy, whew.

Like, our best performance ever.

I mean, everything was incredible.

I'm talking about the soloist was great.

The vocalist was great.

Don't feel bad about not being able to make it, baby,

but I will tell you this --

We...

are on our way.

Freddy wasn't even there.

I mean, you know, the cat that we rent the studio from,

the homey? -Yeah.

He wasn't there like we expected.

There's been a lot of rumors about him lately.

-Yeah, so --

-I just hear my friends down there talking about, you know?

-What you say?

-How was your solo last night?

-My solo...

You know what? It was like...

It was like the first time when I picked up the instrument.

It was like the first time I ever played.

I mean, I can...

It was like this angel was sitting on my shoulder

singing and humming

and telling me every note to play.

It was actually pretty amazing.

It was --

It was a special night.

-That's great.

Gary...

I got something I need to tell you.

-Really? -Yeah.

-Okay. Well, I got something I need to tell you, as well.

-Okay. Well, you go first.

-Okay. Well, Alicia...

You know, she's been worried

this songwriter's competition,

and, you know, she's been bugging me about it,

so she decided to submit one of her works early

just to kind of, you know, test it out,

and, baby...

I didn't know my daughter was this talented!

I mean, I'm listening to her song.

It is blowing me away. I'm talking about...

The song is talking about integrity

and --and -- and honor,

pointing it all back to Christ.

-Yeah.

-I'm thinking to myself, "I better start taking time

and listening to her music before she become famous!"

So, anyway, she submitted the song

to the cast and director yesterday.

Of course, he was surprised that, you know,

she submitted it kind of early, and when he listened to it,

it automatically made her a finalist.

-Wow. -Yeah!

He says, "Listen. You submit one more song like that,

he's gonna introduce her to some people

that can help her get in the music business."

-Wow.

-Ain't that great, baby?

-Yeah!

It is a blessing, baby.

-Sheila, what's wrong?

Let me guess.

We don't have the money

to submit the rest of our material, right?

-No! No, it's not that.

It's not about the money, Gary!

-Well, what is it then?

Gary, I...

[ Sighs ]

You're a good man, baby.

You're such a good man. -Well, thank you.

-I mean, I think you're an amazing man,

and I think you just have this extraordinary vision.

I just don't feel like I could just...

-There's my little princess now!

-Good morning, everybody.

-I was just telling your stepmom how proud of you I am.

-Oh, really? -Yes!

-I'm sorry, baby.

What were you telling me... gonna tell me?

-I'll tell you later. -No, you don't have to wait!

No, Gary! I'll just tell you later!

-Daddy!

-Daddy... -Yeah.

-What time do you want me to tell Kenneth to come over?

-Um, just tell them they can come over about 8:00 a.m.

You know, the earliest, the better --

the earlier, the better, 'cause I'm going to be here

fellowshipping and preparing all the food

and making sure all the food is ready.

Listen to me.

Your mother would be so proud of you.

I'm proud of you.

Everybody is so proud of you.

-Daddy... [ Both chuckle ]

I'm so glad that you're happy and everything.

-Yes, I am!

-But s-sometimes, I wonder what life would be like

if mom was still here, you know?

-Hmm.

You know what, baby girl?

I sometimes wonder the same thing.

-You know, she was my refuge. -Mm.

-It was like, I could tell her anything,

and she would honestly try to understand me, you know?

-Yeah.

-She did have a way of helping you understand life, huh?

-Like nobody else.

Daddy, these past four years have been really hard for me

since she's been gone, and -- and I...

Of course, I never wanted to bring it up in your presence

'cause I knew it had to be painful

for you to lose her, you know?

-Yeah, it was.

-She could sing like nobody's business, Daddy!

[ Laughs ] -She could.

-She would always tell me to keep my journal

because life is one big circle, and -- and if you mess up,

you can record what you did wrong

and make it better the next time.

-That sounds like her. -She said,

"That's what makes a good songwriter

or a preacher or a teacher, or whatever else holds

a great amount of responsibility."

-She's right. -When you can go

through something without allowing it to kill you,

just write it down and help someone else live.

-Yeah.

-Daddy, do you believe in angels?

-You know what, princess? I, um...

I think I'm starting to!

[ Chuckles ]

Alicia, I know that, uh...

I haven't been always there for you.

I've been so wrapped up in -- in -- in --

doing my thing that I never thought about you doing yours,

and for that,

I want you to know that I'm sorry.

-Daddy, don't feel bad

'cause I know I haven't been acting right either.

I have something very important I need to tell you, Daddy.

-Why does everybody got something important

to tell me right about now?

-It's about Sheila...

-Okay.

-...and Mr. Freddy.

-Okay. What's wrong?

-[ Sighs ] -Well -- Well --

You know, Kenneth and I are really good friends, right?

-Uh-huh.

-I've seen Mr. Freddy here one night

while you were at his studio.

-What are you trying to say to me, Alicia?

-Oop! Belisha!

Put the fire out, baby!

Put the fire out!

Man, they don't make grills like they used to make them, man.

Look...

we put a little more gasoline in that doggone thing.

We done blown it up and stuff.

-What? -Don't worry about it!

Lisa, she out back fanning the fire.

-I'm-a go by the bathroom. What's wrong?

What -- I'm going...

She a fire marshal, man! Chill out!

I'm-a go by the bathroom. My bladder about to fall --

Gramps! Gramps.

I told him.

-Told who? What'd you tell him?

-My daddy!

-What'd you tell him, Alicia?

-I-I told him about the late-night creeps...

-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. -...and the man coming over here

to spend time with Sheila. -Whoa, whoa, shut up!

What'd he say?

Talk, honey. Talk.

He -- He didn't say anything.

-Nothing?

-Well, I didn't quite get to the "late-night creeps" part.

I-I tried to tell him, but I got distracted.

-What could be that doggone distracting

to where you couldn't tell...

This may be a little bit above your league, okay?

Maybe a little bit too big for you.

-I don't know why, Gramps!

I'm telling you, that lady is mean!

-But I'm not saying that you --

that you ain't telling the truth.

All I'm saying is, my bladder is 88 years old.

I got to go to the doggone bathroom.

Talk to me about this in a minute.

Doggone!

-[ Sighs ]

-Still working on your little music, huh?

-Yes.

I'm only so far from winning this competition,

and I'll pay you back everything I owe you.

-What you owe me?

Little girl, you can't hardly pay me back

what you owe me for everything I've done around here!

-Yes, I will,

since you feel like I'm such a burden.

-"Burden" ain't the word.

-Let me ask you a question, Ms. Alicia.

You believe in God?

-Yes. Why wouldn't I believe in God?

-Well, if there really is a God,

why He let good people die, huh?

I mean, if there really is a God,

then why won't He stop the spread of corruption, huh?

It's like you spend all your life trying to be somebody,

and then, ultimately, you just end up nowhere.

Then along come little, good people like you

talking about how God is and how good God is.

Well, you know, if your God was so good...

How you know?

You ain't even lived yet, little girl.

Sheila, I know you feel like your life is falling apart,

but that's not a reason to blame God, ugh.

Little girl, just sit over there

and write your little innocent music,

and maybe after you've gone through something,

you can tell me about my problems.

You understand?

[ Chuckles ]

You know I met your daddy in church?

Mm-hmm.

He was wearing this white shirt,

this red tie,

and he had on these little brown khakis.

He was quite a gentleman,

but I just knew something wasn't right.

Oh, he was still in love with Ms. Alice.

Never quite got over Ms. Alice.

You know, I met your mama before she died.

People still tryin' to cover up the fact

that woman died from a drug overdose.

Don't nobody want to say nothing, though!

-You don't know what you talking about!

The hell I don't!

-I don't want to hear this, you liar!

-Why the hell would I lie?

Why would I lie, little girl?

Sit down.

You know what, Alicia?

When I look at you, it's like --

it's like I can see myself in you or something.

You remind me so much of me.

[ Chuckles ]

You know, my daddy was one of them

big-time preachers at a church in Atlanta.

[ Sighs ]

He used to --

He used to make sure that I was there all the time.

I used to play my little music.

I used to sing in the choir.

I was even giving piano lessons.

He made us go to church every single Sunday,

and then he made us feel like,

"Well, if we didn't go to church this Sunday,

then we were sinners."

He made it seem like those little four red brick walls,

that was our only way to ever become somebody.

It was the only way into heaven!

Everything was fine, too.

One day I walk in.

I walked into the pastor's study.

And there my daddy is...

on top of one of the church members.

And instead of him saying, "I'm sorry, baby!

I'm sorry, baby,"

he never even addressed it.

He just kept going Sunday after Sunday,

as if nothing ever happened.

So, you know what?

I just learn to do what I've seen.

Okay?

If that means playing church,

then hey... [ Glass thuds ]

...I'm just a product of my society.

You know, your mama played church?

Oh, yeah.

Your daddy -- he about to jump

right back in the game, too.

So, you know, your life is young, honey.

You need to enjoy it while you can.

-[ Sniffles ]

[ Sobbing ] Everybody is not like your daddy!

That's why I don't care about this one!

Alicia!

-[ Sobbing ]

What's your problem, child?

-Gramps! Why didn't you tell me, Gramps?

-Look, I-I heard what she said. -How could you --

How could you hold the truth from me

when you know my momma was my very reason for living?

-Alicia, that's not what's important right now.

-What's not important?

What's not important?

-What you're going through.

-It has no real importance right now

You could use your same music and stuff.

I mean, all the...

People always got something negative to say

when you try to do something positive with your life,

but what you have to learn how to do is,

know who you are inside.

Think above everybody else's negative comments and things.

Put it like this -- Fly up in sky.

Fly in the sky, yeah.

Come on. Pick your stuff up, man.

♪ Life can be so strange with this twist and this turn ♪

♪ And people can appear to be mean at various times ♪

♪ So, you try to compress your feelings inside ♪

♪ 'Cause it hurt and made you ball up in your mind ♪

♪ But fly in the sky, where no one can hinder you ♪

♪ In the sky, where nobody can discourage you ♪

♪ In the sky, where your greatest dreams ♪

♪ They come true ♪

♪ In the sky ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ In the sky ♪

Come on.

Just try it out, you know?

Alicia...

it's gonna be alright.

♪ They will conform to the ways of this, of this world ♪

♪ They attempt to get you to go along ♪

♪ with their schemes and their, their plots ♪

♪ They misconstrue the Word of God to ♪

♪ To, to, uh, justify ♪

♪ But just stay firm in the faith ♪

♪ Keep your eyes on the prize ♪

♪ Fly in the sky, where nobody can hinder you ♪

♪ In the sky, where nobody can discourage you ♪

♪ In the sky, where your greatest dreams ♪

♪ They come true, in the sky ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ In the sky ♪

Pick your stuff up! Come on. Pick your stuff up and yell!

♪ You gotta believe in your dreams ♪

♪ Yes, you do, yes, you best believe in your dreams ♪

♪ But you got to believe ♪

Yeah, believe in your dreams!

Pick up this dream, girl! Pick it up! Uh-huh, yeah.

♪ Believe in your dreams ♪

♪ You got to keep on pushing forward ♪

♪ Pushing forward, yeah ♪

You know what I'm talking about?

♪ Keep on believing in your dreams ♪

[ Vocalizing ]

♪ Believe in your dreams ♪

Walk with me! Come on, baby!

♪ You can move around the world ♪

♪ But you must believe in your dreams, girl ♪

♪ Believe in your dreams, girl ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

"Walk by faith and not by sight."

Look at that!

♪ Believe in your dreams, yeah ♪

-Hey, d-d-did your dad say what time he was...

would be home?

-I hadn't heard from him. I don't know.

-You haven't seen him? -I haven't seen him.

-What about, uh... your grandfather?

Nobody's here? -Sheila!

-[ Sighs ]

-Sheila!

-Hey, Gary.

Let me just say something to you, bro.

Please.

-Hey! -Daddy!

-I just got a phone call!

I just got a phone call from your people at the office.

Where were you last night?

Where were you last night? -Gary -- Gary --

Gary, I was at the office.

-That's not what I heard, Sheila!

-Gary! Gary!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

-Oh, my God.

-[ Groaning ]

-I tried to be there for you, Sheila.

-Gary, please, just listen to me.

-I I was just trying to be the man you wanted me to be.

-Gary, please...

-Alicia, I'm sorry.

You've been trying to tell me, and I didn't listen, and I --

I apologize, Alicia.

-[ Voice breaking ] It's okay, Dad.

-Gary, please. Come on.

Just let me explain. -Get your stuff and get out!

Okay, Gary, please, just let me explain.

Get your stuff and get out! -[ Screams ]

Lord, I don't know why You make us the way that You do.

Sometimes, I feel like You made a mistake with me.

Life goes by so fast, and I wasn't ready for it.

I-I guess it is true when they say,

"What goes around, comes around," huh?

I just wasn't ready, Lord.

What do I make of myself now?

Where do I go from here?

-You go on.

You keep living your life.

You know, there are many generational curses

that have hindered this family for a long time,

and I couldn't take it any longer,

and that's why I left.

This cycle will continue

until someone breaks the curse.

Gary, I know that you try to do your best...

but you cannot allow Alicia

to grow up not knowing our mistakes.

I don't know why that's such a major issue with parents.

We just don't want to tell our children the truth,

but how can we expect for them to grow up

and be better people if we never share with them

the mistakes that we made

and the things that we went through?

[ Sighs ]

Life is short,

and you're only here for a short amount of time.

You know, the most important question

that any person can ask himself is...

"Where will I go

when the lights go out?

Will my soul find rest beyond the river's shore?

Where will my soul be?"

It's either Heaven or Hell.

Gary...

I know that you try to do what's right,

and that's good,

but even I learned that if you try to do what's right

without first asking God to show you,

you can find yourself deeper in quicksand

than when you started.

[ Sighs ]

But God...

God -- God can reach down into that quicksand

and pull you out

without leaving a grain of sand on you.

-So, what do I do?

-Just do like I did...

and say...

"Father, I'm sorry."

-Father, I'm sorry.

-"Please forgive me."

-Please forgive me.

-"Make me over."

-Make me over.

-Make me over.

"I've put some things before You, dear God."

-I have put some things before You, O God.

-"I've put some things before You, dear God,

but now I put You back as the head."

-But now I put You back as the head.

-"And now, I put You back as the head.

-You are my Savior."

-You are my Savior.

-You are my Savior.

-"Now and forevermore."

-Now and forevermore.

-Now and forevermore.

-"Even after my lights go out."

I'm finally finished.

Now I understand

the importance of trusting You.

I thought You left me,

but now I see that You were only giving me room to grow.

Pain and suffering

and persecution,

that's what brought about triumph

in my everyday life, as well as in the competition.

Now I know that if I never would have went through

what sometimes appears to be hard times and dark times,

I never would know how to appreciate the light.

[ Sighs ]

♪ I can see miracles ♪

♪ Flowing through me ♪

♪ I can see healing ♪

♪ Coming to my family ♪

♪ Lord, You gave me the eyes of Yours ♪

♪ So I could see how to love ♪

♪ You gave me the eyes of Yours ♪

♪ So I could lay out in integrity, oh ♪

♪ Now I'm letting go of my pain ♪

♪ In You, I have so much to gain ♪

♪ Because of You, O God ♪

♪ O God, O God, O God ♪

♪ My life will never be the same ♪

♪ You deserve all the honor and praise ♪

♪ You mended my heart ♪

♪ So I could give you all of me ♪

♪ I lift up holy hands ♪

♪ I give all my praise unto thee ♪

♪ Oh-h-h-h! ♪

[ Vocalizing ]