All language subtitles for Honk.for.Jesus.Save.Your.Soul.2022.WEBRip.x264-ION10English

* *

* *

(birds chirping)

(traffic passing)

(rhythmic clapping)

(singers vocalizing)

-(passing horn honks)
-(singing and clapping stops)

(tambourine rattles)

(breathes deeply)

TRINITIE:
Every woman is not built for

the great responsibility
of being a first lady.

Lee-Curtis and I...

(sighs)

...we're just gonna get
to the other side.

Always, we're gonna get
to the other side.

You know...

Have you ever seen a rat

go from the inside of a house
to the outside of a house?

They chew through.

So we're-we're gonna gnaw
through the hardest parts.

I mean, not that
we're rats, obviously,

but just that tenacity.

So that's good. You can cut.

* Now, ever since
I can remember *

* I been poppin' my collar *

* Poppin', poppin' my collar,
poppin', poppin' my collar *

* Now, ever since
I can remember *

* I been workin' these hos *

* And they better put my money
in my hand, in my hand *

* Now, ever since
I can remember *

* I been poppin' my collar *

* Poppin',
poppin' my collar... *

LEE-CURTIS:
God favors those who favor him,

both spiritually
and physically.

(congregation murmurs
in agreement)

-I mean, check me out.
-(applause)

Don't it look like
I been favoring the Lord?

(cheering)

NEWSMAN:
Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs

and wife
First Lady Trinitie Childs

together have donated
enough money

-to pay off the entire debt
of the county.-Praise Jesus!

God loves those who worship him.

You know that Rolls-Royce
out there in the parking lot?

I didn't buy that.

The helicopter?
It's not really mine, no.

All of these wonderful things
are because I worked hard

-and invested in God!
-(cheering)

NEWSMAN: Pastor
Lee-Curtis Childs is letting

both the mayor and the governor

host their fundraisers
at his megachurch.

NEWSWOMAN:
The new learning center

at Wander to Greater Paths
Baptist Church

helmed by First Lady Trinitie
Childs promises to bring

quality education
to underserved communities.

I love my faithful daughters

-and my spiritual sons!
-(cheering)

And I am devoted to y'all.

Every last one of you.

And with that same devotion,
you, too, can be prosperous.

You, too, can be blessed!

(cheering continues)

Amen!

(cheering fades)

-REPORTER: Pastor Childs!
-(reporters clamoring)

Pastor Childs,
are the allegations true?

-Sir!
-No comment.

First Lady,
do you have any comment?

A little space, please.
Thank you very much.

First Lady Childs,
will you stay?

LEE-CURTIS: Maybe I should
dip into the Old Testament

a bit more.

TRINITIE:
Mm. Mm-hmm.

I like some of
the Old Testament.

It's got rigor.

Could be good for our new look.

Straddling the new and the old.

I could perfect
a good powerful straddle,

don't you think?

(silverware scraping plate
rapidly)

Uh, baby.

Uh, scraping.

(teeth click)

That's Memaw's china.

Something on your mind?

(sighs)

Mm.

We just have a big day
ahead of us, that's all.

It's about the cameras.

And you're nervous.

-Don't be.
-It's just making sure

that this doesn't end up
poorly for us.

Anita Bonet is
a renowned filmmaker.

-I've never heard of her.
-Come on, now.

She done won awards.

Be all up and through
them film festivals.

Okay. Well...

This is gonna chronicle
the ultimate comeback.

This Easter is our revival.

Our renaissance.

(taps feet rhythmically)

We winners, baby.

You married a winner.

And that's all I intend to do.

Hey, I'm Rocky
up in this fight.

(grunts)

(laughing)

Rocky didn't win.

How's that, now?

Well, he-he went the distance,

you know, the whole 15 rounds
against Apollo Creed,

but he didn't...
he didn't actually win.

All right.

But he did win in Rocky II.

Lord, baby, how many times
I got to tell you?

Get past the first movie.

That one's all setup!

Lord have mercy.

(doorbell rings)

(sighs) Jesus, they're here.

TRINITIE:
Mm.

(breathes deeply)

Mm.

We're doing this.

(whispers):
Showtime.

* *

TRINITIE: This has
been our place of ministry for,

whew, well,
almost nine years now.

You know, we-we started out
small but just grew like weeds.

-Didn't it, hon?
-LEE-CURTIS: Sure did.

And before long,
we had all this.

That's all through the
blessings of the Lord, though.

26,000 members
every single Sunday!

It was a sight to see.

TRINITIE:
Mm-hmm. Yes, it was.

Now, I'm telling y'all,

you should have seen this place
when it was jumping.

Course, it hasn't looked like
that for a while, obviously.

No. No.

But we gonna get that all back.

Oh, yeah, we will.

Have this place looking all--
Oh.

-Shit. Shit!
-Oh. Oh, boy.

-Oh, my goodness.
-Now, how in the good Lord's

-lush green earth is anybody
supposed to take me... -Okay.

...and the resurrection
of my church seriously if I...

-(clears throat) It-- Yes.
-These are Fianos!

-Those are-- that's an
Italian brand. -(groans) Sorry.

-So...
-Uh, we can edit around that,

-right, Anita?
-Yeah.

-Can she hear?
-I don't know.

Anita!

Ah. That's right.

Y'all the fly-on-the-walls
type?

They're not gonna talk back
to you, baby.

That's not how they do this.
(chuckles)

Okay.

Y'all got to excuse
my unholy language back there.

-Yes, yes.
-I just...

-Yes. I would've got mad
at that, too. -Whoo.

-(Lee-Curtis grunts)
-Even, uh, Jesus lost it

in the temple that day.

(laughs): It probably was gum
in the temple, too.

Okay, strength of the Lord.

Won't he do it?

-All the time.
-Won't he do it?

All the time.

Oh. Okay.

Uh, over there is
our creative arts center.

They ain't ready. Come on.

That's where our world-renowned
dance ministries rehearse.

We got hip-hop.
We got ribbon twirling.

-Miming.
-Right in there.

Now, have y'all ever seen
praise miming?

'Cause we do it all the time
here, right, Trin?

-(grunting rhythmically)
-(chuckling)

-(scatting)
-(laughing)

-Uh-oh. (laughs)
-Ooh, boy!

Uh, y'all l-look
at the railings?

LEE-CURTIS:
You know, we like to keep

a few options here
on the church's campus.

-Never know when you're
gonna need something. -Yeah.

This one time, a White House
correspondent stopped by...

-Oh. -...and I had on
something fantastic.

-Yes. Yeah.
-It was a pinstripe.

-(clicks tongue) But...
-(chuckles)

...do pinstripes evoke
matters of state? No, no.

Luckily, we had all this here
to switch it up.

-Mm-hmm.
-And this is just as important

-as any White House visit.
-Yeah, yeah.

-All right?
-Ab-- Yeah, absolutely.

So, uh, what are you
thinking, hon?

What is calling you
for our first Sunday back?

None of these.

-Mm-mm. Nothing in here.
-No?

See, our first Sunday back
is Easter Sunday,

-and that-- right?
-Yeah, yeah.

That deserves
something special.

Something new.

-Uh, yeah.
-Yeah.

-You-you sure? Nothing in here?
-May I?

-I'm gonna tell you
what I'm thinking. -Oh. Okay.

I'm thinking Prada.

-Right? (laughs)
-Mm.

TRINITIE: There is--
I'm t-- I'm telling you,

there is just something about
a pastor in Prada.

It just-- it gives you chills.

Well, I have been blessed
with some beautiful Prada.

(both grunt)

-(Trinitie laughs)
-What you think?

-Uh, purple Prada?
-Hmm. I like the color.

TRINITIE:
You know what?

We don't want to go
too extravagant.

Yeah, we want people
to really see us,

look deep into our souls,

and I don't think you quite
get there with the purple.

This is nice, too.
Y'all can get...

-That's cute!
-Yeah, it's real cute.

-Oh, my goodness. I like it.
-I like it. I like it.

-I like that, too. I like it.
-I like that. Come on, now.

(laughs)

-Oh, you got the peach Prada.
-I got the peach Prada.

-The periwinkle Prada. (laughs)
-The periwinkle Prada.

-The pearl Prada.
-Pearl Prada. We got a--

Lord have mercy.
I got a pearl...

-(laughs)
-(mumbling playfully)

Look at him. Look at him!

-(laughs)
-(kisses loudly)

LEE-CURTIS: Some
people think it's excessive.

My old deacon board.

They get so riled up about
some of these divine additions.

And it just got, uh...

unmanageable.

I prayed on it, though.

And God eventually told me
to just be free.

See, the Lord revealed
unto Lee-Curtis that deacons,

well, they just-- they didn't
work for our ministry.

-Mm, you know what he told me?
-Hmm.

He told me that I needed to be

rid of such an ungodly
governmental structure.

Yeah, yeah.
That-that was a quote, too.

Because what good are disciples
if they are undisciplined?

It's not to worry, though.

It's, uh, just
a slight unpleasantness.

All a thing of the past.

And now look.

(both chuckle)

Now we've been blessed
with an indoor fountain.

-Yeah. (laughs)
-Baby.

-Baby, go turn the fountain on
for me. -Oh. Yes.

Sorry. Excuse me.

(both laughing)

-Wait till you see it.
-Here we go. Here we go.

(mouthing)

Mm.

Mm.

What you think? Come here.

(laughing)

Mm.

-Give them the finger.
-Okay.

-Bang.
-Oh, right here.

-Smile. Smile.
-Mm-hmm. Okay.

* *

HOST: All right,
caller, you're on the air

with LT and Jamila
here on WRX 104.

And we're about to get into

this whole Wander to
Greater Paths situation.

What are some of your thoughts?

WOMAN: I mean, I'm really
hoping they open back up.

Pastor Childs and his sermons

were the reason
I got my shit together

and stopped running numbers and
dedicated my life to Christ.

Ooh, and if they looking
to put folks in the movie,

I just want to say
that I act and sing.

I do hair. I could do...

NEWSWOMAN:
Prominent megachurch pastor

Lee-Curtis Childs faces

allegations of
sexual misconduct.

He maintains that
all the allegations

against him are false.

Criminal charges are not

a part of the discussion, but
a settlement is on the table,

with many speculating
the payoffs have begun.

MAN:
Niggas keep shouting

"victim this, victim that."

Ain't no motherfucking victims.

Y'all tell me.
The pastor break the law?

No? A'ight, then.

NEWSMAN:
As a result of the allegations,

Trinitie Childs, the first lady
of the Baptist church,

has been mum
but has stuck by her husband.

WOMAN 2:
What I don't get is his wife.

How could she not know?

How could she stand
being with a man like that?

-Ugh. Just makes my skin crawl.
-(reporters clamoring)

LEE-CURTIS: Please.
A little space. Thank you.

REPORTER:
Do you have any comment?

No comment?

(thunder rumbling softly)

SHAKURA:
Although we're both pastors

at Heaven's House,

the Pastor
and First Lady Childs

have been a huge inspiration
for us,

as up-and-coming
church leaders, of course.

(chuckles)
But also as-as a couple

covered under the Lord.

-KEON: It's just...
-Uh...

It's so sticky.

-So sticky.
-This situation.

But we only pray for the best

-for everyone involved.
-Mm-hmm.

And prayer works, y'all.

When all this was
first going down,

I prayed that
the first lady would

un-file those divorce papers
she served the pastor.

And look what the Lord did.

Kept those two beautiful souls
together.

That is a silver lining
if ever there was one.

That and
our congregation growth.

-Now, not that we wish
anyone's downfall... -No.

...but the fact that these
souls had another church home

to go to
for the good Word of God,

-that is also a blessing.
-Amen.

-'Cause we want to help heal
this community. -(chuckles)

-(laughs) Right?
-Yes.

And-and I just hope
that the Lord will see everyone

through this, uh, absolute
landfill of a circumstance.

-We could only hope...
-Mm.

...to achieve
that sanctified success

that Wander
to Greater Paths has.

(chuckling)

One of these days, huh?

* One of these days, huh? *

* One of these days *

-* One of these days *
-* One of these days *

(laughing)

-* One of these days *
-* One of these days *

Hey, did-did y'all find,
um, parking okay?

'Cause we had to add
a little, um,

overflow section
to the parking lot recently.

You did?

Okay. All right. Wonderful.
(laughs)

-* One of these days *
-* One of these days. *

LEE-CURTIS:
Um...

let me tell you something
about the devil.

He'll creep up on you

and just crawl his way into
your life and under your skin

like a...

...roach under the floorboards.

He'll hold on tight, too.

TRINITIE:
Uh, look.

(laughs) Look.

-We've prayed. Okay?
-We have.

We-we-we are past this stage
in our lives now.

Now we are here.

-Right here.
-Yes.

And, uh, ready
to get back to just

-doing good Christian work.
-Mm.

Anyways, so we got
some good people outside

-waiting to come in
and meet y'all. -Yeah.

-They are...
-(sighs)

our real followers.

-Yeah.
-Mm-hmm.

They stuck by us.

Even with all the awfulness

-that-that folks was conjuring.
-Yeah.

And they're gonna be
sanctified witnesses

to what you all
are about to see.

DEACONESS:
Oh, we're here

because we want to be.

When I was coming up
through the church,

you didn't just up and leave
your place of worship

because of any old thing.

-(laughs)
-Mm-mm.

Besides, wasn't nothing
even confirmed.

I bet this whole talk
of a settlement

is just to get the thing
good and over with.

I don't think
that you're posing

the right questions here,
my beautiful sister.

When will we,
as a Christian culture,

realize that
we got it all wrong?

Pastor Childs is just
ahead of his time.

He's a visionary.

Well, little Aria here
only likes a few things.

That's paintball guns,
real guns, church

and that TV show
where the little animals talk

in the high-pitched voices.

Once you weigh everything out,
church was the least taxing,

so we try to do it
as much as we can.

Don't we, little Aria?

Come back down here.

Now, let me tell you something.

The church I came up at
when I was a little girl,

the musical director
was found out

to be in one of
those sex groups.

You know, those, um, um...

-Orgies.
-Uh, yup. Mm-hmm.

And-and not just
the regular ones.

Had him crawling round
on all fours,

pretending he was
a horse and such.

You know what the elders did?

They kept him.

His service had done
more for our church

than just any old discretions
could soil.

Pastor Childs' word
saves folks.

And you don't just go
replacing somebody

with the spirit of the Lord
in him like that.

A lot of the former
WTGP members ran right on over

to Heaven's House
with Pastor and Pastor Sumpter.

-I just don't think...
-LEE-CURTIS: Excuse me?

The, uh, Sumpters, did you say?

He has so much love.

It's just about written in the
Bible that he should spread it

as far and wide as he can.

Now, to whom it spreads to...

...well, that's gonna require
our deepest prayers.

But he'll get right.
I believe him.

You know what, let me just go

-spruce myself up a bit,
-(laughs)

then we can really get
this thing started off right.

Y'all just give me one moment.

-Gonna get my good jacket.
-(laughs)

(Lee-Curtis clears throat)

Oh, my goodness.

(chuckles)

Um, Anita, can we--
can you cut for a sec?

I just want to clarify some
things before we... (sighs)

before we get started,
just make sure

that we're working towards
the same goal.

Okay?
You know, it's, uh, well...

(sighs)

Lee-Curtis is working
so, so hard.

So hard.

And so am I, you know?

You-you...

You got to be strong
to be a first lady.

Smart. Uh...

Diligent. Uh, uh...

It's-it's real mental
and psychological gymnastics.

And, um...

well...

The pastor may be
the-the head and face

of a congregation, but...

...the neck and-and the spine,
the-the...

(exhales sharply)

the structure?

That is all the first lady.

And so...

I just need to make sure
that we are structurally sound.

Okay, Anita?

I-I... I need to know that
we're on the same team.

-That we want to make
a great film because... -Hey.

-Well, because that's what
we want to make. -Hey, hey.

-(laughing) -Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Baby. Baby! Come on, now.

I already told you that
these are good people.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

They only care about
what the world cares about.

And what the world cares about
is a man of God

back and better than ever
as a new and improved preacher.

-Ain't that right, y'all?
-Mm-hmm.

Uh, so like I said...
(clears throat)

we got some good people outside

waiting to come in
and meet y'all.

-Oh, boy. (laughs)
-Mm-hmm.

You there.

Yeah, with
the big old microphone.

Come in closer, son.

-No, no, that's...
-It's okay.

-Closer. Come on, son.
-I think that's good.

-Right there. -You gonna want
to hear all of this. All right?

-Yeah. -They gonna want
to hear all of this.

Everybody can hear.

-All right, everyone.
-(sighs)

-I've gathered you here
today... -Mm.

...to culminate
the first day of my rebirth

-the right way.
-(sighs)

I am new.

Mm.

And I will submit my newness
right here in front of you

and in the eyes of the Lord.

But first...

(laughs)

...you gonna see
what all the fuss is about.

(laughing)

-Showtime!
-Oh. Uh-oh.

Come here.

-No, no, no. (laughs)
-No, no. I just--

I'm just trying to see
if I can get a rise out of her.

-No. No.
-Hey, now!

Today's word.

Restraint
in the name of the Lord.

Now, who here can name
an instance from the Bible

where the lack of restraint
was punished?

Little Aria, go ahead, baby.

Um, well, um,

in my last class, we, um,
learned about Adam and Eve.

And they were bad because
they didn't listen to God.

-(Lee-Curtis claps)
-That's right, sweetheart.

Look at you making your way

-in a grown-up service.
-(congregants chuckling)

This little baby
is right on it.

Mm. Did Eve show restraint,
little Aria?

No, Pastor Childs.

Did she ignore God's graces

and allow herself to be swayed
by temptation?

-Yes, sir, Pastor Childs.
Yes, sir. -Ooh.

Women!

The "wo-man."

The birther
of the original sin.

But you have the blessing
of restraint deep within you.

-Can I get an amen?
-CONGREGANTS: Amen!

-(organ chords playing) -But
you're gonna need to suit up,

because the journey
to holy restraint is a battle.

-Right.
-And to win that battle,

-you gonna need every tool
that you can think of. -Praise!

-(scattered shouting)
-You gonna need

the sword of the Spirit
to cut through evil!

You gonna need the shield
of faith to keep the devil

from penetrating your soul!

But you got to bring yourself
to our Lord and Savior

in order to receive them.

Yes.

Are you ready
for your blessings, baby?

ARIA:
I want all my blessings!

Then come get 'em. Ooh.

-(congregants whooping)
-DEACON: Oh, Jesus!

Hallelujah.

LEE-CURTIS:
Bless this child.

(Lee-Curtis grunts)

(organ playing flourishes)

-Praise you, Jesus.
-(Sapphire whoops)

* I know he's all right *

-DEACON: Oh, yes, yes!
-KENSINGTON: Yes, God.

* I know he's all right *

-DEACON: Thank you, Lord Jesus.
-SAPPHIRE: Praise him, baby.

LEE-CURTIS:
Yes, praise him.

(speaking in tongues)

Lord, God Almighty.

Yes, Lord! Yes, God!

(congregants
speaking in tongues)

LEE-CURTIS:
Come on!

I love the theater.

(congregants continue
speaking in tongues)

Yes, Lord God.

-(organ playing gentle music)
-Mm.

I feel you in me.

I feel you deep within me.

Hallelujah.

You know what you were
pushing me to be.

To be the best possible version
of myself that I can be.

You're pushing me
to be brand-new.

(exhales slowly)

To be brand-new!

I have been
crucified with Christ,

and I no longer live.

But Christ lives in me.

The life I now live
in the body, I live by faith

-in the Son of God...
-Whoo.

It's chilly.

...who loved me
and gave himself for me.

TRINITIE:
Lord, we come to you

on this glorious day.

Allow us to stay strong
and know that when man falters,

-God stays steady and sure.
-Yes. Yes, God.

Buried with him
in the likeness of his death.

Raised with him in the likeness
of his resurrection

to walk in the newness of life.

(Lee-Curtis inhales deeply)

TRINITIE (quietly):
Yes, Lord.

Yes, Jesus.

Oh, God. Yes. Yes, God.

-(gasping)
-(congregants shout excitedly)

-KENSINGTON: Hallelujah!
-DEACON: Praise!

Saved...

Saved again.

-Hallelujah! Thank you.
-Hallelujah! -Praise!

-Saved again!
-(excited murmuring)

Hear us, Lord. Thank you, Lord.

In Jesus's name we pray.

-"Ay-men!"
-"Ah-men!"

-Now, I thought we said...
-No.

No, no, no. No. Uh...

We agreed, remember?

-We agreed that "ah-men"
was a little... -(stammers)

No, but I just think we got to
keep up with the times. Right?

And all the people that's hot
and popping on the Internet,

-they say the "ay-men."
-Okay.

Remember,
we are on the same page.

-Yeah. Yes, we are.
-Okay? Right.

-Of course we are. Yeah.
-Yeah. Okay, okay.

Uh, Anita, we're gonna take

that last part, uh,
one more time, okay?

Everyone, we're gonna take
that last part one more time!

SAPPHIRE:
Okay.

In Jesus's name we pray.

-"Ay-men!"
-"Ah-men!"

* *

(over stereo):
* Knuck if you buck, boy *

-* Crime Mob, ho *
-* Knuck if you buck, boy *

-* Knuck if you buck, boy *
-* Crime Mob, ho *

* Knuck if you buck, boy *

-* Knuck if you buck, boy *
-* Yeah *

* Knuck if you buck, boy *

-* Get around *
-(skipping): * Knuck *

* It's going down *

(rapping along): * Yeah,
well, I'm a gat totin' *

* Pistol holdin' nigga
on yo' damn street *

* Stompin', jumpin', bumpin' *

* And we crunk
off in this damn thing *

* Throwin' them bows
up at these hos *

* They screamin',
they bleedin' from they nose *

* But when we start to swing *

* We make them niggas
hit the flo' *

* Ain't no game
off in this thing *

* We be deep off in yo' party *

* Crime Mob niggas
gettin' started *

* Ellenwood niggas
is the hardest *

* So if a nigga come and run
they mouth just like a ho *

* Punch 'em dead
up in his nose *

* And stomp his ass
down to the flo' *

* Yeah, we knuckin'
and buckin' *

* And ready to fight *

* I betcha
I'm-a throw them things *

* So haters best
to think twice *

-* See, me, I ain't
nothin' nice * -(grunts)

* And Crime Mob,
it ain't no stoppin' *

* They be like
Saddam Hussein, Hitler *

* And Osama bin Laden *

* Now they steady gun poppin'
and I am actin' a fool *

* I wish a hater
would get crunk *

* Up on this Crime Mob crew *

-* Now enough is enough, boy *
-(grunting rhythmically)

* Rough and get stuffed, boy *

* Luck is a must, boy *

-* Knuck if you buck, boy *
-(grunting excitedly)

* Knuck if you buck, boy *

* Knuck if you buck... *

(muffled in vehicle):
* Knuck if you buck, boy *

* Knuck if you buck, boy,
knuck if you buck, boy *

* Knuck if you buck,
boy, knuck... *

(music stops)

They used to be so...

...midsized.

So average.

LEE-CURTIS: I never noticed
how young they are.

Shit.

They gonna take everyone.

They gonna take 'em all.

* *

(traffic passing)

(Trinitie sighs)

(Lee-Curtis moans)

TRINITIE (moaning):
I did feel the Lord

in your word today, Lee-Curtis.

-You love God?
-Yes.

Is he deep
in your spirit, baby?

-Yes.
-Do you feel him?

I need to feel him.
Please let me feel him.

(both moaning)

Wait. Wait, wait, wait.

-What? What?
-Wait.

I just--
I thought we were gonna...

You what? What?

Well, I just--
I thought we might,

we might try it
the regular way tonight.

(Lee-Curtis panting)

-Yeah, okay. Okay. Come on.
-Okay. Yeah.

Come on. (grunts)

Okay.

(both moaning, panting)

Oh, that's nice.

Right there. Oh, right there.

I'm there.

Yes. Right there.

-I'm there. I'm in there.
-Right there.

(moans) Wait.

-Oh, I love you.
-(grunting)

Are you, are you, are you,
are you all the way in?

-I'm there. I'm there.
-Are you...

It's just... I just got...

Well, just-- hold on.
Just give me a second.

-Okay. It's okay. Okay.
-(groans)

-Come on.
-All right.

-Can I help?
-Not yet.

(whispers):
Come on, please. Please.

-Okay. Okay.
-(groans)

-Hey, uh...
-It's okay.

-Can we, um...
-Yeah?

Can you just, can you just
do the other thing?

Please, baby.

I-I really need you
to help me out here.

Yeah, baby.

Of course.

(Lee-Curtis panting heavily)

* *

(breath trembles)

(moans)

(moaning)

(muffled moaning)

(moaning loudly)

(panting)

Thank you, God.

Y'all want to know

where God has really blessed me?

Where I'm the richest
and the most prosperous?

Not that I'm not
eternally grateful

for the jets and the cars
and the designer suits.

(congregation laughing)

But where God has really
showed out his blessings

-is in my marriage...
-MAN: Uh-huh.

(applause)

...to my wonderful wife.

Now, I... (clears throat)

I have to be honest.

Marriage is hard.

It's work.

It is the only thing in my life
that I've been blessed with

that requires true energy
to sustain.

But it is, without a shadow
of a doubt, a blessing.

CONGREGATION:
Yes!

Man is made for woman,
woman is made for man,

and it is a beautiful thing.

(congregation murmurs
in agreement)

And it is written
and it's the Word of God.

Now, what is not beautiful

and what is not
made out of God's love

is the homosexual agenda.

(congregation murmurs
in agreement)

It disregards,

it disrespects,
and it devalues the marriage

-I work so hard for every day.
-(applause)

And not just mine.

-Yours.
-(murmuring, applause)

And yours.

And yours. And yours.

And yours.

MAN:
Speak on it, Pastor!

It is man and woman

and marriage.

That is the only way
to prosperity.

And that is the only way
into the kingdom of God.

(congregation murmurs
in agreement)

Take it from me.

I am the prophet
with the beautiful wife

and the gorgeous Bugatti.

-(Trinitie laughs)
-(laughter, applause)

(applause swelling)

-(indistinct chatter)
-(music playing quietly)

(cell phone ringing)

(clears throat)

YVET:
So you just got to get it close

to the scalp,
like as tight as possible.

And then this beauty here
goes on like so.

And voilà. (chuckles)

This the style
the church ladies like to get.

It's got to be slick

and laid to fit
all the adornments on top.

Because if there's one thing
those church ladies love,

it's a good hat.

(over speakers):
* We're gonna be all right... *

(gospel music
continues quietly)

(Trinitie sighs)

Sanctuary!

In the church,
we have this saying:

"Come as you are."

But, you know, that-that's
mostly sentiment, of course.

Sure, you could just,
I guess, roll out of bed

(chuckles):
and come praise the Lord

in your T-shirt and flip-flops,
I guess.

But we also have another saying:

"God don't like ugly."

(chuckling)

Whoo!

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

Do you see this, Anita?

It's like a work of art.
Don't you think?

Oh, my God. What is...

Ooh.

What is this?

Mm.

Come here, Anita.

Go ahead. Touch this.

This is crystal beading
and spider silk.

(sighs)

A combination like this is...

it is holy and sexy all at once.

Imagine.

Wait a minute. (sighs)

Isn't it the most remarkable
thing you've ever seen?

VERA:
The first lady comes in here

a lot these days. Mm-hmm.

It's a rough spot to be in.

But, whoo, these men--

they'll do it to you,
won't they?

Chew you up, spit you out,
and then curse you

for not giving them
enough nutrients.

(sighs)

That woman deserves
every hat in the store.

(indistinct chatter)

* *

Uh... (exhales)

(clears throat)

Would you just, uh...
would you excuse me?

Thank you.

Uh, no, no, no.
Uh, I-I think we're good here.

Okay, we've-we've got...
we've got enough.

Anita... (laughs)

I said we are done.

All right?

God bless. Thank you.

* *

HOST:
Word on the street is that

this Wander to Greater Paths
lawsuit is closing in.

And it's got the streets shook.

What's going on, caller?

MAN:
Yeah, they were young,

but they were adults.

Uh, they agreed to doing
all that shit. Right?

WOMAN:
These niggas was what,

like 18, 19, 20?
That's grown as hell.

This ain't even like that mess

with the priests and stuff
you be hearing about.

Those be actual, factual kids,
you know what I'm saying?

MAN 2:
I don't believe the pastor did

none of that such shit
with them niggas.

Every time a Black man
get some power,

here come folks
trying to tear him down.

It's a damn shame.

WOMAN 2:
Mm. The way I see it,

the first lady is doing
what she needs to do.

That's grown woman stuff
right there.

That lady right there is strong.

(no audio)

(sighs)

Y'all waited for me?

I thought I said
you could just...

You know what? It's fine.

I just had to finish
some last-minute shopping--

girl stuff-- and I just did not
think that you all would even

-be interested, so I...
-First Lady?

First Lady.

Sister Denetta.

(both chuckle)

How are you?

Oh, look at you.

Look at you.

(both chuckle)

Oh, bless your heart.

Look at you. (chuckles)

And bless, also, your own heart.

And they are?

Oh, well, we're just

documenting this time
in our lives.

Me and Lee-Curtis, obviously,

with, uh, you know,
building our church back up

and working towards our
first service back this Easter.

-Easter, you say?
-Mm-hmm.

That's so crazy. (laughs)

You know that's when
the Sumpters are opening up

their new Heaven's House
location, right?

-The Sumpters?
-Mm-hmm.

-Really?
-Mm.

-This Easter?
-Mm-hmm. Yes.

Of course,
this might make things

a little more complicated
for y'all.

(Denetta laughs)

(laughs)

Well, anyway,
you just keep on praying.

And I'm sure
plenty of the old congregation

will come right on back through

good old
Wander to Greater Paths' doors.

Well, that is for sure.

I know they will. Yes.

But you won't, though.

Right? You and your family?

Word is that y'all done...

y'all done went and got
yourselves a new church home.

(Denetta chuckles)

Oh, well, sweetie, I had to.

You know I do career counseling
at the community college.

-Mm.
-It just wouldn't look right.

You understand.

-Hmm? (chuckles)
-Mm-hmm. Yes.

No, I understand.

Of course I understand.

But prayers up for y'all.

-(playfully): Prayers up.
-(both laugh)

-You so hood.
-I keep it real.

No, look. Ghetto thing.

(both laughing)

(both sighing)

Well, I got to get going.

-You have a blessed one.
-Oh, my goodness.

-And you have a blessed...
-Okay.

Look, you don't get to pick
how the devil torments you.

You see what I'm saying?

Now, I volunteered
for this, right?

I chose for y'all
to come down here to truly see

and to show the world
what I'm really about.

And I promise to God,
this is who I am.

You know?

I did not hurt anybody.

No, no, no, no.

Hurt? Nobody was hurt
with me or by me.

If anything,
I was too warm, okay?

Was too generous.

You know, part of this whole
thing that I remain proud of--

and I will not budge on this--

is that I did mentor
those individuals

who are all now
so, uh, bothered.

I was a light and
a guiding force in their lives.

That's all that was.

It was me being a giver.

I'm a sinner.

Okay?
Like any other human being.

But, uh... (laughing)

I'm no, uh... pervert.

(chuckles)

I'm no criminal.

A sinner, yes.

But all that other
horrible, awful stuff? No.

You can check the facts on that.

I am not a criminal.

That's not me.

(phone ringing)

I, uh... (clears throat)

Just one moment.

This is Lee-Curtis Childs,

pastor of Wander
to Greater Paths Baptist.

Sh... Uh, yeah.

Gary, yeah, we can,
we can discuss it now.

Anita, I'm gonna need y'all
to give me

a little bit of privacy
here for a sec.

(grunts softly)

Just one sec, Gary.

(sighs) Lee-Curtis, we need
to chat about something.

Uh, Anita, can you,
can you guys give us the room?

-Uh, they're already
on their way out. -Good.

-Uh, and I got Gary on the
line, so... -Oh, good, good.

Um, can you hold on
one sec there, Gary.

(quietly):
What is that?

That. What is, what is that?

Oh, you've never seen
a church hat before?

-(sighs) Yeah.
-No, I just picked it up.

I thought it might be nice
for our first Sunday.

For somebody's
great-aunt Thomasina maybe.

I mean, come on, baby.

That is so not our style,
you know?

You gonna make us both
look... ol-old.

-(sighs)
-Right?

(both laugh)

Hey, there's my beautiful girl.

Uh, hey, Gary, I got, uh,

Trinitie here, too, now
if that's better.

So, uh, so, um-- Did you need
to say something to me?

Uh, uh, uh...

N-Not-not important right now.
Hmm.

All right.

Uh, so, uh, Anita,

I'm gonna need y'all
to skedaddle now, okay?

Thank you. (clears throat)

One second.

TRINITIE:
Uh-huh.

Yeah, Gary, we're both on.

-Mm-hmm. -They don't know
how to act around it,

-you know what I'm saying?
-Mm.

TRINITIE:
Oh, well,

that's promising.

And-and what all do we owe,
to tie everything up nice and...

-Can you zoom? Can you...
-It says, "Stay humble."

LEE-CURTIS:
Now, wait just a minute.

We've already shelled out...
(sighs)

This is strong-arm robbery.

I don't want
to shell out another...

Jesus fucking Christ!

TRINITIE:
Uh, let-let's not use

that language, Gary.

Not here. Okay?
These were not boys.

These were a group of adults
that made consenting decisions.

And you make sure that
that is in the paperwork, too.

Okay?

LEE-CURTIS (on TV):
These folks are overcome

by demonic spirits.

And they're trying to make
their ways into your lives,

-one evil step at a time.
-(applause)

Hold on, now.
You've only mentioned four.

So, wait, who's the,
who's-who's the holdout?

Just Khalil?

Well, if he won't take it,
then he won't take it.

TRINITIE:
(sighs) All right, Gary.

Let's just do it.

Yes, yes, whatever
the amount is, we'll handle it.

We just can't have this burden
on us anymore, on our church.

For the love of God, let's
just do what we have to do.

* 'Kay, I just called a play,
I just called a play... *

VERLENZO:
Oh, hell yeah.

Ball is everything, man.
Everything.

Since I learned
how to walk, on God.

And, you know,
being from around here,

man, all the leagues
started off in the churches.

Man, I shot my first three
on Wander to Greater Paths.

The courts are beautiful, man.

(scoffs)

I used to hit 'em up
just to shoot around and stuff

on the weekends
when I went home.

Now... now I got
to find somewhere else to go.

LEE-CURTIS:
So you enjoying your time here?

I mean, working with Anita
and the film

and doing the whole sound thing?

BASIL:
Yeah, it's solid.

You get to go to new places,
meet interesting people.

LEE-CURTIS: Interesting people.
Yeah, I bet.

BASIL: Okay, all off. Whew.
That was a lot of tape.

LEE-CURTIS: Oh, boy.
Thanks for meeting me in here.

I get a little shy doing this
in front of the whole crew.

BASIL:
Ah, it's all good. All good.

LEE-CURTIS: Oh, uh, by the way,
I know I got a bit sensitive

the other day when
I kicked y'all out of there.

Um...

And I know
it's all about to come out

and Trin is gonna
want to kill me

for telling too soon, but, uh...

it's over.

I'm good.

BASIL:
I'm sorry. I don't, I don't...

LEE-CURTIS:
Well, we, uh...

we-we've settled.

That's what that whole
phone call was about.

Uh, all parties
came to an agreement,

and, uh, that's it.

You know?

Put all that, uh,
rah-rah stuff to bed,

and, well, that's all she wrote.

I'm free.

The war is won.

BASIL:
Wow. That's...

that's g...
that's good for you.

LEE-CURTIS:
Yeah. Thank you.

Wait, hold-hold on for a second.

(groans)

(exhaling rhythmically)

(sighs)

(grunting playfully)

How much you want to put
on this first shot?

-Hmm?
-(chuckles)

Oh!

Man.

(basketball bouncing)

All right.

-Whoo!
-Oh.

-Oh, nah, nah.
-(laughing)

Nah, I'm no good. I'm no good.

-(chuckles)
-All right. All right.

Well, rebound me, then.

(sighs)

-(net swooshes)
-There we go.

Cool job you got, man.

Working on a movie like this.

It's gonna be big, you know?

-(rim clanks)
-Uh...

Should be cool. Yeah.

Yeah. You're a lucky young man.

It's a phenomenal opportunity.

How old you got to be
to get a gig like this?

At least 19, 20 years old,
I'm thinking.

-I mean, yeah, probably.
-Yeah.

I'm 26.

Really, now?

Huh. (grunts)

Hey, you know what I do
to stay looking fresh?

Strict shaving regimen.

-Yes, sir.
-(net swooshes)

I take off five years
when I trim up these whiskers.

Eight if my moisturizing
routine is tip-top.

Put you on game, son.

That's important
in your industry, isn't it?

-The air of youth.
-(net swooshes)

Uh, not really
on my side of things.

Yeah.

I could definitely put you on.

Hey, say,
when this movie is done

and the church is
back and booming,

you should come and do sound
for our audiovisual department.

That'd be real nice,
wouldn't it?

And then after that,

well, I-I know a lot of folks
in the industry.

I can make some calls.
Just for you, though.

I don't ordinarily do
that sort of thing.

Oh, that should...

that, you know,
that could be... cool.

Cool? Cool. Cool. (chuckles)

Mm.

So much scruff.

My boyfriend digs it, so...

Well, we can't convert them all.

Ain't that right?

(chuckles)

Just getting off the mics.

I'm-I'm just--
I'm-a, I'm-a pack up my kit.

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

It's good talking to you,
young man.

You let me know if I can do
anything for you, okay?

-(breathes deeply)
-Hey.

Did you give him anything?

What?

No, I just offered
to help him with...

We just got robbed for
an obscene amount of money,

all for this to go away,

so we can't afford
for you to go back

to being your generous self
with people.

My God, we need peace,

so you can get back
in that pulpit and preaching...

and get me back on that stage.

(Trinitie sighs)

Heaven's House is
opening its doors Easter.

Same as us.

What?

How do-- uh, who says?

Uh...

Is this what you were trying
to tell me before

at the office when...?

Because surely you wouldn't
have kept something

like this from me.

Yeah?

Yeah. (chuckles softly)

I just found out myself today

when I, when I... (sighs)

I booked my hair appointment
with Yvet.

-You know, that Yvet...
-Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

I mean, sh-she knows
everyone's business,

-and that's how I...
-Yeah.

Fuck!

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

(yells furiously)

-Got it all out?
-Yup.

Okay.

Well, good.

Let's go for a ride.

(music playing quietly)

KEON: Okay, Mr. and Mrs.
Sullivan, you can come on in.

Oh, uh, Pastor Childs.
First Lady.

We were hoping
you might have a moment.

Well, I'm afraid we have

a slew of
marriage counseling sessions.

Oh, we won't be long, I'm sure.

And as for this lovely couple,
(chuckles)

they already look like
forever to me.

Yes, they do.

Well, this is unexpected.

This is a pleasant surprise,
but it's unexpected.

-It's a big commitment,
marriage... -Yeah.

SHAKURA:
...but, um...

it always starts with
having God at the center.

That's how it lasts.

-Mm-hmm. -Right?
-LEE-CURTIS: I'm sorry.

-What's-what's that, now?
-Uh...

KEON: You did come
for marriage counseling?

-We typically do newlyweds
or newly engaged. -Yeah.

But every so often,
we get a seasoned couple.

-Sure.
-(Trinitie laughing)

No, that's not... (laughs)

-We don't, we don't need
counseling. Right? -Yes.

-Oh, God. Yes. Yes. -We counsel
plenty of folks ourselves,

-and believe me, uh,
-(laughing)

we're not the kind of marriage
that's in need, so...

-TRINITIE: Not at all.
-I see.

Then what can we do for you?

Well, Pastor Sumpter
and Pastor Sumpter.

(laughter)

No, it's your opening date
for your new location,

which is great, by the way.

-(whistles)
-Oh, it's so nice.

-Amen.
-We love it. (laughs)

I mean, don't get me wrong.

-This place is where we
got started. -SHAKURA: Mm-hmm.

KEON:
But Heaven House 2.0, ooh--

-it's gonna be amazing.
-TRINITIE: Oh, I bet.

-(laughing)
-Ah, I bet.

And I am sure
that the Lord is gonna be

-coursing right on up through
there when you open. -Oh, yeah.

It's just that... (sighs)

well, it can't be the fourth.

One more time, now.

LEE-CURTIS: Uh, she's saying
you-you can't open up.

Not-not this Easter. All right?

-It-it doesn't work.
-Yes, exact--

-Thank you, honey. Thank you.
-Oh. Well, I...

I just don't see
how that's possible.

-Well, surely it's possible.
-Yes. Yes.

All-all things are possible
with God.

-That-That's Matthew 19:26.
-Come on, now. Yes, it is.

No. (chuckles)
I don't think it is.

See, uh... we've been
preparing for this day for

-like a year now.
-Mm-hmm. Amen.

KEON:
It's a big step for us.

And, you know,
Easter is so perfect

-for something like this.
-(chuckles)

-A revival of sorts.
-TRINITIE: Right.

Exactly.

And that is just what
Wander to Greater Paths needs.

A revival.

Uh, which is why
we also chose Easter.

-We did.
-You see?

And we chose that date
a while back, believe me.

So, really, it just comes down
to this point.

Um...

We cannot both reopen
our churches on Easter Sunday.

It would be, well, it would be

-too confusing for folks,
you know? -Mm-hmm. Yeah.

They would have to choose,
and, well...

Right.

They'll make their choice,
I think.

KEON:
Look, uh, we adore y'all.

Really.

We used to be
congregation members at WTGP.

Right.

Until we struck out on our own.

Uh, it's just...

We belong here.

We believe in the Gospel,
and we believe in the Word

and all the hard work
that we've done

-to get to this place...
-KEON: Mm-hmm. Mm.

...where enough, uh,
enough people will hear us

for it to make a difference.

That's all we've ever wanted.

So we can't do
what y'all are asking.

-What we can do is pray.
-Mm.

-That there are enough souls to
go around for all of us. -Amen.

Y'all want to pray?

We got two gathered right here.

-We are okay.
-Right, y'all.

-Y'all start it off.
-Yeah, you all.

Mm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Okay.

All right.

-Heavenly Father...
-Mm.

...we thank you for this space
to come together

-and build and heal
this community, Lord. -Amen.

SHAKURA:
We thank you for the grace

of these beautiful,
powerful leaders

coming in
and showing us the way,

-being role models in
your mighty name, Lord. -Mm.

-KEON: * Oh, Lord. *
-Hallelujah. Mm.

(gentle music playing quietly)

So, hey, we-we figure
something else out.

You know, we just--
we push forward.

Fuck the Sumpters.

I mean, bless them in
the work they do, but really.

Did you hear me?

-I said, we...
-Right. Right. Yeah. No.

Uh, baby, I heard you. (snorts)

So I been thinking.

We do what we do best.

We outdo them.

We put on a show so good

-folks won't think twice
about another church. -Mm-hmm.

-Yeah. -They opening
this Easter Sunday.

Right?

So it's like you said.

Fuck 'em.

They just doing it to spite us.
I know it. You know it.

But there's no spiting us, baby.

Okay?

Easter is in
just under two weeks.

So, we reopen
this Sunday instead.

(pops lips)

-Wait. This Sunday?
-This Sunday.

No. But, baby, we can't--
we not-- we won't be ready.

-But this Sunday, we should...
-Now, think about it, baby.

Now is the perfect time
to come back.

See, everybody is
expecting Easter, right?

It's when Jesus rose again.

But if you think back
to those times,

nobody knew when he was coming,
if at all.

This is what it's really like
to embody the Lord

and walk in his image.

Jesus Christ was all about
the shock factor!

(stammers) Okay, listen, no.

-Yes.
-All right?

Listen, this is too much.

There would be so much to do
in just a few short days.

We-we-- No, no, no, we cannot.

It's Pastor
and Pastor Sumpter, Trin.

We can't compete
with a gimmick like that.

The Sumpters are snatching up
all our members,

and we need to do something
major to get them back.

And we can do it, baby.

We just got to make
a big enough fuss, right?

Pull out the pageantry,
really dramatize our return.

We gonna make a scene,
and it's gonna be so brilliant,

so seductive,

people gonna come.

They gonna come right on back.

Hey, look at me.

Look at me, Trin. Hey.

God built this whole world
in six days.

This whole big beautiful world,
all right?

Now, call me overzealous,

but I think
I can rebuild ours in five.

(growls)

Wait. Lee-Curtis.

Wait. Lee-Curtis,
just listen to me, please.

-Lee...
-Come on!

-* Tear it down *
-* We can make it *

* Start over again *

* We can make it *

* We can make
a brand-new start *

* Start over again... *

(song fades)

TRINITIE:
We went all in for this one.

(laughs)

Lee-Curtis was blessed
with the most brilliant idea.

A roadside ministry.

Wander to Greater Paths
opens back this Sunday!

Yeah! This Sunday!

TRINITIE:
Now, this is the best way

to gain followers.

You know, our style is-is...
is more, uh, grassroots,

more genuine.

Folks out here-- we do
this sort of thing all the time

in the name of God.

It's good. It's--
The more beeps the better.

It just, it just draws
attention to a worthy cause.

-And I cannot think of a cause
-(horn honks)

-more worthy than this right
here. -LEE-CURTIS: Hey, Trin!

-Huh? -You ain't really
getting that many beeps, baby.

Huh?

-What you doing?
-What did you say to me?

You gonna have to do
a little more.

Give them a show!
You know, come on, girl!

-Uh...
-Shake it for the Lord.

Shake it for the Lord.

-I said, get it for the Lord!
-Yeah. Yeah.

-Get them honks for the Lord!
-Yeah! Yeah! -(horn honks)

Tap it on the patch!

Shake it for the Lord, girl.

Come on, now!

Shake it for the Lord, girl.

Mm. Shake it.

Hey!

You having
a blessed day, sweetie?

Huh?

Well, come on down
to Wander to Greater Paths.

We are back in action
this Sunday!

And it is gonna be amazing!

I can guarantee it!

(horn honking)

* *

(horn honking)

LEE-CURTIS:
The spirit of the Lord

is upon my heart,
ladies and gentlemen.

And that's what we are.

We are unique emanations
of love, joy and divine beauty.

-(horns honking) -Praise him!
-Heavenly Father, allow me

to minister these people
in the way

-in which they need to be.
-Yes, Lord!

(Lee-Curtis speaking in tongues)

TRINITIE:
Hmm. Uh, the settlement.

I'm not sure
that I can address that.

Uh, that's a bit difficult
for us, legally.

But that's all over
and done with, so...

Okay, okay, but, um... (laughs)

you want to hear about
something really difficult?

Okay, so get this.

Um, did you know that, uh...

(laughs)

...when we first started
going together,

Lee-Curtis was Baptist
and I was Apostolic?

(laughs):
And that's true.

Honk for the Lord!

So, yeah, we, um,
we know discomfort, believe me.

-A little roadside spectacle?
-(both continue shouting)

It's nothing.

Yeah, we make it work.

Dynamic duo.

(laughs)

Yep. Batman and--

Oh, no, that's two guys, so...

Uh...

LEE-CURTIS:
I never said I was

a perfect man,
ladies and gentlemen.

God doesn't make perfect men.

(horn honking)

But what I am is a follower
of the Lord and his teach...

(exhaling sharply)

-(horn honks)
-WOMAN: Hey!

Well, hello there.

It is a beautiful day
for worship.

Are you looking for
a church home?

'Cause Wander to Greater Paths
Baptist is back.

(mocking laugh):
Oh!

Oh, ain't this some shit.

(mocking laugh):
Oh.

LEE-CURTIS:
God doesn't make perfect men.

But what I am is a follower of
the Lord and his teachings...

Uh-uh! Just fucking nasty!

-Just fucking nasty!
-Just stop.

All of y'all up in there
is disgusting!

Especially your
fuck-ass husband!

I'm not a perfect man,
ladies and gentlemen.

But I'm also not the man

that the media is
making me out to be.

(grunts)

You know, your nigga found
a fucking loophole, right?

Yeah, a fucking loophole!

Trying not to repeat the actions

that got me here
in the first place.

-Anita, we don't need
to get this. -Yeah. Uh-huh.

Lee-Curtis--
he'll be right back,

so you can just stop shooting.

And for every sin
I've committed,

I have prayed equally as much.

I've been down on bent knee.

-God knows that...
-MONTERIUS: Pastor Childs.

Uh, hello. Uh...

M-Monterius West, Pastor.

Uh, I'm a member of
Wander to Greater Paths.

W-Well, I was until...

-Are you, now?
-Yes, sir.

I love your sermons.

Especially on the holidays

when y'all break out
them laser lights.

Them laser lights my favorite.

Uh, yeah.
I started that, you know?

Other churches doing it now,
but I was the first.

(chuckles) I believe that.

Uh, anyway, sir,
I saw you over here

while I was picking up
down the way, and, uh,

I hear y'all about to be
back preaching, and, uh...

...I just want to thank you,
Pastor Childs.

My old lady brought me
to your Easter service

a few years back, and...

I been a different man
ever since, you know?

I-I don't really believe in
all that mess

they saying about you
in the news

and in the paper and stuff.

I know you a good man,
Pastor Childs,

and you gonna keep doing
them good thing

God be telling you to do

and keep inspiring
folks like me.

I believe that.

Thanks for that, brother.

Yes, sir.

WOMAN:
You got your jewelry,

your dresses
and your weak-ass hats.

That's the real
foul-ass shit, bitch!

Real weak-ass shit!

-Fuck you, bitch! Yeah. Uh-huh.
-Stop it. Stop it. Stop it!

Let me tell you something.

Me and my husband-- we practice
love and forgiveness.

We are Christians.

Not saints and not God.

And we are doing
the best we fucking can!

Girl, fuck you!

Fuck you!

God bless!

(horns honking)

LEE-CURTIS: I'm not a perfect
man, ladies and gentlemen.

God doesn't make perfect men.

-What I am...
-TRINITIE: No.

Nope. Nope.

See, uh, that's too distant,
Lee-Curtis.

We need to connect with people.

Make them feel why they need
you back in that pulpit.

You're not gonna sit
center pew like always?

Uh-uh. No, no, no, no, no.

I-I want the view of the
average, everyday congregant.

All right. (sighs) Now go on.

I'm not a perfect man,
ladies and gentlemen.

God doesn't make perfect men.

What I am is
a servant of the Lord.

-Now, a servant of the Lord...
-Wait.

-(sighs) Wait.
-Hmm?

Where's your gut, hon?

Hmm?

I-I'm not feeling
any transference of raw energy.

You know
what I'm talking about.

That's the stuff people love.

Well, you won't even let me
get up to that part, Trin.

See, I got to ramp up to it.

Okay, go ahead, then.
Ramp up to it.

I'm gonna be quiet.

Ramp up. (chuckles)

I...

...am not a perfect man,
ladies and gentlemen.

God doesn't make perfect men.

What I am...

is a servant of the Lord.

And, folks, being
the Lord's servant doesn't mean

that you are not susceptible
to being lured or seduced

or ambushed by the devil.

But here is
the true test of faith.

See, the true test
doesn't happen when you falter.

Okay?

It is when you're low,

probably at the lowest you have
ever been in your life,

but you overcome it.

Mm-hmm.

Yes. Yes!

* *

There ain't a person up in here
that hasn't been tested,

tempted or torn up
by hell's angel.

But we survive.

Stronger,

happier

and better to serve
than ever before.

Hey. Mm.

(laughs):
I'm better, y'all!

I am better and bigger
in the eyes of Jesus Christ.

And that is through the pain

and through the threats
of losing everything.

The things I've been through...

...had me wanting
not another minute

on God's beautiful earth.

But it was my faith in him
that allowed me to persevere.

It was his glory and his grace
that brought me back here.

Back in front of you all and
back in the house of the Lord

where I am supposed to be!

Come on, now!

No, no, I am not
a perfect man, everyone.

Like I said before,

God ain't exactly in the
business of making perfect men.

But with his guidance
and his love--

oh, Jesus--

his undying
and everlasting love,

he can and he does
make great men.

Oh, you're done.

Okay, well, that-that was,
that was great.

That was great, Lee-Curtis.
Really great. Yep.

But for our first Sunday back
after all of this,

that just doesn't ring.

See, you don't quite
acknowledge...

If you're trying
to make people--

if you think you can
fool people into thinking...

Well, you're just gonna have
to do a little bit better than

just dry excuses this time, hon.

When we get people
back up in here,

we need to give them everything.

That was everything.

That up there--
that was my soul.

And it's not dry.

That was the truth.

Then we should probably practice

and make it
a little more convincing, huh?

Trin?

Yeah?

You up, baby?

Yeah, I'm up, Lee-Curtis.

(Lee-Curtis breathes deeply)

Me, too.

Something's not right.

We hurtling towards Sunday,

and something doesn't feel
quite there yet.

We just not really...

hitting it yet.

We need to do something big
out there for this last day.

Something with a little oomph.

Could really use
your brain on this.

I'll have to think on it.

Yeah. All right.

(Trinitie sighs)

(quietly):
Mama?

(laughs)

-This is too much, Mama.
-(grunts)

You don't know
what you're saying. (chuckles)

Are you sure you don't want

Lee-Curtis to come down
and get some?

Uh, well, he'll be
a while longer.

Uh, I had to slip him
two Ambien last night

just to get him to simmer down.

He likes it. Don't worry.

So, out with it.

It's our last shot.

Oh, girl, please.

I don't know what's gonna
happen if we don't make it.

I'm sure some folks
will show up on Sunday.

I mean me and Lee-Curtis.

I don't know

(voice breaking):
if we can make it.

I just...

I'm here. I'm there.
I'm everywhere.

And I am working my butt off
for this man and this marriage.

And so is he, you know.

He is working, too. I see that.

I just...

I just don't know if-if
we're just working towards

the same thing.

Wow.

Sometimes my child can be
so damn foolish.

Are you a Christian?

I'm a Christian.

Say it again
so I'm absolutely sure.

-I'm a Christian, Mama.
-That's good.

'Cause you didn't
sound like it for a moment.

(scoffs)

You don't know
if this is gonna work.

That's not for you to know.

That's for God to determine.

And he did that
15-something years ago

when he blessed y'all's union.

And look at
all the other blessings

that you have right now
because of what?

That man and your God.

The young.

So ready to quit.

Don't you think I thought about
quitting your daddy?

But every time I got shook,
I went right back to the Bible,

back to the Word,
prayed it on out.

And then I went back
to my husband.

(sighs)

And when did you have to stop

running back to the Bible
about Daddy?

(chuckles)

When I buried him, baby.

(Sabina laughs)

LEE-CURTIS:
Hey there, Mama Sabina!

SABINA:
Hey, love!

LEE-CURTIS:
Y'all eating biscuits?

TRINITIE:
You know what I said to God

during my prayers last night?

I said, "Lord, show me the way.

"Show me what I need
on this final day

of the most important week
of our lives."

(chuckles):
And then you know what he did?

* *

Lee-Curtis, you know,
he wanted a little more oomph.

So, this is it, right?

This is the statement.

This is, "He is risen."

One time, I broke my toe.

I didn't think I was gonna be
ready for one of our services.

It was a women's ministry.
I prayed.

It was the baby toe.
There's no cast.

And I was in heels in,
I'd say, 48 hours?

So I've seen miracles.

LEE-CURTIS:
The Lord, ladies and gentlemen,

is the be-all and end-all
of your eternity.

-TRINITIE: Yes, he is.
-And eternity...

-(horn honking)
-Oh, yeah! Uh, what? What?

-First one. First one.
-That's one.

Yes!

-God loves you.
-Yes, he does.

-God loves you, baby.
-God loves you.

-* Well, God loves you *
-* God loves you *

-* God loves you *
-(horn honks) -Yes!

-Yo! That's two!
-Two.

-That's two. All right.
All right. All right. -(laughs)

-(horn honking) -We bumping
for Jesus over here.

-Bump for Jesus, everybody.
-Come on, now.

-* Hallelujah *
-Harlem shake.

-* Lord Jes... * -(horn honks)
-For the Lord.

That's right.
That's right, my sister.

He got tears coming down his
eyes but a smile on his face.

We should all be like that
for the Lord.

We should all be so grateful.

-(horn honks)
-I see him! -Yes! Amen!

-(honking horns continue)
-Praise God. Praise God.

-(Trinitie sings)
-LEE-CURTIS: You ain't ready!

-(Trinitie shouting excitedly)
-You ain't ready!

The only place you need to be
in a rush to go to

is heaven up above.

Ain't nothing on this plane
of any importance.

Hello. Hey, come on, now.

Trin.

-Hey, Trin.
-Huh?

Hey, baby, look, um,

we haven't been getting
all that many beeps as of late,

and I think, uh, well, I got
an idea for something bigger

to really get
these folks' attention.

Well, wasn't that
what our dear friend Jesus

was here for, hon?

Jesus is real great, and
it was a brilliant idea, baby.

And he was a huge help
getting folks hyped for Sunday.

It's just-- I'm talking about

sealing this thing up
with a bang, right?

Putting on a real performance.

-Show them that we back...
-Mm-hmm.

...and we better than ever
and that we are serious about

saving their everlasting souls.

But maybe something like...

No.

No. You cannot be serious.

It would be outstanding, baby!

We got to draw them
back in, Trin.

Make them remember
what they were missing.

This is it, baby.
This is what we need.

-I...
-Trin,

this right here...

...this is ego.

You know what ego is?

That is edging God out.

And that's what
you're doing right now.

Now, are you really
gonna be the barrier

that keeps me
from saving souls?!

Hey, Trin, look at me.

You look at me now, okay?

I need this.

I need to save souls, baby.

(siren wailing)

* *

* Never would've made it *

(people shouting, clapping)

* I would have lost it all *

* But now I see
how you were there for me *

* And I can say *

* Never would've made it *

* Oh, I never could've made it *

* Never could've made it
without you *

* I would've lost my mind *

* A long time ago *

* If it had not been for you *

* I... I'm stronger *

* I'm stronger *

-* I'm wiser *
-* I'm wiser*

-(horn honking)
-* And now I'm better *

* I'm better*

-* So much better *
-* Much better...*

TRINITIE:
Let me just tell you

a little something
about praise mimes.

When it comes down to it,
they are entertainers.

You know, a-a... a sideshow.

And...

You know, Lee-Curtis is
a talent, a... a star,

but he's so raw.

He's-he's... he's raw.

He... he needs someone
to harness it all, and...

(song continues quietly)

...I did that.

I am not an unreasonable person,

but to have his first lady--
I mean, his wife...

...out here on the side
of the road reduced to...

* All I need is
just one more time *

* Everybody, sing with me *

-* Never would've made it...*
-(chuckles)

(gospel music playing
over stereo)

LEE-CURTIS (over bullhorn):
Everybody, come get

-your spiritual food.
-(horn honks)

You take care of your body.
You take care of your mind.

Come take care of your soul

at Wander to Greater Paths
Baptist Church.

Open this Sunday!

God bless you.

(rap music playing quietly
over car stereo)

-You want to give a honk
for Jesus? -Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. How you doing?

Wander to Greater Paths Baptist
Church open this Sunday.

-(horns honking) -Yeah! Hey.
-MAN: Hey, y'all got to move.

-LEE-CURTIS: Hey, hey, hey.
-MAN: People got places to go.

Khalil, I think you're
holding up traffic, honey.

LEE-CURTIS: ...living
deep down in your soul.

WOMAN:
Can you go?!

LEE-CURTIS:
How can you not be weird?

How can you not be strange?

-MAN: Move your car!
-You got to let it out.

Listen to me, Khalil.

The pastor-- he is truly
repentant about everything.

And I can promise you that.

I can. I can.

He is, he is better.

LEE-CURTIS:
Hey, now.

MAN: Hey, y'all got to move.
We got places to go!

(horns continue honking)

You can't do this.

We are trying really hard
to make things right again,

get everything back
to normal again.

He's back right with God.

All right?

He is.

(horns continue honking)

Well, uh...

Anyway, we don't really need
to be discussing this, do we?

You know what the terms of
the settlement are, so I...

SHEROD:
Yo, hey. Yo, hey!

Come on, man. I can't just
park my shit right here.

TRINITIE:
Please don't do this.

Please, Kha...

Please, Khalil, don't do this.

Don't.

-(honking stops)
-(traffic passing)

Hey, stop. Don't...

(Khalil laughs)

Stop, man.

(laughing)

Come on, now,
you don't have to...

Let's just
gather ourselves toget...

(Khalil continues laughing,
clapping)

What do you want me
to say here, okay?

I'm just trying
to get myself back on track

so I can do the good work
for the Lord, that's all.

You know, hey, can we just cut
for a minute here, please?

Everybody, just take a--

Let's just take ten, okay?

Can we take ten?

Yo...

...you still like me, man?

Be real with me, man.
What was it? What?

Young broke niggas
your weakness?

I needed you back then, man.

I really did.

It's fucking stupid, I know.

I didn't realize
it wasn't just me.

-That's...
-I wasn't the only one

walking around
with brand-new shoes

and a Camaro?

Huh?

That's that shit.
That's that shit you do to...

This city don't need you, man.

We've all been doing
really good without you.

Nobody needs you.

Nobody needs your suits.

Nobody needs your fucking
green screen backdrops

of the Last Supper.

We don't need it.

Shut up!

Shut the...

Shut up.

You watch the way
you talk to me, boy.

I still got a lot of good
to do in this world.

A lot of souls to be saved.

I saved myself.

Now, I don't know about

all that other stuff
that you was talking about,

but what I do know
is that I did try to save you.

I really did.

Now, you...

you may be beyond me.

You may be beyond
what I can do for you.

TRINITIE:
Wait!

Fuck you, nigga.

-(car door opens, closes)
-(rap music playing)

(car driving off,
tires squealing)

(sniffles)

How do you know

if you're standing in the way
of your own blessings?

-(Lee-Curtis chuckles)
-(bullhorn feedback squeaks)

See, sometimes
you got to step aside

so the Lord can show up
and work for you.

Hey, Trin!

Hey, babe, can you give me
another battery, please?

This thing seems to be
going out on...

-Trin?
-(feedback squeaks)

Trin? Trinitie!

No. No.

She's fine.

Besides all that,
what happened over there--

that's not what this is about.

That's not why
you all are here, okay?

We've moved on from that.

-This is about rebirth...
-Stop.

-...and renewal
-(Trinitie panting)

and resurrection from the dead.

-TRINITIE: Fuck!
-That's what this is about.

(Trinitie groans)

* *

All right, that's it now.
We are done.

LEE-CURTIS:
Because I'm here, baby.

And I'm not going anywhere.

TRINITIE:
I said I am done, so take it,

do with it what you will
because I am done!

You came, you silently judged,

you poked, and you got it,
didn't you?

You got what you came for,
so just leave.

-Jesus Christ! No.
-LEE-CURTIS: Trinitie.

-Let's get ourselves together
here. -No, no, no, no, no.

-Okay?
-Not now. No!

-Hey, it's o... okay.
-Not now! Not you!

-Trinitie.
-I am serious, Lee-Curtis.

-Do not touch me.
-Okay. Okay.

-Do not even breathe
near me right now. -I won't.

What do you all want
from me? Huh?

All of you,
what the fuck do you want?

You want it on the record?
Is that it?

Is that, is that, is that what
you want? Okay, fine. Fine.

Yes, there was a point in my
marriage where I did not think

that we could reconcile
our differences.

There it is.

Every last one of
those people out there--

we were there for them.

We helped them.

We spiritually nurtured them
and guided them to Christ.

Now they want us to fail.

They want us to fail.

Can you believe that?

You can.

Sure, you can.

Don't think for one moment

that I haven't known
what you were up to

from the second that you
stepped foot in this church.

You came to show
the big bad wolves

who eat up
all the little piggies.

Well, guess what.

Those are not little piggies
out there!

I am!

Right here! I am the victim!

ANITA:
Why don't you just...

leave?

LEE-CURTIS: Why would you
ask her something like that?

(Trinitie exhales)

TRINITIE:
So she speaks. Look at that.

You-you broke your little
fly-on-the-wall code, huh?

What are you even
doing here, Anita? Hmm?

Why are you even here?

ANITA: I'm just showing
this city and this culture.

I want to understand
you and Lee-Curtis, and...

...I want to understand
the truth.

Yeah?

Well, that is bullshit
if I have ever heard it.

"Why don't you just leave?"
Blah, blah, blah.

Is that it? Come on, girl.
Is that all you got?

Because those kinds of questions

are not gonna get you
to any real truth.

Trust me. I have asked them.

You...

...and you...

...and you...

...and you...

...and all those folks out
there who are gonna see this...

...I want them to know that I
did what I was supposed to do.

I prayed, I knelt,
and I was good.

So, yes, this is mine.

This is... this is my church.

And that is my husband.

And I would sooner kill him
than leave him.

(exhales softly)

(groans)

(sniffles)

DESHAWN:
Hey, water, water.

-BOY: Water.
-Come get your water.

-Water. Water. Water.
-Water. Water. Water.

DESHAWN: Ah, come get you some.
I got you.

-Oh, yeah.
-Appreciate it.

We used to sell
right next to that big church.

The let-out was prime.

All them folks hot and thirsty

after sitting in that
hot-ass sanctuary for hours.

Dang, they-they opening
back up for real? (chuckles)

Man, that would be
very, very good for business.

Folks ain't been
out that way in a minute.

ANITA:
Do you think that they have

a good chance
at drawing a crowd today?

Man...

I-I mean, it's still
a little early, you know.

LEE-CURTIS:
Look-it here, look-it here.

-Hello.
-Culpeppers looking sharp.

It's so good to see...

LEE-CURTIS:
How many you thinking, baby?

Well, at least five.
That's for sure.

Ah, the old reliables
don't count.

You know, I'm thinking
maybe a smooth 500.

You know, I don't want to be
overconfident, but, uh...

DESHAWN:
If I had to go

based on the word on the street
and my gut...

(sighs)

LEE-CURTIS:
Trinitie...

...I'm not so sure
the hat is a good idea, baby.

I'm really not.

You know, folks are
gonna want to see us

looking spectacular,
you know, confident.

And, uh, well, the hat might
hurt us just a little bit.

Trin?

Please? The last day of
the cameras, you know.

Final chapter of our book.
Could you...

Lee-Curtis...

...there's gonna have to be
a line between

some things you say to me
and some, like this hat,

that you keep to yourself
or between you and your God.

Okay?

Well, "ah-men" to that, then.

ANITA: Have you guys discussed
what happened yesterday

-and how it might affect you...
-Uh-uh. Uh-uh-uh-uh.

No, no, no, no.

We are moving forward.

Like I have been saying
from the beginning,

we are starting over brand-new.

That's right, baby.

That is so right. (chuckles)

Ah.

(Trinitie sighs)

-Trinitie.
-Hmm?

Look.

Baby, look. There.

Right there. You see that?

-That, uh, Mustang there?
-Hmm.

See, I told ya.

This is what I mean!

This is
the goddamn comeback, baby!

(gospel music playing faintly)

SHAKURA:
We just love preaching together.

I mean, one day,
God just called us to it,

told us that, as a team,

we could reach far beyond
our deepest prayers, and...

(both laugh)

ANITA: Did you know
Wander to Greater Paths

was opening back up today?

SHAKURA:
Uh...

You know what?
I-I don't think that we knew

that Wander to Greater Paths
was opening back up today.

Now, they seem pretty sold
on-on Easter. (chuckles)

To be honest, we were, too.

But, um, we prayed on it,

and-and we came
to the conclusion...

KEON:
Mm-hmm.

...that they needed Easter,
not us.

So we moved it. (chuckles)

-If we had known...
-Mm.

...Lord, we would have never.

We wish them
nothing but the best

and pray that they flourish

-and can keep it together.
-Amen.

God's got 'em.

But, uh, just in case

the devil is too big
of a beast to wrestle

and they ever feel the need
to step back again...

Heaven's House
will be right there

-to pick everybody up.
-Mm.

-Believe that.
-Amen.

LEE-CURTIS:
Oh, man.

Whoo! (laughs)

Mm-hmm.

They here for me.

They here for
Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs.

Yes, they are.

(laughing)

Yes, they are.

* *

(tires squealing)

Ah, see, I told you.

This is what I mean.

This is
the goddamn comeback, baby!

SHAKURA:
Praise his name!

KEON:
Thank you, Jesus!

-SHAKURA: Praise his name!
-KEON: Amen!

-Praise his name!
-Amen!

-You are all God's!
-(congregation cheering)

Hallelujah!

Praise his name!
We thank you, God!

KEON:
Amen!

-SHAKURA: We worship you, God!
-Amen! Amen.

Glory be to him.

-Hallelujah!
-Hallelujah!

* *

LEE-CURTIS:
Mm-hmm.

They here for me.
Yes, they are.

They here for
Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs.

(laughs)

Ah.

Yes, they are.

Yeah.

They here for me.

(singers clapping rhythmically,
vocalizing)

They here for these blessings.

And I'm gon' give it to 'em.

We gon' give it to 'em.

Mm-hmm. You and me, baby.

And the Lord.

Ain't that right?

Trin.

Baby.

I said, isn't that right?

Trinitie.

Baby, can you...?

Trinitie!

(singing and clapping stops)

(birds chirping)

("Let the Praise Begin (Live)"
by Fred Hammond playing)

* Ah, yeah *

(singer grunting rhythmically)

* *

(singer grunts)

* Here we are,
let's get on one accord *

* Leave all your problems
on the outside *

* To be consumed
with the Holy Ghost fire *

* Open up your mouth and take
the name of Jesus higher, say *

* Are you ready
for your blessing?*

-* Are you ready? *
-* Are you ready*

-* Say *
-* For your miracle?*

* For the chains that come
from the enemy *

* Are utterly destroyed
when the praises ring *

-* Begin, Lord, I love you *
-* Lord, I love you*

* And there ain't nobody
like you *

* No one above you*

* Put your hands together, say *

-* Let the praise*
-* Hey *

* Are you ready
for your blessing?*

* Are you ready for
your blessing tonight? *

* Are you ready
for your miracle? *

-* Are you ready*
-* You better praise him *

* For your miracle?*

* For the chain that come
from the enemy *

* Are utterly destroyed
when the praises ring *

-* But are you *
-* Are you ready*

* Are you ready
for your blessing? *

-* Come on, get ready *
-* For your blessing?*

-* For your miracle *
-* Are you ready*

* For your miracle?*

* For the chain that come
from the enemy *

* Are utterly destroyed
when the praises ring *

-* Raise up *
-* Raise up*

-* Send the praise up *
-* Send the praise up*

-* Raise up in here *
-* Raise up*

-* Send them up *
-* Send the praise up*

-* He inhabits *
-* Raise up*

-* The praises of his people *
-* Send the praise up*

-* And he's here *
-* He's here*

-* Right now *
-* Right now, come on*

-* Raise up *
-* Raise up*

-* Send the praise up *
-* Send the praise up*

-* Raise up *
-* Raise up*

-* Send the praise up *
-* Send the praise up*

-* He desires *
-* Raise up*

-* The praises of his people *
-* Send the praise up*

-* He's here *
-* He's here right now*

* What you came to do, but what
you need to know is victory *

-* Is in your praise*
-* Is in your praise *

* Is in your praise*

-* Your victory *
-* Is in your praise*

-* Is in your praise*
-* Your victory *

* Is in your praise*

* Come on, I know
y'all look cute tonight *

* You might as well sweat
that little suit out *

* Because you're praising,
know this *

-* He's here*
-* He's here *

* He's here*

-* Right now *
-* He's here*

* Right now *

-* He's here*
-* He's here *

* He's here*

-* So clap your hands *
-* He's here*

-* Shake your head *
-* He's here right now.*

-(song ends)
-(crowd cheering)

Come on, somebody.

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

(music ends)