Twelve (2024) Movie Script
1
(no audio)
(gentle music)
(birds chirping)
[Narrator] Once upon a
time, there were 12 wise men
whose sole purpose
were to make sure
that humanity did not
stray far from God
and his commandments.
The number 12 is the
number of cosmic order.
This mystical
number can be found
in many sacred spaces of life:
12 months in a year,
12 inches in a foot,
(fire whooshes)
12 signs of the Western Zodiac,
the chromatic scale is all 12
notes of the musical alphabet,
12 is the number
of space and time,
hence time is even measured
by two groups of 12 hours.
The sacred geometry
of the number 12
is what is holding this
material world together.
There are 12 houses
in which the planets
and the 12 signs travel.
These houses represent the
karmic cycle of existence,
and all aspects of life
from marriage, friendships,
children, family, health,
money, love, and spirituality.
The 12th house is
the last house, the
house of subconscious.
The ribcage forms the thorax.
It consists of the
12 pairs of ribs
with their costal
cartilages and the sternum.
The thoracic cage protects
the heart and lungs.
Just as the 12 bones
protect the heart,
the 12 wise men would protect
humanity with one weapon:
the truth.
(gentle music)
(dog barking faintly)
(curtains rustling)
(footsteps tapping)
(phone beeping)
(phone ringing)
(phone beeps)
Hattie. Jermiah again.
Please gimme a call as soon
as you get this message.
It's, uh, sort of important.
(phone beeps)
(papers rustling)
(dramatic music)
(pieces clattering)
(dramatic music continues)
(gentle music)
(brakes squeaking)
(tires crunching)
(footsteps tapping)
(Ezekiel sighs)
(doorbell rings)
(door rattling)
(laughs) Oh, what
took you so long?
Oh man, uh, you gotta
get that thing fixed, huh?
Ha, is that right?
Well, I've been waiting
on you for months
to help me with that damn
garage, and this damn door, too.
You know, trial
had me tied up,
but I made sergeant, by the way.
Sergeant? Hey, I, I, I, I
didn't know you were pursuing-
- Yeah, I just, you know I
planned on it eventually.
Ah, come on now.
(door rattling)
Well the DPD should be glad
to have you on their team.
Yeah, I think it's
the foundation shifting.
Yeah, well, you stop
stalling this ass-whipping
and shift yourself on in here.
(gentle music)
(door rattles)
Pop, this house
in the dead zone?
You still ain't
got no wifi, huh?
- I do.
- Oh Shoot. Check you out.
What's the password?
P-R-A-Y.
P-R-A...
Man. I don't see no P-R...
(Pop laughs)
Oh, you got jokes. (laughs)
That's how I stay connected.
Come on, Pops.
How we supposed to communicate?
Communicate my ass.
You mean miscommunicate.
Y'all don't know nothing
about no communication.
When was the last time you
spoke with your sister?
Exactly.
Back in Haiti,
family is important.
Me and your mother tried
to keep that going.
That's what I want to talk
to you and your sister about.
Come on, Pops, you know
I've been working. (sighs)
Well come on in here
and get this beat down
'til your sister gets here.
(pieces clattering)
(Ezekiel sighs)
Honestly, Pop, I made a
previous engagement today,
and, uh...
- Oh.
- Yeah.
- You forgot.
- I didn't forget-forget,
I just, um...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's okay.
Listen, can you do
me a favor and mail
that letter addressed to Hattie
in the basket over there?
(sighs) And not forget.
(laughs) I got you, Pops.
I got you. (sighs)
Man, it's, it's your birthday
next weekend anyway, right?
Thought today would be better,
'cause it's me and
your mom's anniversary.
- Hmm.
- You see...
(phone ringing)
(phone ringing)
Hey! (laughs)
Oh, oh, okay.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I, uh, I understand.
Love you too.
Thank you.
Is that Evelyn?
What you wanna talk
to us about? You okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
You go on and enjoy yourself.
(sighs) All right, Pop.
You have my word, next
weekend, garage and the door.
Shit. I won't hold my breath.
Did you cuss as much
when you was a preacher?
(laughs) Shit, more.
(Ezekiel laughs)
Church folks make you cuss.
Why you think we got all these
bars on these damn windows?
That was your mother
trying to protect y'all.
I've gotten better though.
Oh, don't forget
the fuckin' letter.
I'll grab it on
my way out. (laughs)
(footsteps tapping)
(door rattling)
I don't want to have
to come looking for you.
(door squeaks)
I'm gonna definitely be back
before you get stuck up in here.
(door slams)
(footsteps tapping)
(crickets chirping)
To everything,
there is a season.
A tie to every purpose
under the heaven.
(gasps) Ooh.
(car door slams)
(keys jingle)
How's your dad? Is he
okay with you not staying?
(car beeping)
(sighs) House just ain't
the same without my mom.
I'm done with my face.
Should I go say hi?
Not if you wanna
get to this party.
I still gotta stop at
a mailbox on the way.
(sighs) Cancel the
plans this weekend, too.
I'm helping him fix the garage.
Don't tell me. Better
put it in your phone.
You're the king
of double-booking.
(sighs) Left my phone.
BRB
(footsteps rustling)
(dramatic music)
(doorbell rings)
(dramatic music)
(doorbell rings)
(door clicks)
(door rattling)
(door slams)
Pops, I left my phone.
Pops, all right, I'm gone.
I get with you next weekend.
(eerie music)
Pop. Pop.
Pop. You back here?
(eerie music continues)
You in here? Man, you
could have said something.
Dad, I left my phone.
Come lock the door.
(Ezekiel knocks)
Pops.
(dramatic music)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(door squeaks)
(Ezekiel crying)
(gentle music continues)
(Ezekiel sobs)
(gentle music continues)
Ooh
(eerie music)
(Ezekiel crying)
(crickets chirping)
(gentle music continues)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(wind whistling)
(bones clattering)
(eerie music)
(gentle music)
Walk with me, Jesus
Take me by the hand
Ooh
(birds chirping)
(gentle music continues)
Take me by the hand
(gentle music continues)
I got you, Zeke. I got you.
I gotta stop by
the church first
and then I'll come by
the house afterwards.
All right, Unc.
Heard the mayor's
campaign is going well.
Mm-hmm.
We're in the home
stretch and we'll be okay
if I can keep him on message.
Think she can render
her brilliance full time
to the church and help
the house of the Lord.
Uh, I rendered the
seeds of the pastor
in the house of the Lord
enough already. (laughs)
Have you gotten any
rest since to trial?
I had to deal with
this first, so no, ma'am.
Well it doesn't kill you,
only make you stronger,
or crazy. (laughs)
So how's business going, Lilah?
No complaints.
When are you gonna come by the
shop and let me do your hair?
I can hook you up.
I'm gonna have to
think about that one.
You just make sure
you get some rest,
'cause I don't want any excuses
when I dust you at the
shooting range again.
(sighs) I bet you got
it on you right now, huh?
Really? Martha, you
gonna do this right now?
This is my American
Express card.
Babe, I don't live
home without it.
I knew she had it on her.
She always got it on her.
(gentle music)
I am so sorry for your loss.
[Ezekiel] Thank you.
I'm an old friend of your
dad's. Excuse my clothes.
I literally just got
back from a cruise.
You're fine. If you knew him,
you know what he would say?
Come as you are.
Come as you are.
[All] But you
can't say that way.
(Aunt Martha laughs softly)
Thank you.
If you don't mind me
asking what happened?
- He had a heart attack.
- Oh wow.
I can't believe it.
I literally, as soon as I
got back, turned my phone on
and I had several missed
messages from him.
I tried to call him, no answer,
then I finally
called the church,
and they told me he passed away.
My heart just sunk.
- Patty?
- Hattie.
Yeah, Hattie. Pastor
Anthony, the one you spoke to.
Oh okay. Jermiah's brother?
- Yes ma'am.
- And I'm his wife Martha.
- Oh, nice to meet-
- You too. Mm-hmm.
Oh, you are the one he
used to leave the notes for.
Building 12? Harmony
Place Apartments?
Oh yeah. Hattie,
(laughs) that Hattie.
(Hattie laughs)
(tone squeals)
Your sister.
How y'all doing?
It's good to see you.
- You too.
- You all right?
- I'm good.
- Mm-hmm.
All right. I'll see y'all.
Usually have some
people by the house later
if you wanna come through.
- I gotta work.
- Are you serious?
- Yes.
- Come on, Eve.
What is goin' on with-
What? It's nothing.
Move. I gotta go.
You can't take one night off?
What? Please,
Mama and Daddy gone.
Now you wanna pretend
like we the happy family?
Look, I just thought
it would be nice
if we all came to
the house together.
You didn't think
it was a good idea
when Mama was on her deathbed.
Is this about Mama and Daddy?
Or are you still
pissed about the trial?
I do not have time for this.
Eve. The trial is over.
Why you still tripping?
It might be over for you,
but every time I close my
eyes, I see that man's face.
And that's the
problem. You shouldn't.
You ain't supposed to do that.
You weren't even
supposed to be there.
That wasn't your
responsibility there.
I was doing my job.
No, the doctor even testified
that wasn't your shift.
You ain't have to put
yourself through all of that.
Of course I did, when I
found out you was involved.
What you expect?
They was already talking about
a crooked-ass cop shooting.
Man, people gonna say whatever
the hell they wanna say.
I'm not your little
brother anymore, Eve.
You can't save everybody.
Not Mama, not Daddy,
not your husband.
(dramatic music)
Not-
- Get outta my way.
You ever thought
about seeing somebody?
You need some help?
A psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist,
a psychologist.
I don't know. Something.
I'm not the one
that killed a man.
- I ain't kill nobody.
- I know.
You just watched.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(footsteps rustling)
(wind blowing)
(paper rustling)
(paper rustling)
(Ezekiel sighs)
Your cousins just left,
and, I think her name
is Haiti, Hattie,
she just made it and
brought some juice.
You wanna come and eat?
I'll come up
there in a second.
Still looking at those photos?
All he wanted was
for us to come together
as a family and play dominoes.
I am sorry, bae.
Dad sends his condolences
and said take as much
time as you need.
My boss sending condolences
through my girlfriend.
It's never a good sign.
Your boss also mentioned that
someone made sergeant, too.
Why didn't you tell me?
Hmm.
It's just, I meant to.
It just happened so
fast, and then my dad.
Just a lot going on. (sighs)
Besides, we even now.
Even?
How are we even?
Remember when you had your
dad take you to the doctor
and you didn't tell me 'til
several weeks after the fact?
I didn't want you to worry.
Mm-hmm.
If you're sick or something's
wrong, I'm supposed to worry.
You're still mad about
that? It was months ago.
- And?
- And I understand.
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
- Your sister's not coming?
- Mm-mm.
- Is it 'cause of me?
- What about you?
- I don't know.
- You just,
you think she doesn't
like me because I'm white?
My sister don't like
none of my girlfriends.
- And they were all white.
- They weren't all white.
They were. (laughs)
- No.
- Mm.
Look what's-her-name
was Hispanic,
then I had an Asian one
then, yes, a white one.
Then a Jamaican, so
technically Black,
and, uh, another white one.
- And seriously?
- Yeah. Yeah.
And you. So three white girls.
(dramatic music)
Check this out.
My dad said he used to play
dominoes all the time in Haiti,
forget about the
hardship and struggles,
- Those clothes pins?
- Mm-hmm.
That's how they
punish you for losing.
Them suckers start to
hurt after a while, too.
But you sure forget you broke.
I think my grandfather
was a pastor in Haiti.
My parents never
mentioned much about it.
You wanna come and eat
before the food gets cold?
(paper rustling)
Hmm.
I didn't even know he was
keeping up with the trial.
Never came by the courthouse.
Didn't even mention it
until the night he passed.
(dramatic music continues)
Come on.
It was nice talking
to you, Hattie.
You too.
All right, Zeke, I'm
gonna get outta here, bro.
Don't hesitate to call to
me if you need anything.
Appreciate it
man. Appreciate it.
I'm gonna go ahead
and go as well.
You know, I did not know
you were involved in
that police shooting.
(door squeaks and rattles)
There's been so many lately,
I've just been numb to it all.
Turned off the news entirely.
Actually, it was my partner.
Oh, okay. They made
it seem like it was you.
- Mm-hmm.
- Well you be safe out there.
- All right, ma'am.
- I'm gonna go ahead and go
because I feel like
I'm sleepwalking.
Miss Hattie, before you do.
Who was this pretty young
lady huggin' with my daddy.
That ain't my mama.
Oh!
Where in the Lord did
you dig this up from?
Oh wow.
This was way before your mom.
(laughs) Your
daddy was so happy.
All he talked about
was getting married
and starting a family.
We were so young. My parents
thought he was crazy.
Mm, yeah, this was
a long time ago,
and he made a great
choice in your mother.
Thank you. And thank
you for coming by.
No thank you. Made my day.
(door crashes)
(group yelps)
- Oh!
- Whoa!
- Oh!
- Good lord. (laughs)
- You all right?
- Pizza?
Oh, no, I'm stuffed.
You guys have a good one.
All right.
- All right.
- Okay.
Yeah, yeah, uh, man, that
thing was hard to open.
I think it's the foundation.
Yeah.
Auntie still ain't got
no service out there, huh?
Yeah, I think your
parents did that on purpose.
(Ezekiel and Lilah laugh)
Here, let me take
these to the kitchen
for you, Uncle Anthony.
Oh, oh, thank you.
Pizza?
Well, that was
your dad's favorite.
- Yeah?
- Wow. Wow, Zeke.
This is the first time I've
been here since your mom passed.
Hmm.
(eerie music)
Oh man, these are nice.
Your dad always had a thing
for these custom dominoes.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hey,
the last time I
taught you a lesson.
Boy, you don't
want none of this.
Man, you must have
forgotten I'm the master
at the dominoes.
Lies.
You know your game is trash.
- I thought you had work.
- I did.
But these bones be calling.
You know we go way back.
[Uncle Anthony] Ain't
nothing between us
but space and opportunity.
Bones?
- The dominoes.
- Oh, don't threaten me
with a good time.
You know my daddy
taught me hisself.
They used to make
lot animal bones.
Way back in the day. Not now.
(chair rattling)
(Evelyn grunts)
- No apple pie?
- No.
Hey, come on Martha.
Let's sit here and teach
these youngsters some lessons.
I'm not in the mood to
play in the games, Anthony.
Oh, come on, Auntie,
for better or for worse,
come get this work.
(group laughs)
- You all right auntie?
- Hmm?
(sniffs) Allergies, baby, yeah.
Come on Martha, have
a little family time.
- Now this, mm, this is good.
- Mm-hmm.
Hmm, thanks. I made it.
I heard your mama taught you
how to make the best apple pie.
Hmm.
Well, my mama's cornbread
was lit, but this ain't bad.
I'm impressed.
[Ezekiel] Hmm.
What?
Uh, it's, it's pound cake.
All right, we playing
partners or what?
Cutthroat 10 to get in.
Big six take the skull.
- All right.
- All right?
What about the close pins?
Sh, uh-uh.
Yeah, somebody
ain't got enough.
(eerie music)
All right. Oh, oh hell.
- All right.
- Yeah.
All right, all right.
(table slams)
Whoa!
What the F-Father in heaven?
Just burglar bars,
baby. Everybody relax.
Just the burglar bar.
Man, you need to
get that thing fixed.
Ooh.
Come on, Auntie. Ain't take
you that long to set down, now.
(Aunt Martha murmurs)
Come on, Martha.
Study long, study wrong.
All right, all right, all
right, all right, all right.
There. You happy?
All right.
Bae?
(eerie music)
(box thuds)
- All right, all right.
- That was not good.
Come on, Unc, what
you got for me?
- She funny. You are funny.
- Okay, okay.
I got it. I got it.
Wow.
If I got it, then
tell me I got it.
- Wow. Wow.
- Oh, well.
If I got it, then
tell me I got it then.
(Aunt Martha knocks the table)
- Enough.
- You don't?
- I got it.
- I'm playing defense.
You don't know nothing
about that defensive play.
Okay. Okay.
(Aunt Martha knocks the table)
Okay, well I'm playin',
I'm playin' to win.
You don't know nothin'
about that defensive play.
I'm playin' to win.
I'm playin' to win.
She bluffin'.
- Hey, all right.
- Bluffin'.
- Let's go.
- It's on you, Auntie.
- I knocked.
- Okay, okay.
(crickets chirping)
(pieces tapping)
(Evelyn scoffs)
[Aunt Martha] Mm.
(laughs) Auntie,
it's too easy.
(dramatic music)
Bam, bam, 10! (laughs)
(sighs) She's out.
(Evelyn snapping fingers)
Who, me? Little old
me, again? (laughs)
- One more.
- Can we please go?
It's the last
one for me, y'all.
- It's the last one.
- If y'all insist.
Last one.
Where's the bathroom at again?
Make a left, down the
hall, it's on your left.
Oh man, they washed up.
They washed up.
Come on, big six.
Naw man. Watch out.
[Evelyn] We ain't
gonna get that six.
(Aunt Martha laughs)
(footsteps tapping)
(group chattering faintly)
Not this one.
(door creaking)
(door creaking)
(footsteps tapping)
(Lilah panting)
(dramatic music)
(Lilah panting)
- Write me up.
- Write, write.
- Write it up!
- Write me up.
- What the fuck?
- Tally it up! Write it up!
I'm so over this shit.
(group chattering faintly)
(door creaks and slams)
Write it all up!
(Uncle Anthony speaking faintly)
- You know, uh. (sighs)
- What's the count, Unc?
Uh,
first, 100.
110, 85.
Hmm.
And?
What you looking like, Unc?
- Uh, (clears throat) 35.
- (laughs) Yes!
Y'all are stinkin'
it up, ain't it, Unc?
(Evelyn cackles)
Y'all get on (murmurs)
Come on.
(pieces tapping)
(glass shatters)
(dramatic music)
(Lilah screams)
What the hell was that?
Go get that white girl
before she test something up.
(footsteps tapping)
(Evelyn sighs)
I'm tired of this.
You tired of losing?
Baby, you okay?
(Lilah whimpers)
Can we please just
get out of this house?
Yeah, we're about to leave
right now. What's wrong?
This, this house, the ceiling
fans, the lights flickering.
(panting) Everything.
I peed on myself.
I nearly, nearly peed on myself.
Did you break the mirror baby?
I was washing my hands
and it just shattered.
Told you.
Okay, let me see. You're
not bleeding, right?
Go ahead y'all. I'm
about to get up outta here.
Don't take that ass-whoopin'
personally. (laughs)
(eerie music)
(Lilah whimpers)
[Uncle Anthony] Oh,
I'll be right back.
If you need anything,
just holler.
[Ezekiel] All right,
relax, you're okay.
[Lilah] I just wanna go home.
Grab that?
[Uncle Anthony] What
the hell is your problem.
[Aunt Martha] You don't
want to do this now.
- You already doing it.
- No, you've already done it.
I need to get some fresh air.
Done what?
Ask your damn secretary.
(footsteps tapping)
So you listen to some
gossiping church folk
instead of coming
to your husband?
You think I don't know what
the hell you've been doing?
Obviously not,
'cause if you did-
- You remember, I've worked
for professional liars
most of my life, so you could
save that damn bullshit.
Y'all still here, I see, huh?
Uh, yeah, we're
about to leave.
Excuse me.
All right.
(door rattling)
Let me get that door for
you. It's little tricky.
(door rattling)
My jacket, I think I
left it in your dad's room.
- Go in there and get it.
- By myself?
[Ezekiel] Yeah, go in
there and get the jacket.
Let me deal with the door.
But baby.
Babe, please? Will you
please go get your jacket?
Thank you baby. Thank you.
(door rattling)
A little nippy, huh?
Ooh.
(Ezekiel exhales)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
I'm, I'm, I'm sorry.
I didn't realize
anyone was back here.
I thought you left already.
(sniffs) Nope, I'm still here.
Just getting my jacket.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Thanks.
If I've done anything to
offend you, I, I apologize.
(sighs) Okay.
- Have I?
- No.
Okay, so why
you don't like me?
- I don't even know you.
- That's sort of the point.
I've been dating your
brother for two years now,
and you've always given
me the cold shoulder.
It's not personal.
Is it because I'm white?
- That would be personal.
- Okay, so what's the problem?
Before you overanalyze this,
my concern is my brother.
- Being with a white girl?
- Yes.
So it is because I'm white,
Me liking you or not
liking you has nothing
to do with you being white.
But my brother being a Black
man and dating a white woman
increases the chances of
something happening to him.
- Something like what?
- Prison, lynched,
of being shot by the police.
I'm not like that.
You never know what you'll do
when you're pushed hard enough.
You've never even
given me a chance.
(door rattling)
(electricity buzzing)
Your dad never
mentioned anything
about electrical
issues in this house?
Uh, I think it's the
foundation, the door's stuck.
Oh.
(door rattling)
Oh! God damn.
(Ezekiel sighs)
Oh. Excuse me.
Is it locked?
(door rattles)
I think it's just stuck.
(door rattling)
(metal clattering)
Need some help?
You know the police, boy.
Know how to jimmy a lock.
All right.
Obviously you don't get it.
You know what?
You may not be the type to
cry wolf or call the police,
and say, "Oh, my Black
boyfriend just hit me."
You may not cry rape if
he decides to move on,
or God forbid you catch him
cheating or cry to your dad
because, oh, he's
not racist either,
but he got a couple
of racist friends
who will take matters
into their own hands.
Whether or not you choose to
use your white female power,
that doesn't stop a
racist system from coming
to your defense and raising
havoc on a Black man.
You're right.
I agree with you about
this racist-ass system,
but obviously you don't get it.
I love your brother, and
shouldn't that be enough?
- Really?
- Really.
Love is not something
you say, sweetie.
Love is what you do.
Whatever.
(door slams)
(dramatic music)
[Uncle Anthony] Oh, sh.
[Ezekiel] What
the hell was that?
- Your sister-
- Oh, I thought you left.
- She slammed the door!
- She slammed the door!
- I didn't slam the door.
- I didn't either.
(eerie music)
(door rattling)
(eerie music continues)
- What?
- What?
- This was open, right?
- Yeah.
(Ezekiel sighs)
(eerie music continues)
(door rattling)
It's cold in here.
Foundation.
(door squeaking)
Mm-hmm.
(eerie music)
- Hey, did you see all this?
- Yeah.
You talk to Daddy
about what happened?
- No.
- Why not?
(door rattling)
For what?
Obviously he was keeping
up with the trial.
(eerie music continues)
(sighs) Okay.
(dramatic music)
(door slams)
[Uncle Anthony]
Foundation, my ass.
- Uh-uh.
- Oh my God, it's the house.
We're all gonna die.
(door rattling)
(eerie music)
- Damn.
- Try it.
(eerie music continues)
No service.
(sighs) Garage.
How the hell you
get stuck in a house?
- Maybe it's possessed.
- Excuse me?
Possessed?
(eerie music)
(door clicks)
Blegh.
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(metal clanking)
(eerie music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
Come here. I want
y'all to see this.
Okay.
(footsteps tapping)
Was your grandfather
a preacher too?
- No.
- Looks like he was a priest.
(indistinct) over
there is quite different.
Appears to be some type of
reincarnation ritual, I think.
- What?
- Definitely ceremonial.
They administered different
type of ceremonies
for different things.
Weddings, fertility,
birth, death, war.
When we were young, my
mom practiced Voodoo.
I'm gonna die for sure.
Miss my appointments.
(scoffs) Sometimes she would
put spells on us to protect
us, protect the house.
She would even make offerings
to the ancestors sometimes.
(scoffs) Wait, you
can't be serious.
The best you can come up with
is that a house is possessed?
Well actually a house
can't be possessed.
There.
Only a person or a
thing can be possessed.
Now, a house could be haunted
and have spirits linked to it.
Oh Lord, not you, too.
You'd be surprised what
some politicians dabble in.
Plus, I'm from New Orleans,
and my mom shared
a lot of stories.
I didn't know
you was into that.
I never said I was into
it. I'm familiar with it.
What y'all call this
evil worshiping stuff.
"Resist the devil and he
will flee from you" John 4:7.
"Judge not lest ye be
judged," somewhere in the Bible.
Look, it's not evil. Voodoo
literally means spirits.
It's a religion just
like Christianity.
- Exactly.
- The devil is a lie.
The devil don't need to lie,
because some people don't
want to know the truth.
Yeah, y'all can get with all
that new wave religion stuff,
but I serve one master.
For your information, Voodoo
is a monotheistic religion,
and they believe
in only one God.
Probably the same
God you believe in.
Don't you put God in
your political nonsense.
- Listen-
- This is not for debate.
There's good and
bad to every religion.
Voodoo is no different.
I'm so disappointed in you.
(sighs) Those white people
that brought us
over on those ships,
those were Christians, right?
I ain't trying to
hear no shit, all right?
Jesus says, "if you do
the will of my father,
you are in my family."
Jesus said a lot of stuff,
but it's funny how
we pick and choose
what we decide to
live by now, isn't it?
- Hmm.
- Listen,
if you got something
you want to discuss,
you wait until we
get outta this house.
Whatever.
(eerie music continues)
Can't believe your daddy
still had those pictures.
Look, I'm not a Christian,
a Voodooist, a Buddhist,
a Muslim or nothing, but I
wanna get out of this house,
and if they can help
us get out, I'm all in.
I'll be whatever I need
to be in the name of,
whoever it needs to
be in the name of.
(metal rattling)
(Ezekiel sighs)
(shovel clatters)
All right, I'll try this one.
(dramatic music)
(metal rattling)
(dramatic music)
(Ezekiel murmurs softly)
(sighs) Shit.
(door squeaking)
(Ezekiel grunts)
- I'm just checking on you.
- I'm good. (sighs)
Are you? Look like
that door is giving you
just as much trouble
as the one out there.
You know, (sighs) I sure
love you, Evelyn. I surely do.
(laughs) Remember when
I taught you how to drive?
I remember when you
taught me how to crash.
(both laugh)
Oh man.
(Ezekiel sighs)
For the record, I hate what
happened to the brother, too.
(door squeaks)
(Ezekiel sighs)
Oof.
(door slams)
(keys jingling)
(ignition rattles)
(car beeps)
(car starts)
All right. Sorry, Pops.
(car rumbling)
(car revs)
(car beeps)
(car beeps)
(sighs) Are you serious?
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
Ah!
(door squeaks)
Guess you ain't
find a way out.
What's that?
- Just fell and hit my hand.
- Honey, your your finger.
You're bleeding.
I'm fine.
You sure? You look
like you saw a ghost.
It was somethin', all right.
Did see something
else in the van.
- Something else like what?
- Hell, if I know.
If it can't get us outta
here, I don't care to know.
Ezekiel, what is it?
It looks like a
bone or something.
- A bone?
- What kind of bone?
Maybe it's from a
chicken or something.
- Well, did you get it?
- I ain't touching that shit.
(chair skids)
Yeah, you go touch that shit.
(door squeaks)
(dramatic music)
Shit.
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(eerie music)
(door squeaks and slams)
(door squeaks)
(Evelyn panting)
It does look like a bone.
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(gentle music)
It says something on the back.
"Let their table be
a snare before them,
and that which should have
been for their welfare,
let it be a trap."
(eerie music)
(dominoes pieces clattering)
I refuse to believe in
what's going on this house,
and I refute it in
the name of Jesus.
(dramatic music)
(kitchen drawers skidding)
(chair creaks)
(cupboards slam)
(Lilah yelps)
You think Mama put
a spell on the house?
- I think it's a spirit.
- Whose spirit?
- The hell if I know!
- A good spirit or bad spirit?
Listen to y'all. That's
straight blasphemy.
Your parents are
probably turning over
in their graves right now.
Mama said Voodoo
help Haiti become
an independent Black nation,
so it can't be all that bad.
Well, I'm sorry to inform you,
but your mom probably
stretched the truth.
So it's not true that Boukman,
who happened to be
a Muslim by the way,
and Toussaint Louverture
and Dessalines
used Voodoo to
escape the French?
Oh, it's very true.
Now, some people say
that Voodoo is evil,
but it did help free
the people of Haiti.
Now Christianity enslaved them.
That's just some
conspiracy mumbo-jumbo.
- It's a fact.
- It's bullshit.
Oh, but you believe that
Jesus rose from the dead
and walked on water, and
Moses parted the Red Sea,
and Mary had a baby by herself?
Regard not them that
have familiar spirits,
yet to seek wizards
or be defiled by them.
I'm finna go pray for
all y'all heathen asses.
Look, they obviously
want something.
Something like what? A soul?
- Who is they?
- I'm not sure.
Your dad, mom, grandparents.
I, I don't know.
Let this table be
a snare before them
so that which shall-
- Right, for your,
for your welfare,
let it be a trap.
(fan humming)
(crickets chirping)
(water hissing)
(tap squeaks)
I don't know what you
want, but you can't win.
You can't beat my God.
(eerie music)
(water hissing)
(taps squeaking)
(Uncle Anthony murmuring)
This is just an enchantment.
(Uncle Anthony murmuring)
(toilet flushes)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(Uncle Anthony panting)
Lord, Lord, what is it?
I swear, if you
keep me out of this,
I promise I will never...
(electricity buzzing)
(dramatic music continues)
(Uncle Anthony whispering)
(door clicks)
(dramatic music)
(wind whooshing)
(dramatic music continues)
(pages flipping)
(wind howling)
(pages flipping)
(pages flipping and tearing)
(dramatic music continues)
Who did you say
freed Haiti again?
So Boukman started
the revolution,
but Dessalines completed it.
- And the other guy?
- Toussaint Louverture.
Yes, that one. That's
the name in the dominoes.
[Evelyn] Huh?
I tried to ask you about
it while you were playing,
the name in the case.
(eerie music)
Oh.
(eerie music continues)
- I don't know what it means.
- Me either.
I don't know what it says,
but I'm certain it's Creole.
(wind howling)
(pages fluttering)
(pages rustling)
(Uncle Anthony panting)
(paper rustling)
"If my people, which
are called by my name,
hold on themselves and
pray and seek my face,
then I will hear in heaven,
and will forgive their sin
and heal their land."
I think I get it.
Can y'all come
over to the table?
Mm-mm. Come over here,
Unc, come over here.
Please.
I think I figured out a way
to get us out of this house.
(footsteps tapping)
(chair clattering)
It's me.
I think I'm being punished.
Well, there you have it.
Can you just let me out
and keep the preacher?
(sighs) I don't know, Unc.
I think it's bigger
than just you.
We all kind of stuck here.
God doesn't always
operate like that.
The Lord almost tore the holy
ship apart because of Jonah.
Everybody on that
boat was in danger,
but it was only
Jonah who was causing
the wrath of God
to come to them.
What happened to Dad's Bible?
Something very strange.
And then afterwards, there
was just this one page.
So?
Basically it says,
I have to repent.
I have to confess my faults.
"If my people-"
Oh shit.
This should be
interesting. (laughs)
"If my people who are
called by my name..."
(eerie music)
Where'd this come from?
Who put this here?
Where did this come from?
- It's the domino case.
- What's wrong?
What's it say?
(eerie music continues)
Here lie the remains of
Emmanuel and Manuela Toussaint.
- Who that?
- Our great-grandparents.
Isn't that what they
usually put on your headstone,
like, after you die?
Our great-grandparents?
But our last name is Jackson.
Our last name is Toussaint.
We went by Jackson to fit in
when we arrived in the States.
Our grandparents sent us
to France to go to college,
but me and your dad
had other plans.
We stayed a few weeks in France
and then we made our way here.
- They didn't know?
- No.
And when they found out,
they were so disappointed.
Grandmother said that granddad
cried almost every day
because he didn't have anyone
to pass the knowledge down to.
Our act made us untrustworthy.
What knowledge?
Your great-grandfather
was a very high priest.
Voodoo is important
to family life
in any community
that practices it,
and the knowledge that's gained
is generally passed down
to other generations.
I was glad.
I thought it was a blessing,
but your dad was always angry,
and he regretted it.
I haven't been back to
Haiti since we left,
not even for their funeral.
They died at the same time?
She died three
days after he did.
Your dad went to the funeral.
He's been back several times.
That's probably how he
got the photographs,
and, and that.
So you think the dominoes are?
Evil.
(eerie music continues)
You all right, Unc?
Martha, I think you
are a tremendous woman
and a perfect wife.
I know I don't deserve you,
and I apologize for
not being the man that-
- Who are you talking
about? Yolanda?
And what's that bitch
name? Sonya, your hoe.
Hmm?
That lasted about a year,
a piece.
Tell me something
I don't know.
Remember, I work for
professional liars, honey.
And as a matter of fact,
Sonya called me when
we got to the house.
Now, it is one thing for you
to go out there
and screw around,
but when you can't
control your hoes,
and they had the audacity
to call my phone,
that's just damn disrespectful.
They weren't the only ones.
(laughs) I'm not surprised.
(Aunt Martha taps the table)
Who else was it,
Valerie? Gloria? (laughs)
Brandy Jenkins,
Sister Jones' niece,
Sister Jones' niece?
Sister Jones' 17-year-old niece?
I swear, I didn't
know she was that young.
(Aunt Martha laughs)
Hold now. Wait a minute.
(gunshot blasts)
(Evelyn shouts)
(gun rattling)
You fuckin' shot me.
(Uncle Anthony
thuds on the ground)
Unc, you all right?
(Uncle Anthony groans)
Roll over. Roll over.
Come on, come on, come on.
Damn.
You got yourself shot.
Okay. All right.
Oh.
- Let me look at it. I know.
- Oh, shit.
I know.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Oh shit. (groans)
I know it hurts.
Okay, let me get you outta here.
Easy.
(Uncle Anthony gasping)
Okay, I'm gonna lean you up.
- (grunts) Oh.
- Okay.
- Oh.
- Oh shit, oh.
Okay, well, it looked like
it went straight through.
You'll live.
Yeah?
- I gotta get this off.
- Yeah.
Look, consider yourself lucky.
I should have killed his
ass when I had the chance.
(Aunt Martha crying)
As long as he coming home.
Hell no. That's some bullshit.
(sniffs) You know the
worst part of it at all?
I knew what he was doing
and I just let him get away
with his shit. (sniffs)
I should have confronted
him a long time ago,
but no, I had to be strong.
(Uncle Anthony wails)
I'm sorry. I know, I know.
I gotta apply pressure to
try to stop the bleeding.
Try.
That word doesn't appear
anywhere in the Bible.
Really? Oh, I didn't know that.
You sure?
I'm positive?
Now, you just make
sure you're successful
in stopping the
bleeding, all right?
All right. Okay,
you gonna be okay.
All right, so I need to go get
some towels and stuff. okay?
I need you to sing a
song until I get back.
- I can't sing.
- You not making an album.
Just pick a tune of
something that you like.
Yeah, I don't know no songs.
Unc, I need you to pick
one of them little
gospel tunes, okay?
- All right.
- Hold this real tight
until I get back.
Okay, okay. (groans)
On the first day Christmas
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
All right.
On the
Be right back.
Second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and a
partridge in a pear tree
On the third
day of Christmas
I deserve better
than this. (sniffs)
I gave that man my all,
and this is what I get?
Hey Auntie, I'm sorry
you dealing with all this.
But you know what you
always say, right?
Whatever don't kill you
makes you stronger, huh?
(wails) Oh god.
Auntie, I'm sorry you
gotta go through all this,
but I really need
to get in there.
- He all right?
- He'll live.
I don't let nobody
die on my watch.
You always gonna
go there, huh?
You act like I pulled
the damn trigger.
(door squeaks)
No, I don't.
I act like you ain't
do nothing to stop it.
You know what it's
like being in the streets
day in and day out,
risking your life?
Must be nice, judging
from the sidelines.
Well, it's never nice
to see somebody take
they last breath,
especially a Black man.
So it would've been
different if he was white?
No, but at least then we
know he not being killed
because of his skin color.
Look, all I'm saying
is in the streets,
accidents happened.
[Evelyn] Oh, so the
shooting was an accident?
(water running)
No, I'm not saying all that.
I'm just saying in general.
[Evelyn] Word on the street is
that man's last
word was "no gun."
Ugh.
So you gonna take
his word over mine?
Why would he even
have a reason to lie?
The man was out there dyin'.
(water splashes)
What the hell?
(Lilah gasping)
You okay, baby?
12 drummers drumming
12 drummers drumming
(eerie music)
11 pipers piping
(dominoes pieces clattering)
10 lords a leapin'
All right, Unc, you
alive. That's enough.
Nine ladies dancing
Maids a'milkin'
Okay.
(Uncle Anthony groans)
All right, all right.
You good.
All right, let me
have a look at this.
(Uncle Anthony groaning)
It's all right.
Lean over, ooh.
(inhales sharply)
Okay, it look good.
It's lookin' good.
- Okay, okay.
- All right?
Now do my a favor,
bite on this, okay?
Yeah.
(Uncle Anthony screams)
I am sorry. It's gonna
sting a little bit.
I'm sorry.
(Uncle Anthony groans)
I can't let it get infected.
(Uncle Anthony whimpering)
I am sorry, but you deserve it.
All right.
(Uncle Anthony whimpering)
My head is throbbing.
I think I'm gonna throw up.
- I'll get you a bucket.
- Mm-mm.
Please, just don't go.
Don't throw up on me, baby.
Is your uncle okay?
How you holding up, Unc?
I'd rather be judged by
12 than carried by six.
(Aunt Martha sighs)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(Aunt Martha gasping)
(eerie music continues)
I, I couldn't see myself.
My reflection from the mirror.
- Can I sit up, please?
- Yeah, easy.
(Uncle Anthony groans)
Easy.
What does that mean?
- Martha.
- Oh.
I'm so sorry.
If you hadn't missed
and shot me dead,
I would deserved
every bit of it.
Oh, I didn't miss.
(mirror clicks)
My aim was perfect.
And if I wanted you dead,
trust me, we wouldn't be
having this conversation.
I knew you was lying when
you said you weren't married.
This is not on you, Martha.
This was all my fault.
I should have
walked away then.
We were separated
and getting a divorce.
But how do I know I didn't
influence your decision?
My marriage is not your fault.
My job is to influence
people, honey. That's what I do.
And sometimes I'm not
even aware of it myself.
You didn't influence me.
You remember what you told me
when the mayor read
the speech I wrote
for her press conference
after Ezekiel's trial?
Excuse me.
I know y'all having in a
moment, but for the record,
that was not my trial.
I was just a witness.
You were the
witness, remember?
I'm tired of your ass.
Do you? Hmm?
You're like a
musician with words,
and if I ever get
in trouble with God,
I want you to plead my case.
You didn't influence me.
Then why weren't
you divorced already?
Look, you not the
first semi-married man
I found myself involved with.
You just the first
one I married.
I thought after
two failed marriages,
the third would be the charm.
It was.
But I couldn't stay faithful
in either one of them.
You couldn't? Or you're
just too selfish to?
Hmm?
A man changes outta necessity,
and not outta want.
Okay.
I'm gonna go get you
some water, okay?
- Okay.
- Be right back.
Babe, your sister's wrong.
You did the right thing.
I know.
- You should be proud.
- You okay, Auntie?
- No.
- You gonna be okay?
I'll be doing a
whole lot better
if we can get out of this house.
You and me both.
Look, what you mean you
couldn't see your reflection
in the mirror?
I don't know. It, it
just, it wasn't there.
Now, I know I'm
not losing my mind.
Now, you can come back there
with me if you think I'm lying.
Oh no. (laughs) I'm good.
All that stuff been going on
in this house, I believe you.
You know, as crazy as
it might sound, (laughs)
now, I feel a whole lot better.
(Uncle Anthony singing softly)
(Uncle Anthony continues
singing softly)
Unc, what are you singing?
Oh, another song I
remember, part if it.
Haitian National Anthem.
Here, drink this.
Thank you.
You want some grapes?
Is she okay?
(sighs) Well, she did
say she felt better.
Has anyone checked to
see if the door will open?
What?
Uncle Anthony said he
needed to do something,
and he did confess and kind
of got shot, so I dunno.
Can you check? Please?
(Ezekiel sighs)
What did she mean when she
said she's feeling better?
(door rattling)
[Ezekiel] No.
Guess that wasn't the
confession we needed.
Eve, I'm about
tired of your shit.
I wasn't even
talking about you.
The shoe fits.
(eerie music)
I was talking about little
Miss Lovebird over there.
Huh?
Do you have something
you wanna tell my brother?
- What are you talking about?
- Your side nigga.
Come on.
What she talking about?
She's lying.
- Am I?
- Yes.
Babe, your sister is lying.
I've never cheated on you.
I don't know why,
but she's lying.
This ain't even about you.
This about my sister and
her miserable-ass life
and how she's unhappy,
ain't never had no kids,
husband up and died on her.
You don't even know the half.
I know wherever
that nigga is at,
he's happier away from you
and all that negativity.
[Aunt Martha] Ezekiel.
No.
Because wherever that
nigga at, I sent him there.
(gentle music)
He wouldn't stop
putting his hands on me.
I asked y'all for help.
I asked every single
one of y'all for help,
and nobody was there for me,
not one single fuckin' person.
You do all this
protecting and serving,
but you never protect me.
I'm always protecting
and serving you.
I asked Mama. I asked Daddy.
I asked the police.
I even came to you.
I mean, I went to
go see about him.
I thought I'd
straighten him out.
Yeah, you know what happened
when you straightened him out?
Hm?
That.
And then this one.
(gentle music continues)
No, 'cause you were
outta town when he died.
You was on that trip
in Colorado, yeah.
In Colorado.
At a nursing conference.
Yeah.
So I made his favorite
dessert, apple pie.
I made sure that was the
last thing that nigga ate.
(dramatic music)
(gentle music)
(Evelyn sobs)
And I am not lying.
(dramatic music)
Tell 'em who baby you aborted.
(gentle music)
But I went to a
different doctor, I-
- We process all of
Rebecca's paperwork.
Rebecca, I don't even
even know a Rebecca.
Dr. Turner? 237
English Street?
[Ezekiel] Well?
Yes.
(Ezekiel sighs)
- Oh Lord.
- Yes, I had an abortion.
[Ezekiel] I can't
believe this shit.
So you was cheating on me?
No.
It was yours.
- Say what?
- It was yours.
You aborted my child?
- I'm sorry.
- You're sorry?
You aborted my baby and just
wasn't gonna say nothing.
I told you I didn't wanna
have a baby and to use a condom.
"No, baby, I got this.
I got it under control."
Well, you didn't have
it under control.
Well, you can say something.
I know you would've tried
to talk me into keeping it.
And I don't have the
right to plead my case?
- No.
- No?
So it's just up to
you to decide solely
what we do with our child.
You don't have
to carry a child
inside of you for nine months.
Your life doesn't change.
So what if you wanted to keep
it, but I didn't, then what?
Exactly? That's that
bullshit I'm talking about.
We both made the baby. We
should both make the decision.
I wasn't trying to make
a baby. That's the point.
(sighs) God don't
make mistakes.
God didn't. You did.
(eerie music)
(dominoes pieces clatter)
(piece clatters)
(eerie music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
Took a lot of courage
to do what you did.
You should have been
a damn police officer.
(Ezekiel sighs)
(gentle music)
We planted it.
I lied. We lied. (sighs)
My partner got scared,
overreacted, and panicked.
I just patted the guy down.
He was clean, no gun,
just a asthma pump.
Went to the car to
check his license plate.
When I got out, my
partner had his gun drawn.
He was telling
him, "Don't move."
He just said, "I can't breathe.
Can I get my asthma pump?"
You know,
he just needed his asthma pump.
My partner planted a gun on him.
Told the captain exactly
what happened that day.
He said that couldn't and
wouldn't be the account,
because people were
already waging war
against the police department,
and this would just
add fuel to the fire.
You were right, whole time.
You were right.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music)
(birds chirping)
(Uncle Anthony snoring)
(birds chirping continues)
(birds chirping continues)
(doorbell rings)
(footsteps tapping)
(footsteps tapping continues)
(birds chirping continues)
(dog barking faintly)
Ah, thank you.
Can I come in?
Excuse me, Hattie,
we coming out?
(gentle music)
- Oh.
- You all right, Unc?
Yeah, I'm all right, Zeke.
(Evelyn sighs)
(birds chirping)
Is everything okay?
Yeah. What's going on?
Your daddy wrote
me this letter.
When we were young, I got
pregnant by your father.
I was still in high school.
My parents made me give
the baby up for adoption,
and me and your dad,
we never saw him.
Somehow your dad found out who
their adoptive parents were
and he started sending
them money for him.
So I guess after
Ismael was killed,
they thought it was important
to inform your father.
Our brother, it's what
Daddy was trying to tell us.
(gentle music)
(birds chirping continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
Just because a lie dresses
up in truth's clothes
don't make it the truth.
It is just a well-dressed lie.
(congregation assents)
What our life needs is
the naked truth, amen?
[Congregation] Amen.
[Uncle Anthony] A lie can't
give you what the truth can.
Am I right?
Right.
[Uncle Anthony] A lie
cannot sustain life,
because your life is constructed
on the basis of truth.
- Come on Pastor, set it up.
- As a matter of fact,
living your life as a lie can
actually shorten your life.
Now why is that?
Because the choices you are
making are based on a lie.
[Congregation] Amen.
When we've lived our
life and built our world
on the basis of a
falsehood or a lie,
what is the one
thing that we fear?
[Congregation] The truth.
[Parishioner] The
truth. Come on, Pastor.
And the truth can come
in a twinkling of an eye
in a day or in a year,
but for me and my family,
it was 12 hours.
- Wow.
- My God.
From sun down to sun up,
we had to face the truth.
- Well.
- Yeah, yeah.
Sometimes, to
keep a relationship,
we feel it's necessary to lie.
- You're right, you're right.
- That's right.
But if your relationship
is not built on the truth,
you don't have a true
relationship anyway.
(congregation assents)
Jesus said, "ye
shall know the truth
and the truth shall," what?
[Congregation] Set you free!
Set you free, but
set you free from what?
Set you free from the
lie that you're living,
that you, that you
(congregation assenting)
call life.
- Amen.
- Amen.
(congregation applauds)
- Amen.
- Amen!
(bright music)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(distorted voices singing)
(distorted voices
continue singing)
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
Oh, oh yeah
My past keep creepin'
through the night
Too many secrets, I
can't even run and hide
It's a domino effect
Oh, I feel it in my bones
I know I'm alone
Gotta get up out this home
Facin' my fears
'cause it's spiritual
Got me sure I'm here
Take my physical
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
My past keep creepin'
through the night
So many secrets, I
can't even run and hide
It's a domino effect
I can feel it in my bones
I know I'm alone
Gotta get up out this home
I just wanna live, live
Something's gotta give, give
It's a domino effect
I can feel it in my bones
I know I'm alone
Gotta get up out this home
Gotta go, never be
Gotta get out,
never, never be
Gotta leave, (indistinct)
Keepin' all these secrets
just ain't worth it
Tellin' all this pain
and all this hurtin'
(distorted voices singing)
(distorted voices
continue singing)
Somethin' keeps
peekin' in the window
Somethin' keeps
peekin' in the window
(distorted voices singing)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
Yeah
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(bright music)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(no audio)
(gentle music)
(birds chirping)
[Narrator] Once upon a
time, there were 12 wise men
whose sole purpose
were to make sure
that humanity did not
stray far from God
and his commandments.
The number 12 is the
number of cosmic order.
This mystical
number can be found
in many sacred spaces of life:
12 months in a year,
12 inches in a foot,
(fire whooshes)
12 signs of the Western Zodiac,
the chromatic scale is all 12
notes of the musical alphabet,
12 is the number
of space and time,
hence time is even measured
by two groups of 12 hours.
The sacred geometry
of the number 12
is what is holding this
material world together.
There are 12 houses
in which the planets
and the 12 signs travel.
These houses represent the
karmic cycle of existence,
and all aspects of life
from marriage, friendships,
children, family, health,
money, love, and spirituality.
The 12th house is
the last house, the
house of subconscious.
The ribcage forms the thorax.
It consists of the
12 pairs of ribs
with their costal
cartilages and the sternum.
The thoracic cage protects
the heart and lungs.
Just as the 12 bones
protect the heart,
the 12 wise men would protect
humanity with one weapon:
the truth.
(gentle music)
(dog barking faintly)
(curtains rustling)
(footsteps tapping)
(phone beeping)
(phone ringing)
(phone beeps)
Hattie. Jermiah again.
Please gimme a call as soon
as you get this message.
It's, uh, sort of important.
(phone beeps)
(papers rustling)
(dramatic music)
(pieces clattering)
(dramatic music continues)
(gentle music)
(brakes squeaking)
(tires crunching)
(footsteps tapping)
(Ezekiel sighs)
(doorbell rings)
(door rattling)
(laughs) Oh, what
took you so long?
Oh man, uh, you gotta
get that thing fixed, huh?
Ha, is that right?
Well, I've been waiting
on you for months
to help me with that damn
garage, and this damn door, too.
You know, trial
had me tied up,
but I made sergeant, by the way.
Sergeant? Hey, I, I, I, I
didn't know you were pursuing-
- Yeah, I just, you know I
planned on it eventually.
Ah, come on now.
(door rattling)
Well the DPD should be glad
to have you on their team.
Yeah, I think it's
the foundation shifting.
Yeah, well, you stop
stalling this ass-whipping
and shift yourself on in here.
(gentle music)
(door rattles)
Pop, this house
in the dead zone?
You still ain't
got no wifi, huh?
- I do.
- Oh Shoot. Check you out.
What's the password?
P-R-A-Y.
P-R-A...
Man. I don't see no P-R...
(Pop laughs)
Oh, you got jokes. (laughs)
That's how I stay connected.
Come on, Pops.
How we supposed to communicate?
Communicate my ass.
You mean miscommunicate.
Y'all don't know nothing
about no communication.
When was the last time you
spoke with your sister?
Exactly.
Back in Haiti,
family is important.
Me and your mother tried
to keep that going.
That's what I want to talk
to you and your sister about.
Come on, Pops, you know
I've been working. (sighs)
Well come on in here
and get this beat down
'til your sister gets here.
(pieces clattering)
(Ezekiel sighs)
Honestly, Pop, I made a
previous engagement today,
and, uh...
- Oh.
- Yeah.
- You forgot.
- I didn't forget-forget,
I just, um...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's okay.
Listen, can you do
me a favor and mail
that letter addressed to Hattie
in the basket over there?
(sighs) And not forget.
(laughs) I got you, Pops.
I got you. (sighs)
Man, it's, it's your birthday
next weekend anyway, right?
Thought today would be better,
'cause it's me and
your mom's anniversary.
- Hmm.
- You see...
(phone ringing)
(phone ringing)
Hey! (laughs)
Oh, oh, okay.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I, uh, I understand.
Love you too.
Thank you.
Is that Evelyn?
What you wanna talk
to us about? You okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
You go on and enjoy yourself.
(sighs) All right, Pop.
You have my word, next
weekend, garage and the door.
Shit. I won't hold my breath.
Did you cuss as much
when you was a preacher?
(laughs) Shit, more.
(Ezekiel laughs)
Church folks make you cuss.
Why you think we got all these
bars on these damn windows?
That was your mother
trying to protect y'all.
I've gotten better though.
Oh, don't forget
the fuckin' letter.
I'll grab it on
my way out. (laughs)
(footsteps tapping)
(door rattling)
I don't want to have
to come looking for you.
(door squeaks)
I'm gonna definitely be back
before you get stuck up in here.
(door slams)
(footsteps tapping)
(crickets chirping)
To everything,
there is a season.
A tie to every purpose
under the heaven.
(gasps) Ooh.
(car door slams)
(keys jingle)
How's your dad? Is he
okay with you not staying?
(car beeping)
(sighs) House just ain't
the same without my mom.
I'm done with my face.
Should I go say hi?
Not if you wanna
get to this party.
I still gotta stop at
a mailbox on the way.
(sighs) Cancel the
plans this weekend, too.
I'm helping him fix the garage.
Don't tell me. Better
put it in your phone.
You're the king
of double-booking.
(sighs) Left my phone.
BRB
(footsteps rustling)
(dramatic music)
(doorbell rings)
(dramatic music)
(doorbell rings)
(door clicks)
(door rattling)
(door slams)
Pops, I left my phone.
Pops, all right, I'm gone.
I get with you next weekend.
(eerie music)
Pop. Pop.
Pop. You back here?
(eerie music continues)
You in here? Man, you
could have said something.
Dad, I left my phone.
Come lock the door.
(Ezekiel knocks)
Pops.
(dramatic music)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(door squeaks)
(Ezekiel crying)
(gentle music continues)
(Ezekiel sobs)
(gentle music continues)
Ooh
(eerie music)
(Ezekiel crying)
(crickets chirping)
(gentle music continues)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(wind whistling)
(bones clattering)
(eerie music)
(gentle music)
Walk with me, Jesus
Take me by the hand
Ooh
(birds chirping)
(gentle music continues)
Take me by the hand
(gentle music continues)
I got you, Zeke. I got you.
I gotta stop by
the church first
and then I'll come by
the house afterwards.
All right, Unc.
Heard the mayor's
campaign is going well.
Mm-hmm.
We're in the home
stretch and we'll be okay
if I can keep him on message.
Think she can render
her brilliance full time
to the church and help
the house of the Lord.
Uh, I rendered the
seeds of the pastor
in the house of the Lord
enough already. (laughs)
Have you gotten any
rest since to trial?
I had to deal with
this first, so no, ma'am.
Well it doesn't kill you,
only make you stronger,
or crazy. (laughs)
So how's business going, Lilah?
No complaints.
When are you gonna come by the
shop and let me do your hair?
I can hook you up.
I'm gonna have to
think about that one.
You just make sure
you get some rest,
'cause I don't want any excuses
when I dust you at the
shooting range again.
(sighs) I bet you got
it on you right now, huh?
Really? Martha, you
gonna do this right now?
This is my American
Express card.
Babe, I don't live
home without it.
I knew she had it on her.
She always got it on her.
(gentle music)
I am so sorry for your loss.
[Ezekiel] Thank you.
I'm an old friend of your
dad's. Excuse my clothes.
I literally just got
back from a cruise.
You're fine. If you knew him,
you know what he would say?
Come as you are.
Come as you are.
[All] But you
can't say that way.
(Aunt Martha laughs softly)
Thank you.
If you don't mind me
asking what happened?
- He had a heart attack.
- Oh wow.
I can't believe it.
I literally, as soon as I
got back, turned my phone on
and I had several missed
messages from him.
I tried to call him, no answer,
then I finally
called the church,
and they told me he passed away.
My heart just sunk.
- Patty?
- Hattie.
Yeah, Hattie. Pastor
Anthony, the one you spoke to.
Oh okay. Jermiah's brother?
- Yes ma'am.
- And I'm his wife Martha.
- Oh, nice to meet-
- You too. Mm-hmm.
Oh, you are the one he
used to leave the notes for.
Building 12? Harmony
Place Apartments?
Oh yeah. Hattie,
(laughs) that Hattie.
(Hattie laughs)
(tone squeals)
Your sister.
How y'all doing?
It's good to see you.
- You too.
- You all right?
- I'm good.
- Mm-hmm.
All right. I'll see y'all.
Usually have some
people by the house later
if you wanna come through.
- I gotta work.
- Are you serious?
- Yes.
- Come on, Eve.
What is goin' on with-
What? It's nothing.
Move. I gotta go.
You can't take one night off?
What? Please,
Mama and Daddy gone.
Now you wanna pretend
like we the happy family?
Look, I just thought
it would be nice
if we all came to
the house together.
You didn't think
it was a good idea
when Mama was on her deathbed.
Is this about Mama and Daddy?
Or are you still
pissed about the trial?
I do not have time for this.
Eve. The trial is over.
Why you still tripping?
It might be over for you,
but every time I close my
eyes, I see that man's face.
And that's the
problem. You shouldn't.
You ain't supposed to do that.
You weren't even
supposed to be there.
That wasn't your
responsibility there.
I was doing my job.
No, the doctor even testified
that wasn't your shift.
You ain't have to put
yourself through all of that.
Of course I did, when I
found out you was involved.
What you expect?
They was already talking about
a crooked-ass cop shooting.
Man, people gonna say whatever
the hell they wanna say.
I'm not your little
brother anymore, Eve.
You can't save everybody.
Not Mama, not Daddy,
not your husband.
(dramatic music)
Not-
- Get outta my way.
You ever thought
about seeing somebody?
You need some help?
A psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist,
a psychologist.
I don't know. Something.
I'm not the one
that killed a man.
- I ain't kill nobody.
- I know.
You just watched.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(footsteps rustling)
(wind blowing)
(paper rustling)
(paper rustling)
(Ezekiel sighs)
Your cousins just left,
and, I think her name
is Haiti, Hattie,
she just made it and
brought some juice.
You wanna come and eat?
I'll come up
there in a second.
Still looking at those photos?
All he wanted was
for us to come together
as a family and play dominoes.
I am sorry, bae.
Dad sends his condolences
and said take as much
time as you need.
My boss sending condolences
through my girlfriend.
It's never a good sign.
Your boss also mentioned that
someone made sergeant, too.
Why didn't you tell me?
Hmm.
It's just, I meant to.
It just happened so
fast, and then my dad.
Just a lot going on. (sighs)
Besides, we even now.
Even?
How are we even?
Remember when you had your
dad take you to the doctor
and you didn't tell me 'til
several weeks after the fact?
I didn't want you to worry.
Mm-hmm.
If you're sick or something's
wrong, I'm supposed to worry.
You're still mad about
that? It was months ago.
- And?
- And I understand.
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
- Your sister's not coming?
- Mm-mm.
- Is it 'cause of me?
- What about you?
- I don't know.
- You just,
you think she doesn't
like me because I'm white?
My sister don't like
none of my girlfriends.
- And they were all white.
- They weren't all white.
They were. (laughs)
- No.
- Mm.
Look what's-her-name
was Hispanic,
then I had an Asian one
then, yes, a white one.
Then a Jamaican, so
technically Black,
and, uh, another white one.
- And seriously?
- Yeah. Yeah.
And you. So three white girls.
(dramatic music)
Check this out.
My dad said he used to play
dominoes all the time in Haiti,
forget about the
hardship and struggles,
- Those clothes pins?
- Mm-hmm.
That's how they
punish you for losing.
Them suckers start to
hurt after a while, too.
But you sure forget you broke.
I think my grandfather
was a pastor in Haiti.
My parents never
mentioned much about it.
You wanna come and eat
before the food gets cold?
(paper rustling)
Hmm.
I didn't even know he was
keeping up with the trial.
Never came by the courthouse.
Didn't even mention it
until the night he passed.
(dramatic music continues)
Come on.
It was nice talking
to you, Hattie.
You too.
All right, Zeke, I'm
gonna get outta here, bro.
Don't hesitate to call to
me if you need anything.
Appreciate it
man. Appreciate it.
I'm gonna go ahead
and go as well.
You know, I did not know
you were involved in
that police shooting.
(door squeaks and rattles)
There's been so many lately,
I've just been numb to it all.
Turned off the news entirely.
Actually, it was my partner.
Oh, okay. They made
it seem like it was you.
- Mm-hmm.
- Well you be safe out there.
- All right, ma'am.
- I'm gonna go ahead and go
because I feel like
I'm sleepwalking.
Miss Hattie, before you do.
Who was this pretty young
lady huggin' with my daddy.
That ain't my mama.
Oh!
Where in the Lord did
you dig this up from?
Oh wow.
This was way before your mom.
(laughs) Your
daddy was so happy.
All he talked about
was getting married
and starting a family.
We were so young. My parents
thought he was crazy.
Mm, yeah, this was
a long time ago,
and he made a great
choice in your mother.
Thank you. And thank
you for coming by.
No thank you. Made my day.
(door crashes)
(group yelps)
- Oh!
- Whoa!
- Oh!
- Good lord. (laughs)
- You all right?
- Pizza?
Oh, no, I'm stuffed.
You guys have a good one.
All right.
- All right.
- Okay.
Yeah, yeah, uh, man, that
thing was hard to open.
I think it's the foundation.
Yeah.
Auntie still ain't got
no service out there, huh?
Yeah, I think your
parents did that on purpose.
(Ezekiel and Lilah laugh)
Here, let me take
these to the kitchen
for you, Uncle Anthony.
Oh, oh, thank you.
Pizza?
Well, that was
your dad's favorite.
- Yeah?
- Wow. Wow, Zeke.
This is the first time I've
been here since your mom passed.
Hmm.
(eerie music)
Oh man, these are nice.
Your dad always had a thing
for these custom dominoes.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hey,
the last time I
taught you a lesson.
Boy, you don't
want none of this.
Man, you must have
forgotten I'm the master
at the dominoes.
Lies.
You know your game is trash.
- I thought you had work.
- I did.
But these bones be calling.
You know we go way back.
[Uncle Anthony] Ain't
nothing between us
but space and opportunity.
Bones?
- The dominoes.
- Oh, don't threaten me
with a good time.
You know my daddy
taught me hisself.
They used to make
lot animal bones.
Way back in the day. Not now.
(chair rattling)
(Evelyn grunts)
- No apple pie?
- No.
Hey, come on Martha.
Let's sit here and teach
these youngsters some lessons.
I'm not in the mood to
play in the games, Anthony.
Oh, come on, Auntie,
for better or for worse,
come get this work.
(group laughs)
- You all right auntie?
- Hmm?
(sniffs) Allergies, baby, yeah.
Come on Martha, have
a little family time.
- Now this, mm, this is good.
- Mm-hmm.
Hmm, thanks. I made it.
I heard your mama taught you
how to make the best apple pie.
Hmm.
Well, my mama's cornbread
was lit, but this ain't bad.
I'm impressed.
[Ezekiel] Hmm.
What?
Uh, it's, it's pound cake.
All right, we playing
partners or what?
Cutthroat 10 to get in.
Big six take the skull.
- All right.
- All right?
What about the close pins?
Sh, uh-uh.
Yeah, somebody
ain't got enough.
(eerie music)
All right. Oh, oh hell.
- All right.
- Yeah.
All right, all right.
(table slams)
Whoa!
What the F-Father in heaven?
Just burglar bars,
baby. Everybody relax.
Just the burglar bar.
Man, you need to
get that thing fixed.
Ooh.
Come on, Auntie. Ain't take
you that long to set down, now.
(Aunt Martha murmurs)
Come on, Martha.
Study long, study wrong.
All right, all right, all
right, all right, all right.
There. You happy?
All right.
Bae?
(eerie music)
(box thuds)
- All right, all right.
- That was not good.
Come on, Unc, what
you got for me?
- She funny. You are funny.
- Okay, okay.
I got it. I got it.
Wow.
If I got it, then
tell me I got it.
- Wow. Wow.
- Oh, well.
If I got it, then
tell me I got it then.
(Aunt Martha knocks the table)
- Enough.
- You don't?
- I got it.
- I'm playing defense.
You don't know nothing
about that defensive play.
Okay. Okay.
(Aunt Martha knocks the table)
Okay, well I'm playin',
I'm playin' to win.
You don't know nothin'
about that defensive play.
I'm playin' to win.
I'm playin' to win.
She bluffin'.
- Hey, all right.
- Bluffin'.
- Let's go.
- It's on you, Auntie.
- I knocked.
- Okay, okay.
(crickets chirping)
(pieces tapping)
(Evelyn scoffs)
[Aunt Martha] Mm.
(laughs) Auntie,
it's too easy.
(dramatic music)
Bam, bam, 10! (laughs)
(sighs) She's out.
(Evelyn snapping fingers)
Who, me? Little old
me, again? (laughs)
- One more.
- Can we please go?
It's the last
one for me, y'all.
- It's the last one.
- If y'all insist.
Last one.
Where's the bathroom at again?
Make a left, down the
hall, it's on your left.
Oh man, they washed up.
They washed up.
Come on, big six.
Naw man. Watch out.
[Evelyn] We ain't
gonna get that six.
(Aunt Martha laughs)
(footsteps tapping)
(group chattering faintly)
Not this one.
(door creaking)
(door creaking)
(footsteps tapping)
(Lilah panting)
(dramatic music)
(Lilah panting)
- Write me up.
- Write, write.
- Write it up!
- Write me up.
- What the fuck?
- Tally it up! Write it up!
I'm so over this shit.
(group chattering faintly)
(door creaks and slams)
Write it all up!
(Uncle Anthony speaking faintly)
- You know, uh. (sighs)
- What's the count, Unc?
Uh,
first, 100.
110, 85.
Hmm.
And?
What you looking like, Unc?
- Uh, (clears throat) 35.
- (laughs) Yes!
Y'all are stinkin'
it up, ain't it, Unc?
(Evelyn cackles)
Y'all get on (murmurs)
Come on.
(pieces tapping)
(glass shatters)
(dramatic music)
(Lilah screams)
What the hell was that?
Go get that white girl
before she test something up.
(footsteps tapping)
(Evelyn sighs)
I'm tired of this.
You tired of losing?
Baby, you okay?
(Lilah whimpers)
Can we please just
get out of this house?
Yeah, we're about to leave
right now. What's wrong?
This, this house, the ceiling
fans, the lights flickering.
(panting) Everything.
I peed on myself.
I nearly, nearly peed on myself.
Did you break the mirror baby?
I was washing my hands
and it just shattered.
Told you.
Okay, let me see. You're
not bleeding, right?
Go ahead y'all. I'm
about to get up outta here.
Don't take that ass-whoopin'
personally. (laughs)
(eerie music)
(Lilah whimpers)
[Uncle Anthony] Oh,
I'll be right back.
If you need anything,
just holler.
[Ezekiel] All right,
relax, you're okay.
[Lilah] I just wanna go home.
Grab that?
[Uncle Anthony] What
the hell is your problem.
[Aunt Martha] You don't
want to do this now.
- You already doing it.
- No, you've already done it.
I need to get some fresh air.
Done what?
Ask your damn secretary.
(footsteps tapping)
So you listen to some
gossiping church folk
instead of coming
to your husband?
You think I don't know what
the hell you've been doing?
Obviously not,
'cause if you did-
- You remember, I've worked
for professional liars
most of my life, so you could
save that damn bullshit.
Y'all still here, I see, huh?
Uh, yeah, we're
about to leave.
Excuse me.
All right.
(door rattling)
Let me get that door for
you. It's little tricky.
(door rattling)
My jacket, I think I
left it in your dad's room.
- Go in there and get it.
- By myself?
[Ezekiel] Yeah, go in
there and get the jacket.
Let me deal with the door.
But baby.
Babe, please? Will you
please go get your jacket?
Thank you baby. Thank you.
(door rattling)
A little nippy, huh?
Ooh.
(Ezekiel exhales)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
I'm, I'm, I'm sorry.
I didn't realize
anyone was back here.
I thought you left already.
(sniffs) Nope, I'm still here.
Just getting my jacket.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Thanks.
If I've done anything to
offend you, I, I apologize.
(sighs) Okay.
- Have I?
- No.
Okay, so why
you don't like me?
- I don't even know you.
- That's sort of the point.
I've been dating your
brother for two years now,
and you've always given
me the cold shoulder.
It's not personal.
Is it because I'm white?
- That would be personal.
- Okay, so what's the problem?
Before you overanalyze this,
my concern is my brother.
- Being with a white girl?
- Yes.
So it is because I'm white,
Me liking you or not
liking you has nothing
to do with you being white.
But my brother being a Black
man and dating a white woman
increases the chances of
something happening to him.
- Something like what?
- Prison, lynched,
of being shot by the police.
I'm not like that.
You never know what you'll do
when you're pushed hard enough.
You've never even
given me a chance.
(door rattling)
(electricity buzzing)
Your dad never
mentioned anything
about electrical
issues in this house?
Uh, I think it's the
foundation, the door's stuck.
Oh.
(door rattling)
Oh! God damn.
(Ezekiel sighs)
Oh. Excuse me.
Is it locked?
(door rattles)
I think it's just stuck.
(door rattling)
(metal clattering)
Need some help?
You know the police, boy.
Know how to jimmy a lock.
All right.
Obviously you don't get it.
You know what?
You may not be the type to
cry wolf or call the police,
and say, "Oh, my Black
boyfriend just hit me."
You may not cry rape if
he decides to move on,
or God forbid you catch him
cheating or cry to your dad
because, oh, he's
not racist either,
but he got a couple
of racist friends
who will take matters
into their own hands.
Whether or not you choose to
use your white female power,
that doesn't stop a
racist system from coming
to your defense and raising
havoc on a Black man.
You're right.
I agree with you about
this racist-ass system,
but obviously you don't get it.
I love your brother, and
shouldn't that be enough?
- Really?
- Really.
Love is not something
you say, sweetie.
Love is what you do.
Whatever.
(door slams)
(dramatic music)
[Uncle Anthony] Oh, sh.
[Ezekiel] What
the hell was that?
- Your sister-
- Oh, I thought you left.
- She slammed the door!
- She slammed the door!
- I didn't slam the door.
- I didn't either.
(eerie music)
(door rattling)
(eerie music continues)
- What?
- What?
- This was open, right?
- Yeah.
(Ezekiel sighs)
(eerie music continues)
(door rattling)
It's cold in here.
Foundation.
(door squeaking)
Mm-hmm.
(eerie music)
- Hey, did you see all this?
- Yeah.
You talk to Daddy
about what happened?
- No.
- Why not?
(door rattling)
For what?
Obviously he was keeping
up with the trial.
(eerie music continues)
(sighs) Okay.
(dramatic music)
(door slams)
[Uncle Anthony]
Foundation, my ass.
- Uh-uh.
- Oh my God, it's the house.
We're all gonna die.
(door rattling)
(eerie music)
- Damn.
- Try it.
(eerie music continues)
No service.
(sighs) Garage.
How the hell you
get stuck in a house?
- Maybe it's possessed.
- Excuse me?
Possessed?
(eerie music)
(door clicks)
Blegh.
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(metal clanking)
(eerie music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
Come here. I want
y'all to see this.
Okay.
(footsteps tapping)
Was your grandfather
a preacher too?
- No.
- Looks like he was a priest.
(indistinct) over
there is quite different.
Appears to be some type of
reincarnation ritual, I think.
- What?
- Definitely ceremonial.
They administered different
type of ceremonies
for different things.
Weddings, fertility,
birth, death, war.
When we were young, my
mom practiced Voodoo.
I'm gonna die for sure.
Miss my appointments.
(scoffs) Sometimes she would
put spells on us to protect
us, protect the house.
She would even make offerings
to the ancestors sometimes.
(scoffs) Wait, you
can't be serious.
The best you can come up with
is that a house is possessed?
Well actually a house
can't be possessed.
There.
Only a person or a
thing can be possessed.
Now, a house could be haunted
and have spirits linked to it.
Oh Lord, not you, too.
You'd be surprised what
some politicians dabble in.
Plus, I'm from New Orleans,
and my mom shared
a lot of stories.
I didn't know
you was into that.
I never said I was into
it. I'm familiar with it.
What y'all call this
evil worshiping stuff.
"Resist the devil and he
will flee from you" John 4:7.
"Judge not lest ye be
judged," somewhere in the Bible.
Look, it's not evil. Voodoo
literally means spirits.
It's a religion just
like Christianity.
- Exactly.
- The devil is a lie.
The devil don't need to lie,
because some people don't
want to know the truth.
Yeah, y'all can get with all
that new wave religion stuff,
but I serve one master.
For your information, Voodoo
is a monotheistic religion,
and they believe
in only one God.
Probably the same
God you believe in.
Don't you put God in
your political nonsense.
- Listen-
- This is not for debate.
There's good and
bad to every religion.
Voodoo is no different.
I'm so disappointed in you.
(sighs) Those white people
that brought us
over on those ships,
those were Christians, right?
I ain't trying to
hear no shit, all right?
Jesus says, "if you do
the will of my father,
you are in my family."
Jesus said a lot of stuff,
but it's funny how
we pick and choose
what we decide to
live by now, isn't it?
- Hmm.
- Listen,
if you got something
you want to discuss,
you wait until we
get outta this house.
Whatever.
(eerie music continues)
Can't believe your daddy
still had those pictures.
Look, I'm not a Christian,
a Voodooist, a Buddhist,
a Muslim or nothing, but I
wanna get out of this house,
and if they can help
us get out, I'm all in.
I'll be whatever I need
to be in the name of,
whoever it needs to
be in the name of.
(metal rattling)
(Ezekiel sighs)
(shovel clatters)
All right, I'll try this one.
(dramatic music)
(metal rattling)
(dramatic music)
(Ezekiel murmurs softly)
(sighs) Shit.
(door squeaking)
(Ezekiel grunts)
- I'm just checking on you.
- I'm good. (sighs)
Are you? Look like
that door is giving you
just as much trouble
as the one out there.
You know, (sighs) I sure
love you, Evelyn. I surely do.
(laughs) Remember when
I taught you how to drive?
I remember when you
taught me how to crash.
(both laugh)
Oh man.
(Ezekiel sighs)
For the record, I hate what
happened to the brother, too.
(door squeaks)
(Ezekiel sighs)
Oof.
(door slams)
(keys jingling)
(ignition rattles)
(car beeps)
(car starts)
All right. Sorry, Pops.
(car rumbling)
(car revs)
(car beeps)
(car beeps)
(sighs) Are you serious?
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
Ah!
(door squeaks)
Guess you ain't
find a way out.
What's that?
- Just fell and hit my hand.
- Honey, your your finger.
You're bleeding.
I'm fine.
You sure? You look
like you saw a ghost.
It was somethin', all right.
Did see something
else in the van.
- Something else like what?
- Hell, if I know.
If it can't get us outta
here, I don't care to know.
Ezekiel, what is it?
It looks like a
bone or something.
- A bone?
- What kind of bone?
Maybe it's from a
chicken or something.
- Well, did you get it?
- I ain't touching that shit.
(chair skids)
Yeah, you go touch that shit.
(door squeaks)
(dramatic music)
Shit.
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(eerie music)
(door squeaks and slams)
(door squeaks)
(Evelyn panting)
It does look like a bone.
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(gentle music)
It says something on the back.
"Let their table be
a snare before them,
and that which should have
been for their welfare,
let it be a trap."
(eerie music)
(dominoes pieces clattering)
I refuse to believe in
what's going on this house,
and I refute it in
the name of Jesus.
(dramatic music)
(kitchen drawers skidding)
(chair creaks)
(cupboards slam)
(Lilah yelps)
You think Mama put
a spell on the house?
- I think it's a spirit.
- Whose spirit?
- The hell if I know!
- A good spirit or bad spirit?
Listen to y'all. That's
straight blasphemy.
Your parents are
probably turning over
in their graves right now.
Mama said Voodoo
help Haiti become
an independent Black nation,
so it can't be all that bad.
Well, I'm sorry to inform you,
but your mom probably
stretched the truth.
So it's not true that Boukman,
who happened to be
a Muslim by the way,
and Toussaint Louverture
and Dessalines
used Voodoo to
escape the French?
Oh, it's very true.
Now, some people say
that Voodoo is evil,
but it did help free
the people of Haiti.
Now Christianity enslaved them.
That's just some
conspiracy mumbo-jumbo.
- It's a fact.
- It's bullshit.
Oh, but you believe that
Jesus rose from the dead
and walked on water, and
Moses parted the Red Sea,
and Mary had a baby by herself?
Regard not them that
have familiar spirits,
yet to seek wizards
or be defiled by them.
I'm finna go pray for
all y'all heathen asses.
Look, they obviously
want something.
Something like what? A soul?
- Who is they?
- I'm not sure.
Your dad, mom, grandparents.
I, I don't know.
Let this table be
a snare before them
so that which shall-
- Right, for your,
for your welfare,
let it be a trap.
(fan humming)
(crickets chirping)
(water hissing)
(tap squeaks)
I don't know what you
want, but you can't win.
You can't beat my God.
(eerie music)
(water hissing)
(taps squeaking)
(Uncle Anthony murmuring)
This is just an enchantment.
(Uncle Anthony murmuring)
(toilet flushes)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(Uncle Anthony panting)
Lord, Lord, what is it?
I swear, if you
keep me out of this,
I promise I will never...
(electricity buzzing)
(dramatic music continues)
(Uncle Anthony whispering)
(door clicks)
(dramatic music)
(wind whooshing)
(dramatic music continues)
(pages flipping)
(wind howling)
(pages flipping)
(pages flipping and tearing)
(dramatic music continues)
Who did you say
freed Haiti again?
So Boukman started
the revolution,
but Dessalines completed it.
- And the other guy?
- Toussaint Louverture.
Yes, that one. That's
the name in the dominoes.
[Evelyn] Huh?
I tried to ask you about
it while you were playing,
the name in the case.
(eerie music)
Oh.
(eerie music continues)
- I don't know what it means.
- Me either.
I don't know what it says,
but I'm certain it's Creole.
(wind howling)
(pages fluttering)
(pages rustling)
(Uncle Anthony panting)
(paper rustling)
"If my people, which
are called by my name,
hold on themselves and
pray and seek my face,
then I will hear in heaven,
and will forgive their sin
and heal their land."
I think I get it.
Can y'all come
over to the table?
Mm-mm. Come over here,
Unc, come over here.
Please.
I think I figured out a way
to get us out of this house.
(footsteps tapping)
(chair clattering)
It's me.
I think I'm being punished.
Well, there you have it.
Can you just let me out
and keep the preacher?
(sighs) I don't know, Unc.
I think it's bigger
than just you.
We all kind of stuck here.
God doesn't always
operate like that.
The Lord almost tore the holy
ship apart because of Jonah.
Everybody on that
boat was in danger,
but it was only
Jonah who was causing
the wrath of God
to come to them.
What happened to Dad's Bible?
Something very strange.
And then afterwards, there
was just this one page.
So?
Basically it says,
I have to repent.
I have to confess my faults.
"If my people-"
Oh shit.
This should be
interesting. (laughs)
"If my people who are
called by my name..."
(eerie music)
Where'd this come from?
Who put this here?
Where did this come from?
- It's the domino case.
- What's wrong?
What's it say?
(eerie music continues)
Here lie the remains of
Emmanuel and Manuela Toussaint.
- Who that?
- Our great-grandparents.
Isn't that what they
usually put on your headstone,
like, after you die?
Our great-grandparents?
But our last name is Jackson.
Our last name is Toussaint.
We went by Jackson to fit in
when we arrived in the States.
Our grandparents sent us
to France to go to college,
but me and your dad
had other plans.
We stayed a few weeks in France
and then we made our way here.
- They didn't know?
- No.
And when they found out,
they were so disappointed.
Grandmother said that granddad
cried almost every day
because he didn't have anyone
to pass the knowledge down to.
Our act made us untrustworthy.
What knowledge?
Your great-grandfather
was a very high priest.
Voodoo is important
to family life
in any community
that practices it,
and the knowledge that's gained
is generally passed down
to other generations.
I was glad.
I thought it was a blessing,
but your dad was always angry,
and he regretted it.
I haven't been back to
Haiti since we left,
not even for their funeral.
They died at the same time?
She died three
days after he did.
Your dad went to the funeral.
He's been back several times.
That's probably how he
got the photographs,
and, and that.
So you think the dominoes are?
Evil.
(eerie music continues)
You all right, Unc?
Martha, I think you
are a tremendous woman
and a perfect wife.
I know I don't deserve you,
and I apologize for
not being the man that-
- Who are you talking
about? Yolanda?
And what's that bitch
name? Sonya, your hoe.
Hmm?
That lasted about a year,
a piece.
Tell me something
I don't know.
Remember, I work for
professional liars, honey.
And as a matter of fact,
Sonya called me when
we got to the house.
Now, it is one thing for you
to go out there
and screw around,
but when you can't
control your hoes,
and they had the audacity
to call my phone,
that's just damn disrespectful.
They weren't the only ones.
(laughs) I'm not surprised.
(Aunt Martha taps the table)
Who else was it,
Valerie? Gloria? (laughs)
Brandy Jenkins,
Sister Jones' niece,
Sister Jones' niece?
Sister Jones' 17-year-old niece?
I swear, I didn't
know she was that young.
(Aunt Martha laughs)
Hold now. Wait a minute.
(gunshot blasts)
(Evelyn shouts)
(gun rattling)
You fuckin' shot me.
(Uncle Anthony
thuds on the ground)
Unc, you all right?
(Uncle Anthony groans)
Roll over. Roll over.
Come on, come on, come on.
Damn.
You got yourself shot.
Okay. All right.
Oh.
- Let me look at it. I know.
- Oh, shit.
I know.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Oh shit. (groans)
I know it hurts.
Okay, let me get you outta here.
Easy.
(Uncle Anthony gasping)
Okay, I'm gonna lean you up.
- (grunts) Oh.
- Okay.
- Oh.
- Oh shit, oh.
Okay, well, it looked like
it went straight through.
You'll live.
Yeah?
- I gotta get this off.
- Yeah.
Look, consider yourself lucky.
I should have killed his
ass when I had the chance.
(Aunt Martha crying)
As long as he coming home.
Hell no. That's some bullshit.
(sniffs) You know the
worst part of it at all?
I knew what he was doing
and I just let him get away
with his shit. (sniffs)
I should have confronted
him a long time ago,
but no, I had to be strong.
(Uncle Anthony wails)
I'm sorry. I know, I know.
I gotta apply pressure to
try to stop the bleeding.
Try.
That word doesn't appear
anywhere in the Bible.
Really? Oh, I didn't know that.
You sure?
I'm positive?
Now, you just make
sure you're successful
in stopping the
bleeding, all right?
All right. Okay,
you gonna be okay.
All right, so I need to go get
some towels and stuff. okay?
I need you to sing a
song until I get back.
- I can't sing.
- You not making an album.
Just pick a tune of
something that you like.
Yeah, I don't know no songs.
Unc, I need you to pick
one of them little
gospel tunes, okay?
- All right.
- Hold this real tight
until I get back.
Okay, okay. (groans)
On the first day Christmas
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
All right.
On the
Be right back.
Second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and a
partridge in a pear tree
On the third
day of Christmas
I deserve better
than this. (sniffs)
I gave that man my all,
and this is what I get?
Hey Auntie, I'm sorry
you dealing with all this.
But you know what you
always say, right?
Whatever don't kill you
makes you stronger, huh?
(wails) Oh god.
Auntie, I'm sorry you
gotta go through all this,
but I really need
to get in there.
- He all right?
- He'll live.
I don't let nobody
die on my watch.
You always gonna
go there, huh?
You act like I pulled
the damn trigger.
(door squeaks)
No, I don't.
I act like you ain't
do nothing to stop it.
You know what it's
like being in the streets
day in and day out,
risking your life?
Must be nice, judging
from the sidelines.
Well, it's never nice
to see somebody take
they last breath,
especially a Black man.
So it would've been
different if he was white?
No, but at least then we
know he not being killed
because of his skin color.
Look, all I'm saying
is in the streets,
accidents happened.
[Evelyn] Oh, so the
shooting was an accident?
(water running)
No, I'm not saying all that.
I'm just saying in general.
[Evelyn] Word on the street is
that man's last
word was "no gun."
Ugh.
So you gonna take
his word over mine?
Why would he even
have a reason to lie?
The man was out there dyin'.
(water splashes)
What the hell?
(Lilah gasping)
You okay, baby?
12 drummers drumming
12 drummers drumming
(eerie music)
11 pipers piping
(dominoes pieces clattering)
10 lords a leapin'
All right, Unc, you
alive. That's enough.
Nine ladies dancing
Maids a'milkin'
Okay.
(Uncle Anthony groans)
All right, all right.
You good.
All right, let me
have a look at this.
(Uncle Anthony groaning)
It's all right.
Lean over, ooh.
(inhales sharply)
Okay, it look good.
It's lookin' good.
- Okay, okay.
- All right?
Now do my a favor,
bite on this, okay?
Yeah.
(Uncle Anthony screams)
I am sorry. It's gonna
sting a little bit.
I'm sorry.
(Uncle Anthony groans)
I can't let it get infected.
(Uncle Anthony whimpering)
I am sorry, but you deserve it.
All right.
(Uncle Anthony whimpering)
My head is throbbing.
I think I'm gonna throw up.
- I'll get you a bucket.
- Mm-mm.
Please, just don't go.
Don't throw up on me, baby.
Is your uncle okay?
How you holding up, Unc?
I'd rather be judged by
12 than carried by six.
(Aunt Martha sighs)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(Aunt Martha gasping)
(eerie music continues)
I, I couldn't see myself.
My reflection from the mirror.
- Can I sit up, please?
- Yeah, easy.
(Uncle Anthony groans)
Easy.
What does that mean?
- Martha.
- Oh.
I'm so sorry.
If you hadn't missed
and shot me dead,
I would deserved
every bit of it.
Oh, I didn't miss.
(mirror clicks)
My aim was perfect.
And if I wanted you dead,
trust me, we wouldn't be
having this conversation.
I knew you was lying when
you said you weren't married.
This is not on you, Martha.
This was all my fault.
I should have
walked away then.
We were separated
and getting a divorce.
But how do I know I didn't
influence your decision?
My marriage is not your fault.
My job is to influence
people, honey. That's what I do.
And sometimes I'm not
even aware of it myself.
You didn't influence me.
You remember what you told me
when the mayor read
the speech I wrote
for her press conference
after Ezekiel's trial?
Excuse me.
I know y'all having in a
moment, but for the record,
that was not my trial.
I was just a witness.
You were the
witness, remember?
I'm tired of your ass.
Do you? Hmm?
You're like a
musician with words,
and if I ever get
in trouble with God,
I want you to plead my case.
You didn't influence me.
Then why weren't
you divorced already?
Look, you not the
first semi-married man
I found myself involved with.
You just the first
one I married.
I thought after
two failed marriages,
the third would be the charm.
It was.
But I couldn't stay faithful
in either one of them.
You couldn't? Or you're
just too selfish to?
Hmm?
A man changes outta necessity,
and not outta want.
Okay.
I'm gonna go get you
some water, okay?
- Okay.
- Be right back.
Babe, your sister's wrong.
You did the right thing.
I know.
- You should be proud.
- You okay, Auntie?
- No.
- You gonna be okay?
I'll be doing a
whole lot better
if we can get out of this house.
You and me both.
Look, what you mean you
couldn't see your reflection
in the mirror?
I don't know. It, it
just, it wasn't there.
Now, I know I'm
not losing my mind.
Now, you can come back there
with me if you think I'm lying.
Oh no. (laughs) I'm good.
All that stuff been going on
in this house, I believe you.
You know, as crazy as
it might sound, (laughs)
now, I feel a whole lot better.
(Uncle Anthony singing softly)
(Uncle Anthony continues
singing softly)
Unc, what are you singing?
Oh, another song I
remember, part if it.
Haitian National Anthem.
Here, drink this.
Thank you.
You want some grapes?
Is she okay?
(sighs) Well, she did
say she felt better.
Has anyone checked to
see if the door will open?
What?
Uncle Anthony said he
needed to do something,
and he did confess and kind
of got shot, so I dunno.
Can you check? Please?
(Ezekiel sighs)
What did she mean when she
said she's feeling better?
(door rattling)
[Ezekiel] No.
Guess that wasn't the
confession we needed.
Eve, I'm about
tired of your shit.
I wasn't even
talking about you.
The shoe fits.
(eerie music)
I was talking about little
Miss Lovebird over there.
Huh?
Do you have something
you wanna tell my brother?
- What are you talking about?
- Your side nigga.
Come on.
What she talking about?
She's lying.
- Am I?
- Yes.
Babe, your sister is lying.
I've never cheated on you.
I don't know why,
but she's lying.
This ain't even about you.
This about my sister and
her miserable-ass life
and how she's unhappy,
ain't never had no kids,
husband up and died on her.
You don't even know the half.
I know wherever
that nigga is at,
he's happier away from you
and all that negativity.
[Aunt Martha] Ezekiel.
No.
Because wherever that
nigga at, I sent him there.
(gentle music)
He wouldn't stop
putting his hands on me.
I asked y'all for help.
I asked every single
one of y'all for help,
and nobody was there for me,
not one single fuckin' person.
You do all this
protecting and serving,
but you never protect me.
I'm always protecting
and serving you.
I asked Mama. I asked Daddy.
I asked the police.
I even came to you.
I mean, I went to
go see about him.
I thought I'd
straighten him out.
Yeah, you know what happened
when you straightened him out?
Hm?
That.
And then this one.
(gentle music continues)
No, 'cause you were
outta town when he died.
You was on that trip
in Colorado, yeah.
In Colorado.
At a nursing conference.
Yeah.
So I made his favorite
dessert, apple pie.
I made sure that was the
last thing that nigga ate.
(dramatic music)
(gentle music)
(Evelyn sobs)
And I am not lying.
(dramatic music)
Tell 'em who baby you aborted.
(gentle music)
But I went to a
different doctor, I-
- We process all of
Rebecca's paperwork.
Rebecca, I don't even
even know a Rebecca.
Dr. Turner? 237
English Street?
[Ezekiel] Well?
Yes.
(Ezekiel sighs)
- Oh Lord.
- Yes, I had an abortion.
[Ezekiel] I can't
believe this shit.
So you was cheating on me?
No.
It was yours.
- Say what?
- It was yours.
You aborted my child?
- I'm sorry.
- You're sorry?
You aborted my baby and just
wasn't gonna say nothing.
I told you I didn't wanna
have a baby and to use a condom.
"No, baby, I got this.
I got it under control."
Well, you didn't have
it under control.
Well, you can say something.
I know you would've tried
to talk me into keeping it.
And I don't have the
right to plead my case?
- No.
- No?
So it's just up to
you to decide solely
what we do with our child.
You don't have
to carry a child
inside of you for nine months.
Your life doesn't change.
So what if you wanted to keep
it, but I didn't, then what?
Exactly? That's that
bullshit I'm talking about.
We both made the baby. We
should both make the decision.
I wasn't trying to make
a baby. That's the point.
(sighs) God don't
make mistakes.
God didn't. You did.
(eerie music)
(dominoes pieces clatter)
(piece clatters)
(eerie music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
Took a lot of courage
to do what you did.
You should have been
a damn police officer.
(Ezekiel sighs)
(gentle music)
We planted it.
I lied. We lied. (sighs)
My partner got scared,
overreacted, and panicked.
I just patted the guy down.
He was clean, no gun,
just a asthma pump.
Went to the car to
check his license plate.
When I got out, my
partner had his gun drawn.
He was telling
him, "Don't move."
He just said, "I can't breathe.
Can I get my asthma pump?"
You know,
he just needed his asthma pump.
My partner planted a gun on him.
Told the captain exactly
what happened that day.
He said that couldn't and
wouldn't be the account,
because people were
already waging war
against the police department,
and this would just
add fuel to the fire.
You were right, whole time.
You were right.
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music)
(birds chirping)
(Uncle Anthony snoring)
(birds chirping continues)
(birds chirping continues)
(doorbell rings)
(footsteps tapping)
(footsteps tapping continues)
(birds chirping continues)
(dog barking faintly)
Ah, thank you.
Can I come in?
Excuse me, Hattie,
we coming out?
(gentle music)
- Oh.
- You all right, Unc?
Yeah, I'm all right, Zeke.
(Evelyn sighs)
(birds chirping)
Is everything okay?
Yeah. What's going on?
Your daddy wrote
me this letter.
When we were young, I got
pregnant by your father.
I was still in high school.
My parents made me give
the baby up for adoption,
and me and your dad,
we never saw him.
Somehow your dad found out who
their adoptive parents were
and he started sending
them money for him.
So I guess after
Ismael was killed,
they thought it was important
to inform your father.
Our brother, it's what
Daddy was trying to tell us.
(gentle music)
(birds chirping continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
Just because a lie dresses
up in truth's clothes
don't make it the truth.
It is just a well-dressed lie.
(congregation assents)
What our life needs is
the naked truth, amen?
[Congregation] Amen.
[Uncle Anthony] A lie can't
give you what the truth can.
Am I right?
Right.
[Uncle Anthony] A lie
cannot sustain life,
because your life is constructed
on the basis of truth.
- Come on Pastor, set it up.
- As a matter of fact,
living your life as a lie can
actually shorten your life.
Now why is that?
Because the choices you are
making are based on a lie.
[Congregation] Amen.
When we've lived our
life and built our world
on the basis of a
falsehood or a lie,
what is the one
thing that we fear?
[Congregation] The truth.
[Parishioner] The
truth. Come on, Pastor.
And the truth can come
in a twinkling of an eye
in a day or in a year,
but for me and my family,
it was 12 hours.
- Wow.
- My God.
From sun down to sun up,
we had to face the truth.
- Well.
- Yeah, yeah.
Sometimes, to
keep a relationship,
we feel it's necessary to lie.
- You're right, you're right.
- That's right.
But if your relationship
is not built on the truth,
you don't have a true
relationship anyway.
(congregation assents)
Jesus said, "ye
shall know the truth
and the truth shall," what?
[Congregation] Set you free!
Set you free, but
set you free from what?
Set you free from the
lie that you're living,
that you, that you
(congregation assenting)
call life.
- Amen.
- Amen.
(congregation applauds)
- Amen.
- Amen!
(bright music)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)
(distorted voices singing)
(distorted voices
continue singing)
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
Oh, oh yeah
My past keep creepin'
through the night
Too many secrets, I
can't even run and hide
It's a domino effect
Oh, I feel it in my bones
I know I'm alone
Gotta get up out this home
Facin' my fears
'cause it's spiritual
Got me sure I'm here
Take my physical
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
Somethin' keeps
peeking in the window
My past keep creepin'
through the night
So many secrets, I
can't even run and hide
It's a domino effect
I can feel it in my bones
I know I'm alone
Gotta get up out this home
I just wanna live, live
Something's gotta give, give
It's a domino effect
I can feel it in my bones
I know I'm alone
Gotta get up out this home
Gotta go, never be
Gotta get out,
never, never be
Gotta leave, (indistinct)
Keepin' all these secrets
just ain't worth it
Tellin' all this pain
and all this hurtin'
(distorted voices singing)
(distorted voices
continue singing)
Somethin' keeps
peekin' in the window
Somethin' keeps
peekin' in the window
(distorted voices singing)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
Yeah
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(bright music)
(bright music continues)
(bright music continues)