Greenleaf (2016) s02e10 Episode Script
Call Not Complete
1 Previously on "Greenleaf" Jacob: We cover the debt, you give us Triumph II.
That way the money gets replaced and you don't go to jail.
You keep your church, and we get ours.
We have the opportunity to do something together.
We co-pastor, build whatever we want across the street.
I don't need a co-pastor any more than I need a cane to walk with.
I ain't done nothing to nobody.
Yeah, you did.
You hurt those girls.
- You are sick! - Stupid bitch! - Ahh! - They didn't do anything they didn't want to.
Mac is dead.
How can this be without scandal? It was self-defense.
Grace is a hero.
And if I ask what you think, you think it's great or you shut up.
The Zora I know would never let anyone talk sideways to her.
- Fine, I'll dump him.
- I am grateful for Robert.
He wasn't always the devil he became.
Sometimes I think that Mac became the way he was watching Daddy, what he did to me.
This is Mavis McCready.
If you're looking to book Alonzo Ashbury, leave your name, your venue, and a date.
I'll get back to you.
Anybody else, speak your piece and keep it brief.
Don't fill up my mailbox.
- [Beep.]
- Mavis, it's me.
We're gathering at moss lake next Saturday at sunset to scatter Robert's ashes.
I thought you should know.
James, myself, Jacob, Charity.
I'm not asking Grace for obvious reasons Lord knows We have had our distances, Mavis, and this family Some earned, some given by God for who knows why.
I don't pretend to understand.
His life is just such a veil of tears, but if there's any way that we Could make a new beginning while there's still time to make one, you and I We'll be there at 5:00 P.
M.
[Inhales deeply.]
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Sighs.]
[Keyboard clacking.]
- Morning.
- Morning.
You sleep okay out here? Yeah.
you? You know.
Here.
Come here.
[Both chuckle.]
I don't think I slept in on a Sunday morning since I moved back, so this is nice.
You gonna make an 11:00? - Mnh-mnh.
- [chuckles.]
No.
with everybody gossiping about me, getting quiet when I walk in the room? No.
I honestly don't think I can walk into a worship right now anyway.
Well, you didn't do anything wrong, at least from what you told me, anyway.
Yeah, I don't blame them, it's just It's church, you know? Everybody's all up in everybody else's business.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
[Keyboard clacking.]
What you working on? Uh, this old friend of mine is the head of bloomberg news now, and she keeps asking me whether I'd be open to come up there.
A job in New York? Yeah.
Are you gonna take it? I don't know.
I got to see if the money's right, and, you know, if it fits with everything else.
Good for you.
[Keyboard clacking.]
- Coffee? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
I need to wake up.
Amen all right amen uh-huh, hmm ooh-ooh, ooh well oh-ohh, ohh ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh amen, amen oh yeah so I asked God, what should I do? - Yes.
- [chuckles.]
I mean, I got land, but no money to build a church on it.
I got the heart for Jesus, but not enough people to share it with.
What should I do? Then the soft, small voice said, "Jacob, you know what to do.
" - But I was, like, "uh, what?" - [Laughter.]
But God was patient with me, and he said, "Jacob, I told you in my word what to do.
" - That's right.
- "Feed my sheep.
Not just with bread," he said, "feed my sheep my word.
" That's why I'm here To be obedient, preaching the word of God just like Jesus did [Chuckles.]
Outside the temple.
Hey.
Thought you were skipping church.
I am, I am.
I just wanted to catch Sophia with the little saints.
I think it'll be cute.
Well, when am I gonna see you again? - Well, you tell me.
- What does that mean? Just the job.
I wouldn't be leaving for a while, if I took it.
So you're gonna take it.
I don't know.
- What's the matter? - Nothing.
I just [chuckles.]
Guess I want to know if we're breaking up or whatever.
Are we together? We're something Come on.
I know we're just hanging out, but, yeah, we're something.
Well, which is why I wanted to tell you there's a job offer on the table.
I didn't want it to come out of left field if I took it.
Hey, look, we made a deal when we met, remember? I wouldn't write about your family or Calvary.
- I didn't force you to do that.
- I know, and I'm glad we didn't.
Okay, but right now, the biggest story in my little corner of the paper is one-time Memphis man of the year just died trying to kill a pastor.
And you just want my story.
No.
My editor wants the story.
But you won't go on record, and I accept that.
Guess this is what happens when you don't go to church on Sunday, huh? Nothing's happening.
You'll let me know if something does? You'll be the first one to hear.
Thank you for the sleepover.
Anytime.
Hey.
how you doing, little man? Thanks for coming.
Bless you.
How you doing, little sister? - What you doing here, son? - Oh, just, uh, you know, doing what I can with what I got for who wants to listen.
God bless you, man.
All right.
You know, your mother's in a bad way, son.
She just lost her brother.
I don't care much to talk about Mac right now.
Well then Feel it for her.
Pop, I promised her I'd come by the house and watch her scatter his ashes, but I'm not gonna stop living my life.
This is your brand-new master plan? God bless you, sister.
Oh, not mine The lord's.
You told me you didn't need me.
- Hey, grandpa.
- You didn't want a co-pastor.
Hey! Zora.
[Chuckles.]
Come here.
There you go.
- Thank you.
- All right, God bless you.
- Hey, ma.
- Hey, son.
Did the two of you learn anything from your season with Basie Skanks? - Jacob's not Basie.
- That's right.
And real church ain't Triumph.
- "Real church"? - Yes, sir.
The real church of Memphis.
A church not made with hands, no walls, no stained-glass windows Just the people and the word of God.
Amen.
There you go, brother.
- Thank you.
- God bless you.
You know none of this has to do with the two of you, all right? We're family, always.
- I know, Grandpa.
- I know, Grandpa.
[Chuckles.]
Can I share my grandchildren? You know, your mother didn't just lose a brother.
She lost her father, almost lost your sister.
I know.
What you don't know is how deep this goes, Jacob.
Trust me, you don't.
You're gonna regret this.
Walking in the footsteps of Basie Skanks all the way to hell.
You should get back.
Pastor.
Come on.
What was that about Lady Mae going deeper than you know? Who knows? Hey, man.
Come on, why don't you hop up here? Sophia: Now, this one is human love.
Crius, try and blow it out.
Sad, but true.
Mm-hmm.
But now try this one.
This one is Agape That means "God's love.
" [Laughter.]
Maybe if both of us blow.
Here.
[Laughter.]
Have you heard from Kevin by any chance? No.
not a phone call, e-mail, nothing? Nothing since the letter.
How does a person do that Just release themselves from every tie that binds them.
He must think it's his right.
I cannot imagine feeling that kind of license to just desert people.
Mama, why are you asking me about Kevin? Well, don't worry, I-I'll handle it.
I can try him again if you want.
There's no need.
There's no need to re-open that wound if you've closed it.
I just thought that if you've heard from him I haven't.
I'm sorry.
You know that by asking you to go with me and your father to scatter Mac's ashes that I I know.
I know.
You don't have to explain.
What a gift you are.
Okay, you're all set up.
Great.
We all lose sight of this fact, because we slip into this achievement brain.
But God loves you just the way you are.
All right.
Ooh, look.
What do you think? Looking good, Daddy.
[Chuckles.]
thank you.
Thank you.
Your sister's the one.
just the way we are.
Not the way we'll be tomorrow.
Not the way we were before it all went wrong.
Right now.
Right now Just the way we are.
- We need to get you on TV.
- [Chuckles.]
I don't know.
I think we're doing something right, just Keeping things small.
I know.
I'm just proud of you.
Thanks.
Thank you, too, kiddo.
No problem.
[Sighs.]
[Ringing.]
- This is Kevin.
Leave a message.
- [Beep.]
Hey, it's me, the person you used to call your best friend, your wife before you stopped being a husband.
The mother of your son, Nathan.
I'm handling everything that you left behind.
This isn't right, Kevin.
What you're doing, just disappearing like this it's not right.
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Sighs.]
Roberto: Yo-o-o! That's better than the last one.
- Whatever.
- It's okay, bud.
[Chuckles.]
- So? - Where'd you meet this guy? His mom teaches at rhodes, so we've been friends, like, forever.
So, what do you think? He's cute, right? He's all right.
A dummy Denzel.
He's going to be the aide to representative Cohen this summer In Washington.
That's big.
Ooh, nothing gets me going like civics.
[Laughs.]
- At least he's nice.
- [Sighs.]
Nice! and the men take a decisive lead.
Ugh, help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Hey.
May I show you a trick? What, you guys afraid to lose? I just have this cool thing that I hold the ball a certain way Yeah, you hold your balls your way, I'll hold mine mine, okay? Different strokes.
[Cellphone chimes.]
Isaiah? - Yep.
- He doesn't know when to quit.
Some call it a virtue.
We need a Turkey to win.
Think you've got that already.
Yo.
[Laughter.]
[Knock on door.]
Come in.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Uh, bad time for a visit? No, no, not at all.
Come on in.
- Is it okay if - Yes, please.
Sit down.
[Chuckles.]
You're not sleepy yet, huh? He was, but I was working on a song and I got a little loud, so it was my fault.
How can I help? [Sighs.]
I want to find Kevin.
Okay.
Is there anything that you can do? My parents are running into all kinds of problems since he left.
Ah, it's, uh It's not cool that he just left everything hanging like that.
[Sighs.]
especially you two.
Yeah.
So, can you do some looking? Do you have any contacts like that? I'll ask around tomorrow.
Thank you.
Sophia: Mm.
[Speaks indistinctly.]
I'll see you tomorrow, crazy.
It was nice to meet you, Zora.
Yeah.
you, too.
See you at mock trial.
That was fun.
Did you tell Roberto about Isaiah? - About him? What about him? - What happened at the studio.
- Why? - So you did tell him.
- Yeah, it happened.
- Why would you tell him? He's my boyfriend.
You don't sell out your cousin for chemistry notes.
And then you want me to mate with him? Mating wasn't a part of the plan.
Of course not.
You know, 'cause mating's for cool people, right? So she explain the job? Darius: Yeah, I just got off the phone with her Talked for about two hours.
- And you're gonna take it? - What do you think? I think you should take it if you want to.
Well, you could come visit.
[Chuckles.]
yeah.
I mean, weren't you on your way to New York, anyway, when this all Yeah.
yeah, I was.
And so you could plausibly end up there after Sophia graduates.
Anything can happen.
And try the long-distance thing, see how that goes? I think we know how that goes.
This is how that goes.
Yeah.
Let's just talk tomorrow, okay? We can talk more now, if you want.
No, you know, let's just talk tomorrow.
Okay.
- Bye.
- [chuckles.]
Bye.
It's gonna be a seven-part series "From the pit to the palace.
" It came to me all at once in a dream.
Yeah, you know, I can't wait to hear what you do with it because some of these younger pastors, in my opinion, use Joseph all wrong You know, "be yourself.
" [Chuckles.]
Well, it's gonna be deeper than that.
When it's all said and done, it may end up being a book.
I would love it if you did another book.
Do you know I still turn to the last one for wisdom? [Chuckles.]
And what corners of the world are you lighting up this morning? Well, I'm gonna set everything straight with that van contract and then just go through résumés and try to find a new outreach director.
Will you join me for lunch? Been a while since we stepped out.
That would be lovely.
What a pleasure it is to have you as a partner in this life.
[Chuckling.]
you did get some sleep.
Oh, I feel like a new man.
[Chuckles.]
Clarine? Good morning, Bishop.
Did that check for $10k clear yet? Mm.
just a few minutes ago.
Oh, Praise God, I knew it would.
Things are looking up for me.
Things are looking up.
[Chuckles.]
The contact info's on your desk.
Thank you.
Good morning.
May I speak to miss Rochelle Cross, please? [Indistinct conversations.]
[Cellphone chimes.]
Okay.
No, I promise it won't happen again.
No.
yeah.
Oh, well, thank you, Demita.
All right, bye-bye.
[Sighs.]
What's the matter? What if this luncheon of ours was a threesome? I mean, with whom? Mac's ashes were just delivered.
I-i just Don't think I'm in a place to be social right now.
Understood.
Well, who were you thinking? Oh, the woman who wrote the check - Uh-huh? - Rochelle Cross? - She's free today.
- So go.
Oh, look, it can wait.
Uh, uh, it would be so much better if you were there anyway.
No, James, please go.
If that check cleared, go.
We can do it another time.
There will be many, many times.
Go.
As directed.
[Ringing.]
- This is Kevin.
Leave a message.
- [Beeps.]
Hey, Kevin, it's me, Aaron.
Look, Charity's looking for you, man.
She wants to hire a P.
I.
I I don't quite know what to do here.
Look, whatever you're feeling, whatever you're going through, I get.
I've been down the same road.
Anyways, just Just give me a call if you wanna.
And if you don't want me to tell anybody where you are, that's cool.
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Sighs.]
James: Yes, well, whatever you can do to Cover what Kevin left hanging till your mother finds a replacement Grace: Sure.
Yeah, whatever you need.
And I'm sure if you stop by her office and offer to help, with all that Jacob's up to across the street What's he doing across the street? Oh Oh, that's right, you weren't in church yesterday.
You skipped church.
What'd you think, we weren't gonna notice? What's he doing over there, Daddy? He's preaching in that lot like some kind of beale street busker, handing out bread and God bless him.
The point is Your mother needs you more than ever now, wants you.
I'm trying to believe that's true, Daddy.
[Sighs.]
The Virgin birth, the Resurrection, the Trinity All true.
God's world is full of unbelievable truths.
And the steadiness of your mother's love, despite all you two have been through, may be the strongest one of all.
[Chuckles.]
Here.
Thank you, Lisa.
You must be Miss Cross.
- I am.
- Nice to meet you.
Same here.
Thanks for taking the time.
Oh, my pleasure.
And, uh, Lady Mae? She couldn't make it? No, she was otherwise engaged.
Ah.
well, I guess we'll have to make do.
Well, I hope you're hungry.
Starving.
[Both chuckle.]
Sister, sister.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- How are you? - I'm good.
Good.
what are you doing tonight? Um Changing diapers and watching TV.
- Glamorous.
[chuckles.]
- Well, that's my life.
- Uh, can you get a sitter? - Why? Well, I'm going over to Jacob's and I just I wanted to see if you want to come.
Oh.
just for fun? Yeah, and I I kind of wanted to see where his head is at going forward.
- You heard about him preaching.
- I did.
You know, with Basie, it was one thing.
He wanted to prove something to Daddy, but to see Jacob out there persisting right in front of Calvary Yes, that's exactly why I want to talk to him.
Let's just figure it all out.
Okay, um I'll see if Maricel can sit.
Good.
good, good.
This will be fun.
- Thank you, sister.
- Thank you.
- Come here.
- It will.
- Mwah.
have a good day.
- You, too.
You know, in the, uh the five years that we were married, I never went to church.
That's why I felt the need to write the check.
Well, on behalf of Jesus and his friends at Calvary, welcome back.
[Chuckles.]
Well, thank you.
It feels good to be back, especially at a church with such a dynamic preacher.
Well, I I do my best as I'm able.
You see so many of these, uh teaching preachers nowadays.
They're in such rush to make sense of everything.
When I saw you up there, brought me right back to Gethsemane Baptist Church, 1990.
[Chuckles.]
I felt like a little girl again.
Well I'll take that as a compliment.
But, of course, um I always try to keep my drama in service of the gospel, so as to not, you know, glorify myself in any way.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
No, your sincerity shines right through like lightning.
Well, I thank you, miss cross.
You can call me Rochelle.
Of course.
Well, Rochelle, typically donations the size of yours are rewarded with membership in what we call the Bishop's round table.
Oh, no, no, no.
Now, members get periodic opportunities to use the church's jet for Missions, of course.
Bishop Greenleaf.
Yes? This round table, the one we're sitting at right now, that's the only Bishop's round table that I'm interested in.
Understood.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the ladies room.
Uh excuse me.
Check, please.
Guys, thank you so much for bringing this food.
I have been in the kitchen so much lately.
No, that's the least we can do.
Thanks for having us over.
- This is nice.
- Mm-hmm.
And how are you, Grace? Are you talking to someone? I'm fine.
Jacob and I went to see a therapist when we were having trouble, and it helped.
I'm not having any trouble.
There's no shame in it, Grace Unless you think there is.
No, I don't think there's any shame in it.
I just don't need help.
So, uh, how's Nashville, peanut? - Really good, actually.
- Yeah? Mm, now, are we gonna be hearing something on Hallelujah FM with your hands on it? [Laughter.]
I don't know about that, but I did place a couple songs on some records, so Well, I think we're all really proud of the way you've been putting yourself out there.
Amen to that.
Way to go, sissy.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, congratulations.
Thank you.
That means a lot, guys.
It's definitely been a blessing to have this distraction with Kevin and The baby.
Everything else is just It's been good.
So, did Kevin just - Seems like it, yeah.
- Oh, wow, that is such a mess.
You guys just seemed like the perfect couple to me.
You were friends.
Okay, grown-folk talk.
I get it.
I'll leave.
- See you later on, sweetie.
- Bye, baby.
If you don't mind my asking, why did you two break up? Yeah, like, what was the deal? I mean, I kind of miss my little brother.
Um Kevin's gay.
He's what? Kevin's gay.
[Laughs.]
What's so funny? Nothing, I, uh That's That's just the first time I've said it like that.
Kevin's gay.
[Laughs.]
It's it's awful.
It's absolutely awful.
It must be.
Did you know that? Yeah, that's That's what that is.
Aw, I seriously doubt that.
- That kid - This is not funny.
Her whole world has been turned upside down by this.
[Laughing.]
it's true.
I'm so unhappy.
- [Laughs.]
- You people are crazy.
- Hey.
- Hi.
Oh, how was your lunch with that big donor, miss, miss - Cross? yeah.
- Cross, yes.
Oh Uneventful.
Oh.
well, is she gonna join? Not yet.
Then why did she write that check? To settle a debt with the Lord.
Well, that's how she put it, anyway.
She coming to church on Sunday? I think she might, yes.
Oh.
I look forward to meeting her.
Mm.
Would you like a piece of pound cake? Mm.
no, thank you.
I am just Waiting for the Lord to Guide me to the right scripture for Saturday.
Okay.
Can I make you a suggestion? I just need to sit with it for a while.
All right.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
I just don't understand why he couldn't be gay and divorced and across town.
- People do that.
- They do, but He doesn't really want to be gay.
I mean, he's finally admitted to it, but he still doesn't want to be.
Well, look, I don't blame him.
That's hard.
I mean, that's a hard life.
- It sure is.
- Yeah.
Well, whatever help you need with Nathan while you're going back and forth to Nashville, we're here.
Know that.
Thank you.
Thank you.
That means a lot, Kerissa.
Ah, so What made you two decide to come over after all this time? I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate it.
It's cool.
Well, I did kind of want to get a sense of how committed you are to this street-corner preaching.
- On that particular corner.
- I told you it wasn't social.
You have to admit, it's a little odd.
I told you.
Are you actually gonna sit here and disallow your brother from preaching the gospel? No, of cour but does he have to do it across the street? It was a crazy idea when Basie had it.
Gigi, that land is all we have.
- Because you came back.
- I didn't make anybody leave.
No, but you made it impossible to stay.
- K.
- Jacob.
[Sighs.]
Look, that land's all we got, and all I have is a message that God finally gave me.
- What am I supposed to do? - Take my job.
If this is really about ministering to the homeless, then Calvary already has an infrastructure.
Didn't Kevin have that program? - But what would you do? - What do you mean? Well, if Jacob is the associate pastor, what would you do? That math isn't adding up, Gigi.
- Maybe move to New York.
- Oh, come on, leave again? I'm not preaching, I don't seem to be able to minister effectively, and people don't see things quite the way that I do.
And really, the way that I see them is It's changing all the time, so why not? I'm just being honest.
Jacob, take my job.
[Cellphone beeps.]
Hey.
I saw your tweet.
Isaiah: Which one? The one you linked to my dad's gohelpme page.
Thank you.
- I miss you, baby.
- I miss you, too.
Grace: And look at it from my point of view.
No.
I'm not going back there, Gigi.
Jacob, why? Because that's not what God asked me to do.
[Scoffs, chuckles.]
Do you think you're the only person that God calls or doesn't call, talks to? You're wrong.
No, I don't think that.
Well, then, what was with that noise? We all know what that noise means.
It doesn't mean anything, Kerissa.
Look, Gigi, God doesn't want me to preach on Sundays to pay the electric bill or to sit with the deacons in the round table or listen to their stories so they can pay for upholstery or paint or whatever rehab mama's dreaming up.
That's not what Jesus said to do.
- That's not what I'm doing.
- Jacob, Daddy is sick! Charity is flying all over creation.
And, baby, that's wonderful, all right? But she's raising Nathan by herself.
You can't just desert the family.
Like you? I was 18 years old.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Jacob, someone has to manage things.
You know what, Gigi, you're right.
Somebody does.
And it's not gonna be me.
She was just defending her man.
I wasn't attacking him.
- Where you going? - What do you care? Charity, come on.
Would you wait? - Wait.
- What? Why are you so mad? - Seriously? - Yeah.
Grace, you're leaving again.
I said I was just thinking about it.
Well, Jacob never had that chance The chance to think about leaving.
I never had it until now.
Only you, Gigi.
You're the only one.
20 years you were gone, Gigi, and you want to accuse Jacob of deserting the family? What did you do? You left and you never looked back.
And we stayed here, trying to fill up this space that you left behind and never being good enough to do it.
Do we matter to you at all, or just faith 'cause she's dead? - Charity.
- Hmm? I love you.
Don't do that.
[Chuckles.]
really? you love me? Gigi, we've been here.
We put in our time Sometimes when we wanted to, a lot when we didn't, but always because we are family, so it's your turn now.
All right, go ahead.
Refresh this bad boy.
$3,100 that's not bad for two days.
That's what I'm talking about.
Two days and a little help from Isaiah.
Now, how the lord's gonna grow this thing moving forward remains to be seen, if he does at all.
We'll see.
Ooh, maybe you should buy a mic and an amp.
Nope, we're not buying anything.
Well, then, what's the money for? Food for those that come who need it, and, you know, a place to stay for families that need help, clothes And a church eventually.
Well, not unless the lord tells me to build one.
Well, can I tell you something? Promise not to tell anybody? - Hit me.
- You're becoming a solid dude.
Well, thank you, baby, 'cause that's all I ever wanted to be.
You can't leave, Aaron, no.
This was always a temporary thing.
Well, so was the Garden of Eden.
It's a part of God's plan that plans change.
- You're staying.
- Lady Mae We need you here I need you here As a stay against all this confusion.
Lady Mae, I have to go.
Trust me, it I just have to go.
You have to go.
Amen.
Would you Would you give your father my fondest regards? Mm.
[Nathan crying.]
[Sighs.]
Grace: And then he was just gone.
I didn't go over there to kill him.
I was just looking for my daughter, then he tried to kill me.
That's it.
That's the whole story.
[Sniffles.]
Well thank you.
[Sighs.]
So Write it, great.
Don't write it, great.
Just Let me know so I can warn my parents and the Deacon board.
Of course.
And then Can we do some dinner or something before you leave town? I decided not to take the job.
When? Couple days ago.
Why didn't you take it? Really? I'm so glad you came, baby.
That way the money gets replaced and you don't go to jail.
You keep your church, and we get ours.
We have the opportunity to do something together.
We co-pastor, build whatever we want across the street.
I don't need a co-pastor any more than I need a cane to walk with.
I ain't done nothing to nobody.
Yeah, you did.
You hurt those girls.
- You are sick! - Stupid bitch! - Ahh! - They didn't do anything they didn't want to.
Mac is dead.
How can this be without scandal? It was self-defense.
Grace is a hero.
And if I ask what you think, you think it's great or you shut up.
The Zora I know would never let anyone talk sideways to her.
- Fine, I'll dump him.
- I am grateful for Robert.
He wasn't always the devil he became.
Sometimes I think that Mac became the way he was watching Daddy, what he did to me.
This is Mavis McCready.
If you're looking to book Alonzo Ashbury, leave your name, your venue, and a date.
I'll get back to you.
Anybody else, speak your piece and keep it brief.
Don't fill up my mailbox.
- [Beep.]
- Mavis, it's me.
We're gathering at moss lake next Saturday at sunset to scatter Robert's ashes.
I thought you should know.
James, myself, Jacob, Charity.
I'm not asking Grace for obvious reasons Lord knows We have had our distances, Mavis, and this family Some earned, some given by God for who knows why.
I don't pretend to understand.
His life is just such a veil of tears, but if there's any way that we Could make a new beginning while there's still time to make one, you and I We'll be there at 5:00 P.
M.
[Inhales deeply.]
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Sighs.]
[Keyboard clacking.]
- Morning.
- Morning.
You sleep okay out here? Yeah.
you? You know.
Here.
Come here.
[Both chuckle.]
I don't think I slept in on a Sunday morning since I moved back, so this is nice.
You gonna make an 11:00? - Mnh-mnh.
- [chuckles.]
No.
with everybody gossiping about me, getting quiet when I walk in the room? No.
I honestly don't think I can walk into a worship right now anyway.
Well, you didn't do anything wrong, at least from what you told me, anyway.
Yeah, I don't blame them, it's just It's church, you know? Everybody's all up in everybody else's business.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
[Keyboard clacking.]
What you working on? Uh, this old friend of mine is the head of bloomberg news now, and she keeps asking me whether I'd be open to come up there.
A job in New York? Yeah.
Are you gonna take it? I don't know.
I got to see if the money's right, and, you know, if it fits with everything else.
Good for you.
[Keyboard clacking.]
- Coffee? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
I need to wake up.
Amen all right amen uh-huh, hmm ooh-ooh, ooh well oh-ohh, ohh ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh amen, amen oh yeah so I asked God, what should I do? - Yes.
- [chuckles.]
I mean, I got land, but no money to build a church on it.
I got the heart for Jesus, but not enough people to share it with.
What should I do? Then the soft, small voice said, "Jacob, you know what to do.
" - But I was, like, "uh, what?" - [Laughter.]
But God was patient with me, and he said, "Jacob, I told you in my word what to do.
" - That's right.
- "Feed my sheep.
Not just with bread," he said, "feed my sheep my word.
" That's why I'm here To be obedient, preaching the word of God just like Jesus did [Chuckles.]
Outside the temple.
Hey.
Thought you were skipping church.
I am, I am.
I just wanted to catch Sophia with the little saints.
I think it'll be cute.
Well, when am I gonna see you again? - Well, you tell me.
- What does that mean? Just the job.
I wouldn't be leaving for a while, if I took it.
So you're gonna take it.
I don't know.
- What's the matter? - Nothing.
I just [chuckles.]
Guess I want to know if we're breaking up or whatever.
Are we together? We're something Come on.
I know we're just hanging out, but, yeah, we're something.
Well, which is why I wanted to tell you there's a job offer on the table.
I didn't want it to come out of left field if I took it.
Hey, look, we made a deal when we met, remember? I wouldn't write about your family or Calvary.
- I didn't force you to do that.
- I know, and I'm glad we didn't.
Okay, but right now, the biggest story in my little corner of the paper is one-time Memphis man of the year just died trying to kill a pastor.
And you just want my story.
No.
My editor wants the story.
But you won't go on record, and I accept that.
Guess this is what happens when you don't go to church on Sunday, huh? Nothing's happening.
You'll let me know if something does? You'll be the first one to hear.
Thank you for the sleepover.
Anytime.
Hey.
how you doing, little man? Thanks for coming.
Bless you.
How you doing, little sister? - What you doing here, son? - Oh, just, uh, you know, doing what I can with what I got for who wants to listen.
God bless you, man.
All right.
You know, your mother's in a bad way, son.
She just lost her brother.
I don't care much to talk about Mac right now.
Well then Feel it for her.
Pop, I promised her I'd come by the house and watch her scatter his ashes, but I'm not gonna stop living my life.
This is your brand-new master plan? God bless you, sister.
Oh, not mine The lord's.
You told me you didn't need me.
- Hey, grandpa.
- You didn't want a co-pastor.
Hey! Zora.
[Chuckles.]
Come here.
There you go.
- Thank you.
- All right, God bless you.
- Hey, ma.
- Hey, son.
Did the two of you learn anything from your season with Basie Skanks? - Jacob's not Basie.
- That's right.
And real church ain't Triumph.
- "Real church"? - Yes, sir.
The real church of Memphis.
A church not made with hands, no walls, no stained-glass windows Just the people and the word of God.
Amen.
There you go, brother.
- Thank you.
- God bless you.
You know none of this has to do with the two of you, all right? We're family, always.
- I know, Grandpa.
- I know, Grandpa.
[Chuckles.]
Can I share my grandchildren? You know, your mother didn't just lose a brother.
She lost her father, almost lost your sister.
I know.
What you don't know is how deep this goes, Jacob.
Trust me, you don't.
You're gonna regret this.
Walking in the footsteps of Basie Skanks all the way to hell.
You should get back.
Pastor.
Come on.
What was that about Lady Mae going deeper than you know? Who knows? Hey, man.
Come on, why don't you hop up here? Sophia: Now, this one is human love.
Crius, try and blow it out.
Sad, but true.
Mm-hmm.
But now try this one.
This one is Agape That means "God's love.
" [Laughter.]
Maybe if both of us blow.
Here.
[Laughter.]
Have you heard from Kevin by any chance? No.
not a phone call, e-mail, nothing? Nothing since the letter.
How does a person do that Just release themselves from every tie that binds them.
He must think it's his right.
I cannot imagine feeling that kind of license to just desert people.
Mama, why are you asking me about Kevin? Well, don't worry, I-I'll handle it.
I can try him again if you want.
There's no need.
There's no need to re-open that wound if you've closed it.
I just thought that if you've heard from him I haven't.
I'm sorry.
You know that by asking you to go with me and your father to scatter Mac's ashes that I I know.
I know.
You don't have to explain.
What a gift you are.
Okay, you're all set up.
Great.
We all lose sight of this fact, because we slip into this achievement brain.
But God loves you just the way you are.
All right.
Ooh, look.
What do you think? Looking good, Daddy.
[Chuckles.]
thank you.
Thank you.
Your sister's the one.
just the way we are.
Not the way we'll be tomorrow.
Not the way we were before it all went wrong.
Right now.
Right now Just the way we are.
- We need to get you on TV.
- [Chuckles.]
I don't know.
I think we're doing something right, just Keeping things small.
I know.
I'm just proud of you.
Thanks.
Thank you, too, kiddo.
No problem.
[Sighs.]
[Ringing.]
- This is Kevin.
Leave a message.
- [Beep.]
Hey, it's me, the person you used to call your best friend, your wife before you stopped being a husband.
The mother of your son, Nathan.
I'm handling everything that you left behind.
This isn't right, Kevin.
What you're doing, just disappearing like this it's not right.
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Sighs.]
Roberto: Yo-o-o! That's better than the last one.
- Whatever.
- It's okay, bud.
[Chuckles.]
- So? - Where'd you meet this guy? His mom teaches at rhodes, so we've been friends, like, forever.
So, what do you think? He's cute, right? He's all right.
A dummy Denzel.
He's going to be the aide to representative Cohen this summer In Washington.
That's big.
Ooh, nothing gets me going like civics.
[Laughs.]
- At least he's nice.
- [Sighs.]
Nice! and the men take a decisive lead.
Ugh, help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Hey.
May I show you a trick? What, you guys afraid to lose? I just have this cool thing that I hold the ball a certain way Yeah, you hold your balls your way, I'll hold mine mine, okay? Different strokes.
[Cellphone chimes.]
Isaiah? - Yep.
- He doesn't know when to quit.
Some call it a virtue.
We need a Turkey to win.
Think you've got that already.
Yo.
[Laughter.]
[Knock on door.]
Come in.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Uh, bad time for a visit? No, no, not at all.
Come on in.
- Is it okay if - Yes, please.
Sit down.
[Chuckles.]
You're not sleepy yet, huh? He was, but I was working on a song and I got a little loud, so it was my fault.
How can I help? [Sighs.]
I want to find Kevin.
Okay.
Is there anything that you can do? My parents are running into all kinds of problems since he left.
Ah, it's, uh It's not cool that he just left everything hanging like that.
[Sighs.]
especially you two.
Yeah.
So, can you do some looking? Do you have any contacts like that? I'll ask around tomorrow.
Thank you.
Sophia: Mm.
[Speaks indistinctly.]
I'll see you tomorrow, crazy.
It was nice to meet you, Zora.
Yeah.
you, too.
See you at mock trial.
That was fun.
Did you tell Roberto about Isaiah? - About him? What about him? - What happened at the studio.
- Why? - So you did tell him.
- Yeah, it happened.
- Why would you tell him? He's my boyfriend.
You don't sell out your cousin for chemistry notes.
And then you want me to mate with him? Mating wasn't a part of the plan.
Of course not.
You know, 'cause mating's for cool people, right? So she explain the job? Darius: Yeah, I just got off the phone with her Talked for about two hours.
- And you're gonna take it? - What do you think? I think you should take it if you want to.
Well, you could come visit.
[Chuckles.]
yeah.
I mean, weren't you on your way to New York, anyway, when this all Yeah.
yeah, I was.
And so you could plausibly end up there after Sophia graduates.
Anything can happen.
And try the long-distance thing, see how that goes? I think we know how that goes.
This is how that goes.
Yeah.
Let's just talk tomorrow, okay? We can talk more now, if you want.
No, you know, let's just talk tomorrow.
Okay.
- Bye.
- [chuckles.]
Bye.
It's gonna be a seven-part series "From the pit to the palace.
" It came to me all at once in a dream.
Yeah, you know, I can't wait to hear what you do with it because some of these younger pastors, in my opinion, use Joseph all wrong You know, "be yourself.
" [Chuckles.]
Well, it's gonna be deeper than that.
When it's all said and done, it may end up being a book.
I would love it if you did another book.
Do you know I still turn to the last one for wisdom? [Chuckles.]
And what corners of the world are you lighting up this morning? Well, I'm gonna set everything straight with that van contract and then just go through résumés and try to find a new outreach director.
Will you join me for lunch? Been a while since we stepped out.
That would be lovely.
What a pleasure it is to have you as a partner in this life.
[Chuckling.]
you did get some sleep.
Oh, I feel like a new man.
[Chuckles.]
Clarine? Good morning, Bishop.
Did that check for $10k clear yet? Mm.
just a few minutes ago.
Oh, Praise God, I knew it would.
Things are looking up for me.
Things are looking up.
[Chuckles.]
The contact info's on your desk.
Thank you.
Good morning.
May I speak to miss Rochelle Cross, please? [Indistinct conversations.]
[Cellphone chimes.]
Okay.
No, I promise it won't happen again.
No.
yeah.
Oh, well, thank you, Demita.
All right, bye-bye.
[Sighs.]
What's the matter? What if this luncheon of ours was a threesome? I mean, with whom? Mac's ashes were just delivered.
I-i just Don't think I'm in a place to be social right now.
Understood.
Well, who were you thinking? Oh, the woman who wrote the check - Uh-huh? - Rochelle Cross? - She's free today.
- So go.
Oh, look, it can wait.
Uh, uh, it would be so much better if you were there anyway.
No, James, please go.
If that check cleared, go.
We can do it another time.
There will be many, many times.
Go.
As directed.
[Ringing.]
- This is Kevin.
Leave a message.
- [Beeps.]
Hey, Kevin, it's me, Aaron.
Look, Charity's looking for you, man.
She wants to hire a P.
I.
I I don't quite know what to do here.
Look, whatever you're feeling, whatever you're going through, I get.
I've been down the same road.
Anyways, just Just give me a call if you wanna.
And if you don't want me to tell anybody where you are, that's cool.
[Cellphone beeps.]
[Sighs.]
James: Yes, well, whatever you can do to Cover what Kevin left hanging till your mother finds a replacement Grace: Sure.
Yeah, whatever you need.
And I'm sure if you stop by her office and offer to help, with all that Jacob's up to across the street What's he doing across the street? Oh Oh, that's right, you weren't in church yesterday.
You skipped church.
What'd you think, we weren't gonna notice? What's he doing over there, Daddy? He's preaching in that lot like some kind of beale street busker, handing out bread and God bless him.
The point is Your mother needs you more than ever now, wants you.
I'm trying to believe that's true, Daddy.
[Sighs.]
The Virgin birth, the Resurrection, the Trinity All true.
God's world is full of unbelievable truths.
And the steadiness of your mother's love, despite all you two have been through, may be the strongest one of all.
[Chuckles.]
Here.
Thank you, Lisa.
You must be Miss Cross.
- I am.
- Nice to meet you.
Same here.
Thanks for taking the time.
Oh, my pleasure.
And, uh, Lady Mae? She couldn't make it? No, she was otherwise engaged.
Ah.
well, I guess we'll have to make do.
Well, I hope you're hungry.
Starving.
[Both chuckle.]
Sister, sister.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- How are you? - I'm good.
Good.
what are you doing tonight? Um Changing diapers and watching TV.
- Glamorous.
[chuckles.]
- Well, that's my life.
- Uh, can you get a sitter? - Why? Well, I'm going over to Jacob's and I just I wanted to see if you want to come.
Oh.
just for fun? Yeah, and I I kind of wanted to see where his head is at going forward.
- You heard about him preaching.
- I did.
You know, with Basie, it was one thing.
He wanted to prove something to Daddy, but to see Jacob out there persisting right in front of Calvary Yes, that's exactly why I want to talk to him.
Let's just figure it all out.
Okay, um I'll see if Maricel can sit.
Good.
good, good.
This will be fun.
- Thank you, sister.
- Thank you.
- Come here.
- It will.
- Mwah.
have a good day.
- You, too.
You know, in the, uh the five years that we were married, I never went to church.
That's why I felt the need to write the check.
Well, on behalf of Jesus and his friends at Calvary, welcome back.
[Chuckles.]
Well, thank you.
It feels good to be back, especially at a church with such a dynamic preacher.
Well, I I do my best as I'm able.
You see so many of these, uh teaching preachers nowadays.
They're in such rush to make sense of everything.
When I saw you up there, brought me right back to Gethsemane Baptist Church, 1990.
[Chuckles.]
I felt like a little girl again.
Well I'll take that as a compliment.
But, of course, um I always try to keep my drama in service of the gospel, so as to not, you know, glorify myself in any way.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
No, your sincerity shines right through like lightning.
Well, I thank you, miss cross.
You can call me Rochelle.
Of course.
Well, Rochelle, typically donations the size of yours are rewarded with membership in what we call the Bishop's round table.
Oh, no, no, no.
Now, members get periodic opportunities to use the church's jet for Missions, of course.
Bishop Greenleaf.
Yes? This round table, the one we're sitting at right now, that's the only Bishop's round table that I'm interested in.
Understood.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the ladies room.
Uh excuse me.
Check, please.
Guys, thank you so much for bringing this food.
I have been in the kitchen so much lately.
No, that's the least we can do.
Thanks for having us over.
- This is nice.
- Mm-hmm.
And how are you, Grace? Are you talking to someone? I'm fine.
Jacob and I went to see a therapist when we were having trouble, and it helped.
I'm not having any trouble.
There's no shame in it, Grace Unless you think there is.
No, I don't think there's any shame in it.
I just don't need help.
So, uh, how's Nashville, peanut? - Really good, actually.
- Yeah? Mm, now, are we gonna be hearing something on Hallelujah FM with your hands on it? [Laughter.]
I don't know about that, but I did place a couple songs on some records, so Well, I think we're all really proud of the way you've been putting yourself out there.
Amen to that.
Way to go, sissy.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, congratulations.
Thank you.
That means a lot, guys.
It's definitely been a blessing to have this distraction with Kevin and The baby.
Everything else is just It's been good.
So, did Kevin just - Seems like it, yeah.
- Oh, wow, that is such a mess.
You guys just seemed like the perfect couple to me.
You were friends.
Okay, grown-folk talk.
I get it.
I'll leave.
- See you later on, sweetie.
- Bye, baby.
If you don't mind my asking, why did you two break up? Yeah, like, what was the deal? I mean, I kind of miss my little brother.
Um Kevin's gay.
He's what? Kevin's gay.
[Laughs.]
What's so funny? Nothing, I, uh That's That's just the first time I've said it like that.
Kevin's gay.
[Laughs.]
It's it's awful.
It's absolutely awful.
It must be.
Did you know that? Yeah, that's That's what that is.
Aw, I seriously doubt that.
- That kid - This is not funny.
Her whole world has been turned upside down by this.
[Laughing.]
it's true.
I'm so unhappy.
- [Laughs.]
- You people are crazy.
- Hey.
- Hi.
Oh, how was your lunch with that big donor, miss, miss - Cross? yeah.
- Cross, yes.
Oh Uneventful.
Oh.
well, is she gonna join? Not yet.
Then why did she write that check? To settle a debt with the Lord.
Well, that's how she put it, anyway.
She coming to church on Sunday? I think she might, yes.
Oh.
I look forward to meeting her.
Mm.
Would you like a piece of pound cake? Mm.
no, thank you.
I am just Waiting for the Lord to Guide me to the right scripture for Saturday.
Okay.
Can I make you a suggestion? I just need to sit with it for a while.
All right.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
I just don't understand why he couldn't be gay and divorced and across town.
- People do that.
- They do, but He doesn't really want to be gay.
I mean, he's finally admitted to it, but he still doesn't want to be.
Well, look, I don't blame him.
That's hard.
I mean, that's a hard life.
- It sure is.
- Yeah.
Well, whatever help you need with Nathan while you're going back and forth to Nashville, we're here.
Know that.
Thank you.
Thank you.
That means a lot, Kerissa.
Ah, so What made you two decide to come over after all this time? I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate it.
It's cool.
Well, I did kind of want to get a sense of how committed you are to this street-corner preaching.
- On that particular corner.
- I told you it wasn't social.
You have to admit, it's a little odd.
I told you.
Are you actually gonna sit here and disallow your brother from preaching the gospel? No, of cour but does he have to do it across the street? It was a crazy idea when Basie had it.
Gigi, that land is all we have.
- Because you came back.
- I didn't make anybody leave.
No, but you made it impossible to stay.
- K.
- Jacob.
[Sighs.]
Look, that land's all we got, and all I have is a message that God finally gave me.
- What am I supposed to do? - Take my job.
If this is really about ministering to the homeless, then Calvary already has an infrastructure.
Didn't Kevin have that program? - But what would you do? - What do you mean? Well, if Jacob is the associate pastor, what would you do? That math isn't adding up, Gigi.
- Maybe move to New York.
- Oh, come on, leave again? I'm not preaching, I don't seem to be able to minister effectively, and people don't see things quite the way that I do.
And really, the way that I see them is It's changing all the time, so why not? I'm just being honest.
Jacob, take my job.
[Cellphone beeps.]
Hey.
I saw your tweet.
Isaiah: Which one? The one you linked to my dad's gohelpme page.
Thank you.
- I miss you, baby.
- I miss you, too.
Grace: And look at it from my point of view.
No.
I'm not going back there, Gigi.
Jacob, why? Because that's not what God asked me to do.
[Scoffs, chuckles.]
Do you think you're the only person that God calls or doesn't call, talks to? You're wrong.
No, I don't think that.
Well, then, what was with that noise? We all know what that noise means.
It doesn't mean anything, Kerissa.
Look, Gigi, God doesn't want me to preach on Sundays to pay the electric bill or to sit with the deacons in the round table or listen to their stories so they can pay for upholstery or paint or whatever rehab mama's dreaming up.
That's not what Jesus said to do.
- That's not what I'm doing.
- Jacob, Daddy is sick! Charity is flying all over creation.
And, baby, that's wonderful, all right? But she's raising Nathan by herself.
You can't just desert the family.
Like you? I was 18 years old.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Jacob, someone has to manage things.
You know what, Gigi, you're right.
Somebody does.
And it's not gonna be me.
She was just defending her man.
I wasn't attacking him.
- Where you going? - What do you care? Charity, come on.
Would you wait? - Wait.
- What? Why are you so mad? - Seriously? - Yeah.
Grace, you're leaving again.
I said I was just thinking about it.
Well, Jacob never had that chance The chance to think about leaving.
I never had it until now.
Only you, Gigi.
You're the only one.
20 years you were gone, Gigi, and you want to accuse Jacob of deserting the family? What did you do? You left and you never looked back.
And we stayed here, trying to fill up this space that you left behind and never being good enough to do it.
Do we matter to you at all, or just faith 'cause she's dead? - Charity.
- Hmm? I love you.
Don't do that.
[Chuckles.]
really? you love me? Gigi, we've been here.
We put in our time Sometimes when we wanted to, a lot when we didn't, but always because we are family, so it's your turn now.
All right, go ahead.
Refresh this bad boy.
$3,100 that's not bad for two days.
That's what I'm talking about.
Two days and a little help from Isaiah.
Now, how the lord's gonna grow this thing moving forward remains to be seen, if he does at all.
We'll see.
Ooh, maybe you should buy a mic and an amp.
Nope, we're not buying anything.
Well, then, what's the money for? Food for those that come who need it, and, you know, a place to stay for families that need help, clothes And a church eventually.
Well, not unless the lord tells me to build one.
Well, can I tell you something? Promise not to tell anybody? - Hit me.
- You're becoming a solid dude.
Well, thank you, baby, 'cause that's all I ever wanted to be.
You can't leave, Aaron, no.
This was always a temporary thing.
Well, so was the Garden of Eden.
It's a part of God's plan that plans change.
- You're staying.
- Lady Mae We need you here I need you here As a stay against all this confusion.
Lady Mae, I have to go.
Trust me, it I just have to go.
You have to go.
Amen.
Would you Would you give your father my fondest regards? Mm.
[Nathan crying.]
[Sighs.]
Grace: And then he was just gone.
I didn't go over there to kill him.
I was just looking for my daughter, then he tried to kill me.
That's it.
That's the whole story.
[Sniffles.]
Well thank you.
[Sighs.]
So Write it, great.
Don't write it, great.
Just Let me know so I can warn my parents and the Deacon board.
Of course.
And then Can we do some dinner or something before you leave town? I decided not to take the job.
When? Couple days ago.
Why didn't you take it? Really? I'm so glad you came, baby.