Greenleaf (2016) s03e08 Episode Script
Dea Abscondita
1 Previously on "Greenleaf" Pastor Greenleaf, Winston Price.
What brings you down here? Coralie Hunter.
That pond you're about to step into, it might be a lot deeper than you think.
- Tickets to see Hamilton? - Yes.
Zora's on punishment.
It's her 18th birthday.
Actions have consequences.
Your mother is being too strict.
You found more cash.
I trust you and your expertise.
You emptied our shared account.
I want you out of this house tonight.
I've already made arrangements with Percy.
I got this memorial service here tonight and the singer just called and said she has the flu.
I'm not sure I can be of comfort right now.
Just one or two songs? I'm here to bail you out.
We should both go over there tomorrow and bring Zora home.
Thank you.
I'm 18 now, I'm leaving.
And when pray tell is this grand escape of yours taking place? In about 10 minutes.
Zora? Zora? Zora You get your tail right back to that house this instant.
Muillard.
Muillard, open the gate, please? Don't you open that gate, Muillard.
I am 18, I'm free.
Open the gate, please, thank you.
Don't you dare talk to me about freedom.
You're just a prisoner of your own pride and confusion.
Okay, so I'm gonna climb over the gate and escape like the prisoner that I am.
Listen to me.
Your cousin needs you right now.
Does that matter to you at all? Needs me? I tried to tell her goodbye and she didn't even care.
Can you please open the gate? Do not open that gate.
Open the gate, Muillard.
Don't you dare, no, no.
Listen, if you want to be miss big stuff, then why don't you just stay here and do it out fair and square? What's going on? Well, your daughter has gotten it in her head that she wants to leave.
So what are the two of you doing here? Well, we're here to take her home.
Oh, well, thank you so much for including me in the process.
Ma, we just decided this last night.
Mae, we have a right to retrieve our daughter if we want to.
Z, hey, hold on, you two.
Z, get back here.
Leave me alone, get away! Honey, we're here to take you home.
- I'm not going home with you.
- Just get in the car.
We'll talk about it when we get to the house.
Get in the car.
Zora, get in the car now! Jacob, she needs to stay here with me.
I need to be on my own.
Do you have a plan? I mean, where are you going, really? [HORN HONKS.]
ISAIAH: Zora, hurry up, get in the car! Oh, this joker, here we go.
Pop the trunk.
What are all these people doing here? - Just pop the trunk.
- Zora! JACOB: That's what we gonna do now? Get off of my property.
Did you hear me? Get off of my property right now.
Yo, yo, we live, we live right now.
You know what, little boy? You need to get in this car right now and you need to drive far, far away.
Oh, yeah, what you gonna do if I don't, fat ass, hit me, huh? Come on, you bad, hit me, come on! No, no, no, no, move, come on, bring the camera closer.
All right, everybody, all you fans of this little punk right here, Isaiah hits girls.
That's right, he hits girls, and now I'm about to hit him real hard.
Okay, hit me then, hit me, do it! I did it once, I'll do it again.
Listen, listen, listen.
You're gonna let her go with him? No, no, but his parents might press charges this time or he might.
Let him, I could give a damn.
Please, please just let me do this.
'Cause whatever we did last time, obviously didn't work, just let me.
Fine, baby, fine.
Fine.
[HORN HONKS.]
What's going on? Come on, let's go, baby.
Is that that Isaiah boy? Lord, help me, oh, I'm gonna whip your little weasel butt.
No, just give us a second to get this all cleared up, please.
No.
Hey, watch how you slamming my door, old lady.
This boy beat you, treats you like nothing.
Why do you want to be with him? - You don't understand.
- Can I talk to my daughter for a second? Oh, please, yes, by all means.
You have all the answers, solve it.
Mae, please just shut your mouth for one blessed second.
My daughter's about to throw her whole life away.
It's not about you for once.
No, it's about you.
You are not going to take everything that I've worked so hard for you for and destroy it like this, Zora.
You don't even want me around.
Z, baby.
Hey, little boy, you put one hand on my daughter, one hand, you hear me? - Here take my phone.
- What, so you can bug me? - Later.
- No, at least, please.
Just in case you want to reach out, okay.
I won't call you.
What, you just want to bug me out, though.
Please just take it.
Here, please.
Be careful.
Please be careful.
Oh, my God! [TIRES SQUEALING.]
[CELLPHONE RINGING.]
Amen All right Amen Uh-huh, hmm Ooh-ooh, ooh Well Oh-ohh, ohh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Amen, amen oh Yeah Good morning.
Well, good news.
What's that, Percy? When I didn't hear you stirring in your room this morning, I ran down to the office, checked the obituaries to see if you weren't in it.
Well, I'm sorry if I worried you.
Didn't get to sleep till well after 3:00 in the morning.
You having second thoughts? About what? Finally moving out of that harridan's lair? Not at all.
Well, if you are, it's okay.
You know, when I left Joanne, I cried like a baby.
When I left Lou Ellen, it wasn't nothing.
But then I left Rhonda and it was worse than Joanne.
Couldn't get out of bed.
Thought I was having a heart attack.
Doctor told me it was panic attacks, but I felt it, I felt it in my heart.
Well, my heart's ticking just fine, thank you.
Well, you a better man than me.
The comparisons are odious, but I won't disagree.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Miss Hunter, can you tell us what happened the night of the murder? - Stay close to me.
- My client has no comment.
Thank you, everybody.
You are accused of killing your husband in his sleep.
- Make some room.
- How is that self-defense? Don't answer that, come on, come on.
How are your children responding? You know they haven't let me talk to them since I was arrested.
Just keep moving and be quiet, okay? Yeah, okay, I'll take a few questions everybody, all right.
- Who's this? - Rochelle Cross.
She's with the legal defense fund.
She raised the money to bail you out.
Thank you.
They don't understand.
No, they don't.
We're gonna fix that.
[REPORTERS ALL TALKING AT ONCE.]
All right, thank you.
Call if you hear, though.
Hey, and thank you for taking my call.
Goodbye.
His parents don't know where they are.
His things are gone, but he's been there for the last three weeks, so who knows.
Can I keep this? Hey, why don't we just get you a new one? Jacob, my daughter is gone.
I'm not going phone shopping.
Where are you going anyway? To his parents' house.
Didn't they just say he wasn't there? Well, they might come back.
What do you want me to do, Jacob, nothing? That boy could kill her.
I tried to stop him and you wouldn't let me.
Because you'd just make things worse with all of your violence.
We don't need anymore fighting.
Well, whatever your plan is, I'm her father, you need to include me.
You can't just ice me out.
Now, my son has a point.
Now, Mae, now, you just stay out of this 'cause I told you you were being too hard on her.
Now look what's happened.
Just back off! I'm not gonna let Zora turn into Faith.
I won't do that.
Why would you say something like that? You know what? I'm sorry.
Mom, just, just, she didn't mean it.
I'll call if I see her.
I'm coming with you.
Do you remember how hard it was for us to keep them from calling the cops on you before? Just stay out of it, please, Jacob.
Give me my phone.
Take your phone! I will take you over there.
Thank you.
Well, it's a big day for you, huh? Yeah, I got services at 10:00, 2:00, 4:00.
Hey, come here, come here, come here.
Uh, that's good news, I guess.
Yeah, I do have bills to pay.
Hey, Daddy, sorry I'm late, Percy.
It was big drama at the house this morning.
Hey, w-what kind of drama? Don't worry about it, Daddy.
Hey! I'm still your father.
What kind of drama? James, we have everything under control.
Yes, Charity told me what happened.
I figured out that part, but Kerissa and I are really handling everything.
There's nothing for you to do.
Did we call the police? She's an adult now, they're both adults.
It's not a crime.
Even so, Jacob should call that friend of his, the deputy mayor.
Kerissa and I are headed to the parents' house right now to see if we can catch him.
This is not going to be a quick fix.
And resist the urge to make meaningless activity.
Oh, Lord.
What'd she say? The mothers are handling it.
Do you want us to stay with you for a little while? No, it's okay.
Thank you, though.
It's gonna be all right, darling.
We're gonna replace that scrawny boy you had with a beast of an attorney.
You just watch, everything's gonna be okay.
I know, I just need to see my kids, you know.
I asked that lawyer if he could get the judge to at least let me call them, he wouldn't even ask.
I'm not sure there's much anyone can do with them in foster care.
I know somebody over at CPS may be able to help you find them anyhow.
Would you do that, please? I'll call them right now.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Get some rest, Coralie.
I'll call you if I hear anything back, all right? Promise.
[KEYS JINGLING.]
Who do you know at CPS? I've got a friend.
KERISSA: That's their house right there.
I would like to give those parents of his a piece of my mind.
Talking smack against my son when their boy's such a menace.
Please don't.
Listen, any father would have whacked that boy, Kerissa, especially given what he did.
I know, but can we just, please just All right, fine, I will just leave them to Jesus.
They will be dealt with.
I don't see their car.
Well, we can just stay here for a little while, right? As long as you like.
If you think I didn't do everything I could to get my daughter back home I'm sorry I said that, Mae.
I was upset.
I still am, but I'm sorry.
We all have this thing inside us that wants to believe that we can fix it, you know.
Whatever our children are going through, their suffering, we think we can fix it.
But some get away.
I won't let that happen to Zora.
You might not have a choice.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Come on in.
Hey.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Oh, that was just me.
I was wondering where you've been.
I was beginning to think you were mad about something or something crazy.
No, it wasn't that.
Zora left.
Left where? My mother's with Isaiah.
She turned 18, and she took off.
Jacob, I'm so sorry.
Hey, look, um Would you close that door right there by Yeah, no, that's the point actually.
Tasha, you can't, we can't.
What happened between us the other day, that kiss, that was a mistake.
- It was? - Yeah.
Okay, look, it wasn't untrue.
You're great, you're smart, you're sexy, but it's just, it's not something I can choose in my life at this point in time.
Me? Yeah, I'm sorry.
Okay.
Okay, look, please.
No, I'm sorry.
I just, um You're gonna have to stop texting me, too.
Yeah, I know, that was bad of me to do that.
I just, um I missed you and I Tasha, you gotta stop.
People are gonna think something's going on.
Nothing, nothing ever seems to work out for me, Jacob.
Like, I know that I'm being selfish, but I just, I like you so much.
Every time.
Tasha, look.
Come on now, you have got to pull it together.
- I can't.
- You have to! [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- I'm your boss.
- Seriously? Pastor Greenleaf, oh the secretary told me that I could find you in here.
If I'm interrupting No, pop, we're, um Tasha just lost a friend and I was We were just talking.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
What brings you by, pop? Getting my granddaughter home.
Right, hey, I need to handle this.
Yeah.
All right, promise you're gonna be okay, positive? Positive, you can go.
Are you two sure I'm not interrupting anything? No, pop, it's fine.
How about we go in my office and talk and give her some space? Absolutely, um, again I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Bishop.
Open or closed? Closed.
[CRYING.]
Hey, Darlene, how's it going? DARLENE: Someone's been waiting a while.
Is that the district attorney? Can you just give me a second? Yeah, whatever you need.
Pastor Greenleaf.
District attorney Price, to what do I owe this pleasure? So you decided to support Miss Hunter? I did, yes.
Against my strongly worded advice.
I wouldn't take that too personally.
This church is full of people who would tell you that's just how I am.
Oh, I met with her attorney, a Mr.
Teleska.
We're getting her a better one.
He seemed pretty sharp to me.
I offered his client a great deal.
She pleads guilty to second-degree murder, she gets 20 years.
Great deal.
This case goes to trial, Grace, she'll get life without parole.
And you may find yourself on trial, too, and not just in the court of public opinion.
You threatening me? I could have charged you with murder when you killed your uncle.
The only reason I didn't do that was, - because it was self-defense.
So you've said, but I got this funny feeling that if all the facts came out about the long-standing fight between you and your uncle, the details of how you forced your way into his home that night, your concerns about your daughter could look a lot like premeditated murder, especially to a jury who knew you had gone out of your way to get yet another murder acquitted.
I mean Pardon me for saying this.
I know this is a righteous time for ladies, but, Grace, I swear, it's starting to look like you think women should just be able to take the law into their own hands and kill men.
It just doesn't seem right, legal, or very Christian.
Have miss Hunter take the deal.
What did he want? Nothing important.
I really don't know how I'm gonna make it without him.
I don't.
[CRYING.]
That's how it feels But you will.
You're gonna go on.
We all do.
What he's offering is an option, Coralie, you don't have to take it and you certainly don't have to decide right now.
We can talk about it later.
Are you gonna let me tell her or not? 'Cause I don't have all day.
I got, like, 12 other cases I got to get to.
Uh-huh.
Go ahead.
Look, the D.
A.
'S offering you a deal.
You plead guilty to second-degree murder, you get 20 years.
When would I get paroled? The kids would be grown up.
Look, it's either this or life.
You gonna take it or not? If you don't have time to let her think for one minute about the biggest decision in her life, you should surely let someone else represent her.
She's a victim of abuse.
She doesn't even remember doing it.
There are precedents for that.
Yeah, well, not in Memphis, and I know this judge, and he's not exactly a fan of this whole me too movement.
Look, just take the deal, and your kids will visit.
I gotta think about it.
All right, well, you've got till tomorrow to decide, so if you folks will excuse me, I've got to get to places where my work's a little more appreciated.
You can do better.
You sure about that? You can certainly do better than him.
- Good news.
- Tell me.
I got you a visit with your kids.
When? They're on their way now.
Oh, my God, thank you, thank you.
You're an angel.
Thank you so much.
[LAUGHING.]
Pick up the phone and call him! Pop, what do you think skip's gonna do? He'll have the police pick the boy up.
She's an adult.
She left of her own free will.
All right, I mean, it's, - this isn't something you can fix with a phone call to some friend in an office.
We have to do something! There's nothing to do.
And even if there was, nobody wants us to do it, pop.
I know you're upset that mama didn't call you, but this isn't your problem and according to my wife, it's not even mine.
So just do us both a favor and go back to Percy's or church or wherever, but stay out of it.
I've got enough on my plate without trying to make you feel like you're some big help, too.
[SIGHS.]
You know, Kerissa wasn't wrong to send you away.
That temper of yours is no help to anyone, especially you.
Whatever happened between me and your mama, I'm still your father and that girl's grandfather.
When you remember that, call me.
So who is your friend at cps? You haven't let that go yet, have you? It's a natural question.
I'm just waiting for a natural answer.
After all I've done.
Gave you this money, made the phone calls, you still don't trust me.
Who is she? I met her through big sisters.
You work with them, too? I was one.
You were a big sister? Yes.
I've got four girls out there running the world.
I hit 'em up for favors sometimes.
I'm not what you think.
Then what are you? I'm just like you, Grace, someone who no matter how high I rise, no matter how well I do, I can't help but to see myself in low, lost souls.
And just like you, I won't stop fighting till all the folks who keep them down are brought low, too.
That sounds a lot like revenge.
Well, maybe the D.
A.
Was right about you.
I just see it as justice.
I'll see you soon.
Okay? How'd it go? I can't go to prison.
I won't.
Good.
Hey.
[KEYS CLACKING.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Yeah? This just came for you.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
KERISSA: That's them.
MAE: What? I'm coming, too.
No, please, Mae, don't.
I have to do this alone.
To be a lyricist takes diligence, believe me Leave me alone.
I have something I want to say.
The last thing I need is for you to be here when he gets back.
Just listen to me for a minute.
Okay, one minute.
[SIGHS.]
What? Do you know the day you were born, I didn't have a word to describe what you were to me? You were everything, more than the world.
They cleaned you off and they put you in my arms and you just looked at me.
You weren't flailing or crying or doing anything that I thought you should be, you were just looking up at me with those wide, brown eyes.
Hurry up.
Where are you two going? None of your business.
Just say what you have to say, please.
I wanted you to see the world, Zora.
I wanted you to go to college.
I wanted you to find out what you were passionate about, and I'm sorry if you ever felt beat down by my expectations.
It was because of the way that you looked at me on the day that you were born with your own expectations.
I could see in you all of the desire that you had for your life and I wanted to give you every single tool at your disposal so that you could go out into the world and get it.
And I've got it.
What do you have? You got a boy that beats you up, a one-way ticket to nowhere.
I've got myself.
Look, why is that so hard for you to understand? Zora This is it.
You can get out of this car and come with me right now because this is the last chance that I'm gonna give you.
After this, it is gonna be you, your bad decisions, and God.
And God is gonna win 'cause in situations like this, honey, he is a lot tougher than me.
I'll take my chances.
[SNIFFLES.]
[HORN HONKING.]
[KEYPAD BEEPING.]
Muillard! Why isn't the gate opening? Are you kidd Mae? Mae? You changed the gate code? What do you want, James? Oh, I'll tell ya.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Hey, you got a second? Not really.
My uber's gonna be here any minute.
Well, that means you've got about 10 minutes then, right? What do you want, Jacob? I just wanted to apologize, all right? I know that thing I said about being your boss was kind of a stupid thing to say.
Yeah.
I'm angry about Zora leaving, and I feel like it's my fault, but I can't tell Kerissa that because I know it's what she already thinks and I hate that, I hate that she's right.
Look, I took it out on you and it didn't have anything to do with you and I'm sorry.
Well, thank you for saying so.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Um, my car is here so I'm gonna go.
Wait a minute.
What are you doing? What does it look like? What, are you quitting? Uh, yeah.
Why, because of what I said? No, because I don't belong here, Jacob! I should have left when Basie left, but I decided to stay because I liked you.
And now I like you a lot more than just liking, I gotta go.
Tasha, just Just slow down.
I want you here.
I know you do, but that can't matter to me because it's not good for me.
It's not the answer.
You're married.
I'm still technically married to Basie, wherever he is or isn't.
And Zora, it's just, - trust me, it's for the best.
Come on, Tasha.
Just know that I'm sorry.
For what? For everything.
Charity, before you go I told you that isn't necessary.
A laborer is worthy of his hire.
Now, didn't your Daddy teach you that? You know what? For someone who don't go to church, you really know your Bible.
Well, I may not go to church, but I attend a lot of funerals.
I guess there's about 10 pages I know by heart.
Let's hope it gets you into heaven.
I'm more worried about earth.
Well, what's that supposed to mean? You got a gift for this, now, you know, don't ya? Yeah, you do.
A gift for what, singing? No, this work, comforting people.
Some folks, they clam up around grief, other folks can't shut up, families can't get a word in, but you, you know just what to say and what not to say, but best of all, now, there's, there's you.
- Me? - It's just a thing.
Some folks got it, some don't.
You got it.
Well, thank you for saying so.
What do you, uh, what do you say to a job? A job? Doing what, this? Yeah, you know, I've never met anybody before who could take over.
You can.
Would you think about it? Percy.
I'm gonna be gone soon.
I need somebody to run this place.
You're gonna be around for a long time, so stop talking like that.
Think about it.
Thank you for asking.
Really.
It means a lot to be seen and valued, but I couldn't do this every day.
I'm not strong enough yet.
You're stronger than you think.
Bye, Percy, and thank you.
And then she tells me that my grandbaby has left home yet again with that boy who beats her.
It sounds to me like you're more upset about not being consulted than you are that the girl up and left.
Mae, I've been trying all day to get that girl back home and I probably could have done it if you had just dialed me in.
I am still the head of this family.
You are the head of nothing except your own silly self, mister.
Except maybe that pile of saggy cornbread and pantyhose that you gave my money to.
And not to mention, James, that I, me alone, I am the sole proprietor, the chief cook and bottle washer, sometimes babysitter, chauffeur, Pastor and, yes, head shrinker for all your children and all the sorry souls that they've drawn to themselves with their Greenleaf gravity, so, yes, I am sorry that I did not also get you your status report, sir.
Oh, James.
If you had just been patient and waited while I found the strength to take you back, we would have been by each other's side today.
All I'm asking is your assistance in reminding these children that I exist.
Oh, James, they know you exist, but having failed them as we have, and, yes, I share the blame, we both exist like, I don't know, two faded stars that went out long ago and only glow like ghosts.
You can soothe yourself with that poetry.
You're in this house.
Yes, I am, and you're not, and you can't and believe it or not, for that, James, you have my sympathy.
A lot of good that does me.
Sympathy is not a currency, James.
It is not to be traded, it is a feeling.
If you want a friend, you just Talk to Jesus.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[SIGHS.]
K? Baby? Hey.
Oh, I didn't make dinner.
I don't care about that.
Is winkie down? Yeah, I just tucked him in.
So what happened, did you go over there? Yeah.
And? Our little girl is gone.
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
Chilling in the dark? Yeah.
- Mom? - Mm.
I don't want to go to Rhodes.
Okay, but you're going to college.
Zora's not going to college.
You're not Zora.
So Zora gets to do whatever she wants, move out, quit school.
Baby, she's 18.
Yeah, and I'll be 18 soon, too.
You can't force me to go there.
I wasn't gonna force you to do anything.
Good.
[SIGHS.]
I don't want to go to a Christian school.
It's just not where I'm at right now.
Understood.
What are you doing up so early? I haven't been to sleep yet.
Well, that's a lot of no sleeping for a man with no second thoughts.
I know.
Maybe a record.
You know, some people got forethought.
They got enough sense to move out of the way when a truck is coming.
Other people got hindsight.
Best thing they can do is get the license number after they get run over.
Some people got neither.
Jimmy, at least you got one.
Not my will, but thy will, Lord.
Nothing more, nothing less And nothing else.
What brings you down here? Coralie Hunter.
That pond you're about to step into, it might be a lot deeper than you think.
- Tickets to see Hamilton? - Yes.
Zora's on punishment.
It's her 18th birthday.
Actions have consequences.
Your mother is being too strict.
You found more cash.
I trust you and your expertise.
You emptied our shared account.
I want you out of this house tonight.
I've already made arrangements with Percy.
I got this memorial service here tonight and the singer just called and said she has the flu.
I'm not sure I can be of comfort right now.
Just one or two songs? I'm here to bail you out.
We should both go over there tomorrow and bring Zora home.
Thank you.
I'm 18 now, I'm leaving.
And when pray tell is this grand escape of yours taking place? In about 10 minutes.
Zora? Zora? Zora You get your tail right back to that house this instant.
Muillard.
Muillard, open the gate, please? Don't you open that gate, Muillard.
I am 18, I'm free.
Open the gate, please, thank you.
Don't you dare talk to me about freedom.
You're just a prisoner of your own pride and confusion.
Okay, so I'm gonna climb over the gate and escape like the prisoner that I am.
Listen to me.
Your cousin needs you right now.
Does that matter to you at all? Needs me? I tried to tell her goodbye and she didn't even care.
Can you please open the gate? Do not open that gate.
Open the gate, Muillard.
Don't you dare, no, no.
Listen, if you want to be miss big stuff, then why don't you just stay here and do it out fair and square? What's going on? Well, your daughter has gotten it in her head that she wants to leave.
So what are the two of you doing here? Well, we're here to take her home.
Oh, well, thank you so much for including me in the process.
Ma, we just decided this last night.
Mae, we have a right to retrieve our daughter if we want to.
Z, hey, hold on, you two.
Z, get back here.
Leave me alone, get away! Honey, we're here to take you home.
- I'm not going home with you.
- Just get in the car.
We'll talk about it when we get to the house.
Get in the car.
Zora, get in the car now! Jacob, she needs to stay here with me.
I need to be on my own.
Do you have a plan? I mean, where are you going, really? [HORN HONKS.]
ISAIAH: Zora, hurry up, get in the car! Oh, this joker, here we go.
Pop the trunk.
What are all these people doing here? - Just pop the trunk.
- Zora! JACOB: That's what we gonna do now? Get off of my property.
Did you hear me? Get off of my property right now.
Yo, yo, we live, we live right now.
You know what, little boy? You need to get in this car right now and you need to drive far, far away.
Oh, yeah, what you gonna do if I don't, fat ass, hit me, huh? Come on, you bad, hit me, come on! No, no, no, no, move, come on, bring the camera closer.
All right, everybody, all you fans of this little punk right here, Isaiah hits girls.
That's right, he hits girls, and now I'm about to hit him real hard.
Okay, hit me then, hit me, do it! I did it once, I'll do it again.
Listen, listen, listen.
You're gonna let her go with him? No, no, but his parents might press charges this time or he might.
Let him, I could give a damn.
Please, please just let me do this.
'Cause whatever we did last time, obviously didn't work, just let me.
Fine, baby, fine.
Fine.
[HORN HONKS.]
What's going on? Come on, let's go, baby.
Is that that Isaiah boy? Lord, help me, oh, I'm gonna whip your little weasel butt.
No, just give us a second to get this all cleared up, please.
No.
Hey, watch how you slamming my door, old lady.
This boy beat you, treats you like nothing.
Why do you want to be with him? - You don't understand.
- Can I talk to my daughter for a second? Oh, please, yes, by all means.
You have all the answers, solve it.
Mae, please just shut your mouth for one blessed second.
My daughter's about to throw her whole life away.
It's not about you for once.
No, it's about you.
You are not going to take everything that I've worked so hard for you for and destroy it like this, Zora.
You don't even want me around.
Z, baby.
Hey, little boy, you put one hand on my daughter, one hand, you hear me? - Here take my phone.
- What, so you can bug me? - Later.
- No, at least, please.
Just in case you want to reach out, okay.
I won't call you.
What, you just want to bug me out, though.
Please just take it.
Here, please.
Be careful.
Please be careful.
Oh, my God! [TIRES SQUEALING.]
[CELLPHONE RINGING.]
Amen All right Amen Uh-huh, hmm Ooh-ooh, ooh Well Oh-ohh, ohh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Amen, amen oh Yeah Good morning.
Well, good news.
What's that, Percy? When I didn't hear you stirring in your room this morning, I ran down to the office, checked the obituaries to see if you weren't in it.
Well, I'm sorry if I worried you.
Didn't get to sleep till well after 3:00 in the morning.
You having second thoughts? About what? Finally moving out of that harridan's lair? Not at all.
Well, if you are, it's okay.
You know, when I left Joanne, I cried like a baby.
When I left Lou Ellen, it wasn't nothing.
But then I left Rhonda and it was worse than Joanne.
Couldn't get out of bed.
Thought I was having a heart attack.
Doctor told me it was panic attacks, but I felt it, I felt it in my heart.
Well, my heart's ticking just fine, thank you.
Well, you a better man than me.
The comparisons are odious, but I won't disagree.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Miss Hunter, can you tell us what happened the night of the murder? - Stay close to me.
- My client has no comment.
Thank you, everybody.
You are accused of killing your husband in his sleep.
- Make some room.
- How is that self-defense? Don't answer that, come on, come on.
How are your children responding? You know they haven't let me talk to them since I was arrested.
Just keep moving and be quiet, okay? Yeah, okay, I'll take a few questions everybody, all right.
- Who's this? - Rochelle Cross.
She's with the legal defense fund.
She raised the money to bail you out.
Thank you.
They don't understand.
No, they don't.
We're gonna fix that.
[REPORTERS ALL TALKING AT ONCE.]
All right, thank you.
Call if you hear, though.
Hey, and thank you for taking my call.
Goodbye.
His parents don't know where they are.
His things are gone, but he's been there for the last three weeks, so who knows.
Can I keep this? Hey, why don't we just get you a new one? Jacob, my daughter is gone.
I'm not going phone shopping.
Where are you going anyway? To his parents' house.
Didn't they just say he wasn't there? Well, they might come back.
What do you want me to do, Jacob, nothing? That boy could kill her.
I tried to stop him and you wouldn't let me.
Because you'd just make things worse with all of your violence.
We don't need anymore fighting.
Well, whatever your plan is, I'm her father, you need to include me.
You can't just ice me out.
Now, my son has a point.
Now, Mae, now, you just stay out of this 'cause I told you you were being too hard on her.
Now look what's happened.
Just back off! I'm not gonna let Zora turn into Faith.
I won't do that.
Why would you say something like that? You know what? I'm sorry.
Mom, just, just, she didn't mean it.
I'll call if I see her.
I'm coming with you.
Do you remember how hard it was for us to keep them from calling the cops on you before? Just stay out of it, please, Jacob.
Give me my phone.
Take your phone! I will take you over there.
Thank you.
Well, it's a big day for you, huh? Yeah, I got services at 10:00, 2:00, 4:00.
Hey, come here, come here, come here.
Uh, that's good news, I guess.
Yeah, I do have bills to pay.
Hey, Daddy, sorry I'm late, Percy.
It was big drama at the house this morning.
Hey, w-what kind of drama? Don't worry about it, Daddy.
Hey! I'm still your father.
What kind of drama? James, we have everything under control.
Yes, Charity told me what happened.
I figured out that part, but Kerissa and I are really handling everything.
There's nothing for you to do.
Did we call the police? She's an adult now, they're both adults.
It's not a crime.
Even so, Jacob should call that friend of his, the deputy mayor.
Kerissa and I are headed to the parents' house right now to see if we can catch him.
This is not going to be a quick fix.
And resist the urge to make meaningless activity.
Oh, Lord.
What'd she say? The mothers are handling it.
Do you want us to stay with you for a little while? No, it's okay.
Thank you, though.
It's gonna be all right, darling.
We're gonna replace that scrawny boy you had with a beast of an attorney.
You just watch, everything's gonna be okay.
I know, I just need to see my kids, you know.
I asked that lawyer if he could get the judge to at least let me call them, he wouldn't even ask.
I'm not sure there's much anyone can do with them in foster care.
I know somebody over at CPS may be able to help you find them anyhow.
Would you do that, please? I'll call them right now.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Get some rest, Coralie.
I'll call you if I hear anything back, all right? Promise.
[KEYS JINGLING.]
Who do you know at CPS? I've got a friend.
KERISSA: That's their house right there.
I would like to give those parents of his a piece of my mind.
Talking smack against my son when their boy's such a menace.
Please don't.
Listen, any father would have whacked that boy, Kerissa, especially given what he did.
I know, but can we just, please just All right, fine, I will just leave them to Jesus.
They will be dealt with.
I don't see their car.
Well, we can just stay here for a little while, right? As long as you like.
If you think I didn't do everything I could to get my daughter back home I'm sorry I said that, Mae.
I was upset.
I still am, but I'm sorry.
We all have this thing inside us that wants to believe that we can fix it, you know.
Whatever our children are going through, their suffering, we think we can fix it.
But some get away.
I won't let that happen to Zora.
You might not have a choice.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Come on in.
Hey.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Oh, that was just me.
I was wondering where you've been.
I was beginning to think you were mad about something or something crazy.
No, it wasn't that.
Zora left.
Left where? My mother's with Isaiah.
She turned 18, and she took off.
Jacob, I'm so sorry.
Hey, look, um Would you close that door right there by Yeah, no, that's the point actually.
Tasha, you can't, we can't.
What happened between us the other day, that kiss, that was a mistake.
- It was? - Yeah.
Okay, look, it wasn't untrue.
You're great, you're smart, you're sexy, but it's just, it's not something I can choose in my life at this point in time.
Me? Yeah, I'm sorry.
Okay.
Okay, look, please.
No, I'm sorry.
I just, um You're gonna have to stop texting me, too.
Yeah, I know, that was bad of me to do that.
I just, um I missed you and I Tasha, you gotta stop.
People are gonna think something's going on.
Nothing, nothing ever seems to work out for me, Jacob.
Like, I know that I'm being selfish, but I just, I like you so much.
Every time.
Tasha, look.
Come on now, you have got to pull it together.
- I can't.
- You have to! [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- I'm your boss.
- Seriously? Pastor Greenleaf, oh the secretary told me that I could find you in here.
If I'm interrupting No, pop, we're, um Tasha just lost a friend and I was We were just talking.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
What brings you by, pop? Getting my granddaughter home.
Right, hey, I need to handle this.
Yeah.
All right, promise you're gonna be okay, positive? Positive, you can go.
Are you two sure I'm not interrupting anything? No, pop, it's fine.
How about we go in my office and talk and give her some space? Absolutely, um, again I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Bishop.
Open or closed? Closed.
[CRYING.]
Hey, Darlene, how's it going? DARLENE: Someone's been waiting a while.
Is that the district attorney? Can you just give me a second? Yeah, whatever you need.
Pastor Greenleaf.
District attorney Price, to what do I owe this pleasure? So you decided to support Miss Hunter? I did, yes.
Against my strongly worded advice.
I wouldn't take that too personally.
This church is full of people who would tell you that's just how I am.
Oh, I met with her attorney, a Mr.
Teleska.
We're getting her a better one.
He seemed pretty sharp to me.
I offered his client a great deal.
She pleads guilty to second-degree murder, she gets 20 years.
Great deal.
This case goes to trial, Grace, she'll get life without parole.
And you may find yourself on trial, too, and not just in the court of public opinion.
You threatening me? I could have charged you with murder when you killed your uncle.
The only reason I didn't do that was, - because it was self-defense.
So you've said, but I got this funny feeling that if all the facts came out about the long-standing fight between you and your uncle, the details of how you forced your way into his home that night, your concerns about your daughter could look a lot like premeditated murder, especially to a jury who knew you had gone out of your way to get yet another murder acquitted.
I mean Pardon me for saying this.
I know this is a righteous time for ladies, but, Grace, I swear, it's starting to look like you think women should just be able to take the law into their own hands and kill men.
It just doesn't seem right, legal, or very Christian.
Have miss Hunter take the deal.
What did he want? Nothing important.
I really don't know how I'm gonna make it without him.
I don't.
[CRYING.]
That's how it feels But you will.
You're gonna go on.
We all do.
What he's offering is an option, Coralie, you don't have to take it and you certainly don't have to decide right now.
We can talk about it later.
Are you gonna let me tell her or not? 'Cause I don't have all day.
I got, like, 12 other cases I got to get to.
Uh-huh.
Go ahead.
Look, the D.
A.
'S offering you a deal.
You plead guilty to second-degree murder, you get 20 years.
When would I get paroled? The kids would be grown up.
Look, it's either this or life.
You gonna take it or not? If you don't have time to let her think for one minute about the biggest decision in her life, you should surely let someone else represent her.
She's a victim of abuse.
She doesn't even remember doing it.
There are precedents for that.
Yeah, well, not in Memphis, and I know this judge, and he's not exactly a fan of this whole me too movement.
Look, just take the deal, and your kids will visit.
I gotta think about it.
All right, well, you've got till tomorrow to decide, so if you folks will excuse me, I've got to get to places where my work's a little more appreciated.
You can do better.
You sure about that? You can certainly do better than him.
- Good news.
- Tell me.
I got you a visit with your kids.
When? They're on their way now.
Oh, my God, thank you, thank you.
You're an angel.
Thank you so much.
[LAUGHING.]
Pick up the phone and call him! Pop, what do you think skip's gonna do? He'll have the police pick the boy up.
She's an adult.
She left of her own free will.
All right, I mean, it's, - this isn't something you can fix with a phone call to some friend in an office.
We have to do something! There's nothing to do.
And even if there was, nobody wants us to do it, pop.
I know you're upset that mama didn't call you, but this isn't your problem and according to my wife, it's not even mine.
So just do us both a favor and go back to Percy's or church or wherever, but stay out of it.
I've got enough on my plate without trying to make you feel like you're some big help, too.
[SIGHS.]
You know, Kerissa wasn't wrong to send you away.
That temper of yours is no help to anyone, especially you.
Whatever happened between me and your mama, I'm still your father and that girl's grandfather.
When you remember that, call me.
So who is your friend at cps? You haven't let that go yet, have you? It's a natural question.
I'm just waiting for a natural answer.
After all I've done.
Gave you this money, made the phone calls, you still don't trust me.
Who is she? I met her through big sisters.
You work with them, too? I was one.
You were a big sister? Yes.
I've got four girls out there running the world.
I hit 'em up for favors sometimes.
I'm not what you think.
Then what are you? I'm just like you, Grace, someone who no matter how high I rise, no matter how well I do, I can't help but to see myself in low, lost souls.
And just like you, I won't stop fighting till all the folks who keep them down are brought low, too.
That sounds a lot like revenge.
Well, maybe the D.
A.
Was right about you.
I just see it as justice.
I'll see you soon.
Okay? How'd it go? I can't go to prison.
I won't.
Good.
Hey.
[KEYS CLACKING.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Yeah? This just came for you.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
KERISSA: That's them.
MAE: What? I'm coming, too.
No, please, Mae, don't.
I have to do this alone.
To be a lyricist takes diligence, believe me Leave me alone.
I have something I want to say.
The last thing I need is for you to be here when he gets back.
Just listen to me for a minute.
Okay, one minute.
[SIGHS.]
What? Do you know the day you were born, I didn't have a word to describe what you were to me? You were everything, more than the world.
They cleaned you off and they put you in my arms and you just looked at me.
You weren't flailing or crying or doing anything that I thought you should be, you were just looking up at me with those wide, brown eyes.
Hurry up.
Where are you two going? None of your business.
Just say what you have to say, please.
I wanted you to see the world, Zora.
I wanted you to go to college.
I wanted you to find out what you were passionate about, and I'm sorry if you ever felt beat down by my expectations.
It was because of the way that you looked at me on the day that you were born with your own expectations.
I could see in you all of the desire that you had for your life and I wanted to give you every single tool at your disposal so that you could go out into the world and get it.
And I've got it.
What do you have? You got a boy that beats you up, a one-way ticket to nowhere.
I've got myself.
Look, why is that so hard for you to understand? Zora This is it.
You can get out of this car and come with me right now because this is the last chance that I'm gonna give you.
After this, it is gonna be you, your bad decisions, and God.
And God is gonna win 'cause in situations like this, honey, he is a lot tougher than me.
I'll take my chances.
[SNIFFLES.]
[HORN HONKING.]
[KEYPAD BEEPING.]
Muillard! Why isn't the gate opening? Are you kidd Mae? Mae? You changed the gate code? What do you want, James? Oh, I'll tell ya.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Hey, you got a second? Not really.
My uber's gonna be here any minute.
Well, that means you've got about 10 minutes then, right? What do you want, Jacob? I just wanted to apologize, all right? I know that thing I said about being your boss was kind of a stupid thing to say.
Yeah.
I'm angry about Zora leaving, and I feel like it's my fault, but I can't tell Kerissa that because I know it's what she already thinks and I hate that, I hate that she's right.
Look, I took it out on you and it didn't have anything to do with you and I'm sorry.
Well, thank you for saying so.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Um, my car is here so I'm gonna go.
Wait a minute.
What are you doing? What does it look like? What, are you quitting? Uh, yeah.
Why, because of what I said? No, because I don't belong here, Jacob! I should have left when Basie left, but I decided to stay because I liked you.
And now I like you a lot more than just liking, I gotta go.
Tasha, just Just slow down.
I want you here.
I know you do, but that can't matter to me because it's not good for me.
It's not the answer.
You're married.
I'm still technically married to Basie, wherever he is or isn't.
And Zora, it's just, - trust me, it's for the best.
Come on, Tasha.
Just know that I'm sorry.
For what? For everything.
Charity, before you go I told you that isn't necessary.
A laborer is worthy of his hire.
Now, didn't your Daddy teach you that? You know what? For someone who don't go to church, you really know your Bible.
Well, I may not go to church, but I attend a lot of funerals.
I guess there's about 10 pages I know by heart.
Let's hope it gets you into heaven.
I'm more worried about earth.
Well, what's that supposed to mean? You got a gift for this, now, you know, don't ya? Yeah, you do.
A gift for what, singing? No, this work, comforting people.
Some folks, they clam up around grief, other folks can't shut up, families can't get a word in, but you, you know just what to say and what not to say, but best of all, now, there's, there's you.
- Me? - It's just a thing.
Some folks got it, some don't.
You got it.
Well, thank you for saying so.
What do you, uh, what do you say to a job? A job? Doing what, this? Yeah, you know, I've never met anybody before who could take over.
You can.
Would you think about it? Percy.
I'm gonna be gone soon.
I need somebody to run this place.
You're gonna be around for a long time, so stop talking like that.
Think about it.
Thank you for asking.
Really.
It means a lot to be seen and valued, but I couldn't do this every day.
I'm not strong enough yet.
You're stronger than you think.
Bye, Percy, and thank you.
And then she tells me that my grandbaby has left home yet again with that boy who beats her.
It sounds to me like you're more upset about not being consulted than you are that the girl up and left.
Mae, I've been trying all day to get that girl back home and I probably could have done it if you had just dialed me in.
I am still the head of this family.
You are the head of nothing except your own silly self, mister.
Except maybe that pile of saggy cornbread and pantyhose that you gave my money to.
And not to mention, James, that I, me alone, I am the sole proprietor, the chief cook and bottle washer, sometimes babysitter, chauffeur, Pastor and, yes, head shrinker for all your children and all the sorry souls that they've drawn to themselves with their Greenleaf gravity, so, yes, I am sorry that I did not also get you your status report, sir.
Oh, James.
If you had just been patient and waited while I found the strength to take you back, we would have been by each other's side today.
All I'm asking is your assistance in reminding these children that I exist.
Oh, James, they know you exist, but having failed them as we have, and, yes, I share the blame, we both exist like, I don't know, two faded stars that went out long ago and only glow like ghosts.
You can soothe yourself with that poetry.
You're in this house.
Yes, I am, and you're not, and you can't and believe it or not, for that, James, you have my sympathy.
A lot of good that does me.
Sympathy is not a currency, James.
It is not to be traded, it is a feeling.
If you want a friend, you just Talk to Jesus.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[SIGHS.]
K? Baby? Hey.
Oh, I didn't make dinner.
I don't care about that.
Is winkie down? Yeah, I just tucked him in.
So what happened, did you go over there? Yeah.
And? Our little girl is gone.
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
Chilling in the dark? Yeah.
- Mom? - Mm.
I don't want to go to Rhodes.
Okay, but you're going to college.
Zora's not going to college.
You're not Zora.
So Zora gets to do whatever she wants, move out, quit school.
Baby, she's 18.
Yeah, and I'll be 18 soon, too.
You can't force me to go there.
I wasn't gonna force you to do anything.
Good.
[SIGHS.]
I don't want to go to a Christian school.
It's just not where I'm at right now.
Understood.
What are you doing up so early? I haven't been to sleep yet.
Well, that's a lot of no sleeping for a man with no second thoughts.
I know.
Maybe a record.
You know, some people got forethought.
They got enough sense to move out of the way when a truck is coming.
Other people got hindsight.
Best thing they can do is get the license number after they get run over.
Some people got neither.
Jimmy, at least you got one.
Not my will, but thy will, Lord.
Nothing more, nothing less And nothing else.