Greenleaf (2016) s03e13 Episode Script
The New Life
1 Previously on Greenleaf.
Here's what the feds think happened.
Jacob transferred $200,000 of church funds into what turned out to be a personal account, and then you withdrew all that money to pay off the IRS.
I've called an emergency meeting of the Deacon board to discuss your removal.
And who will you get to preach here? Philip Demars! Harmony and Hope ministries.
Is that the money Bishop gave you? None of your damn business.
That's what we're gonna live on once we cross that ol' little border to Mexico.
Tasha is our only way out of this.
She loves you, Jacob.
Where does that leave me? Jacob! Are you okay to talk to the FBI tonight? - Yes.
- I want a divorce, Jacob.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Is Lionel my father or not? I don't know.
You'll never stop fighting to save us all.
My precious daughter.
God's great day of reckoning is any day that you say, "thank you, Jesus, and take what's yours.
" [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
You killed my dad! I didn't mean to do it! Be ready to die, Bishop.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Okay.
I know you're upset but you have got to see the first lady [GASPS, CRIES.]
Wait! No! No! - Come on, Bishop.
- No, don't! Blood is on your hands, Bishop.
Come on! Karine, don't call the police.
You go.
Just go! [SOBBING.]
Ooh, Bishop.
You got some amazing faith here.
Shame it's misplaced.
No.
No, it's not.
You're not a killer, Basie.
You didn't know that until right now, did you, son? Amen All right Amen Uh-huh, hmm Ooh-ooh, ooh Well Oh-ohh, ohh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Amen, amen oh Yeah Ooh, well not even Peter could deny what just happened up in there, Mae.
What do you think just happened? Girlfriend, you got yourself a church! - Lady Mae! Lady Mae! - What? The Bishop, Basie what happened? He's got a gun.
I think he's gonna shoot Bishop.
Go in peace and serve the Lord.
You do the same.
[MOANS.]
- Listen.
- What happened?! It's all right.
I'm okay.
No need to call the police.
But, James, the man came to kill you.
Mae, there's no need to call the police.
The only law we need around here is God's law.
Daddy, what happened? I'm all right.
I'm all right.
I don't care what he says.
Get a doctor over there and check him out! All right, I will.
Thanks for calling, Charity.
I love you.
Bye.
- [BEEP.]
- Everybody's safe.
Basie is still out there.
Look can we just agree that now that Zora's home and all this craziness is going on, that we can just stop talking about divorce? [SCOFFS.]
Baby, it was one kiss, all right? A kiss I regret.
I want to make this work.
[SIGHS.]
I don't know.
Papa almost just got killed! I can't fight about this right now! I'm not packing my bags, am I? But don't ask me to say something now that I don't know to be true.
Okay? I don't know.
[TELEPHONE RINGING.]
It's Joseph.
The accountant from Triumph? - Yeah.
- Why is he calling? I don't know.
Joseph, my brother.
What's happening? What is it? Son of a bitch just stole our church.
[SIGHS.]
Now get some rest.
This kind of stress takes a toll that you won't see coming.
MAE: Thank you, doctor.
Could you just show him out? Yes, ma'am.
This way.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Well, he's right, you know.
James, you need to rest.
We have to talk first.
But first, you need to go to Percy's This won't wait, Mae.
and you need to sleep, James.
I'm sorry I didn't come today To the sanctuary to see you preach.
It sounds to me like more than just a preacher showed up.
The way this building's been buzzing, it sounds like the spirit showed up, too, didn't it? Ooh, let's just say that the weather cooperated, it did.
Mae.
The church is yours.
Thank you.
Thank you, James.
You earned it.
Oh, my goodness.
How could I ever thank you? Going to that board meeting this week, take hold of that church with the confidence of a Saint.
That'll be all the thanks I need.
Become yourself, Mae.
It's time.
- Maxine, I love you.
- Love you.
Bye.
Sexual abuse, tax evasion, embezzlement, fraud, gunfire.
Tell me one other church where these are the things that are talked about in the pews on Sunday.
No one understands my family's failures more than I do.
And that's why I'm telling you.
The Deacon board has adopted a resolution to join Harmony and Hope Ministries and move on.
These folks want change, Grace.
And I don't blame them.
My mother just raised the roof.
Why aren't you asking her about this? Your mother suffers by association, apart from many faults of her own.
And she has some, as you know.
So, why are you talking to me? I've overseen the admission of over 50 independent churches into the "H" and "H" family, Grace.
Sometimes it's simple, sometimes not.
But when we have some continuity, at least at first, it's always better.
Now, Connie has told me she's talked to you in the past about stepping up.
Now, I know you've said no, but it would just be for a year to start until things settle down.
You want me to take over the church.
Now, I must be straight with you.
This is happening with or without you.
Now, with that being said, we'd love to have you on the team.
Can I have a beat to pray about it? Of course.
I am seeing the deacons later today to tell them the big news.
Want to see how Connie and the rest of them take it.
Yeah Mama, about that.
What? The deacons want to join Harmony and Hope, and they want Bishop and you To retire with full benefits.
Hmm.
Well that's generous of them.
And They wanted to know if I would take over as interim head Pastor for a year.
And what did you say? I said that I would pray about it.
Yeah, when "no" would've sufficed.
If I had said no, they would have Phil running this church - Oh, Grace.
- Until they found someone from wherever, like poughkeepsie or is that what you would prefer? No, what I would prefer is to not see a church that was just resurrected by the Lord dragged back to the grave! I don't want that either! That is why I wanted to talk to you! Oh, so you could tell me that you didn't say no? [SIGHS.]
So, you could try to make me feel sorry for you, the victim? Sorry for you who always has to betray me? You have beaten me down for decades for a mistake that you made! You want to talk about betrayal? I don't want to talk to you about anything! "Oh, mama.
About that, mama.
And, oh, mama, I have this on you, mama," and "mama this," and "mama, you did that wrong.
" I'm sick of it! Aaron and I took a blood test! And? Lionel's my father.
And what do you want to do? I don't know.
I assume you want to tell Bishop.
Well, I don't want to keep it a secret.
Oh, no, of course you don't, because who would that serve, Grace, just everybody.
Do you honestly have no concern for how this affects me at all? And do you have any concern for how this affects me? You have just told me that my own shameful mistake is gonna be memorialized forever! In this shameful, sad, ugly Annoying fact of me! I am so sorry I found out, but you cannot ask me to keep who I am a secret.
That's not fair to anyone.
Fine.
I will tell Bishop.
And I'm sorry.
And I'm ashamed.
I never meant to bring So much pain to so many.
[CRYING QUIETLY.]
[KNOCK AT DOOR.]
Hey.
Hey, Pastor Greenleaf.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
You're a sight for sore eyes.
Oh, come on in.
[CHUCKLES.]
You doing okay, pop? What? Oh.
Oh, you mean yesterday.
Well, never better.
More alive, even.
Powerful.
Mm-hmm.
Well, good.
That's a relief.
Expected nothing less coming from you.
Well the board has asked me to leave Triumph because of the scandal.
They know it's not your fault, don't they? Well, the accountant has told them that Kerissa and I are not responsible stewards of God's beneficence.
The majority agreed.
So, what do you intend to do? Figured I'd ask mama if she needed some help.
I'm sure she'd love to have you back.
Especially now that you've been tried by the fire and become quite a strong preacher yourself.
When have you heard me preach? What do you think I watch at 3:00 A.
M.
when I can't sleep? My son in the pulpit on Triumph.
Org.
And you think I'm doing okay? Oh, I steal from you regularly.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Really? Come with me.
Where to? Your mother's about to put down this rebellion in the ranks.
I don't want to miss the fireworks.
So, now what everyone at one time saw as implausible is now the most plausible, inspiring, inevitable choice Me.
And I have Bishop's support.
First lady, you make a very convincing case, - but if I may - Oh Connie, please.
But if I may, I have been conferring for a while with the deacons and Phil Demars of Harmony and Hope Ministries yes, I know about this.
- You do? - Yes.
Grace told me this very morning.
Then why would you put us through all this when you know full well what we hope to do? What I now know full well, Connie, is that you have been conspiring against me, conspiring against us like a Judas in a bad pantsuit.
And if the people of this congregation ever learned exactly how you contrive to betray us, they would launch you from the roof of this church in a water Cannon.
So, you can just go and tell your little friend, Phil Demars, that you were driving in Daddy's car with a fake I.
D.
Misty.
First lady.
Oh, so, what is this? A list of grievances dating back to Genesis? It's a petition.
As you'll see, it's been signed by over 2,000 members.
It calls for both you and the Bishop to retire effective immediately, and it also calls for a church wide referendum to join Harmony and Hope.
This is how church works now.
Since when have either of you cared how church works? You two have dragged the faith and reputation of thousands of our members through your own mud for over 40 years.
As chairman of this Deacon board, I say enough.
It's nothing personal, Mae.
[SCOFFS.]
JAMES: You can say what you want about me.
I'm ready to admit it's time I stepped down.
But she didn't deserve that.
Bishop, for the first time in the history of this church, it's what the members deserve that matters.
And from what I know of Harmony and Hope, I'm sure they'll get it.
Those grifters skim every dollar they can from the churches in their family.
And I wouldn't doubt that Connie here isn't scheduled to receive a check as soon as the contract is signed.
Bishop, you can fight this, but you won't win.
It is time for a change.
On that, we agree.
I'll see you all in church.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
And that I.
R.
S.
Lady called again.
I'll call her back tomorrow.
I can't take any more static today.
You know, that doctor wasn't wrong.
Ever since yesterday, I'm feeling a little I don't know.
Oh, good.
You're still here.
Are you headed over to Percy's? Yes.
You? Well, I yeah, I was just leaving.
Yeah.
Quite a day, huh? What? Would you like to come over for dinner? I'll cook.
I'd love that.
Who's gonna run Calvary? For the time being, Gigi.
Well, who's gonna be her associate? I have no idea.
And we haven't talked yet.
It should be you, shouldn't it? You were gonna ask your mom.
I mean, what's in it for you? I'm gonna need child support.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Oh, that's funny? Let me tell you something whether we stay married or not, I'm still the mother of your children, and I do have a stake in what you do and don't.
Well, I guess that's true.
Yeah, you know what? I tell you what for the time being, let's just stay together.
Just like that? Yes, because you are not gonna know how to seize this opportunity without me there to guide you.
I can see that now.
Okay, so, wait a minute.
So, now we're not getting divorced? I never said that we were, I said I didn't know.
Now I do.
Okay then.
I mean, how long do you think that Gigi's gonna last over there, really? How long before she says something, shoots her mouth off, and gets the hook? And Harmony and Hope is a gigantic deal.
Bob Whitmore, the guy that's in charge of the whole thing, he is one of the richest men in America.
This is an opportunity.
It's bigger than Triumph, even.
What are you looking at? You.
Why are you looking at me? [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Yeah, I know.
Come here.
No.
Come here, crazy.
[SCOFFS.]
What? What? [CHUCKLES.]
How long before the kids get home? Mm, a little bit over an hour.
I don't know why you askin'.
Mm.
- Jacob.
- Mm-hmm.
What are you doing? Oh, nothing.
You about to see what I'm doing.
[CHUCKLING.]
Oh, my God.
No.
Jacob.
[THUNDER RUMBLING.]
James.
Yes, dear.
I have to tell you something.
God knows I don't want to.
But if I don't, I know you're gonna hear it from Grace.
This about Harmony and Hope? I wish it was.
Grace is Lionel's daughter.
[SIGHS.]
Well, now we're even.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
That's it? That's all you have to say to me? I'm telling you the scariest secret in my whole life, and that's it? That's all you have to say? But it isn't, is it? No.
And you can't lose me over it.
And you already kicked me out the door.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Well, I guess that's true.
Oh, Lord.
So, what do you want me to say? Would you please Come home? On one condition.
This uncertainty and shame that you felt over Grace's Lineage.
What about it? That's what set you so against her from the day she was born? I don't know.
That, and, oh, her stubbornness, I just then you and your daughter are more alike than you want to admit.
- We're mildly alike.
- [CHUCKLES.]
So, heal it.
Would you sit with her And heal it, please? There's no use me coming back to live in this house if we can't all live as family real family.
Can you do that? Hmm? Yes.
Hmm? Yes.
Yes.
Look, baby, just pack your bag and meet us there.
A place called Windsor Air Center.
Rochelle found a guy who could fly us to Puerto Rico, no questions asked.
From there, just a hop to Cancun.
Basie, how many times do I have to tell you? No! Just stop calling me, please.
What you gonna do, huh? Run and get it back on with your teacake? Look, Jacob Greenleaf don't want you.
Basie, look I cut a really good deal with the FBI, and I won't have to do any time.
I can't mess that up.
What you gonna do for green? We got a suitcase full of it.
You need to give that money back.
Oh come on, baby, the Lord giveth.
If he wants it, he could take it away.
Otherwise, it's staying with uncle Basie.
Why do you want me? Why do you think? You're my sweet-ass girl.
Basie, goodbye.
Wait.
Wait, baby.
Don't hang up now.
I'm not giving up on you.
You know that, right? But I do know when prayer and fasting work better than begging and pleading.
I know that.
[SIGHS.]
I'm gonna see you again, so I'm just gonna say hasta luego, huh? That's Spanish for goodbye, Basie.
[BEEP.]
Every man got his woman.
I'll be damned if that angel ain't mine.
Just gonna take awhile for her to remember.
What's the damage? $40.
17.
Fabulous.
17 is my blessed number.
The Lord gave it to me at the roulette table to use, and it ain't failed me once.
Black 17, there's your 40.
Thank you, brother.
That just the money you had in your pocket? Ain't that something.
That's just the Lord at work.
You better give this brother a discount.
He got a blessing coming his way.
- Drive.
- You got my gin? Woman, are you deaf? I said drive.
[ENGINE REVVING, TIRES SCREECHING.]
But my respect for the office of the district attorney and the people it benefits requires me to hand the reins over to someone who can give the job their undivided attention.
Did you hear about Weston Price? How he just got "me too'd?" By a lot of women, apparently.
It's good for Coralie, right? I don't see how it wouldn't be.
I can't imagine they'd get anybody worse to replace him.
So, do you have good news for me? $3 million? Yeah, the lawyer read the will, came down to your name, looked at me, and asked, "who's Grace Greenleaf?" What did he leave you? Nothing.
Nothing? Aaron, really? Not a cent.
You want mine? [CHUCKLES.]
I got to say feels really weird to call it mine 'cause it's not.
No, he wouldn't give me his respect or his love.
I don't want his money.
Spoken like a real Christian.
Getting to know you as a brother is worth so much more than this money.
I'll try to earn that faith.
You don't need to earn it.
You're family.
Grace.
I'll be right there.
I'll be in the waiting area.
- Excuse me.
- Yeah.
Normally, this kind of interview is a make or break thing, but, uh, Phil has already raved to me about you, so let me just say that there's no church in the world, Grace, protestant denomination, anyway, like Harmony and Hope.
Hundreds of churches in dozens of countries.
People from all walks of life, black, brown, white, yellow, what have you.
What makes it work is respect for God's word.
For all of God's people.
And I understand that you just signed on as interim for a year, correct? That's correct, but we still have a couple almost done.
I hear you're a prophet.
[LAUGHS.]
Boy, the church could use more of those.
But what we're gonna need from you this year, Grace, is your voice.
A voice that can unify this congregation.
A voice that can join I always feel silly saying it, but it's true, in Harmony and Hope with all the other churches in our worldwide family of believers.
Grace are you ready to be that voice? [CHUCKLES.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Got a second? For the soon-to-be Pastor of Calvary fellowship? I better.
I just met with Bob Whitmore, head of the denomination.
- Don't trust him.
- I don't.
You have to think of Harmony as the occupying army.
As soon as Connie and her crew are out, then you can get back to being free.
We.
We can get back to being free.
No, Gigi, I'm done.
This last season of woe has cost me heavily perhaps more heavily than even I realized.
[SIGHS.]
- Daddy? - Yeah? This is gonna sound strange.
What? I have a I've come into some money, and I want you to have it to pay off the IRS.
Must be a lot of money.
It's a lot of money, and I don't need it.
Where'd this money come from, Gigi? Just say that you'll take it, please.
I want to help, and I want all this trouble to be done.
Gigi.
Yeah.
In this family, we don't live by the flesh, we live by the spirit.
And in the spirit, you are my daughter.
My beloved daughter, and you always will be, hmm? - [VOICE BREAKING.]
Daddy.
- [CHUCKLING.]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[ORGAN PLAYING.]
As you all know, I'm sure, this is my last Sunday preaching.
[MEMBERS SHOUTING "NO".]
Next week, it'll be Pastor Grace up here, and this whole rich pageant will have fallen under the shadow of Harmony and Hope, a family we're all so proud to be joining.
[APPLAUSE.]
I want to talk today about Moses.
A man of God, but not without faults Denied entrance to the land of milk and honey that he had led his people to.
Now, what had Moses done that caused God such sorrow that he made Moses watch from a mountain as his people crossed the Jordan? A failure to trust in God.
I always thought that Moses felt angry, sad like God done him wrong.
But I know today that Moses felt proud to be on that mountain.
Because every man, woman, and child that crossed that river, Moses knew them.
He knew their struggles.
He knew the strength in each of them that earned them that ticket to glory.
[APPLAUSE.]
And I know he felt grateful.
He felt grateful to have been on that adventure at all.
[APPLAUSE.]
[ALL SHOUTING.]
Bishop! - Daddy, what's the wrong? - What's the matter? Daddy? I think it's my heart.
- Grandpa! - Call 9-1-1.
It's no use, baby.
James, what are you saying? The Lord gave me a vision about how I was gonna die.
This is the moment.
- No.
- No, it isn't.
- Do you hear me, James? - It is not.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you so much.
No, don't.
James, don't.
Daddy! - Daddy! - We love you.
Daddy, don't go! - James.
- Please, Daddy.
You stay with us.
You stay with us.
I leave for one month, and everything turns upside down.
Yeah.
Turns out you're what holds everything together around here.
[CHUCKLES.]
I never doubted it.
What are you gonna do now? [SIGHS.]
Go to therapy.
Try and figure out why I wasted so much time on that piece of trash boyfriend of mine.
Good plan.
Yeah, then I got to take some whack special classes so I can graduate on time.
And then, if they let me, audition for musical.
In New York? Yeah.
You know how I'm, like, super charming and hilarious.
[LAUGHS.]
I'm thinking about making it pay.
- Oh, that's awesome.
- Yeah.
- Look at us.
- I mean, somebody look at us.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Can we make a deal, that no matter where we go or what we do, we never stop talking to each other again? Deal.
All right, let's go.
Okay.
Thanks, mom.
Hey, what are you two plotting? Hmm? Your brother's moving back home.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Okay.
Great.
May I speak to you a moment? Uh, sure.
Maricel wanted these, do you? Oh, yeah, sure.
I'll take them.
Thank you.
Well, what's up? Well, your father wanted me to talk to you to make things right between us.
You don't have to do that.
It's fine.
No, it's not.
And I do.
Well, it's not a good time to talk through it all, but from here on out, Grace, I just want you to know that I'm here to help.
Thank you, mama.
[SIGHS.]
- Hi.
- Hey.
Nathan joining us for dinner? [CHUCKLES.]
No.
We are setting him up the kitchen with Maricel and Sonia.
Yeah, I don't think he's ready for a real Greenleaf family dinner just yet.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Whoever is? You ready to eat, let's go, baby.
Let's go.
So, are you two ready to go public about being half-brother and sister? Oh, not tonight.
Tonight's about honoring Bishop.
Mm.
Come on in, guys.
Dinner's served.
I told you, don't go wandering off without telling me.
But dad said I could.
Don't give me the reasons why you didn't obey, Zora, just make me happy that you did.
- You got me? - I'm sorry.
And your dad is not in charge of this family, I am.
You two exchange an e-mail, I get copied.
- Yes, ma'am? - Yes, ma'am.
Maricel, we can take these off of the table for dinner.
Uh, Maricel knows what she's doing.
You don't have to help, Kerissa.
Okay, all right.
Thank you.
Thank you, son.
It's a shame I had to be drop- kicked out of my own church, then felled like a tree by God himself, and laid up in a hospital bed for two weeks to see you all together like this But I'll take it.
[LAUGHTER.]
How you feeling, pop? Couldn't be better.
Retirement and an aspirin a day suits me just fine.
[CHUCKLES.]
You know, the Lord gave me a vision recently, and I thought it was a vision of my last day on earth, and, in a sense, it was because ever since I've lived through it, I feel like I'm in heaven.
I've been given that new day here with all of you.
Family.
This is the real promised land.
- Amen.
- [LAUGHTER.]
We love you, pop.
I love you back.
Come on.
[GRUNTS.]
Grace? Will you do the blessing? Pastor? I'd be glad to.
Let us pray.
Heavenly father, we come humbly before your throne with praise and thanks, and we just ask that you bless this food This family This faith And we ask that you let it give us strength and sustenance so we can take back what is ours.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Here's what the feds think happened.
Jacob transferred $200,000 of church funds into what turned out to be a personal account, and then you withdrew all that money to pay off the IRS.
I've called an emergency meeting of the Deacon board to discuss your removal.
And who will you get to preach here? Philip Demars! Harmony and Hope ministries.
Is that the money Bishop gave you? None of your damn business.
That's what we're gonna live on once we cross that ol' little border to Mexico.
Tasha is our only way out of this.
She loves you, Jacob.
Where does that leave me? Jacob! Are you okay to talk to the FBI tonight? - Yes.
- I want a divorce, Jacob.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Is Lionel my father or not? I don't know.
You'll never stop fighting to save us all.
My precious daughter.
God's great day of reckoning is any day that you say, "thank you, Jesus, and take what's yours.
" [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
You killed my dad! I didn't mean to do it! Be ready to die, Bishop.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Okay.
I know you're upset but you have got to see the first lady [GASPS, CRIES.]
Wait! No! No! - Come on, Bishop.
- No, don't! Blood is on your hands, Bishop.
Come on! Karine, don't call the police.
You go.
Just go! [SOBBING.]
Ooh, Bishop.
You got some amazing faith here.
Shame it's misplaced.
No.
No, it's not.
You're not a killer, Basie.
You didn't know that until right now, did you, son? Amen All right Amen Uh-huh, hmm Ooh-ooh, ooh Well Oh-ohh, ohh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Amen, amen oh Yeah Ooh, well not even Peter could deny what just happened up in there, Mae.
What do you think just happened? Girlfriend, you got yourself a church! - Lady Mae! Lady Mae! - What? The Bishop, Basie what happened? He's got a gun.
I think he's gonna shoot Bishop.
Go in peace and serve the Lord.
You do the same.
[MOANS.]
- Listen.
- What happened?! It's all right.
I'm okay.
No need to call the police.
But, James, the man came to kill you.
Mae, there's no need to call the police.
The only law we need around here is God's law.
Daddy, what happened? I'm all right.
I'm all right.
I don't care what he says.
Get a doctor over there and check him out! All right, I will.
Thanks for calling, Charity.
I love you.
Bye.
- [BEEP.]
- Everybody's safe.
Basie is still out there.
Look can we just agree that now that Zora's home and all this craziness is going on, that we can just stop talking about divorce? [SCOFFS.]
Baby, it was one kiss, all right? A kiss I regret.
I want to make this work.
[SIGHS.]
I don't know.
Papa almost just got killed! I can't fight about this right now! I'm not packing my bags, am I? But don't ask me to say something now that I don't know to be true.
Okay? I don't know.
[TELEPHONE RINGING.]
It's Joseph.
The accountant from Triumph? - Yeah.
- Why is he calling? I don't know.
Joseph, my brother.
What's happening? What is it? Son of a bitch just stole our church.
[SIGHS.]
Now get some rest.
This kind of stress takes a toll that you won't see coming.
MAE: Thank you, doctor.
Could you just show him out? Yes, ma'am.
This way.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Well, he's right, you know.
James, you need to rest.
We have to talk first.
But first, you need to go to Percy's This won't wait, Mae.
and you need to sleep, James.
I'm sorry I didn't come today To the sanctuary to see you preach.
It sounds to me like more than just a preacher showed up.
The way this building's been buzzing, it sounds like the spirit showed up, too, didn't it? Ooh, let's just say that the weather cooperated, it did.
Mae.
The church is yours.
Thank you.
Thank you, James.
You earned it.
Oh, my goodness.
How could I ever thank you? Going to that board meeting this week, take hold of that church with the confidence of a Saint.
That'll be all the thanks I need.
Become yourself, Mae.
It's time.
- Maxine, I love you.
- Love you.
Bye.
Sexual abuse, tax evasion, embezzlement, fraud, gunfire.
Tell me one other church where these are the things that are talked about in the pews on Sunday.
No one understands my family's failures more than I do.
And that's why I'm telling you.
The Deacon board has adopted a resolution to join Harmony and Hope Ministries and move on.
These folks want change, Grace.
And I don't blame them.
My mother just raised the roof.
Why aren't you asking her about this? Your mother suffers by association, apart from many faults of her own.
And she has some, as you know.
So, why are you talking to me? I've overseen the admission of over 50 independent churches into the "H" and "H" family, Grace.
Sometimes it's simple, sometimes not.
But when we have some continuity, at least at first, it's always better.
Now, Connie has told me she's talked to you in the past about stepping up.
Now, I know you've said no, but it would just be for a year to start until things settle down.
You want me to take over the church.
Now, I must be straight with you.
This is happening with or without you.
Now, with that being said, we'd love to have you on the team.
Can I have a beat to pray about it? Of course.
I am seeing the deacons later today to tell them the big news.
Want to see how Connie and the rest of them take it.
Yeah Mama, about that.
What? The deacons want to join Harmony and Hope, and they want Bishop and you To retire with full benefits.
Hmm.
Well that's generous of them.
And They wanted to know if I would take over as interim head Pastor for a year.
And what did you say? I said that I would pray about it.
Yeah, when "no" would've sufficed.
If I had said no, they would have Phil running this church - Oh, Grace.
- Until they found someone from wherever, like poughkeepsie or is that what you would prefer? No, what I would prefer is to not see a church that was just resurrected by the Lord dragged back to the grave! I don't want that either! That is why I wanted to talk to you! Oh, so you could tell me that you didn't say no? [SIGHS.]
So, you could try to make me feel sorry for you, the victim? Sorry for you who always has to betray me? You have beaten me down for decades for a mistake that you made! You want to talk about betrayal? I don't want to talk to you about anything! "Oh, mama.
About that, mama.
And, oh, mama, I have this on you, mama," and "mama this," and "mama, you did that wrong.
" I'm sick of it! Aaron and I took a blood test! And? Lionel's my father.
And what do you want to do? I don't know.
I assume you want to tell Bishop.
Well, I don't want to keep it a secret.
Oh, no, of course you don't, because who would that serve, Grace, just everybody.
Do you honestly have no concern for how this affects me at all? And do you have any concern for how this affects me? You have just told me that my own shameful mistake is gonna be memorialized forever! In this shameful, sad, ugly Annoying fact of me! I am so sorry I found out, but you cannot ask me to keep who I am a secret.
That's not fair to anyone.
Fine.
I will tell Bishop.
And I'm sorry.
And I'm ashamed.
I never meant to bring So much pain to so many.
[CRYING QUIETLY.]
[KNOCK AT DOOR.]
Hey.
Hey, Pastor Greenleaf.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
You're a sight for sore eyes.
Oh, come on in.
[CHUCKLES.]
You doing okay, pop? What? Oh.
Oh, you mean yesterday.
Well, never better.
More alive, even.
Powerful.
Mm-hmm.
Well, good.
That's a relief.
Expected nothing less coming from you.
Well the board has asked me to leave Triumph because of the scandal.
They know it's not your fault, don't they? Well, the accountant has told them that Kerissa and I are not responsible stewards of God's beneficence.
The majority agreed.
So, what do you intend to do? Figured I'd ask mama if she needed some help.
I'm sure she'd love to have you back.
Especially now that you've been tried by the fire and become quite a strong preacher yourself.
When have you heard me preach? What do you think I watch at 3:00 A.
M.
when I can't sleep? My son in the pulpit on Triumph.
Org.
And you think I'm doing okay? Oh, I steal from you regularly.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Really? Come with me.
Where to? Your mother's about to put down this rebellion in the ranks.
I don't want to miss the fireworks.
So, now what everyone at one time saw as implausible is now the most plausible, inspiring, inevitable choice Me.
And I have Bishop's support.
First lady, you make a very convincing case, - but if I may - Oh Connie, please.
But if I may, I have been conferring for a while with the deacons and Phil Demars of Harmony and Hope Ministries yes, I know about this.
- You do? - Yes.
Grace told me this very morning.
Then why would you put us through all this when you know full well what we hope to do? What I now know full well, Connie, is that you have been conspiring against me, conspiring against us like a Judas in a bad pantsuit.
And if the people of this congregation ever learned exactly how you contrive to betray us, they would launch you from the roof of this church in a water Cannon.
So, you can just go and tell your little friend, Phil Demars, that you were driving in Daddy's car with a fake I.
D.
Misty.
First lady.
Oh, so, what is this? A list of grievances dating back to Genesis? It's a petition.
As you'll see, it's been signed by over 2,000 members.
It calls for both you and the Bishop to retire effective immediately, and it also calls for a church wide referendum to join Harmony and Hope.
This is how church works now.
Since when have either of you cared how church works? You two have dragged the faith and reputation of thousands of our members through your own mud for over 40 years.
As chairman of this Deacon board, I say enough.
It's nothing personal, Mae.
[SCOFFS.]
JAMES: You can say what you want about me.
I'm ready to admit it's time I stepped down.
But she didn't deserve that.
Bishop, for the first time in the history of this church, it's what the members deserve that matters.
And from what I know of Harmony and Hope, I'm sure they'll get it.
Those grifters skim every dollar they can from the churches in their family.
And I wouldn't doubt that Connie here isn't scheduled to receive a check as soon as the contract is signed.
Bishop, you can fight this, but you won't win.
It is time for a change.
On that, we agree.
I'll see you all in church.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
And that I.
R.
S.
Lady called again.
I'll call her back tomorrow.
I can't take any more static today.
You know, that doctor wasn't wrong.
Ever since yesterday, I'm feeling a little I don't know.
Oh, good.
You're still here.
Are you headed over to Percy's? Yes.
You? Well, I yeah, I was just leaving.
Yeah.
Quite a day, huh? What? Would you like to come over for dinner? I'll cook.
I'd love that.
Who's gonna run Calvary? For the time being, Gigi.
Well, who's gonna be her associate? I have no idea.
And we haven't talked yet.
It should be you, shouldn't it? You were gonna ask your mom.
I mean, what's in it for you? I'm gonna need child support.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Oh, that's funny? Let me tell you something whether we stay married or not, I'm still the mother of your children, and I do have a stake in what you do and don't.
Well, I guess that's true.
Yeah, you know what? I tell you what for the time being, let's just stay together.
Just like that? Yes, because you are not gonna know how to seize this opportunity without me there to guide you.
I can see that now.
Okay, so, wait a minute.
So, now we're not getting divorced? I never said that we were, I said I didn't know.
Now I do.
Okay then.
I mean, how long do you think that Gigi's gonna last over there, really? How long before she says something, shoots her mouth off, and gets the hook? And Harmony and Hope is a gigantic deal.
Bob Whitmore, the guy that's in charge of the whole thing, he is one of the richest men in America.
This is an opportunity.
It's bigger than Triumph, even.
What are you looking at? You.
Why are you looking at me? [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Yeah, I know.
Come here.
No.
Come here, crazy.
[SCOFFS.]
What? What? [CHUCKLES.]
How long before the kids get home? Mm, a little bit over an hour.
I don't know why you askin'.
Mm.
- Jacob.
- Mm-hmm.
What are you doing? Oh, nothing.
You about to see what I'm doing.
[CHUCKLING.]
Oh, my God.
No.
Jacob.
[THUNDER RUMBLING.]
James.
Yes, dear.
I have to tell you something.
God knows I don't want to.
But if I don't, I know you're gonna hear it from Grace.
This about Harmony and Hope? I wish it was.
Grace is Lionel's daughter.
[SIGHS.]
Well, now we're even.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
That's it? That's all you have to say to me? I'm telling you the scariest secret in my whole life, and that's it? That's all you have to say? But it isn't, is it? No.
And you can't lose me over it.
And you already kicked me out the door.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Well, I guess that's true.
Oh, Lord.
So, what do you want me to say? Would you please Come home? On one condition.
This uncertainty and shame that you felt over Grace's Lineage.
What about it? That's what set you so against her from the day she was born? I don't know.
That, and, oh, her stubbornness, I just then you and your daughter are more alike than you want to admit.
- We're mildly alike.
- [CHUCKLES.]
So, heal it.
Would you sit with her And heal it, please? There's no use me coming back to live in this house if we can't all live as family real family.
Can you do that? Hmm? Yes.
Hmm? Yes.
Yes.
Look, baby, just pack your bag and meet us there.
A place called Windsor Air Center.
Rochelle found a guy who could fly us to Puerto Rico, no questions asked.
From there, just a hop to Cancun.
Basie, how many times do I have to tell you? No! Just stop calling me, please.
What you gonna do, huh? Run and get it back on with your teacake? Look, Jacob Greenleaf don't want you.
Basie, look I cut a really good deal with the FBI, and I won't have to do any time.
I can't mess that up.
What you gonna do for green? We got a suitcase full of it.
You need to give that money back.
Oh come on, baby, the Lord giveth.
If he wants it, he could take it away.
Otherwise, it's staying with uncle Basie.
Why do you want me? Why do you think? You're my sweet-ass girl.
Basie, goodbye.
Wait.
Wait, baby.
Don't hang up now.
I'm not giving up on you.
You know that, right? But I do know when prayer and fasting work better than begging and pleading.
I know that.
[SIGHS.]
I'm gonna see you again, so I'm just gonna say hasta luego, huh? That's Spanish for goodbye, Basie.
[BEEP.]
Every man got his woman.
I'll be damned if that angel ain't mine.
Just gonna take awhile for her to remember.
What's the damage? $40.
17.
Fabulous.
17 is my blessed number.
The Lord gave it to me at the roulette table to use, and it ain't failed me once.
Black 17, there's your 40.
Thank you, brother.
That just the money you had in your pocket? Ain't that something.
That's just the Lord at work.
You better give this brother a discount.
He got a blessing coming his way.
- Drive.
- You got my gin? Woman, are you deaf? I said drive.
[ENGINE REVVING, TIRES SCREECHING.]
But my respect for the office of the district attorney and the people it benefits requires me to hand the reins over to someone who can give the job their undivided attention.
Did you hear about Weston Price? How he just got "me too'd?" By a lot of women, apparently.
It's good for Coralie, right? I don't see how it wouldn't be.
I can't imagine they'd get anybody worse to replace him.
So, do you have good news for me? $3 million? Yeah, the lawyer read the will, came down to your name, looked at me, and asked, "who's Grace Greenleaf?" What did he leave you? Nothing.
Nothing? Aaron, really? Not a cent.
You want mine? [CHUCKLES.]
I got to say feels really weird to call it mine 'cause it's not.
No, he wouldn't give me his respect or his love.
I don't want his money.
Spoken like a real Christian.
Getting to know you as a brother is worth so much more than this money.
I'll try to earn that faith.
You don't need to earn it.
You're family.
Grace.
I'll be right there.
I'll be in the waiting area.
- Excuse me.
- Yeah.
Normally, this kind of interview is a make or break thing, but, uh, Phil has already raved to me about you, so let me just say that there's no church in the world, Grace, protestant denomination, anyway, like Harmony and Hope.
Hundreds of churches in dozens of countries.
People from all walks of life, black, brown, white, yellow, what have you.
What makes it work is respect for God's word.
For all of God's people.
And I understand that you just signed on as interim for a year, correct? That's correct, but we still have a couple almost done.
I hear you're a prophet.
[LAUGHS.]
Boy, the church could use more of those.
But what we're gonna need from you this year, Grace, is your voice.
A voice that can unify this congregation.
A voice that can join I always feel silly saying it, but it's true, in Harmony and Hope with all the other churches in our worldwide family of believers.
Grace are you ready to be that voice? [CHUCKLES.]
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Got a second? For the soon-to-be Pastor of Calvary fellowship? I better.
I just met with Bob Whitmore, head of the denomination.
- Don't trust him.
- I don't.
You have to think of Harmony as the occupying army.
As soon as Connie and her crew are out, then you can get back to being free.
We.
We can get back to being free.
No, Gigi, I'm done.
This last season of woe has cost me heavily perhaps more heavily than even I realized.
[SIGHS.]
- Daddy? - Yeah? This is gonna sound strange.
What? I have a I've come into some money, and I want you to have it to pay off the IRS.
Must be a lot of money.
It's a lot of money, and I don't need it.
Where'd this money come from, Gigi? Just say that you'll take it, please.
I want to help, and I want all this trouble to be done.
Gigi.
Yeah.
In this family, we don't live by the flesh, we live by the spirit.
And in the spirit, you are my daughter.
My beloved daughter, and you always will be, hmm? - [VOICE BREAKING.]
Daddy.
- [CHUCKLING.]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[ORGAN PLAYING.]
As you all know, I'm sure, this is my last Sunday preaching.
[MEMBERS SHOUTING "NO".]
Next week, it'll be Pastor Grace up here, and this whole rich pageant will have fallen under the shadow of Harmony and Hope, a family we're all so proud to be joining.
[APPLAUSE.]
I want to talk today about Moses.
A man of God, but not without faults Denied entrance to the land of milk and honey that he had led his people to.
Now, what had Moses done that caused God such sorrow that he made Moses watch from a mountain as his people crossed the Jordan? A failure to trust in God.
I always thought that Moses felt angry, sad like God done him wrong.
But I know today that Moses felt proud to be on that mountain.
Because every man, woman, and child that crossed that river, Moses knew them.
He knew their struggles.
He knew the strength in each of them that earned them that ticket to glory.
[APPLAUSE.]
And I know he felt grateful.
He felt grateful to have been on that adventure at all.
[APPLAUSE.]
[ALL SHOUTING.]
Bishop! - Daddy, what's the wrong? - What's the matter? Daddy? I think it's my heart.
- Grandpa! - Call 9-1-1.
It's no use, baby.
James, what are you saying? The Lord gave me a vision about how I was gonna die.
This is the moment.
- No.
- No, it isn't.
- Do you hear me, James? - It is not.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I love you so much.
No, don't.
James, don't.
Daddy! - Daddy! - We love you.
Daddy, don't go! - James.
- Please, Daddy.
You stay with us.
You stay with us.
I leave for one month, and everything turns upside down.
Yeah.
Turns out you're what holds everything together around here.
[CHUCKLES.]
I never doubted it.
What are you gonna do now? [SIGHS.]
Go to therapy.
Try and figure out why I wasted so much time on that piece of trash boyfriend of mine.
Good plan.
Yeah, then I got to take some whack special classes so I can graduate on time.
And then, if they let me, audition for musical.
In New York? Yeah.
You know how I'm, like, super charming and hilarious.
[LAUGHS.]
I'm thinking about making it pay.
- Oh, that's awesome.
- Yeah.
- Look at us.
- I mean, somebody look at us.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Can we make a deal, that no matter where we go or what we do, we never stop talking to each other again? Deal.
All right, let's go.
Okay.
Thanks, mom.
Hey, what are you two plotting? Hmm? Your brother's moving back home.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Okay.
Great.
May I speak to you a moment? Uh, sure.
Maricel wanted these, do you? Oh, yeah, sure.
I'll take them.
Thank you.
Well, what's up? Well, your father wanted me to talk to you to make things right between us.
You don't have to do that.
It's fine.
No, it's not.
And I do.
Well, it's not a good time to talk through it all, but from here on out, Grace, I just want you to know that I'm here to help.
Thank you, mama.
[SIGHS.]
- Hi.
- Hey.
Nathan joining us for dinner? [CHUCKLES.]
No.
We are setting him up the kitchen with Maricel and Sonia.
Yeah, I don't think he's ready for a real Greenleaf family dinner just yet.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Whoever is? You ready to eat, let's go, baby.
Let's go.
So, are you two ready to go public about being half-brother and sister? Oh, not tonight.
Tonight's about honoring Bishop.
Mm.
Come on in, guys.
Dinner's served.
I told you, don't go wandering off without telling me.
But dad said I could.
Don't give me the reasons why you didn't obey, Zora, just make me happy that you did.
- You got me? - I'm sorry.
And your dad is not in charge of this family, I am.
You two exchange an e-mail, I get copied.
- Yes, ma'am? - Yes, ma'am.
Maricel, we can take these off of the table for dinner.
Uh, Maricel knows what she's doing.
You don't have to help, Kerissa.
Okay, all right.
Thank you.
Thank you, son.
It's a shame I had to be drop- kicked out of my own church, then felled like a tree by God himself, and laid up in a hospital bed for two weeks to see you all together like this But I'll take it.
[LAUGHTER.]
How you feeling, pop? Couldn't be better.
Retirement and an aspirin a day suits me just fine.
[CHUCKLES.]
You know, the Lord gave me a vision recently, and I thought it was a vision of my last day on earth, and, in a sense, it was because ever since I've lived through it, I feel like I'm in heaven.
I've been given that new day here with all of you.
Family.
This is the real promised land.
- Amen.
- [LAUGHTER.]
We love you, pop.
I love you back.
Come on.
[GRUNTS.]
Grace? Will you do the blessing? Pastor? I'd be glad to.
Let us pray.
Heavenly father, we come humbly before your throne with praise and thanks, and we just ask that you bless this food This family This faith And we ask that you let it give us strength and sustenance so we can take back what is ours.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.