The Fighting Temptations Script - Dialogue Transcript

Voila! Finally, the The Fighting Temptations script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Cuba Gooding Jr. movie.  This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of The Fighting Temptations. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a line. You won't hurt my feelings. Honest.

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The Fighting Temptations Script


  

  

 

                   

I can hear



 

                   

Church bells tolling



 

                   

I can hear



 

                   

Saints a-singing



 

                   

I can see



 

                   

See hearse wheels rollin'



 

                   

Somebody's leavin'



 

                   

The world of toil and strife



 

                   

I realize...

that surely and eventually



  

                   

We're gonna leave



  

                   

This old world behind,

yes, we are



  

                   

That's why I'm makin'



  

                   

Oh, yes, I am,

making preparations



  

                   

He-e-e-ey...

to meet the Lord



  

                   

To meet



  

                   

He-e-e-ey



  

                   

The Lord



  

                   

A woman came up to me one day...



  

                   

Thanks, Darrin.



  

                   

You're welcome.



  

                   

She said I'm not ready...



  

                   

I'm not ready to give up

my wicked ways...



  

                   

You want to be

my girlfriend?



  

                   

Sorry, but I want to marry

Michael Jackson.



  

                   

Darrin, Lilly,

get in there and sit down.



  

                   

...he gives me a hard time



  

                   

Yeah, yeah



  

                   

I told that woman



  

                   

I told that woman how

could you hold out any longer



  

                   

When you see that Jesus...

Jesus, he loves you so?



  

                   

Then I heard her say,

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Yeah, gettin' ready



  

                   

I'm gettin' ready

to meet the Lord



  

                   

To meet



  

                   

Oh, yes, I am



  

                   

The Lord



  

                   

Gonna holler and testify



  

                   

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Oh, yes, I am



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Yes, I am



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Oh, yeah,

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Every day of my life



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Oh, yes, I am.



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

I'm packin' up now



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Are you ready?



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Are you ready?



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Are you gettin' ready?



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

I'm gettin' ready



  

                   

Gettin' ready



  

                   

Oh, yes, I am



  

                   

To meet the Lord



  

                   

- To meet

- Yeah



  

                   

Yeah, yeah



  

                   

The Lord



  

                   

To meet the Lord.



  

                   

Oh, I'm looking for that stone



  

                   

That stone, that



  

                   

Flew down the mountain



  

                   

I'm looking for that stone

that came...



  

                   

Oh, alleluia



  

                   

I'm looking for that stone,

yes, I am



  

                   

Flew down the mountain



  

                   

And it's coming

all the way down



  

                   

- Yes, it is

- Coming down



  

                   

Coming down... to the

demon town, yeah, girl



  

                   

We're near it,

the   st Century



  

                   

Oh, yeah, and the Lord

could come at any time



  

                   

At any time



  

                   

- In a second

- A second



  

                   

- In a moment

- A moment



  

                   

In a twinkle of an eye



  

                   

Eye



  

                   

Going to my home up,

up in the sky



  

                   

Oh, I'm looking

for that stone, yes, I am



  

                   

Hewn off the mountain



  

                   

I'm looking for that stone



  

                   

Rolling down to earth



  

                   

I've got to find my stone,

yes, I have



  

                   

Hewn off the mountain



  

                   

And it's coming down



  

                   

Down



   

                   

All the way down



   

                   

All the way down



   

                   

All the way down



   

                   

To redeem a dying world



   

                   

Oh, that stone



   

                   

Oh, that stone, oh, that stone



   

                   

I love that stone, yes, sir



   

                   

That Jesus called a stone



   

                   

- That healed the stone

- Rejected that stone



   

                   

- That stone

- That stone



   

                   

I love that stone, yeah,

I love that stone



   

                   

- Well...*

- I love that stone



   

                   

I found that stone that was...



   

                   

Hewn off the mountain



   

                   

I found that stone, yes, I did



   

                   

Rolling down the mountain



   

                   

Said I love my stone



   

                   

- Whoa!

- Hewn off the mountain



   

                   

And it's coming

all the way down



   

                   

- All the way down

- Coming all down



   

                   

- To redeem a dying world

- To redeem...



   

                   

Yes, it is



   

                   

...a dying world



   

                   

- A dying world.

- World!



   

                   

Bless you.



   

                   

Oh, my goodness,

there she goes again.



   

                   

Wouldn't be a normal Sunday



   

                   

if Faye didn't get

slain in the spirit.



   

                   

Uh-huh.



   

                   

Oh, Maryann.



   

                   

Pastor.



   

                   

This boy is growing like a weed.



   

                   

You must be feeding

him fertilizer.



   

                   

And his teachers say

he's the smartest in his class.



   

                   

There she is.



   

                   

Hold her, Reverend.



   

                   

The nerve.



   

                   

Standing in the house of God



   

                   

and all the while

singing the devil's music.



   

                   

Paulina, what's this all about?



   

                   

I found this down

at Robinson's store.



   

                   

It's Maryann,



   

                   

singing that R&B sex music.



   

                   

Oh. Oh, uh, uh,



   

                   

uh, Maryann. Maryann!



   

                   

What you got to say

about all this?



   

                   

I finally got my chance

to become a singer.



   

                   

I didn't think

anything was wrong.



   

                   

Reverend, the church bylaws

clearly state



   

                   

that no member shall partake

of fornication,



   

                   

Amen.



   

                   

Gambling.



   

                   

Amen.



   

                   

And drinking, which

is all going on down



   

                   

at that juke joint

where she sings.



   

                   

Just take a look at this.



   

                   

"Do it to me again."



   

                   

My, my, my, my, my.



   

                   

Now, we all know

what "it" means.



   

                   

Paulina.



   

                   

I'm surprised you'd

even remember what "it" is.



   

                   

And besides,



   

                   

what were you doing

down at the record store



   

                   

Iooking through

"the devil's music"?



   

                   

I got the Lord on my

side with this one.



   

                   

Paulina, you need to hush.



   

                   

Tell her, honey.



   

                   

Because this girl



   

                   

ain't doing nothing

to hurt nobody.



   

                   

Amen, sister Sally.



   

                   

Need I remind you

of the church motto?



   

                   

Tell her, sister!



   

                   

"Beware of brief delight

and lasting shame."



   

                   

That must be them kids

on that organ again.



   

                   

I'm-I'm gonna go.



   

                   

Stop stalling, Paul.



   

                   

You know the church rules.



   

                   

- You're supposed to handle this.

- Paulina,



   

                   

I'm the pastor here.

Leave it to me, please?



   

                   

You do your job, boy,

or I'm going to go and get Mama.



   

                   

Now, you know you're supposed



   

                   

to call me "reverend"

around here.



   

                   

I'm going to handle this

my way, okay?



   

                   

Now, Maryann.



   

                   

It's like this.



   

                   

It's like she says.



   

                   

You stop singing

that secular music,



   

                   

or you're going to have

to leave the choir.



   

                   

I'm sorry.



   

                   

It's your pick.



   

                   

Make up your mind, child.



   

                   

Think about what

you're doing, sister.



   

                   

Wave good-bye to Aunt Sally.



   

                   

Darrin, here's that



   

                   

market research you wanted,



   

                   

and I know you're real busy,



   

                   

but there's something

you should know.



   

                   

Yes... I'm going

to blow them away.



   

                   

I'm a player.



   

                   

I'm in the zone.



   

                   

Corner office, huge window.



   

                   

Take care of these

credit card bills for me.



   

                   

All right.



   

                   

Use this one

to pay off this one, okay?



   

                   

- Okay.

- And, uh, do a balance transfer



   

                   

from... oh, excuse me...

from here to here



   

                   

for that one, all right,



   

                   

and cover this one

with that one.



   

                   

So, what were you

trying to say earlier?



   

                   

There's a private investigator

over there looking for you.



   

                   

Why?



   

                   

Who's trying to find me?



   

                   

I'm double checking...

is Darrin Hill around?



   

                   

What did he say?

Did you tell him anything?



   

                   

Does he know what I look like?



   

                   

No. Chill.



   

                   

I told him you're not in,



   

                   

- so he's leaving a message.

- Uh, tell him I'm out of town.



   

                   

I did.



   

                   

Good.



   

                   

Time to climb

the corporate ladder.



   

                   

By our projections,



   

                   

this plan will increase

the market shares



   

                   

of Lincoln & Gerald Liquors

by a whopping eight percent



   

                   

in as little as two years.



   

                   

We were hoping to see

faster growth.



   

                   

We can give them

double digit growth.



   

                   

As I said, it is



   

                   

the company position that

eight percent growth should be



   

                   

the goal.



   

                   

- Now...

- lf there's a different opinion



   

                   

that'll lead to better growth,

we want to hear it.



   

                   

Now let me ask you



   

                   

which demographic consumes

the most malt liquor?



   

                   

Go ahead, you can say it.



   

                   

Black people.



   

                   

There you go.



   

                   

Very good.



   

                   

However, I noticed

in your company report



   

                   

that you don't have

a malt liquor division.



   

                   

I noticed that, too.



   

                   

I propose



   

                   

a new ad campaign

for a malt liquor division



   

                   

that maximizes exposure

in the African-American market.



   

                   

Place positive images

of your product



   

                   

in areas

where black people live.



   

                   

By tapping into

the buying power



   

                   

of this consumer base,



   

                   

you'll pass single-digit growth

faster than a pro athlete



   

                   

can get his criminal charges

dropped.



   

                   

That, my friends,

is not thinking outside the box.



   

                   

That's realizing

there is no box.



   

                   

Now, those are the kind of ideas

we hired this company for.



   

                   

Where have you been hiding

this one, Fairchild?



   

                   

He's one

of our junior executives.



   

                   

This man needs to be

on the team.



   

                   

I mean, he was a junior

executive... before today.



   

                   

Congratulations.

You've just been promoted.



   

                   

Thank you, sir.



   

                   

Where'd you learn

that kind of thinking?



   

                   

- Yale.

- Oh, I'm a Princeton man myself,



   

                   

but I see we let one get away.



   

                   

Okay, well, we better leave



   

                   

and let them get started

on this interesting idea.



   

                   

Well, I guess I'll be giving you



   

                   

a corner office with a view.



   

                   

Thank you, sir.



   

                   

Cigar?



   

                   

Well, this is France's finest.



   

                   

I first encountered it

growing up in Monte Carlo.



   

                   

Please, you're a New York boy

if I ever saw one.



   

                   

No, I lived there

until I was   .



   

                   

Wow, I have never met a brother

who grew up in Europe before.



   

                   

Actually, I was born

in South America.



   

                   

Where?



   

                   

Homé Vidéo.



   

                   

That's in Peru, right?



   

                   

Venezuela.

My father was in oil.



   

                   

You sound so American.



   

                   

Well, I went to prep school

here... at Andover.



   

                   

Money was no object.



   

                   

- Cool.

- Mr. Hill,



   

                   

I'm afraid your credit card

has been declined.



   

                   

R-Right, that was, uh,

not activated yet.



   

                   

Okay. Uh... try this one.



   

                   

Darrin, Mr. Fairchild

wants to see you



   

                   

first thing in the morning.



   

                   

Great.



   

                   

Great, great, great.



   

                   

As you can see,

there is nothing



   

                   

in my refrigerator but water,



   

                   

water and wine.



   

                   

This is the dining room.



   

                   

We don't spend a lot of time



   

                   

in here so it looks

very nice and well-set.



   

                   

Like this chandelier...



   

                   

it's not just

a normal chandelier.



   

                   

It's just kind of funky and fun.



   

                   

You wanted to see me, sir?



   

                   

Darrin.



   

                   

What I have to say

is very difficult.



   

                   

We have a, uh... situation.



   

                   

A situation that involves

deception,



   

                   

a lack of candor,



   

                   

and an unbridled passion



   

                   

to get what one wants

at any cost.



   

                   

I think you know

what I'm referring to.



   

                   

Of course, sir, company policy.



   

                   

No, no, no...



   

                   

well, yes, of course it is,



   

                   

but in this case

it's something more personal.



   

                   

Darrin, you're fired.



   

                   

Fired?



   

                   

But why?



   

                   

A representative

of Lincoln & Gerald



   

                   

has an annoying habit

of checking up on things.



   

                   

It seems that you were

thrown out of Yale



   

                   

when it was discovered



   

                   

you faked your high school

diploma from Andover.



   

                   

How long did you think

it would take



   

                   

before your deception

caught up with you?



   

                   

But, sir,

I've been doing such good work.



   

                   

Mr. Hill,



   

                   

we cannot be represented

by people who tell lies.



   

                   

We're in advertising.



   

                   

You obtained this job

under false pretenses,



   

                   

and now you've caused the firm

great embarrassment



   

                   

in front of important clients.



   

                   

I'm sorry.

I have to let you go.



   

                   

You're good, you're smart,



   

                   

but you broke

the Eleventh Commandment...



   

                   

"Thou shalt not get caught."



   

                   

Now...



   

                   

Sir, please,

you're making a big mistake.



   

                   

I'm here for you.



   

                   

I'm smart, I'm ambitious...



   

                   

Have your things



   

                   

out of here in half an hour.



   

                   

I'm disappointed in you.



   

                   

I expected more

from a congressman's son.



   

                   

Darrin Hill?



   

                   

Yes.



   

                   

You've been a tough one

to track down, Mr. Hill.



   

                   

I hate to be the bearer

of bad news,



   

                   

but this is for you.



   

                   

What is it? A subpoena?

Summons?



   

                   

Ploy to distract me

while you repo my stuff?



   

                   

Sure, those are fun,

but no.



   

                   

Oh, my Aunt Sally died.



   

                   

"We request your presence

at the funeral



   

                   

and reading of the will."



   

                   

Oh...



   

                   

The funeral is tomorrow.



   

                   

Maybe you should

ask your boss



   

                   

for some time off.



   

                   

You know you just cut

a brother, right?



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

Hurts when you do that, man.



   

                   

Sorry.



   

                   

Come on, baby.



   

                   

Make me happy.



   

                   

Cash advance.



   

                   

Be a winner.

Be a winner.



   

                   

Whoo-hoo!



   

                   

Thank you, Bank of Piscataway.



   

                   

Heaven only knows



   

                   

How much I love you, baby



   

                   

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,

oh, oh, oh



   

                   

Heaven's in your eyes...



   

                   

Baby, please



   

                   

Please don't take

your love from me



   

                   

I am yours forevermore



   

                   

Till eternity



   

                   

Silently



   

                   

Listen to the words

I say



   

                   

Now I'm not talking

just for play



   

                   

Listen to me, please...



   

                   

I told you kids ain't got



   

                   

no business playing

a man's game.



   

                   

Funny, that's the same thing

someone told me...



   

                   

oh...



   

                   

two hours ago.



   

                   

Don't you know



   

                   

Don't you know,

don't you know



   

                   

Love is all I need



   

                   

'Cause I love you

and I need you



   

                   

Yes, I want you,

gotta have you



   

                   

Ooh, yeah, yeah.



   

                   

Spent my whole life



   

                   

On the way

to someplace else



   

                   

Thinking right around

the bend



   

                   

I might find myself



   

                   

But the search goes on



   

                   

I won't quit

till I get home.



   

                   

Hi.



   

                   

Hi.



   

                   

Can I get something

to eat around here?



   

                   

Reed?



   

                   

Coming right up.



   

                   

Better make that to go.



   

                   

I need a taxi.



   

                   

Reed's only got two hands.



   

                   

Wait until he fixes

your dinner.



   

                   

Right.



   

                   

No signal.



   

                   

Wait, wait, wait.



   

                   

Oh!



   

                   

You must be Darrin.



   

                   

Damn, word, get low.



   

                   

What's up?



   

                   

Darrin, I'm Lucius, man,



   

                   

I'm your welcome committee.



   

                   

Oh, well,

how'd you know I was here?



   

                   

Man, word travels

fast, and Aunt Sally



   

                   

always bragged she had a

successful nephew from New York.



   

                   

Let me get your stuff, man.



   

                   

Really?



   

                   

Come on.



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

Monte Carlo didn't change, man.



   

                   

It used to be a one-horse town.



   

                   

What, did the horse die?



   

                   

No, see, see, now you'll see,

you'll see, you'll see.



   

                   

We got everything to offer

that a big city does.



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

I'm happy to have another

player in town, man.



   

                   

I've got tired of

holding this down solo.



   

                   

Hey, man, reach over there



   

                   

and pull this handle

from the inside.



   

                   

It only open from the inside.



   

                   

Okay.



   

                   

- Appreciate that.

- Sure.



   

                   

So you came by train.

That's cool.



   

                   

I was trying to meet the bus.



   

                   

Going to the Canaan Inn.



   

                   

Okay, that-that Canaan Inn,



   

                   

that's straight down this road



   

                   

about five minutes.



   

                   

Oh. Whoa.



   

                   

Your door won't open,

and mine won't stay shut.



   

                   

But it opens.



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

Yes, it opens.



   

                   

The next hour of programming



   

                   

is brought to you by

Mitchell's Funeral Home,



   

                   

where the caskets are so nice,

you'll wish you were dead.



   

                   

Now for the news.



   

                   

Like to give a shout out

to Darrin Hill,



   

                   

in town for Sally's funeral.



   

                   

Welcome home, little Darrin.



   

                   

That's news?



   

                   

I'll be right back

with traffic.



   

                   

There is no traffic.



   

                   

There is no traffic.



   

                   

This is easy.

I could do this job.



   

                   

Oh, I wonder what

the temperature is.



   

                   

The temperature is   .



   

                   

Thanks.



   

                   

Boy, you done got up there

in New York and got soft,



   

                   

and this ain't nothing compared

to July and August.



   

                   

That's when you can take an egg

and just fry it on the sidewalk.



   

                   

Well, you can keep that.



   

                   

After the funeral, I'm going

straight back to New York City,



   

                   

where we don't have eggs frying

on the sidewalk.



   

                   

Why? Because it's cold?



   

                   

No, because it's civilization.



   

                   

There's too much urine

on the sidewalk.



   

                   

See, boy, see, you don't

know what you're missing.



   

                   

Now I'm telling you,

now the hotter



   

                   

it get down here,

the less and less



   

                   

the honeys start wearing.



   

                   

You know, they got to

let that booty bo...



   

                   

...got to let

that booty breathe.



   

                   

Now I'm telling you,



   

                   

I know you got all your



   

                   

Naomo Campbos

and your Holle Berrys,



   

                   

and your Teary-Eyed Banks,



   

                   

all them models

and junk up there,



   

                   

but for the booty, you

got to come down south.



   

                   

We booty experts.

Booty-ologists.



   

                   

Booty is in the eye

of the beholder.



   

                   

No, booty gonna be in my hand.



   

                   

Check it out now, you see,



   

                   

now your Louisiana booty,

it gets its renowned buoyancy



   

                   

from its heavy seafood diet,

while your Alabama booty,



   

                   

it's characterized

by its density.



   

                   

You're talking

about a quarter-bouncing ping.



   

                   

And as for your

Mississippi booty,



   

                   

it's been an ongoing debate,



   

                   

but consensus say that the

Indian-genetic contribution



   

                   

gives us its beautiful tone.



   

                   

And as for your

Georgia booty,



   

                   

it's been known for ages

that the Georgia sun



   

                   

bakes and seals

all the booty juices



   

                   

into a slow roast.



   

                   

I see I'm dealing

with a connoisseur.



   

                   

Oh yeah, for sure.

A booty connoisseur.



   

                   

Oh. Who's that?



   

                   

Lilly. Please, hurry up.



   

                   

That's Lilly.



   

                   

Forget all of that booty stuff.



   

                   

She's in a spectrum

of fine as the energy



   

                   

is so potent, she got

a class-action suit



   

                   

against her right now



   

                   

for reckless endangerment, man.



   

                   

Sounds like



   

                   

a special kind of woman.



   

                   

Well, holler at me

later on tonight.



   

                   

I'll hook you up with her.



   

                   

This is where you're staying.



   

                   

I thought they were

putting me up in a hotel.



   

                   

This looks like a house.



   

                   

It's a boarding house.



   

                   

It's the only place

that has room.



   

                   

The prison officer's

convention is in town.



   

                   

Hey, Jimmy B.



   

                   

Hey, what up, Smooth L?



   

                   

His grandmother

owns the place.



   

                   

You Darrin?



   

                   

Yes.



   

                   

You're late.



   

                   

Yo, come on, everybody

is already at the funeral.



   

                   

- Um... uh...

- Get in.



   

                   

Mama catch me put a whuppin'

to my backside



   

                   

And even as a crack fiend...



   

                   

Hey, man, now, come on, look.



   

                   

That's inappropriate

music for this occasion.



   

                   

Show some respect.



   

                   

This man's auntie is

about to be maggot food.



   

                   

At any moment, the funeral

is beginning



   

                   

of Sally Walker.



   

                   

Let us have a moment of silence

to pay our respect.



   

                   

Uh, uh, sorry 'bout that.



   

                   

I guess I was celebrating

her life



   

                   

a little late, uh,

into the night.



   

                   

Oh, Simon. Sarah,

how are y'all doing today?



   

                   

This is Aunt Sally's nephew,

Darrin.



   

                   

Nice to meet you.



   

                   

Sorry about your aunt.



   

                   

Oh, yes, we all

loved Miss Sally.



   

                   

Why, she was little

Nicholas' godmother.



   

                   

Hey, little man.



   

                   

You know I'm your daddy, right?



   

                   

Don't hate the player,

hate the game.



   

                   

I'm in the friggin'

twilight zone.



   

                   

Wake up.



   

                   

Wake up.



   

                   

Oh, Sally!



   

                   

Why'd it have to be her?



   

                   

Oh, Lord, oh, Lord.



   

                   

Good Lord, Faye!



   

                   

Couldn't you find someplace else

to be slain in the spirit?



   

                   

Grandma, get up.



   

                   

She's your grandma?



   

                   

- Yeah.

- Oh, Lord, oh, Lord.



   

                   

They've got a lot of nerve



   

                   

showing their faces

in the House of God.



   

                   

I'm glad my dear departed

husband James



   

                   

isn't here to witness

this abomination.



   

                   

You can't keep people

from a funeral, Paulina.



   

                   

Besides, they all love Sally.



   

                   

They're a bunch of heathens.



   

                   

I don't even know why she cared.



   

                   

Move down.



   

                   

Brothers and sisters,

we are gathered here today



   

                   

to pay tribute

to a great woman...



   

                   

Yeah!



   

                   

...Sally Walker.



   

                   

And we will now be blessed

with a selection from the choir



   

                   

and their lead singer,



   

                   

Reverend Shirley Caesar.



   

                   

Oh...



   

                   

I got a signal. It's a miracle.



   

                   

Son, if that ain't Jesus

calling, shut it off.



   

                   

Sorry. Go on.



   

                   

I, uh... I...



   

                   

cell phone's been out of range.



   

                   

Has Mr. Fairchild

changed his mind?



   

                   

I...



   

                   

What?!



   

                   

They've already started

repossessing your stuff.



   

                   

Not my TV!



   

                   

Nothing can replace Aunt Sally!



   

                   

Not my TV, not my Bose

home theater system...



   

                   

Yeah, let it out, son,

let it out.



   

                   

Mm, yeah. Mm.



   

                   

Keep stalling the creditors,

I'll call you back.



   

                   

It's all right.



   

                   

Gonna be all right, man.



   

                   

The church is in mourning



   

                   

Mourning



   

                   

Glory to God



   

                   

The church is in mourning



   

                   

Mourning



   

                   

Oh, yes, oh, yeah, yeah, oh



   

                   

The church is in



   

                   

Mourning



   

                   

Mourning



   

                   

Good God almighty



   

                   

Another soldier



   

                   

A true born soldier



   

                   

Has gone...



   

                   

Gone home



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Well, we're here today



   

                   

For the home-going



   

                   

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!



   

                   

And the celebration

of a wonderful woman



   

                   

Aunt Sally



   

                   

Everybody loved Aunt Sally



   

                   

She took the young people



   

                   

And carried them under her wings



   

                   

And she cared for the elderly



   

                   

I just want to say, listen



   

                   

We might not have this chance



   

                   

Sleep on, Aunt Sally



   

                   

Sleep on, Aunt Sally



   

                   

And take your rest



   

                   

We loved you, Aunt Sally



   

                   

But God loves you best



   

                   

If you see my mother there



   

                   

Tell my mama I'm on my way



   

                   

I'm on my way



   

                   

Our hearts are in mourning



   

                   

Mourning



   

                   

Glory to God



   

                   

Yes, to lift our hearts

in mourning



   

                   

Mourning



   

                   

Good God almighty



   

                   

Good God almighty



   

                   

Yes, to lift our hearts

in mourning



   

                   

Soldier



   

                   

Another soldier



   

                   

A true born soldier



   

                   

A Holy Ghost soldier



   

                   

A heaven-bound soldier



   

                   

Has...



   

                   

Gone



   

                   

Gone, gone



   

                   

Gone



   

                   

Gone on home



   

                   

Gone home



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Yeah...



   

                   

Hallelujah!



   

                   

Oh, oh, yeah, yeah...



   

                   

Let the church say amen.



   

                   

Amen!



   

                   

Let the church say amen.



   

                   

Amen!



   

                   

- Yes, Lord...

- Amen.



   

                   

Yes, Lord!



   

                   

Yes, yes, yes.

Well, well, well.



   

                   

At this time,



   

                   

we'd like to give



   

                   

some of Sally's

family and loved ones



   

                   

an opportunity

to come up here



   

                   

and say how much

she meant to them.



   

                   

And it's only fitting

to start with the person



   

                   

that came the farthest way

to be here.



   

                   

That's her great-nephew, Darrin.



   

                   

All right, Darrin, all right.



   

                   

Oh, yeah, brother Darrin.



   

                   

Yes, my brother.



   

                   

Come on.



   

                   

Oh, yeah. Amen.



   

                   

Hi.



   

                   

Many of you don't remember me.



   

                   

The one that had the phone.



   

                   

Yeah. But before that,



   

                   

I was Aunt Sally's

favorite nephew.



   

                   

Hmm!



   

                   

I thought we'd see forever,



   

                   

but forever's gone away.



   

                   

And it's so hard

to say good-bye



   

                   

to yesterday.



   

                   

Boyz II Men.



   

                   

I got one amen.

Can I get another?



   

                   

Amen.



   

                   

My mom passed away

a few years ago



   

                   

in a hit-and-run accident



   

                   

when I was still a teenager,



   

                   

and it's the talks

I had with her



   

                   

I cherish more than anything.



   

                   

I remember her telling me...



   

                   

that it was Aunt Sally

who took us in



   

                   

when I was just a baby,

after my father died in Vietnam.



   

                   

I'll always love her for that.



   

                   

Your mama dead, too?



   

                   

He just said it.



   

                   

Young man,



   

                   

I'm so glad that you came

for your aunt's funeral.



   

                   

Yeah.



   

                   

She was always telling us



   

                   

how well you were doing

up in New York.



   

                   

With your important job.



   

                   

What was it?



   

                   

What was what?



   

                   

Your job.



   

                   

It's funny, she never mentioned

what it was.



   

                   

Boy, I haven't seen you



   

                   

since you were knee-high

to a grasshopper.



   

                   

Reverend, um, have you seen

this very pretty lady...



   

                   

I think her name is Lilly?



   

                   

She ain't no lady.



   

                   

Oh, now, Mother Cooley.



   

                   

All sinners are welcome

in the house of the Lord.



   

                   

Sinner? She's a sinner?



   

                   

What kind of sinner?



   

                   

Unrepentant.



   

                   

Really.



   

                   

Well, Darrin, I just come



   

                   

to offer you my condolences

and to just let you know



   

                   

that to be absent from the body

is to be present with the Lord.



   

                   

You got to understand

that she's in



   

                   

a far better place, okay?



   

                   

Yes, ma'am.



   

                   

You know, I got to tell you,



   

                   

you and that choir...

boy, you're pretty good.



   

                   

Pretty good? Huh.



   

                   

And to my neighbor

and best friend, Faye,



   

                   

I leave all my favorite recipes.



   

                   

Thank you, Sally.



   

                   

Now, Faye, depending



   

                   

on what I die from,



   

                   

you might want to divide

the Crisco measurements by half.



   

                   

Don't change

that Chicken Supreme.



   

                   

And to Paulina Pritchett,



   

                   

I leave my collection

of church hats



   

                   

that she always

complimented me on.



   

                   

She should really enjoy

wearing them,



   

                   

unless, of course, she was lying

to me all those years



   

                   

but criticizing my taste

behind my back.



   

                   

I'll wear them every Sunday.



   

                   

And now,

for my only surviving relative,



   

                   

my great-nephew, Darrin.



   

                   

To Darrin, I leave the box



   

                   

containing the letters

his mother sent me



   

                   

after they left Monte Carlo.



   

                   

I also pass on to him



   

                   

the charge of returning

to Monte Carlo



   

                   

to continue the family tradition



   

                   

of... directing

the Beulah Baptist Church Choir.



   

                   

- No!

- No.



   

                   

I-lt's her dying wish.



   

                   

I was next in line



   

                   

to get the choir.



   

                   

I been waiting years

for Sally to die.



   

                   

God rest her soul.



   

                   

Listen, lady, you can have it.



   

                   

I'm not staying, let alone

leading some small-town choir.



   

                   

Good.



   

                   

O-On the condition that Darrin

gets the choir accepted



   

                   

into the annual Gospel Explosion

in Columbus,



   

                   

and performs there,

I also leave him



   

                   

my entire stock

in Georgia Telecom,



   

                   

currently worth $      .



   

                   

I was just kidding

about that small-town stuff.



   

                   

And the church bus.



   

                   

How much that worth?



   

                   

No way! Mm-mmm!



   

                   

I don't care

what Sally's dying wish was.



   

                   

We all know she was losing it

these last few years.



   

                   

Besides, Paul,



   

                   

it's your church,

and you have final say



   

                   

over who leads

the choir.



   

                   

It's in the bylaws.



   

                   

Well, I guess

that would seem kind of odd



   

                   

to have someone

with no musical experience



   

                   

leading the choir.



   

                   

No, no, I have plenty

of musical experience.



   

                   

Now, you all

don't know this,



   

                   

and I didn't tell

anyone, but, um...



   

                   

I'm a music producer.



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

Yeah, that's what

I do for a living.



   

                   

Ooh, looks like Sally

might have been onto something.



   

                   

W-W-W-What kind

of producing have you done?



   

                   

Well, I've worked with, uh...

P. Diddy.



   

                   

Dre, Dark Child...

all of them.



   

                   

- Who that?

- That's the gangsta stuff



   

                   

that's polluting

my grandson's mind.



   

                   

I was the one that put an end



   

                   

to that whole East Coast

versus West Coast thing.



   

                   

Yeah, I just sat them all down

and made them watch Roots.



   

                   

I think

I read about that.



   

                   

So, what

is this Gospel Explosion?



   

                   

Oh, it's the annual event



   

                   

where choirs

from all over the southeast



   

                   

come to Columbus, Georgia,



   

                   

to compete for the best

gospel performance



   

                   

and a $      cash prize.



   

                   

Yeah, a prize that could pay



   

                   

for some much-needed

church repairs...



   

                   

...if a certain musical producer



   

                   

would bring it home, yes?



   

                   

Paul Lewis, have you lost

your natural mind?



   

                   

I wish Mama was alive



   

                   

to see how you turn

on family like this.



   

                   

Sally was as close to family

as anybody can get,



   

                   

and I intend

on honoring her dying wish.



   

                   

Now, Darrin,

the choir is yours.



   

                   

You have six weeks



   

                   

until the Gospel Explosion.



   

                   

Whatever you need,



   

                   

we're at your disposal.



   

                   

But you're going to have to talk



   

                   

to the church treasurer

about logistics.



   

                   

Let me guess.



   

                   

You're the treasurer.



   

                   

Yes. Everything you need

is at my disposal.



   

                   

Great.



   

                   

Take it easy.



   

                   

Oh, oh, uh, Paulina,



   

                   

can I get a ride

back to my room?



   

                   

Oh, Darrin.



   

                   

Since you're going to be here



   

                   

for longer than I thought,



   

                   

let me give you

the extended stay rates.



   

                   

Great.



   

                   

There's an extra charge



   

                   

of $ .   for every

bar of soap you use,



   

                   

from now on,

$ .  



   

                   

for any clean towel you require,



   

                   

and $ .   a minute

for all calls made.



   

                   

You get one

free  - -  call.



   

                   

I suggest you use it wisely.



   

                   

Air conditioning?



   

                   

You're charging me

for air conditioning?



   

                   

It gets     degrees at night.



   

                   

What is that?



   

                   

It's a Monte Cristo.



   

                   

It's a cigar.



   

                   

Obviously.



   

                   

Cuban?



   

                   

Of course.



   

                   

Cool.



   

                   

Hey!



   

                   

That-That cost me $  .



   

                   

This is a no-smoking house.



   

                   

It's a no-smoking,



   

                   

no drinking, no fornicating,

no point of living at all house.



   

                   

Why are we here?



   

                   

You'll see.



   

                   

A little Southern delight.



   

                   

Now the honeys in here,

they make them girls in Atlanta



   

                   

Iook like somebody hit them in

the face with a sack of nickels.



   

                   

And I don't mean that

in a sexy way.



   

                   

There she is.



   

                   

You're on your own.



   

                   

I see somebody

that owes me some money.



   

                   

Hey man, don't run away from me.



   

                   

Man, I told you

I was going to get...



   

                   

- Ooh, hi, sexy.

- Hey, baby.



   

                   

Oh...



   

                   

You give me fever...



   

                   

Fever... oh...



   

                   

Oh...



   

                   

You give me fever



   

                   

Fever in the morning



   

                   

Fever when

it's late at night



   

                   

You give me fever



   

                   

Fever



   

                   

Fever when you kiss me



   

                   

Fever when

you hold me tight



   

                   

You give me fever



   

                   

Fever



   

                   

Fever when you're with me



   

                   

Fever when you love...



   

                   

He's so sweet



   

                   

He's so good to me



   

                   

He's so intelligent



   

                   

He's so confident



   

                   

Baby, so damn sexy



   

                   

Baby, put the fever on me



   

                   

Give me a fever... oh...



   

                   

Never know how much I love you



   

                   

Never know

how much I care



   

                   

When you put

your arms around me



   

                   

I get the fever

that's so hard to bear



   

                   

You give me fever



   

                   

Fever



   

                   

When you kiss me



   

                   

And fever when

you hold me tight



   

                   

You give me fever



   

                   

Fever



   

                   

In the morning



   

                   

And fever

all through the night



   

                   

Baby's so damn sexy



   

                   

But baby

put the fever on me, uh-uh



   

                   

Baby knows just what to do



   

                   

Got me boiling past    



   

                   

Give me a fever



   

                   

Ooh...



   

                   

Everybody's got a fever



   

                   

That is something

you all know



   

                   

Fever isn't such a new thing



   

                   

Fever started long ago



   

                   

Romeo loved Juliet



   

                   

And Juliet felt the same



   

                   

When he puts

his arms around her



   

                   

He said, "Julie, baby,

you're my flame"



   

                   

Give me fever



   

                   

When we kisseth



   

                   

Fever with a flame in you



   

                   

Fever... I'm on fire



   

                   

Fever, yeah,

I burn and soothe



   

                   

Now that you listened

to my story



   

                   

Here's a point

that I have made



   

                   

Chicks were born

to give you fever



   

                   

Being Fahrenheit

or Centigrade



   

                   

They give you fever



   

                   

When you kiss them



   

                   

And fever

if you live and learn



   

                   

Fever, until you sizzle



   

                   

What a lovely way to burn



   

                   

What a lovely way to burn



   

                   

What a lovely way to burn



   

                   

What a lovely way to burn...



   

                   

What a lovely way to burn



   

                   

What a lovely way to...



   

                   

Burn...



   

                   

Fever.



   

                   

Whoo!



   

                   

Tea with honey.



   

                   

Here you go, Lilly.



   

                   

Thank you.



   

                   

You really know how

to connect with your audience.



   

                   

That was hot.



   

                   

It's a part of my act.



   

                   

I pick out the guy

who's drooling the most,



   

                   

and I make him sweat.



   

                   

Well, it worked.



   

                   

Can I buy you a real drink?



   

                   

I'm Darrin.



   

                   

You really don't remember me?



   

                   

That Lilly?



   

                   

You kept asking me

to be your girlfriend.



   

                   

And you kept saying no.



   

                   

Yeah, I was determined to be

Mrs. Michael Jackson.



   

                   

And how's that going?



   

                   

Ah, turns out

I'm not his type.



   

                   

I can't believe you

remember that stuff.



   

                   

I left town when you

were what, five?



   

                   

Four.



   

                   

Man, we heard about you

all the time.



   

                   

Every week in choir rehearsal,

Sally would tell



   

                   

us poor country folk

how well you



   

                   

and your mama were

doing in slick city.



   

                   

She was very special

to all of us.



   

                   

Yeah.



   

                   

When I talked to her

on the phone,



   

                   

just before she passed,



   

                   

she kept saying that

she wanted me to come back



   

                   

and be with her

friends, like you.



   

                   

You spoke with Sally that day?



   

                   

Oh, yeah.



   

                   

She went on and on.



   

                   

I suppose she hung up

the phone and, uh...



   

                   

And her dying wish

was for us to hook up?



   

                   

God love her.



   

                   

Sally was in a coma

two weeks before she died.



   

                   

That's right.



   

                   

It was...



   

                   

must have been a couple

of weeks ago...



   

                   

Right.



   

                   

Anyway, I'm back



   

                   

amongst all you

wonderful people



   

                   

who need consoling

as much as I do.



   

                   

How long are you in town?



   

                   

Just tonight.



   

                   

Hey, how about being

my girlfriend,



   

                   

for old times' sake?



   

                   

I've got a man.



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

Dean is big and strong



   

                   

and has a real big

jealous streak.



   

                   

Sometimes he watches

from the back.



   

                   

Excuse me,

I got a show to do.



   

                   

Uh, okay.



   

                   

Hey, knock 'em dead.



   

                   

Your act is terrific.



   

                   

Yours needs a lot of work.



   

                   

I know I missed your call, Rosa,



   

                   

but this is the only place

I get a signal.



   

                   

More charges came in,

more late fees.



   

                   

You're up to    grand now.



   

                   

Okay, listen, I just came

into some money, all right?



   

                   

And I'll be able to take care of

everything in just a few weeks.



   

                   

Just, uh, make sure they

don't know where to find me.



   

                   

I'll do my best.



   

                   

You're a doll.



   

                   

Kick ass.



   

                   

Sorry.



    

                   

Okay, when

everyone gets here,



    

                   

we'll begin rehearsals.



    

                   

I was thinking

we should just



    

                   

stick to that number

you did at the funeral.



    

                   

Should be good enough to get

into any gospel competition.



    

                   

That was Shirley Caesar, fool.



    

                   

She hasn't gone

to this church for years,



    

                   

but since she loved Sally,



    

                   

we let her and her choir

sing at the funeral.



    

                   

She's gone?



    

                   

She's gone.



    

                   

Well, where's our choir?



    

                   

You're looking at it.



    

                   

This is it?



    

                   

Six measly people.



    

                   

Actually just five.



    

                   

Um, I'm just here 'cause

my wife's family's in town.



    

                   

They're staying at my house.



    

                   

Too late.



    

                   

You're in the choir now.



    

                   

Well, actually there

are two or three others.



    

                   

Yeah, but they never show up.



    

                   

Man, this is busted.



    

                   

Why do I have to be here?



    

                   

Oh, Brother Darrin?



    

                   

When are you going to get us

our first record contract?



    

                   

I want to hurry up

and get a Benz.



    

                   

Hey, I didn't know we

were going to be famous.



    

                   

You know what?



    

                   

Definitely count me in now.



    

                   

Um... let's do, uh...

"Amazing Grace."



    

                   

Amaze...



    

                   

Maze...



    

                   

Amaze...



    

                   

Ah-amaze...



    

                   

...zing grace



    

                   

How sweet the sound



    

                   

That saved a wretch like me.



    

                   

Stop, stop, stop.



    

                   

Stop, please.



    

                   

Okay, okay, okay,

let's not panic.



    

                   

Um...



    

                   

I'm open to suggestion.



    

                   

Hey, when you get us

that record deal,



    

                   

and they do one of those

VH  Behind the Musics on us,



    

                   

I think it's best

if we don't talk about



    

                   

me trying to leave the group.



    

                   

You know?



    

                   

They'll just make it look ugly.



    

                   

Everything I do

is just for you



    

                   

Counting every second

till we rendezvous



    

                   

You want

to rendezvous



    

                   

Ah, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah



    

                   

Oh, baby, oh, baby



    

                   

Oh, and I want to give it

to you, baby



    

                   

Give it to me, baby



    

                   

I want to give it to you



    

                   

Oh, give it to me, baby



    

                   

Hey...



    

                   

'Cause everything I do

is just for you



    

                   

'Cause everything

I do is just for you



    

                   

All for you



    

                   

Come on, give me your love.



    

                   

Uh, hello, there.



    

                   

I just had

to see you again.



    

                   

Aren't you supposed

to be gone?



    

                   

Yes, but, uh,

I was feeling bad



    

                   

about our little

misunderstanding last night.



    

                   

No misunderstanding,



    

                   

just using Aunt Sally's memory

to hit on me.



    

                   

- That's low.

- Come on.



    

                   

Can I at least

buy you a drink?



    

                   

Is that Dean?



    

                   

No.



    

                   

Okay, you can buy me a drink.



    

                   

Oh, I'm sure you heard



    

                   

- about Aunt Sally's will.

- No.



    

                   

It seems she wants me



    

                   

to take care of

the choir down at Beulah.



    

                   

Why did she put you

in charge of it?



    

                   

I'm sorry,

that came out wrong.



    

                   

Oh, no, no, no.



    

                   

It's okay,

it was a shock to me, too.



    

                   

Yeah, it's a big job.



    

                   

That's why I've cleared my

schedule for the next six weeks,



    

                   

put some business deals on hold,



    

                   

so that I can focus

on getting the choir



    

                   

into the Gospel Explosion.



    

                   

No.



    

                   

I been there and done that.



    

                   

Look, if it's Paulina

you're worried about,



    

                   

I'll take care of Paulina.



    

                   

I'd love to see that one.



    

                   

I'm the choir director now.



    

                   

Yeah, for six weeks.



    

                   

Listen, if she starts getting

all Christian on you...



    

                   

- Christian?

- Yeah.



    

                   

She is not a Christian.



    

                   

My mama said hollering

in the church



    

                   

don't make you

any more of a Christian



    

                   

than standing in the garage

makes you a Cadillac.



    

                   

No, man, I can't let

those hypocrites



    

                   

Iook down their noses at me

just because I...



    

                   

Sing sexy songs for a living.



    

                   

Exactly.



    

                   

And just because I...



    

                   

Dress like that.



    

                   

What's wrong with

the way I dress?



    

                   

Oh, no, no, I'm just

finishing your sentence.



    

                   

I was going to say

because I...



    

                   

Cheat on your boyfriend



    

                   

with hot choir directors

from New York City?



    

                   

Stop...



    

                   

- Finishing your sentences?

- Look.



    

                   

I know your kind.



    

                   

You came here last night

'cause you wanted something.



    

                   

You came back again tonight

'cause you want something else,



    

                   

and tomorrow you're going

to want something else.



    

                   

I can smell when a man

is trying to use me,



    

                   

and mister, you stink.



    

                   

Okay, is that how

you feel about it?



    

                   

Fine.



    

                   

This town is full of singers.



    

                   

I don't need you anyway.



    

                   

And remember, everybody,

Handy's Funeral Home



    

                   

offers limousines

for all occasions.



    

                   

Why not get in one

while you're still living?



    

                   

Well, now that we done

paid the bills...



    

                   

Ladies and gentlemen,



    

                   

sitting directly

across from me,



    

                   

I have Mr. Darrin Hill

all the way from New York City.



    

                   

So Darrin,



    

                   

tell the good people

of Monte Carlo



    

                   

what brings you

down here with us?



    

                   

I'm responsible

for rebuilding the choir



    

                   

down at Beulah Baptist Church.



    

                   

In fact, I'm holding auditions

tomorrow morning,



    

                   

and anyone with any musical



    

                   

ability can come by.



    

                   

As long as they are,

as we say at Beulah,



    

                   

fully committed to God's work.



    

                   

Amazing Grace



    

                   

How sweet the sound



    

                   

That saved a wretch like me.



    

                   

Whoa!



    

                   

Forgiving my sins



    

                   

Baptized in the water



    

                   

Freed by the Holy Ghost



    

                   

Washed in the blood

of the lamb



    

                   

Forgiving my sins



    

                   

Baptized in the water



    

                   

Freed by the Holy Ghost



    

                   

Washed in the blood

of the lamb



    

                   

God's going

to move this place



    

                   

God's going to move

this place



    

                   

God's going to turn the world

upside down



    

                   

Auditions for the Beulah Baptist

Church Choir are still open.



    

                   

Applicants need not be fully

committed to God's work,



    

                   

but shouldn't be against it.



    

                   

I'm the hottest shit in

New York since Air Force Ones



    

                   

And from the borough that

brought you Chris and Pun



    

                   

Yeah, a lot of cats rhyme,

but not like some



    

                   

I make it hard, like breathing

with a slug in your lung



    

                   

Blow, blow, now you got

to deal with me



    

                   

Isn't she lovely?



    

                   

Isn't she wonderful?



    

                   

Isn't she precious?



    

                   

Isn't she precious?



    

                   

Just one minute old



    

                   

You got to be kidding me!



    

                   

I never thought

true love would bring



    

                   

One that's has lovely as she



    

                   

But isn't she lovely?



    

                   

Made from love.



    

                   

News update.



    

                   

Auditions for the Beulah

Baptist Church Choir,



    

                   

atheists may now apply.



    

                   

Oh, thanks for coming, Lucius.



    

                   

No problem.

Where to?



    

                   

Oh, I just need to print

up some more fliers.



    

                   

Paulina won't let me use

Jimmy B's printer anymore.



    

                   

She says it's running

up her light bill.



    

                   

Oh, well, you know

old folks in the south



    

                   

believe some crazy stuff.



    

                   

Tell me about it.



    

                   

When it's storming,



    

                   

she doesn't even

use the electricity.



    

                   

You don't play with God.



    

                   

Right.



    

                   

You don't sing, do you, Lucius?



    

                   

Do I sing? Y-Yeah.



    

                   

They say I sound like

a black Al Jarreau.



    

                   

Great, you're in the choir.



    

                   

Oh, whoa, wait a minute.

What'd you say?



    

                   

Pump your brakes.



    

                   

I'm not planning on

joining the church



    

                   

until I have sown my wild oats.



    

                   

Then I'm going to get me

a young virgin and settle down.



    

                   

Say no more.



    

                   

Besides...



    

                   

word's out.



    

                   

Paulina's bad enough,

you done pissed her off.



    

                   

Don't nobody want

to be a part



    

                   

of that mix

made in hell.



    

                   

Now the only way

I can join is...



    

                   

is if... is if you paying.



    

                   

How about the prize money?

  /  ?



    

                   

Done deal,   /  .



    

                   

Hello, are you Joseph?



    

                   

Yeah.



    

                   

Can I line you up, son?



    

                   

Actually I just came by

to post some fliers



    

                   

for my choir auditions,

if that's okay.



    

                   

Sure.



    

                   

Seeing how you're new

in these parts,



    

                   

it's going to be kind of hard

for you



    

                   

to attract people.



    

                   

Most folks around here,



    

                   

they don't trust an outsider.



    

                   

It was years

before I told anyone



    

                   

I'm not from Mississippi.



    

                   

I've got a guy here



    

                   

who needs his ears lowered.



    

                   

Hey, Lilly.



    

                   

Dean, my man.



    

                   

Come on,

I'll get the seat.



    

                   

That's Dean?



    

                   

He's big, strong and jealous,



    

                   

so watch yourself.



    

                   

So I see you done met



    

                   

the big-time music producer

from New York, huh?



    

                   

Music producer?



    

                   

Lilly has the best



    

                   

voice in town.



    

                   

I know.



    

                   

You don't have to wait with me.



    

                   

No one else's mom

waits for them.



    

                   

He'll be fine.



    

                   

Okay, I'm going to be

next door, all right?



    

                   

Dean, don't talk to strangers.



    

                   

Yo, big man.



    

                   

You want us to sing you

a song like we did last time?



    

                   

Yes, please.



    

                   

It'll cost you.



    

                   

I'll give you

a thousand money.



    

                   

Deal.



    

                   

Ooh...



    

                   

When I was a little boy



    

                   

When I was just a boy



    

                   

And the devil

would call my name



    

                   

When I was just a boy



    

                   

I'd say "Now who do,



    

                   

Who do you think

you're fooling?"



    

                   

- When I was just a boy

- I'm a consecrated boy



    

                   

When I was just a boy



    

                   

I'm a singer in a Sunday choir



    

                   

Oh, my mama loves me



    

                   

She loves me



    

                   

She get down on her knees

and hug me



    

                   

Oh, she loves me like a rock



    

                   

She rocks me

like the rock of ages



    

                   

And loves me



    

                   

She love me, love me,

love me, love me



    

                   

When I was grown

to be a man



    

                   

Grown to be a man



    

                   

And the devil would

call my name



    

                   

Grown to be a man



    

                   

I'd say "Now who do,



    

                   

Who do you think

you're fooling?"



    

                   

- Grown to be a man

- I'm a consummated man



    

                   

Grown to be a man



    

                   

I can snatch a little purity



    

                   

Oh, my mama loves me,

she loves me



    

                   

She get down on her knees

and hug me



    

                   

Like she loves me like a rock.



    

                   

Lilly.



    

                   

You know, at first I was

afraid you'd follow me here,



    

                   

but I actually feel a lot safer



    

                   

knowing you're not

in the same room with my son.



    

                   

And to answer

your next question, no...



    

                   

You're not married.



    

                   

Don't finish my sentences.



    

                   

That's why you're

a sinner.



    

                   

Stay far away from me.



    

                   

No, no...



    

                   

No, I'm saying, that's no

reason to treat you badly.



    

                   

I mean, how dare they?



    

                   

It's not your fault.



    

                   

Well, it's   % your fault



    

                   

because it takes

two people to...



    

                   

Well, you know what I mean.



    

                   

No.



    

                   

I'm saying it's a pity



    

                   

that you don't have

a complete family,



    

                   

but it's still no reason...



    

                   

Oh, don't talk to me

about family,



    

                   

Mr. Didn't Call Aunt Sally

For    Years.



    

                   

Hi.

Hi.



    

                   

I'm sorry.



    

                   

I'm starting to see how

tough things are for you.



    

                   

Oh, yes.



    

                   

Boo-hoo for the poor,

black mother



    

                   

stuck in her hometown

without a man.



    

                   

Whatever shall I do?



    

                   

I didn't mean it that way.



    

                   

Excuse me, Lilly, I'm sorry,



    

                   

but your card

is maxed out again.



    

                   

I forgot to put

my paycheck in.



    

                   

Thank you.



    

                   

- Excuse me.

- Hmm-mm.



    

                   

Hey, try this one.



    

                   

Sorry, Dr. Hill,



    

                   

yours is declined, too.



    

                   

Dr. Hill? You a doctor?



    

                   

No, that's just my music name.



    

                   

You know, like Dr. John,

Dr. Dre.



    

                   

Try this one.



    

                   

Well, that's cleared.



    

                   

Of course.



    

                   

Sign here.



    

                   

Thank you.



    

                   

That was really nice.



    

                   

You didn't

have to do that.



    

                   

That's what I'm saying,

I'm a nice guy.



    

                   

I don't know

what the problem is.



    

                   

I usually get along better

with beautiful women.



    

                   

Okay, I'll...



    

                   

I'll give you a check

tomorrow, first thing.



    

                   

Oh, um, cash.



    

                   

Cash.



    

                   

Reverend.



    

                   

Oh... Darrin.



    

                   

Thanks for meeting me here.



    

                   

Uh, how's it going

with the choir?



    

                   

Well, I'm still having trouble

recruiting the members.



    

                   

Son, it's at times like these



    

                   

I suggest listening

to God's voice.



    

                   

Sorry, Rev, I'm not

into the spooky stuff.



    

                   

Oh, just open it up.



    

                   

And these people can sing?



    

                   

Oh, yes.



    

                   

Please don't tell my sister.



    

                   

Hello, everyone.



    

                   

I'd like you to welcome



    

                   

the new members of our choir.



    

                   

So when is this competition?



    

                   

In a few weeks.



    

                   

And our new organist.



    

                   

You touch my keyboard



    

                   

and I kick your

drunk 'bama ass.



    

                   

Oh, oh, wait, Homer.



    

                   

Now, if we stand any chance



    

                   

of getting into

the Gospel Explosion,



    

                   

we could use

all the help we can get.



    

                   

Shoot.



    

                   

Bringing all these drunks



    

                   

up into the church

with hats on



    

                   

and drunks and everything.



    

                   

Okay, everyone, please.



    

                   

Okay, good.



    

                   

Good. Uh...

I'd like to...



    

                   

I'd like to try a new song.



    

                   

Um... uh...



    

                   

Tasha?



    

                   

Can you, uh, get rid

of the gum, please?



    

                   

Sure.



    

                   

Okay.



    

                   

That was nasty.



    

                   

Uh..."Swing Low,

Sweet Chariot."



    

                   

Oh, ah, uh, Homer, please.



    

                   

Scooter.



    

                   

Swing low



    

                   

Sweet chariot



    

                   

Comin' for to carry me

home...



    

                   

Wait-wait-wait,

wait, wait, stop, stop.



    

                   

Stop, wait, um...

this is not working.



    

                   

Um...



    

                   

You need to pick

a lead singer.



    

                   

You'd know that if you knew what

you were doing.



    

                   

Oh, oh, could-could I maybe try?



    

                   

Bessie...



    

                   

would you, uh, like to try?



    

                   

No.



    

                   

My dear departed

husband James said



    

                   

that when I sing, it

made him think of heaven.



    

                   

Probably meant he wanted

to blow his brains out.



    

                   

Paulina,



    

                   

you've sung lead



    

                   

- before?

- I have,



    

                   

and it gave me great joy.



    

                   

Oh, good. Then it'll hurt

that much more



    

                   

when I find someone else.



    

                   

Be careful, Dean, baby,

don't hurt yourself.



    

                   

Oh, let the boy be.



    

                   

He's already wearing

more protection



    

                   

then they gave me

when I fought in the war.



    

                   

Oh!



    

                   

- Hey.

- Hey.



    

                   

You're the pain in the butt

from the barbershop.



    

                   

He must have heard

that somewhere.



    

                   

Hi, there, young man.



    

                   

I'm Lilly's grandfather.



    

                   

Hello, sir.



    

                   

I've been waiting

for a nice, strong young man



    

                   

to come and whisk Lilly away.



    

                   

Somebody did that already,

remember?



    

                   

She shouldn't be wasting

the next    years of her life



    

                   

taking care of no old man.



    

                   

No, she should go off



    

                   

and have a life of her own.



    

                   

Cool!



    

                   

Sammy Sosa.



    

                   

What do you say?



    

                   

He said cool.



    

                   

Dean?



    

                   

Thank you.



    

                   

Look, Granddaddy.



    

                   

- I got Sammy Sosa.

- Oh, okay.



    

                   

So have you changed

your mind about the choir?



    

                   

Why should I,

'cause you gave Dean a toy?



    

                   

No. Yes?



    

                   

Why is this so important to you?



    

                   

Because it's what

my Aunt Sally wanted me to do.



    

                   

Every time I pack my bags

to leave,



    

                   

I get that image

of her helping my Mom out



    

                   

when I was little...



    

                   

and because

it was her last wish



    

                   

to get into the Explosion,



    

                   

and because...



    

                   

And because

you're getting $      .



    

                   

I thought I'd finish

your sentence for you.



    

                   

That is the truth, right?



    

                   

Yeah. Yes.



    

                   

Thanks for being honest,



    

                   

but I can't.



    

                   

What?



    

                   

You mean, I just told the truth

for nothing?



    

                   

Thank you for the loan

yesterday.



    

                   

I know you want cash.



    

                   

You know, this truth stuff

is highly overrated.



    

                   

I don't care who started it.



    

                   

You both should be ashamed.



    

                   

Okay, let's try it

once more from the top.



    

                   

Hey. Thank you,

thank you, thank you.



    

                   

I'm not doing this for you.



    

                   

The truth is I'm doing this

for Sally.



    

                   

Well, thank you anyway.



    

                   

Choir, I'd like you to meet

our new soloist, Lilly.



    

                   

- What's your last name?

- Tramp.



    

                   

I knew this would happen.



    

                   

No-no-no, wait, wait,

wait, please, please.



    

                   

Let me handle this. Please.



    

                   

Have you forgotten that Jesus

loved Mary Magdalene?



    

                   

She was a ho.



    

                   

"Let him who is without sin



    

                   

cast the first stone."



    

                   

Thank you for handling it.



    

                   

No, no, no, no, no,

I-I don't mean it.



    

                   

I'm just saying it

for effect. Please.



    

                   

It is your duty



    

                   

to help fallen women.



    

                   

I'm willing to help.



    

                   

- Hi.

- I agree. It's about time



    

                   

we get some young Baptist booty

up in this choir.



    

                   

Ask her how come she has to keep

so many husbands



    

                   

away from their homes down



    

                   

at that old sin hole

she be working at.



    

                   

Would Aunt Sally

have been this harsh?



    

                   

No.



    

                   

No, Sally would've wanted Lilly

to stay in the choir...



    

                   

- Amen.

- Unlike some people.



    

                   

- Amen again.

- That's right.



    

                   

If she was a respectable woman,



    

                   

she would have

a respectable job.



    

                   

The last thing we need

is another loose woman



    

                   

up in the choir stand.



    

                   

Now she should just

go on home, take care



    

                   

of that little bastard baby...



    

                   

Leave my son out of this.



    

                   

Talk to her. Tell her.



    

                   

Dean is a gift from God.





 

                   

So is snow and rain,



 

                   

but we still have

to wear our rubbers.



 

                   

You know what Sally

told me once?



 

                   

She said,



 

                   

"When life makes you

have to put up



 

                   

"with mean and hateful people,



 

                   

"just think of them

as sandpaper.



 

                   

"They may scratch you,

rub you the wrong way,



 

                   

"but eventually...

you end up smooth and polished,



  

                   

"and the sandpaper...



  

                   

it's just going to be

worn out and ugly."



  

                   

Lilly, you don't need my help.



  

                   

Now if I could get you all

to sing as well as you fight,



  

                   

you'd be the baddest choir

in all of Georgia.



  

                   

Now, Lilly is a member



  

                   

of this choir

like everyone else.



  

                   

If you don't like it, well...



  

                   

you can just leave.



  

                   

Oh, well that's my cue.



  

                   

Y'all coming?



  

                   

Uh, Paulina,

I thought you were leaving.



  

                   

The choir, yes,

but I'll stay in this church



  

                   

as long as I want.



  

                   

I'm the treasurer.



  

                   

Fine. Fine. Then we'll rehearse

with Lilly as our lead.



  

                   

- Watch it, bro.

- Hey!



  

                   

- Get down.

- That's mine. Right there.



  

                   

Aw, man!



  

                   

The Lord is good.



  

                   

The Lord bless you.



  

                   

Mr. Clean!



  

                   

You know, I always



  

                   

liked church.



  

                   

There's a hell

of a lot more action



  

                   

than in the barbershop.



  

                   

Okay.



  

                   

Ready?



  

                   

Hold it.



  

                   

Do I come in on the upbeat

or the downbeat?



  

                   

Suit yourself. You're the pro.



  

                   

Try the downbeat, honey.



  

                   

I usually let the Neptunes

program on my upbeat, so...



  

                   

Let's try it again



  

                   

from the top.



  

                   

Wait.



  

                   

Aren't you going to arrange us



  

                   

for the performance?



  

                   

Right, right.

Lilly, Lilly, please, up.



  

                   

Ladies, all three, up.



  

                   

Okay, Tasha,



  

                   

Tasha, please, down...



  

                   

and, uh... oh,

please, yes, Bessie,



  

                   

Alma and Miss Stringer.



  

                   

Yeah, cute. Yes, yes,

there you go.



  

                   

Okay. Young and foxy

in the front



  

                   

and weird and funky

in the back...



  

                   

but we love you.



  

                   

All right. Ready?



  

                   

From the top.



  

                   

I'm... going...



  

                   

Home!



  

                   

Great! Yee-haw!



  

                   

With a little more work,



  

                   

I think we've got a real shot

at the Explosion.



  

                   

And after that,

maybe even a record deal.



  

                   

Then we'll tour on our own bus

with a clean bathroom.



  

                   

A tour? Girl, like I'm going

to leave my granddaddy behind



  

                   

by himself? Uh-uh.



  

                   

Well, thankfully

all my family's dead.



  

                   

That wasn't half bad.



  

                   

It saddens me that the deadline



  

                   

for entering the Gospel

Explosion has passed.



  

                   

What?



  

                   

"All audition tapes

are to be submitted



  

                   

to audition judge

Luther Washington by...



  

                   

yesterday afternoon.



  

                   

She had something

to do with this.



  

                   

I mean, you know, she...



  

                   

Why didn't you say something?



  

                   

You're the director now;

deadlines are your problem.



  

                   

It's been posted for weeks.



  

                   

Where?



  

                   

On the back



  

                   

of the ladies' room door.



  

                   

I sure as heck never saw it,



  

                   

and I use that door every day.



  

                   

You need to check

the girl's bathroom more often.



  

                   

You mean we did all this work



  

                   

- for nothing?

- Yeah.



  

                   

And my best friend Keno

taught me how to do



  

                   

the African Boot Dance.



  

                   

Heck, I even stopped drinking.



  

                   

Uh, I know that's a good thing,



  

                   

- I-I'm just saying...

- Wait, wait, wait, listen, hey,



  

                   

listen, everybody.



  

                   

Just go home and don't worry.



  

                   

Taking care of problems

is my specialty.



  

                   

I'll be back

in a couple of weeks,



  

                   

and if I don't get a job,

I'm a dead man.



   

                   

Yeah, I used my credit card

down here to fix a bus. Why?



   

                   

They traced it. It was reported

to a credit bureau in Atlanta.



   

                   

Well, what does that mean?



   

                   

Felony, interstate fraud.



   

                   

Just lay low, and stay away

from law enforcement.



   

                   

Mr. Washington

will see you now.



   

                   

Mr. Hill.



   

                   

Lucius.



   

                   

As a Christian man,

I do believe in mercy,



   

                   

but as a prison warden,



   

                   

I'm a stickler for the rules.



   

                   

See, without rules,



   

                   

society breaks down.



   

                   

Sorry.



   

                   

Listen...



   

                   

Let me handle this.



   

                   

Did I say you can talk?



   

                   

- Look...

- Did I open my mouth



   

                   

and say you could talk?



   

                   

But I-I-I... I took

assertive tenderness.



   

                   

I took assertiveness

training.



   

                   

Look, Washington,



   

                   

we're giving you an opportunity



   

                   

to be a part of the

Belie Baptist...



   

                   

Beulah.



   

                   

The Beulah Baptist

Gospel Choir business.



   

                   

Me, an opportunity?



   

                   

Now, you need BBGC more



   

                   

than BBGC needs you.



   

                   

We're selling, not buying.



   

                   

We're not selling.



   

                   

We're... we are...



   

                   

We're buying, not selling.



   

                   

Now, you got    seconds

to m-make an offer,



   

                   

or it's, you know?



   

                   

We-we...



   

                   

Let me think about it.

No.



   

                   

Oh, come on.

Please, man.



   

                   

- We'll pay you.

- Listen, listen.



   

                   

Sir, you don't understand



   

                   

the challenges my choir

and I have faced.



   

                   

Please, just hear us sing.



   

                   

We can be ready in a half hour.



   

                   

No.



   

                   

And I'm putting my foot down.



   

                   

It's a big "N" and a little "o."



   

                   

Sir, the entertainment

for today canceled.



   

                   

And you know what happened

last time.



   

                   

You said a half an hour?



   

                   

Will you let us

into the Explosion?



   

                   

Only if you guys can pass

the mustard with my prisoners.



   

                   

Mustard's passed.



   

                   

We'll blow them away.



   

                   

Look, we got to do it,



   

                   

or we won't get

into the Explosion.



   

                   

Darrin, Darrin.



   

                   

- Darrin, Darrin.

- Just relax.



   

                   

They all look so scary.



   

                   

Look, we're here now,

so I'm going to sing it.



   

                   

What? Huh?



   

                   

- What?

- Huh?



   

                   

Swing low...



   

                   

Join in, join in,

join in, join in!



   

                   

- Sweet chariot

- Shut up, old man!



   

                   

Go home!



   

                   

Coming for to carry me home



   

                   

Swing low, sweet chariot



   

                   

Coming for to carry me home...



   

                   

Swing low...



   

                   

Sweet chariot



   

                   

That's better.



   

                   

- Hey, now.

- Coming for



   

                   

To carry me home



   

                   

Swing low



   

                   

Sweet, sweet, sweet

chariot, chariot



   

                   

Coming for to carry me home



   

                   

Yeah, yeah



   

                   

Swing down chariots,

won't you let me ride?



   

                   

- Oh, swing

- Swing down chariots



   

                   

Stop and let me ride



   

                   

Oh, rock me, Lord,

rock me, Lord



   

                   

Calm and easy



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

I got a home

on the other side



   

                   

Dance, everybody, dance.



   

                   

Six white horses

standin' side by side



   

                   

- Oh, sing

- Six white horses prancing



   

                   

- Sing

- Side by side



   

                   

Oh, rock me, Lord,

rock me, Lord



   

                   

Rock me, rock me



   

                   

Calm and easy



   

                   

I got a home...



   

                   

I got home on the other side



   

                   

Swing low, swing low



   

                   

Swing low, swing low,

and let me ride



   

                   

Why don't you let me ride?



   

                   

Why don't you let me ride?



   

                   

Ride, ride, ride, ride



   

                   

Oh why don't you let me ride?



   

                   

- Let me ride

- Why don't you let me ride?



   

                   

Let me ride



   

                   

Ride, ride, ride, ride



   

                   

Swing down chariots,

won't you let me ride?



   

                   

- Oh, swing

- Swing down chariots



   

                   

Stop and let me ride



   

                   

Oh, rock me, rock me, Lord



   

                   

Calm and easy



   

                   

I got a home

on the other side



   

                   

- I got a home

- I got a home



   

                   

You got a home



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

We got a home



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

- I got a home

- I got a home



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

You got a home



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

We goin' home



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

- Goin' home

- I got a home



   

                   

- Yes, Lord

- I got a home



   

                   

Sweet Lord



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

Take me home



   

                   

I got a home



   

                   

Take me home, Lord



   

                   

I'm going home.



   

                   

So look here, I guess that, uh,



   

                   

your choir's

in the Gospel Explosion.



   

                   

Don't let anyone know

I gave you any slack.



   

                   

I have a reputation



   

                   

as a hard ass

in the choir community.



   

                   

Do you think

we have a shot at winning?



   

                   

Hell, no.



   

                   

You made it

through the audition, but...



   

                   

I got prisoners that can sing

better than your choir.



   

                   

Really?



   

                   

Single file now.



   

                   

Stay in line.



   

                   

Guns in church.



   

                   

The abomination that

causes desolation.



   

                   

Guns ain't allowed?



   

                   

Somebody should have told me.



   

                   

Hey, big guy,



   

                   

what's your name?



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

My name is Johnson.



   

                   

What are you in for?



   

                   

Beating down somebody



   

                   

for making fun of my high voice.



   

                   

Okay, so let's take, uh...



   

                   

Let's take it

from the top, shall we?



   

                   

Uh, our felons first.



   

                   

Up. Up, please.



   

                   

Up.



   

                   

Okay.



   

                   

Um...



   

                   

Gonna lay down my burdens...



   

                   

Um, Mr. Briggs,



   

                   

is there a problem?



   

                   

It's one thing for the state

to force us



   

                   

to make license plates,

or work in chain gangs,



   

                   

but to make us sing

in a choir?



   

                   

That's cruel

and unusual punishment.



   

                   

Mr. Johnson?



   

                   

I used to be in a group,



   

                   

and when we used to sing, uh,

"Down By the Riverside"...



   

                   

there's a part of the song

where I used to



   

                   

Wail.



   

                   

You know, right at the end



   

                   

with the sword and shield part.



   

                   

People really liked that.



   

                   

Would you like me

to do that for you?



   

                   

All right.



   

                   

What group did you sing with?



   

                   

It doesn't matter.



   

                   

They're dead now.



   

                   

Right.



   

                   

Okay, um...



   

                   

Great.



   

                   

And now, news time.



   

                   

The Beulah Baptist Church Choir



   

                   

now includes some

talented inmates



   

                   

from our state prison system.



   

                   

This could turn out



   

                   

to be the breakout choir

of the year.



   

                   

Ooh, ooh-ooh



   

                   

I'm gonna lay down

my burdens, child



   

                   

Down by the riverside



   

                   

Yeah, down



   

                   

Down by the riverside



   

                   

Down



   

                   

Down by the riverside



   

                   

- Say, I'm...

- Ee-oop



   

                   

I'm gonna lay down my burdens



   

                   

Down by...



   

                   

Down by the riverside



   

                   

Say, I ain't



   

                   

Study war



   

                   

- No, no, no, no

- No more



   

                   

Study war no more...



   

                   

No more



   

                   

Say, I'm going down

to the river



   

                   

Gonna put my foot in



   

                   

Gonna let it go up

to my knees



   

                   

Gonna let it go down

to my thigh



   

                   

And I ain't gonna

study war no more



   

                   

No



   

                   

Study war no more



   

                   

- No

- Study war no more



   

                   

I, I, I, I, I



   

                   

Study war no more...



   

                   

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah



   

                   

All that street-corner

barbershop harmony



   

                   

That's cool, right?



   

                   

We got some new hip-hop

in Monte Carlo, Georgia,



   

                   

for y'all tonight... yo, Briggs



   

                   

I'm sick of packin'

all these nines



   

                   

Slingin' dimes and smokin'

all the marijuana



   

                   

Chillin' with pretty mamas from

Havana in the Bahamas



   

                   

Most demons tryin' to see me

hot, like I'm in the sauna



   

                   

And I'm just tryin' to get you

loose, kinda like Madonna



   

                   

Call up everybody I know,

tell 'em it's time to go



   

                   

Me and Bee-Z in the  - 

sittin' real low



   

                   

Got the roll to the riverside,

put that liquor to the side



   

                   

Ain't no need for getting high,

stay alive, in touch



   

                   

Helps you die, that cocaine,

get me trippin', y'all



   

                   

Never been lickin' that,

none of my burdens



   

                   

Because I don't wanna

be left and burnin'



   

                   

Flirtin' with death



   

                   

And they promise

my last breath



   

                   

Dressed in prison blues



   

                   

Holy Spirit got me under arrest



   

                   

I used to be a thug,

sold drugs



   

                   

Might have stalked you



   

                   

Stepped up in the church,

got converted at the altar



   

                   

And I fought 'ya



   

                   

Fell back and he caught you



   

                   

Out tryin' to floss,

better live what he taught you



   

                   

Goin' down



   

                   

We goin' down to the river



   

                   

Take it to the river



   

                   

Goin' down, baby



   

                   

Yo, yo



   

                   

Down to the river



   

                   

Take it to the river



   

                   

And lay down



   

                   

Haulin' my glocks

and automatics



   

                   

I'm charismatic,

like crack addicts



   

                   

You wreak havoc like

road ragers in bad traffic



   

                   

It gets drastic,

but He's fantastic



   

                   

In attracting no one packing,

now we're fasting



   

                   

Has the passion, how can I get

this life everlasting?



   

                   

Sick of blastin' and dashin',

flashin' like Charles Manson



   

                   

Give me the ransom, now

we're glory, holla, dancin'



   

                   

I'm flippin' and rippin'

to come up with lyrical styles



   

                   

Y'all never heard



   

                   

Tryin' to reach you

climb the stair



   

                   

Beyond all of this

trippin' birds



   

                   

Forget the English but rhymes,

but I'm the jefe



   

                   

They bust the rich, bringin'

beats like Tito Puente



   

                   

Salsa, merengue,

repos calientes



   

                   

Azucar sabroso

para ti and para mi



   

                   

Goin' down



   

                   

Oh, as long as they

praising God's name,



   

                   

it's all right with me.



   

                   

The congregation is going to be

in for a surprise come Sunday.



   

                   

Yeah, let me

know how it goes.



   

                   

I expect you to be there, too.



   

                   

Oh-oh oh, oh-oh oh



   

                   

I'm goin' down, baby



   

                   

We goin' down to the river



   

                   

We



   

                   

So



   

                   

Hot



   

                   

We



   

                   

Don't



   

                   

Stop



   

                   

We take it to the river



   

                   

You know, we go down, down



   

                   

We goin' down to the river



   

                   

Take it to the river



   

                   

Goin' down...



   

                   

Glad you're here, Reverend.



   

                   

I suppose you've noticed

how the choir has grown.



   

                   

I-I was just seeing

how good they are.



   

                   

I also suppose you plan

on enforcing the rules



   

                   

and the bylaws

that says all members



   

                   

of the choir



   

                   

must be baptized

and take Bible-study classes.



   

                   

Oh, now, Paulina.



   

                   

You can't change that.



   

                   

It'll change everything.



   

                   

She has a point, Darrin.



   

                   

What point is that?



   

                   

If you change things,

then they'll be different?



   

                   

Well, yeah.



   

                   

Yeah.



   

                   

Oh, I'm sorry, Darrin.



   

                   

But if they're going to stay,



   

                   

they're going to have to abide

by the church rules.



   

                   

I can't swim.



   

                   

Uh, don't worry, Mr. Johnson.



   

                   

It's just a...



   

                   

just a little sprinkle.



   

                   

I won't do it.



   

                   

We're broadcasting live

from down by the riverside



   

                   

where three lost souls

are trying to find Jesus.



   

                   

Although personally,



   

                   

I don't think

this is where he fell in.



   

                   

I baptize you in the

name of the Father,



   

                   

and the Son, and

the Holy Ghost.



   

                   

Burns.



   

                   

It burns.



   

                   

Oh, brother, it's just the waste



   

                   

from the refinery upstream,

you see?



   

                   

Well, guess that about does it.



   

                   

Oh, funny thing, Darrin.



   

                   

I don't remember

you being baptized.



   

                   

Do you, Paul?



   

                   

Oh, uh... uh... uh...



   

                   

Well, you know I...



   

                   

- Paul?!

- No, I don't.



   

                   

I am not getting

in that water.



   

                   

Uh-huh.



   

                   

I am not getting in there.



   

                   

- Uh-huh.

- Shit.



   

                   

Must be crazy.



   

                   

Praise the Lord.



   

                   

Yeah, yeah,

come on, come on, y'all



   

                   

We about to get our praise on

in this piece right now



   

                   

Y'all know how we do it



   

                   

Oh, oh, oh, oh yeah



   

                   

Get your hands up



   

                   

Lift your voice



   

                   

All right, check it out,

we're going to do this thing



   

                   

There's a storm within

and I don't want to let it in



   

                   

I give You control, let

Your love rain down on me



   

                   

In my heart and mind



   

                   

Is Your love nearby?



   

                   

Uh-huh



   

                   

I'm going to let it flow



   

                   

Let Your love

rain down on me



   

                   

Gonna raise my hands

Gonna raise my hands



   

                   

Gonna give you all I can



   

                   

Every time I call His name, His

love rains down on me



   

                   

Rain down



   

                   

Gonna lift my voice and sing



   

                   

About the love

and joy He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name,

His love rains down on me



   

                   

I was in distress



   

                   

I needed happiness

Come on



   

                   

So I got down on my knees

and asked You to come to me



   

                   

I know that thunder

brings the rain



   

                   

So I called Your holy name



   

                   

And You washed away my sins,

gave me new power, yeah



   

                   

Gonna raise my hands and dance



   

                   

Want to give Him all I can



   

                   

Every time I call His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to lift my voice

and sing



   

                   

About the love and joy

He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Love is raining down on me,

joy is deep inside of me



   

                   

Praise,

I lift my hands to Thee



   

                   

'Cause Your love, Your love



   

                   

Your love



   

                   

Love is raining down on me,

joy is deep inside of me



   

                   

Praise



   

                   

Want to raise my hands in praise



   

                   

Ah



   

                   

- Whoo

- Want to give Him all I can



   

                   

Every time I call His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to lift my voice

and sing



   

                   

About the love and joy

He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to raise my hands and dance



   

                   

Want to give Him all I can



   

                   

Every time I call His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to lift my voice

and sing



   

                   

About the love and joy

He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to raise my hands and dance



   

                   

Want to give Him all I can



   

                   

Every time I call His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to lift my voice

and sing



   

                   

About the love and joy

He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to raise my hands and dance



   

                   

Want to give Him all I can every

time I call His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to lift my voice and sing



   

                   

About the love and joy He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to raise my hands and dance



   

                   

Want to give Him all I can,

every time I call His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

Want to lift my voice and sing



   

                   

About the love and joy He brings



   

                   

Every time I praise His name



   

                   

His love rains down on me



   

                   

It rains down on me.



   

                   

Thanks for coming with me.



   

                   

Alma gave me the key,



   

                   

but I felt kind of creepy

coming here by myself.



   

                   

Just got to get

this box of letters



   

                   

before everything

is packed away.



   

                   

They said it was in a trunk.



   

                   

I didn't even know Mama

was writing these.



   

                   

I always thought she lost

contact with everyone here.



   

                   

    .



   

                   

"Dear Sally, I think

this will be my big year.



   

                   

"We're settled

into our apartment



   

                   

and the rent is covered."



   

                   

She has "Thanks" in parentheses.



   

                   

Sally.



   

                   

"Here's a picture of Darrin.



   

                   

Doesn't he look like

a future doctor or lawyer?"



   

                   

Eww.



   

                   

This one was actually

addressed to you



   

                   

from Aunt Sally.



   

                   

It says "Return to Sender."



   

                   

It's because I moved

around a lot.



   

                   

Oh, my God.



   

                   

Not that funny.



   

                   

Dear Darrin,

I'm worried about you.



   

                   

All the different addresses

and phone numbers.



   

                   

The people calling here

looking for you.



   

                   

You seem to be lying

about who you are.



   

                   

Why can't you accept

who you are?



   

                   

God accepts you.



   

                   

New York is so dangerous,



   

                   

criminals, crazy people, and me



   

                   

if I have to come up there

and whip your ass.



   

                   

Up there acting like

you ain't got no home training.



   

                   

It's my fault.



   

                   

I never should have let Paulina

run your mom out.



   

                   

I love you, Darrin.



   

                   

I'm the only family you have,



   

                   

and you're the only family

I have.



   

                   

What does the letter say?



   

                   

Something in my eye.



   

                   

What does the letter say?



   

                   

Oh, just stuff, stuff

I probably should have known.



   

                   

Let me see your eye.



   

                   

- Huh? Oh.

- Let me see your eye.



   

                   

She looks kind of disapproving.



   

                   

I can turn the picture down.



   

                   

No.



   

                   

It's getting kind of late.



   

                   

I should go home

and check on my Dean.



   

                   

Okay.



   

                   

- I should go home.

- Yeah, let me walk you home.



   

                   

I love being back in the choir.



   

                   

It's amazing how,

over the years,



   

                   

the music has moved people,



   

                   

makes people feel better

about themselves, you know?



   

                   

Sure.



   

                   

Gospel music moves people...



   

                   

people looking to be moved

and haven't figured out



   

                   

they're just a bunch

of old songs, anyway.



   

                   

You're so cynical.



   

                   

It gives people comfort.



   

                   

That's why my granddaddy

is not scared of dying.



   

                   

Simple, effective, comforting.

It must be nice.



   

                   

Simple isn't always wrong.



   

                   

Experience has taught me



   

                   

that fighting temptation

makes you strong.



   

                   

Yes, but the trouble

with fighting temptation



   

                   

is you might not get

another chance.



   

                   

Oh, ye of little faith.



   

                   

What advertising agency?



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

I'm afraid he's out.



   

                   

But I'm family.



   

                   

Uh-huh, you can

tell me everything



   

                   

and I'll give him the message.



   

                   

Uh-huh.



   

                   

Really?



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

I'm on location

down here live



   

                   

at the Beulah Baptist

Church barbecue, mm-hmm.



   

                   

Folks down

at Polk's Funeral Home



   

                   

send their best wishes

to the choir



   

                   

and best of luck at the

Gospel Explosion next weekend.



   

                   

Polk's Funeral Home, make you

look good when you're dead.



   

                   

So good, they guarantee you

an open-casket funeral



   

                   

or the next one

is going to be free.



   

                   

See Darrin?



   

                   

Dean!



   

                   

Hey!



   

                   

Hey, what's up Dean?



   

                   

Hi, Lilly.



   

                   

I knew I could do it.

I want that one.



   

                   

Congratulations

to Willy Johnson's



   

                   

little boy, Bobby Johnson.



   

                   

He won

the rock-throwing contest.



   

                   

You want chicken?

You want chicken?



   

                   

Ribs.



   

                   

Oh, ribs, please.



   

                   

I don't know where that boy



   

                   

learned how to throw

a rock like that at.



   

                   

Probably the one that



   

                   

broke the window

down at the radio station.



   

                   

I ain't trying

to put that out there or nothing



   

                   

but somebody broke the window.



   

                   

I ain't saying he did it,



   

                   

but he sure can throw a rock,

that's all I've got to say.



   

                   

Choir, choir!



   

                   

Yoo-hoo!



   

                   

Choir, gather around,



   

                   

I have great news.



   

                   

You'll be happy to know



   

                   

that someone from New York

named Rosa



   

                   

called last night

with great news about your job.



   

                   

She did?



   

                   

Oh, we got our

record deal already?



   

                   

No, no, no, he's

not a record producer.



   

                   

He's a junior level executive

at an advertising agency.



   

                   

But Rosa said they are sorry

that they fired you



   

                   

and they want you

to come back.



   

                   

They're even willing

to overlook the fact



   

                   

that you faked

your high school diploma



   

                   

and your Yale degree.



   

                   

They're even willing



   

                   

to take care of your

credit card trouble,



   

                   

so there's no evidence of fraud.



   

                   

Isn't that great news?



   

                   

What is she talking about,

Darrin?



   

                   

Well...



   

                   

You know why

they want you back?



   

                   

The liquor company



   

                   

can't find any other firm

with ideas



   

                   

as good as yours.



   

                   

That's a good thing.



   

                   

They said they're willing

to sign on



   

                   

as clients, but only if



   

                   

you are in charge

of their account.



   

                   

So I say,

congratulations are in order.



   

                   

Oh. Rosa said they need



   

                   

your answer

as soon as possible,



   

                   

so you better call them now.



   

                   

I brought your phone.



   

                   

Is it true, son?



   

                   

Well, these things she's saying,



   

                   

I mean, it's not as bad

as it sounds.



   

                   

You're not leaving are you?



   

                   

Boy, don't you know



   

                   

once you go gospel,

you can't go back.



   

                   

God don't like ugly.



   

                   

Look at Sam Cooke.



   

                   

Left the church,

few years later...



   

                   

Shot dead in a motel.



   

                   

And Otis Redding



   

                   

left the church,



   

                   

plane crash.



   

                   

What about Whitney Houston,

and, uh, Aretha, Snoop?



   

                   

They started in the church.



   

                   

Boy, you just killed

three people.



   

                   

What about the Explosion?



   

                   

What about that money exploding

in my pocket, that prize money



   

                   

you said you were going



   

                   

to split with me   /  ?



   

                   

You promised him my half?



   

                   

Your half?



   

                   

I have a half

in there somewhere.



   

                   

You're talking about my half.



   

                   

And I'm in the same church



   

                   

with these people?



   

                   

And I thought they was

holy and sanctified.



   

                   

They're waiting for your answer.



   

                   

I don't care what you do.



   

                   

I was just using you

to get a record deal,



   

                   

just like you were using me.



   

                   

Is that true?



   

                   

Rosa?



   

                   

Yeah, I got your message.



   

                   

Tell them I accept.



   

                   

Tomorrow?

I'll be there.



   

                   

So it's all about the money?



   

                   

Hell, yes.



   

                   

That's the reason why half

of you joined the choir.



   

                   

And why shouldn't I go back?



   

                   

What loyalty should

I have to this place?



   

                   

Sure, I've been lying,



   

                   

but that's nothing compared

to what this church



   

                   

did to me and my mom.



   

                   

If you leave,



   

                   

you'll be forfeiting

your inheritance money.



   

                   

I don't need it now.



   

                   

Look, just because

he's quitting,



   

                   

you don't have to give up

on all your hard work.



   

                   

We're still going

to the Explosion.



   

                   

Shut up, Grandma.



   

                   

Don't you dare



   

                   

talk to me like that!



   

                   

Are you out

of your mind?



   

                   

Control yourself, Grandma.



   

                   

Come back here.

Don't you run from me!



   

                   

I cannot believe that I

was going to sleep with you.



   

                   

There you go.



   

                   

Home, sweet home.



   

                   

How about a cigar?



   

                   

How about a corner office?



   

                   

- I'm serious.



   

                   

Of course, of course.



   

                   

W-Why can't they do it deep

fried like they do in the South?



   

                   

Okay, okay, fine, fine,

I'll take



   

                   

the boneless,

skinless baked chicken.



   

                   

Yes, that's fine.



   

                   

Oh, oh,

can I get the collard greens



   

                   

without the goat cheese?



   

                   

Darrin? Darrin?



   

                   

Darrin, we can't wait



   

                   

to hear your ideas.



   

                   

I'm the one who got him back.



   

                   

Ladies and gentlemen,

since we last spoke,



   

                   

I've developed

a mega-campaign



   

                   

that will triple our revenue

within one year.



   

                   

This represents

the current markets



   

                   

targeted by your competitors.



   

                   

From it, you see



   

                   

that the metropolitan areas

are saturated.



   

                   

We're selling an urban product.



   

                   

Wrong... you're selling

an urban image.



   

                   

Thus the primary focus

of my plan



   

                   

is to change brand identity.



   

                   

No more thugs and bums

drinking   s.



   

                   

Instead,



   

                   

only young,

successful urbanites.



   

                   

That means appealing

to the little man



   

                   

who dreams of making it

in the fast lane.



   

                   

We capitalize on

people who dream



   

                   

of a more glamorous life



   

                   

than the one

that they currently have.



   

                   

People

who are easily influenced.



   

                   

People here,



   

                   

and here, and he...



   

                   

And here.



   

                   

The small-town barber.



   

                   

The clerk

at the local dry cleaners.



   

                   

The people that think

that urban life



   

                   

is where their dreams are.



   

                   

Those are the people

that need your product.



   

                   

They need your lies,



   

                   

your false images

of success and glamour.



   

                   

The poison that

causes them to look



   

                   

for fulfillment



   

                   

in material things

rather than in people.



   

                   

Yes, ladies and gentlemen,



   

                   

if making money

is our number-one goal,



   

                   

then it's the little people

in the little towns



   

                   

that we should exploit.



   

                   

After all, what do they know?



   

                   

They're just a bunch of country

bumpkins anyway, right?



   

                   

Way to go, Darrin.



   

                   

Yes!



   

                   

Yes!



   

                   

That's the way

we're all going to make money.



   

                   

Well done, Darrin.



   

                   

Lilly, open up, it's me, Darrin.



   

                   

Darrin?



   

                   

I knew you'd be here.



   

                   

How?



   

                   

It was on the radio

in the back.



   

                   

Where is everybody?



   

                   

They're on the way to Columbus

for the Gospel Explosion.



   

                   

I didn't think

they'd have left yet.



   

                   

Why aren't you with them?



   

                   

Paulina found out I gave you

the names of them singers.



   

                   

We had a fight,

and I asserted myself.



   

                   

What happened?



   

                   

They went without me.



   

                   

Oh.



   

                   

I'm afraid Lilly's

not with them, either.



   

                   

Nobody has seen her

since you left.



   

                   

Uh, but I've been fine

since you left.



   

                   

Thanks for asking.



   

                   

What are you doing here?



   

                   

I came back.



   

                   

I should have never left

in the first place.



   

                   

Go away.



   

                   

I don't want to see you.



   

                   

Is it because I lied

about being a music producer?



   

                   

I'm sorry about that, too.



   

                   

I'm not a fool.



   

                   

I knew you weren't a producer.



   

                   

You didn't even know

what a downbeat was.



   

                   

You didn't know the difference



   

                   

in keys and notes.



   

                   

- You didn't know...

- Right, I get your point.



   

                   

If you knew all that,

why'd you get so mad?



   

                   

I was angry with myself.



   

                   

It's my own fault.



   

                   

I don't know why I expected



   

                   

anything different

from someone like you.



   

                   

Yeah. I blamed you, too,

at first.



   

                   

Well, I had to blame someone.



   

                   

But when I got back to New York,

something was different.



   

                   

For some reason, I felt like



   

                   

I didn't have to lie anymore.



   

                   

The truth felt better.



   

                   

Why should I believe you now?



   

                   

Because I came back



   

                   

so that the commitment

I made to the choir



   

                   

wouldn't be a lie.



   

                   

Lilly,



   

                   

hate me, despise me...

I deserve it.



   

                   

But don't let the choir down.



   

                   

Please.



   

                   

Come with me to the Explosion.



   

                   

I can't.



   

                   

Paulina kicked me out

as soon as you left.



   

                   

You got to come with me.



   

                   

Without you, that choir



   

                   

is a bunch of drunks,

babies' daddies and convicts.



   

                   

They might as well

be an NFL team.



   

                   

Let me go through the shadow

of the valley of death.



   

                   

I shall fear no evil.



   

                   

We really appreciate

you doing this, Lucius.



   

                   

I'm just happy you were home

when we came by.



   

                   

Oh, no, you know



   

                   

I wasn't going to go down

to the Explosion



   

                   

without Darrin being involved,

now, Lilly.



   

                   

Well, I'm glad our friendship

is what's most important to you.



   

                   

That's all that matters.



   

                   

What?!



   

                   

Now, wait a minute, man.



   

                   

You stupid jerk!



   

                   

Get me right if I'm wrong.



   

                   

It sounds like you're trying



   

                   

to skip out on paying me.



   

                   

Lucius.



   

                   

Oh, okay, I forgot.



   

                   

We doing this for the Lord.



   

                   

I forgot about that.



   

                   

Amen.



   

                   

But in the Bible, it

says get your money, man.



   

                   

That's what it say in

one of them scriptures.



   

                   

Come back and take me home



   

                   

I've been wait



   

                   

Been waiting for you



   

                   

Pray



   

                   

Praying to you



   

                   

Wait



   

                   

Laboring for you



   

                   

I've been wait



   

                   

Living for you



   

                   

- Wait

- Giving for you



   

                   

- Wait

- Driven by you



   

                   

I've been wait



   

                   

Oh, so patiently,

for your face to see



   

                   

Waiting for you



   

                   

For you to come back...



   

                   

Broadcasting live from down

at the Gospel Explosion.



   

                   

Coming up soon, going to be



   

                   

the Five Blind Boys

from Alabama.



   

                   

Uh, used to be six of them,

but one of them got healed.



   

                   

He's the driver now,

and they need him,



   

                   

'cause, well, they kept

hitchhiking the wrong way.



   

                   

Excuse me.



   

                   

Which choir are you with?



   

                   

The Beulah Baptist Gospel Choir,

Monte Carlo, Georgia.



   

                   

Got you.



   

                   

You'll be coming

on soon.



   

                   

Paulina, some of these choirs

are pretty big.



   

                   

All right, boys, let's go.



   

                   

Get down.



   

                   

We don't need those felons.



   

                   

God is on our side.



   

                   

This is a gospel competition.



   

                   

He's on everybody's side.



   

                   

And now...



   

                   

...we present to you...



   

                   

the Blind Boys of Alabama.



   

                   

Beulah Choir, Beulah Choir.



   

                   

Before we go on,

we need to make sure



   

                   

that we're spiritually clean,



   

                   

so, I've made a list of sins



   

                   

that you all need

to be forgiven for.



   

                   

Starting with you.

Yesterday...



   

                   

I'm a soldier



   

                   

...ln the army of the Lord



   

                   

Good old soldiers



   

                   

In the army



   

                   

Well, when I get to heaven,

gonna sing and shout



   

                   

Be nobody up there

to turn me out



   

                   

Talk with the Father,

chat with the Son



   

                   

Yeah



   

                   

Tell 'em 'bout the world

I just came from



   

                   

I'm a soldier



   

                   

In the army of the Lord



   

                   

A mighty good soldier



   

                   

In the army...



   

                   

Great, we made it!



   

                   

I'm sorry I left

in the first place,



   

                   

and if you let me,

I'll make it up to you.



   

                   

Starting with

keeping my commitment



   

                   

and leading you

in the Explosion.



   

                   

- Hey, man, yeah!

- Not so



   

                   

fast.



   

                   

He isn't leadin' this choir,



   

                   

and she sure as h-h-heck

isn't singing in it.



   

                   

Uh, excuse me, technically,

it's still my choir.



   

                   

Oh, is it?



   

                   

Well, technically, you violated

the Explosion rules



   

                   

when you recruited choir members

by offering to pay them,



   

                   

so if you don't mind,

my choir is about to perform.



   

                   

Reverend, can she do this?



   

                   

- Uh...

- Back me up,



   

                   

Paul... you know I'm right.



   

                   

W-W-Well, technically...



   

                   

Technically, that also



   

                   

gives me the right

to kick out who I want,



   

                   

right, Paul?



   

                   

Oh, now...



   

                   

Now you

and Miss Round-the-Way here



   

                   

can just leave.



   

                   

Tell 'em, Paul.



   

                   

Let's not go...



   

                   

Let's not forget

that when you went to New York,



   

                   

you forfeited your rights

to the inheritance.



   

                   

Isn't that what the will says,



   

                   

Paul?



   

                   

Paul!



   

                   

Oh, now, don't worry,

he agrees with me.



   

                   

The will doesn't say anything

about a cackling, overbearing,



   

                   

hypocritical, old bitty who's

about to drive me crazy



   

                   

just like she did her husband!



   

                   

I didn't drive James crazy,

Paul... God rest his soul.



   

                   

And that's another thing.



   

                   

I'm tired of telling this lie



   

                   

to everybody about you

being a widow.



   

                   

What?



   

                   

James lives in Patterson County,

y'all.



   

                   

Yeah, with a big,



   

                   

fine, new young wife...

know how to make a man say,



   

                   

"Amen" when he at home,



   

                   

as well as in the church.



   

                   

You can nitpick

about the church bylaws



   

                   

and the technicalities of Aunt

Sally's will all you want,



   

                   

but what really matters

is the spirit of her wishes,



   

                   

and Aunt Sally's dying wish was

for Darrin to lead this choir.



   

                   

End of story.



   

                   

You think you can

challenge me, boy?



   

                   

- Reverend Lewis...

- Hmm?



   

                   

Do the bylaws say anything



   

                   

about voting someone out

of the choir?



   

                   

Yes, they do...



   

                   

as long as it's by a majority



   

                   

of baptized choir members.



   

                   

Paulina, thank you

for making sure



   

                   

all of us are baptized.



   

                   

All in favor of kicking Paulina

out of the choir...



   

                   

Listening to that voice

deep inside saying



   

                   

- You know

- I'll be here



   

                   

Always



   

                   

Forever



   

                   

Don't matter what happens



   

                   

I'm gonna stay the same



   

                   

Hey...



   

                   

you guys ready?



   

                   

- Fo shizzle.

- Yeah.



   

                   

Let's knock 'em dead.



   

                   

- Darrin.

- Oh.



   

                   

I suppose

you'll be leaving us soon.



   

                   

Now, is it okay if the lawyers



   

                   

- mail your inheritance check?

- Keep it.



   

                   

Make it out

to the Beulah Baptist Church.



   

                   

Don't you want to know

how much it is?



   

                   

I want to give the church

a Sally Walker Day Care Center



   

                   

and a new roof.



   

                   

It was only worth $   .



   

                   

I-I thought you said

the portfolio



   

                   

was worth $      .



   

                   

Didn't you read about it?



   

                   

Georgia Telecom went belly-up



   

                   

when you were up in New York.



   

                   

I guess we better

go win this church some money.



   

                   

Give 'em hell.



   

                   

I mean that in the most

Christian way.



   

                   

Sure.



   

                   

Ready? Let's go.



   

                   

Wait.



   

                   

I want you to hear

how they announce us.



   

                   

Why?



   

                   

You inspired it.



   

                   

- I did?

- Yes.



   

                   

Right now, from

the Beulah Baptist Church



   

                   

in Monte Carlo, Georgia...



   

                   

Here are the

Fighting Temptations!



   

                   

Okay. Is everyone ready?



    

                   

Yo, why do we have

to wear these robes?



    

                   

I don't wear this stuff.



    

                   

Yes, everyone has to wear

the same thing.



    

                   

Why?



    

                   

My suit is tight,

and ladies don't like



    

                   

to see Lucius in no robe.



    

                   

Okay, everyone

takes their robe off.



    

                   

No.



    

                   

What?



    

                   

Well, apparently the Fighting

Temptations aren't quite ready.



    

                   

All right, okay, all right,



    

                   

listen, listen, listen.



    

                   

We hope to hear

from the Fighting Temptations



    

                   

Yes.



    

                   

Before Judgment Day.



    

                   

All right...



    

                   

all right.



    

                   

Oh, no, he might start singing.



    

                   

Get out there.

Get out there.



    

                   

Three, four...



    

                   

Duh, duh, duh



    

                   

Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh



    

                   

Duh, duh, duh



    

                   

Duh-nuh, duh-nuh



    

                   

- Dum, duh, duh, dum, dum

- Dum, dum, dum



    

                   

- Ooh...

- Duh, nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh



    

                   

- Ho, ooh, whoa

- Dum, dum, dum



    

                   

Duh-nuh, du-nuh



    

                   

Took me a while,

but I'm finally here



    

                   

So I just want to testify



    

                   

Make it crystal clear



    

                   

- Take your time

- See, I been picked out



    

                   

- To be picked on

- Oh, no



    

                   

Talked about

out my friend's mouth



    

                   

- I been beat down

- Yeah, yeah



    

                   

Till He turned my life around



    

                   

Turned my life around



    

                   

Seemed like I always

fall short of being worthy



    

                   

'Cause I ain't good enough,

but He still loves me



    

                   

- Yeah, yeah

- I ain't no superstar



    

                   

The spotlight ain't shining

on me



    

                   

No, no, no, no, no



    

                   

'Cause I ain't good enough



    

                   

- No...

- But He still loves me, love me



    

                   

I used to wake up some days

and wish I'd stayed asleep



    

                   

Why can't you, girl?



    

                   

'Cause I went to bed

on top of the world



    

                   

Today the world's on top of me



    

                   

- Now, everybody's got opinions

- They share



    

                   

- They've been in my position

- They don't care



    

                   

That it breaks my heart

when I hear



    

                   

What they have to say

about me



    

                   

- What'd they say about you?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah



    

                   

Seems like I always fall short

of being worthy



    

                   

Fall short



    

                   

Lord, I ain't worthy, no



    

                   

'Cause I ain't good enough



    

                   

- But He still loves me

- Still loves me, yeah



    

                   

I ain't no superstar



    

                   

Ain't no superstar



    

                   

The spotlight

ain't shining on me



    

                   

I want to be for you



    

                   

'Cause I ain't good enough,

but He still loves me



    

                   

I'm not perfect



    

                   

I'm not perfect



    

                   

Yes, I do wrong



    

                   

Yes, I do wrong



    

                   

I'm trying my best



    

                   

- Trying my best

- I ain't good enough



    

                   

Just ain't good enough,

no, no



    

                   

Sure, I done wrong



    

                   

- The sun rises anyway

- lf I don't succeed



    

                   

- lf I don't succeed

- 'Cause I ain't good enough



    

                   

- I ain't good enough

- Just ain't good enough



    

                   

But you love me



    

                   

If you ain't worthy,

just raise your hands



    

                   

And let me know

that you understand



    

                   

That we are all so blessed

to be loved



    

                   

Loved



    

                   

Stand for him

and fall for anything



    

                   

'Cause through his eyes

we all look the same



    

                   

What would we do without blame?



    

                   

Seemed like we always

fall short of being worthy



    

                   

We are not worthy



    

                   

- 'Cause I ain't good enough

- I'm...



    

                   

- I ain't good enough

- But He still loves me



    

                   

I ain't good enough



    

                   

I ain't no superstar



    

                   

- I ain't no superstar

- But He still loves me



    

                   

But I want to be for you, Lord



    

                   

- 'Cause I ain't good enough

- Whoa, whoa



    

                   

- But He still loves me

- But He still loves me, me, me



    

                   

- I'm not worthy

- I'm not worthy



    

                   

- No, no, no, no

- Yes, I do know



    

                   

Yes, I do know,

know, know, know



    

                   

Trying my best



    

                   

It ain't good enough



    

                   

- I ain't good enough

- Shunned by the world



    

                   

Shunned by the world



    

                   

- lf I don't succeed

- I don't succeed



    

                   

- I'm not good enough

- I ain't good enough



    

                   

- But He still loves me

- Ooh, He loves me



    

                   

- Would you all sing with me?

- Hold up your hands



    

                   

If you understand, just sing



    

                   

I'm trying my best, but I...



    

                   

It ain't good enough



    

                   

Oh, the Lord's been

so good to me



    

                   

- Shunned by the world

- I've been shunned by the world



    

                   

- When I don't succeed

- I've been shunned by the world



    

                   

- I ain't good enough

- He still loves me



    

                   

The Lord still loves me



    

                   

Lord, I ain't good enough



    

                   

No, no, no...



    

                   

Raise your hands

if you understand



    

                   

How He blesses you,

'cause He blessed me, too



    

                   

- He still loves me

- Even though I ain't worthy



    

                   

You ain't worthy...

He's there for you.



    

                   

No, I ain't good enough



    

                   

- But He still loves me

- I don't know what I'd do



    

                   

- Though I ain't good enough

- I ain't good enough



    

                   

- But He still loves me

- But the Lord still loves me.



    

                   

And the winner is...



    

                   

The Fighting Temptations!



    

                   

Wow, uh...

on-on behalf of the choir,



    

                   

I just want to say thank you.



    

                   

I'm really proud of my hometown,

Monte Carlo.



    

                   

Uh, and just one more thing.



    

                   

My mom once told

me not to settle



    

                   

for anything less

than the best...



    

                   

...and if Lilly will have me,



    

                   

I can finally say

that I kept my promise.



    

                   

Monte Carlo!



    

                   

Monte Carlo!



    

                   

Monte Carlo!



    

                   

And since God keeps blessing us

with new souls every week,



    

                   

we're soon going to be starting

our building expansion project.



    

                   

Yes... yeah. Yes.



    

                   

And now, let's be blessed

by our wonderful choir.



    

                   

Come on, clap your hands,

stomp your feet



    

                   

Clap your hands

and stomp your feet, come on



    

                   

Clap your hands,

stomp your feet, yeah



    

                   

Clap your hands,

stomp your feet, y'all



    

                   

Hand of power, son,

has finally returned



    

                   

Yeah



    

                   

And now He's home



    

                   

- And He want to get it on

- Whoa, ho, ho



    

                   

- Want to get close?

- I feel sanctified



    

                   

- Come on, Lord!

- Whoo, come on!



    

                   

Come-a, come-a, come on



    

                   

- Come on

- Come on, come on



    

                   

Come...



    

                   

- All God's children

- All God's children



    

                   

- Oh, yeah

- Come back home



    

                   

All God's children



    

                   

- Feels good, Lord

- Come back home



    

                   

Said I feel good,

feel, feel, feel, feel good



    

                   

- Come back home

- 'Cause I feel good



    

                   

- All God's children

- Feel, feel, feel, feel good



    

                   

Come back home



    

                   

Say it loud



    

                   

Say it loud!



    

                   

- Say it loud

- I...



    

                   

- Say it loud

- I...



    

                   

- I'm coming home

- Coming home



    

                   

- Coming home

- Coming home



    

                   

- Say good God of mine

- Yeah



    

                   

- Feel, feel soul

- Yeah



    

                   

- Good God of mine

- Lord



    

                   

Want the world to know

that I am coming



    

                   

I am coming



    

                   

- I'm coming

- I'm coming



    

                   

- I'm coming

- Yeah, yeah



    

                   

My brothers and sisters



    

                   

All God's children



    

                   

- Yeah!

...Yourself



    

                   

- Coming home...

- Coming home



    

                   

- Coming home

- Coming home



    

                   

I got the feeling



    

                   

- Yeah!

- Going home now



    

                   

- Ooh, ooh, ooh

...To the Lord...



    

                   

- We going to get on down

- Coming home



    

                   

- Going home...

- Coming home



    

                   

- Going home

- Coming home



    

                   

Say I'm feeling,

feeling the fire



    

                   

- Yeah

- I feel it in my soul.



    

                   

God, I'm a slave



    

                   

To get to heaven, Reverend says

I got to be saved



    

                   

And behave, though I'm

too stuck in my ways



    

                   

Give him praise



    

                   

Words can't express

what I feel inside of my flesh



    

                   

Every breath is giving him glory

until my death



    

                   

I feel blessed



    

                   

'Cause every day I see him

in the world



    

                   

- I feel blessed

I don't want to do no more dirt



    

                   

I feel blessed



    

                   

'Cause that path I was on

was wrong



    

                   

- I feel blessed

- It's time to come home



    

                   

It doesn't matter

where you been



    

                   

Or what you did wrong



    

                   

It doesn't matter who you are



    

                   

You're always welcome



    

                   

It only matters

that your heart believes



    

                   

And you confess



    

                   

If you committed any sin,

you'll be forgiven



    

                   

Callin' on all of God's children



    

                   

Time to come home



    

                   

If you want to be delivered



    

                   

Time to come home...



    

                   

I've been rescued

by the savior



    

                   

Time to come home...



    

                   

- lf you want to be

- You need to be



    

                   

- Time to come home...

- Want to be



    

                   

Ooh, don't bear the burden

all by yourself



    

                   

By yourself



    

                   

The redeemer's here...

He's going to give you help



    

                   

Give you a hand



    

                   

Hold on to Him,

and He will give you rest



    

                   

For any heart that's heavy

lay soul salvation



    

                   

Ooh... whoa...



    

                   

Completely up, down...

He knows



    

                   

- Time to come home

- Time to come home



    

                   

- Believe in me

- Time to come home



    

                   

I've been rescued by the savior



    

                   

Time to come home



    

                   

Don't you want to be

in His favor?



    

                   

Time to come home



    

                   

Oh... my home



    

                   

Come home



    

                   

- You're home

- You're home



    

                   

The everlasting home



    

                   

Time to come home.



    

                   

You know

I'm your daddy, right?



    

                   

Oh, just relax, yo,

I'm just kidding.













  

 
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