Greenleaf (2016) s03e01 Episode Script
Strange Currents
1 Previously on "Greenleaf" I'm looking for Charity.
WOMAN: She's touring, singing.
I came to apologize.
I was wrong to leave like that.
I'm ready to be a father again.
Triumph has moved very aggressively these last couple months.
One of the things we've been pressing forward on with a passion is our outreach to the homeless.
I'm interested in more a personal connection.
I've sensed that.
I told that brother of mine this'll never work.
But you know what Basie says.
There's more than one way to skin a Greenleaf.
My mom knows we're having sex.
- What?! - Why are you mad at me? - I'm in trouble.
- You blamin' me? - [SIGHS.]
Isaiah.
- You really blamin' me? - I just saw Isaiah hit Zora.
- He did what? [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- Zora? - Kerissa! - KERISSA: What's wrong? Baby, she's not here.
What do you mean she's not here? - I forgive you.
- You forgive me for what? James.
For gettin' back at me with him that one time.
One time, really? I can't even count the times.
I want you out of this house.
Bishop, come on in.
ROCHELLE: James.
James.
[SIGHS.]
Rochelle.
I needed that.
Oh, yes, you did.
You've had a stressful day, and it's not even noon.
You didn't order room service.
No, I mean Folks might get the wrong idea.
Listen, I want to thank you for listening earlier.
My pleasure.
I just wish I could've done more to comfort you.
I still can.
I'm still married.
So, where are you off to from here? Calvary.
You can't take one day off? I tried that once and, uh Didn't know what to do with myself.
Let me help you with this collar.
Oh, I got it.
Wow, I love this cross.
It's so Beautiful.
I'm still married.
But she threw you out.
I'm married to God's vision of the man I'm meant to be.
Well Mae whatever she does is beside the point.
[SIGHS.]
Oh, Lord Jesus.
What? It's my granddaughter.
It seems Zora's run off with that boy.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I didn't know what else to do.
Isaiah hit her so hard.
GRACE: Sophia, you did the right thing.
I know, but maybe if I didn't tell him, Zora wouldn't have run away.
Is there any news? Hey, hey.
Not yet, unfortunately.
Okay.
I'm so worried about Zora.
I've just been prayin' the whole way.
I was prayin' and cryin' and prayin'.
Where were you coming from? [SIGHS.]
Nashville, my first show.
But now I got to stay a few days and handle things with Kevin.
Kevin's back? - Mm-hmm.
- God help me.
And making noises about custody.
After he walked out and vanished? Apparently, but he only spoke to mama.
Well, I wouldn't call it speaking.
He showed up and crowed he'd got some legal advice from Aaron, or it seemed like that anyway from his tone.
I'm sorry you have to deal with that.
No, it's it's fine.
My next show's in Jackson Monday, so Jabari's coming to pick me up tomorrow after church.
Sophia, sweetheart, can you help me get the rest of my stuff upstairs? Yeah, I'll grab some bags and take them up.
Thank you, baby.
Where's Daddy? Is he at Jacob's? No.
We called him.
He knows.
He's on his way to the church right now.
[SCOFFS.]
Wow.
I've been gone for a day and all of this happens? Y'all need me here more than you think.
How you holdin' up, mama? Don't give me that sympathy.
Excuse me? When you came home for faith's funeral you promised me that you hadn't come to sow discord.
Now look at us.
Look at me.
I came back to deal with Mac.
Oh, and we're all still paying for that, Grace.
Oh.
[LAUGHS.]
I know you're upset you and my sister you're never happy until everybody is stewin' in their own shame and sin.
Grace you don't know the meaning of that word.
Now I'm a little confused.
Oh, a little confused? I didn't make Zora run away, I didn't make Kevin gay, and I certainly didn't send Daddy out the door to auntie.
Now what did I do, mom?! Bang around this family like a bull in a China shop until everything's broken, actin' like it's God's work.
In this family, it is! Don't you say anything like that to me! Amen All right Amen Uh-huh, hmm Ooh-ooh, ooh Well Oh-ohh, ohh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Amen, amen oh Yeah [DOOR CREAKS.]
Where you think you're going? - To my room.
- Mnh-mnh.
Give me that bag.
Why? Give me the bag.
Give me the bag.
I want the wallet, atm card, which you can forget about.
Everything.
You're on lockdown.
Phone, too.
I know you got a new one.
I need my phone.
What if there's an emergency? This is an emergency.
From now on, your mother and I will be clocking you every step of the way.
We will have eyes on you 24-7.
So don't worry.
Something happens, we'll see it.
You want something to eat? Oh.
[SCOFFS.]
I'm allowed to eat? Is it mealtime in the prison? - Hey, that tone use it again.
- Jacob.
We found this girl 10 miles shy of the state line in a roach motel and you're talking to me like I'm the problem? Okay, we're all tired.
Let's just take a beat.
You better be glad we didn't press charges against that boy.
You should be glad he didn't press charges against you.
Don't act like you didn't cut some sort of deal.
Little girl, anything in your pockets? - Want to check? - Yes, I do.
Want to act like a little criminal, then I'm gonna treat you like one.
All right, now you can go.
Go to your room.
Don't behave like your sister, you hear me? Yes, sir.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Now what? [SIGHS.]
Hello? Yes, Gigi.
Yes, she's home.
Yes, can you let everybody know that she's home? Okay, thank you.
[DOOR SLAMS.]
You're grounded for life! And don't slam my door.
I'll take it off the hinges! [CHATTER.]
Hello.
Excuse me.
I'm I'm sorry? You'd like to see the Bishop? Yes, if he's available.
My guess is he's not.
Oh.
[INTERCOM BEEPS.]
Miss cross is here to see you.
JAMES: Oh, you send her right in.
Well, look at me.
Just like Moses partin' seas left and right.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, you can leave that right there.
Oh, I'll take it off your hands.
[PAPERS RUSTLING.]
Hey.
Hey.
I've been praying for Zora.
She's home safe, praise God.
Oh, praise God.
I-I know it's crazy, but I feel like that little girl is a part of my family.
[CHUCKLES.]
Would you mind closing that door, please? Oh, of course, yes.
So, how are you holdin' up? Listen [CLEARS THROAT.]
About what happened today I know, I-I was wrong.
No, no, no, no.
I was wrong.
It was all me.
Well, you are still married.
I am.
Uh, our doors are always open for you to come and worship But I don't think that we should be spending personal time together.
Got it.
Bishop, you're a dear man, and I would give you anything you needed including space.
[SIGHS.]
Hey, Corinne, is the Bishop busy? No, go right on in.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Uh, Gigi.
Hi.
I, um, I was actually on my way out.
Yes, yeah.
I'll see you tomorrow morning? Yeah, I-in church.
Yes, yes.
Buy you a cup of coffee? Please.
KERISSA: How ya feeling? Honey, I know things are a little tense right now and it's gonna take some adjusting to but I want you to know that your father and I only want the best for you.
We love you very much.
Do you know that? I'm sorry I ran away.
I just I didn't know what to do.
Everyone saw, and I-I couldn't just stay here after I ruined everything.
Oh, honey.
You didn't ruin anything.
Dad could've gone to jail or something.
I just wish he wasn't so mad at me.
- Come here, come on.
- [CRIES.]
Come on, it's okay.
I don't know what else to do.
It's all right, baby.
[CRIES.]
It's gonna be okay.
It's okay.
JAMES: How are you doing, Gigi? GRACE: I was gonna ask you that same thing, Daddy.
Well, listen, I'm fantastic.
Really? - Yeah.
- Come on.
I am out of the shadow of a mad woman who would believe lies about me told by her worst enemy.
Is that what they are? What do you mean? Are they lies? Aunt Mavis is lying? Look, that's none of your business.
So Mavis isn't lying.
Stay out of it.
It's better for everyone, trust me.
The spending has to end.
The homeless aren't giving any money.
Britney, the budget meeting's over.
But the money problems aren't.
Look, I know you're just trying to do your job, but I can't do this right now.
You do understand that ever since you took over, money's been going through this church faster than green grass through a goose.
Britney, the board passed a unanimous resolution to partner with real church unanimous.
Because they didn't know how much it would cost.
Look, we're gonna start streaming live next month.
There'll be plenty of money.
Now, this meeting's over.
You are gonna bankrupt this church.
Thank you for your concern.
Hey.
Hey.
You know I've never heard her speak to Basie like that.
If it was up to me, I'd fire her.
Just sayin'.
KEVIN: He's my son.
I want to see him, Charity.
CHARITY: Well, maybe you should've thought about that before you full-on ghosted on us.
I wasn't thinking when I left.
Kevin, fatherhood is not some Club you just drop in on when you feel like it.
I know.
I regret what I did.
I just had to get right with myself, and I'm ready to be a father now.
I don't know that I'm ready to let you.
Now, I'm gonna tell you what I told your mother I'm ready to go to court.
Kevin, I am in the middle of a tour right now.
Then just leave him with me, then.
I [LAUGHS.]
No.
How do I know you won't get in some strange mood again? How do I know that you won't write another note and disappear? Absolutely not.
Charity, I have a right to see my son.
Charity! Oh, God.
[SIGHS.]
[CELLPHONE BEEPS.]
Good morning.
Chai latte.
Oh, you're so thoughtful.
What's that? It came earlier this morning.
[DOOR OPENS.]
MAE: Well, it's good to see your sense of entitlement hasn't suffered since you cheated your way out of every good thing that God ever gave you.
Mae, we have a problem.
Where were you this morning when your granddaughter was missing, James? My phone was off.
Answer the question, James.
Where were you? The Biltmore, sleeping Since I was ejected from my home by a mad woman.
Look, do you want to hear about this or not? What is that? It's a letter from the I.
R.
S.
- The what? - Read it if you want, but I'll give you the reader's digest version.
When Mac said he would take care of our problems with the I.
R.
S.
, what he did was pay some joker a bribe.
Now that joker's been caught.
The bottom line if we don't pay the I.
R.
S.
$2 million in the next 90 days, they're gonna come after us for tax evasion.
How could you let this happen?! It was your brother, Mae! How are we supposed to pay that, James? I don't know.
I don't know.
But what I do know is this whether we take a special offering, appeal to the round table, or beg Clara Jackson on bended knee for more of her powerball money, I do know that it'll all run smoother If we're a united front under one roof.
Well, my answer Is no.
Are you insane? There's a thin line between keeping up appearances and flat-out hypocrisy.
[SCOFFS.]
Now, you can go and shuck and jive with Clara or whoever else will watch and stop while you do it, but you do will do it in the street with the trash you seem to love.
I'll come and get my things in the morning.
I don't care what you do.
Tasha told me Britney never talked to Basie like that.
She got to go.
No, she's been there since the church started, and she's good at her job.
Yeah, but you didn't see the way she went in on me and real church.
Trust me, K, you would've fired her.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Hello? Jacob? I hope I'm not bothering you, son.
Nah, not bothering me at all, pop.
Tasha said she'd fire her.
Oh, is Tasha first lady? No, that's not what I meant.
What's up, pop? Listen, I just wanted you to know that, uh, your mother has thrown me out of the house.
Thrown you out? I-it's not my idea.
Oh, no, Bishop? Who? [CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Uh, pop, uh, hold on a second, okay? Just hold on.
I'm gonna put you on hold.
Hey, mama.
How you doin'? How's my granddaughter? She's fine.
How are you? Uh, pop told me you threw him out of the house? Did he tell you why? No.
No, he didn't, did he? What's going on? I don't know.
Um, but [CELLPHONE RINGS.]
I'm sorry, mama.
Just hold on real quick.
Real quick.
[SIGHS.]
Hey, Gigi.
Jacob, we need to talk.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah, we do.
You got to talk to mama.
It's been one night.
Going on two! She's never kicked him out of the house before, has she? Or did I miss something? No, she hasn't, but so this is different.
Hey, what did Daddy do? I don't know.
I don't know! You know, you're just not tellin' us.
Yeah, I saw that look, too.
Look, Gigi, just tell us what Daddy did.
He had an affair with aunt Mavis.
That's not an affair, that's before he married mama.
Yeah, I mean, even I know about that.
No, no, no, no, this was after they got married.
More than once, y'all.
They had an ongoing? Yep.
Gigi's right.
She's not gonna take him back.
Who told you this? Mama did.
And why did pop tell her? He didn't tell her, auntie told her.
They're gonna get a divorce.
And from the way he was talking today, it sounds like it's true.
I'm gonna come from a broken home.
- Really? - What are you, 12? Jacob, what are you, heartless? This is our parents we're talking about.
Our family, I mean come on.
Gigi, you need to fix this.
Why me? Why you? Gigi, before you came home, mama and aunt Mavis didn't even talk.
Just just talk to her, okay, Jacob? Get her to forgive him, take him back.
Please.
I mean look, I'll check on mama to check on mama, but all the grief pop put me through after my little slip-up, he deserves a taste of what he's so good at dishing out.
This ain't about you.
It ain't about you, either.
What's your problem? What if my mother's right? She's not.
You know she's not.
Charity said none of this would've happened if I didn't come home, and I think she's right.
They'll figure it out.
Will you come to church with me tomorrow? No.
No? As a favor to me? And what good would that do? It would show that you're in this with me.
I am.
That doesn't mean I have to play my part in some soap opera with a cross in the background.
Wow.
You know what I mean.
Want to try me again at Christmas? You know, don't joke about that.
Well, don't ask me to go to church.
Okay, should I go before this actually turns into a fight? It's not a fight.
- It's not.
- It's not a fight.
Yeah, 'cause I'MMA go home.
- No.
- Yep.
No.
All right.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
I'm just I'm tired.
- That's all.
- I know, it's good.
I'll call you later.
Mama? Why aren't you dressed? First service starts in half an hour.
I-I can't go to church.
The thought of your father up there preaching like everything is fine.
How do you young people say it? I can't even.
Well, what'll you do? I don't know.
What do people do on Sunday morning when they don't go to church? It's been so long, I don't even remember.
[UPBEAT GOSPEL MUSIC PLAYS.]
Go knock Pick a bushel full Doors wide open, waitin' for your soul I'm awake I have no need to fear 'Cause he is ever near He'll know my work was true So glad the day is through It wasn't for me to say I didn't think I'd make it today But I'm walkin', not knockin' Into heaven Goodbye Hey, you don't knock Just walk right in All you got to do is walk Walk right in Walk right in Just walk Jesus is waiting All you got to do is walk All you got to do is walk Everything you need Lady Mae is ill, I assume.
You know, she's got a cold.
I'll keep her in my prayers.
God bless you, thank you.
He said Hey The door There's love Oh, love to share I know To rest You don't knock Doors wide open, waitin' for your soul Don't knock don't knock Just walk on in Hey Hallelujah! Amen, amen.
Oh, Charity, baby.
Thank you, Charity.
Now, I believe she gave sister staples a run for her money, don't you? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[WOMAN LAUGHING.]
Before we get started, I want to call a little attention today to my lovely granddaughter Sophia, who is up here with me today.
[APPLAUSE.]
Lady Mae is dealing with some family matters in Little Rock.
Let us all pray for her, for her safe return.
ALL: Amen.
Amen.
Now, today i want to talk about The the unimaginable courage of Jesus of Nazareth.
Preach, Bishop! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
Are you listening to me? Now, many of us face hardships every day Situations that we go into not knowing what is going to be the outcome.
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS.]
Now, see we are all Shepherd not just one, not two, not three, all of us! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
We're all his sheep and we're all his Shepherds.
We got to take care of one another, protect each other, save our children from sin! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
Every single one of us! You see when that one sheep slips out of our sight, don't we run after it? [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
Don't matter if it's one or a thousand, we do anything we can to get it back, and oh, how we rejoice when we hear that lonely bleat.
Amen! [INDISTINCT SINGING.]
What is lost? We're all lost! [FAINT APPLAUSE AND SINGING.]
Lady Mae? How come you're not at Calvary? [MUSIC CONTINUES.]
Oh, would you like a cup of tea? Oh, I'd love one.
Of course! Is this what they have you doing? What do you mean? Well, you used to be first lady.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah, first lady.
Um, would you hand me those fudge stripes right there, please? The which? Those there, the fudge stripes.
[SCOFFS.]
Have one! - Oh, no, thank you.
- Oh, I insist, please.
These things always go so fast.
So, I heard a story about a first lady from Winston-Salem the other day.
After 27 years of leading a flock with her husband, he ended up leaving her for a younger woman.
She got tossed up out of the church and ended up moving into one of those apartment complexes you see on the side of the highway, where the sign says, "If you lived here, you'd be home by now.
" [SIGHS.]
Here you go.
Doesn't seem fair, does it? Oh, just wait.
She ends up coming home from the grocery store one night Mm-hmm.
falls and trips on the outside stairs.
Oh, no.
Tumbles over the balcony, falls two stories, hits her head, and now she can't even talk.
Oh, my Lord.
She lives in a home.
One eye is like this.
Like this.
Like this! Look! Look at the eye! [GASPS.]
I've got it good.
[SIGHS.]
Did did I say something wrong? The point I was making is that I'm blessed.
I mean, we both are.
Yes, yes.
I mean, even you more than me.
At least you still have a husband.
Mine's gone.
Thank you for the tea.
Oh, well, you didn't want to stay and say bye to Kerissa and Jacob? [STAMMERS.]
I, uh, I think I should go.
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS.]
Let us bow our heads.
Father God, we promise to use these gifts to heal your people.
Every dollar goes straight to you! Bless these tithes and offerings father, in Jesus' name Amen.
ALL: Amen.
There you go.
But it wasn't quite church.
Oh, honey, you did a great job.
I could barely get through that sermon.
The whole time I just kept worrying about whether Zora was gonna run out the back doors of the church.
There's a therapist that specializes in this kind of thing that I refer parents to when the teachers report an issue.
I can call her first thing tomorrow morning.
It's gonna take more than counseling to get this girl's head on right.
It's gonna take an act of God.
And whatever it takes, we're gonna get through it.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Yes.
Everything all right, Pastor? Why do you ask? You just seemed a little off your game today, and based on the offering, I'm not the only one that noticed.
[SIGHS.]
Y-you hear this, right? [INHALES DEEPLY.]
- Britney - What? You're fired.
- Why? - Why? Because we need people who are interested in helping us achieve our goals.
What?! Britney! You're fired.
Leave! Goodbye! I thought we were gonna talk.
I told you what Tasha said.
This is for the best.
Trust me.
Yeah.
Yeah? I'm gonna get back to you about that, okay? Just give me two seconds.
What are you doing here? You hung up on me.
Yeah, you've got a lot of nerve.
Well, it's Sunday morning, Charity.
This is my church.
It's also my son's church.
Oh, the son that you abandoned? Well, I'm back now, and our agreement stipulates that I have a right to see my son.
Kevin, I can't believe you.
So when can I see him? I don't know! I go back out on tour tomorrow night, so I don't know.
Well, leave him with me, then.
Yeah, we'll see.
[CHUCKLES.]
It's not gonna be a we'll see.
Excuse me? You either leave him with me or you stay, but you're not taking my son across state lines.
That's kidnapping.
Sister Greenland.
Miss cross.
You're still director of outreach, right? Certainly am.
Ah, well, if you ever need one of your pet projects funded, I know how those deacons, those old biddies can be.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- You let me know.
I might take you up on that.
Please do, because finance is my thing.
Oh, and thank God Zora's home.
God is good.
All the time.
Okay, so, do you want to wait 'til the morning to drive to Jackson? Or we'll leave tonight, beat the traffic? I know a really romantic spot on the way Grenada lake.
Wake up to the beach outside the window.
I can't go to Jackson or come back on the tour or not yet.
Seriously? Okay, you can't just step out in the middle of a tour like that, Charity.
Jabari, I don't want to, but I have to.
Kevin's back, and he's not letting me take Nathan with me.
But you signed a contract.
This is my child we're taking about.
Look, Jabari, I just got to figure this out with Kevin before I leave.
Please.
[SIGHS.]
Britney, baby, now, you know how they are.
They've had it in for you ever since they forced Basie out.
I know, I know.
Well, look, it's just time to move on now, okay? Give God the space to do his thang! All right, well, you know you can call me anytime.
Okay? All right.
Bye.
[SIGHS.]
That girl is so stupid.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Okay, so what do you think about this? Ooh, for the Bishop? - Mm-hmm.
- Yes.
Child, that man had me alone in that hotel room and didn't do a thing.
Well, I guess I got to step my game up.
Well, that'll definitely kill 'em.
What a tragedy.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Oh, what about that one? [CHATTER.]
Hey.
Sorry I'm late.
How was church? It was strange.
But thank you for asking.
It's the least I could do.
What happened? This Rochelle Cross woman she's gotten awfully close with my father, and I feel like she's trying to cozy up to me, too.
What do you think she wants? I don't know, but I feel like she's trying to come between my parents.
I know she's done it at another church.
She's not gonna do it at mine.
Yours? That's new.
No matter what my mother thinks, no matter what she says, this church matters to me.
My family Even more so.
I won't let either of them go down without a fight.
I just came to get my things.
James? Yes? You can come home, but only until we figure out out this mess with the I.
R.
S.
And after that, I don't know.
[SIGHS.]
There's a leak in this old building And my soul has got to move I tell you, my soul has got to move There's a leak in this old building And my soul has got to move I've got another building Not made By hands
WOMAN: She's touring, singing.
I came to apologize.
I was wrong to leave like that.
I'm ready to be a father again.
Triumph has moved very aggressively these last couple months.
One of the things we've been pressing forward on with a passion is our outreach to the homeless.
I'm interested in more a personal connection.
I've sensed that.
I told that brother of mine this'll never work.
But you know what Basie says.
There's more than one way to skin a Greenleaf.
My mom knows we're having sex.
- What?! - Why are you mad at me? - I'm in trouble.
- You blamin' me? - [SIGHS.]
Isaiah.
- You really blamin' me? - I just saw Isaiah hit Zora.
- He did what? [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- Zora? - Kerissa! - KERISSA: What's wrong? Baby, she's not here.
What do you mean she's not here? - I forgive you.
- You forgive me for what? James.
For gettin' back at me with him that one time.
One time, really? I can't even count the times.
I want you out of this house.
Bishop, come on in.
ROCHELLE: James.
James.
[SIGHS.]
Rochelle.
I needed that.
Oh, yes, you did.
You've had a stressful day, and it's not even noon.
You didn't order room service.
No, I mean Folks might get the wrong idea.
Listen, I want to thank you for listening earlier.
My pleasure.
I just wish I could've done more to comfort you.
I still can.
I'm still married.
So, where are you off to from here? Calvary.
You can't take one day off? I tried that once and, uh Didn't know what to do with myself.
Let me help you with this collar.
Oh, I got it.
Wow, I love this cross.
It's so Beautiful.
I'm still married.
But she threw you out.
I'm married to God's vision of the man I'm meant to be.
Well Mae whatever she does is beside the point.
[SIGHS.]
Oh, Lord Jesus.
What? It's my granddaughter.
It seems Zora's run off with that boy.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I didn't know what else to do.
Isaiah hit her so hard.
GRACE: Sophia, you did the right thing.
I know, but maybe if I didn't tell him, Zora wouldn't have run away.
Is there any news? Hey, hey.
Not yet, unfortunately.
Okay.
I'm so worried about Zora.
I've just been prayin' the whole way.
I was prayin' and cryin' and prayin'.
Where were you coming from? [SIGHS.]
Nashville, my first show.
But now I got to stay a few days and handle things with Kevin.
Kevin's back? - Mm-hmm.
- God help me.
And making noises about custody.
After he walked out and vanished? Apparently, but he only spoke to mama.
Well, I wouldn't call it speaking.
He showed up and crowed he'd got some legal advice from Aaron, or it seemed like that anyway from his tone.
I'm sorry you have to deal with that.
No, it's it's fine.
My next show's in Jackson Monday, so Jabari's coming to pick me up tomorrow after church.
Sophia, sweetheart, can you help me get the rest of my stuff upstairs? Yeah, I'll grab some bags and take them up.
Thank you, baby.
Where's Daddy? Is he at Jacob's? No.
We called him.
He knows.
He's on his way to the church right now.
[SCOFFS.]
Wow.
I've been gone for a day and all of this happens? Y'all need me here more than you think.
How you holdin' up, mama? Don't give me that sympathy.
Excuse me? When you came home for faith's funeral you promised me that you hadn't come to sow discord.
Now look at us.
Look at me.
I came back to deal with Mac.
Oh, and we're all still paying for that, Grace.
Oh.
[LAUGHS.]
I know you're upset you and my sister you're never happy until everybody is stewin' in their own shame and sin.
Grace you don't know the meaning of that word.
Now I'm a little confused.
Oh, a little confused? I didn't make Zora run away, I didn't make Kevin gay, and I certainly didn't send Daddy out the door to auntie.
Now what did I do, mom?! Bang around this family like a bull in a China shop until everything's broken, actin' like it's God's work.
In this family, it is! Don't you say anything like that to me! Amen All right Amen Uh-huh, hmm Ooh-ooh, ooh Well Oh-ohh, ohh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Amen, amen oh Yeah [DOOR CREAKS.]
Where you think you're going? - To my room.
- Mnh-mnh.
Give me that bag.
Why? Give me the bag.
Give me the bag.
I want the wallet, atm card, which you can forget about.
Everything.
You're on lockdown.
Phone, too.
I know you got a new one.
I need my phone.
What if there's an emergency? This is an emergency.
From now on, your mother and I will be clocking you every step of the way.
We will have eyes on you 24-7.
So don't worry.
Something happens, we'll see it.
You want something to eat? Oh.
[SCOFFS.]
I'm allowed to eat? Is it mealtime in the prison? - Hey, that tone use it again.
- Jacob.
We found this girl 10 miles shy of the state line in a roach motel and you're talking to me like I'm the problem? Okay, we're all tired.
Let's just take a beat.
You better be glad we didn't press charges against that boy.
You should be glad he didn't press charges against you.
Don't act like you didn't cut some sort of deal.
Little girl, anything in your pockets? - Want to check? - Yes, I do.
Want to act like a little criminal, then I'm gonna treat you like one.
All right, now you can go.
Go to your room.
Don't behave like your sister, you hear me? Yes, sir.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Now what? [SIGHS.]
Hello? Yes, Gigi.
Yes, she's home.
Yes, can you let everybody know that she's home? Okay, thank you.
[DOOR SLAMS.]
You're grounded for life! And don't slam my door.
I'll take it off the hinges! [CHATTER.]
Hello.
Excuse me.
I'm I'm sorry? You'd like to see the Bishop? Yes, if he's available.
My guess is he's not.
Oh.
[INTERCOM BEEPS.]
Miss cross is here to see you.
JAMES: Oh, you send her right in.
Well, look at me.
Just like Moses partin' seas left and right.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, you can leave that right there.
Oh, I'll take it off your hands.
[PAPERS RUSTLING.]
Hey.
Hey.
I've been praying for Zora.
She's home safe, praise God.
Oh, praise God.
I-I know it's crazy, but I feel like that little girl is a part of my family.
[CHUCKLES.]
Would you mind closing that door, please? Oh, of course, yes.
So, how are you holdin' up? Listen [CLEARS THROAT.]
About what happened today I know, I-I was wrong.
No, no, no, no.
I was wrong.
It was all me.
Well, you are still married.
I am.
Uh, our doors are always open for you to come and worship But I don't think that we should be spending personal time together.
Got it.
Bishop, you're a dear man, and I would give you anything you needed including space.
[SIGHS.]
Hey, Corinne, is the Bishop busy? No, go right on in.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Uh, Gigi.
Hi.
I, um, I was actually on my way out.
Yes, yeah.
I'll see you tomorrow morning? Yeah, I-in church.
Yes, yes.
Buy you a cup of coffee? Please.
KERISSA: How ya feeling? Honey, I know things are a little tense right now and it's gonna take some adjusting to but I want you to know that your father and I only want the best for you.
We love you very much.
Do you know that? I'm sorry I ran away.
I just I didn't know what to do.
Everyone saw, and I-I couldn't just stay here after I ruined everything.
Oh, honey.
You didn't ruin anything.
Dad could've gone to jail or something.
I just wish he wasn't so mad at me.
- Come here, come on.
- [CRIES.]
Come on, it's okay.
I don't know what else to do.
It's all right, baby.
[CRIES.]
It's gonna be okay.
It's okay.
JAMES: How are you doing, Gigi? GRACE: I was gonna ask you that same thing, Daddy.
Well, listen, I'm fantastic.
Really? - Yeah.
- Come on.
I am out of the shadow of a mad woman who would believe lies about me told by her worst enemy.
Is that what they are? What do you mean? Are they lies? Aunt Mavis is lying? Look, that's none of your business.
So Mavis isn't lying.
Stay out of it.
It's better for everyone, trust me.
The spending has to end.
The homeless aren't giving any money.
Britney, the budget meeting's over.
But the money problems aren't.
Look, I know you're just trying to do your job, but I can't do this right now.
You do understand that ever since you took over, money's been going through this church faster than green grass through a goose.
Britney, the board passed a unanimous resolution to partner with real church unanimous.
Because they didn't know how much it would cost.
Look, we're gonna start streaming live next month.
There'll be plenty of money.
Now, this meeting's over.
You are gonna bankrupt this church.
Thank you for your concern.
Hey.
Hey.
You know I've never heard her speak to Basie like that.
If it was up to me, I'd fire her.
Just sayin'.
KEVIN: He's my son.
I want to see him, Charity.
CHARITY: Well, maybe you should've thought about that before you full-on ghosted on us.
I wasn't thinking when I left.
Kevin, fatherhood is not some Club you just drop in on when you feel like it.
I know.
I regret what I did.
I just had to get right with myself, and I'm ready to be a father now.
I don't know that I'm ready to let you.
Now, I'm gonna tell you what I told your mother I'm ready to go to court.
Kevin, I am in the middle of a tour right now.
Then just leave him with me, then.
I [LAUGHS.]
No.
How do I know you won't get in some strange mood again? How do I know that you won't write another note and disappear? Absolutely not.
Charity, I have a right to see my son.
Charity! Oh, God.
[SIGHS.]
[CELLPHONE BEEPS.]
Good morning.
Chai latte.
Oh, you're so thoughtful.
What's that? It came earlier this morning.
[DOOR OPENS.]
MAE: Well, it's good to see your sense of entitlement hasn't suffered since you cheated your way out of every good thing that God ever gave you.
Mae, we have a problem.
Where were you this morning when your granddaughter was missing, James? My phone was off.
Answer the question, James.
Where were you? The Biltmore, sleeping Since I was ejected from my home by a mad woman.
Look, do you want to hear about this or not? What is that? It's a letter from the I.
R.
S.
- The what? - Read it if you want, but I'll give you the reader's digest version.
When Mac said he would take care of our problems with the I.
R.
S.
, what he did was pay some joker a bribe.
Now that joker's been caught.
The bottom line if we don't pay the I.
R.
S.
$2 million in the next 90 days, they're gonna come after us for tax evasion.
How could you let this happen?! It was your brother, Mae! How are we supposed to pay that, James? I don't know.
I don't know.
But what I do know is this whether we take a special offering, appeal to the round table, or beg Clara Jackson on bended knee for more of her powerball money, I do know that it'll all run smoother If we're a united front under one roof.
Well, my answer Is no.
Are you insane? There's a thin line between keeping up appearances and flat-out hypocrisy.
[SCOFFS.]
Now, you can go and shuck and jive with Clara or whoever else will watch and stop while you do it, but you do will do it in the street with the trash you seem to love.
I'll come and get my things in the morning.
I don't care what you do.
Tasha told me Britney never talked to Basie like that.
She got to go.
No, she's been there since the church started, and she's good at her job.
Yeah, but you didn't see the way she went in on me and real church.
Trust me, K, you would've fired her.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Hello? Jacob? I hope I'm not bothering you, son.
Nah, not bothering me at all, pop.
Tasha said she'd fire her.
Oh, is Tasha first lady? No, that's not what I meant.
What's up, pop? Listen, I just wanted you to know that, uh, your mother has thrown me out of the house.
Thrown you out? I-it's not my idea.
Oh, no, Bishop? Who? [CELLPHONE RINGS.]
Uh, pop, uh, hold on a second, okay? Just hold on.
I'm gonna put you on hold.
Hey, mama.
How you doin'? How's my granddaughter? She's fine.
How are you? Uh, pop told me you threw him out of the house? Did he tell you why? No.
No, he didn't, did he? What's going on? I don't know.
Um, but [CELLPHONE RINGS.]
I'm sorry, mama.
Just hold on real quick.
Real quick.
[SIGHS.]
Hey, Gigi.
Jacob, we need to talk.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah, we do.
You got to talk to mama.
It's been one night.
Going on two! She's never kicked him out of the house before, has she? Or did I miss something? No, she hasn't, but so this is different.
Hey, what did Daddy do? I don't know.
I don't know! You know, you're just not tellin' us.
Yeah, I saw that look, too.
Look, Gigi, just tell us what Daddy did.
He had an affair with aunt Mavis.
That's not an affair, that's before he married mama.
Yeah, I mean, even I know about that.
No, no, no, no, this was after they got married.
More than once, y'all.
They had an ongoing? Yep.
Gigi's right.
She's not gonna take him back.
Who told you this? Mama did.
And why did pop tell her? He didn't tell her, auntie told her.
They're gonna get a divorce.
And from the way he was talking today, it sounds like it's true.
I'm gonna come from a broken home.
- Really? - What are you, 12? Jacob, what are you, heartless? This is our parents we're talking about.
Our family, I mean come on.
Gigi, you need to fix this.
Why me? Why you? Gigi, before you came home, mama and aunt Mavis didn't even talk.
Just just talk to her, okay, Jacob? Get her to forgive him, take him back.
Please.
I mean look, I'll check on mama to check on mama, but all the grief pop put me through after my little slip-up, he deserves a taste of what he's so good at dishing out.
This ain't about you.
It ain't about you, either.
What's your problem? What if my mother's right? She's not.
You know she's not.
Charity said none of this would've happened if I didn't come home, and I think she's right.
They'll figure it out.
Will you come to church with me tomorrow? No.
No? As a favor to me? And what good would that do? It would show that you're in this with me.
I am.
That doesn't mean I have to play my part in some soap opera with a cross in the background.
Wow.
You know what I mean.
Want to try me again at Christmas? You know, don't joke about that.
Well, don't ask me to go to church.
Okay, should I go before this actually turns into a fight? It's not a fight.
- It's not.
- It's not a fight.
Yeah, 'cause I'MMA go home.
- No.
- Yep.
No.
All right.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
I'm just I'm tired.
- That's all.
- I know, it's good.
I'll call you later.
Mama? Why aren't you dressed? First service starts in half an hour.
I-I can't go to church.
The thought of your father up there preaching like everything is fine.
How do you young people say it? I can't even.
Well, what'll you do? I don't know.
What do people do on Sunday morning when they don't go to church? It's been so long, I don't even remember.
[UPBEAT GOSPEL MUSIC PLAYS.]
Go knock Pick a bushel full Doors wide open, waitin' for your soul I'm awake I have no need to fear 'Cause he is ever near He'll know my work was true So glad the day is through It wasn't for me to say I didn't think I'd make it today But I'm walkin', not knockin' Into heaven Goodbye Hey, you don't knock Just walk right in All you got to do is walk Walk right in Walk right in Just walk Jesus is waiting All you got to do is walk All you got to do is walk Everything you need Lady Mae is ill, I assume.
You know, she's got a cold.
I'll keep her in my prayers.
God bless you, thank you.
He said Hey The door There's love Oh, love to share I know To rest You don't knock Doors wide open, waitin' for your soul Don't knock don't knock Just walk on in Hey Hallelujah! Amen, amen.
Oh, Charity, baby.
Thank you, Charity.
Now, I believe she gave sister staples a run for her money, don't you? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[WOMAN LAUGHING.]
Before we get started, I want to call a little attention today to my lovely granddaughter Sophia, who is up here with me today.
[APPLAUSE.]
Lady Mae is dealing with some family matters in Little Rock.
Let us all pray for her, for her safe return.
ALL: Amen.
Amen.
Now, today i want to talk about The the unimaginable courage of Jesus of Nazareth.
Preach, Bishop! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
Are you listening to me? Now, many of us face hardships every day Situations that we go into not knowing what is going to be the outcome.
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS.]
Now, see we are all Shepherd not just one, not two, not three, all of us! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
We're all his sheep and we're all his Shepherds.
We got to take care of one another, protect each other, save our children from sin! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
Every single one of us! You see when that one sheep slips out of our sight, don't we run after it? [INDISTINCT SHOUTING.]
Don't matter if it's one or a thousand, we do anything we can to get it back, and oh, how we rejoice when we hear that lonely bleat.
Amen! [INDISTINCT SINGING.]
What is lost? We're all lost! [FAINT APPLAUSE AND SINGING.]
Lady Mae? How come you're not at Calvary? [MUSIC CONTINUES.]
Oh, would you like a cup of tea? Oh, I'd love one.
Of course! Is this what they have you doing? What do you mean? Well, you used to be first lady.
[SCOFFS.]
Yeah, first lady.
Um, would you hand me those fudge stripes right there, please? The which? Those there, the fudge stripes.
[SCOFFS.]
Have one! - Oh, no, thank you.
- Oh, I insist, please.
These things always go so fast.
So, I heard a story about a first lady from Winston-Salem the other day.
After 27 years of leading a flock with her husband, he ended up leaving her for a younger woman.
She got tossed up out of the church and ended up moving into one of those apartment complexes you see on the side of the highway, where the sign says, "If you lived here, you'd be home by now.
" [SIGHS.]
Here you go.
Doesn't seem fair, does it? Oh, just wait.
She ends up coming home from the grocery store one night Mm-hmm.
falls and trips on the outside stairs.
Oh, no.
Tumbles over the balcony, falls two stories, hits her head, and now she can't even talk.
Oh, my Lord.
She lives in a home.
One eye is like this.
Like this.
Like this! Look! Look at the eye! [GASPS.]
I've got it good.
[SIGHS.]
Did did I say something wrong? The point I was making is that I'm blessed.
I mean, we both are.
Yes, yes.
I mean, even you more than me.
At least you still have a husband.
Mine's gone.
Thank you for the tea.
Oh, well, you didn't want to stay and say bye to Kerissa and Jacob? [STAMMERS.]
I, uh, I think I should go.
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS.]
Let us bow our heads.
Father God, we promise to use these gifts to heal your people.
Every dollar goes straight to you! Bless these tithes and offerings father, in Jesus' name Amen.
ALL: Amen.
There you go.
But it wasn't quite church.
Oh, honey, you did a great job.
I could barely get through that sermon.
The whole time I just kept worrying about whether Zora was gonna run out the back doors of the church.
There's a therapist that specializes in this kind of thing that I refer parents to when the teachers report an issue.
I can call her first thing tomorrow morning.
It's gonna take more than counseling to get this girl's head on right.
It's gonna take an act of God.
And whatever it takes, we're gonna get through it.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Yes.
Everything all right, Pastor? Why do you ask? You just seemed a little off your game today, and based on the offering, I'm not the only one that noticed.
[SIGHS.]
Y-you hear this, right? [INHALES DEEPLY.]
- Britney - What? You're fired.
- Why? - Why? Because we need people who are interested in helping us achieve our goals.
What?! Britney! You're fired.
Leave! Goodbye! I thought we were gonna talk.
I told you what Tasha said.
This is for the best.
Trust me.
Yeah.
Yeah? I'm gonna get back to you about that, okay? Just give me two seconds.
What are you doing here? You hung up on me.
Yeah, you've got a lot of nerve.
Well, it's Sunday morning, Charity.
This is my church.
It's also my son's church.
Oh, the son that you abandoned? Well, I'm back now, and our agreement stipulates that I have a right to see my son.
Kevin, I can't believe you.
So when can I see him? I don't know! I go back out on tour tomorrow night, so I don't know.
Well, leave him with me, then.
Yeah, we'll see.
[CHUCKLES.]
It's not gonna be a we'll see.
Excuse me? You either leave him with me or you stay, but you're not taking my son across state lines.
That's kidnapping.
Sister Greenland.
Miss cross.
You're still director of outreach, right? Certainly am.
Ah, well, if you ever need one of your pet projects funded, I know how those deacons, those old biddies can be.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- You let me know.
I might take you up on that.
Please do, because finance is my thing.
Oh, and thank God Zora's home.
God is good.
All the time.
Okay, so, do you want to wait 'til the morning to drive to Jackson? Or we'll leave tonight, beat the traffic? I know a really romantic spot on the way Grenada lake.
Wake up to the beach outside the window.
I can't go to Jackson or come back on the tour or not yet.
Seriously? Okay, you can't just step out in the middle of a tour like that, Charity.
Jabari, I don't want to, but I have to.
Kevin's back, and he's not letting me take Nathan with me.
But you signed a contract.
This is my child we're taking about.
Look, Jabari, I just got to figure this out with Kevin before I leave.
Please.
[SIGHS.]
Britney, baby, now, you know how they are.
They've had it in for you ever since they forced Basie out.
I know, I know.
Well, look, it's just time to move on now, okay? Give God the space to do his thang! All right, well, you know you can call me anytime.
Okay? All right.
Bye.
[SIGHS.]
That girl is so stupid.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Okay, so what do you think about this? Ooh, for the Bishop? - Mm-hmm.
- Yes.
Child, that man had me alone in that hotel room and didn't do a thing.
Well, I guess I got to step my game up.
Well, that'll definitely kill 'em.
What a tragedy.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Oh, what about that one? [CHATTER.]
Hey.
Sorry I'm late.
How was church? It was strange.
But thank you for asking.
It's the least I could do.
What happened? This Rochelle Cross woman she's gotten awfully close with my father, and I feel like she's trying to cozy up to me, too.
What do you think she wants? I don't know, but I feel like she's trying to come between my parents.
I know she's done it at another church.
She's not gonna do it at mine.
Yours? That's new.
No matter what my mother thinks, no matter what she says, this church matters to me.
My family Even more so.
I won't let either of them go down without a fight.
I just came to get my things.
James? Yes? You can come home, but only until we figure out out this mess with the I.
R.
S.
And after that, I don't know.
[SIGHS.]
There's a leak in this old building And my soul has got to move I tell you, my soul has got to move There's a leak in this old building And my soul has got to move I've got another building Not made By hands